JSTARR'S FAVORITES...

John Legend - Secret Heart

Evolver

John Legend - I Love, You Love (Album Version)

John Legend is an artist mature beyond his years. He is a crooner in the best possible sense of the word — self-assured, gentle and debonair. For Legend’s sophomore album Kanye West resumes his role as executive producer, but Once Again is a mellower affair than Get Lifted. The songs get their gentility from Legend’s low, cocoa-smooth vocals, which never fail to bring a potentially hyper song to a place of calm. Though Once Again features an impressive assembly of producers — including Craig Street, will.i.am and West (all contributed multiple songs) — Legend is wholly in control of the album’s tone and tempo. The hip-hop underpinnings are balanced by the elegant jazz of “Again” and “Maxine.” “Where Did My Baby Go” is so simple that it feels timeless — it could be a piece of an old album by Arthur Alexander or even Joan Baez, made new again by Legend’s warm breath. “Save Room” is a song that glides so sweetly and effortlessly that it challenges every shred of malice that might be lurking within the listener. Even sweeter is “Slow Dance,” a melody as compact and pretty as a jeweled pocketwatch.

Once Again

John Legend - Again

John Legend feat. Mary J. Blige - King & Queen

If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions — Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday R&B artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West — whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record — is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. 

Get Lifted

John Legend - Stay With You

Talib Kweli ft. Mos Def, Jay-z, Kanye West & Busta Rhymes - Get By Remix

R4 The Prequel

The Vent

John Legend - Tonight (Best You Ever Had) feat. Ludacris
Check out my new single “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” available on iTunes 1/31 from the “Think Like A Man” movie soundtrack on Epic Records!

Tonight (Best You Ever Had)

Tonight (Best You Ever Had) feat. Ludacris

Tokyn Presents... Back To The Remix is a mash up album made by Michael C. Scalia and Blake Frederick. It features a variety of artists and genres mix to 15 tracks

Double Bubble Remix ft. B.o.B, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, & Common

John Legend and The Roots perform Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark" for Springsteen Week on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

https://www.facebook.com/johnlegend
https://twitter.com/#!/johnlegend
http://www.johnlegend.com/

John Legend ft. The Roots - "Dancing In The Dark" (Bruce Springsteen Cover)

from the upcoming Leon Timbo mixtape, a remix of the amazing Sweetest Thing music originally used for by Lauryn Hill. This take is an anthem to the infamous Duval County (Jacksonville Fla) home of Leon Timbo and a preview to an amazing mixtape journey

Duval Love

Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl (Promo Vinyl 12")

Get your copy of 'Girl On Fire' today: http://smarturl.it/girlonfire?iqID=soundcloud

Fire We Make Featuring Maxwell

Soul 4 Real - Every Little Thing I Do

Get Love In The Future now http://smarturl.it/LoveInTheFutureDX

The Beginning...

The Beginning

Get "Who Do We Think We Are" featuring Rick Ross on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/wdwtwa
Get Love In The Future: http://smarturl.it/LoveInTheFutureDX

Love In The Future (Expanded Edition)

John Legend feat. Rick Ross - Who Do We Think We Are (Album Version)

Talib Kweli "Come here" featuring Miguel & Produced by Sean C. and L.V. (Grind Music)

Purchase the single here: http://smarturl.it/comehere

From Talib Kweli's 'Prisoner of Conscious' album, out now. Purchase at iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TalibPOC 

Buy From Your Local Indie Record Shop:
http://bit.ly/162Kfgs

Purchase at Amazon: 
Digital: http://amzn.to/15Liskr 
CD: http://amzn.to/ZOPvvN 
Vinyl: http://amzn.to/15LjjRZ

Javotti Media 2013

Buy POC on #kweliclub

Come Here - ft. Miguel, prod. Sean C & LV

New music from Talib Kweli's album 'Prisoner of Conscious' out May 7th. 

iTunes Deluxe-Edition Pre-Order: http://smarturl.it/TalibPOC

Amazon Pre-Order:
Digital: http://amzn.to/15Liskr
CD: http://amzn.to/ZOPvvN
Vinyl: http://amzn.to/15LjjRZ

Buy From Your Local Indie Record Shop: http://bit.ly/162Kfgs

Javotti Media 2013

Rocket Ships - ft. Busta Rhymes, prod. RZA

Purchase the 'Blurred Lines' album on iTunes at http://smarturl.it/BlurredAlbum?IQid=soundcloud

http://robinthicke.com
http://twitter.com/robinthicke
http://facebook.com/robinthicke

Buy on iTunes

Robin Thicke - For The Rest Of My Life

Get Love In The Future now: http://smarturl.it/LoveInTheFutureDX 
Download "Made To Love": http://smarturl.it/madetolove
 


JSTARR'S FAVORITES...

JSTARR777