Month: October 2016

TLC: Joyridin’ On The Haters

Almost two years ago, TLC launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their final studio album. While  some saw this as a desperate plea, die hard fans (including Katy Perry, Mariah Carey and Bette Midler) quickly funded their $150,000 ask in under 48 hours. They ended the Kickstarter with a grand total of nearly $500,000. However, […]

Joe Budden: Rage and Hot Bars

  Picture this. The Summer of 2003 was a very memorable year for me. I graduated high school and was about to enter my freshman year of college. Oh yeah, and Joe Budden’s debut single, “Pump It Up” was blasting in everyone’s car. Many fans may have prematurely placed Joe Budden in a box of […]

R. Kelly Gets Back To Basics

Double Up was the last R. Kelly CD that received heavy playback on my iPod. The CDs that followed were either too one dimensional or beneath his caliber for my taste. Ironically, R. Kelly got it right on 12 Nights of Christmas. The project is his 14th studio album, but his first full length Christmas […]

Why It’s Not Their Fault

Have you ever found yourself being bitter, thinking about your past? Yes, you are far removed from it all now. You have landed gracefully on the other side of greatness. I get it. We have all seen your victory banners. However, we do think about the time we wasted. Then, we ponder how we could be […]

Lauryn Hill: Still A Rebel

You know you have reached iconic status when the world still adores your first solo studio project, released almost 20 years ago. People still talk about how The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill changed the face of music .  Since then, Lauryn Hill has released an Unplugged album. She has released several mixtape derived works. She […]

Maroon 5 Doesn’t Wanna Know

Maroon 5 has always been one of my favorite groups. I have seen them in concert twice. The second time was even better than the first. Their lyrics are genuine and they know how to connect with their fans. Songs like “Wake Up Call” and “This Love” spoke for us when we didn’t have the […]

Emeli Sande: Her Sensual ‘Garden’

I have waited for this moment for quite some time. Emeli Sande has made an impressive name for herself in a short time. However, her debut album, In Our Own Words, was a stellar effort. Plus, she has written hits for top notch acts like Mary J Blige and Alicia Keys. Now, she’s back at center stage to […]

Remembering Tommy Mikal Ford

Yesterday, I heard some shocking news. Tommy Mikal Ford, aka Tommy Strawn from Martin, passed away at the age of 52. He suffered a busted anuerism in his abdomen, following a knee replacement surgery. Martin is my favorite sitcom of all time. Although Martin Lawrence was the star of the show, the rest of the cast was equally […]

Lizzo And Her Coconut Oil

Before this week, I didn’t know who Melissa Jefferson was. However, I quickly sat up and took notice when I discovered her new EP, Coconut Oil, on Tidal. The 29 year old singer has a robust sound that’s well beyond her years. Her style is brazen and bold, much like her activism stance when she’s […]

Green Day Starts Colorful ‘Revolution’

Green Day has one of the most celebrated catalogs in Rock/Pop/Punk music history. The group’s storied career (filled with hits like “Basket Case” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”) has spawned over 25 years. Bill Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt have resurfaced after a four year silence, with Revolution Radio. I’m not ashamed to […]