The Power of New Edition

Have you ever been to a concert? I’m not talking a meet and greet, album release or mini-showcase. I’m talking a full-fledged dynamic bring you to your feet concert, a bona fide show! Last week I had the pleasure of seeing New Edition in concert at the Verizon Center in DC. Now this was may have been my 7th time seeing these gentlemen grace the stage, but this performance stood bar none to the other times. During this period in music where R&B groups are few and far between it is refreshing to see a group of men in their mid to late 40’s actually singing live and painting the stage with precise dance moves. They learned from the best before them a list that includes The Temptations, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5 just to name a few. So to say watching New Edition give a top-notch, Grade A+ show is an understatement. They took me to a place where my love and appreciation for music lives and grows emphatically.

They spent just about 90 minutes pouring every ounce of energy they had them and me singing hit after hit, adding in multiple outfit changes and let me not forget the infectious dance moves that had me up in my seat. New Edition is what you can call a tried and true music group. They have seen the highs and have seen the lows of fame. Each and everyone of them from Ralph, Ricky, Mike, Ronnie, Johnny and of course Bobby have experienced success individually and as a group. Throughout it all they have continued to master and execute a stage show that keeps the crowds coming. I’m talking about a group that hasn’t had an album out since 2010, with the groups one and only album, “One Love” on Diddy’s Bad Boy imprint. So what is it that causes this group to sellout venue after venue? Simple. They have the best die hard fans out there. Fans like myself who love great and timeless music and the fact that the guys put in the time and effort to entertain us for over 30 years.

I ask myself daily what current group or artists out there can carry the weight that New Edition has over the last 30 years? Not many at all to be honest. So where does this leave one of my favorite groups of all-time? The stingy side of me wants to see them never do another album again because I don’t want to see them tarnish a legacy. The music fiend in me urges and pretty-please begs for a new album. I guess I can’t have it both ways but I do know that finally that film about their 30-year career is coming. Although we all think we know their storied career we don’t and it would be good to see it on the big screen. So for now all we can do is continue to rejoice in concerts like the one I saw in DC, listen to our Pandora or Spotify play lists and of course go and see them when we can. Great music is not always a given, so when it is the only thing you can do is cherish and hold onto it tight. Just like the generation before me holds onto Motown and the Gamble and Huff era, I hold onto New Edition, Mint Condition, Tone, Toni, Tony and Boyz II Men. So kudos to you to you gents from Boston and Washington, DC, for the six of you have impacted my love for music just like the legends before you. I hope to share your sounds with my future kids. There is nothing old about New Edition!

Where Are They Now!?

There is always that moment where you're sitting in your car, in the house or at your desk at work and a song comes on that makes you go crazy and then you realize, "Where the hell is person at now?!"

Well in today's edition of 'Where Are They Now,' I thought I hit you off with my man JT Money! Remember this dude who gave us that dope summer banger with "Who Dat" featuring Sole in 1999. It's funny dude looks like the offspring of Roy Jones, Jr. and Trick Daddy! Enjoy!

Rick Ross feat. Jay Z "Devil Is A Lie"

I may not be the biggest Rozay fan but I can admit hot shit when I hear it and this right here is hot shit! Whenever Jay and Rick connect they seem to mesh well. Now could a possible album by the two of them in the works? One can only wish and hope. In the meantime rock out to this track that will be on Rick's new album "Mastermind" in 2014.

New Jack Swing Friday

There was a moment in time for me when music just my everything. It still is but as a teenager I needed my New Jack Swing! It was a point in my life where I was going through my adolescent stage and listening to the bravado of Bobby Brown, the laced lyrics of Heavy D or the dope sounds of Guy! It was a great time for music and this seems like a good day to share that with you all. Happy New Jack Friday!

Searching for R&B! Lucy Pearl-Without You

I just had a thought on this Sunday and my thought was where is R&B? I know we have so-called 'R&B' out there but I want to know where is the real deal? Lucy Pearl albeit the original group only put one album out (thanks Dawn Robinson!) but it was one classic album. A strong vibe of soul that you can listen to from start to finish. So here is one of favs from that album. I hope you enjoy on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Kelly Rowland Got Me Hooked!

