Music, photos, and news straight out of Harlem
Posts tagged pop
Listen: Timbaland Featuring Brandy “Whatever You Like”
Mar 7th
Brandy is rappin, y’all! I remember a couple years ago on one of those VH1 reality shows, Brandy was yammering on about recording a rap album. I never thought she would actually get it all together. And yet here she is with a single produced by one of the best in the game, Timbaland. Like it or not she’s making us listen.
Production-wise this is pretty standard fare for Timbaland, embellishing the track with his trademark synths. Timbo’s intro verse over brandy’s breathy vocals looped ad infinitum isn’t really interesting and if it wasn’t for the fact I so desperately wanted to hear Brandy’s verse, I would have skipped the track.
Brandy doesn’t come in until 1:27 in and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. She actually accomplishes the task of speaking in metered verse. That fact alone far exceeded my expectations. The singer sounds like an amorphous mix of Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and Nikki Minaj all rolled together in a vaguely interesting fashion. As for her potential as a rapper: Only the future can truly tell what will become of “Brand’Nu”, Brandy’s rap alter-ego. I’ll just say good for her for trying.
You can download the track after the jump. More >
[video] Beyoncé – “Why Don’t You Love Me”
May 5th
Pop mega-diva and world ruler, Beyoncé Knowles, has released the gajillionth single from her I Am… Sasha Fierce double album bonanza. This time the singer busts out her “acting” chops and shows us her take on traditional iconic American feminine domesticity. That was verbose, but that’s what it is. Think 50, 60, 70′s housewife and you’ve got the lion share of what Beyoncé’s trying to evoke here. As always, I was deeply offended by Beyoncé’s acting, but as the clip went on I was entertained. The singer is not furthering the medium in any way, but she’s definitely keeping it interesting.
So what’re you waiting for? Go ahead and check out the video after the jump. 
More >
Watch: Christina Aguilera – “Not Myself Tonight”
Apr 30th
Christina Aguilera has definitely borrowed many of her video marketing tips from Lady Gaga, that other blond pop-star with the mega-huge video. Tonight, Aguilera debuted her Hype Williams directed “Not Myself Tonight” on Vevo. She definitely brings the sexy in this clip, suggesting a multitude of acts and positions which are NSFW unless you work in a nightclub that’s cool with faux acts of lesbian bondage.
I feel like Xtina’s set herself up for infinite comparison to Gaga’s Telephone clip (which, swallows this video in terms of greater artistic significance), in production values, and more importantly internet hits. I wonder, how long will it take for this video to reach 1 billion views? Gaga got there in a little over a month, if my memory’s correct.
Check out the video after the jump and be sure to tell me which video you think is better. More >
Hear New Sleigh Bells Single, “Tell Em”
Apr 28th
Aw shit! Sleigh Bells got a new single! “Tell Em” is the first snack off the NYC duo’s debut LP, the mouth-wateringly named Treats due May 11th on N.E.E.T. Recordings. Beware, this music is guaranteed to make you jump. To see photos of the band in person, take a look at my Sleigh Bells photo gallery from their recent Coachella set.
Check out the single after the jump or visit infinitybells.com to download your own free copy. I’ve also got the tracklist for Treats and am very disappointed to see that it doesn’t include “Beach Girls.”, one of the nastiest songs from their demo (Currently playing in the heard words jukebox). More >
Video: Best Coast – “When I’m With You”
Apr 14th
If you like your pop music with surfer rock and a hint of shoegaze, check out this brand new clip from Best Coast featuring a rebranded Ronald McDonald as the love interest.
Having recently arrived in California for Coachella, this song definitely fits with the culture of America’s Golden State.
For my readers still in Chicago, you can check out Best Coast this Friday at Schuba’s.
Check out the video after the jump. More >
Hear New Christina Aguilera “Not Myself Tonight”
Apr 1st
Last week, Christina Aguilera released the cover art for her latest single and I will readily admit that I was feeling a little snarky because, as a waiter, I hate substitutions. Xtina clearly ordered her single “extra cover art and hold the music.” Thankfully, that dark time is behind us.
Xtina’s just dropped the single for “Not Myself Tonight” I’m definitely excited to hear more. The song’s electo-dance production is definitely right up my ally and further confirms my theory that dance will be the new crossover genre, supplanting hip-hop which is now thoroughly entrenched in the mainstream. Clearly when the singer says she’s not herself tonight, it’s because she’s talking about making out with girls and dropping the F-woid. (That, my friends, was a subtle warning that some may consider this song, NSFW, unless you work at a strip club which features faux acts of lesbian bondage and is frequented by republicans.)
