How's your godson doing?

I am so bad checking in on my family. I need to do better.

Ask me anything

What celebrity would you most like to meet in person?

I'd like to meet Spike Lee in person, so he can mentor me.

Ask me anything

Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday

I recently listened to Nicki Minaj's debut album, "Pink Friday" and though I didn't think any of the tracks had any real staying power, I still don't think it was a bad listen. I saw a lot of reviews before listening to it that really smashed the record and said it wasn't good at all. I'd be lying if I said I didn't go into it with just a little bias.

Well, here's my review of the Young Money femcee's first project.

"I'm The Best"| Nicki Minaj is feeling her steez and I think everything is good here minus the hook. The problem I have with "I'm The Best" is that she couples bragging/flaunting about her lifestyle with doing it for the girls. Huh? It doesn't work. If you're doing it for the girls, then you need to talk more about issues girls face, or saying how you're doing for the girls. You rapping is not simply "doing it for the girls".

"Roman's Revenge"| Nicki Minaj does her best to take shots at her arch nemesis Lil' Kim, who fired back with Black Friday. Minaj sets out to make punchline after punchline about the Lil' Kim and does a good job putting a dent in Kim's ego in some sense. The only issue she brings along Eminem who totally negates her rhymes and energy. His rhymes/voice/ energy trumpall things Nicki Minaj unfortunately. Let me add that the majority of this track is trash. The production is awful and there is no real hook.

"Did It On Em"| "Did It On Em" The best thing about the song is the tv disses going on in the background. Nicki Minaj may have gotten Bangladesh's worst beat and didn't do anything with it anyway. #failed You DID NOT "do it on em" Nicki Minaj. I feel the swag of this song coming back to it to listen later though. It has potential. This might be a song that can grow on you.

"Right Thru Me"| This track is actually not half bad. I'd even go as far as to say I like it. This was one of the singles from the album that had an accompanying video, and I really appreciated the video because it showed another side of Nicki that I grew to love. This side of Nicki was the more feminine Nicki, rather than the one often toying with the sexual innuendo of being lesbian.

See what I mean:

"Fly" (ft @Rihanna)| Nicki Minaj excels when she lets other people do the singing. This is a good song. In"Fly" (ft @Rihanna) Nicki Minaj excels when she lets other people do the singing. This is a good song.

"Save Me"| Not a bad record actually. Still not convinced @nickiminaj is a singer though. I don't understand why she brought on actual singers to help her with this album. Thinking about this album from a performance standpoint, it will be intriguing to the least to see how Nicki chooses to perform the tracks from her record. I could see this track being used in a movie though. Preferably one of my films actually.

Moment for Life (feat Drake)| For me the execution of this track didn't work. The message of the song is cool, but it doesn't sound like an inspirational song, it sounds like a ballad. If you "feel so alive" you'd think it would sound a little more energetic than the way Nicki sings it. I can't believe the message of the song with the bad singing. And Drake's verse brings nothing to this track either. Drake's verse is mediocre, Nicki's singing is okay, but they are bopping on Young Money too much in this song. It feels like a sad song. This "Moment For Life" track goes on too long with bad singing. Nicki Minaj you are not a singer, remember? Other than that, the production is good.

Check It Out" (ft Will.I.Am)| This song embodies POP music. Nicki is assisted by Will.I.Am to crossover."Check It Out" is good for Nicki Minaj because it can relate to her younger fans too. But it is OVERLY pop. Like SUPER pop. Annoying POP.

Blazin' (feat Kanye West)| This song serves as a problem for me because I cannot take her seriously with her flaunting all these punch lines. Kanye West doesn't deliver here either in "Blazin". He rambles on a lot about nothing. He is out of his element obviously. Nicki Minaj doesn't have a message in this song, "Blazin'", she is just out to prove that she can make punch lines. I feel like this song has pop elements to it and Nicki Minaj is trying to bottle them up in hip hop and that is making it excruciating to listen to at some points.

"Here I Am"| Probably the best cut that's NOT a radio single. Solid track. An unexpected side of Nicki. Sounds like this beat was made for Cassidy. I would have been interested to see what he could have done with it.

"Dear Old Nicki"| Nicki has a conversation with her old self and I can dig it. Not bad inflection.

"Your Love"| This is the single. It definitely is a good precursor to what is to come from the rest of the album. Not really rap as much it is a pop record. Again, Nicki singing. This too has an accompanying video that unlike "Right Thru Me" doesn't do much for the song.

See what I mean:

"Last Chance ft Natasha Bedingfield"| First of all, you gotta love Natasha Bedingfield, she owns this track."Last Chance" is NOT hip hop at all. I feel like Nicki Minaj delivers very little. But the Natasha Bedingfield Nicki Minaj collab isn't bad. To fairly critique, "Last Chance" you have to look at it as a pop/crossover record than a hip hop record. From a pop standpoint it works.

"Super Bass" (feat Esther Dean)| A lot of onomatopoeias here and the idea behind this song is Nicki Minaj trying to sway a guy and her heart is beating like a bass system... hmmm.. Interesting. However, the song is again, a bit on the pop side. It is made for the black girl that enjoys pop (as much of this album is). Not a fan, but I get the idea.

"Blow Your Mind"| This track was a total waste of time. Listening to and making. Thanks for nothing Nicki. I can find nothing good about this record and believe me I'm trying. Maybe and I say may BE a good club record.... if you're like really drunk. Or on ecstasy.

"Muny"| Annoying. NEXT! If you can survive this hook, I give you a lot of credit. I was one step away from pulling the trigger, and the gun was in mouth. The skits are manageable.

"Girls Fall Like Dominoes"| Cool. Nicki likes girls. We can get along then. I like this song to an extent. I don't know exactly who is on the hook, but it works on this track. This song is a bonus song, but should have definitely been replaced by "Muny" or "Blow Your Mind" on this album.

In essence, nothing wow'ed me about Nicki Minaj music and the tracks didn't have staying power, but it wasn't too bad a listen. Yes, Nicki Minaj still needs work, but overall, the music wasn't too bad. I went into it expecting far worse than I heard. Overall, Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday" was NOT as bad as some of the reviews stated it was. It was actually better than expected. I think Nicki Minaj is here to stay. She showed that she is more than she puts on in her shows and mix tapes. Though Nicki Minaj is a emcee, it is evident that she is very much a fan of pop and that is her major influence.

"DEVIL"

M.Night Shamalan does it again with another epic horror thriller. The same guy that brought you "The Last Airbender", "Signs" and "The Sixth Sense" doesn't fail to deliver on his latest work "Devil".

This gripping horror tells the story of five people trapped in an elevator (I know, that alone is scary enough right there). Not only is the elevator stuck, technical and mechanical malfunctions begin to happen with the elevator that force the audience and the members trapped in the elevator to be concerned for their well being.

