Started the show of with this, as I wanted to get over as many tracks as possible for you the listener. The track is called “Enjoy yourself” by Slakah the Beatchild (Released in 2008 from the album called “Soul Movement volume 1”) was a great way to start the show. Lovely soulful number, the drums are not harsh, the bassline is very simple indeed like the piano start to this, which sets the song up nicely. Reminds of a something that maybe Eric Bennet would have done. I love his voice (Slakah) as it is soft and yet so clear. I also like the fact that he name drops artists such as Marvin Gaye and SWV within his lyrics, which helps pricks up your ears. As soon as you hear this and you appreciate the Soul music sound, you will be wanting to hear this again. There is an alternative version of this going around as well. However, on that version it features a young rapper called Drake. That version is much more Funkier, and geared towards to the dance floor. What every version you get to listen to you will love them trust me. Please have a listen to this great soul version number of this track below.
The next track up on the roaster was called “Only you (bring me joy)” by Felicia Adams (Released in 2005 on the album called “Read my lips”). This track has a really outstanding and yet simple sounding bass line. To be honest it sounds as if the bass bass synthesiser was used here. Together with the drum line we really do have a funky cut here, but it not a fast number, it slow to mid-tempo in pace to be honest. It’s her voice, and what a voice she has especially on these funky cuts that makes the track sound out. I have to honest as well in that she is helped along by some excellent sounding backing singers, who make Felicia’s voice stand out even more on this track. Felicia who heralds from New York, bought out her debut album with this release. It is a combination of funky cuts and soul ballad type numbers. I have to confess that I prefer the funky numbers better. Please have a listen to the track by going to this website. Please go to the website below, and have a listen to the track in question.
Played this track last week,(In fact already two tracks from Slakah the beatchild of course including this!) and I was so impressed with this tune that I decided to drop the tune again this week). Slakah the Beatchild featuring Drake – “Bad meaning good” (released in 2008 on the album called “Soul Movement). All I have to say about this track is that it is lovely. A real nice track, which I enjoyed playing from start to finish. First of all it sounds so much like a summer track. I love the simple acoustic guitar chord strums employed by the Slakah the Beatchild. What they say about giving less to appear that you are giving more is true. I love the bass line on and the drum pattern that just touches on giving you a Hip-hop feel, but it is heavily influenced by funk. The whole vibe on the song though is heavily influenced by Soul Music. I love Slakah voice (It reminds me slightly of Dwele!) However it’s prefect on this tune, as is the rap provided by Drake. Drake’s rap doesn’t over power the tune; it allows the tune to breath and have another musical option. I’m going to check out the album if this is anything to go buy in regards to hearing this tune. Wow this is good. Please have a listen to the track yourself by clicking on the track yourself below.
Here is a track that I used to play all the time, and today I decided to pull this one out of my bag and so its good to hear again. The track is called “Unpredictable” by Jamie Foxx and Ludacris (Released on the album called “Unpredictable” in 2006). One of the big hits in 2006 in regards to the Rn’b scene of that year. Jamie Foxx is a movie star, hugely successful stand-up comedian and now a major music-selling star. This is a great single which includes a really great Rap from Ludacris on this half way throughout the song. The singing from Jamie is really first class; he comes across as a really good seasoned soul singer. Is there anything that this man cannot do? Please have a listen to this track and bring back some recent memories.
From one star to another in the making. Here is the Ryan Leslie. He has been making quote a big noise with his debut album called “Ryan Leslie” recently. And with single releases such as this; “Diamond Girl” by Ryan Leslie (Released in 2009 on the album called “Ryan Leslie”) you can see why. Its funky but not in the obvious way, and yet its full of the soul musical vibe; and it also includes a Rap in it as well. What more can you ask of a single. Most the instruments were played by and the song it’s self was written by Ryan Leslie. This man is immensely talented just as the previous artist mentioned above (Jamie Foxx). I love the Keyboard sound on this, its contagious, also the bass line and drum pattern which gives us that funk vibe which makes you want to get on the dance floor. Ryan can sing as well which makes this single sound that much better. Have a listen to this track yourself. You need to hear it for you to get it. Please click on the link below.
