Profiling acts breaking at radio and/or retail and entering Billboard's charts.
ACTIVE COUNTRY DUTY: As his fellow "American Idol" graduates tackle mainstream Top 40 fare, second season alum Josh Gracin is navigating his own way down the country road.
The fourth place finisher entered Billboard's Top Country Albums chart last week at No. 2 with his Lyric Street/Hollywood self-titled debut, which was recorded during weekends and time off from his active duty with the United States Marines.
"It was crazy," says Gracin of the experience. "[It took] a lot of time management, but it all worked out."
The Michigan native's influence of contemporary country stars like Garth Brooks is apparent throughout the album, while Nashville session pickers and Appalachia instrumentation engineered by Rascal Flatts producer Marty Williams lend originality to tracks like "Peace of Mind."
Though Gracin had plans for a singing career after his marine stint, it was his rendition of Rascal Flatts' "I'm Moving On" during an episode that caught the ear of the country trio's bassist Jay DeMarcus, who linked Gracin with Williams sooner than he planned.
"He's a perfectionist," Gracin says of the collaboration that took about five months, including the three-month song selection process that -- with Williams in Nashville and Gracin at San Diego, Calif.'s Camp Pendleton -- had to be conducted largely over the Internet. "He really tries to bring everything out of you and he tells me when he doesn't like something."
To get the gig, Gracin had to audition with Lyric president Randy Goodman first. With his days under the scrutiny of "Idol" judge Simon Cowell as comparison, the audition that would decide the fate of his solo career was "much easier," he says.
The album's debut single "I Want to Live" was picked for its widespread appeal. Says Gracin, "I wanted a song that everybody could relate to." Country audiences are responding as it climbs this week to No. 14 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and No. 75 on the Hot 100.
With his days under the scrutiny of "Idol" judge Simon Cowell as comparison, Gracin's audition with Lyric president Randy Goodman was "much easier," he says. "I went in expecting them to be stone-faced and say they'd come back to me with an answer, but after one song Randy said, 'we don't need to hear another one. Let's sign him up.'"
Gracin will hit the road in September when his active duty is complete and he receives and honorable discharge at the rank of Lance Corporal. "I'll definitely be out there pounding the pavement," he says. "A lot of ['Idol'] fans don't even know I released a CD if they don't listen to country, so it's my mission to let everyone know it's out there."
ROME GROWS UP: Though he introduced himself to listeners with an "After Party," newcomer Young Rome proves this week that his binge is just beginning.
Known as Jerome "Romeo" Jones of the R&B trio IMx (formerly Immature), the rapper bows at No. 98 on The Billboard 200 this week with his solo venture "Food for Thought" (T.U.G./Universal/URMG). Debut single "After Party," which features B2K's Omarion, sits at No. 65 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart. The video -- which boasts cameos by Omarion and IMx groupmate Marques Houston -- is among BET's top 25 most-played clips.
An amalgam of Dirty South-influenced fare and '90s soul, the 16-track "Food for Thought" is a pop/rap journey that finds Rome heading away from the kiddie R&B of IMx. Rome enlists producers Rufus Blaque and Mad Funk for his mature turn while rapper Youngbloodz lends credibility to the album highlight "I Don't Care."
Following a supporting role in this year's Omarion/Houston-starring movie "You Got Served," the Young Rome will begin filming the sequel this summer.
ACTIVE COUNTRY DUTY: As his fellow "American Idol" graduates tackle mainstream Top 40 fare, second season alum Josh Gracin is navigating his own way down the country road.
The fourth place finisher entered Billboard's Top Country Albums chart last week at No. 2 with his Lyric Street/Hollywood self-titled debut, which was recorded during weekends and time off from his active duty with the United States Marines.
"It was crazy," says Gracin of the experience. "[It took] a lot of time management, but it all worked out."
The Michigan native's influence of contemporary country stars like Garth Brooks is apparent throughout the album, while Nashville session pickers and Appalachia instrumentation engineered by Rascal Flatts producer Marty Williams lend originality to tracks like "Peace of Mind."
Though Gracin had plans for a singing career after his marine stint, it was his rendition of Rascal Flatts' "I'm Moving On" during an episode that caught the ear of the country trio's bassist Jay DeMarcus, who linked Gracin with Williams sooner than he planned.
"He's a perfectionist," Gracin says of the collaboration that took about five months, including the three-month song selection process that -- with Williams in Nashville and Gracin at San Diego, Calif.'s Camp Pendleton -- had to be conducted largely over the Internet. "He really tries to bring everything out of you and he tells me when he doesn't like something."
To get the gig, Gracin had to audition with Lyric president Randy Goodman first. With his days under the scrutiny of "Idol" judge Simon Cowell as comparison, the audition that would decide the fate of his solo career was "much easier," he says.
The album's debut single "I Want to Live" was picked for its widespread appeal. Says Gracin, "I wanted a song that everybody could relate to." Country audiences are responding as it climbs this week to No. 14 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and No. 75 on the Hot 100.
With his days under the scrutiny of "Idol" judge Simon Cowell as comparison, Gracin's audition with Lyric president Randy Goodman was "much easier," he says. "I went in expecting them to be stone-faced and say they'd come back to me with an answer, but after one song Randy said, 'we don't need to hear another one. Let's sign him up.'"
Gracin will hit the road in September when his active duty is complete and he receives and honorable discharge at the rank of Lance Corporal. "I'll definitely be out there pounding the pavement," he says. "A lot of ['Idol'] fans don't even know I released a CD if they don't listen to country, so it's my mission to let everyone know it's out there."
ROME GROWS UP: Though he introduced himself to listeners with an "After Party," newcomer Young Rome proves this week that his binge is just beginning.Known as Jerome "Romeo" Jones of the R&B trio IMx (formerly Immature), the rapper bows at No. 98 on The Billboard 200 this week with his solo venture "Food for Thought" (T.U.G./Universal/URMG). Debut single "After Party," which features B2K's Omarion, sits at No. 65 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart. The video -- which boasts cameos by Omarion and IMx groupmate Marques Houston -- is among BET's top 25 most-played clips.
An amalgam of Dirty South-influenced fare and '90s soul, the 16-track "Food for Thought" is a pop/rap journey that finds Rome heading away from the kiddie R&B of IMx. Rome enlists producers Rufus Blaque and Mad Funk for his mature turn while rapper Youngbloodz lends credibility to the album highlight "I Don't Care."
Following a supporting role in this year's Omarion/Houston-starring movie "You Got Served," the Young Rome will begin filming the sequel this summer.
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