Various Artists - Brown Sugar: SDTK (MJM)

For the last couple of years now soundtracks with soul music as the main theme throughout have been lacking that certain punch - hits throughout.  Every now and then you come across one that might have the odd one or two tracks you love but the rest of it well let's just say is left to be desired.  Not so in the case of the latest soundtrack to come our way  - that being the 'Brown Sugar' soundtrack.

'Brown Sugar' (which will be in theatres Oct 11th across the country) stars Taye Diggs (How Stella got her groove back, Way of the Gun) and Saana Nathan (Disappearing Acts, Love and Basketball) as two friends trying to live large in the music industry and the soundtrack sports an all star cast of who's who in the rap/R&B/soul arena. Heavy hitters like Erykah Badu, Common, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, The Roots, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans and Mos Def all appear on the soundtrack. Speaking of Most Def he contributes four songs to the set, "Brown Sugar (Fine)," "Breakdown," "Brown Sugar (Raw)" with Black Star's Talib Kweli, and  "Brown Sugar (Super Fine)" featuring Faith Evans. 

Other tracks include Eric B. & Rakim's classic "Paid in Full," (the 7 Minutes of Madness rmx), my favourite male singer right now Rahsaan Patterson - You make life so good and Jill Scott - 'Easy Conversation'. Basketball legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson served as executive producer of both the film and the album and is due Sept. 24 on Magic's record label MJM.

This soundtrack is my pick as the soundtrack of the year for it's diversity and class in both the artists and the tracks available. Definitely a TY-D Pick and one that's worthy of your listening ear.

Here is the track listing for the "Brown Sugar" soundtrack:

Mos Def featuring Faith Evans - Brown Sugar (Super Fine)
Erykah Badu featuring Common - Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop) 
Angie Stone - Bring Your Heart  
Mos Def - Brown Sugar (Raw) 
Jill Scott - Easy Conversation 
Blackalicious (featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker and KeKe Wyatt) - It's Going Down
Mos Def - Breakdown
Rahsaan Patterson - You Make Life So Good
Cassandra Wilson - Time after time
Hi-Tek featuring Big D and Piakhan - No One Knows Her Name
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full (7 Minutes of Madness rmx)
Rahsaan Patterson - You Make Life So Good
The Roots - Act Too (Love of My Life rmx)
Mary J. Blige - Never Been
Mos Def - Brown Sugar (Fine)
Jully Black - You've changed.

 

Listen to Rahsaan Patterson - 'You make life so good'

Listen to Erykah Badu feat: Common - 'Love of my life'  

TD. 

 

 

 

Lookout Erykah Badu and Jill Scott there's a new gal on the block making a bid for your thrones. The neo soul arena has not been lacking soul singers in the form of the lovely ladies - Jill, Erykah, N'Dambi, Ledisi, and Yazarah are a few who's have seen to that but then there's always new blood isn't there, a new voice that's beckoning on the horizon. 

That new voice belongs to Conya Doss. The free spirited 'neo soul' singer (if you wanna classify her as that) that is turning everyone's head in the industry. The Cleveland Ohio native is no 'overnight sensation' either, she's been singing since the age of 5 and have worked with the likes of Musiq Soulchild, 112 and Gerald Levert. Speaking of Gerald Levert, the label which her album is released on Nu Mecca is the label of Gerald's long-time songwriting partner Edwin 'Tony' Nicholas whose serves as president and Chief Executive Officer. 

The album is a perfect fit into the neo soul movement with 12 classic gems to quench your thirst. The lead off single is 'Coffee' - a delicious slice of soul music giving you all the traits of organic and neo soul combined. Strings, horns and a soothing bass are all part of the production that works very well indeed. 'Smile', 'Meantime' and 'All because of you' are just as tasty for a very mellow relaxing mood and her rework of the Norman Connors classic 'You are my Starship' (called 'Starship') is a very nice updated take of the original, not straying to much from the 70's classic but yet giving it her own identity at the same time in a word - excellent 

Other notables include the fantastic 'You Really Hurt Me' (sampling Curtis Mayfield's classic track 'Give me your love' as the backbone), 'That's Not Love' and 'Heaven', a duet with newcomer Zero. The album is a hit from start to finish with not a miss in sight (reminds me of Jill Scott's debut - you won't be disappointed). A great album here indeed and a TY-D Pick through and though. 

Listen to Conya Doss - 'Coffee'

Listen to Conya Doss - 'You really hurt me'

TD