DJ Grizz- The Brand New Heavies

Time for some Funk on this chilly morning and what better than some revival Funk from the daddies of the genre The Brand New Heavies. Formed in London in the late 80's, being signed to the legendary Acid Jazz stable, these guys had great success throughout the 90's and are still going strong- championing that 60's and 70's heavy Funk sound (and changing their vocalist every coupla years!). Here's a selection of my favourites.

We kick off with their 1st hit Dream Come True, we've a great piece of funkiness with Gimme One of Those, there's the hits Never Stop and Stay This Way and we end on their anthem with their version of Maria Muldar's Midnight at the Oasis... plus more Heaviness!

Have a Funky week guys!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Dream come true

Gimme one of those

Sphynx

Never stop

Right on

Boogie kouala

Keep it coming

Stay this way

Midnight at the oasis

DJ Ridym - Rare Soul 20

Mellow soul for the soul is the theme for Rare Soul Mix 20 and we kick things off with a rare recording of the late Queen of soul herself singing Bridge over troubled waters and for me the best version there is. Sister Carolyn Franklin gives us the sublime and then its back to Aretha again with a mashup of Mos Def's Ms Booty beat blended with Aretha's One step, and why not?!

Mellowness continues with Madeline Bell, Mojoba and Nancy Wilson followed by the uplifting toe tapping sounds of the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose which recently featured in the Spike Lee film BlackKKKlansman, so props to Spike for making a decent film with an interesting true story and a great soundtrack. We also have a rare reggae track from the Royal Rasses featuring lead singer Lincoln Thompson's unconventional vocals mixing high falsetto and low harmonies to produce a gem of a track.
We end the mix with a jazz funk nugget from the So Be It Band and another mellow soul number from Rasa.


1. Aretha Franklin - Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Live)
2. Carolyn Franklin - From The Bottom Of My Heart
3. Aretha Franklin - One Step (Mos Def Mashup)
4. Madeleine Bell - Love Is All You Need
5. Mojoba - Say You Will
6. Nancy Wilson - I'm In Love
7. Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - Too Late To Turn Back Now
8. Personal Touch - It Aint No Big Thing
9. The Royal Rasses - Unconventional People
10. The So Be It Band - Solo
11. Rasa - When Will The Day Come

DJ Grizz- Mellow Soul Classics 8

Nights are getting long, temperatures are falling as we eak out the last of Summer- time to wrap up on the sofa with a tall glass and chill! Heres the perfect accompaniment- Mellow Soul Classics 8!

The mellowness starts with the Queen of the 80's 'quiet storm' and ex Chapter 8 vocalist Anita Baker, keeping the Aretha flame burning with a 1973 gem written by her sis' Caroline, we've some great Luther, Bill Withers does his thing (and what a perfect thing it is) and we end on a Michael McDonald hit plus more laid back nuggets to check out.

Catch you all real soon!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Anita Baker- Caught up in the rapture of love

Gene Dunlap- Before you break my heart

Aretha Franklin- Angel

Jean Carne- You light up my life

Luther Vandross- If this world were mine

Bill Withers- I dont know

A taste of Honey- Sukiyaki

Blackbyrds- Love don’t strike twice

Michael McDonald- I keep forgettin’

#TheSoulMixtape SLAVE

Narrated by the legendary Steve Arrington, this mix is my tribute to one of THE GREATEST FUNK BANDS EVER. Slave.

Dayton. 1976. Trombonist Floyd Miller teamed with trumpeter Steve Washington to form Slave. The original line-up included Tom Lockett Jr, Carter Bradley, Mark Adams, Mark "Drac" Hicks, Danny Webster, Orion "Bimmy" Wilhoite and Tim "Tiny" Dozier. In 1977 the band signed for Cotillion Records, which is the label they remained with until 1984. In 1978 Steve Arrington, along with vocalists Starleana Young, Curt Jones and keyboardist Ray Turner joined the band. Arrington ultimately replaced Miller and Webster as lead vocalist. They moved to Atlantic Records for one LP (New Plateau) in 1984, then switched to the Atlanta-based Ichiban Records in 1985.

On this mix Steve Arrington takes us through the formation of the band, band members contributions, the big tunes, and the influences right up to where he left the band and they moved to another label, where truth be told, they couldn't match the pure funk genius of their heyday.

That being said, there was a certain alchemy to the band in the 70's and early 80's. Pairing unparralelled slap bass playing from the late Mark Adams, with strings and great melodies took this Funk band to another level. In my opinion, unmatched.

Bass player Mark Leslie Adams Sr died Saturday, March 5, 2011 at age 51 in Columbus, Ohio.
Guitar player Mark ("Drac") Hicks died on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at the age of 52 in Dayton, Ohio

Ridym and Grizz back soon, stay tuned.

