All through this coldest month of winter there have been rumbles from murky internet corners that claim Jive records ended its long term relationship with Ciara. Things have been rough between the partner entities for awhile— Ciara's manager and A&R changed before Fantasy Ride dropped and what CiCi envisioned as a three-disc concept album became a 12 track. Her following 2010 release Basic Instinct didn't move well from American Best Buy's, but we celebrated Ciara last year anyway and lamented that her work was so pushed back and leaked that it didn't feel like the event it could have. Yesterday, in a fit of loving desperation, CiCi took to her facebook to pause the buzz, let folks know she's a team player and that she's PRAYING to bring "new music energy and a visual excitement." The letter she wrote is heart wrenching, perhaps a sign of the times. Remember when Big Boi went through this? His album was held in nightmare limbo for years, but the relief was sudden once the binding ties broke. We'll wait as long as it takes. Work the jump to read Ciara's full plea and manifesto in support of creativity, understanding and performance.
To my fans:
This week the net has been a buzz of the rumor that I have been dropped from my label. At this point that rumor is false.. It is true that I have asked and I pray that my label will release me. I have had some great times and success with my label, but sometimes like all great things, it's at that point where I feel we don't share the same views on who I am as an artist. The past two albums have been very frustrating for me. At times there were songs I chose to lead a project and I was ignored! This project, I even tried to get "Gimmie Dat" started I spent tens of thousands of my own money only to hear the radio PDs tell me my label didn't want the song played. I even spent more than one hundred thousand dollars out of my pocket on the video to bring my vision to it and still no label support. I do understand that some labels are not financially supporting their artists and I have become one of them. You, my fans, know that I strive to do my best to deliver to my you the best songs and creative vision I possibly can. I'm dedicated to my music, performance and to my fans! I've tried to be a team player with the label only to have compromised what I truly believed and was not given the right opportunity to promote and inform my fans of the release of this album. I have so much of me as an artist I still want to give to the world and my fans. A release would allow me to go be creative with people who care and understand me as an artist. In a short time, I will be able to bring to you a new music energy and a visual excitement! Thank you so much for standing by me through the good, bad, and the confusion. I love you all.
Love Ciara
