Time To Move

I'm embarrassed to admit that I have just recently heard this song, which has been around since 1984. Upon first hearing it, I noticed a few pieces that have been sampled in songs that I have been listening to for years. This track has a great hook, fantastic bassline, and carefree danceable vibe that I immediately gravitate towards upon first listen. If you don't get flashbacks of the Cool It Now by New Edition days while listening to this song then you may be younger than me. Enjoy!

Time To Move - Carmen (right click to save as)
Carmen

Select Sundays: On the Line

We've already covered Dev Hynes and his various projects plenty before. Now he's released another Blood Orange album and even before listening to it in full I think I'm gonna love it. I mean, Dev Hynes hasn't missed for me yet so this album was highly anticipated. This track is a casual and easy listen, and the ideal moodsetter for an active but rainy day. Get on it! Also, don't miss this "An Annotated Media Guide To Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes."

On the Line - Blood Orange (right click to save as)
Blood Orange

Lies and Alabis

This track can relate on so many levels. As the sample "Lies and Alabis" echoes over and over my thoughts ponder from relationship issues between a feuding couple, to nations going to war and the political meltdown associated with the terrors of war. He said, she said, they said,  we said. The flute stands alone on this track, representing the individual among chaos. The track is woven together tightly and eases through each second until -it's over. Enjoy!

Lies and Alabis - Lovage (right click to save as)
Lovage

OPST

This smooth and soulful track is best played when feeling sleepy, sexy, or anywhere in-between . This may remind you of Sade or Rhye which we've blogged before. The track flows like silk, and her his voice dynamically jumps down to the lower register then back up again with ease. I want to put this record on and drink red wine and feel sexy. Enjoy!

OPST - George Maple (right click to save as)
George Maple

Kartell

This track melds soul and the sounds of turntablism perfectly. The song maintains a fantastic flow, even while lots of baby scratches pepper the track. The vocals are rich, the horns and electric guitar bring a dash of soul/funk to season the track with spicy and full flavor. Whether you're feeling sexy, independent, or heart broken there's something in here for you. Enjoy!

Cost of Love - Kartell (right click to save as)
Kartell

Select Sundays: Money

This track is just classic neo-soul. Nicole Wray and Terri Walker don't even have an album yet, but I'm super excited for their partnership. You can call this a throwback. But it's really a throw down. Forget Beyonce's "Independent Women" and Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent," this is the empowerment jam.

Money - Lady (right click to save as)
Lady

This Thing Of Ours

At first I was attracted to the industrial sample sounds that grace the background of this track. The devil is in the details and the details are where my attentions normally head straight towards. Rainy's voice has a mature soul, one that's lived in the dungeons of jazz bars, but it's still silky smooth. Enjoy!

This Thing Of Ours - Rainy Milo (right click to save as)
Rainy Milo

Weekend Girl

I grew up in the golden hip hop era, and a byproduct of being immersed in hip hop during the 90's was more knowledge of R&B from that same era than I craved. This track warps me back to baggy jeans, bad haircuts, and amazing hip hop.  The intro to this song almost sound like something Jodeci, High-5, or Brandy would have used. The track is light hearted, funny, but still works as great bedroom jam. Enjoy!

Weekend Girl - Pillow Talk (right click to save as)
Pillow Talk

Select Sundays: Boylife in America

It's been over a decade since Cody Chesnutt's released a full length album. On my first few listens, Landing On A Hundred is great but it's made me nostalgic for my favorite track off 2002's Headphone Masterpiece. It's got Cody's dirty dirty lyrics but also his incomparably sweet and soulful voice. Juxtaposition!

Boylife in America - Cody Chesnutt (right click to save as)
Cody Chesnutt

Fuck U All The Time

Don't be put off by the lewd title of this sexy jam. The warm synths wrap you like a comforter, and the gated vocals cutting in and out every quarter second create a dream like cloud that engulfs your ears. The track is rough and sensual, there's a bit of vulnerability underneath the skin of the song. I also dig the expletive beeping, it almost gives more power to the word. Enjoy!

