Month: January 2016

Articles Four Talented R&B Acts Not Named Frank

Posted on by Mixologi - The Art of Diversity

Boys don’t cry, but Frank Ocean fans sure do.

Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry is quickly (err, slowly) shaping up to be the Detox of our generation (re: highly anticipated follow-up albums that never see the light of day). Although hope is waning for a release date in sight, there are a wealth of artists that are similarly redefining R&B. Ditch the Kleenex and grab your headphones. Here are four unique R&B voices to play while Frank is away.

Ravyn Lenae

Ravyn Lenae is 16 years old. Yes, you read that correctly. With perspective and talent well beyond her years, the Chicago teen has breathed the creativity and vitality that youth affords into the city’s already flourishing music scene. A personal favorite, Lenae’s Soundcloud presence is building steam–making her one to watch in 2016 and beyond. Make sure to listen to her Moon Shoes EP sooner rather than later.

Phony Ppl

Phony Ppl is a mainstay on the playlists of the Mixologi team—and for good reason. The BK six piece effortlessly blend the worlds of hip hop, jazz, R&B and funk to create a melting pot of sonic soul food. Just shy of the one year anniversary of their studio album, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, there’s no better time to get acquainted with the NYC collective’s genre blurring sound.

Anderson Paak

Anderson Paak’s dynamic storytelling packs a punch. Receiving co-signs from the Mixologi crew, Dr. Dre and the industry’s toughest music critic, my mom; the quadruple threat shook up 2015 with performances on Dre’s Compton and his personal release, The Anderson .Paak EP. If you’re into music wrought with bravado and the brilliance to back it up, Paak’s your man. Get a taste of the West Coast vocalist’s signature sound below:

Bryson Tiller

Bryson Tiller turned the genre on its head in 2015’s third quarter with the release of T R A P S O U L. The Soundcloud sensation has translated URL success to that of the IRL variety by climbing the Billboard Hot 100 with his fail-proof mixture of slick slow jams and Southern rap infused swagger. With co-signs from the likes of hip-hop’s Deepak Chopra, DJ Khaled, and the 6 God himself; the Kentucky native is poised for continued success in 2016. Get familiar with the Louisville slugger.

Are there any other R&B talents we should have on our radar? Let us know in the comments section!

Four Talented R&B Acts Not Named Frank

Posted on by Mixologi - The Art of Diversity

Boys don’t cry, but Frank Ocean fans sure do.

Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry is quickly (err, slowly) shaping up to be the Detox of our generation (re: highly anticipated follow-up albums that never see the light of day). Although hope is waning for a release date in sight, there are a wealth of artists that are similarly redefining R&B. Ditch the Kleenex and grab your headphones. Here are four unique R&B voices to play while Frank is away.

Ravyn Lenae

Ravyn Lenae is 16 years old. Yes, you read that correctly. With perspective and talent well beyond her years, the Chicago teen has breathed the creativity and vitality that youth affords into the city’s already flourishing music scene. A personal favorite, Lenae’s Soundcloud presence is building steam–making her one to watch in 2016 and beyond. Make sure to listen to her Moon Shoes EP sooner rather than later.

Phony Ppl

Phony Ppl is a mainstay on the playlists of the Mixologi team—and for good reason. The BK six piece effortlessly blend the worlds of hip hop, jazz, R&B and funk to create a melting pot of sonic soul food. Just shy of the one year anniversary of their studio album, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, there’s no better time to get acquainted with the NYC collective’s genre blurring sound.

Anderson Paak

Anderson Paak’s dynamic storytelling packs a punch. Receiving co-signs from the Mixologi crew, Dr. Dre and the industry’s toughest music critic, my mom; the quadruple threat shook up 2015 with performances on Dre’s Compton and his personal release, The Anderson .Paak EP. If you’re into music wrought with bravado and the brilliance to back it up, Paak’s your man. Get a taste of the West Coast vocalist’s signature sound below:

Bryson Tiller

Bryson Tiller turned the genre on its head in 2015’s third quarter with the release of T R A P S O U L. The Soundcloud sensation has translated URL success to that of the IRL variety by climbing the Billboard Hot 100 with his fail-proof mixture of slick slow jams and Southern rap infused swagger. With co-signs from the likes of hip-hop’s Deepak Chopra, DJ Khaled, and the 6 God himself; the Kentucky native is poised for continued success in 2016. Get familiar with the Louisville slugger.

Are there any other R&B talents we should have on our radar? Let us know in the comments section!

Tiggs Da Author & Lady Leshurr Want You To “Run”

Posted on by Mixologi - The Art of Diversity

Tiggs Da Author’s 2015 debut single “Georgia” amassed more than one million Spotify plays and half a million views on YouTube – not bad for the relatively unknown Tanzanian talent, who’s seeking to follow that up with the video for his latest, “Run”.

tiggs-da-author

Tiggs’ latest single is as energetic as it is infectious, building off the success of last year’s playful introduction. The now London-based multi-hyphenate artist, who enlisted friend and fellow UK artist Lady Leshurr for the song, seems to have found his niche with his well crafted carefree anthem.

