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.

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.

 

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

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