ARTIST: GOVERNOR
SINGLE: HERE WE GO AGAIN FT. 50 CENT
Sultry, soulful, slick, sexy and addictive, all sums up “Here We Go Again”, the first single off Governor’s third album. 50 Cent is the featured artist here, in typical player fashion, with verses about relationships, from break ups to make ups. The song was released on December 29, 2010 on Governor’s home since 2009, G-Unit Records, but released under a subsidiary label of, which is called G-Note Records. First of all the song premiered on Dj Enough’s show on Hot 97 and then the song was officially released to the public on 50 Cent’s online website thisis50.com. The first official performance of the single took place at the Marquee club in Las Vegas, where 50 Cent unveiled his new headphones. Governor and the G-Unit head honcho 50 Cent performed “Here We Got Again” with DJ Whoo Kid on the boards live in Las Vegas at Marquee during the Sleek By 50 launch. The single reminds me of early 50 work, when he first signed to Aftermath/Shady, it’s melodic and funky. This is one to watch, G-Note Records is also a label to watch.
ARTIST: JEREMIH
SINGLE: DOWN ON ME FT. 50 CENT
This track just keeps regaining its buzz, and is simply addictive for any DJ set at the end of the night. Def Jam recording artist, Jeremih’s debut single, “Birthday Sex”, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. His self-titled debut album, Jeremih, debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, it sold 59,000 units in its first week. Although Jeremih can work in many styles, the R&B singer/ songwriter’s affinity for women has been a constant presence in his singles. Following the breakout success of bedroom track “Birthday Sex,” uptempo club banger “Down on Me” is his latest single to crack the Billboard Hot 100 and keep the ladies in mind. The thumping song stays heavy on synthesizer as Jeremih spots his lady interest on the dancefloor during the chorus. Meanwhile, 50 Cent eggs on the singer during his guest appearance by commenting on how his girl can “bounce it fast and shake it slow.” As much as “Down on Me” plainly promotes grinding to the beat, Jeremih smartly attempts to know his dancing muse on a personal level. “Say you independent, get it from your mama/Tell me if you with it, do you really wanna?” he asks.
ARTIST: MARK MORRISON
SINGLE: B’DAY (CLUB MIX) FT. WARREN G
Mr. Return of the Mack returns this year with a new album. It’s first offering is an Electro-R&B club mover called “B’DAY”. The track is feel good music, the beat is west coast inspired, with an old school funk influence, reminiscent of Parliament or George Clinton. Morrison excels at versatility here, the content is simple, the delivery is Return of the Mack all over again, and after two or three listens, you start to think this record is solid enough to sit up there next to “Flash Light” or “Atomic Dog” by the aforementioned. Morrison’s last joint was in ’07, a duet with Cassidy on ‘Innocent Man’, a remixed version on Morrison’s album featured DMX. Listeners looking for something a little more fast paced to dance to will take pleasure in “B’DAY”. It’s crossed genres, sprinkled with new wave electro/synthesizer, rap/pop hooks, R&B/funk, and it works. Curry and Rice, together is nice! Warren G shows the industry that g-funk ain’t dead, with a verse, flow and swagger that reminds me why he was one of my favourite hip-hop legends. After two decades pioneering the g-funk genre, with over 50 million record sales as individuals, it’s not often you hear from Warren G, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, or even Snoop Dogg these days, but when you do, it’s always vintage. Last year he showed up on the iTunes remix of B.o.B. “Nothin’ On You”, he appeared on Rick Ross’ Triple C‘s album and now Mark Morrison’s “B’DAY”, which is easily his finest hour in years. A proven master at thematic song-writing, Morrison’s latest offering is an electric journey for a girl celebrating her birthday, enjoying the rock star life, toasting it up! The verses are slow and melodic, which keeps you boppin ya’ head. Expecting a big Return ‘for’ the Mack.
ARTIST: JAZMINE SULLIVAN
SINGLE: 10 SECONDS
Jazmine Sullivan spent several years learning the ropes of the recording industry before signing to J Records and making her solo recording debut in 2008 with the number one R&B single “Need U Bad.” The Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter began her career at a young age, making her national television debut on Showtime At The Apollo at age 11 and signing to Jive Records at age 15. Her stint at Jive lasted only a couple years, however, and she was dropped by the label before any recordings were released. Affecting soul music often feeds off emotional pain, as Jazmine Sullivan demonstrates when she turns her hurt into a source of relief throughout her latest single. On “10 Seconds,” the singer is fed up with a former lover: her tone is miserable yet firm when she belts, “You broke my heart, with all your lies/You really should look for an exit/’Cause you running out of time.” An urgent piano line and bluesy guitar tussle with saxophones, strings and a flute, creating a rich sound as Sullivan gives her man to the count of 10 to disappear. Producer Salaam Remi has a knack for spotlighting artist vocals, and the arrangement of “10 Seconds” lets Sullivan shine through the layers of instrumentation. Though few artists could manage such an ambitious vocal turn, Sullivan offers a throwback stunner with a conviction that Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse would respect.
ARTIST: DR. DRE
SINGLE: I NEED A DOCTOR FT. EMINEM & SKYLAR GREY
If you hadn’t heard, Dr. Dre’s been working on this whole Detox thing for years. At 45, it’s caught up with him: rap has changed in drastic ways, ways the producer probably couldn’t have fathomed when he started. As the second Detox single, “I Need a Doctor” is a bizarre ultimate result: with producer Alex da Kid coming in, it’s influenced by the “Love the Way You Lie” wave, if anything. But it’s easy to misunderstand Dre. With ghostwriters and what could be called ghostproducers, people are quick to poke fun. Dre’s a modern day hitmaker with an old school method. He influences everything, regardless of the extent of his input: the type of guy who looks over every detail. So, give Dre the benefit of the doubt, and presume this track at least had his stamp on the beat. That doesn’t make this the single fans wanted. The idea works, Eminem serves as the loyal friend calling Dre back to a game that needs him, and Dre comes in to affirm that he and Slim are, in fact, best friends forever, while also declaring his grand return. You can criticize the verse ratio (two Em to one Dre), but Andre Young has never been one to worry about placement on his own albums. Assisted by a strong Skylar Grey hook, the song essentially works. However, it’s hard to be too excited about a Dr. Dre single that would have sounded at home on Recovery. It’s highly listenable, but it certainly wouldn’t sound at home on a proper follow up to either Chronic album. This song should be massive; it’s Eminem and Dr. Dre, god damn it, for Detox, no less! It’s hard not to want to hear a proper “Forgot About Dre” follow up, and this song is anything but. There are really only two things to do: first, enjoy this for what it is—it is Dre and Em, after all—and, second, pray that Em’s featured much more on better cuts, and that this doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album.
ARTIST: VESTA WILLIAMS
SINGLE: DEDICATED
Vesta Williams Returns with new Single and Music Video for “Dedicated”. The ‘soul flow’ is still flowing from the last 2 months of 2010 right into January with another vocalist from the ranks of luminaries of talents who has blessed us with countless, endless hours of pure unadulterated R&B music from the last couple of decades. Ms. Vesta Williams returns to listeners with a brand spankin’ new single and music video for track called “Dedicated”! The new single is found off the all new album “Seven”, coming soon from Stimuli Records. Look out for more news about Vesta’s return shortly!! Until then, turn this one up and give her a round of applause!