When some of you hear the name Beau Dozier, they'll go "Isn't that the guy who used to go out with Joss Stone?", but in actuality he's so much more than that! He's an extremely talented music producer who worked with the best names in the music business including Boyz II Men, Avant, 3LW, Nivea, B2K, Jojo, Tiffany Evans and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. I caught up with Dozier to talk about his career in music production, which artist he enjoyed working with the most, whether he'll date another celebrity, and his dream collaboration! I hope you'll enjoy reading this interview as much as I did conducting it, and don't forget to post your thoughts :)

When did you decide that you wanted to become a producer? And who was the first artist you worked with?

I really just fell into it. I wanted to rap when I was younger so I learned how to make beats to rap over. That eventually lead me to Snoop's Dogg Pound and I started doing tracks for their group The Lowlifes.

Was your father & Motown Legend Lamont Dozier influential in making you choose music production as a career?

My father was and always has been supportive. I've always wanted to be just like him.

I've got to know you through your work with 3LW on their album "A Girl Can Mack". How was it like working with them? And are you producing tracks for their next album as well?

Those girls are a lot of fun. We had a great time coming up with stuff, definitely an adventure. We don't really keep in touch that often, so I don't know if a future collaboration is in the works. But you never know!

Out of all the artists you've worked with, which ones you felt the best chemistry with?

I'd have to say Prima J. They're a new girlgroup on Geffen, and they're amazing! We clicked right from the beginning and always have the best time and come up with some pretty cool stuff. They're definitely my favorite.

You've also worked with Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls' on her duet with Avant "Lie About Us". How was that experience like, and do you think that she has what it takes to make it as a successful solo star?

Nicole was great. Very professional! She came in directly after a rehearsal in sweats and laid her part down in literally 5 minutes. She'll definitely make it as a solo act. She's got a great voice, she's beautiful but most of all she has an amazing work ethic.

Much attention has been paid to your relationship with songstress Joss Stone, does that bother you? And do you think that's the reason why both of you split?

Having your personal life go public isn't fun. I definitely will never date an artist again. As for the split, Joss and I really just became friends. Some people fall more in love, others fall in hate, we just grew more into friends.  I think we broke up, then went to dinner and a movie. We remain very close.

Billboard magazine reported that you are part of her upcoming album "Introducing Joss Stone", but you told me that none of the tracks you made will make it to the final cut. How come?

We love the songs we did, but at the end of the day, when you listen to her album, which is by far her best work yet, these songs just don't fit. They kinda come out of nowhere and you're all "Great song, why is it on here?".  There's something in the works for one of them, I just can't speak about it at the moment.

Were you skeptical to work with Jojo when her team asked you to produce tracks on her sophomore album "The High Road" cuz of her age? Or you knew right along that it would be a great experience?

Definitely not skeptical. Jojo is probably one of the best singers I've ever heard. She is amazing! A Beast!!

Are you disappointed that Jojo's "Do Whatcha Gotta Do" hasn't been included on the US version of the album? And is it true that it's about Joss Stone?

It was disappointing at first but I am glad that the rest of the world got to hear it. It's about my first love, definitely not about Joss. In fact, Joss and I were still together when Jojo and I recorded it in New York.

Which artist you haven't worked with yet, but would love to hook up with soon?

I'd LOVE to work with Jennifer Hudson.

What does Beau look for in a woman? What turns you off? And are you dating anyone at the moment?

I like all different types of women. I need a girl who's educated, secure with herself and understanding. Someone who isn't going to bug out when I'm in the studio with a pretty girl cause it's "Definitely" going to happen. Drama turns me off. The last girl I dated is the personification of Drama. Can't do that anymore! If it looks to be even the least bit problematic, I cut it off. I'm enjoying being single right now. I'm really focused on work right now and unfortunately, it's really hard to make a relationship work when you work 16 hour days and your free time starts at 3am.

Have you visited any Arabic country before? If not, which would be your first choice?

I've always wanted to go to Egypt but I have never been.

Can you tell me about some of your future projects?

I'm actually working on two film scores at the moment. So I am concentrating on that for the next several months.

Is there any message you'd like to give to all your fans and aspiring music producers?

I really want to thank them for their kind support. I get the most amazing letters and MySpace messages from them. They're the greatest. And for all of the aspiring music producers, keep bringing it. Music needs you!

[Visit] Beau Dozier on MySpace

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Mega producer Timbaland revealed in a recent interview with Billboard Magazine that he’s working on the next albums by Eve, M.I.A., Chris Brown, 50 Cent and Missy Elliot. He also said that he’d love to collaborate with Sade, and for personal reasons, Ginuwine as well (god knows what he meant by that, hee hee ). His upcoming album “Timbaland Presents: Shock Value” is due March 27^th via Interscope Records, and will feature guest spots from Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger.

British Jazz songstress Amy Winehouse will release her sophomore album "Back To Black" in the United States on 12^th March via Universal Records. The set includes productions from Mark Ronson, who's also responsible for some of the hits on Christina Aguilera's "Back To Basics" and Lily Allen's "Alright Still". Winehouse also recorded a new duet with former Sugababes member Mutya Buena for her upcoming debut album, and the track was produced by famous Reggae hitmaker Salaam Remi (Shareefa, Toni Braxton, Joss Stone), so that should be VERY interesting!

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The title of singer/songwriter/actor Ne-Yo's upcoming sophomore album is "Know Me", and its due 24^th April via Def Jam Records. The new set boasts productions from long time partners Stargate (Claudette Ortiz, Kelis) and Shea Taylor (Wynter Gordon, Paula DeAnda), as well as cameos from Rihanna and Jennifer Hudson, with whom the "So Sick" singer will be working on her debut album too!

Even though it was previously reported that "Leaving Tonight" is tipped for being second single from the album, Ne-Yo is hoping for "Call Me Crazy" instead and he described the song as an "Infatuation Song" where the guy is infatuated with one lady.

Expect some of Schaffer Smith's songwriting on the next albums by Usher, Chris Brown, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Mario Barrett, Britney Spears, Megan Rochelle, Enrique Iglesias, Karina Pasian and Nina Sky. Newcomer Emily King, whose debut album "East Side Story" is coming out in July via J Records, was also given some songs by Ne-Yo but she refused them and decided to go with her own-written material instead!

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In a recent interview with MTV, Mariah Carey revealed that “Lil’ L.O.V.E.” is the name of the track she recorded with rap group Bone Thugs N Harmony for their upcoming album entitled “Strength and Loyalty”, due April 17. Here’s what she had to say about the song:

"It's a favorite of mine. It's a nice song, and I think it really kind of gives you the back-in-the-day Bone vibe but also a very new take on who they are as artists."

Carey is also working on her next cinematic venture simply called “Tennessee”, which was originally offered to Janet Jackson. She plays a waitress who’s aspiring to become a successful singer/songwriter, and for that special occasion, she hooked up with veteran performer Willie Nelson for a track that will appear on the film’s soundtrack. The name of the joint hasn’t been revealed yet, but I predict it will be something along the lines of Jessica Simpson’s  duet with Nelson on “These Boots Are Made for the Walkin’”, which was produced by Carey’s long time collaborators Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Her next album is due this fall, and as it was previously reported, Jermaine Dupri (Deborah Cox, Tamia) and Swizz Beatz (Angie Stone, Mya Harrison) are among the album's several producers.

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R&B songstress Monica will soon start shooting the video for her latest single "Sideline Ho", which was produced by The Underdogs (Ruben Studdard, Fantasia) and co-written by Durrell Babbs aka Tank (Aaliyah, Kelly Rowland). In a recent interview with SOHH, Monica revealed that she regrets allowing her record label to influence her singles-released choices, and instead should have listened to her fans! Do you think "Sideline Ho" will bring Monica back to the spotlight? 

Monica's latest album, "The Makings of Me",  was released in October 2006 via J Records and included joints like "Everytime Tha Beat Drop" and "A Dozen Roses", as well as collaborations with producers/songwriters Jermaine Dupri (Jessica Simpson, Nodesha), Bryan Michael Cox (Mariah Carey, Claudette Ortiz), Missy Elliot (Jazmine Sullivan, Tamia), Swizz Beatz (Jennifer Lopez, Mashonda), Johnta Austin (Janet Jackson, Chris Brown), Sean Garrett (Megan Rochell, Emily King) and Harold Lilly (Toni Braxton, Craig David).

R&B songstress Christina Milian posted a new message on her official MySpace profile and stated that she’ll soon hit the studio with producers Johnathan Rotem (Paris Hilton, LeToya Luckett), The Matrix (Avril Lavigne, Ashley Parker Angel), Cool & Dre (Kelis, Mary J. Blige) and Nathan Hills (Nelly Furtado, Katharine McPhee). She also described the sound of the upcoming album as an infusion of Pop/R&B just like her previous records, and will be working with Latino songwriters as well. Sounds pretty exciting as I’m one of Milian’s biggest fans and can’t wait for her next album to drop!

Former Sugababes member Mutya Buena recorded a new song with British dance group Groove Armada and it's called "Out of Control (A Song For Mutya)". Here's what Pop Justice magazine had to say about the new dance track:

• It sounds like Richard X AND Xenomania AND Goldfrapp on the same song.
• It sounds VERY 1980s.
• It sounds VERY 2010s.
• It sounds like a Number One.
• If you were to place Mutya's George Michael duet at Land's End and this track at John O'Groats they still would not be far enough apart to denote just how amazing this song is compared with how terrible the George Michael one was.
• It is a bit like a really stompy electro version of what the Sugababes' 'Easy' was probably supposed to be.
• You are going to LOVE it.

There's still no word on whether this joint will appear on Mutya's upcoming debut album, but hopefully it will! Buena's new set will feature productions from Johnny Douglas (Kylie Minogue, Amerie) and Greg Kurstin (Natasha Bedingfield, Lily Allen), whereas the Sugababes are rumored to be working with producers Dallas Austin (Deborah Cox, Janet Jackson) and William Orbit (Madonna, Gwen Stefani) for their next album, so that should be HAWT!!!

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Congratulations to singer/songwriter Robin Thicke for being the first white artist since George Michael to earn the # 01 spot on Billboard’s R&B singles chart with his latest smash single “Lost Without U”. The track is taken from his latest album “The Evolution of Robin Thicke”, which was executively produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, and features additional collaborations with vocalist Faith Evans and rapper Lil Wayne. Thicke is also penning hits on the next albums by R&B crooner Usher and newcomer Tynisha Keli, so watch this space bitch!!!

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Mega producer Raphael Saadiq will hit the studio very soon to start working on his next album, which he predicts to be finished in 3 to 4 months time and will be released via Sony BMG. He described the new venture as a simple record that makes you wanna clap your hands! In the meantime, fans of Saadiq’s productions should look out for his work on Joss Stone’s “Introducing Joss Stone” (Virgin Records), Emily King’s “East Side Story” (J Records) and Teedra Moses’ “The Young Lioness” (TVT Records).