Aughts pt. 6-2005

2005 was a pinnacle year for my promotions company, record label, and artists. We (ZWEi) released our 3rd album, produced & released our first protege to significant success, and promoted shows that helped bring our idols back to stage and prominence in the Northeast. We entertained 1,000 NY fans of theirs who gave us more love than we'd ever gotten in DC. Until we did the Carter Barron 2 months later. aside from my own stuff I overlycritiqued the entire year, here are the other tunes I played to death for '05.

1. That's How Close We Are/What The Hell Do You Want-112
Darron & Mike represent the grown voices again for Da Twelve. Pleasure & Pain is actually one of their best albums if not the best. Harold Lilly’s lyrics win out on “That’s How Close..” but Mike’s vocals stand the tallest at the album’s closing ballad, “What the Hell…” A traditional soul song, this tune was bit mature for the average 112 fan.

2. What Happened-Algebra
Kedar once had the magic touch and the “next” artists under his management, so it’s understandable why Algebra would latch on to him. Problem is she latched on when the ship was sinking. The man who coined the term “neo-soul” was claiming it was dead now, and Algebra Blessett was the next chapter in R&B. Finally a non-formulaic tune by Bryan-Michael Cox (“Shake it Off,” “Confessions,” “Burn”), “What Happened” is a raw live production that deserved full light, video and promotion and Kedar is to blame for this trusting youngster having no success to match her talent.

3. 1 Thing-Amerie
Rich Harrison and those damn drum breaks. Bless her heart, Amerie Rogers had nothing to do with this song being bigger than she was. Big enough for Beyonce and J-Lo to be mad they didn’t get it.

4. Ain't Nobody Worryin (album)/The Truth/Southern Stuff/Change Your World-Anthony Hamilton
The black man’s guide 2005. Underrated/unappreciated, AHam. As big as his debut was, this album was more thorough and had way more important messages to black husbands and fathers. These three from lowest to highest ranked highest on my 2nd favorite album of ’05

5. Love Me Anyway/Love Thang-Bebe Winans
Finally the solo sound I was looking for from Bebe. Amazing it took 3 albums and a short stay at Hidden Beach to get this, but I’ll take it. One for the Lord, and one for Bebe’s daughter, these two kept me cool and humbled by His wonder.

6. Ms New Booty f/ Ying Yang Twins-Bubba Sparxxx
I’m entitled to my guilty pleasures. This song CRANKED and CRACKED ME UP at the same time.

7. Floatin-Charlie Wilson (featuring Justin Timberlake & Will.i.am)
Yeah, I know, you never heard it. Will.i.am and JT delivered a banger with the help of “Over Like a Fat Rat” and genuine production skills. One of the few times will.i.am’s verse doesn’t kill the vibe. And it might be me, but I could swear I hear them making a melody out of Darth Vader’s theme.

8. Run It! (Featuring Juelz Santana)-Chris Brown
Cranked. Period.

9. The Corner/Go!/They Say-Common
Ironic that homeboy already had an album called Resurrection and this was the true one. Thank you God for Kanye West if for no other reason, Common keeping a job. Though Ye’ could’ve toned his “presence” down a bit throughout the album, he still manages to direct arguably Common’s best full length. I couldn’t pick between these three. The “Corner’s” flow is one of the illest throwbacks ever. “Go’s” phenomenal track wins before even get to the ménage story atop it. “They Say” was revolutionary though it was so melodic, it might’ve gotten past you. Com, Ye’ and John Legend could’ve done an album together that might make an interesting twist on 213.

10. There For You-Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
From one of the best roots/dancehall hybrids ever, Damian (and Steve) make daddy proud and live up to their name like no other album in the family arsenal since Ziggy’s Conscious party seventeen years before. This one is nearly a ballad-sexy, melodic, and adaptable to any room.

11. Wikked Lil' Grrrls(album)/Gone (feat. Cee-Lo)-Esthero
More dimensions than on her debut, Esthero travelled many a genre on this one. Balls enough to call out Britney, R. Kelly & Viacom (for promoting them) in one fell swoop, ya gotta respect her. "blanket me" and "thank heaven" should satiate the Breath From Another fans, but Gone was a surprising find. She and Cee-Lo sell the "couple" well. You hope they work it out.

12. Stop N Go-Faith Evans
The melody is catchy and the production’s tight, but the 2nd verse alone had me rewinding and repeating this one like a rap song.

13. TRY! (album)/Who Did You Think I Was/Daughters/I Got A Woman-John MayerTrio
Most impressive bar band work of Mayer to date. Just John, Steve and Pino, and nothing missing from the nasty pocket and stellar solo guitar on it. The revisit of “Daughters” shouting out to D’Angelo’s “Send it On” was brilliant. The Kanye/Ray marriage with live music on “I Got a Woman” was just as surprisingly great.

14. Late Registration (album)/Addiction-Kanye West
One of my favorite rap albums of all time and my absolute favorite of the entire year. The construction of each track, execution of upgraded emcee-skills, and overall production of it makes it a classic recording. Between trying to figure out where the “1” was, it being a dope dance record, and its sentiment, somehow this one got banged more than “Gold Digger” from my pod.

15. (I Just Want It) To Be Over-Keyshia Cole
By Kerry Brothers (not Alicia Keys and Kerry Brothers), this made me wonder what exactly does Alicia bring to her compositions.

16. Lighters Up-Lil' Kim
This was so gangster and such redemption since her Notorious K.I.M. and La Bella Mafia albums, I thought she shouldn’t have to go to jail.

17. About You-Mary J. Blige
Score another on for will.i.am. Flipping Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” he proves he’s more than a mere beat collector.

18. Believer/What is This-Mary Mary
From one of the livest, most artistic gospel albums I’ve ever owned. They are the Janet Jackson to Warryn “Smiley” Campbell’s Jam & Lewis. It’s wonderful to watch their growth and morphing throughout his productions doing the same.

19. Dance of the Infidel-Me'Shell Ndegéocello featuring Kenny Garrett
Ok later I found out why this song was Me’shell for me even w/o vocals. It’s because this, Cookie and Comfort Woman all shared some sessions. So if you spin Jabril from Cookie, this fire makes complete sense.

20. Livin’ The Luxury Brown(album)/Half An Hour-Mint Condition
My boys were back. The album was obese. More material than one could probably shed in a year, but considering their 6 year hiatus, they made up for lost time. I’d seen Stokely grow leaps and bounds as a songwriter in Keri’s absence. This one by Ricky, however was evidence they were hip to the times while not sacrificing their own style and sound. Put this on after Usher’s “Confessions” and you’ll hear the grown version of a similar sentiment.

21. Is it Possible-Raheem DeVaughn
One of the best VOICES you’re gonna hear for a long time. But here, the songwriter showcased just as much as the tones pushing his words. After two years of waiting to get this material heard, Raheem finally had his Jive debut nationally, and the natives were ectstatic.

22. Make Me Cry/Remember Me-Sol Edler
My first (and last) protégé taught me the value of true talent, vocalizing and younger “siblings.” I am most proud to say that I “directed” these sessions with my partner/brother. I believe the production and quality of this album totally benefitted from ZWEi having recorded three albums of their own preparing for such a feat as producing a Sol Edler. If these never bring a tear out of you, you’ve got some more loving/living to do.

23. Another Relationship-Syleena Johnson
One of the most awesome songs you’ve never heard. The phrasing, the lyrics, the realness is one-of-a-kind in one tune. Make sure you hear the very last thing she says. It puts a whole new spin on the song and makes you rewind.

24. Amerimacka (Feat Notch)-Thievery Corporation
Happy to say even these guys are “homeboys,” but their sound DC could never lay claim too. Can’t tell you a word of the song, but I know every beat.

25. Take This Ring-Toni Braxton
Rich Harrison scores again, this time with his homegirl. And y’all STILL ain’t heard it, huh? Libra was so slept on, but a Rich Harrison banger’s never gonna get past me.

26. Withdrawal-ZWEi
Even if I wanted to be modest and ignore how or why I played these so much, a thousand Mint Condition fans in NY & the staff at Ben's Chili Bowl would want the truth told. I came into Ben’s around spring right before we did our 3rd and final show with Mint and my man, Mo, told me to look at the most played song on the jukebox. It was “Withdrawal.” Things like that make all the struggle and hustle seem minimal.