Profiling acts breaking at radio and/or retail and entering Billboard's charts.
HOUSTON LIKES THAT: Former Los Angeles street performer Houston is taking his act to the big leagues with a contender for the next hip-hop summer anthem.
Produced by St. Louis-based Trak Starz, Houston's debut single "I Like That" is an insta-club hit and has been tapped to head McDonald's Big Mac Meal Tracks summer ad campaign. The global television spot, which features a cameo by Justin Timberlake, offers invaluable exposure to the Southern California native's Aug. 10 Capitol debut, "It's Already Written."
Dirty South rap sensation Chingy, West Coast rapper Nate Dogg and label mate newcomer I-20 team with Houston on "I Like That," which bows at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week and climbs to No. 14 on Billboard's Rhythmic Airplay chart.
While the club romp positions Houston as the next big hip-hop star, the artist's first album also features an R&B side influenced by his days singing freestyle on neighborhood sidewalks with local R&B groups. The set features ballads like his own "I Promise," and a cover of Ready For The World's 1986 hit, "Love You Down."
"I Like That" will be released June 29 as a single at retail stores and online in the United States. Houston will tour this summer behind "It's Already Written" with dates to be announced.
STANDING TALL: Breezily sauntering her way onto the scene, 14-year-old Reneé Olstead has successfully segued from teenage sitcom star to jazz/pop songstress with her self-titled Reprise/Warner Bros. debut.
The co-star of CBS' "Still Standing" worked on her first solo album with David Foster, who has produced fellow up and coming jazz/pop singer Michael Bublé, as well as the likes of hitmakers Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. The set bowed at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart two weeks ago and, following a May 31 appearance on NBC's "Today," sold 12,000 copies to bow this week at No. 95 of The Billboard 200. The album also opens at No. 18 on Billboard's Top Internet Album Sales chart.
From the sultry alto of Olstead's duet with Chris Botti on the classic "Someone to Watch Over Me," to the sensual rendition of Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis," her latest project proves she has found the right genre. Her first album "Stone Country," was a 2000 self-released traditional country fluke recorded at age 10.
On the 12-track " Reneé Olstead," the artist sounds much more mature than her teenage years. The set also features a rendition of Barry Manilow's "Meet Me, Midnight" and great American songbook standards like "Summertime" and "Sentimental Journey."
The entire set is currently available for streaming via Olstead's official Web site.
HOUSTON LIKES THAT: Former Los Angeles street performer Houston is taking his act to the big leagues with a contender for the next hip-hop summer anthem.
Produced by St. Louis-based Trak Starz, Houston's debut single "I Like That" is an insta-club hit and has been tapped to head McDonald's Big Mac Meal Tracks summer ad campaign. The global television spot, which features a cameo by Justin Timberlake, offers invaluable exposure to the Southern California native's Aug. 10 Capitol debut, "It's Already Written."
Dirty South rap sensation Chingy, West Coast rapper Nate Dogg and label mate newcomer I-20 team with Houston on "I Like That," which bows at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week and climbs to No. 14 on Billboard's Rhythmic Airplay chart.
While the club romp positions Houston as the next big hip-hop star, the artist's first album also features an R&B side influenced by his days singing freestyle on neighborhood sidewalks with local R&B groups. The set features ballads like his own "I Promise," and a cover of Ready For The World's 1986 hit, "Love You Down."
"I Like That" will be released June 29 as a single at retail stores and online in the United States. Houston will tour this summer behind "It's Already Written" with dates to be announced.
STANDING TALL: Breezily sauntering her way onto the scene, 14-year-old Reneé Olstead has successfully segued from teenage sitcom star to jazz/pop songstress with her self-titled Reprise/Warner Bros. debut.The co-star of CBS' "Still Standing" worked on her first solo album with David Foster, who has produced fellow up and coming jazz/pop singer Michael Bublé, as well as the likes of hitmakers Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. The set bowed at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart two weeks ago and, following a May 31 appearance on NBC's "Today," sold 12,000 copies to bow this week at No. 95 of The Billboard 200. The album also opens at No. 18 on Billboard's Top Internet Album Sales chart.
From the sultry alto of Olstead's duet with Chris Botti on the classic "Someone to Watch Over Me," to the sensual rendition of Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis," her latest project proves she has found the right genre. Her first album "Stone Country," was a 2000 self-released traditional country fluke recorded at age 10.
On the 12-track " Reneé Olstead," the artist sounds much more mature than her teenage years. The set also features a rendition of Barry Manilow's "Meet Me, Midnight" and great American songbook standards like "Summertime" and "Sentimental Journey."
The entire set is currently available for streaming via Olstead's official Web site.
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