ELLA performing in Brooklyn 8.8.13

If you've nothing else to do, I'm performing at Muchmore's in Brooklyn (Williamsburg) on Thursday, 8.8. Show starts at 8pm :) For my 40 minute set,  I've got special guest @EastBrookFamilia on deck. Should be one hell of a show. Rhythm and Poetry for ya ;) 

Hope to see you there! 

Capitalizing on Opportunities

         

 

     I've decided to just go with it. There's a minute sense of hesitation that comes with every opportunity that makes you question whether or not it's right for you. What we seem to forget is that only way to figure out if it's right or not is to try it. If it doesn't work, don't do it again. If it works, congratu-fuckin-lations.

A Couple Rhymes.

Almost didn't post this, because... I'm shier than I seem. Still, I fight myself in honor of myself. & If I'ma do it, I suppose I gotta do it legendary. 

PS: I'm the hottest mess in the world. But I'm happy & I sleep well at night. 

#FuckWitIt

Super Ella

Feel free to hate me in motion. 

Youtube.com/Ella4Presidents

How to Find Truth.

          

 "Are you gonna speak about me the whole time, or would you like to speak with me?" I had to ask. Men have the tendency to talk about women as if they're not in the room. Women have a tendency to respond. Not that I was particularly interested in this fella or his friend, but I can only take but so much silent laughter through my iTunes. I've got to know the joke, please.

     "I was telling him I'm not dressed to talk to you," he'd said, his humility holding him hostage. 

    "You're not confident. That's why you can't talk to me," I corrected him. "What you have on shouldn't matter," I added. "And if that's the type of girl you're looking for, you're gonna fuck yourself over."  He was 22 years old, thumbing through a beat up blackberry laying on his sweat pants... but he was a sweetheart. 

           It's a shame we're so focused on outfits.  & I have a problem with being too honest. Sometimes, I feel like I should have a time limit for how long I can be in public. I had the pleasure of attending Street Poets NYC's monthly session on Friday and made a fabulous fool of myself. I bullied my way to getting time to read a second piece --which after I did, I realized was rude --but everyone else had done multiple pieces and since I stand so small, people think they can walk all over me. But if it's me, you've got the wrong one. If you'd like to see a real life boss in person, email INFO@JWWWD.com and I'll make sure we set up a time to meet. You see, I'm alone so often & concern myself all day with calling all the shots, that I get in public and really call all the shots. I can't turn it off. I just prepare myself for crisis management. My fear in in offending people, but my greater fear is in pretending like I give a f*ck. Ain't nobody doing anything anyway. *shrugs* I showed up in a "Make My Day, Leave Me Alone" T-Shirt understanding that every fiber of my body was going to be judged in there no matter how much love was in the room --as is life, actually. And the more of yourself you put forward, the more ammo they have. And...I'm a lot of f*ckin person. It took me forever to get dressed --I wanted to make sure I looked "fuck it" enough. Before I read my pieces to the people, I explained my outfit & everything... It takes a whole lot more time to not give a f*ck that one thinks. I just make it look easy. I wanted them to know I was human, too.

Allow Me to Re-Present: HollyWood

HollyWood

      Goon & a gentlemen/ G & a gangsta, HollyWood's compact mix-tape is concise, poignant & real. & When I say "real" I don't necessarily mean thug shit, although HollyWood would like you to know that @EastBrookFamily is just a group of dudes he grew up with -- who might also be known as "gutter muthaf*ckas" within the appropriate context.

@EastBrookFamily

At the end of the day, HollyWood is great. Period. Hymen. My rendezvous with the meticulously crafted 24:7 has been gross. Addicting. Not to mention, everyone should & do love his flava. [He's] coo-ler than re-friger-ators. Still, no matter the lighthearted punchlines in the middle of it all (which some might label his "swag" --but swag is a constant. We'll have to see, over time, if H's verses are "in line" with his character,) there remains an undeniable seriousness at the beginning and end of every line he spits. HollyWood won't let you can't escape him. The real. It's practically in the man's personal mission statement. Actually... more like literally: "Every hour an ear is exposed to garbage music.  Many are affected. Too many.  The pain these ears suffer is unimaginable.  Yet, their strength is so strong. EBF is a proud sponsor of real rap." -EBF. 

