...hate to keep telling you to "buy it" but there happens to be a bunch of really good records coming out as of late.  I'll feature many of them soon(Vivien Girls, Hercules and Love Affair, etc) but I just want to say, there is no safer bet this season than the new TV on the Radio album.  After listening to it a lot I came away thinking these are the only guys of the last ten years who can creatively match a band like Radiohead - hell they took the Radiohead post rock sound and turned it into futuristic psychedelic funk.  This is an fan-tastic record.

Golden Age by TV on the Radio - also note that they just played this song on Jools Holland and there is a video of that performance floating around the interwebs.  Does this song remind anyone else of an old Michael Jackson dance song from back when he was still cool (and still black).

Don't Stop Till You Get Enough by Michael Jackson:

Kelly's company claimed that Rowe Entertainment and owner Leonard Rowe failed to pay him in full for shows scheduled for late last year and early 2008. An arbitrator agreed with Kelly's claims. Documents show Rowe disputed the arbitration, but did not offer any defense during a recent hearing.

An after-hours phone message left for Rowe's attorney in Atlanta was not returned Monday.

Kelly won three Grammys in 1997 for the song "I Believe I Can Fly," but is known for his sexually charged music. He was acquitted earlier this year of child pornography charges and is scheduled to release a new album before year's end.

Singer Ne-Yo recently won a $700,000 judgment against Rowe after he sued because he was dropped from Kelly's tour after only two shows.

I THINK THE OVERT SEXUALITY AND NAKEDNESS ON BOTH HE AND THE MOTELS PART SHOW THAT USHER REALLLLLLYYYYYY WANTS TO BE NUMBER ONE AGAIN. HE WANTS TO BE THE USHER THAT DID A MILLIE HIS FIRST WEEK IN 03 OR 04, THE USHER THAT WAS EVERYWHERE, THE USHER THAT WAS THE UNDISPUTED BEST HEIR TO MICHAELS CROWN. NOW THAT CROWN HAS MANY PROSPECTS, CHRIS BROWN BEING THE STRONGEST. WE THINK THAT IF USHER TONES IT DOWN, WORKS ON NOT SEEMING SO DESPERATE AND STARTS DANCING LIKE HE USED TO HE CAN OVERCOME HIS COMPETITORS AND RUN SH** AGAIN. TIME WILL TELL. AS OF NOW MARIAH CAREY AND LIL WAYNE HAVE THE TOP TWO ALBUMS OF 08, LIL WAYNE BEING NUMBER ONE WITH 2.5 MILLION COPIES. "HERE I STAND" IS NUMBER 9. COME HARDER USH...

...Just 4 albums I'm messin' with at the moment. A surprising amount of R&B actually!

Raphael Saadiq's "The Way I See It" has just become an instant classic in my eyes. No one can mess with this sh*t. Saadiq has outdone himself with this LP.

Jennifer Hudson's debut, I must say was a little disappointing. I'm still jammin' to it, but I was expecting a lil' more. Definitely some highlights in there however including "My Heart", "Pocketbook", "Can't Stop the Rain" & of course "Spotlight"

Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman" was pretty much the first Ne-Yo I was actually interested in. I wasn't really a follower, but "Closer" made me listen up. The album is pretty solid. A good long player. 

Jazmin Sullivan has caused some debate between a certain blogger and I haha! While we both totally agree Sullivan's vocals are not to be messed with, we kinda disagree with the album as a whole. Well, at least I think we do? I think "Fearless" could should have been much better than it is. I was hoping for more. Or maybe I was just expecting something different? But then having said all that, because her voice is so dope, I haven't actually stopped listening to it and admittedly, the more I listen, the more it's growing on me lol! Highlights include "Lions, Tigers & Bears", "Call Me Guilty", "Dream Big", "I Need U Bad" and my favourite cut "Bust Your Windows".

Madlib. I mean what could I possibly say? If you're a fan, you'll know. If you're not, it's not too late. While initially I wasn't 100% on this album, over the past couple weeks, it's really grown on me, to the point where it's the album I go to every time I reach for my iTunes or mp3 player. I gotta remind myself "there are other albums out, don't rinse this too hard" haha!"WLIB AM King Of The Wigflip" - get it.

UK folk, you'll know Alesha from Mis-Teeq (a British girl group) back in the day and from Strickly Come Dancing. US folk, you'll know this lady from her [pretty unforgettable] cameo as the lead girl in N*E*R*D's "She Wants To Move" video. Now we're all up to speed, check her latest single from her Warner/Atlantic deal...

