"Don't Put This Channel On Mute!" -Frank Ocean's Channel Orange Review

With all the controversy surrounding his sexuality Frank Ocean finally revels the thing that's most dear to him...his artwork! He may NEVER gets the public's full acceptance now that he's prematurely outed himself due to a "him" mentioned in a lyric. But he's probably want you to accept his music. Dude is TALENTED! Frank takes Musiq's vocal styling, Prince's detailed story telling, Stevie's vision, but his own makes them all HIS own! He'll never be remembered as the great vocalist of our time, but he's a BEAST with his lyrics! I wished...I'm sorry PRAY that more artist take is lead and create something outside of "stripper slow jams." The album sorta reminds me of when I first heard Andre' 3000's (do does a guest spot on the album) Love Below release, but not as funky. Channel plays out like a sonic journal/diary that you happen to come across and read. OR a laid back part two to his  Nostalgia, Ultra joint.  I.E. it'll be a while maybe on a road trip /airplane cross country listen that you get the canvas Ocean is painting. You may have to stand further back to see the bigger picture. Allow me to breakdown what you're expected to hear. [SPOILER ALERT]

1.START -no lyrically album intro of him starting up a Playstation3 as his iPhone message alert goes off in the background. I can't make out what game he was playing though...SORRY!

2.THINKING OF YOU -Now COME ON! I know you've heard this one before right? Any respectable Frank Ocean fans should have this on there iPod by now! Even Bieber covered this song! You DO know who THAT is right? DOPE song by the way, Youtube heavy!

3.FERTILIZER -10 seconds of channel surfing then a happy go 70's style song kicks in about using the sh** life hands you as well...fertilizer. Hey, it's only 40 sec. long, so bear it.

4.SIERRA LEONE -Young teenage parents dealing with a new born basically. Short as well.

5.SWEET LIFE -Again I know you've heard this one...like LAST week even! Awesome Stevie Wonder vibe on this one with the assistance of Pharrell on production. Not sure if this is a "second single" (Pyramids being the 1st), but I f**ks with it.

6.NOT JUST MONEY -Eavesdropped convo from a "mom" sounding female about finding happiness in things other than money. A perfect set up for...

7.SUPER RICH KIDS -The "white people with money problems" anthem.  I can see the Kardashians bumping this HARD!

8.PILOT JONES -The get high cut of the bunch (get it "pilot" ) more interlude than full song. It ends with a plane landing right into...

9.CRACK ROCK -Yep another druggie song, but a precautionary one! DOPE! No pun intended (well maybe) This is like a modern Sly & the Family Stone joint to me. It's the drum track probably, but I'm not mad at it at all.

10.PYRAMIDS -One of my favs off the album so far! Kinda sounds like a Watch The Throne leftover (which ISN'T a bad thing). It's LONG but great from start to finish. Been singing this one in my head since it came out (...like him LOL!) Part two of the song is dope how the flips how women went from queens living IN pyramids to strippers WORKING in a club called the Pyramid! GENIUS!

11.LOST -Ocean's attention to detail on this would outshine any of your favorite rapper out right now! Not a stand out track to me (maybe on a second or third listen) but again...his lyrics are it!

12.WHITE -Straight instrumental Ocean track, with John Mayer's guitar styling on top of it basically, Nothing to see...here move along. Though I did find it funny that he would put a guy who openly said quote "My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fuckin' David Duke cock. I'm going to start dating separately from my dick." unquote, on a song titled "WHITE" LOL. Ironic huh?

13.MONKS -A Frank Ocean version of a Janelle Monae' song I feel coming from this. Again not a banger banger but I'm not hating on it. I'd rather listen to...

14.BAD RELIGION -His "Purple Rain" of the album. Listen for the "I could never make HIM love me" line that started all the gay whispers.  It's really short, but it's there to serve the exact purpose that it did. BTW I wonder if the "If I'm on my knees, it's s bad religion" was a gayer line then the "him" reference. I'm just sayin'

15.PINK MATTER -DOPE quiet track with a DOPE verse from "Mr. 3 Stacks" himself! On here he questions his sexual choices "...pink used to be my favorite color, now its just grey matter" queer but awesome lyrical line.  I even dig the duet crooning that he and Dre' do towards the end...brilliant!

16.FORREST GUMP - the last to his bi-sexual clue dropping comes with his most blunt lyric of them all. "Boy you forever running through my mind" If that isn't an all out declaration then you my friend have a closeted mind. I dig the sound bites of "Run Forrest, run!" thrown in in the background...nice touch!

17.END -Just a car radio version of "VOODOO" (one of) my favorite Frank Ocean tracks. which i wish was longer (hmmmph).  Ending with a hazy conversation and a "it is what it is" break up.

So ummm yeah that's it folks. That pretty much sums things up over here. I think the album is his "emo" release like 'Ye had with 808 Heartbreak and now that "it's" off his chest, it's be back to biz as usual. He's already proven himself twice over with his short body of work that's out there in the world. But like every TRUE artist the music message matters first before the sale that HOPE to get. S**t the controversy may even help him sell MORE!

"Dearly Beloved, We Are Gathered Here..." -Prince Live Performance Clips

Yeah I'm late posting this but SO WHAT!!! If you're a TRUE Prince fan you'll NEVER get tired of seeing this. Besides it was Prince's B'day Tuesday so I guess this can be considered as "paying tribute" right(?). Anyway, enjoy the master at work...

"Get Into The Party Life!" -By George, We've Done It Again!

When you got swag/flow, a Brooklyn residency, and years in the game of fashion, it's not hard to believe that with only two days promo that folks are ALREADY buzzing about your b'day this Friday! Well welcome to the world of one George T. Harris, who'll be celebrating his born day w/ the "2 Live" Luke ('s Place) crew this Friday. So folks you can already imagination that this is going to a lil' nuts! Add on the fact that the weather will be acting right for a change at 60 plus degrees, and you my friend have the ingredients for a unforgivable night! Fall through, if you haven't made plans already.

Friday April 15th
(and EVERY Friday after)
"the Class Reunion" -hosts
"GEORGEDAY" -A BK Fashion Icon's B'day Party
@Luke's Place -277 Cumberland St. (corner of Lafayette St.)
8pm-2am
Music by the M Report, the Ahficionados
Hosted by b'day boy GEORGE T. HARRIS
and a collective of fashionable folks
Admission "FREE like Frei" all night
Food & drinks served till late.

Wanna celebrate a b'day w/ a dinner party?
contact us at theMreport@gmail.com w/amount of guest
it's FREE of charge

Once again, some of NYC’s most elite music selectors have been handpicked for this most epic night. Providing the disco tunes are resident skate guard, Rok One, of The Bangers, with DJ's VDRK & Free Magic of the DISCOVERY fame.

Friday April 15th
"Down & Derby Roller Disco"
Good Units (the basement of the Hudson Hotel).

9pm-4am

21+ w/i.d.

$5 admission, with RSVP. To RSVP visit:

***RSVP closes day of event at 5pm. You must RSVP HERE before 5pm day of event for reduced admission

$5 skate rental, OR BRING YOUR OWN!

Dress code:

Guys: Knee high tube socks, Neon Tanktops, Headbands, Wristbands, ‘Fros and Flattops…

Ladies: Thighs of steel on two inch wheels, with striped short shorts to seal the deal

This year end round ALWAYS proves to be a winner! This year should be NO different! Yep, it’s that time of year Again! KeiStar Productions’ legendary event SOUL SLAM (XVII) will set the tone for the ultimate Spring event of 2011 In NYC. If you don't know already, SOUL SLAM centers around a tribute set for two of the most eclectic and innovative artists to date MJ & PRINCE! The incomparable DJ Spinna will orchestrate the sounds...

Saturday April 16, 2011

KeiStar Productions Presents

* SOUL SLAM (XVI) - MICHAEL JACKSON & PRINCE *

@ THE UNION SQUARE BALLROOM - 27 Union Square West (bet 15th & 16th Streets) Celebrating The Life & Legacy Of Our Greatest Musical Icon!

The King of Pop MJ (1958-2009 R.I.P)

W/ His Royal Clan

& Honoring PRINCE With His Disciples

10PM-4AM
$20 (w) Advance Tickets - (Limited # available @ door)
21 & Over- ID Required
Music By DJ Spinna

There's NOTHING more powerful than a room fulla women! BLACK women at that! Well this Sunday Latisha Daring will be starting up just that with a lunch-in planned to take place with thought proking topics as an appetizer. LOL! Go see what all the talk is about, join us as we share, motivate & empower...

Sunday April 17th

"LADIES WHO LUNCH

W/ LATISHA DARING"

@ Tribeca Grill Loft- 375 Greenwich St &Franklin

11am-3pm

Guest Performance:

Renee Neufville

Grammy Award Winner

Host: Latisha Daring

"What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur in Today's Economy"

Guest Speakers:

Ann Marie Adamson

"The Reality Of Owning a Small Business in NYC"

Billie Causieestko

"How Style Defines Your Power"

Carline Balan

"Creative Strong Strategies in Marketing and Branding"

Choddie Bryant

"Investments and Building a Strong Portfolio"

Michaela Angela Davis

"The Definition of Success as a Black Woman"

Midwin Charles

"Big Dreams that Transition into your Passion"

Tanasha Pettigrew

"Moving in Circles of Power and Money & Owning The Room"

Followed by:

Ashtyn Spring Collection

Mimosa's & Bellini's and an Amazing Lunch Menu w/ Fabulous desserts

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"Flashing Lights" -Paparazzi Pics (Pt.216)

First and foremost before I begin, let me THANK all those that came out to make this new venture a thing of beauty! We heard all the complaints bout how "This is Brooklyn, there's NOWHERE to just chill anymore without feeling like it's a speed dating event!" Well we've (meaning MIH icons & the Block Association) decided we needed that type of atmosphere PRONTO! Summer CAN'T just end like THIS! Hell no! So long story short..."Any Given Sundae" was born (last Sunday). Not only was the weather more than PERFECT, but the people that came out to help launch it were too! Food, drinks ($6 sangria, Absolut Brooklyn shots, & coconut mojitos), a movie (Purple Rain last Sunday, School Daze this Sunday) were all the right ingredients for an evening out before the work week. BTW each week till we end it will be a theme attached to the event. This coming one we ask for you to invite an old school mate/sweetheart/study buddy out to meet off line and reminisce to 80's & 9o's music playing in the background + Spike's "School Daze" will be the movie of choice. Hey you can even wear something repping your former Alma Mata too! Let's have fun with it. No.1 Front St. is the location case you're interested just don't let "the Hood" find out! We NEED this one to last LOL! * "Any Given Sunday" -No.1 Front St. 2pm-11pm FREE admission Enjoy!