KiD CuDi vs KiD CuDi

First of all I have been super busy but I am trying to get to back to posting. I apologize for waiting so long. Back to business... Ok so Cudi finally released the 2nd video for his single "The Pursuit of Happiness". This one is more conceptual and seems more "Cudi" (if there is such a thing. lol) to me. It also features the artist who are featured on the track, MGMT and Ratatat. You know it had to be great because I actually watched the whole video (Most I just scan through because they are boring). I posted the first video featuring Drake a while back but now I want to see what you think about the 2 videos. Which on do you think is better? Please vote above.


Part 1 f/Drake


Part 2 f/Ratatat & MGMT

New Video: Erykah & Wayne 'Jump Up In the Air'

This is the first single for the Dallas soul-singer Erykah Badu off her upcoming album New Amerykah pt.2: Return of the Ankh which drops March 30th (hopefully). At any rate, Lil Wayne does his thing on the track, no singing, just straight hip-hop. It took me a few listens, but now I am really feeling this song. Good party joint. What do you think about it?

2 New Jamz from Janelle Monae

Woo hoo!! Grammy-nominated artist Janelle Monae is coming back with a new album May 18th named, The ArchAndroid, but first she is dropping 2 singles for us. "Tightrope" is the official first single. It is featuring Mr. Sir Luscious Left Foot himself, Big Boi. It is an upbeat single with the wonderful vocals we have some to expect from Ms. Monae. The other track "Cold War" is still upbeat however, if you scratch beyond the surface you see the lyrics are deep. I didn't post these for free download because we need to support good music. Here is the website to download it.

V. V. Brown Free on iTunes

Wow iTunes has really been on it the last two weeks. First Nneka's "The Uncomfortable Truth" was offered last week, now this week London soul artist V. V. Brown is in the spotlight. I have known about her for some time because a blog I visit often (shoutout to TIRM), featured her some months ago and I fell in love with her cd "Traveling Like the Light". Right now I feel like so much American soul/r&b music has become generic and overly sexed. I now get my fill for soul from a lot of UK artist. If you share that sentiment, V. V. Brown may have something to offer you. At any rate be sure to hop over to iTunes and download her single "Shark In the Water" for FREE here. And you if you dig it go ahead and cop her cd for only $5.99 on iTunes!!! (Skip Mickey D's today and have some great music. lol)

Free Nneka on iTunes

I found a gem for free!! This week iTunes is featuring Nigerian-German hip-hop/soul singer and songwriter Nneka. As if offering her single for free wasn't enough iTunes is offering her cd "Concrete Jungle" for only $6.99!! That's highway robbery. iTunes says,

"The track's warm production sounds like something Kanye would concoct for Common, with horn flushes, warm tones, and clippity-clop drums. "The Uncomfortable Truth" is just one of the standout joints on Nneks's latest album, Concrete Jungle, which should resonate with fans of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.

The link to download it is here. Enjoy!!

Corinne Bailey Rae Goes to 'The Sea'

The long awaited sophomore album for Corrine Bailey Rae is here! The smooth soulful British artist has done it again. I have not had a chance to finish listening yet so I will post my review later. However, for now please support real music and go buy this cd.

'Download to Donate' to Haiti

This is beautiful. Music with a purpose. Linkin Park, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, Alanis Morissette, Slash, The All-American Rejects, Hoobastank, Kenna, Enrique Iglesias and Lupe Fiasco are working together with Music For Relief. You get the cd after you enter your e-mail and you donate as much as out like to help the people of Haiti. This is a time where people have experienced a horrible natural disaster and they need all the help they can get. If you don't/ can't Download to Donate please donate to help the people of Haiti, even if all you can afford is prayers. Here is one of the songs from the cd featuring Lupe Fiasco and Kenna.
Listen

or Download here.

Complex's 25 Most Anticipated Albums

I am so excited about this list!! Complex knows their music and has some suggestions on what the hot albums will be this year. Some of these I knew about like Kanye, Kid Cudi (Cudder: The Revolution of Evolution), Drake (Thank Me Later), and The-Dream (Love King). Others I was just finding out about like Gorillaz (Plastic Beach), Pac Div (Grown Kid Syndrome-- psst they are a Speaker Box featured group.), Common (The Believer, Lupe Fiasco (Lasers), MGMT (Congratulations), and Santigold. This year will be a great year for music. Check out the article it has some great finds.

NEW VIDEO: Sade- "Soldier of Love"

We have been hearing the single for weeks now, but we finally have a video to accompany it. Sade is still looking good! I guess what they say is true 50 IS the new 40. Plz comment and let me know what ya'll think about the video.

Videos! (A Keys, Mos Def, Corrine Bailey Rae & more)

Alicia Keys- Empire State of Mind (Part II) (SNL Performance)
I love this song and I think A. Keys did a great job live. If you have not copped her newest album "Element of Freedom" shame on you!




Mos Def- History f/Talib Kweli
This is the newest video from Mos Def's epic album "The Ecstatic" which dropped last year. It is featuring a true hip-hop favorite Mr. Talib Kweli.




Corinne Bailey Rae- I'd Do it All Again
If you haven't heard Corrine is back! This single is a beautiful ballad. Her cd will be hitting stores January 23, 2010. I will be buying it because it will be worth it. You should too!


Corinne Bailey Rae "I'd Do It All Again"

Corinne Bailey Rae | MySpace Music Videos


Jay-Z- Forever Young f/Mr Hudson
This is not Jay-Z newest vid, but its my favorite therefore I'm posting it. lol. It features one of the hottest UK artist out right no, Mr Hudson (whose cd is great btw!!) I love the cinematography of this vid. Beautiful!




Sean Paul- Hold My Hand
Although I thought Sean Paul's cd was luke warm over all this was one of the tracks that stuck out the most. It's a sweet love song and its nice to hear some different from Sean Paul.


Sean Paul - Hold My Hand

Sean Paul | MySpace Music Videos


KiD CuDi- Pursuit of Happiness
If you don't know I am a HUGE CuDi fan. There's nothing else to say... lol. (Plus it has Drake! How more awesome can a video get? jk)




Lupe Fiasco- Solar Midnight
This was a track I some how missed. It came out for the New Moon Soundtrack. Great things coming from Lupe. Also, if you haven't already check out his new mixtape "Enemy of The State (A Love Story)". It's free here.




Melanie Fiona- Monday Morning
This IS my favorite song on her cd "The Bridge". Glad to see a video for it. I apologize for the horrible quality though. This video was really hard to find so enjoy!!

Minaj & Mariah

I told ya'll this remix cd would be dropping soon. Another single has been released off of Mariah's "Angels Advocate" remix cd. This track "Up Out My Face Boy" features Nicki Minaj. It is more upbeat than her other singles. However, I think I am going to be disappointed when it does drop because they are not true remixes, so far the songs just add features. Hopefully, there will be some suprises. Check it out the track below or click to download here.

'Angels Cry' with Mariah & Ne-Yo

Mariah will be dropping a remix cd called "Angels Advocate" soon. This remix of "Angels Cry" featuring Ne-Yo will along with "Obsessed Remix" with Gucci Mane, released last year, will be included on the cd. It will also feature Trey Songs, Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, T-Pain and R. Kelly to name a few. Take a listen below or download here.

L’Renee: Pick Your Price

Detroit R&B artist L’Renee has a special offer for everyone. If you haven't heard of her or of her music here is your chance to hear it for free. From Jan. 1- Jan. 31 she is selling all 5 of her cds at the price of your choosing, even FREE. All you have to do is go to her website here and you can either listen to her music or download it for the price of your choice. Enjoy!

Carmen Rodgers is 'Heartless'

Dallas artist Carmen dropped a new single today. 'Heartless' will be featured on her up and coming album "Intermission/ The Bitter Suite" which is scheduled to be released March 30, 2010 is her sophomore follow-up to "Free" which was released in 2004.

P.S.- I happened to be at Sankofa one night when she stopped in a gave a surprise performance. i had never heard of her but she was sounded so good on that stage I bought her cd that night. The sister can blow. Take a listen or download here

Best Albums and Mixtapes of 2009

These are not in any order, but this is all music that I personally thought was the best of this year. If you didn't listen to these you might want to go back and give them another chance. All of the albums have links to buy them and the mixtapes have links to free downlaods. So now I present to you the best of 2009...

Albums:

· Alicia Keys- “The Element of Freedom

· Black Eyed Peas- “The E.N.D.”

· Chris Brown- “Graffiti”

· Chrisette Michele- “Epiphany”

· Jay-Z- “Blueprint 3”

· Keri Hilson- “In a Perfect World…”

· Kid Cudi- “Man on the Moon: The End of Day”

· Lady Gaga- “The Fame/ Fame Monster”

· Mariah Carey- “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel”

· Melanie Fiona- “The Bridge”

· Mos Def- “Ecstatic”

· Noisettes- “Wild Young Hearts”

· The Dream- “Love vs Money”

· Trey Songz- “Ready”

· Wale- “Attention Deficit”

Mixtapes:

· Amanda Diva- “Spandex, Rhymes, & Soul”

· Drake- “So Far Gone”

· Gorilla Zoe- “I Am Atlanta 2”

· Lil Wayne- “No Ceilings”

· Novel- “Suspended Animation”

· Party Robot- “Idle Warship”

· Raheem DeVaughn- “The Art of Noise”

· The Cool Kids- “Gone Fishing”

· Trey Songz- “Swagga Like Songz 2”

· Noisettes- “Wild Young Heartbreaks”