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#31: Aaliyah 'Rock the Boat'

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0500

The good news is Aaliyah made our countdown again, but today's entry, "Rock the Boat," makes it a little more bittersweet.

Aaliyah's genre-pushing, self-titled third album, debuted with the futuristic and sexy "We Need a Resolution" produced by Timbaland. Only two other tracks on the album would have his touch, but a few other producers came through and kept the momentum going, adding texture to the project and taking it in directions none of us expected. "Rock the Boat" was a track that rose out of the perceived dilemma of not securing Timbaland for the entire project. KeyBeats and Static Major of Playa gave Aaliyah a song that not only stayed in line with her musical progression, but also in many ways harkened back to a classic '80s soul groove with its teasing vocal arrangement and lyrics.

The clip for "Rock the Boat" would be her last, as we all know, we lost her once the video's shoot was complete. A few choice shots in the video seem to capture Aaliyah in moments that will always define her--angelic, humble, and playful. She was truly in the zone for the song and the video, and although we miss her painfully, this track still gives us cause to celebrate the life and musical legacy of Aaliyah and Static.

Is Jackson's 'Billie' Really the G.O.A.T.?

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0500

It's good to know that despite all of the wild rumors that Michael Jackson's health is deteriorating by the day, his music will live on forever. Just this week, the classic "Billie Jean" earned the title of "greatest dance record ever," according to a three-part poll conducted by the UK's BBC channel in conjunction with their Radio 2 dance music season. The UK poll had Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" and James Brown's "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine" as numbers two and three on their list.

Please don't get me wrong. I love "Billie Jean." Love the video, love Mike's Motown at 25 performance of it. Everything. However, is it really the greatest dance song of all time? Is it even MJ's greatest dance song? While this will fall way short of a SoulPoll, we'd love to hear your thoughts. And while you weigh in, I'm gonna troll the 'net for more wild MJ rumors. They get better by the hour.

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" Voted Greatest Dance Record of All Time [SR]

New Videos Ashanti, Keri Hilson & CeCile

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:45:00 -0500

Fellas, you're in for a treat with this week's new video roll call. The ladies have some serious eye candy for ya. First up is my guilty pleasure, Ashanti, with a sexy cute new video for her second single. Yeah, her man Nelly is in it for a hot second, but I'm sure Ashanti tarting it up in barely there outfits will distract y'all. Bringing more hotness is R&B's latest darling, Keri Hilson, with her debut video. To this one I say "Hot damn!" Girlfriend is looking right and tight in this clip about a love TKO. And for the reggae massive is rude gyal CeCile bringing some island stylee to nice up the party.

Ashanti: "Good Good"

Big Boi and Mary J. Blige Make a Political Statement in 'Something's Gotta Give'

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0500

Big Boi and Mary J. Blige have teamed up for a politically-charged collaboration with the song "Something's Gotta Give." With its laid-back groove, this is a departure from the sound we're used to hearing from Big Boi but it leads you to focus on the lyrics, which touch on everything from the economy to the war to societal ills to the upcoming presidential election. And, yes, Big Boi and Mary are on Team Obama in case you were wondering. A video, from which the photo above was taken, has already been shot for the song, and it features actor/author Hill Harper alongside Big and MJB. The clip is centered around an Obama campaign office and at one point in the video a victory celebration jumps off. Nice. Until we get to feast our eyes on that, treat your ears to this.

Big Boi feat. Mary J. Blige: "Something's Gotta Give"

[Photo: Frank Micelotta /Getty Images]

Robin Thicke's New Video Has the 'Magic' Touch

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0500

We're already on record as saying we love Robin Thicke's song "Magic." He's a bad boy (and no, not in the 'he's joined with Diddy and DayDay39 way). Bad meaning good, of course, as in everything about his new video for the track, which is the first single from his upcoming release Something Else, is great. From the cheesy, Star Wars-inspired effects and graphics to his simple yet effective two-step, this clip is old school all the way. Made me think back to the days of 1980s shows like Video Music Box and New York Hot Tracks. The Star Trak/Interscope recording artist, who co-directed the video with Robert Hales, is definitely leading the R&B/soul pack these days, with almost everything he puts out turning to gold. And platinum. Check the clip and let us know if you think it's got the "magic" touch. As for me, I'm about to go find my top hat and cane and see if I can make a few of the ladies from the video appear. Did somebody say "Presto"?

Maxwell Preparing For A Tour?

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:20:00 -0500

We stay on Maxwell watch here at SoulBounce. Every little step he makes, we will be there and likely have something to say about it. So of course there's much commentary to be had regarding his latest MySpace status message. Take a gander if you will at the update posted some time on Wednesday:

"Rehearsing for a tour"?! JIGGA WHAT? JIGGA WHO? Maxwell must be near to getting ready to drop the bomb on us because if he's rehearsing for a tour then one would assume that means he'll be hitting the road soon, which would also mean that a complete song will be surfacing even sooner. At least we hope that's the case. Maxwell fans have fallen for the okey doke before. But after that scrumdelicious surprise performance on the BET Awards, it looks like the man is he's almost done toying with our affections. If Columbia was smart they would have serviced his first single that day after his BET comeback to ride the wave of momentum, but that would've been too much like right. Regardless, this is a glimmer of hope and enough to keep us Maxwell lovers off the ledge for a little while longer.

Morning Soul: Can You Feel It?

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0500

Check out Tamia on BETJ's Real Life Divas. [TW]
Looks like Kelly Rowland has gotten a real job hosting a new TV show. That's a good look since that solo singing thing aint really working out. [BV]
Ryan Leslie held a swanky listening party for his new CD. [SONYC]
Keep your ears out for GZA's 50 Cent dis track today because he plans to annihilate Curtis. Now this should be good. [SSU]
Is anyone really shocked that Diddy got snubbed for an Emmy nomination for his role in A Raisin in the Sun? I'm not. [WH]

#32: Bobby Womack 'If You Think You're Lonely Now'

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:00:43 -0500

I want to dedicate this song to all the lovers tonight...

So starts Bobby Womack's hit slow jam, "If You Think You're Lonely Now." This song has all of the ingredients for a hearty helping of classic soul love gumbo. Spoken intro? Check. Preaching and testifying? Check. A good beat you can slow drag to? Check. Lyrics about a lost love? Double check. But this isn't your typical "please, baby, please" love song. Oh no, my brother, you have to find another song for all that mushy stuff. Instead, Womack goes hard on "If You Think You're Lonely Now." The former gospel singer admonishes his ungrateful former lover that if she is feeling alone in the daytime, then just wait until night falls and she rolls over onto cold sheets instead of a warm body. Well!

Found on his 1981 release, The Poet, "If You Think You're Lonely Now" is the album's most notable track. A staple on Quiet Storm playlists, I actually rediscovered this song after K-Ci of Jodeci fame remade it in 1994 for the film Jason's Lyric. He sang a damn good rendition complete with his signature "Baby, yeah" ad libs, but Bobby has the definitive version on lock. Let the church say amen.

Bobby Womack: "If You Think You're Lonely Now"

Behind The Groove With Noel Gourdin

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0500

Noel Gourdin may be a new jack on the scene, but he is an old soul when it comes to music. The Brockton, Massachusetts born-and-bred singer has deep roots in the South, and he pays homage to this on his debut single, "The River." King of Comedy turned syndicated morning show host, Steve Harvey, took a strong liking to the song and that's when the fun started for Gourdin.

Christened as "Steve Harvey's Big Find" mere months ago, "The River" received national airplay, was featured in the film Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins and finally became a hit after first debuting some time in 2007. Far from an overnight success, Noel has been trying to make his mark for a while now and with his debut album After My Time hitting stores next Tuesday, his time is now.

I recently had an opportunity to chat with Noel about his newfound success, the goodness he has in store for us on his CD, and his plans for a long future in the recording industry. With a clever mix of soul and R&B on his new disc, I expect to hear good music coming from this talented young man for years to come.

*Music from After My Time played during interview: "The River" and "One Love"

Saul Williams Gives Us Access to a 'Convict Colony'

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0500

Anyone that knows anything about Saul Williams knows at least one thing--he's definitely not the celibate boyfriend he played for a season on Girlfriends. Nope. He's out there. In the best way possible, but still...way out there. Which is more than OK. His fifth album, a collaboration with Trent Reznor on The Fader label entitled The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust!, which had only been available online, had its physical release this week. Saul, aka Niggy, was in town last night to support it with a performance at NYC hotspot S.O.B's. It was quite an experience, to say the least.

His blend of spoken word-insightfulness and rock star-ridiculousness puts your body on the verge of explosion at the end of every song, unsure as to whether you should knock some sense into the person next to you, or knock them out of the way so you have more room to dance. Really, nothing I say will prepare you for a Niggy Tardust experience. The video for his second single from the project, "Convict Colony" however, should show you all you need to see in order to purchase tickets the next time he comes through your city. See? Out there. But we still love Niggy. (And yes, he rocked the feathers last night, in case you were wondering.)

Take It 'Slooow' With J*DaVeY

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0500

It's no secret that we totally heart J*DaVeY here at SBHQ. The dynamic duo has led us to spontaneously break out into The Carlton Banks on numerous occasions with their upbeat new wave tunes. But when these two change the tempo, they are just as nice with theirs. Such is the case with the song "Slooow" that can be found on their The Land of the Lost EP, which was recently repackaged with their The Beauty In Distortion EP and released as a double EP. This song is a nice, smoothed-out distraction while we wait for their CD of all new material to finally drop.

J*DaVeY: "Slooow"

J*DaVeY The Beauty In Distortion/The Land of the Lost Double EP [iTunes][Amazon]

BONUS: Check out a super sexy live version of J*DaVeY performing "No More" at this year's Black Lily Film & Music Festival after the bounce.

Illa Keeps Dilla Alive on New Project

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:45:23 -0500

J Dilla was never the type of producer to make a couple of hot tracks then rest on his laurels; the cat stayed in the studio, churning out beat after beat with each one sounding nothing like the one that came before it. He passed in 2006, but left behind a dense collection of unheard work. His brother John "Illa J" Yancey, 12 years James' junior, is set to release his own album, fortified by Dilla's beats. What inspired the project was some unreleased Dilla material recorded during the production of The Pharcyde's Labcabincalifornia, passed to Illa by Delicious Vinyl founder, Michael Ross. The project, which should largely be considered a collaboration rather than a solo album, is serendipitous since it will be released on Delicious Vinyl, the same label that released Labcabincalifornia. No word on the name yet, but we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, check out the video for "Won't Do," starring Illa as Dilla after the bounce.

Illa J [Myspace]

In Which Pretty Ricky Defiles a Classic for the 'Tween Set

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:50:00 -0500

Not for nothing, but I can't stand Pretty Ricky's wicked little tails. But then, I'm not supposed to because I'm 28-years-old, male, and have all my wits about me. They are releasing their THIRD album and it's called Eighties Babies (I'm insulted) and their first video is for a remake of H-Town's "Knockin' Boots." At the risk of being completely crass, this is gayer than a Maltese puppy in thigh-highs swinging off a disco ball, and it caused my side-eye to attend anger management classes, alone. Now we can all submit that anything by H-Town barely rose to the standard of Jodeci, or perhaps even Silk, but I don't recall them ever being this sleazy or corny. Pretty Ricky is a damn good reason to rush to the clinic and make sure you haven't contracted The Clap in your eyes and ears. Lock your daughters up until they're 21!

If you're ready to witness a post-New Jack classic being dragged kicking and screaming into the depths of Hell, press play. But don't say I didn't warn you.

Michael Jackson & New Edition Help Bring Back... New Kids on the Block?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:15:29 -0500

In a career-cresting move, it seems a couple of our favorite acts, Michael Jackson and New Edition, will be propping up New Kids on the Block. People, this is so wrong it has to be right! We're not sure of the title of the new NE/NKOTB track, but all one hundred and twenty-five of both group's members (not sure if Bobby was involved, since he has other things to contend with like Usher stealing his career and Whitney being Whitney) jammed into the studio and there were allegedly no fistfights. Disappointing, because if we learned anything from that recent Dru Hill business, a staged altercation can drum up interest in a formerly interesting boy band, for a couple of days at least. The details on the status of the Michael Jackson collab are slim, but both projects seem to be spearheaded by presumptive New Kids leader Donnie Wahlberg, who was killed in one of those Saw movies. [PEOPLE/BOSH]

Morning Soul: You Did What?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0500

Natalie Cole has Hepatitis C, possibly contracted from years of drug abuse. Insert sad face here. [IT]
Catch up on the Kanye West Ghost-Blogger Saga. [ID]
Earth, Wind & Fire has three new releases on the horizon. [BB]
Akon's trial for tossing that dude off the concert stage last year has been delayed. No word on when he'll be brought up on charges for continued ear pollution, though. [SP]
Chuck Phillips, the ~~hack~~ writer who wrote that sensational and ultimately untrue story implicating Diddy and the Notorious B.I.G. in Tupac's murder, got laid off from his job at the Los Angeles Times. [VH1]
Timbaland is on deck to produce Jay-Z's next album in its entirety. [MTV]