DOWNLOAD DONAE’O'S COVERS MIXTAPE

Feeling this next commercial D&B hype.

Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love

Released: 1978

Label: TK Records

To an entire generation of hip-hop fans, the groove behind this record will always be associated with Tupac’s 1998 classic, Do For Love. But 20 years earlier, a blue-eyed multi-instrumentalist recorded the fautless original, which would go on to become the signature song of his career.

Unbelievably, on this live version of the song, Caldwell sounds even better than on the record. Simply magical. - Mr Drew

Triva time: Bobby Caldwell wrote What You Won’t Do For Love ‘overnight’ after being advised by his record label that his debut album, which he’d spent a year working on, lacked a radio-friendly single.

Davina Hussey - the voice behind the classic soul cut, So Good

Released: 1997

Label: Loud

Smokey-eyed singer Davina, who’s Best of Both Worlds album was the only one of career, was part of a highly talented stable of hip-hop soul singers on Loud records in the mid-nineties, including Adriana Evans. This was one of the true R&B anthems of its time, with a beat that most rappers would die for more – and a sumptuous vocal to much.

Of course, with the culture of the remix in full swing at this point, it wouldn ‘t have been right if she hadn’t invited some rappers to jump on board. Xzibit kindly obliged with a revocaled version, but it was this version with the Wu-Tang’s Raekwon that really did the job. - Mr Drew

Triva time: This track became the theme music for Laurence Fishburne and Tim Roth’s film, Hoodlum.

Hope you had a fruitful Valentine’s Day this week – or at least non-traumatic one…

If, like me, you don’t believe in being an emotional slave to one day, then this 90s R&B ballads mix, featuring some of the masters of the game, should sound just as sweet today as it would have on February 14th – even if it does come three days after the event…

DOWNLOAD MR DREW’S R&B 90s BALLADS MIX NOW

1. Usher –  Intro / Nice & Slow
2. 112 – Anywhere
3. Maxwell – Fortunate
4. Adina Howard – Baby Come Over
5. Jodeci – What About Us
6. Craig David – How Do You Feel
7. Janet Jackson feat. Blackstreet – I Get So Lonely
8. Blackstreet – I Can’t Get You (Out Of My Mind)
9. Xscape – My Lil Secret
10. Donell Jones – No Interruptions
11. Kelly Price – It’s Gonna Rain
12. Brian McNight – Anytime
13. Mary J Blige – Seven Days
14. LSG – My Body (Original / Remix feat. Missy Elliott)
15. Ginuwine – Tell Me
16. Something For The People – My Love Is The Shhh
17. Jagged Edge – Promise
18. R. Kelly – Sex Me
19. Aaliyah – One In A Million
20. Joe – Treat Her Like A Lady
21. Jon B – They Don’t Know (Soulshock & Karlin Remix)
22. Whitehead Brothers – 187

DOWNLOAD THE MR DREW 90s R&B BALLADS MIX 

Adele

It was an unusual build-up to Grammy weekend this year, but against the tragic backdrop of Whitney Houston’s untimely demise, there were plenty of heart-warming reminders that 2011 was a great year for music.

Here’s how Neil McCormick from the Telegraph saw it

Ne-Yo On Fashion

R&B maestro Ne-Yo is undoubtedly one of the most stylish guys in the music business. Here he tells me about his views on fashion, including the truth behind his number one vice. - Mr Drew

Watch the video interview with Ne-Yo here

He’s the magician who defies logic and wows the stars: Dynamo is a man in high demand nowadays.

But how did the Bradford boy make it so big? I caught up with Dynamo to find out, plus I quizzed him on how his magic enchants the ladies, and who his greatest inspiration is in the world of entertainment. Of course, we got him to perform a trick for us too.

WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH DYNAMO HERE 

Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes

E.L.E, (Extinction Level Event) 2: End of the World, the new album from Busta Rhymes, due around March time, is guaranteed to be one of the biggies in the hip-hop release schedule this year.

Here Hype Williams goes crazy in the video for the first single, Why Stop Now, a brand new collaboration with everyone’s favourite guest vocalist, Chris Brown, who’s returning the favour from Look At Me Now.

Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes

Released: 1993

Label: Virgin

From the album, Janet, this ranks as one of my top Ms. Jackson tunes of all time. With an incredible eight weeks at the top of the US charts, it’s officially the most successful chart single performance by a Jackson family member - the single also secured her the Grammy for ’Best R&B Single’.

Incredible to think that this tune came out almost 20 years ago, but Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis regularly reserved their best for their collaborations with this iconic singer. - Mr Drew

Triva time: In the video for That’s The Way Love Goes, a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez features as one of Janet’s back-up dancers.