R&B

Wes Denzel: “Don’t Change” [Social Distancing Pop-Up]

For the past few weeks we’ve familiarized you with our February 2021 Artist of the Month, Wes Denzel. This retro-minded hip-hop/R&B blender’s blown us away with his creativity on each new release and just because Denzel’s featured on the shortest month, he’s built up high expectations for the future.

Made clear by his My KUTX playlist and the ’80s flashback that is his “Don’t Change” music video, Denzel’s got a soft spot for the early-mid-’00s style of production. But as heard in our exclusive live performance, Wes Denzel sure as heck doesn’t need all the in-studio accoutrements to give a killer performance!

Shutting Down…Again

This week on The Breaks, Confucius and Fresh:

Listen to this week’s episode of The Breaks

Dr. Dre is the GOAT

This Week on The Breaks:

  • Confucius and Fresh explore all the reasons that Dr. Dre is the greatest producer of all time.
  • Both hosts discourage people from dismissing  new music as not “Real” Hip-hop or “Real” R&B.
  • They interview Austin artist Mike Melinoe about his new record “Clajidu,” why he moved to Austin from Detroit and his perspective on the Austin music scene.
  • Both hosts discuss their theories on why hip-hop and Black culture speak to so many people around the world.
  • Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that Frank Ocean hasn’t done enough musically to warrant his fans booing Drake offstage at Camp Flog Gnaw.
  • Confucius wants people on the internet to stop shaming others for liking things that are popular in his  Confucius Says segment.

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify or Stitcher

Listen to this episode of The Breaks

Hear the music from The Breaks played on their Saturday Night Hip-hop show

 

Alicia Olatuja (Ep. 25, 2019)

On this week’s program, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with vocalist, composer and arranger Alicia Olatuja, who combines elements of Classical, Jazz, Blues and R&B in her latest recording, Intuition: Songs From the Minds of Women.

This Song: Cautious Clay On “B.O.B” by Outkast

When Cautious Clay saw the video for Outkast’s “B.O.B” for the first time, the combination of the duo’s rapid fire rap style, techno influenced production and hyper-saturated psychedelic visuals blew his 7-year-old mind. On this episode, he tells us how that experience continues to have a profound impact on his own work, especially on his new project “Table of Context.” Plus, he explores how Outkast, along with his beat-boxing flute teacher,  taught him to approach creativity without boundaries.

 Cautious Clay just released a new EP called Table of Context

Listen to this episode of This Song

Listen to Cautious Clay’s new EP Table of Context

Check out Cautious Clay’s Tour Dates

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

Veronica Brown (Ep. 37, 2018)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Detroit-born singer Veronica Brown about her career as an award-winning Gospel recording artist, and about her equally successful previous career as a Dance and R&B recording artist.

Will Downing (Ep. 50, 2017)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with recording artist Will Downing, “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul,” about his three-facade recording career, and his recovery from a debilitating illness that threatened his career.

King Curtis (2.15.15)

King Curtis was an American saxophonist, who played not only jazz, but R&B, rock n’ roll, and funk as well. His style was powerful and poignant, allowing moments to fully expand and develop. Unfortunately Curtis died young, murdered at the age of 37. In this installment of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what the life and legacy of King Curtis can teach us today.

A Tribute to Ron Banks (Ep. 21, 2014)

A tribute to the life and musical legacy of the late Ron Banks, a Detroit native who was the leader and founding member of veteran R&B vocal group The Dramatics, who passed away in March, 2010.