Summer Forecast

My forecast for the summer:
Yeeeezzzzyyyyy! He’s baaaaaaackk! *Power has been dropped as a not so silent sample of what’s to come and I (in addition to a largely excited population) am ready. I’m personally so impatient that I feel like I could predict that this upcoming album is going to be a heavy marriage of Late Registration and 808s. Just based of this one single, I can immediately hear the same beats that resemble Late Registration’s “Crack Music”…but then his flow starts and though it’s lacking the autotune, his style IS 808s. In this one song all by itself, if you listen carefully, he’s explaining the justifications for his recent actions. And if you take an even closer listen, you’d notice that there is no apology given, just reasoning. Love it. He reprimand’s the media for jumping on him about who he is. And like I said all along, Kanye was hurt—and everybody has their way of expressing their pain. Imagine being a famed starlet with eyes always on you and the most devastating thing happens to you (idk, like losing your mom) and you have nowhere to expel those feelings privately. So what do you do? You interrupt undeserving acceptance speeches and show up visibly drunk on the Red Carpet. Oh, k. Well that’s probably not what a non-celeb would do, but my point is: he was entitled to his emotions. And now he’s back and he’s gonna tell us all exactly how he feels right now.

Drizzy Drake as everybody (except me) likes to refer him as, finally let go of that album of his. It only took forever, but at least it’s here, and this one is official. Guys, that first “album” was called a mixtape. And a mixtape means a compilation of original lyrics over usually already released or remixed music, and/or basically an unsigned artist dropping their own work without any connections to a record label…ladies and gentlemen that’s So Far Gone. [we’ll discuss mixtapes and the premise of sampling at a later date]. Anyway, now we have Thank Me Later. All I can say is that I’m thanking him for not effin up and releasing something that would have demonstrated how premature he is in this game. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the mixtape—a lot. But something happened; he jumped up too soon and thought he was bigger than the hype, unfortunately losing genuine music-lovers as fans in the process. The album sounds like a continuation and damn near mirrors what we’ve already heard in So Far Gone. But I see his formula, if it ain’t broke—don’t fix it. So Far Gone had a great following, so why stray from what’s successful? Thank Me Later isn’t full of anything truly unexpected, it’s mainly a relief that it’s a good listen-worthy album. Oh I know what’s missin this time around: no male vocals, i.e. Trey Songz, LOL.
*Fireworks *Karaoke *Show Me A Good Time *Fancy *Unforgettable *Thank Me Now

JamRock! I will quickly admit that I’m new to the reggae game, I’m just now getting acquainted with some of the classics from the Marley clan as a whole. My only knowledge of a good reggae song was Lauryn Hill’s remake duet with a voiceover of Bob Marley on “Turn The Lights Down Low”. Despite it all, it’s nonetheless a great timing for the summer and the fact that Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley have dropped a rap-duo album just recently (Distant Relatives). After seeing them perform live, which is now on the list for one of the best shows I’ve seen…ever, my eyes have been opened to the world of the Rastafari beat. Considering that Nas is going through some very personal hardships (bad divorce from Kelis) all his strength and animosity has been torn into each track, and ‘lil Marley’s love for the African mankind speaks volumes.
*Patience *Strong Will Continue *Count Your Blessings *Africa Must Wake Up

And when Lupe settles his managerial disputes with his label and we finally get our hands on LASERS, then I’ll fully dedicate my analysis of that greatness that is to come. I just can't do it justice as of now.
*I’m Beaming *What You Want