ofc it’s subjective,
but what do you think? ♥️

sorry ‘as’ by **stevie wonder*

Lights! Camera! Smize! Remember when record labels would commission an official portrait for their artists that would be sent to the press, fan clubs, radio stations and would form part of their publicity packages? It would typically be a black and white photo featuring the artist related to a particular album release (most likely by the same photographer who lensed the album cover) and include their label logo. There was something very classic Hollywood about this mode of promotion (film studios literally did this for their major stars) and I love how you got the artist's essence with one shot.

I did a deep dive on Mya's career this month (Libra season things) and I discovered some pretty cool yet slept on stuff she did at her peak. In 2003, ABC aired a television special dedicated to the music and culture of the Disco era. At that point, society was about 30 years removed from the genre's popularity and it would take another maybe 15 years before it would circle back to influencing the charts (think Doja Cat's Say So and Dua Lipa's Levitating).

What I found interesting about Mya and this performance was that from 2001 to 2003, she was the young female artist producers called upon when they needed someone to do a dance-heavy tribute. Just two years prior in 2001, she performed for Janet AND Michael Jackson at concert specials in their honor. Just as an aside, she made a memorable cameo in the Cell Block Tango scene in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, Chicago, which garnered her a SAG Award.

So Mya was just this triple threat talent sitting right under our noses? For those who were of age during this time, how was she viewed as far as talent was concerned. I always wondered what her career would have been like if the Moodring album fared a little better on the charts and she didn't go through all that label drama in 2005. Anyway, I think she killed this and I maintain that she is the most underrated performer of her generation.

Tweet, Nicole Wray, SWV, Blaque, Carl Thomas, Groove Theory, Sade, Jaheim, Brownstone, Usher, Kelis, Floetry, Syleena Johnson, Monifah, Celopatra, Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, n I threw in Najee’s Tokyo Blue as well cuz that album is dope af. This is not even half of what i got, half of them did not have cases but they were still worth what i paid. Also have more on the way lol

Still have more on the way lol
CD collection is lookin pretty nice at this point n i still have more on my list.

Mostly hyped about Tweets Southern Hummingbird (even tho i wish it had the case) n her Its Me Again album, n also Nicole Wrays Make It Hot n the Blaque album

Hell yeah I do

Ok I am listening to Ari Lennox's Vacancy and I just listened to Under The Moon along with watching the werewolf themed vid and wow what a perfect time to listen to it

Which got me thinking is there anyone who has R&B recs that are perfect for the Halloween season? It doesn't only have to be in theme but in vibes and atmosphere too as well as vaguely on brand material for Halloween. The only pic for me is Black Magick by Omarion

And yes I know Thriller is an obvious one

I added Keyshia myself (who also seems to be going through it....!)

“Heaven’s Girl” was a song off the album “Q’s Jook Joint” by Quincy Jones. The album reached #6 on the R&B album charts and #1 for Jazz albums in 1995.

I was thinking about how some R&B albums got pushed back over and over, and then you’d hear about songs leaking before the album even came out. 😭 I wonder how much that affects the hype around an album, especially when fans have been waiting months or even years for it.

Kelly Price’s Priceless and Brandy’s Two Eleven came to mind.

What are some other R&B albums y’all remember that went through multiple delays or had songs leak early? Do you think all of that hurt the album’s success, or did it make people even more interested in hearing it? I’m curious to hear what y’all think.

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"On October 24, the 45-year-old R&B singer performed at Bar 5015, hosted by Joe, where footage showed her struggling to engage the crowd."

What's the very first song you listened to this morning?