(Please scroll down for your desired language)





"My Rantin' & Ravin' Review"
by Beryl


Ratings Legend:
HOLLA! Definitely feelin’ this! (*****) Five Notes
Sizzlin! (****) Four notes
Simmerin’ with potential! (***) Three Notes
Has a ways to go! (**) Two Notes
Not feelin’ this at all! (*) One Note




(SGIB Magazine’s Rantin’&Ravin’ Review
By Beryl 2of6/July 2004 www.SGIBmagazine.com)

Johnny Gill
“20th Century Masters-The Millennium Collection”
(*****)
Going from being Bobby Brown’s replacement in New Edition in 1988 to a sparkling solo career, Johnny Gill has dropped his greatest hits CD that will have all the ladies out there in mood music heaven. The sexy baritone voice, the powerful emotions, the hit songs, the multi-octave range, the lyrics and the sensual grooves will remind y’all what makes Johnny Gill such an appealing talent. A great R & B artist, who also plays bass on most of his tunes! The diversity of his music-from danceable hits to the bump ‘n grind love songs-makes this one kickin’ CD that is a must have for your collection!
This 11 track CD has Johnny at his best, fo’ real. From the up-tempo danceable beats of “Rub You The Right Way”, “Wrap My Body Tight” (in the 7-inch mix version-HOT!) and “I Got You” to the roots of the R & B love ballads of “It’s Your Body” (which features Roger Troutman in one of his last recordings and Johnny displays his songwriting ability), “Love In An Elevator” and “One Love” (which Johnny collaborated with the late saxophonist, George Howard, and is the lead vocalist), all the joints were released as Motown singles from 1990 through 1997. All the songs made both the R & B and Pop charts when they were originally released and when you listen to them, you’ll definitely feel why.
Since all the joints on this CD are great, it truly was a difficult task to choose the ones I enjoyed the most. I was able to narrow it down to five, being a fan of mood music and romance. “The Floor” is a dance club hit that I thoroughly enjoyed and “Fairweather Friend” is an up-beat love song. Both had me noddin’ my head and wanting to bounce to the grooves. The other three are for Marvin Gaye’s classic hook, “let’s get it on.” The multi-platinum tune of “My, My, My” is definite mood music and a very sexy love ballad. The live joint of “Quiet Time To Play” shows not only how great Johnny sounds on the stage but gives you such sensual lyrics like, “now it’s our quiet time/for loving together/our time to play.” Ooh, baby, can ya' feel it? My very favorite slow grind tune is “Let’s Get The Mood Right” and it definitely can and will. Listening to this has this reviewer wanting to be in an expensive, sexy Versace gown, dancing real close to my man, while I look deep into his dark, smoldering eyes and gettin’ the mood right with candles and incense. If this track doesn’t get y’all in the mood, I don’t what can. Check this: “you look sweeter than ever/just how I pictured you/ put on your heartlight/ put on that old red dress/yes, there is no denying/you just get better with time/you may think I’m not sincere/let me make it perfectly clear/you still make me rise/with those sweet bedroom eyes/and how can I ever forget/how much I love the sex/and you’re still the love of my life.” Now, you tell me, wouldn’t you melt into your man’s arms and get into the mood with that flow?
I guess it wouldn’t surprise any of you, especially if you are a lady reading this review, that I can only give this CD my highest rating of 5 very HOT notes. As Kool and The Gang says, “Come on, it’s ladies night and the feelin’s right.” It is and will be any time you play this CD. Oh, just a suggestion-loop on tape “Let’s Get The Mood Right”-it could make it ladies night, after all.

