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Lyfe Jennings may see hope in tomorrow, but I Still Believe is just below average

“Don’t be a nickel out here looking for a dime,” croons Lyfe Jennings during the opening track, “Statistics,” for his fourth (and allegedly final) album I Still Believe.

It’s a great (if not a little misguided) beginning to a flawed album that just doesn’t feel special, even during it’s most standout moments. Lyfe has been pushing out music that mixes socially conscious themes along with baby-making music mostly throughout his career, but I Still Believe comes out feeling heavy-handed and lazily produced as a whole.

This is especially noticeable after the release of Raheem DeVaughn’s The Love & War MasterPeace which explored similar themes earlier this year. A great example of the similarities between the two albums would be Lyfe’s “Hero” and DeVaughn’s “Super Hero.”

While DeVaughn’s take on superheroes was a soulful yet heartwarming ode to his mother, Lyfe leaves a bad taste of corniness. “Hero” sees Lyfe belts out lyrics like “Superman can’t cook chicken like this,” though it is one of the best produced tracks on the album by T-Minus (handling a nice amount of production).

Speaking of T-Minus, the production just doesn’t work as a whole though tracks like “Mama,” featuring Anthony Hamilton and “Learn From This,” which are just OK.

Throughout my listening of I Still Believe, I found my self regularly going back to DeVaughn’s The Love & War MasterPeace and realized the biggest difference between the two along with I Still Believe’s biggest flaw. While The Love & War MasterPeace is essentially movement building yet offers great moments of sensuality, I Still Believe just seems apathetic to a lot of social issues and comes of raunchy during “those” moments.

The R&B singer’s journey from YouTube sensation to So So Def recording artist, outlook on the industry is explained

Using YouTube to showcase her singing abilities, Dondria built a nice following under her username “Phatfffat.” Head-Honcho of So So Def Jermaine Dupri caught wind of her buzz and offered a solo contract with the label. Besides working with the likes of Jagged Edge and Bow Wow, the Texas native even found time to release a mixtape for her loyal fans entitled Dondria Duets which featured Dondria turning popular male R&B songs into duets. With an album just released last month, Dondria vs. Phatffat, she is currently touring as the opening act on Trey Songz and Monica’s “Passion Pain & Pleasure” Tour.

On Wax: So you’re currently on tour with Trey Songz and Monica, how does it feel to be on tour with two of the biggest names in modern R&B?
Dondria: I am just really excited and honored that they added me on and they wanted me to be apart of it. I think that with all three of us, we’re giving you a great show with a lot of great R&B which is what I love.

On Wax: Going from YouTube sensation to signed artist and now touring with two megastars must feel amazing.
Dondria: It’s amazing and a blessing. People are singing my songs and showing me so much love. It’s like where did this come from!!! I have to pinch myself sometimes because everything is happening so fast even though it has been three years.

On Wax: When you got that message from Jermaine Dupri saying that he was interested in you, what was going through your head?
Dondria: Well first of all I didn’t think it was him. After I realized it was him I was excited number one. I was like how many people get a call from Jermaine Dupri of all people? I was all ready to get into the studio and work but on the other hand, I was nervous. It’s like, he’s worked with all of these different type of people. He’s worked with Bow Wow, Mariah Carey and whatnot. It was all of these artists that I looked up to. It was a little nerve wrecking but exciting too.

On Wax: So what made you want to post videos of yourself singing on YouTube?
Dondria: I just wanted to get an unbiased opinion. Your mom, your cat, your friend can tell you that you can sing but you don’t know if they’re telling you that because they love you or what not. You really don’t know how to take their opinion. I knew on YouTube, they would be brutally honest and that’s the only reason I went to YouTube.

On Wax: When did you discover that you wanted to sing professionally?
Dondria: I probably knew that I wanted to sing professionally during middle school. It’s like right when Destiny’s Child where around and I saw the success and fun they were having in their career. I think that’s when I said that I wanted to do that too.

On Wax: You just released your debut Dondria vs. Phatfffat, talk about that for a moment.
Dondria: Well my album, Dondria vs. Phatfffat, was released last month and I’m so happy; so excited. I really priding myself on helping bring back that real R&B and I know that Monica did a great job with her album doing that and I just want to be apart of that. I want to be respected for the same thing. I know that you guys are going to appreciate that. There aren’t any gimmicks, I’m not following any modern trends. It’s not going to be R&B/Pop or R&B/Hip-Hop, it’s going to be real.

On Wax: Why did you name your album Dondria Vs. Phatfffat?
Dondria: First of all my nickname is Phatfffat which was given to me by my roommate because I’m so small yet I eat a lot. It was also my username on YouTube. When I was coming up with an album title, I was thinking about how everyone has gotten to know this girl, Phatfffat who was singing other people’s songs on YouTube and eating pizza but now it’s time for people to know who Dondria is. So it’s more of Dondria being more than what people saw on YouTube. She can hold her own as an artists than just being a singer on YouTube.

On Wax: What are your thoughts on the industry seeing that some years back you were working to get into it?
Dondria: My thoughts on the industry is that when it comes to the authenticity and the passion, I’m not sure where it went. I don’t know if it was left in the 80s or 90s but I think that the passion is coming back slowly but I’m not sure where it went. I’ve always loved music and I just want that back. That feeling that you get when you listen to music in the 80s or 90s; I want people to get that feeling from my music.

On Wax: Is it sometimes jarring to be on a label that has such a history within the industry?
Dondria: I wouldn’t think so. To me, it makes me excited and it motivates me to do what I have to do to basically keep the name alive. It’s like I’m holding the torch in order to make history and keep the movement going.

On Wax: “You’re The One” has become an instant hit. How does that feel to do so well with your debut single?
Dondria: It feels good. I mean I use to be the person who was buying the songs on ITunes. I still am but you know I’m an artist now. [And] singing the songs at the concerts. It’s a blessing because the way it happened, it couldn’t have been nothing but God.

On Wax: What is it like working with JD?
Dondria: Working with JD, he works hard and expects nothing but the best. He doesn’t except any excuses; he’s like a drill sergeant sometimes. He keeps you on your toes but at the end, something great is always going to come out because he’s pushing you the whole time. You have to motivate yourself sometimes but he’s pushing you to where you put out something that’s great and not OK or good.

Is it just me or does it seems like more and more artists seem to rely on having good beats to drown out weak mediocre rhymes?

It just seems that the new norm is a banging beat and a fire hook is all that is needed for a song to be considered a hit. Whatever happened to the days of good ole meaningful songwriting with a side a substance and common sense?

Now a day’s having a great beat seems to be a crutch rather than a plus, I wish I could just kick the crutch from under some rappers…then we’ll see what they’re really made of. Too often we turn on the radio to here artists talk about absolutely nothing in the body of the song only to hypnotize us with a catchy beat, which we later make our facebook statuses, and a beat that stick to our heads so much we hum it in our sleeps. I miss the days where I could actually quote a whole verse of a song, understand and appreciate what its saying.

There are a few artists that stick out to me in the range of “lyrically inclined,” such as Talib Kwali, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, and The Roots (just to name a few of my faves). However their success is rivaled by those who ride on the coat tails of their producer’s creativity. I feel that certain rappers, not gonna name any names, should be instrumentalists because some songs have no real purpose even being created. I mean I’m no hater but I know I can drum up some better lyrics than some of these so called rap artists.

Another thing that I’ve noticed is that some artists are hit or miss artists, simply meaning that for maybe two bars something is really being said then the next twelve are pure garbage. I think that angers me more than a whole whack song, at least its consistent. I’ll consistent whack-ness over sporadic hotness any day….at least I know what I’m getting myself into with consistency. Don’t hit us with gold only to turn around and drop copper in our laps, it’s not only confusing but rude considering I took the time to listen to what you had to say.

Don’t half-ass a song then slap a beat on it to give off the illusion that you actually said something good. But I guess the way the game is played now…maybe that’s why artists stopped putting the lyrics in the booklet that comes with the CD case. The best way to win a game is to take out the written instructions, that way you’ll always win. That leaves us the, listening audience with stale rhymes slapped between a catchy hook and banging beats.

According to TMZ, T.I. and his wife Tameka Cottle were arrested last night and booked for alleged possession of a controlled substance.

The arrest happened after L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over the rapper and his wife in a Maybach on Sunset Boulevard around 10:18PM after smelling marijuana.

According to sources, the cops found a controlled substance that wasn’t cocaine, but the class of controlled substance that triggered the arrest which includes methamphetamines and ecstasy.

Though the couple recently married late July, T.I. (real name Clifford Harris Jr.) is on probation after doing seven months in prison on federal weapons charges.

Booked on felony possession of a controlled substance, the couple were released early this morning after posting $10,000 bail.

Young Buck has been in the news a lot in August after the IRS raided his house.

According to The Tennessean, the rapper filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy two days after the surprise morning raid by the IRS in an attempt to control how creditors will be compensated and so he won’t have to liquidate his assets.

Court docs show that Buck proposed to a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge that he be docked pay of $12,500 a month from his Cashville Records label over a period of 60 months to pay back his debts.

In other Buck news, the rapper is planning to file a lawsuit against 50 Cent, G-Unit Inc., and his former manager Sha Money XL, in the next two months, claiming he’s worth around $5 million to the label.

Along with being one of the headlines for this year’s Rock The Bells tour, Lauryn Hill also has returned to the music charts with “Repercussions.”

Hill spoke with FUSE’s Toure about how exit and return to music in an intimate interview.

“I think I’m ready to express myself again, you have to live life so you have something substantial to share or else its kinda pointless and vain,” the Grammy Award-winning Hill said. “You know, I don’t think I ever did music just for attention or to be seen, I really did it because it also simulated me, you know I was excited about the challenge or the challenges making music presented.”

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Francesca Spero filed a $12 million dollar lawsuit against Diddy due to claims that she was fired from her position at Bad Boy Records over her age and medical condition.

TMZ reports that the self identified “51-year-old-white woman” clashed with Combs after she revealed she needed hip surgery in 2008.

Spero, who was Vice President of Management and Publishing at Bad Boy Records, “suffered a relapse” into an addiction to prescription medication and alcohol abuse.

She also claims that she was fired and allegedly replaced with a woman who lacked her skill set along with being 10–15 years younger.

Created by Erik Torres, Thomas Murphy and Miguel Gracia, Royal Prospects is a clothing line with goals of setting a new standard in fashion along with making sure that everyone feels like royalty no matter where they’re from.

“We all start from nothing to become something, we all are prospects who want to become royalty, but within ourselves,” said Torres who says the brand isn’t limited by race, gender or age.

The only two-year-old line that features an assortment of graphic tee, hoodies, jackets, and sweaters has even caught the attention of current trendy rappers Royce Da 5’9 and U-N-I.

For more information on Royal Prospects, check out their website here.

The appeal of gangsta rap is explained by Gary, Indiana rapper whose St8 Killa EP is currently being seen as one of the best examples of the genre in years

With an honest approach to gangsta rap reminiscent of legend Tupac Shakur, Gary, Indiana native Freddie Gibbs is seen as the return to gritty street rhymes. While Gibbs had a deal with Interscope records, he has struck out on his own to release a slew of mixtapes that harkens back to Hip-Hop’s Golden Age. Though Gibb’s biggest highlight would be is induction into XXL Magazine’s popular “2010 Freshmen Class,” his persistence in rap game gave him a buzz big enough for him to release his debut EP entitled Str8 Killa through Decon Records which is being critically lauded as an the return to pure gangsta rap.

On Wax: You’re known for bringing back traditional gangsta rap, what led to the demise of it?
Freddie Gibbs: The game runs circles. Before gangsta rap, there were other kinds of rap. It’s different; I’m guessing people want to hear different shit.

On Wax: How does it feel to often times have your rhymes compared to Tupac?
Freddie Gibbs: It feels good to be in the same breath as Tupac or any one of his stature. But I want to work on being the best I can be you know.

On Wax: Talk about your Str8 Killa EP.
Freddie Gibbs: Str8 Killa is a project that’s in store along with the mixtape. It’s hardcore straight mid-west shit.

