Raheem DeVaughn: Bulletproof and Revelations 2010

From: Love and War Masterpeace (Jive, 2010)
This is a post I mean to have gotten up nearly a month ago.  Raheem DeVaughn might be one of the most under appreciated soul musicians right now.  His last album has a couple tracks which were absolutely outstanding.  Although ultimately his last album and his newest one both have their share of filler.

He really goes back not to the old school soul of the late 60s or the synthesized 90s but to the funkier warped side of the 70s.  One of my first reactions upon hearing Raheem was to think of Curtis Mayfield.

Bulletproof actually features a sample of Mayfield that could be used if they decide to god forbid remake superfly.  Raheem is capable of making great almost neo psychadelic soul or at least as close to doing that as anybody in the newest generation of R+B.  When he does the outcomes are excellent as Revelations 2010 also proves.

The only time Raheem gets boring is when he resorts to simple and usually boring love ballads.  Its not that he’s not a capable singer, but the songs can get to be like going through the motions especially when you know that Raheem is capable of a song like Bulletproof or even Woman from his previous album.

He hasn’t made his Superfly yet.  But I have a feeling that with a little more time, Raheem has a classic in him yet.

Anyone else psyched about the return of the lovely Sade? [new album drops: 2.8.2010]

Sade: Soldier of Love
From: Soldier of Love [Epic, 2010]

I’m a long-time fan, and, the new single doesn’t disappoint. It retains her patented smooth and adds some nice trip hop elements. Pure class. Aging gracefully. Hard to believe she’s 50!

On a semi-related note: I’d like to devote some Earfuzz time this year to exploring our favorite women on the mic. To narrow the focus a bit, I’m thinking MC’s: Da Brat. Missy. Trina. MC Lyte. MIA. etc.

Readers, any votes/suggestions? I’d really like to get into this a bit.