When I first heard UB40 on the radio in the beautiful island of St. Lucia during an annual visit, I remember being impressed that a British-based band was able to play our music so well. They weren’t as “ roots ” as Steel Pulse or The Abyssinians (my preference), but their sound definitely had/has its place in the pantheon of infectiously catchy pop-reggae music. With 25 years in the business & 70 million albums sold, UB40 has solidified itself in music history. What they lack in socially & politically relevant material they make up for in delivering some of the most memorable tracks touching on themes of heartache, breakups & reconciliation. Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we…. OneLove http://static.extension.fm/exfm.js

  What more can be said about The Bee Gees that hasn’t already been said? These brothers are badass so I’ll leave it at that. Growing up with unformatted radio stations in the Caribbean allowed (& still allows) many of us to appreciate all types of music from Jim Reeves to L.T.D, from BonesThugs&Harmony to Peter Tosh, from Abba to Mighty Arrow. You will hear it all in a day. As teens, we absorbed various selections of the Bee Gees on the radio while getting ready for the day & no fete was complete without a jam by the Gibb brothers. Of course, Saturday Night Fever blew everyone away & The Bee Gees fan base grew exponentially. They pretty much became legendary with that vintage soundtrack. I remember getting into arguments with my classmates over who would become ‘more legendary’, The Bee Gees or Earth, Wind & Fire. Being a HUGE EWF fan, I would argue that The Bee Gees couldn’t touch ’em, but deep inside I knew t...

<!– You just have to be impressed with Seal’s massive body of work. He was initially known for being a House music artist in the early ’90s, but he later experimented with a fusion of soul, folk, pop, dance, and rock & successfully carved out a a niche in the pop music world as a songwriter of exceptional talent . His personal biography is equally as eclectic as the music he crafted: The son of Nigerian and Brazilian parents (he also has Caribbean roots),  he was raised in England & graduated with an architectural degree, but worked various jobs in London, from electrical engineering to clothing design, before venturing into music. I included some of my favorite cuts from his latest CD, Soul II , on this playlist which I hope you enjoy…Have a great weekend!! OneLove

Not included in Spotify is one of their most memorable albums, Reggae Fever which you can hear in other platforms such as YouTube (above). Probably has to do with licensing but who knows…. Laws of nature they just can’t face Ambition is to mash up the place Who shall save the human race? …Chemicals in the food To control population intentions to build A plastic nation… – Steel Pulse “Wild Goose Chase” Damn, how eerily prophetic….. Like Bob Marley & The Wailers & Third World , Steel Pulse occupied the upper stratosphere of the Caribbean music universe in the ’70s – ’80s. Their distinctive sound incited not only the urge to move somethin’ , but also kindled the flames of righteous indignation with their eclectic fusion of politically conscious & soul-stirring/love-infused vibes…..Nuff said..roots-rock on good people! O n e L o v e ...

Trayvon Martin – Our hearts are with you. (Please sign the petition to the 18th District State’s Attorney of Florida (+ 3 others)   ) OneLove :::MME:::

It is strange to me that The Spinners rarely get mentioned in the same breath as The O’Jays, Earth, Wind & Fire or The Commodores .  I’m not sure what the reason is for this given all of their gold albums (maybe it was those big-ass bow ties…); nonetheless, their music still ranks up there with the best in the pantheon of great soul music.  Have a great weekend, good people! OneLove :::MME:::

Love him or hate him: Kanye West is undeniably a brilliant producer/arranger/composer. President Obama recently commented on his view of Kanye which hits on a commonly held opinion: “Although I like Kanye…..he’s a Chicago guy…. smart…very talented……he is a jackass “.  Nuff said – we couldn’t agree more, Prez! OneLove

  OneLove :::MME:::

  Let’s see …In their day,  Earth Wind and Fire had the funkiest vocals & horn section around which made their music downright celestial. The Commodores had the most genuine, teary-eyed soul music in the business. The Isley Brothers? I’ll simply say,   they had the  wake the neighbors & break that bed frame ! I can’t think of a better way to convey their sound/influence. Let’s be real – many folks were happily conceived on a Isley Brothers album & their influence on artists ranging from The Beatles to R Kelly speaks volumes to their musical power & craftsmanship. Get funky y’all! OneLove

  There were/are many talented souls who fall under the label “tormented genius”: Gil Scott-Heron , Jimi Hendrix, Prince , Amy Winehouse , Stevie Ray Vaughn…..add to this list El and Bobby Debarge. Unsung did a feature on this musically gifted family which was as entertaining as it was tragic. I gotta give it to Bobby Debarge though: That brother had a pitch that could shatter glass at the upper registers (only EWF’s Phillip Bailey , Prince and Heatwave’s Johnnie Wilder Jr . can hit those notes). El Debarge, still possessing one of the most distinctive voices around, has been heralded as a living legend by many distinguished musicians & fans alike. In spite of Debarges’ highly publicized battle with drugs (& the tragic loss Bobby Debarge), their music will live on for many generations to come. Check out Brian McKnight’s interview of El – quite interesting: OneLove

Many artists on the scene today got their start as backup vocalists – The late Luther Vandross backed up Chic, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack (to name a few), Anthony Hamilton backed up D’Angelo, Faith Evans backed up Mary J. Blige &amp; Angie Stone backed up Lenny Kravitz. Add to this impressive list John Legend who got his start backing up for Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill and Jay-Z. Like Stevie Wonder &amp; Anthony Hamilton,Legend seems to have created a signature sound/genre of his own. He kinda reminds me of Sam Cooke. In fact, if you listen to the cut, Lay Your Head On My Shoulder , the ghost of Sam Cooke seems to channel through Legend’s vocals. This is soul music at its best!    OneLove ……..

  Scorchingly hot weather conjures up tall, chilled glasses of lemonade with fat ice cubes piled high & a hammock under the shade of trees swaying to sweet, comforting breezes – it also conjures up smooth jazz à la Michael Franks. Compiled here are some of my favorite tracks which will help in keeping your body & soul nice & breezy… 

Chaka Khan is in a class of her own. After nearly 40 years in the business, she still emanates raw sensuality & power that few can match. It is hard to believe that she is 59 years old – the woman is damn fine!! And she can still run circles around most singers half her age. Bask in her ambience..

Most folks know Raphael Saadiq as a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist having achieved great success with Tony Tone Toni, Lucy Pearl and with his solo projects, but few know that Raphael Saadiq is one of the pioneers of the neosoul movement. Since the mid-1990’s, Saadiq has given shape and texture to the neo-soul genre through his production work with artists such as Erykah Badu (“Love of My Life”), Angie Stone (“Brotha”), Bilal (“Soul Sista”) & D’Angelo (“Lady”, “Untitled”) to name a few. I particularly liked his 60s vibe in his most recent work which is a refreshing break from the brain-numbing repetitiveness & unoriginality in much of today’s popular music. Compiled here are some of my favorite tracks which spans two decades – from his first album w/ Tony Tone Toni to his latest release, Stone Rollin’. OneLove

When it’s all said and done, you can best believe that Anthony Hamilton will rank up there with the likes of Stevie Wonder, David Ruffin, Teddy Pendergrass, Jeffrey Osbourne, Al Green & Otis Redding. This brother sings/writes with the depth & conviction of a man who has dealt with the hazards & vicissitudes of this life and somehow, though it all, came out on top (with battle scars). You won’t find vain, boastful rants in his music. No “I’ll bang it up til dawn & buy the finest crap money can buy on five continents” bullshit. He is one of us – flawed & a little tight on cash, but rich in spirit and sincerity. This may not appeal to the fairy tale fantasies of many who want what they see in the movies & romance novels, but at least their hearts won’t come crashing to Earth when the fantasy pops. One thing that comes across consistently in Anthony Hamilton’s flow is vulnerability which he brilliantly reweav...

