News

Bill Cosby Cuts Hip-Hop Album

Bill Cosby has completed Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency, a musical companion to his controversial book Come on People: On the Path From Victims to Victors. Ultramagnetic MCs co-founder Ced-Gee and Cosby's longtime music partner Bill "Spaceman" Patterson (Miles Davis, Mariah Carey) both helped the comedian with the disc, which Billboard.com describes as weaving "hip-hop, jazz, pop, funk and other genres around frank, positive messages drawn from Cosby's lyrics, stories and musical ideas." A number of new MCs also contributed to the project, including SupaNova Slom, Jace the Great and Brother Hahz. Cosby, on the other hand, does not rap or sing. Rather, he co-wrote the songs and served as executive producer.

"[State of Emergency is an] unflinching look at life in the 21st century, but without the profanity, misogyny, violence and braggadocio [of hip-hop]," Cosby's rep, David Brokaw, said in a statement.

Cosby's album is expected to drop in the next couple weeks, although a distributor has not been named yet.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
04.16.08