Thoughts?

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There will be no free downloads of this album from my site, however I will let it be known that the album is on the money. Many rumors have been circling around the internet and the blogs that Usher was about to drop a dud.

Well if you’re a 5 year old and can not appreciate a man’s growth through his music then you will probably not like this. But if you are ready for a sincere to R&B, I mean that real rhythm and blues then I suggest you go out and purchase Usher’s new album when it drops on Tuesday, May 27th.

From the beginning to the end of the album Usher will bring you on a roller coaster journey of a man and his emotions battling love and facing his fears head on. “Moving Mountains” finds Usher more than comfortable while divulging his feelings about a love going down the wrong path. Those who have been there can relate to the metaphor with ease and are fighting for Ush to move the mountain, climbing and hoping for things to change. What can you do?

“Prayer for you” is just an interlude but you can see the growth in my man Usher singing a prayer for his little man. I remember back when Usher was a young dude singing “just call me a mack” and now he is showing the true evolution going from the ladies man to now becoming a family man.

A sure hit for the radio “Best Thing” finds Young Hov and Usher riding the beat getting the ladies ready for a hot summer!

“Appetite” will be a favorite of all these gossip sites looking to throw some salt or hate into dude’s new marriage. He’s hitting the fellas with a message though telling us not to feed our appetites or we’ll be trying to get into the crib but the key won’t fit no more.

All the Ladies looking to find that special dude will hope that when the time comes that he serenades them with the words to “Before I Met You”! A beautiful dedication to the special one in your life, like I said Usher is definitely showing growth on this one, not the same player from Confessions!

Everyone is going to attempt to compare this album to Usher’s last but that will be their first mistake. You can not compare the two; Usher released Confessions at 25 fresh out of break up. He is now 29 and a happily married man with a child, in those four years there has obviously been a lot of growth and it shows on Here I Am. Quality Product, I’ll be buying the retail copy as soon as it drops on the 27th!

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1. Intro
2. Love In This Club featuring Young Jeezy
3. This Ain’t Sex
4. Trading Places
5. Moving Mountains
6. What’s Your Name featuring will.i.am
7. Prayer For You Interlude
8. Something Special
9. Love You Gently
10. Best Thing featuring Jay Z
11. Before I Met You
12. His Mistakes
13. Appetite
14. What’s A Man To Do
15. Lifetime
16. Love In This Club Part II featuring Beyoncé & Lil Wayne
17. Here I Stand
18. Will Work For Love

MTV Sucks for thinking that their horrible round table discussion about who the hottest MC’s in the game right now is relevant. I am just amazed about how these commentators view Hip-Hop! Big Daddy Kane, KRS 1, Rakim, Kool G. Rap are constantly disrespected via this mainstream Hip-Hop nonsense.

Their arguing who the Hottest MC is and have the nerve to have a serious debate about Soulja Boy. Like are you serious, now all of the sudden Soulja Boy is a staple in Hip - Hop. Lyrics were at the bottom of their discussion every time. This debate alone destroys the credibility of this list.

AND WHERE THE F*** IS COMMON ON THE LIST? MTV SUCKS

HOTTEST MC’S IN THE GAME

10. T.I.

9. Andre 3000

8. Young Jeezy

7. Lupe Fiasco

6. 50 Cent

5. Snoop Dogg

4. Rick Ross

3. Lil Wayne

2. Jay-Z

1. Kanye West

CONGRATS TO YEEZY, I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW COMMON IS NOT EVEN ON THE LIST. THE NUMBERS ARE ALL MESSED UP!

I spoke about drug abuse in a former post titled “Our Forgotten Family”, and this video reminds me of that piece. I’m worried about Lil Wayne, his actions as of late have been spiraling downward and I am worried about where this lifestyle will lead him. He says “not to worry” about him, but how can one not when his interviews are filled with incoherent sentences as we watch him sip from his cup of death. An artist with this much reaching capability can not be ignored and left to die from his own vices. We have watched too many greats pass because as a community of listeners we just sat by idly watching someone’s demise. I think it’s time that his fans start to reach out to him and let the young man know that people care about him enough to not watch him throw his life away.

The following post is reflective of the views of a young woman who made a video and posted it on youtube about other women of color. Her youtube profile and views can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/melosidad1

I think she creates an interesting dialogue and I am curious to see what your reaction will be to this video.  Please feel free to comment and check out an earlier post that I wrote expressing my own views on women of color titled  “Letter to a Young Black Female”. Peace and Love!

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