benni e: la di da di rock da party.

dl: BENNI E. - Take These Girls To Church (Z)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I try to stay away from metablogging about the status of this blog, but an unannounced September hiatus was necessary in the ITMS!! universe. Sorry yall, now we're back...

You may remember Philadelphia rapper Benni E. from a lil ol' post I wrote in April, and now she's gearing up for her NYC debut tomorrow night at the Original Sessions Art House (17 John Street, between Broadway & Nassau). She'll be on at 10PM as part of the band/DJ series La di Da di Rock da Party, hosted by Shunda K of Yo Majesty. This week's party will be a listening session for Yo Majesty's Futuristically Speaking...Never Be Afraid, featuring an eclectic set of performers-- Benni, Old Money Crew, The Vanguard, and Elza. The October 11th line-up is not something to miss with Leif , Bunny Rabbit + Black Cracker, Boy Crisis, Tha Pumpsta, Black Peter Group, Living Days, Stay High, and Leb Laze.

But forget about the party! Well, don't forget about it...go to it. Let's pay attention to the audio in this post. "Take These Girls To Church", affectionately known as "Girls 2 Church", is a cut from Benni E.'s debut mixtape Microphone Influenza. Unlike "Call Me Daddy" or any of the songs you may have heard on I Wanna Fuck Dirty Harry or terf- work, Benni's flow on this track departs from her usual hard-edged faster flow to deliver us from evil in a sing-songy manner. It's a perfect blend of critical, political, and playful. When I saw Benni open for Yo Majesty and Does It Offend You, Yeah? at Johnny Brenda's, the crowd broke out into some church-inspired dances, spinning in circles with their hands in the air testifying. Swagger, charisma...whatever you want to call it. Benni's got it. She's been recording some incredible new material, and I've heard rumors of a new mixtape being in the works. YESSS.

Oh, and remember that time I erroneously posted DJ Orion's remix of Yo Majesty's "Booty Clap" as the original? The tune, actually produced by Basement Jaxx, has been making the rounds lately. Check it below if you haven't already. Reminder: Futuristically Speaking...Never Be Afraid, the debut full-length of Yo Majesty, is now streaming on the space. I'm proud of the girls for finally getting that album out, though a little sad about some tracks that became casualties along the way.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BONER TRACK: YO MAJESTY - Booty Clap (Z)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

- SPACE IT -

michelle williams: best day ever.

dl: MICHELLE WILLIAMS - Stop This Car (SloDown PenPal remix) (Z - YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm pretty sure Boulangerie must have some unintentional agenda to destroy any blog cred I've established over the past two years, as she somehow provoked me into taking my lunch to go to a meet-and-greet for Michelle Williams (the one from Destiny's Child, not Dawson's Creek). Actually, I blame a certain blacktress for being an enabler to my Destiny's Child addiction. That's right, I said "my" addiction. Boulangerie can't be blamed for this. I have a problem. And the first step to solving such a problem...is, um, writing about it on your blog?

My story today is a period piece. Picture it. New Jersey. Summer of 1999. A young man is sitting on the basement couch watching Black Entertainment Television. He is on a threeway telephone call with his two best friends, but the screen is split into fours with one panel showing the music video for Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills". One of the three boys, we'll call him Kai Ull, comments on how smokin' Kelly (Rowland) looks. Jay chips in, "Pssh, everyone knows Beyonce is the hottest." And then the last of the trio chimes in with, "I like the red-haired one."

The "red-haired one" was LaTavia Roberson. My reasons for liking her were pretty simple. She had red hair. She was sassy. Now, let it be known that Latavia and I have history. This one time, we held hands. It was for less than a second, some would call it a handshake, but it was one of the best less-than-a-seconds of my life. I will cherish it forever.

You could guess that I was heartbroken when LaTavia (whatever LeToya) was replaced in 2000. Who were those random chicks in the "Say My Name" video? What the fuck did they do with my LaTavia? Farrah Franklin? Michelle Williams? WTF?

When Farrah was dismissed from the group, Michelle's personality became incredibly prominent. She gave a voice to the sassiness that LaTavia previously just embodied, and she easily became my new favorite member of the group. I was pumped when I first heard Michelle's vocals on "Survivor". There's a scratchy timbre to her singing voice that made DC a teensy bit edgier. A little bit of grit, you know?

I never got into Michelle's gospel work, so I was excited to hear about her first "secular" project. The leak of a snippet from "Stop This Car" only continued to fuel (puns!) my excitement. I'm kind of over Stargate's midtempo "Irreplaceable"-knockoff tired-ass sound, but Michelle's voice really fit the production. Despite the positive reception of this track, the first single wound up being a dance tune called "We Break The Dawn", which recently topped Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay charts. Funny thing is...I don't think it's even touched the Hot 100. This makes no sense given that the song channels the same euro-pop vibe of hits like Rihanna's "Don't Stop The Music" and Chris Brown's "Forever". I'm not sure if hope is lost for "Dawn", but I have my fingers crossed that it'll be a late bloomer like Ne-Yo's "Closer" (at #10 upon writing this).

I like to think that Tenitra* is my new best friend. Despite being a half hour late to her appearance, she hopped in like she knew everyone in the world since middle school. There's nothing diva about her, despite being a former member of the best-selling female group of all time. After her interview with Hillary Crosley of Billboard, she signed autographs, took photos with fans, and then signed even more autographs for people's children. I know that's what she's supposed to do and all, but she didn't make it come off as an obligation and even endured some minor groping (some would call it hugging) from a few male fans. Long story short, she is one humble motherfucker.

Here are some highlights from the interview, which should be appearing soon on Billboard.com...

• Much like me, Michelle doesn't understand why radio isn't down with "We Break The Dawn". She compared it to other upbeat songs by Danity Kane or The Pussycat Dolls, which I didn't really get at all...but, um, at least we can both agree on that, Tenitra!
• Michelle got incredibly awkward when asked about Beyonce's new material. Crosley asked her if it was anything like her new stuff. Michelle squirmed around a bit, finally uttering a response, "It's...different." She followed up by affirming the hotness of B's new tunes. I prefer Solange's method of dealing with Beyonce questions---“I get asked about Beyoncé all the time but I try and make fun of it. Sometimes I say she’s not my sister. Other times I say I’ve stuffed her in my suitcase and sent it to Dubai."
• "The Greatest" will be the second single released from the album, produced by "Lollipop" producer Jim Jonsin. Michelle refused to reveal any details about the video, only stating that it will be "beautiful". Another single "Hello Heartbreak" will be released simultaneously, targeted towards the dance/club demographic.
• Originally, Michelle wasn't going to record "Stop This Car" because she thought the lyrics were too corny.
• Michelle's new haircut is totally cute.
• According to Michelle, there are no official plans for Destiny's Child to reunite. She said something along the lines of, "We wouldn't have called the last album Destiny Fulfilled if we planned to make another." Though there haven't been any discussions yet, it appears that the group would only reunite for a tour in the future. This would not be out of obligation, but for the love and sisterhood that they share. Michelle believes that said tour would only occur after they all have babies, so let's not get our hopes up quite yet!
• This has nothing to do with yesterday, but "Nasty Girl" is an amazing video. There are so many skanks that I've seen who I'd throw into a "nasty zapper".
  

Photographic evidence, in case you doubt me. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SOJO!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- PRE-ORD IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT - HYPE IT - WIK IT -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Michelle's real name. Rumor has it that Matthew Knowles made her change it because it was too "hood". This may also explain why he got rid of LaTavia. Because "LaTavia, can you handle this?" just didn't sound right.

PREVIOUSLY ON ITMS!!: SoJo's really awesome story about Solange and a bedazzled cast, along with a remix of "Lose My Breath" by DGENETICS. Check it!!

allegra: dream house & comic book luv.

dl: ALLEGRA - Dream House (Z - YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

You've probably realized that I have no shame if you've been reading this blog long enough. Even if I'm a Katy Perry loathing pop music elitist, I've been known to rock out to Ashley Tisdale when nobody is looking. When nobody is looking? I suppose it should be clarified that when I say "I have no shame", I mean that if you caught me engaging in such rocking out...I would curl up into a little ball and cry. Or I'd just tell you about my alter-ego. She is a teenage girl named Boulangerie, the lost little sister of Beyonce and Solange Knowles. She is the ultimate excuse for my affinity for all things grown men should be ashamed of loving. Keep her in mind as you read this post.

Allegra, a 17 year-old from Chicago who is fortunate to not be named Valtrex, has found a special place in my...um, Boulangerie's heart. I received an e-mail about her new single "Comic Book Luv". On this tune, our heroine calls for a man who's "strong like the Hulk" to love her, lamenting that she's "so sick and tired of evil villains" toying with her emotions. Sure, one could consider this a little contrived, but let's keep in mind that the subject matter is appropriate for a 17 year-old girl to sing about. However, The Gift's production on this song is a little too "grown & sexy" and inappropriate, recalling the baby-making, hip-gyrating properties of "Bed" (J. Holiday) and "Falsetto" (The Dream). On one hand, this is a compliment, as The Gift's production is (overall) on par with such in-demand producers as Tricky Stewart and Polow Da Don. But the other hand realizes that there's nothing Lolita about Allegra's comic book fantasies, unless one considers the line "I can be the Robin to his Batman" as a reference to butt secks. Jokes aside, this is a refreshingly age-appropriate track for a young singer, and it appears that Lil Mama and Teyana Taylor have some competition.

With all that said, "Comic Book Luv" wasn't the song that won me over on Allegra. Two other songs were in the e-mail I received, "Get Wit It" and "Dream House". The latter chronicles Allegra's quest for the Ken to her Barbie. She has everything (a dream house, small waist, closet full of clothes, etcetera), but the one thing missing from her life is a man. Okay. Obviously this isn't the most conceptually mind-blowing song and it's contrary to the whole "I don't need a man to be happy" mantra established by Destiny's Child and similar groups in 1999-2000, but Allegra admits it---"I'm real, not realistic". Truer words have never come out of a teenager's mouth in reference to the general teenage population. Practicality isn't a teenage forte. Some teenagers can have everything, but the absence of one thing---whether it be the latest sneakers, that blouse from Anthropologie, or (in this case) a significant other---can signal their own personal apocalypse. Wait, I'm getting too philosophical about this, and it ain't that deep. This song is just awesome because it makes references to Aqua's "Barbie Girl". Sadly, this isn't the first time "Barbie Girl" has been mentioned on this blog. And I blame Boulangerie.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BONUS TRACK: ALLEGRA - Comic Book Luv (Z - YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SPACE IT -

sunshine anderson: sunshine at midnight.

dl: SUNSHINE ANDERSON - Problems (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm nearly a year and a half late on this, but I've finally acquired Sunshine Anderson's second album Sunshine At Midnight (thanks to my short stay on eMusic). I've always been obsessed with her 2001 single "Heard It All Before", one of the ultimate female break-up songs. The video is especially amazing, and I like to think that all women who are wronged bust out a pint of "NEWLY SINGLE" branded ice cream and sing to their triflin' holographic ex-boyfriends.

Much like her debut album's first single, the first single released off of Sunshine At Midnight "Something I Wanna Give You" continued along with Ms. Anderson's angst, boasting such lines as "And one more thing, you were only so so in bed. I had to fake it more times then I can count on both of my hands." The angst doesn't stop there. Despite having potentially romantic titles such as "Good Love" and "My Whole Life", the first five songs on the album have Sunshine doing what she does best--hating on shady men, empowering women. But she doesn't lose her charm when she starts to get romantic, as proven on the third single "Wear The Crown"--"It was a stormy Sunday. I was sitting at the Waffle House, when you looked my way. I spilled grits and shit all over my legs." I'd like to nominate that for best piece of R&B imagery outside of "Trapped In The Closet".

Although tracks 6-12 majorly lean towards mushy, optimistic slow jams, it also contains one of the album's most amazing moment. "Problems" doesn't deal with Sunshine's own issues, but tells a tale about an old friend she ran into. Her man was taken away by the police and she's left stripping for money to pay the rent and feed her children. She laments to Sunshine by stating she'd like to drink and smoke her problems away, and Sunshine's just like, "Girl, I know! I've been there too." So it's not necessarily the feel good song of the new millennium, but the chorus is damn motherfuckin' catchy. Seriously, if you're an R&B fan who doesn't already own this album...you might need it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BONER TRACK: SUNSHINE ANDERSON - Trust (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT - WIK IT -

cof cof: who said party?

dl: COF COF - Forbidden Cocktail (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"How could you not love a band that lists 'BEER BEFORE MAKING MUSIC' under 'Influences' on their MySpace?"--Kate Richardson of Idolator

I mean, really? How can anyone not love Cof Cof? "Forbidden Cocktail" is like the less annoying version of every song about drinking that frat boys and "Ashleys" sing along to at bars. It's a little bit CSS, maybe even a little Cibo Matto. And it gets EVEN BETTER.

Cof Cof's 8-song debut, Who Said Party?, is now available as a free download through their page on the space. Not downloading this would be like missing the free ice cream cone day at your local ice cream shoppe. Except Cof Cof won't even make you fat, because there aren't any calories in music. In fact, regularly dancing to these songs will aid in moving towards that perfect swimsuit body you've been dreaming about.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BONER TRACK: COF COF - Infection (YSI)
BONER TRACK: COF COF - Dirty Tricks (Culture Prophet remix) (YSI)*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SPACE IT - HYPE IT -

* via THE BURPED SNEAKERS

tilly and the wall: cacophony.

dl: TILLY AND THE WALL - Cacophony (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I received the info about Tilly and the Wall's new album, I was more excited about the distribution than the music itself. It's not that I find their tunes objectionable by any means, I swear! In fact, Tilly and the Wall fascinate me as a concept (mostly just Jamie Pressnall's tap-dance percussion), but they've never given me a total indie-boner or anything.

But maybe that will change with the kind-of-untitled album O. Kind-of-untitled? Yes. The album technically has no title, but it has been unofficially deemed O, a reference to the oval-shaped frame which holds the cover art. Limited editions will be available with handmade prints by different artists "giving the band's fans a unique piece of art for both their album and their walls". While this method of distribution isn't "redefining the industry" in an OMG-Radiohead way, it sure gives me a ferocious art-boner. Yay, printmaking!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BONER TRACK: TILLY AND THE WALL - The Freest Man (CSS remix) (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT - HYPE IT - WIK IT -

the lady tigra & mc lyte: they stole my radio.

dl: THE LADY TIGRA f/ MC LYTE - They Stole My Radio (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I forgot to mention before that my weekend involved a trip to The Pink Tea Cup, a restaurant that once propelled Whoopi Goldberg to say "Honey, come get some of this food, it's good y'all." And while I'd say that you'd be an April FOOL to not take Whoopi's endorsement seriously, I must admit the food was nowhere near as exciting as the mere possibility that I was sitting in the same seat as some of hip-hop's most influential ladies. Mary J. Blige! Queen Latifah! MC Lyte!*

And this awkward segue leads me to The Lady Tigra's solo album Please Mr. Boombox. For those who are unfamiliar, The Lady Tigra is half of the Miami-Bass duo L'Trimm (known mostly for their hit "Cars That Go Boom"). For those who are familiar, can you explain why so many of the bloggers who posted "Bass On The Bottom" neglected to mention that motherfuckin' MC Lyte brought it on (all or nothing) by contributing a verse to Tigra's album? I guess I have to make up for their mistakes.**

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- BUY IT - SPACE IT - HYPE IT -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

* One of my new favorite blogs Mixtape Maestro Presents: 90's R&B Junkie has Brandy's "I Wanna Be Down" remix, which features both Queen Latifah and MC Lyte.
** Except for you Arjan.

i'm already scorned.

dl: NATALIE IMBRUGLIA - Torn (YSI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the genius minds of KWalsh and Sojourner "You Can't Handle the" Truth, your new favorite blog should be Scorned Woman Ecards. It's only a baby right now, but I'm convinced that this is going to be bigger than LOLcats! In celebration, I am posting my favorite song by a scorned woman.

per se: adelaide.

dl: PER SE - Adelaide (YSI)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oddly enough, the very artist featured one post below this recommended Per Se. In a gchat conversation he stated, "People seem to have trouble writing good songs lately, which is different from catchy...Let's bring good back." And so here is my effort to do just that-- bring good back.

This goodness comes in the form of scrumptious folky indie with a female vocalist (and occasionally an accordion). My immediate instinct was to compare Per Se vocalist Anne Adams to Basia Bulat, so I guess that means she's also similar to Feist. But unlike both of these artists, she isn't Canadian. And she wears a pair of wings when performing. And she doesn't have an album out. Yet.

But lack of an album won't stop you from enjoying this, eh? If you're in the Portland area, take a trip to one of the shows listed on Per Se's space. It's sure to be an experience, to the degree that one showgoer gushes that, "Per Se happens and something magical enchant the room...you will cry even if you do not feel like it...maybe you will notice you have entered a gingerbread house and it is snowing sparkly snowflake ornaments and oranges are peeled like puzzle pieces..."

Those of us not fortunate enough to experience visions of puzzle-piece orange peels can still have the opportunity of enjoying Per Se from the comfort of our homes. Five songs are available for download on the official site, and it shouldn't be too long until we hear a full-length!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BONER TRACK: PER SE - Curio (YSI)
BONER TRACK: PER SE - The Liking (YSI)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

- SITE IT - SPACE IT - HYPE IT -