Michael Jackson Tribute ft. The-Game, Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Mario Winans, Usher & Boyz II Men - Better On The Other Side (prod. by DJ Khalil)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Our rnb diva Mariah Carey trumps Eminem’s sad ‘Bagpipes From Baghdad’ song with a hard elbow responce. Her single ‘Obsessed’ is a direct answer to his new album track where he spits lyrics as:

“Mariah, whatever happened to us? Why did we have to break up? … Nick Cannon better back the fuck up. I’m not playin, … I mean I really want ya bad, you cunt.”

Mariah, who has always denied his claim about them being in a six month relationship a few years back, plays it cool, responding - backed up by a laid-back beat produced by Tricky Stewart:

“All over the block, saying we met on a bar, when I don’t know who you are … Why you so obsessed with me? Lying that you’re sexing me? … Last man on earth, still couldn’t get this… You’re delusional. Boy, you’re losing your mind … You’re a mom & pop, I’m a corporation. I’m a press conference, you’re a conversation”

Mariah Carey - Obsessed (written by Mariah Carey & The-Dream, prod. by Tricky Stewart)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Maybe this song will be K-Young’s comeback as a songwriter?

K-Young - Broken

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

More Fauntleroy, no singer/songwriter is better right now.

James Fauntleroy - Te Amo

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Born in New York but raised in Miami, newcomer X.L. brings Plain Gold his high quality ballad ‘Back Into It’. It’s not often you stumble on talent like this without a bigger hype backing it up. If you want more of him, be sure to check out his homepage.

X.L. - Back Into It

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Every time a rnb single becomes a big hit, you can most certainly expect R Kelly to jump on a remix, official or unofficial. He’s been doing this with Ciara, T-Pain, Beyonce, Kanye West etc etc and just over the last seven days, he has leaked his own versions of ‘The Best I Ever Had’ and ‘Birthday Sex’, two of the biggest songs out there at the moment.

These both remixes are supposed to be on a mixtape that R Kelly has been making with the amazing DJ Drama and DJ Skee. It’s called The Demo Tape and will be released on the internet within a couple of days or so.

Like this wasn’t enough, R Kelly also has some brand new music of his own on the upcoming mixtape. ‘Tip The Waiter’ is just the type of song you’d expect from this man, nothing amazing but still better than most of his opponents out there. This is the kind of music I like to hear when his next album comes out, and not a bunch of songs with guest rappers and “The R” trying to be a gangster instead of the rnb genius he really is.

Speaking of his next album; In the end of ‘The Best I Ever Had’ remix, R Kelly announces that his next album will be out in September and that we can expect “some real rnb R Kelly shit” so let’s keep our fingers crossed on that one.

Drake Ft R Kelly - The Best I Ever Had Remix

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Jeremih Ft R Kelly - Birthday Sex

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

R Kelly - Tip The Waiter

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This year rnb is at it’s best in form of slow jams, at least thus far. Here’s another of Tank’s contributions to 2009’s small but splendid ballad collection.

Tank - Lost In You (prod. by Tim & Bob)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Fauntleroy keeps showing proof of his fantastic skills as an singer/songwriter. It’s that voice, it makes me crave for more, a full album. Too bad he’s busy serving other stars with lyrics, he should approach an own career as an singer, do a “The-Dream”!

James Fauntleroy - Stadium Love

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

If you’ve been following the daily stream of new rnb joints these last couple of years you might accossiate the name K-Young with so-so demo tracks. ‘What People Say’ and ‘Dance With Me’ from 2007 was fantastic songs, but most of his tracks since then have been plain unexciting. Either he doesn’t share his gems with us, or he’s loosing grip of his talent.

As eleven he became the lead singer of the boy band 3rd Storee (he was the boy with the young MJ-voice called Lil Man), and in 2005 he released his debut album as an solo artist, Learn How To Love. His solo career failed to reach success, but as a songwriter he made a big impact with hit singles for acts as Brandy (’Afrodisiac’ & ‘Sadiddy’) and B2K (’Do That Thing’). Sure, that was years ago now, and this track may not be a hint of him closing in on a new hit in the same spirit as ‘Afrodisiac’. But it’s a cute and calm mid tempo track, backed up by producer J.R. Rotem who might have realized that the use of samples in rnb songs is the way to go. The old ingredient already feels fresh again.

It’s too early to count out Kenneth Patt aka K-Young, even if he hasn’t delivered big hits in a while. ‘Curious’ is proof of that. And be aware of shout outs in this one.

K-Young - Curious

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Trey’s still one of our favorite studs. Here’s his own version of Jeremiah’s ‘Birthday Sex’. Like he says, August the 4th is the slated date for his upcoming album Ready. A new date to yearn for.

Trey Songz - First Date Sex

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Here’s someone who’s listened to Nichola’s wish by putting together a cover on the classic Jodeci hit single ‘Come & Talk To Me’ from 1992. Mario’s truly one of the few artists who’s unceasingly brilliant.

Mario - Come & Talk To Me (Jodeci Cover)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

We’re not exactly spoiled by great songs right now, in other words, I should be ashamed by being late presenting a track like this. It’s Tank and The Underdogs, this discouraged ballad from last month doesn’t need an introduction. Whoever heard Tank at his best knows the sound and what to expect. It’s high class quality, over and out.

Tank - Fatal

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The new Def Jam star Jeremih’s hit ‘Birthday Sex’ from last year is growing and now being followed up by remixes. Status Quo, Red Cafe, Pretty Ricky and Fabolous are some of the names who’ve joined in with verses, but none can compete with the new talented singer/songwriter Ester Dean’s version (she’s signed to the Polow Da Don created Zone 4 label). She transforms the sex jam to one of the hottest duets of the year.

And yes, we know we’re not first with this one.

Jeremih ft. Ester Dean - Birthday Sex [Remix] (prod. by Mick Schultz)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

D. Brown started leaking demotracks like crazy last month, and sings this gloomy but boastful mid tempo track with a ounce of shame in his voice.

