New Music from Monica - Once In A Lifetime
Video: Young Jeezy - Don't Do It
Cinematically, this is probably Jeezy's best video, shouts to Gabriel Hart. The black-and-white edit on this video adds to the somber nature of the song and really makes the whole video memorable. Don't Do It is one of the hottest joints from Jeezy's latest The Recession which hit stores last September.
Nas, Jay-Z, Jeezy, then Pac though? How significant was that?
Video: Twista - Wetter (Get It Wet Pt. 2)
The fastest rapper alive is back and, in a style that only Twista can deliver, he slows it down just for the ladies. Wetter (Get it Wet Pt 2) is the first single from Category F5, his eighth album. I'm diggin the sexiness in this video, lots of hot ladies and lots of Nuvo. Twista has a history of putting out sexy jams like this for the ladies; one of my favorites is Freaky Thangs from Ludacris' Word of Mouf album which also features Jagged Edge. Category F5 is set for release on June 16th and is rumored to feature guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Justin Timberlake among others. Check out the latest video from the Chi-town speed demon...
New Music: Rick Ross feat. Nas - The Usual Suspects
Teairra Mari ft. Nicki Minaj - Automatic
Q-Tip ft. Kanye West and Consequence - We Fight, We Love (Remix)
Charles Hamilton - Catch My Balls
Monday's Motivation Muzik: Mary J. Blige - No More Drama
"No more pain, no more pain, no drama... No more in my life..."
I think Mary was on to something with this one... in fact, I'm sure of it. This song hits home for me, especially recently, I've learned another lesson. New Edition had a song called Can You Stand The Rain? I counter that with this question: can you stand the sunshine? See, it's one thing to have friends who have your back when you're going through the storms of life and things aren't so good. But what happens when you decide to make life better for yourself? When the storms of sadness are washed away and success showers down, how many umbrellas can you count? Quite simply, everybody doesn't want to see you succeed. I made a vow to myself that I would no longer allow the dead weight of other people's negativity to hold me down and prevent me from flying high. For that reason, I offer you Mary J. Blige's No More Drama as this week's Motivation Muzik. Sometimes the easiest thing to do in a hard situation is LET IT GO...
New Keri Hilson - Hey Girl
Kid Cudi - Day N' Nite
Kid Cudi reminds me of that kid in the back of the class... the one with a world of creativity locked inside his mind but no one took the time to understand. With Day N' Nite, he recorded two videos for the two versions of the song. The first is the original, stronger on the hip-hop tip which weaves animation in and out of real life scenes to bring the song's metaphors to life.
Cassie - Let's Get Crazy (feat. Akon)
This sounds like something Paris Hilton would have recorded... That being said, the song is aight, a modern "Girls Wanna Have Fun" type anthem. Some of the lyrics may have you doin double takes, but overall it's a cool party jam. This is the latest cut from her sophomore album, In Your Dreams, to be released later this year. At least her music has more life to it this time around, makes up for the lack of vocals...
New Video: Ginuwine - Last Chance
Here's a comeback I'm especially looking forward to... Last Chance is the first single from Ginuwine's new comeback album, entitled A Man's Thoughts, slated for release on June 2. It seems that after all these years, Ginuwine still has what it takes to make a hit R&B record. Check out the cameos from Tyrese and the lovely Lisa Raye in the video. Along with his vocals, the slick choreography proves he hasn't lost his step either. I've heard a few more cuts off album # 6 for Ginuwine and I'm thinking this is gonna be one hell of a comeback. For now, here's his latest video...
Happy Birthday Sound-Savvy!!!
First Video Review: Keyshia Cole - Heaven Sent
First Interview: Motown Recording Artist 'London'
First TIYMLI Post: Drake, Duffy, Janelle Monae, Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers
Gotta give love to my blog fam for always supporting Sound-Savvy and contributing since day one (click each name to visit their sites and show 'em some love!):
BShepJr from Hip-Hop Universe
Kim and Kimesha from My Mood Is Music
Tank from iKnowTank
Sane from In Hood Terms (formerly Word Izz)
A.Red from Watch Your Setup
The Entire Fam at Blogadelphia
FashionCitizen from Fashion With A Side of Life
Charles from ModaMouth.com
DJ Swift
Martini from Martini And Scotch
TJ from Neon Limelight
Chrissy and Bahama from Two Ditzy Broads
Mr. Supreme Ron Mexico
Robo from Street Anthem
Sincere from Sincere Thoughts
This Is Why He's Hot - Mims Chats It Up With Sound-Savvy!
"People see your glory but they don’t know your story”
Mims: Whats good homie?
SS: Chillin man, it’s ya boy Mack from Sound-Savvy.com. Just wanted to touch base with you today and see what you got goin’ on? I understand you got a new album.
Mims: Yeah, I got the new album comin’ out April 7th, it’s called Guilt. I got the first single off the album called Move doin’ its thing on radio right now, and the video is out on that now, so basically I’ve been working the circuit making sure I stay afloat in this business. It’s a hard business, a lot goin’ on with the economy so I’m out here working 10 times harder than I would normally work.
SS: Definitely. There’s a lot of people that don’t really know your story, how did you get your record deal and how did you get started in the music industry?
Mims: I could take you back in the day, but I won’t do that; what I’ll do is just tell you about the ground work that I laid to get the deal. Originally I had did some work in Canada that had reached a certain amount of success up there. We sold about 50,000 units in a matter of 4 weeks. I did the work with Universal Canada then I went on to come back to New York and pursue a career in my own country obviously. One of the things I learned from the deal that I worked out in Canada is that I wanted to be in control of my music and I didn’t really wanna have a major label dictating my style or my sound or anything that has to deal with me stylistically. So I formed a company at one point with some good business partners. One of whom is Erik Mendelson, the other is Corey Llewellyn who is actually the CEO of Digiwaxx and we formed a company called American King Music. We had a couple of records we started off with in the beginning that we put to radio and some got local success, some got national success but none of them were big enough to get on anybody’s radar. I then went on tour as a national opening act for Method Man all around the country and I built a lot of relationships on tour. That wasn’t a tour that I got paid for. Honestly that was a tour I had to pay to be on, and I had to come out of pocket to be on it. So we built a lot of relationships throughout the country and when it came time to pushin another record, the record I chose to go with was This Is Why I’m Hot and this was about 2006. We independently serviced This Is Why I’m Hot throughout the country and instantly got a major reaction, especially in the South Florida market. And in time every label and their mother started lookin’ at me and my career for what I was doin’ independently and they started coming with the checkbooks open. So for those who don’t know my story and my history and they talk about I’m an overnight success and the grind work wasn’t laid out – you’re talking about a person who, with the help of some great business partners came into this business independently with no money and had every single label and their mother chasing me to offer me a deal.
SS: Wow!
Mims: I didn’t go to an A&R with a demo disc and get a deal based on my music. I got a deal based on my hustle and my grind. And that’s why I’m able to sit and talk with you about my success because I actually laid that grind work. That’s just a little bit of history on what I’ve done for my career that not a lot of MC’s even have the ability to say they’ve done.
SS: That’s wassup, that’s a grind right there. A promo tour pretty much. You mentioned This Is Why I’m Hot and that really did become one of the biggest hits of ’07 when it was dropped. But after that, we didn’t really hear from Mims, so what do you say to the hip hop fans and critics that just blow Mims off as a one-hit wonder and say that you can’t repeat that success?
Mims: People were saying that about me when This Is Why I’m Hot was around. I’m starting to learn about what hate really is. One of the things I say, I think Maya Angelou said it: “People see your glory but they don’t know your story”. It’s easy for anybody to make one single comment about my career from listening to one record. I would have respected the comment if the people actually listened to my album and then said “I don’t like what this kid has to offer, I don’t think he’s gonna be around for a while.” The people who actually listened to my album didn’t think the same way. I did follow-up This Is Why I’m Hot with a successful record called Like This that obviously stayed under people’s radar because it wasn’t of the caliber of This Is Why I’m Hot, but it was still a successful record – a top 10 record. So with that being said, this whole one-hit wonder thing, I’m not really convinced that it even matters to listen to what people say. I know that I’m gonna continue to do what I gotta do. I got signed to the label for a multiple album deal, so what that means to me is that they invested in me for a long-term relationship and until they stop investing in me, that whole one-hit wonder thing could never be because they’re gonna fund the money it takes to get a record out. That’s why I’m on my sophomore project right now and that’s why I’m able to deliver the first single Move off my sophomore album.
SS: So Guilt is the title of the sophomore album, and it’s due out April 7th. What’s different about Guilt than Music Is My Savior?
Mims: The biggest difference that I could tell off the top is that Music is My Savior is the independent album. If somebody got in their home studio and wrote a bunch of records, got them mixed and mastered – that’s what Music Is My Savior was to me. Not taking any credit from it because it was a great album but it wasn’t a major label project. It wasn’t something where I got to sit in the studio and feel comfortable and put my feet up. It was an album that I did when I didn’t have food in my refrigerator or money to pay my rent because I was busy focused on the music business. So just from a man’s standpoint, me being a man, that was the biggest difference. With the Guilt album, I got to concentrate on my topics a little bit more. I had the ability to not have to worry about putting food in my stomach or where my next paycheck is coming from because I’m financially situated. So it’s a different feel, I’m doin it for the love of the music and I’m doing it because I got a message to get out. You’re gonna hear a lot more emotion in this album, a lot more maturity and you’re gonna hear a lot more issues that I think are relevant to the times.
SS: What are some of those concepts that you’re talking about on the album?
Mims: I could run down a list of the records but the record that’ll probably give people a gist of what the album is about is the intro record off the album which is actually called Guilt. It kinda expresses my emotions for what I’ve been blessed to receive over the last two years compared to where the country is financially and obviously my emotions on how I feel about financially where the country sits compared to where I sit. When I see friends and family members callin me about losing jobs or their homes are going into foreclosure, it hits me in a soft spot because I know that I just bought a home and I know that I just bought a couple cars and I know that I’m going on the road and I’m gonna make enough money to survive but these people aren’t. So when you listen to certain topics on my album I wanna make sure that I relate back to the people. I don’t wanna rap for rappers – rappers don’t buy albums, fans do. I wanna give them stuff that they can relate to as opposed to throwing my money back in their faces.
SS: I’m digging that! So Guilt is a title that was more so born out of an obligation to your fans, I respect that.
Mims: Pretty much.
SS: So Move is the first single, but I understand that Bread N’ Butta is possibly the next single, is that correct?
Mims: Bread N’ Butta is actually not the second single. It’s a record that leaked out, it was originally intended to be on the album and something that was gonna entice the streets, but then it got leaked out without my knowledge and kinda messed up a lot of things as far as the element of surprise. Nonetheless it’s a great record and it’s a different side of me. It shows a different side of Mims that other people weren’t even aware existed. I wanna make sure that my fans get to see all the different sides of me that obviously the naysayers wouldn’t agree was me, but I know that it is me
SS: Now you say that it messed up the element of surprise, but I’ll tell you one thing it has done: its built up anticipation. It has gotten around the net and a lot of people have heard it and heard the Biggie sample on it and just from what I’ve seen around the blog circle, there’s been a lot of good reception to it. Was it an issue with getting the sample cleared?
Mims: Yeah that’s the biggest thing and I think the problem is that it got leaked out before we could go through the proper channels and make sure that we got the proper clearance. It got leaked out and just made it a little bit harder for us to do that so now we’re still trying to work the situation out. But you know, it is what it is. Like you said it’s out there and I know how people get music nowadays. I’m not a stranger to it so if it’s in anybody’s iPod or if it’s in anybody’s MP3 player right now, I’m not gonna be mad because if I can’t offer to sell it to you right now, I know you gon’ go out and take it. I just want people to listen to it and respect it because with this album, I’m bringin’ a lot of different flavor and I wanna make sure my fans understand that.
SS: Okay, that’s wassup. Now with the video for Move, I like the whole concept of the video. Who came up with that, was that your concept or the director?
Mims: I'd say partially, I don’t wanna take any credit away from the director. I will say this, one day I woke up and I started looking at television and I just got tired of seeing the normal looking videos where everybody had a Ferrari, everybody had a Lamborghini and everybody had the big chain and lived in a mansion with half-naked women running around. It’s like “Okay cool,” especially as a man. Any man is gonna say that’s cool, that’s a great life but that ain’t the reality. So I just wanted to do something different. When I stepped to the label about doing the video, I said "Man, we gotta remove all of those elements, I don’t wanna see none of that in this video. What I do wanna see is something creative." I think I was extremely creative with this project and when it comes to the video you see a lot of trickery, a lot of special effects. Many times people ask me was it shot on green screen and I say “Definitely not”. It was shot in LA, everything was live on location, and it’s just unique. I think it’s in contention to be hailed the best hip-hop video of the year.
SS: Yeah, I would agree. It’s a very creative video and I definitely think that if that’s the element you were going for, you definitely got it with that. So who else did you work with on the album Guilt as far as collabs?
Mims: I actually got a record – one of my most prized records in my career is a record I have with Ky-Mani Marley, the record is called One Day. It puts a twist on hip-hop period. It’s not a hip-hop record. I grew up listening to Bob Marley, I listened to reggae a lot in my life and I’ve been influenced by it. I wanted to do something different musically and when you check this record out you’re gonna see that this is a record that probably won’t get classified as a hip-hop record but its definitely gonna be a record that moves the world – something that the whole world can relate to. And I don’t care if you the toughest of gangsters or the nerdiest of nerds, computer technicians, you gonna appreciate this record because it has a positive message behind it. So that’s one of my features.
I also have Nice & Smooth on this album. And that’s because I wanted to get back into that old school element. A lot of artists talk about linking up with old school hip hop artists and doin music but they don’t do it. I wanted to actually pay my homage to hip-hop and a couple cats that I used to jam out to back in the day by puttin’ them on the album so that’s gonna be a phenomenal record
I got a record with Letoya Luckett which is called Love Rollercoaster, she’s on Capitol records. I also got a record with J. Holiday. It’s not a very feature-heavy album, I never really do a lot of features, but best believe when I do collab with somebody it’s gonna sound great. It’ll be a good record, a great song
SS: It does sound like a very versatile album from what I’ve heard. I’ve heard the one with Letoya and that’s a pretty hot joint.
Mims: Oh, thank you.
SS: You have a song called Barock Star, which is basically talking about the new change in administration. So what’s your take on things since he’s been in office?
Mims: I think Barack is doing what he feels it’s necessary to do to restart this country’s financial issues and interests. So with that being said, I’m gonna give him his time, he’s got 4 years to do it. I know a lot of people come out and criticize his administration and the decisions they’ve made but why do that now? They didn’t do that 8 years ago when Bush was in office and he started messing a lot of things up. So now they want to do it when Barack is in office for a couple months and it’s like the man’s not gonna change the world in a couple months. So we gotta give him his fair amount of time. I think he’s already contributed to a lot of the success that the country has seen so far, one of which is inspiration. I think people needed inspiration, people needed hope, they needed to believe in something again and I think he made that possible. So with all due respect, I’m still a fan, I’m still a believer, but I’m also a believer that one man can’t turn this country around. The people gotta stand up and do something. They gotta stand up and spark this country back up. A lot of people out there are scared to stand up and I respect that, but you gotta remember when you don’t spend money it’s a chain effect. If I don’t spend money, then somebody’s losing a job because that company that gave a job is not gonna be able to keep somebody working. So I gotta make sure I’m at least moderate about what I do, I shouldn’t go out and buy frivolous things, but at the same time moderate yourself. Live a healthy life, live a good life because for one: you only got one life to live and two, that’s what its’ gonna take for the country to get turned around financially. So I have faith that we’re heading in a good direction, I just think we need to give him time to be who he’s gotta be.
SS: Definitely, great words to live by. Just to wrap things up, is there anything you wanna say to the Sound-Savvy audience or to any of your fans?
Mims: April 7th, the album Guilt will be in stores. Tell a friend to tell a friend. The biggest thing to me is that I’ve been shunned and I’ve been hated on a lot. Most of the time I just shut my mouth because I’m not a controversial person. But I don’t comment, I just work. If you appreciate a person that works and has a great work ethic and tries to do as much positive as he can, then definitely support my project April 7th the album Guilt will be in stores.
SS: That’s wassup, and do you know what’s gonna be the second single?
Mims: We’re actually releasing two records, one of which is called On & On which is one of my personal favorites off the album and the other is Love Rollercoaster which I’ll probably be shootin’ the video for real soon, that’s the one that features Letoya Luckett. I also have a record called Chasing Sunshine, that’s an alternative pop record that we’re gonna service just to kinda get that world involved and I got a record called Rock N’ Rollin that’ll probably go out to the rock stations. So, I’m doin a lot man.
SS: You are!
Mims: I got a lot goin on. My thing is I want people to hear as much music as possible. This day and age, I want people to know that they’re buying into a strong album and not just a one record artist.
SS: That’s wassup man definitely. It does sound like you’re doing a whole lot and Sound-Savvy is behind you the whole way. If there’s anything you need from us let us know.
Mims: Man I just appreciate the time that you’re givin’ me to voice myself so all the Sound-Savvy people out there thanks for supportin’ me, April 7th the album Guilt. And honestly, I know you got the comment box below this and it’s gonna be a lotta haters out there but if you a hater and you leavin’ a comment and I didn’t say anything hateful, then you really need to doublecheck yourself and what some of your aspirations in life are cause I’m still gonna be doin’ my thing!
Keep Up With Mims
Mims on Facebook
Mims on Twitter
Mims' MySpace
Mims' Official Website
Related Posts:
New Music from Mims - Bread N' Butta
Video: Mims - Move
Album Review: Keri Hilson - In A Perfect World
Release Date: 3.24.09
In a perfect world, this album would have been released two years ago as originally intended; it would have become an instant classic, and Keri Hilson would have stolen the shine from the artists she helped catapult to success. Well, the world may not be perfect, but that doesn’t stop Keri from putting her best effort into her debut offering. After a little growing time, I found In A Perfect World to be a pretty good project characterized by catchy hooks and crazy beats from the industry’s brightest talent. Polow Da Don, Timbaland and Danja lay most of the groundwork, setting the stage for guest appearances from Keyshia Cole, Lil Wayne, Akon, Kanye West, Trina and Ne-yo. With all its greatness, however, it is not without flaws.
The album’s introductory track establishes the tone for the entire album: a combination of sexy vocals and an air of energetic confidence that prevails throughout the disc. Following up is the radio favorite Turnin Me On, the album’s third single and followup to Energy and the Timbaland-helmed pop/dance smash Return The Favor. In a thrilling show of new-age girl power, Keyshia Cole and Trina collab on one of the album’s best offerings, Get Your Money Up, a bass-heavy club banger fit to be the newest ladies anthem: “Know what I’m talking bout? You steppin’ to the baddest, got millionaires standin’ in line wishin’ they had this…” Reality bites on Knocks You Down, which captures the moment when love rears it’s head and life veers a sharp left.
There are enough slower, vocal-centric cuts to balance out the album, beginning with the sensuality of Slow Dance, a certified grind-time jam. Silky vocals and passionate lyrics create the scene on Make Love, one of Hilson’s strongest vocal offerings from the album. Tell Him The Truth bears a solemnity that’s almost as scary as the actual act of coming clean. It’s easy to get lost in the vibe of Where Did He Go, which meshes an arrangement of busy vocal rounds over a simple groove, echoing the song’s concept of being lost in love.
And now for the downside, - relax, it isn’t that much. Lyrically, Intuition works, but it’s the Timbaland/Danja track that doesn’t really move me; the sound is too familiar, a sound that’s been recycled too many times. I’m not sure whether it’s Akon’s grunts and strained vocals or the lack of lyrical depth that makes Change Me fall totally flat. Keri tries to save it, but there’s really not enough in that song to match the power of Polow’s backdrop.
Despite a few pushbacks and minor setbacks In A Perfect World still manages to present itself as a formidable project amongst today’s pop starlets and superstar divas. There aren’t really any middle-of-the-road songs: the good ones are really good, and the couple bad ones just really suck. It’s worth the listen, there’s a lot to vibe to on this album although it may take some time to grow on you, and though it’s not perfect, it’s a damn good attempt…
Related Posts:
Video: Keri Hilson feat. Ne-yo and Kanye West - Knocks You Down
Video: Keri Hilson - Make Love
Sound-Savvy officially rates In A Perfect World with 4 out of 5 platinum headphones.
Ludacris & Shawnna - Everybody Drunk
Video: Keri Hilson ft. Ne-yo and Kanye West - Knocks You Down
Ms. Keri baby!!! Ne-yo and Kanye duke it out for the affection of Keri Hilson in the video for Knocks You Down, the 4th single from her debut album In A Perfect World in stores today, finally! Kanye has clipped his shag and Ne-yo's style bears that gentlemanly swag while Keri... well, she turns up her sexy everytime she hits the screen. Danja produced the song itself, which is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the album, review coming later today! But hey, if Kanye and Ne-yo were really competing over Keri, who do you think would win? COMMENT below...
Beyond Making The Band - Sound-Savvy Talks With Dawn Richard
Dawn: I’m good, how are you?
SS: I’m good it’s good to talk to you. So first up, Dawn what does your life sound like?
Dawn: Um that’s a great question. I just did that a couple days ago on Twitter for the Twitter bugs that are following me. I’d have to say, Counting Crows' Colorblind would definitely be one of them, Keri Hilson’s Turnin' Me On definitely rocks my boat; I’d have to say...oooh, The Dream’s Hater is hot, Bjork’s…uhhh, that’s a hard one, Hopeful, and one more… Green Day’s Brain Stew. That’s my soundtrack right now.
SS: Wow, I like that! That's a real versatile pick, I like that.
Dawn: Well that’s what my life is, it’s kinda all over the place.
SS: Cool, so where are you now?
Dawn: I’m gonna be in New York, writing.
SS: So I guess the biggest thing everyone wants to know is what’s going on with Danity Kane, we’ve all sent the show and it’s winding down…
Dawn: You have to keep watching… Thursday nights, MTV! Gotta keep watching to see what happens.
SS: But is there gonna be a future of Danity Kane?
Dawn: You gotta watch, you have to watch. I can’t give that away.
SS: Just to go back to what we saw last season, the split came out of nowhere. It’s like...
Dawn: It did, it definitely did. I think how people are reacting is a normal reaction. We’re all feeling that way.
