Second Listen Sunday: Keith Sweat, Make It Last Forever
Keith Sweat had already spent the last decade honing his music craft as a member of the Harlem band Jamilah when his debut album Make It Last Forever hit record stores on November 24, 1987. Working with producer Teddy Riley on all but one song, Sweat’s first album was led by the single “I Want Her.” The song was an infectious BOP describing how one feels after having an instant attraction to someone.
Slow Jam Saturday: Timberland & Magoo feat. Aaliyah, Man Undercover
The late great Aaliyah Haughton easily avoided the sophomore slump in late summer 1996 when her album One in a Millon hit record stores. Aaliyah’s label lined her up with some of the hottest producers of the time, including Daryl Simmons, Kay-Gee, Jermaine Dupri, and Rashad Smith. However, her tracks with a then up-and-coming Timbaland truly helped Aliyah find a different sound.
Divine Purpose: A Chat with Christian Artist Mike E
Virginia-bred artist Mike E got his start in the music industry working with heavyweights like Teddy Riley and The Neptunes. In recent years Mike has moved away from secular and headed more towards Gospel. Mike took some out to chop it up with Reviews & Dunn.
Summit Fever is lost in altitude
Director Julian Gibery makes a return to the world of mountain climbing in Saban Films Summit Fever. Michael (Freddie Thrope) is a young English mountaineer lured to the Alps by his friend JP (Michel Biel) to help him conquer the `Big Three,’ the Matterhorn, the Eiger, and Mont Blanc, over one summer.
The Loneliest Boy in the World is a harmless zombie yuk fest
Martin Owen dips into the book of Tim Burton for his latest film, The Loneliest Boy in the World, from Well Go Entertainment. After his mother’s sudden death and due to his father walking out on him, Oliver (Max Harwood) lives alone.
Second Listen Sunday: New Edition, Under The Blue Moon
The year was 1986, and legendary R&B group New Edition was amid a transitional phase. Founding member Bobby Brown had exited the group in the winter of 1985, making the group a quartet.
Slow Jam Saturday: Smooth, Strawberries
In the world of music, female double-threat artists are nothing new. Queen Latifah was already successfully juggled an acting and Hip Hop career when we discovered she could sing in the 1998 film Living Out Loud. Icon Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott took it to another level for female artists who could rap and sing in the nineties when she released her classic debut Supa Dupa Fly in 1997.
Flashback Friday Album Retrospective: Shai, Destiny with special guest Dr. Garfield Bright
Contrary to popular belief, nineties R&B group and Howard University alums Shai did have more songs besides “If I Ever in Love”. While that song is their signature tune, Nineties R&B fans can attest to the fact that, “Baby I’m Yours”, “The Place Where You Belong” and the fire remix to ”I Don’t Wanna Be Alone” (featuring Jay-Z) were all bops. When it came to the ballads and slow jams “Comforter”.
The Redeem Team is another slam dunk documentary from Netflix
Director Jon Weinbach blesses basketball fans with a winning documentary in The Redeem Team from Netflix. Using unprecedented Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes material, The Redeem Team tells the story of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team’s quest for gold at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 following the previous team’s shocking performance four years earlier in Athens.
The Inhabitant swings and misses as horror flick
Director Jerren Lauder follows up his 2020 debut Stay Out of the Attic with another film in Lionsgate’s The Inhabitant. Scriptwriter Kevin Bachar wrote the script for the film, which uses the backstory of Lizzie Borden to weave a plot into the story of the film.
Second Listen Sunday: Barry White,The Icon Is Love
Love Mysterio Barry White was already an icon when his nineteenth studio album, The Icon Is Love, hit stores on October 4, 1994. Growing up, I always heard Barry’s name or music during the quiet storm but didn’t truly appreciate it.
Slow Jam Saturday: Nicole Wray, Eyes Better Not Wander
Too often in the R&B genre, an artist can get written off as a one-hit wonder even though they’ve continued to release music. Nicole Wray (who now goes by the stage name Lady Wray) is one such artist.