The new year is rapidly approaching. With the holidays so close, who has the time to find that perfect slow jam to ring in 2011. OurStage does, that’s who! We’ve compiled some great songs from talented OurStage R&B and soul artists that we think you’ll really enjoy with your champaign—especially if you’re spending the New Year’s Eve with someone special. From the Best of the Best charts to promotional winners to music found by our content review team, we’ve got all the bases covered.

We hope you enjoy our slow jams play list below. Have any additions for the play list? Share them with everyone by linking to the song below in the comments section.

As 2010 draws to a close, the new year is looking ripe for new music.

While we can expect big things from Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and hip hop’s newest “it” girl Nicki Minaj—whose debut, Pink Friday— is packed with future number ones, there are even more musical mitzvahs on the horizon. Some late December, early January rap releases are sure to get some heavy radio rotation including Yo Gotti’s Live From The Kitchen and Jeezy’s, TM 103.

Things are looking up in the R&B department now that R. Kelly has released his guaranteed panty-dropper, Love Letter in the same month that Avant dropped, The Letter and Tank debuts Now Or Never.  We’re guessing Jamie Foxx’s Best Night Of My Life will be heating up the airwaves if his single, “Fall For Your Type” featuring Drake is any indication.  The crooning will continue through the winter, with Lloyd’s, King Of Hearts set to drop on Valentine’s Day and Bobby Valentino’s, Fly On The Wall expected to drop before the snow melts.

The ladies aren’t lagging either, with Keyshia Cole and Ciara releasing highly-anticipated albums, lead by already- hot singles, “I Ain’t Thru” and “Ride It” to close out the year. We can expect Kandi Koated, (the currently under-the-radar release from Kandi Burress) to gain some traction this year with singles “Me And You” and “Haven’t Loved Right” being too good to stay under wraps for long.

Still no release dates for Kelly Rowland’s Motown release, Kelly Rowland or Jennifer Hudson’s yet-to-be-titled sophomore album, but we’re thinking both divas will deliver some praise-worthy hits.

We’re still waiting for Nas to drop The Lost Tapes: Volume 2, but it looks like 2011 might be the year of the comebacks with highly anticipated releases coming from some of hip hop’s most prolific stars.  Dr. Dre’s Detox should hit shelves in February followed by some stiff competition from fellow West Coaster, Snoop Dogg when he releases Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary in March.  Weezy’s Carter IV is expected to drop the same month, along with his collaboration album with Birdman, Like Father, Like Son 2. Hot on their heels will be newcomer, J. Cole, with his yet-to-be-titled debut going head to head with Lupe Fiasco’s Lasers. Another highly-anticipated comeback will come from Pusha T of The Clipse, when he releases his solo album on Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music label this year.

By Cortney Wills

Cortney Wills is a pop culture journalist born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She has lived in LA, Chicago and NYC and enjoys all things entertainment.

In 2010 hundreds of thousands of artists entered our monthly competitions, and millions of music lovers ranked their favorite tracks, positioning the Top 100 songs across thirty or more music charts every month. As a proud connoisseur of independent music, I’ve always made it a point to turn my family and friends on to new talents that “I” discover. With a talent pool as rich as the OurStage music charts, there is a never ending reservoir to tap into.

The “Lilith Local Talent Search” brought droves of female artists, “Your Next Record with Keith Urban” brought the country, Drake’s “Thank Me Later” Competition represented hip hop and promotions with Bon Jovi, John Mayer, Train and the Goo Goo Dolls rallied legions of pop and rock artists. While there were many winners who earned career-enhancing opportunities, editorial coverage and cash money, the front-runners only scratched the surface of artists whose talent need to be heard.

Press “Play” to hear songs that have been in heavy rotation throughout 2010 then continue reading to find out why these artists made this list.

-KB

Editor at Large and Director of Community & Content for OurStage.com

Kleos and Davy, the so-called “the last great babies of the 80s,” hope to make a mark on the hip hop game not by becoming the next Nas or Jay-Z, but by using their arrogance, intelligence and motivation to be remembered as nothing more than who they truly are. As the opening line of their biography claims “Their music is full of deep metaphors and punch lines that will make you press rewind just to completely understand their depth and lyricism.”

A listen to the majority of their songs will reveal the imbalance between the amount of attention given to sound and lyrics. The track “Glistening” is no exception. Here, a thick, warped synth riff moves offbeat percussion to create a sonic whirlwind of sorts. Its originality is apparent from the start, but it ceases to evolve during the rest of the track. Luckily, the same can’t be said for the team’s rhymes. The arrogance they tout as part of their central theme is audible almost immediately, with an opening chorus shouting “Don’t have to ask for/ Me and Jones know you listening/ Cause when we walk in/ It sorta looks like we glistenin’.” From comparing themselves to the mayor to trumpeting their well roundedness by dissing those who waste away in cubicles, both rappers win listeners over with cunning lines that—while may not be philosophical—are entertaining nonetheless.

“The Future” has a completely different vibe right out of the gate.  Recalling the far east, K & D use foreign noise as platform to promote themselves as the future of hip hop, evident in the chorus “We brand new/ So let me introduce us/ A little something different that you ain’t used to.” As ironic as this may seem for a duo who emphasizes the fact they were born in the 80s, it still comes across as truth. And again,  their unwavering confidence makes itself known, best represented in the line “Kinda arrogant encouraged by your compliments/ And we national/ Dude stick to your conference.” The beat once more does not transition past its initial offering, really only consisting of a sample and single snare shot per beat, but their enthusiasm and dreams more than make up for it.

Judging by the fact these two emcees have only been making music together for three years, they should be sharing their self-assurance with much larger audiences in years to come. Keep an ear out for the solid beats and sharp rhymes on a stage near you in the future!

It’s been a awesome year for OurStage R&B and soul artists. There is such a large pool of talent here that pinpointing the Top 10 songs (even if the picks are just in our personal opinions) is very difficult. In the end, we selected artists who landed in the top of the Best of Urban Channels, won promotional competitions, and scored the Number 1 spot on the Soul and R&B Channel.

10. Nadirah Shakoor, “Know what I’m lookin’ for” – Nadirah hit Number 1 in the Soul Channel in June of this year, and placed in the Top 10 for Soul four times over the last year and half!

9. Jeremy James, “Well be as it may” – Jeremy was previously featured on Soul Searching, so feel free to learn more about him here. He also was first in the urban Best of Charts for 7 weeks.

8. Tess Henley, “Easy to Love” – Tess is another recently  Soul Searching artist and has demonstrated a mastery of the old school soul feel. She resides in Seattle, Washington and, despite her young age, is making her moves as an independent artist.

7. Jeff Hendrick, “Old School Party” – Jeff’s music is influenced by some of the greats including Michael Jackson, Prince, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. No wonder he is currently in the Top 20 of the Best of Urban Charts with his song, “Old School Party”.

6. Bridget Barkan, “Heartbreak Lane” – Maybe you remember Barkan won Number 1 in the best of Soul Channel all the way back in January thanks to her unique voice. Here’s a reminder why.

5. Ed M.a.e.s.t.r.o., “Choose U” – Gospel-driven and soul-filled, Ed M.a.e.s.t.r.o. won Number 1 in the Best of Urban Channel in February this year. His profile proudly displays 11 Top 10 badges.

4. Von Sway, “U Mean the World” – Back in May, Von hit Number 1 in the Soul Channel. Nit a surprising feat from a cat with a voice that’s reminiscent of some of today’s biggest R&B stars like Neyo and Usher.

3. ML the Truth, “ML’s Silent Night” – Another artist not unfamiliar to the Soul Searching column. His version of “Silent Night” is the perfect touch for our Holiday play list this year.

2. Jesse Idol,  “Movie Night” – Jesse Idol is a past Needle in the Haystack winner —one of OurStage’s most prestigious awards.

1. Lou Writer, ­“Dream Girl“ –You can’t float around the Best of Charts without seeing the name Lou Writer and for this reason, he’s earned our Number 1 spot.

We strongly encourage you to go to our Best of Urban Charts and find some of the other OurStage soul stars yourself. Also, if you know of any artists that you feel should be a part of this list, please share a link to their song in the comment section below.

A transitional year in the world of hip hop, 1998 straddled the change from the gangster rap of the mid 90s to the epidemic of suburban white boy rappers  in the early ’00s. There were many notable releases to drop that year (Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, OutKast, DMX), but nothing that gripped the nation quite like their predecessors’ efforts years before or their heirs’ creations to come. Yet, regardless of what occurred in the mainstream hip hop world during those 365 days, 1998 still remains the very year this week’s HHH featured artist Mick Lawrence took up a hobby that would eventually turn into his lifelong passion.

A product of a lesser known Jacksonville ( in North Carolina, not Florida), Mick’s mission is to conquer the fake one hit wonders plaguing hip hop today with the realness his lyricism brings to the table. Ambitious yes, but if there’s a particularly advantageous place to begin that battle it’s with a piece like “Eulogy,” a song about as real as they come. Opening with a bleak synth triad loop that sets the tone for the grim speech that follows, Mr. Lawrence proceeds to lecture on the unwritten rules of the streets through a non-chronological narrative about a casualty of the game named Marcus. Part urban legend, part hauntingly realistic, Mick tells his story with the wisdom of an old ghetto mystic who’s seen it all, further lending the credit of authenticity (and in this case, fright) to his work, as the chorus warns “I hear them say patience is a virtue/ it’s easy to lie but a lie might hurt you/ careful who you talk to in your circle/ it’d be the last man that you think might murk you.”

The dark clouds part in “Brainstorming” as Mick sheds light on the brighter patches of his history. His adoration for hip hop shines through in lines like “I’d rather die doin’ what I love then to die without tryin’ sayin’ ‘aw because’,” as does a slim portion of his philosophy and current state of mind: “Life is short/ I’m just trying to hold down the fort/ hopin’ this last shot I make it in from half court/ hopin’ that light burnin’ over there’s a flame torch/ guiding me like a ship/ out the ocean to the port.” A down home anthem at its core, Lawrence uses “Brainstorming” as a vehicle to make localized shout outs to everyone from corner bootleggers to area BBQ joints and expresses remorse over the divisions money has wedged in friendships, all the while vowing to right them and beat the system together as a team. The backing soundtrack is of course warm and fuzzy, as a fat bass interplays with chirping, soulful strings, contributing to the overall mood of nostalgia and optimism for the future.

Parallel to his growth as an artist has been his development as a businessman, a journey that now sees him sitting atop the label he’s created, Black Page Entertainment. As his music will express, success hasn’t always come easy, but his vision is more focused now than ever before and will likely see him continue on his upward path until it peaks. He’s already accomplished such feats as landing a Top 10 award for this summer’s Drake “Thank Me Later” competition, so listen to his material and let us know how far you think he’ll go in the comments!

This week’s Soul Searching artist is a passionate singer-songwriter from Seattle, WA—Tess Henley. It seems Tess was destined to be musically inclined.  Her pregnant mother performed nightly until the very week she gave birth to Tess. It’s not uncommon for the greats to begin their musical adventure so early in life so it’s no surprise to learn that tess began playing piano at the young age of 3. No wonder she  developed such a strong and beautiful voice. Though Tess is frequently compared to Alicia Keys, she exudes an old school feel that most likely stems from her Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye influences.

Already receiving international publicity, Tess is in a good place to take off as an artist.  Highly respected SoulAndJazzAndFunk.com says “Tess shows remarkable maturity and focus, her music is draped in luscious harmonies; it’s truly infections…”  Take a listen to her track “Easy to Love” below. What do you think of this soulful jam?

It’s that time again, when artists cover classic Christmas songs while others attempt to create a few of their own.

This year’s best picks come from an eclectic bunch, from rock stars to pop stars, Idol cast-offs to global icons.  Here are ten tracks worth downloading this season.

Mariah Carey: “Oh Santa”

Sixteen years after releasing the best-selling Christmas album of all time, Merry Christmas, it looks like the diva has done it again.  Her new release, Merry Christmas II You packs a serious seasonal punch with beautiful renditions of old classics along with some new ones too.  Her single, “Oh Santa” holds court with the holiday heartbreaker, “I Miss You Most (At Christmastime)”. The mom-to-be has lots to celebrate this year, and we’re glad she invited us along for the ride.

