When I had the opportunity to cover the live performance of Tyrese at the Atlanta Civic Center back in April of this year, I was trying my best not to be trampled by the legion of stiletto clad ladies in the audience. Some were dying to get a touch of the Capricorn crooner and others couldn’t hold their composure when special guest, Tank hit the stage with Tyrese in an announcement of the newly formed supergroup, TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank). Talks had been in the rumor mill for years but it all became certified in September 2012 at the Atlantic Records Private Signing Dinner.

Putting in work in their personal “R&B Bootcamp”, the self-entitled “R&B Avengers” want you to get a sneak peek within the TGT “lifestyle” and the process of “bringing that real thing back”. On a personal note, while it is indeed entertaining to see these gentlemen flexing their muscle and witnessing the humorous brotherhood among them as artists, I’m really inclined to see their musical direction and interpretation of reviving R&B and soul music within the present industry climate. Until then, here is the latest “behind the scene” video from TGT.

Ginuwine Pictures

Our friends over at YouKnowIGotSoul.com recently caught up with R&B singer Ginuwine and got the scoop on what to expect from the supergroup TGT (Tank, Ginuwine, Tyrese) and his upcoming album Old School Young. Check it out and enjoy.

Frankie Beverly

Summer Music Festival

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly with special guests Tank, Babyface, The O’Jays and Patti LaBelle

July 19, 2012

Chastain Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA

Grown Folks Music was living up to its name at the Summer Music Festival in Atlanta, GA. How you ask? Well it just doesn’t get any more “grown” than hanging out at a Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly show. The legendary band and recipient of the 2012 BET Lifetime Achievement Award treated us to all the jams like “We Are One”, “Can’t Get Over You” “While I’m Alone” and more– providing the crowd with maximum ”grown folk” entertainment. And of course, Mr. Beverly, and many in the crowd, were wearing the signature white attire.

Also on the show was Tank, who opened the show with a medley of his songs and who later joined Babyface on stage, along with a surprise guest: Babyface’s brother Kevon Edmonds. Babyface also performed a medley of his hits along with hits he’s written over the years for other artists; namely Bobby Brown, After 7 and Boyz II Men.

The mighty, mighty, O’Jays took the stage and although they have been in the business a long time… they don’t show any signs of slowing down. No sitting on stools for these mature gentleman: they had choreographed dancing to compliment jams like ‘Back Stabbers”, “Love Train” and “Used ta Be My Girl”.

Ms. Patti LaBelle began her show with a video montage that made the crowd anticipate her entrance, but when she appeared on stage, she was very subdued and not very animated. She didn’t move about the stage and there was no “flapping of wings” or kicking off shoes… she just stood and sang. It was her background singers and music director who brought the energy to the stage. Nevertheless. Ms. Patti’s voice is still very pure and clear. At the end of her show she performed “You Are My Friend” accompanied by a local choir and a video featuring her family members and friends, many who were famous, and some who have passed away.

Headlining of course was Maze who brought the show home and put the cherry on top of a sweet evening of entertainment. Catch the Summer Music Festival when comes it comes near your city if you haven’t already, ’cause it’s never a bad time at when real artists like these are performing.

Check out “Next Breath” by Tank from his new album This Is How I Feel. Get it at iTunes.

Check out some of the new music released this week.

Brandy: Put It Down Featuring Chris Brown (single)

Get it at iTunes

Mary Mary: Go Get It: Music Featured in and Inspired by the We Series

Get it at iTunes

Tank: This Is How I Feel

Get it at iTunes

Dee Snider: Dee Does Broadway

Get it at iTunes

Last week, GFM was in the house for TAU Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, fraternity member Shaquille O’Neal and High Aspirations Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 foundation that focuses on efforts to retrieve grants and other monetary contributions to provide scholarships for graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students, for their annual Spring Scholarship Extravaganza with special guests Avery Sunshine and Tank.  First on the stage with a spirited smile and equally radiant performance was our beloved soultress, singer/songwriter, Avery *Sunshine. From her apologetic love song, “Ugly Part of Me” to her sassy rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Jump to It”, the audience was left amazed by her “sistah girl” charm and incredible vocal talent. But as the night drew closer, women swarmed the front of the stage just to get close to their R&B headliner, Tank.  With extended hands and excited screams, Tank made sure to deliver his customary form of female stimulation with songs like “Slowly” and “Celebration”, yet by the same token, an intimate feel with songs like “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and “Please Don’t Go” played tenderly on the piano.  If you didn’t catch this show, we made sure to capture some of the pictorial highlights from the event. (more…)

If there is anything I now understand about a Calvin Richardson and Tyrese concert, they will definitely make security work for their paycheck during their performance. Between screaming fans reaching for a pant hem and stiletto clad hopefuls wishing to be the chosen lady picked to join their fantasy man on stage, I had to give a shout out to God for helping me to come out in one piece without getting trampled by this excited audience. To get a visual taste of the spoken energy, check out our pics from their Atlanta show. Special guests also included Idris Elba, Da Brat, Tank and Akon. (more…)

This is the new single from Tank’s most recent album Now or Never. Remaking a classic Bonnie Raitt cover, Tank does an excellent job in emulating the raw emotion through this beautiful yet sad love song. Check it out for yourself! (more…)