August 2005 Archives

Y'all ain't ready for Ciara's 1,2 Step. She has come up in a major way lately and leading the pack for this year's 10th Annual Lady of Soul Awards has had many peeps sayin' "OH!". It's kinda similar to the year Ashanti came out the box and was nominated for entertainer of the year.

This year's Lady of Soul awards will be held on September 7th and broadcast over the Sept 11-25 time period. Yea you read that right, we all won't see them at the same time. Toni Braxton is scheduled to open the show.

Aretha Franklin is expected to be honored with the Lena Horne award and get this Amerie will be named "Entertainer of the Year". Now since when does a one hit wonder become entertainer of the year? I mean her hit, "1Thing" did bang in the clubs, but what else has she done this year to be crowned with such an honor? Is SONY upto that payola shit again, this time just buying awards?

Anyways, alleged wife beater Brian McKnight hosts the show along with Toni & Ciara.

New releases the past few weeks have been hellafied boring. Well let me rephrase that. The past few weeks have seen few heavy weights in hip hop and R&B as far as new releases are concerned. But this week Kanye who always has issues with the press... (which would even include this blog... bastard!) released Late Registration. Now since Kanye's production work is so heavily r&b/soul based you better believe that SOHH Soulful will have an opinion on it. Also up to bat is Tony Yayo who had one of if not the hottest jam in hip hop all summer, "So Seductive". That track is...well uh, so seductive.

Now was it me, and all though G-Unit is gangsta... Yayo and 50 very wack on stage together. Is that the first time they've done television together? I am seriously asking because I really don't know. They didn't have any hype men, no background dancers... no Olivia there for eye candy purposes or nothing. Or are they that hot and can just hold it down without the smoke and mirrors?

Believe it or not, I enjoyed BET's Award show a hell of a lot more than last night's MTV Video Music Awards. I know that the premise of each show is a bit different, but there was something about the set up, staging and a few lackluster performances by a some major artists that just made me feel like... DAMN, WHERE IS WILL AND JADA?

I will say this, Diddy, was Diddy in all of his splendor and I appreciate that. I mean it's hard to out do the competition when you are challenging yourself. But check it... SOHH Soulful is naming a few names on who did well and who coulda rehearsed a little more...

Do these two chicks look like mini me's of Ashanti or what?

Marsha (the vocalist) and Natalie (the floacist) are back at it again with their unique combination of rhymes and vocals. The two are set to continue their perfect blend of sensual sound and poetic justice this November (the 8th to be exact) with the release of Flo'Ology.

"This album is completely and utterly self-centered. It's about breaking ourselves down over and over and over again, knocking ourselves off our pedestals and then building up again and getting knocked off again.... Every song speaks to a different mood and feeling" Natalie explains.

Their new single, "SupaStar" featuring rap's favorite first dirty backpacker Common.

Get a listen here:
WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER
REAL PLAYER

You can alway read more about Common here on SOHH.com. And of course SOHH Soulful gonna keep you on on the latest Floetry happens. Stay tuned for a Floetry interview, some concert dates and all that.

It's Friday y'all.... I'll holla on Monday. In the meantime... be sure to watch all the BEING BOBBY BROWN repeats this weekend, the MTV Video Music Awards hosted by SHIDDY and oh yea... check out that Floetry I left for ya.

Signin' Off,
SOHH SoulMan

Is this thing that is going on between Bow Wow and Ciara puppy love? Or is it like a well timed PR thing? I mean, Bow Wow is 18 now and after the hit records and the movies he probably ballin' sufficiently enough to hold down a hot girl with a life of her own. And Ciara who I think is about 18 as well is a chick hot enough to have a baller holdin her down. So the two commercially seem like a hot pair.

So John Legend snags Lauryn Hill for the Cloud 9 remix of "So High". Now we all know this isn't the first time John has worked with Lauryn; he actually played piano on the studio version of "Everything Is Everything". However this time as the featured artists he flaunts with rap royalty in a what will turn out to be the third release.

John Legend is talented no doubt, but since the release of "Ordinary People" there has been craxy lag time. Some say he has been busy and yes that is true, I say SONY was scrambling for a single to save this mediocre album. After the success of "Ordinary People" what other track on that album could have had the same mass appeal?

I am still debating this collabo. I think there is a video for "So High" hitting BET today. What do y'all think?

