Mini Reviews- Janet Jackson: Discipline, Erykah Badu- New Amerykah

Janet Jackson- Discipline: HOT! This is a great dance album, so much energy, and Janet’s swagger is incredible. She is back!

Erykah Badu- New Amerykah: It pains me to say this but I’m not feeling this at all on any level. I love Badu, but I can’t get with this. I get it, she is going for the Black Militant/Hip Hop consciousness thing so I’m sure people who don’t want to seem un-enlightened will be reluctant to criticize…but I really don’t give a damn. I’ll give her cool points for tackling some serious issues, but on the other hand she totally abandoned addressing more personal aspects of life. The highlight of the album to me was the only genuinely personal song “Me”. She should have tried to find some sort of balance. With that said there are a few good songs, but nothing on the level of anything on Mama’s Gun. 

Perhaps if some of her songs weren’t so lazy then I could give her a half a pass, but when you have a song like “My People” that starts off promising but just turns out to be 4 minutes of her repeating “Hold on my people” it just doesn’t cut it. Think about it…this is the same person who once sang ”But everybody wanna ask me why,What good do your words do, If they can’t understand you, Don’t go talkin’ that shit Badu, Badu”. Did she just give up?
Have you guys checked out these albums? What is your take? Are there any other disgruntled Badu fans out there or are you happy she took a totally different direction?

Posted by Reecie

Album Review: Raheem DeVaugn- “Love Behind The Melody” + Full Album Preview

Click here to listen to AOL’s Full Album Preview of Raheem DeVaugn’s “Love Behind the Melody” 

Raheem DeVaugn starts off his new album “Love Behind the Melody” with “Hello Love”, a light-hearted intro that sets the tone for what’s to come. Judging from the intro we can expect an album that focuses largely on love with a laid back “R&B hippie” feel. I can dig it…an album about love? You get no complaints from me at all.

“Woman” is a great track that gives props to all the different kinds of women and the different roles women play in a man’s life. He already did a song along these lines with “You” but a song like this can never quite be redundant since so few artists ever bother to show this kind of love. His voice has a very throwback bluesy soulful quality in this track which makes it sound more classic and less contemporary. I could see someone like Marvin Gaye making a song like this back in the day (not to put Raheem on this level but it gives me a Marvin vibe).

On “Love Drug” Raheem likens his love to a drug for his lady. Although singing about how he has his woman sprung off his love could come off a little arrogant he actually comes across quite sweet. He expresses a mutual affection for his lover which makes the song very romantic. I like the production on the track…I hear very subtle hints of Alicia Key’s “Unbreakable”. The live instrumentation is great and his voice is wonderful. He really shows the wide range of his vocal abilities and he has really mastered capturing emotion and intensity without sounding screechy or whiny.

Raheem switches up the style and vibe a little bit for “Energy” which features Big Boi. This song relates things on a much more physical level than other tracks on the album, but I’m not complaining. The song is sexy without being sleazy. Although Big Boi’s flow and voice complement the track pretty well, lyrically he is a downgrade. He didn’t bother to stay in the same vein of Raheem’s lyrics so it ends up just sounding like a verse he could’ve spit on any other song. Common would’ve been really hot on the track instead.

For “Friday (Shut the Club Down)” Raheem samples “My Girl” and modernizes it a bit without losing the classic and spirited feel of the track. It’s kind of surprising that he would use this kind of beat and vibe for a song that talks about “shutting the club down”, but I will say that it definitely captures that love people have for Friday….I know I want to do a song and dance every Friday when it’s time for me to hit the road lol. This is a very fun track and really highlights Raheem’s versatility as an artist. A lot of people are good at producing one type of sound, but to be able to switch it up without sounding contrived is pretty impressive.

Album Review: The-Dream - Love-Hate (with links)

 

 

Update:  Check out this interview with The-Dream.  It’s a good read.  “I wrote “Umbrella” for $7,000. Inflation is crazy!” Thanks ddot.

Shawty is a 10 (ft. Fabolous) – I am sure everyone has heard this song by now, but it’s still a banger. It seems slightly out of place this winter because it has a summer feel, but it still has captured our attention, even though I initially thought it was T-Pain (lol). In retrospect of the entire album, it’s the perfect introduction to The-Dream’s album – influenced Prince cords, written for the ladies, but enough bass for the fellas.

I Luv Your Girl (listen)– If you like “Shawty is a 10,” then you will like this song. The production and vibe are similar. Lyrically, The-Dream is finding himself enticed by a woman with a man – hence, “I luv your girl” – and she doesn’t seem to help as The-Dream tells her “shawty you need to go, and she responds ‘F&^k that AGGIN!’” Reecie pointed out that his lyrics are very R. Kelly-ish in this song…her favorite line “I feel bad, but not that bad…”

 

Fast Car (listen)– Now, this is where the album gets interesting. The-Dream definitely got an A in “Prince 101.” Yes, it reminds me of Little Red Corvette, but not as good. Yes, the production is very 80s-ish. Yes, thehonorable has a guilty pleasure…This song is a banger. I am sucker for when the production changes up, adding and layers a variety of instruments.

 

Nikki – Okay, I am officially pulled into the album. The-Dream took a page from Justin Timberlake’s “FutureSex/LoveSound” album, or better yet, the old soulful albums of Marvin Gaye, wait…wait…what am I thinking. He took a page from Prince’s Purple Rain to have the production of every song connect to each other (well, at the beginning half of the album). So, you will hear the beat from “Fast Car” add a new musical instrument/layer and strip another instrument, all while transitioning to “Nikki” and before you realize it, the next song has began. I am sucker for that…and I enjoy the transitions and the time behind the sequencing.

 

As for the song, The-Dream encounters his ex-girlfriend whom left him for another man and she regrets it and wants The-Dream back, but now The-Dream is now “making love to Nikki and she loves me back.” It’s well-written song with an enticing storytelling concept. I speculate that The-Dream was inspired by Prince’s “Darling Nikki” song, which is about a sex-fiend that seduced Prince. “Darking Nikki” is inspired by the film Purple Rain, when Apollonia decided to work with Prince’s rival, Morris Day, and she regretted it. Get it?

Official Jay-Z “American Gangster” Review @ HonorableMedia

Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z and America’s favorite adorned “hustler turned rapper,” provides us yet again another installment and view into a story that lurks in the shadows and crawls through the soul of America’s history. This history, as some would say it, is controlled through manifest destiny- the art of expansion, the craving to seek what’s rightfully yours, and most importantly, to claim that stake…..by any means necessary. “American Gangster” is not only a concept album. It’s so much more than that. It is a living testament to all the rights and wrongs that has taken place in America since the advent of narcotics and organized crime, thus giving birth to The American Gangster and the “Gangster mentality….created by the White, mastered by the Black and absorbed by the Fiends, taxed by the Governmentality, [and] chartered by Forbes.”

 

Through the album, Jay-Z bobs and weaves through a myriad of topics that a true American Gangster has experienced. At the end of it all, whether good or bad, “either you’re somebody or you ain’t nobody.” Yes!!! That’s the American way…not because Jay-Z said so, but because you live it every single day. “American Gangster” the album, the saga, the life….

“Intro”- This is one of Jay-Z’s most prolific openings probably since Reasonable Doubt. Through an excellent performance by Idris Elba, we get a real understanding that being a gangster isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Like manifest destiny, there are spoils, but like any illegal game, death is always around the corner. And death, while being a gangster has taken place not only on the streets, but also in the government. I credit Jay-Z for giving us a great intro filled with tension, anticipation, and vivid story-telling. 5/5

“Pray”- I would say this track in somewhat of a prequel to “Allure.” Jay-Z gives us a sort of coming of age track where he drives us through streets where that grew him, raped his innocence, and replaced it a complex view of what law enforcement means- “a treasure chest was removed, cops said he’ll be back next month. What we call corrupt he calls payin’ dues.” He understands he’s not angel and the only thing he can do is pray to the Lord for forgiveness. Puff and the Hitmen with vocals from Beyonce really hit it out of the park on this track. Monster!!! 5/5

“American Dreamin”- Anything with Marvin Gaye on it is an instant classic. Lol. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album. Puff & The Hitmen do it big on the production again. This is a beautifully written song as Jay once again captures an early state of mind about being caught up in a game that feeds to souls that don’t have shit and want it now. For some, the way out is college. For Jay, the way out is through snow…or as he called it Snidos. Lol. I think one of the most poignant lines were “survive the droughts, I wish you well. How sick am I?” It’s almost as if Jay is conflicted with his earlier perverse thoughts and wanting a better insight in the world around him. I haven’t seen this kind of Jay in a very long time. 5/5

 

“Hello Brooklyn” ft. Lil Wayne”-AND I AIN’T GOT NO COMMENT ON THIS SHEEEEEEIT. 2/5

 

“No Hook” – HA!!!! “Had to get some challah bread so you can holla back at” That’s my line boi. Jay’s flow on this track was ridic. “roids, rolls royce keep my movements, smooth while maneuvering through all the manure in the sewer that I grew up in” I liked the track except where he spoke about Dehaven. Cmon Hov, you shoulda kept that movin. 4/5

“Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)…”– L’chayim!!! 5/5

“Sweet”- Jay-Z takes a piece of the movie where Frank’s mother had told him that he could have been anything else in the world and his younger brothas would have followed in his footsteps. He starts off the song by sayin that his nephews would also do the same but they also challenged him by asking if he was ashamed of the life he led and preaches. His response is, “I can walk down the halls of mirrors in Versailles and be so satisfied when I look at myself in the eyes, no shame, no sir” I found that comment to be so intriguing because indeed there is nothing to be proud of in being a gangster but Jay continues to follow the same rules that he’s been speakin’ about since 1996….”Gotta learn to live with regrets.” 11 years later and he’s still not making excuses or apologies and he’s being his own man and always being real. He threads a similar cloth Frank Lucas was hemmed on….Nobody owns him and indeed it may not be what you call perfect but it’s his life. And who’s life is perfect right? Another Puff & Hitmen monster… 4.5/5

“I Know” - When I first listened to the track, I wasn’t impressed. I listened to it another 5 times and also tied in the imagery in the movie and thought this song was brilliant. He took the essence and feel of “Excuse Me Miss” and turned it into about a love tale around the destructive force of heroin. “Just for one night baby take me in vein.”- CRAZY!!! In a complex and twisted artistic way, if you played this song in the background of the scenes where you saw all those black ppl in the movie with needles in their arms, it would cause a certain shiver in your spine. There’s something very twisted, very addictive about this song and it took me a while to appreciate it. Big up Neptunes for the track!!! 4.2/5

