#FreshFriday (4/6/12)

So I just happened upon this project.  Whereas it might not be brand new - it's definitely new to me!  Eric Bellinger is an amazing talent that needs the appropriate credit for the soulful sounds that he brings to the R&B genre.  As a young gunner is a singer AND songwriter from Los Angeles.  He's been paying dues for quite sometime as a performer, and although many people are acquainted with artists that he's worked with (JoJo, Chris Brown, Symphonique, and Selena Gomez) - we really aren't acquainted with his voice as much as we probably should be.  Well I got his mixtape here on my site because he's dope!  Let me know how you feel about this rendering.

Eric Bellinger - Born II Sing Vol. 2

And to give you a little more... Here's a video of his joint, "Green Eggs & Ham"




Rita Ora is all over the place.  She has some wonderful crossover appeal without losing the soulful part of her voice.  She already has one other song out "Hot Right Now", but with Roc Nation supporting her - she keeps churning out hits.  It doesn't help that she is apart of an elite class of British musicians that are gaining American popularity.  This young starlet has real power and she does it being uniquely her without fulfilling most of the checklist of "how-to-become-a-singing-sensation".  It's not formula with this girl, she has talent. If you're not hip to her, check out the video of her newest single, "R.I.P." By the way, I believe this song has a positive reinforcement message to women as well.

Twitter... Follow this dude - @ImSoMaleek.  I was perusing the mixtape releases of this week, and I came upon this guy's material.  He is SO dope.  In this mixtape, Maleek Leggett covers some raps songs and turns 'em into R&B bangers.  His creativity and vocal ability will propel him far.  I'll warn you now, he's not doing what MANY other artists are doing as they release mixtapes (biting off "different" people like Frank Ocean), he's being himself - and it sounds GREAT.  This will be one of those mixtapes that you will want to have on repeat this spring/summer.  From an artistic standpoint, I think incredible singers are able to negotiate their talent and precision.  He sings extremely well, but he's not busy; he's precise and intentional with his delivery - allowing you to really appreciate this as a complete body of work.  You have got to get this material!  I promise, it already ranks UP THERE on this year's best mixtapes!

Maleek Leggett - D.H.Y.A. (Don't Hold Your Applause)