The era of New Jack Swing has been reborn in the music of Ryan Leslie. His music is a combination of Club/Electro mixed with Hip-Hop and R&B, with a bit of a slick appeal to it. Mr. Leslie’s Playboy Uptown Sound works perfectly with club and party goers, so partnering up early in his career with the Bad Boy label was a marriage made in heaven. But what is most impressive about Ryan Leslie is his angle on presenting his music. From RyanLeslieTV on YouTube to home made music videos to short films, yes short films. Ryan Leslie uses the internet promotion medium to it’s highest potential.

For Diamond Girl Mr. Leslie produced a 007 style short film, with the typical kidnapping scene and a French speaking hit man. It was shot in mini DV with low to almost no lights. It has a Michael Mann stylized appearance, which means tight or close shots and an unsteady hand held feel. The acting… well lets just say he performs better on stage then on screen. Once again it’s not about the film, but the idea of the film that really makes me take notice. He is truly someone to watch.

Cliff Jean
Luv4Art Film Connoisseur

Ryan Leslie - Diamond Girl The Movie

Ryan Leslie @Myspace

photo credit: photo rob

If you remember the character Nola Darling from the Spike Lee Movie Do the Right Thing, you know she was a free spirited and independent woman show wanted to do her own thing. The same can be said about the independent female rap duo that shares her name.

Nikkobya and Aziza members of Nola Darling started a film company together called Nou La productions after graduating from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Their mutual luv for music and culture birthed a partnership as the group Nola Darling. These ladies have a very diverse and refreshing sound. They sing, rap, and chant dancehall style sometimes all on the same song. Their new Pretty Gritty Mini Mixtape gives you a preview of the musical styles of Nola Darling. My favorite track is Cocoa Rico featuring Brooklyn’s own Fresh Daily, where the ladies rhyme double time over a beat reminiscent of tribe’s electric relaxation. The Answer features smooth chords and sparse vocals, feels like a Sunday morning kind of song.

Download the whole mixtape and be the judge for your self. You may also catch these ladies performing live in the downtown Manhattan music scene. Show your luv and support for some more ladies (a female rap group = rare) on the mic!!!!

Nola Darling - Cocoa Rico featuring Fresh Daily

Nola Darling - The Answer featuring Melo X

Download Pretty Gritty Mini Mixtape @ Rappers I Know

Nola Darling @ Myspace

Miss Algebra Blessett is the newest artist to be guided by the architect of the neo soul movement Kedar Massenberg. Mr. Massenberg has birthed the careers of Erykah Badu, D’Angelo and India Arie. Algebra’s album Purpose will be the first release on the new, more independent Kedar Entertainment Group.

Algebra developed her unique, organic sound performing relentlessly on the Atlanta indie soul scene. On Run and Hide Algebra’s talks about the lames int the dating game trying to hollar at her. The smooth production style reminds me of Tweet who was also received production help from the boy genuis Kwame’. Algebra has a good sound and a good vibe, check out the single and video and give your feedback.

Algebra - Run and Hide

Algebra Blessett Run And Hide Video

Angela Blessett @ Myspace

The other night 3 djs saved my life… Dwele, T3 (Slum Village), and of course Waajeed. It was a difficult week and I needed some good music and some grey goose. The Detroit crew created a party called Fantastic (like the first slum album) that was off the hook.!!! Smooth soul selections, impromptu performances, and a lively crowd sprinkled with hip hop soul artists like Bilal and Tiombe Lockheart. The night was perfect…. I just had to big up the party up before I mentioned the new PPP single .

So the PPP (formerly Platinum Pied Pipers) formula goes like this Waajeed plays producer/musical director with the beats while Saadiq brings the live instrumentation to the mix. The PPP cast members usually changes with each record ( like menudo LOL). This time around PPP introduces soul singers Coultrain and Karma Stewart. The new single On a Cloudb/w Angel (Ubiquity) offers a new musical direction than what PPP fans might be used to, but still manages to keep the soulful energy your used to hearing.

I included the Trackademicks Remix of On a Cloud because it’s my favorite on the new single. You can also check out the short documentary style video produced by Waajeed on location in Dubai. The video covers the making of the new single and an introduction to the new PPP cast. Video after the jump enjoy!!!

PPP@Myspace.com

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I came across the music of Dam Funk via a 12inch remix of Baron Zen’s Burn Rubber that was in heavy rotation at my job (Turntable Lab). The beat was so soulful and funky it instantly made me walk over to the turntable to see who it was. Ever since then I’ve had a strong interest in the music of Mr. Dam Funk.