Never before in my mind would I would I say that out of all the girls that have rolled in and out of Destiny's Child that Kelly Rowland would be my fave! In their early inception I was always an LaToya Luckett fan and still am but Kelly Rowland has got my attention at full salute! Not only is she on the radio on just about every song she has finally found herself a hit! Yes, we all know bitches need to "Bow Down" to King Bey but not Kelly! She has her own throne and army to lead and this chick has me in her camp as the Court Jester or loyal servant! Shit, I will do whatever she wants me to do at this point in time. I love her track "Kisses Down Low" and whenever I play it on the air I just sit back close my eyes and dream! In case you have been under a rock for sometime and haven't heard the song peep the visuals below! Kelly's body is beyond dope! This is one chocolate morsel I would love to have in my cookie! Sugar-free or not! :)

Dope Music Saturday

It's a "Dope Music Saturday" that's right hitting you off with a few joints that you may not have heard in a minute! Before I get into that I have to take a moment to say RIP to the best rapper of all times! The ill-est MC to spit a hot 16 of course I'm talking about The NOTORIOUS B.I.G. who was tragically killed today 16 years ago! We will always love Big Poppa! So get into this dope music for you on this Saturday. Enjoy and stay up!

Best Male Soul Voices

Soul. How does one define it? Especially when it comes to the essence of Soul Music. There are and have been a lot of male soul singers that have graced us with their savory and melodic presence. As I sit here composing this blog my mind starts to wonder about the best male singers to set fire to song like a three-alarm fire that you don't want to put out. I am talking about singers who make you feel every inch of their pain, love and desires in every word they sing.

So do me the favor and listen to some of my favorite Soul Male singers and let me know what you think. I know this will be up for discussion so let the talks begin. I decided to add old and new on this list from David Ruffin, Sam Cooke to Bilal. Comment or tweet me @stretch_66 your thoughts and favorite singers. Enjoy.

Still Missing You

It's odd how fast time flies by and we all tend to go on with our lives and day-by-day we start to lose a connection with the ones we have lost along the way. I can recall where I was the day I heard Aaliyah passed away 11 years ago. We going back to the days of two-way pagers here folks. I was still working at 92Q in Baltimore and it was a Saturday night. I was with my co-workers Egypt and Breeze and we were going to some club. Oddly, enough I have forgotten the name of the club but I will never forget the day I got the news Aaliyah passed. My pager was going off the hook with so many different versions of what happened. This was BG (Before Google) days and TMZ albeit the worldwide web was in effect it wasn't where it is now. So it took a minute for the story to be confirmed. I remember when it was we were in the club and we made the announcement and silent hush took over the club. It went from a room full of sweat and sultry dancing to tears and confusion.

It's funny how God always puts things or shows you things in life. A few weeks before Aaliyah's untimely death she was at the radio station doing the mandatory radio visit. I have to admit I was a fan that day! At the time my show was from 10pm-2am and when I got off the air I was so geeked to meet her that I just stayed at the station until she came around 8am or so. Who would have known that would be the first and last time we would meet. Life is full of uncertainty and disappointments but I have to say that day was a blessing more than any other. So in honor of the "Baby Girl", I put together this play list of some of my favorite songs by her. A beauty and talent gone too soon but in the best hands right now! Enjoy and always remember the ones we lose.

Stretch

Happy Birthday Prince!

Today is a day fit for a King err...I mean Prince! It's Prince's 56th birthday! All hail the Prince!

On this special day, I thought I'd show my appreciation to a man, who has been coined a musical genius, in this time.  The eclectic styles and transformations of Prince have been noted  as well as celebrated throughout his 56 years on this place called Earth. He has made music that our grand children's grand kids will be rocking to til the end of time! So join me in wishing the Purple One a happy birthday--"Let's Go Crazy" on "A Raspberry Beret" and stir up a little "Controversy", while the "Purple Rain" falls from the sky and we watch "Erotic City" come alive, I guess that's just the "Sign O' The Times" so said "Darling Nikki" who also shouted "Baby I'm A Star!!"


https://play.google.com/music/playlist/AMaBXyleLmM2hIpn3FI3Rn0z3Tx0wYYHY6R0CbLreufWDGmmSUtfrAWvW6x0BPdLLp19EOq-Rq9XPpr7x1sSCVqHeCQ6BY938w%3D%3D

Happy Birthday Mr. Prince Nelson Rogers!

