By Niy Birden

There’s something so timeless that comes from a feature with veteran musician Pharrell Williams. Perhaps it’s the endless influence of old school R&B? Perhaps it’s his open mindset? Or maybe it’s the fact that somehow, he really hasn’t aged at all that much? Who knows. But no one can deny: he has a certain Midas touch. He’s even managed to make a traditional EDM DJ be able to sound like a down with the culture disco-clubbing goer.

In all honesty, the only real hint of what most people know of Calvin Harris that shows in this song is actually the soundscape in the very beginning, before any voices come through. But for a DJ like Calvin, this is actually a very good thing. Like Pharrell, Calvin Harris has created a genuine career from his versatile sounds. Pharrell opens up with his classic “Hey!” and immediately the fun begins. One thing that is notable about Pharrell is that he has this impeccable way of always making the listener feel like he is talking directly to them.

The muffled organs and 4 on the floor drum beat take you right back to those early California, rap/song combo, ‘90s-2000s hits he so masterfully created, and he starts by giving you that charming talk that he usually does on collaborations: “Hey!/Well nothing ever last forever, no/One minute you’re here and the next you’re gone/So I respect you, wanna take it slow/I need a mental receipt to know this moment I owe/Do you mind if I steal a kiss? (Chop, chop)/A little souvenir, can I steal it from you?/To memorize the way you shock me/The way you move it here (Hey)/Just wanna feel it from you (Hey)”. So you might get a kiss stolen from you, but at least you’ll be gettin’ down.
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Because she will grab you by your weave.
Review: Tamar Braxton’s ‘My Man’

By Niy Birden

Tamar Braxton knows drama. And she knows that you know, that she knows that you know- that what is hers, is hers. Which is why her song and video “My Man” will be one of the biggest breakup you-must-not-know-bout-me anthems for R&B this year. I can picture it already, girls driving down the street, top down, maybe your girlfriend doing her nails, instagramming or posting a video to musical.ly of her belting out the song with a puppy filter.

The song, a perfect combo of traditional r&b ballad and soft D’Angelo or Miguel-inspired guitar strums, details her resentment for a lover who has done her absolutely dirty. But she’s not just talking about the guy. She is even calling out his mistress, who she very aptly calls- or shouts-a heifer (right on). The song starts off with soft piano and quickly introduces the main theme of the instrumental, guitar, piano and a nice kick perfectly complimenting her beautiful contralto voice. Classic Braxton harmonies pair with her voice and make you remember the good ‘ole days of listening to The Braxtons when they were still a group.

The song hits a critical point when she sings “Word around town/Is that you live with her/And you said she took your heart away, oh baby/I told them, that’s a lie/Cause I don’t wanna hear no bullshit stories ’bout my man.” Tamar also doesn’t waste any time with getting into her staple belting, once she gets closer to the heart of the stories detailing just exactly how her man was stolen. Lyrics such as “Looked me in the face, and she took my man/Never trust a lonely woman with the one you love/She ate dinner at my table, even watched my kids/And she took my man/Bitch actin’ like she was my friend/She called me ’bout her man/Well, I didn’t understand/She was talkin’ ’bout my man (heifer)” make you want to ask her “Who in the world are you talking about?!” And finally, the ending “Oh oh oh oh oh oh ohs” channeling Lenny Williams add the icing on the cake, reminding people that once again, this is a very passionate song.
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By Creative Media Times

Summerfest 2017 was back in action today after a day break on Monday, marking a perfect 4th of July celebration night. This is day 11 of the 50th Summerfest, which will continue to run throughout the week up to Sunday.

Kicking off the second half of the festival, chart-topping duo The Chainsmokers performed at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, while right over at BMO Harris Pavilion were Speaker of the House, EDM DJ Dallask, Common Deer and finally Third Eye Blind ending an energetic and lively night at the venue. Local rapper IshDARR also had a spectacular night at Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

Alessia Cara performed her hits at the Miller Lite Oasis Stage at 10PM, after shows from CADE, Lost Kings and R.LUM.R. Other performers at the festival grounds included Mike Snow, Death From Above 1979, PVRIS, Lost Kings, Elephante, Grandtheft, Shaun Frank, High Valley, Dallask, CVBZ, Joey Purp, Justin Caruso, Cade, Lanco, OddCouple, Loosid, Jamila Woods, Common Dear, WebsterX, Saba, Dreamers, The Unlikely Candidates, Klangstof, Sacred, and Big Shoes.

Head over to Summerfest.com for the full lineup of tonight and the scheduled performers throughout the week.

Related: Summerfest 2017 In Milwaukee Is Celebrating Festival’s 50th Anniversary

By Cameron Pridmore

Rumor has it that the Backstreet Boys have been in Talks with the Spice Girls to head a reunion tour together in mid 2018. Nick Carter fueled the rumors in a recent interview with US Weekly, saying that he has had conversations with his Boy Band co-host Emma Bunton. The reunion tour would be something of epic proportions, as the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls were two of the most popular artists of a generation.

The Backstreet Boys are currently on their Larger Then Life Las Vegas residency tour, and with the addition of Kevin Richardson again, the Backstreet Boys are more popular then ever. With their ability to remain current, it would seem like a no brainier for the group to unite with the spice girls for a reunion tour. The Spice Girls were last seen at the Olympics in 2012, where they put on quite the memorable reunion show.

Nick Carter has been working along side Emma Bunton for the last year on Boy Band, and the chemistry can be seen throughout the show. Nick had expressed interest in doing a reunion show with N-Sync, sadly all of the the members are working on different projects and Justin Timberlake has not expressed any interest in doing a reunion show at this time.
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