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June 17, 2013
Artist: Melanie Charles & The Journey
Title: Introducing Melanie Charles & The Journey
Hood: Brooklyn, NY
Genre(s): Soul, Jazz
Label: Independent
Released: April 23, 2010
Social: Facebook Twitter
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June 14, 2013
Artist: Kanye West
Title: Yeezus
Label: Def Jam
Hood: Chicago, Illinois USA
Released: June 18, 2013
Tracklist:
01. On Sight
02. Black Skinhead
03. I Am A God (Featuring God)
04. New Slaves (Featuring Frank Ocean)
05. Hold My Liquor (Featuring Chief Keef & Justin Vernon)
06. I’m In It
07. Blood On The Leaves
08. Guilt Trip (Featuring Kid Cudi)
09. Send It Up (Featuring King L)
10. Bound 2 (Featuring Charlie Wilson)
Review to follow soon. Stay Tuned!
June 13, 2013
Artist: Gwen Bunn
Title: The Verdict
Hood: Decatur, Georgia USA
Genre(s): Soul, Hip Hop, R&B, Electronic, Jazz
Label: Independent
Released: December 25, 2009
Social: Facebook Twitter
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February 19, 2013
If you are like us, you are anticipating the next LP from neo soul OG Bilal. Having recently released a retrospective with Vikter Duplaix, the artist, mostly known for his Soul Sista breakout single, has been working hard on his latest effort, which has been pushed back a couple times. We are fortunate to bring you this first listen of the LP from NPR’s First Listen. Read more of this post
February 14, 2013
Artist: Phony Ppl
Title: Phoneyland
Genre(s): Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B
Hood: Brooklyn, New York USA
Released: January 17, 2012
You Will Like This if You Like: Tony! Toni! Tone!, Bilal, Pharcyde, Little Brother
Social: Twitter
Brooklyn has been a cultural hub for some time. Hip Hop, Jazz, and soul (among other) have flourished here for decades so it is no surprise that we would be hearing some of the most fresh sounding grooves coming out of the thorough borough. Last year, we were all over the Stuyvesants with their trippy soulful grooves. And now, it seems we are going to be spending 2013 chilling to another exciting group from the Stuy.
Phony Ppl‘s album Phoneyland had us from the first orchestral track, Genesis, but then when we heard the Tony! Toni! Tone! feeling vibe of 4 The First Time, we knew we had hit on something solid. Read more of this post
January 30, 2013
Artist: PJ Morton
Title: Independently Major
Crew: Young Money
Hood: New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Released: December 2010
Genre(s): Pop, Soul, Rhythms & Blues
Social: Facebook Twitter
We slept on this artist initially only having heard a couple of tracks independent of the entire LP. However, upon closer inspection, PJ Morton may actually have a shot of joining his Young Money brethren at the top of the charts. Read more of this post
January 29, 2013
Artist: Hiatus Kaiyote
Title: Tawk Tomahawk
Released: April 1, 2012
Hood: Melbourne, Australia
Social: Facebook Twitter YouTube
Before we say anything else, we have to say that albums and sounds like this are why we do what we do. This album by abstract soul group, Hiatus Kaiyote, bubbled up to us from soulhead Akiima Price from Washington, D.C., who put us on to this incredible group from the Land Down Under, Melbourne, Australia, to be specific. Although nearly a year old, it is clearly new to us and, we imagine, many of you. Read more of this post
December 4, 2012
Artist: Keyshia Cole
Title: Woman to Woman
Released: November 19, 2012
Words: Victoria Shantrell Asbury
Edit: Jay Fingers
Bay Area native Keyshia Cole just dropped a new album, Woman to Woman. This album shows just how much Keyshia has grown as a woman since her 2005 debut, The Way It Is. Read more of this post
November 30, 2012
Artist: Fathom 9
Title: Soul-Heart Sessions: An Ode to Autumn FULL STREAM
Hood: Memphis, Tennessee USA
Genre: Hip Hop(Instrumental ), Soul Samples, Jazz
You will like this if you like: Oddisee, The Stuyvesants
Released: October 18, 2012
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This is an extremely soulful, albeit mellow, way to cruise through your morning cup of coffee while also paying homage to hip-hop and the Autumn (our favorite time of year). Powered by an extensive (and deep) collage of classic and rare soul samples and Golden Era boom-bap beats, Memphis producer Fathom 9‘s mostly instrumental hip-hop album will have your neck hurting from all the serious nodding you will be doing. Read more of this post
November 29, 2012
Title: Black Hippy
Artist: Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, K. Dot – Black Hippy
Hood: Compton, California
Released: January 11, 2011
Released early last year and providing the backdrop for his recent chart ascent, this early mixtape featuring rising star,Kendrick Lamar, knocks. Read more of this post
November 27, 2012
Title: ROJO
Artist: Rochelle Jordan
Hood: Toronto, Canada
Genres: R&B, Soul, Electronica
Released: August 23, 2011
You will like this artist if you like: Aaliyah, Res, Amel Larrieux, THEESatisfaction, The Weeknd
We discovered Toronto based singer, Rochelle Jordan, this past weekend and have been listening to this soulful futuristic album. With traces of electronica, including a cameo from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, this album flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Although there are songs for the crib or the club, the overall mood of the album is decidedly melancholy but that does not detract from the quality of the project. Slightly reminiscent of Aaliyah, Rochelle’s sultry voice and delivery fills your ears with a sound that just feels good. The strong vocals, while a bit overproduced, complement the melodies and beats very well. This sister is going places. Check her forthcoming tour which kicks off in Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 Club in January.
