She Quayzy...!!!

Brand New Flavor In Your Ear: As I blogged before, The-Dream and Beyonce showed up and showed out on, “Turnt” but the real story is 2CHAINZ. I shaded him in my last article because, well, I’ve grown not to expect much creatvity or variation from him.

But did he just get on this record and give us a little taste of TitiBoy? For those of you who think 2Chainz is trash (I agree he can be. I usually listen to him for the laughs), he used to be a pretty dope rapper by the name of ‘Titi Boy’. Remember “Duffle Bag Boy” by Playaz Circle with Weezy on the hook? Welp, that was 2Chainz leading the first verse. That song showed me 2Chainz possesses full capabilities to rhyme well and actually make sense. While 2Chainz has a better ring than ‘TitiBoy’, I find it unfortunate that his lyrics didn’t get better as well. On ‘Turnt’ though? 2Chainz actually VARIES his flow. The “Riot” rapper actually makes sense from bar to bar and sounds pretty good against the BEAT!! Titi Boy peeked through the Playaz Circle rubble and I waved at me a short while. : ) 

Mr. Birthday Song can we get a little more like this? I know you’re selling but you probably miss Titi Boy too.  Provided he never makes a full return though, glad he came to say whassup.

—SheQuayzy

But Wait Though…Bey and The-Dream?

Yes I slammed “Bow Down”. Yes I slammed “Tron”. But this record with The-Dream and Beyonce together? I’m loving the flow. The feeling is cool and I like this side of Beyonce. It’s a little trill. Very edgy. I like when Beyonce simmers down the diva and gives us that around-the-way-Houston. It’s nice. This message fits and why? Because she’s not pretending to be hood. She’s just being normal. Who says you can’t be rich and down to earth? Go Bey. Now you’re speaking my language. #TurnUp (lol, and I never say that).

P.S. I didn’t mention 2Chainz on purpose. lol

Future & B.O.B. Assist Ci with the Body Part Remix: 

Now, this was bound to happen! Future is on everyone’s track these days and Ciara is his girlfriend so no shocker there. B.o.B. seems a little odd on the track though. Not that I dislike Bobby Ray but it’s kinda weird because I expected a sort of boo-thang-duet with Ci and Future. Despite the awkward triangle, B.o.B. flowed well on the verse although he didn’t exactly kill it. Frankly, this remix wasn’t necessary and didn’t elevate the feel of the song. The couples-retreat feel with only Ciara and Future sexing each other up vocally might have made it more interesting. B.o.B. just made it a little awkward so this remix is an ‘eh’ for me. Despite it all though, I love how they increased use of the “My Boo” by Ghosttown DJs sample, maintaining the 90s R&B feel. It’s nice to see Ciara out and about on the music scene these days. 

Let’s see if she keeps up the momentum with a cool follow-up single! One Woman Army might just turn out to be a gem of an album. 

Kelly Just Killed the Game:

I always knew Kelly Rowland was special. Her voice is smooth and her love for hardcore R&B drips from every note she gifts a beat with. Plus, she was part of my favorite all-girl band dancin’ and sangin’ us under the benches alongside my favorite girl, Beyoncé. I knew there was more to Kelly when she sang, “Bad Habit” with such vigor and sorrow on Destiny Fulfilled, the final Destiny’s Child album. Yesterday, Kelly dropped “Dirty Laundry” and the blogs went off. “Kelly’s rocky relationship with Beyoncé” and “omg” this and that. Kelly discussed her feelings toward living in Beyoncé’s shadow, an abusive relationship and her issues with herself.

Who knew Ms. Kelly felt some type of way in Bey’s shadow? I did. She’d have to be non-human not to. How does it feel to work just as hard, dance just as hard, visit studios just as often, grace the same stage and still be “that other girl”? I’m sure it double-sucks when you’re genuinely talented. Maybe it’s not the same, but it’s something significant. I’m not surprised. I wanted it to happen. Wasn’t sure the fearless vulnerability would ever  surface but glad it did. Outside of sexy-I’m-grown-now songs, who is Kelly Rowland? What’s the story? 

