Isley Bros 'Next Phase' to be released on Aug 10th
Ernie and Ronald 'Mr. Biggs' Isley aka the Isley Bros have been entertaining the world with their soothing and smooth brand of soul music for the better part of 4 decade so it was just a matter of time before others in the industry would return the favour (so to speak).
The likes of Raphael Saadiq, Stuart Matthewman, De La Soul, Mos Def and ?uestlove (of the Roots) have teamed up to represent on the brothers remix project 'Taken to the Next Phase (Reconstructions)', due in stores Aug. 10 (via Sony Urban/Legacy).For the most part, the majority of the songs are solid up-to-date remixes, however there are a couple of tracks that got 'reconstructed'. The Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am puts a new twist on 'Tell of Tales (Tell Me When You Need It Again)', while Mos Def flips the script on their 1978 classic 'Groove With You'.
Michaelangelo L'Acqua and Gregg Fine aka ONDA got their mits on two of the remixes (they teamed up with D-Nat on 'It's a New Thing' which features all-new verses from De La Soul and Esthero on 'Summer Breeze') while Raphael Saadiq and Kelvin Wooten take on the remake the 1976 hit 'Harvest for the World'. Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson famed drummer of the Roots remixes the classic track 'That Lady (Part 1 & 2)'.
Other tracks on the set include a stirring remake of the 1981 ballad 'Tonight Is the Night' by Sade collaborator Stuart Matthewman and 'Footsteps in the Dark' by producer Gabriel Rene.
- - Source: Billboard.com
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Jill Scott sophomore set on the cards for Aug 31st release
Since her infectous debut 'Who Is Jill Scott - Words and Sounds Vol.1' came our way four years ago, sultry neo-soul singer Jill Scott has held us all in a collective breath as to when we would see her sophomore set well we now have the answer my friends.
Jill does indeed returns with her sophomore set 'Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol.2' which will be in stores Aug. 31st. She's reunited with some of her original production team who helped to shape her debut --James Poyser, the Mama Boys (Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, Ivan Barias and Carvin Haggins and Raphael Saadiq as well as the new up and coming producers Ant Bell, P-Nut, and Pete Kuzma.
Her new body of work will see the recently married newlywed visit a more 'rooted' passage to her music as she explores music that will reflect and inspire. The first single, called 'Golden', is a prime example as she talks about the freedom and relativity of living life to the fullest. The video shoot for 'Golden' will be shot in the upcoming weeks.
- - Source: hiddenbeach.com
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The 4th Annual BET awards comes your way tomorrow
It's that time again as the 4th annual BET Awards heads our way tomorrow and the showis expected to be an even bgger affair than last year. Scheduled to perform is Janet Jackson, Kanye West, Usher, Jay-Z and a few surprize guest artists.
The event takes place tomorrow night and will be broadcast live from Hollywood's Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. The MC will be female comic and TV star of the sitcom 'The Parkers' Mo'Nique.
The awards see Outkast grab the highest nominations of six, followed closely by Beyoncé and Lil' Jon who have five nods each themselves. Producer turned artist Kanye West and the hottest artist of the moment Usher both come in next with four nominations.
The gala will also honor the legendary Isley Brothers with the Lifetime Achievement Award and actor/activist Danny Glover with the Humanitarian Award.
- Source: BET.com
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Portrait returns with new disc 'Share My Love'
It's been some years since we last heard from Portrait. The group consisting of Michael 'Angelo' Saulsberry, Irving Washington III, Phillip Johnson and Eric Kirkland hit it big in the early 90s with 'Here we go again', 'I can call you' and 'Honey Dip' then had a hiatus of five years before they last hit the charts with the single 'Don't be Shy' which was released on the UK label Urban Underground in 2000 which coincided with a greatest hits album that came out the same year but then they were not heard of since - until now that it.
The lads return with a brand new album called 'Share My Love' that came out a couple of weeks back (on Soul Japan) and it sees them offer more of the groups wickedly excellent sound of modern soul. The tracks have picked up where they left off 4 years ago with their sublime precision and production on each take. Great album and one for your listening ear.- Source: