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Few know their way around a cover like Meshell Ndegeocello<\/a>. Following tribute albums to Sun Ra<\/a> and R&B hits of the \u201880s and \u201890s<\/a>, the Grammy-winning jazz singer has returned with Synonym<\/em>, a collection of \u201cclassic songs that\u2026have diverse tones, representing various genres and intentional grooves,\u201d she writes in a statement. The first single features Ndegeocello and Cynthia Erivio taking on the 1987 Aretha Franklin and George Michael duet \u201cI Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).\u201d Check it out below, along with a full tracklist and a very stacked list of collaborators, including Cat Power, Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, Bill Callahan, Chris Thile, Nick Hakim, Robert Glasper, Lianne La Havas, Moses Sumney, ANOHNI, Willow, and more.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project is an expression of queer liberation as a synonym for liberation of all kinds,\u201d adds Ndegeocello. \u201cThe queer community claimed me when others didn\u2019t and for a long time that felt too far away from other communities to which I belong but now I recognize the ways in which it all overlaps. Once again, I went back to my elders: Audre Lorde told us that there is no single issue struggle. Similarly, these arrangements are synonyms for their originals \u2013 these different sounds still mean the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n