For our Best of for the next two weeks, we’re traveling back in time to the ’90s. The hallowed era of the group band, it was pretty good times all around. Our playlist this week showcases the musical stylings of these bands of yore, fondly recalled by our generation. Often, simplicity is the order of the day for many of these groups, as vocals are allowed to shine.

For our playlist, we’ve highlighted the bridge of the classic Backstreet Boys ballad, “All I Have to Give,” released as their sixth single in 1997 off of their second album, Backstreet’s Back. Whereas the verses emphasize their individual voices, the bridge is where their harmonies are allowed to meld together. The intro of TLC’s “What About Your Friends” mixes lively rhythms with T-Boz’s clear, strong vocals. We’ve also highlighted the bridge from Destiny Child’s “Confessions,” a story-song from their breakout albumWriting’s on the Wall. The bridge builds to an emotional peak, with the others harmonizing with Beyonce to emphasize the pain the character feels in the song. While the primary tension in this song is confessing her infidelities, in the bridge, she finally admits her frustration about the dynamics of the relationship.

The next two selections on our playlist are from KCi and JoJo, a two-piece duo composed of brothers Cedric and Joel Hailey (KCi and JoJo, respectively) originally from North Carolina. The pre-chorus of “Crazy,” featured on the Save The Last Dance soundtrack, a 2001 film starring Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas, immediately brings home a soulful earnestness in their vocal delivery that shines throughout. This is also showcased in “All My Life,” an R&B ballad written for JoJo’s daughter. The second verse maintains this simple, direct style, building into an emotional climax.

The last two songs we’re profiling are from early 90s groups. While we often don’t showcase verses on FavePart, the verses in Tony Toni Tone’s “Let’s Get Down” are the best part of the song. The group were originally based in Oakland, CA, and the original iteration of the band was active until 1997. They also helped contribute to Alicia Keys’ song “Diary” in 2003. Finally, the declarative chords in the intro to Zhane’s “Sending my Love” catch a listener’s attention – a representative 90s tune. Zhane was active from 1993-1999 and was a part of Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit collective.

We’ll see you back next week for Part Two of our Best of: 90s Edition – stay tuned.

Backstreet Boys – All I Have To Give

TLC – What About Your Friends

Destiny’s Child – Confessions

Kci and JoJo – Crazy

Kci and Jojo – All My Life

Tony Toni Tone – Lets Get Down

Zhane – Sending My Love

For our ‘Best of’ this week, we’ll be focusing on songs produced by Timbaland. Timbaland is a songwriter and producer originally from Virginia primarily working in the R&B, pop rock and hip hop genres. He rose to prominence in the mid-90s and has worked with many contemporary acts, including Nelly Furtado, Chris Brown and Pitbull. He also has an active web presence, releasing a new song weekly online as part of Timbaland Thursdays.

Our playlist for this week includes the stylistic shift in the outro of JT’s “What Goes Around…Comes Around,” which sonically signals the titular thematickarmic retribution, both in the lyrical departure from the feelings of anger and betrayal to one of perspective that the betrayer has received her just deserts/comeuppance. The beat even mimics this, slowing down and stepping back. These elements combine to paint the final picture. In “Lovestoned/I Think She Knows,” we see another seamless shift into an excellent outro. The beat slows down and the instrumentation pares back, showcasing JT’s falsetto. The outro layers on itself and with its drawn out echoes, emphasizes, a more contemplative side, the feeling of being in thrall to someone else’s charms and allowing it to happen.

The instrumentation in the intro to Flo Rida’s “Elevator,” including the subtle piano, creates a sense of foreboding before the first verse drops. The chorus of Madonna’s “Four Minutes” highlights a lively atmosphere with the incorporation of brass instruments. While present throughout, they are further layered and accented in the chorus. The intro to Total’s “What About Us” (featured on the 1997 Soul Food album) is an emblematic ’90s jam, allowing listeners to acclimate themselves to the beat. No longer active, Total was prominent during the ’90s on P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records.

Our final song for the playlist is Aaliyah’s “One in a Million,” for the simplicity of its beat that draws the listener in and serves as a backdrop for Aaliyah’s voice during this classic R&B standard.

Tracklist below….

Justin Timberlake – What Comes Around……Goes Around

Justin Timberlake – Lovestoned/ I Think She Knows

Flo Rida – Elevator

Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake- 4 Minutes

Total – What About Us

Aaliyah – One In A Million

May mix 2012

Lana Del Rey – Carmen

John Legend ft. Ludacris – Tonight (Best You Ever Had)

Red Cafe – Game Over

Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (4FRNT Remix)

Rihanna – Where Have You Been

Little dragon – Crystalfilm

Roane Namuh & Reva Devito – Candy

Kanye West ft. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz – Mercy

Our Top 5 this week features songs produced by The Neptunes.

Our 30 Seconds of Heaven includes the intro to Kelis’ “Get ‘Long With You.” Her voice, paired with the instrumentals that inch forward before starting into the main beat of the song, give us goosebumps.  Our second selection is the excellent outro of JT’s “Like I Love You.” The instrumentals completely pull back from what has previously been built up, creating a spare, minimalist soundscape before the drums come in. We’ve also included the instrumental breakdown from Pharell’s “Frontin” previously profiled on our blog. In the underrated single, “Number One,” Pharell’s voice is reminiscent of Michael Jackson. Finally, the bridge of Toni Braxton’s “Hit the Freeway” encapsulates what we love about the Neptunes’ instrumentation – vocals and beat combine to produce a slinky combination of sounds.

Our 30 seconds below – we’ll see you again next Tuesday.

Kelis – Get Along With You

Justin_Timberlake – Like I Love You

Pharrell – Frontin

Pharrell ft Kanye West – Number One

Toni Braxton – Hit The Freeway

This may have to be 15 seconds of Heaven..

The beginning of this song is accenting John Legend’s vocal arrangement. But then of course the beat, reminiscent of 90′s Hip Hop, comes into play and makes you want to keep listening to the remainder of the song. The intro creates a solid build up to a solid song.

John Legend ft Kanye West – It’s Over

Sometimes all you need is an intense build up before an incredible eargasm occurs. DJ Bam Bam does just that in our 30 Seconds of Heaven. This Chi-town native is owner of Fly House Records and has been in the game since the 90′s. Take a listen.

DJ Bam Bam ft Mr. Robotic – Watch The Club Go

Miguel – Bawdy

I wish I could tell all of you where you can find this song but it was a difficult find. Miguel has countless hits, and it’s unfortunate “Bawdy” was not one of them. The bridge is superb and you’ll find yourself replaying this 30 seconds.

Welcome to our inaugural FavePart “Best Of” playlist. Every Tuesday, we’ll post our favorite thirty seconds across a particular artist’s oeuvre. For our first entry, we’re focusing on our man Drake (Drizzy).

“Find Your Love” and “Marvin’s Room,” which we have previously featured on our blog, both build up very well and create a cool, atmospheric vibe, emphasizing the meanings of the song. Our playlist also profiles the bridge of “Practice,” which evokes a smooth, sexual vibe, particularly in the rhythms. The domineering drums in the background also add to the mood. In “Shot For Me,” we particularly enjoy this opportunity to listen to the beat as it blends into “Headlines.” And “The Motto’s” catchy beat, immediately puts you in the mood to enjoy a fun filled weekend.

Below, you’ll find our top 5 Fave Parts – enjoy, and we’ll see you here next week.

Drake – Find Your Love

Drake – Marvin’s Room

Drake – Practice

Drake – Shot For Me

Drake – The Motto

April mix 2012

Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre – The Recipe

Rochelle Jordan – Shot

Azealia Banks – 212

50 Cent Feat. T.I. & Young Jeezy – Up! (Remix)

Nicki Minaj – Beez In The Trap ft. 2 Chainz

Fred the Godson – Monique’s Room (I Dont Give a F-ck About You)

Justin Bieber – Boyfriend

Tyga ft Lil Wayne – Faded

Litte Dragon – No Love

“No Love” is the third track off of Little Dragon’s self-titled debut (2007). Little Dragon, whom we’ve covered previously in the blog, is based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Yukimi Nagano’s soulful vocals in the bridge are reminiscent of Erykah Badu. Great track.

30 OH

Today, Christina Aguilera is primarily considered a pop artist, but when her debut album came out in 1999, it was difficult to peg Aguilera in a particular category. While her hit singles, “Genie in a Bottle” and “What a Girl Wants” were smash pop hits, Aguilera was also more willing to experiment with genres. What stands out to us about “Somebody’s Somebody,” is its R&B sensibility, particularly in the outro.

30 OH

The first ten seconds of this clip, prefacing Drake’s second verse, gives us chills. The echoing of his voice underlines the raw emotions brought to the surface. Fave Part loves Drizzy.