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I've always loved remixes because they gave a song you might love and new sound, a new edge, a new flavor, so that you wouldn't get tired of it. And after weeks of listening to, repping for, and losing my voice trying to sing Jay-Z & Alicia Keys' Billboard-topping "Empire State of Mind," something fresh this way has come. Yup, this is the remix! Tuesday night, during a live performance at PC Richard & Sons Theater in Tribeca as part of the Stripped series for iHeart Radio, A. Keys unveiled "Empire State of Mind (Part II)." This time, the track, which will appear on her new album, The Element of Freedom, is much more mellow, with the former Hell's Kitchen resident taking us on a nice, long walk through the city that never sleeps. This version harkens back to Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," and that's a good thing, except with a decided hip hop edge. All in all, I love it. New Yooooooooork lives on.

• Jay-Z's "Empire" nets him his first Billboard Hot 100 #1 single as lead performer. [BB]
• Ludacris is *sigh* boarding the Last Train to Paris. We're numb to this. [RR]
• Jennifer Hudson is set to star as Winnie Mandela in a new film. Wait, what? [CL]
• Everything you never wanted to know about R. Kelly's Untitled album. [AHH]
  

Boy meets girl and they fall in love. Life happens, arguments ensue and feelings are damaged. Only the right kind of slow jam can create an atmosphere of reconciliation that not only rights the wrongs, but elevates the passion between them. Silk created such a jam with "Lose Control"--a magical ballad filled with all the sensuality needed to redirect your heart from the wrong turns of love. Tim Cameron, Jimmy Gates, Gary "Big G" Glenn, Jonathen "John-John" Rasboro, and frontman Gary "Lil G" Jenkins harmonized this hit more than sixteen years ago. Press play and you'll discover that its melodious luster can still shine in the moonlight of your next session.

Silk: "Lose Control"

I love Aaron Hall. His voice instantly makes me reminisce about my childhood and gives me warm, fuzzy feelings all over. I don't get very star struck over most people but witnessing Faith perform an impromptu duet with him last New Year's Eve nearly brought me to tears while simultaneously screaming like a banshee. Most of us know him as an R&B crooner, but as Aaron himself explains in "Aaron Hall's Dog Rehab", he's been known as a "dog whisperer" for quite some time. Judging by the 10 minute long clip, Aaron not only has a way with dogs in English, but also in Spanish, Vietnamese, Farsi, and German. It's pretty amazing to watch. In the day and age when celebrities have done things less dignified to maintain some semblance of importance in the public eye, it's nice to see someone actually using his natural-born talents to bring happiness to others' lives. 

I know I'm not the only person smitten with Yukimi Nagano, a full year and change after discovering her existence. Since falling in love with the Little Dragon frontwoman, I have poured over her discography, trying to grab what bits and pieces I could find to stitch them together into something that made sense. While I'm happy with what I currently possess, it lacks the sonic cohesion that a mix manages bring together. Luckily, my desires can be fulfilled with Supa Qool DJ Uncle Q's A Tribute To Yukimi Nagano. This mix is blended very well and the transitions are seamless and organic. It's a lovely reminder of how wistfully beautiful her voice is, the closest this generation may have to--gasp!--Helen Folasade Adu. Download this with the quickness and tell all your friends. Tracklisting and download info after the bounce. 

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Mary J. Blige's "Be Happy" was the upbeat first single from My Life to the rest of the world of people who hadn't taken the time to delve into this overwrought, thickened with emotion of an album. To outsiders, Mary was on top of a building, arms outstretched, beckoning The Creator to enter her vessel of a body and deliver her from the pain she vaguely referred to. The video was all blonde Florence Henderson hair, shiny bubble jackets, Hip Hop dancers and smiling faces. But to those who had taken the time to get to this point of the album--the termination--needed a song like this one to prevent us from all wanting to take a proverbial leap off the building that Mary was perched on top of, waiting for blessings to be bestowed upon her.

"Be Happy" was really no different than other songs from this album. It too contained a wish to improve oneself in the face of diminished self-esteem just like "I'm The Only Woman" did earlier on My Life. But just because you put a smile and a beat you can dance to on the face of this track doesn't mean that you're happy. Mary may have fought the good fight and convinced some of us that she really was happy, but Mary was someone we knew like a play cousin. She wanted to be happy. She wanted us to be happy despite her hurting. That is called selflessness. And that is ultimately why we love her so. Because Mary is always willing to channel her own pain to take us away from ours. We may still be bopping along whenever this is played but the undercurrent of shame and disappointment is still ever so palpable. As long as we are willing to forgive and never forget, we'll be able to progress from such dark places. Thank you, Mary, for not being afraid to show us that this path may be long and winding but it always, invariably ends. 

Mary J. Blige: "Be Happy"

V.V. Brown has been making a splash on the UK scene for quite some time now even if we may be ignorant of her talent on this side of the pond. But talent she has, along with a sweetened quirky style that make her very accessible. Did I add that she's always clothed by the way (note to aspiring Pop tartlets)? She's decided to tackle one of my favorite Rolling Stones songs, the always funky "Miss You" that was vehemently adopted by those of the browner persuasion because it's funk just can't be denied. V.V.'s version is all stripped down and simplistic but not simple. The acoustic take on this track lends more credence to the fact that this girl can sing, something that, besides her sense of style, is really the most important thing to any vocal artist, no? See for yourself below. [H/T:AW]

VV Brown: "Miss You"

• Diddy's oldest, Justin, is growing up into quite the handsome young man. He gets it from his mama. [CL]
• There are plans for a revival of Michael Jackson's Captain EO at Disneyland. [TF]
• AEG to Dr. Conrad Murray: "Who you gon get a check from, boo? Not us!" [TMZ]
  
• Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are producing Fela! for Broadway. [WH]
  

Picture it: 1980. A group named Ambrosia release their fourth studio album entitled One Eighty. The four members, all from Los Angeles, grew up idolizing the supergroups of the era, everyone from The Who to Genesis to The Doobie Brothers. And their sound reflected that. It was on this album that one of their greatest hits was born--the love song, "Biggest Part of Me." It immediately had crossover appeal, and did well on both the pop and R&B charts. Here's a sample of the lyrics:

"(Love flows) Gettin' better as we're older / (All I know) All I want to do is hold her/ She's the life that breathes in me/ (Forever) Got a feelin' that forever/ (Together) We are gonna stay together (For better) For me, there's nothin' better/ You're biggest part of me..."

See? Game over. It's lyrics like those that make this song a classic. And a perfect way to end the day. If you're not hip, now's the perfect time to get into it. Yes, there have been remakes, most notably by Take 6 in the 1990s, but seriously, there's nothing like the original. The West Coast boys put their foot in it. Take a listen. Or hell, take 6. Won't matter. I guarantee that if it isn't already, this song will become a bigger part of your music collection. Oh, and you're welcome.

Ambrosia: "Biggest Part of Me"

Are Robin Thicke and his homies in a mansion chalk full o'harlots in the "Sex Therapy" video? What is happening here? The men look like a neo rat pack and all the wimminz are wearing onesies and racial ambiguous. It's like a James Bond movie. All of this is to say--I likey. It's hot without being trashy. It actually looks like a series of moving portraits from your favorite coffee table erotica book: Robin singing to the camera framed by the pair of long, bronzed legs that belong to the woman hovering above him, peacocks on a green lawn, shiny patent leather platform heels in the air, hands on bare shoulder blades, a voyeur's view through a chandelier, and plenty of pearl necklaces (*snicker*). It's all quite artistic and sexy. And anyway, the song is called "Sex Therapy." If you were expecting something chaste from a song that boasts lyrics such as "it's your body, we'll go hard if you want to, as hard as you want to, soft as you want to" you got another thing comin'.