BOYWONDER FEATURE:THE END OF FLOETRY?

News reached the Boywonder office today that Marsha Ambrose, the songstress from Floetry is planning to go solo and has signed an album deal with Dr Dre’s Aftermath label. The two are said to be in the studio working on her yet to be named solo album. However, the neo soul duo have not broken up, with Ambrose stating that they will still be recording albums together.

This story made Boywonder think further into this phenomenon and ask the question about whether or not it is possible for groups to records solo and collectively?

Case study 1: the now defunct Destiny’s Child took a break during the ending of 2001 which enabled Michelle, Kelly and Beyonce to record three solo albums, the result of which catapulted Beyonce to world wide fame more so then her counterparts. True to form, amidst rumours of an impending break up, they hurriedly regrouped in 2005 to record their fourth and final album as a group ‘Destiny Fulfilled’ and are now expected to pursue solo projects.


Case study 2: N.E.R.D was formed by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of the Neptunes along with mutual friend Shae Haley as a mix of hip hop and soulful rock. Their debut album ‘In Search Of..’ earned them an annual shortlist music prize and spawned the club hit ‘lap dance’. However, N.E.R.D front man Pharrell has cast doubts over whether they will get back together due to label woos and with Pharrell looking set to release his debut solo album later this year, it seems that he has all but forgotten about N.E.R.D


Case study 3: involves an example of when it does work and involves Outkast. Outkast were thrust into mainstream dominance with ‘Ms. Jackson’, the second single from their double Grammy award winning album ‘Stankonia’. (try saying that three times in a row!) However, for their fourth album, in a move that proved to be as original as their music, they each put out solo albums that was packaged as a single album. The hugely successful ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’ is only one of three hip hop albums to go diamond and with their new album entitled ‘Idlewild’ intended for release this year we can safely assume that all is well with them.

So the verdict is still out as to whether Marsha going solo will spell the end for a duo that has accumulated seven Grammy nominations, most recently for best urban/alternative performance for ‘SupaStar’, but here is hoping that they stay together.

BOYWONDER OVER AND OUT!