Soul
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 »
Classic Clips: Stevie Wonder – “Superstition” (Live On ‘Sesame Street’) [Video]
January 1, 2017
Stevie being the genius that gave us “Superstition” is enough. But seeing him do it live… Okay, that’s incredible; and enough, to be certain. But what will make your Sunday and New Year wonderful is that Stevie Wonder rocked ‘Sesame Street’ live with that joint!
It was like a funk & soul clinic for the kids: Talk about a Children’s Television Workshop!
DJ Rasta Root – “SeratoCast Mix 58” (2016 Official One Musicfest Mixtape)
September 3, 2016
Point blank: To start, you NEED to catch the homie DJ Rasta Root on deck at the Smokin Shells DJ Stage for this year’s One Musicfest in Atlanta (Georgia, USA), Saturday, September 10, 2016, at Lakewood Amphitheatre.
As an enticement for those who have yet to make that go-no go decision, as well as to serve as a consolation for those who cannot make it to The ATL, here is DJ Rasta Root’s 2016 Official One Musicfest Mixtape … “SeratoCast Mix 58”
DJ RASTA ROOT – SERATOCAST MIX 58 (2016 OFFICIAL ONE MUSICFEST MIXTAPE)
Marvin Gaye – “Sexual Healing” (Remix) [Prod. By Beatnick x K-Salaam]
August 16, 2016
Stupid dope dance refix of the Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing!” Beatnick & K-Salaam get extra kudos for this. And playing it might get you up and into your go to two-step wherever you are, so listen with caution. Good times ahead.
(And that artwork… gotta love it!)
MARVIN GAYE – SEXUAL HEALING (REMIX) [PROD. BY BEATNICK X K-SALAAM]
Posted in Dance, EDM, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: Beatnick, K-Salaam, Marvin Gaye, Sexual Healing, Sexual Healing Remix | No Comments »
Phonte x Eric Roberson – “Tigallerro” (Album Stream)
August 5, 2016
By now, it’s official! The collabo “Tigallerro” LP is out. We got the full stream and the link to cop if you like (via earlier post) for you below. You may proceed to rejoice and groove.
V. Bozeman – “Dear Officer” feat. Young Life (Prod. By Rodney Jones) [Video]
July 29, 2016
Cue the news report. Clip in the Malcolm X audio. Start the civil rights struggle image montage. Song comes in… It’d be a stirring multimedia presentation even it weren’t so timely. Unfortunately, V. Bozeman and Young Life going in on this “Dear Officer” (produced by Rodney Jones) draws on recent events and #BlackLivesMatter energy. The depth to the song and soulful delivery should still be appreciated, even if circumstances that gave rise to it are not.
#BlackLivesMatter
Posted in Hip-Hop, Soul, Videos | Tags: Dear Officer, Keaira LaShae, Misha Bledsoe, Rodney Jones, V. Bozeman, Young Life | No Comments »
James Corden Welcomes FLOTUS Michelle Obama And Missy Elliott To ‘Carpool Karaoke’ (Video)
July 27, 2016
Yooooo. James Corden got Missy Elliott to ride along and get in some songs for his Car Karaoke.
See you’d believe that and that’d be a cool enough show. But what Corden ACTUALLY did for this ep is get Missy Misdemeanor AAAAAND First Lady Michelle Obama in to ride shotgun. Off the meat hook HAM!
– @ojones1
Posted in Celebrity, Comedy, Performance, R&B, Series, Soul, Television, Videos | Tags: Car Karaoke, James Corden, Michelle Obama, Missy Elliott, The Late Late Show With James Corden | No Comments »
Torii Wolf – “Shadows Crawl” (Prod. By DJ Premier)
July 16, 2016
I’m talking in my sleep
And my shadows crawl out of me
Wooooo! That’s a cold azz way to start a jawn. Well, those lines, and that scratch-attacked beat Primo put down a-la classic Group Home ‘Livin Proof’ style. Enjoy the alt Hip-Hop/Soul chill Torii Wolf is putting down online as “Shadows Crawl” up and down your spine in the dopest way!
Posted in Alternative, Hip-Hop, Music, Soul | Tags: DJ Premier, Shadows Crawl, Torii Wolf | No Comments »
