Beyond Radio’s Personal Music Assistant

R&B Picks 2016

Listen on spotify

Listen on Napster/Rhapsody

In search box type Beyond Radio Urban Picks 2016

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R&B Picks December 5 

Listen to/Watch this week’s playlist on YTUBE

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CHILDISH GAMBINO    Redbone

Spotify
On songs like ‘Redbone’, “Riot” and “Me And Your Mama” actor Donald Glover’s alter-ego seems to be channeling Prince and maybe a little Lenny Kravitz. He was a regular in the sitcom Community and has been cast in the upcoming Hans Solo Star Wars movie.

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MURA MASA    What If I Go

Spotify
Electronic producer and songwriter who grew up on Geurnsey, one of the Channel islands between England and France. Much of his output so far is R&B influenced including “Love$ick” and “Love For That”.

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CRAIG DAVID & SIGALA    Ain’t Giving Up

Spotify
This is the current single from the British hitmaker who has had 12 top 10 singles there since 2000, his first 2 hitting #1 including “Fill Me In”. Other recent singles “Change My Love” and “One More Time” are 2 more of the 7 singles released from his most recent album “Following My Intuition”

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LAURA MVULA    Ready Or Not

Spotify
Another Brit with her latest single release. She incorporates jazz and classical influences into her brand of R&B. 2013’s “Green Garden” and this year’s “Phenomenal Woman” definitely employ the former. On “Overcome” she collaborates with Nile Rodgers.

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K. MICHELLE    Time

Spotify
Classic R&B styling on this sultry song from the singer-songwriter and reality TV personality. Her show K. Michelle: My Life has been on VH1 since 2014 with the third season starting later this month. Her 2016 album “More Issues Than Vogue” contains the singles “Not A Little Bit” and “Ain’t You” and a lot her music seems to stay on a similar, evening with wine in front of a fireplace, style.

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R&B Picks November 14

Listen to/Watch this week’s playlist on YTUBE

 

Featuring

ALICIA KEYS Back To Life
ALICIA KEYS In Common
ALICIA KEYS Holy War
ALICIA KEYS f/ A$AP ROCKY Blended Family
BBD Run
JORDAN FISHER Lookin’ Like That
JORDAN FISHER All About Us
JORDAN FISHER All I Wanna Do
KOOL & THE GANG Sexy
NICK JONAS Champagne Problems
SAMPHA Blood On Me
SEVYN STREETER f/ THE-DREAM D4L
SOLANGE Cranes In The Sky
SOLANGE f/ SAMPHA Don’t Touch My Hair
ZAYN Befour

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R&B Picks Oct. 25 

Listen to/Watch this week’s playlist on YTUBE

KELIS     Hooch

This 2014 song from the album “Food” was featured on a recent episode of How To Get Away With Murder. It is a slinky horn trenched retro soul tune. She is best known for her 2003 Grammy nominated song “Milkshake”, an international smash that reached #2 in the UK and #3 in the US.

https://open.spotify.com/track/7e20EIHslRbBnTKYfrZuWq

Jerk Ribs/Friday Fish Fry/Acapella

Her most recent product had veered more towards classic R&B as evidenced by ‘Jerk’ & ‘Friday’. “Acapella” from 2010 has a classic club feel and hit #5 in the UK. The Harlem raised singer has had 10 top 10 hits there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQgppPHXJSs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMFflMpum8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8D9xCBcfzw

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SNBRN f/ NATE DOGG   Gangsta Walk

L.A. DJ and musician Kevin Andrews Chapman coins his style of dance music as Sunset House. Here he uses a previously unreleased vocal from Nate Dogg, who died in 2011.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4DTe710tKwivd12q9YtM1O

SNBRN f/ MARVIN GAYE              Sexual Healing

A trend of working with dead people?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU6owq0Bp38

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WRETCH 32 f/ EMELI SANDE        IOU

As if everyone needs to go by a stage name, English rapper Jermaine Scott Sinclair is Wretch 32. His Guyanan mother nicknamed him Wretch as a child (in that country it means slim or skinny) and 32 is his lucky number.

https://open.spotify.com/track/7mwAnLWfOXLMVNlrHQyGKf

All A Dream/6 Words

‘Dream’ is another single from his current album “Growing Over Life” while the 2014 ‘Words’ is one of his 5 top 10 singles in the UK although also featured on the current album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2vjRGL7-8g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGIYXuZIWBY

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DAWIN f/ R. CITY              Bikini Body

Best known for last year’s song “Dessert” with Silento, Dawin is a Brooklyn native.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0mM39ptTtRKkeSfwsFKFxt

ARIANA GRANDE             Problem (DAWIN REMIX)

He is also a record producer and remixer, having lent his talents to Ariana Grande & Bebe Rexha, among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm7zMAhqYyY

Throwback/Just Girly Things

Another single from 2016 and his fist single that was previewed on Vine with a Carlton dance clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOwA9BSJMRs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PtNvhzlgfc

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KEITH SWEAT     Just The Two of Us

While this list has been decidedly dancey it’s time to bring the beat down. Sweat has had 14 top 10 R&B singles in the US since his debut in 1987, starting with the #1 song “I Want Her”, one of the 1st major songs from the Nu Jack Swing era. This song has the classic R&B bedroom duet sound of the 70’s & 80’s.

https://open.spotify.com/track/12cUpsGc7dcfsuTu3QQ88H

Good Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1Oj5vukwQ0

Both of these songs are from his 12th album released this past July, “Dress To Impress”. This is another retro-soul ditty. As the video shows this is meant for unwinding by the fire with wine and your shapely significant other.

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SINEAD HARNETT             Rather Be With You

We seem to be going back and forth between the US and the UK on this list. This British singer of Thai and Irish descent plays in a slinky chill arena.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1FF90LiSmV66PkkOW0QsX8

If You Let Me/Do It Anyway

Billboard Magazine wrote in 2013 that her music is “ a jazz-tinged version of modern electronic pop reminiscent of Jessie Ware and Jhene Aiko.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX8SFlmHTLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zaRn9ch7N8

JESSIE WARE      Tough Love

JHENE AIKO        Eternal Sunshine

You be the judge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLaOxbd37jc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U930cmnHg8s

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SPENCER LUDWIG           Diggy

We’ll finish where we started, the use of a song in media. This time it is the current Target commercials. Of course there has to be another connection, that being Southeast Asia. He is part Filipino and part Russian Canadian but grew up in Los Angeles.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6RotBIo70VVzEcOhvgJGPC

Right Into U

He started playing saxophone in the 4th grade, took up French horn in high school and ended up settling on the trumpet as his main instrument. He toured with Capital Cities for 4 years and is featured on their debut album and the massive single “Safe and Sound”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lie6sVYM_U

CAPITAL CITIES  Chartreuse

There is an R&B vibe underneath many of this electronic bands alt pop songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji5ZOeorZIw

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R&B Picks Oct. 4

Listen to/Watch all the songs featured on this week’s list on YTUBE

MAC MILLER      100 Grandkids

Rapper from Pittsburgh whose real name is Malcolm James McCormick. One of his first charting singles was “Donald Trump” back in 2011.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0titWWT0Wj2raZOwtlE8ZI

MAC MILLER f/ ANDERSON.PAAK      Dang!

Like the previous song this one has a nice easy groove to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbMTXqMFurY

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JORJA SMITH     Where Did I Go?

Speaking of easy going, this young UK singer/songwriter is one to watch. She brings an eclectic aesthetic to her music. She feels like a bit of a modern day Sade.

A Prince/Blue Lights

“A Prince” has a haunting jazzy vibe while “Blue Lights” while still having a some jazz elements but sounding more contemporary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNwvZJgwQgc

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REBECCA FERGUSON      Bones

Another UK singer/songwriter has a distinctively different sound, one more steeped in traditional r&b balladry as evidenced on this, her latest single.

https://open.spotify.com/track/38ONDSwedWwrs1aDAH2lPq

Too Good To Lose/Glitter & Gold

2 of the 6 singles that charted from her fisr album from 2011. She had been the runner up in the 7th season of the UK version of X Factor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PRNya4kQjE

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PARTYNEXTDOOR            Not Nice

This Canadian electronic hip hop artist from Toronto has been compared to The Weeknd and Drake. Actually Drake has assisted him (real name Jahron Anthony Brathwaite) on 2 top 10 R&B singles, “Recognize” in 2014 and “Come And See Me” this year.

https://open.spotify.com/track/04sT6xbMnJouAktbkkr4qr

Temptations

Totally like The Weeknd’s durgy/sexy side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p25GkrHEtJ0

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THE WEEKND f/ DAFT PUNK        Starboy

Speaking of, here’s his new single if you haven’t heard it yet.

