Skylar Grey is known for penning dark, melancholic songs we can’t get out of our heads. On her new single “C’mon Let Me Ride,” she takes a different route by making bicycles racy, and I’m not referring to Queen’s “Bicycle Race,” although she samples for the chorus. Eminem, the executive-producer of Grey’s debut album Don’t Look Down, adds a verse filled with sex-filled metaphors. After a few listens, the Alex Da Kid-produced track became more tolerable (and that’s only because I convinced myself it is a Gwen Stefani parody). Read More →
When the only thing mildly cool about your song is a half-decade-old sample, it’s clear you have overstayed your musical welcome. Will.i.am’s “Scream & Shout” made its official debut on FOX’s The X Factor. It features Britney Spears, who serves a cue card-reading judge on the show. Like the crappy song, the video never really goes anywhere. The intent is clear, though. Nightclubs who fancy patrons that pop pills and twirl glow-sticks will surely be adding this second-rate number to their playlists. I’d be remiss if I didn’t add: Britney looks amazing in the clip. Read More →
Lyrically-charged R&B is on the rise. Emeli Sandé, Alicia Keys, Elle Varner, Miguel and Frank Ocean have all made concerted efforts to add stimulating messages within their music.
Marsha Ambrosius, a notable songwriter, is making sure her writing prowess doesn’t go unnoticed. She teams up with Diplo and Maxime Picard for “Cold War,” a single from her Friends & Lovers LP. The record finds Marsha at a stalemate with her lover. Due to their stubbornness, they’re incapable of resolving their differences. Read More →
“My Last” collaborators Big Sean and Chris Brown show off their gaudy gold jewelry on the December/January cover of XXL. Despite the Detroit player’s fizzling solo career and the country boy from Tappahannock’s unfavorable behavior, life has apparently been golden for them both.
In the issue, Chris discusses his growth as an artist, recent altercations and handling negativity from the media. Obviously this was written prior to his most recent Twitter dispute. Read More →
Rick Ross has been recognized as GQ’s “Bawse of the Year” in their “Men of the Year” issue. With the success of his unstoppable Maybach Music Group, this is a deserving title. In the interview, he spoke on power moves this year and advice to readers and women. Read More →
Alicia Keys has left no stone unturned while promoting her fifth studio album, Girl On Fire. Despite the relentlessly vigorous promotion, according to sales forecasters, the album will debut with underwhelming first week numbers. Hits Daily Double reports, Girl On Fire will likely debut at number one with sales ranging from 150K to 175K–her lowest first-week numbers to date.
Is the decline due to the release date–the week following Black Friday? Is there a place for a thirty-plus-year-old married mothers in pop music? Was the break between albums too long? It’s too early to accurately explain why a thoroughly promoted album by an acclaimed superstar boasting a loyal fan base is underperforming, but I will make an effort to assess the oft-detrimental connectedness of Keys’ first singles and albums.
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Alicia Keys’ life has changed significantly since the release of her fourth album, The Element of Freedom. She is new mother to her 2-year-old son Egypt and wife to her husband Swizz Beatz. An imprudent scandal cast a dark shadow over her last LP, so the Grammy-winner was sure to spread as much light as possible to make sure her latest effort wouldn’t go unnoticed.
The “Girl On Fire” has been in promotional overdrive for months in support of the album. So much so, it was difficult to keep up with everything she was doing. Being the trusty blogger that I am, I’ve recapped some of her most significant performances, interviews, etc. Brace yourselves–it’s extensive. Read More →
Call her what you want, but you can’t call her lazy. Dawn Richard, one of the industry’s best kept secrets, is ready for mass recognition; always punctual with new music to satisfy the appetite of fans who long her long-awaited effort, Goldenheart.
“Miles” is a new cut from Richard, taken from Whiteout, the newly announced Holiday EP preceding her forthcoming album. Read More →
