J. Holiday does not pull any kind when he offers his take on the current state of R & B Rhythm and Blues lacking storytellers right now, "insists outspoken 22-year old singer / songwriter Holiday then pauses, name checks the late legendary Singer Otis Redding, which is to show his soul credentials and asks, "Where are our generations" Sitting on the Dock of the Bay? "In recent years seems to hip-hop has been birthing process all great storytellers, it's time to show that R & B much more than just dance music is what I am trying to convey with my music I will not settle for less"
Even if such a statement may seem like a bold proclamation from the fresh-newcomer to the Washington DC native more than backs up with his debut album Back of My Lac The buzz-tyoung Music Line Group / Capitol Records release spotlights a burgeoning talent whose influences range from the warm soul of Marvin Gaye to the provocative street poetry of rap icon Tupac Shakur "My sound is old school soul with a little mix of hip-hop," explains Holiday "If I had to give it a name I would call it 'street soul" Today "Hood has little to listen to within R & BI want my music being the soundtrack to their lives and then"
certainly an ambitious J. Holiday are ready to live up to such lofty ambitions hypnotic first single "Be With Me" produced by Rodney Jerkins finds Holiday offering the old story about a man who wants to be more than just friends with the object of her feelings "You should give me the barelaste shoulder / 'cause you do not want your emotions taking over, "he croon" Instead of talking about looking for a soldier / are you trying to say that you do not see it on me? "On the title track" Back Of My Lac 'J. Holiday gives listeners a glimpse of his life struggling with heartfelt lines like "I grew up in a house with my mother / I did not have my punk ass father / because he felt it was time to move on "
" Without You "builds on a 70-groove complete with soulful horns and lush strings as Holiday pushes to win back the love of a woman he lost the Boss heavy hardened blues of" City Boy "(featuring dirty south rhyme royalty 8 Ball & MJG) is a two-fisted anthem of ghetto empowerment and "Thug Commandments," Holiday is backed by a swinging piano-driven break beat as hedrops much-needed jewels before the block: "Stop cuffing that young girl let her breathe / be a father to your kids ... no doo-rags in the Lord's house / Put trust in the Lord without holding a Glock in the house" for Holiday such songwriting comes naturally for a young man who never forgot his humble beginnings
"I can say I lived the street life as he testifies about his time growing up in Washington DC" The streets is not something to glorify I'm trying to let my back home knows I'm with them, DC has much talent and I am just trying to show people that we are here "
J Holiday is a preachers son up in the church by a hardworking mother attraction secular music was still too much for him to ignore Fasciner of the early 90s R & B Vocal groups like Boyz II Men H-Townoch Jodeci J Holiday soon became enamored with hip-hop marvel of intricate rhymes of Jay-Z and Outkast, but it was during a high school talent show when a 14 year-old Holiday knew he had a passion for singing, however, local bands were unable to recruit the budding vocalist, whose mother had plans for her son to leave school before seriously pursuing music two years later, J. Holiday would discover the music of Marvin Gaye an experience he calls a "revelation"
"In those days I do not really know much about him," he says of the late soul icon Marvin became my major influence, he opened me up to people like Donny Hathaway and Al Green, these artists had a real honest soul about them jag just wanted to mix feeling with hip-hop "
gifted vocalist had found his calling Holiday skipped college and began recording demos in a local studio, he found himself increasingly end up in street activities, but music offered a more positive way Soon Holiday met up with current manager Corey Green and formed the group named after the 295 DC Highway Buzz for 295 was growing but by 2003, R & B act disbanded Fortunately for J Holiday's vocal ability and dynamic stage presence was too much of a commodity in order to clear up A & R veteran Anthony "TA" Tate of Music Line Group (Ciara Teairra Marie) quickly a meeting with Capitol Records and a deal was in place
"You just have to stay true to yourself," Holiday says of his turbulent journey towards becoming an artist "Many conestnärer today trying to be something they nödvändigtvisily not I do not care how good a song ... I do not think I personally am not going to sing because it is not true for me, I feel personal about my album, it's nothing fake about this is my life There are many different stories here and people just need to listen to them "
