Joe:If I Was Your Man

If I Was Your Man

The PK, preacher’s kid is back and soulful as ever. Joe Thomas, better known as Joe just dropped his latest album Ain’t Nothing Like Me on April 24th. This album is a collection of songs that are snapshots from his own life. “At this point in my life after being in the industry since I was 19 years old, this is more like a reflection of me and all the things I've seen in life. This album really captures my own journey," says Joe.

The album features Papoose and Yung Joc with production from Jermaine Dupri, Dre & Vidal, Tim & Bob, Brian Michael Cox, Stargate and Sean Garrett.

His second single of the album, “If I Was Your Man”, exposes a more personal side if this distinctive voice in R&B. Joe explains how he would give up the world if he can get back with the women of his dreams. He only gets a part of her and he wants it all.

The video for this particular song does a great job explaining the lyrics. It starts out with Joe so much in love with this women. They look like there is no one else but them. Then, the story flips when you find out she has a husband, Blair Underwood, and Joe is just second string. Feel this artist pain by checking him out on You Tube.

Hilary Duff: With Love

With Love

This childhood star is growing up and she is doing it in front of the world. Hilary Duff born September 28, 1987 is an actress, fashion designer, and a singer. She is known for being the trendy Lizzy McGuire on the hit show on the Disney. She has now grown up and moved on to music.

Hilary’s first album Metamorphosis was #1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sell more than 2 million copies with the #1 single So Yesterday. She definitely has shown she can succeed at anything she puts her mine to. No wonder why the “tweens’ love her.

Hilary says she loves singing and performing because through her music she can show the world her true self. On April 3, her latest album, Dignity was released and the first single, “With Love” has Ms. Duff and her fans spinning in a new direction. It has a techno pop rock feel if that is possible. Her voice is a sexy husky as she sings the words “just do with it love.” She is telling the world be straight with her… don’t beat around the bush with this barely legal star. You can be blunt, tell her she is coming on to strong…just do it everything with love. I give this song a cool C.

Ne-Yo: Because of You

Because of You

Shaffer C. Smith, better known as Ne-Yo, just released his sophomore album, Because of You, this week and this singer/songwriter came back hard. This man has been busy between albums writing hit songs for R&B artist such as Mario, Mary J. Blige, B2K, Faith Evans, Musiq, and his latest song hit “Irreplaceable” written for Beyonce. The one artist Ne-Yo would like to write for and hasn’t gotten the chance to, is Prince.

I must say that this Def Jam artists latest project seems to have a lot of style from the artist formerly known as… and he does his sound mixed with his own very well. The debut single, which is also the title of the album, is called, “Because of You”. It is a nice mix of classic Ne-Yo with new sounding Ne-Yo.

The song is a classic love song, which he is known for. He explains how a girl makes him feel better than anything he has ever felt before. “I know this much is true you’ve become my addiction… I’m so strung out on you” He plays it like she is his drug and he uses the play on words nicely in this top charting song. Check out this future star on YouTube.

DJ Khaled: We Taken Over

We Taken Over

This Terror Squad member is very proud to be Palestinian-American. Khaled Khaled, which is Arabic for eternal, better known as DJ Kahled, is a DJ and radio personality in South Florida at WEDR 99 Jamz where he controls the airwaves from 6pm to 11pm in the TakeOver with K. Foxx.

His semi-successful first album, Listenn…The Album, was released the summer of 2006. The album featured an array of artist such as Chamillionare, Twista, John Legend, and many more and “Holla At Me” premiered on MTV’s “Making the Video.

Now, DJ Kahled has finally made his breakthrough hit off his sophomore album, We The Best, and his first single, “We Taken Over” features a powerhouse of rap artist. The line up includes T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Baby, and Lil’ Wayne and the man that brings all these men together in the hook, the R&B top charter, Akon.

This song explains how DJ Kahled and these hip-hop men are going to take the world by storm. Akon belts out, “If you want to we can supply you. Got enough work to feed the hold town…Come around and try to stomp on our ground ‘cause we taken over… one city at a time!” On top of these don’t mess with me type of feel you get a great hip-hop produced by no other than DJ Kahled and 5 rappers adding their fire to the track.

This is not one of those songs that grows on you because if you are a hip-hop fan it will draw you in from the first note and keep you tuned till Lil’ Wayne says his last line. Check out the song and video here courtesy of You Tube and you watch all these top-named featured artist rescue DJ Kahled.

Avril Lavigne: Girlfriend

Girlfriend

Avril Lavigne is being who ever she wants to be. After being interested in music and learning how to play the guitar as a child, she performed everywhere she got the chance. At 16 she was probably one of the luckiest kids in America. The L.A. Reid heard her sing and he was amazed by her voice. Once he discovered she wrote her own material he signed her to Arista Records. She then hit it big with her debut song “Complicated” in the summer of 2002.

Now she is back to finally release her third album, The Best Damn Thing Ever, and it cannot be anything other than a pop-rock album. She did not hold back at all after she married Deryck Whibley, member of Sum41. This album is more teen spirited than ever and her first single is definitely making a statement saying... I’m still young and want to have fun.

“Girlfriend” made its debut on the Hot 100 Billboard at number 5. It was the highest debut single Avril has ever had. This is one of those songs that makes you want to get on a bed and jump around while singing into a brush. Avril sings, “I don’t like your girlfriend… I think you need a new one…I could be your girlfriend.” This is a very light-hearted play around song and if that is what Lavigne was going for… she did it. The only complaint with this song: Avril, if you want a kiddie song than suggest you don’t use words like muth*f*ck*. Thanks. I give this song a C.

Rihanna feat Jay-Z: Umbrella

Umbrella feat. Jay-Z

Rihanna is back with her third album Good Girls Gone Bad, set to be released June 5, 2007. The last time we heard from this 19 year old Cover Girl was her last smash hit S.O.S. released in 2004. I am hear to tell you, she has switched up her sound once again. According to her official website, she said, “I feel like I want to do a lot of uptempo songs. I want to keep people dancing but still be soulful at the same time."

The lead single, “Umbrella” has a feature by no other than Jay-Z, the man who signed her to Def Jam records. The song was produced by Christopher “Tricky Stewart and Terius “The Dream” Nash who produced Britney Spears and Madonna’s hit “Me against the music.”This song is very rock hip-hop which seems to be the current style in urban music. A lot of artist are ready to “Party like a Rock Star”. Umbrella has a catchy hook that reminds a lot of Ashely Simpson’s “L.O.V.E’.

There is not a video for this song yet but listen to it, hear…thanks to you tube. It is a good song if you need some uplifting from a friend. With lyrics like, “Said I'll always be a friend ,Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end ,Now that it's raining more than ever Know that we'll still have each other, You can stand under my umbrella…”, how can you not want to be there for someone in their time of need. Good Job Rihanna! You changed up your sound and succeeded.

I give this song a B+!