One current performer has not just tapped into that Blues tradition in spirit, he fully embraces it. Singer/producer/rapper Jared Evan’s sound actively fuses the vocal techniques and subject matter associated with the Blues with the production style and rhyme cadence commonly used in Hip-Hop. The result of that combination is the 23-year-old’s latest project Boom Bap & Blues.

Evan’s self-created album cover was inspired by the film ‘Reservoir Dogs’

“It has the Hip-Hop elements that I have always loved, but it has the soul and vocal elements from all the stuff I grew up listening to as well,” says Evan.

Evan was raised on Long Island, New York with a father who introduced him to everything from Al Green to Led Zeppelin. He delved into music on his own by picking up playing the drums at an early age.

Around the age of 13, Evan began studying 90′s Hip-Hop classics like Method Man’s Judgement Day, The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife, Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, and Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die. The storytelling and rhythms of rap music had the young Jared hooked.

Evan’s interest in music eventually led him to pursue the industry professionally. He released the video for his self-produced single “Frozen” in 2009 which led to the former Fader magazine intern to get signed with Interscope Records.

“Right when I made it, I had that feeling where I thought I had something special,” says Evan about his breakout song. “Frozen” went on to appear on the soundtrack to the Lebron James documentary More Than A Game beating out a Jay-Z track for the last spot on the LP.

While having connects at a major label helped Evan get his foot in the door in the music business, he ultimately decided to take the independent route. He decided that was the best approach to having more creative control over his music and not being forced to chase radio spins.

“If you live and die by the hit, then you live and die by the hit,” explains Evan. “That’s no kind of world an artist wants to live in. You have to constantly be pressured on following up your next hit with the last one.”

Going independent has not stopped Evan from making serious strides with his work. His latest project, Boom Bap & Blues, is a collaborative effort with DJ Statik Selektah. Evan handled the vocals, Statik tackled the beats, and New Jersey producer Illmind covered the mixing. The three East Coast Hip-Hop heads worked together to produced an album that helped Evan find his signature sound.

“I didn’t let anyone else around me change what I was doing,” explains Evan. “It was just me, Illmind, Statik Selektah, and just the people who understood what I was trying to do.”

Evan and Statik first connected back in 2010 at a show at SOB’s. Evan introduced himself to the well known Hip-Hop producer and three weeks later they were at Statik’s Brooklyn studio crafting songs. Evan admits that at the time he still was trying to figure himself out as an artist, so not much came from those initial sessions.

Fast forward two years later and you have a newly independent Jared Evan that was ready to move forward with a cohesive sound. He hooked back up with Statik, and this time they created the boom bap/soulful track “The Devil Wears Prada.” Evan wanted to use it on a solo project he was working on at the time. Statik had a different idea.

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“I was assuming he was giving me that record for The 4th Chapter EP,” says Evan. “But he was like, ‘nah, dude we’re doing a project.’ When he said that I started to think further into the concept of what we would do as an album.”

The synergy of “The Devil Wears Prada” spawned the tone of the project that became Boom Bap & Blues. Evan says that his musical connection to Statik, and Illmind, that created that sound is definitely something he is going to explore in another installment. The two plan to be continuous working partners similar to another famous singer-producer duo.

“Timberlake and Timbaland. That’s a good comparison,” says Evan.“You know how on Timberlake’s first album he had Timbaland and Pharrell? I feel like Illmind’s my Pharrell, and Statik’s my Timbaland.”

While Evan wants to follow the familiar producer approach of Justin Timberlake, he does not subscribe to the “Blue Eyed Soul” tag JT is often labeled with.

“I don’t think soul should be labeled. If it’s soul, it’s soul. It doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, Hispanic, or whatever. If you got soul, you got soul,” says Evan. “[Boom Bap & Blues] is way deeper than R&B or even soul. It’s actually the blues.”

Tracks like “Black & White” featuring Joey Bada$$ and “Pro Create” featuring Action Bronson are rooted in the blues heritage with a twist of present-day Hip-Hop.

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“We’re doing 2013, but we’re doing it in a way that’s reminiscent of what use to go on. I love that, because to me that’s fresh,” says Evan. “Having a sound that’s reminiscent [of the past] is not repeating it. We’re doing 2013, but we’re adding sprinkles of the music we love that has been missed for so long.”

Jared Evan takes pride in his affiliation with a valuable, long-standing musical genre with his brand of Hip Hop Blues.

“I am a child of the music that came before me, and I’d like to continue to carry that torch.”

For more info about Jared Evan visit his website jaredevan.com or follow him on twitter @JaredEvan.

Boom Bap and Blues is available for download on iTunes.

The Weeknd has never had a problem telling women what it takes to sleep with him. On this new song, entitled “Kiss Land” presumably off his upcoming sophomore album, the subdued vocalists takes listeners through his usual maze of dark beats and darker love/

Check it out below:

Last night, DTP’s Chaka Zulu introduced his new protege, India Shawn. With a voice that her fans compare to silk and melodies that are purely organic, the Trini-American beauty performed music from her debut project, Origin. India started her set with No One to Feel which transitioned into a cover of John Legend’s hit song, Tonight. The songstress continued to wow the crowd with not only her charm and charisma, but with also the spiritual / emotional connection she has with her music. Her second performance of No Saint, which was based off a real life story, gave music fans insight about her past relationship problems. India closed her set with her latest single, I’m Alive.

Bermuda songbird Canjelae. Known for her unique blend of or R&B, pop and rock and roll, Canjelae began her performance with a cover of Usher’s Bad Girl. The sultry artist closed her set with new music titled First Time and Promise Me.

Audiences were also kept entertained by up-and-coming comedian Mario Tory, and the legendary, Joe Clair. Also in attendance were Big Tigger, Keisha Knight-Pulliam, Kawan Prather-SVP of A&R at Atlantic Records, San Diego Chargers, Takeo Spikes, and more.

Shanti Das and Marlon Nichols

Keisha Knight-Pulliam

Canjelae and India Shawn

Big Tigger

Love in the Future, John Legend’s upcoming album is led by the single “Who Do We Think We Are” featuring Rick Ross, and is accompanied by a racy and controversial music video.

While promoting his latest video for the single, Legend chopped it up with AHH on the racy visual, his current relationship with longtime producer Kanye West and why you shouldn’t blame his fiance for his absence from releasing a solo album.

The video just came out for “Who Do We Think We Are”, how do you feel?
Things are good. I’m feeling good.

A lot of watchers are saying the video is distasteful and criticizing for naked women. What’s your concept behind it?
We wanted to create something that was beautiful, tasteful, artistic, cinematic. Dacadent, sexy. People don’t want to watch the nude version, then watch the edited version.

VIDEO: “Who Do We Think We Are”

It matches up that you haven’t released an album since you got into a relationship with your now fiance. What type of love are you experiencing that you completely stopped putting out solo albums? She must really be putting it down!
[laughs] You can’t blame her for my delay!

I’ve normally done two years between each album. I did an album with the Roots in 2010. It’s not that big of a delay. I blame myself and Kanye more than anybody. We spent a little more time on it this time.

We actually put a little more time into getting it exactly how we want it, making sure production is exactly right. Our standards are high and for us to meet them we had to put in a little more effort.

Interesting. What’s your relationship like with Kanye these days?
It’s great. On Evolver, he was the least involved and on Wake Up! with The Roots, he wasn’t involved. But when it comes to my solo albums, the album he’s most involved with is this new album. Even though we always worked together, we worked closer on this one.

Do you have a favorite song from your new album?
We did great work on “Made to Love”. I had written a song and Kanye wanted to work on the beat some more. He made it into this beautiful awesome track. That was showing the value of him as a colloborater.

There was news when I said Kanye doesn’t make a lot of beats anymore. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Maybe somebody will come in with a beat or an idea, but his job is to take something good and turn into great, as a producer. He helped shape the sound of the album.

One of our readers wonder where you go for writing inspiration.
I write in the studio. I’m pretty prolific in the studio. I don’t write at home, because I feelt like I’ll get more done when I go to work. If I’m home, I feel like it will be too loose.

You just did the Yahoo! On The Road show with Ryan Leslie in New York City. Are you a fan?
I’ve known Ryan for a long time. He’s a great creator, producer and artist. Ive known him when we were both not famous. There was a co-worker of mine that went to Harvard with him. He wouldn’t stop talking about him. It was when I worked in the community at a non profit.

So you’ve always worked in the community. You’ve definitely become very outspoken on controversial topics like education reform. Do you ever see yourself running for political office?
Hell no. In college, I studied English and African American studies. I’ve always been involved in giving minorities more opportunities before my career took off. Now, I’m in a position to have more impact. With more influence and resouces, I’m able to do more.

I have no desire for a political office. I have impact in the way I want to. I respect people that do it, but it’s not for me.

What else should we know about your upcoming album?
The album is my best one yet, I feel really good about it. It’s a powerful piece of work.

Kandi addresses her issues with Kim Zolciak, and why she should not be allowed to return to the franchise. She also touches on the recent backlash of her gospel song, “Prayed Up,” and why she would not release a full gospel album.

Kandi offers a few exclusive updates on her Bedroom Kandi adult toy line as well as her Kandi Koated Nights online show.

Nicci Gilbert, Monifah, Syleena Johnson and KeKe Wyatt are back. Joining them for a second season are Angie Stone and LaTocha Scott, (of Xscape).

The show is rumored to be as strong as the first season, with a few new twists. Faith Evans revealed one of the things that makes R&B Divas successful: “There are other reality shows that had one or two cast members that were previously popular in another lane. But, in our show none of us did this to try and become popular. We already came with our own fan bases.”  The fact that the ladies have their own fan bases, careers, and egos may prove to be an issue this season as they bump heads in the planning of their first tour.

In fact, during the premiere of the show, two separate premiere parties were hosted in Atlanta with Nicci Gilbert and KeKe Wyatt at Museum Bar and Angie Stone, Syleena Johnson, and LaTocha Scott at Harlem Nights.

Watch the video recap of both events here:

At both parties, radio personalities, television producers, music artists and more came through to show the ladies their support. Even cast members from other Atlanta-based reality shows, “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” showed love at both events.

Check out the video and catch the show on TVOne on Wednesdays at 10pm.

A description of Janelle Monae would include mentioning four different genres, an assortment of characters and her statuesque beauty. All of these are in typical flawless form in her music video for her song “Q.U.E.E.N.” featuring the godmother of neo-soul Erykah Badu.

Her new album, The Electric Lady is scheduled to be released in the fall.

Check out the video below:

In this new personal video, Fantasia reveals that some songs were so personal, she had to ask people to leave the studio while she recorded. Fantasia, whose public image came under scrutiny earlier this year when a 10-year-old picture was used on a magazine cover, has always found a way to overcome her battles.

Is Fantasia winning? Check out the video:

Things do however seem to finally be falling into place and with the recent release of his new solo project, It’s Always Sunny In Marietta 2, Lucas has a fresh outlook on the industry and the things he needs to do to conquer it.

AllHipHop.com spoke to the Marietta, Georgia native about his most recent offering to the fans, the status of his relationship with Purple Ribbon founder Big Boi, what he’s working on currently and much more. Check out our exclusive interview with Kyle Lucas below:

How do you find the time to juggle all the projects you’re a part of and prioritize one over the other?

Kyle Lucas: Well honestly from the outside looking in it looks way more hectic and crazier than it really is. You know Vonnegutt just released a project in December so I’ve had some time and while I was touring with the group and recording our album for the past few years I had been doing a track here and there so [It’s Always Sunny In Marietta 2] is just a collection of songs and emotions from the past year and a half.

I didn’t just sit down and bang out 17 songs for the project. It was just something I was doing on the side and turned out to be way iller than I thought it would be. So right now that’s kind of been the focus.

Congrats by the way on releasing the Vonnegutt album last year. How does it feel to finally have that out in the fans’ hands?

Kyle Lucas: Man it’s been incredible because as a band, like four members of a band, that album was everything to us. We spent like four years on it doing different pieces here and there on tour and doing stuff with [Big Boi] and just piecing together that album. Unfortunately it didn’t do well but to us it’s such a milestone because behind the scenes and the amount of struggle that we all went through to get an album out, it’s just a labor of love. The day that it came out was just like a four-year weight off my shoulders.

You said it didn’t do that well which I assume means sales wise. How does that affect the process of working on a follow-up to Falling Up the Stairs?

Kyle Lucas: I mean to be honest we haven’t really worked on anything new. Two of the guys got other gigs so they can’t tour as much so me and Taylor, the drummer, just started doing my solo stuff and touring on that. So it was never like we broke up or anything, we just financially and emotionally were kind of drained by the time it came out. I know Neil who plays guitar in the group sent me a bunch of demos so when the time comes we’ll be at a better place to release another album. [Falling Up the Stairs] just kind of drained us to get it out there.

What about your association with Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon imprint? Is that just a deal that was struck with Vonnegutt or are you signed as a solo artist as well?

Kyle Lucas: No I never signed a solo deal with Big Boi, that was just a deal for Vonnegutt, which was a joint venture with Average Joe’s. So the Vonnegutt album only came out under Purple Ribbon/AVJ. I’m kind of just being independent right now.

How hands-on was Big Boi during the process of creating that album and what’s your current relationship with him like?

Kyle Lucas: Oh yeah he was very hands-on. He told us what he liked and what he didn’t like and he definitely gave his two cents. I haven’t really spoken to him in a couple months to be honest. I know he’s doing his thing, but there is definitely no bad blood. That’s the homie for life and he’s my favorite artist. If I ever need anything he’s got me and vice-versa.

Recently you released a new solo project, It’s Always Sunny In Marietta 2. For someone who might just be discovering Kyle Lucas, what would you say is the definitive track that they should be checking for on that?

Kyle Lucas: I think musically I’m at my best on that project. I think “Red Wine and Xanax” would be the track because it represents a true story and I’m very big on being super honest and you can tell when you listen to my music that I’m super self-deprecating and super honest. Lyrically, I think “Coffee Break” flow-wise is pretty on-point and then “Worth It,” the song I did with Johnny Craig kind of set off the whole vibe for our project so I’d probably say those three. You can definitely bounce around though too.

Specifically on It’s Always Sunny 2 you worked with someone like STS who I am a huge fan of as well as people like Pretty Lights, GLC and Boi-1da. What other collaborations have you done recently that people should get excited for?

Kyle Lucas: Man this stuff I’m doing with Johnny Craig… We’re about to light shit up right now with this one. I haven’t really worked with anyone else recently aside from being in the studio with him recently ‘cause that’s my main focus and then I’m probably going to work on a solo EP to sell on iTunes sometime during Warped Tour this summer. That’s dope you like STS though, he’s like my family and homie.

I saw him open for Travis Barker and Mix Master Mike a couple years ago in New York and the crowd didn’t really get into him for whatever reason but that was the moment I became a fan of his for sure. I think he’s dope as hell.

Kyle Lucas: I feel like STS’s career has unfortunately been like that ‘cause he’s just too good. I was just listening to a new project he sent me and as an MC myself, my mind if just blown. This guy should be the biggest thing ever but I think the average person just doesn’t get it. He’s too good for himself almost. Everything he does is just phenomenal and he’s one of my favorite rappers. I mean come one people he’s on The Roots album! [Laughs]

It’s just over peoples’ heads I guess but he’s definitely due to break soon.

Kyle Lucas: Yeah that’s what it is; it’s over peoples’ heads. The average person is not wired to think how STS is. If you ever talk to him he’s just a genius.

Going back though, I know you and Johnny just released a video for “Worth It,” which was on It’s Always Sunny In Marietta 2. Is it a definite that you two will be doing an entire project together?

Kyle Lucas: Yeah 100% we are definitely doing that. That’s what we’re working on right now. Johnny and my homie who produces my solo stuff, Captain Midnite, is producing Johnny’s full-length album and then we’re doing the EP while he’s here in Atlanta. It’s going to be dope.

Aside from “Worth It” is there any other music out there featuring the two of you?

Yeah we just released a new single the other day called “The Party and The Dream” which is really just something for the fans. It’s not going on anything, we were just in the studio and kind of knocked it out on a whim and it turned out way doper than we thought so we gave it to everyone online.

How has the response been to the music you two have released so far?

Kyle Lucas: Oh man it’s been crazy. I feel like his fans are super receptive because he’s a super soulful singer from that Warped Tour alternative crowd and I rap for that Warped Tour alternative crowd so everything’s been turning out perfectly and the reception has been crazy. He’s got hella fans and he’s been doing this forever so his fans have been coming towards me and feeling everything so the response has been more than I ever thought.

I know you also have a good relationship with artists like G-Eazy and Mod Sun. I have to ask, is an entire collaborative project from you three a possibility?

Kyle Lucas: Hell yeah it is! I’ve been on tour with them multiple times. G-Eazy produced on my album so yeah 100% that’s a possibility. I’ve already put money on it that G-Eazy is going to be the biggest thing in music by the end of the year. He’s only getting bigger and with his music production and the way he raps with intelligence. He’s going to be the next big crossover artist up there with someone like Macklemore. His talent really speaks for itself.

Being that this is AllHipHop, I’d like for you to fill readers in on what exactly Joe Budden did for you as an artist?

Kyle Lucas: Man, Joe Budden changed my life [laughs]. He was the artist when I was like 15 that made it cool to be emotional, not on some corny shit. He made it cool to be honest. Joe Budden is the reason I changed my name to my real name. I used to rap under the name Double, which is so corny, but I just loved how he used his real name and poured his heart out on every single song. If you’re going to be that honest in your music than why hide behind a moniker?

I actually got to meet him a couple SXSW’s ago in Austin and he was super cool. I was trying to not to get choked up ‘cause I don’t think he understood what he did for me as a person when I was that age going through drugs and relationships and just growing up. I don’t think he knew how prominent his music was to me so it was cool man. We had an awesome conversation and he’s definitely in my “Top 5.”

That’s a dope story that I’m sure the readers will appreciate. Any last words?

Kyle Lucas: For everyone who’s been supporting me, it’s been a long road. Things are kind of hitting now but it hasn’t been an overnight thing. To all my fans that have been there forever, it means the world to me.

Follow Kyle Lucas and Vonnegutt on Twitter: @KyleLucas / @Vonnegutt

During the interview, The Dream touches on the riff-raff that popped up last year about The Weeknd stealing Dream’s style.

“What I love about The Weeknd is that he stays his course. He has his own carved out thing in place. Musically, you can’t be affected who somebody saying you sound like because. I would probably be compared to him if he came out first.”

See the interview here:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The buzz is big for R&B singer Luke James. The crooner is prepping his debut album Made to Love, and with the latest single “I.O.U”, James isn’t making it any easier for us to take a breath.

In 2012, the singer burst onto the scene with “I Want You”, a slow jam that celebrates the act of confessing your love to the woman you desire. In 2013, for that song, James earned his first Grammy nomination.

Last week, AllHipHop.com had the opportunity to chat with Luke James where the New Orleans-bred singer details his newly formed collective with Miguel, competition in today’s R&B and why he calls himself the 2013 Sammy Davis, Jr.

AllHipHop.com: You’re in New York City right now because you performed at Spotlight Live, where you kind of headlined before The Dream. I felt like you were the headliner.

Luke James: All I need is a mic and a light, man. That brother was happy to have me. He could’ve said something different because Dream is a shot-caller. It felt good to perform in New York. It’s always great, that crowd was weird for specific reasons. But, I let them have it. I don’t play no games.

AHH: It seems like you’re a seasoned performer even though you’re just now coming out. How long have you been singing?

James: Professionally, I’ve been doing it for six years. I started out singing background for Tyrese, Tank and Mario. I’m a sponge. I learn. I’ve been around so many people, I’ve just learned a lot. And people I see on TV, my idols, I just project that. Also, I got great management. I’m managed by one of the best who has ever done it, Frank Gatson. He’s really taught me about stage presence and how to be.

AHH: Did you study guys, like Tank, who’s more of a traditional R&B artist?

James: Yeah, I definitely studied those guys! If you ask them, they’ll probably say “Oh no, he got that from me!”. They can pick some things out. You gotta get it from somewhere. I studied them, and then I studied who they studied. Then, I studied who those people studied. I’m a sponge, forever learning.

AHH: You came out with “I Want You”, which was the biggest buzz single for any R&B artist that wasn’t necessarily mainstream yet. Do you think that should’ve been on the debut album?

James: “I Want You” will be on my debut album. The song was written as something to grab a woman’s attention and I guess it grabbed everyone’s attention. It did exactly what it was supposed to do. I honestly feel like it’s going to rise up again. It wasn’t worked as a mainstream record but the people chose and I think it will always be a song that I have to perform and I love it.

AHH: You’ve partnered with Miguel, Stacy Barthe and Elle Varner to create the collective, Nouveau Noir. Do you think that was a smart move?

James: Of course. I believe in music. I believe in creativity and learning all aspects of music and giving people a choice. I alone can’t do it by myself. It takes an army. We all are like-minded and we all believe in something. And we all want something more. If we’re going to keep this thing going, we got to join together and create a great buzz together. Saying it at the same time.

AHH: It’s like what Erykah Badu, Common…

LJ: D’Angelo, Maxwell…

AHH: Yeah, what that whole ’90s neo-soul crew did. And now you’ve all come together who are now today’s artists to create that collective. Can we see a collaboration any time soon?

James: Definitely. We’re looking to do some shows together. We already do music together. Just promoting solid music, music people can feel. It’s a feeling.

AHH: You’ve got Frank Ocean, who’s from New Orleans. August Alsina, who performed with you the other night, who’s from New Orleans. And you’re from New Orleans. How does that effect your music? What’s it like being from N.O?

James: It’s evident. You can see the creativity. I’m assuming they’re the same way. In New Orleans, you hear everything. You hear all different types of music. So many choices.

I don’t want to sound so cliche, but it’s like gumbo, you just pile it all up together and you get Frank Ocean, August and you get myself. New Orleans has jazz, blues, folk, zydeco, bounce music, Hip Hop, R&B, soul, alternative. Just the city alone, you can get a feeling of something.

AHH: You’re more a traditional R&B artist, in the sense of you haven’t announced a huge publicity stunts. How do you feel like you fit in today’s R&B?

James: I look at myself as an artist. An artiste. I don’t know what tomorrow may hold, whether I’ll be getting arrested or something crazy. I’m going to live my life. I try to keep things as private as I can and give people a little something more to vibe off of me. So that when they hear the music they can say “Oh wow! I think I read that tweet!” from this song. Or “I can relate to it.”.

Right now, it’s about me as an artist, singer and I think it’s getting to Who is Luke James as a person. What does he have to say? I’m putting on the actor hat. I just wrapped up my first movie two weeks ago Black Nativity, which will be in theaters November 27th, Thanksgiving weekend. Take your family out, it’s gonna be fun. I’m an entertainer. I think I fit in very well. I’m not trying to fit in, I think I’m just trying to be me and I think the most awesome thing you can do is be you.

AHH: Is that the thought process that led to “I.O.U”.

James: Yes. Well, “I.O.U” is written by a brother of mine, Kevin Cossom. It just felt right and felt like a good song to do. The label loved it and they wanted to put it out. The people have spoken. They’re starting to love it. It’s one of my most deep traditional R&B sounding songs. It’s a good feel, and gives you another look at Luke James.

AHH: As far as your debut album, Made to Love, what can people expect from it?

James: A whole lot of feeling.

AHH: We won’t cry, will we?

James: I mean, it’s not my intentions to make you cry but I love music that makes me cry. I love music that makes you feel. That’s what music is. It’s supposed to unlock some things. It’s therapy. It’s when you’re in the shower, alone, in the dark, and that song is playing and you’re letting it pour out. So that when you walk out, you’re fresh and brand new. You’re renewed. Music should break you out of your shell and help you be exactly who you want to be.