As I was getting more and more Funky with my track selection I decided to drop for my listeners this - “La, La, La (Excuse me miss)” by Jay Z featuring Nerd (Released in 2003 on the album called “The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse”). The song was produced by The Neptunes and features Pharrell Williams singing a falsetto sounding hook on the single. The remix of this same tune was renamed "La-La-La" and was featured on the film sound track album called Bad Boys II and The Blueprint 2.1 as a bonus track. The bassline features a like sound effect. But all in all it’s so funky, and the rap from Jay Z is something else. In fact its first class. Whenever this dropped in a club it just makes people move I can tell you. Where ever you are. This is a great tune, not just a Rap tune. Please have a listen to the track.
Staying with hiphop fused with a funk vibe running through it sees me dropping a track called “Award Tour” by A Tribe called Quest (Released in 1993 from the album called “Midnight Marauders”). The song uses heavily from the tune called "We Gettin' Down" by Weldon Irvine from his 1975 album Spirit Man from 1975. Wonderful single this is that features great lyrical interplay between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg the two main hiphop lyricists on this track. I love the way that the track successfully combines funk and Jazz on a hiphop track. This single will make your head nod I can tell you. And you will smile at some of the lines that comes from these two rappers. Please have a listen to this track. It’s a must.
The next track is another Rap track, but with a really good Rn’b bounce to it as well. The track is called “Feels Good (Don't Worry Bout a Thing)” by Naughty by Nature and 3LW (Released in 2002 on the album called “llcons). This track sounds funky and bumpy, with the Soul music element coming from the 3 girls known as 3 little women. I like this track - Treach (normally the group’s main rapper shares his rap duties this time with the group other rapper called) “Vin Rock”; this works as they do bounce of each other bounce off each other so well in this track. They lay down credible lyrics here that make you the listener smile to ones self, and all this is set off against 3 little women - vocalists putting down some excellent vocals in the background and when singing the chorus. The music here is funky, but not overly funky which helps. As it allows you to here the lyrics that are being dropped by the two rappers. Great single. Have a listen to it yourself by clicking on the link below.
The next track came from The Whitehead brothers who are two brothers Kenny Whitehead and Johnny Whitehead who are the sons of r&b songwriter John Whitehead, who was one half of the duo famous Rn'd duo called McFadden & Whitehead. The song in question is that I play from them is called “Forget I was a G” (Released in 1994 from the album called “Serious”). Kenny is the Rapper, and Johnny is the (Singer) on this cut, and it works. The riff is so simple on this. Its made by the playing a few chords on a guitar that goes on throughout the song and sounds so groovy when added against a funky and rough bass line and a funky drum pattern. The Rapping and the singing is first class on this it really does make your head nod, and if dropped in a nightclub now it would still get the people on the dance floor. Please have a listen to this excellent single by click on the single below.
Well with all that Funky sounding Rap music being played. I nearly missed this part of the show. Yeap you’ve guessed it. It was time for me to play the Rare Groove selection part 1 of the show. For those of you that listen in each week I need not say anything more. For those of you that are new to this well. Each week I play two sections of the Rare Groove selection. 3 songs in each part. These songs are either bonafide rare grooves, or songs that people have simply forgotten about. (However, if you want to know what was played in this part of the show you will have to listen to the show!)
Well as the last throes of the last song within the Rare Groove selection was finishing I had already made up my mind in what my next tune would be to play for my listeners.
In fact I decided on playing this “We can get down” by Myron (The Groove Chronicles Uk Garage mix) (Released in 1998). Wow I’m touching down with some Uk Garage on the show would you believe? And this is one of the tracks within this gender that allowed it to become a craze between the years of 1997 to 2001. Its basically a remix from the Soul and Rn’b artist called Myron (Usa), which when he released, the single did well for him within the Usa via the Rn’b circles. However, here in London the group known as the Groove Chronicles provided some remixes for the same single and it became a huge underground hit.
