Summer's here – time to throw open the windows and crank open the volume.
Yasmin knows a thing or two about hosting a great party – hell, the Rinse-aligned singer has soundtracked more than a few in her time.
Fresh from collaborating with Krystal Klear, the ever in-demand London artist is set to spend summer on the road, playing a series of European shows.
Set to play Sankeys in Ibiza later this month, Yasmin is busy filling up her iPod with R&B gems to spice up her time on the White Island.
Compiling a special playlist for Clash, you can tune in below.
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Amerie ft. Ludacris – 'Why Don't We Fall In Love' (Remix)
Pure slice of R&B heaven, Amerie with the tiiight vocals, produced by the DON Rich Harrison. I feel like Rich Harrison was gearing up to be to R&B what Just Blaze was to hip-hop, sample-heavy productions, live drums, dripping in soul.. haven't heard much on this level post his work with Beyonce (De Ja Vu etc) but I remain optimistic he'll bring the sound back soon enough. I'm a sucker for a Ludacris verse so chose this version but Harrison's RichCraft remix of this is also pretty mega.
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Yummy Bingham – 'Is it Good To You'
Her voice is so unique and this track has that mad swing it's hard not to snap your neck to it. Taken off her first and only album 'The First Seed' (other dope tracks on that: Come & Get It, Just Leave, Quickie to name a few) she's done a few features more recently some tracks with De La Soul and a nice R&B duet with Gene Noble called 'Melody', this track stays in rotation though and probably will forever cause it always sounds fresh. The remix of this with Red Cafe & Fabulous also great.
Produced by Rockwilder (Redman/Eric Sermon/Jay Z) the hip-hop/R&B flirtation is strong on this one.
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Kandi – 'Don't Think I'm Not'
Anything Miami Bass inspired is a winner in my book. Formally a member of the 90's R&B group Xscape, after the group split Kandi penned TLC ('No Scrubs'), Destiny's Child ('Bills Bills Bills') to name a few, this track is off her solo album from the early noughties, produced by She'kspere who's responsible for SOOOO many R&B bangers (where is he now?!?) this track reminds me of being teenager and always brings a healthy dose of nostalgia when played towards the end of the night, perfect mix of slow jam and turn up.
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Groove Theory – 'Tell Me'
I played this track in one of my first ever sets when I asked to warm up for legendary Dj Naeem in Glasgow when I was 17! He told me after that he wasn't intending to hire a warm up dj and was going to respectfully decline my offer but after I played this track he realized he'd found someone who wanted to know as much about 90's R&B as he cared to share. This track is responsible for an amazing friendship & mentorship so will always be special to me.
Amel Larrieux (the vocalist from Groove Theory) has my favourite voice in the world, her solo albums are really beautiful check them out if you like your R&B/neo-soul vibes.
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Dazz Band – 'You Are My Starship' (Remix)
Taken off their latest album 'Time Traveller' in 2001, this here's a cover of Norman Connor's – 'You Are My Starship'. The slow jam version can get a certain kinda party started but I love the funked out R&B style on this version, always sounds nice on a system and gets a party moving in the right direction.
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Gap Band – 'Outstanding'
This is the definition of a classic, released in '82 and sampled incessantly. Charlie Wilson still killing it to this day, doesn't need much of an introduction, pure R&B Banger. Keith Sweat – I Want Her produced by the most influential producer ever to touch R&B, mr Teddy Riley, the guy who took the reigns from Roger Troutman, giving us New Jack Swing and hip-hop poul, mixing that hip hop sound with the soulful rhythms of R&B.
This track is a guaranteed banger, perfect tempo, perfect groove. Released in 87, Keith Sweat has that classic R&B voice you can't go wrong with a bit of Keith.
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Yasmin plays W.A.R!'s SHELTER at Sankeys Ibiza on August 21st – tickets.
