Somehow we found this video trailing YouTube and fell in love with it and Nikki Jean!
Watch…
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=GVI9oPzmWH4]
Peace, Love & Nikki Jean
SpeakerBox
OK, so PinBoard have been hooked up (thanks Insiders) with a [real, legal & legit] copy of Mariah’s new album and we thought we’d share a few opinions on it. We were gonna do some big ol’ review, track by track, but to be honest, that really isn’t necessary.
This album is [like Mariah has previously said] “The Emancipation of Mimi” part duex. Take that as you will. Some may say that, that’s a great thing, considering how successful that album was and some will say “that’s lame”…We’re actually indifferent to the idea.
The album is decent, it’s nothing you’d regret listening to, but at the same time, it’s nothing you’ll be eager to hear again. It’s understandable that Mimi would try and recreate [the feel of] her last album because it was pretty much a world-wide success, but at the same time, it does feel like a bit of a cop-out. Carey has never made ‘historic’ music; music that will go down in history as “great” – but then, she has never claimed to have!
The main ‘problem’ we have with “E=MC2” is, that the tracks really do sound like they were written for the “Emancipation” album, but never made the cut. The two albums could pretty much be one. Which is a shame, because we know Mariah can make solid albums (“Butterfly”, “Rainbow” etc) and we know she’s able to deliver, because she has done, pretty consistantly over the past 10 years or more. But on hearing her latest offering, we were a tad bit disappointed, JUST because we had really high expectations. Having said that it is an enjoyable, no-frills listen and will, at points, have you boppin’ and sobbin’.
We like: ”That Chick” [our fav track], ”Migrate”, “I Stay In Love”, “Side Effects”, “Love Story”, “Last Kiss” and “For The Record”.
We don’t like: “Cruise Control” [WAIT till you hear the second verse!], “I’ll Be Lovin’ You Long Time” and ”I Wish You Well”.
The other tracks are just…well, what’s it sayin when you don’t have an opinion either way? That’s not always a bad thing, but then, it’s not the greatest thing either, right?
If you’re a new or hardcore Mariah Carey fan, this album will fit nicely into your CD collection. If you’re a traditional Mariah fan and prefer her 90′s/early 00′s material, this CD will sound more like a compilation of lost “Emancipation” tracks, rather than a brand new album.
In conclusion: Mariah Carey’s “E=MC2” is [just] OK. It’s not her best work, but then we would’t/couldn’t say it was her worst either. Mimi offers nothing terrible [except "Cruise Control"!], but then, doesn’t offer anything too spectacular either. While the album is extremely ‘safe’ (in terms of musical direction), it is an enjoyable and fun listen. We think it’s a “grower”, you know one of those albums, the more you listen to, the more you like? Yea, one of those! Take it with a pitch of salt, we say!
Share your thoughts ‘Lambs’…
Mariah Carey’s new album, “E=MC2″ is released April 14th…
Peace, Love & E=MC2
SpeakerBox
PinBoard Hookup: The UK version of “E=MC2″ has an additional bonus track called “Heat”, it’s pretty decent. We thought you’d like a listen so we’ve posted it here for you:
[audio http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/25/1834894/15%20Heat.mp3]
Chart-topping Duffy has responded to Estelle’s recent comments claiming she and others (Adelle and Amy Winehouse etc) do not represent true soul music.
Duffy tells MTV News: “I don’t wanna stand as a definition of soul music and I don’t think I ever will but there is influence of that in my music“, she went on to say “What you have to remember is a lot of kids don’t know the great 60′s and 70′s soul music. So all I can do is channel those influences and interpret it in a contemporary way“.
We respect her response…
The bottom line is: fortunately, we live in a world (esp in London) where we don’t see soul music as “just black music”, where soul music isn’t exclusive to one group. We’re not in the 60′s and 70′s anymore…No one can forget how soul music was created, or the history behind it, but times have changed and luckily (thankfully) we live in a city (can only speak for where we live!) where music, from whatever genre is for everyone.
Peace, Love & Soul Music
SpeakerBox
Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings are one of our favourite bands and one of our biggest [musical] secrets…
They are, simply put – incredible.
To us, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings represent true soul, true funk and true [TRUE] R&B. We didn’t grow up in the 60′s and 70′s, but it was during these two decades some of the most amazing, innovative and exciting R&B/Soul/Funk music was created. [During this period] The genre was in its infacy and anything and everything was possible and new. We can only attempt to imagine what those years must have been like – the closet we can get to that today is to re-visit those songs/artists, and try to imagine what it was like to be around during those historic 
years. But even in doing that, it is impossible to re-capture what it was like hearing those songs for the first time on the radio…That is, until now. Until you discover Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings.
The group capture old school soul and funk like no other artists around at the moment do. The only other contemporary act we can think of who has successfully captured that style of music (not lyrically, but musically) in this way is Amy Winehouse on “Back To Black” – but wait…Who were the musicians on that record?…Non other than…THE DAP KINGS! LOL.
The band create their authentic sound by shunning modern [digital] equipment and instead opt to use traditional [analogue] recording equipment. Not to mention, they’re amazing aptitude as musicians.
Their first major release “Dap Dappin’ with Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings” was a full out funk-attack album. The LP only sold a few hundred copies but grabbed the attention of funk DJ’s and reviewers and gained a significant reputation. It was universally praised – some saying that it was possibly one of the greatest funk albums ever created and that a new standard had been set.
…Pretty impressive stuff considering only a few hundred albums were pressed and sold!
The band’s second LP “Naturally“ was released in 2005, the difference 
with this album was that it wasn’t pure funk. “Naturally” mixed both funk and soul together. The album, unfortunately didn’t make too many waves, sales-wise. [You know the same ol' story of great albums going under the radar]. But nevertheless, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings continued to generate a lot of interest on the underground and with established musicians/acts.
The Dap Kings were then hired as session musicians on a number of different projects involving producer Mark Ronson, most notably on the Amy Winehouse, mega successful ”Back To Black” album. The band appear on 6 of the 11 tracks on the multi-platinum, 5x Grammy Award winning LP. The group feature on two of the biggest tracks on the album – “Rehab” and “You Know I’m No Good” – it’s their musicianship that you hear on those amazing records [DOPE]. Aside from this, The Dap Kings appear on Mark Ronson’s highly successful album “Versions” and were Amy Winehouses’ backing band on her US tour.
In 2006, high off the success the band were having on other artists’ records, they began recording their third LP. “100 Days, 100 Nights”. The album was released in October 2007 and yet again, failed to sell in big volumes but did gain
tons of critical acclaim, across the board. Their authentic soul sounds, reminiscent of Otis Redding, James Brown and early Motown, fronted by the power house that is Sharon Jones (who we think could challenge any of the great soul diva’s of yester-year) – proves a formidable combination, creating not only a great album but also a time machine, where listeners are taken back to when soul was still a baby.
All three of their albums are great! While listening to them you hear growth and change, but yet still feel that “homemade” vibe. It’s ridiculous how talented these ‘cats’ are. As musicians they are flawless, as a vocalist [Sharon Jones] is impeccable and as far as albums go - they are the new standard.
We URGE you to go and BUY their music [this means through LEGAL means!], support their work and encourage anyone and everyone to do the same. We need music like this.
Below is the video for “100 Days, 100 Nights”, check it out and let us know what you think. We’ll also be posting some music from Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings in the [not-so-distant] future for you to check out also…
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ouI5KcyHfE]
Peace, Love & Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings
SpeakerBox
Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings will be performing three gigs at London’s famous Jazz Cafe THIS month (16th, 17th & 18th). We recommend you be there! Go HERE for tickets!
We don’t even know what to say or think about this:
This is a new promo pic of R.Kelly for his up-coming album, set for a summer release. Yuh.
Help us out, give us some words…What you thinking?
Peace, Love & THAT Picture
SpeakerBox
A very cool video…
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=6yQexTsAhjY]
Peace, Love & Did You See It?
SpeakerBox
T.I has conducted his first extensive interview since his arrest last October for illegally attempting to purchase firearms and since he pleaded guilty to weapon charges a couple weeks ago. The rapper told the Atlanta Journal-Consitution that his recent troubles have taught him not to live life so fast.
In the interview T.I explains how he is coping with this ordeal – “just a lot of patience. If I can sit at home all day and wait on people to bring me what I need…wait on getting permission to be able to do this and do that, it’s not as serious as I used to make it sometimes. Sometimes it was like, “if i don’t get this right now, I’m just going to lose it. When you’re going 350 MPG, it tends to be that way. But when you are stopped – halted, not slowed down, but halted – you figure, ‘well, i could have just slowed down. I didn’t have to be stopped’. I thought it was bad just to slow down. Now i see in me being stopped, i could have done this, been this, myself, instead of being forced to do it“
T.I has been ordered by the court to complete 1,500 hours of community service, where by he will be expected to speak to youth groups, one of which is for an organisation called ‘FOR ME, inc’, which aims to get young kids into the music business.
The rapper went on to explain that aside from losing his freedom, he’s lost his high-profile endorsement deal with General Motors and explained how his current situation has cost him “millions of dollars“
Aside from the General Motors deal T.I explains “there are films that I missed out on. Not speaking of, of course…tours. Tons of business. I’ve probably lost about $10-12 million“.
The Grand Hustle rapper said he has turned to spiritual guidance in his troubling times explaining he feels “blessed” and “Lucky…it’s by the grace of God that I’m here“. He also explained that his prayers were answered as he got off with a much lighter sentence than he had expected. “When you do the amount of praying that anybody in a situation similar to mind spends the time doing, and for that prayer to work, and for you to have other people praying for you to get thought the situation – of to see the situation beginning to look up – and not acknowledge that’s what helped the situation, i think that’s blasphemous“.
On future plans, T.I said that he was set to hit the studio with non other than Amy Winehouse, but was unclear whether or not the collabo would appear on his or Amy’s next album. He also insists that his new single off his up-coming album “Paper Trail”will arrive in the next couple of weeks and will premiere on his social-networking site, streetcred.com.
T.I also spoke about the days just before his arrest last year. The night before the BET Hip Hop Awards, he and his friends went out on the town to celebrate his success, but explains how his arrest made that memory a “bittersweet one“. But the rapper didn’t shy away from his responsibility “I know, I know, I brought it on myself”.
Aside from all this T.I is also engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and is expecting a baby next month – “As far as a date, I’m not setting a date because then it’s going to turn into a lot of fanfare…No relationship needs all that. It’s more hazard than help…And you know today, as entertainers, as public figures, there’s enough strain on a relationship as it is. I think that’s a private moment for us and our families“.
We’re hoping everything works out cool for T.I – he’s done the crime and he’s now doing the time…
Peace, Love & T.I
SpeakerBox
Bobby [wasteman] Brown is pissed…
BOBBY BROWN is fuming with his ex-wife WHITNEY HOUSTON because she won’t sign off on a DVD release of the fallen R&B star’s BEING BOBBY BROWN reality TV show.
Houston, who appeared heavily in the series, and wasn’t always portrayed in a good light, is refusing to give Brown the OK to cash in on DVD sales, and he insists that’s eating heavily into his potential income.
He tells In Touch magazine, ‘Whitney blames the show for ruining her career and she won’t sign off on the contract to release the DVD. There’s a lot of money to be made, but, because she won’t cooperate, we’ll never see it. I have a serious problem with that because it affects my income.
Muuuahaha! Broke A** Fool.
The show sure was funny. Following any crack head around with a camera would be jokes, but when those crack heads are Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown…THIS is what you get:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=y0isvS19AGs]
Peace, Love & KISS MA ASS!
SpeakerBox
The Cool Kids just posted a new blog on their Myspace page with some exciting news:
YO YO YO …Yesterday i gave everyone the date!!MAY 20th.. Bake Sale EP in stores and online
For all the Fans and Folks who have been rocking with us from day one were giving yall…..
“That’s Stupid”-the mixtape… coming in 2 weeks.. (alll new joints for the summer)
available online on our new website.. www.coolxkids.comAlso this summer.. we will be headed back over the pond…
U.K, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, France, and Portugalget ready to rock! GET THOSE TICKETS
Lollapalooza GET TICKETS
Coachella GET TICKETS
Lollapalooza GET TICKETS (the show will be so insane)
NEW VIDEO from the EP coming SOON
also… get ready for our first full length album…
“WHEN FISH RIDE BICYCLES”….Fall 2008
the update will be coming fast… so tell your friends
Chuck & Mikey
You can be sure PinBoard will be there [where ever 'there' is!] when the boys arrive in London and will be reporting back with anything and everything we have!
Peace, Love & The Cool Kids
SpeakerBox
P.s If you haven’t already check out the PinBoard EXCLUSIVE interview with The Cool Kids HERE
Brandy has signed a record deal with Epic Records and is hoping to have new material released by the end of this year. It’s been a long and distressing road for the R&B singer recently. After the release and failure of her last album “Afrodisiac”, [which in fairness - wasn't too great] and her recent legal troubles involving a car crash etc it’s good to hear the “Boy Is Mine” singer is getting back on her feet and back to work. We think Brandy is great, but we haven’t been too excited about anything she has released since her [super, dupa good] “Never Say Never” album – So, we’re hoping good things come from Brandy this year!
We don’t want anyone under estimating how HUGE this really is. Many people “expected” Leona to go #1 just because she’s had SO much success, so quickly, as well of the fact that she is probably one of the best singers around at the moment…But don’t get it twisted, this news, that she may be #1 is monumental. It’s been 20 odd years since a British Female has entered the US charts at the top spot, so yea – its amazing news that she may be making history with her debut album. Obviously it’s not a bad look to have Simon Cowell behind you but it’s undeniable that she can sing the pants off any song. Congrats Lewis.
Staying on Leona for a hot minute, Mariah Carey has fought the good fight and kept the Baby Diva (Lewis) off of the number one spot in the US. “Touch My Body” continues to dominate the charts.
Ouch. Estelle has been told by her US label Atlantic Records to ‘fix up, look sharp’ by changing her ‘grill’ and her hair do. They insist in order to fully conquer the U, S of A she must get some cosmetic surgery to “fix her teeth” and get rid of her “boyish hair do”. That’s fuckery! How depressing is that? The “American Boy” singer is apparently (and rightly so) livid with this and insists that the way she looks is a part of her character – as depressing as this is – it’s also kinda funny? Obviously the political side of this isn’t funny and is pretty disgusting but still…you know those situations in life where you shouldn’t laugh – but u do? Awful. Just awful.
In light of this news we wanted to post one of our favourite videos…This very (funny) video is of Erykah Badu doing a skit on how the industry makes women conform to a certain standard. It’s really funny and she’s great in it, but it’s also messed up how true, what she’s saying is:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=92GM851j20k]
Yup, the reclusive [and apparently fat] rapper has reportedly confirmed that he will in fact perform at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday this summer. After announcing his retirement in 2005 little has been heard/seen from Eminem, but rumours have been surfacing that he is in fact now working on a new album and with this appearance scheduled, it seems all is set for a big comeback.
We’re still rather baffled about this dude. Why did he disappear? He wasn’t around for THAT long, had massive success and then just…vanished? Odd. We know he’s got tons of personal problems, as well as loosing his good friend and fellow rapper Proof a couple years back, so maybe he feels better now to get back in the game?
Peace, Love & News In Brief
SpeakerBox
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