Love, InsidePulse Style!

Ok before you’ve read too deep into this let me explain a few things. First off, I’m a mulatto. Given my dual heritage, everything tends to be in Black & white or split down the middle. For instance my music collection is essentially divided into “Hip Hop” and “Alt Rock” (with a few forays into other genres.) Basically there’s not much mingling going on music wise.

Secondly, what follows is a “chill mix”, a “bedroom mix” or a “shag mix.” It’s intent is to get “in the mood.”

Thirdly, I went to an all Black college, and sought Black females to spend time with, thus I created my mix with them in mind. Thus I ignored some of my basic “mixtape rules” (no back to back songs by the same artist, no one artist featured too heavily).

Lastly, this mix is dated as hell, as I’ve matriculated from college awhile ago. But even though I’ve been celibate for over two years, this mix has provided the soundtrack to plenty of pleasurable experiences…involving myself and females I was involved with at the time.

Yeah, and that’s about it. Enjoy as I detail, my successful (but assuredly cringe worthy) attempt a musical seduction, circa college.

AaliyahOne in a Million

This song isn’t bad at all. It’s a great lead off cut. It’s chill, recognizable, but it also sets the perfect mood. And lets face it; everyone digs Aaliyah.

The song itself really has aged well. This is one song that I’m not ashamed to have her. Just listening to it now I fell way chill. My head really is nodding.

Faith EvansI Love You

Ok, let me put this in context; at the time I was really feeling simple beats like this and this was Faith’s biggest record in years. And the video featured the best Faith had ever looked. Ever!

Now I find the song pretty heavy handed and sappy. I stand by the beat, but it’s to lyrically simple. Still it did the thing at the time, so it can’t be that bad. Right?

D’angeloLady

You cannot go wrong with D’angelo. Black women love D’angelo and will invariably refer to this song as “oh, this is my song.” This song really is classic. And the bassline is sick. Generally this is where the “looks of deep longing” would kick in.

I can’t find any flaw with this song. Eleven years later and this song is just a potent as it was the day it was released.

BilalSoul Sista

Many would consider Bilal a “skim D’angelo” but he’s a solid artist in his own right. This song should have been bigger than it was, but that’s a plus when making a mix because this instantly becomes an hidden gem. There were many situations where I introduced someone to this song.

This song has a kind of hypnotic effect going on. It really lulls you into a mellower mood. It’s a solid, if underrated song that’s worthy of being added to anyone’s personal arsenal.

D’angeloUntitled (How Does It Feel)

Ok, so I got cheap with this one. But again, the ladies love D’angelo, especially the image that this song conjures up. And while I’m no stunt double for D, I’ve experienced the effect this song has on them. Especially when it’s used in conjunction with an actual physical act.

But looking back, this song, thanks to it’s video, is cemented firmly in an era. Even worse, it makes me lust for D’angelo, in a “can this can release more than one album a decade? Damn!” kind of way.

Missy Elliot & GinuwineFriendly Skies

This is a sleeper cut. It fit with the mood that I’m trying to set. Granted Missy wasn’t exactly what one wanted to visualize while in the bedroom, her voice on this track is as seductive as any.

Most of the people who purchased Missy’s debut probably skipped over this song in favor of the singles, but this is one of the non single gems that album had to offer. Yes, Missy and Ginuwine (I feel like an idiot for typing his name) stretch the “plane” metaphor a bit thin, but it works much better than Pony. I’m going to stand by this song.

Erykah Badu & Stephen MarleyIn Love With You

So we go from an overproduced duet to a near acoustic duet. But it’s that intimacy that makes this song work and gives earns it it’s spot on the mix, because at this point in intimacy is certainly the mood.

The soul in this song is so strong and “love” is used throughout the song, which are good things. But the scatting really stands out to my modern ears, and kind of annoys them. But it’s a toss up, because the intimacy that it exudes is like magic. I can’t call it.

Erykah BaduOther Side of the Game

I’m not going to lie to you; this song is phenomenal to shag to. While this tale of devotion may appear to fit in the scheme of things, this song really is the odd one of the bunch. It’s not a “typical” love song, it just happens to be about devotion and have a killer beat.

But that beat warrants it’s inclusion.

CaseMissing You

I’ll be honest; I can’t quite recall how this song made it on. I’m pretty sure that it came about because I knew a particular female liked it, but then never bothered to take it off.

Regardless, I can’t defend this song. I don’t what it’s doing here.

Lauryn Hill & D’angeloNothing Really Matters

What’s more powerful than D’angelo? Lauryn Hill, the Black woman that all Black women secretly (or not so secretly) adore. Lauryn is like their Mos Def (or Mike Jones, depending on how your taste swings). So to team her up with D, is a guaranteed hit designed to make them melt.

The song is cool for what it is; a sickly sweet duet that amounts to little more than “no, you hang up first” sans the phone. Ok, I’m oversimplifying the song a bit, but it’s still light on substance.

Sweetback feat. MaxwellSoftly, Softly

This was like the super secret weapon. In order to fully appreciate this track you’ve got to realize that Maxwell was like D’angelo, with “good hair” (white translation: better than D’angelo.) Unfortunately, everyone had his catalogue so there was little unique about him. Enter Softly Softly.

Sade’s band + Maxwell = 1 Maxwell song, that few people had heard. So even if things hadn’t been working up to this point, now everything was golden.

The song really does hold up well. Of course it doesn’t hurt that Maxwell apparently entered the Witness Protection Program as he disappeared off the face of the planet. This song is still an ace in the hole.

Lauryn HillThe Sweetest Thing

How do you follow up a rare song? With a song on the verge of being played out. Still it’s there for her, and nine times out of ten, it’s “her jam.”

Really I could take it or leave it. It’s nice to hear Lauryn again, but the half singing/half rhyming has been done to death by this point, rendering a once unique song to the realm of the commonplace.

MaxwellFortunate

This song is another beast. Maxwell is like the star in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out; when either occurs, you know it’s a wrap! Maxwell really does his thing on this song. The kicker; it was written by R. Kelly.

This really is a genuine great song. Plus it pops up late enough in the rotation that, provided things went according to plan, it makes for a great cuddling song.

TotalKissing You

This song is about an innocent desire. And as a fan of kissing, I felt obliged to put this one on. Plus it’s a testament to Raphael Saadiq, who produced this in addition to a few other songs on this mix.

I’m also an unabashed fan of this song. I will work it into mix even if I have to force it in. Fortunately it really does fit the mood here.

There you have it. That is the skeleton of the mix that provided the soundtrack to some of my favorite parts of college. Sure, some of those songs replaced other songs, but that’s the basically what it sounded like.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for further chapters in Love; InsidePulse Style! authored by Greg Wind, Gloomchen, Chris Lamb, Shawn M. Smith, Michael Chadwick, Mike Lawrence, Mike Eagle and even the recently retired Aaron Cameron?

Who knows, maybe I’ll pop up again and show you how my “other half” lives.