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.
First to all my regular readers, please forgive the light posting this week. My laptop has the MAJOR cooties. I am currently posting this on my eight year old desktop. The Slowskys would LOVE Old Betsy. So until I’m back up, things will be a bit slow around here too.
The theme for this week is music from your graduation year. I graduated from Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, NJ in 1994. I had just turned 17 and left for college in Charlotte, NC a few months later.
There were two albums released that year that I believe cannot be left out of any discussion about the history of hip hop and r&b. Talk about “let my tape rock til my tape popped.” Both of these albums would be near the top of the list if I HAD to choose my top ten albums of all time. I still know every single lyric of every single song on both albums.
None other than Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” ( November 29, 1994) and Biggie’s “Ready to Die.” (July 13, 1994).
Since the 90s was also the decade of the remix, I’ll be posting my favorite remixes of songs from each of these albums.
First up, the Queen who should always come before the King.
Mary J. Blige, “Be Happy” Bad Boy Remix w/Keith Murray
Mary J Blige f/ L Boogie, “Be With You” remix
Ya’ll ready for Notorious? One week from today! If it wasn’t inauguration weekend, I’d be right up in NYC for opening weekend. Brooklyn, stand up! Here’s a couple of track from the King of New York and MY G.O.A.T.
Biggie, “Big Poppa” So So Def remix
Let’s bring it full circle.
Biggie, “One More Chance/Stay With Me” remix f/ Faith and Mary J. Blige (play spot the celebs in the video)
Understand what I’m sayin tonight
Understand where I’m comin from
Feelin really bitch yeah
And I don’t feel like be a nice to nobody
Don’t feel like smilin no
See I already know that I’m talkin
PMS
Now, now fellas don’t be scared off! I won’t be going into detail!
Anyhow, this has been a bit of a rough week. It’s hard getting adjusted to a new job after being at your old one for six years. Not to mention this job is 1000 times more busy and involved than my last one and it’s only going to get more hectic as the political season heats up. The benefits are so beyond anything I could have hoped and prayed for and the work is so important that I actually feel a responsibility (and pressure!) to get up to speed and perform way beyond expectations. Keep a reformed reforming slacker like me in your prayers.
To compound things, I am battling those three dreaded letters something awful! My emotions have run the gamut from:
Being driven to tears at the ending of the penultimate episode of “The Wire.”
Wanting to slap the beejezus out of Hillary for her continued antics. March 4th can’t come quick enough.
Wishing I could personally string Bobby Cutts up by his balls. 57 years isn’t enough for this animal.
Being driven to tears (yes, again) at the week 5 Jake/Amy episode of In Treatment
Extreme frustration at folks who don’t like New AmErykah – as if folks aren’t entitled to an opinion
Deep sadness over the news that one of my friends is leaving the area for a while for a job opportunity; instead of being happy for him, I’m more concerned with the effect his leaving will have on my life.
More frustration at this ridiculous inquiry into steroid use in sports. Um, can we focus on the fact that this country is going to shit and despite what Lil Bush says, we are headed for a recession. Hell, we’re essentially already there.
Pissed off to the highest level of pissivity that I won’t be watching the final episode of “The Wire” a week ahead
Major irritation at a commenter on my Top 50 R&B/Soul songs post who stated that it’s incomplete without any Aretha. Me thinks I came across a little…tight…in my response. (Sorry!) However, it’s still MY list, not the list.
Yes indeed, a lot of things got under my skin this week that probably would have rolled off my back on any other week. Thank goodness it’s coming to an end and I’ll be hitting happy hour after a long day on Friday to get my mind right over a martini or two.
There were some things that cheered me up this week:
Du Day over at Soul Bounce was the ish! Queen Butta, Ill Mami, and Harlem represented lovely for EBadu. I hope she peeped it.
Soul Music Super Tuesday. I was about to add four albums to my list to purchase when a kind soul from another hot music site hit me up offering to send copies of New AmErykah and Lizz Wright’s The Orchard. Totally out of the blue. He truly made my week.
