By Erika Ramirez, New York. Pharrell Williams and Jermaine Dupri have joined forces to introduce and sonically guide Epic Records‘ newly signed artist, Leah Labelle. The American Idol Season Three contestant will release her debut album late summer, early fall on i am OTHER/So So Def/ Epic Records. Two weeks ago, Labelle, Pharrell, and Dupri stopped through various New York media outlets, including the Billboard offices, to introduce Labelle and play a five-track album sampler of her yet-to-be-titled debut album.
The trio came through with The Mehan Group Management’s Gita Williams, i am OTHER Entertainment’s Mimi Valdés, Caron Veazey, Epic Records’ Sr. Editor, Publicity Courtney Lowery, Epic Records Sr. Director, Publicity Joseph Carozza and producer Bryan-Michael Cox, who produced a few tracks on Labelle’s sampler. Carozza facilitated the album playback. Leah talked a bit about music throughout the songs, which were solely produced by Pharrell, Dupri, and Cox. Labelle shared the story behind her first single, “Sexify,” saying the song’s sultry lyrics were inspired from Cosmopolitan magazine cover lines. Tracks from the project also includes, “So Hot,” “Make Me Get Up,” “Mr. Scissors,” and “What Do We Got To Lose.”