Interscope to re-release Will.i.am's solo album with new tracks

Will.i.am may have been behind one of 2007’s biggest hits, fellow Black Eyed Pea Fergie’s triple-platinum The Dutchess, which he produced and released (via will.i.am Music Group, a division of A&M/Interscope), but Peas’ ringleader saw less success with his own solo career. Songs About Girls, released Sept. 25 to lackluster sales (it charted at No. 38 with 21,000 copies sold and to date has moved 47,108 units), is now entirely M.I.A. from the charts, but Interscope hasn’t given up on it yet. The label plans to re-release the record in early 2008 with three new tracks. “We went with the wrong single and it sold nothing,” a label insider admits. “We would’ve been in better shape if we had pulled the album, because to relaunch it is harder.” Lesson learned — and being put into practice with Interscope’s recently pushed back Nicole Scherzinger album.