Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Live Video of the Day: "Back To Black" (Amy Winehouse)


One of my favorite Amy Winehouse joints is the title track to her sophomore album Back To Black, which helped Amy earn a then record tying 5 Grammy awards in one night including Best New Artist, Record of the Year, as well as Song of the Year. With that said, though "Back To Black" didn't gain as much acclaim as Amy's "Rehab," it in my opinion is as good if not better then her Grammy winning hit. Watch her sublime performance of "Back To Black" below and Enjoy!


Live Audio: "Promise Me" (Luther Vandross)


Back in 1989, Vandross recorded a potential live album that seems to of been scratched. With that said, take a listen to "Promise Me," which a fan lifted through some connections to Vandross. As always, Luther's vocals are flawless and are even better then the studio version. Let Vandross take you to that smooth mellow place below and Enjoy!


Song of the Day: "Who Can I Run To" (Xscape)


"Who Can I Run To" - Xscape
  • Writers: Alstin, Roebuck, Simmons
  • Producer: Jermaine Dupri
  • Record Label: Columbia Records
  • Released in 1995 from Off the Hook
  • Peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
  • A cover of The Jones Girls' 1979 song

Live Clip: "Bad Habit" (Maxwell)


Though people expected Maxwell's followup to "BLACKsummers'night," "blackSUMMERS'night" to drop this summer, it appears that the wait is going to be a little longer for fans of the crooner as no single or possible release date has come out of his camp. With that said, peep this live clip of Maxwell performing my favorite joint from his last album "Bad Habits." Watch it below and Enjoy!


Cut: "Locked (Locked In Love)" (Brandy)


With Brandy's  sixth studio album Two Eleven, seems to sadly be cooling off at the moment, I thought I would revisit one of my favorite cuts from her last studio album Human. Released back in 2008 under Epic Records, Human would be Brandy's first and only release with the Sony label and while the LP didn't prove to be a commercial success to the scale that people expected from Brandy, it offered up a cohesive album in my opinion that featured a lot of standout tracks from Brandy, including the Frank Ocean penned "Locked (Locked In Love)." Though "Locked (Locked In Love)" was a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Human, the mid-tempo from Brandy showcases off her sublime vocals in addition to a strong melody. With that said, take a listen below to "Locked (Locked In Love)" below and Enjoy!


Amazing Cover: "Crazy In Love" (Emeli Sandé)


While Beyoncé and André 3000 covered Amy Winehouse's classic and iconic, in my book, joint "Back to Black," for the forthcoming The Great Gatsby soundtrack,  Emeli Sandé has returned the favor a bit for Beyoncé by covering her iconic joint "Crazy in Love" for the official soundtrack for The Great Gatsby. Featuring The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, this rendition of "Crazy In Love" has a different throwback/big band feel to it and you can take a listen to it go down below!


Second Listen: "Fake" (Alexander O'Neal)


Back in 1987, Alexander O'Neal released his biggest hits to date which was the infectious thumping joint "Fake." Peaking at number one on the R&B charts"Fake," which was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis helped spur sales of O'Neal's sophomore album Hearsay and would make him an international star. With that said, take a listen to the old-school jam "Fake" from Alexander O'Neal and Enjoy!


Behind the Scenes: "The Side Effects of You - Rock/Soul" (Fantasia)


Fantasia's Side Effects Of You is slated to debut at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on the R&B Album Charts, and with the commercial success, Fantasia has just recently unearthed a behind-the-scenes visual where she and her producer Harmony Samuels open up about their collaborative process, rock/soul, and her album Side Effects Of You. Watch the behind-the-scenes feature below and Enjoy!




New Video: "Are We Almost There Yet?" (Jared Evan)


It's been a little while since we've heard from Jared Evan and the rising crooner has just released the official video for his Statik Selektah produced joint "Are We Almost There Yet?." Directed by Evan and Rik Cordero, the accompanying visual for "Are We Almost There Yet?"fits the feel-good vibe of the smooth mid/uptempo joint. Peep the video for "Are We Almost There Yet?" below and Enjoy!


New Joint: "I Wanna Go" (Yuna)


Another day, and luckily we've gotten a new joint from rising singer/songwriter Yuna in the form of "I Wanna Go." Lifted from her forthcoming digital EP entitled "Sixth Street," due May 7th via Verve Records/Indie-Pop Music, "Sixth Street" will be Yuna’s first release with Verve Records and serves as the follow up to her debut self-titled album Yuna, which was released last year. With that said, take a listen below to her Mike Einziger produced joint "I Wanna Go" below and Enjoy!


