"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!

PRESS RELEASE: "A Cut Above Them All" -Vernon Scott's B'day Invitation

Attention people of Gotham! Celebrity groomer Vernon Scott (Maxwell, Pharrell, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Ne-Yo etc.) has contacted the Minority Report NYC/the Block Boys to help extend an invitation to you to join him in helping usher in yet another fruitful year of LIFE! YES it's his born day and to make it a memorable one he'll be taking over the Mercel Hotel's Polar Lounge...YOU HAVE BE WARNED!

Thursday August 4th
"I'M A BOSS!" -Vernon Scott's B'day
10pm-4am
@Polar Lounge (inside the Mercel Hotel) -24th St 3rd ave
Hosted by the Minority Report
Music by the Ahficionados
PLEASE RSVP ASAP (full names)
party4vernon@gmail.com
Dress zip lock fresh!

"Blue Is The NEW Black!" -the Blueprint 3 Album Review

Jay-Z is LEAKING! Nah he wasn't shot, only his latest album "the Blueprint 3" w/ a bullet on the internet! I truly wanted to be the first on line to support one of my favorite artist (yes! ARTIST not rapper) newest additions to his catalog of hits but when a frind offered a swift upload of BP3 I turned by back to peek into my wallet, seen a few moths fly out and was like "Hov's rich enough!" and uploaded away (what? sue me). Hey I'm NOT the only one gulity of this obviously cause he's been wise enough to move up the release date from the infamous 11th to this past Tues. the 8th. Smart move, but is too late?
Okay now on to the album itself, SPEECH! Now Jay-Z will FOREVER be considered a great lyricist, that's not in question here, what folks look to hear from an new album is the perfect marriage of his voice on a banging track, to have their own personal anthem ...that's all. In my personal opinion he talks more matter-0f-factually, more candid, and a bit more frank than he has before. Never fearful of naming names, and "keepin' it real" as one that now lives his lifestyle can. Which is hard to do without becoming repetitious and ummm...how you say? Boring! I'm actually drawn more to what he has to say then the beats the says it on. Some rappers start to think whatever they say can make a beat hotter, this my friend is NOT that case. To me this album is Jay-Z "re-envisioned" by Kanye. The NEW Kanye! Not the ol' soul sampling producer of yesterday. I dig Jay on those types of tracks (which I was hoping from this one) But alast Hope is the distance cousin of dreams. Here's what off BP3 I was thinkin' while listen.

"What We Talkin' Bout?"- feat. Luke Steele -NICE delivery & flow! Way to switchin' it up!
"Thank You" -Slick Rick-ish style, not mad though.
"D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-tune)"-Classic Hovi! Simple delivery straight to the point.
"Run This Town" feat. Rihanna & Kanye West -Eh! Grew on me, I dig the Ri Ri hook.
"Empire State of Mind" feat. Alicia Keys -NYC has a new anthem folks! BIG tune!
"Real As It Gets" feat. Young Jeezy -Man I like Jeezy on this one bro (NO homo) A 3 pointer
"On To The Next One!" feat. Swizz Beats -Booyah! Another club hit one of my fav on the album
"Off That" feat. Drake -Come on Timbo! Where's the triple beat bounce! We miss you. A waste of Drake's talent. I expected more from these 3 together. BOO!
"A Star Is Born" feat. J Cole -Great honor to his rap peers, "dedication rap" is now in you know. J. Cole sounds a lil' Lupe to me...I'm just saying.
"Venus vs Mars" -Ok Tim, you get a pass on this one. The lyrics is what saves you this time, thank Jay.
"Already Home" feat. Kid Cudi -Woulda been hotter if Pharrell sung the hook, but Cudi does a GREAT impression! Could get into this one. Kanye produced this, and I don't have to read the credits. LOL.
"Hate" feat. Kanye West -Sounds like a left over "Heartbreak 808" track to me. Gets boring after a few bars not lyrically but sonically.
"Reminder" - Ummm, forget it!
"So Ambitious" feat Pharrell -Well it this there still producing.
"Young Forever" feat. Mr Hudson - Nothing last "forever" especially these track in mind.

