"Daydreaming" by Kid Sister featuring Cee-Lo, is the second official single from her ignored, fun-filled album Ultraviolet, that came out last year. She has better selections (like "Big N Bad" or "Get Fresh") on the album, but some people who've heard all twelve tracks, really liked this song, and it is nice and mellow in comparison to the rest of the album's mostly jarring techno beats.
While it's all about Nicki Minaj in terms of whose hot in female rapper land (and rightfully so), Kid Sister is also a name to know and Ultraviolet, though took way too long to come out was a good album (y'all remember "Pro Nails" right?)
While it's all about Nicki Minaj in terms of whose hot in female rapper land (and rightfully so), Kid Sister is also a name to know and Ultraviolet, though took way too long to come out was a good album (y'all remember "Pro Nails" right?)
If you're in NYC or can get there without hassle, Kid Sister will be performing at Webster Hall April 9th, with co-headliner DJ Rusko!
Be smart and head over to Webster Hall's website to send in your e-mail and get $1 pass that works before midnight! Word!
ALBUM: Still Standing by Monica
reviewed by Shardae Jobson
In 1995, Monica came unto the music scene as the more vocally superior teen singer to the super popular and raspy voiced Brandy. With her debut single "Don't Take It Personal", naturally, the two were always pitted against each other in pop media, but it's safe to say that both were one of two music darlings of the '90s. They've had some downs in their career, but someof their latest tunes have been their strongest yet. Monica's last album The Makings of Me was a dud (with the exception of the hilarious bonus track "Sideline Ho"), but her newest release "Still Standing" is good. The production is current while still sounding like the Monica many of us grew up with and bought an album from such as Miss Thang or The Boy is Mine.
The title track "Still Standing", declares her strength and return as an artist, but we've heard this kind of song before. The subject of talking about how much stronger you are this time around is a popular theme in contemporary R&B, but it is the song "One in a Lifetime" where Monica really begins to shine. Her voice is fresh and natural, the lyrics are sweet and relatable. This is the Monica we've all been waiting for since her career downturn. We know she can sing and when she shows it, she reminds us that she still vocally one of the best R&B singers around. Her sound is clearly different from some of new and established names in her field, as she stays to a more low-key and convesational tone. Monica doesn't disappoint when she sticks to beats that don't try too hard or cover up her resilient, high strung chops. Just check out her barely minute cameo in the R&B Remix of the 2001 charity single "What's Going On"--she steals it. She should have been giving a whole verse.
The album as a whole showcases a voice that whether the beats be club inspired (though there's little of that here) or smooth, the words sad or hopeful, she always does sound confident. Still Standing may come across as an obvious title (again artists love titles that harken back to their reborn self-esteem) in this case, it's good to see that both feet our on the ground. None of the songs are particulary deep, but the music still delivers. Another standout is "Stay or Go" about the affect of an emotional rollercoaster in an relationship. Monica, we feel you.
"Everything to Me" was chosen as the lead single, and while having a ballad to bring back any singer into the spotlight may be tricky with everyone Gaga obsessed or making throwaway, catchy music like Ke$ha, it was a success because we know Monica, again, we know this girl for being a singer. On the track "If You Were My Man" even before hearing Miss Elliot's cameo, it is clear she produced it. It's a little '80s, a lil' cheese-tastic, not bad, but don't be surprised to see yourself repeating the first four instead.
The song "Mirror" feels like part two of "Still Standing" and is actually more emotive than the former. Continuoning on with the theme of self-discovery and self-respect, "Here I Am" is classic Monica for being fabolously tough. It has sing-along embellishes of "yeah, yeah, yeah" that you almost wish would go on through the whole three minutes and forty-four seonds, and is the one track that rivals "Everything to Me" as the best one on Still Standing. The last song "Believing in Me" is admirable, and there's a sincere song for the fellas "Superman" which is lovely for us who've ever felt like they've been in love with a man, or hell, anybody for that matter, ("Superwoman" maybe?), and what a wonderful feeling that is.
Still Standing is relatively simple and is what makes it pleasant . Monica doesn't need gimmicks. Her album is full of indepedent mid-tempo jams and songs of love present or gone south. Her music comeback started with the duet "Trust" with Keyshia Cole, and even on that track, you can see she's much sassier than listeners and fans sometimes expect. Sure the album at times feels like it could have been more in creative, but when counting the unfortunate events of the past and present in her life, and the joyous birth of her new sons, Monica has found common ground as a great singer and a strong woman. There are definitely some songs to like here. Monica fans will like Still Standing.
This album gets: three stars
original post written with peace, love and hair grease
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