EP Review: RL, The Letter J
To tide over his fans until the release of his next project, tentatively titled Rtv, RL of the R&B group recently released a four-song EP entitled The Letter J. The E.P. pays homage to the eighties and nineties sound I grew up on. RL opens up The Letter J E.P. with “Whatever You Need.” The singer puts a modern-day spin on Jodeci’s “My Heart Belongs to U.” The song also has a brilliant homage to the late great Roger Troutman.
Album Review: 112, Forever
R&B group 112 returns to the scene with their latest release, Forever. The group is now a duo comprised of members Marvin “Slim” Scandrick and Michael “Mike” Keith. While the other two former members of the group Q Parker and Daron Jones are pursuing separate ventures, the question on everyone’s mind is how does the group sound?
Throwback Tuesday Album Review: Frankie, My Heart Belongs To You
One of the most extraordinary things about growing up in the nineties was experiencing the domination of R&B music on radio waves. While there were classic albums, quite a few albums fell under the radar, including My Heart Belongs To You by Washington D.C. based R&B singer Frankie.
Single Review: Usher, Bad Habits
Following his spring 2020 ditty ” Don’t Waste My Time, “R&B singer Usher returns to the scene with his latest song “Bad Habits.” A midtempo number Bad Habits, is better than anything on Usher’s A EP and his last album Hard II Love. Pierre Medor and Theron (of Rock City) handle production on the song, which finds Usher admitting to his current flame that he can’t stay faithful.
Single Review: Omar Wilson, “The Secret Garden” feat. Sisqó, Shawn Stockman & Raheem DeVaughn
One of the most iconic R&B songs of all time, “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)” receives a 2020 cover version. The original version was from Quincy Jones’s Back On The Black album and featured American R&B singers Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge, and Barry White.
Album Review: Brandy, B7
Songstress and actress Brandy returns to the scene with her seventh studio album, B7, via her own label Brand Nu and eOne Music.
Album Review: Jagged Edge, A Jagged Love Story
Atlanta based R&B group, Jagged Edge, returns to the music scene with their double album A Jagged Love Story. The group comprising twins Brandon & Brian Casey, Kyle Norman, and Richard Wingo have been a force in the music industry since the 1997 debut A Jagged Era.
Flashback Friday Album Review: New Edition Home Again
One of my most anticipated album releases of all time was New Edition’s 1996 reunion project, Home Again. Reunion talks were the wishes of every fan since lead vocalists Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill joined BBD members Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, and Michael Bivins for a surprise performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1990.
Wayback Wednesday Album Review: Usher, My Way
Following the lukewarm response to his self-titled debut in 1994, Usher and his team returned to the drawing board to ensure that he didn’t become a one and done singer. Following the blueprint laid out by Bobby Brown’s second album Don’t Be Cruel, My Way was indeed the beginning of Usher’s rise.
Throwback Tuesday Album Review: Terrence Howard, Shine Through It
I was willing to give Howard a chance, sadly not only is Shine Through It one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. Released by Columbia Records on September 2, 2008, Shine Through It is rarely mentioned by Howard or anyone else.
Flashback Friday Album Review: Smokey Robinson, A Quiet Storm
Six years before I was born, soul singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson released his third solo album A Quiet Storm on Motown Records. Debuting on March 26th, 1975, A Quiet Storm was the album that defined Smokey as a force to be reckoned with.
Wayback Wednesday Album Review: Bobby Brown, Forever
In the fall of 1997, after a tumtolous reunion tour with his group New Edition, Bobby Brown returned from a five year solo career hiatus to release his fourth solo album, Forever.