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Tweet (singer)

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Tweet
Birth nameCharlene Keys
Born (1971-01-21) January 21, 1971 (age 53)[1]
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • guitarist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1992–present
Labels

Charlene Keys (born January 21, 1971), better known by the stage name Tweet, is an American singer-songwriter.[2]

Career

Swing Mob/Sugah

In the early nineties, Tweet joined the female trio Sugah, leaving her daughter with her parents in Panama City, Florida, while Tweet relocated to many places. Sugah was composed of Tweet, Susan Weems, and Rolita White, and was a part of Devante Swing's Swing Mob collective. While there, she met Timbaland, Magoo, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott (who at the time was a part of Sista), Playa, Ginuwine, and Renee Anderson who were also all a part of the Swing Mob collective. During her time with Sugah, Tweet formed a close friendship with Elliott.

Around 1999, Tweet returned to her parents' home in Panama City. She later received a phone call from Elliott, calling to ask if Tweet would contribute background vocals on her album Miss E... So Addictive.

Before Southern Hummingbird

In 2000, Tweet began recording vocals for Elliott's album. She also recorded vocals for Timbaland and Magoo's follow-up to their platinum-selling 1997 debut album, Welcome to Our World, and Timbaland's solo album, Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment. In 2001, Elliott released her platinum-selling third album, Miss E... So Addictive, with Tweet contributing vocals to five tracks. 2001 also saw the release of Ja Rule's Pain Is Love, Bubba Sparxxx's Dark Days, Bright Nights, Petey Pablo's Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, and Timbaland and Magoo's Indecent Proposal, on all of which Tweet contributed vocals.

2002–04: Southern Hummingbird

In March 2002, Tweet released her debut solo single, "Oops (Oh My)". The song was produced by Timbaland and features guest vocals by Missy Elliott. The single hit number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

In April 2002, Tweet released her debut album Southern Hummingbird. The album featured production by Craig Brockman, Nisan Stewart, guitarist John "Jubu" Smith, Timbaland, and Tweet herself.[3] The album includes features from Elliott, Bilal, and Ms. Jade. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. The album spawned another two singles, Timbaland-produced "Call Me", and the radio single "Smoking Cigarettes".

In 2002, Tweet appeared as a guest vocalist on Trina's second single "No Panties" her album Diamond Princess. Tweet also appeared on Meshell Ndegeocello's Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape, Karen Clark Sheard's 2nd Chance, Ms. Jade's Girl Interrupted, Whitney Houston's Just Whitney... and Elliott's Under Construction. For the latter, Tweet appeared on four of the tracks and made cameo performances in two videos released from the album, "Work It" and "Gossip Folks".

Tweet was nominated for a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best New Artist but lost to Ashanti. That year Tweet was awarded the Key to the City for Rochester, New York.

Among others, Tweet appeared in Aaliyah's posthumous hit single, "Miss You".

With 2003 came more guest vocals appearances: Madonna's American Life The Remixes Single, Monica's After the Storm, Mark Ronson's Here Comes the Fuzz, and Angie Stone's Stone Love on the 2004 Grammy Award-nominated song "U-Haul".

In 2003, Tweet had a cameo appearance in the film Honey and contributed the song "Thugman" for its soundtrack.

2005–07: It's Me Again

In 2004, Tweet the Elliott's music video "I'm Really Hot". Tweet also appeared on the posthumous unreleased Elliott-produced Aaliyah track "Where Could He Be". Missy Elliott made her move from Elektra Entertainment Group to Atlantic Records, taking Tweet and The Goldmind Inc. with her.

During 2003 and 2004, Tweet began recording songs for her follow-up to Southern Hummingbird which was supposed to be released in early 2004, but due to the label changes, was pushed back. In late 2004, Tweet joined Cee-Lo Green and Teedra Moses on the 2004 Seagram's Gin Live Tour in promotion of her new single, "Turn da Lights Off" The song was produced by Missy Elliott and Kwamé, featured vocals from Elliott and contained a sample of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine" and Nat King Cole's "Lost April".

