Darius (without Hootie & the Blowfish) has released his 2nd solo project called "Back To Then". The song, "Wild One" is getting some airplay.

The song...It's okay.

He's trying 2 b heavy R&B...and (imo) it just doesn't suit his voice.

Is that his fault or ours?

Do we not accept his R&B style becuz he made a mark singing pop/folk with a white band? His 1st solo project bombed big time. Can we not dis-associate him from Hootie?

His new video consists of an almost all black cast...he's sporting suave clothes and even gets a freaky lap dance in the front seat of his car. What's he trying 2 tell us?

Ur thoughts?

oh no..please no...

He did a gig out here in LA last night or is it tonight?


"Hootie" is just too laughable to take seriously, but I
hear Darius sings in the Al Green mode.

Hey, if he can pull it off, power to him, btw, i love hootie, what's the name of his first release?

His 1st album was titled "The Return Of Mongo Slade", and featured songs called "Exodus" and ironically, "Wild One".

Yet, on his official website, they're calling this album his debut solo album.

Here's a quote from his website www.dariusrucker.com:

Another “Back to Then” highlight is the love ballad “Sometimes I Wonder,” which finds Rucker pairing with Hidden Beach label mate Jill Scott (“I found my Tammi Terrell”). The 12-track set also includes “Sleeping in My Bed,” featuring an “off the hook” Snoop Dogg, and the Lil’ Mo-accented “10 Years” in which Rucker comes to final terms with an earlier eight-year relationship first chronicled in the 1995 Hootie hit “Let Her Cry.”

He also pays tribute to his late mother, Carolyn, with a moving cover of Al Green’s “I’m Glad You’re Mine.” “I wanted to make this for my mom, who had an amazing voice,” recalls Rucker “I know somewhere in heaven she’s happy.”

There's the Al Green reference, PFj.

Rucker was touched on in a similar thread.

http://www.prince.org/msg...msg_186127

..."...Jimi Hendrix can be heard on the class
rock station, but he is not played on the R&B or Pop station because he is not black enough. This racism is also true of black listeners. Recently, BET's 106 and Park premièred Darious Rucker's (Hootie and the Blowfish) new
solo video. One audience member, a young African American male, stated "I like him as an alternative act. He should stick to that." So, it is clear that African American artists are held to a more limited capacity, and those
who choose to struggle against that limitation are more often maligned than celebrated. The young black male who desires for Rucker to "stick to that," which implies to "stay in his place," clearly shows that blacks too commonly accept their assigned places and limitations, which ultimately limits their growth and evolution both personally and collectively. "...

Not so much racially, but I think the same can be said for anyone that achieves a massive amount of popularity (Prince for Purple Rain or Rucker with Hootie).
Once you try to switch it up, the masses won't follow. They won't accept new, different things as easily. Even if they are tired of it, ie Hootie.

I think the Guy has Roots Soul in his Blood IMHO.But I wish He could get with Gamble&Huff&Have Frankie Knuckles do the Re-Mixes&give Him the Lou Rawls treatment.then you would see Hear Something there.let Darius Rucker do a Re-Make"You'll Never Find(a Love like Mine)" with a Up-dated Frankie Knuckles Re-Mix the Cat would be Scary.forget all the Mellow stuff let Him Get Gut-Bucket i could see it.but yeah the Record Company isn't gonna go out of pocket on him.He is tagged as a Rock/Alternative Artist just like Lenny Kravitz.if these Cats go to the Majors&Say I got a Funk Record or Present something as Funky as P-FunkJazz Said abotu Darius He will Get Laughed at.Darius is another Cat like Lenny Paying the Price for the Cross-Over Dream.And as for Him&the blowfish? that is done with the Public at large.they had there run&that Formula is over IMHO.

mistermaxxx said:

Actually I meant I laughed at the name "Hootie and the Blow Fish". That's a useless fuckin' group:
pop/folk/rockwith 1 black guy. Sounds like the DOOBIE BROTHERS. At least with the Dobbies you had
some good guitar slingin'.

Honestly, I do think Darius can sing and I'll likely cop the CD to check it out.

PFunkjazz said:

well Vocally from a Distance He had that Eddie Veddar Vibe in His Voice&it worked.they shocked alot of People when they first came on Tv int here Videos.they inspired Blessed Unions of Soul&a Couple other Acts.Darius can Sing but the Material to match what He Brings as a Vocalist on a WHole is a whole different Story IMHO.

mistermaxxx said:

Eddie who? ?:

PFunkjazz said:

Pearl jam.

Rucker is in a unique situation. He's a black artist who hit big fronting a white pop group and now he goes R&B in his solo career.

A lot of black artists have the goal of crossing over to the white audience because there's more money there. Rucker is doing the opposite: trying to cross back over to the black audience.

Black radio can be so narrow-minded and prejudice sometimes. I appreciate acts like Darius and Lenny Kravitz for doing music that matters to them. Black music is not just R&B and Hip-Hop. Black folks down south invented Rock music. It would be nice to turn on a Black ratio station and hear Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz, Meshell, Dionne Farris, etc.

PrettyMan72 said:

Imagine how Charley Pride,Robert Cray Amongest Others must feel with Not getting any Play of R&B Stations?? speaking of Lenny Kravitz He is in the New Playboy in the 20 Questions Section.His Interviews are a trip.He is once again talking about that Funk Album Coming out Next Year.we shall see.

Ran across the cd single. It's got the full song "Wild One" with Darius speaking about it in a preceding spoken part. In addition, there are snippets of 4 other songs. He's got a cover of Al Green's "I'm so Glad You're Mine". It's a perfect fit; he's legit.

Darius can sing in a full-blown soul style. He's evokes Green, but he's his own man. The production team is Jazzy Jeff's A TOUCH OF JAZZ crew. Soit's not overbearing and annoying. He's even joined by Jill Scott. Says that's his soulmate; his Tammi Terrell.

So Y'all go do the math. I'm gonna cop the full cd.

Darius aaargh!

If your from the UK that word means something very dark and satanic!

Ain't that right UK orgers?