Must Be the Music
I probably failed to mention this but the Zune conked out on me a while back. Therefore, I've had no MP3 player for a minute. I guess I could use my iPhone but iTunes isn't the most user-friendly when trying to load songs. That's why I have resorted to going back to good old-fashioned mix cds when I travel. Never anything fancy. I just burn some songs that I'm currently feeling and hit the road. Here's a few that have made the cut for my recent cd burns...
Stay - Tyrese
Just when you think dude is going to be making movies for good and saying goodbye to his music career (the same place where he got his start, I might add), he comes back on the scene. Let's face it...he's not the best singer out there, but he's got that raspy voice sound that always sells. It also doesn't hurt that he manages to always find some top notch production. The best part about the song from a video standpoint is dude actually stays fully clothed the entire time!
Refuge (When It's Cold Outside) - John Legend
Yes, I know that this is song may be a little old. I mean it is from his 2004 cd "Get Lifted". But great music tends to be timeless though. Plus, I somehow managed to keep leaving this off my favorite playlists. Not anymore. The catchy melody and Legend's trademark piano make this one to stay in rotation from this point forward.
Is It - Cee-Lo Green
Did you know that Cee-Lo had a mixtape cd out before the most recently released "Lady Killer" that is now blowing up? Me neither. Wait..do you even know what a mixtape cd is? It's when an artist puts out a collection of songs that aren't on any cd they plan on releasing in stores just so they can stay hot to their fans and hopefully gain new ones. The mixtape cds rarely get big publicity which is why I'm now hearing this one. Are you noticing a theme with me getting hip to music that's been out for a minute?
Play - Goapale
I really don't know how to explain her style. The best way to put it is she neo-soul. Much in the same fashion as a Marsha Ambrosious, Jill Scott or a Musiq Soulchild. Only she hasn't had the same amount of success as any of them. That may have worked out in her favor though. Sometimes those artists that fly under the radar make the best music because they don't have the pressure to meet certain records sales figures from their label. Whatever the case Goapale's neo-soul sound is golden on this latest joint as well.
We All Try - Frank Ocean
As long as we're on the theme of artists with unreleased cuts, might as well hit up this next cat. The song that most R&B fans are familiar with from him is "Novacane". Personally I don't know what everyone sees in it. I can't stand it. So much so that I had no desire to hear any of his other music. Then I started hearing other songs from him on Turntable.fm. The few I did come across were MUCH better. This being one of them. Judging by their selection of "Novacane" as his first single, apparently his management and/or record label doesn't know good music when they hear it.
I'm on One - DJ Khaled featuring Drake
I could really care less that all Khaled does is get on a track and scream his name over and over. So what if he's more or less just a producer? We had the same thing happening in the 90s when Diddy made that whole role famous. As long as the production is tight and the flow is on point then it doesn't matter. Well Khaled made it hard to go wrong by featuring Drake on his joint. I would venture to say that if Khaled put out a cd I woul definitely check it out. Then again, he probably already has a mixtape cd out as well and I just don't know about it. You can see I'm the wrong person to ask if that indeed is the case.
