Now, I’m definitely a girl who can appreciate a nice sparkle every now and then but for the most part, I’m truly a “flower girl”.  There is something beautiful and enchanting about a flower. While they may be inanimate objects, their character can bring cheer to a saddened friend, restoration to a broken friendship or tell that special someone, “I love you”. Unlike diamonds, flowers may not last forever, but it’s their fragile nature that makes you cherish their beauty and presence even more. So if you’re a flower girl like me or looking for that special “flower girl”, I’m sure you’ll love this new single from former Wonderlove member and longtime Incognito member, R&B, soul, and jazz diva Maysa featuring Dwele who also co-directed the video. Be sure to be on the look out for her new album, Motions of Love on November 8th which will also feature an Obama inspired track written and played by Mr. Stevie Wonder.

Miss Special recently caught up with Dwele at The 2011 Summer Soul Festival in San Jose a few weeks ago, where they talked about his project “Jon’s My Name”, working with Kanye West and the other G.O.O.D Music artists, working with The Breakfast Club, the meaning behind his new album title “Wants, World Women”, The ATCQ movie and what’s next for him.

Here at GFM we are always pleased to present the great content that Miss Special provides, you can follow her here on Twitter. Also, check her out on SPECiAL SUNDAYS RADiO SHOW 2-4pm KSFS San Francisco State University Live at www.ksfs.sfsu.edu and podcasted at www.specialsundays.com

Hola, my grown peoples. :)

I had to give you one more video from the “1st Hit Listening Lounge” factory with our partners, the Music Addikts and Harmony In Life. If you missed this treat, here’s a little snippet of the “Meet & Greet” with Dwele last week. Be sure to get his album, “Wants,World, Women” in stores now!

Dwele’s Meet & Greet!!!!! from Grown Folks Music on Vimeo.

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From our good friends over at qualitytimeonline.nl via Soptimus Prime a great mix to get your month started off right!

Download the mix here.

La Smoove Vol.36 ‘The Usual Suspects’ by Sopi

Tracklist:
01. La Smoove Vol.36 – Intro
02. Snoop Dogg ft Mayer Hawthorne – Gangsta Luv (G-Mix)
03. Dwele – Let Your Hair Down
04. Musiq Soulchild ft Aaries – Forthenight
05. Anthony David – Something About You
06. The 45 King – Kick The Ballistics
07. Mayer Hawthorne – Make Her Mine
08. GangStarr – The Questionz Instrumental
09. Common – Maintaining Instrumental
10. Musiq Soulchild – Youloveme
11. Anthony Hamilton – Love Is So Complicated
12. A Tribe Called Quest – Rap Promoter Instrumental
13. Musiq Soulchild – My Girl
14. Dwele – What’s Not To Love
15. Zhane – Vibe (Groove Theory Mix)
16. A Tribe Called Quest – Everything Is Fair
17. GangStarr – The Militia / Full Clip Blend Instrumental
18. Adriana Evans – Check The Vibe
19. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – In The House
20. The 45 King – Mr. Smith & Mr. Wesson
21. Dwele – Truth
22. Common – Watermelon Instrumental
23. Raphael Saadiq – Doing What I Can
24.J-Live – Get The Third
25. Amel Larrieux – Weary
26. DJ Jazzy Jeff ft Eshon Burgundy & Black Ice – Run That Back
27. Scratch ft Musiq Soulchild – Tonite

Encore:
28. Lee Fields & The Expressions – Money I$ King
29. Joss Stone – You Got The Love
30. A Tribe Called Quest – Youthful Expression Instrumental
31. The JB’s – Everybody Wanna Get Funky
32. Breakestra – Cramp your style

New music from Dwele! A great song and story laid over an arrangement tailor-made for a head nod and reflection. In an age where any and everything is on full display, it’s quite refreshing to hear a troubadour sing of “inner beauty”. Hit repeat.

