Soul
DJ Rasta Root – “One Musicfest 2017 Official Mix” (Mixtape)
August 21, 2017
The homie Rasta Roooot! Dude went across the spectrum, up & down the music levels, and swept the corners out the club for this mix! J.I.D. to Jill Scott… with some Thundercat, Kaytranada, Syd, Tank And The Bangas, Too $hort, and even Migos in here. Definitely a trip. A hip trip cued up for you to enjoy.
Posted in Dance, Dancehall, Funk, Hip-Hop, Mixtapes, Music, R&B, Rock, Soul | 
Tags: DJ RASTA ROOT, One MusicFest, One Musicfest 2017 Official Mix | 
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112 – “Dangerous Games”
August 20, 2017
I don’t wanna play this game of chess anymore.
‘Cause everyone knows when your queen is gone you don’t last long.
Yeah, ATLien and Bad Boy alum act 112 is back at it again. Just a tick faster than a true slow jam, but bet money you and bae can sway to this close together today. Play “Dangerous Games” over and over. And enjoy!
Chantè Moore – “Something To Remember” (Video)
August 20, 2017
Your pleasure is my only mission…
If imagining Chantè Moore say that to you doesn’t make your day (hell, your LIFE), I don’t know if there is a way to make you enjoy this “Something To Remember” video from her. Easily the HOTTEST thing said by arguably one of the HOTTEST women still doing her thing in R&B. Whew!
Lex Boogie From The Bronx – “Bad Gal RiRi Live From Lexington Station”
August 14, 2017
Just being creative and decided to do something the ladies might enjoy.
Reeeespect to Lex Boogie From The Bronx for always keeping up looped in with exclusives like this. Nice airy chant style music to this RiRi mix. Vibe, dance, whatever to this.
Posted in Dance, Dancehall, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: Bad Gal RiRi, Bad Gal RiRi Live From Lexington Station, Lex Boogie, Lex Boogie From The Bronx, Rihanna, RiRi | No Comments »
The PlayList (DJ Jazzy Jeff et. al.) – “1995” feat. Glenn Lewis [Video]
July 25, 2017
Yeah. It seems only right that DJ Jazzy Jeff’s PlayList Retreats bear smooth tasty fruit like this. A taste of the full plate “Chasing Goosebumps.” So so dope! The soulful singing of Glenn Lewis over a R&B’d out track. Perfect.
(More on The PlayList after the jump.)
Posted in Album, R&B, Soul, Videos | Tags: 1995, Chasing Goosebumps, DJ Jazzy Jeff, GLENN LEWIS, playlist, The PlayList | No Comments »
R&B/Soul: Musiq Soulchild – “Simple Things” (Video)
July 21, 2017
We talk about taking it back to a ‘Golden Era’ for Hip-Hop, but how about R&B like this? Not gone go ‘old man’ in this post, this new Musiq Soulchild jawn is that good soulful how-it-should-be music. The instrumentation and vocals. Dope! Video for “Simple Things” off the forthcoming “Feel the Real” album.
R&B/Soul: H.E.R. – “H.E.R. Volume 2” (EP)
June 28, 2017
If you’re new to music from H.E.R. then you’re welcome! Bringing the dopest music is what we’re all about. And this music from H.E.R. is H.O.T! Soulful. Very nice set. Stream it below, courtesy of the ‘Cloud… This is “H.E.R. Volume 2.”
Illa J – “Home” (Prod. By Calvin Valentine) [Video]
June 13, 2017
You are supposed to FEEL good music. That’s what this is. “Home” is a feeling. A wonderful Motown Bluesy feel set to music (produced by Calvin Valentine)… and video. Illa J got this one right. Enjoy this visual for Illa J’s album’s title track. Album due out June 30th but you can pre-order now.
Bugged out that this is my first ever single being released without any rapping in the entire song..Been wanting to do this for so long. As always, Calvin kills it on the production. And to put the icing on the cake, the house I’m sitting in front of on the video is actually the house my parents brought me home to as a baby. It’s home in the most literal sense as I’m surrounded by family, my nieces and cousins. Also in a way showing how I’m the man of my family now since my dad and my brother are gone physically, I represent them both.
– Illa J
Mélat – “Negn” (Video)
June 7, 2017
Mélat is, once again, so sultry while being subdued. It’s paradoxical, but trust it is appreciated. Talented, tantalizing… the video just highlights it. Check out “Negn” to understand why Mélat gets such props and press on here. And the link to the full length is included below.
More. Much more. After the jump… a personal narrative about her name, her album “MéVen” revealing another trait of Mélat’s, and herself – vulnerabity, bravely on display.
(Sung in the tongue of Amharic. Lyrics can be found here.)
DJ John McSwain – “More Love: A Playlist By Vacations” (EP)
June 2, 2017
DJ John McSwain’s (aka Vacations) new mashup EP (“More Love”) seems very appropos given the two being ‘mashed’ here: Drake has massive love for Sade (like the rest of us); and Sade is “No Ordinary Love” indeed. So there you go, and here you go. Enjoy the music.
Posted in EP, Hip-Hop, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: A Playlist By Vacations, DJ John McSwain, Drake, John McSwain, More Love, More Love: A Playlist By Vacations, Sade | No Comments »
Goapele – “Stay” feat. BJ The Chicago Kid
June 1, 2017
Sweet. Another Goapele checking in with another jawn from her “Dreamseeker” EP… This is “Stay” (featuring BJ The Chicago Kid).
Posted in Alternative, EP, Music, Soul | Tags: BJ the Chicago Kid, DREAMSEEKER, Goapele, Stay | No Comments »
Sabrina Claudio – “Unravel Me” (Video)
May 25, 2017
Minimalist visual concept with seasoned with just the right amount of special effects; so very appropriate for this song. Good recipe for delivering a song that oozes with sensual goodness. It’s like the basic poundcake made by a sexy chef that brings the flavor when she cooks up the good stuff.
Sabrina Claudio singing “Unravel Me” in this is part presentation for a single; part challenge, in understanding what the singer wants to tell us. Enjoy the whole thing!
Goapele – “Dreamseeker” (Video)
May 13, 2017
Incredible title track off the forthcoming Goapele EP. Video for it above. Short, but very sweet sounds to soothe the soul.
The Making Of “Strength Of A Woman” (VH1 Trailer)
April 27, 2017
Watching the trailer for “The Making Of: Strength Of A Woman” (debuting on VH1, May 2nd at 11pm EST) you get a sense that Mary J. Blige is laying it all on the line in a few ways. First, she mentions a couple of times that this “Strength Of A Woman” project she is dropping is about healing herself; sharing her struggles, not prescribing or preaching for anyone else. That more than infers a second; Mary putting her business all the way out there (which she has done before, but that “that’s my Becky With The Good Hair” line implies some SCANDALOUS storytelling is in store). Third, The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul declares that this LP is the ‘real Mary‘… almost like a love-it-or-leave-it decision point will be laid out for the fans who cop. Risky, but hey, it’s Mary J; so folks will likely love it.
Now, we’d be pound foolish not to mention the coup of leveraging Mary’s brand in pushing an ‘album documentary’ timed around the release of “Strength Of A Woman” on VH1 where her target audiences (longtime fans of hers AND longtime fans of reality show level DRAMA) will be watching. Plus, peep all the contributors’ cameos, from Diddy to DJ Khaled.
There’s a reason the Queen is the most powerful attacking piece on the board. The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul is on the move, starting with tomorrow’s release of “Strength Of A Woman” followed by this tell-everything documentary on May 2nd.
Posted in Album, Film, Hip-Hop, R&B, Relationships, Soul, Television, Trailer, Videos | Tags: Mary J. Blige, Strength Of A Woman, The Making Of Strength Of A Woman, VH1 | No Comments »
Robert Glasper – “The Cross” feat. Lianne La Havas x Common
April 21, 2017
If Jesus died on the cross why I gotta carry it?
