You should know by now that I love R&B. It has had its ups and downs over the years, and it certainly isn’t what it was during the age of Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Silk, En Vogue, and TLC, but it has continued to evolve. It has grown up. It has undertaken and embraced more mature themes. It works. The lovey-dovey songs have made room for the highly sexual and drug-induced ballads. Before you decide that that’s not your cup of tea, remember that music conveniently lends itself to drug users. Show me a legendary artist, and I’ll show you a drug user (there are a few exceptions, but work with me). Now, I keep my ears to the streets, and there are two mixtapes that I urge you to download (free and legal). Those two mixtapes are “Nostalgia, Ultra” by Frank Ocean and “House of Balloons” by The Weeknd. Read the rest of this entry »
