In the game of indie music we often refer to artists “paying their dues”  Consistently rocking the small stages, open-mics and opening slots on a show.  Well Alison is an amazing example of an artists who has paid her dues and is emerging as a creative powerhouse from the DMV.  She has toured the world as a featured artist and has consistently been a part of  recordings that define the modern soul era.  Her latest Release “Alison Wonderland” is a colorful collection of material that she is actually giving away for FREE! Check out her site here. You can listen and download the album in its entirety!

Well it”s officially summertime! What better way to celebrate the summertime than with a dope Erro song. Eric Roberson has done it again.  One of our favorite artist of this era repeatedly strikes gold.  Check out this funky track featuring Chubb Rock and you can even download it for Free!

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We have all watched while Femi The Dri Fish continuously evolves into some form of extreme creativity. Whether it’s on stage with the 5th L, Hosting, or performing solo, Femi always puts on a show.  His latest incarnation is a full band project that combines his unique approach to poetry with the spontaneous life of live music.  Definitely something to check out.   Of course the best way to see it in action is to swing through Organic Soul Tuesdays feat Femi with full band tonight 5/17/2011.

Check out some samples his latest project:

When I first heard Marc Evans sing, I was amazed. So amazed, that I begged him to record at my studio and let me cameo on one of his tracks. I was just learning to record, but he agreed and some solid moments were captured on tape (btw you can check them out here) Since then Mr. Evans has been traveling the world amazing one audience at a time with his eclectic mix of soul, funk and house music.  His collaborations with House Genius Dj Spen have music lovers  (especially in the Dance scene) going crazy. Marc has added his name to the long list of Amazing artist who hail from Bmore and tour the world like Maysa, Fertile Ground, Dontae Winslow, Lafayette Gilchrist, The Basement Boys, Ultra Nate, Dru Hill, The Choir Boyz, Bossman etc…   What’s even more amazing is that Mr Evans will be appearing tonight 5/3/2011 at Organic Soul Tuesdays!! Be sure to check him out

Julie Dexter is back with a brand new album! “New Again” is now available for download and purchase at Juliedexter.com.  For those of you who are not familiar with Ms. Dexter’s music, Julie Dexter is:

“an award winning, British vocalist considered by many to be one of the most influential female vocalists of our generation. Having shared the spotlight with a host of cutting-edge artists, including Mint Condition, Jill Scott, Bilal, Omar, Loose Ends, Rachelle Ferrell, Ledisi, Eric Roberson and Raheem DeVaughn to name a few, Julie not only holds up her own with them but has been praised and respected by them too.” – musicremedy.com

Whether its Dexterity, Peace of Mind, Moon Bossa or any of the dozens of amazing albums that Julie has appeared on, when Ms Dexter records, it’s a game-changer.  Countless Classics.  This album I’m sure will be no different.

JULIE DEXTER WILL BE HAVING A LISTENING PARTY FOR HER NEW ALBUM TONIGHT AT ORGANIC SOUL TUESDAYS !  BE ONE OF THE FIRSTS TO CHECK IT OUT.

Check her out below at a live performance in london:

My Big Sistter Jilly from Philly is back with a funky new track called “Shame”  The Video was shot in her old neighborhood at a rec center and features some of Philly’s best!  Click the Video Below to Check it out!

If you love poetry and live on the east coast, then you know E the Poet Emcee. The founder and CEO of Torchlight Entertainment, E has been a staple on the scene for more than a decade.  A gifted spoken word artist, E is always on his grind whether it be on stage or on tape.  Torchlight entertainment has produced more than 17 recordings and currently hosts one of a very popular event called “The Art of Conversation.”  The event is actually running in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, DC and Baltimore!  Savvy business combined with passionate Art = A Legacy.

Sade’s The Ultimate Collection drops May 3, and the melodious soul outfit is celebrating its double-disc feast of tunes with none other than Hova. “The Moon & The Sky,” produced by Noah “40″ Shebib, features a verse from Jay-Z. Sade’s mellow, elegant voice floats through the track, and Jay  — pontificating a few regrets, what ifs, and what could have beens — fits in quite nicely. Listen below.

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Last night I had the pleasure of watching the new documentary “Still Bill”,  an amazing biography of the legendary song writer Bill Withers.  Aside from revisiting some of his classic compositions like Lean on Me, Use Me, Just the Two of Us, Lovely Day, and Grandma’s Hands,  the documentary talks about how Bill had a stuttering problem when he was young which he overcame. It also talks about how Bill never played an instrument or wrote a song until he was in his 30s.  Amazing.  As Bill Matured he decided to step away from the stage and concentrate on family. He hasn’t been on tour since ’85/’86.  He currently lives with his wife and works regularly with his daughter who is also a songwriter.  As a songwriter, I can appreciate both the sophisticated approach of a giant like Quincy Jones as well as the simplified lyricism of Bill Withers.  Simple words that convey complex emotions is the key to really making people “feel” a tune in my opinion. Bill Withers is a great example of someone who has mastered this process. Take a moment to check out the documentary, Bill just turned 70 and his life is a great trophy on the wall of Black Culture.

“Still Bill” can be seen on Showtime, Netflix or you can simply purchase the DVD.

Click Here for more information

Yall remember the video “Read a Book”(If not Click Here) that got everybody talkin about what was OK and and what was not OK. Well He’s back with a brand new band called “Immalechufinnish”  -  Adamantly proclaiming that he is “not a rapper” but rather a Poet with a hip hop style, Bomani Armah has been a staple on the DMV scene for years.   His latest masterpiece “Bomani Armah is Darius Lovehall in Love Jones the Date Mixtape” hits the streets this April.  You can find out more information on his website Notarapper.com.