Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Live Audio: "Vision Of Love" (Mariah Carey)


Back in 1990, Mariah Carey made a promotional appearance on SNL to promote her debut album "Mariah Carey." During a rehearsal, fans were lucky enough to get this live audio of the vocal diva warming up her pipes on her classic and first number 1 hit "Vision Of Love." Take a listen to this live audio of Mariah practicing below and Enjoy!


Live Video of the Day: "Quickie" (Miguel)


Miguel has been steaming up the charts for a while now and his single "Quickie" is no exception to that statement. With that said, Miguel has been performing to solid crowds on mtvU's 2011 VMA Tour and below you will find a live clip of Miguel crooning out a live rendition of his latest hit "Quickie." Watch it below and Enjoy!


Song of the Day: "Matter of Time" (Kem)


"Matter of Time" - Kem
  • Writers and Producers: Kem
  • Record Label: Motown Records
  • Featured on 2003's "Kemistry"

Amazing Cover: "We Found Love" (Mateo)


Mateo's EP Love & Stadiums II hit iTunes late last year and to help build buzz for the project as well as himself, Mateo took to YouTube with his "Stripped Cover Series." Armed with just his piano, Mateo performed a sublime stripped rendition of Rihanna's latest and current #1 single "We Found Love." Watch his amazing cover below and Enjoy!


New Video: "Believe In Us" (Mint Condition)


Mint Condition has just recently released their latest video for their new single "Believe In Us" lifted from their forthcoming LP "Music @ the Speed of Life," due out this September. With that said, peep the official visual for "Believe In Us" below and Enjoy!


Second Listen: "Don't Let Go (Love)" (En Vogue)


Back in the Fall of 1996, En Vogue released their chart-topping single "Don't Let Go (Love)," which was lifted from the "Set It Off" soundtrack and would later find itself included on the group's third album "EV3." Peakeding at #1 on the Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart at #2 on the Hot 100, "Don't Let Go (Love)" would go onto become the 83rd biggest song on the Hot 100 during the 1990s. With that said, take a first or hopefully second listen below to the funky divas' Grammy-nominated hit single "Don't Let Go (Love)" and Enjoy!


Rare Performance: "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (Aretha Franklin)


The official soundtrack for the remake of "Sparkle" was released today and while the vocals in my opinion do not match the Queen of Soul's from the original Curtis Mayfield compositions, the women of the forthcoming remake put together a solid effort. Either way you feel, Ms. Franklin in my book has the top rendition followed closely behind by the funky divas of En Vogue. With that said, peep this rare performance of "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" below from the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin and Enjoy!


Behind the Scenes: "Enough Of No Love" (Keyshia Cole & Lil Wayne)


Keyshia Cole released a preview for her forthcoming video "Enough Of No Love" last week and now the famed songstress is back with an official behind the scenes visual of the Benny Boom directed visual. Featuring herself and her collabo partner Lil Wayne, you can peep the behind the scenes feature below!


New Joint: "Black Orpheus" (Jessie Boykins & MeLo-X)


Jesse Boykins and rapper/producer/DJ MeLo-X have come together to collaborate on a forthcoming LP entitled "ZULU GURU." Slated for release on October 15th, the first joint "Black Orpheus" from the upcoming collaborative LP is a solid sonic start to what appears to be a nice genre bending project. Take a listen to "Black Orpheus" below and Enjoy!


Cut: "Beautiful" (Tweet)


Back in 2002, Tweet released her debut album "Southern Hummingbird" via The Goldmind Inc. and Elektra Records.  While "Southern Hummingbird" is best known for Tweets' joints "Oops (Oh My)" and "Call Me,"there are a few cuts off the album that are some solid joints to have in one's collection. With that said, I offer up her smooth joint "Beautiful" as one of these such joints. Take a listen below to "Beautiful" and Enjoy!


