SoundNexx

WHYTE CHOKLATE SOUL MIXX
When most people think of soul music, they automatically think of black people making it? The Merriam-Websters dictionary has soul defined as: A strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by black American performers. Note that this is only one of the many definitions for the word and I agree with this definition, but it's limiting in my opinion. The association of Soul Food, Soul Train & Soul Glo with African-Americans has convinced most folks that only black folks can have soul when it comes to making music? Some black folks don't take too kindly to the idea of white artists making soul music? That mentality probably stems from previous music genres that black folk created in the past that many believe were ultimately stolen. Two examples would be Jazz and Rock & Roll music. Some believe the same thing will eventually happen with rap music? Personally, I enjoy good music no matter who makes it! When most of you were just stains on the sheets back in the 1970s & 1980s, there were several white artists that had much soul in their music. Remember the Bee Gees? You better! They were known for that classic movie soundtrack for the now disco cult classic "Saturday Night Fever" starring John Travolta. Don't sleep! That joint had some serious classic tracks on there. I definitely have that one in my extensive collection. I know they are looking a little fruity in the pic I have posted in the upper left corner, but them dudes could really blow! They were soulful on the hip-hop smooth tip. Well, maybe not, but you get my drift, right? Oh yeah... Robin Gibb (sitting in the middle), if you missed the memo...poka-dots went out with Kwame' back in 1989 playboy!?

One of my favorite Caucasion brothaz from back in the day would definitely have to be my main man Michael McDonald! I like to call him M&M for short. Mike got his start in music with the Doobie Brothers back in the 1970s. Remember that episode of "What's Happening!" TV show when Rerun hid that big azz tape cassette recorder under his coat to illegally record the Doobie Brother's concert? This way before the internet downloading theft you see today though? If you don't have a clue what show I am speaking of just google it? Anyhoo, Mike went solo in the 1980's and blew up like nitro! Black folks loved them some Michael McDonald. He made it official when he did the duet with Patti LaBelle "On My Own" back in 1986. Dude has much classic material in his extensive list of albums. The boy is good, plus his hair has been snow white since he was about 15 years-old, which is a helluva accomplishment in itself! I wish I was joking dammit??

It's about that time for some Hall & Oates folks! No, it's not the name of a breakfast cereal, but a dope group from back in the day that still gets heavy rotations in my CD player. The next duo is at the top of my list on the real! If you don't have any Hall & Oates in your music collection, it's not complete! Other than sporting press & curl hairstyles, these katz put it down back in the day! Tracks like "One On One" & "I Can't Go For That" are definitely classic material in my book. Their sound is timeless, plus it takes me back the days when music had a little substance. Their songs make you feel good like music from the soul should.

I love the old schoolers (no doubt), but there are a handful of new schoolers that are holding it down in the Caucasion soul department as well. Jon B is definitely holds the number one position on my new school soul artists list. Actually, he's in my Top 10 soul artists list as well. Mr. B always delivers that soulful goodness with each album, but even after several years in the game he is still one the most slept on? Why? I am not really sure, but I think some so called soul fans under estimate his talents because he's a white man in the soul music genre? For all of you skeptics out there, if you really love soul music then you definitely need Jon B in your life. Jon is not a faker like some of the Vanilla Ice type gimmicks that have hit the scene over the years. He's like an undercover brother actually? He has brother like tendencies. Jon is just doing him though, which I totally respect. Plus, he only dates black women, so I guess I can give him a little more credit for that as well. Okay, I'm just being silly now! Musically, he's produced and written for many of your favorite artists. He's also collaborated with a few of the veterans in the game like Nas, Tupac, Babyface, Scarface, & Faith Evans just to name a few. Another artist that seems to be Jon B like in some of his ways that is definitely scorching hot right now is Robin Charles Thicke. Yes, he really is Alan Thicke's son dammit! Many folks went beddy-by on him during his debut album release "A Beautiful World" back in 2003? Definitely a decent album, but Robin looked like a hippy from the 60's with that long-frizzy hairstyle he sported back then. With a new doo and a new swagger, Robin Thicke came back strong in 2006 with his latest project "The Evolution of Robin Thicke." If you've carelessly missed hearing this album, make sure you do. It's worth paying attention too! Outside of Jon B and Robin Thicke, there's another chap that I hardly ever hear mentioned when it comes to soul music and his name is Remy Shand. This Canadian native released one of my favorite tracks in 2002 called "Take A Message" that definitely made me take notice. The video for this track actually makes fun of Remy trying to play soul music a obviously black club. The club manager and the spectators were definitely skeptical at first, but Remy ended up turning that juke joint out! Hopefully, in the near future Mr. Shand will bless us with a new album? If you are reading this Remy, get on your grind playboy. Time's a wastin'!!

Alright, now I know you know that I know that there are plenty more artists that I could have spoken on in this post, so I will list their names now to hopefully make everyone happy? Well, maybe?These artists may not be considered soul artists by the masses, but they have released soulful songs at one time or another. Here is the list in no particular order: Teena Marie, Jo Jo, Joss Stone, Phil Collins, The Family, KC & The Sunshine Band, Eurythmics, Human League, Boy George, George Michael, Pete Bilasco, Christina Aguilara, Paul McCartney, Color Me Badd, The New Kids on The Block, etc......

Please, feel free to leave any artists names that I may have missed in the comments section! You know I had to put together a mix for this post to show my love to the White Choklate Soulsters of yesterday and today!

Just updated: The Whyte Choklate Soul Mixx has finally arrived! I'm back in effect like the HIV Virus....ouch! I don't think this mixx needs a tracklist, but if you want the name of an artist, just let me know! After making this mixx I realized that I will have to do a part 2 of it. There are just too many tracks that I couldn't fit into just one mixx dammit. So, be on the lookout for Volume 2 in the near future! Until then, enjoy the SoundNexx Experience....

GET THIS MIXX HERE!