SONY URBAN & HIP HOP
There may be a bit of a divergence from
our main theme as we delve into the Urban and Hip Hop releases from Sony.
So-Urban Click here for So-Urban's own site - So-Urban
So Urban Home page
Scroll down for reviews of
the following:-
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Omarion – O Michael Jackson –
The Ultimate Collection Lemar – Time to grow 411 – Between the
sheets Reminisce – R&B
Classics Jill Scott
Beautifully Human Jamie Scott DJ Kayslay – the
Streetsweeper Vol 2: Pain from the game Michelle
Williams - Do you know Sweetback - Stage 2 - Epic Lemar - Dedicated Bow Wow - Unleashed - Columbia Kindred the family
soul - Surrender to Love B2K- Pandemonium -
Epic Introducing Vivian
Green - Love Story (Full Album) Nasir Jones - God's Son - Columbia |
Hitch Jennifer Lopez - rebirth Xzibit – Weapons of
Mass destruction Nas – Street’s
Disciple Destiny’s Child –
Destiny Fulfilled Raymond & Co –
Playing Games John Legend – Get
Lifted Nas 10 year
Anniversary Illmatic Platinum Series Lil’ Flip – U gotta feel me B2K- You got served
- OST - Epic Jagged Edge - Hard - Columbia DJ Kay Slay - The
Streetsweeper Vol 1 Macy Gray - The Trouble with being myself - Epic Kelly Rowland - Simply Deep - Columbia (Full
Album) Kelly Rowland - Simply Deep - Columbia (Sampler) Bone Thugs N Harmony
- Thug World Order Barber Shop - Music from the Motion Picture-
Epic |
Isley Brothers – Taken to the next phase X-Ecutioners - Revolutions Dead Prez – RBG:Revolutionary But Gangsta Bravehearts - Bravehearted -Columbia Wyclef Jean - Greatest Hits - Columbia Beyonce -
Dangerously in love Ginuwine - The
Senior Urban Essentials - Volume 2 Will Smith - Greatest Hits - Columbia Big Brovaz - Nu Flow
(Album) Epic - Xzibit - Man vs
Machine Jennifer Lopez - This is me ...then - Epic Introducing Vivian Green - Love Story - Columbia (Sampler) |
Omarion – O http://www.omariononline.com/
Now due out on July 11 -
I first heard this a while ago when in the US and spent
quite a long time on the listening booth feeling this but I din’t feel
compelled to buy it, and then I wished I had, and now with its UK release it is
availbale readily. Comparisons aboun I guess Usher, mario and so on but I feel
that former B2K’s Omarion has something to offer that is different, and this is
a really good album, consistent all the way through.
I wish is pretty instant, pretty formulaic but devoid of too
much fronting and is quite good. Touch is catchy. So the first two tracks build into the signature O which
extends more vocally, slow beats, great track. I’m Tryna though is probably the
hit, more radio potential as it will compete with the main contenders out
there. Drop the heater goes into
mainstream clubland and by comparison is poor. Of that ilk Take it Off is
better. Never gonna let you go I like, it picks up old school EWF harmonies and
some heavier funk backbeats.
The album can be lyrically strong and growing pains is
such an example on a questioning ballad.
I know is a midtempo thing but the album closes in real downbeat mood
with O excelling on these slow jams, 4 tracks of mellow and then some. I’m
gonna change is the best.
A very good album indeed.
Tracks:- 1. I Wish
,
2. Touch,
3. O,
4. I'm Tryna,
5. Drop That Heater,
6. Growing Pains,
7. Take It Off,
8. Never Gonna Let You Go (She's a Keepa) - Big Boi,
9. I Know,
10. I'm Gon' Change,
11. In the Dark,
12. Slow Dancin',
13. Fiening You
Hitch
www.hitch.com
Not a bad
soundtrack at all, a mix of old and new and one or two exclusive cuts. For Example, Amerie’s 1 Thing which is
not getting a release till later this year- Interesting but not particularly
brilliant. Next up is the great
John Legend with an excellent version of Stevies Don’t you worry bout
athing.. Also ex B2K Omarion
features on the fine Never gonna let you go. Next interesting feature is EWF with Kelly Rowland and
Sleepy Brown, which is a killer cut a mix of old skool harmonies and new R’n’B.
The rest
is a mix of old and new, a remix of Turn me on. All good stuff.
1.
Amerie “1 Thing” Listen
Listen
2. John Legend "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" Listen
Listen
3. Earth, Wind & Fire featuring Kelly Rowland and Sleepy Brown "This
Is How I Feel" Listen
Listen
4. Mark Ronson featuring Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife Da God and Saigon
"Ooh Wee" Listen
Listen
5. Heavy D & The Boyz "Now That We Found Love" Listen
Listen
6. Meleni Smith "Happy" Listen
Listen
7. The O'Jays "Love Train" Listen
Listen
8. The Temptations "I Can't Get Next To You" Listen
Listen
9. Jimmy Cliff “You Can Get It If You Really Want” Listen
Listen
10. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas "It's Easy To Fall In Love *(With A
Guy Like You)" Listen
Listen
11. Earth, Wind & Fire "Reasons" Listen
Listen
12. Omarion "Never Gonna Let You Go (She's A Keepa) Listen
Listen
13. Kevin Lyttle "Turn Me On (Low Tide Remix)" Listen
Listen
Jennifer
Lopez – Rebirth http://www.sonymusic.co.uk/jenniferlopez/rebirth/
J-Lo’s
4th studio album produced by Cory Rooney. A mix of some popular
R’n’B and lusg ballads. The
singles are obvious get Right and Hold you down.
J-Lo
gets funky on Whatever You wana do
and the Prince-esque Cherry Pie and it’s OK too. Still around is a
midtempo soul ballad which is probably my pick of the album, bit on th epop
side though. Ryde or die is a bit
more intense. I love is a fine ballad to.
Doesn’t
set the world on fire, but nothing bad on it, starting to find her own niche I
feel rather than following trends.
In the words or Randy it’s a’ight.
REBIRTH:
1. Get Right
2. Step Into My World
3. Hold You Down feat. Fat Joe
4. Whatever You Wanna Do
5. Cherry Pie
6. I Got U
7. Still Around
8. Ryde Or Die
9. I, Love
10. He'll Be Back
11. (Can't Believe) This Is Me
12. Get Right feat. Fabolous
Xzibit
– Weapons of Mass destruction http://www.mtvbase.co.uk/mtvbase.co.uk/xzibit.jhtml http://www.sonymusic.co.uk/xzibit/womd/
The
blurb replicated below pretty much says it all (for a change!). This is a deep
and strong album, but most of all it’s pretty darn good. Laden with soulful beats it hangs
together musically as well as lyrically. Setting the scene with the intro and
Lax before hitting a great track in Cold World, lazy mellow, soulful hip hop
with strong messages, one of the top tunes of the year.
The
hit and hard tunes are hear to in Mutha***** and hey Now, these will probably
sell the album but for me aren’t anywhere near the best tracks. The best ‘pumpin’ track is Criminal
set.
The
collaborations go well especially Strong Arm Steady featured on two tracks.
Next
excellent track is Judgement day complete with gospel organ.
Conceptually
provoking and concluding with the parallel in the world of hip hop. Top stuff.
“There are moments in an artist's
career when it's obvious that his time has come. That the planets and the
forces of the universe have aligned to unleash an energy and creative
determination that's impossible to deny.
For Xzibit, that time is now and he has ushered it in with
Weapons of Mass Destruction, the hip-hop artist's fifth full-length album.
Pre-loaded with the high impact, bass-blessed, aggressive, street-hardened,
West Coast hip-hop that his fans have come to expect, Weapons of Mass
Destruction finds Xzibit digging deeper into his soul to create scorching
salvos that get the party started while setting fire to your intellect. As
Xzibit himself puts it, "I want people to hear this album and enjoy it.
Laugh with me, cry with me, dance with me and think. This is one strong
record."
Xzibit gets that strength from joining forces with some
notable producers and artists. On board for the ride are Ric Rok, Rockwilder,
Thayod, Hi Tek, Khalil, Denaun Porter, Sir Jinx, Battlecat, Jellyroll and
Timbaland as well as MC Lyte, Busta Rhymes and the members Xzibit's other
project, Strong Arm Steady. The end result is an album that takes no prisoners,
pulls no punches and delivers a pure jolt of funkdafied, rugged wisdom. Ask
Xzibit what he hopes fans will hear this time around and he answers,
"Growth. This album is where I am as a man and a father and somebody who's
got some experience under their belt. I've got a lot to say for being such a
young man and since my first album came out when I was 19, I've had the luxury
of growing with my audience. "
2004 has seen Xzibit expand that audience as the host of
the top rated MTV show "Pimp My Ride." His participation came about
because of his long time patronage of West Coast Custom and when the owners of
that renowned Cali body shop were approached about being the subjects of a MTV
series, Xzibit's name came up as a potential host. A pilot was shot and the
rest is, if not history, then certainly one of MTV's most entertaining and
popular programs. "Pimp My Ride," which kicks off its second season
this fall, gives viewers an opportunity to see into Xzibit's personality. His
skills as a host have garnered him an entirely new fan base, which he loves.
"I was at Target and this woman who must have been over 50 comes up to me,
says, 'Oh! I love "Pimp My Ride!"' That's the best thing. That's
positive to me or like when little kids recognize me? That's fun!"
It's not just on the small screen that Xzibit has been
honing his thespian chops. Following his cameo in the box office smash "8
Mile," look for Xzibit to appear, alongside Ice Cube, in the forthcoming
sequel to “XXX” entitled “XXX State of the Union.” When asked if his interest
in acting means that he will be studying Shakespeare, Xzibit shakes his head,
saying, "Nah, music is my backbone but acting is something I'm really
getting into.”
“Tough Guy” on Weapons of Mass Destruction, is notably a
stand-out track. Produced by Hi Tek, "Tough Guy" features Busta
Rhymes on a cut that Xzibit describes as "…me and Busta in the studio
dropping orangutan slang and just beating up the mic." Boasting verses
such as "I rock 2 glocks/I call them Barney and Fred," "Tough
Guy" is as raucous as it is relentless.
Back on board is Ric Rok, who handed Xzibit the monster
"Motherfucker." Laced with a steady, clapping backbeat and anchored
by a terse, descending chorus, "Motherfucker" is just what the title
suggests and allows Xzibit to unleash his vocal power. "I like to make
aggressive music, I like to express myself," he confesses. "That's
the way I like to perform because then you can give out a certain energy."
Xzibit keeps that energy level sky high on the compelling
"Cold World." Produced by Jellyroll, "Cold World" breaks
down three real life scenarios ranging from a young woman dealing with her
sexuality to a child living in Iraq. Driven by its insistent hook, "You
got 2 choices, you can just give it up or just die with it," "Cold
World" is close to Xzibit's heart because its content allows him a chance
to give something back. "I can't really tell someone what they should be
rapping about but let's just say that I am aware of my surroundings and because
of that there's a lot of things on this album that are going to be
topical," he explains. "'Cold World' deals with circumstances that
are beyond your control and that are heavy to deal with, but you've got to be
able to relate to the music and that's what I'm trying to do: give some example
of where I believe we should go with hip-hop."
Xzibit has been blazing his own path since he first stepped
to the mic and in 1996, he secured his own deal and released his solo debut At
The Speed Of Life. The album instantly became an underground sensation as did
his 1998 follow-up, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz. Both albums helped secure Xzibit's
position as one of the West Coast's most promising and fiery young talents.
Xzibit made the leap from underground to center stage when,
in 1999, he joined Snoop Dogg on the Dre-produced hit, "Bitch
Please." Xzibit's next move was the posse cut, "Some L.A.
Niggaz," on Dre's The Chronic 2000. Impressed with his flow, Dre brought
Xzibit on board for 2000's heavyweight "Up In Smoke" tour, which also
featured Snoop, Eminem and Ice Cube. That winter Xzibit made his move courtesy
of Restless. Executive-produced by Dre, Restless spawned the chart-topping
single, "X," and was certified platinum. After a two-year break,
Xzibit went for it full-on once again with his high-profile Man Vs Machine.
That album struck RIAA gold and Xzibit increased his visibility by hitting the
road on Eminem's hugely successful "Anger Management" Tour. Always
keeping one foot in the underground, Xzibit balanced his mass appeal by also
working with West Coast heroes Tha Liks and Ras Kass.
Now with a new attitude and focus, Xzibit returns to the
ring, ready to duke it out with anyone who dares to hold him back or stand in
his way. Ask Xzibit how'd he categorize himself and he'll tell you, "My
music is always evolving, always changing. If you're a good artist that's what
you're gonna do and I feel I did that on “Weapons of Mass Destruction”."
Nas
– Street’s Disciple
Yes Nas never cease to
come up with the goods, something innovative and fresh. Here we get the Blues connection with
father Olu Dara. Altogether a much
more reflective and mellow, grown up Nas, but it ain’t the worse for that. Less threatening from the last album
but still intense and provoking in places.
Some great
collaborations, kelis the best for me – American Way is standout, but great to
see Maxwell (when does his album hit the streets!), also Scarlett, Quan, Emily,
Busta, Ludacris, Doug E Fresh, Keon Brice. Big up’s To These are our heroes, as
CD1 reflects on the world and the position in the world, as Cd gets on to more
personal things. There are a
number of tracks that do it for me including Live now featuring Scarlett,
Bridging the gap because it is different and it work, the aforementioned Kelis
track, you know my Style, UBR and Virgo with props to the e arly days of Hip
Hop, and the balladic War.
Nas - Street Disciple
Released 29th November - Pre-order here!
Everyone who pre-orders this album will automatically be entered into a free
competition to win an exclusive, one-off, framed presentation disk to celebrate
the release of Nas' Street's Disciple album.
1. Get Up
2. Nazareth Savage
3. Play On Playa
4. Just A Moment
5. Serious
6. Rest Of My Life
7. You Know My Style
8. Titalating
9. Reason
10. American Way
11. Sekou Story
12. Suicide Bounce
13. Street's Disciple PT.1
14. Rakim Bio
15. Remember The Times
16. Perfect Bitch
17. Getting Married
18. Bridging The Gap
19. War
20. Me & You
21. No One Else In The Room
22. Live Now
Bonus Tracks:
23. Disciple
24. Thief's Theme
25. *Thief's Theme UK Remix feat. Rising Son*
Destiny’s Child
– Destiny Fulfilled
Hugely disappointing for me.
I happen to feel that there is a huge amout of talent in here, but it is
all wasted on a formulaic, contrived offering. Ok it will probably seell by the bucketload but I do not
think it will have any lasting effect whatsoever. The press rlease states that lessoms have been learned from
there solo excursions. I would
argue exactly the contrary – in terms of artistic development the solo projects
were far and above this. In
marketability however I guess I would have to concede. I don’t think that tere
is one track that I feel at all, maybe Girl
1.
Lose My Breath
2. Soldier
3. Cater 2 U
4. T - Shirt
5. Is She The Reason
6. Girl
7. Bad Habit
8. If
9. Free
10. Through With Love
11. Love
12. International Bonus Track: Game Over
Michael Jackson
– The Ultimate Collection
57 Audio tracks including 36 major chart hits, 13 previously umissued,
UK and US Archive rarities. Pemiere DVD of 1992 Bucharest Dangerous Tour –
Deluxe Box set 64 page booklet, rare photography, personal memorabilia,
chronological timeline, complete discography, linner noteds by Nelson George
say no more- just get your letters to Santa written.
Track Listings
Disc: 1
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1. I Want
You Back - The Jackson 5 |
11. Shake
Your Body (Down To The Ground) |
Disc: 2
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1. Wanna Be
Startin' Somethin' |
7. Someone
In The Dark |
Disc: 3
|
1. Bad |
8. Dangerous
(Early Version) |
Disc: 4
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1. You Are
Not Alone |
8.
Unbreakable |
Disc: 5
|
1. Jam |
9. Thriller |
Lemar – Time to grow,
released November 29 www.lemar-online.com
I’ve got a lot of time
for Lemar, who probably doesn’t get through to the purists because of the way
he was catapulted into the scene. However
most of his output is or contains a good element of quality Soul Music. None more so than the plea o be a
Soulman, greta driving soul dance track.
But even downtempo on Better than this the soulful quality comes
through.
Complicated Cupid is
another track that could get the soul rooms pumping. All I ever do is also quality. Again only a sampler to go by
but it sounds pretty good to me.
The rest is here as
below, and not disappointed. Beter
than this is a great track in my view but the quality doesn’t let up. Great stuff, and all written by Lemar.
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1. Soulman |
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2. It Don't
Get Better Than This |
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3. I Don't
Mind That |
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4. What If |
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5. Call Me
Daddy |
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6. If There's
Any Justice |
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7. Don't Give
It Up |
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8. Time To
Grow |
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9.
Complicated Cupid |
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10. Maybe
Just Maybe |
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11. Feels
Right |
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12. All I
Ever Do/My Boo (Pt II) |
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13. Bonus: I
Believe In A Thing Called Love |
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411 – Between the sheets www.the411.co.uk
Album released on November 22 – only a
sampler available to me right now, with Jumpin, Between the Sheets, China Girl
and Don’t Wanna Talk about it.
Jumpin of course is Classic Studio One in cover and in sample, it’s
highly infection and on the back of the success the girls have already had I’m
sure this will go down a storm,
but it doesn’t add much if yo know the original, in other words it’s not very
original!. Between the sheets, the title track, is mellow and sexy, as the
title would suggest. It’s all quite nice but lacks cutting edge.
Now have the album and probably the
best track still is On my Knees.
My friend is very TLC. It’s
all too nice, there’s something missing!
1. On My Knees
2. Teardrops
3. China Girl
4. Chance
5. My Friend
6. Between The Sheets
7. Dumb
8. Forever Begins
9. Jumpin
10. What If It Was You
11. Don't Wanna Talk About
12. Can't Fight Love
Raymond & Co – Playing Games
Raymond & Co consisting of members Lisa, Chris,
Gillian, Janine & Raymond. Raymond is the brother of Bruce Dyer who plays
for Watford FC & Janine is married him. Formed 10 years ago but shot to prominence in 2001 after
winning the GMTV Gospel challenge.
Includes all the elements from Soul, RnB, Neo Soul, but all successfully
blended togther with a gospel message and edge – so it’s street enough to be
street but still gospel enoughto be gospel.
Three cracking cuts to kick off ‘Playing Games’ ‘No Limits’ & ‘Since I found you’ all different but all
very R’n’B with different leads and styles. Everything is one of my favourites with more of a dance soul
groove, Miracles follows it closely.
Give him all da praise is more hip hop with an extremely infectious
feel. Eastern feel to Come follow me.
So overall many different inflections to te
album and highly recommended.
John Legend – Get Lifted http://www.so-urban.com/urb/urban.php?content=interview_jlegend&right=r1&left=l1
Was to be released October 25 but at
the time of writing not sure. Definitely deferred in the US, rumours of after
Christmas, or even never!
Certainly creating a buzz and his vocal is certainly memorable and I
hear he’s superb live.
From the tracks below I don’t have
Johnny’s gotta go and there are some mixes about I understand. The best tracks for me are probably I
get lifted the title track, the single Used to Love U and Live it up, they seem
to suit his strained vocal well.
Number One with Kanye West is a top track too, great sample and with
Kanye on a roll and a catchy hook this one will go.
Of the ballads the dirge slow and
emotional pleading, and mellow gospel tones, of Stay with you is the one that gets me. Gospel too on It
don’t have to change.
However perhaps I am expecting too much
on th ehype, and don’t get me wrong this is head and shoulders over a host of
albums this year, but many of the other tracks are not particularly
enlightening to me. Yes they are quite good but they don’t have full impact.
Track
Listings
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1. Prelude |
9. Ordinary
People |
Reminisce – R&B Classics http://www.so-urban.com/reminisce/
Released 25 October 2004.
Very
well put together compilation with a pretty soulful groove throughout. All very
well know stuff so just a few big ups for me for the very welcome more soulful
sides.
Forgotten
, on its wave of popularity, how good Next’s Wifey is – could get more plays in
the soul roomsI feel. Just in case
by Jaheim now established as a modern room soul classic. Ruff Endz – No more is
a tune. Horace Brown generally
should be more popular and Things We do for Love is immense. Mary Mary of course.
CD 2
kicks in on a neo soul tip with heavyweights D’Angelo, jill Scott, Erykah Badu,
followed by Lynden David Hall and eric Benet. Great start and there’s still the Brand New Heavies, Jagged
edge and more.
And
a sprinkling of more some popular hip hop, especially th eclosing sequence of
Da Brat, Blaque, keith Sweat and TQ – Good album of its kind
'Reminisce
- R&B Classics' is the third arrival from the highly successful 'Reminisce' series.
Packed full with killer tracks from great artists, 'Reminisce
- R&B Classics' is released on October 25th.
Behind the critically acclaimed specialist urban compilation series is Club and Mixtape DJ 'S Boogie', on this release he picks the cream of the R&B anthems released between the mid 90's and year 2000 - each one guaranteed to fill any dancefloor.
The last releases in the series 'Reminisce - Hip Hop Classics' and 'Reminisce - Hip Hop Soul Classics' were released to glowing reviews:
"Impressive
and very entertaining?.an educational set not to be missed" - Blues
and Soul
"Phenomonal
2CD set" - Magazine
"Smash
Hit!" - Smash Hits
"Oh
yes, this is how compilations should be" - Touch
'Reminisce - R&B Classics' is sure to follow in its footsteps. Key artists from this golden era that are included on the album are Destiny's Child, Erykah Badu, Jon B, Lynden David Hall, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Jagged Edge, D'Angelo, Brownstone, Nas, Dru Hill, Ginuwine, Wyclef and R Kelly. Check out the tracklist:
DISC 1
- 1. Jennifer Lopez / If You Had
My Love
- 2. Destiny's Child / No No No
Part 2
- 3. Usher / You Make Me Wanna
- 4. LL Cool J feat. Total /
Loungin (Who Do You Love)
- 5. Donell Jones / U Know
What's Up
- 6. Lucy Pearl / Don't Mess
With My Man
- 7. Next / Wifey
- 8. Jaheim / Just In Case
- 9. Ruff Endz / No More
- 10. Dru Hill feat. Da Brat /
In My Bed (So So Def Remix)
- 11. Brian McKnight feat. Mase
/ You Should Be Mine
- 12. Montell Jordan feat. LL
Cool J / Get It On Tonite
- 13. Horace Brown / Things We
Do For Love
- 14. TLC / Creep
- 15. Mary Mary / Shackles
(Praise You)
- 16. Jon B. feat. Jay-Z &
Coko / Keep It Real
- 17. Black Eyed Peas / Joints
& Jams
- 18. Nas feat. Ginuwine / You
Owe Me
- 19. Busta Rhymes / Put Your
Hands Where My Eyes Can't See
DISC 2
- 1. D'Angelo / Lady
- 2. Erykah Badu / On & On
- 3. Jill Scott / A Long Walk
- 4. Lynden David Hall / Sexy
Cinderella
- 5. Eric Benet feat. Faith
Evans / Georgie Porgie
- 6. Brand New Heavies feat.
Q-Tip / Sometimes (Ummah Remix)
- 7. Brownstone / Grapevine
- 8. Jagged Edge / Let's Get
Married
- 9. Ginuwine / What's So
Different
- 10. Monica / Before You Walk
Out Of My Life (Pete Rock Remix)
- 11. Adina Howard / Freak Like
Me
- 12. Wyclef feat. R.Kelly &
Canibus / Gone Til November (Remix)
- 13. Tatyana Ali / Daydreamin'
- 14. Trina & Tamara / What
D'You Come Here For
- 15. Ghostown DJ's / My Boo
- 16. Da Brat / Give It 2 You
- 17. Blaque / 808
- 18. Keith Sweat / Twisted
- 19. TQ / Westside
Jill Scott Beautifully Human Words and
Sounds Vol 2 http://www.jillscott.com/
The wait is over and I am pleased to
say that you will not be
disappointed. For me this exceeds
the previous works which, although groundbreaking, I found too complex in the
sonwriting. Either therefore I’ve
grownused to the style or this is simpler in the traditional Soul sense, but I
love it. That’s not to say that it
does not have it’s complexities, there is still plety to listen to.
Picking the best tracks is
dificult. Golden with it’s tinkly
piano is excellent. As is the one
seemingly most picked up and that is Family Reunion. But the quality of the
ballads is exceptional - The fact
is ( Ineed you) is one that I particularly like. On the upbeat there’s Bedda at
Home or a bit more R’n’B rascool
Like this a lot.
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1. Warm Up |
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2. I'm Not Afraid |
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3. Golden |
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4. The Fact Is (I Need You) |
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5. Spring Summer Feeling |
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6. Cross My Mind |
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7. Bedda At Home |
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8. Talk To Me |
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9. Family Reunion |
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10. Can't Explain (42nd Street
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11. Whatever |
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12. Not Like Crazy |
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13. Nothing (Interlude) |
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14. Rasool |
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15. My Petition |
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16. I Keep |
Isley
Brothers – Taken to the next phase – http://www.theisleybrothers.net/
“THE ISLEY
BROTHERS - TAKEN TO THE NEXT PHASE
IN STORES NOW! ORDER NOW!
Reconstructions by:
Steven "Lenky" Marsden
Ignorants featuring Dead Rabbits
Ahmir "?uest Love" Thompson
Stuart Matthewman
Raphael Saadiq & Kelvin Wooton
Gabriel Rene
Mos Def
D-Nat & Onda featuring De La Soul
Onda featuring Esthero
Will I Am
The Isley Brothers have influenced a generation of audiences, musicians and
producers. Now, some of the best musicians, producers and DJ's have come
together to honor their inspiration.
Epic Records and Legacy Recordings are proud to present Taken To The Next
Phase. Taken To The Next Phase is collection of smart, sensual,
funky, remodeled reinterpretations of Isley Brothers classic tracks with a 21st
Century spin.
All of the artists involved in this exhilarating and innovative project have
scoured through the Isley Brothers vaults and found the tracks that personally
inspired them to get behind the mic. From the hard-hitting dancefloor grooves
of the title track "Take Me To The Next Phase" by The Ignorants
(producers for Craig David) and featuring the Dead Rabbits to the ethereal soul
of Mos Def on "Beauty In The Dark (Groove With You)," Taken To The
Next Phase captures a fresh new flavor and an honest new perspective for
anyone who grew up listening to The Isley Brothers and those who have just
found the groove through recent releases with via Ronald Isley's alias Mr.
Biggs.
Taken To The Next Phase is not a remix album, not a tribute record---it
is a celebration from the artists/fans that grew up listening to and eventually
followed in the funky footsteps of one of the best and most successful R&B
groups in music history.”
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this album, whether it’s
the familiarity of the songs that carry it I ‘m not sure but I find it quite
fresh, and most cuts successfully will bring the Isley’s to a newer
audience. Particularly like Will I
Am ‘s mellow rap over the Isley chorus and hardened up beats. That Lady has
always been a great song in whatever guise way back to the doowop original, and
?uest Love of the Roots leaves in the best of the 1973 version with heavy
guitar and echo vocals before stamping his mark.
A mix of various styles is evident with Stuart Matthewman’s
chilled and trippy Tonight is the Night and Onda’a Summer Breeze. Getting back
on a hip hop tip It’s a thing is a tailer made sample ain’t it and D-Nat and
Onda ft a distinctive De La Soul stamp use it to the max.
Clossing with two heavyweights Raphael Saadiq (adding not much
actually) and Mos Def with a great hugely mellow Beaty in the Dark
respectively.
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X-Ecutioners – Revolutions – to come
Jamie Scott
4 track
sampler – Love Song, Searching, Just and shameful from the singer songwriter
from South London, Sony’s latest signing. He has been on tour as support for
Lemar. Think I’ll reserve
judgement, on first plays I would say it is pleasant enough but insufficient
ingredients to give it an edge or that sit up and take note thing. Shameful is
best of this bunch.
Nas 10 year
Anniversary Illmatic Platinum Series
Released 29
March, the album is a deluxe 2 Cd set celebrating the 10th
anniversary of the release of Illmatic, which laid the foundation for east
Coast hip hop in the 90’s. Cd1 is
a remastered Illmatic in it’s entirety, and CD2 features new explicit remixes
of Life’s a bitch, The world is yours, One Love, It ain’t hard to tell plustwo
new Nas tracks On the real and Star Wars.
DJ Kayslay –
the Streetsweeper Vol 2: Pain from the game
Released
March 29 by New York’s premier mixtape don. Includes never heard before tracks by Eminem, 50 cent,
Gunit, Twista, Camron, Lil Flip, Grafh, Lox, Scarface, Ghostface, Lil Jon,
Memphis Bleek, Cool J. Some fine producers on board to Drean Team, Heatmakerz,
E A Ski, DJ Clark Kent, Eminem and Swizz Beatz. Fraid my Triple pack only came
as a double so I’m missing some including the Don Jaheim!
Includes the
killer – Not your average Joe feat Fat Joe, Joe Budden and Joe, all you need is
90! This is mellow vibez Hip hop at it’s best, my kinda thing. There’s quite a
bit of Old Skool sampling on board which is OK with me too, like the
aforementioned track and Don’t stop the Music by the Lil’s Flip and Mo and an
excellent The Kennedies. Another
big cut for me is celebrity Love.
Of the harder
stuff Hands of the Pump is good, menacing beats. The obligatory Em and Obie but that kind of stuff is pretty
tiresome these days I’m afraid.
All in all sufficient good stuff and I like the overall feel of
these sets, which cover the whole gamut but is carried by the beats excellently
mixed together effortlessly between the subgenres.
Track Listings
|
1. King Of The Streets Intro |
11. Alphabetical Slaughter - Featuring
Papoose |
Lil’ Flip – U gotta feel me – www.lilfliponline.com
Flip honed his talents under the tutelage of DJ Screw and sold
100,000 copies on his indie debut Leprechaun.
Game Over (Flip) is the signature tune, you know, the usual
anthemic opener. The Ghetto over a
great reggae backbeat is more where in needs to be in my opinion. Represent featuring Three 6 Mafia and
David Banner is harder. Sunshine
featuring Lea is mellow catchy hip hop a la early LL Cool Jwith sweet interplay
with the vocals supplied by Lea. U
Neva know features Butch Cassidy and Will Lean features on Ain’t no party.
All in all the package is distinctive and fresh, all the
ingredients are put together from the harder ghetto edge to the potential chart
commercial R’n’B.
Dead Prez – RBG:Revolutionary But
Gangsta – Sonymusic http://www.deadprez.com/
Released 5 April 2004.
dead prez consist of emcees and activists M-1 and stic man, this album
follows their first, the 2000 released Let’s get free, moving the emphasis from
world politics and theory to the hood and street knowledge.
Walk like a warrior features Bone Thugs Krayzie Bone, the top cut
for me, an earyness and cutting edge lyrics from the Florida conscious
duo. The sinister vibe is retained
on Hell Yeah (pimp the system) but it is altogether catchier, will be
commercial but it’s not really commercial, if you know what I mean. The whole
package has a pretty mellow vibe, although the lyrics are visual and provoking,
whilst retaining ‘edge’ it is still pretty accessible.
‘Radio freq’ doesn’t appeal but we get back to it on ‘Fucked
up’. And D.O.W.N . Great album from, if not one of the
best, one of the most looked forward to.
Michelle
Williams - Do you know released January 26 2004.
New Michelle Williams Solo Album 'Do You Know' Out Now
Michelle Williams shot to fame across the world as part of
Destiny's Child, a group that has achieved success on every possible level and
sold over 33 million records worldwide. She has also had a chart topping MOBO
award winning debut solo album 'Heart To Yours', which showcased her soulful
style of gospel music. Renowned for her fantastic voice, she has now become the
new star of Disney's Broadway hit musical Aida.
Michelle has now returned with a new album 'Do You Know', which sees her
exploring her urban gospel theme in an intimate and heartfelt way. This album
is going to delight her fans.
'Do You Know' is in stores now, with a preview of new Destiny's Child song 'I
Know' included as the last track. For the full 'Do You Know' tracklisting check
the official Destiny's Child UK site HERE.
The opening
track Purpose in your storm is pretty upbeat semi-funky, almost latin, bit
jazzy, vocals are a bit edgy but overall a good track. On Never be the same the
vocal are more comfortable, quite a beaty track yet its catchy and mellow. No one
like you is an excellent track but My only love is you is a killer, a midtempo
soul dancer with 70s crossover harmonies.
The Incident
is a bit showy and as I touched on above I have slight reservations about the
vocal. The Movement is a bit more today, maybe on a remix.
Nonetheless overall the album works for me
My only love
is you
The movement
Sweetback - Stage 2
Epic http://www.sweetback.com/
Release date now set at june 21 and a couple more tracks come my way
to add to the previous comments. Lover is a dead slow ballad featuring Aya, a
newcomer to the outfit. Mountain
is also a slow moody dreamy thing.
Sweetback are Andrew hale (keyboards, programming), Paul Denman
(bass) and stuart Matthewman (guitars, sax, programming). The album also features Bruce Smith
(Slits, PIL etc) and Mark Anthony Thompson aka Chocolate genius and Aya.
Details can be obtained from the above website. I only have
a four tracker at the moment of the impending and long awaited 8 years - album from Sweetback.
However even on the four tracks in evidence there is a vast array of styles and
I must confess to not liking the opening Things you’ll never know at all, the
rocky format is only slightly salvaged by Aya,s vocal.
Not doing well here but another pet hate of mine is Grease and we
get Love is the word. However, all the ‘grease’ commerciality has been
taken out leaving only the riff and this actually develops into a pretty good
midtempo, bass groovy track.
Voodoo Breath is exactly that spooky voodoo and breathy vocals by
the Chocolate Genius backed with Aya and Ivana Santilli. All my days,
again with Aya, is a sweet, sexy, sultry, summer ballad.
I believe Byron Stingily is also on the album so I will look out
for that too.
On the evidence here the album is a bit of an eclectic mix, well
produced and will contain some good stuff, but for me it doesnt sound like it
will have consistent appeal.
Bravehearts -
Bravehearted -Columbia/Ill Will
The Bravehearts, Jungle (Nas's little brother) and Wiz, out of the
Queensbridge Houses in Queens New York, do battle on this debut album.
Featuring productions from Swizz Beats, LES, Lil John, Megahertz and mini
mafia. Also guest spots from Naz, Lil John and Nashawn. The group originally
had a track on the 1998 Belly soundtrack and in 2001 the posse album QB's
finest and the smash Oochie Wally, but this album elevates them to serious play
status. Also guested on Nas' Zone out.
The forthcoming single will be Quick to back down, a Lil Jon
production, with Jon and Nas was recorded in Atlanta in a meeting of the Dirty
South and East Coast. The single, bass driven will be a perfect and sinister
beat for the clubs with the catchy (but somewhat irritating I have to say)
Quick to back down, and no nonsense rhyming.
Twilight over a twinkly piano sample, good track with an earthy
back beat and free flowing lyrics, easily switching between the two.
Bravehearted, with Nas, has the Nas stamp on it, this is a dead slow heavy beat
with some old skool street skratches. Situations is more commercial, less
heavy, still lazy and kinda nice. I wanna is pretty pointless.
The album was eagerly anticipated but doesn't seem to have
delivered or captured the imagination. A few tracks hit but I don't think
there's going to be too much longevity in there.
B2K- You got
served - OST - Epic
Soundtrack album from their film You Got Served out in March 2004.
a 14 track compilation featuring 8 new B2K tracks plus others by XSO Drive,
Jhene and ATL.
The film is a hip hop dance film about the sub culture of street
dancing, a portrayal of hip hop culture and street dance battles.
The forthcoming single with Fabulos will hit big. Upbeat,
commercial, hot names, good time, easy hip hop. Do that thing with Lil Kim
still retains the commerciality and 'visuality' that an OST will give you but
it's all pretty messy. Sprung is back really where B2K belong in R'n'b ballad
territory.
Onto some of the newer talent and Jhene's Happy is
an excellent track. Quite soulful and if the pace was slightly up on a remix
could go in the soul rooms this one. ATL the one, not sure about this, they
are certainly gaining a good reputation but this one doesn't quite do it for
me. I'd rather go for Xso Drive's Can I get it back. Chantel (Cleveland,
Ohio), Jaz-ming (Queens, NY), and Kisa (South Central, LA) make up the trio and
are somewhat reminiscent of Total. This track features a sample from Gang
Starr's "Mass Appeal" and I think we are gonna hear a lot more of
these ladies.
Lemar -
Dedicated album tracks Body Talk, Hot Summer, Sweet Love
The album was released on 24 December which stormed into the
national charts in it's first week of released. I am featuring here 3 tracks on
a limited edition promo. The three cuts are those that are garnering the club
attention, Body Talk, Hot Summer and Sweet Love, with Best Kept Secret and So
Solid's JD on production duties.
All three cuts are bouncy, at the soulful end of R'n'B and
actually are a bit of a breath of fresh air in the UK soul market. Body Talk
(and not the one from a previous UK soul era) nonetheless features props to
those days but with an up to date R'n'B feel and for me is the best of the
three,. Hot Summer is a season or two late but will brighten up these long
nights. Sweet Love highlights effectively the thing which makes a Lemar track
stand out and that is the vocal arrangement, a fine track.
The next single Another Day will be out in Feb 2004.
Wyclef Jean -
Greatest Hits - Columbia
Released on 24 November www.so-urban.com/wyclef
Includes all of Clef's hits and all his collaborations, a who's
who of R'n'B, Urban and hip hop, from the top end to lesser knowns, from the
old skool to the present day. With all of this there is a mixture of styles but
with Clef's distinctive trademark.
For me sometimes he hits and I really enjoy the track, other times
I don't get it. I guess there's about a 60% hit rate and sometimes I think he
tries to hard, but on the other hand you can't knock him for experimenting, not
moving on, progressing influences, getting stale and so on.
Again personally I like the Marleyesque vocal styling and the
anthemic Ghetto Religion enhanced by the polish of R Kelly is standout. Maybe
he really excels with the big names because the next favourite is 911 with Mary
J Blige, with again the laid back delivery and a strong performance from Mary.
Props to the old skool with Earth Wind and Fire on Runaway, with it's throbbing
beat and EWF horns. On a straight hip hop tip Hey Girl despite the nursery rhyming
bits, and on a heavier vibe Thug Angels.
Of course many reggae vibes on tracks like It doesn't matter and
Gunpowder, dancehall style intro, but again Marleyesque and philosophizing, a
great track. And closing with a top version of No Woman No Cry, fugee stylee.
I can do without things like Staying Alive (which would keep me
away from the dancefloor rather than entice me to it), and Guantanamera
The middle ground is taken with tracks like Perfect Gentleman,
Gone Til November, Anything can happen. The latter two particularly are odd in
that somehow they seem messy and overburdened but in the cold light of day you
find yourself actually getting down to them. Sometimes the covers or sample
driven stuf kinda works, Knocking on heavens door does but probably because
it's a good song. Nice ballad almost in Wish you were here illustrating that
all styles can be dealt with.