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KWABS Layback

British Ghanaian singer/songwriter. He had a European hit last year with the song “Walk” although it was only had a short chart presence in his homeland. This is a sultry showcase for his rich baritone.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4bwP8yq26RkcvOVC5zHBVb

Make You Mine/Love + War

2 upbeat songs from his debut album “Love + War”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ9uykxgtn8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeC76xBM6Uk

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ROMANS             Pacify

London songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist that has worked with artists like Mary J. Blige & John Legend. He has released a number of singles and EP’s in the last 2 years, with his full length album scheduled for later this year.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0AkIHU8BfbVbgv88RcnYlc

Silence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCk8iP6dNAk

 

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DANEX  Put Your Hands On My Body

Dutch artist whose heritage is Serbian and Cape Verdian. Her got her start on “Serbia’s Got Talent” (does every place in the world have this now?).

https://open.spotify.com/track/32Mxgzvtc78oTWFXcc96gg

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ZARA LARSSON Ain’t My Fault

OK so this Swedish vocalist got her start in 2008 on Talang Sverige the regional version of “Got Talent”, which she won. I swear I did not plan this! She recently a pop top 10 in the U.S. with her collaboration with MNEK “Never Forget You”. That and her song “Lush Life” were both international mega hits.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4nA0biSjtvOL41Hd9MBXqR

Uncover

Here on her first single from 2013, and first #1, she’s sounds very Rihanna-like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-PXEe-qeK4

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MICHAEL KIWANUKA    Black Man In A White World

JANELLE MONAE              Hum Along And Dance (Gotta Get Down)

LEON BRIDGES  Ball of Confusion

These songs are featured on the soundtrack of the HBO series “The Get Down”.



MICHAEL KIWANUKA    One More Night

British soul singer who is currently in the adult alternative top 10 with this. The bass line rules the song and totally gets under your skin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fpSbCekzxU

JANELLE MONAE f/ SOLANGE     Electric Lady

Best known for her presence on Fun’s smash “We Are Young” this psychedelic r&b artist and actress is more known visually than for her music. This is the smooth, upbeat title track from her 2013 album, featuring Beyonce’s sister Solange. This spent  a number of months on my personal chart in 2014 but failed to reach the top 100 (my chart often has between 200-250 songs on it weekly).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPFgBCUBMYk

LEON BRIDGES  Better Man

Like Kiwanuka, Bridges has received his radio success on adult alternative where he has had a #1, a top 10 and this top 20 from earlier this year. His style is vintage 50’s/60’s soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgS_xob1x4A

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JASON DERULO Kiss The Sky

First single from his greatest hits package and also featured on the “Storks” soundtrack. This has a fun Bruno Mars feel to it. Co-written by prolific songwriter Bonnie McKee, who was c0-written of 6 of of Katy Perry’s hits among others.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1FGXVdJ5SKjf8iGuzv6e0m

Cheyenne

The follow up single to his huge “Want You To Want Me” from last year. This song failed to ignite and petered out at #18 on the pop chart. This was also compared to Mars and I felt it really was an adult pop song but was not promoted to that genre in the right way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNi0gyO41VQ

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BONNIE MCKEE                Somebody

McKee has had more success as a songwriter than artist but her 2004 debut was awesome. 5 of the songs made my personal chart, starting with this gospel-tinged song that spent 4 weeks at #1 and was my #6 song of the year.

Trouble

Second of 3 #1’s on my chart, totally funky single from that album. Never understood why no follow up album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEntf6-b-S8

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R&B Picks August 24

JON BELLION f/ TRAVIS MENDES Guillotine

A lot of up and coming young artists are hard to peg to a genre, Long Island native Bellion being one of them. He does claim Kanye West to be a huge influence. He wrote the chorus for the Eminem/Rihanna collaboration “The Monster” and wrote and produced Jason Derulo’s hit “Trumpets”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ymJcCwS_s

https://open.spotify.com/track/2FK1qmw8XNBqUe5CcgTVnE

JON BELLION  Maybe IDK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLYObm5xNy8

