Sol Angel and the The Hadley St. Dreams

AHSI - Solange Knowles newest LP is showing us that she is her own star. She has a pretty voice and she can definitely hold a note. I was pleasantly surprised that she did not sound or try to sound like her famous sister Beyonce. In the song Bird, a soft ballad, displays her vocal skills as well as dealing with mature content. Decided I and II shows her up-tempo style as well as showing us a variety of styles through her album. I give her latest project 3 eyeballs.

ASSI – Solagne is an artist who is definitely out of the box, lyrically her songs are unusually different, the music is in sync with the lyrics or vice versa, and it seems that she found the right producers for this project. I actually like how she used her vocals to blend with the music instead of merely singing the songs. Her Sophomore Album “Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams” was released on August 26, 2008 and was number one the first week. When I first listened to the CD I did not give it the proper attention it deserves, I knew it was different based on her video for “Sandcastle Disco” and live performance of the same song on Tyra; however, I decided to give it another listen yesterday. The drums are funky on “Sandcastle Disco.”

Surprisingly I began to appreciate her lyrical style and where she is coming from musically. There are no musical comparisons between her and Beyonce. Solange’s music is adult, yet bubbly, fun, and a mixture of Pop, Alternative, Rockish, and R & B. If you give “Sol-Angel” a chance, I promise you will add it the entire album to your iPod, “I Decided” is a relatable song that men, women, young, and mature adults understand. You know when you decide that a particular male or female should be yours regardless of what the other person thinks. Have you every fallen for someone and realized you could have been in love, if you had not wasted time lusting after the wrong person? Well “T.O.N.Y” is that song. It is an upbeat dance tempo that will have you nodding and moving in agreement. The slow melodrama “God Given Name” sounds autobiographical.

“Would’ve Been the One” has three different music genres wrapped into one song, when it starts her voice is reminiscence of En Vogue then it quickly changes to a Rock then Pop, and Soul. I am partial to “6 O’Clock Blues” it is slow, comforting, and appreciative of your love one song. Most artist try to put a little something something on the album to have universal mass appeal; however, Solange’s album is eclectic and is all over the place in a good way. It truly has crossover and urban appeal. As I see it “Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams” offer listeners a different flavor that takes you on a “Cosmic Journey” a song that features Bilal to a “Champagnechroniknight-Cap” that will have you hitting replay for another listen. I give “Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams” 4 blinks.

NAS Untitled Becomes His 5th #1 Album

AHSI.......Nas takes the top spot from Lil Wayne the week ending July 26th becoming Esco's fifth number one album. I finally bought Nas's album yesterday and it was as good, if not better than the N@#$% Mixtape with DJ Green Lantern. I would say only three songs were on both Cd's and he gives you fifteen songs on the LP. Esco shows off his talent by making the listener think about all of the different views given to us by the media. He explains why he did not name the album N@#$% and shows us how our society is very hypocritical regarding the N word and the use of it. Nas shows us why people use it and will continue to use it, through his metaphors, how now it is perceived as cool in other races to be referred to as a N word. He is making a political statement by endorsing Barrack Obama, and the tongue lashing that he gives Fox News and some of their personnel on Sly Foxx makes you think about the issues we face in our society.
AHSI gives Nas's album 5 eyeballs.

Maybach 2008

Rick Ross Debuts at #1 On The Billboard Chart

AHSI.......Rick Ross beat out Snoop's "Ego Trippin" and Fat Joe's "Elephant In The Sand" the week ending March 22, 2008. "Trilla" features a lot of collaborations and I think that played a factor with him beating out the other two artists. Maybach Music featuring Jay-Z, The Boss featuring T-Pain are my two favorites. Rick has something for everybody, a unique voice, a down south flow with the wit of a Northerner. The mixture of slow beats, hard beats and mellow beats gives listeners a variety of something to listen to. I give Trilla 3.5 eyeballs.

ASSI – Rick Ross solicited Mannie Fresh, T-Pain, R. Kelly, Eboni Love, Trey Songz, Nelly, Avery Storm, Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy, Trick Daddy, Triple C, Brisco, and Rodney to join forces on his Sophomore album “Trilla.” Ross seems to lack the poetic lyrical content of header hitters like Jay-Z, DMX, and Ludacris who are able to paint pictures that match the beat. Rick has hot beats but he is without lyrical content. If you want to get your dance on “Trilla” is the album for you. “Speedin” featuring R. Kelly sounds like a lot of noise with lyrics shouted at you, but I have to give him credit for securing bomb beats. Even the commercial bubble gum song “Money Make Me Come” that could serve as a female anthem is just to raunchy for Eboni Love for this record to have appeal, he should have solicited Lil’ Kim to give it street creditability.

