WHAT started as a fun project between Jamaican producer Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor and American soul singers Syleena Johnson and Musiq Soulchild is getting serious attention.

9INE is the name of the new album by Johnson and Musiq Soulchild, to be released in July. Its nine reggae tracks are produced by McGregor.

In an interview with Billboard magazine, Johnson explained how the album and partnership with McGregor evolved.

“The music was so good and Musiq and I both love Kemar’s productions, so we’re just like, ‘why don’t we just do an album together’,” she said.

McGregor is one of the top producers for contemporary dancehall. In a recent interview with Splash, he said he made the link with Johnson and Musiq Soulchild after meeting the former in Atlanta during a recording session.

Johnson, whose Billboard hits include All Falls Down (featuring Kanye West), I Am Your Woman, Guess What and Tonight I’m Gonna Let Go, has released six studio albums to date.

Her biggest seller is Chapter 2: The Voice, which was released in 2002. It has sold 269,000 copies in the United States.

The 35-year-old Musiq Soulchild also has six albums to his credit. Among his hit songs are Halfcrazy, Don’t Change, Love, Teach Me, So Beautiful and Just Friends (Sunny).

Johnson told Billboard that the album was influenced by numerology. The tracks were recorded in nine days; herself and Musiq Soulchild were born in September, the ninth month of the year.

The lead single from 9INE is Feel the Fire. Along with another track, The Promise, it will be featured in episodes of the reality series R&B Divas.