Ode To The Big Sea

 
Filed under

neo-soul

 

Kissey Asplund - Plethora

Swedish neo-soul/hip-hop, she reminds me a bit of Erykah Badu. The
album is really smooth, nice, soulful and an impressive debut.

Media_httprepublikaplblogbx45310466752909trkisseyasplundplethorajpg_bbghaoybleytidc

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Yahzarah - The Prelude

Yahzarah first got her break as a backing vocalist for Erykah Badu on "Mama's Gun" she also features on a couple of the Foreign Exchange albums.

Having said that I didn't realise this before I recently discovered and enjoyed her album 'The Prelude'. Either way it's some good quality neo-soul.

Media_httpwwwsoultrackscomfilesimagesthepreludejpg_gbqteoijcgeyigl

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Goapele - Change It All

More smooth neo soul, this time from Goapele. Her album "Change It All" was released back in 2005 and stands the test of time.

There's a nice collaboration with Dwele on there but my favourite track has to be "Good Love"...

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Kindred Soul - Where would I be

From the album In This Life Together released back in 2005.

This is some really smooth neo soul.

Checkout the track 'Where would I be'...

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Erykah Badu - Didn't Cha Know

R.I.P. J Dilla, today is the 3'rd anniversary of his passing.

I had to choose this track for today as I absolutely loved this record and then I discovered that it was J Dilla that produced it.

It's from the Platinum selling album 'Mama's Gun' released back in 2000. It came out as the second single in 2001.

The album was produced by the 'Soulquarians' that comprised of:
Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, James Poyser, ?uestlove, D'Angelo, Q-Tip, Bilal, Erykah Badu & a certain J Dilla.

The story of how Dilla & Erykah Badu came to make this track is incredible, I'll quote Erykah:

"I went to Detroit to work with this cat that I heard a few tracks from that drove me crazy. Common took me over there, we went down to the basement, Common left and Dilla and I sat and talked.

He had records wall to wall like it was a public library and he goes, “OK, I want you to look for a record.” I’m looking through these organized, tightly packed crates, and I just pulled out one record and the artist was Tarika Blue. I liked that name. I put on the first track [“Dreamflower”] and I fell in love with the song and I kept playing it over and over again and I said, “I want this.”

He showed me how to loop a small part of the bassline, he was very generous in teaching you and letting you be hands on. Then I left the room and when I came back he had looped some drums to a small sample of the song and I started to write to it. I came up with the "Ooooh, heeeey" melody. I wrote for a few days and then the song came to be. I’d hike down to his house in mittens and a scarf. I just kind of stayed down there and worked until we got the things the way that I liked."

Amazing!

This is the sampled track 'Dreamflower' by Tarika Blue

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Janet Jackson - Got Till It's Gone

'Got Till It's Gone' is widely regarded as one of J Dilla's most successful productions ever and won a grammy in 1997, however, it was awarded to the song writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

It features rapping from Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest.

It samples the singing of Joni Mitchell from her song 'Big Yellow Taxi'...

Filed under  //   neo-soul   pop  

Comments [0]

Dwele - Sketches Of A Man

Brand new from Dwele and never a moment too soon, 'Sketches Of A Man' was released just last week.

Soulful, smooth, chilled. This is R&B as it should be.

Check the collaboration with Slum Village 'Brandi' and the J Dilla tribute 'Workin on it'.

This is the first single off the album 'I'm Cheatin'...

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

J.Rawls and Middle Child 'Rawls and Middle'

'Rawls and Middle' is a soulful and smooth mixture of hip hop and soul.

Released earlier this month, it's one you don't want to miss.

J.Rawl has produced for Talib Kweli and Mos Def which tells you everything you need to know about the production of this album.

With Middle Child adding fantastic vocals it really is quality.

Here's a track called 'Useless'...

Filed under  //   hip hop   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Deja-Move - Remember The Past

I discovered Deja-Move via a recommendation on eMusic. I downloaded his album 'Remember The Past' and I've really enjoyed it.

It's chilled, soulful and downbeat. Perfect for summer easy listening when you just want to put on something to relax to.

Searching around on the 'net I haven't been able to find out much about Deja-Move, all the press reviews on his website are in German!

I couldn't even find a youtube video of any of his tracks from 'Remember The Past' so I actually made this movie and uploaded it myself!

This track is called 'Warmin'. I hope he doesn't mind I posted it!

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]

Pharrell & The Yessirs - Out of my mind

I recently discovered an unreleased version of Pharrell's album 'In My Mind' called 'Out of my mind'. Pioneered by ?uestlove (the drummer for the roots), it has been re-written and performed whilst retaining Pharrell's originally recorded lyrics.

?uestlove has collaborated with people like Jill Scott producer Adam Blackstone and song writer and producer James Poyser. Poyser has written and produced for Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Common, The Roots, Musiq Soulchild, Talib Kweli etc!

These guys are good!

?uestlove also happens to have filmed the making of this album and fired it all up onto youtube. It makes for great viewing watching these guys play live.

My favourite video has to be Poyser and Blackstone jamming ideas for 'Take It Off'...

Filed under  //   neo-soul  

Comments [0]