Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (album review/ online listening party by Dj Smoke1)

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It’s been 2 years since we heard an album from Yeezy and this time he’s back to rapping! Yay! No more auto tuned singing and crying and 808’s etc etc. So how does it stack up? Well with the help of our very own in house Dj Smoke1 on the 1’s and 2’s and yours truly on the lap top keyboard lol were gonna let cha know before it drop’s on the 22nd of November.

My first impression of the album is seeing alllllllllll of the features that Kanye has and most of them are hella random too me not to mention majority of them are wack as hell and do the tracks no justice. In fact the only features I was feeling were RZA, Jay-Z, John Legend, and Chris Rock who wasn’t even mentioned on the track list but had one of the most memorable not to mention funny features on the album with his comedic “Yeezy Taught Me” insert towards the end of track # 11 Blame Game. And I thought for sure I was going to see a Drake feature. I mean he’s the hottest out right now and he was present with Kanye in Hawaii when they were recording on both they’re albums. West said that Maya Angelou, Gil Scott-Heron and Nina Simone were his musical inspirations for this album which are some pretty heavy figures to site and I just don’t hear it on this one at all. There’s not even a good sampled song which is one major things Kanye is known for.

I think the 2 things that kinda killed it for me with this album aside from Nicki Minaj speaking in a British accent doing spoken word in the intro is that when I first heard Yeezy was putting this album out and it wasn’t going to have auto tuned singing crap that his last one had and that he was going back to what put him on the map I expected to hear the raw hungry innovative genius that he all blessed us with on his first 2 albums with that super dope production and witty lyrics to follow but sadly I got none of that on this album. Second when I listened to the album I found myself skipping tracks because I had all ready heard them or had them with the immense saturation on the radio and leaks on the net so nothing was really new to me. It’s a solid album none the less with a good flow. Whats going to save this album are the visual’s that Kanye paints with the songs cause I give him mad props on that. From the 30 plus minute mini music film I featured in a later post here to his super dope Saturday Night Live performance which were by far thee best in SNL history in my mind down below…

“Power”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e1B2YMQNlU

“Runaway”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X81PAlsbXhY&feature=related

Aside from the visual’s I lastly think that Kanye’s infamous rants and outspoken personality is going to get his album sales like the recent naked pictures of him floating around that Playboy turned down for $10,000 or the current Bush beef he has going on where Bush talks about Kanye in his new book in regards to being disgusted when Yeezy pretty much called him a racist live on MTV during the Katrina disaster. After hearing Bush’s view point and explanation on many show appearance’s like Oprah and Today along with Kanye’s apology I have a much better understanding and somewhat side with Bush on it. Especially after Kanye’s Matt Lauer interview…

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNMxHfmXKVU

Below you’ll notice 5 different album artwork covers. I’m not sure which one’s we’ll get when they hit stores but I do know the very first one we won’t as it’s been banned for obvious reason’s. Yeezy wasn’t to happy about as he clearly expressed via his twitter stating that back in the 60’s and 70’s they put real nakedness on they’re covers and that banning the cover takes away from his expression and creativity. He lastly went on to say that he said he didn’t make his album cover’s to please retailers like Walmart and Target who pretty much are the main sellers of his album. Smart one Yeezy *shakes head*

1. Dark Fantasy
2. Gorgeous (feat. Kid Cudi & Raekwon)
3. Power
4. All of the Lights (Interlude)
5. All of the Lights
6. Monster (feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver)
7. So Appalled (feat. Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz & The RZA)
8. Devil In a New Dress (feat. Rick Ross)
9. Runaway (feat. Pusha T)
10. Hell of a Life
11. Blame Game (feat. John Legend & Pusha T)
12. Lost In the World
13. Who Will Survive In America

Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy presented by Dj Smoke1…

[audio:kanya west album mix final.mp3]

31/2  out of 5 Cartons


-Black Milk

Cee Lo Green- Lady Killer (album review/ online listening party by Dj Smoke1))

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Finally after playing the ish outta his single “Fuck You” I got my hands on the highly anticipated 3rd solo studio album by Cee Lo Green which drops November 9th, 2010 and you know I had to send it to our Dj Smoke1 to mix up for your listening pleasure.

