Triple Whammy

This is what we call a triple whammy post, let me explain. The classic footage above is from Joni’s going away jam in April 2006. Now in 2008 she’s got an album out available at CD Baby.

by dj o.s.u.m. 

John Legend/Little Brother

Damn, how many legends can this family produce? HHNLive.com just posted this interview with Vaughn Anthony who is sibling to none other than John Legend himself. Judging by the songs on his myspace he could fill big brothers shoes.

Say Morning To Lina

The new single off Lina’s soon to be released Morning Star. I’ll definitly be checkin for it.

A Music Makeover

New music on the cusp of 2008 comes from drummer/producer Daru Jones. With his smooth genre of soul-hop, he’s made my job of organizing my music library that much more difficult. I’ve yet to check out all of the multiple free downloads available on his myspace page but after a few listens to Feel The Love a project with his sister Rena Jones and the Spirit Soulhop Sampler, it’s evident that this is a name to look out for.

It’s An Honor Just Being Nominated…

I’m not really one for award shows. As a matter of fact when someone mentioned the Grammy’s to me, my first thought was movie awards. One thing I am quite sure of however is that there seems to be a fair share of mainstream and lesser known artists in the urban R&B categories.And while I’m sure that this in no way means that these artists will actually take home an award, I’m sure it was an honor just being nominated. If I had my way, the following would not be walking home empty handed.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
If I Have My Way – Chrisette Michele

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
Woman – Raheem DeVaughn

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
Baby – Angie Stone Featuring Betty Wright

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
Make A Baby – Vikter Duplaix

Best R&B Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)No One – Dirty Harry, Kerry Brothers & Alicia Keys, songwriters (Alicia Keys) 

Best R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
The Real Thing – Jill Scott

Best Contemporary R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
Just Like You – Keyshia Cole

Best Rap Solo Performance
(For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

The People – Common

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
(For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.)
Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You) – UGK Featuring OutKast

Best Rap Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)Can’t Tell Me Nothing – A. Davis & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)

Best Rap Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
Hip Hop Is Dead – Nas

Again, this is just a list of how I would like to see it go down, not the actual predictios or winners. The full list is on the Grammy website for those who care to check

Motown Soul

Me, the Soul On Ice crew + Jessica rolled through the motor city last weekend for the Urban Organic Music Festival. Because 3/4 of us already experienced a taste of the festival last year, we were pretty amped at the thought of actually spending a full weekend in Detroit.

There were a lot of great stories about chicken & waffles amongst other things but that will have to be saved for another day. It’s easy to say that the people we met trumped it all.Below is a video of one of the great folks of the D who was definitely a crowd favorite at the Saturday Night event with Roy Ayers. Monica Blaire is someone I’ve been checking for since the release of Exit Music: Songs with Radiohead, where she and Wajeed collaborated beautifully on a cover of “Knives Out.”

This is pretty much the only media I have up from the trip right now but even if it wasn’t It would still rank at the top of the list. Check this quick clip of Monica lighting it up on stage.

For more on Monica Blaire check the MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/monicablairemusic