JumpinJack AJ

I had no idea how many Mariah Carey fans were on this board until a few of the recent MC-related posts were made. So, knowing there's other fans here...here's the review post. Share what u think... MIGRATE - This opener is incredibly "common." It's a moderately upbeat track u'd hear on commerical Rap/R-N-B stations. Not bad, just not anything impressive, at all. MC has a confiedenct vocal presense that is kinda overshadowed by the boring beat. T-Pain also makes an unnecessary appearance. I actually like T-Pain, however, this verse represents much of his more recent stuff...his voice is over vocoded and his appareance is unnecessary and doesn't NEED 2 be a part of this song. I didn't listen 2 more than a minute of this when i popped the CD in. TOUCH MY BODY - The 1st single. I love this song. Simple, slightly naughty lyrics over a laidback feel good vibe. She could have hit us with a mega ballad or club song, but this was a nice change. U've heard it...do i need 2 go on? CRUISE CONTROL - Props 2 Mariah for tredding in2 new ground. The reggae/dancehall is something new for her and the Damian Marley partnership was unexpected. Sadly, Jermain Dupri (one of my personal favorite producers of all time) provides a common and boring choppy beat that has a touch of a dirty south feel. Did i mention Mariah's vocal experiement and Damian's appearance are the only thing that make this song have reggae/dancehall flava? I STAY IN LOVE - Is a nice slow love song produced by R-N-B genious Bryan-Michael Cox. The piano is beatifully simple and Mariah's delivery is classic. Some people might roll there eyes to a song so "simple"...but sometimes simplicity leads 2 flawless elegance....that's how i few this song. SIDE EFFECTS - This song sucks. The watered down dirty south synths provided by the incredibly overrated Scott Storch are awful. The song would be greatly improved if they weren't there. Scott Storch has been out of his prime for awhile, but u think that if he waz gonna work with Mariah, he'd come up with something original...or at least barable. I also think MC sounds way 2 uninspired on this one. Oh, and if the song couldn't get any worse, Young Jeezy shows u that it can when he tries 2 rap on it. Thank God for the Right pointing arrow button on the CD player. I'M THAT CHICK - This upbeat dance track has a skating rink throwback feel. I like this one alot, bit it just feels like they only 90% finished the song...like some other instruments could be thrown in2 the mix. This is probably the best upbeat song on the album. LOVE STORY - I really like this moderatly slow track. The lyrics are great and MC sounds great singing them. This sugary sweet beat has JD redeeming himself for the beat he did earlier on the album. I'LL BE LOVING U LONG TIME - This is another good upbeat feel good song. This drama-free reminds me of R-N-B before it got 2 tainted. This song is a must for any Spring/Summer 2008 mixtape. LAST KISS - MC and JD slow it back down on this almost mid-tempo track. This song captures the feelings felt shortly after a break-up. The hopefull lyrics remind me of a place i used 2 be. The classic MC delivery is on this one. THANX 4 NOTHIN' - This song keeps the mid-tempo flow going with the 1st sign of real lyrical drama/heartbreak. This song is for the ladies (or anyone) who has had a relationship end and u are left feeling stupid for wasting your time becuz u overlooked the redflags from the other person. This is one of my favorites. JD handles this one 2. O.O.C. - I think this song is just weird. It's a Swizz Beats produced upbeat song about being out of control from missing your ex...even tho' both of u are with other people. Strangely, the liner notes say Da Brat is doing back-up on this song but u can't hear her cuz her blends with MC so well. This is the 1st time that i heard the song and really liked it. The first few times i didn't like it at all...but now i do. Decent song. FOR THE RECORD - One of my favs. It's a mid-tempo slickly produced R-N-B track with a great chorus. MC's lyrics and delivery are as usually...great. Bryan-Michael Cox provides Mariah with another great song. The chorus is what really gets me tho'...just lovin' this one. BYE BYE - This piano-heavy sugary sweet sounding mid-tempo R-N-B joint has Mariah singing about loved ones that we have lost. Very touching song done in a very unemotional way (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. The ONLY thing that kills me is the ridiculous dirty south "ay"s turned down in the background. Why on God's green earth are they there? Still a beautiful song. I WISH YOU WELL - This is the ONLY song on the album that i feel has the sound MC truely deserves. The live instruments support her vocals like no song on the album. Better yet, JJ+FP alumni and soul music legend James Poyser is the producer on this one. This is one of MC's classic gospel tracks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overview: Mariah Carey is one of the best artists of all time. She has been doing this proffesionally for nearly 20 years. I feel really old by saying this, but i've been down with her since the very beginning. She has one of the greatest voices of all time. Her songwriting ability is amazing (and so overlooked). She's viewed as a diva, and tho' she can put on that image, she's one of the sweetest, down-to-earth artists in the industry...which is amazing since she's one of the most successful artists of all time. This album however, is not her finest moment. Infact, i personally think this is her weakest album...unless u wanna consider her Glitter soundtrack an official studio album. Mariah's voice is more than intact and her lyrics are as powerful as ever. My only complaint here is that more of the subject matter is charted territory and is not much of a stretch for her. And like a mentioned in the song-by-song review, she sounds a little board on a few of the songs. Is that due to the subject matter or the production. The production is why i'm mostly a little disappointed in the album. It seems like Mariah has done what a few great artists of our time have done...watered down their music because commercial music fans aren't demanding REAL music. Since Mariah is an R-N-B artist, she may be taking in consideration that commerical Rap and R-N-B fans aren't requiring anything from the music getting radio play and success. Production is a sleep-fest or just plan bad. Lyrics have gotten boring and uninspiring and talent is always required. Mariah has devoted nearly half of her albums to the "hot" talent at the moment...but when that leads 2 boring efforts from Scott Storch, Swizz Beats, Young Jeezy, and T-Pain...when do u finally put your foot down. Lastly, we are coming off of the Emancipation album. People called it her "come-back" album, even tho' her Charmbracelet had 3 hits and was an amazing album. Emancipation had a thick, solid soulful sound. Sure, it had ?ustionable apparances from Nelly, but the album was amazing. A perfect mix of radio-ready joints and solid musical masterpieces. The lyrics were flawless and timeless. I respect Mariah if she purposly wanted to have a low-key vibe on this album (and i think she did) but i will say i'll be listening to Emancipation much more than E=MC2. I love that the CD insert is laced with lyrics since that's one of the album's strongest points. I know a few other people have got the album. I'd like 2 know what other's think.

That's a nice thought...but u gotta realize that some of us have been thinking that for over 10 years now.

Ha, apparently every pioneering old school legend had ghostwriters. Everyone knows Yo Yo worked with Ice Cube on her early work. Foxy Brown once worked with Jay-Z and Lil' Kim once worked with Biggie. The difference is that Yo Yo is the 1st real female emcee of the west coast and that she was on a whole other vibe than Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, and MC Lyte. Yo Yo's early work was merely guided by Ice Cube. She did write her own stuff and take on more responcibility for her music as female emcees were taken more seriously and got more respect and attention. Yo Yo has gone on 2 produce, host radio and TV shows, break in2 acting, and create/support foundations. 99% of these commerical acts can say they've done or will ever do a third of that. I see i shouldn't have stood up for Turntable when half of the other mods were about 2 ban him. Not only does he talk crap, but he has an immature temper 2...ha ha

ant, i'm not sure. I haven't heard any new news that says they are still actively working on it. I can't see them just giving up. Possibly taking their time. YOLI - Ain't No Stoppin' Sunshine Deliver Us From Eva (Soundtrack) (2002) Anyone looking for a good R-N-B soundtrack...check Deliver Us From Eva (Usher, Mary J. Blige, Terry Dexter, Yoli, Calvin Richardson, En Vogue, Ginuwine, Vikter Duplaix, 3LW...not 2 mention classics by Marvin Gaye + Tammi Terrell and Stevie Wonder.

DOMINO - Getto Jam (G's West Coast Jazz Remix) Sweet Potato Pie (CD Single) (1994)

Thanx 4 sharing that...that's funny!

I'll be checkin' 4 this!! THANX!!

Hip-Hop is not big. Only Lupe Fiasco and Common Sense are getting any support. All these other guys are making processed Rap music that has no ties 2 Hip-Hop culture...which is why u can't classify it as Hip-Hop. Albums like Jazzy Jeff's, Rakim's, Pete Rock's are all overlooked by the mainstream. They aren't even TRYING 2 get mainstream success becuz they know how the industry...which is a shame. No disrespect, but anyone who is okay with the mainstream state of Hip-Hop (there not being one) simply doesn't even know what Hip-Hop is. No Hip-Hop head is thinking people like Lil' Wayne are Hip-Hop, making good Hip-Hop music, representing Hip-Hop culture, etc. Nobody. I refuse 2 think my favorite kind of music (that i'm listening 2 less and less) is dying. That's why i'm gonna keep a hopefully attitude thru' the whole thing and diss these idiot-fools like Jim Jones and educate anyone who's willing 2 listen 2 Hip-Hop is introduce them 2 good music (new or old). And i'm not content with real Hip-Hop being an underground thing...becuz it's harder 2 get those albums and the budget behind them is so limited that it often effects the quality of the music. When u have passion 4 something like that, u are gonna willing go down like a solider even when it looks like that's what'll most likely happen. Hip-Hop Forever!! JJ+FP Forever!!

Q-Tip isn't a complainer. If he was after money, bling, and pop, he'd be dropping uninspriring verses on all the commercial rappers albums and remixes...he'd be cutting albums on just any label and using Scott Storch, Swizz Beats, and Lil' Jon beats. Q-Tip is one of Hip-Hop's greatest emcees. He's a big part of of a culture and music and used 2 be something 2 be proud of 2 the mainstream. Now mainstream America thinks Rick Ross is an ill emcee?...that Lil' Jon makes good beats? That's discusting. That's a shame. Anyone who loves Hip-Hop, who loves the culture is ashamed with that kinda crap. The charts don't represent Hip-Hop at all. It's just a bunch of ignorant puppets doing what everyone else has already done 100 times for 100 years which is instructed by 50 year old white guys in air conditioned offices at major lables. There's a whole generation of emcees, DJ's, producers, and Hip-Hop heads who get sick when they turn on the radio. That means there is something wrong. Without change, Hip-Hop's mainstream coffin will be buried in a few short years.

"I think it's pretty evident - and everybody says it - that hip-hop is definitely not as good as it once was. It's sort of like disco was. There was a time when disco was the **** and Steve Rubell had Studio 54. But the minute you heard "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees, that was the telltale sign that disco was over. I think that if hip-hop continues on the path that it seems like it's going down, then it looks like it's not going to hold up." -- Q Tip The A Tribe Called Quest star tells Inteview Magazine rap is destined for the same demise disco suffered, if the latest batch of stars can't reinvent the musical genre in time.

Interesting thought... ------------------------------ Keys Talks About Her Conspiracy Theories AP Posted: 2008-04-11 18:31:44 NEW YORK (AP) - There's another side to Alicia Keys: conspiracy theorist. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter tells Blender magazine: "`Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. `Gangsta rap' didn't exist." Keys, 27, said she's read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck "to symbolize strength, power and killing 'em dead," according to an interview in the magazine's May issue, on newsstands Tuesday. Another of her theories: That the bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing." Keys' AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: "She wears what? That doesn't sound like Alicia." Keys' publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment. Though she's known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton "had the outlets our musicians have today, it'd be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself," she said. The multiplatinum songstress behind the hits "Fallin"' and "No One" most recently had success with her latest CD, "As I Am," which sold millions. On the Net: Blender: http://www.blender.com/ Alicia Keys: http://www.aliciakeys.com/

BEYONCE + FABOLOUS - Get Me Bodied (Timbaland Remix) Get Me Bodied (CD Ringle) (2007) Why on earth did she marry Jay-Z...still can't wrap my mind around this. As long as they are happy, i guess. I still think i could have made her happier. :tantrum:

...i just realized that Rakim and Pete Rock dropped new albums in the past month and we are busy here posting 4 pages worth of Lil' Wayne crap...

DOMINO - Like Dat!!!!! Domination (2004)

Great interview!! Thanx 4 posting this. This is FP in classic interview mode. Everything that makes an FP interview is in this one.

Yeah, i think it'd be ridiculous if Eminem actually performed or attended it the event. I thing i would be even more ridiculous if JJ+FP did not. Would it really surprise anyone if they did?

JOHN MAYER - Say The Bucket List (Soundtrack) (2008) I love this song.

QUEEN LATIFAH - Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here (Fort Greene Instrumental) Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here (CD Single) (1991)

My prayers go out 2 all those effected by this loss. I can't say i always follow the speed limit, but my days of crazy speeding are long over. I don't wish death or pain on anyone, but it's always really sad when it's the person who wasn't driving like an idiot who suffers the most.

Good one! LEONA LEWIS - Forgive Me Spirit (2007/2008)

He got banned 4 talking about 50 Cent in every post he ever made and fighting everytime anyone dissed commercial rap. I will give him props for not letting things get out of control like before.

Man, this is a topic that has weighed on my mind all year. I have 2 people that were supposed 2 be my bestfriends and 2gether, they did some really foul stuff involving me. Just really awful stuff. It's been months and everytime my mind really focuses on it, i get furious. Anger isn't naturally a part of me and i work crazy hard 2 not think about what has happened...which is probably why the situation still has such and impact whenever it crosses my mind. I'm a very forgiving person who gives out 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc chances. I think that's they way we are supposed 2 be as humans, but at the same time, there is a time and place where we may have 2 walk away from a situation. I wreck my mind trying 2 think how they could do the things they've done and still honestly be my friends. I don't know. When it comes 2 telling someone who it is, i think that's fine as long as u do it respectfully. U can't talk 2 someone u call a friend like they are stupid just becuz they aren't seeing life clearly. Becuz they are your friends, u need 2 share what u think if it would benifit them. At the same time, we need 2 listen when they do the same for us. The way my life has been has really taken me away from the many things that are important 2 me. I really need 2 get things under control at work so i can really live again. I keep in moderate touch with lots of my friends and i need 2 water those relationships before they dry out. I don't really wanna go on with this at the moment...just a touchy topic for me at the moment.

CYPRESS HILL - Insane In The Brain Black Sunday (1993)

"Lollipop" is what i see as the start of the burn out phase. The song is so wack. Thankfully, u can't even hear his voice on the track due 2 bad delivery and mixing. I had the radio playing while i waz in the shower the other day and thought an instrumental was playing. I went 2 change the station and when i got really close 2 the radio, i found out Lil' Wayne's annoying voice was indeed on the track. Snoop's track is much more of a hit than this crap. The production on Snoop's joint is at least musical. Like most of Wayne's trash, the processed beat is nothing but a rushed commerical instrumental. Snoop rips a good verse and has an interesting song overall. Kill the comparisons. It's like compairing Curtis to The Return of The Magnificent.

Ha, just yesterday i bought the promo of this for 4 words "Radio Edit Without Rap"....ha ha YO YO - Homegirl Don't Play Dat Black Pearl (1992)