Chrisette Michele - "Charades" Music Video

Since her debut, I've been waiting for Chrisette Michele to hit that Urban/Soul pocket. Through 3 albums, she hadn't quite settled into a comfortable commercial space that matches her talent. Now, I admit that I didn't listen to the 3rd album but that sort of reiterates my point. She is incredibly gifted but was marketed to the wrong demographic.

Chrisette Michele is arguably the most capable vocalist working today. You wouldn't really know that though unless you are a big time R&B fan and keep your ear to the street in that specific world. Though she's received tons of accolades, including a 2009 Grammy, it hasn't translated into a major breakout.

"Charades" is the first single, released exclusively over at StuffFlyPeopleLike, from her upcoming mixtape titled 'Audio Visual Presentation: Audrey Hepburn.'

THIS IS IT!

This is the urban radio hit she's needed. "Charades" is so smooth and sexy. Chrisette looks and sounds great, as usual, but it's all wrapped in a 808 laced syncopated dreamscape perfect for today's "Boss Chick." If this is the way the new project is going, I'm expecting her to really expand her brand this go 'round.

Enough of my yapping though. Get into the video below and look out for an in-depth interview from SFPL in the very near future.

Big Boi - "Lines" feat. A$AP Rocky and Phantogram

I. Can't. Wait!

Everything that Big Boi has released from the 'Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors' album has been insane. He continues to push the envelope creatively and this new release, "Lines", is another tick mark in his incredibly long hit list.

You've got to love that he can bring in a young new artist like A$AP Rocky and obscure to the Hip-Hop scene Phantogram and marry it all into something we've never heard. Something epic!

I don't see how we can have any discussions about Hip-Hop legends, Top 5, 10, 20, whatever without giving Big Boi his propers as one of the best in the game. The man has been flawless on all of his solo projects. He continually cultivates his sound to grow bigger and bolder than what we've heard before from him and doesn't seem to falter in any way, shape or form. Absolutely amazing.

Anyway, check out the new track "Lines" and look for 'Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors' on December 11th. 

Ciph Boogie - "Solemnly"

There are so many "would be" stars out there when it comes to music. If you let them tell it, the "haters" are the only thing stopping them from doing Michael Jackson numbers. In actuality, even those with incredible talent, they just don't know what they are doing when it comes to the business of music. At all. Especially when it comes to marketing and promotion.

There are so many finer points that are missed and one of the most prominent of those is how to properly work a record/album. Most of these "would be" stars just find a place to record, make music, load it to Site X and hope that people find it.

Ciph Boogie is an artist that understands more of those finer points. I know for a fact how long he's been working this record. I won't tell you because it doesn't matter. What matters is that he knows to keep working it! The result? It got picked up by ESPN's Friday Night Fights as a theme song and landed him a video interview on the network as well. That's WORK!

Check out the free stream of "Solemnly" below and the video interview as well. Ciph is a capable artist and the track is dope.

AC - 'Courtesy of a Nightmare'

I was sifting through my mental Rolodex earlier today trying to figure out what I wanted to listen to on Spotify. Eric Sosa came to mind so I ran a search for him. Not much of his work came up. This 'Courtesy of a Nightmare' was in the search results so I clicked on it, pressed play and went back to work.

I listened to most of the first song and thought, "This ain't Eric Sosa but it's damn good! What am I listening to? Who dis?"

Meet AC. Apparently this dude has been operating at a high level right under my nose here in NY. Representing Staten Island, AC has clearly worked all kinks out of his game and is delivering all-star work. 'Courtesy of a Nightmare' is a fantastic project delving into a bevy of themes and ideas and it all works beautifully. The project is further strengthened by the production, handled exclusively by C4 Sinistah.

First impressions are extremely important and AC has made a considerable one with 'Courtesy of a Nightmare.' You will LOVE this album. It's rich in content, style and delivery. He's definitely gained a fan over here.

Check out the free stream below but you'll need to put up a little paper to take it with you. Well worth the purchase price. Dig in...

Saigon - "The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2"

The album opens up with, "I hope you got what you paid for. I ain't even gotta say more."

This has always been Saigon's greatest ability: to say so much with so little. What's most amazing is that he has so much to say and manages to make it highly stylized, logical and accessible all at the same time. This is what the game has been missing. Dangerous Rap!

Saigon is in absolute top form on this project, released on independent Suburban Noize Records. I have never heard of this label but I am SO F***ING HAPPY it exists because absolutely no major would have the balls to release this album. It's too I'm-not-selling-you-anything-but-my-ability good. It's politically charged without being beat me over the head boring. It's gangsta without promoting violence and/or drug use/sales.

'The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2' is inspiring on many different levels.

As a grown man who has known pain, struggle and failure but remained true to self, this album speaks to me in all of those things and is by far the greatest success of Saigon's career. 18 tracks of pure unadulterated Hip-Hop. Thank you!!!!

I love this album. I implore you to support this incredible body of work/truth and buy it. Check the free stream on AOL below. I don't know if the stream will expire so check it out ASAP. Then buy it!

Stream 'The Greatest Story Never Told Chapter 2'