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R&B ICON RUE BENNETT ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM AND ARENA TOUR FOLLOWING FOUR YEAR HIATUS
uploaded at 11:45am by Theshaderoom:
[an album cover headlines the article; the cover is rue standing in a police line up holding up her middle finger]
After four years away from the spotlight, Grammy -winning R&B starlet announced her new album titled DUI is set to release May 25th. In a recent interview with Billboard magazine she goes into detail on her intentions with this new album–
“I’ve spent these last few years really digging deep and truly learning who I am; this album reflects that. I’m a person with a multitude of vices, but one we all have in common is love. It’s addicting. This project really tells that story through my eyes and experiences.”
Rue Bennett was a prominent figure in the music industry before her public and messy breakup with model and world renowned painter Jules Vaughn. The pair spent years on each other's arm at awards shows, gallery openings, and any other public appearances. After a Paris gallery opening in 2022 the two were reportedly seen arguing while driving away from the event, when asked about the situation, both parties refused to comment. A week after the incident Bennett released B*tch, a song about personal betrayal and toxic cycles. Fans still speculate if the two things are connected.
This new album will immediately be followed by a North American arena tour with hopes for European dates to be added. Everyone is listening and watching for this one. Will this album flop and push the star back into hiding, or will it facilitate her rise back up the charts? It’s the question heard around the world.
———-
“Hi, my name is Rue and I’m an addict.” She’s slumped in her seat toying with her rings on either hand. Her eyes don’t meet the other people in the room as she speaks, and are completely shielded by the sizable sunglasses she’s wearing.
The room smells of burnt coffee and unwashed carpets. It's the basement of some random recreational center just outside Los Angeles, far enough from the city that no paparazzi is waiting outside to catch Rue slipping into her monthly AA meeting. Uncomfortable plastic chairs are arranged in a circle in the middle of the room, the seats are filled with people dealing with the same cravings she struggles with daily.
She raises her head and sits up slightly, “Today marks two years of sobriety for me.” There’s a few scattered claps around the room, the person next to her even decides to give her a small pat on the back.
“If someone would’ve told me three or four years ago that I’d make it to this point, I would’ve brushed them off and taken another pill or snorted another line. But I did it. The journey isn’t over, it never will be. But at the very least every time I earn another chip, it’ll be another year I’ve made myself proud, if no one else.”
Rue nods to herself slumping further in seat. After a few beats to ensure she’s done sharing, a small man sitting to her right thanks her for sharing and opens the floors to others. For some it’s their first meeting, for others it’s their second or third go at sobriety. Either way in this room it makes no difference, they’re all trying, which is what really matters.
After a few more people go, the meeting wraps up and Rue is awarded her two year sobriety chip, she runs her finger over a few times, taking a moment to remember everything that led to this moment. Eventually she tucks the chip away, telling a few people goodbye before heading towards the exit.
When she emerges out of the building a blacked out Escalade is waiting for her. She approaches the vehicle and out steps her driver, who briefly buttons his suit jacket and opens the back door, allowing Rue to climb inside. Just as the car pulls off her phone rings.
“Hello?” Rue presses the phone to her right cheek.
“You know there’s a special kind of person who’s late to their own album release party, where are you Rue?” Lexi’s voice is muffled just a bit by loud music playing in her background.
“I’m….on a road, not sure which one.”
“Okay, new question. Why aren’t you here, at your own party?”
“Relax, Lex. I’m on the way right now– I think.” Rue leans forward catching the driver’s attention, instructing him to reroute to the lounge the party is being hosted at.
“Hurry up.” The lines clicks off and Rue lays out in the backseat staring up through her sunglasses at the car's roof. She stays in that same position until the car comes to a complete stop and she can hear the raised voices of paparazzi. Rue sits upright and readjusts her sunglasses in preparation for the flashing of cameras, her driver rounds the car and opens her door. She steps out, they’re parked directly in front of the private lounge the party is being hosted in and dividers separate her from the crowd of photographers.
Rue picks up her pace as she moves towards the lounge’s entrance, a tall built man stands at the door with a clipboard but he doesn’t hesitate to let Rue in when she approaches. The lounge is dimly lit, mostly red LEDS light the space giving it a sensual ambiance. The place is packed, some are people Rue recognizes, others not. Before she can find some dark corner to slink off, Lexi appears in front of her.
“Look who decided to show up.”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” Lexi rolls her eyes and leads Rue towards the stage. They reach the stage and Lexi turns to speak to Rue.
“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for Rue, after all these years, you’ve done it.”
The DJ is announcing her appearance in the background and hyping up the room for her brief performance as her and Lexi conversate.
“No matter how well the album or the tour goes you’ve helped become a better person Lex, and I’ll forever be grateful.” Rue smiles, opening her arms and embracing her closest friend.
