Archive » September 2007

Mixtape Roundup

Mixtape Roundup: We're So Happy You're Alive and Not Someone Else, MF Doom

"The People": Jay Electronica, Blu & Exile, Common, MF Doom, Guilty Simpson (hip-hop)  [1MC]

"DeeperSoul Session 69": Prince, Steal Vybe, Lusito Quintero, Dennis Ferrer (house) [DeeperSoul]

"Prefuse 73 Live DJ Set @ Club Air (Tokyo)": MF Doom, Clipse, Jaylib, J Dilla (hip-hop) [MissingToof]

"Karizma Live in the Mix" Stevie Wonder, Donnie, Ciara, Annie Lennox (house) [FutureBoogie]

"Save Me": The Commodores, Jay-Z, J Dilla, Carmen McRae, Madvillain (hip-hop, soul) [1MC]

"The Original 9/24": Jill Scott, Kindred, D'Angelo, Santana (soul) [VibeMistress]

"Girl Interrupted": 702, SWV, Faith Evans, Nicole Wray, Gina Thompson (r&b) [Soundnexx]

"Live at the BBQ Amir's Mixtape" Julius Brockington, Ohio Players, Lee Dorsey, Hank Ballard (soul) [HVW8]

nOvaMatic  |  09/28/2007 at 4:31 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Video SoulBounce

Lupe Fiasco Goes Real Basic In "Dumb It Down" Vid

They told me I should come down, cousin,
But I flatly refused.
I ain't dumb down nothin'.


The new Lupe Fiasco vid for "Dumb It Down" has hit the net, and we couldn't post this clip quick enough. Even though the black-and-white hip-hop video thing has been done so many times before, this particular video and the visuals therein actually works for this song.

But what do our savvy SoulBounce readers think? Is this minimalist video a smart move for Lupe or should he have gone for something high concept? Did he dumb it down too much?

Butta  |  09/28/2007 at 9:34 AM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Battle of the Beats

Who's "More Than A Woman"? Aaliyah or Angie Stone?

My mello nOva let me loose in the crates and said that I could do today's Battle of the Beats so I had to come correct with some hotness. So today we have everyone's beloved Babygirl, Aaliyah, going up against one of the most consistent women in the game, Angie Stone. It's not right, but it's O.K.

Way back in 2001 both ladies dropped songs entitled "More Than A Woman" but there was no mistaking the two. Aaliyah's track was a mid-tempo jam with Timabaland behind the boards, whereas Angie's song was a sultry duet with Calvin Richardson (whose career never did take off, such a pity). Although Richardson got curbed in favor of Joe when the single was released, we're gonna go with Angie's O.G. album version here.

Admittedly, this is a tough choice for me. But I'm not the one choosing, y'all are. Please have at it in the comments.

Aaliyah: "More Than a Woman"



Angie Stone & Calvin Richardson: "More Than a Woman"

Butta  |  09/27/2007 at 8:32 PM  |  Comments (9)  |  Permalink

First Spin

I'm Feeling the New Mary J. Blige Track

When I first heard that our beloved Mary J. Blige was releasing Growing Pains early this winter, I was a little worried. There's a lot of competition in the R&B arena around that time with Alicia and Mariah dropping their own opuses, and although I'm not concerned that the other ladies will "best" Mary, I don't want her suffering from a possible overload.

"Overload". Not "showdown". There's a difference. Onward and upward.

I haven't been this excited about an initial single of hers since "All That I Can Say". Yeah, it's been that long. "Just Fine" is a disco-infused party joint with a BPM that clocks in at 123. Mary's best upbeat tracks lean more on Disco than Hip-Hop, this I'm willing to argue. Produced by Tricky Stewart and Jazze Pha, it's optimistic without being saccharine and reinforces that Mary doesn't have to rely on pain to make a hit. I'm especially feeling the cowbell.

What say you?

Mary J. Blige: "Just Fine"

nOvaMatic  |  09/27/2007 at 7:49 PM  |  Comments (9)  |  Permalink

Soul Fashioned

"They're All Gonna Laugh at You!"

We're all for individuality here at SoulBounce, which is why we support the artists we write about everyday. But when we hear that someone this original threatens to unleash his fashion prowess upon the entire world at large, we can't help but ask: Would you buy?

From WWD:

OutKast's André Benjamin, aka Andre 3000, is taking on the rag trade. The dapper pop star, known for his flamboyant jockey-meets-English gentleman style, revealed he will launch a men's wear line this spring, with plans to soon add a women's line. A heritage site in Italy might be the location for his first show. "It will be based on vintage classics with modern twists," said Benjamin of the collection, adding a denim line made from Japanese salvage fabrics is also in the works.

When the neighborhood cats starting embracing pink Polos and jeans that weren't ten sizes too big, I considered it a step in the right direction. I think Sir Benjamin is a dapper fellow, but I'm not exactly sure if the same dudes that were rockin' to "Two Dope Boys in A Cadillac" and "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" are going to be rushing to the stores to look like Mr. Peanut on acid. But anything is possible, I suppose.

nOvaMatic  |  09/27/2007 at 7:26 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Diggin' in the Crates

Diggin' in the Crates: The Most Important Remix EVAR.

Ok, maybe not the most important, but definitely one of the hottest joints to drop during my coming-of-age. BLACKstreet's "Tonight's the Night" remix featuring SWV is right up there as far as mid-90's jeep music goes. The reason this track is so significant is because it dropped right when New Jack Swing was morphing into Hip-Hop Soul. Besides, how many memories can one song bring all at once? A Craig Mack cameo. A pre-Grateful Coko. All the original members of BLACKstreet including my man Dave Hollister.

This song is a beast.

BLACKstreet ft. SWV & Craig Mack: "Tonight's the Night (Remix)"


Thanks the man Zillz, I was able to grab the vid from DailyMotion. UMG has Youtube shook.

nOvaMatic  |  09/27/2007 at 6:56 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Battle of the Beats

Whose "Woman" is Tighter? Eric's or Raheem's?

Unfair! Unfair! But if you've been reading this week, you probably already saw this one coming, and already knew how "unfair" it would be. Just imagine how Your Friendly SoulBounce Editors feel!

With that said, I'm feeling so boss right now that I'm gonna step out there and force everyone to choose between Eric Roberson and Raheem Devaughn for tonight's Battle of the Beats. The song title is "Woman".

Expect even more "unfairness" in the coming days.


Eric Roberson: "Woman"



Raheem Devaughn: "Woman"

nOvaMatic  |  09/26/2007 at 10:32 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

Bounce Over There

You Will Never Be As 'Reasonable Doubty' as Lupe Fiasco, NEVER.

• "I don't think people got it, honestly," he said of his debut. "I still don't think people get it. I think I'm still a little bit too complex, and I still think it goes over their head just a little bit, where it misses a great mass of people. And you got to bring it back down. I think I'm Reasonable Doubt right now; at first Jay-Z was like [he makes the hand motion for out there] and everybody was like, 'Huh?' But it was still ... some of the stuff was still relevant enough to everybody where everybody could relate to it, just because it was a good record, but the actual core was like, 'Yo, this kid is weird,' you know?" Lupe Fiasco once again proves that he's one of the most eloquent and concise in the game. [MTV]
• Bebe Winans and Chaka Khan are playing Harpo and Sofia in The Color Purple? Now that's a fight I wanna see! [USAT]
• After signing up as Carrie Bradshaw's assistant in the Sex and the City movie, Jennifer Hudson learns about high-concept New York fashion, the hard way. [Stereohyped]
• In case you were wondering, all those MF Doom rumors are untrue. You know, because we know you were wondering. You were wondering weren't you? Of course you were. [Billboard]
• Twista lets Mos Def punk him, but for a worthy cause. [HHDX]
• Will.I.Am thought Michael Jackson was a prank caller and hung up on him, because he gets calls from effete, eccentric pop stars everyday and is tired of it. [HHE]
• We've so gone there already, but let's go there again. [SWO]

nOvaMatic  |  09/26/2007 at 7:32 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Diggin' in the Crates

A Gem Exposed: Valerie Simpson's Debut Still a Revelation

To the surprise of many, Valerie Simpson - the petite, micro-braided half of Ashford and Simpson - had a life on vinyl before she started churning out hits with her husband Nick. Having already penned Motown classics for everyone from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell to Diana Ross, Simpson was bitten by the recording bug in 1971 and created one of Hitsville's most remarkable albums, Valerie Simpson Exposed.

The LP is replete with top-shelf offerings, as the stunning opener "I Don't Need No Help" (which New York Times critic Don Beckman called "a true virtuoso performance") and her take on The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" display Simpson's ability to swing from gospel fervor to feel-good funk. And when lovely ballads like "Now That There's You" take hold, the beauty of Sister Valerie's voice is a sheer delight.

Though it hit a respectable No. 30 on Billboard's R&B chart the album disappeared quickly, which isn't surprising - its eclectic vibe was outside of the "soul" box of the time, leaving it without a real home. Still, it's enjoyable Motown at heart, brimming with vibrant rhythms and marvelous James Jamerson bass lines. La Ross, the label's supreme diva, even scribed the liner notes. You don't get any more Motown than that.

The entire Valerie Simpson Exposed album, along with cuts from Simpson's eponymous follow-up, can be found on "The Collection."

Valerie Simpson: "We Can Work It Out"


Valerie Simpson: "I Don't Need No Help"

S. Flemming (Contributor)  |  09/26/2007 at 6:45 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

Battle of the Beats

Who's More 'Addicted'? Amy or Neyo?

For the second time this week, we present to you Battle of the Beats, in which we match up two tracks with something in common. This time we're doing it for the gossip fiends that love reading all the trashy, tawdry goings on of our favorite stars. While we aren't that concerned with Neyo's sexual proclivities or Amy Winehouse's extra-medicational activities, it's quite fitting that today's battle involves two tracks named "Addicted".

On this one, I'll have to admit I'm rather torn. As for you, SoulBounce Reader, no "ties" or "draws". And if you must declare one, tell us why.

Amy Winehouse: "Addicted"



Neyo: "Addicted"

nOvaMatic  |  09/25/2007 at 8:21 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink