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Blackbear Navigates Relationships and Adulthood

by Blondie and the Beat1 Comment on Blackbear Navigates Relationships and Adulthood

drink bleach
Image: mikeposnerhits.com
R&B/ Hip-Hop spittin’ new hit man, Blackbear is back with a new EP, titled Drink Bleach. Despite the title, I have to say, this EP feels different. It’s older and slightly more mature. Bleach seems to be about moving on, realizations, and clarity. Not only are the lyrics more appealing this time, but his sound is evolving as well. Pop takes the lead on this EP. 

One of the standout tracks, “Something Real” explores teenage nostalgia with adulthood decision making. Blackbear croons, “But maybe we were too young, too young to feel something real.” He goes back in time to a relationship that could’ve worked, but now never will. A consistent pop beat plays in the background while Blackbear explores with more synth and electronic sounds, straying from his usual R&B swag. This suits him well, while still keeping his unique half sing/rapping style. 

Bear pulls Mike Posner out of the rap shadows for the melancholy, “Obvious.” A sad song that deals explicitly with the end of a relationship. “Girl, I can’t f**k with you anymore” Blackbear croons with delayed sadness. You feel for the man as the chorus honestly spits, “Let’s just state the obvious, you’re done with me and I’m done with you.” Posner gives the song the soft rap kick it needed without being too aggressive. The electro-breakdown at the end makes you hopeful that Blackbear will stick to this fresh and different sound.

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Blackbear and Posner work on “Obvious” (Image: collegedj.net)
Women still prove to be a driving force for Blackbear’s musical content. The dance-y “Shake Ya Ass” will make you sing every word (even if the lyrics are slightly vulgare.) While “Girls Like You” reminisces on being scorned by too many women.

 I couldn’t be happier about this EP. I like that Blackbear strayed from his usual drug-induced stupor and stepped out with something much different. He’s still R&B but with a twinge of electro-pop, which fits into the slightly tame lyrics. Drink Bleach is pretty cool.

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The Secret Collab You Need

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on The Secret Collab You Need
taku wafia
Image: wegotthiscovered.com

Both TAKU and Wafia manage to stay under the radar when it comes to their music. You won’t hear their names on E! News and you won’t see their faces on the cover of every tabloid magazine. That’s what makes them the best kept secret in music. Both come from powerful genres of music; TAKU from the electronic world and Wafia from the alternative world. It only seems natural that the two would come together and form some musical magic one day. Well, that day is coming August 5 of this year when their duet EP titled,  (m)edian is released. A 5-song emotionally stacked project that can only serve as the melancholy soundtrack to the end of your summer.

The two recently brought their collaboration to life at the Sydney Opera House a couple weeks ago. With intensely subtle lights and visuals, TAKU started the show plucking at everyone’s emotions through his piano-driven sounds and vibes. “How’s everyone’s feelings?” he says into the mic as the crowd cheers back for him, waiting for their souls to be revived by his extremely beautiful sense of self.

Watch their concert at the Sydney Opera House here:

He told the story of how the duo met and how he instantly fell in love with Wafia’s music and immediately emailed her saying, “Lets work.” TAKU tells the crowd (m)edian is about, “experiences we’ve had throughout our lives with our families. About sacrifice, love, and compromise.” Although TAKU’s music is mostly non-vocal, Wafia and him have a wonderful vocal sound together. It’s a coffee-shop soundtrack with a little more pizazz. The two seem very humble, talented, and inspired when performing together.

“Love Somebody” is the closing track on the upcoming EP, keeping TAKU’s classic piano- driven melody alive. Wafia and TAKU compliment eachother’s sounds perfectly. They repeatedly harmonize to the words, “Oh, when you love somebody,” pushing the poetry right into your soul.

One can’t help but feel enlightened after witnessing a duo like this. Cue the incents and burgundy-hued wall tapestries.

