I was also able to include some independent artists that I have the pleasure of knowing:

The Cross Country Collective is a group made up of Fave, Mr. Fresh and Todd Kelley. I know you have heard all three voices in my mixtapes because they are some of the founders of the Music Podcast Consortium.  My big brothers put together a virtual group and released their first EP. I’m so proud of them and I know you will love their track “Give It To Ya”.

It was also through C3 that I got to know and love Philip Clark. Philip Clark was born with Rhythm & Blues in his blood, despite being the only funky white boy of his kind to hail from Wyoming. A natural performer since childhood, he continued to hone his aural talents with a formal degree in music and thereafter in some of the best venues and studios in the Rockies. . In 2001, he released his debut, “The State of Blue-Eyed Soul,” which held Top-10 positions on several radio charts. He now lives in Los Angeles and is currently producing his sophomore effort, “The Dreamchilde Suites.” I included his single “World Turns Around”. It’s such a great track and I’m looking forward to featuring him again soon..

One last special mention goes out to my boy  Kristopher Lamont. A Detroit native, I met Kris at a Michael Jackson Memorial concert held at SOB’s by Soulbounce and Eric Roberson.  “Change” is Kristopher’s first track as an independent artist and was recorded with Maurice “Moe” Whitsett. Presently, work is being put in with Keith “Bubby” Webb on Kristopher’s debut album looking to be released in the winter. His voice is buttery, velvety and quite polished and there is already a buzz about town for this upcoming act from Detroit. “I want to touch people with my voice. I came to bring love to all through my music. Even when I’m singing about things that might not make one smile, it’s to say, – hey, I’ve been through that too and I hope this song gets you through.” I have to say I love this track and it quickly became one of my theme songs!

Below is what Suezette had to say on her site:

“I am blessed beyond measure.

Every single day I thank the Creator for blessing me with the beautiful and talented spirits S/He has placed in my life. One of those spirits is my lovely big sister DJ Diva…your favorite blogger’s favorite DJ.  I met Diva via the matrix over 7+years ago and it’s been love ever since.  Besides being one of the most amazing women I have the pleasure of calling my friend…she’s also an ill DJ and the fairy godmother of podcasting (you better ask about her!!).

It made perfect sense when I was thinking about what I wanted to do to officially announce the return of DearZette that I collaborate with the lovely DJ Diva. This is our THIRD mixtape collaboration and while it’s not as sexy as our other mixtapes…the goodness is all still there. Featuring some of my favorites like Jill Scott, Eric Roberson, Cee-Lo Green, and Bilal…her Monday Mixtape in honor of my return to blogging is sure to leave you feeling good!

New motivation…new site design…new groove….neo-soul.  All about the new new yall!”

Tracklisting:

1. Jill Scott ft. Anthony Hamilton – So In Love

2. Mary Mary – Walking

3. Darien – Just Can’t Wait

4. Zo! – This Could Be The Night ft. Eric Roberson, Darien Brockington & Rapper Big Pooh

5. Anthony David – Let Me In

6. Cross Country Collective – Give It 2 Ya

7. Nicolay & Peter Hadar – Watermelon

8. Big Boi Feat. Janelle Monáe – Be Still

9. Cee Lo Green – I Want You

10. Philip Clark – World Turns Around

11. Kristopher Lamont – Change

12. Jennifer Hudson – Angel

13. Adele – Rolling In The Deep

14. Amy Winehouse – It’s My Party

15. Solange Knowles – I Decided

16. The Foreign Exchange – If This Is Love ft. Yahzarah

17. Eric Roberson – Still (DJ Kemit, Ahmed Sirour Remix)

18. Nicolay – I Love The Way You Love Ft. Darien Brockington

19. Bilal – Something To Hold On To

20. Jazmine Sullivan – L.O.V.E ReMiX

21. The Foreign Exchange – Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me

22. Jesse Boykins III- Amorous

23. Janelle Monae – Say You’ll Go

24. Zo! & Phonte – Return Of The Mack ft Tigallo the Tay God

(THE CD VERSION OF THIS MIX CAN BE PURCHASED HERE)

This the last new music Monday Mixtape of the year…It also marks the second anniversary of the day I bought my domain www.themixtress.com ! I’ve had a lot of fun this year with the new music mixtapes:

Monday Mixtape: March Madness

Monday Mixtape: Mellow May

Monday Mixtape: August Heat

Monday Mixtape: New York October

This is my December Mix aka The Usual Suspects. I’ve been listening to a lot of new albums these past few weeks and I’m proud to say that my favorite singers came hard! Say what you will about R. Kelly, Chris Brown and Alicia Keys but their artistic work stands firm. Hardships, mistakes and even crimes cannot take away their talent. I hope you enjoy the mix!

