The College Dropout

December 12, 2003


Hey people. Haven't written in a while. I've been in the studio with
Kanye West finishing up his debut album, The College Dropout. I know
some of you might have stumbled across some bootlegs of the album,
but, trust me, that is not the final version. We've got some pleasant
surprises still in store. Expect the real album in stores on February
3, 2004. And expect to hear your boy J.Legend all over the album.

MTV & XXL are calling it one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums of
2004. I'm predicting it will be one of the best hip-hop albums of
2004. (I know I'm biased, but just wait and check it out).

SOB's Show

November 15, 2003


Just wanted to thank everybody who came through to my show @ SOB's in
New York. It was a beautiful night. The energy in the place was
incredible. This was my first full band show in New York in almost a
year, and y'all reminded me why I love doing this. Very inspiring.

See you next time...

Black Album Update

November 6, 2003


So everybody's talking about the Black Album leak. I'm out in L.A.
right now shooting a video with two of Chicago's favorite sons Kanye &
Twista ("Slow Jamz"). Anyway, we turned on the radio and all the
hip-hop stations are playing Jay-Z's whole album. Yeah, they have
every track. Bootleggers always find a way. If you've been fortunate
(or sneaky) enough to stumble on the album, you might recognize my
vocals and piano on the hot Kanye-produced joint, "Encore". If you're
an upstanding citizen and you like to do it the legal way, you can
wait and cop the album on the new advanced release date, November 14.
Man, it's an honor to be a part of that album. History in the making.

Must B 21 - will.i.am Compilation

October 7, 2003


Hey. will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas just released a new producer
compilation on the UK label BBE Records. I've got two songs on there:
"Swing By My Way" and "Ride, Ride". Will produced both tracks (he
produced some tracks that'll be on my album too). It's some fun stuff.
Check out BBE's site for more info on how to order it.

Shows in NY

October 2, 2003


Yo people. Just checking in to thank everybody for all the love you've
been sending my way and to let you know the latest and greatest. I'm
glad everybody's feeling the new site and the new music. Thanks for
all the positive comments. Y'all know how to make a brotha feel good.

Anyway, the last few nights have been hot. Tuesday, I did another solo
show at the Cutting Room in NYC. We had a packed house once again.
Thanks for coming out to support. Thanks to Kanye West, J. Ivy and
Tarrey Torae for coming through to bless the stage. And thanks to
hip-hop heavy hitters Talib Kweli and DJ Enuff for coming to check the
show out. We had a great time.

And for those of y'all who were at SOB's last night, you know it was
crazy. Kanye did his first major headlining show in New York. I was
one of his featured guests. It was hot. First of all, it was sold out,
with people lined up around the block. Lots of special guests came
through. Common ripped a crazy freestyle. Talib Kweli did a couple of
his classic collaborations with Kanye ("Get By" and "Good to You").
Twista rocked a verse on "Champions". The hip-hop violinist, Miri
Ben-Ari, killed it on Kanye's new joint, the "Workout Plan."
Consequence and GLC, my new label-mates on KonMan, did a few verses.
And yours truly was there on the keys and vocals all night.

And, though I'm listing all these guests, I can't neglect to say that
Kanye personally did his thing. His performance was hot. I think some
of his new songs are going to blow people away. Look out for his debut
album The College Dropout on Roc-a-Fella/DefJam in February 2004. I'll
be singing and playing piano all over that album. And if you can't
wait that long, cop some of his mixtapes. I've been featured on all of
those too (Get Well Soon, I'm Good, Akademiks Jeanius Level Mixtapes
Vol. 1 & 2).

Oh, and Monday night, Kanye and I were working with Common on a new
song. Kanye's gonna produce a bunch of Common's next album. I'm
predicting a hip-hop classic. Look out for that...

Jay-Z's Black Album

September 9, 2003


We were in the studio with Young Hov last night. Kanye produced
several tracks for the Black Album, which is supposed to be the last
Jay-Z album ever. Look out for it in a couple months. The tracks are
crazy. Plus you'll hear me singing and playing piano.

