A Tribute to Nicolay, The “Nicolayaway” EP

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Download Link/Backup Link

Our good friends Quality TIme, across the pond let us know about a new EP that was just released.  It’s a tribute to Nicolay, who is part of the Foreign Exchange that is up for a Grammy award today.  Quality Time has put together a nice collection of his music in the “The Nicolayaway EP”, to pay tribute to this event.  So, we get to enjoy this collection.  We would like to wish Foreign Exchange good luck with the awards, but Eric Roberson is up for the same award.  So, we are torn. :)

Tracklisting

01. The Foreign Exchange ft. Muhsinah – Daykeeper (*Grammy genomineerd)

02. United Soul ft. Phonte & Yahzarah – Soul Clap remix

03. The Foreign Exchange – Nic’s Groove (Live @ Sirius/XM Radio)

04. Nicolay ft. Carlitta Durand – Lose Your Way

05. The Foreign Exchange/?uestlove – Purple Flip

06. Victor Duplaix – Electric love (Nicolay Vocal Mix)

Green Tea Releases the Beautiful Weirdo Mixtape

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MySpace/Twitter/Facebook/Youtube

Green Tea just released her “Beautiful Weirdo” Mixtape today.  Her wonderful vocals, are backed up by Outkast instrumentals.  There are eight tracks of goodness.  In case you missed it, we did a little write up of her yesterday.  Pick it up, and let us know what you think.  To coincide with the release of the the mixtape, she is performing tonight (Jan 22nd) @ Liv in Washington, DC.  She has a special guest of Sol Edler.

Artist Spotlight: Green Tea

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MySpace/Twitter/Facebook/Youtube

I have had the pleasure of being introduced to the artist Green Tea. Thanks SoulUK.  Green Tea is an artist that brings a true positivity to her music, along with voice that soothes her message into your ears.  Like many other well known singers, she has background singing in her church. One of the qualities that I enjoy about her music, is that it’s not complicated.  It’s not trying to do to many things, and there aren’t any gimmicks.  Just pure soulful music.  There is one thing to a great voice, and message, but the music behind her voice compliments her so very well.  Each track has been perfectly blended with the right instruments.

She has two albums released, and the upcoming “Beautiful Weirdo” Mixtape.  The two album consist of her debut “Have A Cup Of green Tea Dosage 1: Shades Of Green“, released in 2005. Then her second album was “Dosage II: Choices” which was released in 2008.  Her next release is tomorrow (January 22nd) of her “Beautiful Weirdo” Mixtape.  It’s her soothing voice mixed with the instrumentals of Outkast.  Just the thought of that, makes you wonder and count the hours.  Below are some videos for you to experience her music. Enjoy and check back tomorrow on details of her mixtape.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMw877xSnDs

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLBwVAEtk8g

Nicholas Kopernicus Release “Audiocentric Unplugged EP”

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MySpace

The very unique and grounded duo, Nicholas Kopernicus, have released three acoustic tracks from their debut album “Audiocentric“.  The acoustic recording is called ” Audiocentric Unplugged EP”. This is the definition of home grown music, that sounds as pure as you can get it.  What I love about their style is that there isn’t any attitude or pomp, just music.  The acoustic recording of three of their album songs, boil their songs down further to their essence.  It’s a little brief, but with any good music you always want more.  You can download the here or here. Give them a listen, and decide for your self.  Once you listen, and love it, check our their entire album here.


“Commentariolus [Unplugged]” by Nicholas Kopernicus from Charles le Brigand on Vimeo.

Nicholas Kopernicus: a conversation from Charles le Brigand on Vimeo.

Maxwell Mix by Supa Qool DJ Uncle Q Mixtape

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Download link

Another mix of older Maxwell hits.  They are mixed very well by Supa Qool DJ Uncle Q.  Is that a name or what? Anyway, this was released in back in early July, but I  missed it.  Enjoy.

Track Listing

Lock You Up N’ Love Fa Days

Everwanting: To Want You To Want

Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)/(No One’s Gonna Love You, So Don’t Ever Wonder) – The Tribute Cut

Luxury: Cococure

Dancewitme

Fortunate

Changed

…Til The Cops Come Knockin’

Welcome

Gravity: Pushing To Pull

W/As My Girl

Drowndeep: Hula

At the Party

Temporary Nite

The Urban Theme

Matrimony: Maybe You

Sumthin’ Sumthin’

Ascension (Unsung)

Two Tributes “21 Love Salute” & “Devils Pie” to Sade to Tide Us Over

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TRACK LISTING
——————-
Lovers Rock
Cherish The Day
By Your Side (Neptunes Remix)
No Ordinary Love
Love Is Stronger Than Pride
Siempre Hay Esperanza
The Sweetest Taboo
Keep Looking
Super Bien Total
Maureen
Kiss Of Life
Cherry Pie
Turn My Back On You
Nothing Can Come Between Us
Soldier Of Love (Casamena Basement Edit)
Never As Good As The First Time
Give It Up
Hang On To Your Love
Never Thought Id See The Day

Download Link

To help with the three week wait till Sade releases “Soldier Of Love”, here are two tributes “21 Love Salute” & “Devils Pie” to make it a little easier.  Enjoy. Thanks Trelly and Soul Food Blog

Download Link

Mr. February aka March Madness, Raheem Devaughn’s Mixtape

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Today has turned out to be a great day for free music.  Raheem Devaughn released the “Mr. February aka March Madness” Mixtape today.  It’s 23 tracks of a series of remixes, covers, and b-sides. It’s another lead up to his upcoming 2 CD “The Love and War Masterpeace” that drops March, 2nd 2010.  You can download the mixtape here or the backup link.  Enjoy, and spread the word. :)

Jaguar Wright’s Upcoming Album + “And Your Point Is” Unreleased Album

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Website/Facebook/MySpace/Twitter

There have been some rumblings about Jaguar Wright releasing a new album soon. So, being a huge fan, I did some research to find out the truth.  Last year when she released two singles “Surely Shawty” and “Beautiful”

Surely Shawty

Beautiful

there was announced an EP titled “Beautiful” to be released on November 24th.  November 24th came and went, and it wasn’t released.  That was supposed to be a teaser of the upcoming album named “The Wright Way”, that was slated to be released in 2009.  Then to add to the confusion, her official website http://jaguarwright.com is down. So, unless they are refreshing it, it doesn’t look good.  I would love to be surprised with a new album from this great artist.

To help Soul Music lovers and Jaguar Wright fans get by while we wait, here is her unreleased album “And Your Point Is“.  This album was supposed to be released in 2003 via MCA Records, but they folded and the album never saw the light of day.  Her official 2nd next album “Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul”, has some of the tracks from “And Your Point Is“, but not all and it doesn’t have the same feel of the original.  Check it out. (download link)

Dwele Keep RIZEing to the Top + Bonus

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BamaLoveSoul has made a great post, offering up a collection of Dwele’s unreleased tracks.

Snippet from BamaLoveSoul

“Dwele’s demo, which is also considered his first album, 1998’s Rize, was sold out of the trunk of his car exuding the DIY ethic that is much more prevalent nowadays. Bubbling over with warm Rhodes, unconventional lyrics and soul, soul, soul it helped him score a deal with Virgin where he released his first studio album Subject in 2003. He’s continued to release albums since then and has become an industry favorite.”

BONUS

Plus as a bonus, Soulified is offering Dwele’s Lost Track Of Time EP from 2005.  It was released on vinyl, and has six tracks.  It features 3 “Chinchilla Beats”, 2 of which are snippets from tracks 1 & 2, and the third a new instrumental. Enjoy.

Upcoming Albums To Watch For

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It’s a new year, and the party is over.  Now it’s time to get back to business.  The past few months have been kind of dry on the retail music front.  It looks like Spring 2010, will change all that.

January Releases

Maysa – Woman In Love (January 25)

Corinne Bailey Rae -The Sea (January 26)

February Releases

Solider Of Love By Sade (Feb. 10)

New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) By Erykah Badu (February 23): Everyone is awaiting this follow up album to New Amerykah Part One.  Here is how Erykah Badu describes the album “I called it ‘Part II: The Return of the Ankh’ because this album is the sister of the left side of my brain — it is the right side,” Badu explained during a listening session this week at New York City’s Chung King Studios. “‘Part I was the left side of my thoughts — it was more socially political and my thought process was more analytical. This time there wasn’t anything to be concerned with — the album is more emotional and flowy and talks about feelings. It reminds of the days of ‘Baduizm’ — this is just about beats and rhymes in a cipher.”

The Love and War Masterpeace by Raheem DeVaugh (February 16)

Kings Ballad by Georgia Anne Muldrow (February 9)

Concrete Jungle by Nneka (February 2)

March Releases

It’s Personal by Angela Johnson (March)

Intermission/The Bitter Suite By Carmen Rodgers (March 30)

April And Beyond

Synthesis By Raul Midon (April 13)

Milk And Honey By Goapele (spring)

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vhmvU3j8h8

Purple Saint James By Yahzarah (spring): With this upcoming album, being her third, I really feel music blossoming.  After listening to her two previous albums, and then to her “The Prelude” EP, it’s a whole new world.  So, personally I can’t wait for the album, so I can really enjoy this musical phoenix.  She has also signed with The Foreign Exchange Music, so you know that all add extra goodness to the production.

SunStorm By Zo! (unknown): After the recent “…Just Visiting Too” EP that was released, more people are coming to appreciate his music and talent.  There is also the “…Just Visiting” EP, which was released in 2006.

James River By D’Angelo (spring/summer): People have been talking about this album for a year or two.  It will be ten years since his last album.  A tour is also rumored this summer.  The whispers have been getting stronger lately, with the news of the artists that he has working on the album.  This is what his manager said of those collaborations,” “James River,” D’Angelo’s first studio effort in nearly 9 years, is also sporting a collaboration with Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo Green. Green joins Raphael Saadiq, Mark Ronson, and Roy Hargrove, who have already contributed to D’Angelo’s forthcoming album.”  It has also been reported that he is teaming up with Prince.

Darien Brockington (unknown): This release would be his second solo album, after “Somebody To Love”. The wait just got a lot harder with his latest EP “Cold Case Files“.

Carlitta Durand (unknown)

Digging In The Crates: Zo!’s 2006 …Just Visiting EP

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Website/Myspace

You know I love finding rare EP and mixtapes.  Yes, there are rare ones out there.  Once I paid $75 for a rare copy of Ledisi’s album “Feeling Orange, But Sometimes Blue”.  Anyway, with the recent release of Zo!’s “…Just Visiting Too” EP, it makes one wonder was there a Just Visiting One?  Well… there was a first one.  It’s awesome just like the 2nd one.  It has covers of Anita Baker’s “Caught Up In The Rapture”, Janet Jackson’s “Funny How Time Flies”, and four other songs.  If you put this EP with the new EP, you have thirteen tracks of goodness.  Also, don’t forget that in the next few months, Zo! will be releasing his album “SunStorm” through Foreign Exchange Music.

To download this digital goodness, click the album cover or here.

Rafiya Releases An “Amazing” EP

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Rafiya Amazing

Myspace/Youtube/Facebook

You may remember the Artist Spotlight I did awhile ago on Rafiya.  She’s blessed us twice this week.  First she has released her EP titled “Amazing”, which lives up to it’s name.  The title track to the EP, “Amazing” is an acoustic tour of a love that is on the highest plain.  The EP contains six tracks, but “So Beautiful” is my favorite.  She has opted to released the EP for FREE for fans.  You can stream or download it.  The second blessing is she has also released a video for “Amazing” (also below).  She is bring to the table a lot of talent, and music for a real Soul music fan.  There isn’t a reason why you shouldn’t take a listen, and become a fan.  This EP is definitely a quality production.  Enjoy.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jExC-DCRoVk

Dome Records is On Their Soul Music Grind

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dome

Website

Once in a while you have a record company that is really putting out some great music, and you have to stop and take notice.  I was on my normal gather of news to post, and a few posts had the same theme.  They were all from Dome Records.  Now, I don’t have a preference for any record company, and I’m definitely not getting any money from them for this free press. Anyway, here are some updates of their artists.

soulorganic

Hil St Soul is re-releasing their debut 2002 album Soul Organic.  They are adding six remixes of some of the fifteen original album’s songs.  The album is currently out and for sale for $9.99.  If you’re not a fan or haven’t heard of them, this is a great album to start with.  Here is a sample of their music.  This is “Goodbye” from their third album Soulidified.  If you noticed that, that name gave me inspiration for this sites name.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I98EPAHnH4I

ericroberson

Website/MySpace/Facebook/Twitter/Youtube

Next on the Dome Records roster with an update is Eric Roberson.  With his recent release “Music Fan First” he has been on a roll.  he has released a Mixtape, many YouTube updates and now Choice FM London Acoustic EP.  It was recorded when he was on Choice FM in London, promoting the new album.  Also guitarist Curt Chambers, helped make each song extra special.  Pretty nice stuff.  Plus it’s only $2.07.  Really?!?!? How can you pass that up?

angela johnson

Website

Angela Johnson is up next with a single release of “Better” from her upcoming (January) album “It’s Personal”.  This song is hot, and should be listened to often.  So, hot that it’s already had the remix treatment done.  Here is the original version via the YouTube video she created.  Enjoy.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbL8oGubvTs

Astral22 Unofficial Official Imperial Mixtape

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astral

Gotta love a free mixtape or EP, especially if it’s good music.  Well…. the Astral22 Unofficial Official Imperial Mixtape is here.  It contains never before heard mixes, edits, mash ups, snippets of the Astral22 Releases Imperial Progressive Soul Collection Vol. 1 release.  The original album has  a great list of talent. They are MZ. Pat, Heidi Martin, Rena Scott, Lenora Jaye, katie Cole, Simone, Shuane, Shanell Renee, Katie Cole, Rogiers, La Sonya Gunter, Fernando Cardo, and Stephanie Renee.  It’s a great preview of the whole album, but it’s only about nine minutes long.  I know I’m being greedy, but it’s so good you want it to go on.  You can download it here.

The Foreign Exchange does EP tribute of Zo!

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Zo! Just Visiting Too

Website/Myspace

This is turning out to be a great day for free music. I should be shot for not having an Artist Spotlight on Foreign Exchange yet. Anyway, this great group has done covers of fellow label mate, Zo! His album “SunStorm” will be released soon. To pay tribute to that, FE has put together and EP with the likes of Yahzarah, Darien Brockington, Phonte and others. This is a free EP which serves double duty. It exposes you to the muisc of Zo! and the style of FE. You can download the album here or Soulified’s backup link. Enjoy.