New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Mint Condition official website) Classic soul, neo-soul, pop-soul? One of the industry's more interesting qualities is its uncanny ability to produce those few innovative producer/musician/songwriter collaborations that bring a unique "flavor" to whatever music project they are working on.
Industry insiders are buzzing about Wale's new album, THE GIFTED (Atlantic Records) released June 25th and the emergence of the rapper's spoken word brand with classic soul creating "New
Black Soul?" Grammy Nominee Stokley Williams, front man for multi-platinum R&B Supergroup MINT CONDITION and a key member of a team of Producers tapped to work on THE GIFTED had this say about the new genre.
"I think 'New
Black Soul' could just be Wale's own interpretation of all the black genre's mixed with this generation's hip hop. It may become his own unique lane. We all know
Black Soul has always been here, & there will always be a new artist that will come along and discover it in his or her own way, they just put it into their musical blender and....VOILA!"
Wale's new album THE GIFTED, released June 25th, on Atlantic Records has earned the recording artist his first #1 position on Billboard's 200 Album Chart this week! According to industry insiders, the single, "Lovehate Thing" is set to skyrocket Billboard's Hip Hop and R&B Charts in the coming weeks. One of the most recognized vocalists of his generation, Stokley also co-produced five additional songs on Wale's new album that features Meek Mill,
Cee Lo Green and Jerry Seinfield. Stokley also lends his signature lead vocals on the introductory song, "The
Curse of The Gifted" on the long awaited album from the rapper.
Stokley has certainly rubbed shoulders with such R&B and Pop
Music royalty as Prince, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Usher,
Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Jill Scott, Toni Braxton, Yolanda Adams,
Sheila E., Robert Glasper, to name a few, be it through background vocals, tours and/or studio sessions playing drums.
Production has been limited in the past for the lead signature vocalist of one of our most celebrated R&B/Pop bands, MINT CONDITION because of a busy touring schedule. Only recently has he started to focus on producing & writing for other artists. Other than offering up production on Jill Scott's 2007 "
The Real Thing" CD, Stokley's outside production has been relatively quiet until now. His co-production with Lawrence Waddell & duet with
Kelly Price on "Not My Daddy" was not only was a chart topper, but also earned Stokley his first Grammy Award Nomination in 2012. When asked about recording artists that he would love to work with in the future, Stokley responds:
"Too many to mention but a few folks I would love to create with would be Lauryn Hill, Adele, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo,
Kelly Rowland. Not just singers but musicians, collaborate with a few select producers even, I really can't say all. I really wanna work in almost every genre though, I'll just say that."
Music Industry Veteran, Al Manerson says, "The doors are opening for Stokley & for MINT . Not just in the R&B or Hip Hop genre, but also the pop arena due to the fact that the Katy Perry's and the Adele's are looking for more musicianship. This is the first time that
Mint Condition has been concentrating on working outside of their fortress and Stokley is leading the way."
For more information, please visit:
"LoveHate Thing": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ojLucG2Z78
Mint Condition Web Site: https://www.mintconditionmusic.com/
