My last ever contribution to the dance section for Blues and Soul before the publishers went into liquidation.
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Monday, 11 June 2007
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Rihanna_Single_Cover
We first heard from Rihanna back in summer 05’ when she released her first ever single ‘Pon De Replay’. After topping the charts with two killer dance-pop records, the Barbadian singer charged things up with the hit soul-searching ballad ‘Unfaithful.’ This was when Rihanna truly launched!
The Island beauty is now celebrating the release of her new single ‘Umbrella’ where we see Rihanna combine her seriously sexy side with dance floor sensibilities to make for her best track yet. The single is exceptional and is club rotation material with a hot rnb twist twist. Jay-Z’s appearance on the track also makes for pleasurable listening and overall assembles the track into an all round banger!
The single ‘Umbrella’ is due out 28th May.
The Album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ is out on June 4th 07
Picture 064
N-Dubz consists of Tulisa, Dappy and Faze; three very talented artists who have fused together as one of the biggest bands since The Beetles. Ok, so that may be a bit of an overstatement however, the group has received much attention and airplay from the likes of Channel U and Kiss.
We first heard back from the three-piece when they released their first ever single ‘You better not waste my time’. The track has proven to be the driving force behind the group’s success, but they well and truly exploded when ‘I swear’ hit our screens. Both a fusion of UK hip hop, grime and pop, the track spread like wild fire and before anyone knew it, N-Dubz made UK underground history.
UKmusic.com catches up with the guys as they just get back from a gig in Newcastle. N-Dubz, N-Dubz!
UKM: So how did you guys come about?
Dappy: Well boy, Tulisa is my cousin [he sings] “N I to the frikkin ny,” Faze is my boy, we’re N-Dubz and we all started when we was babies. We’re not a manufactured band; we started from eleven and twelve years of age all the way up to right now. Therefore we are now called N-Dubz and we will be the biggest band in the world.
UKM: Who came up with the name N-Dubz?
Tulisa: Basically, the N in N-Dubz is for North-West because we are from that region of London and Dubz can mean anything you want it to mean. We chose to be called N-Dubz and Not NW-Dubz because we wanted to cover the whole of North London.
UKM: Tell us a little about the new album you guys are working on?
Faze: Yeah! Make sure you lot get this album, it’s going to be hot! You will not be let down; track one to sixteen is a sing-a-long, you can listen to that, your mum can listen to that, your uncle and aunty can listen to it and their nieces and nephews can listen to it!
Dappy: Don’t forget the thugs in the street and Santa Claus, they can listen to it as well!
UKM: What are you guys calling the album?
Dappy: We don’t have a name for it just as yet but we are debating over it. It should be out in September. I can’t wait till it drops, it’s going to be like a bang! N-Dubz, N-Dubz.
UKM: Tulisa, how does it feel being the only girl in the group?
Tulisa: I’ve had this one before. [She throws her hands in the air] I love it! Nergh it’s good because I enjoy it and there is no bitching. Plus I also get to be the drama queen. I’m the only diva around here and I love it.
UKM: Dappy, I heard you can be a bit bossy at times. Is this true?
Dappy: Nergh Nergh Nergh! If anything don’t go the way we want it to go, then I’m going to get pissed off! It’s got to be a hundred percent correct at all times. When it comes to work, we are really serious; I mean we get straight down to business. So if Tulisa isn’t hitting a note like we want her to hit it, we will just make her do it until that vocal is perfect.
UKM: Who plays the parent role in the group?
Faze and Dappy: The mother hen is the madam sitting over there [they point to Tulisa].
Tulisa: Yeah it’s true, I am the mother around here.
Faze: Yeah man, she beats up Dappy as well!
UKM: Serious? I hear you lot are karate champions or something? What colour belt did you leave at?
Faze: Yeah I was one away from black!
Dappy: Black all the way! I learnt how to defend myself and I loved learning new moves.
UKM: Would you ever use your karate in a real life situation?
Dappy: If it comes down to it then yeah, I have a couple of moves I can use. I have used them before you know; this is the street man [he laughs].
UKM: We wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of you Dapz! If you could put laxatives in anybodies tea, whose would it be and why?
Faze: Dappy’s! He never lets me sleep. This guy will not leave me alone and let me sleep for one hour, so it would be Dappy’s.
Tulisa: Well actually, I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this but I’d probably put laxatives in the Queen’s tea.
UKM: No way! She is too old, she’ll die!