Alesha Dixon - "Boy Does Nothing"

OK. I know I shouldn't like this and I don't think I do, but I have an annoying feeling that this song is gonna be like "Umbrella" in that everyone will 'hate' it but everyone will be singing it! It's a shame coz I really think Alesha has 'that thing', she just needs to make the right music i.e the more edgy R&B/Hip Hop style! She's buff, talented and people like her...Atlantic need to push her in the right direction me thinks!

...What do you think?

Peace, Love & Alesha Dixon

Speeakz

USHER'S MAY BE HITTIN A MAJOR CITY CLUB NEAR YOU IN PROMOTION OF HIS ALBUM "HERE I STAND".

Usher is hoping to get up close and personal with his female fans on a 14-date November club tour, which is being billed as "One Night Stand: Ladies Only."

A Jive spokesperson clarifies that although ladies may be the focus, men are welcome at the gigs, which begin Nov. 2 in Atlantic City, N.J., and run through Nov. 25 in Dallas.

Usher is touring in support of his latest album, "Here I Stand," the ninth best U.S. seller of the year at 1.029 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. A video for new single "Trading Places" is set to premiere this week.

source: billboard.com

WATCH GREATNESS UNFOLD TONIGHT AT 10PM

-Review coming shortly-

So I love the blues.

It's something ingrained in me. My brother is an obsessive blues guitarist and he's been listening to them since I was about five years old. For a long time I had a mild dis-interest. But that didn't mean I wasn't listening and enjoying.

Sometime in late college. It finally all clicked.

Thelonious Monk. BB King. Muddy Waters, Big Maceo, Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, Johnny Shines, Ma Rainey, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Professor Longhair, Albert King, Robert Nighthawk, Big Mama Thorton, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins, Roosevelt Skyes, Otis Rush, Julia Lee, and especially... my personal favorite...

Bobby "Blue" Bland

His blues stuff is incredible. Just incredible. I love his voice. All at once it's both gentle, yet aching. It's honest, yet serene. They even called him "the lion of the blues".

And one of the things I like about him in particular is his voice and style had sooooo much range. One reason why most people can't get into the blues is "it all sounds the same". It's not that dumb a comment cause it kind of does and all pretty much operates within the same note scales, but that never seems to be a problem with Bobby.

Nothing showed this off more when half way through his career he kind of adopted R&B and soul into his music.

Never was the soul experiment as successful as it was with "Ain't No Love In The Heart of the City". It's literally the best soul song I've ever heard (of the non-gospel-influenced-school) It was only a minor hit when it was released, but actually has gained an incredible amount of popularity do to a cover from WHITESNAKE and a JAY-Z sampling.

Anywho, in your infinite abilities, y'all should have no problem finding this amazing song.

Tim and April Lane, representing Atlanta, GA (rumor is there is two other videos of Tim and his brother, Stephen, doing two original duets!)

Tim Lane singing You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

Tim Lane sings Hirai Ken's Omoiga kasanaru

Tim Lane singing Dance with my father. A tribute to Luther Vandross

April Lane singing Take a Bow

Method Man – “Tical”

1. Tical
2. Biscuits
3. Bring The Pain
4. All I Need
5. What The Blood Clot
6. Meth vs. Chef feat. Raekwon
7. Sub Crazy
8. Release Yo’ Delf
9. P.L.O. Style
10. I Get My Thang In Action
11. Mr. Sandman
12. Stimulation
13. Method Man (Remix)
14. I’ll be there for you/ you’re All I Need to Get By feat. Mary J. Blige

All Production Courtesy of RZA

In 1994 Method Man released his debut album “Tical” and it took the Hip-Hop world by storm. We all remember how powerful Wu was at the time and how classic this album has become. Ben and I are here to break it down Brain Trust style peep. Italics = Ben (Son of the Right Hand) and Bold =JB (Brother Menelik)

Christina Milian is apparently trying to comeback. She's a strange one, she's always 'been around' but yet most people struggle to figure out what she's done? I kinda like her, but I'm just not a fan of her music thus far (with the exception of a few choice tracks). Anyways, check her latest single...

Christina Milian - "Us Around The World"

Lemme know what you're thinkin. I'm at the 9-5 10-6 at the moment.

Peace, Love & Christina Milian

Speeakz

P.s I wouldn't necessarily be lying if I said the reason for posting this was more about that picture than the new tune...wow.

I downloaded (legally, this time, actually...) the debut album from Brazillian artist CéU not really having any idea how much publicity the album has received since its release.  This album has it all: Grammy nominations and Starbucks promotion.  It seems as though people are big fans of this lady.  To be sure, she is quite the hottie biscotti.

This week, I was looking for something that I could listen to while studying that would be pleasurable but not distracting.  Under these circumstances, I might typically consider an instrumental hip-hop album but I found myself in the mood for something a little bit more unexpected.  I then started thinking along the lines of jazz and, once again, decided that it was just a bit too familiar.  Productive studying often involves sacrificing vocals in the music I'm listening to.  I wasn't up to making this sacrifice so I decided to look for something with non-English lyrics.  CéU's debut album showed up when looking for Brazillian music (and, since I was unaware of her popularity, I attributed this to coincidence).  Naturally, I listened to a few samples and decided that this album was just what I was looking for.

The album itself is a samba/R&B/Afro hybrid that unfolds to reveal a sustained sultry, urban, contemporary sound.  Standout tracks include "Lenda," "Rainha," and "Ave Cruz."  There is also a cover of Bob Marley's "Concrete Jungle." I can understand how this might be a more popular track, but I personally found that, upon listening to this album repeatedly, the track sort of stuck out and felt out of place.  And I suppose this track captures the problem I have with this album: I had some difficulty experiencing the album as one cohesive movement.  Of course, there is no denying that CéU's vocals are suburb, effortless, even.  However, I do think an album needs something more than a unified sense of style to hold it all together.  This is where it becomes obvious that this is a debut album and not, for example, a sophomore effort.  There is nothing easy about making a cohesive album, but once you hear it done and done properly, it becomes very difficult to gloss over an album where this quality is missing.  One day, I will write up something about J Dilla's Donuts. Donuts has just over 30 very musically distinct tracks and each one is barely longer than a minute, but somehow, J Dilla crafts it into a story.  Truly remarkable.

In any case, it is difficult for me to find fault per se in any one particular track on CéU's album and I would be lying if I were to tell you I was not romanced by her voice, musical influences, and her musical capabilities.  My quest in finding a great study album is over for the moment and, unknowingly, I have discovered a lovely make-out album (it's about time Portishead was retired from the make-out rotation).

4 handclaps.

En cuanto al post anterior de Tony Dize Se Vende, se ha dicho por ahí que es un track del disco La Mente Maestra de Nesty, espero y sea solo eso.

Estelle últimamente está muy cabreada.

El origen parece ser los premios MoBo (Music of Black Origin) donde la mayor parte de las artistas nominadas a mejores interpretes femeninas son de raza blanca. Siendo este un premio dedicado a la música de origen negro, a Estelle le parece una completa ironía que tuviera que competir con algunas artistas de la corriente pop comercial, que se han vendido al público como nuevas revelaciones en el mundo soul.

Estelle ha cargado contra el último "soul de ojos azules" que sale directamente de Reino Unido. Concretamente ha arremetido contra Duffy y Adele, con las que compartió premio a la mejor solista femenina. Pero este cabreo no viene sólo de aquí, ya que Estelle denuncia que en los medios de comunicación no se haya destacado ni un solo artista negro de soul, mientras que se está anunciando a bombo y platillo discos como el de Duffy.

De la música soul ha dicho,

"Como compositora, entiendo lo que hacen. Como persona negra, estoy como: ¿Me estáis diciendo a MÍ que esta es música? ¡Que les den! Siguen diciendo en los medios lo que la música soul es y cómo soy. Nosotros SABEMOS lo que la música soul es, parad de j******* Os estáis burlando de cada persona negra en el Reino Unido."

Estelle denuncia la forma en que las discográficas publican un disco y lo venden como el soul más actual, ignorando a otros artistas con mayor talento, con el fin simplemente de comercializar.Y eso incluye a veces vender lo que no es soul, como si lo fuera, de mano de jóvenes blancas sin ningún tipo de trayectoria.

La entrega de premios tendrá lugar el 15 de Octubre. Estelle optará a de momento está nominada a cinco premios: mejor canción (por American Boy), mejor artista femenina del Reino Unido, mejor R&B/Soul, mejor video y mejor album.

¿Te parecen las declaraciones de Estelle racistas?

RUMOR HAS IT THE CIARA'S NEXT ALBUM WILL FEATURE A 3 DISC SET. ONE R&B, ONE DANCE AND ONE HIPHOP WITH 50 APPEARING ON THE MAJORITY OF THE SONGZ. INTERESTING CONCEPT. I THINK SHE CAN PULL IT OFF.  THOUGH SHE DOESN'T NEED 50 TO SELL RECORDS SHE MAY NEED HIM TO HELP HER NOT GET HER SH** SLIT BY BEYONCE THIS WINTER...

Ah, yes. Retro Jam '08 w/  KRS-One, Rakim, Bobby Brown (yes, Crackhead Supreme), & my Favorite, Keith Sweat!

