WATCH: Beyonce's New Video Teaser For "Run The World (Girls)"

Beyonce has released another visual morsel from her upcoming video epic "Run The World (Girls)" for fans to salivate over. Watch the short clip below. Another B-Day seems to be upon us.....

Soulive's Al Evans Unearths Crushed Velvet's Long Lost Movie Soundtrack

Soulive's Alan Evans stumbled upon a long-lost musical gem, the motion picture soundtrack to The Big One by Crushed Velvet and The Velveteers, when a family friend in Buffalo, NY  put him in touch with the movie's director Cleo McBride. One of NYC's premiere funk and soul bands of the late 60's and 70's, The Velveteers, led by vocalist and guitarist Crushed Velvet, were contacted by McBride, an old band mate, to record the soundtrack to the film.

A Shaft-meets James Bond style Blaxploitation flick originally set to be released in 1974, The Big One never got a chance to shine on the big screen, as the film was said to have been destroyed in a fire after it was finished. With no film to accompany the music, the soundtrack was shelved and the band broke up.Lost to obscurity, the album languished until Evans was called in to mix the original sessions and release the soundtrack through Soulive's record label Royal Family Records.

The Big One will be released as a free MP3 album download and on limited vinyl edition on May 24. View the track list and listen to the The Big One's "Main Theme" below. You can also watch a video of Alan Evans explaining the movie's history.

1. The Big One (Main Theme)
2. Thunderbird
3. Felecia's Love Theme
4. Detroit Slim
5. The Lay Down
6. Memphis Stomp
7. London Black (pts. 1,2,3)
8. Big Chase
9. The Big One (End Theme)

New Music: Solange "Left Side Drive"

Solange has dropped a previously unreleased track, "Left Side Drive." Recorded about two years ago, the song is actually a cover version of British band Boards of Canada. The singer, known for her love of all things indie, collaborated with the group for her last album, 2008's Sol-Angel And The Hadley Street Dreams, is a huge fan of the band.

"It’s completely unofficial, and was just inspired by the song which i have had a deep love affair with for years.I am a huge Boards of Canada fan, and got the chance to work with them on Sol-Angel on ‘This Bird’. Still feel honored to this day,” she said.

Listen to the song below.

Remix Of The Week: Mariah Carey Ft. Da Brat And Missy Elliot "Heartbreaker"

Mimi recruited Da Brat and Missy Elliot to rework her 1999 hit "Heartbreaker" from light pop track (and just a little too much of a "Fantasy" retread for my taste) to bass-heavy jam. Listen below.

Beyonce Reveal "Girl" Single Cover Art, Video Teaser

Beyonce has revealed the single cover art for her new track "Run The World (Girls)" as well as a short teaser for the video. According to RNBMusicBlog.com In a press release the singer said the song was written and produced herself, Switch, Shea Taylor and The Dream, who was also responsible for her '08 smash "Single Ladies." "Run The World (Girls)" is slated to be released on iTunes Friday. Watch the video teaser below.

New Music: Beyonce "Girl (Who Run The World)"

C'mon girls, do you believe in world domination? That's the message of Beyonce's new track "Girl (Who Run The World)." A fiery female empowerment anthem, the song features stabs of samples and synthesizers pared against pounding drums, while the rafter-raising chants and Beyonce's powerful, rapid-fire delivery create a colossal wall of sound.

Listen to it over at RapRadar.com

Beyonce Reveals New Song Title

According to RNBMusicBlog.com, Beyonce's new single will be called "Girl." The new track, which samples a well-known club hit, will reportedly be in the female empowerment vein of past Bey-anthems like "Single Ladies."

"Girl" will also receive a massive video treatment. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the clip will feature brand new  routines choreographed by Danielle Polanco and Luam, over 100 female dancers and two male dancers showcasing African dance styles.

Beyonce's fourth album is set for release later this year.

New Music: Jill Scott Ft. Eve "Shame"

Two of Philly's finest come together for this souful, sultry jam. The single, Scott's first offering from her upcoming fourth album The Light Of The Sun, is a bouncy, midtempo jam featuring the singer's trademark vibrant vocals and self-confident lyrical swagger. Listen HERE.

Remix Of The Week: Janet Jackson "Rhythm Nation"

Check out this version of Janet's "Rhythm Nation," remixed for the classic album's 20th anniversary back in '09. Watch below.

New Video: Mary J. Blige "Someone To Love Me (Naked)"

Mary J's new single didn't knock me over at first, but after a few listens it's started to grow on me, despite the fact that it features Diddy (yes I know he helped create certified R&B classics What's The 411? and My Life, but ever since he's been the oil to Mary's water when it comes to collaboration. Love and Life anyone?).

Lil' Wayne also dropped a guest verse on the track, which has bouncy, bass-driven beat but still manages to have a haunting edge to it. It's reminiscent of My Life/Share My World-era sound. According to Vibe, Mary's working with Ne-Yo, Raphael Saadiq and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. With Beyonce working with noise pop masters Sleigh Bells on her new album, it looks like 2011 could be the year of the R&B diva. Watch the video below:

Artist Profile: The Movement Fam

The Movement Fam, made up of rapper Cee and singer Bekah, as well as occasional appearances from solo rapper Notion, craft a mix of hip hop, soul and pop/rock they define as "Soul Hop." Originally hailing from Melbourne before making their way to Toronto, their music mines the soulful, R&B-influenced hip hop of Common, College Dropout-era Kanye West and Lauryn Hill.

Tracks like "Livin' This Life" blend DJ scratching, Bekah's sultry vocals and guitar licks while Cee nimbly spits rhymes about being successful against all odds. The old-school soul sampling "Anything For You" gives Bekah space to get her Alicia Keys on, as she wails over the track about a loyal lover. But lyrically the theme consistently turns back to the struggle for success.

"Even though I'm so imperfect/I'm so determined/Been doin' this for too long to be crashin' and burnin'" Notion raps in "All Of This Time" while Bekah advises "Don't look back/The past is dead," in "Livin' This Life." Romance is fine, but unbridled ambition and love for the music are the group's real motivations. Such determination, along with their evolving style, will likely propel them into the stratosphere of superstardom they desire. Listen to a few tracks below:

Remix Of The Week: TLC "Creep (Untouchables Remix)"

The Untouchables flipped the '94 classic from Crazysexycool from a sultry mid-tempo jam to a certified block party jam, complete with a verse from Left Eye. Listen below:

Vid Pick: Jennifer Hudson "Where You At"

J-Hud shows off her slimmed down physique in the video for her new single "Where You At." While the video's story is the standard breakup-worthy fare, it is beautifully shot, allowing Hudson's powerful pipes to take center stage. Watch below:

Remix Of The Week: Jodeci "Come And Talk To Me"

One of the last great R&B groups' (yeah I said it! It's not like there's any current guy groups to compare them to anyway:) best remixed cuts. Travel back to the magical era of combat boots, huge car phones and sleeveless vests below:

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: SWV "Anything"

If you didn't know this was a remix, you're not alone. Originally a sultry slow jam from the trio 92' debut It's About Time, Coko, Lelee and Taj ride a "Get Up And Dance" horn sample (also used in KRS One's "You Must Learn") to create of the best R&B remixes ever. Well at least in the top 10.

B. Slade: The Interview

Since breaking away from the gospel music industry a few years back, B. Slade has revamped his career with a new persona and a prolific output of fresh material. From the A Brilliant Catastrophe series to the Jack5on Magic Mixtape to his latest full lengths Stereotype and Gospop, the singer seems determined to carve out his own singular corner in music.

In a wide-ranging interview, B. Slade talks about everything--from  preparing to play late disco icon Sylvester and the enduring magic of the Jacksons to the slightly scary influence of David Bowie and Grace Jones. The singer also sounds off organized religion, closeted gospel artists, suicide among gay teens, being a role model and why Patti Labelle is "beyond beast." Here are few quotes from the interview:

On the Seventies-inspired sound of Stereotype:

"The Seventies to me was quite frankly the best music...there was something that was little bit more intrinsic about the Seventies. The chord structure, the changes, the heart, the lyrical content. You really had to have raw talent. You really had to have a perspective."

On disco icon Sylvester:

"He was a nonconformist. And he was fabulous in everything he did."

On the Jac5son Magic Mixtape and Janet & Michael:

"Michael of course was the epicenter of that whole family earthquake, but the aftershock, literally was Janet. They've had a major influence. Certain songs were more for Mike. But my allegiance and my biggest artistic influence as an artist has been Janet Jackson. Hands down."

On whether other gospel artists will come out:

"There are not many cut out to do what I did. A lot of people's complete career is built off of a perception, or an illusion...it's not for everyone."

On the current state of the black church:

"People are starting to see that the leaders of these religions are just as fallible, if not more, than its subjects. Now because of current events, things keep popping up that are forcing the black church to deal with issues that have been very prominent all along. I'm really interested to see how this is all going to play out."

On being an openly gay artist in the music industry:

"I think the majority of the people in the industry respect truth. As maniacal as the music industry can be, they can't fuck with the truth."

Update: All of B. Slade's commercial releases--The Jack5on Magic Mixtape, Gospop and Stereotype--have been removed from the singer's bandcamp page. According to an official website statement:

"To welcome in 2011, B.Slade is currently in a MAJOR career transition and wishes to thank everyone for their support and interest. Summer of 2011 will reveal exciting news & informtation. As of now B.Slade is focusing on his acting career & international securities. STAY TUNED."

For those who need a hit of B. Slade before then, the singer has released a new single called "Kaleidoscope," which is available on his bandcamp page. Listen to all three parts of the interview below:

Remix Of The Week: Whitney Houston "I'm Your Baby Tonight"

Whitney switched from new jack swing to a deep house groove with the remix to her 1990 hit "I'm Your Baby Tonight." Watch the video or listen to the full six minute extended mix below:

Live Sessions: Le Vice

Check out this clip of  Le Vice performing "Find You" at Studio SQ in San Francisco. The new song continues in the same hip hop/indie rock vein as the band's self-titled debut. As a bonus, look at the band's video for "Hard To Be Ill" below:

Janet Announce 'Number Ones, Up Close And Personal' Tour Dates

On Monday Janet Jackson announced dates for a North American tour that will begin in Houston on March 4th and end in Las Vegas on April 23rd, according to RNBMusicBlog.com. The pop superstar wants to make this tour shorter on pyrotechnics and longer on personal interaction. The press release reads:

“This tour is Janet more revealed, more intimate, and more personal than ever before.Don’t look for special effects. Just listen to and look at Janet, as you have never seen her before.”

The singer, who is only expected to perform her classic hits from her 2009 release Number Ones, also said she wants each performance to be different. The dates for tour are listed below:

Houston, TX March 23
Reliant Stadium

Chicago, IL March 7 & 8
The Chicago Theatre

Toronto, ON, Canada March 12
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

Uncasville, CT, March 16
Mohegan Sun Arena

New York, NY March 18
Radio City Music Hall

Washington DC March 22
DAR Constitution Hall

Atlantic City, NJ March 25 & 26
Borgata Spa & Resort Event Center

Atlanta, GA March 29
Fox Theatre

Saint Louis, MO March 31
Fox Theatre

Grand Prairie, TX April 2
Verizon Theatre

Denver, CO April 6
Wells Fargo Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center

Phoenix, AZ April 8
Comerica Theatre

Santa Barbara, CA April 9
Santa Barbara Bowl

Los Angeles, CA April 14
Gibson Amphitheatre

San Francisco, CA April 19
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Las Vegas, NV April 22 & 23
Caesars Palace – The Colosseum