5 R&B Artists To Watch

Awww! Summertime is almost here as noted by the tons of break up statues and booty shorts or shirtless pictures posted all over Instagram! The masses are hitting up gyms overtime and manicurists are filling up there appointment sheets but nothing exudes the true feeling of summertime for us music junkies like blasting your favorite songs through your speakers as you cruise by the park.

Though many people will crank up that same Top 40 material that we hear constantly, we wanted to hip you to some artists that have worthy material but that do not get the love from the mainstream charts.

5. Heather Victoria 

Representing my hometown of Durham, NC (Big Up Bull City), this talented singer has the likes of 9th Wonder behind her. Though she is an R&B singer, you can tell that Hip Hop runs through her veins from her aptly titled EP, Hip Hop Soul Lives. The project is pretty dope and features beats from 9th Wonder himself. Picture Mary J. Blige with southern belle swag. Take a listen for yourself! 

        




http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/heather-victoria-hip-hop-soul-lives/

4. CJ Hilton

This Baltimore, MD native and multi-instrumentalist has been hanging around since 2010. The son of a gospel singer, this soulful artist and producer is on the verge of being next up to bat in the R&B world. His neo soul sound is on display with his mixtape, The Package Mixtape and Cold Summer Ep.  His debut album is currently in the works. Think Marvin Gaye if he was born in the nineties and produced music in 2013.

http://www.myspace.com/cjhilton

3. Jarvis

Hailing from Tulsa, OK, this young man had his share of opportunity from signing with So So Def to working with Ludacris'  Disturbing the Peace and now with his home at Capitol Records. He has found a little success with his single Make A Little Room but no enough if you ask us. His mixtape Heartache seems to be a decent effort once you get past DJ Khaled yelling on the first track. 

http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/18772/jarvis_heartache.html

2. Bridget Kelly

Though signed to the ever growing roster of Roc Nation, this NYC beauty spent time singing back up for the Jigga Man himself. Now trying to leave her own mark on the music world, the singer-songwriter is off to a great start with her singles Special Delivery and our current fave Street Dreamin' which features Kendrick Lamar. 

www.bridgetkelly.com

1. Stacy Barthe

You may be used to stick thin, carbon copy singers but Ms. Stacy Barthe breaks that conception with her unique voice and style. Featured on T.I.'s single Sorry alongside legend Andre 3000, this lady is primed to have next. Her single, Hell Yeah, is a blend of soul and hip hop that features Rick Ross though he really adds nothing to the song. Our expectations for the Brooklyn native are high and hopefully we won't be disappointed. 

www.stacybarthe.com

Learning to Travel Your Own Path

How many times has the little green monster crept into your consciousness when a friend gets married, purchases a new home, or lands their dream job? It is easy to be misled to believe that we are somehow inadequate or behind when we constantly compare ourselves to others especially concerning material items. If you find yourself consistently unhappy or unable to genuinely share the joy of others then it is past time to learn to travel in your own path. 

I have been guilty of comparing myself to friends and that in itself is not where the issue lies. We must take responsibility for our own lives and own up to the mistakes that have led us astray from our goals and aspirations. Owning up to our mishaps is taking the first step toward traveling and building our paths to success. 

When speaking of success, it does not necessarily equate to finances. True success comes when one loves waking up with the goal of impacting others as well as knowing that intrinsic value lies within. Though being financially secure is always nice, how many of us know people that cling to their money and underneath their fancy cars and clothes they are miserable and live to make others share in their misery? 

Learning to walk in your own path is far more valuable than riches and more productive than closely following what others are doing. With the current means of social media, people can become whoever they want by posting a few pictures or updating statuses. This does not mean that because they are smiling in a picture that they are truly content with themselves, yet we all feel the need to show off every now and then. Whether it is continuing your education, traveling more, or meeting a significant other, there are ways that we can get back on the right track.

Below are a few tips that we can use that will help us walk along our own path. 

