Bootsy Collins is the Man Who Put Bass In Yer Face — the original funk ‘n’ roll wild child, the Godzilla-toned high minister of the all-powerful “one,” a sly dog who— with his trademark psychedelic stovepipe, knee-high platform boots and star-studded bass guitars — makes the Cat in the Hat look tame. Inspired by Jimi […]

Once upon a time there were great funk/R&B bands like Earth Wind & Fire, The Meters, War, Kool & The Gang, Slave, and numerous others who constantly broke down musical barriers. The musicality of these units was superior – they could rock or funk out as easily as they could move the crowd with a […]

“I’m always fighting to go further. Once you hit a plateau, it’s time to create another. I’m just getting started.” He was once hailed as the “new voice of ghetto soul.” No more. Avant can now be hailed as the “new voice of modern soul.” The proof is in the listening as the singer prepares […]

The first human beatbox in the rap world, and still the best of all time, Doug E. Fresh amazed audiences with his note-perfect imitations of drum machines, effects, and often large samples of hip-hop classics. Fresh was born Doug E. Davis in Barbados, and his first appearance came in 1983 on a single for Spotlight […]

If Eric Benet’s career can be defined by anything, it’s the purity of emotion. He’s consistently made music that speaks to love and speaks from the soul and on Lost In Time he does it once again. Featuring duets with Faith Evans, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi and the O’Jays Eddie Levert, Lost In Time is at […]

Since her childhood in L.A.’s eclectic urban culture, singer Leela James has woven the soul tradition into and around every corner of her creative identity. Deep within her rich and powerful voice are the echoes of Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Gladys Knight and other iconic divas of generations past. And yet, James’ brand of soul […]

For three decades, vocalist Angie Stone has been surprising audiences, critics, peers and the music industry itself. Born and raised in the Southern gospel tradition – while at the same time absorbing the gritty and impassioned anthems generated by soul icons of the 1960s – Stone has since mapped a life-long journey that encompasses rap, […]

It’s often said that life, like the music industry, goes in cycles. So it is for Kevon Edmonds — singer, songwriter, producer and proud carrier of the R&B torch. His new album, Who Knew, marks another milestone in the career of a man who embodies the word artist: recording only the finest material, putting his […]