The Bad Boy Curse

I don’t care what Diddy says, Bad Boy comes off as one of the shadiest record labels in the industry.  Signing with Bad Boy automatically qualifies an artist to appear on the back of a milk carton a couple years later.  Their contracts equal life without parole, there are no plea deals.  I’m not exaggerating; many artists do not bounce back after they’re dropped from Bad Boy.  Think about it: Craig Mack, Carl Thomas, Black Rob, MASE, Loon, Shyne, Day 26, Da Band…and that’s just off the top of my head.  All of those artists FELL WAY OFF after Bad Boy.  Sure, arguments can be made that some of it was the artist fault; a few of them were on drugs...but not all of them. Some of these artists were really hot during their time at Bad Boy.  They were doing concerts, all over the radio; you couldn’t pick up Right On or The Source without seeing one the artist on the cover! Diddy is the world’s best promoter so his artists are always everywhere! Then one day, when he is done with them, they disappear.  Of course, Diddy always owns the rights to all of their music so he can create countless remixes of their hits.  In the meantime it always seems that even if the artist tried to market themselves to another label, they always flop (read: MASE, and Shyne). 

Bad Boy has reinvented themselves AGAIN. 2012 is supposed to be their year.  The reinvented label has a new focus which includes: Machine Gun Kelly, French Montana, Red Café, and (Diddy’s favorite side-piece) Cassie.  Albums for all four will drop later on this year.  In case you are wondering I did not forget Diddy-Dirty Money.  Nobody truly knows if Dirty Money was disbanded but given Bad Boy’s history I am sure that it was.  Too bad, Kalenna and Dawn are so talented.  As a singer/songwriter, Kalenna has worked with Aretha Franklin, Christina Milian, Lady Gaga, Ciara, etc.  Dawn is just an awesome singer and dancer.  We have all witnessed her dedication and passion from her days with Danity Kane.  Don’t worry.  These two ladies have the eye of the tiger. Both are working on solo projects.  Check out Dawn’s latest work here, and Kalenna’s latest promotional single and viral for her highly anticipated mixtape. Do you think they have what it takes to reverse the Bad Boy curse? (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Ne-Yo's New Gig

When an artist career is on hiatus (or on the downfall) we usually see them venture into a new direction.  Some try their hand at acting, fashion, opening up a restaurant, or becoming an over-exposed reality star. It is rare to hear that someone is promoted to a prestigious position at a record company.  Earlier this week it was confirmed that Ne-Yo left Def Jam and signed to Motown Records.  Not only did he sign a solo deal at Motown, but he brought over his Compound Entertainment Imprint AND was appointed as the new Senior VP of A&R!

Let’s break it down…shall we.  A&R is responsible for talent scouting and artist development. Thanks to the Internet and Digital Era this position has become obsolete; everything is DIY nowadays.  Artists have shied away from record labels because they tend to focus on commercial success versus artistry.

This is such a great fit for Ne-Yo.  First of all, it is THE legendary Motown Records; they are known for having success with several Soul and R&B artist.  These two genres are seriously lacking nowadays…almost non-existent.  Soul and R&B does not get the same promotion or airplay as it use to because many record executives are not familiar with the genre(s).  Ne-Yo’s resume shows that he knows a thing or two about a hit.  As an artist he has sold around four million records, and let’s not even begin to discuss his accomplishments as a songwriter and producer!  It is going to be interesting to see if he can incorporate his talents and accomplishments into creating a great roster of artist for Motown. Now that I think about it, this move was a no-brainer for all parties involved! Congrats Ne-Yo.  (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Step Your Game Up

A chilly winter morning can easily translate into a dull day. The snow, combined with the ice and rain, can put anybody into a gloomy mood. But what do I wake up to this morning? Yes, you guessed it…Nicki Minaj’s spanking-new (pun intended) video for “Stupid Hoe.”

Directed by legendary Video Producer Hype Williams, as usual he provided excellent visuals and great cinematography for the video. Hype’s use of lighting in his videos always makes objects pop and seem crisp. Then…there’s Nicki Minaj!

Alright, we all know what “Stupid Hoe” is about. It is (without a doubt) a diss directed at Lil Kim. The lyrics are sub-par at best, while some of the punch lines are noteworthy. For it to be her first video off  her upcoming album I seriously expected more! She was doing too much! Nicki Minaj likes to wear animal prints and wild colors…pink and blond hair…yeah I get that. But her gyrating, dancing, and popping her ass…and showing her almost bare ass…it was intriguing but unnecessary. What did that have to do with the song? The song is already catchy and annoying…must we really add sex into the video for people to like it? Nicki’s real fans are going to support her regardless (including me). I just feel as women sometimes we contribute to the stereotype. She is already going around calling another female a hoe; she’s contributing to the cause instead of helping it. Furthermore, she considers herself a Barbie, and what do little girls like? Little girls may not be able to buy the album but, they are able to turn on the TV, surf the internet, and use technology better than adults nowadays. When they see this, how do you think they are going to act?

