TYDmusic.com: My Review-119

Mariah Carey - Stay the Night: (Def Jam)

Amidst all the drama of recent years with a film that bombed at the box office, the soundtrack that tanked on the charts and a stint in the clinic for what most called a 'nervous breakdown' rather than a bout of depression most thought that she'd break, retire even but not this gal and you've gotta give props where props is due - the woman can sing.

That woman is Mariah Carey and with all the attention she's received for that time in her life, she's come back better and stronger than ever before. We all know of her achievements in the industry: two Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, Billboard's 'Artist of the Decade' Award and so on the list does go on, Mariah like most most of us struggles with inner demons and has conquered where most might of failed. With all that now behind her she returns to the limelight with new album (in The Emancipation of Mimi - Mimi being a nicname of hers) and the lead off single 'It's Like That' thats burning up the charts it really comes as no surprise to me because she is not only beautiful but she is talented as we all know.

The song I'm reviewing here today is 'Stay the Night' and for my money is one of if not the best on the album. That man Kanye West again is at the controls production-wise and he delivers as per the norm. 'Stay the Night' really shows Mariah at her best with the sexy songstress hitting on some key notes on the tune. A nice piano intro leads into a soothing bass groove as the chant 'throw your hands in the air' rings throughout. A lovely tune for Mariah and a great tune for your listening ear.

The album The Emancipation of Mimi is out now and I can say this - it's official ladies and gents, Mariah is back in a big way with this set but then again did she ever really leave? - a TY-D Pick indeed.

Listen to Mariah Carey's - 'Stay the Night'

Sir TY

Stevie Wonder ft: Q-Tip - So what's the fuss (rmx) (Motown)

It's hard to believe that it's been almost a decade since we last heard new material or that Stevie released a studio album (1995's Conversation Piece being the last set) but that's about to change with the release of his latest set.

We have come acustomed to Stevie's music for decades and his story is really dynamic. Born Steveland Morris from in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Stevie became an accomplished musician who made his mark when he was just a teen in the early 60s and has not looked back since. Pegged the 'Little Stevie Wonder' ih the 60s his body of work has seen him become one of the biggest selling artists of the century. Wonder enters his fifth decade in the millennium, with 35 albums to date - 28 major studio releases - with album sales totaling more than 72 million units.

As a singer/songwriter he's been large. He has scored more than 30 Top Ten Hits and 11 #1 Pop singles, he has won 19 Grammys (and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in '96) and a cabinet full of other awards, including most recently, last years Billboard's Century Award. He was instrunemtal in the efforts of making Dr.Martin Luther King's birthday a recognizd national holiday worldwide as well as becoming a driving force behind 1985's USA For Africa campaign.

Now that's he has a new set on the horizon (called ATime to Love I might add), the lead of single 'So what's the fuss' has done something on the charts that hasn't been done before it has registered the highest number of debut spins (418) in the history of the Billboard Adult R&B chart, debuting at #13 on the chart in its first week of release. It surpassed the previous record held by Anita Baker's 'You're My Everything' (released July of last year) by over 300 spins, making it the largest overall spin-increase in the decade-long history of the format.

Written and produced by Stevie, 'So what's the fuss' features some of today's biggest names in R&B and rap. The orginal line-up of EnVogue (Maxine Jones, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Dawn Robinson) does background vocals, the purple one Prince plays guitar and then there's Q-Tip (formally of A Tribe Called Quest) handling the rapping duties. The tune is not a song you'd associate with Stevie as it's has a more harder edge to it but it's definitely Stevie vocally and that's where it counts. The sample element leans towards Mobb Deep's 'Quiet Storm' (rmx) but the tune will be another big hit to add to his already impressive body of work.

I''ve always been a fan of Stevie Wonder, you can't go wrong with any of his works and this tune is a prime example of that fact. The album hits record shelves next month (May 3rd) and you know what you need to do - A TY-D Pick period.

Listen to Stevie Wonder ft: Q-Tip - 'So what's the Fuss'

Sir TY