| Influences |
Primarily 70's and 80's Jazz, R&B, and classic rock...such as but not exclusively (and not in any particular order) Bob James, Boney James, Pat Metheney, Patrice Rushen, Spyro Gyra, The Rippingtons, The Yellowjackets, George Benson, George Duke, George Howard, EWF (don't you dare say, "who's that?"), the Isleys, Roy Ayers, Mtume, The S.O.S. Band, (I can here that Moog slide now!), Loose Ends, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Morris Day and the Time, Shalamar (y'all don't know nuffin 'bout that), Jody Watley, Howard Hewitt, Full Force, RTFW (if you don't know, take a "When music wasn't just about looped-beats" class), Public Enemy (because sometimes a looped-beat is all you need), Average White Band, Grover Washington Jr, David Benoit, Norman Brown, Bonnie Rait, Steven Bishop, the Commodores, the Eagles, Crystal Gale, Journey, KC and the Sunshine Band, Player (Baby Come Back is still the jam!), The Ohio Players, Diana Ross, Ray Parker Jr./Raydio, Barry White, Slave, Lou Rawls, Hall and Oatmeal, Tavares (because it only takes a minute to fall in love), War, the Emotions, the Bee Gees, Roberta Flack, Brother's Johnson, The Gap Band, The Rubber Band, The Rubberband Band, The Rubberband Band's Band, George Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Club Nuevou (that really just does not look like it's spelled right), Heatwave, Deniece Williams, The Crusaders, The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Ronald McDonald, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Action Jackson, Anita Ward, Anita Baker, Sade, Prince Rogers Nelson, Nelson Rangell, Dotsero, Stevie Wonder, Peaches and Herb, Ashford and Simpson, Ozone and Turbo, Run/D--Ozone and Turbo?!?! Run/DMC, Tony, Toni, Tony, The O-Jays, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (yeah, I know I already said Morris Day and the Time, so fine...Jesse Johnson, Andre Symone, and Alexander O'Niel too then!). And...and...and then there's Gospel...well, actually, first there was the Gospel, but don't get holy on me now (you know you were just thinking about the last time you heard a Ready For the World slow jam! Do I have to lay on hands, or are you back here with us now?) Anyway, Gospel...like Joe Pace and Colorado Mass, Hez, Tonex, The Winans, Undaground Praize, Gospel Gangstaz, Cross Movement, T Boney-Bone (the baddest Gospel rapper there is...and if I were a betting man I'd bet he can take Marshall Mathers, not because he saved but because he's got the illskay--and because he's saved!), LA Mass, Imani Project, Kirk Franklin, William Becton, Dietrick Haddon, Fred Hammond B3 Organ, all Clarks, all Winans, all Wayans (wayzout!), Sounds of Blackness, Sounds of Judah, Sounds of Fire, Out of Eden, Outkast (oops, wrong category!), Israel and New Breed, Mary Alessi, Martha Munizzi, Prime Minister and Pooh, Christ fa Real, Christifari, Christineari, and Christisinmi. Whew! Now go back and read this again but hold your breath until you finish.
Yes, all of these people really influnce my production, writing, singing, and raps. Really! |
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