Just street life & instrumentals, he's said. Just being real HollyWood. 

Before we even begin, in short, my opinion is made:  Long live HollyWood, yo.

#GetFamiliar.

--Continue on for mix-tape music, review & download links.--

Devyne Enterprises - Artist Management & Development

       Every time I get one of these promo requests I get weary. Some might call me crazy in my willingness to travel anywhere the MTA will take me for an interview with... Anyone. Everyone deserves to be heard. & you never know who someone might be in 5-10 years. On my way to this one, I just so happen to see a guy with an "I f*cking hate rappers," sticker on his iPad. I suppose in a world full of haters, the game needs one ally. Ella to the rescue, huh?

      I met Devyne at Red Eye Group's Open Mic Monday. It's truly a fab event littered with ambitious individuals. You're guaranteed to leave that event inspired and connected --both to yourself and others. It's a sharing of information. Over candlelight, Bailey's and raging Hip-Hop (<3 <3 <3), I struggled to hear most of what Devyne said to me. I mean it was heaven to me & I had to keep reminding myself I was there on business.  I remember something about him producing and his ability to "make people sound good" as he nonchalantly described it to me. We talked a bit more about music. I can't remember the specifics but I remember noting his honesty. He was genuine. Whereas others' approach that night was hasty or... Thirsty... Devyne was professional. He gave me his card and subsequently followed me on Twitter. Or I could be mistaken and mixed up people the way things happen when I chase Bailey's with moscato.. but hey *shrugs* From there... We get here.

Drake vs J. Cole

Now, this is simply my opinion. My observation.

I see his hunger pains. I know his blood boils. He wanna roll with me. I know this kid'll be loyal.  

Jay-Z - "Coming of Age"

        People look for different things in the artists they'll deem their (most recent) favorite. This is a new era (not the fitted) where the youth are searching for a favorite rapper because they were too young buy Reasonable Doubt in 1996 much less anything else. The young BIG and Tupac fans' admiration seems to be sewn in a ground of respect.   In my experience, most current-day Young Money fans have a hard to time arguing why they weren't so quick to hop on Lil' Wayne during his "Wobble-dee - wobble-dee. Drop-drop it like it's hot" initial debut.


     Over the past couple of weeks, I've made it my duty to listen to both J.Cole's and Drake's complete works to date. For J.Cole, this is comprised of The Come Up (2007) (download), The Warm up (2009) (download), and Cole World (2010) (download).  Drake's works include....


        I initially started this post on August 4, 2010. As I wrote this, I think I was wiki'ing each artist. Then I realized how much music these guys have... I couldn't bring myself to write it all out. This is an era of mixtapes & these guys released one after the other with no remorse. Pirating music takes time. So, eventually, I downloaded it all & threw it all in my iTunes. I've been listening to it all... and it was tough to figure out what I felt until recently, when J Cole & Drake released a song together, "Hit it in the Morning." & as I wrote another post (I write like 5 at a time to get the ideas out), I felt it was a good time to elaborate on my preference.

        First & Foremost, J. Cole & Drake on one track isn't ridiculous? They're both infinitely talented. Equally hungry. And seem to be cut from the same cloth. They sound and kinda look... an awful lot alike. Neither are exactly heartthrobs. They're regular dudes... but I can see why one would admire such swag. Not to say I wouldn't date either... I would. But let's be honest. Now that they're famous, the money would matter. I can admit it. But it'd be the ambition and persona that would make me consider delving into "groupie" territory. NOTE: If you think the rest of this post is going to be based solely on their looks, feel free to use the [X] in the top corner of your browser. But just like you, I see with my eyes. I have to address my opinion in completion. 

Moving on. 

    J.  Cole and Drake share a demeanor that is something like that of a refined hustler. These boys ain't by-any-means-necessary hustlers... well Cole had his part of the streets, but he is a "College Boy". & He says it himself, "kill that ol' college gangsta shit. We dont believe." Besides, I heard from D.O. Vincent, writer of  UpInTheClouds.com, he had a 3.5 (I've been corrected. He had a 3.87. More brilliant than I thought.) outta St. John's. Both, Cole & Drake, have hustle in them in that they work hard in an, "I been up for four days, getting money both ways" way. They're work is crisp. Vocabularies pristine. Their flows are somewhat sung to you. Even the roughest of statements. There's a gritty edge to their pretty boy appearances which is received well by both males and females. My preference tho, is Cole... perhaps because I admire his intelligence. The simple fact that he is comfortable in his intelligence but didn't let that make him into a sucker.  I think this song right here is doing it for Cole. He needed this. Something radio-like. His work is incredible, but sometimes too heavy for today's radio. He's brutal. "I'm Raw..." he growls in "Winter Break."  [sidenote: Whatever Happened to Freestyling?] In my humble opinion, Drake does this same shit all the time. The talk to the girls & be emotional shit. I like that Cole has more than one side to him. Consistency seems false to me. Change is a natural attribute of the human species. Cole says shit like "All created equal looks like '≤' ("less than" or "equal to"). Depending on your race or depending on your address, man." That is where the old Hip-Hop resides within Cole vs Drake. Cole speaks for a people. When you have a voice, you should use it for the advantage of more people than yourself. Like Toni Morrison said, "The function of freedom is to free someone else."

I'm wise enough to know that know that money can't buy you happiness and lovers. But it's gone get my momma out the struggle, nigga.  J. Cole- Rags to Riches (At the Beep)

     Drake don't say shit. I'm not saying this makes him less "good". He's lyrically talented. He has a way with rhythm and wordplay that is rare. But he doesn't tackle many topics outside of himself. He talks a lot about what he knows which is the difficulty of coming into a lot of money in a little time. He speaks on his life. A lot of people, like... normal people, can't really connect to... unless they're pretend ballin out at the club... which is all people do these days. Pretend to make money. Pretend to have more than the next. Always on payday. The rest of the week, they're back in the struggle. I mean... Drake was a college boy, too.. but when I watched his "When I Was 17" on MTV, I immediately noticed how uncool he was. Poor Drake was a little cornball with lots of talent. No disrespect, he's nice now, but he looks like the kind of guy who can't dress himself. He's half lame & we all know it. He doesn't have any personal swag. All his swag is recorded on a mic. It's like that's all the swag he's got. Drake lacks presence on tracks. Which might be why both Jay and Rick Ross had him sing the hooks on their songs, "Off That" and "Aston Martin Music", respectively. I mean, Cole got a (pretty vicious) verse in on "A Star is Born". 

     This is where I think Hip-Hop has been lacking. In standing behind the struggle. In Jay-Z's "Decoded" there's a section about BIG's line in "Juicy" where he dedicates the song to "all the niggas in the struggle".  & That's real. It's  what Jay calls, "the ultimate story, the story of struggle, which is what defines us all." Drake doesn't have enough struggle for me. He's like DMC to me in that he "elevate[s...] humble life into something iconic" (p10). He can say day to day shit & make it sound cool. For example, he ended the line I used above from "Light Up" with "I could use a cup of O.J."  And we sang right along with the nothing-ness. Drake's a master of the love song and the party record. He has reinvented R&B and it's relation to Hip-Hop. Drake is Hip-Hop-and-R&B --in one.


Cole, though? My man speaks. And he makes me want to listen to every word he says. This man is vicious. This man is Hip-Hop.

#TeamJCole

"Last Train to [the Whore House]" Review: Sean @iamdiddy Combs is a DOG.

And there's much bigger issues in the world, I know. But I first had to take care of the world I know.

-Jay-Z, "Kingdom Come"

I am so upset.

     I finished listening to the album, and I'm finished with Diddy. I just tried to read Carl's blog, a review of Last Train to Paris, but I couldn't bring myself to enjoy his positive take. I'm going to be honest. I liked the album. Didn't love because there was simply nothing spectacular about it, but Carl said it himself, "This is play this in your house when you’re home by yourself and want to zone… this is put this on your ipod for you commute to and from work… this is earphones on blast as you walk around the city music." This is exactly how I listened to the album. I went for my first run in Central Park on Saturday and listened to the album. It was perfect in rhythm and vibe for a workout/run. 

       Still, there were a couple of things that took away from its quality. First and foremost, because I steal music, I don't really know the name of the group. I don't know if it's "Dirty Money" or "Diddy's Dirty Money" as my mp3's read. I tried not to pay attention to that though and just listen along. I found myself hoping, waiting, wishing and yearning for those girls to sing. And I don't even know their names!!! I wanted them to come out blowing. To prove that they can actually sing and that they are holding their own. Nope. You can hear Diddy loud & clear throughout the album. And if he's not the star in the song, the feature is. 

       Now was this a Dirty Money album or is Dirty Money as a whole just a back-up group? 12 of the 16 songs have features. Really only 3 are legit Dirty Money since song #1 is the intro. I will say this, Diddy is a pairing genius. The thing with him is that he has a good ear. For example, none other than Rick Ross could have been on "Angels". (PS, since Mr. "B.I.G" Wallace is listed as a feature on that track as well, I hope his family is getting some of that $$. #JustSayin. ) Likewise, "Ass of the Floor" is the essence of a Swizz Beatz production. Similarly, Chris Breezy (#yum) was perfect for "Yesterday" but did he have to be on "I Know" too? I mean, the songs are good, but it's just that this album doesn't feel like it belongs to Dirty Money. I still don't really know what Dirty Money is. Are they just a group who puts on a lot of cash to get top-ranked features? The song that Rick Ross is on feels like its Ross's song. The Chris Brown songs feel like Chris's song. It feels like Diddy took all their features and combined them onto one album. 

       Back to the girls: I wanted to know them. As a female... Wait. As a BLACK female, with all of Didd'y promoting about putting on these beautiful Dark-Skinned women, talking on Hot 97 about how he wanted to make a statement by it,  I wanted to feel some sort of connection to them. I got nothing. I listened to the album twice through and the only lyric I can remember is "Let your tounge off in this p*ssy" in Your Love. That's all I got from them. So.... when I finally get a verse, this is the shit they're saying?  I just looked at the Wiki page for this album and feel so sorry for these girls. So (because I truly didn't know), the chicks names are Dawn Richards and Kaleena Vick. If this page is correct, Kaleena and Dawn are listed as writers on "Yeah Yeah You Would" while Diddy gets writers' credits for 6 of the tracks. Can I get a "Wow"? Now, I know they agreed to it, so that's their problem. & They making their little change but... isn't it supposed to be a group?

      Then I went to YouTube. The night before, as I watched the news, I heard snippets of what had happened at the party: Every woman's worst nightmare. Some chick's hair caught on fire. I LOL'd but missed the actual story coverage. After my run, my homie, D[to the]O, showed me The Video. In my head, I had imagined the party to be super chic. Classy....Nope. From what I saw of that clip, it was just a watered-down version of Tip-Drill. Same ass girl in the same ass tub. From that clip, there was nothing but women in bikinis around. I'm sorry but it I were a female part of a group, that's not exactly the album release party I'd have in mind. Why would I want to walk around with all these bitches wearing nothing? Nothing against the girls themselves, they were probably paid a decent amount to degrade themselves & if I had lack of drive and a body like theirs, I would probably do the same. But this is what Dirty Money is? In "Coming Home," Diddy admits he has growing left to do but with the images I saw on that video, I'm not sure he's committed to it. I feel like on a track like that, Diddy was just trying to say what he felt needed to be said. Granted, the world's perception might bother him but.... Diddy doesn't give a fuck. We all know this. 

        As a woman, I simply can't support him. I don't believe he shows women the respect he should. He's too old for that nonsense. Especially to film and broadcast it. And if there are no women offended and disgusted by what was going on at that party, I'm hurt to say it's a sad day for, not just Black women, but all women.... although mostly Black women. Maybe it's that 'm getting older. Maybe I'm more sensitive to it now. I'm just disappointed that this "view" of Hip-Hop has resurfaced. There was a time where bitches in bikinis wasn't the focus of videos anymore, but I guess niggas will be niggas. 

      I don't really know where to go from here. I'm hurt, disappointed, saddened and angry by everything Diddy stands for. I didn't say much about the BIG movie (which I thought was extremely bias and a poor representation of the females in Christopher's life), I can't keep giving Diddy respect. He sells because he has an ear and he has the money to pay big features. I mean, the man practically invented the "remix". But I think he's confused about himself. I think he needs to decide which persona he'd like to take ownership of. Are you the asshole boss? The funny guy? The family man? Or the pimp? I'm not sure. I don't find Sean Combs a trustworthy character or a reliable narrator. I take everything he "raps" with a grain of salt.  I'm disappointed. And really, I can't rock to a man who has no respect. Not simply off the fact that these girls are around, but he talks like he's respectful. On his interview with Hot 97, he put on this all-knowing, contentious front... later that night, he filled a room with barely clothed women --placing them throughout the room like purchased ornaments --which they literally were. 

All in all, glad I listened. Glad-er I didn't purchase. 

Mr. Combs, you are a Dog. I don't say that to "hate" but simply to let you know something you should know. Something you need to work on. I wish you growth. & I hope to God that your daughters, D'Lila, Jessie and Chance, don't end up those girls in mens' bathtubs doing god knows what when the camera stops filming --if it stop filming.  

Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday

       

     She's currently the most talked about rapper. Hands down.  This little lady's fame is rivaled only by the king of controversy himself, Kanye West. But when we talk about the female wave of rappers, Nicki has certainly staked her claim and made her mark. 

       Let me first say that I am a fan of Lil' Kim. Like it or not, it matters. For the younger generation of listeners, Lil' Kim is now just a played out "has been" as Nicki slyly addresses to a nameless target in "Roman's Revenge". But if you're old enough to remember the most recent wave of female rappers (including Trina, Foxy, Eve, Da Brat, Missy Elliot and many more) you know how hesitant I might be to hand the crown over to Miss Minaj. And Miss Minaj herself understands my hesitance. 

       When Nicki first appeared on the scene, I was skeptical as most. I was, without holding back, comparing her bar to bar with Kim who will , in my eyes, forever be the Queen. You have to understand that for me, Kim was the first female to stand toe to toe with men on a lyrical basis. The only female who could get on a track with Notorious BIG, Jay-Z and the rest of them and hold her weight. To absolute annihilate the track. I mean, think back on Kim's verse on "All About the Benjamins". I challenge anyone to show me a hotter verse. Hers was the best verse in the whole fucking song. So Nicki had a lot to prove to me over time.  I mean, I think we were all haters. I know I was and I highly doubt there is even one day-one Nicki fan. The girl is pretty and her looks have gotten her a long way in the game. Not to say that she can't flow, but image is a a more influential part of Hip-Hop than it ever has been. Nicki might be the most attractive female Hip-Hop artist we've seen thus far. Although taste changes with time... we all have to admit that baby girl is BAD at a reported (but not verified) 34-26-45 which is astounding if she's 5'2. & I LOVE that she's 5'2. The baddest bitches are all 5'2, ya know: Jada Pinket-Smith, Eva Longoria(used to be)Parker, Salma Hayek..... & yours truly ;) lol

        "Everything I try to teach 'em, the gonna see it in time" in the appropriately titled "I'm the Best" which just so happens to be track #1. She's come into the game strong and not only made her mark in the eyes of those within her Young Money camp, but respected lyricists like Mr. West & President Carter as to have been featured with them on West's single, "Monster" (& she ripped the verse, might I say). Minaj also features Mr. West on her debut album in  "Blazin'" where she attacks the beat furiously as she busts a BustaBust-like flow, addressing the situation I just described with charisma and a talented, playful way with words: 

How could it be little me

had the power to be

the best B in the league. 

Yea, inevitably.

But could it be?

Little me  you was heckling me?

Now its monotony 
when I regularly 
appeal?

I catch wreck on recreation. 

So I exceed all your expectations.

Bitches aint got it in 'em. 

I kill 'em and then I skin 'em. 

The contact was signed

but I am the addendum.  

       You either love or hate her & her Barbie movement. But if you hate it, it might simply be that you don't understand. 

The whole album is crack

you aint even got to skip a track

I aint gotta get a plaque

I aint got to get awards

I just walk up out the door

all the girls will applaud

all the girls will commend 

as long as they understand 

that I'm fighting for the girls

who never thought they could win

cause before they could being 

you told them it was the end

But I am here to reverse 
the curse 
that they live in. 

        I've mentioned this ordeal before in my post Black Barbie: The Baddest Barbie in the World, the unfortunate circumstance that throws young Black girls into a state of self-loathing because of their skin color. We are typically considered the bottom of the bucket and the prettiest of us are usually lucky enough to be "pretty for a black girl." No matter how you phrase that, it always hurts. Like we can only be but so beautiful and our skin color is holding up back from this other level of attractiveness that we can't seem to reach. That's bullshit and I applaud Nicki Minaj for being a sista (although she is a phtoshopped and lightened version) and holding it down for the rest of us. Like she says in "Fly" ft. Rihanna (reviewed Rihanna's Loud too, check it here)

Everybody wanna try to box me in.

Suffocating everytime it locks me in.

Paint they own pictures, then they crop me in.

But I will remain where the top begins.

Cuz I am not a word. 

I am not a line.

I am not a line.

I am not a girl that can ever be defined. 

I am not fly; 

I am levitation. 

I represent an entire generation. 

     The generation she speaks of is that of a multitude of girls (and women, even) who need a voice. We've been silent for so long. It's been so long since we could stand side by side with men and hold our own (in the Hip-Hop world that is). There haven't been many songs we could sing along to and exert as much passion and strength as our male counterparts can. For the older "Barbies", it's been a while since someone gave us an anthem to to sing to. For the younger Barbs, they finally have someone to call their own. 

     There is a smidgen of humanity in this album that I'm looking forward to hearing more of. We barely know Nicki. This album has shed a beam of light into a very dark hole. But there are still dark corners in there we have yet to see. The song that speaks the most truth and gives further understanding into the ugly beauty of Barbie World is "Dear Old Nicki," where she literally speaks to the girl she used to be. I'm going to insert the verses here because I think it's important that you read what she's saying. I'm afraid there are few people listening to her. I know how that feels, it happens a lot to black girls. 

Maybe you died 

Cuz everybody ask me where you at

I try to channel you in hopes that I can steer you back

But it's like very intersection, we just missed eachother

you got your fans waitin.

Tell me you aint 6 feet under. 

And tell me that you coming back. That you just took a break. 

Maybe I blamed you for everything. 

That was my mistake. 

In hindsight I loved your rawness & I loved your edge

Cuz it was you who talked me down from jumping off the ledge.

Your earrings bamboo. Your long nails, too. 

Your BMW every time you came through.

You was the braveheart.

You stole Wayne's heart.
You never switched it up. 

You played the same part.

But I needed to grow and I needed to know.

Were there was something inside me that I needed to show. 

So I just deaded you. 

Left you in all black. 

But damn, old Nicki, please call back. 

[Chorus]

You Told Me You’d Come When I Needed You
And You Said It So Sweetly I believed you
But Im Standing Here Calling I Cant See You
But I Am Holding You, Holding You, Holding You To That

Yo, I did chase the glitz and the glamour, money, fame and power?

Cuz if I did, that will forever go down my lamest hour.

I shoulda kept you with me, getting at them nameless cowards.

They was no match for you. 

Couldn't defeat your prowress. 

I had to make them changes. I hope you understood. 

You see, for every bad, I did a ton of good. 

But you was underground. 

And I was mainstream. I live that life now that we would daydream

My only wish is you come enjoy it with me.

Get on them conference calls. Go meet them lawyers with me.

The money came, yea. I tripled and quadrupled it. 

But I still miss us when we was on some stupid shit. 

But it's still fuck the media.

They ridiculed you, never believed in ya.

They just deaded you. Left you in all black.

But... Dear, old Nicki,

Please call back. 

      I'm not sure we understand what these artists are going through as human beings. I touched on this a bit in my post "For the Love of Hip-Hop." These artists feel alone. They are the constant targets of hatred and envy. That last song from Nicki is the best I've ever heard an artist explain the image change one goes through when shifting from nothing to something. Especially as a black female, you're asked to change yourself at every turn. On her old stuff (and those old pictures) Nicki's image was a lot louder... a lot raunchier. Not sexy... more trashy. Now she's begun to go over into a more elegant and tasteful sort of sexy that I hope continues to evolve and  demand more respect. I understand her and her torn relationship with herself. How many of us also grow up with an "if anybody says anything to me" attitude, ready to fight at the club and "always down" attitude, the honestly gets you no where and holds you back. This tough exterior isn't completely an exterior, it becomes who you are and as violent and ill-concieved as it may be, it is what makes you strong. It's what guides you through and helps you survive goring up in certain places. It's what "Talk[s you] down from jumping off the ledge."  

