RnB and HipHop Music blog

And again Sean Paul, but this time not alone, but together with Blu Cantrell!!! I’ve just watched their video on youtube – video is not the best one, but music – is phenomenal!!! It’s lyrics is also great, Sean Paul’s performance is superb (as always, of course ). But Cantrell is brilliant without any doubt! Blu Cantrell (or Tiffany Cobb) is a popular American song-writer and R&B singer (maybe, she made such decision because of her parents’ influence – father was an American NBA player and her mother – soul singer). Blu Cantrell is also neo-soul singer, by the way. Whatever you can think of that video, but you’ll understand at once, that Blu Cantrell is irreplaceable there, even Sean Paul in not that great singer without her – the duo made a really cool song. However, the car in that video is unnecessary – they could make something more interesting. But Blu Cantrell Feat Sean Paul’s “Breath” mp3 ringtone sounds cool!

Last year on November, 13 there was released a new album of Alicia Keys, which, according to her own words, should have been “completely new, fresh and incredible”. It’s name is “As I Am”. But first of all I’d like to write a few words about this talented and without any doubt gifted Americal soul, neo soul, R&B singer, songwriter, pianist. I should admit that she is extremely commercially successful singer – Alicia Keys (real name Alicia J. Augello-Cook) has already sold more than 30 million albums all over the world. She won eleven Grammy Awards, seventeen Billboard Music Awards!!! The best single of this album (”As I Am”) is “No One” – and it’s really great music. Alicia’s dramatic contralto which spans three octaves, is really incredible (the same adjective I used to describe her album). For this song she got her Grammy Award in category “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance”. Besides, in a few weeks after the release of the album the single “No One” topped Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. And only this fact can persuade everyone that this “No One” mp3 ringtone is great!

Yesterday I wrote a few words about Alicia Keys, but today I’ve found one song by Alicia feat Jahn Mayer – and I really like it! The song “Lesson Learned” was included into Alicia’s third studio album “As I Am”. Bedises, after the release of the album she sold almost 750.000 copies of this CD. So, now a few words about John Mayer He plays different genres: blues-rock, pop rock, blues, blue-eyed soul etc. When he was in school, he played the clarinet, but at the age of 13 his father rented him a guitar, and two years later he played at blues bars (being in high school). At the age of 17 he had problems with his heart and was one week in the hospital, since that time he understood, that his calling was songwriting (after the hospital he still suffers from panic attacks). Now, except of playing music, he participates in some philantropic organizations, writes a column giving lessons of guitar play, studies design. But his main occupation is, of course, music, and “Lesson Learned” is considered to be one of his and Alicia’s best works “Lesson Learned” mp3 ringtone is OK

Anthony Hamilton’s single “Charlene” was released in 2004 and included into the album “Comin’ from Where I’m From” (it was the second single of this album, the first single has the same name as the album). Anthony’s “Comin’ from Where I’m From” album was certified as platinum-selling! The highest chart position of “Charlene” was Number 19 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Number 3 on U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It turned out that Anthony discovered his talent when he was singing in the church’s choir. Later he decided to make a career of a singer and became popular R&B, soul and neo soul singer of America. Besides, he was a lot of times nominated for different awards and even managed to win three of them: BET J “Cool Like That” Award (in 2006) and two Vibe Music Awards in 2004 – Best Collaboration “Why” and Vibe Next Award. I can’t say, that “Charlene” (as well as “Charlene” mp3 ringtone) is one of the best song’s I’ve ever heard, but it’s really good, cause Anthony’s style is superb

Al Wilson – a famous American soul singer – was born in 1939 (but died this year because of kidney failure, being 68-years-old man). During his life he released seven albums: the first one was in 1968 and had the name “Searching for the Dolphins”, and the last one in 2004 – “Show & Tell: The Best of Al Wilson’”. Al Wilson’s “Show And Tell” song was included into “The Beat Goes On: The Greatest Hits Of The 60’s And 70’s” (CD 4), also in the album “Super 70’s”. These were the collections of songs not only sung by Al Wilson, of course. His “Show And Tell” is the song because of which he bacame pupular and known even nowadays, because he reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in 1974 (and sold more than two million copies of it). It’s so pity that his original master tapes were burned because of the fire at his garage, which was reconstructed to serve as a recording studio. Al Wilson’s “Show And Tell” mp3 ringtone sounds as good as his original song more than 30 years ago

At the moment I’m enjoying Boyz II Men’s song “End Of The Road” (and I’ve already downloaded the End Of The Road mp3 ringtone for my cell phone). This single was one of their best songs (and most successful in all respects – commercially inclusively, of course). Originally this song was used in the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy’s movie “Boomerang” (1992). Genres of the soundtrack were hip-hop, swing, dance, R&B. Besides, it was written and produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds (I wrote a few words about him recently). “End Of The Road” is still considered to be Boyz II Men’s best single – it even managed to replace The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There”. This song was sertified as platinum with more that 1 million sales. “End Of The Road” topped the charts thirteen weeks!!! Originally this band consisted of 5 members, but one member – Marc Nelson – left Boyz II Men long time ago (in 1990) because of some personality conflicts and started his solo career, and Michael McCary left the band in 2003 because of the problems with his back. But the group is still extremely popular.

I’ve just read an articte about Aaliyah. I listened to a few her songs – I like her style. I’m going to download a few more songs, because I want to understand, why she bacame so popular in 2000. I watched one movie in which she starred – Romeo Must Die (2000). I have to say that film was great and Aaliyah was extremely beautiful actress (she also modelled for Tommy Hilfiger – a famous American fashion designer). I’m sure that she had enough talent and gift to became number one for a long time. With her singles “Back and Forth”, “If Your Girl Only Knew”, “Are You That Somebody?”, and “Miss You” she reached number one in the United States, United States R&B, UK, and New Zealand. She could have done more, but Aaliyah was killed in the plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25, 2001. “Back And Forth” is one of her best singles which was included into a compilation album I Care 4 U (2002).

Angie Stone is one of the best American soul, R&B singers and songwriters. This year Angie Stone was nominated for Grammy Award for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals”. In 2000 she won two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in two categories for best R&B single and best R&B artist. I’ve just listened to “What U Dyin’ For” and have to say, that it’s rather good thing. It’s sounds not like a pure R&B, but like a mixture of soul and hip-hop. The lyrics of the song is pretty interesting with enough sense. By the way, this song was included into Angie Stone’s fifth CD “Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone” released in 2005 (into Special Edition and UK Edition). This song is really preasant for those who like calm R&B style without all agression which is inherent for dirty rap. “What U Dyin’ For” mp3 ringtone sounds great in my mobile phone

Babyface is a nickname of Kenneth Brian Edmonds, who is a popular American singer, he also writes his lyrics, can play keyboard, guitar and mandolin. In 2001 he wrote his single “There She Goes”, which was included into the album “Face 2 Face”. This song was Number 31 in US Singles Chart and Number 10 in US R&B Charts. I’m listenin to this song at this moment and I like it. It’s calm rhythm and Brian’s voice are perfect. The lyrics of “There She Goes” is also interesting and meaningful (especially in comparison with all modern pop-songs’ lyrics). By the way, Brian “Babyface” Edmonds is a very successful songwriter and producer – he wrote for Boyz II Men lyrics their “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love To You”, which were Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a long time. “Babyface’s” last project was his album “Playlist”, released in 2007, which was also quite successful commercially – Number 48 in US Chart. But be sure that his “There She Goes” is great! I’m going to find an mp3 ringtone of this song now