Hip-Hop star Kanye West will no doubt be toasting to the “douchebags, a-holes”, and everyone inbetween. For, his latest LP ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ has been certified Platinum.
The album, released on November 22nd last year, has shipped 1 million copies according to the RIAA – selling 915,000 copies to-date.
Congrats are most certainly in order for Mr West. Beyond reasserting his sales consistency, the numbers are even more impressive when compared to the performance of recent releases from his chart rivals. Indeed, Diddy‘s ‘Last Train To Paris’ has only managed to shift a paltry 172,000 copies, while T.I’s ‘No Mercy’ has performed marginally better – selling through 353,000 records.
Clearly this is evidence enough that people will part with their hard earned cash if you give them reason enough to. For, particularly in the case of Diddy, his promotional push was on-par, if not, bigger than Kanye’s – only for his sales to be almost 9 times less. Interesting.
good for him.
he’s take hip-hop to a new level.
cant wait for the “all the lights” video.
simple is that kanye’s album is very good. good product sells itself promotion means nothing
This is great because Kanye didn’t really promote his album after it was released.
IT’S THE LIKABILITY OF THE ARTIST AS WELL AS THE MATERIAL. That counts like 70%. If the fans dont like u cuz of a poor ass image and doing and saying stupid s*** you aint gonna sell as much as you’re supposed to. Kanye has that image but he keeps the peeps interested with his “what he’s gonna say or do next??” fiasco. He had high initial sales but then totally dropped off the radar after xmas.
The album is amazing. Congrats are in order.
congrats Kanye! You deserve the best, This album is AMAZING!!! Love it!
YAY, NOW WATCH THIS ALBUM SLAY AT THE 2012 GRAMMYS
Wow y’all delete HONEST opinions with no profane comments…..?
#TruthHurts
HATAZ STAY MAD!!!
About time
YAYYYYYYY KANYEE!
Who will survive in America.
LOL @ Kanye on Twitter this weekend. Joking or not, he should know not to fvvk with Brit’s fanbase.
You won’t be snatching that #1 spot from Britney, boy.
Congrats on the album.
well done kanye!!
still need to get my copy doe!
Why do you guys keep altering the comments?
WELL DONE MAN….THIS ALBUM IS A M A Z I N G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s Kanye duh! What did you expect?
If the “all of the lights”‘s video is as epic as I expect it to be, MBDTF might even go 2x Platinum during the year.
I really hate how JayZ came into the picture with his “Watch the trone “sh*t. He needed to sit down. MBDTF has not ended its run yet!
915,000? meh… He sold 500,000 in his first week,.. and now , hes tweeting about britney.. even if that was a joke, it just shows he’ll do anything to get himself publicity and he needs it.
This is not his best work! In fact I’m disappointed. However, I’m glad that ppl have put that foolishness behind them and stopped trying to effect his career.
You cannot compare the massive machine that is behind Kanye due to his Jay-Z Illuminati ties. Last Train To Paris by DDM is a very good CD so is No Mercy by T.I.! Again, you cannot compare either of their sells to Kanye’s.
BRITNEY WILL KILL THOSE NUMBERS HATERS KEEP UR EYES PEELED
diddy & t.i have good albums too. just not as good as kanye’s
Good for him. Though I can’t help but be happy that Pink Friday may go #1 in the next few weeks and Kanye took longer to ship 1 million units than Nicki. I do certainly believe that his personality is slowly killing his career. Or maybe that’s just me.
Diddy’s sales shock me and so do T.I.’s. Oh well?
What the hell. His album was sooooo overrated.
😛 😛 😛 I love this, I love my boy friend. He is a nice guy.
i met him via ———-B lack Wh ite F li rts. C” 0- M—————–
== Joi n for Fre e == The most successful interra cial da t ing c lub. If you are still waiting for your sweet “milk” or “chocolate”, don’t hesitate to check it !! Don’t let your babies wait too long for you !!
@ Drew
YES!!, VERYYYYYYYYYYY OVERRATED.
I Like Kanye but Honestly, Those songs are so BASIC, & LACK-LUSTER!!
IASF~ Certified 3X’S Platinum Recently (I Dont think Sam ever Posted that, *SIDE EYE*)
I’m happy for him. As for him joking about Britney, it was CLEARLY a joke, there wasn’t an ounce of malice in his tweet, nor could it ever be reasonably interpreted as such. I didn’t think Britney stans could be this uptight, or maybe they’re not intelligent enough to understand a simple joke.
@ Rihanna Forever:
Or probably the quality of the album was overhyped and it was poorly promoted as well.
@S***
LOL, of COURSE Sam never did. They’re just mad because Beyonce’s albums have all been certified multi-platinum. Even that basic b**** Nicki Minaj’s Pink Sunday went Platinum before Kanye’s long ass titled album.
I bought it, l listened to it, and gave it away. The songs weren’t even understandable. They were just all over the place. Even damn Rihanna’s album was better.
@TrueBlue
I also don’t understand the whole tweet situation. Kanye was joking and Britney’s stans decided to go absolutely insane thinking that he insulted whom they consider, frankly, their Messiah.
As for Diddy and T.I.’s albums, I listened to both and they were actually decent. I was really surprised by how well done Last Train to Paris was and I’m not even much of a fan of any of his work. I personally think that both Diddy and T.I.’s albums were overhyped, though, but that specifically T.I.’s album was underpromoted. Not much he could do from jail though.
I kind of just wish he had not released an album and waited until late this year or early 2012. The whole No Mercy era has been messy and confusing and it was such a rehash of Paper Trail.
Nice! …but, Kanye deserves to have twice as many sells! I have a feeling his sales slowed down due to his bad mouthing Swift again. I wish the dude would learn how to keep his mouth closed ’til the end of an era! Still, you have to love that he says what’s on his mind. That is the sign of a true leader. Hopefully “All of the lights” get him a double platnium plaque soon.
^^^ With the way he’s been going in and out of jail as of late, it looks like if he ever stays out long enough to record an album, he’ll get himself in trouble and back in jail before he can properly promote it.
^^ @ RF.
@TrueBlue
Seems like it. It’s really just becoming embarassing for him to be releasing albums that are met with sub-par sales because he can’t promote them. It also doesn’t help that the albums deal with subjects of redemption when he just makes the same mistakes every time.
@Rihanna Forever
Paper Trail is a classic, no mercy will be easily forgotten (except castle walls,no mercy,get back up & all she wrote)
As for kanye, SONICALLY MBDTF is his best album, the production is flawless..but lyrically few songs wowed me (lost in the world,dark fantasy,blame game). His first album College Dropout is by far his best album & one of the best hip hop albums of all time IMO.
1. College Dropout
2. Late Registration
3. MBDTF
4. Graduation
5. 808s & Heartbreak
^^^ College Dropout will forever remain a classic for me. I don’t believe he will ever top that album. I miss that Kanye, to be honest.
Also @Rihanna Forever no mercy wasn’t about redemption it was all about having “no mercy” & owning up to your mistakes..but also saying that NO ONE should be judging him because we all make mistakes & was just pointing out how people work (we show no mercy to others when were far from perfect)
@Kavion
I meant that his constant usage of the topics of redemption and learning from your mistakes, etc. is becoming tiresome. Also, I felt that, sonically, Kanye’s best album was 808s and Heartbreak. I adore that record.
1. College Dropout
2. 808s & Heartbreak
3. Late Registration
4. Graduation
5. MBDTF
4 and 5 are interchangeable for me, though. To be honest, I’ve never been super disappointed by a Kanye album. Except for MBDTF. He and many others overhyped the record so badly that it was just lackluster to me.
@True Blue
I mean..um hopeful that he will but realistically it’s unlikely..that album was PERFECTION. From the interludes,to the soulful beats,to the lyrical quality. IMO it’s almost Nantes version of Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. I get what you mean by missing that kanye, but honestly he’s CONSTANTLY changing..his next album could be Hip Hop infused rock for all we know (I think he should of done that over Wayne)
@Kavion
College Dropout was a very moody, soulful hip-hop record whereas Late Registration was a little more rock-influenced and a little less soulful. Then, I thought Graduation was just a total move into dance and pop-sounds while still maintaining his hip-hop sound. Really, Graduation was a little more rap than his previous records.
Then of course he went completely pop and electronic/trance/house on 808s and Heartbreak which I liked due to how emotional it was. Now, with MBDTF it’s like total underground hip-hop rock. It’s almost like he took a note from Kid Cudi.
I always write too much…
@Rihanna Forever
I loved how MBDTF sounds..especially dark fantasy. I get chills from that track..
It’s just this album lacked in the relatability factor..& 808s just kinda gets old to me.
Though I do think people are WAY to hard on it
LOL @ Drew
The only Kanye album I ever owned was Late Registration & I wasnt very impressed by it asside from a few Tracks(Not Songs). Id say College Dropout & Graduation are his BEST while MBDTF is probably his LEAST to me his would be worse: 808s & Heartbreak is actually better than MBDTF (especially Concept-wise & overall artistically). So LACKLUSTER to me. Either Kanye tried Way TOO HARD or NOT ENOUGH (I cant even tell which) but I dont like his latest effort much at all.
To Me, His Father JayZ is much stronger Album wise than him. But Together they are my fovorite rappers >>> Lil Wayne Emenim 🙂
@Rihanna Forever it’s all good I do the SAME thing lmao
@ RihannaForever
I completely AGREE with your description on all his Albums… So True.
@Kavion
LOL, I actually think that MBDTF was a mediocre record. The beats were good and some of the songs (“Monster”, “Runaway”, “Lost In The World”, “All of the Lights”) were really well done but as a whole, the album just was not cohesive to me.
808s & Heartbreak is one of my favorite Kanye albums but everyone seems to dislike that album because it was a risk for him to take.
@Rihanna Forever
I guess I just focus way too much on lyrics.. Relatability will win alot of points from me..I guess I’m kinda biased then lol. I just think music is speaking for people who can’t speak for themselves while displaying great talent and beautiful sounds..if it had those 3 qualities,I’ll love it. Graduation is just great to me.. Not amazing honestly
@S***
Exactly. Although I did rate his albums, it’s kind of hard to because they’re just all so different. I do personally feel that College Dropout was his best record though. The other four, however, are just all so different.
@S***
LOL, totally. I bought College Dropout, loved it, bought Late Registration and thought it was alright but didn’t buy Graduation because, though I loved the cover art, it was just messy to me. I didn’t buy 808s because I don’t need a damn melancholy electropop album from a rapper, and then MBDTF was just…psychotic and weird.
Really..what about dark fantasy nicks intro, that powerful “can we get much higher” and that guitar that drops just gives me chills..and gorgeous is amazing sound wise to..devil in a new dress & blame game sound beautiful along with the tracks you mentioned. I just think he relied too much on instrumentals.
Even though I hated the excessive use of Auto-Tune on 808s, at least it was a truly personal and heartfelt album. MBDTF is good, but I think he’s coasting now.
Im still a little BITTER over the reviews MBDTF got, Are they AFRAID of him or something?? I mean we got Critics giving it PERFECT scores Calling it some MASTER PIECE & FOR WHAT?? Wish I could hear what they hear 😐
@Drew but aren’t musicians supposed to take risks? I think it was great for him to TRY electro pop-rap
@S***
Oh, and I think Jay-Z is just AMAZING. Maybe, being a B stan I’m biased, but he just puts so much soul and hard work into every aspect of his music. But he doesn’t overthink it and ruin it like Kanye. THAT is Kanye’s problem. He tries too hard and it just doesn’t work. It’s like trying to make a house of cards out of too many decks. It crumbles with too much.
Also, Eminem is so overrated. Yes, he can rap and use rhymes well, but some of the things he says are random as HELL, like Lil Wayne.
I’ll stick with my Eve, Missy, and Jay-Z. Today’s rappers are so basic.
Damn… three Bey stans talking to each other on here, and Beyoncé isn’t even the topic of discussion. Hell must’ve frozen over, and I think I saw a p** fly by my window.
@Kavion
I love when I can relate to songs and what you said about music being the voice of the people is very true so that’s why albums like The Miseducation are just…oh my God. Amazing.
As for “Dark Fantasy”, that’s probably one of my favorite songs. And I stan for Nicki, so of course I loved her intro. The “can we get much higher?” was great, too.
@TrueBlue
Exactly, though I didn’t mind the auto-tune too much.
@S***
Same! I just don’t hear what everyone else seems to hear. MBDTF is treated like a Bible or something but it was just okay to me.
@TrueBlue
DEAD.
DEAD.
DEAD.
So damn true. It’s amazing to me that this is happening, LOL.
@Kavion
Of course I love when artists take risks, but it’s almost like, in a metaphor, that artists are on a cliff and they’re supposed to, in their careers, peer over the edge sometimes. With 808s, Kanye fell off the damn cliff.
@True Blue LMAO haha..AND noones being cussed out.
@Rihanna Forever miseducation is a musical gem & i love albums that just speak to your soul..like a personal journal or scrapbook.
MBDTF is very over rated by critics though..CD got the same rating as PF by rolling ston yet fantasy go 5/5..I’m a nicki Stan to, but really?
@ Drew:
I like Eminem a lot, but you know what pisses me? People who say they hate rap music, and then praise Em in the same breath. Why is Eminem the ONLY decent rapper to them? He’s a superior lyricist to Jay & Kanye in my opinion, but he’s not better by a WIDE margin. And if you can find one thing you like in a genre you usually hate, then wouldn’t it occur to you to go looking further into the genre to find more good stuff? I don’t even hear that many people say “I hate rap, but I like Tupac”, and Pac is the Beatles of rap to me.
@DREW lmao..he did make MANY mistakes with 808s..it’s overly hated to
Me though
@Kavion
Completely! I loved Pink Friday so much and Nicki is just fantastical to me, but College Dropout was a better album. However, Rolling Stone went and rated those two the same and MBDTF higher when in reality, for me:
College Dropout>Pink Friday=MBDTF (in different ways).
&True Blue
I hate to say it but it’s because he’s white so they actually give him a chance & listen to him where as they put kanye, jay, t.i etc. In a box because all they hear is their swag radio music
@Kavion
He wanted to make a statement with 808s but it went too far, in my opinion.
@TrueBlue
Exactly! I know tons of people that think that Eminem is amazing but that rap is horrible but I find that so weird because obviously, if you like one artist in a genre, you’ll likely find another artist you like in that genre.
As for the Tupac sentence, I completely agree. Tupac was so amazing as a rapper so I don’t understand why Eminem is put on a higher pedestal.
Side-note: I know the whole Illuminati thing is just hearsay, but I watched some Youtube videos about Tupac and the Illuminati in my spare time, and it’s actually kind of eerie, the whole situation.
@ Drew
Yes about Emenin, His most recent era was ground-breaking for me because Before hearing “Not Afraid” & his verse on LTWYL Part 2 I thought he was just so over hyped & over rated but now I realise just how powerful & Also Thoughtful he is with his lyrics. Only thing I hate about Em (besides his inability to smile) is that his LYRICAL-DELIVERY is Flawwed, He raps like that of a ROBOT (he has NO SOUL) & he is very Random (Same with Lil Wayne & DRAKE is the WORSE of them all).
@Kavion/@TrueBlue/@Drew
I agree with what Kavion said. Though Eminem does rap well, people think that he’s superior to other rappers because he’s white. Not to degrade the art of rap, but to be honest, anyone can rap. Anyone can sing as well, but rap requires less skill. It’s writing your own raps and really perfecting them that’s the hard part and that’s what causes the likes of Jay-Z and Eminem to be considered so great as rappers. They write and perfect their raps to a T. Kanye’s are messy to me.
DEFINANTLY..the thing about PF is lyrically it’s amazing but everyone dissed it because of the low level production (honestly the beats were lackluster)
I mean I was very impressed with the lyrics..but people hate the beats so much they don’t give it a genuine listen
@S***
I thought that Recovery was a great album and his lyrics were very beautiful and poetic, but the man is such a ROBOT, like you said. When he raps, it sounds like a machine. There isn’t much heart behind the lyrics, and that’s why I put Eminem below other fellow rappers.
Don’t EVEN get me started on Drake.
RF^^
@Kavion
The lyrics of PF were amazing to me, but the beats were mediocre. Besides “Roman’s Revenge” and “Moment 4 Life”, the beats were very basic and that’s a large part of rap – the beat. Even her mixtapes had better beats. The beats weren’t bad, but they could have been better. Far better.
@Drew/@S***
Really? Everyone seems to dislike Drake but I love the man’s rap. It’s funny, because with YM I love Drake and Nicki Minaj and then Lil Wayne is okay but the other Young Money signees are just mediocre to me. Especially Lil Twist.
@ Kavion:
I used to disagree with that opinion because of failures like Vanilla Ice, but now I think you’re right. Most of the people who normally make an exception for Em are white people who listen to rock music almost exclusively. And what Em has gotten away with, a black rapper would get skewered for.
@ Drew:
LOL, I don’t buy into that illuminati stuff. But as for ‘Pac, yeah, I’m scared that he might be overshadowed by Em at some point, which I hope doesn’t happen.
@ S***:
Wow, that’s actually a very thoughtful, and unbiased analysis of Eminem. Although, I personally disagree with you, I think he raps with passion, whereas Wayne and Drake sound like parodies of themselves. I’m sorry, but they do.
@ Drew (or any EM Fan)
Besides the singles, What are your 3 best songs on RECOVERY??
I’ve been meaning Preview that Album but never found Em Interesting enough to give his album a chance beyond just the Singles…
I liked the album but i don’t know why it was acclaimed as much as it was. meh
I liked Diddy’s album too, the sound is really distinct from what is currently on the radio.
True Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Blue
Well, I think EM’s Voice is really not my cup of tea to begin with but he Raps with POWER… NOT passion/Soul IMO. Im really just complimenting him on a LYRICAL stand point.
@DREW I think en doesn’t WANT to show emotion..he’s a very intaverted person..the only times hes emotional is when spitting about his daughter, Kim & his best friend proof. He still will always be one of my favorites though
@Rihanna Forever her beats were defiantly mediocre but nicki has always said she loves to just spit on basic beats..and I respect that because to ME lyrics & vocals>>music
& I couldn’t agree more about YM..from what I can see the only ones who are PASSIONATE about music are Drake & Nicki
@ RF:
I agree that Kanye’s Achilles’ heel is his rapping. Brilliant producer, and he has a sick flow, but there are also loads of times where he falls short lyrically. When I tell that to hardcore to Kanye stans though, I get attacked and accused of not being a “real fan”, so from now on I say nothing to them, lol.
@ S***:
You got a point there.
@Rihanna4ever
What? I thought you said you disliked Drake…
@Kavion/@Rihanna4ever
Out of curiousity, what are your guys’ favorite PF tracks? And to Rihanna4ever (and Kavion, I guess) what’s your favorite Rihanna album? And what are your favorite Loud and Rated R tracks?
@TrueBlue
I don’t really care about it either but the stuff about Tupac was odd and kind of creepy. I mean one of his albums was called Killuminati…
@S***
I thought the singles were phenomenal and well-chosen, but I think the best 3 album tracks were “Cold Wind Blows”, “Almost Famous”, and “On Fire”. I really liked “So Bad” too because I like hearing him sing.
He disses Relapse a LOT on Recovery, though.
