Dr. Dre’s youthful ‘Detox’

Dr. Dre’s ‘Detox’ album is “epic” and will “have the youth by the b***s”, according to Lloyd Banks.

G-Unit rapper Lloyd said how impressive the much delayed album from Californian producer and rapper Dre is, and despite the fact he isn’t young anymore, he still works ahead of the curve.

Lloyd told Rap-Up.com: “It sounds like, history. It’s classic, it’s epic, it’s stand up. This guy’s a legend and he’s not the youngest guy in the game so for him to still have the youth by the b***s and be able to come out with stuff that is constantly changing music in the horizon, I think that that’s incredible. And it felt like magic.”

Earlier this month, one track from ‘Detox’, ‘Turn Me On’ leaked on the internet in an unfinished form, to positive response from rap fans. In June another track, ‘Under Pressure’ – which features Jay-Z – was also leaked.

Dr. Dre said at the time: “The most painful part about it is that I’m passionate about what I do so people should hear it in the right form. Somebody actually hacked into our emails. We’re in a new age and that’s a sign, ‘Wake up motherf*****r.’ You have to be more careful with your s**t.”

Dre has also said the delays to the album have partly been caused by his having to stop work on it to produce other artists, including Eminem and 50 Cent.

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Fantasia

Fantasia has finally returned to the music scene after a long period of not making music since 2006 when she released her second studio album Fantasia and since her 2004 debut album Free Yourself.  Now, Fantasia releases her third studio album on J Records (a Unit of Sony Music Entertainment) on the 23rd August 2010 entitled BACK TO ME.

This Fantasia records starts off with a Chuck Harmony produced first song entitled “I’m Doin’ Me”, an up tempo and R&B vocal delivery track. “Bittersweet” was a chosen single taken from Back To Me produced again by Chuck Harmony, a beautiful R&B/Hip-Hop ballad. Man Of The House is produced by a different producer RyKeyz, a lyrically fierce track and one for the undeground. “Who’s Been Lovin’” You has production be LOS Da Mystro! A similar sound to her previous songs but less beat driven compared to her second studio album Fantasia.

Collard Greens And Cornbread makes the listener feel hungry for more, as they get taken back toFantasia’s soul roots. Teach Me is produced by Malay And KP “I wanna love ya and satisfy” almost sounds like a Bob Marley track, take a listen and you’ll be surprised yet its totally not reggae.

“Move On Me” produced by Malay And KP yet again, is the most beat driven track but still has a balladeer type crooner feel as Fantasia creates beautiful melodies and a strong main vocal. Trust Him produced by Novel (new producer) has great piano chords and a Alicia Keys type beat.

“The Thrill Is Gone” features Cee-Lo Green (the legend that he is) produced again by Malay And KP and is possibly the strongest and best track off of Back To Me. “Falling In Love” see’s Fantasia getting in touch with her personal and more emotional side to her artiste singing “I wanna lean in for a kiss I know its worth it”. Even Angels is produced by Stereotypes and was the first single taken from the album and it is highly addictive.

Lastly the album closes perfectly with a production from Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray (Soul Discoveries loves Brenda Russell) with the soundtrack song from the film “The Color Purple” I’m Here.

Check out some of her music videos for “Free Yourself” and “When I See You”

www.fantasiaofficial.com

Review by Matthew Daniel

Dr. Dre’s ‘cosmic’ new album

Dr. Dre’s is making an album inspired by space.

The ‘Let Me Ride’ rapper – who has been focusing on producing records for other artists since he released second solo LP ‘2001′ more than 10 years ago – has revealed new offering ‘The Planets’ is to be an entirely instrumental LP, with each track being named after a planet in the Solar System.

He said: “An instrumental album is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I have the ideas for it. It’s just my interpretation of what each planet sounds like. I’m gonna go off on that. Just all instrumental. I’ve been studying the planets and learning the personalities of each planet. I’ve been doing this for about two years now just in my spare time so to speak.”

The hip-hop star – who doesn’t yet have a release date for the cosmic recording – is also gearing up to release his third album ‘Detox’ later this year.

He never anticipated it would take so long to complete the LP, but admits his passion for working with other artists has distracted him from the project.

Dr. Dre – who was instrumental in launching Eminem’s career – added to Vibe magazine: “I thought it would take, at worst, a couple of years. For example, actual work time on ‘The Chronic’ was nine months and actual work time on my last album, ‘2001′, was about 10 months.

“There is always something coming up. Like signing talent, old and new.”

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Sage Francis on inspiration, album, and touring

Sage Francis is, in a positive way – not your ordinary Rapper by any standard – that would be an understatement. He exudes wisdom, truth and knowledge in his poetic hip-hop style, is a powerful inspiration and artistic lyrical provocateur in Hip-hop to say the least. Born in 1976, he was inspired by some of the greatest Hip-hop artists and groups of all time in the 80’s and 90’s – Sage was receptively encouraged by artists such as Run DMC and Public Enemy.

Currently, Sage is also busy with his record label company as owner and CEO of independent Hip-hop label Strange Famous Records, as well as DJing and performing at various renowned Poetry events. We caught up with Sage Francis live from his home town Providence, Rhode Island to discuss, his new album Li(f)e, Drake, and Lil Wayne.

