12 Nov Ne-Yo – R.E.D. | Album Review
Consistency is definitely key when it comes to Shaffer Smith, aka Ne-Yo. Whether it’s his thought-provoking songwriting capabilities, comfortable harmonies, or his effortless ability to make hit record after hit record, his success rate is one that not too many in the music industry can contend with.
Switching labels, the Arkansas-born singer/songwriter has finally jumped the Def Jam ship and has now found a new home in the form of the legendary Motown label. Releasing his fifth studio album R.E.D., which is an acronym for Realizing Every Dream, things seem to have come a long way for Ne-Yo since the disappointing commercial reception he received for 2010’s Libra Scale.
Already with a UK number one single featured on the album - "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)" - R.E.D. is an album full of promise. With lots of highs and a few lows, most of all it sees a return to the type of songwriting his fans know he’s capable of.
05 Nov Ne-Yo talks bringing substance to Dance music, storytelling & Country
On his recent trip to London ahead of the release of hisnew album, R.E.D., Arkansas born Grammy winning R&B star Ne-Yo sat down with SoulCulture TV to discuss his views on bringing soul and substance to Dance music, his appreciation for Country music and storytelling, and experiencing unconditional love in a new way through fatherhood.
29 Apr Estelle – All Of Me | Album Review
Loyal fans know Estelle as a vibrant female rapper who started her musical ventures in 2004 with The 18th Day and went on to release her second album, the gold-certified Shine, in 2008. Both albums received a great response, making the British singer/occasional rapper a force to be reckoned with.
Having already made her mark on her home turf of the UK, it was time to take her name and achievements to the U.S. Showing no fear whilst being so far away from home, the singer has made a mark in the States since meeting John Legend and signing to Atlantic/Homeschool Records.
After making her first chart appearance with the Kanye West-assisted single "American Boy," the success that was to follow was set in stone. Now with a U.S. tour, several accolades and TV appearances all complete, her third studio album, All Of Me, is out in the open.
25 Jan Bridget Kelly talks starting backwards, work ethic & Roc Nation
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.”
05 Dec T-Pain – rEVOLVEr | Album Review
We saw the slow demise of Auto-Tune after it’s over use on almost every club song played in 2008 - 2010 but that hasn’t stopped Grammy Award winning Florida born rapper T-Pain working on music with his precious pitch-correcting machine. Having released a string of promotional tracks to lukewarm reception [including “Rap Song” featuring Rick Ross, “Take Your Shirt Off” and “Reverse Cowgirl” featuring Young Jeezy] following the disbanding of Jive Records, the Auto-Tune connoisseur is back as a new signee to Young Money with his fourth studio album rEVOLVEr.
21 Nov Sean Paul: “Dancehall’s influence on popular music culture is immense”
"Got any Sean Paul, mate?" is a request most DJs have become familiar with ever since Sean Paul smashed through the mainstream doors with an aunthentic dancehall brand of floor-fillers such as "Gimme The Light," "Get Busy," and "Like Glue" almost ten years ago. Selling in excess of twelve million albums, numerous top ten’s (including four #1's), inspiring pop/R&B (or "dancehall knock-offs" as I call them) smash-hits, in addition to collaborations with icons including Chris Brown, Rihanna, R. Kelly, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Busta Rhymes and Carlos Santana requiring that unmistakable, nasal-induced Patois, dancehall flavour - few predicted these heights during Summer in 2002. 2012 will see the release of the as-yet-untitled fifth studio album lead by UK top 20 Stargate-produced single “Got 2 Luv U” featuring young starlet Alexis Jordan. Oh, and he has a new haircut.
02 Nov Wale – Ambition | Album Review
Far more often than not, it's the packaging and marketing of an artist that inevitably determines how well received they are by the public. For every braggadocious rapper flooding the airwaves with chart hits, there are equally as many talented individuals who Hip Hop seemingly doesn't care for. This arguably was the case for the now Maybach Music affiliated Wale. From being the Nike boasting, good girl loving free spirit to flirting with critical acclaim due to clever anecdotes and engaging material, Washington, DC's almost favourite son has divided Hip Hoppers opinions over his merits. But under new employers, a somewhat new image and a new album, Mr Folarin gets another chance to define himself to those still looking to place him in either the Hot or Not categories of emcees.
25 Nov Ne-Yo – Libra Scale | Album Review
Ne-Yo brings us a new album in the form of Libra Scale. Although this album was meant to be a conceptually themed album, I missed that aspect completely.
What I didn’t miss however was that Ne-Yo is channelling Michael Jackson more then ever via his stacked harmonies, vocal arrangements and writing style; it’s MJ all over really. Far from being a cheap imitator, Ne-Yo does manage to hold his own and left me wondering what it would have been like to hear music they would have worked on together.
19 Jul Rick Ross – Teflon Don | Album Review
Whilst many titles in Hip Hop continue to be disputed (King of N.Y., King of the South) the crown of "Boss" remains on the head of one Rick Ross. Since his arrival via the Port of Miami in 2006 Ross has reached the lofty heights akin to one of cinema’s notorious figures, Tony Montana. With ferocity in his musical output and surviving 50 Cent's onslaught, the Teflon Don LP no longer sits merely as another Rick Ross album but as an important release which echoes anticipation similar to classics of yesteryear.