Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour album review
Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour is another fantastic Lil Mo album with lively instrumentation and high quality production which has a soulful vibe. Now her album does have the usual provocative themes one would expect from Lil Mo. Her vocal delivery, style, and prowess bring her stories home to her listeners and audience. The title for the Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour album is a nod to Lil Mo’s days as a radio personality. The album chronicles her amazing journey as well as her maturation as a vocalist.
Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour was an album that never was. A lack of top charting singles and Hurricane Katrina is what prevented her album from ever being released.
Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour was originally scheduled for an early 2005 release as a joint venture with Cash Money Records. new joint venture between Cash Money Records and Roun’Table Entertainment. However the release date for her album was pushed back to October 2005 because four singles (including "Hot Girls" and "Dem Boyz") failed to chart on the Top 10 on the BillBoard Charts. Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour was scheduled to be released in October 2005. However this did not happen due to destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina damaged Cash Money’s studio in New Orleans, Louisiana. The hurricane damaged some of the DATs Lil Mo used to record her songs on. So the Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour album ended up being shelved as Lil Mo was dropped from the Cash Money Records roster due to lack of top charting singles and mismanagement.
Yet during the course of the recording and promotion of the Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour album, 4 singles were released. The “singles Hot Girls" and "Dem Boyz" charted in the double digits on the Billboard Charts. However that was not enough buzz for Cash Money to consider releasing her album.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah served as the romantic opener and romantic introduction for the Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour album. Lil Mo says her pregnancy played a role in choosing the romantic track as the album’s introduction. The song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah used beautiful graceful violin solo from Israeli hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari and was produced by Amadeus. One can call this song Yeah, Yeah, Yeah a romantic song. This song was one of the singles off the album.
Lil Mo remembers the first time her husband saw her with her hair undone. She thought that she would die. Lil Mo remembers the first time they both made love. It felt so good to the point where she thought that she would cry. She also remembers the first time her husband took her to his mother’s. His mother did not like Lil Mo at first but now they are cool with one another. Everyday Lil Mo is reminded why she fell in love with her husband. He makers her say yeah yeah yeah.
Lil Mo remembers their first fight when that girl had called and she had broke everything in sight. She apologized and they made love that same night. Lil Mo remembers when they tried to go our separate ways and it lasted for a day or two. Everyday Lil Mo is reminded why she fell in love with her husband. He makes her say yes in the morning and yes in the evening.
They used to rock the same outfits when they went used to go to the mall together. Lil Mo said soon as she gets rich they will go ball together. If they rise they go fall together. If they try to step to them he knuckles up because they will brawl together. Lil Mo isn’t gonna let nobody back him down. Because the way she felt back then is the same way she feels right now. She’s still the same after all that they have been through. And she still know the reasons why she is still with him.
Mother of Your Child is one of the gems of the Lil Mo - Syndicated: The Lil Mo Hour album. Mother of Your Child is a heartfelt ode to the toughest job on Earth which is being a mother to a child. The song also explains the struggle in parenting, marriage, and motherhood.
How is Lil Mo’s husband gonna go and tell his family that he can't stand her? How is Lil Mo’s husband gonna go and tell his family that Lil Mo be trippin and that she is using their child just to be with him? The tables have turned as Lil Mo does not want to be with her husband. Her husband has things twisted when Lil Mo was his boo 9 1/2 months ago. Ever since their child has been born, he has been acting real brand new. And that ain’t even cool.
Lil Mo tells her husband that he cannot disrespect and neglect her as he is stuck with Lil Mo for life. She tells him they have to do what’s best for the baby. Lil Mo tells her husband, “You can't just disrespect me. You can't just neglect me. Boy let me tell you something. I'm the mother of your child and you're stuck with me for life. You can't just up and hate me. Gotta start communicating. Do what's best for the baby. I'm the mother of your child so you're stuck with me for life.”
Suddenly Lil Mo discovers her husband has got a new girlfriend who says that if he wants to be with her, she must come first. How selfish can someone be?
