“I Wanna Be Down” by Brandy was the first single from her debut self-titled album. Written by Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, the song went to #1 on the R&B chart and to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Featured here is the ”I Wanna Be Down” (Human Rhythm Hip Hop Mix featuring MC Lyte, Yo- Yo, and Queen Latifah) video directed by Hype Williams as a trip down memory lane. This video is a cornucopia of ’90s goodness. It has female rappers we love. Young Brandy is rockin’ her signature braids and emulating (her then idol) Whitney Houston’s vocal stylings. Baby Ray J is trying to hang and look cool. And don’t forget Hype Williams’ signature slow motion shots featuring the artist making aggressive gestures and vying for a spot in the frame. Enjoy.
Raphael Saadiq is a music veteran. He started playing the bass guitar at the age of six. When he was barely 18, he auditioned and won a spot in Sheila E.’s backing band for Prince’s Parade tour. Raphael Saadiq is probably best known as one-third of the R&B group Tony!Toni!Tone!, which put out some bonafide jams in the ’90s like “Feels Good” and Anniversary”. Saadiq put out his first solo album in 2002 and since then he has been no stranger to Grammy nominations. This year’s nomination for Best Traditional R&B performance for the song “Good Man”, from the album Stone Rollin makes a total of 12 nominations of Raphael Saadiq. He has won one. To see if Raphael Saadiq will win this year, check out the Grammy Awards on February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
Cee Lo Green is nominated for three Grammy Awards this year– Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Fool For You”, the throwback, soulful duet with Melanie Fiona.
We were first introduced to Cee Lo Green as part of the rap ensemble Goodie Mob, but he may have become best known in the mainstream as part of the duo Gnarls Barkley when the song “Crazy” took off all over the world. Since then Cee Lo has taken the world by storm and gained more crossover appeal as a judge on the television music competition The Voice and because of his 2010 album The Lady Killer, which is still going strong and is nominated this year for Best Pop Vocal Album. To find out if Cee Lo wins, watch the Grammy Awards February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
Perhaps Gerald Levert and O’Jays fans may have already liked this song before they even heard it; given the magic Eddie and Gerald Levert made the first time around in 1992 on “Baby Hold On To Me”. And they didn’t disappoint the second time, as they came with an entire album for our listening pleasure. “Already Missing You”– one of the gems from the 1995 album Father & Son. Check out the bonus video below of Eddie and Gerald Levert singing “Already Missing You” live– it’s a treat.
“Knockin’ Da Boots was a #1 jam on the R&B chart for the group H-Town, which stands for the group’s hometown–Houston, Texas. The song is H-Town’s biggest hit and the group’s first single from the debut album Fever For Da Flavor on Luther Campbell’s (2 Live Crew Luke) Luke Records. Unfortunately, group member Keven “Dino” Conner died in a car accident in 2003.
Ledisi is nominated for an outstanding three Grammys this year; Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for the single “Pieces Of Me”, and Best R&B Album for the album Pieces Of Me.
And to think that at one time she seriously considered leaving the music industry because she was unsure of where she fit in.
It’s a good thing she didn’t leave because in 2007 she joined the Verve music label and released her third album Lost & Found. The album earned Ledisi her first two Grammy nominations and she’s been getting the Grammy nod ever since. Ledisi’s 2009 album Turn Me Loose earned her two more Grammy nominations. So, combined with this year’s nominations, Ledisi has a total of seven Grammy nominations under her belt.
Look at what happens when you just hang on and “do you”. To find out if Ledisi wins, tune in to the Grammy Awards on February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
Oh, my how the tables have turned. “Thinkin’ About It” finds our resident casanova in a very different place from what he is normally accustomed to. This time it is our hero who has been cheated on. Unfortunately for his woman, he already knows about it and wants her to know that he knows.
“Thinkin’ About It” reflects over the deception that has occurred until the tune hits an almost comical climax around 3:07, when Gerald expresses how much he can not fathom what has happened by declaring, “Why are you so freaky?!”.
Audiences immediately connected with the tune, as it hit #2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. “Thinkin’ About It” is available at Amazon.com as part of the full length cd “Love and Consequences“.
“If You Love Me” by Brownstone went to #2 on the R&B chart and to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK charts. Interestingly enough, the song did go to #1 in New Zealand. “If You Love Me” was written by Gordon Chambers, Nicci Gilbert and Dave Hall for Brownstone’s debut album From The Bottom Up on Michael Jackson’s MJJ label.
