George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice album review
George Michael was at the peak of his solo career when he released the Listen Without Prejudice Interview album in 1991. This album has a more acoustic vibe due to its instrumentation. He reflects on his music with such intensity. It was a complete departure from the sound off his debut album earlier in 1987. The album was platinum over several times in various countries across the world.
However it wasn’t all glamour for this solo star. He faced several challenges with Sony when recording the Listen Without Prejudice album. He claimed Sony did not promote his albums properly and was holding him back. Coincidentally it did not hinder the album from becoming another success surprisingly of course.
Despite the several challenges he faced with Sony when recording the Listen Without Prejudice album, the rewards and benefits turned out great. Recording this album to him was considered awarding.
Freedom is an upbeat dance track with an upbeat vibe. Of course the song is a ballad as George Michael is known for his ballads. Freedom samples Soul II Soul - Back To Life. The song received a great deal of play in the posh clubs of the United Kingdom.
Soul Free is a song that incorporates elements of soul music and dance music all into one song. The vibe is fairly upbeat and so is the sound.
4/5****
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Yungstar - Throwed Yung Playa album review
That Throwed Yung Playa album by Yungstar was pretty much a compilation disguised and promoted as an album by Straight Profit Records and Epic Records in 2000. Yungstar can't hold down his own lyrical weight or solo tracks on an album by himself. He can’t hold down his own weight on an album by himself.
He only rapped on tracks such as Knockin’ Pictures Off Da Wall, Out Of Sight Out Of Mind, I’m Still A Baller, TYP, Gots To Be Everything, and Keep It Real. He barely rapped on any of this album. Just maybe a verse here and there. Or a few verses. The album features 21+ different rappers from the Houston area. 18 of which were from Southwest Houston. 2 from Missouri City (Mo City).
However the album does have its standout moments and highlight tracks such as Knockin’ Pictures Off Da Wall, Out Of Sight Out Of Mind, I’m Still A Baller, TYP, Gots To Be Everything, and Keep It Real. Music collectors have cherished and purchase this album for years. However they only purchase this album for replay value and for completion sake.
To sum it all up, the album is 50% gibberish and 50% features vice versa. The album is mainly a collectors item for completionists. Despite the downsides this album is a classic! This album is energetic but not too hedonistic.
The intro is where Yungstar comments on the importance of keeping his name in the rap game. At the time he was riding high on the success of Lil' Troy's Wanna Be a Baller song. He was in his prime back then.
Lil Flip and C-Note go on a lyrical freestyle for Grippin’ Grain. Lil Flip takes control of verses for the first 1/4th of the duration for this track. C-Note takes control halfway. The track samples Tony! Toni! Toné! - It Never Rains In Southern California. Solo D was responsible for production and musical arrangements. Grippin Grain is about money and living the high life.
TYP is a Straight Profit posse cut with Lil Flex, Black 1, and Slikk Breeze. TYP samples Michael Jackson - PYT hence the inspiration and title for this track. The track is laced with a dance pop sound over nonchalant hip hop beats and rap lyrics.
Knockin Pictures Off Da Wall was the hit single that caught a buzz over the radio stations in Houston, Texas. It was played continuously on the radio in 1999 and early 2000s. Yungstar held down his own weight lyrically on this song with Lil Flex providing background vocals. Knockin Pictures Off Da Wall was a Yungstar/Lil Flex duo cut.
I’m Still A Baller is where Yungstar revisits Lil Troy’s smash hit from 1998 called Wanna Be A Baller. Yungstar rode high on the success of that Lil Troy song. I’m Still A Baller picks up where Wanna Be A Baller left off. It’s cool how Yungstar incorporated the lyrics of his used in Wanna Be A Baller without using any samples. The song itself is a perfect Yungstar original. The song is a tale of materialism and gloss. It’s about money and living the high life. This is where he does floss.
Keep It Real is another Straight Profit posse cut. The song was produced by H-Town legendary producer Jhiame. R&B group Deep Threat provides backing as that soulful chorus you hear. Keep It Real samples Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny’s Child.
