Professor Tracey On The Blog Post Remix - What In The Hell Did Happen To The Neo Soul Music World? (Warning: Extra Long Post Ahead - For Readers Only)
My new blogging brother Chris over at Nat Turner's Revenge asked an excellent question - What Happened To Neo Soul? Now my first thought was that the question should have been, What In The Hell Happened To Neo Soul?, but that's just me quibbling. This is a serious question about the very sad state of black music - the smooth grooves, slow jamz, music for lovers, quiet storm type black music.
I know there is major buzz about Jazmine Sullivan, but is she really hitting the scene hard like Jill Scott and Erykah Badu did with their debut albums? And speaking of Jill, despite working hard, folks have to admit she's fallen off a little bit and Erykah is pulling a female Prince, only making music she likes and talking crazy. India Aire's third album came and went, just like Angie Stone's last joint. And one of my personal favorites, Jaguar Wright just can't seem to break through, she's just like Goapele, damned to be an underground favorite forever. And am I the only one that thinks Alicia Keys is highly over-rated? 
Do we need to hire a private investigator to find Sade's ass? I know a lot of her shit sounds all the same, but hell, I'll listen to the same old shit from Sade before I listen to some of the "new-new" crap that passes for black music these days. And I wish somebody would tell me why Bilal only had one album and why is said album out of print? Can anybody tell me what the sistas in Floetry got to beefing about, that f*%ked the hell up that group and the name of the dumb bunny that thought inserting Amanda Diva's ass as a replacement was going to work?
Where in hell is Carl Thomas? Somebody needs to put Puff Daddy's talentless ass under the hot lights until he confesses about his criminal destruction of Thomas' career. Lyfe Jennings cleaned up his look, but was only rewarded with falling the hell off the charts. Les Nubians was hot until they started singing in English and folks realized they wasn't singing about nothing worth $16.95. Does anybody actually buy Anthony Hamilton's albums or just the records where he sings the hook? And I'm convinced the only people who bought Sam Slater's debut album was me and his mama.
When folks had the nerve to compare J. Holiday to D'Angelo, I nearly had a fit. Instead of singing, "Bed, Bed" that dude should have been singing, "Dentist" Dentist." Have you seen that brotha's grill? And if you were wondering what in the hell happened to D'Angelo, read this. I'm sorry, no pictures of the bloated, bearded, and bleary-eyed behemoth he has become, my eyes can't take it. And speaking of bloated, Dave Hollister keeps getting fatter and dropping albums nobody's buying.
What the hell happened to the Jazzyfatnastees? Somebody needs to tell Macy Gray her singing career is over. Chrisette Michelle and Emily King never sold the records to match all the hype they received. And Keke Wyatt never regained her momentum after she went to jail for stabbing the hell out of her own damn husband. Let's put out a Neo Soul amber alert for Res, Davina, Grenique, Amel Larrieux, and that chick that used to blow on the first Arrested Development album. 
Everyone must accept the fact that Lauryn Hill has permanently lost her mind and there will be no comeback. And we can only hope that Corinne Bailey Rae gets over the unfortunate early death of her husband and gets back to recording one day. Remember when Faith Evans used to be interesting? And Teedra Moses became rapper Ras Kass' baby mama instead of a real player in Neo Soul music. And why do folks keep sleeping on Ladybug Mecca's solo albums?
Shouldn't Van Hunt be blowing up a lot more than he is? And for all the shit Raphael Saadig loves to talk about himself, he should be at the top of black music, but he ain't. Funny that. I loves me some Maxwell, but not at $85 dollars for a cheap seat to his tour kind of love. And I know this is going to start a black on black crime war of words, but John Legend just doesn't do it for me. He looks like a cross between a Keebler Elf and a bobble-head doll. He does not inspire me to throw my panties on the stage like Chico Debargo when he was hot on the charts.
Where at the 21st century versions of Mikki Howard, Anita Baker, Phyllis Hyman, Loose Ends, and Soul ii Soul? I know that Lord only made one Luther Vandross, but I would accept a modern version of Teddy Pendergrass, Alexander O'Neal, or Freddie Jackson. Robin Thicke ain't nothing but a throwback to Jon B. and Joss Stone couldn't carry Teena Marie's luggage, much less compete with her as a singer.
Neo Soul music is struggling for many reasons. Artists taking too long to record new work, charging too much to see them live in concert, in-fighting between artists, black radio more interested in bubblegum and booty-shaking music, record companies that are uninterested in promoting real singers, and a listening audience that has become tone-deaf and less demanding in terms of the actual talent quality of music artists. I quit listening to the radio years ago and I haven't been to a concert in a very long time, but I keep hoping that black music with make a triumphant return to it's old roots. What do you think?