1. Put It In A Love Song – Alicia Keys Ft Beyonce
2. Do My Ladies Run This Party – Cupid
3. Ain’t Leavin Without You – Jaheim (Fave)
4. Be My #2 – R. Kelly
5. I Love The DJ – R. Kelly (BSOTS)
6. Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
7. Girlfriend – Chris Brown Ft Lupe Fiasco
8. Maniac – Timbaland Ft. Keri Hilson, Chris Brown & D.O.E
9. Hole In My Head – Rihanna Ft Justin Timberlake
10. Love Come Down (Remix) – Dirty Money Ft Red Cafe (Eve)
11. Secret (Remix) – Starr Ft Jim Jones & Juelz Santana
12. Meiplé (Me I Play) – Robin Thicke Ft. Jay-Z
13. God In Me (Remix) – Mary Mary
14. I’m Poppin’ – Freekey Zekey Ft Jim Jones
15. Hurt – Dirty Money Ft Drake
16. Empire State Of Mind Pt. 2 (Broken Down) – Alicia Keys
17. Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Remix)- Alicia Keys
18. I Am – Mary J. Blige (Mr. Fresh)
19. Echo – R. Kelly
20. Elsewhere – R. Kelly (EJFlavors)
21. Don’t Matter To Me – Marsha Ambrosius
22. If I Knew Then – Lyfe Jennings
23. Crawl – Chris Brown

WWW.THEMIXTRESS.COM

I want to thank my fellow podcasters and especially my husband for supplying me great drops for this mix…I didn’t bother putting on a intro and outro because you guys hyped me more than I ever could!

Scribe (My Husband), Fave, Mr. Fresh, Darrenkeith, Todd Kelley….I inadvertently left out my mentor EJ Flavors…But yall know that not only is he my Sensei but he is one of my real friends! Of course I have a reason for every song I play and this time I decided to share those tidbits with you!!!! Happy New Year and I look forward to bringing you more hot new jams in 09!

Track Listing

1. Just Fine – Mary J. Blige – this song really was a testament to Mary’s ability to make you dance
2. Single ladies (Put A Ring On It) – Beyonce – I love that I got my husband to give me a drop on this track…yall know it’s my favorite
3. Green Light – John Legend Ft. Andre 3000 – This collabo was one of the best in 2008
4. Supa Sexy – Charlie Wilson Ft. T Pain – “You’re no model, Coke bottle, yeah you look good to me” Thank you Charlie for showing some love to the stacked ladies!
5. Closer – Ne-Yo – the first single off the Year of the Gentleman…Ne-Yo showed us why it was his year!
6. Nobody – Ne-Yo – This wasn’t released as a single but it was my favorite track on the album followed closely by Miss Independent but this track won!
7. By My Side – Jadakiss ft Ne-Yo – THE HOTTEST COLLABO THIS YEAR!
8. Pop Champagne (Remix) – Ron Browz Ft.Jim Jones, Juelz Santana - “How we ball in the club/I know you hate it!” HARLEM.STAND.UP!
9. Hi Haters – Maino – My welcome back to NY song…
10. A Millie – Lil Wayne – I wasn’t a Lil Weezy fan but even I had to admit that this beat KNOCKS!!!
11. Diva – Beyonce – I.STAN.FOR.BEY.BEY
12. Spotlight (Remix) – Jennifer Hudson Ft. Young Jeezy -  In spite of her tragedy and lackluster album…this song was a club banger…Ladies gave mates the side eye all over the place!
13. It’s Over – John Legend ft. Kanye West – “What do you keep calling me for?” This gets filed away as one of the best “leave me the hell alone/Get Gone” songs of the decade!
14. Heartless – Kanye West – “And we jus goin be enemies!” Word up yo! Heartless=DJ Diva
15. Champion – Kanye West – This was one my favorite from the Graduation album and what does Ye-Ye do? Drops another!
16. Gettin Up – Q-Tip - Tip dropped a great LP this year…but Twitter and internet heads already know…cause we now have him up in the midst! Great job on the social media marketing.
17. Honey – Erykah Badu – Although I expected more from her album New Amerykah…Honey was banging and video was ultra hot!
18. Magic – Robin Thicke – Again…lackluster album…but I still love Mr. Thicke
19. Be Ok – Chrisette Michele ft. Will.I.Am- Her album dropped in 07…but this track made it on the Feb Jams and is one that I could listen to over and over.
20. One More Drink – Ludacris ft T Pain – Luda bangs in another home run…with the ever present T-Pain and Autotune
21. Cant Believe It – T-Pain Ft. Lil Wayne – 2008 was the year of the Auto Tune…and this track was so hot that 50 cent pulled out the auto to jump on the track!
22. Lollipop – Lil’ Wayne ft. T-Pain – Autotune frenzy…and yes I love those dang lyrics..it appeals to my inner bird LOL
23. I Luv Your Girl (Remix) – The Dream ft. Young Jeezy – My husband hates this track…but you know why I like it right?
24. Bust Your Windows – Jazmine Sullivan ft. The Dream – I wonder if the Angry Dwarf felt like her when he bust my window out my car…hmmmmmm
25. Whatever You Like – T.I. Ft. Ludacris – Yes TI…that’s how it’s supposed to be…Please school these negroes..
26. Mrs. Officer – Lil’ Wayne Ft. Bobby Valentino – Wee ooo wee oo wee…You know you loved this song! So that’s it for New Music Monday Mixtapes for 2008.

This week I took the Monday Mixtape back to the 80′s. The 80′s Smooth Grooves Volumes are very popular so I blessed you with another edition. It should be called the Divalicious and EJ session because my sister suggested half the tunes and EJ have been giving us these tracks on his OSWs. Some of your favorite podcasters dropped in:

EJ Flavors of EJFlavors.com

Fave of the Friday Favecast

Mr. Fresh of VibesandScribes

DarrenKeith3 of MyLoveForMusic

Todd Kelly of Flowink.com

I hope you enjoy…and what do u think of my new header?

Track Listing

1. Say, Say, Say – Alicia Meyers
2. Dance Turned into a Romance – The Jones Girls
3. Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown
4. Over Like A Fat Rat – Fonda Rae
5. I Want to Thank You – Alicia Meyers
6. Ain’t Nothing Going On (But The Rent) – Gwen Guthrie
7. Walking into sunshine – Central Line -
8. I’m In Love – Lilo Thomas
9. I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) – Kashif
10. Holding On (When Love Is Gone) – LTD Featuring Jeffrey Osborne
11. Just A Touch of Love – Slave Featuring Steve Arrington
12. Get Down On It – The Gap Band
13. Padlock (Larry Levan 12 inch’ Mix) – Gwen Guthrie
14. Falling In Love – Sybil
15. Watching You – Loose Ends
16. She’s Strange – Cameo
17. Mary Jane – Rick James
18. Juicy Fruit – Mtume
19. GQ – I Do Love You

I’m so excited!!!! It took me forever to come up with a concept and I won’t bore you with how I came up with this one. Just thank my husband Scribe

This mix is composed of some of the sexiest men in music. If I don’t have your favorite, pop a name in the comment section…I’d love to turn this into a volume 2!!!

My podcasting crew plus a few others have contributed Love Music on this day. I’ll list them below the break. Special thanks goes out to Mr. Fresh, Darrenkeith and Fave who provided me with some great shoutouts that you’ll hear within the mix. I guess they would be some of the “sexy” men of podcasting!

The songs featured on this list are:

Al B. Sure – “Ooh this Love Is So”

Boyz 2 Men – “Uhh Ahh”
Jodeci – “Feenin”
Intro – “Come Inside”
R. Kelly – “Seems Like You’re Ready”
R. Kelly – “The Greatest Sex”
Tyrese – “Signs of Love Making”
Joe- “Love Scene”
Prince – “If I Was Your Girlfriend”
112 – “You Already Know”
Genuwine – “Stingy”
Omarion – “O”
Maxwell – “Whenever, Wherever, Whatever”
Robin Thicke – “Teach You A Lesson”
D’Angelo – “Untitled: How Does It Feel?”
Prince – “Scandalous”

I hope you enjoy it!!!