Listen: VV Brown’s New Mixtape "The Playground"

Following the release of her new single "Children" featuring Chiddy (from Chiddy Bang), British songstress VV Brown has just dropped her new mixtape titled "The Playground".It is beautiful, and an awesome bridge between her first album and her forthcoming second album.

Here is what VV has to say on it:

“Making an album is a process of experimenting and a lot of songs get lost, changed, redone or discarded. Touring makes you fall into a bubble, real life doesn’t exist and everything is exciting with a sense of appreciation for the shows and the people that come to see you play, but a plastic experience backstage. When I came of the road, locked in my studio and home again, this was my place of experimenting and finding myself again, but not the old self, a more mature experienced self. Before making a solid album I thought it would be amazing to make a mix-tape. A real window into the process of experimentation and creativity. Its a very low-fi attempt to show you where my head was at and where it was going up to a polished record.

The mixtape is called the Playground, centered around this concept about questioning the youth and where we are at as a generation much in line with what Im talking about overall in alot of the songs I’m singing. A twisted sense of naivety and innocence with an undertone of cynicism and debate about the mirage that we really need to see what really is going on.” – VV Brown

New Music: Tyrese Feat. Melanie Fiona – "The Rest Of Our Lives"

Another version of Tyrese's new single"The Rest Of Our Lives" has leaked and this one features Canadian songstress Melanie Fiona, while it's not clear which version will make the cut for his forthcoming album "Open Invitation."Both Brandy and Melanie Fiona each bring their own special touch to this beautiful love song, but Brandy`s version sounds alot better and her vocals fit perfectly with the production and they compliment Tyrese`s vocals. Tyrese explained the premise of “The Rest Of Our Lives”: “This is a wedding song that was written for the ‘First Dance” where the husband is speaking blessings into his wife’s life and she’s doing the same in the second verse” We were long overdue for a new classic wedding song embrace and enjoy”.

New Music: Tyrese Feat. Brandy - "The Rest Of Our Lives"

R&B singer-songwriter Tyrese recruits R&B veteran Brandy for his new single titled "The Rest Of Our Lives", a smooth duet is taken from his forthcoming fifth studio album "Open Invitation", which is due to be released on November 1st. The two take us through the romance of a day-to-day relationship, deciding on who needs and wants what, as they continue to fall and fall for one another. This is really a great R&B song,it is always good when the artist actually can deliver lyrical sense.

New Music: V.V. Brown Feat. Chiddy Bang - "Children (Keep On Singing)"

British songstress VV Brown has just released her new track titled "Children (Keep On Singing)"featuring Chiddy of Chiddy Bang, it is the first release off her forthcoming sophomore album, which is currently untitled. The single was produced by Chuck Harmony and it samples the nursery rhyme “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”, the song was also inspired by this past summer’s London riots: “the song was written about a generation that has uninspiring aspirations and believes material wealth is what happiness is."-VV Brown. The song is available on iTunes.

New Video: Ledisi - "So Into You"

Grammy -nominated songstress Ledisi has just premiered her music video for "So Into You", the latest single from her critically acclaimed, sixth studio album, "Pieces of Me". The video was directed by Erica D. Hayes and Produced by Fig Street Films. Chemistry abounds between the two characters in the video that flows naturally against a backdrop of sun, cool breeze and the boudoir.

New Video: Adele - "Someone Like You"

British songstress Adele has just premiered her music video for her new single "Someone Like You," the second single taken from her successful sophomore album 21. The black-and-white video was shot in Paris and directed by Jake Nava."The location evokes style and romance and shooting early in the morning allows you to focus on Adele in this lonely and emotional space."-Jake Nava. "Someone Like You" has already been certified platinum for sales in excess of one million downloads. Adele's 21 is the biggest selling album of 2011 with over 10 million units sold worldwide. And it has remained in the top 3 of Billboard's Top Album charts for 30 weeks since its release on February 22nd.

New Video: Jessie J - "Who You Are"

British songtress Jessie J has premiered her music video for her new single "Who You Are", taken from her debut album with the same name, produced by Toby Gad. The song is a masterpiece and a perfect next single, releasing a ballad which showcasess her amazing vocals at their best. I love the song, but the music video is a bit boring.

New Video : Kelly Clarkson - "Mr Know It All"

Pop/Rock songstress Kelly Clarkson recently-premiered her music video for her new single "Mr Know It All", the Brian Kennedy-produced mid-tempo pop track serves as the lead single of Kelly's forthcoming album "Stronger" due out in October 24th. The music video was directed by Justin Francis, simple but goes straight to the point. The wall of doubt is covered with negative headlines about Kelly intesify the song's meaningful lyrics.

