Cool Kids & Theophilus London in Boston 6/24

Like, most crazy events that occur in my life finding new music from artists is usually an accident. I never think, hey i'm going to surf the net for new music because when I do go out on that type of musical quest I always end up finding garbage. So, I may check my inbox, which is flooded daily with press releases of artists I have never heard of, so if the artists are lucky enough for their inquiry to hit my inbox when I have some down time, I give it a hardcore listen. Thats how I discovered Palestinian/Canadian Soul singer Ms. Ayah, whom I adore.

The point of all of that was to say that The Cool Kids & Theophilus London, two artists that I accidentally fell for (story of my life) are coming to Boston this week. They will be performing at the Middle East, in Cambridge, MA. I plan on reviewing this show and hopefully setting up a quick Q&A with the guys.

Theophilus is not your average emcee because his style is peculiar, he writes all of his music (which is an oxymoron when discussing hip-hop nowadays), like Kanye he has a sick blog "This Charming Blog" http://theophiluslondon.wordpress.com/, and the dude can actually rap. Yeah, his flow sounds like The Roots Black Thought, but when has that become a bad thing. Theo's music--wait can I call you that? Theo's music is easy on the ear and believe it or not the brotha is actually saying something.

Check his latest video "I want you", YouTube him, and if you are in the Boston area def check him out this week.

-Nakia

Drake "Thank Me Later" Album Review

"All and all I learned a lesson from it though. You never see it coming you just get to see it go..." -Drake

The anticipation for Drake's album "Thank Me Later" sort of died down after his debut CD "So Far Gone" wasn't what the fans expected. True music fiends know that an artists mix tape is usually better than their album, which is filled with heavy, watered down commercial tracks.

Drake proves on this second album that he can bring the mix tape sound to the retail shelves & sell. "Thank Me Later" is like listening to the audio version of Drake's diary (rhyme book).

The first track sets a melancholy tone of the album taking its listeners on his emotional journey of how fame has changed his lifestyle, family ties, and love life. Love, Success, Regret & Dysfunction, & Trust seem to be the reoccurring themes on this album. Drake airs out a lot of deep feelings that he probably kept bottled up regarding his relationship with his Father, "My dad called me up knowing that I still listen and he still got his foot out, guilt tripping,"Grandmother ", "I heard they just moved my grandmother to a nursing home and I be acting like I don't know how to use a phone," Women "I'm always up to late I worry bout you there alone in that place you call your home, warm nights and cold patron. I hope you don't get known for nothing crazy cuz no man wants to hear those stories about his lady," Groupies "She just trying to make it, so she right here getting naked. I don't judge her, I don't judge her, but I could never love cuz to her i'm just a rapper, and soon should have met another."

"Thank Me Later's" solemn tone definitely eases up on tracks "Show Me a Good Time" where Drake loosens up the buttons on his button up and gets his listeners ready to experience nightlife at its finest. The album mood shifts into serious party mode with "Fancy", which is definitely going to be the ladies summertime anthem because its all about the state of being fly.

Shut it down is probably the track that Drake wrote solely for me. Oh yeah, I'll fathom that all 6:59 secs was packaged just for moi.

Drake knew to get the sickest producers including Timbaland, Crada, Noah "40" Shebib, Francis and the Lights, Jeff Bhasker, Al Khaaliq, Kanye West, No I.D., Omen, Swizz Beatz, Boi-1da, and Tone Mason to grace this album to capture the right sound. I think Drake and the team succeeded!

Although, I have so much love for my Drakey Poo I do believe the way he spits and busts out in song is borderline annoying, but somehow remains infectious. Drake's random storytelling and subtle corny punchlines like, "baby you finer than your fine cousin." Okay, Drake why did you have to go there? And, for what? We get the point she fuuiiiiiinnneeeee!!!!! But it works and all is fair in love and hip-hop...

Thank Me Later

B+

1. Fireworks Featuring Alicia Keys

2. Karaoke

3. The Resistance

4. Over

5. Show Me a Good Time

6. Up All Night Featuring Nicki Minaj

7. Fancy Featuring T.I., & Swizz Beatz

8. Shut it Down Featuring The-Dream

9. Unforgettable Featuring Young Jeezy

10. Light Up Featuring Jay-Z

11. Miss Me Featuring Lil Wayne

12. Cece's Interlude

13. Find You Love

14. Thank Me Now

Latest New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/arts/music/13drake.html

As pop as pop can be...

Auburn is making her mark on the pop music scene with her latest single "La La La,". Coined “The Princess of Beluga Heights” sort of what Rihanna was to Def Jam Records, so lets see if this good girl will go bad. Auburn is signed to sizzling Multi-Platinum producer J.R. Rotem's new label, Beluga Heights, which is a linked deal with Epic Records.

