by Laghe Andrews | Aug 28, 2023 | Latest, Music News, New Music Alert |
Usher is back and better than ever with his latest music video for the hit song “Good Good.” Directed by Warren Fu, the video takes place mainly on Atlanta’s iconic Jackson Street Bridge and showcases Usher’s signature style and creativity. With the collaboration of talented artists Summer Walker and 21 Savage, Usher delivers a vibrant post-break-up anthem that resonates with his fans.
Usher Pays Homage to His Past Videos
Diehard fans of the R&B crooner will notice the subtle nods to Usher’s previous music videos in “Good Good.” It’s no secret that Usher is a master of paying homage to himself, and this video is no exception. Just like in his recent “Boyfriend” video featuring Keke Palmer, Usher once again celebrates his own artistry and legacy by referencing his iconic videos for “You Make Me Wanna” and “Burn.” It’s a clever way for Usher to remind us of his musical journey and the impact he has had on the industry.
A Post Break-Up Anthem with Vibrant Energy
“Good Good” is more than just a catchy tune. It’s a post-break-up anthem that captures the emotional rollercoaster of a failed relationship. Usher’s lyrics express the bittersweet feelings that come with the end of a love story. He sings, “I hate that we didn’t make it to forever. Probably ain’t gettin’ back together. But that don’t mean that I can’t wish you better. We ain’t good good, but we still good.” These heartfelt words resonate with anyone who has experienced the complexities of love and loss.
The Collaborative Magic of Usher, Summer Walker, and 21 Savage
Usher’s collaboration with Summer Walker and 21 Savage adds an extra layer of depth to “Good Good.” Summer Walker’s soulful voice complements Usher’s smooth vocals, creating a perfect blend of R&B and contemporary sounds. 21 Savage’s signature rap style adds a unique and edgy element to the track. Together, these three artists create a musical masterpiece that showcases their individual talents and perfectly captures the essence of the song.
The Success of “Good Good”
Since its release, “Good Good” has been making waves in the music industry. The song debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales Chart, further cementing Usher’s status as a chart-topping artist. This success is a testament to Usher’s ability to continually deliver hit after hit and connect with his audience on a deep emotional level.
Usher’s Highly-Anticipated New Album
“Good Good” is just a taste of what’s to come from Usher’s highly-anticipated new album, set to be released this fall. Fans have been eagerly awaiting new music from the R&B icon, and he does not disappoint. The album, which will be released under mega, the music collective founded by Usher and L.A. Reid in partnership with gamma, promises to be a musical journey that showcases Usher’s growth as an artist and his ability to reinvent himself.
Usher and Chilli: A Failed Relationship on Good Terms
Given the nature of “Good Good” as a post-break-up anthem, some fans were hoping to see Usher’s ex-girlfriend, TLC’s Chilli, make a guest appearance in the music video. The song discusses a failed relationship, with the exes still being on good terms. However, Chilli revealed in an interview that she and Usher haven’t been in touch since 2019. She explained that she had to cut him off for good to focus on herself and her own personal growth. Both Usher and Chilli have since moved on with their respective partners, Matthew Lawrence and Jennifer Goicoechea.
Usher’s Las Vegas Residency
Usher’s announcement of his Las Vegas residency adds to the excitement surrounding his new album. The November and December shows will mark the conclusion of the My Way residency, which has been a huge success. After a brief run in Paris, Usher will return to Vegas with limited shows throughout November until the final show on December 2. Fans can purchase general on-sale tickets starting on Friday, August 25 at 10 a.m. PT.
Conclusion
Usher’s “Good Good” music video is a vibrant and emotional journey that showcases his artistry and creativity. With the collaboration of Summer Walker and 21 Savage, Usher delivers a post-break-up anthem that resonates with his fans on a deep level. The success of the song and the anticipation for his new album only further solidify Usher’s status as one of the music industry’s most influential and beloved artists.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Aug 17, 2023 | Editorial Pick, Latest, Music News |
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
Jay-Z, the iconic music artist, has been an influential figure in the music industry for decades. From his early days as a rapper to his success as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Jay-Z’s story is a testament to the power of determination and creativity. Now, his legacy is being celebrated in a grand exhibit called the Book of HOV, which has recently opened at the Brooklyn Public Library in collaboration with Roc Nation.
A Labor of Love and Collaboration
The Book of HOV is a 40,000-square-foot exhibit that takes full advantage of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Grand Army Plaza branch. The exhibit, crafted in collaboration with Roc Nation, showcases the life and career of Jay-Z through six distinct zones. The front of the library is wrapped with his lyrics, creating an eye-catching display for visitors.
The exhibit was unveiled at a star-studded pre-opening party attended by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and their loved ones, along with famous friends. The event featured a jazzy medley of Jay-Z hits performed by a band, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the exhibit. While the surprise element may have been slightly compromised by speculative reports leading up to the event, the exhibit remains a worthy celebration of the music icon.
