Call it R&B with a hip-hop urgency. “We’re just making sure that I’m felt in the streets as much as I’m felt on the soulful level,” says 23-year-old songbook/ recording artist Al-B. I tell you this man has it in his future to make it big. His mixtape "Underrated 1.0" was released yesterday, and I must say the shit is hot. You can check out the tracks below. I'm telling you, it's pure enjoyment. Al-B mos def got skills & I look forward to seeing him make some BIG moves.
The Nothern,Virginia phenom always had a musical career in mind. As a child, there was no rigorous voice or piano lessons. All through in high school, Al-b was doing things most kids his age weren't doing: Songwriting, Rehearsing, and Teaching himself vocal training. “I just got so into R&B at the time,” says Al-b. “I was listening to straight rap, like RZA, Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas.” The only R&B artist who caught his attention was Carl Thomas. “When it comes to R&B, he kills it. He gives you every part of the soul he can think of,” says Al-B, whose elastic tenor conjures a younger, fresher Thomas.
Al-B formed a group named Emage, who consisted of himself and 3 high school friends: Shawn (S.P) Proctor, Brian (B.Nice) Bassett and Renzee (Renzo) Mathis. They were rapidly building a name for themselves, but the real epiphany didn’t occur until age 17 when he decided to go solo. He entered, and won, a total of 10 local talent shows along with American Idol and Missy Elliott's UPN Television show Road to Stardom.
Upon finishing high school, Al-B focus was solely on music. Kendrick Redfearn (SUPER KEN), Radio Personality for 93.9 WKYS and cousin of Al-B saw his drive and, in turn, focused on teaching his protégé music history. “We would go to the New York studio every weekend with my cousin Mel", and during the drive, he’d play me all sorts of stuff, like The Supremes,” recalls Al-B. “When it came time to learn about falsetto, he’d play me Maxwell. When it came time to learn about soul, he’d play me Motown.” Al-B eventually became Depth Charge Records vocal production assistant. Working with other artists in the studio gave Al-b invaluable technical experience, and prepared the young singer for his bright, not-too-distant future.
Al-B’s rapidly burgeoning talent led to his many different entertainment deals, from acting on the hit TV Show "That’s So Raven", to writing a song for Capitol Records artist and former Destiny's Child member Letoya Luckett's debut album called "I'm Good". While working on his debut album, Al-B has also become much in-demand with this project. He has written and co-produced 70% of the Project. He worked with Matraxx Productions for one of the albums hits ("Hush" featuring AV) In addition; he is on tap to collaborate with the likes of Lil Mo, J.Hoilday, and many local artists as well on their forthcoming projects.
Most importantly, Al-B has been busy perfecting his own soulful/Pop premiere, "My Words", an 16-entry diary about a young man and his fascinating dreams, loves, and hustles – a work of street and sweet sensibility produced mostly by Michael Stone. From the Soulful track (“Can't Take It"), to the realization that maybe you’re in love with a person who's mother is to involved (“Momma”), to the assertion that there’s no one else in the world for you (“I Gotta Stay Here”) and Virginia’s own Anthem ("Throw Em Up" featuring Baby LJ. The album has something for everybody. At the same time, "Al-B’s VA's Finest Mixtape,” will maintain his street cred by aggressively attacking the mixtape circuit. This route, normally used by rap artists, and Virginia's own Trey Songz has made this R&B singer/songwriter a standout amongst his peers with his Freestyle Singing Skills.
“There’s so much on my mind that I can’t say on a regular R&B record,” confesses Al-B. “So mixtapes are a great outlet".
With Al-B there’s no doubt you’re getting the best of both worlds
Check Out These Videos Of Al-B Below....
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