Lexi wipes a tear from her cheek and sniffles. “Okay okay, that's enough sentimental shit. Get up there and show them all your hard work.”
Rue nods, shaking her arms out and bouncing on the balls of her feet. She finally walks up the small steps leading to the main stage and the crowd erupts. She waves to the room, her golden rings shine at the movement. The microphone is set dead in the middle of the stage, she strides over and raises it to accommodate her height.
She taps the microphone.“Is this thing on? I’ve always wanted to do that.” The room fills with small giggles and laughter.
“Alright alright, let me be serious for once. This album comes after a period of rebranding for me. I’ve been working on myself and my music to get the best version of both for my fans and supporters. All of you in this room have supported me in some way along this journey and I couldn’t be more grateful.” She scans the crowd spotting Lexi and Fezco standing next to each other. “Specifically Lexi and Fez, you both have been instrumental these last few years, and have put up with all my bullshit with little to no complaints.” Another short round of laughter falls over the crowd.
“To thank you all, I’ll be performing the first song on this groundbreaking album to you before the official drop in a few hours.” The room immediately radiates excitement, people whoop and clap as Rue looks back at the DJ booth to signal him to start the first track.
He recognizes the signal and smooth saxophones play through the club's loudspeakers. Rue brings her hands from the pockets of her black corduroy jacket and wraps them around the microphone and its stand. She hums along to the beginning of the beat, her eyes are shut and she’s swaying back and forth. This moment is comparable to a high, the energy from the crowd radiates through her and the bass of the beat shakes her bones. Finally, she switches from humming as the first beat drops and starts singing the lyrics.
Scared of saying too much (too much)
Scared of not saying enough (ah, ah, ah)
I sure have a hard time with words
But with you, it seems they're enough
I smoke too many cigarettes, baby (cigarettes)
But you said on my lips it's good
I don't drink no white wine, but I'll buy it twice
If it's you saying I should (oh, oh)
I wanna get drunk in the back of the club with you
When it's hot, and it's wet, but you won't take your eyes off mine
And them hips stay stuck to my waist, girl, I'll treat you like a holster
(Girl, it's you I want, oh, it's you I want)
Oh, I wanna get drunk in the back of the club with you
(You, whoa)
Rue removes the mic from the stand and is interacting with the first row directly in front of the stage, running back and forth to touch open palms, and singing directly to pretty girls, until; she pauses for half a second spotting the most beautiful woman she’s seen in a long time, long brown hair, caramel skin, gorgeous brown eyes, long acrylic nails, and high cheekbones. She’s instantly enamored, and watches the stranger tilt her head at Rue’s unabashed gaze.
Before she can reason herself out of it, she’s stuck out her left hand to help the beautiful stranger onto the stage. To her complete surprise the woman doesn’t back down from the challenge, she uses Rue’s support to hoist herself onto the stage and doesn't drop the singer's hand when she makes it up.
Rue’s performer instincts kick in and she immediately resumes singing, only this time she’s standing directly behind the brunette as she grinds against Rue. The crowd has gotten even louder, of course they have, who doesn’t want to see two beautiful women dancing provocatively on stage.
The song ends but Rue announces she’s not quite done performing yet and has the DJ play Mirrors by Ne-Yo. At some point Rue dropped the woman’s hand and let hers fall to the brunette's waist, she’s still dancing and belting out impressive runs.
Once the second song is coming to an end she leans and whispers in the ear of the mystery woman.
“Thanks for being a good sport.” They have to be extremely close to hear each other over the loud music, she can smell the other woman’s vanilla perfume.
“Anytime.” The nameless woman spares Rue a coy smile and walks off stage, swaying her hips. The crowd applauds and Rue ignores it all to watch her walk away.
Finally, she remembers she’s still on stage and has hundreds of people watching her.
“Can’t ask for a better welcome back to performing than that, honestly. Thank you guys for coming out and supporting me tonight. I hope you enjoy this album as much as I do.” Rue sets the mic back on the stand and waves goodbye to the crowd before walking off stage where Lexi is waiting for her.
“Since when are you and Maddy that close?” She raises her eyebrow in complete disbelief.
“Who’s Maddy?” Rue is clearly equally confused.
“The girl you were bumping and grinding with on stage less than thirty seconds ago….ring any bells?”
“Oh, I don’t know her at all. She’s hot, so I invited her up.” Rue shrugs nonchalantly, but the way Lexi is reacting raises some alarms. “Wait, do you know her?”
“Everyone but you does, Rue. She's probably the one of the most successful actresses in the last five years.” Lexi is rubbing her temples now, it’s not an uncommon sight when she’s conversing with her closest friend.
“Oh.” Is all Rue can muster up, and then— “Does that mean you have her number?” Her lopsided grin punctuates the sentence.
Lexi looks back up at Rue in disbelief. “Kill me now.”