This blog is dedicated to showcasing and exploring R&B
Give Solange’s Album: A Seat at the Table a Listen
I can’t say enough amazing things about Solnage’s Album A Seat at the Table. If you haven’t listen to it, you need to get on that ASAP. One of the most phenomenal things about R&B Soul music is that the message with in this genre can pull from such a wide range of emotions. This album is jam packed with not only amazing melodies but also, amazing messages that are extremely open to the listener’s interpretation. Each of the songs flows seamlessly into one another so, this is an album that is best listened to in order. A few of the songs include some interludes where people share their stories and their life experience about. As a young Black woman in America, I can honestly say that there are few things in this album that I needed to hear, one of my favorite messages can be heard in “Interlude: Tina Taught Me”.
One of the more popular songs on the album is “Cranes in the Sky”, and rightfully so. The instrumental portion alone is amazing. Then on top of that you get lyrics that so greatly signifies what it can feel like being a Black woman in America:
Fortunately, great music and a strong message is present in every song on this Album. I hope by now you’ve gone to Spotify and taken a listen to the it for yourself.
Rising Star: VanJess
VanJess, comprised of Nigerian-American sisters Jessica and Ivana Nwokike, is the up and coming R&B dynamic duo. Growing up in Nigeria, the sisters participated in school plays and musicals and sang in their local church choir. At a young age they even began to write song. When the sisters moved to America, they continued their passion for music by creating a YouTube Page in 2009.
The duo used they’re YouTube page to create, define, and mold their own sound. While covering popular music, the sisters listened to other artists’ songs and figured out how their songs would best suit them. The duo grew up listening to a wide range of musicians and genres, but are heavily influenced by 90s R&B; however the duo credit their sound to the plethora of music knowledge they accumulated over the years. In addition to their musical knowledge, the Ivana and Jessica taught themselves to sing and play the piano and guitar, respectfully, by ear. Music is in their blood!
Over the years, their rise to YouTube stardom peaked the interest of artist J Cole, Ryan Seacrest, and Vibe and Essence Magazine. They’re first video went viral was their mash up of Thinking About You and Headlines. Vanjess’ YouTube popularity gave them opportunities to compete in NBC’s The Voice and VH1’s Make Or Break: The Linda Perry Project. While waiting for VanJess’ new EP to drop later this year, check out their SoundCloud Page and their debut album OO Till Escape, released in 2015, that charted on the iTunes top 10.
-Aferba Ashong
Rising Star: Durand Bernarr
Where Cleveland at! Durand Bernarr is a singer, songwriter, and background vocalist hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Music was the center of Bernarr’s childhood as his mother was a professional music teacher and vocal coach, and his father as providing sound and tour production for industry heavyweights such as Jay Z, Adele, Jill Scott, Earth Wind and Fire, and the late Whitney Houston. Because of his parents Bernarr had the distinct opportunity to learn from and collaborate with legends such as Earth Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, the Internet, and Maxwell.
Bernarr began is career on YouTube releasing covers of popular songs and releasing music of his own under the name AlcoholHarmony. Singer Erykah Badu discovered Bernarr when he sang a cover of her song. Upon hearing his version, Badu personally sought him out and invited him to sing the background vocals during her tour where he still with today.
Durand Bernarr is not yet signed to a major record label, but with a voice as smooth as butter and his amazing storytelling techniques, he is definitely one to watch. Sit back, relax, and let Bernarr serenade you with his Music! You will not be disappointed.
-Aferba Ashong
Christian R&B
Christian R&B is a genre of music that combines Rhythm and Blues instrumentals with Christian-based lyrics or lyrics that inspire, uplift, and give a Christian perspective on certain issues. Recently there has been an emergence of Christian artists who choose to take a non-traditional approach to their music. Unfortunately, these artists receive a lot of criticism by many of their listeners because of it. On the flip side, these artists gain a younger audience and become more popular with those who do not neccessarily like or listen to Gospel/ Christian music. This list of artists include Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary and Erica Campbell, Kierra Sheard, Mali Music, Johnathan McReynolds, Tye Tribbett and so many more.
Many Christian or Gospel artists have also been using well known R&B lyrics and incorporating them into new songs. They also either use a well known R&B beat or change the lyrics of a well known R&B song by changing a few words to make them talk about God. For example, Trey Mclaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar is an outstanding Christian group, whom in my opinion do not receive the credit or popularity they deserve. They recently in responce to the tragic news of Prince’s death took his song “I Would Die 4 U” and rearranged it to say “Jesus died for you”.
Here are some other examples:
Erica Campbell rearranged Aaliyah’s song “More than a Woman” to “More than a Lover”
Zarcari Cortez uses the beat of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” for his song “YDIA”.
I personally think Christian R&B is the direction Gospel/ Contemporary Christian music is headed in. Of course you can never abandon the oldie but goodie style of music, but just as people change and evolve, the music regardless of what genre has to as well.
Andra Day
Andra Day is a new R&B artists who got her start after being noticed by Stevie Wonders second wife, Kai Millard Morris. She is now signed to Warner Bros Records. Her first album was released in 2015 titled “Cheers to the Fall”. Lately Audra has been receiving a lot of attention. Many compare her to other female artists such as Adele, Erykah Badu, and Amy Winehouse. Andra has a very noticeable voice, and her style can be described as a mixture of Jazz, Soul, and R&B. Andra’s album was nominated for Best R&B Album and the album’s main single, “Rise Up”, was nominated for Best R&B Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
I first noticed Audra Day when I heard her single “Rise Up”. I was immediately captivated by her voice, which is definitely unlike most voices you hear on the radio. I especially loved the lyrics of the song. I thought it was very inspirational. What I love most about an artist is when they can write music that can be enjoyed by anyone. When I first heard Andra, I was listening to one of my favorite radio stations Star 99.1, which is a contemporary Christian music radio station. Since then I have heard her music on other popular stations, but I love the fact that her music can be played on various stations to reach people which different music preferences.
24k Magic
Bruno Mars has a new album, and to my surprise no one has really been talking about it. It’s no visual album, and it most certainly doesn’t comment on top hitting issues within America right now, but it still deserves its place in the spotlight. Honestly, 24k Magic is just a really fun, feel-good album. It has a great throwback R&B Soul sound to every song within the album and a lot of the songs are great to dance to or just bump to on your own. One of my favorite songs on the album is “Chunky”. It just has a super fun sound, and its extremely danceable, and just like the rest of the album, has a great throw back R&B Soul feel. In addition to the great melodies and killer beats there are tons of fun lyrics. Like in one of my other favorite songs on the album “Perm”, where the lyrics for the chorus are “throw some perm on your attitude…cause you gotta relax”. It’s one of those songs that you can’t listen to without smiling and bopping your head to. In addition to all of the dance music there are quite a few ballads on the album so there is little bit of something for everyone on it. This was the perfect album for Bruno Mars to come back with, and we, as decent human beings, should talking about it more.
Here’s the link to “Chunky”:
All of 24k Magic available on Spotify
“I think ya better call Tyrone…But you caint use my phone”
If you haven’t figured it out by now this blog post will be featuring the vibrantly soulful R&B artist, Erykah Badu. She began her music career in 1996 and has been in the music game ever since. I remember growing up hearing Erykah’s catchy songs such as “On and On,” “Next Lifetime,” “Call Tyrone,” and much more. Overtime she has been categorized as the Queen of NeoSoul; a contemporary R&B music genre that is more soulful and tends to have deeper messages and meanings than R&B. Erykah Badu’s style of music is poetic, soulful, smooth, colorful, vibrant, eclectic, very original and authentic. In my opinion her music is what they call an aquired taste.
Recently in 2015, Erykah has released some new music in the form of a mixtape called “But You Caint Use My Phone.” If you are a Badu fan, you understand the reference of her mixtape title. One of her popular songs is titled “Tyrone“. In this song she expresses her frustration with her man who doesn’t want to spend time alone with her anymore. He’d much rather spend time with his male friends, one of them named Tyrone. So Erykah in this song is kicking her boyfriend to the curb and she suggests that he calls his friend Tyrone to come help him get his belongings. The last lines of this song is “You need to call Tyrone. Hold on, But you can’t use my phone.”
Erykah’s new mixtape embodies contemporary styles of music, but she still manages to be herself. Some of my favorite songs are “Phone down“, “U Don’t Have to Call“, and “Cell U Lar Device“. In “U don’t have to call” she put a spin on Usher’s 2001 hit song, and “Cell U Lar Device” is a remix to Drake’s “Hotline Bling”. So If you are an old fan or new fan of Erykah’s I highly recommend checking out her new mixtape. While you’re at it you mind as well go explore some of her older albums as well. I promise you will not be disappointed!
~Latoyah Sunday
William Singe
In today’s day and age covers are extremely common for popular songs. When concerned with popular music the cover can either be just as good as if not better then the original song. The thing that makes a great cover Is how creative the artist can get with it and put their own spin on it. William Singe is someone who does an amazing job with covers and putting his own R&B sound to all of his covers. Even some of the most unexpected songs like Taylor Swifts “Shake it Off”. In doing so, I find myself going to listen to some of his covers of popular music instead of going to the original song. Pretty much all of his covers have a great bass line and his vocal range is great, especially his use of the upper register. He also does quite a few covers where he will mix together older R&B songs with songs that are popular now. In his most recent cover with Alex Aiono where they mashed up “Black Beetles”, “Confessions” and “No problem” together. This makes for an overall fun song to listen to with a killer bass line and little bit of a throw back feel when confessions is brought into the mix.
Check out William Singe on YouTube:
And a lot of his music is also available on Spotify
Rising Star: Coline Creuzot
If you are like me, you not only enjoy a catchy chorus and a tight beat, but also a great voice with meaningful lyrics to compliment. Look no further, powerful singer songwriter Coline Creuzot, native of Houston, Texas, is your saving grace!
Coming from a musical family, from a young age Coline grew up with a burning desire to perform. By the age of ten she was writing songs and performing at local competitions. Upon graduating from Hampton University with a degree in Business Management, Coline moved back to her hometown t begin her music career. Right away she received success with her #1 single “Give-and-Take” produced by Happy Perez who worked with artists such as Janelle Monae, Frank Ocean, and Miguel. The success of her song landed her the opportunity to open up Drake, T-Pain, T.I., David Banner, and Keyshia Cole. She even appeared in her longtime friend Solange Knowles'”I Decided” music video as a background singer/dancer in 2008.
Her career continued to soar as she caught the eye of Sony ATV, formally known as EMI, Sony ATV signed her as songwriter in 2011. She released her first EP Acapella Now with Sony ATV in 2012 as is slated to release Timeless later this year.
Coline’s career continues to rise as she collaborates with Grammy nominated and award winning singers, songwriters, and producers. She is definitely one to watch! Check out her YouTube page and SoundCloud here!
-Aferba Ashong
Reconnecting With R&B 