May Favourites || Dance Like No One Is Watching

This month I have been listening to a lot of dance music thanks to the radio which was always on at work. Dance music is dominating the charts over here in the UK and there were three songs in particular that stuck out to me this month and will no doubt put you in that TGIF mood.

Where Are U Now - Skrillex and Diplo featuring Justin Bieber

All Cried Out - Blonde featuring Alex Newell

Freak Of The Week - Krept n Konan featuring Jeremih

New Video || The Weeknd

I may not be as big a fan as I was back in university, but I will always have a soft spot for The Weeknd. His music got me through a lot of tough times and his early mixtapes were classic pieces of art in my opinion.
The Weeknd has recently found chart success thanks to his participation on the 50 Shades Of Gray soundtrack but that doesn't mean he will sellout. His latest song The Hills is still as dark and sexually explicit as always and the video to accompany it is as confusing as ever.
I was drawn in by the opening scene of a car crash and the video had potential to go somewhere exciting and thrilling...but it didn't.

New Music || Double Drake

A few days ago, a track from Drake's upcoming album Views From The 6 leaked and it is brilliant. The song, Can I, is minimalistic and features Beyonce and these two have already proved to be quite the duo with their previous track Mine. Although this on could do with more vocals from Bey and maybe a little beat change mid-way through, I do like the song.

But then, just to increase the hype a second track leaked which features new r'n'b vocalist Tinashe. On A Wave sounds a little unfinished with its abrupt ending but that may just be because it is a preview. Either way this is another track that has potential an sets a laid-back atmosphere for the album. 

New Video || Nicki Minaj featuring Beyonce

As I am sure you know by now, Nicki released the video for her latest track Feeling Myself exclusively on Tidal last night.
The song, which features Queen Bey, is one of my favourites from the album and a well deserved single - perfect for the summer. The video is also now one of my favs as it sees Nicki and Bey playing around, dancing, twerking and just general living #bffgoals. They both look flawless and their outfits are amazing, definitely worth a view if you haven't already.

The Billboard Music Awards 2015

Last night, in Vegas, hundreds of artists, producers and general celebrities gathered at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to celebrate another 12 months in music and award those who have achieved success on the billboard charts.

As much as the night is about awards and fashion (for my red carpet review click here), it is more so about the big performances that can either be entertaining or controversial, depending on the artist.

This year was a little tame with no big headlines to run with but it was a fun night all the same.

Nicki Minaj

So Nicki did a duo performance starting with her latest track The Night Is Still Young which also happens to be my least favourite from the new album. 

She was then joined by David Guetta for their track Hey Mama which had the whole crowd on their feet dancing. Nicki seemed to be having fun on stage and wasn't afraid to show off a whole lot of skin.

Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea

Although it was pre-taped, which may seem like a bit of a cheat, Brit and Iggy's performance was possibly the best of the night simply because Britney almost looked like the superstar performer she once was.

I am still not a fan of this song but it was nice to see Brit having fun and looking beautiful while pulling out some hefty choreography.

Ed Sheeran

Ed is always a captivating performer and when he stepped up to perform Bloodstream I was happy to see he kept it simple with just him, his guitar, and some other recording device.

I would have enjoyed it more had he incorporated the Rudimental remix somehow but it was still a powerful performance.

Mariah Carey

Mariah delivered Class A vocals last night proving that she has still got it as she performed classic Vision Of Love and newest single Infinity.

It wasn't the best she has ever sounded but it is definitely a lot better than I would have hoped especially seeing as she had bronchitis last week.

Kanye West

Kanye closed out the show with two of my favourite tracks All Day and Black Skinhead which may have been heavily censored but didn't stop the crowd from having a good time.

The stage was smoky and I could barely make out the three figures on stage but I am sure that's what Kanye intended.

New Video || Taylor Swift

On Sunday night at the Billboard music awards, after my anticipation, Taylor Swift debuted her new music video for Bad Blood. The star-studded video, directed by Joseph Khan, is an action-packed mini movie that sees Taylor preparing for battle against a friend who double-crossed her.
With appearances from Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Cara Delevingne and many more, and Kendrick Lamar rapping on this remix, there is no doubt that this video will win many awards and put the song in the top 10.

New Video || Britney Spears

Britney is back bitch! Although I had assumed she retired from music or something since her residency in Vegas, it seems that the pop princess still has some hits to churn with new track Pretty Girls. 
The song features Iggy Azalea forming the perfect female pop duo but not the best Britney song (from an old fan). The video, however, is really fun and cute and truly is the best I have seen Brit in about ten years. Her choreographer is almost on par, her body looks banging and she seemed to really be having fun.

Introducing || M.O

I may be a bit late with this post but it needed to be done anyway. With a lack of girl groups in the current market it would seem the perfect time for one to swoop on in and dominate the charts. Well that seems to be what three-piece British group, M.O, are doing this year.
Although they have been dropping great songs for almost three years, it is their most recent single Preach which has caught everyone's attention and got them a lot of airplay on Radio 1.
The song proves they have strong vocals and a cool, throwback r'n'b vibe which has been missing on the radio for some time. Here's hoping their debut album delivers some more great music and even more success.

New Music || Miguel

Miguel has been awol for a couple of years now and only popped out of hiding to give us a short E.P last year. Now it seems like he might be back for good with a new album this year (please) and a new track which may or may not be the lead single.
Coffee (Fucking) features Wale and is a remix of a song from Miguel's last E.P but it is strong enough to chart and put Miguel back on everyone's radar.
It is the typical raunchy and sensual song that we expect to hear from Miguel with an alternative r'n'b edge and great vocals. Welcome back, Miguel !

April Favourites || Party Season

Last month I was a bit out of the loop with new music thanks to some of my favourite websites being shut down. But I have managed to discover some new favourites in trap music and grime so these three tracks are perfect for the upcoming party season.

