Feelin’ Good

Whats one song that you can groove to? No matter what might be going in your World?

Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Feelin’ so good’ is my absolute favorite song EVER! I’m sure I say that about every song I love, but its such a feel good song. Shit, I still remember the video. Jennifer walking thru the neighbor, then getting ready for the club with her friends. I loved it, the idea that, that would be me! And now that I am an adult, it IS me! Although I haven’t been to the club in forever. The song has been on repeat for the past few days.

Tristan J.

According to … Kiana lede

“Now you feeling guilty, that’s your conscious, Cant you tell a bitch is fed up with your nonsense.” -Kiana Lede

“I know how to be accountable for everything Ive done […] I know I fucked up once and its bad, so I cant front. Guess I’ll just smoke this blunt.” -6LACK

This is not taking account for your actions, telling me you know HOW doesn’t make you accountable for them. List them out, speak on what you’re actually taking accountability for. Giving me a line about it means absolutely nothing to me. Apologize, give me changed behavior, actually growing and working thru your fuck up is what’s going to make me stay, or possibly come back. I know your tactics so doing what you’ve done is going to work, especially when a woman is fed up.

Tristan Jonez

Lyrics from Second Chances ft. 6LACK

Kiana Lede

Listen! Listen!

When I suggest an album, an artist, you need to listen to them immediately! Kiana Lede, is one of those artist you should already be listening to. Even before her album KIKI dropped, but I won’t hold it against you if you haven’t listened to this Queen. BUT If you don’t run and listen to her soon, we are going to have an issue. With features from Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, Arin Ray, Col3trane, and more, this is such a R&B album, with tracks you’ll want to repeat for the Summer especially the song Labels featuring Moneybagg yo and BIA. I think I am going to do a “According to Kiana Lede” section because we need to break down these lyrics, including my favorite song Second Chances.

Tristan Jonez.

According to Wale …

“Met a lot of women, got a lot of niggas, but everybody full of shit, that’s why we back and forth again. My heart severely scorned and you the cause of it.”

Oh Wale, there’s so much to unpack here, with just two sentences. So you’re willing to stay in a “relationship” with this person, although she’s scorned your heart because everyone else is full of shit? Isn’t that how it works tho? Especially in this age of companionship? How many times have we met someone, started to get to know them, then the red flags pop but instead of falling back, we fall deeper into?

If I’m honest that was my plight with my most recent ‘love’. Shorty has been hurt before, probably more than once, but he refuses to seek assistance on how to move forward past them. Then here I come into his World, showing him something different from what he’s used to, being consistently consistent, but he’s hesitant to fully give me a chance. He’ll continue to entertain other women, cuz then he really doesn’t have to face his past traumas or give me his whole heart but I’m not here to ‘heal’ him if he’s not willing to do the hard, frustrating but necessary work. He’ll rather go back to what he’s used to cuz how can you get hurt when your able to control the experience?

Tristan J

Song Lyrics from LOVE… (Her Fault) Ft. Tiller

Ari Lennox

I just want you hands around my … throat.

Ari Lennox recently dropped her album, and I can literally listen to every single song, without skipping anything. The more you listen to the album, the more you want to listen to only it! I am trying to give the other artist in my Spotify playlist a spin but after one song of someone else, right back to Ari Lennox I go.

I was fortunate enough to be able to find tickets to her show in Orange County, California. I didn’t know it at the time but It was the second show on her shea butter baby tour. Of course, I purchased the meet and greet package, cuz duh! It was a hassle to get to the West Coast from Chicago, I had to connect in Sacramento but the show was more than worth every single aggravation! Good Luck, scoring a ticket to ANY of the remaining shows, they are all sold out, and if they aren’t, the tickets that are available are ridiculously upcharged.

What are your favorite tracks on the album? Because I couldn’t just pick three, my top five are FaceTime, Up Late, BMO, New Apartment and Broke. Honorable mention, Whipped Cream and Choke, although that’s not on the album.

Tristan Jonez.

JT

Growing up I definitely was a fan of N*SYNC. When Justin decided to go solo, even in my child like mind, I knew that was a good look. It also helped that, solo, he was more geared towards R&B versus pop with N*SYNC, being friends with Timberland prolly assisted in the seamless transition. Random Thought; Do we place him in the ‘blue eyed soul category? And if so, is that considered an insult?

At first listen I didn’t exactly love the album , Man of the Woods, but upon locking myself in with it, it’s actually a very good album. I know folks crossed him off after ‘NippleGate’ but it’s been how long? Let’s let it go! I can’t remember the last time I went to a concert but I do believe in this album so fondly that I’m considering seeing him when he arrives in Chicago. If you’ve experienced the album, how does it move you?

Tristan J.

Back Home (Issa Review)

I keep telling myself I am not a Rap fan, that I am strictly an R&B girl but I find myself tuning into Rap Music far more than R&B nowadays. Well with that said, let the review begin.

A catchy hook will always draw me in but Im always praying that the song, whether its the beat or the lyrics will keep me there. For artist, Pretty Boy Lou, he along with his production team, has managed to create music thats a elegant blend of rap and hip hop. On song Seven Figures, his voice comes across raw, as if he is a hungry ass artist, looking for his shine and this is his last chance. The song features Dru Gunnz whose own voice, is deeper but lighter, which affectionately reminds me of a unique Nas/MethodMan blend.

On Back Home, Pretty Boy Lou features his mom, which is a sweet gesture, that anyone can appreciate. And although I do appreciate the gesture, I do believe that this could’ve been his opportunity to possibly collaborate with a bevy of unknown artists that may have rounded out the album better. The album is a refreshing sound, with not only amazing vocals, provided by Pretty Boy Lou, but the music itself is a breath of fresh air. I am excited to see where Pretty Boy Lou will take his music, however I do see longevity.

Be Sure to Pick up his music, as its available Everywhere.

My Top Three Songs, Only One, Sunshine, Seven Figures with an honorable mention, Through the Pain.

Tristan Jonez

Music Hall Radio City

So I had the pleasure of seeing Miss Solange perform in person at Radio City Music Hall here in NYC and she was as marvelous as you would picture her to be. I do have to admit, she came on towards the latter part of the evening, I was getting worried that she would only be on for thirty minutes, but she was on stage for about an hour. Dancing, Singing, and Taking command of my emotions! As you would expect she performed songs from her current album, Seat at the Table, but she threw in T.O.N.Y, which I sung and felt every word, she added two songs from True. I’ve been rocking with Solange for a long time, so although I loved her slowed down version of T.O.N.Y, I would’ve loved to hear more songs from her album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. OMG! So many classic bangers!
Solange definitely seems like someone I would be friends with. A No hold bars chick who speaks exactly what she’s thinking. How can you not appreciate that?!

Tristan Jonez.

SideNote: Not that race is a factor but it is, however, there was more white folks than blk people at her show. And maybe they like her music as much as I do, but I kinda would’ve like to see more brown folks who KNEW her music as intimately as I do.

Groovy Baby.

There is nothing like Soul Music from the 70’s. Nothing.

As I was walking home last night, I started to feel blue, but before I could give in to the feeling completely, “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green came on. It’s one of my absolutely favorite songs. I wasn’t around in the 70’s but whenever I listen to music from that period, I am transported back. I see myself walking through the streets of Harlem with my afro, bell bottoms and platform shoes. I would’ve loved to see Al Green performing ANYWHERE! Every song its like he’s singing only to me. He makes being in the love the most intimate act ever. Listening to Mr. Green just makes your senses alive, its like your heart has recognized him, and behaves accordingly. Either there’s an old soul lady within me, or I was born in the wrong era musically.

Is this the same for you guys? What genre just moves your soul?

Tristan Jonez.