@True Blue yea..they put him above the world, not realizing he’s not the “only exception” to rappers. It’s honestly ridiculous
@S*** Space bound, you’re never over, 25 to life & I need to more lol: talkin to myself & Cinderella man
^^^ He should, Relapse was s***. WTF was up with the FAUX-maican accent?
^^ @ Drew.
@ILoveXtina
I totally agree about MBDTF and I also thought that LTTP was really well done and unique.
@Kavion
They were, but for a debut, I can respect that Nicki wanted to do tracks where her lyrics, vocals, and raps were put in a more important place. Hopefully she steps up the beats in the future because she won’t have much of an excuse past her debut.
I like Lil Wayne but he seems to make music for the honors these days instead of the rap itself. Part of the reason I respect Drake, Nicki, Jay-Z, and Eminem so much is because they rap because they care about rapping. Wayne does it for the accolades these days, it seems. But his stans are crazy so I never mention him.
@TrueBlue
Like many have said, Kanye has an amazing ear for music so his flow and his production is fantasticly amazing. However, his lyrics become so meaningless and irrelavent sometimes. And I know. Back in ’08, I told a Kanye stan that Graduation was weak and I was called every curse word in the book. People think rappers don’t have crazy stans but man they do.
^^sorry to comment on all of the comments directed to RF but I just had to say that…
@DREW I’d say fly,moment 4 life, here I am, save me & dear old nicki only because they have the most heart put into them &as fir Rihanna, I honestly think LOUD is the perfect “Rihanna” album..fun songs & a little bit if dance tracks & ballads.
My favorite rih songs from loud & R are California king bed & Fire Bomb.
I’m big on ballads when it comes to singers..
What are your favorite bey album/songs?
@ Drew
Thanx Checking them out now.
@ KaVion
This may sound a little left field but I think Em might have a little personality disorder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizoid_personality_disorder This may or may not be true but Im just going off his body language & inability to show emotion. (Generally, COMMON in Many, Almost all of us can identity with atleast one personality disorder on some degree)
@ DREW I agree..I mean I’ve never even heard Wayne mention his favorite musicians or anything about music? He just doesn’t have that passion..but he does have a great charitable heart
&S*** you know his mother wasn’t mentally stable so I honestly wouldn’t be surprised
I FIND IT SHADY ON NICKI MINAJ’S PART HOW CAN SHE GO PLATINUM BEFORE KANYE?? SHE DOESNT HAV ENUF FANS FOR THAT S*** YET AND SHE WASNT EVEN NO.1 KANYE WAS SHITTING ON HER SALES.. I BET WAYNE BOUGHT HER OUT
@ Drew:
LOL, every genre has crazy-ass stans, it’s just that pop star stans get the most attention for some reason.
And I don’t you or anyone else replying to me if my comments are directed to a specific person. It’s a public comment section, not a private chatroom, so the convos aren’t really one-on-one.
GGGB is my favorite Rihanna album btw. A guilty pleasure of mine. Loud is a shockingly decent album, though. “Skin”, “S&M”, “What’s My Name” and “California Kind Bed” are the best tracks from that album. But I hate “Only Girl” with a passion…
@Drew
LOL, it’s okay.
@Kavion
Though I agree with a lot of what Drew said, I just think the whole YM thing is a mess. Lil Wayne is just about the awards and money, like Drew said, and it shows in his rap (case-and-point, “6’7”). However, his flow is sick and I respect that.
As for Drake and Nicki, they put so much effort into their music so I just adore them. You can tell by how quickly Wayne releases albums how little he cares. Wayne has crazy stans, though…
@TrueBlue
LOL, I agree with a LOT of what Drew said, though I think that Kanye is an alright lyricist. For example, his “Monster” and “Runaway” verses were great. However, his “H-A-M” verse was horrible. He’s a much better producer than rapper, to me.
Side-note: I think it’s so funny that he was so humble back in the College Dropout days (I just saw an interview from then) but he’s a whole different person now. Also, did you hear that Vanilla Ice is going to get a TV show? Has-beens these days…
@Drew
Oh my God! That’s such a crazy question to ask a stan! However, I’d have to say that Pink Friday’s strongest songs were definitely “Fly”, “Moment 4 Life”, and “Save Me”. However, the album had 13 amazing songs in their own rights – actually 12. “Last Chance” was kind of a bad song.
As for Rihanna, I think two of the best Loud tracks (I cannot choose A best), were “Man Down” and “Complicated”. Rihanna’s vocals really shined on those songs and I loved that she went back to her roots for “Man Down”. Oh, and “Skin”. That song was A-MA-ZING. I loved the Rated R feel on it.
As for Rated R, I’d say one of the best songs was “Stupid In Love”. That whole album was so well put together, though.
* And I don’t MIND you or anyone else replying to me if my comments are directed to a specific person.
@Kavion
The heart that that man (Wayne) has for New Orleans is amazing. However, he could care less about music. I also ADORED “Moment 4 Life” and “Fly”. Otherwise, I didn’t think that Nicki’s record was all that great. I liked it better than Drake’s though.
As for B, that’s SO hard, but I’d probably say that “Listen”, “Me, Myself & I”, and “Disappear” are some of her best songs. However, I really love anything that woman does. You?
@TrueBlue
I loved Loud. That record is the only Ri record, besides GGGB of course, that I liked. Even Rated R was just okay to me. I also agree. I think it’s so dumb when some people go off on you for talking to them on a PUBLIC CHAT FORUM.
@Rihann4ever
You write too damn much. LOL.
I agree, 100%.
@ S***:
You know, I was watching a biography of Em on TV years ago, and it said that one time in middle-school he was so badly beaten by school bullies that after that beating, friends and family noticed an immediate change in his personality. He was a nice, friendly kid before it and all of a sudden he became moody and angst-ridden. I think there might have been some brain damage to cause that personality shift. Either that or he was so traumatized that he put up this tough exterior as a means of protecting himself. I do feel bad for his terrible upbringing. He reminds me of Axl Rose, except Em is definetely more stable and professional.
@Drew
I kind of do…LOL. I should have split that up into two comments.
Side-note: I was out shopping with friends today and I had been talking for like maybe 20 minutes straight at this one restaurant, and one of the fellow customers in another part of the restaurant (a table near me) came up and told me to shut the hell up. I was livid, and just kind of went into silent mode, but my friend totally went off on him. LOL, it was embarrassing.
* definitely.
@ Rihanna Forever:
WTF…??? That rude dude should’ve tried that s*** in Brooklyn, see what would happen to his teeth…
@S***/@TrueBlue
I think we ALL feel bad for Eminem. He seems like a really funny, sweet, and vulnerable person at heart (anyone else see him on The Soup with Joel McHale?), but his childhood has really messed him up. It’s good that over the years he seems to have healed but his personality is very awkward. He’s almost TOO introverted for a normal person.
@True Blue I’m just happy all the sane stans are here and the delusional Britney, Rihanna & Beyonce stans are taking a power nap.
@Rihanna Forever NO ONE else in YM genuinely cares about music. When nicki & drake speak about music they just light up. & honestly Kanyes always been confident.. He had a huge fit about CD not winning Album of the Tear & him not winning best new artist
@TrueBlue
That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking. It wasn’t his business at all and I don’t see why he should have cared. I actually kind of wished we were in Brooklyn, because even my friend yelling at the guy did nothing.
@Kavion
Kanye has always been that way, but it was to a lesser and more respectable extent back in ’04. It kind of seems like he’s felt like he has something to prove or has to be a certain way because of his mom dying. That’s when this all REALLY began.
As for Drake, I’m just amazed at how well the man speaks. He’s a very intelligent man. I also agree about Drake and Nicki, though. They both kind of get through talking about other topics because they feel obligated to, but when they’re asked about music, they became interested and they just light up.
I was talking to a fellow Nicki stan today (one of my friends), and he said Nicki should dye her hair blonde. Do you think she should/ever would?
@DREW your picks are ridiculously similar to mine..I love Dangerously In Love, Flaws & All, Listen, Halo, Smash Into You & Dissapear
IASF’s ballads are ridiculously beautiful AND underrated
@ Drew:
Believe it or not, but I’m painfully shy in real life, almost to the point that some people think there’s something wrong with me. I’m a normal, happy person, I’m just terrible at social situations.
@ Kavion:
Yes, it’s SO much better when the crazies are away, but you’re got to admit that the stan wars are entertaining as hell. BTW, has anyone noticed that ever since Psycho Nicky has been blocked, Wire has mysteriously disappeared too?
@ RF:
Not that I condone senseless violence in the slightest, but people have actually been shot over dumb crap like that.
@Rihanna4ever
If Nicki DID dye her hair blonde, I don’t think anyone would notice that she actually did because of all her damn wigs.
This may sound weird, but just out of curiousity, where do you live? For some reason, I thought you lived in NYC, but apparently you don’t.
@Rihanna Forever well when you already have a cocky personality then you blow up as a star THEN you lose so much (his mother & some fans) that’s recipe for his personality.
About Drake, man I honestly look up to that man so much..the fact that he’s intelligent while still being hood and real. The fact that people call him a “f**” and a “p****” because he wasnt raised in the hood & us intelligent pisses me off. I was raised in the hood but I still make sure to be respectful & intelligent.
And nicki? Hmm I though she was fine ad he’ll with her natural hair haha..and I want her to go back to that but I wouldn’t mind seeing her with dirty blonde type a look?
@ RF:
EVERYONE I know attributes Kanye’s downward spiral to his mother’s death. Personally, I think it began with the car accident, and was hastened with his mother dying. He should take some time off and go to therapy, cause he needs it.
@ Kavion:
I don’t like Drake’s music, but I hate that people call him names because he’s not “hood”. Sorry, but acting like a thug doesn’t make you a man.