“Party Life” - Okay, so this is another song that just annoyed the hell out of me when I first heard it but, like “Sweet,” when I put it in context with the movie, there was a point in the movie where these gangsters were really feelin’ themselves talkin about how much money they had and how ill their furs were. I mean Frank Lucas walkin up in the boxin’ match with that fur is mad cocky! lol. Like, who is he? Better seats than all of em’ and shakin’ the hands of boxing legends. A pimp’s anthem indeed. Plus, who can deny the sample? Jay’s wittiness on this track is ridic. lol. “Whatup Randy?” lol… This track is either love or hate….gotta love it…..yaaaaa diiiiiiig? Guru, Puff & Hitmen givin that funk!!! 4/5

“Ignorant Shit”- Umm….considering I was one of the many who heard this about 3-4 years ago, I will just say that I like the original better sans Beanie’s verse. Regarding his statement about Imus, that’s real talk….”till we all without sin, let’s quit the pulpittin” 4/5

“Say Hello” - I’m only feelin’ the third verse on this track but I am also concerned about his Jena Six comment. Yeah I feel what you’re sayin hovie but where were you when all that was poppin off? It’s almost like “Minority Report” We can comment, complain, and report about the matters but what are we really doing to combat the issues? I’m still unsure about this track. N/A

“Success”- Jay and Nas went in on this track and it’s a very important subject to discuss- Success. It’s evident that Nas and Jay are just different kind of emcees and you have to give them their respect when their in their own zone. I preferred “Black Republicans” more though. I didn’t really like the whole “Let that bitch breathe” thing. “Google Earth Nas i got flats in other continents” lol. “I used to give a fuck, now I give a fuck less” lol…crazy….jay’s first couple of lines were on point!!! No I.D, i see you mang!!! 3.9/5

“Fallin”- Oh my…Jay’s a beast on this track. Jermaine Dupri production? couldn’t believe it. I love this…..i like the smoothness and sleek of the chorus and the rawness and grit of the verses. Jay proves that he hasn’t missed a step on that straight flow, straight rap, straight at your neck type cridddack!!! “Damn gravity’s ill” love that line… The story-tellin on this track is beautiful…he touches so many different topics and it’s great to see Hov have tracks like “Success” and “Fallin” come one after another. Excellent juxtaposition. I love the piano and instruments towards the end of the track. Ugggh…greatness 5/5

“Blue Magic”- BROOKLYN STAND UP!!!! This track ooozes crack. lol. Too many stand out lines on this track. Finally , aPharrell chorus that I love. Gotta big up En Vogue for that “Hold On” joint! “Blame Reagan for makin me into a monster, blame Oliver North when I ran contra” daaaaaamn! MY MAN! Crazy thing, I could actually see Biggie doing this track and murdering it just with the swag and the grit in his voice. 5/5

 

“American Gangster“- JUSTIN BLAZE AND THE BLAZETTES….crazy. Jay’s flow is untouchable over this track. I WANT THE SKY BABY!!! What an excellent ending to an album that gives us passion, terror, fiends, love, death, family, friends, enemies, and then some….this is an undeniable track and when I first pressed the forward button from track 14 to track 15 in the wip, i almost thought i was gonna lose my damn mind. I had to pull the wip ova and celebrate. lol. Instruments, horns, piano, everything…..LOVIN IT!!! 5/5

 

FINAL RATING- 4.4/5

This rating, to some, might be a little low. I think it’s quite fitting. Some may even say, “damn, why not just go for the 4.5?” The answer is this: While I believe this is a great album and Jay-Z really came back strong, I am a little concerned that albums surrounding topics of drugs and gangster life are so appealing in America. I suppose this is more of a case of morality for me. I am also betwixt certain emotions of whether Jay-Z has anything else to write about. One of my boys said that saying “American Gangster” was a concept album was just a cop out and gave Jay-Z an excuse to rap about drugs once again since “Kingdom Come” was ummm…”too sophisticated?” Well, Mr. Carter, I for one am an intelligent consumer and my reasonings for not liking KC had nothing to do with my lack of sophistication…But that’s neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is is that drug tales sell. This is something that we, as consumers, really need to internally analyze. Some would also say that tales of rags to riches…ergo, the Horatio Alger affect, are appealing. That being true, how many times are we going to get the same dose from Hov? If all we can expect is drug stories and a drug album from Jay and all the Jay-ettes out there then are we just as Ignorant as he? I don’t know….All in all, I like this album a lot and I definitely recommend it’s purchase for those who didn’t buy “Kingdom Come.”

 

 

Apologies for the wait but hope ya’ll feel it!

L’chayim bitches!!!! lol

 

~Thesis

Album Review: Alicia Keys- As I Am

 

Click here to listen to the BET Album Preview of “As I Am”

Alicia Keys starts her album off with a subtle yet powerful bang with the instrumental and musical intro. I love how she doesn’t speak or sing over the track, but prepares the listener for an artistic and musical experience.

Up next is “Go Ahead”. Alicia sings in a much lower register with a bluesy feel complemented by bluesy, soulful, and borderline rock production. Lyrically, you can’t deny that she is talented. In the song she tells her shady lover to keep it pushing, because she is fed up with his trifling ways. The production is hot…the drum breakdown at the end is fire. I’m digging this.

On “Superwoman” Alicia gets inspirational by talkin about the ills that plague society and how so many strong women persevere over them. This is the kind of song I would expect to be played during a video montage at a charity dinner. Although I thought she was going to over-sing this song…she toned it down a bit more throughout the song and really focused on the emotion of the song rather than just screaming out the lyrics. I like this a lot…we all need a little inspiration from time to time.

Hearing “No One” within the context of the album makes a lot more sense. As a single this song never grew on me…I just didn’t understand why she started screaming within the first 15 seconds. However, now I see that this entire album is just one passionate delivery from Alicia after another. This song is great if you let the album play in its entirety, but I still think its overkill on its own…still beautiful lyrically though.

Alicia channels Prince for “Like You’ll Never See Me Again”. This song is a nice departure from the other powerhouse vocal performances to a more tender and soft sound and vibe. She still manages to keep the yearning and emotional intensity without being loud. The song is about treating every romantic exchange and encounter like it could the last one. This is a wonderful love song…incredibly soulful and powerful.

“Lesson Learned” featuring an understated John Mayer flips the script from the joys of love to the pain of heartache. I love, love, love the message of this song. It’s so important to learn from the mistakes we make, not let them jade us, and apply those lessons to our future. This is a song that every person who is afraid to let go of the past and open up to possibility of love needs to hear. Simply put…brilliant!

On “Wreckless Love” Alicia tries to recapture the spark in her relationship. The vocal phrasing and delivery, and production make this song amazing. This is the kind of song that when you consider how all of the parts work together you can truly appreciate how fantastic it is. You know how it is when you are with someone, things get a little stale, and you have this sense of urgency that you need to do something to bring it back to the way things were when it was fresh and new? Well this song is like the expression of that angst and desire.

“The Thing About Love” is simply Alicia’s take on the ups and downs of love. Overall the message of the song is one of hope and trying to see past the difficult times to be able to enjoy the good times. The song works its way up to a vocal crescendo then a pseudo crash taking you an emotional rollercoaster with Alicia…another masterpiece.

“I Need You” is a banger (and I’m not talking about the club banger sense). The production is hot with its more percussion and even borderline Latin feel and Alicia sounds great of course. As the title suggests, she is telling her lover that she needs him…but not just in the sense of needing his presence, but needing him to understand just how much she loves him. I love the message of this song, because it shows that it is okay to need someone and to make sure that they know just how deeply you feel about them. You may THINK the other person knows, but do you make it a point to make sure that they know? Marinate on that lol.

On “Prelude to a Kiss” Alicia slows it down and strips down the production for a more ballad feel. This song addresses the feelings that most of us occasionally have of feeling a little out of place, lost, and other general insecurities. This is another song for one of those contemplative days where you just feel like you need some direction and time to clear your head and figure out who you are and where you’re headed.
 

“Tell You Something” is about saying what’s on your heart today and not waiting for a day that is not promised. In the song she speaks about how we can get so caught up in the business of our day to day responsibilities that we neglect to take enough pause to show those around us that we care. This song is so beautiful and so touching…this is a superb in every way.

Alicia closes out the album with “Sure Looks Good to Me”. This song kind of has a vintage Rock & Roll feel to it…something I would expect to hear from a Bono ballad. Alicia sings about her overall optimistic outlook on life. This song is a fitting summary of just about every issue she has addressed over the course of her album thus a perfect ending.

Overall…I think it would be totally ridiculous to rate this album as anything less than a brilliant masterpiece. I can say for a fact that everyone isn’t going to like this album…but that is more of a reflection of people’s lack of good taste. I haven’t always been an Alicia Keys fan (though I’ve always respected her talent)…but this album makes me have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for her music. The music scene, especially the R&B one, is completely lacking a mature, relatable perspective to love, heartache, and overall life lessons…and this album so completely fills that void.

It is so wonderful and incredibly refreshing to hear an album from a woman with such an optimistic perspective with content that showcases the dignity and strength of a woman (or person in general) through the ups and downs. Other artists need to take notes and I can only hope that people really internalize the messages of the album and let this be more of an inspiration rather than songs like “Irreplaceable”.

I wholeheartedly recommend this album to anyone who is looking for music that doesn’t just scratch the surface of booty call and playa anthems. If you can actually appreciate the lyrical content and amazing singing…then pick up a copy of “As I Am” (do not bootleg!) when it hits stores November 13th.

What do you think about the album? Did you find the lyrical content relevant to your life and inspirational? Isn’t this the kind of real music that the game has been missing? Is Miss Alicia back with a vengeance?

Posted by Reecie

Album Preview: Jay-Z- American Gangster (Plus A DIY Album Review Challenge)

Click here for the full album preview

BET.com has the preview of Jay-Z’s new album “American Gangster”. Check it out and come back here to post your thoughts. I would write a review, but I’m trying to give Thesis the opportunity to do it…where you at homie? Whatever the case…you all can be a pseudo HM critic and post your reviews below. If Thesis doesn’t resurface then I’ll choose the best review to make the “official” HM album review.Posted by Reecie

Album Review: J. Holiday- Back of My Lac

Click here to listen to the full album preview of “Back of My Lac” on AOL

J. Holiday gets the album started off with the title track “Back of My Lac”. The thing I like about this song is that it gives you a great idea about what kind of person J. is and what he has been through…so it puts his music in a greater perspective. Even though this isn’t a song I would listen to everytime I put his cd on, it’s a great way to introduce people to his music.

The title “Thug Commandments” sounds bad from jump but it’s not all bad. He actually delivers a few pearls of wisdom throughout the song as well as some ignant comments. Overall the song is harmless.

