Usher’s New Single “Mars v. Venus” – Take Our Poll!

My blog post on Grown Folks Music

Usher needs to get on his knees and thank Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for this song. I was getting a bit frustrated with the previous song releases on this album. They all felt like he was trying to woo a teenager audience instead of showing growth. Paraphrasing my man, Jay-Z, “You a grown man! What you trying to do date a 16-year-old?!?” Personally I think Usher needs to coach cats not copying them.  I just hope this album shows growth, maturity and confidence -  not an artist trying to find his audience.  Anyway, this song is pretty hot in my opinion. Take the poll and tell us whatchu think?

Can You “Not” Cuss for a Week?!?!

Between earthquakes in Chile, health care debates and US senators saying, “Tough sh*t” regarding the extension of unemployment benefits, budget deficit California wants to do something that will really change the fate of all these important issue. Pass a “Cuss Free Week” resolution through the Senate. When I heard that I was like, “WTF!!!” What do you mean no cussing for a week?!? Are you kidding me?!?! Just because some 14-year-old conducts an experiment about cussing doesn’t mean you need to pass it through the Senate!!! Hell, people are looking for work, they need to cuss. Don’t take away the one “free” privilege they have.

Now, I’ve thought about this and honestly, I don’t know how this will work. Let me give you some examples:

• What do you say when you hit your pinky toes…………Oh shoot?

• You catch your partner cheating…………..Oh heck no, mutha fluffy.

• Your kids break the new plasma (52 inch).

Yeah, I see ya forming the cuss words right now on that last option. LOL!

However, I’m not gonna be a bad sport about it. I’ll place my $7.00 in a jar Monday morning and dedicate this throwback video:

Kanye’s New Video – “Coldest Winter”

On stage at the Annual GRAMMY Awards - February 2008

My blog post on Grown Folks Music:

While Kanye can be a gossip column’s wet dream and a music publicist’s nightmare, this video reminds me why I love his artistry. Though Kanye has been known to play with a minimalist style to a few of his videos through the help of director, Nabil Elderkin, this visual presentation says so much with so little about a dark period in his life. No matter how you interpret this video,  Kanye’s absence plays as a blindfold which heightens the visual and emotional senses of the production. Having the elements of a psychological drama, the video is beautiful, haunting and definitely a signature of Kanye.

Tell me what you think!!!

Should Michael Vick Pose Nude & Donate to PETA!?!?

Mike sending his love

“Michael Vick offered 1 million to pose nude for Playgirl. Million can go to PETA”

Are you for real, WTF are these people doing with their lives. We got recession issues, still need support for Haiti and other more pressing priorities and you wanna talk about paying a damn debt to a dog?!?! Ain’t that a b*******!!!!! Ok Whitney say this for me cause I’m “trying” to stay saved:

Monica’s New Video – Everything To Me

Courtesy of J Records

My blog post from Grown Folks Music

I am so excited to see Monica in this video. She looks absolutely regal but please believe, she brought Madea’s “nuck if you buck” style she’s known for. Let’s hear it fam!! Whatchu think?

Dru Hill’s New Video – Love MD

Courtesy of Kedar Entertainment

My blog from Grown Folks Music

Hola mi amigos, it’s ya girl WestStyle

Ok, I got something for my Dru Hill fans – and please forgive me for being late with this. Between the occasional drama, SisQo, Jazz, Nokio and a new member, Tao (pronounced Tay-oh) are back on the music scene. Here is the new video from their upcoming album, “INDRUPENDENCE DAY” coming out March 23rd. Holla at yo girl and tell me what you think?

Should “Secret Garden” Be Remixed?!?!

Secret Garden from "Back On the Block" Album

My blog post from Grown Folks Music

Last week was quite the week for the remix. While I’m an advocate of creativity and stamping your own individuality to a song, I do have boundaries when it comes to certain songs. The other week I was glad to see artists coming together for the relief efforts in Haiti however the remake of “We Are the World” shouldn’t have been the song they rallied behind. I can’t say the remix didn’t have “any” hopeful moments but honestly the bad faded out the good efforts. I, like many fans, probably agree with Jay’s statement given to MTV about the remake efforts.

“I’m a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that’s going on in Haiti. … So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but We Are the World is [musically] untouchable like Thriller is untouchable.  It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.”

Truthfully, there are some songs that just have a magic. Maybe the stars are perfectly aligned or Jupiter just happens to rise in Leo’s moon – hell, I don’t know, but they have a timeless, “Sistine Chapel” appeal to them. In this case, “We Are The World” happens to be one of those songs. Unfortunately, when you touch a song of that caliber, it can lose the magic and take an awful turn as we saw in that remake. Another song that’s been placed on the assembly line for a “spit shine” remix is