Mack: My mom put me on to a track by Ludacris … it’s called Politics As Usual
Mello: ur mom? lol
Mack: right!! she said its controversial
Mello: wow
Mack: that’s what I said
Mello: we definately need 2 check it out then
Mack: u know what? I don’t see anything wrong… I support Luda in this joint… he’s using his platform as an artist to speak for the people
Mello: yea, I read the lyrics in an article
Mack: he’s just saying what everyone else feels but doesn’t have the voice to say
Mello: he’s speaking truth…FREE SPEECH!
Mack: He responds to how two-faced Hilary was… I know she was trying to win the nomination, but she did some mud-slinging that was really just dirty
Mello: Free speech has been censored these days
Mack: yeah, it has, but we’re not a generation that takes kindly to censorship. We say what’s on our mind.
Mello: and folks like Luda shouldn’t be bashed based on their personal opinion…the issue that arose with Obama was the fact that he’s a parent first and he doesn’t want to raise his children on lyrics such as those
Mack: I totally agree with what he said about Jesse Jackson… Jesse said what he said. He knew what he was saying when he said it. Grow a pair and own up to it
Mello: I mean, it is what it is
Mack: now I will say he went a little far with his comment about McCain… but still it’s his opinion and the thing is, NOBODY is asking Obama to use this song as his campaign theme
Mello: exactly!
Mack: I think the reason people have such a problem is because Obama publicly endorsed Luda as a “great talent and great businessman” which is still true, but that doesn’t mean that Luda is the voice of Barack Obama or his campaign.
Mello: its a case of guilty by association. there’s a thin line between love & hate, in this case
Mack: right, and I’m sure Luda is unfazed by this heat. He knew he was getting into a dirty game when he decided to rap about politics but he has a responsibility to speak for the people and to the people
Mello: people love both Luda & Obama but hate what they stand for
Mack: And deep down, I’m sure Obama is like “This shit is dope as hell!” but in the public eye, he’s gotta renounce it. But on inauguration day, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gives Luda some dap
Mello: lol… right
Mack: like “That track was hot, man.” I can’t believe he’s catching controversy over this… it’s ludicrous!! LOL

Check www.iknowtank.com to download Luda’s new mixtape called The Preview.

For more on the pastry collection check out www.pastrykicks.com

-Mello-

This goes out to all my R&B fans: HEADS UP!! In case you haven’t been following Sound-Savvy, I’m gonna do you a favor. There are 5 albums droppin’ soon that you need to be checkin for. We’ve all complained about the decline of R&B, but trust me: you’re gonna love some of the new albums dropping soon. Here’s five upcoming albums I’m checkin for and if you know like I know, you’ll check for these too! Click the continue link for the new hotness…

Artist: Lloyd
Album: Lessons In Love
Release Date: 8.5.2008

This will be Lloyd’s 3^rd studio release… how many of his albums do you have? If your answer was zero, you’re a victim of heavy sleeping. Don’t let his involvement with Murder Inc., fool you, this kid’s put out some really great material on his first two. Southside featured some nice cuts like Take It Low, Trance (featuring…yep, you guessed it… Lil Wayne) and Cadillac Love. On his last album, Streetlove, almost every track was a banger, but some highlights were Player’s Prayer, Streetlove, and the remix to I Want You which featured Andre 3000 and Nas. So what he clings to Weezy on every album, you still bobbin ya head, right? It’s so many tracks I could let you preview, but I’ll pick my favorite joint so far off the new album: I Can Change Your Life. NOTE: This version features RL from Next and it’s BLAZING!! The version I have is Lloyd by himself and it’s equally hot, not sure which version is on the album…

Artist: Michelle Williams
Album: Unexpected
Release Date: 10.7.08 (PUSHED BACK!)

Artist: Ne-yo
Album: Year of The Gentleman
Release Date: 9.16.08

So yeah, he mimics MJ’s vocals a lot. But you gotta give him credit, he’s the only one that acknowledges it. From what I’ve heard from this new album, Ne-yo is jumping to the forefront of the R&B revolution, reviving the essence of true performers and the soul of music. If you’re doubtful, let me make a few recommendations: Check out Miss Independent, and Stop This World from his upcoming album: Year of the Gentleman.

Artist: Keri Hilson
Album: In A Perfect World
Release Date: 9.23.08

Songwriter, producer, dancer, sexy ass chick…. Keri Hilson may be new to you, but she’s no stranger to the industry. Having penned records for the likes of Usher and Britney Spears, Hilson decided it’s time to step out from the darkness and into her own limelight. Timbaland’s added his blessing to this project a few times over, so I’m confident that it’s gonna bang as hard as his own project. Of course by now you’ve heard Energy, the lead single, but what kind of doctor would I be without giving you a full dosage? Check out Where Did He Go?, another blazing cut from her perfect world…

Speak of the angel, is there anything she can’t do? After her shocking early departure from American Idol, J-Hud took on a starring role in the movie Dreamgirls, outshining mega-star Beyonce and winning the Oscar for best Supporting female. Beyond that, she became the first African American female to integrate the popular Sex And The City Cast. Her voice is about as big as the accolades she’s already received and if there’s anyone who can revive the era of big vocals, it’s this classy lady. Check out All Dressed In Love, a cut from the Sex And The City Soundtrack…

Mello: Neyo has a new track… Miss independent
Mack: yeah I just got it… that joint is soundin real official
Mello: every dude wants a Miss Independent… or SHOULD want
Mack: hell yeah… she wants u but dont need u. got her own thing
Mello: a Miss Independent
Mack: thats sexy
Mello: tell me about it
Mack: yeah but u know some dudes thrive on feeling needed
Mello: Let me toot my own horn on that one… TOOT TOOT
Mack: i hear ya… independence is fly. R&B bruthas are on the come-up…

Been away for a little while, workin (and playin) in the Bay Area for the last week, so posting has been a little hard for ya boy…but I’m back with the jump-off. Hiatus over! Back in the QC, and what an appropriate track for me to return wit. No matter where I go, I PUT ON FOR MY CITY!!! Tell me you didn’t think this track was already blazin and I could slap the peach cobbler out ya!
Question: How do you turn one hot track into two?
Answer: Add Hova to the remix!!
Question: Need I say more?
Answer: