REVIEW: Josh Adam, “Rise Of A Dreamer”

Sunday morning, it’s time to step into the pulpit.  Coming from the gospel of hip hop, Josh Adam uses relatable lyrics surrounded by pop melodies to minister to his listeners about following their dreams, success, and faith.

His unwavering and deeply rooted faith is a reverberating topic.  Praying to God to cover him, he doesn’t forget those surrounding him who has forgotten about their dreams.  “Dear heavenly father / Do you hear me praying.  I need a savior / The dreams are dying, the hearts are closing.”   His success is in what he raps.  Somewhat bubbly yet synth driven, he compares himself to John the Baptist.    ”Joshua the Baptist / Preach that thing.  If I ever set a goal imma reach that thing.”  Josh is not about failing, but rather living out his dreams while spreading the gospel of real music.  “This is the Genesis / The Revelation comes when I leave.  The only rapper with the holy power rapture is me.”  He believes he’s the beginning of the second coming of music.

Pop rocking and drummer friendly, Josh rhythmically declares his status like he’s already made it big, “Sitting on top like a winner should.”  Switching to acoustics and feelings of hope he remembers a friend who was taken away from him prematurely.  Unlike Josh a big visionary, his friend was on the other side of the dream scale. “Dreams were too big for him to hold / So he dropped it / Buried it in the cold.”  Josh uses his friends’ death as motivation to embrace life.

A common denominator throughout the album is manifestation.  He reveals his life’s purpose in spreading good music, while trying to remain true to his foundation.  However, he’s remembering to keep his Judas’ disconnected from his plan to avoid betrayal.  “Be careful who you let up in your circle / They try to bite the hand that feed ‘em off.”  When you’re on the battlefield, you can’t have any stragglers keeping you down and hindering you from living out your dream.  “The only reason I was put on this earth is to fight the negativity and then we write it off.”

Like a preacher finishing his jaunty Sunday morning sermon, Josh aimed to paint a picture of following your dreams with broad brushed strokes of faith, sans the superfluous flamboyance and lackluster delivery.  Rise Of A Dreamer might have a few songs containing Auto-Tune, but there are songs that feature sounds from underground to club banger.  It is a compilation of dreams and whimsical sounds juxtaposed with hard-hitting drum lines, articulations of significance, tolerable haughtiness, and thankfulness.

Jessi Teich, “Barely There” review

Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughn, Janis Joplin, Muddy Waters, and BB King are some of the greatest singers and musicians of all time.  Fuse all of these artists together and envision a young woman in a vintage dress playing the piano.  The woman is no one other than Jessi Teich.  Raised in New Jersey, studied at Berklee College of Music, and now residing in Philadelphia, Jessi Teich is an old Blues, Jazz, and Soul singer trapped in a 20 something year old woman’s body.

Recently Jessi Teich released her debut album “Barely There.”  The album has an acoustic feel that will make you appreciate the beauty of musicianship.  Not only is Jessi an accomplished pianist, she is also a composer.  There is a spirit of Gershwin present throughout the album.  This is definitely an album to listen to when you are trying to relax.  It’s something very soothing about Jessi’s voice.

The album is about love and life. Each song is great in its own right.  The song “Mover and Shaker” describes the feeling when you wake up in the morning and the peace of mind you have before your feet hit the floor.  “I’m a mover and I’m a shaker, I ain’t got time for any haters.”  It’s empowering when you arise in the morning and realize that you have the ability to accomplish whatever you put your mind to.  Move and shake your way to the top!

“Layers of Love” is just one of those songs in which you can’t help but to close your eyes and let your mind wander.  It’s definitely a great song.  It definitely puts you in the mind of Norah Jones.  The pure melodies and unfettered beauty in her voice is incredible.  The song ends with Jessi singing acapella and it’s at that point where you realize how pure her voice is.  No superfluous runs, just singing from her heart and soul.

