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Tag: Keyshia Cole

  • SonicClash Handicaps The 2009 Grammy Awards Part III: Year of the Gentleman

    judThis year’s R&B categories boast two strange omissions-Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige. Both are extraordinarily loved by Grammy voters, and yet they’re almost nowhere to be found. Instead, the NARAS folks are honoring soul music’s new guard, with multiple nominations for newcomer Jazmine Sullivan and relative newcomers Ne-Yo and Jennifer Hudson. Let’s see how the categories shake out.

    Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: Me, Myself & I (Beyonce)/Heaven Sent (Keyshia Cole)/Spotlight (Jennifer Hudson)/Superwoman (Alicia Keys)/Need U Bad (Jazmine Sullivan)

    Will Win: Jennifer Hudson

    Should Win: Keyshia Cole

    The obvious first question is “Why is Beyonce nominated for a song that’s over 5 years old?”. Apparently, it’s an audio track from a live DVD and Grammy saw fit to nominate her instead of Mary J. Blige or any of the other deserving females that could have potentially been up for this award. She won’t win anyway. The R&B category this year is going to be very kind to either Hudson or Sullivan I’m betting the sympathy factor works in J. Hud’s factor. However, Keyshia Cole deserves this simply for making me love a song by an artist I detest.

    Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: You’re the Only One (Eric Benet)/Take You Down (Chris Brown)/Miss Independent (Ne-Yo)/Can’t Help But Wait (Trey Songz)/Here I Stand (Usher)

    Will Win: Ne-Yo

    Should Win: Usher

    This is Ne-Yo’s year, point blank. Count on him to challenge Coldplay for most awards won tonight (although I think parity will be the name of the game this year). I don’t see anyone else getting this award. Usher has won three times in this category, but the fact that he has the strongest song in the bunch will be negated by the fact that his album was perceived as a flop.

    Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Ribbon in the Sky (Boyz II Men)/Words (Anthony David feat. india.arie)/Stay With Me (By the Sea) (Al Green feat. John Legend)/I’m His Only Woman (Jennifer Hudson feat. Fantasia)/Never Give You Up (Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton)

    Will Win: Al Green feat. John Legend

    Should Win: Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton

    The average music fan doesn’t even know that Boyz II Men is still around. It’s not 1994, so it’s doubtful they will win, which leaves the 4 collaborations. Raphael Saadiq and india.arie both have a history of getting Susan Lucci’ed at the Grammys, so that leaves J. Hud and Fantasia (who can sneak in and nab this one, and the beautiful Al Green/John Legend duet, which will probably snag the prize.

    Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: A Change is Gonna Come (Wayne Brady)/You Got the Love I Need (Al Green feat. Anthony Hamilton)/Baby I Know (Linda Jones with Helen Bruner & Terry Jones)/Love That Girl (Raphael Saadiq)/In Love with Another Man (Jazmine Sullivan)

    Will Win: Al Green feat. Anthony Hamilton

    Should Win: Al Green feat. Anthony Hamilton

    Linda Jones has been deceased for over thirty-five years. The younger contingent of voters isn’t going to know who she is. Hell, the OLDER contingent of voters won’t know who she is. Wayne Brady, despite being totally qualified to win this award, isn’t as well known as a musician as he is a TV personality. If Jazmine Sullivan gets on a roll, she might get this one, but the save bet is Rev. Al, the Ladies’ Pal. And it would give Anthony Hamilton a well-deserved first Grammy! Sweet!

    Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Say Goodbye to Love (Kenna)/Wanna Be (Maiysha)/Be OK (Chrisette Michele feat. will.i.am)/Many Moons (Janelle Monae)/Lovin’ You (Music) (Wayna feat. Kokayi)

    Will Win: Chrisette Michele

    Should Win: Kenna

    Simply put, Grammy voters are going to vote for who they know. So unless Puffy gets everyone he knows to vote for Janelle Monae, the NARAS folks are gonna recognize will.i.am’s name and put a checkmark next to it. I personally would give Kenna the award, seeing as he singlehandedly redeems The Neptunes for half a decade of truly mediocre music.

