A Diva State of Mind

By now you’ve probably heard Ray J’s new single “I Hit It First.” When the song and cover art hit the internet everyone knew it was about Kim Kardashian. Of course, instead of owning up to it, Ray J denied it:

“It’s not about that, it’s about a concept. People going way too deep. They just gotta keep it on the surface. I’m not trying to create no war. It’s all love. Like its a song, we just having fun-that’s it.”

If Ray J really wanted people to believe it wasn’t about Kim K. (which I doubt), he didn’t do a very good job in his new video. There’s a Kris Humphries look-a-like in the beginning of the video and his leading lady resembles Kim K. They make a PG rated sex tape, fly around in his jet and at the end, “Kim” is being followed by paparazzi on the F! network (her show ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ is on E!). Ray J is a fool for this one! Someone is really in need of attention right now! Is he mad Kim K. is more popular than him? Is he secretly still in love with her?

Ray J, it’s been over 5 years. Let it go already! You really don’t need to remind us why she’s famous. Everyone is aware. And I’m pretty sure you did not “hit it first.” Who in the right mind finds the time to write a song about an ex girlfriend who has clearly moved on and is now pregnant? The song is lame.

If Ray J released this song to get everyone’s attention it definitely worked. The internet has been buzzing since the video dropped yesterday. I just wonder how supportive he thinks people will be of his future endeavors following this mess. I mean he was given the side eye when he was looking for love on VH1 ”For The Love of Ray J” but this right here takes wack to a whole new level.

This song is sexy as hell! Whew!! It’s my favorite on the Girl on Fire album. There are a few Alicia Keys songs that really stand out (“Diary” and “Unthinkable”) and her new single “Fire We Make” can be added to that list!!

The video is set in New Orleans. Alicia Keys and Maxwell meet at a hotel. They engage in singing and flirting with one another throughout the video at the hotel and a local party. Real R&B music right here!!

Check it out!

Does this song make anyone else want to cuddle up with something nice or is that just me?

Miguel recently released the video for “How Many Drinks?” featuring Kendrick Lamar.  This song is featured on Miguel’s current album Kaleidoscope Dream. This is a performance video, so there isn’t anything too exciting going on but the song is hot so I thought I’d share. Check it out!

 

Kendrick Lamar and Miguel are performing at the Budweiser Made In America Festival in Philadelphia in August. To purchase tickets to the festival, click HERE.

I was excited when I saw these photos for the VIBE 2013 “Big List” issue! Miguel and Kendrick Lamar are two of my favorite artists and they are changing the R&B and Hip Hop game right now! During their interview, Miguel and Kendrick Lamar discuss their impression of each other’s music, which artists keep them on their toes, what they hope to accomplish and more. Check out pictures and some excerpts from the interview.

Miguel on Kendrick: I just like that it’s an honest perspective. Sometimes you listen to MCs and you’re like, This sh-t sounds cool, the verse and the cadence or whatever, but when you look at the artist, it just doesn’t translate. I don’t get that from Kendrick. Younger artists, we’re all striving to be ourselves. He’s one of the best examples of that.

Kendrick on Miguel: Likewise. As far as Miguel, one thing I said these past couple of years, from an R&B perspective, I always felt like it’s been missing the depth of actually telling a story. Everything on the radio has been cliché. But when you get a body of work like Miguel’s, you hear actual intricate details and lines where it’s not just saying, Come here girl, blah blah blah. [MiguelLaughs] You’re hearing the steps to get there. And that’s the part of R&B that’s been missing for a long time. To actually hear somebody new doing it and taking pride in such intricate details that make the song that much better, it makes you wanna ride to it all day. I come from that world of oldies and gangster rap. My pops probably played more R&B and vocalists in the house than gangster rap, so I always listened for lyrics and the sh-t that make the women feel good. Once they like it, you know the dudes gon’ follow it right after, so you gotta be up on your sh-t.

The Artists That Keeps Them On Their Toes

KENDRICK: My partner J. Cole is always keeping it to the point where you have to show and prove. My partner Drake kills it.

MIGUEL: What’s f-cked up about R&B is that that camaraderie doesn’t exist. I don’t really know why.

I wish I could be like “my partner” or “my homie,” but it’s not really like that. You could have a 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and A$AP Rocky record; they’re all different, but they’re new and dope. You can have that and everyone’s confident in their own uniqueness and appeal. I hope we can do that. In R&B, I have to pay attention to every male artist. Usher is a friend. Vocally there’s no one f-cking with Usher right now in mainstream R&B. I’m always paying attention to his riffs, ’cause he’s always pushing himself. I’ve never heard Usher do one take of vocals the same. He’s insane. Obviously I’m paying attention to Frank or the Weeknd. Jesse Boykins, who is a friend as well, is another artist who’s doing something different, fresh and new.

 

What They Hope To Accomplish

MIGUEL: Kendrick is poised to be the next staple in hip-hop and I certainly intend on becoming that for R&B, working my ass off and taking risks.

KENDRICK: Definitely. The biggest goal is to say, “Damn, we did it.” Think about Jay-Z and R. Kelly and everything they accomplished. I don’t know if they’re on talking terms now, but I’m sure they’d say, “Damn, we did it,” 20 years down the line. That’s the ultimate high—to accomplish what you sought after, just like those two did.

Miguel and Kendrick Lamar teamed up for Miguel”s “How Many Drinks” Remix. Check it out below. You can also see them perform at the Budweiser Made In America Festival this Labor Day Weekend (I need to be at that festival)!!

These two are definitely the New Classics!

Source: VIBE.com & Necole Bitchie

I love Wale’s new single “Bad” featuring Tiara Thomas (she has a great voice). The song tells the story of a woman who has lived a life of being “bad.” She enjoys hooking up with guys; never getting close enough to them to experience real intimacy.  Bria Murphy, Eddie Murphy’s daughter, plays Wale’s love interest.

Check it out!

On Friday, Kendrick Lamar released a video for his single “Poetic Justice.”  The video takes place late night in California, with a crowd hanging out around their cars, playing dice and drinking. Amongst the crowd, Kendrick flirts with his girl but love soon turns to tragedy. A third party fires shots in the crowd and both parties are gunned down. The slow motion of the video does a great job adding to the drama of the video.

Besides the great cinematography, I appreciate the leading love interest not looking like a typical video vixen. Kudos Kendrick!!

Check it out.

Love this song! If you don’t have Kendrick Lamar’s album good kid, m.a.a.d. city, do yourself a favor and get it today. Available on iTunes.

I’ll admit, when “Suit & Tie” first hit the airwaves I was indifferent about it. I was excited for Justin Timberlake to return to the music scene after a six year hiatus (loved his previous albums), but I wasn’t sure I was really feeling this song.

Then I watched him perform at the Grammy Awards and I was sold! I loved his live performance.  He displays the same class and style he demonstrated at the awards shows in the video for “Suit & Tie.” The black and white video features JT and Jay-Z rocking their Tom Ford best while enjoying drinks and cigars. And it looks like JT still has those dance moves!

“Suit & Tie” is the first single off his upcoming album The 20/20 Experience. The album will be in stores March 19th!

Rumor has it Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z are going on tour together. If that’s the case, I’m so there!!

Melanie Fiona finally released the visuals for her single “Wrong Side Of A Love Song.” Hands down, this is the best song off her current album MF Life.

The video was directed by Larenz Tate (yes THE Larenz Tate from Love Jones!) and features actor Omar Hardwick has her love interest. These two have great chemistry!  The video shows the joys and pains one might experience in a relationship.

Love it! It is nice to see a video that actually reflects the song!

P.S. Did y’all notice the strategic product placement? Jay-Z’s D’USSE Cognac (Fiona is on his Roc Nation label) and Motions hair care products.

I wasn’t going to post this song because I figured most people would’ve heard it yesterday. Especially if they are active on Twitter and stay up to date with entertainment sites. But after watching the season finale of “Tamar & Vince” and listening to Tamar Braxton’s new single a couple times on the metro this morning, I had to share just in case some haven’t heard it.

If you’re familiar with the reality show “Tamar & Vince,” which follows Tamar Braxton and her music mogul husband Vince Herbert (he works with Lady Gaga and Mindless Behavior to name a few), you know that Tamar has been working on music for quite some time. She FINALLY released a new single titled “Love and War” off her upcoming album. I heard the song yesterday on Necole Bitchie and loved it! The song sounds similar to Keyshia Cole’s “Trust and Believe,” but it’s better!

During the season finale of the show last night, she debuted the song at a showcase and SHUT.IT.DOWN.  Ms. Tamar Braxton can SANG y’all!!!

 

Live performance from “Tamar & Vince”

I appreciate her being an artist that sounds the same live as she does on a recorded track!  She also showcased another song “Hot Sugar” at the showcase during the season finale and sounded great. I look forward to hearing her new album!

Kelly Rowland shows off her physique in her latest video that also features choreography and bare chested men. She definitely brings the sex appeal in this one.

If you got it, flaunt it! Work it Ms. Rowland!