While his #1 Billboard single “OMG” may be getting all the pop glory, Usher’s #2 Billboard Hot 100 quiet storm hit, “There Goes My Baby” has been making waves for 26 weeks at radio and among fans since day one. Much like his last hit ballad, the Rell-penned “Here I Stand;” This Rico Love produced track is strictly a grown and sexy affair. This steamy video gives the urban AC track its due diligence. Did Usher just add more heat to your summer?

Proving she may be one of the most versatile performers of her time, Verve Forecast artist Lizz Wright returns Sept. 14th with Fellowship, her first gospel and inspirational set. The smoldering-voiced jazz and pop chanteuse is joined on her faithwalk by Angelique Kidjo, Me’shell N’Degeocello, Joan as Policewoman, Dr. Bernice Reagon (Sweet Honey In The Rock founder) and long-time collaborator Singer/Songwriter/Producer Toshi Reagon for an album that includes such standards as “Amazing Grace” and the Caravan’s “Sweeping Through The City.”

The set will also include more unexpected fare like Eric Clapton’s “Presence of The Lord” and Jimi Hendrix’s “In From The Storm,” as well as several originals. Fans of Wright’s critically-acclaimed debut, Salt; and her most recent project, The Orchard; should find plenty to hum and sway to.

Comedian/Actor and former R&B singer Eddie Murphy has already surprised both critics and audiences with his Oscar-nominated portrayal of the fictional R&B superstar, James Thunder Early, in the movie version of Dreamgirls. Now, can Murphy pull off James Brown beyond his famous SNL hot tub skits of Brown or stand-up parodies in Delirious. We may all find out soon enough, according to the latest Hollywood reports, Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment is producing the bio pic with Murphy eyeing the starring role. Can Murphy pull off the Godfather of Soul the way Jamie Foxx so fully embodied Ray Charles in Ray? You may get to find out soon enough.

Southern soul Singer/Songwriter Calvin Richardson is back with “You’re So Amazing,” the second-most added R&B single on radio last week. The North Carolina native has released four albums, including 2009’s double-Grammy-nominated The Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack. This year will see the release of his fifth effort, America’s Most Wanted. Richardson, who was awarded ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for co-writing Charlie Wilson’s “There Goes My Baby,” has yet to find major success on the charts. Maybe this new effort will be the elusive platinum charm he’s been grinding for since 1999.

America’s Most Wanted available August 31st

Click the pic above to hear “You’re So Amazing.”

First Lyfe Jennings and now Slum Village announces plans to retire after the release and promotion of their forthcoming project, Villa Manifesto, due out July 27th. Following the death of rapper Baatin and more recent homegoing of iconic producer J Dilla, founding members of the Slum Village crew; T3, Elzhi, and Illa J valiantly kept the candle lit, regularly releasing mixtapes and new projects. Now, if recent tweets from T3 and Elzhi are to be believed, the light of Detroit will soon be blowing in the wind.

In honor of this group’s accomplishments, name your favorite Slum jam.

Steph Jones has been making noise for the last several years as a red hot model, soul pop singer, and reported suitor friend of Jordin Sparks.  His three singles to date (“Shooting Star,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Gravity“) have helped secure him a serious fan base of young hipsters who’ve become fervent advocates for the heartthrob. One, Goldas Smith, created a video for Jones most recent single, “Galactic 2,” from the free and smoking Galactic Lifetape download.  Jones was so taken by the fan’s animated video that he made the uber-creative feature the “Galactic 2″ official video. Click and fall deeper into the intergalactic world of Seth Jones.

Click here to view the embedded video.

R&B platinum artist Lyfe Jennings announces that he plans to retire soon after the release and promotion of his fourth album on his own imprint through Warner Bros., “I Still Believe,” coming out July 27th. With a drop date that has been pushed back at least three times this year, three title changes, and three singles already released as leads over the last ten months, one would think that this was just the talk of another industry frustrated artist. To the contrary, a recent father, the 37 year-old  Jennings tells Buzz In The City that he decided to leave the seven to eight months he spends on the road to stay home and help raise his two sons and new daughter.

