Rolling R&B Thread 2008

Ciara's new song "High Price" is shockingly awful (The-Dream wrote it and generally Ciara's singles are amazing.. plus I think Polow produced it.. anyway it's really weird and bad).

maybe it will grow on me

Tricky Stewart produced "High Price." But yeah, it's horrid, or at least that one-minute clip of it that's out there is. I mean, I didn't like "Oh" much the first time, let alone a weirdo semi-retread of it.

really feeling the reggae-ish track from Missy's new artist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR9E5VYagFA

yes, Jazmine Sullivan! Love her, album should be incredible (she's mentioned in the first post)

I went to the Epic Yung Berg preview yesterday (I can't be the only one who subconsciously wants to yid-ify him, calling him Youngberg mentally).

Here are my notes (since we weren't allowed to record anything, all I've got is ugly short-hand):

Berg gives brief intro. Berg believes that he is "Empowering young people to take it to the next level … keep God and all things are possible," etc.

He produced the entire album except for two tracks, and he calls this "new sound" "the Spaceship." It's all auto-tuned with a lot of echo, chime-y synth arpeggios. He's got the system up way too loud, so it sounds like shit. "The Business" is booty-call track with silly metaphor, good radio sound. Lots of compression, no dynamics. More radio than club track. He's partial to the DMX-ish shout "Hey!"

His label didn't understand "what I'm all about." "If I come from Sexy Can I to Sexy Lady, I'm gonna be the sexiest dude alive."

Do Dat There video: Big cold jam, lots of black and white, hey—those are the street drummers in front of the Art Institute! Warm, sustained bass. Sure does like that plinking toy piano. I like the instructions re: wad. Makes it officially dance track. "It was important that this came out with no co-signer. I got no co-signer, no, like Fiddy says he's cool. I'm New Wave."

"One Night" has toy piano again. Sharp bass, but mixed for shit. Supercompressed. Sure likes the posturing, spoken word interludes.

"This is the track I'm most proud of." Called "Outer Space." Phase shifting, more auto-tune. He stops the track to tell us he really sang it. It's apparent—his voice is really thin. Should have doubled it. Falls back on "Hey!", more tinkly piano. Bridge is tight. Nice spacey sound. Makes me want to get him to listen to Charles Earland.

"Manager" has more chime washes, better hook than "One Night," lots of string sweeps. Weird pimp metaphor—doesn't want to be boyfriend, just take 20% of proceeds (wonder if he knows that managers usually get 10). "They don't coordinate your do with your shoes/like I do." Way too long on bridge.

That's pretty much it, we were only there pretty briefly. For some reason, he came up to me an initiated a complicated dap-tap. He has a lot of lotion on his hands.

J Hud's first single Spotlight is pretty good, I was expecting something a bit more fun and uptempo but she sounds amazing... I think this could be a hit for her.

Robin Thicke's new single Magic is FIIIIIIREEEEEEE... continuing in the same Leon Ware/ I Want You -era Marvin sound as "Gots 2 Be Down".

so.. usher's album... kinda boring...

OMG...OTM Re: Robin Thicke

LOVING the orchestration on the Thicke tune!

lloyd & lil wayne- girls around the world (this song is SO FUCKING HOT... on some throwback early 90s shit)

-- The Brainwasher, Tuesday, April 1, 2008 9:41 PM (Tuesday, April 1, 2008 9:41 PM) Bookmark Link

Brainwasher bein on top of shit so I don't have to can finally get around to listening to it in two months

-- The Reverend, Tuesday, April 1, 2008 9:42 PM (Tuesday, April 1, 2008 9:42 PM) Bookmark Link

Well whaddayaknow, two months later, that Lloyd track is fiya. Agree about the 90s-ness.

imo lloyd is only okay on the son. it's made on the sample and wayne's verse

song*

That Jazmine Sullivan "I Need You Bad" track is nice---kinda Lauryn Hill over Sly & Robbie...

I've always felt Usher and his RAW emotion in his overly melodramatic tracks but I don't think he's relevant anymore. Not caring about J-Hud, great voice but SO? Erykah has some fun stuff on that album but its debatable in the cold light of day, I'm actually really feeling Cassie's 'Official Girl' and 'Thirsty' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWctgqdKRQU&feature=related)thats been 'leaked' from her upcoming album which is throwing off some good signals of being a real good thing, amazing production and beats but I don't think it'll be a major hit outside of the clubs tho, her voice is too weak, but hey look at Rihanna and in fact Ciara...Cheri Dennis? Hmm, definite possibilities, 'Remind You' is hype I actually think Cassie's is quite icy electro.
That Jazmine Sullivan "I Need You Bad" track is nice---kinda Lauryn Hill over Sly & Robbie... REALLY?!

