Podcast: "Reparations" (The BackBeat)

This Week on The BackBeat, we get into the 2018 GRAMMY nominations and talk through some of our favorite nominees. From Album of the Year to Best Urban Contemporary Album, we have you covered. Later we get into the passing of Lil Peep and the importance of discussing addiction and mental illness. We've been gone for too long but it's time we brought it back! ;)

Podcast: "Less Than Smart" (The BackBeat)

On this week’s episode, we discuss Tina Campbell’s less than smart choice to vote for Donald Trump for president. We discuss Azealia Bank’s apology to Nicki Minaj and beef with Cardi B. Speaking of Cardi B, we praise her achievement of securing the first number 1 record by a solo female rapper since Lauryn Hill’s Doo Wop (That Thing) in 1998. We end the episode with a brief discussion of Jhene Aiko’s top 5 debut for her new album, Trip.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear our songs of the moment. Marcus chooses new cuts from Tamar Braxton, Ledisi and Kygo. Kyera breaks down her favorite songs by Jamila Woods, Ravyn Lenae, and Daniel Caesar.

Enjoy!

Podcast: "Ur In Trouble" (The BackBeat)

This week on The BackBeat, we get into a petition starting to get Missy Elliott a monument in Virginia, Aaliyah and Nicki Minaj's Mac Cosmetic Collections, Mystikal turning himself in on rape charges, and a woman coming forward breaking her nondisclosure agreement with R. Kelly surrounding his latest scandal.

Also, make sure you tune into the end of the podcast for songs of the moment from Ledisi, Nicole Nicole Scherzinger, Mary J. Blige, Tyler the Creator, and more!

Song of the Day: "So Into You" (Ledisi)

"So Into You" - Ledisi

• Composers: Rex Rideout, Ledisi Young & Darrell Crooks
• Record Label: Verve Forecast
• Released in 2011 from Pieces Of Me

Album Stream: "Nostalgia Movement No. 1" EP (Ledisi)

It feels like it's been forever since 2014's The Truth and to tide us over until her next studio album, Ledisi has released a three-track EP entitled Nostalgia Movement No. 1 which features her own take of some classic cuts.

The first song from her EP is "Settle For My Love," originally written and performed by Patrice Rushen and remixed by BNB Production with vocals from both Ledisi and Brittany B. Following comes Ledisi's take on The Isley Brothers' classic "I Once Had Your Lovin' Baby( And I Can't Let Go)," which was remixed by Erick Walls. Ledisi then closes out her set with the Natalie Cole smash hit "I've Got Love on My Mind," which Rex Rideout remixed for this sublime EP!

Take a listen below to Ledisi's sublime Nostalgia Movement No. 1 and Enjoy!

New Video: "Give Love On Christmas Day" (Ledisi)

While Christmas 2015 is over, Ledisi has released a Christmas present to all of her fans with the official video for her holiday cover of the Jackson 5's "Give Love On Christmas Day," lifted from her 2008 holiday album It's Christmas.

Directed by Ron T. Young the festive video for "Give Love On Christmas Day" seems to of been shot in San Francisco and features beautiful shots of the city during the holidays. With that said, watch the video below as we continue to spread holiday cheer.

Amazing Cover: "What A Wonderful World" (Ledisi & Stevie Wonder)

Ledisi never fails to offer up a phenomenal performance and whenever she touches a cover, she always brings her own into it, which in my opinion takes it to the next level.

With that said, during the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication two year ago, Ledisi let into a spirited performance of the Louis Armstrong classic. So impressed with her take on the song, Stevie Wonder brought her back out to duet with her on "What A Wonderful World" and the two of them really broke it down.

Watch it all go down below and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "This Christmas (Could Be The One)" (Ledisi)

I told y'all that Ledisi's It's Christmas is a holiday standard CD at my place and one of the other standout jams from the album besides her take on "What A Wonderful World", is Ledisi's original "This Christmas (Could Be The One)".

This is a future standard waiting to happen and if people would give it a first or second listen they would realize the brillance not only in Led's vocal performance but the sentimental lyrics. Therefore take a listen below as we all get into the Christmas spirit!

Amazing Cover: "Silent Night" (Ledisi)

Ledisi's Christmas album It's Christmas is one for the record collection as Led skillfully reinterprets several holiday classics while adding a few new holiday tinged gems to the holiday discography.

With that said, take a listen below to her sublime rendition of the holiday classic "Silent Night" and if you don't have It's Christmas, it's a perfect stocking stuffer as we enter the ten day countdown until Christmas.

Second Listen: "I've Got It" (Ledisi)

I don't know about you, but I've been jamming to Ledisi's just released The Truth album since it was released last year and after buying a few copies of it, I've now started going back in her vast and diverse discography to rediscover other gems.

With that said, one of my top 10 songs from Ledisi's vast discography is the smooth sensual joint "I've Got It," which is lifted from her highly coveted sophomore album Felling Orange But Sometimes Blue LP. With that said, take a  second listen to this phenomenal joint below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Happy Feelings" (Ledisi)

I was jamming to a Ledisi playlist last night and Ledisi's amazing cover of the Freankie Beverly and Maze classic "Happy Feelings" came on and reminded me of the Frankie Beverly and Maze tribute album "Silky Soul Music... An All-star Tribute To Maze F/ Frankie Beverly."