Monday, July 30, 2012

New Joint: "Kiss My Ass" (K. Michelle)


K. Michelle has been amping up her profile thanks to Vh1's breakout TV hit "Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta" and during tonight's episode the famed songstress previewed a new song entitled "Kiss My Ass," which was inspired by her friend Mimi. Peep her new joint "Kiss My Ass" below and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "Abide With Me" (Emeli Sande)


In another epic fail moment for NBC during these Olympic games, the network opted not to show a touching tribute performance performed by Emeli Sande to honor the of the 52 victims of the London subway terror attacks that occurred on July 7, 2005, one day after London was awarded the 2012 Summer Olympics. With that said, due to NBC's judgement, deciding to air an interview with Phelps instead of the tribute, a high quality visual of the performance has been hard to find.  Therefore you can peep a low quality version of the dance performance with Sande's live vocal accompaniment of "Abide With Me" below.


Song of the Day: "Baby" (Angie Stone ft. Betty Wright)


"Baby" - Angie Stone featuring Betty Wright

  • Writers and Producers: Angie Stone, Corey Tatum, K. Norton & Curtis Mayfield
  • Record Label: Stax
  • Released in 2007 from "The Art of Love and War"
  • Peaked at #22 on the Billboard  Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Album in the Works: "Halcyon" (Ellie Goulding)


While Ellie Goulding's "Lights" is just now heating up at US radio currently peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, the famed UK songstress has already announced plans for her sophomore effort. Entitled "Halcyon," the forthcoming October (8th UK, 9th US) LP will be officially led by "Anything Could Happen." No word on if her current buzz track "Hanging On" will make the final cut, but I hope that her solo version will be in-contention instead of her collaborative rendition. Either way you feel, take a listen to her solo version below and peep the official album cover of her forthcoming album "Halcyon" before its released this coming October.


Second Listen: "Emotional Rollercoaster" (Vivian Green)


Back in 2002, Vivian Green released her debut album "A Love Story." Having previously servered as one of Jill Scott's original background singers, Green took the the charts herself with her lead single "Emotional Rollercoaster," which would go on to become Vivian's biggest hit to date peaking at #13 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song even crossed over and became her first and thus far only top 40 hit on the Hot 100 peaking at #39. With that said, you can relive Green's poignant smooth jam "Emotional Rollercoaster," below and Enjoy!


Mashup: "Demonstrate (JAYBeatz Mashup)" (Drake, JoJo, The Weeknd)


Producer-on-the-rise JAYBeatz put together a phenomenal mashup of JoJo's latest single "Demonstrate" along with Drake's Rihanna assisted "Take Care" and some additional elements from The Weeknd. Take a listen to this sublime mashup entitled "Demonstrate (JAYBeatz Mashup) below and Enjoy!


Live Audio: "Mercy, Mercy Me" (Craig David)


Take a listen to Craig David's amazing acoustic cover of the Marvin Gaye classic "Mercy, Mercy Me." Recorded during BBC 1 Xtra Live Lounge several years ago, David's smooth vocals compliment the Marvin Gaye classic nicely. While I am not sure what David has been up recently, it's evident by his live cover that he has one of the better voices among this generation.  Listen below and Enjoy!


Live Clip: "SoBeautiful" & "Whoknows" (Musiq Soulchild)


Musiq Soulchild recently performed a stop date at "The Howard Theatre" in Washington DC and during his set the famed Philly crooner performed a mixed vocal rendition of his hit "SoBeautiful" as well as a solid rendition of his joint "Whoknows." Musiq's falsetto is still in solid form as you will be able to tell from the following live clip of two of his most vocally strenuous joints. Peep it all go down below and Enjoy!


Amazing Cover: "The Climb" (Guy Sebastian)


Guy Sebastian's rendition of Miley Cyrus's famed ballad "The Climb" is hands down the best cover and might even be the best version in my opinion. With that said, it's father disheartening that this mega-talented Australian has yet to truly break into the US market. For those who aren't familiar with Guy Sebastian, he is a former winner of Australian Idol (2003) and has taken over the Australian charts since his win. Though he released fifth studio album "Like It Like That" in the States back in 2010, the release didn't garner a lot of press or apparent label support to help build Sebastian a sustainable US fanbase. Either way you feel, peep his sublime take on  Cyrus' "The Climb" below and Enjoy!


Set: "My Love Is Your Love World Tour" (Whitney Houston)


Luckily for fans of the late Whitney Houston, live audio and video performances of "The Voice" continue to appear online in wake of her passing. With that said, recently Whitney''s live audio set from her Los Angeles stop of her "My Love Is Your Love World Tour" have hit the net. Lifted from her second night of performances, Houston is in fine form as always and you can enjoy a set full of classics including "You Give Good Love," "Saving All My Love For You," "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," "I'm Every Woman," "How Will I Know," and "I Will Always Love You." Take a listen below and Enjoy!


Sunday, July 29, 2012

Cut: "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" (Curtis Mayfield)


Been jamming to some Curtis Mayfield lately and wanted to take another listen to this sublime cut from the legendary Mayfield. Back in September of 1970, Curtis Mayfield released his self-titled debut album "Curtis" and while it is best remembered for joints such as "Move on Up," and "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go," one of those cuts from the album is his raw joint "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue."  With that said, take a listen below to this stirring gem and Enjoy!


After Midnight: Aretha Franklin


Steven Lopez's amazing creative process of painting a portrait of The Queen of Soul is on full display during this episode of "After Midnight." With that said, peep his phenomenal painting process go down below on this one of a kind piece of art and Enjoy!


Live Video of the Day: "Rescue Me" (Sharon Jones & Ledisi)


Sharon Jones and Ledisi opened up the Chicago soul tribute during Vh1's Divas Celebrate Soul and the duo took on the Fontella Bass classic "Rescue Me." Of course both of these talented vocalists are highly capable of taking on this classic and they both crooned out a sublime rendition of "Rescue Me." With that said, watch their sublime rendition below and Enjoy!


Song of the Day: "Ain't Nobody" (Rufus and Chaka Khan)


"Ain't Nobody" - Rufus and Chaka Khan
  • Writer: Hawk Wolinski
  • Record Label: Warner Brothers Records
  • "Ain't Nobody" was released in 1983 from Stompin' at the Savoy.
  • It reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B Songs.

Remix: "Say Yes (Timbaland Remix)" (Floetry)


Floetry's breakout song "Say Yes" recieved the remix treatment from a lot of producers during the group's apex, but the Timbaland remix crafted with Floetry not only turned "Say Yes" on its head, but Timbaland created an almost unrecognizable remix to the duo's Grammy nominated hit. Take a listen below to Timbaland's sublime remix of "Say Yes" and Enjoy!


Second Listen: "Who Would I Be" (V)


Back in 2006 then Jill Scott background singer V released his debut album "The Revelation Is Now Televised." The album as a whole was slept on hard by both critics and listeners and one of my favorite cuts from the album "Who Would I Be" went completely unnoticed. With that said, take a second or probably first listen to this smooth joint "Who Would I Be" from the talented V. Listen below and Enjoy!


Rare Performance: "My Life" (Mary J. Blige)


Late last year while promoting her then newly released LP, Mary J. Blige performed a rousing rare live set of her entire "My Life" LP in Atlanta, GA. With that said, Mary offered a touching performance of the title track which saw the audience singing the majority of the song while Blige looked around in astonishment. Peep this rare performance of "My Life" below and Enjoy!


Live Audio: "Who You Are" (Ed Sheeran)


2011 and 2012 have been breakout years for UK music in general with worldwide domination from Adele to Jessie J and Ed Sheeran making household names of themselves. With that said, Ed Sheeran covered Jessie J's "Who You Are" on BBC Radio 2 late last year and offered his own acoustic take on the powerful ballad. Take a listen below to his sublime take of "Who You Are" and Enjoy!


Amazing Cover: "Wide Awake" (Kelly Clarkson)


During Kelly Clarkson's recent concert in Concord, California, the Grammy-winning vocal phenom performed a simple yet powerful rendition of the Katy Perry mega-hit "Wide Awake." Throughout Kelly's current tour, she has been offering up some solid covers and her take of "Wide Awake" is just another one in her arenal. Peep her sublime cover below and Enjoy!


Live Clip: "Beautiful Surprise" (Tamia)


Tamia recently performed on FOX 5 Good Day New York and offered up a rousing rendition of her current single and title track of her forthcoming LP "Beautiful Surprise." Clearly one of the most underrated vocalist in the game today, Tamia belts out her smooth joint effortlessly during her early morning performance. Peep it all go down below and Enjoy!


Saturday, July 28, 2012

Live Video of the Day: "Why Would You Stay" (Kem)


One of my favorite joint from Kem's latest album "Intimacy: Album III," was the lead off single "Why Would You Stay" and below you will find a sublime performance of this smooth ballad by Kem as he crooned it out during the 2010 Budweiser Fest." With that said, watch the powerful performance below and if you don't have his latest album, go out and support the brotha as he always brings it on his LPs.


Song of the Day: "I Want You" (Marvin Gaye)


"I Want You" - Marvin Gaye
  • Writers: Leon Ware and Arthur "T-Boy" Ross
  • Producers: Marvin Gaye and Leon Ware
  • Record Label: Tamla
  • "I Want You" was released in 1976 from I Want You.
  • It reached #15 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles and #1 on Hot Selling Soul Singles chart

Live Audio: "Endow Me" (LeAndria Johnson)


Season 3 winner of BET's "Sunday's Best" LeAndria Johnson is currently expecting her fourth child and while the current single mother of three is still performing, I thought it would be appropriate to listen to her live renditions of "Endow Me" from a performance several years ago. With that said, take a listen below to her anointed performance and Enjoy!


Second Listen: "Whip Appeal" (Babyface)


Back in 1989, Babyface released his sophomore album "Tender Lover" and his album exploded selling in excess of 3 million copies in the US alone and spurred four top 5 R&B hits including "Whip Appeal." In addition to peaking at #2 on the R&B charts, the single was then his largest pop crossover hit peaking at #6 on the Hot 100,. With that said, take a listen below to Babyface croon away on one of my all time favorite 80s joints "Whip Appeal."


Amazing Cover: "Just In Time" (Mar)


Artist on the rise Mar recently covered the Nina Simone "Just In Time" during a recent performance and the crooner accompanies himself on his guitar to this classic joint. Watch Mar work it out below and Enjoy!


Rare Performance: "Abide With Me" (Emeli Sande)


Emeli Sande was one of the few musicians selected to perform at last night's 2012 London Olympic Opening Ceremony and the famed UK songstress performed "Abide With Me." With that said, she performed a rare rendition for VEVO's "1 Mic 1 Take" series and you can peep her touching rendition below!


New Joint: "For My Brother" (Jhene Aiko)


Jhene Aiko's brother Miyagi recently passed away at the age of 26 from cancer and the famed singer/songwriter recently released a self-penned track in honor of her brother entitled "For My Brother." Only intended for his ears before he passed, Aiko was able to share this touching tune before he passed and now the world can share in her stunning tribute. Listen to "For My Brother" below.


Live Clip: "Pyramids" (Frank Ocean)


Frank Ocean had a phenomenal show at Terminal 5 in NYC a few days ago and one of the numerous standout performances from his sold out show was his rendition of "Pyramids." Lifted as the second single from Ocean's  breakout debut LP "channel ORANGE," his nine-plus minute performance of "Pyramids" is something to watch. Peep it go down below and Enjoy!


Album in the Works: "Open Door" (India.Arie)


It's been roughly three years since India.Arie released her last album "Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics" and while it's felt like an eternity for fans of Arie (like myself), it seems as though her forthcoming fifth album "Open Door" might be nearing release. Taking to twitter recently, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter opened up about nearing completion of the recording process. Peep her tweets below and we can hopefully look forward to new music from India.Arie soon!