A recap of 2011

Looking over my ticket stubs from last year, it’s amazing how many shows I attended! I honestly forgot about one concert (luckily the notes I took reminded me).

Here’s a recap of the shows I attended in 2011.

Ledisi – Jan 23, 2011, Yoshi’s Oakland

In referencing my notes from this show, I wrote, “Watching Ledisi perform is like watching her make love to the mic.” There’s something sensual about watching Ledisi perform. She invites you into her world with the sway of her hips, the twinkle in her eyes and the sassiness of her voice.

Ledisi’s vocals have a richness and depth that not only holds your attention, and captivates you at the same time. You can’t help but get caught up at a Ledisi show.

After each song performance, you were left to ponder the message of her music. Highlights included Joy (Ledisi stated this song almost didn’t make it onto Lost & Found), Knockin' (she repeated the first verse so the audience could really understand the song’s meaning) and Alright (according to Ledisi, she wrote this at the lowest point of her career).

At the show’s end, Ledisi offered tidbits of wisdom, including, “Leap out on faith. Fear stops everything. When you open the door of fear, there’s a blessing on the other side,” and “Be careful of who and what you allow in your personal circle, because not everyone deserves your presence. Love them from afar. Keep it movin’. Everybody can’t go where you’re going.”

The Floacist – Feb. 26, 2011, 330 Ritch, San Francisco

It still pains me that Floetry is no longer together. There are times when I wish whatever separated the duo could be resolved so they could reunite for at least one more album.

In the meantime, both The Floacist (Natalie Stewart) and Songstress (Marsha Ambrosius) have gone on to release solo projects, and Floetic Soul, the Floacist’s individual effort, was one of the best albums released in 2010 (although she didn’t have the benefit of great hype and publicity). I jumped at the opportunity to see her live in 2011.

The energy The Floacist exuded during her performance went well beyond the confines of the small venue’s walls. While it was February in San Francisco, her attire was more suited for Los Angeles in June. While she may not have been dressed appropriately for the weather, her personality showed she wasn’t bothered by the rain, cold and ever-present San Francisco fog. With close-cropped hair, she came to “perform for the seen and unseen.” And what a performance it was.

Not used to hearing The Floacist sing, I was pleasantly surprised that her vocals are actually really good. Beginning with Breathe – which is the first song on her album (and, as I often say when I absolutely love a song, ”it’s my cut”), you could tell there have been moments where she’s held on to the past longer than necessary.

But she’s breathing now.

The rest of the set included Forever, What R U Looking 4? and I Need You, which turned into a chant when she repeated  the chorus several times:“Be there when I need you/even if you cannot come when I call you/simply means that I can handle this without you/and know that next I see you/it will be just when I need you.”

Chrisette Michele – April 17, 2011, Yoshi’s Oakland

Encouraged to be true to herself through singer Erykah Badu's influence, Chrisette Michele opened her heart and soul during her well-attended performance. A gifted song writer, Chrisette peppered her set with background stories on her songs, the meaning behind If I Had My Way, which is about abstinence, not sex, traveling 65 miles to Brooklyn, NY to attend church when she was younger, pleasing her pastor and her admiration for Michael Jackson.

Some songs were her “angry” moments (Goodbye Game and Blame It), but she had some sweet ones as well (Golden and All I WAnt Is You). If you are in the Oakland, CA, area, catch her at the Paramount Theatre on March 17. Ticket price range: $23-$63

Vivian Green & Eric Roberson – May 26, 2011, Yoshi’s Oakland

Vivian Green hit my radar when she was a backup singer for Jill Scott. Since 2002, she's released three albums – A Love Story, Vivian and Beautiful.

Vivian is one of those artists that is a talented vocalist, but somehow, she hasn’t attained broad recognition. It’s such a shame because she can easily compete with Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Ledisi.

I’m a newcomer to Eric Roberson’s music, so I went into this show not really knowing his music or what to expect.

I left a new fan.

This show started with the flip of a coin to decide which artist would perform first. Eric won and because I wasn’t familiar with the songs, it enabled me to really listen to his lyrics – and I was impressed with what I heard.

According to Eric, he attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and discovered gogo music (he originally hails from New Jersey).  While there, he would go to McDonald’s and sing his order to “get the ladies.” I can only imagine how many numbers he received.

Vivian returned looking fabulous with her short hair, big gold earrings and a black one-piece jumpsuit. Going back to her debut album, A Love Story, she sang a jazzed up version of Addicted, and ended with Emotional Rollercoaster.

Trading the stage with Vivian, Eric returned with a song about dealing with someone perhaps he shouldn’t have been with.

Having changed clothes, Vivian returned with a funked up version of Wish We Could Go Back, from her Vivian album. She ventured into the audience during Gotta Go, Gotta Leave, and allowed some members to showcase their singing ability.

During Eric’s next set, he asked for audience participation in order to create a song with words provided by the crowd. Sexual chocolate, ambidextrous, whistle, expeditiously, difficult and design turned into a song about a difficult girl.

Vivian concluded the show with another outfit change and renditions of other artist’s songs. When she sang the first notes of Whitney Houston’s Saving All My Love, my mouth dropped open in amazement because she sounded just as good as Whitney did before the “crack is whack” period of her life.

Her performance of Toni Braxton’s Breathe Again, was stellar as well. Toni should be looking over her shoulder because Vivian’s version was better than the one I heard Toni perform in Las Vegas a few years ago.

Erykah Badu & The Cannabinoids journey out of this world

It’s no secret singer Erykah Badu marches to her own theme music. From 1997, when her debut album Baduizm was released, to last year when the filming of her video for the song Window Seat, generated tons of controversy, Erykah has proven time and again she is not afraid to march to her own drum beat.

She has said in the past she doesn’t subscribe to “groupthink,” defined by Wikipedia.com as, “a psychological phenomenon that occurs within groups of people. It is the mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or viewpoints. The primary socially negative cost of groupthink is the loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking.”

If she cares what other people think about her as a person, her style of dress or her music, it doesn’t show in her actions.

Erykah will never be labeled a pop star; she doesn’t use her body or looks to sell her music – and she doesn’t have to because her voice is enough.

While some may consider her weird, I have always defended her as just being different – in a good way. And that’s one of the many reasons why I absolutely love her. Out of all of the artists I listen to, embrace and admire, Erykah has been at the top of my all-time favorite list for quite awhile. She is someone I can relate to, respect and appreciate for not only being her own woman, but individual as well.

Which brings me to her “Welcome to the Human Brain and Science of Addiction” show Dec. 9, 2011 at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. Featuring her group The Cannabinoids, Erkyah took the crowd on a journey some may have found difficult to follow. Others, myself included, found the show to be typically Erykah – unexpected, eclectic and far ahead of anything we could have imagined.

According to Erykah, this group of individuals, “her brothers” as she called them, go way back to 1992 AD when Erkyah Badu was in a group called Erykah Free while also working in a coffee shop.

Erykah continued her story with a tidbit about the time when she was matriculating through college (Grambling State University), where her cousin sent her a cassette tape (remember those?) containing music that inspired her to write Appletree. Another band member supplied her with another beat, and she wrote On & On, the first release of Baduizm.

Consisting of all men (seven total), and Erykah, The Cannabinoids is a live band whose musical instruments consisted of laptops, turn tables, several keyboards and drums. There weren't clearly defined background singers, albeit some band members lent their voices to songs here and there. Just thinking about the lack of real musical instruments (and the model brain on display in front of the stage), I should have realized then the show was going to a new frontier.

Each song performance started out as the track you knew from the album, however, it then quickly evolved into the new Lowdown Loretta Brown, (Erykah’s DJ alias) remix. Sometimes challenging to follow, it still worked beautifully because the new arrangement gave the old some a fresh appeal.

The chopped and screwed Appletree flowed into … & On, where Erykah repeated the lyric “what good do your words do if they can’t understand you,” several times. I could be wrong, but I think she was sending a message.

Recognizing the “superstars” in the house (that would be the audience), she dropped Umm Hmm to a really slow beat, and mellowed out Didn’tCha Know, which had an almost gospel feel. Stating this was one of her favorite songs, Erkyah went on to say, “There will be a brighter day if you believe in brighter days. Believe it not because I told you; believe in yourself as I believe in you.”

Although she mixed A Tribe Called Quest’s Bonita Applebum into Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop), Erykah pretty much stayed true to the original version. Same goes for Danger.

When it was time for Window Seat, she toyed with our emotions by playing a few notes, stopping the song and then moving on to something else. The audience clearly thought she wasn’t going to sing Window Seat, but she eventually came back around to it.

Someone in the audience must have screamed something about Tyrone because she looked down, pointed and said, “No, you call Tyrone!” Erykah turned around to her band and they then launched into the track.

After a new song (several of which were performed throughout the entire show) from the forthcoming Cannabinoids album, and a funky version of Bag Lady, the night came to a close with the lyrics from the performance of NextLifetime, on her Live album.

There also were some comedic moments in the show with Erykah throwing out one liners such as “Money can’t buy me love, but it can keep me in some fresh shit.” When introducing Delta 9, the baby of the group as well as the drummer, the audience went wild when she said it was her son Seven. “I know ya’ll want that to be really bad,” she said through laughter.

Erykah then went on to say Delta 9 was age 17. Turning to him, she said, “That should get you a lot of pussy. You owe me.”

I think the best way to sum up this show is futuristic with a psychedelic feel. There may be a day when live shows don’t have actual guitar players, bassists or saxophonists, but laptops as substitutes. Let’s hope that future never happens because I rather like the sounds of live instruments and the voices of backup singers.

Footnote: It’s fitting that one of the definitions of Cannabinoids is “any of the chemical compounds that are the active principles of marijuana.” Causing feelings of relaxation, there were enough individuals enjoying the drug featuring Cannabinoids that I’m sure those that weren’t partaking couldn’t help but become relaxed. The air was so thick with marijuana smoke that I left with a headache, while Erykah jokingly (or not) asked if she could get some.

Chrisette Michele – Yoshi’s, April 17, 2011

I’d like to believe that I’m one of the reasons Chrisette Michele performed at Yoshi’s the weekend of April 15; many months ago, I signed up to receive upcoming event e-mails from Yoshi’s, and they asked if there was an artist I would like to see perform.

I wrote Chrisette Michele.

And the rest, as they always say, is history.

Having seen Chrisette in New Orleans at the Essence Music Festival in July, I hesitated before buying tickets to her last show in Oakland. These days, I have a loose rule when it comes to buying concert tickets – if I’ve already seen the artist perform, I think twice before attending their concert again.

Obviously, I broke my own rule, which is why I say it’s loose.

While she was off stage, Chrisette’s set began with the song Be OK. She appeared before the sold-out crowd sans shoes and wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans with silver bangles adorning both arms. Her voice sounded a bit hoarse, but I chalked that up to the fact that she performed five shows in the span of three days.

She flowed right into I’m a Star from her third release, Let Freedom Reign, and followed with What You Do and Epiphany, both from her second album Epiphany.

In between songs, she entertained the audience with stories on her song writing process, the real meaning of If I Have My Way (it’s not about sex, but abstinence) and pleasing her pastor, Donnie McClurkin, by writing non-offensive songs.

She paid homage to Erykah Badu (singing Badu's hit On & On) who Chrisette said heavily influenced her style. She also said Badu showed her it was okay to do the music that made her feel most comfortable.

Chrisette called Goodbye Game and Blame It, “angry songs that are hard to sing,” and said one of her favorite penned songs was Best of Me.