Included is a remix disc with by and large harder beats and mixes,
Guantanamera almost becomes acceptable (but not possible with staying alive!).
The best mix, by a mile, is a great one featuring Xzibit and Yellowman on
Perfect gentleman.
Again nice is No Woman No Cry. Closing with Ca ne me fait rien,
fast paced French styled reggae hip hop
Excellent value all round and taking this compilation in one go
helps to make you realise what Wyclef has achieved.
Jagged Edge - Hard -
Columbia
Released on October 13, their 4th studio album.
Consisting of twins Brian and Brandon Casey, Kyle Norman and
Richard Wingo. The album features production from St Nick and Jermaine Dupri.
I always think it is good to hear groups such as this getting some
prominence on the R'n'B scene because it is clear that their music is talented
and crafted much in the same way as their soulful predecessors. It is a shame
that older heads on the soul scene diss this kind of music. There are some fine
vocal performances particularly on Shady Girl, a mellow midtempo uplifting and
catchy, and Car Show which features Big Boi, but particularly Walked Outta
Heaven. This latter piece is dead slow, lyrically soulful in the old loss of a
love tradition, pleading lead and excellent backing harmonies
They ain't JE will become their theme tune I guess and it features
rap trio Street Katz, the first signing to JE's 581 Records.
On the upbeat, dancehall side Girls gone wild ft Major Damage is
anthemic, hands in the air kind of stuff, but also pretty damn good.
Bow Wow -
Unleashed - Columbia
Released on September 22 and no 'l'il' anymore. This debuted at
number 3 in US Billboard. Certainly you will see a more grown up Bow. Slicklt
put together with some nice beats.
The single is Let's get down, a catchy, and pretty typical dance
hall hip hop item featuring Baby. Follow Me for me is much much better. Vocals
flow over a mellow beat. It's better to follow and feel a beat rather than have
it forced on you like the previous track.
Jagged Edge add some nice vocal harmonies on My Baby, a slow hip
hop ballad. It's usually the case with me that the mellower more vocal side are
the best and this is no exception. Foer example the tempo is raised on Get it
Poppin' and for me it's just a mess. Probably the new personal theme tune will
be The Don The Dutch. Mario features on a fast paced I'll move on.
Production is by The Neptunes, Swizz Beats, Jazze Pha, Bink! And
Bam and the album also includes Baby, Jagged Edge and Mario.
By and large I quite liked this, certainly moving forward and
status has been enhanced, some way to go to reach the heavy hitters but well on
the way.
Beyonce
Dangerously in love Columbia
Released June 23 2003, and the long awaited first solo album. The
album is varied between pop, hip hop and R'n'b as you'd possible expect I
guess. The album features an impressive array of musical collaborators such as
Jay Z, Sean Paul, Mario Winans, D-Roy & Mr B, Outkast's Big Boi and Luther
Vandross. On production there is the likes of Missy Elliott, Rich Harrison,
Scott Storch, Bryce Wilson and Beyonce herself
The first single Crazy in Love featuring Jay Z which was (and is
still) hugely successful but I personally didn't care too much for.
Naughty Girl with Arabic ambience and sampling Donna Summer's Love
to Love you baby is much better uptempo and will fill the dancefloors in due
course if not already. That's how you like it continues the work with JayZ,
also much better than Crazy, but completely different in style, mellow laid
back and sensual.
Signs featuring and produced by Missy Elliott is kind of in a Missy
style but she allows Beyonce's vocals to be strong . In fact the vocals are as
strong as you get and her soulful competence and potential can be seen, but
this ones for the now and not the soul headz out there.
Baby Boy features the currently hot Sean Paul, adding his
dimension to it, with again a mid eastern feel. Hip Hop Star features Big Boi
and Sleepy Brown, again the street collaborations. I find most of the
collaborations result in something quite messy. The album is purported to be or
to contain personal statements and so on but to me they seem to me to be too
much driven by other things (aiming to please being the main one). Give me 'Be
with you' and it's efficient soulful simplicity any time.
DJ Kay Slay
The Streetsweeper Vol 1 New Mixtape Album released 9 june 2003
New York's premier mixtape DJ Kay Slay releases this compilation
featuring the current megastars of hip hop.
Gaining heavy support is 'Too much for me' the single featuring
Nas, Amerie, Foxy Brown and Baby, already being playlisted by the likes of
1Xtra and Kiss. Also 50 cent's 50 shot ya which has caused a huge underground
buzz.
For the past 5 years Slay has been a best selling staple of the
influential promo mix tape market. Infamously known throughout the game as the
Drama King, Slay was a first hand witness to the birthof hip hop culture in the
70's and ascended from graffiti kingpin, mix tape master to one of the most
powerful voices in hip hop with Drama Hour on NYC's Hot97.
This is Slay's debut opus, an onslaught of hip hop's biggest names
assembled to pay respect to the DJ. The roll call includes Nas, 50 cent,
Eminem, Fat Joe, Lox, Scarface, Raekwon, Mobb Deep, Busta Rhymes, Amerie, NWA's
MC Ren, Cam'ron. Also aligned with top producers EZ Elpee, Dame Grease, dr Dre
and Havoc.
I've seen some pretty downbeat feedback to this see USA Amazon
feedback for example but I kinda liked it. It's easy flowing mellowness suits
me, rather than more panic fast paced rhyming. The 50 Shot Ya typifies this
with a master old skool sample and lazy delivery.
Top cuts include 'Too much for me', stoccato beat and singalong
chorus , so strong for the dancefloor. On the heavier side there's the
Diplomats ft Cam'ron. Slightly less polished but containing another interesting
sample that I just can't place right now. Westside Driveby also cuts it showing
that some of the lesser known artists are up there with the big boys.
Best till last side 4 and a wicked cut I got U, Fat Joe reigning
suprenme on Take a look at my life, Wyclef back on form with his usual reggae
stylings but less lightweight than of late.
Dowsides, not too many, maybe names for names sake, Eminem for
example. The Champions, Coast to Coast Gangstas and Seven Deadly Sins, with
such enormous casts a bit too over the top.
The cast list is top notch and it pieces together pretty well.
It's a mixtape thing for sure, but it's not obtrusive and fits in OK. The vinyl
package is pieced and spaced so that it could be played out if you so chose. On
the whole pretty worthwhile.
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1. Intro
(Feat, Aaron Hall) |
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2. I Never
Liked Ya A** (Feat.Scarface, Raekwon & Fat Joe) |
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3. The
Streetsweeper (Feat. The Lox) |
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4. 50 Shot Ya
(Feat. 50 Cent) |
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5. Get Shot
The F**k Up (Feat. Mobb Deep & Big Noyd) |
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6. Everybody
Wanna Shine (Feat. Black Rob, G-Dep & Craig Mack) |
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7. Too Much
For Me (Feat. Nas, Baby, Foxy Brown & Amerie) |
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8. Purple
Haze (The Diplomats Feat. Cam'Ron) |
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9. Freestyle (Feat.
Eminem) |
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10. The
Champions (Feat. Doo Wop, Tony Touch, Dj Clue, Funkmaster Flex, S&S,
Brucie B, Kid Capri & Ron G) |
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11. Seven
Deadly Sins (Feat. Vita, Angie Martinez, Duchess, Lady May, Amil, Sonja Blade
& Remy Martin) |
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12. New Jack
City (Feat. Posta Boy, Shells, Cassidy, Grafh & J Hood) |
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13. Westside
Driveby (Feat. E-A-Ski, Mc Ren & Kam) |
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14. I'ma
Smack This Muthaf**ka (Feat. N.O.R.E.) |
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15. Angels Voice
(Feat. The Flipmode Squad) |
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16. I Got U
(ft Styles and Bristal) |
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17. Take A
Look At My Life (Feat. Fat Joe, Remy Martin & A Bless) |
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18. Coast To Coast
Gangstas (Feat. Sauce Money, Joe Buddens, Wc, Bun B, Killer Mike & Hak
Ditty) |
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19. Nino
Brown (Feat. Wyclef & Hollywood) |
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20. Put That
Thing Down (Feat. 8-Ball, Mjg & Jagged Edge) |
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Kindred the family soul - Surrender to
Love - released 2 June 2003
www.kindredthefamilysoul.com www.hiddenbeach.com/kindred
Singer songwriters,
husband wife, Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon are Kindred, hailing from
Philadelphia, home to Jill Scott and a hotbed of new soul artists.
The pair cite
Womack and Womack, Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack, Chicage, Moody Blues, Steely
Dan as influences this album draws from them and more. This is and will be one
of the albums of the year period.
Classic soul whether your bag is old school like say Ashford and Simpson or new
like Jill Scott. Quality oozes throughout both in delivery, production, writing,
instrumentation (backed by their own 10 piee band), soulfullness, whichever
which way you look at it.
The album
kicks of in style with the feel good title track Surrender to love, modern
feel, vocal interplay, midtempo vibe, kick on. Rhthm of life is the track, out
first on 12", that's been hitting the dancefloors particularly the King
Britt Remix. In fact the album version, though midtempo, doesn't come across a
sbeing too danceable.
'Far away' is
a wonderful ballad, reminiscent of those old school George Benson ballads. We
(feat Ursula Rucker), the beats change somewhat here, more dreamy, more poetic
with monologue, spoken word. Stars is an exceptional sensual ballad of the old
school with some wonderful 'wailing' in the distance! I am (ft Jazmine Sullivan)
picks it up again, uplifting and powerful and the next to get the dancefloor
treatment I would suggest.
One of my
favourites is Meant to be, it is funkier and brassier than some, and with a
hook that will have you singing along. There are changes of pace and changes of
style but they are all performed and constructed with expertise, and it makes
for an intersting and complex album.
