Since releasing his solo debut twenty two years ago, the king of independent soul music, Eric Roberson, has built a dedicated fan base and continued to release quality music, all while staying true to himself.
Amid the pandemic, though, Roberson saw an unparalleled success as his newest single, “Lessons,” took on a life of its own with nine simple words “God has a funny way of showing you lessons.” Roberson created a great cross-promotional platform by utilizing social media to display classic moments of black love from cinema and television with his “Lessons” as the soundtrack.
Roberson followed up “Lessons” with an acoustic remix featuring vocalists Anthony Hamilton, Kevin Ross, and Raheem DeVaughn that is becoming just as popular. Now we finally have the album that continues Roberson’s trend of delivering grown & sexy R&B that has a message in the music.
Roberson opens the project with “Start All Over Again.” Roberson’s strength as a songwriter is that he can always invoke sensuality without becoming corny or vulgar. “High on You” is up next, and it’s another winner. Anyone who has ever experienced a love jones, a.k.a. An Attraction for someone; you are feigning for them physically and mentally.
Following 2014’s lovely collaboration on “Do the Same for Me” from The Box album, Eric reunites with Pop Roberson for a strong album track with the next song, “Good Loving.” While Hip Hop vibes carry “Don’t Run From It Baby.” One of the most surprising guests on the album is Unsung 90’s R&B trio Intro, who joins Erro on “All I Want,” which effectively recalls nineties R&B.
Roberson keeps the album short at eleven songs while effectively teaching the listener about all the facets of love.
Final Grade: A
Lessons is available on all streaming platforms
One of the great things about buying a soundtrack when I was in my DJ prime was discovering a slow jam that I could put on my mix CDs. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to highlight one of the songs: Jagged Edge’s cover of Air Supply’s, “All Out of Love.”
After twenty-six years in the game, Atlanta-based quartet Jagged Edge is currently on the road celebrating the anniversary of their magnum opus sophomore album, “J.E. Heartbreak,” with a tour titled “An Intimate Evening With Jagged Edge.” To kick off our seventh wedding anniversary celebration, my wife and I will be the D.C. date on the tour this coming Wednesday.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to travel back to 1999 and show some love to R&B group Amyth, which was initially signed to LL Cool J Rock the Bells Records. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the group was formed in 1995 while the members were students at Southern University.