Listening to the whole album it’s almost hard to believe this was recorded in 2010 because it has a very soulful Motown vintage feel from the many ways Cee Lo sings to the production arrangements that back his vocals. I sent the album over to my boy Shawn Harrison of the hit tv show Family Matters to get his thoughts on it and he even liked the album which is a pretty good compliment being that he’s not a Cee Lo fan and pretty much hate’s most the artist I love. lol My favorite song by far on the album aside from the hit single “Fuck You” has to be #10 “Fool For You.” The beat has a dope Earth Wind and Fire funk sound about it and Cee Lo’s singing style in this one is nuts the way he transitions from an in your face head sway style to convince everyone why he’s a fool for the woman he’s singing about to the smooth out crooner style when the hook comes to my favorite part via the way he sings the “YOU!” parts. This one has definitely been on repeat. Something I noticed that the version of #8 I Want You is totally different then the one I featured awhile ago. All the lyrics are the same he just sings them way different more at a slower tempo and the production to match. I def like the other version a lot better. Also his rendition of  Georgia didn’t make the album that I featured here as well which makes no sense to me because that single is dope and totally reps the place where he comes from. Oh well you can download them both at that “here” and add them to the album when you purchase it.

I highly suggest picking this album up on the 9th if you want some “instant vintage” and to hear Cee Lo in a way and style like you’ve never really heard. Dude is mad talented and has come a long way since his hip hop group Goodie Mob.

1. The Lady Killer Theme (Intro)
2. Bright Lights Bigger City
3. Fuck You
4. Wildflower
5. Bodies
6. Love Gun Ft. Lauren Bennett
7. Satisfied
8. I Want You
9. Cry Baby
10. Fool For You Ft. Philip Bailey
11. It’s OK
12. Old Fashioned 13. No One’s Gonna Love You
14. The Lady Killer Theme (Outro)

Cee Lo Green- Lady Killer Presented by Dj Smoke1…

[audio:C lo album mix final.mp3]

Download: Fuck You

10. Fool For You Ft. Philip Bailey

[audio:10-cee_lo_green-fool_for_you_ft._philip_bailey_(produced_by_jack_splash).mp3]

Download: Fool For You Ft. Philip Bailey (537 downloads)

4 out of 5 Cartons

-Black Milk

Bruno Mars- Doo Wop and Hooligans (album review/ online listening party by Dj Smoke1)

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I’ve had my hands on Bruno’s new album for a hot sec and thought I’d have our very own Dj Smoke1 bless you all with an early listen of the album before it drops this Tuesday October 5th, 2010.

For those expecting the Bruno Mars that you’ve heard on the 2 dope feature’s he blessed on the vocal/ production tip for B.O.B and Travie McCoy I wanna let you know right now none of that is really on this album. Bruno is definitely showcasing the real him on this album as well as his versatility through all kinds of different genre’s of music like the obvious doo-wop, r&b, pop, reggae, soul, and some island acoustic like you’ve heard on Travis McCoy’s “Billionaire” song.

I’ll be honest, when I first listened to this album I wasn’t really feeling it because again I was expecting the catchy hook, up tempo production I heard on the feature’s he had done prior. After a few more listen’s of the album and Smoke1’s mix some more the album started to grow on me. It’s definitely something a little different then what your typically use to hearing and I dig that Bruno stayed true to himself and went that route. I wish the album would have had more the 12 tracks because again I can’t stand when an artist doesn’t feel that bad boy all the way up and give fans they’re monies worth but you can expect a different track out of each of the 12 that sound nothing the same. I recommend this album to all the true Bruno Mars fans and for those that want something different to listen to with some substance and versatility cause it’s worth the $9.99. For more information on Bruno, the album, the music video and some exclusive download’s from the album check out my past preview post.


1. Grenade
2. Just The Way You Are
3. Our First Time
4. Runaway Baby
5. The Lazy Song
6. Marry You
7. Talking To The Moon
8. Liquor Store Blues feat Damian Marley
9. Count On Me
10. The Other Side feat Cee Lo Green and B.o.B

Buno Mars- Doo-Wop and Hooligans presented by Dj Smoke1…

[audio:Bruno Mar Mix final.mp3]

Enjoy the party and make sure to leave me your thoughts down below.

