Over the course of the next year, DJ/Producer Don Cannon will be dropping an onslaught of new and previously released music, as he prepares for the release of his debut studio album, he told AllHipHop.com exclusively today (Feb 18).
The Philly-born, Atlanta-based producer will start compiling songs for the project in May 2008, he says, with an expected January 2009 release.
“I’m just gonna lock it in, like on some Dr. Dre s***: no showers, no food, just music,” jokes Cannon. “I’m gonna do half the album in Atlanta; do a couple of joints in Philly to capture that back home feeling. And I’m gonna do the rest of the album in LA.”
Fans can expect appearances by T.I., Lil’ Wayne, Ludacris and Young Jeezy, with whom Cannon scored the 2005 summer hit “Go Crazy.”
Cannon will also use the album to showcase up-and-coming talent, including Aphilliates Music Group artists Willie The Kid and Detroit Red.
“I’m gonna do an A-Town record with all the cats who are hot in Atlanta right now: Rocko, P$C, etc.,” Cannon tells AllHipHop.com. “Then I’m gonna do a Philly record later this year with all the hot artists in Philly. I got a couple other hot song concepts too.”
Starting next Tuesday (Feb 19), Cannon will make several digital releases available in preparation for the as-yet-untitled album, which will also be released and largely marketed online.
The first will be an independent compilation album entitled Don Cannon Instrumental Anthems 1.0, a collection of the placed tracks, including Fabolous’s “Jokes on You” and “The Art of Storytellin’ Part 4” from DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz The Album.
One week later, Cannon will release the companion album to Instrumental Anthems, Don Cannon Hip-Hop Anthems 1.0 featuring the completed songs as they were released.
Both albums will be available as free downloads, joining his current internet hit, American Legend, which features remixes of eleven songs from Jay-Z’s American Gangster.
Don Cannon is currently in the studio with The Game, Ludacris, Willie The Kid, Slim Thug and is in negotiations to produce tracks for Jeezy’s third album as well as Rocko, Slick Pulla, and Big Kuntry’s major label debuts.