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Interviews,
Music
With her debut EP, titled
Every Girl, released for
free download at the tail end of 2011 building buzz towards the first album, New York singer
Bridget Kelly recently got onto the phone with SoulCulture to share her musical inspirations [
Mariah Carey - “She’s my all time favourite”] and the influences that drive her work ethic [“
Jay Z gives 100% every show,” and re:
Beyonce, “she doesn’t demand anything of anybody that she can’t do - and she is a superhero”], also discussing her approach to songwriting as a newbie and the role artist development plays at her label,
Roc Nation; “that’s the driving force.”
A complex character of sorts, The-Dream is an incredibly talented individual who once in a while makes a questionable creative decision. With that said, when he’s on his game he’s really on his game. Returning with his fourth studio album [if you disregard the free-turned-salable Terius Nash: 1977], the aptly titled IV Play is commercially the most anticipated of his long plays; thanks to his high-profile Beyonce collaborations, Watch The Throne input and Grammy win for "No Church In The Wild."
Rather than taking a break after being on the scene for over ten years, Mary J Blige shows no signs of slowing down collaborating with DJ Khaled and Diddy Dirty Money earlier on in the year. The queen of R&B went back into the studio to create a few more tear-jerking ballads and foot-moving jams for her tenth studio album My Life II: The Journey Continues - the sequel to her album My Life released in 1994.
If the thought alone sounded like a dream, the realisation of the finished product has created a euphoric, fantasy like feeling. The music world - for the first time in some years - stood waiting for with baited breath for the release of an empirical album which has avoided the now accustomed 'week early leak.' In a dream collaboration for our time, Kanye West, who captivated the world with his incredible music as well as his eccentric behaviour, comes together with a man who has gone beyond any other rapper's heights in music and business. Jay-Z, the last of a few living legends, shares more than a recording booth with Mr West as they unite to re-invigorate the somewhat lost joys within music. In an age where it's become the norm to constantly drone about what's missing in music as well as spend hours on YouTube denouncing the newest fad, Hip Hop's two insurance policies aim to lay at ease the notion of music's current offering being devoid of soul and heart.
Birthed in Houston, Texas initially named Girls Tyme, the original Destiny's Child comprised of Latavia Robinson, Latoya Luckett, Kelly Rowland and lead singer Beyoncé Knowles. Destiny's Child are the most successful female group in history with over 60 million records sold, sold out world tours and former lead singer Beyonce has gone on to become one of the most celebrated icons in music.
Their departure left a void which has never been filled. Whilst spawning the Wyclef-assisted classic platinum-certified single "No, No, No", the self-titled debut album only peaked at number 63 on the US Album Charts. Remember the second single 'With You' featuring Jermaine Dupri? I didn’t think so.
The group’s seminal sophomore album, The Writings on the Wall, marks when Destiny's Child became that girl group! DC weren't short on controversy either; members Latavia Robinson and Latoya Luckett saw the video for smash-hit single "Say My Name" on TV with Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin in their place. Franklin left shortly after the release of fourth single "Jumpin' Jumpin'".
What makes this a classic? It is an album you can pop in the player fresh out of the wrapper, press play and tell the fast forward button “Find a new hobby!” But to me, it takes more than a solid album to be stamped a classic. There must be some sort of impact or significance in my opinion; an album everyone spoke about, played in cars, brings back memories of a particular time, moved the genre forward and/or one that many will agree on.
If I had to sum this album up in one sentence I'd say: "Voice of the next generation via the voice of the next generation."
12 Grammy Awards, 6 US number Ones, 4 Multi-Platinum Selling Albums and over 25 Million record sales worldwide. In the 8 years since Alicia Keys first burst onto the scene she has become one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed artists of all time.