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First Look: Jay-Z’s “Run This Town”
Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 3” is only a few short weeks away from release. Will it be an artistry-affirming masterpiece like the first “Blueprint” was? Or will it be an overambitious, ego-driven mess like “Blueprint 2”? Two singles in, I’m not so sure of the answer.
Joined by proteges Kanye West and Rihanna (whose presence almost automatically predicts chart success), “Run This Town” is one of Jay’s most commercial efforts to date. The song itself? It’s okay. Rihanna’s […]
BLACKsummersnight by Maxwell
In, “BLACKsummersnight,” his 4th studio album, Maxwell scraps every single construct that has made him popular. The warm, afro coifed R&B god that could have passed for a fashion model is gone, replaced by a clean cut, moody man with a serious case of the thirty somethings. In place of the smooth, up tempo funk that seemed ready made for urban coffee houses is a darker sound; more attuned to low chords and minor keys; […]
First Listen: Whitney Houston’s “Million Dollar Bill”
So I’m thinking this Whitney comeback might actually get pulled off. “Million Dollar Bill” is the second radio single from her upcoming album “I Look to You”, and it’s a pretty damn good record. Produced by Alicia Keys (and Swizz Beatz…I think), it’s got a retro-disco vibe that Whitney’s never tried before. It works for her. I’m glad they’re not going the Auto-Tune/trendy club beat route with her (you hear that, Mary J. Blige?)
What impresses […]