The film begins slow. The lights cut off and when they rise, one of the women is bitten and pushed to the floor violently. This is when things get interesting. No one knows who is guilty of doing the heinous crime, but they all point fingers at one another in a guessing game of "whodoneit". Ultimately, this happens time and time again, with each time becoming more and more graphic. Finally, there is one person left who finally comes to the realization of why all this has happened. Because he comes clean of his guilt, his life is spared by the "Devil".

I thought this movie was good, but the plot line was fairly simplistic and the story line was basic. There is a twist toward the end of the movie that viewers might not see, but it is so brief that it doesn't hold a lot of weight with the viewer. I was not surprised going into the theatre. I knew what I was getting myself into. Shamalan does a great job using the things at his disposal-the lighting and sound effects. Shamalan turns the lights off to keep the audience in a state of uncertainty and paranoia, only to bring the lights up to a horrific scene. This too becomes somewhat predictable, but the audience never knows who is going to be killed next. The only clues the audience have are sound effects that lurk in the darkness of someone getting killed by the devil.

The thing I hate about this film is that it is so simplistic, yet so intriguing. I feel like I could have come up with this film and shot it. (but I don't have the brilliant mind of M.Night Shamalan)

I do like the religious undertones of the piece however, that give it more significance than just a horror film. It is also a social commentary on spirituality and coming to terms with your wrong doings.

I would recommend you rent this movie on DVD. It is okay in theatres, but not necessarily something that takes advantage of the theatre components (surround sound/big screen).

Does Christ play a role in your life?

That's a good question Josh. I'd say very little at this point. I steer away from religion simply because it serves a divisive tool for many, and I have many questions about faith and different religious practices and even biblical stories that I tend to disagree with.

It really is a struggle with me in my life right now because I'm not sure I believe in "the word" or the story of Jesus Christ, BUT the beauty of life and nature have convinced me that there is a God that cares for us and looks out for our best interests and creates our destiny for a reason.

I don't believe in hell, because I don't believe God died for us and would send us to a pool of fire if we did not please him. I don't believe in an angry, vengeful God looking down on us, judging us for our every mistake. I believe simply that God is love whether you pray to Buddah, Muhammad, or any other God. I don't believe any one religion is "right" or greater than the other.

Great question though Josh. I'd love to talk to you about it sometime and flush some things out and see why you believe the things you do. I know Christ is a big part of your life.

Ask me anything

Jay-Z's The Blueprint III

Okay, okay, okay.....

I am gonna settle the score once and for all about my criticism of Jay-Z.

People always ask me what I have against Jay and before I approach "The Blueprint III" I guess I will take a brief second to address my angst against one of the greatest emcees of all time and quite possibly the "best rapper alive".

Let me begin by saying that Jay-Z is one of the most influential characters in hip hop. The majority of us (hip hop fans today) grew up listening to Jigga's anthems and I am not exempt. I enjoyed "Big Pimpin'" and "Hard Knock Life" just as much as any other kid growing up in suburban Atlanta.

However, the "new" Jay-Z has perturbed me.

I think Jay-Z lost me with "Kingdom Come" when I could see the signs of an

imminent downfall. The production was not nearly as good as his prior albums, the compilation of the songs themselves weren't well down in my opinion and the project itself felt rushed and lacked that Jay-Z factor we all have come to love.

Honestly I was upset by the project overall, because I STILL believe "The Black Album" should have been Jay's curtain call and bridge to his new life as CEO of DefJam and owner and operator of RocNation. He did his BEST work period on that album, got the greatest producers in the game to give him their best work, and the album was brilliant in all aspects. I felt misled when news came out that Jay would be giving us a new album and when I heard the first single,"Show Me What You Got" I knew that the project would flop. His music sounded like it was aimed toward an older demographic and this is when the Age Conversation stemmed over Jay-Z's relevance in the game. We all remember Dipset taking shots at Jay for wearing a "coofie" and I believe "Kingdom Come" had a lot to do with that.

I will give Jay credit however for signing J Cole to RocNation as well as Wale. These two artists have great potential and look to have longevity in the hip hop game. I honestly think if J Cole continues on the path he is now, he will top Jay's illustrious career as an artist. He's really just that good. I have a hard time understanding why Jay-Z pushes his new project the Blueprint III rather than helping his artists excel.

The Blueprint 3 has been a long awaited project, with many people often raising questions about if it would be done and if it would actually exist. My dislike for the overall project comes for a number of reasons.

One-he has other artists he should be promoting and working on getting national acclaim and spotlight

Two-he has no need to put out another album. At this point I question his motivation or need to bombard us with more reasons of why he is the greatest rapper alive or of all time or how much money he has in the bank

Three-He's lost touch with his fan base. The hip hop audience can no longer relate to Jay in my opinion as seen in his "millionaire lifestyle", and unsettling videos such as "Onto The Next One".

But I digress. This blog is less about Jay-Z's career and more about my interpretation of what I think of his latest project "Blueprint III" and by no means think that my latest gripe about Jay-Z the PERSON, has anything to do with my approach to Jay-Z's music as an ARTIST. He is still very talented.

Track One-What We Talkin' About

This track is more so about Jay-Z dismissing the bs, that likely critics like me mention about him all the time. The instrumental, as Jay-Z often does to instrumentals, plays second fiddle to his lyrics. His splendor as an artist is far superior than the instrumental that becomes for less of a better word, background noise.

Track Two-Thank You

Jay-Z takes the modest approach in this song. Even in his attempt to be "modest", Jigga still reminds me of how great he is and how much he's done. Jay-Z mentions emcees whose taking shots at him and dismisses them in this record. The production of the track is average, but again, used to emphasize Jay's voice as oppose to the record itself. A lot of flashiness here and you can sense that the humility Jay expresses here is not genuine. He is a legend in hip hop and uses a fake sense of humility to portray the fact that he's done a lot of great things and subliminally addresses emcees that have lashed out against him.

Track Three- Empire State of Mind (featuring Alicia Keys)

Probably the best song on the entirety of the record, Alicia Keys is the perfect vocalist to pull off this song. The song is an anthem and is a catchy tune for anyone listening. There is crossover potential across many genres and appeals to a number of audiences. However, with everything that is good about this track, Jay does make a few controversial statements in this song that have you scratching your head a little.

"Hail Mary to the city you're a virgin/ Jesus can't save you/ Life begins when the church ends"

Now I'm not one to be uber religious but even I am considered about the nature of this lyric sorely because of the need for this song and how popular it has become. It has become overlooked and many people try to disgard the lyric but clearly this has implications that clearly dismiss many people's religious beliefs. I just don't understand why this was necessary for the concept of the song, why Jay didn't make the artistic decision to go with something different upon realizing how the lyric would be perceived, and why would Jay-Z discredit Jesus for having the ability to save anyone? Again, I think Jay-Z has somewhat gained a sense of invincibility and has decided that he can say anything and his audience is numb to it that they will rock along anyway. I personally disagree with Jay. I think Jesus CAN save you, and life doesn't begin when the church ends.

Track Four- Real As It Gets (featuring Young Jeezy)

Again, Jay has compiled the project of the great feature. Jeezy shines in this track, but growing up in Atlanta, a part of me wants the "Can't Ban the Snowman" Jeezy versus the commercialized studio album Jeezy that we get packaged and sent to us to sound similar in just about every song we here him on. Jeezy still thrives and the two make a great tandem on this track but the track is lukewarm at best. A little better than average production, but nothing really jumps out at you.

Track Five- On To the Next One (featuring Swizz Beats)

This is probably the best production on the CD. Swizz Beats puts together an absolutely crazy track and it in fact carries the song. The hook is just enough to keep you interested and Jay gives you more floss rap and this is the first song you pay more attention to the track than the actual rapping of the song.

However, again a dope song is overshadowed by a disturbing music video. The video has come up in many conversations with images of freemasonry and other concepts that have people again, scratching their heads wondering if Jay is part of some higher, elitist secret society and sending subliminal messages. Here: see for yourself....

Do your research and look into it for yourself.

I'm not promoting any ideas or beliefs, I am unsure on the subject myself, but I'd like to know what people think. Again, I wonder if I find this video entertaining, artistic or just plain disturbing....

Track Six- Off That (featuring Drake)

Timbaland on the track and Drake on the hook brings this Jay song to the next level. This song has crazy energy and Jay shows his versatility. I like to think of this song as Jay-Z's approach to the "futuristic movement" that is taking place in the South. In the South, people are futuristic, and Jay well, he's off that. He's already ahead of the game. Many people wanted a Drake verse on this track, but Drake is only along for the ride on the hook.

Track Seven- A Star Is Born (featuring J Cole)

This song is my favorite on the record solely because of the verse J Cole spits. If I could I'd post all the lyrics here to J Cole's verse but I want you to experience it for yourself. The track has crazy energy as well and I especially like that Jay shows his appreciation for the other emcees in the game. He even honors Nas and "Illmatic", which we all know Nas was not a big fan of Jay during the Illmatic days. Jay-Z impresses me by addressing every major figure in the hip hop game, however, it is quite puzzling to think that he thinks so highly of Drake in this song, when his OWN artist J Cole is on the track!

"Drake is up next/Watch what he do with it"

Track Eight- Venus vs Mars

Jay-Z uses another Timbaland masterpiece to paint this analogy about how he and his girl are opposite. I have a hard time trying to diagnose this song because it is unclear whether the two of them are together or if they are apart or just different but Jay uses Venus vs Mars to show how men and women are different particularly in his life. The song is more so a great track more than great lyrics aside from the mentioning of products in his rhymes. I wonder do they pay him for the free publicity?

Track Nine- Already Home (featuring Kid Cudi)

I love Kid Cudi and he seems to never disappoint me in any capacity. The same is true for this song. I think Jay-Z probably does his best work in this track. This song embodies where he is in the game right now. Jay-Z is in his own lane and he is an icon in his own right. He even addresses the fact that he's often picked on for resembling a camel. Jay-Z is "already home". He's done everything there is to do in hip hop. Therefore, he is already home. The question just raises the question,"What's next for Jay? You're already home!"

Track Ten- Hate (featuring Kanye West)

This is a PSA to all artists featuring Kanye West; don't DO it! West is a monster on the track, both from a lyrical standpoint and from a production standpoint. Jay-Z again comes strong in this track lyrically and as you're listening to it you get the sense Jay is warming up thru the record. He gets better and stronger with each track. Jay addresses the haters in this track and even seems to embrace them. Clearly he is motivated by the hate- it seems to be a driving force.

Track Eleven- Brooklyn Go Hard (featuring Santigold)

The second New York anthem of the album, this time featuring Jay's borrough, Brooklyn. This song was the first single off the record and the record is heavy. It has a feeling of the old Jay we love. The Santigold feature helps liven the Brooklyn theme and mantra, but you either love her or hate her verse when she begins to rhyme. It is different to say the least, and not what you'd expect from a song about Brooklyn, NY. Again, Jay-Z goes in on the track better than the majority of the songs on the record, but it seems as if Jay steps it up for the songs based around New York and his hometown. Jay-Z is the single force responsible for keeping New York hip hop relevant in hip hop and this song is one of the many reasons why. Without the presence of Jay, there is no one really ready to take the torch.

Track Twelve- Reminder

A friend of mine sent me this song to prepare me for the Blueprint 3 before it dropped. Jay-Z spends a lot of time on this album addressing the critics and the haters and this song is the epitome of that. He attacks the people that talk/write about him and mentions all his greatness and accomplishments. It is evident that Jay-Z was in a creative space where he was irritated by the media attention around his age and about what many people think is his decline in the music game as an emcee. So for those who are doubting him or are starting to forget the impact he's had on hip hop this last decade, here's your reminder. Thanks Jay. As if we really needed one. Is this the best content he could come up with?

Track Thirteen- So Ambitious (featuring Pharrell Williams)

Pharrell's track is crazy and his hook is just as good if not better. The record jumps out at you with the horns and drums going everywhere throughout the track. Jay-Z delivers as well as he often does about his struggles and being ambitious to accomplish his goals.

"I can't base what I'm going to be/Off of what everyone isn't"

I think the Jay-Z/Pharrell Williams collaboration is just as good as any on the record.

The only difference is that I find the two equally contributing on this track whereas on the others I feel the feature either tops Jay's contribution or Jay didn't need the feature or the feature brought very little to the table. But on this track, Jay-Z and Pharrell have an unparalleled chemistry that makes this track one of the best on the record.

Track Fourteen- Young Forever (featuring Mr Hudson)

Like Santigold, Mr Hudson is another artist you wouldn't expect Jay-Z to work with. And just like with Santigold, Mr Hudson brings that needed aspect to this song. Jay-Z's lyricism is average at best, but the hook and track carry this song to great heights. When I first I heard this song and read the title of the song, I wondered if this track was a reaction to the criticism he'd been receiving about being one of the older emcees in the game, but quite honestly it has nothing to do with that at all. Jay-Z is talking about how his music and career is forever young. It's true. His music will live on forever and be forever young.

DEAR JOHN

"Dear John" is a heart wrenching film about a long distance romance that fails. Yea, I know pretty straightforward and somewhat anti-climatic, but don't be so easily discouraged. It seems as if it would be a great story and I personally haven't read the book, but I think the book gives a lot more than the movie did. The movie runs about two hours where you are taken on a journey of a budding romance and the struggle of being in a long distance relationship; a struggle of which I personally can relate to.

Let me take you on this journey. First thing I have to mention though before I delve into the plot of the film is the response to this film itself here in Tuscaloosa, AL. I remember the first thought that went through my mind was, "Holy smokes! This place is packed!" My girlfriend and I were a few minutes late to the showing and we could barely find two seats to sit in. I still cannot understand the appeal of this film and by so many different audiences. There were different groups of people there-packs of girls, couples, children, etc all to see this sob story about a love lost in a war. My theory is that either Channing Tatum has that type of star power that attracts droves of people out to the theaters, a lot people have actually read the book (by the way it is a New York Times best seller), or the Hollywood company has done a great job promoting the film. I think it is the latter. Apparently there has been a large influx of trailers promoting this film otherwise I don't think the film would have been as crowded as it was. I digress, but this film has clearly taken off like a rocket and there is a following that could potentially make this a blockbuster box office hit soon.

However, back to the journey. John Tyree and Savannah Curtis meet, become interested in one another after two weeks, become romantically involved, and are faced with life changing dilemmas. John has obligations to the military and Savannah to college. John goes to finish up his tour when 9/11 happens and shakes things up even more. John's fraternal brotherhood of the army all elect to sign up for another tour where John is stuck wanting to go home to Savannah, but also wanting to fight in the war along side his men. John comes home to visit Savannah for a weekend where he stumbles upon the fact that he had made the decision to return for another tour. Savannah becomes hurt by the decision unaware of John's decisions and the fact that her input was not considered. However, they work things out, have sex of course, and vow to make things work for the two more years they were apart.

I mention, the sex scene, merely because it is so cliche and dramatic. Cue the cheesy dramatic music, the dramatic scene transitions that bridges on the verges of soft core porn, and the train that is the sex scene. You can hear and see it coming a mile away.

Well, as you might have imagined it doesn't work that way. Savannah ends up breaking things off with John and marrying her childhood sweetheart. John becomes immersed in the military life even after nearly losing his life, only to come home to see the waning days of his father's life. The relationship between John and his father is cold up to this point where you finally see the two of them become emotional toward one another. As an audience member, you are saddened it took his father dying for the two of them to appreciate one another.

He meets up with Savannah again for the first time in years only to see that her husband is dying and she is running out of money to care for him. John steps in, sells his father's coin collection to buy Savannah's husband more time to live and breaks things off with Savannah who obviously wants to rekindle the lost relationship.



Channing Tatum, who plays John Tyree in the film shows a lot of versatility. After his role in "Step it Up" and as a fighter in "Fighting" (great movie title there, right?) I was fearful that Tatum would be type casted into roles where he would be forced to show his physical prowess, take his shirt off and get sweaty, which I'm sure the ladies love. Though Tatum does a pretty good job in the role his love interest Amanda Seyfried, who plays Savannah, falls short to me. Her on screen presence is not captivating which led me to become disinterested and the entire time you wonder if she will ever gain any color. Seyfriend is rather pale throughout the entire film. Other than a lack of real star power or glam, Seyfriend fits the role as your everyday "girl next door" who falls for G.I. Joe. Seyfriend is in fact however, a capable actress. She delivers in the role of Savannah, a heartfelt role and you do leave the theatre feeling bad for her after seeing this film. In her previous role in "Mean Girls" Seyfriend is seen as weak and easily manipulative; again a role I thought she would be molded into for Hollywood scripts for a time to come. However Seyfriend solidified herself as able to carry a romantic part.

The Tatum and Seyfriend romance is somewhat unbelievable in my estimation to the on camera aesthetics of things. Tatum's real occupation is a model and he outshines Seyfriend on many different levels throughout the film, acting and visually. As a guy it is very rare to see a film where you think to yourself that the male part is extremely more attractive than than female part. However, this is the case in this film. Tatum's character seems to be a way out of Seyfriend's league but the film wants you to believe that Seyfriend's character, Savannah, has an enchanting charm and personality that swoons John. The beginning romance is somewhat cliche' and almost unbearable as you feel as if you are being drawn into another chapter of "The Notebook" part Two. However after the commonplace love scenes and romantic dates, the movie actually becomes a little more interesting.

To my surprise, author Nicholas Sparks stays particularly impartial about any political views on the war and makes John's character a desensitized soldier who feels that war is an obligation. He exhibits no real emotion to the cause of the war, doesn't have any particular views on whether or not he supports the war or not, but that maybe by design. 9/11 is a very controversial subject. There is a scene where the family weighs in on the fact that the war will last longer than expected, but other than that there are no apparent references to whether or not the war is a necessary battle. The war is only there to act as the main antagonist of the film and is the cause of the separation of John and Savannah.

In closing, the film made me want to read the book. The film takes some liberties that I feel hurts the story, or it may be that the story is not as good as advertised. I would give this film a C, and would not spend money going to see this film. Wait for the DVD.

"The Hangover

"The Hangover" is the comedy of the year. I had the opportunity of watching the film at my school, the University of Alabama, provided by the fine people at University Programs. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it until the very ending, and it provided laugh after laugh. The genius of the humor was in the dialogue more so than slap stick, though there was more than enough laughs for people falling here and there. Particularly Alan.



The plot of the movie is fairly basic. Let me set it up for you.

Meet our main man, Doug Billings played by Justin Bartha, on the eve of getting married to fiancee,Tracy Garner played by Sasha Barrese,goes to Vegas for bachelor party. Doug Billings brings along a few friends, Phil Wenneck, played by Bradley Cooper, who is a school teacher disenchanted with his life and looking to get away, Stu Price, played by Ed Helms a comedian you may remember from "Half Baked" and portrayed as a spineless dentist, and Alan Garner played by Zach Galifianakis, a rising comedian that serves as an oddball for the entire film.

The film moves relatively fast getting into the plot almost immediately at the opening of the film. It runs roughly an hour and a half. The quadrant of characters in this story set out on a night in Vegas and wake not remembering anything that happened the night before. The villa they rented at Caesar's Palace is nearly dismantled, girls leave, a tiger has made its new home in the bathroom and a chicken squawking around amongst other things. Oh yea, and there's an estranged baby also lying in a cupboard.

Upon noticing that Doug is missing the remaining three characters go on a treasure hunt around Vegas looking for Doug that takes them on the ride of their lives. There old school collectible vehicle has been replaced with a police squad car that they don't recall how they got. They end up somehow getting this police squad car, and rather than doing time in jail, a concoction of pleas to the police and lies to Tracy lead to more time, and kids being able to use the triad of characters for practice dummies for a stun gun. A dramatic rivalry occurs between Alan and one kid that leads to a hilarious showdown.

After a previous encounter with his cronies, the three characters end up running into Mr Chow,played by Ken Jeong. Mr Chow is trapped in the trunk of the car after getting Doug's car from the impound. Mr Chow hops out of the trunk naked and begins to pound Stu, Alan and Phil with a crow bar. Alan tries to plea with him to no avail.It is later discovered that Phil kidnapped Mr Chow to be his lucky charm.

The three amigos continue on in their pursuit of finding their missing comrade connecting clue after clue and using their contacts to get the information they need. They realize that Phil is wearing a medical bracelet and get some clues from a doctor. The doctor mentions that they came from the Big Little Wedding Chapel before and once visiting the chapel they realize that Stu got married the night before to a woman named Jade. Once given this information, Stu looks for his new wife, finds her and returns her missing baby. Jade, played by Heather Graham, is the wife/ escort/ stripper that Stu ended up marrying. He notices that he gives his Holocaust ring to Jade that he planned to give to his prospective wife, Melissa, played by Rachel Harris and begins to panic wondering how he will get it back. Even still the film moves forward with Stu in angst.

The three have an encounter with Mike Tyson that explains the tiger resting in the villa bathroom, which leads to a funnier scene of Stu getting knocked out cold by Tyson to the tunes of Phil Collins, and the trio drugging the tiger with roofies and trying to transport it back to Mike Tyson's lair. As you may have guessed the tiger awakes on the trip to Tyson's mansion and the crew is forced to abandon driving the car and push it.

Mike Tyson has footage of what transpired on that night before via his security cameras. The footage shows how they stole the tiger which helps them get a better time frame as to when Doug went missing. The three then have another encounter with Mr Chow and his henchmen, who seem to find Alan falling all over the place funny merely because he is fat, and claim that they have Doug for ransom for the 80k they won the night before at the casino. The trio are given until the next day to come up with 80k. It turns out that Alan is a guru at counting cards and wins the ransom money. They take it to the desert to do the deal and once they give the money to Mr Chow in exchange for Doug they realize that they made the transfer for the wrong Doug. The Doug they get is a drug dealer played by Mike Epps. At their wits end, the trio are fresh out of ideas. Phil begins to make the call to Tracy to tell her the truth about what happened to her husband in Vegas, when it hits Stu like an epiphany.

The trio end up finding Doug in the most generic of places after putting clues together that they failed to acknowledge at the very outset. The find Doug exhausted, dehydrated and very tan and even in this state almost kills Phil because of him nearly missing his wedding. The four hop in the car and head back to their destination, get tuxedos from a moving van provided by Alan, and make it in time for the wedding. In the end, they become true friends, find a camera with pictures on it that detail their experience that they lost in memory, but vow to erase the pictures after looking at them only once. And to boot, Stu establishes a true connection with Jade, even though she soon realizes it was a mistake and returns his ring. Stu proceeds to break off the abusive relationship with Melissa at the reception and all ends well for our cast of characters after a trial of adversity.

The film is funny and leaves you feeling hope for any bad situation and a sense of perseverance. You become optimistic that even with the worst of situations if you keep working for a solution and go through a little pain and suffering you will undoubtedly come out victorious.

Kid Cudi "Man on the Moon:The End of Day"

It may very well be that Kid Cudi is a musical genius and may not have even realized it. He displays all his talents as a musician thru his latest work, "Man on the Moon: The End of Day".

Kid Cudi is not great at anything but good at a lot of things. I wouldn't say his vocal ability as a singer is great, though Jay-Z did utilize his vocal abilities on Blueprint 3. And Cudi won't wow you lyrically, but will keep you engaged to what he is talking about long enough to make a good record. Cudi's album, "Man on the Moon:The End of Day" has a cinematic theme, portraying our protagonist as Kid Cudi fighting "The Terrors" and reality. The listener is taken on a journey, narrated by Common, where Kid Cudi tries to battle the ills of reality of society with a little help from a psychedelic substance.

Track 1- In My Dreams
The Intro "In My Dreams" welcomes the listener to a new world-the world of Kid Cudi. The album begins in a somber tone with an intro that invites you into the dreams of Kid Cudi, thus the title. The track is melodic and slow, with a very basic beat that utilizes some orchestra elements. Cudi sings throughout the track, and though it is semi-monotonous you sense this album is going to have a dark undertone. However, you sense you are being hypnotized into a different state and Common hammers it home with spoken word. The track is well composed, well thought out and thorough.

Track 2-"Soundtrack 2 My Life"
"Soundtrack 2 My Life" is of a bit more upbeat tone, and begins to explain the intricacies of Scott Mescudi.

"I've got some issues that nobody can see/ And all of the emotions are pouring out of me/ I'm bring them to the light for you, it's only right/ This is the soundtrack 2 my life/"

Kid Cudi gets really personal in this record incorporating his childhood, his friends(or lack thereof), his life as an entertainer, the pitfalls of it and implies a sad connotation to it. Cudi seems like a loner, and revels in it. He is not asking for help. He is merely given the fact that he has some issues coping having gone through what he has in his life. He has haters, girl problems, money issues, and deals with substance abuse to some extent, but again accepts all his problems in stride-in fact they are all responsible to the soundtrack of his life. It is evident that Cudi was not well-liked as a youngster and still has people hating him now that he has become an entertainer. In this record, he wants a normal life, but knows that he can't get it because of his own choices. He doesn't complain, he just presents the story of his life in a song.

Track 3- "Simple As"

The album gets a big picker upper in "Simple As". The track itself incorporates a sample and is upbeat, and Cudi sets out to exemplify that he is trying to "eliminate the hate, spread the positive". I feel like this track would have been better off as a mixtape track, but Cudi uses this track as a means to an end. It transitions well in the album, providing a high before it gets into the darker part of the album. Cudi tries to explain that is simple to be normal, but couldn't settle for that. He always strives to be different. The best part of the track comes in when Common makes his interlude to the "Rise of the Night Terrors".

Track 4- "Solo Dolo" (Nightmare)

This track is EPIC. Slow and very dark, providing a loop in the backdrop and some very loopy and eerie sounds that represent the track of Cudi being "solo dolo". If you were to imagine what a nightmare sounds like, this song would fit that description.This song is the very epitome of being a loner. Cudi begins the song by stating that "he has nobody". This track seems to be what Cudi is striving for in this entire album. He is best by himself and in his lonesome. The track is a beautiful compilation of sounds taken straight from a horror scene and Cudi accompanies it with a great vocal composition. He is rapping is merely a spectacle of him relishing in his lonesome. He knows he should be more engaging of the people around him and isn't and chooses not to. The track seems to building and going somewhere but isn't. It merely is playing tricks with your mind. Cudi keeps you listening and positioned in the same spot throughout the entire track, as you suspect the track is coming upon something bigger but it doesn't. It is very slow, melodic, and anti-climatic, in true Kid Cudi fashion. It's for lack of a better word, brilliant. Musically sound and unparalleled creativity in the composition of this track.