– Common
Wow. The mark of good instrumentation… the levels to which it pushes accompanying vocalization. Like, just LISTEN to what that music Robert Glasper put down for “The Cross” pulls out of Lianne La Havas and Common. The singing. The lyrics!
Might have to watch that “Burning Sands” this weekend just because of this.
This song was written by Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins, and Common for the film “Burning Sands” on Netflix now!
Posted in Jazz, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: Burning Sands, common, Karriem Riggins, Lianne La Havas, Netflix, Robert Glasper, The Cross | No Comments »
An Intimate Tour Of Nina Simone’s Childhood Home (Video)
March 20, 2017
That’s what’s up! Four artists (Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Ellen Gallagher, Julie Mehretu) purchased the house where Nina Simone was born and spent her childhood.
It wasn’t long after the election that this all began to happen, and I was desperate like a lot of people to be engaged, and this felt like exactly the right way.
– Rashid Johnson
Go on a tour (with The New York Times) of Simone’s old home in Tryon, North Carolina, above.
Posted in Celebrity, History, Human Interest, Soul, Videos | Tags: Adam Pendleton, birth home of Nina Simone, birthplace of Nina Simone, childhood home of Nina Simone, Ellen Gallagher, Julie Mehretu, New York Times, Nina Simone, NY Times, Rashid Johnson, Surprise Saviors for Nina Simone’s Home, THE DAILY 360, The New York Times, video tour | No Comments »
Skillz – “Cheesesteaks & Tastykakes” (Mixtape)
March 17, 2017
Nice! Can’t tell us that you don’t pick up things from folks you are around. Traveling the globe for years with a Philly mixmaster like DJ Jazzy Jeff (check out all their Vinyl Destination stops posted on here) will let you pick up some stuff from pure osmosis. But this here, this is some training! Nice work from Skillz on this tribute mix to Philly he’s dubbed “Cheesesteaks & Tastykakes.” Dope!!
Did a live broadcast yesterday playing some of my favorite music from one of my favorite cities, Philly!! I have a special place in my heart for Philly, its like a 2nd home to me! A few people asked me for it, so here it is…. hope yall enjoy this jawn! Cheesesteaks and Tasty Kakes! Shout to all my Philly fam! #215
Posted in Hip-Hop, Mixtapes, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: Cheesesteaks & Tastykakes, Cheesesteaks And Tastykakes, Skillz | No Comments »
Unsung: Jon B (Full Episode)
March 16, 2017
Long Island’s (NY, USA) own Jon B was the subject of ‘Unsung’ in the above episode. Once again, great stuff… this time, on the forerunner for later ‘White chocolate’ crooners (like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke) in the Soul/R&B genre. Produced and pushed to excellence by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Jonathan “Jon B” Buck had a good (albeit short-lived) run last century. Learn about his coming up and blowing up back in the day. Watch.
Posted in Celebrity, R&B, Series, Soul, Television, Videos | Tags: JON B, Jonathan Buck, TV ONE, TVOne, Unsung | No Comments »
Winning Performance: Tank And The Bangas (Video)
March 10, 2017
Meet New Orleans’ Tank and The Bangas — winner of the 2017 Tiny Desk Contest.
– PBS
Now you know we are all about the PBS ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ series on here. But who knew there was a contest and that a winning group like this would get pulled into the national spotlight?? Easy bet that Tank and The Bangas will be hitting more than a few more stages as more and more folks see what they can do in this clip. Looks like they are having fun and that they can bring the fun to any function. Check ’em out!
– @ojones1
Paul Nice – “Best Of Sade Blends” (Mixtape)
February 16, 2017
Damn if this ain’t the candy shop of banging blends! That “Sweetest Taboo” refixx though… all of ’em are probably as dope… curious about that “No Ordinary Love” one, too. Pricey, but tempting, and waiting for you over on the Bandcamp, it’s Paul Nice’s “Best Of Sade Blends.” CRAZY dope!
Posted in Hip-Hop, Mixtapes, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: Best Of Sade Blends, Paul Nice | No Comments »
