Carlos Ferragamo: Shades of Blue 2.5 Carlos
Rating: 10
It was my pleasure interviewing the brilliant and talented Mr. Carlos Ferragamo for the September issue of TNE Magazine Music. We thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to share with us his inspiration for his latest album, Shades of Blue 2.5 and how he manages to balance his hectic career and personal life. Carlos Ferragamo also gave us his valuable advice on how new comers and veterans alike can protect themselves in the entertainment industry. Listen to the Phone Interview with Carols now to get great tips on the steps people need to take to have a stable and prosperous future, in and outside of the industry.
DJ Khaled: Major Key
Rating: 10
This album unlocks the door to having the most successful collaboration album in hip-hop hisotry. This album has hip hop Kings and Princes from Nas, Jay-Z, J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, French Montana, Drake and more.
Top Song: Every track is sensational but the track by Nas "Album Done" was a mic dropping moment on the CD.
De La Soul--and the Anonymous Nobody
Rating 10
This classic hip hop trio came back with a vengeance with their extraordinary story telling skills and smooth vibes. The fans desperately craved for their musical comeback and De La Soul gave it to them in style.
Top Songs: "Greyhound" and "Trainwreck"
Syreeta Thompson Trumpet Lady: Winner
Rating 8.5
Syreeta is an astonishing trumpet player and singer. Her uplifting voice, music and lyrics can brighten up anyone's day. For her 3rd gospel/jazz album she gives you that Southern gospel feelind with a new school twist.
Top Songs: "You Still Love Me" and "Change"
Tamika J: Addicted to Love and Queendom
Rating 8.5
Tamika J. is a beautiful Queen with a unique and addictive sultry voice. As heard in her song, “Addicted to Love.” Her voice over those late-night style beats made for a dangerous combination of an addicting hit! Tamika J. has a variety of musical selections to listen to. In the song “Queendom,”it’s as though she’s every woman’s big sister giving them advice. Telling them not to seek validation via social media or from other people but to know that the person staring back at them in the mirror is a Queen. A powerful message, delivered to us by a powerful artist, Tamika J. I look forward to seeing her win an award on television one day.
Keenan the First: The Burden of Forgiveness
If Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean had an illegitimate child together, his name would be Keenan The First. His socially conscious lyrics and head bopping sounds can be heard in his song, "The Burden of Forgiveness." People definitely need to keep an eye on this Hip Hop/Neo Soulish artist to see where his music journey is going to take us. Hopefully he'll be releasing some more tracks or a full album in the near future.
Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate
Rating: 10 Notes:
The live album recordings gave it that old school Marvin Gaye mixed with Pink Floyd feel. Listening to each instrument come alive through my speakers and beautiful voices carrying the chorus in the songs, made this musical voyage a masterpiece.
Top Songs: This electrifying album started off with a soulful sound with a touch of rock called COLD LITTLE HEART and ending the album with the amazing song RULE THE WORLD. Every single track was mesmerizing.
Maxwell – blackSUMMERS’night
Rating: 7
Maxwell's album is just like the Jason Bourne movies, it may be the exact same story line every movie, but you’re still going to buy tickets anyways.
Top Songs: Maxwell brought back his neo soul sound with great songs like "1990x", "Gods", and "Lake by the Ocean."
Fantasia – The Definition of...
Rating: 8
Fantasia gave her fans this eccentric album showing off the Fifty Shades of Fantasia.
Top Songs: "Crazy" and "Ugly"
Bonus Review
Jordan Fisher
Fisher is a triple threat in the entertainment industry, he’s an actor, dancer and singer, with a sex appeal that’s driving ladies wild. He’s making the transition from child actor to pop star look easy. With his self-titled 4 track EP, every song was more addicting than the next. Hollywood Records is giving us a sample of what’s the come. I will be anxiously awaiting his full length album, which will hopefully be dropping sooner than later.
Album of the Month
Frank Ocean: Blonde
Rating: 10
Listening to Frank Ocean's Blonde was an emotional roller coaster that I didn’t want to end. Three years ago I lost my Mother and listening to Frank Ocean, “Be Yourself,” made me reminisce about her. I can remember purposely avoiding answering her phone calls because I knew she would always leave me a voicemail giving me loving advice.
After going to school in the city of dreams and moving across country to the city of angels, my mother would leave a voicemail always introducing herself at the beginning of every message. Her voicemail in her mid-western accent would go, “Hello Kai, this is your Mother, I know you’re working late, so walk with your purse inside your jacket, keys in your hand, just in case someone tries to hurt you, you can stab them in their eyes and run...OH and ZIP UP that coat so you don’t get arthritis in your bones when you get older...love you and call your Mother back.”
In the track, “Be Yourself,” Frank Ocean plays a voicemail his Mom left him telling him to be himself. I’ve never cried listening to an album before, but at the start of that minute and twenty-six second track, tears of joy ran down my face. Because we are both so lucky to have/had someone that cared about our well be some much that even though they couldn’t talk to us, they still left a message letting us know they loved us.
Ocean's album is about friendship, love, lost and spirituality, as noted in the track, “Godspeed.” He even touch bases on how ridiculous our society has become so consumed with social media verses socializing, as told in “Facebook Story.” This is more than just an album, it’s a look inside a diary called life. FRANK OCEAN’S music and lyrics are so transcending because it’s relatable. That’s why people feel so connected to his music. It took Frank Ocean 4 years to put out new music and I pray it doesn’t take him 4 more years to come again.