Soul Sweep: January 26, 2013...

I'm up to the third installment in today's "Chart Sweeps" where I sample the new songs making their way on to the weekly music charts in Billboard magazine, and this time out it's the latest on R&B radio.

On the R&B/HipHop Airplay chart, Miguel reigns supreme for an amazing 19th week with "Adorn"....

The solitary new entry on the chart this week is by rapper Young Jeezy, with "R.I.P." featuring 2 Chainz from his mixtape It's Tha World at #49. He previously had one #1 R&B hit as a lead artist, "Soul Survivor" in 2005, and one with Usher on "Love In This Club" in 2008. This one is a typical toss-up hip-hop club track that's nothing new nor anything horrendous. Grade: D (NSFW)

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Meanwhile, over on the Adult R&B (Urban Adult Contemporary) format chart, Miguel also stay at #1 for an eleventh week...

Leaping in at #25 is soul seducer Brian McKnight, with "Sweeter". He previously topped this format in 2006 with "Find Myself In You".I'm a little torn about this new one. I'm liking the arrangement, and the harmony vocalizing, though compared to his earlier work it's a little thin beyond the chorus. But it is nice hearing him back and not singing about private parts. Grade: C+

Alicia Keys placed her third concurrent single from her Girl On Fire album, "Fire We Make" featuring neo-soul king Maxwell, at #33 on the chart (the title track drops to #7 and "Brand New Me" moves up to #12 this week). I like this laid-back groove the best of the three, and her conversational ease with Maxwell sets this track apart. Grade: B+

Gospel singer William Murphy arrives at #38 with "You Reign". It's a top-20 hit on the Gospel chart, and it gets moved up a notch just for the "It's a Church Song, we got to go up again" on the chord change. But as simplistic as the lyrics are, it's got a rhythm and a "fire" that recent religious entries have been missing. Grade: B-

The last new entry at #40 is by R&B singer Keyshia Cole, with the deliciously dramatic "Trust And Believe" from her latest album Woman To Woman. The song has her at her best, as the cheated-on lover that demands her honesty. Keyshia reached #1 on this chart back in 2008 with "Heaven Sent", but this is my favorite of hers so far..Grade: A-

That's a wrap for the soul side of the house...I'll be back in 90 minutes with the latest on country radio. Groove on!