In Stores Today -- Bow Wow

It's hard to believe that Bow Wow is releasing his 7th major label CD and he's only 22! Whether TI has ghost-written for him or not, you can't refute Bow Wow's staying power...it can be attributed to his very early start (according to Wikipedia, he got his official start at the age of 7 after appearing Snoop Dogg's "Gin And Juice" video)...but the undeniable key to his success is the team he's surrounded by...while there have been reports of falling-outs w/ his mentor Jermaine Dupri, the 2 are on a solid path to make Shad Gregory Moss a living legend...maybe even surpass his older counterparts, in terms of album productivity and merchandising



While I'm still lost on the title of his new album, New Jack City II produces some predictable yet noteworthy collaborations. Bow Wow never misses an album w/out a JD-feature so "Roc The Mic" came as no surprise when it was pushed as a promotional single. However, Bow Wow is also looking and sounding beyond his years on "You Can Get It All" w/ Johnta Austin, produced by Grammy-award winning producer BMC (Bryan Michael Cox for you music novices). This particularly is a favorite of mine, as it incorporates a sample from the classic TLC hit "Baby, Baby, Baby". Judging by the lyrics and video, Bow Wow must've drawn heavily off TI's "Whatever You Like". In a strange way, it's a good thing though. He's finally tapping into his maturity and the video reflects where he is as a young man.

Speaking of TI, Bow Wow linked up w/ the King of the South on "Been Doin This"; letting anybody who challenges his standing in hip hop to check his resume (6 years later still on top/Makin these hits but it ain’t gon stop/Imma get this money til my casket drop). The other stand out record for me is "I Aint Playin", featuring R&B favorite Trey Songz...proclaiming himself as "Mr Do It For the Ladies", B Weezy makes it clear that he's a grown man now...the cougars out there can call him Shad Moss...while he's been romantically linked to the likes of Superhead, he puts a little bit too much information out on this...and the sexy vocals of Trey Songz is what saves the record

This is Bow Wow's 1st CD that's out-rightly explicit; so much so that it needed a sticker...however it's a sign of him being unrestricted and independent in the material he produces now...New Jack City II features production and appearances from Swizz Beatz, Nelly, T-Pain, and Row Browz


"You Can Get It All" ft Johnta Austin
http://www.mediafire.com/?3t2yizz0amy

"What They Call Me" ft Nelly, Ron Browz, & JD
http://www.mediafire.com/?kwnd0ynnmdm

"I Ain't Playin" ft Trey Songz
http://www.mediafire.com/?wycnyykvimv

Cops are out of hand EVERYWHERE!

We often see headlining stories about police misconduct in the bigger metro cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, even Miami...but this story comes out of Dallas and I can't help but to think, are cops just out of their damn minds everywhere!

Check out the unedited dash-cam footage here ---> http://www.wfaa.com/video/featured-index.html?nvid=345766&shu=1

I'm not gonna copy the story b/c you can just look it up online...but the short version is NFL running back Ryan Moats and his family were stopped right outside of a Plano, TX hospital after Moats ran a red light...mind you, he was en route w/ his family to be by the bedside of his dying mother-in-law...this cop, Robert Powell, detained them outside of the hospital in the parking lot...he proceeded to badger and threaten Moats...the sad thing is this officer took away a moment that that family can never get back (Moats' mother-in-law passed while the altercation was going on)

As of a press date today, the officer has offered a bogus apology (of course at the advisement of his lawyers) and has been placed on paid administrative leave...an investigation has ensuded...the Dallas PD has been overwhelmed with phone calls and emails from both the Dallas area and people outraged across the country...the family is seeking justice for the treatment...the term "racial profiling" has been thrown into the mix too

Now this is my personal opinion...w/in the 1st 3 minutes of the dash cam footage, Ryan Moats clearly states his understandable reason for running the light...altho he's not in the line of view of the dash cam until later, you can clearly him say that he waited and saw no traffic coming in any direction before he ran the red light...there is no threat or angst in his voice, despite the immense emotional pressure he's assumably under...police officers have discretion, that's 1 of the 1st things they learn in the academy...and seeing as the officer followed Moats to the hospital, he very well could've let him slide and go be by his wife and her family's side in their time of grief...but as usual, this is a classic example of an officer utilizing his range of power to humiliate and ostracize the very people he took an oath to protect and serve

