It’s been four long years since Alicia Keys released a new album, and the wait is over! As I Am will mark the third CD of this Grammy darling, and her first since 2003’s critically-acclaimed The Diary of Alicia Keys.

See exclusive Alicia Keys in-studio performance

The songstress describes her new project, released by her longtime label J Records, as “rebellious” and “Janis Joplin meets Aretha Franklin.” The thirteen tracks feature collaborations with artists like John Mayer (who can’t stop gushing about Keys on his blog!) and Timbaland as well as Pink and Christina Aguilera’s hit songwriter, Linda Perry.

But this is still a very personal album (Alicia helped write and produce all the songs), one that took years of introspection (and even an inspirational journey to the ancient pyramids of Egypt) to create. Keys said she dubbed the album As I Am to reflect her newfound openness, saying that she's become less of a "hidden person" in recent years.

As for the melodies, if her debut single, "No One" already a Billboard chart mainstay is any indication, her music is moving in more of a funk-rock direction. Some of the songs show a 60s and 70s soul influence, while others are firmly rooted in rock.

The hybrid tunes from this music wunderkind are sure to please her adoring fans, who will probably pick this over Britney's album! Keys certainly seems happy with the results; she told reporters, "I am in love with this album. It's very fresh and new." We can't wait!

“Fallin'”
Though she wrote the song based on her own relationship experiences, initially it wasn’t intended for her but rather for Kim Scott, a child prodigy on her Sony label. After leaving Sony for J Records, she released it in 2001.

"I drag it around like a damn badge of honor,” she’s said. So many people told me that that song in particular would never work. 'It's too urban, it's too black, it'll never cross over.' The fact that it was successful told me one thing: Nobody knows anything. A lot of those people who doubted are out of jobs now," she adds. watch video

“If I Ain't Got You”
The song from Keys' second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, became the first single by a female artist to remain on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart for more than one year.“ I do feel like the best song I've written so far is "If I Ain't Got You,” Keys has said in 2006. watch video

“No One”
Album collaborator John Mayer declared that the song will “blow you away when you hear it."

“This is one song that just wrote itself," Keys says of her new single. "A lot of the songs didn't happen like that. It was one of the last songs I wrote. I needed to say this. It's full force, classical yet vintage, desperate yet triumphant. I want people to feel my soul." watch video

“Like You'll Never See Me Again”
Alicia's second ballad, "Like You'll Never See Me Again," was inspired by the death of a family member and partly by Prince's "Purple Rain."

"Every time you hold me, hold me like this is the last time/Every time you kiss me, kiss me like you'll never see me again." watch video