Two Eleven

One of my favorite singers is back with a new album after 4 years. Brandy released Human in 2008, which I felt was a great album because it was so honest but she felt that her long time producer, Rodney Jerkins and label didn't give it the support album. After label changes , she finally got the music she wanted. But this album Two Eleven is very personal to her because her idol the great Whitney Houston died on her birthday, which is February 11. So Brandy thought that naming this Two Eleven it would be a dedication to her idol. From listening to this album Brandy didn't disappoint. 

Now we know that this industry has clearly changed since Brandy was on top of the charts, so with this album coming out I was nervous because I didn't know if the music world would accept Brandy again. Also, R&B music is not in the forefront of mainstream music anymore. As I stated before, I was nervous but Brandy brought it on this one. Now when her single "Put It Down" was released in May. I had mixed feelings but I just admired her swag on the song. After a few more listens, the swag took over and I love the song. I felt she was giving me Afrodisac era swag. I understand why this was the first single because it caters to the young music market but still the Brandy fans know B-Rocka is coming. So about 4 months later, I was on twitter and Brandy tweeted that she has a song for the fans. Then "Wildest Dreams" blasted into my headphones. Brandy's vocals is epic on this song, this is the Brandy that I have been waiting for. I started tweeting Brandy is back!. Now listening to this song everyday, Brandy tweets again "Starz I have another track for yall". Then she leaked "No Such Thing As Too Late". Brandy again amazed me again with her vocals on this mid-tempo. I tweeted "songs like this shows me why Brandy is one of my favorite singers". I knew then Brandy was NOT playing with this album.

After so many people wanted the album to leak, it finally did this Thursday. And when I tell you Brandy is back, I really mean she is back. This album is amazing and on October 16, I will be buying 3 copies. Brandy deserves to have this shining moment. 

After a little(lol) background for yall, time to talk about this AWESOME album....

The album begins with an Intro that most definitely into the album. Then the second single Wildest Dreams is the next track so epic as I explained earlier. Next song is So Sick, I remember a video on youtube when she was playing the beat for her brother Ray J. Brandy was riding this beat with her vocals, which is her specialty. Then we go into one of my highlights of the album Slower, on this song Brandy has so much swagger. I never wanted this song to end. Next is another favorite of mine, No Such Thing As Too Late. Brandy is giving me the Full Moon era with this song. I just love her vocals on this especially at the end, when she hits that note, vocal heaven. Next is the club banger, Let Me Go this song will definitely get you in the partying mood. Then Without You gives me Apart vibe from Full Moon. The vocals are great as usual it's such a laid back song. Next, is the first single Put It Down with Chris Brown, Brandy has to much swag on this. Like I said, I understand why this was the first single. Another favorite of mine is Hardly Breathing the melody and the Brandy vocals are standout outs. Next is Do You Know What You Got Have this song gives me Like This vibe from once again the Full Moon album. Very sexy vibe song. Now to my favorite song on the album, Scared of Beautiful. This song speaks to my soul, when I heard this it brought tears to my eyes. Frank Ocean murdered these words and Brandy brought those words to life. "Scared of the truth so much more than a lie" those words hit home for me. Next track, gives me the Full Moon era once again. Wish Your Love Away is a laid vibe song like Come A Little Closer from Full Moon. Paint The House & Can You Hear Me Now are good songs. Music is an anthem for me because I love the beginning "I wake up to you and go to sleep to you" and lastly "I am lost without you". This song is my life. And to close the album she has the banger What You Need. To me this song is Brandy's message to the fans telling us she has what we need, which is good music. That's what I take from the song. But she also singing this to her boo Ryan. 

Brandy with this album has proved why she is and should be forced in this game. This is such an awesome album. She gave us the classic R&B from the first album, Brandy. She gave us the pop appeal from the second album, Never Say Never. The epic vocals from Full Moon she was SANGING on this album. She was giving us the swag from Afrodisiac with songs like Slower, So Sick, and What You Need. And lastly, this album is as honest as Human with songs like Scared of Beautiful and Hardly Breathing. With all that, Brandy didn't lose herself on this album and I want her to win on this. 9.5/10

STANDOUT TRACKS

Wildest Dreams

Slower

No Such Thing As Too Late

Scared of Beautiful

What You Need

My Top Three Soundtracks of all time

On August 17, the remake of Sparkle is being released featuring the late Whitney Houston. This was the last performance from Whitney Houston before her death. But if you are familiar with the original Sparkle, that included Irene Cara and Phillip Michael Thomas, it was known for the music. The soundtrack was done by the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin and produced by the late great Curtis Mayfield. But I will discuss the background about Sparkle as this blog progress. I decided to do this blog because I saw an article about top soundtracks and three soundtracks weren't one it. So as a music lover, I felt it was my duty to write about them. As you can see my favorite 3 soundtracks are Claudine, Sparkle, and Waiting To Exhale. These three soundtracks displays soul and passion at it's finest.

