Tuesday, July 22, 2008

New Music Videos

Excuses, excuses. I can't believe I let over a month go by without blogging and bringing the absolute brand new Flava To Ya Ear. I can go on and on about my busy schedule writing, interviewing, working, being a good friend, and trying to squeeze in enough me time so I don't drive myself insane. You feel me? It's tough, but my number one priority right now is launching my writing career...

So, back to the music news... There has been so many artists that have been releasing albums, videos, and new singles this summer. Last Tuesday Nas released his anticipated album which features his new single 'Hero' featuring the lovely Keri Hilson. And speaking of Ms.Hilson who if you don't know sung the hook on Timbaland's 'The way I are' single. She is expected to release her debut album "In a perfect world" this September. Keri has this crazy hot joint out entitled 'energy' which everyone and especially ladies will be able to relate to because she sings about the draining situation called "Love" and its the love that is not reciprocated/one sided that we all try to avoid, but still seem to fall into... Keep your eyes and ears open because I predict her album will be hott!!!

Then we have J Records recording artist Jazmine Sullivan with her single 'need u bad', which is starting to get heavy rotation on the radio and that's my JAM! "Baby I need you bad!!!" Love This Song!!!



Who else? Let's see, Alicia Keys just released her empowering video Superwoman, that's my ish too. I blast this album and this song especially when I'm feeling down and out. Beware!!! Because if you are as sensitive and emotional as I have been lately and can relate to the struggles that are covered in this video you might want to grab a box of Kleenex because I was ballin during this video with my fist raised in the air talking about, "I am Superwoman!"



Oh yeah, my favorite Dream Girl Jennifer Hudson just released her video "Spotlight" and I absolutely love it to pieces. J.Hudson is definitely setting the bar for female artists who stay true to themselves and exemplifies what it means to feel good in your own SKIN. She is someone that every little girl, grown woman, and infant should look up to because she is FABULOUS!!! And this video features a little eye candy Mr.FINE himself one the actors from one of Tyler Perry's Medea plays and Mmm is all I have to say.

Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight


It's too many artists to name, but as always keep it locked on Most Slept On Artists and I will try my best to bring consistent brand new flava to ya ear.

Shoutoutz to the flyest mommy's to be Krissy & Maddie! I love you ladies and my GC and Niece or Nephew!!! Muah!!!
Congrats to Shake Your Beauty Blogger Tia Williams, she is expecting too... Woo Hoo!!! And to all the beautiful brown mommy's to be out there!!! xoxo

Friday, June 13, 2008

Celebrating Black Music Month!!!

[Please Forgive Me! How dare I not post a blog for more than a week, but time is against me and I've been interviewing artists like crazy...]

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog.

Happy Black Music Month! Yes, that does exist and don't feel bad I was unaware myself and I'm a black! Shame on us!!! Well Its better late than never, the motto of my life...

Black Music month was designated by former President of the United States Jimmy Carter in 1979 and in 2008 President Bush is proclaiming it like he created it.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2008 as Black Music Month. I encourage all Americans to learn more about the history of black music and to enjoy the great contributions of African-American singers, musicians, and composers." GWB

Check out the actual proclamation straight from the White House and soon to be Black House. Go Obama!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080531-2.html

I think it is crucial than a mutha to recognize African people and all of our accomplishments and contributions to western civilization and that we are our defining aesthetics through our own lens. Well, some of us. I think music from all races, cultures, and backgrounds is beautiful and I respect and appreciate a good Kompa, Bachata, Reggaeton, song as well as the next Haitian or Dominican. I also take pride in my music, black music and it could never be duplicated as well as we do. Sorry Joss Stone, Robin Thicke, Amy, and Teena Marie... Ouch!!! I love y'all, but as I stated before black music can never be duplicated... Its in the blood. Now, I believe you can have soul no matter what color you are, but its different when the music is delivered from a black mouth to a black ear... Well, I don't want to go on a tangent and I hope I didn't offend anyone and feel free to agree or disagree cuz its all love...

During this ever blazing hot month of June blast "Black" music while driving in your cars or while your listening to your i-pod while your riding on your bike because of the high prices of gas or riding on public transportation [that would be me]. You can take it back to Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Celia Cruz [come on my gurl is of African Descent], The Supremes, New Edition, Ce Ce Penniston, Jade, EnVogue, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, Tupac, Common, or whatever your ears desire...

Keep it locked right here for Most Slept on Artists interviews, music reviews, videos, blogging, and more...

Monday, June 2, 2008

Who is Charles Hamilton?

"If my life were to be a movie, it would be the Antoine Fisher story all over again, but with a killer soundtrack and without a military background," says Hamilton.

So, who is this dude who compares his life to the oh so draining flick Antoine Fisher? Well, his name is none other than the lionized hip-hop star Charles Hamilton who will have dudes and not the metro sexual ones wearing pink like Camron once did... Speaking of Camron, which leads to Harlem where Hamilton grew up and attended the Frederick Douglass Academy... Oh Harlem, home of the black arts movement, the famous Apollo Theatre and my girl Alicia Keys!!! As you can see this city just bleeds black talent out of its rugged and historical grounds, but this is not a historical index about Harlem world, but about this brotha "Charles Hamilton" who can spit lyrics like he is suffering from ADHD...

Now, he just got signed to Interscope Records. Oops!!! Was I suppose to disclose that??? Well, anywho Charles Hamilton, [remember the name and color Pink] went from living on the streets of NYC and sleeping in the studio at his high school to recording music in hit making studios in LA where he is recording his debut album, "The Pink Lavalamp," which has been completed for a min, but you know how record execs get trying to get the hottest producers on dusty tracks to make radio friendly music, but if you ask me I think he already has radio friendly hits up the ying-yang on his mix-tape and you should never try to commercialize REAL HIP-HOP. Don't get me started on that subject, TBC... Call me bias if you want, but I love when artists write and make music when they're at their hungriest state because thats when they pour their heart and soul into the project and don't get caught in the steak, lobster, Patron, and the groupies... Starving artists like Charles Hamilton need the support and your ear to listen to the brand new flava that they have to offer... So, check out this video of the ADHD rapper and keep it locked on Most Slept on Artists for the Charles Hamilton Interview Coming sooner than a blink...

Watch Charle's freestyle for over 5mins straight off the dome! His first ever live radio interview in LA on Power 106/Skee...

Introducing Charles Hamilton!!!

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Oh yeah, he's a a writer too! So, hit up his blog at http://charleshamilton.blogspot.com/

Oh stop, thank me later!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Introducing Ayah!!!

I know i'm new to the blog game, but ever since like Yesturday I started the buzz about my site i've been receiving random press releases from new music artists. Some good and some very wack, but that's besides the point because I stumbled across an artist who doesn't fall underneath the wack category by the name of Ayah.

This woman is T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D!!! Her music is seriously hott!!! Ayah has that old school hip-hop meets new soul/spokenword/R&B sound going on and literally wrapped into one. Isn't she gorgeous!!!


Ayah who is Canadian and of Middle Eastern descent is releasing her debut mix-tape "Problem Woman" which is set to be release on May 28. Once you hear her music you'll probably be running to the store next Wednesday searching for her album, so before you do you should park yourself right at home in front of the computer monitor because I doubt the physical copy will be available in the United States unless you have a neo-soul bootlegger in your hood. If your interested in getting your hands on a copy of Ayah's mix-tape I will definitely keep ya posted.

Check out her MySpace page www.myspace.com/ayahmusic and keep it locked on Most Slept on Artists for the Ayah feature interview coming soon...

Check out her new single Reminisce!!!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

May's Most Slept On Artist: Ju-Taun


Usually when MySpace users receive band requests from unsigned artists whose lack of true talent makes the fact that they are unsigned inevitable they immediately deny the requests without even checking out the artists music, with Ju-Taun it is another story. When you log onto their official MySpace page your ears are immediately drawn into the sounds of their hit singles "Go Slow" and "Yes", which puts you into a sudden trance. The South Jersey natives Samoeun Cheng, Peter (NVS) Garcia, Jake and James (J-Nyce) Evans make up the rhythm and blues group Ju-Taun who strives to bring r&b's roots back to the music scene.

"We started out as we just wanted to sing together and it turned into artists trying to express music the way that they really, really feel it coming out of them. And its something that we truly live everyday and we're just trying to let people hear what we experience," says Ju-Taun.

