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: 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…”
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…
by Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce: I don’t even know where to begin with this mess. I remember when Lady Gaga came out about a year ago, and I really liked her music. After the MTV Video Music Awards when she came out dressed in bizarre outfits and blood all over her body, my liking of her began to dwindle. I feel like she, or anyone else for that matter, shouldn’t have to do all the extra-ness to get people to listen to her music or be interested in her. To talk about her? Maybe…but it’s not necessary! The music alone should speak for itself.
This video presents her biggest debacle to date! I heard a few people mention this video a few days ago but I thought nothing of it. I really thought people made the mistake of calling the video Telephone when they really meant Video Phone – which is Beyonce’s previous single. I finally became intrigued enough to search for the video today, and I was shocked. To even watch the video you have to be 18 or older and have a YouTube account to login. That’s just to watch the video…because it’s that explicit!
After being uploaded for only seven days, there are already more than 20+ MILLION views! And the video is almost ten minutes long! That’s a mini movie – like the kind Michael Jackson used to make back in the day. Yet, this mini movie is straight clownery. Lady Gaga has no self respect and with 10 layers of makeup on, she looks ridiculous. I’m trying to figure out what made Beyonce want to be a part of this song/video!?! I can understand the ‘you be in my video, I’ll be in yours’ deal they probably made, but sometimes you have to put your foot down. Bey just lost some cool points and entered a lower class level in my book by being in this video. My guess is that her hubby, Jay, pushed her to be in this video due to the publicity she would get by being associated with Lady Gaga. Yep – that’s my story and I’m sticking with it!
I could dwell on so many parts of the video that are whack…. the name of the Bey’s truck (Pu**ywagon – what the hell?), Tyrese’s guest appearance (dude – are you really not getting any more movie roles that you have to stoop so slow and be in a LG video?)…I won’t even say anymore. I’ll let you watch this craziness below.
I’ve said for months now that Trey’s social media strategy is on point! Whoever provides his back end strategy and comes up with his non-traditional/traditional marketing tactics gets two thumbs up from me. Take yesterday for example:
First, Ludacris premiers his new single Sex Room featuring Trey Songz. The brilliance behind the release was the only place you could listen to the track was on Global Grind. I tried to YouTube the track and I found it. I tell you – by the time I listened to the track and copy/pasted the link to send it to my friend, UMG had pulled it down. When my friend told me she couldn’t listen to it, I thought she was joking. UMG must have had numerous detectives or insiders at YouTube monitoring to make sure people were not leaking the record too soon!
Instead, the track went viral instantly after Jo Jo (@YoungSimmons), the editor of Global Grind, sent a tweet that the track was available on Global Grind. Trey’s thousands of groupie girls went bananas and sent RTs informing their followers of the new single. I, personally, sent a tweet because I LOVE the track. It’s triple X-rated, but it’s the bomb diggity! I’ve had it on repeat for the last 24 hours.
Sex Room was a solo hit until…Trey premiered his video for Neighbors Know My Name, which is like his sixth edition of soft porn. The release of this video was brilliant too – although very weird. I’m not sure why, but the video premiered on Power 105.1 fm . I’ve never heard of that radio station before a day in my life and the website of the radio station had exclusive access to Trey’s video for a full day. Then, he uploaded the video on YouTube today. If you didn’t know the video premiered, there was no way you could miss it! On the homepage of YouTube.com, Neighbors Know My Name is the first video listed on the Videos Being Watched.
Trey is getting far more publicity than other artists I know, and the good thing is it’s all safe pub. You haven’t seen him robbing anybody, jumping anybody in the club, or engaging in illegal behavior. If you don’t like Trey, I feel sorry for you because 1. you aren’t the norm and 2. it doesn’t look like Trey is going anywhere!
by Mariah Carey ft. Nicki Minaj: I don’t even know what to say about this video besides it is a hot mess! I miss the old Mariah – you know…the one before Honey! Mariah has become a disappointment. And don’t even get me started on her assistant, Nick! Oh my bad. I meant her husband. I think back to Vision of Love, Emotions, Can’t Let Go, Anytime You Need a Friend, and I Give My All (just to name a few) and those are some PRICELESS jams. Today, I don’t even take the time to download her albums. Even when I can get them for free! I’m really speechless when it comes to Mariah today. Only thing I can say is watch and I hope you can make it thru the whole video. It honestly took me 3 times to make it thru. Be on the lookout for Nick, who was the director and included a special segment from Drum Line. Just whack!
