Bilal, if you’re listening, we need this image on a t-shirt.

I know you think my throwback is cute and all.

But this B-ollower, as he likes to call his tweeple, is ready for an upgrade just in time for the new album.

This has been covered all over the innanets, but judging from some of the comments I’m seeing on my YouTube videos, some of ya’ll are still not woke.

Bilal fans and stans, you’ve waited not so patiently for nine years for an official project and the time has finally come. It’s official, Airtight’s Revenge will in fact see the light of day.  September 14, it will be in stores and online everywhere for your purchasing pleasure.

Here is the tracklisting:

1. Cake & Eat It Too – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie [watch it live]
2. Restart – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie
3. All Matter – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie
4. Flying – Produced by Bilal / Nottz
5. Levels – Produced by Bilal  / Shafiq Husayn [watch it live]
6. Little One – Produced by Conley “Tone” Whitfield
7. Move On – Produced by Bilal  & Steve Mckie
8. Robots – Produced by Bilal  [watch it live]
9. The Dollar – Produced by Bilal  / Steve Mckie
10. Who Are You – Produced by Bilal  / Steve Mckie
11. Think It Over – Produced by 88 Keys

There were snippets from the entire album posted on the internets a few weeks ago but most outlets have removed them. Completely understandable. Bilal and Plug Research aren’t taking any chances with this one. I don’t think the fans can take another Love for Sale debacle.

Since my interests these days are taking me in the direction of the fusion of new media and music promotion, I’m excited at the way he using social media to promote the album and interact with his fan base. He joined Twitter earlier this year and already has 10K followers. I expect that to grow exponentially once the album is released and he reclaims his spot as one of THE best to touch the mike.

He actually talks to his fans and doesn’t just use the tool as a one way  “buymyshitcometomyshow” broadcast medium.  He shows that he actually reads what people are saying to him by retweeting.  He crowdsources by asking questions such as what we think about him touring with a particular artist.  He shares photo and video from shows. He’s planning tweetups in cities where he is touring. It’s all very authentic. In short, he’s doing it right.

Bravo, B. Bravo.

Mark your calendars for September 14.

DC area tweeps, you’ll be happy to know that an album release show has already been set for September 19th at the Birchmere. Tickets will be on sale via Ticketmaster on July 23rd. It will sell out.

Meanwhile, take a listen to this great conversation between Bilal and Gilles Peterson.  As Giles plays tracks from the new album, which Bilal says he took the Frank Zappa approach in creating, they talk about the new music; what he’s been up to these past nine years; the lost album; record industry rule 4080; what’s poppin in his iPod; and how DC is the bestest fan base ever.

And for goodness sakes, get on Twitter already. Follow Bilal….and me.

image credit: SoulBounce

After being threatened with revocation of my soul card and a forced moratorium on live show attendance (the horror!) if I didn’t participate in Cupid’s Hunt 2010, I decided that I better get to it!

So I present to you my first mix entitled, Let’s Take A Long Walk [Download]

• Coultrain- Swimming in the Stars
• Erik Rico – Wanting You
• Angela Johnson f/Julie Dexter – How Sweet Life Is
• Jazzanova f/ Leon Ware and Dwele – Rockin’ You Eternally
• Jack Herrera (aka Jon B, Dominiquinn and Silky Deluxe) – High Off You
• Darien Brockington – I Miss You
• Bradd Marquis – I Never Wanna Live Without You
• Maysa – The Lady In My Life
• Corrine Bailey Rae – Closer
• Jean Grae – Love Thirst
• Mary J Blige – Beautiful (Black Star Remix)
• Raheem Devaughn – Desire Interlude
• Janet Jackson-Anytime, Anyplace
• Yahzarah – Where I Is
• Meshell Ndegeocello- Love You Down
• Bilal- White Turns to Grey
• D’Angelo-Heaven Must Be Like This
• Pharoahe Monch – So Good
• Full Crate & Mar with Eric Roberson– She Was Fly
• Maxwell – Whenever Wherever Whatever (Espanol)
• Amerie-I Just Died
• Sade- The Moon and the Sky
• Sade –Love Is Stronger Than Pride (Mad Professor Mix)
• The Luv Bugz – Where Would We Be
• Aaliyah – At Your Best (You Are Love) (R Kelly Remix)
• Liv Warfield- Brotha Man (Live)

There you have it. Twenty-six songs that remind me what a beautiful journey “that long walk” can be.

The process of creating this mix was almost like a metaphor for love itself. It was far from easy. Things fell apart a few times, resulting in a missing piece or two. I got aggravated and frustrated. I gave up on it. But someone with a little more patience than me, who is stronger in areas where I am weak, pushed on through and got it done. And from where I’m sitting, it all turned out good in the end.