Enjoy the special Prince mix I put together in honor of his b-day!

Kane Is Still Able

It has nearly been 25 years since Antonio Hardy had his debut on Cold Chillin' Records, dropping his notorious single "Raw" to the hip-hop masses. As a 12-year-old kid back in 1988 all I knew was Thundercats, G.I. Joe, my ever growing crush on Hillary Grimm and Big Daddy Kane! When I reflect on how music especially hip-hop has evolved and then regressed over the past 25 years, there is one consummate that holds true and that is Kane was a ill MC back then and can still hold his own today.

I was in the gym working out and was just tossing up those 20 pound dumbbells like nothing when I was listening to "Ain't No Half Steppin'" and was just floored on how Kane was so precise and clever with his wordplay. It is said that he was Jay before Jay-Z. Yes, Kane came before his time and didn't benefit monetarily like MC's  rappers do today, but I think today's rappers can benefit off of Kane today. Kane brought swag before swag was even thought about, he had an energy about him that illuminated from his records and he actually had something to say! It was about two years ago when I saw Kane in Brooklyn at Prospect Park and he killed it! Okay, he may have put on a few more pounds and aged a bit but watching him perform you couldn't tell. So the question is could Big Daddy Kane hold his own today as a current artist in today's digital world and sub-par rappers? I think we all know that answer and that is a 44-year-old Big Daddy Kane is 90% better than most of the cats out here now claiming to be rappers.

Go back in time with me and enjoy some classic Kane tracks let the King Asiatic Nobody's Equal school us all.  It is of course "A Big Daddy Thing!" 

Uh-Huh, Another Case of a "MSJ"- Missing Slow Jams

Listening to current Slow Jams today make me laugh at times at how corny and extra-suggestive they can be. The other day I found a old-school Slow Jam CD that I made back in '97. The first track on that piece was Luther Vandross "Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me". Hands down maybe the best R&B slow jam written! At the very beginning of that cut Luther sets the mood for a song about a man yearning for his long gone love.

I wanna tell you, baby
The changes I've been goin' through
Missin' you, missin' you, oh...oh...
Till you come back to me
I don't know what I'm gonna do
N-n-n-no, n-n-no

I miss songs like 'Sensuality (Parts 1&2)' by The Isley Brothers, Maxwell's 'Lifetime', Marvin Gaye's 'Distant Lover' (the live version is a beast) or Prince's 'Adore'. Don't get me wrong today's slow jams are great to bump for the beat and such but, the content within the songs don't carry any weight. When R. Kelly made his solo debut in 1993 with '12 Play' the world was caught on fire! Yes, his lyrics of sex and lust were not hidden well but his pen game was so tight that they were eventually overlooked. 12 Play spent nine weeks atop the R&B charts during this period. Hell, you can't even get a single to stay number one for ten days nowadays. Songs like 'Sex Me (Parts 1&2)', 'Your Body's Calling' and 'Bump N Grind' may not have had the sincere and tasteful approach of a Marvin or Stevie Wonder song but they did help redefine and shape the Slow Jam genre. 

How do we define what makes a good Slow Jam? Ask yourself that question. Some may answer that they want a romantic song that they can make babies to or something they can play at their wedding for the first dance, and others just say they want a soft-smooth song to play at work. I guess over the years songs have parted away from the object of love in general and focused on the act of just getting some. Singers like Anthony Hamilton, Eric Roberson and Lalah Hathaway are throwbacks in the sense of creating great songs that simply exhibit the art of the Slow Jam. 