D. Brown - Gone With The Wind

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The debutant Tynisha Keli made me go exuberant with the unique voice of hers and her ‘Rockstar’ song. Too bad her album The Cronicles Of TK had few other highlights to offer.

Tynisha Keli - Rockstar

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This killer ballad is written and performed by J. Melody, a up and coming rnb singer/songwriter from Toronto.

J. Melody - Midnight Luv

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Our good friend Jake Oh has handed us his brand new single a week or so before it airs the radio. You know Jake right? He’s the Swedish rnb star who’s talent as a singer, songwriter and producer is competing with the biggest names in the business.

Jake Oh - Last Time (prod. by Jake Oh & Maiocchi)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Listen to Jake Oh’s first two singles and read our interview with him here.

New song by Nivea! And nope, she doesn’t disappoint us, far from. Hopefully we’ll get a new album soon.

Nivea - Zodiac (prod. by Tricky Stewart)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In just a few weeks, Ciara will return with her third album, Fantasy Ride. ‘Lovers Thing’ will be on the album and is a sweet little duet with none other than The-Dream. The song isn’t really up to par with what we’re used to when it comes to The-Dream and his frequent collaborator L.O.S, but it’s a decent track and my hopes are high for Fantasy Ride. It seems like Ciara has worked with some excellent people this time around and the songs that have leaked this far have all been nice.

Ciara ft. The-Dream - Lover’s Thing (prod. by L.O.S.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Riz new song ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ reminds us of his single ‘Rock The Bed’. The production got the same smooth sound and dark mood to it, but this time the lyrics fits the athmosphere of the production a bit too well. Is this a subtle follow up to Ray J’s sadistic horror song ‘Snakes In The Grass’? It’s hard to know what Riz in exact terms is referring to when singing about turning into a vicious monster in the car, with the girl, but I hope it’s something more innocent than what first comes to mind. Apart from the questionmark about a sadistically theme or not, I love the song, and think we can expect much from this new Konvict star.

Riz - Jekyll & Hyde

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Trey hasn’t turned silent. Just like always he’s been putting out new songs every week or so, but lately they’ve been lacking the umph that’s needed do him and his voice justice. ‘Be Where You Are’ is an exception though. This is a nice piece of pop song, with a formula unlike anything else we’ve heard this year. If not as good as last year’s ‘Murder She Wrote’, at least one of his best tracks since then.

His third album Ready is said to be released in June this year.

Trey Songz - Be Where You Are (prod. by Deep)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

A ballad with a timeless sound, and a incredible performance by Day 26 reminding us of an early 112 at their best. Couldn’t be more refreshing.

Day 26 - Perfectly Blind

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This Hilson track didn’t make the cut for the album but is a real dancefloor monster.

And beware the poor quality, so far it’s only to be found as a mixtape rip.

Keri Hilson ft. T-Pain & Lil Jon - Hey Girl

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lil Eddie hasn’t had a hit in quite a while now. Will his team up with Ryan Leslie change that? It should, ‘Harlem Boy’ promise a lot from their collaboration.

Lil Eddie - Harlem Boy (prod. by Ryan Leslie)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Our good friends at 2 Fresh Music wants feedback on their man Emilio’s new track featuring Bobby V. You’ll find the link below, what do you think?

Emilio ft. Bobby V - Kidnapping Your Love

With his last album Go, Mario proved he had grown to be one of the best and most interesting artists out there, giving us an entire album without flaws. With the new tender ballad ‘Afraid To Cry (Hardest Moment)’ he awakes my admire and makes me long even more for his fourth album And Then There Was Me, set to be released in June. What a impressive singer he has become.

Mario - Afraid To Cry (Hardest Moment)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Joe’s last album Joe Thomas, New Man was one of my favorite albums last year. But at the same time, the five snippets at the end of the album left me longing even more for his next CD, Signature. Signature was supposed to drop earlier this year but has been delayed. Now it seems as if the new release date will be June 30th and if Joe sticks to his original plan, the album will be filled with ballads written and produced by himself. In my opinion this is the right move to make for a singer who’s also one of the most underrated songwriters in the business.

Joe made three great albums between ’97 and ’01 where he wrote most of the songs himself. Since then, he has been letting a lot of other people do most of the work for him and though Joe never really fails, he certainly hasn’t made a really great album for almost a decade now.

I’m not going to say that ‘Magic’ is anywhere near being magical, but it’s surely a step in the right direction, and as an album track it’s great. Hopefully Joe will put out something more like ‘I Wanna Know’ or ‘All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do)’ to get a little more hype for the new album. I guess we just have to wait and see.

Joe - Magic

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Keri Hilson’s anticipated debut album In A Perfect World will finally be released on March 24th. Above is the preview video for the Timbo & Polow produced ‘Make Love’ featuring Kanye West. The unusual refrain, does it use the chord from 4 None Blond’s 90’s hit ‘What’s Up’? A nice ballad anyway.

I also post her cover on Soulja Boy’s ‘Turn My Swag On’. It’s insane, just aware the shout outs.

Keri Hilson - Turn My Swag On (Soulja Boy Cover)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Plain Gold’s friend DJ Crona treats us on an exclusive The-Dream mixtape, containing a nice combination of album tracks, features and less known demotracks. A perfect listen for you who’ve still- after the new album Love vs. Money - got the The-Dream hunger nagging you.

The-Dream - It Was All A Dream

And the track list and mixtape credits: Read more…

Jazmine Sullivan was responsible for one of last years most impressive debuts, gathering all critics as her fans with the voice of Lauryn Hill. Her stylistically unfocused but well performed album wasn’t my cup of tea, but a couple of songs like ‘Busting Your Windows’ and ‘Call Me Guilty’ were impossible not to fall for.

Above is the video for her new single ‘Dream Big’ (pardon the poor quality, I’ll find a better version tomorrow), a great song but with a dubious feeling I never could ignore. Below you find the Swedish legend Stonebridge’s remix of the same track which erases all uncertainty about the song’s attempts, and makes it the true dance floor banger it wants to be.

