Finally...Bilal's debut is on the record shelves next 

After months of speculations Bilal's debut release '1st Born second' will finally hit record shelves next week (Aug 1st). The youngster who hails from Philadelphia (home to neo-soul princess Jill Scott and Musiq) first hit 'Soul Sista' was a top 10 smash on Billboard's R&B chart not to mention it was also featured on the 'Disappearing Acts' soundtrack from last year.

Bilal (Beloved Intelligent Lustful And Livin' it) 's 'First Born Second' is the new pinnacle in soul music varying in the different musical gendres from reggae (Home), to hip hop (Reminisce) to modern soul (All that I am). This album is definitely the cream of the crop of the upcoming releases which includes the 'Rush Hour - 2' soundtrack from the move that stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, former Kut Klose member Athena Cage and Blu Cantrell  

 

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Blu Cantrell 'Hits 'em up' with debut set 'So Blu'  

 

Speaking of Blu, her introduction to the world of R&B music is the catchy 'Hit 'em up style, oops' which has got everyone hitting up the hook from the song at a moment's wind. What is not known to most is that an almost fatal car accident that involved her sister created the introduction to her producer C. 'Tricky' Stewart.

Hailing from Providence Rhode Island, Blu and her family went to Atlanta to aide in her sister's one month recovery back to health and a chance meeting in a hotel lobby with a local producer lead to the meeting of C Tricky. The debut album called 'So Blu' reflects a lot of what she was going through at the time and said Blu "If I didn't sing, I don't know what I'd do, It's wonderful therapy to be able to sing when you're going through things. And now to be able to share that with other people who can relate is a beautiful thing." The album will be on store shelves Aug 1st.

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Lauryn Hill to appear on MTV's Unplugged 

 

Lauryn Hill is scheduled to appear on MTV's Unplugged Armed only her a guitar, she recently taped a performance for MTV show which is scheduled to start Aug 9th on their sister station MTV2 starring R.E.M,

Her set will include several of the songs that's featured on her yet-to-be-untitled sophomore effort on Columbia Records and still no streetdate has been set for the release. The airdate for Lauryn's segment has yet to be announced, but the series will run the shows after they have premiered on MTV2.

 

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Darrius shines on self title debut set 

Darrius Willrich is a name I'm sure not a lot of you have heard of but I feel you will in the near forsaken future (if radio Program Directors get off their collective arses and shake up their playlists and actually add good soul music (such as this set) to them for a change. 

The self-titled album consists of 11 excellently penned tracks all of which have their own unique stamp to them, well written and produced by Darrius himself (who's voice brings to mind the likes of Donny Hathaway, DJ Rogers and Webster Lewis). Starting things is the beautiful ballad 'Blissful' which explains the joy of marriage and love, next is 'The waiting is over' a jazz influenced mid-Sunday afternoon drive track that has radio potential  written all over it and the equally stunning 'When she comes to me' another example of how amazing this young man is as both an artist and writer another great track.

Other notables include the brilliant ballad 'Lost in forever', I am your love, 'My unceasing love' and 'Corner Store'. Great disc throughout and hopefully you will see and hear it in a record shop near you.