I also attribute my blues to the fact that I’m having live music withdrawal. I haven’t been to a show in three weeks! No worries, that’s all about to change. Here’s the line-up for the coming months:
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I just simply remember my favorite things
and then I don’t feel so bad.
I’ve been inspired by the good folks over at Soul Bounce, Nova, Butta, and Ill Mami, to put together my own top ten list of songs from 2007. Be sure to check out their lists as well because they know good music.
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s HARD for me to do lists like this. There were so many songs that moved me this past year. However, after some help from the above lists and the Best Albums Roundtable podcast to refresh my memory, I’ve managed to narrow it down.
10. Stop Breaking My Heart – Rahsaan Patterson
I was anxiously awaiting this album and while I didn’t fall in love like I did with his previous three releases, I found myself coming back and grooving to this particular track again and again. Like many of the songs I chose, it was a definite theme song for me in 2007.
He Knew that the president wasn’t addressin’ him
Though dead presidents was addressin’ him Two kids from hot sex no protection and
People don’t see how aids is affectin’ him
Then to mix in Nina Simone and Bilal…can’t get hotter than that.
Listen to Common in a studio session breaking down “Misunderstood”
8. Sex God – Brand New Heavies
I am very ashamed to say that although I had certainly heard of the Heavies before and kept up with their concerts through one of their stans, I just became a convert this past summer. At the Capital Jazzfest, they had hundreds of black folks partying in the cold, pouring rain like they were in Miami on a 80 degree day. I already told you that was one of my top concerts of 2007.
It was hard to choose just one song from their latest release, Get Used to It. There was stiff competition from “Let’s Do It Again.” I first heard a mix of “Sex God” on MN8’s Myspace page with a rap intro and didn’t know it was the Heavies. I couldn’t stop playing it. And you know how I do, the title and lyrics didn’t hurt either!
7. Buju Banton – Driver A
Everytime I hear this song, I’ll remember Jamaica. And oh, what fond memories they are. The Reggae Sumfest crowd who had been at the show since 7pm, went wild when he performed this at about 4am. If you are a reggae lover, it’s hard to sit still on this one. I wish I had been capturing video because this man’s live energy is unbelievable.
6. Mary J. Blige – Til The Morning I have yet to fall in love with Growing Pains, but this particular song, along with one or two others are definitely stand-out tracks. From the first listen, this was the only song I added to my Top Rated on the ‘pod. It’s a straight party track and frankly reminds me of the 90s MJB who put out albums where I just knew I was going to love each and every song.
5. Ledisi – Alright
This song got a sista through some tough times this year.Some mornings on my commute to a job that I’m so over, I throw this on and know it’s going to be alright.I’ve been a Ledisi fan since I saw her perform several years ago on the Capital Jazzfest cruise. Her latest release, Lost and Found, further cements my adoration for her amazing talent.
4. Raheem Devaughn – Woman
I remember seeing Rah perform a year or two before the release of his first album. I hadn’t heard of him and gave him the serious side-eye as he took off his kicks and rolled all over the stage like his last name was Labelle. Today, color me convinced. “Woman” is such a feel good track. On the rare occasion that I turn on the radio and hear some rapper accosting my bleeding ears with the order to “shut up, swallow,” I so need artists like Rah to extol the virtues of “woman” [read; not bitch or hoe, thankuverymuch!]
3. Chrisette Michele – If I Have My Way
I Am was definitely one of my top five favorite albums of 2007. Not to mention what this girl can do live. Again, it was hard to pick just one song. “My Way” faced stiff competition from “Golden,” “Mr. Radio,” and “Let’s Rock,” just to name a few. However, this was another track with lyrics that mirrored a situation that went on in my life in 2007. I actually played this song when I just couldn’t find the words. Now that is good music.
2. Eric Roberson – Pen Just Cries Away
Again, you should already know how I feel about Erro. As a matter of fact, I’ll be seeing him perform twice this week. So many standouts on what I consider his best album yet, Left. I swear he wrote “Pretty Girl” about me. However, this was another song that holds an emotional significance for me. I’ll never be able to listen to it without remembering a certain someone, me and him straight vibing to it at W Ellington Felton’s Tuesday night set. Little did I know months later, I would hear that same song as the relationship came to an end. I still love it just the same though.