Future - F*ck Up Some Commas

Although I barely understand a word of this song, you can't deny that it is a catchy tune and that you would hit the dance floor on a night out when this comes on.

Kano - New Banger

Grime music hasn't really captured me in the past couple of years but now that Kano has returned with a self-proclaimed banger.

Skepta - Shutdown

Another grime artist returning with a fun club track which you have probably heard being played on Radio 1 a lot recently.

New Video || Sevyn Streeter

Sevyn Streeter is one of those underrated female singers that gets overshadowed by the bigger names and budgets. But she is a talent and has released great single after great single alongside her mentor Chris Brown.
This time she goes it alone with her new single 4th Street which is a sweet mid-tempo r'n'b track. The song and video pay homage to Sevyn's friends, family and hometown in a humble and endearing way. It is a catchy little number although it isn't one of her strongest.

Throwback Thursday || The Charts 15 Years Ago Today

Guys, it's time for a bit of a scary timehop. I decided to take a very fascinating look at some of the most popular songs that were gracing the charts here and in the States exactly on this day 15 years ago. That would make me six years old which is quite worrying because these songs bring with them quite vivid memories.

So this held the number one spot in the UK...



and No.1 in America for a spectacular ten weeks was ...



These artists were in the Top 10 in the UK....









and dominating the charts in the US we had...









and appearing in the Top 10 of both charts was the unstoppable...



So there you have it. That is what the charts and music looked like exactly 15 years ago.
Funnily enough many of the artists such as Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Toni Braxton, are still relevant today but much of the artists in this list haven't had much success since these hits.
Even more interestingly, all of these songs are still popular today and have stood the test of time proving that music really can be timeless.

Introducing || CL

She is one of the biggest artists in K-Pop with a string of NO.1's as part of a four-piece girl group called 2NE1. She has the backing of Will.I.Am, Scooter Braun and Skrillex as well as a huge fanbase who voted her the second most influential person of the past year on TIME's website. But the name CL may not be one that you are yet familiar with.
She has started making herself known in the US as a bit of a fashion icon with close friend Jeremy Scott using her as a muse for his Moschino collections. 

She has also signed on to be one of Scooter Braun's next successes alongside Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. So there is not much in the way of global success from the Korean superstar.

She has what it takes - a great voice, strong rapping ability, fluent in English as well as Korean, good looks, an innovative style, stage presence and the ability to dance. 

As long as the music is up to par, I am sure you will be hearing a lot from CL who is set to release new music in America this year.

Nicki Minaj Comes To Birmingham (with Trey Songz)

On Good Friday, my friend and I were lucky enough to attend the Birmingham show for Nicki Minaj's 'Pinkprint Tour' at the Barclaycard Arena.
Although my review of her album wasn't raving and I haven't listened to a Trey Songz record in ages (he was her opening act), I was still excited about the show as there has been a lot of hype surrounding it and I haven't been to a concert in years.

The show opened with a 45 minute set courtesy of Trey Songz whom I used to be a definite fangirl of but in recent years have slowly lost some interest. However, I must admit there is no possible way not to be just the slightest bit attracted to the singer especially when he stripped down to a closing shirtless performance.
Fortunately, he sang all of his biggest hits rather than album track from his latest release which I admit to having not heard yet.
He began with the older tracks that started his career such as Can't Be Friends and I Need A Girl then filled much of his set list with the anthems like Bottoms Up, Say Aah and Heart Attack.
Of course, all the girls were screaming particularly when he took a moment to point out a few fans around the arena.
As he ended his set with latest single Touchin, Lovin, I noted that he is a strong performer with a string of hits that I didn't give him credit for before the show. He delivered pitch perfect vocals and worked the whole stage so he definitely got us all warmed up before the main artist took to the stage.



At 9.20, Nicki Minaj finally arose from the depths of the stage to kick things off with three of my favourite tracks from The Pinkprint album All Things Go, I Lied and The Crying Game. She was dressed in a black cloak and veil which she eventually removed as she strolled around the stage.
Nicki looked flawless; from her make-up and hair to her body, she was as I would have imagined her to be...just a lot less animated.
I was happy that she left much of her pop songs to the closing few minutes when I was too hyped and into the show to care. But even her Starships performance had so much energy and created such an atmosphere that I couldn't help but dance along.
There were so many great moments throughout the show from her snippets of old classics like Hold Yuh and Itty Bitty Piggy, to her high energy hip-hop club bangers like Truffle Butter, Lookin' Ass N**** and Did It On Them.
Her outfits left little to the imagination and, when paired with some of her risque dance moves, had even the likes of me blushing let alone her younger fans.



Having said that, there is nothing that I can really fault. She interacted with the audience, - including a highlight where she pulled out three fans onto the stage with her - pulled out some great choreography, performed all of the songs I wanted to hear and delivered some great background lighting and imagery.
There were a few classics missing from her set-list and I would have loved a mash-up of some of her best features but that is a time issue that I suppose she couldn't work around.
All in all, I had a fantastic time, as did my friend, and I would happily attend her next tour even if the album isn't up to scratch.

Rating: 4.5/5

New Video || Tinashe

Tinashe has dropped yet another video for her latest single All Hands On Deck without an appearance from featured artist Iggy Azalea.
Instead Tinashe takes centre stage in skimpy outfits as she dances around a construction site with some very provocative moves. Not my favourite Tinashe song or video but I am sure it will see commercial success.

New Video || Jhene Aiko Gets Emotional

Jhene Aiko is having a great year already with an upcoming tour and some great new music but it is her visuals that always bring me the most joy as a music lover.
Her latest video for Eternal Sunshine is just as emotional as the song would suggest as she uses the simplicity of her face in front of a backdrop to showcase a personal moment in her life.
It also pays homage to her late brother in a very beautiful and fitting way that will have your eyes watering.
Enjoy!

March Favourites || A Slow Month

I don't know how you guys feels but I thought last month was a bit of slow one especially compared to all of the new release in February.
Having said that, I have still managed to find three songs that I was loving last month...

Wale featuring Kanye West - The Summer League

Wale dropped his album last month and although most of it didn't catch my attention this bonus track certainly did. This song is perfect for summer with the roof down in the car and the volume turned up full, it will make car journeys a lot more fun. The beat is so addictive and I can't wait till some club mixes come out for this track.

Kyndall - Still Down

I recently wrote a post about new artist Kyndall and her EP which dropped last month. I love all of the songs on it but this one in particular is always on repeat and is a great introduction to the songstress if you haven't heard any of her songs yet. It's a delicious r'n'b jam that I relate to a lot at the moment.

Jhene Aiko - Living Room Flow

I am one of the biggest Jhene Aiko fans and there isn't a song she has ever made that I don't enjoy. Her latest track is sensual and calming, perfect for those bedroom playlists, and has me hitting replay every time. In my eyes, she can do no wrong and this needs to have a video.

New Music || Krept n Konan

Krept n Konan might just end up being the first UK grime act to really break through into the American market with their debut album Long Way Home. It already boasts collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Jeremih, Rick Ross and more, so as long as the music is up there with the rest of their material then it could be a strong album.
The lead single Certified isn't the most catchy or energetic song, which is what I am used to hearing from the rap duo, but their lyrics are as playful as ever and Rick's verse definitely helps elevate the track into a potential overseas hit.

New Music || Rihanna

Rihanna has everyone on the edge of their seat in anticipation for her new album but for now we will have to just wait. At least we have this new single to keep us going. Bitch Better Have My Money is an instant Riri classic with a catchy hook and a club beat that will catch on by the end of the month.
Her attitude is on full form and offers us a different, but more recognisable, side to the Bajan pop princess.
Love it !

New Video || J.Cole

J.Cole is one of my leading artists when it comes to making thought-provoking music videos with cinematic qualities. He has done it once again with his latest video, G.O.M.D, which also happens to be my favourite track off his album.
A slightly different sound to his usually mid-tempo, poignant tracks, this one is more of a club banger but portrays a very interesting story in the visual
I won't ruin it for you but let's just say J takes a disturbing and still relevant historical event and creates something quite powerful.

New Music || Jhene Aiko

Jhene Aiko never seems to get it wrong and she has another beautiful and soulful track on her hands with Living Room Flow.
As always, everything from the vocals to the production to the lyrics fits perfectly together and creates a sultry bedroom song to add to her already quite long list.

Introducing || Kyndall

The daughter of successful R'n'B singer El Debarge has a lot to live up to if she wants the same three decade long career. Fortunately, 19 year old Kyndall seems to have the talent and the songs to get her there.
She has just dropped her debut E.P., Still Down, and a video for one of the tracks which proves her potential as a young r'n'b artist. She can certainly sing and she looks the part but does the music live up to the rest of the package.
Well, after my first listen of the six track E.P, I can certainly say that she may well deliver a killer album so long as she sticks with what she is doing and gets a few strong collaborations too.
Check out one of the tracks, Playing Games, below.

New Video || Bobby Brackins

I haven't heard much Bobby Brackins music, in fact this single My Jam is my first introduction to the rising rapper. It is a decent dance track with great features from tween favourite Zendaya and of the moment R'n'B star Jeremih but I am not sure it will be the breakthrough hit for Bobby.
The video just dropped today and although it isn't particularly exciting or refreshing, the scenery is beautiful and Zendaya looks fab - if anything this is her moment to shine as she is fast becoming a superstar in fashion, TV and, now, music.
Take and look and a listen below...

Introducing || Natalie La Rose

Born and raised in Amsterdam, this 26 year old singer and dancer signed her recording contract back in 2013 and has finally started making waves in the music industry. It's a tough and highly saturated world for female r'n'b artists with even some of the most talented, such as Tiara Thomas, Tinashe, Mila J and Jasmine V, struggling to make an impact. So Natalie will need more than her good looks and vocal ability to make herself stand out.
Her debut single, Somebody, channels Whitney Houston's classic I Wanna Dance With Somebody and sees her team up with Jeremih for a fun and catchy club track.
The video, which is quite a generic dancey one, already has over 3 million views on Youtube which is quite an achievement for a relatively unknown artist.
If she continues on this upward spiral with a great debut album then she should definitely be on your radar in 2015.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2015

We are almost a quarter of the way through the year and have already been treated to three great albums (or two albums and a mixtape) thanks to Big Sean, Drake, Chris Brown and Tyga. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. This year is expected to be a major one for music fans with quite a few big name, popular artists promising to release impressive albums.

Kanye West

Kanye has already given us a tease of what to expect with this new album which he describes as 'cook-out music'. He premièred a new track, All Day, at the Brit Awards and it has me quite excited about the album which may see Kanye revert back to his pre-Kardashian sound.

Frank Ocean

I almost thought Frank had retired from the music industry or something since he has been practically silent for the past two years. After the success and critical acclaim of his debut album, Channel Orange, Frank would be a fool not to bring us some more. So he is.

Though there has been no teasers or release date, we can expect new music this year and I, for one, cannot wait.

Adele

I am not the biggest Adele fan and I haven't even really sat down and listened to a full Adele album but I can appreciate great music when I hear it. Adele is undoubtedly a superstar and her albums have broken multiple records so she has a lot to live up to.

I am interested to hear what route she takes now that she is in a happy relationship and she is a mum.

Drake

Aubrey has already given us a solid mixtape last month but it is he mammoth album that I am looking forward to. I doubt the mixtape is much of an indication as to what we will hear on the album but I have a feeling it will be just as surprising and successful.

Rihanna

Riri's eighth studio album has been anticipated by her fans and music lovers for about a year now seeing as this is the longest break between albums she has ever had. The album has already been fan-titled R8 and has the lead single FourFiveSeconds so we can get a feel of what this album may be. A slightly less club anthemy and commercial sound with more mature and vocal showcasing elements.

Either way, Rihanna always delivers stellar albums so I am waiting with bated breath.

February Favourites || Hip Hop Hooray

With so much great new music last month, it was hard to pick just three of my favourites. But these are the songs that I have had on repeat for the last couple of weeks and will probably continue overplaying well into this month.

Blessings - Big Sean, Drake and Kanye

Bad Bitch - French Montana featuring Jeremih

Banjo - Tyga and Chris Brown

New Music || Christina Milian

Christina Milian has been out of the music scene for a while now and turned her hand at presenting and reality TV instead. But now that she is dating Lil Wayne and signed to Young Money Records, she has headed back to the studio and dropped this new song Rebel.
After so many years, I expected some growth and some fun from Christina yet this song falls flat. Her previous music was r'n'b heavy, club bangers that have stood the test of time (everybody still loves Dip It Low and Whatever You Want) and Rebel is far from that.
The song is instantly forgettable and uses way too much auto-tune for a capable R'n'B singer like Tina. In fact, if this is what we can expect to hear for the rest of the year, then I would advise her to start over because this isn't good enough.

Album Review || Chris Brown x Tyga 'Fan Of A Fan'

Chris Brown is one busy guy who manages to find time amongst his rocky relationship and court appearances to make a lot of hit music. After only releasing his own album a few months ago, Chris has teamed up with his friend and fellow controversial artist, Tyga, to make a 16 track album.
Chris and Tyga, who are touring together at the moment alongside Trey Songz, are releasing Fan Of A Fan today and, after collaborating on some club anthems many times before, there is a high expectation for this album.

The album cover already sets a precedent for a fun, fresh and colourful album with the sultry slow jams we expect from Chris and the catchy club anthems that made Tyga famous.
So opening track Westside does exactly what you would hope and sets the scene with a sexy, mid-tempo vibe where Tyga and Chris both rap.
This is followed by two, more commercial sounding, club songs including the hit single Ayo which follows the formulae of many other successful Chris and Tyga collaborations. It may sound very similar to many of their previous hits like Holla At Me and Loyal but it is a sound that works and hasn't grown old quite yet.

But, it is track number four, Girl You Loud, that has fast become my favourite even though it is one of the slower more understated songs on the album.
As the title suggests, its a very sexual slow jam with some high notes from Chris on the chorus and some provocative rapping from Tyga. This, along with the simplicity of the beat and catchy lyrics, makes it an album highlight for me.

There are also some great features on the album with 50 Cent jumping on I Bet, a potential single and an aggressive yet fun club anthem. Then Pusha T makes a brilliant appearance on another favourite of mine D.G.I.F.U. Tyga finally has his chance to shine on this track with an impressive flow and a sing-a-long hook over some innovative production, as well as Chris making a serious entrance as a rapper. This song will definitely grab your attention from the outset.

The fresh beats and catchy hooks are what stand out on this album which is brimming with five star club tracks which we are used to hearing from the duo but will never tire of. Tracks like Banjo and Bitches and Marijuana may not be lyrically complex or original but they are fun, exciting and memorable which sums up the music the pair are known for making.
There are equally as many moments of greatness in the slower and sexier songs like Lights Out and Wrong In The Right Way. 
In fact, there is only one song on the album that does nothing for me, which is Better, because it feels lacklustre and dull when amongst such strong production throughout the rest of the album.

I am really impressed with this album, which I almost didn't even listen to since I am not the biggest fan of Tyga's previous work and Chris fell short with his last album. However, I am glad I gave this album a chance as it has the perfect mix of Chris bedroom song hits and catchy Tyga-style uptempo music.
They compliment each other well, and I even enjoy Chris when he tries his hand at rapping, so this is an all around brilliant album from the both of them.

Standout track: I Bet and Banjo
Rating : 4/5

Album Review || Big Sean 'Dark Sky Paradise'

This month is turning out to be a very exciting one for fans of hip-hop as Big Sean becomes the third huge artist to release an album following Drake and Chris Brown x Tyga.
His album, Dark Sky Paradise, has been teased by girlfriend Ariana Grande and other album collaborators Jhene Aiko and Drake. It also features appearances from Kanye West, Chris Brown and Lil' Wayne (to name a few) and with the massive success of lead single I Don't Fuck With You there is a lot of hype surrounding this album.
Fans have been waiting with bated breath for what is expected to be one of the best rap albums of the year, but does it live up to the hype?
Here is my track by track album review...

  1. Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)

A solid opening track that sets the tone for the rest of the album with a strong and aggressive flow and autobiographical/personal lyrics.
The stormy sound effects that start this track are a hint as to what to expect from this album, as well as an ode to the album title. There is definitely something dark about the production of this song.

2. Blessings feat. Drake

This song leaked a while ago and was announced as the next single which I am very happy about because this is easily one of my favourite songs on the album.
There is still something a little dark that carries from the previous track but the beat is a little more mainstream friendly.
Drake fits himself into the song perfectly, maybe even taking some of the shine away from Big Sean with his lyrics.

3. All Your Fault (feat. Kanye West)

This immediately catches your attention with some innovative production that you would expect to hear Kanye West on so his opening verse is no surprise. His lyricism is impressive with an ability to reference Chris and Karreuche and police brutality in the space of 30 seconds.

The chorus is catchy and fun and bound to be stuck in my head for the next few days.

But my favourite part is the final few seconds when Sean and 'Ye bounce off each other in a closing verse which is a concept in rap that we don't hear very often these days and needs to catch on.

4. I Don't Fuck With You (feat. E-40)

This lead single has already achieved huge success and has become a break up anthem for the next year.

The song is fun and everyone can relate to the sentiment at some point in their life whether it is towards an ex or just someone you don't like. The phrase I Don' Fuck With You is a phrase that Sean can market for the rest of his life so for that alone I applaud this song.
Yes, it is disrespectful and offensive but that is what makes it a guilty pleasure.

5. Play No Games (feat. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign)

Five songs in and Play No Games offers a less aggressive and relaxed tone with a slightly more R'n'B tempo. I really enjoy the production and there are some enjoyable moments from Big Sean in his verses but I was a little disappointed with Chris and Ty Dolla $igns appearances.

The chorus, delivered by Chris, fell a little short and Ty should have been utilised a lot more than the 10 second sound-bite he had.

6. Paradise (Extended)

This is by far my favourite song on the album! The Mike.Will.Made.It beat is superb and coupled with Big Sean's intense flow this feels like a rap battle with himself.

There is a rawness in the verses and chorus that makes this song compelling and stand-out even amongst some other great songs.

It will definitely be on repeat for a couple of weeks and is now joining my gym playlist.

7. Win Some, Lose Some (feat. Jhene Aiko)

This slow tempo track offers a nice change of pace to the album and offers a slightly a more vulnerable look into Sean's world.

It's a nice song but it doesn't have me jumping up and down with excitement aside from the fact that Jhene Aiko makes an appearance. However, I wish she had sung the chorus solo and maybe even had her own verse because her soothing vocals over this relaxed beat would be a powerful juxtaposition against the previous song.

Having said that, I love the honesty in his lyrics about his relationship with Naya Rivera and I love the closing lines delivered by his father.

8. Stay Down

Unfortunately, there is something missing on this song making it the first track that I might skip whenever I play this album. Big Sean started out strong with his first six tracks and seems to have started slipping into mediocrity.

Stay Down is instantly forgettable, which you don't need at the mid point of the album, and that's mainly due to the chorus which is lyrically disappointing and lacklustre and the beat is stunted. It felt like it should have been a more uptempo, club friendly song.

9. I Know (feat. Jhene Aiko)

DJ Mustard always gets it right and this beat is no different. The bass is pleasing to the ear and exciting and builds up into a great mid tempo club track. 

I can imagine myself learning the lyrics to this song and belting it out in the car on a summers day.

I love Jhene's feisty verse, the added element of a female perspective and vocal fits well at this point on the album which has, thus far, been dominated by men. But it didn't need to be over five minutes long. It could have ended around the four minute mark although I do have a soft spot for outros that runs smoothly into the next song.

10. Deep (feat. Lil Wayne)

Ta-da! That is how you smoothly lead from one song into the next without them sounding exactly the same.

I appreaciate the ominous sound that we heard in the first few tracks of the album making its way back into the music and it really compliments Lil Wayne's style.

The production, acoustic piano section, bass...everything about this song is really well-executed.

11. One Man Can Change The World (feat. Kanye West & John Legend)

A very simple, stripped back song with just a piano and a little singing from Big Sean but, for the first time on the album, his vocals aren't completely cringe-worthy.
This sounds like a new-era Kanye production which isn't exactly my cup of tea but I can appreciate the sentiment and emotion behind the song.

John Legend brings the song from sub-par to above average but he should have sung every chorus because 'Ye and Sean are no vocalists compared to him.

12. Outro

Another change of pace to close out the album and a fitting ending it is. It feels like the paradise after the dark sky perhaps.

I enjoy this fun, summer time vibe that concludes a somewhat dark and deep album; it may have been nice to hear a couple of more tracks like this leading us towards this finale.

There is a throwback element to it which is calling out for a remix with Jay, Nas and some other OG's but, even without one, this song stands strong as it is.

Bonus Tracks

13. Deserve It (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR)

I am not a big fan of PARTYNEXTDOOR as his sound is repetitive and annoying and he never seems to add much to a song when he features.

Maybe this is what makes this song a little forgettable and unnecessary. 

14. Research (feat. Ariana Grande)

I am glad, and pleasantly surprised, that the Ariana Grande feature isn't the soppy love song I was expecting.

Though it is a slightly more commercial and radio-friendly sound that would have felt really out of place on the album, it it is still a mildly enjoyable song mainly because of Sean's lyrics and his delivery.

15. Platinum and Wood

I instantly liked this song and felt like it should have been squeezed onto the album and not downgraded to a bonus track. The change in beat half way through gives the song a fun boost that stops it from becoming dull and tired.

Platinum and Wood is easily one of the more understated tracks that is over before it really has a chance to start.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this album and believe it is Sean's best piece of work to date.
This album definitely has an on-going theme that ties in with the album title, it is quite dark at times yet there are elements of light (paradise) that break through the dark sky.

He is open and honest about romantic and family relationships as well as his status in the rap industry. He is experimental with his sound without straying too far from the Big Sean image we have come to know and love.
The lyricism and flow that Big Sean presents on this album is surprisingly brilliant and superior to many rappers who have had more success. He separates himself from the newbies and up and comers by playing around with a flow and delivery only he could pull off so confidently. 

For me, this album is finally showing Big Sean at his best. He has set a very high bar for other rappers with this album and I am really impressed. Big Sean has always been on my radar and as potentially iconic rapper and he has always released great, fun music and kept strong relationships with some of the most important rappers of this generation. All this has led up to a great album and possibly the best of the year depending on what Drake, Kendrick and others bring to the table.

Stand-out track : Paradise by far

Rating : 4.5/5

Album Review || Drake 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late'

In a very Beyonce manner, last week Drake decided to drop a surprise album/mixtape on the world with zero promotion, zero release date and no warning of any kind. All he had to do was post the cover for If You're Reading This It's Too Late on his Instagram and wait for the world to catch on. This came completely out of nowhere because we weren't expecting any new music till later on in the year with his fourth album Views From The Six (this still might happen btw).

I love when artists take this kind of risk because it means I am going to listen to it with no expectations and I can allow the music to speak for itself so that it was I have done for the past few days.

If You're Reading This It's Too Late opens with a very bold statement which continues throughout the mixtape as an ongoing theme. Drake makes it clear that he knows he is one of the best rappers/artists of this generation and he has garnered so much success that he believes he has what it takes to be a legend.
The confidence, borderline cockiness, displayed in the opening track Legend is felt on the majority of the mixtape and can sometimes feel overplayed and irritating.
By the time I had reached track 6 I was beginning to ask myself 'where is the sensitive, humble rapper with his occasional singing', I missed him.
His success is built on the image of 'emotional rapper' and although he may find the meme's and comments tiring, he cannot deny that it has been much of the reason for his fame and fortune. It was original, exciting, refreshing and often relatable.
This mixtape only seems to suggest that Drake wants to try something new and it just doesn't always work for him.

The production on the album is sub-par with only Madonna and No Tellin' offering some originality and a familiar Drak-esque sound. The rest of the tracks feel lazy and the beats are all pretty much mid-tempo underground sounds with little instrumental value.
Unfortunately the features don't add anything to this mixtape either especially PARTYNEXTDOOR who's trying way too hard to jump on the autotune fad that only T-Pain can get away with.
Even Lil' Wayne's appearance on Used To is disappointing which is a first for the two who normally bounce off each other with ease.

Don't get me wrong, there are some welcoming moments of humour and vulnerability that we expect from Drake particularly on You & The 6 where he pays tribute to his city and his mother for making him the man he is today. However, these moments are few and far between and they are laced with so much boasting and lacklustre lyricism that they can sometimes get lost.
The stand-out track, in my opinion, is 10 Bands with its heavy bass, strong beat and catchy chorus that could surely be club worthy with a bit of a remix.
6 God, a track which leaked weeks ago, comes a close second for favourite on the mixtape because of the aggression in Drake's verses. It brings an energy that hasn't shown its face on the rest of the mixtape.

Aside from those two tracks, there is nothing on this able that excites me or gets me hyped for Drake's promised fourth album later this year. My fingers are crossed in the hopes that this mixtape was just an experimental means of creativity in order to bridge a gap in the long silence between the last Drake album the one yet to be released.
If that is the case then all hope is not lost, in fact, that may mean the album could be even better since he has released all of his aggression and smugness.
Even so, I am still and will forever be a massive fan of both Drake as an artist and a person - one mediocre mixtape is not enough to tarnish the long list of brilliant music he has created.

Rating : 2/5 (and only because he has some great lyrics and I am judging this on a mixtape standard)

New Video || Omarion x Jhene Aiko x Chris Brown

It has been weeks since Omarion released his latest album with the lead single Post To Be featuring Chris Brown and, his niece's mother, Jhene Aiko. Although it has been playing for a while and seems to have had its moment, I am still a fan of the song and have been waiting for the video ever since it was promised last month.
The video was exactly what I expected which is always the case when multiple artists feature on an uptempo r'n'b track, and that is a backdrop and some dancing.
It may not be the most exciting of videos but it's nice to see all three artists seemingly having fun together and Jhene looks beautiful throughout the video.

New Video || Ariana Grande

On Sunday night, Ariana released the music video for the fourth single off her latest album and, with the song being called One Last Time, she took us on an apocalyptic journey.
The video is thoroughly entertaining on the first watch and is a very original concept that was well directed by Max Landis. Ariana and her boyfriend, who is holding the camera throughout the video, jump out of their car and race onto a rooftop as the countdown to the end of the world begins.
The handheld camera effect makes it feel all the more realistic and the entire concept is refreshing so this video gets an all around thumbs up.

Throwback Thursday || Valentine's Day Playlist

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it is essential to have the perfect playlist ready to go for a home-cooked dinner date or a lazy day in bed. Even if you are single and don't celebrate/acknowledge 14th February, you can always sit back and appreciate some good old classic love songs...

Dynamic Duets

Because confessing your love is always better when your partner reciprocates

For The Ladies
The best way to serenade the woman in your life

For The Men
Every man appreciates a good love song once in a while

For The Bedroom
When the date is over and Valentine's day is coming to an end...

New Music || Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick is slowly but surely giving us an inkling of what to expect from his next record after dropping a second single yesterday. The Blacker The Berry is an aggressive and lyrically provocative record that already has a lot of hip hop fans excited. In the song, Kendrick addresses the topic of racial tension that has been making headlines for the past twelve months and reminds us why he is one of the best rappers of this generation.
After i, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Kendrick this year but with this track I can hear the artist that I discovered on his debut album and that is certainly only a good thing.

New Music || Beyonce

Fans of the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' book have been awaiting the release of the movie for well over a year when it was announced.
But now it's the soundtrack that has everybody talking, particularly Beyonce's new rendition of her club classic Crazy In Love. The track was featured heavily in the movie trailer and now the full version has dropped and it's every bit as good as the original.
It almost sounds like a completely new song with the sultry vocals and breathy 'uhoh-ing' over an orchestra of blockbuster cinema quality.

The 2015 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are probably my favourite music award show, after the VMA's of course, and I look forward to reviewing the night every year.
Although it is arguable that the Grammy's have lost their credibility over the years, all eyes were on this years winners following an already controversial nominees list. Admittedly, I found last night to be quite dull and a huge disappointment but here are the performances and winners that had everyone else talking last night.
If you would like to read my thoughts on last nights fashion then head over to my other blog www.ukstylemuse.blogspot.co.uk

Performances

There were a lot of big name performers last night as well as the usual surprise collaborations but there wasn't anything that stood out to me as a classic performance.

Sia took to the stage with surprise guest Kristen Wiig and her sidekick dancer Maddie Ziegler to perform Chandelier and Katy Perry gave a stunning performance of her album track By The Grace Of God.

Then Rihanna, Kanye and Paul McCartney gave a simple rendition of their new song FourFiveSeconds and Pharrell surprised everyone with a new rendition of his Grammy award winning classic Happy.

Ariana Grande sang Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart hitting all the notes and proving to be a more than talented singer and Beyonce closed the show with a beautiful performance of Precious Lord, Take My Hand.

Winners

To many a music fans relief, Iggy Azalea walked away with no awards despite being nominated for four but it was Eminem who took home Best Rap Album hopefully avoiding any controversy this year.

Kendrick Lamar finally won his Grammy for Best Rap Performance for his song i although he wasn't there to pick it up himself.

The biggest winner of the night was Sam Smith who walked away with four Grammy's including Song Of The Year and Best New Artist.

But a small controversy arose when Beyonce, who won two awards last night, was beaten by Beck for Album Of The Year. 

Now, in my opinion, Beyonce or Ed Sheeran should have won that award because their album's have produced multiple hit singles and proven themselves iconic...and I have no idea who Beck is.

Kanye seemed to agree that Beyonce was robbed as he jokingly went on stage to interrupt Beck's winning speech and spoke about the 'travesty' after the show.

Throwback Thursday || Missy Elliott

In honour of Missy's surprise appearance at the Superbowl on Sunday, I have picked some of my favourites from the Missy Elliott collection.

The Rain

She's A Bitch

All N My Grill

Get Ur Freak On

Gossip Folk

Lose Control

New Video | Rihanna

As promised, Rihanna released the music video for her new single, FourFiveSeconds, after a two year break and a lot of anticipation. I am still not excited about the song - it isn't awful but underwhelming and more suited as an album track - so I wasn't expecting much from the video and that is exactly what I got.
Rihanna, Kanye and Paul McCartney all stand in front of a plain background fully decked out in denim as though this is a Levi's advert. The video feels like it has been shot on an iPhone in half a day because it comes across as lazy and half-hearted.
However, having said that, there is something about Rihanna that makes her captivating so even though this whole comeback has left me a little disappointed I still couldn't take my eyes off the video and I have even downloaded the song. I guess that is what they call a star.

Introducing || Tink

Tink is definitely the one to watch in 2015 with her mento Timbaland working on a debut album that already boasts a collaboration with Rick Ross and Jay-Z.
The Chicago born 20 year old has a tonne of songs and videos on Youtube which will get you excited about the up and coming musicians career. She has the feel of a young Lauryn Hill with her pitch perfect vocals and fierce rapping flow that she can alternate between with ease and skill.
Her latest track Around The Clock is a hot Timbaland produced hip hop track that showcases Tink's lyricism and confidence as she paves her way on to the music scene.

January Favourites || Music of the Month

Kanye West - Runaway

I rediscovered this Kanye classic this month and fell in love with it all over again - it may have even overtaken Flashing Lights as my favourite Kanye song. 

It is a swift reminder that only five years ago Kanye was truly a musical visionary and a revolutionary rapper that made songs with substance and edge without being overly-dramatic or annoying.

Elle Varner - Where Your Man Is

Elle Varner can go no wrong in my eyes and I adore every song she has ever released as a single and her latest track is no different. The attitude, lyrics and innovative production is seriously sassy and fun and sure to be a hit with a decent video alongside it.
This song has definitely got me excited for an Elle Varner album this year and I hope she sticks to this R'n'B with an edge style.

Fifth Harmony - Worth It

I have never been a fan of this American girl group because their past music has tended to lean towards the more mainstream pop sound. But I am quite impressed with their new album and this song in particular which features rapper Kid Ink.

It is undeniably catchy and would be really hot with a DJ Mustard remix although it is a pretty strong club banger as it is.

The trumpet on the chorus is reminiscent of Jason Derulo's and Ariana's Grande's smash hits from the past year so maybe they have found the perfect recipe for an R'n'B breakout track.

New Music : The Return of Rihanna

Rihanna has finally dropped some new music after a two year break and she opted to join forces with Kanye West and Paul McCartney for the track. FourFiveSeconds is not your typical Rihanna song and certainly not what I was expecting to hear which is why I am a little disappointed.
The song is a laid-back, guitar strumming mid-tempo debut that strays very far away from the club bangers and sexy slow jams we are used to.
This might be a grower and I will give it a few more listens before I make my final decision but at the moment I am not too excited about Riri's comeback now.

New Video | Jhene Aiko

Jhene Aiko seems to be dishing out these music videos faster than a McDonalds drive-thru (awful metaphor but it's late) and I am not complaining. I believe this is her fourth video for a track off of her debut album Souled Out and it just so happens to be my favourite song on the album.
Spotless Mind is a really soulful, laid-back track with a much lighter melody and lyrics than many of the other songs on the album.
It has a similarly light-hearted music video with Jhene playing many different characters - possibly to highlight her characters multiple personalities - alongside her real life baby daddy and Omarion's brother. I also love this song, and video, because it is obviously based on my favourite movie 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'.
Check it out below.

New Music : Major Lazer

Major Lazer has teamed up with quite the surprising duo, Ariana Grande and Machel Montano for this fun dancehall-inspired track All My Love. It's a remix on the original song which featured on the Hunger Games : Mockingjay soundtrack.
Although it feels a bit too early in the year for a song such as this - more suited as a summer hit - it's a refreshing sound particularly for young Ariana. She fits well in this song and with Machel's soca edge and the great production skill of Major Lazer, it makes for a really catchy dance track.

New Music | Frank Ocean Pays Tribute To Aaliyah

Frank Ocean has been noticeably absent from the music scene for over a year now which has left me particularly disappointed. However, he has graced us with his presence once again with a cover of an Isley Brothers track At Your Best (You Are Love) to pay tribute to the late Aaliyah on her 36th birthday.
The original track and Aaliyah's version are both stunning but there is something about Frank's voice and his ability to emote every word he sings which makes this cover so captivating. It was not only a wonderful gift for Aaliyah but a great gift for his fans as I am sure this will keep us going until his next project.

New Music | Ciara

Ciara has been out of the scene music-wise for a little while now as she was a bit busy having a baby and breaking up with Future. But she has now returned with a new single called I Bet and it's a good one.
There is no subtlety in the lyrics or subject matter as it is clearly aimed at her ex/baby father and addresses the allegations of cheating. But, regardless of the personal issue she is discussing, it is a song that I feel many women can relate to and will be singing after they've gone through a break-up.
Plus, it's nice to hear this softer side of Ciara who is more known for her uptempo dance music, and even though she isn't the strongest vocalist, the song is pretty.

New Music | Sevyn Streeter

Sevyn Streeter is a potentially huge R'n'B singer who has never quite had a great song since her debut It Won't Stop. Well she may finally have the breakout song which could lead to a hit album thanks to this collaboration with her mentor Chris Brown.
Don't Kill The Fun isn't an instant attention catcher but after a couple of listens you can appreciate the quality of the production and the commercial potential it has.
I think at this point it's safe to say that Sevyn is at her best when she is with Chris.

Songs Turning Ten This Year

It's becoming an annual tradition of mine to kick off the year by looking at some songs that will celebrate their 10th birthday in the coming months. 

So here is a look at a few of the songs that were released ten years ago this year...

Chris Brown - Run It

It was ten years ago that Chris started his career in music as a fresh-faced R'n'B star and the decade that has passed he has become a young man. He has faced many a trial and tribulation over these ten years whether it be his stint in prison, his bust-ups with other celebrities or his on-off relationship with both Rihanna and Karrueche Tran. 

Even though Chris has undergone a massive transformation since this debut one thing has remained the same, his talent. Throughout all the ups and downs Chris' music has never suffered and he has managed to still be the most requested feature artist and the biggest selling male R'n'B star until this day.

The Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha

Nicole Scherzinger, too, had her big music break ten years ago as part of the dance and singing group, The Pussycat Dolls. Although they have since disbanded, they racked up a string of hits in their five years together with Nicole remaining the face and voice of the group. 

She has managed to keep herself in the spotlight as a popular X Factor judge in the UK and a semi-successful solo artist but this song and this band will always be the height of her career.

Rihanna - Pon De Replay

Yet another artist who will be celebrating ten years in the industry this year, Rihanna became a household name in 2005 thanks to this club classic.

The Bajan pop princess may be just as well known for her relationships, fashion choices and outspoken personality as she is for her music but it is undeniable how many hits this girl has stacked up in ten years. She may have grown tougher, richer and all the more fabulous since Pon De Replay, but Riri is still the fun island girl that we all fell in love with in this video.

Destiny's Child - Soldier

2015 will also mark ten years since Destiny's Child decided to take a 'break' and gifted us with Cater To You and Soldier as a farewell present. Soldier was one of their strongest R'n'B tracks with a very heavy hip-hop influence that was only solidified by the presence of Lil Wayne and T.I. It is always one of my favourite from the girl group and is still just as relevant ten years later.
Though Beyonce has gone from strength to strength these past ten years, and Kelly and Michelle haven't done so badly either, fans are always going to request that the girls reunite as a three-piece to grace us with new DC music.

Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers

Ten years ago, Eminem had hit a peak in his career and spent much of 2005 exploring some more poignant and emotional topics such as with Like Toy Soldiers. This was one of my favourite Eminem phases which helped gain him the title as one of the best rappers ever.

Unfortunately he has never quite reached the success of this period in his career and has been a lot quieter and less influential over the past three or four years but songs like this remind me why he is such an icon.

Missy Elliot - Lose Control

Can you believe that it has been ten years since Missy Elliot has blessed us with a huge dance number like Lose Control. This song will never fail to have everyone head to the dancefloor even in 2015, and it only makes me yearn for her return even more.

If she was still making music like this Iggy would certainly find it difficult to chart and there would be no question who the queen of rap is at the moment.

Missy come back !

The Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

Another musical talent who has abandoned us in the past few years, The Black Eyed Peas were giving us hip hop classics such as Don't Lie, Don't Phunk With My Heart and My Humps ten years ago.

Although they have promised us new music this year, I can't be certain that it will live up to their Elephunk and Monkey Business era which was the quartet as their best. Say what you want about the repetitiveness and shallow content of this track, you know you love it.

Mariah Carey - We Belong Together

Ten years ago, Mariah Carey had already reached icon status but it was this classic love song that made her known to a new generation of music lovers.

Her vocals were on point, she looked stunning and the song is just so well-written and executed- what went wrong. In the years that have passed Mariah has never delivered to this standard again, though she keeps trying, and it may be time for her to hang up her mic. But I have a feeling she will still be trying ten years from now.

Will Smith - Switch

I had to include this Will Smith classic and one of my favourite songs from 2005. I remember it as if it was yesterday, the last time Will Smith gave music a go...and it wasn't bad at all.

Although he has since stuck to what he does best, making great action (and occasionally romcom) films and raising his brilliantly talented family, Will did have a substantial music career which people often forget. 

I can't remember if this was a major hit for Will but I still love it and it would probably chart well had it been released now.

Britney Spears - Do Somethin'

To think that just a decade ago Britney was in her prime - childless and pretty free of controversy - and still making fun pop music. This song was literally one of the last Britney tracks before the massive breakdown so it has a special place in Brit history. Even if the song is one of her worst, the dancing was on point, as was her body, and she looked happy and healthy.

Unfortunately ten years later she is a shell of her former self and we may never see Brit Brit like this again, but at least we have the memories.