Sean Garrett has a big year ahead working on new music for Chris Brown, T.I., Brandy, and Nicole Scherzinger, but the platinum hitmaker took a few moments out of his busy schedule to reflect on the past year in music. Garrett shared his five favorite albums of the year with Rap-Up.com. Find out which fellow singer-songwriter made his list, the Young Money rapper who landed at #4, and his “hands down” choice for best album of 2011.

1. Adele – 21
2. Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne
3. Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra
4. Drake – Take Care
5. Beyoncé – 4

Do you agree with Sean’s picks? Let us know below!

Brandy is coming back hard. Sean Garrett has been in the lab diligently working on the R&B veteran’s sixth album, her first since signing to RCA/Chameleon Records. The hitmaker spoke exclusively with Rap-Up.com about developing a current, yet fresh sound with today’s top hitmakers including Bangladesh, Hit-Boy, and Tha Bizness, while staying true to her R&B roots.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to really try to bring R&B back,” explained Garrett, who also teased with details about the hip-hop-influenced first single, which will feature a surprise guest and is expected to arrive before Christmas.

Find out what he had to say about Brandy’s return to music.

How is this album going to be different from Brandy’s past ones?
It’s gonna show the evolution of Brandy, the fact that she’s very, very current. Her harmonies and vocal abilities are still unmatched and there’s still a lot of integrity in her records. I feel like there’s a great deal of cohesiveness in this album, but at the same time, there were a few chances taken. But I feel like it’s a really, really dope record. I feel like young and old people will definitely love it. I hope people feel like she hasn’t missed a beat with this album. What I wanted to do with these records is make sure that she kept the integrity of who she is, but she’s definitely still showing people how to do hit records. I wanted to feel her having fun and I feel like she’s having fun on this album.

You said the album has a hip-hop influence…
Absolutely. I had the opportunity to work with some of my friends who I love working with like Bangladesh. We definitely got a hip-hop element to it. I also worked with my man Hit-Boy and my buddy Tha Bizness. We always kept a very solid hip-hop type of vibe to it as far as the drums, but at the same time, it’s very, very climactic, harmonic, and it’s about love. A lot of the songs are very, very love oriented. Even though we have a touch of hip-hop on the tracks, there’s a great deal of Brandy in every record.

Will she have some club bangers on there?
Better believe it. You got to know that.

Are there any featured guests?
It’s gonna be action packed. I think it’ll be more fair for her to reveal the collaborator we’re putting on the first single. They’re really, really hot songs and I’m proud of it. I really love and enjoy working with Brandy and we’re still working, but the work we’ve already been able to accomplish has been incredibly fun and fresh. She’s just having fun and letting her hair down. It was just a very free environment, roll your sleeves up, and get to the fucking music. Trying to do what everybody else is doing is out the door. We just went in there and just got down to the music.

Will her R&B fans be pleased?
I wanted to take this opportunity to really try to bring R&B back. I’m not gonna do it single handedly, but there’s some records on here that are really good and gonna make people be like, “I love R&B music and I miss R&B music.” At the same time, there are some records on here that people are gonna be like, “Oh shit.” It’s so great to be able to create for people and have them really appreciate your love and appreciation for them because she has one of the most incredible voices I’ve ever recorded.

What else can you tell us about the first single?
What I can tell you is that it’s hot. It’s definitely something you have never heard—you probably haven’t heard Brandy over a track like this. It’s very commercial, but at the same time, it’s got a dope hip-hop influence—it’s club, it’s radio, it’s all formats.

That’s produced and written by you?
I am one of the producers on the record and yes, I wrote it.

Is it safe to say the feature is a rapper?
That’s possible, that’s possible [laughs].

Will we get to hear it this year?
It’s coming really soon. I’d probably say before Christmas.

And the album early next year?
Yeah, I think she said her album is coming around April.

Two of the biggest voices in music, Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé, join forces on their new duet “Love a Woman.” The producer-songwriter behind the superstar collaboration, Sean Garrett, spoke with Rap-Up.com about how the “iconic” track came together.