See here:




Track 5- "Heart of a Lion"

This track is a fan favorite. The track is more upbeat and after nearly lulling you to sleep our hero arises with a "Heart of a Lion".Kid Cudi shows his versatility in this track, both singing and rapping. And uses various ranges of his voice to provide accompaniment to his hooks. The bottom register seems to be a juxtaposition of the top register and helps you feel the battle going on within the mind of Kid Cudi. One is yelling, "No,no,no", while the other interjects, "Yea".This track features a light piano accompaniment and an upbeat bass line, and is a song that speaks of super heroic proportions. Again, Cudi brings orchestra elements in this track to provide the backdrop to the song that he will never be broken or beaten. It seems as if our hero has finally powered up and will remain triumphant.



Track 6- "My World" (feat. Billy Cravens)
I personally think this is the best track on the record. Kid Cudi puts it all on the line again. He talks about his progression from a loser to the big time, and how he foresaw it happening the entire time. He told people it would happen even when they doubted. The track is very simplistic, and Kid Cudi isn't trying heavy on punchlines or wordplay. He is monotonous in his approach and talks about how he worked dead end jobs, and kept hustling until he got his desired goal. People thought he was crazy and doubted him but Cudi pursued on.

"I was heavy, heavy, heavy on my grizzle/ And none of y'all really cared about me"

Kid Cudi is self-made for the most part and attributes his success to his steady belief in himself to be success. Again Cudi sings with reckless abandon, disregarding critics and the fact that he is not a trained singer. However, the listener is forced to appreciate it because it flows and makes sense in the record. And you can sense that it is overall genuine. People can relate to Cudder because there are a lot of people that feel like they are a loner, and engage in extracurricular smoking.



Track 7-"Day N'Nite"
This is Kid Cudi's first single from the album, "The Man on the Moon: The End of Day" and this is the song that introduced Cudi to the mainstream market. It has an upbeat melodic feeling that everyone can move to, but oddly enough, the track is about a loner that finds solace in smoking. Kid Cudi stays true to the theme but disguises it with an upbeat track.It is funny, because my five yr old nephew knows every word to this song, but doesn't even know what it's about. Again Cudi is a creative genius,making a somber song sound as if it was a sing-a-long for a Barney episode. It's so easy to pick up on, that kids can even understand it and sing along, without even realizing the content.

Track 8-"Sky Might Fall"
"Sky Might Fall" is a mixtape track co-written by Kanye West his predecessor and mentor and also the person who signed him to G.O.O.D.Music after working in the BAPE Store in Cleveland. The song is pretty straightforward. Cudi simply does not care.

"The sky might fall/ But I'm not worried at all"

Cudi is not worried about tomorrow, but is making the most of today-a mantra we all can subscribe to. Kanye's influence is evident in Cudi's rhyming style but the record is good even after the mileage on mixtapes and otherwise heavy influencing from outside sources. The creative process still at work.

Track 9- "Enter Galactic"
"Enter Galactic" is probably Kid Cudi's first and only love song on the album, asking his significant other to go on a journey with him and yes, you guessed it, this journey happens to be marijuana-induced. Cudi takes you on an upbeat trip into the outer world. The track bounces with energy and a catchy, melodic hook that anyone can appreciate. The song resonates of a runway feel, and can be categorized as pop on a musical spectrum. Kid Cudi does say some powerful things in this track where you may not expect it, but you almost can't take him seriously with the beat, and the over the top punch lines. At some points he doesn't even rhyme- something only Kid Cudi can pull off in this track.

" It is easy to imagine/ But easier to just do/ Because if you can't do what you imagine/ Than what is imagination to you?"

However, this is trumped by referring a woman's reproductive organs to be wet like a towelette. Not very smoove Rico Suave?

Again Common comes into the picture and gives us the backdrop for the next track as our hero gets caught in his own psychedelic state. He gets "trapped in his own sanctuary". The listener follows on in the story at the mercy of Kid Cudi.

Track 10- Alive (feat. Ratatat)
"Alive" is again another great composition where the electric guitar is featured and a plethora of sounds that makes you feel as if you are in the middle of a tornado. Kid Cudi having now experienced love hopes that his significant other can handle his ways. This song can be interpreted to have sexual implications, but it doesn't make any allusions to sex. Actually it doesn't allude to any female accompaniment. The sounds in this track come from everywhere and anywhere hitting you in the face from all angles. Kid Cudi operates in the night. He is guided by the light,and this track is another example of why Kid Cudi cannot be boxed into any particular genre. This track identifies with semblances of rock, hip hop, trance, and others. Kid Cudi proves again why he is a musical chameleon and why his music appeals to so many different demographics.

Track 11- Cudi Zone
Great song. All I can say is "In my mind, it sounds like wooooo!" This is the mind of an artist. Kid Cudi expresses his feelings of being under the influence. In his "zone" he feels alright, and all the problems are gone. The track again is upbeat, and follows Kid Cudi into the beyond. Cudi sings the hook, and accompanies that with rapping that disses his critics and those that do not like his style. He forgets about it all and does what he likes. The sounds of this song has a bridge that is very futuristic and you don't know where everything is coming from, only for Kid Cudi to come back in and bridge it all together. Kid Cudi puts everything together. His voice completes the song. Without it, the song lacks a certain embodying element that identifies with true Kid Cudi fashion.



Track 12-"Make Her Say" (feat. Common and Kanye West)

Kid Cudi rarely uses features and especially features of the stature of Kanye West and Common, but this track seems to miss the mark with the rest of the album. It has a real pop tune to it, and does not fit in with the entirety of the album. All of a sudden you transfer from the loner, to the playboy lover, making light of sex,and a Katy Perry sample. It is apparent that Kid Cudi needed this song to appeal to the masses again, and this song helps build Cudi's credibility as a major artist by bringing along some top tier talent along for the ride. I can understand the need for this track on the album but I do feel it disrupts the flow of the album, and doesn't resonate with who/what Kid Cudi stands for as an artist in this album. The record itself is very fun nonetheless.

Track 13- "Pursuit of Happyness"
Again, Cudi comes out of the woodworks with a song we can relate to and brings Ratatat along for the ride yet again. The song is heavy on the piano, brings in the electric guitar in stretches to accompany the piano, and incorporates a choir and a
free flowing drum pattern that simply falls in line with the rest of the accompaniment however it fits. However, this record is the feel good song of the fall. Cudi produces a track that embodies the struggle, and mentions how he is on the pursuit of happiness, and how he'll be fine once he gets it. A great record, with futuristic elements an engaging choir melody, and a bridge that features light singing and a heavy electric guitar that brings the song to life. If you can't sing along to this you aren't alive. For anyone that may be experiencing a hard time, this song will not only lift your spirits but give you a new outlook on life. Hell it has become my motto for 2009 and beyond. The ending trails off with Cudi sounding like he had a rough night of drinking and smoking, but the damage has already been done. We are all on the pursuit of happiness and sometimes we need a little something to get us there. In Kid Cudi's case, it seems to be alcohol and weed. However, just like the movie, this song is encouraging, insightful, and otherwise a positive, feel good, picker upper.



