At a time when many rap artists seem to be abandoning regional rap styles in favor of the pursuit of a national sound, Lil O has created a quintessential Texas rap record with Grind Hard, Pray Harder. O’s no stranger to Houston rap fans (he even has a Greatest Hits CD), but this new album consists of 14 solid tracks, with an all-star cast of guests, including Killa Kyleon, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Devin tha Dude and Big K.R.I.T. Outstanding tracks include the UGK-sounding “Baulin in da City”, the current hot single “I’m What Dat Iz”, the sunny “Fresh Up Out the Cleaners” and the driving, street-hard “Betcha Can’t Do It”. Lil O’s Grind Hard, Pray Harder is a beautifully-produced piece of Houston rap, a throwback to the sound that made Houston famous.
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Louisiana-born Bobby Jones is a Chicago bluesman who has also recorded as “Bobby Jonez” and “Bobby Jonz”. Not to be confused with the gospel music star, Jones is a competent blues vocalist who has seen some popularity on the Georgia-Carolina Beach Music circuit. You Ain’t Got No Proof is seemingly Jones’ first album since 2006, and it is a return to the Southern Soul genre where his career began. The centerpiece of the album is the title track “You Ain’t Got No Proof”, which seems to build upon Jones’ 1997 hit “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”, reminding an accusing lover that there’s no proof of the charges. “Stepping is Cool” celebrates the Chicago Steppers dance craze, and “Wife and Sister” is another song about losing one’s spouse to a same-sex relationship. A few of the songs have a more contemporary R & B production, of which “You Be Loving Me” is the standout, but Jones seems at his best on blues-inflected tunes like “Stick A Fork In Me” or the title track. While You Ain’t Got No Proof doesn’t stray much beyond the familiar Southern Soul formula, it should be welcomed by fans of the genre.
Louisiana-born Bobby Jones is a Chicago bluesman who has also recorded as “Bobby Jonez” and “Bobby Jonz”. Not to be confused with the gospel music star, Jones is a competent blues vocalist who has seen some popularity on the Georgia-Carolina Beach Music circuit. You Ain’t Got No Proof is seemingly Jones’ first album since 2006, and it is a return to the Southern Soul genre where his career began. The centerpiece of the album is the title track “You Ain’t Got No Proof”, which seems to build upon Jones’ 1997 hit “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”, reminding an accusing lover that there’s no proof of the charges. “Stepping is Cool” celebrates the Chicago Steppers dance craze, and “Wife and Sister” is another song about losing one’s spouse to a same-sex relationship. A few of the songs have a more contemporary R & B production, of which “You Be Loving Me” is the standout, but Jones seems at his best on blues-inflected tunes like “Stick A Fork In Me” or the title track. While You Ain’t Got No Proof doesn’t stray much beyond the familiar Southern Soul formula, it should be welcomed by fans of the genre.
Louisiana-born Bobby Jones is a Chicago bluesman who has also recorded as “Bobby Jonez” and “Bobby Jonz”. Not to be confused with the gospel music star, Jones is a competent blues vocalist who has seen some popularity on the Georgia-Carolina Beach Music circuit. You Ain’t Got No Proof is seemingly Jones’ first album since 2006, and it is a return to the Southern Soul genre where his career began. The centerpiece of the album is the title track “You Ain’t Got No Proof”, which seems to build upon Jones’ 1997 hit “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”, reminding an accusing lover that there’s no proof of the charges. “Stepping is Cool” celebrates the Chicago Steppers dance craze, and “Wife and Sister” is another song about losing one’s spouse to a same-sex relationship. A few of the songs have a more contemporary R & B production, of which “You Be Loving Me” is the standout, but Jones seems at his best on blues-inflected tunes like “Stick A Fork In Me” or the title track. While You Ain’t Got No Proof doesn’t stray much beyond the familiar Southern Soul formula, it should be welcomed by fans of the genre.
The crowd really didn’t seem to want to leave, and I didn’t either, but all good things must come to an end. I was facing a six hour drive back to Memphis that I could not postpone due to jury duty, and some of the bands, like the Hot 8, incredibly had only a brief rest period before having to be at another engagement. But I came away from the second-line experience with a feeling of exhiliration more than one of fatigue. Somehow, as I stopped in rather ordinary Metairie for coffee and food on the way out of town, it seemed as if I had passed between worlds. With I-10 gridlocked for some reason (perhaps the Saints game), I headed north across the Causeway instead, and back to Memphis, my mind replaying the day’s amazing scenes.
The crowd really didn’t seem to want to leave, and I didn’t either, but all good things must come to an end. I was facing a six hour drive back to Memphis that I could not postpone due to jury duty, and some of the bands, like the Hot 8, incredibly had only a brief rest period before having to be at another engagement. But I came away from the second-line experience with a feeling of exhiliration more than one of fatigue. Somehow, as I stopped in rather ordinary Metairie for coffee and food on the way out of town, it seemed as if I had passed between worlds. With I-10 gridlocked for some reason (perhaps the Saints game), I headed north across the Causeway instead, and back to Memphis, my mind replaying the day’s amazing scenes.
The crowd really didn’t seem to want to leave, and I didn’t either, but all good things must come to an end. I was facing a six hour drive back to Memphis that I could not postpone due to jury duty, and some of the bands, like the Hot 8, incredibly had only a brief rest period before having to be at another engagement. But I came away from the second-line experience with a feeling of exhiliration more than one of fatigue. Somehow, as I stopped in rather ordinary Metairie for coffee and food on the way out of town, it seemed as if I had passed between worlds. With I-10 gridlocked for some reason (perhaps the Saints game), I headed north across the Causeway instead, and back to Memphis, my mind replaying the day’s amazing scenes.
All too soon, we were suddenly back on Liberty Street at the Young Men Olympian Hall. People were everywhere, and it was hard to move, but the spirit of joy was evident, even amongst the tired musicians. The members of the Furious Five climbed up to the railing of their annex behind the hall, so that their pictures could be taken in their costumes. People had run into relatives or friends that they hadn’t seen in months, and their laughter filled the streets. Even the police, uniformed and on horseback. were laughing and interacting with neighborhood people they knew.
All too soon, we were suddenly back on Liberty Street at the Young Men Olympian Hall. People were everywhere, and it was hard to move, but the spirit of joy was evident, even amongst the tired musicians. The members of the Furious Five climbed up to the railing of their annex behind the hall, so that their pictures could be taken in their costumes. People had run into relatives or friends that they hadn’t seen in months, and their laughter filled the streets. Even the police, uniformed and on horseback. were laughing and interacting with neighborhood people they knew.
All too soon, we were suddenly back on Liberty Street at the Young Men Olympian Hall. People were everywhere, and it was hard to move, but the spirit of joy was evident, even amongst the tired musicians. The members of the Furious Five climbed up to the railing of their annex behind the hall, so that their pictures could be taken in their costumes. People had run into relatives or friends that they hadn’t seen in months, and their laughter filled the streets. Even the police, uniformed and on horseback. were laughing and interacting with neighborhood people they knew.