My Ego

” My ego is my imaginary friend, he was with me when I was only imagin’.”
Normally I don’t allow my ego or cockiness to surface too often. I tend to keep him in check but sometimes I have to let him out to play around for a few. I’m not that ‘rub it in your face’ but when I’m right I’m right. Ya know?

Letoya Luckett – Lady Love Album Review

Artist: letoya Luckett

Album: Lady Love

Release Date: 8.25.09

Lady Love is the sophomore release, and follow up to the certified platinum self title solo debut, from the H-town resident. With this album the ASCAP and Grammy award winning singer/songwriter proves that she has what it takes to remain a force in the world of female R & B.

Track listing review below:

Lady Love – The first track is an upbeat tune introducing you to her vocal ability and setting the tone for the rest for the rest of the album. (3/5)

She Ain’t Got – This rock infused track is the second officially released single. The instrumental is something that could easily get airplay on top 40, pop & R & B stations as well as urban outlets. Think Lady Gaga or Fergie type track. Even though it’s not a typical R & B track she holds her own as she sings of a cheating lover’s taste in a mistress. (4/5)

Not Anymore – This ballad is the first official single and my one of my favorites. The instrumental is light and piano based allowing her voice to shine on the melody. She sings of being tired of her relationship and not dealing with it anymore. (5/5)

Lazy – Here she sings of not wanting to be in another relationship because she feels she can’t handle it after having so many bad relationships in the past. ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ type of message. She once again matches the instrumental vocally, though the track seems kind of big. (3.5/5)

Good To Me – This track reminds me of some prince in his Purple Rain or Under the Cherry Moon phase. Slow, with repetitive piano chords throughout and heavy drum loop. She sings of the things she wants in a man with him just being good to her as the undertone. (4/5)

Over – This is another favorite of mine. On this slow ballad she sings of ending it with a cheating boyfriend in a ‘what if’ scenario of all the things that he actually did. The echo in the hook of “Over” is really well done and fits perfectly. (4.5/5)

Regret Feat. Ludacris – With an assist from Ludacris on the third official single Letoya sings of how her Ex is regretting leaving her and wants to be back with her. This slow melody really suits her. The track is very similar and sounds like a slowed version of Mary Mary’s God in Me. Ludacris didn’t seem to do his best on this one but nonetheless it’s a great collaboration. (3.5/5)

I Need A U – This is a sexy ballad. She whispers the melody over a slow organ infused track as she sings of her fantasy guy to come and “ease her pain” of loneliness. The Guitar solo on the bridge puts this over the top. (5/5)

Take Away Love Feat. Estelle – On this mid tempo track she has some real talk with Estelle about a guy that just doesn’t seem to understand that she can’t be with him right now. They decide that she should take her love away. Not one of my favorites but it’s still a great track and the Estelle collaboration works. (3/5)

After Party – An up-tempo track compared to the rest of the album. She sings of the after party being the next relationship because the one she’s in isn’t working. The instrumental is simple, allowing her to do her thing. (3/5)

Drained – I like this one. The instrumental reminds me of an old school Nintendo game though. Here she admits to draining the love from the relationship, breaking his heart and possibly ruining future relationships. (3.5/5)

Tears – She glides over this sultry ballad and sings of how love has brought her to tears of joys. This is something that she hasn’t experienced before and can’t understand why she feels so wonderful yet she is in tears. (4/5)

Matter – On this simple drum heavy ballad she sings of how her ex boyfriend’s new girlfriend doesn’t matter because she can’t do the things that she was able to do. A classic song of love lost and regret. (4/5)

Love Rollercoaster Feat. Mims – Mims seems to shine a little more as Letoya is relegated to the chorus and bridge. The mid tempo instrumental is one of the busier tracks on the album. She seems to easily groove though as she sings of love’s ups and downs. (3.5/5)

Don’t Need U – On this Beat box driven instrumental, Letoya sings of realizing that she must move on and that she doesn’t need her ex in her life anymore. (3.5/5)

This album solidifies that not all artists suffer from the “sophomore jinx” musically. Her talent is undeniable and the production is simple and not overdone, allowing her voice to shine and carry the song as opposed to the music carrying her voice. The tone for this album seems to be of a relationship lost. This is definitely worth the purchase price.

Overall I give this album 4 out of 5.

W.O.W. Night Of The Mind

“Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.” – Confucius

Ignorance – 1) The condition of being ignorant; lack of knowledge or learning. 2) The condition of being uninformed or unaware.

Everyone is ignorant to some aspect of life. No one person knows everything about everything. I consider ignorance the shadow of knowledge. While some people are fine with standing in the shadow, knowledge is usually only a passage of a book or a google search away. Though the shadow may seem cool for a while it will only last for so long before moving on and exposing your lack of knowledge to the world.

