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Top 100 Soul/R&B Songs

#67: Michael Jackson 'I Can't Help It'

This is the Michael Jackson so many of us long for. It should come as no surprise that Stevie Wonder was involved in "I Can't Help It," a track that has seen remakes and reiterations by Davina, Mary J. Blige, and De La Soul. "I Can't Help It," in spirit, lives on sister Janet's "Can't B Good," further illustrating its relevance and gentle majesty.

There's something in the creeping bassline that kicks the song off and the simple A-B A-B scheme of the lyrics that makes the song instantly alluring. Also, there's something to be said for MJ's slow jams. Most of them to this day hold up extremely well and don't sound as dated as his uptempo tracks. Especially this one, an understated gem on an album packed with Disco burners.

Michael Jackson: "I Can't Help It"

nOvaMatic  |  05/15/2008 at 6:00 PM  |  Comments (8)  |  Permalink

Battle of the Beats

Who Makes You Go 'Back and Forth'? Cameo or Aaliyah?

This Battle of the Beats pits the '80s against the '90s in this "Back and Forth" showdown. Cameo versus Aaliyah. Let's get ready to rumble!

Cameo's "Back and Forth" came after they'd been in the game for over a decade and at a time when lead singer Larry Blackmon brought our collective focus to his red codpiece-clad crotch. That gimmick aside, the synth-heavy "Back and Forth" featured Cameo harmonizing about the tug of war in relationships and was one of the standout tracks on the album Word Up! alongside the hit title song and the stone-cold jam "Candy."

Aaliyah's "Back and Forth" was her debut single that introduced "the L. I. Y. A. H." to the masses. The songs' "funky mellow groove" made her a staple on radio and in the clubs, while the video showcased the teen beauty with a voice and swagger that belied her age. Maybe it was her association with hitmaker (and husband on the-not-so-down-low) R. Kelly or her fresh street but sweet style, but Aaliyah came out the gate with a hit and never slowed down.

So who's "Back and Forth" is it gonna be? The funkdafied band of brothas or our beloved babygirl?

Cameo: "Back and Forth"


Aaliyah: "Back and Forth"

Butta  |  05/15/2008 at 5:00 PM  |  Comments (9)  |  Permalink

First Spin

James Brown Gets Remixed By Kenny Dope

Verve will be releasing the fourth edition of their world-renown Verve Remixed series on May 27th to the delight of music lovers everywhere. The concept of Verve Remixed is simple enough: take classic jazz and soul records and put them in the hands of the most capable mixologists to create updated versions of the tracks. Music from artists such as Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter have been refixed by the likes of Masters At Work, Miguel Migs and DJ Spinna, respectively, over the course of three discs.

Now with the impending release of volume four, James Brown has been added to the mix for the first time. His 1967 release "There Was A Time" has found its way onto the project with incredible results. The producer responsible for flipping the track? None other than Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, one-half of MAW. The song was already funky, but Kenny Dope's remix puts some more stank on it. Get your air freshener ready.

James Brown: "There Was A Time" Kenny Dope Remix


And be sure to peep James getting on the good foot performing this song during a 1982 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman after the bounce.

Read more...

Butta  |  05/15/2008 at 3:52 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

First Spin

Robin Thicke's New Single Is Pure 'Magic'

I already knew that blue-eyed soul brotha Robin Thicke would be dropping a new release soon, but I didn't think that he would drop it this hot. "Magic" is the first single from his upcoming album, Something Else, which hits the block this July, and he has come back strong lest anyone think his last album was a fluke. The song is a throwback to the days when strings, percussion and horns ruled the dance floor and airwaves. The instrumentation is incredible, but it's Thicke's silky smooth vocals that set this bad mamma jamma off. Marvin Gaye would be so proud.      

Robin Thicke: "Magic"

Butta  |  05/15/2008 at 2:35 PM  |  Comments (8)  |  Permalink

First Spin

Dwele 'Sketches' Out a Sampler of His New Album

Full disclosure: I started SoulBounce just so I could talk about Dwele.

A few days ago, Koch released a 20-minute sampler of Dwele's forthcoming Sketches of a Man via YouTube, so I snagged the audio, naturally, and posted it here at the risk of having them send their packed roster of Southern rappers to my home to break my legs and call me things like "disloyal." All that aside, the new stuff sounds closer in spirit to Subject, with a little more bump and less of the Smooth Jazz approach of Some Kinda. Of note: Slum Village makes an appearance once again and the album includes "Open Your Eyes," the Bobby Caldwell remake Dwele did with The Platinum Pied Pipers.

nOvaMatic  |  05/15/2008 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

First Spin

Rise In 'Love' With KRS-One & MC Lyte

The last time KRS-One and MC Lyte were together on a track fellas were rocking high-top fades and sistas were sporting the latest trunk jewelry while Lyte and the Teacher schooled us on where we were all headed. Almost 20 years later, the two G.O.A.T.S. have rejoined forces once again for a poetic new track that features them rapping rings around the majority of what is being passed off as Hip-Hop these days. "Love" kicks off with KRS-One urging folks not to fall in love but to rise in it, then he passes the mic to Lyte who kicks a few verses on the subject. This is a follow up to "Money" from his February release Adventures In Emceein', which found these two also taking turns with the rhyming. Whereas "Money" was good, "Love" is great. KRS even shouts out MC Lyte's new group Almost September a few times throughout the track.

Freak what you heard, THIS is Hip-Hop. And I'm loving every minute of it. 

KRS-One & MC Lyte: "Love"


[H/T: NR]

Butta  |  05/14/2008 at 1:40 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

First Spin

Idle Warship to Hillary: 'Fall Back'

We tend not to get into politics on SoulBounce, although we have been known to Barack our bodies on occasion. But nevermind that. Talib Kweli and Res of Idle Warship have a new track, "Fall Back," that came with the poster graphic above, which has been tastefully edited for content. It's much better than their last track in my opinion. Talib verbally berates Hillary as only he can, while Chester French lets her know on the hook that she "ain't gon' win," so "just throw the towel in." Strong message, nice track.

Idle Warship feat. Chester French: "Fall Back"

ill Mami  |  05/14/2008 at 12:40 PM  |  Comments (5)  |  Permalink

Name That Beat

Name That Beat: Volume 25

Welcome back to the 25th installment of Name That Beat! Last week's beat was a doozy, I will admit. Nevertheless, shabazz showed and proved that he had the goods and provided the correct answer. Charles Mingus' "Mingus Fingus No. 2" provided the beat for Organized Konfusion's "Stress." Good job, shabazz. That horn sample on "Stress" was tucked away on an already horn-laden track by Mingus.

ill Mami  |  05/13/2008 at 5:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

First Spin, We Hear

Kanye Vs. Lupe? With Any Luck This is True

Not that we want anything to endanger the execution of the oft-mythologized CRS project, but this is too juicy not to post. According to HamptonRoads, Kanye got into it with Lupe Fiasco over a verse for the "Everyone Nose" remix, basically accusing Lulu of stealing from him.

The Neptunes were working on a remix to their single "Everyone Nose" with a verse from Lupe Fiasco. All was going fine until Kanye enters and hears Lupe's verse, which was all too similar to one he had spit not long ago. Ye lost it, accusing Lupe of stealing/finishing his verse -- and that Lupe had the opportunity when he'd looked in Kanye's rhyme book previously. Everyone in the crowded room was laughing, thinking it was a joke, but Ye continued on, basically causing a massive, Naomi-worthy row and P had to calm everything down.

Props to Pharrell for being the moderator in this scenario, what with him being accused of stealing on occasion. So that was real big of him and everything. Perhaps being surrounded by peers that also think he's crazy will cause Kanye to re-evaluate his attitude. Maybe. (Intel via Idolator)

nOvaMatic  |  05/13/2008 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Bounce-Worthy

Bounce-Worthy: Tawiah

Imagine my surprise after hearing "Watch Out" by British songstress Tawiah on numerous mixes last year only to hear an '80s Cameo-sounding banger ("Another One") on another mixtape recently. Still giddy from stumbling upon this hidden gem, there were more surprises in store when I also discovered Tawiah's EP In Jodi's Bedroom floating amongst the flotsam within the interwebs. Twenty-one-year-old Tawiah, who hails from South London, has a velvety voice that bends and twists on the songs that all range from the rock/'80s funk/soul which she has coined "twisted soul." Do yourself a favor and catch up on some hot Nu Soul by supporting this mohawked-dreadlocked soul sista and cop her album. Tawiah [MySpace][Amazon][iTunes]

ill Mami  |  05/13/2008 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

First Spin

Get Drunk With KiDz In The Hall and Estelle

Anyone who still thinks that Hip-Hop is dead surely hasn't listened to KiDz In The Hall. Naledge and Double-O are doing the damn thing on their newest CD, The In Crowd, which officially hits the streets tomorrow. The entire album is already available on iTunes and is currently being streamed on their MySpace page for those who want to try before they buy. I highly recommend blessing your CD player with this if you'd like to hear one banger after the other. One such song that has I'm diggin' on is "Love Hangover" that features UK soul sensation Estelle on the hook and details a love/hate relationship. I'm sure that we've all been there, done that, got the t-shirt and now we have some music for the ride back.

KiDz In The Hall feat. Estelle: "Love Hangover"


KiDz In The Hall [Official][MySpace]

Butta  |  05/12/2008 at 5:40 PM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink