ALBUM REVIEW: USHER: RAYMOND VS. RAYMOND

Usher is no stranger to revealing his inner-most feelings, and deepest secrets (whether it be his or someone else's). On his 2004's diamond-certified Confessions, he talked about infidelity and all the drama it could bring. Then, Usher took the world by surprise when he married his stylist Tameka Foster. The new Usher returned to music after a brief hiatus. The result was Here I Stand, an album which was supposed to be his coming of age tale, but the project flew over fans heads, leaving people confused. Also more confusing was in June 2009, when Usher filed for divorce, ending a marriage that ended as fast as it started. Now on his sixth album, entitled Raymond Vs. Raymond, Usher prepares to battle his demons again and sets the record straight. The 31 year old father of two sons, begins the album on the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis-assisted "Monster", an uptempo record, which sets the tone for the album. Aside from the singles "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) " and "Lil' Freak" that feature rappers Plies and Nicki Minaj--respectively, Raymond Vs. Raymond has a mixture of different sounds unlike anything heard on an Usher album before. The reggae-inspired "Pro Lover" finds Mr. Raymond confessing that loving him is a "No-No" and that he's only trying to "add girls to his Hall of Fame". Usher finds his inner Tupac on "Foolin' Around", which could have been called "Confessions Pt. 3" Standout tracks like the smooth, laid back "Okay", and the soaring Jim Jonsin "There Goes My Baby" are classic Usher. The disappointment comes from areas that should be considered undeniable hits. Cameos from fellow ATL counterparts T.I. and Ludacris give forgettable performances. The latter features a reunion of Usher and Ludacris as they try to recreate the magic of "Yeah!" (the song that sent Confessions to the top of the charts), but they fail horribly. The will.i.am track "OMG" is something that sounds like a leftover from a Black Eyed Peas' album. While the album has it's bright spots, it's still has its downside. Better than Here I Stand, but not in the same league as Confessions, Usher still manages to give fans a moment of his truth, while still serving up just enough uptempo flavor to keep our ears glued to the radio. What more can you ask for? I rate this 3.5/5

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ALBUM SEQUELS: GOOD OR BAD IDEA?

Hip hop is built on trends,and the current trend today seems to be album sequels. Over the past few years, we've seen an increasing number of sequels. Last year, Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 completed the trilogy of the popular series, and Raekwon finally gave die-hard Wu fans the second chapter to his mafia-influenced, game-changing opus Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Part 2. Also who can forget Lil' Wayne's multi-platinum Tha Carter III? While some sequels go on to reach success, they still fail in comparison to its predecessor. Sure, Weezy's CIII was the biggest album of his career, but judging from rap critics and fans alike, the original Carter was still his best body of work. Rappers these days seem compelled to recreate the magic of their most praised album, but some things are better left untouched. When a trend becomes a gimmick (autotune anyone?) the ending result is a brick (Fat Joe's JOSE 2). This year promises to be no exception as more rappers promise to release sequels, i.e. Eminem's Relapse 2, Jeezy's TM103, Fabolous' Loso's Way 2, Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter IV, and Lloyd Bank$ just annouced the sequel to his debut with The Hunger For More 2. Rappers are better off taking the Kanye West route, when keeping the central theme, but changing the album titles. That way an artist would not be judged if the new album does not meet the expectations of the first installment (or second installment). Each album should be given the right to stand on its own, and not an expansion of another disc, especially if that disc is a classic. Kanye continues his "college theme" with Good Ass Job later this year. I'm just waiting for Jay-Z to appear at the next Summer Jam concert and debuts his new song "D.O.A. 2 (Death Of Album sequels)"--well maybe that's stretching it a bit, but I promise this is the first and only story I'll make concerning this topic. No sequels here folks.

RIHANNA...RUDE GIRL

She's so fine!

T.I. RELEASED FROM PRISON!!!

The King is back! T.I. is a free man---well sort of. The King of the South will be under 23 days of "supervised release", in other words: he still has a curfew. On the bright side of things the formally incarcerated MC has begun work on the follow up to his platinum-selling album Paper Trail, and has recorded a new song called "I'm Back". There is no word on an official single or the album's title, but Tip is pushing for an August release date. The rapper still has to do 400 hours of community service, and 3 years probation.

MIXTAPE REVIEW: CHIP THA RIPPER: THE CLEVELAND SHOW

The glory days of Bone Thugs 'N Harmony may be behind us, and the only noise that's making news out of Cleveland is LeBron James, but fear not hip hop heads, the music scene in Cleveland is slowly coming back into the rap atmosphere. It started, with dat KiD called CuDi, who I might add, had a very impressive rookie year (by hip hop standards of course) Now, it seems since KiD CuDi has put the city of Cleveland on his back, he's made it possible for rap fans to actually take notice at what's happening with the rap scene there. One of those things to take notice (and a listen) to is rapper, Chip Tha Ripper. The 23 year old, has been making a name for himself, and has showcased his skills along side some of the newest rap kids on the block like, Big Sean (Kanye's protege frm Detroit), Curren$y (who isn't new, but his buzz is getting more attention than ever, and of course, KiD CuDi. For those who were lucky enough to hear this kid spit (just recently on Big Sean's "Okay") can now get to witness the whole story as DJ's Mick Boogie and Terry Urban present to you Chip Tha Ripper's mixtape, The Cleveland Show (inspired by the Family Guy spinoff of the same name). The mixtape takes off with the Boi 1da produced "Movie" The laidback, jazzy track sums up Chip's persona as he paints a vivid portrait : "Dawg my life is like a movie, all of the cars, and places we are, all my girls look like them girls from off in the movies/ Jammed packed with action, I swear my niggaz be packin' them choppers you be seeing in the movies/ We don't pretend to be industries, this is documentary..." Also adding "If you niggaz is hot/ Then call me 'Mc Extinguish'..." What Chip brings to the table is a variaty of things, his cooler-than-the-other-side-of-the-pillow demeanor flows nicely into every track. He's witty, insightful, and honest, and sometimes you can get all three of those qualities in one verse! Whether he's spitting over classic beats ( "Like That"), putting haters in their place ("Owe You"), paying homage to the artform ("Dear Hip Hop") or putting on for his city ("Back To Cleveland") you get a sense that this guy has been around for years, because he raps from a perspective most young, up and coming rappers don't. Chip entertains throughout the 27-tracks, with just a little filler here and there. Above all else, there's no denying that Chip Tha Ripper is exactly what the rap game needs right now. Being humble and just staying true to yourself is something that most rappers lack, and it's about time someone stepped up and showed a diffenent side of the spectrum. "Baby why me? I'm probably gon' be an asshole/ She don't care, she just wanna pose when the flash go..." Honesty at it's finest. Now that's a show worth tuning in to. I rate this: 4/5

TRINA'S NEW ALBUM COVER

Trina is looking good. Here is the album cover for her new album, Amazin'

BEYONCE' PREGGERS???!!!

I know this "rumor" has been in circulation for as long as anyone of us can remember, but reliable sources are confirming that POWER COUPLE, Jay-Z and Beyonce' are expectiong their first child. I really don't know if I can believe this until I see some stone-cold-facts, i.e. pictures or them (as in Jayonce') actually coming out saying that it's true. Which in hindsight, is probably not going to happen. Jay and Bee, keep their lives so private, that even if Beyonce' was visibly pregnant, and the whole world could see it, she would still deny the fact that she's with child. Hopefully, more details about this will surface in upcoming weeks, but until then keep your ears to the streets. It's too early for me to say congrats, until I KNOW for sure.

ROSA ACOSTA...DOMINICAN BEAUTY

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IS IT STILL COOL TO BE A RAPPER?

This week, XXL magazine released it's 10 Freshmen for '10 issue. The cover features a new blend of fresh, diverse rappers, trying to make a name for themselves in this cold climate, known as the rap game. The one question that sticks out in my mind is: Is it still cool to be a rapper? It's no secret that the playing field of the music industry has changed dramatically. I remember there was a time when platinum was what ceritfied you as a legit superstar, and going gold was considered a failure. Now these days, going gold is like selling a billion records! If your name isn't Jay-Z, Eminem, Lil'Wayne or Kanye, you're most likely not doing numbers when it comes to album sells. The once mighty 5o Cent was killing the competition at will. Today's Fiddy, can't even break gold status. The internet has been the culprit as far as killing the rap game, but on the other hand the music that's being released through these record label are disposable. The last rap albums I actually bought was Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II. The former going past sells of a million, while the latter stalled out at 150,000. Looking ahead into this year, the only rapper I see making any dent on the charts is Drizzy Drake. Hopefully his hype can move him into LeBron James-type-of-status, but great albums don't always generate to having great sells. Young cats like, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Curren$y, Chip Tha Ripper( Who should have been on the XXL cover) are guys who are using the internet to work for them, opposed to the older rap vets saying the internet has worked against them. Why do you think 50 Cent says he looks up to Soulja Boy Tell Em? It's because he mastered a way to use the 'net to his advantage. He used it so well, that he got a record deal out of it! How crazy is that? These days, rappers just want their music to be heard, even if they don't see a cent or any type of profit. The real goal is to just get the music out there, and if the public likes you, they'll be wanting more of you. For this year's freshmen, I'm wondering what moves they will make, and ideas they'll discover as they try to make history for themselves, because the honest truth is, the record industry might never be the same as it once was. The only thing one can do is adapt and move on. It's called survival.

ALBUM REVIEW: LUDACRIS: BATTLE OF THE SEXES/ DISTURBING THE PEACE/ DEF JAM

When news broke of a collaboration album called Battle of the Sexes featuring Ludacris and label-mate Shawnna came out, the response was positive, especially when rumors speculated a riff between the two rappers. Then, in 2009, Shawnna did part ways with Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace to join T-Pain's Nappy Boy Entertainment leaving Ludacris with no other choice but to make it a solo album instead of a collaborative effort. The result is an album that is more style over subtance and leaves very little room for depth. The T-Minus-orchestrated first single "How Low" is sure to get people out to the dance floor, but it fails in comparison to past hits like "Stand Up" and "Money Maker". The second single "My Chick Bad" featuring a Freddy Krueger-inspired Nicki Minaj is not a strong single and the hook gets annoying after a few more spins. While Ludacris can still capture a listener's ears with his impressive wordplay, the album highlights only come few and far between. Standout tracks like the Ne-Yo-assisted "Tell Me A Secret" and "Sex Room" with Trey Songz are guaranteed to set the mood in the bedroom. The latter displays a Ludacris giving dirty pillow-talk to his lady: "You don't need no saddle or horse/ I'ma give you this dick to ride". Tracks like "I Know You Got A Man" featuring Flo-Rida and "Hey Ho" with Lil' Kim and Lil' Fate are just down right inexcusable. Production is provided by Swizz Beatz, The Neptunes, Bangladash and others, as they build the foundation for Ludacris to spit his "Mack talk" to the ladies. The album is okay, but you only leave with the impression on what it could have been if it still had Shawnna.--- I rate this 3.5/5

Lady Gaga's "Telephone" featuring Beyonce

The new undisputed pop queen Lady Gaga finally premiered her "Top Secret"music video for "Telephone" featuring Beyonce. This is the duo's second video together. Check it out, it's pretty dope.

Drake releases long-awaited first single!

Earlier this week rapper Drake released the highly-anticipated first single to his equally anticipated album, Thank Me Later. The song is called "Over" and it features Drake reflecting on how his life has changed since the young upstart made history with his milestone mixtape, So Far Gone, and signing with mentor Lil' Wayne's Young Money label. On the track a confident Drake boasts: "I swear, I got this shit that makes these bitches go insane/ So they tell me that they love me/ I know better than that, it's just game/ It's just what comes with the the fame..." The song is more like a celebration and declaration of things to come for the talented MC. Whether Drake can continue to write more impressive chapters in his premature rap career remains to be seen. Hopefully this single can match or surpass such past hits like "Successful" and "Best I Ever Had" (His biggest hit to date) from the Grammy-nominated So Far Gone. For now, we should appreciate watching one of the few new talents that can actually generate his own buzz, while also gain respect from fans, and rap peers alike. "I really can't see the end getting any closer/ But I'll probably still be the man when everything is over." Raise a glass and give a toast to the kid, because things are just getting started.