AHH: You’ve reminded of your recent mixtape, Whispers in the Dark, and when I saw the title it reminded me of something from the quiet storm or an album title from back in the day. What made you call it that?

James: The title came from a lyric in a song titled “Whispers in the Dark (Found by You)”. It’s that voice in your head, some of us try to deny it. It’s a voice that we all eventually will have to answer to. Whether it comes to us in the day, or in the dark, and mine mostly comes to me in the dark. It’s my demons. It’s just that connection you have with God. That’s where it came from. Being vulnerable, and I think that’s what the complimentary album states.

AHH: One thing we’ve been focusing on is the health movement in the entertainment world. As far as, entertainers having the voice to inspire people to live a healthy lifestyle. I’ve been on the R&B diet. I’m trying to get my shirt really tight.

James: [Laughs] Some people will take the bread out the oven before it’s finished baking. You gotta let it bake. Hide. I learned a thing, hide yourself. Give yourself a mark. As far as work out, and eating well, you don’t want to defeat yourself. It’s more mental than physical.

Once you get your mind in the habit of “I cannot leave this house without brushing my teeth!”, and once you make it that kind of thing, then it becomes a lifestyle and you can’t live without it. It’s good for you to work out and to eat  well, and to care about what you’re putting into your body.

At the end of the day, you want to live past 70. Plus, that stuff goes into your children. You got to think about things like that. You want to live and see your children grow and live a happy life. Working out is very good and a good tip: Hide yourself. Try not to look in the mirror until you have clothes on.

Give yourself a week, then two weeks and three weeks, and you’ll see the change. You want to be a stranger to yourself. I think that’ll help you see the results.

AHH: What do you think 2013 will say about the Luke James movement?

James: Here he comes. He’s here. I feel like 2013 is my year. Thirteen is a very mysterious number. I believe it’s the number of the unknown. I think it calls people to have faith and just walk out on it. Faith is having belief in something that you can’t see. People who are very eccentric, going into the whole “It’s 2013! It’s about to be chaos!”, but I think it’s a time to step out on faith. Know your limits and ignore them.

You did 2012 and 2011. 2013 is a different world. It’s a different life. It’s time for acceptance. It’s time for complete love and understanding who you are and basking in it. That’s what I’m gone do, and I’m gone show the world how to do it. I’m here, man. More music to come, more artistry, more art.

AHH: Anything else the people should know?

James: The movie, Black Nativity, November 27th. After you finished feeding your face, take the family out to go see a great movie. A movie that’s going to stand the test of time.

AHH: Are you the star in that?

James: I’m one of the stars! Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Tyrese, Jacob Lattimore, Grace Gibson. Directed by Kasi Lemons and put on by Fox Searchlight. It’s a big deal. Black Nativity, Langston Hughes.

AHH: Now, if they say Luke James, the actor, you think they’re going to forget about the music?

James: They’ll never forget about the music. The music comes first. It’s just another part of me. I’m your 2013 Sammie Davis Jr., baby. Oh yeah! [laughs]

Luke James’ Whispers in the Dark is available now. “I.O.U.” is available now on iTunes.

Listen to Our FULL Interview with Luke James:

A member of the memorable soul collective, The Soulquarians, whom he states would have made an “amazing” album if they had ever recorded one together, Bilal has long been viewed as an intergral part of the neo-soul sound/movement. A label that most of the artists who are relegated to that category reject. However, it is undisputed that the music of the early 2000′s featured a feel unlike any time since and that experience was captured in the music of Erykah Badu, India. Arie, The Roots, and Common. The former neo-soul sound has morphed back into what it always was Black music, and idea that sits well with Bilal.

“The genre never really existed for me. I never really put myself in a box. I came out at a time where a lot of people were using a lot of retro instruments and stuff like that,” he states, “But I never looked at as ‘neo-soul,’ I always thought it was a hybrid of hip-hop. The people that I worked with on my first album from The Roots, to Dr. Dre were hip-hop. I didn’t see it then as neo-soul.”

After his debut, emerging file-sharing technology would soon force the crooner into a career dilemma that would last nearly a decade. His sophmore debut, Love for Sale, was shelved by Interscope after the highly-anticipated follow up leaked online and fans would go NINE years before he released another studio album, 2010′s Airtight’s Revenge.

The album featured his signature sound, heavy synth rhythms and insightful songwriting. “Little One,” a thought-provoking song about his eldest son, who is autistic, was nominated for a Grammy. Written with the idea of an audible film or short story, the album is full of dark themes about self-reflection. Some from his life, some from his imagination. Either way, the album, which was well-received by critics but not as much by fans. However, it fueled his newest recording, A Love Surreal. ”I learn from each project,” Bilal states, ”Every time I make a record, I am taking notes for the next record. This album took me the shortest time to make; honestly, it was like it just flowed.” And flow it does.

From the intro, A Love Surreal transplants the listener into a world where nothing exists but love. It isn’t all perfect love. Released just over a month ago, the new album features thoughts on new love, long-distance love, and lost love. “The inspiration behind the record is art. Visual art. I wanted to make a world that you could lose yourself inside of,” Bilal to AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview, “I try to make the music, when we record it, so that when we actually play it live; it will sound better.” Bilal has been touring the US in support of the album, with an incredible one-hour set featuring him, his band, and his many hits.

Despite only being on his third album, Bilal has a career that has spanned almost fifteen years and his imprint is all over the current sound of R&B. His inspiration is evident in younger artists like Frank Ocean and Miguel, whose spacey-sounding love songs have defined the sound in recent years. A fact that Bilal barely acknowledges, “I like what Miguel is doing. I like what Frank is doing. I think that the brothers are doing a good job.” He adds, ”But, I couldn’t really give you a statement on the state of soul music. I’m in my own little bubble, my own little world. I think we’re in a really space right now, with all the TV shows, that everybody is a judge of music. What’s great, what’s dope. I kind of just stay in my own little world and make sure my s**t is dope.”

Bilal has always made dope music from his own recordings, to his most recent collaborations with the Grammy-winning Robert Glasper Experiment, to his many collaborations with hip-hop artists. He credits his work-ethic and his love for hip-hop,”What I’m doing now I see it as a hybrid. But, that’s pretty much what hip-hop does, it takes other styles of music and creates a sound. That’s my approach to music. Nowadays, my music has taken a sort of jazz tone, I guess that’s because I’ve aged. I don’t really put what I do in a box by giving it a name.”

Visit www.BilalMusic.com for tour dates and more information and follow him on Twitter @Bilal.

This month, the triple threat released his self-directed and narrated documentary, A Black Rose That Grew Through Concrete.

The documentary briefly chronicles Tyrese’s humble beginnings in Watts, California, to his success as an accomplished singer/actor and author and now as a sought after motivational speaker.

AllHipHop.com had the opportunity to talk with Tyrese on what inspired him to create his documentary. The singer shares his honest thoughts on comparisons to Steve Harvey, the latest news on his supergroup with Tank and Ginuwine and why he’s so passionate about teaching people about love.

AllHipHop: Why now, why did you want to document and share your life story A Black Rose That Grew Through Concrete?

Tyrese: My privacy is all I own. I’m not interested in being the biggest star. I never was. I didn’t even know I was going to get this far and stay in the game this long. I just didn’t know. But my journey hasn’t been easy.

I feel like in this economy, in this world, in life, people are always inspired by an inspirational story but I feel like right now there’s a lot of people that are saying “F*ck it!” and they just giving up. I wanted to remind people that I lived in that horrible economy. I know what broke is. I know what hungry is. I know what feeling stuck is.

I know how people see me now, but, I didn’t come from this. Arguably, I’m still not used to this.

WATCH – A Black Rose That Grew Through Concrete:

AHH: For you to have achieved success as actor, author and singer, you seem to be humbled by it all. What gives you that feeling of appreciation?

Tyrese: I ain’t really got no choice but to be humbled by it. I’m just still in disbelief that sh*t happened in the first place. There’s a lot of people that get arrogant and cocky about this, but y’all acting like it’s always been here.

Who are you to start making money and selling records, and being in movies and then you’re starting to be condescending and evil towards people that don’t have what you have? If anybody has ever called me arrogant, it’s because they’ve created who I am in their mind before they met me.

Will Smith, I love him to death, but not everybody is Will Smith. To walk in a room, and they’re always excited, always happy, always got the energy. It’s just not normal. Will Smith, as a personality, is in a league of his own. It’s a part of what makes him amazing and great. He’s one of my mentors that has changed my life, but you get around people like Will and you think “Damn, if it takes all of that, I don’t even know if I want to get to that level.”

He takes a picture with everyone who asks. If anyone hasn’t ever felt like I wasn’t humble, it’s because I’m human.

AHH: In your documentary, you reveal you wanted to be a trashman. That was your dream.

Tyrese: I feel like it’s manly. Before I even knew I had the gift to sing or act, I didn’t know I was going to be in showbusiness. I wanted to become something that I was exposed to.

I found out the trashman got medical, dental benefits, retirement plans and pensions. I did my research. I used to go eight to nine houses up the street before the trashman got to my house and I would help him every week.

That was my goal. Anybody who knew me as a child would tell you “He’s dead serious.”.

AHH: Were you inspired by Tupac Shakur to name your documentary A Black Rose That Grew Through Concrete?

Tyrese: I loved that quote that he wrote in his poem. I met ‘Pac a few times and til this day, I’m still very close to ‘Pac’s mom, Ms. Afeni Shakur, living out there in North Carolina. I’ve been to her ranch and stayed there for a couple weeks.

Certain people are like “Aww man, you’re using the title”. I met him. I won’t say that we were best friends, that I ever had his cell phone number ’cause I’d be lying. Ultimately, I felt very comfortable with naming my documentary this because I can identify with that quote.

Me, as a black man, my career growing wasn’t easy. I grew through concrete. I was not supposed to make it through that concrete. People singing about the bottom, but I really did start beneath the bottom.

AHH: When you let Teddy Riley and Will.I.am get an exclusive listen to the beginnings of your Open Invitation album, they basically told you it wasn’t good.

Tyrese: Well, they didn’t say it wasn’t good. They said it wasn’t right now. It’s not what people are doing in the music business now. Will.I.am is genius enough to say the music is good, but it’s not what he would do, because it’s not what he’s doing.

I didn’t look at it as negative or disrespectful, I just said “Well, sh*t, my music is just not what’s popping today.” This is good music and great songs, but I don’t know if this will work if you release it today. It’s like trying to use your 1989 education in a 2013 world. You’re going to have to go back to school. Because I haven’t dropped an album in about five years, when I got back in the studio, I picked up where R&B left off for me. Justin Timberlake did the same thing.

Although he’s a white man, and white people singing soul R&B music will always sell and do way more, he rightfully deserves everything that he’s accomplished. Just like Justin Timberlake, I shut off everything to go and do movies.

AHH: You’ve released Manology, which has been receiving positive reviews, but what has Tyrese so passionate about men and women relationships?

Tyrese: I just think a lot of people like me, we want to know more and we want to be better men and women. We want to understand the opposite sex. When it comes to being a man with kids, you say, how can I naturally know how to be something I was never raised by.

How can you expect me to be a husband or to even know what the concept of husband is, if I wasn’t raised in a house to witness what a husband is? That’s what Manology is. It’s a manual to get in front of “manipulation”. It’s the biology of man. It’s for women and for men.

Men read this book and they hit me like “Yo, I thought the book was gone be like Steve Harvey’s book giving advice to women but my life changed!”.

AHH: It’s rare you get a Black male entertainer who becomes vulnerable with talking about relationships.

Tyrese: You can’t give advice if you don’t expose your own stuff. It’s one thing to just talk about it because you’re trying to be a shock jock, and it’s another thing to talk about the results of cleaning it up and doing it better.

A lot of people just write books because they want to tell all their business. I don’t want to tell all my business. I’m telling you about this so I don’t seem like just a dude at the pulpit giving you advice, but yet I don’t know anything about it and I’m perfect.

AHH: What’s your role in the upcoming Thanksgiving film, Black Nativity?

Tyrese: Jennifer Hudson plays my baby momma, who I left when our child that we had was very young, played by Jacob Lattimore.

There’s layers that get peeled back that’s going to shock a lot of people. I’m going to scare the sh*t out of people in this movie. I don’t think anybody has ever seen me this dark. I went places I’ve never went as an actor.

I grew my beard out and just became a different person in this movie and it really messed a lot of people up. I’ve never been more inspired by a group of people I’ve worked with on a movie set.

AHH: What’s going on with TGT? It seems like you didn’t hold anything back on your first single, naming it “Sex Ain’t Never Felt Better”.

Tyrese: We’re grown. We are men that actually want women. Take it as you want. Me, Tank and Ginuwine have all been doing our thing for many years in this R&B arena. This concept of R&B Avengers, just like the movie, you’ve got people that love Iron Man, Captain America. It’s a beautiful thing to merge all of these energies and fanbases to create a real night of true R&B music.

AHH: What kind of responsibility do you feel as an entertainer, you have to inspire people to live healthier lifestyles?

Tyrese: No two situations are the same. If you are fat and nasty and you don’t like the way you look, do something about it. It’s simple.

When you take a shower and you put your fat, nasty body in the shower and by the time you get out, the mirrors are all steamed up so you don’t look at what you did to yourself. That may sound offensive or insensitive but ultimately, you are big as hell because you have earned that sh*t. You worked your a** off to eat everything in sight to get big as hell.

If you got a problem with the way you look, then you need to do something about it. Excuses sound best to the people that’s making them up.

Now, she’s back with her latest, “Northern Lights”, and has called on rapper Eve, for the remix.

Dawn appears on Eve’s upcoming album Lip Lock on a yet to be released single titled “Keep Me From You”.

AllHipHop.com caught up with the singer and he talks his upcoming debut album and says he and Kendrick Lamar are like “Kells and Jay”.

Peep the interview:

NEW MUSIC: “Good Luv’n” by BJ The Chicago Kid

The singer, who’s drawn comparisons to Trey Songz and Lloyd, is buzzing from his latest release “I Luv This Sh*t”, featuring Trinidad James. In less than a month, the video has reached nearly 900,000 views on YouTube.

The day after Alsina’s first performance in New York City, the singer meet with AHH in the lobby of his hotel.

In our interview, Alsina talks his affiliation with The Dream and his Radio Killa Records, his upcoming mixtape The Product 2 and shares the story of how he and Trinidad James linked up before they had record deals.

AllHipHop.com: You’re in New York City. How do you feel right now?

August Alsina: I’m chillin’ man. New York is cool. It’s very fast. Everything moves fast out here. We just did the show last night, and New York is one of the toughest crowds but we made it through. We did it and there was an applause and there were no boos. We did what we had to do.

AHH: The spotlight came on you last night because you serenaded Angela Yee from Power 105.1.

Alsina: That’s me putting the spotlight on myself. I didn’t know those people were going to be there. I saw everybody in the front row and why not put her on? As artists, we put ourself out there to be judged so let me give you something to judge me by and to remember me by. Plus, Angie is a beautiful woman, so why not sing to her?

August Alsina serenades Power 105′s Angela Yee

AHH: I was standing next to a girl who wasn’t sold on August Alsina yet, but as soon as you went into the crowd, she was sold.

Alsina: Of course. As a new n*gga, people don’t know what to expect. Everybody is on the fence when they see you in the first place. Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion.

When you first meet somebody, just as a human being, the way the mind works – m***********s don’t want to like a n*gga in the first place. But it’s up to me, to do my job and show you that this is what I do. At the end of the day, if you f*ck with me, you f*ck with me. If you don’t, you don’t. I’m not here for you to like me.

August Alsina and The Dream at Spotlight Live

I’m here for you to like my music and enjoy what I do. That’s what is so crazy about being an artist and trying to be the perfect artist and still remain yourself. As a man, I don’t give a f*ck if you like me or not. I’ve never been the person to try to impress the next n*gga.

In my mind, I’m cool and if you don’t like me, that means you’re lame and you’re not cool. At the end of the day, she enjoyed it and that’s what it’s all about. I don’t mind that, in the beginning, you’re like: “I don’t know, I still gotta see.”

AHH: You have a face tattoo. What’s it say?

Alsina: Self Made.

AHH: Self Made on your face, but you’re an R&B singer. There are singers like Miguel and Frank Ocean who are representing a new kind of R&B. You’re kind of rough around the edges. Do you feel like this image works for you?

Alsina: Do I feel like me works for me? Of course, because it’s me. There’s nothing else that I can do. If I tried to do something else, it wouldn’t me. I’m all about being upfront. Ain’t no sugar coating or beating around the bush. What you see is what you get. I just put that in my music. Why try to change and dress some sh*t up?

VIDEO: August Alsina Performs in NYC

AHH: Around 2004, Lloyd made his debut from Murder Inc. He came out with a hard image, he was a thug from the Southside of Atlanta and he succeeded with that. You both worked on “Sucka (Remix)”, is he a mentor to you?

Alsina: That’s my n*gga. That’s my brother. Anybody who’s been doing something longer than you’ve done it, is a teacher. It might not be conscious teaching. It’s an unconscious thing. Just by watching the movements and what people are doing. Of course, I learn a lot from anybody I’m around that’s been doing this longer than I’ve doing it.

AHH: What led to the Trinidad James record, “I Luv This Shit”?

Alsina: That’s when the show turned up last night, when “I Luv This Shit” came on. That shows me that record is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. The show didn’t only turn up because it sounded good, but it turnt up because n*ggas was like “Oh! That’s that kid. That’s him!”. You got to put a face with the music.

I had the song for about six months before Trinidad even got on it. Me and Trinidad got mutual friends outside the industry at the same tattoo shop and they’ve been trying to connect us. Long before I had a deal or he had a deal, they just wanted us to do music. They’ve been bumping our music in the tattoo shop. Eventually, we connected and exchanged numbers.

VIDEO: “I Luv This Sh*t” by August Alsina

AHH: Is this the first single off an upcoming debut album?

Alsina: What’s crazy is at first this was supposed to be a “buzz single”, but when we saw the response to it, we decided to go full throttle with it. It’s a great record and it’s a real record.

AHH: You’re signed to Def Jam and you have a very close relationship with Radio Killa. It seems like The Dream is sponsoring August Alsina.

Alsina: [laughs] He said sponsoring! Dream is my n*gga and he’s also an A&R at Def Jam. He knows what he’s doing and he has experience. We already got in the studio and we’re going to get in the studio some more, but we do have a track together. I don’t know when it’s dropping.

AHH: How do you feel about the state of R&B right now?

Alsina: Everybody always saying R&B is in a bad place. After last night, I honestly don’t feel that way. It was very talented n*ggas in the building.

AHH: Who’s on your iPod right now? Be honest if it’s just The Product.

Alsina: Believe that, I listen to a lot of myself but I don’t get too caught up into myself. I listen to a lot of rap. Jeezy, Pac, Mike, Chris Brown, Frank. Last night, me and Luke James chopped it up and I think it’s a beautiful thing what we got going on for New Orleans. From Frank to Luke, it’s just special.

New Orleans is in a f*cked up place and it’s special to see people coming out of New Orleans. You show n*ggas that’s there that it’s possible to do anything. It’s a bigger world than just New Orleans and what we know.

We so caught up into ourselves and into our culture, and New Orleans is all we know. It’s a beautiful thing what we’re doing.

“Get Ya Money” by August Alsina

AHH: What do you want 2013 to say about August Alsina?

Alsina: We’re just getting started. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m cocked and loaded. We got some sh*t in the chambers which means we’re ready to shoot. I know I want it to be filled with blessings and success, of course. But I’m not that type of guy to say if I can see myself here this year, or next year. I live off of faith in God alone.

Wherever God wants me to be in life and in my career, that’s where I’ll be. I would’ve never thought that I would be here a year ago.

AHH: Last question. Is your real name August Alsina?

Alsina: August Anthony Alsina.

Photo Credit: Meredith Truax & Leny Behar

Listen to our FULL Interview with August Alsina:

In the world of Rhythm and Blues, many singers come in and become Pop superstars like Usher, Rihanna, Beyoncé and R. Kelly. But sometimes, even when the music is good, it seems that some singers just can’t get a break.

Not all singers are able to achieve mainstream success, and it can be attributed to legal battles, self esteem issues, laziness or just not being able to overcome industry politics.

Here’s a look at R&B singers between the ’90s and today who never quite received their fifteen minutes of fame.

10. Link

In 1998 and 1999, there were two R&B songs that lit up the Billboard charts: “My Body” by LSG and “Meeting in My Bedroom” by Silk. Both songs were written by Relativity Records singer Link. Due to his writing success, Link was rewarded a record deal and released his first single “Whatcha Gone Do?”, which became a mild hit.

A song off the album, “Gimme Some” has become an underground sensation. As of March 2013, Link is planning a comeback and has released “Erotic“. Seems like some people are better off behind the scenes?

9. Sam Salter

When you’ve got LaFace Records’ Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and L.A. Reid behind you, you’re in good hands, right? In 1997, Salter released his debut album It’s On Tonight, with the singles “After 12, Before 6″ and “There You Are”. The singles became mildly popular, but failed to catch steam. The same year, Salter’s labelmate Usher released his sophomore album My Way which went on to sell 7 million copies and turned Usher into an R&B megastar.

Though Salter hasn’t experienced mainstream success as a solo artist, he’s written songs for artists including Babyface, Destiny’s Child, Tyrese and Omarion. Salter got his start early, as part of a group with singer Robin Thicke. He left the group and partnered with producer and writer Laney Stewart, who now works with popular LA-based singer Alex Jacke.

8. KeKe Wyatt

In 2000, KeKe Wyatt got her big break when she appeared on singer Avant’s debut album on a song titled “My First Love”. The duo worked so well together that Wyatt enlisted the help of Avant again on her Soul Sista debut for 2001′s “Nothing In This World”, a song that would prove to be Wyatt’s most popular to date.

In 2013, KeKe Wyatt and Avant teamed up for “You & I”. Has KeKe Wyatt’s appearance on TV One’s R&B Divas help further her career? No one seems to like the attitude as she usually appears as a “crazy” character.

7. Tynisha Keli

In 2007, Tynisha Keli made her debut with the single “I Wish You Loved Me“. Though released that year, the song made its way on the internet years before it was officially released as a single, eventually becoming an underground hit. In 2009, her debut album The Chronicles of Tk was released via Warnes Bros. Records and was a commercial failure, with less than 11,000 albums sold.

In 2012, Keli surfaced again and released “Not Comin’ Back”, which failed to catch steam. Did Warner Bros. wait too long to capitalize on the success of Tynisha Keli’s independent movement?

6. JoJo

In 2004, singer JoJo released “Get Out (Leave)”, the first single off her debut album that pushed worldwide sales to 3,000,000. Two years later, she followed up with her sophomore album, The High Road, which didn’t fare as well as the first.

In 2012, after a six year hiatus, JoJo returned with “Demonstrate”. The song, produced by Drake’s in-house producer Noah “40″ Shebib, became popular on social networks but never gained any mainstream success. Later in the year, JoJo released her second mixtape, Agápē, to great response.

What do you think is up with JoJo’s rocky rise to the top? Do you think European singers get flack for trying to do R&B? One thing is for sure – Homegirl can sing!

5. Brandon Hines

Singer Brandon Hines appeared on YouTube in 2006, with a song called “10“. It was followed up with several covers which includes the popular 1-million viewed “Pretty Wings” Maxwell cover.

The cover videos caught the attention of So So Def’s Jermaine Dupri who signed Hines to a deal. His first official single “Yes You Are” was released in 2012, but failed to garner mainstream interest. An album has yet to surface from this singer. Too much like Trey Songz?

