By Niy Birden

It has been a long, courageous fight for Kesha Rose Sebert, a.k.a Ke$ha, but now stylized as simply, Kesha. When she first came out, she was ostracized and criticized for her extensive auto-tune, party glam, drunk- girl-appropriating- cultures tone of music and imagery, and then three years ago we learned that she had been suffering from sexual abuse from her main producer Dr. Luke , who used to be the owner of Kasz only Inc., which partnered with Sony Records.

While the law dispute seems to have quieted down, Kesha’s voice definitely has not. And for good reasons, of course. If anything, her voice is more unique and louder than ever. Most people don’t know that before and during her “Tik Tok” fame in 2009, she was a singer-songwriter. So it’s actually no surprise at all that her return would not only be one to shatter her prior musical image, but it also shatters the opinions of most of her listeners. “Praying” is Kesha’s most powerful song to date. Don’t be surprised if you hear about the next singing competition winner getting their fame through use of this song. It’s that good. With its powerful chorus, whistle tone-like belt, and catchy melody, it makes you wonder what powerhouses Adele and Christina Aguilera are doing with their releases.

Premiering on July 6th as the first single from her new album “Rainbow”, Kesha actually released her new golden song with an interesting music video, filled with religious symbolism, oddly-masked men, and her walking around a very large outside environment, doing a ritualistic dance and prayer straight from the Indigenous people that she so often uses for accessory. While the video isn’t nearly as powerful as the song, it is classically, a very Kesha video. The most visually stunning shots, however, are the almost-still moments when the color of the video is in a black and white shot, with Kesha laying down on a surface, against a landscape of beautiful water. While the shot is supposed to be one of a solemn moment, it creates a beautiful effect on the eye. A similar scene returns at the very end of the video when she is now walking-on water, might I add- but this time, with a golden sunset played out before her. Looks like she’s been praying indeed.
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Eric Gasa

JAY-Z’s latest music video will be offensive to some and provocative to others; such is the essence of an artist born both in the tradition and spite of the Brooklyn projects. “The Story of O.J.”, directed by Mark Romanek and Jay himself, is as unsettling as it is campy. Jay rhymes over a sharp beat that cuts right into the heart of the post-racial myth in America.

But it’s the animated visual that makes “The Story of O.J.” all the more provoking. In it, Jay is reimagined as an offensive Disney caricature ala Jim Crow, meant to mimic vintage blackface cartoon characters. The idea isn’t exactly meant to make viewers uncomfortable but rather symbolize the antiquated views black persons still face when in the spotlight.

“O.J. like, ‘I’m not black, I’m O.J.’,” the cartoon Jay rolls his eyes and sighs, “…okay.”
Regarding the lyric, the rapper said in the 8-minute mini documentary, Footnotes for The Story of O.J., “O.J. would get a free space where he’s like ‘I’m not black, I’m O.J.’ Like Tiger Woods would say, ‘I’m above the culture,’…And that same person when he’s playing golf, and playing great, [he’s] protected. When you’re not, they’re gonna put pictures of you drunk driving and embarrass you. That world will eat you up and spit you out.”

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Review: “Remember I told You”
By Niy Birden

Dancehall, dubstep and EDM have created a whirlwind of hits for mainstream radio. This has been happening since the 70’s, but with the era of technology and live retweets, when there’s a hit,there’s a hit. For the song “Remember I Told You”, however, this hit is much more interesting due to the roster of artists featured.

Nick Jonas, the legendary ex-Jonas Brother hailing from the teenage stardom of Disney Channel, has come such a long way. From Disney rock, to young-but-still-impressionable rock, and now to R&B and Pop, Nick actually has quite the discography on his hands. While he has only managed to get genuine hits since the start of his “Chains” and “Jealous” year, the hits he make are charming, upbeat, and, if you’re like me, something that you probably wouldn’t mind listening to.

He’s managed to pair with a lot of notable names in the last few years (including Mike Posner, who joins him again for this song), but for this new release, he’s tapped into a little old school and a little new school with sorta-newcomer Anne Marie, who has her first U.S. hit this year with “Alarm” and pop heartthrob Mike Posner, who you might remember from his earlier hits “Cooler Than Me” and “Please Don’t Go”, or more recently, “I Took A Pill In Ibiza”. So what can come from two veteran artists and one newbie? Electro gold, apparently.
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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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