Happy Veteran's Day

#SALUTE to all the brave men and women that served and protected this country.  ~Qamil 

R&B NOW: What dropped. What's hot. What you need to know about!

I might be in the minority but I believe that R&B is on the come up. There are some things happening right now that are giving me hope and making my ears very very happy. I'm starting to hear more lyrical substance and passion. I think some of these artists actually mean what they are singing about and I can't tell ya'll how refreshing that is.  That to me...is a sign that things are moving in the right direction. 

When it comes to R&B people often speak about the genre in terms of what it used to be. I'm sure folks were doing the same thing when R Kelly came out.  I'm sure they were comparing him to Marvin Gaye and saying music wasn't what it used to be.  Humans are nostalgic.  I get it.  What I also get is that music has to be allowed to evolve.  Yes.  The 90s were great but that era is over. It's not coming back.  Artists today should definitely be mindful of what has come before them but they should be brave and create.  We don't need what has already been done.  We need a fresh era with unique music that defines TODAY.  What we don't need is a copy cat era. It's time for R&B to shake things up and to make people FEEL again. It's time for listeners to hear exciting things.  It's happening.

A perfect example of an artist that is giving the world something fresh and still finding away to deliver a sound that is reminiscent of the music we have always loved is THIS guy. 

Name:  BJ The Chicago Kid

His current single "Church" is exactly what I'm talking about. It's creative, lyrically clever and infectious.  I must admit,  I wasn't hip to BJ until I heard this song.  It sucked me in and I was quickly all over Spotify trying to find him.  I'm so happy that I took the time to look because his 2012 album "Pineapple Now Laters" blew my MIND.  This guy is going to to be a big deal.  Write that down.





Check out "Pineapple Now Laters"

LOOK.  Even Jill Scott knows.  #HEGOTNEXT 

"Beautiful Love" Ft. BJ The Chicago Kid appears on Jill's current album "Woman". 

BACK AGAIN

I've been wondering what happened to Melanie Fiona.  The Canadian songstress had a great momentum going after dropping her hit singles "4am" and "It Kills Me".  She has a knack for delivering a good heartbreak track.  I was pleased to discover that she recently dropped  some new music.  She is sticking to what works for her.  

Soulful. Heartfelt.  Emotional.

"I Tried"

I'm really feeling "Bite The Bullet".  That reggae feel is dope.

HOT SINGLES

There is a song that jumped out at me the second I heard it.  That doesn't happen often.  The last time I heard a song on the radio and NEEDED to know who it was immediately was back when Jazmine Sullivan dropped "Need You Bad".  

This time it was Alessia Cara.  This young lady's voice had me with the first syllable that came out of her mouth.  Her single "Here" is stunning.  If she keeps this up she will be HUGE.  

I hear a lot of artists using  lyrical and musical samples from 90s R&B lately.  Tory Lanez has done this with his single "Say It".  The sampling of 90s girl group Brownstone's hit "Say It" is prevalent throughout his track and it's very well done.  Actually.  This song BANGS.

That's what I have for now!  What did I miss? What are you listening too?  Drop a comment or link.

~Qamil  

I wrote this song about...

When you constantly have women accusing you of wanting their man.....you end up writing a song about it:)

STOP. Tweet dropped new music. #Thatisall

R&B singer, Tweet,  is gearing up to release a new album "Charlene" in 2016. For hardcore fans, this news is a gift from the R&B GAWDS. It's been a decade since she last released a full length album and 13 years since she captured out attention and fandom with her 2002 release "Southern Hummingbird".  Whenever I think of her one word pops in my head, "HARMONIES"

"Yes I've had enough. Wasted my tears on you."  

The new single "Won't Hurt Me" is simple, soulful and relatable.

Now for some classic Tweet:)

It took me a while to realize what she was singing about. Ha! #SelfLove

Still one of my favs. "Smoking Cigarettes"

Hell.  Here is the whole album. 

Over and OUT.  ~Qamil

R&B NOW! What dropped. What's hot. What you need to know about!

How can YOU be an active supporter of REAL music?  How can YOU help R&B thrive?  I'm glad you asked! haha.  It's really quite simple.  

1. Listen 
2. Buy 
3. Go to shows.  
4. Share links and tell your people when you find some good shit.

R&B is doing the whole phoenix rising thing right now.  Ya'll better hop on that. 

THIS is what's going down in R&B right now.

1.  My Darlin Tank dropped a new single, "You Don't Know"  #Swoon

2. THIS damn album is EVERYTHING.  Thank you TYRESE! 
FYI Denzel is directing a short film based on Tyrese's song "Shame" starring Tyrese & J Hud.  I think we all know that's going to be great.

3.  She KILLED this entire album.  If you haven't heard it you really need to climb out from under that rock! I can't pick a fav song.  There are just TOO many good tracks.

4.  Independent and ready to play with the big dogs.  He's go the juice ya'll.  

Check a brotha out!

5.  I didn't hear anything about this one on the radio.  It happened though!  New album, Miguel "Wildheart"

6. Yup.  Jo Jo is back with a new Ep "Tringle" 

7.  Welp.  Jill dropped her 5th studio album on our heads.  Not much more to say there.  It's....JILL  

Fools Gold is my favorite track on the album....cuz I took this shit personally. I'm pretty sure she wrote it for me. lol

8.  Soooo... There is this chick out of Ohio named Qamil.  I heard she's pretty dope and she wrote a bunch of songs about people's boyfriends.....lol

9.  Monica jumped right back in like she never left with her new single ft. Lil Wayne.  
It feels pretty good.

10.  There is NO way I can forget about this songwriting/singing wonder that is Teedra Moses.  It's been a decade since she dropped her debut album, "Complex Simplicity".  There have been mixtapes and EPs in the interim but she FINALLY released a new album and it is fantastic.

  She teamed up with Anthony Hamilton for her current single "The One".  She says "I can throw that thang like some lucky dice. "  Lol.  I love it.

That's all I have for now folks and it should keep your lovely ears busy for a while.

   Did I miss some R&B?  Don't be stingy.  Let ME know so I can let the people know! 

         ~Qamil

NEW MUSIC WE LOVE!!!: Tyrese ft. Jennifer Hudson- "Shame"

This is SOUL music at it's finest.

MUSIC REVIEW: Ray Woods - The Soul Of A Man

Once upon a time, R&B/Soul was full of romance, passion, yearning and love.  Soul Dope Music artist, Ray Woods, is giving fans all of that and more with his sophomore project, "The Soul Of A Man".

Ray Woods is a proud native of Columbus, Ohio.  He grew up on the Southside of the city and can be spotted around town going on and on about his basketball playing, hallway singing days at Eastmoor High.  His love for basketball MAY just rival is love for music.  (He also loves his MAMA more than both of these things:) 

As an artist, he is energetic and passionate about his craft and specifically about Soul music.  I would describe Ray as a 60 year old man trapped inside of a young body.  He is an old soul and it is evident in his music.  You can hear the influences of classic Soul and R&B in everything he does. He is vulnerable and open in his songwriting, which he shows off at length on his new project as the primary writer.  Coupled with a strong vocal delivery on each song he does this quite effectively and truly bears his heart and soul   

Ray Woods is known for his serenades and powerful vocals.  He is FUN to watch on stage and very easy on the ears. He is one of those artists that gives it everything he has EVERY time a mic is in his hand and that makes him the quintessential entertainer.  He has been compared to R&B greats such as Dave Hollister and the late and forever legendary Luther Vandross.  

"The Soul Of A Man" is his first release on the Soul Dope Music label.  The album boasts features from several talented artists, many of which are his label mates.  You will hear from spoken word artist Miss Blonde Curls ("The Proposal"), rappers Kirk Diggler, Jai Carey ("You Should Be Here") & Fleauxchild ("Come With Me").  He also features vocalists Rhonda Rochelle ("Real Romance), Erieona Gaines "Sunshine" & Qamil ("Number I (Part II) & "Anticipation".  Make sure you listen for the trombone solo by vocalist and musician Kimistry Maestro (The Proposal). *Qamil also appears as a songwriter on "Hands of Time", "Testify", "Anticipation", "Number I (Part II)) and "Something About It".

OFFICIAL VIDEO!!!

"She Wounded Me" is the first single from the album.  Written by Ray Woods.  

Shot by Kimistry Maestro of Snapshots Photographics. 

Co-Directed by Kimistry & Qamil

This album is EVERYTHING that R&B/Soul should be.  It will make you dance, considering calling up an ex, make you want to fall in love, and make you want to MAKE love.  It feels good.  It sounds good.  It IS GOOD music.  

THE SOUL OF A MAN will be released worldwide on Tuesday July 7th.
Enjoy a sneak peak of a few tracks below:

Follow Ray Woods on Social Media!  

Facebook- www.Facebook.com/RayWoodsMusic

Instagram-  @TheRealRayWoods

Twitter- @Ray_Woods

FOR BOOKING EMAIL BOOKINGRAYWOODS@GMAIL.COM