Jessica Simpson: “My Only Wish”

While Simpson’s new Christmas album, Happy Christmas, isn’t a best seller, this new track is fun, festive, and reminiscent of Jess’ better days.  It’s obvious she has maintained her vocal prowess and her knack for subtle sex appeal shows up even in a holiday song.  The album is Simpson’s first release from Ellen Degeneres’ ElevenEleven Records and features an unexpected R&B/ pop vibe, compliments of producers Tricky Stewart and The Dream.

Coldplay:  “Christmas Lights”

Not so much a feel-good holiday song, Coldplay’s “Christmas Lights” is an unconventional Christmas tune that evokes a quiet sadness, spawned from watching everyone else be merry and cheerful.  The band also released a music video for the track, featuring Chris Martin and pals rockin’ out in front of a paper moon stage.

Katherine McPhee: “It’s Not Christmas Without You”

The dough-eyed Idol alum hit the mark with her new album, Christmas Is The Time (To Say I Love You). Full of silky-smooth, jazz-tinged renditions of old favorites like “Jingle Bells” and “O’ Holy Night” she offers an effortless update to the tunes. Her single, “It’s Not Christmas Without You,” may very well become a new holiday classic for those who are young and in love over the holidays.

Rihanna: “A Child Is Born”

The sexy siren released this track on Now That’s What I Call Christmas! (Volume 4) and stamped the Christian classic with her island style.  The bouncing beat and reggae/pop sound offer a refreshing twist to the old favorite.

Train: “Shake Up Christmas”

The “Soul Sister” singers cooked up this ditty for Coca-Cola’s holiday campaign.  In an effort to boost spirits in tough economic times, the upbeat track reminds us what this time is all about; not the cash we spend, but the company we keep and the happiness we feel.

Kelly Rowland: “Wonderful Christmastime”

Kelly’s cover of Paul McCartney’s classic receives an R&B makeover from the former child of destiny. Featured on the Now That’s What I Call Christmas, (Volume 4) compilation, Rowland’s performance is fun, fresh, and certainly enough to revive the track for a new generation.

Hurts: “All I Want For Christmas Is New Year’s Day”

If you’re heartbroken for the holidays this year, Hurts got you covered.  The British-born duo created a Christmas carol that acknowledges how painful the holidays can be when you’re longing for a loved one at Christmastime.  While it may not be the most festive track on the list, it’s real as can be for so many of us.

Kara DioGuardi & Jason Reeves: “New York in Wintertime”

The former American Idol judge and prolific songwriter, Kara DioGuardi has teamed up with Jason Reeves for a truly unique take on Christmas in the city.  While we expected DioGuardi to pen great lyrics, it was her standout vocal performance that was the real surprise.  We can’t help but wonder if the track, featured on the holiday compilation, Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In, will lead to an album from the unlikely duo.

Lady Antebellum: “On This Winter’s Night”

The country crooners lend their signature style to holiday classics in their six-track holiday album, A Merry Little Christmas.  The single, “On This Winter’s Night” is the only original track they recorded, and it’s on its way to becoming a family favorite.  Featuring a child’s chorus in the background, the ballad strikes a perfect balance of reverence and gratitude, two sentiments many of us can appreciate this year.

By Cortney Wills

Cortney Wills is a pop culture journalist born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She has lived in LA, Chicago and NYC and enjoys all things entertainment.

Ciara’s Basic Instinct is designed to take her sound back to the catchy Crunk n B of her ’04 debut Goodies. Fantasy Ride had dance experiments and hip-pop mixes but Instinct dares to travel more bass-heavy territory by definition. Ciara has likened the CD to the movie Basic Instinct and the manipulative lead character played by Sharon Stone. The video for the first single “Ride” with Ludacris caused a media ruckus with BET because of Ciara’s graphic sensuality. But the production team of Tricky Stewart and The Dream really did concoct a beat as baneful as Stone’s Catherine Tramell. And they do make the bass a governing force, but the addition of lasers inside “Gimme Dat” and the bright synthesizers surrounding “Wants For Dinner” moves the production away from the musical strengths of Goodies. Unsurprisingly, it is the ethos of “Ride” that divulges the true mission of the CD as A-list pop and R&B for the ladies who work as exotic dancers. It is impossible not to imagine silky gyrations and g-strings when Ciara coos over the slinky rhythmic arrangements.

Usher is the only other featured artist and he joins her on the cheery “Turn It Up” that lightens the mood with its party-starting ambition certain to make it a pop anthem. Sassy and sexy, the title track is a confident but vulnerable declaration about a renewed focus on her career after the emotions of a love affair distracted her from giving a full commitment to her work. As if to enforce the point about women dancing for a living “Girls Get Your Money” reminds female listeners not to date men without financial sustenance. Before detractors can accuse her of being shallow she completely surrenders to love in “Speechless” and offers gratitude worthy of an extra holiday to her mate. Instinct does not have the sparkle of Goodies but it does offer the sexiness and danceability that Ciara’s fans want and expect.

Track List:

1. Basic Instinct (U Got Me)
2. Ride (feat. Ludacris)
3. Gimmie Dat
4. Heavy Rotation
5. Girls Get Your Money
6. Yeah I Know
7. Speechless
8. You Can Get It
9. Turn It Up (feat. Usher)
10. Wants for Dinner
11. I Run It
12. Listen to My Song (Pre-Order Bonus)

By Tamara Harris

Tamara Harris is a music blogger who has published past work in Blues and Soul, Floss, Grip, AOL City and The Metro Times.

Anyone that goes by the name “Spits” is bound to be a character, for better or worse.  For Spits Nelson, there’s no question it’s for the better. A moniker most likely derived from his abounding obsession with rapping, Spits’ (known to his mother as Joshua and friends as J-Nel) enormous personality and love for the game are palpable just from skimming his biography. How many artists do you know that introduce themselves on paper with an original verse? A product of both Jersey poles, Spits has been at it for the past sixteen years, a few of which were even spent in Boston while attending Fisher College. With so many local flavors embedded within his style, there’s no question this east coast extraordinaire is destined to receive praise for originality if nothing else.

Of course, people don’t usually love their trades unless they’re good at them and they know it. Spits is good at rapping and he knows it, an effect apparent in the aptly titled track, “I’m Great.” It is here that J-Nel denounces certain typical hip hop stereotypes like “frontin’,” and cleverly justifies his participation in others, notable in phrases such as “I guess they gonna hate when I win/ that’s why I put my brim low/ I don’t wanna see their faces again!” Yet behind the wit, Mr. Nelson is slowly building the song’s bigger picture, chronicling his story from when he was a poor kid that didn’t have any sneakers and couldn’t play in the park, to a teen who knew he was smart but had self esteem issues, to a rapper who finally knows his part. Instrumentally, the track is comprised of an orchestral sample riff that eventually falls into place once the descending bass line and percussion come in. In form, the beat (only 4 measures long, and unchanging throughout) does become redundant, but with Spits’ seemingly endless content and his energetic tone, the song is far from boring.

If there was any question as to his flow’s versatility on more complex beats, “You Know It’s Me” answers them soundly. Though the panning of smothering synth chords during the song’s opening is a little too reminiscent of a tacky electronic track, the thick, syrupy snyth line prominent throughout, high pitched digital blips and varying percussion rhythms all mesh perfectly together—and Spits is more than happy to guide us through it all with ease. From women to weed to money then back to women, there’s no doubt this song’s message is largely a hedonistic one. Nonetheless, Spits’ overwhelming confidence continues to be contagious, making the piece a perfect candidate for any party jam playlist.

It’s not often a rapper with such a magnetic attraction to hip hop shows up and is able to come across as being genuine. He legitimately just wants to share his work with you, proven by the fact he’s published his email address asking anyone to send performance requests his way. Currently working with label upstart B.L.A.K. out of Boston, he hopes to get his music into every city, and we know he eventually will. Check out his blog and let us know how you feel about Spits in the comments!