She ended the night with an observation about Michael Jackson: When she used to watch Jackson perform and he would tell the audience he loved them, Chrisette wondered how that was possible because he didn’t know every single person.

She said she realizes he truly did because she could feel the vibe and love in the room.

I only have one complaint – her hair. This night, she was wearing braids, but Chrisette cut all her hair off in 2010 and looked absolutely beautiful. Apparently she thought the move was “crazy” because she said that she appreciated people sticking with her even through her "crazy moments" – like cutting off her hair.

I honestly don’t think Chrisette was crazy for going natural and hope she reconsiders going back in the future.

Upcoming show I'm attending: Soul Survivors, featuring Eric Roberson and Vivian Green, Yoshi's, May 25 & 26. Ticket: $22 & $28.

Chrisette performs at the Essence Music Festival in July 2010.

Jill Scott & Maxwell, Oracle Arena – June 5, 2010

As soon as I heard these two power house voices were touring together, I immediately sent out the “Do you want to go to this concert,” e-mail and bought the tickets.

The very next day, I won 2nd row seats on a local radio station – and I’ve been anxiously looking forward to this concert ever since.

I’ve only had such great seats at a concert one previous time, and I vowed to always try and sit as close as I possibly could.

The concert promptly began at 7 p.m., and according to my sources (I was running slightly late), the opening comedian, Guy Torry, was pretty funny.

While standing in line to buy a T-shirt, my sister – who flew from out of town to enjoy the second row with me – said, “Is that music?” It was indeed the beginning notes to Jill Scott’s “Gimme.”

While rushing to our seats, I danced my way down the aisle to seat number 11, enjoying Jill singing about wanting it in the morning and evening.

There is something about Jill’s voice that is at once powerful yet mesmerizing. You can feel her emotions come through as she sings about life, love, relationships and self. Throughout the entire show, she gave her all.

It was apparent that it was painful for Jill to sing the popular “He Loves Me,” yet, she made it through. This came after a commanding performance of a new song which will hopefully be on her forthcoming album.

Attending a Jill Scott show has always been, for me, a chance to feel how she feels when she’s singing about living her life like it’s “Golden,” or people hating on her or having “Crown Royal” on ice. I know where she coming from on that “Long Walk,” or when that certain man “Crosses My Mind” and she wants him to “Come See Me.”

Maxwell, on the other hand, just gives me the opportunity to live in a fantasy-land the entire time he’s on stage. Maxwell has an undeniable sex appeal that continues to improve as he matures.

When he appeared on stage and slipped into a mellow groove, I knew it was going to be another memorable Maxwell performance.

The voice, the moves, the smile, the style – Maxwell is just one sexy being! He could sing the pages of the telephone book and make it sound like a sweet love song.

Maxwell sang songs from each of his album including "Sumthin’ Sumthin’," "Ascension (Don’t Ever Worry)," ". . . ’Til the Cops Come Knockin’," "Get to Know Ya," "Lifetime," "Stop the World" and of course the encore was "Pretty Wings." He even busted out with Al Green's "Beautiful."

While I was worried about the performance of both artists not translating well in such a big venue, they both proved the show will still be dynamic no matter the size of the stage.

Up next:
Erykah Badu, June 18 at the Paramount Theater in Oakland and June 19 and the Mountain View Winery in Saratoga. Ticketmaster.com

Essence Festival featuring such artists as Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jill Scott, Chrisette Michele, LL Cool J, Lalah Hathaway. New Orleans, LA. July 2-4. essencemusicfestival.com

Mary gets Stronger With Each Tear

I made sure I bought a copy of Mary J. Blige’s new album, Stronger With Each Tear the day it was released. I was confident that MJB would provide listeners with another CD that would be played from beginning to end.

My confidence was not misguided. I haven’t stopped listening to this album since Dec. 22. I’m actually listening to it right now. What better way to review a CD than to have it playing in the background?

