Big Sean: Mixtape Review

Today's review: Big Sean, an up-and-coming artist under Kanye West's label, G.O.O.D. Music, from Detroit, Michigan.

Now, the first time I saw him was at the Def Jam party at Brooklyn Sneaker Box and to be quite honest, while he was performing, I was barely paying attention. I was more focused on the Nuvo being served at the open bar *guilty face*.

Anyways, I took his mixtape CD, "U Kno Big Sean", home and popped it in the laptop to give it a listen. I've got to admit, it was pretty good. Hell, it had to be if I sat down and listened to the whole thing in its entirety in ONE sitting. And then jumped straight the computer to blog about it. Then again, it is 3 a.m. and I could have just been hella bored. Anywho, the CD has 31 tracks [yeah, I know I'm crazy for the one sitting thing] and though he has a few featured artists on it, Sean did pretty well on his own. He featured Mike Posner, Pat Piff, Earlly Macmillion, Keely, Santigold, Jay K, Dusty McFly, and Jwan.

With a swag and voice similar to Drake and obvious influence from Kanye, Big Sean embodies nothing but the making of a success story. So far, I'd have to say my favorites are "Intro", "Desire, Want, & Need", "Who Knows", "Mr. Incredible", and "Say You Will". Ain't that alot of favorites??

I believe his debut album "Finally Famous" is set to be released sometime in 2009. I see great potential in Big Sean. Looks like Kanye has good taste. Hopefully the general public does too.

Semi Album Review

While at a promotional party for Def Jam Recordings at the Brooklyn Sneaker Box, I was handed an album sampler for upcoming R&B artist, Jeremih. The Chicago-bred artist has been at the top of the charts with his hit single "Birthday Sex."

The sampler contained five songs off his self titled album, set to release June 30, 2009: Everywhere We Are, Birthday Sex, My Ride, Raindrops, and Birthday Sex (uptempo version).

While listening to the tracks, I could not subdue this reoccurring though-- The Dream. In just about every song, with every croony note, I imagined The Dream singing all these songs. Not to say The Dream could perform them better, I just felt that it was semi-autotuneish, although I believe that is just how he sounds.

The songs themselves were not bad, they were catchy enough to have me sing the words if I listened to it a few times. I had to skip over "Birthday Sex" because the radio has already overplayed that track.

And oh-my-god. The uptempo version of "Birthday Sex" has GOT TO GO. I have never heard a song so annoying. I'm assuming this was meant to be a club remix or something, but quite honestly, if I heard this in the club I would stop dancing and cover my ears.

I will try to keep an open mind about his album since I only heard 5 songs, and it would be unfair to judge him accordingly.

Jeremih, I hope you impress me a little more come June 30th. Good Luck.

--TheSRV.

New Yorkers Unlimited "Talent Show"

Let me get this off my chest early: this was not a real talent show. This was just a showcase. If there were judges of any sort, they were dead.



Now for the critique.



Overall, I felt that it was a very entertaining show for the audience. Aside from the rather annoying, overly talkative, and borderline ignorant hosts/MC's, the show went along nicely.



After stalling for about half an hour with some of NY's favorite songs, they opened the show with a duet to "The Boy is Mine" (Brandy and M0nica). It was cool, one was a little shaky but she made a recovery.

The next act was a bit of a love poem by "Blac." I must say, this poem was quite the attention grabber. It was sexual, yet sweet. Though the girl spilled their share of "awws" and "oohs," the males couldn't help but excessively point out the poem's great length.

Right after the very Valentine's-Day-appropriate poetry performance, I guess it was time for a good laugh. Unfortunately, the assigned comedian did NOT deliver. Let's just say his one good joke eventually flopped.

Next up was a VERY comedic skit by "The Team" about a dating game. Let's just say that granny stole the show... Gumming things.. Lord help us..

As it is New York's custom, there had to be a get light competition. JJ, Crys, and Adjie held it down. Extra props to Adjie for holdin down Queens =].

The rest of the actual show consisted of rap and song by BFAM and some others. Good job to all. BFAM had the crowd engaged, even though we knew the content because it already appeared on facebook =/. Boo to the host for stoppin their flow do to obscenties. Pish posh, this is college.
group with hype boy

The final performance was a guest appearance by Vizion dance team. They blew the crowd away. Here's a little sample until my camera ran out of time:




Overall, the show got an A for entertainment =].

--TheSRV.

25 in the Big NY

Stress, confusion, crowds, tardiness, separation, disorganization- all words that come to mind when you think of a trip to New York. However, 25 Magazine was able to dodge most of these on their second (my first) journalism trip.

With a relatively small group of aspiring print journalists (plus a stray events planner and photographer here and there), 25 Magazine was able to pay visits to the American Society of Magazine Editors, DigiWaxx, WWD, NYLON, VIBE, Billboard, and GIANT magazines in two days. These two days, for some, could have been the two most inspiring days of this month. No, seriously.

VIBE and NYLON took the cake. Not only did both welcome us with open arms to their offices, but provided 25Mag with so much advise to both better the website and our own individual careers. The speakers at these two magazines had such enthusiasm in their voice, instantly letting us know that they love their jobs. Both provided a speaker from each department of the publications, right down to someone from Human Resources.

Unfortunately, VIBE loved us so much that they ran us over on our time, causing us to be about an hour late for our visit with Billboard. Luckily for us, when we called to beg for forgiveness for nearly missing the appointment, they told us to come anyway.

A small part of the group ventured off ahead of the group and ended up missing Billboard, meeting us up later at GIANT. This is where the first part comes in: stress, confusion, crowds, tardiness, separation, and disorganization, with the addition of conflict. Let's hit the fast forward button, though. We didn't need the drama then and we don't need it now.

Our trip to the 'Big Apple' finished out with a bang right in the lobby of our budget hotel. Apparently, it was the birthday of a very pleasantly plump and pleasantly drunk man, and he approached us, asking for us to join in his festivities. After a rather swift decline from our EIC, the man grabbed and hugged her, not taking no for an answer. He wasn't getting any hugs back, so he went for the smallest in our group, and lifted her up, sling her over his shoulder. He began to spin her around, sending just about everyone into a panic. Birthday Boy still was not satisfied with our lack of birthday love for him, so he saught out his own with the lone boy of our group. Though his own hands were the barrier, Birthday Boy leaned his face all the way down to the face of unlucky boy from our group. He was quick to resist, angrily pushing Birthday Boy off. Though we could tell he was not happy about the situation, 25Mag laughed about the incident the entire walk to the train station.

Overall, 25Mag's visit to New York turned out to be not only a great learning experience, but a true success.