Grammys Rule America’s TV’s

Grammys Rule America’s TV’s
By Greg Brand, Jr.
**Special from STAYONTHEGO.COM

Beneath the ever-present shroud of Whitney Houston’s untimely demise, the 2012 Grammy Awards proved to be a ratings blockbuster with a varied collection of live performances that nearly bested the point of the entire telecast: honoring last year’s best in music.

For three and a half hours viewers got an opportunity to see lists of winners released to the public, several actual awards presented during the show and performances from a virtual who’s who of the music industry.

Interestingly, the live performances doubled the number of actual awards presented and apparently, viewers loved it. With 39.9 Million viewers giving undivided attention, the Grammy Awards pulled in its highest rating in decades.

It’s difficult to label a particular reason behind the Grammys sudden surge in popularity with the public considering the number of variables impacting this year’s event. In fact this year’s ceremony marked the removal of 31 categories from the Grammy roster (more on that later), its first full-fledged host in seven years, major buzz for the return of powerhouse vocalist Adele, and planned memorial performances for both Etta James and recently departed Houston.

It would seem that a perfect storm came together to make this year’s Grammys a success and it worked.

Millions of people tuned in, a pair of music legends got honored with class, LL Cool J did a good job as the host and the ceremony’s golden girl, Adele, took home all 6 awards she was nominated for, along with a glorious return to live performing.

While this year’s award show did give tons of entertainment and honor, several key groups did get the short end of the representative stick.

Of the aforementioned 31 awards eliminated from competition, nearly all of them were ethically important. In fact, this year’s trimming left the R&B categories with only four awards.

There has also been quite a bit of public outcry since pop and country music received little to no adjustment in their number of awards.

Of the awards present to this year’s artists most got the awards we all knew they would get with a few surprises.



Award Highlights:

•Adele managed to prove that real vocals and heartfelt lyrics can still produce a superstar. Her album, 21, is now being heralded as a modern classic having gained the solid approval of fan and critics alike.
•Classic-pop crooner Tony Bennett’s collaboration with the late Amy Winehouse earned one of the two awards he would receive for 2012.
•Bon Iver takes home the highly coveted Best New Artist trophy, outshining his much more commercially explosive contemporaries.
•Kanye snags all four rap categories for both his solo standout album, My Dark Twisted Fantasy, and superstar collabo album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne.
•Cee Lo Green walks way with two awards for his standout soul jam, Fool for You, with Melanie Fiona.
•Chris Brown makes like Dixie Chicks and comes back from social exile to earn a Grammy for Best R&B Album.
•BET’s Sunday’s Best winner, LeAndria Johnson grabbed her first Grammy for contemporary gospel performance.
•Betty White snags another spoken-word Grammy.
•DJ and producer Skrillex nabs two Grammys for his work that has been taking him from behind the scenes to in front of the lights.


Performance Highlights:

•Tasked with the heavy burden of honoring one of her heroes, Jennifer Hudson’s heartfelt (and lower octave) rendition of I Will Always Love You, was breath-taking and spot-on for the occasion.
•Adele’s performance of Rolling in the Deep was as powerful and fiery as one would expect and the world is happy all of that surgery kept her voice right where it should be.
•Bruno Mars’ performance of Runaway recalled memories of old Hollywood with the glitzy styling and Elvis-style hairdos… the music wasn’t half bad either.
•Rihanna’s performances were cute and controlled. She sang and performed well… maybe there is more to her than a pretty face and woefully average voice.
•Chris Brown proved to us that he is a dancing machine… that would have been great had he sang more than a couple words.
•Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys’s duet of Etta James’ Sunday Kind of Love was gorgeous and capture the raw and refined elements of the woman that gave tribute.
•Nicki Minaj’s performance of Roman Holiday was an over-the-top circus of a show. It was like the Exorcist and Lady Gaga scripted the event and I’m sure it have several conservatives throwing holy water at their televisions.
Full of entertaining music and a sprinkle of actual awards, the 2012 Grammys proved worthy of its pomp and circumstance.

BACK FROM THE DEAD! New Music!!

Yeah, it's been a minute but never the less two new tracks...


I know he is the cornball of the television comedy world but Wayne Brady does it like a pro in the track F.W.B. (Friends with Benefits). Its smooth and sexy an will make you think that just for a second Brian McKnight was back in the game.
Wanye Brady-- F.W.B
http://www.zshare.net/download/64027195fec62a8c/


With an interesting sound and concept, the relative newcomer Attitude makes a blatant statement on top of a grinding groove that almost makes you forget he is doggishly telling his chick to "shut up" so he can blow her back out.
Attitude-- Blow Yo' Back Out
http://www.zshare.net/download/64027228c4d1b48b/

That new-new you ain't supposed to have... apparently

So thats how we do!


http://www.zshare.net/download/6140908309eaafe7/

Is it that deep?

Readers, the powers that be are hating on you.

For some reason, they would prefer you not be able to get a few new things to bump in the ride, ipod, mp3 player or whatever you use.

I've made it a habit of posting new-ish music on here for your consumption but someone doesn't like it. Last week I made three new songs available via my z-share account but as you can see there are only 2 featured in the post right before this one.