The officer's language and demeanor is just disgusting...he was condescending, disrespectful, and then he blatantly threatened Moats (he says how he could cuff Moats and really screw him over)...keep in mind, all of this is happening, while the man's mother in law is dying...Moats was so much calmer than most of us would've been


To this, all I can say is thank God for dash-cams...b/c had this exchange not been caught on tape, it'd be the officer's word against Moats...and you know how that would've turned out...my prayers goes out to the Moats family and I hope they take whatever legal/civil action they can

Houston is Back! Slim Thug, Boss of All Bosses

Now I'll be the 1st to say, being a East Coast girl, I'm not a fan of the 3rd coast sound at all! However, I decided to give Slim Thug's 2nd CD Boss of All Bosses a fair shot. I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't impressed either. It appears that the Texas region has a habit of launching their native sons into momentary and sporadic stardom (let's not forget about Mike Jones huge success with "Back Then" and Paul Wall's Billboard stint in 2005 with "The Peoples Champ" project)

Photo Credit: Kamikaze (http://indmix.com)

Initially, I was surprised that this is only Slim Thug's sophomore project. However, upon listening to it 4 times, the mediocrity is in plain sight. He borrows the classic line from 1 of hip hop's greatest "Don't call it a comeback, I been here for years" on the record, "Show Me Love", which is somewhat ill-placed. 1 of the few redeeming lines Thugga spits comes from "I'm Back", outwardly admitting how the politics of his former label hindered record sales on his debut CD, Already Platinum (overzealous album title perhaps?). I can respect his candid take on the label situation, because most artists hide behind politics and pull the "no comment" card.


Teaming up with crossover favorites, Jim Jonsin and JR Rotem, "I Run" is a record you can take the club or the beach this spring. The production is geared to get your aura right, but lyrically shows how in tune Slim Thug is with his Houston connections (I'm still n tha hood, I can't leave the streets/It's n my blood I'm a thug till I be deceased). The letdown is with the prideful anthem and cameo-laced "Welcome to Houston" falls flat. It doesn't do Slim Thug or any of the artists featured on the record justice. (Chamillionaire,

All in all, this is a refreshing project right now. The last few quarters, hip hop artists are following trends and fads like the use of autotune and kick-drums. While those artists aren't hurting for sales, it's good to hear something that's unconventional and atypical in this otherwise static hip hop climate

"Boss of All Bosses"
http://www.mediafire.com/?ugknmjz2yh1

"I Run"
http://www.mediafire.com/?bujw3znzjuo

"Associates"
http://www.mediafire.com/?yjh0yyyyodo

In The Studio with Ginuwine!

Now under new management and record label, R&B legend Ginuwine is geared to release his 6th studio LP, A Man's Thoughts, June 2nd! His lead single "My Last Chance" is hitting the charts, so be sure to vote for the video, buy the single on iTunes and support!

The track with Brandy sounds great! If the leaked tracks that I've been receiving are indicative of Ginuwine's variety, he'll re-affirm his longevity and ability to grow with his audience (his last album only went gold)

A Man's Thoughts features production from industry go-to guy Bryan Michael Cox, The Underdogs, Polow the Don, and longtime collaborator Timbaland

FL School holds "Pull Up Your Pants"

Such a great idea! It's high time that we start instilling stronger, old-fashioned values in our children...the image of the black community isn't going to change, simply because our president is black...the perception of the upcoming generation needs to redefined from the inside out...meaning parents, turn off BET/MTV and communicate w/ your children...teach them how that presentation and appearance is everything (professionally and personally)...while hip hop artists and singers aren't supposed to be your child's role model, they obviously have a great influence...it's up to you as the parent to shape your child's reality and be their 1st experience as a role model

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March Music Madness Part 3

It's almost spring-time, get your iPod up!