Track 14- "Hyyerr" (feat Chip the Ripper)
This song is a perfect follow up to "Pursuit of Happyness". An ode to all the smokers, Cudi brings along Cleveland comrade Chip the Ripper to make a record with a classic track, that feels nice and slow. This song reminds you that though Kid Cudi can't be classified into a specific genre he still has blues and funk roots, and has a southern influence. This song is nice and slow with a heavy baseline, and has southernplayacadillistic written all over it. The song rides well, feels well, and gives even dope boys something to ride to as well. Or at least gangsters that partake in marijuana consumption.

Track 15- "Up up and away"
Kid Cudi brings in guitars everywhere to provide a nearly fitting conclusion to a somber album. After a pretty decrepit album, the last track on the album is chipper and upbeat. It is a slap in the face to the critics again and saying how he doesn't care about what critics say so whatever. I mean, they're gonna judge him anyway so why worry about what they think? It is evident that Kid Cudi is going to be who is regardless of what people think of him. He'll be up up and away. Common provides the outro ending by stating that is never the end, and that this record is only a continuation of more greatness to come from our hero Kid Cudi.

Overall, I would advise listener to not go into Kid Cudi's project expecting anything because you won't get anything you expected. Whether you're a fan of hip hop or rock, it is a hodgepodge of everything and the music itself is unclassifiable. Cudi bridges the gap of all genres. It is a feat that only Kid Cudi can accomplish leaving critics scratching their head as to what to say about his music. It is a challenge to try and understand Cudi's musical influences or identify his sound to someone else's merely because Kid Cudi is genuinely unique in what he does which is hard to say about many artists these days. Cudi offers an entirely new perspective that is missing in music today.

"The Man on the Moon:The End of Day" is a masterpiece in my estimation and unlike anything I have heard up to this point in my life, and for that I give Kid Cudi four stars, two thumbs up and a congratulations on a job well done. This project will be talked about for a long time, and it will be interesting to see how he rebounds from this album with Cudder Music, his latest project, already in the works, and a series of promising videos yet to be displayed from this album.

Trey Songz, "READY"

It's very rare that I am left speechless.

But Trey Songz has wow'ed me not only with his work on his album "READY", but on his prior mix tape,"Anticipation". They both are classic records in my estimation and have material that people are going to be talking about for a long time.

The maturation of Trey Songz as an artist is amazing. He has developed into one of the leaders of R&B if not the front runner at this point and time. I was traveling with a close friend of mine, and she thought that the track, "Neighbors Know My Name", was a R Kelly song. And she has good reason to think that way. Trey Songz may have his differences with the R&B legend, but his music clearly displays his influences.


Track 1-"Panty Dropper"
The record begins with "Panty Dropper", and establishes the mood of the entire album at that point. Songz enters with a bang. You know what you are getting Trey Songz is not as interested in the concept of love in this album as much as he is in "making love". The album is set out to produce babies, and love making across the country. It resonates from the roots of old school R&B where Songz is not covert and blatantly honest about his intentions. However, the great thing about it all is that he is not vulgar and obscene. Panty Dropper is more of an introduction than an actual song. It is only a 1:26 long, but has the listener wishing the song would continue on. It is the perfect tease to the rest of the album.

"I want to make love to you/This right here's a panty dropper/ This is my panty droppin' love song nothing but your heels on/ Lovin' you/ This right here's a baby maker/ And we'll be making babies tonite"


Track 2-"Neighbors Know My Name"
Trey Songz follows up the intro with a classic song, "Neighbors Know My Name". This song is one of the best on the album. The song features great writing and a classic composition that incorporates a sound of someone beating against the wall in the actual beat. The song is pretty self explanatory. Due to the commotion caused by love making, the neighbors should know Trey's name. This in turn should force some disturbance to the neighbors and they would in turn knock on the wall to tell them to cut it out. My boring t description downplays how beautiful the song really is as to not give it away, but you get the point. Trey Songz displays his vocal capabilities in this song, and the song itself is catchy and forces you to smile. It is amazing how Songz can take an experience like the neighbors knowing his name due to sex and make a song out of it.

Check it out here:



Track 3-"Invented Sex" (feat. Drake)
Converted from a mixtape track, "Invented Sex" is a track that brings along a familiar friend-Drake. The track is mediocre at best and though the concept is cool, the track itself is boring. Even Drake can't revive the life of this song with a dull hook, and a track that doesn't really show Trey's vocal capabilities either. Probably the worst track on the record, likely because it has been in rotation for awhile, and no one knows what to do with it to bring it to life.

Track 4- "I Need a Girl"
The first single off the album is "I Need a Girl". This song caught on very fast at BET and MTV, with a bridge that calls out to "every girl in every little city" to shout out to him. Only to be expected, this song is tailored to the ladies. Trey Songz tries to attract his female base by saying that "he needs a girl" and really, what girl wouldn't want to date Trey Songz. The song was accompanied by a very beautiful video, setting Trey in some exotic island chasing a love interest that seems to be eluding him. All that considered the song flows well and is a great song to listen to. It has crossover potential and brings in all listeners not just those interested in R&B.



Track 5-"One Love"
"One Love" is a song for the lovers. Again Trey falls nothing short of amazing in this song. He invests all his lyrical and vocal talent in this song. It's a great track, with guitars everywhere and a very subtle drum line.

"You are all I need and I'll never let go"

Do I need to say much more? Trey Songz has compiled the song for every couple in America with this track.


Track 6- "Does He Do It"
In almost a juxtaposition to the previous track, "Does he Do It" is a break up song that asks his ex-significant other if her new lover does the same things he does. Many people can relate. When you lose a significant other, you always wonder whether the next guy/girl does the same things you do or better. Trey asks a series of questions that forces his ex to remember the things they used to do. The song is very lively for it to be a break up song. It differs other songs because Trey doesn't seem bitter or upset, but clearly tries to resonate thoughts of their previous love life. It seems as if the song will make her come back to Trey. It's a very nice song. The song moves well, with no real bridge or slow points. The song is feels very good even with the nature of the content of the song.

Track 7- "Say Ahh"
An anthem for the club scene, Say Ahh brings upon a cast of characters, both producer Yonny and Fabolous. The song has great energy and provides an interesting concept to convince ladies to drink(as if they really needed help),have a good time that would ultimately result in them being taken to Trey Songz/ Fabulous home. The track sounds like it is taken out the book of Swizz Beats, and Fabolous provides a very nice feature with nice wordplay and a few quick and fitting punchlines such as:

"I play a little doctor/ All I prescribe is cranberry and vodka/ Then you call your girl like what the hell he gave me/ She like you betta do like Jamie/ And blame it on the liquor". Nifty huh?