4. Willie Mo. Jr. (formerly Pretty Willie)

In 2001, St. Louis native Pretty Willie signed with Universal Records and released his debut album Enter The Life of Suella. The album was a commercial failure and did not chart, but in 2004, the singer developed a deep underground following when his song “Lay Your Body Down” was featured in the film Johnson Family Vacation.

Today, Willie Mo has left the sex-filled music behind and chartered a different path as a gospel singer and motivational speaker. The gospel isn’t as good as his “Four Walls” bedroom jams, but we respect his change towards a man of faith.

3. Teedra Moses

Teedra Moses made her debut in 2004, with the critically acclaimed album Complex Simplicity. The album spawned two singles “Be Your Girl” and “You’ll Never Find (A Better Woman)” featuring Jadakiss. Though the album was a sales failure, Moses eventually independently released music via her social websites and garnered a cult-like following.

In a 2012 interview, Moses revealed she was working on her sophomore album, as the first lady of Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Imprint. She soon released “Another LuvR” featuring Wale. The album has yet to surface. Could the brash mouth and not-made-for-tv image be the cause of Moses’ failure to become a commercial success?

2. Marcus Cooper (formerly Pleasure P)

Considered an underground legend of R&B, Cooper got his start in 2005 as the stand-out singer of Hip Hop group Pretty Ricky.  In 2009, he released his solo debut The Introduction of Marcus Cooper with the singles “Under” and “Boyfriend #2″. The album was a moderate success, earning Cooper three Grammy nominations.

In 2012, he achieved writing success with Miami-native Flo Rida’s single “Wild Ones”, which has gone on to sell over 11 million copies. In 2009, Cooper got into legal battle when he was accused of sex offending. That one event, which came during his debut album release, seemed to cause the singer to lay low for a while. Cooper released the single “I Love Girls” in 2012. Did the sex offender charges cause Pleasure P’s image to drown or can he make a successful comeback?

AND NUMBER 1 goes to:

1. Jhené Aiko

In the early 2000′s, with the success of R&B group B2K, we were introduced to a very young Jhené Aiko who was featured on many of the groups songs. Aiko utilized social networks and developed a strong following, eventually releasing her debut mixtape Sailing Soul(s) in 2011. The mixtape earned accolades and Aiko is now signed to producer No ID’s record label, through Def Jam Records.

In a 2012 interview, Aiko revealed her problem with authority, working with Kendrick Lamar and deets on her debut album Souled Out. In 2013, she released “Burning Man (3:16pm)”. No album release date has been confirmed. Could it be Aiko’s rebel attitude that holds her back from mainstream success?

Which of these artists would you like to see go mainstream? Please tell us in the comments!

In the midst of extensive international touring, Allen Stone managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with AllHipHop.com – reflecting upon 20′s angst, “Satisfaction,” and pre-recorded music.

AllHipHop.com:  As the son of a preacher, you performed regularly in church. What professional lessons did you pull from that experience and transfer to your secular career?

Allen Stone:  Oh, goodness. I think the biggest trait that was passed on to me from my parents and my dad was love and respect, and taking the time out of your day to appreciate others. I think what people don’t understand is that the music industry, and the success that you have in it is based about 15 percent or 20 percent on actual talent and about 80 percent on your personality, how nice you are, and whether or not you respect the people around you and treat them with care. I see a lot of the artists that die out. You hear a lot of horror stories about them not being very nice people. As lame as it may sound and as contrived as it may seem, being nice really is the biggest asset you can have in the music industry—caring about people for more than just what they can do for you. Does that make sense?

AllHipHop.com:  Yes.

Allen Stone:  After the gig, I always go to the merch table. I talk, and I greet, and I meet everybody that comes there. I go around to the whole staff at the venue and thank them for having me. I try to make them feel that I care for them. I believe that that’s where actual joy is—that riches exist within relationships with people. But I believe that it also can get you a long way in life, just taking time out of your day to care for others.

AllHipHop.com:  You note that character has made you successful up to this point, but you do have talent. You sing. You write songs. You play the guitar. Talk to me about your relationship with your father. What role did your relationship, both inside and outside the church, play in identifying your talents and how they sprouted?

Allen Stone:  I always loved to sing. I was forced into singing, a little bit, just because my parents both sang. I remember growing up. My brothers, sisters, parents and I would all do special songs on Christmas for the church. We’d sing together as a family. I wasn’t that into it when I was really young, but I knew I could do it. I knew I could sing. I knew I understood pitch and melody. When I was about ten or eleven, my dad taught me some guitar chords, because I had started getting really into the Dave Matthews band and rock ‘n’ roll music. It was the guitar playing that sparked my interest for singing in front of people. I had always loved song, but being able to pick up a guitar and play my own songs, or play covers of other songs, was really interesting and intriguing to me. It grew from there. I started writing my own songs on the guitar. I started singing them at services and school. At campfires and parties. I don’t know. I was always a drama brat growing up, and I was also the youngest child. I think I liked to be the center of attention… [laughing]

AllHipHop.com:  [laughing]

Allen Stone:  …the center of attention syndrome. If I’m honest with you, I think music was just another form for me to be the center of attention. [laughing continues] But once I discovered soul music, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” it changed from just solely wanting to be the center of attention. It turned into something bigger. It turned into: “Wow! This music really touches me, and I’d really like to create the type of music that does this to other people.” It took a different form after a little while. I’ve never taken a vocal lesson. I’ve never taken a music lesson. Well, no. I lie about that. I did take a couple of piano lessons when I was about seventeen. But it was never pulled out of me, and I was never forced into it beyond my just singing when I was a little kid. It’s always been something that I really loved. And in high school, I never revealed it very much to any of my friends. I sang at church, and led worship at church, but none of my friends from high school went to my church [laughing]. I never really knew that I could sing. It’s funny now, when I’m popping up on all these late-night shows. They all know that that’s what I’m doing now, but none of them really had any idea that I was that serious about it.

AllHipHop.com:  It is interesting to discover you were introduced to soul music rather late in your life. Soul music, like Gospel, tends to always have a message in the music. Many of your songs incorporate a theme of social awareness, even if it might not necessarily be directly religious. As your career expanded from the local community to the national spotlight and now international markets, what do you find the purpose of music to be? What power do you see it having?

Allen Stone:  For me, I think music is one of the most powerful forms of art that we’ve been given. Music is the universal language of energy. I can listen to somebody sing in French, and even though I have no idea what they’re saying, it will move me so deeply just feeling the expression that they have. For me, I think music can be extremely powerful, but I think music can also be extremely detrimental. I won’t name names of artists or music on the opposite end of that spectrum, but I think you can see how powerful music is by the reaction of fans. Look at fans of Justin Bieber.

AllHipHop.com:  As you write the lyrics to what are deeply personal songs, do you ever consider how they will be interpreted by listeners? The breakdown on “Sleep,” for example, could be interpreted as a lesson of warning to your fans. At the end, you sing the following lines: “Count sheep, I’ve already tried, Drink whiskey, It makes my throat too dry, Smoke weed, It makes my eyes all red, Take a pill, Al, What, and end up dead?” I wonder if there is an undergirding philosophy to your songwriting, or whether this is just you pouring your heart out?

Allen Stone:  For me, I don’t want to put out music that I’ll turn back and think: “I hate that song.” I never want to create music that I’ll look back on, in years, and think: “That’s just a waste of time. That’s a waste of three minutes of my life.” I always want to say something that’s either very true to my life at that time, or is socially progressive. I have a song on that record called “The Wind,” which is a love song that I wrote. And I don’t typically write love songs, but when I wrote that song, it was very true to my spirit. I wrote it for a girl that I was in love with, and it was about allowing life to take you where it leads, just like the wind blows seeds wherever they’re supposed to land. With “Sleep,” it was the same way. When I wrote that song, I was on the road for close to 200 shows a year, and I wasn’t sleeping at all. I still don’t sleep very much, but I’m getting a little bit more now than I used to and I felt like it was a universal thing, too. We live in a day and age that is so fast, and we have so much stimulant. That’s the one thing that we don’t do is sleep, as a culture, and especially Americans. There’s so much stimulation. There are so many things to do nowadays, that people just don’t sleep very often—at least the people I’m surrounded by. I felt like it was a pretty universal topic, and something that was definitely true to my own life.

AllHipHop.com:  You speak about the incessant touring. I know that it can wear and tear down not just the body, but also the mind. I’m very impressed by your transition to the mainstream. Your debut album was released digitally initially. And your entire career has taken place in an era where the music industry has undergone – and still continues to see – massive change. Give me some insight on the business side of the music business.

Allen Stone:  I was always taught to never spend what you don’t have. I think that’s one of the biggest mistakes in the music industry. A lot of labels are realizing that for years, they’ve thrown all this money away to develop artists, and it’s money that is really stupid to spend. Like flying first class, or just little things. I had a sense from my family growing up that there are frugal ways to do things. I toured the country doing couch surfing. It would just be me and my Buick LeSabre and my acoustic guitar. I’d play a small venue for fifty people, and I’d stay on somebody’s couch instead of paying money for a hotel. And all that stuff adds up. If you incur $5,000 worth of debt on a tour, it’s very unlikely that you will hop back out on that same tour, and think: “Oh, yeah, this is going to be fun.” First of all, it’s a lot of hard work. I had a little business sense from that. Also, I met my manager when I was nineteen, and we’ve been working together for about six years now. He has a really good understanding of being frugal in the industry, as well—of not spending money that you don’t need to, and making it all work financially. At the end of the day, that’s what it is, first and foremost, is a business. It’s a business of the art, and even though the art is the sacred portion of it, in order for you to continue creating that art, you’ve got to be profitable. You’ve got to at least break even. A lot of that came from my manager as well.

AllHipHop.com:  A great deal of time and energy is also spent on marketing. The album cover only features your name, however, although a full blow-out picture is included as an insert. Was this a conscious decision?

Allen Stone:  Well, that’s a humility thing. It’s not about me as much as the music. I think, also, I didn’t put myself on the cover because I’ve always felt that if somebody picked up a CD in the soul section of Best Buy, and it had my face on the front of it, they would think: “This can’t be any good.” [laughing]

AllHipHop.com:  Well, your voice definitely sells the work. Your lyrics and production, too. As a self-described “hippie with soul,” does that phrase have – or take on – a different meaning abroad?

Allen Stone:  I’m sure the interpretation is much different throughout the world. You know something funny? That whole phrase was taken a little bit out of context. Somebody asked me about my style, and I said: “Well, I’m kind of just like a hippie with soul. I don’t really give a s**t.” [laughing]

AllHipHop.com:  [laughing]

Allen Stone:  I hate attempting to try and follow the current fashion trend. I just wear what I think looks cool and I look the way I do because I think it’s original. I felt like that was the best way to describe the hippie movement of the ’60s and ’70s, where they were really counterculture. They didn’t want to do the suit and tie thing that their parents had passed down to them. At the time, it was the best way for me to describe it, I guess.

AllHipHop.com:  I forgot to mention that “Satisfaction” is my favorite song off the album.

Allen Stone:  Thank you. “Satisfaction” was actually a song I wrote about my experience with the church. It sounds like a love song, but it’s actually a love song to the church. In the pre-chorus, if you notice, it says: “I’m just another quarter in your offering.” That was the giveaway lyric. For me, my experience with the church was I went to Bible college. I woke up one day, and I was like: “I don’t believe this.” I learned about the conception of the Bible and how the Scripture was put together. I studied the text very deeply. I woke up one morning and thought: “This wasn’t what I was raised to believe.” I was raised that all this text was like God’s direct word just to find out it wasn’t. I felt like I had been duped. I decided to leave the church. Once I did, I felt this total backlash from people who, all my life, had talked about forgiveness, acceptance, coexistence and all. Once the actual needle was to the skin, it was just like all that went to s**t. I was in a very bitter state. I wrote that when I was about 21 or 22. I was in a very bitter frame of mind. I’ve since moved past that and gotten over that bitterness and that young 20’s angst.

