Articles by Ryan B. Patrick

• 

  Kehlani

  SweetSexySavage

  PUBLISHED Jan 25, 2017

  The title for Kehlani's debut offering is a clear nod to her '90s influences — that TLC/Aaliyah/Monica/Brandy mode of soul that transformed...

• 

  Systema Solar

  Rumbo a Tierra

  PUBLISHED Jan 13, 2017

  The Colombian and Afro-Caribbean vibes that persistently and provocatively permeate Systema Solar's Rumbo a Tierra speak to the seven-piece...

• 

  John Legend

  Darkness and Light

  PUBLISHED Dec 16, 2016

  Now that he's on his fifth solo album, John Stephens, aka John Legend, has nailed down who he wants to be. After starting out as a promisin...

• 

  Ranking "Tropical House": From "Yeah Rihanna" to "Oh No Tyga Stop!"

  2016 in Lists

  PUBLISHED Dec 14, 2016

  This year, Jamaican dancehall-inspired pop reached peak saturation. Call it "tropical house" if you will — but please don't — the fact is,...

• 

  The Weeknd

  Starboy

  PUBLISHED Nov 30, 2016

  What happens when an avowed nihilist nearly loses the plot?   Starboy represents Abel Tesfaye's third album on a major label and sixth proj...

• 

  The Weeknd with the Chainsmokers, Hedley, Alessia Cara, Niall Horan and Belly

  Air Canada Centre, Toronto ON, November 25

  PUBLISHED Nov 26, 2016

  The inaugural iHeartRadio Canada Jingle Ball wasn't a concert per se, but rather a protracted commercial for the streaming service plotting...

• 

  Os Tropies

  The Soil

  PUBLISHED Nov 25, 2016

  Toronto-based six-piece ensemble Os Tropies revel in the subversive sounds of tropicália — the Brazilian art culture movement that surfaced...

• 

  Dawn Richard

  Redemption

  PUBLISHED Nov 22, 2016

  Dawn Richard is the epitome of hustle. Redemption represents the finale of a trilogy of albums that have collectively represented an Afro-f...