Lil’ Kim would have spit some super freaky lyrics for this beat that is really hot. The intros are even whack. “Here I Am” caught my attention from the onset, the hook is off the chain, and Nelly and Avery Storm make this track. If you title a song “Maybach Music” you must call in the King of the Maybach, Jay-Z, and even with Jay the track is weak. When Jay spits, the Maybach is bananas peel back is the best line on the track. “Luxury Tax” is radio friendly track that will receive air play just because it features Lil’ Wayne, Jeezy, and Trick Daddy. The last track Ross “I’m Only Human” sounds like Fat Joe but the lack of meaningful lyrics made me pause, but again the hook is appealing enough for radio. As I see it “Trilla” is laced with heavy hitters, catchy hooks, and hot-ass-beats but lyrically missed the boat. I give “Trilla” 2.5 blinks.

40/40 Club in NYC Packs Them In

ASSI - My cousin and I wanted to have a drink and hang-out at the 40/40 club in New York City. I had the pleasure of shouting Happy New Year at the Atlantic City location this year, which was a blast. The layout was basically the same but the NYC seemed a tad-bit larger, to me. I was curiously anticipating the climate of the club. to my surprise there was complimentary entry and no hype line. Upon opening the door we were swept away in a see of people, unprepared for human heat, I checked my coat, and my cousin opted to wear hers. We managed to walk on glass and squeeze our way through the crowd to see every room and dance floor. The private rooms were equipped with pool tables, video games, and flat screen televisions. There were a number of birthdays celebrated and private sets were set-ups here and there. I am unable to comment on the drinks, reaching the bar was impossible. I really thought that we could go out have a drink, hear good music, and dance but there were so many people that when there a spot to post-up, we did until asked to vacate that spot, which was fine until a worker escorting a busboy carrying a bin of ice shoved folks aside using both arms. I lost my footing and stumbled into a couple of people that prompted a walk to the coat check for my coat that I had to locate. As we made our exodus there were people still waiting there turn to enter. As I see it, if you like crowds you will have an enjoyable time at the 40/40 club in NYC.

American Gangster the Movie

AHSI....The new movie starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe is based on the life of Frank Lucas. Frank who was the former driver/hitman for Bumpy Johnson is originally from North Carolina. He moved to Harlem New York and that is where the movie introduces you this notorious gangster's life. I would suggest to everyone to see the series American Gangster on BET. They profiled Mr. Lucas on Wednesday and the movie chronicles the events that were spoken by the real life Frank Lucas. AHSI gives American Gangster 4 eyeballs.

ASSI - American Gangster represents an era of gangsters: Military Personnel, Police Detectives, Street Hustlers, and of course the Mafia are all gangster who profit from Heroin epedimic that crippled Harlem. Frank Lucas played by Denzel Washington elevated the drug game when he acquired the purest heroin his money could purchase, and under cutting his competition by 50 percent. Making his product "Blue Magic" the best product on the street that was affordable for the average junkie. Frank was a low key narcotic dealer, who believed in nepotism, he relocated his entire family from North Carolina to New Jersey where they became entrepreneurs who operated store front business to launder drug money. He fell in love with Ms. Puerto Rico who purchased an extravagant Chinchilla Fur Coat and matching hat for Frank that changed the course of his life.

Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an honest officer who has a reckless personal life. He is on a mission to bring down the drug Lords when he stumbles upon Frank Lucas who forgot his number one and golden rule "always maintain a low profile" became a target when he sported the Fur to an Ali/Fraser fight. To Roberts and others it was impossible for a Black man to acquire and import large quantities of heroin, but Frank was a street smart hustler who was unafraid and left with little options after his Mentor, Bumpy Johnson died. Frank had his pulse on society and used the war to his advantage. Roberts refused to profit from drug money, he wanted the drugs off the streets, the crooked cops, and military personnel who benefited.

American Gangster is a well written, directed, and cast delivers believable performances that captures your attention from the beginning. Rudy Dee, who plays mama Lucas brought southern charm and excitement to her scenes. As I see it American Gangster is great movie that sheds light not only on a notorious kingpin, a courageous unorthodox detective, but the true effects the war and heroin had on our country. I give it 3.5 blinks.

JAY-Z American Gangster

AHSI......Jay Z is back!!!!!!!!This is the album for the old school Jigga fan. Some of the hottest tracks off this 13 track lp are the single with Nas (Let that B breath) is crazy. You can tell that after Ether (the song that Esco destroyed Hova from the greatest hip hop battle ever) he definitely got better and thanks to Mr. Jones, Muhammed Hovi switched up the pitch and he is not trying to let God's Son outshine him again.....The song with Lil Wayne (Brooklyn) is hot. Jay went back to telling stories off the top, being witty as ever, and the beats all fit together creating perfect harmony. I will give this album 4 eyeballs and it actually might be a secret classic. You can tell that he watched the movie, went into the booth, and brought it back to 1988.