AllHipHop.com:  Nothing’s wrong with a little bit of 20’s angst. So long as it’s measured and controlled [laughing]. We all have those moments [laughing continues].

Allen Stone:  Totally. Yeah, I’m with you. I’m with you.

AllHipHop.com:  “Satisfaction” rocks like a jam session. What’s your take on live instrumentation versus pre-recorded tracks?

Allen Stone:  I really dislike the way computers have found their way into the studio, because it lends itself to a bunch of people who aren’t really musicians getting paid to make music and it breaks my heart, because I know so many people who put countless hours into learning actual instruments—learning how to play the bass guitar and the drums really well. Studying those things. Then the industry just makes this shift to where it’s okay for fake drums to be on a record. And then to top it off, now it’s even become okay for one guy with a microphone to stand onstage and one person behind him pushing “play.” I don’t know when that got considered live music, but that just breaks my heart, because I feel like the soul in music is that collaborative effort towards one sound—like a drummer and a bass player and a guitar player lending their abilities towards one sound. There’s a soul in that, but it’s completely lost with the computer music. I still think dubstep and all this deejay music is really cool. I listen to it, and think it’s really original. I do enjoy the sound of it, but let’s put it in this context. If you put two mathematicians in a room and give them the same test and they both score 98 percent on that test, but one is given a calculator and the other one is not given a calculator which one is smarter? Which one is the actual mathematician? Is it the one with the calculator who’s just punching in numbers? Or is it the one who actually knows how to work out each and every equation…

AllHipHop.com:  Interesting point.

Allen Stone:  …and doesn’t need anything but a pencil and his mind to do it. That’s, I think, the altering difference to me. I don’t ever want to talk down about somebody’s art, because we’re all on the same pathway, and we’re all just trying to survive. However, I choose to be a purist when I make records because I feel like there is an actual soul. I hear the soul in music that has actual instrumentation on it, and I don’t hear it in music that’s created in the box on computers.

For more information on Allen Stone, visit his official website.

For more of Clayton Perry’s “views” and interviews, browse his “digital archive” – www.claytonperry.com - and follow him on Twitter (@crperry84).

Make sure to cop the single on iTunes or the digital retailer of your choice. It is also available on Spotify, Rdio and other streaming services. Look out for Terrace’s highly anticipated album 3 Chord Fold to drop very soon – expect a release date within the next few weeks.

Robin Thicke recently released his latest video for “Blurred Lines”, featuring T.I and Pharell. But it’s not a regular video you’ll see on TV. In fact, you’ll never see this on TV, as it’s filled with naked women including boobs and all.

Done in a tasteful way, the video finds Thicke using his woman’s feet as a microphone. You think Paula Patton, his wife, is cool with this?

“Blurred Lines” is the first single off a currently untitled project.

The R&B singer, who recently released his bedroom-driven mixtape Definition which features Tank, 2 Chainz and Travis Porter, is no longer afraid to admit who he’s dating.

While in New York City on his press run, the singer opened up about his dating world and when pressed about treating Eva Right, Mccall says “All women should be treated good.”

Here are the photos of the two lovebirds on Instagram:

And this is when they took it to another level:

Follow the love journey on Instagram @evamarcille and @kevinmccalljr.

How do you feel about couples who post their love on social networks?

Deon Young, a Harlem-bred R&B musician, has just released his first official single “Mad Respect”.

Young is one of the first artists to be introduced from Epic Records’ Sylvia Rhone, who spearheads the Vested in Culture imprint. After Young performed live in front of Rhone and music legend L.A. Reid, he was offered a deal on the spot.

Listen to “Mad Respect”:

Not only can Tee Flii sing, but he also produces his own music and he can dance having learned moves alongside Chris Brown in the flick Stomp the Yard.  It’s only a matter of time before Tee Flii gets his deal, the only question is how much are the labels going to have to fork over the get this kid on the team?

As showcased on ANNIERUO’TAY I and II, its clear Tee Flii will be setting the standard for hooks and melodies on songs for a long time. Fans of his Flii & B style can look forward to features with YG, Nipsey Hussle, Badd Lucc, Problem, Skeme, Pooh Bear and many others on his ANNIERUO’TAY projects.

Until then take a look at his new video for the song “Act a Fool” below:

TeeFLii “Act A Fool”

Filed under: Alternatives, MOBILE Tagged: Tee Flii ]]> http://allhiphop.com/2013/03/25/alternativepick-tee-flii-act-a-fool-video/feed/ 1 TeeFlii jakecrates http://allhiphop.com/2013/03/22/jesse-boykins-iiis-first-headlining-show-at-sobs-video/ http://allhiphop.com/2013/03/22/jesse-boykins-iiis-first-headlining-show-at-sobs-video/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:09:08 +0000 Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) http://allhiphop.com/?p=182464 ]]> From the 1920′s Jazz and Big Band music of Duke Ellington and Walter Page to the 90′s blend of the conscious and hardcore Hip Hop of A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan, New York City has always been a melting pot for diverse musical styles. March 21st, 2013  at SOB’s was a manifestation of that core ideal as Urban Contemporary cult star, Jesse Boykins III headlined his first show at SOB’s. The mostly female crowd mixed in with dinner guests made for

Lina Gatineau

A truly great live show is measured by the sum of its parts and not simply a fantastic headliner. Hailing from Montreal, Canada is the mesmerizing newcomer Lina Gatineau. This impressive vocalist mixed between original songs and one stirring cover of Erykah Badu’s 1997 classic breakout hit “Tyrone”. At one point the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles graduate began to direct the lyrics of “Tyrone” at two gentlemen in the front without laughing or breaking character. The true standout  moment was the opener, her unabashedly personal song on an indecisive ex-boyfriend entitled “Frontin’”. Over a seductively brooding bass guitar Gatineau’s angelic voice gets raw:

“Remind me why I put up with this,

bulls**t you pull I know a’int legit.”

Yazarah made sure every person at SOBs left with her burned into their memories. The veteran R&B vocalist has been a backup singer for Erykah Badu, released four solo albums and now is apart of the multi-genre collective The Foreign Exchange with Little Brother’s Phonte. Her charisma was apparent from the start as she was carried to the stage through the crowd on a man’s shoulder wearing a colorful kufi.  Nineteen months removed from giving birth, Yazarah and her powerful vocals were riveting as she went through a few Prince classics (“Purple Rain”, “Little Red Corvette”) an original soulful ballad (“Starships”) and a few other covers. She made you feel her pain with stories of wanting to throw herself at “the walls of life” hoping to die. She made you laugh  by saying she needs positive reenforcement mid-song. She was a consummate performer.

Then there was Jesse.

This man took his hair out of a bun into a wild mane and the entire crowd screamed for more. It was that type of night. From the love-struck middle aged woman in the front to the boisterously dancing young woman by the back bar area, Jesse had everyone in SOBs under his spell. Making them sway with a smooth rendition of Andre 3000′s “Prototype”. Using an engaging call-and-response in an extended performance of the “Amorous” to have the jam packed SOBs sing his words.

Even with repeated microphone issues and some visible miscommunication with his effects guy, Jesse and his various vocal tones made for a wildly entertaining night. However, it was not clear if this was by design or impulse but Jesse’s set felt as if it went a few songs past its welcome even with a raucous closing performance of “Tabloids”.

But when you’re following awe-inspiring talent and having women yell “do more, we paid for it” the urge to overextend is a hard temptation to pass for a genuinely passionate singer such as Jesse Boykins III.

Follow Jesse Boykins III (@JesseBoykins3rd), @Yahzarah and @LinaGatineau

Check out video footage of Lina Gatineau performing her song “Frontin’”, Yahzarah covering Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” and Jesse Boykins III doing an extended version “Amorous”:

[ALSO CHECK OUT: Video: Jesse Boykins III Has A “Strange Recreation” For You]

The young king sits down with AllHipHop to discuss his beginnings, what a Stoner is and how “every song sounds like Drake featuring Drake” is indicative of a larger music problem.

Follow Adrian Daniel on Twitter @ADtheStoner and on his SoundCloud

With the release of “Fumble”, the fifth single off his fifth album Chapter V, singer Trey Songz knows how to outdo himself every single time. And while we’re talking about his music, we’re also referring to those funny little faces he likes to make.

The year was 2005. Mario was seeing the biggest hit of his career with “Let Me Love You”, a song that turned out to be bigger for Ne-Yo than it was for ‘Ro. Bobby V cashed in on the success of “Slow Down” and Chris Brown and Rihanna had yet to meet.

But deep down, in the crevices of the R&B pulpit, lied a really good singer who looked more like a rapper. His name? Trey Songz. With a z. And, unlike his counterparts, Songz sported a du-rag and a tank top and it was as though he’d found power in the presentation of painful-looking facial expressions.

Here, we take a look at the man who popularized the struggle face way before Beyonce:

2005. In the beginning, all he had was a dollar and a dream.

2006. But then someone got paid the next Friday.

2007. And the du-rag was lifted, to strong reluctance.

2008. No! No! No!

2009. Then, he called it “love faces”…

2010. And tackled an innocent chair:

2011. He didn’t mean to hurt, the chair.

2012. But then Kelly tried to out-face him in his own video.

2013. Oooooh! But Trey wasn’t having it.

Which is your favorite Trey Songz moment?

LATEST VIDEO: “Fumble” by Trey Songz

Peep the vid:

“Paradise” finds Maybach O in a drunken state, hoping to have a good night with his lady and later, take her to paradise.

Do you think O has a hit here?

Check the video below and follow RL here: @JustRL

The EP, complete with five new songs, offers up a the angles of Tweet we’re used to. Smooth, sultry and soulful, a combination that’s almost always sure to spark things up.

AllHipHop.com got the opportunity to chat with Tweet to talk new music, her “case” against Twitter and whether or not she’s on good terms with Missy Elliot and Timbaland.

AllHipHop.com: We keep hearing ‘Tweet is coming back’, we’re ready.
Tweet: I’ve been ready since 2007 to put something out and it’s finally here.

AllHipHop.com: Why do you think it’s important now to release your music, than five years ago?
Tweet: From five years ago up until now, I’m writing about stuff that I go through. I’m ordinary just like everybody else. I just go through everything everybody else go through. Love lost, love found, happiness, joy, all the emotions and everyday life experiences. That’s what I write about. That hasn’t changed. These are things out of my diary.

AllHipHop.com: Talk to me about “Enough”, the first single off of Simply Tweet.
Tweet: It’s the first song we’ve released from the EP. I’m excited about that one.

AllHipHop.com: People can say what they want to say, but no one can say that you cannot sing.
Tweet: I’ve never professed to be the best singer in the world. I just do me and that’s what it is.

AllHipHop.com: Do you like the sound of what you’ve been hearing? For what music is right now?
Tweet: I don’t really do music to compete or try to stay in the now. I just do what comes from the heart and what I feel. It’s definitely coming out the way I expected it. Just good music.

AllHipHop.com: Are you working with any of the same camp?
Tweet: Production wise, it’s the same guys that did the first two albums, Nisan Stewart, Craig Brockman, Jubu Smith, same folks.

AllHipHop.com: You’re pretty much an open book.
Tweet: Pretty much. You basically know what I’m going through or have gone through because of my songs.

AllHipHop.com: You have a big spiritual influence. Do you see gospel in your future?
Tweet: Definitely. I come from the church and right now, what caused me to take a break, was to get my spiritual life together. It was lacking at the time. In 2005, I just needed to get myself together. I have to give God back his glory because if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be singing and I wouldn’t have the gift.

AllHipHop.com: Southern Hummingbird was ten years ago. It wasn’t like you flopped. The album fared well, surpassing gold status.
Tweet: I’m very grateful for that. Happily knowing that people still want to hear the music is such a blessing. I’m excited to give them what they want. This is what I love to do and I’m just happy to share it with those that want to hear.