"Are You On The List?" Two Black Carpet B'day Bashes TONIGHT!

Okay, Because I like you (no homo) I'm a put you on 2 HOT events going on tonight, that I'm sure folks 'round the cooler will be chatting about the next day (if you're in the industry that is)! the first one is for a "well known HARLEM celeb" (hint) girlfriend's B'day. Over at the Ultra lounge , that seems to be the new HOT spot these days. Fellas you GOTTA look right if you're even THINKING about attending this function! ALOT of women folk are coming out for this one. Then over at the other most talked about venue in town, Santos Party House, Ms. Va$htie former Pharrell arm charm is doing her joint tonight as well. There IS a list for both, GET ON 'EM! Send names to
theMreport@gmail.com to be listed for the 1st one NOW!

"Flashing Lights" -Paparazzi Pics (Pt.112)

You heard of that group Chester French right...Don't believe the hype! And trust me I didn't, but now I do! After an ungodly amount of time spent traveling underground for a commute (in my own boro mind you) to get over to the Puma 60 event in Williamsburg. I made it in just enough time to catch just one act, Pharrell's latest obsession and Star Trak's newest artist Chester French. The crowd was "Olson twin thin" made up of mostly young soon to be hipsters (what else, it's in Willy B). The "French" band went into their set like it was a full house anyway like all good performers should. After a few songs in a watching the lead singer "stage swag" (for lack of a better word) I too became a deflector to the "French." Sadly, my train ride was actually longer than the show was, but hey, that's MTA for ya whadayougonnado?

"Heart Me Or Leave Me Alone" -808 Album Review

Okay folks, it's OUT today! Though I never really hear folks saying "I can't WAIT till 'Ye's new joint comes out!" it's still always an event when it does. Straight off the back, my first thoughts on it were "T-Pain of '08 meets Pharrell of '80" or the soundtrack to a really weird robot love story called "Byte Me!" Or better yet, "Cold Play meets Zapp on a trip to Africa" Mind you, without question I applaud his musical ambition to push "rap" (if it still can be called that) further. Kudos. But don't download this latest endeavor hoping for the party/champagne anthems of past CDs, it ain't gon' happen bro. Known for starting off his albums with a haunting but catchy beat "Say You Will" does not fail to continue in that tradition. Always the reflective artist he states "My friend shows me a picture of his kids. And all I could show him was a picture of my cribs..." on track two " Welcome to Heartbreak" (w/Kid Cudi) NICE! Next up was second single "Heartless," which he just performed on Good Morning America this morning & the AMA's Sun. Personally I'm not feeling this one too tough. The lyrics are cool, but I keep waiting for the beat to drop. And that's the sentiment I feel through out the whole CD, "Where's the Beef?" or rather the beat? "Amazing" san Jeezy-less, I can live with. "Love Lockdown" stands out like a sore bandaged up thumb. The tension the beat builds up is dope, especially with the accompanying piano chords on top. It's the music you'd hear playing in the background when the humans are chasing the lover robots in said movie. "Paranoid" (w/Mr. Hudson) I had to look at the credits to check to see if the Neptunes were listed...Nope. All Kanye. Hmmm. I hear a Pharrell remix in the near future. All in all, it's a cool addition to your ever growing playlist/CD collection but this should been a double CD instead of Bey' Half his Grammy getting goal type records, and then CD2, some funkier party $#!t. At the end of the day, I still rather be a Kanye -like artist than one tellin' folks "Superman dat oh!" anyday!

*BTW I joked and asked "Kanye what's next? Cologne called You Smell Me?" That's when he made that face you see pictured. Or maybe it was just my camera in his face.

"Are You Serious DOG!?!" -Billionaires Bulldogs Club

Well Now you can blame the dude for trying to make a buck, but word is that Pharrell (Mr.BBC himself) is starting a skate team and clothing line for man's four-legged best friend. Yes, if you think fashion has gone to the dogs, then you're not far from the truth my friend. "Bully McLovin" (seen in the video above) is preparing for his close up and 15 mins of fame (which is a whole week in dog years). When asked how long and what motives him to have started skating he barked, "Well since I was a young pup, I loved to skate dawg. And besides the endorsements, I love the attention I get from the b!+*#es! Point blank period. Cats (and some dogs) be hating on me, but I just lift my leg on 'em and..."