From homelessness, addiction, and isolation from his family to triumph on the world stage is one hell of a journey. Kem’s music draws heavily from this well of experience and it manifests not only in his vocal stylings, but in his lyrics as well which revolve around tales of heartache & renewal – you know, grown folk shit. OneLove

I found the following short biography of the legendary George Benso n pretty informative. Have a great weekend, good people!  . OneLove

The brooding & sultry sounds of Anita Baker can really reel you in & put you in another zone! Much like the great Phyllis Hyman, Lalah Hathaway & Lizz Wright, Anita’s powerful vocal range glides effortlessly up & down the scales which has made her one of the finest vocalists of our time. The timelessness of her music puts her in rarefied air where only a few can reside (sorry Rihanna)……What a lady!! OneLove

The magic returns! We first heard this dynamic duo on the 1992 R&B/pop hit “Give U My Heart” from the “Boomerang” soundtrack. For the most part, Babyface has been the silent partner behind most of Braxton’s top hits to include “Let It Flow” from the critically-acclaimed “ Waiting To Exhale ” soundtrack.  Now Toni Braxton and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds have reunited for this fantastic duets album with Babyface coming from behind the scenes to share the spotlight with this beautiful lady. I always remember what Dr Cornel West said about Babyface in an interview when asked about the paucity of African-American philosophers in academia. He responded that there has always been a great deal of philosophical reflection in the African-American communities from barber shops to churches. Babyface. he opined, has a unique philosophical sensibility with his conceptions of life which comes across so powerfully...

Some interesting facts about the late King of Funk: He was in a band that consisted of future rock band Steppenwolf (Neil Young included) His name  Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr) was given to him by an Canadian singer name Shirley Matthews when he was AWOL from the United States Army. Dated fellow Motown label mate singer/model Vanity before she met Prince. Vanity left Rick while on tour with Prince as his opening act. That incident started the Prince vs. Rick James rivalry. Only slept with one Mary Jane Girl, Maxi B (the white girl) Teen star Linda Blair had an abortion because of him. He later penned the song Cold Blooded about her. He introduced OJ Simpson to his  future wife Nicole Brown, after she broke up with his friend, the soul icon, Charlie Wilson. Rick was dating her sister at the time. Enlisted in the Army at 16yrs of age, only to go AWOL and hide out in Canada. Lived briefly with folk Singer ...

. In spite of all the salacious rumors that have circulated around George Michael over the years, you gotta give him his props – the dude has soul! It’s hard to pick a favorite song in his vast catalog of music stretching back from his days with WHAM! to the present. That he was nominated for the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame is no surprise as much of his music is quite deep & reflective.  OneLove

      As I have always maintained, the music of today aint nothin’ compared to the music from the 60s-90s. No matter the genre, the music of yesteryear was made to stand the test of time. Will anyone want to listen most of today’s Pop/R&B artists 30 years from now? In 30 years, folks will still be listening to Luther Vandross, James Brown, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Beatles, Earth, Wind & Fire & Rolling Stones. Timeless music. One must add the music of Howard Hewett to this list as he still stands as one of the best pure vocalists of the urban contemporary era. If I were to rate my top 10 male vocalists of all time, this brother will be up in there. Collected here are some of my favorite cuts from Hewett, mostly from his solo work (check out his work with Shalamar ). Have a fantastic weekend! OneLove :::MME:::

Janet Jackson may not have the vocal power of a Kelly Price or Whitney Houston, but she more than makes up for that with her ear for harmony & sweet vocal quality plus she is one hell of a dancer/performer & easy on the eye…yes Lawd! Beyonce & Rihanna – the reigning sirens of this generation – can’t hold a candle to Janet’s artistry or catalog of hits. She’s my girl!

