MUSIC REVIEW: Alica Keys’ songs in A minor The Debut of A Star Previously Published (2001) in The Black Reign Communtiy Newspaper~Written by Daphne D. Williams

 BROOKLYN, NY~ Alicia Keys’ voice is so well-developed as is her pianist skills. Her début album songs in A minor is so powerful and different. Like a harp, Alicia Keys’ sound pulls the strings of your heart and strokes the music lover in you. She is obviously married to her dream and that piano on the back of her CD. The pulsating, pounding, elevating rhythmic beats captivates your mind and makes you dream again. To say she is talented is such an understatement, so I dare not.

On the first track, Piano and I, Keys is modestly surprised as she realizes she has made it, the lyrics are so inspirational and the piano keys are stimulating. The words and beat tantalizing every gift inside and motivates you to dream and fulfill those dreams. Her voice is raspy, sultry, sexy and appealing. She has an old soul.

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Her pitch, range and vocal ability is astronomically tremendous. Her musical skills are a comforting touch that hits you hard with sounds that ignites the young passionate lover in you. Her zealous lyrics touches your heart in a ghetto love type of way, which can be seen & felt in her Fallen video.

Alicia Keys, as an entertainer, musician and singer, can be compared to Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis. Her style is jazz meets souls meets funk, with a touch of hip-hop meets the neo-soul rhythm and blues sound. The key to musical success is brilliance, therefore Alicia Keys sound will be heard for decades.

 

MUSIC REVIEW: Angie Stone’s Mahogany Soul: The New Queen of Soul~By Daphne D. Williams Previously Published in The Black Reign Community News

MUSIC REVIEW: Angie Stone’s Mahogany Soul: The New Queen of Soul~Originally Published in The Black Reign Community Newspaper (2001)~ Written By Daphne D. Williams

BROOKLYN, NY~ Soul Sister #1, Angie Stone is a God-gifted, powerful, talented woman to be reckoned with. She gives her listeners soul from the fiber of ther being. She vocalizes with such conviction on her new album Mahogany Soul.

Stone’s sound is a new kind of soul with a rhythm and blues’ appeal that is so old school you think your listening to dynamic teacher & singer, Betty Wright- especially on the Life Goes On track. Stone takes you on a harmonizing soul train ride that guides you on the up, and downs of relationship, then basically tells you to brush yourself off becasue life goes does on.

Closed fist raised in the air, type of attitude yet with a gentle touch that comforts any aching heart. Stone is breaking new ground in soul music. She puts you back in the 70’s -Black Power!; Sisters empowered, strong, black, proud, and embracing their hips, lips, and beauty. Her sound, like her look, is raw and Afrocentric with a spice of creativity. A unique and passionate songstress, Angie Stone is a positive sister that keeps it real tells it like it is and how it is going to be.

Like the music video, this critic’s favorite song of all is Brotha, with lyrics as strong as the Black men she sings about. Some of the lyrics are: …He’s misunderstood some say that he’s up to no good…/and for your information a lot of my brothers got education/you got your wall street brotha/your blue collar brotha/your down for what ever brother…/and to everyone of you’ll behind bars, remember Angie loves you.

Angie Stones takes you back to a red lit room when parties and life seemed safe and love was carefree. The lyrics make you snap you fingers, close your eyes and become mesmerized by the convicting words and every beat.

Image credit: Angie Stone Photograph by Platon

In Collaboration with Musiq Soulchild, Stone gives out a recipe for The Ingredients of Love-an ounce of honesty & innocence/ a cup of loyalty/a tablespoon of attitude…/2 quarts of intelligence and a gallon of righteousness. With her talent and love for the written word through song, Ms. Stone will have longevity in the music business.