Aguilera has also released the cover art for her new album, Bionic, which is to be released June 8.
For now, you can listen to “Not Myself Tonight” after the jump. As always, comment, comment comment! Make your voice heard! More >
Watch Usher Video “Lil Freak” Featuring Nicki Minaj
Mar 25th
Ladies and gentlemen, Usher is finally in the building. After his creatively questionable mea culpa “Guilty” hit the streets a couple weeks ago, I was worried that Usher would no longer be a relevant force in pop music. Thankfully his newest video for “Lil Freak” featuring Nicki Minaj shows us the R&B crooner still has a pulse. The song features a nice beat with a sample from one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs, “Golden Lady” “Living For The City.” (Thanks for the correction, Mia.) Continuing his legacy of celebrity exhibitionism, this time Usher reveals his love of threesomes. Lil Wayne protege Niki Minaj also brings the fire with her freaky bisexual flow. I guess they don’t call her Nikki Minaj for ‘nothin. Usher’s Raymond vs. Raymond drops next week.
Check out the video after the jump. More >
Watch: Trina, “Million Dollar Girl” featuring Keri Hilson, Diddy
Mar 25th
Da Baddest Bitch, Trina, dropped a new video recently with guest appearances from Diddy and Keri Hilson. The video features Trina grinding against rented sports cars that match her outfit, seated in nondescript ambiguous corporate environments and ‘chillin in private jets she does not own. It’s amazing that someone who supposedly has so much money still manages to look like a stripper.
The single itself is not half bad, but it doesn’t sound like a Trina song. Most likely, the result of Keri Hilson’s forgettable contribution. So forgettable, in fact, Hilson sings into a microphone labeled with her name since she has the charisma of an overgrown shrubbery. Diddy’s involvement and the decadent capitalistic themes pictured in the video make this clip feel like a 90′s Bad Boy Records video, without any of the cool factor.
Check out the blingfest after the jump. More >
Aguilera Releases Cover Art for New Single “Not Myself Tonight”
Mar 23rd
Pop princess Christina Aguilera has just released the cover art for her new single “Not Myself Tonight,” which features the historically scantily clad singer scantily clad. I searched the Internets high and low for a single that we might all listen to as we ponder the complexities of this cover art, but alas, my search returned unsuccessful.
Remember the good old days when musicians released singles with their singles? Now we just get a picture of the music that we haven’t heard. I’m just wonder who the hell the singer is/was if she’s not herself as pictured above? That’s pretty much how I remember her.
Watch Lady Gaga’s Visually Stunning “Telephone”
Mar 15th
The long-awaited clip for Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” has finally landed on the Internets. Before I say anything else I want to be clear: You need to see this video. It is creative , artistic and has more chutzpah than anything else going in popular music right now. “Telephone” is uniquely Gaga with plenty of tongue and cheek elements for her fans. More than just a video, “Telephone” is an exercise in storytelling.Ultimately, you will decide how successful she is, but she definitely puts herself out there. And for that she deserves some credit. Watching this I am reminded of the attention to detail the late great Michael Jackson paid to telling stories in his videos. Lady Gaga is a fantastic, creative weirdo and I’m happy that she exists -- and I’m not necessarily a fan. But I know I’m definitely not a hater.
That being said the video does have it’s shortcomings: Beyonce’s acting, as always, leaves much to be desired and the video’s product placement is philosophically egregious. At least the former’s participation is limited while the latter presence is ubiquitous. It’s nice to know that we have Wonder Bread, Miracle Whip, HP, Polaroid, Chanel, plentyoffish.com, Monster, Diet Coke and Virgin Mobile to thank for this clip. Flagrantly commercialized videos threaten the integrity of the medium and should generally be eschewed by all true lovers of music.
Product placement aside, the video’s frantic style and nods to Tarantino warrant at least one viewing -- and at nine minutes and thirty seconds, watching this one from start to finish is definitely an investment of time.
Love it or hate it, you’ll definitely find something worth talking about. I’m curious what my friends at SuddenDeathAcademicProbabtion have to say about this one?
Check it out below and comment, comment, comment.