STR8NYC.COM » music

STR8 GLOSSY: MARY J. BLIGE COVERS EBONY MAG

LexAve — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:33:47 +0000

Check out the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, gracing the cover of Ebony magazine’s October issue…on stands now! In the cover issue MJB sets the record straight those rumors, her demons and her soulmate. Below find a few magazine scans of the issue.
Sidenote: I’m not going to even address that horrible and non-flattering photo of MJB on the cover. I mean…look at her face…she just looks pissed and annoyed. Lol.

After skimming through the piece, MJB brought up a topic that’s been the conversation of my friends and I. Didn’t MJB put out better material and heart felt songs when she was “not” happy? Don’t you miss you the old Mary? It’s no question that depression, heart ache and just being in a negative space at times brings the most creative and chart topping songs. And Mary has come a long from those “Be Happy” and “Going Down” days. She’s now happy, both spiritually and emotionally. Do we really want to see MJB back in chaos and pain?

FOLLOW @str8nyc @lexave

STR8 VIDEOS: KENDRICK LAMAR- “A.D.H.D.”

Noel — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:07:01 +0000

RockSmith presents the video to “A.D.H.D.” by Kendrick Lamar, directed by NYC’s own Va$htie in NYC. This song is one of my favorites from Section80. If you haven’t downloaded it yet…you’re seriously sleeping. Before checking out the video, check out what Vashtie said regarding the video concept:

“I wanted the video to illustrate the emotion he paints with words, while avoiding gratuitous shots of any substance. Despite the song’s title and content, the focus isn’t the drugs, but rather, that basic human experience of apathetic youth. That simple mood of emptiness which we choose to either address or self-medicate.”

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!
FOLLOW @str8nyc @noel3leon @lexave

STR8 TALK: “WATCH THE THRONE” KING ON THE CHARTS BUT HIP HOP’S BLUEPRINT?!

LexAve — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:01:46 +0000

Words by LaVisionary
Edited by LexAve

It’s easy to sit and judge the craftsmanship of an artist, and thanks to Twitter just about anybody can stand on their soapbox and do so these days. On August 8th, 2011 at the stroke of midnight Kanye West and Jay-Z dropped an album with more hype than the ‘08 elections x Raven Symone’s weight loss combined. The amount of hype and anticipation prior to its release, made critics wonder- will it live up to the hype or fail? With 436,000 copies sold so far, “Watch the Throne” has out beat the hype, to say the least.

The joy of “Watch the Throne” is grounded hip hop but also crosses over other genres. Given the influence that Jay-Z and Ye’ possess respectively, they have branched out and given hardcore hip hop fans a glimpse at life beyond the invisible hip hop barbed wire. On the 16 track (deluxe version) album, the duo dabbles in classical, dubstep and samples from some artists and songs neither you nor I have likely heard of. The mystery is what makes this entire album worth it, you never know what to expect when the next track comes on. That especially goes for the three minutes of silence before the Illest Motherf**ker Alive song. Yeah, we couldn’t figure that one out either. Illuminati? Probably not.

To critique each and every song would be unfair and almost impossible, so let’s just comment on the album in its entirety. “Watch The Throne” has nestled itself upon a pedestal that mere mortals won’t be able to reach. If anything, this album should be classified as motivation (sans Kelly Rowland) to other rappers on the come up and already in the game. A Blueprint of sorts for all those College Dropouts that haven’t quite found their niche. Yup, this is the album that can school them all.
Best part of this album, is the production…hands down-second to none. The lyrics are on par as well. Ye’s production style is splashed all over the album, but Jay-Z’s popular 90s swag is interlaced throughout most of the tracks. Some may say Kanye out shines Jigga on this album, but if you think about it, at this point in Jay-Z’s career he has little to prove. He’s had his shine and built an empire. Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the riches and galore. Ye’ recovered from a few celebrity scandals and still lives up to the bar he set for himself with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. These two have created “grown folks” hip hop music; countless metaphors, double entendres and enough hidden punch lines to confuse any battle rapper.

Needless to say, these two gentlemen have crafted an album that will be recognized as a classic for years to come. “Watch the Throne” folks, and pay close attention to these kings! Oh yeah, not to mention “Watch The Throne” was the first hip hop album to release before it even leaked…if that doesn’t major, don’t know what does!
FOLLOW @str8nyc @lexave @lavisionary

STR8 LIVE! WORDSPIT x COCOA SARAI x THE ILLEST FOR “THAT’S ROCAWEAR”

LexAve — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:50:27 +0000

Check out BK’s own Wordspit x The Illest x Cocoa Sarai rocking it out for That’s Rocawear live set viral video series. Great to see both talents on the come up. In case ya didn’t know, we’ve been Cocoa Sarai supporters for a minute now. Here’s a lil’ throwback…CLICK HERE and HERE.

That’s Rocawear viral videos celebrate the evolution of hip hop culture. Rocawear was established in 1999 off the excitement around Jay-Z and Rocafella Records and remains today as the number one urban lifestyle brand in the world. We celebrate how the culture has evolved and how Rocawear has not only evolved with the culture but has been a major force in communicating that evolution around the world.

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!
Follow @lexave @str8nyc

STR8 TRIBUTE: “REMEMBERING AMY WINEHOUSE”

LexAve — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:25:19 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, Amy Winehouse is dead at 27. Winehouse was found dead by her bodyguard in her London apartment yesterday at 4 p.m. London time of an apparent drug overdose.
Amy Winehouse exploded onto the music scene in 2006 with her hit album “Back to Black” & created smashing hits like “Rehab”. Her soulfulness and unique fashion sense, made her a sensation you couldn’t help but not listen or watch. With so much success and fame, Winehouse quickly proved that success ain’t for the weak. She wound up as a victim to drug abuse including alcohol, cocaine & heroine. Despite her numerous attempts at rehab and making a comeback in the music world, Amy failed miserably letting all her talents go to waste. Talk about a sad story & a major loss in the music world. One of her lyrics that stand out to me is the line from “Rehab”- “I cheated myself like I knew I would. I told you I was trouble. You know that I’m no good”. How poetic, ironic and painful, eh? Did she really believe that about herself. Was she just doomed from the beginning? I can sit her and try to analyze every lyric but I’d rather celebrate her in this Str8NYC pictorial tribute…RIP Amy Winehouse. Enjoy!

STR8 VIDEOS: JEREMIH COVERS ADELE’S “RUMOR HAS IT”

Noel — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:42:30 +0000

Jeremih has been making a huge comeback with his single “Down On Me” featuring 50 Cent ranked as No.4 on the the Hot 100 Chart. Billboard gets the R&B singer in their studios for a Q&A and an exclusive cover of Adele “Rumor Has It” for their Billboard’s Mashup Mondays. Definitely enjoying Jeremih’s muscianship in this mashup.

ON DECK or OFF DECK?!
Follow @noel @str8nyc

NAS ON “LIFE IS GOOD”… “BEST ALBUM TO DATE!”

LexAve — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:27:07 +0000

Nas recently went on the record with MTV’s SuckerFree’s DJ Envy to dish more about his new upcoming album Life Is Good. Word is it’s his best album to date and it’s almost wrapped up. His leading single will be title “Nasty“. Stay tuned for more on Nas’ return.

Funk Flex Full Throttle

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO NAS’ “LIFE IS GOOD”?!
Follow @lexave @str8nyc

STR8 TALK: RIHANNA’S “MAN DOWN” GETS PUT ON BLAST!…WHY?!

LexAve — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:45:08 +0000

Rihanna finally delivers something of substance and she gets put on blast! I don’t get it!
“Man Down” is not only is a techno pop reggae infused record, but the video itself touches on the sensitive topic of rape…something women and yes, men, can relate to. In the video, Rihanna seductively dances with a man in a club, turns down his advances, and then leaves the club. As many girls would do. But refusing to take “no” for answer, the man follows her and forces her into a secluded area and rapes her. Though the rape scene itself isn’t depicted…it’s definitely insinuated by the look in Rihanna’s eyes and her tears pouring down her face shortly after the rape. Instead of reporting the crime, Rihanna taken by rage and shame opts to take matters into her own hands and shots her rapist in plain sight.

