Who is Watching Making the Band 4? Plus New Music: MTB4, Trey Songz, Brandy/Ray J & More

 Last week or so I posted a snippet of Making the Band 4’s “Together”, but now here is the full version of the track. It actually sounds a lot better as a whole. They sound a little bit like they are still in competition and need to work on blending together more instead of trying to stand out from each other. BUT…I actually like this.  Click here to listen

UPDATE: The guys revealed the name of their group- “Day 26“. I thought Danity Kane was pretty random, but at least it was different. But ”Day 26″ is a super wack name. What were they all born on the 26th of the month or something? lol. I don’t understand how Diddy has been so tough on contestants for 3 seasons worth of bands, yet totally drops the ball when it comes to naming the groups. But then again, almost every single band name ever has been corny in some way.

Donnie from Making the Band 4 did a cover of Chris Brown’s song “With You” and I hate to say it, but I gotta give him two thumbs down. I know it sounds weird, but the barely legal Chris Brown displays so much more emotional depth and vocal capabilities in his performance of the song than Donnie does. This song comes across very corny and entirely too digitized. I know that Donnie is capable of something better than this, so we’ll see what he does next. Click here to listen

Sidebar: Who is watching the new season of Making the Band? The season premiere was a little lackluster to me, but I think there will be lots of drama in the season as a whole. Although I’m sure the hook ups and break ups will be train-wreck tv…Part of me wonders if Aubrey is going after Donnie for more camera time…there was something about her antics that almost looked staged. The most interesting part has always been watching the recording process and seeing how the groups respond to Diddy’s high standards. Anyway…who do you think will ultimately win the sales battle?

Back to the music…

Did I miss something or does Trey Songz only have two songs on his last album? I think it is totally retarded to continue remixing two songs, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that this remix of Wonder Woman is just a really late leak. He switches up the beat which draws more attention to the lyrics and his vocal performance, but I can’t exactly call this an upgrade. There was something very different and fresh about the sound of the original song and this just sounds like a beat that could’ve easily been on a Ginuwine or Playa album circa 1999. Click here to listen

I have a hard time posting Charli Baltimore’s new song “Lose It”, because I’m about 99% sure that nobody cares. However, since so few female rappers ever get radio play, I’ll post it anyway. I kind of liked her back in her Murder Inc days, but she just never managed to step out of Ja Rule’s shadows. This song is alright, but a female rapper talking about her sexual prowess is so cliche…although no more cliche than male rappers and singers like Trey Songz. Can’t say that I’m impressed by this song, but I can see it being played in a club around 10:30 as people are just starting to arrive and it’s not exactly time to get the party in full swing. Click here to listen

While we are on the subject of “sex”, “cliche” and “rapper”, Hot Dollar has a new track called “Get Naked” that so blatantly channels Snoop’s “Sensual Seduction”. Lightning does not strike twice though, as this knockoff is very second-rate. He doesn’t have the personality or swagger of Snoop to pull this off so he sounds amateur. Oh yeah and when is the last time you heard someone say “no scrubs”? lol. Click here to listen. 

Brandy and her brother Ray-J have teamed up for “Another Day In Paradise”. It’s kind of interesting to hear these two link up after all these years, but the song sounds like something that could’ve been on “Never Say Never” back in 98. This song might work as an album track, but I don’t really see this working as a single. Ray J even with his lack of any real talent has been able to produce a few bangers in his day, so I think they would’ve been better off doing a club joint together instead. I’m still waiting to hear something a little more edgy and forward from Brandy. Her last album Afrodisiac was feisty and different, but this new stuff is just very safe. Click here to listen. 

Edit:So apparently the Brandy/Ray-J song is really old (thanks Ryan for pointing that out)…but hey…I did this post at midnight so I’ll chop that up to being tired lol.

What do you guys think of these tracks? Can someone please tell Trey Songz to come out with a NEW song? Can Charli Baltimore make a comeback? Shouldn’t Hot Dollar have at least given Snoop another month before he totally copied his song? Is Brandy’s new material sparking your interest?

Posted by Reecie

Yay! America’s Next Top Model is Saleisha!

 It’s that time again…time to “crown” a new winner of America’s Next Top Model and that person is Saleisha from Los Angeles. I’m actually really happy with this result. She worked that runway in the final challenge and Chantal was really no competition at all. I think the final two should’ve been Lisa and Jenah, but Saleisha pulled through in the end for the win. Some folks have criticized that she was a part of Tyra’s youth camp before and had prior modeling experience, but I say it’s a freaking tv show competition who cares?! I just think it is nice to see a positive Black woman win instead of someone  totally stereotypical.

Did you guys watch this season? Did Saleisha deserve to win? Who were rooting for this season? Who should’ve been in the final two?

Posted by Reecie 

Lil Wayne on The Boondocks (Video)

This is a post jack. Thanks, Eskay.

I love the Boondocks and watch the show religiously. And I know HM has love for Lil Wayne. So, here goes the best of both…

This is one of the very few shows I watch on the Television (I only watch The Game, Entourage, Weeds, and Boondocks - that’s about it.). I can’t watch it because I am at work (Yes, thehonorable and Reecie actually have full-time jobs). I will post a review later.

What do you think of Lil Wayne’s acting debut? Are you a fan of the Boondocks? What are your favorite episodes? What did you think of Tom’s remix video of Usher’s Burn?

BET’s College Hill: Interns

Source

When I first read about this, I thought that this was a very positive and intriguing space that BET moved into.  From it’s popular College Hill programming comes Interns, which serves as a spin-off and jab to those who feel/felt that BET ain’t about anything progressive.  This new show, premiering Oct. 23rd, will follow 10 college students from disparate colleges and universities in their quest to dominate and come out successful during a summer internship in what Common calls the “city with the frozen sun” bka Chicago.

These students will all be residing under one roof for the duration of the internship and will also be mentored by New York Times best-selling author and medical expert, Dr. Ian Smith, who will be with them as they engage in trials that will test their academic wit, business acumen, marketing strategies, et. al  Further challenges will definitely arise as they will need to learn strong concepts in time management while working individually and in teams.  As these 10 interns will lead somewhat autonomous lives away from their families, they will also be exposed to the Chicago nightlife and get into some things that i’m sure will be entertaining to watch…..Real-World esque you may say? Naaaaah, College Hill: Interns….tune it and enjoy!

Here’s the roster:

Tationna, 19 (Bronx, New York)
This self-proclaimed “diva” attends City College of New York. Not one to be out done by the rest, this young woman takes prides in her appearance and always needs to look her best–even if that means wearing pearls and high heels to the construction site. Her approach to projects may sometimes be more flirtatious and less about actually doing the work. Tationna is not shy to tell you that the she is above certain assignments and you better not ask her to get you coffee or make copies.

Kathy, 20 (Homewood, IL)
Drive and passion are just two words that describe this Southside Chicago native. Kathy is a natural born leader and taskmaster. This self-possessed woman allows nothing to stand in the way of her goals. All work and no play would make Kathy a dull girl and she can’t have that. When her work is done, Kathy enjoys having cocktails, burning up the dance floor, and flirting. It has been said that an internship is good for self-discovery and Kathy’s true character will be examined during the season when a major secret is revealed.

LeTia, 21 (Chicago, IL)
Attends Chicago State University and aspires to attend medical school. A native of the area, Letia is often a good resource but her roommates question her desire to be a part of the team. Deeply connected to her family and head over heels in love with her boyfriend, work/life balance definitely becomes her challenge.

Marc, 22 (Atlanta, GA)
The former captain of his college basketball team at Southern Tech University, this good-looking young man walks in as a BMOC (Black Man In Charge). At 6′5″ he is a presence in any room and he instantly commands the attention of the ladies. This business mogul in the making aspires to be a sports agent with a multifaceted conglomerate. Will he lose focus along the way while surrounded by his female roommates?

Spencer, 19 (Jacksonville, North Carolina)
The son of a preacher, this young man has the expectation bar set for him. Seemingly, he is mature beyond his years–noted by his unique sense of style, but perceptions are not always true. Shiny suits and electric blue socks can’t hide Spencer’s immaturity. This wet behind the ears student shows his age with petty arguments and elementary school yard fighting. As this young brother stands up for what he believes in, others often try to squash his opinions. Spencer attends North Carolina University.

Ivy, 23 (Tampa, Florida)
This University of South Florida sorority girl is the true definition of the “quiet storm”. Usually flying under the radar, she is a powerhouse of organization and event planning. She may be meek on the outside, but she backs down to no one.

Jenna, 21 (St. Louis, MO)
A student at the University of St. Louis, this statuesque basketball playing video girl turned PR apprentice has the smile to win you over and attitude to put you in your place. As the “beautiful” girl that has been told that few compare to her, she will attempt to force others to conform to her way of thinking…at any cost.

Lonnie, 21 (Glendale, CA)
A recent graduate of Prairie View A&M University, Lonnie is like an older brother who constantly calls you out while getting you to laugh at yourself. Quick with a joke or to bust on someone, Lonnie thinks that he is the coolest thing to hit Chi-town since Michael Jordan. He brings some business savvy to the mix as well. He can sell snow to a polar bear…when he wants to. Sometimes, his need for “cool points” can be an impediment.

Maurice, 21 (Las Vegas, NV)
The ladies’ man of the group, this Morehouse student excels in the bedroom and the boardroom. As the quiet smooth guy of the group, you never know what you will get from this intern. He’s one that may deliver you the unexpected.

Kasheef, 22 (Boston, MA)
This frat boy is always up in the mix. He likes to party, but he is one of the first guys to hold it down for his team. This man is a player in the club and all business in the boardroom. The ladies love Kasheef and any employer would like to have him on their payroll.

~Thesis

“Gotti’s Way” Premiere- Murdaaaaah?

Last Sunday,  Oct. 14th on Vh1, I peeped the new reality show of the Life & Times of Murder Inc’s boss, Irv Gotti (nee Irving Domingo Lorenzo, Jr.)  I’m not up on the reality show bit like many people but for the ones I pay attention to, i’ll take a crack and speak on it.  So the show opens up speaking about the rise of Gotti’s empire and unstoppable hits with acts such as Ja Rule, Ashanti, et. al.  His zenith saw a sharp decline when he was faced with multi-million dollar money laundering charges where his label was seized as well as tons and tons and tons of gwop…..Though he beat the charge (remember when he left that building all propped up on the shoulders of them dudes? lol) he faced something he never thought would happen- a loss of respect and credibility in the game. 

With his new reality show, we follow Irv as he gives us a glimpse in the life of his family, his kids, and his “wife” as well as his process in rebuilding acts like Ja Rule and reclaiming what once was his and most importantly, getting that respect from his peers.  So how was the first show? I liked it a lot actually.  I always saw Irv as a comedian and a jokester but I really noticed how focused he is in getting his business back in shape.  He and Ja were in the studio deciding what track to pick as a single and you could see that although Ja was more focused on just putting out “anything,” Irv was more concerned with putting out the “right thing.” I respected that about him and it takes a certain level of poise and business acumen to act like that.   Irv said something during the show that made me ponder…he said, “This music industry scares me!”or something to that extent…..I suppose, from what he went through, he clearly sees how easy it is to go from #1 to nothing at all….I hope he goes in with a new focus cause even though I wasn’t really a fan of Ja/Ashanti era/music, I can always appreciate the hustle……

Aside from the music, we also got a glimpse into his family life and the dynamics between he and his “wife,” “BM,” “FWB,”….. whatever you call it.  What’s interesting is that, and i’m not saying that she is, but his wife really is portrayed like a gold digga and really out for self…..I suppose in a way, being the wife of such a celebrity, you have to have a certain sense of “i’m get mines regardless.” During a lunch date between she and DMX’s wife you could see both women plottin’ to make sure that she’s taken care of and not left out in the cold as Irv re-pursues the building of his empire.

Anyway, who else peeped it? What were your thoughts? I think the Salt&Pepa and Irv Gotti shows are my top picks this season…..Don’t speak to me about I Love New York 2. lol

~Thesis

P.S: Recovering from the flu. Apologies for the hiatus…..hi haterz!

What is On Your Tube?

So the Fall is here which means one thing…new tv shows! Since I’ve dropped a few shows off my schedule and some of my favs got cancelled, I decided to pick up some new ones. There are a lot of new shows out that seem pretty good and some of everyone’s favorites are returning this season.

My Newbies:

1) The Office: This show is absolutely hilarious! I work in Corporate America so I’m familiar with some of its absurdities first hand. With so many shows about rich and spoiled people saturating the airwaves…it’s nice to see a cast of regular folks doing regular things. I think this show should really only be 30 minutes, but there are enough big laughs to keep me interested for the entire hour.

2) The Women’s Murder Club: This show is even more of a chick show than the title suggests…however with my fav former Law & Order DA Angie Harmon playing the lead character I had to check it out. I actually like this show, even though it’s not as bad a$$ as I would like it to be. I’m a fan of crime solving shows, so I’m going to keep this on my tivo schedule to see how it pans out.

3) The Salt N Pepa Show: I expected this show to be so wack and boring but I really enjoyed the first episode. It’s funny to see how Salt and Pep are total opposites with Salt being a born again Christian and Pepa being far from conservative. Salt provides a good image of Black women on television and Pep provides the comedic relief in a non-buffoonish way.

Oldies but Goodies:

1) Curb Your Enthusiasm: This show is back and as hilarious as ever! Larry and Cheryl have taken in a displaced Hurricane Katrina family adding some much needed diversity and pure comedy. They continue to come up with new and fresh ideas for this show that make it so much fun to watch.

2) America’s Next Top Model: It’s ridiculous how addictive this show is…but I can’t help but watch every time it returns to the screen. The talent this season is a little bit better, but the girls are lot more bitchy!

3) The Game/Girlfriends: I was so glad to see these shows get renewed for another season. Unfortunately for the plot on Girlfriends, Richard T. Jones who plays Joan’s fiance landed a role on another show so Joan’s happiness will be delayed once again. I’m hoping that the recast him instead of killing him off in Iraq and finally give Joan some peace! I love how Melanie is making Derwin pay big time for his cheating ways…he deserves every bit of the misery he is going through. I have some concerns about the direction they are taking the show…but every episode so far has been good enough to make me want to tune in the next week.

4) I Love New York 2: I know this is coonery and I should be ashamed of myself for watching, but who can resist this trainwreck of a television show? We all know it’s fake, but the people are so ridiculous that you can’t get this kind of foolishness anywhere else.

So HM…what’s on your Tube this fall tv season? Which shows did you cut out from your rotation and which shows did you pick up? What are your returning favorites?

Posted by Reecie

New HBO Show: Tell Me You Love Me

HBO Site

Alright so after the end of “Sopranos” and the season of “Entourage” I had a little void in my HBO series line-up.  One day about a month ago, I was flipping the channel and came across the series premiere of HBO’s new porn show called “Tell Me You Love Me.”  Straight up and down, this has got to be the rawest and realest show on television without actually pressing the “purchase show” button on your On Demand screen. So for those who do not have HBO and have never heard of the show before, here’s a synopsis:

The show traces the lives of four couples and the things they go through in their attempts to make the relationship work.  Through vivid and controversial lens, we are able to capture the essence of each relationship from how each partner relates to one other on the emotional level down to their sexual activities.  The latter is said to be one of the major reasons this show has gained a certain level of popularity because the angles from which those sex scenes are taped are just unreal for TV…yes, its HBO but “Tell Me You Love Me” is breaking some new grounds…..Anyway, with respect to the couples, we have:

1. Couple A:  Married for about 13 years with two kids. Both husband and wife have reached a stage in their life when they’ve been over-consumed by their day-to-day responsibilities as parents that they have not had the chance to develop and/or foster their relationship as lovers.  They haven’t had sex in a year…wife feels husband doesn’t want to have sex with her….husband feels pressured to have sex but makes it a point to masturbate whenever he gets a free moment away from the wife…..They both are currently seeking therapy to ameliorate their failing marriage….I have some personal thoughts about the husband but I won’t speak on that….yet! Tune it to watch what i’m talkin bout!

2. Couple B: Married for a couple years.  Husband’s an architect, wife’s a lawyer and both are trying desparately to get pregnant. Actually, let me rephrase that….The wife is borderline psycho trying to get pregnant. Having sex has become more about trying to inseminate than it is actually making love.  The husband feels like a resevoir of sperm for his wife that only has “Birth” on the brain.  They’ve tried and tried but she just can’t get pregnant. In later episodes, she reveals to him that she had an abortion 10 years prior when she was in college…yada yada….the inability to get pregnant puts a stress on their relationship….Tune in for details on how they’re dealing with this situation.

 3. Couple C: Actually, as of 3 episodes ago, they are no longer a couple. This relationship follows the psyche and emotional instability of a young girl who desparately wants the ideal “dog, cat, picket fence, husband-wife” story but in reality is overly jealous and needy. She’s admitted, during therapy, that she needs sex and men to make her feel whole and being alone makes her feel “useless.” In the first few episodes we saw the end of an engagement to a dude she loved to the start of a new dude who’s somewhat the male version of her.  In her relentless ability to try to find some sense of “quam” she’s drawn back to da dick.  Tune it to watch how she deals with her ex coming back in the picture and the new dude she’s f’ing.

4. Couple D: And probably one of the most disturbing couples to follow is a set of senior citizens whose sex life is better than all 3 of the other couples combined. The wife is actually the psychologist that the other couples go to for advice concerning their own relationship.  Though she is a psychologist, there are underlying issues that are affecting her own marriage.  Tune in to watch just what the hell im referring to.  It’s some freaky ass shyt. lol.

So there it is, check out the show. Sundays 9pm EST on HBO. Who else watches the show? What’re your thoughts? Do you think it’s straight up porn or do you think that the storyline calls for such graphic scenes?

~Thesis

New Reality Show: Kid Nation

On Sept. 19th, CBS aired a show called “Kid Nation” which brought together kids ranging 8-15 years of ages. These kids also live in various parts of the country from Massachusetts to Illinois to Georgia to Texas, etc…You have kids coming from various ethnicities and religious practices trying to create a hospitable and full-functioning town in the outskirts of Sante Fe, New Mexico.  These kids have 3 leaders who attempt to enforce rules and some level of order under minimal adult supervision. 

 The kids were initially set up in 4 groups: yellow, green, blue, and red.  In each episode, each group works together to try and win prizes and move up the “societal” ranks.  In each episode, the four town districts compete in a Showdown to determine their place in Bonanza. The first place finishers are awarded Upper-Class and are paid $1.00 in Buffalo nickels each, second place earns Merchant and $0.50 each, third place become the cooks, and are paid $0.25 for their work, while the last place finishers become the Laborers, and earn $0.10. If all of the districts complete the task within a given amount of time, the whole town wins a bonus prize. At the end of each episode a Gold Star is awarded by the Town Council to one deserving child.  The gold star is supposed to be worth $20K in its weight.

Anyway, this is a show that’s definitely part of my weekly line-up of shows to watch.  Who else watches it? What’re your thoughts of these kids trying to make a fully operational town? There has been some controversy about the show from some groups calling it child exploitation but for the most part, the kids were saying that nothing bad happened while on set that would cause any major alarm. Who’s your favorite kid?

~Thesis

What Are Your Guilty Pleasures in Music, Movies, TV, Video Games?

We all have our guilty entertainment pleasures in life. A lot of people would be kinda surprised to find the kind of things I love to watch and listen to. I call most of these things my guilty pleasures because a lot of them are just downright sleazy or shows that I’m obsessed with. So it makes me wonder…what’s lurking on your Tivo, in your IPOD, or in your DVD player that nobody would be able to guess? To break the ice…I’ll start off with my list.

 

Television:

I’m totally a reality tv junkie. And by reality tv that includes Maury Povich (who doesn’t love the suspense of paternity tests?), People’s Court, the Amazing Race, Big Brother,American Idol, America’s Next Top Model, pretty much any dating show, and prank shows like Boiling Points and Hell Date. I must also profess my love for game shows like Family Feud and my all time favorite Fear Factor.

On a much more productive note…right now I’m addicted to Flip That House, Property Ladder, and Sweat Equity. I love home improvement shows and the educational aspect of it. 

Finally, I loooove Law & Order and CSI. I can watch those shows all day long back to back…but I prefer the originals to all of the spinoffs.

Movies:

I love scary movies! I’m actually kind of a punk and a little squeemish when it comes to these movies, but I can’t help but love them anyway. I can’t stand dramas or sappy movies… bring on the gore, the suspense, and the action!

So HM readers…it’s your turn…what are your entertainment guilty pleasures? What shows, movies, or music do you love but wouldn’t want to admit to in the light of the day? What entertainment items are you obsessed with? Do any of my items make your list as well?

Posted by Reecie

I Love New York 2- Where All Dignity Is Lost

So…last night against my better judgement I tuned in to see the season premiere of the new season of I Love New York. They made some changes this season that I actually really liked…but overall I couldn’t help but think…what a bunch of losers! Then again you’d have to be a loser to go on a show like that so I don’t know why I was even mildly surprised.

First, we were introduced to people cast by VH1. Those folks were clearly cast to be the butt of all the jokes. Not that I have anything against little people…but did they really expect Midget Mac to be a credible contender for the #1 spot(well maybe it wasn’t such a stretch after all)? VH1 showed no mercy by positioning the diary room camera so that the only thing visible was the top of his face in his interviews. That’s just a low blow…or a high one! But I guess they are equal opportunity offenders on that network.