Having just wrapped up a movie, signed an R&B group to his label, and gearing up for the release of a children’s book series, it looks like the proud papa will be in the public eye for many years to come. Until the ex-con turned hit-making singer/songwriter truly hangs up his shingle, be on the lookout for the forthcoming video for his latest single, “Statistics,” the follow-up to his Billboard hit “Busy”

Check out Lyfe’s announcement on the set of the video for “Statistics” here.

The steady stream of leaks and strong singles have inspired hope that Fantasia’s new effort, Back to Me, will indeed mark the return of a sound and a talent that had America under a spell in 2004 .  The video for her latest Billboard R&B Top 20 single, “Bittersweet,” should help keep up the momentum and hold fans over until the entire album hits their ears.

Think Fantasia is back musically? SOUND OFF!

After a 30-year career of extraordinary highs and disappointing lows, El Debarge (pictured right) is back in a major way. After a performance at the 2010 BET Awards that left many a youngin’ in the dust, the mature survivor showed up (and out) with a performance of classic Debarge family hits. Selected as a BET Music Matters artist, Debarge gave an encore performance singing the title track from his forthcoming comeback album, Second Chance—his first in 16 years. On this exclusive behind-the-scenes video, Debarge talks about his trials with drug abuse and the music that made him one of the most emulated male vocalists of all times. Songs on Second Chance were co-written and co-produced by some of music’s most notable hitmakers, including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface, Mike City, Michael Angelo, Mishka, the Avila Brothers and Ron Fair.

(Interview after the jump)

Q&A With El DeBarge

Q: What do you want to tell us with this album? What is your message?
A: I want the world to know that tomorrow is full of second chances, and all your fears should be left behind you.

Q: Why did you write the song “Second Chance”?
A: I wrote “Second Chance” to commemorate all the struggles I went through, and I feel it speaks to struggles in the souls and the hearts of people who are going through what I went through and who want a second chance.

Q: How are you feeling being back?
A: I’m very grateful to be back. It’s joyful, it’s scary, it’s all of that.

Q: Describe your connection to your fans.
A: I love my fans. I like being up close and personal with them, so I really like being on tour more than I like just being in the studio.

Q: Are you a spiritual person?
A: I have a close relationship with God. From the moment I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is to get on my knees and pray. He’s everything to me. He’s my music. He’s my source of creativity. He’s my breath.

Q: What is the El DeBarge sound, and how has it changed and evolved over the years?
A: The El DeBarge sound is soulful, it’s joyful, it’s filled with intricate harmonies. It talks about life, it talks about love… it hasn’t changed, though. It’s the same.

Q: What’s your songwriting process like? Where do you draw inspiration from?
A: I draw inspiration from walking down the street, from driving, from being in crowds and just vibing off people, but I like to begin my songwriting process with sitting at the piano. That way I can critique and develop what I’m hearing musically.

Q: You’ve overcome a lot in the past few years. What would be your message to fans?
A: I lost a lot of time, I lost a lot of good friends, but I’m back, though there were some serious consequences. You don’t want to go down that road. You don’t need to experiment with drugs. Some people say that experience is the best teacher, but you don’t need to experience that. Just learn from my mistakes.

Q: You’ve said recently that self-denial was your first step toward drug abuse, and you lost touch with reality. What’s the best way of staying true to yourself?
A: Keep people around you that were in your joy period of life. That’s the most authentic period of your life, and that’s mostly your childhood and your teens, rather than your “good times” or “bad times,” and don’t ever lose that. Don’t succumb to the new “friendships” that just come out of nowhere. That’s not going to do it. That will get you in trouble right there.

Q: What brings joy to your life?
A: A good song makes me feel joyful. I like hearing chords and pretty melodies; I brighten up if I hear something that sounds good. Simple things like that – watching the sun come up, watching the sun set – and last, but definitely not least, a beautiful woman.

Q: Can you talk about some of your favorite tracks on the album?
A: One of my favorite tracks is “How Can You Love Me So Much, Girl?” produced by the Avila Brothers and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Another is “Serenading You.” That’s for lovers who really want to serenade their woman, and it’s written by Mike City. I have quite a few of them.

Q: What can your fans expect from you?
A: Oh, we’re going to have a good time when I get back on stage. It’s going to be so joyful! We’re going to sing some of the old songs, some of the new songs – we’re just going to have some fun.