On Wax: What was it like working with Bun B on the “Rock Bottom” and “Oil Money” track?
Freddie Gibbs: It was good. He’s one of the people I look to in the game so it was a real good humbling experience. I’m definitely going to be doing more work with him in the future.

On Wax: How did that collaboration come together?
Freddie Gibbs: We were just mutual friends in the game. We met and chopped it up?

On Wax: How did you get into rapping in the first place?
Freddie Gibbs: I started rapping when I was 20 or 21. I was just bored and wanted to put my energy into something more positive so I started fucking with rap.

On Wax: What are some of your influences, where do you get your style from?
Freddie Gibbs: You know just the Scarfaces, the Tupacs, the NWAs, the Ice Cubes. Kool G Rap, KRS-One. Basically, just the legendary shit that I came upon. I had a real wide variety of things that I listened to.

On Wax: Being from Gary, Indiana, what made you want to set up shop in Southern California?
Freddie Gibbs: Um… it wasn’t really hard, it’s just that I’m in California handling my business but I’m home.

On Wax: You were once signed with Interscope, what happened with that situation?
Freddie Gibbs: The people that signed me over there left the situation and pretty much just left me in the dumps. Interscope didn’t know what to do with my project from there so they just let it go. It was a good experience you know. I learned a lot from there and I put together some good music.

On Wax: What did you learned about the industry while you where at Interscope?
Freddie Gibbs: Everybody ain’t your friends. A lot of motherfuckers are fake. It made it easier to watch for that. You can’t be down with everyone that tries to befriend you.

On Wax: How did you land with Decon Records?
Freddie Gibbs: We partnered up to put this St8 Killa EP out. I’m still unsigned. You know we did the partnership to push this EP.

On Wax: Do you ever plan on putting an album out in the future?
Freddie Gibbs: Yeah it’s called the Baby-Faced Killa. It’s going to be the same kind of gangsta rap but yet it’s going to be more of my personal life and personal things I’ve been through.

On Wax: In your opinion, what’s so alluring about gangsta rap and its message?
Freddie Gibbs: I think it’s just real entertainment when it’s real. A lot of it hasn’t been real lately but for the most part, when it’s authentic, the feeling is there. From the way the stories comes across, its attractive when it’s put in the right way.

On Wax: Why does it seem that people focus so much on the negative aspect of gangsta rap?
Freddie Gibbs: Because of the things that we speak about and the subject matter obviously but you have to come across with what you speak about in the right way. You have to bring it across in a way where you educate and to have fun with it. [And] not paint some picture that isn’t real. When you paint pictures that aren’t real, you can mislead people but when done in a 100 it’ll be cool.

On Wax: What happened to that realness in your opinion?
Freddie Gibbs: Because the industry is fake. It became too easy to be a rapper. It’s too many rappers. You got too many people doing something and 90 percent of them don’t be real.

On Wax: So what has been your biggest accomplishment?
Freddie Gibbs: I don’t think I’ve accomplished much yet but probably the XXL cover along with being in a lot of publications. I still have a long way to go though.

On Wax: Anyone you are currently working with or anyone you would like to work with in the future?
Freddie Gibbs: I’ve done some stuff with Jay-Rock, you know that’s my homie. I’m down to work with anyone who wants to work with me. I don’t have to check any names. If we run across each other and we respect each other’s work, I’ll be down to do a song.

On WAX Magazine will be keeping you updated on some of the hottest mix tapes to hit the streets! If you would like to submit your mix tape for consideration, click here to send us an e-mail.

Free Downloads

Sean Garrett – The Inkwell

Along with the singer/songwriter’s recent signing to Cash Money, Sean Garrett releases The Inkwell which works as an interesting introduction to essentially an iconic hitmaker in the making.

Download Here

Game – Break Lights

Though The RED Album may be reaching Detox levels with its numerous delays, Game is constantly putting out music. With Break Lights, the Compton rapper may be trying to set things right on the wrongs(it was that wack) done with his earlier release this year The RED Room.

Download Here

Vado – Large on the Streets

Cam’ron’s protégée has been keeping the New York street scene under his control with heavy releases of music.

Download Here

Gucci Mane – Jewelry Section

It’s crazy to think that Gucci has released more street albums in a year, than albums throughout his whole career.

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“Honey let me upgrade you.”

These are lyrics to a Beyonce song but there is an allure to this concept. Everybody likes the idea of you and your mate being viewed as a power couple. Everybody wants a Beyonce to their Jay Z.

Lately in the media you’ve been hearing about more and more entertainers choosing to upgrade. You know when you’re at the house all cuddled up with your significant other watching television and Lauren London pops up on the screen.

Your man looks at you and says “Baby I love you, but if I ever met her it’d be over.” You laugh because you know he has no chance in hell of being with Lauren London. Then you join in the game and say“Well if I ever have the chance to meet Idris Alba I’m gone!” Y’all both laugh because he knows Idris ain’t thinking about you.

But what happens if the rap career that he’s been working towards for the last five years suddenly takes off? And then suddenly he finds himself at parties and award shows with many beautiful women… including Ms. London?

Do you start to get nervous?

I mean you’re the one that’s been with him from the beginning, he wouldn’t leave you. Right? Plus Ms. London don’t want him. Right?

Well this scenario may not be happening in your household, but it is in many others. One of the most notable cases is the Mashonda vs. Alicia Keys situation. Mashonda is a singer and the now ex-wife of Producer Swizz Beats. She is also the mother of his child. Now Mashonda probably didn’t think she had anything to worry about with Swizz. Alicia is beautiful. But you know what… so is Mashonda. Alicia is talented. But so is Mashonda. So what’s the difference? Oh wait, there is a difference Alicia is more famous and powerful than Mashonda. Ok. I get it!

Honey let me upgrade you.

Then there is Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union. I remember seeing Dwayne on a talk show a while back talking about his wife and family. He seemed sooo happy! What happened? He met Gabrielle Union that’s what happened! I know many men that would love the opportunity to be with Gabrielle. I guess Dwayne was no different. But what about the one who was there before?

Then in recent news there has been the drama over singer Fantasia. She was allegedly dating a married man and now his wife is suing her. I wonder what is the difference between Fantasia and this man’s wife? Honey let me upgrade you. The thing that really gets me is that there are women as beautiful and smart as these entertainers outside the entertainment industry.

So if you’re just looking to have a bad chick on your arm, it shouldn’t be that hard to find one. But I guess for some that’s not enough. They want a chick to compliment their hustle. So, ladies if you’re trying to get a man whose making moves you better step your status game up! Because otherwise you may get left behind.

Honey let me upgrade you.

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Takers which stars Chris Brown, T.I. and Zoe Saldana took in $21 million this weekend and generated disproportionately high interest among African Americans. Takers looks like a clear winner for the box office crown and took the top spot this weekend.

The film’s is expected to recoup its low $32 million budget after seeing an the impressive showing this weekend. Takers also starred Matt Dillon and Paul Walker.

SOURCE

Some of the rap game’s biggest female Mcs will be speaking about rhymes and several topics in My Mic Sounds Nice:A Truth about Women in Hip-Hop, premiered Aug. 30 at 10. p.m. EDT on BET.

The networks first original music documentary will cover everything from artistry, imaging and the thin ranks of female MCs to whether there’s still a place for women in hip-hop. Director and executive producer for the project, Ava DuVernay, says she was most surprised by the ladies vulnerability.

In addition to emerging solo rappers Diamond (ex-Crime Mob) and Tiye Phoenix, the film features comments from musician Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, producer Swizz Beatz and industry vets Kevin Liles and Russell Simmons.

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The ball is officially rolling on the planned 2Pac biopic according to New York magazine.

Antoine Fuqua will direct the film based on Oscar-nominated screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson(Ali, Nixon).
The film, which was originally planned to be done documentary style, will now focus specifically on the last day of Tupac’s life and instead of attempting to answer the question of who’s responsible for the rapper’s death, the film will illustrate the reasons why someone would want him dead.

Though no cast members for the film (which could begin filming mid-November) has been selected as of yet, producers are interested in finding an unknown actor to star as Shakur.