This Week's "Kool Kid..." Vid Pik.
This video is definitely one of my favorites. An all-star cast, the song is hot, and the concept is sexy & dirty. It was co-directed by Kerry Washington.
Here is some of the making the video. Gives a little background info.
Britney Spears' personal life is... as a friend of mine would say "an utter trash". It seems she's making poor decision after poor decision. Never the less next Tuesday she’s releasing her fifth studio album "Blackout".
When I first heard "Gimme More" I liked it a lot! I was weary about the rest of her album though just because she thoroughly disappointed me at the VMAs. I just happened to go to MTV.com this morning to check out the new Common video (small note of mention---it was directed by actress Kerry Washington---I'm getting sidetracked). I saw a banner add granting access to listen to her full album. I raised my eyebrow and reluctantly proceeded.
The record is the total antithesis of her personal life. This album is a smash. Period. She enlisted some incredible producers and writers. It’s filled to the rim with banging club tracks. The album is undeniably sexy and features her signature “slut puppy” sound. That’s not an insult, she sounds cute and cuddly like puppy while simultaneously exuding the air of a slutatious whore. “Radar”, “Break The Ice”, & “Why Should I Be So Sad” are my top picks. “Why Should I Be So Sad” was produced by Pharrell and the Neptunes and it’s about her relationship with that loser Kevin Federline. I predict it will do well, or at the very least will receive positive reviews.
I hypothesized that this album is good because of her lackluster public appearances, apparent family troubles, and obvious overall turmoil. I mean if we look back to other artists Mary J, Janet, Amy Winehouse —when artist’s have personal lives that are on the brink of self destruction, they put out great fucking albums. “The Velvet Rope” and “Back To Black” are classics. One thing though is that you have to respect artist for who they are. Britney Spears is not a singer (if you think she is, you’re wrong). She (used to be & hopefully still is) a showstopin performer and an international sex symbol—some other great non singers Madonna, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Ciara. They all hold a prominent place in this industry. I respect the non singers cause they have it harder, they gotta make up for their lip-synched performances with explosive onstage presence and intrigue. Like her or not “Blackout” is a good one. Check it out of MTV.com and or 10/30/07.
http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/britney_spears/blackout/#
Two viciously talented lyricists.
Crazy 80's style and sound.
Well, 80's inspired not 80's---big difference.
My friend Ford put me on them.
They're on tour with M.I.A.
Kevin Michael is one to look out for. He's got some chords, and his songs are bueno. I caught wind of him during the summer, I listened to "We All Want The Same Thing" featuring Lupe Fiasco I thought it was pretty hot, then I kinda just forgot about him. Then I saw his video for the song "It Don't Make Any Difference" on MTV earlier this week and pulled up some of his songs.
He's 22, male, biracial (it inspired the song "It Don't Make..."), and he can sing. I'm gonna go grab his album, I listened to it on IMEEM, and it's definitely worth the money.He's good, really good.
"Ain't Got You" is my favorite track!!!!!
What can I say about Alice Smith. She's a phenomenal artist, her debut album is a layered masterpiece that had me hooked after two songs. She grew up on a farm in Augusta, Georgia--lives in NY now. I've been an avid fan for a year now. I can listen to her album "For Lovers, Dreamers, and Me" over and over and thoroughly enjoy every second of her smooth soulful voice, thoughtful lyrics, and anything but average sound.
Above^ is young Calvin Harris.
According to Wikipedia he:
"Was born January 17, 1984, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. He was born and grew up in Dumfries, Scotland, UK."
I'm all on his album "I Created Disco". It's beyond the reaches of my typical taste and it's electronic vibe is delicious.
Take a listen:
Pharrell Williams is arguably one of the best producers around. Like him or not, I think he is the shit. I mean think about it, he makes people hot and his rhyming skills are improving by leaps and bounds. Wondering why I’m on his nuts? Well, he has a new album…Sort of. Last week I discovered “Out of Mind” featuring Pharrell and The Yessirs. Apparently there were some issues with his record label. They didn’t front the cash to release it so it’s sitting in download limbo. I obtained my copy from an unnamed source and it’s a completely different album. Its semi neo-soul stirred with an ounce of classic Motown with a hint of BAPE for measure.
I won’t review it because it’s good, period. I won’t tell you to buy—because you can’t. I will tell you to get, roll down your windows and drive down Peachtree one night and tell me it doesn’t change your outlook on life.
click'n'listen
J. Holiday is a contemporary Smokey Robinson from Bankhead. His debut album Back of My Lac’ is an album to play when you’re about to engage in roundhouse sex for an undetermined amount of time. J. Holiday as an artist??? Well, to put it simply he’s hood. I mean his tracks range from “Thug Commandments”, “Ghetto”, & “Pimp In Me”…It’s rather overt. The tracks are a blended smoothly and his hard thug persona doesn’t overshadow on his often sentimental and romantic lines.
By far the stand out track is “Bed” his smash single that had everybody in a tizzy—who is this guy? “Bed” was crafted by Dream [i.e. “Shawty Is The Shit”] and includes the similar—eh-eh-eh, you may remember from Rihanna’s Umbrella—overall this is an undeniably sensual song. Ok…what about the rest of the album. The rest of the album isn’t bad—it’s actually pretty damn good. “Laa Laa” is the classic romantic situation. Boy meets girl, boy offers girl some smoke, and well you know the rest. If you’re not into getting high and seek some soft R&B you’ll enjoy “Be With Me” & “Suffocate”—the latter being the best song on the album and the second single.
Towards the end of the album I discovered a slight departure from the overall sound of the record, it’s reminiscent of juke joint blues—“Fallen”. It’s one of those songs that’s a depressing story about falling into head first in love, then the painful inevitable conclusion.
I’m impressed but my socks aren’t knocked off. His sound isn’t my taste typically and this album didn’t do much to sway me. It kind of sounds like Trey Songs. It’s a pretty pedestrian album—it’s a good listen but walking down the street you’d hear something that sounds just like it. I didn’t purchase it, I probably won’t. That shouldn’t discourage you from doing so. Check it out for yourself.
