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I can say with all confidence that D'Angelo fans have had the best 24 hours ever. That's certainly the case for this D'Angelo fan who can't believe that the long-standing dream of his triumphant return to the stage is a reality. It's a plot twist that everyone wanted but nobody expected. But the proof is in the pudding -- or make that the videos from his Euro tour opener in Stockholm, Sweden, which are pouring onto the net like water from a broken pipe. We've already seen a few clips of old favorites such as "Chicken Grease" and "Sh-t Damn Motherf--ker," but R&B Jesus also blessed the audience with new songs entitled "The Charade" and "Sugar Daddy." The newness didn't stop there, however. A peek at the set list and detailed reports from people who were at the concert show that he has a few unheard until now tracks in his arsenal. Here is video of one more fresh outta the oven track, "Another Life," a slow jam that sounds as if it samples The Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and finds D playing the piano, tapping into his falsetto, and culminating in his controlled wails. It doesn't matter that this footage is fuzzier than a cotton ball or that we can barely make out D'Angelo on stage at the piano much less understand all the words to the song. What I can hear is enough to have me swooning and waving a lighter from side to side in the air, though. D'Angelo simply has me caught up in the rapture. I'm not ashamed, and I'm not alone. Watch. Enjoy. Rinse. Repeat.

Just the other day, NubianEmpress was bemoaning the lack of bodyroll music in her The Game column. Leave it to SoulBounce fam DJ Stylus to come to the rescue with this very special mix whose purpose is to induce bodyrolls of the nastiest, funkiest kind and also commemorate the one-year anniversary of the hottest party to hit the DMV nightlife scene in a hot minute, the phenomenon known as Axel F. (Peep the commercial after the bounce to get a taste of the Axel F honey.) This mix follows the Axel F Mixologist mix that his partner in crime DJ Jahsonic did for SoulBounce last January to celebrate the kick off of the monthly throwback party series featuring the best in jheri curl funk, champagne soul, and lazer boogie. Saturday night will be the official first anniversary throwdown and souls will be glowing from the melodic sounds of the Sexual Chocolate Band & Show in addition to the turntablism of Stylus, Jahsonic, and Adrian Loving. In case you don't live in the Washington, DC area and can't make it, this mix is the next best thing to being there. Go to DJ Stylus' SoundCloud page for the complete tracklist and to download this bad mamma jamma. Warning: SoulBounce is not responsible for any backbones that may slip out of alignment when you spontaneously break out into dance while listening.

This winter weather has been wacky to say the least, but I'm not the least bit mad at the rash of warm days that the Northeast states have been treated to. And although I'm no weatherman, I can forecast that the temperature in New York City will be The Hot At Nights with a strong chance of Nicolay on Friday, February 3rd. Chris Boerner, Matt Douglas, Nick Baglio, and Nic will be playing that night at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club. It's gonna be a late show (not starting until approximately 12:30 am on Saturday morning), but since NYC is the City That Doesn't Sleep our NYC Bouncers will be aight. I also think that the prospect of winning a pair of free tickets courtesy of FE Music will definitely sweeten the deal. Hit the bounce to enter. But if you don't want to be left out in the cold swinging your legs off the curb, then buy your tickets in advance.

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Quirky cutie Elle Varner has worked her way into our ice cold hearts here at SBHQ. Her breakout hit "Only Wanna Give It To You" was so beloved that it made our Hot 16 Best Songs of 2011 list, and the tasty candy-coated bits and pieces we've heard from her debut album, Perfectly Imperfect, have us open like the doors of the church. That project still doesn't have a release date, but earlier this week she dropped a mixtape out of the blue entitled Conversational Lush. The 10 songs (of 13 tracks total) are as eclectic as the singer herself, but her raspy vocals are the glue that holds it all together and a few in particular really stand out. Personal faves include the worst day ever scenario of "WTF," which I can totally relate to because I've had way too many of those "Calgon take me away" train wreck kinda days myself, and "Feel Like A Woman" which finds Elle channeling her inner sex kitten as well as her upper register on this Lover's Rock-flavored cut with Bei Maejor kicking a rap. If these two jams are free mixtape fodder then I really can't wait to hear what kinda hotness she's got in store on her real album. In the meantime, bounce on over to Elle's SoundCloud page to download Conversational Lush. 