When listening to “Barely There” you will not get the pomp and circumstance caricature of music.  There is nothing exaggerated about Jessi Teich.  This album is definitely a great investment.   This album embodies everything that constitutes greatness, nice vocals, great lyrics, and real instruments.  Her album might be entitled “Barely There, but Jessi Teich is fully here and ready to take the world by storm.

Lupe Fiasco, “Lasers” a great album with hidden drama

After petitions and fan protesting in front of Atlantic Records, the third album from Lupe Fiasco was released on March 8, 2011.  “Lasers” is musically different that its predecessors “The Cool” and “Food and Liquor.”  While Lupe Fiasco didn’t change his rhetoric, he most certainly changed music.  It’s more commercial (example:  “Out of my head” featuring label mate Trey Songz) but still contains socially relevant and thought-provoking lyrics.

Lupe Fiasco is notorious for speaking his mind when it comes to society and the government.  This has been displayed in songs such as “Little Weapon,” “American Terrorist,” and “Dumb it down.”  This similar topic resonates throughout Lasers.  Hence his usage of the anarchy (disarray of political order due to the lack of governmental authority) symbol on the cover.

The first single from the album is “The show goes on.”  There was some criticism when this song was released because people felt that it didn’t “sound” like Lupe.  The reason is because he had absolutely nothing to do with the song.  It was written by Jonathan Brown and produced by Kane Beatz.  In an interview with complex Magazine he said that he had nothing to do with the song.  It was either record the song and make it the first single, or the album would be shelved.  Lupe gave into the fascism and did “The show goes on.”  The song has a great beat and was made for the radio.  From the title you would think that it was a song of triumph, alluding to the dissimilitude between Lupe Fiasco and Atlantic Records, but it’s not.  While it’s very different from anything Lupe has previously released, it’s still a great song.

The second single from the album is “Words I never said.”  Like, “the show goes on,” he had nothing to do with this song as well.  The only part of the song he had control over was the removal of a bridge because it was about relationships.  The song really isn’t different from other Lupe Fiasco songs.  He talks about his disdain towards the government and how he is anti-war.  Even though he had nothing to do with the song, it’s something that diehard fans will like.

Lasers is a backronym for “Love Always Shines Every time, Remember 2 Smile.”  It could be a subliminal reminder to himself, remembering that through the tension between him and his label, he must remember to smile continuously. While Lupe Fiasco isn’t happy with his album, it will probably be his best-selling album to date.  Aside from the hidden dissension and forcing Lupe Fiasco to change his style, “Lasers” is a great album.  The one thing that cannot be denied is that Lupe Fiasco is a great rapper.

Kim Kardashian debuts new song “Jam (Turn it up)”

Today I heard Kim Kardashian’s debut single “Jam.”  The reality show star teamed up with The-Dream on this up-tempo song.  I’m sure someone will like this song, but I think it’s a joke!  How do you make a song and never sang before?  Her words, not mine!  The only thing that is remotely tolerable about this song is the bass line.  I say that for the lack of better words.  She sounds like she has a serious nasal congestion issue.  It’s very annoying!  There is absolutely nothing else I can say about this song besides it’s horrible and I have a feeling it’s going to go platinum.  Suddenly Ke$ha sounds like a choir of heavenly singers.  I am having a Helen Keller moment!

Kimmy, I beg you to please continue making money off of your reality show and your sex tape.  Please leave music to people who have talent!

Below you will find the song and lyrics.  Check out the song and let me know what you think.

 

[Kim Kardashian – Jam (Turn it up)]
Turn me up, Turn me up, Turn me, Turn me, Turn me up
Yeah (x8)
Turn me up, Turn me up, Turn me, Turn me, Turn me up
Yeah (x8)

[Verse 1]

Im goin out tonight, its goin down
Headed straight to the front of the line, on the fly
On the floor I cant stand still
And im goin to work like im paying my bills (bills)
My whole clicks on the floor (the floor)
We gon party, then party some more (some more)
Rozay up in the air
Feeling good, feeling great, just got paid

[Chorus]

And they playin’ my jam
They playin, my jam
Turn it up, Turn It Up (DJ)
Turn it up, so I can rock the night away (away)

[Verse 2]

Imam burn it out tonight, its goin down
By live via satellite
And all I see is angels in my eyes
Buzz got me way up in the sky

Maybach in the front (the front)
Pick out any boy that I want (I want)
DJ here I am
Feeling good, feeling great, just got paid

[Chorus]

And they playin’ my jam
They playin, my jam
Turn it up, Turn It Up (DJ)
Turn it up, so I can rock the night away (away)

[Bridge]

Girls in the building
Fellas in the club
Boys spending money
Girls looking good
Im on the floor, living my life
Feeling so good, feeling so right
Got my hands up
Celebrate like its my birthday
5 more shots of tequila
I’m thirsty
Feeling so good, I’m feeling so great
Tonight (x4)

[Outro]

Turn me up, Turn me up, Turn me, Turn me Turn me up
Yeah (x8)
Killa (Killa), I run music

R Kelly: “Love Letter” and he shall reign forever

R Kelly first came onto the music scene in 1992 with the R & B group “Public Announcement.”  After going solo in 1993, R Kelly released his 6x platinum debut cd “12 Play.”  Having a career that has sustained for over 15 years, 8 multi platinum studio albums, and three platinum collaborative albums, it is evident why R Kelly is the” Undisputed King of R & B.”  In more recent years R Kelly has been in the media for allegations of making a sex tape with a minor.  His image has been tarnished, yet he remains to keep persevering.  Maybe this album is what he needs to redeem himself.  As a singer and producer, R Kelly has produced for some of the greatest artists such as Aaliyah, Gerald Levert, Charlie Wilson, Chris Brown, and Michael Jackson.  The unique style of R Kelly is constantly imitated, but it can never be duplicated by the musical court jesters.

With the upcoming release of his highly anticipated album “Love Letter,” R Kelly is back and proves why he reigns on the musical throne.  Channeling the musical style of The Temptations, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and Raphael Saadiq, R Kelly has a real love song in “When a man loves a woman.”  This 50’s style song made for a crooner is destined to capture the hearts of love struck women everywhere.  “When woman loves a man, she loves for real” is a poetic lyric.  He acknowledges that when a woman falls in love, she loves with every fiber of her being.   Some might be used to him singing songs like “12 Play”, “Bump N Grind”, and “Honey Love”, but R Kelly has proven to be versatile with songs like “Step in the name of Love”, and “You saved me.”  With this recent song “When a man loves a woman,” R Kelly has done it again. The lyrics are very powerful.  Songs like these command a lot of feeling.  If it is not executed properly, it can really mess the song up.

This cd is extraordinary!  What R Kelly managed to do was bring real music back.  There is not one hint of auto tune present on the cd.  One thing interesting that is different from other current cds is the lack of features on the cd.  The only feature on the cd is K. Michelle on the song “Love Is.”  Her vocals were absolutely perfect for this song.  This cd is truly “unskippable.”  “Love Letter” is definitely one of R Kelly’s best cd’s.

A “Love Letter” is a way to express how you feel romantically about your “Number One.”  With every stroke of the pen, you start up the “Ignition” that powers the vehicle that lets you drive through “Gotham City” to reach your destination of love.  Your love for the “Same Girl” is no longer on the “Down Low” or “Trapped in the Closet,” it is outwardly expressed as you “Step in the name of love.”  You are now “Happy People” who realize that love is more than a “Bump n Grind.”  Love will make you say “I am your angel.”  Overall, “Love Letter” will make you appreciate the goose bump lyrics, harmonious melodies, and the creative genius of Robert Sylvester Kelly.

*This was originally written December 13, 2010*