Can you really tell a cheater just by looking at them? Do they have a certain swagger? Do they look like a nerd? What kind of clothes do they wear? Do...
First off, I will say that I’m new to much of Isaac Carree’s music. His first album, Uncommon Me, was released in 2011. But he is by no means a stranger to the music industry. He served a brief stint in fellow gospel singer John P. Kee’s V.I.P. choir and also was a member of the group Men of Standard. As part of Men of Standard, he released five studio albums in only 10 years (1996 to 2006). Now, he’s prepping the release of his second solo album, Reset (set to be released on June 25, 2013). Just in time before the release of Reset, he has unveiled a remix to his single, “Clean This House” featuring R & B super star, R. Kelly.
The “Clean This House” remix is a great match for Isaac Carree and R. Kelly, because their voices are similar and blend well together. Plus, R. Kelly was probably the best fit to reach the masses on a relateable level from the secular music side. He’s the only man in R & B that can effortlessly switch from singing a love song about car ignitions and then cleaning our spiritual homes. I think the original version and the remix are both an awesome testimony that will draw a lot of people closer to God because it’s so transparent.
Check out the “Clean This House” remix, the original version, plus a throwback from Men of Standard below. Will you be pushing the “reset” button June 25th?
Chrisette Michele is an artist that has continued to throw curve balls at her fans since 2007′s I Am, her debut album. Three studio albums and two mixtapes later, she’s as strong, confident and sexy as ever…..but ironically more vulnerable than ever too. On I am, she was the good girl who wasn’t giving up much more than a kiss on a first date. She was wholesome, powerful, but she lacked an edge. On her second album, Epiphany, she started to come into her own and showcased more of a confidence that was new to her listeners. This is perhaps most evident on that album’s title track and lead single, “Epiphany”. Here she finally musters up the nerve to kick a cheating, no good boyfriend to the curb…..with a sweet southern smile still in tact. Soon after, we saw her delve more into more Hip Hop inspired tracks, with a street edge, on her third album, Let Freedom Reign. She collaborated with Rick Ross, Talib Kweli and Black Thought. Even the love songs on that album had a slight militant vibe to them. Take “I Don’t Know Why, But I Do” for instance (written by John Legend and Jazmine Sullivan). She knows the man she’s in love with isn’t the best one for her, but there’s an unapologetic air that she carries that’s irresistible. Take that Rihanna. Now, Chrisette Michele has dramatically changed her image with a short-cropped natural cut, noticeably smaller frame, and more eclectic music (check out “Favela Chic” and “Your Fair Lady” from her Audrey Hepburn…. mixtape). But the question now is has all this change and evolution made her better?
YES! Chrisette Michele’s latest studio album, Better, is simply put, just that. She takes some of the power house vocals she’s always been known for (“Better), and mixes them with newfound wisdom (“Charades” featuring 2 Chains – also from her Audrey Hepburn….. mixtape) and sex appeal (“Love In The Afternoon” featuring Nello Luchi). She goes back to her roots in a way, considering the majority of Better focuses on the core of R & B. There’s the butterflies of a new love, being in the midst of love and the pain of love lost. On one of the singles, “A Couple of Forevers” she takes a brilliant sample from the classic “Stairway to Heaven” and sings “I’m not asking for much/Just a couple of forevers….I’m the only one/ You’re the only one”. This song is smooth and timeless in its own right. Her voice is perfect on this track. The title track “Better” finds her hopeful for new love, although you can hear a tinge of disappointment of failed relationships in her voice. But to her credit, most people wish they sounded this good talking about their search for love. On “Snow” she cautions her lover that she wants to give in and be free, but she’s a afraid to let her walls down. Lyrically, this song is very interesting. Another lyrical whirlwind is “Visual Love”. This is definitely one of the album’s standout tracks and also one of the most upbeat. She boldly says “Your eyes tell me you love me/But I don’t think you do”. She’s saying that she’s more than eye candy and shooting down any man who wants her just for her looks.
