A rapper/producer/singer/songwriter, Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson relaunched his career with Dallas Austin's Rowdy label after being held back by problems between his former label, Rawkus, and their relationship with major label MCA. The grandson of Solomon Burke as well as the son of Motown's first A&R man, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and background singer Melanie Burke, Novel was born in California but spent time growing up in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and North Carolina thanks to the entertainment business. Back once again in California, his father set up a studio for Novel and taught him some old-school tricks that would be beneficial with the growing neo-soul movement. In 2003 Rawkus signed Novel and began working his single "Peach," which featured a cameo by the legendary Smokey Robinson. A video was made and he appeared on Soul Train to promote the track, but an album would never appear as Rawkus and MCA were parting ways, with Novel caught in the middle. While waiting to see what would happen to his album, he turned to his production and songwriting talents. High-profile gigs with India.Arie for her track on the Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack, plus a few cuts on Joss Stone's Introducing Joss Stone album, kept his name going in the business and helped him forge a relationship with Dallas Austin. After the Rawkus problem was sorted out, Novel was signed to Austin's Rowdy label in 2007. In early 2009 it was announced that the debut album The Audiobiography would be released later that year. David Jeffries, Rovi
