by Kanye West: I’m so happy there is FINALLY a new track from Mr. West! Knowing there is a new track from Kanyeezy has completely made my week! The track sounds like the old Kanye…you know – the Kanye that rose the charts with albums College Dropout, Late Registration and Graduation. Not so much the recent, gone crazy Kanye with 808s and Heartbreak.

The single is somewhat verbose and you can tell Kanye had a lot to say because at times, it seems like he could just keep going and going and going….But, with him being gone for so long he can really do anything he wants. He really has that much Power! The meaning behind this song is somewhat ambiguous. Some are speculating that Kanye is referencing his own power and arrogance, while others state he is referencing white power that is still prevalent in this country. Only time will tell what the true meaning of the song is or if people will stick to discussing the beat and melodic flow vs. the lyrics.

Me? I’m keeping this joint in heavy rotation. The track is definitely a club banger and I’m marking it as a ‘hit’. More importantly, one track means there are more to come. Good Ass Job is rumored to be the title of Kanye’s fourth album, set to release in September 2010. I’m counting down!

by Chris Brown: I first saw someone post a link to this video yesterday and before I clicked the link I thought ummmmm what is Chris Breezy trying to do now? He just needs to stop trying to make a comeback and call it a day. Yet, when I saw the video my position quickly changed! I am ashamed that I like the song AND the video. The production of the video is on point! I love the dark scenes where the only visual you see in the result of a light shining. There are a few comical dance scenes where you can tell too much is going on, but Chris Brown just may have a chance at gaining his fan base back with this one. Don’t get me wrong…we all remember that he beat Rihanna’s head to the white meat but he has the potential to fill a void that is missing in the music industry. A void that Usher, Ne-Yo, Lloyd, Omarion, Mario and many others no longer fill. The only reason Trey Songz has become so popular and gained recent success is because Chris Breezy was staying lowkey. Trey definitely can’t dance – not saying he can really “sing” either. But, he has sex appeal and can draw fans in with his sexually explicit videos. This Chris Breezy video has some *really* sketchy scenes but they happen so fast you have to watch the video 3, 4, or 5 times just to get a glimpse. If you blink you might miss something. Knowing his history and past relationship, Chris tried to create that sex appeal while attempting to play it safe. Can you blame C. Breezy for his attempt at creating what proved to be successful for Trey?

Sidenote: I’m willing to put money on this video/track that it will be a turning point in the aftermath of what happened Grammy’s ‘09.

by Lupe Fiasco ft. Alicia Keys: I figured out what happened with my first I’m Beamin post. Well, more like my boyfriend reminded me vs. me figuring it out. He told me that I accidentally deleted the post and I said f*ck it lol. I just laughed and thought to myself hmmmm that sounds like something I would say. I felt like I had to remind yall of I’m Beamin because this new track from Lupe is banging too! His Lasers album is going to be straight fire based upon these couple of leaked tracks. And I’m assuming these tracks are on the album but he hasn’t released his official track listing yet… This track with Alicia Keys is a great song that will make you get up and move and highlights each artist outside of their “predictable” zone. It’s rare to hear Alicia on an uptempo joint but this is hot. This is one of my favorite songs at the moment and it will definitely be on my summer playlist! P.S. Who knows who this guy is with Lupe in the pic below?!? He made me chuckle.

by Lupe Fiasco: I’m so mad at myself right now. I REALLY thought I posted this video a couple weeks ago. Matter of fact, I’m positive I did but I don’t know what happened to it It’s as though the post went poof! – and disappeared into thin air. I was about to post another Lupe track, but didn’t feel right with this one missing. So, yall know my ordered brain has to post this again.
Since I posted the video the first time, the official video has been released. It’s a good look with a lot of creativity and features some cute lil kids. The track itself is a slightly different mix at the beginning and when that beat drops its ON! That ish get me so hype before he starts with “I get my energy from my inner g…”

by Dirty Money: This video premiered when I was in Philly last week and I didn’t get a chance to watch until I got back. Yall know I love me some Diddy, but I’m still confused on Dirty Money as a whole. If Diddy and Dawn from Danity Kane wanted to make a group, that’s all that needed to happen. Or if Diddy wanted to have Dawn solo, I could have understood that too. I’m trying to figure out the purpose of the third member – Kalenna. She needs to be told three’s a crowd…boo!

Anyways, this song is a straight club banger. Definitely won’t be listening to it past August, but we can enjoy it now. The video is hot too. There are a lot of bells and whistles with a helicopter and Diddy driving around in a banging Bugatti. I’m happy to see T.I. back in the scene because without him and Ricky Ross on the track, it would be straight whack! I hope Dirty Money’s album, Last Train to Paris, which is set to release on June 29 has a good mix of tracks besides this and Love Come Down. If not, my suggestion is that the train doesn’t leave the station and try to make it to no where!

by Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars: Bruno Mars is straight up making hits for people these days! First it was Nothin’ on You by B.O.B. Billionaire is the latest track he lends his vocals to and it’s a HIT in my book. The song is catchy and isn’t about goin to the strip club, whores dancing, or whatever whack ish rappers are rhyming about these days. This is simply a chill song you can listen to and ride with ya top back, enjoying the summer weather. I’m excited to get Travie’s new album too. As a member of Gym Class Heroes, he already has a history of good music. Travie did an interview on beehivefm today and was talking about a few of the tracks on the album, and specifically Dr. Feelgood with Cee-lo. Travie seems like a cool guy and someone whose album I want to support. I don’t know why when I just saw the release date of June 8, I thought it was months away…Clearly it’s only a couple of weeks away. Mark your calendars. Or, you can be lazy and wait for me to remind you. Nighty night as I go to bed signing “I want to be a billionaire so freakin bad… Buy all of the things I never had…I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine…Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen….Oh every time I close my eyes…I see my name in shining lights…”

This was the only song I played today! I first heard this song a couple weeks ago and loved it! I’ve been searching ever since, attempting to figure out the name of the song and who sang it. Up until today I was unsuccessful. Time this track came on, I blasted this song in my office and literally asked everyone if they had heard this track before. From the music gurus on down, everyone said no…except one person. Out of the blue, my intern says “I’ve heard that song before.” HUH!?! All this time with me driving myself crazy and I’m positive my Google search bar has shut down with my variations of searches like “I don’t feel the same” + “way I walk” + “way I talk”. I borderline was about to start asking anybody and everybody about this song, which I apparently did. It was worth it though because this is my new jam. It’s been on repeat all day. Outasight is an extremely talented artist who must have been underground for a few years. He’s soul and new hip hop, with some amazing use of instruments. I’m feeling him. My intern hooked me up with both of his albums and I’m excited to listen…This video isn’t the usual YouTube disaster with just a photo. SinceI thought it was important to see the lyrics that comprise the song.

by Ciara ft. Ludacris: This joint is FIRE! My friend sent me this song to listen to about a week ago and I didn’t think it was that good. Today, I realized that I had not heard the full song and it may not have even been the right song for that matter. When I realized this video premiered, I had to see it and boy oh boy …this video! I don’t even know what to say, but Ciara has come back with a vengeance. She can’t really “sing” but homegirl shoollllll can move. There is *nobody* who can move like this. You think Beyonce can do this and you a lie. Only thing I know is that I’m about to be eating carrots and celery, signing up for some pole dancing classes and getting a Brazilian wax!

by Erykah Badu: After years of wondering when this musical genius would grace the world with her uniqueness again, we were recently rewarded with her new track titled Window Seat. The single is Erykah at her finest: soul, flow, and smoothness. I immediately knew I would play it on repeat. I L-O-V-E this song! When I saw her video for the track this weekend, I was shocked and didn’t really know what to think.

First, I was confused. The video has nothing to do with the song! At what point does an artist say I want to walk down the street naked for my video? I don’t get it…well actually I do get it because her new album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), comes out tomorrow. So, the video could clearly be seen as a marketing stunt.

Yet, the video has such a deeper meaning. This is creativity with lyrical and visual expression. So many would automatically stereotype Erykah for her actions in the video (including myself), which is the whole point of the video. Towards the end of the video, she is shot and falls near the same grassy hill where President Kennedy was shot in 1963. The words “groupthink” can be seen leaking from her head onto the sidewalk and in an overlay you hear:

“They who play it safe, are quick to assassinate what they don’t understand. They move in packs, ingesting more and more fear with every act of hate on one another. They feel more comfortable in groups, less guilt to swallow. They are us. This is what we have become, afraid to respect the individual. A single person within a circumstance can move one to change. To love ourself. To evolve.“

Enough said.

P.S. Even though the purpose of the video was to generate “groupthink” or encourage change, I question whether this video will really cause a positive movement to promote individualism.  It takes a woman stripping down to her natural state for such a conversation to begin. It will take so much more for the movement to occur.

by Earth, Wind, and Fire: I was searching on YouTube today for a video and came across this group called Pomplamoose. The group is comprised of Nataly and Jack and I love them already! Although, Nataly’s blank stare while singing kinda freaks me out :/ I love the Indie Rock feel. I love how they play their own instruments, sing, and combine it all to make one track. Every song they sign they turn into their own style. This is true talent with the ability to edit it and make it look pretty – I’m impressed. I was going to post the Beat It video, but when I saw Jack’s grandma dancing, I had to choose this one. This video is extreme humor. I seriously laughed out loud! I hope you watch and find humor too! If you feel so inclined to buy the group’s album, you can do so here. However, if you are like me and the last cd you bought was 2002 or before, you’ll find another way…