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Who You Need: Blackbear

by Blondie and the Beat2 Comments on Who You Need: Blackbear

 

blackbear
Image: coogradio.com

 

WHO: Blackbear

WHERE: Los Angeles, California

GENRE: R&B/Soul

TOP SONGS: “Idfc,” “Oh Lord,” “Different Hoes”

 

 

He co-wrote Bieber’s hit, “Boyfriend” which pretty much means he’s destined for success, right? Blackbear’s sound is different from most. He mixes hip-hop influences with R&B crooning vocals that make you weak in the knees. He spits pretty notes on “Oh Lord” and sings you to sleep with “idfc.”

His latest album, titled Help features some of the best cruising songs you can think of. Opening track, “Don’t Stop” sounds like a Bryson Tiller sample, as he talks about living life in excess and being successful. Blackbear’s falsetto makes a sultry appearance, proving his vocal quality is something we don’t often hear much of in the hip-hop world. Each song has an intoxicating beat with nasty lyrics you can’t help but sing to (not with your mom in the car though…)

Blackbear builds a bridge between love songs and grimey hip-hop. His voice can curse out your ex or make you fall in love. The musical range is epic. There’s no doubt that 2016 will be Blackbear’s year.

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Music Monday’s: “BeFoUr”

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Music Monday’s: “BeFoUr”
BeFoUr

Key Item: Alpha-Industry jade green flight bomber jacket

Color Concepts: Neutrals

Shoe Situation: Yeezy Boost 350

Accessory Must: “I Came Here To Break Hearts” cap

Image: popglitz.com
Image: popglitz.com

Zayn proves once again that he’s pulling a classic Justin Timberlake and finding his true success out of his solo career versus the boy band that brought him into the spotlight. My prediction? Zayn’s debut album Mind of Mine will solidify his place into the pop/R&B sensation that’s taking over radio waves. His latest single, “BeFoUr” takes on a darker vibe as Malik hazily sings, “So say what you wanna say, what you want, shame is you won’t say that to my face.” Poetic lyrics flow effortlessly out of Zayn’s mouth as a striking beat pulls you in with every verse. Layered pretty harmonies (reminiscent of a young Justin Timberlake) plague the chorus in the sexiest way. Don’t even get me started on that falsetto. I will now refer to Zayn as the reincarnated Justin Timberlake. This is just the beginning for Zayn and he knows it…

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Girl Crush: Ariana Grande

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Girl Crush: Ariana Grande

Her latest single, “Dangerous Woman” makes Ryan Seacrest want to “slither.” 

Image: thedailytwist.com

“Made my decision to test my limits, cause it’s my business, God as my witness, start what I finished, don’t need no hold up.” Ms. Grande’s sexy feminine voice pulls us in again with her lead single off her new album, Dangerous Woman. Fans originally thought the album would be named Moonlight, well, not anymore friends. Grande launched the official website for the album a couple weeks ago along with minimalist-style sweatshirts and shirts for sale with “dangerous woman” written on them in classy Times New Roman.

Check it out: http://www.arianagrande.com/ 

It seems like just yesterday we were dancing to “Love Me Harder” and “One Last Time” and now we have even more new music from the singer. Dangerous Woman is destined to be perfect. We already know of a collaboration with Lil Wayne called “Let Me Love You”, which should be interesting…Macy Gray is also set to make a feature on the album. Grande debuted her new music on SNL last weekend performing “Dangerous Woman” and her single coming tonight titled, “Be Alright” that fans have been DYING to hear ever since she teased it on her Snapchat several months ago. “Alright” seems to take on all the right Ariana cues; a little R&B, a lot of airy vocals, and a slight dance feel.

Grande recently stopped by On Air with Ryan Seacrest to talk about the new musical phase in her life saying, “The album is definitely the next step for me…it feels like a more mature evolved version…the whole body of work is a little darker and sexier and more mature.” After listening to “Dangerous Woman” and “Be Alright” I can only imagine how magically empowering the rest of the album will be.

ariana grande winking
gif: giphy.com

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Who You Need: Tory Lanez

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Who You Need: Tory Lanez
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Image: thefader.com

WHO: Tory Lanez

WHERE: Toronto, Ontario

GENRE: Hip-Hop/Rap

TOP SONG: “Say It”

Newcomer Tory Lanez has been picking up speed in the music scene. While his hit single, “Say It”, released last year, proved his R&B specialty, his latest song, “L.A. Confidential” shows a very different side of the singer.

His voice sounds more soothing and alternative, but the lyrics still prove to be the hip-hop side of Lanez, “And I hope you don’t expect to be my girlfriend/ LA confidential/ LA confidential/ Cause I think you know I’d never leave my girlfriend.” He weaves in and out of soft notes and rap explicits. Something not many artists can successfully do.

With an impressive amount of singles under his belt (10 in January alone), there’s no doubt his debut album will seriously deliver. Lanez recently told The Cruz Show on L.A.’s Power 106 about the sound he’s trying to create called “swavey”. “The genre of putting more than one genre together…All these artists right now that are singing and rapping, like Bryson Tiller and Drake, those people are all swavey artists,” he said.

Lanez single, “Say It” is the perfect example of the swavey sound he’s trying to emulate. Hip-hop beats echo throughout the song as he croons on the border of rap-singing (much like other newcomer Bryson Tiller). “Say It” proves Lanez worth in the new age hip-hop/rap genre.

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ZAYN.

by Blondie and the Beat1 Comment on ZAYN.
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Image: directlyrics.com

 

A rugged unshaven Zayn Malik is seen brushing noses with blonde bombshell/model Gigi Hadid. Their hands travel and Hadid smirks at her man. Their sensual caresses highlight every sexual innuendo heard in Malik’s first solo single to the world, “Pillowtalk”.

The lyrics are poetic, raw, sexy, and honest. Everything we wanted to hear from Zayn, something different and true to himself. He creates an entire world out of one place; a bed. “So we’ll piss off the neighbours, in the place that feels the tears, the place to lose your fears.” Zayn’s voice is as flawless as we remember, he makes every note sound just as exquisite as the next. Although this is a pop song, it’s very different from a top 40 1D single as the video also portrays; artistic creations show naked bodies, paint, beautiful visual effects, and more. Malik experiments with more R&B sounds on “Pillowtalk”, something that suits him very well. If this is any indication of what the rest of this new Zayn chapter sounds like, then bring it on, I’m ready.

Malik’s debut solo album, Mind of Mine comes out March 25. Mark your calendars.

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