LIVE(life)LOVE(life)HIP-HOP(is life)

Is Apple Blocking Spotifty’s US Launch?

niafree — Mon, 30 May 2011 13:54:18 +0000

The Majors have been toying with the idea of launching Spotify in the States for some time now. The service appears to be great and anyone who has ever used it swears by it. Rumors are now circulating that Apple is partially responsible for the delay of Spotify’s US debut. Sources believe The Majors are waiting for Apple’s new music service to hit the scene before they give Spotify the go-ahead. Knowing the politics in the game that is very possible; but knowing some of The Majors disdain for Apple it leaves an eye brow or two raised. We’ll see where this story takes us but I hope Spotify pops off around these parts sooner than later.

Jazzy Jeff Vid

niafree — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:11:33 +0000

Jazzy Jeff “The Magnificent” from The Cut on Vimeo.

Vimeo Video

niafree — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:11:14 +0000

Video Test

niafree — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:08:37 +0000

vid

niafree — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:54:45 +0000

Erykah Badu – Jump Up In the Air ft. Lil Wayne & Bilal

niafree — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:43:57 +0000

One of my favorite artist, Erykah Badu, is set to release New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh on 03.30.2010 A.D. Honestly, whenever I’m tired of the mundane popular music of today, I listen to Erykah Badu (especially Baduizm).

She has given us her new song (which has 9 other versions with 9 other emcees) and self directed video. Enter the erykahlidoscope and check out Jump Up In the Air…

Tagged: Bilal, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne

They Reminisce Over ‘Ye

niafree — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:10:42 +0000

All my friends know (and those who follow me on twitter) that I miss Kanye… five months without him in music game and I truly feel like something is missing. So over at itsthereal.com they created a video dedication to the man we love and miss… the best of all time (of recent times lol)… Mr. West, that is… check it out…

Tagged: it's the real, Kanye West

B.o.B aka Bobby Ray… May 25th Mixtape

niafree — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:19:44 +0000

Bobby Ray aka B.o.B. couldn’t wait until May 25th for the release of his first official album, B.o.B. Presents the Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010, Grand Hustle) so he gave the people May 25th (his 6th mixtape). With features from J. Cole, Asher Roth and Charles Hamilton; May 25th is a decent prelude to what many expect to be a great album (like nothing we’ve heard before being that B.o.B. gives us a Hip-Hop/Country/Rock/Funk/R&B influenced “OutKast/Gnarls Barkley/he sounds like Bobby Ray” type of sound). He may not be YOUR twist but if your twist is good music, get with it. Shouts to DJ Drama and the Apphiliates!!!

DOWNLOAD NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gladiators ft J. Cole

Above is the Gladiators track which features J. Cole… its not one of my favs but its J. Cole and he holds his own on the track.

Tagged: Apphiliates, Asher Roth, B.o.B., Bobby Ray, Charles Hamilton, DJ Drama, Gnarls Barkley, Grand Hustle, J. Cole, Outkast

Big Sean is… Finally Famous…?

niafree — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:26:36 +0000

Supa Dupa Lemonade freestyle is tearing up the internet and since I really like Big Sean… Here you go

And this is an older (not too old) video… Million Dollars

Tagged: Big Sean, G.O.O.D. Music

Trying to stay alive…

niafree — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:50:41 +0000

When everyone was claiming that hip-hop was dead, or dying, on life support or suffering in some way about three years ago I was watching R&B slip away. What happened in R&B that took the soul out the beat? It was as if the pop explosion of the late 90′s rolled over and began to suck in the R&B artist… there just seemed to be a lack of soul, passion, love songs, ballads, and real singers (I mean people that can BLOW not Ciara or Chris Brown). I love Christina Aguilera but it struck me as odd that “Back to Basics” was one of the best R&B albums of 2006 (no knock though, it was an amazing album). Do not get me wrong there are artists who hold strong to their R&B roots but little attention or not enough exposure until they come out with “cross-over” or pop hit. Now let’s say you’re thinking about the question that I’m posing regarding the state of R&B and you don’t agree that Chrisette Michele, Ryan Leslie, Melonie Fiona, Solange Knowles, Robin Thicke, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Jennifer Husdon and a few other relatively new comers are reviving a genre that fell upon hard times… then tell me who was holding it down for R&B in let’s 2006 and the three preceeding years.

I’m happy to say that R&B is coming back and Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Musiq aren’t the only ones making love songs nowadays. Amongst the mundaness that has taken over the artist in the industry today I’m realizing that the new trend is to be different which unfurtunately results in everyone being the same… There are a lot of new talents coming up and I’m hoping that ten years from now I’ll still be excited about the music industry as I am now.

BUT for the time being I’ll put up a few new R&B songs I heard today.

Ryan Leslie – You’re Not My Girl

Melonie Fiona – You Stop My Heart

Melonie Fiona – Walk On By

Melonie Fiona – Magic

Mario – More Than Friends

NiaFree

Tagged: Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Chrisette Michele, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Mario, Melonie Fiona, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Ryan Leslie, Solange Knowles, Trey Songz