R&D/HIP-HOP Stars Twinkle On Holiday Discs Trio Of R&B's Leading Ladies Head Up A Spate Of Holiday Releases BY GAIL MITCHELL co- produced the set with Lewis, LOS ANGELES -Every holiday season Arista president/ CEO Antonio "L.A." arrives wrapped in a renewed spirit of Reid, and Daryl Simmons. "I wanted love and peace. But in the aftermath of to create a modern -sounding project. and The Blues,. Sept. 11, those themes have taken on I also wanted to create a holiday new meaning. This year's crop of R&B, album for lovers as opposed to a LABELLE OF THE BALL: One of the ed by the Roots' Black Thought and hip -hop, jazz, and gospel- influenced record of Christmas songs." highlights of BET'S 2001 Walk of Fame Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson ... Uni- yuletide fare not only reflects this but Coming a week later (Oct. 30) is the ceremony honoring Patti LaBelle is versal Music Publishing also signs rap- also includes three R&B /pop acts that Music World Music/Columbia release 8 the reunion of her namesake group, per Ja Rule to an exclusive worldwide are making a joyful noise on record for Days of Christmas by Destiny's Child. LaBelle, which performs together for co- publishing pact. His former pub- the first time: Toni Braxton, Destiny's The R &B /pop -infused set's first single the first time in 15 years. And, yes, the lisher was TVT. Child, and Kelly Price. is the title track, which the group actu- trio-including Sarah Dash and Nona All three projects mix traditional ally recorded more than a year ago as Hendryx -sings its 1974 hit "Lady IN THE STUDIO: With her first holiday holiday standards with original con- a B -side that "no one heard," says album completed (see story, this temporary selections. Braxton's Oct. member Beyoncé Knowles, who co- page), Def Soul's Kelly Price is busy 23 Arista release, Snowflakes, takes a wrote and co- produced most of the recording her next project. The unti- smooth -jazz approach to its love - album. "It started the idea of us doing tled disc is "real celebratory" so far, themed lineup, which includes such a Christmas album." Price says. "I've always been ballad - familiar tunes as "The Christmas Recording of the album spanned a heavy. But at this point I have more Song" and the Peanuts perennial, three -month period while the group party songs recorded." "Christmas Time Is Here." Those are Clockwise, from top left, Toni Braxton, was on tour. In addition to the complemented by the midtempo, Kelly Price, and Destiny's Child. Knowles- and Errol McCalla- penned INDIE WATCH: Helping undiscovered reggae -edged "Christmas in Jamaica" single, the album includes new song artists get discovered is the operating with guest Shaggy; the under -the- "Winter Paradise," which integrates credo of Chicago-based Web site artist - mistletoe "Holiday Celebrate," co- recorded for the soundtrack for the George Michael's "Father Figure," as discovery.com. The free site, launched penned by Braxton, husband Keri 1974 movie Truck Rimer. well as solo turns on such classics as in April, encompasses R&B, pop, rock, Lewis, and her sister Tamar; and "My son is due [to be born] at "Silent Night" (Knowles), "Do You Marmalade," the tune that became a jazz, gospel, country, and reggae. In "Snowflakes of Love," which uses an Christmas, which made this a very Hear What I Hear" (Kelly Rowland), new -millennium hit all over again this addition to 90- second snippets of an instrumental that Isaac Hayes special project," says Braxton, who "O' Holy Night" (Michelle Williams), year when it was covered by Christina act's work, artistdiscovery.com lists and "Little Drummer Boy" (Knowles' Aguilera, Ill' Kim, Mya, and Pink. each particular act's needs; i.e., a label sister Solange). "The remake made me feel good, contract or distribution. There's also a NOVEMBER 3 'We could be as creative as we want- like a cool chick," LaBelle says with a monthly artist advice column. 