Music Reviews

In the 1990s, R&B music was dominated by vocal groups known for their captivating lead singers and smooth harmonies. This week, I wanted to highlight IV Xample and their single

While Chris Brown is currently wowing fans across the country with his current “11:11” tour, for this week’s “Slow Jam Saturday,” I wanted to travel back to 2007 and show

One of the best performers in the music industry, Ms. Janet Jackson is currently thrilling fans nationwide on the 2024 leg of her “Together Again” tour. For this week’s Slow

Luke James, known for his role in Showtime’s “The Chi” and recent chilling performance in Season 2 of “Them,” has been making waves in the entertainment industry for nearly two

Valentine’s Day 2024 may have come and gone, but I still plan to use highlight songs with the V-word for February’s Slow Jam Saturday. The artist I chose is a

As the highly anticipated release of his eleventh album, 11:11, draws near, R&B sensation Chris Brown recently dropped his second single, “Sensational,” much to the delight of his adoring fans.”

Following his 2018 Luther Vandross cover album, Season 2 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard returns to the original material for his eighth album, The Way I Remember It.

Yesterday, I highlighted the R&B trio Jade for Slow Jam Saturday, and for this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to show some love to another female nineties R&B trio,

The nineties were a prime time in R&B. I often say there were so many groups dropping heat that many got lost in the shuffle. Often, mainstream listeners write off

In the summer of 2001, R&B was still going strong. Usher was preparing to release his third solo album, Jon B.’s underrated Pleasures U Like, had hit stores in the

R&B group Skyy was already a decade into their music career with eight albums when they made a comeback in 1989 with the album Start of A Romance. While New

This week’s pick for Second Listen Sunday is from the R&B songstress Toni Braxton catalog. She was already a force in the music world when her sixth album, Libra, arrived

In 1989, R&B singer Christopher Williams, who would play the educated brother from the bank two years later in the Hip Hop classic New Jack City, released his first album,

It is common for actors to explore their musical talents, as they complement each other like movies and popcorn. Growing up in the eighties, I recall Eddie Murphy, Don Johnson,

It’s been six years since audiences experienced the rating-breaking three-part mini-series, The New Edition Story. I still remember my excitement walking into an advance screening of Part 1 on a

R&B fans were elated this past summer when R&B legend Raphael Saadiq announced he had reunited with Tony! Toni! Toné! for a fall tour. The tour kicked off this past

The year was 1981, and a music legend in the making, Prince was slowly crafting his musical royalty legacy. Before releasing his fourth album, Controversy, Prince introduced the band The

Walden production begins the song with an ethereal and haunting intro, setting a melancholy tone that resonates throughout the track. Mrs. Knight’s plea for love is evident as she passionately

It seems like just yesterday, Eric Roberson blessed fans with “Things Meant For Me,” but he’s back with another single in the form of “I Apologize.” The creators of “I

No matter the music genre, a standout star is always when a group breaks into the scene. R&B fans were introduced to R&B thugs Pretty Ricky in 2005 with their

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic R&B group New Edition in the music industry. As a fan, I couldn’t resist giving a shout-out to my all-time favorite music

The year was 1981, not only the year of my birth but also when one of Motown’s artists left the label.

Lyfe wisely avoids covering the Taylor Dayne song of the same name, and Jennings gets sentimental on the track. Lyfe has always had a grit in his singing voice that

Frankie J experienced his first taste of stardom as a member of the Kumbia Kings before embarking on a solo career with his debut album What’s A Man to Do

The year was 1985, and Maurice White, the frontman of Earth, Wind & Fire, decided to start a solo projec

The year was 1985, and Maurice White, the frontman of Earth, Wind & Fire, decided to start a solo project…

The year was 1985, and Maurice White, the frontman of Earth, Wind & Fire, decided to start a solo projec

Lionel is no stranger to hits records, particularly when it comes to ballads.

As his latest Vegas residency wraps up, Usher gifts fans a new single, “Good Good,” featuring Summer Walker & 21 Savage. Mel & Mus lend their producing skills to the

Six years after breaking television records with their miniseries biopic, it’s still perplexing that legendary R&B super group New Edition didn’t strike while the iron was hot and release a

If there were ever a trivia question asking about my favorite music time period, the answer would be the nineties R&B. During the 1990s, a high volume of R&B music

Six years after breaking television records with their miniseries biopic, it’s still perplexing that legendary R&B super group New Edition didn’t strike while the iron was hot and release a

Frankie J experienced his first taste of stardom as a member of the Kumbia Kings before embarking on a solo career with his debut album What’s A Man to Do

One of the most extraordinary things about being a music head is seeing one of your favorite artists succeed. I wanted to highlight a recent single by one of my

2009 was a strong time in R&B as a crop of male R&B under thirty had all dropped projects. Popular opinion would tell us that before his “incident” in February

One of the highlights of Summer 2023 for me was attending Essence Fest for the first time. Jill Scott was a featured performer, and for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday,

It’s no secret that Usher became a global icon in 2004 when he released his fourth album, Confessions. However, as the good folks over at YouKnowIGotSoul.com, world-class remixer DJ Soulchild,

The late George Michael successfully transitioned from a boy band to a successful soul artist with his debut solo album Faith in 1987. Michael had already scored four successful singles

R&B quartet 112 was at a crossroads when their fifth album, Pleasure & Pain, hit records stores in the spring of 2005. A year prior, they officially departed longtime label

There’s no question that Canadian singer Tamia is unsung. While she has six Grammys nominations and numerous other awards, mainstream success has yet to be in the cards. I was

As a music enthusiast, I will never forget June 25, 2009. That day, a fellow passenger on the shuttle bus informed me of Michael Jackson’s passing. For this week’s Second

This weekend is about celebrating The King Of Pop, Mr. Michael Jackson, and his legacy. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I initially had plans to do a write-up on

Today is Father’s Day, so I wanted to highlight a legendary father and son duo for Second Listen Sunday. Arriving in stores on Sept 26, 1995, Father and Son was

Next to New Edition, one performer who I always make time to see any time they are in my city is Eric Roberson. I’ve lost count of times I’ve witnessed

Lead singers going solo from their group is nothing new. Sometimes the solo venture happens when they are still with the group; other times, they wait until the group is

DeBarge, Motown’s eighties answer to The Jackson 5, was introduced to a whole new era of fans when one of Hip Hop goats, The Notorious B.I.G., sampled their 1983 classic

Industry giant Clive Davis shook numerous heads when he announced his new label J Records after he was ousted from Arista Records in 2000.

There’s no doubt that the Jackson Family is a musical dynasty. You can go anywhere in the world, and there’s a good chance you will hear a song by Michael

Luther Vandross, Tank, Gwen Stefani, and Whitney Houston are just some of the names who got their start singing background vocals for more successful singers who would later find success

Songtress Lil Mo hit the scene in 1998 with her debut single “5 Minutes” from the soundtrack to Why Do Fools Fall In Love under the tutelage of icon Missy

R&B trio Bell, Biv, Devoe just wrapped up a successful tour with their parent group New Edition and I’m sure they are already cooking up some dates for Summer 2023

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, so I wanted to pick a song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday that pays homage to moms.

Tonight will be one for the record books, as I finally see Janet “Ms. Jackson if you’re Nasty” live. Before that, though, I must show some love to one of

Last week we marked the 39th anniversary of the untimely passing of ICON Marvin Gaye. I was approaching age three when Gaye passed, so I don’t remember the worldwide grief

R&B trio H-Town hit the scene in 1993 with their massive crossover hit and signature song “Knockin’ Da Boots.” Even though pop pundits might consider the group one-hit wonders, they

The legendary Gerald Levert was on top of his game in the fall of 1994 when his second album, Groove On, hit stores. His 1991 debut Private Line saw platinum

R&B duo K-Ci & Jo Jo achieved runaway success when they broke away from their parent group Jodeci in the summer of 1997. The third single from the album “All

While The Temptations miniseries is a classic, one of my most significant issues with the film was the lack of attention given to Dennis Edwards, who was the voice of

R&B duo Ruff Endz burst onto the scene in the summer of 2000 with back-to-back hits in the form of “No More” and “Where Does Love Go.” from their debut

In the year 2023, if you were to count the number of singing competitions that emerged after the success of American Idol in 2002, you might run out of fingers.

R&B singer Tank has been in the music industry for over two decades. He is currently on the road with R&B legends Guy and Keith Sweat as one of the

The production teams of McFadden & Whitehead and Gamble & Huff of Philadelphia International Records stand out for me because they have always brought something unique to the table. So

If you reside in the DMV area, the My 2000’s Playlist Tour will be a hip-hop event later this month. Acts like T.I., Mase, Fabolous, Mike Jones, Ying Yang Twin,

R&B talent Kevin Ross continues to bless fans with exemplary music as he prepares to release his upcoming project Midnight Microdose. Last month he dropped the lead single “Look My

R&B superstar Usher was on top of the world in 2005 following the release of his diamond-selling fourth album, Confessions. One of the highlights of the Confessions era was the

R&B superstar Usher was on top of the world in 2005 following the release of his diamond-selling fourth album, Confessions. One of the highlights of the Confessions era was the

Formerly a DJ and beatmaker, Mayer Hawthorne crafted a comfortable niche for himself when he began his singing career. Hawthorne quickly built a solid resume with his blue-eyed soul vibes.

Vocalist Michael Cooper had already displayed his talents in the vocal group Con Funk Shun. He then blessed fans with his solo debut, Love Is Such a Funny Game, in

The last great, David Peaston, was no stranger to the music industry as his mother, Martha Bass, and sister, Fontella Bass, were already well-known in gospel music. Peaston broke into

Washington D.C.-based vocalist Tony Terry hit the music scene in 1987 with his debut album Forever Yours, which was accompanied by the charting singles “Forever Yours,” “Lovey Dovey,” and “She’s

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

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,

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,”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

While the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody continues to divide
audiences (I enjoyed it), I wanted to highlight the "Voice" for this week's Slow Jam Saturday.

The list is endless when you think of R&B groups of the nineties. Per the norm, from a marketing standpoint, one group member always shines brighter than the others. In

R&B songstress Gina Thompson is most remembered for her 1996 debut single “Nobody Does It Better” and the Bad Boy Remix featuring Missy Elliott, who gained notability and mainstream attention

What better way to kick off the 2023 Season of Second Listen Sunday than reviewing a New Edition album? If you didn’t already know, the group recently announced a Spring

I decided to go with “Pure Gold” from the elements known as Earth, Wind, and Fire. Initially appearing on the group’s nineteenth album Illumination, “Pure Gold” was produced by the

Sixteen years into his musical career, New Jersey native and R&B crooner Jaheim gave his fans a musical gift with his first Christmas album, A Really Chill Christmas. While some

As the Christmas season winds down, the last pick for my holiday-themed slow jam is one that recently saw a release, “Bad Santa,” from legendary balladeer Johnny Gill.

By the time Freddie Jackson released his first Christmas album, At Christmas, in 1994, he had already established himself as one of the finest balladeers. He had released six albums

While R&B quintet Troop had yet to release an album since the late nineties, the group stayed active with touring and solo offerings from some members. In 2014, the group

R&B crooner Kenny Lattimore had twenty years in the game when his first holiday CD A Kenny Lattimore Christmas, arrived in 2016. Lattimore has one of the natural voices; he

Faith Evans was fresh off the success of her fourth gold-selling album, The First Lady, when her first-holiday album, A Faithful Christmas, hit stores. As is the norm with holiday

Musiq Soulchild was basking in the success of “If U Leave,” the second, fifth studio album OnMyRadio when he quietly released the Christmas EP, A Philly Soul Christmas, in the

Legendary R&B quartet En Vogue had seen its share of up and downs when its first Christmas album, The Gift of Christmas, arrived in the fall of 2002. Five years

Donell Jones had already made a name for himself, writing for the likes of Usher, Jade, and Madonna, when his debut album My Heart hit stores in the summer of

Often it’s hard to believe it’s been thirteen years since GOD called the King of Pop home. Since his passing, fans have enjoyed some of his unreleased music. A few

Big Daddy Kane was easily one of Hip Hop’s brightest stars when his third album, Taste of Chocolate, hit record stores in October of 1990. Kane was known for boasting

Big Daddy Kane was easily one of Hip Hop’s brightest stars when his third album, Taste of Chocolate, hit record stores in October of 1990. Kane was known for boasting

Before Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and L.A. Reid became in-demand producers, they were members of the R&B band, The Deele. The other members of the group were Carlos “Satin” Greene, Darnell

The legendary Stevie Wonder had already received his flowers numerous times when the R&B duo Black Coffey covered his lush ballad “Rocket Love” in 2002. The song initially appeared on

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again nineties R&B nineties was such a crowded field that frequently, a singer would drop a hit single, and we thought they

In addition to offering scene-stealing moments in the first two House Party films, Hip Hop and R&B group Full Force made a name for themselves as in-demand producers. Initially, the

Daron Jones made a name for himself in nineties R&B as a member of 112, in addition to writing songs for the likes of Usher, Pink, and Jamie Foxx. In

Often times a legendary artist can do something that makes a fan lose interest for a while. For me, that artist was Mary J. Blige in the late nineties. I

I took the opportunity to listen to an album for this week’s Second Listen Sunday and just put my iPod on random. The album that popped up was Another Love

As my avid readers know, I immensely love the nineties R&B sound. While SWV, TLC, and Xscape were the premier girl groups until Destiny Child hit the scene, I wanted

R&B foursome Jagged Edge returns to the music scene with their latest single “Inseparable” from their upcoming 11th studio album, All Original Parts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Numerous R&B groups have fallen into obscurity following the departure of the lead singer. One such group was Public Announcement which collaborated with a disgraced R&B singer for a 1992

R&B quartet Dru Hill was basking in the success of their sophomore album Enter the Dru and preparing to embark on its supporting tour when they appeared on the concept

Having previously revisited the late great Jesse Powell’s first, third and fourth albums, I wanted to bring on a music head to discuss Powell’s second album, Bout It. Arriving in

As we continue to pay tribute to the musical career of Jesse Powell for this week’s Second Listen Sunday, let’s revisit the singer’s fourth and final album, 2003’s Jesse. Powell’s

Nineties R&B fans were dealt a huge blow this past Tuesday when news broke of singer Jesse Powell’s transition to the heavenly gates. While the singer hadn’t released an album

Al Green was already an established force in music when his fifth album, I’m Still in Love with You, hit record stores on October 23, 1972. Green had released Let’s

Season 3 American Idol winner Fantasia followed up her platinum-selling debut Free Yourself with her self-titled sophomore album in December 2006. The two big singles from Fantasia were “Hood Boy”

Multi-faceted entertainer Jamie Foxx had already achieved numerous successes across many entertainment avenues when his fourth album, Best Night of My Life, hit stores in the winter of 2010. Foxx’s

While he is one of the stars of Showtime’s hit series The Chi, Luke James has been making noise in the industry for almost two decades. James began his career

One of the great things about being an R&B fan is having the chance to discuss artists who never made it past one album. The list is endless, and one

The 21st-century teen pop resurgence was in full swing in the summer of 2001 when NSYNC released its final studio album, Celebrity. Given that the group is the featured artist

After two-plus decades in the music game, R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Tank is releasing what he claims is his final solo album in the form of R&B Money.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Lillo Thomas aspired to reach the top of the world of sports. However, a 1984 automobile accident in Brazil stopped that. The tragedy prevented him

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to take it back it 1987 and give some flowers to Mr. Miles Jaye. The first time I felt the lyrics to

In the fall of 2002, R&B music was a changing landscape. However, that didn’t stop The Prom Queen Of Soul, a.k.a., Mrs. Whitney Houston, from releasing her fifth album Just

The current lineup of legendary R&B trio features founding members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Sr., and Eric Nolan Grant, who joined the group in 1997. Tonight I get to cross

No matter the music genre, every group has a standout member who is destined for solo stardom. Lionel Richie was already three years into a successful solo career when his

Mariah Carey was already one of the biggest stars in music when her seventh studio album, Rainbow, hit stores on November 2nd, 1999. At the time, I was a senior

Growing up in the nineties, I had the chance to experience a plethora of R&B singers. The market had such a colossal saturation that often, a singer would get lost

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give the elegant Shanice Wilson and her lush ballad “Saving Forever for You” some flowers.

With the help of the group Subway, Bivins attempted to take on the teen market again in the spring of 1995. We all remember “Fire” and how big that song

Throughout “Sensitivity” and his later work, Ralph Tresvant’s high tenor voice had evolved from his squeaky Michael Jackson manqué to a more polished and refined high tenor tone. As far

Musician Kem returns to the scene with his latest EP, Full Circle. The Detroit-based singer opens up his latest project with “Stuck On You,” which has seen success on the

After numerous delays and title changes, R&B singer Ne-Yo returns with his latest project, Self-Explanatory. Due to the COVID pandemic, Ne-Yo had to put the project on the back burner

Vocalist James Ingram was no stranger to the music industry as his older brother Philip was a member of the late seventies R&B band Switch. Before releasing his debut, It’s

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to feature a rarely mentioned duet between two late R&B legends. Teddy Pendergrass was already one of the premier voices in R&B

Terius Nash, better known as The -Dream was already an established artist when he released his I Am Sam EP a few days before Christmas in 2015. The EP was

Buffalo-based new jack swing group burst onto the scene with the debut single, the catchy “Live and Learn.” However, their self-titled debut also featured an elegant ballad in the form

R&B singer Sammie recently shared with some of his counterparts for an interesting Versuz. While I was well above the age demographic when Sammie made his debut in 1999, he

Michael DeLorenzo, who had the role of Detective Eddie Torres for the first three seasons, covered James Taylor’s 1972 hit “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.” DeLorenzo was no stranger

I wanted to pay homage to Marie’s third album and her personal favorite, Irons in the Fire. Artists releasing two albums was common in the music industry. Teena was still

One of my favorite saxophonists, Boney James, has many collaborations with R&B singers…, I wanted to highlight Boney’s 2006 collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire’s lead vocalist Philip Bailey.

After Michael passed in 2009, I began to dig deep into The Jackson 5’s catalog and discovered the vocal vigor in Jermaine’s voice.

Most people think 112’s debut song was the classic “Only You” the group’s first recording was actually “Making Love” from the Money Train soundtrack.