Songz presents the song in more a songwriter/rapping style. Not much singing per se, but good lyrics.

"Tryin' get you homer/ Would you be Marge Simpson?" is pretty much the gist of the song.

This song is very catchy easy to dance to and nice to listen to. It's the triple threat. So for all that enjoy this song, cheers and drink up. Tilt your head back and just"Say ahhhh".


Track 8- LOL : ) (featuring Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy)
The record only gets more playful with the insertion of "LOL :)" featuring Soulja Boy and Gucci Mane. Produced by Tony Scales, this song is for a younger fan base, with a heavy snare, constant clap and whimsical lyrics. However, the content is still true to the album, with the mentioning of sexual behaviour used in the electronic realms of Twitter and the internet. This song sounds like it should be on an episode of Barney, but yet has a sense of style too. Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy come along for the ride as well, but are victims of Trey Songz slaughtering the track on the very first verse. They are very nice features to help boast Songz' street credibility within the industry, but this is far from what Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy produce on a regular basis. This is an opportunity for Gucci to step outside of gangster rap and open up avenues in features for artists like Trey Songz and recently Mariah Carey. He does well but not amazing. Soulja Boy seems to be the perfect feature on this track as he is able to relate to the younger crowd more so than a Gucci Mane or Trey Songz, but he contributes very little to the record when he does have something to say, even with the breakdown of the drums in the background to help accent his verse. Soulja Boy still falters, and it is evident that he still has steps to make to be a competent emcee. This song nonetheless is radio friendly, otherwise clean outside of the blatant references to sex, and has an immense amount of energy that will get anyone moving their feet. I for see this song getting a pretty nice buzz that may even produce a video considering the names on the track. Trey has very little features on the album so it's good to hear someone outside of Songz on records like this one.

For your listening enjoyment:


Track 9- "Ready to Make Luv"
The transition point of the album comes at "Ready to Make Luv". A slow, love ballad, Trey Songz incorporates snare drums and an orchestra of instruments to prepare the listener for the slower part of the album. Beautiful is an understatement to describe this interlude, concluding with him repeating that he's ready. Again, the listener will be disappointed to learn that this track is only a 1:21, as it builds into something you hope to become a love ballad, but is simply a means to an end. Again, Trey is probably best at creating cliffhangers that lead into the next song.


Track 10- "Jupiter Love"
Ready to Make Luv prepares you for "Super Duper Jupiter Love". This song is DANGEROUS! It will undoubtedly produces babies. It's very soultry and the ballad that we all knew Trey Songz was capable of. He absolutely takes this song to another level. It is very slow, and great to listen to. It is a ballad of epic proportions. This track is enough to buy the album alone.



Just when I thought the whole futuristic, space age concept was becoming old and jaded, Trey Songz is able to make it his own and make it become something alluring. Thank you Trey.

Track 11- "Be Where You Are"
Again, I have to mention that the maturation of Trey Songz is impressive. "Be Where You Are" is a pop record by all stretch of the imagination. Edrick Miles produces a track that seems created for the quintessential Beverly Hills female shopping on Rodeo Dr. It has a pop feel to it and Trey Songz reminds you of Babyface as he serenades the track wondering where his love interest and how he wishes he were there. This song will undoubtedly tie another genre of listeners into his fan base. Trey Songz seems to be all about progression in this album and this album does so gracefully and with ease. The transition is easy and the album flows very nicely even with the incorporation of this track in a setting of songs that were primarily slower and had more of a ballad feel to it. This song doesn't cause ruin the pace of the album nor does it cause a lack of transition. It's a nice track, produces a nice feel and you don't even notice that this song follows a ballad and actually precedes another one. It's almost the perfect medium.


Track 12-"Black Roses"
Okay, my first real criticism of Trey Songz comes in "Black Roses". Songz again goes for a pop/soft rock feel in this song. It is a break up song, but you don't feel bad nor do you sense that he is angry or sad. It's a break up song that is really emotionless. Songz wants to deliver "black roses" and the song has great lyricism, but unless you truly listen to the song, you won't discover that it's a break up song. It moves really well and does not sound like a break up or R&B song. "Does He Do It" was okay, because it pertained to physically missing someone and asking if someone missed the other in a physical capacity which is okay. However, "Black Roses" is the tale of a love dying and Trey having to break it off, but you don't sense that it is either hard or a bad thing. The song itself perturbs me. I cannot understand where the song is coming from, and think it fails to fulfill its goal of being a legitimate break up song.

Track 13- "Love Lost"
Where Black Roses falls short, "Love Lost" more than makes up for it. This song has heartbreak written all over it and poses the question, "What do you do when love is lost?". It's a great song and you feel the pain. Trey shows off his vocal ability and the track by Edrick Miles brings back thoughts of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature". Trey Songz voice pours over this song beautiful. A classic song and as a listener and critic you can only hope this song gets incorporated into a soundtrack very soon. This song embodies the classic, dramatic Hollywood break up that is captured on screen and penetrates the ears down to the very base of your soul. Great song.

Track 14-"Hollalude"
Simply put an interlude to the next song, "Holla if Ya Need Me". It's a very good interlude but again, you always wish that the interlude would be an actual song.

Track 15-"Holla If Ya Need Me"
This is my personal favorite track on the record. The track itself is engaging and incorporates Trey's voice in falsetto in the backdrop. The track is very simplistic but flows nicely and everything seems to be well calculated and perfect. The drums are perfect, and just enough keys and guitar that provide the perfect backdrop for Trey to shine as an artist. This is another song that can be felt. Trey says that even though that the two aren't together anymore, she can still holla at him if she needs him. It is a very nice track and I think many people can relate to a love lost that you still can have a functioning friendship with or hoping that the relationship can rebound one day. It is well done in just about every aspect and a perfect way to wind down toward the end of the record.


Track 16- Yo Side of the Bed


This track was also on Trey's mix tape "Anticipation", and this comes from an Aerosmith/Prince background. You can hear the strong influences in the heavy guitar riffs and 80s sound drums. "Yo Side of the Bed" is another heartfelt song about a love being lost. It is in songs where Trey is able to show what he can do vocally is where he shines the most. This song portrays the best of Songz. He carries the record vocally and the guitars are an excellent accompaniment to his voice. The support him and even have their own solo that make the song an amazing record. It is the perfect soft rock song that Prince and Aerosmith would be proud of. Trey has shown his maturation of musical influences in this album and only looks to get better. He fails to be trapped in any box or genre and this song is a prime example.
See for yourself:



For the bonus tracks you can buy the album at Amazon or iTunes.