Since the Superbowl we’ve been inundated with commercials for the video Game Dante’s Inferno.

The song featured in the clip is “Ain’t No Sunshine”  by soul legend Bill Withers from his 1971 album Just As I Am. The song was released as a single in September 1971, becoming a breakthrough hit for Withers, reaching number six on the U.S. R&B chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also won a best R&B song Grammy in 1972.

Withers told Songfacts.com that he was inspired to write this song after watching the 1962 movie Days of Wine and Roses. He said that “I was watching…Days Of Wine And Roses, with Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon. They were both alcoholics who were alternately weak and strong. It’s like going back for seconds on rat poison. Sometimes you miss things that weren’t particularly good for you. It’s just something that crossed my mind from watching that movie, and probably something else that happened in my life that I’m not aware of.”

Many of Withers’ songs including “Sunshine,” “Lovely Day” and “Grandma’s Hands”have been sampled numerous times for popular recordings. For example, the drums alone to “Kissing My Love” have been used by at least a dozen artists including Dr. Dre. (”Let Me Ride”) and Eric B & Rakim (”The Ghetto”).

In 2009 a documentary about Withers was released aptly titled “Still Bill.” It’s a must see for any fans of music or Black history. You can find or host a screening in your area by going to  stillbillthemovie.com or pre-order the DVD.

Looking for something to put in the iPod shuffle this weekend?  Here are some of our picks for the Independence Day Holiday.

Kelis “4th of July” (Fireworks)

This song may just be the perfect choice if your looking for something upbeat that they can move your body to

.

Drake – Fireworks Ft. Alicia Keys

Fireworks is a good song choice this July 4th if you are looking for something that makes you feel all emotional when the fireworks go off.

Estelle – American Boy

Nothing wrong with showing a little national pride today.

Destiny’s Child – Independent Woman

Independence Day takes on so many meanings so why not raise your personal flag ladies?

Bonus: America The Beautiful – Ray Charles

For all of you who love this country and the classic musical stylings of Ray Charles this song is the perfect choice for the 4th of July.

With the country at war in Vietnam, Jimi Hendrix started off the final day of the first Woodstock festival with his now legendary rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Drenched in feedback and effects, Hendrix’s version of the national anthem sounded like he was playing in the middle of a war zone.  As his guitar squeals, you can envision bombs dropping from the sky, and machine guns spraying bullets all around.

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Although Luther Vandross was an accomplished songwriter who penned songs for himself and artists like Aretha Franklin, he was also loved for his ability to reinterpret songs that we all knew and loved.

This talent put him in a league with singers like Frank Sinatra and Isaac Hayes who were loved for their ability to make you think that they were the first person to sing those songs.

Here are some of our favorite songs that Luther Vandross, who passed away five years ago today, covered and made his own!

Until You Come Back To Me / Superstar

Prefacing it with a bit of the Stevie Wonder-penned Aretha Franklin classic “Until You Come Back To Me,” Luther took The Carpenters’ AM radio classic “Superstar” and filled it with a ton of soul.

If Only For One Night

Brenda Russell’s original version of “If Only For One Night” became immediately obsolete once Luther’s 1985 cover version hit the market.

Creepin’

Originally recorded by Stevie Wonder on his Fulfillingness’ First Finale album in 1974, Luther claimed this one for himself and made his version the one preferred by many.

Sing it for me four times… Creep Creep Creep Creep!

A House Is Not A Home

Luther closed out his debut album with this version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard, infusing it with so much soul that he had to drag it out for seven minutes!

If This World Were Mine (duet with Cheryl Lynn)

The Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell classic got the Luther treatment with a little help from Cheryl Lynn.  The two put their own special brand of stank on it!

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We posted the behind the scenes footage of the making of this song earlier.

Take a listen to the finished product….

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Dondria’s debut album called “Dondria Vs. Phatfffat” and is due out August 17.

If you missed the BET awards pre-show then you missed the lovely Dondria, but don’t worry you can watch it here:

Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper J. Cole has come under fire for a video that features students from Fayetteville State University and a local high school.
Students from FSU and EE Smith High School, along with band members, are featured in J. Cole’s latest video “Who Dat.”

Officials are so outraged over the language and sexually explicit themes in the video that they are attempting to have the video pulled from the Internet, claiming J. Cole illegally used their high school/college logos.

“I think it shows the school and the city in a negative light,” Superintendent Frank Till Jr. said in a statement. “I think it was a legitimate mistake on the school’s part.”

Till claimed that E.E. Smith’s Principal Clinton Robinson and the school’s music director signed waivers allowing the students to participate, but the decision was not cleared with higher-ups in the school system.

Read the whole article at AllHipHop.com!

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In this teaser for Rick Ross documentary Mr. West talks about the making of “Live Fast” from Rick Ross’ upcoming album Teflon Don.

“When I started hearing the records come out I always felt a connection (to Rick Ross),” says Kanye. “Cuz I felt like we came from a similar place and paid so many dues. We all had ups and downs in our life and now this is the highest caliber you can get to. And it didn’t happen over night, this is 20 years in the making.” (spotted @ Nahright)

On July 1st, 1867, two British colonies were united to form one country called Canada.

As a result, July 1st is celebrated in Canada as “Canada Day.”

Canada’s shared many great talents with the rest of the world, and today we salute our neighbors to the north!

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