Release Radar - The Last Week of April

This week, we've been blessed with a lot of good music and my favorite, music videos. With April being full of heavy hitters, one can only imagine what flowers May will bring.

The smooth operators of the Internet are back together to give us another groove. Led with a duet between Steve and Syd, we're already ready for whatever else is in the works.

Super talented. Style is bomb. And the video matches the groove perfectly. Ravyn is paving her way good and strong.

Cole is back with TWO visuals from his latest release KOD. "Kevin's Heart" walking us through a day in post-exposed-for-chaeting Kevin Hart's day and "ATM" giving us early Busta Rhymes vibes through in the land where money runs the world. 

Straight hair SZA, Sensei Kenny. 

Didn't think it was possible for a video to be as smooth as the song. What a pleasant surprise.

Dirty Computer: An Emotion Picture

An unapologetic album. An album of empowerment. A collection of songs for self. A carefree anthem album.

This is how I would describe the long awaited 4th album and emotion picture from Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer.

In February, she dropped the songs and videos for "Make Me Feel", a jam that had Prince nostalgia and funky grooves written all over it and "Django Jane", a track with her signature self-empowerment anthem melodies and a few bars -- both accompanied with beautiful visuals.

The album flows seamlessly with great production while giving us some very personal lyrics, something we haven't typically gotten from Janelle. And the emotion picture is properly titled, taking us on an adventure through a Black-Mirror like society, a bit different than the Archandroid journey we've been on with Cindi for the past few years.

If Janelle is going into the business of directing visuals regularly, we're here to watch AND listen.

Stream Dirty Computer on all platforms and watch the short film below.

A BInderella Story

It's the album we've been waiting for and it's finally here. Cardi's debut Invasion of Privacy is everything I was hoping for and a bit more than that.

In all honesty, once "Drip" and "Be Careful" were released as singles, I wasn't sure they were what I was looking for out of Bardi's album. Nonetheless, I still bopped to them because she has my full support in music. Needless to say, when the album opened with "Get Up 10", I was immediately regretting my doubts.

Not only is the album full of bops and some bomb features, but Cardi came to show us that this is not something she plans to make temporary. She gave us a feeling yourself bop with "Drip". Paid homage to the great Project Pat with "Bickenhead", put us in our bags with "Moneybag" and "She Bad", even gave us a Spanish bop with "I Like That", and even put some feelings in there on "Ring" ft Kehlani.

It's an album that has us all ready for warm weather and windows down.

Cardi's "lil 15 minutes" is surely gonna last long as hell.

It's The Reeeemix -- Smino & T-Pain Drop "Anita Remix" Video

It's Black Friday and everyone's hitting the ground running looking for the best sales and deals. I personally am on a budget this year & am keeping an eye out for the new drops. In doing so, I came across the "Anita Remix" video from Smi & Teddy P.

Remixes have fallen off some in recent times and leave it to two of the rawest artists in the game to bring it back. Watch the lovely lady filled video below!

SZA's CTRL Snatched My Wig

For a a couple years now, me and every other SZA fan has been waiting (im)patiently for her project to drop. Waiting anxiously to the point that when she tweeted about "quitting" music, my heart was broken. And in the same turn, when Love Galore dropped, it was singing from my speakers until I got the next drop. By the time I got "Doves In The Wind" (sis was IN HER BAG) and an official release date, I. Was. READY.

At least I thought I was.

Between the opening track "Supermodel" and closing track "20 Something", I had gone through an array of emotions. I could go track by track of how each song made me feel (Drew Barrymore has ripped me to tears streaming shreds) but the importance lies here: SZA made you FEEL.

The prime importance of CTRL is how open it is. Black women are considered to be always in all ways, strong. Bend but don't break. Be bulletproof. The vulnerability of this album to the point that it can rip the listener open just the same is nothing to be regarded lightly. Every woman has gone through experiences of trying to have their magic stripped of them via venomous people but many are considerably quiet about it. SZA posing the question of "am I warm enough for you?" was triggering to say the least but also comforting to know that you're not the only one to have experienced such a bleeding love.

In the same turn, "Love Galore" "Doves In The Wind" "Go Gina" and most notably, "The Weekend" are taking power back ANTHEMS. The latter mentioned track debunks the idea that women can't also have a roster to be rotated; little is it known, we're usually better at doing so. Sometimes Tuesday and Wednesday is a little much -- all ya need is a 3 day weekend.

SZA gave us Black girl magic. She gave us straight-out-the-diary lyrical stories. Heartbreak. Rejoice. Vulnerability. Empathy. A reminder that you are as much of the shit that you think you are and that p***y does indeed and will forever run the world. Most importantly, she shared her magic to an undeniable degree to forever have on wax.

SZA handed us control on a gold plated platter with CTRL and my rotation is eternally grateful.

Go Gina. 

Why I'm A Fan of Vic Mensa Dragging DJ Akademiks

Today's episode of Complex's "Everyday Struggle" with Vic Mensa got a little (very) heated. The promo that set Twitter on fire showed Vic going in on DJ Akademiks for his previous comments and film on Chicago's violence. 

Wikipedia describes DJ Akademiks as a disc jockey that has "dedicated his career to covering hip-hop news in a satirical fashion"-- in layman's terms, a certified troll. In fact, in 2015, the Daily Dot deemed him "hip-hop's one man TMZ": a title NO hip-hop "representative" should be proud to boast. As previously stated, his wiki also discusses how his "coverage" of the drill music in Chicago drove him to popularity. Needless to say being from the South Side of Chicago, a fan is not something I would call myself.

Those familiar with Vic Mensa know that he is a rapper very proud of where he's from, his SouthSide neck tattoo being a prime indicator. We also know that Vic is not only very opinionated, but very vocal in said opinions that he has. So it is of no surprise that he vocalized his perspective as he did.

Here is why I believe that Vic's interview is very important, calling Akademiks a bitch and all.

As a person from Chicago's South Side, there is a lot that I have experienced first hand. Plenty of RIP messages I have written. Several funerals to attend. Several half-empty "it will be okay" to loved ones that are left to survive their murdered friends and family. Millions of "please be safes" every time I depart from friends and family. Then there is the representation that the media has. "Chiraq" IS NOT an acceptable term. 
 

I have had this same conversation several times with several people across several platforms. And funny enough, Vic was FAR calmer than I usually am. I have dealt with several Akademiks in my days that have plenty of opinion on what they feel is going on in Chicago but no actual knowledge of the issues (school closures, projects being torn down, over policing, etc). They have never buried a close friend or relative due to Chicago violence. Many of them have never even set foot or flown over Chicago but these are the people with opinions and platforms not knowing shit about what they are speaking on.

I personally over the past 6 months have lost at least 5 people to violence in Chicago. In that, seeing Vic publicly school a purposely ignorant person on what goes on in our city put a smile on my face.

May all of Chicago's angels continue to Rest In Peace.

Watch the interview below.