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2010 is bringing in some amazing new music. We aren't necessarily counting new and scary musical outputs like the recent Badu/Lil Wayne match-up, but new and pleasing sounds like those coming from African import Nneka on her new release, Concrete Jungle. This album is providing us with a much-needed gulp of fresh air in today's bottle-necked music world.

Seemingly outspoken and political, Nneka gives the impression (via her website and online interviews) that she is motivated to create music that resonates on many levels for her listeners, much like a modern-day Bob Marley. This new CD resonates, indeed. Nneka is trying to change the universe through bridging musical worlds, and, frankly, she might be on to something. This CD is--simply--the shit.

Yep. It's just that good.

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Near the end of this interview with Time magazine, Maxwell responds to a fan's question by stating that he "thinks that most of R&B is a compilation record." Which is the tail end of a decent string of questions posed to the GRAMMY Award winning singer by a woman who appears to be barely interested in reading them from the sheet in front of her. Aside from the sterility (and poor lighting, yeesh), Maxwell gives some pretty decent answers to ten questions that range from (paraphrasing) "Why did you cut your hair?" to "What are your thoughts on how R&B sounds today versus the era of Marvin Gaye?" Ever the charismatic gentleman, it's always nice to hear his candid thoughts and this video is no exception.

• Relationship advice from the afterlife courtesy of (Not) Notorious B.I.G. [FIPS]
• Wu-Tang Clan alum Raekwon, Method Man and Ghostface have an album dropping on March 9th. Is it March 9th yet? [XXL]
• Dr. Conrad Murray has finally been charged with manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. [CNN]
• Lil Wayne may be going away for a year, but with 10 videos filmed over this past weekend, he won't be going away any time soon. [MTV]
• KiD CuDi can be seen for all of seconds in the pilot episode for HBO's How To Make It In America. [BC]
  

Although I may like a lot of music and artists, there are only a precious few that I fall gasp-and-swoon in love with. After seeing Alice Smith perform at the Pre-GRAMMY Brunch during my recent trip to Los Angeles, I am enraptured with this woman. Not only is she stunning in person, but her live performance left those of us in attendance on that sunny Saturday afternoon at the shiny new W Hotel slack-jawed and ready to erupt into a standing ovation by the time she hit the last lofty note. One of the songs that she performed that day was the soaring "Fire," which will be found on her upcoming album slated for release this Spring that I'm chomping at the bit to get in my hands after hearing but a sample of her new material. For a preview of the song, press play on the video below to take it all in. Oh, and for anyone lucky enough to have snagged tickets to Alice's sold out acoustic set at Joe's Pub Tuesday night, you are in for quite a treat. Trust.

Alice Smith [Official][Facebook][MySpace][Twitter]

Trizonna McClendon is back with her second release, New Familiar, and it marks a new chapter for the Chicago songbird. McClendon gets her sexy on this time around and that's definitely evident in the video for the first single "Shatter Proof." The video alternates between scenes of Trizonna being interviewed by a reporter and meeting then falling for a tall, sexy young man. I really love the nighttime street shots of my favorite city in the U.S. and Trizonna's homebase. Press play and get familiar below.

As is the case with most music blogs, we get a lot of music in our inbox. A LOT. A daily check will deliver the good, the bad and the ugly, but it's the rare day when we're blessed with a tune such as this one by way of Mark de Clive-Lowe. MdCL, as he is known, shared this slice of nice entitled "Hope" from British songstress Rahel, who has already been featured on projects by Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Eric Lau. With a resume like that and the force of MdCL behind you, Rahel is destined to become a favorite around these parts, especially if she continues to put out songs like this piano-driven soul gem, which is also available for freeload below. It's crazy how much hotness is coming from our brothers and sisters across the Pond. Keep it coming. Please.

Rahel: "Hope"

Rahel "Hope" [Download]
Rahel [MySpace][Twitter]

SoulBounce has been keeping you updated with the news of Sade's latest, Soldier of Love, and the released tracks and videos have only heightened the anticipation for her long-overdue return. Only Sade could be absent from the music scene for ten years and cause an internet and offline buzz of such high magnitude. The new album brings the familiar mellow and ethereal sound that we have long associated with the elegant Helen Folasade Adu and her highly acclaimed band of musicians. However, Soldier of Love offers little more than a pleasant rehash of the sound and energy that we have grown up with over the years when listening to past Sade albums--from Diamond Life to Lover's Rock--and, frankly, that may not be enough this go round to lead one to buy it. While new listeners of the Sade sound may fall in love--simply because this is the signature sound of Sade--die-hard fans who have followed Sade for her entire career may listen to this disc and realize that it may be time to stop believing that there will be another Sade output that can rival the heat brought on Stronger Than Pride or Love Deluxe.

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The Mixologists champions on once again for the month of February. This mix, brought to you by MeLo-X is a glimpse into the mind of one of music's upcoming producers/rappers/videographers. We've mentioned him several times on this website since we discovered him, and we're glad to be able to share a glimpse into his eclecticism with you here. "Click Play & Leave It" is not only the apt title of this mix, but it's a direct order. Prepare for some mental expansion after you download this mix that will surely ease your winter doldrums away. Tracklisting after the bounce.

The Mixologists Presents: MeLo-X "Click Play & Leave It" [Download]
MeLo-X [Official][Twitter]

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Mallia Franklin, Queen Of Funk, Passed Away [Soul Patrol]
Mallia Franklin [Official][Facebook][Wiki]

• Happy Birthday, J Dilla & Bob Marley! [MISS/AB]
  
• Questlove released a number of covers of J Dilla tracks by The Roots via Twitter yesterday. [MLX]
• Peep the gallery of Francis Wolff's Blue Note portraits of legendary Jazz artists. [FLR]
• You did watch the Soul Train documentary this past weekend, didn't you? [VH1]