With the number of mainstream artists putting out bad music increasing to the nth degree lately it’s good to know that there are still artists who care about their craft and don’t just throw auto-tune in new releases just for kicks. To say I’m upset cause my favorite groups and artists aren’t coming with it is a huge understatement. So let’s highlight the good and just hope the others regain their senses and release music that innovates instead of regurgitating what’s already been done repeatedly by less talented acts.

With all that being said *takes a deep breath* let’s get on with the music. V’s latest release It is Finished! The Paradox: Vol 1 is out and available now. Check out his MySpace page for more info or head over to Soundclick to download it or buy it from CD Baby. Not only do we have V, we have India.Arie, Laura Izibor, Kelis, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo and The Brand New Heavies to provide some listening pleasure especially if you’re as sick of the radio as I am. Enjoy!

1. Rolling Through The Hood – Kelis
2. Uptown – Raphael Saadiq
3. Iceberg – Tweet
4. Lover’s Ghetto – Angie Stone
5. Keep Together – The Brand New Heavies
6. Steady on the Grind – Erykah Badu ft Dead Prez
7. Ghetto – India.Arie
8. As – Stevie Wonder
9. From My Heart To Yours (DJ Premier Remix) – Laura Izibor
10. Smooth – D’Angelo
11. My Cryin’ Blues – Davina
12. Rules of the Game – V
13. Stop Playin’ – Anthony David
14. Breathe – Lalah Hathaway

Got a request? Send them to sels [at] essencegrooves.com

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This week we have Lisa Shaw, Jamiroquai, Jaguar Wright, 4hero, Sarah White and more. Enjoy!

1. Find The Way – Lisa Shaw
2. Trilogy – Kelis
3. Valley of Love – J*Davey
4. Soul Education – Jamiroquai
5. Feel The Same – Groove Armada ft Angie Stone
6. Spring Summer Feeling – Jill Scott
7. I Don’t Know – Jaguar Wright ft Black Thought
8. Give In – 4hero ft Darien Brockington and  Phonte
9. How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? – Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings
10. Always In My Head – India.Arie
11. No Love – Little Dragon
12. Fade – Sarah White
13. Be Here – Raphael Saadiq ft D’Angelo
14. Dancewitme – Maxwell
15. Think Twice – Erykah Badu ft Roy Hargrove

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And we’re back… after an extended hiatus due to unforeseen circumstance and then some. Life has a way of getting in the way every now and then but that’s a story for another day.

Now it’s time to get back to our regularly scheduled podcasts and I have this week’s mix for you to enjoy. Got a request? Send them to sels [at] essencegrooves.com

1. Reunion – Maxwell
2. Bruised But Not Broken – Joss Stone
3. Lady – D’Angelo
4. I Get Lonely – Janet Jackson
5. Where You Wanna Be – Brandy
6. Protect My Heart – Kelis
7. I Need Your Lovin’ – Teena Marie
8. I Still Love You – 702
9. I Used To Love Him – Lauryn Hill
10. Get To Know You Better – Mary J. Blige
11. Heaven – Tweet
12. I Need Love – Robin Thicke
13. Truth Is – Fantasia
14. Future Baby Mama – Prince

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Here’s a little something for the back half of the week with a few classics sprinkled in. Enjoy.

The Playlist:

1. Empty – Raheem DeVaughn – Amazon | iTunes
2. Lovely Lovely – Me’Shell Ndegeocello - Amazon | iTunes
3. Good Stuff – Kelis - Amazon | iTunes
4. Orbit – Maiysha - Amazon | iTunes
5. Settling In – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Amazon | iTunes
6. Early In The Morning – The Gap Band - iTunes
7. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) – Michael Jackson - Amazon | iTunes
8. I Got What You Want – Darien Brockington - Amazon | iTunes
9. Ooo La La La – Teena Marie - Amazon | iTunes
10. I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love – Stephanie Mills - Amazon | iTunes
11. If Only You Knew – Patti LaBelle - Amazon | iTunes
12. Never Felt This Way – Alicia Keys - Amazon | iTunes
13. Complain – Tweet - Amazon | iTunes
14. Nobody Knows – The Tony Rich Project - Amazon | iTunes
15. Chasing Pavements – Adele - Amazon | iTunes
16. Couldn’t Hear Her – Eric Roberson ft. Curt Chambers - Amazon | iTunes

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In this week’s episode we’re leading off with The Roots Rising Up featuring Wale and Chrisette Michelle. The intro echos how I feel about the radio lately but I’m not going to get started with that, not today anyway. I’ll save that for another day and just enjoy the go-go beat. Remember is on J Dilla’s unreleased Pay Jay cd which hopefully will be released soon. I know posthumous releases can get a bit numerous and dated but this is DIlla. Erykah Badu’s Soldier makes an appearance followed by 4hero’s Stoke Up the Fire. Since I love just about anything with Andre 3000’s name on it we also have John Legend’s new single Green Light. It’s good to hear John Legend switch it up with something more uptempo. Ledisi’s Alright has been getting me through a few things here and there. I’ve been on a dance kick lately and for that there’s Groove Armada and Ananda Project. Cosmic Girl was part of my introduction to Jamiroquai back in my dorm cafeteria working days at MSU (another story for another day). Let’s just say that Traveling Without Moving was the work soundtrack. Closing out this mix are two artists who shouldn’t be slept on and a legend. Rahsaan Patterson’s Feels Good is from his latest cd Wines & Spirits, Al Green’s latest featuring John Legend Stay With Me and finally Lina is sticking around with her latest cd Morning Star. Enjoy this week’s mix.

Last weekend we were hit with the double loss of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes two great entertainers. I’m still at a loss for words even after having a few days to let it sink in. My thoughts and prayers are with they’re families.  TGrundy’s latest podcast is a tribute to Isaac Hayes. Make sure you check it out.

The Playlist:

1. Rising Up – The Roots ft Wale and Chrisette Michelle – Amazon | iTunes
2. Remember – J Dilla ft Bilal
3. Soldier – Erykah Badu – Amazon | iTunes
4. Stoke Up the Fire – 4hero ft Face – iTunes
5. Soul Spaceship – Me’Shell Ndegeocello – Amazon | iTunes
6. Green Light – John Legend ft Andre 3000 – Amazon | iTunes
7. Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody – Amazon | iTunes
8. Alright (Matty’s Soulflower Mix) – Ledisi – Amazon | iTunes
9. Love Sweet Sound – Groove Armada ft Candi Staton – Amazon | iTunes
10. Kiss Kiss Kiss (Alternative Mix) – Ananda Project – Amazon | iTunes
11. Cosmic Girl – Jamiroquai – Amazon | iTunes
12. Glow – Kelis ft Raphael Saadiq – Amazon | iTunes
13. Feels Good – Rahsaan Patterson – Amazon | iTunes
14. Stay With Me (By The Sea) – Al Green ft John Legend – Amazon | iTunes
15. I’ll Stick Around – Lina – Amazon |iTunes

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