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R&B Today

© Paula Chase-Hyman

Um, um, um I'm really feeling a couple new artists these days. Holler if you hear me!

Feelin' it:

Capitol Records newcomer, Pru and her soulful track, "Candles." Reminiscent of Brownstone, this young, new artist could do some damage on the R&B charts - if they'd only play her track outside of "slow jam" stations and slow jam hours so more people could hear her talent. Listen and look out for this young sister - her self-titled debut album is due in stores November 7 and you can check her out on Soul Train November 18.

"Just Friends" by Def Jam recording artist Musiq. This song is my jam!! The beat is slammin' and the hook catchy enough to have you singing along every time. It's a challenge to find out anything about Musiq because the song is part of the Nutty Professor II soundtrack, so in the grand scheme of things, they're promoting the entire soundtrack, not any individual artist. But if you haven't heard this track and aren't already bopping your head to it, find a sample quick, you're missing out!

Once again, Ms. Jill Scott has me mellowing out like a cat sunning on a porch. The track, "A long Walk" has me feeling like a beatnik - you know the scene? It's like being in a club in the Village where you click your fingers instead of applauding after the poet has graced you with a poem. Sister has it going on, with every track reinforcing her fast rise to the top of the R&B charts. Her style is refreshing, honest and in-your-face!

R&B Rasberry:

Worst new marketing buzzword, "ghetto soul." Coined by MCA in reference to their artist, Avant, the description guts the essence of R&B by diluting it with trendy, here today, gone tomorrow catchphrases. Experiencing success with his R. Kellyish track "Separated" and most recently a remake of Rene and Angela's "My first love," Avant has a decent enough voice - but no matter how many new musical adjectives his label attributes to his style, he likely won't break too far ahead of the pack. His sound isn't unique, at all!

It hurts my heart to say this, but my boy Usher let me down this time. I'm usually not a fan of the new, very young singers, but from the start Usher won me over with dance tracks like his debut single, "Think of You" and his sophomore effort, "You Make me Wanna." Well, after experiencing some success on the big screen, Usher headed back to the studio and has blessed us with "All About You." I am not feeling this, one bit. It sounds like a Wheaties jingle - if he had released it a little earlier in September you couldn't have told me it wasn't meant as some type of mainstream, R&B Olympic theme song.

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