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Acclaimed R&B singer-songwriter, actress, TV and social media personality Keke Wyatt first came to national attention as a teenager when "My First Love", her duet with Avant hit the Top 10 in 2000. As a result, she was signed to Geffen Records, and at age 18 scored a platinum-selling debut album featuring “Nothing In This World,” another hit duet with Avant. The duo was also featured on the soundtrack of the film Barbershop 2. In 2010, she released a new album, Who Knew? on Shanachie Entertainment, which featured the Top 30 Urban AC title track single. Keke’s second album on Shanachie, Unbelievable, spawned a single duet with American Idol winner Ruben Studdard. Keke then attained a featured role on the TV One reality show R&B Divas: Atlanta, which ran for four seasons. Subsequently, she and her then-husband appeared along with other celebrity couples in the WE TV series Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars. Launching her own label, Keke released an EP and two albums, one of original material and one of known songs entitled Keke Covers. Her soulful version of country star Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” from the latter album garnered over 10 million views on YouTube. Keke also had a role as a minister’s wife in the Bounce TV series Saints & Sinners and starred in the stage play Preacher's Kid Resurrection alongside Angie Stone. More recently, fans have enjoyed following Keke in the WE TV reality series Keke Wyatt’s World where she gave a glimpse to viewers on how she balances motherhood, career, and stardom. With the release of Certified, Keke now has the time and space to devote to the long-anticipated new album her fans have been waiting for.
01 MY EX
“My Ex” is basically trying to tell who I was with at the time, like, please understand, what you’re doing is no better than my ex. I could’ve just stayed with him if you ain’t gonna do no better. I could’ve just stayed where I was.
02 SOMEBODY
“Somebody” is just basically telling the person, you better be careful what you say to me and do to me, because it’ll come back on you. Let’s get it together and if you can’t get it together, then karma is out there.
03 SHE
“She” is referring to my lady spot. My special spot. My low-low spot. I call her “she”. The song is about her and what she wants and what she likes. She’s a very powerful girl. She’s got her head on straight and got her mind made up and she’s a boss lady. She knows what she wants.
04 WATER INTO WINE
As women, we’re in relationships, sometimes it feels like the man thinks we can just do everything. It’s like, honey, okay I get it, but I can’t just turn water into wine. I’m not Jesus. I can’t create all of these miracles you think I can create. I’m like honey, give me some grace here.
05 COME BACK TO BED
Yeah, that one is probably going to hit a whole lot of women because I know in my situation, all he wanted to do was play video games all day and I’m like, honey I’m right here. Come to bed. What are you doing? It gets so frustrating for women. I know for me. Like, you’re a grown man. Why am I having to tell you to come to bed because you’re on your video game? I will pick that thing up and bust it. You’ll be surprised at how many women are going through that with grown men.
06 UNCHAINED MELODY
That was just a song that I’ve always loved and hoped I could get that love one day.
07 SCARED
“Scared” is basically like, I’m getting to a point in my life and in my relationship where it’s scaring me at the fact that I can lay in the bed and go to sleep by myself. It’s scaring me like, I ain’t worrying about what you’re doing. I’m scared that I’m finding I can actually live without you, and you don’t even know that I’m discovering this.
08 CERTIFIED
Oh, cause honey, I’m certified.
09 OPEN
That’s a lil’ fun song because I just love the 50’s style stuff. The song is just talking about relationships again. Y’all gotta listen to it.
10 DELIVER ME
“Deliver Me” is just a song of me in my vulnerable state and letting people know, like, yo’ I’m gonna be honest about how I feel, and I know that I did not pave the way for me, somebody else paved the way for me and I’m grateful for that and I’m letting y’all know I’m being honest about it. I’m original but not really original. We’re all remakes of somebody and it all started with Adam and Eve.
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Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and activist Lalah Hathaway has released her eighth studio album VANTABLACK on all music platforms via Hathaway Entertainment/SRG-ILS Group (Virgin Music Group).
The 16-track album includes the singles “Mood for You”, “I Am” and “So in Love” and features an all-star line-up of guest appearances from Common, MC Lyte, Michael McDonald, Rapsody, WILLOW, Phonte and Gerald Albright.
"VANTABLACK was always the name of the project. I started reframing how I saw color, in terms of being the blackest I've ever been and even though I'm steeped in who I am, it doesn't exclude the other things that make up the sum of me. Similar to how all the music around me informs the black music that I create. So, it's all a melting pot of all of me." -Lalah Hathaway.
Lalah Hathaway has announced the VANTABLACK Tour coming to a city near you.
For additional information visit www.LalahHathaway.com.
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Will Preston, the maestro of emotive R&B, is bringing the heat with his latest R&B single, "I'll Give It Right Back," just in time for summer. Following the heart-wrenching ballad "Of Course I Lied," Will is switching gears and delivering an upbeat groove that is sure to get listeners moving with this infectious new single.
"I'll Give It Right Back" is the electrifying second sneak peek from Will's upcoming project, slated for release later this year. Departing from the melancholic tones of its predecessor, this track radiates warmth and nostalgia, inviting listeners to groove along to its irresistible beat as Will takes them on a vocal excursion.
Lyrically, the song captures Will reminiscing on past love, painting a picture of nostalgic moments and joyful experiences. He welcomes the listener to join him on a journey down memory lane. It's a stark contrast to the raw vulnerability of "Of Course I Lied," offering a glimpse into a brighter chapter of love’s romantic narrative.