Tulisa: Ok, Tony Blair’s then! I just hate the whole government, I don’t trust them.
UKM: Is it true you guys slept round Coolio’s house?
Dappy: Yeah we slept round his house.
Tulisa: Basically, we know his step-son that’s about it. Plus he is also in the Viva Las Vegas video.
UKM: What do you guys think of the UK music industry and awards ceremonies such as the Urban Music Awards?
Tulisa: Well it’s good I mean, it gives urban artists something to look forward to rather just doing something for nothing.
Dappy: It was unfortunate that we had to crash the UMAs last year as well. We should have got an invite I mean, we were the biggest thing going and we didn’t even get nominated for any awards.
UKM: People have seen you being rinsed on Channel U, what are the haters saying?
Dappy: Oh we love the haters.
Tulisa: Yeah we love them! I almost had a fight with some kids last week. They were a bit small so I kind of allowed it.
Dappy: This is something to write down. Say we are performing in a big performance and someone is saying boo or whatever and get off the stage, then that is the person I’m going to be performing to.
UKM: Do you think it’s only around London that people do that?
Tulisa: Nergh. You get that stuff everywhere I mean, there is always that one person in the crowd who is going to try and ruin it for everyone else.
Dappy: I’ll tell you why that person does it as well. Because he wants to get that female but that female comes to us. Oh by the way, Faze had his trainers stolen off him today at Newcastle, look [he points at Faze’s bare feet].
Tulisa: Yeah we all brought some groupies back with us and they stole his trainers. I bet you any money that they have them hanging on their mantel piece or something.
Faze: I know! They probably smelt them when they stole them off me and threw them out because they reeked so badly!
UKM: Do you like their accents over in Newcastle?
Tulisa: Bloody loved it! [Geordie accent] I’m the only gay in the village!
UKM: Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
Faze: It’s a band that not a lot of people might know of right now, but they are up coming. It’s a group called Outlandish. Both Dappy and I love them because they are just like us.
Dappy: Music wise yeah, like they don’t care about anything. If they have something on their minds they’ll say it. [He sings] uh uh, na na ny!
Tulisa: Miss Jade! Because she tells it how it is.
UKM: Do you as a group, find the attention overwhelming?
Tulisa: Daps and Faze love it.
Faze: Nergh I’m the low key one bro. I’m the one who’s always had his hat down to his eyes and my sun glasses and my hood up. Whoever thinks I’m quiet yeah, you’ve got the complete wrong picture!
UKM: Tulisa, I hear you’re a bit of an I-pod addict. What is on your I-pod right now?
Dappy: I don’t listen to anything but N-Dubz
Tulisa: Whatever is in style right now. There are too many things to say, should I have a look? [She takes out her I-pod from her bag and scrolls down]. Yeah too many things to say.
UKM: What is your most memorable experience to date?
Faze: Getting my trainers stolen. I paid a hundred pounds for them you know!
UKM: Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Tulisa: Taking over the world!
Dappy: On top of a mountain with a big fat beer belly.
Words by Bertan Budak
www.myspace.com/ndubz
album artwork
After much controversy surrounding the launch of the stunningly re-vamped B’day album, the guys in the US can only wait in the dark whilst we Brits get our hands dirty. The deluxe edition of B’day, offers a DVD feature which includes twelve of Beyonce’s sexiest videos, seven of which are new. The album concentrates on the use of heavy bass, light tempos and vigorously impacted beats. Album opener ‘Beautiful Liar’ has a splendid mix of Middle Eastern sounds and heavy lyric content which focuses primarily on the dark side of love and relationships.
For its price, the album offers a lot including masterful club bangers such as DéJá Vu, Ring the Alarm and Irreplaceable (yeah, this track is rotating in the clubs like crazy). B’day Deluxe Edition has seven brand spanking new tracks including sugar momma, Upgrade U, Freakum Dress and Kitty Kat, all of which have videos. Beyonce has truly outdone herself on this one. Usually with re-vamped albums, there are a couple of bangers and the rest, rubbish however with the deluxe edition, each track is worthy of being ripped onto ones I-pod. Apart from Micheal Jackson’s Thriller, no other album is worthy of that title.
5/5
B’day Deluxe Edition is out NOW!
Words by Bertan Budak
Entourage Pack Shot
We first heard from Omarion back in 02’, when he was part of boy group B2K. After a much publicised split with the group, he launched his solo career via two albums, the latest of which is named after his age ’21.’ Now at 22, the second single release of his latest album is a rocker and please don’t get me started on the video. Omarion’s flavour is super hot and ok, it may sound a lot like his other songs but let’s be honest, those were some pretty awesome tracks!
