Category Archives: In Heavy Rotation

New Flava In My Ear: Zo’s ‘ManMade’

21 Tuesday May 2013

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manmadeThere are very few artists whose album I would recommend you rush to pick up without having taken it for several spins first. Lorenzo “Zo!” Ferguson is one such artist. Don’t believe me? Google him and do his resume.

I was first introduced to the Detroit native as the man on keys at Foreign Exchange performances. I would always note how fine he is his eyes sparkled as he performed. I know. Odd to notice that Zo! has mastered smizing.  He just always looks truly looked happy to be there doing what he loves with his fam. I got schooled quickly that he was an artist in his own right with a discography dating back to 2001. Zo & Tigallo Love the 80’s and the ….just visiting series in particular stay in constant rotation. This man simply knows how to make good music.

ManMade, Zo’s second release with Foreign Exchange Music after the epic Sunstorm, features the vocals of Phonte, Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly, Carmen Rodgers, and Anthony David. With a lineup like that, I already know this will make many Best of Lists for 2013.

As a social media professional, I also have to note that he did an amazing job creating build up to the release. On Facebook and Twitter, he took fans along for the ride every every step of the way from concept to completion. Artists should definitely consider Zo! as a case study on how to engage your fan base leading up to an album release.

I’m just back from celebrating my birthday in Vegas and this album is the perfect gift. I know it will be in heavy rotation because that’s what the super talented FE+ artists do—consistently put out hits.

Support real music and purchase Zo’s ManMade here or on ITunes (where I hear he is holding down the #2 spot).

Show Zo! some love in person at a listening event or release or release party near you. Dates are being added so if you don’t see your city, stay tuned!

Need to sample before you buy? Press play below.

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Have You Copped Bilal’s New Album ‘A Love Surreal’?

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, In Heavy Rotation, Music News, New Flava In My Ear

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Watch: Bilal’s Musicians at Google interview and acoustic performance 

A few short months ago, I was gearing up for Bilal’s album release and it’s here!  During my blogging hiatus, he blessed us his third studio album, A Love Surreal, which immediately soared to the top of the  top of the Itunes R&B/Soul album charts. Three cheers for folks supporting real music.

I have been super impressed with the wide variety of promotion the album has received so far, which can likely be attributed to a change in record labels. His team is working it! As an online professional who would kill to be on Bilal’s online marketing team, I was also extremely excited to see that his official website is finally complete and his social presence is expanding. [Get all the links on his blog.] It’s been a long time coming!

The latest promotional effort for the album, Musicians at Google, was released today. He joins artists like Raphael Saadiq, Eric Roberson,  and Lady GaGa in being featured on this series. Very good company. Filmed a month before A Love Surreal was released, the showcase began with an interview, one that had its moments. However, where he really came alive was during the intimate acoustic performances of “Back to Love,” “Longing and Waiting” and “Never Be The Same” from A Love Surreal and “All Matter” from Airtight’s Revenge.  It’s definitely worth taking a look at, even if your ADD causes you to have to just skip ahead to the performances.

As for my thoughts on A Love Surreal: I listened to it three times before it was officially released thanks to the First Listen series on NPR. I didn’t fall in love with the entire album from the time I pressed play. Although I have stanned for Bilal since before the term existed, I can admit that. There were certain songs like “Slipping Away,” “Never Be The Same,” “Longing and Waiting,” and “Butterfly” that drew me in right away. Others it will take more time. Seeing them come alive on stage in a couple of weeks will surely have me listening to the album with new ears. Watching some of the performances that have popped up on YouTube have already done just that.

One thing that immediately struck me about the album is the live instrumentation. It’s simply breathtaking. Unfortunately, it’s a rarity to hear real instruments on albums today. You will find them here. I appreciated hearing about the process of making this album on the two-part (very well done) video series, Welcome To A Love Surreal [Watch Part 1 and Part 2]. Bilal breaks down everything from where he goes to write, what inspires his creative process, the evolution and maturation of his writing, and working with King and Robert Glasper, the only two guests on the album. He also shares how he likes to record by the beach because it calms him. Me too! Twinsies!

Listening to Bilal talking about the road to the making of this album, which was originally supposed to be just a five song EP, enhanced my appreciation for his growth as an artist. Although the long lost Love for Sale remains my favorite, I am more than willing to let him move on. Bilal is at the top of his game and is hands down one of the most gifted vocalists making music today. I may not like every song he releases but as long as he stays true to his art and takes care of that voice, he will have my eternal support!

Be sure to cop the album. Spread the word to your music loving folks to buy it and to support him on tour when he comes to your city.

Music Playlist for Healing: Love’s In Need Of Love Today

15 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by in In Heavy Rotation

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I am truly at a loss over yesterday’s events in Connecticut.

For my international readers (hey ya’ll!) and those in the US who have been living in the deepest of caves, a monster forced his way into an elementary school in Newton, Connecticut and shot and killed 26 people. 20 of them were students. Babies. I literally feel sick to my stomach just typing this.

We don’t know why he did it. The coverage of this story and the misinformation being spread out there has been  horrific. I hesitate to link to any news source out there because the media has been disgustingly irresponsible in their coverage, putting out false information in a rush to be the first ones on the scene. We won’t talk about the cable news outlets and their tragedy porn.

President Obama’s statement about the tragedy in Connecticut was just painful to watch. While he is the President, he was also speaking as the father of two girls.

The only things that have been getting me through this (and all of the multiple tragedies this year) is time with loved ones, prayer and of course, music. Music heals.

