I’m still not over NKOTB’s song with Ne-yo. I have it on repeat right now (obsessed much?). Anyway, after I learned that they did a duet with Ne-yo, I thought for sure they are going to do one with Akon – the King of collabos.
Well, guess what? According to Donnie Walhberg, they did. (Read about it at http://nkotb.com/blog/2008/08/donnie-talks-music/)
Aside from Akon, they’re also collaborating with New Edition and Pussycat Dolls. Hmmm.. that’s gotta be interesting. PCD meets NKOTB? *lol*
The Truth & Nothing But The Truth 
How do you assure your comeback? By duetting with anyone who says yes that’s had a hit in the last 18 months. Can you say “trying too hard?”
Can you say “smart business move”?
I don’t think it’s trying to hard. I think it’s a brilliant move. If you want to make a comeback, you might as well make it a SUCCESSFUL comeback.
Besides, it’s not a new thing. Even those who are already successful — like Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani — do it every time they release an album.
Collaborations make an album more interesting because it forces the artist to try a new sound.
Heck, if an American Idol like Jordin Sparks who got millions of votes during AI needed to collaborate with Chris Brown to have a hit song, I think NKOTB would be wise to do the same thing.
Again, I don’t think it’s trying too hard. It’s called moving with the times. Besides, Akon could’ve said no but do you think Akon would pass up the opportunity to duet with a boy band legend? I don’t think so!