Rap-Up.com || Kelly Rowland Returns to R&B Roots on New Album

Rico Love is no stranger to working with Kelly Rowland, having penned the Destiny’s Child member’s 2010 dance hit “Commander” as well as the sizzling, Jim Jonsin-produced “Motivation,” the first single from her forthcoming album due this summer.

While Kelly’s foray into dance last year may have thrown her stateside fans for a loop, overseas they welcomed the change. But Rico, who’s crafted about 10 to 12 songs for the album, says she’s returning to her R&B roots these days.

“‘Commander’ overseas was the No. 1 dance record and No. 1 in airplay, so it did very well in other countries,” the hitmaker tells Rap-Up.com. “They didn’t release it here in the States officially. But I think ‘Motivation’ speaks to her core fans. It’s soul, it’s sexual, it’s Kelly kinda taking a stance and being a lot more sexual and emotional like the Kelly [her fans] fell in love with.”

Fans can expect to hear elements of both classy and sassy on her third solo LP. While Kelly will be driving down the same lane of the radio-friendly R&B tunes that she crafted with Beyoncé and Michelle Williams, she’ll also make pit stops on the dance side of the road.

“I think it’s a good collaboration of both,” Rico shares. “I want to make sure we’re clear that there’s no indecisiveness or scatterbrained type of vibe. Being an artist, what happens is you start going through different things and you start enjoying different parts of your life and start reminiscing and remembering, and that’s what the studio experience is about… Sometimes you start here and end up here, but that’s where the music takes you. I think it’s gonna be leaning toward the urban rhythmic side.”

While a tracklisting has yet to be finalized, Rico is confident that “Love Is the Greatest,” a soulful tune he wrote with a distinct reggae vibe, will make the cut.

“I did that with Salaam Remi,” he reveals. “It just feels so good. It showcases her vocals. I take pride in vocals and I take pride in producing vocals and pulling out the best vocals I can out of all the artists I work with. To me, the artist is the instrument. So if I’m writing a melody and coming up with an idea, I have to make sure I coach [an artist] and push them to a level where everybody singing the song believes it. Every time you hear Kelly sing a song, you should feel like she wrote it because she means it that much.”

–Georgette Cline

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40 Comments

yoko
April 20th, 2011 at 8:06 am
I cannot wait!!

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Weber from Brazil Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@yoko, me too

luv u Kelly sooooo much +_+

Hope she gets more successful than ever!!

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P
April 20th, 2011 at 8:08 am
I’m still hoping she’ll release 2 versions of this album.

One with more dance tracks for Europe & other countries (where Commander did good). & one with the R&B shizzle for the US.

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Lexx_Janay
April 20th, 2011 at 8:11 am
Yes this is what we need….im tired of all these dance tracks

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EURO BLANCO
April 20th, 2011 at 8:12 am
we love you kelly

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Brown Sugar
April 20th, 2011 at 8:24 am
I can’t wait because I love Kelly sooo much, she is my favorite member of DC!

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shay
April 20th, 2011 at 8:28 am
i have a feeling this album will be better quality than what beyonce’s putting out right now. If she sticks with this idea of going back to r&b she’ll do just fine. i’m actually excited for her realise now more than Mrs Carter’s.

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TheCatSeries Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
@shay, i said the same thing lol
i said to myself, it’ll be funny if beyonce stuff flopped, and kellys was on top

Not like i want beyonce to fail, cause ima beyonce fan too

it was just a thought, but we shall see

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Why Ask
April 20th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Really who give a damn? She hasnt done nothing for music, even when she was in DC. Thats why Beyonce is where she is and everyone else…well sure you understand.

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Blaze Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 9:39 am
@Why Ask, Fool Kelly was the sound in DC everyone knows that.She made it hot. Stop hatin its room for all to eat.

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rara Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@Why Ask, Please take a sit hater!!!..hahahhaahh…Kelly was the first urban artist that went the dance route and then everyone started to copy her…Kelly is going to slay here in the states like she is doing overseas..Haters fall back

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yoooo
April 20th, 2011 at 8:29 am
I hope this is the right move for her and that the songs are quality. I’m kind of worried that Rico penned some tracks because the songs he did for Fantasia were absolute garbage. Good luck Kelly!

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Myrl22
April 20th, 2011 at 8:33 am
I cant wait… Kelly, GO GO GO GO

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qwert
April 20th, 2011 at 8:34 am
So excited. Kelly is a class artist, definitely my fave voice in the industry!

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Rap*
April 20th, 2011 at 8:39 am
Cant wait.

I have to say Riri did this reggae ish since RB and now every female chick has a reggae song on the album and uses an accent on those reconds (keri, ciara, nicole).

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Shame Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
@Rap*, Are you kiddng me rihanna startd reggae rnb? bob marley had rnb reggae aswell as many other artist i dnt knw why ppl say that she ditchd that sound her new singles are mre Pop than anythng else. lord save ths chld

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TeamKelly!!
April 20th, 2011 at 8:56 am
This is what I’ve been waiting for!!!

