Stories that begin with "my uncle's, sister's, hairdresser's baby mama..." are typically laced with all sorts of ratchetry. However, my college classmate's distant cousin is Kamilah Sumner, a Chicago singer with a new song entitled "Never Bring Me Down," and I decided to give her a listen. Honestly I didn't know what to expect, but I ended up pleasantly surprised by Sumner's summery track about persisting against all odds to achieve your life's goals. Her voice is beautiful, but the slammin' background harmonization is what really drew me into the track. Ms. Sumner previously released a mixtape, entitled Heart of a Lion, offering up her breezy voice over hip-hop beats. Kamilah gives off a distinct Teedra Moses vibe, taking on love and life with a sassy gusto that's not overbearing. Her voice quite literally effervesces on "La La Land," which starts of with her singing acapella and builds once the percussion drops in, breathtakingly displaying her ample talent. It's not surprising that Kamilah is bringing the heat because she's pure fire. The late summer new music lineup just got mo' betta, since that is when Sumner is slated to drop her debut album, The Soulstress. This is definitely music you can ride to while envisioning yourself making it big. A girl can dream, can't she?

Kamilah Sumner: "Never Bring Me Down" [Download]

Kamilah Sumner: "La La Land"

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