3 1/2 out of 5 Cartons


-Black Milk

Faith Evans – Something About Faith (review/online listening party by DJ Smoke1)

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Faith Evans is bizzack! And I gotta say…”It’s about damn time!” Almost 6 year’s have gone by since she put out an album.  For all those that are pissed about that blame Puffy’s sorry ass, for never keeping his artist happy and hot. Man, I’d hate to be signed to Bad Boy. lol

Something About Faith will be her 6th studio album and very independent release since peacing out from Bad Boy and her short lived engagement with Capitol Records.  Though I’m not feeling the album artwork with that funky ass outfit and little ass hat.  Faith is one of the most beautiful females ever and those black and white back pictures aren’t doing her any justice. I can say, that I’m feeling the track list behind the album work though. 17 tracks to be exact! Thank you Faith for actually filling up the whole album and thinking about the fan’s and they’re monies worth. My home girl Wyldeflowher was just chopping it up about artists short changing the fans with short ass 10 track albums, when a CD can store way more media. The truth behind that is that a lot of artist are only putting the amount of tracks on that they’re album that they’re getting paid for.  In my mind that’s stupid, because touring is where the money is and if your fans aren’t happy with a 10 track album your touring is gonna be boo boo.

Anywaaaaays, I summoned our official Dj Smoke1 to do what he does, and mix up the whole album for your listening pleasures right here right now before the album drops this Tuesday October 5th, 2010 aka my sister’s birthday! Whoop whoop! Though I’m not a huge fan of Faith’s music I can say that this is a really good solid album. You can definitely tell Faith went all out on this one to make it up to her true fans for being gone so long.  By again giving you a full album of tracks that are all versatile, great content, nice production, and some surprising yet dope feature’s like Snoop Dog, Raekwon, Redman, Lil Mo, and Kelly Price just to name the shockers. lol

Love the video to her first single “Gone All Ready.” It’s just her, the piano man, and some mimes and works well. I love how the mimes express the feeling of the words Faith is singing through theyre body language. And its a very deep song for those that listen to the content.

“Gone All Ready”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub3JG7LHxlE&feature=related

1. Something About Faith Intro
2. I Still
3. Way You Move F/ Snoop Dogg
4. Real Things
5. Worth It
6. Gone Already
7. Party F/Redman
8. Right Here
9. Your Lover
10. Can t Stay Away F/ Keyshia Cole
11. Sunshine
12. Everyday Struggle F/ Raekwon
13. The Love In Me
14. Change
15. Troubled World F/ Kelly Price & Jessica Reedy
16. Troubled World Pt.2 F/ Lil Mo & Estelle
17. Baby Lay


Faith Evans- All About Faith Presented by Dj Smoke1…

[audio: faith evans.mp3]

6. Gone Already

Download: Gone Already (534 downloads)

7. Party F/Redman

Download: Party (510 downloads)

4 out of 5 Cartons


-Black Milk

Jeremih – All About You (album review/ video/ online listening party by DJ Smoke1)

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Mr. Birthday Sex is back with his second album “All About You”.  Soulified now has an official DJ, by the name of DJ Smoke1 .  He will bless your ears with a dope mix of the full album for your listening pleasure, in our very first online listening party before the album drops September 28th, 2010.

Got a chance to listen to the album over the weekend and I can safely say that this one will be added to my ” freak um” list. lol This is a straight baby makin album right here, ya’ll.  In my case and most others out there a “practice making babies” album.  hahaha This was somewhat expected with his hit single “Birthday Sex” on his last album, but it’s a refreshing piece of work. None the less,  every track has a different feel and taste. You can tell Jeremih has def grown and matured as an artist on this one. You get the grown and sexy tracks and even a few good love ballads like Holding On and Love Don’t Change. Another breath of fresh of air on the album is the single “Broken Down”, where Jeremih hits us with a blues style track. It’s about a past bad situation, he was in and he showcase’s his true untouched vocals.

The lead single “I Like” was def a good choice because it’s one of my favorite tracks.  Luda murders it with his bars at the end.  The video is simple and has been done before (on a rented yacht with the homie and video vixen’s drinking bub) but it works for the song.  The eye candy picked totally makes me ignore the unoriginality. The back arch shot during Luda’s part in the jacuzzi OMG! LOL Can’t help but hate a little and wish I was there with the 2 to even the odds. lol Ok ok back to the album. Make sure yall cop it when it drops.  It’s worth the $9.99

“I Like feat Ludacris”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPCM4StTL4s&ob=av2e

01.   All About You
02. Xs And Os
03. Dawn On Me (Feat. 50 Cent)
04. Take Off
05. I Like (Feat. Ludacris)
06. Waiter (The 5 Senses)
07. Broken Down
08. Holding On
09. Wanna Get Up
10. Sleepers
11. Love Don’t Change

DJ Smoke1 Presents… Jeremih- All About You

[audio:Jeremih Mixtape final kut.mp3]

Download: I Like (Feat. Ludacris) (484 downloads)

DJ Smoke1: djsmoke1@dc.rr.com

3 out of 5 Cartons



-Black Milk