On Saturday, the 15th of November, Nicki Minaj released her highly anticipated 3rd single (Dual release with urban track Only) Bed of Lies, featuring Skylar Grey, to digital retailers worldwide. How does this track, recently promoted at MTV's EMA awards, stack up to previously released singles off The Pinkprint? Find out after the jump.
Bed of Lies is a piano led track, with Skylar Grey nailing the vocals of the chorus and bridge down easily. The singer manages to bring a sweet and sensitive sound to the track, which allows us to easily jump into Minaj's first verse. The two rap verses featured in this track are more thoughtful in content rather than what was featured in previous singles, such as Only and Anaconda. This, along with Skylar's vocals, make the track very reminiscent to Pills N' Potions, the first single released from this era. However, with an overall more mature sound to it, Bed of Lies turns out to be similar to a grown up, big sister like sequel to Pills N' Potions, lyrically and vocally.
All parts of the song lyrically excell, with the track being centered around someone (widely believed to be Minaj's old partner Safaree Samuels, whom she had a ten year relationship with) who has broken the rapper's heart, with the lyrics surrounding their turbulent relationship.
Overall, this incredible track is already being widely considered as the best single released off of The Pinkprint thus far, and could end up finding itself being a top ten hit. Tell me what you think of the track in the comments below, and I'll see you in the next review!
With Iggy Azalea readying up for the re-up of her debut studio album, The New Classic, the package's lead single, Beg for It, was just released to digital retailers. The song is shockingly reminiscent of Fancy (In fact, Charli XCX was planned to be the feature on the track, before being changed to singer MØ in order to quell the striking similarities to Fancy), and is pretty much a boring mixture of everything we've heard from Azalea before. However, another track, Iggy SZN, was also released to Iggy's official YouTube channel. How does this track stack up to her previous works? Find out below.
The song features Azalea rocking a laid back, clap heavy instrumental track, with Iggy's flow being laid down slick and quick. The song is really able to traverse genres, having the potential to able to be played on urban radio and dance stations alike. It also manages to capture the hearts of white girls 'round the world, with 'YASSSSSSSS' being uttered more than once throughout this solid track's 3 minute, 20 second duration.
Overall, this is a solid track that has much more single potential than the already released Beg For It. However, due to the amount of featured tracks on the re-release, it's unlikely that will be occurring any time soon. Yet, this seems to have already started becoming a fan favorite.
What did you think of this new track? Post in the comments below, and I'll see you next time.
British singer-songwriter Jessie J is preparing to make waves with her third studio album, Sweet Talker, hitting stores worldwide on the 13th of October. Two new tracks off the album, Ain't Been Done and Masterpiece, were both made available this week as a bonus for pre-ordering the highly anticipated album from digital retailers. How do these songs stack up to already released tracks from the album? Find out after the jump.
Ain't Been Done is an urban heavy track, with a banging, bass led instrumental track that that rages on as Jessie's speedy verses effortlessly breeze on the track. While the track doesn't even quite clock in at three minutes, Jessie delivers high notes, the huge vocals she's known for, and lines so quick they're reminiscent of a rap song, really giving this hip-hop track the fire it needs to completely excel, and made it a standout of the tracks we've heard before.
Masterpiece is also led by a bass heavy instrumental track, and still features many lines delivered in a rapid fire fashion, yet still features a more laid back chorus, however, the verses are fire, and pick the song up from the slum that it encounters when the chorus rolls in. Overall, Masterpiece is a solid track that delivers on the verses, but falls short on the chorus, and is something while, not a rehash, nothing new from Jessie.
Overall, these are two tracks that remind me why I love Jessie, and have been on repeat all day. What do you think of the new tracks? Check out the album on iTunes by clicking the button below, and as always, I'll see you in the next review!
On Friday, the 26th, self proclaimed Hip-Pop duo Karmin released a remix to the hit song "No Flex Zone", along with rapper Watsky, in their first collaboration. How does the trio fare on the track with an already large base of remixes to compete with? Find out after the jump.
The rap heavy track features a solid, haunting instrumental side of things, paired with flawless verses from Amy and Watsky, Trading verse for verse, line for line, the two both manage to pull their own weight as they battle it out throughout the three minute track. With Amy taking the lead on the short chorus, singing takes the back-burner on this remix, giving the two a chance to flex (ha) their rap vocals throughout the majority of the song.
The song features slick, clean production, allowing for the vocals and instruments to work wonders together on this quick paced track that delivers what it promised. With a stunning visual to go along with this near perfect remix, I really suggest any hip-hop fan to check the song out on iTunes below.
What did you think of the new remix? Post in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!
Hey everyone! Following Sunday's VMA performance, Ariana Grande has released her new sophomore album, My Everything, to retailers nationwide. How does this set stack up to her previous effort, Yours Truly? Find out below.
Intro: This short little introduction track prepares us for the sophomore album of the soulful songstress in a beautiful way that just leaves you wanting more.
One Last Time- One Last Time is a mid-tempo track led with a danceable EDM instrumental track. The song shows off Grande's vocals, with them occupying the spotlight of the track. However, the track always feels as if it's building up to something that it just never quite reaches and is very underwhelming.
Why Try- Why Try is a mid-tempo track that has a marching drum led beat. The beat works wonders with Ariana's laid back vocals. However, while the track is good, it's almost underwhelming, and the song slowly starts to drag just a bit before it reaches the end of its 3 and 1/2 minute duration.
Best Mistake- Best Mistake is my personal favorite off the album. Similar to Just a Little Bit of Your Heart, the piano led instrumental pairs with Ariana's hauntingly beautiful vocals in a way I've never heard before, and is simply stunning. While I feel like Big Sean would have been better suited on a different track off the album, his verse fits in well enough to complete this near perfect track.
Be My Baby- Be My Baby is one of the more upbeat tracks off the set, with a bass heavy, drum led instrumental track. Grande's fast paced verses transition smoothly into the stellar chorus. This danceable track leads us right into Break Your Heart Right Back.
Break Your Heart Right Back- Break your heart is a catchy, bass heavy track, telling the true story of a former flame of Grande's cheating on her with another guy. The track samples "I'm Coming Out" in a smart way that adds that much more to this fun, dancey R&B track. Childish Gambino is also featured on the track with a cleverly placed verse that add a lot of diversity to this solid song.
Love Me Harder- Love Me Harder is an uptempo track featuring The Weekend. The song is fun, catchy, and Ariana & The Weekend have fantastic chemistry. This track will stay stuck in your head for hours, and I currently have it on repeat.
Just a Little Bit of Your Heart- This Beautiful ballad centers around a heartbroken Ariana asking for Just a little bit of her love's heart. The song is composed stunningly, and succeeds in every way. Lyrically and musically haunting, this is definitely a standout track.
Hands on Me- Another standout off the album, Ariana has officially shed her Nickelodeon image, proving this with sultry lyrics including the line- "Trembling, when you touch Rush is racing body baking Picture me and you making Making sweet love Baby give it to me" (Metro Lyrics) Featuring A$AP Ferg, this urban, fun, quick paced track has the chance to become a smash hit.
My Everything- To close out the album we have a stunning ballad co-written by Ariana Grande herself. This soulful, piano-led title track doesn't even clock in at 3 minutes, and is over right as it begins, leaving me wanting more from it.
Overall, this is well, a pretty good album that's honestly, just as good as her debut "Yours Truly". Releasing a second album in less than a year really doesn't give yourself any time to grow, and not much growth is displayed on this new album. While I do like it, a sophomore album's main goal is to be better than its predecessor, which didn't happen here.
I've been obsessed with this song since its release, sorry about not posting earlier. Let's hop right in to the review of Nicki Minaj's Anaconda.
Anaconda, the followup to the under-performing Pills N Potions, shows off a completely different side of the self proclaimed Rap Queen. The song features a tastefully executed sample of the number one single, "Baby Got Back", giving the track a perfect beat for Minaj's laid back rap verses. While the energy fluctuates through out the song's four minute run, the twerk anthem always manages to keep it danceable, and had me goin' in within the first listen.
The track features laid back verses, uptempo, rapid fire pre-choruses, and a "Look at her butt" led chorus. There's not much to describe this song with, other than with the word "fun". The track is a party anthem that is already all over the radio, and should be dominating for weeks to come.
Late on the night of July 28th, the new collaborative effort between 3 of the biggest names in music, Bang Bang was release to iTunes worldwide. Were the huge amounts of hype circulating this release really worth the finished product? Find out after the jump.
Bang Bang is an upbeat urban pop banger, with the first word I would use to describe it as is loud. The entirety of the 3 and a half minute track sounds like a party, with powerhouse, impeccable vocals, coupled with a clap led unending instrumental track that works perfectly with all three artists' unique style.
The 3 leads all bring something different to the song with each of their verses, making for an interesting track that doesn't dull throughout its run. Ariana and Jessie's vocals compliment each other perfectly in the chorus, and each manages to shine in their own verse. Nicki's rapid fire flow allows her verse to hit all the high marks, as the 3 all join in the chorus to deliver a staple in every party playlist.
Overall, this is an amazing song. The 3 vocalists all bring something different to the table in this new collaborative track that soars above and beyond all their fanbases' expectations. The track is already shooting up (ha) iTunes charts worldwide, and is shaping up to be a global smash for weeks.
What do you all think of Bang Bang? Was it what you were expecting? Share in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!
