January 18, 2007 14:36

Rick James to release posthumous album

It was the album James was working on when he died

A posthumous Rick James album is set to be released.

The as-yet-untitled album is set to be released in May and will feature songs he was working on before his death on August 6, 2004 from a heart attack.

James’ final studio album was ’Urban Rapsody’ in 1997.

Of the album, his manager Ron Kramer told Billboard: “This is one he really wanted out. He really didn’t want anybody else on these songs. He wanted to prove himself again. He wanted people to enjoy him; his music.”

Kramer added that there was more unreleased material James left behind, and is looking to compile deluxe editions of his back catalogue.

The first single from the album will be ’Deeper Still’, a clip of which is available on his Rickjames.com.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot to make a Rick James film from his book ’Memoirs Of A Superfreak’, which he wrote when he was incarcerated at Folsome Prison between 1993 and 1995.

Screenwriter Sheldon Turner, writer of ’The Longest Yard’, is set to begin work on the film's script.