I’ve been anxiously awaiting Ciara’s return because her first two albums have been major hits in my book. She switches it up a little bit with this jam and delves further into her R&B side… It works well for her voice and is a sexy, more mature sound for her. Fantasy Ride, her third album, is due out later this year, and is geared towards international acclaim. Click the link to preview the track…
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Paper Trail, the new album from T.I. is on its way, due out in August, here’s the video for his single No Matter What. Budgeting looks a little short on this video, which isn’t a bad thing. The song is simple and a big-budget video may not have done as much justice to get the point across. T.I.’s one of the few southern rappers with a flow and lyrics worth listening to. He’s been through more in a few years than most go through in a lifetime, and this song is his testimony: he’s still standing…
By BallerAlert.com Washington, D.C. -
Ever since the infamous taped phone call between Buck & 50 leaked to the masses, things for Buck have been looking rather bleak. This past Thursday, at Fur Nightclub in Washington D.C., Buck’s first performance since the debacle, only 20 people showed. SMH. Talk about a full house, sheesh! LOL.
The promoters weren’t hospitable, making Buck pay for his own hotel room. Talk about tough. Prior to the show, he was paid half of the money, and was to get the remainder at show time, did he get it? Of course not. Buck didn’t even perform that night. He was supposed to do another show tonight, but the promoter left him with all the bills.
His entourage wasn’t allowed in Fur. The club said that they weren’t dressed properly. Buck was the only one that could have on athletic wear. Unless his hype man or DJ paid to get in, Buck would’ve been a one man band. I’m sure this wouldn’t have gone down like this if he were still affiliated with G-Unit, who coincidentally was also in town promoting their new album T.O.S.
Yo, here’s the latest from one of my personal favorite artists: Musiq SoulChild. It’s a bit of a switch from his normal style, but it’s a welcomed change. Beyond that, it’s a song that describes my eclectic taste and love for music. Check this joint out!
Opinions are like assholes, everybody got one, and if we listened to what everyone said, we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in today! Mello & Mack have truly found their passion, and we are dedicated to making our dreams, a reality. You don’t have to respect our views, but you WILL respect our hustle. We can’t & won’t please everybody. So to our loyal followers who support the movement, we THANK YOU. We will continue to keep you up to speed on what’s SAVVY in the world of music.
And for those people, who have their own personal haters, continue to do you. As my mentor told me, and its something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, “SUCCESS IS THE SWEETEST REVENGE”.
-Mello-
Domestic Abuse is a serious issue and it affects more people than you know. Tonight’s show on Mindstream radio discusses the prevalence of the issue, the stories of its victims and survivors, and what you can do to help or get out of an abusive situation. For those women or men out there who endure this struggle, feeling that life and love have to be this way, we want you to know that love may be blind, but it doesn’t have to hurt. You’re not alone and we dedicate these songs to you. This countdown iincludes artists from the urban music community as they express their feelings on this very real issue from very different perspectives Song: Don’t Put Your Hands On Me A very heavy song that discusses several indiscretions from adultery to domestic abuse. It chronicles a woman’s thoughts and emotions in the midst of an abusive relationship, and the internal strength to stand up for herself and say ‘no more’. This song wasn’t a single, but made waves in the industry when Janet performed it at the 1998 VH1 Fashion Awards, in opposition to the creators of the show, who wanted her to perform the more upbeat “Together Again”. Janet felt the message in this song needed to be heard by women everywhere and used the awards show to gain acknowledgement of this cause. A lot of us know someone who is or has been in an abusive relationship. This song is told from the perspective of that person on the outside looking in, speaking to the abuser with a heart poised for vengeance. This is truly a sad song, as the abuse in this story led to death. Eve chose not to sugar coat the message in this song, and has encouraged women to wake up and realize that love shouldn’t hurt.
Song: How Come, How Long A unique perspective, a powerful song and a moving video with a message for the masses. Two R&B Giants teamed up to deliver this message to those who have witnessed domestic abuse but remain silent. Standing idle does not solve the problem. Shaking your head and covering your ears doesn’t make it any less real. Minding your own business doesn’t save anyone’s life. How many battered women who aren’t strong enough to speak up will suffer before you stand up and speak out? -Mack-
Song: Rain On Me
Artist: Ashanti
Album: Chapter II
Rain On Me is a powerful song that tells of a celebrity female abused by her jealous boyfriend. When this single was released, Ashanti partnered with LidRock and the Family Violence Prevention Fund to raise money for the prevention of domestic violence and raising awareness.
Artist: Keke Wyatt
Album: Emotional Rollercoaster
Click Here for the video After enduring her own share of problems with domestic violence, Keke Wyatt released this song for other women in similar situations. The message is simple: listen to the signs, heed the warnings and put your own safety first.
Song: What About
Artist: Janet Jackson
Album: The Velvet Rope
Artist: Eve
Song: Love Is Blind
Album: Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady
Artist: Babyface featuring Stevie Wonder
Album: The Day (Babyface)
Mack: So Usher opened the show… he was okay to me, but he’s losing his touch. He lip sync’ed the whole thing
Mello: yea, I agree..the married life has made him put on a few lbs and u can tell in his dance sequences. He can’t keep up like he used to; but nonetheless, Mello is still a fan
Mack: yeah, his face got real tight at one point, like he was trying REALLY hard to keep up. I’m a fan too but i’ve always questioned his ability to sing live…
Mello: SS rates Ushers performances compared to others as BELOW SUB-PAR
Mack: speaking of sing live… what the hell was goin on with Keyshia Cole??
Mello: Heaven Sent was all the way ‘pitchy’. she gave too much, and it sounded as if she were straining
Mack: yeah she sounded nervous…. all that attitude she got and she couldn’t sing the damn song, and that’s one of my favorites by her
Mello: but, she made up for it on Let It Go…
Mack: she kinda made up for it, she was partying so much on Let It Go that she wasn’t even singin the song or remembering the words
Mello: well, I enjoyed that segment. I was @ home rockin wit her
Mack: I did too and Lil Kim actually looked good
Mello: yea, outside of her busting out those pants
Mack: Keyshia’s outfit change reminded me of something MJB would have rocked. And I guess she got tired of the haters cause she got that gap fixed
Mello: that’s signature Keyshia tho… I enjoy her regardless
Mack: I love her too, but babygirl needs to work on her live performances… we’ve seen her mess up too many times
Mello: well, considering I’ve seen her perform live a few times, last night was the most she’s ever worked a stage
Mack: So finally we had someone to really bring it to the stage: my main man Ne-yo
Mello: yea…Ne-Yo made Usher look BAD
Mack: and that Jabbawockeez cameo at the end was a definite highlight. He gets bonus points from me on that one
Mello: Live singing, choreagraphy
Mack: hell yeah… not just choreography… KICK-ASS Choreography
Mello: Ne-Yo is the definition of a true entertainer
Mack: he is… he writes, sings, performs…
Mello: too bad his looks don’t match up to his artistry
Mack: well in his defense,
Mello: sidenote: MELLO is not SHALLOW
Mack: He sang through the whole thing… it was a well-planned out performance… and that song is a banger. Usher might need to deflate his ego a bit and break out the pen and pad. TAKE NOTES!
Mello: and hit the gym… can’t 4get bout that
Mack: right. Now, my personal favorite of the night… Ms Keys!
Mello: yea, I agree… a step up from her tour
Mack: people been sleepin on Alicia’s thickness for a while… I got so many texts last night like “When did she get so thick?” I’ve seen Alicia live 3 years ago, she BEEN thick like that
Mello: she’s built like a thoroughbred stallion
Mack: She could have had a better outfit, but the performance was still hot!!
Mello: the surprise performances
Mack: 3 chart-topping 90’s girl groups on one stage?!??!?
Mello: SS rates that CLASSIC!!!!
Mack: STAMPED OFFICIAL! SWV, put on a few pounds but they still some sistas wit voices
Mello: brought me back 2 my younger days
Mack: EnVogue…. all I can say is WOW!
