Shortly before #MusicSermon’s anniversary, we put out a call for your Top sermons over the first year. For the rest of the month, we’re counting down down the Top 11 based on your responses.
#11: THE GOLDEN ERA of R&B/HIP-HOP COLLABS
When hip-hop and r&b collabs first hit their stride, each genre brought a distinct element to the track. Now, with hip-hop production driving sound and style, you can’t always tell whose the artist and whose the feature. We remember some of the greatest collaborations from the golden age.
#10: BUBBLE COATS, LEATHERS, POLO BOOTS & TIMBS: NY BOOM BAP
Let’s go to NY circa 1993, to a very specific niche era of hip hop. Head nod music. On the block music. Roll that sh*t, light that sh*t, smoke it music. Stick up kid music. Peace to the Gods and the Earths music. Dun music. Grimey Rap. Jeep muisc. NYC music. Boom Bap.
#9: TAKE UP YOUR TIMBRELS AND DANCE: DISCO & BOOGIE MUSIC
Disco is the mistreated step-child of music eras, but it gets a bad rap. Disco evolved from from our dance music; from funk and soul. The cheesy, overproduced stuff most think of in association with the genre was a small part of it. In fact, so many of the classic jams we love are part of this genre! So pull out some sequins & metallics (and maybe roller skates), and get into disco & boogie music.
#8: WHERE TWO OR MORE ARE GATHERED: GROUPS OF THE 70s & 80s
The R&B group/band has become a rarity. In the first sermon to reach back to the 70s, we looked at the classic funk, soul and r&b groups over two of the greatest decades of the evolution of black muic.
PART I: 70s Funk & Soul
Wild outfits, wild stage shows, wild artwork. The 70s was an explosion of new sound and new expressions of artistry.
Part II: 80s Soul & R&B
Emerging from the disco era into boogie, straight r&b and the quiet storm. Grooves, moves and meetings in the ladies room.
#7: COOKOUT APPLICANTS — A LOOK AT BLUE EYED SOUL
A look at the white artists who tap into soul and spirit on an undeniable level, from some of the classic “Blue Eyed Soul” artists, to artists who were clearly rock, pop, or new wave but still connected sonically.
#6: THE ARCHITECTS & SCRIBES — ROD TEMPERTON
During the month of April, #MusicSermon looked at the people behind our favorite hits: the writers and producers.
For the last installment, a man so low key he was known in the industry as The Invisible Man. Your favorite writer/producer you didn’t know was your favorite writer/producer: Rod Temperton.
#5: CLASSIC R&B WAS PROBLEMATIC
We like to say that current r&b has gone astray, and remember our classics and idyllic odes to love, but you might be surprised if you revisit the lyrics of the classic r&b we loved in the 80s and 90s.
#4: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY…BUT THEN BECOME NEW: NEO SOUL
At popular demand, we relaxed #MusicSermon’s B2K (before 2000) rule to talk about the resurgence of old soul in a new way.
#3: MISSY ELLIOTT
This sermon came right before the countdown, so it may have had an unfair advantage, but the Missy segments of our Superfriends sermon came in near the top spot.
#2: THE COOKOUT ESSENTIALS
We kicked the Summer off in party mode, making sure everyone was sonically equipped for #TheFunction. Our look at the essential elements of the Cookout playlist was accompanied by a SIX HOUR ready-to-go, jam-packed joint, and many of you used it for family reunions, card parties, road trips, etc. Pass it on to someone in need.
#1: THE NEW (JACK SWING) TESTAMENT
New Jack Swing is the foundation of the #MusicSermon ministry, but about five months in, we realized that while many sermons had touched on it, addressed it, incorporated parts of it…there had not yet been a sermon devoted to the genre. So we fixed that.
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