Kylee Coney gives Marsha Ambrosius’ mixtape, Yours Sincerely a first listen.

Words by Kylee Coney

Her voice is unforgettable. Once you hear the way she effortlessly runs through octaves with her signature tone, you automatically recognize Marsha Ambrosius.  Ambrosius became famously known as the songstress of the popular R&B duo Floetry. Floetry’s debut album Floetic released in 2002, with songs “Say Yes” and “Getting Late.” As a solo artist, Ambrosius has collaborated with artists such as Nas, The Game, Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes and Wale. She has recently signed with Sony/BMG distributed label J Records. On February 20, 2010 Marsha Ambrosius dropped her eight-track long mixtape Yours Sincerely that showcased her femininity, sensuality, and her walk with love. Her first solo album is expected to be released June 2010.

1)     “Intro”- “How do I get through to you? I don’t know what to say to make you see how much I want you.” Ambrosius starts the mixtape off bold, proclaiming her heated and strong desire for her lover with strong vocals and a slow rhythmic ballad.

2)     “Let Me Go”- Two words: control freak-literally. Ambrosius sings of her vulnerability and compassion for this one guy.

3)     “Put it on Repeat”- “You’re like a ski-ski-skipping record, stay on repeat, can’t get you out my head.” She reveals how she is uncontrollably in love and wants to replay pieces of their relationship over and over again. The animated up-beat tempo makes you want to sing along, and Ambrosius’ playful tone towards the end of the song is contagious (“…my name is Marsha Ambrosius, I’m supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”).

4)     “She Don’t Matter”- This is a song that tells of the irrelevance of the “other girl.” Ambrosius pleads with her lover to let the other woman go, telling him that she could never love him as much as she does.

5)     “This Love”- Ambrosius collaborates with Glenn Lewis for a duet that reminisces on a love that is no more. The song resonates sadness from both singers who seem to be in a confusing relationship- caught between the greatness of the past and the broken state of their present. Ambrosius’ soprano voice and Lewis’ mellow high-tenor voice create a captivating combination for listeners.

6)     “Storm”- Maybe we all think we’re tougher than what we really are. Ambrosius admits that she talks a good talk but is not strong enough to survive if her lover left her.  “No shelter is big enough to protect my broken heart, please don’t leave me in this storm”.

7)     “Glass”- This song expresses the hurt that she has been through in all her relationships. She exposes a different perspective of herself, insisting she is more fragile than most may believe. Ambrosius sings “I’m like glass” accompanied with harmonious guitar and piano instrumentals that add to the song’s intensity and sensitivity.

8)     “Take Care”- Ambrosius is obviously anxious to see that special someone. She sings of how she wants her lover to hurry up and get home so he can take care of her. Ahhh, selfless love.

25 Magazine’s India Banks gives Wale’s debut album Attention Deficit, a first listen.

Words by India Banks

D.C. native and rapper, Wale has officiated the DMV’s recognition as a growing niche in the hip hop world, with his debut album Attention Deficit. On his road from underground rapper to an internationally known artist, Wale built his mound through his past three mixtapes: Seinfield, A Mixtape About Nothing, and his recent June release, Back to the Feature. With these mixtapes being his main outputs and his album release date being pushed back from October 20th to November 11th, hip-hop lovers have anxiously craved his debut. Yet the wait was well worth it. Wale manages to fill the vacant spot for the DMV on the international hip-hop scene with his first two singles “Chillin” and “Pretty Girls,” which both carry the essence of D.C. go-go music. Instead of Wale selfishly professing his lyrical skills on Attention Deficit, he spits about real life issues from insecure females on the track, “Diary,” to blacks facing colorism on the Chrisette Michele vocal driven track, “Shades.” This album allows this altruistic artist to demand respect not only for the DMV, but additionally as a successful newcomer.

1. “Triumph” – Wale starts off strong with this jazzy tune complimented with big horns. He shouts out Lily Allen and Kanye West for helping him rise. Wale shows he means business as he opens with the line “I aint tryna be politically correct, but I won’t rest til I’m given my respect.”

2. “Mama Told Me” – This track instantly grabs your attention with the heavy bass. Wale spits about how difficult it is to make it to the top. He shouts out some people that have helped him make it this far.

3. “Mirrors” – Wale teams with Bun B to express how most artists are fake and can’t face themselves in the mirror. He lyrically challenges his haters to fight to see who’s the realest. The gothic guitars and heavy drums add to the intense mood of this track.

4. “Pretty Girls” – Wale attracts his female and DMV fan base with his hit single, that features Back Yard Band’s signature go-go beat. He teams with southern rapper Gucci Mane and demands the ‘Pretty girls’ to clap and the ‘ugly girls’ to be quiet.

5. “World Tour” – This track reveals Wale’s progress from being a dropout to traveling the world to perform for his fans. From New York to London, he’s gonna take us ‘all around the globe.’ Jazmine Sullivan’s powerful add libs add more momentum to this track.

6. “Let It Loose” – This track offers the typical ‘girls just wanna have fun’ theme as Wale and Pharrel describe the party girls who are ready to release their wild side and down for those one night stands.

7. “90210″ – Wale raps over this Nintendoish beat filled with electronic pulses as he describes the stereotypical L.A. girl, who has high dreams of becoming a celebrity. “She throws up whatever she eat/she leaves the bathroom with a nose bleed/regular girl, celebrity dreams/ she is 90210.”

8. “Shades” – Wale collabs with Chrisette Michele and deeply hits another topic that exists within him, but that is rarely made public. He professes that when he was younger; he was timid because of his darker skin and encourages blacks to not be ashamed of the shade of their skin. “I never fit in with them light skins/I felt the lighter they was, the better that they life is.”

9. “Chillin” – Wale puts the DMV area on the map and professes his cockiness in this first hit single. This track poses as his introduction to the industry. Lady Gaga’s sweet, catchy hook will have listeners chanting nonstop.

10. “TV in the Radio” – The rocking beat, electric guitar, classic horns, and K’naan’s unique voice gives this track a captivating sound. Wale gets hype about his style and individuality.

11. “Contemplate” – This track samples the hook from Rhianna’s “Question Existing,” which compliments the dark lyrics of Wale questioning his place in hip hop.

12. “Diary” – Wale unites with Marsha Ambrosius to present a black girl having difficulties holding her own. He opens his diary to help heal her pain and regain her independence.

13. “Beautiful Bliss” – Melanie Fiona opens this track with her soothing voice claiming, “It’s a beautiful day.” The horns and extensive piano contributes to the positive mood as Wale encourages listeners to focus on the prize at the end of the day.

14. “Prescription” – The D.C. native successfully sums up his album with a smooth beat of the congos, flutes, and soft piano keys. Wale proudly states that he is the new face of hip hop and his “lang. will provide as a pain killer.”

25 Magazine’s India Banks gives Kid Cudi’s debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day, a first listen.

Words by India Banks

Last year Kid Cudi released his first mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, and now a year later he’s released Man on the Moon: The End of Day, his debut album. One of the most buzzed about rap rookies in 2009, Cudi has peeled back his layers, allowing a transparent view of the internal struggles that made him feel alienable in this world, thus becoming “man on the moon.” Cudi crafts an experimental “electro-hop” album with melodious lyrics, into five different ‘Acts’ with rapper Common as narrator. The album features collaborations from Ratatat, MGMT, and Kanye West amongst others. Although Cudi shows worry and disdain on tracks like “Solo Dolo” and “Alive (Nightmare),” the songs “Pursuit of Happiness” and “Up Up Away” show Cudi’s emphatic views on his future. He may feel like he’s in a world of his own right now, but his extrinsic nature is a new wind gaining force in the evolving genre of hip-hop.

Act I: The End of Day

1. “In My Dreams” – Also known as the “Cudder Anthem,” Cudi enters his quest to outer space and invites his listeners into his dreams and thoughts.

2. “Soundtrack 2 My Life” – Cudi describes life’s depressing moments. He admits that he has hidden issues that he can only clearly express through his lyrics.

3. “Simple As…” – With lines such as, “I can’t be lame, I’m cooler than that,” Cudi shows his boastful side. He brushes off his shoulders to all his haters and keeps it moving.

Act II: Rise of the Night Terrors

4. “Solo Dolo” – This track is the opening to “Act II: Rise of the Night Terrors.” The slow beat and eerie background effects create a sinister theme. Cudi feels lonely, and he needs no one else as he is “soaring through paradise.”

5. “Heart of a Lion” –Cudi makes it clear that no one can break him. He is well on his path and is determined to accomplish his goals regardless of critics’ thoughts or actions.

6. “My World” – Cudi reminisces on times when his self esteem was low and no one cared about him. But he proudly affirms that “this will be my world,” to all the nay-sayers.

Act III: Taking a Trip

7. “Day N’ Nite” – The song subliminally revolves around using drugs to escape depression. The clever electro backdrops and heavy bass add to the overall sound of the track.

8. “Sky Might Fall” – This track puts listeners’ imaginations to work! Cudi spits, “Grey clouds stuck together fam/ lightening piercing through another land/ over the desert where the lost play/ soul searching each and every way, and then you see the awesome sounds.

9. “Enter Galactic (Love Connection)” – Cudi sings of his significant other joining him in entering a ‘galactic’ high.

Act IV: Stuck

10. “Alive (Nightmare)” – This is the classic tale of the werewolf-half man half monster, in which the latter comes alive with the full moon. Cudi eerily draws personal comparisons from this character.

11. “Cudi Zone” – Once again Cudi explains his contentment when he “soars high.”

12. “Make Her Say” – Kanye West and Common join Cudi on a tale of three men spitting about their humorous sexual conquests on a sample of Lady Gaga’s, “Poker Face.” Cudi’s verse is a refreshing change from the stop-start flow of his previous tracks.

13. “Pursuit of Happiness” – The combination of hip-hop and techno makes this track a success. These addictive lyrics are actually positive and simple. The smooth beat gives off a mellow vibe.

Act V: A New Beginning

14. Hyyerr – Another narcotic driven song! The mid-tempo beat and background claps are relaxing. “Hyyerr” is the first track where Cudi doesn’t use metaphors for drugs. His lyrics are blunt. “Back in high school smoke weed when I cut class and now I’m an addict tragic stay rolling up while reclining.”

15. Up, Up & Away – Great track to end this rather interesting album. It’s a new day and nothing has changed. Cudi states that he continues to be himself because people will judge anyway. His carefree attitude adds to his self-confidence.