For that, I am thankful.

I’ve learned song selection is fairly simple for someone who loves and knows music like I do. However putting it together is not an easy task. At all. Shout out to all the mixologists out there that can do this with their eyes closed. Special shout-out to my collaborator and my Valentine, “Lord Divyne” of EvahLution Soundz.

Cupid’s Hunt is bigger than ever this year. Add Cupids Hunt on Facebook and follow on Twitter to get links to over thirty hours of tunes by music podcasters and lovers (like me) with a Valentine’s theme (good and bad!)

Special thanks to TGrundy for his vision and for wrangling us all.

I’m hoping that most of you are following me on Twitter where I try to keep you updated on all the new flava coming our way in 2010. Some time ago, I tweeted that 2010 was shitting all over 2009 musically for me thus far. I expect it to just keep getting better and better.

At the top of the list, you know I gotta talk about that unicorn blood gulping Helen Folasade Adu whose album, Soldier of Love dropped yesterday. Despite having the album in my hot little hands for the past couple of weeks, I trooped to the store today and purchased a copy as well. I can’t remember the last album  I actually bought. I prefer to support the artists by attending their shows. For Sade, I’ll be doing both. After ten years away, her album is just that good. I fall deeper in love with it every time I listen. I’ve enjoyed it at a listening party with my brothers and sisters in soul. And it’s been the  soundtrack for more intimate listening sessions. And it wins every single time. Cop. that. poste.haste.

I’m already predicting that she will headline a night of the Essence Music Festival. I’ve taken the time off of work already in anticipation. Just waiting for the word and praying for the right travel partner(s).

A couple of weeks before Soldier of Love dropped, Corrine Bailey Rae returned to the scene with The Sea. Overwhelmingly, most seem to agree that she escaped the sophomore jinx. It’s moody. It’s melancholy. Yet, it’s hopeful. She’d do it all again. Let’s hope it’s sooner than four years from now. If it is though, I’ll patiently wait. She’ll be in concert here and in Philly during my birthday month. I’m all over it.

Speaking of concerts, there will be no need to do a 2010 countdown of best shows I’ll attend this year. In two weeks for the first time in my young life, I’ll be going to see Stevie Wonder, the inspiration behind every word I write in this space. That show will fill slots 1-10. Hands down. Before you ask,there will be no video. I’ll be seeing him at the Kennedy Center. High falutin. So no video commando tomfoolery.

I know she’s no Stevie, but if Maysa comes to town best believe I will try to bring you video of her performing songs from her latest effort, A Woman in Love. Just when I think I’ve had my fill of cover albums, all it takes is a real singer like Maysa to pull me back in. I’m just saying. Her duet with Will Downing, “Love Theory,” will be on my babymaking soundtrack in a time far far away someday. If they don’t include her cover of “Lady in My Life” on the Michael Jackson tribute album and put some fantastic fuckery on there by BeowulfRihanna whoever is hot at the time it’s released, I will shut this whole thing down. Seriously.

Let me breathe and stop.

I also need you to pick up Jose James’ latest release, Black Magic. Let music and culture critic extraordinaire L. Michael Gipson tell you why. I haven’t spent much time with this album just yet. However, from this review and others, I can see that my thoughts after a first cursory listen were right on the money.

So what’s ahead?

We’ve heard tracks from Erykah Badu, who will release New Amerykah II: Return of the Ankh on March 30. I forgave her for this foolishment (I’m sure she pulled the most skullduggery of tactics to get my baby, the Grammy-nominated Bilal to participate in that mess).  Turns out she was just messing with us and it won’t be on the album. Cause then she turned around and dropped this gem. It sounds like a continuation of New Amerykah Pt. I. Which is of course a win to me.

I’ve sang the praises of Coultrain here before. He is dropping a second album this year and the tracks I’ve heard let me know that we’ll get more of the same. Again, that’s alright with me.

Julie Dexter and Leela James are also expected to drop new albums this year. Check out Julie’s single, “Transitions,” and Leela’s “Tell Me You Love Me“  Leela’s debut on Stax Records is expected to drop on May 4th. I will be front and center when she tours because that little lady tears the stage down.

