Heavy Rotation Song

We all know how relationships can be a burden or blessing. This song really describes the the up's and downs of being in love. I know by first hand the complexities of dating and failed relationships. If there is one thing I can say about Drake and that's he knows how to write the hell out of a song. Not to mention having Stevie on the track is on point. Enjoy!

Saturday Mornin' Cleaning Music

I can remember when I was a kid and on Saturday mornings my Mom would have the radio on while she cleaned. That was one of my first and early introductions to music. After some cartoons and cereal I would groove around while the radio played the hot joints. So here is just a taste of songs that had me pumped! Now we all know noboby cleans their house to music anymore but here you go! LOL!

Midnight Star - No Parking On The Dance Floor


Luther Vandross - Bad Boy/Having A Party


Club Nouvea - Why You Treat So Bad


Ashford & Simpson -It Seeems To Hang On

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?

Morning Meditation

My mornings always start off with a good prayer and some silence with the Lord. During my commute to work I normally listen to sports talk but today the Holy Spirit encouraged me to listen to one of my favorite gospel songs by Kurt Carr. I hope you enjoy and this brings a blessing to  you.

Watch "Kurt Carr - Thats Why I Praise You" on YouTube

Fresh Faces To Vibe To...

What up folks!? Yes, I know it has been a minute since your boy has down you right. Please accept my deepest apologies but I have been grindin' something terrible! :) So do me a favor and open your ears to some new and exciting talent! Yes, we all know the music business is becoming more and more desolate but with more and more artists like The Weeknd and Elle Varner coming the future is oh-so bright! So take a listen to here to some "new kids" on the block. And on a side note that Weeknd jam stripper song for sure! So ladies let out your inner Diamond when you listen to this joint!

Hidden Gem Found!

So here it is a rainy summer evening in the DMV, and I'm listening to this young lady sing like the most precious canary you have ever heard. She first came to my attention from the radio station that I work at on the weekends in DC, 93.9 WKYS(Plug! Listen to me Saturday 9am -10am and Sunday 6am-10am). We had this contest looking for the next star in the DMV set to blow. Well, this young lady took that literally to heart cuz' she can blow for sure. Ladies and Gentleman let me introduce you to Ari Lennox! When I first heard her she reminded me a lot of Chrisette Michelle, with her raspy tone and distinct delievery it is very captivating. The self-proclaimed rock, soul, afro-jazz artist wowed everyone during the "Next DMV Star" competition, thus allowing her to win and grab a recording deal with Koch Records. This past weekend she killed at the Russ Parr Splash Bash. The same stage that held the likes of Destiny Child's Kelly Rowland. So if you haven't heard of her now is the time to get on board and ride the wave with this sister.

Peep out her performance of "Random Heartbreaks" with another bad dude David James from the group Ndelible.



Congrats, to you Ms. Lennox! May you continue to blow and shine bright like the star you are! Get familiar with her folks! She is dropping her first EP/Mixtape in August. Be sure to catch her on BET's "106 & Park" on August 24th! Spread the word on this talented lady.

http://www.arilennox.com/

Twitter: @arilennoxmusic

Summer of 1998!

As we face this heat during the summer months my mind has traveled back in time to the summer of 1998! That was a good time for me as a young adult and in my love for music. I had just graduated from college and was working at 92Q in Baltimore, where we were getting ready for our Summer Jam concert! During that time there were a lot of great songs on the radio. I'm talking about music that had a purpose and had your head going from side-to-side to the beat and rhythm. It's funny I wish I could take a time machine back in time to some of my favorite times in my life. It is even more amazing how music has played a major factor in my life as well. So, I thought I would share a little play list of some of the hits in the summer of '98 that made me rock out. This is just a taste of what '98 had to bring so don't go getting on me for missing shit! :)



Next - Too Close



Wyclef Jean - Gone Till November



Dru Hill - How Deep Is Your Love



Monifah - Touch It



Missy Elliott & Da Brat - Sock It 2 Me



Deborah Cox - Nobody's Suppose To Be Here



Master P - Make Em Say Uhh!