Tag: Hip Hop Soul

The Introduction of Jalen Hemphill: A New Generation B-Boy

In a day and age where catering to and honoring the original elements that make up Hip hop culture altogether, isn’t so much popular amongst the newer generation where “turning up” is the main focus and priority of today’s standards in music, there’s always that one person lurking just around the corner to usher in something that can change the game forever. When you put R&B/Soul music into the equation, it just takes things to a whole ‘nother level. Speaking of Hip hop, we all know the South Bronx is the birthplace. The original home of the DJ’s, b-boys, & MC’s. The DJ/b-boy & MC combination is the catalyst for the sound, movement, & most importantly the fashion in Hip hop. The only involvement that R&B and Soul music had in Hip hop were the samples, loops, & breaks but no singing whatsoever is coming out of the DJ’s, b-boys or the MC’s mouths but that too will be changed forever because of one person and one person only. For over 40 years in Hip hop, we heard, watched, & seen MC’s use R&B for hooks and samples, we seen DJ’s spin vinyl records using R&B, and we only see b-boys breaking and dancing but never before have we ever heard or seen a b-boy singing. Today, in 2020, lurking in the streets and on social media platforms is a young man from the South Bronx aka the birthplace, whose a perfect combination of both b-boy and R&B singer while still catering to the original elements that makes up Hip hop culture. He’s not exactly a carbon copy of what you see in the 70’s, 80’s, & 90’s but he is still that same exact vibe when you see and hear him. He’s doing it his own way and using it to continue to push Hip hop forward in a way that pays homage and respects to the originals and the pioneers who helped created this. He’s sporting a colorful high top fade with a brightly colored headband tied around his head with a hair pick with a Black fist sticking out on the back, or a fresh classic Kangol, rocking a gold ankh & crown chain, clear Cazal glasses, a supersized nose ring, a “DOPE” ring, a “JAY-DOGGZ” name ring, and a bunch of gold wedding band rings on his fingers rocking a jean jacket with the official graffiti art on it, a pair of blue jeans with the bleach stains and marks all over them with a pair of either classic shell toe fat laced Adidas & Pumas, or a pair of Timbaland boots or Nike Air Force Ones with more graffiti art all over them, carrying a black radio boombox, and a smooth R&B voice with a range and soul captivating sound that’s hard to ignore. His colorful Pro-Black, classic Hip hop image and soulful R&B vocals together are a threat to the new usual standards of popular mainstream music today. He’s a “walking monument.” A reinventing current version of a classic. Nicknamed “The R&B-Boy” because of his convincing yet innovative style combination of 70’s soul, 80’s b-boy, & 90’s R&B. He’s half b-boy and half soul man. He reinvents what it is to be a b-boy in this generation. His name is Jalen “Jay-Doggz” Hemphill. A dope singer/songwriter, MC, DJ, dancer, actor, blogger, & Hip hop fashion model whose slowly but surely building his reputation and stamp in the Hip hop community. A peaceful, sensual, calming yet in your face, colorful, ambitious, no nonsense attitude and somewhat serious but fun personality kinda guy who intends on changing the game. Traditionally in Hip hop, b-boy’s DO NOT SING! This young man is gonna erase that for sure, making him a new pioneer in both Hip hop culture and R&B music altogether. Already with 4 hot singles & 2 movies he starred in under his belt, making him a face and a talent to reckon with, he is also currently working on his first official project set to release on the Urbaan House Records independent label titled “The Life of An Old Soul, Vol. 1: The Hip Hop Soul EP.” Comes with a side A and B like a cassette tape. A simple marketing and branding plan but dope way of honoring and paying homage to old school hip hop. It’s a body of work that will perfectly capture a story about a young man’s journey throughout life and his views on the world. A new upcoming voice for a generation of “old souls” who felt “out of place”, “lame”, & ostracized by the crowd for not being with the “in crowd” group of kids growing up in the harsh realities of the ghetto. He also is that son, nephew, & brother that a lot of people don’t have and wish to have. We all know a Black family with a Jalen in it. He is that for the Hip hop community. Definitely the story of a diamond in the rough, making his way only to the top. Hip hoppin’ it and don’t stop. Wanna get to know this new generation b-boy yourself, follow his Facebook page Jalen “Jay-Doggz” Hemphill, follow him on both of his Instagram accounts @hiphopsoul_jalen & @hiphopsoul___jalen (3 underscores), follow him on Audiomack at Jalen “Jay-Doggz” Hemphill to hear some music, and subscribe to his YouTube Channel with the same name. 

What’s The 411?: The 25th Anniversary

25 years ago, the woman we all know and love today was once a girl who was straight from the projects in Yonkers, New York, also known as the Schlobahm Projects. She signed her deal with Uptown Records at the age of 18 when she recorded a demo tape at a shopping mall after her stepfather overheard the tape. Her stepfather heard the tape and handed the tape to another artist named Jeff Redd who was also signed to Uptown Records and the tape landed in the hands of André Harrell who was the CEO of the label. After being blown away and amazed with this young girl’s voice that was full of joy, pain, grit and soul, she was signed. She goes by the name Mary J. Blige aka The Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Mary started on the label as a backup singer for Father MC in the early 1990’s until she got in the studio with a guy who called “Puffy” who we all know today as Sean “Diddy” Combs, one of hip hop’s biggest moguls, and together both Mary and Puffy created something magical that made history in Black music. On July 28th, 1992, Mary released her debut album “What’s The 411?” Before the album was released, her very first single, which was an underground hit at hip hop clubs and events, was on the 1991 soundtrack to the movie “Strictly Business.” That song was the infamous debut single “You Remind Me.” “You Remind Me” was a song with soulful vocals and a Biz Markie sampled beat. Then the music video came with a remixed version that featured Greg Nice of the hip hop duo, Nice & Smooth. The rest of the album has the same kinda energy, hip hop and soul, combining the best of both worlds to create a whole new genre of music that changed the sound of music forever and influencing a whole new roster of artists for future generations. Other singles like “Real Love”, “Reminisce”, “Love No Limit” and radio only singles like “Sweet Thing” and the remix of “My Love” featuring the late great Heavy D in 1994 were all a success which lead up to the album’s success of selling 3 million copies and a remix album released in late 1993 including a new remix of “You Don’t Have to Worry” from the soundtrack to “Who’s The Man?” Mary’s impact on the industry is still very obvious in many ways. Her street style fashion and attitude mixed with a soulful 1970’s style singing was something convincing to the people and it made Mary into a overnight sensation and legend and she wasn’t ready for it. 25 years later, “You Remind Me” and “Real Love” still captures people’s hearts on the dance floor like it did in 1992. Mary is still touring and still putting out music and staying consistent and still sitting high on her throne. She’s far from her days as the 21 year old home girl with the baggy baseball jerseys, backwards caps and kneepads with the boots and is now strutting her stuff as the woman with the strength to keep winning and keep fighting. She is the strength of a woman. Now THAT IS the 411.