Second Listen: "You Belong To Me" (Anita Baker)

Though never released as a single from Anita Baker's third album Giving You The Best That I Got, "You Belong To Me" is one of my favorite songs in her discography. Though probably only known by fans of the songstress, this smooth jazzy joint is for the grown and sexy and really showcases Anita at her vocal finest.

As today marks Ms. Baker's birthday, I thought it would be nice to revisit this gem in honor of her birthday. With that said, take a second listen below to the gem "You Belong To Me." As always coffee cups up!

Second Listen: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (Anita Baker)

Back in 1986, Anita Baker released her sophomore breakout album Rapture and it would go onto make her a worldwide superstar, selling 8 million copies worldwide, including five million of those here in the United States. While the album's biggest single is her classic "Sweet Love," Rapture had a few other classic hits on it including "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Released in the fall of 1986, "Caught Up in the Rapture" was Baker's third top ten R&B single, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and #9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles.

With that said, take a hopefully second listen to Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture" below and Enjoy!

Podcast: "The BackBeat Ep. 1: Got 2 Be Real"

After a few months of my friend Kyera asking me to do a podcast with her on music, we finally sat down yesterday and made our first episode. It might be a little rough around the edges but we had fun with it and I thought I would share it with you all.

On the first episode of The BackBeat, Marcus and Kyera discuss the Cheryl Lynn/Anita Baker beef, K. Michelle's response to Jaguar Wright, Azealia Banks, Lil Mama's new video for "Sausage," Erica Campbell's "I Luh God," #BeyonceAlwaysOnBeat, A$AP Rocky's ALLA LP, anticipation for Tamia's new album and much more.

Second Listen: "You Belong To Me" (Anita Baker)

Though never released as a single from Anita Baker's third album Giving You The Best That I Got, "You Belong To Me" is one of my favorite songs in her discography. Though probably only known by fans of the songstress, this smooth jazzy joint is for the grown and sexy and really showcases Anita at her vocal finest.

With that said, take a second listen below to the gem "You Belong To Me" and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (JoJo)

Back on Valentine's Day last year, unannounced, JoJo released a Free EP '#LOVEJO' onto her official SoundCloud page for a free download to honor Valentine's Day in addition to celebrating being signed to her new label Atlantic Records after being signed to Blackground for several years unable to officially release new music.

Now back in the studio working on her first album in nine years, the highly anticipated followup to The High Road, '#LOVEJO' is a phenomenal EP that was produced by Da Internz and features the standout sublime cover of the Anita Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Anita Baker in my book is an artist one should not cover lightly and covering one of her most iconic joints, such as "Caught Up in the Rapture" is dangerous territory in my book.  With that said, JoJo and Da Internz brilliantly constructed a perfect cover of "Caught Up in the Rapture" that both pays homage to and reimagines this classic joint at the same time.

With that said, take a listen below to JoJo's sublime interpretation of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" and Enjoy!

Live Audio: "Sweet Love" (Marsha Ambrosius & Ledisi)

A few years ago, VH1 offered up one of the best lineups for their VH1 DIVAS special in years and one of the highlights from that night in NYC has to be the duet between Marsha Ambrosius and Ledisi on Anita Baker's "Sweet Love."

While it is unclear why Ms. Baker, who was scheduled to appear on the show was unable to perform with Marsha and Ledisi, the two legends in the making offered up a performance even Ms. Baker couldn't be mad at.

With that said, take a listen to their riveting performance from that night of "Sweet Love" and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (Anita Baker)

Back in 1986, Anita Baker released her sophomore breakout album Rapture and it would go onto make her a worldwide superstar, selling 8 million copies worldwide, including five million of those here in the United States. While the album's biggest single is her classic "Sweet Love," Rapture had a few other classic hits on it including "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Released in the fall of 1986, "Caught Up in the Rapture" was Baker's third top ten R&B single, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and #9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles.

With that said, take a hopefully second listen to Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (JoJo)

Back on Valentine's Day, unannounced, JoJo released a Free EP '#LOVEJO' onto her official SoundCloud page for a free download to honor Valentine's Day in addition to celebrating being signed to her new label Atlantic Records after being signed to Blackground for several years unable to officially release new music.

Now back in the studio working on her first album in eight years, the highly anticipated followup to The High Road, '#LOVEJO' is a phenomenal EP that was produced by Da Internz and features the standout sublime cover of the Anita Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Anita Baker in my book is an artist one should not cover lightly and covering one of her most iconic joints, such as "Caught Up in the Rapture" is dangerous territory in my book.  With that said, JoJo and Da Internz brilliantly constructed a perfect cover of "Caught Up in the Rapture" that both pays homage to and reimagines this classic joint at the same time.

With that said, take a listen below to JoJo's sublime interpretation of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "You Belong To Me" (Anita Baker)

Yesterday was Anita Baker's birthday, which happened to land on "music's biggest night" and while they didn't acknowledge her birthday, I wanted to keep honoring the iconic songstress.

Though never released as a single from Anita Baker's third album Giving You The Best That I Got, "You Belong To Me" is one of my favorite songs in her discography. Though probably only known by fans of the songstress, this smooth jazzy joint is for the grown and sexy and really showcases Anita at her vocal finest.

With that said, take a second listen below to the gem "You Belong To Me" and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "Sweet Love" (Anita Baker)

Every now and then, you hear a song for the first time and recognize it as an evergreen classic and Anita Baker's classic 80s joint "Sweet Love" is one of those classic joints.