“Bed” is already a big hit, so I’m sure you have already heard the song. J. has a great voice so he pulls off the song on every level…vocally and emotionally. It goes without saying…this one is a winner. 

On “Betcha Never Had” J. tells this chick that he is willing to put it down on her sexually, but he is not willing to be tied down in a relationship. Typical. Moving right along…

“Laa Laa” rips off Kanye’s signature soulful sped up sample in a far less proficient way. On the song he sings about reuniting with a past love and making it work this time around. I like the lyrics and this song is kinda cool.

On “Come Here” J. Holiday approaches a chick and sexually propositions her. The beat is hot and J’s voice has a nice sultriness to it. Since the version I’m listening to is edited, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn’t being as vulgar as the blocked out words make it sound.

“Be With Me” was in my top 5 favorite songs last year, so I’m always going to love it. I like how he just sounds like a nice guy approaching a nice woman in a respectful and sincere way. I don’t understand why people feel like music has to be about sex in order to be interesting. I’m sure more men would get further by approaching a woman in the style of this song rather than “Come Here”. Anyway…this song does everything right…a total winner.

“Suffocate” is about how much J. wants to be with his lover when she’s away from him. He does a good job of conveying the sense of urgency and emotion in his lyrics and vocal delivery. This song is pretty cool.

“Fatal” continues the sentimental vibe with J. singing about how much he misses the relationship he had with his former love. This song is so sweet and I love the sincerity and longing he expresses in the song. This song will be a big hit with the ladies.

“Without You” is another hot track. Again he pleads with his lady to take him back and give him another chance. This is a much more upbeat and lively track though so it doesn’t come across totally redundant from the preceding tracks. The breakdown towards the end is the hottest part…another winner with this one.

“Pimp In Me” is about J. throwing in his player card for a special woman. Awww this song is so sweet! I like how this album shows growth from being a “thug” (which is a strong word), to a raunchy player type… and finally to a gentleman who wants to settle down. This is the kind of song that the ladies will love but isn’t too corny for the guys to like as well. I know there are a few guys out there that feel the way J does in the song…you can admit it! lol

On “Thank You” J. decides to show his gratitude for his lover in the bedroom. He manages to be sexy without being sleazy. I like, I like.

“Fallin” closes out the album on a bluesy tip. I’m kind of surprised he decided to end on this note, considering that he already addressed this sentiment on three songs already. Still…this is a pretty nice song. I don’t think it’s the strongest closer, but musically I’m feeling the blues vibe.

Overall, this album is pretty good. It tells a good story from beginning to the end that makes it interesting to listen to. There’s no denying that J. has talent and he picked a nice selection of lyrical content and production to showcase his talent. This album should appeal to both the ladies and the fellas. It doesn’t give you too much of any one thing, so there’s something for everyone. I suggest that you take advantage of the full album preview offered on AOL and check the album out first to decide if it’s something you want to pick up. If you liked J’s first two singles, then there’s a good chance that you will like his album as well.

What do you guys think of the album? Did he find the right balance between being street and appealing to the ladies? What were the best and weakest parts of the album? What area does J. need to improve in his next project?

Posted by Reecie

Album Review: Trey Songz- Trey Day

Click here to preview Trey Day on AOL

Trey Songz starts off his album with a Bun B collabo. I’m not really feeling that as an opener, but perhaps he plans on taking the R. Kelly R&B/Hip Hop fusion direction for this album. The intro transitions to “Long Gone Missin” with Trey rapping on the opening verse. I gotta give him credit for good lyrical phrasing and storytelling ability…and he sounds much better once he starts singing. I can tell from this song that this is going to be a very “young” album focusing mostly on “girl” problems, sex, and being a player.

My suspicion proves to be correct for the time being with the next song “Wonder Woman”, which is about hooking up with a chick. The production is hot and he sounds good…but I think I need to be a few years younger to take Trey seriously as a sex symbol lol.

Up next is “No Clothes On”. It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out that this song is about him thinking about a woman he just met with no clothes on. Call me a prude, but is this song really supposed to be flattering? The way Trey sings some of the parts on this song is kind of ridiculous…and it just highlights the fact that he is wasting his wonderful voice on brainless topics.

“Sex for Yo Stereo” is just as dumb as it sounds.

Just when I thought this album couldn’t get any sleazier… on “Last Time” Trey sings about breaking up with his side chick…after one last time having sex of course.

“Can’t Help But Wait” is the second single from the album and takes a much needed deviation from talking about sex. The song is just mediocre, and it’s hard to take his sentiment seriously after hearing the songs that came before this.

“Grub On” is another sexually suggestive song about Trey and his lover eating off each other. I see that Trey is trying to be R. Kelly Jr. on this song and the lyrics are actually quite clever.

“Fly Together” features Jim Jones and is about how Trey and his woman make such a fly couple. This song is decent…it could be a nice little anthem for 15-22 year olds.

“Store Run” is about Trey needing to run to the store to get some condoms so that he can sleep with a girl that he just met last week. Chick couldn’t even get a dinner and a movie before she lets a guy run up in her…damn shame lol. But really though…is he serious with this song? I’m all for contraception and protection…but whatever happened to getting to know a person and what they’re about BEFORE getting to that point? I guess that wouldn’t make for an interesting song. This is just as bad as Mya singing about her period being late and worrying that she’s pregnant.

“Missin You” ups the wackness factor with some weird digital voice singing part of the hook. However, I will say that aside from that digital thing, the song is pretty good. I like the lyrics (for once) and he actually sounds mildly sincere. The production is kinda hot…overall this song is worth a second listen.

“Role Play” is about spicing things up in the bedroom. This song isn’t as corny as I expected it to be…it’s kinda cool.

“We Should Be” switches to a more romantic vibe. Of course this song is about sex like every other song on the album, but at least there is something somewhat sentimental about the song. I was hoping that he would deliver at least one pure love song or ballad, but it doesn’t surprise me that he doesn’t.

Overall…this is album is 100% about sex. Trey has a one track mind from the beginning to the end. I understand that he is trying to go for a more grown up sound and swagger this time around but he really went overboard with the content. Even R. Kelly tends to provide a sense of balance between freaky and romance…Trey doesn’t manage this at all. His lyrical content is too young and immature to appeal to an older (and by older I mean 24+) audience. If a guy tried Trey’s approach on me, I don’t know if I could contain my laughter. Maybe I expect too much from an artist or my standards are too high…but I would have to give this album a thumbs down. What happened to songs like “Just Gotta Make it” and “Gotta Go”? Trey lost all of his innocence on this album and grew up sexually without growing up mentally and emotionally. His talents were largely wasted on songs that were just too juvenille. In closing, if you are ever feeling freaky enough to want to hear an album with the same emphasis on sex as this album, I would suggest you go pick up R. Kelly’s Twelve Play or TP-2.com instead.

What do you guys think of the album? Does Trey make for a convincing sex symbol or is it just kind of ridiculous? Do you think he should’ve expanded his lyrical content or is he better off making an album all about sex?

Posted by Reecie

My Long Ass Kanye West “Graduation” Review- Kanye Day Part 2

Props to XXLmag.com for the image.

While the opening track is titled “Good Morning (Intro),” it should be titled “Abstract” as KanYe paints a picture of his third album’s concept – himself.

“Mr. West, Mr. Fresh/Mr. by-his-self-he-so-impressed” opens the album by making fun of himself with lyrics that may seem comical, but they are layered words reflecting on his musical experience stating that “And yes, barely pass any and every class/Lookin’ at every ass/Cheated on every test/I guess this is my dissertation/Homie, this shit is basic/Welcome to graduation.” Believe it or not, this is a humble Kanye West stating that he should have been a failure, but he STILL received his diploma, like a “fly Malcolm X/buy any jeans necessary.”

Kanye is implying that his career has been judged by what he SHOULD do versus what he actually did. The industry had a strict curriculum for success – a cookie cutter formula that would make every hip-hop artist a valedictorian. “Look at the valedictorian scared of the future/While I hop in the Delorean/Scared-to-face-the-world complacent career student/Some people graduate, but be still stupid/They tell you read this, eat this, don’t look around.” As a paradox, Kanye sampled Elton John’s “Someone Saved My Life” implying that he saved hip-hop with his music by not aiming to be the valedictorian (or cookie cutter formula) and STILL graduated with Rosie Perez Ds on his report card.

This first track is your warning, if you don’t want know more about Kanye – turn off the CD.

Talib Kweli- “EarDrum” Review @ HonorableMedia

From a student of the game with humble beginnings at Rawkus Records in the late 90s to the birth of the classic Black Star to being a boss now within the BlackSmith movement, Talib Kweli (neé Talib Kweli Greene) has managed to stay above tumultuous waters in this game we call Hip-Hop. Many may have been first introduced to Talib from the commercially successful track, “Get By,” produced by Kanye West. Others may have been with Kweli since his Hi-Tek/Reflection Eternal days when his rawness and story-telling ability on tracks such as “Too Late” ft. Res and “Good Mourning” were highly regarded on the critically acclaimed album, “Train of Thought.” A few may jest at the rest as they contend that their first sound of Talib came during the Lyrcist Lounge days when he dropped songs like “Fortified Live” and “The Manifesto.” Whatever the case may be, this 10 year veteran of the game has seen the ebb and flow of success and refuses to be knocked down. Fresh off of a 3 year hiatus that saw the end of his partnership with Rawkus Records and a lack of mainstream appeal for the heavily bootlegged “The Beautiful Struggle,”Talib is back with his latest effort entitled, “EarDrum.” Follow me as I go through the album with my thoughts, concerns, and praises:

“EarDrum”

1. Talib opens the album with a little bit of spoken-word in “Everything Man” (Madlib production). Ironically enough the first line was, “I don’t remember the first time I heard Kweli.” I say it’s ironic because, in my opinion, Kweli career has had a somewhat forgettable factor about it. Some may dispute the last statement but Kweli has always been raw, always been a true lyricist and a student of the game, but he never really had a real persona about him…To me, there was never that “It” factor. Many knew him and respected his style cause he repped Brooklyn hard, he was underground, and he teamed with Mighty Mos Def, but in a way, there wasn’t much else. In 98/99, we had cats like Jay-Z, DMX, Puffy and ems that were doing their thing and it seemed like there wasn’t much space in the limelight for Kweli. However, when Mos Def dropped “Black on Both Sides,” it seemed like Kweli was then again…..Forgotten! But, I digress…..”Everything Man” continues with people speaking on the first time they heard of Kweli and how much they need his voice in the game. Kweli raps for about one minute speaking about the fact that he can’t please everyone and that he’s not going anywhere…..Hmmm…we’ll see.

