January 27, 2006, 10:55 AM ET

Gail Mitchell, L.A.
Marsha Ambrosius, the singer/songwriter half of the duo Floetry, has signed a solo deal with Dr. Dre and his Aftermath imprint. Ambrosius says she jumped at the chance to work with Dre, who has limited himself to a handful of projects in recent years. "Who wouldn't? It's a lifetime opportunity," the artist tells Billboard. "It's not like he offers to do an album with everybody."

The possibility of hooking up with Dr. Dre presented itself toward the end of last year when Floetry was playing two shows at Los Angeles club the Roxy (both Dr. Dre and Prince were in the audience). Ambrosius met Dre later that week, and it wasn't long before he was playing her a beat. Just as quickly, she was recording the hook for the song.

The experience only became more surreal when 50 Cent walked into the room. "He was nodding his head, saying the track is on fire and maybe he'd get on it," recalls Ambrosius. "I'm still kind of in a daze about it. It's all very much a dream. I've always wanted to do a solo album. However, I didn't expect this to come when it did. But I'm ready for it."


Meanwhile, Floetry is preparing to shoot a new video for "Lay Down," the next single from its 2005 album, "Flo'Ology." Ambrosius and her emcee/songwriting partner Natalie Stewart are also celebrating a best urban/alternative performance Grammy nomination for the song "SupaStar" as well as an NAACP Image Award nomination. A U.S. tour will begin in March.

Floetry fans shouldn't be scared just because Martha is going solo. She says her partnership with Natalie Stewart is still intact and that they're going on at least two more tours this year. One tour is scheduled for April, and they'll be part of package deal in the summer. Mary J. Blige is one person they've been talks with. The duo also have plans to shoot a video for "Lay Down," the next single off Flo'Ology.

"Floetry is always going to be Floetry, regardless if Nat does her album or I do my album," Ambrosius insisted. "I'm still the songstress from Floetry."

For her solo LP, the songbird also wants to work with producers Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and the tandem of Dre & Vidal. "That would be enough for me," she giggled. "I don't ask for much. I dream for much, and sometimes they come true."

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[Edited 1/27/06 21:45pm]

Errrybody wanna go solo She only had to split the $ w/ one person

I guess it's about her own "creative expression" or something

she talks about it on floetry.net


"Yes, family, friends and otherwise.... I have been offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to create my own album. Along side the mastery of Dr.Dre's magic and the collaborative efforts of my choice, I shall make my personal mark in music history. Of course, the type of person that I am, I took a lot into consideration. Whereas many wouldn't have even blinked an eye lid before saying yes, I actually did. My decision to go ahead with the deal were based on the following..... It's a once in a lifetime opportunity..... It would be unfair to me as well as everybody else that knows me not to do it regardless of my hesitations..... I am 3 albums, 7 Grammy nods as well as every other accolade deep into Floetry..... I am 28 years old..... I've dreamt a long time that my chance would come and I deserve the opportunity to really tell my story..... I believe that this would be completely beneficial to Floetry as well as my long term goals..... I instantly got butterflies when I heard about the offer..... This would be another stepping stone for me and my growth as a complete artist..... I believe that the collaboration between myself and the powerhouse of Aftermath will put a glitch in the Matrix "...now was that supposed to happen???" Floacist- Opera- Floetic 2002 ..... I'm about pushing the envelope..... I like suprises..... I am grateful for the support system I have in Floetry..... I have faith. trust and love for music.... "Blessed to have another moment, some more time spent, some more minds to get into, blessed to have another day dream, another maybe yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah..."
-----
"I just can't decide, if its you I want..."
"I Want U..."
"My love is honest and true and I can prove it baby..."
Marsha Ambrosius
"

in the forums "Ghostwriter" is Natalie and "Skye" is Marsha....they post and respond on their site.
[Edited 1/28/06 3:02am]

http://www.youtube.com/?v=wjsQo3UIR7M

floetry w/ common live

C'mon, who DIDN'T see this coming? Marsha doesn't need the Floacist anyway. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing old girl's weak ass skills take over the song. I KNEW this was gonna happen. It was inevitable. Marsha CARRIES the group. Let's hope Dre won't turn her into the next Michelle' though. Let her get her vocals on minus the hood shit.
[Edited 1/28/06 10:04am]

ChristopherTracyParade said:

Kinda disagree with u on this take. I think that sometime....SOMETIMES... Marsha goes too far with her vocal runs. I think she needs to learn how to let her voice resonate and to sustain a note. Too many runs ruin a song. Me and my peeps were watching them on their DVD and we were like..."Oh okay already with all them runs! Just sing naturally!"

jojofran said:

I'd much rather hear her go overboard on her runs than to see Natalie DESTROY the vocal vibe with her boring ass "poetry" riffs. Did you see their live special last konth running on DirecTV? We had to keep turning the channel because we got sick of Natalie stepping ALL OVER Marsha's vocals. It bothers the fuck outta me.

ChristopherTracyParade said:

but that's what floetry is about...if you want just to hear some singing...listen to something else.

I like Nat.....

Rhondab said:

And that's EXACTLY why Marsha's doing a solo joint - Because there are those that WANT TO HEAR MARSHA SING and not hear Nat and her wack ass rhymes. ...Put it this way, I BET you won't hear about Nat coming out with HER own solo joint...because her rap skills are weak sauce.
[Edited 1/28/06 11:47am]

ChristopherTracyParade said:

I disagree too. Now, I agree that Marsha is the proper talent, but I saw them live a couple of months ago and Marsha just sat/stood there and did her thing, while Natalie was the one working the audience, talking to people and interracting. It wouldn't have been half as good without her.

Ellie said:

Well, is THAT what you go to a concert to see? An artist INTERACTING or PERFORMING? Natalie bores me.

ChristopherTracyParade said:

the chick(Nat) is not a rapper...she is a spoken word poet...I personally like them together...I see this Dr.Dre shit probably being some over produced top 40 radio friendly r&B fluff.

boriquateddy said:

Uh...on the albums, she RAPS, therefore that makes her a rapper.

ChristopherTracyParade said:

yeah and Mariah, Mary J.,and J.Lo etc...try to spit bars here and there...so I suppose they are rappers too????

Ellie said:

agreed....in a show...nat definitely is the one that works the crowd. I like FLOETRY....as is. I think Marsha is a great talent but I'm not gonna diss Nat at all. I think she's a talented poet...who can rap

Rhondab said:

well put RhondaB.

boriquateddy said:

Well, the day when "Here and There" becomes ALWAYS...THEN you'll be correct.

Rhondab said:

Aw hell. Rhonnie, this is just your way of saying "Sex me, Christopher!"

oh gosh what is the big deal here? Marsha is going solo, okay, so what. The girl got pipes, she can sing and all, but my only fear is that Dre is gonna try and make her one of those regular R&B broads with songs that are only good for dancing to in the club when you are drunk.

i hope he makes her a more "soulful" artist, because i think her gift is more than the usual "my man is cheating on me, how come u didn't call me, i should have cheated on you, you make me sick so i'm gonna talk to somebody else" type vibe....

missfee said:

I don't think Dre is gonna do that nor do I think Marsha is gonna allow Dre to do that. Her vibe isn't that. I think Dre wants to get his "DJ Jazzy Jeff" on try and produce neo soul acts like Jazzy has been doing.

ChristopherTracyParade said:

yeah i can see her with Jeff, doing that type stuff Jill Scott does...

ChristopherTracyParade said:

yeah but Nat doesn't always rap either...she does spoken word poetry more then she raps....

ChristopherTracyParade said:

if it is...I need to change my text FAST!!

Rhondab said:

You're always so cruel to me. (Goes to put on Prince's "17 Days" and then cries in a corner)

ChristopherTracyParade said:

neva that


so you don't like "Getting late" with Nat's poetic vibe...I'm sorry that song is the TRUTH.

Rhondab said:

I'm just not feeling her altogether. Maybe it's the English accent that makes her rapping sound kinda "generated"....ya know?

I'm torn because I really only felt Marsha, but I don't see her going too far as a solo artist