Remembering Barry White

It is fitting that Barry White's 1994 comeback album was called The Icon Is Love, because to a generation of Soul Music fans, Barry White was an icon who represented the sensual side of love. His deep, sexy voice was mimicked but never matched by any other bass singer, and his dedication to music of love and romance achieved for him singular status among male soul singers of the latter 20th century. One of the most recognizable figures in popular music for three decades, White was both a talented songwriter and producer, but was ultimately known around the world simply as "the Voice."

Born in Texas and raised in SoCal, Barry White started his career as a notable teenage session pianist. But his real desire was to become a producer, and after a number of increasingly important roles at small record labels, he formed the girl group Love Unlimited (featuring future wife Glodean) and wrote and produced for them the sweet 1972 single "Walking In the Rain (With the One I Love)." It became a top ten smash and opened a new world of opportunity for White.

He wanted to follow with production of a romantic album for a male vocalist, and was reluctantly convinced to record it himself, using his distinctive bass voice and his penchant for lush arrangements. The result was the 1973 hit song "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby," the first of a string of smashes he recorded for 20th Century Records. For the remainder of the 70s White, working with super-arranger Gene Page, was among the hottest producers in popular music, scoring a #1 single with his Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme" and landing a series of his own sex-charged hits, including "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness," "Playing Your Game Baby" and "It's Ecstacy When You Lay Down Next To Me." Though mostly romance-oriented, White's songs were not languid ballads, but had a danceable groove and lush orchestration to them that made them precursors to the disco movement that would dominate popular music by 1978.

White's reputation as a "loverman" singer turned into a bit of a caricature, and by the 1980s changes in musical styles and a one-dimensional view of White's contributions to popular music led to slippage in his sales. He went the entire decade without a top ten hit (save his memorable contribution to Quincy Jones' "The Secret Garden"). Then a move to A&M Records and a renewed appreciation in White's style of romantic, sensual music resulted in an unexpected comeback, hitting its peak with the 1994 platinum album The Icon Is Love and the #1 single "Practice What You Preach." Icon put White back on top both musically and as a popular figure, with him appearing regularly on television and receiving new respect for his impressive body of work.

Health problems began to plague White soon after the turn of the century, unfortunately sidelining him at a time when he should have been reaping the rewards of his near iconic status. Sadly, he died in July, 2003 of complications from diabetes, leaving behind a legacy that continues to reverberate to this day.

via SoulTracks

Underrated Album: Tweet- “Southern Hummingbird”

R&B songstress Tweet come on the music scene in 2002 with her smash hit single "Oops (Oh My)", taken from her criminally underrated debut album "Southern Hummingbird". While the album’s show-stopping lead single ”Oops” is certainly irresistible, Tweet emerges with an impressive collection of songs with depth. Having written and produced much of the album,she offered up a set of highly introspective, original compositions which sounded refreshing to other R&B sounds. Songs like 'Smoking Cigarettes' 'Always Will' and 'Beautiful' presented more of the acoustic sound of Tweet, and tracks like "Motel'" showed her at best as the slow guitar brooding number tells an errant lover exactly where he can go. With collaborations from Missy Elliott and Bilal, Southern Hummingbird is unafraid of vulnerability. Consistently, the songs tell bold, honest and at times heartbreaking stories of love and life. The emotional vigor behind the music is conveyed flawlessly through Tweet’s smoky vocals and personal lyrics.

Here are some of my favorite tracks off "Southern Hummingbird".

"My Place"

"Beautiful"

"Smoking Cigarettes"

"Complain"

"Motel"

"Drunk"

You Are Enough, Period!!!

By Mastin Kipp

Where we get our source of approval from is everything. As children we look up to and make our parents our Higher Power. We think they are perfect, infallible human beings. We eventually learn (some earlier than others) that this isn't the case. Part of stepping onto and into The Path of our Highest Potential is learning to re-parent ourselves.

This means realizing that our parents are not perfect people and loving them anyway. We realize that The Uni-verse has perfect love & approval for us and that we need not chase. We are approved of and loved as we are, where we are and for who we are right now. This allows us to take a step back and no longer need perfect Love from our parents and instead, we can be grateful for their role in our lives as stewards of our lives instead of masters of our destiny.

Once we begin to heal this process, the other relationships of our lives improve. When we no longer assign magical qualities to our parents, or if we were never loved by our parents or assign magical qualities to other people, we see reality and take our power back. When we know that we are already approved of as Children of The Uni-verse, we no longer need to seek approval in business, with sex, with drugs or with status and stature. We can instead rest in the perfect imperfection of who we already are and let it be.

