Darius Rucker - Hidden Beach
www.dariusrucker.com/bio.asp

Mongo Put Hootie Away
Yes Hushbox hunks and hunnies it's true. Mongo Slade sent Hootie ( of & the Blowfish fame) packing. Not for good... but that's another story.

In short Darius "Hootie" Rucker has donned the new moniker of "Mongo Slade" for the release of his first solo album "The Return of Mongo Slade". Oh, and if that didn't shock you than this next lil' bit of text won't either, it's an old school R&B collection!

Now check it. Some of y'all (and you know who you are) have in all actually been anticipating this album for some time. But it seems as though some industry folk over at Atlantic records took a pass on it (which equals delay in common English). But an indie label named "Hidden Beach Recordings"... sound familiar? Your damn right it sounds familiar! Can you say Jill Scott, or Brenda Russell?

In any case, it looks like we will soon have yet another round of thanks to send to HBR once Hootie'... I mean Darius'... damn! I mean when Mongo Slade returns in late December or early January.

So how is this album Eshu (they all asked with bated breath)? Well the album is... it's sorta'... nope. I take that back it ain't sorta' anything, it's straight up R&B. It's got funky R&B in "Glad Your Mine" (made famous by that Molten Grit chested Al Green), Soulful almost Gospel R&B in "Somewhere", Bluesy R&B on "Hold On", a duet with Jill Scott type R&B on "Sometimes I Wonder". As far as standouts go I would have to say that "Wild One" (my personal favorite) is as wild as a mellow cut can be, and "Exodus" is gonna' kill ya'll! I mean straight through yo heart dead!

But don't let me sell a brutha (whateva' his name is) short; his voice has a sound that isn't Hootie doing soul but soul using his voice as an exit from a void that has existed in the genre 4ALONGTIME! Now I'm discounting the efforts of the likes of Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Pru, Lauryn and the list goes on. But the soul (neo-soul, retro-soul... how can one thing be retro and neo at the same time-o?) music genre is undoubtedly dominated by women and another brutha can't hurt.

Awight ya'll, I missed ya so I have rambled on. Please accept my most sincere oh well... ESHU is back and that's the price you gonna' pay. Keep your eyes peeled for the album. If you can't wait that long check out his web site at http://www.dariusrucker.com, and grab a couple of the samples... you might walk away saying, "Hootie-Whooooo;I can't wait for Mongo Slade to return for the first time."

Imout onelove peace

Kina-Kina - Dreamworks
www.4kina.com

Queen from the gutter
Aw'ight! Some of y'all been sleep'n! While that Wild-Afro haired broad that is most likely going to found blue in her bathtub has been making a media blitz y'all have been letn' this brazen, sexy intelligent sista simmer on the back burner. In the words of Mr. Lee, "WAKE UP!"

Her name is Kina; the name of the album is Kina, and the M (as in media and not music) TV single is "Girl from the Gutter" (for you of the tragically and continuously un-hip tribe that translates into "about Kina"). Simply put this album is a necessity for those tired of listening to the same old, " I got bills", "I'm a bad bitch", "I can be a ho if I want, and you betta buy it", mono-brow bullshit that seems to be overflowing from sistas in the main R&B/Hip-Hop stream. Kina pulls from Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, and Al Green based influences just to name a diverse few. And, while "Girl From the Gutter" (which should be called Queen from The gutter) is a very good testament to the overall soul of the album it is by no means a full representation of the depth and range of the artist.

Songs like "Stop", "Looser", and "Hurt So Bad" are all much closer to the sensual and potent seed of her diverse roots. But if those songs are fair representations of "da roots", the song "I Love You", is no doubt the trunk of the tree. This song starts as a gentile sapling and grows into a full-grown, funky assed, sexy feeln', hard guitar chorded, orchestra backed, ancient oak of a testament to the love from one person to one person (novel concept ain't it). In short buy the album, you deserve some music that has all the rock your ancestors created and all the soul you've been missing.

Kelis- KALEIDOSCOPE - Virgin
www.kelis.com

I really do hate them so much right now
Damn this hurts. I don't know how else to say it. The dilemma in reviewing albums often comes from separating the artist from the album. This is a perfect case and point. The album, while being better than most of the pure "Grade-A" crap that you here on the radio, is nowhere near the potential of the THIS ARTIST.

Kelis shows power, heart and soul all throughout this album. However, the producers attempt to box her in to an all to typical Hip-Hop/Rap range. The label supported duo of "Caught Out There"(a.k.a. I hate you so much RIGHT NOW!!!) and "Get Along With You" are surprisingly, very good examples of Kelis's diversity. However, the unreleased "Suspended" continues to be an uncharted star. But, while listening to this production I was forced to echo the sentiments of Kelis her self however, instead of speaking to a forlorn love I speak to Atlantis (where I presume Neptune lives) and say, "I really do hate you so much right now!" Not, because Kelis didn't give what the above average listener (which includes all hush box subscribers) looks for, but because the production of the album fell well short of showcasing Kelis as what she is... very talented.

For example, in tracks where Kelis does quite well supporting the song on her own, someone decides (somewhat arbitrarily), "Hey lets through some weak assed rapper in right about... here!" "WHY?" I ask! Leave the self proclaimed "Thunder Bitch" alone she is fine without your half assed shiny suit wearing rapper, finger sexing her vibe! This "Kaleidosope" was more like washed out monochrome. It brought to mind visions of a female tiger in a Zoo.

I mean, you understand that she's dangerous, but you have no immediate or realistic example as to why. All in all, I think you should buy the album because, if Brittany, Christina and... hell pick your favorite fake blond icon, can make millions there is no reason why someone with actual talent shouldn't. Further more, when you do buy her album (and you really should) the numbers will eventually add up enough for her to get producers that give a damn.

Brand New Immortals-Brand New Immortals-DRH/Peacepoagemusic
www.brandnewimmortals.com

Immortality is well within your grasp

On the verge of this new millennium (for those of U not in the know the big M starts 01.01.01 not 01.01.00), everything is being called "new". From the "new" befree maxi with wings to the "new" Prince formally known as the artist formally known as Prince... how quaint. Well in keeping with the soon to be legendary standards of Da' Hushbox here is something "NEW". They're called The Brand New Immortals.

Take at least six different guitars, 3 pink guys, 1 brown guy, some Sly and the Family Stone type funk, some Beatles harmonies, a style of dress that makes Lenny Kravits look like an orthodox Jew, and the star of alien autopsy and you've created very ruff sketch of how "NEW" these cats are.

The Brand New Immortals have managed to create a refreshingly different take on Rock and Soul. The title track of the upcoming "King For A Day" is, technically speakingÉ a KICK ASS dark funk fairytale. While "High Time" is a kinda Stevie Wonder meets Sgt. Pepper joint about a break up that really needs to happen. This EP is drenched with hard guitar, and heavy funk. If you're a fan of good music get ready to add another CD to the, "Nah my butha, U gotta gech yo own list! "

Take it from one that is starving for something (retro slang alert!) fresh. These 4 cats are something else. Check'em in concert (can u say re-di-culous-ly dope!), grab the EP, and then pick up the CD! When U do U'll overstand why the "Brand New" musical immortality lays well within your reach.

Have U Been Bamboozled? - New Line Cinema
www.bamboozledmovie.com

Why not? Why haven't you been Bamboozled yet? There is no excuse. You are tragically hip. You are reading the Hushbox every week. You want to know what is going on where. You are looking for entertainment that stimulates while it touches your often-neglected creative and tragically hip ass, so why duh hell haven't ya'll seen this movie?

Bamboozled is Spike Lee's latest flick. The title of the flick is pulled from that line in Malcolm X's speech (that was further immortalized by Denzel) in which he says that blacks, "have been tricked, hoodwinked, bamboozled..." The movie itself is a hard-core satire (or is it a satire...) about the way that blacks specifically (all brown skins non-specifically) are portrayed in mainstream media. Be warned this movie hits you hard on the surface, and even harder when you look at the symbolism within the symbolismÉ yaknowahimsayn'?

If at this point your wondering why I haven't gone into who's performance is great, and given you the lil' plot tease and all that bullshit, it's simple. I'm not a movie critic. I'm the music columnist remember... Soular Flair? But I saw the film and was moved to the point that I thought those of my tribe need to be told this movie is worth supporting (note I said supporting and not seeingÉ all u scour.net people know what I mean).

Simply put, the first weekend box office gross of a film is a major indicator in how long the film runs, how well the film is publicized, and more importantly how many more films of it's kind will be made in the near future. The first weekend for this film has passed, and the box office totals barely placed "Bamboozled" in the top forty! While movies like "Meet the Parents", "Urban Legends: Final Cut" and ÒBring it on" (for the love of Jah, it's a movie about a cheerleading competition!!!) are all sitting in the top 20. I know y'all aint kewl with a 1 decent movie of color a year, so do sumpÕen bout' it! If money talks, y'all need 2 b talkn' 2 and about Spike's new joint and quit being "Bamboozled" into meeting the parents!

Nelly Furtado - Whoa, Nelly! - Dreamworks|
www.whoanelly.com

Das' right yo Eshu is back and let me start by saying it in the words of the great urban philosopher D'angelo, "Shitdamnmuthafucka!" Nelly Furtado's fresfhman offering is the aptly titled, "Who, Nelly!" and I couldn't have put it better. This lil' honey complected songstress brings names to mind like, Jobim, Gwen Stefani, Beck, Portishead, and (dare I say it?! Of curse I do!) ,Tina Marie.

Nelly is a first generation Portuguese native of Canada. She credits this Canadian upbringn' for the diverse musical genres represented by the album. Over the course of the album you can count on hearing Brazilian Bosa-Nova rhythms, mixing with trance drumbeats, laying over some upbeat and stirringly stimulating lyrics. She manages to carry it all off exceptionally well. Oh, and dare I forget to mention she aint that hard on the eye's neitha! (Hushbox hunnies fo-give a brutha, unless u into hushbox hunnies... in which case read that last line again!) All in all, I and I say keep yo eyes on her ( in 1 mo way than 68) cuz she about to blow the hell up!

Tommy Sims- Peace and Love - Universal/Motown
www.tommysims.com

BEEP - BEEP - BEEP

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL FUNK ALERT OF THE EMERGENCY HUSBOX BROADCAST SYSTEM!

Tommy Sims, never heard of him? Think again this brutha has written for mo folk that I can shake my di... stick at! Here is a small list, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Amy Grant, Wynonna Judd, BLACKstreet, CeCe Winans, The Neville Bothers, and Garth Brooks. The son he wrote for Eric Clapton "Change The World" won him a Grammy. But I digress.

Tommy has his solo project out and it cover everything from a Jim Croce re-make, to some flat out funk. The brutha gives you wiffs of all the soul greats, Marvin, Al Green, even a lil' Stevie. His lyrics are intelligent and thought provoking. He speaks to experiences common to each of us. Whether male, female, you should find something that speaks to you here.

Let me warn you, there are some moments that may come of as a bit "Preachy", but let he who has not sinned talk the first shit! I any case Tommy sits right in there with the best of them. He is a welcome change to the cookie cutter R&B that you have been told is soul. Check'm Out!

Everlast - EAT AT WHITEY's - Tommy Boy
www.everlastmusic.com

Yes, yes y'all! Whitey's back and his shit is just as tight ass skin on grapes. This brutha came back with old school style, on millennium tracks. Everybody from Carlos Santana and Cee-Lo to N'dea Davenport show up, and shows out! "Babylon Feeling", "Black Jesus", and "Mercy On My Soul" are new school stand outs. While "Bedtime Stories", and "Whitey" remind us of where Everlast's and Hip-Hop's roots come from. This is a true Hushbox vibe from front to back!

Oh, and to add insult to the injury, there is one more track I forgot to mention. "Whitey's Revenge", the absolute retribution track dedicated to Eminem and his Mammy. The reason it's an injury is because he truly injures everything from M's rap skills to his personal life. The reason it's an insult is because as apposed to slapping it on the album and pulling in some extra dough from people just trying to hear a dissÉ Whitey is giving the track away for free (for those who still don't get it this means the sole purpose for the track is to call out and shit on Eminem)! Buy it.