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June 8, 2010

It’s only after performing a small set of hits in front of a packed house at West Hollywood’s Key Club does Brandy appear nervous. Standing in front of the crowd, R&B singer Tank, who played host for the headlining gig, proclaims Brandy as the “best female R&B singer in the game.”A bold proclamation given her last album was in 2008. Although “Human” -- her debut on Epic after leaving longtime home Atlantic -- garnered mostly positive reviews , it debuted at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard 200, but logged fewer than 100,000 copies, becoming the singer's lowest-charting opening since her debut nearly 16 years ago.

It doesn’t help that the current crop of female R&B singers, including Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Alicia Keys, doesn' t seem likely to step aside anytime soon. So, it’s no surprise that at a time when even seasoned veterans such as Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton struggle to push album sales, Brandy just “wants to win.”

And she might be on the path to victory. The 31-year-old singer recently reintroduced herself to fans with a new VH1 reality show, “Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business,” where along with reality star brother Ray J and their parents, the family offers viewers a first-hand glimpse into their home life as the siblings try to jumpstart their singing careers.

As an added bonus, “The Boy Is Mine,” Brandy's Grammy winning duet with another R&B veteran, Monica (who also saw a career boost with her own reality show), recently got the “Glee” treatment when the song was featured on an episode and live tour of the hit show.

The singer admitted that she was apprehensive about jumping on the reality show train with "Brandy and Ray J," which she co-executive produces (though she made appearances on both seasons of her brother’s “For the Love of Ray J” and even chronicled her pregnancy in MTV’s “Brandy: Special Delivery”). VH1 has become a destination for more mature reality shows featuring musicians post-Flava Flav with other projects that include Fantasia, Pepa, Chili from TLC and Jessica Simpson.

“I was very hesitant. [People] can tell if you’re ‘putting on’ or if you are being very real or fake. This show was more polished. I felt because it was like [Ray J] and I, and the whole dynamic, I thought it was a better idea. It was more about building our business as a family,” she said. “You can see the different dynamics and the different personality conflicts. I’m glad I did it.”

In the show, which airs its finale on June 27 and was recently picked up for a second season, Brandy deals head-on with some of the issues that have plagued her career -- including a 2006 car accident that left a woman dead and her slapped with multiple lawsuits.

There was also the aforementioned commercial failure of her last project. On the show, it appears she placed the blame on frequent collaborator Rodney Jerkins. But she is quick to correct that.

“It was lacking my belief in it. It lacked my vision. Pretty much bottom line, if you don’t believe in something it’s not going to go,” Norwood said. “Do I believe that ‘Human’ was as creative as ‘Never Say Never’ and ‘Full Moon’ [previous albums largely produced by Jenkins]? No, I do not. You definitely want to put something out that’s like that. I felt at the same time I could have had much better songs and a much better set-up.”

She's not afraid to discuss industry politics, either. Fans of the singer cried foul when Jennifer Lopez released her first single, “Louboutins,” a song originally meant for Brandy (her version eventually leaked online, as did her take on Rihanna’s “Stupid in Love” from “Rated R”). The song was given to Lopez after Brandy parted ways with Epic.

“There are things that happen that I don’t even know about. But a lot of things are political. That’s why it’s so important for me to find the right home for my music and surround myself with people who understand that. I haven’t found that place. I have a few deals on the table, and I’m leaning toward one,” Brandy said. “When things like that happen, it’s a reflection of who’s around you. It’s not anything personal, it’s business. As hard as it is for me to understand that, it is business. Everything is personal to me. You have to have tough skin. I really don’t believe [the song] was meant for me to have. It was [Lopez’s] blessing. That’s my perspective.”

With Season 2 officially confirmed, Brandy hopes to show the process of recording and prepping her next album, and as evidenced by Monica’s recent No. 2 debut on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts (impressive given that her last album was in 2006), no doubt a major thanks to her own hit BET show, Brandy is ultimately hoping for success. But she realizes that it will take more than having cameras following her around.

“At this stage in my career …. I want to go all around the world and share my music with everybody but I can’t do that without the right team. I think at this point, where the music industry is, you get afraid to spend more money [on promotion],” she said. “I just feel like for me, I just really wanted to win. I still want to win, but that’s just not the way the universe works sometime.”

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The age of Gaga has change the game. What else in new?

TonyVanDam said:

The age of Gaga has change the game. What else in new?

That may be true but Brandy has been struggling to connect with a wide audience for years, certainly a few years before Lady Gaga came onto the scene.

She should be glad that the song "Louboutins" was given to Jennifer Lopez.It's a crap song anyway It certainly didn't become a hit for Lopez.

