The hardest musical release for any artist is their sophomore record, but to get there they have to make it past the equally difficult and important debut album. As listeners, we demand a lot from debut albums. They have to be unique, fun to listen to, and contain a clear statement of why the artist…
Tag: janelle monáe
2019 GRAMMYs Recap
Allegedly, last night was Music’s Biggest Night. The 61st Annual Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles; decked out with explosive performances, surprisingly solid results, and tributes galore, the Grammys delivered a formidable telecast despite the lack of major superstars. THE AWARDS Kacey Musgraves’ gorgeous Golden Hour was awarded the top prize (Album of the Year), while…
GRAMMYs Watch: Who’s Taking Home Album of the Year?
This year is going to be full of surprises. Every category in the General Field (Best New Artist; Album/Record/Song of the Year) has been expanded from five to eight nominees. In past years, we could rely on traditional voting patterns to make strong predictions. Now, this expansion of the field, coupled with the increased blurring…
The Top 40 Albums of 2018
40. Sex & Cigarettes, Toni Braxton The R&B veteran delivered a strong and succinct album in a year full of bloated, overdrawn releases. Her contralto voice and slinky timbre anchor the most explicit and honest soundscape of her career. From the cathartic climax of the title track to the spunky “Foh” and “Deadwood,” Toni maneuvers through…
2019 Grammys Nominations Predictions: Album of the Year
This year all of the General Field categories (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist) have been expanded from five nominees each to eight. Although more nominees means more records and artists being recognized, this also means predicting these categories become much, much harder. I’ll separate these…
2019 Grammys Nominations Predictions: Record of the Year
This year all of the General Field categories (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist) have been expanded from five nominees each to eight. Although more nominees means more records and artists being recognized, this also means predicting these categories become much, much harder. I’ll separate these…
2019 Grammys Nominations Predictions: The R&B Field
Best R&B Performance Locks “Boo’d Up” (Ella Mai), “Best Part” (Daniel Caesar, H.E.R.), “Love Lies” (Khalid, Normani) As the field stands now, these three songs are the surest bets for a nomination. These three records make up the triad of the biggest R&B hits of the year. Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up” was massive and her…
2019 Grammys Nominations Predictions: The Pop Field
Best Pop Vocal Abum Best Pop Vocal Album is one of the most highly contested categories each year at the Grammys. This year is no different, there are two or three albums that seem to be definite nominees, but there are a plethora of records that all make strong cases for a nomination. Let’s get…
2018 VMAs: Who Will Win and Who Should Win (Part 2)
Here is the second part of my 2018 Video Music Awards (VMAs) predictions, you can find part one here. My list of the worst snubs at the 2018 VMAs can be found here. Best Collaboration The Nominees: “Meant To Be” (Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line), “Finesse (Remix),” (Bruno Mars & Cardi B), “APESHIT” (The…
Movie Review: ‘Sorry to Bother You,’ but This Film Is Kind of Incredible
Boots Riley’s rambunctious and otherworldly film, Sorry To Bother You is succinct, poignant, and brash. The film stars Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson, two actors who are well versed in the film’s niche crossover-genre of afro-futuristic comedic social commentary. Stanfield’s most recent work is on Donald Glover’s Atlanta, a black surrealist comedy that is quite possibly the…
