NEW MUSIC — Mya, Sweet XVI [EP]

220px-Mýa-1April 21, 1998 marked the debut of Mya’s self-titled debut album. In celebration of her 16 years in the biz she’s released a new EP and follow-up to her Valentine’s Day EP (With Love) titled Sweet XVI. Enjoy the sampler below  with the her full track and collab with Eric Bellinger, ‘Same Page.’

 

 

 

 

Single Review: Jennifer Hudson x Timbaland, ‘Walk It Out’

hudson-walk-it-outLet me say YES to a J. Hud track that I am actually LOVING! I have not been a fan of anything she’s released as of late and I was not planning to like this Timbaland assisted track. The last track she released, ‘I Can’t Describe (How I Feel)’, had me uninterested in her new project from the gate, but this new track she’s released has me wanting more.

The vibe of the track lyrically and musically is just perfection. I really like this for J. Hud and it’s a good direction for her to go in to try out different sounds and to not be tied down to ballads. I’m not going to say I don’t want to hear her singing about being happy, in love, etc. it’s just that sometimes the lyrics can be there, but the beat isn’t. Other times it’s vice versa. I just love the ENTIRE vibe of this track. Her throwing in a f bomb doesn’t hurt either. It’s the way it was done that makes it not so noticeable. I also hear a little Justin Timberlake in the background.

Absolutely love this track and I wouldn’t mind another J. Hud/Timbo collab if it’s going to sound like this. Will this hit the radio? It could with the right push. Only time will tell.

Check out the track below:

 

 

Solange x Erykah Badu x Ledisi Cover Essence

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I always knew that being 100% wholeheartedly me was going to pay off.

                              -Solange

 

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Beauty looks like encouragement, patience, acceptance, forgiveness, carefulness, and compassion. Beauty is spiritual and physical.

                         -Erykah Badu

 

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I started feeling beautiful because I came from beauty.

                         -Ledisi

NEW MUSIC — August Alsina x Rick Ross, ‘Benediction’

20140220-130213.jpgAs it leads up to his debut album release, R&B newcomer August Alsina, has teamed up with Rick Ross for the second single off his upcoming album, Testimony. The track is very heart felt and from the track listing I am interested in hearing the compilation that he’s bringing forth. He reminds me of a more raw Trey Songz (coincidentally they have ‘beef’) as far as song concepts. So far we’ve heard the ‘sex’ song, ‘struggle’ song and from the looks of the track listing maybe the makeup/breakup track.

Listen to ‘Benediction’ below as well as check out the official tracklisting. Testify in stores 4.22.14

Here’s the tracklisting for his album:

  1. ‘Testify’
  2. ‘Make It Home’ (feat. Jeezy)
  3. ‘Right Here’
  4. ‘You Deserve’
  5. ‘No Love’
  6. ‘Porn Star’
  7. ‘FML’ (feat. Pusha T)
  8. ‘Grind & Pay/Get Ya Money’ (feat. Fabolous)
  9. ‘Ghetto’ (feat. Yo Gotti)
  10. ‘Kissin’ On My Tattoos’
  11. ‘Ah Yeah’
  12. ‘Mama’
  13. ‘Benediction’ (feat. Rick Ross)
  14. *’I Luv This Shit’ (feat. Trinidad James)
  15. *’Numb’ (feat. B.o.B. & Yo Gotti)

NEW MUSIC — Marsha Ambrosius, FVCK & LOVE EP

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Marsha Ambrosius is giving fans a sneak peak of what to expect from her upcoming sophomore album, Lovers & Friends with her EP, FVCK & Love. She tweeted:

PARENTAL ADVISORY #FVCKANDLOVE Don’t come at me all crazy 9 Months from now!!!

Here’s the track listing:

  1. ‘So Good’
  2. ‘Take It’
  3. ‘Seduction Interlude’
  4. ‘Come’
  5. ’69’
  6. ‘Friends & Lovers’

Click here to download the EP

Then & Now Thursday (V.7) — Pharrell

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There’s no denying that Pharrell’s 20+ year career has taken on a new life. This past summer, his hits ‘Get Lucky’ and ‘Blurred Lines’ took him to another level. His track ‘Happy’ from the Despicable Me 2 Soundtrack has taken on a new life as well nearly a year after its initial release. So much life that the track has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song and has become his first solo track to top Billboard‘s Hot 100. On top of that Pharrell has hit the covers of GQ, Billboard, and has performed ‘Happy’ just about everywhere. So it’s safe to say that an album would be in the works while he’s still hot, and he’s doing just that. His second sophomore album, G I R L, is set to be released March 3rd and Pharrell claims this is his best work yet.

It all started back in 1992 when Pharrel wrote a verse for Teddy Riley for Wreck-N-Effect’s, ‘Rump Shaker.’ Around that time he and friend Chad Hugo teamed up with two others and formed an R&B group, The Neptunes. In 1994 he and Hugo took the production route and remained under the same name. Throughout the 90s the duo helped produce for Blackstreet (‘Tonight’s The Night’), Mase (‘Lookin’ At Me’), and N.O.R.E. (‘Superthug). Throughout that decade they really honed in on what would become the ‘Neptune sound’ and their first full feature production was Kelis’ first album, Kaleidoscope.

The new millennium did not slow down The Neptunes as they continued to grind and add artists to their rolodex. They went on to produce for Britney Spears, Nelly, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Madonna, Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, and dozens more.

The Clipse were the first artist signed to Star Trek Entertainment (Arista) and their debut album, Lord Willin, spawned hits ‘Grindin’ and ‘When The Last Time.’

During this time he did release an album overseas as part of N.E.R.D. and in 2003 released The Neptunes Presents…Clones which featured the hit, ‘Frontin” featuring Jay-Z.

That album coincided with his production on Jay-Z’s, The Black Album, having produced tracks ‘Change Clothes,’ and ‘Allure.’ His 2006 album, In My Mind spawned the hit ‘Number One’ featuring Kanye West. In his recent GQ interview he discussed his mindset at the time for the album and how it wasn’t his greatest work.

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I wrote those songs out of ego. Talking about the money I was making and the by-products of living that lifestyle. What was good about that? What’d you get out of it? There was no purpose. I was so under the wrong impression at that time.

Throughout his career Pharrell is best known for his music, but he’s also dibble dabbed in fashion with a clothing line of his own and recently has set a new trend with the Vivenne Westwood hat that has become his new trademark. He’s won 7 Grammys and with his new album G I R L he could add some more gold to his collection in 2015.

I instantly knew that the name of the albumwas called G I R L, and the reason why is because women and girls, for the most part, have just been so loyal to me and supported me. There is no breathing human being on this planet that did not benefit by a woman saying yes twice. Yes to make you, and yes to have you. Point-blank.

Enjoy the playlist below of Pharrell’s biggest hits.

Pharrell Tops Hot 100

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For the first time in his solo career, Pharrell has reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with his infectious track, ‘Happy.’ The song surpasses Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse.’ He becomes the second African American artist to top the Hot 100 since Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ in 2012.

This is Pharrell’s first time topping the Hot 100 as a solo artist, but he’s been at the top before with his features on ‘Blurred Lines’ (Robin Thicke), ‘Money Maker’ (Ludacris), and ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ (Snoop Dogg). He’s also co-produced two #1 tracks: ‘Hot In Herre’ (Nelly) and ‘Hollaback Girl’ (Gwen Stefani).

This is not Pharrell’s first time in the Hot 100 as a solo artist. His track, ‘Number One,’ reached #57 in 2006.