Elle Varner: "WTF"

Elle Varner feat. Bei Maejor: "Feel Like A Woman"

The audio surprises just keep coming in 2012. The latest to bestow a musical gift unto us is songbird Conya Doss with "Don't Change," the lovely first single from her soon-to-be-released new album, A Pocketful of Purpose. Conya's signature honeyed vocals slide over the mellow smooth groove that you can cool out or two-step to. I've had this on repeat for the past half hour, so it's safe to say that I'm loving this. Not much is known about A Pocketful of Purpose at the moment, but if the remaining songs are anything like this or on the level of (or better than) her past albums, then this will be another must own when it's released.

Conya Doss: "Don't Change"

John Legend lets his sexy loose on his new single "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)," from the soundtrack to the film Think Like A Man, in theaters soon. I know what you're thinking, "John Legend?...Sexy?" and, yes, it can happen and it indeed does on this song where he musically seduces his lady by telling her how good he's going to give it to her. It's so good, as a matter of fact, that it'll be the best she's ever had. Well excuse me. Let me find out that what's beneath John's belt is what's really legendary around these parts. Ludacris steps in to add his own boastful rap with a line about "light skin love" that made me chuckle. It's not all fun and games, though; these two mean business and you better be prepared if you plan to spend the night.     

Remix albums are usually just one of the smash-and-grab tactics by labels to stretch out the revenue an artist can make (see Rihanna, Lady Gaga and any other current pop divas for proof of this). However, when a group like Jazzanova releases a collection of remixes, it's an altogether different animal. Their remixes of others' material are the stuff of legend, so you know that they wouldn't put their material in the hands of amateurs. Featuring the likes of Atjazz and Alex Barcke, as well as Jazzanova members posing under different monikers, Upside Down is a collection of remixes to tracks that the collective have released over the past eight years and, for the most part, doesn't skip a beat.

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There are a few things in life that are guaranteed: death, taxes, and club scenes in music videos. You would think that people would tire of seeing videos of faux party scenes set in faux clubs, but artists keep churning them out. The latest to do it is Carl Thomas for the song "Don't Kiss Me" featuring none other than the perpetually smoked out Snoop Dogg. The scene is set with Snoop surrounded by numerous model chicks and other assorted club-goers while Carl performs on the stage and dancers break out into choreographed stepping. Of course, there's a pretty young thing who Carl romances at the bar and, of course, she falls for his charms. There's no new or interesting ground broken here, so watch this if you're a Carl Thomas fan or to hear the song, but otherwise you've seen this video a million times before. 

Paris serves as the romantic backdrop for Kelly Rowland and Lance Gross in her new video for the track "Keep It Between Us," one of the more palatable songs from Here I Am. Kelly and Lance are seen in various scenes enjoying Paris and each other, but there seems to be trouble in paradise; everything isn't all passionate hugs and kisses. Can they repair their rocky relationship, or will they find a way to make it work? Watch these beautiful people in this equally beautiful video to find out. If you're loving Lance's eye chocolate as much as I am, then be sure to check him out in his starring role in Matthew A. Cherry's feature debut, The Last Fall, coming soon for more.

You may recognize Judith Hill from providing supporting vocals for the late, great Michael Jackson. Or might recall her when she moved from the background to the forefront and sang the duet "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with him in This is It (while holding her own with some amazing runs, I must add). Or maybe she's familiar to you from her touching performance of "Heal the World" at MJ's funeral. I loved hearing her sing the King of Pop's songs, but I'm thrilled she is now singing her own material and we'll soon get to hear more. Earlier this week, she lit up the stage at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, performing music from the soundtrack to Spike Lee's upcoming film, Red Hook Summer. Lee handpicked Hill for this project, and she wrote and performed original songs for the soundtrack. Now we have a reason to anticipate the soundtrack as much as the movie's release. When was the last time that happened? Until it's time for both to be released, check out Judith Hill around the web and peep her EPK after the bounce.

Judith Hill [Official][Facebook][Twitter]

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