Our extremely reliable sources on the inside have given us the real scoop on what really went down. Contrary to the numerous rumors already circulating, Raje was not "dropped" by Timbaland or Beatclub. Instead, her contract expired and she opted not to renew with Timbaland and his camp unless the terms were made to be more favorable for her as an artist and producer.

In a brief statement, Raje said, "Creatively, Tim and I have always been on the same page. I want to make it clear that we're still definitely cool and I was blessed to work in the company of such genius. He's been like a big brother to me. But as far as the business end goes, his people and my people just couldn't work it out. After much negotiation, I thought it was best for me to move on and explore other options."

After investigating further, we found out that Raje did not appear in the "Indian Flute" video where she was supposed to be the main featured artist with Timbaland & Magoo, because the contractual differences were still not worked out. She also has opted not to make any appearances on MTV or BET or do any upcoming touring with the Beatclub crew to promote the single either. That would explain the urgency on Tim's site to find a new "Indian girl." But Raje's fans as well as Timbaland's camp know that she's not so easily replaced. There are speculations of ongoing talks on a daily basis still trying to work things out so Tim and Raje can rejoin forces. Let's hope for the best!

In the meantime, as anyone whose followed her career this past year would know, there is no shortage on offers coming in for Raje to come out full force to the mainstream under the wing of other Super Producers and labels who shall remain nameless for now. All we can say here at DesiClub.com is that we're behind you girl! Do your thang and represent! We promised you the exclusive and you got it here. Stay tuned for more breaking news!!!

Now we proceed to the original piece that was posted before all this took place...

There I was on Broadway sitting in a Mexican restaurant eating my burrito when the phone rings, it was someone I hadn't heard from in awhile - Raje Shwari! As fate would have it, Timbaland and her were in the City and she had some new news for me...

Anyone whose anyone knows whenever Tim produces something it turns into gold. He is on top of his game in the Hip Hop Industry, but it made me wonder why Raje? Why is she so special? Why is she so different from the others Tim has worked with? He broke it down to me....

"Man, just listen to her and look at her." He pauses and smiles.

"She's just so unique and definitely one of a kind. As a producer, I wanna always be ahead of the pack, tryin new things, setting the next trend, takin music in a new direction. Yeah, she's always callin me her teacher and her mentor, but for real I feel inspired with Raje. We got lots of chemistry in the studio and the ideas just keep flowing. We definitely onto somethin big."

On that note he left me with her and both of us caught up with what was new in Raje's world.

Peta Cooper: So Raje, since our last interview, what have you been up to?
Raje Shwari: Everything girl! You name it; I've been up to it! Just been spending a lot of time working in the studio, rehearsing and writing, getting my head on straight and keeping focused on my goals. I just came back from a couple of months of recording down in Miami at the Hit Factory. That was cool, real cool. Worked on Timbaland & Magoo's album mostly - I'm featured on a couple of joints with them, plus I did a whole lot of background vocals throughout the entire album, so that was a positive learning experience as well. You couldn't imagine the amount of work that goes into making an album, and the discipline and fast pace you got to keep up with. But then again all the more ready I am to get started on my own debut now.

And then I was extra blessed cause things just got into such a great flow while I was down there, and I ended up jumping on some other incredible projects as well. Got to do a couple of tracks with Missy Elliott, a duet with Beenie Man for his upcoming album, and Tim introduced me to Pharrell, and we ended up going in the studio a couple days later with Nas to do the "Flyest" track for the Charlies Angel 2 soundtrack, so that was an unexpected surprise! What can I say... it just keeps getting better and better. I mean all this already, and we haven't even started focusing on the solo thing yet. At this point, I just find myself getting down on my knees every night and saying "thank you"... that and taking the time to enjoy the ride of course (smile)!

PC: Wow Raje, talk about exciting! Speaking of which, how much of your upcoming album is going to have an Indian theme to it?
RS: It's hard to really say what's gonna happen. It's so much about going with flow, you know. But whatever the finished product turns out to be, the album is gonna be me for sure. I write all my own stuff, and of course it comes from within and from personal experience, so undeniably it will be a true reflection of whatever I got to offer as an artist as well as a human being going thru the usual trials and tribulations. And then of course there's Timbaland, and it looks like Pharrell, too as the beat makers on the project, so what can you expect besides pure innovative genius. I am sure that they will cater to my ethnicity and also use the whole vibe of their individual visions for me combined with my own to inspire them.

PC: So you'll be writing your own lyrics to the songs in Hindi and English on the album?
RS: Definitely. As far as the Hindi lyrics, I must be honest and say that I just started getting into that part of it a couple years ago, so I'm just feeling and learning as I go. My dad was the one who introduced me to that world as a little girl, but I never imagined what I was being prepared for. I mean I'm not trying to be some inspired Indian poet or a master of romantic Hindi lyricism. English is definitely much more my thing, always has been. But the "Indian" thing is just the extra spicy flavor that gives me that edge in the mainstream and has allowed me to develop my own style, which I'm still working on by the way (smile). I'll probably work with some hit making writers as well from Tim's camp like the dudes that worked with Aaliyah, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake, mainly because I want to see what we come up with bringing so much diversity to the table, plus its just a greater experience writing with someone else sometimes and vibing off their flow and their ideas.