SS: I understand that you guys probably fought like normal groups do, but do you think it out of the was enough to cause a split like that?
Dawn: Uh, yeah… I didn’t expect that, not at all. I thought it could be fixed.
SS: Do you think at all that the the show’s ratings factored into that? Maybe it was something to boost the show’s ratings?
Dawn: No, no not at all. I think people want it to be that or they think it’s that. No This is our lives and it’s real, and it really did happen and it’s exactly what it was.
SS: Just looking back at some of the previous Making The Band Groups like ‘Da Band and Dream and those groups that didn’t last… there’s been talk and even Puff mentioned it on an upcoming episode about a Making The Band curse. How do you feel about that?
Dawn: That’s not a Making The Band curse, this is life. It’s not a curse, the reality is all people go through it. All artists with their labels. It’s not something that just happened to us, it happens to a lot of people that’s why you see the En Vogues and the TLC’s and Destiny’s child. It all happens at some point, it’s just life. Some people get along, some don’t. Some things work, some don’t. That’s just life; I don’t think that’s a curse.
SS: Have you talked to Aubrey or D. Woods at all?
Dawn: No, but I wish them the best. I really do.
SS: Oh okay. Have you seen Aubrey’s Playboy spread?
Dawn: Ummm no, but ya know. I’m really proud if that’s what she’s happy doing.
SS: Well with the fate of Danity Kane pretty much up in limbo, if it came down to it would you pursue a solo career? Dawn gotta eat too, right?
Dawn: I’ll never say never to anything. I would love to continue being in this business because I like it. That’s all I can say to that. Whatever comes in my path, I’m ready for it. I’ve worked hard to be here and I’m gonna continue to do that.
SS: If you did, do you think your music would be more pop or more R&B?
Dawn: I think it’ll be how music is going right now; it’ll be a cross of both. Music is taking turns, we can now combine so many things. I think it’s a great movement right now where music is. There’s no specific class to it. So my music would be with everything else. It would be a new trend, a mix of both and I think that’s beautiful.
SS: So who are some of the artists that you’re really feeling these days? Besides the ones you mentioned.
Dawn: I’m feeling Keri [Hilson], like I said. Keri’s amazing, I was with her in the beginning, she wrote on our first album. I’d really love to work with Chrisette Michele, I’m good friends with her. Jazmine Sullivan, another one that I’m good friends with. I’d love to work with Day 26. Me and Q actually wrote a song for their album that’s gonna be on the album coming out April 14
SS: Oh cool!
Dawn: Yeah, the sky’s the limit. I’d like to work with a lot of people. Brandy is another one I’d like to work with!
SS: Oh I love Brandy, and yeah Chrisette Michele is really good. I saw her in concert here a few weeks ago.
Dawn: Yeah, shes amazing, that’s my homie! That’s my ride partner in New York.
SS: So you mentioned Q, how are things with you Q?
Dawn: He’s amazing! He’s doing great, and he’s getting ready for his album to come out. He’s doing a lot of writing too. He’s doing things he’s supposed to do, he’s holdin’ the fort down.
SS: We haven’t seen the same type of affection between you two this season that was kinda prevalent last season. Is everything okay?
Dawn: Oh yeah yeah, we’re good. Why wouldn’t it be?
SS: Well like I said, this season, it just seems like we didn’t see as much affection between you guys, but I guess the focus is more on…
Dawn: Well I think this season you haven’t but we’ve always been… but the other two seasons, we were definitely close. I think we’re learning to keep some things private.We don’t want it to ruin the friendship that we have and the bond that we have. So, it doesn’ mean it doesn’t exist. We’re just choosing when to have fun and when not to. When to speak and when not to speak.
SS: Yeah I actually saw the interview you guys did a few days ago… [Dawn and Q's interview on Lip Service - Sirius Radio]
Dawn: Yeah, it’s so funny, people are actually confused and weird about it. Ya know, we’re grown people!
SS: Right!
Dawn: Lip Service, everyone knows Sirius radio and what that is and what kind of interview that is. A lot of celebrities have done them and it’s fun and we enjoyed it and we had a good time and we thought it was fun.
SS: Yeah, I don’t knock it, I think it was good. But I just wanna know how often the stripper pole gets used?
Dawn: Oh my God!! *laughs* You’re so silly, You know, I’m always the one to say I’ll plead the fifth on that. Thank God Q is not on the phone he’d probably tell you.
SS: He probably would. I saw he was very forthcoming in that interview!
Dawn: He’s the one that goes. It’s me that’s like “Oh my God!”
SS: Once the MTB stuff is all over, would you be interested in a Dawn/Que spinoff?
Dawn: You know what? If the people want to see a Dawn and Q show, let them make the noise. Tell them to get on MTV! If it’s a lot of people that want to see it, who knows?
SS: That’s what’s up! I’m with that! So let’s talk about your comic book. You have a comic book, Danity Kane, right?
Dawn: Yes, I do!! I’m really excited about it. You can get it at DanityKaneComics.com and I just got in the script for the second issue, so I’m really excited about it.
SS: Oh cool! So what’s the concept behind it?
Dawn: It’s like Sex And The City meets Sin City. It’s dark but it’s fun, It’s about a woman named Danity Kane who is not of this world. It's basically, the old story of good and evil. She’s trying to save the world and there’s an evil guy who’s in the pose as the villain playing a record producer that owns a label. Hint hint!! He basically wants her for evil and she wants to be for good. Prime story of good and evil just with a rock and roll twist.
SS: Is that an original concept that you came up with?
Dawn: Yeah, it’s all mine and I’m really excited about it. I think people get a chance to see something different, something new and maybe something that people wouldn’t normally do. And I like doing things that – I like being on my own boat, in my own temple.
SS: So she’s obviously in the music industry, would you say it’s loosely or metaphorically based on your life?
Dawn: Yeah, she’s my alter ego! Definitely.
SS: Oh, so she’s your alter ego? Okay…
Dawn: Oh, definitely, yeah!
SS: So you kinda got a sci-fi vibe goin on then?
Dawn: It is! It’s really cool, there’s a lot of fighting, There’s a cross between Japan, Tokyo, New York. It’s a mix between those, and it’s really dope. I’m really excited about it and I have a soundtrack coming with it at the end of March. So I’m really happy about that too. It’s not like a solo deal or anything. It’s just a soundtrack based off the comic book
SS: And is it just YOU on the soundtrack?
Dawn: Yes it is, yes it is! It’s just something – ya know how sometimes you need something to let go of so you can just be you and not worry about anything. It was an opportunity to work with different music, a different sound and I liked it so I said “why not do it?”
SS: And you have a song off the soundtrack for the Danity Kane Comics…
Dawn: Yes, I have a single off the soundtrack called Falls Away (click to listen), it’s on Myspace.com/DawnRichard and it’s the single.
SS: And what was the concept in the song?
Dawn: There’s a part in the comic where Danity Kane meets the love of her life, her crush which is a big storyline because it turns out to be someone, the villain’s son and it’s amazing, it’s crazy. So this is the line when they meet and they fall in love and this song is from that.
SS: And there’s actually another song called If I Could (click to listen)...
Dawn: Yes, it’s gonna be on the soundtrack.
SS: Yeah, the Sound-Savvy audience has been listening to that. What’s that one about?
Dawn: That's the reality of when they separate in the storyline, he moves on and she moves on and then he has no one; that situation doesn’t work out for him and she’s telling him if she could do it all again and come back and stay with him, she would.
SS: That’s wassup! I’m looking forward to that. The soundtrack is going to be in stores when?
Dawn: It’s not gonna be in stores, it’s gonna be online. It’ll be on danitykanecomics.com. I’m doing everything independently on my own.
SS: So if you were approached about doing a Danity Kane movie based off the comic, would you be open to that?
Dawn: Of course! Definitely, I would even want Frank Miller to do it. I love his films. I loved 300, I loved Sin City, so definitely!
SS: Cool! I’d love to see that, and I’ve gotta get a copy so I can read it. You mentioned earlier that you’re on Twitter, cause you’re on my twitter list!
Dawn: Yeah, I am on Twitter.
SS: Dawn, you gotta follow me on twitter, okay?
Dawn: Okay, I will follow you.
SS: You know who I am? I’m Sound-Savvy.
Dawn: Okay, Sound-Savvy I will follow you I promise.
SS: Aight! So do you respond to a lot of people on Twitter?
Dawn: Everyday I'm on Twitter, it’s addictive, I don’t understand it! I can’t take it!
SS: It’s like digital crack! I’m on it all day long.
Dawn: It is! It’s crazy…
SS: So what’s next on the horizon for Dawn?
Dawn: The sky’s the limit. I’m definitely writing for artists. I just got a song on Day 26’s album. I’m trying to get something on Cassie, got a couple songs in the pocket with her. I’ve been working with different people like Krystal Typewriter, all of them and I’m trying to work with Puff with writing music for him and you know, who knows? Maybe movies, maybe fashion, I’m a huge huge, HUGE fan of fashion. So who knows? Maybe a fashion line someday.
SS: Who are some of the designers you like?
Dawn: I a huge fan of Balmain, Preen, Maison Martin Margiela, Luella , Balenciaga I love, I love The Row - Kate and Ashley’s line, their line’s hot. And I love Alexander Wang.
SS: Anything you wanna say to your fans out there, the Sound-Savvy audience?
Dawn: Thanks for the support. I’m on a movement right now. I’ve been starting a movement on Twitter where I said the new trend is positivity. I just feel like we all need to get on the positive movement and start congratulating and embracing each other. It’s a new year, new things are happening. So thank you for supporting and keeping a positive eye on Danity Kane and no matter what happens with us, please continue to support us and keep it positive. You don’t have to hate no one, you don’t have to blame it on anyone. Things happen and let’s move on and move forward in a positive light and see what great things are in store for us.
SS: Well Dawn on behalf of Sound-Savvy and Suavv, thanks for talking to us today,
Dawn: Thank you! Thank you guys for having me.
Wale feat. Lady Gaga - Chillin
Monday's Motivation Muzik: Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild & Jaheim - Struggle No More
Nothing worth having comes without struggle and sacrifice, and the most noble of struggles are those we endure for the good of the ones we love. It's not always about the struggle, but who you struggle for - whose life is better because of the sacrifices you make. When the going gets rough, sometimes we gotta pray just to see the bigger picture. So here's a song that keeps me going from three soul brothers who brought the message home: Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, and Jaheim. It was originally featured on the soundtrack to Daddy's Little Girls and I'm hopin' it'll bring you some inspiration to help you start your week.
New Music: The Dream - Hater
Flo-Rida ft. Ne-yo - Be On You
Video: Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake - Love, Sex & Magic
One word, two exclamation marks: SEXY!! That's the only way to describe this video. Ciara tries on many different looks alongside Justin Timberlake in this ultra-sexy video for the latest single from the long-awaited Fantasy Ride album. This is the sexiest she's ever looked, very edgy, very hot making this officially one of the hottest videos to drop this year. Penned by JT himself, this song is a fresh sound for Ci-ci and a nice prelude to this Spring's new music. Fantasy Ride has a confirmed release date of May 5th. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
My Life Sounds Like: Amel Larrieux - Make Me Whole
Introspective revelation is a bitch of a process.....
Video: AB The Producer feat. XO, Pro'Verb & Lyriciss - GO HARD
Check out the latest video from the DMV's own Sound-Savvy's Spotlight Artist Lyriciss Flowz! This joint appears on his latest mixtape, The Day Job available for download now, and highly recommended for my hip-hop heads out there. The video is shot in the area where Lyriciss and I both hail from, our nation's capital. Lyriciss is definitely on the rise and if this is your first time hearing of him, you've got some homework to do. Check out the interview, and then download The Day Job!
New Music from MIMS - Bread N' Butta
Drake - Uptown (Feat. Bun B & Lil' Wayne) (Chopped & Skrewed By DJ Swift)
First and foremost, i'd like to give a big shoutout to Mack for welcoming me into the Sound-Savvy Community. This actually has been in the works for a min. But its just the first phaze of something very epic.
Im'a make this intro as brief as possible. Ive been djing online on various websites for the past 1 and half years or so (Hip-Hop Universe, Crackmuzik are the most notable). And I mainly specialize in Hip-Hop, R&B music, blends & mixes, regular or Chopped & Screwed. And no, im not from the south. Im actually from New York...go figure.
If you wanna listen to my live broadcasts, catch me LIVE on HHU RADIO every Monday night, 11pm-12am EST. I do random shows throughout the week as well, so make sure u follow me on Twitter to stay up to date with all my sessions. Also, get at me on IMEEM to listen to some of my work.
http://djswiftofficial.blogspot.com/
http://djswiftofficial.podomatic.com/
http://twitter.com/djswiftOFFICIAL
http://myspace.com/djswiftofficial
Anyway down to business. Drake - "Uptown"...chopped & skrewed by yours truly.
oh yeah...this is a Sound-Savvy exclusive!
Huey feat. Pleasure P - T.H.U.G. Love
Oh come on... why does everyone have to be a thug? This comin from the same dude that had the girls pop lockin and droppin it. One-hit wonder? Yeah, we're thinkin the same thing. Now is it just me, or is this a complete rip of Mrs. Officer from Lil Wayne featuring Bobby Valentino? And come on, who really believes Pleasure P is a thug? Anyway, the moderate success of Pop, Lock and Drop It from Huey's first offering has afforded him the opportunity to release a second album, Strictly Business hittin' stores some time this year. I'm REALLY not feelin this song...