@TrueBlue
It just confirms that Nicky is Wire, LOL. Although the stan wars are entertaining and Nicky was quite the pest, it’s been a bit less lively since Nicky left. I wonder what went through its head when it found it was blocked. Maybe Nicky pulled a World-of-Warcraft-type freakout like those videos. LOL.
Also, I remember being in New York last summer (2009) and going to this one Italian restaurant in Manhattan. Things on the menu weren’t spelled right, the food was just okay but kind of bad, and the service was horrible. I only payed a 10% tip, and then the owner of the restaurant, CHASED ME OUT OF THE DAMN RESTAURANT talking about how a 15% tip was customary and about how “I didn’t know a s*** about how things worked in Brooklyn.
And I’m the same way, BTW. When I first meet people, I’m extremely shy. However, when people get to know me, I’m really loud and out there. I guess the reason why people don’t ever think I could be shy, even when just seeing me at first, is because I wear stuff like this:
http://seoulbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101203_seoulbeats_2ne1.jpg
@Drew
Seattle.
@DREW right?? Well her natural doesn’t look like how her wigs do but still who would notice?
@True Blue Lmaoo yes they are..about nicki, remember that song someone made about her multiple personalities? The whole what’s my name deal? Haha, that’ll explain it..now im just waiting for LTM, Kyle,XXX rated to go away lol
@Kavion
I totally agree. I like her black hair.
@Kavion/@TrueBlue
That’s so true and I also hate it when Drake gets referred to as those things just because he doesn’t have the typical rapper background and because he can get through an interview without sounding like he’s had the education of a 3rd grader (Bangladesh, much?).
I also agree about Kanye. He should just go away. He has some problems, for sure.
@Kavion
The whole IASF album was SO underrated. I think that that was her best album to date, though they’re all amazing.
@TrueBlue
Really? I used to be the kind that was so shy in social situations but I changed, for some reason.
@Rihanna4ever
I see. I’ve never been to Seattle. Does it really rain THAT much?
@TrueBlue
*paid.
@ RF:
LOL, that’s an Italian New Yorker for you! Well, mostly the Sopranos-type of Italians, the classier ones would NEVER do that to you.
And I also become (slightly) more exuberant with my personality when I become close friends with someone. But our fashion choices are very different, I’m a bit more conservative with my clothes, lol!
@Rihanna Forever I think it’s ridiculous that people say drake is a bad rapper because he wasn’t born in the hood. I’ll admit I used to think that if you didn’t live in the hood, you didn’t struggle but I was completely wrong. When I moved to the suburbs I saw there’s different types of struggles and experienced them..No one knows what he could have been through
& I think kanye needs to pull a Dave chapelle and find his self then return better than ever
@TrueBlue
I had quite the culture shock in New York, LOL. It’s weird because I’ve been to Korea and Japan and I felt so at home there but when I go to other cities in the US, I feel kind of out of place.
As for me, I become really outgoing when I’ve become friends with someone. I’m a little bit louder when I start to get to know someone, but I’m silent when I first meet someone. Or I just talk without much inflection and personality. I was SO shy as a child, though. I think it had a lot to do with self-confidence, though.
Oh, and with my clothes, it’s weird. In Asia, a lot of people dress like I do (specifically the big cities in Japan and Korea), but in the US I get lots of weird looks. It’s helped my self-confidence, strangely.
And by conservative, I mean with the colors and patterns, not in showing skin, in case there’s any confusion.
@ Kavion:
That “hood” mentality is why people like Rick Ross and Akon lie or exaggerate about having a criminal past, to seem more credible to their fans and sell more records. I’m glad that’s changing though, cause the most popular mainstream rappers right now aren’t really “gangsta”.
you know hes album got some good songs but the overall thing sux just like ciara’s album the exc producers f***** up the album with the tracklist i didn’t buy hes album but i bought the songs that i like next time get it togther with the songs order anyway congrats to him but still no mercy and pink friday>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MBDTF
@DREW I think it has to do with her single choices. Radio,Hello,Dissapear & Smash Into You had HUGE potential.
Also what so you think of her new direction?
I’m kind of confused about her saying Lauryn Hill’s a huge influence but producers are saying it’ll be mainly uptempo?
@Kavion
I absolutely HATE it when people treat Drake like less of a rapper because he didn’t grow up in the hood. I grew up in an upper middle class family in Los Angeles (very similar to Drake), but I still experienced tons of struggles with my sexuality, personality, self-confidence, and appearance. I thought I was a lesbian for a long time, but I found out I was heterosexual. Odd example, but I just mean that I had such difficulty in life and I didn’t come from the projects.
I also hate it when Nicki is treated like less of a rapper just because she doesn’t make hardcore rap songs. To be honest, I thought that Dave Chapelle was annoying until he went away and came back. If only Kanye did the same.
@Kavion
I’m confused about the direction. First it was party music, then it was midtempo, then it was Off the Wall, then it was Lauryn Hill.
I want an album with tons of upbeat songs that are very lyrical. Just a few ballads though. I have 3 other albums of Beyonce ballads, so I want an album of upbeat, lyrical masterpieces.
Also, “Smash into You”, “Radio”, “Disappear”, “Save the Hero”, and “Hello” had HUGE potential. Especially “Radio”. Though “Video Phone” did help Gaga to get urban fans, I think she would have been amazing on a “Radio” remix. That’s the one song I just wish had been a single.
@Rihanna4ever
Well said.
@True Blue exactly thanks to em then kanye & now drake.. Anyone with talent can make it in the game. I’m actually really happy with hip hop right now..there’s a hunger for substance (why Souljah Boy flopped) and rappers have something meaningful to say. Im gonna be like a kid in a candy store when J Cole,Lupe Fiasco & Drake drop! & I’m very curious about Watch The Thrown
Same with singers, I’m really looking forward to Bey,Chris Brown & Brandy’s comeback & in curious what Gaga & Britney will bring
@TrueBlue
LOL, I understood. That’s why I’m excited to move to Korea. I’ll stick out like less of a sore thumb there.
@ RF:
I hope this isn’t too personal of a question to ask (if you’d rather not, you can not answer it), but how did you arrive to the conclusion that you are hetero? Most people that struggle with their sexuality turn out to be gay or bi.
@Kavion
I am SO curious about Take Care, and then Beyonce, Britney, and Gaga’s albums. Especially Gaga’s. At first I wasn’t amped for BTW but then I heard that The Fame Monster leftover “Animal” and loved it. Thinking it was from BTW, I kind of sparked an interest in it.
Gaga has kind of messed herself up, though. If she doesn’t soar above her promises, it’ll be bad. The worst things will be likely to happen to her even if she MEETS the expectations. She has to surpass them. That’s why I wish she hadn’t hyped BTW up so much. If it doesn’t deliver, it’ll be like Gaga’s demise.
@TrueBlue
My situation was that I didn’t like guys at all beyond friendship, so I thought I must’ve been a lesbian.
@Rihanna Forever exactly! My struggles went from being dodging bullets,my dads drug abuse & crime to suicidal tendencies & inner struggles..it doesn’t matter where you’re from, everyone struggles
@DREW yea I’m very confused about the direction, maybe she’s just throwing us off?..I just want CLASSIC music like MJ dance songs with Aretha ballads
@ RF:
Oh, okay. I was (and still kind of am) the same way, but that’s because most guys I know aren’t attractive enough (not just physically) for me to feel something for them. I have gotten called a lesbian because I didn’t date, but I told those people… http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/ElliePirellie/fx54fg46gfh3.gif
Also
@Drew I LOVE save the hero, my life story right there
@Rihanna Forever it’s better to just keep quiet & let your music speak for you
@Kavion
That’s true. I was suicidal for a long time and lots of people didn’t get that because my parents were always around and super supportive, I lived in a huge house, had great cars, tons of friends, etc. Not bragging, just saying that everyone struggles. It’s human.
@TrueBlue
Exactly. I don’t exactly get attracted to every guy and that’s why this one guy is one of my best friends because there are only certain women he’s attracted to, but he’s not bi or gay. What kills me, personally, is homophobia.
I ADORE the gif, by the way. What is that from?
@Drew
It just rains so frequently that people think that.
@Kavion
Part of the reason that I can only stan for B is because she’s the only artist that can bring me to tears, me being a black woman who’s tough as they come.
I would ADORE Aretha/Lauryn-styled ballads and MJ-type dance tracks. I want her to do more dance, too. Her voice fits anything. Also, I can personally rest assured because whatever the woman does, it’s a classic.
@TrueBlue
Although I did determine my sexuality, I loved my last 2 years of high school because I kind of realized that I didn’t HAVE to identify as gay, straight or bi. I realized that I can just live and do as I please, which was great and brought a sense of euphoria to my life.
Side-note: Have you ever felt like you just want time to pass? This next 4.5 months is going to kill me. Literally.
@ Kavion:
I can’t wait for Bey, I really hope that her new album will blow her current discography out of the water.
@ RF:
Oh, I googled “jon stewart go f yourself gif”, and I click on the first result, which is here: http://board.muse.mu/archive/index.php/t-30227.html because the people on here were trading gifs.
I’m sorry that you were at a point that where you felt suicidal. And it’s true that money doesn’t guarantee happiness in the slightest. I’ve always been far from rich, but I’ve seen both good and bad times with and without money. To be honest, I believe in the mantra “mo money, mo problems”. BTW, when are you moving to Korea?
@ RF:
Sometimes yeah, and other times I’m like “NO, TIME IS GOING TOO FAST!”. Mainly cause it means we’re all closer to death, lol. I don’t fear my own mortality, but my worst fear is for all my loved ones to die before me. THAT will push me over the edge for sure, so I can kind of understand Kanye acting out.
@Rihanna Forever exactly..I have a high tolerance and empathy for all people because I’ve seen different types of struggles and happiness. Sometimes people can be SO closedminded.