Jazmine Sullivan - Dream Big (Stonebridge Remix)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The wonder songwriter Claude Kelly works with a hardcore house beat on this relaxed hitter. As I pointed out earlier today, gotta love him.

Use the link below instead of the audioplayer.

Claude Kelly - Us

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In 2006 the young boy group 2 Much came through strong with their single ‘Fire’, gave us much to hope for. Since then they’ve been pretty quiet, forgotten by their label.

Now they might be back on track again, even though three of the guys got solo projects going on. Their new track ‘Explosive’ remind us of their potential.

2 Much - Explosive

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It’s not only Pooh Bear sounding like Lionel Richie, Lionel himself hasn’t forgotten his sound and still knows how to embrace other songwriters tracks to make them his and his alone. With ‘Im Not Okay’ (which some of you might have heard already) he outshines The-Dream’s tediouse demotrack and makes it a strong sentimental ballad of the quality we can expect from one of the masters of adult contemporary balladry.

Be sure to look out for his new album, slated to release May 19.

Lionel Richie - I’m Not Okay (written by The-Dream, prod. by Tricky Stewart)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It’s sad, The-Dream fooled me with his last album. He ain’t a alien after all, he is capable of writing mediocre songs. Love vs. Money will be nothing like Love/Hate. Less then a month before the release we’ve heard six of it’s songs, and only a pair are somewhere near the high quality of his last album. Except from ‘Rockin That Thang’ - that’s growing on me, I’m refering to ’Walking On The Moon’, my favourite track so far, which stands out as a the new album’s ‘Fast Car’. Not as good, but still a great song. And the peculiar L.O.S.-beat, it fits The-Dream perfectly. It seems like only he can do L.O.S. real justice.

The-Dream ft. Kanye West - Walking On The Moon (prod. by L.O.S.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sean Garrett’s debut as an artist last year was such a flop he’s now giving away the album’s best tracks to other artists. Why let them go to waste together with a album no one have heard? Mishon agrees and accepts to make ‘Girlfriend’s Ringtone’ his own, which he pulls of better than Garrett on the original track.

Mishon ft. Lil Wayne & Sean Garrett - Girlfriends Ringtone

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Charlie Wilson challenges a third opponent, Mario. His two last fights was - in my opinion - failures (Charlie vs. Calvin and Charlie vs. Joe), but with ‘I Can’t Live Without You’ he strikes his rival to the ground. No doubt about it.

Charlie Wilson - I Can’t Live Without You

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mario - I Can’t Live Without You

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Just a year ago Claude Kelly was a up’n'coming songwriter, who’s biggest success was Frankie J’s beutiful ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’. Since then he’s written hits as ‘Hold My Hand’ (Akon ft. Michael Jackson), ‘Circus’ (Britney Spears), ‘My Life Would Suck Without You’ (Kelly Clarkson), and other album tracks for artists as Brandy, Jesse McCartney, Lloyd and New Kids On The Block. Quite unbelievable. Here’s his latest demo track, which shouldn’t have a problem finding itself a new owner.

Use the link below to stream the song. The audioplayer doesn’t work on this one.

Claude Kelly - The Definition (prod. by Dre & Vidal)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Charlie Wilsons second single ‘There Goes My Baby’ is written by Calvin Richardson and produced by Babyface. I’ve been in love with the song ever since I first heard it on Calvin Richardson’s unreleased album Unleashed from 2006. Can’t say Wilson outshines C-Rich though - on the contrary, Calvin’s version is slightly better. He should have kept it for himself and his When Love Comes album from last year.

Calvin Richardson - There Goes My Baby (prod. by Babyface)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The newcomer Pooh Bear is lying when he says that Jagged Edge and R Kelly is his biggest influences. According to ‘Good Morning’ Lionel Richie is his man. This is pure quality, of potential excellence.

Pooh Bear - Good Morning (prod. by Trackmasters)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This is just what we need right now, Ginuwine doing slick ballads with B. Cox! ‘My Last Chance’ from last year was amazing and said to be the first single from his comeback album A Man’s Thoughts (planned to be released this year). The new song ‘Can’t Blame You’ is just as good. It couldn’t sound more promising.

Ginuwine - Can’t Blame You (prod. by B. Cox)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Last week a new Fauntleroy banger leaked. As someone commented at his myspace: “James dont write songs he writes anthems!!!”. ‘Jumper’ is not just a anthem, it’s one in which James sings like a accordion… And the typical Fauntleroy lyrics, it almost makes me cry.

Standing on a cliff edge
Reaching out with my hands
Feeling like I can jump right to you
I won’t act like I’m not scared
And I don’t expect from you to catch me when I fall
But I’m expecting you to wanna free fall

James Fauntleroy - Jumper (prod. by Brian Kennedy)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mario should soon be finished with his new album And Then There Was Me. ‘Starlight’ isn’t confirmed to be included but is one of finest tracks leaked so far.

Mario - Starlight (written by The-Dream)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Here’s another reason to long for YS’s debut. Hot hot!

Young Steff - Feeling Myself

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

All through 2008 I waited for this, a new sign of life from Natasha, the promising Darkchild find who presented herself with the charming single ‘Hey Hey Hey’ in 2006 and the cocky ‘So Sick’ in 2007. When she finally showed up with a new single in December I missed it, and I guess most of you did too. There hasn´t been much hype surrounding the “comeback” of this now 20 year old New Yersey singer. Hopefully that´s about to change, the new single ‘Sidekick’ is a potential dancefloor monster and it looks like Natasha’s debut album Natasha Is Here finally is about to be released in 2009. Besides from Darkchild she has been working with Stargate, Bryan Michael Cox and many more so the album will surely be something to look out for this year.

Natasha - Sidekick

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Check out the video below!