Describing the single, Will sums it up as "The Weekend meets T- Pain, meets Will Preston." This unique blend of influences results in an engaging, feel-good anthem that exudes energy, making it the perfect soundtrack for summer vibes. It’s sure to get pulses racing and bodies moving.
"I'll Give It Right Back" serves as a testament to Will's prowess as both an artist and a storyteller. Whether he's tugging at heartstrings with soulful ballads or igniting dance floors with upbeat grooves, Will continues to captivate audiences with his undeniable talent and charisma.
As temperatures soar and summer vibes take over, "I'll Give It Right Back" promises to be a must-have addition to your playlist. Get ready to immerse yourself in the contagious energy of Will Preston's latest masterpiece.
Visit Will Online:
IG: @thewillpreston TikTok: @yepthewillpreston X (Twitter): @thewillpreston YouTube: @willpreston8913 Facebook: willprestonmusic Website: www.willpreston.com
TERRANCE: First, congratulations on the release of your new single “Testify”.
MONIFAH: Thank you.
TERRANCE: Tell us about the concept behind it and what inspired it.
MONIFAH: It wasn’t as deep as it sounds *laughs*. Anthony Giles produced the track and we co-wrote. I heard the track and he gave me like a little mark for what he kinda came up with for the melody and in fifteen minutes we had “Testify”, quite honestly. That’s what came out and what I just felt with that music. It really is a testament to where I am in my life’s journey. Also, the timing of it couldn’t be better quite honestly because this is the year of truth.
TERRANCE: You also have a new project on the way called Grace At Midnight. What can we expect from this project?
MONIFAH: You can expect the unexpected. I’m in that space in my career and the way artists are now able to directly connect with their audience. And I don’t really feel like I need to be pigeonholed. I just want to do music that shows every side of me and all the types of music I like. So, there’s a lot of different sounds in this project. “Testify” is a dance record and will have different mixes. We will have an R&B mix as well. But yeah, I’m not pigeonholed. Even with “Touch It”, it really crossed over, it was a huge record and wasn’t the traditional R&B record and it did a lot for my career. Probably, if we were prepared a little more to kind of ride that wave, I think it would have been different. As an R&B artist, it kind of took everybody by surprise, so to speak.
TERRANCE: You’ve done reality TV in the past with R&B Divas Atlanta and with that being said, if the opportunity presented itself again for reality TV, would you be opened to it?
MONIFAH: I would absolutely do reality TV again. For sure. Yeah, I would. I’m focusing on acting too, so next time I’m on TV, that’s what you’ll see me in, in that capacity. I’ve done some guest spots on a few shows. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to really concentrating on that and behind the cameras; producing and directing.
TERRANCE: What would be your dream role?
MONIFAH: Psychological thriller playing a cop. I think I’m gonna write it. That would be dope.
TERRANCE: What are your personal favorite songs from your three studio albums, starting with Moods… Moments (1996)?
MONIFAH: “Lay with You” is one of my favorite tracks as well as “You’ve Got My Heart”, “Would You” and “It’s Alright”. “It’s Alright” has a sentimental value. That was the record that got Heavy D. wanting to do an album on me. I was doing the reference vocal on that for a young boy they had signed to Uptown Records and that song was for him and once I finished referencing it, Heav was like, you can keep it. We’re gonna start your album tomorrow. Don’t be late.
TERRANCE: Mo’hogany (1998)?
MONIFAH: One is “Suga Suga” and the other is “Have You Ever Been Loved”.
TERRANCE: Home (2000)?
MONIFAH: “Free Again” is one and “Nana” which is a duet with Chico DeBarge.
TERRANCE: I personally love your cover of “Jesus Is Love” from the Moods… Moments album.
MONIFAH: Thank you. That was another Heav idea and one of the best ideas ever. I think it was a great cover and choice. I was able to do it with the fantastic Boys Choir of Harlem and as a girl from Harlem, that was dope. I enjoyed that very much.
TERRANCE: What’s a day in the life of Monifah away from the cameras?
MONIFAH: Real regular. I’m a dog mom. I care for my 84 year old feisty mom and my mother-in-law lives with me. I’m very domestic. I’m also a crocheter. I love to cook. I love juicing. For the most part, I’m a homebody if I’m not out being social. I love people, but my social clock can run out very quickly, so I’m usually home. I love movies and watching really good programming and stories. I read a lot. I love tarot cards. I’m teaching myself the tarot. So, yeah, I’m keeping myself pretty busy. *laughs*
TERRANCE: Are there any tours or special events you can tell us about?
MONIFAH: Well, I’m thankfully gigging. I’m looking forward to jumping on a tour, but I am definitely working. I have a few dates across the country coming up in New York, Palm Springs, like spot dates, so I’m working. I’m probably going to be working a lot overseas. I’m really excited about that.
TERRANCE: If you could go back and tell your younger self three things, getting started in this business, what would they be?
MONIFAH: You are enough, slow it down and focus.
TERRANCE: Any final words you would like to share with longtime fans as well as new ones?
MONIFAH: I’d like to say thank you so much to the Monifanz that have stayed with me since the beginning and supported and helped make it happen, because I didn’t get here alone. I appreciate the support. And to my new citizens of the Monifanz, I love you and enjoy the ride because we got a lot of grounds to cover and it’s going to be really, really exciting. And thank you!
Follow Monifah on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook @themonifah and YouTube @themonifahnation