No longer seeking approval, we now have the confidence, self-esteem and personal integrity to create relationships of a higher caliber. We no longer need to use sex as a way to make us feel loved, but instead as a byproduct of love and intimacy. We no longer are defined by fancy things or big houses, because "stuff" doesn't validate us.

When we can allow ourselves and everyone in our lives to be imperfect and love them anyways, we have taken a massive leap towards Love.

What would your life look like if you lived it without the compulsive desire to show your parents how awesome you are, or to get their approval? What would your love life look like? What would your professional life look like?

How would your life be different if you KNEW in every cell of your being that you are enough, right now, as is... PERIOD?

Grieve and Prepare for Change...

By Iyanla Vanzant

Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh either.- Golda Meir

When we lose a loved one to death or end a long-term relationship, it is perfectly normal to grieve. We must honor and recognize each stage of the grief and every emotion we have. There will be shock, denial, anger, confusion, fear, helplessness, numbness, and eventually, acceptance. There will be a point when we do not know what to do, but we want to do something. At that point we must understand and accept, there is no death; there is no end; there is only transformation. Our loved one now exists in a new time, a new place, new reality -- and so do we. The relationship as we knew it has been transformed from the physical to the spiritual, from marriage to separation, from loveship to friendship; it has not ended; it has changed. When we allow ourselves to grieve, we release the negative thoughts and emotions that make it easier to accept the change. When we do not grieve, we get stuck. Grief is natural, normal and to be expected. We owe it to ourselves and the memory of the relationship to grieve and cleanse our soul.

I will take the time to grieve and prepare myself for the change.

Good Enough...

By Scottie Lowe

I will be the first to admit I’m not sure how people form healthy relationships. I don’t know what happens behind closed doors, perhaps what I see as a healthy relationship from the outside is really just dysfunction masquerading as two people who love one another so much that they work out their differences, however slight I might imagine them to be, and they work together to form a singular unit of love. I’ve seen love. My grandparents loved one another. I know healthy relationships have to exist, I couldn’t imagine one if they didn’t. I just don’t know how to form one.

I seem to draw men to me whom I love more than they love me. I would like to give myself credit for getting closer and closer to my ideal relationship with each love I share. I would love to be able to see each failed relationship as not only a testament to my ability to love and be loved, but as a lesson learned. Depending upon how far away I am from each respective relationship, the perception of how wonderful the men I’ve loved have been and how valuable the lesson learned changes. Each and every time I’ve fallen in love, which has been five times now, I’ve given my love unconditionally. Only once was has it been returned equally. (How tragically sad is it that I was nineteen years old at the time!) Suffice it to say, all of my relationships have failed and I’m middle-aged, facing the possibility that I might be that crazy, single relative at the family reunion who is slightly off and everyone feels pity for.

I’m plagued with asking myself if it isn’t something inherent in me that attracts men who can’t love me the way I want to be loved. As many people love to tell me, I’m a horrible wretch of a person who is unlovable and undeserving of love. That can’t be true. Everyone is deserving of love. I mean, I haven’t done anything terrible, I have committed no crime for which my sentence was to die alone and unloved. I’m sure I’m deserving of love, of this I’m positive, I’m just not sure I know why a happy, healthy relationship has remained so elusive for me. As I’m sure every single woman has asked herself, what are the things in a man that are deal breakers and what are the things that are nothing more than differences that can be overcome? Whatever that balance is, I haven’t found it yet. I give men the benefit of the doubt when I shouldn’t.

I ask myself, how much does chemistry, compatibility, and connection play in forming a relationship? I have loved a man with whom he and I shared no absolutely similar belief systems and I forgave his shortcomings because the chemistry was electric. I loved a man who shared an inherent connection of like spirits but intellectually we were . . . not equals. I loved a man who was 100% compatible, we had chemistry off the charts, but ethically his true self was polar opposite to my every sensibility. He was working on his issues and for that I gave him credit. Too much credit it seems as he was emotionally deceptive with me, telling me he cared for me much more than he actually did. In retrospect, I can see that he was never good enough for me. He was never going to be as honest as I wanted him to be, he was never going to have as much integrity as I needed him to have; he never possessed the emotional maturity of a man who was deserving of my love. I settled for his potential, what he and I could have become. I don’t think I was wrong for that but my brain finds it hard to process the dissolution of yet another relationship because loving is something I crave in my life, it is such an integral part of my identity.

I give credit to anyone who has found someone with whom to share their lives. I am awed by the commitment it takes to form a relationship where you share values, morals, interests, and goals. I want that. I’m not sure I’ll ever achieve it. Perhaps it is my life lesson to go without that which I seek most.

Experience Making Love to Me...

By AfroerotiK

Feel my lips gently nibbling on your earlobe, My breath as I whisper in your ear, I want you. Smell the scent of my perfume as it lingers on my skin. Taste my mouth as we kiss. Feel the softness of my lips, my yielding tongue.

Experience my soft, gentle kisses on your neck, your shoulders, and your chest. Relax and enjoy as I kiss your arms, inside your elbows, the palms of your hands. Maintain eye contact with me as I suck each and every one of your fingers.

Relinquish control as I massage your back. Feel the cool sensation as I leave wet kisses on your spine. Feel my breasts crushed against your back as I try to press every inch of our bodies together. Breathe deeply; inhale the aroma of the candles, the oil I use to massage you, my arousal as my passion builds for you. Turn over and face me. Tingle with anticipation as my hands move slowly back up the fronts of your legs, your thighs.

Ache with need as my mouth kisses and licks your torso, carefully avoiding your erection with the exception of my hot breath. Describe the sensation to me as I lick and gently suck your balls. Tell me how it feels as I lick the head of your dick and make it glisten. Watch me as I swallow you, licking you, sucking you, stroking you, blowing your mind. Scream out my name as I bring you to the verge of orgasm and stop. Feel the head of your dick, deep in the back of my throat while my wet, hot lips, tongue, and mouth envelop you entirely.

Experience the need to have me, be inside of me, to fuck me. Look at me. Notice every detail of my body: my bedroom eyes, my full lips, my tiny ears, my small shoulders, my long arms and fingers, the swell of my breasts slowly rising and falling, the contrast of my nipples, my small waist and full hips, my smooth, long, brown legs and tiny ankles, the high arch of my foot and my perfectly pedicured toes.

Make me need you. Press your body onto mine, laying your weight upon me. Whisper all the naughty things you want to do. Kiss me passionately; long, hard and wet. Let me know that you want me, all of me, and only me. Feel my passion for you build as you fondle and caress my breasts, pinching my nipples, cupping them in your hands.

Watch my excitement build as you lower you mouth to my breasts nursing them like a baby, sucking them like a man hungry with desire. Lick them all over, use your tongue like a sensual paintbrush.

Feel the heat from between my legs, spread them. Examine that part of me that makes me a woman. Notice how aroused I become at even the most gentle stimulation. Touch me softly and watch me writhe in pleasure. Spread my lips apart, feeling my wetness flow. Smell my sex, natural and sweet. Invade me with your fingers. Manipulate that vacant and slippery space with skill. Make me give you my surrender. Invade me with your tongue. Taste me, eat me, lick me, suck me.

And then calmly reassure me of your love. Look deeply into my eyes and let me know that everything will be fine, that you will take care of me, that I dont need to be afraid. And with the hunger of a starving man, the thrill of the first time...penetrate me. Close your eyes and feel our bodies become one. Experience my gift to you.

Make love to me. Slow, steady. hard, deep. Drive your dick up inside me over and over again. Make me scream with pleasure and ecstasy divine. Fuck me until our bodies are glistening with sweat. Feel my pussy grab you and pull you deep inside of me. Tell me how tight and wet and hot I am and how good my pussy makes you feel. Faster …Deeper. Experience the addiction of pleasure over take your body. And then my dear, sweet lover, fill me with your seed, that which makes me whole. Dont move, dont move, DONT MOVE. Just enjoy the experience of making love to me.

Live Video: Cherish Perform An Acapella Version Of “Moment In Time"

Atlanta-based girl group Cherish asked their fans of their favorite song by them and why, receiving a majority of posts that answered “Moment In Time”, a slow and vocally-impressive track from their debut album "Unappreciated". The group decided to post an acapella version of the track and it absolutely blew me away. A new album from the talented sisters is scheduled for November.

Listen: Andreya Triana Covers Missy Elliott`s "All N My Grill"

Brighton based songstress Andreya Triana recently performed on the German leg of Red Bull Music Academy's world tour, where she performed covers of songs by David Bowie, Depeche Mode and Missy Elliott. She did a stunning cover of Missy Elliott`s classic hit "All N My Grill",which is taken from her groundbreaking second album "Da Real World". Andreya puts her own stamp on it and then some.