In Chicago with Kanye West

August 23, 2003


Last night I did my first ever performance in Chicago (unless you
count my high school choir...). This time I was featured in Kanye's
set at the "Neo-Soul Explosion" (are we still saying "neo-soul" these
days?). Virgin's new "neo-soul" artist Dwele co-headlined the show.

Anyway, Kanye brought me along as his pianist and singer, and we did
some cool collaborations. It wasn't your average hip-hop show. Kanye
did some joints with me on the piano as his only accompaniment, then
he brought out the beats for some other songs. The highlight of the
night was when Kanye's mom came up during his rendition of "Hey Mama".
Mrs. West was dancing on stage w/ Kanye, then she grabbed the mic.
And, to everybody's surprise, she was really holding it down. She was
damn-near flawless on the lyrics and the flow. Watch out Eve & Foxy...
There weren't too many dry eyes in the place. It was a beautiful
thing.

Much love to all the people I met in the Chi. I'll be back....

Back in Philly - North by Northwest

August 22, 2003


I just had a great show in Philly. It was so nice to see all my
faithful supporters. I've performed at NXNW more than anywhere else in
the area, and now I remember why. Y'all always make me feel so
welcome. I did this one without any special guests or collaborations.
Just me on the piano all night. But I wasn't alone. I had a bunch of
old friends and fans in the place that clearly have been doing their
homework. They knew all the background parts to the old songs like
"Sun Comes Up", "Tossin & Turnin" and "Must Be the Way" and they had
my back throughout the show. It was crazy. I might have to take y'all
on the road with me.

Detroit - Eminem & D12

August 20, 2003


I spent the last couple days working with Kanye West in Detroit. We
were doing tracks with Eminem & his crew from D-12 for the next D-12
album. (I'll pause for the thud from that serious name-drop). OK, Mr.
Mathers wasn't really around that much, but I did meet him. We did
most of our work with the rest of the D-12 crew. Anyway, it was fun.
My favorite D-12 member is Bizarre. He played us some hot solo tracks.
Hopefully, he'll come out with his own project. That sh@# was funny.

Blackout

August 16, 2003


So I was supposed to be in New Haven & Philly the last couple days,
doing some more appearances w/ the Black Eyed Peas. But, like most of
y'all in the Northeast, I got hemmed up by the blackout. Luckily for
the Peas (and their fans), they escaped NYC just in time and were able
to do both shows. I had no such luck... But it's all good. I spent a
couple relaxing days in the darkness of the East Village. It was a
good excuse to be lazy. And it looks like they're blaming the entire
blackout on a little company in my home state of OHIO. Don't ever let
it be said that Ohioans don't make an impact. When we go down, we take
a whole region with us! Now show some respect!

Cutting Room Show / Black Eyed Peas in NYC (+ Justin & Cameron)

August 13, 2003


So last night was kinda crazy. First, I had another solo show at the
Cutting Room. Thanks to everybody who made it out to that. We
definitely had a good time. This time, I brought back special guests
Kanye West & J. Ivy (both back by popular demand). Kanye performed his
hilarious new song "18 Years," his take on the baby mama drama of
superstar athletes and rappers, capped off by the always-controversial
"Free Kobe" chant. J. Ivy did a couple hot spoken word pieces. Plus I
had my favorite backup singer, Tara Michel do a duet w/ me. Tara's
been with me since day one, so it was great to have her back on
stage....

Then I went over to SOB's to do a little cameo with the Black Eyed
Peas. For those who don't know, I've done a bunch of collaboration
with Will.I.Am of the Peas. He's an exceptionally talented producer.
Look out for a couple of our collaborations on my first major label
solo album (hopefully next year). Plus I have two songs on his
soon-to-be-released producer compilation "Must be 21". For now, you
can cop the Black Eyed Peas' new album Elephunk which features a track
I sang on and co-wrote, called "The Boogie That B" (I take no
responsibility for the song title).

