K-Quick Talks: Opening for Legends, Building Legacy, and Staying Rooted in the DMV
Kicking off my first interview is DMV based rapper K-Quick
‘Dead Man’s Wire’ turns a true-crime nightmare into a crowd-pleaser
On the morning of February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis walked into a mortgage office in Indianapolis convinced the system had finally turned on him. What followed was one of the most unsettling media spectacles of the decade: a 63-hour hostage standoff in which Kiritsis literally wired a sawed-off shotgun to both his victim’s neck and his own chest. It was desperation theater, broadcast live, raw and ugly, and fueled by a man who believed grievance was the same thing as righteousness.
Second Listen Sunday: Eric Benét, “It’s Christmas”
Eric Benét’s holiday album, “It’s Christmas”, finds the four-time Grammy nominee embracing comfort rather than challenge. He delivers a collection that is impeccably sung and tastefully arranged, though it ultimately feels a bit too cautious for an artist of his talent and history.
Slow Jam Saturday: Kevin Ross, “This Winter”
For the last Slow Jam Saturday of the year, I wanted to highlight one of the most underrated voices in music, Mr. Kevin Ross, and his recently released single “This Winter”.
Slow Jam Saturday: Gerald Levert, “Christmas Without My Girl”
When we reflect on Gerald Levert’s career, one of the most surprising things is that he never released a Christmas album. Given his immense talent, I am certain he could have easily crafted an album filled with romantic slow jams and festive holiday grooves.
Second Listen Sunday: Stephanie Mills “Christmas”
As we prepare to celebrate another holiday season, this week I wanted to give flowers to Stephanie Mills for Second Listen Sunday.
“Song Sung Blue” covers love, loss, and Neil Diamond at full volume
One thing that my friends and family will tell you about me is that I love a good musical biopic. Now and then, one catches you off guard, plays a familiar tune, and then strikes a chord that resonates deeply. “Song Sung Blue” from Focus Features and directed by Craig Brewer, who also pens the script, is one of those films.
Second Listen Sunday: Jennifer Hudson, “The Gift of Love”
Most of the standards, including “O Holy Night,” “The Christmas Song,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” follow familiar structures. However, with Hudson’s rich and resonant voice, the goal isn’t necessarily to reinvent these classics but to interpret them. She treats these songs with respect, bending the notes just enough to make them her own without overdoing it.
Slow Jam Saturday: The Stylistics, “When You’ve Got Love, It’s Christmas All Year Long”
Often, when an artist releases a holiday album, it typically features the usual songs.
Second Listen Sunday: Brandy, “Christmas with Brandy”
As “the Vocal Bible,” also known as Ms. Brandy Norwood, concludes her co-headlining tour, “The Boy Is Mine,” with Monica, I decided to revisit her 2023 holiday album, “Christmas with Brandy,” for this week’s Second Listen Sunday and to kick off the holiday season.
Slow Jam Saturday : Coco Jones, “Skip My House”
Coco Jones is having an outstanding year. As the final season of “Bel-Air” recently kicked off, she got engaged and released a new single just in time for the holidays titled “Skip My House.” Co-written by Jones, Avital Margulies, and Sara Diamond, this catchy song continues the trend she started last year with her impressive EP, “Coco By The Fireplace.”
Second Listen Sunday: Boyz II Men, “Winter/Reflections”
As R&B fans anxiously await the start of New Edition’s Way Tour with supporting acts Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men, with the holiday season in full swing, I wanted to show some love to the guys from Philly for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.