@Drew I know to US who appreciate her, it’s classic but I want her to a genuinely GLOBAL album, so everyone can appreciate her. Her voice and passion will always have a hold on ME no matter what though
@TrueBlue
LOL, I love Jon Stewart.
Also, it’s absolutely great of you to be supportive. It was such a difficult time and I agree, by the way, with that mantra. My parents sold the house we lived in and moved into this quaint, tiny apartment and bought a cute little Ford Fusion after selling the cars they had and I’ve never seen them happier.
As for Korea, I’m moving at the beginning of June and I get to spend three and a half months getting used to Seoul before I continue college. The good thing is that, oddly enough, I’ll still be able to use TGJ. I talked to a friend who lived in Seoul and moved back and he had access to tons of US sites.
Side-note: I just felt like saying that I hate the stereotype that Asian countries have of homophobia. Honestly, any public display of affection (gay or straight) is frowned upon in Asia. That was really random, but it’s a stereotype that really bothers me.
@True Blue it will.. She always progresses(discarding B’Day)
@TrueBlue
Completely. I don’t think I could handle the loss of both my parents. Obviously, life would move on, but outliving my brother would be horrible. It’s a selfish concept too, though. It just feels like there isn’t enought time.
@Kavion
Absolutely! I have never been the kind to judge people because, for the longest time, I was judged by everyone and I hate the feeling it gives you. I just don’t understand homophobia, racism, sexism, or any stereotypes, really. The problem with me, though, is that I can understand both sides of pretty much any conflict or situation so it’s hard for me to take sides.
@Kavion
That’s true. She’s really, really underrated so I want her to release an album which just takes every award and chart by storm. Then she should just have a few babies and relax in her Manhattan apartment knowing that she took the world by storm, LOL.
Also, what do you mean she’s progressed with every record but B’Day?
@ RF:
That’s really cool! That means you’re transferring colleges, right?
The only US based sites you won’t be able to access outside of here are MTV, Hulu, AOL, Yahoo and other streaming services that tend to vary by region. Even on YouTube, you’ll be restricted as to what videos you can watch, because some of the content is from VEVO (I hate that company).
BTW, I was never aware of that stereotype at all, but I hate any PDA beyond light kissing and hand-holding, regardless of the sexual orientation of the couple. It’s annoying to be at a mall or the park and see people making out with each other like they’re the only people out in public. I feel like telling them to get a room.
Also, I read something about a country in Asia (can’t remember the name) where the had prominent displays of penises (or penii?) everywhere. I was like “WTF?!?!”
@Rihanna Forever WOW. You sound just like me. I just can’t stand closed minded people..There was a time where I distanced with my family because they couldn’t accept that I had more friends of different colors than black friends or that some of them were lesbian & acted differently than what they were used to. I’ve kind of been the one that have introduced them to different types if people and things. They even sometimes get annoyed when we watch reality tv & I always try and understand the side everyones against
@TrueBlue
It is! I am SO excited because I feel so at home there, for some reason. It’s going to be a bit hard because of all of the friends I have here and because of the fact that I only know like 2 people that live in Seoul.
I’ll be going to Seoul National University and living there for two years, just continuing to study for my MBD and DDS. I’m really excited, though, because my Korean’s gotten rusty so I’m excited to take classes completely in Korean. I adore Korean food, too LOL.
I also hate VEVO. It isn’t so much them, it’s just that no one can post any videos with songs in them because of them overtaking Youtube. Also, about the stereotype, I just had to vent because so many people say that when I mention that I’m moving to Korea.
As for PDA’s, I agree. I don’t mind light kissing, hand holding – stuff like that is cute. It’s when there’s massive French kissing or contact on the verge of s** that I get irritated.
LMAO. That’s actually in Seoul with all of the penises. I hope I don’t run across that. It’s a bit too kinky for me. To be candid, I am in touch with my sexual side, but that’s just….no.
@Drew Lmao I honestly can’t wait to see her raise a family
What I mean is her albums in order of greatness should be:
1. IASF
2. B’Day
3. DIL
But in reality, IMO the order is more like
1. IASF
2. DIL
3. B’Day
B’Day was still great but lacked substance in comparison.
Maybe just because it’s a female empowerment record and I’m a guy?
@Kavion
Totally. Years ago, there was this long and complicated court case my mom was dealing with with this other woman, and I tried to explain that the other woman’s side but she (my mom) felt like the other woman was totally wrong. I love my parents now, but growing up, they got under my skin a lot because my mom can be very contradictory and one-sided and my dad is so conservative.
@ Kavion and RF:
When you’re part of a group that faces discrimination, it’s much easier to understand it and be against it then when you’ve been smooth-sailing all your life and have never personally come face to face with prejudice. I know this doesn’t apply to everyone, some people are still empathetic even without having bad experiences themselves, but struggle does make you a more open-minded person, I believe. That’s why I can’t understand why people of certain ethnicities (who don’t strictly adhere to any religion) are so homophobic. It’s like they can’t understand that they’re putting someone through the very same pain that they’ve probably been though.
@ Drew & Kavion:
To be honest, I wasn’t terrible impressed with IASF. So I just hope that she just blows everyone’s minds with her new album. I want it to slay every mainstream album for the next five years, lol. Her music has been good so far, but I want her to take it to the next level. Something iconic, like Miseducation.
@Kavion
Oh no, I completely agree that B’Day is her worst album. I mean I’m a female but I didn’t think it was her best work either.
I thought you meant that it was a bad album and I don’t think Beyonce’s EVER made a bad album. I just wish IASF received more recognition. That album was SO underrated when it’s so beautiful, vulnerable, and the image, sound, videos – everything was ON. POINT.
@Rihanna4ever
I know you’re a stan, but you’re sensical, so I was wondering if you thought that Rihanna has ever made a bad album.
@TrueBlue
VERY well said and true. That’s why I don’t understand why countries like Jamaica, for example, are so homophobic. I guess when people are hurt they can either hurt or be empathetic. Unfortunately, it seems like more hurt people hurt people than become empathetic.
I liked IASF, too, but I don’t think B’s ever made an ICONIC album. This may be my stan attitude, but I think Rihanna’s accomplished the iconic album in the form of GGGB. Katy, Kesha, and Gaga have yet to but Gaga just may with BTW. As for B, I’m hoping she finally does it with her next album.
Not to be rude, but it almost seemed like the passion in Beyonce wasn’t as strong for IASF. Like the fire in her eyes WASN’T there, but it’s back and I’m excited. I think she went through a lot and so that whole IASF era was hard for her. That’s how it seemed. Now, I’ve never seen her smile so much.
@ Drew:
Really? B’Day is my favorite album from her!
@ RF:
I had the opportunity to taste Korean food once, but for some reason it never happened. I never got farther than Korean ribs (probably not an actual Korean dish, but it was still tasty).
You know what’s annoying? When I try to watch a video by an AMERICAN artist on an AMERICAN label, and I can’t watch because it’s been blocked by Vevo due to where I live.
@True Blue that is very true but at the same time I know people who have faced so much struggle, yet are still closedminded. Like the whole drake situation, many people are closedminded because they think that if someone hasn’t struggled like them, their struggle is inferior to their’s. And I was very impressed with IASF’s ballads, not so much with the umptempo (Except I love Radio,Hello & Single Ladies is iconic)
@Rihanna4ever
DEFINITELY agree.
@TrueBlue
That was so well put, and I definitely agree. I just wish some people would allow themselves to think outside of the box for once and have some empathy.
As for your other comment, I loved IASF, but like RF said, B’s never had an ICONIC album. Even Rihanna has, so it’s about time Beyonce does.
@TrueBlue
LOL, I’ve always preferred Japanese food but I love all types of food so only Asian food may be kind of hard. I’m going to definitely crave a real hamburger or some Italian food, lol!
As for Korean ribs, I’ve had those too. I still don’t even know if that’s a real Korean dish, but those are good, in my opinion.
I know how that feels. It’s just so annoying. This is random, but do you have the Archandroid? I bought the album in June but I wasn’t hooked on it until now. It’s a grower.
@TrueBlue
It was okay. I thought that she sounded a little overly confident on it to the point of pompousness but it was okay, still. Her next album will reportedly be more in line with B’Day, so I’m a little nervous. I’m sure it’ll be great though.
@ RF:
Yeah, something was lacking in IASF. I can’t explain it, but it wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. Some parts even felt forced (like Diva and Videophone, two of her worst songs ever). But it did have some standout tracks, like IIWAB, Single Ladies, Halo, Ave Maria, Scared of Lonely, Radio and Hello. I just think it was a mistake to make it a double album, it would’ve been great as a one-disc album.
And I agree that she’s yet to make an iconic album. So far, she’s iconic for her skills as a live performer, but I want people to respect her as an artist as well. I hate that most people who aren’t fans are like “oh, she can sing, too bad her her music is s***”.
@Drew well at least she won the most Grammys during the IASF era!
I just love that album so much, right down to the cover and art direction.
& B’Day is nowhere near bad but It just feels like SOMETHING was missing
I honestly think that if IASF Sasha side had the some of the uptempo songs on B’Day no one would be able to say NOTHIN about IASF
@ RF:
I don’t have the physical album (no, I didn’t download it illegally) , because my goal is to get a turntable, and then buy up all the albums I want on vinyl.
I just went on Amazon, and it turns out that The ArchAndroid isn’t available on vinyl. So it turns out that I’m gonna have to buy the CD. 🙁
And yes, the album is DEFINITELY a grower. When I first heard it, my reaction was pretty much like S*** with MBDTF. I was like “wow, this is what got rave reviews? It’s good, but it’s not all that”. But since it’s not the first time that I didn’t appreciate an album upon first listen, I listened to the album dozens more times, and only just now do I see the genius in the album. Of course, people who aren’t that patient with the album will call her overrated: http://prince.org/msg/8/350518
It was the same way with Miseducation. At first, I thought it was overrated, but now I think it’s worthy of its legendary status.