So who’s up in arms about the video? According to Billboard,

The Parents Television Council, the Enough is Enough campaign, and entertainment think tank Industry Ears called on BET and its parent company Viacom to stop airing the video.

“If Chris Brown shot a woman in his new video and BET premiered it, the world would stop. Rihanna should not get a pass,” said Paul Porter, co-founder of Industry Ears, which campaigns against negative images in the media.

Porter said that in 30 years he had never witnessed “such a cold, calculated execution of murder in prime time.”

Melissa Henson of the Parents Television Council said that “instead of telling victims they should seek help, Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability.”

Seriously people?! Rihanna’s “Man Down” video is just another interpretation of how a young woman would deal with this situation. It shows the anger and the hurt of such a crime and how detrimental it is both psychologically and emotionally. Enough to make a person snap and lose it. Rihanna didn’t just randomly shoot a guy on the street, he was her abuser. No one is saying this right or wrong. But one can definitely relate to the pain and hurt one would feel after such a violating act…so much so, you’d want to inflict that same kind of pain on that person. Forget these activists…Rihanna you did a great job in the video!
THOUGHTS?!
Follow @lexave @str8nyc

STR8 COMEDY: DIDDY TAKES BAD BOY TEAM TO CHARM SCHOOL!

LexAve — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:10:03 +0000

If you want to work for Diddy these days, you best to leave all the hood antics at the door. Diddy wants employees that know how to act or rather know to conduct themselves in a professional manner w/grace & elegance not like some hoodrat trick that don’t know no better. Word is Diddy is tired of his Bad Boy employees acting like damn fools that’s he giving them some training.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has hired an etiquette coach to teach his Bad Boy staff how to hold wine glasses and chopsticks, among other social niceties. The music mogul recently tapped Dawn Bryan to give staff at his Manhattan-based Bad Boy Records a course on proper dining etiquette, business protocol in foreign countries and other rules of conduct. Bryan, the author of “The Art and Etiquette of Gift Giving,” calls herself an “international protocol expert.” She recently taught Combs’ cohorts lessons including use of dinnerware at formal events, how to hold chopsticks and how to present a business card in Japan, guidance on giving business gifts and how to choose wine, hold a wine glass and eat caviar. A rep for Bad Boy said the lessons were part of a series of training sessions for employees at the company’s Midtown offices that are “a protocol for new hires.”
Glad to see Diddy really cares how his employees and company is perceived by money making honchos. It’s a damn shame the rest of the music industry is loaded with hood folks that need some serious home training and professionalism 101 lessons. Believe me…I’ve dealt with many of them and it’s a damn shame. #imjustsayin As for whether or not the Bad Boy staff will be converted in Diddy’s “Charm School”…I give it two weeks.

Follow @lexave @Str8NYC
Via NY Post

STR8 SNITCHIN’: NICKI MINAJ SMARTENS UP AND DROPS DIDDY!

LexAve — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:52:18 +0000

Nicki was not about to fall victim to Diddy’s weak management skills. According to XXL, Nicki has traded Diddy as manager for Hip-Hop Since 1978, the same firm that manages Drake & Lil’ Wayne.

Although the reason for her departure isn’t clear, another source tells XXL that Minaj was under the impression that Diddy would be more hands-on with her career, but was disappointed when she realized it wasn’t the case.

Apparently, according to the source, there are no hard feelings between Nicki Minaj, Diddy and Cruz.

Glad to hear Nicki smartened up about dealing with Diddy. We all know his managing skills are weak. Sure he makes you hot for a like a second, he cashes in his check, and chucks a duece. Think about it…where are these artists now?

…and the list goes on!