In Color: Phyllis Hyman

R.I.P. Ms. Hyman

In Color: Vivian Green

The voice of Vivian Green... how can I begin to explain... it's so poetically delicate, yet laden with hints of a transient screaming pain. Every word enunciated perfectly and melodically... and the music flirts with her voice beautifully. Take the Emotional Rollercoaster ride with this songbird.

Spoken: A.C.E.

This spoken word piece was delivered by Ace2Solid, a very talented man, the spearhead of the iVision Movement, CEO of New Vision Entertainment, and a very good friend. He can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/A.C.E.poetry and you can follow him on twitter @JuzFoLLowMyLeAd. Subscribe to his Youtube page Ace2Solid; his group will be doing great things in the future!

In Color: Melody Gardot

In Color: Julie Dexter

In Color: Tweet

Building a Foundation: DISCO

Disco heavily influenced the hip-hop culture. Here's a nice collage of disco songs from MixMasterMax, YouTube.

Speaking through Dance: Savion Glover

Phenomenal performance on Dancing with the Stars.

Speaking Through Dance: Jimmy Slyde talks to a Young Savion Glover

Ms. Spoken: Trapeta B. Mason

"Ms. Mayson is a 2002 Pew Artists Fellow and Resident Artist at Art Sanctuary in Philadelphia, and runs the Germantown Poetry Series. Here, this Liberian-born poet pays tribute to her father in verse."

-whyyphila, youtube.com

Music on Canvas: Wangechi Mutu

My favorite female artist. Her work is so mood-altering. So thought-provoking. So compelling. Her art sings a tormented, sexual, bold, frightening, brave, twisted, lonely, angry, glamorous, beautiful song, and that is not meant as an insult. It's amazing how a piece can provoke all of these emotions at once. She is very gifted.

Musical Foreplay: The System

One of the sexiest songs of the 80's... the electronic elements and synchronized beat machines made this song hot. "Don't Disturb This Groove..."

Musical Foreplay: Marvin Gaye

Marvin pulled down the covers and kissed the female form from head to toe with this song. It's such a rush...

Musical Foreplay: The Isley Brothers

Hip Hop Soul, mellow and slow. Relax and let your mind take you back to a time when love songs were rotating at 33 1/3 RPM.

UnReleased Hip-Hop: Big L

Big L spitting on the nicest Wu Tang beat of all time. Quintessential HIP-HOP.

The A Capella Project: Eminem

I have SOOOOO much respect for his range as a lyricist. I don't even consider this the best of Em and it's STILL crazy hot. Nice acapella.

Music on Canvas: Jean-Michel Basquiat

A very eccentric, very complex artist of our time, Jean-Michel Basquiat incorporated urban culture and hip-hop into his paintings, and he was a true representation of what it meant for an artist to be one with his art. The artwork he created actually had musical elements. Turn the volume down on this, observe his work and listen closely... you'll hear the music.

In Color: Marsha Ambrosius

I know, her voice and the music are perfection. But this video has a message, as do most of this gorgeous songbird's videos as of late. Watch carefully.

Wrap It Up.

The A Capella Project: Aaliyah

Simply beautiful without instruments. Her voice acapella is almost angelic. Yes, I said IS. Aaliyah will live forever.

The Maestros: J Dilla

Why have I never heard this beat? I love everything about it. Damn. RIP Dilla

The A Capella Project: MF Doom

I know this sounds weird, but I love the nasal monotone lyricism this cat displays throughout every song. Even though he was born British Trini he's SOOO New York. Nice with the acapella.

The A Capella Project: Big Pun

One of the most underrated rappers of all time, Pun came cracking skulls with prolific lyrics bouncing off the mic in sick reverb that made you just shake your head like "Damn, this Puerto Rican nigga is ILL with it!" That's what I said the first time I heard an acapella joint from this man. Enjoy.

The Maestros; Pete Rock

Pete Rock. I don't have to tell you why this is one of my favorite instrumentals.

Unsigned Hero: Fully Auto

It's amazing when I hear talent of this echelon... UNSIGNED. I can't wrap my head around it. The music moguls of today should be ashamed for not bringing this type of talent to the masses.

Fully Auto is definitely a breath of fresh air. His lyrics are creative, his delivery is energetic, and I am blown away.

The Maestros: DJ Premier

I'm sorry, there are no words. Great is an understatement when I'm describing DJ Premier... I have to let the music speak for itself.