Monday, April 29, 2013

Live Video of the Day: "Free" (Will Downing)


Below you will find a sublime performance from Will Downing sings his 1988 hit "Free" during the 1989 Prince's Trust concert, backed by Level 42 and the CBSO, at Birmingham's NEC. While Denice Williams originally performed this classic hit, Will offers a phenomenal rendition and you can watch it go down below.


Bonus Track: "Haunted" (Fantasia feat. Tank, King Los, Al Sherrod Lambert & Jamia)


Fantasia's newly released fourth album Side Effects Of You was released almost a week ago and one of the highlights off of the album for me has to be Fantasia's bonus track "Haunted." Featuring Tank, King Los, Al Sherrod Lambert and Jamia, "Haunted" is only available on the Target deluxe edition and for those who didn't cop it, you can take a listen to "Haunted" below!


Song of the Day: "Nobody" (Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage)


"Nobody" - Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage
  • Writers: Keith Sweat & Athena Cage
  • Producer: Keith Sweat
  • Record Label: Elektra
  • Released in 1996 from "Keith Sweat"
  • Peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart



Interview: Fantasia


Fantasia continued her promotional campaign for her newly released fourth album Side Effects Of You this morning hitting The View to open up about the rough times she's faced since winning American Idol, her changed outlook/attitude on life, and spoke about her newly released album in addition to its lead single "Lose To Win." With that said, watch her interview below and if you haven't gotten your copy of Side Effects Of You yet, you are missing out!


Live Clip: "Lose To Win" (Fantasia)


Earlier today, Fantasia offered up a testifying-induced and riveting performance of her "Nightshift" sampled lead single "Lose To Win." Lifted off of Fantasia's latest album Side Effects Of You, 'Tasia took the daytime audience to a higher place through her anointed vocals and you can watch it all go down below on  "Lose To Win."


Second Listen: "It Seems Like You're Ready" (R. Kelly)


R. Kelly's classic 1993 debut album 12 Play would go onto spawned four hit singles and the album was so successful and filled with bangers that a fifth song would go onto chart from 12 Play in 1994 in the form of "It Seems Like You're Ready." Produced and written by R. Kelly, "It Seems Like You're Ready" would go onto peak at a respectable #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #29 on the Hot R&B Singles chart without even being officially released from Jive Records. With that said, take a second listen below to "It Seems Like You're Ready" and Enjoy!


Behind the Scenes: "H&M Summer Collection 2013" (Beyoncé)


While most artists might release a teaser video or a song snippet to raise awareness of a forthcoming album, Beyoncé is not like most artists and having already worked with Pepsi to semi-release her joint "Grown Woman," B teamed up with H&M Summer Collection 2013 to tease another new joint last week. This time in the form of "Standing on the Sun," Beyoncé took us to the shores of Nassau, Bahamas and you can watch the official behind-the-scenes feature of Beyoncé learning the choreography and shooting the stunning commercial. Watch it all go down below and Enjoy!




Commercial:

Amazing Cover: "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" (Al Green)


Take a listen below to one of the best covers of all time in my opinion, Al Green's take on the Bee Gees' "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart." Filled with so much soul and emotion Al Green takes this classic song to another level and create a soulful opus that everyone should have in their record collections. Listen below and Enjoy!


Live Audio: "Sunday Morning" (Maroon 5)


Check out this live acoustic audio of Maroon 5 performing their hit "Sunday Morning". Lifted from the band's 1.22.03 Acoustic, this audio finds frontman Adam Levine crooning out a solid rendition of their classic hit over a simple acoustic guitar and drums. Listen 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!


Sunday, April 28, 2013

After Midnight: Alicia Keys


One of my favorite youtube series is Steven Lopez' "After Midnight" where he captures his phenomenal paintings of some of soul music's most recognizable current and past faces. With that said, Lopez recently painted a sublime painting of Alicia Keys and you can peep all of the action below while we groove out to "No One."


Live Video of the Day: "Lose to Win" (Fantasia)


Earlier this week, Fantasia had an album release party for her fourth album Side Effects of You at Love Jones in NYC and during the party, she offered up an impromptu performance of her current lead single "Lose to Win." With that said, watch her riveting and testifying-induced performance of "Lose to Win" below and Enjoy!


