Here's yet another song (pretty soon you'll have the whole album, right) from T.I.'s upcoming album Paper Trail. This joint features an all-star hip hop lineup of the greatest in the game, the only one missing is Ludacris, so let's hope for a remix!! Hot song? I vote YES!!

They say nice guys finish last, and generally I tend to agree. We end up being the guys that stand firm for everyone else but we’re hardly ever understood. With Year of the Gentleman, that’s all about to change. Every song on Ne-yo’s aptly-titled third studio album is told from the perspective of the consummate gentleman. This album does what Usher’s Here I Stand was unable to successfully do – it matures. While the vocals on Gentleman are the best of all his projects, the true highlights are in the lyrics. As proven before, Ne-yo has an impeccable way of capturing moments and emotions with his pen and transforming them into a work of pure genius. For the ladies this album has humility, sensitivity, honesty, vulnerability but for the fellas, this album shows character, strength and expression.

The pop-dance lead single Closer opens the album, and then he moves into the groovy MJ-influenced Nobody, where the belle of the ball has our hero spellbound on the dance floor. Ne-yo makes his move on Single (Polow Da Don), closing in with some slick harmony on the hook and some lines that would weaken the knees of any dejected lover. He steps outside of himself on Why Does She Stay, the most humble and honest of the tracks: “She’s so much better than me, I’m so unworthy of her… Why does she stay?” Well apparently she doesn’t and he’s forced to Fade into the Background, a vivid illustration of every man’s worst nightmare: she marries the other guy while you’ve been invited to witness. So You Can Cry reminds me so much of myself – Ne-yo puts aside his own problems to put things into perspective for a heartbroken friend – the definition of a gentleman! Tearful memories of a departed lover illustrate my personal song of choice on the album, Part of the List, where again the lyrics dominate: “They’re all part of the list, things that I miss, things like your funny little laugh or the way you smile or the way we kiss”. The closing song, Stop This World is an emotive wedding ballad, and the vocal high point of the album. The sensitivity felt in the vocals and the lyrics is so stirring it gave me chills just listening to it!

Year of the Gentleman is Ne-yo’s best album to date. He steps up his content and brings us back to the reason we all loved Ne-yo, even before we knew he was So Sick – he can write his ass off! This project doesn’t have the baby-making slow jams like its predecessors, but it elevates to a more “grown man” perspective. There is still a lot of classic Michael Jackson influence like the falsetto and other vocal techniques (Lie To Me and Back To What You Know) borrowed from the King of Pop which Ne-yo skillfully makes his own. What’s not to love here? On the next album, I'd maybe like to hear him try some acoustic joints, or even a song with some rock-influence. I highly recommend this joint for all the grown and sexy listeners, here’s a dose of real music as only a gentleman can prescribe.

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Ne-yo: Miss Independent

Your Prescription is IN: R&B Edition

She Got It...

-Mack-

You can never underestimate the power of music -- it moves you, relaxes you, gives you strength, inspiration, and can make you experience an unlimited number of emotions. Somewhere through the course of time, it has blessed us with a soulchild endowed with the very same abilities... The B.U.D.D.Y. of many devoted fans delivered a crowd rousing performance in Charlotte, NC last night, backed by his amazing band and vocalists. Musiq took the stage at Amos' performing hits that span 4 albums and threw in some new music from his eagerly anticipated 5th album entitled On My Radio, due out November 25th. From start to finish, it was a show packed with exciting energy and an amazing display of Musiq's smooth vocals and range.

The show kicked off with the ever-familiar jam Just Friends (Sunny) and moved on to more favorites like Halfcrazy and Forthenight, which ignited a slew of steppers to unravel their stresses beneath the rhythm. Going back to his debut album, he reached out to “the true Musiq Soulchild fans” with You And Me, Girl Next Door, and had the whole crowd spelling out their disbelief of how Mary could be so cruel (shouts to the real ‘Girl Next Door’ and her company down front that kept talking to Musiq during the show!). After a bit of a vocal teaser, he belted out every fan’s favorite, his signature Love and let his juicy falsetto bring smiles to the hundreds of faces gathered as he hit that infamous note. There was a connection with the audience during Teachme that just seemed to make the entire performance extra special for everyone in attendance. I’d personally like to thank Musiq for performing my favorite track from his last album Luvanmusiq, the Raphael Saadiq-helmed Betterman; that one holds a special place for this fan of the soul star.

This 80-minute performance embodied the very element that completes a live show – the music. Each time I’ve seen Musiq hit the stage, he leads his band in a jam session that is simply amazing for a fan to watch and hear. He leaves behind the glitz and glamour of his celebrity and connects with his fans. Only an artist with proven ability could have a sea of dedicated fans singing every lyric and ad lib as they sway from left to right. As for the new music, it sounds like Musiq hasn't lost his touch one bit, and is still ready to bring yet another album of hits. for you to 'Juslisen' to. Aside from the acoustic problems of the venue, this show was There are no signs of slowing down for Musiq - I think I speak for every fan that attended the show last night when I say 'I'm so glad!'

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- My Life Sounds Like...

-Mack-

Lyrics
I'm not lovin' you, the way I wanted to
What I had to do, had to run from you
I'm in love with you, but the vibe is wrong
And that haunted me, all the way home
So ya never know, never never know
Never know enough, 'til it's over love
'Til we lose control, system overload
Screamin' no no no, no no
I'm not lovin' you, the way I wanted to
See I wanna move, but can't escape from you
So I keep it low, keep a secret code
So everybody else don't have to know


So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
You keep ya love locked down, you lose


I'm not lovin' you, the way I wanted to
I can't keep my cool, so I keep it true
I got somethin to lose, so I gotta move
I can't keep myself, and still keep you too
So I keep in mind, when I'm on my own
Somewhere far from home, in the danger zone
How many times did I take 'fore it finally got through
you lose, you lose
I'm not lovin you, the way I wanted to
See I had to go, see I had to move
No more wastin' time, we can't wait for life
we're just racin time, where's the finish line


So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
You keep ya love locked down, you lose


I'm not lovin you, the way I wanted to
I bet no one knew, I got no one new
I know I said I'm through, but got love for you
But I'm not lovin' you, the way I wanted to
Gotta keep it goin', keep the lovin' goin'
Keep it on a roll, only God knows
If I be with you, baby I'm confused
You choose, you choose
I ain't lovin' you, the way I wanted to
Where Im bout to go, I don't need you
I've been down this road, too many times before
I ain't lovin' you, the way I wanted to


So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, you lose
So keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, ya love locked down
If you keep ya love locked down, ya love locked down
Keepin ya love locked down, you lose