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The ever-reliable Idolator has pointed to an article revealing the disturbing news that "Sixty-three percent of American adults listen to the radio every day, says a new survey from American Media Services. And the number among 25-34 adults is even stronger: 79 percent tune in to radio at least once a day."

Can I get a resounding "WTH" from the choir, please?

This seems rather odd to me, seeing as how most of the people that take issue with radio programming fit into that age bracket and beyond. It's one of the chief reasons SoulBounce was created. But I suppose everyone can't be as progressive as us and our dedicated, steadily growing audience.

So I'm going to ask the same question as Jess: Do you still listen to the radio? If so, for how long? And, God help me, WHY?

Radio Listening Is Staying Stable [Radio Ink]

How excited are we that The Salt-N-Pepa Show is only a few weeks away from hitting the airwaves? After seeing that spicy preview clip last week, we can't wait for Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandy "Pepa" Denton to premiere their upcoming VH1 Celebreality television series. This show already looks like a major step up from the Flavor-Of-I-Love-New-Charm-School axis of evil that dominates VH1's schedule.

VH1.com interviewed the duo and, although they may not exactly be besties, the reunited pair sound refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to get past their issues and start a new chapter--together. That right there is enough to make us do the wop in anticipation. And so is this:
  

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(Every Friday we'll be bringing you the hottest DJ blends, podcasts and radio shows found across the web and linking you to some new, unreleased and re-imagined tracks. Be sure to watch this space and email us more at tips@soulbounce.com!)

"Remember Hip-Hop? I Do": Eric B and Rakim, ATCQ, EPMD, Fugees, etc. (hip-hop) [Soulcrates]

"The Original": Meshell Ndegeocello, Jazmine Sullivan, Donny Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson (soul) [VibeMistress]

Oli G, DeeperSoul Session 68: Gerald Levert, India.Arie, Ray Charles (house) [Deeper Soul]

Off the Beaten Path, Vol. 3: Fertile Ground, Amp Fiddler, Eric Roberson, Raheem Devaughn (soul) [DJ V]

That Soulful Show 9/14: Justin Martin, Quentin Harris, Marlon D (house) [TSS]

Born Free: Bob Marley, Bitty McClean, Supercat, Wailing Souls (reggae) [dj dAz]

Earharmonic: Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall, Muddy Waters, Take 6 (soul, jazz) [Vibe Mistress]

Diggin' in the 90s: Mad Skillz, Gangstarr, ATCQ, Jeru (hip-hop) [Ross the Boss]

Straight Out the 90s: Aaliyah, Brandy, 702, Janet Jackson, Donell Jones (R&B, hip-hop) [DJ Kaz]

Spoken Soulfully: W. Ellington Felton, Jill Scott, N'Dambi, Floetry, Bilal Salaam (soul, spoken) [Soundnexx]


BONUS TRACKS:

• Mos Def: "Excellence" [Sit Down Stand Up]
• Consequence: "Uncle Rahiem" [Fader]
• Panacea: Flashback to Stardom (ft. Raheem Devaughn) [Zillz]
• Mary J. Blige: "Enough Cryin' (DJ Alexander & Mark VDH Mix)" [MTMU]
  
• Alicia Keys: "No One (DJ Vno No Worries Club Mix)" [MTMU]
• Jay-Z: "Blue Magic [Discobelle]
  
• Sharkey & C-Rayz Walz: "Jumping Off at the Jumpoff" [AG]

• "Chaka Khan is still at the top of her game." Tell us something we don't know. [About]
• Yo, Kanye, add us to your blogroll. [Kanye UniverseCity]
• Ilyas of Tanya Morgan branches out. We're so ready for our closeup. [Ilyas]
• Watch an Amy Winehouse train wreck as it happens. [C&D]
  

It's the imaginary Battle Royale. Welcome to the first installment of SoulBounce's "Battle of the Beats", in which we'll take a new track and weigh it against an existing one that it shares some arbitrary connection to.

Today, we have one of my favorite tracks from Maxwell's Now, entitled "Noone" versus Alicia Keys' newest joint "No One."

There's totally a theme here.