Song of the Day: "Greatestlove" (Musiq Soulchild)


"Greatestlove" - Musiq Soulchild
  • Writers: Musiq Soulchild and Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell
  • Producer: Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell
  • Record Label: Atlantic Records
  • Featured on 2007's Luvanmusiq

Cut: "Out My Mind, Just In Time" (Erykah Badu)


On Erykah Badu's last studio LP New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh, Badu collaborated with James Poyser and Georgia Ann Muldrow on the nearly ten-and-a-half minute opus "Out My Mind, Just In Time." While it inspired Badu's tour to support her LP, it never received the official single's treatment, but was granted a visual inspired by its theme. With that said, take a listen below to "Out My Mind, Just In Time" and Enjoy!


Live Audio: "Gettin' In The Way" (Jill Scott)


Jill Scott's Vh1 Storytellers was such a musical highlight for me last year and luckily for me and fans of Scott's a fan recorded her live audio performance of "Gettin' In The Way," which opened her "Storytellers." With that said, take a listen below to "Gettin' In The Way" from Ms. Jill Scott and Enjoy!


Amazing Cover: "Love Thy Will Be Done" (Jessie Ware)


Having officially released her debut album Devotion across the world now, Jessie Ware has unearthed a cover of "Love Thy Will Be Done," which is reaching back into the vault a bit for this Prince co-written and produced Martika 1991 single. While I haven't heard the original in years, Jessie does her thing on this updated/flipped rendition of Martika's "Love Thy Will Be Done" and you can take a listen to it below!


New Joint: "Work It Out" (PJ Morton)


PJ Morton's forthcoming Young Money debut album New Orleans is currently scheduled for release on May 14th and ahead of its release, another new joint from the famed crooner has hit the net and this time it is in the form of the mid-tempo joint "Work It Out." With that said, take a listen below to "Work It Out" and lookout for PJ's New Orleans when it's released May 14th!


Live Clip: "I Want You" (Luke James)


This past week, Luke James made his European concert debut in Paris as a part of Beyoncé's current sold-out world tour The Mrs. Carter Show. Serving as the set's official opening act during B's current European dates, the Grammy-nominated crooner made quite the impression on the Parisian audience who joined him during his falsetto notes of "I Want You." With that said, watch Luke coo it out below and Enjoy!


Second Listen: "Square Biz" (Teena Marie)


**Been jamming to "Square Biz" in heavy rotation as of late so thought I'd take it back**

Back in 1981, Teena Marie released her single "Square Biz," which was lifted from her fourth album It Must Be Magic, which would be her last on Motown and would go onto become one of Lady T's signature songs. With that said, ong managed to peak at #3 on Billboard's Black Singles, becoming Marie's highest peak on the chart at the time. "Square Biz" managed to peak at #3 on Billboard's Black Singles chart becoming Marie's highest peak on the chart at the time and scored her a moderate pop hit peaking at #50 on the Billboard's Pop Singles chart. Take a first or second listen to "Square Biz" below and Enjoy!


New Joint: "Don't Say Goodbye" (Raheem DeVaughn)


ThisIsRnB received the exclusive premiere of one of Raheem DeVaughn's latest joints in the form of the mid-tempo banger "Don't Say Goodbye." Lifted from his forthcoming fourth album A Place Called Loveland, the thumping mid-tempo "Don't Say Goodbye" is a solid grown and sexy joint and hopefully we will be getting more details about Raheem's upcoming release sooner rather than later. Either way it turns up, take a listen below to "Don't Say Goodbye" and Enjoy!


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Live Clip: "The Best" (Tina Turner)


Tina Turner is one of the baddest to ever grace the stage and the microphone  With that said, check out her intense, passionate, and energetic performance of her classic hit "The Best." Lifted from her Wildest Dreams Tour back in 1996, Tina Turner cuts the stage up with her infectious performance of "The Best," that just makes you want to get up and groove, even on a lazy Saturday  Check out her steller performance of "The Best" below and Enjoy!


Live Video of the Day: "A House Is Not A Home" (Luther Vandross)


You can't find a bad Luther Vandross performance, it is just impossible as Luther is a vocal master with the ability and depth to continually find something new and different with each performance of his classic hits. With that said, Luther's performance at the NAACP Image Awards of "A House Is Not A Home" is one of his most, if not most legendary performances on video as the then young crooner gives veterans and peers in the industry a singing 101 lesson. Watch his iconic performance below and Enjoy!


Song of the Day: "Overjoyed" (Stevie Wonder)


"Overjoyed" - Stevie Wonder
  • Writer and Producer: Stevie Wonder
  • Record Label: Motown
  • Released in 1985 from "In Square Circle"
  • The single peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986

New Video: "The Man" (Omar)


UK soulster Omar is back with an official black-and-white/ color visual for his lead single "The Man," which is lifted from his forthcoming Freestyle Records album The Man. The title-track to his upcoming release  is a funky/jazzy mid-tempo joint that has a solid Robin Brunson directed "hand-held"-vibed visual for. With that said, watch the official video for "The Man" below and Enjoy!


Live Audio: "You've Got A Friend" (Donny Hathaway)


Donny Hathaway is in my top 5 male vocalist of all time hands down and his live audio cover of the classic "You've Got A Friend" is one of the numerous songs within his discography that place him so highly on my list of favorite singers. With that said, take a listen below to Hathaway crooning out a sublime live rendition of "You've Got A Friend" below and Enjoy!


New Joint: "Let Love Come Through" (Yuna & Kyle)


After releasing her self-titled critically acclaimed debut album Yuna here in the US just last year, Yuna is already returning with a new EP in the form of "Sixth Street." Featuring five joints, the digital-only EP is slated for released on May 7th and ahead of its release a new joint "Let Love Come Through" has hit the net. Featuring a verse from rapper Kyle right before Yuna takes over the smooth track, you can take a listen to it go down below and Enjoy!


Mashup: "Body's Callin' U (A JAYBeatz Mashup)" (Ciara & Ghost Town DJ's)


**Been jamming to this mashup on repeat lately so I thought I would post it again for those that missed it the first time. **

While Ciara's official video for "Body Party" is slated for release tomorrow, a sublime mashup of her joint in the form of "Body's Callin' U (A JAYBeatz Mashup)" has hit the net. Featuring Ciara's "Body Party," "Promises," and Ghost Town DJ's "My Boo," this mashup takes Ciara's "Body Party" to another level and you can listen to it all go down below!

 Make sure you cop the free download while supplies last

Amazing Cover: "Be My Husband" (Ed Sheeran)


Ed Sheeran had a breakout 2011 and 2012 in the UK and he's been working it here Stateside for a while now and is currently touring debut album + with Taylor Swift, he hasn't seen the same breakthrough here just yet. With that said, Sheeran covered the Nina Simone classic "Be My Husband" for French magazine "Now Playing" last year and you can peep his rendition below.


Second Listen: "Love, Need and Want You" (Patti LaBelle)


Released back in 1983 from LaBelle's I'm in Love Again LP, "Love, Need and Want You" is one of those classic R&B gems from the 80s and is a signature Patti jam , which eventually peaked at #10 on the R&B singles charts. Written by Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble, "Love, Need and Want You" is just one of those jams that you just have to stop and enjoy every single time it comes on. With that said, take a second listen to this classic jam below and Enjoy!


Cut: "Listen To Your Heart" (Alicia Keys)


Alicia Keys' fifth studio album Girl On Fire is actually one of the best releases last year minus her single "Girl on Fire" and the buzz single "New Day." Call me crazy, but the title track to Keys' fifth LP and "New Day" are actually the weakest tracks in my opinion from her album that boasts some of the best material we've heard from Keys since 2004' Diary Of Alicia Keys. With that said, one of my favorite cuts has to be the John Legend co-written joint "Listen To Your Heart," which was also co-produced between Keys and Rodney Jerkins. While I am was not feeling the first two singles, I am hopeful that the rest of the sublime material from Girl On Fire gets a chance to breath in public as Keys has composed one of her most compelling albums in years. Either way you feel, take a listen below to "Listen To You Heart" and Enjoy!



Friday, April 26, 2013

New Joint: "Back To Black (W/ Tags)" (André 3000 & Beyoncé)


The highly anticipated André 3000 and Beyoncé take on Amy Winehouse's classic "Back to Black" has finally hit the net and while it has tags, you can get the essence of the record. While I was skeptical about how this was going to sound, André 3000 did his thing in addition to the brilliant instrumentation. While Beyoncé offers a solid breathy vocal, I can't help but think how an André 3000 and Amy Winehouse rendition of this would sound. Maybe someone will mash that up? In the meantime, take a listen below to the updated André 3000 and Beyoncé rendition of "Back to Black" and Enjoy!


