The Double Standard

It has always been a double standard and not just within the music industry but the world overall. Women are told not to act sexual, not to be a "hoe" but we praise men who have many partners or brag about their sex. Truth of the matter is women know the game and they have perfected it. It was said a long time ago by a famous rapper (2pac) that you don't make music for the men you make music for the ladies (not exact word but for editing reasons ya know). When you make music to appeal to the women the men will buy to please the lady.

When women make music they appeal to both. They appeal to the eye for men and appeal to the ear for women. Women are not actually glorifying the sexiness. They are glorifying a version of themselves that they might not be able to show. They are living through that artist, the plus is connecting and enjoying the music that is being made.

Nicki Minaj is getting so much backlash with her "Anaconda" cover and for what selling sex...please how old are we?

There is no difference between her single cover and a King magazine that is on the stands in most grocery and book stores. Nicki made a comparison to Sports Illustrated as well. What's so different between her showing off her body and "The Body Issue" that comes out every year. Art is art and we can't condone one without giving the same respect to the other.

Beyonce was super sexual in her self titled album released at the end of 2013 and was called every name in the book, but here is a business woman just doing what she's supposed to do. She's married has children but isn't supposed to feel sexual. I think they call it "Feminism" The Double standard needs to stop.



This is okay to have printed though right?

And This huh?

Point of No Return

This album title speaks volumes for Keyshia Cole

The album title signifies the end of a marriage, the end of rumors, and possibly if this album doesn't do well...the end of a career. For years we been saying that like Mary J Blige the public doesn't want to hear you singing about how happy you are. We want to hear about the low life men you've come across and the painful relationships you been through. Pain has created some of the best songs ever and Keyshia is no stranger to that.

It was the pain and grittiness that had the world fall in love with her in the first place. When she sang "I should've cheated"  you felt it...you was right there with her. The happiness she went through was great for her personally but horrible for her career. Now that she is pretty much single again and dealing with the aftermath of her marriage...the music should be GREAT. With the release of her new album cover earlier last week we have learned that she has worked with Stargate (Ne-Yo), Mike Will (Kelly Rowland), and Mario Winans.

Yes I do fall into the "fish plate" jokes but I really want to hear what this album will bring. Hopefully less "Rick James" and more "I Choose You" from her previous album.  Like the title says...Point of No Return, because if this doesn't work out she can always start a girl group with Keri Hilson & Ashanti.  LOL

Can Missy "Work It"

It's been almost ten years since Missy Elliot released her last album and every couple of years we get a snippet or a feature that gets us excited...but no album.  I personally gave up on it until I came across a couple recent interviews.

Most recently Rap-Up.com did a story about Missy's upcoming album and the reason for the delay

read that article here

Right now outside of the underground scene we just have Nicki Minaj and Iggy doing it for the female rap game. I'm not really up for the female rapper against female rapper stuff but I am really excited to hear some new Missy. I wouldn't say Missy is the best rapper but her overall package is what I miss. You get the crazy along with the creative. You put Missy's creative juices on top of a Timberland production and you have freakin MAGIC. Word is the first single is ready to go, it's on Missy when she feels the time is right.

Hopefully as she has described this new album...it's a GAME CHANGER.

Throwback Album Review~~~Brandy Afrodisiac

With one of the most unique voices in music it's hard to believe that Brandy has been on the scene since 1994. With such hits as "I wanna be Down", "Almost doesn't count", "Sitting up in my room" and countless others it's shocking to see an album from her not get the credit it deserves.


After a slight wait on June 28th 2004 Afrodisiac hit stores with great critical acclaim but failed to capture previous commercial success. This in itself was one of the reasons she asked to be released from her Atlantic Records contract. The recording of the album took place mostly in 2003 with super producer Timberland. The album and production was a major departure from what many fans have come to known from the artist. Bubbly, sweet, loving music was replaced with eccentric hip hop beats and very mature lyrics which mostly told the story of her life from the past two years. Many times the singer has said Darkchild had created a sound with her and then gave it to everybody else. She wanted the new album to sound more raw...more street.

The lyrics and production may have been different but the vocals and the unique way Brandy emotes emotion were not lost. The queen of vocal layering did not disappoint with such favorites such as the title track, "I Tried", "Necessary" and "Focus". Internationally "Afrodisiac" was the most successful single. The album did get nominated for Grammy's and MTV music awards but to date has only gone Gold.  This album is a gem and a most listen during relationship struggles. In interviews when asked about this personal album she says

"It was an edgier Brandy, a sassier sound, but still with a lot of heart and a lot of passion."

Couldn't agree more.  If you don't have it in your collection already your missing out on great music from a spectacular artist. 

What's the end game

             Year after year, rumor after rumor I just shrug my shoulders when I hear people talk about Jay Z and Beyonce getting divorce. I roll my eyes when I hear the rumors about cheating and infidelity. This is a power couple and they have already rolled through the bruises and the bumps. I never bought into it...until now.

Don't get me wrong I love seeing people in love...especially black love but parts of me are starting to wonder if the King & Queen of music are headed toward separation. They have been a couple pretty much since 2002 and both of them have been very secretive on how they met and what drew them together. Was it a love connection or was it a business plan that has gone above and beyond both of their dreams? Think back to 2002, at that point Jay Z just started having commercial success and Beyonce just started her post Destiny's child career. I've always agreed that they both bought something to the table that the other needed. Jay Z bought his savvy business sense. He bought creative ideas, he bought street cred, and he also bought another mans opinion about business besides Matthew Knowles. Beyonce bought a since of class and stability to a man who has always been called a playa and "super ugly".

Beyonce already had a level of celebrity and star power. I'm sure Jay Z saw the "it" factor right away and together they could do a lot of great things. I don't believe it was love at first sight for Bey. People don't give her the credit she deserves. At some point I'm sure she did fall in love with him but at the start I'm sure for her it was the "ultimate come up". She latched on and learned the business, and from album to album you could see the wheels turning, you could see the stakes raising higher and higher.

Now here we are 12 years later at a point where things could be starting to crumble. No matter how secretive and careful you are...you cannot keep this level of notoriety a secret. Nobody's marriage or relationship is as perfect as they try to make it. At some point the walls start to crack and if you keep just covering the holes without taking a look at the entire wall...it will keep cracking until it all falls down. If this match made in business heaven does come to an end...how will it happen?

It is entirely too much at stake. They are invested in more ways then one. Let's forget there combined net worth is near 1 billion. Let's forget together the "On The Run" tour is making history. Let's forget that one without the other is not as successful. The important thing is they are parents. They are way to private and into the brand of themselves to have a messy public split. I see maybe a more behind closed doors quick sign of papers and a lengthy well written press release. This is even if they even split at all. The marriage as we know it could be dissolved but for financial reasons they could stay married and only come together for music and performances while living a separate life all together.

TrueFAN does not want this power couple who seems very happy together to split but I would be lying and a lot of you would be too if you say you haven't thought about the circumstances if they didn't last. How ironic was it that once they both finished touring the world see's tattoos missing and Solange going in on Jay in the elevator that "On The Run" tour came to light. I'm sure the tour had been thought about long ago though <smile>

I-Tunes about to step it up.

Ever since Beyonce gave no warning...other artists are trying to take what she did and elevate it.

Nothing is wrong with this at all but the big question is...WHO WILL IT BE.

The word on the street is ITUNES is gearing up for another exclusive album release from a huge artist. Beyonce's exclusive ITUNES release caught the world by storm and gained high praise for it's creativity and fan friendliness. It was a move that made artists wonder if the the old way is still the right way.

This next release that ITUNES will do is said to be a very marketable artist but it probably won't be as big as Beyonce's surprise was. This artist is carefully weighing give aways, a possible live concert in the midst of the release, exclusive prizes through social media and more.  So who is the artist that's about to do a Beyonce 2.0???

Nobody knows yet but the names that have been put out there are right on the money.

1. Rihanna.
This is right up Rihanna's alley. She is the only artist that has given Beyonce any competition and it's only right since she has been very quiet musically. A highly anticipated album is due for her and I guarantee if it's her the numbers will either match or surpass Beyonce's.   And that will only be because it won't be a surprise...this artist will make it known when the album is coming so people will sit at the computer at 12am and download.

2. Janet Jackson
It's been rumored for over a year now that Janet has been back in studio working on a project that some say has material as good as her classic "Velvet Rope" album. Janet has been low key but has made it clear that she is making music that she loves and that she cares about. With so many Janet Jackson fans young and old this would be the best way for her to announce her return to music. The only reason I think this might not be her is because Janet has been away for so long. Plus with some of her 90's counter parts Mariah and Toni having issues appealing to this new generation of music buyers  it will be hard for her to reach Beyonce numbers. But if she did decide to go visual like Beyonce did she would EAT IT!!!!

3. Adele
I'm not real clear on this one because Adele is not the kind of artist to give visuals plus she doesn't need an exclusive campaign to set records and sell millions. However she is a super Beyonce fan and could possibly be looking to get more bank for her buck.

4. Ne-Yo
One of three males that have been talked about. Ne-Yo is an artist that could surprise and so something of this caliber. Granted he hasn't been as successful as he was before but best believe he does have world wide appeal to give a great album with visually appealing videos (cue the music video for Lazy Love). The things that would have to align for Ne-Yo is a groundbreaking song as a first single...HE DOES NOT have the appeal to just tweet "My album is out" and people will flock.

5. Fergie
A str8 up surprise this would be. The Black Eye Peas front woman is no stranger to chart success. However she hasn't had an album since her break through Gwen Stafani esque album. With the right production (WILL I AM) and the right song I could see this.

6. Kendrick Lamar
This along with Rihanna feels so right.  Kendrick is not the typical hip hop artist. He is very calculating and a perfectionist. I can see a visual album from him and with Dr. Dre producing his new album this would be the kind of media blitz that would take him to the next level. We all have heard the rumors that Kanye had the idea of doing a visual album a long time ago but I think Kendrick would do it justice.

7. Usher
If this was 2005 or 2006 I would be so here for this...but let's face it. This is an artist who has declined over the years and just kind of surviving at this point. I like Usher's music but he is not the world wide smash he once was. Plus I'm not seeing a Confessions part 2 coming so this would the wrong artist.


Take a raead
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2014/03/17/beyonceexclusive

Busy summer for Brown

Earlier this week  Chris Brown made news for once about music instead of his legal woes.

Granted he accused his former manager Tina Davis of leaking his music but overall it's been quiet or him. Now that he has completed his 90 day rehab stint in anger management he is back to making music and getting ready for two big releases. His new album "X" which will be released on May 5, 2014 he is also teaming back up with Tyga to release Fan of a Fan 2. The mixtape he released with Tyga helped bring brown back into the spotlight after being shunned by the industry after the Rihanna fiasco back in 2009. That album produced great tracks such as "Deuces" and "Aint' thinking about you". They are looking for that same magic and recently released the song "Bitches". I'm not a fan of the tittle but the song is a club jam. I'm sure the radio version will be just as good lol.

Here is to new music from Chris Brown. His personal issues are crazy but his music never
 disappoints to me.