I say enjoy the sun (knowledge) and don’t forget the sunblock (education)!

Peace

Sincere

Trey Songz Is Ready

Check out the homie Mack from Sound-savvy.com‘s interview with the ‘Prince of VA’ Trey Songz!!

To say that Trey Songz has been on the grind for the past year would be a supreme understatement. Between mixtapes, leaks and pushbacks, Trey is finally READY to give the world his new project Ready. He talked with me about the project and what his life has been like making the best album of his career…

Click here for the full transcript and audio: Sound-Savvy.com

Child Please

When I started this blog I said whatever I felt and didn’t worry about people being turned off by what  I wrote and not reading. As time went on and the site became more popular I found myself posting less and posting what I thought were ‘safe’ articles. I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers and lose readership.

Fuck that. This site is called ‘My Sincere Thoughts’ therefore they are MY thoughts and if you don’t agree then well… Child please!!! I am going back to the old me, I’m tired of catering to others’ needs and neglecting my own. I’m tired of being afraid to express myself on MY OWN shit!

So as a sort of Re-dedication here’s a list of Child Pleases’ aka Fuck you’s:

To Noggin for going to a 24hr format! Now Boogie thinks it’s okay to wake up at 2-3am dancing and singing along with Yo Gabba Gabba. Child Please!

To My academic adviser! Dude, you seem cool as hell but why do you have to call me everyday? Stop leaving 5:37 voice messages on my cell! Child Please!

To my biological father. I haven’t heard from you in over 10 years and I haven’t seen you in like 13-14 years. Every time I reach out to you I get disappointed. That is the one thing you are good at. Disappointment. Child Please!

To The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The cattiness and backbiting is not becoming. You all make the real peaches look bad! Child Please!

To Carolina Kix! I only did business with you because we went to school together and I was trying to help you out.  I should have continued with my shoe supplier that I had before. 10 days my ass!! it’s been almost 2 months and my shit is still not here! On top of not giving me a confirmation that you received my order, when you finally send me a tracking number from when you supposedly mailed my stuff, it doesn’t work! Where the hell is my stuff? Child Please!

To AJC! Stop asking me to submit shit if you’re not going to publish it. You asked me to write those reviews and essays, I didn’t ask you! either publish my shit or leave me alone! Child Please!

To the people that have their twitter automatically update their facebook status! What the hell were you thinking? I know it sound like a great idea at first but in the end, it just confuses your facebook friends. How about selectively updating by either #fb or even better not doing it at all! Child Please!

Okay so those were just a few of my ‘Child Please’s’ I am more than sure that there will be more to come.

W.O.W. Get Tested

“Stupidity is an infectious disease. Get vaccinated. Read a book and learn something.”

Peace
Sincere

W.O.W. Dress For Success

Success is a style. Dress like it.

You always dress for the job that you want, not for the job that you have.

Peace
Sincere

W.O.W. Watch Your Back

Everyone that stands behind you may not have your back.
Just because someone stands behind you doesn’t mean that, at the end of the day, they are standing with you.
Often people stay there to watch you fail and then take your spot. Be careful with whom you trust to have your back. They can’t stab you in the back if you don’t allow them to stand behind you.

Peace
Sincere

Higher Learning

So remember when I said I was planning on going back to school? Well, I finally did it! Class starts on 8/19/09 and I have orientation on the 4th! I’m so excited to get this chapter of my life finished! I know that its not going to be easy but with you guys’ help I’m sure I will make it through.

That is all.
Sincere

Oh yeah, special thanks to my Canadian homie Moe of Makingthemogul.com for hipping me to this mobile wordpress app that I’m using! I thought I was addicted to this crackberry before but not that I can post directly to the site without using the browser I think I’m going to need an intervention and rehab!

The Microsoft Zune HD

As a zune user the mere thought of this device makes me smile. The new Microsoft Zune HD was officially announced by microsoft as a touchscreen version of their portable media players. This would be their answer to Apple’s Ipod Touch.

The basic features on the Zune HD and Ipod Touch are similar, like the ability to play music, videos, games and podcasts. There are also a few more features on the Zune HD that are not available on the Ipod Touch such as HD radio and an HD display *hence the name Zune HD*. It also has  Internet explorer for it’s browser with an onscreen keyboard.

The colors and pricing is not available but If they follow in what they already have done then it will come in multiple colors and will be priced at the same level or most likely lower than what the Ipod Touch is going for.  This should be in stores by Fall 2009. I will definitely be on the lookout for this. I’m not big on full touchsreen devices but I may make an exception.

Check the video below for a hands on review:

Sources:

Video - Youtube

Picture – Zune

Press Release – Microsoft