I admit, my ear doesn’t really take well to modern RnB and pop…at least the type peddled by mass media. It’s just how I was raised. And this was the year of slick producer-stylized beats holding down the seemingly interchangeable artists. In particular, Timbaland reused that 80’s sound on various levels to make a huge splash and get whatever RnB-type artist that C.T.C. on the pop charts. Predictably, I wasn’t really feeling it at all. I mean, it was cool that Nelly could get in touch with her sexy and JT could standup Pharrell for a whole album (…and no Weezy/Baby make-up?), both while riding with that guy better known for working with Missy and Ginuwine. And as ambivalent I am to these singers, I just wasn’t feeling the music…no hate cuz I’m certainly not mad. But I know who is mad…come on G, weren’t you the one singing about ‘differences’?
So here’s what did get burn in the ride, on the RnB tip…hey and some of it even made it to the radio:
1. Jaheim – Like A DJ: Can you get with some metaphorical RnB? Story of a record just trying to get some spins
2. Carl Thomas feat. Brandy – Somethin’ Bout U: Mid tempo single released mid year with Brandy on the hook
3. Ne-Yo – Get Down Down Like That: Really for all the mens with wifeys, I bypassed all the syrupy singles for the old school-syrupy table-turning anthem on why honey will never-ever attain wifey status…"Giiiiirrrrrrl…you know I got a giiiiiiiiirrrrl…” Married dudes, salute!
4. J Holiday – Be With Me: Bobby V-esque intro aside, catchy late-year ode to informing a honey on how she should get with the program
5. Musiq – Buddy: De La inspired newness from a recently incognito soul child…the remix, which used the same beat with Young Buck and T.I., is entirely unnecessary due to grating raps
6. Michael Jackson – Escape: Studio Michael sounds like old school Michael…it’s just a buzz single, but you know he could never make it work live…
7. Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 and Nas – You Remix: Actually uses the Spandau Ballet sample, instead of just vocally interpolating it on the hook. And Andre kicks some slick game.
8. Megan Rochelle – The One You Need (without rap): Yeah, my minimum expectation for derivative pop RnB: catchy but no need for F-A’s lukewarm 16.
9. Robin Thicke – Wanna Love U Girl/Shooter feat. Lil Wayne/Got 2 Be Down feat. Faith Evans: As you can see, my quota for blue-eyed soulsters is one. Sorry JT. At least you got a good rap from T.I. for the single…but it’s no Weezy on ‘Shooter’ tho
10. Darien Brockington – Can We Fall In Love Again/He Will Break Your Heart: So when me and D were chopping it up at the Little Brother concert last year, I was like
“Yo, I don’t even listen to RnB anymore…but you gotta give me your CD tho…” Nice guy.
11. Le Che Martin feat. Rico Love – Get Away: A less inspired ‘1 Thing’, go-go drums and appealing chorus good enough for me tho…
12. Aloe Blacc – Are You Ready/One Inna: This is like back-pack RnB…one of the better albums of the year with singing on it
13. Bilal – Make Me Over/All For Love: Neo-Soul torch bearer…yup, he had an album out this year…Thought you knew?…Maybe if you didn’t listen to the radio so damn much…
14. Joy Denalane feat. Raekwon - Heaven or Hell: She's kinda newish over on this side of the pond, this soulstress reworks the OB4CL classic, bringing back Rae as well.
15. Mariah Carrey feat. Snoop – Say Somethin’: Guilty pleasure. No more. No less. But the ‘Remix’ was pure doo-doo.
16. Noelle feat. Pitbull – Like that: She was doing the mixtape grind thing, re-recording other folks’ songs for the females (Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke). This one’s an original: happy, up-tempo joint.
17. Janet – So Excited/Weekend: Is it just me, or am I the only one who likes the Rockit sample? And she did the 80’s classic as a pre-album buzz single.
18. Mic Little – Put It In A Letter: Best MJ impersonation of ’06, wresting the title from dance-aholic Chris Brown.
19. Omarion – Icebox: Now if dudes were young & single instead of locked down, this would be an anthem, especially for the drama-minded…corny, maybe…but so coooooooold ( and this was Timbaland, too).
20. Gnarls Brakley – Crazy: Firstly, don’t be mad, but I heard this waaaay before you. It was absolutely ubiquitous this past year, mostly because it was a better pop song than any of those rock people could come up with (ask Rolling Stone…). So really, it belongs here and not on the other list. Plus, Cee-lo brings you to church.
21. Snoop feat. R Kelly – That’s That: This is an ‘R’ song as far as I’m concerned.
22. Pharrell feat. Jay-Z – Young Girl: The one 80’s influenced song that I was sorta feeling, and it was Pharrell and not Timbaland. Go figure. Does anyone even acknowledge the ’06 Pharrell album, tho?
Honorable Mention: Cassie – Long Way To Go: I laughed my ass off when I first heard this song. That counts as entertainment, don’t it?
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