In addition to the album watch I’ve already launched, I hear we can also expect:

• New music from Faith Evans, which Butta of Soulbounce has already put her stamp of approval on.
• A new project from the reunited Groove Theory (!!!!)
• Jill Scott- Light of the Sun (???) Will the label dispute shelve the album? Hell, Jilly from Philly can hawk the album out the back of her ride and it would sell like hotcakes.
• Yahzarah – The Ballad of Ms. Purple St. James (May 2010 – what can I say – May is THE month) She has been reporting live from the studio and the album will be released on Foreign Exchange’s label. Nuff said.
• Foreign Exchange – New album Fall 2010. Will we have stopped listening to the Grammy-nominated Leave It All Behind by then though?
• Zo! - Sunstorm (Summer 2010) – On the heels of the free.99 EP, …just visiting too, we should get a new album from the maestro on keys.

I’m about to renew my domain name so I guess I’ll be back. I have a couple of other projects I plan to launch in the coming months so I’ll be back to point you in that direction.

You already know this is another artist on the short list that can bring me out of retirement.

I’d be remiss as queen bee of the Bilal Stan Association if I didn’t share with the one or two of you that still stop by (thank you!) new tracks that Mr. Oliver performed during his set here in DC over the weekend.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about this show. Last couple of times he rolled through DC, I had to take him to task on Twitter for lackluster, “i don’t give a fuck, cut the check,”  performances. It was like watching this right here. I derive no pleasure from standing on the side of the road and watch a ten-car pileup.

I am happy to say at this show he acted like the Grammy-nominated artist I know who could blow all of these R&B cats off the stage using  only10% of his vocals. Mr. Oliver put on an amazing set that included a preview of three tracks I expect we’ll see on his upcoming album, Airtights Revenge. Check out “Levels,” “Robots,” and “Cake & Eat It Too” and let me know what you think in the comments.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about “Levels” when I first heard it and was curious about the direction of the album. However, after seeing it live, I can dig it. “Cake & Eat It Too” will definitely be popular with the fans. The beat knocks.

Levels

Cake and Eat It Too

Robots

“Since I Been Loving You” is of course a Led Zepplin cover and I don’t believe it will be on the album. However, if you don’t watch any other video, watch this one. I attribute his antics to my fly ass Bilal tee I was rocking in the front row. He saw that and knew I had been down for a minute!

So seems like 2010 will be a damn good year musically. We’ll be holding a vigil for Airtights Revenge. His manager says he only a couple tracks left to record. Look out for an interview soon over at SoulBounce where I’m sure Butta will get to the bottom of this. We’ll also be checking hard for:

• Sade: Soldier of Love (um, for real if you haven’t heard about her first release in ten years on Feb 8, 2010, saw the stunning artwork, and listened to the title track, well I can’t help you.)
• Corrine Bailey Rae: The Sea (January 26th)
• Erykah Badu New Amerykah Part II
• Darien Brockington: The Cold Case Files
• Anthony David: As Above, So Below
• Vikter Duplaix: Love Machine
  
• New project from Yahzarah
• New music from Deborah Bond
• New joint from Amy Winehouse
• D’Ange….aww fuck it!

Be sure to follow these artists on Twitter and via their official websites and blogs to keep up with the latest on release dates. Who knows when I’ll write here again.

Very few artists can bring me off of this extended period of extreme laziness blog hiatus. Mary is one of them.

On November 29, 1995, she dropped what I consider to be her best work to date – and my favorite album of all time – My Life.

It’s hard for me to put into words (especially these days) how I feel about this album. I just know that the music helped heal me while I was dealing with the pain of my first unrequited love at the tender age of 18. No long talks on the phone with my girlfriends and no comforting words from Mommy made me feel what Mary did. As much as I love Share My World and Mary, I didn’t feel those albums deep inside like I did My Life. It’s an album I will still be playing fifteen years from now. It’s that timeless.

SoulBounce has been celebrating the Month of Mary,  paying tribute to the icon for creating an album that even fifteen years later, still impacts and inspires. For the piece de resistance, they have gathered eleven male artists to re-imagine the songs on My Life and it’s available to you here as a FREE download. The icing on the cake is that it’s hosted by one of the original key producers on the album, Chucky Thompson.

So hurry on over to SoulBounce and check out how much love artists such as Eric Roberson (“My Life”), Darien (“Be Happy”), Jesse Boykins III (“No One Else”), and Slakah the Beatchild (“Don’t Go) show the undisputed Queen of Hip Hop Soul.

While you’re there getting your download on, be sure to leave a comment letting the good folks over there know how much you appreciate this labor of love.

I forsee a return to the blogosphere in the future in a form that I’m not yet certain of.  Meanwhile, you should be getting your music news at sites like SoulBounce, SoulUK, SoulAfrodisiac, Bama Love Soul, Friday Favecast, Soul Reservoir, Novaslim, and Soulified. These cats are rocking the same flava in their ears that I am. They just have the desire to write about it right now.