You heard it first here on the Minority Report folks. Woof there it is.

"Flashing Lights"-Paparazzi Pics (Pt. 21...and Over)

"All the girls standing in the line for the Bathroom..." I can't get that outta my head now man. Anyway yesterday I stopped through to the "Everybody Nose" video shoot set yesterday, to get the Minority's point of view, and to take some shots to blog to give you guys an inside scoop. As I walked in two dimes were off to the side with a second director "sexing the camera up" by blowing bubbles into the lens (see pic below). I quickly pulled out my 17 (mm camera) and started busting off shots like I was at a Brooklyn basement jam (lol)! Soon after Chad (1/3 of the N.E.R.D's) walked in a caught a "shot" to the face too. Now a bit more comfortable, I worked my way around the room for more candid "sniper" shots of the extras. Once I said what blog the pictures would be featured on, it was a different world "Whitley" (lol) Folks gave praise and it was all gravy (no beef) from there on. Word is a major fight broke out, to where medical assistance was needed. But I was long gone by then...damn right?

"I Come In Peace" -Madea A Trekkie?

Er???
Yes you read it correctly.
ya boy Tyler Perry,
famously known
(some say infamously)
as his high-strung family patriarch alter-ego "Madea"
has currently been casted to join the
Star Trek USS. Enterprise crew!
Wild right? Honestly speaking, the brother CAN act, outside of the over-the-top cross gender Mom he portrays on screen. So I'm not too worried about him pulling it off. Not to say I ever was worried to begin with, being that, by no means am I a Tyler Perry OR Star Trek fan
(I'm more the Star Wars type ...oops,sorry temporary geek moment) However I was cheering the fact that they were diversifying the cast with more color . "Homeboys In Space" for the '08! I know that Pharrell is pissed! Maybe he'll do the soundtrack...maybe?

"Just Give Me the Light"-Kanye West tour

Kanye? N*E*R*D? Lupe? Minus the addition of Rihanna, tell me that you didn't see this coming?
This tour is basically the prelude/test run to the powerhouse group (CRS) these musical mavericks have been conspiring to put together for sometime now

(*See Va$htie directed video "Us Placers"). I'm predicting this to be "Woodstock for the well-dressed skater."

Glow in the Dark Tour dates:

· 4/16 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
· 4/18 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
· 4/19 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
· 4/20 - San Diego, CA @ Sports Arena
· 4/21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
· 4/25 - * Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock Casino Resort Spa
· 4/26 - * Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion
· 4/27 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
· 4/29 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center
· 4/30 - Austin, TX @ Frank Irwin Center
· 5/1 - Dallas, TX @ SuperPages.com Center
· 5/2 - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
· 5/4 - Atlanta, GA @ Gwinette Arena
· 5/5 - Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheatre
· 5/6 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
· 5/8 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
· 5/9 - Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
· 5/10 - Washington, DC @ Nissan Pavilion
· 5/11 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
· 5/13 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
· 5/15 - Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center
· 5/16 - Hartford, CT @ North East Dodge Music Center
· 5/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Susquehana Bank Center
· 5/18 - Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
· 5/20 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
· 5/21 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Centre
· 5/22 - Auburn Hills, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
· 5/23 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
· 5/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
· 5/27 - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
· 5/29 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Palace
· 5/30 - Calgary, AB @ Saddledome

"The Geek Squad" -New N*E*R*D* Music

The ever eclectic group N*E*R*D* returns to the billboards with the 1st single off their highly-anticipated 3rd album N.3.R.D titled "Everyone Nose." Now let me forewarn you it's not the expected quirky Rock sound we've grown to luv from these guys, but you'll dig it none the less. Nerds gotta stick together right. Here's some "nose" candy for your ears.