Thursday, July 31, 2008

Maiysha--A Breath of Fresh Air


July 30, 2008 will go down as the day I saw a musical savior! Yes, I know that is a really big thing to say about someone, but trust me when I say that this sista can carry the torch. Her name is Maiysha. Write that down, take a picture, embed it into your memory because you don't want to forget her.

I went out to see her at Tillman's in NYC for a showcase and to be honest I didn't know what to expect. I do admit I am very picky when it comes to music being that I know the sounds and styles that appeal to me. So as I'm sitting at the table with some network and label friends waiting for Maiysha to grace the stage, I take in the intimate spot that is Tillman's. It is a great venue for a showcase for an artist to shine or at least attempt to shine. The band began to play this funky jam that had me bobbing my head to the beat. The background singers began vamping a bit when all of a sudden this statuesque woman in a black dress with tassels a la' Tina Turner came confidently to the stage. She stood there and took in the room and began to sing. At this point my eyes were fixated on her in that dress. She had legs for days and I had that look on my face from when you were a kid and you got caught looking or doing something you were not suppose to do! But when I heard her sing I quickly got myself together and was drawn in from her voice! Maiysha not only was shining she was glowing!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=58183314

Maiysha can S-I-N-G! I believe that is an understatement to describe this woman and her talents. This woman represents a whole lot more. When I was at Yahoo Music, I created a station dedicated to artists such as Maiysha called "Soul Revival" and she is the epitome of what that station represents. Artists like her, Eric Roberson, Conya Doss, Alice Smith, Amp Fiddler and Rashaan Patterson are truly what makes music a beautiful source of comfort.

Soul Revival Station http://music.yahoo.com/launchcast/stations/station.asp?i=46745645

Maiysha is hands down a beautiful woman--remember my eyes did get stuck looking at her. LOL. But she also exudes confidence, strength, sensuality and that sure star-power when she is on the stage singing. Her vocals and lyrical content are so on point. I couldn't think of who she reminds me of which may be a good thing since that means she defines her own style and sound. Her set included songs that represented soul, rock, progressive, funk and a hint of reggae. Maiysha is like "31 Flavors" with the different genres in her repertoire. She even has a cover of former Genesis lead-singer Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer." She puts her own flavor and touch on it that makes it work from a woman's perspective. I know I was yelling towards the end of the song, "Hit me! Please hit me!"

Watch a live performance of her song "Chase" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKY5vI4CD_w

I love finding or being introduced to new artists and Maiysha is no exception. I know she will flourish in this game we call music. She has the entire package but most importantly she can sing and sing from the soul. In today's age of Pro Tools, voice enhancing tools and just plain no talent, Maiysha is again that breath of fresh air. I know with her in the business; music will still thrive and prosper.

Watch a live performance of her first single "Wanna Be" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTlxloaM0m0

Make sure to cop her album when it drops on August 26th, entitled "This Much Is True."

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Amy Winehouse aka Miss Can't Get Right....



The Good Amy!

7-23-2011
Addendum: How eerily ironic is it that I wrote this piece almost 3 years to the date of Amy's death. I can't tell you how I was feeling on Saturday when I read that she had died. I quickly remembered about this piece I wrote about the downfall drugs can do a person. I somewhat predicted some sort of demise of this young soul starlet. It saddens me that her demons overtook her and eventually took her away from this earth. My prayers go out to her family, friends and fans who loved her regardless. Gone is another star who shined bright but burned out way before her time! May God bless the soul of Amy Winehouse and may she be in a place where she can no longer hurt anymore.

This is starting to become a tired re-run as far as I'm concerned about Amy "Dope Fiend" Winehouse! This talented woman has definitely been through the "craze maze" since she started. It really saddens me to see her literally destroy herself so the whole world can see. It's like a bad sitcom on Fox or the CW.