Ju-Taun's hard work and determination exemplifies what it truly means to step out on faith and be on your grind 24/7 in order to make your dreams a reality. They went from performing on stages at local community colleges to huge arenas performing live with major acts 112, Ashanti, Jagged Edge, Mary Mary, Tyrese, and Jaheim. Ju-Taun pronounced zha-twan, also experienced the grassroots level of the music industry by writing, producing, and recording their own music and selling their cd's illegally on the streets of New York City. Selling their music illegally lead to the group getting arrested not once, but about three times. A few arrests didn't stop these artists from chasing their dreams of not becoming superstars, but making timeless music that they truly feel.

As their musical journey continued Ju-Taun shopped around for a record deal at major labels including Universal, Motown, and Virgin Records only to get the doors slammed in their faces, which resulted in the birth of their own independent company "Climax Entertainment".

"We're sticking to our guns and not backing down from what we really want. A lot of labels want to change you," says Ju-Taun.

Their debut album "Love Changes Things" is still a masterpiece in the making and is expected to be released this year.

"The thing is we're constantly working on music all the time, so its like the album is something that had to create itself. There are songs that we had that didn't make the album because it started to form itself. when we get together and get creative its something that you can't force. Its something that you can't say, "all right sit down in this room and make the album". It is a very involved and long process and we do all of our own writing and production, so we're heavily involved into all our music. So, the album just came together on its own, its something that we can't really formulate it just comes together," says Ju-Taun.

Ju-Taun is currently touring and their MySpace status currently reads, "Ju-Taun is ready to show the world!!!". Well, the world should keep their eyes and ears open for the sultry sounds of Ju-Taun because they are definitely going to be major contributors to not only the world of r&b, but music... And, that is why they're this month's most slept on artists. For more information on Ju-Taun check out their MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/jutaun.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

March's Most Slept on Artist: Alice Smith


Move over Amy Winehouse because there is a new sistah in town who can pipe and I don't mean that literally, but the woman can Sang. She delivers that same soulful sound and she produces quality music when she is sober... This 29-year-old Washington, D.C. native and Fordham University graduate exudes what true musical artistry is all about. Its safe to say that she is a soul artists, but listeners who want to challenge themselves and not minimize her work as just soul music can say that you can't put Alice Smith in a box because her style is absolutely indescribable.

Her debut album "For Lovers, Dreamers & Me" released on BBE Records, is filled with heart wrenching lyrics that will make you playback songs like her hit single "Dream" just to hear her piercing, but soft voice sing, "I need to be everything you see in your dreams/It seems to me you’ll never find another lover good as I/ To give you all that you need/And I’ll be there to love you each and every night and all through the day, day, day, day."

In Alice Smith's bio found on her website http://www.alicesmith.com/ she insisted that she doesn't consider her music within the soul genre.

"I don't think of it as a soul record," she insists. "When I was in school, I really thought about soul a lot. I was listening a lot to Björk and to the Commodores. I really wanted to know how they felt. And especially with Björk, the music there told me wow, that's really her soul, there. I thought about her a lot, about the sound of her music… Well, it wasn't exactly about the sound, and it wasn't about what other people call 'finding your bounds', or whatever. I thought of her soul; her music made me contemplate her soul. It made me think of Björk, and how she felt. You know what I mean? What she felt like inside. It was never about the genre. So I just came never to think of the idea of soul as being about a category."

For those of you who don't have a clue who Björk is, here is a small musical history lesson. Björk is an Icelandic singer, song writer, and producer who like Alice Smith music could not be identified or placed in one specific genre. Björk is definetely known for her soft voice and electronic sounds, but her musical interest and sound could be compared to jazz, pop, alternative rock, and house all at once. I'm not going to front I have never heard of this woman or her music before hearing about Alice Smith, but hey you learn something new everyday.
Now, if hear tracks from Alice Smith's album like "Know that I" and "Fake is the new real" you can equate her sound to country, with a dab of soul, sprinkled with reggae rhythms. So, as you can see like Björk this songstress music cannot be characterized into one genre because it serves her work no justice. It is inevitable that Alice Smith is a unique and talented artist and that is why she is chosen to be featured in the launching of this month's Most Slept on Artists. For more info about Alice Smith please check her out on http://www.alicesmith.com/ or hit up her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/alicesmith. Alice Smith is indeed bringing that brand new flava to ya hear!