With that said, while she was promoting her 1986 album Rapture, Anita Baker stopped by NBC's  The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to promote her latest album and of course performed her then hit single "Sweet Love." Watch Anita's phenomenal performance of "Sweet Love" below and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (Anita Baker)

After watching the 2014 iHeart Radio Music Awards the other night, I have to admit that I was craving some true soul singing on the show and decided to take it back today to some of the greats.

Back in 1986, Anita Baker released her sophomore breakout album Rapture and it would go onto make her a worldwide superstar, selling 8 million copies worldwide, including five million of those here in the United States. While the album's biggest single is her classic "Sweet Love," Rapture had a few other classic hits on it including "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Released in the fall of 1986, "Caught Up in the Rapture" was Baker's third top ten R&B single, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and #9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles.

With that said, take a hopefully second listen to Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (JoJo)

Back on Valentine's Day, unannounced, JoJo released a Free EP '#LOVEJO' onto her official SoundCloud page for a free download to honor Valentine's Day in addition to celebrating being signed to her new label Atlantic Records after being signed to Blackground for several years unable to officially release new music.

Now back in the studio working on her first album in eight years, the highly anticipated followup to The High Road, '#LOVEJO' is a phenomenal EP that was produced by Da Internz and features the standout sublime cover of the Anita Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Anita Baker in my book is an artist one should not cover lightly and covering one of her most iconic joints, such as "Caught Up in the Rapture" is dangerous territory in my book.  With that said, JoJo and Da Internz brilliantly constructed a perfect cover of "Caught Up in the Rapture" that both pays homage to and reimagines this classic joint at the same time.

With that said, take a listen below to JoJo's sublime interpretation of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "You Belong To Me" (Anita Baker)

Yesterday was Anita Baker's birthday, which happened to land on "music's biggest night" and while they didn't acknowledge her birthday, I wanted to keep honoring the iconic songstress.

Though never released as a single from Anita Baker's third album Giving You The Best That I Got, "You Belong To Me" is one of my favorite songs in her discography. Though probably only known by fans of the songstress, this smooth jazzy joint is for the grown and sexy and really showcases Anita at her vocal finest.

With that said, take a second listen below to the gem "You Belong To Me" and Enjoy!

Rare Performance: "I Apologize" (Anita Baker)

One of my favorite songs from Anita Baker has to be her single "I Apologize," which was lifted 1994's Rhythm of Love. Though it was a successful single from Baker's fifth album, it is a rare feet to find a live recording of Ms. Anita Baker performing this classic.

With that said,  I thought it would be appropriate as we celebrate her birthday today to revisit one of those rare live performances of "I Apologize.

Lifted from Video Soul from back in 1994, you can watch Ms. Baker's sublime live rendition of "I Apologize" below and Enjoy!

Rare Performance: "I Apologize" (Anita Baker)

One of my favorite songs from Anita Baker has to be her single "I Apologize," which was lifted 1994's Rhythm of Love. Though it was a successful single from Baker's fifth album, it is a rare feet to find a live recording of Ms. Anita Baker performing this classic.

With that said, peep her rare performance of "I Apologize" from Video Soul from back in 1994 and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "Sweet Love" (Anita Baker)

Every now and then, you hear a song for the first time and recognize it as an evergreen classic and Anita Baker's classic 80s joint "Sweet Love" is one of those classic joints.

With that said, while she was promoting her 1986 album Rapture, Anita Baker stopped by NBC's  The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to promote her latest album and of course performed her then hit single "Sweet Love." Watch Anita's phenomenal performance of "Sweet Love" below and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "You Belong To Me" (Anita Baker)

Though never released as a single from Anita Baker's third album "Giving You The Best That I Got," "You Belong To Me" is one of my favorite songs in her discography. Though probably only known by fans of the songstress, this smooth jazzy joint is for the grown and sexy and really showcases Anita at her vocal finest.

With that said, take a second listen below to the gem "You Belong To Me" and Enjoy!

Live Clip: "Giving You The Best That I Got" (Tamia)

With Rihanna and Teyana Taylor offering a mini-feud over Teyana's rendition of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture," I am reminded of Tamia's sublime rendition of another Anita Baker classic, "Giving You The Best That I Got."

A few years ago during the 2010 Soul Train Music Award's tribute to Anita Baker, the famed music show brought out some big guns to honor the soulful vocal stylings of Ms. Anita Baker. With that said, Tamia was one of the highly talented vocalist who took part in the tribute and the Canadian songstress cooed out a sublime rendition of Anita's classic "Giving You The Best That I Got." Peep her rendition after the jump and Enjoy!

Live Clip: "Giving You The Best That I Got" (Anita Baker)

It's just so easy to get on an Anita Baker kick and after revisiting her album Rapture for her joint "Caught Up in the Rapture," I of course wandered through some of her other gems including her class jam and the title track to her third album Giving You The Best That I Got.

With that said, Ms. Anita Baker has been on and off tour these last couple of years and the following clip of her crooning "Giving You The Best That I Got" is lifted from her 2011 appearance at The Chicago Theatre. Peep her smooth slowed-down rendition of "Giving You The Best That I Got" below and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (Anita Baker)

After watching the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards last night, I have to admit that I was craving some true soul singing on the show and decided to take it back today to some of the greats.

Back in 1986, Anita Baker released her sophomore breakout album Rapture and it would go onto make her a worldwide superstar, selling 8 million copies worldwide, including five million of those here in the United States. While the album's biggest single is her classic "Sweet Love," Rapture had a few other classic hits on it including "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Released in the fall of 1986, "Caught Up in the Rapture" was Baker's third top ten R&B single, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and #9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles.

With that said, take a hopefully second listen to Baker's classic "Caught Up in the Rapture" after the jump and Enjoy!