soul ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

A New Mos Def & Al Green Mashup Brings Much Love & Happiness (Audio)

Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) and the Reverend Al Green are two voices that transcend genre. Al Green built a career in Southern Soul music. At the top of the 1980s, after chart-topping hits and platinum albums, he pivoted to Gospel. In recent years, Reverend Al made a return to... Read more

December 17, 2019 Audio, Mixes

The Meters’ Co-Founder Art Neville Has Passed Away At The Age Of 81

Legendary Funk and Soul musician Art Neville has died this morning (July 22). A co-founder of The Meters and The Neville Brothers, the keyboardist and vocalist known as "Poppa Funk" was 81 years old. According to the musician's family, he was in declining health over recent years. "It was peaceful,"... Read more

July 22, 2019 News

James Ingram Has Passed Away At The Age Of 66

UPDATE: According to TMZ, James Ingram succumbed to a lengthy battle with brain cancer. ORIGINAL STORY: Grammy Award-winning R&B/Pop singer, keyboardist and producer James Ingram has died. Debbie Allen, Ingram's longtime creative partner, confirmed the news this afternoon (January 29), according to Consequence Of Sound. A native of Akron, Ohio,... Read more

January 29, 2019 News

Early Hip-Hop Records Sampled James Brown. His 1st Funk Record Sampled Miles Davis.

If the debate for the King of R&B is up for grabs, followers of the late great James Brown can rest easy, as his position among the greatest to ever do it, is secure as a Master padlock. Known indelibly as the “Godfather of Soul Music,” Brown’s career covered successive... Read more

December 31, 2018 Throwback

The Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin Has Passed Away At The Age Of 76

The Queen Of Soul has died this morning (August 16) at her Detroit, Michigan home. Aretha Franklin's powerful voice, timeless songwriting, and ability to carry Rhythm & Blues music from its sound in the 1960s into the decades that followed made her a legend. The 76-year-old had been battling undisclosed... Read more

August 16, 2018 News

The Internet Keep On Truckin’ With Another Stone Cold Groove (Video)

Riding the mint wave of momentum after the release of Hive Mind, which is the Los Angeles-based Funk/R&B/Soul collective’s fourth studio album, The Internet has dispensed the third set of visuals tied to the freshly unveiled project. Swiftly following up the videos for “Roll (Burbank Funk)” and “Come Over,” “La... Read more

July 24, 2018 Video

The First Look At The Bobby Brown Story Is Absolutely Crazy (Video)

Bobby Brown's life story is an inspirational and cautionary tale. The Boston, Massachusetts-bred "Every Little Step" singer who achieved worldwide fame as a solo artist following his departure from New Edition in the mid-1980s. By the '90s, Brown also played a hand in molding Top 40 radio to accept more... Read more

June 29, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

Jorja Smith Sings From The Soul About Love, Loss & Police Brutality (Video)

Just days after Toronto native Daniel Caesar delivered a brilliant, Gospel-driven set as a part of NPR's Tiny Desk series, enter 21-year-old English singer/songwriter Jorja Smith. Jorja has already received co-signs and work alongside the likes of Drake, Kali Uchis, and, most recently, Kendrick Lamar on this year's #1-charting Black... Read more

June 11, 2018 Video

50 Years Ago Today, James Brown Healed Hearts With Soul Power (Video)

There may have never been a Hip-Hop Generation if not for James Brown. His music serves as a blueprint for Funk as well as the building blocks of Hip-Hop. Beyond music, Brown proved that the Black community in America is not monolithic in its political affiliation. The timeline of Brown’s... Read more

April 5, 2018 Do Remember

Common Looks Back At His Time With Dilla On A Song Fit For February (Audio)

Common has transcended Hip-Hop. He is now a political activist. He's won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe award for his song "Glory" featuring John Legend in the film Selma. Also, he's the only Hip-Hop artist to achieve an "E.G.O." hat trick by receiving an Emmy Award for his... Read more

February 16, 2018 Audio

Temptations Lead Singer Dennis Edwards Has Passed Away

Dennis Edwards was an unmistakable voice in R&B and Soul music. As a lead vocalist for The Temptations, he was greatly responsible for two of the Motown Records legends' #1 hits: 1969's "I Can't Get Next To You" and 1972's "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone." Today (February 2), Edwards died... Read more

February 2, 2018 News

Sweet Love: Why Andre 3000 & Kendrick Lamar Are Infatuated With Anita Baker (Video)

Several high profile R&B acts like Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Loose Ends, and Soul II Soul made music in the 1980s that, through sampling, reference, and homage, can be heard in contemporary Hip-Hop. Babies of the 1980s, '90s, and early 2000s were inevitably raised on Urban Contemporary radio which housed... Read more

November 21, 2017 Video

D’Angelo’s Sweet Brown Sugar Re-release Includes Redman, AZ & DJ Premier Collabos

Twenty-two years ago this month D'Angelo released his celebrated debut album, Brown Sugar. That EMI Records effort would debut at #22, and march onward to platinum status and four Grammy nominations. The album, and its five-year hold before a follow-up introduced one of the modern stars of Soul music. D'Angelo... Read more

July 14, 2017 Fresh

9th Wonder Releases 7 Beats Custom Made For Redman. It’s Time 4 Sum Aksion!! (Audio)

Redman's classic catalog includes some heavy-hitting producers. With a lot of co-production to his credit, Red' made many of his most celebrated hits with Def Squad mentor Erick Sermon. RZA, Pete Rock, Parrish Smith, DJ Scratch, and Rockwilder (who made a critical early appearance on Dare Iz A Darkside) are... Read more

June 1, 2017 Audio, Video

“The Funky Drummer” Clyde Stubblefield Has Passed Away

If James Brown is the architect of Hip-Hop, then drummer Clyde Stubblefield may very be his builder. The man Questlove calls "The Funkiest Drummer of All Time" has died today (February 18). He was 73 years old, and passed away from kidney failure. Clyde was an integral part of James... Read more

February 18, 2017 News

BJ The Chicago Kid Was Part Of History Last Night. Here’s How His Story Began (Video)

Chicago recently hosted President Barack Obama's official farewell event, a bittersweet moment in which the 44th commander-in-chief of the United States said a tearful (but uplifting) goodbye. Beyond his farewell address, the event included musical performances, including one from the Windy City's own BJ the Chicago Kid. Many Heads likely... Read more

January 11, 2017 Video

Sharon Jones, Lead Singer of The Dap Kings Has Died At Age 60

Sharon Jones, lead singer of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings has died. Today (November 18), the Augusta, Georgia native passed away from complications surrounding pancreatic cancer at the age of 60. In the last 20 years, Jones not only enjoyed a late surge in her extensive career, the Grammy-nominated... Read more

November 18, 2016 News

Black Thought Fronts A Funky Track That Uses Blues To Motivate (Audio)

The Roots' Black Thought does not do a ton of features, relatively speaking. However, in recent years, when the South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC puts his vocals on something beyond the circle, he does not seem to play politics. From Thurz ("Riot") to L.A. The Darkman ("Rap Poloticians"), Tariq supports what... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

Earth Wind & Fire Front Man Maurice White Passes Away

One of Soul, Jazz, and Funk music's most beloved voices and producers has died. Maurice White, co-founder and longtime front man of Earth Wind And Fire passed away last night (February 3), according to his brother (and fellow EWF member) Verdine. The 74 year-old singer died in his sleep. A... Read more

February 4, 2016 News

This Feel-Good Lord Finesse Mix Is The Cure For The Post-Holiday Hangover

Let's face it, the first Monday of the new year can often be a drag. For many, this means (fully) back to work, often some challenging weather, and a long haul to the next reason to celebrate. The all knowing Lord Finesse seems to have forecast such a feeling. The... Read more

January 4, 2016 Mixes

Jill Scott Brings Down The House & The Tears In Her Grand Return (Video)

Jill Scott is something special. While the signs of Spring typically conjure up songs about new love, lust, or at least the pursuit—"Jilly from Philly" knows that not all are so lucky. Presumably marching towards her first album since 2011's The Light Of The Sun, the Atlantic/Warner Bros. Records star... Read more

March 17, 2015 Video

Here’s an Old School Soul Mix from Biz Markie That Just Feels Good (Audio)

Biz Markie is a legendary MC and beatboxer but, over the last several years, he has relied on his formidable DJ skills perhaps more than anything else. If you've ever had the privilege to attend one of his sets, you know the Biz digs deep in the crates. Here's an... Read more

December 13, 2014 Throwback

Mary J. Blige’s My Life Shows That Soul Reigns Supreme, 20 Years Later (Food For Thought)

Twenty years ago today (November 29, 1994), Mary J. Blige released her sophomore album, My Life. More than two years removed from MJB's breakthrough Pop success surrounding What's The 411?, the Yonkers, New Yorker made maintained her undeniable vocal skills, but changed directions in making her sophomore LP. With hits... Read more

November 29, 2014 Food for Thought, Fresh

Following Raekwon, Inspectah Deck Makes A Heartfelt Soul-Inspired Tape (Mixtape)

After Raekwon eloquently concluded his "TBT" R&B/Soul/Pop tribute series with a mixtape, We Wanna Thank You, another Wu-Tang Clan member is paying homage to the soulful songs of yesteryear. Inspectah Deck made Cynthia's Son, a mixtape reworking, sampling, and tapping into songs favored by the Bronx, New York MC's late... Read more

November 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Snoop Dogg Freshens Up William Bell’s Stax Records Classic Breakdown (Audio)

Stax Records Heads know that William Bell's "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" is one of the most moving, timeless, and downright beautiful songs of the period. The 1968 hit has since been a basis of samples by Dilated Peoples, Brand Nubian, and even Ludacris and Scarface, among plenty of... Read more

July 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

9th Wonder Honors The Life Of Bobby Womack With An Amazing Sonic Collection (Mixtape)

Following this week's sad news regarding the death of R&B/Soul icon Bobby Womack, Hip-Hop reacted. Since Little Brother's The Listening, 9th Wonder has quietly and carefully alluded to his love (and listening) of Bobby's music. Thereby, 11 years later, it was 9th who was among the first to honor the... Read more

June 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Everybody Loves The Sunshine Of Summer, Which Is Perfect For A Dope Soul Sample-Source Mix (Mixtape)

Back in the day, Urb magazine was a top music publication. Covering several genres, this Los Angeles-based publication was front-and-center for House, Trance, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Techno, Breakbeat, and various integral 1990s and 2000s waves of Electronic Dance Music (long before Heads were calling it "EDM"). What was more,... Read more

June 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

DJ Scratch Goes Into The Crates With An All-45 James Brown Mix (Mixtape)

In one of the cooler reveals in Hip-Hop as of late, it turns out that J. Period was not alone in honoring James Brown this week. As the True Elements DJ went in on #The Legend Of James Of Brown, EPMD/Flipmode Squad alum DJ Scratch offered up a companion mix,... Read more

June 4, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Mixes

J. Period Honors The Godfather Of Soul, James Brown (Mixtape)

Brooklyn-based DJ J. Period (who is actually the Music Supervisor for the Brooklyn Nets) loves many shapes and colors of music. Coming up as a DJ affiliated closely with Oakland duo Zion I, J. Period and his True Elements platform have made celebrated tapes for living legends like The Isley... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

James Brown Biopic, Get On Up, In Production, Starring Jill Scott & Produced By Mick Jagger (Video)

Along with Tupac Shakur, N.W.A., and Jimi Hendrix, another musical icon has a biopic in the works. James Brown, The Godfather Of Soul, is the subject of a film, according to "The Today Show" (as shared by egotrip). The film, Get On Up, will star Chadwick Boseman, who played Jackie... Read more

March 13, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Cinematic Soul Playlist

Hip-hop has long been influenced by the cinematic soul of the 70's. Whether you're a fan of Big K.R.I.T. or Biz Markie, UGK or Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre or Just Blaze...you can hear the influence of music from films like Shaft, Super Fly, The Mack, The Payback. Here's a playlist... Read more

January 7, 2012 Audio, Playlists, Throwback

Here’s a cool video of 9th Wonder interviewing Big K.R.I.T.

9th talks to K.R.I.T. about his influences, the XXL Freshman experience, Returnof4eva and more. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whg_V8Lz3OI&feature=player_embedded Speaking of Big K.R.I.T.'s musical influences, click here for some songs from his soul influences.... Read more

April 27, 2011 Audio

There’s a reason why Big K.R.I.T.’s music is so soulful. It’s in his musical influences. Check out this interview of K.R.I.T. and see below for a sampler of some of the soul singers who influenced him.

Here's the interview: http://vimeo.com/22188472 And here's the soul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VRS2aTaKQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9tJc27IWKw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtzRJgZG98I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HmbcWwyGM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bmPsGQsJMg&feature=player_embedded... Read more

April 10, 2011 The Bridge, Video

This week´s playlist was inspired by incredible soul made by rappers. You´ll find Outkast, The Foreign Exchange, Mos Def, Freestyle Fellowship, Andre 3000 and even Snoop Dog.

Just sit back, press play and liberate your mind. Click here for the full version as intended (some videos were not allowed to be embedded).... Read more

February 24, 2011 Playlists

If you like Outkast’s first album or anything from Death Row Records, check out Ab-Soul’s All Feelin’. It’s a return to the funk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vaerNUTh44 Click here to download. Not feeling the Outkast comparison? Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f5VKdK1c3Q... Read more

September 24, 2010 Audio, The Bridge