Amy can go down in history with the likes of a Sara Vaughn, Aretha, Bessie Smith, "Ma" Rainey and even to a certain degree Mary J. Blige. But the course Amy is on she is headed down the path of a Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, Mama Cass and recent train-wreck Whitney "Hell to Naw" Houston!

Amy is a star but her light is rapidly starting to diminish. I'm starting to agree with Natalie Cole when she was opposed to the Academy giving Amy all of those Grammies this past year. That only adds fuel to the fire. The label and her "so-called" inner-circle only have one thing in mind with her and that's that "Money...Money...Yeah...Yeah!!"

The Bad Amy!
Yes, it has been more than documented that this woman has her demons but I really think someone needs to seriously intervene and shut her down for a bit. But that ain't going to happen as long as she is a hot-commodity and the talk of the town. And let's not forget a media darling!

Peep Amy for what she is a talented woman and not abuse her and take advantage of her weakness and insecurities that she possesses. Do yourself a favor and listen to her "Frank" album sometime this week. You will get a sense of how poignant this woman is and can be in the world of music.



http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/46570241

Monday, July 21, 2008

Eye Candy and New Music- Hell Yeah!

Now I will officially "Google" her! Teyana Taylor getting her "Tyra" down the runway! This Skateboard-P protege is doing her thing. My only question is where is the album? She does have a new single entitled "Move" and I'm suggesting they do that with the album!

Well that's my eye-candy for you fella's and I guess for some of you ladies too! She mos def has some soup coolers on her face region! LOL. But let's get to the hot shit! New music for you and yours!

Peep the new Common feat. Pharell "Announcement"
http://www.sinternet.com/newmusic30.php
This track is crazy! Pharell laced this joint like it should be laced. Common comes through lyrically like he always does. "This is hip-hop baby! I fien' to the tip-top baby!" Too be honest I think this is probably the best track Star Trek has done in awhile!


In other new music news I'm sorry to report we have a massive destruction of a classic! The culprits at-large are 4 dudes from Florida who go by the name of Pretty Ricky! These bama's destroyed H-Town's "Knockin' Boots" from the roota to the toota! I do give some props to the new dude on the vocals but the I'm sure the other "serfs" I mean rappers are not on the background vocals. Now if the label was smart they should just team this new dude up with the old dude and get another singing dude and...BOOM! You get a new Pretty Ricky! The rest of them horny raggedy-ass mouth cats can tryout for one of those reality love shows on VH-1. One thing is for sure...ladies you will get your ab fix on from this video a la D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"

Sidebar: Why does the chubby dude have a high-top fade? If he wants to stay in the group he needs to hit the gym instead of hitting them cakes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMX2j6MJHIE Wack remix version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrBnEaQd4ZY Classic H-Town original!

For the hell of it here the D'Angelo video for you ladies! Pre-pudgy D'Angelo at that. Remember Stretch loves the ladies! Yes, I do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ULZuCK_fgo

Lastly, I'm digging this John Legend and Andre' 3000 collabo! It reminds me a lot of Outkast's "Hey Ya" but that's a good thing. It definitely rocks and gets you moving! This is really a little walk on the dope side for John since he rarely does any uptempo joints. 3000 shines on his 16 as if you didn't know. I'm looking forward to Legends album for sure and also would like to see a video for this joint too! Check it out and tell me what you think.
http://www.sinternet.com/newmusic30.php


Alright, I'm out of here for this week. I hope I made you giggle like a piglet! (pay attention to the lyrics) Enjoy your week and remember to turn the music up!

Shoutouts to Vinny and the crew over at S.I.N. always on top with the hotness!

Stretch

Friday, July 18, 2008

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!

Wow, my first initial blog entry of many more I hope! I guess I can thank my former boss for sparking the fire under me to start blogging. I have been a little out of sorts lately as I do my best to find a job in the digital world. My plan for this blog is to hit you up with the latest music and give my "superior" opinion on the tracks, artists and just the music business in general. But this first blog is going to be my vent blog! Yea, like the "Mad Rapper" I'm a little peeved to say the least.



I'm sure many of you can relate to being laid-off...and I must say this shit sucks! I know the whole economy and all is in a complete and utter mess but damn! It wasn't that long ago I was doing my thing at Yahoo Music programming the hottest music on the 35 radio stations I oversaw. How quickly the tide comes in and wipes it all away. This is my first time ever being laid-off and I have to say it has been a struggle adjusting. Which leads me to the title of this blog..."Don't Believe The Hype!"



"Some media is the whack You believe it's true, it blows me through the roof Suckers, liars get me a shovel Some writers I know are damn devils For them I say don't believe the hype"



The prophetic words of Chuck D illustrates how I feel about so-called "friends" in the business. I know this is a bad time for everybody in the United States. But I am a person who holds true to his word and I expect the same in the return. I can remember when I first got laid-off, I was getting calls from cats saying, "Yo, Stretch! Man, I got you son. Whatever you need I can get you in here. We or they need a person like you." I was feeling like damn this is what's up! Cats got my back now that is true looking out...better yet that is true friendship. Now not all have been that way to me. So shoutout to those who have been a champion for me! But like that cornball cop in Beverly's Hill Cop, I fell for old banana in the tail pipe routine.



Working the world of "new media" and dealing with music there is so many jobs out there. Yes, it's all about who you know more than what you know. That is evident since there are a lot of people out here holding jobs that make me scratch my dome and wonder why? I digress though back to the lecture at hand. It just makes me laugh when people open their mouth to spew nonsense to you . If I want that I can listen to a 4 month old baby "goo-goo, gaa-gaa" even they make more sense than grown-ups at times. I have been out of work since March and I can't keep count the many times someone has told me how they can get me into a job only to be let down. What is the purpose of having contacts when they only fear that you're trying to take their job? Dude, I don't want your gig! I want my own job! We are all on this earth to help one another but I guess some of us wasn't privy to that memo. I know there are massive ego's in this business, hell, I have big one myself. But again I'm all about helping someone out no matter what. And if I can't help them I'm honest and let them know.



I just find it funny that people in so-called "high positions" just talk to hear themselves talk. I guess it's that mentality that you get when you work in the system. We all sit at behind our desk or at our cube with our feet up on the desk, looking at celebrity gossip websites and chucking down our lattes. Pretending to do something productive with our time and all only to be playing ourselves in the long-run.



This period of non-work as been like a true political game of flip-flop at it's finest. So many shoulda, coulda and woulda's thrown in my direction.



"Their pens and pads I'll snatch 'Cause I've had it I'm not an addict fiendin' for static I'll see their tape recorder and grab it No, you can't have it back silly rabbit"



The whole notion of someone saying they got your back on helping you find employment is full of shit! I'm not saying that I need the person to set-up the interview, go inside with me and do all the talking for me. I'm just asking for a chance. Just open the door slightly and I will kindly kick the rest in. Be a person of your word. If you say be about it! I guess I have been able to reassess my outlook on who is a friend and who is an associate. It's funny how many "friends" are being put in the associate category. I have seen sides of folks that I have never seen before. And for what...a job?! It's just a job. I don't want theirs at all. But with the recession on our backs I guess folks are feeling the pressure like no other.



"Rock the hard jams - treat it like a seminar Teach the bourgeois, and rock the boulevard Some say I'm negative But they're not positive But what I got to give...The media says this "



I just know this when I do get off the bench and back into the game my perspective won't change at all. I will still go and do my job to the best of my ability and not get caught up on a title or how much money I make. I will still do what it is intended of me and that is to be a "man" of my word and help out as many folks as I can. So do me a favor...if a friend comes at you boasting about how they can help you with this and that....DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!



The views in this blog are all mine and I stand by them 100% and if I offended anyone that wasn't my intention. Your conscious is just talking to you I guess. I'm just being real!

PUBLIC ENEMY-DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--41179777