Better is not without its pitfalls, or more appropriately – speed bumps, as with virtually any album. However, there isn’t a bad song here (and the deluxe version has 20 tracks). There are just some songs that are better than others, no pun intended. “Supa” has intricate vocal arrangements and a soft rock vibe, complete with a crying guitar and a bass line that sounds like water droplets. I can’t say this is necessarily radio single, but it’s one of the best songs on the album hands down. It takes the kind of musical risk that I’ve learned to love and respect about Chrisette Michele. Speaking of risks, she turns up the confidence-o-meter to the max on “Ten Foot Stilletos”. It’s part neo soul, part R & B and part Funk (if there is such a genre). To top it all off, it was produced by singer/songwriter Musiq Soulchild. He should definitely produce for others more often. This track has radio appeal and will more than likely hit big in clubs for the grown and sexy. “Get Through The Night” is easily her most vulnerable moment (complete with an in-depth interlude preceding it). The track is backed with an adult contemporary, latin inspired bare bones guitar riff that pair perfectly with her voice. The production here really allows Chrisette Michele to showcase her amazing voice and how well she can control it. “I know I’ll smile in the daytime/Wait for the sunlight…../Just gotta get through tonight”. I personally think she’d be making a mistake if this song isn’t released as a single or at least to radio.
Trust me, if you’re into R & B music, this is one you don’t want to miss out on. There’s a reason why Chrisette Michele is “better” than most of her peers in the music industry.
Jaheim has been gone from the scene for a little while. He’s had a few guest appearances (most recently on Ledisi’s ”Stay Together”). But now he’s back with his new song, “Age Ain’t A Factor”. The most hilarious line of the song is when he sings, “You look better the older you get/ Benjamin Button”. He pays homage to actresses like Stacey Dash and Vivica Fox and leaves one to believe that he prefers dating older women. Slightly corny lyrics aside, I’m really feeling this one. I’ve always liked Jaheim’s music and this song is a catchy first single.
His new CD is coming soon, but he hasn’t reveled the title of it just yet. It will be interesting to see what direction he decides on for his new CD. Check out “Age Ain’t A Factor” below, plus a throwback from Jaheim. What do you think about the song? Bump It or Dump It?
Danity Kane. Believe it or not, they’ve been around for almost 10 years. Time really does fly. In 2005, Aubrey O’ Day, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres, Dawn Richard and D Woods, 5 women won Diddy’s infamous “Making The Band” that season and quickly became Danity Kane. With the long lineage of in fighting within other famous girl groups like The Supreme, Spice Girls, En Vogue and TLC, it was bound that the girls would eventually implode. First there were the antics of Aubrey O’ Day, the group’s most attention grabbing member. Then the love affair between group member Dawn Richard and Que, also from Making The Band and the group Day 26. Aubrey was eventually kicked out of the group and Diddy quickly became the brunt of showing favoritism with Dawn. Considering that she was immediately included in his group Dirty Money after Danity Kane disbanded, there may have been some truth to that. I must admit, I’ve been more of a fan of Dawn’s eclectic solo music, rather than her music with Danity Kane. But somebody was obviously paying attention to the group as they released 2 back to back platinum album albums (2006′s Danity Kane and 2008′s Welcome to the Dollhouse).
Fast forward 5 years after their sophomore release, and all of the women decide to have lunch one day and then boom…..Danity Kane is birthed again. This time, the group wants to return without Diddy as their manager. Not play devil’s advocate, but I wonder who will be their manager this go round and if they will get as much media publicity. There’s no doubt that “Making the Band” catapulted their career further than their sheer talent did by itself. It seems like these 5 women are ready top reunite and take the world by storm. But there’s one small problem…..Danity Kane will return without the D. D Woods that is. Apparently she was asked to attend the lunch meeting, but she declined. But focal point Dawn Richard doesn’t seem to phased by it. ”We asked D. Woods to come but then again, everybody has their place and their time and that’s okay. I think it was great for us to meet, and there’s love all around. We’re too grown for it not to be. …What the focus needs to be on is not who didn’t show up, but the fact that after six years, the monumental response that came from it.” And here’s what D Woods had to say….”There was a lot of outstanding issues an obviously that was the only way it could be resolved,” she told Hollyscoop of disbanding the group. “And I know that I did my very best in the situation … But if your services are not being appreciated, you gotta take it elsewhere.” Seems like there’s an underlying insinuation that her presence was not wanted at some point in the group’s hey day. This is ironic, considering she was always my favorite member.
I think the real question here is are fans really yearning for a Danity Kane reunion? I’m not too sure. And furthermore, how will the absence of D Woods affect their return. Time will tell as she is prepping up to release her solo album (after several mixtapes). Meanwhile, Dawn Richard recently released her own solo album earlier this year, titled GoldenHeart. Stay tuned….my suggestion is they start up another reality show if they want to reach platinum status again.
Check out this throwback Danity Kane video while they were in their prime:
