Kanye West- Good Morning Video!!! "Haters say you changed, now you doin' yah thang." K.West

This is one creative guy!!! Simply put I love this video!! Check out the new video for Good Morning! Let me know what you think!!

SOUND AFFECTS: A Review of Solange's "Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams"

Call me what you want, bias, band wagoner or whatever I really, really like Solange's new album. It's just so different, so out of the box. I actually had her first album "Solo Star" and I really enjoyed it. I can't say that I would really listen to it now because I wouldn't say that the material is something that I can personally relate to right now. "So Angel" is a mature an amazingly produced album. I appreciate that fact that she wants to stand out on her own and show her own true talent and individuality. I don't by any means believe that its a gimmick or a show for publicity. She is a TRUE artist and talent. A few of my favorites on the album are "T.O.N.Y," "Dancing in the Dark," "Valentines Day," "Would've Been The One" and "Cosmic Journey". The music on this album seems 70's soul and Motown inspired. I love to see an artist grow in such a diverse way. Especially without loosing who they are and the music that THEY actually want to create. Many artist "claim" that they've grown with their music, and feel that they are producing solid material. Inevitably what I normally experience is a huge disconnection with the music. They've grown so much that we as the audience can't even recognize them or their music, let alone appreciate it. It's so refreshing to see an artist step outside today's typical music and create songs that may not be appealing to main stream radio or the industry. It was definitely a risk but I love that! This album is amazing. I believe this album will always be relevant. I applaud Solange for being the anti Beyonce'.(Seriously, almost every new artist that comes out seems to sort of copy Bey, which I'm sure she's flattered by, but there is only ONE BEYONCE')...But anyways, I sincerely appreciate their (Beyonce' and Solange's) differences and with this new album they are clearly defined. Although this album just gets me even more hyped for Beyonce's album.... :-) But that's OK, I think there is room for both albums in my musical heart!!!

Check out a couple of my favorite picks from the album:






Solange's Performance on David Letterman:




GO BUY SOL-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams IMMEDIATELY! It doesn't disappoint.

Brandy- New Music!!!

New music has surfaced from Ms. Bran Bran(Brandy). "Porcelain Doll" and "First n Luv," which are really great songs! The material that I've heard so far has me especially excited about her new album. November 11Th seems like forever! Listen to the songs and let me know what you think!

Keri Hilson- "In A Perfect World"

Ok so I'll admit it, I wasn't really feelin' Keri Hilson's new song "Energy" but I really wanted to! Today I heard a couple of joints off her upcoming album "In A Perfect World," (A Title, by the way that I really like) which are pretty solid efforts. I wanna say that she reminds me Ciara but her vocals are still very "different." "Slow Dance" her most recently (leaked) song is more my speed than "Energy", but that's just me. Even though it wasn't produced by Timbaland, you can tell that she is definately from that camp. The song is actually produced by Polow da don and is co written by Justin Timberlake! Good move! She is definately working with the right people. Check out "Slow Dance" and "Love Ya" and let me know what you think. Keri's album, "In A Perfect World" is slated to drop October 7th and I'm actual kind of excited about it...

Aaliyah- THE Princess of R&B

Well it's no secret how incredibly talented Aaliyah was. She was an amazing singer and a great actor. I believe that she was already a star but was on her way to become a mega superstar. I remember when the "Are You That Somebody" Video came out. I think I was in Junior high school or something when I begged my mom to go out and buy me that black skirt with the slits up the side. I think every girl had or wanted that outfit. When she started collaborating with Timbland and his camp I knew they were on the brink of greatness. Oh geez, and when the One in A million album came out it seemed like she was dropping hit after hit along with amazing videos with crazy choreography. Not only could she sing but she was a great dancer. I actually got the chance to see her in concert and she put on a really good show. Her last album was a hands down classic which included material that was so out of this world. I couldn't believe how great that album was. I played that CD out to the point that I can't even listen to it now without it skipping. She is one of my favorites of all time and is definitely 100% missed....

Robyn- "Turn it the Eff Up!"

You may remember Robyn from her 1997 hit Show me Love, or if you heard the song I'm sure you would remember it. Her voice is definitely memorable, very different indeed. I heard a couple of songs from her latest album self entitled, "Robyn" and I'm really diggin' her style. I'm open to any type of music but my favorite of course is soul music, and tend to lean more towards artist who make soulful music. Although she is considered pop I've come across a couple of joints that could be classified as R&B. Check out a couple of songs that really caught my ear so far. Let me know what you think...




