Artist Wril and Brandi Niccole of Chicago Perform Powerful Duet on Album's Signature Song:  Holiday Romance

Chicago, Illinois - December 12, 2011 - Chicago native and Emmy, Peabody Award and Grammy-award winning producer Malik Yusef has released a love-inspired Christmas album titled The Merrymas Season Celebration. The album represents a dramatic departure for him as he has gained acclaim as a poet and Spoken Word master.  However, in this album, Malik has crossed over to a new medium:  Christmas music.  The album dramatizes his musical range and depth and versatility as a writer and producer. It also reflects the same passion, stylism and sensitive edge that makes him such a compelling talent and such a stand-out in an industry.  

The album covers the holiday landscape as it features Christmas standards like Jingle Bells, White Christmas and Silent Night as well as original works from up-and-coming artists.

Two emerging performers with Chicago roots poignantly capture its signature tune, “Holiday Romance”: Chicago-born Wril and Brandi Niccole of Chicago. Both were selected by Yusef to sing this duet because of the musicality, style and passion they bring to the tune and to their musical careers.  Both cite their Chicago beginnings as reasons for their success.  Brandi launched her career as a singer in the famed Soul Children of Chicago choir. Wril's musical beginnings can be traced back to a musical father, Billy Brown, whose career flowered while in Chicago. 

“Holiday Romance” which Yusef and Wril combined their talents to write the tune and compose the song, is delivered by the couple with a magic and chemistry that compellingly delivers the message of how this season of gift giving, sharing and caring, adds texture and gives special meaning to two people in love.

The song pulsates with a rhythm and with a sense of uplift that is all the more magical because of the captivating and authentic feeling that comes through in the lyrics and the tune when sung by Brandi and Wril.  

It is a universal message that particularly resonates because it elevates the essence of love to new heights against the backdrop of the holidays.  The magnetism that they bring to the tune is the reason Malik chose them to sing the title tune.

About the Producer:
Malik Yusef, The Wordsmyth is a four Time Grammy Award Nominee, two time Grammy Award Winner, two time ASCAP Award Winner (both POP and R&B categories), as well as an Emmy Winner. Malik is under contract with the world's largest Music Publisher, Universal Music Publishing. His most recent artistic work was co-writing seven songs on International Super Star Kanye West's Double Platinum,“My Dark Twisted Fantasy”. Malik is also credited as a writer/producer/collaborator on Kanye's critically acclaimed Film Runaway which contains much of Malik's music. He also co-authored two songs with Jay Z and Kanye. 

His national debut started with his on-set job training of actor Larenz Tate for the movie “Love Jones”. He was also featured in the film. Malik was featured on Actor and Grammy Award winning artist Common's Platinum-selling “One Day It'll All Make Sense” and Carl Thomas's debut double platinum album“Emotional.”  He served as the poster boy for Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on HBO, won a Grammy with Kanye West for his poetry performance on “Late Registration” alongside The Game on “Crack Music”, and recently won a Grammy with John Legend and The Roots on a song called “Little Ghetto Boy”.   

Under Universal Records, he was part of the creative team that produced Barak Obama's: Yes We Can (Hidden Beach). His musical prowess has even extended to Hollywood, as Malik has had soundtrack songs featured on the Top 10 Movies Coach Carter and My Baby Daddy. His film credits have also been upgraded to writer/producer/narrator for his film short “Hollywood Jerome” which won an IFP Awardand 12 other International awards including an appearance in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.  Malik also earned an Emmy from his performance on Russell Simmons HBO's Def Poetry Jam. The show also earned a Peabody that year.

Malik's youth literacy foundation, For Yourself Foundation, seeks out and offers alternatives to youth who have mitigating circumstances similar to Malik's troubled beginnings during his formative years. He seeks to use his star power and influence to help prevent others from making the same mistakes.

About the Artists
Brandi Niccole
After showing promise while a tot, Brandi Niccole's rarified talent led her to become a member of the renowned Soul Children of Chicago.  Always seeking new venues for exposing her talent, she and another member of the group founded, SEVEN, whose intricate harmony and crowd-pleasing musical style attracted international acclaim as they sang their unique rendition The Star-Spangled Banner for President Barack Obama and Clerk Dorothy Brown.   They also opened for well-known gospel artists Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary and the legendary Clark Sisters and exhibited their crossover appeal by performing with R. Kelly, Ginuwine, Jay Z, Celine Dion and David Foster.  A graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor high school, she is currently positioning herself for musical stardom.
After being captivated by her talent and style after hearing her perform, Malik Yusef chose Brandi Niccole to join Wril on this duet.

Wril
Wril is also a multi-dimensional talent whose vocal versatility is matched only by his versatility as a songwriter. Wril's musical tree is dotted with family members including His father, William “Billy” Brown, a well-known organist who played for many successful vocalists and groups including Vicki Winans and the Soul Children of Chicago.. Endowed with the versatility that was nurtured while living in Chicago, he was able to cultivate it after the family moved to North Carolina.  There, Wril launched his musical career in the church as   Musical Director of the World of Pentecost Church in Burlington, North Carolina and also a songwriter, instrumentalist and vocalist. In March 2009 his natural knack for R&B exploded when he wrote and performed such songs as “She's The Wril Deal” and “Don't Walk Away.”

Wril recently produced and recorded his debut CD and those in the industry proclaim that his songs “Amazing Woman”; and “Forever and Ever I Do,” are destined to become classics. To fulfill his commitment to share his songwriting and production talents with other successful artists globally, Wril is currently building a catalogue of 200 songs. Wril's great voice, musical talent and incredible song writing gift combine to make him quite an Amazing Man.
Like Brandi Niccole, Wril was tapped to sing “Holiday Romance” because of the incredible passion, power and poignancy he brings to the tune.  

About the Album:  Holiday Romance is the premiere song on an album titled The Merrymas Season Celebration that captures how Christmas touches all people and all faiths and persuasions.  Because of its uplifting power, the album is the loving platform that is ushering in the celebration to a holiday that embraces all faiths and is aptly called the celebration of Merrymas. 

Merrymas: The Merrymas Season Celebration was started by the Perfect Nobodies and given life by Malik Yusef. The holiday goes until January 2nd and embraces and draws from Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Eid, New Years Celebration, Nowr_z, Festivus, and other festivals and holidays.  The universal actions that define this holiday require that all committed to this global holiday… 
o Do good
o Spread goodwill
· Share (experiences, knowledge, gifts, etc.) 
· Commit to 30 days of kindness to strangers 
· Set aside one specified day of gift sharing with loved ones 
Because of the global dimensions of the album, Malik galvanized 30 artists from 30 different countries to add their musical talents to this album and to the spirit of Merrimas that it inspires.  This includes creators from Sweden, Lebanon and Australia.  Because Merrimas promotes inclusion, he says Merrimas represents a new global movement that will be celebrated every year.

The album can be purchased on iTunes.