Dear Timothy Mosley and Kasseem Dean:

 When it comes to the Verzuz battles, there has been some very entertaining bouts and I hope it transfers into something that we would continue to follow after the pandemic is over. I’ve been thinking and hoping for a while that they would come around to a battle between Charlie Wilson and Ronald Isley. I’ve been recently listening to a record called “Town Bidness” by LNDN DRGS which sampled a record called “I’m in love” from The Gap Band, a group Charlie Wilson was a part of for those who may not know. I’m going to be completely honest. I’ve never heard this song before and through my research Mary J. Blige did a remake of the record on her self-titled album “Mary” that was released in 1999. I might have to revoke my own fanship card. Years of listening to what I thought was all of The Gap Band’s music and at the youthful age of 37, I just discovered this. This speaks to how hip-hop sampling can and has given new life to lesser known B-sides records, artist and albums. 

 

Reasons we need Charlie Wilson in a Verzuz battle, well for one he’s like a superhero. Who can honestly frown or stay in a bad mood while listening to “Outstanding” or “Early in the Morning”.  I would have never guested that this much soul was coming from Oklahoma, home of the Tiger King. I’m just speaking on the things he’s done as a member of The Gap Band that make up for several classics. He continues to have a very lengthy career with his most recent record with O.T. Genasis and Chris Brown called “Back to you” which was released in 2020. So just to make everyone aware of the range of active years, he has been working from 1974 to present and has worked with everyone from Tupac to Tyler The Creator. I’m just getting to the lesser known records and they are just as great, in my opinion. 

 

Reasons we need Ronald Isley in a Verzuz battle, most of us are here because of his music if we’re being completely honest. It’s never a bad day starting off with “For the Love of You”. I haven’t gotten to listening to any B-sides of Mr. Isley as a member of The Isley Brothers yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a good bit of remakes and records that have been sampled floating around. One of my favorite records “Big Poppa” from Biggie uses “Between the Sheets”, a very recognizable sample. Ronald Isley also has a very extensive music career from 1954 to present including his work as a member of The Isley Brothers. He has also work with some really big names from Aretha Franklin to Nas.

 

In Conclusion, although Mr. Wilson with The Gap Band has a very extensive career as a whole The Isley Brothers, in my opinion, have way more hits in their catalog. However, after deducing the fact that we have to dead all the music done with and by Robert, Charlie Wilson is winning by a landslide. That also goes without saying that Charlie Wilson’s solo career surpasses Ronald Isley by far just based on features. This battle would still be epic if it were just albums from The Gap Band verse The Isley Brothers. We still win. I still believe weather you are a fan of both or just one it would be an extremely epic feel good event providing a much-needed nostalgic break from the madness currently going on.