No more drama

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Sunshine Anderson. In 2001, the R&B singer drew comparisons to Mary J. Blige with “Heard It All Before,” the hit single from her gold album, Your Woman. Now she’s finally re-emerging after a five-year hiatus.

??
“No artist likes to stand still,” says Anderson, who moved to Atlanta from her native Charlotte, N.C., three years ago. First signed to Atlantic’s Soulife imprint, she jumped ship after that label’s merger with Warner Bros. Records left her contract in limbo. Luckily her former manager, noted industry veteran Jheryl Busby, introduced her to Beyonce’s father, Matthew Knowles. Knowles and Anderson created a joint venture, and she signed to his Music World Music label through her imprint, Shining Star Incorporated.

??
Anderson plans to release her second album, Sunshine at Midnight, in January. The first single, “Something I Wanna Give You,” is already being added to radio playlists. “I’m definitely bringing Sunshine to the table,” she says with sassiness. “Vocally, I’m strong. I give raw, pure and honest emotion. So it’s going to be a lot of what you got on the last album.” You can hear “Something I Wanna Give You” at www.sunshineandersonmusic.com.

??
MORE PURP: Last summer, Big Boi launched his Purple Ribbon label — an imprint so Atlanta its logo references the city’s love for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer — amidst a rack full of magazine covers and congratulatory press clippings.

??
Nearly a year later, Purple Ribbon’s track record is mixed. Its first two releases, Big Boi Presents ... Got Purp? Vol. II and Bubba Sparxxx’s The Charm, earned respectable reviews from music critics and fans. But, as label publicist Tamiko Hope explains, “I think we would have liked them to do a little better sales-wise. However, in terms of production and quality, it was all top-notch.”

??
Next up to bat is Sleepy Brown’s Mr. Brown, which comes out on Oct. 3. The first single, “Margarita,” is bubbling at urban radio. “We’re building momentum for that record,” says Hope, who adds that Sleepy Brown is performing Tues., Aug. 15, at Compound.

??
And what about Killer Mike? In several online interviews he voiced frustration about sitting on the bench at Purple Ribbon, especially since it’s been three years since his last album, Monster, came out on his former label, Sony. The rapper also announced his new label, Grind Time Official. (Killer Mike couldn’t be reached for comment.)

??
Despite the criticisms, Killer Mike reportedly professes loyalty to Purple Ribbon, which is distributed by Virgin/EMI. Hope confirms he’s still part of the team. “The album he was planning to put out on Sony, Ghetto Extraordinary, got shelved, so he’s been working on new material for Purple Ribbon,” she says. “He’s still with us. In fact, he was just in my office about 30 minutes ago.”

??
Though Mr. Brown will be the last album Purple Ribbon issues this year, other artists wait in the wings, including R&B singers Janelle Monae and Scar. “We’re definitely happy,” says Hope of Purple Ribbon’s future prospects. “We’re looking forward to having success with the Sleepy record.”

??
LEGENDS OF THE FALL: Athens favorite the Whigs finally got what everyone expected (and no, it wasn’t a big fat lip) — a major label contract. The band signed with Dave Matthews’ ATO Records, and plans to record a new album for release in 2007. In the meantime, ATO will re-issue last year’s Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip on Sept. 19. You can see the Whigs Sat., Aug. 19, when they play Smith’s Olde Bar. ... Cult hero Donnie is finally issuing a follow up to his 2001 album, The Colored Room. His new epic, The Daily News, hits stores via Los Angeles indie label Soul Thought in October.

??
CD RELEASES: Reggae trio Elvis White throws a release party for its album Promise — Live and Direct on Sat., Aug. 5, at Compound. ... Progressive rock band Z-Axis issues Concatenations via a Sat., Aug. 5, concert at Eyedrum. Special guests include Harold Timms and Beth Heidelberg. ... Singer/songwriter Terry Flynn celebrates Again Tonight with a Sat., Aug. 5, show at Langford Sound and Stage.