I think Kelly just gave us one. Not only has Kelly maturely yet aggressively tackled honest feelings in her “Dirty Laundry” but she also delivered them with honey-dipped vocals and dope lyrics. The honesty and soul laced through this record is the epitome of R&B. Kelly Rowland rarely brags so I’ll do it for you: She is R&B and nope, it doesn’t mean she’s better than Bey. It doesn’t mean she’s better than anybody. It also doesn’t mean anybody is better than her. Rowland makes for an excellent addition to music. The value of Kelly Rowland is evident now more than ever. I’ve seen it all the while. She’s airing out dirty laundry, but the woman is about to clean house and I smell success surpassing anything Kelly has ever imagined.

-Marquaysa Battle (a.k.a. SheQuayzy :P)

Dawn of the Day: Now ya’ll know I cannot go long without some new-new from my boo-boo Dawn Richard and she blessed us with this banger last week, “Army”! This woman is an R&B giant in my opinion and she’s coming for THE WORLD with her innovative yet 80s-reminiscent aesthetic! The Andrew “Drewski” Scotty-produced track actually fits well with theme of her first album, “Goldenheart” (available on iTunes now. Go get it and catch up) which has a warfare theme. The album itself inspires from start to finish with tails of victories and defeats that make for good victories in the end. The true winners though are Dawn’s vocals on the album and this latest song “Army”! I’m sure you’re tired of singers who can’t  SANG. They have dope records but in-concert, they sing like a different person or plainly cannot sing at all. Dawn Richard is the polar opposite. I am admittedly a music snob and I don’t let just anything on my iPod. Dawn makes my iPod every time. She delivers decadent vocals 100% of the time. She may not make your local radio because radio is a sad skeleton of what it once was but this woman will make your DAY if you’re a music lover. #ipodworthy. Check shorty out. 

Ciara Brings the Body Party:

Okay, let me eat MY piece of humble pie! When ‘Body Party’ first dropped months ago, I totally predicted it would buzz and fizzle in the fashion of Ciara’s previous attempts at singles. WRONG!

Today? I give all kudos to Ciara because this durn ‘Body Party’ song has had me ROCKIN’ the last few days! Maybe it’s because they played it trillions of times on the radio yesterday while I was driving (which I NEVER saw coming). Maybe it’s the sound, because I am a 90s baby to the core (TOTALLY missed the 90s feel the first few listens)! Maybe it’s that DOPE video with the crazy fashion and simple yet sexy dance moves.  It could have been the Jazzy Pha or Ludacris cameos or the lovely, Future character (who is Ciara’s real life beau). Ciara girl, you better get it dancin’ all on your boo-thang! Too cute!

It’s must be a combination of all those things. Whatever it is, this Future-penned single, is a winner and I think Ciara finally has the crowd’s attention once again. I haven’t copped a Ciara album since ‘The Evolution’. I’m still unsure if the ‘One-Woman Army’ (the album’s namesake) will get on the front lines and slay but it’s for sure that Ciara’s putting up a very notable fight. I absolutely thought the fat lady had sang on Ciara’s career but maybe she just been on a smoke break. I think Bad Gyal Rihanna might have a bit of competition. Hmm…

Brand New Flavor In Your Ear: Mannn after all these years, Jay-Z still rides beats with the precison of a NASCAR vet. The Timbaland and Swizz Beatz-assisted track has the traditionally outspoken Jay-Z from 99 Problems and beyond! Carter challenges politicians while proudly addressing his friendship with President Barack Obama in the first verse! While you bob your head to Swizz and Tim’s genius, Jay relays the story of his come-up. He rapped about being a “boy from the streets” with “White House clearance”. He also addressed rumors of him giving up his partial ownership of the Brooklyn Nets and his alleged “illegal” trip to Cuba with Queen Bey.

Didn’t know about “Open Letter”? Ya’ll gon learn today.

Enjoy,

SheQuayzy

Dawn of the Day: If you’re not on Dawn Richard music, you are LATE. Where have you been? Richard recently dropped her first solo album, “Golden Heart” on January 15 of this year and I cannot foresee her ceasing her grind any time soon! Love on the Rocks is Dawn Richard’s latest released song! The futuristic, up-tempo beat provides a platform to deliver amazing vocals, tantalizing melody and an amazing lyrical concept! With Love on the Rocks, Dawn compares the love of her crush to an addictive drink! The song has bounce, vocals and dope lyrics. What MORE did you need?

At this point, this is truly a state of emergency: Wake up and get into Dawn because you’re missing out on this CRACK! The substance she pushes to her fans and to music in general rings unique and amazing in my ears. Her efforts are worth your listen! Join the heart movement.