Music

2nd Jun

New Songs; Rihanna, Mutya/Amy Winehouse, R. Kelly & Kelly Rowland

Rihanna – Cry

‘Cry’ is featured as a bonus track on the Japanese version of Rihanna’s upcoming album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. Though the song wouldn’t be out of place on the album’s main tracklist, it’s understandable why it was left off. The ballad is ‘ok’ at best and, though lyrically engaging, the song is pretty bland. I’ve definitely heard better ballads from the Bajan singer before.

LISTEN: Cry

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Mutya Buena – B Boy Baby (ft. Amy Winehouse)

Some of you – especially our European visitors – may remember Mutya from her time in one of the UK’s biggest girl groups, the Sugababes. Since leaving the group in 2005, Mutya has recently re-emerged with a new album ‘Real Girl’ (due June 4th) and her current single of the same name is enjoying major success on the charts (currently sitting at #11 on downloads alone). This new track, ‘B Boy Baby’, is a collaboration with rapidly rising star Amy Winehouse and is featured on Mutya’s album. I’m liking this laid-back mid-tempo track; it has a cool throwback vibe to it. If you liked Amy’s international hit ‘Rehab’, then you’ll probably enjoy this one too.

LISTEN: B Boy Baby (ft. Amy Winehouse)

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R. Kelly – Good Sex (ft. Twista)

The Runners produced ‘Good Sex’ sees R. Kelly and Twista hook up again for another collaboration. Their last collabo ‘So Sexy’ was a great track, however ‘Good Sex’ kinda falls short of the benchmark set by their last outing. The song, a bonus track on R. Kelly’s latest album ‘Double Up’ (released this week), is just too standard – from the production to the tired subject matter. Thankfully the actual ‘Double Up’ album is solid and I suppose the song serves it’s purpose as a bonus track to bulk up the tracklisting.

LISTEN: Good Sex (ft. Twista)

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Kelly Rowland – Love (Snippet)

As the release of Kelly Rowland’s 2nd solo album ‘Ms Kelly’ draws nearer (due July 3rd), more songs from the set have started to surface. This lengthy clip of ‘Love’, a track from the CD, further suggests that Kelly really brought ‘it’ on the album. Aside from the great production, the attention grabbing lyrics enhance the song’s appeal. The track, co-written by Beyonce’s sister Solange (a few eyes rolled there, I’m sure..lol) sees Kelly taking a different approach to the overdone subject of love.

LISTEN: Love

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What do you think of the New Songs?

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Music

2nd Jun

Fantasia Performs On Regis & Kelly

R&B star Fantasia stopped by the Regis & Kelly show yesterday to perform ‘I’m Here’ from the The Color Purple Broadway production; which she’s currently starring in as the lead character Celie. Check out the performance:

I’m really liking this performance; it seems every time Fantasia sings the song she switches it up and adds something new. The American Idol singer has been getting rave reviews for her performance in The Color Purple Broadway show and this definitely shows why.

What did you think of the performance?

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Music

1st Jun

Kelly Rowland 97.9 The Beat Interview & Performances

R&B singer Kelly Rowland continues the promotional rounds for her latest effort ‘Ms Kelly’, this time dropping by radio station 97.9 The Beat in Dallas, Texas. Rowland was interviewed and performed two of her hits – current single ‘Like This’ and the 2002 smash ‘Dilemma’.

The interview was interesting to say the least; Kelly openly spoke about a number of things including ‘The Fall’ bandmate Michelle Williams took on BET 106 & Park a few years back. Both performances sounded great too. Check it out…

What do you think of the interview/performances?

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Music

1st Jun

New Song: Jagged Edge ‘Put A Little’ (ft. Ashanti)

Having been signed to Island Def Jam by the label’s newly appointed President of Urban Music, Jermaine Dupri, Jagged Edge are back. The R&B quartet have enlisted the help of Ashanti on the JD-produced ‘Put A Little’; the song will apparently feature on their upcoming new album. I’m liking the track alot; it’s reminiscent of their trademark slow jams. Ashanti really comes through on this one and her verse is the highlight of the song.

Hit or Miss?

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Music

1st Jun

Rihanna GIANT Magazine Shoot

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Rihanna flaunts more of her new ‘image’ in the upcoming issue of GIANT magazine. The stunning 19 year old star, whose hit ‘Umbrella’ is at the top of both the UK and US charts, strips down to her lingerie in the photo shoot. In the issue, the Bajan beauty speaks on her father’s cocaine addiction, as well as the rumoured ‘beef’ between herself and Beyonce over Jay-Z. On the Beyonce situation, she said:

I guess it’s just the affiliation with him. Being a female and being on his label and having a close business relationship. I guess that sparks the rumors. I’m guessing. Because there’s no other way. At first it was funny, like Ah this is so funny! Why would they think this? Really? Ew. Then it was like they’re still talking about this? This is getting a little frustrating now. Can they cut this out? Because it got really intense where people just weren’t letting up. Then it turned into a “beef” between me and Beyonce. I was like where are these people going with this? This is crazy.

Nice to see her address the Beyonce/Jay-Z matter; although I doubt it will quash the rumours. Though her music doesn’t move me, I must say that Rihanna knows how to take a picture. If the music career dries, modelling is her best option. The pictures are hot…

What do you think of the pics?

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Music

1st Jun

Tamia Performs On The Orange Lounge

R&B singer Tamia recently performed a set for MSN Canada at the Orange Lounge in Toronto. The singer, who is six months pregnant, gave near-flawless renditions of some of her hits including ‘Officially Missing You’ and ‘Can’t Get Enough’. I have her most recent album ‘Between Friends’ on constant rotation, so it was great to see some of the tracks performed live. Real R&B at it’s best. Check it out…

What did you think of her performances?

Watch Tamia Perform @ The Orange Lounge

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Music

31st May

New Mario Track – ‘Why?’ (Snippet)

This new clip is from one the songs on Mario’s upcoming third album ‘Go!’ – due July 31st. As with most of the material I’ve heard from the set, I’m really liking the Underdogs produced ‘Why’. Mario seems to have stepped up majorly from his previous efforts and ‘Go!’ is shaping up to be one great album. The only thing I don’t understand is why his label, J Records, opted to go with ‘How Do I Breathe’ as the lead single when there are much better tracks on the CD. Anyway, check out the song…

Are you liking it?

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Music

31st May

New Kelly Rowland – ‘Work’ (ft. Fat Joe)

As Kelly Rowland preps the release of her sophomore CD ‘Ms Kelly’ (due July 3rd), a new track from the set has surfaced on a Tapemasters Inc mixtape. This version of ‘Work’ features rapper Fat Joe, although it’s unclear whether he will feature on the album version. The uptempo track, produced by Scott Storch, sees Kelly in unfamiliar territory – we haven’t heard anything from her like this before. It’s not what I initially expected and I’m liking some of the other tracks from the set better, but it’s still a good song nonetheless.

What do you think?

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Music

30th May

New Mya Single – Walka Not A Talka (ft. Snoop Dogg)

The next single from Mya’s forever-delayed album ‘Liberation’ has surfaced. The JR Rotem produced ‘Walka Not A Talka is a whimsical uptempo track that would should do well in the clubs. I’m liking it, it’s a grower and takes a few listens to grasp. Snoop’s verse meshes well with the track too. I’m thinking this should have been the first single instead of ‘Lock U Down’ – which isn’t doing anything on the charts.

Hit or Miss?

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30th May

The pic above is the official cover for T.I.’s forthcoming album ‘T.I. Vs T.I.P’. It seems everyone is trying to pass off some kind of ‘alter ego’ nowadays; T.I. must have got the memo late. I’m hoping the CD isn’t a gimmick though, as T.I. usually delivers with his albums. ‘T.I. Vs T.I.P’ hits stores July 3rd.

Will you be picking up ‘T.I. Vs T.I.P’?

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Music

30th May

Mya Pushes Album Back Again

In news that is sure to disappoint Mya’s fans, the singer has once again pushed back her new album ‘Liberation’. The CD, which was due to hit stores on August 14th, will now drop on September 18th -as confirmed by her label Universal/Motown.

This is almost becoming pathetic. Whereas before I assumed the delays were caused by the label trying to get things right, it’s evident that the project has no sense of direction. The album’s first single ‘Lock U Down’ is under-performing and a follow-up single -‘Walka Not A Talka’- has already been lined up. Yet with the album being released in September (if not pushed back again…), a third single will be due by then. My interest in the album and Mya in general is waning. A mess.

Will you be buying ‘Liberation’ whenever it drops?

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Music

30th May

Quincy Jones Snubs Jackson Comeback Album

As the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, preps his comeback album, former collaborator Quincy Jones has stated that he will not be working on the project. According to Jones – who masterminded the ‘Off The Wall’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ albums – he and Jackson have had conversations about the possibility of collaborating again but he isn’t interested. Jones had the following to say: ‘Man please, I’ve got enough to do. We already did that. I have talked to him about working with him again but I’ve got too much to do. I’ve got 900 products. I’m 74 years old. Give me a break.’

On the one hand, Quincy working on the CD looks good on paper-mainly for nostalgia. Yet, I can’t remember the last thing he’s produced. I think Michael should just stick with confirmed producers Will.i.Am, Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins and Ne-Yo and hurry with that album. The currently untitled CD is slated to drop toward the end of the year.

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Will Michael Jackson’s Comeback Be a Success?

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