“The basics…that’s what music is missing these days, especially R & B. Don’t get me wrong, feeling and emotion have their places, but feelings and emotions change. The basics don’t.” 　　 　　Born and raised in Brooklyn during the era of R & B before it was overshadowed by Hip-Hop, dB. presents his debut collection of tracks, Shades of Black. The single, “Wish I'd Never Met You” as well as the album are inspired by the pure, danceable R & B of those days. 　　 　　“I wanted this collection to look, feel & sound like it came out in 1987 instead of 2017 because I miss the traditional style of R & B I grew up with. Granted, it’s still there and available in the music that came out back then, but it seems like most new music is going someplace we may not be able to get back from.” 　　 　　With that in mind, dB has created a work that looks back at the same time that it moves forward. 　　 　　“I just want to make people feel good and give their minds and bodies a way out of all the disjointing anxiety we’re surrounded with daily. Sometimes you need a break and this material can bring that on. Not everything needs to be so serious ALL THE TIME. You can put this music on and have fun with it like we used to.” 　　 　　In keeping with the spirit of the label’s name (NATIONTIME), the net mechanical royalties generated by airplay of these songs will be donated to various charities, such as “Education Through Music,” which promotes and supports music instruction in disadvantaged inner-city elementary and middle schools in the New York City area; "Feeding America," a nationwide network of food pantries/banks; and "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," which fights juvenile cancer, among several others.