Lil Mo refreshes his memory by telling him about the pain she experienced after childbirth. Lil Mo put on this extra weight from 3 days of labor pains. She couldn't leave the house for 7 days. But somehow he walked away. She doesn't have to see his face but she wants him take care of his child (their child).
Lil Mo realizes that their relationship is over. But there's a beautiful baby that they both created and their baby needs both Lil Mo and him in the baby’s life. She tells him to stop living a lie. It's not about money all the time. Her husband wasn’t even there to cut the cord and wasn’t even there to give her support. So he’s wondering why he is all up in court. Lil Mo tells her husband in the end in a sassy hip hop soul manner, "It's gon rain on yo head."
Lil Mo took it back to the roots of R&B/soul on Dem Boyz. The inspiration for/of Dem Boyz originally came from Lil Mo's fascination with the R&B sound at the time "going back to its roots," and her consistency in "providing real music". The song Dem Boyz is an upbeat dance number with a soulful sound relying heavily on the sample of The Bar-Kays - Holy Ghost. This was one of those songs you would hear at your hottest night spots. The song features production by Chucky Thompson.
Dem Boyz was the final charting single of/off this album. The song became an instant hit at radio stations across the country once leaked to the radio. Sadly this song didn't do well on the charts.
Never Cheat On You Again is a mid tempo R&B ballad produced by Daz Dillinger. Lil Mo promises to her man that she will never cheat on him again. She expresses how sorry she is for cheating on him.
When Lil Mo and her man first hooked up, she made promises and didn't mean to break any of them. But here she stands, begging him to forgive her and she’ll never let anything else come between, him trusting her, her trusting him, him loving her, and her loving him. She will never cheat on him again. Lil Mo puts put that on everything she loves. It was such a waste to think that a few minutes of pleasure almost cost Lil Mo a lifetime of pain.
No she won’t be an angel overnight, She knows he thinks that she can't be faithful overnight. It will take some time for him to see and understand that Lil Mo really means this from the bottom of her heart.
You Must Really Love Me is an insightful sensitive ode which served as a cautionary tale to women who may wonder if their men really do care. Lil Mo says, "A lot of times, our men don't express their feelings. You have to look for the little things in every situation."
4/5****!!
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Lil Mo - There’s Something About Me album review
Lil Mo - There’s Something About Me is an interesting release which flew below the music radar and went unnoticed. This was one of those crunk R&B albums which went overlooked. The crunk R&B songs were Baby Mama Drama and Ghetto Snappin' with D4L. Lil Mo shows her more feminine side on songs such as "Appreciate Me", "I Can't Let U Down", "Will Never Do That", and the titular track "There's Something About Me".
The album Lil Mo - There’s Something About Me was the precursor to the Pain & Paper album before being retitled to Pain & Paper. The Lil Mo - There’s Something About Me album was supposed to be released under Mike Jones' Ice Age Entertainment Lil Mo during March 2007. However this did not happen as Lil Mo retitled the album from “There’s Something About Me” to “Pain & Paper”. She decided to release the Pain & Paper album on her HoneyChild label independently.
The album Lil Mo - There’s Something About Me featured labelmates D4L and Mike Jones along with Pussycat Dolls singer Melody Thornton and Free. Producers for the album were Jazze Pha, Stargate, Sean Garrett, and Ne-Yo.
Now interestingly enough, some of the songs from this album were used on her 2007 album Pain & Paper. The songs that were pulled from her There’s Something About Me album and used on her 2007 album Pain & Paper were Sometimes I, Sexy Pictures, I Need You Now, Pain & Paper, and Officially Hollywood. Songs such as Appreciate Me, I Can't Let U Down, Will Never Do That, Life’s Lessons, and There's Something About Me remain unreleased.
Sumtimes I is a song about 2 worlds with 2 girls which turns into a love triangle. You know. 2 worlds with 2 girls, it turns into a love triangle. Lil Mo is in love with another man who is already in a committed relationship with another woman. This is turn creates a love triangle between the three. Sometimes Lil Mo lays in her bed and thinks about what would it be like if he was in her life by her side. Sometimes she wishes he was her man.
