Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

How much must it rock to be Queen Latifah these days? Oscar nominee, costar and coproducer of the #1 movie in the U.S. for the last three weeks (Bringing Down the House), new album (with Missy joints!) on the way... and now here's the first new music we've heard from the Queen in some time, from the House soundtrack, "Better than the Rest." Delightfully, Latifah's singing on it - not that I don't love her as a rapper, but I think I like her even better as a singer (if you've heard "When You're Good To Mama" from Chicago, I'm guessing you agree). "Better" has a ridiculously phat bassline, jazzy horn flourishes, and the Queen La using her instrument superbly all over the track. It's almost-but-not-quite got a neo-soul vibe, like you could imagine Angie Stone cutting it. Is "Better" amazing? No. But it's real nice, smooved-out (but not stupid) r-and-b from a woman who knows. Anyone wonder what a jazz album from Latifah might sound like? Pretty great, I think.