Earlier this month, CSNW put together a collection of Jhene Aiko records in a mixtape entitled, The Soul Sessions. This project will hold old fans over and introduce new ones to the beautiful, Californian. Jhene Aiko is expected to release her first studio album, Souled Out, sometime in 2013. Read more of this post
Artist:King Title: In the Meantime Hood: Los Angeles, California USA Genre(s): Electronic Soul Released: March 19, 2013 Social:FacebookTwitter Read more of this post
Enjoy this season’s final installment of TVOne’s Unsung music documentary show, which featureslegendary soul and rhythm and blues singer, Johnny Gill. Throughout this ep, you hear from friends and family and learn more about the highs and lows of this incredible singer who has transcended a lot of adversity. Enjoy! Read more of this post
Enjoy this latest installment of TVOne’s Unsung music documentary show, which featureslegendary soul and rhythm and blues group, Mint Condition. Throughout this ep, you hear from friends and family and learn more about the highs and lows of this incredible group that spawned a string of hits including “Breakin My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)”, “Swingin” and more. We learned a tremendous amount about the group and have even more respect for them after seeing the show. Enjoy!
Description from TVOne:
Right from the start Mint Condition stood out from the pack with a sound that blended funk, rock, R&B and jazz. Their 1991 breakout single Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) was a smash on both the R&B and pop charts and was followed by Top Ten singles U Send Me Swingin, Forever in Your Eyes and the timeless ballad What Kind of Man Would I Be. Read more of this post
Enjoy this latest installment of TVOne’s Unsung music documentary show, which featureslegendary soul and rhythm and blues group, The Whispers. Throughout this ep, you hear from friends and family and learn more about the highs and lows of this incredible group that spawned a strong of hits over their impressive 50 year career. We learned a tremendous amount about the group and had no idea they faced the drama they did. Enjoy!
Artist: Georgia Anne Muldrow Title: Akosua Hood: Los Angeles, CA Label: Mellow Music Group Genre(s): Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B Released: February 19, 2013
Mellow Music Group continues to roll on. The label that brought us super tight rapper Oddisee now introduces soul singer Georgia Anne Muldrow. While Muldrow has been on the scene for a while, this new project will put her in great company. This new hip hop infused groove, Akosua, is a great introduction to her and Mellow if you aren’t hip yet. Enjoy. Read more of this post
Enjoy this new EP by LA based singer/songwriter, Nia Andrews. She possesses a very clear voice with some serious soulful and jazzy undertones. Listen to this on the road on the way to work or while cleaning up on Saturday. This project was very well produced and should spawn at least 1 underground hit. Read more of this post
The first sisters of reggaeton and dancehall—best known for their hit “Move Ya Body” and hooks on N.O.R.E.’s “Oye Mi Canto” and “Mas Maiz,” as well as Major Lazer’s “Keep It Goin’ Louder”—Nina Sky (a/k/a Nicole and Natalie Albino) returned last summer with the stellar r&b-influenced mixtape Nicole & Natalie. Who knows what they’ll be playing tonight at 285 Kent, where they share the bill with rappers Kitty Pryde. The former just released her D.A.I.S.Y. Rage EP, the official follow-up to YouTube favorites like “Okay Cupid” and “Orion’s Belt”; the latter, if nothing else, raps over some elastic Bay Area post-hyphy beats. The only guarantee is that you’ll break a sweat.
We are proud of all of the inductees to this year’s class of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. For years, many non-maintstream rock groups were ignored in this annual award show. However, in recent years, we have seen a number of hip hop and classic soul artists emerge as inductees.
Check out this informative interview conducted at Stanford University by soulhead contributor, Victoria Shantrell Asbury, with up and coming (soon to be superstar) Kendrick Lamar. They discuss 80s babies, revolutionary music and leadership among other things. Given our recent coverage of his new album, we are happy to hear that there is a sense of positivity flowing from this young man. Enjoy and continue the convo!
Words: Victoria Shantrell Asbury Edit: Jay Fingers
There’s hood and there’s gangsta. The two, however, are not necessarily synonymous. Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is a masterfully composed album for the hood. In fact, Good Kid is the closest thing to a musical interpretation of Boyz N the Hood for the late ‘80s babies generation. But this isn’t Straight Outta Compton. Kendrick Lamar is no gangsta, but the story that he recreates on Good Kid is, arguably, the realest hood shit to hit the mainstream in a while. Read more of this post
Title: Marvin Gaye – Final 24: His Final Hours Produced by: MVD Entertainment
Description:
Delve into the Prince of Motown’s violent childhood to uncover the root of Marvin’s strained relationship with his strict father and to understand his struggle with drugs. Read more of this post
Any serious fan of music, in general, and soul music, in particular, must watch this film at least one time in their lives. This seminal work details the amazing work that went into the planning and execution of Wattstax, the California based super concert featuring an incredible lineup of black music legends including Issac Hayes, The Bar-Kays, The Staple Singers among others. If you have not seen this one yet, don’t delay.
Artist: MicahFonecheck Title:August Rush EP Release Date: May 2, 2012 Produced By: MicahFonecheck From: Los Angeles, CA Tracklist:
1. Remedy (Interlude) Feat. Treasure Davis
2. Between Sheets Feat. Omarion
3. Just A Year Ago Feat. Ty$
4. Broke Broke
5. Eff On You
6. Take Down Music Feat. Nikko Love
7. Get It Feat. Fki
8. LA Song Feat. Jhene Aiko & John Meyer
9. G.I.A. Feat Kendrick Lamar
10. Divin’
LA-based singer/songwriter MicahFonecheck is new to the game but has the sound of a 10-year veteran. This is his first mixtape and he has plenty of help from some of today’s new rising artists from SoCal including Kendrick Lamar, Jhene Aiko and Ty$.
Here is a in-studio video of his song Take Down Music.
Artist: Jake & Papa Title: Somethin’ Soulful Release Date: February 14, 2012 Produced By: Jake&Papa From: Los Angeles, CA
Tracklist:
1. Intro (My Soul)
2. My Baby
3. Sex Education
4. Somethin’ Soulfut Feat. Dubb
5. Gets No Better (Sisi’s Interlude)
6. Kiss Em Off Feat. Dubb
7. Rain
8. Trill Love
9. Nasty
10. Bad Decisions
11. B.A.P.S.
12. In Love With Makin Love
13. Summer Beneath The Trees (Ashley’s Interlude)
14. Pretty Black Bird
15. Freedom
16. Ashes
Back with their second project, is Californian R&B duo Jake&Papa. “Somethin’ Soulful”is appropriately titled because after just one listen, you’ll detect old fashioned soul layered with a new skool approach. Jake&Papa leave it up to us, if we want to call it an album or mixtape. I would go for album, because their work is supreme (once again). After the release of their mixtape, Destination Short Stay II last year, the singers have already convinced me they are a force to be reckoned with.
Jake&Papa have such talent, great work ethic and got the charm to make it big. The two men wrote all the songs themselves. Their vocals and delivery is supreme. Each song on“Somethin’ Soulful” is as powerful that it can stand on its own, which is an accomplishment. I know few artists who can do this.
“Somethin’ Soulful” delivers a slew of songs with this endeavor that are sure to catapult Jake&Papa into the same spotlight that’s occupied by the R&B artists that top the Billboard charts today.
Artist:Tinashe Title: In Case We Die Release Date: February 1, 2012 Produced By: Tinahse From: Los Angeles, CA
Tracklist:
1. The Last Night on Earth
2. My High
3. Let You Love Me
4. That
5. The Will to Survive
6. Boss
7. I Tried
8. Another Season
9. This Feeling
10. Stumble
11. Crossing The Cosmo
12. Fading
13. Biding My Time
14. Heaven
15. Chainless (Bonus Track)
One of MuuMuse’s favorite up-and-coming acts, Tinashe, has done a lot of growing up these days.
After separating from short-lived girl group The Stunners in 2010 and releasing “Artificial People,” her collaboration with OFM back in September of 2011, the blossoming 19-year-old singer-songwriter has just released In Case We Die on February 1, a conceptual mixtape (yes, that means free!) that serves up an unexpectedly more mature, introspective sound than any of her dance-pop productions of the past.
“I was very inspired by the thought of a lover’s last words before death–bearing their soul and their secrets before it was too late…and trying to capture that half-fear we all secretly have that the inevitable is sooner than we are ready for,” she explains of the mixtape.
The collection was reportedly self-penned, produced and record alone over a three week period. And if that’s truly the case, then Tinashe has just become more of a “One to Watch” artist than ever.
Harnessing the ghostly trip-hop production of artists like Canadian spook-R&B maker The Weeknd, Kanye West, and even subtle shades of Prince, the mixtape glides along wisps of drippy beats, echoed yelps, sultry Cassie-like icy R&B and strange, atmospheric sounds in the distance.
There’s plenty to soak in from this rich 15-track collection of tunes–from the moans and purrs above the super slow, slinky swag of “Boss,” to the autotuned Kanye-like grit of “Another Season,” to the unbelievably amazing “I Tried”: “I want you to know that I tried!” the songstress yelps above the song’s soldiering hip-hop thump and blazing synthesizers.
While not everything on this mixtape is as Top 40-friendly as her past releases (though tracks like “This Feeling”bounces with enough of a Rihanna-like bump to certainly prick some ears at radio), In Case We Die is by far her most impressive moment yet–an incredible display of stone-cold serious artistry, featuring daring production and introspective lyricism that deserves to have the blogosphere going positively abuzz.
Note: Download speeds may vary. We appreciate your patience.
Artist: Mansions on the Moon Title: Paradise Falls Release Date: October 26, 2010 Produced By: Benzi & Diplo From: Los Angeles, CA
Tracklist:
1. Introduction (Coldwater)
2. Glimpse Into The Future (Xaphoon Jones Remix)
3. This Life (DJ A Mad Decent Remix)
4. Satellite w/ Deadmau5
5. Coldwater w/ Ced Hughes
6. Broken Paradise w/ Washed Out
7. Destroy Me
8. She Makes Me Feel
9. Lights Off w/ Junior Boys
10. Palm of Your Hand
11. Space To Breathe (Big Gigantic Remix)
12. Last Call (Benzi & Willy Joy Remix)
For those who dare to dabble on the darkside – or at least outside the lines of typical boom bap – Mansion On The Moon have a bag of treats that come fully endorsed by music curators Diplo & Benzi. After collaborating with the likes of N*E*R*D and Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones, the trio’s debut project Paradise Falls features tracks that are incredibly atmospheric with heady beats designed to keep your ears in the stars.
Combining the group’s infinities with dubstep warbles and spacey synths, MOTM create an ambiance for those who love Drake’s mellower tracks and CuDi’s dreamy soundscapes. “Glimpse Of The Future” sees the group team with Chiddy Bang beatsmith, Xaphoon Jones, over racing bass and schizophrenic keyboards, while “Coldwater” sounds like a lost b-side to an Empire of the Sun album. And, if for nothing else, listen to “Satellite,” Mansion On The Moon’s own pulsing interpretation of Deadmau5′s “Strobe.” It’s pure butter.
This LA group has been called “The Future of Music”, has cosigns by superproducer Pharrell WIlliams, his group N.E.R.D (which also includes Shae Haley, the manager of Mansions on the Moon), Diplo, and more. Relaxing soundscapes, and an amalgamation of genres result in a gift to your eardrums. Take a listen and see for yourself.
For those of you who are not up on Mansions on the Moon, peep this: Mansions on the Moon – Coldwater (audio)
We are super excited about this upcoming tour since we haven’t seen Maxwell since he performed at Radio City Music Hall a couple years back.
More details:
Soul Superstar’s First Shows Since 2010 Are Two-Night Stands in LA, Atlanta, and Newark
Maxwell, the chart topping, arena-filling soul superstar celebrated for his show-stopping performances, has announced his first live dates since June, 2010, with two-night stands in Los Angeles on June 20 and 21, Atlanta on
July 27 and 28, and Newark on August 3 and 4. For the first time ever, the musician will perform his four Platinum-certified albums in their entirety, debuting songs never heard live before. See full dates below.
On the first night in each city, Maxwell will perform ‘Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite’ (1996) and ‘Embrya’ (1998) and on the second, he will play ‘Now’ (2001) and ‘BLACKsummers’night‘ (2009). Maxwell and his eleven piece band will be debuting tracks from all four albums that have never been performed live. The Maxwell tour will also offer fans a way to help President Obama’s re-election campaign. Custom Obama-Biden 2012 merchandise will be available for purchase at select tour stops. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Obama for America. Obama for America will also be at the Maxwell concerts to sign up volunteers to help register voters in battleground states.
Tour Dates
7/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center *
7/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center ^
7/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Phillips Arena *
7/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Phillips Arena ^
8/03 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center *
8/04 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center ^
* Performing ‘Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite’ and ‘Embrya’
^ Performing ‘Now’ and ‘BLACKsummers’night’
AMEX Presale starts Friday, April 20th at 10am. Public on sale starts Saturday, April 28th.
Here are some highlights from his last tour: Till The Cops Come Knocking Live at Radio City Music Hall, New York
Get To Know You Live at Radio City Music Hall, New York
Noone Live at the United Center, Chicago, Illinois
RT @JayFingers: Tks sir! RT @DrPostALot Love the write up from @JayFingers @soulhead1 for @GhostfaceKillah http://t.co/S4GFo7Ggd4 #Salute @AdrianYounge4 days ago via web from DrPostALot