AllHipHop.com: Outside of the EP, what are you working on?
Tweet: We’re finishing up what we have to do for the album, which is pretty much done. We’re putting out videos for this EP. On tour, doing shows and hopefully more to come, overseas. Just trying to get myself out there and consistently giving people shows because I wasn’t able to do that from the second album.

AllHipHop.com: How soon do you think we’ll get an album?
Tweet: Summertime, and if not the summer, then September, but it will definitely be this year.

AllHipHop.com: Are you doing it independently?
Tweet: Yes, through a major distributor.

AllHipHop.com: What’s your take on artists like Miguel, Frank Ocean, Dawn Richard and some of the new people out now?
Tweet: I love Miguel and Frank Ocean, I think with music, it’s enough room for everybody to do what they love to do. There’s a lot of creative people out there so I just appreciate the different types of music. They’re putting out great music so I’m happy where it is.

AllHipHop.com: Do you think that soulful music has a place right now?
Tweet: Definitely. It’s missing, that’s the only thing I would add to that. Not that it’s gone or it left, or it’s on its way back, because music is music. It will never leave. It hasn’t been on the mainstage or in the forefront, but people are craving real music. Instrumentation, real life music and things they can relate to. Everybody’s not in the club, everybody’s not popping molly’s. Everybody’s not drinking. People live regular lives and they go through pain and hurt and happiness. They want to hear about those things.

AllHipHop.com: So you don’t see yourself doing a song with Trinidad James anytime soon?
Tweet: [laughs] If it makes sense. There’s no reason why two different artists couldn’t make a record. It’s about quality.

AllHipHop.com: You’ve worked with Lil Mo on the “I Love Me” record. Can we expect more collaborations?
Tweet: Yes. We go way back. I’m a sucker for talented people, with real issues and real music. That’s a sister of mine so we’ve got to stay together.

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people don’t know but you’ve been around for a while, before Southern Hummingbird was released, working with Timbaland and Missy Elliot. What’s your relationship like with them these days?
Tweet: We still talk. Actually, I just did a couple of records with Tim for his album, not knowing if they’re going to make the album or not. We’re still family, that will never change. Our schedules didn’t allow Missy and I to do any records on this album, and I just wanted my supporters to get me this time. Since I’ve been gone so long, I didn’t want to flood them with collabs.

AllHipHop.com: Do you ever see yourself doing business or being signed to them?
Tweet: No. At this point I want to take the head of business. Have my own label and do things that way.

AllHipHop.com: Twitter is very popular and the term “Tweet” has an entirely new meaning to it. Have you thought about changing your name?
Tweet: No. If anything, Twitter would have to change something up. I was here first, and they took everything that I brought to the table. I brought the bird, the name and I will never change. I’ve been Tweet since I was a little girl. It’s not a phase name, that’s who I am. My father gave me that nickname, so no way am I changing that at all.

AllHipHop.com: It was rumored that you sued them or tried to take them to court. Any truth to that?
Tweet: No, it’s no rumor. I didn’t go that far, yet.

AllHipHop.com: You thought about it?
Tweet: Yes, there is a case, and there is room for that. I haven’t really pursued it fully yet.

AllHipHop.com: Anything else the people should know?
Tweet: I’m trying to reassure people that the music is coming. It’s been years since I’ve been saying this. A lot of stuff has happened since this whole hiatus. I wish I had a camera with me the whole time, so you guys would know. It’s coming out and I’m excited. That’s about it.

Simply Tweet is available on iTunes, here.

According to the L.A. Times, after his release from Interscope Records, Garland took to YouTube to perform covers. He garnered more 10 million views and soon partnered with producers, Stereotypes (Chris Brown, Justin Bieber) to start working on his first EP, Fashionably Late, Volume 1.

Official Video: “Where To Land” featuring III.

The first effort fared a more Pop sound, while Vol. 2 is more R&B, soul. Garland has immediately received comparison to Pop Soul singer Justin Timberlake. On being a solo artist, Garland reveals “The biggest misconception about me is that I’m disposable,” he said. “That I’m just a boy-band kid, come and go. But I’m a real artist, I have something to say.”

And with genre-bending artists including Frank Ocean, Miguel and Dawn Richard, R&B is currently seeing a renovation. Time will tell if Garland will join the party.

DOWNLOAD Fashionably Late, Vol. 2

SOURCE

[Download]

Filed under: Alternatives, Headlines, MUSIC Tagged: Kris Kelli, MIXTAPE DOWNLOAD, Warrior ]]> http://allhiphop.com/2013/03/06/mixtape-download-kris-kelli-warrior/feed/ 5 Kris Kelli steveraze Kris Kelli - Warrior Kris Kelli - Warrior Back http://allhiphop.com/2013/02/28/video-jesse-boykins-iii-has-a-strange-recreation-for-you/ http://allhiphop.com/2013/02/28/video-jesse-boykins-iii-has-a-strange-recreation-for-you/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:21:40 +0000 @KareemTaylor http://allhiphop.com/?p=177996 ]]> Chicago-bred R&B singer Jesse Boykins III introduces us to a live in-studio performance of “Strange Recreation”, sponsored by Red Bull.

The performance takes place inside of the Red Bull Studio in Los Angeles. The 28-year-old soul/funk artist is now working on a currently untitled album.

Peep the video:

Alsina received buzz last year when he released his first official mixtape, The Product, which most notably spawned the anti-love song “Sucka”.

Download the song here.

Each episode of Guitar Center Sessions also features intimate interviews conducted by renowned music journalist and taste maker Nic Harcourt, offering a rare behind the scenes view into the storied careers of music icons and the inspirations behind their music.  Fans who dig it can check the full episode of Guitar Center Sessions set to premiere Friday, Feb 22nd at 9 pm on DIRECTV’s Audience Network (Channel 239).

While Andy Allo has widely been regarded as Prince’s protegé, after a sold out show in L.A. and a successful run with her debut effort Superconductor, Andy Allo has gotten her own nod from some of the music industry’s most respected of critics.  Jamming out with a live horns section, solid in the pocket bass and steadfast drums, viewers can see Andy conduct her live band at the highest of qualities via the Guitar Center Sessions.

Check Andy Allo’s live performance of “If I Were A King” below and also check out a brief clip of Andy talking about the collaborative process of making music with her band. Enjoy!!!

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Combining slapping claps, a booming sub and an atmospheric flow from Kool Keith, TOKiMONSTA lays down electronic synths, tribal percussion and an every changing beat sequence to give us something to run back again and again.

[ALSO READ #BreedingGround "Will Brennan: The Prodigal Son"]

The song comes from her work with a record label called Ultra whose current roster includes deadmau5, Benny Benassi, Kaskade, Wolfgang Gartner, The Bloody Beetroots, Steve Aoki, Lil Jon, Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Alex Gaudino, Congorock, Adrian Lux, Fedde Le Grand, Axwell, Alexandra Stan and others.

TOKiMONSTA might be on to something here, we look forward to hearing more from her again soon! Check it out below!!!

On February 7, Harris Interactive survey’s poll on American’s favorite love songs resulted in Whitney Houston’s monumental classic “I Will Always Love You” being voted #1. The 1992 cultural smash hit from the soundtrack fro the movie The Bodyguard scored 38% of votes among adults and was the top pick of all widowed, divorced or separated Americans polled.

Houston’s cover of country legend Dolly Parton’s 1974 song beat out other notable love songs such as Aerosmith’s “Dont Want to Miss A Thing”, Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love” and even Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”.

Madame Tussauds New York showcased four life-like wax statues of the late singer. Each will be installed in four Madam Tussaud locations: Washington, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York.

The Washington D.C. figure will be of Houston performing the national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl; Las Vegas will showcase Houston from her 1988 music video for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”; the wax figure for Los Angeles will be of her from The Bodyguard; and New York gets the wax figure modeled off a 2009 photo shoot.

Tonight (February 9), longtime friend and mentor of Whitney Houston, Clive Davis is planning a tribute to Houston at his annual pre-Grammy party.

“(I am) going to do something to remind everybody that her talent lived among us and in so many people,” the iconic music mogul told People.com “It’s a different kind of opening. The opening has never been done before, with the kind of music that’s unprecedented.” There are no details yet on who is set to be apart of the tribute.

[ALSO READ: Jordin Sparks Speaks On Working With Whitney Houston]

The up and-coming artist Melodic had his first big break at age 18 when he wrote,arranged and recorded “So Stellar” for the star-studded motion picture, “Steppin’” starring Mo’Nique, Anthony Anderson and Wesley Jonathan.

In the last two years, Melodic has stepped to the forefront and taken center stage. Last summer, he released his breakout single “Pretty Faces!” Recently, a buzz cut called “Move” , a dance track, caught fire, catapulting him more than 30 places to the number one spot on ReverbNation.com, beating out artists from Philadelphia and New Jersey.

Though Melodic has already proven he can write a relevant song and whip his fans into a frenzy on and off stage, as an independent, he is still strategizing and building his brand so he can write his own ticket. AllHipHop.com.com spoke to the young singer/songwriter about his future.

AllHipHop.com: So I noticed as of this writing you are the number one R&B/Soul artist on Reverbnation in ur region which includes Philly, NJ,DE. That’s a tough market and a lot of competition. How did you work your way to that point?

Melodic: It’s taken years to be quite honest. It took the right songs, the right look, and the right team to help push me to new heights. It’s definitely a tough market, and there are a lot of great artists out there doing their thing. I’m blessed, and always on my hustle. I think I’m quite deserving of this because I’ve worked very hard and I have great fans so far in my career. My fans really do love and support me.

AllHipHop.com: What are your biggest career accomplishments and most exiting moments?

Melodic: The first big career accomplishment was when I got the placement on the soundtrack to the motion picture “Steppin’”. It was a crazy time in my life personally, and I hadn’t yet come into my own as a brand. But I stuck in that situation and got a major placement! That’s something no one can take away from me. The second would have to be performing at Delaware Teen Idol back in 2011. The response I got on stage, and the reception I received after the show from the fans was bananas! Like, literally I was mobbed. That feeling is so indescribable I think there’s a picture floating around Facebook of it all, somewhere.

AllHipHop.com: Talk about your “Pretty Faces” single and video.

Melodic: Pretty Faces was such an organic experience. It’s funny because the campaign is still going on, even with everything else we have lined up. The moment I got the instrumental from Ric & Thadeus (Producers of Pretty Faces), I was immediately inspired. They titled the beat “Pretty Faces” and so I decided to keep the title. It’s just a record that is so honest and innocent, but raw all at the same time. The music video, which was shot over a course of 6 months by Fred Fistzgiles (Studeo 22) and Kevin “Killa Vision” Allen was most definitely no exception. We had a commercial run on 106th and Park and got airplay on some major stations on the East Coast. Overall, I’m pleased by the outcome and the reception from fans.

AllHipHop.com: What are your thoughts on the state of music and the industry today?

Melodic: I think the industry today is all about the “show me” state. In other words, numbers matter more so than ever before. Which is completely understandable. In this day and age the internet can virtually get you anything you can probably think of. This is why I’m so thankful for my management and my team because we understand and recognize that and we work really hard around it to make sure I’m still being heard. I plan on continuing to build my brand and make great music and put on bigger and greater shows. I feel I bring a lot to the table and hopefully can show and prove it.

AllHipHop.com: What are some of ur upcoming projects?

Melodic: I have a ton of things coming up. I just put out a new single titled “Move” which is totally free and can be downloaded via my SoundCloud or ReverbNation pages. I’m excited to see what this track can do. It’s something very different then what fans are probably used to hearing from me, unless they copped my first mixtape “In Due Time”. I also am putting together a regional tour. It’s going to be really big! I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s going to be 100% live, and visually stimulating. Everyone can look out for my “Who is Phantom Inc.?” cross promotion as well. Fans will definitely love what I’m bringing this year!

Reverbnation.com/melodic

https://soundcloud.com/melodic08

Melodiconline.com

Goldenheart’s release is planned for January 15, 2013, with a simultaneous video release on BET’s “106 & Park”.

