It’s been 11 years since the ruff ryding, self proclaimed pit bull in a skirt has released a studio album. The last time time we really saw her make...
I remember being about 7 years old and seeing these 2 guys on TV rapping with a crazy energy and an image that seemed similar to Kid N Play, but somehow...
Last week I heard the interesting news that two of my favorite artists, “R & B Divas” TV star Syleena Johnson and Musiq Soulchild, were both coming out with new music this Summer. Sounds good right? Well, what I wasn’t prepared for was a duets CD collaboration from the artists. Although Musiq is a great singer and songwriter, something about being matched with Syleena Johnson’s powerhouse vocals made me skeptical. But after taking a listen to their new single, Feel the Fire, from the album 9INE, to be released on July 9, 2013, I have a change of heart. Everybody seems to be incorporating reggae in their music now (see today’s earlier post, “Eve Lets Lip Lock Loose”).
I have to admit that their voices mesh together way better than I imagined they would. This song is definitely on fire and if 9INE sounds anything like this, I’m sure it will be a big success. I also hope they both get the attention they deserve from it as they are both extremely underrated in my opinion. Apparently they never set out to do a full album together. They were originally only supposed to record “Feel the Fire” as a duet for Kemar McGregor’s reggae compilation album. Syleena Johnson stated that the title for their album was heavily influenced by numerology. Kemar McGregor produced the entire album in which the pair recorded nine tracks in nine days. They are also both born in September, the ninth month of year. What do you think about the song and are you feeling the concept of them doing a duets album? Would you bump it or dump it?
It’s been 11 years since the ruff ryding, self proclaimed pit bull in a skirt has released a studio album. The last time time we really saw her make waves on the music charts was with her album Evo-o-lution, which featured the single, “Gangsta Lovin” with Alicia Keys. After 2 label switches, fighting with Interscope over the release over hew album and relocating to live in London, Eve is finally back to blow our minds again. But the question is, does she still have the same bite that she did back in her hey day?
Lip Lock, which Eve explains is a 2 part title that pays homage to her favorite physical feature, her lips, and the cocky statement that she has the game on lock. It’s no secret that a lot in music (and life in general) has changed since Eve has disappeared from the music scene. One of the most prevalent things is that of fan loyalty to an artist. It’s all about who’s number 1 at the moment and the new face that will be number 1 by tomorrow morning. Gone are the days when artists sell diamond albums (10 million records). These days, it’s cause for a celebration if an artist reaches platinum sales. Instead of waiting on a major label to release her music, Eve opted to take matters into her own hands and released Lip Lock on her own label, From the Rib.
She kicks the CD off strong with the aptly titled “Eve”, featuring Miss Kitty. Eve proves that while she may have been gone for over a decade, she hasn’t lost her rapping skills. “She Bad Bad” is the CD’s first single and has a reggae tinged, hard thumping base line that finds Eve chanting, “You know my style already/Scorpion, she stings she’s lethal”. Although this is one of Lip Lock‘s standout tracks, the remix that closes out the CD is a bit redundant. The only change are additional verses from Juicy J and Pusha T. Perhaps the sore thumb of the album is ironically the most uplifting. “Make It Out This Town” featuring Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship has a great positive message, but doesn’t gel cohesively with the rest of Lip Lock. It teeters on the fence of being too pop and sounds like a reworked song for Toby Mac. But as Eve proved on her early hit, “Love Is Blind” featuring Faith Evans, she can still make cautionary music cool. Somehow this song lacks that same effect.
There are plenty of guest appearances here as well from Dawn Richard (of Danity Kane fame), Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, and Chrisette Michele. Of these appearances, the tracks that stand out the most are the Missy Elliott (whose presence is barely noticed) assisted “Wanna Be” and the grimey Snoop Dogg club song “Mama In The Kitchen”. On “Wanna Be”, she boldly calls out no one specific for biting her style over the years. Speaking of style biters, it’s interesting that a few of her songs, most notably “Keep Me From You” featuring Dawn Richard and “All Night”, sound like a Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj mash up. But in her defense, Eve has been in music industry for over 15 years, so it’s safe to say she was probably just taking back some of her own thunder. But Eve pulls out the big guns at the end of her CD and saves some of the best tracks for last. “Grind or Die” and “Zero Below” embody the spirit of Eve right before she made it big as the first female of Ruff Ryders. Lip Lock is solid as a whole, but I must say these 2 tracks stand a little taller above the rest. Eve shows a littlle bit of her sexy side on “Forgive Me”. This is another reggae inspired cut where she says that her man just can’t leave the house because she’s so sexy.
Although Eve doesn’t reach any new heights with Lip Lock, it’s definitely worth a listen. It’s refreshing to see that she has decided against conformity of what’s currently hot in music. Hopefully we won’t have to wait another 11 years for the next release from rap music’s pit bull in a skirt.
You try to get up from your chair but you just manage to stumble and barely catch your own fall. Yep, it snuck up on you pretty hard. You thought you could handle it, but now you realize it may just be too much to bear. About 30 minutes have passed while you focus your gaze on one spot on the wall. Now you’re ready. You can do it. You get up and slowly try to walk it off. But this buzz is stronger than you could have ever realized. Especially since it’s the kind you can’t even drink. It’s the buzz that people are spreading about you…..but what’s the big deal about a buzz? There’s nothing really serious about it…..right?
Everywhere you turn, there is some one talking about some one. And for those that may not utter their thoughts to another party, they still have the preconceived judgments in their mind. We all are judgmental by nature in my opinion, based on what we think is the norm. But that’s just it. Is there really a norm or just what we’re used to on an individual basis? I’ve recently been in a couple of situations where I could have heard a healthy dose of “buzz” worthy news about someone else, but I decided to cut the person(s) off and not listen to it. Why? Well for one I just didn’t care. I’m a firm believer that when you have enough going on in your own life, what other people are doing is the least of your concern. This is not to say that you lack concern for family, friends and loved ones, but it does mean you don’t have the time or want to make time for gossip about people (especially those you love). What kind of friends would we be to partake in that? Just a thought.
Another reason why I decided to block out the buzz was because I don’t want that same karma coming back on me. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. Although people will talk until the end of time, why increase your chances of being talked about by discussing what someone else is doing, who they’re doing it with, how much money they have or why they really went to the hospital. Who really cares?! Have I said some things about people that I probably shouldn’t have? Sure, as I’m almost positive many of you have as well. But some things we should really strive to not make a habit.
People will talk. That is a proven fact. But it’s not so much about getting buzzed as it is what the buzz is for. Just when you think no one is buzzing about you, just look over your shoulder…..it’s there. We don’t even have to look hard for it. But in regards to passing down the gossip, it may be a good idea to just say “the buzz stops here”. I’m buzzed. Are you? After all, aren’t we worth being talked about?
Some people believe a sandwich isn’t a sandwich without pickles. I like pickles on sandwiches at times, but I won’t say it’s a necessity. But restaurants like Chick Fil A have made pickles a staple ingredient in their sandwiches. When it comes to fast food, it’s difficult to find an establishment that gets your order right….just the way you like it. But Tina Drouin was in for a rude awakening when she didn’t get her steak and cheese sandwich ordered to her liking. The employee actually put all of the ingredients she asked for on the sandwich. So you would think there wouldn’t be a problem, right??? Think again. Tina became irate at the employee for putting too many pickles on her sandwich. In fact, she became so irritated that she decided to assault the employee after she was turned down from a refund request. WTH?!
Yes, the employee was just minding their own business and following the customer’s orders when Tina went all the way left. She said there was “too much s$%t” on her sandwich and proceeded to punch the employee. The report doesn’t tell whether or not the employee was male or female. Either way, the employee would have been well within their rights to retaliate in any way they saw fit. All of this just happened on Monday at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs at Quincy train station around 2:00 pm, just yesterday. Not only did Tina curse at the employee and punch them, but she also continued yelling at them and even threw 2 heavy jars of pickles at the employee which flew to the floor and shattered in pieces.
I don’t get it. If Tina has such a vendetta against too many pickles, why even put them on the sandwich in the first place. And how many is too many? 3, 4, or 5 slices? Ms. Drouin tried to run from authorities after her sour outburst, but didn’t quite make it and was detained until police arrived. When questioned about her violent motives for assaulting the employee, she just simply said they put “too many pickles”. When I first read about this I was angry and I’m still angry now as I’m typing this blog. The only thing left to say is that employee must have a very high tolerance…..one that’s way higher than mine would have been. Pickles on a sandwich will never be the same again.
What are your thoughts about this punch for a peck of pickled peppers? Say that 5 times fast…