A Uniquely Brooklyn Story
Linda Johnson, CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, emphasizes that the Book of HOV is not only a celebration of Jay-Z but also a testament to the cultural richness of Brooklyn. She believes that the exhibit will attract new visitors to the library, including young people who may not be familiar with the wide range of services offered. Johnson states, “JAY-Z’s story is a uniquely Brooklyn story, and it’s a privilege to host this exhibit created as a labor of love by Roc Nation and the people who’ve known and worked with him over the years.”
In addition to the exhibit, the Brooklyn Public Library announced the release of limited-edition library cards commemorating each of Jay-Z’s 13 solo albums. This unique collaboration between the library and Roc Nation aims to further engage the community and encourage patronage of the library’s services. Johnson highlights that patrons can not only borrow books but also vinyl records, musical instruments, sheet music, and even utilize the recording studio to create their own music or podcast.
Exploring the Book of HOV Exhibit
The Book of HOV exhibit features thousands of artifacts from all over the world, curated with the help of Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez’s extensive collection. Perez had long desired to create a gallery showcasing her souvenirs, and the collaboration with the Brooklyn Public Library offered the perfect opportunity. The exhibit includes physical music reels, plaques, magazines and newspapers, concert setlists, rare photos, and one-of-a-kind artifacts like the guitar Jay-Z played at Glastonbury 2008, a defiant response to Noel Gallagher’s anti-rap comments.
The exhibit is divided into six zones, each named after a Jay-Z lyric, offering a thematic and investigative approach to his life and career. The non-linear structure allows visitors to explore different aspects of Jay-Z’s journey, rather than following a strict chronological order. The design process involved extensive research, including conversations with Jay-Z’s close friends and business peers, to gain insight into the various themes that would be explored.
The Six Zones of the Book of HOV
- Did It Without A Pen: This zone fills the library’s record room with 400 books that Jay-Z referenced throughout his career. It also showcases vinyl records of songs his producers sampled from, all available for borrowing.
- Win-Win: Highlighting Jay-Z’s philanthropic efforts, this zone explores his charitable endeavors and the impact he has made on communities.
- Business, Man: Focusing on Jay-Z’s entrepreneurship, this zone documents his ventures beyond the music industry, including his successful forays into fashion, sports management, and other business ventures.
- So Fly: Transformed into a paper plane palace, the library’s children’s space hosts this zone. Over 600 Brooklyn youth have designed custom paper planes, symbolizing the soaring aspirations and creativity fostered by Jay-Z’s music.
- HOV Did That: This sprawling mezzanine features rare photos and a blue-lit room filled with retro clips of Jay-Z discussing various topics that later manifested in his career.
- A Work of Art Already: This zone immerses visitors in the Black Album era, with large screens playing clips from that period and a life-size replica of Roc-A-Fella’s Baseline studios, where many of Jay-Z’s iconic tracks were recorded.
The Design Process and Collaboration
The design process for the Book of HOV exhibit took approximately six months, with the creative team at General Idea Agency leading the way. They worked closely with Roc Nation, the Brooklyn Public Library, and other production and design firms to bring the vision to life. The goal was to create an immersive and visually captivating experience for visitors while seamlessly integrating the exhibit into the existing space of the library.
Collaboration between Roc Nation and the library was key to the success of the project. The library provided invaluable support and contributed to the process, ensuring that the exhibit aligned with their mission and values. Both Linda Johnson, CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, and the design team at General Idea Agency acknowledge the library’s instrumental role in making the exhibit a reality.
A Privileged Experience
While the public eagerly awaits Jay-Z’s reaction to the Book of HOV exhibit, one can only imagine the impact it will have on him. Scott Mirkin, the lead producer of ESM Productions, who has been involved in the installation of the exhibit since March, believes that Jay-Z’s smile will be a testament to the success of the exhibit. Mirkin notes that Jay-Z is often seen smiling and expresses his confidence that the exhibit will provide him with an amazing feeling.
The Book of HOV exhibit is not only a celebration of Jay-Z’s accomplishments but also an opportunity for the community to engage with his legacy. Through the collaboration between Roc Nation and the Brooklyn Public Library, visitors can explore the multifaceted journey of a music icon who has left an indelible mark on the world. It is an experience that transcends the boundaries of music and invites individuals to discover the power of passion, creativity, and perseverance.
As the Book of HOV continues to captivate audiences, it serves as a reminder that the library is not just a place for books but a hub of knowledge, inspiration, and creativity. The exhibit encourages young people to explore the library’s diverse offerings and discover their own passions, much like Jay-Z did on his path to success. With the limited-edition library cards commemorating each of his 13 solo albums, the collaboration between Jay-Z and the Brooklyn Public Library is destined to leave a lasting impact on both the community and the music industry.
So, if you find yourself in Brooklyn, make sure to visit the Brooklyn Public Library and immerse yourself in the extraordinary journey of Jay-Z, as told through the inspiring pages of the Book of HOV.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Dec 5, 2022 | Latest, UNCUT DIAMONDS |
Chemistry is an unquantifiable measurement of success.
