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Jeffrey Osborne Jeffrey Osborne
That's for Sure
(Private Music)
With his distinctive baritone voice and attractive vocal arrangements, Jeffrey Osborne has garnered a Grammy nomination for "That's For Sure", his first studio album in eight years. The lushly produced 12-track set is a pleasing mix of ballads and mid-tempo cuts that confirms Osborne as one of R&B's enduring talents.

1. "Patience, Perseverance, Payoff" - Vocalist Jeffrey Osborne considers himself a veteran artist, and is grateful for the recognition he's finally receiving.
2. "Love Ballad" - After all these years, "Love Ballad" remains an Osborne signature.
3. "Telling It Like It Is" - Osborne doesn't shy away from the illicit, the sad or the lovely when writing songs. All experience is fuel for his fire.
4. "Dedicated to the One He Loves" - Osborne talks about his father's sacrifice, and why this album is dedicated to brother.


© Copyright 2001, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Gordon Chambers Gordon Chambers
Introducing Gordon Chambers
(Chamber Music)
Urban soul singer-songwriter Gordon Chambers' days of writing hits for others may be ending. His debut CD stands out for its emotion, mood and musicianship. Chambers flips the script for urban pop featuring male vocalists. Instead of singing to women, he sings about what men feel.

1. "Introducing" - Gordon Chambers says he's always wanted to do a solo recording, but needed a certain kind of push.
2. "Slipping Away" - Gordon Chambers says his solo voice comes from singing about how men really feel.
3. "My Imagination" - This live cut and others made the CD, he says, because it rang true.
4. "Touch You There" - The CD's opening cut was prompted a particular New York City trend.

Visit artist's web site: http://www.gordonchambers.com


© Copyright 2004, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
DJ Muggs DJ Muggs
Soul Assassins Vol. II
After the successful 1997 release of the first Soul Assassins album, DJ Muggs found himself pestered to produce another hot line-up of rhymers backed up by his dark beats. This time he has a different take on the East Coast/ West Coast collaboration, and hooks up exclusively with underground artists.

1. "The Project" - DJ Muggs thought he was done with the Soul Assassins project. Here's why he changed his mind.
2. "Smoke Signals" - Muggs went back to his smoked-out musical roots to create the hazy sound of this production.
3. "Beats, Body and Soul" - He knows what it takes to rap to his beats, and Muggs takes no prisoners in telling you what it is.
4. "Mission to Mentor" - For Muggs, helping younger artists is an important part of the Soul Assassins project.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Guru Guru
Jazzmatazz III: Street Soul
(Virgin)
MC and Producer Guru, originally of Gang Starr fame, is back in the studio with another genre-bending collection of musical collaborators, from Angie Stone and Erykah Badu, to The Roots, Isaac Hayes, and Herbie Hancock. Street Soul is the third installment of Jazzmatazz, and the music is fresh and original. Guru has polish. He also has soul.

1. "Guru and Friends" - MC and Producer Guru spent nearly a year on the road working with the all-star cast of Street Soul.
2. "Strong Women" - Working with Angie Stone and Erykah Badu, among others. Talent? They got plenty!
3. "Spontaneity" - Dropping in on the Roots. Revisiting a classic with Isaac Hayes.
4. "Fatherhood" - He’s proud of his new record, but Guru says his new son has changed his life.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Damita Damita
Damita
(Atlantic)
Damita believes that people are sick and tired of the raunchiness in a lot of today’s R&B. On her debut CD, the former back-up singer for Aretha Franklin challenges the field with urban grooves that bridge the divide between gospel and mainstream music. Damita and her husband, Deitrick Haddon, have penned a well-rounded set of songs that are lyrically satisfying no matter what your taste or faith.

1. "Universal Music" - Damita wanted to create an album with a positive message that cut across musical boundaries.
2. "The Wedding Song" - How a song meant for her wedding ended up benefiting Damita’s career.
3. "What Miss Franklin Taught" - A chance meeting with Aretha Franklin opened her eyes and her heart.
4. "Holdin' On" - Damita talks about faith, and the driving guitar riff that put her on the map.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
tonex Tonex
Pronounced Toe-Nay
(Verity)
Tonex believes in creating his own buzz, and with his first major-label release the gospel artist has done just that. His musical virtuosity and soulful ear have garnered comparisons to Stevie Wonder and Prince. While his message may be that of salvation, his beats are exuberant, straight up funk.

1. "Dressed To Chill" - Singer/songwriter Tonex pushes the image of Gospel music right to its edge.
2. "Just Tell Him What’s Up" - For Tonex, God is no stranger, but a personal friend.
3. "Toe-nay, Tonex" - Tonex explains his "ex"-rated moniker.
4. "Future Shock" - Tonex mixes the past and the present to capture the music of the future.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
No Question No Question
No Question
On their self-titled debut release No Question upholds Philadelphia’s reputation for producing some of the freshest sounds in R&B. The disciplined vocals of this quartet hark back to the days of classic soul, but their sound is definitely modern.

1. "All About Love" - Songwriter and producer Damon Jer’Core takes us through his songwriting cycle of romance.
2. "Boys Next Door" - "You can’t judge a book by its cover" is the motto of these young men and the message of their hit single "I Don’t Care".
3. "Going in Deeper" - Mothers love them. Girls want them. No Question takes sensuality to the edge.
4. "Al Green et al" - What Damon learned from the master of soul.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Will Downing Will Downing
All The Man You Need
(Motown)
Singer/Songwriter Will Downing is prolific. His latest release, "All The Man You Need", is his eighth album in just twelve years. On this recording, Downing sets aside his contemporary jazz styling and gives wings to his R&B roots.

1. "Vocal Motion" - Singer/Songwriter Will Downing shows off his masterful vocal technique in a symphony of a capella harmony.
2. "Tired Melody" - Downing finds some of his best material in the romantic ups and downs of life.
3. "Chanteuse Chante" - Singing a duet with Chante Moore proved almost too much to bear. What made Will so nervous?
4. "Grandma's Hands" - Downing struggled to interpret Bill Wither’s classic song, "Grandma’s Hands", but in the end realized he can only do the best he knows how.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
ASCAP 2002 R&B Grant Winners
ASCAP 2002 R&B Grant Winners
(ASCAP)
In the fall of 2002, the ASCAP Foundation and The Heineken Music Initiative announced the winners of a special R&B grant program for promising songwriters in five major markets across the country. What follows are sound portraits featuring the winners and their music - a mix of talented writers, producers and singers.

1. "Hilaire Charles" - The Miami winner's "Beautiful Girl" began as a jazz composition but turned into something else - including a proposal to his wife.
2. "Jamilah Windham" - The Chicago winner says "Not The Way" is one of her best songs and favorite to perform.
3. "Robbie Odom" - The Los Angeles winner says "Special Lady," co-written with Kevin Davis and Jon Wesley, comes from an album about the cycle of love and relationships.
4. "Erika Bryant" - The Altanta winner's "No Way" is a true story about a relationship that wasn't meant to be.
5. "Deanna DellaCioppa" - The New York winner says "I've Been Waiting (Someone Like You)" was written as an inspirational song with co-writer Marcus Bell.

Visit artist's web site: http://www.ascap.com


© Copyright 2002, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Stephen Simmonds Stephen Simmonds
Spirit Tales
On his U.S. debut, Swedish singer/songwriter Stephen Simmonds has compiled a soulful collection of original songs. His evocative melodies embrace R&B, jazz and pop, and his lush vocals evoke Stevie Wonder and The Beatles.

1. "Alone No More" - Stephen Simmonds’ Swedish album may have been called "Alone", but he's been anything but that since its release.
2. "Songwriting" - Songwriting may come fairly easily, but becoming a singer was a bit of a surprise.
3. "Made in Sweden" - Simmonds just can't find words to describe the difference between Swedish and American radio.
4. "Spirit Tales" - Simmonds believes that music is a powerful force for good, and he hopes his music spreads that positive vibe.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Analog Brothers Analog Brothers
Pimp to Eat
(Ground Control Records)
Kool Keith, the man of a thousand weird personalities,and gangsta rapper Ice-T headline this collaborative excursion into growling, retro synthesizers and freaky, sci-fi lyrics. The Analog Brothers are Ice Oscillator (aka Ice-T), Keith Korg (aka Kool Keith), Silver Synth (aka Black Silver) and Rex Roland JX39 (aka Pimp Rex). They deliver their rapid-fire, often X-rated rhymes over heavy tracks of classic analog synthesizer funk.

1. "Analog!" - Kool Keith (“Keith Korg”) talks about the classic synths on the record, and takes a few shots at the monotony of the latest studio sound.
2. "Power Funk" - No cartoon music, no cha-chas, no poodles.
3. "Bionic Oldsmobile" - The Analog Brothers are seasoned pros, says Keith, and they treated the studio like an automobile assembly line.
4. "Wild Thing" - Just four guys sharing their freaky fantasies.
5. "Kool Keith Bonus Track" - Black Elvis, Dr. Octagon, Mr. Gerbik, Dr. Doom--who are these weird personalities who inhabit the Being called Keith?


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
Bahamadia Bahamadia
BB Queen
After a four year recording hiatus, Bahamadia knew she could not let the microphone remain silent for much longer. On BB Queen, the follow-up to her highly acclaimed debut release, she is back in full form with her signature jazzy flow and socially responsible lyricism.

1. "BB Queen: The Royal Project" - How self-respect and late night TV shaped the name of the CD.
2. "Cheap Chicks" - Forget the cash money hype. This is Bahamadia’s anthem for the commonwealth.
3. "Pep Talk and Poetry" - Bahamadia rises to the occasion and becomes the poet laureate of the drum and bass scene.
4. "Beautiful Things" - A lyrical challenge to news media everywhere.


© Copyright 2000, BEHINDtheBEAT, Inc.
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