The album W.W.W.(W.ants W.orld W.omen) due out June 29th, 2010

What’s Not To Love by GrownFolksMusic

Official Website
MySpace
Twitter

There are some incredible tributes, mixes, blog posts and personal recollections being shared all around the web. We’ll be updating this for some time with the best of what we find. If you know of others, please leave us a comment and we’ll update with those as well. Check back often, as we continue to update this post.

Shoutout to KeyInfluencer for this rare clip.

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Quincy Jones:
“I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on ‘The Wiz’ and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the ’80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Lisa Marie Presley’s blog

Recording Engineer Bruce Swedien remembers Michael (with video)

Quincy Jones

Michael Jackson, The Soulful Years, by DJ JayCee

L.A. Reid Remembers Michael Jackson

From the Voice Archives: Greg Tate on Michael Jackson in 1987

Diana Ross:
“I can’t stop crying, this is too sudden and shocking,” Ross says in a statement. “I am unable to imagine this. My heart is hurting. I am in prayer for his kids and the family.”

‘I am shocked and saddened by Michael’s passing,” Turner says. “I, along with his millions of fans, looked forward to seeing him tour one more time. Now, may he rest in peace.”

Marsha Ambrosius: This sadness is hitting me in waves, I swear I can’t look at him or hear his voice without crying…

The MJ Beatles-Itunes deal

Davey D’s blog

Thriller analysis by Scorpeze of WindiMoto
Part 2

Special Ed: RIP Michael Jackson. you affected the entire planet earth. this is GODs plan. AMEN.

Harry Allen remembers Michael

QD3: “I remember making mixtapes for MJ since he couldn’t hit the pavement like he wanted to, kept him up on dances, hot songs etc back in 85″

Danyel Smith of Vibe

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Ledisi: Just can’t believe it! He was big influence on me & so many others. Everything u hear on radio there is a Michael line in it. RIP

Jody Watley’s Blog

Various celebrity responses including Chuck D & Farai Chideya

Phonte from The Foreign Exchange – Music.Mync

Planet Ill

Honey Soul Tribute

Ryan Leslie’s tribute during his Atlanta concert

Ryan Leslie’s Michael Jackson Tribute from Ryan Leslie on Vimeo.

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Soul Summer

Soul Tracks

Dwele – MJ Tribute

All Hip Hop: Michael Jackson Apollo Tribute, Grammy Exhibit Announced

Chris Brown: “Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I will continue to be humbled and inspired by his legacy. My prayers are with his family. Michael will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. He’s the greatest… the best ever. No one will ever be better.”

DJ Premier MJ Tribute Mix < <– 2 Legends!!

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Michael Jackson Tribute (Pictorial)

Bob Davis (Soul-Patrol.com):

My reflections on Micheal Jackson (RIP 1958 – 2009) I was just interviewed and asked to give my reflections on Michael Jackson.

Here is what I said, I dunno if this is how they will run it…

“Michael Jackson was a cultural icon that surpassed all others that you might be tempted to compare him to. Unlike others such as Elvis, the Beatles or others, the legacy created by the Jackson’s was totally ORIGINAL. They truly created something out of nothing and Michael Jackson was the star of that something. Although that might be considered to be an amazing thing, Black Americans have been creating something out of nothing since the beginning of time. Michael Jackson became the most famous person on the face of the earth because of his role in creating something that ultimately he found a way to eclipse. So in effect he first created a star for his family and then created an even bigger star for himself. I don’t think that anyone else has come close to accomplishing that.”

Soul Patrol

Soul Bounce – Never Can Say Goodbye

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(via Necole Bitchie)

Museum of UnCut Funk

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Janet Jackson Speaks at 2009 BET Awards

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A lot of people have asked our opinions on that sham of an awards show, disguised as a Michael Jackson Tribute…. There were some good moments, Jamie Foxx aside from the shameless self promotion, The O’Jays, the Travis Barker cameo, Ne-yo, The New Edition opening, Maxwell, Tyrese, Johnny Gill and Trey Songz with their O’Jays tribute, Monica & Keyshia Cole as well as Beyonce’s performance. Fine, for a standard BET awards show. In this case, “watching” the show via Twitter, was far more entertaining than the show itself. How is that possible?

We were supposed to be glued to our seats in anticipation of what surprise was next, dancing all around the world in celebration and crying our eyes out as we felt the emotion of the night. Instead, we’re left with disturbing images of Lil Wayne performing his “hit”, (which had more bleeps than words), about f’n every girl in the world with a host of underaged girls on stage dancing with him. Really? Is that where we are in ’09? “Why isn’t somebody saying something???”

As a much hyped, much anticipated tribute to the G.O.A.T…….Frankly, it was embarrassing and a tremendous let down. Now, the challenges aside of shifting gears on 3 days notice, it was still unacceptable. For the world to be watching, the resources available and the magnitude of the moment, it was extremely disappointing.

Disappointing to the fans, his legacy and particularly to the family. If you can’t do right by Michael, Katherine, Joe and the rest of the family, for such a time as this, then what’s your purpose? I’m sure a lot of hard work went into the production, but just don’t call it a Michael Jackson tribute. I don’t know, open up with a “tribute” and announce the real tribute for down the road when you can give it the professionalism it deserves. Don’t wait until half way through the show to acknowledge Katherine Jackson.

Where are the rare clips, interviews, montages and exclusive footage? You’re B.E.T.! Where’s the creativity and innovation in performing that Mike represented? What about a clip, twit or statement from his peers, across all genres and forms of entertainment? A clip of the celebrations around the world? Perhaps we expected too much. Davey D articulates this much better than I ever could here. Read it for yourself and watch one of the 50-11 reruns and let us know what you think. Sha’mon.

Phonte from The Foreign Exchange – Teary eyed tribute to the King

BET Awards Reviews – The Michael Jackson Tribute?
Examiner.com
Dear BET: The Michael Jackson tribute (and awards show) was an embarrassment

Dear BET: Comment about the “Tribute”

DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor – Remembering Michael

Greg Tate – Michael Jackson: The Man in Our Mirror

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Berry Gordy Reflects on his relationship with Michael Jackson

“Better On The Other Side” The Game, f/Chris Brown, Diddy, Boyz II Men, Polow Da Don & Mario Winans

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Tributes from Dolly Parton, Elizabeth Taylor, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, “Scream” video director Mark Romanek and others.

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Wiseguy Q&A:Quincy Jones’ fondest and weirdest recollections of Michael Jackson

Promo video for the “This is it” Tour

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Dr. Cornell West & Dr. Michael Eric Dyson on Tavis Smiley assessing Michael Jackson’s cultural and social legacy.

One of Michael’s final rehearsals (thanks to @honeysoul)

Michael Jackson Comeback Promoter AEG Discusses Cancellation

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Michael Jackson: The 1993 Oprah Winfrey interview. Shout out to WSHH & Grown Folks Musik

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Shout out to @soulbounce for this clip

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Shout out to This Is Real Music for this clip.

Michael Jackson Tribute – Stockholm, July 8, 2009

Exclusive: How Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Changed The Music Business

Michael Jackson Rarities & Remixes Top 10 (via Fusicology)

Lalah Hathaway Live at The Essence Festival 2009 – Rock With You
(shout out to @vivrant_thang) for the clip

Eternal Moonwalk – A Tribute to Michael Jackson

Jackson 5 in Africa

Marsha Ambrosius – MJ Tribute @ Jazz Cafe, London

Coldplay – Billie Jean (Live in George @ the Gorge Amphitheatre)
Shout out to Talib for the link!

The Jackson 5 – Forever Came Today (Live)

Keri Hilson Remembers Michael Jackson

Joe Jackson Talks About Cultivating Michael’s Talent

Joe Jackson Talks About Beatings

Mos Def’s MJ Tribute (Live in Chicago)