I'm thinking you should pick up her album, its in stores now!!

Destiny's Child Reunion?? Could It Be??

So we have Michelle's album dropping in October, Beyonce's album scheduled to drop in November and Kelly in the studio working on her 3rd album. Now word on street is that Destiny's Child is planning on a reunion album for next year! Wow, that's really good news if its true. I really hope it is... I will keep you posted.


Let me know what you think about a possible DC3 reunion. Do you think this is really going to happen?

I Heart Bran Bran!!!

So Brandy has been video blogging quite often lately! I am so glad to see Brandy back especially with her new album coming out! "Human" is set to drop on November 11,2008!!! This will be her follow up to her 2004 amazing hit album Afrodisiac! (I know me and my girls were listening to that non stop when it came out). I am so freakin excited! Brandy has never dropped a bad album. Every single album that she comes out with is better than the last one! I don't even know which one is my favorite! She's working on the video for her first single Right Here (Departed) which is set to premiere in early September which I will definately be posting!!!

Estelle- "Pretty Please" Video

"Pretty Please" is Estelle's 4th single off her new album "Shine". You will see cameo's from Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day, Taraji Henson, Jackie Long and Malik Yoba. I unexpectedly enjoyed Estelle's album. I wasn't really feelin' her first two singles but came across a couple of joints like "Pretty Please" and "Substitute Lover" on Myspace and decided to go out and purchase her album. Turns out the album is really awesome. On a side note, I think that artist should post a couple of songs on Myspace before their album drops. This would be a great way to get people excited about the album, especially for new artist like Estelle. If I didn't happen to go on her myspace and and got the opportunity to listen to some of her material I might have never been interested in buying the album. In my opinion the first two singles werent really that exciting. They were great mainstream club joints but nothing that would get me to out and buy the album. (I guess I should've known that if Kanye and John Legend put their seals of approval on it, it was going to be a good album). But take it from me, people are constantly browsing Myspace listening to music and posting a couple of songs from a new album would be great advertising...Just a thought. Check out the video, let me know what you think...

Solange- Sandcastle Disco Video

So far every song i've heard from Solange's upcoming album "Sol Angel" has proved to be really good material. Plus she's dropped a few awesome videos to match. Sancastle Disco is a very creative video, haven't seen anything out like this. I love her style, I dont know if Mrs. Tina Knolwes did her wardrobe for the video but it is flawless! I love all the bright colors. I'm very excited about the work Solange has done with Mark Ronson!!!

Brandy- Right Here (Departed)

Brandy is one of my favorite vocalist hands down. I've been literally counting down the days to hear some new music from Ms. B Rocka! lol No seriously I signed up on her website to be, "one of the first" to hear her new single. Right Here (Departed) is produced by Darkchild, which I love because they make awesome music together. Now the countdown begins for her album to come out. Oh how I hope its this year!!!

Listen to Right Here (Departed) and let me know what you think:

Santagold- Lights out

I love Santagold's music and style. Her album, which is self titled is very different, but in a good way. Seriously I can listen to her entire album all the way through without stopping. Here is her new video for her song "Lights Out." This video is awesome. If you don't have her album, go get it now!!!

Issac Hayes: August 20, 1942- August 10, 2008

Wow what a weekend. First one of the Kings of Comedy's comedic masters Bernie Mac passes away on Saturday, August 9th and then soul legend Issac Hayes today. Both great losses to the entertainment industry. Ironically both Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes are set to star in the Movie "Soul Men"coming out November 14, 2008. Issac Hayes was a soul-funk singer, producer, arranger, song writer, composer, musician and actor. Along with making classic hits like, "Walk on by," Issac Hayes composed music scores for motion pictures. His most known work was the score from the 1971 movie Shaft which earned him an Academy Award for best original song. Issac Hayes was the first African American to receive an Academy Award for a non acting category. I will always remember his role in one of my favorite movies "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka...."He was a legend in the music industry and will be greatly missed...

Raphael Saadiq- "The Way I See It"

Well nobody is more excited about hearing some new material from Raphael Saadiq than me. His last two solo albums were amazing. The new album entitled, "The Way I See It" set to release September 16th, is definitely unexpected. The three songs I've heard so far, "Oh Girl," "Love That Girl," and "100 yard dash" defiantly have old school Motown flavor. This will sit well with more mature crowds out there. Raphael Saddiq is very innovative and always produces soulful strong music. So this album should be pretty good. I may be a little bias toward him because of Tony Toni Tone! and will always have a special place in my musical heart for the efforts he's made on several albums including Kelis's, "Tasty" and Teedra Moses's "Complex Simplicity." Eagerly anticipating this one!!!

Check out Raphael Saadiq’s Myspace and let me know what you think of his new sound:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=69995997

Stacey Epps- "The Awakening"

Stacy Epps, style has a mellow laid back feel. Epps, who is from Atlanta, music is considered Progressive, Hip Hop soul. Apparently she's been in the music game for 10 years and has worked to spread her music to the masses independently. Her most recent single is Floatin' which is an inspiring song with a Hip-Hop soul feel. I hate to say it but this song kind of reminds me of Goaple's, "Closer." Matter of fact their style is kind of similar. But all the same I definitely appreciate her sound. I am eager to her the rest of her album which released August 5.

Check out Stacy's Myspace to hear Floatin', and let me know what you think:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8638728

OMG!!! I Gotta Have Those Shirts!!!

I have to get those OBAMA shirts that Bey and Halle Berry are rockin' they are awesome!

On another and more music oriented note, I've heard a couple of the songs leaked from her new album...Pretty solid material...Just enough for me to get excited to hear the album at length. Beyonce's "B-day" really shocked me, that album came straight out of left field. Being a die hard DC3 fan and pin pointing "Dangerously In Love" as a classic I definitely thought B-day would be out of this world. To be honest listening to it for like a year straight and being so puzzled by the material I finally caved in. I mean I love her music style so much I started to believe in the album more and more. Now I really like it which is crazy. I guess I just wasn't ready to accept it at the time. I expected more ballads and love songs with a couple of club tracks. I'm a sucker for sad love songs and I guess I expected to hear that but it fell a little flat in the area. EXCEPT for "Resentment" which is a TRUE CLASSIC. That song made the freakin' album. No matter what she says now you can tell she was singing the song which came from a place of great pain. But I wont get into my Beyonce' conspiracies. But I'm very excited to see who Beyonce's supporting!

SOUND AFFECTS: A Review of Dwele's, "Sketches of a Man"

Well folks what can I say. Dwele is my favorite male artist so I'm trying really hard to put all bias aside. Since he made his official way on the underground scene with "Subject," I've been hooked. His mellow, soulful sound captured my ear. I've actually been trying to catch this dude in concert. He should do a show with Teedra!(Off topic, I know).

"Subject ," embodied the true meaning of poetry, the lyrics are phenomenally creative. My Favorite song on the album was "The Truth." My interpretation of the song was the story of a man who claimed to have feelings for this girl. But was simply using her to get over his, "TRUTH," who I'm assuming was an ex. So he decides to tell the girl that he lied, and there is only one true love in his heart, his ex. AMAZING!! He took the words right off a page of my life! I definitely connected with that album in a real way. Aside from "The Truth," the album was a great piece of work.After his first album He made cameos on songs with Slum Village another favorite, Kanye West, and a host of other well respected rappers which kept his name alive in the underground world.

He recently dropped his 3rd studio album "Sketches of a Man". Well first of all he covered Common's, "The Light" which in my opinion was mediocre and definitely something that should have been on a mix tape or something. I try to listen to albums for a couple of weeks before I decide how I feel about it, and after listening to it for some time now, I feel indifferent. I don't love it but I don't hate it. I guess my expectations were really high based on his last albums. On the flip side I definitely feel it's worth buying. I feel like if you're a Dwele fan you will appreciate the album. 100% get out there and buy the album because this guy is the real thing. He is very talented and his voice is unlike any other artist out right now. Bottom line buy the album and let me know what you think....

How I feel about it: -Indifferent

Review Scale:

Possibility of 1-6 stars. 1 being super wack and 6 would be a classic...

0 Stars- We'll I'm sure you know what that means.
1 Star- SUPER WACK!

2 Stars-Mediocre

3 Stars- I'm Indifferent

4 Stars- Solid Material

5 Stars- SUPER GOOD

6 Stars- A CLASSIC!!

Check out Dwele's Myspace:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=3672102

Mic Check 1.2.3: August Releases

AUGUST

5th- LLOYD/Lessons in Love


12th- JANELLE MONAE'/ Metropolis (The Chase Suite) EP- (Full Album to be released in January)

19th- NINA SIMONE/ Best of Nina Simone

26th- SOLANGE/Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams

Janelle Monae'-Metropolis

Janelle Monae' and Metropolis arrives August 12, 2008 and I am so excited! She has gone against the grain and proved that you don't need to get air play to be much anticipated. With people like P.Diddy (Random right?), Outkast and a host of others singing your praises I guess you must be doing something right. This women is talented. "Sincerely Jane" is an amazing out of the box type of song! My favorite line from the song is "Y'all betta shut up!" Something to check out for sure!!! If you like quality edgy music you will love her! Trust me. Look for the review coming soon!

Janelle Monae's Myspace:

(Listen to Sincerely Jane)

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=45237552

Review Coming Soon!!

Ladies and Gentlemen SAM SPARRO

So I was in Forever 21 when I first heard Sam Sparro's song "Black and Gold." (Yes, Forever 21)... The beat of the song is actually kind of a techno, electronica something or other beat, but what caught my ear was his voice. Very soulful, so on point. Now this guy has stole the wool right from under D'Angelo's feet because he sounds JUST like him. He even does similar runs as D'Angelo. This guy's voice is awesome! I'm so glad he's putting it towards quality music. He has a video for his song , "Cottonmouth"which is kind of crazy. Aside from the topic of the song his vocals are top notch. But it seems that he's got a funny sense of humor. I kind of think he's making fun of pop culture. This dude is definitely different. I would love to catch an interview with him to find out what he's all about. I'm currently listening to his album so look out for more info and a review. One thing I do know for sure is that ironically one of his main influences is the GAP BAND...HMM.. Awkward.

Check out Black and Gold on Sam Sparro's Myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=3847624

REVIEW COMING SOON!!!

SoL-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams

And the countdown begins...

Solange's sophomore album is supposed (and I use that term lightly) to drop on August 26, 2008. With albums getting pushed back left and right I don't want to get my hopes up too high. I am eagerly anticipating this album. "I decided" her first single off the album caught me by surprise. I was expecting more of a pop single from Solange. This song is more of a soul funk tune which is refreshing. It's one of those songs that I didn't like the first time I heard it but after hearing it like the 5th time I was definitely into it in a big way. Who knows what else she's got up her sleeve. I heard a song today off Sol Angel, called F*ck The Industry (Signed Sincerely) a play off of Kanye's "Everything I am." You must know that when I saw the title of the song I liked it, before I even heard it. The idea of it seemed interesting. So I listened and what did I find? A desperate plea from a young and VERY talented artist to be accepted for who she is and the music she produces and nothing else. Which, I felt. But at the same time made me raise an eyebrow. Since Solange has jumped back on the scene I've been hearing nothing but how different she is in comparison to most artist, (Beyonce) and how she's going against the grain. Which trust me I understand! I really do, but she's getting very close to editorializing her look and music by explaining everything. I say, let the music speak for itself! If it's all she says it is then it will. No need for her to coach us all the way through. I peeped her album pictures and I can tell that she is different and has a cool funky style which I appreciate. I believe that this album will be pretty good. She's a writer which to me means she knows how to write quality music. I heard another song on her myspace called "Tony, "which I also liked. I am literally, (well in my head) counting down the days until her album comes out. I believe it should be pretty solid...

Check out "I decided part 1 along with "Tony," on Solange's myspace:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=38001451

MIGUEL- Definitely a Sure Thing...

Miguel Jontel, I simply love this artist, signed to Jive records he is definitely one to watch. I imagine he will be very successful in the industry. His music reminds me of Jodeci...wait! I wont compare him because he has his own style. I posted the song "Sure Thing" on my Myspace page and then I was constantly hit up for the info on him. The song is very clever which I certainly appreciate. The vocals are amazing mixed with an awesome beat..The song is a SURE THING. It should defiantly be his first single. (Not sure if it will happen, because the song is so different). Which based off the R&B music that's being produced today, it seems like different gets no play... It's evident that doing the same thing as the last guy or repeating what you did on your last album will get you the most play. But this guy has talent and he's so original. I hope when his album drops he knocks out some of these talentless, air time hogging spoofs off the charts, I won't mention any names (today)...I've noticed that he's been dropping new singles on his myspace (I guess as a test) which are all strong tracks. "GO", for instance is a more up beat but cool song. I can't wait until he official drops an album.I just hope the record execs aren't giving him a hard time about doing a more mainstream song. Hopefully he will be able to stay true to his personal style.

Check out Miguel's Myspace Page and listen to SURE THING:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=9164371