B.o.B Gets Hip Hop On New Album

B.o.B has always been a rapper with more pop sensibilities than most. Only he can work with such mainstream artists such as Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Hayley Williams of Paramore and still keep the respect of the streets.
On Underground Luxury, B.o.B's third album he stays away from mainstream guest appearances. Aside from Chris Brown, T.I. and Priscilla Renea the guests are far more, well, underground. While  this is definitely his worst album, it's still a good record. Some of his solo songs blend together, but most of the songs are memorable.
The two best songs are the singles "John Doe" which features Priscilla Renea and "Headband" which features 2 Chainz. "John Doe" is by far the best song though. It features Renea singing a chorus of sadness playing John Doe's love interest While B.o.B  plays the addict.
"John Doe, I just want the John I know/ Once you put the drinks on hold/ Maybe you could come back home/ John Doe," Renea sings sadly during the chorus.
This is the best song and with a song this good it makes the other songs sound like filler. Most of the songs blend together and are broken up by the memorable songs like "Ready" which features Future, "Coastline," "Wide Open" which features Esther Dean and  "We Still In This Bitch" which features T.I. and Juicy J.
Without these songs the record would be nothing more than filler and background music. The problem is that B.o.B is that he works better with a guest appearance on the song. He works better with a Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj or Rivers Cuomo like on is first two albums. For his next record he would do good to have more guest appearances to help him hold his own.

Chrisette Michele Gets 'Better' On New Album

R&B singer Chrisette Michele released her fourth record Better this week and it's a great album. On her first two albums Michele had moments of greatness surrounded by filler tracks that all sounded similar. Then on her third record, 2010's Let Freedom Reign, her energy picked up and it was by far her best album.
Better picks up where she left off three years ago. From faster songs like "Be in Love" and "Let Me Win" to ballads like "You Mean That Much To Me," Michele is at her best here.
Stand out tracks include the second single "A Couple of Forevers" which is a gorgeous and downright adorable love song. Another song that stands out among the crowd is "Rich Hipster" which features rapper Wale. The song is all about hipster culture. This topic is explored more on "Can the Cool Be Loved?" which features Bilal and Dunson.
The title track is a great song about love making a person 'better.' Other highlights include the hopeful "Love Won't Leave Me Out" and the Priscilla Renea-penned "Snow." The latter having a hip hop sound to it.
While there are no bad songs on the record the interludes could just be gotten rid of. Also 2 Chainz all but ruins the first single "Charades."
Other than that the album is a great release and shows Michele's growth. Better solidifies Chrisette Michele as one of R&B 's best artists out now.

Chrisette Michele Wins On New Single

Soul songstress Chrisette Michele has pushed back her fourth studio album Better for a June release and she also released a new single off of it. Following "Better," "A Couple of Forevers" and "Charades" with 2 Chainz her fourth single "Let Me Win" is by far the best.
The single is all about playing the game of love. Michele has covered this also on "Goodbye Game" from her third album. The song is classic Michele and has no faults. It's a well played move in the game of love.
"This game is like a gamble/ Here's my heart to handle/ Need you to be gentle/ You should let me win," Michele sings during the chorus.
Michele shows vulnerability in this song. She is telling her lover that she needs help and most of all that she needs him.
The only issue with this single is that it sounds just like most of her previous material. Michele hasn't really grown any on this single. Artists can only make the same music over and over again before fans get tired. Hopefully the rest of Better won't sound the same. Better is out June 11. There are no videos for "Let Me Win" so here is "A Couple of Forevers."

Chrisette Michele releases two new singles

Chrisette Michele released her first single and title track off of her fourth album, Better. The song was very similar to the soulful sound of her first three albums. This week Michele released her single "A Couple of Forevers," which serves as the third single.
The song is a beautiful, soulful lovers anthem. Michele shows her vulnerable side, asking to be with her lover forever. It's a cliché love song, like most R&B music and yet it works. works. The song is sure to keep fans happy until Better comes out on April 30. Hopefully her album isn't simply lovey dovey songs about being happy. Michele shines on breakup jams like "Be OK," "Epiphany (I'm Leaving), and "I'm a Star." While this song is great, it's not going to make Michele the next Beyoncé, but that isn't what she wants. Michele has always stayed true to herself and she does that on this song.
Michele's second single released last week is the grown and sexy "Charades" which features a weird guest appearance by 2 Chainz. The song is a sexy song in which Michele is talking about how she can see that her new lover is playing games. 2 Chainz surprisingly doesn't mess up the song like he usually does.
If these songs are any inclination of what Better will sound like, we're in for a treat folks.