New Music: The Dream Feat. Kelly Rowland - "Where Have You Been"

The Dream and Kelly Rowland team up once again, now one of the tracks lifted from his upcoming album"IV Play ", "Where Have You Been" is a sweet mid-tempo ballad track that sees them singing beautifully about  staying together through thick and thin, no matter how many times they fight cause they know that no-one else could make them feel so complete. 

 

Here`s what he had to say about the track that he so-produced with Da Internz: "Just a signature R&B duet record, no games, no nothing, straight down the middle, It was a chance for me to bond with another friend now that I have, which is Kelly."

New Music: The Dream Feat. Beyonce And 2 Chainz - "Turnt"

The-Dream is gearing up to releasing his upcoming fourth album titled "IV Play" due out on 28th May and has now  make the album available for stream in its entirety. One of main tracks that everyone has been looking forward to hear has go to be "Turnt" featuring Mrs Carter aka Beyonce and 2 Chainz. The track is a club banger, that sees Dream and Bey singing about a sensual love affair.

Beyonce`s vocal delivery blends well with the tone of the track, very sexual and cool and 2 Chainz adds a great verse but The Dream`s vocal delivery was kinda wack, very auto-tuned. But as a whole track came together pretty well, I could`ve done without the auto-tune but Bey delivered and kinda owned the song with her parts.

Rating: 3/5

Listen "Turnt" below.

New Single: K. Michelle – "V.S.O.P."

Memphis singer-songwriter K. Michelle has premiered the lead single "V.S.O.P." lifted from her hotly anticipated upcoming debut "Rebellious Soul" due out 30th July via Atlantic Records. The smooth mid-tempo track was produced by Pop&Oak and features a sweet sample of Debra Laws’ 1981 song "Very Special". The song is about celebrating a night filled with some good loving, K showcases her best vocal delivery to date and the arrangement is so smooth and passionate and has a feel good vibe to it. It`s set to hit the airwaves on 2nd June.

Overall: Perfect single choice that will see her finally arriving on the music scene as the artist she was meant to be.
Rating: 3.5/5

New Single: Beyonce - "Grown Woman"

Beyonce has finally premiered the full version of her official first single titled "Grown Woman", the track is lifted from her highly-anticipated fifth album due out later this via Columbia Records. The beautiful songstress displays her vocal growth as she confidently on top of Timbaland`s funky production with lyrics like "They love the way I walk, cause I walk with a vengeance. And they listen to me when I talk ’cause I ain’t pretending. It took a while, now I understand just where I’m going, I know the world and I know who I am,‘Bout time I show it...." giving off the same type of  vibe that we heard in "Run the World" but with less  aggression and the track also has summer feel to it and great commercial appeal without it trying to be commercial.

 "It`s really bold of Bey to go against the norm and create something trendsetting and creative. This will surely be a huge hit for her and it`s great seeing her coming into her own in such a fearless way."- Zion
Rating: 4.5/5

"I'm addicted to this song, it`s her best first single to date next to "Deja Vu", the song features an African infused production which will set your speakers a blaze. The harmonies are infectious and rich. Even more amazing is the lyrics themselves they're so erotic and ferocious."- Vaughn
Rating 4.5/5

New Single: Candice Glover - "I Am Beautiful"

Last night Candice Glover was crowned the American Idol champion for Season 12, the talented songstress has now released her winning song "I Am Beautiful" which will serve as the official lead single lifted from her upcoming debut album titled "Music Speaks" that’s scheduled for release on 16th July via Interscope and 19 Recordings.

 

"I Am Beautiful" is a powerful pop ballad with an inspirational message to it about owning your own beauty and knowing your worth no matter what anyone says to bring you down. Her vocal delivery is so solid but she needed to add more personality to the song to totally own it and the songwriting on the song could`ve gone harder and created a groundbreaking single that will be memorable. It`s a good song though.

Overall: Good start to her music career, it showcases her flawless vocals but she needs material that goes harder as her continues her era. I would love to see her working with Jazmine Sullivan, Ester Dean, Missy Elliott and Diane Warren to name a few, that would take her to the next level and bring out the best in her.     

You can buy the single on iTunes (here).

New Single: Britney Spears -"Ooh La La"

The princess of Pop, Britney Spears recently premiered her new single titled "Ooh La La" which she recorded as part of the soundtrack of the upcoming Smurfs sequel which hits cinemas on 31 July.  "I have always loved the Smurfs as a kid and now my boys are the biggest Smurfs fans EVER. I wanted to surprise them with a song in the movie. I know they’ll think it’s Smurftastic!" -she tweeted.

"Ooh La La" a thumping dance-pop track that sees Spears teaming up with producer Dr Luke, it features a high pitched vocal delivery from her and mid-way through the song it features little elements of hip-hop. 

Honestly this song sounds like a cheap, cheesy version of Madonna`s track "Superstar" lifted from her last album "MDNA", it`s perfect for a animated movie soundtrack, but very weak as part of Britney’s discography.

New Single: Loreen - "We Got The Power"

My big brother Diyar recently introduced me to a talented artist called Loreen , she is Swedish singer-songwriter, who is best known as the winner of the 2012 the Eurovision Song Contest with her stunning hit single "Euphoria" which charted at number 3 on the UK charts, her debut album "Heal" charted at number 71 but topped the charts in her home country and went platinum.

Now she is back with a new single titled "We Got The Power" is an empowering guitar-driven track that features a very infectious melody that has rock feel to it and it allows her showcases her strong vocals. It kinda reminds me of something that Florence and the Machine would`ve done but it sounds amazing and has a very catchy hook.

Listen to "We Got The Power" below and you can buy it on iTunes.

Watch the music video for"Euphoria" below.

New Video: Sara Bareilles - "Brave"

 Super talented singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles has recently premiered her adorable music video for her inspiring-empowering single "Brave", which serves as the lead from her upcoming fourth album titled "The Blessed Unrest" due out on 16th July via Epic.

"Brave" is a cute upbeat track featuring a piano driven production and features a very strong and catchy chorus: "With what you want to say and let the words fall out. Honestly I wanna see you be brave.." singing about always speaking your mind and overcoming any setbacks. 

The single might not be as strong as her previous album first singles "Love Song" and "King of Anything" but it`s very relatable, inspiring and radio-friendly. It will surely do well on the charts, especially with this music video backing it up. 

The Rashida Jones directed visual for the single was filmed in Los Angeles, it sees Sara and a group of people randomly dancing at diverse locations, while singing the lyrics of the song and not giving a damn about what others may think. 

New Single: Lyfe Jennings -"Boomerang"

R&B crooner Lyfe Jennings is back with a new single titled "Boomerang", serves as the single  as the official lead single from his forthcoming fifth album that is due out later this year via Mass Appeal Entertainment. The G2G and LaShaunda Carr produced track is a piano-driven mid-tempo number filled up with a powerful message about karma relating to love: "Sitting here thinking about all the innocent people I done hurt in my past. Relationships, never felt the slightest prepared till it happened to me. It’s funny, I was so quick to laugh when it’s someone else but when it happens to us the joke is never as funny,as we all thought it was. For we felt the same thing". 

Overall: The single is a perfect comeback single that reminds us why we love Lyfe so much, his artistry is filled up with so much honesty and heart, the single will surely do well on the R&B charts 

With that said, take a listen below to 'Boomerang".

New Single: Bridget Kelly Feat. Kendrick Lamar - "Street Dreamin'"

Roc Nation songstress Bridget Kelly is back with a new single titled "Street Dreamin'" featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar, which serves as the second official single lifted from her forthcoming debut album. The Shea Taylor-produced single is a solid mid-tempo track that features a sample of Tupac's "Got My Mind Made Up", it sees her delivery her best vocal performance which had me thinking of Chrisette Michele, flowing so smoothly on top of the production. Beautiful harmonies and  it has a very catchy hook and Kendrick Lamar delivers a great verse.

This is the type of material I was waiting to hear from Ms Kelly and she finally delivered, it`s beautifully put together and it`s so single worthy. I just hope her label goes hard on the promotion and have her performing all over the place and use all the platforms on TV to showcase herself as an artist.

Live Video: Laura Mvula Performing "Father, Father"

Earlier this week, the beautiful and talented songstress Laura Mvula performed a haunting acoustic rendition of her ballad "Father, Father"at Wilton's Music Hall, the track is lifted off her stunning debut album "Sing to the Moon" which charted at number 9 on the UK charts. Mvula delivers an effortless performance of "Father, Father" accompanied by a piano, you can watch it below.