(SGIB Magazine’s Rantin’&Ravin’ Review
By Beryl 2of6/July 2004 www.SGIBmagazine.com
Monet
“Essence”
(****)
This New York born and bred, multi-talented, singer/songwriter/musician has released her debut CD, “Essence” on Purpose Records. Let me tell y’all that Monet is very diverse, blending many different genres that include soul, funk, jazz, a touch of folk and even instrumental. Her style leans towards music that is used for meditation and spirituality . She is an accomplished flutist and her work is in such high demand that her first track, “Spirit” has been featured on The Weather Channel, Blake Radio.com and on the compilation CD, “Soul Lounge-Volume 1”. She also has been collaborating on many instrumental CD’s. Monet co-wrote every song on this unique and dynamic CD crediting artists Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley and Sade as influences for her talent.
Monet’s 12 track CD was an great experience to listen to. There are 3 tracks of instrumentals, “Spirit”, “Bahia Blues” and “Vibacious” . These cuts will have you understanding why Monet’s flute work is in demand. When she sings, her voice is sultry and captivating, falling between the styles of Sade and Vanessa Williams. She has an excellent vocal range that adds to her versatility. Monet can reach those high notes and low notes without skipping a beat! Her lyrics are emotion filled with great messages. There are a few cuts where her lyrics get a slight bit repetitive, but that is easy to overcome with her grooves.
I chose three tracks to highlight. “Wanna Kiss U” is a slow R & B joint and definite getting’ in the mood music. Monet’s vocal range shines through on this tune, switching several octaves easily. “Beauty” has an intro that is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder’s intro to “Isn’t She Lovely”,. There is a young child laughing in the way only a happy child can and you hear the child say ‘BEAUTY’. I love one of the hooks in this cut: the beauty deep within/never ends/a thing you can’t pretend. A child’s love is unconditional at such a young age and if you are a parent, y’all will be feelin’ this song. It also sends the message that beauty is not always on the outside but on the inside. How true is that, readers? The last of my favs is the title track, “Essence”. It is a soulful, R & B track that again shows off Monet’s vocal ability. It is a faster groove and speaks of such deep love that you feel it down into the ‘essence’ of your soul as well as getting’ into the soul of your partner. Check this hook: It’s in your essence/the way you make me feel inside/your compassion/eases me completely. Ah, true love, true feelings, true emotions! I really like how Monet captured all of that in this cut.
I am giving Monet a rating of 4 notes for a different type of musical experience. Her ability to switch genres, hold her vocals and take risks that other artists may not, will only help Monet to catch your attention. So, if you are looking for a different type of ‘love’ song CD or just a mellow listening experience, go snatch this CD up!




(SGIB Magazine’s Rantin’&Ravin’ Review
By Beryl 2of6/July 2004 www.SGIBmagazine.com)

P.B.G.’s Productions and Management along with SGIB, is Proud to Introduce to You:
Raya and Irn

(*****)
2 ð. R is the hottest thing to happen to Latin Hip-Hop and rap since J. Lo! Raya and Irn, both from Barcelona, Spain, have released their demo and it is MUY CALIENTE (VERY HOT!) Raya is the back-up dancer for the “Godfather of Soul”, Mr. James Brown and has been performing her Latino rap since 2000 while touring the world six times with Mr. Brown. Raya has also been a featured story as “The Hardest Working Dancer in Show Business” in the June 2003 issue of this very magazine. Irn is the representative for National Hip-Hop and won the championship in Spain for free-styling in 1992. She is also the director of the Urban Dance Company, which won the International Hip-Hop/ Funk Championship in Madrid in 2001. These young, bilingual, rappers and dancers know their stuff and definitely got it goin’ on!
Using the tested and successful formula of such superstars as Ricky Martin, Enrique Inglesias, Jennifer Lopez & Christina Aguilera, by mixing Spanish and English (Spanglish) verses in their joints, only adds to the depth, dimension and appeal of this up and coming dynamic duo. Excellante, 2 ð. R! Their demo has 4 jammin’ tracks that have you wanting to listen over and over again. The first two tracks, “Baby Yo Baby Yeah!” has Raya rapping in Spanish with quick flows with Irn adding background rapping. Noel, a bilingual, male rapper, adds his sensual voice to the mix, also rapping in Spanish. The second version is in Spanglish with Noel rapping in English and this is a great grind tune, a slower paced Hip-Hop joint with an R & B edge that has a great groove to it. Raya and Irn do the Spanish lyrics and this is a romantic love song (from the male point of view) with the hook of ‘baby, oh, baby, yeah/find, find, find out a way/I can be the biggest thing in your life/I can make your problems say, bye, bye/when I look deep into your eyes/ I can see the pain inside/it hurts, yeah, yeah/so take my hands and relax/ I’m gonna put some bright colors in your heart/I’m gonna make you smile’. HOT, HOT, HOT! The next track, “Si Me Gusta” is another love song that makes you want to be close to your significant other (this time from the female point of view) and has Raya doing her rap thang in Spanish while Irn does her rapping in English. Irn has great vocal range and this is another cut with a phat beat that crosses the genres of R & B, Hip-Hop and rap. The rapping in this cut is stylin’ with its flows and grooves. The final track, “Freaky With You”, is by far my favorite. This could be
2 ð. R’s debut single, fo’ real! This is one jammin’, slammin’ joint that will have you wanting to clap, bounce, shake it and get up to dance! I definitely feel this cut and can see it getting 2 ð. R’s career blowing up!
The diverse beats, the great flows (both in Spanish and English), the vocal range and their show of hard work and dedication warrant's my highest rating of 5 notes. Raya and Irn will be makin’ some major noise! Muy bien, 2 ð. R!
If you want to hear them check out www.SGIBmagainze.com Click on P.B.G.’s Productions Management.