Here’s a playlist I put together on my favorite music app, Spotify. (If you’re not on there, you should be. More on that later.)

I hope that this helps those out there that are hurting over this in some small way. Regardless of whether you are personally affected by this, it’s a national tragedy. Families are waking up today, if they even slept, without the babies they sent to school yesterday. To school. A child is waking up without his mother.  This is hard, ya’ll.

What songs do you listen to when you need to be lifted up in times of tragedy? If you’ve experienced a lot of loss in your family (as I have), what songs have helped you to heal? Help me update this playlist.

Update: Reviews on 2008 Releases I Must NOW Have

29 Wednesday Oct 2008

Posted by in Album Reviews, In Heavy Rotation

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Since I won’t be able to write formal reviews for all of the albums on my most anticipated list, here are some thoughts on the ones I’ve listened to thus far.

 September 9th

Eric Benet’s Love and Life: I may stand alone in this but this album just didn’t do it for me. Admittedly, I have only listened once. The only song that grabbed me is “You’re the Only One.” I feel that song like I felt his first two albums. Eventually, I’ll get around to taking another listen and maybe I’ll feel differently. For now, I have to give it a FAIL.

Kenny Lattimore’s Timeless: I wrote a full review for this one.

 September 16

Raphael Saadiq’s The Way I See It: Love, love, love this album. Although there are one or two tracks that I skip, overall, it was everything I hoped it would be. I’m strongly considering seeing him on tour along with John Legend. Now that I’ve got the album in hand, it makes me want to see his stage show even more.

September 23

September 30

Jazmine Sullivan’s Fearless: Again, I may stand alone here but this album just didn’t live up to my expectations. I compare all the hype surrounding the release of Fearless to Chrisette Michele’s I Am last year. Chrissy delivered ten times over. Every track on her album was bananas. Jazmine…not so much. Her voice sounds phenomenal but I’m not thrilled with the material.Unlike everybody and their Momma’s Momma, I am not that enamored with “Bust Your Windows.” I expect more from her next time around. Her voice is too great to waste on bad music.

Too lazy to change the graphic. We know that Common’s Universal Mind Control will be released the day after never.

Joe, your tomfoolery does affect my purchase of your album. Hell, I couldn’t even be bothered to bootleg it. Harsh? My tolerance for grown ass men acting ignorant is at negative zero right now. Check with me later.

Ledisi’s It’s Christmas: I have the album but am waiting on the holiday season to give it a first spin. I have a closed door office at work so it will be on repeat loudly throughout December. I’m sure it will work as Scrooge-repellent.

Jennifer Hudson: I put her album on the back burner after hearing so many bad reviews. At this point, I can’t even listen because I couldn’t be objective. I don’t think I could say anything bad about it. I know, doesn’t make sense. Hey, no one ever said I was a real journalist or anything.

Robin Thicke’s Something Else: I loved this album. He didn’t depart much from his signature style but it worked for me. No skips at all.

October 18

Foreign Exchange’s Leave It All Behind: This album is a sure thing to make my list of top albums of 2008. Another album where every single track just blew me away. Often I put it on when I’m leaving work and want to literally leave it all behind. I already have my ticket in hand to see them when they come to DC in a few weeks. I’ll do a longer review then with videos, once I come down from my high that is.

October 21

 

Kindred’s The Arrival: It really hurts my heart to say this but after one listen, I wasn’t feeling the love. I attended a listening party where they appeared to promote the album a few weeks ago and you just gotta love them as a couple. I know that has nothing to do with the music. However, it’s not always easy for me to separate the two (post coming on that later).  I’m hoping that a live performance will make the album grow on me.

 

October 28

 

I did a full review for this one too.

November 4

Q-Tip’s The Renaissance: Let’s just say there are many, many reasons November 4th can’t come fast enough!

The floor is open for comments.

Old School Friday: Perfect Combination

18 Friday Apr 2008

Posted by in In Heavy Rotation

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by vivrant thang on old school friday

It’s another Old School Friday and they left a sista to her own devices this week. We were told to “do whatcha like!” I decided to go with a theme of “perfect combinations” – a few of the ultimate artist collaborations.

This is by NO means a complete list.  It’s just a few songs that are inspired in part by my Top Songs list and by what’s been playing on the ‘pod this week. I took a few liberties with the rules as a couple of the songs are a couple years past 1993. I’d still argue that they are classics.

Let me know what you think of my choices in the comments.

What are some of your favorite old school perfect combinations?

Perfect Combination, Stacy Lattisaw & Johnny Gill, 1984
(Ahh…remember the time before Johnny was telling ‘Donkey’ to put on his red dresssss)

Secret Garden, Quincy Jones f/Barry White, James Ingram, Al B. Sure, El Debarge, 1989(Sho you’re right!)

Nothing Ever Felt Like This, Rachelle Farrell & Will Downing, 1994

You’re All I Need, Meth and Mary, 1995
(Shawwwttyyy I’m there for you anytime you need me…sigh, whatever happened to black love?) 🙂

Nothing Even Matters, Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo, 1998
(Ya’ll still matter to us…get your minds right and give us more music!)

Honorable Mention:To get ya’ll ready for my Jill Scott concert review post (with video!) on Monday, I had to drop this one on you. This is when folks were still asking, “Who Is Jill Scott?”

You Got Me, The Roots f/Jilly from Philly, 1999

Here are a links to the other participants in Old School Fridays. Be sure to check them out. Great trips down memory lane: