Thursday 26 April 2012

The Artists - Brian McKnight


Lets get something straight. I selected and created this mix a while before this weeks Brian McKnight debacle. I really hope the guy was joking, cause as hysterical as that X Rated YouTube Video he put out was (and I fair near peed myself), it could be a career killer.

Which is a shame, cause this guy can sing. Proper sing. Which is only what you would expect from a church trained singer whose brother, Claude McKnight III, formed the great gospel/acapella vocal group TAKE 6.

He released his first LP in 1992 and since then has been Grammy Nominated (For "Anytime"), recorded for Motown where he released Back at One (his most successful album at date) which eventually went on to sell over 3 million copies, collaborated with a variety of musicians including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin, Quincy Jones, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Talib Kweli, and CeCe Peniston.

He has recently dabbled in Radio and television, even appearing in the US version of Celebrity Apprentice, but thats all fluff. The voice is what counts. And now, in this time of twitter outrage, is as good a time as any to be reminded of how good it is. Tunes like "Stay or let it go" and the great Jazz ballad "Is the feeling gone" are irrefutable proof.

So, by all means, search youtube for his new "Adult mixtape" tune "If You're Ready To Learn". Have a good laugh. Wonder at how he tries to rhyme the word "Squirt". But use this mix to remind you of how good a singer Brian McKnight really is.

Grizz back with you Monday, have a great Weekend.

The Artists - Brian McKnight

3 comments:

SoulNRnB said...

1.On the Down low
2.Whenurlovinme
3.Anytime
4.Is the feeling gone
5.Here with you
6.Been so long
7.Without you
8.Stay or let it go (Remix)

Philip Clark said...

I don't fault him for writing a dirty song any more than I do Prince, R Kelly or D'Angelo. I really think folks over-reacted.

SoulNRnB said...

I hear ya Philip, but you couldn't take him seriously in that Video which is not the case with Prince or D'Angelo, and to some extent R Kelly. They all have much different persona's to Brian too. D'Angelo the lover man, R Kelly the "G", and prince, well, Prince! Brian's persona is a soul man, who has recorded for Disney in the past too. It's too much of a break to be taken seriously and will outrage some of his core audience rightly or wrongly. Does that make him any less talented? Shit, I wish I had his voice.