Big ups to my man Mike for hooking everything up!

So, I was a tad bit late, but it was ok.

Paul Anthony & Bowlegged Lou of Full Force hosted the show, & did a good job of it-- they certainly kept me entertained.

Ain't it always good to hear from them?

KRS One was 1st up, and of course, all the 'Real Hip Hop' Heads were in the house.  U know, people that look like:

But his message was positive as usual and always refreshing to hear.

Then Rakim, who appeared to be madd bent came on the stage. Now I was led to believe this because he didn't do much moving around the stage, but when he did,

Dat's my songg tho!!!

It was about that time when they found (Well, just Grandmaster Dee @ least)

Shall We Digress?

That was nice.

Then here comes the self-proclaimed King of R&B, Bobby Mothaf*ckin Brown. One word, many syllables:

Lmao.

He started off in a suit& baseball cap, but somehow made his way down to a half opened shirt.  I understood why he had the hat on though.  He proceeded to hump the floor in true Bobby Brown fashion.  This was only followed up by---what else? His kids dancing on stage. Gotta love Bobby.

When's the new season of Being Bobby Brown coming owt?

....And finally, thee Grand Finale,  Keith Sweat!!!

Chiiiiilllllle, Can't nooobody tell me nothin 'bout no Keith!

Now I am well aware of this man's age, but his smoothness (which is paralleled then surpassed by none other than Denzel Washington and  Barack Obama themselves) is undeniable.  He'll have his own post later. Trust me.

Now he wasn't on stage nearly long enough, but his finale was 'I Want Her'.  Ohhh, but he wasn't alone.  Not only did Bobby Brown, Bowlegged Lou, Paul Anthony and Rakim come back to the stage, (not to mention that lil' dude with his hair so slicked down it resembled), but so did this guy:

Flava Flav.  I can't hate him, I don't love him. This is confusing.

At any rate I had a fantastic time.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself- but I still think Keith Sweat's part coulda been a little bit a lot longer. However, It's always good to see the classics performed, done by the origionators!

Say Cheese!

Love,

Ms. Officer

A simple R&B song by Neyo, right? Yea, I thought so too. I thought it was an uplifting song, because it displayed a positive image of an ideal woman. But then I took it a step further and saw the bigger picture... what does it say about the quality of men that feel this way?

"There ain't nothing more sexy that want, but don't need me."

The question most men need to ask themselves is why would she want me, if she has her life together. It gives me the impression that most men want a women who works hard, has done most of the hard work of establishing their life, and just HOP RIGHT IN. Sure why not catch a FREE RIDE into success. Has today's man lost his drive to establish and provide for his future?

What type of man wants a woman that is completely self sufficient without him? If Neyo's ideal woman is capable of taking care of all her needs what exactly can he do for her?

If all men want is someone that can take care of themselves, why do most men feel uncomfortable, if their woman makes more money, has a better career, and beautiful? Sounds a little confusing doesn't it? This song is a vivid indicator of the lingering effects of slavery, leaving black women responsible for picking up the pieces.

The BREAKDOWN of the black family, due to slavery, not only demonstrates the resilience of black women, but has left many with a COMPLEX.

During slavery, as men were bought and sold, black families were torn apart, leaving the woman as the head of the household. Not much has changed in today's society because many of black women are single parents. So naturally, black women are used to stepping into a man's shoes, and being the sole provider.

Black women have yet to realize that TIMES have CHANGED, and it's ok to let a man stand in his rightful place; NOT behind her, NOT in front of her, but RIGHT BESIDE her.

Speaking as a black woman, I believe that if we would let go of our baggage, take the time out to realize where these feelings stem from, it would help explain why we feel the need to CONTROL everything.

In order to restore your soul, and develop a lasting relationship black women need to first break the chains of psychological slavery.

A black female who came from a hip hop group, who sung better than anyone and arguably rapped better than your favorite emcee, won 5 Grammys(nominated for 11), is married to and has 5 children with Rohan Marely, one of Bob Marely's sons. I mean this is stuff of fucking legend here. Never will this story be repeated. Did she immediately follow up to bank on her success? Nope. She has yet to record a true follow up. Since then she has literally been under the radar, staying reclusive and raising her kids.

I've never heard a better song about breakup and the heartache that goes along with it. What puts this song over the top, for me at least, is the "Can It Be All So Simple?" sample by The Wu Tang Clan. She even starts the song with the line "it could all be so simple", which I like to think is a definite nod of respect to the Staten Island collective.

"See I know what we've got to do. You let go...and I'll let go too. Cause no one's hurt me more than you, and no one ever will..."