It feels like forever since we’ve heard Keyshia Cole on a rap-sung collaboration. The Grammy-nominated singer makes the wait worthwhile, joining wide-receiver-turned-rapper AB (Antonio Brown) on his new song “Don’t Leave.” The track is lifted from his new album Paradigm.
The track, which takes interpolation from Foxy Brown’s 1996 classic “Get Me Home” featuring Blackstreet, is a lesson about friends walking the fiery line to become lovers possibly.
Cole sings the hook over a summer-ready production with conviction that only she brings. AB rhymes about the status of a romance stuck in a gray area as Cole offers up tightly-placed ad-libs.
“I don’t need no wings / ‘Cause were so fly together, you and me / Tell me secrets no one else believes / Even if there’s secrets about me,” sings Cole in the flirtatious intro.
Cole last launched a new era when she released the one-off single “I Don’t Wanna Be in Love.” Even without a music video, the underrated tune climbed to No. 11 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart. It also attained over one million streams on Spotify since its winter 2021 release.
“I Don’t Wanna Be in Love” was announced as the lead single to Cole’s long-awaited eighth studio album. Initially slated to arrive last year under her BMG deal, Cole’s untitled LP was meant to be her first LP since she and her musical father and executive Ron Fair reunited.
In December 2020, ahead of Cole’s Verzuz battle against Ashanti, Fair spoke exclusively to Rated R&B about the future work.
“We’ve done five-six vocals already down in my studio in Nashville, and she’s killing it. She’s figured out who she is to all her fans with the choice of songs on this record and it’s going to be extraordinarily satisfying,” revealed Fair.
There’s no word on the status of Cole’s follow-up to 2017’s 11:11 Reset.
In January, Cole entered a global deal with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to be represented in all areas, including music, television, and touring.
Speaking of hitting the stage, Cole is booked and busy this summer. On May 28, she will play at the St. Louis Music Festival. Then, she’ll take the stage at this year’s Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Later in the year, Cole is the itinerary for D-Nice’s Club Quarantine Live in Vegas during Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2-4).
Stream AB’s new song “Don’t Leave” featuring Keyshia Cole below.