On March 22, 2005, Tweet released her second album It's Me Again. The album featured production from Missy Elliott on several of the tracks. The album featured vocals from Tweet's 15-year-old daughter, Tashawna, on "Two of Us",[4] Rell and Missy Elliott were also featured. "When I Need a Man" (theme song from the USA Network Original Series, Kojak) was included as a hidden track. The album peaked at #17 on the Billboard album charts and then quickly fell off the charts. Tweet then broke away from her manager, Mona Scott, and Violator Management, and signed with Mathew Knowles of Music World.

Tweet appeared on Elliott's sixth album release, The Cookbook, contributing vocals to three tracks, including the single "Teary Eyed".

2007–16: Simply Tweet and Charlene

In 2007, Tweet performed with Timbaland, Eve, Keyshia Cole, Nelly Furtado, Fat Man Scoop and Ciara at the 4th annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors, honoring the work of Missy Elliott which aired on October 8.[5] The same year, she departed from Missy Elliott's Goldmind Inc. camp and signed to Jheryl Busby and Mike City's record label, Umbrella Recordings.[6] There, she began recording material for her third album along with producers Nisan Stewart, Warryn Campbell and Novel.[6] Initially titled Love, Tweet, the album was preceded by the buzz single "Good Bye My Dear", a collaboration with rapper T.I., and expected to be released on April 8, 2008.[7] The release of lead single "Anymore" failed to materialize however.[6] On April 26 and April 27, 2008, Tweet along with Bilal, Dwele and German singer Joy Denalane performed with The Dresden Soul Symphony in Dresden, Germany. The quartet reinterpreted soul hits and combined them with classical music. An album The Dresden Soul Symphony and DVD were later released on October 24, 2008.

In 2010, Tweet split from Umbrella due to a lack of promotion and ongoing delays.[8] In late 2011, Tweet signed to MC Lyte's record label DuBose Music Group.[9] In June 2012, she began posting previously unreleased material from the It's Me Again and Love, Tweet recording sessions on her new website as a part of her weekly SoundCloud-hosted special, Tweet Tuesdays.[10] In February 2013, DuBose released her Simply Tweet EP.[11] Recorded live with a full band, the five-track set was preceded by the single "Enough". The digital extended play reached the top thirty on both the US Billboard Independent Albums and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

In July 2015, Tweet confirmed that she had signed with the independent eOne Music label.[12] Her third regular studio album Charlene, featuring production from Missy Elliott, is expected to be released on January 22, 2016, in the United States, with its lead single to be released on September 21, 2015.[12] On February 29, 2016, the 'Hummingbird' singer sat down with Lindsey Sullivan (of Billboard) to discuss her new album "Charlene". During the interview Tweet mentioned her excitement teaming up with Timbaland and Missy Elliott. She also stated the album was a growing experience.[13]

Awards and nominations

Soul Train Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2003 Tweet Best New Artist Nominated

Discography

Main article: Tweet discography
Studio albums

Filmography

Endorsements

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 673.
  2. ^ Birchmeier, Jason "Tweet Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-18
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stpehen Thomas "Southern Hummingbird Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-18
  4. ^ Kellman, Andy "It's Me Again Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-18
  5. ^ "2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Award Show Performance Pictures". Celeb wohoo. 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
  6. ^ a b c "Tweet Interview: Tweet Talks Signing To eOne Music, New Album, Working With Missy Elliott". The DJ Booth LLC. Original. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  7. ^ "New Music: Tweet Feat. T.I. – "Good Bye My Dear"". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  8. ^ "YouKnowIGotSoul Interview With Tweet". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  9. ^ "MC Lyte on Twitter".
  10. ^ "DuBose Music Group". SoundCloud.
  11. ^ "Tweet Releases New EP "Simply Tweet" Today". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  12. ^ a b "Tweet Interview: Tweet Talks Signing To eOne Music, New Album, Working With Missy Elliott". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  13. ^ "Tweet interview with Billboard for the new album "Charlene"". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
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