So as he zooms on. Blowing smoke to get the scent of perfume off his clothing. He tries to make it home at a decent time so he doesn't look suspicious. He checks his cell phone, erases all the pictures, delete texts, and delete emails. He crept through the house like he was on eggshells. He was almost in bed until she beeped his Nextel phone.
He makes Lil Mo happy. And she doesn't wanna go home to her residence. Spending all those nights alone. You know she’d rather to get with him than leave him alone. Because he knows just what to say to Lil Mo. It seems like he understands her. He knows her just like a book. Just like the back of his hand.
Sometimes Lil Mo lays in her bed and thinks about what would it be like if he was in her life by her side. Sometimes she wishes he was her man.
Because he’d be checking up on her. He would make sure that she is ok. He says that if she needs anything he’s a phone call away. Because Lil Mo’s own man don't take the time. He don't understand. He treats her like she wants to be treated but he is not her man.
Sometimes she wishes he was her man. So she would be more secure. He knows her just like a book. Just like the back of his hand.
No Hotel is a song that women that are dating in the relationship game can relate to. Do not allow a man to come into your home and leave when he wants or just whenever he pleases to! It's sickening when women allow men to take advantage of them while in a relationship.
No Hotel is about a man who is staying in and out of Lil Mo’s house. He must think this is the Holiday Inn. He must think that you can always get in. But does not pay any rent there. He thinks just because he lay his hat there gives him right to be a rolling stone but he was told wrong.
Because it's not like he lives here. He just stays from time to time. And even though he can get in, Lil Mo is not letting that happen tonight. His key ain't gonna work tonight because he is about to get evicted. Lil Mo is hanging up her 'no vacancy' sign because he missed check in. This house ain't no hotel tonight. Yes, this is over. It's over. No do-overs. No more mistakes.
Just Like That is about leaving a man who isn't faithful to his woman "just like that". Ladies! If your man is treating you badly, Lil Mo encourages you to part ways in your relationship with him right away. Just like that! It's so simple! If you listen very closely, punctually at the very end are Lil Mo's vocals are extremely powerful at the end of this heartbreaking love song.
Ladies, you've been here many times before. Thinking should you stay or should you walk right out that door. But you’re afraid to leave. How many times does it really take for him to treat you bad and take his love away? Now you're telling me he wants to leave. What is there to about? Girl let him leave.
What is there to think Do you know what this means? You can get your life back and your joy back. You can turn your life around because he wasn't good for you. Just let him go and move on. Let him leave. Because you deserve better girl.
What should you do when he calls your phone? Let the machine say that you're not at home. And what about those nights when you’re all alone? Girl, it won't be the first time. You can make it. You gave him everything you had. You were there when no one else was there for him. Now he's telling you he wants to leave. What should you do? Here’s what you do. Let him leave.
It's time to let your hair down. Have you some fun. No more giving all of yourself to just anyone. All he did was take you for granted and bring you down. You deserve better and deserve more because you're all of that. So hold your head up. It's your time to win. Just like that.
You don’t have to worry about him coming home late. You don’t have to make his stupid plate of food for him. You ain't gotta smell those stinky feet all up on you. Just like that. What is there to think about? Do you know what this means? You can get your life back. You can get your joy back. You can turn your life around because he wasn't good for you. Just like that. You got your credit back. You got your car and your house back. Kids. Everything. You’ve even got back your self esteem. Now don't look back.
Ghetto Snappin' with D4L was a ghetto crunk R&B song with Lil Mo singing on the chorus. Ghetto Snappin' was scheduled to be the first single off that album that was to be released in February 2007. However this never happened due to undisclosed reasons.
3/5***
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Lady the Band - s/t album review
The self-titled album of Lady the Band is a mixture of the 60's Motown sound blended with R&B/soul, blues, pop, and jazz. Think soul and jazz similar to Stax. This album is also filled with pop flair of the 60's. Their album has sweet sultry love songs with sense of pop flair such as Hold On, Tell The Truth, and Good Lovin. The album Lady was released on Truth & Soul Records in 2013. The band Lady is made up of Nicole Wray and Terri Walker.
