Single Review: Jagged Edge, Heaven Help Us
Twenty-six years in the game, Atlanta-based quartet Jagged Edge remains strong. Fans are eagerly awaiting All Original Parts, the group’s eleventh studio album. Thankfully JE stays on the road and recently blessed fans with a new single. This year for Valentine’s Day, JE released a cover of Deon Estus’s “Heaven Help Me.” JE changes things a bit by changing the last phrase to us.
Second Listen Sunday :Aaron Hall, Adults Only
While it doesn’t hold a candle to that magical time in the nineties, 2005 was a commendable year for R&B. We were introduced to the talents of Rihanna, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Bobby Valentino, and Keyshia Cole, who all released their debut albums. Following lukewarm receptions to their previous albums, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige quickly returned to the top of the charts with their respective projects.
Slow Jam Saturday : Smokey Robinson, If We Don’t Have Each Other
Following the announcement of Smokey Robinson’s 24th album, Gasms, the R&B legend has become a trending topic in recent weeks. When song titles such as “How You Make Me Feel,” “I Wanna Know Your Body,” “Roll Around,” and the two eyebrow raisers, “You Fill Me Up” and “I Fit in There.” were revealed their was a collective mindset of what is Smokey smoking?
Single Review: Lucky Daye, Careful
Former American Idol contestant Lucky Daye may have been eliminated after reaching the Top 20 in Season 4. However, he’s steadily built a name for himself in R&B music. He has released two albums and three EPs and received accolades from Billboard, Complex, and other music publications, making him a notable presence in the music industry.
Second Listen Sunday: Prince, N-E-W-S
Following the lukewarm response to Sisqo’s second album in 2001, Dru Hill returned with a new member Scola in 2002 for the vastly underpromoted Dru World Order. The group would spend the next eight years touring and eventually add new member Tao for its fourth album InDRUpendence Day this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick.
Slow Jam Saturday: Mark Middleton, I Do
Mark Middleton broke into the music industry as a member of Blackstreet, joining the group in 1996 for their sophomore album, Another Level. Middleton’s vocals were prevalent on the massive single “Don’t Leave” and a personal favorite, “Never Gonna Let You Go.”
Single Review : October London, Back To Your Place
Soul singer October London is steadily making a name for himself in the genre of R&B. By blending classic soul sounds with contemporary R&B, October London is carving out a space for himself in the music industry. A South Bend, Indiana native, he hit the scene in the summer of 2016. The first time I heard his voice was on “Revolution,” the closing song on Snoop Dogg’s Coolaid album.
Second Listen Sunday: Dru Hill, InDruPendence Day
Following the lukewarm response to Sisqo’s second album in 2001, Dru Hill returned with a new member Scola in 2002 for the vastly underpromoted Dru World Order. The group would spend the next eight years touring and eventually add new member Tao for its fourth album InDRUpendence Day this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick.
Slow Jam Saturday: Delegation, Oh Honey
One of the best things about growing up in the nineties was experiencing the joy of a Bad Boy remix. The label’s female R&B trio Total was enjoying the success of their song “Kissing You” when Puff dropped the remix in the late fall of 1995. The remix h carried the subtitle Oh Honey and was smoother than the original version.
Second Listen Sunday: Jason Weaver, Love Ambition
Actors releasing musical albums has been a norm for as long as I can remember. While many like Jamie Foxx find success, others (who shall remain nameless) aren’t so lucky. One such talent was Jason Weave, who released his debut in 1994 on Motown records.
Slow Jam Saturday: El DeBarge feat. Babyface, Where Is My Love
El Debarge broke into the music scene as a member of one of the eighties’ best family groups at the Motown label. When El left the group in 1986 for a solo career, industry insiders expected El to succeed tremendously. Motown didn’t allow El to write or produce anything on his first album. Thus the album didn’t cross over to the pop charts or connect with R & B audiences.
Second Listen Sunday : Soul For Real, For Life
Sixteen months after breaking into the music industry on the monster hits “Every Little Thing I Do” and “Canny Rain” from their debut album, the Dalyrimple brothers, a.k.a. Soul for Real, returned with their second album, For Life.