Mary J. Blige: A Look Into Her ‘Hip Hop’ Soul

While on the internet the other day I came across Mary J. Bliges video for her recent single, Someone to Love Me (Naked). Though this wasn’t my first time viewing the video I found
myself watching the video as if it was my first time checking it out. Looking at Ms. Blige bop along to the beat with a swagger that rivaled that of P. Diddy’s and Lil’ Wayne’s I couldn’t help taking a trip back down memory lane and realizing why she was given the title “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.” Once again observing Mary with her b-girl swag on a thousand I thought about the impact she’s had on the hip hop community. I thought about all the rap artist whose songs were injected with a strong dose of estrogen when Mary did her thing on their song; in addition, I think of the incredible remixes she’s done with hip hop artist (most famously “I Love You” w/ Smif-N-Wessun) throughout her career. With the release of What’s the 411 in 1992 Mary claimed her spot in music history & etched out a lane that many female artists has tried to follow afterwards. Before her Grammy award winning collaboration with Method Man I first caught Mary exchanging verses with Grand Puba on the What’s the 411 remix. Many people site that particular collaboration as her “break” which made the hip hop community heavily embraced her as their own, as their little sister if you will or as some have playfully said their “Auntie Mary.” Not too long after the release of What’s the 411 album we were hit with What’s the 411 remix album. On this album Mary hooked up with some of raps elite which further cemented her title as “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.” On there she had memorable collaborations with Craig Mack, Heavy D and my favorite the “Real Love” remix that featured the late, great Notorious B.I.G. From that point on Mary J. Blige has gone on to work with raps veterans (Jay-Z) as well as raps rookies (Drake). The aforementioned “All I Need” with Method Man is still a classic and is even credited with being the song that introduced rap/R&B marriage that flooded airwaves in the 90’s going into the new millennium. You have to ask yourself would Jay-Z’s “Can’t Knock the Hustle” been as epic without the beautifully, depressing croon of Mary on the hook? Would “All I Need” been a Grammy award winning song without the help of her raspy voice? Would you have liked Ghostface Killah’s “All That I Got Is You” as much if Mary didn’t come in at the end and mirror the same story Ghost rap about only through song?  Some even question did Mary aid in the exposure of Smif-N-Wessun to an audience that wasn’t familiar with their “Bucktown” roots. Whether you agree with those ideas or not one thing is for certain; despite the list of female entertainers that has come and gone since ’92 Mary has been there and isn’t going anywhere. She has built an incredible resume just off of remixes of her songs. Those songs have featured the cream of the crop in rap music such as LL Cool J, Lauryn Hill, Mr. Cheeks, Foxy Brown, Keith Murray and the list goes on. Even as a feature on rap artist songs (Mobb Deep, DMX, Fabolous) she has been a “beast” and lived up to her title as “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.” Later this year Ms. Blige plans on releasing  My Life II: The Journey Continues and I’m sure it will be another one that not only the R&B world rocks to but the hip hoppers as well. ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!

PRESS PLAY POWER :: YOU & WHAT ARMY :: BOBBY CREEKWATER

Bobby Creekwater is one of my favorite ATLiens.   I can listen to his songs over and over again just to see what he’s going to say next.  Plus he’s a producer so that’s like super damn cool too!!!!  Check out the latest visual (his videos are always so dope!)  from his debut album “REVENGE” dropping 5.3.2011. Then, head over to http://ibobbycreek.com/ and check out the newly redsigned site and download “You and What Army”!!!!

Big K.R.I.T.’s Returnof4eva Listening Session in Atlanta [Photos]

Big Krit lit up Atlanta last night at his Return of 4 Eva Listening Session at Tree Sound StudioS.  The food was great!  The Jose Cuervo Platino was flowing.  And the MUSIC WAS SO AWESOME!!!  Everyone in attendance had a wonderful time celebrating Krit’s release.  Music has not been enjoyed or respected in Atlanta like this in a long time.  MTVJams, All Hip Hop, TJ from TJsDJs, Rico Brooks, Sonny Digital (Racks on Racks Producer), Pill, CyHi, Bobby Creekwater, Jen “Ms Rivercity”, DJ Wally Sparks, J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, Maurice Garland, Rodney Carmichael (Creative Loafing Music Editor) and a host of others came out to the invite only event.  I would like to thank Mali, Groove, Ben, and the rest of the Tree Sound Studio staff for the warm welcome and exclusive pics.  Check out all the photos from the event after the jump and MAKE SURE YOU GO TO  http://returnof4eva.com/ to pick up Big Krits free album and leave a donation for all his hard work! 