Tell The Truth is the soulful opener of their album which has an old school 60’s Motown sound. The instrumentation of this song is backed by a barrage of loud lively pianos, soft drums, and loud horn section. Tell The Truth is a Nicole/Terri duo.
Nicole’s man makes her weary sometimes. She just can't walk away while holding his hand.
Not like a mother but she is his lover. She’ll stay there right by his side. Nicole knows he always will, wipe away her only tears, hold her in the middle of the night, and kiss her there. Nicole knows he always will tell the truth. If he could tell really the truth, they would not be here now talking bout how they’ll pull through.
Nicole adds a bit of pop flair to the song in style and falsetto reminiscent of Michael Jackson with these lyrics.: I know he always will, kiss me there, uhm, that's right
He pushed Nicole away just the other day. She had something on her mind. She was feeling alone as she was many miles away. He’ll never find someone like Nicole to love. No more giving. Nicole is taking because she had enough of him.
Money was the first single off of the 11 track album. Money was the most promoted song on the whole album since it was the first single. Money is, well, about money. The song is pretty much self-explanatory. People get funny when it comes to money. The sound and vibe is old school soul meets new school neo-soul. Money is a Nicole/Terri duo.
Nicole gets a little worried when her man focuses on her money. All the kissin' and the huggin' actin' like he is her best buddy. He better not say it loud. Dippin' around. Walking on eggshells with her money. Nicole may just buy herself a dress because she invests her money wisely. Stacking her pennies when things get stormy. She can't wait to roll with to the bank. But she decides to hold out on going to the bank. She goes out on a date instead.
Terri tells her man to find himself a job and being lazy. Terri tells her man, “You think that I'm your momma. Now you just actin' crazy. You better go find you a job. You better stop actin' lazy.”
Nicole feels proud that she is an independent lady. Nicole may just buy herself a dress because she invests her money wisely. Stacking her pennies when things get stormy. She can't wait to roll with to the bank. But she decides to hold out on going to the bank. She goes out on a date instead.
Hold On is about moving too fast in a relationship during love. The song is memorable for its catchy lyrics which go: “Hold on to your heart/Baby, slow down/You’re moving too fast”
Get Ready is a soulful bouncy tune that has a playful mood. Get Ready was the second single off the album. The song explains a shakedown and rumble which occurs in their town of New York City, New York. The music is in the blood of Nicole Wray and Terri Walker.
Oh there's a shake down in Nicole’s town of New York City, New York. She said she cannot make it. She is unable to attend the rumble and shakedown. Nicole has come a long ways from faking it. It's in her blood. They want to crucify her for being a believer. Sometimes she sees what they see. See they don't believe but they gonna see that Nicole is ready. You look so surprised because she standing This is her destiny. It's in her blood. There ain't nobody like Nicole.
Karma is destiny or fate that happens to people, whether good or bad, following as effect from cause. You get what’s coming to you. The song follows a mid tempo beat over a loud horns selection.
There is no one who more deserves what’s coming to them than Terri’s man. Terri has seen all the outlandish, crazy, and stupid things her has done. Terri is a witness to all the bad things that he has done. He keeps walking around thinking karma could never happen to him. There is no one who more deserves what’s coming to them than her man. That is what the lyrics “Ain't nobody worthier than you” bluntly and specifically refer to.
Her man keeps doing the same things over and over again as if he will never have to pay for things he has done. Her man keeps doing the same things over and over again as if he will never have any consequences or have to face any of the consequences of his actions committed. He better be ready because he is going to have to pay for his actions 3 times over. So maybe he deserves it. He might as well get ready to receive his just desserts.
Yet Terri’s man himself is quick to point the finger when there are 3 fingers pointing back at him. He is always first to judge. Oh but the guilty one is him. Terri knows and is well aware of the fact that she ain't no saint. But she knows she ain't as bad as he is. Terri asks her man this, “Don't you think it's time to change and maybe become a better you? I don't really understand it Tell me why. Don't you ever want to feel the sunshine?
Sweet Lady was an inspirational uplifting dedication towards their mothers type of song. Sweet Lady is a dedication song to their mothers. Sweet Lady is similar to an upbeat positive 60s Motown song. There is a lot of positivity in this song. Their mothers are really there for them in the end when no one has their back.
Please Don’t Do It Again is a sweet sultry love song about how their men are their best friends to the very end. The song is backed by a worldly whirly organ and a single rhythmic guitar. Please Don’t Do It Again is a Nicole/Terri duo.
Terri never worries when she is with her man as he keeps her safe. Nicole stands beside her man through ups and downs. Sunshine or rain. Nicole knows another woman has spent some nights beside him at hotels usually. And though it hurt when she first found out about it, he is all that matters to Nicole. He is her best friend and Nicole will be there to the very end. Nicole tells her man to not sleep with other women again by telling him, “Please don't do it again.”
Terri knows her man will call her every Sunday out of each week. She’ll let him answer the phone. This is their routine.
Nicole tells her man to meet her at the movie theater and that they will be drinking at home. However her plans come to an abrupt halt when she saw her man kissing another woman on the sidewalk as she drove by. Nicole’s man betrayed her by dating some other woman. Although it hurts her heart to see him, there's always other guys for her to be with.
She explains this in her lyrics in Verse 2.
I tell him to meet me at the movies
And we'll be drinking at home
I saw, I saw you kissing on the sidewalk
As I drove by
Although it hurts my heart to see you
There's always other guys
Good Lovin is a love song about how their men please them sexually by giving them good loving. The song has that gritty 70s Motown soul sound. Good Lovin is a Nicole/Terri duo.
Terri loves her man early in the morning. He knows how to do her right. In a sexual manner that is. He touches her there and there. He knows what she wants. He forgot about her past lover. No one can compare. There are reasons why she stays. Terri’s man makes her feel good. So she hangs around all day. Terri’s man gives her good lovin’. He makes Terri feel just like a woman. With him she knows she’ll be alright. He does not stop until it's over. Hot steam is made all night as they make good love which is good lovin’.
Habit is a groovy 70s sounding song backed by a super twangy guitar. The song is about the habit of yearning into temptation. If only for a moment.
If You Wanna Be My Man is a soulful love song backed by a rhythmic set of bongos. If You Wanna Be My Man is good album closer music. And honestly this song should have been selected to be the closer of their album.
Waiting On You was the soulful closer of their album with a mixture of 60s and 70s soul. Loudness from the instrumentation is one thing in particular that stands out about this Lady song. The viola is what gives this song pure perfection. Waiting On You is also good album closer music.
Time is not on Nicole’s side. Nicole wonders where he man is. She think of memories just to ease her mind. Funny how time flies when he is back here with her. She is waiting on him. Nicole is so sad that she cannot kiss her man and not feel his physical contact. Someday they may meet far away from friends when nothing is in their way. Just them face to face. She knows for certain that she has his heart. Nicole never worries when they are apart.
5/5*****!!
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Lil Mo - Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain album review
Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain is another Lil Mo album that never was due to having the name of the album title changed. Lil Mo scrapped the whole album after realizing her foundation and sound wasn’t what she wanted it to be. She bases her songs off love. Not pain and rebellion. So she retitled the album from Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain to P.S. I Love Me which was released in 2011.
The album, Lil Mo - Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain was supposed to be released in 2009 with a distribution deal with Global Music Group. The album was intended to be a double album, half of it being a live production. She also had a two-album contract with Global Music Group during this time. Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain was said by her publicist to have taken the music industry by storm. “The talented recording artist has some explosive hits that are sure to take the entertainment industry by storm”.
Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain was supposed to be the follow-up album to Pain & Paper. Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain was Pain & Paper revisited.
