Rolling R&B Thread 2009

Haven't heard the Bobby V album yet, I'll listen to it eventually but that "Beep" song isn't exactly promising (though near the end when he starts screaming "SHEEEE GON LET ME BEEEAAAT" is hilarious).

Anyway I'm addicted to this new India Arie single w/ Musiq (who's album from last year is really slept on... "SoBeautiful" and "Until" are incredible) "Chocolate High". The lyrics are kind of corny but in a cute way, it sounds like something Roberta & Donny would've done:

has anyone heard her new album Testimony Vol. 2?

i like the keyshia cole from last year. her best album yet imo, shes kinda less naggy

― choom gangsta (deej), Saturday, January 3, 2009 11:29 PM (1 month ago)

Alright, so I've kind of come around to this after pretty much hating it at first (besides "Brand New" - which is still the standout to me). I still think it's her worst album, it's really, really overproduced and it's just not what I look for in a Keyshia Cole album. That said, there are some bangers on it, the aforementioned "Brand New" which is one of her best songs for sure, "Oh Yeah Yeah-Yeah" with Nas which is so DRAMATIC, and "Please Don't Stop" which is awesome electro/freestyle type track, and "Trust" which I loved back when it was a bonus track on Just Like You, Monica takes it to another level though for sure.

Also, here's some new stuff I've been feeling a lot lately:

Chrisette Michele "Epiphany" : Title track and lead single from her upcoming sophomore album, written by Ne-Yo.... I love how lazy/languid this sounds, like it really conjures up the image of her sitting alone waiting for her man to come home and just playing this on the piano. It's nice, I'm definitely excited for her album now. First one is slept on ("Mr. Radio"! "Let's Rock!")

Pleasure P "Boyfriend No. 2" : BANGERRRRRR

J. Holiday "Make That Sound"

Jesse Boykins III "Pantyhose" : This probably fits more in the sideways thread, but anyway dude is really talented... like a spacier Dwele type sound. Plus "I Want To See You In Your PANTYHOSEEEE" is like the best chorus ever.

Keyshia Cole is like this to me.

Yeah, I posted about Boykins in the other thread, but certainly don't mind discussing him over here. I've been listening to his EP a lot, but need to hear his album more. Dude makes some of the most purely sumptuous music I've heard recently and seems to do it it with odd combinations of sounds that shouldn't go together like tablas and muted trumpets. Speaking of which, "Tabloids" is my JB3 jam.

Yeah I saw the video for "Tabloids" on BETJ a few months back and was like woooow... "sumptuous" is definitely the right word to describe his sound. There's so much going on that it could easily sounds amateurish and sloppy but everything comes together so well.

I really like that one.

Anyway I'm addicted to this new India Arie single w/ Musiq

im listening to the new one now...this song and 'therapy' are great, the rest i'm kinda lukewarm on atm.

omg the song with mc lyte is so bad

oh shit the next one is just as bad :(

Laura Izibor, the lastest UK-export... her single "From My Heart To Yours" has been getting lots of play on VH1 Soul/BET J. It's cute definitely, but her voice sounds really forced to me (similar to Joss Stone). Was is it about these British soul-singers? It's so exaggerated... but anyway it's a good song and I'll check out her album definitely. He's a live performance:

Melanie Fiona, yet another person doing the whole "retro" thing - her single samples the Zombies. She's got a great voice, if Duffy can crossover and win a Grammy (eugh) then Melanie deserves to make it big for sure. Here's the single "Give It To Me Right":

And a look at her album ("Monday Morning" and "Sad Songs" sound promising):

Laura Izibor is Irish.

at the beginning of last year there was this uk funky mix that started out w/ a remix of 'from my heart to yours' that was just banging -- it wasnt a funky house remix at all tho, pretty mainstream glossy joint

My girl Priscilla Renea, who's the girl mimicking Rihanna on that "Emergency Room" demo (she co-wrote that track, too). New EP soon, like a month or something, album in the summer.

