In our expose on the old and new school we felt it was only befitting to start with two current artists who have already attained royal prestige in the musical realm. Mary J. Blige and Keyshia Cole, the queen and princess of hip-hop soul respectively, have not only captivated, but have embodied their generations. These two artists have shined through the cloud of talented vocalists and have illuminated a path millions of fans worldwide are compelled to follow. So we leave the question up to you, who is better old or new?

Describing the career of Mary J. Blige has become somewhat of a mundane point when you reflect on the countless sales, positive reviews and reception that her albums have garnered. Of course the same can be applied to Keyshia Cole, still Mary has had a long spread influence which even Ms. Cole herself has admitted reached her as a youth. This connection seems only natural given that both are familiar with rising from a difficult place during a difficult time. Mary from Yonkers, NY and Keyshia from Compton, CA it can be said of both ladies that life was a challenge, the streets were rough, and the roses were definitely not giving off that sweet smell. To say who had it worse is an unfair judgment and would be almost hypocritical of any true fan being that they channel so much of their personal joys and pains through the music now considered as a crutch for many when they are feeling knocked down.

I suppose what would be fair to compare is the effect of you hearing the drums signaling the start of “Real Love” on the radio as apposed to those on “Let It Go” and seeing which one your pulse races to faster. Or play “I’m Going Down” and “Love” back to back and see which one you’re going to save your breath to hold the long notes for. Perhaps even checking to see who is taking up more space in your music library and even more critical of an issue which one gets to take up the most coveted memory on your iPod.

For the eighties babies and anyone older, Mary’s style at the time of the release of her first album was undoubtedly a unique look and persona teenage girls wanted to replicate. The wave of popcorn hats, popcorn jackets and door knocker earrings that followed was a clear marker that something in the music was making a strong connection with these young women. In a time when Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and a slew of ballad singers were dominating radio airwaves, Mary’s sound provided something fresh and more relative to younger listeners. Hip-hop styled instrumentals with soulful lyrics carried by a voice reminiscent of the blues’ golden age, Mary was certainly a rose in the concrete. Still, if Mary J is the rose, Keyshia Cole is without a doubt the cherry blossom growing on the concrete plot next to her.

Keyshia’s influence was heavily felt at the beginning of her career (to be as fair a referee as I can to all, we’ll consider “beginning of career” to encompass all singles, videos and features released in connection to the first album). No need to go into videos ranking number one for weeks or the radio airwaves being held hostage, we can all remember well enough, it was evident on its own. What stood out about Keyshia Cole was her rapid, effortless and almost unwitting rise as not only a soulful singer, but also hair-style trend setter supreme. Some were called risqué and some were called taking a risk but if you lived near, or are attending high school you are just calling the latest Keyshia Cole hair due “everywhere”. Of course it didn’t stop at just the hair, girls everywhere were trying to emulate the young divas fashion, make-up, and character. Character being one of her especially strong points as was showcased on her highly rated reality series.

Keyshia Cole’s premiere came at a time when r&b music started to become very polarized. Either you were a borderline pop/dance singer or a socially conscious ballad singer. The general perception became that marketing anything too diverse was no longer lucrative. This created a void that Ms. Cole could easily fill. Not only was she able to combine the two opposing styles but she included an element in her music longed for by listeners old and young. This element, is commonly called conviction.

So here we are, two great artists, two great talents,  encompassing two different eras. Mary, already a deliciously seasoned singer, and Keyshia Cole an experienced, yet (in my eyes at least) still budding vocalist. Both far from the ends of their careers and even more unlikely to have an end. Not with the likes of Gladys Knight and Patty Labelle still commanding respect and adoration in any event they attend or perform for. Mary and Keyshia have the qualities to keep fans loyal and content to grow with them. Old vs. New doesn’t seem to apply to these two. It is more appropriate to describe Mary J. Blige and Keyshia Cole as the old school and new school complimenting each other.

What makes these two women similar is also what makes them unique…substance, style, and most important to us, pure soul.

By: Xavior Edwards