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GreatestEva
April 20th, 2011 at 8:56 am
I have never liked Kelly’s voice, but my curiosity is piqued.

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brian b...
April 20th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Yay for kelly!! As much as I loved all her dance songs I felt they didn’t showcase how talented she actually was. This works for me!!! Can’t wait to hear the album!!!

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nikkiischillin
April 20th, 2011 at 9:33 am
I’m loving this hype for Kelly right now. Its about time. Motivation is my jam. I will be purchasing several copies of her new album for sure.

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Blaze
April 20th, 2011 at 9:42 am
I love me some Ms.Kelly an gonna cop it.Her tone is so pure.

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precious97
April 20th, 2011 at 10:09 am
i can’t wait to hear ‘Geronimo’the song that Chris Brown wrote I know she’ll kill it good luck Kelly hope she does okay

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Misty Jean
April 20th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I can’t wait, but damn, how long before the album is released?

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Kyle
April 20th, 2011 at 10:14 am
I will always support Kelly but man, I really thought she was going to break big with “Commander” last year. She sounds so liberated on some of those dance tracks that it gives me goosebumps. I can appreciate her standard urban/R&B sound, but I don’t think she’ll find the success she is looking for. I thought dance music was a good direction for her personally.

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Dave
April 20th, 2011 at 10:26 am
I’m really happy, & then I was gonna say I’m not, but he said she will make pits stops on the dance side of the road. I was about to be mad because Kelly make’s all sorts of great music from various genre’s, & like she said “She’s not gonna allow herself to be limited’, & I don’t want her to be either. She’s too talented & makes epic R&B/Soul, & dance music to cut one out. She makes great rock like songs too “Stole.”

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Dave
April 20th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Well more like Alternative that was.

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rara
April 20th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Get it Kels!!!…Will definitely be coping that album

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Carl
April 20th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
I LOVE the way you’re talking about how Kelly is doing the right thing and Bey isn’t. Why don’t u make Kelly’s album sell more than 100K the first week then? You’re actually giving her false hopes by talking all that crap and not supporting. I’ve seen alot of people say they can’t wait for Kelly’s album but they’re not even supporting what she puts out. How can she plug an album with no hits? Then you’ll cry she has no promo, etc. I can’t.

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Khalyi Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
@Carl,

Shut yo faggot ass up. Kelly makes better quality music than Beyonce any day. I can’t stand to see a man hate on a woman (something’s wrong there). Bottom line is Kelly will do big things this year, and her releasing music while Bee is, only means one thing…SHE AIN’T SCARED!!!!!!! True talent will prevail, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Fall in line or fall the fuck back!!!!

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Nes Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
@Carl,

These Bee fags, I tell ya. SMH!!!!!! I can’t stand for a man to hate on another woman. SAD CASE BRO!!!

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lizzy mpai Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 3:28 am
@Carl, youre fool of crap. stop hating. haters always stand on the side lines and criticize coz they aint got jack shit. go get a hobby!!!!

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DJInVincible74
April 20th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I’m glad that this album will have a mix of R&B and Dance(remember when they were the same thing? When did Urban radio listeners forget how to dance?). “Commander” should have been officially released here with how well it did overseas and considering how poorly her previous R&B single “Grown @$$ Woman” did here in the States.

[Reply]
New album to feature R&B roots « THE KELLY ROWLAND NETWORK
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MaZ
April 20th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Kelly is such a beautiful woman!

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muni
April 20th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
You better be ready for Ms Kelly ROWLAND cos this bitch is about to SLAY, forget about the other females and how many #1s they have. Cos KELLY TIME is NOW!!!

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Carl
April 20th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
UMMMM… I DON’T HATE KELLY AT ALL. LIKE I SAID. STOP ARGUING ON BLOGS AND GO AND BUY HER SINGLE.

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lizzy mpai
April 21st, 2011 at 3:24 am
im a die hard kelly fan. loving her new album

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Rico Love Speaks On Kelly Rowland's R&B Roots For Summer Album
April 21st, 2011 at 5:13 am
[...] sexy groove is a successful return to her core sound with even hotter visuals, and Rico spoke with Rap Up on more material that fans can expect from Kelly this [...]
Oh Please
April 21st, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Motivation is ma muthafckin JAMMMMMMM!

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Troy
April 27th, 2011 at 4:18 am
If Kelly sticks with R&B, slow jams kinda oldies feel and throw in a few dance songs she’ll do just fine. She’s much more down to earth and real than that attention whore beYAWNcy, by which I hear she’s being sued for $100 Million dollars and I hope they take that b*tch to the bank, because she’s just like her father and mother a swindler. Good Luck Kelly, and by all means don’t let beYAWNcy talk you and Michelle into a reunion because she’s good at trying to get attention by dueting and getting with hot artist on record to sell herself and stay relevant. Example: Shakira, Usher, Luther, Lady GaGa and soon she’ll be trying to tap into Adele’s spotlight. I wished she’s just go the hell away. Love ya Kelly, and best wishes.

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