At the beginning of Entourage, an early comparison to Michael Jackson is noticeable, although this is easily looked passed as most artists in the game have been directly or indirectly influenced by the pop legend. The tempos are mild, with a terrific beat to play alongside it and overall, makes ‘Entourage’ a pleasurable listening experience. O!
4/5
Words by Bertan Budak
Bertan and Neyo
We first heard from Ne-Yo back in '06 via his first album In My Own Words. The CD, which gave us hit singles So Sick and Sexy Love, sold over 301,000 copies in the first week and topped the billboard charts. After spending much of his career in the background as a songwriter, carving up Top Ten hits including Rihanna's Unfaithful and Mario's Let Me Love You, he decided to step into the limelight on his own accord and since then, has enjoyed enormous success. Ne-Yo has also appeared in hit movie Stomp The Yard alongside R&B artist Chris Brown. The songwriter turned singer now returns with a new single Because of You, which is sure to be a big hit (especially with the ladies).
Whatever the problem, no one tells it like Ne-Yo. His lyrics are splendid and tell stories which anyone who has had their heart broken or have fallen madly in love can relate to. So two albums and a movie later what's the 411? EUT digs up the dirt!
EUT: Tell us about the new album
Ne-Yo: Of course! The album is entitled Because of You. I called it that because I feel that I am one of the few artists who truly understand the importance of the fan. I think a lot of artists have lost sight of that and don't realise that the people they refuse to take pictures with or the people they refuse to sign autographs for are the ones who are actually going out there and buying their records. This is my way of letting the fans know that they are the reason for where I am and who I am. Hence the title, I get to do music because of you and get to live my dream because of you.
EUT: What's so different about this album compared to the last one?
Ne-Yo: Well what the major difference with this album is the fact that I'm in a totally different headspace now; there are a lot more tempos in this time around. You know the first album was a little…I don't want to say depressing but mellow because it was the kind of stuff my head was going through at the time. I was going on and off again with the old album like saying I love you then hate you then I love you again (laughs). The second album is more about me and shows my fans what Ne-Yo is all about. It allows them to get to know me as a person and what I get up to in my spare time.
EUT: So you've been writing songs for years. Which artist would you most like to write for?
Ne-Yo: More than anybody else on the face of the planet, I would definitely have to say Prince. Just because I adore the guy so much! He is like a musical god to me you know what I mean? For one he can play all different types of music and you can literally throw any instrument in front of him and he can play it. He's the kind of artist that I aspire to be, musically but not so much as fashion sense (laughs).
EUT: What kind of a song would you write for him?
Ne-Yo: Well I don't know right now but give me some time and I'm sure I can come up with something. It's one of those instances that you could do so much that the sky's the limit.
EUT: What's going on with the Britney Spears issue? Are you still keeping the songs you wrote for her comeback or will you be recycling them?
Ne-Yo: There really is no Britney Spears issue. I have songs set aside that are ready for her when she is ready to do them. What happened is, was that I wrote about eight songs for Britney you know and then she went ahead with her little break down and shaved her hair off and all that. So anyways, while that was going on, I wasn't hearing from Britney Spears' people and let me tell you this: I'm a businessman and until the cheque is cut, it's not your song. I don't care if I wrote it with you or about you or if it has your name mentioned in it, until the cheque is cut, it's not yours! So, Nicole S comes along from the Pussycat Dolls. She informed me that she had a new album coming out and asked me to be a part of it. So I let her hear one of the songs and she loved it, so I gave it to her. Britney's people got mad about that and I was like, why are you mad for? They didn't give me my cheque so they weren't their songs. But out of respect, I put two of her management's favourite songs aside for her and they will be ready for when Britney is.
EUT: Your songs are mostly based on love but are they taken from real life experiences or from what you've heard?
Ne-Yo: Oh yes, definitely. Pretty much every song I write comes from my own experiences with love. I have also used emotions and dilemmas that close friends have chosen to share with me.
EUT: If you weren't doing music, what would you be doing now?
Ne-Yo: If I wasn't doing music today, I would probably be working in Pizza Hut. I'd probably be cooking, serving and getting fired for eating on the job (laughs).
EUT: Did you enjoy filming Stomp the Yard and do you have any other movies in the pipeline?
Ne-Yo: Stomp the Yard was definitely a lot of fun! It wasn't fun learning how to do the dance because it was like boot camp you know? They had us waking up at like six in the morning and going for jobs up mountains and stuff. As far as new movies, I have been reading a couple of scripts but there is nothing set in stone yet as I am really focusing on this album but I do like acting a lot. Had it not been for this album, I would definitely be doing more stuff.
EUT: If you could put laxatives in anybody's tea, whose would it be?
Ne-Yo: George Bush!
EUT: Wow! You answered that question pretty quick!
Ne-Yo: Sorry, I just really don't like him! Oh, I would also feed some to Corrine Bailey Rae's husband!
EUT: What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done or sent you?
Ne-Yo: A fan broke into my hotel room once not that, that was much crazy but because it's never happened to me before. Plus she started screaming, hugging me up and she gave me the whole, "Oh my god Ne-yo it's really you" kind of stuff. If she was a robber, she would be one hell of an actress. The craziest thing that a fan has ever sent me was a bag of lingerie. Not only that, she also sent me pictures of her wearing all the pieces of undies she sent me. Usually I wouldn't complain but this wasn't a very small girl. She was a very, very large lady.
EUT: Ergh…You didn't sniff it by any chance?
Ne-Yo: Hell no! I didn't want to touch it. It was disgusting.
EUT: What is the hardest thing you've had to deal with during your music career?
Ne-Yo: Just the whole fame thing. Being famous and the cost of fame is difficult to deal with. Well not so much difficult but it isn't easy especially when you were accustomed to being in the background like I was. I mean I used to take it personally when I was younger if people started rumours but now I'm just used to it you know? It is how you've got to be in this business. I didn't know any better that the job of these media people is to find all the hot gossip and if there is no dirt for them to dig then they'll just make something up.
EUT: Let's talk about MySpace! Do you look after your own page or does a PA deal with all that for you?
Ne-Yo: I look after my own page which is why I think all these people get mad at me as I get like thirty million friends requests and can only answer to a few people. The only thing the PR's do is just update the info and decorate the page as I don't have time for that. I go on there every now and then just to see what the fans have been up to and stuff. But overall it's just a very blank page with a few pictures of me; that's all.
EUT: Do you have any hidden talents that we should know about?
Ne-Yo: Hidden talents? I am an accomplished martial artist.
EUT: Wow! What colour belt?
Ne-Yo: Brown! I'm one stage away from black. I've been practising martial arts for five to six years now and is something I do very rarely since my music career kicked off. I don't want to reach black anytime soon because the law goes all silly like you'll get done for murder if you have a fist fight as you are physically trained to fight.
EUT: Well you can kick our butts any day Ne-yo. Any regrets?
Ne-Yo: None whatsoever! Everything happens for a reason.
EUT: Is there anything about Ne-yo we don't know?
Ne-Yo: You know what, there is a lot of stuff nobody knows about me but I'm not the kind of guy who is about to give you all that information. I'm also an avid heroin addict (laughs)! That was a joke by the way!
EUT: We certainly hope so! Who is the better performer, you or Chris Brown?
Ne-Yo: Probably Chris Brown but I'm the better singer.
EUT: Most people don't know that you have a son. How has music changed your relationship with him?
Ne-Yo: Made it very, very lacking being that I don't get to see him as much as I'd like to. But then again he is only 19 months old and so the career was here before he was so it's not like the music career changed me relationship with him it's just kind of made it what it is.
EUT: You're up for an Urban Music Awards. Will you be attending the ceremony in July?
Ne-Yo: I can't promise anything now but I would certainly love to. I didn't know I was up for an award but it feels good knowing that I have your support.
www.myspace.com/neyo
'Because of You' single is available to download NOW, out in the shops on 16th April 2007, and the album 'Because of You' is released 30th April 2007.
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Bertan and Neyo
Ne-yo Because Of You
Song writer turned singer Ne-yo, returns with a new single ‘because of you’ which is sure to be a big hit (especially with the ladies). The song has a mild mix of slow tempos and light hip hop which overall makes the track a pleasurable listening experience. Ne-yo’s poetic and writing capability is demonstrated at full strength that upon listening to the single will make you want to make a baby if you get what I mean?
What ever the problem, no one tells it like Ne-yo. His lyrics are splendid and tell stories which everyone who has had their heart broken or have fallen madly in love can relate to. Definitely one to have on your list of top this summer.
‘Because of you’ is released 16th April
Ne-yo’s album is available on the 30th April
4/5
Words: Bertan Budak
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