There isn't much new R&B and Soul hitting the shelves this week, but there is new music brewing. Y'all know I am on a mission the find the best male R&B vocalists out there these days and Warner Brothers newest talent Tony Hussle, who many feel is Prince-esque, is up for consideration. His single "She's a Virgin Too" has been heard around the internet, however SOHH Soulful is the only site to give you an exclusive listen to "Special". But since it's more than just about the sound, but also one's mentality, I recently decided to see what's on Mr. Hussle's mind, in hopes of qualifying his as one of new music's SOHH Soulful!

Ok Tony, let's play word association. I'll say a word or phrase and you say the first thing that comes to your mind.
Aiight.

Do y'all remember them other two girls in Destiny's Child? No, I ain't talkin' about Kelly and Michelle, I am referring to LeToya and Latavia. I am sure most people could give a damn what happened to them after Beyonce and them booted the pair from the group but the two went on to form a group called Angel. Did you hear the single? RIGHT! Me either.

Well, LeToya the one who looked similar to Beyonce (rhymes with fiance)is getting her own shine as is set to release a self titled album on Capital Records. I guess Capital Records is trying to boost their R&B catalog (Faith Evan's latest release is on Capital). The album will have production work by Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch and bunch of other folks worthy of name dropping.

I was watching BET's 106 & Park yesterday, and as the network scramble to find the right hosts to replace AJ & Free, they've had several fill-ins. The past few days Teairra Mari, the so called crowned princess of the Roc played hostess. It's a good look for her seeing as she is a newbie and just dropped an album.

However what I found kinda funny was Olivia from G-Unit, came on the show yesterday to perform with Lloyd Banks and promote her new project and Teairra had to sit there and not only interview her and promote Olivia's project which would be in direct competition with her own.

Kanye's latest single off his upcoming album, Late Registration, "Gold Digger" features comedian turned actor turned R&B crooner Jaime Foxx. The new video made it's TRL debut last week.

Jaime Foxx is putting the finishing touches on his own cd that is tentatively titled, Southern Gentleman. Back in July, Jaime announced that "Last Night I had One Too Many Drinks" would be the first single off of his follow up to 1994's Peep This. The video for the single will chronicle Jaime's first few hours after his big Oscar win back in February or March or April, whenever the Academy Awards came on.

The album is scheduled to have production work by Timbaland (who lost something like 140lbs recently), Pharrel and Harold Lily.

And if that wasn't enough Jaime will be miscast as Tubbs in the movie version of Miami Vice along side Colin Farrel.

Damn old boy is doing a lot this year. No wonder he made the cover of Vibe's Juice Issue.

Tuesday's new music notable comes from one of music's over sexed, funked out greats Rick James. The new cd Rick James Forever features appearances by James's daughter Ty, Johnny Gill and Howard Hewitt. James died one year ago on Aug 6, 2004 of a heart attack. A tribute album is also in the works.

Other upcoming new releases for Aug 23rd include the Four Brothers Soundtrack.

J Records is doing the right thing in paying tribute to R&B's most celebrated balladeer, Luther Vandross, by releasing So Amazing: An All Atar Tribute to Luther Vandross. So you got all the R&B/Soul greats past and present on a disk of already classic songs. This shit better be good. Beyonce covers the title track, Alicia Keys and Jermaine Paul are set to cover "If This World Were Mine" and Mary J. Blige covers "Never Too Much".

Of course you'll you have the Pattis and the Arethas hopefully not hollarin' too much but a tribute album to Luther Vandross wouldn't be complete without them. But my question is...

There's a reason why Teairra Mari is the Princess of The R.O.C. She's a princess alright - Sleeping Beauty.

Can we talk about Rihanna for a minute? I remember seeing her perform at the Canal Room back in July, I think. Here was this "16 year old" channeling Patra in her perfromance. You knew something big was brewing when the head of the label comes out to introduce you and he brings his boo, lead singer of a little group known as Destiny's Child.

Her new single "Pon De Replay" from Music of the Sun is now #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 following the emancipated Mariah Carey and some lip synchin' Pussycats, numbers 1 and 2 respectively.

Lil Mo has always been that down to earth girl from around the way that could sing... no really, she can sing. Whether it was on "Superwoman", "4-Ever" or even her hit with Missy from back in the day "Hot Boyz", Lil Mo always stepped up the vocal game and gave the streets some of her own mama flavored style.

I had been hearing her new single sneaking around the club scene since Memorial Day weekend "Dem Boyz" pops off like a bottle of Crys and always she doesn't disappoint. The club banger kinda got that go-go drum thang happening and is the first pick from her new album Syndicated (The Lil Mo Hour).

