Open top menu
Showing posts with label J Cole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J Cole. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2015
Drake, J. Cole, and Kevin Hart To Headline OVO Fest 2015

  • Posted on Friday, March 20, 2015
Aubrey announced on twitter the lineup for the 6th annual OVO Fest held in Toronto each year. The event will kick off on Saturday, August 1st with Kevin Hart making a stop on his "What Now?" Comedy Tour. Sunday, August 2nd J.Cole, with special guest Big Sean and others, will make a stop during the "2014 Forest Hills Drive Tour [See the dates: here]. And last but not least, Aubrey, and a select few guests, will close out the show on Monday, August 3rd.
Tickets go on sale on TODAY!

Natasha Marie
>> read more
Friday, February 13, 2015
ICYMI: J. Cole Announces The "Forest Hills Drive" Tour

  • Posted on Friday, February 13, 2015
THE REAL IS BACK! This morning J. Cole took to twitter to announce the beginning dates for his upcoming "Forest Hills Drive" tour which will feature guest acts Bas, Cozz, and Omen, who are all his Dreamville artists. The first act of the tour is 20 dates which kicks off this March in Eugene Oregon and wraps in April in Providence, RI. His last tour, "Dollar & A Dream", was six cities and cost $1 per ticket. Jermaine is cool AF like that.
The ticket sale dates nor the venues have been announced but check out the flyer with the first set of dates below:
Natasha Marie


>> read more
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
First Annual "This Year In Music" Review (2014)

  • Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Last year's year end review gave way to surprising results. I thought 2013 wasn't lucrative in sales but 2014 surely takes the cake. It had to be the saving grace of America's Sweetheart Taylor Swift that stopped the RIAA from committing musical suicide. I mean, what's the point of having an association to pass out certifications if no album has been worthy of certifying? Hence the changing of the rules and counting streams and records shipped versus just records sold. Honestly, that is a cop out. Surely, artists should strive to earn their certification off merit and not merely loopholes. Clearly it was deemed possible when SLAYlord Swift accomplished it in just one week. But sure. Go ahead. Celebrate the mediocre...which is what the bulk of the releases this year were at best. Last year, sales aside, it was sooo hard for me to narrow it down to just a top 5 that I had to throw in Honorable Mentions. This year I struggled with even choosing a top 5...the pickings were really that slim.
Without a doubt, topping my list for the second year in a row is Ariana Grande with "My Everything" [review]. The growth that she experienced from "Yours Truly" to this album was astounding. She took risks, flitted in and out of genres, and played with her vocal range a lot more. Some of my fave tracks include "Break Your Heart Right Back", "Hands On Me", "My Everything", "Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart" and "You Don't Know Me" but I listen to the album all the way through every time. Even the INTRO slays! Not only that but she shed her squeaky clean Nick image and proved that she can play in the big leagues...she is nobody's Mariah Carey clone and I LOVE it! Dropping two albums so close together had me a bit skeptical at first but now I can't wait to hear more from her. Hopefully she takes a feather out of Rihanna's cap and drops an album every year. I loved #A1 and #A2 and I am more than ready for #A3. Congrats Arianators! You truly have a star on your hands! I'm expecting her to take home the Grammy for Best Pop Album. For sure.
Look at SLAYlord and The Grim Reaper showing the proper respect as demanded by QUEEN Ari.

