tHE DiARY Of R. KELLY by: robert kelly

R. Kelly will release his anticipated memoir entitled, Soulacoaster later this year!

Through the iconic anthem “I Believe I Can Fly” and such R&B mega-hits as “Bump and Grind” and “Ignition”, R. Kelly has proven himself to be one of the greatest musical talents of his generation. Yet his rollercoaster ride to the top has been as perilous as it has been exhilarating. With “Soulacoaster”, Kelly writing with celebrity author David Ritz, shares his life story through episodic tales and exclusive colour photographs. From the crippling learning disorder that rendered him unable to read or write, to the teacher-mentor who prophesised that his destiny was in music, not basketball, we follow his evolution from Chicago street performer to struggling LA musician and beyond. Kelly reveals his hard-won ascent to superstardom and his battle to move forward after legal and personal ordeals that nearly ruined his life. Now back at the top, Kelly recounts the journey that has taken him to new heights of maturity and artistry. Part memoir, part keepsake, “Soulacoaster” unlocks the door to R. Kelly’s story as only he can tell it, promising his fans an intimate and unforgettable ride.

“I’m writing this book as Robert, not R. Kelly,” the singer says. “I’m tired of being misunderstood. I will show you the tears, fears, and sweat. I will open my heart and reveal the good in my life as well as all the drama. I want to tell it like it is.”

Autobiography is slated for release this coming November

STREET JAMS - ELECTRIC FUNK VOL.1

STREET JAMS - ELECTRIC fUNk - VOLUME 1

Available either as a box set or as individual discs, Street Jams: Electric Funk, Vols. 1-4 is an excellent, comprehensive overview of the groundbreaking electro-funk of the early '80s. Over the course of four discs, most of the genre's major players, including Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, are represented by their biggest hits and best-known remixes; many of its one-hit wonders are here as well, adding depth and context. Much of this music is presented in 12" mixes, which gives a more accurate portrait of electro-funk and how it stretched and played with rhythms and electronics. For casual listeners, the sheer length of some of these songs may be intimidating - some push the ten-minute mark -- but any serious collector or listener of hip-hop, urban R&B, electronic, or modern music should be familiar with many of these songs and mixes. Electric Funk gave Hip Hop more life and added more texture to the genre. Early Hip Hop music from 1979 to 1981 had a more stripped down sound, with a simple 808 beat, one synth/bass line with a couple of scatches. But Electric Funk, gave you something to both dance too and groove too. In the first series of Electric Funk : Part 1, we see the orgins of Electric Funk take it's place. Kicking off the set is "Planet Rock" (1982) by Afrika Bambaataa, which the second most important piece of Hip Hop history, right along side of "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by The Sugarhill Gang. To make this review more short, the CD showcases early Electric Funk from 1982 to 1983, mainly East Coast sounds, were Part 2 shows the beginning of the West Coast Era. Only thing i wished Rhino would have done with Part 1, was that should have added the Man Parrish classics "Hip Hop Bee Bop" and "Boogie Down Bronx", both songs played a big part in the Electric Funk genre. But overall, the four part series are one big history lesson in both the world of Hip Hop and Techno music. Another great thing, "Great liner notes, very detailed".

Available either as a box set or as individual discs, Street Jams: Electric Funk, Vols. 1-4 is an excellent, comprehensive overview of the groundbreaking electro-funk of the early '80s. Over the course of four discs, most of the genre's major players, including Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, are represented by their biggest hits and best-known remixes; many of its one-hit wonders are here as well, adding depth and context. Much of this music is presented in 12" mixes, which gives a more accurate portrait of electro-funk and how it stretched and played with rhythms and electronics. For casual listeners, the sheer length of some of these songs
may be intimidating -- some push the ten-minute mark -- but any serious collector or listener of hip-hop, urban R&B, electronic, or modern music should be familiar with many of these songs and mixes.

