July 2010

The Archives

Introducing Andra… & Her Incredible Mixtape

07.22.10 | 9 Comments

We’ve been waiting for a proper time to introduce you all to this promising talent, who goes by the name of Andra. To get things started, here are a bit of fun facts about this exceptional human being/artist:

-She was born and bred in rural Zimbabwe, where she grew up with no running water or electricity.
-Founded her own successful charity The Kijana Project at the age of 12 to assist AIDS orphans.
-Was the youngest person in history to compete on the Zimbabwean National Artistic Gymnastics Team, then broke Zimbabwean and African gymnast records which she still holds today.
-Was KNIGHTED at the age of 14 for her humanitarian efforts.
-Finished high school at 14, then attended Stanford to study Civil Engineering and Sociology — left in her senior year at age 18 to pursue music.
Is an accomplished ballerina and teaches dance.
-On top of all this, she’s really hot.
-May be the perfect woman. [SOURCE]

To go along with those major accomplishments her musical talent was noticed by Kerry Brothers Jr. For the past few years Brothers had Andra perfecting her craft, writing and recording music. All the hard work has paid off because earlier this week she premiered the release of her first musical project, her mixtape entitled Love is 4 Suckaz/I’m a Sucka 4 Love.

The mixtape consists of 17 tracks and varies from topics of superficial meaning to ocean deep. The mixtape features guest features from KiD CuDi, Drake, Lupe Fiasco, Rich Hil and Mateo. The album is such a solid listen and all we see tattooed over Andra is potential. Give this mixtape a download and lead her unique vocal stylings melts your ears.

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DOWNLOAD

Mixtapes, MUSIC

Tagged: andra, Love is 4 Suckaz/I’m a Sucka 4 Love
Katy Perry Unveils Her ‘Teenage Dream’: Album Art + Single Art

07.21.10 | 1 Comment

Today, Katy Perry unveiled the official album art and single art for Teenage Dream.

The album art is so appealing, inspired by the artist’s paintings who was behind the design of the “California Gurls” music video. She looks sensual, classy and like a whipped up bowl of fun. The absence of text on the cover really makes it that more attractive

The single art on the other hand, is very much a contrast from the beautiful album cover. The cover is much closer to that of “California Gurls”: The bright colors are overwhelming and looks like someone vomited a rainbow popsicle. Whilst the single may be great that cover makes it seem like it will sound like a song made for 10 year old girls. View the single cover after…

(more…)

Music Media, NEWS

Tagged: album art, album cover, katy perry, single cover, teenage dream
Video Premiere: Nicki Minaj is Overly Dramatic In “Your Love”

07.21.10 | 1 Comment

Nicki Minaj’s unexpected hit, “Your Love,” just received the video treatment and…

The video revolves around the storyline of Nicki Minaj being a samurai who falls for her master. Matters take a fatal twist when she battles her rival who shares the same feelings for the sensei. For such a tiny budget, creativity was used in place of a huge production, the entire clip flowed well but that ending… Just watch and see the video take a turn to corny proportions.

Music Videos, VIDEOS

Tagged: nicki minaj, video premiere, your love
This Cutty Ranks Mix, “Limb By Tung,” Is DANGEROUS!

07.21.10 | 5 Comments

We were just over at Pigeons & Planes and heard this AMAZINGLY blazin’ mix of a Cam’Ron & Vado and Cutty Ranks lyrics:

During rehearsal for July 9th’s Skratch Bastid Presents: LET’S BUILD w/ Cosmo Baker, Cosmo and I were playing the new Cam’Ron & Vado heatrock “Speakin’ In Tongues” and Cos started chopping up different parts of the beat, flipping it inna dancehall stylee. We threw Cutty Ranks’ immortal “Limb By Limb” acapella over top of it and it and instantly smoke filled the room and an airhorn sounded from the distance. Magical. We performed it live at the show to a great response. Here is a studio remix of the cut, so that you can mash up the party wherever you play it, be it desktop, poolside or club. Check it: [SOURCE]

Now this is what we’re talking about. Forget those other uninspired riddims and take a lick of this banga.

Mash-Ups, MUSIC

Tagged: cam'ron, cosmo baker, cutty ranks, skratch bastid, vado
2 New Leaks From KiD CuDi’s ‘Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager’

07.20.10 | No Comments

It’s just a little under two months before we have KiD CuDi’s sophomore LP, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, in our hands. The closer it gets to release time, the more we hear from the project. Two snippets from the album, “Mojo” and “Mr. Rager,” have made their way online.