Keep on Pushin’

“. . .nigga still hands on/whip it like a sandstorm/had the audacity to sell it n a damn poem/get you “hiya” angelou/the author of these anthems. . .” For the most, I can say I haven’t been a huge fan of “trap music” but the Clipse have always been the exception in my book. With witty word play that Pusha T has displayed on his anticipated mixtape, Fear of God he has shown and always proven he’s not just another “trap star” but a rapper. Fear of God is a trip into the mind of one of hip hops most slept on acts and Pusha does an excellent job of shutting up the naysayers who feel he can only rhyme over a neptunes beat. Even though the mixtape is saturated with street tales of drugs, money and girls you can not deny the talent of Pusha T (nor can you deny the Queen sample on Open Your Eyes which you can hear below). Fear of God is a must have in any mixtape collection and really is some G.O.O.D. music. Stand up Virginia, stand up Re-Up Gang and take a bow.

Open Your Eyes

PRESS PLAY POWER :: AARON ALEXANDER (LA REID’S SON AARON) :: “CRAZY LUV” HITS URBAN RADIO

OKAY….So I’m surprised.  Maybe I am late, maybe I was not paying attention the way I should have been.  But this one snuck up on me and it wasn’t until I looked at a radio chart that I noticed LA Reid’s son Aaron might have a hit on his hands!!!!  I can see myself riding down the street this April with my windows down bumpin’ this song!!!!  Check out some of the stations supporting Mr. Aaron Alexander (aka Aaron Reid) after the jump!

Sirius XM 40′s Hip Hop Nation Radio Playlist with Spins as of 3.27.2011

lw	TW		Artist	Title	Label	TW	lw	Move
1	1		DJ KHALED	Welcome To My Hood f/Rick Ross	WTB/CM/Universal Motown	75	69	6
3	2		WAKA FLOCKA FLAME	Grove St. Party f/Kebo Gotti	1017 Brick/Warner Bros.	63	59	4
2	3		ACE HOOD	Hustle Hard	We The Best/Def Jam/IDJMG	62	63	-1
4	4		WIZ KHALIFA	Roll Up	Rostrum/Atlantic/RRP	51	54	-3
5	5		TRAVIS PORTER	Bring It Back	Porter House/Jive/JLG	51	45	6
18	6		GAME	Red Nation f/Lil Wayne	Black Wall Street	39	23	16
9	7		LUPE FIASCO	All Black Everything	Atlantic	36	31	5
6	8		YC	Racks f/Future	Big Play/Uni Republic	33	34	-1
12	9		LUPE FIASCO	Words I Never Said	—	31	28	3
7	10		BIG SEAN	My Last f/Chris Brown	G.O.O.D./Def Jam/IDJMG	29	33	-4
14	11		WIZ KHALIFA	On My Level f/Too Short	Rostrum/Atlantic	29	26	3
16	12		SNOOP DOGG	Platinum f/R. Kelly	Doggystyle/Capitol	29	25	4
126	13		GUCCI MANE	Pretty B**ches f/Wale	1017 Bricksquad/WB	28	1	27
10	14		NICKI MINAJ	Did It On’em	YM/CM/Universal Motown	28	31	-3
8	15		PAC DIV	Anti Freeze	Universal Motown	28	33	-5
24	16		KANYE WEST	All Of The Lights	Def Jam/IDJMG	28	22	6
17	17		DR. DRE	I Need A Doctor f/ Eminem	Aftermath/Interscope	25	24	1
29	18		TWO CHAINZ AKA TITY BOI	Boo f/Yo Gotti	Duffle Bag Boyz	25	20	5
28	19		RAEKWON	Molasses f/Rick Ross	Ice H20/EMI/Capitol	24	20	4
19	20		RICK ROSS	9 Piece f/T.I.	—	24	23	1