I’d like to think that Mary has been on a journey of self discovery since the release of What’s the 411? in 1991. It’s a journey that I’ve taken with her. Mary has been with me from my junior year in high school, to what I like to call my grown woman years. My Life was on heavy rotation my freshman and sophomore years of college, and I related to Growing Pains (her last release) on every level.

I knew I would love Stronger With Each Tear the moment I heard The One. I’ve been walking around saying “I ain’t sayin’ that I’m the best, but I’m the best” for much of 2009. Then I heard I Am on the radio a few months ago and couldn’t wait to hear the rest of her CD.

I absolutely love I Feel Good. It’s a song you throw on when you are getting ready for a night on the town – knowing that when you step out the house looking fly, all eyes will be on you – and there isn’t anything anyone can do to you to make you feel any different.

I also love In the Morning. It’s a very simple song about Mary wondering if her man is going to be around in the morning after the relationship starts changing.

I’m wondering if she’s trying to send a message to her hubby, Kendu with the song I Love You (Yes I Du). Notice to spelling of “do.” If she is, he better pay attention!

With lyrics like, “I want to be together/together for forever/but I don’t think that you can see our love that far/cause when I’m giving you lovin’/I feel you’re holding back/we can be in the same room and I don’t know where you’re at,” she’s definitely saying something!

Kitchen always makes me laugh when I hear it. The line, “Trying to take my man/is like trying to take my money/and trying to take my money/just ain’t happening,” cracks me up. Never let a girl cook in your kitchen!

My sister and I have been discussing what song should be the next single. I think it should either be Each Tear or I Feel Good.

On repeat: The One, I Feel Good, I Am and In the Morning

Skim through: Not a single song!

I can’t wait for Mary to tour. I think it will be another pass-out experience for me!

Speaking of tours:

Chris Botti: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10, Flint Center, Cupertino. Tickets on sale now. $$25-$55

Erykah Badu: 8 p.m., Friday, Feb 19, Fox Theater in Oakland. Tickets on sale Friday, Jan. 8, with presale tomorrow, Jan. 7. $49.50-$69.50

Chrisette Michele: 9 p.m., Saturday, March 27, Regency Ballroom, San Francisco. Tickets on sale Sunday, Jan. 10. $29.50.

Leela James, Aug. 8, 2009, Grand Ballroom

Despite the fact that she has only released one album with original material and despite the fact that I’ve seen Leela James like three times now, I decided to accompany my friend to her concert. He loves Leela like I love Erykah Badu, so I was happy to oblige his request.

Before we arrived, I was hoping her show would be different somehow. Her new album, Let’s Do It Again, is a cover of such classics as “Simply Beautiful” (Al Green), “Let’s Do It Again” (Curtis Mayfield), “I Want To Know What Love Is,” (Mick Jones) and “I Try” (Angela Bofill), so I figured she would sing most of those songs.

She did, but didn’t. Unfortunately, her performance was much of what I’d already seen. However, when you attend a Leela James show, you get to hear one of the most powerful and soulful voices out today.

Simply put, the woman can blow!

When she launched into James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s Man’s World,” I literally had to take a step back and catch my breath. She hit those notes and I’m sure James Brown was a proud man looking down from heaven.

She also sang “I'll Take You There,” by the Staple Singers and “Simply Beautiful” by Al Green.

My favorite song by Leela is “My Joy,” which she performed. She also sang “Soul Food,” “Music,” and “Long Time Coming.” She ended the show with Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

Leela’s show isn’t for “bourgeois” people (her words, not mine) and at one point in the show, she invited the audience on stage to dance with her. Of course my friend went; and I soon followed.

Before James Brown died, Leela said she had the opportunity to work with him. She said he told her he was passing the torch on to her and not to let soul music die.