Dam Funk is at the forefront of the modern funk movement and a walking boogie funk historian. He keeps the good people of LA dancing to the Funk, with his popular weekly party Funkmosphere, where he plays rare boogie and funk selections usually only found on vinyl. Dam funk’s latest 12 inch release Burgundy City (Stones Throw) is a testament to his passion and dedication to the boogie. On Burgundy City Dam Funk not only plays all the instruments, but with no sequencing… no computer. Such a rarity in the digital age… just like the man himself.

Baron Zen - Burn Rubber (Dam-Funk Remix)

Dam-Funk - Burgundy City

Dam Funk@Myspace

Raphael Saadiq is about to release his fourth solo album The Way I See It on Columbia Records. Mr. Saadiq has kept himself busy creating future classics for Joss Stone, Kelis, and Anthony Hamilton. You may have heard that Raphael recently invited 100 ladies (ladies only affair) to preview his new album at an undisclosed location through his myspace page. I can’t be mad at the brother for that one.

In this episode of Fader TV, Raphael Saadiq invites you into his creative lab to talk about his new album and his overall creative process. Let’s hope for some more Instant Vintage type classics. Video after the jump!!

Raphael Saadiq@Myspace.com

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With the new release of D’Angelo’s greatest hits (so far) CD/DVD compilation. The King of Neo Soul returns to give his fans a reminder of how he captured the crown in the first place. All of D’Angelo’s classics cuts are included on this project. The same week of the release, a mysterious 45 record with two unreleased D’Angelo tracks turned up at Turntable Lab.

On the A side D’Angelo covers Bill Withers ode to Captain Save’ms everywhere in Use Me. If your familiar with D’Angelo’s work you know he has a certain skill for taking over songs and making them his own. The B side features a song that sounds like it could have been a stolen gem from D’Angelo’s unreleased album with Questlove. If your not convinced Dj Triple J reminds you several times that you didn’t get this track from him. I apologize for the tags on the song, but these are exclusives. Enjoy!!!

D’Angelo- Use Me

D’Angelo- Really Love

D’Angelo@Myspace

Meet Supreme Justyce, a group of five Super Heroines standing in the face of danger, the danger being fake, plastic, overrated “hollywood” chicks that are antagonizing and ruining girls and women’s self esteem. Co creator Kecia Hayes, impressed us with this comic strip, that provides some alternatives to Hanna Montana and Barbie.

The comic strip is pretty live and action packed. In the beginning Supreme Justyce rushes these paparazzi loving, fake chicks. At first I thought the beginning was kinda harsh, they basically start out kickin’ these blonde girls’ asses. But then I realize it wasn’t about “white girls”, there is a “black bambi” they beat up for playing herself. Nevertheless the comic is beautifully illustrated and exciting I kept clicking to see what happened next.

Check out www.supremejustyce.com

Holla!
Nemiss

HCR is wrapping up another season at WBMB and getting ready for the summer season. The summer season of HCR is more freeform/mixtape style. Last week’s show was a preview of the summer season with something we like to call fruitless expeditions.

Fruitless Expeditions involves a lot of random conversations with no destination in mind. It’s all about the journey baby!!! Some of the topics we touch upon… a mini Biggie Tribute, estate planning, summer side hustles, and how tie a tie. Listen and give your feedback. We can use some guidance.

Download HCR- Fruitless Expeditions

Last week Eric Lau passed through the Turntable lab offices. He seemed amped shopping for records at the lab. I didn’t get a chance to meet him, but my boys Snack and Commish put me on to this London based producer and his new album on Ubiquity called New Territories. I did a little research and found out Eric Lau did an album with Dudley Perkins and Georgia Ann Muldrow (don’t know how I missed that one), so naturally I was sold.

A couple days after listening to the album New Territories I wished I had got a chance to say what’s up. All that to say I was very impressed with Eric Lau’s smooth, neo-soul inspired production. The tracks are guided along by the jazzy vocals of London songbird Rahel. This album will remind you of the late 90’s Neo Soul Movement in a very good way, just an overall good vibe. Check it out and give some feedback.

Eric Lau Featuring Rahel- Show Me

Eric Lau Featuring Rahel- Let it Out

Eric Lau Featuring Tawiah

Eric Lau@Myspace.com

Rahel@Myspace.com

Ubiquity Records