I am FAR from a saint, I love ass and profanity as much as a sailor! She really had a chance to do something different here. She took the easy road out in my opinion and set a hell of a first impression. Nicki Minaj is one of those artists that can change the state of Hip Hop just because she is that influential. But no, we are left with a video of her stealing some of Beyonce’s and everybody else’s signature moves. Anything to remain relevant I guess. (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Promising LGBT Artist

The one thing that I love about music is its diversity.  It gives artist a platform to entertain, express their life experiences, or to creatively push the envelope.  The LGBT music scene embodies all of these things.  Surprisingly, it is overlooked by many people including the mainstream audience.  I understand- - America is very religious, diplomatic, and opinionated causing homosexuality to be misunderstood and shunned.  This is very true in the Hip Hop and R&B scene.  It is career suicide to be an openly gay artist, causing many artists to be popular in the LGBT music scene because they cannot break any mainstream barriers.  Perhaps it is their appearance that is questionable, I’m not sure! Either way, people are missing out on some quality music! 

If it is quality that you are looking for, I suggest that you check out SIYA.  SIYA is a young, up and coming artist from Brooklyn that people should definitely pay attention to.  You can tell by her demeanor that she has something to prove.  Her rhymes are gritty; she has been through it all and she’s not afraid to put her life story on a track regardless of what anybody thinks.  Her lyrics show that she is confident, arrogant, but true to herself.  Her repertoire of music has something that all walks of life can relate to. Ironically, she is just getting started. SIYA has the ability to break barriers. 

If it is a head banger that you are looking for, I suggest that you check out LAST OFFENCE (he has been my personal favorite for years). LAST O is an MC that I think has the potential to spit with the best of them.  His word play makes you have to rewind the track; he masters the “supa dupa” flow just as well as mainstream artist however, he manages to make it his own. Like SIYA, on every track LAST O manages to introduce you to his world. Just beware: LAST O does not bite his tongue! With exquisite beat selection, LAST O’s songs will have you wanting to hear more.  When he breaks the mainstream barrier, he is going to be a problem.  

Understand: I am not a promoter, groupie, or all of the above; I am huge fan music.  There’s nothing wrong with learning something new…Food for thought. (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

New Era of Female MC's

I am super excited that Nicki Minaj’s sophomore album will be released in a couple of weeks.  Her debut album was a major success, and this time around, Nicki promises us that this album will be epic!  With promotional singles like “Stupid Hoe” and “Roman in Moscow,” it makes me wonder what to expect on Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.  I am somewhat excited because there is potential for this album to have less singing and more rapping; Roman is “supposed” to totally take over on this album (I’m thinking “Roman’s Revenge”). Is mixtape Nicki going to make a comeback?

Let’s keep it real, Nicki Minaj is the only female MC in the game right now.  Even if her sophomore album is not successful, it is ok because she does not have any competition at the moment (Lil Kim does not count).  There has been at least one struggling female MC (like Keys) that tried to outshine Nicki, but she was eventually overlooked.  Sure, there are plenty of female RAPPERS out there paving their own way: Teyana Taylor, Brianna, Lola Monroe, and the White Girl Mob.  However, these females are just rappers. Rappers just recite the rhymes to the beat.  An MC is someone who has to recite the rhymes, move the crowd, and lyrical crush their opponents. Nicki Minaj is a female MC; this year might mark the birth of two more. 

Iggy Azalea is an Australian MC that can spit with the big boys.  Her delivery is fast and her words punch; she speaks with confidence.  Although she has only lived in the United States for a few years, she has a great musical pallet. In songs like “Pu$$y” and “My World” she manages to blend Cali and Southern sounds.  (The heavy bass lines, chopped and screwed lyrics, with a little bit of a Cali swag; you can’t beat that!)  She is everything that the White Girl Mob tries to be. 

Then there is Azealia Banks.  She is a 20-year old Harlem MC that attended that same performing arts high school as Nicki Minaj! And yes, you guessed it…she can rap and sing too! Her delivery varies between fast and slow; she can give it to you however you want it. Her lyrics are arrogant, feminine, and vulgar.  She is raw like Lil Kim in 1996; and if you can keep up, you will see that she speaks with purpose.  There are no gimmicks behind Azealia; no different characters, different voices, outrageous costumes, alter egos…nothing.  Her talent and impeccable/diverse beat selection speaks for itself. 