She’s doing a good job making sure that doesn’t happen. I just wish her record company (formerly Warner Bros. and now the independent Shanachie Records) would do a better job of marketing her. She has a following and there’s no reason why Leela shouldn’t have released an album full of new material. I know we would love to hear it.

Hopefully it won’t be a long time before that happens.

Side note: Opening for Leela was Anthony David and Bilal. I haven’t really listened to music by either one (I know Anthony’s song “Words” and Bilal’s “Soul Sista”), but after seeing both perform live, I am now a fan of one and not impressed with the other.

I plan on buying Anthony David’s CD. Bilal, on the other hand, left me wondering what was wrong with him. I’ve always thought he sounded like D’Angelo, but during his performance, I realized he has nothing on D’Angelo and perhaps he should stay off of whatever he was on that night. He ended his set by placing the mic on the floor and walking off stage. Wow.

Upcoming concert alerts:

Erykah Badu & Mos Def, Sept. 4 at the Paramount Theatre, Oakland. Tickets range from $99.50 to $39.50.

Eric Benet, Sept. 3 & 4, Yoshi’s San Francisco. Tickets are $35.

John Legend & India Arie, Sept. 6, Greek Theatre on the Campus of U.C. Berkeley. Tickets range from $89.50 to $39.50.

Jaime Foxx, Oct. 10, 8 p.m., Sleep Train Pavilion. Tickets range from $93.75 to $48.75.

Maxwell (with Chrisette Michele and Common), Oct. 17, place and ticket prices TBA.

Upcoming concerts alert

Every morning, I wake up to a local radio station and they usually give away tickets to upcoming shows.
For some reason, this past week they have announced so many artists coming to the Bay Area that I’m having trouble keeping track. Hopefully I don’t miss any in this blog.

May 1 at 9 p.m.
Goapele and Cody Chestnut at the Independent in San Francisco. Ticket prices: $27. Available at The Independent or ticketweb.com.

May 1-3 (two shows each day)
Rahsaan Patterson at Yoshi’s San Francisco. Ticket prices: $28. Available online or at Yoshi's box office.

May 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Robin Thicke and Jennifer Hudson at the Paramount in Oakland. Ticket prices: $79, $60 or $49.50. Available at ticketmaster.com or the Paramount Theatre box office.

May 25 – 12 p.m.
12th Annual KBLX Stone Cold Concert at featuring Teena Marie, Charlie Wilson, Jeffrey Osbourne, Average White Band and Ashford & Simpson at the Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord. Tickets prices: $97.75, $63.75 or $43.75. Available at livenation.com, the Sleep Train Pavilion box office, select Blockbuster outlets, or by calling (877) 598-6659.

May 28-31 (two shows each day)
Amel Larrieux at Yoshi’s San Francisco. Ticket prices: $28. Available online or at Yoshi’s box office.

June 6 at 8 p.m.
Musiq and Anthony Hamilton at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. Ticket prices: $74, $59.59 or $49.50. Available beginning May 1 at ticketmaster.com or the Paramount Theatre box office.

June 6 at 9 p.m.
Erykah Badu at the Warfield in San Francisco. Ticket prices: $72.50-$42.50. Available beginning May 1 at ticketmaster.com.

June 11
India Arie at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Ticket prices: $75, $65, $55 or $45. Available at Mountainwinery.com or livenation.com.

Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Beyonce at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Ticket prices: $129.25, $76, $57 or $19.75. Available at ticketmaster.com or the Oracle Arena box office.

July 11 at 8 p.m.
Chris Botti with the San Francisco Symphony – Davies Symphony Hall. Ticket prices: $70-$40. Available at sfsymphony.org

July 31 at 7:30
Earth, Wind & Fire, and Chicago at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Ticket prices: $125.50, $75.50, $55.50 or $39.50. Available at ticketmaster.com

Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
India Arie and John Legend at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Ticket prices: $89.50, $49.50 or $39.50. Available beginning May 3 at ticketmaster.com or apeconcerts.com.

