This week’s Slow Jam Saturday pick takes us back to 2008 to show some love to Chauncey Hannibal, a member of Blackstreet, and his solo track “Everyday Is Your Birthday.” Chauncey’s vocals were featured prominently on the group’s first four albums until he began his solo career in 2005. He initially signed with Flipmode Entertainment, and “Everyday Is Your Birthday” was the first single from his project titled “Church Boy,” although the actual album was never released.
The song is a short ballad that could have easily served as an interlude if Chauncey had released the album in the 90s. Produced by an uncredited Teddy Riley, the track showcases Hannibal singing in his falsetto range, expressing his desire to take his lady on a shopping spree at the mall, to the salon to get her hair done, and even offering to buy her a new car with no strings attached.
Towards the end of the song, Hannibal hints at going back to his place to spend some intimate time together. However, he wisely avoids resorting to R&B clichés or using crass lyrics and autotune. The song occasionally pops up when I have Apple Music on random, but I understand why it didn’t gain traction at the time, as the R&B genre was shifting and there wasn’t much room for legacy acts and new music.
Nevertheless, “Everyday Is Your Birthday” is a solid debut single that should have launched an Urban AC career for Hannibal.
Final Grade: B
“Everyday Is Your Birthday” is available on all streaming platforms.
Director Potsy Ponciroli shifts gears for his third feature in “Motor City,” produced by IFC Films. Chad St. John penned the film’s screenplay, which was actually on the 2009 Black List and spent several years in development hell before finally getting underway.
San Francisco in film is often depicted through sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge or romanticized, foggy hills. However, “Splash City” from Lionsgate brings the focus down to street level. Co-directed by Alex Ferrufino and Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr. (better known as rapper and entrepreneur Berner), this R-rated crime drama moves away from postcard aesthetics to present a sharp, urgent portrayal of survival on the streets.
Writer-director Lee Cronin made an impressive feature film debut in 2019 with “The Hole in the Ground” and followed it up with a fresh and gruesome installment in the “Evil Dead” franchise, “Evil Dead Rise”. However, due to adult responsibilities, I missed his third film in theaters. The mixed reviews and rumors of a troubled production have me concerned.
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