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.

Ciara Releases Her Best Album

Last week Ciara dropped her self-titled fifth album. The album is a bumping, sexy R&B album with lyrics that exude confidence and sex appeal.
From the album's opening, the breakup anthem "I'm Out" which features killer raps from Nicki Minaj to the closer "Body Party Remix" which features Future and B.O.B.
The album's sexy side is shown on cuts like the banger "Sophomore" and the album's best song "Read My Lips" and the first single "Body Party" and it's remix. The lyrics show speak of the singer's sexual prowess and brag about how hot her body is.
"Keep On Lookin'" is an answer to all of the haters out there trying to keep Ciara down. After two failed albums the press tore Ciara apart when she didn't match the success of her first two albums.
"I done told you haters to fuck off/ But I’m still such a lady," Ciara sings during the second verse.
"Where You Go" is a duet with Ciara's real life boyfriend Future. One of the few slower songs on the album, the song features lyrics about the two being there for each other and going wherever the other goes.
"Super Turnt Up" is a thumping, electro song with lyrics about being in love with somebody. The song "features" Ciara, meaning that she raps on the song. "DUI" is about getting freaky while driving. "I might have to pull over," Ciara sings.
"Livin' It Up" features another appearance by Nicki Minaj and is one of the album's best songs. The 80s inspired, synth-filled song is an ode to feeling good and getting through the bad times. The song is an ode to confidence and Minaj's rap only adds to the message. "Overdose" is another synthpop song about a great lover, we clearly know who Ciara is talking about. The disc then ends with the remix to the single "Body Party." The new version has a faster beat and raps from Future and B.O.B which only improve on the original.
Ciara is definitely a great album and it's Ciara's opus. It gets her back to the greatness of her debut and it shows the world that Ciara isn't done just yet.

Eve Returns With First Album In 11 Years

Rapper Eve hasn't released a new album since 2002's Eve-Olution. After being pushed back several times Lip Lock has finally surfaced. The album blows both male and female rappers out of the water. Eve has brought in the big guns in terms of collaborators on this album. Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship, Missy Elliott, Dawn Richard of Danity Kane fame, Snoop Dogg, Chrisette Michele and Pusha T all feature on the album as well as new or unknown artists such as Propain, Nacho, Miss Kitty and Juicy J get their moment to shine.
There are no bad songs from the uplifting first single "Make it Out this Town" which features Gabe Saporta to the future club anthem "All Night" which features Claude Kelly and Propain. Eve also shines on her solo songs where she can really brag. Promotional single "She Bad Bad," "Grind or Die" and "Forgive Me" are straight up bragging tracks. Eve gets clever with her raps. "My buzz stay strong/ Your buzz never started/ My albums are the shit/ Your career never farted," Eve raps on "Grind or Die." On the Missy Elliott and Nacho assisted track "Wanna Be" the three show haters who's boss. It's good to hear Elliott back on tracks, hopefully this means her album is going to be released soon. Newcomer Nacho holds her own next to two of raps best females.
The album's best two songs are the second single "Eve" which features Miss Kitty. The song is a dubstep-filled hip hop reggae song with just hints of Middle Eastern influences. The song is a reminder of the greatness that Eve is. The other highlight is "Keep Me From You" which features Dawn Richard. The hip-house track is a love song that could easily be on pop radio.
While the album closes with "Never Gone" which despite a great appearance from Chrisette Michele, seems out of place on the album. And the remix of "She Bad Bad" which features Pusha T and Juicy J just seems redundant and could have been another new song.
Despite these few flaws, Lip Lock is a great album and was definitely worth the 11 year wait. After hearing this album people will be saying "Nicki Minaj who?"

Top 10 albums of 2012

Being the first day of the new year it's hard to not look back at the last year in music. This year had some great albums.

10-The Strange Case of... by Halestorm.
The second album by hard rock band Halestorm featured a newer sound for the band. Their heavy songs got heavier and their softer songs got deeper. While there were Tons of rock anthems like "Daughters of Darkness" and "Mz. Hyde" the slower songs like "Break In" and "Beautiful With You" touched on a side of front woman Lzzy Hale that we didn't see on their debut. Not to mention that this album features their Grammy nominated single "Love Bites (So Do I)" which may be the band's best song ever and the song "Here's to Us" which was featured on Glee.
Key Tracks-"Love Bites (So Do I)," Beautiful With You," and "Rock Show."

9-Picture Show by Neon Trees
New wave alternative rockers Neon Trees topped themselves with their second album. Every song on the album is fantastic. From the rockers like "Hooray for Hollywood" to the dance songs like "Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night" to the ballads like "Close to You, this album had it all. While their debut was great this album is ten times better. The album featured the platinum hit "Everybody Talks" which went on to become the band's biggest single.
Key Tracks-"Everybody Talks," "Mad Love," "Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night)," "Close to You," Hooray for Hollywood," and "I Am The D.J."

8-Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj
Rapper Nicki Minaj released her second album a little over a year after her debut and the album was more experimental than her first. The album features club tracks ("Starships," "Beautiful Sinner") hip hop anthems ("Beez in the Trap," "Come on a Cone") and some slower songs about heartbreak "Marilyn Monroe," "Fire Burns") and Minaj pulls them all off. The songs on the album mixed many genres together like pop-rock, R&B, dance, house, dubstep, reggae and of course hip hop. The album featured the hits "Starships" and "Pound the Alarm."
Key Tracks-"Roman Holiday," "Beez in the Trap," "Starships," "Pound the Alarm," "Marilyn Monroe," "Fire Burns," and "Stupid Hoe."

7-Electra Heart by Marina and the Diamonds
Indie pop singer Marina and the Diamonds tried new things on her sophomore album. Firstly she went for a more mainstream sound. This disc features traces of dance, pop and rock music. She also co-wrote her songs on this record. The result may not always be good ("Valley of the Dolls," "Hypocrites") but for the most part the album is amazing. From bouncy songs "Bubblegum Bitch" and "How to be a Heartbreaker" to emotional ballads like "Lies" and "Starring Role," this album has it all.
Key Tracks-"Bubblegum Bitch," "Lies," "Staring Role," "Power & Control," "Sex Yeah," "How to be a Heartbreaker" and "Radioactive.

6-Covered by Macy Gray
Macy Gray's sixth album contains covers of songs and a few silly skits. If you ignore the skits then the album has nine great covers and one that isn't all that great. Gray brings her crazy brand of soul to songs such as "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs or "Sail" by Awolnation. She also rewrote the My Chemical Romance hit "Teenagers." The song is now about the struggle of raising teenagers.
Key Tracks-"Here Comes the Rain Again," "Creep," "Teenagers," "Sail," :Maps," and "Bubbly."

5-Warrior by Ke$ha
Ke$ha's sophomore album shows that the popstar can grow from simply singing about clubbing. Some of her best songs on her last album and EP were her ballads and on this album she brings out the ballads. "Past Lives" and "Love Into the Light" are packed with emotion. The album also features more guitars and a more rock oriented approach. The best rockers on this album are "Only Wanna Dance With You" and the album's best song "Thinking of You." The later being a breakup anthem about moving on from a cheating boyfriend.
Key Tracks-"Warrior," "C'mon," Thinking of You," "Crazy Kids," "Only Wanna Dance With You," and the deluxe edition bonus tracks "Last Goodbye" and "Past Lives."

4-Red by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has always ridden the line between country and pop and on her fourth album Red she really weaves the two together. She also mixes in rock, dubstep and electropop influences into her sound this time for a great new sound. From her love songs like "State of Grace" to her bitter breakup jams like "I Knew You Were Trouble." and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" Swift always writes from the heart. Swift's new style seems to be paying off. Red sold one million copies in it's first week of release.
Key Tracks-"State of Grace," "Red," I Knew You Were Trouble," "22," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "Stay Stay Stay," "Everything Has Changed," Starlight," and "Begin Again."

3-Born to Die by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey released her major label debut in 2012 but she's been making music for years. On her debut Del Rey mixes in many styles like baroque pop, sadcore, alternative hip hop, indie pop and trip hop. One of the things that make Del Rey stand out is her songwriting style. Songs like "Video Games" and "Diet Mountain Dew" showcase her strange way of telling a story. Her unique voice is also what is so great about her. While she has many haters Del Rey is clearly the breakout star of 2012 and with a new album in the works she won't be slowing down anytime soon. 
Key Tracks-"Born to Die,"  "Video Games," "Diet Mountain Dew," "National Anthem," "Dark Paradise," "Summertime Sadness" and "This is What Makes Us Girls."

2-Push and Shove by No Doubt
No Doubt's sixth studio may not be their best album, it doesn't have the spunk and attitude of their previous albums and it isn't as catchy as their other music but that being said it's still a great album. Every song on the album is good and even though a lot of the songs may have the same new wave sound, they are still strong songs. The best song on the album is the title track. It mixes in reggae and ska with alternative rock to form a fun, catchy song. "Push and Shove" is definitely the best song on the record and it is one of the band's best songs. The rest of the songs are a mature look at relationships. Hopefully the band will get back into the swing of things and get back to their former greatness. While Push and Shove is a great album and is worth the 11 year wait that it took the band to record this record.
Key Tracks-All of them

1-The Truth About Love by P!nk
P!nk's sixth record is by far her best. This is the first record of hers to not have a bad song on it. This album is coherent and gets back the spark that was missing on her last record Funhouse and the songs on her greatest hits album. P!nk's strong points has always been her fast-paced rock songs. From party songs like "Walk of Shame" and "Slut Like You" to breakup songs like "How Come You're Not Here" P!nk is always at her best while banging her head. She also packs in the emotional songs on this song. Great ballads like "Try" and "The Great Escape" really tug at the heartstrings. P!nk's voice and songwriting have always been great but on this album they're much improved.
Key Tracks-"Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," "Try," "Just Give Me a Reason," "True Love," "How Come You're Not Here," "Slut Like You," "Walk of Shame" and "Here Comes the Weekend."

Alicia Keys regains her footing on new album

Alicia Keys had three great albums at the beginning of her career, but in 2009 she released the disappointing "Element of Freedom." While a few songs were good, they just weren't up there with Key's other albums.
In September she released the buzz single "New Day" and the first single and title track of her fifth album "Girl on Fire." Both these hip hop laced soul songs were a sign that Key's was back to her prime. While the last few songs on the album are a tad boring the other songs make up for it.
The best songs on the album are the title track, the inferno remix is featured here which features Nicki Minaj. Minaj does her signature crazy on her raps. The two make a great duet on this track. Another highlight is "Tears Always Win." This soulful ballad was written with  Bruno Mars and talks about Key's missing her lover while he's away.
The piano ballads "Not Even the King" and "Brand New Me" find Keys returning to her early roots. Other highlights include "New Day," "When it's All Over" and "That's When I Knew" which features acoustic guitar, a change for Keys. While there are songs aren't as great.
The two closing songs "One Thing" and "101" are nothing special and the weird reggae inspired "Limitedless" is fun yet odd. Even with these mishaps Keys created a great album. She said that she was inspired by her marriage to hip hop producer Swizz Beatz and the birth of her first child. While most artists mellow out on their albums after finding love, Keys shows no signs of doing that. Hopefully she won't regress back to her was of three years ago and she'll continue on this path to greatness.

Take a breather Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj released her debut album Pink Friday in 2010. Then in 2012 Minaj released her amazing Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Just a little under a year and a half later. Both albums were instant classics and Minaj became a household name. She ever earned a place as an American Idol judge.
In November, seven months after her second album came out, Minaj released a rerelease of that album called The Re-Up. While Roman Reloaded was amazing, only one of the eight songs on the EP come close to that level of amazing. Songs like "I Endorse These Strippers" which features Tyga and Brinx and "Up in Flames." are fun, but they don't hold a candle to half the songs on the original release of the album.
"I'm Legit" featuring Ciara and "Freedom" are both great songs. But songs like "High School" featuring Lil' Wayne and "Hell Yeah" featuring Parker are okay, they're not "Starships," Marilyn Monroe" or "Roman Holiday."
The best song on the album is "The Boys" which features washed up singer Cassie. The song is based off of a Cassie demo called "Money on Love." The song mixes rap, R&B, electropop and folk rock into a crazy song that is just as good and out there as anything Minaj has ever done.
The eighth song is the single "Va Va Voom," which was already featured on the deluxe version of the original album. The inclusion of that song feels like robbery.
With Minaj planning to release her third album in May of 2013, tentatively titled Pink Friday: The Pinkprint, Minaj is showing no signs of slowing down. While the album will probably be amazing, I for one am kind of getting tired of Nicki Minaj.

Alicia Keys is on fire with new single

Alicia Keys released her soulful new single "Girl On Fire" last week, the title track from her fifth album. The song has R&B flavor mixed with hip hop thump and is the best thing Keys has released since her single "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" from her disappointing last album.
The song, whose "Inferno Remix" features Nicki Minaj is all about being strong. "This girl is on fire," Keys sings passionately during the chorus. She clearly isn't going to take any crap from anybody. The inclusion of another strong female, Minaj, adds strength to this ladies anthem.
Keys stated that the song was inspired by giving birth to her son and her marriage. The song is epic and anthemic and shows that Keys is back and better than ever.
Her latest album, The Element of Freedom. That album was boring and didn't have the kick that her other albums had. It lacked the energy and passion that Keys is known for. This song and her single "New Day" are sure to get fans excited for her next album, due out in November.

Madonna's new album doesn't get the credit that it deserves

Madonna released her twelfth studio album, MDNA at the end of last month and it has been getting bad press ever since. The album has gotten decent reviews but the album hasn't been selling that well. Despite the two singles not getting any radio airplay and there being very little promotion. Her album debuted at the number one spot and it is now still sitting pretty at the number eight spot on the Billboard album chart. The album dropped 86.7% in it's second week. The album beat out the record previously set by Lady Gaga with her second album Born This Way which dropped 84.28% just last year.
MDNA may not be Madonna's greatest album but it's fucking fantastic, especially when looking back at her last album Hard Candy. The album featured Timbaland production and wasn't too memorable. While MDNA is not Ray of Light, it still is her best album since 2006's Confessions on a Dancefloor.
MDNA is however an enjoyable release. From the in your face attitude of "I Don't Give A..." which features Nicki Minaj to the soaring ballad "Falling Free" the album doesn't have a truly horrible song. Some highlights include "Gang Bang" which is a dark dance song about shoot her lover in the head, complete with lots of crazy whispering and a dubstep breakdown, this song is like an old school Madonna song mixed with new pop music. Other highlights include the "Beautiful Stranger" flashback of "I'm A Sinner" to the catchy dance breakdowns of "I"m Addicted," to the Golden Globe winning song "Masterpiece." This album is by far one of the best albums of the year and should be getting more attention. While the airwaves are taken over by musicians that can't hold a candle to the legend that is Madonna. This album needs to get the credit that is due to it.

Nicki Minaj's "Marilyn Monroe" vs. Fefe Dobson's "Stuttering"

Nicki Minaj released her amazing sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman's Revenge,  at the beginning of the month and one of the greatest songs on it was "Marilyn Monroe," a Rihanna inspired R&B song pleading with her lover to take her as she is. "If you can't handle my worst, you ain't gettin' my best. Is this how Marilyn Monroe felt?" Minaj croons over the soulful, rock tinged track. The song shows a different side of the rapper that has only been seen in a few songs on her debut album, Pink Friday.
Upon first listen it becomes apparent that the melody and instrumentals were ripped from Fefe Dobson's 2010 single "Stuttering" off of her second album Joy. Both songs have practically the same piano intro in addition to similar guitars and even the same melody. This is not either singer's fault, both singers wrote their respective songs, but both songs are produced and co written by J.R. Rotem. Rotem has worked with many musicians including Lil' Kim, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. While most pop singers write their own songs, they are more often than not working with co writters and producers. Despite this, both songs are fantastic, "Marilyn Monroe" is by far one of the best songs off of her album and of the year. Below are videos for each song.

Where in outer space is the new video for "Starships?"

Nicki Minaj needs to post a video for "Starships." After releasing her single, "Beez In The Trap," in the beginning of April and it already has a music video, which is lame. However her single "Starships," has been getting heavy airplay since February and it hasn't had a video. It needs to be shot. Nicki can make videos for buzz singles but not for the actual single? That makes no sense and with Nicki' crazy self this video could be fantastic, just like the song. While Minaj stated that she has shot a video it has yet to be released. Here is the video for "Beez In The Trap."

New Nicki MInaj album, best thing ever?

Nicki Minaj came out with her second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. This album is great from start to finish. From the song she scared us all with at the Grammy's, "Roman Holiday" to the Rihannaesque ballad "Marilyn Monroe" to the future gangsta rap classic "Beez in the Trap," there are no bad songs on this record.
After her single "Starships" was released in February fans have been crying sellout but since it's been tearing up the charts, Minaj could have a huge album on her hands.
Like "Starships," most of the record has a dance-pop vibe. Her club songs sound like Lil' Kim covering Jessie J... and that isn't a bad thing. The album is a fun summer record that will have anybody singing along. While some of the songs can be a bit rediculous, they're all still enjoyable. "South Africa is where I come from. Give me my banjo, give me my drum," Minaj raps in the beginning of her song "Beautiful Sinner." While sometimes her choices are weird, she is still successful at putting out a quality album. This album will have us all dancing for years to come. While Reloaded is not an instant hip hop classic, the album has Minaj going in the right, crazy direction and I for one am ready to follow.