Mello: the originals
Mack: TLC… I got teary when they were up there. Waterfalls was my jam
Mello: haven’t seen them perform since left eye died
Mack: except that show… R U The Girl
Mello: yea, but… that doesn’t count
Mack: trueIt was great to see them together. Chilli’s got a new single out, gotta post that later
Mello: Jeezy’s performance= unattentive
Mack: yeah that one was lame
Mello: CB… LAWDA MERCY… lol
Mack: lol… it was good, but to be honest… he left us hangin
Mello: I have no words 4 that one
Mack: that was a good look bringin Ciara out. Those two have Michael and Janet potential, I wanted them to do more… Maybe they’ll bless us and do a song together…
Mello: perhaps
Mack: now THAT would be hot! 2 of the best performers in the game right now, doin something monumental
Mello: I’m still waitin on the CB & Rihanna collabo. and u kno the cameras were cuttin in&out on those 2 all night
Mack: yeah, somethin official from them two…
Mello: speaking of which, I loved her performance
Mack: oh yeah she killed it… And she sounded good… people been hatin on her sayin she can’t sing live… her vocals have improved greatly
Mello: I always thought she could sing live
Mack: I’ve been a Rihanna fan since she first came out but some of her live performances needed some work
Mello: she’s matured over time as most artists should do
Mack: but having seen her on tour with Kanye, she’s got it down now… she’s got the vocals right! CB was singin every word right along with his girl. They’re a nice lil red couple…LOL
Mello: we can’t 4get bout Al Green
Mack: oh yeah… talk about unity in music. Young, old, rapper, singer… EVERYONE was singin Let’s Stay Together
Mello: most oldies but goodies bring folks together
Mack: it was good to see him performing, he’s a living legend… and it’s good to see BET honoring the legends while they’re alive… like
Mello: yeah, but Q must have been nervous, cuz he was stumbling over his words
Mack: yeah i think it was nervous energy… mind was probably racin. And Anthony Hamilton was smooth like butter during that tribute! That’s a brutha that can sing right there
Mello: yea, and his pants were tighter than mine
Mack: LOL… he was goin for a 70’s look Mel…lol
Mello: I don’t care
Mack: oh whoa wait… we forgot… the RETURN OF MAXWELL. Where the hell did BET dig that dude up?
Mello: God Bless Him!
Mack: God bless that voice… now HE is what the game is missing
Mello: I’m anxiously awaiting his return
Mack: he’s gotta do something major… my sister in law promised me a niece or nephew if Maxwell drops an album, so you know I’m tryin to get in contact with him and make sure he brings the pain
Mello: LOL
Mack: What did you think of T-Pain?
Mello: ????? – there u have it. He’s too scattered 4 me to pay him attention
Mack: LOL… yeah, the intro made me think it was gonna be good, but when Flo-Rida lip sync’ed “Low” I diverted my attention elsewhere
Mello: flo-rida is wack
Mack: DJ Khaled… what the hell was he doing?? He was jumpin and runnin around like a kid in a candy store…
Mello: “we the bestttttttt”
Mack: but Ludacris is my dog!! He came out and set some order to that chaos. oh and Mel, as a lady I need you to send Rick Ross a memo: The world never EVER needs to see that mess again
Mello: LOL… he’s small in his mind… “show that gut!”
Mack: well that’s the only mind he’s small in. The first part of Nelly’s performance was hot… I hadn’t heard that song Stepped on My J’s with Jermaine Dupri but it’s kinda hot.
And Ciara came out, she has a verse on that song… she’s so damn fly
Mello: you fell in love? lol
Mack: yeah, but rumor has it that she’s marrying 50 Cent
Mello: more power 2 her… I didn’t catch their performance
Mack: Fergie screwed up her part on Party People… it sounded like she started her verse in the wrong spot, then she looked uncoordinated.
Mello: who else did I miss? I had 2 step out
Mack: did you catch Weezy at the end? with T-Pain… AGAIN
Mello: no sir
Mack: it was okay… nothin to holler about.
Mello: how’d he do?
Mack: the performance was okay… nothin spectacular… but the ending was rather classic all things considered
Mello: what happened?
Mack: He ended his verse of A Milli with the line “What’s a goon to a goblin? Stop it stop it, you ain’t scarin nuthin. Hip Hop is alive, don’t worry I got it!” and he dropped to his knees. When he hit the floor he just looked out into the crowd like he’s ready to carry the weight of the hip hop world on his shoulders. It really made him look like the savior of hip hop and with the streak he’s been on… he just might be it was just classic to me… and i’m really just becoming a Weezy fan
Okay, so I know it took me a while to get this review up, but let me explain…. I tried, really tried to give
Now to keep it all the way real,
The music industry isn’t a game of dress-up, and even if it were, it’s clear that the shoes are too big for