 

New Single: Changing Faces - "Hate Love"

R&B duo Changing Faces had all us jamming in the 90`s with their hit singles "Stroke You Up","Follin' Around","G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T." and now they are back with their new single "Hate Love", which is lifted from their forthcoming comeback album, due out later this year. 

The single is a heartfelt-soulful mid-tempo track that features a string-driven production and also features beautiful harmonies on the hook. But the track as whole sounds very unmastered/unfinished from the vocal layout to the production and they need to back with a single worthy song than an album filler which is what this single is and they need to switch up their styling and their hairstyles, they are too beautiful to wearing outfits like that and rocking hair like that.

Rating: 1.5/5

New Single: Jaheim – "Age Ain't A Factor"

Guess who is back ? The sexy and soulful crooner Jaheim, he recently released his new single "Age Ain't A Factor" which is lifted as the first official single from his forthcoming album, due out later this year via Atlantic Records. "Age Ain't A Factor" is a solid mid-tempo number that sees him paying homage to all the sexy  and classy cougars (older women): "You’re like a wine, you get better with time,got you here long, gold is your soul, you’re so fine. Your kind of beauty is rare and I swear you get better looking with every year. Got your sexual peak, your full figure physic, young girl can’t compete."  

His raspy vocal delivery is so heartfelt over a sweet keyboard-driven production, I love it, you can listen to it below and buy it on iTunes now.  

New Video: Iggy Azalea - "Bounce"

Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea traveled to India to film her colourful Bollywood-themed music video for her single "Bounce", which serves as the second official UK single lifted from her forthcoming debut album "The New Classic" due in stores later this year via Island Def Jam.

When I first heard the single I wasn`t blown away by it but it has grown me, it`s pretty catchy. Smart choice for a single but it would be dope to hear her delivering her best music that showcases her rap skills fully and also showcase her growth since she came on the music scene. 

The visual for single is amazing, she totally embodied the theme, the choreography is refreshing and so cultured, the fashion is bright, her make-up is on point. I love the combination of hip-hop and Bollywood. 

"Bounce" will be released via iTunes on 30th June. 

Watch: 'Scandal' Season 2 Finale: "White Hat's Back On"

"With the identity of the mole now closer than ever, Olivia and her team are in very real danger. Meanwhile, the latest White House scandal pushes Cyrus to his limits, on the Season Finale of "Scandal".

Listen To: Kid Fury And Crissle`s 11th Episode Of The Read

Kid Fury and Crissle are back with their 11th episode of their podcast show "The Read", in this episode they talk about Beyonce postponing her her Antwerp, Belgium show. Kelly Rowland baring her soul on her new single, Jaden Smith emancipation rumors from his parents and more .

Watch: Sharaya J Performing "BANJI" Live

Missy Elliott`s artist Sharaya J recently performed her single "Banji" live at Los Angeles Choreographer`s Carnival. She and her group of dancers delivered a very colourful and energetic performance showcasing her passion and love for dance. Afterwards Missy said some words of appreciation towards dancers that have been a big part of her artistry and her live shows. 

You can purchase "BANJI" on iTunes (here US) +(here UK) .

New Single: Kelly Rowland - "Dirty Laundry"

Kelly Rowland airs out her darkest secrets on her new single "Dirty Laundry", which serves as the second single lifted off her upcoming album "Talk A Good Game" that will be released on 18th June. 

Rowland opens up about a range of topics from being in the shadow of her former band-mate and sister Beyonce, battling with her inner demons and surprisingly opened about being in an abusive relationship that she experienced that created a major rift between herself and her family:  "I was battered, he hit in a window like it was me until it shattered. He pulled me out, he said, "Don’t nobody love you but me, not your mama, not your daddy, and especially not B."

"Dirty Laundry" is a heart-wrenching slow tempo-ballad  track that was produced by The Dream, it sees Kelly delivering one of her best tracks to date and one of the best singles of the past couple of years, she fearlessly lays it out there for the world to see her truth and have people relate.

 Singing about topics that are usually swept under the carpet, especially abusive relationships. I`m so impressed and proud of Kelly, her story will help so many people and have people finally talking about this topic.

Overall: Even though it`s not radio friendly but it`s a perfect single that will have people talking and requesting to hear it, it features a smooth production that has 90`s feel to it...that has me thinking of R.Kelly`s "Down Low / Double Life" and  Sparkle`s "Be Careful".  Her vocal delivery is so raw and paints a very real image. Respect earned.

Rating:4.5/5