Brandy should generate interest in her new project from her reality show but she still has to deliver the goods (music). You can build all kinds of hype around a project but all that exposure and promotion goes to waste if you don't deliver a dope record. "Human" sucked. Period. And I've been riding with Bran since her debut. I've always enjoyed her voice. That was never the problem. Hell, she did things vocally on her debut that many of todays R&B/Pop stars wouldn't dare try.

Human was depressing. I think she could pick up where she left off with Afrodisiac & Full Moon. I think the pregnancy hindered her promotion of Full Moon. I don't know what the hell happened with Afrodisiac. I remember alot of critics loving it but it just didn't sell. Maybe it was a little bit ahead of its time (idk) considering how Timbaland blew up in 2006 (I think) and went Pop with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. I still think she was headed in the right direction with Afro. It featured a more mature Brandy and the production to me was on point. By this time Atlantic probably was done with Brand Brandy and didn't believe in her ability to sell anymore. "Human" might have just been a tax write off for them and the end of her contract obligations. IDK. I do know she need to connect with the right kind of support that understands what she offers best musically and make sure she delivers it in the studio.

[Edited 6/9/10 6:00am]

SoulAlive said:

She should be glad that the song "Louboutins" was given to Jennifer Lopez.It's a crap song anyway It certainly didn't become a hit for Lopez.

For real it was a stinker.

On another note, no wonder everyone's albums end up sounding the same or use the same producers. A select few songs are bounced around the top of the industry and not tailor made to anyone.

Cinnie said:

SoulAlive said:

She should be glad that the song "Louboutins" was given to Jennifer Lopez.It's a crap song anyway It certainly didn't become a hit for Lopez.

For real it was a stinker.

On another note, no wonder everyone's albums end up sounding the same or use the same producers. A select few songs are bounced around the top of the industry and not tailor made to anyone.

Exactly Everyone works with the same,predictable producers and if a song is rejected,it just goes to another artist.That's why everything on the radio sounds alike.

she's fucking crazy for dismissing the Human album like that, it was a great record!

The RB female game is done unless u are Beyonce or Rihanna at this point, so i suggest Brandy try to develop a european following if she wants to appeal, take it from Kelly Rowland or Amerie or Mya or Teedra Moses, do some mix tapes, circulate your own shit, she has been around for awhile now, why is shocked this is the "business" now, her and Toni Braxton must have been drinking the "ignorance" juice in the 90's

lastdecember said:

The RB female game is done unless u are Beyonce or Rihanna at this point, so i suggest Brandy try to develop a european following if she wants to appeal, take it from Kelly Rowland or Amerie or Mya or Teedra Moses, do some mix tapes, circulate your own shit, she has been around for awhile now, why is shocked this is the "business" now, her and Toni Braxton must have been drinking the "ignorance" juice in the 90's

Seems like the people who grew up idolizing their favorites in the 80s then had fame in the 90s know no other world except mass superstardom.

Cinnie said:

lastdecember said:

The RB female game is done unless u are Beyonce or Rihanna at this point, so i suggest Brandy try to develop a european following if she wants to appeal, take it from Kelly Rowland or Amerie or Mya or Teedra Moses, do some mix tapes, circulate your own shit, she has been around for awhile now, why is shocked this is the "business" now, her and Toni Braxton must have been drinking the "ignorance" juice in the 90's

Seems like the people who grew up idolizing their favorites in the 80s then had fame in the 90s know no other world except mass superstardom.

Very good point and alot of "fans" cant let the numbers go either as we all know

PricelessHo said:

she's fucking crazy for dismissing the Human album like that, it was a great record!

Their only evaluation of "greatness" is sales? Mimi STILL refers to Glitter as "that project" So you know where they come from.

PricelessHo said:

she's fucking crazy for dismissing the Human album like that, it was a great record!

LMAO!

Harlepolis said:

PricelessHo said:

she's fucking crazy for dismissing the Human album like that, it was a great record!

Their only evaluation of "greatness" is sales? Mimi STILL refers to Glitter as "that project" So you know where they come from.

AJ (BET): time for a wordplay,, Glitter?

MC: dust

she bugs me too because in low profile interviews she actually says very good things about it.

and then you see her in one of those popular shows and all the confidence goes out of the window.

Harlepolis said:

PricelessHo said:

she's fucking crazy for dismissing the Human album like that, it was a great record!

Their only evaluation of "greatness" is sales? Mimi STILL refers to Glitter as "that project" So you know where they come from.

I hate their excuses for why those albums didn't sell. Artistry always ruled over commercial bullshit, they should realize that instead of trying to chase that sell-out paper. I understand trying to make ends meet but gimme a fucking break!

Harlepolis said:

PricelessHo said:

she's fucking crazy for dismissing the Human album like that, it was a great record!

Their only evaluation of "greatness" is sales? Mimi STILL refers to Glitter as "that project" So you know where they come from.

The thing is some of her fans actually think it's a good album and it's actually

better than the shit she's released of late.

[Edited 6/9/10 21:35pm]

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

Their only evaluation of "greatness" is sales? Mimi STILL refers to Glitter as "that project" So you know where they come from.

I hate their excuses for why those albums didn't sell. Artistry always ruled over commercial bullshit, they should realize that instead of trying to chase that sell-out paper. I understand trying to make ends meet but gimme a fucking break!

They should do like Prince, and not try to out do the best album they EVER had...you know Mike tried to do that time and time again...and failed...sorry MJ, just being real.

I've been a Brandy fan for many years. Human was a great album, especially if you're an insomniac . She should've known that it wouldn't be a big seller. Her albums in the 90's were always packed with hits. Afrodisiac still stands as her best record. Whichever musical direction she chooses to go down next, I hope it gets her some type of success, whether it be sales wise or artistically. She can start by picking better wigs.

rialb said:

TonyVanDam said:

The age of Gaga has change the game. What else in new?

That may be true but Brandy has been struggling to connect with a wide audience for years, certainly a few years before Lady Gaga came onto the scene.

The very last time Brandy has a wider audience was when she was on the Babyface-produced Waiting To Exhale soundtrack.

SoulAlive said:

She should be glad that the song singing commercial "Louboutins" was given to Jennifer Lopez.It's a crap song anyway It certainly didn't become a hit for Lopez.

Fix'd

There is no such thing as a "mature reality show". That is an oxymoron. Artists who do reality shows reduce themselves from star to celebrity, and you don't need talent to be a celebrity. Networks are doing all they can to protect their cheap t.v. format of faux "reality". One day, that shitty programming format will die out but no time soon, it seems. What she needs is a reality CHECK, not a reality show.

Chick, you need to step your vocal game up and stop singing like you're still a post teen. We all know you CAN sing - so SING. And stop singing on wack ass tracks. Tell them mf'ers "NO" when they try to push somebody's leftover junk track on you.

[Edited 6/10/10 0:11am]

phunkdaddy said:

Harlepolis said:

Their only evaluation of "greatness" is sales? Mimi STILL refers to Glitter as "that project" So you know where they come from.

The thing is some of her fans actually think it's a good album and it's actually

better than the shit she's released of late.

[Edited 6/9/10 21:35pm]

It is,,,,by a FAR mile.

lastdecember said:

The RB female game is done unless u are Beyonce or Rihanna at this point, so i suggest Brandy try to develop a european following if she wants to appeal, take it from Kelly Rowland or Amerie or Mya or Teedra Moses, do some mix tapes, circulate your own shit, she has been around for awhile now, why is shocked this is the "business" now, her and Toni Braxton must have been drinking the "ignorance" juice in the 90's

I find it very sad that female R&B singers don't have the same kind of support that pop singers do. Britney struggled for a bit but got back on her feet. Even if "Bionic" flops, Christina will never be in the same circumstances as Brandy.

Where is her kid?

CynicKill said:

I've said it once before and I'll say it again, Brandy's strongest album was her first. I don't know what went down with her and that producer but she needs to get back with him. Her and Jerkins had their time but she never should've left her first producer.

His name is Keith Crouch whom also produced for the likes of Rashaan Patterson, Tevin

Campbell, El DeBarge, Lalah Hathaway, Jason Weaver, and Ray J's first album which

was actually pretty decent considering what he has stooped to now.

phunkdaddy said:

CynicKill said:

I've said it once before and I'll say it again, Brandy's strongest album was her first. I don't know what went down with her and that producer but she needs to get back with him. Her and Jerkins had their time but she never should've left her first producer.

His name is Keith Crouch whom also produced for the likes of Rashaan Patterson, Tevin

Campbell, El DeBarge, Lalah Hathaway, Jason Weaver, and Ray J's first album which

was actually pretty decent considering what he has stooped to now.

I haven't seen too much with that producer's name on it but he did the damn thing on 1994's Brandy.

Oh so she's still trying?

midiscover said:

Oh so she's still trying?

Umm, yeah. If I had a dick, I would seriously be jerking off at this moment, than wait for Brandy to resurrect her already dead career.

NastradumasKid said:

midiscover said:

Oh so she's still trying?

Umm, yeah. If I had a dick, I would seriously be jerking off at this moment, than wait for Brandy to resurrect her already dead career.

WTF lmaooo!