Anyway, I was scheduled to perform that song with the Peas and their
band last night. Little did I know, there was another cameo by a
slightly more famous collaborator of theirs: none other than N'Sync's
most talented member, Justin Timberlake. And, just my luck, the Peas
decided to bring him on stage BEFORE me. Thanks a lot guys. So,
anyway, Justin's really talented. Don't let his boy-band status fool
you. He did their #1 single "Where is the Love" and some hot improv on
the beat-box and the keyboard. Then they brought me up to do my song.
Thanks to all the Peas fans for showing me love. I know I'm no Justin,
but y'all made a brotha feel welcome. By the way, I got to meet my
second-favorite Angel (next to Lucy Liu, of course), Cameron Diaz, who
was there w/ JT. She told me my performance was "hot". :) But Justin
came off stage right when I was kickin' my A-game to Cameron. Oh
well...

Knitting Factory Show in NYC

July 31, 2003


Thanks to everybody who made it out to my solo show at the Knitting
Factory last night. Man, I had a great time. Much love and respect to
special guests Kanye West, Imani Uzuri, J. Ivy and Sharief in
Burgundy. J. Ivy started the show off with a hot spoken word piece
about a twisted blind date. Then Sharief played a couple of his songs
on acoustic guitar. Then I did my set, which featured duets w/ Kanye,
Imani and J. Ivy. I introduced a few new songs, including some of my
personal favorites "She Don't Have to Know" and "So High". "So High"
was one of the highlights (no pun intended) of the night despite the
technical difficulties. And, of course, I played some of the old
school joints like "Sun Comes Up" for those of y'all who have been
with me since way back (you know, WAY back in the year 2000). We
recorded the whole show. Stay tuned, I might put some of the tracks
online.

Chicago Idol Recordings

July 30, 2003


So I just spent a couple days recording in L.A. with the runner-up of
the "Chicago Idol" talent competition, not to be confused with the
"American Idol" show w/ Simon and Paula Abdul. For this competition,
the prize for the runner-up was a track produced by none other than
Chicago's finest hip-hop super-producer, Kanye West (the winner got a
track written & produced by R&B's "Pied Piper" and Chicago's favorite
child therapist, R. Kelly)... I digress... Anyway, Mr. West brought me
in to help with the track. So, all you Chicagoans should keep your
radios tuned to WGCI and listen to hear me playing piano and singing
the ol' school hook on "I Just Want You to Know" by White Boy (yeah,
that's the runner-up's name), featuring Kanye West and BeLo from Do or
Die. I pulled out my Sam Cooke vocals for this one

Alicia Keys Session

July 20, 2003


I just spent the night in the studio with Alicia Keys and Kanye West.
I did some backup vocals on this new song they wrote together for
Alicia's upcoming album. The track is called "You Don't Know My Name".
I think this one's gonna be a smash. Look out for it this fall. You
heard about it hear first. Y'all might not really recognize my voice,
but it'll be laced throughout the song like an old school vocal
sampleƒ Much respect to Alicia. Y'all already know she's talented.
Plus she's mad cool to work with...

Luther Vandross Tribute

July 16, 2003


Another month, another tribute show at the Village Underground. This
time, our honoree is still alive, but he could use all the energy and
prayer that we can send his way. I did a couple songs last night, a
solo version of "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and a duet w/ Jeremiah on
"There's Nothing Better than Love" a la Luther & Gregory Hines. But
fellow New York soulsters Na2 and Imani Uzuri brought the house down
with a crazy version of "If This World Were Mine." They took it to
church, literally. It turned into a revival service by the end of the
show. It was fun to be a part of that....

Nina Simone Tribute

June 15, 2003


I just performed in a tribute to Nina Simone at the Village
Underground. Man, this event was a beautiful thing. It was an honor
for me to participate. Much love to everybody who took part, including
Imani Uzuri, Somi, Jeremiah, Adrienne Brown and more. There was such a
beautiful spirit in the place. I'm glad I was a part of it. It was one
of those rare times when everything really clicked. There was some
real magic going on. We had a special surprise appearance by Nina's
brother. He set it off with a few tunes that he sung and played on the
pianoƒ I performed my cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." It was
all love in the place. Sorry if you missed it...