2. “NY Weather Report” (Nick Speed production)-Kweli raps about his struggle and his ability to stay true despite his “blood, sweat, tears, years, struggle, love, hate, fear” and the fact that he came prepared for any weather in the game. He speaks on various issues like fake cats in the game to absent fathers and cats who’d rather share blunts than share responsibility of raising a child. He also speaks on how people are confused by the meaning of success and that there’s a tendency to equate success through the eyes of white people. Like almost 92% of Kweli tracks, this is not one of those club bangas that you can just memorize the hook and you’ll be straight. I found myself rewinding the track back several times to get his meaning and punchlines and to really understand his whole message. He is one artist that truly takes time to make a point. This will be a great track for those who really enjoy lyrics with a message. This will go over the heads of cats who are pop, lock, & droppin it!- 4/5

3. “Hostile Gospel Pt. 1″/ “Deliver Us” (Just Blaaaaaaze)- Another track where Talib speaks and reports on troubled times in the world and how backwards society is at times and how we all need to be delivered from the madness that’s pervading the music industry to people’s complex when it comes to their skin color. He also bashes Rawkus and their inability to market him. yada, yada, yada Talib preaches. His flow was straight on this and the message was potent. Nothing we don’t expect from Talib. This isn’t a track that you’ll find in the club at all but if you’re ever feeling like you want to protest, this might be a good track to get you revved up! 4/5

4. “Say Something” ft. Jean Grae (Will.I.Am production)- He’s comin at dudes necks hard on this track. He’s sayin he’s a forced to be reckoned with and if ya’ll don’t let him in, he’s gonna kick the door down and holla at your eardrum. I could hear the hunger and wordplay in Talib’s voice. I absolutely love the fact that Talib is taking Jean under his wing. Every song he does, he makes it a point to hold Jean down and give her a quick 16 and some adlibs. Being that it’s so hard for femcees to make noise in the game, I think it’s smart to create alliances. With Mos Def out the radar could Talib and Jean be BlackStar 07? That’d be an ill combo….I was feeling a lot of lines. Kweli and Jean come real gritty on this track and you can feel the real essence and energy all ova this. Jean Grae- “past due, Jean and Kwa the last two action heros. Actually have the capacity to be the ones in a class of zeros.” Talib- “It’s deep, go ahead and sleep, they know in the street Kwa gon’ flow on the beat propa composin complete operas”- 5/5

5. “Country Cousins” ft. UGK & Raheem DeVaughn (AKidCalledRoots and Sha-La Shakier production)- This track has an Earth, Wind, & Fire feel to it and Raheem DeVaughn’s vocals mesh perfectly ova the track. Talib’s flow on this is ridiculous. He really shined on this track and repped NY slang and swag! This is a track that really appreciates different flavas and different styles from the East Coast to the Down South and I think it’s good to see both styles on a track since there’s so many cats sayin that the South is really fuckin shyt up in the game. lol. I could see this track being a nice single for Kweli. As long as there’s no accompanying dance or lil jig i’m str8. 5/5

6. “Holy Moly” (Pete Rock production)- First & foremost, Legendary Pete Rock all ova the track. The beat is crazy and is definitely a head knocka…Play this in the whip and let Kweli’s words roll across the dash! Kweli goes hard at fakas in the game callin’em “baby jay-z’s with the knock off scott storch beat you are not Short…..you’re not a player or a pimp money stop that” Holy Moly Kweli!!! He goes on to say that Hip-Hop back in the day was about creativity and progress but now cats are settlin’ Kweli shined on this and I cannot take anything away from it. - 5/5

7. “Eat To Live” (Madlib production)- Kweli exits the punchline/wordplay stage and takes us into a storytellin’ set with vivid images. His ghetto-prayer is potent and shows us the life of a young dude who is struggling with fights @ school and comes home to an empty fridge filled with nuthin but 40s. One of my fav lines is, “grandma say jesus will be here any day. Good, cause with nothin to eat its gettin hard to pray.” Something about that line just takes me back to when I used to be in the supermarket in the late 80s pickin up no frills cereal boxes and shyt wonderin why mom dukes couldn’t buy the frosted flakes. The production on this is very nostalgic and smooth. The hook on the track says it all, “In order to receive you know we need to give, we gotta feed the kids, we gotta eat to live.”- 5/5

8. “In The Mood” (Kanye West production)- This is an undeniable track with magic from Kanye to da! As soon as the song opens up Kweli comes with an ill swag on the track talkin about what he wants to do with a certain female yet keepin it real street! Kanye comes with his usual dose of reality/comedic/poignant rhyme-flow….One cant help but laugh when he’s talkin about ole girl in the club with a silicone booty and what happened to real girls like Rudy with real titties like Tootie. lol….Although I appreciate what Kweli was sayin on the 3rd verse, I think he shoulda stayed away from the battle-type/raw lyrics and stay on the sexiness that the track resonates.. The third verse took away from the feel that the first and second verse established- 4.5/5

9. “Soon The New Day” ft. Norah Jones (Madlib/Eric Krasno production)- Very mellow track with beautiful/soulful vocals from Norah Jones. Different type track for Kweli where he story tells about a situation where he scoops a chick from the club who appears to be hot girl on the surface but is also going through some internal issues about chasing the paper and living the fast life. Something about this track brings back feelings that songs like “Black Girl Pain” and Nas’ “Black Girl Lost” seemed to radiate. You won’t appreciate this track unless you really listen to it. People looking for instant gratification in a club banga will most likely skip this track but people who are meticulous enough will appreciate this track.- 4/5