The entire post was removed and the third song was even removed from my z-share. (How the HELL did they do that?) regardsless, its back up and OOPS, I reposted the song!

Grab it while you can.

Greggie

Picks of the Week 2 (again)

After the release of their hugely successful debut album despite singing in almost total unison, the sexy sister act, Nina Sky is back with a single that features their lucious voices atop a soulful island groove. Check out, Loving You by Nina Sky featuring Notch.

http://www.zshare.net/download/611957438ef677d0/


Southern hip hop staple and club-friendly emcee Gucci Mane steps into the spotlight once again the the slinky hit, Slumber Party. Feature all of the trademark charisma and bravado that has made him famous and the undeniable sex appeal of featured artist Nikki Minaj, this single is made for at least a little carnal enjoyment. Check Out Slumber Party by Gucci Mane featuring Nikki Minaj.

http://www.zshare.net/download/611957428ef677d0/

Rick Ross album has forced a truce

Now, anybody that knows me or has been keeping up with my published work, I am not what you would call a fan of Rick Ross. Its not that the music isn't good or he gives lame performances... its that he doesn't give me the consistancy I expect from so-called gangster emcees. He toggles in and out of beef with other rappers and lets not get into the situation about his police-based past! Hell, he stood me up back when I was program director for my college radio station because we had T.I. coming in that day!

Check that story out here...
http://media.www.tsumeter.com/media/storage/paper956/news/2006/04/24/ArtsEntertainment/Keepin.It.Real-2192864.shtml

The point of controversy here is that I deeply enjoyed his new album, Deeper Than Rap. It is the hip hop album most listeners have been waiting for. It combines commercial and street and does it with style, not with lame and overused cliches. It is an album of classic proportions and even if I'm not a fan, I really dig this album. Check it out.

Greggie

Rick Ross breathes gangsta on newest LP

Deeper Than Rap
Rick Ross
Grade: A

Amid a swirl of controversy surrounding the legitimacy of his subject matter and street credibility, Miami-based emcee, Rick Ross has slapped every single naysayer in the mouth with one of the best hip-hop albums in recent history.

Deeper than Rap is a lyrical tour-de-force, focused in tales of life and living both in the spotlight and outside of it. With Ross’s attention to detail, he has dropped an album of epic proportions.

With solid wordplay and varying levels of inflection, the album is never a bore and will appeal to casual hip-hop fans and diehard hip-hop heads alike.

The fact that the album is so good comes as a genuine surprise. While Ross’s last album was ripe with hood sensibilities, his current reputation killer is centered around his not being as legitimate in the streets as his lyrics claim him to be.

While his response has been unusually quiet considering the reputation he had previously been building, this album is a loud response that will undoubtedly silence the haters.

Though this album is falls in line with what is expected in modern-day, money-praising hip hop, Ross used his rhyme skill and a few other tricks to jump outside the box a little.

Within general mainstream music, the world-music sound is the prevalent and popular trend. While R&B singers have been able to cash in on the trend and succeed, rappers have not been as fortunate.

Somehow, Ross has found a way to create a world-music style with a sound all his own.

On the John Legend featured single, Magnificent, Ross gives an up close and personal glimpse of the good life that being ‘the big man’ provides. The production creates the perfect backdrop to the dazzling commentary and features Legend’s gorgeous vocals on top. The beat is made for cruising and the opulent subject matter somehow validates something as passé as cruising around with no clear destination.

For much of the album, the connection between the lyrics and the music is one of the album’s strongest components. For many albums there is no attention paid to the overall concept but Deeper than Rap does this well.

He continues this on the trend on the Robin Thicke featured Lay Back as well. On this track, Robin Thicke’s rich vocals paint another gorgeous canvas that Ross polishes to perfection.

Here, lush musicianship accompanies solid lyricism and the result is glorious.

This is clearly evident when the world-music theme jumps to the islands on the reggae flavored Yacht Club. Here assisted by Magazeen on the hook, Ross outlines more of the good life but does it with a tinge of island flavor.

While Ross still makes a large percentage of the album all about the hood, the tales read as believable, especially when the look switches between hood and his new status as a rich man.

Ross raps with more of the same gritty and grimy street lore he is known for but the production makes this album a cut above his previous release.

While Port of Miami and the subsequent, Trilla, are solid presentations for the semi-gangster emcee, the production was competent but not ground breaking. For every verse that stood strong with bubbling street credibility, not every track lived up to the hype.

This trend was improved upon with the coming of this album.

With a bevy of ear-catching beats from The Runners, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and The Inkredibles, this album is a full-on sonic adventure in addition to being a rap fan’s dream. Ross comes across as more real than ever before despite his current run-in with the tabloids.

It’s also apparent that his credibility killing run-ins have not hurt his relationship within the industry either. With guest spots from, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Robin Thicke, Nas, Foxy Brown and Trina among others, he is not struggling in the support department.

In the end, the album manages to make listeners forget all about the mess that has been attached to the rapper and pay attention to what counts—the music.

Bottom Line: Deeper than Rap lives up to its name and proves that controversy is not always the killer and being a lyrical gangster is the only kind that counts.

Gregory Brand, Jr.