      The Roots are icons of Hip Hop. Few rap groups can measure up to what this eclectic group brings  the table. From the moment they entered public consciousness with Organix in 1993, they still remain on top of their craft & in total command of their combination of jazz-influenced hip-hop and social awareness. With the exception of Outkast & Dead Prez , how many Hip Hop groups can you name today like this? Exactly- none! A Tribe Called Quest is gone. The Pharcyde-gone. Black Star, Goodie Mob, Digable Planets-all gone. Groups are no longer in vogue – the solo artist reigns supreme in these times. That’s unfortunate as we miss out on some great music as a group’s synergy can oftentimes catapult its music to unchartered territory. Take The Beatles or Earth, Wind & Fire . Each band had brilliant members and made ground-breaking music, but when they split up to do their own thing, their solo projects weren’t as consiste...

Thirty-six tracks from a Chicago rapper who is as gifted as anyone of his generation and has spent his career at war with the industry that signed him. Lupe Fiasco Wasalu Muhammad Jaco arrived in 2006 as one of the most technically accomplished writers in hip-hop, with a debut album about skateboarding, comic books, Islam and the West Side of Chicago that sounded like nothing else on the radio. What followed is one of the more instructive label-relations stories in modern music. His third album was delayed for years by Atlantic; fans organised public protests demanding its release; when it appeared, he publicly disowned parts of it. He has been an unusually outspoken critic of the industry, of American foreign policy and of hip-hop itself ever since. The work survives the noise. He writes in extended metaphors sustained across entire songs, uses multiple narrators, and builds verses whose meaning only resolves at the end — techniques closer to poetry t...

      When some of the biggest names in R&B and Hip-Hop are clamoring to be on a jazz record, you know you’re dealing with a special kind of jazz musician. Robert Glasper has worked in the traditional jazz-trio format before, but over the past few years he’s incorporated all the sounds he grew up with in Houston: soul, rap, rock … whatever feels good goes into the gumbo. He’s worked with the crème de la crème of black music to include Jill Scott, Eryka Badu & Musiq Soulchild. His band is the Robert Glasper Experiment, and his current album is Black Radio 2 which is a beautiful continuation of the Grammy award winning Black Radio 1. The liner notes for his records are a kind of manifesto lamenting the stagnation and “collective dumbing down” of black popular music in the US. Glasper opines, “When music is crashing around us, when you hear the same five songs on the radio that aren’t really saying much, we can always go ba...

    The must-see movie of the year has to be “ Get On Up ” which chronicles James Brown’s rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history. From Pop to Soul/R&B to Rock’n’Roll, James Brown has cemented his legacy for eternity. The music above appears on the movie’s soundtrack . Get on the good foot!

    I checked out this group last night at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C & I gotta say, they brought the house down! The crowd was rockin’ & the ladies were especially beside themselves–even old granny a few rows down from me got out her seat,  put her hands in the air & waved ’em like she just didn’t care! Human Nature did a phenomenal job with the classics that influenced the world and it’s not surprising that they are now one of Australia’s most successful musical exports. The legendary Smokey Robinson admitted that their rendition of his classic, “ Ooh Baby Baby ” is the best he has ever heard which inspired him to put his name behind them on their latest tour, Smokey Robinson presents Human Nature: The Motown Show. This playlist presents my favorite cuts taken from various albums to include The Motown Record. Not included is “ Just My Imagination ” which they totally made their own…...

When Ghetto Heaven by The Family Stand was released back in 1989, I remember being quite impressed with the lead vocalist, Sandra St. Victor . She had that Chaka Khan sound & the beat of that international smash hit, Ghetto Heaven , made me curious as to how the rest of the album sounded, so I bought it. What I discovered on that album, entitled Chain , was a collection of soulful, eclectic beats that ran circles around everybody at that time. I wore that album out & everybody who heard it at my apartment was like, “Who is that ?” Their sound was different – keenly intelligent and pulsing with renegade intensity. The members – V. Jeffrey Smith, Sandra St Victor & Peter Lord Moreland (Howard Univ. alumni)- are all multifaceted artists whose talents combined to produce, in my opinion, the most explosive & memorable music of that time. Sadly, other than Ghetto Heaven , their music was not promoted in the mainstream wastelands or, in their wor...

  I love music & enjoy sharing it. Peace & love fam!