“Umbrella,” the first single off Rihanna third album “Good Girl Gone Bad” celebrates its 10th birthday today. And that song is the definition of a love hate relationship in music to me.
“Umbrella” was the song of the summer in 2007 and I heard it at least a million times a day. Keep in mind, this was before Spotify, so it wasn’t like I was choosing this song on purpose. I couldn’t it avoid it. The remix with Chris Brown. The Mandy Moore cover that was featured on The Hills. I couldn’t avoid it. Still to this day, I don’t purposely play that song.
However, this song did mark the transition where me, and basically everyone else, fell in love with Rihanna. She had two successful albums before that. “Music of The Sun” and “A Girl Like Me” had hit singles. “Pow De Replay” “S.O.S” and “Unfaithful” were big songs. But with “Umbrella,” Rihanna showed that she didn’t need some formula anymore. She cut her hair. She was sexual, yet owned her sexuality. “Good Girl Gone Bad” spawned so many hit singles that is showed the popular of “Umbrella” wasn’t a fluke. Rihanna basically didn’t make a misstep since “Umbrella,” so even though I loathe that particular song, glasses up to celebrating 10 years of Rihanna being flawless.
During his visit to BBC 1, Sampha did a cover of Drake’s “Controlla,” from his “Views” album.
I’ve seen some great covers on BBC 1, but this one fell flat for me. While I stand behind Sampha having a great voice, a wasn’t huge fan of the arrangement of the song. It was unrecognizable and the lyrics didn’t seem to fit the arrangement at all.
What do you think? Check out Sampha cover and the original below.
J. Cole is set to release his next HBO special with the documentary “4 Your Eyez Only.” Unlike his previous special, which was a filmed concert from the “2014 Forrest Hill Drives” tour, this is a documentary about low income areas in the South. It will feature music from the “4 Your Eyez Only” album.
On Thursday, Kendrick Lamar deleted all his Instagram posted, just an image of the roman numerals IV. Many thought this was the announcement of his fourth full length studio album (people argue that Section.80 was his first album). But later that night he released “The Heart Part IV,” which featured the image he posted on Instagram.
Supposedly Kendrick is calling out both Drake and Big Sean on the song:
Big Sean alleged diss:
My fans can’t wait for me to son your punk ass and crush your whole lil shit
I’ll Big Pun your punk ass you a scared lil bitch
Tip-toeing around my name nigga you lame
And when I get at you homie don’t you just tell me you was just playin
‘I was just playing K-Dot, c’mon you know a nigga rock with you, bro’
Shut the fuck up you sound like the last nigga I know
Might end up like the last nigga I know
Oh you don’t want to clash? Yeah nigga I know
Drake alleged diss:
Don’t tell a lie about me, I’ll tell the truth about you
I guess these are disses? I guess in a convoluted way I can connect them to Drake and Big Sean? I personally feel like these are more general statements, but I like the song regardless.
He may have mentioned the release date of his new project at the end of the song by saying.
Y’all got until April 7th to get your shit together
He has since deleted his Instagram post again and now the profile is bare.
Fresh off the success of “I Don’t Want To Live Forever” with Taylor Swift, Zayn has released new music with PARTYNEXTDOOR with “Still Got Time.”
I think PARTYNEXTDOOR and Zayn’s voices meld well together. PARTYNEXTDOOR has written several pop tracks, so its interesting to see his vocals actually on the song.
A day after selling 4 Day passes, Lollapalooza has announced its lineup. As expected, Chance The Rapper is a headliner, performing on Sunday. Another expected choice was Lorde, who is headlining on Thursday. Saturday one day tickets sold out within 30 minutes, followed by Friday, then Thursday. Sunday tickets still remain.
Here is what are the highlights in my opinion by day
Thursday: Lorde, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Uzi Vert
Friday: DJ Snake, Run The Jewels, Little Dragon
Saturday: Chance The Rapper, The XX, 21 Savage, Banks
Sunday: Big Sean, Rae Sremmurd, Lil Yachty, Noname, Sampha
Honestly, I liked the 2016 lineup more, but I actually discovered a lot of new music there, so I’m hoping that will be the case this year as well.
Since the October 2014 release of Tinashe’s debut album, she has been talking about working on her sophomore album. However, despite numerous singles, and even a tour to support the sophomore album, over 18 months after announcing the title of her album, “Joyride,” is has yet to be released. Following the release of her latest single “Flame” lets take a look at a timeline to the journey that feels like it has no end.
September 2015
“Party Favors” is released. Announces second album “Joyride”
Tinashe announces her second album “Joyride” with a trailer on Youtube. She also releases the first single from the album “Party Favors.”
October 2015
“Player” is released
“Player,” is then advertised as the first official single from “Joyride.” Less moody then “Party Favors,” “Player” has more of a pop feel and more radio friendly with a guest verse from Chris Brown.
January 2016
Announces Joyride tour
Tinashe announces tour supporting her album that was not released yet. The tour setlist mostly includes songs from Aquarius and the singles surrounding “Joyride.”
February 2016
“Ride of Your Life” is released
Teaming up with one of the hottest producers in the game, Metro Boomin, Tinashe releases “Ride of Your Life.” This is the only single so far that she didn’t release a video for.
April 2016
Cancels rest of Joyride tour dates to focus on album
It is with a heavy heart that I come with the news that due to unexpected recording commitments I need to postpone my upcoming international tour. Originally, I had planned this tour in support of Joyride, and as you know, the album has yet to be released.
My two biggest loves are music and my fans, and it is never my intention to disappoint anyone. I know there has been some confusion in regards to my album’s release date. Trust me, I am as eager to get it out to you as you are to hear it. I will be wrapping up the finishing touches on Joyride by the end of May, and will be back on the road shortly thereafter to see all of you. If you know anything about me, you know this was the last thing I would ever want to do.
I know there will be a lot of questions about this. I am going to do a live Q&A on my Facebook tomorrow to answer them all. Stay tuned for more info on that.
Thank you for your love, support and patience always. It means the world to me.
xo
Tinashe
Tinashe announces via Facebook that she is canceling the rest of her tour due to recording commitments for the album. She insinuates on her Facebook Page that she is having issues with her label.
July 2016
Releases “Superlove”
Even more of a dance single than “Player,” “Superlove” is advertised as the leading single to her new album. She releases a video with directed by popular video director Hannah Lux Davis.
September 2016
Releases “Company”
Like “Superlove” this song is produced by The-Dream. She releases the video for this in January 2017.
November 2016
Releases “Nightride”
Tinashe releases this digital album that includes “Party Favors,” “Company” and “Ride of Your Life.” She says she been working on this project along side “Joyride.”
March 2017
Releases “Flame”
“Flame” is the most pop of all singles released. Again, advertised as as the first single to “Joyride.”
Vince Staples brought his Life Aquatic Tour to the Metro on Saturday and Sunday. I caught the Saturday show and I was more than impressed.
The Metro isn’t the biggest venue, so I was surprised by how his large set was. He had three large TV screens that had images appear like fish and skeletons that made you feel like you were underwater near a sunken ship. The blue strobe lights also added the feeling that you were on an underwater excursion.
Despite the nautical theme of the set, Vince was in his usual uniform of a hoodie, jeans and Converse high tops. He was extremely energetic throughout his entire set, which included songs from his debut full length album “Summer ’06” and his EPs “Primma Donna” and “Hell Can Wait.” In the middle of the show, he also performed his singles that he is featured on. For instance, one of the highlight was his performance of “Smoke & Retribution,” his song with Flume.
The highlight of the night was during the encore, when he performed “Norf Norf.” It was crazy to hear people shout out Northside, Long Beach in Chicago, and I’m sure it was a surreal moment for him.
Vince Staples will be back in Chicago for the Pitchfork Music Festival in July.
Unlike Drake’s last album “Views,” which was an Apple Music exclusive for a week upon its release, “More Life,” Drake’s followup “playlist” project is not. Like his previous projects “What A Time To Be Alive” and “Views,” “More Life” premiered on Drake’s Apple Radio show “OVO Radio” before being released to streaming sites on Saturday. You can check on the project below, featuring Young Thug, 2 Chainz, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Travis Scott and Kanye West.
A few days after the release of his debut album “blkswn,” Smino has announced the Swanita tour to promote the album. He is hitting the road pretty soon, with the tour kicking off April 26 in Chicago.
I’m very excited for this tour. I love the album so much and have been listening to it non-stop. I’ve also seen him live before and know he can put on a good show.
Tickets are on sell now. Look at the tour dates and stream the album below.