Congrats Kanye… I really love this album? Especially the Chris Rock skit.. lol
WATCH THE THRONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Rihanna Forever how would you describe The Archandroid?
I wasn’t a big fan of Janelle since her prince tribute & I wanna give it a listen
How would you rate it & could you describe the sound & direction?
@TrueBlue
The songs you named were flawless but I agree with “Diva” and “Video Phone”. “Diva” was actually okay but “Video Phone” was HORRID. It was so below her level. However, I always say that it helped Gaga a lot.
Everyone knows Beyonce as a great live performer but her albums are considered to be strong but not fantastic, so I really want her to just blow everyone away with this record. She deserves more recognition as an artist, like you said.
As for your second comment, you want a turntable too? LOL, I want a turntable so badly! I actually settle with the normal copies because I can’t find a quality turntable anywhere for a good price (which is weird since Seattle has a million and more thrift stores). The vinyl packaging and sound are just so amazing. My grandmom had one but my aunt got it so I still don’t have one.
But I agree about The Archandroid. I heard “Tightrope” in March and adored it, but the album was just okay to me. However, I’m now hooked. She’s just fanastic in all ways – her image, music, videos. I hope she receives mainstream success. The good thing is I cant’ see her ever selling out.
@ Kavion:
I know you didn’t ask me, but The ArchAndroid is real hard to describe. It’s pop and R&B, to put it the best way that I can, but not your typical pop and R&B album. It recalls Michael, Stevie Wonder and Prince, but at the same time it’s her very own style and original.
@ RF:
I know. I’m extremely picky when it comes to electronics, so when I plan on buying something I check every review available on the internet just to make sure that I won’t waste my money on a piece of defective junk (that’s how I avoid HP computers). I want to get a suitcase turntable, like this: http://www.classicbuys.net/Crosley-Portable-Suitcase-Turntable-with-Computer-Connection-2357.htm but the reviews are so conflicting.
I also want to point out that is sad that record shops are practically extinct. If I want to buy an album by an artist who isn’t massively popular, I have to order it online. Same with vinyl records. Sad, isn’t it?
@Kavion
I think you should ask TrueBlue too, LOL. I’m sure she can describe it even better, but The Archandroid is a concept album at its finest. She has this Metropolis concept series based on a film titled Metropolis and the series is split into four parts. The first part is her EP, then the album is the 2nd and 3rd parts but it isn’t really necessary to listen to it in order.
The concept is that she’s this android, Cindi Mayweather, who was sent back in time to free the people of Metropolis from The Great Divide who are a secret society that utilize time-travel to suppress the Metropolis people of freedom and love. It’s a great politically charged record. I see it as a metaphor for the real world.
The album is really sonically amazing. It has 18 songs that just flow and some songs literally stop and continue on the next one. It’s a total pop/soul/funk/dance record and it’s even got a rock feel.
Overall, it’s so creative and ahead of many albums. It takes a few listens to really enjoy it, but it’s just amazingly well put together. She has a ton of talent and its good music, frankly.
^^I described that by using a mesh of my personal knowledge and of reviews from other people as well as her descriptions of the album.
@TrueBlue
I hate that the Archandroid was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album because it’s a REAL R&B album. It doesn’t deserve a nomination alongside Usher’s music.
Anyways, about the turntable and electronics – I’m the same way. I’ve purchased so many things that really were horrible and broke quickly and/or didn’t work well so now I’m very cautious. I don’t want to drop $100 on a college student’s budget on just anything.
I also understand the record store feeling. Growing up, there was this one amazing record store in my area of L.A. and it was just amazing. I love the smell of record stores, the CDs everywhere – I’m such a dork, LOL. It was just amazing.
Now, I normally have to order albums online or go to Target – but it isn’t the same experience. There is this one record store a lot like the one I described near my house, but it’s really expensive so it makes me sad.
@TrueBlue/@Rihanna4ever
Maybe it took you guys a few times to be hooked, but I loved the album the first time I heard it. Especially “Cold War”. That song gives me chills.
Monae is just amazing.
@Rihanna Forever & True Blue
It sounds amazing..I love concept albums (though neyos dissapoibted me)
Is it funk heavy? & how many ballads would you say are on the album (Ballads are my favorite type of music)
& This is kinda random, but what do you think about John Legend? He’s one of my favorite male singers & Get Lifted is up there in my personal collection so what do you think he’ll take the roots & his next album?
& did you see the New Chris Brown post? The hate over there us ridiculous.
@ RF:
You described it really well, too. I somehow missed the part where Kavion asked about the concept, so I just described the sound and feel instead.
I know there’s not much of a rock influence on the album (except for “Come Alive (War of The Roses)” and “Mushrooms & Roses”), but she also reminds me strongly of David Bowie, particularly when he was in the “Berlin Trilogy” era.
It also comforts me to know that she will never sell out, but I hope that she becomes huge. I really feel that she has the potential to be this generation’s Michael or Prince, and that’s something I’ve never said about anyone, not even Beyoncé.
And as for the Grammy nod, well Katy Perry is up for Album of The Year, so what do you expect? That’s even dumber than Taylor winning the award last year.
@Kavion
It isn’t super funk heavy. It has a very strong doo-wop/R&B feel, but it really incorporates every genre, to be honest. It’s just a hard album to describe.
As for ballads, I’d say about 4 to 6 of the 18 songs are ballads. Really, though, it’s just a bunch of songs that are hard to classify. They aren’t really ballads. They aren’t really midtempos. They aren’t really uptempos. It’s just really, REALLY unique.
I adore John Legend, but I didn’t think that his Wake Up album was great. 1/2 of it was filled with really great songs with great messages, but the other half wasn’t very special. He’s very underrated and underappreciated. My favorite song by him is probably “This Time”. I love that song so much and it really strikes a cord with me.
I hope his next album is more in line with Evolver because that was a great album. About the CB post, that was just crazy. The hate that people have for people they’ve NEVER MET is insane. Sadly, it’s real entertaining though.
@TrueBlue
Thanks! I basically took all of that from reviews and her descriptions, but like you said, it’s just a hard album to describe. The great part about Janelle in contrast to say, Kanye with MBDTF, is that she can take 18 songs that are a mesh of a million different genres and still make it cohesive altogether. THAT is talent. I mean even Janelle screaming on “Come Alive” was music to my ears. I can’t even say that about Rihanna.
I do hope that she will become huge. Janelle will never sell out because she’s just the kind of artist that puts her music and integrity before her success, which I appreciate. Even Katy Perry, whom I thought would do the same, didn’t. She has the potential to be a legend. I just wish that, unlike the people on that forum you sent me, she had more people who appreciated her.
The Grammys have become so horrible to me that I don’t even want to discuss them. They’re just a MESS. Taylor didn’t deserve that many awards. She’s the ONLY artist I just hate.
Random question: Do you prefer the “Tightrope” normal version or Wondamix?
Since she was brought up…
I personally Feel that all 3 of Bey’s albums are CLASSIC & ICONIC im their own way, ESPECIALLY DIL!! What I find great about Bey as an “Album Artist” is her RARE Consistency in terms of Great/Good songs. & then those that ARE held as Classic/Iconic (Mis Education, Velvot Rope, Thriller or whatever ETC) I might not be HALF as impressed. IDK we all just have our own different Taste & we really dont have much of a right to call an album Iconic or Not unless you are a Real Fan of the Music.
So PPL that say Bey has no “Classic” album needs to Hush cause coming from the same place I could hurt a lot of PPL’s Feeling speaking on my Stances on albums they feel ARE Classics.
@ Kavion:
Tightrope is definitely James Brown inspired, so yeah that’s a funk song.
Oh Maker reminds me of Michael Jackson singing “Ben”. Sir Greendown is a pretty light song, but I don’t know if I would classify them as ballads in the traditional sense. But for the album itself, they are the “ballady-est” of the record. “Cold War” has an OutKast/Gnarls Barkley feel. I don’t know if you’ve heard the song “Going On” by GB, but Cold War is quite reminiscent of it instrumentally (btw, don’t be put off by my comparison to other artists, she IS original, I assure you). Locked Inside is another song that recalls MJ, kind of like “Rock With You”. “Dance or Die” is just badass, the girl raps as well as she sings, and I haven’t seen someone who’s so powerful in both aspects since Lauryn Hill. “Faster” makes you wanna do the Charleston, a lot of her songs are very dancey without sacrificing integrity or succumbing to any popular trends. “Wondaland” is another dope track. Oh, and the BEST track on the whole album is “Ba Bop By Ya”, it’s 8 minutes, but it’s the most epic 8 minutes you’ll ever hear. It’s like what would happen if you got Lena Horne, Judy Garland to sing on a soundtrack for an MGM musical, and got a top-notch orchestra to do the music.
@Rihanna Forever This Time,Refuge & So High are some of the most beautiful R&B songs I’ve heard in this generation. I’m really gonna have to isolate myself & REALLY dive into her album so I can fully appreciate it. I wasnt impressed with it either..he was ONLY in touch with the message, leaving everything else out. & yea it is ridiculous..I could never waste my time in someone I “hate”
Also do you know any soft rock-acoustic bands? Sorry I’ve just been trying to find some good ones.. I like some hard rock & u love Coheed & Cambria’s instrumentals but I’m just really trying to find some great soft rock
@ True Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Blue
IASF was just IN-COHESIVE mainly the SF Side (which actually seemed to be done on Purpose), The songs on IA are REALLY STRONG, Cohensive, & Consistant to the Theme. While SF side was all over the place I guess to show all the random sides of her Stage Persona & what we’re used too from Bey. IASF is still great though because it was so COMPLEX, To describe that Album in Full could take a VERY LONG TIME, Thats how Complex it actually is.
