Best Local R&B/Soul Act

An eclectic mix of smooth jazz and soulful R&B stylings culminate in a spiritual awakening when Ruby Velle and the Soulphonics take the stage. Whether performing live, or at any point throughout the group’s latest album, State of All Things, Ruby Velle’s voice rings out with bravado and a presence that transcends the decades. Backed by the Soulphonics, the ensemble gives a nod to Stax Records’ rich legacy of Southern soul, funk, and R&B, and plants it firmly in the here and now, with sass, sophistication, and an unbeatable sense of style.

Photo courtesy of Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics Facebook page

When RAHBI takes the stage with a swagger that’s part pimp, part drag queen, it’s obvious why his arrival has caused such a stir among Atlanta’s staid soul scene. The background singer for Donnie stepped out of the shadows this year to unleash his own brand of “glamour soul.” It bears no resemblance to the singer/songwriter school of thought most of his Atlanta-based peers graduated from. Instead, Rahbi takes his cues from Prince — lace glove and all. During his “Strange Fruit” show in early 2007, he employed a pole dancer and stripper pole in his act. Yet his flamboyant stage show doesn’t overshadow the dramatic vocal ability he honed singing at his granddaddy’s Pentecostal church as a youngster. His appropriately titled live album, Rahbi-Raw, is scheduled for a fall release.

www.myspace.com/rahbi

It took damn-near forever, but local soul vocalist ALGEBRA finally broke onto the national scene. Born and raised in Atlanta, Algebra has been kicking around locally for years. She signed to Dallas Austin’s Rowdy Records while still a student at North Atlanta High School, then spent a year on Motown Records — all without releasing an album. But check VH1 Soul or BET-J and you’ll see her video, “U Do It for Me,” in heavy rotation — and that’s a rare feat for A-town soul folks. Expect to hear much more of her Southern rap-meets-soul stylings after her debut album drops sometime this fall on Kedar Entertainment.
www.myspace.com/algebrablessett.