04 Jul Vivian Green: Nobody Ever Tried To Mould Me
We have a few things to clear up about Vivian Green. Fresh from touring with Jill Scott, her debut album A Love Story was well-received in 2002 by the Soul crowd for it’s smooth and jazzy undertones. Sophomore release Vivian (2005) was questioned by many of those same fans for it’s more prevalent R&B backbone - and Green’s ‘new’ straightened, flowing locks.
'The label must have made her relax her hair', some people assumed, commercialising both her image and sound. Not the case - apparently it was quite the other way around. Discussing the real her, Vivian Green sets the record straight in this honest interview with SoulCulture.
Her third and latest release, Beautiful, follows the path set by her previous album. Made with complete creation freedom, this album lets her fans know exactly who she is - and, if you’re left reaching back for her debut, shows her exactly who her real fans are.
What does Lupe Fiasco have to do to get some props in Hip Hop?
That’s the question many of his faithful following ask whenever the name Lupe Fiasco and the phrase “Best rapper in Hip Hop” are in the same sentence. Two critically acclaimed albums in, which warranted praise from some of the greats, he has yet to win over the majority of rap fans. With the Lasers LP set for a 2010 release, what could Lupe do to score a few more points from the Hip Hop crowd? Simple - return to the mixtape scene which allowed him to reach the position where he could be discussed as a Hip Hop great.