GOT THIS FROM ANOTHER BOARD...

Reclusive soul great Sade has dashed rapper Drake's hopes of a collaboration because she fears she will disappoint fans if she steps out of her "safety zone".

Drake has been actively pursing a rare duet with the Smooth Operator singer since last year, when he voiced his desire to work with her.

He told WENN, "There are conversations going on (between the two star's camps). I haven't spoken to her personally yet but my management is talking to hers and it's looking more yes than no right now, so I'm hoping we can get it done."

Sade, who had been absent from the spotlight for several years, made her chart comeback this week when her first release in 10 years, Soldier of Love, debuted atop the U.S. albums chart.

Sade admits she's only heard about Drake's duet plans from the press, but she is hesitant to agree to a project together because she has never worked with another artist in her 30 years in the music industry.

She says, "I don't think they have contacted me. I've never collaborated because I've always avoided working outside of my safety zone. I can be exactly who I am and can fail or succeed within the moment.

"I feel safe working like I do. I wouldn't want to work in a situation where I am expected to deliver, because I think I wouldn't deliver."

she cleared the use of this sample though....

Producer Salaam Remi has revealed that Nas and renowned singer Sade worked together nearly a decade ago on a collaboration track for her Lovers Rock album

According to Remi, the record was going to be a remix single.

"If you have a Nas and Sade record, everybody wants to hear it," Salaam said in an interview. "It's Sade's 'Lovers Rock' remix has Nas on it and that was going to be a single but they decided not to put it out. They put out the live album because the tour was where they were. It was done, that was 2001. And that was right when I was doing my first production with him, when I did 'What Goes Around' for Stillmatic, during those same sessions, we did it. It was done, mixed. They have it, maybe they'll throw it on the B-Side for the next single or something. Maybe." (Soul Culture)

nyse said:

giving clearence to sample her music is not the same as collaborating with some lame half rapper/half autotone singer

I really wouldn't mind her collaborting with a rapper and changing up a bit. I just listened to her latest CD earlier today but I don't remember a thing about it. It would be very refreshing to find her stepping outside of her "safety zone" but do it with someone who is well respected, not with some fly-by-night rapper who may or may not be around next year.

I hope she never does it. Hip hop is crutch music for the weak-minded masses.

saw her performing on some shows, loved it go Sade

She sounds like she's not confident that she will meet the expectations of those who are interested in her. She wants to stay in her "safety zone" instead of go out of the Sade box. I mean, we all, as humans, don't always deliver, but I think she should try something different sometime. Even on her own, I would think there is some kind of expecation to deliver, but maybe the expectations are only within herself. She certainly has the right to accept or decline, but her comments just sound like a lack of confidence than anything else. Needless to say, I like Sade and some of her music, regardless.

Given how her sound (at least instrumentally) has evolved, I could see Sade collaborating with a hip hop act. But it'd have to be something smart, something with a statement. Along the lines of M.I.A., Common or Mos Def perhaps. Um... probably not Drake, though.

But right now I'd most be interested in hearing her do something with Maxwell. Stuart Matthewman needs to get to work!!