“Mojo”, continues CuDi’s sound of melancholy with a subtle but pronounced bassline. The song is very mellow with some profanity to keep the listener a little hype. It’s a definite thumbs up.

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“Mr. Rager”, produced by Kanye West, shows of what both artists do quite well; KiD CuDi and his lines of sad vibes and West and his tribal inspired beats.

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MUSIC, Unreleased

Tagged: kanye west, kid cudi, man on the moon ii: the legend of mr. rager, moriah, mr. rager
“Please Don’t Go” Mike Posner

07.20.10 | No Comments

Mike Posner’s debut album, 31 Minutes To Takeoff, is right around the corner but before that day, iTunes released another track to tease us with. The song, “Please Don’t Go,” is a bit of ElectroPop heaven co-produced by Posner himself and Benjamin Levin.

That’s the thing about Posner, you just don’t expect that voice. That’s a prejudice crime but you don’t put frothy vocals and a bearded face together. After listening to “Please Don’t Go” five times, one after the other, we can’t be anymore excited that Posner’s debut is about to be released.

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MUSIC, Singles

Tagged: 31 minutes to takeoff, mike posner, please don't go
Taylor Swift Announces Title, Release Date & Lead Single of 3rd LP

07.20.10 | 2 Comments

Seems like just yesterday when America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift, was favored to win awards and other accolades due to her innocence and performance of her sophomore album Fearless. Well Country/Pop music’s favorite belle hosted a live web chat in which she revealed the title of her third studio album, the release date of the album and more details pertaining to it.

Swift announced the titled as Speak Now in which she explained, “…pertains to the album as a concept, and as an entire theme of the record, more than I can even tell you.” The release date of the album will be October 25 with the lead single, “Mine,” being released the mid of next month, August. Swift revealed that she experienced so much which enabled her to write the entire new album. Production of Speak Now was carried out by Swift and Nathan Chapman. [SOURCE]

We’re wondering if Swift will continue the uphill reign of Country/Pop music or will she hit a minor bump with this new project. One thing is for sure, she seems to be showing growth with each new release and starting to seem less like a playful teenager and more like a serious artist. Who knows, maybe she’ll reach heights similar to Shania Twain, in her prime.

Music Media, NEWS

Tagged: mine, speak now, taylor swift
Rihanna, The Next Era, Kicks Off Summer’s End?

07.20.10 | 6 Comments
This past Sunday on Twitter a little exchange between Rihanna’s label, SRP Records, and a few Rihanna fans occurred. Basically, two important facts were revealed:
- There will be no more singles/videos from Rated R
- The plan is to release her new single at the end of the Summer (August-September)
This sounds valid because before there was a change of plans, it was stated that Rihanna would perform in August at the Today Show Summer Concert series and she would sing a brand new song. This is good news, the only real hit out of …R era was “Rude Boy.” We’re not excited for this new album but we still want to be surprised.

Music Media, NEWS

Tagged: rihanna
Sky Ferreira Says “Sex Rules”

07.20.10 | 1 Comment

The über gorgeous and talented Sky Ferreira suffered the dreaded leak this morning as an unfinished track from her forthcoming album made its way onto the net. The song entitled “Sex Rules” is stated to be produced by Billy Steinberg & Greg Kurstin.

The song has a definitive 80′s throwback sound to it with the synths and “elastic” back and forth beats. There’s no telling what will become of Ferreira because you cannot compare her to other pop acts. It’s like she’s singing about provocative topics similar to the way Madonna did but then again Madonna was not 17 years old. Then she is doing Pop like Britney Spears but then again Spears was not so blunt. Finally, you look at Ferreira and besides the few Pop/Dance songs she’s done she looks and sounds like this decade’s Fiona Apple. She’s offering all sort of hues which is great, in the end, because she doesn’t stink of a predictable product. Shouts to Proph…

MUSIC, Unreleased

Tagged: sex rules, sky ferreira
Britney Spears Is Official Legend Status: Sells 100 Million Records

07.20.10 | 3 Comments

Britney Spears is no longer just a Pop phenomenon but more of a Pop legend after the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Spears has sold 100 million records to date. Her first two releases …Baby One More Time and Oops… I Did It Again almost went quintuple diamond, giving her a nice helping hand. [SOURCE]

This now puts Spears in the leagues of Janet, Mariah, Whitney and other greats in music. She still has some ways to go to match Madonna’s 250 million records. Spears could afford not to be in her prime anymore as she’s at a level where her accolades speak for themselves.

Music Media, NEWS

Tagged: 100 million, britney spears