Erykah Badu NYC Listening Session Album Preview

Album preview/review courtesy of Vibe

The ambiance at Manhattan's legendary Chung King Studios Wednesday night (Dec. 9) was vintage Erykah Badu: black floor pillows, scented candles, dark lighting that induced a trippy, laidback mood. It was an intriguing setting for the 38-year-old Dallas, Texas native who was in a light-hearted and at times candid mood during a listening session for her upcoming release New Amerykah, Part II (Return of the Ankh), due out Feb. 23, 2010.

As the album title suggests, Badu has taken inspiration from her classic 1997 debut Baduizm, a time when the head-wrapped, incense-waving vocalist was first critically hailed as the queen of neo soul, the burgeoning jazz-influenced, stripped-to-the-bone R&B genre that included D'Angelo, Maxwell and Jill Scott among its star headliners. But while subsequent projects found the singer distancing herself from what she saw as the musical constraints of neo soul (From the funked-out jam session vibe of 2000's Mama's Gun to 2008's politically-charged avant garde New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War), the occasionally organic live feel of New Amerykah Part II finds Badu giving an introspective nod to her past.

"I feel how I felt when I released Baduizm," said the always-eccentric performer, wearing a Flashdance-era gray sweatshirt, yellow jogging pants, blue leggings and silver slippers. Over a mix of live piano, jazz guitars, dusty soul samples, driving acoustic bass, live drums, and J-Dilla-esque hip-hop sound-clashes, Badu delivers an album that offers the emotional highs, lows and maddening complexities of being involved in a romantic relationship. The project, which features contributions from The Roots drummer ?uestlove, producers Madlib and Sa-Ra, keyboardist James Poyser, 9th Wonder and late influential hip hop producer J Dilla, may be as musically accessible as Erykah Badu can get.

"This is my therapy,' she continues of the album's more personal tone. "New Amerykah Pt. 1 [had a more] digital feel. This time I wanted to have more live instruments. I like how my voice sounds when I'm singing with a piano. I'm glad I don't have to use Auto-Tune. My voice is my gift." Badu then muses, "But if I had to use [Auto-Tune], I would."

Highlights on New Amerykah, Part II (Return of the Ankh) include:

"20 Feet Tall" (prod. by 9th Wonder)
Features Badu's stark vocals over a floating keyboard riff that can be described as a jazzier nod to Radiohead's "Everything in it's Right Place" (2000).

"Window Seat" (prod. by Erykah Badu & James Poyser)
"I need your attention...I need you to miss me," she pleads to a lover on the throwback soul groove that's driven by a live jazz bassline (a theme throughout New Amerykah Pt. II) that could have been plucked straight off Baduizm.

"Get Money" (prod. by Erykah Badu, James Poyser, Karriem Riggins & Thundercat)
Samples the Notorious B.I.G.-led Junior Mafia classic "Get Money." A playful Badu takes on the role of a female player who is all about the green, delivering real talk lines like, "I look like a model...I want your money."

"Fall In Love" (prod. by Karriem Riggins)
A heartfelt, mid tempo slow jam that uses a chilling J Dilla-blessed Eddie Kendricks sample. Has single potential.

"Incense" (prod. by Madlib)
Breathtaking instrumental that sounds like it was produced under water. Yes, that's a harp you are hearing. "It felt like a hug," Badu says of the stunning track.

"Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover)
(prod. by James Poyser)
Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2)"
(prod. by Georgia Anne Muldrow)
Badu calls this her second three-song suite ("You'll have to wait to hear [Part 3] when the album comes out," she says), much in the same conceptual vein featured on Mama's Gun. "Part 1" finds Badu accompanied by a stirring torch song piano pleading, "I'll lie for you, cry for you...yes I'm a fool for you..." "Part 2" is the sound of madness following heartbreak. Over a disjointed jazz-tinged groove Badu gives a haunting, schizophrenic performance.

"Jump In The Air And Stay There" ft. Lil Wayne
One of 10 versions of a leaked track that will feature 10 MC's (the cut will not be featured on New Amerykah Pt. II). While the hard-charging beat is somewhat aggressive, the message of keeping an optimistic attitude in life is bolstered by the much-rumored (and lively) performance of Lil' Wayne. "There are a few surprise MC's that you will hear," Badu says. "I don't want to give it away just yet."

other tracks include:
Agitation (prod. by Shafiq Husayn)
Don’t Be Long (prod. by Ta’Raach)
Love (prod. by Dilla)
Umm Hmm (prod. by Madlib)

Related:
Erykah Badu 'New Amerykah Part 2: Return of Ankh' Set For Feb. 23, 2010

Robin Thicke NYC Listening Session

via The Urban Daily

Last night R&B star Robin Thicke previewed his new album Sex Therapy at Chung King Studios in NYC. The lucky husband of Paula Patton was a gracious host to the room full of sweating journalists and photographers. In between sips of Hennessy Black he explained why his latest CD is recession friendly.

“I thought about all of the stress we have in our day and money problems we all have,” he said. “I just thought at the end of the day how can I please my woman if I can’t buy her what she needs all the time? Maybe I can give her some sex therapy.”

The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Lil Kim, Nikki Minaj as well as a cover of Rakim’s “Mahogany.” (Not quite sure why he doesn’t consider it an Al Green cover but I’ll let you all work that out.)

Sex Therapy will be in stores December 15, 2009.

Photos from the event:
Music Industry Online

Rick Ross Triple C's 'Custom Cars & Cycles' NYC Listening Session Album Preview

Rick Ross Triple C's 'Custom Cars & Cycles' listening session took place at the legendary Chung King Studios in SoHo NYC Monday, October 19. Here's the full report.

Album preview/review courtesy of Nick Haycock at Showing Out

Last night, a bevy of hip-hop tastemakers and industry insiders packed into Chung King studios in Soho to catch an advance listen of Miami-based Triple C’s debut album 'Custom Cars and Cycles.' The quartet, consisting of Rick Ross, Young Breed, Gunplay and Torch, have been around for most of the decade, but 'Custom Cars and Cycles' marks their studio debut, with Rawse and the rest of the Triple C’s celebrating their album’s October 27th release by playing eight of its 15 tracks. “First and foremost, it’s the motherf***ing boss Rick Ross,” boomed the group’s gargantuan frontman before hitting the play button. As the tracks played, the Triple C’s exuberantly lip-synced from the studio’s control room as guests on the other side of the glass enjoyed a soul food buffet. The album is a high octane blast of glossy production, un-ironic materialism and Mafioso storytelling, atoning for its repetitive subject matter with catchy hooks and well-placed guest appearances. Showing Out was there to bring you an exclusive track-by-track preview, so hit the jump to get an advance look at the album before it hits retail in a few weeks.

Custom Cars & Clips

As a bass-heavy track with booming horns and gunshots blasts in the background, each member of Triple C’s offers a variation on the theme “What I do this for.” “I’m focused on the fame, fortune, extortion, my portion get Porsches,” elucidates Ross. It’s a catchy track - not groundbreaking, but far from disappointing. As the track unfurled, Ross and company rapped along with the verses, and under the studio lights, a large diamond bracelet shimmered on Ross’s arm.

White Sand

Rawse rips a page out of his journal on “White Sand,” an unabashed tribute to using cocaine, selling cocaine and buying things. “I’ve got that white stuff / You know that white stuff/ I’m in my white truck,” Ross informs listeners. The track is an entertaining romp, exactly what you would expect from Triple C’s.

Break It Down feat. Bun B

“Break it Down” is a step-by-step instruction manual for aspiring hustlers, boasting a beat that pounds with lurching synths and heavy drums. Gunplay kicks off the track with a nursery rhyme verse, cautioning, “Don’t go to jail /Don’t got no bail/ Won’t get no mail / That’s living hell.” Contributions by Ross and the rest of the gang are unmemorable, but the track’s saving grace is the guest appearance by the authoritative Bun B.

Trickn Off feat. Gucci Mane

“Trickn Off” features a descending, frantic theremin-like synth riff with 808 drums courtesy of Drumma Boy. The track is dominated by Gucci Mane’s chorus and hook, and while Gucci isn’t the most lyrical rapper, his charisma on the mic completely blows away Triple C’s. “Blue and white rag top I call it Papa Smurf/ Nigga steal a nigga’s work? / Call that a lot of nerve,” quips Gucci. Triple C’s verses aren’t necessarily terrible on this track (or any other track), but they lack highlights. There aren’t really any punchlines that stand out, just a lot of retreading of the same themes: guns, clothes, money, cars, drugs and women. Here, because of Gucci’s catchy hook, it works.

Erryday feat. Young Jeezy & JW

“That’s really how I approach this shit,” Ross told the room, making reference to his work ethic before playing the Young Jeezy-assisted track. “ Strip clubs, throwing money, popping champagne / To the bartender, tell her keep the damn change” goes the hook over a stabbing horn line. “Erryday all black tees and we wear them bitches erryday,” adds Ross. The track is catchy enough to be blasted in the whip.

Gangsta Shit feat. The Game

“This is a Gangsta Service announcement” kicks off the track featuring a chopped-and-screwed chorus and a guest appearance from The Game. On the chorus, Cali’s own derisively mentions “Radio rappers on R&B tracks,” making an ironic (and likely unintended) juxtaposition with the silky smoothness of Masspike Miles’ singing on “Finer Things.” Production-wise, “Gangsta Shit” is ominous and aggressive with a deep wicka-wah guitar line, eerie synths and a sparse drum beat.

Finer Things feat. Masspike Miles

Before debuting “Finer Things,” Ross explained the track was about the group’s struggles before achieving commercial success, and the bonds forged between members by shared experiences. “You ain’t a friend of mine if you ain’t a friend of Rick / So many red flags thought we was confederate,” raps Gunplay on the track. Masspike Miles contributes an overly-polished R&B hook, and the track has an over-produced feel. Triple C’s may be emotional about their humble beginnings, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a track that sounds heartfelt. “Half the lights blinking / looking at my pinky / I’m so Mafioso/ You can still smell the linguine,” Ross raps.

Diamonds & Maybachs Pt. 2 feat. Suede Royale

A beat built around a wordless female voice cooing in the background and a slick R&B hook by crooner Suede Royale who extols the benefits of possessing - well, you guessed it. “My diamonds conversate the hoes / Car say get in/ Crib what you waitin’ for?” explains Torch. The track clocks in at a decadent 7 minutes and 17 seconds, and is the most skippable of the 8 that the group played.

(video courtesy of in the box tv & stayfly744)