It is funny that over my years of being in radio and just a lover of music in general, that I always find myself gravitating back to the classics, or to songs that capture those characteristics. Hell, I know over the years music goes through it's changes and folks got to eat--I get it. But can we just find another way to express "love and emotions" through song rather than wanting to have the neighbors know our names? Well, I'm off to listen to some Carl Thomas, MJB, SWV, Aretha Franklin, MJ and Donnell Jones amongst others. I guess this case is still cold until we find that ever elusive Slow Jam.

Click Here for some of the best Slow Jams

Share your thoughts with me and email at Stretch@radio-one.com

Twitter: Stretch166

What are some of your favorite Slow Jams?

Alison In Wonderland!!!

There is not much I can say about this lady other than "she is effin' awesome!!!" If you have never heard of her or seen her live let me be the first to say, "World, allow me to introduce you to Alison Carney!" She is a beast! A talent like no other and just a all-around cool ass chick! Peep out her latest EPK "Alison Wonderland", I guarantee you won't skip a song as she captures your mind and soul with each note. Enjoy!

Why I Love Adele!

So sue me for watching "Dancing With The Stars" but it is my secret delight. I was geeked when I heard Adele was going to be on there performing. There are a lot of folk out there that claim they can sing but Adele surpasses them ten fold! She is so hot and in demand right now, so much that tickets for her performance at the 930 Club in DC are going for like 3G's from scalpers. I love me some Adele but I'm not parting 3G's for her though. LOL. Good thing I know folk. If you are not familiar with Adele I urge you to get caught up with this wonderful and gifted singer. Yea, she's British and wait for it....white, but who cares?! This woman can blow. And I would go on the record to say she is hands down the best vocalist out there right now! I dare anyone to say well what about Rihanna, Keri and Beyonce'. Please don't play yourself! Her cover of the Rolling Stones "Rolling In The Deep" is truly amazing! See for yourself below.



Her album "21" is currently number on the charts. So do yourself a favor and go cop what I call musical magic to your ears. You won't be disappointed. Trust me.

Mint Condition - 7 Album Review

It is hard for me to sit here and write this review for a group that has been stellar and consistent in their craft for more than 20 years! Not hard that I think they are not appealing now but hard for me to imagine that time certainly does fly by. The release of their 7th studio album coincidentally called "7" shows us why this band (yes band) has been able to survive and inspire for the past 20 years. This album is some sort of a reunion for die-hard Mint Condition fans with the return of Keri Lewis. The album is laced with 11 tracks that show you the growth that the group has made over the years. Those of you hoping to hear smooth melodic slow jams that made you fall in love with them years ago, you have another thing coming. There are some very funk ladened tracks on here that showcases Stokely's very distinguished voice. Tracks like "I Want It" and "I Can Ease The Pain" are reflective of that statement. In a day in time in music where real musicianship is either a lost art or just totally forgotten Mint Condition shows us that it is still alive and well. Songs like "Caught My Eye" and "Not My Daddy"(co-written by Kelly Price), show us a glimpse of the past that made us all fall in love with this group 20 years ago. My suggestion is that you put this album on right now and just close your eyes and let MC take you to a place where all you need to do is  just relax and relate.

https://sites.google.com/site/stretchsworld/Not_My_Daddy.mp3
https://sites.google.com/site/stretchsworld/Caught_My_Eye.mp3

Brother Where Art Thou Soul? .

As I sit here listening to Sam Cooke belt out "A Change Is Gonna Come" something struck me that over the last 20 years in R&B, there has been a problem...it's called "SANG-ING!" 

Yes, there are some great singers currently out there but most of them you may not even heard of since they are indie or so far underground it will take Chilean miners and 3 moles to find them. I miss the days of Donny, Luther, Stevie, Bobby (not Brown) Womack, Otis and Al just to say name a few. There are a few cats out there now that have most definitely been influenced by the kings of yesteryear. Such as R. Kelly, Jaheim, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton and Raheem Devaughn. It is crazy to me how soul music is perceived now. If it isn't overproduced with catchy hooks it doesn't sell. Hell, they don't even care if you can sing now. It's all about having that 15-minutes of fame song that will be on the Top 100 Digital Charts. I don't know about you but just like how I like my women, I like my music with--substance. It doesn't take a genius to write "Birthday Sex", hell I can get sex when it's not even my birthday! But it does takes a genius to write "Rocket Love" and to sing 


"I longed for since I was born 
A woman sensitive and warm  
And that you were 
With pride and strength no one would test 
But yet have feminine finesse 
And so much more"

Now that is what you call a song. 