DJ Ridym - Reggae Rockers 14

Welcome mixtapers to another jam packed reggae mix. Spreading the reggae gospel onwards and upwards with some upliftment featuring some tunes released around 2005 - 08 from the likes of Damian Marley, Collie Buddz, Luciano, Sizzla, Jah Cure and Morgan Heritage. We then dig a little deeper and go from some classic roots foundation with the likes of Helmsley & Pratt's gem little things and Bobby Melody's scorcher Jah bring I joy. 

Dennis Brown's 80's roots classic easy take it easy was later reworked by the reggae crooner Gregory Isaacs in 2008 titled Babylon too rough which featured on one of my earlier rockers mixes. Another track from my earlier rockers mixes was the dub version of Burning Spear's Invasion so this time round I've gone for the vocal original on this one. 

As always I hope you enjoy your weekend and the reggae vibes. Until next time One Love✡

1. Luciano - Life

2. Damian Jr Gong Marley - Welcome To Jamrock
3. Collie Buddz - Sesimillia
4. Sizla - Solid As A Rock
5. Jah Cure - Call On Me
6. Morgan Heritage - She's Still Loving Me
7. Hemsley Morris & Phil Pratt - Little Things
8. Burning Spear - Swell Headed
9. Bobby Melody - Jah Bring I Joy
10. Dennis Brown - Easy Take It Easy
11. Burning Spear - The Invasion

DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness 149

Morning Mix-tapers! Another bag of Soul goodness today- its Soul Niceness 149, full of old time top Soul, Rare Grooves and Jazz Funk!

We start with a sing-a-long favourite (in my car at least!) from Maurice and the boys, Gilberto Gil gives us some Brazilian Soul-Jazz, we've a one hit wonder by Mississippi Blue Eyed Soul song writer and session musician George Soule (but what a great hit it was), there's a great Slave LP track from 1979 and we finish on a Rare Groove anthem from Chocolate Milk.. plus more!

Stay funky this week guys and girls!

Grizz- The soul Mixtape blog

Earth Wind and Fire- Got to get you into my life

Invisible Mans Band- Love cant come love has come

Brass Construction- Get up to get down

Gilberto Gil- Toda menina bahiana

Gabo Szabo- Breezin’

George Soule- Get involved

Lew Kirton- Something special

Slave- Thank- you

Chocolate milk- How bout love

DJ Grizz- The Chilites

Another great 70's vocal group feature today... The Chi-lites! Hailing from Chi-town itself (Chicago), formed in the late 50's they broke through with a host of hits in the 70's and early 80's with some Soul classics and Rare Groove anthems under their belts! Here's my selection of faves!

We kick off with a Rare Groove party and Soul Weekender classic in Changing For You, we've their version of a Marvin protest song in Inner City Blues, there's there 1971 break-through hit Have You Seen Her and we end on the 2step great Go Away Dream... plus much more Chi-lite magic!

Have a Soulful week!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Changing for you

Hot on a thing called love

Try my side of love

Are you my woman tell me so

Inner city blues

Living in the footsteps of another man

Homley girl

Have you seen her

Go away dream

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 2018 PART THREE

Part 3 of my selections of best music from 2018 feature some favorites; Another track from the EXCELLENT Internet LP, Teyana Taylors brilliant Kanye West Produced soul tune; lots of hip hop from greats like Nas, the aforementioned Kanye, Elzhi and Black Thought; Independent niceness from Ari Lennox, Kaidi Tatham and Joanne Teters plus Jazz great Kamasi Washington and more.

Be sure to check out my new shows on Nuwaveradio.net and be sure to listen to more from DJ Ridym and DJ Grizz over the weekend.

DJ Grizz - Blue Eyed Soul Mix

Now for some great Soul from artists on the lighter side of the melanin charts. A top selection of Soul and Jazz Funk by white guys who have the Groove! ... its a Blue Eyed Soul mix!

We kick off with Rare Groove scene favourite Bobby Caldwell, theres 70's Brit-funk from Jess Roden, we've a 1975 Bowie track from his Soulful 'Young Americans' phase, there's the Average White Band (of course) with a Bacharach cover, Boz Scaggs gives us his version of an Aaron Neville gem and we end on a samplers anthem from Bob James.. plus more!

Keep it Soul all the way

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape

Bobby Caldwell- All or nothing

The Jess Roden Band- In a circle

Lettuce- Express yourself

David Bowie- Right

Average White Band- Walk on by

Frankie Valli- Watch where you walk

Butts Band- Be with me

Boz Scaggs- Hercules

Bob James- Westchester Lady