Get that money, youngin! Chris Brown has been slaying the game for about three years now, so is it really a surprise to see him spin his hit single “Forever” (which was voted off the track listing by his A&R crew on his album Exclusive’s original track listing) into a Doublemint gum commercial.
I can’t say I didn’t think of the classic gum commercials when I first heard his lyrics “double your pleasure, double your fun” the first few times I heard it, so it’s tongue-in-cheek, and amusing as hell to see it come to fruition.
If you’ve been paying attention to radio spins or chart domination the last quarter of this summer, you noticed the rise of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” from her album Kala, which was released an entire YEAR ago, in August ‘07.
Pineapple Express changed so much for the Sri Lankan-born rapper (who now calls the UK home) who declared at this summer’s Bonnaroo festival that she was retiring from music altogether. Her Clash-sampling “Paper Planes” cut, which was featured on the movie’s trailer rose quickly to number 1 on the iTunes & Billboard singles charts, has apparently given her a new take on her upsetting announcement.
When Entertainment Weekly asked her if she really meant what she said about retiring, here’s what the indie scene princess had to say:
Well, it was my last ever show. And it still is. I stopped touring after that and I didn’t want to make music again. I was quite happy to just leave it all behind. I was happy with what I had achieved. Now, with the success of “Paper Planes,” there’s pull for me to make another record. Even my mum believes in me more [laughs]. It’s a nice encouragement. But I was planning my life as a fishing woman on the outskirts of Cambodia. That’s a joke.
I still don’t know what to think, but it’s not a new concept to go out a champion.
I’m pissed off! I was really rooting for Solange Knowles this time around, despite her previous strikes (see Bring it On 2, etc.), to be the “real” sister out of the bunch. The one who was approachable, and truly embraced the 60’s swagger, being our anti-diva. Well NO MAS!
Watch as the little sister that just couldn’t pulls a serious ego trip on live TV promoting her new album after a reporter segwayed into her live interview by mentioning Beyonce, her more-talented, and much-more-famous big sister. The television station, which broadcasts from Las Vegas had been discussing during commercial break the closing of Jay-Z’s 40/40 club in Vegas. Highlight of the clip is when miss So-So condemns the reporter for discussing her brother-in-law’s establishment (like it had anything to do with her), only for her publicist to tell her that that wasn’t live.
WHO IS THIS CHICK?!?!?!?!!
Oh yeah, AND YOUR SISTER IS BEYONCE! AND YOUR SISTER IS BEYONCE! AND YOUR SISTER IS BEYONCE! AND YOUR SISTER IS BEYONCE!
I’ve gotta hand it to the Universal Music Group’s approach to marketing its newest artist Lady GaGa. Among so many more rights than wrongs, their most telling may be the project’s title itself. “The Fame” fulfills its own prophecy, promoting GaGa (real name Stefani Germanotta) as a jet-setting, international celebrity– when in reality she runs the risk of being confused with Gwen Stefani or even the lesser-known Aubrey O’Day than being chased by paparazzi (at least at this point).
Bragadocious tracks like “Paparazzi”, “Fame”, and “Beautiful Dirty Rich” seem to carry the same credibility as if Miley Cyrus were singing ballads about failed marriages, but nonetheless, the bisexual former NYC club-performer hits her mark, turning out an album that’s almost as cohesive as it is addictive. Lyrics like “All we care about are runway models, cadillacs and vodka bottles,” and “we like boys in cars, who buy us drinks in bars,” even bring the possibility of the album having a theme to the table– socially criticizing the elitists– if only it weren’t so damn glamorous sounding!
Behind every party girl these days though, (or rather, inside of ever party girl?) exists a tortured heart. Rihanna switches from begging to not stop the music, to vindictively telling a cheating ex to take a bow. Fergie boasted fergaliciousness, only to switch it up and claim big girls never cry. Taking little chance at being different, “The Fame” balances its party records with songs that showcase Germanotta’s songwriting abilities, like “Again Again” and “Brown Eyes” shine through, proving why she’s quickly-becoming an in-demand writer in her own professional right (having penned tracks for the Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears, and The New Kids on the Block).
If only the music industry wasn’t the way it is today, we’d be hearing GaGa (and a lot of artists like her) on radio, but unfortunately, this album’s going to have some hurdles to overcome–most remarkable, that of finding its spot in between club kid house parties, and Perez Hilton’s iPod.
NOTICEABLE HEAT: The RedOne-produced lead single “Just Dance” featuring fellow Akon-mentee Colby O’Donnis, and the very-similarly-produced “Poker Face”
Self-proclaimed “best friends” Rihanna and Chris Brown hit nearby Ocean City, MD this past week, taking in some jet-skiiing, along with some improvised…dermatology?
I’ve been on vacation for the past week-ish in Myrtle Beach, so suffice it to say, I’m not happy to be back to the daily grind. But anyways, maybe getting lost in some blogging is the best means of escapism.
Not that the musical prowess behind Bad Boy signee Cassie is anything too-impressive (and I’ve had this debate many a time), but neither is (or was) that of either Janet or Madonna, so I’d say gimmicks-aside, we shouldn’t underestimate the consumer appeal that this chick heralds. With that said, lying on the beach, I had the Danja-produced track “Official Girl” come across my shuffle a few times–and couldn’t help but say to myself how beautifully-produced this track was… almost too well-done to get lost among the “buzz track” shuffle.
So I’m glad to see two things — that it’s “official”ly (I know, I’m lame) the first single, and the addition of the world’s biggest rapper Lil’ Wayne guarantees a video and some kind of club-play.
Harriet Tubman would be so proud! Khia, everyone’s favorite female-rap-reality-show reject has released a video for her new single, that which I forgot already in the time it took me to copy and paste the embed code, and log-into my admin panel.
So if you remember (most probably don’t) a rumor that Rick Ross used to be a correctional officer shortly before making it behind the mic, you toyed with the delicious idea that maybe… just maybe it was true… and that all this jib-jabbin’ about “dealin’ weight” was faxer than a Foxy Brown hair clump. Well, thanks to the folks at the Smoking Gun, you’ve got your Christmas morning 5 months early!
Speaking of Foxy, how insanely dope is the irony behind this new match made in heaven? An actual convict living with a former correctional officer. Did he even tell her the truth, or is she finding out now, consequentially throwing bottles of hair glue at her laptop?
Just when you think a bitch is lookin’ ontop of her game again, she’s gotta go and pull this tom foolery!
My soul mate Lil’ Kim hast done it once more with that damn “am I farting or about to shit my draws” pose, and a wig that’s crawling off of her scalp. Oh yeah, and her mugging with one-cameo-wonder Queen Penn isn’t helping the situation either.
OK, so I’ve been admittedly “on the limb” with posting lately. I don’t even know precisely what that expression means all the time, but when it takes a tragic occurrence to bring me back to writing a post, I’ve realized I’ve been off the wagon for far too long (yet another expression).
DJ K-Swift was the shit. She pioneered the music subculture known as B-More (Baltimore) Club music, and literally ruled the genre for over a decade. But she wasn’t just hip-hop, as many can attest to, including Diplo (who we know and love as M.I.A.’s biggest fan, and international producer/DJ in his own right).
Diplo & K-Swift (real name Khia Edgerton) had just performed a gig so close to me in Baltimore Maryland at Paradox this past Friday.
Edgerton died early this morning as a result of a shady pool accident (shady because details still have yet to emerge).
Isn’t it funny (used loosely) how we always wish we could rewind, and go back to that lass high school class you had with someone who died unexpectedly in a car accident, to go back to that last live awards show when someone was presenting a trophy one night, and in a body bag the next. I wish I could rewind and have been at this sure-to-be-legendary show.
Truly so sad.
I’ve been covering the event on Backseat Cuddler this morning, so my apologies if I’m repeating or excluding any info. Details to follow!