I know how things happen in cycles and phases but I sure hope that the phase of wack music ends soon. I want my soul back and I want it now! I wish I could have lived and experienced the early Motown years or had a chance to see Black Moses (Issac Hayes) in concert. Don't get me wrong I love music if I didn't I would have never got into radio, programmed for both Yahoo and AOL Radio, worked at Bad Boy. But I do have an issue with the lack of love in music today. So I say this my fellow lovers of music...let's get some soul back into our music! I would hate to raise my kids on BS tunes! Bring on the SANG-ING!!!


Check out some flavor from some of the torch carriers of soul music! Eric Roberson, Bilal and Anthony David. Enjoy. 

The Return of L. Boogie!!!

I can remember the first time I heard 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill', I was in college and doing radio in Baltimore, and I was able get an early copy from the record rep and listened to it as I drove around the streets. I was so blown by her voice and the conviction that she sang with on every song. I already knew her rhyming skills were above the curve. There I sat in my Jeep just taking in the dopeness of Lauryn Hill and from that point on I knew she was a bonafide star. Yes, we knew she was the sexy vixen assassin of The Fugees but she carried a vibe and charm that let her stand apart from Clef and Pras. I didn't think in my mind that she would go on to sell over 8 million records. That's going platinum extra crazy!

Of course with her riding that high wave a crash was imminent. L. Boogie was on top of the world with her debut solo album but then something went astray. Many blame her relationships with Clef and Rohan Marley to her just going coo-coo for coco puffs nevertheless she did a complete 360 from the world. Now flash forward 12 years later (yes 12 years) and she is set for a triumphant come back. She is what the music industry needs now. The industry has been infected with Kat Stacks, Soulja Boys, Becky songs and Nicki Minaj's! It's time to go back and bring back what made the world stop, look and listen to real music. I'm looking forward to seeing Lauryn rip the stage at the Rock The Bells Festival in NYC this weekend! I tip my cap to you Lauryn and to your return to glory!

Here is some classic Lauryn for you!!





Here is the latest single from Lauryn called 'Repercussions'.

Soulful Treats!

Guess who is back? Sorry for the delay on not hitting you all up on my musical love and desires (shotout to Rick James--Darkness!!!!)but you all know how it is when your looking for a job. Well do you? Any who, since I have moved from Gotham City back to Bmore I have been on my grind so much that I have not taken any time to listen and find some healing sounds of life...MUSIC!

So this past weekend I did just that and went to Best Buy to find me some golden gems to massage my ears. I think I came out like a champ too! I was able to score some classic's from Marvin Gaye "Let's Get It On", The Jacksons "Goin' Places", Amy Winehouse "Frank" and to a soon-to-be classic Melanie Fiona "The Bridge". And for good measure I bought myself a $25 gift card for iTunes! But the piece de resistance was a friend of mine lacing me with a dope book called 'The Rough Guide to Soul and R&B'. Oh man! What a great book that is so detailed with history to playlists to great images.

Well back to what I copped at BB! So I gave Melaine Fiona's album a lot of love this past weekend. I love her voice. She is such a standout singer that embodies the soul of her soulful predecessors before her. She shines on tracks like 'Walk On By', 'Priceless' and my fav 'It Kills Me'. If there is one album that you would want to spend some loot on it is hers. Yes, she may not sell Rihanna numbers or shake her ass like Beyonce', but there is one thing that I'm sure she will do well and that is SING!