So which one do you think registers more, thematically and aurally? The subdued yet upbeat Maxwell groove or Alicia's earnest, soft rock-influenced latest? Vote in the comments. Yes, I know you love them both, but just for fun, humor me.

Maxwell: "Noone"


Alicia Keys: "No One"

• "If I hear one more person talk sh-- about [Electric] Circus, I'm gonna punch 'em in their damn chest." Umm, the album was questionable, holmes, but your assessment is very much appreciated. [Philly Weekly]
• Wyclef, Jazzy Jeff, KRS-1, Marly Marl and CL Smooth are providing the soundtrack to NBA Live '08. Not to be a rebel rouser, but I doubt it'll be half as good as this. [AHH]
• Talib Kweli isn't interested in having an energy drink. I'll totally forget this fact should I ever interview him. [AskMen]
• Pete Doherty will work with Amy Winehouse. Who's gonna pick up the bar tab? [Javno]
• Also, Amy was a big winner at the Music of Black Origin Awards. Again, not to be a rebel-rouser, but can't it be argued that all music is of black origin? Even Buddist chanting? Am I raising the Black Power Fist too high? Please advise. [BBC]
• Also kinda black: Joss Stone. [EBE]

At SoulBounce, we try to stay out of these topics as much as possible, but the current climate of urban music and popular culture have proven there's an issue that cannot be denied or glazed over. Via my handy-dandy Google Alerts, I came across this:

(New York): Black Bloggers have united to battle mainstream music and entertainment fat-cats who profit off the stereotypical, sexist, and racist exploitation of African American people. Their main targets are Black Entertainment Television (BET), who they call 'Black Exploitation Television', and gangsta rappers such as 50cent, Snoop Dog, The Game, and Cam'ron. These artists produce music bloggers have branded 'gangsta crap'.

Gangsta rap regularly glorifies sexism, the n-word, profanities, violence, drug use and dealing, sexism, and the dehumanization of Black men and women. Gangsta rap videos and stereotype-filled shows are the programming staples of BET. "BET and hip hop have gone down hill. They were once inspirations. Now they purvey some of the most harmful anti-Black sentiments you will ever see or hear, and this has become a representation of mainstream Black culture," says Bronze Trinity of the Afrosphere Bloggers Association (ABA). ABA is coordinating the Afrosphere Accurate Images campaign against BET and gangsta rap.

This isn't necessarily "news", but yes, we're watching, and so should you.

Black Bloggers Are Sick of BET and 'Gangsta Crap' Music [afrospear]

Of course I love Chaka Khan. X's and O's all day.

This is a DVD-rip of the "Will You Love Me" track to appear on Funk This droppin' September 25th. It's all love and all, but I hope an ACTUAL video develops for this track.

"Break 4 Love" by Raze is hands down one of the sexiest house songs ever. Ever. And is it any wonder with one of numerous mixes subtitled "Drop the Panties"? Yeah, the song is like that and like that.

This track from the post-disco, late 80's golden era of house music was sung by a group of musicians assembled by Vaughn Mason of "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" fame. Mason produced the song, house legend Keith Thompson laid the vocals and it was released under the name Raze in 1987. Sure, they were one-hit wonders but what a hit it was.

Any DJ worth his salt will pull this up on the Serato Scratch LIVE when spinning a throwback house set. Because "Break 4 Love" is one of those songs that when the beat drops in you can't not move. And when the sounds of orgasmic bliss come through the speakers, it's a wrap. Not to get all When Harry Met Sally on y'all, but I'll have what she's having. And make it a double.

"Break 4 Love (English Mix)"


"Break 4 Love (Spanish Fly Mix)"



For a complete history of "Break 4 Love" visit the website dedicated to the song.

It's official, Kanye West has sonned the competition and landed firmly atop the album sales chart with a reported 930K copies of Graduation sold, according to HITS Daily Double. Official SoundScan numbers haven't been reported yet, but does it even matter at this point? 50 Cent lost the battle with his distant second-place showing. Don't be mad, Curtis, we hear UPS is hiring.

In other Ye news, did he burn a bridge at MTV with his post-VMA rant? Perhaps, but maybe we'd be pressed if they actually played videos on the channel with any regularity these days. [NYDN]