10. “Give’m Hell” ft. Lyfe Jennings & Coi Mattison (Terrace Martin & Battlecat production)- Kweli analyzes the difference b/w spirituality and religion and discusses various aspects about Heaven & Hell. Discusses the misconception in society about Muslims. Yada yada……the vocals dont do much for me and Lyfe Jennings voice bothers me…Not a bad track though. 3.75/5

11. “More or Less” ft. Dion (Hi-Tek production)- Kweli goes through various topics and what we need more in society/music industry like voting to dealing with real issues to Beyonce to victory to uprising to enterprising to building, etc…less biting off pac & big, less Britney, less prisons, etc…It’s good hearing Talib ova a Hi-Tek track again. Kweli always seems to sound really comfortable ova Hi-Tek production and Hi-Tek neva fails. This is definitely a must appreciate track. Very positive. The third verse was insane with lines such as, “Lets put more depth in our verses till they’re left on the surface while we stomp thru the underground” Kweli shines on this indeed. He brings that Reflection rawness back! 4.5/5

12. “Stay Around” (Pete Rock production)- Kweli comes on the first verse spittin about the comments and criticisms that he’s received thus far in his career from people saying that he should stick wit Hi-Tek to why he flows the way he does, etc…I liked the way he addressed all the critics and kept his flow smooth and in tact with the beat. Kweli comes on subsequent verses with nothin but the rawness and wordplay as always. He spits that hot fiyah but sometimes it can really go ova people’s heads and get annoyin after a while. The production is real smooth and Kweli, at times, takes the energy to another level. Sometimes he puts too many words in one bar for the sake of being complex but sometimes songs such as these doesnt need that much lyricism. lol. 4/5

13. “Hot Thing” ft. Will.I.Am (Will.I.Am production)- Kweli finally comes with a track for the ladies that gets his grown and sexy on. The ladies and mature gentlemen can appreciate this. This was a cool single when it dropped but it didn’t really make a lot of noise on the charts. This would be a nice track at the lounge/club and I see myself two-steppin to this. It’s nice to see Kweli switch it up and not get so raw and complex on this type of feel. “All i see is a hot thing” catchy!!!- 4/5

14. “The Perfect Beat” ft. KRS-One (Swiff D production)- Brooklyn/Bronx connection wit Talib and the Teacher blazin that real crack on the track. Third verse saw KRS and Talib goin back and forth with that fast flow that was impeccable! Not a club banga but the type you throw in ya whip and just head knock…Hope you have a good system in your car for this cause the bass is serious! 4/5

15. “Oh My Stars” ft. Musiq Soulchild (Dj Khalil production)- Nice and smooth lean song where Talib talks about love and family and his kids with lines like, “i dont love you to death, i love you to life” This is a beautifully written track. I respect that. Positive indeed where Talib’s kids opened the track with a lil rhyme! haha….4/5

16. “Listen” (Kwame production)- Usual Kweli bringing the raw bangin on your eardrum. Cool track but after a while we wanna hear something different from Kweli. 3.75/5

17. “Go With Us” ft. Strong Arm Steady (E. Jones production)- Kweli introduces his crew under BlackSmith to drop some lines. It was good hearing someone other than Kweli, trust! But verse two was a lil wack…how ole boi gon say “hoe” and Kweli sayin we gotta start using less misogynistic lyrics. lol. Beat’s propa doe! Why I thought this track was by Rich Harrison? lol. 3.5/5

18. “Hostile Gospel Pt. 2″/”Deliver Me” ft. Sizzla (Dj Khalil production)- Nice continuation where Talib is talkin to God to deliverhim from evil ways and temptation. The reggae/Sizzla heads will appreciate this track. Somebody pass da blizz. lol. 3.9/5

19. “The Nature” ft. Justin Timberlake (Justin Timberlake, Eric Krasno, Adam Deitch production)- Kweli ends the cd with speaking on the issues and the “nature of the world today.” Umm…Justin adds a nice pop feel to the track. Kweli educates us as always and it’s good to hear someone conscious and speaking real rap amidst the pimps, chains, and Akon/T-Pain and ems….Positive track…feel good music. 4/5

To be honest with you, i’m extremely tired. This is probably one of the longest reviews I’ve ever had to do. Kweli made a long ass album and I truly feel that it could have been seriously condensed to maybe 14 tracks, at most…I still think Kweli is an ill artist and truly a speaker to the times in our generation but I think he will never be where artists such as Kanye and Jay-Z will be. Maybe he doesn’t want that kind of appeal. He’s managed to stay true to who he is and I think no one can fault him for that. I do think, however, that while his music and message is needed in the game, he needs to find new ways/outlets of being unique and find that “it” factor. “EarDrum” is a good cd but nothing that will catapult his career per se. It sought to prove one thing that the Hip-Hop community has always known about Kweli- he’s a true lyrist. Aside from that, I haven’t seen a lot of growth since “The Beautiful Struggle.” Out of the 20 tracks, about 7-10 really do it for me.

Average Rating- 3.93/5 (Average calculation of ratings based on 18 out of 20 tracks.  One track not rated was an interlude. Another track not rated was the intro track)
Thesis’ final rating for “EarDrum”- 3.95/5

~Thesis

P.S: Can’t Wait for “Prom Night” Jean….

P.P.S: Whatever happened to the “Dilla Intro” track Kweli put out earlier this year? It’s a shame that it didn’t make the album.  It was an insane track!