PC: When do you plan on releasing it?
RS: Yeah, that's a good question. I wish I could tell you mama. At this point we're in such early stages that I'll have to get back to you on that one. Let's just pray for ASAP!

"...the recent Indian invasion is going to undoubtedly open doors for all of the overlooked"

PC: Will your current release "Indian style" featuring Timbaland be on your album, and do you think the Indian community will label it as a "bite off" from the film song "Number 1 Punjabi"?
RS: That remains to be seen. That track was really just an experiment. People don't know that is has never been released to this day, it was more like just a test record. Crazy thing it's actually on the charts and being played throughout Europe just by a fluke. They keep asking where they can buy it, I mean really feeling it.

The thing is I was just messing around in my studio playing Indian tunes and vibing, and then I started flipping it with my own English lyrics thrown in with the Hindi ones, and when Tim heard it, he flipped. He was like "let's do it", and then he threw his own "Timbaland touch" on there with his voice, and next thing you knew we had this track. That's why it sounds so authentic, cause it was truly spur of the moment.

But you know if people think it's some sort of bite off, that's cool. We weren't trying to perpetrate it as being completely original. Indian melodies, especially Punjabi ones are so common to the ear and infectious at that, so you know after a while it all kind of starts to sound the same anyway, let's keep it real. This was more about throwing the English in and throwing Tim on the track to make what turned out to be a HOT party record! C'mon anyone on the planet regardless of age or ethnic background is gonna move a little somethin' somethin' to that track, that's why I wrote the last line of the song to be "we just took over your party so you can feel Punjabi." Our goal was just trying to let people know that folks on the other side of the world party and have a good time, too. Will it go on my album? Honestly, I think we're gonna come up with so much hot and fresh material, that "Indian Style" may just end up being a track that I jump off my shows with, you know, just to keep it alive for the true hard core Raje Shwari fans that I'm hoping and praying to have someday soon.

PC: Is Indian music in the mainstream a passing trend or is it here to stay and become a part of American pop culture?
RS: I get asked that same question over and over again. And it's definitely a legitimate question. Food for thought, you know what I'm saying. All I can say is I was just trying to jump-start my career as a singer/songwriter/producer, when the Indian thing snuck into hip hop. I wasn't expecting to hook up with Tim, and I know he wasn't expecting to do more than continue sampling and making Indian influenced beats as long as he was feeling that vibe. But its kind of like the universe conspired to bring us together, and it really just took on a life of its own from there. Now I'm sitting here like "all I wanted to do was do my music thing and make some kind of humble offering to whoever was willing to listen"... and instead its now become about being innovative, representing a culture that the whole world is focused on right about now, making some serious things happen on a whole other level. It's not something I expected to be thrown smack dab in the middle of.

But things happen for a reason, and you know I really don't think that it's going to be a passing trend. I think it's going to more be like the Spanish Music invasion that Gloria Estefan set off 20 years ago. I'm sure they didn't know the impact they were about to make and how they were going to change music forever when they put out "Conga", but the Spanish influence is everywhere to this day thanks to that record - I mean everywhere... Rap, Hip Hop, Dance, hell, even Alternative. I'm not saying that Indian music is going to do the same thing. But I do think that the recent Indian invasion is going to undoubtedly open doors for all of the overlooked ethnicities as a whole. People are going to be more curious and more open to ethnic diversity, and their willingness to explore is never going to stop.

PC: True true... when do you plan on going on tour?
RS: Getting in the studio and recording my own album is the number one priority for me right now. But I'm the featured artist on Timbaland & Magoo's single called "Indian Flute," so I may hit the road with them for a minute. Plus I really want to get out there and start meeting the people in the clubs and on the streets and see how they're feeling me up close and personal, so I know my management is starting to book me for a lot gigs from mid-September on. I'll just have to balance it for now. No doubt the nonstop touring will start as soon as I drop the album.

PC: Well, we can't wait to see what's next for you Raje. What would you like to say to your fans on DesiClub.com?
RS: I appreciate the love and support, I truly do. I guess I would just want to be straight up with them and let them know that I didn't really know too much about the Desi scene and how huge it really was a year ago. My only exposure to my culture was thru my parents, and also thru me just sitting in awe of how incredible and beautiful and unique the place I came from was. And although I'm extremely proud to come from India, and I've visited many times, truth be told, I didn't grow up with any Indian friends or have my cousins or extended family around me like most, so I definitely feel like an outsider looking in right about now. I'm just starting to understand how huge the Desi community really is, and more so how together and passionate everyone is about keeping the culture alive as it evolves.

I guess I'm just asking for the continued support and the room to grow and figure things out as I go. This "going worldwide with the Indian thing" is new territory for everyone, especially me. But the more I understand how much people want it, the more seriously I take it, and I'm going to do whatever my part is to make that happen.

Well Raje, we got nothing but love for you and you know you have the entire community supporting you 110%. So do your thing girl!

Editor's Note: Look out for Raje's Corner right here on DesiClub.com, where we'll be showcasing and keeping up to date on Raje's projects. In the meantime, check her out at www.rajeswhari.net.

Do you have any thoughts on this? Feel free to send Peta an e-mail @ Peta Cooper.