Yesterday Ray J was a guest, instead of being a host on the now famous set of 106 & Park on BET. He was debuting his new single "One Wish" from a forthcoming album titled RAYDIATION.

Recently Ray J announced his new label Knockout Entertainment would be the new home of both he and his sister Brandy. Reaching for the new grown and sexy; Ray J's new slow jam is kinda hot. His voice sounds mature and he is experimenting with his own sound. He threw producer Rodney Jerkins in the mix for added hotness!

It'll be interesting to see if Ray J can use his television audience and popularity to sell albums the way Brandy did with Moesha, the way Eve will do with Eve and so on...

Listen to Ray J's new single "One Wish":
windows media
quicktime
Official Website:
Ray J

Unless I missed something there aren't any new thrilling releases this week in the r&b, soul, hip hop soul set but there are a couple notable releases that might tickle your old school fancies. iTunes released the single for Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore's "Tonight (2 Step)" and there is a new joint by Michael McDonald, ya'll remember the older white man that sounds like a mix between Colonel Abrahams and Peabo Bryson. But otherwise there is some new stuff by Proof and Kool Keith that you might wanna check out as well.

Trey Songz

Trey Songz is a young guy who has the story of being from a southern home and loving hip hop and originally wanting to be a rapper, but stumbled upon his vocal ability that turned out to be where his true talent was. In July he released "I Gotta Make It" and at first I was excited that another brother was releasing some soul with a dose of hip hop mixed in. I listened and listened and listened. You can't help but acknowledge that he has a great voice. I've recently been around a lot young guys auditioning to be on an r&b project that's coming out this spring and there were good people there but none had much distinction. You immediately see that Trey has a distinguished sound.

In terms of his performance, his material is kinda of boring to me. I think his songs aren't well put together.(kinda like that sentence) It's either a combination of good lyrics / wrong track or vice versa. On the lead single "Gotta Make It" I like the way the song is written. It's a twist on the "make it out the hood" love song. I like that. I could have done without Twista. He is intrusive to the flow that Trey is trying to get going.

Disclaimer: I LOVE MARY J. BLIGE!

I read over the weekend that Mary J. Blige, the original royal in hip hop soul is in the lab and just about ready to release a new cd. You know something must be brewing since she is slated to be on the September cover of Essence magazine. The article titled "Mary, Full of Grace" allows Mary to disclose for the first time that she was molested as a child.

Although this is devastating news, I can't help but feel like it is also "perfect timing." Again, I am not making light of such a tragic experience to live through, I just find the disclosure of such information at this time kinda fishy. I've always said that Mary couldn't sell happiness. Our Queen of Pain ran off and got married and cleaned up her life and although we will always have allegiance to Mary, we love when Mary sings of pain and sorrow. When Mary was coked out and being a bitch all across the globe, we bought copies of My Life like they were the holy water to heal all of our ailments and in many ways it was, it is. But, when she sings of redemption and joy on Love & Life we could give a damn; and album sales prove that.

So if the production work of Dr. Dre & Vidal and Raphael Saadiq aren't enough for a hit, you better believe her new confession will spice things up on the Billboard Hot 100.

Most of what I like about newcomers is that they put a different level of passion into their work. It's something about that hunger for acceptance and success that drives them a little harder; it takes them a little farther. There is a surrealness to their creativity. I recently passed up an opportunity to see Destiny's Child final concert here in New York last Friday because of other plans, but mostly because I've seen them peform numerous times before. I might have reacted differently if it had been an artist that I'd seen before or some new kat trying to vie for attention in the game.

Some newcomers/new music that I've been giving time to on my playlist are Leela James, Chris Brown, Esthero and although it's straight hip hop, I have been feeling Ray Cash out of Ohio, Cleveland I think. My girl Bree over at Warner first told me about Leela. She said she'd be one to watch. I then caught a show of hers at SOBs. She does a good job. She's got that Milly Jackson/Tina Turner/Angie Stone kinda thing, mixed in with her own flava.

Chris Brown is a young brother. He's 16 and Jive is ampin' him comparatively to Michael Jackson and Tevin Campbell. Now, that is pushing it. Tevin was destined to be the next Luther vocally and Michael is incomparable so let's just leave it as they really like this kid. He can sing though, let's see where it goes.

Esthero is like a R&B/Pop/Funk white girl she's got the track with Cee Lo called "Gone" that's hot. It's mellow and got a fly lil groove going on. I like this girl also because she has this one song where she out the gate calls out artists like Ashanti as being a part of the mundane and insists that there is a need for a music revolution. Sounds like a challenge if I ever heard one.

I first heard of Ray Cash from Lynne but then I got his single, "Pimp In My Own Mind." That song got a beat that kinda bounces enough to even get me going. His choppy, stutter-like flow is hot over that beat.

I mix a few of these jams in when I got the time to add new shit to my playlist. What new music are you listening to?



links: Leela James, Chris Brown, Esthero & Ray Cash

R&B/Pop legends T-Boz & Chili of TLC have been in search of the "Girl" who will appear on a new TLC single and on one televised performance. The group insists that Left Eye, the rowdy spit fire that died in a tragic car accident, is not being replaced however, I wonder... isn't this a lot to go through, just for a single and one televised performance? Are T-Boz and Chili really looking for the girl they have an overwhelming chemistry with, chosen by the American public (to avoid Left Eye replacement backlash) to actually complete the trio and get them back on top of their game? With Destiny's Child on hiatus, this is the perfect time for another girl group to claim the "Biggest Selling Girl Group of All...blah blah blah." You have to admit that timing is perfect.

Tonight BET's Access Granted features Keyshia Cole, who will debut her video "I Should Have Cheated", the third single from The Way It Is. Cole came in the game with a bangin' Kanye West produced track that featured Shyne, titled "I Changed My Mind",and followed up with the Alicia Keys/Crucial Keys produced "(I Just Want It) To Be Over".

Keyshia, who is slated to appear on the cover of the second issue of Vibe Vixen, a new quarterly magazine by Vibe, has been hustling this album all across the country and I have yet to really warm up to her. Each of the singles have had me doing a 1,2,Step but as a collective the album has left me wanting more.

At first her gritty, west coast black girl persona with street cred had me thinking she was the new Mary J. Blige. Remember when Mary first came out? You immediately saw that she was talented, innovative but rough enough around the edges to have even the fellas bangin' "You Remind Me." Keyshia to date has rep'd those same qualities but she's yet to have that meteoric rise Mary has had.

I am not sure if it's that we've moved from hood shock to hood chic and Keyshia needs to clean it up a bit. Even Mary is now a glamazon or is it that the hype behind her is actually the people behind her. I mean, think about it, if I had an album with big names producers wouldn't you expect a lot out of me.

I haven't written Keyshia off. I plan to tune in tonight and check out her new video. I did buy the cd and like I said, I do like the singles released so far. So I am definitely not hatin'. Maybe I fell in love with the thought that a new Mary was on the rise and now I am feeling cheated.

Keyshia Cole:
Official Website
Buy "The Way It Is" Now!

WARNING! Do not sleep on Trey Songz.

I can't front. I prejudged Trey Songz as a pretty lightskin boy with braids. I naturally assumed that all he would be singing about is loving chicks, hating chicks and smashing chicks. It wasn't until I read his bio which Atlantic Founding Chairman Ahmet Ertegun said "I believe that Trey Songz is among the most promising R&B artists we have had on Atlantic since we started the company nearly sixty years ago...It has been our privilege to record such legendary performers as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding, and I believe that Trey is poised to be the heir of our great R&B legacy. He has the voice, the songs, the intelligence, the soul, and the charisma of a true star.”

That's a major claim, so I decided to listen for myself.

It's Tuesday y'all, which means there is new music available to purchase, download or pirate whichever you've got the nerve for.

This week Teairra Mari, the newly crowned princess of Roc A Fella records drops her new album, Roc A Fella Records Presents... Teairra Mari. I interviewed Teairra a while back and she reminded me of the pretty, popular girl that lived in everyone's hood. The kind of girl all the fellas wanted to get with and all the females either emmulated or tried to scratch her pretty face.

To all the naysayers, yes she really is 17, no she ain't one of Beyonce's cousins and yes she can sing. She is legit.

SOHH... we know what R&B is, we know what neo soul is. We all are hip hop so I don't think we need to ponder that definition, but what is hip hop soul?

Is it the combination of all three of the aforementioned genres or is it it's own tricked out variety of beats, grooves and Mary J. Blige-like vocals?

Since SOHH Soulful will be the blog for all things new soul, R&B and Hip-Hop soul I've been asking around to see what people think. I emailed blogger and VIBE/Spin.com editrix Lynne d Johnson, asking what she thought hip hop soul was, she offered: