Freeway‘s long awaited LP, Diamond In The Ruff, officially drops tomorrow via Babygrande. But, if you can’t wait any longer, head over to DJ Booth for a stream of the full LP. Along with the album stream, today we get the latest video off the LP, “Sweet Temptations” featuring OKP fam Nikki Jean (Mike Jerz on the beat). Video directed by GRVTY.

The post Video: Freeway “Sweet Temptations” feat. Nikki Jean + Diamond In The Ruff LP Stream appeared first on Okayplayer.

Good citizens of Illadelphia: Okayplayer in partnership with SOB’s is bringing the famous Sol Village showcase to your world in just about two weeks time (Tuesday June 19th), hosted by OKP stalwart Eric Roberson alongside Philly’s own MoShay LeRen. Doing their thing on the hottest soul/R&B showcase this side of the planet Mars will be none other than Nikki Jean, Yummy Bingham, Lolah Brown, Bunji, The Kitchen f. Man Man, Ryan Corbin and U. City, all backed by The Collective. Get full details via the flyer (after the jump) and cop tickets at www.theblockley.com. If we see you there, we’ll know you got soul. (‘Cause if you didn’t, etc.)

The post Philly: Eric Roberson, Nikki Jean, Yummy Bingham + More Live At Sol Village [6/19] appeared first on Okayplayer.

Movement! A star-studded array of talent, including Black Thought and Questlove of The Roots, Nikki Jean, The Money Making Jam Boys and DJs Rich Medina and Diamond Kuts is being brought to bear on the good fight being fought by  GrassROOTS in the name of young girls. To find out more about GrassROOTS and Black Thought AKA Tariq Trotter‘s longstanding relationship with the non-profit, read our feature on the foundation here. Suffice it to say however, that GrassROOTS president Dr. Janice Johnson Dias is one of the good guys. And she apparently hangs with some of Philly’s finest, good-ass music wise. In addition to the all-killer, no filler line-up there will be a silent auction featuring items donated by Derrick Rose and several other ballplayers from the Knicks and Liberty (yes, there’s an Okayplayer tee in there, too!). Find full details on the flyer above and buy tickets at Event Brite.

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I’ve seen some out there maneuvers to spit game to a woman at a restaurant, but Brother maître d’ Ali takes things a step further with his new video “Shine On.” The song features Nikki Jean with Jake One supplying the beat and will appear on Ali’s new EP, The Bite Marked Heart. Video directed by Dave Wilson. The FreEP drops Monday the 13th and will feature 7 brand new tracks with production from Jake and Ant (Atmosphere). You can download “Shine On” here.

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The album opens up with the Trackademicks-produced “Brand New”, and immediately sets the tone for the rest of the album with its lush keys, hazy vocals and some straightforward raps from Mike Baker. The lyrics don’t have much in the way of aim, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the track. Next is “Legs”, featuring Honor Roll members 1-O.A.K. and Trackademicks – who also produced the track. The flirty lyrics mesh well with Trackademicks’ strong backing producing, as the MCs try their best at winning the physical affections of a woman.

“You Don’t Have To Say A Thing” features Trackademicks once more and the track continues to lover boy approach to great effect. The production is reminiscent of the synthesizer-heavy sound of the 80s and its quick pace certainly breaks up any listener fatigue immediately. “High Speed” is another fantastic track from Trackademicks but Mike Baker’s rhymes are slightly underwhelming though not exactly terrible. Next is “The Coast Is Clear” featuring Honor Roll member Josie Stingray and Trackademicks. Produced by the aforementioned 1.0.A.K., the track is slightly different in sound but it works in part due to the performance of the rappers over the consistent production.

Nikki Jean shows up on the excellent “L.I.F.E. (Living In Full Enjoyment)” and 1-O.A.K. dials in another great piece of production. Nikki Jean’s vocals are the true highlight here, but Mike Baker sounds like he rhymes with a grin on his face the entire time; this is a good thing. The album ends on a strong trio of songs in “Conviction”, “Brainstorm”, and “Up”. Of the three, “Brainstorm” stands out due to 1-O.A.K. slightly more aggressive track and strong features from Spank Pops and Josie Stingray.

Mike Baker The Bike Maker may not light the world on fire with his rhymes, as he goes for mood over vocal pyrotechnics but that shouldn’t be seen as a mark of criticism. Baker has a lane and hopefully improves upon what the sound he’s created with his debut album.

- D.L. Chandler

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Philly girl next door gets a little bad girl on this oh-so-subtly eviler version of “China,” (her Jimmy Webb cover from Pennies in a Jar) recorded at Range Recordings studio for Dan DeLuca‘s In The Mix series. Two words: Bond. Girl.

spotted at LE

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On paper, the concept for Pennies In A Jar sounds titillating: songstress criss-crosses the country, breaking bread with various heralded maestros of the Brill Building, Philly soul, Motown, and beyond. With production by Sam Hollander (Katy Perry, Train, Tom Jones), luminaries such as Burt Bacharach, Lamont Dozier, Carole King, Bob Dylan, and Jimmy Webb all vow to anoint their Pennies In A Jar with their Midas touch, co-writing with Jean on the album’s 12 tracks. Sounds great, right? However, as with all things that sound too good to be true, there’s a gaping discrepancy between practice and premise here.

On the opening track “How To Unring A Bell,” Jean teams up with Philly soul legend Thom Bell. While the production value here is tolerable, the lyricism leaves much to be desired: “Like a bomb when it kills/ like the milk when it spills/ like a baby when it’s born. Yesterday, I could dream of a rose and a crown/ but today, I feel the thorns.” Luckily, the follow up track redeems Jean’s musical misstep. “Steel And Feathers (Don’t Ever)” finds Jean collaborating with folk God Bob Dylan in a beautiful marriage of lyric and arrangement. Jean puts on her Memphis best here, buttressed by the most soulful backing vocal section, a crooning lap steel guitar, and a stirring B-3 organ.

Lamont Dozier chimes in on the affable motor city inspired “My Love,” replete with orchestral bells and the patented infectious Motown backbeat. But the shining jewel in this crown comes in the form of the charming title track, co-written by 60s AM radio pop king Burt Bacharach. Jean floats effortlessly over a sublime bed of whirling strings, cooing on a cloud of blissful delight. Though Jean’s performance is commendable, it’s clear that the true star here is the majestic musical arrangement. It goes without saying that Jean’s debut definitely has some commendable moments. Unfortunately, they’re overshadowed by cutesy melodies, trite vintage production/ songwriting techniques, and a mediocre-at-best vocal approach.

Conjuring images of teased bouffants, taffeta dresses, and birdcage microphones, Pennies In A Jar feels more like a contrived last-ditch attempt to cash in on a subgenre in decline. While Jean plays the ardent archaeologist cracking open a time capsule chocked full of 60’s beach music, American Bandstand fare, and other musical notions from a bygone era, Pennies In A Jar is a patchwork quilt that has more loose ends than even the authors of the great American songbook could handle. You’d be better off listening to Corrine Bailey Rae interpret former Spice Girl Emma Bunton’s 2004 album Free Me.

- Rico a.k.a. Superbizzee

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I don’t even think this is brand new but somebody just put us up on this Nikki Jean video for her collabo with Motown legend Lamont Dozier from Pennies in a Jar. The video for “My Love” gets creative with some stop-motion animation of the lyrics, using hand-written/embroidered/arranged letters. By going out onto the streets of Philly and enlisting some non-actors to get involved, Nikki gives the 2011 viral-video steez a very 1970s “Everyday People” feel which suits the song. Which is all very creative and everything but let us be totally honest and point out that with an artist as radiant as Nikki Jean, DON’T NOBODY WANT TO LOOK AT NO REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS IN YOUR VIDEO. Just for future reference. Pennies in a Jar is out now.

spotted at SB

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Ever since Nikki Jean blew up our world with this stellar debut (and this stellar late night performance), we have found ourselves rewinding to the times before she had a record deal and was just our (incredibly-talented) OKP homegirl–and then fast-forwarding to watch her blossom on the big stage. One of our favorite mementos is this webisode from the homies at Philly360, who walked Nikki around town to talk about her motivation in making music–and identify her favorite Philly eating spots. Incidentally she also puts her wife-ability quotient off the statistical chart by offering to bake us all cookies. Mmm. Cookies.

The post Video: Nikki Jean Talks About Philly & Baking Cookies appeared first on Okayplayer.

Scooch over Alicia Keys, make some room at the piano bench in my heart for Nikki Jean. I already knew NJ was a monster but even in this internet age, there’s something about the bright lights of the late night stage that just make the moment for a star on the rise. Letterman says it best: Just lovely. To hear what I’m on about, stream Nikki’s LP over here and get the full story back here.

spotted at MWP

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