SPOTLIGHT: The Men of R&B

R&B over the past few years has become a female driven genre. And I don't like it. Now as you see I do support the ladies but I'ma man and I ALWAYS must support/promote my dudes. So here are a couple of guys who are handling business in the second half of 2006.

John Legend
Reppin the Mid-west we got the male version of Ms. Keys, Mr. Legend. When I first heard him on Slum Village's Selfish, I was digging his voice. I was even more happy when I heard Used 2 Love U and that his debut album was on the way. I bought the album a month after its release because A) I didn't know it was out and B) I was waiting on hearing that second single (I'm no fool). I picked it up and its a CLASSIC, I be forgetting about that. One of the few male albums, that I've loved all the way through. His worst song is betta then half of the bullshit on radio. A 3 time Grammy Award winner. So why am I talkin about him... HE'S BACK with his sophomore release, Once Again, this October. In honor of him gracing us again with his presence, here are a few unreleased goodies from the Get Lifted album and his brand new single, Save Room

http://www.sendspace.com/file/fyrjgq

http://rapidshare.de/files/27017950/JLSRoom.rar.html

A new face and voice but you have already heard his words. He is the master writer behind Tyrese's Sweet Lady, Toni Braxton's Just Be A Man About It and Grammy winning Mariah's We Belong Together among others. Yes, he's already a Grammy winner and his debut album, Ocean Drive, is coming this December. His latest song Turn It Up pays homage to his favorite R&B stars and he hopes to add his name to the list. His voice is like John Legend meets Joe. So you know that man can sang. I had found all of his songs except Dope Fiend but the links are dead except for Better, which is his freestyle to Rick Ross' Everyday I'm Hustlin. So I'll have to upload the songs I have of his later on today. sighs

Better
http://www.zshare.net/download/johnta-austin-better-soulplace-homeboy-blogspot-com-mp3.html

R&B has a new male group on the scene. Now they aren't really new just a repackaged 3rd Storee (they lost a member and got a new name/sound). These boys are betta then ever. I discovered them while watching BET Afterdark, their single Fool Wit U, immediately caught my attention. They sample the Isley Brothers' Groove With U and recreated it. The Isley's must feel damn proud cuz they did their song TOTAL justice. I have no idea when their debut album is coming or what its named but I will update yall as soon as I get word. Here is their promo single including Fool With U, Callin on Me and Lights On ft. Fabolous

http://www.speedyshare.com/549168626.html

Marques Houston
He is back on his grown man swagger and his new found attitude is rubbing off greatly into his music. People need to stop sleeping on him, he's not whack at all. I bought his debut album like 2 months ago and realized that he really is good. I'll be picking up his sophomore shortly. I was given his leaked songs and they are on point. On Like This, he sings in his falsetto Chris Brown style but unlike Chris... Marques can ACTUALLY sing. His first single off his third album, The Veteran (due this November), is Favorite Girl and its a real nice, spring like midtempo. The women will love it.

Marques Houston - Miss Being Your Man
Marques Houston - Favorite Girl
Marques Houston Ft. Yung Joc - Like This

Mario
The best up & coming R&B star, period. Fuck the rest of the little boys cuz vocally they can't touch Mario. He's coming back with his third album as well, Effortless, in December. He's working with Alicia Keys, JD, Nelly and Akon. He also said it will include production by Scott Storch, the Neptunes and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. I can't wait to hear this but he can keep Akon on an unreleased song locked up in the vaults. LOL The album is a showcase of his newfound manhood and his "mysterious side", I don't give a damn as long as its the best work of his life. He's known to have lots of filler on his albums so if he can limit those to like 1 or 2, then WE GOOD. Anyways, here are few jams thats not on his album but has found their way online:

She's It
http://www.sendspace.com/file/flmb0f
Body Language
http://www.bestsharing.com/files/ms00199411/Mario_20-_20Body_20Language.mp3.html

Boys II Men
Yes, you read right. It says Boys II Men, their back with actual new original recordings for a 2007 album release called The Remedy. They are truly back to form cuz the new material sounds GREAT. Michael the bass of the group is still no longer with them but he wasn't needed anyways. This is the BEST male group, VOCALLY!! So I'm looking forward to this album but I think it might be their last. I think this because its a double disc album, with the second disc serving as a mini greatest hits but redone the way they always wanted. They just acquired the masters of their hits/songs. Oh well if its the end, then its been a DAMN good run and wish them the best. Here are a few songs that has leaked from the Japan edition of The Remedy:

MUZAK
BOO'D UP
HAVING SEX
YOU DON'T LOVE ME

Yes I am aware that there are other males making noise in R&B but I don't like them so they gets NO love from me.