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Ariana Grande: Armed & Dangerous

by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment on Ariana Grande: Armed & Dangerous
danger
Image: idolator.com

“Something bout you, makes me feel like a dangerous woman,” are the words slithering out of Ariana Grande’s plump pink coated lips. Her third album titled Dangerous Woman branches away from her past musical endeavors as Ms. Grande is now a full grown woman, although she remains at a tiny 5′ 0″ tall with a net worth of $25 million.

Grande has been doing pop right since day one; catchy lyrics, a hop on the EDM wagon, pop synths for days, and flawless harmonies. Dangerous Woman is a lethal album, torching every other pop sound in the way. With the help of musical God Max Martin, who’s worked with almost every pop artist in the game (Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, etc),  Grande’s album is destined for success.

Add guest artists like Lil Wayne, Future, Nicki Minaj, and Macy Gray, and the album becomes a show of who can Ariana NOT sound good with. She pushes her musical limits mixing more dance/hip-hop/r&b elements than we’ve heard from the singer before. She also keeps her vocal runs we so desperately crave i.e. “Dangerous Woman,” “Be Alright,” and “Greedy.”

Not only is the album a slice of musical heaven, but the advertising behind it was brilliant in every way. Ariana had originally planned on calling her album Moonlight, then decided to change the name to Dangerous Woman, highlighting the changes she’s gone through over the past year. After posting pictures and quotes of dangerous women in history to motivate, fans became more excited for the album. Her style shifted to more of an edgy vibe; something that suits her well. The cover artwork for Dangerous Woman is Grande in a black latex cat face mask, showing a sexier side of the singer.

dangerous
Image: urbanislandz.com

It’s very easy to put Grande in a category with every other pop star, but we shouldn’t. Woman is proof of her own sound; romantic pop. Each song takes you on a gorgeous journey through love and relationships. She swoons over her crushes, pain, and longing for real love. “Thinking Bout You” takes on the theme of loss as Grande sings, “I don’t have you here with me, but at least I have the memory.” Her voice couldn’t be more impeccable if she tried. Everything about Dangerous Woman is an addicting force in the music world.

Ariana Grande: The reincarnated pop Queen our kingdom has been longing for.

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Mr. and Mrs. Twenty88

by Blondie and the Beat1 Comment on Mr. and Mrs. Twenty88

 

damn
Image: earnthenecklace.com

Friday was not only April Fools Day. It was the day we got introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Twenty88 -AKA- Rapper Big Sean and flowerchild R&B princess Jhene Aiko. After listening to this album, you’ll WISH and PRAY that they someday get together. The two have collabed in the past with “Beware” off Sean’s 2013’s Hall of Fame and “I Know” off of his 2015 album Dark Sky Paradise. But Twenty88 is different. Both Aiko and Sean turned 28 in March of this year and both were born in 1988, which is why 88 makes so much sense.

Each song is smooth, clear, addicting, and just plain beautiful. Even a song with such a harsh title; “Selfish” keeps a dance-y tropical vibe that leaves romantic notions in your head. Aiko’s vocals remain as pure as ever, convincing you that she’s an angel on Earth. “Late night, texting, phone off, no stressing, how could you be so selfish?” the two harmonize as they deal with real-life 2016 problems.

twenty 88
Image: missinfo.tv

I didn’t know how much I needed this duo until I heard this album. Aiko can rap and curse just like the best of them, she’s just prettier at it. Sean keeps his rhythmic flow and respects the chill element Aiko needs in her music. Both have a sultry musical quality that brings hip-hop and R&B together in a cohesive way. Think about drinking hard liquor in a floral dress, that’s Twenty88. Heavy bass on “Push It” brings sexy to the forefront. Elements of a classic R&B song is heard in Aiko’s subtle backup vocals, while Sean raps about his plans with his lady later…

Aiko recently told Flaunt magazine, “Music now doesn’t really cater to the feelings of a real relationship, It’s all about trapping and bragging. I feel like this project is something that’s needed right now. The whole idea of the man and woman duet, especially a whole project, is just good for people to see. That duality is a perfect combination.”

Now let me go grab some wine and take a bubble bath while I listen to this on repeat.

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