Bobby Creekwater "I Know I am"
http://www.mediafire.com/?ygdmqwmrxtm

Case "Can't Believe" (he has a new project out, classic r&b sound)
http://www.mediafire.com/?zygiumytygi

Eliott Yamin "Know Better"
http://www.mediafire.com/?mddtdnomyyj

Fab ft The-Dream "Throw it in the Bag"
http://www.mediafire.com/?gh2nker04og

Ginuwine ft RL "Open The Door"
http://www.mediafire.com/?zyj0nzzxmmz

Jay Z ft Diddy "Maybe"
http://www.mediafire.com/?mt2a3yzh4mo

Jordyn Taylor "Dream You to Life"
http://www.mediafire.com/?omdfnzgnyjx

Lil Jon ft Snoop Dogg & Swizz Beatz
http://www.mediafire.com/?mzyjm3dmmzy

Method Man, Redman ft UGK "City Lights"
http://www.mediafire.com/?wzetxnm4thh


Mims "Love Rollercoaster"
http://www.mediafire.com/?4zyg1avt4my

Nas ft Marsha Ambosius (from Floetry) "If I Ruled the World 2009"
http://www.mediafire.com/?2qw2djnnzwm

Pimp C ft T-Wayne "Let's Talk Money"
http://www.mediafire.com/?zorjyiej1ej

Twista "On Top"
http://www.mediafire.com/?kkonrad4lwv

Wale ft Lady GaGa "Chillin"
http://www.mediafire.com/?wbzuz1jqbvd

Keri causes a stir!

If The-Dream has the midas touch on writing #1 hits, Keri Hilson is his female counterpart. One may not know that Miss Hilson is no stranger to music charts. Her songwriting crew, The Clutch, has written blockbuster songs like "Take Me As I Am" (Mary J. Blige), "Ice Box" (Omarion), "Like A Boy" and the international hit "The Way I Are". But in 2006, the platform was set for Hilson to come into her own as a SINGER and songwriter. Under the tutelage of Timbaland and Danja, Hilson began an almost 2.5 year span of creating her debut album, In A Perfect World, which is in stores now! (word has it, she caused quite a ruckus at the Virgin store tonight...but that didn't stop her from showing love to fans before the cops asked them all to leave)

I started out making the comparison to The-Dream for a specific reason. While Keri doesn't have the strongest or most recognizable voice, In A Perfect World takes you on a very realistic feminine perspective of love; falling in and out. The lead single "Turnin Me On" leaves much to be desired (as most singles often do), but it carried with the help of Lil Wayne (and the countless remixes that followed). The collection of records are enjoyable, but disappointingly normal. Hilson's vocal delivery on such tracks as "Make Love" and "Slow Dance" (co-written by Justin Timberlake) is relatively intense though. She also shows her ability to keep up lyrically with music's leading men, Kanye West and Ne-Yo on her 3rd single "Knock You Down".

Although the project has its flaws, Keri Hilson proves that she's more than capable of stepping into the ring w/ female r&b favorites. She may not be superstar status yet. But she's on the minds of bloggers and other forms of media. I mean she did call out the reigning multi-media queen, Mrs. Shawn Carter (or Beyonce, whichever you prefer). While the controversy was a good segueway into her album release, Hilson need not rely on or succumb to throwing petty jabs. For example, the aforementioned record "Make Love" will blow many listeners away; it's not a record you'd attribute to Keri Hilson. But trust me, that song is the glue that holds the entire CD together. The production is sexy and it ventures into unknown vocal territory. Timbaland takes us to the club on the drum-driven "How Does It Feel".

Make no mistake, this is not an album that will receive tons of praise or awards. On the other hand I'm impressed and I give her props as credible urban/pop singer. Hopefully the weaknesses on this CD will be corrected on her 2nd effort. In a perfect world, Hilson will come back and establish her own sound that is uniquely Keri Hilson

Strongest Records

"Make Love"
"Knock You Down"
"Tell Him The Truth" (great production from Danja, powerfully written)


Weakest Records

"Alienated"
"Get Your Money Up"
"Turnin Me On" (as popular as this song was/is, I just don't think it's a strong joint for her)