Two new tracks off Trey Songz forthcoming album Passion, Pain & Pleasure. You know, I don’t hate or love either of these tracks. I’m pretty indifferent. I definitely prefer ‘Doorbell’, think I’ll like it even more after a few listens, but neither are spectacular. Songz new album drops September 14th.
Download: Trey Songz – ‘Love Faces’
Download: Trey Songz – ‘Doorbell’
Word? Bruno Mars wrote and co-produced Cee-Lo’s new epic? That’s mad impressive. ‘F*ck You’ is definitely one of the coolest tracks we’ve had drop this year. It’s brave, funny, soulful – everything. Not to mention, it’s Cee-Lo! So yea, very impressed that Mr Mars wrote/co-produced it.
This should be quite the watch. Get involved.
The homie Reggie B just sent me his new track called ‘Hypnotic’ featuring Donald Hayes. For all those looking for good soul/funk music, you need to get involved with Reggie B. This guy is producing some crazy material right now, ‘Hypnotic’ included. Love the vibe to this, the instrumentation (something Reggie always delivers on) is real, nice. That sax…
Missy Elliott recently spoke to MTV to remember her good friend Aaliyah 9 years after her passing…
MTV: When you look around today at some of the current R&B stars, who do you see traces of Aaliyah’s influence in?
Missy Elliott: I think it’s hard for Aaliyah to be duplicated, because she had her own lane. But Ciara is an R&B singer who loves to dance, and Aaliyah was that same kinda artist. We knew when she dropped a record, we couldn’t wait for the video. I think Aaliyah has influenced artists like a Ciara.
MTV: How do you spend a day like this, where everyone is mourning the anniversary of your friend’s passing?
Elliott: I plan to spend my day the same as any other day, because there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of [Aaliyah] or watch a video or play her music. I miss her every day.
MTV: Do you know of any update on the plans for an Aaliyah movie?
Elliott: As far as a movie for Aaliyah, I’ve been hearing some things but don’t know how true they are, and out of respect for her family, I would wait until they announce it. That way we will know it’s a fact.
MTV: I’m sure you have so many memories of Aaliyah. What was it like the first time you met her?
Elliott: When me and Tim first went to work with her, we were so nervous. She was such a big star, and I was scared she was gonna be some diva, sipping on tea, with people fixing her hair and nails, and she would say, “What is this music you got! It’s wack!” But when we walked in the studio, her smile made the whole room glow! She was like “Heyyyyy!” and gave us big hugs and made us feel like we were her cousins from down South. She was a very sweet spirit! Never seen her angry as long as I’ve known her, and in this business, that’s unheard of!
MTV: What memory do you revisit most when you think about Aaliyah?
Elliott: We’ve had so many memorable times. My most memorable is when me, her and Tim wore outfits alike! It was burgundy Pony outfits to the awards. Mind you, Aaliyah was petite so her Pony outfit looked so cute on her, but I kept looking at mine during the awards whispering to her saying, “I feel like a big-ass pony for real!” And we laughed and laughed! Too many memories to state them all! If she was still with us, she would still be at the top. Because she always stayed pushing herself to be better.
Impossible to imagine that it’s been 9 years since Aaliyah left us. Impossible because not only has the time flown, but because she remains as relevant, musically, today, as she did when she left. I say this because it’s impossible to have a conversation about R&B music without Aaliyah’s name coming up. And because everyone I know still pays her music on a regular. I’m sure you do too.
Everything that needs and can be said has already been said about her life, her career and the tragic way it all came to an end, so I’m not going to write a deep, personal account of what her music meant to me. Instead, I’m going to celebrate her talent, her style and her impossible-to-recreate steeze.
I found the above video the other night on YouTube, it’s of Aaliyah performing ‘If You’re Girl Only Knew’ in 1996 at the Apollo Theatre. And while it may not be one of her most stand out performances, it perfectly demonstrates what Aaliyah had. Wearing a baggy, leather outfit, she still manages to look feminine, stylish & sexy. I can’t think of any other female R&B singer who has the ability to do that…?
The music and the legacy aside, it’s the very nature of her originality that I will always remember. To be able to blend tom-boy, girl next door and sex symbol into one image is quite the feat but one she was able to innovate with ease. Girls wanted to be her, guys wanted to be with her.
The hair, the belly tops, the shades, the baggy outfits – often imitated, never duplicated.
Rest in Power Baby Girl.