Garrett, who has penned hits for both women in the past, revealed that the song was originally written for Beyoncé. “I initially did the record for Beyoncé and then we just felt it would be an even bigger record with Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige,” he explained. “Both these women are two iconic female figures in the world, and what would be better than putting those two on a record? We felt it would be a really iconic move.”

“Woman,” which appears on Blige’s 10th album My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act I), will take listeners back. “We did a throwback ’90s type of feel with the track,” said Garrett. “We wanted to give people who grew up with Mary and Beyoncé that real feel that they could reminisce on.”

The R&B divas showcase their powerful pipes on the R&B-drenched record. “The vocals on it are impeccable,” added the hitmaker. “Both Mary and Beyoncé did an incredible job vocally. It just epitomizes the soulfulness, the integrity of real women, and it couldn’t come at a more climactic time.”

While it’s unknown if an accompanying video will be shot, Garrett has high hopes. “I wouldn’t bet against it.”

Sean Garrett keeps it “In Da Box” on his new single featuring Rick Ross. The Roc Nation signee makes his way from the Grammys to King of Diamonds on the Lex Lugar-produced banger, bragging about his way with the ladies. “I like to call her Jackie O., presidential only/ Anything that I gotta get done, she get down and do it for me,” he sings while Rozay spoils his girl with the finer things.

Listen to them knock it out the box below.

Sean Garrett kept it classy while singing “Feel Love,” the lead single from his Roc Nation debut, on Friday’s “Wendy Williams Show.” The singer-songwriter, dressed in a white tuxedo jacket and black bow tie, was backed by a small string orchestra as he crooned about falling in love. However, Sean wasn’t too in love with his live set, tweeting, “I must apologize for the sound on my performance.”

How do you think Sean did? Share your thoughts below.

[UMD]

Pusha T and Big Sean were among the honorees at this year’s 2011 Rising Icons Awards. GREY GOOSE Vodka toasted the G.O.O.D. Music rhymers, along with Roc Nation singer-songwriter Sean Garrett, supermodel Jessica White, rapper Jared Evan, and world-renowned DJ Mel DeBarge on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel in New York City on Tuesday (March 22). Past honorees include Keri Hilson, Ryan Leslie, The-Dream, and J. Cole.

What do you think of this year’s selections? See photos and sound off below.

Sean Garrett celebrated NBA All-Star Weekend with his Roc family at Jay-Z and LeBron James’ Two Kings After-Party. When not partying, the hitmaker has been in the studio working on his Roc Nation debut, due this summer, as well as projects for Justin Bieber, K. Michelle, Estelle, and Beyoncé.

While he was tight-lipped about Mrs. Carter’s highly-anticipated fourth album, the “Diva” songwriter said to expect an announcement from the superstar herself soon. “She’ll be telling you real soon what the album’s about,” he told Rap-Up TV.

He had a little more to say about Estelle’s new single, which he helmed. “It’s really international, but it’s also very rhythmic. It’s gon’ bang up the clubs. I think this is a record that actually can work on rhythm, urban, and international [radio].”

Sean Garrett rethinks his perspective on love in the video for “Feel Love” featuring J. Cole, a single off his upcoming U.S. debut. In the Taj-directed clip, the Roc Nation signees pledge their dedication to their girls in spite of the times that they may not be giving them their all. Of course, the good comes with some bad, but they both manage to weather the romantic storm. Go through the ups and downs of love in the new video.

Sean Garrett swaps out Drake for his new Roc Nation labelmate J. Cole on the sultry “Feel Love.” The new version of the guitar-laced jam, which also serves as the lead single off his U.S. debut album, has the singer-songwriter falling in love for the first time and wanting to tell everyone about his emotional state. Can you feel the love?

Sean Garrett f/ J. Cole – “Feel Love”

[Papa Smirf]

Swapping out Gucci Mane and Tyga, singer-songwriter Sean Garrett enlists Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, and Twista for the remix to “She Geeked” off his mixtape The Inkwell. The newest Roc Nation signee, who considered a deal with Young Money, sing-raps about sexin’ down the ladies, paving the way for Bussa Bus, Luda, and Twista to spit tongue-twisting rhymes over an echoing beat. Geek out below.

Sean Garrett f/ Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, & Twista – “She Geeked (Remix)”

Audio via 2dopeboyz