For singer Anthony Hamilton, it's time to boogie

By Gail Mitchell

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - As Anthony Hamilton remembers, the most difficult part of his acting stint in "American Gangster" was getting in and out of his character's pants.

"The role wasn't a stretch. I play a soul singer," said Hamilton, whose deep laugh mirrors his sonorous vocals. "But getting in and out of those tight pants I had to wear was the hard part. All that tight velvet ... it was like I had on curtains."

The easiest part was jumping at the chance to appear on the critically lauded film's soundtrack. Featuring '60s- and '70s-era hits by Bobby Womack ("Across 110th Street"), Sam & Dave ("Hold On, I'm Comin"') and the Staple Singers ("I'll Take You There"), the film -- starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe -- also includes original songs performed by Public Enemy DJ/songwriter/producer Hank Shocklee and Hamilton.

"Director Ridley Scott, music supervisor Kathy Nelson and Hank were trying to find a voice that could help convey the atmosphere of the movie," Hamilton said. "When Hank asked if I was interested, I said, 'Come on, man. I'll do that for free."' Hamilton sings two songs on the soundtrack: Diane Warren's soul-oozing ballad "Do You Feel Me" and his and Shocklee's James Brown-esque "Stone Cold."

It's the Warren composition he was rehearsing with his band when Billboard caught up with Hamilton at Hollywood's S.I.R. Studios. Although a planned performance on "The Tonight Show" was pre-empted by the writers' strike, he was prepping for an appearance on "Live With Regis and Kelly."

He's also gearing up for the February 5 release of his new So So Def/Zomba Label Group album, tentatively titled "Me."

Hamilton boils down a major difference between "Me" and 2005's "Ain't Nobody Worryin"' to two words: more uptempos. "It's time to boogie a little bit. I've taken them (the fans) to church and baptized them. So now we're going to boogie in the name of the Lord."

Expect "Do You Feel Me" to make the new album's track listing, as well as a song called "Home" featuring Hamilton's wife, Tarsha McMillian Hamilton. Before February 5 rolls around, the couple plans to independently release McMillian's solo album, "The McMillian Story," in January via the pair's Mister's Music Recordings. The True roster also includes rapper Ashes Clay from Asheville, N.C.