1. Recognize the mistakes that led you off the path to your goals or aspirations.
Owning up to where we went wrong can help prevent us from making the same mistakes. Though it can be painful to relive our mishaps, we will be better off in case we face similar circumstances later on.

2. Set small attainable goals and make a genuine effort to reach them. 
Baby steps are easier to complete than taking giant leaps. Reaching smaller goals can help build the confidence to chase larger ones. 

3. Try not to compare yourself to others. 
We all have our own unique journeys that place us where wear currently are. Recognizing that everyone has unique experiences can help us be more compassionate and open minded. 

4. Realize that many things are beyond our control. 
No matter how focused we are or how much we plan, life has a way of throwing us curve balls. Unexpected death, car accidents, or job loss are examples of life altering events that we usually can not prevent from happening. 

5. Surround yourself with like minded people that understand your vision and that want to assist you on your goals. 
Ever heard the expression insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Sometimes separating from people can be the best decision in moving forward. Not all the people you know or meet are meant to stay in your life forever. 

Can J. Cole Compete with Kayne West?

The story telling, Carolina prince of rap shocked the hip hop world with his debut album Cole World: Sideline Story. Not only does he have a gift for word play, the Fayetteville, NC producer and recording artist broke the invisible boundary proving that southern rappers can mix substance with grit and also produce commercial but not overtly radio friendly material.

With the success of Cole World, J. Cole's next full length project, Born Sinner, is set to drop June 18th, a week before the original date. It also happens to be the release date of Kayne's West's, Yeesus. With the rescheduling of day, hip hop enthusiasts are in for a head to head battle between arguably two of the game's current heavyweights. 

Cole's first single, Power Trip featuring newly minted stuntman Miguel, provided a perfect balance of commercialism with lyricism. The connection of the song with the earlier single Dreams was pretty smart but we are not sure if it was intelligent to go against West, who despite his recent issues boasts a pretty loyal fan base.  J. Cole fans are anxiously awaiting the album and he has to fill the shoes that Cole World created. 

Do you think that J. Cole can compete with Kayne's album? 

Are Historically Black University's Still Relevant?

Not too long ago, Blacks were not allowed or encouraged to attend traditional universities creating out of necessity the dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) spread out across the United States. It was during this severe racially divisive era, that blacks under sheer will power to learn sought to build solid educational communities created of and by themselves. 

Now that the world has steadily become more integrated, many black students who go on to further their education are choosing to not attend HBCUs. Over the last twenty years HBCUs have since seen their enrollment slowly dissipate and many of them face financial hardships due to mismanagement or misappropriation of funds. An example of this is the constant financial troubles of Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. 

Not to say that they all face hardships but as the world becomes more diverse, greater numbers of young people are finding that attending all black universities are not indicative of what today's job force looks like. Less students are choosing to forgo HBCU's because many of them just do not have the same experiences of racism that our forefathers faced and therefore do not see the value in them. Unfortunately, our HBCU's have not done a great job of highlighting the benefits of attending an majority black college or university. 

HBCU's are a great sense of pride in black communities and the future of these institutions are becoming less clear. North Carolina A&T University has one of the strongest followings in a state which includes such powerhouses as the University of North Carolina, N.C. State, Duke University, and Wake Forest University just to name a few.  Their events brings support form former alumni and fans from all over the country each year and they boast an impressive resume of alumni and faculty. 


Thanks to many supportive alumni and celebrities like Tom Joyner, who founded a scholarship program for HBCU students, many HBCUs continue to flourish. 

Do you think that historically black colleges and universities are still relevant? 

Why Big K.R.I.T. Owns the Underground

If you never heard of Big K.R.I.T you are seriously missing out on some southernplayalisitic type hip hop. Hailing straight from the backroads of Mississippi, the critically acclaimed record producer/rapper has been making huge waves in the underground hip hop scene ever since he dropped his first mix tape back in 2005. 

With the recent release of his King Remembered in Time mixtape (though it could easily pass as a grade A album) K.R.I.T proves once again that the best of hip hop is still strictly underground. With features from Bun B., Trinidad James, and singer Ashton Jones, this project can easily be played from beginning to end. It includes well rounded tracks ranging from the socially conscious Banana Clip Theory to the head knockers Talking Bout Nothing and My Trunk. What makes this project even more impressive is that he produced most of the tracks himself.

Big K.R.I.T
Courtesy of billboard.com

 

Labeled as Dixie Rap, the Pitchfork review of King Remembered in Time, was a bit scathing and somewhat prejudicial against southern rap. Though much of what is popular in southern rap offers strong beats with heavy drum elements, the fact that K.R.I.T went a different direction makes it stand out more. Perhaps, the author is so used to trap lyrics and heavy drums that he completely missed the mark on a solid project that offers substance as well. Truth be told is that this mixtape is far better than most rap projects that have been released this year. 

With his growing success, we can only hope that K.R.I.T doesn't stray too far from the formula that makes him so popular with the underground rap scene. 


Check out King Remembered in Time! www.bigkrit.com 

Five Frugal Ways to Spice Up Your Summer Wardrobe

Let's face it, fewer and fewer people have the means to purchase seasonal wardrobes every year and why should you? Most of us have more dire things to spend our hard earned coins on than outfits that we will probably hate later on anyway. Below are a few simple and cost effective ways that we can spice up our wardrobes without having to break open the piggy banks!

1. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!

Nothing can bring out the best in an ensemble like wearing the perfect accessories. Bright colored bracelets, necklaces, and earrings can compliment the most humdrum outfit. The possibilities are limitless when it comes to accessorizing!

All of the above items are from CHIQ.com

  2.  Give old items new life!

Got a pair of jeans that are too short? Revamp them by transforming them into a cute pair of cut offs or capris. 

Photo courtesy of sewingdublin.com 

YouTube is has plenty video tutorial that demonstrate the cut off shorts process. 

3.Everyone loves a new pair of shoes!

The feeling of placing your feet into a new pair of shoes is indescribable and an instant confidence builder. Pretty much everyone can agree on that. You may not want to go too cheap when it comes to the feet though, having your shoes fall apart while you're out and about is not cute.

Fredericks of Hollywood
Sexy Pump: $39.00

Charlotte Russe Nubuck
Ghillie Wedge $35.50

Fun, bright colors are a great choice to standout on the hot summer nights!

4. Nothing's easier than a dress!

Lace waist dress from
GoJane.com
$57.60

Mesh imprint Aztec
Body Con Dress
Charlotte Russe
$24.99

Ladies know that nothing is easier to wear than a dress. They can be fun flirty and the fact that they are super easy for summer. Throw on a cute dress, add accessories and viola!

With tons of clothing sites online finding dress options can not be easier. Be sure to read the measurements for online purchases and it is always good to know what the return policies are in case the fit if off. I would also steer clear of overseas shops unless you know that they are reputable. 

5. A bold face can brighten the day!

Even for those who prefer a fresh face, a little make up can go a long way. Shimmer eyeshadow, vibrant lip colors, and a little blush is all you need to put your best face forward. 

Survivor giftset available at kaoir.com

Getting to Know: Elijah Blake

Singer/Songwriter Elijah Blake

While scouring the internet for some new and refreshing RNB music, we found exactly what we were looking for in songwriter and crooner, Elijah Blake.  Recently joining Roc Nation, the 22 year old newcomer already boasts a pretty heavy resume by garnering collaborations with artists such as Rick Ross, Common, and Keyshia Cole who he also has wrote for on her latest album, Woman to Woman. He has also written for the likes of Mariah Carey, Kelly Rowland, and his most successful single yet happens to be Usher's Climax which made it to #1 on the charts.  

Formerly known as Redd Styles, Elijah Blake joined Jay-Z's management team of Roc Nation early this year as he seeks to step from behind the scenes and forge his way in the RNB world. Judging from his EP, Bijoux 22, he is off to a great start. The project features smooth production and of course some pretty good writing. Bijoux 22 is a great first look at this new artist and it is a positive indication of what Mr. Blake can achieve. Our favorite happens to be Looking For Perfect.

You can take a listen to Elijah Blake's Bijou 22 by visiting his website at www.elijahblake.com

Take a look below at his first release, X.O.X featuring Common. 

Will Women Ever Represent in Hip Hop Again?

Salt N Pepa

Long gone are the days of Salt-n-Pepa, Roxanne Chante, Queen Latifah and the scores of other female emcees that once went toe to toe with their male counterparts in mainstream hip hop. Now it seems the prerequisites for current female rappers include fat asses, 22" Brazilian tracks, and rocking the latest Louboutins.

MC Lyte

  

In the recent history of Hip Hop, there have been very few (if any) female rappers that have competitively gave the industry a shake up based purely on lyricism or being able to deliver dynamic performances.  Lauryn Hill and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot are the last two that come to mind. While Nicki Minaj can definitely spit, her content and the conflicting personalities that she displays makes it hard to classify her as a true female champion of Hip Hop, though her mass marketing appeal may cause others to disagree. 

Newcomers Azaelia Banks, Iggy Azalea, and several others have garnered attention but not any of these ladies seem particularly excited to push for that throne. It seems like female emcees care more about looking the part than actually polishing their crafts by studying past greats. There have been scores of ladies that have generated a little buzz in the rap world but few have failed to materialize into true artists that deserve to carry the torch for the next generation of girls that love and want to be represented in Hip Hop. 

Is it even fair to place such burdens on any woman that seeks to break into the rap industry? I would say yes.

Nicki Minaj

It is no secret that most women in any field of work have to work harder to prove their value, knowledge, or worth. When it comes to breaking into the music industry, one can only imagine the hurdles. Yet when one does so successfully (monetary terms) shouldn't there be accountability to say that you do not have to be the baddest bitch to be a great emcee? There have been scores of male rappers who failed in the looks department but excelled musically and found commercial success. In my opinion many female rappers are inauthentic and seek to become the female versions of popular male artists.

Though we hold on to hope that the glory days of female lyricism will soon return it is looking mighty doubtful. 

Let us know what you think by commenting or email us at soulsistahblog@gmail.com. 

Future's Emmett Till Comments Show Disregard for Black History

Rapper,Future

With the public really becoming feed up with the crap that many rapper's lyrics spew, there has been a growing consensus that corporations and businesses that hand them paychecks must hold them accountable. Most notably, popular rappers Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, have recently come under fire for questionable lyrics that reference raping a woman under the influence and comparing a sexual act to the brutal and senseless 1955 murder of the young black teen, Emmett Till in Mississippi. It should be noted that both rappers questionable lyrics can be heavily attributed to the degradation of women. Neither of them issued genuine apologies and as a result both rappers were dropped by major sponsors that included Reebok and Pepsi Co. but is that really enough?

Today it was noted that current rapper and love interest of singer Ciara, Future, went on the defense for his man Lil Wayne's lyrics which were featured on Future's single Karate Chop. According to Future's interview with Los Angeles' Power 106, he claims that Lil Wayne brought positive light to Emmett Till's plight and that he gave awareness to the tragedy. Future even explained that his own father did not know who Emmett Till was.  Hold on, say what now?!

Pepsi Co. dropped Lil Wayne's
Mountain Dew endorsement over
the rappers lyrics.

Surely, Future can not be that dumb or oblivious to his own culture and history? Emmett Till's death has been a sore spot for decades in relation to America's historical blood stain of the civil rights era. His name has been mentioned several times in other rappers lyrics but never in such a disrespectful manner as used by his buddy Lil Wayne. From studying his craft Future should have learned of Till's murder which was one the pivotal events that catapulted the civil rights movement. In case he missed it, Till's death and that of many others have in turn gave Future the freedom to live the way that he does now. The fact the his father, who is presumably a middle aged black man, does not know who Emmett Till is speaks volumes. If he did not know then how can we expect his son to know any better?

How do you feel about Future's comments concerning Lil Wayne's lyrics referencing Emmett Till?