U ea Kae ?

This one makes for some good sunday listening, Sibongile has one of those voices that realy moves you, a timeless expressive sharp but smooth falceto that stirs up emotions on each listen. U ea kae moshanyana? (wer u goin lil niguh) this is a very self-reflective song, u knw its hard to know where the road turns like black thot said, "we'r Living the story of the most twisted kind, Turbulent times swirled around r dome like a turban, It gets disturbing, feelin alone in the urban". This song is off her 98' album, Ancient Evenings and is definately a classic; This album has artists like Tu Nokwe on backing vocals and the legendary Moses Molelekwa is playing that piano in-case u where wondering y it has that familiar tone to it, he also produced some trax on the album. here u go:

Sibongile Khumalo - U ea Kae
http://www.yousendit.com/download/MEtSUXVzTkw0b0I1VEE9PQ

Lifetime

Its Friday! thank Funk once again. I found this soulful mosdef song while taking some time out to listen to his new 'True Magic'; an album I've been dreading to listen to, u know, I was scared in case it was like that New Danger he released 2 years ago; alas how i have deprived myself, this is a very good album...now i know good is relative, so leme just say its a banga, from the infamous 'Dollar day aka Katrina Klap', to wrestling with the demons in the industry in 'The Rape Over', he brings back that social consciousness thats missing in hiphop today. Its crazy u know, with mos' A-list hollywood career, people have been sayin all kinda things, like "ahhh he forgot how to rap.... or he shud get Bruce Willis to produce his albums look at what he did for his acting", haha. This album was also droped amidst rumours that he was just doing the project coz hes obliged to, and he's leaving his recording label, afta all said and done, if Mos Def continues to make soulful hiphop music and doesnt stop striking the empire back, cats can miss me with alla that negativity. This jawn kinda reminds me of Umi Says, from way back in the day, It's been in my head the whole week, real inspirational stuff. Enjoy the weekend.

Mos Def - Lifetime
http://www.yousendit.com/download/UFh2eW55d0lrWTk1VEE9PQ

Get Up (Sex Machine)

This has gota be one of my fav JB songs eva, closely followed by Funky Drummer, Payback and Popa Dont Take No Mess, mostly because its kinda like about me u see...neways the godfatha is finally gona get a decent funeral, i think they cudnt decide where to bury him or sumin, personaly i dont knw y dead bodies dont jus get cremated, we need the land peeps. He's the godfatha of Soul music in-case u ddnt know (no affiliations to the mafia, altho with James u neva know), the guy that put the 'rumble' in Ali-Foreman's rumble in the jungle. This song was first released on his Sex Machine album in 1970 and was a major hit, btw JB has to be the most sampled soul/funk musician in hiphop, chek how lines like 'shake ur money maker' are still being thrown around today, and of course Funky drummer is like on every hiphop producers' sampler. All I gota say is well miss u JB u been gone for a while now, but the eye-make up and permed hair will neva be forgoten, RIP. yeeeeaaayaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!

James Brown - Get UP (I feel like being a sex machine)
http://www.yousendit.com/download/eURDQmtkNmNrWTk1VEE9PQ

Mo Bophelong

I started listening to the 8 piece strong, Kwani Experience late last year afta they blew up with the Jazz Festival n all and missing all their shows in the slaapcity :-( dunno how I actually feel bout their 'Birth of the Muthaland Funk' (can I really listen to it from begining to end?) but I think that its got some beautiful songs on there, and Ill probably appreciate it more with time and if I where to see them live. One thing I can say howeva is this is gr8 inspiring music, a lot of funky stuff there, u know very urban, inna city jazzy kinda vibe to it. Original stuff from mzansis' youngins is hard to find nowadays... have u heard that sista betina stuff? Ok this song Mo Bophelong, is sung beautifully in Sepedi by the equally bangin lead-singer Nosisi, listen as she encourages u to go out and get whats urs, despite the pitfalls that life will always eva so generously hand out to u , u gota put in the hard work! theres a Busi Mhlongo kinda vibe to it, and the piano keeps it vibey, go get:

Kwani Experience - Mo Bophelong
http://www.yousendit.com/download/T2pFUGhTSWViV3g1VEE9PQ

BABY

Baby if u let me go i swear i swear ill just change ur mind! The legendary still bringing more heat that osama in september 01. Anybody tell me what the grammys represent nowadays? or if they have eva been relevant to hiphop, coz if they are, then The Roots shuda won hiphop album of the year; but then again if wishes where horses.... This song off Game Theory features John-John of Nouvoue Riche (Anotha South Philly group to check out, members include Roots ex MC Dice Raw), puts truth to the fact that The Roots always be make banging "love jawns" with lyrics that get u kinda thinkin bout ur situations n shyte. I was hoping they'd get anotha nod from the grammy poepols, but i guess the lack of push for the album, whetha it was as a result of DefJam and president Carter not giving a shyte, or a lack of enterprising from the fellas by not puting out more singles/videos etc, definately had something to do with it; i mean Ludacris' 'Release Therapy' is bangin, but his grandmoma be bumpin Game Theory to church. u heard.

The Legendary Roots Crew - Baby
http://www.yousendit.com/download/MzZHaklnT01CSWQ1VEE9PQ

Nothing But Your Love

I promised to put out sumin more cheerful today, and it comes courtesy of the l8g8 hiphop beatmaker slash mc slash producer, also former member of Slum Villa, Jay Dee aka Jdilla. This song is taken of a mixtape called "Soulful Genius - Library of a Legend". Legendary he is indeed, Jdilla was influencial in some of the gr8test hiphop albums to come out in our times, from ATCQ's 'Beats Rhymes and Life' to Busta's 'The coming' and the gr8 Voodoo album. This song, is a remix of a track done by anotha legend in the making, Toshi Kubota, a soul-music pioneer from Japan; This guy has put out albums in both Japanese and English, he's also dabled in reggae and popish sounds, he's been getting a lota love from guys like ?uestLove and Saadiq (in a musical sense), and Ill sure be checking out for him afta hearing this remix. Anyways enjoy this one for a change, dont be so ante, go out buy flowers and chocolate, remind em that u aint theyr sunshine or ocean ur just they love!

Toshi Kubota - Nothing But Your Love /Jay Dee Remix
http://www.yousendit.com/download/ZGJmYURGUnJiV3g1VEE9PQ

Walk On By

Wat's beef mara hey? this is a great song for the jilted on valentines eve. Basicaly just pop in this song, be cool calm, puff on a cigarete and wish ur ex-lover/s a miserable valentines day just as urs is gona be... aiite, or if u need some relief from that red-red wine, pray that they dont see u "hao tsamaya ka le-keke"; coz u knw theyll be glad they dumped ur ass.
Dione dropped this mellowed out beauty, back in 64' u heard! Clearly rap producers like Amu, spend a lot of time digging the crates, I mean u get paid to do that, can u imagine?? This song was her biggest hit that summer, and has been sampled many times ova by guys like Amu for HHP and even Isaac Hayes on his ground-breaking Hot Buttered Soul.
Shame man...
"walk on by, let me grieve in private, coz each time I see u, I just break-down and cry, foolish pride is all that i have! so let me hide;" tiff tiff. We must find something more cheerful for valentines! here u go:

Dione Warwrick - Walk On By
http://www.yousendit.com/download/WTNKVWRqb0JrWTk1VEE9PQ

Move on Up

Recently sampled by Kanyeeze for his "Touch the Sky" The horns on this track are just legendary, kinda like a good pick-up for a gloomy weather monday like this. Curtis one of the first soul singers to include sociopolitical messages in his music, laying the foundation for many artists including Bob Marley and 'concious rappers' like Common n em; a legendary self-taught guitar player, his hard-hitting riffs where influencial in the development of Funk. Curtis was sadly paralysed neck-down in a studio accident, but continued to compose and record music till his death in 99. This dance track first appeared on his debut solo album - Curtis in 1970, and the upbeat feel to it has helped it age well, and still gets heads bumpin everytime it gets a spin. Don wori, only 5days to go b4 friday, here u go...

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
http://www.yousendit.com/download/UFVyMWZIcVhveE41VEE9PQ

So Many Tearz

Sombre mood Tupac classic, this track off 'Me against the World' was sampled off The Temptation's "My Girl" one of the most profound examples of true and honest hip hop lyricsm, an mc completely in-touch with his soul and feelings; Tupac had so many hectic issues in his life id have to leave 3 life times to go thru what he went thru in his short life. But I really feel what hes going thru here, people/life can push u to levels and thots that'll make u wona jump the edge, whateva ur edge is. Check this out:

3rd Verse, last bar:
I'm barely standing, bout to go to pieces, screaming peace
and though my soul was deleted, I couldn't see it
I had my mind full of deamons tryin' ta break free
they planted seeds and they hatched sparking tha flame
in my brain like a match, such a dirty game
no memories, just misery
painting a picture of my enemies killing me in my sleep
will I survive till' tha morning ta see tha sun
please lord forgive me for my sins
cause here I come...

So Many Tearz - Tupac
http://www.yousendit.com/download/T1Vua3NRT01VVGw1VEE9PQ

Lets Groove Tonight

Thank Funk and Soul its Friday! Pick up this one here, put on a fro, dont forget the comb, call some peeps, pop it in the ride and take that shyte to town; Or just do like Snoop, push and ur lighter and spark a fire, glide like a 747 if u know whatimean. Pity the slaapcity is pissing down nonstop like a guy with prostate problems today. But Im not gona let that shizzy faze me; this song's got one of the craziest basslines I've eva heard, does anyone knw if its been sampled yet? This jawn was released in 1980, before i was even a thot in my dad s crazy imagination, it's the group s' biggest eva hit and was on their RISE! album, clearly it still bangs. These guys have been at it 30yrs plus, they are as huge a legacy of soul/funk music as bellbottoms are to the 70s, they did it all for us, so go ahead... groove tonite!

Earth Wind and Fire - Lets Groove Tonite
http://www.yousendit.com/download/T1VuS3drdVVveE41VEE9PQ

Josephine

Ahh this niguh, Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks aka Pretty Toney aka IronMan aka Ghostidini he of the complex crazy abstract rhymeschemes neva drops a wack verse, i like his verses on tracks like this one, where he just brings on the edge to a soulful beat; this time crafted by dj Hi-Tek of Reflection Ertenal fame.
This song is off Hi-Tek s sophomore album Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip, and it features Ghost, Pretty Ugly and the Willie Cottrell Band. This is Hi-Tek s return to glory afta his album was shelved, u know how the record companies be doing niguhs. A nice upbeat track with soulful chords and keys, but its Ghost that steals the show here, hes' still spitting intelligent, insanely funny rhymes like 20yrs later.."Yo, I know this chick from the hood named Courtney Cox and her brain is easy to pick like faulty locks
She's awfully hot, asshole burning like tobasco"
btw Go buy this Hi-Tek album and Ghost's Fishscale, no disapoint mon!

Josephine (Ft. The Willie Cottrell Band, Ghostface & Pretty Ugly)
http://www.yousendit.com/download/K0JUeW4vYWJ6NE41VEE9PQ

Water No Get Enemy

If u want to go wash, ah water U go Use! Fela, the black president, king of kalakuta republic, man of many wives, haha. I love this song, Fela's afro beat trumpeting is just enough to make my day any day! just ask Mbeki he blogs while drinking whisky and smoking his pipe jamming 'getleman' haha; im not making this up he sed it in a ymag interview some time ago. I was actually trying to get hold of the Red Hot Riot version of this song, twas recorded by the soulaquarians for that Fela tribute album. if anyone's got it, hulla at your boy!
Neways its been said that this song is a metaphoric comparison of water to the then Nigerian goverment or any frigin goverment for that matter, coz if water kill ur baby water u go use nahmean? The track was released as part of a 2 track album - Expensive Shyte by Fela and his Africa 70 band, yes there really was 70 of them, and he married alla the chix, haha; and it is moerse long so this here is the edited version from Fela's greatest hits album, a double disc that came out in 99. Geniet!

Fela and the Africa 70 - Water No Get Enemy:
http://www.yousendit.com/download/K0JSd0VGSWg0b0I1VEE9PQ

Poetry ft Ebadu and Qtip

Imagine Qtip, E badu, Me'shell Ndegeochello,Roy Hargrove on one track, its gota be fire right? Well dammit it is! this here song is the jam. It took me a while to finally play it, and I dont knw y but Im glad I finally did.
This jawn is from Roy Hargrove (Hectic Trumpet player btw) 's project called The RH factor - Distractions, wich features colabos with the mentioned artists and guys like d'angelo on the grammy nominated "Ill Stay" (check out the last track on the radio); Hargrove is an experimental jazz artist and I think he deserves more recognition. The track s highlights r of course miss Ndegeochello 's base and Roy 's trumpet, but i think Badu does very well with her chant, kinda like reminds u of Momas' gun. I wish Roy wud play the Jazz fest in cape town one day, but hey one can only wish. Hey Queenofhearts enjoy!

http://www.yousendit.com/download/YWhQRFFmYWJCSWQ1VEE9PQ

Open Your Eyes

What a beautiful song, originally writen and performed by Bobby CaldWell, also famously sampled by Common for his 'The Light' on Like water for Choclate. I've had this Dwele jawn for ages and I just rediscovered it; I've always liked Dwele s music from his first album to his very successful colabos with Slum Village and i think hes one of those cats that have given true soulfull music the respect it lost sometime ago when cats like rkelly started droping the bump and grinds of this world. This here song attests to the fact that Andwele can still bring in the soul in this era of booty shaking and paris hiltonin. Ill actualy be puting up a dwele radio blog later to pay tribute to the guy. Ok here we go:

Dwele: Open Your Eyes

http://www.yousendit.com/download/dXFVeUNKY3l6NE41VEE9PQ

OHIO - The Isley Brothas

Was listening to this track last nite, tryna find something to bring me up, now this a very very powerful song, with a Jimi hendrix influence, Ron even mentions Jimi towards the end. This is one soulful jawn with twists and turns that will have a true soulhead jumping up and down like a 3 year old throwing a tantrum at pick n pay. Heads might also know that this is a cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio,” a song about the National Guard killings of four student protesters on May 4, 1970, at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. It appeared on the Isleys’ 1971 Givin’ It Back, done as a nine-minute medley with Hendrix’s “Machine Gun.” Ill try and get my hands on that Jimi track soon and put it out.
So without further deliberation, I present to u, OHIO by the Isley brothas. Enjoy!

http://www.yousendit.com/download/dXFVWGJEQ0NVVGw1VEE9PQ

NOT yet UHURU!

I saw ausi Leta on TV the otha day, shes actually in the process of recording a new album, n i mean its been ages since she dropped some fresh jawns; Yeah what can i say this is sposed to be a soul music blog, n i rate any kinda music has got some soul init, unless its that doof doof house crap ;-)
But when it comes to soul music I dont think anyone can do it like us Africans and this song here is one of those songs that just reminds me of my childhood, I mean i grew up in some craphole called bophutatswana which was a fake-ass country, imean can u imagine!!??
So i neva new what apartheid was and i swear to god i neva had any idea, the lengths to which human cruelty can reach. I mean here u are as a kid, no idea, no idea whatsoeva y this lady is singing bout Us not being able to vote etc, but u like the beat anyways so u just get down to it, on some yeah NOT yet UHURU man; But this song is more relevant now than eva in our lifes, because I believe that SAfricans are slowly loosing a grip on that piece of Uhuru guys like biko and hani died for. I believe we all need to do some soul searching and try to find that inna ubuntu that we so need at the moment. Homicices and rapes and all the crimes of hate!s RIP Richard Ishmail, Not yet UHURU!

http://www.yousendit.com/download/dXFWeVdwQk5veE41VEE9PQ

Glitches

I woke up and it was pouring down rain!
Some yall mite have heard The Roots' "Game Theory" by now, I rate it is the best studio effort by these guys, although I knw some peeps that might disagree?? anyways these guys are the best band out the at the moment and they just keep getting beta. word is and has been that theyre due to perform in mzansi this year but well have to see it to belive it innit? oh btw this song is not from Game Theory, but its one of those rare releases (Down to Earth movie soundtrack)and it feauters one of the most beautiful women In the music industry, Amel Larrieux of Groove Theory fame, u mite be wondering what happened to her? yeah.... well she got married and i guess shes makin babies like Lauryn haha, oh and she droped thatMorning album not so long ago. u mite wona check it out.
So blogers and Lurkers I present to you The Roots ft Amel Larieux ' Glitches'.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/OHo0eUNOOW5iV3g1VEE9PQ

Ive got SOUL

I had a revelation yesterday, like whoa i need to start bloging again. I used to have a blog called planetlebz.blogspot.com but kinda lost touch with it, so im back and its on like donkey kong! haha. yeah what im gona do is talk about music and only music unless something realy pisses me off and i have to rant and rave.
Ill also be puting up yousendit links to the mp3 files of the songs so uall can dig in. very much like the onesoulfulnegro blog that i realy dig; but yeah i jacked the idea so what. i think its cool. newho without further adue, ladies and gents, blogers and lurkers i present to u "AFRICA" by Phonte of lil brother fame m sure a lot of yall castle beer guzlers will be familiar with this here tune from that tv ady from a while ago. but some of yall will know this song was originally done by TOTO;
theres something bout the way Phonte sings this tune ....a certain sincerity i last heard in d'angelo s voodoo. My eyes start watering a bit when he gets into the 'sheees waiiiiting for UUUUuuu' haha, but ull knw what im taliking bout once ure done dowloading it down ur pathetic telkom line at work. haha. jokes. PEACE enjoy.

Here u go. Phonte (lil brother) Africa :
http://www.yousendit.com/download/OHo2WUhncG9RYTk1VEE9PQ