New yes. Brand new no.

After a four year hiatus following smash LP Very Necessary,In 1997 raps premier ladies finally returned to the fickle world of hip hop with Brand New, a sleek and sexy album of R&B tinged hip hop tracks that tackle everything from domestic violence to men who cheat. Stand outs are "Knock Knock" on which the ladies give walking papers to the cheaters. Salt n pepas version on 70's soul. The male song chorus backdrops and guitar riffs are so buttery it could have been a complete R&B track. Lyrically best is "Friends" with Queen Latifah. Say Oooh is typical sexy but classy S-N-P. While not a total mis step Brand new is not a smash because it lacks a true lead off blockbuster single. "R U Ready" and "Gitty Up" just dont cut it after smash singles like "Whatta Man" and "Shoop." The ladies also seem to be mimicking rapper Foxy Brown a little too much. Was it really necessary for the three girls dubbed as the Queens from Queens to copy young chicks for whom they paved the way for. The ladies also seem to be dabbling in too many genres going from hip hop to rock and rock with guest star Cheryl Crow to Gospel with Kirk Franklin and Sounds of Blackness which in some respects seems to weaken the potency of the album.