(SGIB Magazine’s Rantin’&Ravin’ Review
By Beryl 2of6/July 2004 www.SGIBmagazine.com)


Various Artists
“Soul Comes Home”
A Celebration of Stax Records and Memphis Soul Music
( *****)
Listen up, readers and music fans. This review is going to be a bit different than my usual column. I am going to test your musical trivia skills on soul music. Ready? OK, but remember, no cheatin’. The answers will be in the last paragraph, so to avoid any temptation of looking at the answers, cover up the last paragraph and let’s see how well you know your soul!
1) Who was the original singer of “Knock on Wood”?
2) “Knock on Wood” was remade as a cover song during the disco era. Who was the singer?
3) In 1971, Jean Knight had a BIG (hint, hint) hit. What was it?
4) This artist was Stax Records first real solo star and sang “You Don’t Miss Your Water.” What is his name?
5) This group was on every Stax record that was put out and is best known for their instrumental hit, “Green Onions”. Name the group.
6) Who is known as “Black Moses”?
7) What television show uses the “Theme From Shaft” as its theme song, with the words changed to match that particular private eye show?
8) The Bar-Kays had their first single that was named what?
9) Who originally sang the hit, “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay?
10) What duo sang “When Something is Wrong with My Baby” originally?
11) Carla Thomas, the ‘Queen of Memphis Soul’, had a teen hit entitled what?
12) Al Green gave us some great hits like-“Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness.” What does he do now?
13) What artist had a hit with the original tune, “Mustang Sally”?
14) Besides being a singer, this talented composer wrote, “Try A Little Tenderness”. Who would it be?
15) What female gospel group recorded “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There?”
16) Who originally recorded “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”?
17) Rance Allen had a soul hit with “That Will Be Good Enough for Me”. Where is he now?
Put down your pencils now, ‘cause the quiz is over. Answers will be coming up shortly.
This CD is a live recording in Memphis, Tennessee in honor of Stax Records to commemorate the grand opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul, with performances from ‘back in the day’ artists to current superstars. This CD was produced and mixed to perfection; it definitely felt like you were there! There are 16 tracks of soul, blues and funk with most of the joints being sung by the original artists. There are some artists who covered some songs due to the fact that the original artists have gone to ‘soul heaven’ and homage is paid by other singers like: Michael McDonald (who released an album of Motown hits), Chuck D raps away with the Bar-Kays, Solomon Burke and Mack Rice. The production of this CD was slammin’. It sounded so clear that you would swear it was a studio album. The concert was performed on April 30, 2003 and aired on PBS stations in August 2003. The CD and DVD were due to drop on February 3, 2004. This is one soul-filled CD that will more than please any fan of soul music. I am not going to list the tracks or artists, because the trivia questions and their answers will fill you in on that!
I know, I know, what are the answers to the quiz? Well here goes:
1) Eddie Floyd
2) Amii Stewart
3) “Mr. Big Stuff”
4) William Bell
5) Booker T. and the MG’s
6) Isaac Hayes
7) “Monk”
8) “Soul Finger”
9) Otis Redding
10) Sam and Dave
11) “Gee Whiz”
12) Al Green is a Reverend
13) Wilson Pickett
14) Otis Redding
15) The Staple Singers
16) Little Milton
17) Is in the clergy as a Bishop
So…how did y’all do? Well, if you got 0-6 right, better brush up on your music trivia. If you got 7-14 correct, you know your stuff for the most part. If you got 14-17 right, then you must be as old as me!!!! Congratulations!
I hope you enjoyed this change of pace in my review. Just listening to all the great musicians of that era and nodding my head while listening as I traveled back deep to my youth, I easily can give this CD 5 soul-filled notes!


If you are an artist or label with a artist(s) send press kit(s) (CD, bio and Photo) and have your product reviewed in SGIB Magazine, Send Kit to: SGIB M PO Box 1244 Bay Shore NY 11706
(Sorry No internet press kits are accept)