Brandy - Full Moon album review
Brandy’s Full Moon is the “R&B Vocal Bible” due to the delivery in her vocal range when she sings. Her vocal delivery she displayed is angelic and harmonic. She uses a much stronger falsetto with a deeper and warmer tone singing on a lower register on this album. Her singing in deep tone is notably textured. This album of hers can hold a candle close to Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Toni Braxton, Adele, and Monica. Full Moon is a testament to true R&B/soul music and can still stand the test of time regardless of time period.
Songs such as Can We, It’s Not Worth It, When You Touch Me, Like This, WOW, All in Me, and Die Without You all should have been singles because they are that good. The songs mentioned are upbeat in nature, prefect slow jams, and are sultry soul ballads. Atlantic dropped the ball on these song by not making them into singles for radio stations.
The B-Rocka Intro was produced by Darkchild whom she often collaborates with. His well repute, famous sound is all over the B-Rocka Intro.
The intro uses a hodgepodge of Bandy’s vocal samples from the song What About Us? mixed with electronic mashup sounds and electro synths. That is the reason why the B-Rocka Intro sounds very futuristic and ahead of its time. The intro is an mashup of the song What About Us?.
Brandy finds love at first sight after she sets her eye on a man she wants to date while in the club in the song Full Moon. Her intentions are to be direct from the moment he stepped foot into the club. She isn’t going to front or pretend as she pursues an interest in him throughout the entire song. Full Moon had romanticized the concept of love at first sight.
The song take place in a club she frequently goes to at night. Of course the song takes place at night time as the location is a nightclub.
She had her eye on him as soon as she saw him as he came through the door. Him and his friend just took over the dance floor. That made Brandy notice him even more. He must've somehow felt her staring on the down low. Something tells her he is the kind of guy she’d like to get to know. Brandy is entranced by his presence.
She isn’t going to front or pretend. Brandy has been giving him the eye ever since he walked up in the club.She tells him, “We can dance if you want/Get it crackin' if you like” To her it feel like one of those nights. Must be a full moon.
She converses with him by saying, “Why is this the first time that I'm seeing you around? Could you be visiting or are you new in town? Whatever the case, I’m feeling you right here and right now.” His smile and all the love he is showing lets her know that he likes what he sees and wants get to know her too.This could very well be the start of something very special. Brandy is so happy that she met him.
Brandy didn't think that she would come here tonight to meet someone like him. It seems as if they have known each other most of their lives they way they converse with each other. After one conversation, this must be right. This man must have gravitational pull of a full moon to have Brandy interested in him.
Mike City and Darkchild did a wonderful job producing this angelic, harmonic soul song from Brandy. You can hear Darkchild’s sound all over Full Moon. The deep crooning bass, the multilayers of percussion, and, electro synths are what represents the Darkchild sound. Mike City sings in the background vocals.
When Brandy performs this song and sings, she uses a much stronger falsetto with a deeper and warmer tone. She does this by singing on a lower register. Her singing in deep tone is notably textured. Nevertheless, Brandy nails it when she sings.
When You Touch Me is a slow tempo slow jam which slows down the first quarter of the Full Moon album due to its slow, subtle and sultry nature. The song is perfect to play at night when you are all alone by yourself and are feeling bad for whatever happened during your day. When You Touch Me is a perfect song to drown out your sorrows in.
When singing the B-Section of this song, Brandy uses a more textured, scratchy voice. Read the lyrics below or listen to this part of the song to get a better understanding. Also Teddy Riley is the one using the talkbox during the B-Section.
[B-Section]
Now is the time to relax your mind
Let go and unwind
I've waited for too long, I'm ready
Tonight's the night for loving you right
You know what I wanna do
I wanna give into you
Brandy uses a much deeper voice with a warmer tone when singing on What About Us?. Her singing in deep tone is notably textured on this song. She performs by using her vocals on a much lower register. Her warmer singing tone resonates well with this song. The song does have a soulful edge because of this.
The song What About Us? deals with being in a relationship that isn’t working anymore. Both lovers do not trust each other enough. One person doesn’t trust the other and the other person makes fake promises by not keeping them.
During the begging of the song, Brandy asks her man, “Why don't you return my calls? Why you trip 'bout where I be? You don't ever come to see me. You say that you're too busy.” She then proceeds to tell him. “What the hell? I don't have time. Why you messin' with my mind? I can find another guy. Someone who will treat me right. I don’t need this bullshit. I won't put up with it any longer.”
This is the point in the song where Brandy tells him he can leave if he wants to. “You can go if you want. I don't need your pity. I will be just fine if you decide that you want to leave. Just close the door behind you.”
Brandy just wants to know about the following.: What about all of the things that you said? What about all of the promises that you made? What about all of the nights that you gave? What about all of the things you told me? What about all of the nights that you gave? What about us?
Brandy thought he said he was different. He said that he would love only her. She thought that he would be all she needed. What happened to those promises? Although he said that he was a better man, his words have no weight with Brandy. Brandy sees he is fake in the lyrics ”Cause you're counterfeit, I see”
Brandy stands up for herself by putting her foot down by saying, “I don't need this bullshit.I won't put up with it any longer. You can go if you want to. I don't need your pity at all. I will be just fine. If you decide that you want to leave.
During the bridge is where things start to get rocky and where both of them break up. Now what about bills that were passed due? That she paid for him. All he said to Brandy is, "Baby, I owe you" Brandy tells him, “Forget about the brand new life that I gave you. Don't "what about us" to me because we are through.”
Like This has sultry, holy church vibe to it due to the Wurlitzer organ used throughout the song. The sound is truly breathtaking and refreshing from today’s pop radio hits (shits).
Now not many people know this but Michael Jackson provided the background vocals for It’s Not Worth It. The song has a pop meets soul sound. The song should have been a hit due to its upbeat pop nature and rhythmic vocals. However Brandy takes most of the credits in vocals because her vocals overlap Michael’s.
Now the songs WOW and Die Without You were perfect songs to close out the album with. The songs are not too upbeat nor are they too mournful or filled with sadness. Both songs have a calming mid tempo vibe. Not to mention relaxing. These songs are straight up sultry in nature and sound! Neither one of these songs have a suspenseful mood to where both of them are cliffhangers. The songs resolve into true love.
WOW is an angelic breathtaking soul song that will restore your faith in humanity. You can feel a vibe of happiness as you listen to this song. It’s like waking up to a brand new day and things were all good.
In this song, Brandy finds a new man that truly loves her and does not take her for granted. She dumps her ex-boyfriend in this song. This man loves her in a way nobody else could ever imagine. He's always thinking of her regardless of what goes on in the world around them. They enjoy each others company.
Brandy’s emotions are uplifted. No more sitting at home at night waiting for her ex-boyfriend to come home. No more will she cry for him as she found somebody new. No more late night phone calls. Don't even bother at all. When she was there for him, he took her for granted.
The B-Section is where Brandy describes exactly how her new partner treats her. Read the lyrics to the B-Section to get a better understanding.
[B-Section]
Now he loves me
The way that I wanted you to love me
He's always thinking of me
He's nothing like you at all
I don't know why
I stayed with you for so long
I should have been gone
He's nothing like you at all, and that's why I say
This man loves Brandy and he’s always thinking of her. Now he loves Brandy the way that she wanted her ex-boyfriend to love her. He's nothing like her ex-boyfriend at all. She don't know why she stayed with her ex-boyfriend for so long. She should have been gone. That's why she says wow.
Brandy never felt a love so good. Her world is brighter now. There's no more rainy clouds since love is here. Everyday she wears a smile ever since he came into her life. The clouds are gone. She only sees the sun now that he's here.
He's here and all her hurt is gone.Every night he's loving her. It feel as if she were inside a movie, but his love is so real to her. He's here and she finally found someone that she can call her own. Now that Brandy is not with him, he wants her to come back.
There is no more trouble since he came into Brandy’s life. He is the reason why Brandy is so happy, baby. This fantasy is clearly reality.
5/5*****!!
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702 - No Doubt (International Version) album review
702’s album No Doubt is album that hardly ever gets mentioned when people bring up 90s music. The album seems to have been long forgotten and out of people’s heads. This is the album that will bring back nostalgic childhood memories or the fun times in college. For those who don’t remember, Las Vegas based group 702 put out sultry love ballads and soundtrack hits such as Steelo, All I Want, No Doubt, Get It Together, and Word Iz Bond.
702 brought the sounds of contemporary soul from Las Vegas while Missy Elliott brought the sounds of contemporary urban pop by blending it into the sounds of this album. Overall 90's R&B/soul can never be touched! We need to bring back that vibe.
Get Down Like Dat has a very urban sound which meets sultry R&B/soul. The sound of the streets meets R&B. Missy Elliott raps and ad-libs all over the song.
Get Down Like Dat samples Barry White - Strange Games & Things and Suzanne Vega - Tom’s Diner. The funky bass line is what samples Barry White - Strange Games & Things. The instrumentation arrangement is perfect in timing to follow the used samples.
For those who did not know, Meelah sings and copies the musical notes from Suzanne Vega - Tom’s Diner as both her and Missy ad-lib over the Da-da-da-da-da-da-da verse. For the most part however, Meelah is one who is singing the musical notes from Tom’s Diner. Not everyone noticed that sample, recognized, or acknowledged it.
Steelo is the song that was a gold hit with a platinum sound. Their sultry soul sound with soothe your ears. The song was used as the introduction for the Nickelodeon TV show Cousin Skeeter. Missy Elliot is the one who produced Steelo and did the rapping. This is back when she had her hands on everything. Missy can do no wrong when it comes to production, rapping, and songwriting as well as singing.
Now the term Steelo refers to style as in “I like your style.”. Except in this case style is replaced with steelo. For example “I like your steelo.”. Steelo is slang for style. Missy Elliot is the one who coined the term steelo. Missy Elliott came up with this term during her weed smoking sessions back when she was a part of Devante Swing’s Da Bassment Crew and Swing Mob Productions back in the 90s.
No Doubt is a heavy percussion driven 702 song that is surely a nostalgic 90s R&B/soul classic. This song was a hit on the radio back in the 90s. We gotta get down to what it's all about. And that's no doubt. This is the message of No Doubt.
As a trio, 702 gives us and shows us some love on the song Show You My Love. They show us their love. Donell Jones co-wrote this song for 702 while in the studio.
They know just what you need. They wanna show you their love, affection, and appreciation. Please love them. You won't get enough. 702 gives us love in the lyrics. “Just let me show you my love” Yes, 702 is seeing what you're going through. You deserve something better. They’ve come to the conclusion that we should be together.
Parts of lyrics inside the chorus tell it like it is. “Ooh, you won't get enough/Just let me show you my love” “I know just what you need/Ooh, let me love you please/I wanna show you my love” It's just a natural thing that can’t be explained. Sometimes there is confusion when you don't know how you really feel.
Orish takes charge of being the lead on the song Not Gonna by taking charge and control over the lead vocals. This is one of the songs by 702 where Orish Grinstead takes charge instead of Meelah Williams.
Orish has to find her a new guy who is supa fly. Her previous companion had caused her too many problems. It was so stupid of Orish to take him back into her life so easily She is going out of my mind to take him back for the second time. Her previous companion had caused her so much heartache and pain. She wonders, “Why must you put me through so much heartache and pain?” “Tell me. Am I insane to let you do me this way?”
She is not gonna take him back because she don't play that. Because no matter what he says, he treats love like a game. How dumb could she be to think that he loved her?
Orish knows she has got to find a new guy. She can’t put up with his lies anymore. He broke her heart and put a burden on her. Orish feels so torn apart. She is not gonna take him back this time around. She don’t play that. No matter what he says, he treats love like a game.
All I Want is a song everyone can relate to. Everyone wants someone to talk to. Someone who will listen to what they have to say. People need and want is some special attention. Someone who will mention the special things in them. These are things we as human beings. We all want these things when being in a relationship from what 702 mentions. Chorus to this song sums that up pretty well.
The song was used in the soundtrack for the Nickelodeons’s Good Burger movie from 1996. The movie is what made this song into a hit with platinum sound. One thing is for sure is that All I Want will bring back nostalgic childhood memories. Overall this song has a retro nostalgic feel and vibe.
All I Want has that child friendly pop vibe to it which is no coincidence because the song samples Jackson 5 - It's Great To Be Here. Verse 1 uses the cadence of Rick James - Mary Jane. The cadence was inspired by Rick James - Mary Jane. The lyrics “He'll keep me going on/I’ll know him when he comes/He'll be my number one” are what follow the cadence of Mary Jane.
Round & Round has a hip hop vibe laced over a soulful soundscape. Missy’s ad-libs add to the hip hop vibe. So there is no coincidence the lyrics have a hip hop vibe laced with urban sound due to the fact this song samples Notorious BIG - Machine Gun Funk. Missy can do no wrong when it comes to singing, rapping, and songwriting.
Round & Round is another 702 song which should have been a single as well as Finding My Way. Motown dropped the ball on this song and Finding My Way by not making them into singles.
Word Iz Bond has a hip hop vibe which meets sultry R&B. A bit funk is added to the soothing mixture of R&B. Shyheim is featured on Word Iz Bond and does the rap.
The song begins during morning time. Meelah woke up and called her girls as she didn’t want to wake her man. She says, “Let's chill today. Go out and play. Get in the car and let's cruise around the way in Las Vegas, Nevada.” The song Word Iz Bond is the lead song which is playing on the stereo system. The sound is so soothing. It’s got the kids on the block bumpin’. Got more funk in the trunk and it's funkin’!
Here Meelah is chillin' with her girls. Her and the girls know the time before they enter. Now they are flirting with the guys as they themselves cool with the girls. No members, just money. This is how 702 do. Cuz they keep it goin' on in Las Vegas, Nevada. 702 be chillin' to the break of dawn.
702 be chillin' with the hottest phat funk fashion. Donna Karen, that's the gear they be wearin’. 702 dedicated this song to all their peeps on the street. We gotta stay strong. Word iz bond.
Shyheim shine like diamonds on some straight Lariems. On the Benz glidin' through smoke foggy wind. Lay back in the Coupe. Peep Dom P's in the bright pink and white rover. Someone creeps up on the side of him. He is pointing to the nearest corner for a shorty to pull it over. She cracked a smile. He almost crashed the Benz. He blinked again and she was gone that fast.
Get It Together is a 702 slow jam with a relaxing vibe and a calm mood due to its calm nature and slow tempo. This song is what chills and calms the album’s mood down. Get It Together was written and produced by Donell Jones.
The song is about the questionability of staying or going into a relationship that is already troublesome. Getting it together in a relationship is important if you want to maintain a long lasting relationship. You wonder if you should stay or go. People take love for granted sometimes.
Now Finding My Way was a good way to close out the album ending everything on a perfect note. This song ends the album perfectly as the song does not have a suspenseful mood by ending up into a cliffhanger leaving the listener(s) to wonder what happens next. The song resolves by one finding their way back to the significant other they love.
The song has a calming mid tempo vibe. The song is straight up sultry in nature and sound! Not to mention relaxing. This is one of those songs that will have you nodding your head to the beat as the song plays. It's better to play this song at night. The song is perfect to play as a slow jam during midnight despite being mid tempo. The beats in this song will hit you every single time you hear this.
The “finding my way” sample portion of this song is appropriate enough to be used on an answering machine or for a voicemail message. “Please leave a message and I will be finding my way back to you.” Some people even used this song as their voicemail message on their answering machines.
The song Finding My Way serves as a reminder that life can be so simple before getting too complicated. Especially when it comes to love. Finding My Way is about moving your relationship to a higher ground by finding your way back to the person you love(d). Also this song about a woman who wanted a man that she could grow with and mature with over time.
For those who did not know, Meelah is that one who sings in the lead vocals and at the beginning. It is not Trisha singing the lead vocals.
I hate that Finding My Way never got any air play on the radio stations. Finding My Way had potential to be another gold hit on the radio as it had the Babyface sound on top of sultry 90s R&B. Motown dropped the ball on this song by not making it into a single. The song could have been spawned off into a music video as well. This song was perfect enough to be a single due to its sultry R&B/soul sound, the thumping heavy bass, and mid tempo sound.
You know you want to move your relationship to a higher ground. Somehow you know we'll end up together. Yet all that comes into your mind is that there are so many feelings to deal with.
The chorus explains the emotions that come into you head.
[Chorus]
Where do we go from here
Can we face our fear
Into a love again, and remain friends
You wonder, “Where do we go from here?”. “Can we face our fear? Can we go get into a love again and remain friends?” You’ll be finding your way back to the person you love. You want to create a future and build a life that you can share with the person you love. That's what it's about. That's just what it will be. This song serves as a reminder that life can be so simple before getting too complicated.
Now the remix of Steelo has a much different sound than the original as this version uses a touch of funk rhythm. This version of Steelo was only available on the international edition of No Doubt. However all of the lyrics remain unchanged for the most part.
5/5*****!!
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Knights Of The Templa – Maintain Wid Da Pressure EP review
Knights Of The Templa – Maintain Wid Da Pressure is one of the best UK hip hop albums/EPs that is considered a hidden treasure. The EP has both English flavor (English flavour) and UK hip hop flavor as well. This EP is laced with phat beats, real raw rap, and mad flavour. Maintain Wid Da Pressure was released on cassette in 1995 by Basement Productions Flava from the United Kingdom.
Knights Of The Templa tell us to open our eyes and recognize the realness of the world on the song Open Ya Eyes. The group brings ill flows with mics in their hands as their lyrics are true and very expressive with no hesitation. The song uses phat heavy bass and a medium bass line. Overall this song is dope.
Maintain Wid Da Pressure uses a horn laden jazz sample with a small percussion set. This song is similar to Onyx - Maintain due to its usage of a jazz sample. It’s about maintaining your pressure and holding onto life even if you’ve got no hope. You still have to maintain your composure and pressure. There is still hope at the end of the road.
Summer In Da City uses an ill beat from the golden era of hip hop. The ill beat used in this song is quite heavy. Hip hop head will enjoy this song.
5/5*****!
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Brothers For The Struggle - Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect EP review
Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect was the debut EP from Brothers For The Struggle which was released on cassette in 1990. Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect is one of their lesser known EPs. Not too many people mention Brothers For The Struggle (Brothers 4 The Struggle) when bringing up Cleveland hip hop. Brothers For The Struggle hails from Cleveland, Ohio. (East Cleveland to be exact.) Brothers For The Struggle was the first rap group to put Cleveland on the rap scene next MC Chill, Cochise, and Johnny O.
The whole EP has that early golden age hip hop sound with party themed songs along with politically conscious songs which raised awareness to the community of Cleveland, Ohio. This Brothers For The Struggle EP is where reggae music meets hip hop sounds.
Back in the Day is a reggae infused hip hop song with a dancehall type sound hence the ragga type sound. The beats are fairly upbeat and so is the tempo. You can feel the bounce in the beats as you listen to this song. This song is also known as Ready Rocks. Ready Rocks was mixed by DJ Ace and arranged by Paycheck. Back in the Day is a hip hop/rap tale of Brothers For The Struggle uplifted themselves out of poverty by selling cocaine rocks.
Back in the Day was first local hit for this Cleveland hip hop/rap group in 1990 which soon became a breakout hit. This song was insanely popular to the point where people began stealing copies of their debut EP leading the cassette to become a rarity and a collectible at that. This was an uncommon commodity.
Paycheck and Pratt Attack used to look so bummy and mean when hey went to the recreation center. They looked down and out because they came from poverty and had no money. To be broke everyday made a brother sad. They would purchase alcoholic beverages to drink the pain of poverty away. Not a smart idea. They knew they had to stop.
That is what the following verse means, “anted up and got a forty with the money that we had/we knew sho enuff dat lifestyle had to stop/but da situation changed when we got hip to da rock”
This all changed when Paycheck formed Brothers For The Struggle in 1990 and released Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect which became a local hit for the group. People in the city fell in love with the song and EP.
Every hour of the day an ounce of crack cocaine was sold. Sure they sacrificed themselves on the block when it got cold. The cops used to try to play them. Although they were making music, they were still in the business of selling cocaine rocks better known as Ready Rocks. They sold cocaine back in the day.
Brothers For The Struggle lets us know that they are noting to play with on the song Nuthin' To Play Wit. They had their politics together back then.
Paycheck takes more control on Study Long, Study Wrong by rapping with his dope lyrics. He has a more vocal presence on this song as he does with Back in the Day. Study Long, Study Wrong uses a dope heavy bass line throughout the entire song. The beats follow a dancehall type of rhythm.
4/5****!
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Selby Hood - Get Yo Booty Licked album review
Selby Hood had mimicked the musical style and culture of Miami bass on the Get Yo Booty Licked album. That album was filled with booty rap and sex rap filled with symbols of sexism along with the baby mama drama. While the debut Get Yo Booty Licked album was a stellar solid debut effort, I didn't like most of the songs and tracks. Most of it was sex, sex, sex. Selby Hood Productions somehow still manages to make this album listening experience consistent with the times.
Selby Hood was a local gangsta rap group that originated from the former Selby Elementary School located in the Westside of Flint, Michigan in 1991 which consisted of six dudes named Gargamel (Melvin Nappier), Cutt (Curtis Nappier), Mike Jarrett, Macy Dre (Broomstic), Cheese, and D along with more members from Selby Hood. Selby Hood is an enterprise of the rawest rappers and gangsters of Flint. Selby Hood is located on the Westside of Flint, Michigan.
Get Yo Booty Licked was all about performing the sexual act of anilingus. Basically that means getting your butthole licked. The Miami bass sound matched up in synchronized order in a timely mainly with the 808 beats playing throughout the background.
People clowned on Selby Hood hard for having a song and album of that title. Everyone in Flint laughed at this song yet it became an underground hit for the Selby Hood group. Nevertheless the song was a local hit on the radio and Selby Hood respectfully gained recognition in the streets of Flint.
Fuck My Baby Momma deals with the usual baby mama drama people who live in the hood experience. Only difference is the song uses an array of sampled songs such The Isley Bros. - Between The Sheets, Boogie Down Productions - The Bridge Is Over, Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Starting Something, Michael Jackson - Human Nature, and Notorious BIG - Big Poppa.
The phone rings at the very beginning of the song. It’s Gargamel’s baby momma. By initial response, he reacts towards her in a disgusting rude manner. He reacts by saying “Tell her fuck her and her damn baby.”. He proceeds by saying “Fuck my baby momma!”.
Stupid ass trick. 9 months ago she used to be up all on his dick. Stretch marks are showing on her vagina. Now she’s acting like she got clout. Gargamel shanked in her the stomach and mouth. Gargamel caught his baby momma slipping at the corner store. She was out to buy some zig zags with a dime bag in her purse. Gargamel starts seeing visions of a hurst.
Back to reality. It could have been a tragedy but he didn’t choose to go that route. Fuck a blood test. That’s what you get for trying to play out Gargamel. He knows it’s not his baby.
Troubles On My Mind is much different from all the other songs on the cassette because this Selby Hood song uses a hodgepodge of Michael Jackson samples. For instance, this song samples Lady In My Life, Billie Jean, Out of my Life, and Bad. Troubles On My Mind uses the sample of Lady In My Life all over the place.
Members of Selby Hood rap about the troubles on their minds on Troubles On My Mind. The song deals with issues such as suicide and death. The song also deals with living in poverty, criminal activity, lack of employment opportunities, drugs, sexual activity, and dishonesty.
Go With The Flow is a basic freestyle rap track that is quite similar to Nose Grow Flow by New Def'nition. The raps are basic yet corny by todays music industry standards. I wasn't really feeling this song. But then again this 90's rap.
Sex is all about sex and sexism of course. It’s your typical rap song from the 90’s.
4/5****
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