Trying to figure out who the Electrik Red girl who I like's voice reminded me of, I think it's Chilli from TLC. The little "How'd I let him come back" hook at the beginning of So Good is killing me.

Heard American Boy on the radio earlier and actually really connected with what Rev was saying about Estelle's voice on that track on another thread, despite all the stick he got for it. Its the sharp notes, they seem to become a bit extra sharp in her throat, she slices into them with not a little grating.

Donnie Simpson had a nice interview with Jazmin Sullivan on the radio this morning. Wish I could see her do her 30 minute set opening for Neyo tonight in DC.

really feeling that chrisette michele joint. didn't know bobby v had an album out! will check it: he seems to go from great to blah almost at random. ('beep' is really boring.)

yeah, a girl I work w/ is seeing that show in Baltimore tomorrow, i haven't seen Ne-Yo live since his first album was out and I'd really like to see his show now. xpost

loving that RichGirl single, although it's kinda sad that years and years after Rich Harrison got all that buzz with Beyonce/Kelly/DC singles, he's finally got a group doing something and they sound exactly like Beyonce and Kelly.

Love what I've heard of the Ryan Leslie record. Worth picking up?

i think so. there's a thread on him somewhere on ilm too.

Reunited Blackstreet and En Vogue playing at the club, Blackstreet on Friday. Should I go?

No way! Blackstreet at BB's is tempting, especially since I missed Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Keith Sweat last week...

I really never listened to their stuff; where's a good place for a neophyte to start?

There is a best-of ... I would also suggest the double-disc comp "Gold: New Jack Swing," which has some excellent remixes.

xp yeah Ne-Yo is playing here with Electrick Red, Jazmine & Musiq this Friday & Saturday. I want to go but tickets are like $70... and I don't even really want to see Ne-Yo I just want to see Jazzy & Electrick Red. Luckily I've seen Jazmine already (INCREDIBLE) so I can afford to miss this show.

File Name: 10-syleena_johnson-maury_povich_ft._cold_hard_of_crucial_conflict.mp3

― r|t|c, Monday, February 2, 2009 9:50 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

no way song is better than the file name so i refuse to download

― jordy (J0rdan S.), Monday, February 2, 2009 9:51 PM (2 weeks ago)

Syleena is the father!

i picked up that syleena album in LA, must give it a listen...

Really liking that Priscilla Renea stuff.

had not seen the jamie foxx video with ron howard in it 0_o

He looks confused to be there.

more for matt2:

Keri Hilson - In A Perfect World... (LOL)

HEY GUYZ THIS ACTUALLY EXISTS:

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9513/kerihilsoninaperfectwor.jpg

And it's pretty good all things considered. Not the MINDBLOWING DEBUT ALBUM I was expecting two years ago, but the production is great throughout (as expected) and there are lots of good tunes on this... standout is "Inuition" (which wouldn't sound out of place on the Aaliyah album), really classic throwback Timbo beat, "Get Ur Money Up" which is an ANTHEM, "Make Love" which is just gorgeous, "Knock You Down" (which the next single FYI) and of course "Where Did He Go?"...

anticipating this download

Honestly I'm more excited for her second album, since she's on the way to establishing herself with this one ("Knock You Down" should be another big hit for her, and I think "Get Your Money Up" could do well) the next record should come out without being chronically delayed and everything leaking a year before the album actually comes out.

<3 u brainwasher!

really really really feeling this right now

Might prefer this over the album version.

really looking forward to that album; suppose I should already have found it?

and a few notable debuts:

Janelle Monae

she's r&b, just kinda out there, maybe kinda experimental, maybe kinda pretentious modern r&b

great! i downloaded her EP the other day, and now i'm really excited

Totally love Janelle, somewhat less taken by her live show.

yeah that keyshia cole joint is awesome

monae is so fuckin corny

cant all be Cool Kids can we

heh

take it to passive aggressive notes, folks.