A much needed Black Music thread.

[K Douglas]

I know this album is heralded by fans as one of Jay-Z's best but I wasn't feeling that same love. Lyrically he's on point but I find some of the production to be lacking. Not at the level of Reasonable Doubt or The Black Album for me. My favorite cut from the LP is probably
"All I Need"

 

[eddie kerr]

With the vapid state of music these days, if Lauryn Hill made a stream of original music, she would destroy.

With the vapid state of music these days, if Lauryn Hill made a stream of original music, she would destroy.

It was originally a huge hit for Roberta Flack back in the 1970s, saw her at Ontario Place years ago, she was terrific.

 

[Insidious Von]

Jimi Hendrix recorded All Along the Watchtower with his new rhythm section (Billy Cox, Buddy Miles) and called themselves The Band of Gypsys.

 

[K Douglas]

Lou Rawls had such a distinctive sounding voice which I love so much
"Spring Again"

Biz Markie turned this into a rap song

 

[K Douglas]

DITC = Diggin in the Crates. A collective consisting of New York producers and MC's Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz & AG, Buckwild, O.C., Big L and Fat Joe.
This is a co-favorite cut from them, produced by Diamond D
"Day One"

The sample is from Oliver Sain's "On the Hill"

 

[K Douglas]

My other DITC co-favorite. Produced by the one and only DJ Premier (Premo)
"Da Enemy"

1st verse: Big L
2nd verse: Fat Joe

 

[ogibowt]

Lou Rawls had such a distinctive sounding voice which I love so much
"Spring Again"

Biz Markie turned this into a rap song

Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home to Me (Official Audio) (youtube.com)
Lou handles the backup voice

 

[K Douglas]

A few years before their epic song "Disco Inferno" here's The Trammps putting it down
"Stop and Think"

Part of the Philly Soul sound of the 70's they were on the Golden Fleece Label (a subsidiary of Philadelphia International Records) before signing on to Atlantic Records. Nevertheless, they always recorded their albums at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.

 

[xmontrealer]

Jimi Hendrix recorded All Along the Watchtower with his new rhythm section (Billy Cox, Buddy Miles) and called themselves The Band of Gypsys.

Bob Dylan said that Jimi's version was his favourite, and tended to play it more in Jimi's style whenever he performed it live...

 

[xmontrealer]

 

[K Douglas]

This is right up there with some of my favorite 1990's r&b jams

Case feat. Joe "Faded Pictures"

 

[K Douglas]

Jagged Edge was an R&B quartet from Georgia discovered by Jermaine Dupri (JD) and signed to his label So So Def Recordings. I really dug these cats harmonies. They achieved prominent success on their 1st 4 albums 1 double platinum, 1 platinum and 2 gold albums. This track here was from their 4th album Hard, released in 2003
"Walked Outta Heaven"

 

[K Douglas]

You're just my kinda girl. C'mon baby let me rock your world...

Long live New Jack Swing.

 

[K Douglas]

The r&b group Silk were mostly known for their slow jams like "Lose Control" and "Meeting In My Bedroom" but they could also up the tempo and get funky
Silk "Hooked On You" (1995)

 

[K Douglas]

From Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite released in 1996. One of the seminal albums that ushered in the Neo Soul era.
"Sumthin, Sumthin"

I was very fortunate to see him in concert at Massey Hall back in 2009. When he did this track the crowd went nuts.

 

[K Douglas]

Next emerged on the R&B scene in 1997 with a monster joint called "Too Close". From the same album this was a nice mid tempo track. Written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and produced by KayGee from Naughty By Nature
"I Still Love You"

Here is the remixed version featuring a rap by Big Pun (RIP)

 

[K Douglas]

R. Kelly was a musical monster in the 90's. Singing, songwriting, producing he did it all. Too bad he turned out to be a total parasite.
"Home Alone" feat. Keith Murray (1998)

 

[K Douglas]

Montell Jordan feat. Master P and Silk the Shocker "Let's Ride"

I've always maintained Montell's voice was overlooked. It would have been nice to see what he could have done on a true r&b/soul LP, not the club produced stuff he put out.

 

[K Douglas]

God Bless Heavy D for finding this group. That Candy Rain LP was

"Every Little Thing I Do"

 

[K Douglas]

One of the best of the 90's r&b/hip hop remixes. Produced by Marley Marl and featuring Jay-Z with guest rap
Shai "I Don't Wanna Be Alone"