Let’s be unequivocal: were Jeanine Smith not to have taken out the ad directly to your right, this post would not exist. After all, I can count on one finger the amount of female R&B singers we’ve covered on the Passion (one, see E. Badu). But when Jeanine (not some major label, not some svengali manager) decided to buy me two Poquito Mas dinners in exchange for one week of ad space, I figured the least I could do was give her music an honest shot. Plus, she’s affiliated with Quannum Records (she recently completed a tour of Australia/New Zealand with Blackalicious and the Mighty Underdogs), and in the words of the great Dallas Penn, “I fucks with them cats.” Er, dogs.
Despite fearing the worst (I mean anyone who pays for advertising on this blog….), I can safely say that I’m impressed with Jeanine’s music. Blessed with a breathy, rich voice and an excellent ear for beats, the two tunes posted below straddle the line between Badu and Keyshia Cole. Not to say that she’s in that rarefied company just yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Smith has a very bright future ahead of her. So no, I wouldn’t have bothered to give her music a listen had she not taken out the ad–nor do I want to start a trend of ads equaling coverage–that’s just deplorable. But if you’re into rhythm, blues, or girls named Jeanine, check her out.
Plus, the chicken tostadas and tortilla soup that I ordered with the ad money were delicious.
Download:
MP3: Jeanine Smith-”It Ain’t Over”
MP3: Jeanine Smith-”Runnin’”
MP3: J Dilla-”Pay Jay”
7 comments
jrad says:
January 9, 2009 at 7:18 pm (UTC -7)
i actually sort of like this…
Passion of the Weiss says:
January 9, 2009 at 7:57 pm (UTC -7)
I know right? I was pleasantly surprised considering I expect to hate all unsolicited submissions.
Nate Jones says:
January 9, 2009 at 8:32 pm (UTC -7)
Haven’t listened yet. But I would definitely exchange ad space for Poquito Mas. That place is grub.
Cafe says:
January 9, 2009 at 8:34 pm (UTC -7)
I’d just like to say I’m new to this blog and love it. You’ve exposed me to music I’d never have heard of.
PS, I’m feeling those Jeanine Smith tracks.
Tray says:
January 9, 2009 at 9:18 pm (UTC -7)
Keysh is rarefied? She has a great voice but that’s about it, in my ever-so humble opinion… I liked the first 30 seconds of the first song you posted better than any non-’Last Night’ Keyshia I’ve ever heard.
Passion of the Weiss says:
January 9, 2009 at 9:36 pm (UTC -7)
I saw Keyshia open for Wayne and was impressed. To be honest, I don’t really know what critics think of her–but she’s certainly wildly popular.
douglas martin says:
January 11, 2009 at 7:19 am (UTC -7)
i look at unsolicited musical acts the way my almost-five-year-old-niece looks at pizza toppings. “ewwww. i don’t want that.” the other night, her mom made her try canadian bacon, and she was like, “oooh. i like this!”
this is what happened when i listened to these jeanine smith tracks you posted.