That Lloyd track is hot but Lil Wayne...I thought only hipsters liked him? Forget Tyra B and Ciara trying to bite Aaliyah, not interested. Tiffany Evans is cool...actually exactly because of fools like Ray J and similar I'm really not impressed with R&B at the moment, more interested in whats new with dub. Wake me up when shit gets good again....or recommend something better!

Usher dancing with some gals on Saturday Night Live was kinda, uh interesting, though "Love in the Club" seems kinda formulaic in a not so good way

That Lloyd track is hot but Lil Wayne...I thought only hipsters liked him?

wayne is the most popular rapper in the country right now and it's not even close

unda surveillance- on deck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgTYsd_hMns

this is another pretty good rap&b track from some miami no-names. seems like nothing really exceptional-- in fact took like 5-6 times of hearing this on the radio for it to really catch on-- but its really breezy and just feels right right about now.

this is old, but she's not famous yet and it bothers me.

Keri Hilson's first single FINALLY!!

http://concreteloop.com/2008/05/cl-exclusive-keri-hilson-energy

I really dig the song/vocal, but I'm not to keen on the production, which (at least at low volume) sounds very Stargate (in this case that's not a compliment)

It doesn't sound like Stargate so much as Brian-Michael Cox. The fake-sounding piano and busy hi-hat are dead ringers. The tune itself is a bit too static, especially in the hook.

"I Need You Bad" is really good. Lauryn Hill comparison apt.

OK. Me offtm. This sounds great at a higher volume, esp. the chorus. I don't like the drums very much though; that was what seemed Stargate-ish to me

Speaking of B. Cox: Cassie - 2 the Morning

The Keri single is pretty good, I get that it's going for that "No Air"/"Umbrella" type epic synthiness..I'm sure the album will have better stuff on it.

"Need You Bad" is feeling like my single of the year right now... I'm telling you guys her album is gonna be classic

Oh God, drums on "Need You Bad"! Awesome.

"Need You Bad," "Energy," and all new Cassie stuffs working very well for me thank you very much.

And yes, Tiffany Evans' album should be awesome. "I'm Grown"!!!

-- The Brainwasher, Monday, December 31, 2007 1:37 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark Link

just saw this on 106 and i really like it. what's her deal?

she was on starsearch or something like thgat... I think her family used to be homeless, or something.. anyway she can really sing. Her album flopped badly though unfortunately

is it any good?

yeah it's pretty good

worth checking out, especially "girl gone wild"

I'm sure you've heard "promise ring" w/ ciara, right?

y but i don't like that nearly as much as "i'm grown". sounds too much like ciara's jazze pha produced stuff for my taste

she's total tape store bait imo

lol yeah totally

her album is good, yeah. don't really get why 'girl gone wild' was rerecorded though, it wasn't an improvement at all.

no love for solange's 'sandcastle disco'?

Had never heard of it till now. Is that drum beat a sample of the Monkees' "Mary Mary"? (!)

yeah this is so cool. i'm actually anticipating a solange album, I can't believe it.

"sandcastle disco" is reaching summer jam status

i know im like 4 months late on this but that janet 'rock with u' is fantastic

I feel like Brainwasher now. Been saying that since January or something.

Anyway, the new Ursh video is TOTALLY METAPHORICAL in a really hamfisted way.

omgwtf @ kells looking like a cross between Goldilocks and Sisqo in the "Hairbraider" video

http://www2.mog.com/images/users/0000/0004/6028/images/1207875696.jpeg

dammit
http://www2.mog.com/images/users/0000/0004/6028/images/1207875696.jpeg

"sandcastle disco" is reaching summer jam status

-- The Brainwasher, Friday, 30 May 2008 22:02 (6 days ago) Link

lmao @ lloyd's hairstyles in the all around the world video

idk what brings more lolz, the perm or the long, straight hair (weave?)

cool vid tho

I think that's his real hair

dude is hella gay though, i mean for real

lol @ caring about a video in 2008 but i they had a cool aesthetic and the way they did the girls looked pretty tite so i wish they woulda done something else besides stand in front of a green screen but w/e