Who inspires you the most?
That’s a tough question but it’s really a collection of all the Hip-hop that I grew up listening to. I have a tendency to implant current artists who I think have more influence than others. But it’s pretty much the whole Hip-hop movement back in the 80’s early 90s Run DMC and Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys. I was such a huge fan I listened to everything, I’m much more cynical now but back then, even if I didn’t really like a Hip-hop album too much, I would still listen to it front and back and learn as much as I could from it. Now at this point in my life it’s almost the opposite – it would take a truly incredible album for me to give it the time of day! [Laughs]

What do you enjoy most about touring? Ahh man [Laughs] Money? I’m really not a huge fan of touring in general. I’m really not much of a people person. I’m more of a homebody, I’d rather stay home and create and spend time with my girlfriend. I have other responsibilities – touring does come with its perks. Like being able to perform in front of people who are excited about my music that’s what I enjoy and it’s the most exciting part of touring. I just did the UK London show a couple of weeks ago, it’s been a long time since I’ve performed there. Infact it’s been about 5 or 6 years since I’ve done a proper Hip-hop show. The crowd was so excited, and it kinda inspired me to keep going, I just pushed my limits because they were so excited about the music. I guess I’ve been playing in front of people who are a little too used to it [Laughs] – I was like yea this is great! Yea this is great stuff – lets go let’s do more let’s do more!

What or who inspired your amazing album cover?
An artist named Shepard Fairey we did the album cover together based on my recommendation that he take a portrait of myself that I’ve used over the years. And I’ve actually used that portrait in multiple fashions, and I was inspired by Andre the Giant – I don’t know if you familiar with his work but he uses the same image over – it’s like a branding almost. I used my own image in a similar fashion.

Which artist around now do you most admire?
Well I run my own record label, so I’ve been keeping a look out for people who keep me excited about Hip-hop and one person I’ve worked the most with – his name is B Dolan and we’ve written a few songs together. He’s a brilliant writer and he inspires me to write. I keep him in my company for a good reason. Not professionally speaking company but personally. He’s a brilliant artist. Most recently I found a female MC from Canada her name is Eternia – I heard her tracks recently and they blew me away! I was truly truly inspired by what I heard, so I’m still finding stuff that I like – but it’s like diamonds in the rough!

You speak a lot of truth – literally. Do you have a favourite author or poet?
I’m quite embarrassed to admit that I don’t read much, because I own a lot of books, [Laughs] when people come to my house, I think I give the false impression that I’m a reader! There all there because I know I have to read them at some point and want to but I haven’t had much time. As for my favourite writer – Charles Bukowski is one of them – Fredrick Thompson I really enjoy his writing style. Those are the main people.

When it comes to Hip-hop who do you prefer Biggie or Tupac?
I have to pick Biggie – not only because he’s from the East Coast [Laughs} I think he had much more raw talent he didn’t have as big of a catalogue as Tupac, but there’s something in Biggie’s delivery and storytelling that hits me harder than Tupac. Tupac has a lot of other things going for him, he’s inspirational in different ways.

LA CityBeat described you as being ‘The future of Hip-hop’ how does that sit with you?
I don’t know, I feel it’s a false statement! I really don’t know what the future of Hip-hop is. I don’t even really know what Hip-hop is anymore – it’s such a broad term – it’s a combination of so many different things. Really there’s no future of Hip-hop. It’s like a culture it’s in everything it will branch out in more ways than it already has. I’m trying to write as well as I can using the craft that I’m most comfortable with which is Rap, not necessarily for the sake of Hip-hop, but for the sake of Art and moral well being.

Your video ‘Escape Artist’ is so real and refreshing, which video of yours do you really like?
I’m glad you like it I’m definitely proud of that! I’m only have three real favourite videos – and that’s really up there - I really love that video. We filmed around New York City. The most recent video that I did is called ‘The Best of Times’ I think, hands down that’s my best video.

Do you have a favourite mainstreams rappers?
[Pauses to think] Who do you like? [Laughs]

I like Nas, 50 Cent, Tupac and Biggie both alike. Uhm I like Drake a lot..
I really like Drake, people keep talking about Drake he’s sorta like the next coming as far as mainstream rap is concerned. I think I would have to say Lil Wayne. I feel like he has really great wordplay, he’s very free, something about him is so free and creative and I appreciate that.

Sage so where do you see yourself in say 5 years? I’ve been in the industry for quite a while, I’m happy with what I’ve been able to accomplish. I decided to stop thinking about the future. My recent US & Canada tour I decided that would be my last tour. Then I’m gonna do the European tour and Australia tour – and after this year I really don’t wanna tour anymore. Make some type of home life, figure out something’s for myself – other ways I can use my time and creativity. Also explore whatever else is available to me – I really wanna try out a lot of different stuff and see what works. I’ve work really really really hard, for a really long time! [Laughs] I wanna focus on the Strange Famous Record label. I’m gonna live my life a lil’ bit and see where it takes me rather than forming my own destiny.

Words by Kemi Giwa

For more info about Sage Francis, music and live performances check out:
http://www.myspace.com/sagefrancis
http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/life
http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/sage-francis

Upcoming UK appearances:

15 Sep – Bristol – The Fleece – UK
16 Sep – London – Scala – UK
17 Sep – Brighton – The Freebutt – UK
18 Sep – Manchester – Roadhouse – UK
19 Sep  – Glasgow – Stereo – UK

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