Dear Mary J. Blige: You're Too Grown For This

It's not that I don't like to hear Mary J. Blige do uptempos, because I do. "Just Fine" still makes my treadmill mix, and "Enough Cryin'" was my favorite Breakthrough track for a bit. But this "Nothin on Me (The One)" is trying way too hard.

Mary has managed to transition from 20-something to near 40 in the music industry with ease. In fact, her fanbase has argubably grown over the past decade, as her last two albums have been among the most successful in her career. That's not easy, ask Janet and Mariah. So why is she backtracking with "The One?"

The Breakthrough and Growing Pains have been Mary's most realized records to date. While 411 and My Life were instant classics, Mary's never sounded as confident or capable as she has since 2006's Breakthrough. But "The One" wreaks of desperation. It has Love & Life written all over it, and y'all should remember how well that went.

"Them other girls you done been with, they ain't got nothing on me....Way I walk, way I talk. My swagger."

No, you're 36. Your "swagger" should speak for itself. And it does. Mary's easily one of the classiest chicks in the game. Save these lyrics for Keri Hilson.

And the Drake feature. I just don't get it. There's no reason for him to be on this track, other than his current commercial appeal. See: wreaks of desperation.

But everyone else seems to love it, so check it out for yourself. Leave a comment, let me know if I'm just misguided on this one.



Oh, but when Mary is still a movement by herself...it's fine.

"Why R U" Sleeping on Amerie?

Cute headline, right?

I'm convinced that Amerie's "Why R U?" will be the most slept on single of the summer. Already I've heard more negative reviews than good surrounding the singer's first Def Jam single, and those opinions are perhaps as misguided as Amerie's decision to sign with Def Jam in the first place (If your name isn't Rihanna or Mariah, you aren't getting anywhere with Def Jam).

Amerie's voice isn't the strongest, but she'll sing any song like it hurts not to. Because of that effort her "Why R U?" delivery caters toward the track's relaxed 90's production perfectly. Think, Mary J. Blige crooning over "Reminisce" or SWV's slick approach to "I'm So Into You." Not that Amerie is as engaging as Mary, or matches SWV's new jack swagg, but she's singing "Why R U?." Not hiding behind production tricks or vocal gimmicks. Not T-Pain'ing her way toward a hit.

The track's oldschool production is contemporary enough to work as well today as it would have in '92, and that my friend is what we call a timeless record. That's right, I said it.

Don't think that "Why R U?" is groundbreaking, or particulary originial. In fact, it's quite comfortable. But a good song is a good song, and "Why R U?" works well in that capacity.

Checkout the stale ass video.

Amerie - Why R U (Official Video) HQ
Uploaded by wonderful-life1989. - See the latest featured music videos.

Oh, but nobody matches her fly.

To Twitter or Tweet

I don't follow a lot of celebrities on Twitter, because for the most part they only use it to satisfy their own egos. You know, saying a lot but replying to nothing. Self-promotion is respectable, but ignoring folks on a SOCIAL networking site doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

That being said, a few celebs have caught my attention (Trey Songz, Jordin Sparks, Tristan Wilds), but Mariah Carey is by far the FUNNIEST.

Mimi usually makes me want to vomit, but I won't front...chick is hella self-aware, so that I get the feeling I'm laughing with her.

Here are just a few of her gems:

• "someone complained about the bad grammar in my messages. For the record, it's a tweet dear, not a thesis."


• "Nick is too cute when he's sleep! I wish he didn't have to work tomorrow so he could help me sleep all day and I could sing all nite!"


• "Just finished working out. Whooo! Quite naturally" its 5am and I still can't sleep"(sung like "crybaby" from "Rainbow"99)lol Who's up?"


• "I'm pretty sure my spell check is broken cos I know I MUSTVE spelled Chihuwawa wrong. No, I cannot spell..its almost as bad as I am at math!"


• "When I was 4, Iwent on an Easter egg hunt and I actually stumbled upon "THE BONUS EGG" aka I WON!!! But...Then... This 12yr old girl stole the BONUS EGG right out of my hand and ran around saying.."I got the BONUS EGG!!!".... (Easter saga cont.) Anyway, she won a HUGE Easter basket w/stuffed animals and candy and she didn't even find the frikin egg!!!

If you're on Twitter, follow her. If you're not, sign-up for twitter, and follow her.

Oh, and if your @'s are a bit sparse, here's a list of some of my favorite Twitter-ers:

@Pinkissopretty5

@KevinRScott

@Ellington51

@ChrisJervis

@MsMirandaMarie

@Amanda_Allison

Trust me, funny, consistently entertaining folks. (No shade to the others I'm following, ya'll know I only hang w/ the best.)

Oh, and follow ME: @Bfloyd86

Chrisette Michele's Career Should Benefit from Her "Epiphany"

To say that Chrisette Michele's debut was disappointing would be unfair. Her first single "If I Have My Way" was lovely, but just too adult-contemporary for her intended audience. But anyone who has heard the title track from Michele's Epiphany can tell you that the singer has developed a sound more suitable for her youth. Epiphany is fresh in every sense of the word, from production to delivery, and shows that Michele is ready to become an R&B star in her own right.

While "Epiphany" is easily the best track on the 12 song album, Michele remains satisfying throughout. The self-sacrificial "Blame it On Me" is as well-written as it is performed. Lyrics like "Sometimes it hurts to know the loving you had is slowly fading away" fall just short of melo-drama, so that listeners can find them relatable without feeling embarrased. More importantly, Michele's voice is flawless throughout the song. She has a range that sounds as elegant in its lower registers as it does in higher octaves, and delivers tons of emotion behind each note.

Check "Porcelain Doll" for a down-to-earth delivery, with plenty of attitude: "I'm a full-grown woman, I am not your porcelain doll." "Notebook" comes with every bit of the personal confession implied by the title, while "Our Song" is an airy, country inspired mid-tempo that could serve as the perfect summer break-up lament.

There's not a bad track on Epiphany, and even the Ne-Yo feature on "What You Do" doesn't sacrifice the album's sincerity.

After Epiphany, Chrisette Michele deserves a spot among R&B's hottest up-and-coming artists, right next to Jazmine Sullivan and Jennifer Hudson (who, incidently, weren't able to deliver albums nearly as satisfying). I haven't heard a better album in 2009.

Check out "Blame it On Me" and "Porcelain Doll."