@S***
It’s true. It’s just a hard thing to say because it’s a big word (iconic) for each person’s opinions. I just, personally, feel that Beyonce has never had THAT album. If you go up to someone and say “Remember Michael Jackson? That album?” they’ll know what you mean. Same with Janet, Madonna, etc. With Beyonce, not so much. THAT’S what I hope happens for her next go around.
For Instance, Jonnelle Monae’s Album was Multi-Genered & Cohensive but still OVER-RATED IMO. 😐 We all have our Own.
@True Blue I love dance tracks that are still lyrical, that’s why I love MJ,Bey & R. Kelly so I love that she’s found a great balance to..she just seems like what beyonce meant by “Gumbo” of music
@S*** that is very true, you have to be a fan of that genre and at least respect that artist if you’re gonna have an opinion on what’s classic
@ RF:
Ah, both versions kick ass, I can’t choose. You really can’t go wrong with combining Janelle with Big Boi, and then doing the same with B.O.B. and Lupe. I love that she will not collaborate with someone for the sake of it, it will only be with artists that she personally respects and admires.
I do get a little annoyed when people underrate her, but I actually kind of like that she can be polarizing. The best artists usually are.
And I don’t mind Taylor as a person, but her music is just so sub-par, and her fans make Psycho Nicky seem lovable by comparison. It’s her FANS that I despise.
@ S***:
Go right ahead, I’m not gonna get my feelings hurt just cause someone has an opinion different from mine.
@RihannaForever
If I had to choose, DIL is ‘THAT ALBUM’ for Beyonce. I mean, The Singles- PERFECTION. The Ballads- Speechless, Be with you, Yes, Daddy, Signs (Yes Signs!!), & DIL!!. That Album was R&B HEAVEN!! R&B Just Doesnt get much better than that IMO.
DIL >>> Aphrodisiac
@Kavion
I’m not a huge soft rock fan, but I have to say that my favorite ones are the classics – Chicago, America, and Fleetwood Mac. ESPECIALLY America. I thought the Wake Up album was just about the message. If it was a book, it would’ve been great, but the fact that it’s songs (the instruments and beats) were lacking.
@TrueBlue
Also, about Janelle, she reminds me of every single artist. There’s a little of everyone except the mainstream pop stars in her. I even see Gwen Stefani in her (“Make the Bus”).
@S***
The whole damn Sasha Fierce thing was WACK AS HELL.
The whole damn Sasha Fierce thing was WACK AS HELL.
TRUE, As a Whole Atleast.
@ RihannaForever
@TrueBlue
I agree. I think that both versions were really great. I kind of wish B.o.B would quit chasing the mainstream success, though, because it’s kind of turning him into Flo Rida – little respect and a laughable rapper. I wish he’d go the Janelle route and just make music instead of worrying about hits. My favorite single by him is “Don’t Let Me Fall” and that flopped.
I also like that Janelle can cause such a division in opinions. She’s just fantastic to me. I adore her, lol! Also, Taylor’s fans are just…my God.
Three side-note questions (I can never stay on topic): What did you think of “Hold It Against Me”? What do you think the “S&M” video should be like since Rihanna called it unexpected? What happened to Jason Derulo?
@S***
But the reason DIL isn’t iconic is because the majority of people probably wouldn’t say that. If you went up a ton of people and asked them: “What is Beyonce’s iconic album?”, you’d get a bunch of varied answers. That may seem like a good thing, but it really isn’t.
@ Kavion:
Soft rock? Damn, normally I try to get AWAY from soft rock, so I don’t listen to much of it. But there’s The Script, these dudes have a soulful tinge to them (because of the lead singer). They’ve even opened for Paul McCartney on tour. And then there’s this red-headed dude name Brett Denen(?), you can check him out too. Normally I’d never recommend for someone to check out a mainstream source for music, but VH1 showcases a lot of surprisingly decent soft rock, so you can visit their website and check out their “You Oughta Know” section.
@ S***:
Agreed that I Am was more put together than Sasha Fierce, but my problem with I Am is that when you listen to the CD in its entirety, at least for me, the songs start to sound a little too samey for me. The songs stand out better as individual tracks.
@Rihanna Forever I’ll have to give them a listen.. and I defiantly agree about wake up, it was like the r &b version of PF lol..I just can’t wait for a SOLO album.
@ S*** DIL is R&B heaven..and I consider it a classic
^^^True. I wish the Sasha Fierce thing had died a long time before, but the album wasn’t cohesive. It sounded like one long song altogether, but not in a good way. They’re good individually, but not all together.
^^@TrueBlue
@Kavion
LOL, VERY true. I adore Pink Friday, but she put so much time into the lyrics that the beats were lacking. What I hate, personally, is that people act like Nicki isn’t a rapper and that PF isn’t a hip-hop album just because it isn’t a damn Jay-Z album.
@ RihannaForever
Let me explain to you Why that is. Its because arguably ALL Bey’s Albums are Almost EQUALLY Great (there Reviews scores are similar). Thats a Gift & a Curse though because yeah you have 3 great albums but because of this None can truly stand out to a large crowd (only to the individual).
Rihanna on the otherhand Has ‘THAT ALBUM’ Why because thats her ONLY Album that can truly stand highly on its own 2 Feet. Rih has 1 such album, Bey has 3. 🙂
Ofcourse WITHOUT me saying it, You already know ‘THAT ALBUM’ is Rated R. 🙂
@ RF:
I thought Kavion meant new-school soft rock, but you just named the few soft-rock acts that I can stand, lol!
Hold It Against Me is generic as s***, I’m sorry. And yes, I can be unbiased even if I’m not a Britney fan, I actually was a HUGE fan of hers when I was younger, and some of her old stuff remain guilty pleasures of mine. But HIAM is just… meh. Lackluster. Nothing special. Even California Gurls is more exciting than that song. I still can’t understand how it went to #1 in 30-something countries in 24 hours. WTF?!?!
S&M… I don’t know. When I was younger, I was obsessed with music videos, so much so that I would write treatments for non-singles of my favorite artists and hope that they would get made. I actually thought that I would be a music video director when I grew up, but perhaps that would be a more feasible dream if this were the 80s or 90s, when music videos were far more relevant.
But I got nothing for S&M. It’s a great song, it deserves a great video, I hope they don’t do the typical club theme. Make it something creative like “Rude Boy”.
And as for Jason DeRulo… dude is always out of breath and sloppy when he performs live, and I don’t care for his music, so I don’t check for him.
@True Blue thanks..the reason I say soft rock is because I love ballads so much. I do like some heavier bands though. Coheed & Cambrias sound us beautiful, can’t stand the leads voice. And about I am.. Miseducation sounded similar the whole way through, but it’s still great. I can say that for many albums
@Rihanna Forever I think most people would say DIL though..that’s the album everyone says she should go back to, like her College Dropout
@S***
No, not at all. It’s quite the contrary. If you look at Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, for examples, they both have that album. Michael’s is Thriller. Janet’s is considered to be Rhythm Nation 1814. Both The Velvet Rope and Control have been labeled that too, but most people consider Rhythm Nation to be THAT album for her.
Those two were successful albums. You may say that Thriller is THAT MJ album because of its massive success, but not really. It’s because it’s an iconic record. Beyonce has three albums that were fantastic, but they were not iconic.
Rihanna has made 5 albums. To answer @Drew’s question finally, her first two albums were alright and her fourth and fifth were great but her third, GGGB, was ICONIC. Beyonce has yet to make that ICONIC album that establishes her as more than just a great performer but also a great album maker.
@ S***:
For me (and a lot of people) that album is GGGB. Yes, Rated R is appreciated too, but put it this way:
GGGB is Rihanna’s Thriller and Rated R is her Dangerous. The latter may be superior in quality, but the former is by far the most recognizable and liked.
@Rihanna Forever yea people just don’t get nicki..and some will never give her props..but DIFFERENT=MISUNDERSTOOD
RihannaForever
Speaking on your Logic I am CONFUSED because I have no Idea Why (based on what you said) GGGB can be ICONIC while Beys 3 Albums (ESPECIALLY DIL) Cant??
Didnt all 3 of Bey’s albums Spawn not only MEGA HITS(CIL, Irreplacable, SL) but also an ERA IN MUSIC??
& GGGB over Rated R?? GGGB cant even see B’day so how can it touch Rated R??
@TrueBlue
For “Hold It Against Me”, the slight dubstep feel was great, but I don’t understand the craze over it. On this one blog (can’t say what or it’ll be held for moderation), I was surrounded by Brit stans and I said that HIAM was generic and it became a bloodbath. HER stans are MENTAL.
I feel totally perplexed too about “S&M”. It should have such a great video but I just don’t know. And you did that too? I always did that. Even know, I imagine music videos for songs that haven’t had videos. Except for Janelle. Her songs are just too creative for that.
Also, I was thinking that Janelle would have fit better in the 70s-80s. She would’ve been more respected then. I applaud her for trying to bring back something that’s been missing in the industry. I would love to get to know her. She’s such a character. Did you hear about her time-travel beliefs? That was a little out there….
@Kavion
I know! But she wants to go back to B’Day…
@ Kavion:
Yeah, the lead singer of C&C sounds weird, and for some reason reminds me of goat. But their music is very good.
There are some harder rocking bands that do have soft songs, like Muse and Radiohead (granted, I never got past OK Computer, because they got too experimental for me on Kid A).
GGGB not only had FILLER but half was BUBBLE-GUM POP (like Loud) or Maybe Popularity & Success is more important than Quality. Silly me for thinking otherwise.
