Two-time Grammy award winner and 16-time Grammy nominee INDIA.ARIE returns with her 4th career album, Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, marking the return of her signature brand of “acoustic soul.”
LISTEN UP:
India is back and thank goodness for those comfortably refreshing acoustics that we’ve grown to love. The new album is the medicinal offerings that seem to lift us up when we’re down and express the feelings we can’t seem to put into words. The up-beat seems island influenced as it gives thanks to the person in your life that takes care of you most. Not only will you love it, but it might make you pick up the special someone and just say “thanks.”
Continue
♫ Album Review: T-PAIN – THR33 RINGZ ♫
We all know that when it comes to making a radio hit, T-Pain seems to be the go-to guy these days. So it only makes sense that his third release “Thr33 Ringz” is a clever take on how he’s running the game.
LISTEN UP:
Although it’s hard to remember radio without auto-tone T-Pain deserves honorable mention for bringing it back to life—in a major way. “Thr33 Ringz” showcases T-Pain’s silly and somewhat versatile nature. Yes there are the obligatory club hits and dance tracks but he also tries his hand at rapping. He was after all a “rappa ternt sanga” when he first hit the scene so trading in voice distortion for raw rap lyricism seems natural.
Continue
♫ Album Review: JON B. – HELPLESS ROMANTIC ♫
Remember singer/songwriter Jon B.? Well after a long break, he released his 5th studio album, Helpless Romantic, today.
LISTEN UP:
Jon’s classic sophomore album, Cool Relax, put the singer on the map back in 1997. The album contained three of his biggest hits; “They Don’t Know,” “Are U Still Down” (ft. Tupac Shakur), and “I Do (Whatcha Say Boo),” and was hailed as one of the best R&B albums released that year; not to mention, was certified platinum.
A lot has changed in the R&B game since he took a break to get married have a child and just live life. With the addition of new prominent R&B players, Ne-Yo, John Legend, and of course Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake, you would think that he might be a little scared. But with his new release “Helpless Romantic” he proves that he still has it.
Continue
( By: Latifah Muhammad for CL )
Janet Jackson can do no wrong. Well at least in my book. After releasing her tenth album earlier this year (Discipline) she’s decided to give the fans a little bit more with the start of her first tour in seven years, Rock Witchu starting in September. Ms. Jackson spoke with Concrete Loop to give us the details on what we can expect from the tour.
“My true goal is to try at least do every single that I’ve ever had. So, I’ve got to figure out a way to fit this in two hours, and yet give them enough of each song so that they don’t feel hungry for more of that song in particular.” She said.
Discipline was released in February of this year, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, but is looking to be a mild success in term of units sold. In a time where everyone in the music industry sites the changing music market for less than stellar sales Janet revealed a rift between herself and her current record label Island/Def Jam. Continue