3. Waiting To Exhale

This Babyface produced album is legendary. This album can be called the "women's soundtrack" because with this album all songs were sung by women. In my opinion, the soundtrack fits the movie. The movie was about 4 women that go through heartbreak and how they conquered. And the soundtrack does the movie so much justice. But the funny thing about this album is that women SANG all the songs but a man wrote all the songs. Babyface might have gone through this situations because he wrote great songs. Nevertheless, this shows that men can also relate to this soundtrack because men experience heartbreak as well. 

Now I knew about this soundtrack because this album has hits but I never fully listen to the album, I only knew the singles. Finally, one of my classmates in college was saying that the Waiting To Exhale is the best soundtrack of all time, I knew then I had to listen to it. The following Saturday came, and I had nothing to do, so I went to the store and brought me a bottle of a certain "spirit" and figured I would listen to this album. I think that was the best and the worse thing I could have done. This album was emotional so when you are full of the "spirit" it makes you think about your situation that you are dealing with. So, as epic as the album was I was in my dormroom crying on certain songs. But that crying show me that if a soundtrack can bring me to tears, it has to be epic. I was "Sittin Up In My Room" (dormroom that is) reminiscing. In addition, what I like is Babyface wrote each song for the right person, which the artist made the song theirs. From this album there are 5 songs that I always have to hear:

Aretha Franklin -It Hurts Like Hell

Whitney Houston- Why Does It Hurt So Bad

Mary J. Blige- Not Gon' Cry

Shanna- How Could You Call Her Baby

Whitney Houston/CeCe Winans - Count On Me

Now after listening to all these songs, they basically tells the story of the movie. The characters go through heartbreak and at the end they realize they could count on with other to get through it. I must say if you want an epic soundtrack this has to be in your collection. 

2. Sparkle

This album takes me back every time I see it the cover. This album was the first 8 track that I pick out of my grandparents wall unit when my mother and I moved back north from her finishing her college education. Now this was the time I started falling in love with soul music. So, me as a 10 year old kid goes to this wall unit and see all these big cassettes and ask my mother "what are these big cassettes?". My mother responds as she laughs, "I am getting old but those are 8 tracks!" So, I see Aretha Franklin and pull that 8 track out and it's  "Sparkle". So, I started asking my mother about this album and she explains this is the soundtrack to a 70s movie titled Sparkle. She then explains that Aretha's "Sparkle" was already done before the movie was done. Of course, I never saw the movie so I started asking questions. As a result, my mother rents the movie but I love Aretha's version so much more. I am not bashing the movie, because it's a classic but Aretha's version to me was more soulful than the movies version. And with Curtis Mayfield's legendary producing this album this album is legendary. Even though, I love all the songs on the album there are 3 songs that are my favorites. Even though there is 8 songs on the cd:

Look Into Your Heart 

Hooked On Your Love

Jump

Now Aretha was SANGING on this album, I know you probably saying why was't "Something He Can Feel" on his favorite list. See I already knew about this song so when I finally heard the album these three songs became my favorites. But as I stated before I love the whole album. Now this leads me to the remake of Sparkle, I was a little nervous when I heard that Whitney Houston was remaking Sparkle back in 1999. I was thinking that this album and movie is tough to remake so if Whitney was going to do it she had to do it right. Then I found out Aaliyah was going to play Sparkle, I figured the movie was be fine but the soundtrack still worried me. But when Aaliyah passed, the movie was put on hold. Then in 2012 it was said that the movie started production with Jordin Sparks as Sparkle. After I heard that I said, well she does remind you of Irene Cara, so I said it could work. Then I said the only person that could produce the soundtrack to get that soul vibe is R. Kelly, because he is the closest to Curtis Mayfield we are going to get today. Next week, it's said R. Kelly was producing the soundtrack. I knew then that this can be a great remake like Dreamgirls. I haven't heard the soundtrack yet but with Curtis and Aretha leaving that legendary, R. Kelly has some big shoes to fill. But the original has to be in your soundtrack collection. 

1. Claudine

Another Curtis Mayfield produced album, this soundtrack is my favorite soundtrack of all time. Not just because Gladys Knight is my favorite singer but with this album all the songs are my favorite. I remembering being 10 years old and first hearing this album I was floored. As I stated, me and mother moved back north after she graduated college and we used to listen to old soul and we couldn't find cassette with old music. As a result, someone told my mother about a guy that sells old music in Brooklyn on Belmont Ave. On Saturday, my family decided to take a ride out to Brooklyn so we can to go meet this guy. So, we went to Belmont Ave and we saw this brown van with this older guy. When we get up to the van, he opens up the van we see all these cassettes that included Tyrone Davis, Sam Cooke, Bobby Womack, etc. Me and my mother felt like we were in heaven. So my mother decided to get two cassettes "Claudine Soundtrack" & "Sparkle". When mom popped that cassette in I fell in love with this album at 10 years old and I still play it at 26. Gladys' voice on this album is just legendary. Since I have pick favorites I will chose 4 songs:

To Be Invisible

The Makings Of You

Hold On

Makes Your A Happy Home

Well I hope yall enjoyed my music journey through my favorite soundtracks, these albums in my opinion define soul at it's finest. Hopefully if you don't have these soundtracks, then maybe this blog can get you add them to your collection.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK?

Top 10 Albums & Songs of 2011

Best Of 2011: According To My ITunes

2011 music was okay this year. Even though we had a lot of gimmicks, but real music still come out on top. The music I speak of is Adele, she brought that real music back. Her album 21 is the best selling album of the year. I feel that her album is very deserving of this honor. When you listen to her album you can tell that it's from her soul and comes out real. This is the type of music that I appreciate, honestly. This is definitely the year of Adele. But other artists that made real music included Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Jay-Z/Kanye West, J-Cole, and Mary J. Blige. The music this year, didn't make me stray away from my throwbacks.

As like everyone I would like blog about my top 10 albums & songs that I played a lot this year. My top is a little different because some albums I listened to this come out this year but I played them a lot. As a result, this top 10 albums list will be a little different. 

Albums:

Honorable Mentions

1. Adele- 19
2. Raphael Saadiq- The Way I See It
3. Marsha Ambrosius- Late Nights & Early Mornings

10. Born In The U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen(1984)

I always knew about Bruce Springsteen, but I didn't really play attention to his music. I only knew songs like "Dancing In The Dark" and "Born In The USA". I never really heard a full album from Springsteen. But Lady Gaga was promoting her Born This Way album she was explaining that Bruce Springsteen was a big influence on her because of her dad. So I felt that I need to gave a Springsteen album a try, so I downloaded Born In The USA and I fell in love with it. I listen to it at least once a week. With songs Like "I'm On Fire", "Working On The Highway", and "My Hometown". I understand while this album is such a classic. 

Listen to "Dancing In The Dark" that saxophone by late Clarence Clemons AKA Big Man is awesome

9. My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1)- Mary J. Blige (2011)

Mary J. Blige released her 10th album, which she entitled My Life II, as a big fan of the first My Life, I was very nervous about this project.  The first My Life album was very emotional, raw, and classic, I felt that was a era that Mary should have let alone. The My Life is dear to my heart, I didn't want it to be destroyed. So, the album was released Nov 21, and of course I loved it. But I still feel that this album should have not been called My Life II, because if you are a Mary J. Blige fan, this album seemed to be more her first album What's The 411?. I felt Mary could have just called this album The Journey Continues.  But this album is still in my best albums of 2011, with songs like "Feel Inside", "Don't Mind", "No Condition", and my album favorite "Need Someone", Mary showed why she has lasted so long in this industry, 20 years .

Listen to "No Condition" this song still gives you that soulfulness that Mary continues to still give us for 20 years.

8. Born To Sing- En Vogue (1990)

En Vogue in my opinion is the best girl group of all time. There harmonies are unmatched, this girls can SANG. I always knew about En Vogue's first album but I never listened to it. Their Funky Divas was the album that I have never familiar with. So, one day I was listening to "Waiting On You" and I decided to download Born To Sing as I expected the album was awesome. Anytime I feel like listening to some SANGING, the first album I think about is Born To Sing was the best album title for this first album.

Listen to "Part of Me" this song was leaves me speechless.

7. Amazing Grace- Aretha Franklin (1972)

God has always been in my life, I know who he is but I finally found a church that I can all my own. During this time, I have been listening to Amazing Grace every night because it makes me feel good and understand how bless I am.  Songs like "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "God Will Take Care of You", "Never Grow Old", and "How I Got Over" makes me understand why this album is the greatest album of all time.

Be Blessed and listen to "Mary Don't You Weep"

6. Stronger- Kelly Clarkson (2011)

Ever since American Idol, I have been a fan of Kelly Clarkson. In my opinion, I feel she is the best American Idol winner. Her voice sings chills up my spine, her voice is the best out right now. Her vocals can across all genres, soul, pop, rock, jazz, etc. This year Clarkson released Stronger in October, which was a good album. But a lot of Kelly's song were leaked in the Spring, so when the album was released a lot of the songs I knew, but it didn't take away for the album. With Songs like "Honestly", "You Love Me", "Hello", and favorite track "The War Is Over". I listen to this album at least once a day, because it's a fun album.

Listen to my favorite track "The War Is Over", hear the aggression.

5. Cole World:The Sideline Story- J. Cole (2011)

I didn't know about J. Cole until one of my homeboys but me on to him. He told me that I should listen to his mixtape Friday Night Lights. When I listen to this mixtape, I thought he was ill on the mike. Then I saw him live on Rihanna's Loud Tour, I knew that I had to get his debut album. When I got this album, Cole didn't disappoint, he in my opinion was bringing that REAL hip-hop because he was rapping about REAL things. With songs like "Lights Please", "Nobody's Perfect", "Lost Ones", "Daddy's Little Girl", and my favorite track the emotional "Breakdown".

Listen to the emotion of the track and his rhymes on "Breakdown"

 

4. Watch The Throne- Jay-z & Kanye West (2011)

This album I was waiting for because Jay-Z & Kanye West are one of the best rappers out right now. When I heard "Otis" I knew this album was not going to disappoint. When the album was released on August 8, at midnight I brought the album. From "No Church In The Wild" to "Why I Love You", in my opinion is the best rap album of the year. With songs like the James Brown sampled "Gotta Have It",  "New Day", and "Who Gon Stop Me", this album was awesome. You can tell this album was Jay-Z album as well as a Kanye album. In addition, I had to opportunity to go to the Watch The Throne concert, it was an EPIC event.

Listen to my favorite track off the album, the inspiring "Murder To Excellence"

3. 4- Beyonce (2011)

Finally Beyonce made a album that I will be album to play for years to come. Albums like B'Day and I Am..Sasha Fierce, didn't do anything for me. I think Beyonce was more concerned about having hits than making timeless music. Her album Dangerously in Love was her best until 4 was released. Even though the album leaked, she made timeless songs like "Start Over", "Dance For You", "End Of Time", and the MJ "Off The Wall" album inspired "Love On Top".  When this album was officially released, I couldn't stop listening to it.

Listen to "End Of Time" this song needed a video, but I understand Beyonce was pregnant but this video had Michael Jackson all over it.

2. 21- Adele (2011)

As I said in one of the previous blog entry, I was introduced by Adele by one of my twitter followers. He asked me if I have ever heard of Adele before, I said yes, but he said I need to listen to her new album 21, it's very soulful. I decided to listen and I fell in love with it. I brought it before I listened to the album in full. One this album he was giving me soul, pop, blues, and jazz wrapped in one. With songs like "Someone Like You", "Turning Tables", and my favorite song "Take It All". This album is full with honestly and this album will be considered a classic. It was my best album until my number 1 album came out in May.

Listen to "Take It All" and her voice is so pure and soulful.

1. Born This Way- Lady Gaga (2011)

This album I listen to at least 4 times a day. When the first single was released, "Born This Way" I wasn't impressed. Even though I know that this song serves a purpose, but I wasn't a fan of it. But when I brought the album, I was impressed. This album was musically awesome. Lady Gaga put pop, rock, dance, and rhythmic sounds together and make a great blend. Many people think Gaga changed, but this album showed how she improved musically. Songs like "Marry The Night", "You & I", "Hair", "Bad Kids", "Judas", and the inspiring "The Edge Of Glory" makes the album the best album of 2011 in my opinion.

Listen to the New Years anthem "Marry The Night"

Songs:

Honorable Mentions:

1. Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, & Busta Rhymes  "Look At Me Now"
2. Jennifer Lopez & Pitbull  "On The Floor"
3. Pitbull & Ne-Yo  "Give You Everything"
4. LMFAO  "Party Rock Anthem"
5. Pink "Fuckin Perfect"

10. Beautiful People -Chris Brown

9. Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay- Big Sean & Kanye West

8. Til The World Ends- Britney Spears

7. The Living Proof- Mary J. Blige 

6. The Edge Of Glory- Lady Gaga

5. Rolling In The Deep- Adele

4. Niggas in Paris- Jay-z & Kanye West

3. I Care- Beyonce

2. Judas- Lady Gaga

1. Stronger- Kelly Clarkson 

HOPE SOME OF MY FAVORITES OF 2011 MADE YOUR LIST TOO!!

(IN THE COMMENT BOX PUT SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES OF 2011)

Stronger: Standard Version

The Queen of American Idol is back with "Stronger". Kelly Clarkson has been giving her fans quality music ever since her first album "Thankful". As a long time fan, I was expecting another "My December". I thought this album would be "Breakaway" & "My December" put together. But it's more of a fun album like "All I Ever Wanted", which is not a bad thing. I think this album will definitely give Kelly Clarkson continued success. Even though demos of the songs were leaked it still didn't take away the good of the album. 

The album starts with the albums' first single 'Mr Know It All'. I feel this single wasn't the best single to start the album with but it's still a great song. In addition, I wanted Kelly to really give me more adlibs at the end, but other than that the song is cool.  The second track in my opinion should have been the first single. But I understand that it was leaked, so she and the label felt they had to go with a song that wasn't. But 'What Doesn't Kill You' (Stronger) is an anthem for everyone. Her vocals on this song makes the song so much better. When I first heard this song in July, it became my favorite song of 2011. If you want an anthem like 'Since You Been Gone', 'What Doesn't Kill You' is it. The third and fourth tracks 'Darkside' & 'Honestly' gives me that "My December" vibe. 'Honestly', Kelly is singing her heart out especially when she says "Listen to the truth if it breaks me...if you hating me do it honestly". I can feel her when she sings that. The fifth track is entitled 'You Love Me', which I understand is the reviewer favorite song. Clarkson explained that she was in a dark place when she wrote this song and this song was her way of getting all that pain out. In my opinion, this song is an for anyone that experienced a bad breakup. Track six is another song that leaked entitled 'Einstein' (Previously 'Dumb+Dumb=You'). When I heard this song when it leaked, it became my ringtone because I liked it so much. This song you sing to a person that really hurt you and you are yelling this song to them. I love Kelly's emotions on this song you can tell she is angry but she seems happy to get all the pain out. Another leaked song 'Standing In Front Of You', I love this song as soon as I heard it. But I like the demo and little better than the album version. It seems that the added music takes away from the emotion and rawness of the demo. But the words are beautiful and Kelly's vocals are great as usual. The eighth track 'I Forgive You' was also leaked. This song was produced by Rodney Jerkins(Brandy, Beyonce, and Whitney Houston). I was surprise that Jerkins did rock music, but his sound and Kelly's voice shines on this song. This song give me a 'Walk Away' vibe, very soulful rock. 'Hello' is the ninth track, which I loved when I first heard it. This is song gives you a reminder of "Breakaway", this song gave me the song 'Gone' vibe. I love her vocals on this, when Kelly adlibs it sends chills up my spine. Now, my favorite song on the album has to be the tenth track 'The War Is Over'. This song gives me 'Hear Me' part 2. 'Hear Me' is my favorite song from her, but this song does something to me. The words to me applies to a situation that I experienced and this song tells it all. You know that person has a hold on you, but sometimes you have to let it go. When she sings "I won't let you pull me in because I know you gonna win, but the war is over and I won't fight you anymore, I never been so sure", it speaks to me so much. The next track is 'Let Me Down' which is a classic Kelly Clarkson song, great vocals and rocky. Another favorite of mine is 'You Can't Win', this song is for anyone that feels like that can't shine at anything. When I heard this song for the first time, it made me think of Barack Obama, because he can't win at anything with Congress. 'You Can't Win' is definitely another anthem for everyone. The last track on the album is called 'Breaking Your Own Heart' definitely goes back to Kelly's country roots. When I first heard this song, I cried because it's such an emotional song. This song really gives you that Patsy Cline's 'I Fall to Pieces' vibe. Kelly's vocals are extraordinary on this song. When I heard this song, it brought back memories of my mother and I on the road with my father and hearing country music at the truck stop.  


In all "Stronger" is a good album. Kelly vocals are extraordinary and the song contents are great. She definitely gives you a little bit of each of her albums, but it channels "All I Ever Wanted" because when through she gives you a memories of her older albums, Kelly seemed 
to have fun with this album like "All I Ever Wanted". (8/10)

STANDOUT TRACKS

The War Is Over

What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)

You Can't Win

Breaking Your Own Heart

You Love Me

Beyonce: 4

Beyonce fans have been waiting for 3 years for this album. Beyonce wanted to take a break to get some inspiration to make new music. Now after about 4 leaked singles, the album is here. Beyonce in my opinion proved her staying power as an artist!!!

This album "4" I was really nervous about especially after the first single, Run The World (Girls), I prayed that she didn't take that route again like she did with "B-Day". Then End Of Time was release, I was excited because that's the Beyonce I love, the one that shows her vocals. Meanwhile a day after, 1+1 was released which caused me to say this album will be a "Dangerously In Love" part 2, which in my opinion is Beyonce's best album. On 1+1, Beyonce really sings with emotion that actually brought me to tears. Finally, she came with my anthem Best Thing I Never Had, that song to me was needed because it's says everything I wanted to tell the person that broke my heart. Now, that I have given you a  little background I will proceed to the review. Lastly, if you loved B-Day or the Sasha Fierce side of "I AM..SASHA FIERCE", this is NOT that kind of album.

She starts the album with 1+1, which I feels really shows Beyonce vocals. When I heard her sing this live I was floored. Beyonce in an interview explained that she will be showing us her vocals on this album, which is clearly obvious on this song. This song in my opinion should have not been released it should have stayed as an album cut. Then she goes into rock-inspired I Care, which gives me a anger type of feel, but I like it. Again she is really showing her vocals at the end of this song, while she keeps up with the guitar. I Miss You gives me a Destiny's Child's T-Shirt feel, which you can tell is very inspired by Jay-Z. Now, Best I Never Had in my opinion is one of the best songs on the album. This song is for anyone that has every been hurt and finally getting over it, this song is Irreplaceable to the 10th power. After listening to this song about 20 times, I finally got to Party. The Kanye West produced song took a little while to grow on me, which it took 30 mins. But this song is definitely a summer song, you can be riding in your car with all the window down and cruise. Another on of my favorites, is Rather Die Young. Another Jay-Z inspired song, it gives you that Walking In The Rain With The One I Love by Love Unlimited vibe. Songs like these show you that Beyonce is very happy in her marriage. Starting Over and Love On Top shows Beyonce's vocals which I love. Countdown is another favorite of mine, I love how she uses the countdown in Boyz II Men's Uh Uh. This song to me is very creative, she doesn't use the countdown like you think, which I really love. End Of Time was a favorite of mine because I didn't like Run The World, so I was happy to hear a much better song from her. On this song, I love the harmonies, clearly it was well produced. I Was Here was an Adele inspired song because even though I love Adele, this was a song that I really couldn't get into, but it might take time but for now I don't like it. (UPDATED..I loved I Was Here because of the lyrical content.) Lastly, Run The World (Girls) I didn't like the song because I feel like we have been waiting for Beyonce and she gives us this as a first single. I feel that Girls shouldn't have been released as a first single because it's not the mood of the album. But I guess she had to give the fans an uptempo song, but I could do without it.

In conclusion, I clearly understand why she named the album 4 because in my opinion I feel that she is talking about her and her husband relationship. Both of their birthday's are on the 4th of the month and their marriage as well. This album shows Beyonce has grown as an artist, in my opinion I was getting a little tired of SASHA, I wanted to meet Beyonce and I feel with this album we did. 9.0/10

STANDOUT TRACKS

I Care

Best Thing I Never Had

Rather Die Young
Start Over

Love On Top

Countdown

End Of Time

My Top 5 Albums of All Time!!

Understanding that choosing the best albums of all time is a challenge, but there are many factors that come to picking an favorite album. Like many, people pick a favorite album because of the hits the album had. For example, Thriller is consider to be the MOST sold album of all time, but that album in my opinion its not a favorite of mines. With no disrespect to the "King Of Pop", but that album is not a classic to me. I understand that Thriller broke records, but its just didnt leave a lasting impression on me. However, it was a good album. Nevertheless, picking a favorite album should be about how the album makes you feels, good or bad memories when the album was released, and if you can play the album today without skipping songs.

Now my favorite albums of all time are:

5. THE VELVET ROPE - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson is a music idol, with albums like the freedom album of Control, the educational album of Rhythm Nation, and the sexual album .janet. But The Velvet Rope to me showed the world the "REAL JANET JACKSON". This album showed that Janet was dealing with issues just like us, which included depression, death loss, sexual preferences, abuse, and finding yourself. With that, this album showed she was human. She starts the album with an interlude that everyone should realize, "Its my belief we all have the need to feel special". The line always make me feel good, because with that Janet understands. The next track "Velvet Rope" Janet takes us into her world, the depression that she was experiencing which brought out the best but yet worse in her. Then she has songs like "You" and "Free Xone" that talks about being yourself instead of living in a fictitious world. With these songs, it really helped me in the year of 1997. My mother and I just move to NJ, I was at a new school didn't know anyone, which is hard. But I tried to fit in by doing things that I know I wouldn't normally do but songs like "You" and "Free Xone" help me realize that I didn't have to pretend to be something I wasn't. Then she has the anthem, "Together Again" for anyone that ever loss anyone to a disease such as AIDS. In 1997, I never knew the depth of AIDS, but I always loved this song, However in 2010, this song come back into my life because my first cousin, that I considered my brother died of AIDS, it was very heartbreaking. It cause me into a deep depression for a couple of days. But it was when this song played, I cried and sung it at the same time, it felt like 1997 again. In essence, that song cause me to think about him being in a great place, "smiling back at me". Aside from the songs like "Together Again" Janet wouldn't be Janet with out the sexual songs like "Rope Burn", "Anything", the Rod Stewart remake "Tonight's The Night". These songs definitely helped in the bedroom a couple of times. Above all, this album is about loving yourself, realizing that we are all special, and "we can't be stopped". This is a type of album for me will always be relevant to be in my life. 

4. I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU- Aretha Franklin

The "Queen Of Soul" what can I say about Ms. Aretha Franklin. She is definitely the queen for a reason. With me being only 24 years old, I grew up with listening to old soul artists, such as Aretha Franklin. I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You is one of the albums that I remember my mother playing on our record player on a Friday nights. This is album is soulful from beginning to end. She starts this album off with the woman's anthem of the century "Respect", even though I like Otis Redding original version better, but thats besides the point. Ms. Franklin did this song justice. The second track is one of my favorite songs of the album "Drown In My Own Tears", she killed this Ray Charles classic, her version is so much better than his in my opinion. This song actually makes me cry every time I hear it, because you can hear the soul in her voice. Then she comes with the album title track song, which is my favorite song from the album. The song is for any person that loves a person thats bad for them. The song became relevant to me cause I loved someone more than I loved anything, they had "their hook in me". Every time I hear this song, I totally understand Ms. Franklin. Of course she has the drink re-filler song, "Soul Serenade". When this song comes on, my mother and I always have to refill out drink, but while we are refilling it, we are singing along with her. However, you can't forget the classics like "Baby, Baby, Baby", "Dr. Feelgood", "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", and the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come".  Ms. Franklin definitely made this song hers. If you want a soulful album that will take you through love and pain together, this is album that I recommend.

3. NEVER SAY NEVER- Brandy

Brandy's Never Say Never in my opinion made her a pop star. Her first album strictly R&B/Soul, but this album has a pop feel to it. This is one of my favorite albums because I have great memories with this album. I can remember when my moms and I heard the "Boy Is Mine" on the radio we never knew who the person that was singing with her. The person we thought it was Countess Vaughn, Kim from Moesha. But realizing that it was Monica. But we loved that song. I remember my mother saying as soon as Brandy's album come out we were getting it. The day was June 6, 1998, my mother got off work and we went to the record store to buy it. When we popped the tape into the cassette player were blown away with the first song "Angel In Disguise" it had the "bob your head in the car vibe". The next track was "The Boy Is Mine", by the time we got the album were sick of the song, because we played it so much. "Learn The Hard Way", was a personal favorite of mines because its not you typical  sad slow song with a message, it had a beat, which I love to sing along to. But a family favorite is track five "Almost Doesn't Count" this is one song that I let my mother sing along with me, cause she has no voice, but we love this song so much. I remember riding in our 1993 Plymouth Sundance, with the windows down singing "Everytime you build me up, you only let me down" or "Maybe come running back from the cruel cruel world". People would be looking at us on the outside but we didn't care. As the album proceeds you can't for get about "Top Of The World" with Mase, the number one "Have You Ever". But the song that took this album to the top was the classic "Put That On Everything". This song to me is Brandy at her best. This song you can sing to the person that you are madly in love with. The way Brandy sings "Ill climb mountain's highest peak" gets me every time. This is actually my favorite Brandy song of all time. Above all, this album is fun and lovable at the same time. I can play Never Say Never and still feel like the first time I heard it with my mother back in the summer of 1998.

2. WHAT'S GOING ON-Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On showed America that Africans Americans has something important to say about the society that we were living in. During the late 1960s early 1970s Vietnam War was really hurting our society. The veterans were returning from fighting this war, to experience injustice and hatred, especially in the African American communities. With this album Marvin was speaking for them and singing the experiences that they faced. The titled track "What's Going On" he sings "Mother there is too many of you crying and brother they are too many of you dying" and "War is not the answer, you know we got to find a way to bring some love here today". Marvin was telling the world that this war wasn't needed. The next track "What's Happening Brother" is a song about how a veteran feels after the war because after the war everything is suppose to be okay, but he is fighting another war such as getting a job and making money. Every time this song plays I turn it up to full volume because people in today's society are dealing with the same issues. Then he goes into "Flying High(In the Friendly Skies)". This song is about looking to drugs because of the hard times, it helps you with the pain of being unsuccessful. "I go to the place where good feeling awaits me", went Marvin sings this it brings a chill to my body because it's easy to turn to drugs when things are going bad. Meanwhile, Marvin is also concerned about the children of the world, he knows that children have many things to say. "Save the babies" Marvin sings to the parents of the world, help your children to make good decisions for the future. The song that Marvin really gets me is when he puts GOD into perspective with the gospel anthem "God is Love". I love that Marvin put a beat to this song, because throughout the album he has you in a thought process, he bring to you to life with this song. As he sings "Love your mother (she born you)", makes me realize why I love my mother so much. Also, Gaye is telling us that God is there with you all the time, even when you don't think so. As the album continues, songs like "Mercy, Mercy Me", "Right On", & "Wholy Holy" give great messages. But I love the way Marvin ends this album with "Inner City Blues"(Make Me Wanna Holler). This is the song in my opinion besides "The Ghetto" by Donny Hathaway, that gives America an insight into our inner cities. With this song, Marvin is telling the world that the African American men in the 1970s had to deal with the war, then come home to the inner cities to deal with another war. This album was very bold and truthful, its hard to believe that Berry Gordy wasn't going to release this album because he thought it was too political. He was sadly mistaken, because in this album Marvin made me understand if I had something to say, express it because GOD is the only person that can judge me. Above all, this album can definitely be played with the way the world is today.

1. MY LIFE-Mary J. Blige

What can I say about this album, Mary J. Blige in my opinion delivered the best album of all time. Mary became part of my family with this album. My mother and I moved to South Carolina back in the early 90s because my mother wanted to move out the inner city of Brooklyn to further her education. During this time, my mother was a single parent trying to balance going to school and raising a child. This was very hard to balance, but what made life a lot easier was music. Meanwhile, my mother and I listened to music while we both studied. On this one particular weekend in 1994, we had family over and someone left this tape by Mary J. Blige. Mom and I already liked Mary because of her hit "Reminisce", but we didnt follow her music too much. Nevertheless, the new week began moms popped in the tape. From that first track  "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" we fell in love with it. GOD put this tape into our lives for a reason, because Mary was going through as much of a struggle we were. So, throughout that album we can feel the pain and passion of her voice. As time pass on, it seemed like every time I came home from school, My Life was playing in the background. Songs like "You Gotta Believe", "I'm The Only Woman", "Be With You", and "Mary's Joint" made you understand that Mary was in so much pain, it was like a ghetto gospel. But the song that takes me through so many emotions is "I Never Wanna Live Without You". As a child, I used to sing this song with so much emotion, but when I got older I really understand what that song meant.  Besides, "I Never Wanna Live Without You" is my favorite song of all time, you can hear the passion, the pain, and depression in this song. Every time I sing it with her, I cry because it takes me through happiness and sadness at the same time. However, the song that my mother and I love is the last song on the album "Be Happy". This song is so inspiring from the first line of the song "How can I love somebody else, if I can't love myself enough when it's time to let go". With this song, Mary is explaining that you have to be happy before you can anyone else happy. When I think about My Life, I think about how this album brought my mother and I closer than ever, how it affected my family, and how it affected me. This album really made me fall in love with MUSIC as a whole. As a result, I want to thank Mary for this album because without My Life, I don't know where my life would be.