Compilation - R&B, Neo Soul, and Music to Straight Up Fuck To

Hey All,

So a few people have asked me to put together a little slow jam, neo soul, R&B compilation and so here it is. And of course I’m going to throw down some background info for each track and all that jazz. Well, growing up I was always down with gangsta rap and what not. Then I made some friends and they started getting into girls. Me, being all fat and shy and dorky and different, made it a lot more challenging for me to go around “knocking the keds” with girlies in the playground. Well, that frustrated the hell out of me....like, “hey man, why are you listening to this now? What? What is Boyz II Men? Why do they spell it like that.” Well, I was soon privy to the fact that they weren’t just developing crushes, they were actually doing stuff about it...like holding hands and crap. I remember wishing that we could just go back to playing football on the streets or riding our bikes around and not have me get left behind.

Well, I did. And for years I had to experience it vicariously, stuck as the platonic “brotherly” type while my friends were like rubbing girls’ crotches and feeling boobies and stuff. I had no choice but to listen to the slow jams but then I started to really enjoy the music. Soon enough, I swore to everyone within earshot, “I swear. When I get a girl I’m going to treat her like a queen, because women are royalty. I’ll open doors for them and I’ll talk to them on the phone for hours because I’m so fascinated with them.” So as you would imagine, I was super stoked when I finally landed my first kiss at the old, stale age of 15 (that’s crazy long, huh?). Well the girl ended up using me to get back at her boyfriend (she was 18) and she ate my heart up, El Nino style. With expectations and preconceived notions of what love was supposed to be, I built a monolith.

Then fast forward to 19, driving back from Vegas with Roy and he throws in this CD of an artist called Jazzyfatnastees. Exiting the 605, finding out that our good friend passed away the Friday of, winning the heart of a girl that I would date for a number of years on the Saturday, and getting introduced to what they would later call “Neo Soul” on that Sunday.

Looking back I think I actuall had it best, involuntarily delaying this emotional gratification for the sake of clarity. Now, they both have kids, are fat, lost their edge that made them so desirable in junior high and live in the suburbs. In comparison, I am now very grateful that my weekends are spent with amazing friends and attainable women. And sometimes, when the craigslist “erotic services” price is right, I actually get to feel boobies and stuff, too.

Well, here it is....a collector’s plate of failures and accomplishments, accompanied by an SUV of frustrations.

“Promise” - Jagged Edge
I chose this song because I feel that Jagged Edge were the last of the bonafide, R&B groups. At the time of their arrival, the industry was saturated with songs talking bout “Playa, you done cheated on me, now I’m going to max out your credit card on some Donna Karen.” This was the light at the end of the tunnel, to offer a glimmer of hope until Neo Soul came into my life...

“Breakthrough” - Jazzyfatnastees
....and just fuck it all up! Wow, I discover a genre of music that is reminded me of the glory days. I remember it clearly. Roy said, “This song kinda reminds me of En Vogue.” I rarely like something the first time I hear it; and when I do it’s not too long before it grows tired. I heard this song and I knew my schema of music was going to change forever. I swear if I were to ever get married I’d have them sing at my wedding. (check your inboxes if I ever do...evites, yo)

“I’m Still In Love with You” - New Edition
This is the Wu-Tang Clan of R&B. When they came back, I had no doubt that they would pull off a stunner like this. This song is great. Why can’t we talk about love anymore? When we do, it’s like in an aggressive way; fuck, can we still get our hearts pumping and exploding and still be men? God, you listen to this song and like it or not, someone will definitely come to mind. Listen to it now. Who is it? It’s weird, the heart. Because it really just pumps blood and wasn’t really anything until the Incans made it what it is. Well, you hear this song, and though you feel it in your head, but you also feel that shit in your heart. My friend Trung would always change the first few lines to go, “Your friends got you DRINKING and it’s affecting you.”

“Charlene” - Anthony Hamilton
Saddest song on the list. God, Anthony Hamilton just blew my mind when he first came on the scene. See how many times I’ve used “God?” Maybe that’s why it’s called Neo Soul. Because these songs are so laden with memories and stuff. God might not have been Black, but he must have had some killer sideburns.

“I Want to Be Your Man” - Zapp & Roger
This is the song you play when you’re getting ready for your second date. I mean date like hiking, not date like going to a bar and getting drunk in hopes that she’ll bone you. This is the song you play after a great first date and you’re trying to pump yourself up but at the same time not screw it all up because you actually really like this girl. By the way, a first date that ends in hope is a lot better than a first date that ends in intimacy.

“Even Closer” - Goapele
Baby making music. That’s it.

“Purple” - Crustation
Again. No comment here. Just another song to play for those instances where you are just trying to fornicate.

“Till You Do Me Right” - After 7
I really had to throw this in there. I think I dedicated this to the countless women that have cheated on me. And in turn, it’s been dedicated to me a few times also. Funny how you console a friend that just got out of a relationship; it’s always what the other person did wrong, huh?

“Slow Dance” - John Legend
John Legend is great. Can’t you just picture yourself dancing to this song? Socks sliding across the linoleum. Hips rocking in perfect unison; the way ducks’ butts sway with the moving tide.

“Just Friends” - Musiq Soulchild
This is just a great, smooth, playful song. I like this song because it’s just like, “whatever baby...let’s just have fun with each other.” He could put me in the seat of a used Chrysler LeBaron with bullet holes in the door and I’ll be like, “SOLD!”

“So Good” - Davina
Another baby making song. Including this one because Roy and I promoted her album..I think it was in conjunction with Chico DeBarge and Erykah Badu’s album release party at the Key Club? Es verdad? Either way, she never got big, at all; but she still remains relevant. Little Brother even refers to this song (big props to anyone that can figure it out).

“You’re Gonna Leave” - Stephen Marley
I picked this song because it shows the dark side of women also. Ever watch Casino? No matter how successful or smart or wise you are, a man’s greatest weakness is a confident women. Fucking nuts. A way to his man’s heart is through his stomach? Nah, it’s through his Achilles' heel. Trip me all you want, with your luscious bad self.

Women, I love you all. Sleep with me. Ok, print this out and spray some Eternity cologne on it.

Now will you?

-- Sonnyred

http://www.box.net/shared/kxjv7k81sb
Please let me know what you think