The Weeknd wakes up with a hangover after his After Hours binge After Hours followed the Weeknd’s journey late into the night, as he fell victim to his own worst habits. Dawn FM is him waking up from that hangover, … Continue reading 5 Thoughts on The Weeknd’s New Album ‘Dawn FM’
What 300,000 concert-goers got to experience in person 50 years ago, the world now gets to watch up close and personal. As the musical time capsule that is Summer of Soul shares its treasures, it evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for a foregone era, while not ignoring the significant cultural and political challenges of the period. Here are our 5 takeaways from the incredible documentary. Continue reading 5 Takeaways from Questlove’s Summer of Soul Documentary
Director Questlove’s Summer of Soul takes us into the heart of Harlem, New York, where the most prominent and iconic Black musicians performed over the course of a six-part concert series during the summer of 1969. The footage of those performances is so spectacular, and the film’s commentary so engaging, that viewers will never think about the summer of Woodstock without also remembering the mini revolution that took place downtown at Mount Morris Park in the city. A revolution not televised… until now. Continue reading REVIEW: Questlove’s Summer of Soul (…Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Our list of the top 25 rap/R&B collaborations showcases a cross-pollination of prolific rappers (Jay Z, Nas, Biggie) and singers (Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé) who came together to make timeless music. Continue reading Top 25 Rap and R&B Collaborations of All Time
With the future of in-person concerts paused for the foreseeable future, musicians and fans alike are hoping that virtual concerts and performances can temporarily fill the void. One of the musicians looking to make the most of the circumstances is neo-soul legend Erykah Badu. Joined by her live band, Badu has streamed 3 performances from Dallas in increasingly elaborate settings, featuring jam sessions, experimental dj remixes, and commentary on everything from the COVID-19 pandemic to asteroids flying towards earth. Continue reading Presenting… Erykah Badu’s Quarantine Concert Series
Terrace Martin, 9th Wonder, Robert Glasper, and Kamasi Washington have come together to form a new supergroup. They blessed the world with their 7-song debut album, called Dinner Party, this past Friday. In collective form, the group is musical royalty: an elite roster made up of musicians who continue to thrive at the creative forefronts of their respective genres. Continue reading Introductions to the Dinner Party Roster
Eclectic and loose mix of nu soul blended with alternative hip hop. Focus on soulful R&B vocals with various experimental production styles. Artists featured include The Internet, D’Angelo, Phony Ppl, Thundercat, and Anderson .Paak. Continue reading Playlist: Soulwave
Thundercat is on a mission to build his own brand of funky neo soul music. On his new album, It Is What It Is, the talented bassist concocts another blend of avante garde jazz with funky bass lines and dopey humor. Thundercat throws the weirdness of an Adult Swim segment into the webs of contemporary jazz compositions to tell goofy love stories that bring his musical comics to life. Continue reading REVIEW: Thundercat continues to invent his own brand of groovy and goofy soul
The king of nocturnal alternative r&b returns to dark themes, cloaked in various outfits. He transitions from intimate r&b to druggy and defiant soultrap to 80’s-esque dance floor anthems. Continue reading The Weeknd’s After Hours is a Tragedy
Anderson .Paak’s breakout album, Malibu, brought his avante guard brand of hip hop to a national audience – and a grammy nomination. Most people were introduced to him through hearing his feature verses (6 features!) on Dr. Dre’s hugely anticipated Compton album. … Continue reading Give the drummer some: Introduction to Anderson .Paak
REVIEW After a 4-year hiatus since his debut album, Channel Orange, hip hop crooner Frank Ocean has released his sophomore effort entitled Blonde. The album can be streamed on Apple music right now; meanwhile everyone else will have to buy it on iTunes … Continue reading REVIEW: Frank Ocean’s Blonde is a Subdued Search for Reconciliation with his Past
Frank Ocean’s album Boys Don’t Cry was rumored to be released back in 2014 (key word: rumored) – just 2 years after his mainstream debut Channel Orange blurred the lines between hiphop and r&b once and for all. As we all eagerly anticipate his sophomore album, is it fair to say the process is just as liberating as it is frustrating? Continue reading Frank Ocean Doesn’t Owe Us Anything