Eric Roberson – The Box (2014)

A stunning new album from America's no 1 independent urban star which, in a new departure for him, features live instrumentation and horns. The theme of the album is the boombox - "I was born and raised a hip hop kid with a boombox by my side'" he explains. The result is one of his finest albums to date. "The Box" shows the evolution of the Eric Roberson sound, slightly jazzy in places, more musicality, influenced by different cities - among them New Orleans, Memphis and Los Angeles. Eric tells of how he grew up listening to music on his boombox. He explains: "No matter whether I'm wearing a tailored suit, top hat and brogues, that boombox mentality is still present. Musically that's what we are after on this album... that boom bap that's meant to get your heart rate up". Guesting on the album are Blackstreet's Dave Hollister, King - a talented Los Angeles female vocal trio who have opened for Prince - and rapper Pharoahe Monch. Eric's dad James Roberson Jr also has a vocal cameo on the closing cut "Do The Same For Me".