Lil Mo promises to her man that she will never cheat on him again. She expresses how sorry she is for cheating on him on Will Never Do That. When Lil Mo and her man first hooked up, she made promises and didn't mean to break any of them. But here she stands, begging him to forgive her and she’ll never let anything else come between, him trusting her, her trusting him, him loving her, and her loving him. She will never cheat on him again. Lil Mo puts put that on everything she loves. It was such a waste to think that a few minutes of pleasure almost cost Lil Mo a lifetime of pain. It will take some time for him to see and understand that Lil Mo really means this from the bottom of her heart.
One for the Road is revisits the same One for the Road song from her Pain & Paper album from 2007. This version is completely different from the 2007 version. This version uses autotune and is more upbeat. Much more than the mid tempo version.
4/5****!
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Mr. TiniMaine - Krept & I Kame album review
Mr. TiniMaine - Krept & I Kame is one of the most eerie horrorcore sounding Memphis rap albums of 1995. This classic horrific Memphis rap leaves much to the ears to be desired. Tinimaine goes damn hard. He’s STILL one of Memphis finest! Fans of 90s Memphis rap will definitely love Krept & I Kame. Horrorcore meets Southern rap on this album. This is one of the more obscure Memphis underground rap albums. Sadly this album got sorely overshadowed due to the plethora of underground rappers from Memphis such as Tommy Wright III, Princess Loko, Gangsta Pat, and Lil Gin who were generating a buzz.
The song 19-Tini-5 is about how Mr. TiniMaine generates his revenue and gets his cash. The way he gets his cash is through robbing people and selling narcotics.
What does he see lookin through his mask? It's a stang. Gotta get it, mane. So drop it off yo ass so fast. Gotta get the cash. TiniMaine viciously beats someone’s ass for the big cheese. He proceeds with a big fist full of weed.
TiniMaine is comin from the darkness of da cut. So you bitches better recognize. He is comin from the darkness of da cut to make your heart bust creeping with his sawed off. He is that untouchable nigga. Anna Cannon's buckin at ya ass. Put your hands in the sky. Gotta give it up. Your pockets are feelin kinda fucked up seeing that your filled up busta niggaz cannot fuck with. He commences another round of lurking and scoping around the scene. 19 Tini 5 lay these bitches down. Breaking these motherfuckers down and disrespecting pimping. Then he looks around and sees a cloud of dust.
Lookin out of his window, he grips and holds his gage in fright not because he is scared because junkies roam his hood at night. TiniMaine is creepin slowly on a come up. 55 niggaz are strapped with their trunks up. He sells crack until the sun's up. Creepin from the Eastside of Memphis niggaz get with this. Tinimaine has risen from the dead 19-Tini-6. He’s dumpin jealous bitches in a ditch and hits the track. He wears a silver Jason mask with his glock cocked. His skull cap turned to the left. Anna Cannon's buckin at ya ass. Best keep to your business.
Mr. Tinimaine is just a robber who never had a decent or legit job. So try him if you want to. He will make your asses guess that you were always damn fooled. Here these lyrics explain why he is unemployed.
Cause I'm creepin from the dark
Raindrops falling from the sky
Try me if you wanna try
Sorry bitch I’ll break your fuckin heart
Mr. Tinimaine is just a robber
Never had a job
Hit these seven niggas for a key
7 to 11
On the dice
These are the darkest and most violent lyrics to this song.
Bitches better recognize
Creepin in the sky
Comin from the darkness of da cut
To make your heart bust
Slippin bitches
Splurging, serving, swerving
Im that nigga untouched
Last Man Standing uses some hypnotizing beats and synths underneath super thick and heavy bass lines. That violin makes the song more eerie sounding. Vibrant and mystique are two words that can be used to describe Last Man Standing.
Ana Make Da World is one of the most eerie haunting songs on this album. Hardly any other songs outta Memphis sounds like this junt. The song uses a catchy repetitive chorus which goes, “Ana make da world go round Ana make da world go round”.
5/5*****!
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