What's happening cats! It's a new week and new beginning here on this blog. Yes, it's been a very good while since the last update, but as has been the case, life tends to happen so I'm back in this blog game and I can say it feels quite liberating. Between my social commentary blogs and my wrestling blogs, you can easily see that I'm like a real-life Shaft, a complicated man and nobody understands me but my woman (and even then that's a challenge). In any event, there are a few items to get to, so let's go shall we?
To start off, yes, this is a hip-hop oriented blog so the fact that you're seeing Bey and Jhene Aiko on a hip-hop blog seems out of place. However, if you know ANYTHING about either of these ladies (for God's sake who doesn't know pretty much everything about Beyonce), you know these ladies are hip-hop all the way, even while being primarily R&B/Pop. Now with that being said, the talk of the music world centered around last night MTV Video music Awards, but more so Beyonce's OUTSTANDING performance. Mrs. Beyonce Knowles-Carter showed why the she may be the greatest living entertainer in the world (or at least according to hubby Jay-Z). The truth is, whether you love her or think she's overrated, after last night's memorable performance, it's really all irrelevant. I was one of those critics that viewed her as overrated, but I never denied her extraordinary talent. Beyonce is without question the greatest talent of our generation and is building her status as icon. Her set included her nearly quadruple-selling, self-titled album, and she brought the ferocity that only she could bring as a dynamic performer. She ended the set with "XO", which she dedicated to her fans, affectionately known as "The Beyhive". I do get greatly concerned when there are certain people look to her as almost God-like (remember there was that stupid religion centered around her??). As she accepted her Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, she was met onstage with Jay and her gorgeous daughter Blue Ivy, who almost on cue muttered "Love you Mommy"! How neat was that?! Beyonce, tearfully and humbly, accepted the award and showed that her star power will continue to shine for decades to come. Here's a look at the riveting performance in full.
Next on the menu, the return of the G-G-G-G-G-G-UNIT!!!!!! Earlier this year, it was announced, not long after the release of 50's comeback album, Animal Ambition, that the Unit was back together. After harsh words and members getting kicked out, the news of the reunion caused a ripple in the hip-hop scene. They haven't recorded a whole album since 2008, which was the very modest T.O.S. Since the reunion, they've recorded tracks and even put out a video for the track "Nah I'm Talkin' Bout." Now, with the addition of new member Kidd Kidd, these guys sounds rejuvenated, and ready to cause some of that controversy that they're historically known for. Although the full-length is slated for the Fall, they pulled a Queen Bey, of sorts, and released a digital EP, with no promotion, marketing, or even an official announcement. The six-track EP is called The Beauty Of Independence, which is likely a reference to 50 leaving Shady/Aftermath/Interscope not long before Animal Ambition dropped. The EP isn't one my top ten of 2014, but it still feels good to see the guys back together and the music is overall dope. Here's to the full-length coming later in 2014 and that it matches the success of their prior mixtapes or even their crazy debut, Beg For Mercy. Here's a track from the album.
Before I go, I must end with this INCREDIBLE new Jhene Aiko cut, "Spotless Mind". The guitars and mellow feel to this track makes this song sound very ethereal and beautiful. This is the third release from her forthcoming full-length debut, Souled Out, which drops September 8 on Def Jam. While the other two cuts, "To Love & Die" and "The Pressure" are good enough, this track screams almost masterful. Her EP, Sail Out (which spawned the excellent "The Worst"), was quite the rotator at the end of 2013. However, if this cut is any indication as to how the rest of her debut will be, she will have a wonderful future in this game (word is her hip-hop alter ego, J. Hennessey, isn't too bad either). Here's a listen to the track "Spotless Mind". Listen and be taken away. Until next time kiddies, I'm out. Take it easy!
