The Roots are the band known to listeners of different ages and loved by followers of various genres. They started out as one of hip-hop pioneers and then went on to add touches from other schools. The ability of these musicians to evolve and transfigure their sound is the key to holding on to the elite league for so long. However, many were set to believe that the 2008 release of Rising Down was the last long player in The Roots collection. That was the group’s darkest work that planted seeds of pessimism in the hearts of its numerous fans. There was a widespread opinion that, before leaving the stage for a long-deserved rest, The Roots decided to preach about the stigmas of the contemporary global community. Nevertheless, in less than year, the ensemble premiered a single called How I Got Over that later was announced as the title track to the upcoming full-length effort. How I Got Over is the ninth album from The Roots that puts it more than clear that the band has not sung the sawn song yet, no matter what the age.

Multitude of guest artists and plenty of excellent lyrics

The album is opened by A Piece of Light that may easily fling you into confusion. The Roots have long been reputed for their experiments with rap and modifying it at their will this way or another, but playing modern days jazz with funk marking is something in their arsenal. And then comes the time for The Roots traditional type of music. Walk Alone has a very sad story and understated keys that distract you from anything else so that you do not notice how these keys carry you over to the next Dear God 2.0,one more effort by one more artist to get a straight answer from the Almighty. The songs are different to the largest extent because of the choruses in many cases decorated by the voices of the guest singers. Particularly many parts are entrusted to P.O.R.N., and Dice Raw. You will enjoy the singing of John Legend who did his work for The Fire. The vocals and supreme lyrics often overshadow the hard work done by other participants of the project, specifically ideally timed beats fitting perfectly house parties. Only in the last track of the album, Hustla, beats flow to the top thank to especially heavy and thick basses. This composition does not have much in common with the rest of the material from The Roots; and this, as strange as it sounds, helps you get more focus on the other songs of How I Got Over.

Too early to say good bye

The Roots have only one more step to make to reach the landmark of ten studio albums. We have to admit that today the band’s CD do not sell as massively as they did ten or fifteen years ago; but these musicians have not realized their potential to the last yet, which is proved by their new long player. The subjects raised in the texts of The Roots freshly released album are again connected with issues of religion, politics and culture. Yet, this time, the musicians decided that there is still hope. The lines in the chorus of How I Got Over saying that there must be someone who cares become the motto of the entire album. While the music, arrangements and flawless vocals of How I Got Over remind us that The Roots had the right reason to call themselves a ‘legendary crew’, the lyrics reminds us that although there are many bad things in this world, men must find the inner strength to resist the band fight for the good.

Kanye West has finished filming of the music video for his new single Power. Its director Marco Brambilla described the clip as “apocalyptic”, adding that it features Kanye West with a chain around his neck, nude females and an executioner.

“It had this very dark, personal conflict within it. Because of Kanye West’s own concept of celebrity and his own notoriety, he’s keenly self-aware of all these things. And it all came out in the music”, said Marco Brambilla.

Director added that Kanye West himself suggested an idea for music video and he liked it very much because it was “very personal”.

Power is the first single from Kanye West’s upcoming new album. This week rapper announced that the record would not be released under the name Good Ass Job – although he is still thinking about new title.

Kanye West already performed three songs from his upcoming album at the Facebook headquarters. Rapper played tracks Lost In The World, Chain Gang and Mama’s Boyfriend during a special show for the companies’ employees.

Rapper’s new album is set to be released in September. According to Billboard, the album will feature tracks produced by Q-Tip, Pete Rock and Wu Tang Clan’s RZA.

Kanye West’s previous album 808′s And Heartbreak hit the stores in 2008.

Some new information about upcoming Michael Jackson’s album was revealed. It will feature 10 remastered versions of earlier unreleased songs by late King of Pop. The album is set to hit the stores in November.

It will be produced by Michael Jackson’s brother Jackie and Rodney Jerkins, who is famous for his work with such artists as Britney Spears, Spice Girls, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Janet Jackson, Beyonce and others. Jerkins also produced Michael Jackson’s album Invincible that hit the stores in 2001.

There were rumors earlier that Michael Jackson was working on the new album before his death.

Michael Jackson has died from a heart attack last year on June 25 at the age of 50.



Ben Drew better known as Plan B is an undoubtedly extraordinary personality. The artist had considered himself an outcast since childhood, the father left the family when the boy was only six and he was far from the best pupils at school. When a teenager Ben taught himself to play guitar, wrote love songs with some R&B spirit, but already at the age of 18 he preferred to turn to rap viewing the style as more appropriate for self-expression. In 2006 Plan B released his debut album Who Needs Actions When You’ve Got Words. Both the audience and the critics made a varied acclaim but nobody remained indifferent and he quickly got himself a fan base. Yet soon it turned out that the choice of genre was not definitive for Ben for that time. This winter the single Stay Too Long from Drew’s new album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks was released and it was clear at once – the guy felt obviously too tight in the frames of one direction only and therefore he remembered about what he had started his music path from – about soul and R&B, and surprised everyone with his incredibly beautiful vocals.

The mood changes regularly on The Defamation Of Strickland Banks

One should not that except for music Ben Drew got actively involved in film making, played in a couple of films and took part in writing the soundtrack. The album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks was born exactly with the connection with that interest. Ben initially wanted to create a story of a character suffering from drug addiction, make a film about him and record the album as the official soundtrack to it. Thus The Defamation Of Strickland Banks is a conceptual record, the protagonist is a young singer named Strickland Banks who falls in love, is put in prison for a crime he never committed, goes deep into introspection, prays, is set free and continues his searching of life’s sense. Little by little we learn it all from each of the album’s 13 compositions. The story unveils with the most melodious accompaniment and is told with Plan B’s most pleasant voice with some falsetto elements – from the opener Love Goes Down till the final What Yo Gonna Do you cannot help admiring it. The mood changes regularly depending on the situation in which the main character finds himself. Thus, the single Stay Too Long is one of the most eclectic compositions on the album, whereas a most beautiful soul-number She Said conquers with its sensuality. A very beautiful and powerful song Welcome To Hell opens the series of prison stories, and it is only the third track from the end, Free, on which liberation finally occurs. Closer to the album’s finale a little melancholic atmosphere reigns on I Know A Song, making it clear that happy endings are for kids, and the things are much more complicated in the real life.

Not just an album but a complete romance

It is an interesting fact that Ben has actually invented his pseudonym because he was not willing to sing sweet R&B songs anymore and changed his plans for hip-hop. So at first one may think he has made a kind of step back. The point is, however, that the album concept would be even more understandable if The Defamation Of Strickland Banks was a hip-hop album, and this makes it even more unusual. Some of the compositions do contain a bit of Plan B’s rapping but the album’s general slant is rather romantic. The protagonist thinks of his ups and downs, suffers and reflects a great deal. Simple and complicated tunes, contagious beats and high level arrangements will not make you feel bored, and when the album comes to a full stop you realize that you have actually listened to a complete romance. In one of his interviews Plan B told that he plans to record a hip-hop album in the nearest future so those fans anticipating can be reassured and those who are just getting acquainted with this unique artist will surely appreciate The Defamation Of Strickland Banks as it deserves.

Alexandra Zachernovskaya

Eminem has released new single Not Afraid, in which he talks about his last to date album Relapse. The record, which was devoted to rapper’s successful battle with drug addiction, hit the stores on March 2009 and became the top-selling hip hop album of the year.

However, in the new song rapper claims that he felt dissatisfied with the album. The track has lyrics: «In fact, let’s be honest, That last Relapse CD was ehh…».

Eminem also encourages people who have drug addiction to follow his example: «I’m not afraid to take a stand, Everybody, come take my hand, We’ll walk this road together».

Not Afraid has become the first single from Eminem’s upcoming album Recovery. According to the rapper’s words, it is not the same record as earlier announced Relapse 2 album, the follow-up to his 2009’s disk Relapse.

Eminem also claimed that Recovery would be very different from both Relapse and Relapse 2. He also said that it would feature Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, as well as DJ Khalil, Just Blaze, Jim Jonsin and Boi-1da.

Susan Boyle’s second studio album may feature a duo with American hip-hop star. According to the reports by British press, singer’s label Syco is currently in talks with unnamed US rapper.

A source in Syco told The Sunday Mirror: «They are looking at ballads and more musical style stuff, but this time around they want to try to make her a recording artist – original material, and giving Susan a chance to show what she’s really all about. She’s got an opportunity to find herself and she loves all sorts of music – including rap».

Last month US rapper Snoop Dogg promised to record a duo with Susan Boyle. Artist said he was admiring Susan Boyle’s talent and added he was sure that it would be easy for them to get along.

«Susan Boyle is a great artist. I’m looking forward to going into the studio with her. Why not? We’re going to get our minds together and figure out what we’re going to sing about. I’m down with that. There isn’t much I can’t do», claimed he.

Susan Boyle came to international public attention last spring after performing song I Dreamed A Dream at the Britain’s Got Talent TV show. Although not a professional singer, she quickly became known for her powerful voice. Her debut album I Dreamed A Dream became the fastest-selling record of 2009 in the UK.

Singer is set to start the recording of the new album within few weeks.

Shortcuts from three songs by Katy Perry have leaked online yesterday. Thirty-second fragments from the tracks In Between, California Gurls and E.T., were posted on one of the music service sites.

One of the tracks, California Gurls, is a collaboration between Katy Perry and US rapper Snoop Dogg. It is set to be released on May 25 as a first single from Katy’s new studio album.

Earlier Katy Perry revealed that her record was inspired by ABBA as well as by The Cardigans’ hit Love Fool. Singer added that upcoming record would be more «dancing» than the previous one, One For The Boy.

«It is more groove ridden and more making people dance because when I went on tour, as much as I love all the in-between songs, I felt I was missing some of the stuff that made people bounce up and down and I really love that feeling when people are all jumping in unison», claimed she.

Katy Perry is currently recording new album in Los Angeles with Dr Luke, who also produced One For The Boy.

Another new track by Eminem has leaked online yesterday. Titled Despicable, it is partly devoted to the infamous case involving NFL player Ben Roethlisberger – in March he was accused of sexual assault by 20-year-old college student.

Eminem’s song features such lyrics as «I’d rather turn this club into a bar room brawl, Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall».

You can listen to it here.

Last week Eminem has released new single Not Afraid, in which he talks about his last to date album Relapse. The record, which was devoted to rapper’s successful battle with drug addiction, hit the stores on March 2009 and became the top-selling hip hop album of the year.

However, in the new song rapper claims that he felt dissatisfied with the album. The track has lyrics: «In fact, let’s be honest, That last Relapse CD was ehh…».

Not Afraid has become the first single from Eminem’s upcoming album Recovery. According to the rapper’s words, it is not the same record as earlier announced Relapse 2 album, the follow-up to his 2009’s disk Relapse.

Beastie Boys’ Mike D claimed that the band was still planning to release its new album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 1 in September. The record was set to hit the stores in 2009, but it was delayed after the band’s Adam Yauch was diagnosed with cancer. He had to undergo a surgery later and currently is receiving extensive treatment.

However, according to Mike D, Yauch is getting better, and Beastie Boys plan to finish Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 1 this summer. Singer compared their long work on the record with making of the fine wine, which only gets better with time.

«We’ve been letting it age. The writing is the growing of the grapes, and we’ve already macerated, and at this point, it’s been living in a barrel and being stored in bottles in the cellar, and hopefully by September, we will uncork», said he.

Mike D also said that Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 1 may change when Beastie Boys re-start working on it. «We want to take a look at it and re-evaluate and make sure it is what we want to put out there and that we are still happy with it. I don’t think we will change it up too much», explained he.

Hot Sauce Committee Part I will be Beastie Boys’ eighth studio album. Their previous record, named The Mix-Up, hit the stores in 2007.

The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

There are a few times in my life that I say this dude has either seen or been through exactly what I have, witness the things that I experienced happen to people close to them. His crossover “Nothing on You” gets him airplay but that is just the tip of the iceberg. He shows intelligence beyond his years with the music he chooses for the different tracks to put his vocal flavor with.

The song “Past My Shades” is now my personal theme song because it mirrors my life in great detail and only those with scars both emotional and physical can attest to the authenticity of the words. The next one ” Airplanes pt 1″ brings to mind Fleetwood Mac and the story is aimed at all those who make excuses of why they never live up to their potential and for the even denser young people and older Eminem hits them with a what if situation ,on Airplanes pt2 about what if he would have just blamed everyone else for his lack of trying and being a lazy bum with responsibilities of trying to be an adult before he was ready by choice.

The others like “Bet I Bust” shows that he can bring new and old talent together and deliver a powerful message that is relevant to today’s issues and keep the party rocking if you will. I see more knowledge being dropped from this Kid and by then of it all we will definitely know all about the Adventures of Bobby Ray.

Klark E. Dark