I don't know about you, but I forgot about this sublime cover of Ledisi's amidst her ever-growing discography. With that said, take a listen to Ledisi's take on "Happy Feelings" below as we enjoy the benefits of an additional hour thanks to daylight savings here in the States!

Cut: "Say No" (Ledisi)

Ledisi's latest album The Truth has gotten some new life with the release of the set's official second single "Like This" and I thought it would be nice to revisit a sublime cut from one of her earlier albums.
With that said, of course I was reminded of a lot of the phenomenal cuts from her fourth studio album including her bumping mid-tempo joint "Say No."

Also know as track nine from Turn Me Loose, "Say No" is a perfect joint to set the mood for those grown and sexy nights and you can revisit the cut below!

Song of the Day: "Bravo" (Ledisi)

"Bravo" - Ledisi

• Composers: Claude Kelly / John Webb Jr.
• Record Label: Verve 
• Featured on 2011's Pieces Of Me
• Released in 2012 and peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart

Amazing Cover: "God Bless The Child" (Ledisi)

Ledisi can sing anything and turn it out and on its head. From the phonebook to an iconic and legendary song such as "God Bless The Child," Ledisi always studies and infuses her covers with her own vocal take while staying true to the original melody.

With that said, back in Dallas, Texas in 2011, Ledisi joined a choir to cover "God Bless The Child" in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and of course offered up an impeccable and flawless rendition.

Showcasing her earth-shattering vocals and vocal control talents that are so hard to find in today's industry, Ledisi left it all on the stage and had the audience eating out of her hand from the moment she finished the first line of "God Bless The Child."

Watch Ledisi riff, run and scat her way through a mind-blowing rendition of "God Bless The Child" below and Enjoy!

Live Audio: "Like This (Acoustic)" (Ledisi)

Ledisi released a labor of love earlier this year with her The Intimate Truth EP which includes a few songs performed acoustically live in studio from her latest LP The Truth. With that said, one of the highlights from the seven song EP has to be the acoustic rendition of her GRAMMY-nominated single "Like This."

Simply Ledisi, her background singers, and her guitarist, Ledisi does what she does best and just sangs it out offering what is the closest thing we will probably get of a live album from her in the immediate future.

Quite simply put, Ledisi is one of the best singers to ever grace the microphone and her latest project The Intimate Truth EP further cements this claim in my opinion. With that said, listen to her sublime live acoustic take of "Like This" below from the live recorded video of her in studio and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "All The Man That I Need" (Ledisi)

This past holiday season, Ledisi offered up the best rendition of of the Whitney Houston iconic #1 classic hit "All The Man That I Need" sans The Voice's in my humble opinion.

Possessing one of the best voices in music history in my opinion and clearly one of the best voices in the game right now, Ledisi's powerhouse vocals and her dedication to training and studying throughout her career continue to offer once in a lifetime performances and moments that I continue to enjoy.

If you don't get to shouting and/or putting your hand up when watching Ledisi's sublime performance of "All The Man That I Need," then you might want to make an appointment with a cardiologist and fast because something is wrong with you.

Either way you feel, watch Ledisi's praise-inducing rendition of "All The Man That I Need" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Happy Feelings" (Ledisi)

I was jamming to a Ledisi playlist last night and Ledisi's amazing cover of the Freankie Beverly and Maze classic "Happy Feelings" came on and reminded me of the Frankie Beverly and Maze tribute album "Silky Soul Music... An All-star Tribute To Maze F/ Frankie Beverly."

I don't know about you, but I forgot about this sublime cover of Ledisi's amidst her ever-growing discography. With that said, take a listen to Ledisi's take on "Happy Feelings" below as we enjoy the benefits of an additional hour thanks to daylight savings here in the States!

Amazing Cover: "Endless Love" (Ledisi)

A few years ago, Ledisi honored Lionel Richie at UNCF's An Evening of Stars and blew the roof off the joint with her powerful rendition of the Lionel Richie and Diana Ross duet "Endless Love."

With that said, you can peep her sublime take on "Endless Love" below and if you like what you hear, hopefully Ledisi will be hitting the road again soon as her The Truth Tour this past spring was truly the truth.

Amazing Cover: "Four Women" (Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott & Ledisi)

Back in 2010 during BET's Black Girls Rock, Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott and Ledisi joined forces to perform a riveting rendition of the Nina Simone classic "Four Women."

While it has been almost five years since their riveting performance, this quartet's powerful rendition of "Four Women" still seems as if they gathered on that stage just a few days ago in my mind.

Either way you feel, watch their powerful performance of "Four Women" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Blues In The Night" (Ledisi)

A few years ago Ledisi was one of the invited singers for PBS's special in honor of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. As always, Ledisi knocked it our of the park and offered up a powerful and touching tribute to a vocal icon.

I swear, give Ledisi the phonebook and you'll be entertained. There is just something so refreshing and aw-inspiring about her vocal prowess. Either way you feel, watch her sublime rendition and cover of "Blues In The Night" below and Enjoy!