In honour of Phil Collins

Album: Urban Renewal Artist: Collective Available at: Music City Reviewed by: Sebidde Kiryowa Elsewhere, the idea would have been utterly inconceivable. To produce an album combining some of the best R&B and hiphop artists and black music producers redoing songs of ace songwriter Phil Collins. Never mind that he sings rock music, a genre predominately favoured by white fans. But on this 15-track CD compilation, Urban Renewal-Featuring the Songs of Phil Collins, it happens. For long, requests for cover versions and sample clearances, as well as for personal cooperations with Phil Collins, have been mounting up both at Phil Collins’ management’s Hit & Run office and also at WEA Records Germany. Because of these developments, the idea gradually took hold to undertake this sensational experiment. So, now after three years of preparation, here is the product. Phil Collins has long held true cult status amongst black music lovers. It is no wonder that such hip hop icons as Ie-T, Sean “P Diddy” Combs have named him their greatest ‘80s music influence. While DMX, Coolio, Mil Troy and Queen Pen have sampled Phil Collins’ songs. Mariah Carey, The Isley Bros have done covers of them while notorious rapper Eminem on Stan, uses Collins’ In The Air Tonight, as reference material. Out of reverence for their undertaking, I will not be so severe in my criticism. I prefer to leave it up to you when you get the album. But, generally speaking, most of the artists do their best. The first single that was released off the album, Another Day In Paradise featured Brandy and her brother Ray J. Its success signalled the release of the album. Wu Tang’s head rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard interprets Sussudio with gusto while Lil’ Kim sings the super hit In The Air Tonight in a duet with Phil Collins. Deborah Cox, Joe, and Deblan Morgan turn into sensual urban versions the hit songs Something happened On The way To Heaven, Can’t Turn back The Years, and Do You Remember respectively. Montell Jordan, Changing Faces, TQ and Brian McNight take on the vocally challenging Do You Remember, Against All Odds, One More Night, All My Life and I Wish it Would Rain Down respectively. Featured also are vocalists Coko Kelis, and many others. In addition, the album enlists some of the best producers in the urban music business. The Neptunes, Guy Roche, Joe, Justin Trugman, Shep Crawford, DJ Clark Kent, TQ, Malik and Pendleton are only a few.