MAXWELL 1990x

Of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, Maxwell helped shape the neo-soul movement in the late 90’s which incorporates traditional r&b, jazz fusion, funk and African music. He has only released 5 CD’s in the past 20 years, his current the first since 2009. This song drips of a sexy 70’s vibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G8nKMV7BDo

https://open.spotify.com/track/12KJ1qRNaxqCaQ2ju7wU0q

SNAKEHIPS f/ TINASHE & CHANCE THE RAPPER  All My friends

UK electronic duo that had a top 5 hit with this in England, Australia and New Zealand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvhTzfbjE8U

https://open.spotify.com/track/6XInw1uowvKHrJZaiFd8sY

SNAKEHIPS f/ ZAYN   Cruel

Currently grazing the top 40 in those countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfqDSnCkaro

KING The Greatest

L.A. female trio offer lush harmonies on this homage to Mohammed Ali.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbpSV3gBRfk

https://open.spotify.com/track/1oiD5zGVKxlMNCxSUXGL9g

KARDINAL OFFISHALL f/ STEPHEN MARLEY One Dream Away

Canadian rapper and record producer, he is often credited as Canada’s hip hop ambassador. His style is heavily reggae influenced. The biggest hot of his almost 20 year career is the 2008 song “Dangerous” featuring Akon, which was a top 5 in the U.S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFaJ4-Cipb8

https://open.spotify.com/track/2Y8nXRS49lHMagRqtXP1Kx

R&B/Hip Hop Picks August 8

MIGUEL f/ KACEY MUSGRAVES Waves

This American artist debuted in 2010 and had 3 #1 hits between 2011-2012. He has been nominated for quite a number of Grammy’s and other awards and won best R&B song in 2011 with his song “Adorn”. There are a number of different remixes of the single, this one featuring country artist Kacey Musgraves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtS3SyevpvI

https://open.spotify.com/track/0JhyMqi5ihsk5neC8DMbbz

Here’s the original song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtS3SyevpvI

VIVIAN GREEN  Gown Folks Music (Work)

Another artist who has had 3 #1 songs, those being on the Dance and Adult R&B charts. This American singer from Philadelphia has had 5 cd releases since 2002.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73JmpM3KLkc

https://open.spotify.com/track/4jwdt9N1OdRFNrvyNEdJae

GOLDLINK f/ ANDERSON.PAAK Unique

Stage name for the rapper D’Anthony Carlos. His featured artist has been very prolific since 2010, with credits as featured artist on over 50 songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jfiMimhi4w

https://open.spotify.com/track/2cRm43WgDFpOX0oqr6ujbB

ANDERSON.PAAK            Come Down

Paak has released 9 singles of his own, with this bening his latest. Interestingly he has never reached the R&B charts with an of his own releases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mlg-fFJZGA

MAJOR. f/ AMBER RILEY               #ChangeRightNow

Anthem is response to the racial tensions in the US. The debut cd from this Berklee and Julliard trained former gospel singer dabbles in classic R&B production and is reminiscent of John Legend and 70’s crooners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90os7EpfYMY

https://open.spotify.com/track/1K8Ckn1vQWv3eas0J9Yd4M

Way Of The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTHrJWD16qk

TALAY RILEY       Not Enough

British singer songwriter who has seen moderate success there. His influences include Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlbOFS8xnlQ

https://open.spotify.com/track/7G3I5f9EdGunWBZOkfVvDl

LUVBUG f/ TALAY RILEY

Resonance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csYUGJLtZnw

BeyondRadioTim YouTube R&B playlist Aug. 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLNu1uUTtw&list=PLDDVTToqeVLuqGHen8wIVJGlw-VJ0HTUD

AFTER 7                Let Me Know

TORY LANEZ       LUV

FANTASIA           I Made It

DJ SHADOW f/ RUN THE JEWELS              Nobody Speak

BEYONCE f/ THE WEEKND            6 Inch

BRANDY               Beggin’ & Pleadin’