Fuck U All The Time Ft. Natasha Mosley - Jeremih (right click to save as)
Jeremih | Natasha Mosley

Select Sundays: Never Too Much

I'm a late bloomer for a lot of things, and some of the classics come to me way late. Hall & Oates, Belinda Carlisle, etc. I suspect this track from Luther Vandross is one of those things everyone else knows but I didn't. It came to my attention when I saw Robert Downey Jr. dance his way into Comic-Con and I just had to have the song. So here it is, for all of us.

Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
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Luther Vandross

Select Sundays: Super Rich Kids

Frank Ocean came out strong last year with Nostalgia, Ultra. There were some seriously good tracks on there. After that mixtape, Ocean's back with a proper album, Channel Orange, and I'm here to tell you that the whole thing is fantastic. I'm having trouble selecting favorites as my taste is changing day by day. It was "Thinkin Bout You" but now it's this track featuring the recently returned Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future.

Super Rich Kids - Frank Ocean
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Frank Ocean

Select Sundays: Shoulda

Whew, this track is moody, atmospheric and slightly nostalgic all at the same time. Jamie Woon's voice might be the best thing about this track, even if it's the first notes that capture your attention. I must also mention that Woon is of half-Asian descent. That makes him the British Keanu Reeves of music. Okay not really. But they do kind of look alike. Just a bit.

Shoulda - Jamie Woon
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Jamie Woon

Winter In America

Gil has that voice, you can't avoid it -it's smooth and strong, deep and soulful, and it'll drive right up to your ear and make you listen.  Besides the amazing voice and great vocals, the flute and drums stand out to me. I love the fluttering of the flute in the background along with the drums subtly holding things down. Enjoy!

Winter In America - Gil Scott-Heron
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Gil Scott-Heron

Select Sundays: Dinner

This one is an oldie but goodie.  I've already covered my undying love for Devonte Hynes -- as Lightspeed Champion -- and here's another side of his musicness.  (Music-cality?)  On this one he's teamed up with Grizzy Bear's Chris Taylor, which probably means something to those in the know.  What I like about this song is that it's good for slow grooving, but yet about bitter breakups. "Hoping that you die unhappy / I'll do everything I can / To make sure that you are never happy." Yeah man, hurts don't it?

Dinner - Blood Orange
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Blood Orange

Select Sundays: Petite Soeur

Look, if you're going to put the genre of music you do into your name, you better be pretty good. Luckily Ben l'Oncle Soul delivers exactly what he says he will: classic soul with a new spin. Oh, and he does it in French. I mean, as we all know, anything sung in French automatically sounds that much more impressive. This track in particular is really almost like a "Stand By Me" cover, and I love it.

Petite Soeur - Ben l'Oncle Soul
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Ben l'Oncle Soul

Select Sundays: Live Your Life

Sometimes I'll tell Ameer about an artist and he'll be all like, "We covered them already!" Then I'll feel sheepish. But sometimes you just gotta do a couple of songs from an artist, especially if they keep dropping gems.  Take this one, for example, from Yuna, a Malaysian singer-songwriter who's about to be more well known when her debut drops later this month. This particular track is produced by Pharrell, and is just perfectly updated 90's groovy.

Live Your Life - Yuna
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Yuna

Select Sundays: Love Come Down

Maybe you know this song already, but I didn't and so it must be shared.  This is the type of track that probably dominated the dance floor in the Eighties but now I'll never get to hear it. The last one of these I experienced was The Jets' "Crush on You." Coming late to the party ain't easy but it's better than not arriving at all. (Also check out Da Brat's "High Come Down" and Viceroy's "Sunny Daze," both of which sample Evelyn King's classic.)

Love Come Down - Evelyn King
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Evelyn King

Boogie II Night

I just love the broken beat that starts this track. It all smoothes out when she starts singing. The track is sexy and fun, with a very danceable beat. This is one of those end of the night songs that comes on, and stays in your head through the next morning. Enjoy!

Boogie II Night - Danny Krivit
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Danny Krivit

I Still Love You

I wasn't sure if this was a male or female vocal upon first hearing this track (and not focusing on the lyrics but focusing on the voice).  I must say the production, the vocals, and the lyrics are outstanding on this R&B slash dancehall track. The simple sample and percussion are so fitting while the background vocals fill the song with body.

I Still Love You Feat. Andrea Martin - Switch
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Switch | Andrea Martin