Both Iggy and Azealia are a breath of fresh air and 2012 could very well be their year.  Nicki Minaj and the rest of the world should get familiar. (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

CHINGY

Don't call it a comeback!!! Chingy wishes that he can utter these words, but in reality that is exactly what Chingy is doing.  I know that Chingy has released some new music here and there; I recently got wind of a new song he released this week called "Jackpot Back." At first glance, I thought it was going to be yet another remix of the infamous "Tupac Back." I was quite surprised when it wasn't; Chingy actually did his thing on the track! His delivery was aggressive but he was not over doing; in a way he gave us a glimpse of the Chingy we fell in love with in 2003.  Here's the problem: it's not 2003 or 2007 (don't act like "Fly Like Me" ft. Amerie was not your song!!!). The rap game has changed so much while Chingy has been on hiatus.  If you have problems with your label, distribution deal, or if you're taking time off to pursue your acting career, that could hurt you in the long run.  The rap game does not sleep, and it's brutal.  One day you are hot and the next day you are a distant memory.  We have seen a lot of rappers over the years that had some hits, or had potential, but just did not make it because their buzz died.  Once your buzz is gone, it's hard to get it back without a great Marketing Team or a co-sign from a popular artist. Then again, 2012 is the year of Super Groups (MMG, G.O.O.D. Music, etc) and Indie Artist.  Backing from a major label is not always needed nowadays for your music to reach the masses. I want Chingy to comeback, trust me he used to be my guy (I'm currently doing the "Right Thurr" dance!!).  If all else fails he can just sign to YMCMB, they are trying to sign everybody (read: Young Buck) now. (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

The Game Season 5 Premiere

Can we say AWKWARD!!! The Season 5 premiere of The Game had everybody confused...I mean EVERYBODY! People on Twitter could not tweet fast enough.  The beginning presented itself with a couple of random situations.  Melanie and Derwin arguing about an abortion, Malik's new girlfriend unconscious in a garage, Jason having a shotgun wedding in Mexico?  I give the show credit though, while presenting all these random situations, they did a recap of how we got to this point with showing us "the previous 12 hours." Still, the show was all over the place!  Everything was random including the introduction of new characters.  They placed Brandy in the script like she was there before.  There was no introduction of where she came from, she's all of sudden in the script now! Through the last four seasons we know that the life of the characters on The Game can be chaotic, but these situations tonight just seemed unreal.  It's like they just occurred in order to have shock value for the premiere.  Did the directors and the producers want the audience to be confused? Well, mission accomplished! On the plus side though, they have managed to capture everybody's attention.  With all of the drama that happened in one hour, I can not help but admit that I will be tuning in every Tuesday to see what happens next.  (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Common vs. Drake

The internet has been on fire lately with the new Common vs. Drake beef! Apparently, Common is not feeling Drake at all! Over the weekend many people have guessed the beef is a result of a love triangle gone bad. There's no secret that Drake and Serena got together after Serena and Common broke up.  I don't know if I would say that they "dated" but they definitely hooked up.  We all know that Drake runs through women like they're going out of style.  He must have not got the memo that Serena's tennis cakes were off limits.

I'm trying to remain neutral as possible in this situation (not that I'm directly involved). I LOVE Hip Hop and I love when rappers beef because it becomes a pissing contest.  Rap beef causes an artist to dig deep and to showcase their best. They have to prove that they are better than the person who is calling them out. It's an art form in itself; only the strongest survive!

The best rap beef are those that require lyrical skills; those that set a rapper apart from a lyricist; those that set a rapper apart from an MC. Think Jay-Z vs. Nas, LL Cool J vs. Kool Moe Dee, Tupac vs. Biggie, KRS-One vs. Nelly (alright, that last one doesn't count because Nelly is no competition).  These are some of the greatest rap beefs of ALL TIME! All of these guys are students of the game, they were raised on classic Hip Hop...you know, they were around before Hip Hop was even a genre of music!  Common is in this category as well.

I'm a huge fan of Drake!!! He's been THAT GUY for a good three years now; he cannot do wrong in my eyes.  I love how he's versatile with rapping and singing, he blends the two well. (One of my personal favorites: The Deuces Remix, it makes my heart tingle! And let’s not forget to mention the entire Take Care album).  He's been in the game for less than five years, and yet he has had a couple of rappers come at him besides Common.  Remember, the beef with Pusha T  and the beef with every rapper from Toronto that has been ignored.

This Common beef is different.  Right now, even though Drake is great at what he does, he is just a trend.  Longevity speaks volumes versus a guy that has gotten a lucky start.  Common has endured all of the style changes in Hip Hop and he is still here; that says something.  His body of work over the years speaks for himself.  However, while he is calling Drake out on "Sweet" and "Stay Schemin Remix" he should remember that there was a time when people were saying the same thing about him.  Nevertheless, Rounds 1 and 3 go to Common.  Common gets extra points for calling Drake out directly with his latest diss.  Round 2 goes to Drake just because his verse on the original "Stay Schemin" goes hard. However, if there is a Round 4, will Drake address Common directly? (This will be a first for Drake because he is known for saying things subliminally). I guess we will have to wait and see....either way I'm #TeamCommon all the way! (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Soulja Boy: 2012's Best Rapper

Remember Soulja Boy's song "2012 Best Rapper" off of his Paranormal Activity mixtape?  2012 is supposed to be his year! Don't get me wrong, Soulja Boy has had some hits: the infectious "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," "Kiss Me Thru The Phone," the motivating "Turn My Swag On," and the mind-numbing "Pretty Boy Swag."  All of these are favorites of mine however; it was the beats and the simple lyrics that were catchy.  Soulja boy is not a lyrical rapper.  When you think of the word "lyrical" you think of Jay-Z, Lupe, Mos Def, or Jadakiss.   I'm not a Soulja Boy hater; I like some of his music.  Soulja Boy is one of the rappers who say stuff that is catchy but when you sit back and think about what he says, he leaves you scratching your head.  He is good at making club bangers, songs you can dance too; to claim that he is supposed to be 2012's best rapper is a stretch.  We would have to see progression since his 2007 debut.  His following CD's (iSouljaBoyTellem and The DeAndre Way) have failed to match the success of Souljaboytellem.com.  In turn, his popularity has decreased while more promising rappers have surpassed him.  Some newcomers are actually rapping with substance, and the state of Hip Hop is constantly evolving.  Soulja Boy's 4th album, Promise, is guaranteed to best his best work yet.  I am interested to see if Soulja Boy has found his lyrical niche.  (Follow me @eyediditmyway)

Love and Hip Hop 1.2.11

Alright, Love and Hip Hop is one of my favorite pastimes.  I've been in love with Hip Hop since I was three.  I remember the first time that I heard RUN DMC on my dad's stereo, so how can I NOT watch this show?  But this is totally different.  We're talking about Hip Hop in 2011...things have changed.  This show is about nothing but drama; and sometimes we're blessed enough to hear a little new music.

There is always somebody crying in every episode; it is usually one of the girls, but Rich is known to cry as well.  As much as I would love to write about the awesome cat fight that took place between Erica and Kimbella, I have to focus on the end of the show that just aired.  You know what I'm talking about: THE PROPOSAL!  Finally, the moment came that we all have been waiting for: Chrissy FINALLY got her ring (Jimmy had to wait a couple years after Beyonce's smash hit to follow the instructions).  I have to admit, the ring he put on her finger was HUGE and full of diamonds.  Who wouldn't want a ring like that?  With that said, his style was all off.  He looked dapper; and the way VH1 presented the situation it looked like a surprise.  If you ask me, if Jim mysteriously appears in Miami after you left him in NY for a break, what other reason could he be there for?  If he was going to Ike Turner Chrissy in the restaurant he would of did it in front of everybody. (Clears Throat)...moving on....the way he proposed was not passionate or meaningful at all.  Chivalry is dead! Jim did not get down on one knee; he didn't ask her to marry him...nothing.  He showed her the ring in the box, stood up the whole time, and put it on her finger...that was it.  She broke down of course because she finally got what she had been waiting for.  But let’s look at this closely.  First, Chrissy has been waiting seven years for this day...we might as well say a decade! Second, she proposed to him first...months before he proposed to her.  She threw a big party and invited his family, her friends, EVERYBODY to propose to him! And Jim still did not plan a wedding date or buy her a ring.  Third, after that day he just brushed her off.  He was still carrying on with his life like he will make his decision one day.  All Chrissy did was continue to nag him about marriage for MONTHS! And let’s not forget to mention that she had her Uncle talk to Jim to pressure him into marrying her.  Chrissy put in a lot of work to get this crappy marriage proposal.  In the end, it is whatever works for them and what makes them happy.  I just expected a bigger moment on the show but hey, that proposal put the "real" in reality.  (Follow me @eyediditmyway)