Soul Music

Yeezus is right: Kanye West's new album leaked on several web-sharing and streaming sites, four days before its scheduled release. [VERGE] Photos released from the upcoming movie The Butler showing Mariah Carey as a "field slave" have caused a ruckus. [ROOT] Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcomed their baby girl on Saturday -- a full five weeks early. [LAT] 20 Feet From Stardom, the new documentary putting the spotlight on backup singers, demonstrates what artists can learn behind the music. [FCC] Jay-Z announced plans to give away the first MILLION copies of his new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, to Samsung Galaxy subscribers who download a special app. [RTNY]

It may not be the first Friday of the month, but this first mix for June is right on time. Our always dependable resident mix master Keyknow laces us up lovely with Mellosmoothe. This Mixologists mix will be your soundtrack for this weekend and beyond with a soulful blend of songs perfect for anytime you need to relax, relate and release -- whether alone or with company. Keyknow outdid himself with this beautiful blend of tracks by Amel Larrieux, Omar, Zo!, The Brand New Heavies, Quadron, Maysa and so many more that fit right into the mellow smooth vibe that the title suggests. Press play and prepare yourself to set adrift on this musical bliss. Keyknow Mellosmoothe [Download][Subscribe in iTunes]

As a judge investigates the well-being of Paris Jackson, the fight over custody between her grandmother Katherine Jackson and her biological mother Debbie Rowe heated up. [TMZ] Jill Scott announced she will perform four shows in Australia, her first concerts in the country. [NOISE] A decade late and a dollar short: Apple revealed its new iTunes Radio service, which will directly compete with Pandora and Spotify. [HR] Jurors in the Michael Jackson wrongful death lawsuit reviewed documents highlighting AEG's concern over the numerous injections the singer received from his dermatologist -- and the $48,000 bill. [BB] Kanye West hosted a listening party for his album Yeezus, explaining the album title refers to his "god name," while "West was his slave name." [HP]

Freeze-Tag, aka 24-year-old Clevelandite Marcus Alan Ward, has been forging ahead with the recent aesthetic of mellow R&B made popular by such acts as Frank Ocean, Little Dragon (whose "Twice" he has covered), Toro Y Moi and others. He brings breezy lightness in his song "Fall in Love," off his Eskimo EP, and blends synthesizers and drum machines with chimes for a sound that gives you a tingling feeling all over -- like glitter and sparkles, crisp Riesling, and the feeling of new love. You can groove along to and download this track below and find more of what he calls his "prisma-chromatic" style on Soundcloud, along with the rest of the EP, here.

The arrival of J. Cole's hotly anticipated sophomore effort Born Sinner is a little over a week away. And, as with any album release in this day and age, that means that album leaks are coming fast and furious. The latest leak is "Forbidden Fruit," which features none other than man of the moment Kendrick Lamar. Sampling Ronnie Foster's "Mystic Brew" (perhaps best known as the source material for A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation"), Cole waxes poetic utilizing a broad Adam and Eve metaphor throughout the track as he fills the laid back groove with his own brand of braggadocio. Instead of contributing the expected guest verse here, Kendrick lends his vocals for the chorus. An unexpected choice, but an effective one. Born Sinner will go head to head with Kanye West's Yeezus when it drops on June 18th. Put on your headphones (the language is a bit NSFW) and check out "Forbidden Fruit" below. [H/T: 2DB]

Cody ChesnuTT released one of the best albums of last year with Landing On A Hundred. He's also been known to put on one hell of a live show. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing what Cody can do on stage and happen to be in the NYC area, then you're in luck! On June 13th, Cody will be heading to NYC's famed S.O.B.'s once again with his signature brand of soul. As if that weren't enough, he's bringing along up-and-coming talent Jennah Bell to showcase the Bay Area singer-songwriter's unique style. It's definitely a show you don't want to miss, and one lucky winner won't have to! That's because we here at SoulBounce happen to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. To enter, all you have to do is head after the bounce and submit your info. Of course, if you want your spot in the audience to be a bit more definite, you can also purchase your ticket right now.

The good news: Beyoncé has finally released an official single. The bad news: It's not a release from her as-yet-untitled fifth studio album. But hey, beggars can't be choosers, right? "Rise Up" is taken from the animated film Epic, which happens to feature the voice acting talents of none other than Bey herself. Co-written by go to songwriter of the pop stars Sia and produced by Hit-Boy and Chase N. Cashe, the song is exactly what you expect from the theme of an animated flick. Bey sings to the rafters on this inspirational track as she tells the downtrodden to "be who you are" and rise up above those who are trying to pull you down. As animated movie themes go, it's pretty run of the mill stuff. However, I'm sure with Beyoncé's involvement and her rabid excitable fanbase, this one will be well-received. [H/T: TIRNB]

We missed the boat when LA-based singer/songwriter/producer Sunni Colón dropped his Dearly Beloved EP last year, but we are not ones to make the same mistake twice so, based on his latest single "Karma", we will definitely be picking up his upcoming release, The Els Flowers. Comparisons to Frank Ocean are inevitable and unavoidable, from the vocal stylings to the deeply introspective lyrics and multi-faceted production, the pair could be musical brothers, but hey that's no bad thing. Check it out below, and keep your ears peeled for more from Sunni soon.

With their sophomore album, Avalanche, gaining rave reviews across the board (including here at SoulBounce), Quadron are taking advantage of the fact that they are now a major label act and using every opportunity available to answer questions and perform their new material live. Recently Robin Hannibal and Coco O. sat down with Billboard to discuss their musical chemistry together, their refreshed approach and their use of the question "what would Michael [Jackson] do?" when deciding what direction a song should go in. The duo also performed the LP's lead single "Hey Love" and the funky "Favorite Star", both of which can be seen after the bounce.

Now that the weather is heating up, it's crucial to have music that will transport your soul to the ocean breezes of Rio while you are stuck in a cubicle in Richmond. B.Lewis and Sango give just that in their recently released track "Não é Nada" (which, according to Google Translate, is Portuguese for "It's Nothing"). "Não é Nada" is something good, though; it's upbeat, with a definitive groove that's easy to get into, incredibly danceable and perfect for the long summer ahead. This song is packed with enough of B. Lewis' electronic vibes and Brazilian flavor to keep you partying until the break of dawn on a hot, sweaty rooftop. And the Lusophone influence is no coincidence - in a 2012 interview in Life + Times Sango admitted that he uses the sounds of Brazil as his muse for creating these highly charged beats. Check out their Bandcamp and SoundCloud pages for more of their electrorhythmic soul.