*GOOD NIGHT*
@S***
You have to understand that every artist is their own artist. The problem you have with my logic is that you’re trying to compare the artists and that’s not how it works. Every artist has their OWN iconic album. There is no need to compare Rihanna and Beyonce.
For Rihanna, like TrueBlue said: GGGB is more noted and recognizable. You see the cover and you recognize it. With Rated R, it was better but it wasn’t her iconic record. Even Loud won’t become that iconic record. Loud is like her Bad. It’s breaking records and selling well, but it isn’t GGGB.
With Beyonce, she has three strong albums but their isn’t an iconic album. Every artist has THAT album not THOSE albums. Beyonce just hasn’t had the one yet. Also, it isn’t all about the success. It’s about the sound, too.
Beyonce just hasn’t done it yet. It’s like she’s made three 9’s on the Iconic Scale but hasn’t made the 10 yet.
@ RF:
I know. Do these stans realize that Britney, in spite of her mass success, is still a human at the end of the day? She’s not God. I love Bey, but I could never see myself flipping out like that for her.
And I completely agree that Janelle would have done far better back in the 70s and 80s. One of the few people to defend her on the Prince forum said that her album wouldn’t have been slept on had it came out 30 years ago. Janelle isn’t suited for this era, she’s actually too ahead of her time. I kind of feel the same way about Florence & The Machine, I think it would be better if they existed in the late 60s and 70s. And bring Kate Bush into this era so she would have no choice but to tour.
@TrueBlue
Very true. Janelle and Florence are just too good for now, sadly. I love your comment about Kate, too LOL.
It just makes me sad that artists like them are TOO good for now. They should BE the bar not be ABOVE the bar.
RihannaForever
Your Logic is just a bit Flawed to me. Cause GGGB IS NOT a 10 LOL.
@ RihannaForever
But Trust & Belive The Queen Bey WILL have “That Album” (according to your Logic) & probably this year. 🙂
GGGB is more of An 8 & thats after the re-release.
@S***
I didn’t mean 10 on quality. I meant 10 on Iconic Level.
Oh, and I’m sure she will. Beyonce can do it and she’s capable of it. She just has to put forth a bit more effort to make sure that she doesn’t make that 1 mistake. Every album, she’s made that ONE, big mistake.
DIL: The songs were all over the place for one album. It wasn’t cohesive.
B’Day: It flowed TOO well together.
IASF: It wasn’t cohesive altogether.
@Rihanna Forever, I know for some a ODD reason? Maybe to balance her music out?
& honestly I think Brit stans are excited, Britneys got herself together & is ready to get back to what she loves and they’re SO happy that they won’t let the SLIGHTEST opinion bring them down..it’s kind if understandable
@True Blue Lmao I know..they should just make an instrumental album & call it a day..and I really like Muse and Kings of Leon ( idk if they’re considered generic in the rock circle)
@Kavion
That’s true. I don’t know what to think. I could follow the direction of this record but it’s all over the place so I’ll just wait until we hear it.
As for Britney’s stans, I guess though it is crazy it’s understandable. But to be attacked like that was just mind-boggling. I now they’re excited, but God. I just said it was a bit generic, LOL.
@ Rihanna Forever I don’t get your comment about DIL being all over the place? It started off strong & fun then became smooth a emotion provoking then chill then finished with a power ballad, the title track. I don’t get what you mean? It went from uptempo to midtempo to ballads
@ RF:
I know, it just doesn’t make sense.
Off-topic, but do you like T.Rex?
@ Kavion:
Muse is cool, although even since KOL released “Only By Night”, they have been turned against and deemed sellouts and generic.
Personally, I’m no longer cool with them because they’ve gotten too big for their britches AND their material has weakened. But I hate it when people toss out the “sell-out” label JUST because a band has gotten popular. Same with Green Day and Metallica, and I still like them. So I say forget other people’s opinions, like what you like.
Besides, some people call Muse Radiohead copycats, and I just ignore them at this point.
@RF Im just gonna wait to..and just give them TIME haha..they’re like little kids getting their favorite toy after being grounded lol
@TrueBlue
I liked everything T-Rex did up until Tanx. Past that record I felt that their quality went downhill.
@Kavion
I just thought that the way it was done just sounded weird. It sounded like two EPs put together.
@True Blue yeah you should just like what you like, I was just wondering how people felt about them, considering they’re popular with radio & the Grammys
@ Kavion:
I adored DIL when it first came out, but over the years I kind of view it differently. It is all over the place. You have stellar songs, like all the official singles from the album, plus Hip-Hop Star, Yes, Speechless, Be With You The Closer I Get To You and the title track, which is my favorite song on the whole album, and I hope she performs it again on future tours.
But songs like Signs, That’s How You Like It, Daddy and Gift From Virgo are in my opinion, just out of place with the record.
@ RF:
Same here, although Dandy In The Underworld was great. Imagine what more they could’ve done had Marc not died.
^^I agree. That album was a triumphant comeback after their previously lackluster material. It’s sad that Marc died, because I just think they could have accomplished so much.
@ True Blue I loved that’s how you like it! Even more that CIL, it’s just a classic hip hop/R&B song..I could understand w/ the rest though. Daddy was only meant FOR her dad & GFV just seemed like a closer. Sonically, it didn’t seem all over the place to me
@ Rihanna Forever I can kind of see where you’re coming from by 2 eps (I’d even say 3)
@Kavion
What I didn’t know was that Beyonce was originally going to release her second album at the end of 2003 because she had so much extra material from the DIL days.
And people say Rihanna releases material quickly? LOL, Beyonce would’ve done the same. It was just that she decided not to do her 2nd album so quickly and went back to Destiny’s Child that B’Day took so long and then it didn’t take that long between B’Day and I Am…Sasha Fierce.
@ Rihanna Forever I don’t think she goes by time DIL took around a year, B’Day was recorded in literally 2 weeks IASF came 2/3years after B’Day & now it’s been 3 years since she’s made another album
@ RF:
I didn’t know that at all. On paper, it seems that Beyoncé works sparingly, because in the past 7-8 years she’s only put out 3 albums, but also did her final album with DC, has constantly been tour, and has acted in films, not to mention has done singles for some of the soundtracks as well.
I don’t know how she does it, working so hard. She’s like the polar opposite of Sade and Lauryn Hill. I hope she isn’t sacrificing her personal life for her work ethic, though. I honestly thought IASF would be her last album before going off to start a family of her own.
Sidenote: I hope Regina Spektor gives us a new album before she gets knocked up as well.
And since this is a Kanye post, does anyone else know that the “controversial” album art was purposefully done so by him? He actually asked the artist to make sure it’s something that will get the record banned.
@Kavion
It seems like people think artists go by time, but really, they just make albums when they want to. It still amazes me that B’Day was such a great album when she recorded it that quickly.
@TrueBlue
I thought the same thing about IASF. I totally thought that after the I Am… Tour ended, she’d have children and then maybe do another album in a while. I’m hoping she does have kids soon, though because she and Jay-Z seem like they’d be great parents.
I also hope, though, that she doesn’t sacrifice her personal life for her work. She puts so much work into her career. To be honest, I don’t know how any of them do it. Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce – they all constantly tour, do music videos, release singles, do photoshoots – and still have to come across as kind in interviews. I’d be totally rude in interviews with all of that stress. Especially as a perfectionist like those ladies are (though Rihanna did say that she’s trying not to overthink the Loud era).
I just want Lauryn’s next record already. The teasing is starting to annoy me. I thought Soldier of Love was a great record, so I’m set with Sade. I was never a HUGE Sade fan, though. As for Regina, I feel the same way. Far was great but I NEED one more record.
@TrueBlue
I didn’t know that, but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s annoying to me when artists strive so intensely to build a shock factor.
@True Blue? Really? Maybe he was trying to show that even if his album was banned people would find a way to get it and it would still be successful. Showing he isn’t as hated as people think. Like the lupe quote “Even if they ban us, they’ll never slow our plans up” ?
@ RF:
Yeah, I’d lose my mind working THAT hard. I love music, and if I had musical talent, I’d probably be interested in being an artist, but I couldn’t handle all the stress that comes with it. I’m too lazy for that field of work.
And I have to see Regina live at least once, so I’m hoping for another record real soon. I’m already having withdrawals, lol. I wonder which unreleased songs will make the cut on her next album.
@ Kavion:
Yeah, but the problem is it screams “publicity stunt”.
@True Blue well most powerful statements do appear to be publicity stunts
@TrueBlue
I used to want to be a professional singer but I changed my mind and decided to get involved in the music industry in other ways because being an artist is just crazy. What they do…
I NEED to see Regina live. She can just PERFORM live. I also really want to see Janelle live but I’m less worried about her because she’s likely to stick around longer than Regina is. What I love about Regina though is that she doesn’t seem to think “album”. Her mind is set on each song so I think that’s why her albums turn out so great.
I’m unsure which will end up where. I just want another one, LOL!
Side-note: @Kavion/@TrueBlue Did either of you buy Jay-Z’s book Decoded? It was expensive, but SUCH a good read.
@Rihanna Forever I sadly didn’t.. Was it actually written by jay or did he just give an author information and have him write it?
@Kavion
Maybe an author did, but it DEFINITELY seems like Jay did. Sounds like him and everything. It’s a fantastic book, though it doesn’t happen in chronological order. Every chapter is a different story from a different part of his life. Jay-Z’s so reserved though so it’s great to get into his mind in the book.
Alright, guys. This was a great conversation 😀 Night!
@Rihanna Forever Em’s who I really want a book from!
Alright, Goodnight! It really was a great conversation :]
congrats kanye and imma let you finish, but tgj in what world does 172,000 x 9 = 1,000,000??? its barely 6 you idiots, closer to 5.8 smh…
First of all I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t
mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your mind prior to writing.
I have had trouble clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out.
I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are lost simply just trying to figure out
how to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Cheers!