    Best R&B Song: Bust Your Windows (Jazmine Sullivan)/Customer (Raheem DeVaughn)/Heaven Sent (Keyshia Cole)/Miss Independent (Ne-Yo)/Spotlight (Jennifer Hudson)

    Will Win: “Spotlight”

    Should Win: “Customer”

    One would think that with two nominations in this category (he also wrote “Spotlight”), Ne-Yo would cancel himself out, but for some reason my Spidey Sense tells me that won’t happen this time around. This is another category that I think Jazmine Sullivan has a chance at, especially if she gets on a roll, but this’ll probably end up another J. Hud sympathy vote although, considering she didn’t write the song, she won’t get an award.

    Best R&B Album: Love & Life (Eric Benet)/Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA (Boyz II Men)/Lay it Down (Al Green)/Jennifer Hudson (Jennifer Hudson)/The Way I See It (Raphael Saadiq)

    Will Win: Al Green

    Should Win: Raphael Saadiq

    I still don’t know the difference between an “R&B Album” and a “Contemporary R&B” album. Can someone help me out here? Grammy likes to bestow honors on artists late in their careers, so I think 2009 will be the year Al Green gets honored, not just for “Lay it Down”, which is a great album in its’ own right, but for making “Let’s Stay Together” and “I’m Still in Love with You” and all the 70s hits he wasn’t honored for initially.

    Best Contemporary R&B Album: Growing Pains (Mary J. Blige)/Back of My Lac (J. Holiday)/First Love (Karina)/Year of the Gentleman (Ne-Yo)/Fearless (Jazmine Sullivan)

    Will Win: Ne-Yo

    Should Win: Ne-Yo

    Who’s Karina and why is she nominated? Must investigate. Didn’t J. Holiday’s record come out two years ago? Anyway, there’s three solid nominees here, and even though I wanna say Mary J. might come up and spirit this one away, it’s Ne-Yo’s night. He wins again.

    Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: American Boy (Estelle feat. Kanye West)/Low (Flo-rida feat. T-Pain)/Green Light (John Legend feat. Andre 3000)/Got Money (Lil Wayne feat. T-Pain)/Superstar (Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos)

    Will Win: “American Boy”

    Should Win: “Green Light”

    I don’t know that the conservative bloc of Grammy voters is going to vote for Lil Wayne. Besides, he’s dragged down by the presence of T-Pain, whose two nominations will probably cancel one another out (not that it worked last year. I can’t believe T-Pain has a Grammy). Grammy loves Andre 3000 and John Legend, but Grammy loves Kanye even more, and “American Boy” was probably the most popular song of the 5 nominated. Plus, Estelle & Kanye are performing on the show. I think that’s the tipoff right there.

  • The New Music Files 12/16/08: Ending the Year With a Bang

    Well, folks, we’ve come to the end of the road for 2008. The last big release date of the year. The labels are emptying their chambers until 2009 (and from the looks of the ’09 release schedule…those chambers won’t be emptied until we’re way into 2009). Here’s what you can expect to see on the new release shelves in stores today.

    Fall Out Boy Folie a Deux: This is supposed to be Pete Wentz and the boys’ “political” album, originally scheduled to release on Valentine’s Day. While I kinda like FOB (their last album impressed me, actually), I’m not so sure that I want to hear them talking about politics. Anyway, Folie a Deux continues their move from emo to power-pop as evidenced by their hit single “I Don’t Care”. Debbie Harry and Lil’ Wayne-of course-are among the guests on this album.

    Anthony Hamilton The Point of it All: This man, ladies and gentlemen, is a soul singer the way they used to make ’em. His first two albums have been excellent, and even the pre-fame vault releases that have been put out are pretty good. The Point of it All is touted as a more uptempo effort from Anthony, but I’ve heard the whole album, and it’s not much different from his first two. This is a good thing, because I was scared when I found out the first single had a cameo from rapper David Banner.

    Keyshia Cole A Different Me: It took Mary J. Blige 13 years and seven studio albums before she went from “troubled” to “diva”. Keyshia Cole is trying to turn the same trick in five years and three albums. Of course, Mary had to deal with drug and alcohol addiction and an abusive relationship. Keyshia’s pretty much only had to deal with being a hoodrat. This new album is already off to a shaky start, as the first single heads back to the grave of Tupac Shakur one more time. Leave the man alone! He’s been dead 12 years now!!!

    Soulja Boy Tell ’em ISouljaboytellem.com: What’s that sound? It’s the sound of Soulja Boy Tellem’s career dying a quick and undignified death! The maker of last year’s biggest novelty hit returns for round 2, only this time, no one cares.

    Jamie Foxx Intuition: Back when Jamie was playing Ugly Wanda on “In Living Color”, did anyone think the words “Oscar winner” would precede his name? Probably not, but here we are a decade and a half later, and Foxx has a successful dual career as actor and singer. This, his third solo album, features more slightly lecherous R&B (dude, you’re 40!) with cameos from T.I., Ne-Yo, and (you guessed it) Lil’ Wayne.

    But wait, there’s more!

    The All-American Rejects follow up their breakthrough album, Move Along, with When the World Comes Down, which features the hit single “Gives You Hell”. They’re joined on this week’s release schedule by rapper Plies (didn’t he just release an album?), Josey Scott & Saliva, and in this week’s oddest release, Vibes,a reggae album by Heavy D. Yes, that Heavy D.

    On the reissue tip, The Bee Gees re-release their Love Songs compilation a full month and a half in advance of Valentine’s Day.How thoughtful. There’s also the annual Dave Matthews Band live album (I think this might be one of the last shows sax man Leroi Moore played), a best of from Ghostface Killah, and budget compilations from the likes of Bob Dylan, Brooks & Dunn and REO Speedwagon, so if you’ve been interested in checking these bands out, you can do so at a low price.

    Get your full list of this week’s new releases here.

    And with that, “The New Music Files” is taking the remainder of 2008 (and the first week or two of 2009) off. Enjoy the holiday season and see you next year!!

  • The Return Of "At The Wrecka Sto’"…Albeit A Day Late…

    There will be a weekly updated new release portion of the actual musichelpweb.com site soon, but in the meantime, there are a million new albums out this week. So, no matter what genre of music you’re a fan of, you should be able to find something to enjoy.

    Country fans: While you’re basking in the glow of Reba McEntire’s #1 Album debut (the best first week of sales in Reba’s long and venerable career), you also might wanna check out “Still Feels Good”, the latest release from country
    darlings Rascal Flatts. They had 2006’s biggest
    selling non-soundtrack album (thanks, “High School Musical”), and this one should be another biggie. For those who like their
    country of a somewhat more mature, rootsy variety check out
    alt-country troubadour Steve Earle and his Washington Square
    Serenade

    Rap fans: You a Black Eyed Peas fan? I’m not, but it’s OK if you are. Band leader will.i.am has a new album out called Songs About Girls. Rumor has it that it’s quite eclectic and artistic in a way that his fellow bandmate Fergie’s album was decidely not.

    Classic Pop fans; Not only are there a few Tony Bennett reissues hitting stores, but Queen Latifah unleashes another set of sunny covers with Travelin’ Light. Listen to the Queen (who I caught last night on a very funny “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air” rerun…it was strange watching her and Will Smith on the screen knowing that they both have gone on to be Oscar nominated) tackle classics such as “I’m Not In Love” on this release. Meanwhile, not only is Joni Mitchell covered on the new Chaka Khan album (see below for details)…not only is she the subject of a Herbie Hancock-directed tribute album (featuring Corinne Bailey Rae and others), but the Queen of Singer-Songwriters issues her Starbucks-backed Hear Music debut, Shine-which I’ve already heard and HIGHLY recommend.

    Rock fans: The Foo Fighters are back! “The Pretender” is the latest in a long line of winning rock songs from Dave Grohl and company. The name of the album is Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

    Indie Folks: Iron & Wine (who I remember from the Garden State soundtrack) and Devendra Banhart (who I remember because his name sounds like the name of some girl I went to school with) have new albums out today. I’m sure Pitchfork is already drooling all over both albums.

    R&B fans: This is the R&B Super Tuesday of 2007. To wit: Mary J.-in-training Keyshia Cole attempts to conquer the sophomore album demon with Just Like Me. First single “Let It Go” has already had #1 success. Meanwhile, Jill Scott returns for round three with The Real Thing. The singer/songwriter/spoken word artist also has what is a reportedly career-defining role in “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married”, in theaters 10/12 (co-starring Janet Jackson). Fans who prefer their soul a little more on the esoteric side will rejoice in albums from bassist/provocateur Meshell Ndegeocello (The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams) and singer Rahsaan Patterson’s Wines & Spirits> Finally, a singer who many soul fans say Rahsaan resembles vocally is back. Chaka Khan is back with Funk This!, her first album of all new material in a decade. Chaka rolls with producers Jam & Lewis on this one, and it also features contributions from former Rufus bandmate Tony Maiden, Michael McDonald and Mary J. Blige.

    Lovers of music? This should be a very good week for you!!