"Brand New Flava In Your Ear"

Here we are again! New day with new songs by artists we know and love!!

1) Natasha Bedingfield: We all know her from her hits "These Words," "Unwritten", "Pocketful of Sunshine," and "Angel," but now she has a new single called, "Soulmate", which is probably her best song so far. I love how Natasha's voice is not over the top like other singers and yet can give so much emotion. Also, the message in the song strikes a chord with me: Is there really a soulmate for everyone?

Soulmate


2) Fall Out Boy: Their follow-up single "America's Suitehearts" once again shows how much FOB is against the whole Hollywood and celebrity machine. That is why I love them! Not only is the song awesome (it's FOB, why wouldn't it be!), but also their video is hilarious and creative (making fun of Paris a lot). However, since I can't embed it here, you can only listen to it, but definitely check it out on youtube!

America's Suitehearts


3) Shinedown: This band, who formed in 2001, has already released three albums. If you like contemporary hard rock groups such as Daughtry, Seether and Creed, you will love Shinedown. I wish I found out about them earlier. Their new song, "Second Chance," is a powerful rock song and it's about letting go, moving on and starting over.

Second Chance

Inaugural Special Click-It Concert

Welcome to another Click-It Concert. This "concert" will be in honor of Barack Obama's history-making inauguration to become President of the United States( can't beleive it, I have to keep pinching myself). I will be posting special music to go along with today. So Enjoy (but watch the inauguration first!!!)

A Change is Gonna Come- Sam Cooke


Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud- James Brown (And every race can put their own race in it, be proud of who you are!!!)


Someday We'll All Be Free- Donnie Hathaway


The America Song- Various Artists


America, the Beautiful- Ray Charles


This Land is Your Land- Woody Guthrie/Bruce Springteen, Pete Seeger and Grandson




Pride (In the Name of Love)- U2


Higher Ground- Stevie Wonder


We Are the Ones- Various Artists


Yes We Can- Will.I.Am and Others


Ain't No Stopping Us Now- McFadden and Whitehead


Times Are A Changing- Bob Dylan


The New America- Join In!!!

"Who's That..." Artists of the Day

Happy Martin Luther King Day!!!! And Inauguration Day Eve for Barack Obama!!! MLK would have been proud!!!

Time for another session of "Who's That..." Artists of the Day

1) Chester French: I like these guys' style. They sound like the 60's rock groups (e.g. Beatles) with a little Hip-hop and R&B in them. Talib Kweli, one of my favorite rappers, worked with them. Also, they are great producers. Pharell and Lupe Fiasco gave them two thumbs up!! How cool is that!!!

She Loves Everybody


Jimmy Choo's


Excuse Me Miss Remix (C.F. produced)


Talib Kweli ft. Chester French


2) Bria Valente: She is Prince's protege and her first single was produced by him. I can see why Prince chose her. Bria has a smooth voice that reminds of Sade or Chante Moore and she is beautiful.

Here Eye Come


3) Richie Spice: Another man who takes after Bob Marley. His voice is beautiful and his songs are socially conscious. He may not be "OMG" cute, but he is talented. I can not get any of his songs out of my head.

Youth Em Cold


Earth N Run Red


Brown Skin (my favorite at this moment)


World is a Cycle


4) Tanya Stephens: She is called the "Female Bob Marley," which is justifiable because her music has great messages and is reminscent of the reggae from the past that people loved. However, sometimes her voice can be annoying (she sounds better live or acoustic), so Caveat!

These Streets


Can't Breathe


Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet


Little White Lie


It's a Pity

News: The Artist Formerly Known As...A Thief? , Who's Having A Baby and More "Notorious" Movie Drama

The music genius himself, Prince, has been involved in a court case in which the artists has been told to stop distributing "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" in Italy. Why, you ask? Well, supposedly the song heavily samples "Takin' Me To Paradise," a song written by Bruno Bergonzi and Michele Vicino and released in 1983. Not only is Prince's song now banned, he might have to pay royalties made from the song to the two writers. But look on the bright side, Prince is releasing two albums this year, called MPLSOUND ("electro-flavored" with "trippy, experimental pop songs") and Lotus Flower (guitar-focused). Hopefully, Prince being the great musician he is will not take credit for anyone elses' songs on these albums.

In other news....

Guess which Hip-hop and R&B artists are having a baby:

1) Nas and Kelis. Despite rumors of a rocky marriage, it has been confirmed that the two are having a baby. I'm happy for them since there will be a Nas Jr. or Nasiera, but I would be afraid having Kelis as a mother (Remember the song "I Hate You So Much Right Now!")

2) Jill Scott is also having a baby. After her divorce, Jill was able to find love again with drummer Lil John Roberts. They are planning to marry next weekend and have the baby in April. I'm happy that she's happy!!! Go, Jill!!!

And last but not least... The Notorious movie behind the scenes drama continues with new blood in the ring:

1) Voletta Wallace, Biggie' mother, wants to talk to Lil' Kim. Ms. Wallace says she discovered a lot about her son during the making of the film. She said, “I saw a side of my son that I heard of but I haven’t accepted. I’m angered by certain things, disappointed and shocked. So this film taught me tolerance and to be less critical.” Voletta was happy with the way her son was portrayed and was a main supporter in getting Jamal Woolard to play her son. Now, as I reported before, Lil' Kim was not happy about the movie and threatened to expose things about Voletta and Faith, Voletta still wants to have a one on one talk with the furious rapper about Biggie and her relationship (cause we all know how he smacked Lil' Kim around).

2) Faith simply responded that she had very little to do with the movie and the script. She simply said “I try my best not to think about it – it's kinda sad. This is not my movie. I didn't write the script. Any characters in the film had to agree for their life rights to be in the movie. I don't think I would have signed anything had I felt I was not portrayed properly. I think she had the opportunity to do that. I could be mistaken. I wasn't there."

3) The scriptwriter, Reggie Rock Bythewood, even went out to say that Lil' Kim did get a copy of the script but not the final copy and that he did try to speak with her on the phone about her character and the final version. Still she was angry about the first version that was leaked and broke all ties to the movie and later after the comments still went on to say "The film studio and producers involved were more concerned about painting me as a 'character' to create a more interesting story line instead of a person with talent, self-respect and who was able to achieve her own career success through hard work.
" Even though my relationship with Big was at times very difficult and complicated (as with most relationships we have all experienced at one time or another), it was also genuine and built on great admiration and love for each other. Regardless of the many lies in the movie and false portrayal of me to help carry a story line through, I will still continue to carry his legacy through my hard work and music," Kim added.

4) Now even Charli Baltimore, a rapper who had a relationship with Biggie during his separation from Faith, has joined in. In an interview in Yo Raps, she states that Biggie never had a relationship with Lil' Kim and that she only used Biggie to help her career. I see a cat fight coming on or a gun fight. New rap beef between Charli and Kim.

Guess the movie Notorious brought up a lot more dram than anyone wanted or expected. Maybe Lil' Kim is overreacting, maybe not, but you have to admit she cared a lot about Biggie. Even more, this seems to be a general problem with biopics, the writers tend to exaggerate or change the real story to get a more interesting story that audiences want to see (Just go see my review on Cadillac records). So, maybe Lil' Kim has a point there.

BTW, I will have a review of what I think of the movie soon!!!

"Underground Legends"

This feature has to do with people from the past who had a major influence in music, but few people today know about them.

My first artist is Elmore James (January 27, 1918- May 24, 1963). James was an American blues singer, guitarist, songwriter and band leader. He was known as the "King of the Slide Guitar" and known for his unique guitar style (loud amplification) and moving voice. His guitar style has influence many guitar players, like Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones (Rolling Stones), and Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac), and his voice influenced many blues and soul singers. James was even mentioned in a Beatles' song "For You Blue," on which John Lennon plays slide guitar.

Here are a few of his songs to get you started:


The Sky is Crying


It Hurts Me Too


Dust My Broom


I Believe


Somebody Done Me Wrong