Unabashed candor envelopes her sincerity. Before continuing, Khalilah inhales a refreshing breath. A smile tugs the corners of her generous mouth, releasing it she continues, “With all honesty, one of my greatest motivations is my family. They want this just as much as I do. They can’t comprehend seeing Khalilah Rose without music; or, music without Khalilah Rose. So, as they see everything progress they keep pushing and inspiring me. They’re helping me so that my life can be balanced and I can keep pushing with the music…” – and with that we begin this exclusive AllHipHop.com feature interview:

AllHipHop.com: Where are you originally from, and where do you currently reside?

Khalilah Rose: Originally, I’m from Africa, of course. My family is from Jamaica. And I currently reside in New York and in Jamaica; I go back and forth.

AllHipHop.com: Since you were brought up the Motherland, I have a question. Is it true that you’re doing African shows for free?

Khalilah Rose: Yes, just as long as they can provide for my transportation and my accommodations. I’m willing to do shows in Africa for free, just as long as the proceeds are going to a charity, to help someone.

AllHipHop.com: That is beautiful. I heard something like that, but I was hating and didn’t believe that you were that altruistic.

Khalilah Rose: [laughs] I did it because I was looking into the amount of money that promoters have to pay to get artists to come to Africa, it was very high. So, you know, I decided that I should do that.

AllHipHop.com: Out of the plethora of things that you could be doing, why do you share your soul through music?

Khalilah Rose: Well, I feel so strongly about the things that go on around me, and the things that happen in the world. They just vibrate through my soul; it’s so intense. I felt like music is such a great tool to talk to a mass amount of people. Music can help to feed the young, and to get minds to open up in a different way.

AllHipHop.com: The Reggae community is known for its diligence stance against homosexuality. Sizzila Kalonji, Beanie Man, Capleton, and Bounty Killa were refused U.S. working visas because they oppose homosexuality. As a woman, and as an artist, what are your views on the subject?

Khalilah Rose: Well, my view is that I know how God intended us on how to live. I believe that the laws of God are very important for us to follow. We all should live for the Most High, and that’s it.

AllHipHop.com: No man is an island. Usually a collective may realize a dream more quickly than a solitary individual. As a Roots & Culture Reggae artist, how would you describe the factors that lead you to trust your career in the hands of a Hip-Hop manager?

Khalilah Rose: Being someone who has responsibilities, a family, I have to be there for them. I have to balance myself. In order to balance myself, management is there to take care a lot of the business aspect of the music for me. So, that way, I can be there for my family. That’s the most important factor.

AllHipHop.com: “Jah Is Living” and “Hail H.I.M” are a couple of your many songs celebrating God. What makes you reference God so much when we live in a society that likes to shun His existence?

Khalilah Rose: I pray a lot. And I’ve realized when I’m going through so many hard times, if I need anything, I can just ask God for whatever I need. I just want the world to realize that we have the power to achieve anything and to heal any wounds. And it is through God. I just wish He was more vocalized. In mainstream music, and the music that we hear on the radio, they always speak so much about being in a relationship, who looks cute, and who’s going to the club, but what happened to the most important element in our lives? That is the Creator.

AllHipHop.com: Some people may you view as having a meteoric rise to stardom. What do you say to those who view you as an overnight sensation?

Khalilah Rose: It was a lot of hard work, you know. I’ve been through so much. You know, I had a child at a young age. To me, that was very hard. It was a struggle. To also have to put myself through school while being a single mother, I had to work very hard to get to where I am now. So, that is so not true.

AllHipHop.com: To a point, you represent the “American Dream.” Yes, you started your family early, you had to be self-reliant while you put yourself through school, and you’re out here conquering your goals and reinforcing your dream. You serve as a symbol to what one may accomplish if he’s motivated….

Khalilah Rose: In this life, I see things that I want to achieve. What is the purpose of me being here if I don’t have goals and try to fulfill them? I’ve realized that it is a reality that we may accomplish anything that we put our minds to. You also have to carry God with you, and anything is possible.

AllHipHop.com: It seems as though your art is highly message-driven. How are you learning to arouse a genuine concern for different causes without sounding preachy?

Khalilah Rose: I try to balance myself. If you hear my song “Your Eyes”, it’s not really a preachy song. Because I’m a woman, it’s about an element of myself; in reality, I love to love. I love to be in a healthy relationship. I have to also embrace that part of me as well. And sometimes, I may sing a song about that part of me.

AllHipHop.com: Face to Face magazine and the Jamaica Star are a couple of the international media publications that have focused upon you. In your opinion, is there a difference between earning domestic and international acclaim?

Khalilah Rose: That’s something that I speak to my manager about. For me, I personally feel that I genuinely appreciate being globally recognized, rather than just being recognized in one area. I see the impact; I get a lot of messages from all over the world. From Egypt to Israel, from Israel to Nigeria, from Ghana to Guyana—all places— all over the world. That makes me feel that I can impact more people than those that are just immediately around me. But, globally, I’m very appreciative of that.

AllHipHop.com: Zion’s Lullaby, your first album, dropped earlier this year. What are your thoughts about what you learned while undergoing the process of recording and releasing it?

Khalilah Rose: Well, my thoughts are, I’m very happy. I’ve learned that an album is like a book. You know when you feel that story’s finished. Me as an artist, I have to stand firm to not let certain individuals around me tell me differently. As an artist, or a writer, you know, when your story or when your book is complete. So, I learned to be strong with myself; I know when my story is complete. And that’s what I did, I went with what I believed was the end. I’m happy that I did that.

AllHipHop.com: This year you won the Linkage 2012 Best New Female Artist award. Given that and your willingness to only collaborate with those who you think will complement your message – plus you’ve sidestepped convention with not doing dub-plates – how do you remain steadfast and not allow convention to forcefully guide your steps?

Khalilah Rose: That is something that has been a journey for myself. I had to break free from working with certain individuals, because they felt that I wasn’t sexy. That I wasn’t using sex to sell my music; people told me that I had to use sex to sell my music. [They told me that] I should look a certain way. They told me I should let my hair down. Most of these people were males who told me to this.

As a female that’s doing this, I’ve been through a lot. I just want to show everyone that you don’t have to look a certain way. As women, we don’t have to sell our bodies just so that we can sell a record. Knowing that, I’m keeping it in the forefront for everything. That keeps me going. Knowing that I’m not selling out my soul for any record, any popularity, or for any money.

AllHipHop.com: That is beautiful. From the female perspective, you’re showing us that we can win without a big dumb *ss booty, a saline enhanced bust, or a weaved-up dome. We can be talented and get noticed for that.

Khalilah Rose: [laughs] Exactly.

AllHipHop.com: Until the next time, what would you like to share with your supporters?

Khalilah Rose: You may contact me by emailing me at Khalilahrose@gmail.com. That’s the best way to contact me, or via Facebook. And keep following Niki Gatewood.

AllHipHop.com: [laughs] I love you!

Ne-Yo and his team, Compound Entertainment, put together a well-wishing video filled with smiles and introductions. The video asks “What does Christmas mean to you?” – Compound artists, including Adrienne Bailon, RaVaughn, Candice and Trevor Wesley, give their sentimental take.

Check the visual:

The song is slated to appear on the Cassie’s upcoming mixtape, RockaByeBaby.

The song, produced by Salaam Remi and written by Ne-Yo, is the second official single off of James’ debut Made To Love, slated for a 2013 release.

The video features Kelly Rowland, Omari Hardwick, Terry Ellis (from En Vogue), and Stacy Barthe.

Before his debut, James will drop an EP, Whispers In The Dark, on December 12.

“The Voice” finalist, Amanda Brown, joined Ne-Yo on stage to sing part of the song. Brown was eliminated from the competition on Tuesday (December 4).

Team Adam and Team Christina are gone, leaving Blake Shelton and Cee-Lo Green with three finalists to face off in the final four next week. The season finale airs December 17-18.

Jay-Z’s line best describes the feelings of a new artist, and one of the newest additions to the world of Soul, Krissy Krissy.

Mentored by Slaughterhouse rapper Joell Ortiz , she is a Brooklyn native, songwriter, artist, and guitarist. Krissy Krissy fights to stay true to herself in a male-dominated and often criticizing industry. Recently dropping her new EP, Above All, AllHipHop.com sits down with the ambitious singer to chop it up about what motivates her and her music.

Background: When Krissy Krissy was a little girl, she would get behind the pulpit at church, hype up the crowd with a lot of “Come on everybody! Get your hands up!” in a voice soulful beyond her years, and belt out Fred Hammond or Kirk Franklin songs so hard that the veins in her head would bulge, her face would turn red, and the congregation wouldn’t know what hit them. Not much has changed since then. When the 23-year-old Pop/Rock artist sings, that same guttural passion still shows on her face and her audience is still dumbstruck at this “little White girl with soul,” as she was so oft described. Except today, instead of doing it at the church in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood that she grew up in, she’s singing it out to millions nationwide via MTV, Logo, iHeartRadio, and YouTube, thanks to her summer hit, “Dream”. The single is the first from her debut EP, Above All, which is a Freshman Pick on MTVu, a “NewNextNow” featured video on Logo, and a Top 10 hit on iHeartRadio.

AllHipHop.com: How does Hip-Hop influence your music?

Krissy Krissy: I believe Hip-Hop writers are very conceptual, they tell a story, and I’m a big fan of storytelling. Which is why, I’m a big fan of Jay-Z and Joell Ortiz who is a part of our camp as well. Within three minutes, they are able to tell you the story of their life and I feel like being a songwriter that should be evident to. So I take that craft from rapper and put it in my music, although I don’t rap the ability to tell a story is in my music.

AllHipHop.com: What is the hardest thing for you to tackle every day when you wake up?

Krissy Krissy: Every day is a gamble; every day is taking a chance. Especially now in the line of business I’m in. You never know what’s accepting and what’s not. I guess the biggest gamble is for me to continue to be myself, even when society wants to change you to be a little prettier or be a little bit more feminine. My everyday me is cargos in a white tee to society that may not be accepted. Every day pushing pass the criticism. It’s hard. This music industry is hard it’s a lot of opinions and a lot of people trying but it’s very few stars. I enjoy being myself.

AllHipHop.com: Why do you sing?

Krissy Krissy: I was raised in a musical family, my father was a man of faith, and he was a pastor. All six of us [sung]. The apartment that we lived in wasn’t really safe to go outside, so we stayed in the house singing, while my father played the guitar. My father taught me how to play the guitar. Then we would go to church on Sunday’s. I was the first they asked to join the choir, you had to be 25 and I was 13. I would sing all the big records; they took me on trips, I would sing in prisons, etc. I just continued to pursue that. I knew that I was changing; I didn’t feel comfortable, singing to the same type congregation, who kept trying to put in this type of box. I started hitting the karaoke bars, doing competitions, and I would win. It started when I was younger. I really mastered my church.

AllHipHop.com: Tell us more about your new project.

Krissy Krissy: The EP is called Above All, which was inspired by my father. My father passed away a year ago Nov 4. All the records on there are based off love. Dream is about the love of music, maybe it is about wishing you could have loved someone better; your love is about the perfect love made for you, and Broken Glass is about loving yourself.

AllHipHop.com: At the end of it all, what do you want to be said about you?

Krissy Krissy: I defiantly want to be labeled a Grammy award winning artist. Krissy Krissy. Similar to Elton John, Madonna, they have so many fans because they were true to their selves. No matter what happens, I want them to know I stayed true myself. One More thing ,I want to give credit to Joell Ortiz. Joell really helps me, he’s a great writer. A lot of rappers write really well – he’s one. I just wanted to thank him; he does a whole lot for me.

Follow Krissy Krissy on Twitter @KrissyKrissy1

Listen to Krissy Krissy’s second single “Suspicious” off her Above All EP on itunes.

Alsina is signed to The-Dream’s Radio Killa imprint, distributed through Def Jam. Can’t wait to hear what these two cook up.

Check August Alsina’s “Celebration” cover:

Download Here