Chrisette Michele sings, raps, and even writes with her mother on her third album Let Freedom Reign. The 15-track offering includes the singles “I’m a Star” and “Goodbye Game,” as well as guest appearances from Talib Kweli, The Roots’ Black Thought, and frequent collaborator Rick Ross on “So in Love.”

The November 30 release, produced mainly by Chuck Harmony and featuring background vocals from Jazmine Sullivan and Ne-Yo, boasts the title track featuring Talib and Black Thought. Chrisette previously told Rap-Up.com that she spits on the song, which originally featured four guest rappers.

“It’s just from the bottom of my heart,” she said of the collection of songs. “It’s not typical and there might be a song that you might not relate to, but at least you’ll know it’s mine.”

Liberate the tracklisting below per Amazon.

Read the rest of this entry »

After premiering “Dear Miss Audrey” yesterday, Chrisette Michele liberates another cut from her mixtape Love Thy Brother in advance of its release this Friday. The sultry songstress remixes “Aston Martin Music,” on which she originally crooned alongside Drake and Rick Ross. The new version of the smoky tune boasts an unheard verse from the “I’m a Star” singer, as well as an additional 16 from her brother Lem Payne.

Read the rest of this entry »

In anticipation of her third album Let Freedom Reign (Nov. 30), Chrisette Michele is giving back to her fans with the release of a free mixtape Love Thy Brother, dropping this Friday. Rap-Up.com has the premiere of the Salaam Remi-produced “Dear Miss Audrey,” a retro-flavored track left over from a studio session for one of her previous albums.

Chrisette explains that the mixtape has been a long time coming, made up of songs left on the cutting room floor. “Love Thy Brother is a mixtape that me and my brother Lem Payne conceptualized and dreamed about doing for so long. It’s a special project that’s dear to us,” she stated. “We go from ‘Aston Martin Music’ to the state of ‘Black Boys in America.’ So creatively, each song you hear from Love Thy Brother represents the struggle.”

The “I’m a Star” singer also shared the origins of these tracks and their importance to her movement. “I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into each of these songs, but they didn’t make my first three albums. But each song was dear to me in their own special way and I wanted the world to hear these songs out of love for all of my fans,” she continued. “I just wanted to give something back to all the fans that have supported throughout the years. This mixtape is for you… the fans.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Chrisette Michele plays ringleader on the revised cover for her third album Let Freedom Reign (Nov. 30). Donning a black top hat, elongated eyelashes, and a black corset, the Grammy-winning songstress poses in front of a tan-and-red backdrop, channeling a circus aesthetic. Peep the previous artwork and let us know which version you prefer.

Chrisette Michele glams it up on the New York City set of the Armen Djerrahian-directed video for “I’m a Star,” the lead single off her third album Let Freedom Reign (due Nov. 30). The New Yorker looks classy in a bunched headwrap, lacy black dress, and silk robe, relaxing on a balcony by reading the newspaper and heading inside to gaze at herself in the mirror.

“This is a video about a star girl who decides I don’t have to love another star to be cool or to be famous, I can love whoever I want,” Chrisette told “Access Hollywood” on set. “This is about the freedom to love whoever it is you decide. And I love, in this video, my driver.”

Be on the lookout for the clip dropping soon, and check out the shining star in the stills below.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chrisette Michele gets dolled up on the patriotic cover of her third album Let Freedom Reign, arriving November 30. Batting long eyelashes, a stunning Chrisette rocks elegant diamond earrings and a burlesque cap, staring into the camera against a red-and-tan-striped background.

The album, which has spawned the first single “I’m a Star,” will feature backing vocals from Jazmine Sullivan and Ne-Yo, with the bulk of production handled by longtime collaborator Chuck Harmony. But the crown jewel will be a song featuring Drake, Rick Ross, Talib Kweli, and Black Thought where she raps.

“I’m rapping this time, there’s a few featured rappers on there,” she previously told Rap-Up.com, noting that she was a rapper long before she started singing. “There’s four of them, and there’s four verses, and we’re still choosing which ones we want to use.”

Artwork via HipHop-N-More

Chrisette Michele falls in love on the set of “I’m a Star,” the first single from her third album Let Freedom Reign, due November 30.

“This is a video about a star girl who decides I don’t have to love another star to be cool or to be famous, I can love whoever I want,” Chrisette tells “Access Hollywood.” “This is about the freedom to love whoever it is you decide. And I love, in this video, my driver.”

She also discusses her “rock-soul” album and reveals the four rappers she trades verses with on one of the tracks (Drake, Rick Ross, Talib Kweli, and Black Thought). “It’s Tina Turner meets Kanye meets Lauryn Hill meets Chrisette Michele, who is Sarah Vaughan in her second life,” she explains.

Watch Chrisette get her shine on below.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fans might know Chrisette Michele for her unique voice and introspective songs, but they’re about to see a whole other side of the shaved-headed songstress on her third album Let Freedom Reign, arriving November 30. The R&B diva will not only be flaunting her pipes, but also her rap skills, and has a few surprise guests in store.

Read the rest of this entry »