Everybody has a reason to love Rick James. Whether it’s his celebrated musical legacy or his outspoken nature. Hell, if you are media, his ability to generate headlines for living a defiant rock star lifestyle is reason enough to praise him. Rick’s life is one massive canvas that’s still being painted. In his past, he’s […]

Hip Hop oozes from his lyrics and soul drips off his voice. He is John Legend, born John Stephens, the voice on Jay-Z’s “Encore”, Alicia Keys’ lead single “You Don’t Know My Name”, and Talib Kweli’s upcoming single “I Try”. He was all over Kanye West’s debut album The College Dropout, yet for all of […]

“Real is kind of hard to put into words.  If you could put it into words then it wouldn’t be real.  Real is the unexplainable.  But you know it when you hear it.” – LYFE Parlaying in front of the industry circuit, LYFE, the new age soulful street rhythm and blues mix has entered the […]

Successful business people have attained most of what they have through trials by fire. Xavier Aeon, the flagship artist for F.I. Entertainment, is no different. In fact, the risks that he and his camp have taken may have made them successful long before they were destined to be. The buzz they have created within both […]

There is no greater feeling than feeling that you have finally arrived. Ask Truth if she thinks she has arrived, and she will have a story of growth and inspiration to tell. After finally discovering certain elements she had yet to find, Truth is ready to throw her trump card on the table and cash […]

With six countries – Cuba, Venezuela, St. Thomas, Columbia, Brazil and the U.S. – represented in this 10-member collective, Yerba Buena, loosely translated into “good weed”, is the ultimate in cultural gumbo and musical fusion. Only one man could be the adhesive that pulls all of this together, Andres Levin, the bandleader of Yerba Buena. […]

The name Patti LaBelle is synonymous with one-word adjectives: diva, show-stopper, extraordinary, etc. Her career has spanned over four decades, and in that length of time, she has stunned the world time and time again with ageless classics. She set the benchmark that vocalists, male or female, would always attempt to follow. Her powerhouse vocal […]

For Rhian Benson, music has always been an inextricable aspect of her life, but it wasn’t until the precious nature of life was underscored by her mother’s illness that she realized it was to be her calling. Her debut album, Gold Coast (a reference to her Ghanaian heritage), is part contemporary jazz, part soul, but […]

One year ago, B2K was arguably R&B’s hottest ticket. Countless interviews, endless television appearances, and various marketing schemes combined to make the quartet immortal amongst their legions of fans worldwide. No one, including B2K themselves, could possibly foresee that this would come to an end. Sighting creative differences, disillusionment with management, and an urging to […]

With a sound that combines Hip Hop lyrics with the sultry vocal stylization of R&B, Chicago native Andreus hopes to carve out a place for himself in the saturated R&B scene. In the way of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, Andreus wants to bring the reality of the streets back to Rhythm and Blues. Passionate […]

The trombone isn’t an instrument that most people think about as a lead instrument, but then again Jeff Bradshaw isn’t like most people. The type of cat who likes to swim against the current, Bradshaw is here, defiantly, to make us all love the trombone. Raised in Philly Bradshaw has been involved in the soul […]

AHHA:  Any new producers for this album?  Mercedes:  No, not really.  We’ve definitely gotten into the do-it-yourself thing.  It’s cool if we come across people that have time and wanna do some stuff with us, but at the same time we just have to keep rolling and doing our thing.  AHHA:  You guys have such […]

Every Tuesday night at Philadelphia’s The Five Spot, the most earnest expressions of poetry and song are popping off.  On any given night you can catch an up and coming act like Jazmine Sullivan, or a veteran of the business like Erykah Badu might grace the stage right after a nervous high school student puts […]

When you think of women in R&B today, you may be inclined to think of massive mainstream acceptance and that certain untouchable quality that we often call ‘diva’. Teedra Moses has the beauty and well rounded talent of any modern day soulstress, but she’s determined to keep herself in touch with her fans on a […]

The man partially credited with introducing new jack swing (a mixture of R&B and hip-hop) has a name – Keith Sweat. Sweat and producer Teddy Riley embodied the burgeoning mixture between two genres already on a collision course. But, back in the late 80’s, they were just getting started with Sweat’s Make It Last Forever […]

The tones that are thrust from Meckelle’s vocal chords create a warmth steamy enough to melt the thickest snowbed, and that may be what just what her native city of Chicago needs during the winter months. As many artists come and go, showing promise and making strides to be the best, Meckelle plans to show […]

Cleveland native Avant landed his first recording contract in 1998 when he was barely 20-years-old, and in 1999 MCA Records released his song “Separated” on a summer compilation. Avant signed a deal the following year with Magic Johnson’s label, which was distributed through MCA Records. In 2000 they released his first full album, My Thoughts, […]

With the slow, careful movement of a mother carrying her new born child, The Maker gestured to transfer the fragile item he held to its nervous recipient. Ms. Regina Carter, Grammy Nominated violinist and jazz artist from Detroit Michigan, reached to take the priceless apparatus from The Maker. Unsatisfied with Ms. Carter’s positioning, The Maker […]

Chazzie Shepherd has achieved more in the music industry than some veteran artists, but has yet to sign a major label contract. How is that possible? The Atlanta native consistently works with the industry’s best, and has put in more work behind the scenes than most. Music insiders bask in the glow that is Chazzie’s […]

When you see Nick Cannon’s name on the marquee, the venue would do well to list the titles that come along with him. Comedian. Rapper. Songwriter. Producer. Movie Star. There’s no bridge that he hasn’t crossed, and at the tender age of 23, he’s only hit the beginning stages of a bright and prosperous career. […]