New Joint: "Kill and Run" (Sia)


Another day and it seems like another joint from the forthcoming The Great Gatsby soundtrack has hit the net and this time it is in the form of Sia's "Kill and Run." Lifted from the highly anticipated official film soundtrack, "Kill and Run" is a haunting piano-led ballad and you can take a listen to it below!


Song of the Day: "Missing You" (Case)


"Missing You" - Case
  • Producers: Tim & Bob
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Released in 2001 from Open Letter
  • Peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
  • Nominated for a 2002 Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

New Video: "Hell Yeah!" (Stacy Barthe feat. Rick Ross)


Stacy Barthe's forthcoming debut album is highly anticipated in my book as she is behind some of the biggest hits from some of your faves and to tide us over until its release, Stacy has released an official video for her joint "Hell Yeah!," which is lifted from her recently released EP "P.S. I Love You." With that said, the official video is pushing for optimism as images of homelessness and the recent Hurricane Sandy epidemic stream throughout the video while Barthe and Ross do their thing in the official video. Watch it all go down below and lookout for her Homeschool Records/Motown debut album hopefully later this year!


Second Listen: "Please Don't Go" (Tank)


Back in 2007, Tank released the first single from his then long-awaited third album "Sex, Love & Pain," entitled "Please Don't Go." The song became an instant hit peaking at #1 on Billboard's Adult R&B charts and #2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Later that year, the single would go on to give Tank his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and although he went on to lose the 2008 Grammy to Prince's "Future Baby Mama," the single proves to be a signature song of Tank to this day. With that said, take a second listen below to "Please Don't Go" and Enjoy!


Album in the Works: "Third Album" (Adele)


While Adele's monster of a sophomore album 21 is still selling like it was released just a few weeks ago, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter is already hard at work on her third album and MTV News is reporting that the album is slated for release in the spring of 2014. Having started to officially record the album just this past Monday, April 22nd, it is said that four joints have been written according to MTV:
"Adele is currently in a recording studio in London and it's in lockdown mode for the next few weeks. Four tracks are finished in terms of writing and she's now laying down preliminary vocals with backing music and singers... The rest of the record will be done in LA. The feel is very much Adele going back to her roots, with some modern jazz and a couple of classic old songs."
While time will tell how Adele's highly anticipated third album will shake up, I can bet that fans will be in for a bit of a lyrical change. Either way, I will keep you posted as always.

Artist News: Lauryn Hill Recording New Album


Lauryn Hill took to her Tumblr page yesterday to clear up the commotion that has been revolving around her current court case and the revelation from earlier this week about her signing a new record deal with Sony Music. With that said, peep the letter and maybe we shall hear some new Ms. Hill material towards the end of 2013/early 2014.

Read Ms. Hill’s letter below"

It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music.
I’ve remained silent, after an extensive healing process. This has been a 10+ year battle, for a long time played out behind closed doors, but now in front of the public eye. This is an old conflict between art and commerce… free minds, and minds that are perhaps overly tethered to structure. This is about inequity, and the resulting disenfranchisement caused by it. I’ve been fighting for existential and economic freedom, which means the freedom to create and live without someone threatening, controlling, and/or manipulating the art and the artist, by tying the purse strings.
It took years for me to get out of the ‘parasitic’ dynamic of my youth, and into a deal that better reflects my true contribution as an artist, and (purportedly) gives me the control necessary to create a paradigm suitable for my needs. I have been working towards this for a long time, not just because of my current legal situation, but because I am an artist, I love to create, and I need the proper platform to do so. 
The nature of my new business venture, as well as the dollar amount reported, was inaccurate, only a portion of the overall deal. Keep in mind, my past recordings have sold over 50,000,000 units worldwide, earning the label a tremendous amount of money (a fraction of which actually came to me). 
Only a completely complicated set of traps, manipulations, and inequitable business arrangements could put someone who has accomplished the things that I have, financially in need of anything. I am one artist who finds value in openly discussing the dynamics within this industry that force artists to compromise or distort themselves and what they do, rather than allowing them to make the music that people need. There are volumes that could (and will) be said.
MLH