LADIES NIGHT OUT SHOW FOR THE GROWN AND SEXY
AVANT - Although Avant is an acclaimed songwriter- with credits that include old school legends Ronald Isley (Isley Brothers) and the Gap Bands’ Charlie Wilson, he’s not averse to covering another writer’s material, especially if it allows him to bring his own style. Such is the case with Avant’s rendition of Christopher Cross’s multiple Grammy winning “Sailing,” originally recorded in 1980. Growing up “Sailing” was one of Avant’s favorite songs and judging by his understated, languid performance, clearly remains one to this day. “Sometimes when you’re going through life you just want to sit back, relax and think on everything that’s going on and for me, “Sailing” is a song that gives you the freedom to do that. I just tried to give my best rendition.” He succeeds. Along with his “day gig”, Avant is also branching out into production; yet another way for him to grow artistically. “That’s one of the great things about being in R&B, because I’m always able to give people my vibe. I’m blessed to be able to be an artist that can give you my lyrics.
I feel like I know how to bring a hit of my own across. In some ways I think what separates me from the pack is the writing aspect. When you’re able to write your own material you don’t have to always be out there searching for a hit. I feel like I’m more in tune and in touch with my fans because I know what it is that they want from me. So I can just give all the glory to God for making me a creator.” Born, raised and still living in Ohio, in 2000, a then 22-year-old Avant became the first artist signed to NBA legend Magic Johnson’s Magic Johnson Music. That same year Avant’s platinum debut My Thoughts established himself as one of R&B’s breakout singer/songwriters .A new school balladeer and songwriter with an unwavering respect for those who set the way, working with Chicago based producer Steve Huff (who collaborated with Avant throughout much of the 00′s) My Thoughts contained the Top Five Billboard R&B/Hip Hop hit single, “Separated.” The hit wouldn’t be his last as Avant’s platinum sophomore album; Ecstasy (2002) continued the impressive track record, by going platinum. Avant’s string of platinum smashes (he’s sold over 3 million album in total) continued with 2003′s Private Room and The Director (2006)- which boasted “Lie About Us’, and “You Know What.”
GINUWINE - Returning to the forefront of the music world after a four-year hiatus from making records, Ginuwine is back in the saddle with strong material and his trademarked style. “ I’ve matured a lot since I was last on the scene in 2005,” Ginuwine says. “I wanted that growth to be reflected in my music.” Forget about singing about a club or some drink, I’m trying to take it back to the blueprint that Marvin Gaye and other soul legends designed.” Ginuwine first emerged on the music scene in 1996 with the multi-platinum disc The Bachelor. Described by one critic as “silky, seductive vocals purred beside Timbaland’s jagged, hyperkinetic beats to create a uniquely edgy R&B sound,”
The Bachelor became an instant classic. “Pony,” his first single, peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks for two weeks in late 1996, and reached number six on Billboard’s Hot 100. .. Recording over forty songs in a matter of months, Ginuwine recalls that the concept for A Man’s Thoughts came to him midway through the process. “I’m a married man with a family, so I like to think that I’m wiser than I was ten years ago,” Ginuwine confesses. “I’m not doing back flips on stage nor am I singing songs that are as raunchy. I’ve come into my own, and I think the songs reflect that growth.”
JAGGED EDGE - Having shown a knack for writing their own material, Jagged Edge released their first album, A Jagged Era, in 1998. The album went gold and spawned the Top 20 R&B and Top 40 Pop hit, “Gotta Be.” Their next single, “He Can’t Love U,” appeared in the fall of 1998 and propelled the group into international fame and stardom. Although considered a “sleeper” single, it reached the Top 5 on the R&B chart, Top 20 of the Pop chart, and went Gold in the process. The public continued to show an undeniable support for the group and in 2000, Jagged Edge released the follow-up album, J.E. Heartbreak. That album not only solidified JE’s place in R&B music history, but the works produced on that album would follow JE to this day. J.E. Heartbreak topped the R&B and Pop charts, while selling over 2,000,000 copies- an impossible feat in today’s industry. The album is most famous for its number one R&B hits such as “Let’s Get Married” and “Promise.” Both singles skyrocketed up the Top Ten Pop charts. Subsequently, J.E. won 5 Billboard Awards and 3 Soul Train Awards for Best Album and Best Single for “Let’s Get Married.” Fast forward to the summer of 2009, Jagged Edge announced they were signed to Slip-N-Slide Records after parting ways with Def Jam. Their hotly anticipated comeback album, The Remedy is set for release September 28, 2010. The new project boasts a mix of the old and new; Jagged Edge’s sexy R&B sound and contemporary beats by producers such as Brian Michael Cox, Cool & Dre, Drummer Boy, Lamb, and Jim Johnsen. While the album also features collaborations with the likes of Gucci Mane and Trina, the The Remedy is sure to be a solid body of work that openly expresses trials of life in addition to the sweetness both revenge and love have to offer. The Jagged Edge that sold 8 million records, won countless awards, and gained impressive nominations is headed on a new path.
TANK - Dozens of artists claim to be the Messiah of R&B – the chosen one called to restore the genre to its original glory, manifested through greats like Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Al Green and Donny Hathaway. At the end of the day, that restoration speaks for itself and it’s clearly present when one listens to the music of Tank. Nicknamed for his size, the Milwaukee-born, Maryland-raised musician considered a career in professional sports before following his heart into music. He paid his industry dues as a backing vocalist for Ginuwine and the late Aaliyah. Having a foot in the door of the Blackground house, his multifaceted talents as a singer, songwriter and producer won over Blackground Records founder, Barry Hankerson, and his son and company President, Jomo Hankerson. Soon Tank began writing and producing professionally and went on to create songs for music’ s new platinum stars, Tyrese, Omarion, Chris Brown and Jamie Foxx among them. Having scored success as an esteemed writer and producer, Tank earned listeners’ respect as an artist with his 2001 debut, Force of Nature. He kept them with his sophomore effort, 2002’s One Man.
His third disc, Sex, Love and Pain is a welcome offering that takes us back to the days where the singer you got busy to wasn’t jailbait. It’s grown folks time. Not only does Sex, Love and Pain’s title fit its impassioned composition, it speaks to Tank’s emotional state over the three years he spent recording it. His lyrics speak to the ageless subjects of love and loss over sonically sophisticated tracks that dims lights all on their own. “It’s the basis of my music for this album,” he says. “It’s all dealing with the aspects of relationships, mostly from a man to a woman, but whether it be your homies or whatever. I want to bring R&B back to what it used to be, where if a guy couldn’t fully express himself, he would play one of the songs that was out at the time — if he wanted to apologize, if he wanted to say I wanna make love tonight or let’s get back together, or even I don’t wanna be with you anymore. Nobody’s saying that now. No one is celebrating the women like they’re supposed to. I got it covered.”
CARL THOMAS - On Bad Boy, Carl Thomas released the single “I Wish” which topped the R&B charts, and set the stage for his debut album, Emotional, in 2000. On the success of the single, and the album’s other singles, “Summer Rain,” and the title track “Emotional” which reached #18 and #8 on the R&B charts respectively, the album did very well. In fact, Carl Thomas debut album went platinum. In 2004, Carl Thomas came back with his second album, Let’s Talk About It. The album went gold and had moderate success with its singles. The singles for the album were “She Is” and “Make It Alright” which reached #56 and #33 on the R&B charts respectively. Carl Thomas received a grammy nomination in 2006 for his collaboration with Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams and Gerald LeVert on the song “Everyday.”
