Yo Gotti & Bobby “Blue” Bland Evocatively Cover A Bill Withers Classic (Video)

Bill Withers’ famed “Ain’t No Sunshine” has been the basis, vocally and musically, for hits by DMX, 2Pac, and Kid Frost, among others. One of Bill’s contemporaries, Bobby “Blue” Bland (of “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” and Gorillaz fame) took on the 1971 Sussex Records tune. Last year, Bland passed away at 83 years of age.

Bland, a Tennessee native, is joined by Memphis veteran Yo Gotti. The song takes on new dimension in this cover, getting a bit earthier while being modernized. Gotti, who is among L.A. Reid and Sha Money XL’s new focuses at Epic Records, truly bends into the track with care and respect.

This is from the film and soundtrack, Take Me To The River. Stax Records’ William Bell similarly collaborated with Snoop Dogg.

Withers, who is not from the Volunteer State, but rather, West Virginia, is living. However, the Soul music icon has not made an album, or released new material, in nearly 30 years.

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