“Alone With You” by Tevin Campbell went to #1 on the Hot R&B chart. Written and produced by Kyle West and Al B. Sure! for Tevin’s debut album T.E.V.I.N..

Now a 20-year-old slow jam classic, “Forever My Lady” by Jodeci went to #1 on the R&B  chart and spent three weeks there. The song was written and produced by DeVante Swing and Al B. Sure! From the group’s debut album Forever My Lady.

The online “word of mouth” on “Honey I’m Home” was so excellent, so good in fact that I decided to pick up my own copy to see if the murmurings were true.

They were true. The overall vibe of the album is conducive for a late afternoon or evening just kicking back with your significant other.

As I often do, I read the track listing of “Honey I’m Home” prior to listening to all of the cd’s selections. I was pleasantly surprised with the track “I Love It! (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye). The title deceptively gives the feeling of an upbeat party song, but the track is pure quiet storm. “I’m Glad” has a bouncy beat that makes you want to crank up the volume as you cruise down the highway. I’ll admit, when I saw “Lady In My Life” in the track listing, I said out loud, “MJ’s “Lady In My Life””? That “Lady in My Life”?! Yes, that’s the one. As an MJ fan, I take any remakes of his music personally. I am proud to say that Al B. does a good job on covering the classic hit. “Dedicate My All” brings us back to Al B.’s signature sound. I could literally hear “Dedicate My All” easily included in a package with Al B.’s other hits like “Night and Day”. “Never Stop Loving You” has a futuristic, sonic sound that has Al B. reminiscing about lost love.

I give Hidden Beach credit for continually focusing on quality with regards to music. I am glad that Hidden Beach recognized that Al. B. Sure! still has plenty of great music to share with the world. I also give Al B. credit for not trying to “fit in” with current trends, but instead focusing on making good, solid high quality music.

Pick up “Honey I’m Home” at either Amazon or ITunes. Here’s the free, full listen for “I Love It! (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye) from Hidden Beach:

Second Chance Tour
El DeBarge with Al B. Sure!, Christopher Williams and Chico DeBarge
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Detroit Opera House
Detroit, Michigan
8:00 PM

Aside from urban stage plays we haven’t seen much of Christopher Williams. However, when he kicked off the Second Chance Tour show he seemed to pick up right where he left off in the 90s–as a sex symbol–much to the delight of the female fans. Williams delivered a sexy performance that included moving about the audience to serenade the ladies and a bit of disrobing too. But, along with the persona he brought the voice. His vocals were clear, strong and appeared untouched by time. He especially shined during his rendition of the Teddy Pendergrass classic, “Come Go With Me” and a heartfelt version of Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It”.

For the past year or so, Al B. Sure! has been performing in clubs and in his set he presents his music in a style that is laid back, includes humorous onstage banter, but seems to more prominently feature his background singers as they sing lead vocals and verses to the songs with Sure singing intermittently. Not so during this show. Sure gave a confident and animated performance fueled by the energy of the live band and the fans and the backup singers were just that: back up. Sure sang the full version of his songs and as expected, he ended his set with his 1988 mega hit, “Nite and Day”, but with an unexpected horn version of the opening melody to the song that sparked an immediate feel-good reaction from the audience.

Chico DeBarge was dapperly dressed and had a smooth stage presence. His act had a soul/funk flavor, but he brought down the house when he invited his sister Bunny to sing the (heavily sampled) 80s DeBarge classic album track, “A Dream”. It was a major treat for the audience.
(more…)

DJ Phaze rocks Moods Music ATL for the Res Meet 'N Greet

Fresh off wrecking shop in the ATL, DJ Phaze presents you with his latest installment, the “Get Grown” mix. It’s a perfect way to start your week and ease your mind from the madness that can be all too encompassing. Truly for the Grown ‘N Sexy. Check the tracklist, download and enjoy.

Touch Me Wit Ur Handz (Featuring Chinah Blac) – DJ Jazzy Jeff
DREAM GIRL – R KELLY
Oooh This Love Is So – Al B. Sure
Tell Me – Groove Theory
E.M.B.R.A.C.E. – Soul Society
Virtual Insanity (Peace of Mind Mix) – Jamiroquai
4evermore feat. Algebra & Phonte – Anthony David
Dream Flight (feat. Rahsaan Patterson) – Angela Johnson
Music makes me feel so good – Sleepy Brown
I Don’t Care – Raheem Devaughn
Strawberries In Vinegar – Silhouette Brown
Enjoy It Now – Tortured Soul
Your Face – Tamara Wellons
Golden (The 24 Karat mix) – Jill Scott
Your Colors – John Beltran

Get Grown Mix by GrownFolksMusic

Secret Garden from the "Back On The Block" album

Last week was quite the week for the remix. While I’m an advocate of creativity and stamping your own individuality to a song, I do have boundaries when it comes to certain songs. The other week I was glad to see artists coming together for the relief efforts in Haiti however the remake of “We Are the World” shouldn’t have been the song they rallied behind. I can’t say the remix didn’t have “any” hopeful moments but honestly the bad faded out the good efforts. I, like many fans, probably agree with Jay’s statement given to MTV about the remake efforts.

“I’m a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that’s going on in Haiti. … So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but We Are the World is [musically] untouchable like Thriller is untouchable.  It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.”

Truthfully, there are some songs that just have a magic. Maybe the stars are perfectly aligned or Jupiter just happens to rise in Leo’s moon – hell, I don’t know, but they have a timeless, “Sistine Chapel” appeal to them. In this case, “We Are The World” happens to be one of those songs. Unfortunately, when you touch a song of that caliber, it can lose the magic and take an awful turn as we saw in that remake. Another song that’s been placed on the assembly line for a “spit shine” remix is (more…)

Courtesy of clipartspace.com

Hola mi amigos!!!! Once again, it’s that special time of the year!! A time for lovers to come together to celebrate that funny little thing we call L’ amour. In celebration of this “unofficial” holiday, I decided to share some Grown Folks love songs. Now, please understand these songs are not in any particular order nor do they encompass all I would like to share – we’d be here forever if it did. However, they’re just a few songs to make you think about the one you love or wish to be with. :) (more…)

Wow. It’s been a looooong time coming.

Hidden Beach has release a sneak preview of Al B Sure’s upcoming album, Honey I’m Home.

The single, “I Love It (Papi Aye Aye Aye)” is available for download now, and you can pre-order the album (available June 23rd), directly from Hidden beach here.

Hidden beach is a great label, representing real music and it’s evidenced by their ‘Q for Quality’ rating for all of their products.

Here’s an excerpt of what it means:

WHAT DOES ‘Q FOR QUALITY’ MEAN?:
Beginning shortly, consumers will see two stickers on our releases pronouncing them “Q-rated” (which merit it and include every release to date). This simple “Q Rating” is a few words that mean a lot. It is your stamp and guarantee that the product that bears it we believe to be the highest possible quality in that no shortcut was taken in its production. What this means in terms of CD’s and other recordings that bear this stamp is that every aspect was reviewed intensely and scrutinized by it’s creators and every note, sound and word was meant to be heard in the form it is presented. Mixes and masterings of the recordings were done with consummate professionals and the sequence was debated, contemplated and presented in a way to provide for them to be experienced as complete body of works. The consumer should never have to hit the skip button.

Find more music like this on The Hidden Beach Family