Tracklist

1-01 Electric Funk Mega-Mix
1-02 Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock
1-03 Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
1-04 Planet Patrol - Play At Your Own Risk
1-05 Reggie Griffin & Technofunk - Mirda Rock
1-06 Guru - Who You Stealin’ From
1-07 Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)
1-08 Cybotron - Clear
1-09 Aleem - Release Yourself
1-10 Herbie Hancock - Rockit
1-11 Grandmixer D. ST. - Megamix II: Why Is It Fresh?
1-12 Newcleus - Jam On Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)
1-13 Grandmixer D. ST. Featuring Vocals by Bernard Fowler- Crazy Cuts

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

WHITNEY HOUSTON

01. You Give Good Love
02. Thinking About You
03. Someone For Me
04. Saving All My Love For You
05. Nobody Loves Me Like You Do
06. How Will I Know
07. All At Once
08. Take Good Care Of My Heart
09. Greatest Love Of All
10. Hold Me

♥

Whitney Houston's debut album was released in March 1985. Its first single, "Someone for Me," was a flop, but the second try, "You Give Good Love," became Houston's first hit, topping the R&B charts and hitting number three pop. Houston's next three singles -- the Grammy-winning romantic ballad "Saving All My Love for You," the brightly danceable "How Will I Know," and the inspirational "The Greatest Love of All" -- all topped the pop charts, and a year to the month after its release, Whitney Houston hit number one on the album charts. It eventually sold over 13 million copies, making it the best-selling debut ever by a female artist.

ROCk ME tONiGHt (for old times sake) - JUSt LiKE tHE fiRSt TiME

1. He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)
2. Love Is Just a Touch Away
3. I Wanna Say I Love You
4. You Are My Lady5. Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)
6. Sing a Song of Love
7. Calling
8. Good Morning Heartache

♥

♪ ♫

01. Tasty Love
02. Have You Ever Loved Somebody
03. Look Around
04. Jam Tonight
05. Just Like the First Time
06. I Can't Let You Go
07. I Don't Want to Lose Your Love
08. Janay
09. Still Waiting
10. You Are My Love
11. A Little Bit More

♥

FREDDIE JACKSON

To urban contemporary listeners, Freddie Jackson was one of the biggest stars of the latter half of the '80s, dominating the R&B charts seemingly at will. Jackson's forte was sophisticated, romantic soul ballads aimed at adult audiences, but he was also capable of tackling urban contemporary dance fare and even the occasional jazz tune. Yet unlike many of his peers -- Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Peabo Bryson, etc. -- Jackson never managed to cross over to the pop charts, where none of his R&B smashes even breached the Top Ten. As new trends like hip-hop altered the urban contemporary landscape, Jackson gradually faded from view during the '90s.

Jackson was born October 2, 1956, in Harlem, and like so many soul stars, he was trained as a gospel singer from an early age, singing at the White Rock Baptist Church. There he met Paul Laurence, who would later become his producer and songwriting partner. After completing school, Jackson joined Laurence's group LJE (Laurence-Jones Ensemble) and played the New York club scene. During the early '80s, Jackson moved to the West Coast and sang lead with the R&B band Mystic Merlin, but soon returned to New York to work with Laurence at the Hush Productions company. He sang on demo recordings of Laurence's compositions, and also served as a backup singer for Melba Moore after she caught his nightclub act.

In 1985, Jackson landed a record deal with Capitol and issued his debut album, Rock Me Tonight. The Laurence-penned title track stormed the R&B charts, spending a whopping six weeks at number one, and made Jackson an instant sensation on urban contemporary radio. "You Are My Lady" gave him a second straight R&B chart-topper, and also proved to be his highest-charting single on the pop side, peaking at number 13. With "He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)" and "Love Is Just a Touch Away" also hitting the R&B Top Ten, Rock Me Tonight topped the R&B album charts and went platinum. Jackson wasted no time issuing a follow-up set; Just Like the First Time appeared in 1986 on the heels of a number one R&B duet with Melba Moore, "A Little Bit More" (from her album A Lot of Love). Another platinum seller, Just Like the First Time continued Jackson's incredible dominance of the R&B singles charts; "Tasty Love," "Have You Ever Loved Somebody," and "Jam Tonight" all hit number one, while "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" went to number two.

tHE WORLDS GREATEST BREAKDANCER