#FRESHFRIDAY (7/20)

Got some fresh new artists for you...

New artist Lianne La Havas has an amazing voice.  I randomly came across this song and I was completely wowed with the lyrical content and her voice.  She has amazing texture and I look forward to hearing more music from her.  I am definitely in support of any project that she releases!!



Kendre, fresh to this blog has taken this track to a new level.  As he covers this Gotye single, he adds so much flavor.  I like when artists uniquely cover songs that pay homage to the original song, but definitely stands in a category of its own.  Listen to this, and I guarantee you -- you will like it.

New Music (7/16)

SUMMER has been very busy for me.  I apologize to my regular blog viewers for not updating you with everything that I have for you.  HOWEVER -- I have some DOPE new music for you!  Check it out below...

So Elle Varner is one of my favorite new artists.  She is killin the game with these leaks that she is letting out.  If you ain't hip, you should be...



You know Mario stay leaking material.  Sometimes I hate the fact that his material that doesn't make the album, sounds better than the album tracks.  In any case, there is no denying his vocal prowess and what he brings to R&B ballads.  Let's hope this song is the direction that Mario is planning to go for his upcoming project.  Take a listen...



New artist Kenyon Dixon got a nice lil' groove with this song.  I like the vibe that this track produces, and the lyrics are dope too.  Definitely do your research on him and support his artistry.  You know I always give you good music to listen, and you want this in your rotation ASAP...

RANDOM Post (7/16/2012)

New artist, Ronnie "Ro" James has some new music and I like this song.  It reminds me a bit of Ryan Leslie when he first came out, but with more soul.  I will definitely be jammin' to this joint this summer.  I think the concept is witty and dope.  Check out, "Pledge Allegiance".



Emerging artist, Yuna, is setting sail with new EP, Decorate.  I appreciate the warmth, dexterity yet simplicity of her melodies.  Love her stuff.  This young Malaysian goddess really brings something to the music industry that is refreshing.  If she were a painter, I'd say, everything about the design of her paintings are done with clean lines that make you want to commission her for more art.  Support her by purchasing her EP on iTunes.  It isn't that much, but I think you will enjoy it thoroughly.  I know I do.

Yuna - Decorate

2012 BET Awards Recap

INTRO - I was so weak at this intro with Spike Lee. I promise these idiots had EVERYTHING in that place rocking.  For you deep people, I don’t know if there had been another more ironic moment.  And with Spike, Sam and Kanye on the stage at once -- I was real nervous BUT we managed to make it without some serious foolishness going on.

Best Group – Jay-Z and Kanye (can’t say I was surprised, although – Maybach Music Group put out some hits.

Side-eye to Kim in WHITE. And I think everyone echoed the thoughts of my buddy, Chelsea Peaches West --- “I’m so glad Kanye didn’t kiss her, I would’ve thrown up!”  LOL! But I must say I breathed a sigh of relief when Jay-Z came on to the stage.  That situation could’ve been horrid considering Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson AND Kanye were on the stage at the same time.

OK.. the Usher performance…

He was buggin’ with the fit.  Not only is he brave to do the song in falsetto, but the brotha still got it. Yeah, there were some bad notes in there – but to do a whole song, dance a little bit, and do it live on an awards show, he had some moments of brilliance in there.  Je probably should have done some more rehearsal and warm-ups on his voice, but it wasn’t a terrible performance.  I expected the whoel thing to be a little more live than it was. The BGVS didn’t do anything, and the “band” just stood there for the most part.  I felt a little cheated!

Best Actor - Kevin Hart was good in “Think Like a Man” – but Don Cheadle, Idris Elba, Denzel Washington… come on son. LOL! That was rigged and everyone knows it.  But we all kinda like Kevin, so it was okay but – BET, we know what the real deal is.

Best New Artist: Big Sean - Shoutout to all my Detroit People!  He deserved that award.  That was an extremely difficult category, because all those people did make hits this year.  Mad props!  He was popular this year and he made hits we remember.  His acceptance speech was great and although he was cliché for bringin his mama, I think that he didn’t embarrass her the whole show with his antics.  To see rap artists articulate an idea fluently makes me renew hope in our people as it relates to representing themselves appropriately in public. Such an humble acceptance speech!