Grade: A
Best Tracks: All I know, Sleep, Shawty, Stars Align, Protostar
November 14, 2012
We are psyched over here at the prospect of more artists putting out instrumental hip hop, especially when it sounds as fresh and soulful as this. Similar in spirit to Brooklyn’s Stuyvesants or Oddisee and soulfully reminiscent of early Pete Rock or RZA, Read more of this post
November 6, 2012
Title: THEESatisfaction Loves Anita Baker
Artist: THEESatisfaction
Genre(s): Soul, Hip-Hop/Rap, Psychedelic
From: Seattle, Washington USA
Released: October 1, 2012
Review by Ron Worthy:
We discovered THEESatisfaction a while back while strolling through the aisles of New York’s Other Music. As is usually the case, I go in with something in mind, pick that up, then immediately begin trolling for cool album covers or descriptions that grab my attention. On this day, I was genuinely lazy and asked for a recommendation. At the time, I had just purchased Shabazz Palaces LP, Black Up, and was looking for something a little less aggressive. At the suggestion of THEESatisfactions first LP, awE naturlE, I copped it and listened to the album on the way back to Brooklyn. Read more of this post
November 2, 2012
Title: Pour Une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication To Nina Simone
Artist: Meshell Ndegeocello
After the release of ‘Weather’, Meshell Ndegeocello releases her 10th album, ‘Pour une ame souveraine’ (For a sovereign soul). After a career of more than 20 years, Meshell Ndegeocello, the American singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist and vocalist and her musicians Chris Bruce (guitar), Jebin Bruni (keys), and Deantoni Parks (drums) recorded a tribute to Nina Simone and Read more of this post
February 11, 2012
Artist: The Stuyvesants
Title: Brooklyn’s Finest
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Duration: 52:31
Track Listing:
1.Brooklyn’s Finest
2.The Stuyvesant Swing
3.Keep Dreamin’
4.Bring The Horns
5.Roosevelt Projects Jam Session
6.Nyeemah’s Pocket Groove
7.There’s So Many
8.Soul & Tell
9.Do Anything
10.W.O.M.A.N.
11.Liquid Love (A Sophisticated Meeting Place)
12.Panty Dropper
13.Took Her Curls Out
14.Seldom Seen
15.Greene Ave. Anthem
16.The Fire (Untrue)
17.Oooh Baby
18.Coming Around
19.Hustlers
20.Jefferson Ave. Theme
21.After The Rain
22.Softer Side
23.Breakfast
24.Sunrise In The Stuy
25.Pookie’s Gone
More about the Stuyvesants:
“The Stuyvesants” is a collaborative effort between music producer Allan Cole (Algorythm), and record collector Darien Victor Birks (Flwrpt). Both reside in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. The two wanted to work together on a project where they could incorporate several of their talents, related to music and design. They wanted to do this under a moniker that would pay homage to the ’70s. The collaboration allowed them to do four major things, design, beat dig, produce amazing music, and simply have fun.
February 9, 2012
Artist: The Stuyvesants
Title: The Finer Things, Volume 2
Release Date: October 17, 2011
Duration: 34:19
The second volume in this impressive 2 part series.
Check this quote from the Stuyvesant’s site:
Sonically we’re taking you on a completely different journey, however, the distinctive vibe of The Stuyvesants is still very present in the music! We truly appreciate all of the support for our movement thus far, and hope that you will enjoy this soundscape.
Tracklist:
More about the Stuyvesants:
“The Stuyvesants” is a collaborative effort between music producer Allan Cole (Algorythm), and record collector Darien Victor Birks (Flwrpt). Both reside in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. The two wanted to work together on a project where they could incorporate several of their talents, related to music and design. They wanted to do this under a moniker that would pay homage to the ’70s. The collaboration allowed them to do four major things, design, beat dig, produce amazing music, and simply have fun.
February 9, 2012
Artist: The Stuyvesants
Title: The Finer Things, Volume 1
Release Date: October 17, 2011
Duration: 35:44
We are totally blown away by these cats who are literally down the street from the soulhead headquarters. To quote The Weeknd, we are “lovin’ the crew” for real. With a vibe reminiscent of Oddisee’s Rock Creek Park (mostly instrumental) joint, this is a must listen for any self respecting soulhead. Brooklyn soul lives!
Check this quote from the Stuyvesant’s site:
Sonically we’re taking you on a completely different journey, however, the distinctive vibe of The Stuyvesants is still very present in the music! We truly appreciate all of the support for our movement thus far, and hope that you will enjoy this soundscape.
Tracklist:
Cop this NOW!!! These cats are really doing what needs to be done.
More about the Stuyvesants:
“The Stuyvesants” is a collaborative effort between music producer Allan Cole (Algorythm), and record collector Darien Victor Birks (Flwrpt). Both reside in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. The two wanted to work together on a project where they could incorporate several of their talents, related to music and design. They wanted to do this under a moniker that would pay homage to the ’70s. The collaboration allowed them to do four major things, design, beat dig, produce amazing music, and simply have fun.
July 27, 2011
Joss Stone, who many will argue, was the first in the recent string of blue eyed songstresses is back with a new project, L1, from her new label, Stone’d Records. We have been fans of hers from the beginning and are really looking forward to spending some more quality time with this new release. From the sounds of this song, she has not missed a step and is delivering power with soul.
More from GiantStep.net:
Grammy award-winning singer Joss Stone is exercising total creative freedom on her new album LP1. She recently established her own label, Stone’d Records, hence the title of the first album to come out on the label, in partnership with Surfdog Records. Joss co-wrote and co-produced it with super-producer Dave Stewart (formerly of the Eurythmics). The album is unlike anything anyone has ever heard from Joss before, showcasing a piano-driven rock sound that blends the innate emotive soulfulness of Stone’s unparalleled vocals with the raw, bareness of traditional blues.
Full Joss Stone ‘LP1′ album stream here.