I do like the
upbeat ones and we are back on a funk tip, real hard edged, old school, chant
driven funk with Spread the World. Don't wanna suffer though is a bit too fast
I would say. Party's Over (ft Flo Brown and Malik B) is funked up current R'n'B
Hidden away
at track 25 (I hate that!) is the remix of Rhythm of life.
Sometimes I
am not a an of duets because they often get to dreamy for me. This however is
an exception, just plain good soul music, era past, era pesent, era future it
doesn't matter - enjoy.
Will be
appearing at the Jazz Cafe in July so look out for that.
Macy Gray The Trouble with being
myself Epic
B2K - Pandemonium - Epic
Reviewed from an album sampler -
released on 24 March 2002
Pandemonium follows up the self titled
debut album which entered the US Billboar charts at number 2 and went Platinum,
quickly establishing the 4 piece outfit as America's bigest teenage R'n'B
sensations.
The first track taken from the album is
Bump Bump Bump featuring Pdiddy and reviewed in the singles section. Featuring
P Diddy and a number 1 Billboard hit.
The Pandemonium sessions begad in early
2003 while B2K were on tour, the resulting songsreveal a more personal side to
B2K. B2K lured plenty of influential producers including Trick Stewart (Mya),
Lil Steve Russell (3LW), Troy Taylor (Mary J), R Kelly and Platinum Status
(Destiny's Child).
Also invited to appear on the album was
14 year old newcomer Jhene (Lil Fizz's cousin and forthcoming solo artist on
Sony) who cut vocals on two tracks. B2K penned 10 of the 16 tracks
My Girl is similar but not quite so instant
and bumpy as Bump, tho' it is better. Girlfriend is to be the next US Single
and is a real top cut, a slower jam in a total different style to the dance
orientated predecessor. Sufficiently good to keep the momentum up with
hallmarks of it's producer R Kelly. Mellow, slow rap, good harmonies and very
good.
Tease is one of the tracks featuring
Jhene, more youthful than the previous track which had much more maturity about
it. Popular youth orientated R'n'B, that's what they are so I'm not knocking
it!!
Gots ta be again shows the maturity,
and thus the groups ability to cross over and through different age
marketplaces. So laid back as to be horizontal and my favourite cut so far.
Sleepin is another mellow vibe, which is nice, but at this point I'm startin to
want one of the vocalists to really let go and burst out of the confines.
Pickin it up to conclude this session
with Back it up. More hip hop and less commercial (which it benefits from).
Sounds like it's going to be a stormin
follow up and right up there with them.
Urban Essentials - Volume 2
Promo only compilation of current and future releases on Sony
& Epic and associated labels. Many of the tracks are featured on the
reviews on the Sony pages here so I will not dwell on them. Suffice to say that
this is a cracking compilation, so if you are able to get hold of one do so.
Illustrative of how big this style of R'n'B and Hip Hop is, and where and why
Sony are prominent. There is top and emerging UK talent (BigBrovaz) to massive
multinational superstars, and a few names to look out for.
The tracks not featured elsewhere include, with brief comments,
the following:-
Grooverider ft Lifford - What do you do - a fast paced almost Drum
and Bass item with distant vocals, speed merchant, fast footing dance track.
Lisa Maffia - All Over - More fast paced action, this time hip hop meets
dancehall. Killer Mike - Akshun is hard hitting staccato, hard beat hip hop,
Lightening up somewhat is the soulful Amerie complimented by the
styling of Foxy Brown - Talkin To Me; Awa Manneh - Behind Schedule is another
sweet track with reggae overtones, and Des'ree sweetest of the lot and almost
out of place and Why.
Macy Gray ft Pharoahe Monche - It ain't the money is a nice track
where Macy's offball vocal styling is perfectly in tune with Pharoahe.
Kindred's Rhythm of life is a good mellow R'n'B meets Neo thang. Jody Lei -
Showdown, this is a bouncy bass heavy dance floor item, out now as a single -
check www.jodylei.com.
Glenn Lewis & Amel Larrieux - What's come over me ha sonly
briefly been mentioned before as part of the Barbershop soundtrack but it is
worth picking out again as it is a great piece of music, one of the better cuts
from last year. Sarai - Pack Ya Bags, is a pretty cool mellow hip hop vibe,
with yet another of those Eastern or North African influences, also out in the
States as a single right now (Feb 18)
Solange ft Nore FeelingYou Part II - there's a buzz starting to
emanate about Solange's forthcoming product, she also was involved to a degree
with Kelly's album, particularly the title track. More mellow Eastern vibes.
Closing with two tracks from Second Nature - Sorry Seems, a pretty
fine dead slow beat laden version of the Elton John thing and - Something tells
me which is in a similar vein.
Tracks: -CD 1 - Big Brovas - OK (Blacksmith Mix); Rhianna- I
love everything about you; Grooverider ft Lifford - What do you do; Lisa Maffia
- All Over; Nas - Made You Look; Jennifer Lopez ft LL Cool J 'All I Have'; B2k
- Bump Bump Bump; Sarah Connor - He's Unbelievable; Bone Thugs - Money Money;
Killer Mike - Akshun, Amerie ft Foxy Brown - Talkin To Me; Awa Manneh - Behind
Schedule; Des'ree - Why
CD2 - Macy Gray ft Pharoahe Monche - It ain't the money; Vivian
Green - Emotional Rollercoaster - Kindred - Rhythm of life' Jody Lei -
Showdown, Xzibit ft Dr Dre - Symphony in X Major; 3LW ft Lil Wayne - Neva Get
enuff; Glenn Lewis & Amel Larrieux - What's come over me; Sarai - Pack Ya
Bags; Nas - I can; Solange ft Nore FeelingYou Part II; Second Nature - Sorry
Seems; Second Nature - Something tells me
Introducing Vivian Green - Love Story (Full Album) - Bio first
followed by review.
"Vivian Green A Love Story
It's no surprise that Vivian Green, Columbia Records newest
singer-songwriter, is such a musical power house. From her earliest memories,
Vivian Green has been surrounded by music.
"My mother used to sing to me all the time -- jazz,
spirituals, everything," Green, now 23, recalls while describing her
childhood in Philadelphia. "She even made up little songs to teach us things
like our address, or how to spell our names. She even made the books of the
Bible into a song. I still remember it." To prove her point, Green breaks
into a finger-snapping riff that lists all sixty-six books of the Bible --
"Genesis& Exodus& Leviticus&." -- and ends with a giggle.
"In fact," she says, "my very first performance was
singing that song. My mother dressed me up and put me on stage and I did a
little dance at the church talent show." Vivian was five years old.
At eight, Vivian took up the piano. At eleven, she started writing
songs. And at thirteen, Vivian Green became the fifth member of a girl group
with the linguistically-inspired name Younique.
"We performed some of my early material," she
says laughing. "And we were not very good. But we had fun."
At 15, Vivian started pursing music seriously, sending out demos
and writing songs for other artists.
But what Green spent most of her time doing was singing. Friday
night, Saturday night, and many nights during the week, Green would put on a
fancy dress and get up in front of an audience of hundreds, sometimes
thousands. Night after night she would dazzle them with the music she learned
as a child. "I got to sing all the songs that I heard from my mother
growing up," she says. "The band leaders couldn't believe that at
eighteen I knew "Bye, Bye Black Bird," "Ipanema,"
"Misty," "All of Me," "Moondance." I knew all the
popular standards. And I love to sing that stuff."
Green played wedding receptions and banquets and sometimes the
gigs would go on all night. For a performer, there could be no better training
ground. "It was really good for me as a singer," says Green. "I
don't have stage fright at all. Plus, I learned to suck it up when nobody
claps," she laughs. "I remember one time singing my heart out to
'Evergreen' by Barbra Streisand. When I finished, you could hear a pin drop
because everyone was eating. If you can get through that as a singer then
you're okay with anything!"
The next year, when Green was 19, she started singing back-up for
fellow Philly home girl Jill Scott. Green was in the middle of Jill's Scott's
international tour when her manager got her on the phone: "Record company
people want to meet you! But you're in Amsterdam, come home!"
That was the end of August, 2001. By November, she says, "the
ink was dry [on my Columbia contract]. It was like a dream come true. "
Her debut album, A Love Story, is an inspired blend
of new Philly soul coupled with the vocal maturity Green developed through
years of performing in front of live audiences. And her self-penned lyrics
reveal the emotional range of a young woman who's seen some of life's ups and
downs.
"The album actually is a love story," says
Green. "I wear my heart on my sleeve." But don't expect the
traditional boy-meets-girl plot line. Rather, the album is a sophisticated,
autobiographical rumination on a relationship gone wrong, learning to love
yourself, and then finding true love.
The infectious track, "Emotional Rollercoaster," was
written when Green was going through a rough time with her boyfriend. The song
came to Green while she was on her morning run trying to clear her head about
an argument she'd had with her boyfriend the night before. "The song popped
into my head and I sang it all the way home until I could get to my tape
recorder," she says. "It came from me realizing there is something
really wrong but not knowing how to get out."
During the making of the album, Vivian wrote
"Superwoman" one day while reminiscing about the old relationship.
"He just wanted me to be something that I wasn't with these ridiculous
requests and demands. One day I was like, 'This is not me, I am not
superwoman!'"
If you ask Green how long she laboured over her debut project, her
answer might surprise you. "I did a lot of songs from scratch," she
says with a modest shrug. "I'd just go into the studio, like, 'What do we
want to do today, something up-tempo?' And before the day was over we'd have a
whole song. I like writing like that. I'm really fast."
She sings? She writes? She can put together a song in a single
day? She sure sounds like superwoman to us.
Steve Ripley - Director, Urban Division"
This album was due out on 12 November but I
guess it was deferred slightly. Sampler is reviewed below but now the full
album has arrived. I must say that the whole album hangs together much better
rather than just being a selection of various tracks.
