"Get Lifted" Album Update + More News

July 22, 2004

"Get Lifted" Album Update + More News

Hey people. First of all, let me apologize for not writing in so long.
You know I love you, but I've been so busy working on the album, I
haven't had time to sit down and reflect. Well, we're almost done with
the album. Everything's being mixed and mastered over the next few
weeks. I'm so excited to let y'all hear it, I'm tempted to leak it
myself. But my label will kill me, so I'll chill. You'll have to wait
until the new release date, October 26, to hear the album (entitled
"Get Lifted"). Sorry we had to push the date back. We wanted to give
ourselves time to make sure a lot more people get a chance to hear
about me before we put it out. Hopefully, it'll be worth the wait...

Anyway, I've worked with some great producers. Some you've heard of
(Kanye West, who is co-executive producer of the album, and Will.I.Am
of the Black Eyed Peas) and some you will hear a lot more from in the
future (Devo Harris and Dave Tozer). Oh, and I produced a couple
tracks myself. I've got some brand new songs and some you've heard
already on my demos and live cds. One of the highlights of the album
is a new joint called "I Can Change," which features none other than
west coast hip-hop icon, Snoop Dogg. He came in and checked out my
tracks at the studio in L.A., and he loved this one so much he had to
bless it with a verse. It came out hot. Can't wait for y'all to hear
it. The most special song to me is called "It Don't Have to Change,"
featuring my family (the Stephens family) on background and lead
vocals. My family is so musically talented. I'm so proud that I was
able to include them on the album. I hope this one will be a family
reunion classic for years to come.

The first single for the album is "Used to Love U", which some of you
first heard (in demo form) on my site or on Kanye's "I'm Good"
mixtape. Well, now the whole world is going to hear it. We're shooting
the video in a couple of weeks. And it went to radio this week. In
fact, Tuesday the track was officially added to its first playlist at
Chicago's #1 urban station WGCI. Thanks to my friends there.
Hopefully, you're the first of many to add the song in the coming
weeks. And, to all my fans in Chicago, make sure you call in and
request it. Everybody's always complaining about how wack the music on
the radio is. Do something about it. Ask them to play some good music!

Speaking of Chicago, I've got to send love to all the people who came
to check out my first solo show there at the Metro Theater last week.
It was amazing to see so many of you there. I didn't know so many
people cared about me in Chicago. It was such a fun show for me. I'm
looking forward to coming back there this weekend with Kanye.

I don't have time to tell you everything I've been up to in the last
few months, but I've done a few new collaborations: I wrote and sang
the hook on a joint with new Chicago rapper Bump J. I did some more
writing and singing with the Black Eyed Peas. I did some more work
with Talib Kweli and British rapper Estelle. Worked on some new stuff
with my Very Good Music family members GLC and Consequence. I'm
probably forgetting something, but you get the point.

Up next, I'll be in London doing some press interviews next week. Then
I'll be touring the U.S. (and Toronto!) with Kanye on the Usher tour.
I'll be throwing in a lot of solo performances in between Usher shows.
I'll let y'all know about those when we confirm them. Keep checking
the performances page on the site for more updates. I'm looking
forward to seeing you all out there on the road. Until then...