KAYTRANADA   Lite Spots

JEREMIH f/ THE WEEKND             Pass Dat

CLIPPING             Wriggle

R&B/Hip Hop Picks July 12

MIGUEL               Simple Things

Third cd released in 2015, Miguel won the Grammy for best R&B song in 2013 for the song “Adorn”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxbYH22DNY

https://open.spotify.com/track/4z8c9qkpiYghn6DCQ6yA0u

MARC E. BASSY f/ G-EAZY            You And Me

San Francisco born Bassy has written songs for Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz and more. His debut single is currently top 25 on the rhythmic chart and just entered the pop top 50.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYjxf9rHCY

https://open.spotify.com/track/0qRZ9ydGdzeVk3S01pLGoJ

FANTASIA           Sleeping With The One I Love

Third season winner of American Idol recently released her 5th cd, “The Definition Of”. This is a cool slow jam that could take you way back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i623xz8D5HI

https://open.spotify.com/track/27mVyH3UmEDLQr5CNDrNpI

Ugly

She dabbles in country on the current cd as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7YTDzhrBDQ

DONNIE TRUMPET & THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT  Sunday Candy

Trumpeter and record producer Nico Segal changed his name to Donnie Trumpet, and formed The Social Experiment with Chance The Rapper among others and released their cd “Surf” in the spring of 2015..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ooH8frBWg

https://open.spotify.com/track/6fTdcGsjxlAD9PSkoPaLMX

CHANCE THE RAPPER     Blessings

From Chicago, this is from his current cd “Coloring Book” and features Trumpet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeqmbhyoFZQ

RALEIGH RITCHIE             I Can Change

Ritchie’s real name is Jacob Basil Anderson. He is an English actor and singer best known for his role in the television series Game Of Thrones. He had a top 30 hit in the UK in 2014 with “Stronger Than Ever”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IbAG0iU9Sc

https://open.spotify.com/track/1IHYFzVNdMzu26NrmkkAee

Bloodsport ‘15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrnCnCmUrE8

Untapped Resources Urban/Hip Hop Top 10, July 4 

1              MNEK   At Night (I Think About)

2              ARIANA GRANDE f/ LIL WAYNE Let Me Love You

3              CRAIG DAVID     One More Time

4              USHER  Crash

5              LAURA MVULA Phenomenal Woman

6              RIHANNA            Love On The Brain

7              BEYONCE f/ THE WEEKND            6 Inch

8              THE AVALANCHES f/ DANNY BROWN & MF DOOM         Frankie Sinatra

9              BEYONCE f/ KENDRICK LAMAR  Freedom

10           JANET JACKSON               The Great Forever

Beyond Radio Tim YouTube R&B playlist,  July 10

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDDVTToqeVLsf0svEheorIK5jBjTpJcxe

LAURA MVULA Phenomenal Woman

JR CASTRO          Right Away

ALESHA DIXON f/ WRETCH 23    Stop

SAMPHA             Timmy’s Prayer

BOOSIE BADAZZ               Black Heaven

USHER  Crash

PHIFE    Nutshell

DEATH GRIPS     Spikes

JON BELLION f/ TRVIS MENDES  Guillotine

R&B/Hip Hop Picks June 20

B.O.B. Roll Up

Rapper from Decatur Georgia whohas been around for the past decade. Kind of a fun song about weed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmgRqcs5tsc

https://open.spotify.com/track/3zSlSxrpNDflKPjgZ1RoVt

TESSANNE CHIN               Love Suicide

Jamaican singer who was on the fifth season of The Voice. This has the sound of a classic r&b ballad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvfIo70tQm4

https://open.spotify.com/track/19FFLSUP97EtKlicaB0slt

SNARKY PUPPY Brother, I’m Hungry

A jazz fusion ensemble based out of Brooklyn. Thank my friend Renee for these 2 offerings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xKnYC1K12M

https://open.spotify.com/track/3Erj3joeWwhBTHp04t9xMC

Shofucan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk0WRHV_vt8

GUVNA B, HILLSONG YOUTH UK               Fear Is A Lie

Gospel rap artist hailing from, you guessed it, the UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTZqxSqznwc

https://open.spotify.com/track/6Y85SxrlwhcQgzSqr2NZc9

DE LA SOUL f/ SNOOP DOGG      Pain

And back to a bit of jazz and weed. Formed in 1987, De La Soul is responsible for the hip hop sub-genres, jazz rap and alternative hip hop. And of course Snoop Dogg is probably usually a little high.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vDVDo9w20w

https://open.spotify.com/track/2o5nczXJ7wb5oRaBVLS3EU