mixtape maestro (2.0)

Usually we can expect R&B remix kings R. Kelly or Trey Songz to answer back “kick him to the curb” ladies anthems, but on this neat flip-side perspective of Chrisette Michele’s sublime “Epiphany”, we get a refreshing new entry in the oft-entertaining “battle of the sexes” mixtape game via newcomer Canadian emcee Erik Flowchild who’s found here pointing the finger back Michele’s way as the true blame for their romance’s deterioration.

“Every time I’m home you be steadily accusing me/ Verbally abusing me/ But you don’t even know the half,” Flowchild opens, kicking off a slightly Auto-Tuned annoyed rant about how he’s up to here with all of her on-going paranoia concerning what he’s up to when he’s not around (“It’s not necessary for you to be on my cell phone/ Baby what the hell for…?”).

And while it’s not easy to completely take Erik’s side when his best defense is that she should stop listening to the “lies” of a not-so-best friend who’s only jealous because she can’t have him for herself, the cold-ish way he threatens to send her back to single-dom (“So don’t be my girl then,” he simply shrugs) definitely has us hoping that Michele is hitting the studio right this minute to cook up a sassy-classy response.

From Flowchild’s forthcoming mixtape, Delivery Boy.

DL: “Epiphany (Freestyle Cover)” (alt)

Chrisette Michele is giving us a Lauryn Hill/ Amy Winehouse-type of vibe on the addicting “Mr. Right”, a spirited meshing of doo wop and old school soul from her new Epiphany album that’s thankfully alleviating the withdrawals we’re currently suffering from having those two aforementioned singers be on in-between album hiatuses.

With a lovely brewing of big band bursts and girl group charm setting an effervescent tone, “Mr. Right” follows Michele’s tongue-wagging reaction to a man who’s slowly chipping away at her steely exterior and turning her into a giddy pile of schoolgirl mush. The girl that’s “never been ashamed or afraid to speak my mind” and is used to running the show when she’s with her girlfriends is now rendered speechless and weak-kneed at just a simple touch from the wonderful male specimen that’s entered her life, and the blissful rapture she’s under can be felt in her every sung note.

While we admit to having a muted admiration for Michele before, hearing “Epiphany” and now “Mr. Right” has definitely blown our appreciation for this 26-year-old diva-to-be to a much higher plateau.

Epiphany will be available May 5th.

DL: “Mr. Right” (alt)

Though Chrisette Michele is signed to Def Jam, her distinctive jazzy singing style and penchant for recording the types of R&B/ soul records usually found in the vinyl bins made her more of an instant hit with the adult R&B crowd. One critically-acclaimed, Gold-selling debut album (and Grammy win) later, the twenty-five year old is yearning to act more her age, deciding on a more “upbeat and youthful” vibe for the next project.

Thankfully, the first taste of this venture, current single “Epiphany” (from her May-set album of the same name), doesn’t see her awkwardly committing to some disastrous female R&B version of “Stanky Legg”, but teaming up with hit songwriter Ne-Yo for a track that achieves it’s contemporary goals without forcing her to trade away her much-appreciated classiness.

As it’s piano-knocking groove lays out a hypnotizing, midtempo melody, Michelle offers a peak inside an increasingly lop-sided romance. After spending too many nights at home anticipating a ring that never arrives, while waiting on a boyfriend who doesn’t make his way through the door until the sun is peeking over the horizon, Chris has decided she’s had it up to here with him and his heartbreaking ways.

“So I think I’m just about over being your girlfriend/ I’m leaving,” she informs him, matter-of-factly. And that’s that. No revenge-seeking plots of busting up his car or crazed tantrums filled with cuss words and flung dishes. She just casually packs up her belongings, greets him with a smile and a kiss after his return from another one of those mysterious all-nighters (“like nothing ever happened”) and then, without any deviation from her ever-pleasant disposition, breaks off the bad news.

How refreshing to hear a female R&B break-up song delivered without the typical daytime-TV-inspired theatrics. Fingers crossed that it succeeds in establishing her with the young’un set.

Watch the video below, then peep the remix, featuring Rick Ross and Juelz Santana begging for a second chance, afterward.

DL: “Epiphany (Remix)” (alt)

Chrisette Michele, the jazz-inflected entity behind the relaxed hooks of Jay Z’s “Lost One” and Nas’ “Can’t Forget About You” promises to fill in the gap left with the current absences of Jill Scott and Erykah Badu on her intro single, “Good Girl”, a hard knock, hip hop-informed ‘independent woman’ anthem sure to give her some fan backing on her upcoming debut, I Am.

Not impressed with the diamond-encrusted thugs that R&B chicks seem so obsessed with these days, Michele boldly asserts “What makes a man golden/ Is not what he’s holding” over gloomy, operatic boom bap that blazingly emulates the signature grimy theatricality of early Wu-Tang. Guys can start rolling their eyes if they want, but this isn’t the typical anti-”scrub” that demeans the male population just for the hell of it. Instead she acts as a counselor to the voices of the ill-thoughts behind the fantasies of “I Need A Boss”/ “Soldier”/ “Hood Boy”-type records, rallying the ladies to respect their self-worth much more and demand a man whose first love does not involve the trap. Until that man is found, Chrisette demands that women learn to appreciate life solo, making their own income without relying on the cop-out of a “sugar daddy” to save the day.

In a clever move, Michele adopts the soundtrack of a hard urban sound to make sure she has has the attention of both the thugs and women who love them before slapping them across the face with her sassy dialogue. Her big, brassy voice compliments her as a proud young woman who stands solidly behind her preachings, not at all afraid to appear hokey in her efforts to be an influential presence for girls everywhere.

On the same token such a strong stance may not be the perfect way to introduce yourself to the world; “Good Girl” can come across a little too antagonizing, instantly wedging her into a stereotyped niche that will hinder her reach a bit. Still, by sticking to her guns and uplifting R&B with her rich tone, Michele will definitely be an engaging alternative to her contemporaries.