Artist Profile: Jade Alston

Philly-based singer/songwriter Jade Alston has officially introduced a new word into the pop-culture vocabulary: the She-Mixx. What is a she-mixx you ask? It's when a female artist (in this case the aforementioned Jade) covers a popular song from a male artist but puts a feminine spin on it.

It seems that Alston has mastered this clever spin on the ever popular remix, with her beautifully vulnerable covers of Coldplay's "Clocks" and Kanye West's "Runaway." And like Yeezy, the singer has been releasing all of the covers that will make up her SHE-MIXX: A Woman's Perspective one track at a time, with a new song coming out each Tuesday. This week Jade turns up the swagger on her version of Lil Wayne's "Bill Gates."

Alston has been in the industry for a minute, working with Grammy-winning songwriters and producers like Claude Kelly and Jon Jon Traxx and was a VJ for a local music station. She even did a stint as the hype girl for Kelis' promo tour and was the opening act for 50 Cent and Amerie. Now the singer has her sights set for creating her own hype with Single On A Saturday Night, set for release in late March.

Until then listen to a few of Jade's covers below, and check the rest of the she-mixxes here.

Remix Of The Week: Method Man Ft. Mary J. Blige "You're All I Need To Get By"

Perhaps hip hop's best love song ever (or least in the Top 3). Watch the clip below:

Remix Of The Week: Mariah Carey "Honey"

One of Mimi's best tracks IMO. Get into it below:

Vid Pick: Trey Songz Ft. Nicki Minaj "Bottoms Up"

Is it just me or are Nicki and Trey servin' us 2010 Missy and Timbaland or what? Or at least giving us a little "Disturbia." Watch the clip for "Bottoms Up" below and compare it "Beep Me 911" from '97 below:


Trey Songz - "Bottoms Up" ft. Nicki Minaj

Trey Songz | MySpace Music Videos


Missy Elliot - Beep me 911
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Album Review: Le Vice (Self-Titled)

The words “live band” and "organic" have become increasing rare in describing R&B and hip hop acts, as many artists have journeyed into the land of Auto-Tune, drum machines, and purely electronic production, never to return. San Francisco-based foursome Le Vice seek to bring live music lovers back to the promise land however, blending sampling and DJ techniques with a sound that combines dance grooves and indie rock guitars. Hip-hop hipster funk if you will.

Remix Of The Week: TLC "Baby Baby Baby"

One of my favorite songs from my favorite girl group remixed in one of my favorite performances. In case you can't tell I like TLC lol. Get into the performance below:

Artist Profile: Le Vice

This San Francisco foursome, made up of vocalist Alex Lee, bassist/keyboardist Sean Stillinger, guitarist Renzo Staiano and drummer Darrin Thomas, specialize in a unique brand of hip-hop soul-influenced hipster funk. Think the Roots with Laruyn Hill or Erykah Badu as a frontwoman, or Maroon 5 with MC Lyte or Salt-N-Pepa occasionally moonlighting.

Le Vice's musical influences include everyhing from rap and R&B to jazz and metal. Such diversity is on full display with tracks like the hip hop/indie rock mash up "2 O Clock," showing Lee in full, braggadocious emcee form, and dancefloor gems like "Hard To Be Ill," and "Shy Guy." Le Vice's self-titled debut comes out on August 17th.

Check out the group's official site here, and listen to a few downloadable tracks below:

2 O'Clock

Hard To Be Ill

Shy Guy

Artist Profile: Ladi6

While the world speculates if Lauryn Hill is on the verge of a comeback (fingers crossed:) with the release of track named "Repercussions" another singer/MC has slowly been making her mark around the world. New Zealand-born Ladi6 got her start as part of the all-female rap group Sheelahroc in 2003 before going off her own. While she hasn't blown up over here in the States just yet, she has toured constantly through Europe and opened for hip hop heavyweights such as 50 Cent, The Roots and De La Soul. Her album Time is Not Much Now is a bubbling cauldron of musical diversity. The playful "Call You Out" featuring the rapper Scribe features fat brass riffs, drums, guitar licks reminiscient of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good," while first single "Walk Right Up" gives off a laidback reggae vibe. Ladi6 delves into a deep funk groove on the sultry"Dark Brown," while the ballad "Question" finds her in a contemplative mood, questioning the promises of love. Listen to a few tracks and watch the video for "Walk Right Up" below, and learn more about Ladi6 at her official website.

Call You Out feat. Scribe by Ladi6

Walk Right Up by Ladi6

Dark Brown by Ladi6

Question by Ladi6