Almost everyone I know has an iPod. If you don't you should crawl back into your cave,sit down, and think about getting one.
A friend of mine came to visit a few weeks ago and introduced me to the Radio feature on Itunes. Believe me, this is a perfect alternative to advertisement filled radio stations. The streams are categorized by genre and include over 25 stations per genre. The greatest part of it all is... NO COMMERCIALS!!!! Don't worry, they are up to date on all the NEW NEW music and actually have old school stations if you're tired of todays pop culture.
*Just as an FYI, this is perfect for: Alt to Yahoo radio (which plays the same 6 songs over and over) Non stop commercial free music to play during cookouts, get-togethers, or Saturday morning cleaning Previewing songs before they air on main stream radio
25 years after Run DMC appeared on the front cover of Word Up Magazine, Joseph Simmons and Team Blackout will follow in their footsteps. The Queens/Long Island based group consisting of JoJo Simmons and his childhood friends Zach and Reggie have been rhyming together since the 7th grade. The trio officially decided to unite in 2003 after the 2-day power outage (blackout)affecting most states in the Northeastern US territory. Their first single Billion Dollar Boyfriend off their debut album Light's Out was released August 19, 2008. The entire album was produced by upcoming production duo Chris n Teeb, Grammy award winning producer Rockwilder and Ron Browz. Team Blackout became a recognizable group after being featured on the MTV reality series Run's House.
NOW for my 2 cents-- These youngins are doing BIG things. As mentioned above, the entire album was produced by up and comping producers not to mention the video for Billion Dollar Boyfriend was filmed by up and coming video producer Joe Cap, a recent graduate of Hofstra University. My advice, if you have a dream and a little bit of change in your pocket...GO FOR IT! These young gentlemen sure did. On the other hand, if your not a fan of the artificial-studio-instrumental sound DO NOT listen to the Imeem player below THIS IS NOT THE GROUP FOR YOU! lol After listening to a few tracks, I'm under the assumption one of the members sings the chorus & bridges and the other two rap. This is a perfect combination given the direction of the industry. Now-a-days you can't find a Hip-hop song without a featured artist singing on the hook. Sure they rap about girls, money, cars, chains, and all of the things us regular people don't have. Honestly, what else is there to write about at 18-20 years old? Would we really expect Rev Run's son Jojo to spit lines inciting the struggles of growing up impoverished....NO! And I'm almost willing to bet my next paycheck his fellow group members aren't strangers to middle class living (which is quite apparent in the single Why Wouldn't I) :o) I know privileged kids when I see em. Some of the songs bare an uncanny resemblance to Pretty Ricky singles which could prove to be a issue for the trio. In my opinion, Team Blackouts 3 members versus Pretty Ricky's 4 may help with marketability.
It may be extremely difficult to top Run DMC's legacy but Team Blackout has the essentials to give them a run (no pun intended) for their money. If we are going to compare lets look at a few Run DMC songs to make the Billboard charts.
Run DMC (please note only the singles peaking at #30 or below are included) It's Like That Peaked at #15 Hard Times Peaked at #11 Rock Box Peaked at #22 30 Days Peaked at #16 King Of Rock Peaked at #14 You Talk Too Much Peaked at #19 Can You Rock It Like This Peaked at #19 My Addidas Peaked at #5 Walk This Way (f/ Steven Tyler) Peaked at #8 You Be Illin' Peaked at #12 It's Tricky Peaked at #21 Run's Hous Peaked at 10 Mary, Mary Peaked at 29 What's It All About Peaked at #24 Down With The King Peaked at #9
I see Rappers weren't that big on callabos back in the day. We are all aware the industry has changed. Hip Hop has evolved from lyrically conscious raw material to beats and swag. I mean what can I say? Soulja Boy made this a reality. So let's break down the elements they have working both for and against them.
Team Blackout In house R&B singer Cable network (MTV) platform Russell Simmons's money :-D No street credibility Mostly studio produced/enhanced instrumentals Young chicks will dig them We all love the Simmons family
Run DMC In house DJ better known as Jam Master Jay None of Russell Simmons's money (he wasn't bankin back then) Street credibility Young chicks dug them
I'm certain I'm more excited about the group being a product of the Simmons family as opposed to them being new school Hip Hop pioneers. Well, what hasn't this family done? Angela & Vanessa have the Pastry Shoe line, JoJo & friends have recently formed a rap group, now all we need is Diggy and Russy to organize some type of variety show/circus act. Watching those two is comparable to a Barnum & Bailey experience. Might I add they are quite entertaining and adorable. In the end, Team Blackout gets a 3 star rating. One for each member of the group!
New Beyonce Album Arriving In November September 09, 2008 , 10:45 AM Copied directly from Billboard.com Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Beyonce Knowles's third solo album will be released Nov. 18 via Music World Music/Columbia, and will be preceded Oct. 7 by the radio release of the singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies."Beyonce co-wrote or co-produced all the material, which the label says comprises "her most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to-date."
Justin Timberlake will also appear on the as-yet-untitled project, but additional details about his contributions have not been released.The artists teamed up to cover the Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell classic "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" last Friday at the Fashion Rocks event at New York's Radio City Music Hall.Producer Jim Jonsin, the man behind Lil Wayne's "Lollipop," has also logged studio time with Beyonce on the track "Beautiful Nightmare," which leaked online earlier this year. It is unknown if the song will make the final track list.
The new album is the follow-up to 2006's "B-Day," which has sold 3.2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Knowles is also gearing up for two upcoming film projects. She stars as blues legend Etta James in "Cadillac Records," a release date for which has yet to be announced, and as the wife of a stalking target in "Obsessed," due Feb. 27.
I was out to lunch at Karen's organic food shop, when I bumped into Chrisette Michele. I was actually sitting having lunch with my coworker (hey Flora)and we both noticed the diva-like beauty with the long honey brown hair and fierce white blazer. (I've been watching too much America's Next Top Model and as a result have been reduced to using the word FIERCE) I have extremely keen visual sensors when it comes to celebrity sightings. One day, me and a friend spotted Rihanna from 3 miles away while shopping in Soho :) Anyway, Flora had no idea who Chrisette was nor was she familiar with any of her music. So, of course I had to break it down and give her the 411. And it goes a little something like this:
Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B singer on the Def Jam Recordings record label. (Wikipedia) Payne has been nominated for BET, Image, Grammy, and Vibe Music Awards since her debut album I Am. The budding R&B songstress has had 8 Billboard hits, both as a featured and solo artist as well as guest star apperances on the CW's Girlfriends.
lol Of course I didn't know all of this information when I was explaining things to Flora, but hey it captivates the moment and provides great visual imagery and detail for blogging purposes. As a tribute to my celeb sighting of the day, here are a few Crisette Michelle songs iLike. I still prefer J. Sullivan over C. Michele. Enjoy some of her music below!
September 05, 2008 , 12:00 AM ET Copied directly from Billboard.com
Hillary Crosley, N.Y. In addition to crafting tracks for Jay-Z's upcoming album, "Blueprint III," Kanye West is plotting the release of his own as-yet-untitled Def Jam album, according to his management.
West initially named his fourth album "Good Ass Job" several years ago, to follow the thread of "College Dropout," "Late Registration" and "Graduation," however, an official title has yet to be confirmed.
Still, the disc may well hit shelves in the fourth quarter and management says West is seriously contemplating that timeline. Most recently, the MC has been performing a new track called "Love Lockdown," which is rumored to be his first single and to be hitting iTunes in a matter of days.
There's speculation West will perform the song Sunday (Sept. 7) on the MTV Video Music Awards, to which he was added today.
"Graduation," released in September 2007, has sold 2.2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Yesterday artist Jimm Lasser opened his exhibition in New York, with Obama being the theme of the exhibition. The Obama Force One is one of the most interesting pieces exhibited. The Air Force 1 got a make-over by the artist with graphics engraved into the outer sole. From: www.highsnobiety.com After a week full of hypocrasy at the RNC I thought this was a nice little refresher. Kinda hot right? This is crazy creative. Think of all the things that can be done if you take the time out to get in touch with your inner creativity. YES WE CAN!!! Obama Biden '08
One of the keys to guaranteeing a fantastic day is to make an intention upon awakening that something wonderful and beautiful is going to happen to you today. Once you set this intention you need only "expect" it to happen and then remain aware of what is going on in your life. Something wonderful and beautiful will happen, it is guaranteed, but you must recognize it when it happens. Be open to everything and see the beauty in life.
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