DUANE POWELL

Nice work from this Los Angeles based up and coming producer Jus. Two solid cosmic hip hop joints both featuring the beautiful tones of electrosoul queen Muhsinah. And as an added bonus, there's also a remix of the title track "Unconventional" done by the cosmic funk goddess Georgia Anne Muldrow. Check it out and cop below.

RC & The Gritz return with their new album, the follow up to their 2013 debut "Pay Your Tab" and TRUST there's no sophomore jinx here. On "The Feel", the Dallas based collective, partly known as Erykah Badu's backing band, kick it up a notch with even tighter grooves. Neo soul would be such a layman's way of describing it but the album definitely has all of the elements that made the genre great and more. A little Jay Dee-esque boom bap, jazzy swing, warm keyboards, hints of

In 1976, Donald Abrams and Prince Rogers Nelson were bandmates in Pepe Willie's 94 East. Abrams handled the lead vocals while Nelson held it down on lead guitar. Shortly before any recordings, Abrams left to join another band. Nelson can be heard on early recordings of 94 East playing alongside his then best friend, bassist Andre Anderson before leaving after securing a deal with Warner Brothers. Abrams would eventually change his stage name to Colonel and go on to take this

Bilal takes us on afrofuturistic trip in the video for his latest single "Pleasure Toy" that features Big K.R.I.T on a verse and taken from his last album "In Another Life". Check it out.

After hearing her amazing debut ep "Roller Coaster" last year, I instantly wanted more from Houston based singer Peyton and at long last, she back making her full length debut with "Peace In The Midst Of A Storm". Peyton light and beautiful voice just soars over the sometimes spaced out soul and 80's funk tinged grooves laid down by producers Chase Of Nazareth and her Milky Wayv labelmate Bobby Earth. At only 18 years old, Peyton is making the future look very bright. Truly o

I was introduced to the talents of eclectic singer Ari Lennox via her mixtapes that were buzzing on the underground almost four years back. Now at 25 years old, the D.C. born singer is ready for the world as she releases her official debut E.P. on J. Cole's Dreamville imprint. On "Pho", Ari melts her edgy blues meets folk meets soul voice into fine tuned trap n' b and jazzy soulful pop. The energy of the project is eclectic fun. Listen to the stream below and then spend those

Houston born trumpeter, singer Sam Trump has truly made Chicago his home and it seems he found his stride in 2016 gigging non stop. His new single "Amazing" speaks to him finally finding his purpose. Back with a wicked staccato drum pattern and vibes that sit between Brazilian and 60's psychedelic pop thanks to the production of the dynamic duo Tensei (Plug Research) and a stellar cast of Chicago's finest musician, this is the best dollar you will spend this year. So go ahead

Last month I had the honors of playing the opening set before DJ legends Timmy Regisford and Ron Trent for the official Felabration 2016 party in Chicago. My set included a mixture of Afro rhythms, afro house, African funk/disco and a few Kuti classics. Check out the recording. Sorry for the abrupt ending. The soundman stopped recording mid song and I haven't quite figured out mp3 editing lol.

I'd like to thank Grammy winning singer Lalah Hathaway for hipping me to this amazing up and coming artist, CROWN. If her upcoming project is anywhere near as satisfying as her first song, we are in for a serious treat. On "Drug", CROWN takes us on an ethereal head trip thanks to the ambient hippy soul production of Jesse Fischer coupled with her somewhat breathy yet so present vocals delivering lyrics about the effects of "addiction". This song takes me back to the days of l

After his killer production contributions to Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly" and Kamasi Washington's "The Epic", trumpeter Josef Leimberg releases his stellar debut album that is seriously a contender for Best Of 2016. "Astral Progressions" takes the listener on an interstellar cosmic ride traveling through 70's jazz fusion, classic hip hop, nusoul, classical and beyond, with an epic list of musicians and singers joining the odyssey along the way including Bilal, Kamas