Dwele

R&B singer Dwele is prepping for a March 2008 release of his third album, the follow-up to 2005's "Some Kinda..." The soul crooner (real name Andwele Gardner) tells Billboard.com he's been working on the album in Detroit, Los Angeles and Virginia. The Detroit rap group Slum Village will appear on the album, and Dwele says he's also reached out to Kanye West after appearing on "Flashing Lights" from West's latest album, "Graduation." Dwele describes the as-yet-untitled album as "kind of a mixture. I have a couple songs that are more radio-friendly, but I'm actually trying to take my time and elevate. It's all about going with the music and trying to follow that." Lyrically, he says he'll "stick primarily to relationships. That's what people tend to buy ... Everything from the usual living life and learning about love. This album is moreso talking about relationships and what we have to do to make them work." Dwele, who's also recorded guest spots for new albums by labelmates AZ and Foxy Brown, says he still feels like "Some Kinda..." "just came out," but fans have made him aware of the gap between his albums. "When I check MySpace, I see people's comments -- 'Y'know, it's been such-and-such years. When's another album? It's time.' I have to sit back and think, 'Yeah, it has been a minute...'," he notes. One other stop Dwele is planning for 2008 is at the Grammy Awards ceremony on Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. His version of Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World," from the tribute album "Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire," is nominated in the best urban/alternative performance category. "Oh, man, when I first got the information on it I was driving and had to pull the car over. I almost crashed," recalls Dwele. "It's very exciting. I'm looking forward to being there.” Source: Billboard