Riz was born in Nigeria, and after the age of eleven, grown up in the Netherlands. Last year Konvict laid their hands on him, whereafter he’s been working with their team. Here’s one of his latest efforts said to be produced by Akon; quite a hit in my opinion. The song and production reminds me of Ray Lavender’s ‘Donkey Kong’ from 2007. Dark, gritty and laid back, and extremely danceable. Akon sure is a great talent scout.

Riz - Rock The Bed (prod. by Akon)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This song is the shit right now. It’s produced by Dr. Dre and said to be of the Detox album which might be coming out later on this year (right). It has also been suggested that the song is to be featured on 50 Cent´s coming album. Another version (full of shouts) have been floating around for a little while featuring Aftermath rapper Bishop Lamont. It’s suggested that the Lamont verse is a reference for an unfinished Dre verse and my guess is that this isn´t a finished version either. A lot of questions, all I know is that the beat is a killer and both Kelly and 50 does really well on it. I haven’t given Dre´s productions much thoughts lately and to be honest neither Eminem’s comeback album or 50 Cent´s Self Destruction really bothers me. A strong album by Dr. Dre on the other hand would be something else.

R. Kelly ft. 50 Cent - It Could´ve Been You (prod by Dr. Dre)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Now it’s official, one of the strong trends of 2009 will be organic instrumentents. Darkchild gives us the final example to settle that with this London track, the first song of the artist which I like. To be honest I think I love it. Listen to the beat. The guitar comp throughout the track, which Darkchild ends up screwing, the classy strings and the harp presented near the end.

London’s poppy vocals,. I’m not sure I’ve heard anything like it. The song invites me to dance, but when I listen to the lyrics I notice it’s about a tragic suicide. Can’t say I mind though, on the contrary: anything this unique and of this high quality makes me aroused. I keep dancing!

London - She’s Gone (prod. by Darkchild)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Rozelle is a up n coming artist backed up by names as B. Cox, CornaBoyz and Johnta Austin. CornaBoyz have surprised me with a endless amount of meaningless songs this last year, but with this newly leaked Rozelle track they prove they’re still to count for. By high quality songwriting Rozelle manage to do something interesting with their typical melancholic production; ‘Sorry’ even overcomes his great debut single ‘Long Night’.

We’ll be looking out for Rozelle for you, don’t you worry.

Rozelle - Sorry (prod. by CornaBoyz)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Really, are we this obvious?

Well yeah, but it’s not like Polow da Don left us much of a choice. Those cheap-sounding vibrating synths,  kind of like slowed-down trance music, made the perfect sleazy digitalized backdrop for Usher to proclaim how damn horny he is. What takes the song up another level (from the already vertigo-inducing heights we’re at) is how Usher’s vocals sound both aroused and melancholic at the same time. Who else in the world can pull that off? Not Celine Dion, that’s for sure.

Granted, the beat was essentially two readymade loops from the computer program Garageband, and the lyrics are about how Usher wants to pull his thing out on the dancefloor. But isn’t that a testament to how friggin great this song really is, that despite the borrowed beat and scandalous singing, nobody really cared?

Everybody just danced. In slow motion.

Usher ft. Young Jeezy - Love In This Club (prod. by Polow da Don)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

We’re not first with this one, but better late than never. This is the trailer for our friend Rebstars ‘Without You’ video featuring Trey Songz. If you’re from Sweden you’ve probably heard this song before, and for you who haven’t I’ll post it underneath.

Rebstar ft. Trey Songz - Without You (prod. by T-Minus)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The album Lessons In Love didn’t quite live up to the expectations after last year’s surprising Street Love, but one song showed why I consider Lloyd to be one of the most talented young artists of today.

‘Year Of The Lover’ was written by Rico Love and produced by Eric Hudson, whose previous work includes songs by Mary J Blige, Omarion and Ne-Yo, just to mention a few. The production fits Lloyd’s voice perfectly, and Lloyd really seems to have found his niche as a young rnb Casanova far from the sugar sweet music he used to perform as lead singer of boy band N-Toon a few years back. And when it comes to the lyrical content, the song title really speaks for itself.

Lloyd - Year of The Lover (written by Rico Love, prod by. Eric Hudson)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

That commercial and artistic success somehow should exclude each other may never be true, and certainly isn’t when it comes to rnb. Last year, ‘Umbrella’ was the perfect example of the billboard top ten meeting the avant garde: perfect pop, perfectly fresh. Indeed, a lot of rnb-hits follows a popular formula, Chris Brown (with Stargate) has definitely been guilty, charged with the cynical ‘It’s You’.

How he redeemed himself. ‘Forever’ starts out with melodic information virtually unheard of in rnb, so pop it’ll make you blush. It’s a song that goes in all directions: the lyrics freestyled, the backing harmonies ridiculously expensive, the keyboard arpeggiators 90’s european, the drums Timbaland played through an old boom box. In my opinion, the closest thing to perfection to come out this year.

Chris Brown - Forever (written by Chris Brown, prod. by Polow da Don)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This year hasn’t been a good year for rnb girl groups. Dear Jayne though, is one example of groups that deserves much more attention and succéss than they’ve recieved so far. With their third single ‘Fall Back’ they’re confronting their unfaithfull boyfriend, played by The-Dream. They know he had company last night and that it wasn’t theirs. You could call ‘Fall Back’ a modern drama.

‘Fall Back’ involves the faithfull friend:
While you where chilling in a club,
I was getting textmesseges from my girl,
She sent me a pic of you and this chick,

It got the boyfriend’s lie:
You know I miss you girl

And the independent woman’s perspective:
No, what you missed was my call,
When you cut your phone off!

And the part where she says goodbye and goes on with her life without bitterness.
I hope you sleep tight,
You ain’t gettin’ no tonight

Dear Jayne ft. The-Dream - Fall Back (written by The-Dream, prod. by L.O.S.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To see T-Pain stand next to Mariah Carey is something quite special. She, a classical trained soprano singer, meets T-Pain, the front figure of the both hated and loved autotune. ‘Migrate’ strenghtens the fusion between new influences and traditions, between high culture and pop culture. But formost, in terms of music, it turns the adjective “authentic” up side down when the soul scenes greatest voice takes use of the controversial effect that makes anyone capable of singing.