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind has a banging bass line that you will surely remember. Lil Flex and Yungstar hold down the weight for most of the track. Particularly 1/4 of the track.
June 27 was the 18 minute freestyle that was included on the original 1999 pressing. This freestyle was originally created by DJ Screw. It was not included on the 2000 re-release due to sample clearance issues which is why Epic left the 18 minute freestyle off the nationwide release.
3/5***!
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Eeyanjae - Str8 No Chaser album review
Str8 No Chaser is an album from Detroit’s finest entertainer Eeyanjae. This album is his life story meaning that the Str8 No Chaser album is an autobiography of his life. Eeyanjae went the Prince route in the liner notes explaining the message behind this album. The album has sound similar to the “Motown sound”. This album blends the musical genres of hip hop/rap, jazz, R&B/soul, and rock.
Detroit’s Finest is about how and exactly why Eeyanjae is Detroit’s finest entertainer. He does not hold back while explaining in this song. Detroit’s finest entertainer Eeyanjae is one of the most underrated rappers from Detroit who is often overlooked with many others.
1st 2 Switch is about betrayal. It’s funny and scary how you never know which of your friends will be the first to switch their personalities by becoming different in a cold way because it’s a cold world. The mood for this song is cold hence a cold vibe along with a theme of betrayal. That is why this Eeyanjae song has such coldness.
Role Playa is about learning what life has to offer. Eeyanjae takes the listener(s) on a journey through life on this song of his. At some point in life we all have to be a role player. It’s funny how that works. Life is funny that way sometimes.
Cold World has a cold mood hence the cold vibe. That is why this Eeyanjae song has such coldness. The song is about surviving in a cold world. My Therapy is a song about how Eeyanjae uses music as his therapy.
The biggest concern of his is wanting to know his destiny until his future is clear. Eeyanjae searches for an answer to a clear future with no bleak outlook on the song I Wanna Know.
5/5*****!
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Eminem - Kamikaze album review
Kamikaze is the hottest album of September 2018. Eminem’s album Kamikaze dissed the new school mumble rappers of today. He dissed them lyrically in a hardcore way it shocked the public. The album has such ferocity and aggression. The Kamikaze album has charted at #1 on the Billboard Charts in 34 countries including Zimbabwe and Yemen.
However the album has not shied away from controversy. It has sparked the Machine Gun Kelly vs. Eminem feud. Eminem destroyed Machine Gun Kelly lyrically. Ja Rule responded by posting on social media which refueled a feud from the beginning of millennium. Which was irrational as that only added fire to the fuel by adding into the controversy. Of course people will do anything to relaunch or revive their music careers. Eminem has been criticized for using anti-LGBTQ slurs on songs from his Kamikaze album. His lyrics have been described as homophobic.
Artwork for the front cover design parodies the 1986 album Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill. The front album cover features a F-86 Sabre fighter jet fighter pilot. LT. Mathers III is the fighter pilot flying the F-86 Sabre fighter jet aircraft. Eminem pays homage and tribute to the Beastie Boys while parodying them at the same time. Eminem has cited them as an inspiration for several years.
4/5****!
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Avril Lavigne - Avril Lavigne album review
Avril Lavigne’s self-titled album from 2013 was highly slept on by the music industry and the general public. The album still contained some of Avril Lavigne’s iconic piano ballads and heavy rock influences. The album itself is a Here’s To Never Growing Up.
However music critics grew tired of her ideas and anthems. Many music critics responded with mixed reviews. Avril Lavigne’s self-titled album was her least successful album to date despite having Here’s To Never Growing Up and Rock N Roll as buzz singles. The album peaked at #5 on the BillBoard 200 yet suffered from low sales.
Avril Lavigne went back to her rebellious punk rock roots on the song Here’s To Never Growing Up. It's about being young and wanting to be young forever while living in the moment by having fun. The song itself is a nostalgia trip. Its music video on YouTube received millions of views online. Here’s To Never Growing Up was a hit and the lead single.
This song has a moderate tempo of 82 bpm and is composed almost entirely in the key of F major. This song has a moderate tempo similar to Complicated from 2002. The song has a “punch” in its sound due to constant usage of a kick drum. Guitars and drums are the melody.
At the beginning is where Avril references English rock band Radiohead. Ironically Radiohead is also featured in the chorus. At the chorus, she continues "We'll be running down the street yelling kiss my ass"
Avril declares her celebration to never maturing in the second verse. It is clearly a "celebration of being forever young".:
This is who we are
I don't think we'll ever change
They say 'Just grow up.’
but they don't know us
We don't give a fuck!
The songwriting on Hush Hush conveys such deep meaning as the song emits a barrage of feelings. Feelings such as regret, anger, hopefulness, and desperation. Hush Hush is a piano driven ballad that is an original song written by Avril Lavigne herself.
The song starts with a calm vibe where Avril whispers “hush” repeatedly. She seems to be trying to calm someone down or maybe even herself. This could have been after a fight or a breakdown. The chorus is full of pain and regret. She whispers in a peaceful and comforting way “hush hush” planing to ease the sorrow along with the mood.
Verse 2 is where Avril is now filled with regret.
[Verse 2]
When I try to forget you
I just keep on remembering
What we had, it was so true
And somehow we lost everything
Hush hush, now (Hush hush, now)
Rock N Roll has some fun, rebellious anthems. The song is about care-free non-conformance where Avril sing-shouts lyrics in her usual cadence and piercing voice. Her usual piercing falling cadence shimmers throughout the song. Chords from the guitar are electronically synchronized to a full drum kit.
This rock song is similar to classic rock anthems such as I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll, Detroit Rock City, I Wanna Rock, and We Will Rock You. The song itself pays homage and tribute to the genre of rock music hence the appropriate title.
Hello Kitty as a song was a PR disaster. The Hello Kitty music video was slammed by the news media along with the press. Avril Lavigne was accused of racism and cultural appropriation (or misappropriation depending on how you look at it) over the video's stereotypical depiction of Japanese culture. Avril Lavigne did not take the backlash very seriously which her hurt music career in a sense.
Mix the subgenres of J-pop, dubstep, and EDM, and the result is this song called Hello Kitty. The song is clearly inspired by J-pop. The song uses both the Japanese language and English language.
If the songs What The Hell, Wish You Were Here, Everybody Hurts, Not Enough, and Smile were included on this album, the this album would have been more of a success. Now if Avril paid attention to the backlash of controversy over the Hello Kitty music video, then her career and album sales would not have suffered.
3/5***!
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LFSB - Starbird single review
Star Bird by LFSB was the first product of San Antonio hip hop and rap to have ever been released. LFSB was the Leroy Franklin Starbird Band. Leroy Franklin created a group in 1980 called the Leroy Franklin Starbird Band. He gathered 3 or 4 member to compose the group. The group only lasted a couple of years however.
In 1981, Leroy Franklin went into the San Antonio studio of Manny Guerra with a group of session musicians to record his 2-sided masterpiece Star Bird. Star Bird is quite possibly the first Rap record ever recorded in Texas. LFSB - Star Bird was released on 45 vinyl in 1981 from Star Records.
LFSB, 2 Hard 2 Hype (Too Hard Too Hype), and PKO were the first hip hop and rap acts out of San Antonio, Texas. LFSB, 2 Hard 2 Hype, PKO, RCR, Big Tim, Born Fresh Posse, Nexus Mutants, and Black Asiatic were the only ones putting down any weight in San Antonio. There was really no on else.
Now the Star Bird jam is uptempo song. The tempo follows a funky guitar riff. Leroy Franklin tells us a cautionary tale about how drugs are no joke. Drugs make you do the things you do. The A-side is a spiritual, funky slice of modern soul, is reason enough for DJs and collectors to put this 45 in their box. The B-side is a spontaneous anti-drug rap over “Star Bird’s” instrumental track.
4/5****!
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MC Overlord - Play To Win album review
Play To Win by MC Overlord & True Color Posse was released on cassette only by REC Records in 1990. The album was never released on CD. Only a small amount of these were ever pressed. It's long out of print.
The sounds from this cassette are very different from the Overlord albums you hear today. The sounds you hear are from early Austin hip hop and rap. Rap was starting to set foot in Austin in the 90s. Funk meets rap and hip hop on this album.
Brick House is an MC Overlord & True Color Posse cover of Brick House by The Commodores band. It's a great cover version too! The song Brick is very similar to the song Brick by Dazz from 1976. The song itself is backed by live instrumentation.
Funk and rap meet soul music on this song with a New Jack swing touch to it. The New Jack swing sound comes with live instrumentation. The True Color Posse keeps the original lyrics intact while adding their own lyrics with a bit of hip hop flavor.
The song Spendin’ Money has the typical fast paced upbeat New Jack swing sound you would expect to hear on a rap album from 1990. It’s an MC Overlord & True Color Posse posse cut.
Spendin’ Money is a fictional story of wealth. It’s all rainbows and sunshine. The people are so kind. You aren’t doing badly because business is going well. It’s the good life.
After a day in the park you’re home before dark in Verse 2. Life has been good and it was from the start.You live to admire the things you desire. However you only wish you got rich quicker. Not everything is perfect. Your children all grew up. The act the same way you do. The things they want they demand be new. What is it? It’s a fairytale that Overlord has never seen.
You live with the high class. You get what you want. The rich will are first and the poor will remain last. You live on tax break with wealth that you make. The cash you earn is enough to burn. All in the world. Why should you care? It’s all for self satisfaction. It’s a fairytale Overlord can’t understand.
Promises, Promises was a 4 minute track written by MC Overlord and D. Edmondson. MC Overlord takes charge lyrically as a rapper being the head MC for the True Color Posse. The song has a more soulful mood than all the other songs on this album hence the soul sound.
You can hear the sounds of rain clearly at the beginning of Promises, Promises. The rain continues from there. 30 seconds into the song is where Overlord gets into a soulful mood. The song is a love song.
You're in it to win it on Play To Win! It's not about taking losses. It's about playing to win. It's about winning. That's how the game in the system works. MC Overlord takes charge lyrically as a rapper being the head MC for the True Color Posse. A funky keyboard organ is used to accomplish the hook for Play To Win. A funk driven guitar is used as well in the song.
*[REC Records is a division of REC Music Group, Inc.]
5/5*****!
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Sa-Duece album review
One might think the Sa-Duece album artwork was similar to a lesbian porn film due to the ways they are posing for the front cover and back cover. The album portrays them to be as lesbians. Take notice on how they are up close and personal with each other.
The female R&B duo seems to be performing an act of scissoring for the front cover. Notice how they are up close to one another. They seem to be rubbing their vulvas against each other. On the back cover is where the duo is joined up in a “butt to butt fashion” where they press their asses up against each other. It seems like the two are taking a double dildo up the ass. However both of them do not appear to be bothered as they have casual looks on their faces.
Scissoring is an act of tribalism where a woman rubs her vulvas against her partner’s to achieve sexual satisfaction and stimulation either through use of a clitoris or dildo. Female-to-female genital contact is involved.
With all references to lesbianism aside, the album was not a success as it had peaked #79 on the Billboard Charts. Their only album was released in 1995 back when everyone and their mom & dad had an R&B group. That didn’t exactly help the group achieve success. The problem is that there were already too many female groups that had oversaturated the market.
Their only single was Don’t Waste My Time. That song was a moderate success hitting #42 on the Hot R&B Singles chart for Billboard. Don’t Waste My Time was a song that had a hip hop sound that met sultry R&B music.
Don’t Waste My Time is an R&B song that has a hip hop vibe and sound over a horn driven loop. The production is fairly typical for a song that was released in the mid 90s. It was a hit single for the duo.
The smooth subtleness of Body Knockin calms down the moon for the entire album. The song had a smooth R&B sound similar to a slow jam. Notice the slow tempo?
3/5***
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