Tuesday, March 10, 2009 |
Atlanta native Terius “The Dream” Nash re-emerges with his sophomore offering ‘Love vs. Money.’ This go-around Dream attempts to further distance himself from his super-producer/ songwriter label and step into the major music star lane. 
Fueled by the lead single ‘Rockin that Thang,’ a track that sways so smoothly from side to side, your hips can’t help but follow suit. A certified club banger?…yes, but the good news is there’s more where that came from.
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Similar to his debut, Dream finds himself grappling with the parallels of love versus another equally powerful entity. Instead of “hate” this time it’s money. ‘Walking on the Moon’ featuring Kanye West is 80s style and disco inspired music, kin to the likes of Michael Jackson or Evelyn Champagne King (youngsters…if you’re lost ask your parents).
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009 |
It seems like forever since we first heard Ryan Leslie on “Diamond Girl” then became mildly interested in his relationship with Cassie. Finally after many push backs, his self-titled debut has been released. His first single wasn’t a smash hit but it seemed that the Harvard grad could only excel from there. 
Unfortunately, the ride is more of a one-note coast rather than any unexpected twists and turns.
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Leslie wafts in and out of his infatuation for this woman or the next from the neatly wrapped club bangers like “Addiction” to the adult contemporary drum-beats in “Quicksand.”
Honestly, I can’t help but wonder what is it about women that he is so in love with that makes him want to whisper but never actually shout.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009 |
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.”
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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.”
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008 |
R&B crooner Avant is back with his fifth album released on his new label, Capitol Records, which hit stores yesterday, December 9th.
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Avant acknowledges the singer’s established track record. He says, “I’ve proved my point. The album reflects who I am. I think one of the reasons I’ve been able to enjoy the kind of longevity I’ve had, is that I write songs that are about real-life situations.”
The album’s kick-off single, “♫ When It Hurts” is an impassioned and irresistible plea about the true meaning of unconditional love, produced by the Anonymous Entertainment team of Eric Dawkins and Tony Dixon.
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Monday, December 8, 2008 |
Brandy, who has been on hiatus for four years, is finally releasing her new album, Human on Tuesday, December 9th via Epic Records.
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Brandy has been a muse for two of the most amazing producers of our time, so when it was announced that she was making a splash back onto the scene with a new album, I was pleasantly surprised. Her first single, “♫ Right Here (Departed)” dropped in August and featured Brandy and her signature vocals, but I had to admit that I was a little concerned about the direction of the song and the overall album.
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Friday, November 21, 2008 |
Kanye West returns with his fourth studio album, 808s & HEARTBREAK on Monday, November 24th. The 10x Grammy Award® winning rapper, producer, (and now singer) takes listeners on a very different journey from his past albums and experiments with the ever popular auto-tune.
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While in Los Angeles last month, I attended the 808s & Heartbreak listening party and joined the star in the studio as he finalized the album. And I have to be honest, I was only feeling like 4 songs then. With almost every song on the radio using auto-tune, I asked myself why Kanye jumped on this particular bandwagon. However, after hearing the final version and finding his reasoning behind this sound, I would have to say this is a great overall album. Not Graduation great, but great nonetheless.
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Monday, November 17, 2008 |
Beyonce gets a little conceptual and reveals a little bit of both sides on her third studio album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, which hits stores and online tomorrow, November 18th.
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I Am… Sasha Fierce is probably some of Beyonce’s most impressive work to date. Much different from her previous releases, 2006’s B’Day or her acclaimed 2003 debut, Dangerously In Love, Beyonce explores uncharted territories, especially on the ballad-heavy, pop-driven I Am… side.
With the leaking of her first singles, “♫ If I Were A Boy” and “♫ Single Ladies,” bloggers, fans, stans and haters alike knew that it would be time for the Beyonce media blitz.
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