T.I. – “Here We Go Again”

I know we’re supposed to have this policy of introducing readers to new artists, and T.I. clearly already has hit it big, but this new song produced Timbaland is without question the hottest track on my playlist. To be fair, I’m an unapologetic Timbo junkie that immediately falls in love with 80% of everything he’s ever done, but this particular track works on just about every level possible. T.I. knows how to rock a track, and he knows how to write a hook. Those two things linked up to a dirty, dirty beat makes for a real gem. Enjoy:

Finger Eleven – “Living In A Dream”

The new Finger Eleven record drops next month, but we’ve been given “Living In A Dream” to help tide us over. You must decide whether it’ll just arouse your appetite without bedding it back down or whether you really need a taste to keep yourselves from starving. Either way, you need to know this stomping, upbeat rock diddy is everything we’ve come to love from F11.

Mark Ronson featuring Ghostface Killah – “Lose It”

We were first introduced to Mark Ronson in 2007 when he teamed up with Lily Allen to put out “Oh My God,” which quietly became an FS favorite that year. Then came that sweet video for “Bang Bang Bang,” which rocked our asses equally hard, and now there’s “Lose It,” featuring one my favorite Wu-Tang Clansters in Ghostface Killah. The track takes about a minute or so to really warm up, but once Ghost hits the beat everything is right in the world. I’m starting to wonder if there’s a Ronson track out there that I wouldn’t like. Hmm.

Craig David – “Who Am I?”

There’s an unspoken role in the hip-hop community that anything Timbaland produces is pure cash money, so considering he put together the music for the new cut from Craig David, I already have to love it. But it’s a cool R&B pop ballad that doesn’t drag a lot of the other R&B pop ballads out there on the radio. The rolling toms and double-bass drums typical of Timbo make this an instrumental worth indulging in. And David’s voice is just as silky as it was when he was gracing the Top 40.

Great Divide – “Waiting”

Once upon a time, we at FS featured a now-defunct group called Brown Couch, which to this day remains one of our all-time favorites. When I heard this track from up-and-coming Chicago band Great Divide, we had to check and make sure there weren’t any old Brown Couchers involved in the project. There weren’t, meaning they’re just independently funky enough to put together some fantastic songs with tight harmonies and heaps of rock and soul.

Travis – “The Line Is Fine”

Somewhere in between Nirvana and Wheatus, Travis put together a very interesting little anthem with a delightfully whiny hook all the way back in 1997. It’s not exactly a tip for those of you looking for brand new stuff, but if you ever loved grunge at any point in your life, you’ll love this song.

You know what sucks?  Nobody ever got to hear Kiley Dean.  Twice she’s had albums shelved, and the music business isn’t kind to artists that never really hit the airwaves.  So Dean, despite having several ridiculously catchy tracks produced by Timbaland over the last six years, is a virtual unknown.

Dean, who started her career singing backup for Brittney Spears, most recently earned her paycheck backing up another pop superstar in Madonna.  But let’s be real about this—Kiley has no business singing backup.  This girl is and should be a star.  She came at Timbaland back in 2002 with a track she wrote specifically for him and soon after they were recording together.

The result was the single, “Make Me a Song,” followed by a full album entitled “Simple Girl” that never got released.  Somehow (and with so much time having passed since 2003, I can’t remember exactly how) I was able to get a hold of this record and haven’t taken it out of circulation since.  This is good stuff, folks.  For realsies.

Instrumentally, Timbaland is always a genius, so cuts like “Open Road,” “Kiss Me Like That,” and “Soldier Song” are both poppy and memorable, but Dean’s silky smooth vocals float over the beats like satin ribbons in a soft breeze.  It’s an unholy alliance of synth and song that hardly anybody’s ever heard.  Which, as I said, sucks.

The song “Who I Am” actually was released in 2005, even if the rest of the album didn’t quite make it, and that one’s available on iTunes.  She also appeared on Bubba Sparxxx’s “Deliverance” album on the track “Nowhere,” singing the hook.  The latest word is that she’s working on a third album and that Timbo might still be helping with production, but who knows if this will be the one that makes it to store shelves?

She’s a talented girl with music that at the very least deserves to see the light of day.  Support for her would be much appreciated because we at Fresh Scouts are afraid that if she spends much more time with Madonna she’ll turn to Kabbalah, and I’m not sure she’s ready for that.

If you like Kiley Dean, check out Kid Cudi!