Drake has released his new video for his song “Best I Ever Had”. Hmmm…ok I didn’t expect him to go the route of making a video that has absolutely nothing to do with the lyrics of the song, but perhaps he was trying to be tongue in cheek with the video. I’ll admit there were parts that made me chuckle a little bit, but overall I wasn’t terribly impressed. I’m sure he will disappoint a lot of fans out there since Black women got practically no love in this video. Clearly there was some sort of paper brown bag test going when casting for the sexy basketball players but no problem with dark skinned chicks when it came to casting the freakshow opposing team players. Sigh…oh well it’s a rap video so I’ll save my chagrin for something of real importance.
LeToya Luckett has a new video for her song “She Ain’t Got”. I’m really digging the song and I like that LeToya is switching her style up. She manages to go more Pop while keeping some R&B edge. She looks great and her voice has improved by a mile since her first album so I think this will win her some fans. I have to give her kudos for being one of the few artists who clearly put work into improving her voice , because there are so many singers who are content with having no talent. This song/video reminds me of Teairra Mari’s “Cause A Scene” but with a more Pop twist. I thought Teairra’s song had the potential to catch on more than it did so I hope LeToya has better luck with “She Ain’t Got”.
What do you guys think of the video? Do you think LeToya has a chance of making a big comeback?
There is a new video for Kanye West’s “Street Lights”. As usual with Kanye this video has creative graphics…but this time the video lacks the intrigue. The video and song are pretty monotonous the entire way through, so it’s not enough to keep your attention from beginning to end. I love Kanye but this video did nothing for me.
Last night Jay-Z’s video for “DOA (Death of Auto-Tuner)” premiered. I’m kinda digging the video…I always love when the backdrop of a city like New York is involved and people get out of the sound stage. Jay-Z takes on the persona of a Hip Hop Boss and he comes across as powerful and in charge. Even though the video is pretty simple it actually makes me like the song even more. I still think the message isn’t going to have much of an impact but it certainly creates the buzz he was looking for.
Here is Jay-Z’s performance from the BET Awards last night. The band was crazy hot! He was the only person to represent for Hip Hop in a positive way amongst a sea of buffonery he showed that there is still some good music out there.
What do you guys think of the video for DOA? How ironic did Jay-Z’s performance seem at the BET Awards when half of the earlier performances featured auto-tuner?
New Edition: Overall good job but was the tongue sticking out really necessary Bobby? It’s always good to see New Edition performing together and I’m glad they went old school to start of the tribute portion. I can tell already that the sound is going to be a problem tonight (AS ALWAYS).
Jamie Foxx’s opening monologue: Hilarious without crossing the line. Loved the moonwalk!
Lebron James tearing up while accepting “Best Athlete” was touching…class act in the face of the rowdy LA crowd chanting Kobe Bryant.
Keri Hilson: Whoa when did she learn to dance like that? Surprisingly hot performance…she looked beautiful, danced better than ever, and sounded fantastic! The last little a-capella part was a tad bit awkward but she still killed it.
Ne-Yo: Beautiful voice and great rendition of “Lady of My Life”.
Sidebar: Whoa Joe Jackson in the audience? Pretty unexpected but perhaps seeing all the love for MJ is therapeutic.
Keke Palmer sounded good singing MJ go girl!
Jamie Foxx- Blame It: LOVE the song but the auto tuner sounded terrible! Snoop Dogg was pointless even though the mix with “Drop It Like Its Hot” was hot. I hate to say it but Jamie proves that it takes skill to use Auto tuner as good as T-Pain. Speaking of T-Pain please sit your coon ass down with that “Big Ass Chain “. The rock remix was overkill but I love me some Travis Barker.
Sidebar: Why in the hell do people think getting knocked up by a famous rapper makes them interesting? The Tiny & Toya show is the most pointless show thought of since “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”.
Nice shot out to the 3 brothas who made a pack to get educated and become doctors.
Beyonce: Singing “Ave Maria” and she sounds amazing but looks utterly ridiculous. I’m not sure what she was going for with the background graphics and the choregraphed movements and facial expressions but it was very awkward. There is no denying Bey’s talent but this was not her best performance.
OMG a Wanda & Sheneneh movie? Please tell me they aren’t joking! That would be hilarious!
Mary Mary: The song is hot but they sound hella shaky! Don’t know if it’s bootsy ass BET’s sound system or they are just not ready for prime-time. However, I’m gonna need the BET crowd to get just as pumped about “The God In Me” as they were about “Blame It On The Alcohol”. Queen Latifah livened things up! Overall, decent performance that could’ve been a lot better if the vocals were on point.
Lmao at Zoe Saldana trying to explain that Nichelle was in the bathroom! Talk about awkward. Anyway nice to see someone genuinely excited to win an award…Taraji Henson is so cute (even if her hair wasn’t).
Jamie Foxx & Ne-Yo: Thank you Jamie for just singing. Ne-Yo is having a totally on point night vocally. The ballet dancer is an odd choice. Fabolous’ voice sounds off but I love his glasses! Lol@ Jamie’s ad-libs (”Take me out in this recession”). Overall a very lackluster and unnecessary performance.
Bringing out big male acts from the past didn’t seem as natural as Alicia Keys and the girl groups. But Keith Sweat was cool.
Oh shit the original Guy?! This is what VH1 should have done for their tribute to New Jack Swing instead of having T-Pain and Keyshia Cole butcher their songs. Too bad they sounded dreadful!
Bel Biv Devoe on the other hand sounded a lil better. Seriously though why does BET have 3 days of rehearsals but can never get the sound system together!
Ciara: Thank you for proving my point that you can do so much better than showing off your T&A. Lovely rendition of “Heal The World”.
Keyshia Cole & Monica: Whoa is Keyshia wearing Capri pants? Anyway…she keeps getting better and more solid vocally. I’m so happy to see Monica back on the main stage. The set really did a huge disservice to their performance (WTF was up with the spinning circle and all the walking up and down the stairs?) but they still managed to do a great job.
Jamie Foxx led Beyonce to her seat for something “big” and then introduced Jay-Z. Why didn’t I see that coming? Funny Hov is singing “DOA” when half the show’s performances featured auto-tuner. Although I must say the show made a strong case for why he may have a point. Great performance by Jay-Z. (Did you guys catch Jamie on the after-party show saying “Jay-Z ain’t talking about me, I’m doing great with the auto-tuner and I got some more stuff I’m gonna be doing it on” lmao).
Side-eye @ Day 26. Those guys are just way too goofy and totally un-serious. Don Cornelius is classic but damn he sure is getting old! Bless his heart though A for effort.
O’Jays tribute performance: BET always manages to find the MIA for these tributes and Tevin Campbell is a prime example. Not quite sure why they chose him though. Trey Songz, Johnny Gill, and Tyrese looked and sounded great. I loved the choreography. Those fellas came out their and sang their hearts out…in the midst of the wonderful tributes to MJ it’s nice to see that these guys took their job of saluting The OJays seriously and did them justice. Absolutely stellar!
Sidebar: Did Don not get the memo that this is a timed event? LOL…poor thing is just rambling and nobody has the heart to tell him the show needs to go on. Eddie Levert cussing and shit on national tv and the other guy digging for gold in his ear= Not ready for prime-time but hilarious.
The O’Jays still got it! “For the Love Of Money” never gets old!
It’s nice too see Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean getting recognized for their humanitarian works. Perhaps some of the acts in the audience will take a page from their book.
LOL at Taraji & Tyrese reprising Yvette & Jody. Hilarious! Um ok now with Ving Rhames it went from funny to coonery. SMH.
Maxwell: Great performance, but honestly by now I’m sick of the show and ready for it to be over.
Drake: He picked a wrong time to tear his ACL because it is utterly impossible to command the stage sitting on a stool the entire time.
Young Money: Wow…this is HORRIBLE! What in the hell would possess BET to have these guys up here singing this absurdly vulgar song and running around like idiots in a show that has mostly been devoted to honoring Michael Jackson? I guess this is more like what the show would’ve looked like if they weren’t forced to revamp it. Disgraceful and literally nauseating. The entire world is watching the tribute and this is the kind of garbage that they put on stage. Oh yeah and the parents of the little 12 year old looking girls dancing on stage to “Every Girl” need to be slapped. Horrible on every level.
Janet Jackson makes a surprise appearance in what is perhaps one of the most gut wrenching scenes I have ever witnessed on an awards show. Her presence brings so much credibility to the tribute and it is absolutely amazing to see her up there. She looked beautiful and her strength and love for Michael radiated through the screen.
Jamie and Ne-Yo close the show with an emotionally stirring performance of “I’ll Be There”. Janet and this performance are a magnificent way to close the show.
Overall…in spite of some serious lapses in judgement for performance choice, the BET Awards did a great job of revamping the entire show in 3 days. Was it a complete tribute? No…but it was a remarkable thing to be able to turn things around in such a short time frame. I suspect that in the future that when the people closest to him aren’t still in a state of shock and grief they will be able to put together a bigger and better tribute.
What do you guys think of the awards show? What was your favorite performance?
As millions of people around the world mourn the loss of Michael Jackson I want to take a day to remember his remarkable music. I’ve read countless twitters, statements, status updates, etc…and the common theme is celebrating his music. Michael Jackson’s career spanned over decades and he has left a lasting imprint on every aspect of Pop Culture. Below are some of his biggest videos, but first…the “25th Anniversary of Thriller” video briefly examines the musical, artistic, and fashion impacts of the biggest selling album of all time.
Here is “Thriller”…it needs no introduction.
Beat It: Known for incredible dance moves and the most iconic red leather jacket in the history of the world.
Smooth Criminal: If you haven’t tried the famous lean move and fallen flat on your face in the process, you haven’t lived yet.
Folks, share your thoughts on MJ’s music. What is your fondest memory involving a MJ song?
On this site I try to avoid becoming the crime pages and an obituary, but today is such a tragic day with the loss of two great artists that I couldn’t refrain from commenting.
Earlier this morning Farrah Fawcett died from her 2 year long battle with Cancer. Her struggle has been documented and her strength and determination to beat her sickness was admirable. She will be missed.
Perhaps even more shocking though is the out of nowhere illness of Michael Jackson. Reports swirled just hours ago that he was rushed to a hospital having suffered from cardiac arrest and now it has been confirmed by every credible media outlet that indeed passed away this afternoon. I am so shocked and deeply saddened by this news. MJ was only 50 years old and on the verge of an international comeback. He will always be the King of Pop.
HM sends its condolences to the Fawcett and Jackson family.
How do you feel about these two great losses? What was your favorite Michael Jackson song?
Drake has an updated version of his song called “Think Good Thoughts” featuring Phonte and the newly added Elzhi. Wow…an Anita Baker (Sweet Love) sample? I’m instantly in love! 9th Wonder killed it on the production and I’m loving the whole vibe of the track. I actually like Phonte’s verse on this more than Drake’s but both bring the heat. Elzhi’s verse is totally opposite of the song’s intent. How does a verse about a how girl is materialistic and shallow go with a song about having more to offer than what meets the eye? That is almost as bad as Lupe Fiasco remixing “B.U.D.D.Y.” but talking about how he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the opposite sex. Anyway, this song (specifically Drake’s flow) sounds like something Common would put out which I’m really impressed by. Drake manages to pull off the R&B side, the Lil Wayne sound, and a Hip Hop soul sound which is something that puts him in his own league. Click here to listen
Bonus: This song isn’t necessarily new but since I’m doing a Drake post I’m throwing in JoJo’s version of Drake’s “Houstatlantavegas”. I love the original and even though JoJo’s version isn’t quite as good I like what she did with it. Lyrically she is just as compelling a Drake and her voice sounds great. I’ve always liked JoJo and she never disappoints when she decides to put her own spin on a hot song. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of “Think Good Thoughts”? Was Elzhi a good addition to the song? How do you like JoJo’s version of “Houstatlantavegas”?
The Dream has a new song called “Hit It On The Road”. The production on this song is crazy hot…but The Dream needs to stick to singing and leave the rapping alone. This song has some crass things I’m not feeling (like the hook) and the lyrics over all are weak. The Dream could’ve made a much better song than this or given this beat to someone who would kill it…so I’m disappointed by this and the song gets annoying after like a minute a thirty seconds. Click here to listen
What do you guys think of the song? What do you think about Dream rapping? Should this song have been included on “Love vs. Money”?
Ciara has a new video for her song “Work” featuring Missy Elliott. Umm…this video reminds me of that movie Crank (have ya’ll seen that?) where the guy has to keep his adrenaline going or he will die from poisoning. If they are ever looking for a female version of that movie Ciara would be perfect. Anyway…I’ll give Ciara credit for trying. Nobody can deny that she is giving it her all and this video happens to be an improvement from the half naked floor gyrations of her last 3 or 4 videos so good for her. Oh yeah and Missy looks a hot mess.
What do you guys think of the video? Is this song/video what she needs to get people interested in her music?