“The song is about escaping your troubles and just getting away from certain situations and not letting life’s little dramas bring you down,” Tiggs said. “Sometimes it’s better to just run!”

“Run” has already found a home on EA Sports’ FIFA 16, giving the man many say is a cross between Ray Charles & Andre 3000 a good head start into 2016. Check out the video for Tiggs Da Author’s track “Run” below and purchase a copy here.

!Now Ya Know: Kali Uchis

Posted on by Mixologi - The Art of Diversity

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Kali Uchis knows what she wants. And when it comes to music, this soul singing chanteuse knows what the people want as well. A self-described “dislikable Colombian girl” by way of Virginia, Kali infuses her personality and culture into her tracks–paving the way for creative women of color to do the same. Uchis is equal parts talented singer/songwriter and cool girl feminist–meaning I basically want to be her best friend.

Punchy single, “Ridin Round” is a faultless anthem for independent women everywhere. Check out the video, co-directed by Kali and filmed in Colombia, below.

And while you’re at it, make sure to stream her debut studio effort, Por Vida.

David Bowie: The Man Who Took A Stand For Urban Music

Posted on by Mixologi - The Art of Diversity

David Robert Jones, better known to us all as David Bowie, was as electric a performer as we’ve seen in the past few decades. The British-born singer, songwriter, producer and actor became a beacon for popular music for half a century, culminating hit after hit and inspiring his fellow musicians to try and follow suit. He accomplished enough for numerous lifetimes, all while keeping the ills of fame from turning him into an egomaniac. That would probably explain why he was such a staunch supporter of hip-hop and urban music in general. Wait, what?!

Yes, it’s true. The man formerly known as Ziggy Stardust had an appreciation for the art form many discredited due to its lack of intricate instrumentation and once perceived passing-fad status. While other artists failed to see the creativity in it, Bowie took a stand to defend the much maligned, growing genre at its peak:

David Bowie’s comments on how black/urban music had a strong social point at the time, which was the case prior to its heavy commercialization, made it clear that he got it. The struggle has been the foundation of hip-hop, a struggle that he credits for his work as an artist. Sure, there were those whose topics didn’t amount to much outside of the materialistic/hedonistic realms, but for every N.W.A. there was A Tribe Called Quest. That point typically gets glossed over when making the argument that “rap is bad.”

That wasn’t Bowie’s first at-bat for urban music. In 1983, during an MTV interview, he openly questioned the music network on its lack of airing black artists during peak hours despite their stock being on the rise:

His argument left VJ Mark Goodman scrambling for answers, making it a precarious situation at best. It’s one thing for an urban artist to point out that glaring fact, but when one of the world’s most prominent performers says it, people listen.

Having worked with the likes of Luther Vandross, Tina Turner and countless others, Bowie’s appreciation for black culture went beyond music and his influence was responsible for some of hip-hop’s hits (see: “Fame” & “Let’s Dance“).

David Bowie was a rock star, hands down. But take away the frills, flamboyance and all the accolades and what you have left is a man whose creativity knew no bounds, color lines or prejudices. That made him an icon.

What Does Mos Def Yasiin Bey’s Retirement Really Mean?

Posted on by Mixologi - The Art of Diversity

Emcees come and emcees go. Hell, most can’t even make a dent in the hip-hop scene, but one thing’s for sure: the inevitable end waits for everyone. With that said, it did somewhat come as a surprise to hear one of my favorites, Mos Def Yasiin Bey, announce his retirement “effective immediately” after his recent arrest in South Africa. Wait, what?!

For the unaware, the Brooklyn native was arrested and is being charged with using a false passport and an unrecognized travel document along with aiding his family in illegally staying in the country. The arrest spawned from Yasiin’s attempt to leave the country with a “world passport,” a marginally valid document some countries don’t recognize. Today, with help from his friend Kanye West, he dropped a freestyle detailing the events and his distaste through it all dubbed “No More Parties in S.A.” over on West’s website.

It’s a shame for such a talented artist to face scrutiny over an alleged suspicious document; the tone of his voice surely reflects that. The question then becomes was this the final straw for Mos Yasiin to leave music/film or has that motive been brewing for some time? During his post-freestyle diatribe, he mentioned it being “related but not directly related to this,” an ominous statement to say the least.

He’s enjoyed a successful recording and on-screen career, subsequently using his celebrity status to help shed light on social and political issues. Taking a step away from that almost appears to be an ill-advised move. But with the recent goings on, said celebrity could cause any further personal dealings to be aired out via the media, so that’s one argument. His gradual recession from the entertainment industry hasn’t been a surprise to anyone who’s followed him, so the incident in South Africa could very well have been the icing on the cake.

Though he plans on releasing his final album this year, Yasiin Bey’s retirement news means no more Black Star with Talib Kweli. No more acclaimed acting performances like in Something The Lord Made. No chance for an adequate follow up to arguably his best album, Black on Both Sides. No more live shows for longstanding and prospective fans to see his artistry in person. I, for one, hope none of this will come to fruition but given he doesn’t pull a Jay-Z, it will be a bitter pill to swallow seeing someone such as him sunset his career a bit too soon.