20 albums that have impacted my life

First, I need to apologize for not having posted a blog since January! I've been busy with other projects, but that's no excuse. I promise to do better in posting new blogs.

I became a member of Facebook.com a few months ago – and I’m now hooked! Outside of keeping up with friends, there’s always something to ponder or write about.

One of my boys (who happens to love music as much as I do), posted the top 20 albums that have had the most impact on his life. He then asked his friends to do the same.

So below, find the 20 albums that have had a great impact on my life. It was a challenge to stop at 20, but I managed to do so.

Erykah Badu: Baduizm – I was either on the verge of graduating or had just graduated from college when this album came out. Erykah’s music moved me because, from the get go, she was on another level. Her lyrics were unique and the voice kept me interested from one song to the next. Since 1997, she has been my all-time favorite artist – hands down. Favorite cut: No Love

Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 – Honestly, I was so in to Erykah Badu that I didn’t know or care who Jill Scott was. I’m glad I woke the hell up! Jill is another artist who just has the lyrics that go beyond the ordinary. Jill never delivers the same old stuff. This album speaks to me on so many levels that, even now, I still find new meaning behind her music. Favorite cut: Show Me

2Pac: 2Pacalypse Now – When I first heard the single, Brenda’s Got a Baby, I thought, who is that??? I’ve never been a big fan of rap, but this guy’s music told a great story. Tupac Shakur’s songs gave me a glimpse into a life I hadn’t lived, and I thank him (as well as miss him) for it. Favorite cut: Brenda’s Got a Baby

Ice Cube: Death Certificate – At the time this album came out, I was a black girl at a majority white high school who had just discovered the Autobiography of Malcolm X. The combination of the two created a militant teenager and changed how I viewed the world. Favorite cut: No Vaseline (which I feel is the greatest diss song ever!)

India Arie: Acoustic Soul – I discovered this album when an older black woman I worked with asked me if I had heard this song called Video. I hadn’t, but quickly discovered India was talking about me. The entire album made me take a good look in the mirror. The person I discovered is one I love to this day. Favorite cuts: Strength, Courage and Wisdom and Part of My Life (whose meaning I figured out while driving to Los Angeles)

Love Jones Soundtrack – What’s better than having a great soundtrack that pairs well with the movie? The songs selected from my all time favorite movie compliment the flick well. I know what Dionne Farris is talking about when she sings about being Hopeless. Favorite cut: Can’t Get Enough of You by Kenny Lattimore

Maxwell: Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite – This album changed my life because here was a man (a fione one at that) taking love and romance to another level. The entire album leads up to a marriage proposal. What more can you ask for! Favorite cut: Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)

Mary J. Blige: My Life – It was hard for me to pick which Mary album affected my life the most (Growing Pains comes in a close second), but My Life – outside of being a classic – got me through a few things in my early college years. Favorite cut: I’m the Only Woman

Chris Botti: When I Fall In Love – My sister will be quick to tell you I was sleeping on Chris Botti. Not anymore. I listen to this album and just fall into a trance. My mind relaxes and troubles just disappear. This is a great album to play at a wedding. Favorite cut: When I Fall In Love

TLC: Ooooooohhh . . . on the TLC Tip – I heard this album and said, finally, women who are letting men know it’s not about them, it’s about us! They boosted my self esteem a few notches. Favorite cut: What About Your Friends

Floetry: Floetic – The Flocist and Songstress showed how spoken word and singing can blend well together – if done right. This album was just different, and I’m always a fan of artist who aren’t mainstream. Favorite cuts: Sunshine and Mr. Messed Up

Kindred the Family Soul: Surrender to Love – A duo who just happens to be married singing about love and relationships? My kind of group. Another artist I was sleeping on that my sister introduced me too. Kindred’s music is so real and it makes me happy to see and hear black love. It also helps me keep hope alive that I too will one day find the kind of love they sing about. Favorite cut: Stars