I must admit that I did not know that Gamble & Huff worked with The Jacksons at all. So I was quite surprised that when I copped their 1977 album 'Goin' Places'. You can most definitely hear the Philly sound in this album. You clearly hear it in the song 'Find Me A Girl', where MJ lets it all hang out with his search for that right lady. He sings he's going to make good, good lovin'! Whatcha gonna do? LOL. This album slide under my radar but it is laced with great production and the sounds that built the 70's disco-soul-pop era. MJ and his brethren bring that up-beat spirit and feeling that made America love them for a lifetime!

Lord knows I love me some pre-cracked out Amy Winehouse. Now that she is supposedly sober and has some new 'boobies' she can lure me in again with her soulful voice.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Bonus*

One of the best to ever do it, Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr... If you can't get any a$$ from playing any song from Let's Get It On, well you Sir or Madam you have no game!

Legend Lost

As I type this even with all of the coverage from CNN, MTV, VH-1 and BET, I still can't believe that Michael Jackson is gone. In our lifetime we are given only a few chances if any at all to witness greatness. I can honestly say we witnessed it with Michael Jackson. Everyone has a story about what Mike meant to them and how he touched your soul or spirit. We can all shout out a song of his that will have you throw your cares away and just want to get up and party. I remember growing up in Baltimore as a child and wanting to stay up late one Friday night to watch Friday night videos. I begged my mom to let stay up so that I can see Michael Jackson in this video known now as 'Thriller.' Now as a six-year old in 1982, 'Thriller' was the last thing I needed to be seeing but after a few hand over my eyes moments I was hooked to the phenomenon of Michael Jackson!

Now as a kid I like many others wanted to move like him. I wanted to have the precise moves and the magic feet he possessed. I can remember being a kid and dancing for my family every time I heard 'Beat It' on the radio. That same feeling transferred into my teen and adult years too. There was never a time you couldn't catch me bustin' into a Mike move in the hallways or a talent show. The sight of my lanky branch-like body flying all over the place. Some took it for amusement but I really thought I was Michael. Some may have taken it for a joke but I digress. :)

Michael Jackson was a visionary, trendsetter and an all-around force to be reckoned with. I hope folks don't dwell on the idiosyncrasies and odd things that became his life in the latter part of his years. I truly believe those who reveled in his triumphs and patted him on the back are the same one's that casted the first stone at him and shunned him. Again, I say that we only get a few chances in our life to witness greatness. Michael made music that is fresh and timeless and will be shared and enjoyed for centuries to come. Michael has grown from the little boy from Gary, Indiana to the mega-star, who wanted to heal the world. Despite your thoughts of him as a person he truly thought he was doing good. He touched many of lives throughout the world. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and fans. I'm sure he can now relax and rest in peace as he 'moonwalks' thru the gates of heaven! Here are few of my favorite tracks from the late-great Michael Jackson!

http://www.myspace.com/stretch166/playlists/import-michael-jackson-joints-1194208\nshared vid http://addthis.com

Ode To R&B and Soul

So it's 1:40AM and I'm sitting at my parents crib watching a rerun on All My Children and uploading music to my iPod. As I go through my Cd's that I snatched out of my storage facility I'm just amazed of how good music used to be.

Remember the Summer of 2000 when Raphael, Dawn and Ali put together Lucy Pearl? Man, I was in awe and in love at the same time. They sounded great and Dawn look fly as ever but like everything in life...every good thing must come to an end. 'Dance Tonight', 'Without You' and 'Don't Mess With My Man' always on heavy rotation on my iPod!



Mary J held it down with the release of 'My Life' in my mind her best album to date. Tracks like 'Be With You', 'You Gotta Believe' and 'My Life' set your soul on fire.



D'Angelo not only made the women sway and melt when they saw this braided-headed, wife beater wearing, snarl making cat sing. He also made the fellas tighten up on their gym time as well. From the first moment we saw him and heard the guy folks were like who is this falsetto singin' young cat? Well he mos def let it been known who he was and what he intended on doing. With cuts like 'Lady' and 'Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine.' Thank goodness for that!


I sure do miss my R&B and Soul from the 90's. Is it wishful thinking and naivete to think those days will ever resurface? Time will tell. Enjoy!