Long Overdue...Cool as the Rule/ Welcome to 2011: The New Year for New Tears and everything else you want to Hear!

What's up everybody this is Tyler Vespa, and I am coming back to this blog, trying to get in the music business for R&B Soul. The purpose is to get out to people that love the RnB sound. Its been a minute, so I've started out with some of my most recent jams as the calendar has turn into 2011.

Now, I love the piano sound within those silky voices, but I will do my best to keep it more upbeat and chill.

Let me know if you think I missed something, or requests are always open.

And one more thing, before you think the piano is to mellow, try to kind of meditate with the tracks I present, and then just listen. It's all in perfect melody.

So for the love of RnB, just feel it flow in your veins, then tell me if its bad.

Usher: Raymond v. Raymond- Album Review

Released: March 30th, 2010

Born Usher Raymond IV, but going by his self-titled stage name Usher, He grew up in Dallas, Texas, but spent most of his childhood in Chattanooga, due to a family relocation. When he was just 9 years old, his mother put him in his church choir in Chattanooga, but it was grandmother who noticed his vocal talent. After they realized the ability he had, his family moved into the big city of Atlanta, Georgia, believing it would provide him with better opportunity. His early music endeavors included participating in a RnB vocal quartet called "NuBeginnings", and performing on the TV show Star Search, where he was finally discovered by the A&R representative from LaFace Records, who connected Usher with the founder of LaFace Records, L.A. Reid. His self -titled debut album was released three years after he was signed on August 30th, 1994. He has since taken off with his success on his albums "My Way" in 1997, "8701" in 2001, "Confessions" in 2004, and now his most recent installment this year with "Raymond v. Raymond". The album is solid from start to finish with tracks like "Daddy's Home" featuring Plies, "Mars vs. Venus", "Papers" and "Making Love (Into the Night)", and also recently peaked at #1 in the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Hip-Hop albums.

Boyz II Men: Love-Album Review

Released: November 24th, 2009

After two decades of being together, the R&B vocal group from Philadelphia, Boyz II Men decided to switch things up with their 2o09 covers album in "Love". The foursome is made up of Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris, and is the best-selling male R&B group of all-time. With this installment being a covers album, I am confident the group exhibited their true talent by going outside their own comfort zone, and trying to tackle other artitsts' classics. Even jumping into different genres with their own rendition of Lonestar's "Amazed" and the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", they answered with their own harmony to fit the bill. My favorite covers they attempted on the album were Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me", Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now", and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time".

The-Dream: Love vs. Money- Album Review

Released: March 10th, 2009

Born Terius Youngdell Nash, but better known by his music stage name of The-Dream, he was raised by his grandfather in Atlanta. He didn't hit his stride singing and performing until 2001, when he met producer Laney Stewart, who helped him find a record deal. His early career then began while working on Nivea's second album "Complicated", and helping to write and produce Rihanna's smash hit "Umbrella" in 2007 with Chris "Tricky" Stewart, Laney's brother. This work with Rihanna helped propel him to a record deal with Def Jam Recordings, and then release his debut album "Lovehate" later in 2007. He later followed up that release with his sophomore album " Love vs. Money" in 2009. This album is pretty solid from start to finish. Compared to his first album, it is way more upbeat which I think will serve him well in his future endeavors. The first album seemed to not have as many collaborations, which I think is where he shines. My favorite track off this album was "Right Side of My Brain", which is a slower track but has a melody that never gets old. Some other good tracks are "My Love" featuring Mariah Carey, and "Rockin that Shit". And again, this album peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums for 2009.

Day 26: Forever in a Day- Album Review

Released: April 13th, 2009

After being solely selected by Sean "Diddy" Combs at the end of MTV's Making the Band 4, the group of Robert Curry, Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, and Michael McCluney made up the group Day 26. The group name is a tribute to the day their debut album was released on March 25th, 2008. They had quickly gone from unknowns to stars. MTB 4 came back to MTV for a follow-up season that followed the group through the recording process of their second album "Forever in a Day". This album is a great follow-up to their debut album "Day 26" which peaked at #1 in the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums. This album also peaked at #1 and is smooth from start to finish with songs like the hit "Imma Put It On Her" featuring P. Diddy, and Young Joc, and "Truth is a Lie". The group is in the process of working on a third album with their newly joined label Atlantic Records.

Mario: D.N.A.- Album Review

Released: October 9, 2009

Growing up in the working-class neighborhoods of Baltimore, Mario Barrett was raised by his grandmother, because his own mother struggled with drug addiction. He realized his own talent at the young age of four, telling himself he wanted to become a singer. His mother supported his dream by buying him a karaoke machine. His dedication to pursuing a music career was never in doubt as he joined a music group in high school. The basis for all his melodies and singing was his talent for playing the piano. He was quickly discovered by music producer Troy Patterson at a college talent show. After attending high school up to the tenth grade, he was inspired by his music teacher, and ended up signing with J Records in his early teen years. This fourth installment from Mario entitled "D.N.A." was just an average work for me. It has some good slow tracks such as "Stranded", "I Choose You", and " Don't Walk Away". To me, the upbeat tracks are where his vulnerability is shown. Songs like "Break Up", and "Get Out" are just par to me. But don't take it from me, this installment peaked at #2 in the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop albums, which is two spots higher than his last album.

Chris Brown: Graffiti- Album Review

Released: December 8th, 2009

Born in Virginia with that southern swagger, Chris Brown was introduced to soul music at a young age. He grew up listening to all the soul albums his parents owned, but as time went on, he began to stray into the hip hop world. Using inspirations such as Michael Jackson, he taught himself how to be a top notch performer through his singing and dancing. He started out singing in his church choir and at lots of different talent shows. The reality of the vocal talent didn't hit Brown's parents until he busted out by doing his own rendition of Usher, but they quickly did everything they could to get him signed. Brown rapidly entered the scene with what he could, doing his recordings with local labels. He was quickly discovered though by Tina Davis, the senior A&R executive at Def Jam Recordings. She loved his singing at knew Brown was one in a million, he was now signed with Def Jam. The label circus for Brown didn't end there as the agreement with Def Jam lasted only two months. With Brown losing his spot with Def Jam, and Davis losing her job to a corporate merger, Brown did the only thing he could do and asked Davis to be his manager. She quickly turned him to labels like Jive and Warner Bros. Brown made a quick decision, choosing Jive due to their success with young artists. The third installment from him entitled "Graffiti" has grown on me since it was released. At first when I listened to it, the album as a whole sounded very monotone. I quickly realized this album had a lot more to offer. With upbeat tracks like "Wait" featuring Game and Trey Songz, and the hit "I Can Transform Ya" featuring Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz, and slow, heartfelt songs like "Crawl", "I'll Go", and "Take My Time" featuring Tank, the complete work is really a masterpiece encompassing all of Brown's talent. The album peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop, need I say more.