Malcolm Venable

Malcolm writes about music, style and pop culture in the pages of The Virginian-Pilot. Look for his stories in Entertainment.

Brandy, human

Last night singer Brandy stopped by 103 Jamz to do a meet and greet with about 20 lucky listeners. She was beyond adorable and totally chatty (although we were prepped not to ask about this or this .)

Still, she was super cool. She talked about her Punk'd episode, the Kim Kardashian drama , her music, her brother Ray-J (they're doing an album together called "R&B" (Ray and Brandy) ) and a host of other things. She said her new album "Human," out Nov. 11, features some cuts from Timbaland. (Her last album, "Afrodisiac," is mostly Timbaland produced and really really major. You should have it if you don't; the Coldplay sample on the last cut is so sick.) She got so into talking with us so much that when 103 personality Chris Caliente started to rap it up, she was like, 'No!"

Of course, she played some music, including a second single, a ballad, that had everyone impressed. Someone in the room suggested she film the video as a tribute to military people, and she said, a bit shocked, that was the second time she'd heard that! So if you see a military-themed video from her soon, know she got the green light from her folks in Norfolk.

My friend Ryan (who incidentally worked at Atlantic Records when Brandy was on the label, what a co-inkedink) who came with-- he didn't hear them tell us not to ask about the accident and thank you God that he didn't--suggested to me that with all she's been through lately, including the no doubt grueling ordeal of being involved in a fatal accident, that maybe that's where the title of the album, "Human" comes from. Certainly, he said, something like that gives you a much stronger appreciation of how precious life is. Hmm. Interesting observation. (See, that's why I have the best best-friends in the world; they so deep!)

"You can overcome anything," she said at one point, looking very sincere. "You are bigger than any problem. If you believe in God or the Universe, know that you'll make it and everything will be all right."

Love her. Plus, she told me my outfit was fly. Yessir!

"Human" is out Nov. 11.

Thanks, again, to the homie Rob Harrison for the great photo (my bad it's a little squished;see his otherwise good work here) and the whole 103 crew...

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