2001 Billboard Hot Rap Singles,. ed, so we had a lot of fun," Knowles laugh. Commenting on her induc- "Most indie artists can't get heard on w Compiled by SoundScan from a national subset panel of core BBB/Hip-Hop stares. ' says. This has an R&B feel with gospel, tion, she adds, "It's a good, wonderful the radio," site director Gowon Snyder 3 I IIIInl classical, and reggae influences. It's feeling. I don't feel like an old lady, says. "So you've got to be aggressive in Ñ really just a feel -good album-some- though. More like 20. The industry getting these artists heard. The Internet 5 TITLE Imprint &Number /Distributing Label ARTIST thing that's needed right now." has always given me respect, and represents a viable means of doing =g' NUMBER 1 =$ ` 8 weeks At Winkel I Kelly Price embraces that same that's a blessing." that" Snyder's future plans for the site 1 13 RAISE UP Petey Pablo 4 Ave 42937 /zumba 2O sentiment on her Def Soul project, The Walk of Fame special (airing include sending audio -enhanced e-mail © 2 3 NOTHING'S WRONG Won -G Featuring DJ Quik One Family, Nov. 20. In Oct. IND 70021 /EMG O which arrives 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT) also features blasts about promising artists directly © 4 4 rim YOUR GIRL Dena Cali '2 fact, the title track -which she wrote performances by Luther Vandross, Jill to label A &R reps. ES30119/Treydan O and produced -includes a host of Scott, Faith Evans, Musiq Soulchild, Among those promising acts is the 3 6 BUSTER Dennis Da Menace 1st Avenue 11001 O family members. "This song is about and others. Just two days after her Kevin Chandler Band. Its mix of R &B Q 8 6 JUMP UP IN THE AIR Original P Introducing Hyped Up Westbound Soljaz 4 being together as a family, no Westbound 555 0 matter official induction Oct. 20, LaBelle and jazz on debut set pSoul pSy- Q 5 6 HOW WE DO Big Lew BKA Popeye Reds Featuring Nonchalant 9 what," Price explains.' We should keep embarked on a six-city tour to pro- chadelica at times calls to mind Roy -r,l -Beast 2217 O that unity throughout the year and mote her new book, Patti's Pearls: Ayers and Lonnie Liston Smith. "I 0 THE BEDROCK Phatty Banks Presents Club Drama _A Oiwded We Fan /Supertight 0 O not just during the holidays." Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyful- don't think what I do is different from 1 o 1 PO' PUNCH Po' Trash Q o White And The Trailer Park Symphony Collaborating with such producers ly, Co- La- [I Pocket Change 2121 O Generously. authored by what they used to do in the '70s era Q 17 13 LET'S BE FRIENDS TaTa + Brando Featuring Larry Poteat Of The Donz and guests as BeBe Winans, George Belle and Laura Randolph Lancaster, grew up in]," says frontman Chandler, Heartless 12721 O Duke, and Donnie McClurkin, Price the Warner Books publication is the who not only writes and sings but can 11 3 THINK BIG Crimewave a; Cnmewave 720020 0 has crafted a set that is traditional in singer's third book. Kicking off in also play drums, guitar, and key- 9 8 UGLY Bubba Sparxxx 4 theme and contemporary in its ar- New York City (Oct. 22 -24), " Beat Club 4971313r /fnterscope O the tour 13 15 MAKE IT VIBRATE Rising Son rangements. The 11 -track album also stops in Washington, D.C.; Los Darkslde 1103 m© includes "Silent Night," the moving Angeles; Chicago; Birmingham, Ala.; 1 7 2 WE TRUGGIN' Fat Joe Featuring R. Kelly 2 Terror Squad/Atlantis 85171 /AG O "In Love at Christmas," and a Duke - and Atlanta. LaBelle's plate also 9 6 3 MY LIFE Kool G Rap Featuring G Wise inspired arrangement of "Ave Maria." includes a li a wkus 351' O diabetic cookbook, her 15 ° BOUNCE Survivalist '2 'When Sept. 11 happened, I began long- awaited gospel album, another Fri Lde 3587/Treydan O looking at my old Christmas albums contemporary album -and a 2002 16 , 23 4 GOTTA HAVE IT Chocolate Bandit Comer/boy 30.3/Warlock O differently," Price recalls. "They mean tour with a reunited LaBelle. 12 9 GRIPPIN GRAIN The Young Millionaires so much more now. I'm dedicating this Urban Spears 0002 /Urban Dreams O 14 3 GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS Jay -Z ^.r album to families all over the world." PUBLISHING BRIEFS: Producer James IHoc- A- Fella/Def Jam 588793' /IDJMG O Among other holiday offerings: A Poyser (Erykah Badu, D'Angelo) of 20 7 CUT THROAT John Got'ti V Big Pocket 70563/0Pheus O Nancy Wilson Christmas, a Telarc/ Philadelphia -based Axis Music Group boards. His bandmates include Alex 16 2 BREAK YA NECK Busta Rhymes '' MCG Jazz release; GRP Records' Mak- has signed an exclusive U.S. co -pub- Harris, Dave Brooks, Khan Parker, J 21061' O 21 3 I'M HOT Erick Sermon Featuring Marvin Gaye ing Spirits Bright; Verity Records' Fred lishing deal with Universal Music Pub- and Mike Peebles. "I'm a soul artist J 21019' O Hammond Christmas Just lishing Group. He is currently working who wants to say something other 24 4 WHO WE BE DMX ... NH Ryders/Def Jam 572720'/IDJMG O Remember; Capitol's Dave Koz & on new material with Common, the than `tiling, bling' about black life and '® FATTY GIRL Ludacris, LL Cool J & Keith Murray 4 Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas; Roots, Musiq Soulchild, Atlantic singer speak in the words God gave me." FS 015283'Nniversal O 25 2 DIDDY P.