      Nicki is very... very alone. There are few females out there right now (making money) that she can confide in. Most people making money in her industry, who share he mind-frame and upbringing are men. And the women out there making money probably haven't seen or gone through all the things that's she's gone through. Still, this album chronicles a "Moment 4 Life" that she'd definitely want to have on repeat. Nicki is a super pretty bitch now, but she wasn't always this girly, sex symbol with pink lipstick. But one thing can be said: She made it. Success is the ultimate aphrodisiac: "This moment just reminded me of everything they deprived me of. Put your drinks up. IT's a celebration everytime we link up. We done everything they could think of. Greatness is what we on the brink of," she flows in "Moment 4 Life" Ft. Drake. This girl is living life and for any Ella, Barbie, women girl or whatever you would like to call yourself who feels like she's in her prime, Nicki has hits you'll definitely want to listen to, cuz she's the only bitch doin it how it should be done: "Bitch, I get money so I do what I pleases. I live where the muthafuckin pools and trees is. Broke bitches so crusty. Disgust me. Gave the bitch a ride, got the continental dusty... couple wet wipes case a bum try to touch me. Ew!" She's really a funny, bitch y'all. lol. That's entertainment. 

     Overall, I wasn't blown out the water, but I was entertained.  Nicki has started to hang with what I will call the "right" group of people (The Jays and Kanyes) and I hope their genius rubs off on her. She's capable of deeper contemplation that this album put out. I think she needs to do more studying. More reading. She needs to educate herself about the world around her and find more to talk about. With this, not only will her content grow, but the quality of her writing. Nicki says some cool, witty stuff (like "I am not fly; I am levitation"), but there are certain phrases that can be phrased better. With better vocabulary for example. Her rhymes are too simple for my taste. She needs to develop as a writer. For example, I liked the "addendum" metaphor in "Blazin'" and I really wanted more of that.

     I think Nicki has more to say. This was a great start for her as an artist versus a pop star. I look forward seeing Nicki grow and say the things she wants to say without hesitation. I want to know how the real Nicki thinks. I want more verses like those in "Dear Old Nicki," and "Fly" that express emotion and elicit thought. Dear new/old Nicki --whoever is there --you're the only voice we have at the moment. I hope you continue to speak for us and use it wisely. To all of our advantages. 

Great start, Nicki. I'm looking forward to more.  

 Oh, & until she can stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, Nicki Minaj is not the best female rapper. If you disagree, seems to me you haven't heard much music in your time. Sorry,  Nicki, but you can't have that title just yet, baby girl --if at all. Only time will tell.

Rihanna - Loud (& Clear, Darling)

This good girl went bad. 

Then Rated R. 

Then Loud. 

Does it get any better?

    From an island Barbie to running New York as well as the fashion world, Rihanna has moved musical mountains with her discography. You know an artist is good when they need little publicity to elicit a (pirated) rotation in my iTunes. RiRi has helped me through some hard times. If you're going through a break-up, I suggest you take a listen to Rated R. But if that stage has come and gone, and you back on your shit. Loud will be your shit. Guaranteed. 

       The album has an unexpectedly...loud start with the first track S&M. "Feels so good being bad. There's no way I'm turning back. Now the pain is my pleasure," she sings as her first 3 sentences for the album. This has to say something. This is the start. The hook then goes on to say, "I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it. Sex in the air. I don't care, I love the smell of it. Sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me." Word, Riri? 

       And the album only gets better. This is complete collection of music. Well rounded and well paced. The next track is "What's My Name" ft Drake in which we get a playful melody with a playful storyline to accompany it. None of these songs on this album are particularly about love. In this song she talks about wanting "him" to be hers, but there's no love. And really... She just wants to see it he can "go downtown with a girl like [her]". This album is a synopsis of the mind frame of a girl getting out of that hole called Heartbreak. Granted, Rihanna might not have written these songs, but the only way to record a good song is for the artist to actually feel that content. Do it, Riri. 

       But first, fuck all emotions: Block out the pain. "Cheers" starts off with the line "Life's too short to be sitting around miserable." I had no idea what the  song was about at first but... Fuck. I'll drink to that. Yeah, Yeaaah. "Don't let the bastards get you down. Turn it around with another round," she says. I feel her. There's no way you can get over a man while you cooped up, sitting, thinking about him. There's a party at the bar! Eventually, he'll start "Fading" like she talks about in the next song. One day you'll "open up [your] eyes and start to realize today is too late [& that he's] fading away". 