The Gospel Performance…Well I was nervous at first.  2 reasons: the potential that they dishonor a Clark Sisters hit AND the fact that we had 4 singers with the potential to be EXTRA busy.  I love them individually, but sometimes singers don’t know how to tone themselves down in a group.  Fortunately, this was one of the BEST performances of the evening.  Each lady - Amber Bullock, Y’Anna Crawley, Yolanda Adams and Jessica Reedy gave us LIFE with that performance.  Jessica held that BASS down.  Even Yolanda came with some heat… Y’Anna started the song so well.. but MVP goes to my sister, Amber Bullock – she BLAZES!  But the hairstyles though… #ChurchOntheMoon. LOL!

The tribute to those lost this year – I appreciate the nod to the former hosts of classic BET shows.  Donnie Simpson was my favorite, I was kinda geeked to see Free at first, but then – I felt like she didn’t bring the heat I expected from her.  But good moment, nonetheless.  

Donna Summer’s tribute featuring Chantae Moore… She SANG! Even though at first I had to double take and see who it was, I was impressed and she still look good too. And that high note she hit… WHOA!  She still can do it.

Best Male R&B Artist (tight category, again… especially considering it’s BET) … I didn’t expect Chris to win , but he did. #NEXT

The Music Matters moments… ugh! #icant

Nicki Minaj Performance  – that string arrangement was DOPE!  I mean, I love the cello, and I could hear it really well.  And although I was worried about the foolishness that she pulled at the Grammy awards show.  But she did well.  And how bout them cakes though?  She usually tries to cover it up, but when she bent over… every brotha in the West hemisphere forgot what they were thinking for about 15 seconds.  I know I did. LOL!

Best Collaboration: (good category, yet again!) – but that Wale feat. Miguel… I don’t know if that should have won.  I mean it was a good song, but not the best on that category, nor was it the highest grossing or most played.  Yet that category was tough and it wasn’t a bad win.  Considering that neither Miguel nor Wale don’t win a lot of awards, that was cool I guess. The red jumpsuit that Miguel had on almost lost it for ‘em though. LOL!  However, I am a Wale (of old) fan and big shoutout to him on that award. 

The Ashford and Simpson tribute was so appropriate.  And she was sanging and PLAYING. Yes ma’am.  #GOODMusic is still alive.

Melanie Fiona Performance … she did that!  She really was sanging and she did it live.  Just fa real, flatfoot singing at its best. Normally, I don’t give her props for her material and her voice.  I think the production doesn’t work well for her – although her content is always on point.  I may just become a fan though.  She didn’t have to wow me by her appearance (even though she’s naturally beautiful) in order for me to pay her some attention.

Househusbands of Hollywood… Hilarious!  Last years was better – BUT last year was better because of the Nick Cannon moment alone.  This year didn’t have any cool cameos or random moments.  But Samuel L. Jackson had some brilliant comedic moments.

The Best Gospel Album award --- so random.  There were other people with albums this year, and that was perhaps the worst category of the night. And the Yolanda Adams acceptance speech was a direct message to Nicki Minaj, that was televised.  She was so right about the responsibility that artists have though.

D’Angelo Performance … okay this guy is an entertainer.  He blazed “Untitled”.  I went in – and showed Usher how to sing and maintain the falsetto for a whole part of a song.  And then when he started playing the piano. He LIT that piano up.  I almost called his people up and asked for lessons.  I can’t  imagine how many people are going to call him up now for features and concerts. And that band – SMACKED! I need to know who was hitting for him.  #MusicianMoment

Best Female R&B Artist (yet again, good category!) – and Bey won.  Wasn’t that a reason to come?  She knew she won that.  She looked nice though… and Bey got an ovation like she was the first lady for real.  She still cold though.  Lookin mighty nice, lady!

Wale Feat. Rick Ross Performance -  kinda boring.  Rick Ross didn’t pull of his shirt this year.  And we thank GOD.  It was just an uneventful performance that I could have done without.

Frankie Beverly tribute – the right thang at the right time.  When Tyler Perry was introducing Frankie Beverly & Maze I was slightly surprised that he was there. However, this is one of my favorite bands of all times.  LOVE em.  I couldn’t have thought of a better group right now that deserves this.  The tribute people were right: Joe, Faith Evans, and Tyrese… real singers!  I wanted Tyrese or Joe to help Frankie out sooner because he was DUMB hoarse.  But understand Frankie Beverly and Maze has a concert tour like whoa.  They have like 70 performance dates a year, so I could only imagine how tired he could be. But that band was DOPE.  Like they made that joint ROCK!

The Django moment was cool.  I actually like when they use moments to educate people on movies with historical relevance.  Jamie Foxx and Keri Washington

Best Video – Kanye feat. Jay-Z won that category.  That was a decent video though.  Jay was real smooth for that interruption.  I think it was right on time. And that was really interesting that Beyonce and Jay-Z were

Chris Brown Performance with half his body painted… okay.  I didn’t really get it. But the song choice was pretty cool.  And the flips were cold.  He hit them mugs very cleanly.  However, the subliminal three pyramids with the birds and such – I knew it was going to signal all sorts of Illuminati talk.  I don’t understand why people keep gassing that foolishness.  But I guess.

The Humanitarian Award presented to Al Sharpton was well deserved.  Al is irritating at times, and he does stick his neck out for publicity moments BUT – I cannot deny that he has influence, he does fact-check, and he often says what other people are politically afraid to say.  Al Sharpton deserves the recognition. (Stop it with the cheesy lines, “This election ain’t about Obama; it’s about your mama…”) Now I have to go shady on somebody… I have a problem about Nicki clappin it up when Al Sharpton talks about GOD and who GOD is to him, yet she says, “step yo dick up” in the mic during her acceptance speech… that’s an ultimate #FAIL and deserves a reiteration of Yolanda’s acceptance speech… #yeahIsaidIT

Whitney Houston Tribute – I just knew it was gonna be last.  They had to make it late in the show because we all were watching the show for 3 things: D’Angelo, Frankie Beverly & Maze, and the Whitney Tribute.  Since we have had a few months since Whitney’s death, it had to be SPOT on – otherwise the critics were going to have a field day via blog, television shows, and other media outlets.

·         Mariah – great introduction

·         Monica – AMEN!

·         Brandy – Good choice for her.  She’s emotional about Whitney’s death.  Upbeat songs are good for her, and they were pitched well for her voice being that she has a low register - I liked that!

          Cissy – took us to church.  That song was so appropriate for the moment.  And real talk – that should have been an Altar Call/Invitation to Discipleship moment.  Like definitely a tear-jerking moment.  And Cissy was really singing too!

·         Chaka – what an appropriate and non-cliché way of ending a tribute.  Usually people would have ended on a slow joint and really came after the tears with a “Saving All My Love”, “I Will Always Love You”, etc. I’m so glad it was an upbeat/uplifting ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was by far the best tribute that I’ve seen for Whitney.  GOOD JOB BET!

That Viewer’s Choice award = Pointless.  I could’ve done without that WHOLE situation.  Like Mindless Behavior reminds me of a 2012 B2K.  Seriously – their whole look is a formula.

Lauren London… just as FINE as she was before.  But “The Game” is irrelevant and so is she.  She is now the forgotten starlet who is Lil’ Wayne’s Baby mama.  #TryingTooHard maybe?

Tyga and Cash Out – those are the club songs.  But about the random stars that were getting camera cameos.  Like everyone knows those songs… Nicki Minaj… Jamie Foxx…  LOL! Ignorance…  I just think they are over saturated in the market so I don’t have to see or hear those songs any more than I already do.

The show ended well… BUT ---

Samuel L. Jackson sneak dissed  BET.  He said, “I’m going to get on a plane so I can be a professional again.” #YIKES … the BET sound man REALLY needs to learn how to cut mics off and just play the transitional track as the live cameramen stop feeding live.  SMH!

OVERALL…  I was happy that it had less low-budget moments than usual.  There were, of course, some side-eyeing moments with EXTRA Shade (like when Jay and Kanye won and Kim looked like she thought about hugging Bey… Bey immediately sat down. LOL!) Overall, the show was a significant upgrade.  Samuel L. Jackson served a purpose.  He did decent hosting … I would have preferred Kevin Hart to do it seeing as though they made upgrades in the show.  But Samuel L. wasn’t bad. By far, they made up for their less legitimate moments with the Whitney Tribute.  VERY WELL done.  I can tell they are trying to do better.  BET knows the critics are at their heads, and they are trying to appease a few of us.  LOL!