NEW VIDEO: Beyonce "Best Thing I Never Had"

Check out the official new video from Beyonce', "Best Thing I Never Had."

NEW MIXTAPE: Teedra Moses "Luxurious Undergrind"

Another surprise this week was the new Teedra Moses mixtape "Luxurious Undergrind" presented by her new label Maybach Music. What did we do to deserve this? As usual Teedra doesn't disappoint with this new project. The mixtape includes 10 new tracks including the final version of "To Hell With It". I think Teedra Moses truly loves her fans, she probably holds the crown for releasing the most free music in the industry. Her sophomore album "Young Lioness" has been a long time coming and if this mixtape is any indication of how the album will be we in for an amazing album.

Download Luxurious Undergrind on her official site: http://www.teedramoses.net/

My favorite on the album: "So Special"

Common ft. Nas "Ghetto Dreams"

Com is back, and it looks like he brought hip hop back with him! I was so excited to hear the first official single off Common's upcoming album "The Dreamer,The Believer." I almost jumped out of my seat when I heard that Nas was featured on the new song, "Ghetto Dreams." This song is pure GREATNESS! Check out the song below, the album is due out in November...

No I.D. Presents: Cocaine 80s "The Pursuit"

To my surprise No I.D. has been working on what would become one of the greatest projects of the summer. Cocaine 80s "The Pursuit" was released on their official website (cocaine80s.com) last week and I've been playing it non stop ever since. The album features appearances from: No I.D., Common, Steve Wyreman, Rob Kinelski, Kevin Randolph, James Fauntleroy and Makeba. You can download the 7 song Ep for free...all you need is a twitter account.

Check out a few of my favorites below

NEW ALBUM REVIEW: Jill Scott "Light of the Sun"

I've been going back and forth on if I would review Jill's new album "Light of the Sun" because it wasn't exactly what I expected. Don't get me wrong I love to be surprised by my favorite artists but this one completely threw me off. I would like to say for the sake of all argument that Jill Scott is one of my favorite artist of all time. I'm just a little confused by the direction of the album. I play "Light of the Sun" everyday trying to get a feel for it but it has completely gone over my head. I have however heard that many people love this album and that it also debuted at #1 which is always good news.

Although I'm still trying to get into this one, I do have a few songs that I like on the album. Top of my list has to be " Rolling hills" (listen below). The lyrics are very creative, which can always be expected from a great writer like Jill Scott.

I think that sometimes my expectations of an artist of Jill's caliber tend to get a little high which often leaves me a little disappointed with their albums. This album is certainly recommended by me because although I have mixed feelings about it, from what I hear the masses love it. So maybe it's just me?

Check out "Rolling Hills"

NEW ALBUM: Beyonce "4"

I needed to take some time to let this album sink in. I felt like I couldn't blog about anything else until I wrote something on "King B's" latest album "4" If it wasn't obvious through previous entries, I'm a HUGE Beyonce' Fan. It goes deep, all the way back to her DC3 days. I wanted to make sure that I steered clear of all bias, and really listened to the album before I wrote on it. Well after a few weeks I'm certain that this album is pretty great. I think what I love the most about the album is that Beyonce' has grown so much vocally. I was listening to "Sail on" off DC3's first album and it's amazing just to see how far my girl has come!

The for certain "High Notes" on the album are the love songs such as "1+1, Best Thing I never had, I Care, I Miss, and Rather Die Young." But as the album progresses and you get into the uptempo songs that Beyonce has become known for, (especially from her Destiny's Child days) you will see that this album is almost perfect. A few favorites are "Love on Top, Countdown and of course End of Time." Surprisingly, many people including stans were a little un certain of her first single "Girls" which is unfortunately reflective on the charts. I'm still confused about that but as a good friend pointed out to me, "Girls is Beyonce's Niche and if anyone should know this it should be the true Destiny's Child fans." Girls is really what sets Beyonce' apart from any other artist. People are saying she took a risk but I'd have to disagree. She has always and will always rep for the Girls of the world.

Like "Girls" one thing that surely stands out is the writing on the album. My favorite song is " I miss you" penned by up and coming writer/singer Frank Ocean. Another is "Best Thing I never had" co written by one of the greats "Babyface." Both songs are perfectly written. I think it was the right move for Bey to use a new writer to bring that "Fresh" sound to the album along with reaching out to Babyface because you just cant go wrong with him.

I'm excited to hear that her album reached #1 for the first week and is anticipated to maintain that spot in the 2nd week as well. Although so far the album hasn't been her most successful it is definitely a project to be proud of especially because it's her first album under her own management. Keep in mind that the success of her album happened after "4" leaked nearly a month before the actually release.I think we can clearly say after "4" that Bey truly does "Run" the music world...

NEW MUSIC: Emily King "No More Room"

I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for a new Emily King album. Well the wait is almost over. I found out via her site www.emilykingmusic.com that she is releasing an EP in July! I am beyond excited. We've already heard a few songs off the EP including "Georgia," "Radio" and my personal favorite, "Down." I also found out that a track I heard a few years ago on her Myspace page "No More Room" will also be added to this project. Hopefully a few new songs will be added as well but in the meantime check out "No More Room" below and visit her site for more new music!




Emily King on the Gilles Peterson show by emilyking

NEW VIDEO: Mara Hruby "The Panties"

If you've been following my blog for the last 6-8 months you know that I'm already a pretty big fan of up and coming artist Mara Hruby. On her first mixtape she covered Mos Def's "The Panties." She recently released the Jesse Boykins III directed video for the song. I really think Mos Def fans (and the man himself) would be very proud of her rendition. Love the new video...

Check it out:

KeKe Wyatt ft Kelly Price and Tweet "Mirror"

I used to love Kelly Price back in the day! I had her albums on repeat. I must admit that I also purchased KeKe Wyatt's first album when it came out as well. When I heard about her new album I was a little reluctant to check it out. That was until I found out that she featured my favorite artist TWEET on one of her songs. I immediately went to the song featuring Tweet and in my opinion the song didn't actually start until Tweet began singing. I don't know if I'm just biased (which I try really hard not to be) but the song went a little flat for me. Except for Tweets verse which was flawless.

Check it out:

ARTIST TO KNOW: Rochelle Jordan "Take Time" and "How To Feel"

I swear new Toronto soul singer Rochelle Jordan caught me on a off day when I first heard her single "How To Feel." After I heard her latest release "Take Time" it grabed me the way a song should! I absolutely love this song! I had to do a double take because I thought I was listening to Amerie in her short wearin' "Why dont we fall in love" days...I went back and listened to her first single and now I'm super excited to hear more music from this new artist. Rochelle is currently working with her producer Klash on a new ode to N.E.R.D and Radiohead titled "In Search of...Radio. Which I'm hearing is inspired by both groups. The mixtape is due out sometime in July!

Check out this new artist below: