They’re no Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls, but the fearsome foursome known as Electrik Red is ready to stake their claim on the debut album, How to Be A Lady: Volume 1. And the girls aren’t leaving any stones unturned.
Electrik Red was Shakir Stewart’s last baby over at Def Jam before his untimely death, but the girls have been together since Usher’s Confessions era, when Binkie Reevey, Sarah Rosete, Naomi Allen and Lesley Lewis met up as dancers on his 2004 tour. Binkie and Lesley asked Sarah if she wanted to be a part of their girl group. She agreed to join, and requested that they meet with her best friend, Naomi, who they “fell in love with.” Thus, Electrik Red was born.
Still in grind mode, the girls continued their careers as dancers to pay the bills and make the rent, appearing individually in videos for Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Chris Brown, just to name a few. The girls got their big break after being cast in The Dream’s “Shawty Is A 10!” video, where Shakir Stewart organized a meeting for the girls to meet with LA Reid. Reid signed Electrik Red with Def Jam and linked the girls up with dynamic duo, Tricky Stewart and The Dream to collaborate on their debut album, How to Be A Lady: Volume 1.
The girls say that the album title “plays on the stereotype of what a lady is supposed to be, how she is supposed to act and what she is supposed to say.” And it does just that. They tested the boundaries of what “classy” ladies are supposed to be on their debut single, “♫ Drink In My Cup” but really saw the feedback and success that they were looking for on the slinky, sexy synth ballad, “♫ So Good.”
Lady is a pretty straight forward effort. The Dream, Tricky Stewart and the girls have a clear chemistry. The production duo understands the girls’ vision, and they understand that you need a certain swag to really carry off these tracks, pulling inspiration from Vanity 6, Apollonia and Rick James’s Mary Jane Girls. Channeling everything that is mysterious, raw and risque, the girls ooze sex and femininity throughout the immaculately produced debut.
Highlights from the album including the single, “So Good,” as well as the album’s opener, “Muah,” where the girls coo with an uber confidence (“Shawty, I’m the shit with this shit… mmmm, muah!“), as well as the intoxicatingly sensual “Bed Rest.” The Dream lends the Toronto and New York natives his Atlanta swag on the outlandishly banjee “On Point” and “P Is For Power,” which is slated to be the next single.
Make sure you pick up your copy of Electrik Red’s album, How to Be A Lady: Volume 1, in stores and online today, May 26th!
FIRST! I love this group! I did a review on them a few months back, and I heard the vanity 6 and appolonia influence as well! Noami’s voice reminds me of Kelis too!! Great group and something new! check out my review @ http://www.campus-rockstar.com/billboard
Definitely different.
Different for sure, but not in the way they would like me to think :-/
it was way better than i expected..its worth buying.
i honestly was expecting a LOT more from these girls and from what i’ve heard, they have fallen short. Fine they can harmonise but there is not one song on this album that i instantly fell in love with.
Maybe a couple more listens…..
OH I LOVE THIS GROUP….such and 80′s feel to them….love it…and oh yes I will be getting a copy of it…TRUST!!!
THE ALBUM IS FIYAH!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU HAVENT HEARD IT YET, THEN YOU’RE IN FOR A SURPIRSE.
THESE CHICKS ARE EVERYTHING & MORE!
IF YOU LOVE VANITY 6 MIXED WITH KELIS, THEN YOU’LL SURE LOVE THIS GROUP. I PROMISE!
i have to say for me, they have fallen way short on the vocals. i really don’t know what they are capable of apart from harmonising which everyone can do. like #5, i think this is where they lost me. hope to see that on the next album ladies
they were Ciara’s back up dancers in the Like A boy video.
‘fearsome foursome’ – Brian trying to be clever and failing miserably.
I love the album and they kinda have a “Vanity 6″ feel to them.
& Devotion and P is for Power are my songs!
I like the song “So Good” with Weezy. All the girls in this group are beautiful. They seem to be the down-to-earth/girl next door type.
THEIR DEBUT IS THE SHIT!!! ON POINT IS MUH JAM..AND 9 TO 5
Yeah, they remind me of Vanity negative 6. I’m sorry but none of these songs do it for me. The production sound so simple and repetitive (uhmmm…like the Dream) which is not a good thing. Prince and Rick James (R.I.P.), in their prime, were creative and brought something different to the table with their proteges. Too bad it can’t be said the same for da Dream.
I’ma still purchase, I mean, it’s only 7.99 and worth taking a chance on. I heard a few tracks, they were okay to me, nothing to write home about.
WTF?!?! Hot garbage…pretty though, but they have NO TALENT
They remind me of the Mary Lame Girls, if you ask me. 4got to mentioned that in previous post. Ok, I’m done.
Sophia Fresh is better
I wanna hear some acapellas from them because you know anyone can sing something simple and all their songs are just that. I do like Devotion and P is for Power.
I really do want to hear how they sound by themselves instead of hearing MOSTLY Naomi on every track.
just wondering if cl got paid to make this girls your wallpaper and feature their songs like that. that surely is some intensive promo!
Yeah I’m sorry but I’m tired of the group catering to Naomi on every track…Lets be real she can’t even sing, it sounds like she whispering on every song…Kelis called and she wants her voice back
love these girls goin to cop like 6 cds…foreal WORLD DOMINATION
I LOOOOOOOVEEEEEEE ELECTRIK RED!
Like before I wasn’t too serious about them, like their singles are good but let me give their album a try because it seems thats always a big fail with a lot of groups. But I can honestly say I friggin LOVE this album. Its hot all the way through. I never really buy CD’s … but I gotta have this one. Freals!
I respect how Sarah proves that just because you’re a single mom doesn’t mean you have to give up pursuing career in entertainment. Go Sarah!
u know what..im going to support this group and buy the album. not that I have money to waste right now..but the songs posted thus far are ride-in-the-whip ready..and what the heck..I love hearing something new and fresh. I get tired of the same ol same ol Ciara, Ri.Ri, Beyonce, ..this is new fresh shit.
Like someone said, the album is only $7.99. Where did you see that price –@Target? I wasted 7.99 on some wack McDonalds the other day..all of you should just support the group
wow DEF JAM is all over this board, I see those interns are hard at work
stop with the vanity 6 and appolonia 6 comparisons, you guys are so off, these chicks are ghetto and the albums sound is all over the place
mediocre at best, I’d take pussy cat dolls over this group any day, those are real dancers and at least the lead singer can really blow
Love that Prince sounding joint they have, reminds me of some Vanity/Apalonia 6 ish. This is probably a prelude to what Christina’s album will sound like. The last Dream album was R-Kelly’d out (yea that nigga was on Kellz nuts something tuff : ), but it was a good album none the less. So Tricky, Dream and the boy LOS (who’s a far superior producer to Tricky) proved that they can make a good album full of material. Hopefully this sounds good also.
Oh yea I hope Dave Pensado and his partner mixed this joint, They have the best and most interesting mixing going on in music today. Period
woot-woot!!
there album is finally out after 3 delays
they are really good
9 out of 10 for this album
and people shouldnt compare em to the pussycat dolls
pussycat dolls, nicole is the only one that sings
nicole even sings the freakin back up vocals!
electrik red ladies sing the background and chorus
and each girl has a track jus for them
binkie has on point
lesley has we fuck you
and sarah almost has p is for power. she has teo verses on that song but shares it with naomi
i love these girls and hope there albums does good
imma go cop my copy
are you?
@NONAME
I hear you fam, the interns are busy this morning ! LOL And would you really want to be compared to Apalonia and Vanity 6.. I mean take away the Jaime Starr tracks, and back round vocals and what do you have ? Jump offs and bust downs. I’d like to check this album out though.
Da Album Iz Blazin!!!!!!!
Muah, Devotion, Go Shawty & Of Course Drink N My Cup Iz My Shiiii!
Good Look Yo!!!
YO THESE GURLS ARE FUNNY ASS HELL…YALL GOTTA WATCH THEY YOUTUBE VIDEOS !!!
cute girls but they not goin make it sorry. they have no voice/vocals. sellin just ass aint it no more (chris milian, ciara, cassie, trina, etc), u have to have real talent to back it up.
cute girls but they not goin make it sorry. they have no voice/vocals. sellin just ass aint it no more (chris milian, ciara, cassie, trina, etc), u have to have real talent to back it up.
the album sucked to me idk i thought they would do better. they’re all very pretty though. it’s like en vogue. everyone was equally hot in that group too lol
RichGirl all day!!! Youtube Richgirl “He aint with me now” and “somewhere over the rainbow” Their vocals shit all over Elektric Red. I like ER style though but they should have stayed dancers.
I’m listening to the album now…and it’s kind of making my ears hurt. I usually like most of the stuff Dream works on, but this just isn’t working. I understand they are pretty girls, but I just don’t see what all the hype is about.
I actually bought the album….it’s not too good. But I really didn’t expect it to be. I jus don’t think they sing. Sorry
Really well written review Brian!
The album is an elecktrik mess, mediocre at best. Aside from 2-3 tracks, the production is tacky(not in a good way), as are the lyrics. Redzone, what were you thinking!? Should have gotten some more writers/producers on the project.
This will definitely by their first and last release through Def Jam. In a few years you’ll probably find the album in the $2.99 bargain bin at Wal-mart.
These girls are something different from what is out now.If you can’t see it then your blind. Stop comparing them to other female groups.Whoever put Ciara in a non talent list needs to shut the hell up.Ciara is one of the best dancers in this industry.She has sold 8 million records worldwide. How the hell can you put her the same with sentence with Christina Milian and Cassie? Smh Haters need some Jesus.
Sorry about the incorrect spelling in my title.
This album is fire! I am such a fan of these chicks and finally a girl group who can potentially do very well.
Maybe if they yelled and had seizures on stage then it would be accepted by the mass majority. This is their first album, give them a chance…….but I bet if your “girl” sang the same songs majority would think its the best thing since bread.
Judging by the fact that they chose to combine every trend in fashion for their album cover, I know I won’t be getting into them any time soon. It’s so trite.
SOOOOO GOOOD!!! This album is amazing!!! Each song has a different feel to it. It makes you feel good!!! Plz go out and support them and buy this album!!! It’s a hit!! Really it is!!! I LOVE IT!!
Album is just O.K. I couldn’t listen to the whole thing, played it while driving to NYC. I would give it a grade of C. Production is nice just sounds like DREAM with some females. Worth checking out tho. And Brian how can you go so easy on these girls but dog the hell out of other artists album reviews?????
Bullshit!
O yea I couldn’t take listening to it anymore, got to like track 5 or 6
i love them real talk…
heard both versions of so good and another song that i deleted that was garbage chances are they gonna flunk
@42 maybe because our “girl” can actually sing. Youtube these chicks singing so good live at a radio station. That shit is laughable. They cannot sing.
I am in love with this group…..they are a breath of fresh air….if you ask me.
You be the judge. CL please dont delete this very relevant post of mine Lol. Just gauge the reaction of the DJ’s lol.
Richgirl:
Skip to 1:16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3uMCgGGbeY
Electrik Red:
Skip to 2:18
http://www.youtube.com/wa...XyuMI&feature=related
I’m not going to lie..they are dope.
I’ve been bumping “DRINK IN MY CUP” for MONTHS now. “So Good” is also a good song.
But one of these heffas is a Tranny….I think its Naomi, she’s super butch.
They recorded this album in a week or two so you know I don’t think they put their effort to it.Only thing that will sale is their image.
EZ you know DJ be paying blogs to write a good review and plus they gave him the album to listen to.
Wow..
They have their whole album on their myspace! Why would they do that? That’s basically saying..”Don’t go out and spend $20 on my album, get it for free on our myspage page”..
LIMEWIRE HER I COME…LOL
From what I have heard they are just ok…nothing special and nothing new. Yawn on the lead vocals. I don’t expect an unbiased review of the album on this site considering that the backdrop is an electrik red advertisement.
I wish Richgirl had their producers that would be HOT.
vocals are horrible.
yes, they are different from everything out now, but that mess ain’t marketable either! Their music is filth. The dream knew better than this.
Richgirl is what’s hot!!!
And it ain’t even about comparing or them competing against each other. But if two girl groups come out at the same time with four members, they will be compared.
I love these girls! It’s about time we get something new other than this wholesome,boring pop like r&b we got now. The music game needed something edgy and raw! To the haters, fuck ya cuz Electrik Red is hot and gonna keep it moving!
I know “real music” is subjective, but now everything is so ghetto (this include Beyonce). I listened to 10 seconds of their song, and I don’t like it at all.