It took me a minute to get into Luke James' album but it wasn't for naught and not to say that it isn't absolutely GREAT because it is. It just slipped through the cracks of my overloaded schedule but I am so glad that I finally sought it out and reviewed it [review]. "Luke James" is very nearly a tie with "My Everything". I fell in all types of lust with him after this album. It is flawlessly executed and the vocals on this man...LORDT!  I don't think this album got all of the pomp and circumstance that it deserved and still does. It definitely deserved a Grammy nod but I'll accept the Best R&B Song nomination. Best songs on the album have to be "Options", "Exit Wounds", "Stay With Me", "Glass House", "Trouble", and "I Want You". Not to mention I met him at the Republic Records Day Party and he is super sweet and down to earth. He was all like "Hi I'm Luke."
And I was like
There can be no mention of the greatest albums of 2014 without speaking on the male counterpart to Adele aka Sam Smith. "In The Lonely Hour" [review] came for necks this year. He saw Adele exit and swooped in on the opportunity to snatch her crown...and snatch he did. I love "Stay With Me", "Like I Can", "Life Support", and "Make It To Me". I wasn't surprised in the least to find out he had been signed at the wee age of 14. The talent that Sam Smith possesses is truly beyond his years. He's an old soulful son of a something and I am here for every inch of him...musically.
J Cole is everything. He has moved up from last year's Honorable Mention list to the top 5 and it's well deserved. "2014 Forest Hills Drive" [review] is amazing, thought provoking, and a trail blazing album if ever there was one. I appreciate his fire, depth, and all around honesty. It's refreshing in a day and age where celebrities refuse to take a stance on race relations and social injustices that are occurring right before our very eyes for fear of being ostracised and losing fans. But Jermaine spoke up, spoke out, and slayed every one of those coward bitches on the charts. He's the "RAP GOD". Salute!
Last but certainly not least is Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint" [review]. This album swooped in at the last minute to take the final spot in my top 5. I already knew she was a contender, what with amazing singles such as "Pills n' Potions", "Bed of Lies", and "Only" but couple that with features from KING Bey and Queen Ariana this album got catapulted to the top of my list, skipping over all of the honorable mentions. I love how emotional this album is. Onika truly put her blood, sweat, and tears into this project. "The Crying Game", "Feeling Myself", "Get On Your Knees", "I Lied", "Grand Piano", and "All Things Go" have my heart but I listen to this album from beginning to end, no skips. All hail EMPRESS RAP GODDESS OF ALL THE LIGHT TOUCHES! She has the female rap game on lock.
I, of course, have to round out my top albums list with a select few honorable mentions. In no particular order: Taylor Swift's "1989" [review], Jeezy's "Seen It All - The Autobiography" [review],  Teyana Taylor's "VII" [review], Chris Brown's "X" [review], and, UNEQUIVOCALLY, Mariah Carey's "Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse" [review]. I highly doubt I left anything off. This list, in and of itself, was already a stretch. However, everything on this list is definitely worth a listen and if you love them, by all means purchase them! ESPECIALLY my, surprisingly male dominated, top 5!
What were your fave albums of the year that didn't make my list?

Natasha Marie


>> read more
Friday, December 12, 2014
Wow! J. Cole Performs "Be Free" on Letterman

  • Posted on Friday, December 12, 2014
I said it before and I'll say it again: J COLE IS THE REALEST. Like EVER! He took to the Letterman stage and took every single person watching in America outside of their comfort zone. He used his platform to make our issues known. He brought #BlackLivesMatter to the forefront. AMAZING! The song was already everything that MLK and Malcom intended it to be but he added a verse! YAAASSSSSS! This is WHY Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and Sojourner spoke the truth. So that our generation would have the strength and courage to speak up against injustices. LORDT. I'm about to catch the Holy Ghost. 
Just watch the video below:
Also, an extra special treat. Check out J Cole's interview with Angie Martinez. This has got to be one of the most inspiring and thought provoking interviews I've watched this year.
Hats off to J Cole and please please go cop "2014 Forest Hills Drive". Album is indescribable! [Review]

Natasha Marie
>> read more
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Album Review: J. Cole - "2014 Forest Hills Drive"

  • Posted on Tuesday, December 9, 2014
What's the price for a black man life?
I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight
I turn the TV on, not one hero in sight
Unless he dribble or he fiddle with mics

It's here folks. "2014 Forest Hills Drive". No singles, no features, just J Cole: raw and real. What I love about his music is that there is ALWAYS a message. Always. He is much like Tupac in that way. He isn't into fads. He's just about reaching the masses with his music and providing a positive message. No gimmicks. MISSION. ACCOMPLISHED. This album gives us a cool ass vibe, with blink and miss choruses, and the reemergence of real hip hop. Welcome to J Cole's world.
"2014 Forest Hills Drive" is J Cole's diary, named for his childhood home in North Carolina, and filled with his most personal thoughts and opinions...especially about other artists. YAAASSSSSS YOU BETTER COME FOR IGLOO AUSTRALIA!!! FINALLY! Somebody gives us the real. I'm so tired of people tip toeing around T.I.'s rap crisis who is parroting lyrics she knows naught of. And to do it so eloquently. Snoop was doing too much. Azealia Banks was doing too much. But J Cole hit the nail on the head! History repeats itself and that's just how it goes/Same way that these rappers always bite each other flows/Same thing that my nigga Elvis did with Rock n Roll/Justin Timberlake, Eminem, and then Macklemore/While silly niggas argue over who gone snatch the crown/Look around my nigga white people have snatched the sound/This year I'll probably go to the awards dappered down/Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile...
If you love Jermaine's style then you will love this album. Without a doubt. It's true to who he is as an artist. If you're looking for some club bangers then you're barking up the wrong tree. It's not all solemn though that is the general direction. He acknowledges money, power, and respect, but is probably the most humble artist out now. I don't think you can want more from an album that is so full of quality lyrics that make you think about life and all of it's wonders...or injustices rather.
The fear lies in my lack of awareness of the other side
Today I know that we are the same
Are the same, you and I
Different kind of skin, different set of eyes
Two different minds, but only one God

You have to admit: J. Cole is the realest. "2014 Forest Hills Drive" is online and in stores NOW! Check out the stream below:

Natasha Marie

>> read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)