Oh, how I have missed Tamia!
I know I’m always moaning about the mockery R&B has become, but really it’s because at one point it was so bloody great. Tamia was a part of that, even if most don’t realise or recognise it. She was one of those R&B soldiers, often over looked, under-appreciated and unfortunately eclipsed by the Mariah’s & Whitney’s of this world. Which is a shame because her voice is up there with the best of them. These performances prove that – my girl is singing pitch perfect, no bum notes. Not to mention, unlike the aforementioned – she still looks incredible. It always bothered me that this lady never got the shine she deserved, seeing these most recent performances just fuel that – she’s dope. And she’s got tunes – delve into her back catalogue, great R&B for days.
The video up top is of one of my favourite songs of hers, ‘Stranger In My House’ – just listen to those vocals, when she hits the 02:53 mark. Jeeze. After the jump check more footage including her singing ‘Imagination’, ‘Can’t Get Enough’, ‘Officially Missing You’ and more. Dope.
This tune is so f*cking big!!!
New visuals from Now On (Mayer Hawthorne, IX Lives and Jackson Perr), taken off their Tomorrow Already album – if you don’t have that, you should check it out, I reckon you’ll like it. If you like this, grab the free download below…
Download: Now On – ‘All You Ever Knew’
Click cover to download
Written by Felicia Okoye
Introducing GREEDS and his brand new spoken word/music FREEload - Sampler 4.
G.R.E.ED.S has been slaying the London poetry scene for a few years now. A sprightly, passionate performer and natural born lyricist, G.R.E.E.D.S poetically blends everyday topics, with an array of music genres including dubstep, jazz, soul, and hip hop. Sampler 4 is the latest in a series of EP’s, where the South Londoner offers not only a fusion of existing instrumentals with his rhymes, but also new, exclusive beats courtesy of production don Nutty P.
From the spiritual awakening of ‘Are You There?’ through to the empowering ‘Inner Strength’ track, spoken over Aloe Blacc’s hustler anthem instrumental, ‘I Need A Dollar’, Sampler 4 is an honest, vibrant body of music that might just offer something for everyone. Full tracklist after the jump.
As G.R.E.E.D.S tells PinBoard: “The aim of the Sampler is to simply highlight spoken word/poetry to a mass that potentially do not listen to it or to some degree, take it seriously. In doing so I had a random moment where I decided to ‘borrow’ known beats/sounds to merge with my verses. The key part is making the beat work around me because first and foremost, it is the art form I want to profile and as a result, crushing whatever stereotypes are out there.”
Stand Out Tracks:
‘Aura’ Produced by Nutty P
‘Let’s Do Lunch’ feat Miss Tracey D
Catch G.R.E.E.D.S live backed by The Remedies full band, at Writer’s Block, Sunday 12th September @ The Macbeth, Hoxton.
I used to be an R.Kelly fan, I’m not really anymore. His new single was sent to me and I didn’t know whether or not to post it up, but decided to because ultimately it’s not about me (lol), it’s about giving you guys new music. So, here we go..
‘When a Woman Loves’ is taken off his forthcoming album Love Letters, which is actually 1 of 3 albums he’s currently working on (the other two are called Zodiac & Epic). ‘When a Woman Loves’ is actually quite nice, Kelly’s on his Motown flex and his vocals are, unquestionably, on point – especially towards the end. Personally feelings aside, this isn’t terrible.
Download: R.Kelly – ‘When a Woman Loves’
Check out UK soul singer Andreya Triana performing ‘Lost Where I Belong’ live at Soundwave Festival in Croatia last month. Andreya’s new album, of the same name, was released this week – it’s a stunning piece of work and one I highly recommend you buy and support it – get it via iTunes today!
Shouts to Amelia
Bilal’s new album is officially a problem. It’s a problem because I’m fully, totally, unequivocally addicted to it. Like, to the point where I’m not really checking for anything else as much as I should be.
I’ve posted a lot of interviews of him over the past few weeks – I have to say, this is one by Maurice Garland is of my favourites. It’s great because he discusses two of my favourite tracks off Airtight’s Revenge – ‘All Matter’ & ‘Levels’. Quite possibly two of the best songs I’ve heard all year…or over the past couple years even. No exaggeration. He goes on to discuss another album highlight, a track called ‘Flying’, as well as talking about his influences from Hip Hop artists like Raekwon, Common and others. Great interview.
Album of the year? Me thinks so.
