New Music: "Party & Bullshit"/ "D.U.I"

Jay-Z has yet another hot up and coming singer on his label Roc Nation. The last Roc Nation singer I mentioned on here was Bridget Kelly, but now it's time for Rita Ora to get some shine. She is the next artist on the label that is expected to drop their debut album later on this year. Her first single "Party & Bullshit" is quickly increasing her fan base. Last week she visited Z100 here in New York City with Jay-Z to debut her single for the first time, and since then there has been a lot of comments. Positive comments at that, many people are kind of referring to her as the "new Rihanna". With Jay-Z backing her career and having that free and raw spirit I can see why people can envision her becoming a big star like Rihanna. She does have better vocals that Rihanna in my opinion though. The London, England native names Gwen Stefani and Beyonce as some of her influences. I like her and I'm excited to her more music from her. 

Rita Ora & Jay-Z visiting Z100

Teyana Taylor released her second single "D.U.I" off of her upcoming EP The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, which is slated to be released to be released on March 12th. When I first heard the song I kind of got that laid back vibe from it, the song features Fabulous and Jadakiss. 

OMG Girlz- "Gucci This"

I really like this video & song, I remember when they first started out & they were always on Tiny & Toya on BET. Even with the shuffling of new & old members they're really good, so kudos to them.

90's Make A Comeback

Last month I mentioned SWV coming back with a new music video (pictured above) as well as a new album. The first single off of their first album in over 15 years is "Co-sign". What I like about this music is that they're not trying to fit in with the current state of the music industry. They've stuck to the form of good feeling music that has made them into the group that they are today. I may not be a grown woman, but I do get the grown woman in love kind of vibe from this song and video. I just feel like everything is just RIGHT about the direction their going in for their comeback. 

Jon B is also back with some new music. I didn't even know he was coming out with new music until I came across his new music video "Only One" on worldstarhiphop. I don't know too much, but the song was produced by Will Wernick. The video was also directed by Will Wernick, the track is off of Jon B's album entitled Comfortable Swagg. 

New Music: "King of Hearts"/ "Starships"

Cassie has a new track as well as a music video, her new track "King of Hearts" is slated to be on her upcoming album that she has been working on since 2008. Her first and last album was released back in 2006, her new album is to be expected some time this spring or summer. The video was directed by Christopher Sims, and the song is more of a dance track that can be played in the club to get the crowd going. Hopefully her album does come out sometime this year, after thinking it was near the last time when she released her single "Official Girl" I was kind of let down. Hopefully her album actually makes it on shelves this time. 

Another track from Nicki Minaj's anticipated sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded has been released. I'm not sure if this is her next single following "Stupid Hoe", but "Starships" is another dance track that can be expected to capture the attention of her fans. When hearing this song I think of it as being the "Superbass" of her next album, but a little more pop and less hip hop. Some feel like this indicates the decline within her career and others feel like she's reached pass the limit, which is the sky.

What are your thoughts? 

Chris Brown & Rihanna Team Up

Both Chris Brown and Rihanna are creating quite a controversy as both are featured on each other's remixed tracks. Rihanna released the remixed version of her song "Birthday Cake" on her 24th birthday, which was this past Monday. Also released on Monday was the remixed version of Chris Brown's new track "Turn Up The Music". I personally don't see the big deal, she's currently the hottest popstar/ spokeswoman/ designer/ model and whatever else she has on her resume and Chris is currently the hottest singer/ dancer/ director and all the various things that he is. Therefore it's only right that the two leave their issues in the past and put out great music. There's always three sides to a story, with the third side being the truth and none of us know it. So it's only right that we all leave it and move on like Chris and Rihanna has. I like both songs and I feel that they were genius's with teaming up because right now they are all over the internet and both of their music is climbing to the charts, they clearly understand great business.  

   

Music Video: Chris Brown- "Turn Up The Music"

Chris Brown has released the official music video to his first track off of his upcoming album Fortune, which is expected on March 16th. His new single "Turn Up The Music" is an upbeat dance track that kind of resembles his song "Yeah 3x". That song was also the first track off of his Grammy award winning album F.A.M.E and I have a feeling with this track he has yet another successful album on his hands. After releasing a statement about putting his all into his music, and not feeding into the negativity that constantly comes his way he seems to be on the right track. The video was directed by Chris himself and Godfrey Tabarez. If you saw last weekends Grammy Awards then you would of seen him perform this track as well as walk away with the Grammy for R&B album of the year for F.A.M.E.. There is nothing but big things coming when it comes to Chris Brown and I'm excited for him. 

New Music: "It All Belongs To Me"/ "Marilyn Monroe"

Love when there is new music to post about and this first new track comes from veterans within the music industry, Brandy and Monica. Their new song "It All Belongs To Me" produced by Rico Love  is set to appear on both of their albums. Monica's new album New Life will be released within this year, and Brandy's new album is still in the process of being recorded. For many years people thought the two had bad blood between each other after their hit "The Boy Is Mine" back in the 90's, but the two have been able to maintain their friendship since they were teenagers in this outrageous industry. The two performed the song during Grammy weekend, and shot the video the day after the Grammys (picture above is from the set) even though they both were mourning the death of Whitney Houston. I cannot wait for the video to be released just because it's Brandy and Monica, and anything they touch pretty much turns into gold.

 Here is a BTS look of the making of "It All Belongs To Me":

The next new track comes from Nicki Minaj, not Roman this time but Nicki. Her new song Marilyn Monroe is another track expected to be on her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, after she set back her date from Valentine's Day a new date hasn't been released yet. The song is basically her saying "must be how Marilyn Monroe felt" referring to facing various struggles. 

54th Grammy Awards

Last weekend was the 54th Grammy Awards, and although I didn't get to see the entire show because I was on my way home from a performance in Connecticut I was able to catch everything online. It kind of sucks to say that the awards this year was kind of boring, but I know it was due to Whitney Houston's passing. She passed away the night before the Grammys, and the entire atmosphere was really sad, and I know that many people didn't even decide to show up. With that being said I would like to at least share some of my favorite looks. 

Performance At Carnegie Hall

This past weekend (February 5th)  I had an amazing opportunity to perform with about 200 other high school students like myself at Carnegie Hall. We were part of the Carmina Burana Project, and it was a lot of hard work and patience that went into the project. In the end everything that I experienced these past five months was well worth it. Last year I had the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center, and this year performing at Carnegie Hall just topped everything off. I attended a show at Carnegie last year and from the audience the entire hall looked extremely huge. So when I entered this project I reakky looked forward to being on the stage and looking out and up into the audience. I must say that it was all worth while, this was my first time ever performing there. I'm really praying that it will not be my last. It's just something about being up on the stage and just looking at thousands of people look at you sing. I'm still in my shy stage, but I really hope soon that I overcome that so one day I can return to that stage and many other stages around the world where there are thousands of people watching me sing and enjoying the music I choose to provide them with. 

Here is an article from the New York Times on the performance: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/arts/music/carmina-burana-choral-project-at-carnegie-hall.html?_r=1

Music Video: Olivia- "Walk Away"

This past week Olivia released the official video to her single "Walk Away". If you watch Love & Hip Hop on VH1 like I do, then you've seen her perform this song at several functions. Not only that, but you would of seen her make the decision not to take record deal she was offered from EMI. There are many people who look for Olivia to fail, or they just say she should give up. However, I want to see nothing but her succeeding and achieving all that she is striving to reach. Looking at her struggle on television only makes me more fearful, because she is someone who is extremely talented and she is having one of the most difficult times trying to be recognized for what she was born to do. In some kind of way I feel everything she is saying when it comes to her music, when you continually try and work your ass off and in the end there is nothing to show or you don't get the results you expected. I think it could be that her and I share the same birthday (February 15th), but I'm still rooting for her to succeed.