New Music: Nneka Feat. Black Thought – "God Knows Why"

Here’s a brand new track from Nigerian-German singer-songwriter Nneka, the track is taken from her recently released third studio album "Soul Is Heavy", titled “God Knows Why” featuring Black Thought of the Roots. Nneka ask the question, if there's a higher power, then why are people struggling to survive amidst warfare and hate?. The production is phenomenal, a great mixture of hip-hop beats, guitar and socially-conscious lyrics. Black Thought rips out a furious set of bars.

New Music: Anthony Hamilton Feat. Tarsha McMillian - "I Hurt You"

A new track from Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Anthony Hamilton and his wife Tarsha McMillian has just leaked, titled "I Hurt You." a heartfelt collaboration of husband and wife comes together in such an effortlessly beautiful way, creating a love song that feels like classic soul music. With an album in the works for early 2012, hopefully it will make Anthony`s forthcoming album.

New Music: Miranda Brooke – "Hater"

Bu Vision/Def Jam Recordings newest artist Miranda Brooke has just released her debut single titled “Hater.”The song was produced by Sham (Sak Pase), “It’s a song about ugly feelings,“It’s about jealousy, insecurity, and weakness, but it’s honest.”- Miranda Brooke. The singer will be releasing the visual for the single soon,she is currently working on her debut album with hitmakers like Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.

New Music: Monica - "Do It All Again"

A new track has surfaced from R&B songstress Monica, taken from her forthcoming album "New Life" in the form of "Do It All Again" produced by Norwegian production duo Stargate. Monica looks back on a love gone wrong on "Do It Again", no word if this track will be released as a single but this should tide fans over as Monica puts finishing touches to her album. ‘New Life’ is due out on November 29th.

Hottest Male Supermodel: Rob Evans

Introducing Robert Evans, a insanely gorgeous 23 year old Irish-British supermodel ,who is currently represented by Major Model Mgmt and Storm for London. After a modeling scout discovered him in 2010, Evans became a cover boy and Calvin Klein model in a matter of months. His editorial work has been featured in "Numero Tokyo", "i-D Magazine" and "Self Service". So far modeling has allowed Evans to walk in shows in Paris and in the 2011 NY fashion week had designers scrambling to include his stunning presence in their runway shows. Photographers have been breaking necks to get the opportunity to capture him in front of their lens. Everything about Evans is beautiful: his face, his body, his size, and his personality is super cool. His friends describe him as very gracious and humble.

Fashion Bish: Nyasha Matonhodze For Vogue Japan

Zimbabwean model Nyasha Matonhodze is featured in a “Movement and Shape” editorial spread for Vogue Japan. The November 2011 issue sees Nyasha rocking various elegant dresses from Chanel, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and more. Photographed by Sølve Sundsbø and styling by Katie Grand .

I Love Who I am When You Are Inside Me...

By Scottie Lowe
I close my eyes and I feel your lips touch mine and I’m lifted, transported to a time and space where I become the embodiment of all that is feminine and womanly. That primal instinct, that genetic, biological, evolutionary stuff that makes me a woman, that makes me think and move and navigate the world like a true womb-man is activated and I feel . . . I FEEL alive and whole. Your hand reaches out to caress my flesh and my body comes alive. You tell me your dirty little secrets, I reveal mine, and I know that we are intimately bonded. All of the nerve endings that make my nipples hard, longing for your mouth to suckle and nurse them, that make my pussy start to tingle and throb, getting wet and slippery with arousal awaiting your gentle manipulation, are electrified and I feel aglow with warmth that only your touch can ignite.

Feelings of joy, peace, tranquility, and love flood my very soul when our bodies are intertwined. Our legs become a tangled mass and our heartbeats begin to sync up; my inhalation and your exhalation become a sensual metronome counting our fevered passion until we become one. Your hands roam my body and I feel your hardness, your wetness against my brown thigh, evidence of your desire for me. You need to be inside me, to feel my cunt envelope and embrace you, to let down your guard and feel safe, nurtured and loved. It’s because when you are inside me, those DNA strands that make you feel inherently like a man, those instinctual drives that propel you to unload your hot cum deep inside me, filling me, completing me, make you feel like a provider and protector, like you are truly home.

I love who I am when you are inside me. I love feeling desired, pleasured, and needed. I love when I feel your sweat raining down on me, knowing that pussy, MY pussy is driving you mad with bliss. When we are fucking, the sheets damp with our fluids, the neighbors’ blaring music becomes a soundtrack to our lovemaking to drown out the sounds of my very vocal encouragement. Hearing you grunt, working hard to make me cum and feel my juices explode all over you fills me with a sense of intimacy and security only shared by tu y yo. I am your woman, your lover, your divine right partner and nothing and no one can disturb our peace.