Part 2 of our Cupid’s Hunt lovefest reminds us that love can be an emotional rollercoaster full of ups and downs, disappointments and heartbreak.

1. Emotional Rollercoaster – Vivian Green
2. Wake Up Alone – Amy Winehouse
3. I’m Done – Tweet
4. Leaving You – Lina
5. Leave Me Alone – Syleena Johnson
6. A House Is Not A Home – Luther Vandross
7. Insomnia – Jill Scott
8. I Need Love – Ledisi
9. Nothing Left To Say – Mint Condition
10. I Don’t Wanna – Aaliyah
11. Can’t Hardly Wait – N’Dambi
12. Breakdown – Mariah Carey
13. You Don’t Know – Maiysha ft Martin Luther

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

Subscribe to Essence Grooves by RSS, iTunes or email to stay updated.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Welcome back! This time around we have The Tony Rich Project, Laura Izibor, Chico DeBarge, Rahsaan Patterson, Vivian Green and more. Enjoy.

1. Part The Waves – The Tony Rich Project
2. Grace – Me’Shell Ndegeocello
3. Feels Good – Rahsaan Patterson
4. Different Times – Raphael Saadiq
5. Mr. Right – Chrisette Michele
6. Run To Me – Lina
7. Giving Something Up – Amel Larrieux
8. Yes (I’ll Be Your Baby) – Laura Izibor
9. Mad – Vivian Green
10. Walk Away – Sarah White
11. Oh No – Chico DeBarge
12. Ocean Wet – Peter Hadar
13. I Only Have Eyes 4 U – Chester Gregory
14. Let Go – Lalah Hathaway
15. River Rise – India.Arie

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

Subscribe to Essence Grooves by RSS, iTunes or email to stay updated.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we have a little bit of everything ranging from new music by Brandy and Eric Benet to the classics of One Way and Junior. Brandy’s new cd Human is scheduled for a December release so be on the look out for that. Also showing some hometown love for my boy Dwele with Find A Way from his debut cd. Anthony Hamilton is doubled up on guest spots on Al Green’s You’ve Got The Love I Need and Angie Stone’s Stay For A While from Stone Love. Phaedra made her own version of Eric Benet’s You’re The Only One and she does it justice and then some. Enjoy… Until next week…

1. Words – Anthony David ft India Arie – Amazon | iTunes
2. Morning Child – 4hero – Amazon | iTunes
3. Composure – Darien – MySpace
4. The Hunger – Eric Benet – Amazon | iTunes
5. You’ve Got The Love I Need – Al Green ft Anthony Hamilton – Amazon | iTunes
6. Mama Used To Say – Junior – Amazon | iTunes
7. Find A Way – Dwele – iTunes
8. Camera (Gangsta) – J*Davey – Amazon | iTunes
9. Porcelain Doll – Brandy– Amazon
10. If You Play Your Cards Right – One Way – Amazon | iTunes
11. Think About Me – Q. Parker
12. You’re The Only One – Phaedra – MySpace
13. Good Day – Lina – Amazon | iTunes
14. Do I – Alice Smith – Amazon | iTunes
15. Stay For A While – Angie Stone ft Anthony Hamilton – Amazon | iTunes

Subscribe to Essence Grooves by RSS, iTunes or email to stay updated.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Playlist:

1. Syleena Johnson – Baby I’m Scared of You
2. Al Green ft Corinne Bailey Rae – Take Your Time
3. Corinne Bailey Rae – Enchantment
4. Raheem DeVaughn – Butterflies
5. Lizz Wright – My Heart
6. Rose Royce – Wishing On A Star
7. Jill Scott – I Keep
8. Maxwell – Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)
9. Teena Marie – If I Were A Bell
10. Teedra Moses – For A Lifetime
11. Erykah Badu – Didn’t Cha Know
12. Rahsaan Patterson – Loving You
13. Peter Hadar – Painted
14. Estelle – No Substitute Love
15. Alice Smith – Desert Song
16. Lina – Walk Away
17. Eric Roberson – We Can’t Pretend
18. D’Angelo – Me And Those Dreaming Eyes
19. Platinum Pied Pipers ft Zeno – Fever

Podcast: Play in new window | Download