RnB and HipHop Music blog

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 listened to Brendan Benson’s “Spit It Out” song, and I’m still wondering, why this song on one site, where I’ve read about Benson, was included into the category “RnB”. As for me it sounds like a real high-quality rock music. Anyway, I like this song, that’s why I’ve decided to write here a few words about this guy. Brendan Benson is an American musician and is the member of The Raconteurs (it’s a rock band formed in 2005). The single “Spit It Out” was included into the third Benson’s solo album “The Alternative to Love” released in 2005 (it’s still available in different stores). I’ve also read a funny thing about the mane of this band: The Raconteurs were renamed to The Saboteurs, because on the Australian market there was already a band with the same name Even such things can happen. Anyway, “Spit it out” mp3 ringtone is really cool one

5 Star is a very old British pop band (originally from Romford, Essex, England), which later played R&B music. They were playing in a new computer age – in the 80’s. 5 Star was founded in 1983 and comprised sisters and brothers – Stedman, Lorraine, Denise, Doris and Delroy Pearson. At first they were exceptionally pop-band, but later the characteristics of their band was also the dancing style (it resembles Michael Jackson dancing) and their clothes. Actually, 5 Star was created by their father – Buster Pearson (Jamaican musician). 5 Star’s biggest success was in 1986 with a few Top 10 singles, among which was “System Addict” with over 220,000 sales. This song was re-released in July 2005 and scored No.1 in UK Dance Chart. It seems that in the future the members of the group will have solo careers. But, anyway, “System Addict” mp3 Ringtone is a not bad music of 80’s

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

I’ve just listened to “1 Thing” by Amerie, who is considered to be a great American R&B singer (she was Grammy nominated). She has African-American father and Korean mother, but she is extremely beautiful and amazing and has a suberb winning smile Her native language is Korean, but she speaks English quite good (her pronunciation is a little bit strange, but it makes her voice even more attractive). Her “1 Thing”, which was included as a lead single into her second studio album “Touch” (released in 2005), is a mixture of different music genres. It combines R&B, funk and go-go rythms. The song’s producer was Rich Harrison, who once heard “Oh, Calcutta!” and decided to write a song (it took 2 or 3 hours for him and Amerie to write it). This single reached number 8 in the American Billboard Hot 100 music chart and was there for twelve weeks. It was even more successful in UK, where it debuted number four on the UK Singles Chart (and was 28-th best-selling single in the United Kingdom!!!). But it’s not that important what other people think about this song, but I think that it’s great and unique

Finally, I started this blog (after a few weeks of miking ). Today I’m going to write my first post about Ying Yang Twins – one of the best R&B bands (and one of my favourite). This hip-hop duo made very good impression on me and surprized me by the song “Get Low” by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins. Frankly speaking, I estimated this single very high, mostly because of the video to this song – one of the best R&B videos I’ve ever watched on TV. But it was not only me who bacame a fan of Ying Yang Twins, but almost all the US pupulation. In 2004 Ying Yang Twins were number 2 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the same year moved on to the first place in U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks Chart. So it’s evident that this band is considered to be one of the best according to their own deserts.

I like R&B, hip-hop, rap, but it’s sometimes difficult to find really good rapper among thousands who pretend to be such. Today was the first time when I heard Akon’s singing. His real name is Aliaune Thiam (Akon is his nickname). He is American hip hop and R&B singer. Akon is the only artist who accomplished to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. He was 5 times nominated in different categories in Grammy Awards, 4 times nominated in MTV Video Music Awards. In 2007 he earned American Music Award in the category Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist. I watched his videos on YouTube and I must admit, that I’ve never seen such number of views – more than 50.000.000 (Akon – Don’t Matter (Explicit)). This song – Don’t Matter (Explicit) – was recorded in 2006 and included into the album “Konvicted”. Some part of the song is a remake of Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe” (very similar style). The Akon’s Don’t Matter mp3 ringtones is even better

I’ve just listened to “So Good Today” by Ben Westbeech, who is a well-known Bristol DJ and lives now in London. He is also a cool jazz singer, pianist and is influenced by hip-hop, house, techno, punk and a few more genres of music. A lot of people in London, who at least once have heard his singing and playing gigs in clubs, consider him to be a brilliant and amazing person. I don’t want to be immoderate, so I will only say, that his music is really great. Besides, ”So good today” was his first single, which Ben Westbeech gave to his friend and she gave that song to Gilles Peterson (he is a DJ and record collector), who signed Ben to his new label Brownswood Recordings. Ben Westbeech has a few popular singles – “Get Closer”, “So Good Today”, “Dance With Me” and others and in 2007 also released his own album “Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life”. And now almost of of his singles are available for dowloading as mp3 ringtones