        After you've had your heart broken, it's easy to fall for a second-rate copy of what you just got rid of. But, I think Rihanna would agree with me that, you shouldn't get back into something serious until you're the Only Girl in the world. "Like [you're] the only one that [he'll] ever love." The beautiful thing about this CD is that it doesn't take on only one side of this situation. When you've ended a serious relationship, and even if you've "moved on" you still miss that person. This is when "California King Bed" starts to play. This is where I see Rihanna as a regular girl like the rest of us. She has a heart. This song is beautifully sung and has tremendous cross-over capability. The guitars in the background make the song extremely pop-worthy and if someone out there has any marketing sense, this will be a released single. I can see this one getting airplay from all my Ellas, no matter their race/color/upbringing... this is a woman's song for any woman who's ever missed anyone. 

    But as much as you hurt... a man hurt's, too. "Man Down" explains this exact situation, and if I might be an ass & assume... this song might remind us (&Rihanna) of a certain man whose life she practically ended. "I didn't mean to hurt him," she sings. "Could've been somebody's son. And I took his heart when I pulled out that gun.... Man down." There are regrets we all have about the way a certain situation ended. Ususally in a way that showed what the true you is capable of. (Also we get to  hear the true accent Rihanna has in this song.) But what happened.... happened, right? I mean, those situations when you might have acted certified crazy weren't planned out. But in the moment, you felt he deserved it. So... you're just left thinking:

I never thought I'd do it. 

Never thought I'd do it.

Never thought I'd do it. 

Oh gosh. 

What ever happened to me? 

Ever happened to me? 

Ever happened to me? 

Why did I pull the trigger, 

Pull the trigger?

Pull the trigger?

Boom. 

End a N...

End a N... life so soon?

     Thank god there's other niggas out there. lol... "If you want to let him go, Ladies don't worry cuz they got plenty mo' They be fallin' like the rain." Yup... It's "Raining Men" ft. Nicki Minaj, of course. And sometimes, after we get out of a relationship, we tend to take the next poor bastard who pays us attention and allow him to think he's somebody. AKA rebound. We've all heard the term before, I'm sure. Yes, women have rebounds, too.  So the next guys we come in contact will have to deal with a sentiment most of us tend to share at this point in life."I ain't even worried bout you, cuz there's plenty mo' fish in the sea." But after that relationship... it becomes so easy to let anything go easily. Like if my new guy makes things too "Complicated," it's easy to "throw [your] hands up, cuz baby I tried" cause "my heart knows better."

   So you already know what's left, right? SEX. "No teasing, you've waited long enough." Skin is the ultimate sex song. This slow grind beat is accompanied by moan-like singing: low tones and long notes. This song reminds me of a Ciara, "Ride It," which is funny becuase one of the song writers, Kenneth C. Coby (aka Soundz) also wrote  Ciara's "Gimme Dat"... but yea... if you want to.... riiiiiiiddee iiitttt....  Skin is definitley the jam to do it to. I haven't. I'm just saying someone might want to... In case you want to "explore your talents" ;)

       The album ends on a more solemn, serious note as do most things in life. She closes the project with "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" ft. Eminem, a version that is fit to rival the original. 

On the first page of our story,

The future seemed so bright.  

And this thing turned out so evil. 

I don't know why I'm still surprised...  

And even angels have their wicked schemes 

and you take that to new extremes.

But you'll always be my hero

even though you've lost your mind.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn. 

But that's alright because I like the way it hurts. 

       Everything we've gone through is what makes us who we are. It makes us stronger. More resilient. This album is the epitome of feminine strength. The ability to have your heart taken from your chest and shattered before your eyes but bounce back as if nothing happened. Like how burns simply form a thicker skin. But the thing is, it never fully heals, sometimes we attach ourselves to that pain. Sometimes we can't leave a relationship until we completely tear it apart. Until we're completely sure that it can't be saved. I don't know for what reason. "So maybe I'm a masochist," is Rihanna's guess. "I try run but I don't want to ever leave. Till the walls are going up in smoke with all our memories."  

Fuck it. Watch me burn. 

Thank you, Miss Rihanna. Beautiful album.