“The complex emotional or psychological interaction between two people.” This statement is the definition of ‘chemistry.’ Chemistry is an invisible connection between two individuals illuminated by distinctive dynamism.
Watching chemistry in motion is a beautiful expression of love, passion, and unparalleled unity between two people. Speaking in decoded language, both individuals interpret a specific language of unification.
The rarity of their energy, euphoria and ultra-beam light mesmerizes and influences people to dream beyond normal. Seeing people create and perform at unthinkable levels of mastery is spell-bounding and aspirational.
Some of history’s most potent duos, such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, showcase priceless chemistry between two individuals. Both people understand how to mesh with each other’s most remarkable talent without disruption. Winning six championships and dominating the NBA for almost a decade cemented their legacy as the most successful sports duo ever.
Frank Amil and Dev Amil are the 2023 versions of Don Shula and Dan Marino.
Serial Entrepreneur/Music impresario Frank Amil is a man driven by incalculable ambition and divine inspiration in the music industry. Running a flourishing multimedia company and developing uncut diamonds in rap culture comes naturally for Frank Amil. Frank Amil’s company ‘All Money Is Legal’ encompasses TV/Film, music publishing, global merchandising, and technology.
Major Recording Artist Dev Amil is a rare breed of musical mastery in rap culture. Dev Amil makes everything look effortless and creates transformative music. Dev Amil’s lyrics represent a distinctive component of society.
His lyrics provide a blueprint of survival and inspiration. Hailing from the infamous Yonkers, New York, Dev Amil illuminates its rich Hip-Hop heritage. Frank Amil and Dev Amil formed Hip-Hop‘s most dangerous music business duo. Stay tuned to their movement in 2023.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Nov 15, 2021 | Latest, Music News |
Music has long been the heart and soul of popular culture, and for decades we’ve known many of its most noted stars. Few, however, have had the unerring ability to master the art form like Kanye West.
Kanye West’s Record-Breaking Music
Most people would say that Kanye West is a controversial person. Two minutes of thinking about his incredibly talented lyrics and music will end your thoughts. He has already left such a mark on rap and hip-hop history that it’s virtually impossible to deny him the respect he deserves. Kanye West is a big fan of new media. He’s always on his phone, adding people to his contacts list, posting inspirational messages on social media. His music, much like himself, is bold and in-your-face; it has attitude! It tackles issues like race relations in America, the porn industry, homophobia in hip hop. No matter what Kanye does – whether he’s rapping or producing beats – there’s this undercurrent of coolness that courses through it all.
Read about The Auctioning of Kanye West Ford Trucks here.
What He’s Done to Change the Industry
Kanye West has done some things that no other artist has ever considered. He’s completely changed our idea of an album. A couple years back, he released “The Life Of Pablo” on Tidal. The album broke streaming records on TIDAL and boosted new subscriber growth tremendously. Kanye also designed a game-changing unique style for suites with his ‘Saint Pablo’ collection. From the clothes to the Yeezy Adidas, everything is customized and labeled next level.
How Other Musicians are Following in his Footsteps
Kanye West is in the process of re-inventing music in many ways. His most recent album release has had a widespread effect on other musicians who are seeking to get their own piece of the pie. He has approached the distribution of music in a fashion that makes it possible for musicians to follow in his footsteps.
Why Kanye is Important to Music Today?
“Kanye West is one of the most important figures in modern music.” Kanye is not just an artist. He’s changing what music can do, and he is doing it on his own terms. Being fully independent on all levels of his business has given him the ability to take risks that other artists wouldn’t, creating beautiful spaces instrumentally or vocally on tracks that were sometimes left for dead on previous records.
His Legacy in the Industry
Kanye West has had a very influential and daring career, and he is the first rapper to have impacted the music industry of such a magnitude. His lyrics changed what people think of as great rap, and he managed to bring culture merging with music. This new sound is something many look up to him for creating.
The Different Types of Influences in his Music
Kanye West has such a wide variety of influences that it starts to feel like his albums are all over the place. Ye’s music can’t be placed into one category from autotune to rock, to raps and heavy collaboration. His musical evolution reflects that he doesn’t want to be preconceived by others. Kanye’s the kind of artist that people love or hate, but he’ll be hard to ignore no matter what he does.
Conclusions
Pretty much, if it’s Kanye West, you can almost bet you’re not going to get bored. He reaches boundaries that other people cannot and that incomparable talent shines through in his creativity. You know for sure that Kanye is determined to re-invent music as we know it.
Read more about Kanye West here.
by Jonathan P-Wright | Jun 17, 2020 | Editorial Pick, Hot, Latest, New Music Alert, Trending |
The death of a big brother in a man’s life is a paralyzing moment. A big brother is a role model, quasi father figure, inspirational leader, and usually the coolest person we know besides our parents. The big brother critiques, molds, and reshapes the entire persona of the younger brother. Ensayne Wayne, born Ferell Miles older brother to 2X Grammy Award Winning Producer Drummaboy Fresh, lost his life tragically in 2019. Ensayne Wayne introduced Drummaboy to the formula of making beats, which would give birth to a musical empire.
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