California-based R&B group Con Funk Shun was already profoundly established in the industry when album number eight arrived in record stores in June of 1981. The album carried the moniker

R&B singer Chris Brown is somewhat of an enigma when it comes to music. As Brown prepares to headline the “One Of Them Ones Tour” and release his tenth album,

Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio were amidst a successful career when album number four, A Woman Needs Love, hit stores in 1981.

I was delighted to see that the nineties duo Men At Large recently released a new single, “Faded,” in support of their upcoming fifth album, Love Benefits, scheduled for release

That is right, folks, I am speaking of none other than Justin Guarini, whose self-titled debut arrived in stories on June 10th, 2003. While Guarini was never necessarily a front

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give some flowers to Season 2 contestant Corey Clark. While Clark’s disqualification from the show was highly publicized, he could always

There was a singer who shall remain nameless set the tone for the nineties slow jams. However as nineties R&B fans know there were tons of singers who provided quality

R&B group New Edition was at crossroads in the summer of 1987. The group’s fourth album, Under the Blue Moon, and their only one as a quartet, had only achieved

No matter what the musical genre is when it comes to groups, there is always a clamoring for a member to pursue solo endeavors. Kci Hailey of Jodeci is a

Chico DeBarge made a fantastic comeback to the music scene in the late nineties with two solid solo albums in the form of Long Time No See and The Game.

Ron Isley’s name is synonymous with legendary music. Even before I entered the world in 1981, Mr. Isley’s group, The Isley Brothers, had already released nineteen albums. Serving as the

Despite releasing a strong southern soul-influenced debut in the form of 1999’s Country Boy, North Carolina bred singer wouldn’t break through until his sophomore album 2:35 PM four years later,

Comedy legend Eddie Murphy was fresh off the success of a starring role in the highest-grossing movie of 1984 when he went to the studio to record his first musical

Over a decade-long career, crossover jazz artist Kim Waters had built a comfortable, quiet storm and R&B covers niche when his thirteenth album From the Heart hit stores on April

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

Two days before headlining The Super Bowl LII Halftime Show, Justin Timberlake gifted fans his new album, Man of The Woods, on February 2nd, 2018, via RCA Records. For his

R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné! was already immensely successful when their fourth album House of Music, hit stores on November 19, 1996. The Tonies kicked off the project with the

The trio of Batman, Romeo, and LDB, better known as Immature, were nearing that time when their fourth album, 1997’s The Journey, arrived in stores on September 23, 1997.

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, the typical choice would be to go for “The Arms of the One Who Love You” or “My Little Secret.” However, I decided to

In January of 1971, Eddie Kendricks’ smooth falsetto had just given his group The Temptations another number one hit in the form of “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”

As you know, it’s Slow Jam Saturday, and “Thank You” isn’t exactly a ballad. However, as die-hard Boyz II Men fans know, the EP for “Thank You” featured the

Boundaries and bonds are put to the test in a gritty crime-thriller drama about family, morality, and Maxwell is currently headlining The Night Tour with fellow soul-crooners Anthony Hamilton and

Crooner Anthony Hamilton is currently entertaining audiences on The Night Tour with fellow soul-crooners Maxwell and Joe. It was a long road for Anthony Hamilton to break through to mainstream

Charlie Wilson is currently one of the opening acts for New Edition’s highly successful The Culture Tour. Sadly Wilson wasn’t part of the lineup when my wife and I were

Charlie Wilson was already an established star in his own right when “Without You,” the first single from his second solo album, Bridging the Gap, was released in the summer

There’s just something special about the nineties R&B sound. It was a time when folks would actually dress up to hit a nightclub, when music was not vulgar, and when

Louisville, Kentucky R&B trio Playa burst onto the scene as part of DeVante Swing’s Da Basement Cru, aka Swing Mob, in the early nineties. While the group’s work with Swing

R&B songstress Mýa will grace the stage of The Theater at MGM in Oxon Hill, Maryland, tonight along with Faith Evans and SWV as part of the Femme It Forward

In the late fall of 1989, Prince would release The Scandalous Sex Suite, a three-part suite of 19 minutes of the song, with the parts titled ‘ “The Crime,” “The

R&B crooner Trey Songz was still basking in the success of his platinum-selling fourth album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure, when he decided to release his first EP. Carrying the moniker

After their 1990 sophomore album release, The Future, R&B trio Guy began an extended hiatus. Teddy Riley went on to form another group, Blackstreet and then become an in-demand producer.

After an excessive twenty-year wait, R&B quartet Jodeci returned to the music scene with their fourth album The Past, The Present, The Future. Arriving in stores on March 31, 2015,

As quintessential R&B group New Edition travels across the country on the Culture tour, I wanted to look back at the group’s final album to date, 2004’s One Love for

As quintessential R&B group New Edition travels across the country on the Culture tour, I wanted to look back at the group’s final album to date, 2004’s One Love for

“Old Friends” gives Tresvant the chance to show off his tenor singing style in all its glory, and you generally feel the pain in his voice. In the early days

Soul singer Bobby V was already eight years into his solo career, with five solid albums and one EP to his credit, when he released the very soulful Peach Moon

I flirted with the idea of ranking songs with the word Valentine in the title. For my rankings, I could have pulled the catalogs of numerous singers, including James Ingram,

At the tail end of 2021, Ne-Yo slowly crept back into music with the release of two singles, “What If,” and the Young Bleu assisted “Stay Down.” While neither song

Johnathan Butler was a decade into his career when his self-titled album arrived in stores in 1987. Listeners may recall his hit singles “Lies” and “Overflowing” from that album.

H-Town was one such group who burst onto the scene with their debut Fever for da Flavor. When the group’s debut album arrived in stores on April 15, 1993, its

Pulling out the liner notes, I discovered that Lil Jon had sampled the song from a singer named Michael Sterling, who is this week’s pick for Slow Jam Saturday.

The classic Shalamar lineup of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel followed their third album, Big Fun, with 1980s Three for Love. Reuniting with iconic producer Leon Sylvers III

Cassandra Lucas and Charrisse Rose, better known as Changing Faces, started as backing vocalists for Sybil in the music industry. In 1994, the duo released their debut self-titled album, which

Following a successful world tour supporting their first two albums, R&B trio SWV returned to the studio to begin work on album #3, Release Some Tension. Arriving in record stores

“Come Around” from Dos of Soul falls into that category and is this week’s Slow Jam Saturday selection.

Dos of Soul was a quartet of three male singers and one

Soul singer David Ruffin had already earned his place in R&B history during his days as the lead singer of the iconic group, The Temptations. Over the next twelve years,

The world of R&B kicked off 2022 with a somber tone when GOD called Jesse Daniels, of the Force MDs, home. In honor of Mr. Daniels, I wanted to take

Initially of the group Color Me Badd, Bryan Abrams is back on the scene with a brand new single titled “Because of You.” An elegant ballad, “Because of You” reunites

In 2005 R&B group, Silk followed up their first album as a quartet 2003’s, Silktime, with a Christmas EP titled A Gift from Silk. On November 29, 2005, the EP

J-Stylz, formerly of the legendary group Blackstreet, gave fans a wonderful holiday slow jam last year with “Christmas Without You.” The song starts with J-Stylz professing his intentions for his

Their debut achieved gold status and the concerts stayed sold out. Prior to releasing their third album Pandemonium in December of that year, label execs had the bright idea to

R&B singer Ne-Yo released his first Christmas album, Another Kind Of Christmas, in 2019. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday selection, I chose to highlight his cover of Marvin Gaye’s

Daron Jones had already made a name for himself as a founding member of 112 in addition to writing for the likes of Usher, Jamie Foxx, and 112 when he

R&B quartet Boyz II Men were still basking in their massively successful single “End of the Road” when their first-holiday album, Christmas Interpretations, hit stores in the fall of 1993.

After releasing their fourth album, 2010’s InDRUpendence Day, R&B quartet Dru Hill gifted fans with its first-holiday album with 2017’s Christmas in Baltimore.

Anthony Hamilton was nearly two decades into his career, with five albums to his credit, when he released his first Christmas album, Home for the Holidays, in 2014. Hamilton’s Christmas

While Thomas has a capable voice, a few of these could’ve made soundtrack or mixtape appearances. Nevertheless, Emotional is still an impressive debut.

Faith Evans, Never Gonna Let You Go

Arriving in stores on January 25, 1994, Face the Music was led by the single “If You Go Away,” which initially appeared on the group’s 1991 greatest hits album. John

“Re-Write the Memories” from One Love is available on all streaming platforms.
While the first half of the album focuses on up-tempo radio-friendly material, New Edition gets their grown

Since 2012, PJ Morton has served as one of the keyboardists for pop/rock band Maroon 5. However, he also has a successful solo discography that includes seven solo albums, four

In early 2005, former B2K front man Omarion enjoyed a US Billboard number one debut and eventually a gold-selling album with his first solo album, O. Omarion’s debut featured three

Earlier this week, Tommy DeBarge of R&B Band Switch, and the famous musical family, DeBarge, was laid to rest. I wanted to look back at Tommy’s Motown debut with his

R&B music suffered another loss earlier this week when Ronnie Wilson, a founding member of The GAP Band, passed away. While mainstream music listeners know Charlie Wilson’s name, I wanted

Following a successful two-year stint on the sitcom Moesha, R&B singer Ray J resumed his recording career. The singer’s sophomore disc, This Ain’t a Game, arrived in stores on June

A year before releasing her sixth solo album, The Velvet Rope, in 1997, Janet Jackson gifted her fans with her first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996. I

Arriving in stores on August 28, 1973, Let’s Get It On promotion began with its same titled lead single. Co-written with producer Ed Townsend, “Let’s Get It On” was Gaye’s

Late R&B singer Tony Thompson had already received the stamp of approval from music fans as the lead singer of the R&B quintet Hi-Five. Thompson’s vocals lead the group with

R&B singer Ginuwine took a different approach with his music when his third album, The Life, arrived in 2001. One of the first things that immediately surprised fans was that

In the spring of 2002, boy band NSync decided to take a hiatus following their successful Celebrity tour. During this time, the group’s co-lead singer Justin Timberlake began working on

Marques Houston spent the bulk of the nineties as the lead singer of the teenage R&B group, Immature. The group released four albums before changing their name to Imx, as

After dabbling in gospel music on the I Need an Angel album, Season 2 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard returned to R&B for his third album, The Return. “Change Me”

The year was 1982, and Lionel Richie had spent fourteen years with The Commodores when he decided to embark on a solo career. Similar to most solo artists, Richie took

Brian McKnight was already a force in R&B music when his seventh album, U-Turn, hit stores in March 2003. The album took inspiration from McKnight’s separation from his wife, evident

Die-hard music fans know that one of the most incredible tours of the decade was the New Edition Heartbreak tour. The acts on the bill were New Edition, Bobby Brown

After releasing their second album, The Future, Guy took a hiatus in 1990. Group members and brothers Aaron and Damion Hall would release solo albums, while Teddy Riley would become

After what seems like an eternity, Tank’s first three albums have finally arrived on streaming platforms. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I decided to revisit Tank’s third album, Sex,

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to pay homage to the love of my life, my wife, Darcie. Today is her 40th birthday, so I am going against

Mint Condition frontman Stokely, returns to the scene with his sophomore solo album, Sankofa. Prior to the COVID pandemic, Stokley released the singles “She”, a ballad that recalled the classic

Babyface was already a legendary hitmaker when his fourth album, The Day, arrived in stores in the fall of 1996. For the album’s first single, “This Is for the Lover

Released as the second single from the group’s third album Jagged Little Thrill, “Goodbye” was written by group members Brandon and Brian Casey along with frequent collaborators Jermaine Dupri and

Kevon Edmonds, 1/3 of legendary R&B trio After 7, was already a household name when he released his solo debut 24/7 in the fall of 1999. I was a senior

R&B fans suffered a significant loss on August 27th when news arrived that singer Sam Salter passed away. Salter broke through in 1997 with his lead single “After 12, Before

For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to revisit Jon B.’s criminally underrated third album, Pleasures U Like. Joining me in discussing the album is Keith Sweat super fan

For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday selection, we continue highlighting the songwriting of Jon B. Two months after the release of his debut Bonafide, Jon displayed his writing and production

R&B trio After 7 returns to the scene with a new album titled Unfinished Business via the SoNo recording group. New member Danny McClain joins founding members Kevon Edmonds and

Minneapolis-based soul singer Alexander O’Neal burst onto the scene in 1985 with a self-titled debut that would make him a household name. However, as die-hard music fans know, O’Neal was

Welcome back to Slow Jam Saturday. We are continuing to pay homage to this month’s artist Jon B. This week, we are looking at what many consider Jon’s best album,

Welcome to the first edition of a possible new weekly series I like to call Slow Jam Saturday. Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I prefer

An iconic action figure receives an origin story from Robert Schwentke in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. Henry Golding steps in the title role, which opens with a young Snake

There was no bigger musical star than Michael Jackson in 1984.The record label decided a compilation album of unheard Mijac music was in order. Carrying the title Farewell My Summer

Fans of R&B legends Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill are steadily talking about positive news involving both men. Sweat is fresh off a Veruz battle with Bobby Brown, while Brown

Baltimore native Mario found success with his self-titled debut in 2002. However, it was the singer’s follow-up disc where folks really began to take notice. Turning Point, Mario’s sophomore disc,

For this week’s edition of Second Listen Sunday, let us return to the summer of 2001. Having already achieved success as a model, VJ, and Soda pop jingle singer, Tyrese

I wanted to change it up for my third article of Second Listen Sundays. The album I want to highlight is one I know backward and forwards. An R&B masterpiece

I was a twenty-year-old college sophomore attending Troy State University in Troy, Alabama when R&B singer Joe released his fourth album Better Days, in the winter of 2001.

I welcome you to the first edition of “Second Listen Sundays”, where I will revisit an album I did not particularly care for on the first listen and reevaluate

Eric Roberson, the talent affectionately known as the king of independent soul music, returns with his latest single titled “Lessons.” The song’s background is as follows: Around 3 am, the

R&B duo Christión burst onto the scene in late 1996 with their debut single “Full of Smoke”, which led to the group earning the honor as the first R&B group

R&B lover man Keith Sweat already had an impressive three-album discography to his credit when he released his fourth album Get Up On It in June of 994. The lead

England-born soul singer, Daley, has returned to the scene with his sophomore release The Spectrum. Following the successful formula of his previous EP’s and his 2014 debut release, “Days+Nights,” Daley

After releasing the very nice JE Heartbreak II in 2014, one of the last standing active groups in R&B, Jagged Edge, returned to the scene with their ninth album, The

Following the lukewarm response of his debut solo album King of Stage in 1986, teen idol Bobby Brown was at his crossroads in his career. While his former bandmates New

Vocalist Philip Bailey was already a legend in the music business when his seventh solo, a self-titled release, hit record stores. Arriving in March of 1994, the falsetto Phenom’s newest

David Conley, Bernard Jackson and David Townsend collectively known as Surface burst onto the scene in 1986 with the release of their self-titled debut.

R&B vocal quartet The Manhattans were nearly two decades into a massively successful career when they released their twelfth album Black Tie in 1981.

Rick James was already a bonafide superstar when he released his seventh album Cold Blooded in August 1983. James opens up the album with “U Bring the Freak Out”

Keith Washington burst onto the scene in 1991 with his debut album Make Time for Love featuring the classic ballad “Kissing You.” Given the strength of Keith’s voice, one would

The Isley Brothers were already legends in the music game when their 24th album Smooth Sailin arrived. Hitting record stores on March 14th, 1987

Robert Anderson, Darnell Chavis, Eunique Mack, and Daniel Stokes, professionally known as Solo, burst onto the music scene in 1995 with their self-titled debut.

One of the coldest music producers in the music game whose name should be more known in the mainstream is Chuckii Booker.

In honor of his upcoming Unsung episode airing Sunday, March 21st at 9 pm EST on TV One, I wanted to take a look back at Morris Day’s solo career.

Singer RL Hugger is back on the scene with his new track, “Another Night.” Last year the singer released the free streaming project, The Letter J. RL HuggerIt was a

Stevie Wonder was four decades into his career when his third soundtrack album, Jungle Fever, hit shelves. Released on May 28th, 1991, the album is the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s

Amid an extended hiatus in 2001 of the R&B supergroup New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe, one of the group’s side acts, released its third album BBD. The trio’s third album

Before releasing their fourth album, 1997’s Evolution, R&B quartet Boyz II Men formed their record label Stonecreek records. The first artist signed to their label was Detroit-based singer Uncle Sam

Baltimore-based R&B group Ruff Endz who first burst on the scene over two decades ago with the “No More” are back with their new single “Be The One.” The song

Singer Marc Dorsey had already made a name for himself by appearing on soundtracks to the Spike Lee movies Crooklyn and Clockers before releasing his solo debut, Crave. Marc’s debut

It’s no question that Luther Vandross was the prominent male balladeer of the eighties. However, one of his competitors, Freddie Jackson, also provided the decade with quiet storm staples starting

Getting a band or group back together is a standard at some point in the music industry. Motown did just that when they released The Temptations album, Reunion in 1982.

One of the most extraordinary things about growing up in the nineties was the music. R&B groups were all the rage and I want to take you all back to

The Jacksons followed their 1976 self-titled album, with Goin’ Places, released on October 8th, 1977. Like the preceding album, Goin’ Places was a joint venture between Epic Records and Philadelphia

Tru-Skoo comprised of members Caramello Jenkins and Diggy Fontaine kick-off 2021 with their album Jukebox. Released on GodMan Music Group, the release is a throwback to the good ole days

In 1995, R&B singer Montell Jordan burst onto the scene with his platinum-selling single, This Is How We Do It, from the same-titled album. A year later, Jordan returned to

If you’ve heard my Podcast or read my older reviews, you know that I love R&B. I always say that one of the best things about growing up in the

A year after releasing his breakthrough solo debut, Never Too Much music fans were provided with his second album, Forever, for Always, for Love. Luther’s sophomore album opens with the

Following his 2004 album Stronger Everyday, Jon B. released his first and, to date, only Christmas album Holiday Wishes: From Me to You on Nov 14th, 2006 via Arsenal Records.

The O’Jays were almost three decades into their career when they released their first Christmas project, Home for Christmas, in 1991. The album opens up with the soulful “I Can

R&B group New Edition were full-fledged teen superstars when they released the Christmas EP, Christmas All over the World. Hitting store shelves on December 12, 1985, just in time for