to listen or purchase
Sometimes hip-hop intense record companies surround their mostly male-dominated rosters with soulful female vocalists. Back in the day, there was Michel'le for Death Row Records and Faith Evans for Bad Boy. Then there is Joyo Velarde, a frequent vocal collaborator with Quannum Projects (originally known as Solesides), founded by the underground rapper Lyrics Born in 1992. Her superlative vocal skills are absolutely worthy of hip-hop royalty. Ever since Velarde joined the California Bay Area independent company, she has provided sweet-sounding hooks for many of the Quannum Projects family. But it was her first single from 2002, "Sweet Angel," which first introduced music lovers to an urban music princess in waiting.
Though she graduated with a political science degree, Velarde always had music brewing in her spirit. While attending UC Davis, she met Lyrics Born who formed the progressive hip-hop company Solesides in 1992. From the second they joined forces, her talents added another dimension to the label's diverse lineup, including DJ Shadow & Blackalicious. Velarde's vocal style is clearly dipped in soul music, but her brilliant range and tone was enhanced by studying opera in Rome . Her lilting voice was first heard on " Balcony Beach " by Latryx (the duo of Lyrics Born & Lateef the Truthspeaker) on their debut 1997 disc, The Album. With solo performances such as "People Like Me" from the compilation Quannum Spectrum and "Sweet Angel," Velarde was dubbed The First Lady of Quannum. As she continued building her reputation as a singer/songwriter, Lyrics Born encouraged her to take the next leap of faith in her solo career. Her 2008 mix tape - Hey Love! - provided a sneak preview to her street debut, Love and Understanding with previously unheard tracks including the reggae-dubbed "Time To Wake Up" and the blues-drenched "King's Daughter."
Released in February of 2010, Love and Understanding is a mix tape treat filled with mostly throwback joints of various urban tastes. Several tracks also feature Quannum family members Lyrics Born and Gift of Gab from Blackalicious. Kicking off this disc is "Mama's Got a Brand New Swag (So Exquisite)," highlighted by a sassy Latin big band intro smoothly shifting into a James Brown-type funk base. "Certain Special Way (I Feel About You)" recalls the soulful pop of nineties' female groups like En Vogue. "I Need You Boy" drops a lover rock reggae flavor similar to Gregory Isaacs. "With Feeling" rolls with a soft disco beat complete with flute hooks. "You Got Me (In The Mood)" is the sensual mood setter (think Teddy Pendergrass and The Isley Brothers). Velarde closes Love and Understanding with "On & On" that draws upon her classical training.
Overall, Love and Understanding should make a strong case for Velarde as one of the premier yet underappreciated vocal stylists in urban music today. Velarde's soulful impact for Quannum Projects will certainly solidify this hip-hop family for years to come. Highly Recommended.
By Peggy Oliver