REMIX: Robin Thicke ft. Ludacris - Sex Therapy


Ludacris blazes this remix but, then again, doesn't Luda blaze everything? Robin Thicke's Sex Therapy album is in stores now and while it doesn't include this version, Luda does the damn thing anyway! *Denzel voice* My man...

Video: Nelly Furtado - Mas (More)


Whoa NELLY!! Ms. Furtado gets gangsta at the end of this clip, and for good reason. Ladies, this song may be in Spanish, but the video speaks in a universal language. If you find that he ain't givin' you more, there may be a reason. Don't be naive... Check out Mas and her previous single Manos Al Aire on her new Spanish album Mi Plan in stores now!

Video: Corinne Bailey Rae - I'd Do It All Again


After some much needed time off, Corinne Bailey Rae is ready to come back  and is wrapping up her sophomore album entitled The Sea, which should be in stores February 2010. I'd Do It All Again is the first single from that project and, like the rest of the album, is very personal in nature and speaks of her late husband. My heart goes out to her for the death of her husband and I wish her well. Her first album is still a favorite of mine so I can only imagine how great this one will be...

Video: Rihanna ft. Young Jeezy - Hard

"That Rihanna reign just won't let up..."


Gotta be one of my favorite joints off the album. The beat knocks, the hook is simple but means so much and Jeezy's verse seals the deal. Hard is the latest single off Rihanna's fourth album Rated R. In this high-fashion meets military clip, Rihanna struts her stuff touting the song's infectious line "I'm so HARD!!".

LIVE: Adam Lambert Performs 'Whattya Want From Me'


To be honest, I was a bit bored with this performance from the So You Think You Can Dance finale. The song is a lot more tame than the lead single For Your Entertainment, but this performance just bored me to pieces. And I actually like Adam's album. Check it...

LIVE: Mary J. Blige Performs 'I AM' on SYTYCD Finale!


This was one of Mary's best performances of her new single I Am, from her forthcoming album Stronger With Each Tear hitting stores next week. Notice how each of her backup dancers embodies a different signature Mary look from an era in her career. Mary J. Blige is becoming a legend in her own right by continuing to make timeless music after 15 years in the game. Gotta luv that... By the way... CONGRATULATIONS TO Russell, a crumper without formal dance training who won this year's competition! He showed a lot of growth and a lot of versatility which was unexpected from a dancer with a native street style of dance! CONGRATS RUSSELL!!!

Leona Lewis Performs 'I See You' Live


This movie AVATAR better be the best thing smoking, because it's EVERYWHERE! Leona Lewis performed the theme song from the James Cameron-directed film which hits theaters this weekend. She sounded pretty good up until the climax of the song where she missed quite a few notes and got a little pitchy. I won't hold it against her though, that voice is solid!

Jennifer Lopez Performs 'Louboutins' LIVE!


J. Lo has been back on the block - the performing block that is. She's been hitting the circuit with her newest single Louboutins, an ode to the famed shoe designer. In this video, she hits the stage at this year's So You Think You Can Dance Finale with one of the best performance clips of the song yet! Her new album LOVE? is set to be in stores Spring 2010!

Alicia Keys ft. Raekwon and CNN - Empire State of Mind Pt. 2 (Remix)


Remixing a remix? You can't say you didn't expect this, I'm expecting even more remixes from every spitter in and from NYC. This joint has become an anthem, but not just for New York, it's become an anthem for America and we should take pride in celebrating one of our greatest cities. Bottom line: DOPE TRACK!!

REMIX: Melanie Fiona ft. Ghostface - It Kills Me


Ghostface does some pretty good slow joints, so remixing one of the hottest cuts off Melanie Fiona's The Bridge isn't hard to digest. His temperament on the track adds to the dramatic flair, and I'm not sure if this is official, but it damn sure could be.

Video: Juelz Santana ft. Chris Brown - Back To The Crib


I really hate to say it but Chris Brown always seems to outshine Juelz when they collab, though this song wasn't a total failure. Chris' infamous bowtie makes a cameo in the video, along with Lloyd Banks, Red Cafe, Jim Jones and a few others.Born To Lose, Built To Win, 2010...

Young Money - Where's Wayne?


Why is Young Money so hot on this track? Nicki Minaj kicks it off alongside Gudda, Tyga and more of the crew, who are clearly on a manhunt for their fearless leader over this hot beat. Since it won't be on the We Are Young Money collab project, maybe they should've held this joint til Wayne's prison sentence starts. Then we'll all really wonder... Where's Wayne?

Video: Iyaz - Replay


Spotted this joint over at my homie Robo3K's spot. For those listeners of the Sound-Savvy report on Mindstream Radio, Iyaz is the artist whose song has been in the top 5 on Billboard for the past few weeks, and none of us had heard it or knew who he was. Replay is that song, and I can see why - it's infectious, mellow and has a nice simple groove that draws you in. If you think he bears a bit of Sean Kingston's vibe, that's because Kingston discovered him. His debut album will be out next year, so stay tuned...

Amanda Diva - I Can See


Maybe I'm late, but I'm really just getting into Ms. Amanda Diva. She gives me hints of Lauryn Hill and Floetry together. Her lyrics come with a respectable amount of depth and her vocals are really nice. More to come from this lovely lady soon... no doubt.

Game - Breakin' Rules (Feat. Busta Rhymes)






I'm back folks! It's been a while but I'm (Swift) back on Sound-Savvy!  On this newest R.E.D. Album drop,  Game brings another ex-Aftermath artist, Busta Rhymes along for the ride.  Produced by Scott Storch.  Stay tuned, Game's R.E.D. Album is scheduled for a February 16th release, with Dr. Dre AND Pharrell executive producer credits enabled.

DOWNLOAD:  Game  - Breakin' Rules (Feat. Busta Rhymes)

Has The Blackballing of Chris Brown Gone Too Far?


A lot of folks have seen Chris Brown’s claims that he’s being blackballed by several retail outlets who are refusing to carry his 3rd and latest album Graffiti. To most, this seems like the latest repercussion from this year’s domestic incident involving former girlfriend and fellow pop-star Rihanna. What I’ve also noticed, however, is that critics seem to blackball Chris Brown as well, rating this album significantly lower than his previous work without professional justifications. AllMusic, for example, gave Brown a 1-star rating (out of 5) criticizing Brown for lyrical fallacies that he was “likable and harmless enough to get away with” on his last album, which they rated with 3.5 stars. In actuality, Brown’s lyrical flow sees a significantly more mature stance on much of the album, but it’s not without flaws. The Chicago Sun-Times gives the album a 1-star rating (out of 4) calling Brown “shallow and soulless”, but basing the entire review off the infamous domestic altercation instead of weighing it on the merits of the music. Of all the biased and ill-written reviews, Rolling Stone grades Graffiti with 2.5 out of 5 stars, but the entire review lacks professional journalistic integrity by comparing Brown’s latest project to Rihanna’s entire catalog. Just being honest, Graffiti isn’t a perfect album, nor is it a classic, but it’s far from the total failure it’s being labeled in the media.



I'm making NO excuses for Chris Brown's behavior in his personal dispute with Rihanna, but what we have to remember is that it was a PERSONAL matter and does not change the quality of his music. It seems as if a lot of reviewers had made up their mind to kill this album with their critiques based on the dispute and subsequent breakup between Chris and Rihanna instead of listening to the music, the content, the vocals and making an objective rating. If a reviewer judges personality, shouldn’t it reflect how much (or how little) of the artist’s personality shines through in the actual work?

When it comes to music and albums, is it okay for a critic to judge the art based on the actions of the artist in his/her personal life? Or do you feel the music should be reviewed on its quality and merits alone? How far is too far?

Lil Wayne ft. Eminem - Drop The World


Another cut off Wayne's forthcoming rock (or somethin like that) album Rebirth. This joint is a pretty hot collab from Shady and Weezy, but yet again I think Eminem outshines Wayne on the track. Definitely dope verses from both and Wayne comes stronger on this track than he does on Forever. What do you think?

Cassie - Right Time


I want to believe Cassie can do better, but nothing she puts out makes me wanna remember her. For one thing, I think she needs a different sound so she should probably stay away from Ryan Leslie's production. This joint isn't bad, but it's another blah cut from Cassie produced by R-Les. If any of Cassie's people read this *try Danja again*...


Ray J. - Can We Fall In Love


Requested by a faithful reader, this joint was featured on the current season of For The Love of Ray J. I don't watch the show, so I don't know much about the context in which it was presented. But it sounds like a pretty okay song. I won't bash Ray J., at least not this time...

VIDEO: Tabi Bonney - Duhh


In case you've never heard, Tabi Bonney's been doing his thing in the DMV music scene for a minute now - long before you even heard of Wale. I respect him because he's an artist to the core - not easy to compromise his vision or his goals for industry success. I promise to bring more joints from Tabi, but check out his latest video for his new joint Duhh...

Sammie - Forever


When he's not blasting bloggers, Sammie actually makes some nice music. I'm diggin this new Cornaboyz-produced joint. He's still working on his new album Coming of Age, but this joint may appear on the new EP It's Time set to drop early next year.

Audio: Sammie - Forever

NEW: Mary J. Blige - Tonight


Mary's new album Stronger With Each Tear is easily one of the most anticipated releases to close out this year. I just have a strong feeling this will be a classic album from Mary, everything she's put out since Breakthrough has been a hit! Here's another one...

Audio: Tonight

Royce Da' 5'9" - No Coming Back From That


Check out the latest joint from Slaughterhouse's Royce Da 5'9... This brutha is definitely one of the hottest spitters in the game, mainstream or not. No Coming Back From That is set to appear on his upcoming mixtape The Bar Exam 3.

Audio: No Coming Back From That

Young Jeezy - Money To Blow


Jeezy hops on this track originally done by Birdman and Drake... Jeezy's verse goes harder than the original. Can someone make this official?

Jagged Edge ft. Trina and Gucci Mane - Tip of My Tongue


Them boys of Jagged Edge are tryin it again, and this time they might actually be on to something. For a long while all their stuff was beginning to sound the same, but this joint is kinda hot. This leaked a few months back, so it's not necessarily new, but it is the official first single from the new album, The Remedy, due out in 2010.

Audio: Tip of My Tongue

Album Review: Snoop Dogg - Malice N' Wonderland



Artist name: Snoop Dogg
Album title: Malice N Wonderland
Release date: 12.08.09


By now, Snoop Dogg needs absolutely no introduction in hip-hop music, as his name is synonymous with the West Coast gangsta rap movement of the early 1990s. In fact, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 17 years since the brash, young Long Beach emcee debuted on Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But A G Thang” and took the game by storm. On Malice N Wonderland, Snoop’s tenth album, he proves that his laid-back, yet confident lyrical cadence can still shake ground and influence his peers. The person who stands before us now is definitely a mature adult, but not so stuffy that he can’t rhyme about sex, women and clubbing.

Over the years, Snoop has provided a plethora of sounds for our respective soundtracks, some of which are certified classics in hip-hop history. Who can forget the infectious call-and-response of “Gin and Juice,” or the feeling they got after listening to “What’s My Name?” for the first time in 1993. And don’t tell me you forgot about the shock and awe that was Murder Was The Case, an album Snoop released during his fight to stay out of prison. That sound is back on Malice N Wonderland and does not sound like a carbon copy of Snoop’s classic debut, Doggystyle.

On this recording, Snoop has done something that few veteran artists can do. He provides a record that is both fresh and relevant while respecting what brought him to the industry. Malice N Wonderland is modern, but doesn’t stray far away from Snoop’s home. Songs like “I Wanna Rock” and “Secrets” are quintessential Snoop, reminiscent of his early days in which his tracks were heavily punctuated by the deep basslines and snapping drums, which are staples of the West Coast sound. Other songs like “1800,” featuring Lil’ Jon, “Pimpin’ Ain’t EZ,” featuring R. Kelly, and “Pronto,” featuring Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, are ready-made for the club. However, “Different Languages,” featuring Jazmine Sullivan, stands out as Snoop shows affection for his wife Shante Taylor, whom he playfully calls “Ms. Bow Wow” throughout the song. But while that song is about loving his wife, “Gangsta Luv,” featuring The Dream, is more hardcore and details what it’s like to be with a gangsta.

With Malice N Wonderland, Snoop Dogg has created yet another blueprint for West Coast rappers to follow. From beginning to end, Snoop’s album is choked full of singles and club bangers, which are all done with quality in mind. Twenty years is a long time to be in one place, but Snoop proves yet again that he’s right where he belongs — right at the top of the hip-hop game.

— Marcus J. Moore




Sound-Savvy rates Malice N' Wonderland with 4 out of 5 platinum headphones

Mario ft. Kelly Rowland - Thinkin About You Remix


I'm a fan of the original version of the song, but this remix does nothing to outshine the original. I feel like Kelly should have had a stronger presence on the record and a much better verse. A hot remix would've really helped Mario push this joint, but this just ain't it...

Audio: Thinkin About You (Remix)

Young Jeezy ft. Lil Wayne - You Scared (Money)


With a major tour on the way, Jeezy's capitalizing on the moment and gearing up for the release of his fourth album Thug Motivation 103. With some help from Weezy, here's one of the tracks for that upcoming album, an ode to the almighty dollar...

Audio: You Scared (Money)

Video: Sean Paul - Hold My Hand


Dutty Paul talked with me about this single recently in our interview on the Soul Train Awards Red Carpet. It's the latest single from his new album Imperial Blaze, in stores now. I enjoy how this joint has less club appeal than his usual stuff and is more mellow - but for real, it's time to let the braids go bro. I ain't hatin', I'm just sayin...

Video: Melanie Fiona - Monday Morning


Check out the new video from Melanie Fiona's debut album The Bridge. I love this album all the way through but Monday Morning especially, because of it's message. I swear, I need my Monday Morning to come soon...

Alicia Keys - Through It All x Pray For Forgiveness


Two bonus tracks from The Element of Freedom, the new album from Alicia Keys, in stores next week. Just like Chris Brown, her bonus tracks should've definitely been standard issue on the album. Personally, I'd like to see Through It All in a live performance. Nice Ms. Keys...

Audio: Through It All
Audio: Pray For Forgiveness

Video: Mary J. Blige - I Am


Maaaannnn this is my jam right now!!! Mary looks her absolute best in this video, and this is probably her best ballad since Be Without You. Her new album Stronger With Each Tear is set to be released December 21. On another note, I need some BEATS By Dr. Dre Headphones like the ones in this video, so if anyone from Dre's camp check's Sound-Savvy, hit me up and let's work on it!

Jamie Foxx ft. Justin Timberlake - Winner


Album #4 is on the way from the talented Mr. Foxx, and this could very well be the first single. Winner pairs the Grammy-nominated singer up with multiple Grammy-winner Justin Timberlake. I think this joint is kinda hot, nothing on the level of Blame It, but it works. Check it...

Audio: Winner

Video: Mariah Carey - H.A.T.E.U.


Thank God she did a video for the original version and not that god-awful remix!! Mariah looks great in this video, even though it's beach scenes in the coldest point of fall. She's even getting her acting skills up, for a second there I thought a real tear was gonna fall. H.A.T.E.U. appears on Mariah's newest album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (review here) in stores now!

Karina Pasian - Perfectly Different


I'm so happy to hear this young lady back on the scene. Last year, she released her debut album First Love (review here) and it was a great project. Signed to Def Jam records, she's working on her sophomore album, to be released next year. Perfectly Different is a ballad with a soft piano-led melody that stands up for love despite opposition. I love her voice, check her out...

Audio: Karina Pasian - Perfectly Different

VIDEO: Timbaland and Drake - Say Something


One of my favorite cuts off Shock Value II (review coming soon). Can I just say that Timbaland is the most overdramatic artist in a music video. Somebody get him that award...  I mean really, his last few videos, he's just been way over the top. This song is so true to life... Closest friends get estranged when your status change... sometimes even when it don't...

Ester Dean - Baddest In The Club


Well so far, we know she's good at making club tracks like her previous smash Drop It Low with Chris Brown. Baddest In The Club is in the same style, not quite as dance heavy though. Maybe someday she'll drop a full length album?

Audio: Ester Dean - Baddest In The Club

Video: Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness


One of the better cuts  from Cudi's debut album Man On The Moon: End of Day (review here). This joint is much better in video format than his live performances. I like the somewhat introspective theme of the video, so caught up in the life that everything seems to be moving in slow motion around you. Word to Drake who makes a bottle poppin cameo in the video. I dig the song and the video is cool. I'll be fine, once I get it...

Don Juan Performs "Lookie Looky" LIVE!


Next up out of the DMV is the homie Don Juan. Now, I haven't been up to the DMV to explore the music scene in quite some time, but if this track reached me all the way in NC, then Don Juan must be on his grind hard! Not only that, it's an undeniable hit. After the jump, make sure you download his hot single Lookie Looky and check out the video of him performing it at Chris Brown's GRAFFITI release party at Club Ibiza in DC.

Album Review: Chris Brown - Graffiti


Artist: Chris Brown
Album: Graffiti
Release Date: 12.8.09

Four years ago, the world met Chris Brown: a golden boy with a squeaky clean image, amazing stage presence and dance moves that few of his entertainment counterparts could match, much less rival. His growth as a man and an artist has seen significant highs and this year, it saw significant lows. This evolutionary journey is chronicled on his new album Graffiti with songs of loss, love, and the pressures of fame. The title is all too fitting – when an object is defaced with graffiti, it’s no longer clean, the innocence is lost and the world has left an indelible mark. Such is the case with Chris Brown, re-emerging from a tumultuous year with a new image, no longer bearing the child-like innocence we once knew.  But as you will note on the album, some of his graffiti is self-induced…

Alicia Keys ft. Pol-B - Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Remix)


Check out the latest remix for Alicia Keys' hit record Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart featuring Pol-B. He's so sick wit it over this smooth record. Make sure you cop Ms. Key's new album, and Pol-B's new mixtape CLOCKED OUT hosted by DJ Don Cannon (click here to download)!

Audio: Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Remix)

Video: Raz-B - Thinkin About You


This video surfaced over at Yahoo, apparently something new from the B2K alumnus who can't decide whether he got touched as a kid or not. And while I'm not holding my breath for a retraction on this video (like his sexual abuse claims), I think he should definitely retract the half ass Michael Jackson tribute at the end. When it comes to saluting the King, either go hard or go home Raz. As for the song, it's aight... at least he's trying to reclaim some of his fame the RIGHT way. Yet again, he needs to come harder (no pun intended De'mario)...

VIDEO: Trey Songz - One Love


Shouts to B. Cox, one of the greatest R&B producers and songwriters to ever do it. He penned this smash ballad from Trey Songz' Ready album (reviewed here), in stores now. The first time I heard this joint I was in love with it, definitely one of the best tracks of Trey's career to date. This version features the original vocals over a live instrumental track with a short reprise at the end. The band goes IN! Folks, if you haven't copped that Ready album, it's highly recommended!