March 18th, 2023
Summary: All y’all thinkin bout is kissin and huggin
About Artist: Samm Henshaw is a London born singer songwriter who is really gives the John Legend vibes vocally. Tobe Nwigwe is a Texas rapper known, in part, for his role in the TV show Mo.
About Song: This song is off of Samm Henshaw’s debut album Untidy Soul (2022) which I loove. The tracks Grow, Still Broke, and 8.16 are all great songs themselves and the whole album feels like a throwback to Get Lifted (2004).
Favorite Part: I love the cool, relaxed swagger of the vocals on top of that tight playful groove. The song is laid back, fun, and sexy. Walking baseline is fiiire.
Other:
Same Henshaw (Wikipedia)
Untidy Soul (Stream)
Tobe Nwigwe (Wikipedia)
April 25th, 2021
Summary: Ryan Beatty is Everything!
About Artist: Back in 2018 a student asked me if I’d heard of Ryan Beatty and told me they thought I would like them. It was true. His 2018 album Boy in Jeans was an album I fell deeply in love with. Ryan Beatty is an extremely talented vocalist and musician. His albums are cohesive and beautifully stitched together.
About Song: This track is just one of my favorites from his debut album Boy in Jeans. The album tells the story of his experiences of being gay in high school. I have so many favorite songs from this album, you really have to listen to the album all the way through to understand his genius. Ryan’s more recent sophomore album Dreaming of David is even more of a masterpiece and something I will surely post about soon.
Favorite Part: You have to listen to the full album!
Other: Ryan Beatty Wikipedia
March 18th, 2021
Summary: This is dedicated to that ooh la.
About Artist: John Legend has a voice of gold and face that makes butter melt. I’ve been in love with him since 2003 when I first heard live album “Live at the Knitting Factory”. He has a come along away but he still cranks out the hits.
About Song: This song is the intro track to his recent 2020 album “Bigger Love”. I had ticket to see him in the fall of 2020 but we all know how that ended : (
Favorite Part: I like the old-timey doowap track with the deep bass drop at 0:09. I like the prechorus build and the way the chorus blossoms (0:37). And of course I just love John’s sexy sexy voice.
“You know I’m romantic,
I’d cross the Atlantic for that, Ooh-laa
I’ll wear my best tuxedo,
And you can undress me and we go, Ooh-laa” (1:08)
Other:
March 10th, 2021
Summary: Usha Usha
About Artist: Usher has been an R&B pop sensation for several decades while Ella Mai hit the scene big with her self-titled debut album in 2018.
About Song: This song came out in 2019 but is actually a single from Usher’s upcoming album “Confessions 2” (not to be confused with his song that I cried to in high school “Confession Part II”).
Favorite Part: I have a hard time not liking Usher, and Ella Mai just makes this duet too good to resist. I really like Ella Mai’s verse at 1:20.
Other: Ella Mai Wikipedia, Usher Wikipedia
March 8th, 2021
Summary: Happy Monday
About Artist: Jidenna is member of Janelle Monae’s Wonderland Records. I love his heavily east African influenced style and this song is a great example of that.
About Song: This song is off of an EP Jidenna released in 2017.
Favorite Part: I like the laid back feel of the song. I also really like the bridge at 2:30.
Other: Jidenna Wikipedia
March 6th, 2021
Summary: This is how babies are made.
About Artist: Silk Sonic is the newly formed supergroup duo of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars. They are a match made in heaven and are two artists that I’ve loved for a long time. I got on team Bruno Mars when “Nothing on You” came out in 2009 and have been an Anderson .Paak fan since “Venice” in 2014.
About Song: This song came out yesterday and is the lead single off of their upcoming album “An Evening with Silk and Sonic”.
Favorite Part: Love the vocals, love the drum fills, love the vibe, I love it all.
Other: An Evening with Silk Sonic, Leave the Door Open (YouTube Video), Bruno Mars Wikipedia, Anderson .Paak Wikipedia
February 28th, 2021
DOWNLOAD MP3 JazmineSullivan-PutItDown.mp3
Summary: Sometimes you just can’t help it.
About Artist: Jazmine Sullivan has been one of my favs since she rocketed to fame in 2008 with Bust Your Windows. Jazmine Sullivan is so talented and has a great discography. This song also happens to be produced by another favorite of mine, KeY Wane.
About Song: This song is off her Jazmine’s recent EP “Heaux Tales” (2021). It is her first release in almost six years and even if you don’t love this track, the album is definitely worth checking out. Heaux Tales has a tone of features from people like Ari Lennox, H.E.R., Anderson .Paak and more. The EP is strong on message and discusses female sexuality, body shaming and other issues that have kept Jasmine Sullivan from releasing more music in the past several years.
Favorite Part: Love the beat and love the honest message.