The Danja produced ‘Migrate’ is not only one of the years best rnb songs, it’s also one of Mariahs finest moments.

Mariah Carey ft. T-Pain - Migrate (prod. by Danja)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

T-Pain and Lil Wayne blew up to enormous proportions and exploded this year. Megalomania is fascinating when it comes to artists and it´s been interesting to watch their characters freak out. When it comes to the quality of their music it´s not always that uplifting though. Lil Wayne´s evolution from bluesy soul and rnb to crappy college rock is really depressing to me and T-Pains hysteric circus persona is starting to feel more like a pain in the ass.

‘I Can´t Believe It’, however, manages catch them both at their best; cool and laid back on a slow dreamy beat. It is probably my favorite song of 2008.

T-Pain ft. Lil Wayne - I Can´t Believe It

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Almost ten years after their debut 3rd Storee who made a smaller buzz in the late 90’s are planning a come back. With The Clutch as songwriters and Danja as producer 3rd Storee presents one of the best and most fascinating songs of the year. They surely deserv our vigil attention after this master piece.

3rd Storee - 2 Piece Juicy (written by The Clutch, prod. by Danja)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

After scandals as rape dancing a underage girl at a concert, throwing a minor head first down the scene at another performance, and being accused of fabricating his jail sentence (which he’s based his whole convict image on), Akon shows us a new self with his 2008 album Freedom. His thug gard is almost completely down together with the hiphop influences, and a softer, loving, more sympathetic him is presented in a pure pop package. A great strategy move, which also has crafted his best album so far.

‘Could You be The Reason’ is the demo track of Freedom’s ‘We Don’t Care’, which is much better in my opinion. In this old version there’s less background vocals which puts more focus on the magnificent production. Here you’ll notice the heavy disco strings, and without the rapid guitar the bridge works much better as a build up to the powerful hook. This is Akon at his very best.

Akon - Could You Be The Reason

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

James Fauntleroy - Heated

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Are you one of us that constantly claim we’re not systematically drawn to the fascination of ghetto culture? One of us who tries to define the purchasing of golden chains to the fact that it reflect wealth - not fashion - and just loves The Wire cause it’s so ”real”? We probably have some other things in common too (for starters, we’re not that poor ourselves). This may be a narrow way to describe a curiosity and interest in class - on the contrary it may become exploitation.

The song ‘16 @ War’ by Karina Pasian is not a song that primarily flirts with the phasing-out “ghetto culture”. Karina manage to describe a vivid spectrum of many factors at work simultaneously. The feeling of being sixteen, being a woman, being poor and being unfairly treated. Rather than many others songs with the same focus Karina simply document the brutal reality of many people. Her beautiful, yet massive, voice succeeds to capture the frustrating feeling of being powerless. Forget prior teenage-theme pop songs with contra-productive self-destructive feelings like “sixteen clumsy and shy”. The message Karina broadcast is extraordinarily strong in its own straightness. I hope she keeps on fighting next year.

Karina Pasian - 16 @ War (written by The-Dream, prod. by Tricky Stewart)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I’m looking for a lover not a friend

Frankly, I thought she would be a one-hit wonder.

Somebody who can be there when I need someone to talk to

One summer of bliss, and that would be it. Read more…

They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. Well, let’s just say Sterling Simms didn’t make me interested in him when I first heard his horrible hook on Jay-Z’s ‘Dig A Hole’. And even though I liked his solo singles ‘Jump Off’ and ‘80 On The Freeway’ I can’t really say I had hopes for him releasing a solid album. As a matter of fact I thought he’d lost that Def Jam deal by now, until I found out just a few weeks ago that his debut album Yours, Mine & The Truth will be released just a couple of days before Christmas.

On his debut album, Sterling Simms has worked with The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Soundz and Sean Garrett, which raises my expectations. And as if that wasn’t enough, Sterling himself is part of the songwriting/production collective The Knightwritaz, which includes members as Warren “Oak” Felder, fellow singer Mario and Floetry songtress Marsha Ambrosius. And of course The Knightwritaz will be represented on the album.

Today I’ve heard two new songs off the album, and even though none of them really knocked me off my feet, they are still some nice proof that Sterling can make good music. ‘Bad Dream’ is a traditional “heartbreak song”, written by The-Dream and is really reminiscent of how those good rnb slow jams used to sound in the late 90’s. ‘Doin’ Dat There’ sounds more like a 2008 hit record with that infectious hook, and Soundz really did his thing with the instrumentals.

Let’s hope Sterling Simms goes all the way and makes a good and consistent album, and that we’ll be able to give you a full review of it soon. Until then, make sure you don’t miss out on these two songs.

Sterling Simms - Bad Dreams (written by The-Dream, prod. by Tricky Stewart)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sterling Simms - Doin That Thing (prod. by Soundz)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Note, our players don’t work on these two songs. Click on the link above them instead.

One of my favorite songs this summer was Joe´s exuberant power ballad “Beautiful”. The song came out in July, timing the only two really hot weeks we were blessed with in Sweden this year. It was a real heat wave, which is quite ridiculous to think of now when it’s completely dark for about 18 hours a day. Anyway the song suited my mood perfectly those weeks, I used to play it way too loud when I rode my bike down a long slope to the beach. A bit corny perhaps but that was the whole idea, a true rnb moment.

Surprisingly the song wasn´t featured on New man, instead it was used  as an exclusive for Joe´s Greatest Hits. I didn’t check that one out and would probably have forgotten all about the song if there wasn´t for a new version showing up last night. This time it’s sung by the grandfather of rnb, Uncle Charlie Wilson. At first I didn’t like his version, but now, after repeating it for an hour, I like it better. He´s much more laid back than Joe which is quite nice since the song is rather melodramatic.

“Beautiful” was credited to the genius song writer James Fauntleroy and producer team The Underdogs when it first came out. I haven´t found any official confirmation backing it up but to me it really sounds like a Fauntleroy song. I’m also quite sure its Fauntleroy’s voice in the beginning and background of the song.

Which version do you prefer?

Joe - Beautiful

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Charlie Wilson - Beautiful

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Internet has become a popular tool for up-and-coming songwriters to share their latest demos, sometimes with better results than the ”real songs” later performed by more established artists. Lonny wrote ‘Quickly’ for John Legend and Brandy, a great song but even greater with the writers own voice on it. ‘Read the Stars’ is better. It is, musically as well as lyrically, essentially a house record, and one of few dance-oriented rnb songs that hasn’t felt forced or gimicky (’Disturbia’ and ‘Closer’, I’m looking in your general direction.)

I can definitely see someone else recording ‘Read The Stars’ in the future, but I can’t imagine that that someone will perform it better than Lonny.

Lonny Breaux - Read The Stars

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ok - so I have to confess two things. First off, I didn’t consider Joe to be my ideal rnb-artist. With a baggage of great records it’s just a few songs that really has stayed in my playlist, Joe has always somewhat combined the heartbroken gentleman with a banal martyr, nothing without a catchy melody. A bit boring, yet dramatic. My other admission is, however, that Joe has succeeded to make the most beautiful song of this year.

The new record Joe Thomas, New Man did not fail to have highlights. The single ‘E.R. (Emergency Room)’ contains some dirty wishes (authorized by the doctor-pun), and ‘We Need To Roll’ was a great co lab, featuring both Mario and Trey Songz. Compared to ‘I Will Again’, bonus track on the bonus edition, they both fade to mediocre. I didn’t understand this song at first. It all was a still, low profile ambush, kind of classy. Maybe it was the nice pop melody, maybe the rare, self-conscious lyrics. Joe proves however, that he’s far from the flawless idea of an American rnb-dream. To do such a thing with this melody is a great achievement. To borrow a phrase from Dave Eggers, it’s really a heartbreaking work of a staggering genius.
 And Joe, I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize you as a human before this song. I definitely will again.

Joe - I Will Come Again

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Even though the rnb year 2008 has been of great confusion, Lil Eddie manage to show the way with his pop piece ‘Now or Never’. The song which samples the Eurythmic classic ‘Here Comes The Rain Again’ is actually about love’s blindness to reason, but it’s dramatic catchphrase “now or never” could also be used to describe the world’s situation of today. In comparison to personal feelings, global threats are still taken quite lightly though. If the strategy against the world’s problems was filled with the same determination as a Lil Eddie in love, it would surely take a great leap forward.

Lil Eddie - Now Or Never

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This is a depressing example of a great song disappearing in the music industry shuffle. Wynter Gordon’s debut single ‘Surveillance’ is a natural hit, but to our great dismay, Atlantic Records hasn’t realized what a gem they’re sitting on. In January, Wynter announced on her myspace page that the music video for ‘Surveillance’ had been shot. It hasn’t been released yet, which by the way is true for her debut album Wynter Time as well. Wynters profile at the Atlantic Records website is void of any information.

That’s hardly the back-up this song deserves, when the thing is just beautiful. The production works brilliantly with the lyrics, the synths going up and down like an EKG under the vocals, and the horns acting like exclamation marks after each line. And then, for the chorus, the whole thing simultaneously doubles in power and takes off into the air. Then it comes down again, only to repeat at the next chorus. An exhilarating ride, to say the least.

Let’s all hope that Wynter Gordon’s 2009 will be all that 2008 promised to be. With songs like this, she deserves all the success she can get.

Wynter Gordon - Surveillance

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ciara is truly one of the best artists out there. I might doubt her idea of a three-disc album, but I don’t doubt they’ll all be of high quality. She’s not capable of flopping.

‘Go Girl’ was a great song, even though it lacked the hit potential we’re used to when it comes to her singles. The same can be said about her new duet with The-Dream. ‘Keep Dancing’ is a wonderful song - a pure beauty, but won’t be a new ‘Promise’. I’m not worried though. The album (albums) will be great and she’ll definitely find some singles that will make her Fantasy Ride sell gold.

Ciara ft. The-Dream - Keep Dancing

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In the shivering years at the turn of the millennium, boy bands were everywhere. The Backstreet Boys, ‘Nsync, Westlife and many more - they all contributed to give male vocal groups a bad name, or at least a more narrow audience: young teenage girls and nobody else. But since the decline of the boy band hysteria, the genre has returned to its rnb roots. Enter Git Fresh, the most charming rnb boy band we’ve seen in a decade. Their ‘Booty Music’ is a tribute to the raunchy Florida style of upbeat hiphop - perhaps not an ideal soundtrack for smooth lovemaking, unless you’re energetic like Git Fresh! As the point out: “Everybody don’t like it slow / consider me one of them folks”. The kick-drum is as sharp as anything from the dirty south, the acoustic guitar accompaniment sounds like an enchanting river, and the vocal melody is pure pop; this is music of creative contrasts. To hear a young sweet voice sing lines like “don’t stop, get it, get it/ pop that coochie, I’m-a hit it” - lyrics one expects to hear on a 2 Live Crew record - is as refreshing as it is irresistible. Git Fresh hits the spot.

Git Fresh - Booty Music

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Somebody clowned us for only posting pictures of halfnaked men on the site. The only song by a woman, was fronted by Swiss Beatz. Well I guess it´s time to put a strong female singer on top. Jazmine Sullivan is on a rampage on this one, busting out the windows of not one but four cars. I really loved this track when it first showed up in September and it only got better as the remixes kept comming. The-Dream and Trey are two of my favourite singers and they both make outstanding efforts on the track. Gorilla Zoe and Busta might not qualify as favourites but their answers to Sullivans assault are both hilarious.

Its probably hard to fail on the track as the production is signed by the legendary Salaam Remi, responsible for monsters like ‘Here Comes The Hotstepper’ and ‘Fu-Gee-La’ as well as plenty of tracks for Nas, Amy Whinehouse and many others.

This is the first remix featuring all the answers that I found so far. Which one do you prefer?

Jazmine Sullivan ft. The-Dream, Trey Songz, Busta Rhymes, Gorilla Zoe

- Bust Your Windows (Remix)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Trey Songz sophomore album Trey Day from last year was supposed to take his career to the next level and introduce him to the broader masses. Sadly it failed to do so, despite a number of strong tracks and hits like ‘Can´t help but wait’, ‘Wonder woman’ and ‘Missing you’, it ended up selling about 350 000 copies in the US. That’s about 50 000 less than his debut album and 1 550 000 less than Chris Brown’s sophomore album which was released at the same time.

You could have imagined that Trey would try to commercialize and change up his image after a blow like that. Instead, he went back to his roots as the mixtape king of rnb and released remixes and versions of almost every big thing coming up this year. He´s featured on more than twenty hiphop songs as well which makes him one of the most sought after singers in the rap game right now.

Trey has truly showed us that he not only has the looks and voice but also the strong will, individuality, and talent to become the next big thing in rnb. Probably it´s just a matter of one massive hit to change everything for him. It takes guts to stick to your own thing like that and hopefully Trey will get the payoff he deserves.

The song we have chosen for the countdown really shows the broad range of styles and versatility Trey has. He´s not just a “rapper ternt sanga” but more like a singer with the mind of a rapper.

Trey Songz - Crazy

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

As we´re already at the subject of James Fauntleroy, there’s a new track that’s been around for a couple of days. A really sweet and tender lullaby showing that Fauntleroy is capable of more than just powerful ballads like ‘No Air’ or ‘Jump In’. He truly has been one of this years most interesting songwriters and one of my favourite vocalists as well.

We are planning on a special Fauntleroy post with a collection of tracks introducing a bit more of his work. Look out for it sometime around christmas!

James Fauntleroy - Storm

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Charlie Wilson is one of the very few artists of his generation who’s still relevant in the business today, even for the new generation of rnb fans. The only other I can think of is Ron Isley, and with him locked up in jail there’s no doubt of who’s the current king of modern “grown-man-soul”.

“Uncle Charlie” didn’t release his new album Supa Sexy in 2008, but he did show us that he still got what it takes. Except from doing a great job with the hook on Snoop’s ‘Can’t Say Goodbye’, he did at least three songs of his own that all have been going on heavy rotation in our iPods throughout the year. When it came down to picking just one, we went for ‘Jump In’. Not only is it one of the greatest ballads of the year, it’s also sung by one of the scenes greatest voices. It’s both impressive and a bit touching to hear Charlie, today 55 years old, singing about being scared of commitment with such emotion.

Credit should also be given to The Underdogs, who reportedly produced the song. Their type of production fit Charlie’s strong, soulful voice perfectly and hopefully there’ll be of their tracks on Supa Sexy, whenever it hit the stores. Do we dare to hope for an early 2009 release?

Charlie Wilson - Jump In (written by J. Fauntleroy, prod. by The Underdogs)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Even though R. Kelly told us to “get our braids tight” and get ready for the new album earlier this year there hasn´t been any news what so ever since the album leaked. Some people claimed that Kelly was responsible for the leak himself because he was dissatisfied with his record deal at Jive. Others rumors suggested that someone had leaked the tracks to “get back at Kells” for some reason.

Yesterday a new track surfaced where Kelly says he’s on some different shit. I wasn´t going to put it up since it was said to be an unfinished track but it has really been growing on me. The beat is really stripped down and even if this isn´t the final version it has a very nice vibe to it. Hopefully Kelly is planning on something new for his next release. Remember when Loveland was leaked long before its supposed release date in 2002? At that time he renamed and reworked the whole project, coming up with Chocolate Factory a year later, containing hits like ‘Ignition’ and ‘Step In The Name Of Love”. That album ended up selling over 3 million copies in the United States alone! Imagine R. Kelly coming back like that in 2009.

R. Kelly - Club To A Bedroom

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

A welcome change of pace for the oft-miserable queen of hiphop soul when it first reached our ears in 2007. ‘Just Fine’ was a revelation of positivy that left me smiling, feeling reassured that Mary J. Blige was not in fact suicidal even after all those gloomy songs about heartbreak and generally feeling like shit.

Then, early this year, Swizz Beatz played the role of matchmaker when he took Mary’s uncharacteristically upbeat tune and introduced it to ‘Treat ‘Em Right’, an infectious 18-year old rap song with a beat resembling that Bmore stuff that the kids love so much.

The offspring from this pairing came to be one of the most magnificient beasts you could encounter on a dance floor in 2008, with Mary’s shouting, wailing vocals riding the frantic club music drums of ‘Treat ‘Em Right’ to an apex of ass-shaking awesomeness.

Mary J. Blige - Just Fine (Swiss Beatz - Treat Em Right Remix)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

With a voice sounding like a combination of Lloyd and Trey Songz, and with a great feel for hooks and melodies, combined with being a incredible dancer, Gphonics could go far with some vocal training and a good manager (today he’s producing, writing and releasing his music all by himself).

Trey Songz has talked about his own music as rnb with a hiphop urge, a description also fitting for Gphonics sound. In a matter of fact, Gphonics style does resemble “Trey in thug mode” quite a lot, which you’ll hear on ‘Check My Swag’, his best track so far.

The album Mind Of A Man from last year might have been mediocre, but you could definitely hear he was on the track of something. If that something was a permanent sound and quality matching the amazing ‘Check My Swag’ or his other club banger ‘Love Me’ from this year, I can’t wait for his follow up album.

Gphonics - Check My Swag (prod. by Gphonics)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

One of last year’s strongest newcomers, J. Holiday, is planning to release his sophomore album in the beginning of next year. The album is called Round Two and is preliminary set for a release in February. I would say that we´re lucky if the album is out before the summer. Holiday will probably try to match last year’s immense success with hit single ‘Bed’, a task that wouldn’t be easy for anyone.

Anyway, last night a new track surfaced. A really smooth and laid back soul groove featuring the big boss Rick Ross. This is the kind of music J. Holiday should keep to. There aren’t many other singers out there doing it right know if you know what I’m saying.

J. Holiday ft. Rick Ross – Wrong Lover

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Something is fucked up with the audioplayer in this one, just use the link above.

Sean Garrett, through his songwriting, wonderfully links aggressive hiphop beats with sweet rnb melodies. Without him, the futuristic sounds of Polow da Don, Lil Jon and Swizz Beatz would probably never have transformed into the smash hits by Ciara, Usher and Beyoncé. He possesses a unique talent, which is why our expectations for his debut album as a solo artist, Turbo 919, were set up high. To me, the album was a disappointment, but it still contains the gem ‘Grippin’’, the Ludacris-featured single. A jazzy chord progression, a melody as sweet as honey and an intoxicating tempo – Sean Garrett attacks the song like a rapper – lead to a chorus that lights up any dancefloor. Luda impresses also, with his teasing delay of the last words of every phrase, and the beat-synched “Bang! Bang! Bang!” shout at the end. A defining moment of 2008.

Sean Garrett ft. Ludacris - Grippin’ (prod. by Sean Garrett)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It hasn’t been a very good year for R. Kelly. The child pornography case made it impossible for him to promote his new album 12 Play: Fourth Quarter. It was supposed to be released in the summer but was instead leaked in its entirety in july and hasn’t even come out officially yet.

On the other hand he was cleared from all charges and can finally put the 8 year long process behind him. He stated that “Bin Laden is the only one who knows exactly what I’m going through” a couple of years ago so this must surely come as a big relief for him. Hopefully he´ll be able to focus totally on what he’s doing best from now on - being the king of dirty rnb music.

You might argue that his ability to adept to the current sound is the reason that he still wears the crown today. On the latest single ‘Skin’ he´s sounding more like The-Dream than even The-Dream himself has been doing lately. No shame in that but for me he’s at his best when he´s doing his own thing; pornographic soul. Thats the reason why i chose ‘Go Low’ as my favourite track of 12 Play: Fourth Quarter. Others might try to challenge but Kellz is still the best at this. Sipping, licking, bumping and grinding.

Just one question; do you ladies get aroused by this? It’s ok to answer anonymously…

R Kelly - Go Low

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Young Steff - Turn On Your Radio

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In the presentation of this countdown, Sebastian predicted that autotune was doomed to lose its position in 2009, since it’s already reached its climax. Kanye West has always had an interesting status in the business- being able to transform small trends or upcoming tendencies into easy listening mainstream hits that even your mother sings in the shower. Therefore the overuse of this robot-voice-effect on his record 808’s & Heartbreaks is a quite surprising. The all-pleasing, getting-hipster-kids-to-love-hiphop-hit-machine released a record with a hysterical narrow theme, both in music and subject.

Overall, 808’s & Heartbreaks is quite fascinating. It’s brave and pleasing at the same time. And yes, it’s too much autotune. And yes, it’s too much self-pity. This guy is confused. But in some of these songs, for the first time, between the non-human robot-voice and the all-human-frustrated lyrics, you really get him. ‘Heartless’ is a outstanding example. I really hope that everyone that found this track boring and pop-ish gives it another chance. Cause in the end, we’ll all sob and blow our noses in last year’s gucciscarf.

Kanye West - Heartless (prod. by Kanye West)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Rodney Jerkins has been one of the best producers in the rnb-game for the last ten years or so. He’s been working with some of the most talented artists on the planet and kept on delivering hit after hit. Every time you hear the name Darkchild whispered in the beginning of a song, you know that it stands for a certain quality. Yet there is one thing we’ll never understand. How come a genius like Rodney keeps on giving some of his very best work to a mediocre singer like Ray J? Every time Ray J releases an album, the only songs worth checking for are the ones with Darkchild written all over them. And there is little doubt that these songs could sound even better in the hands of a good performer.

This year’s Ray J-album All I Need was no exception. The Final Fantasy-sampled ‘Jumpoff’ has been - more or less - the only reason to be looking out for Ray J this year, and one of the finest collaborations between the two, ever. And while I still have a lot to say about Ray J’s ability as a singer, ‘Jumpoff’ is the kind of song that doesn’t take the best singer in the world to be a nice standout track.

Ray J - Jump Off (prod. by Darkchild)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Instead of reaching for the Frank Sinatra hair piece, Ne-Yo covers his receding hair line with different hats, proclaiming 2008 to be “The year of the gentleman”. His latest album is a mixed bag, better than last years extremely mediocre effort, but still light years away from In My Own Words. I liked the singles ‘Closer’ and ‘Miss Independent’ as well as ‘Single’ (minus Polow da Dons nauseating kick pattern), but the Ne-Yo song that we will remember is, without a doubt, the beautiful, Stargate-driven, ‘Mad’. Classic soul music.

Ne-Yo - Mad (prod. by Stargate)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This year has not only been a great depression for the world economy, it’s been a disaster in a aspect of rnb as well. Sure we’ve heard some fantastic songs, but in comparison with the last couple of years the lack of strong albums and hits is getting very obvious as we’re closing in on 2009. I put the blame on an identity crisis. Read more…

At the moment the producer duo Kocky & Trash is working with songwriters such as Jack Knight (Cheri Dennis, Donnie Klang, Black Street) and Nasri (NKOTB, Mario), and will eventually be heard pretty much everywhere. That is my prediction at least, and soon yours after you’ve listened to their ‘Freeze’ remix that’s exclusively been handed to Plain Gold.

Everything they touch turns to gold and this is no exception. Their version of this song is way better than the original!

T-Pain ft. Chris Brown - Freeze (Kocky & Trash Remix)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.