Kenny Lattimore: Kenny Lattimore – I first heard the single For You sung at a wedding. I haven’t missed a Kenny Lattimore album since. Like Maxwell, Kenny romances you; he makes a woman feel good with his positive vibe. I believe him when he says he’s Never Too Busy. Favorite cut: All I Want

LL Cool J: Bigger and Deffer – Three words – I Need Love! I can still recite that song word for word! A rapper with a tender side? He hooked many ladies just by doing something no other rapper had – a slow jam! I think I started listening to more rap just because of this one song. Favorite cut: I’m Bad

Salt-N-Pepa: Hot, Cool & Vicious – Between I’ll Take Your Man and Tramp, Salt-N-Pepa let it be known that they were not to be messed with – and I started to feel the same way! Plus, they were females making hot music in a male dominated field. Nothing like strong women busting through glass ceilings. Favorite cut: Tramp

New Edition: Heart Break – New Edition had been off the radar for awhile before this album came out. I was feening for them – and I’m not joking. I love me some NE! There is no bigger New Edition fan than me and when this album dropped, I wore it out. Please believe I tried to learn the dance steps in the If It Isn’t Love video! Favorite cut: I’m Comin’ Home

Jodeci: Forever My Lady – Jodeci came on the scene just as I was in my sophomore year of high school and I just thought they were so hot. Their image wasn’t clean cut like New Edition’s – and I liked it. Forever My Lady will always be a classic love song (for my generation). Favorite cut: I’m Still Waiting

Vivian Green: Vivian – This was her second album and you could tell she had been through some things. Turns out, so had I! I related to every single cut on the album and she made me realize that there’s nothing wrong with being Selfish and needing to leave. Favorite cut: Under My Skin

Lyrics vs. beats

When it comes to music, I pay a great deal of attention to lyrical content. What the person(s) is/are saying pulls me in quicker than the beat.

For me, lyrics are usually more important than the rhythm. I feel a lot of today’s music is popular simply because it has the hot beat of the moment.

I generally don’t listen to music or artists that are here today and probably won’t be around in five years. If I can’t understand what the musician is saying, you can forget about me buying his/her music.

If I’m at the club and a song comes on that I feel is degrading to women, I usually step off the floor. I mean, how can I dance to a song where I’m being called every name but the Queen I am?

Now, I do have some exceptions. I have a liking for a few songs by 2Live Crew; Juvenile’s Back that Ass Up used to get me going (I’ve since come to my senses).

When it comes to most music today – in particular rap – it’s challenging for me to come up with an artist that I really enjoy listening to. Outside of Kanye West, Outkast, Common, Tupac and sometimes Jay Z, I really don’t listen to hip hop.

As I continue to mature, I’ve noticed I listen to more music where the lyrics are such that I can relate to. When Jill Scott sings, “My love is deeper/Tighter/Sweeter/Higher/Flyer/Didn’t you know this/Or didn’t you notice” I know what she means because I’ve been there.

Mary J. Blige’s Just Fine was my anthem for 2008 (and it’s carrying over into ’09 as well). Those lyrics get me amped every time I hear them because Mary’s telling me that no matter what someone else may think, I ain’t worried about them cause my life is Just Fine!

I fell in instant love with Erykah Badu’s Baduizm. Every song on that album said something to me. My favorite song on Baduizm is No Love. I remember driving down Interstate 20 between Shreveport and Grambling, Louisiana with my then boyfriend in the passenger’s seat. When that song came on, it was like I was hearing the lyrics for the first time.

I looked over at him and thought to myself, “She’s talking about you.”

He’s now an ex and I will forever be a fan Erykah’s music.

When I need a reminder about how grand I am, I put on either Private Party or I Choose by India.Arie. I really believe India when she sings, “My past don’t dictate who I am/I Choose.”

So you see, I enjoy music that motivates and inspires; songs that touch my heart and feed my soul. With all that’s happening in the world, music allows me to escape from reality one song at a time.