Few people may know that Anthony Hamilton and Jermaine Dupri are working together on a collaborative album due this August. It will be a full-circle moment for the two, given that Dupri signed Hamilton to his So So Def label in 2003 and released his second and third album on the imprint.
Among the songs taken from their studio sessions is “You Made A Fool Of Me,” the album’s lead single. It was co-produced by Manuel Seal and Dupri, who alluded on Instagram the vocally passionate track is a return to form for those enthusiasts who long for homegrown R&B.
Led by his gritty vocal blend of soul music and the Black church, Hamilton laments across the quintessential R&B arrangement about deep betrayal rooted in infidelity.
“The story is about trust being broken, a heart being deceived, the final straw of being made to feel foolish, and having enough of it,” explained Hamilton in a statement. He applauded Dupri for keeping “the integrity of true R&B music” intact as well as his artistic DNA. “He never tries to make me anything other than me. I’m Southern, churchy, and like to sing my ass off.”
“You Made A Fool Of Me” is introduced with a Terrance Crowley-directed video. In the visual, Hamilton takes it back to his early roots, reuniting with his on-screen Charlene from the official video of his 2003 single of the same name.
Next Tuesday (May 11), “You Made A Fool of Me” is set to impact R&B radio airwaves.
Last year in December, Hamilton pleaded for “Mercy” on his urgent, Tamika D. Mallory-featured track. He also shared the 9th Wonder-produced song “Back Together” featuring Rick James. It earned him a top 20 single on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart last August.
Hamilton’s last album, What I’m Feelin’, was released in 2016. His fifth studio LP featured the number-one single “Amen” and the buzzing title track.
Dupri is currently working on new music for Ari Lennox’s as-yet-titled sophomore album, alongside Bryan-Michael Cox.
Listen to Anthony Hamilton’s new song “You Made A Fool Of Me,” and watch the official video, below.
