Music Fly- Anticipation Proclamation, December Edition

December is shaping up to be a good month for Hip-Hop and R&B music as I anticipate the release of these new albums! Alicia Keys. [Sigh] It's so serious that her name was the only thing I needed to say in that last sentence. Her talent is unparallel and there's no other piano playing, song writing, hip swaying, singer in her class. I'm a huge fan, and judging from the three new singles I've heard from The Element of Freedom [my favorite being "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart"] I'll continue to be. I didn't doubt it; she had me at "I keep on falling". The Neptune affiliated rap Duo Clipse is back with “Until the Casket Drops” and while I can't say I’m their biggest supporter, I will say they're better than most artists out and I do like their style a lot. Sure they make a lot of paraphernalia references, but since they do it in the form of art, it’s all good. The multi-talented Chris Brown is making headlines with his third release Graffiti. His first album was a classic, the second one was just as great. I think the "I can transform you" single [and video] is one of the hottest out now and I am overtly in love with the song "Crawl". Glad to see Breezy's back, like he never left. What can I say about Robin Thicke? He's soulful, handsome, and has a great vocal range! I loved his second album Evolution so much I went on a mad hunt for the first one, you know, when he was sporting long tresses and a messenger bike? Yep. However, as of late, all the videos I've seen him in so far have me a little weary. I don't know man..."sex sells" but you're married to Paula Patton Mr., take it easy. I do suppose it makes sense though, considering the fact that the album is called Sex Therapy, right? We’ll see where this goes. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is here, Stronger than ever, you can’t deny the power of Mary J. Blige. She’s continuously been an artist that you can blindly trust with music. I know a bunch of people who feel like the music isn’t as good since she’s been drama free, but come on guys; you know we couldn’t handle TWO “Whitney Houston- like” situations, [insert screw-face here] so stop it.

Fly Music- Buzz Worthy Barbie

What do you get when you mix pink lipstick, an animated personality, edgy lyrics and a touch of raunchiness together? Nicki Minaj of course. After I decided to click on a link from one of my beloved social networking sites I finally got an understanding of who or what the "hype' was about. Ms. Minaj had been floating around in random conversations all over the internet on some of my favorites sites before then; and I hadn't stopped to pay attention at any point yet. But after I listened to about four tracks off the “Beam Me Up Scotty" mix tape, I was in. The now Young Money affiliated rapper hails from Jamaica, Queens, and was discovered on her MySpace page. We can thank Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art for setting her in motion, which is actually the same school the movie "Fame" was inspired by. How do you like that? So far she's been featured in Urban DVD magazine, The Come Up [not to be confused with the J.Cole mix tape that we'll get to soon enough ;-)] mix tapes with Little Wayne, a remix with T.I. and is also on Robin Thicke's new single, "Shakin It For Daddy". Seriously folks, that's the name of the song, promise. But in any case, my opinion is that her freestyle ability, risqué wardrobe and material girl attitude are all a force to be reckoned with. Up against a group of men during the freestyle segment on the BET Hip-Hop Awards she proved just that, here's an excerpt from that freestyle: Call me Dracula 'cause all I do is count tricks/ your money mini and I ain't talking 'bout the mouse trick/ these girls running like I just threw the bouquet/ they know I'm headed to the top like a toupee," Minaj spit. "Now all the bums is wondering where I bees at/ you ain't a Barbie, it's none of your freakin' beeswax!" - cute & clever... Nice!