Rotem has produced multi-platinum hits for Rihanna, Sean Kingston, Jason Derulo, Iyaz, Leona Lewis, Britney Spears, Rick Ross, and the star studded list goes on and on. Any pot J.R. seems to dip his hands into whether we're pop heads or not seems to turn into gold, so this is probably not the last time you will hear the name Auburn.

Auburn has several cutesy tunes including "Get my jerk on", reply to New Boyz jerk anthem, "Superman", and "Top of The World". Even if bubblegum pop isn't your cup of tea, you might find yourself humming the melody to a few of her tracks after one listen.

Auburn style is fresh, her sound is what the radio has programmed listeners to love, and she has a team of creative geniuses that will market her directly to pop cult followers.

What more can I say, but Auburn is as pop as pop can be...

I AM A SUPERWOMAN

Finally, I can break my silence, dust my pretty self off, come up from prayer position and tell the world how my dreams are starting to unfold before my eyes and announce my blessing to the world...

Two weeks ago I received a phone call, which I missed from a Consultant from Monster.com announcing on my voicemail that he needed to speak to me ASAP. So, I immediately returned the unknown man's call, but there was no answer because it was after 5:30pm on a Friday. Dang! Then, it finally clicked in my mind, woman, its Friday, which means the man left the office. Don't give up! Maybe he checks his work emails from home during the weekends. Nah, but hey it won't kill me to try. So, I flooded his inbox with a few subtle, but forward messages letting him know that I received his call and I asked if he would return my call at his earliest convenience. Alright, i'm not gonna lie I even called homie's office on a Sunday before and after church. I know, I know I pushed it, but thats how excited I was. So, to kill time I prayed, yapped my friends ears off for the next 24hrs and finally reached the guy from Monster.com first thing Monday morning.

John was a friendly man who I tried to keep on the phone for a while because I wanted him to see how enthusiastic I was about being 1 out 8 applicants chosen out of a pool of 5,000 to become a candidate for the Head Blogger position for one of my Sheroe's Alicia Keys site www.iaas.com I AM A Superwoman, (Ughhh Hmm which I AM).

Well, if you know me personally, read any of my articles, recognize my name from email media blasts then you know that I am a Writer first, Educator, Woman's & Youth Advocate, and lover of timeless music. I live and breathe journalism, my fingers touching my Macbook keys is the ultimate high for me. I have been writing for as long as I can remember and have been working with young women in my community since I was 13 years old.

I graduated from Howard University---The Real HU almost 3 years ago, tear. BISON!!!! And, ever since I moved back home to Boston from the steep HU Hills I have been grinding and chasing after my dream to become a successful Journalist. My journey has been a turmultous one filled with a near death experience, losts, sleepless nights, 8 hour bus rides 2x a week from Boston to NYC to work at a mag, tears, rejections, successes, but in the words of another Sheroe of mines Still I Rise. I rise to beat the odds of being a statistic. I rise to beat the odds of never giving up even when you hear so many No's and experience so many Setbacks. I have genuinely applauded other peoples successes even when I felt it was my time. I never hated, I just congratulated because I was once told when your neighbor is being blessed that means blessings are in your neighborhood.

All of the doors being slammed in my face only left me with four options Seek God's Face, Have Faith, Grind, and Start Building Doors for myself to walk through. So, I write until my fingers are sore, teach youth within my community until my mouth is dry, and continue to walk on a journey that I call the grind.

Thats who Nakia Hill is in a nutshell. I hate to say that because what I just described is not one tenth of my journey. One thing is for sure I AM A SUPERWOMAN. I AM A SUPERWOMAN because I AM STILL HERE. I am here to share my story with so many SUPERWOMAN from Japan to Kentucky. If you have overcome adversity, chasing after your dreams despite setbacks, and have managed to keep your head above water in the midst of the storm then you are a SUPERWOMAN.

I need everyone's support, votes, and prayers. Once I AM A SUPERWOMAN www.iaas.com announces the 60 applicants on their site I need you to vote for me NAKIA HILL. Come visit my page via If you want to help turn my dream into a reality Please Vote for Nakia Hill to be Alicia Keys Head Blogger. Log onto www.iaas.com .


VOTE FOR ME @ www.iaas.com

When you vote please leave comments on my blog entries and I will make sure to send you lots of LOVE! Trust me, I will cover the most impact filled, intriguing stories that will shed light on issues affecting all SuperWomen and their communities.

Besos,

Nakia

New Video: Teairra Mari Ft. Gucci Mane & Soulja Boy "Sponsor"

Before Rihanna there was Teirra Mari princess of the R-O-C we running this---you know the rest! Its been a hot minute since we have heard or seen this lady in action, but she's back fiercer than ever with a few catchy songs including "Sponsor".

Now, if you heard the song prior to this post I know what you may be thinking--straight "gold digger" anthem, but I beg to defer! Lets not get it twisted people. What's wrong with a sista having a sponsor? Hey, don't judge me or Teirra because if you watch the video in its entirety you will see who her sponsor really is...

What is a sponsor?! "He ain't no square he just like to share!" I luvvvv that verse! Ok-no-really I believe a sponsor is anyone who supports your grind. Shoot Jesus is my sponsor because he puts the fuel in my classy tank for moi! So, you can be your own sponsor its not about gettin dem dollars from a Suga Daddy ladies and fellas who think i'm encouraging modern day prostitution or gold digging. Not so! Its all about being independent, but independence doesn't always mean you didn't have a sponsor or two along the way... I'm just saying!



"All my ladies say, my go-go girls say!!!"

-Nakia

New Video: Erykah Badu "Window Seat"

Erykah Badu knows how to make your eyes drop and make your ears ring with her tunes. @Fatbellybella is stirring up Twitter bugs with her brand new video "Window Seat" where she sings a low key melody underneath hardcore lyrics delivered oh so subtly.

The lyrics in "Window Seat" have arrived right on time because I know so many people including myself just get in a funk or mood where you feel caged in, not defeated, but caged. I think theres a difference because if you free a caged bird it will fly, so there's no defeat when you still have the ability to fly when given a chance. I know the feeling of going through and sitting on a plane and praying that no one sits beside you just so you can be alone to cry. Purging is good. The message in this video means so much to me Freedom, War, Peace, God, Integrity, Love, Oppression, and everything else in between.

What do the lyrics mean to you?



Erykah's album Amerkyah will be released March 30.

-Nakia

New Video: Lady Gaga & Queen Bey "Telephone"

When I was a little girl I always fantasized about being like Madonna, but now that i'm older I definitely wish I was one of the dancers at the end of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video.

I can see it now me and Bey are the only brown girls out of breath in the middle of the dance floor BOOM, BOOM KAT!!! Yes, i'm on beat because i've been practicing for months in 6 inch heels for this very moment to show the world my FIERCE DANCE MOVES rockin a fly, imported honey blonde wig & tight gold metallic bodysuit that is sure to suffocate my vagina, but hey its for the love of Lady Gaga & Bey. SUPERSTAR!!!

And, then... I woke up and realized that I was daydreaming as I watched this fab video "Telephone". I never really came to terms about how I truly felt about Lady Gaga. Is she peculiar? Heck yeah! Artistic? For Sure! Genius? Absolutely! I mean anyone who goes from stripper to pop icon and pulls off those creepy costumes that she rocks on a daily basis and not give a dang about what no one has to say is FIERCE in my eyes. She's like the Madonna of our day! So, I have succumb to the madness and say, I luv me some Lady Gaga!



Since, Bey is the QUEEN of all things it is so unfair to say that this video is "Featuring" Beyonce because she's the WO-MAN! My gurl don't make video features BEY is the VIDEO!!!



Do you love or hate?

-Nakia

Album Review: The Love & War MasterPeace

Timeless, Raw, and oh so Eloquent are words to describe the R&B hippie, neo-soul, rock star's classic album "The Love & War MasterPeace". After March 3, 2010 the music industry will never be the same with the release of Raheem Devaughn's latest project. The DMV native has took music making to higher heights on "The Love & War MasterPeace", which goes beyond old fans expectations and is sure to create a cult of R&B hippie followers.

Mr. Devaughn has definitely earned a timeless artists rank on this album, which is reminiscent of an audio history book with a dash of spoken word documenting past and present wars, devastating natural disasters such as the earthquake in Chile and Haiti, and records the impact Love can have on mankind.


"The Love & War MasterPeace" is narrated by Dr. Cornel West who offers his perspective on Raheem's delivery of his musical R&B sermon. West declares in the albums intro, "Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Isaac Hayes, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, and Gil Scott-Heron is now coming alive in the music of my dear brother Raheem Devaughn! He's created a masterpiece, but he wants inner peace to be found in your life, so that your life can be a masterpiece as you listen to his masterpiece."

On the first track "Bulletproof" Raheem tackles the issue of oversea and street wars. He sings, " Some will die over oil, kill over land. Charge you for taxes and Blame Uncle Sam. Read you your rights and charge you for nothing. Now who’s really gangsta?".

The album features collaborations with Damian " Junior Gong" Marley, Ludacris, Wale, and Malik Yuself. There are numerous tracks that are just plain beautiful, witty, and touching discussing issues of domestic violence "Black and Blue", war "Nobody Wins A War", marriage "Wife" and surprisingly dildos "B.O.B".

"Nobody Wins A War" is a star studded collaboration with Jill Scott, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Ledisi, Chrisette Michele, Citizen Cope, Dwele and Chico DeBarge. "Nobody Wins A War" sounds like a 2010 version of Marvin Gaye's "What's going on". Its truly a deep track that sheds a bright light and a loud roar on the pointless act of war. Jill Scott delivers a strong spoken word piece at the end of this track calling out the government.

One word that is extremely fitting to describe "The Love & War MasterPeace" is without a doubt, no punches held, Classic...