1. Jill Scott – Crown Royal
What can I say about this song that hasn’t already been said? What can I write about The Real Thing that hasn’t already been written? I’ll just say that I’ve been fortunate to really feel Jill on this particular track many times over in 2007 and I hope that trend continues in 2008.
Nuff said.
Honorable Mention: Neyo, “You Make Me Better”
I’d love to hear your favorite tracks of 2007.
*hat tip for the BNH graphic to Lauren via Tayari’s Blog
Oooh it feels so good When you let go of all the drama in your life
Now you’re free from all the pain
Free from all the game
Free from all the stress
So try for happiness
One of the first things I tell any man I meet is that I live a quiet, drama-free life. I work at a place that requires a security clearance and I return home to my quiet condo community, in a building with a lot of senior citizens that are probably in bed by 7pm. I let my hair down as often as possible, but I do not court any situations that would land me on Maury or Jerry.
For the most part, I surround myself with like-minded people. I truly believe you are known and influenced by the company you keep. However, there’s always that one friend….
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me an e-mail informing me that she was about 2 months pregnant. Not many things shock me, but this one did. I knew she had been seeing someone for about 6 months or so and she “loved him.” I also knew that she was ambivalent about kids for several reasons and never really saw herself as a mother. So of course I wanted all the details of how this happened and what she planned to do. I wasn’t at all expecting what I heard.
I won’t get into everything because well, there is just no need to put her on Front Street like that. But I must share some details to make my point. Essentially, she found out that baby daddy, who was well integrated into the family by this time, had several issues in his past (prison time, not so ex-wife, baby momma drama).
*An aside here, my first thought was how did she not know about all of this? Maybe I’m just an overly inquisitive chick, but there are certain questions I ask potentials that will tell me everything I need to know. Of course there are professional liars, but there are certain things that just won’t add up if you pay close attention and listen to that inner voice that’s whispering “This negro is shaddddyyy!” For instance, If you’ve done a long prison stint, that’s a large hole in your life that’s unaccounted for. I’m gonna need to know exactly what you were doing with your life from age 19-30. Sorry.
Back to the details.
Finding all this out, coupled with his strong reaction to her being pregnant, made things go way south, as you can imagine. She’s also experiencing some issues with her pregnancy at this point and is supposed to be resting. However, she decides to go over there to get some things she left after he refused to bring them to her. He gives her all but one item, which he refuses to return. She decides she’s not leaving without that item and they start a tug-of-war over it. This tug-of-war leads to him hitting her in the face, putting her in a headlock, and finally them falling through the screen door. At this point, he calls the cops and she decides to leave, but as soon as his back was turned, not before grabbed that item!
As a friend, I had to go off on her and it was not pretty. One of the things I told her is that the drama in her life has got to stop. This isn’t the first time she’s had some crazy situation go down with some dude. What may or may not surprise you is that she is by all accounts educated and successful. She just has a history of bad choices in men. Only thing is now, it’s not just about her and what she wants. She was already proving to be an unfit mother by putting them both in that situation where things could have gone horribly wrong.
I hope she wasn’t just listening and really heard me.
You know as much as I like to say that I felt Mary’s music more when she was living the high and dramatic life, I certainly am glad she rose above all of that. I was fortunate to see her in concert in Jamaica this summer. To see her perform “No More Drama” live is like having your own cathartic experience. It was a month after “The Break-Up” and seeing Mary re-release those demons on that stage made me know that I too would be alright.
Now I just have to work on my girl….
Update 12/16: I just found out that the Negro had her served with a restraining order and they had to go to court. The judge laughed in his face and sent them on their way. Needless to say, I don’t think she’ll ever hear from him again…which is good and bad. Another fatherless daughter. However, sometimes no father is better than an f’d up one.
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 