By Chris Richburg
The smooth sound of Nat King Cole will cross paths with Hip-Hop's edgy vibe via a new tribute album to the pioneering late crooner.
The release, titled Re: Generations, will feature Cole singing alongside entertainers and producers such as Nas, Cee-Lo Green, Brazilian Girls, the Roots, Cut Chemist, Just Blaze, TV On The Radio and will i. am, who joins Natalie Cole for the song “Straighten Up and Fly Right.”
Working with the Black Eyed Peas frontman proved to be a productive experience for the songstress, who expressed her satisfaction with the finished product.
"I just love, love, love the mix that will.i.am put on 'Straighten Up and Fly Right,’” Natalie Cole told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “It's so very cool and Dad would get quite the kick from this. What a great feeling it was to have worked with both will and Dad at the same time! It doesn't get much better and this entire album is so amazing."
Executive produced by Natalie Cole’s sister Carole, Re: Generations was created as vehicle to “musically and visually bridge the so-called generation gap and hopefully create mutual admiration and respect between teens, parents and grands of every culture.”
With the diverse group of talent working on the album, the King Cole Partners & Productions CEO is convinced her father would’ve appreciated the effort.
"As the curators of our father's music, image and likeness, my sisters and I strive to keep Dad in the mix and as innovative as he was back in the day,” Carole Cole stated. “We have no doubts that if Nat were here today, he would embrace all of the artists on this record as well as the ones we were unable to get next to. He would want to produce them and encourage them to leave their own indelible mark on the cultural landscape. And as a bona fide music lover, Dad would buy their music and be a loyal fan."
In addition to the musicians, Re: Generations will involve several visual artists from Los Angeles who will create custom artwork for the Capitol/EMI album using Cole's music, style and cultural influence as inspiration.
"Creating artwork for this project, Re: Generations, is quite an honor," said international muralist/graffiti artist Man One, who created an original mural in honor of the project with assistance from two students from The HeArt Project, a local mentoring program.
Other artists contributing Cole-inspired art to Re: Generations include Ritzy Periwinkle, and Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca and Cole’s own grandson Sage, who created the album’s cover art.
Musically, the project afforded Cut Chemist the chance to work with someone he described as “an incredible vocalist."
"Nat King Cole's voice sounds great with any and every style of music,” the producer said. “I've never had this much fun doing a remix before. It was an honor and a pleasure to work with the best."
Re: Generations is slated to hit stores on March 10, 2009.
The following is a track listing for the forthcoming album:
1. Lush Life Cee-Lo
2. Straighten Up and Fly Right will.i.am & Natalie Cole
3. Day In Day Out Cut Chemist
4. Brazilian Love Song Michaelangelo L'Acqua & Bebel Gilberto
5. The Game of Love Nas & Salaam Remi
6. Walkin' My Baby Back Home The Roots
7. Hit That Jive, Jack Souldiggaz & Izza Kizza
8. Calypso Blues Stephen & Damian Marley
9. More and More of Your Amour Bitter:Sweet
10. El Choclo Brazilian Girls
11. Pick-up Just Blaze
12. Anytime Anyday Anywhere Amp Fiddler
13. Nature Boy TV On The Radio