Song Review: Rihanna - Russian Roulette

Review: Rihanna's Russian Roulette

Featured On: PrefixMag.com

http://www.prefixmag.com/media/rihanna/russian-roulette-mp3/33856/

Alright, first things first; let me get this out the way because, quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing it...

Yes, the song is dark.

There. Take that in. I refuse to turn this blog into a rant (maybe later!) but I will say that just because a song has a dark or somber tone does not automatically disqualify it from being enjoyable. There's a time and place for everything, that included. Now if this was a summertime single, I could be more receptive to the complaints but it's wintertime, it's cold outside. Bring on the darkness!

Then again, this is the opinion of a guy who's last CD was entitled "So Cold" so take that with a grain of salt...

Now regarding the song, it's hot. It's fresh. And I think that combination really sews up my anticipation for her album, Rated R. Rihanna has consistently kept herself in my CD deck (er, iTunes library, this is 2009) because she continually puts out fresh music with interesting angles. The content is such that many can relate to and comprehend, but she and her team approach her work from unique angles which makes her songs interesting to say the least.

Russian Roulette is no different. A slight glimpse between the lines of this song will give you a pretty clear view of the underlying message (which I will leave for the avid reader to interpret for themselves), but the angle she approaches dressing that message with this sort of theme is fantastic.

The technique is also nearly perfect. Light piano keys complement the strong bass drums cleverly mimicking a heartbeat. Familiar cymbals add exclamation points to a very strong chorus of orchestral instruments that bolsters, but doesn't overtake, Rihanna's strong performance. The final icing on the cake here is the deep chilling breaths that Rihanna takes at the beginning and end of the song, signing, sealing, and delivering an impressive front-running effort for her upcoming album.

Of course, with all the reviews I post here, I advise you to give the song a listen and form your own opinion. But it's certainly worth the play. Enjoy!

N. Talekt

(Update: YouTube link died, found a live link.)

New Release: Rah Scrilla - "Pushed Back"

Yes, y'all, Established Dons are at it again!

My partner in rhyme, Rah Scrilla, has released his latest project, aptly titled "Pushed Back." After a bit of a hiatus, he's back in the booth and is looking to become a steady force. Keep an eye on him in the fourth quarter, and check out his mixtape, "Pushed Back!"

Rah Scrilla - "Pushed Back"
http://soundclick.com/rahscrilla

Or listen here:

Now playing: Rah Scrilla

N. Talekt

Kanye West Doesn't Care About Taylor Swift

Was just reading about both the Kanye West and Serena Williams situations and I'm just shaking my head, felt like weighing in. It's more of a monologue but feel free to comment...

Really, I don't even want to discuss right-or-wrong. Quite simply, and inarguably, Kanye West was wrong for what he did. It was immature and unprofessional; distasteful and unbecoming conduct of someone in his position. However, so was his ever-so-acclaimed statement that "George Bush doesn't care about Black people."

My issue is, why are people so shocked and appalled now? It seems legions of people are (at least publicly) turning away from him and his music over it, even though this is the way he's been his entire career. He is who he is, and those are things that Kanye does, as we should have come to expect by now. Not saying it's something to accept, but it's expected.

The other part of the ordeal is that people are actually rejecting his public apology, saying it's unreliable and backhanded. After reading it, I disagree. Kanye understands he was wrong for what he did and is apologizing for it, but he's not apologizing for being who is his or for what he said. He meant what he said but apologizes for doing it in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Bottom line: let Kanye be Kanye. If you rock with him, rock with him; if you don't, don't. But I just find it crazy that people are letting this be the defining moment where they force Kanye to walk the plank.

I guess I'll also comment on Serena while I'm at it. Clearly, she lost her temper. But the official know how emotionally invested atheletes of her caliber playing at this level can get, and the least the official could have done was admonish her with a verbal warning, try to calm her, something. No person wants a tournament to end in a default decision. I just think Serena letting her emotion get the best of her was unfortunate and unprofessional, but at the same time, the official should have understood the situation and not have essentially completely disqualified her. A clear example of the old addage that "two wrongs don't make a right."

N. Talekt


Links:
- Article on the Kanye West Situation
- Serena Williams Loses It

Apology Unnecessary

This is somewhat unrelated to music, but it hits home personally and if you know my music, you know how closely my personal life can get woven into it...

So, as you probably heard by now, an apology has been formally issued for slavery and all its injustices. While I understand what they are trying to accomplish, that's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

While I could rant about my stance on the matter, I think most of my thoughts have been summed up quite nicely in an article I found written by Katrina Browne (a White woman, which will be apparent as you read my snippets):

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/19/browne.slavery/index.html

A particular point that stood out to me:

"It now feels really natural to want to express regret -- not an apology (that's for institutions; Congress was right to step forward) but deep regret and sadness about what happened, fellow citizen to fellow citizen. I try to imagine what it would be like if we went so far as to extend tenderness toward each other. We could actually all use more of it when we're talking about race, racism and anything to do with slavery.

"Instead, we are full of protestations, distrust, dismissiveness, resentments. For those of us who are white, what's the resistance really about? It may be, at core, that we don't want to feel guilty or blamed or responsible for the outrage of slavery. I didn't.

"But here's the funny thing: While we white Americans are busy establishing our innocence, it turns out that many black Americans are not personally angry at us for slavery. Many do want authentic acknowledgement of what happened, but not for the sake of guilt-tripping. I've witnessed a generosity of spirit that I have been humbled by.

"Meanwhile, many African-Americans are upset about the disparate outcomes that persist and want to see everyone step up to address them. There are so many lingering "structural inequalities," as President Obama put it -- ones without clear racist villains but that are embedded, like the fact that schools are funded with property taxes, so poor black neighborhoods, the legacy of earlier eras of discrimination, are not able to fund the quality schools that we say all our children deserve."

I think the last paragraph of that drives home exactly why I think the apology is useless. "I'm sorry" is not going to bring better schools to poor neighborhoods. "I'm sorry" is not going to give me access to those "certain" jobs that seem to continue to be dominated by the same group. "I'm sorry" is not going undo the labeling and stereotypes derived from racism that cause men to empty 59 shots into a man lying on the ground.

I understand the motives of the apology, I just think it was a waste of time and effort. We all know it was wrong, and understand that the lines of communication need to be opened. However, time and effort is better spent addressing the effects of slavery today instead of apologizing for yesterday.

My feeling is that I was never enslaved, so I can not even begin to attest to knowing what it was like to be in that position, and doing so would be ignorant and disrespectful. But I do know that my life has been heavily influenced by my ancestors and my position in society has been shaped largely by that same history.

To close, I want to note that I am not blind to the progress being made. Barack Obama is indeed the Jackie Robinson of this era. However, I look to the position of the common Joe and feel there is much more to be attained.

Much more than which an apology will suffice.

NT

Happy 24th Birthday!

Feels like only yesterday I was living the college student life, wondering why time moved so slowly, with my only concern being what time would I walk to the cafeteria and why hadn't that girl called me back yet.

Then I realize that was years ago, and on the heels of 24, 25 on the horizon, wondering where exactly all my time went.

Ok, so I'm not as elderly as I feel sometimes, but while the birthday has been cause for celebration, there's so many goals I've had that have so far gone unattained. And I wish I had more hours in the day to do them, but I also look back and realize just how much time I've wasted, and how many opportunities I've squandered.

This year, though, I will try not to look at it as another year gone; rather, another year given. I feel that now, more than ever, I'm seeing clearly, the valleys and peaks that are trials and tribulation have been, at least for now, replaced with the plains of clarity, leaving a void aptly named Space and Opportunity.

A void that I'll gladly fill.

I'll end with a classic Established Dons track ... it does scare me to think this was over 6 years ago, but it certainly endured the test of time.

Happy Birthday to all my July 6 born!

NT

Say Goodbye to the Bad Guy

Where were you when you heard Michael Jackson died?

"Floored" only faintly describes how I felt when I learned about the death of the undisputed King of Pop. The wave of shock sent among the country today was phenomenal, with a gravity that I don't think even the death of the Pope or our beloved Barack Obama could even potentially match.

You get the feeling that you lost a close friend, or even a family member. Speaking for myself, I grew up listening to "Thriller," "Bad," and "Dangerous," three of the most acclaimed music aggregations ever. Ever. In fact, I remember getting a new cassette player either for my birthday or Christmas, and the first tape I put in there was "Dangerous." Later on, I went back to the past to hear more of what he had to offer and, like a fine wine, it only got better with time.

I will admit, after "Dangerous," I did not listen to much of Jackson's work. I haven't even seen the entire Jackson 5 movie in one sitting yet ... though I can guarantee I've seen all of it in pieces. I'm sure that will be changed at some point soon. However, I think the reason his death was so staggaring is because Michael defined our generation as much or more than Elvis defined his. Not just his music, but his flamboyant and extravagant lifestyle bewildered and inspired much of what you see today.

Now yeah, I'mma say it -- whether or not Michael actually touched those kids is up in the air, right up there will whether R. Kelly peed on that girl. But Michael did touch millions of lives across the world. The proof in that is simply his record-breaking sell-out concerts he had lined up across Europe. Michael could have never made another song and still sold out any arena in the world. His music and talents were universal and unmatched.

The thing I will remember about him was his unique in every sense of the word. Yes, I know the moonwalk wasn't all his, but give him credit for perfection and popularization. His other trademarks -- the hats, the glove, the nut-clutch, and the "Hee-hee!" are still and will continue to be timeless memories of the one and only. His music was the definition of classic. Timeless hits like "Thriller" make Michael the quintessential example of a true musical artist.

However, all good things must come to an end. After 50 years on this Earth, Michael Jackson leaves us with what few artist will ever bestow, yet so many aspire and fail to do -- many classic hits, timeless memories, and gossip to last for years. A controversial figure, Michael will not be forgotten. He paved his own lane in music and will forever be known as the King of Pop.

No matter how you feel about him personally, his contributions to the music industry can not be denied, and his imprint on our generated has been solified. He made Thriller, y'all...

Thriller.

Condolences to his loved ones, may he rest in peace. Thank you.

- N. Talekt

Steve Harvey on Michael Jackson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC6k_YY4qLo

My Top 5 Favorites:

5) Beat It:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqxo1SKB0z8

4) Thriller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-TZnNXXQrI

3) Billie Jean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-cHBv7UpA

2) Remember the Time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDxsM5jLNxM

1) Smooth Criminal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex30DYwQlHU

Close Runner-Ups:

Black or White:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9OYMRwN1Q

Dirty Diana:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hg-IRZk4D0

Hear More:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=michaeljackson&view=videos

Go out and support good music.

The Rhythm of the Music

So, I think I've finally figured out why I find music so healing.

My theory is that it's one of the only things that brings some sort or rhythm to my otherwise rhythmless and unpredictable life.

It's been a while since I've been able to sit down and write a blog which almost makes me want to get a Twitter account, as I can handle quickie updates a bit more easily. I haven't been sitting idly, far from it, but I'm hoping to find some time soon to get back behind the mic.

Just wanted to come on here and say that life can certainly deal you some cards you don't expect, you've just gotta play 'em out.

Be back soon, keep music alive.

N. Talekt