Then again, leaking one track early has the potential to make your entire album – if it’s good enough. Usher’s “Yeah!” (how could we forget?) lit everything on fire when Lil’ Jon, its producer, deliberately let it loose while Usher was prepping “Burn” as the lead single. Fans loved it, critics loved it, and Confessions went Diamond in the US (that’s Platinum status times ten for you people who’ve never heard of it). Brilliant marketing tactic… or just crazy luck?

Off the top of my head, upcoming artists whose albums in danger of pulling a Leona Lewis include: Ryan Leslie (although it’s doubtful because he’s writing and producing everything himself); Rihanna (although it’s unbelievable how tightly under wraps her new project is); Mary J Blige (she is working with quite a few producers); and of course, Usher (can you say high-profile??). While fans who just can’t wait for new music may benefit from all this lack of discretion, admittedly, it’s pretty damaging to the artists themselves. You’ve got artists like Cassie who are leaking songs every day, and although it’s not clear whether or not this is being done deliberately, it’s definitely not helping their careers – from what we’re seeing now, at least.

Rihanna’s new album is by far the most interesting out of the upcoming releases; she may not be the best singer, but everything she touches turns to gold. What I can’t fathom is how no one, apart from her camp, has any information whatsoever about her fourth album. It’s slated to drop in November, but as of right there isn’t even a hint as to what the name may be. Impressive. It’s doubtful that she’ll last all the way to the day of release without at least a song leaking (apart from the lead single), but the building anticipation promises pandemonium – could this be the antithesis to Usher in 2004? Or will a major leakage happen and make this just another warning for artists and producers who want to leak tracks without knowing what they’re doing?

Ciara

Listening to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” seemed to influence us all at one point in some way. But amongst all the material that floats around, it truly grabbed a young girl from Atlanta, serving as one of the reasons she became inspired to create her own music.

Few of us can remember having a bank account at eighteen that rivals that of most adult professionals. In fact, at eighteen, I don’t believe I have that much exceptional experience to shower people with stories of. Definitely little in comparison to that of “Crunk & B” superstar Ciara, who states that she is in reality, a “simple” girl. A simple girl who has achieved platinum sales before being able to have a drink legally.

Original Article (extended)

Original Article (Interview transcripts)

You’re a joke. Everything in your interview and about you (at least what I know) is a contradiction.

ghet·to /ˈgÉ›toÊŠ / Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[get-oh]

3. a section predominantly inhabited by Jews.

Hey your majesty, so by your implication of ghetto “revival” you’d like to bring back ethnic minorities forced to live in the same poor run down slums? Maybe what you were trying to say was slum revitalization?

We all know you’re “basking in the hate”, right now just like your little hero John Brown who was considered a terrorist, and a mad man, and a brutal murderer. He even hacked two men to death.

However maybe he’s the perfect alias for you, your majesty.

After he lost everything he basically decided out of no where that he wanted to abolish slavery, but really he just wanted to take over the country and even wrote his own constitution. He would have declared himself “King”, so the moniker John Brown, King of the Burbs, fits perfectly.

Now don’t get it twisted, I’m from Philly, and actually Philly not Allentown like “G-child”, and I also watched every episode of The White Rapper Show. My husband is even a huge fan of yours and I even considered buying a Ghetto Revival shirt for him….just playing, he thinks you’re a joke too. However you are probably are the best joke ever because of how delusional you are. It’s almost as if you just link words together that you think sound good. Persia should have won.