Jagged Edge Still Smooth On Island Urban Debut

[Damien J.]

Having jumped to Island Urban with longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri and his So So Def imprint, R&B quartet Jagged Edge is eyeing a Sept. 25 release date for its new album, "Baby Making Project."

"The album is bedroom music; It's freakier, risque, but not raunchy or expletive," group member Brandon Casey tells Billboard.com. "There were so many records like that growing up with Keith Sweat and R. Kelly. Today, everything is fast, so we wanted to reintroduce ourselves and still represent."

The first single, the Dupri-produced "Put a Little Umph in It," featuring Ashanti, is proof of just how suggestive "Project" is. "The song is seductive and Ashanti is sexy to death, so it made perfect sense," says group member Richard Wingo of the collaboration. Battling for second single status are "Me That's Who" and "Whole Town Laughing," both produced by the group.

Other tracks included are "Get This," ("We ain't known for the suggestive, freaky ballads, but this one is one of the few of that nature," says Brandon), and "The Way To Say I Love You." Jagged Edge had so much material from the "Project" sessions that group members say they are already eight songs into another album, a release date for which has not been announced.

The group will support "Project" with a 30-city tour of House of Blues venues in the fall as well as an arena run with other, as-yet-unnamed Def Jam artists. A Jagged Edge clothing line is also in the works.

This report is provivded by Billboard.com

[Eddie G.]

Can't wait for some new Jagged shit!

[The "Untouchable" DJR]

Looking forward to this, that Ashanti featured track is nice.