Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Eric Benet

Sound Dialogue – R&B In 2008

Before these last two months, I had only purchased two albums that would qualify as R&B music, which is my favorite genre. Those albums were the up and down Day26 release and Usher’s latest, which is good, though a bit underwhelming. However, with the release of Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Raphael Saadiq, and the newly released Evolver from John Legend, R&B is on fire right now. Money Mike and I discussed R&B music in the year 2008 in our latest Sound Dialogue.

GG: What was going on in the early parts of 2008 with R&B music? I’m sure there were a few releases that I missed, but nothing even tempted me to make a purchase. Are there any underdog R&B stories of 2008 that I missed, or was it just a weak first 7 months for R&B?

MM: You and I have sort of different tastes when it comes to R&B. There’s a very specific sound you like, which is the male groups and the male solo artists with a less alternative kind of sound. I like that stuff too, so maybe I should just say that we have similar tastes, but there are some artists I dig that you probably wouldn’t go for. There were a couple of sleepers in the early part of the year. Raheem Devaughn’s album was good, as was Van Hunt’s. But as far as contemporary R&B, things were looking bad until last month.

GG: I guess that’s how I should’ve stated it. Contemporary R&B. Conventional R&B. Whatever you want to call it. But I want to ask you something related. Why hasn’t there been much in the world of female R&B? Or is that another genre that I’m missing out on?

(more…)

October 31, 2008
Chart Chat: 9/21/08: Pink, Metallica, Mitch Hedberg & More!!
This week’s chart action, courtesy of Billboard Magazine.
1) “So What” Pink

Pink. Photo courtesy of Joel Telling.

2) “Whatever You Like” T.I.
3) “Disturbia” Rihanna
4) “Paper Planes” M.I.A.
5) “Swagga Like Us” Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Li’l Wayne & Kanye West
6) “Forever” Chris Brown
7) “Closer” Ne-Yo
8) “Can’t Believe It” T-Pain feat. Li’l Wayne
9) “American Boy” Estelle feat. Kanye West
10) “Got Money” Li’l Wayne feat. T-Pain
11) ‘Dangerous” Kardinal Offishall feat. Akon
12) “Hot N Cold” Katy Perry
13) “I’m Yours” Jason Mraz
14) “Viva La Vida” Coldplay
15) “In the Ayer” Flo-Rida feat. will.i.am
16) “Love Story” Taylor Swift
17) “One Step at a Time” Jordin Sparks
18) “Better in Time” Leona Lewis
19) “I Kissed a Girl” Katy Perry
20) “Miss Independent” Ne-Yo
1) “Death Magnetic” Metallica
2) “The Recession” Young Jeezy
3) “Rock & Roll Jesus” Kid Rock
4) “Do You Know” Jessica Simpson
5) “All Hope is Gone” Slipknot
6) “A Little Bit Longer” Jonas Brothers
7) “LAX” The Game
8) “Exit 13” LL Cool J
9) “Tha Carter III” Li’l Wayne
10) “Mamma Mia Soundtrack” Various Artists
11) “Love & Life” Eric Benet
12) “Good Girl Gone Bad” Rihanna
13) “Love on the Inside” Sugarland
14) “The Quilt” Gym Class Heroes
15) “Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends” Coldplay
16) “The Block” New Kids on the Block
17) “Breakout” Miley Cyrus
18) “Do You Believe in Gosh” Mitch Hedberg
19) “Still Unforgettable” Natalie Cole
20) “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” Jason Mraz

*Pink sets up her upcoming album “Funhouse” quite nicely with the first #1 single of her career (not counting the multi-artist massacre of “Lady Marmalade” from 2001. While I’m sure most will agree that she’s a talented woman, did anyone think that this chick would still have a career after nearly ten years when they first saw the video for “There U Go”?

(more…)
September 21, 2008
Eric Benet’s “Love & Life”: Good Enough That You’ll Forgive Him For That Whole Halle Berry Mess

Let’s face it. No matter how big Eric Benet becomes, he will forever be known as The Guy Who Cheated On Halle Berry. Although I almost don’t feel sorry for him on account of his being a complete idiot, I’ve gotta say, the guy makes pretty good records-although he only appears to release them when the moon is green. Following a 3-year absence, Benet has returned with a solid fourth album entitled Love & Life.

(more…)

September 16, 2008