Other Links:
Jazmine Sullivan
Heaux Tales
KeY Wane
May 21st, 2020
Download
Summary: The CD runs 77 minutes in 50 tracks featuring over 60 artists. I hope you find your new favorite song. I know we can all use a little more music in our lives rights now.
About: I wanted to create a mixtape that had a little something for everybody. The tracks are edited to be short but offer a glimpses into pop hits and odd audial obscurities and alike. A project of the quarantine.
Other: Enjoy some easy listening or get out Shazam and find your new favorite song!
November 26th, 2019
DOWNLOAD MP3 VanJess-CoolOfftheRaiftAriLennox.mp3
Summary: A lil R&B to warm up the winter.
About Artist: VanJess is a Nigerian-American R&B duo, but I found this song because of the Ari Lennox feature.
About Song: This song is off of a remix album called Silk Canvas (The Remixes)
Favorite Part: Just love the vibe
Other:
VanJess Wikipedia
Ari Lennox Wikipedia
October 27th, 2017
DOWNLOAD MP3 DJPremiere-2LovinUftMiguel.mp3
Summary: I was so obsessed with this song last winter and it is long overdue to be posted on the blog.
About Artist: DJ Premiere is hip hop royalty and is one half of Gang Starr. Miguel is one of my favorite singers.
About Song: This song is track that didn’t make the cut of Miguel’s album Wildheart (2015).
Favorite Part: I love Miguel in general but this upbeat track was in rotation for the better part of this entire year.
Other:
DJ Premiere
Miguel WIkipedia
December 26th, 2016
DOWNLOAD MP3 JohnLegend-OverloadftMiguel.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: A new classic. John Legend and Miguel make me melt.
About Artist: John Legend is singer/songwriter/piano player with a voice of god. He is one of my favorite singers, his voice just melts me. John Legend was first made famous by Kanye West, and had a hit freshmen album in “Get Lifted” (2004). Miguel is another R&B singer who I’m also in love with.
About Song: This song is a track off of John Legend’s 5th album “Darkness and Light” which came out on December 2nd 2016.
Favorite Part: I love how simple the song structure is. I love how sparse the intro is and how the song slowly builds as it progresses. I also am in love with John Legend and Miguel’s harmonies. I’m always a sucker for duets and to me this is one of the best. The song is so subtle and so beautiful.
Other:
John Legend Wikipedia
Miguel Wikipedia
December 19th, 2016
DOWNLOAD MP3 TravisScott-GoosebumpsftKendrickLamar.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: I get those goosebumps everytime Kendrick goes off.
About Artist: Travis Scott is a 24 year old rapper from Texas. He was a XXL Freshmen in 2013.I saw him perform with Kanye and Chance the Rapper in 2015 and have had my eye more on him since. Kendrick Lamar is hip hop’s west coast king.
About Song: This song is off of Travis Scott’s second album “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight” (2016). I really liked the album, and another song Pick Up the Phone (ft. Young Thug) which was pretty successful (it’s the song with the super mario steel drums).
Favorite Part: Ahhh! This song had me on one for more than a minute in early September. I love the track! I have like four different instrumental/cover versions. I like how the song slowly builds and Travis sounds nice on it. Then Kedrick Lamar comes in and completely destroys it. It’s not a long verse but it kills. Love it.
Other:
Goosebumps (lyrics via RapGenius)
Travis Scott (Wikipedia)
December 19th, 2016
DOWNLOAD MP3 KirkFranklin-123VictoryftPharrellRemix.mp3
Summary: Gospel gets a remix #123Victory
About Artist: Kirk Franklin is a famous gospel musician. I love Kirk Franklin. Pharrell Williams is an a-list hip hop legend as a producer with a huge crossover pop audience.
About Song: The original song comes from Kirk Franklin’s “Losing My Religion” (2015). I love the original track! (download here). The remix came over a year later (watch an interview with Pharrell and Kirk Franklin). This song was my jam for like two weeks in mid November.
Favorite Part: I love the gospel elements of the chorus.I love the message. Kirk Franklin is amazing. Pharrell takes it to different level.
Other:
Listen to the Original Version
Kirk Franklin Wikipedia
February 13th, 2015
DOWNLOAD MP3 Ludacris-GoodLovinftMiguel.mp3
Summary: I need some real good lovin.
About Artist: The one and only Ludacris has been crankin out quality tracks from Atlanta for over 15 years. Definitely a member of the hip hop hall of fame. Miguel is a an R&B singer who broke through in 2013 with his song “How Many Drinks”
About Song: This song is from a 6 song EP that Ludacris dropped in December of 2014. Ludacris hasn’t released anything in four years but this Burn Bridges EP is in anticipation of his 2015 album Ludaversal.
Favorite Part: This is just a beautiful song. I always thought Ludacris knew how to rap about sex/love (funny as that sounds), and Miguel’s voice is sex reincarnated.
Other:
Ludacris Wikipedia
Miguel Wikipedia