Wishful
thinking is a glorious tale of optimism and for me as good if not better than
the previously highlighted cuts, quite beat-y but quite mellow too. What is
love is a great slow ballad, in the neo envelope, whereas Final Hour, another
ballad, is more traditional piano led supper club soul. Staying in that kind of
groove but altogether jazzier, and better, is No Sittin by the phone. Music is
a jumpy stop start affair which doesn't really go anywhere.
Affected
pumps it up a touch, driving yet easy beat with a catchy hook. Nothing but love
keeps up the standard of the slower material, in fact, I have to say that this
one does it for me, builds nicely, good harmonies, bit of freestyle and a
mellow groove. Another great 'Storm' is Complete where Vivean's voice does let
go a bit more and all the better for it.
Closing with
Keep on going, the pace is lifted again, nice groove to this.
14 tracks now
and a plethora of great material, the album fits together well, excelling on
the slower material but still enough interest for the dancefloor. We have here
a great emerging talent, I just wonder whether the voice is quite unique
enough.
The tracks
reviewed earlier were :- Fanatic, Superwoman, Emotional Rollercoaster, 24 hour
blues, Be good to you. Making up the album we have Wishful thinking, What is
love, Music, Final Hour, No sittin' by the phone, Affected, Nothing but love,
Complete, Keep on going.
Kelly Rowland - Simply Deep - Columbia (Full Album)
Seven-track sampler album is reviewed below, and now the album
hitting the streets on February 3rd 2003.
Stole is hitting big time, big pop play but I like it, not tired
of it so quickly as often happens with Chart material. Room is found, as if it
wouldn't be!, for the massive hit with Nelly.
Tracks originally reviewed - see below: - Stole (D Elliot
Dreambrotha Mix); Can't nobody, Past 12, Make U wanna stay ft Joe Budden, Stole
(album), Haven't Told You, Love/Hate.
Simply Deep features Solange Knowles, who co wrote it, together
with Obsession and Beyond Imagination, the title track being far and away the
strongest of these but Kelly's vocal does let loose on the latter track
againsyt a rock-y backbeat.
(Love Lives in) strange places is fine indeed, co penned by Kelly
and Kelly's vocal seems to have more freedom, great hook, mellow and soulful.
Everytime you walk out that door is another fine ballad.
For a first solo album this contains some great material and we
will be hearing a lot of this. Plenty of material to release as singles though
I would expect Stole to be the biggest.
Tracks: - Stole, Dilemma (with Nelly), Haven't told you, Can't
nobody, Love/Hate, Simply Deep, (Love Lives in) strange places, Obsession,
Heaven, Past 12, Everytime you walk out that door, Train on a track, Beyond
Imagination; Bonus Make you wanna stay (ft Joe Budden), No coincidence.
Nasir Jones - God's Son - Columbia
Wow, this is some album, rushed out to thwart bootlegging so I
hear. Maybe so maybe not but it's gonna hit big before Christmas. Nasir Jones,
Nas of course, that familiar laid back husky demeanour and delivery. Kicking
off large with Get Down and popular James Brown samples. In fact the only down
thing, and it's not really a down thing, is that the samples are not too
imaginative, not exactly dug deep. Nonetheless they do enhance and carry the
stuff.
One Marshall Mathers produced the next track, The Cross and there's
that kind of hard but lazy beat so familiar with his stuff, track kinda peters
out though. Made you look, see the singles reviews, is hitting big, is dark,
self evaluating and oft used Bongos Apache.
Sometimes all you need is a beat and an age and that's pretty much
all you get on 'Last real n***a alive'. Zone out with the Bravehearts with its
electro beats and old skool PE delivery.
Soul beats, Rising to the top by Keni Burke, commercialises Hey
Nas with Kelis and Claudette of City High. I can (yet another with children
like Jay Z and Jaheim), classical cords and Impeach the President, but here the
children are being taught (by Nas) to be positive.
Book of Rhymes, is a great track, produced by The Alchemist. Great
words, thought provoking. Thugz Mansion features 2Pac and is a remixed version
of the track that features on Pac's Better Days album. Mastermind, not the
strongest Alchemist cut on here but Revolutionary Warfare (feat Lake),
certainly is strong
Warrior Song (ft Alicia Keyes) and produced by Alicia too, faster
style which doesn't hit with me, but personal lyrics, and Nas has said that
this album is his most personal to date. Dance similarly is personal stuff.
Best til last, all coming together on Heaven, great beat, great
sample (I love you by Eddie Holman), great vocals by Jully Black and Saukrates,
thoughtful and hopeful.
All round excellent album, and one of the best for the year
amongst some big playas at the end of the year.
Tracks: - Get Down, The Cross, Made you look, Last real n***a
alive, Zone out (feat Bravehearts), Hey Nas (ft Kelis & Claudette Ortz of
City High), I can, Book of rhymes, Thugz Mansion (NY) (feat 2pac & J Phoenix),
Mastermind, Warrior Song (ft Alicia Keyes), Revolutionary Warfare (feat Lake),
Dance, Heaven.
Kelly Rowland - Simply Deep
Reviewed from a seven-track sampler album, the album hitting the
streets on February 10th 2003.
Kelly, of course, a third of Destiny's Child (DC), this is her
first solo album, featuring songs by Steve Kipper, Billy Mann, Solange Knowles
and Kelly. Guest appearances by Nelly and Joe Budden, produced by Rich Harrison
(Amerie), Robert Smith, Damon Elliott and Rob Fusari. Kelly through this album
deliberately wants to take it away from DC to show a side to her own persona
and I have to say that she has.
'Stole' is a track that come next year you will be hearing
everywhere, it's a catchy song yet is very soulful, with some Eastern beats
that seem to be prevalent at the moment. Personally I don't think that the
remix here adds anything too much though. Kelly's voice isn't the most soulful
I've ever heard but the material here is strong and she comes across well, all
the tracks in evidence here have something going for them. Past 12 is an upbeat
R'n'B song and apart from the more commercial 'Stole' is one that will hit the
dancefloor.
'Make U Wanna Stay' is more full on R'n'B, slow with a hard (drum)
beat and spoken vocal, and again a bit of an Eastern influence. 'Haven't told
you' in terms of vocal performance is far and away the best cut, a fine ballad
where there is more emphasis on the song than the style.
Tracks: - Stole (D Elliot Dreambrotha Mix); Can't nobody, Past 12,
Make U wanna stay ft Joe Budden, Stole (album), Haven't Told You, Love/Hate.
Jennifer Lopez - This is me ...then - Epic
I have to say that some of Jenny commercial R'n'B Hip Hop
collaborations and successes I have really like, I'm gonna be alright for
example is a great track (which is included on this album), Jenny on the Block
has a catchy appeal. More often than not though Jennifer's voice is disguised
or lost in the beats or superseded and (in my view) overshadowed by the rap. I
mean on the aforementioned track for example Nas excels.
This album for example gives the opportunity on quite a lot of the
tracks to get into that aspect and kinda put it to the test. I imagine that J
has had quite a bit of artistic control here and we can therefore assume that
this is where she wants to be and the kind of material that she wants to cover.
That said I have to say that it falls short, the voice is pleasant enough but I
don't find that it has the warmth, at it's best it is fine, particularly on the
lower cuts, but at it's worst I find it shrill and it grates on my ears
somewhat. The opening track falls into that latter category. 'I'm glad' falls
into the former. Contrast the two versions of 'The one', version 2 the vocals
are much better toned down (to my untrained ears!)
'Loving you ' is one of the better cuts for me, got a nice groove
but I would still question mark the vocals. Of the uptempo songs in this vein I
think I prefer 'You belong to me' which is better suited to her voice and has
some nice jazzy latin'y guitar. 'Again' is musically and lyrically a nice
ballad. 'I've been thinking' is quite nice, a dreamy ballad and a nice beat.
The lyrics however are quite strong and in one or two places
clearly heartfelt and personal, both in relationships and life.
In summary then I think this is one artist I prefer in structured
layered commercial collaborations, there are enough of these on here, although
I'm not keen on the LL track.
Also around is a vinyl album sampler which includes the
Trackmasters remixes of Jenny from the block and I'm gonna be alright.
Tracks: Still, Loving you, I'm Glad, The one.., Dear Ben, All I
have (feat LL Cool J), Jenny from the block (feat Stles and Jadakiss), Again,
You belong to me, I've been thinking, Baby I love you, The One (version 2), I'm
gonna be alright (featuring Nas)
Will Smith - Greatest Hits - Columbia
Released 25 November, this 15 track album covers the singles
career from 'Girls ain't nothing but trouble' through tp Men in Black through
to the current single 1000 kisses, from the Fresh Prince, through Big Willy to
now.
Will Smith right through has always been about fun, commercial and
non serious hip hop. That's not to say it's not been taken seriously. The early
tracks whilst fun and comical do sound pretty dated and immature against the
later work, of more complicated structure, beats and professionalism. Of the
early tracks 'Parents' is far and away the best.
Allthe hits are there as can be seen by the listing below. The big
hit movie tracks and chartbusters. The best is undoubtedly Summertime, although
the latest 1000 kisses is a credible contender. Just Cruisin also illustrates
that you don't have to be heavy duty to cut good grooves.
Party time for Christmas, harmless fun and hip hop beats, things
could be worse.
Tracks :- Girls ain't nothing but trouble, Parent's just don't
understand, A nightmare on my street, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Summertime, Just
Cruisin, 1000 Kisses, Men in Black, getting Jiggy with it, Miami, Freakin it,
Will 2 K, Wild Wild west, Black Suits Coming, Just the two of us.
Bone Thugs N Harmony - Thug World Order
Released on 4 November Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone and
Bizzy Bone come up with an intense album that has been coming a long time.
'It's been what we've been trying to organise ever since we came
out, we wanted to have a following of a whole lot of thugs and if you listen to
what is going on in the industry today, that's all people are talking about and
claiming to be, Thugs. You haven't heard nothing about gangsters. We were
trying to create a Thug World Order that we'd be running. We aren't finished
yet'
Well I don't know about that but this taster is hot. Get up and
get it is mellow hip hop at it's best. It features 3LW on the hook and that
will take it big time. Optimistic lyrics, motivational and inspirational, go
for it.
A homage to 'Cleveland is the city' again fast talking over a
mellow vibe. The mellowness still allows the anger and menace to come through
on this and the other tracks. In fact the dirge like style is perhaps more hard
hitting because you can feel the power, rather than having it thrust at ya'.
'Pump pump pump' says clean version, not so sure. Stoccato, fast,
carried on the beat, pump pump. 'Home' has a dreamy sample, the dreaded Phil
Collins I think, and you get carried on that vibe then realise where the speedy
vocals are heading. Great mix. 'Money money' over a wailing female sample
another track that runs around your head
Beats handled by LT Hutton, DJ U-Neek and the Platinum Brothers.
Sounds like a great album that with take the Thugs progression to
another level
I have now taken on a few more tracks from a vinyl album sampler,
and my views on the album are not diminished at all. 'Set it straight' hits
home straight away with a pumping beat, definitely a dancefloor item, great
track. 'What about us' is less instant, back to the fast talking but with a
more mellow chorus with the kidz a la Jay Z and Jaheim (Fabulous). Not by Baby
samples Guy's 'You can call me crazy' and 'Bad weed Blues' is almost real
Blues.
Big Brovaz -
Nu Flow (Album) Epic -
Debut album
released on 4 November 2002 featuring and named after the UK Chart Topper Nu
Flow, which is taking the country by storm with big plays and big reviews.
Big Brovaz
comprise two producers Skilz and Fingaz, and six rappers and singers, Nadia,
Dion, Cherise and J-Rock, Skilz and Randy. They are home grown talent and
collectively write and produce their own material. Big Brovaz have been
together for four years, released several singles and an album on their own
label before singing with Sony. Unusually, they apparently approached Sony with
a full albums worth of material.
This album
reflects the bands many influences, both in life and music. It contains a
fusion of Hip Hop, R'n'B with Rock, Latin, Gosple and Soul influences, with a
lyrical content exploring many themes but with a common positivity and
aspiration. Big Brovaz encapsulates the UK Urban scene.
The title
track of course is becoming a dancefloor anthem, a good time feel good party
commercial vibe but still retaining street credibility. The album is comes
right in it's path when you might expect maybe another single first, such is
Sony's confidence.
Find a way is
a great track for me, good leading rap but enhanced by some beautiful harmonies
by the girls and a simple but booming bass line. Having just reviewed the Clef
single he is fresh in my mind but I find many of his changes within songs
choppy and disjointed. On here it flows together so smoothly.
Taking it
Global is harder altogether with a prominent electric guitar riff. Summertime
as the title may suggest mellows it down a bit, latin flavoured, almost a
reggae bassline - sweet. Gotta Get - I don't know, but the next single I would
suggest, bit of nu flow about it with very catchy hook. OK is again carried by
the hook, again good time hip hop (which I now understand is likely to be the
next single! So much for my thoughts!). Little Ma again is a mix of styles
built around Hip Hop but this time containing a choral element. Don't watch
that is fast talking more American and less commercial, a darker side and
heavier stuff.
Baby Boy
possibly another contender for a single if the thought is to not follow like
with like, but to issue something a bit different but nonetheless commercial.
Best cut on the album for me, good harmonies on this ballad with a mellow Hip
Hop break - the other way round from most of the cuts on the album! The girls
show that they can give some of the R'n'B girl groups around a run for their
money. Don't matter another good track with a simple dominating bassline.
Closing on the mellow, I know you're there, an acoustic ballad.
Overall a
very sound major debut, the ease and mix of individual talent is very strong
uplifting and dare I say it commercial. A collective building here and much
scope for the future I would suggest.
Tracks:- Nu
Flow, Find a way, Taking it Global, Summertime, Gotta Get, OK, Little Mama,
Don't watch that, Baby Boy, Don't Matter, I know your there.
Introducing Vivian Green - Album Sampler for Love Story
This album is
out on 12 November and should really be something worth waiting for. Vivian
Green, aged 23, is Columbia Records newest singer-songwriter and if this and
the preview album cuts are anything to go by is my kind of thing and what's
more is destined for big things. She is from Philly and sung back-up for Jill
Scott and this is where she got picked up by Columbia in late 2001.
"Her
debut album, A Love Story, is an inspired blend of new Philly soul coupled with
the vocal maturity Green developed through years of performing in front of live
audiences. And her self-penned lyrics reveal the emotional range of a young
woman who's seen some of life's ups and downs." The tracks on show here
are:-
Fanatic -
Strong beat to this midtempo modern soul item. She has a kind of Philly neo -
soul feel but the songs are more traditionally structured, less 'freestyle'
story telling and more singing. Nice cut, like this one. Can see this one also
being remixed for the dancefloor.
Superwoman -
the lyrics as evidenced by this one and the following one seem to be very
personally based and are mature for one so young. Don't particularly like the
structure to this one but it is different
Emotional Rollercoaster
- Vivian wrote Emotional Rollercoaster and this track is about exactly that.
The ups and downs of a relationship.
24 hour blue
- Telling us of one of those days that we have all had. Great feeling to this,
although not to keen on the operatic dramatic chorus change.
Be good to
you - good slow soul ballad, again there is a kind of operatic change.
This looks as
if another great talent from Philadelphia has been unearthed. Fanatic for me is
the track with Rollercoaster and Be Good not far behind.
Barber Shop - Music from the Motion
Picture- Epic
An excellent fine album indeed of mainly R'n'B cuts, and
some real gems amongst them, such as Ginuwine, B2K and Glen & Amel. A real
nice uplifting feel to the whole thing, looking forward to the film now, looks
like a real feel good movie. There is some great new R'n'B talent on here and i
do feel that there is now a move more towards the vocal tracks and soulfulness
is creeoing back into R'n'B. I've talked on these pages about Soulful R'n'B,
what kind of contradiction is that!!...... but it's coming atcha!
Trade it all - Fabolous & P Diddy feat Jagged Edge -
Pumping mellow hard hitting R'n'B in a P Diddy stylee. Has quality stamped all
over it. A big one.
Stingy - Ginuwine - Ginuwine rarely fails to deliver and he
does it yet again here on the slow R'n'B ballad.
What's come over me - Glenn Lewis & Amel Larrieux - A
great duet for the soul headz out there - a standout track, in the mode of say
Musiq. Laid back and easy Glen and soulful Amel.
Love Session - Ghostface Killah ft Ruff Endz is a great
piece of mellow hip hop, great piece of soul vocal when it comes in.
And We - P Diddy ft Black Rob, Big Azz KO, Kain Cioffie, G
Dep, Foxy Brown, Craig Mack & The Mighty Ha - well there's kinda everybody
on here, and this ain't the film version apparently. Pretty standard fare
really...move on
Could've Been You - 3LW - These girls are really emerging
as one of the best outfits around. Again mellow r'n'B, pumping bass line but
sufficient to allow the vocals to come through.
Baby's Girl (Terri's theme) B2K - This is one of the top
cuts, great piece of slow sexy soul. There was a time when this kind of thing
would cross over big time, maybe it will US but the UK charts are so 'instant'
these days I'm not sure that it will over here - shame.
Sneaky - Jhene ft Lil Fizz of B2K - Upping the tempo
slightly to a current quirky fast current vocal over a mellow beat. Nice cut.
I see you - Best Man - This one turns it around from the
last one, faster backbeat with vocals trying hard to keep up. Again good
soulful R'n'B, all you old headz look out for these new names. This one and the
next two are not featured in the film
Better to leave - Jordan Brown - What a great side, side C,
this is turning out to be, same kind of vibe.
Baby Baby baby - Collin - Just noticed that this side goes
West Coast, East Coast, West Coast, East Coast, and they go so well together,
and so they should. Harder beat to this one and again soulful R'n'B
Change of style into side D, with some Hip Hop inBen - Lil
Kano and some old skool with the classics, Got to give it up (1) - Marvin Gaye
and I'll take you there - Staple Singers
Great Stuff
Xzibit - Man vs Machine - 504753 9
This hard hitting
and awaited album from Xzibit now hits the streets produced by Dre with guests
including Dre, Nate Dogg, Snoop, Eminem, Anthony Hamilton, Andre Wilson, MOP,
Truth Hurts and Eddie Griffin, as well as the protegees Golden State Project.
16 tracks plus
a three track bonus this is superbly produced and put together, hit hard and
play loud. Beats and styles come from all directions from the Symphonic
(symphony in X Major), to the commercial (My name).
Lyrically
there is lots of Parental Advisory which often can be seen as a sign of
weakness but here it is pure strength. Musically there is so much to grasp and
take in, layer upon layer, bass heavy.
Multiply with
Nate will be one that hits the streets, instant. Break Yourself with Truth
Hurts is fast, but my preference is on the slower more thoughtful delivery.
Heart of Man samples 'Africa' which will doubtless aid in the commercial stakes
but not a tune I like.
'Harder' is
probably the top cut on the album featuring The Golden State Project of which I
am sure we'll hear much more from. Over to the East Coast for the mellow
whispered Bk to LA with MOP. I dunno but I suspect that my name will be massive
in that it features Eminem who is just so hot at the moment, to the point that
it doesn't do anything for me. Having just travelled across France to hear him
every 10 minutes on the radio, to return and hear the same. Nonetheless he does
capture the commercial side of Hip Hop - love or hate. 'Scuse me but I can't
place Anthony Hamilton right now but 'The Gambler' is very rock'y and
forgettable. However 'Missing you' shows the man in mellow form.
'Right on' is
another top track produced by Erick Sermon, and going out hard on 'Enemies'.
Three Bonus
tracks are included on CD2, My Life My world, What a mess and Hit U where it
hurts, all of which are fine tracks.
This is one
top hot complex album that will be large. We will be hearing this for months.
Put together with some style with a plethora of hip hop names, legends and
artists
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