Listening the original to this it is nearly completely different. The original is heaped in Soul to get its crowd, the remix uses funk, jazz and a faster tempo to get its crowd. The drum pattern is light and skippy, and the use of Jazz chords in the background also keeps this lighter then the original release. The use of sampled lyrics from the original single looped over and over again in certain sections of the single also makes you fall in love with this single as well. I can’t believe that already that this single is already over 10 years old. Please have a listen to this track by clicking on the single link below.
Going back in time with this tune that I have selected for my listeners. The track is called “Don’t be Shy” by Tommy Musto and Victor Simonelli (Released in 1992). A 4 to the floor drum beat together with a sampled vocal sound which is lopped over and over again at the very start builds us up to something very nice. Then there is a simple piano like, jazz chord progression sound which is added to the mix, and you just have to say “Wow”. It’s that piano sound that is added to this track which makes this single so groovy. As the track moves along other sampled voices are added to the track to make it even more interesting. But the piano like, Jazz chord progression and the drum pattern and funky bass line makes this track so groovy. Please, please click on the link below and hear a classic House and Garage tune. You’ll be sorry if you don’t.
Staying with House music for one more track sees me dropping this classic. It’s a remix featuring those House and Garage geniuses called The Masters at Work (New York, Usa). Originally this was a Rn’b tune that was written by Trey Lorenz and Mariah Carey from the outset. However the tune was given to the House and Garage duo mentioned above and the rest is history. What a wonderful piece of work these two came up with. If you’ve listen to the Original track of this its ok, in fact not bad. But after the Masters of work put their “Sound” on this it just makes you want to jump and get down and dance. It’s really funky even with a Four to the floor sound to it. It’s the bass line that gets you, and looped and sampled voice of Trey Lorenz that gets the listener into a spin. The track is called by the way “Photograph of Mary” by Trey Lorenz (featuring various mixes from the Masters at Work released in 1992); please have a listen to the track by clicking on the link below.
Oppps I’m always guilty if this because as I looked up at the clock again I noticed that time was racing away from me. In fact I’d better play The Rare Groove Selection - Part 2 of the show now so that wouldn’t run out of time to doing so. It’s that part of the show whereby I play 3 forgotten, or bonafide Rare grooves to my listeners. However, if you want to know what I played I’m afraid you will have to listen into the show. I keep saying this but you don't I?
Tim had run out for me now, and I was down to the last single on the show to be played for you. The track is called “Get down right? By Slakah the Beatchild (Released in 2008 in some parts of the World. Still not released official in the Usa yet from the album called “Soul Movement Volume 1”). Lovely sounding single to end the show with. I truly mean it when I say that this guy (Slakah - who is from Toronto, Canada) will become hot property soon. This is the third track today that I have played something from this young man, and all of it sounds "hot". Starts with a Rhodes Piano and a light guitar all playing a simple Jazz Chord progression. Then all of a sudden a really infectious drum pattern and bass line comes in. Wow this single sounds so good. It’s got that Acid Jazz feel to it, but with more Soul and Funk added to the “Bounce” if you know what I mean? I love the singing from the guest vocalist who is Divine Brown on this. She really can sing; and her singing is further heighten by a rap from the artist D.O. This single is light and jazzy in one moment, and then funky and soulful the next. Another great track from a album that is yet to reach the rest of the world. Please go this gentleman’s website and check out more track from him.
http://www.myspace.com/slakahthebeatchild
Well my time is now up and I'm away until next Sundays show. If you want to leave any comments that I have made about any tracks that were played; or any stories that I mentioned relating to the tracks as well. Then please add your own personal comments below via clicking on the "Comments button" OK? Don't be afraid to have your say here. *If you are an Up and Coming artist please and you are interested in having your music played on the show, please leave your leave details here so that I can get back to you. Ok?
2 comments:
Hey, please get in contact with me at melanie@criticalmmg.com. I handle PR for Slakah and have another artist you might be interested in. Thanks for the love with Slakah too, most appreciated
Melanie
Hi Melanie
Nice to hear from you. I did leave you a couple of message where by you can contact me via e-mail or via my mobile phone contact. Please look out for your e-mails.
Or contact me again through this. Ok?
Carl Brown (Dj Mistri)
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