Nicki Minaj: 2010’s Break-through Artist

By Alex L.

It’s hard to deny the eccentric talent of Nicki Minaj. Ever since her debut in late 2009, people have been more than interested to see what the New York native had to offer in 2010-- it’s safe to say she showed us that she is a force to reckoned with.

Nicki started off 2010 strong, she jumped on many tracks with Diddy-Dirty Money, Ludacris, Young Money, DJ Khaled, and Sean Kingston, delivering hot verses which proved her to be 2010’s most sought after artist.

With the early 2010 release of her first single “Massive Attack” not doing so well, prospects of Nicki’s debut album seemed bleak. By the time summer rolled around, her second single “Your Love,” was a winner and her follow up singles “Right Thru Me” and “Roman’s Revenge” solidified her spot in hip-hop royalty.

In a short amount of time the Harajuku Barbie gathered a strong fan base of Barbs and Ken Barbs, graced the cover of magazines from Vibe to Billboard, and of course featuring on everyone else’s song, but Nicki wasn’t quiet done yet.

On Nov. 22, 2010 Nicki’s highly anticipated album, Pink Friday finally dropped like an overdue baby! She pulled all the right guns on this album, it features Drake, Rihanna, Eminem, and Will.I.Am.

There were mixed reviews about Pink Friday but after it’s release it quickly shot to #1 before settling for #2 after Kanye West took the spot.

If 2010 was any indication of Nicki Minaj’s future, she won’t be slowing down anytime soon and 2011 is bound to have more in store her. Nicki Minaj is LUCID’s 2010 break-through artist.

If you haven’t already, make sure to pick up Pink Friday, in stores and on iTunes now!

Rest in Peace: Teena Marie Passes Away at Los Angeles Home

Dec. 27, 2010
By Alex L.

CNN reports that the great unsung Grammy-nominated singer, Teena Marie has passed away at her Los Angeles home Sunday, Dec. 26. She was 54.

Before there was Christina Aguilera or Fergie, there was Teena Marie. She is most know for her sweet soulful voice and gained popularity in the late 1970s and 80s with mega hits like "Square Biz," "Lover Girl," and most notably "Fire and Desire" featuring the late funk legend Rick James.

It was reported that Marie suffered a grand mal seizure last month. Her manager Mike Gardner has confirmed her death but there are very few details on the cause of death.

Teena Marie leaves behind her daughter, Alia Rose, family, friends, and millions of fans who will forever miss her.

"Farewell, my sister, fare thee well.
The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort: fare thee well."
-William Shakespeare

Keyshia Cole Calling All Hearts: Album Review

By Alex L.

It’s been two years since we’ve heard from the Oakland songstress, Keyshia Cole, but the new mommy and newly engaged singer is back with her fourth studio album, Calling All Hearts.

For all the Keyshia fans out there keep an eye out for the original 11-track LP and the 13-track deluxe edition (certainly some of you my want both copies). Both editions have minimal features, which nowadays is rare, and flows with a mid-tempo/slow jam feel. The album in totality has a sort of 90’s vibe, the production isn’t filled with heavy bass or auto tune, and it has a very reminiscent feel to it.

It’s clear that this album was written out of love, with tracks like “Take Me Away,” “What You Do To Me,” and “Better Me,” it seems like her fiancée, Daniel “Boobie” Gibson of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their bundle of joy, Daniel Jr. heavily influenced various tracks on the album.

Although Keysh can stand on her own with her raw and soulful voice there’s nothing wrong with having a little additional help from the likes of Nicki Minaj, Faith Evans, Tank, Timbaland, and her adoptive mother, Dr. Yvonne Cole.

Calling All Hearts is definitely a contrast in comparison to Keyshia’s three previous albums. Her fans will hear the growth in her vocals and lyrics. She hits higher notes on the track “Take Me Away,” on “Tired of Doing Me” featuring Tank she sings about wanting to be loved and in love, and she even shows her fans her spiritual side on “Thank You” where she and her mother, Yvonne, praise God and thank him for always being by her side.

Listeners can certainly expect to find some hits on this album. Out of 13 songs Keyshia has several solid tracks that if released will get her to platinum status. With “I Ain’t Thru,” featuring 2010’s breakthrough artist Nicki Minaj, bubbling up the R&B charts, her latest single “ Long Way Down” isn’t too far behind. “If I Ever Fall in Love Again” is another track that is sure to be a hit. The song has Keyshia and Faith Evans exchanging strong vocals over a head banging beat that sounds like Notorious B.I.G’s “Warning.” The other gem on this album is “So Impossible,” it’s smooth and mellow and definitely sounds like it’s was written in her pre- Daniel days.

While Keyshia Cole’s come back may have been unexpected we’re awfully glad she’s back! Make sure you all go pick up Calling All Hearts, it’s in stores and on iTunes now!
(P.S. It’ll make a great stocking stuffer!)

Check out Keyshia’s two latest videos “I Ain’t Thru” featuring Nicki Minaj and “Long Way Down” here on LUDIC.

"I Ain't Thru"

Keyshia Cole - I Ain't Thru ft Nicki Minaj

"Long Way Down"

Keyshia Cole - Long Way Down

Four Loko Banned in Maryland: Maryland is the Latest State Taking The Drink Off Its Shelves

By Alex L.

The popular 12 percent alcohol, energy drink, Four Loko, also known as ‘blackout’ in a can, has been banned in several states. Washington (State), Michigan, Utah, Oklahoma, New York, Arkansas, and Indiana have all permanently taken the caffeinated malt-liquor off its shelves.

Before October 2010, Four Lokos sat quietly on the shelves of many liquors stores across the country, but after nine college students who consumed the sugary alcoholic drink were rushed to the hospital after a party at Central Washington University, Washington became the first state to ban the beverage.

Recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter to four beverage makers including Four Loko, calling the caffeine in the beverage an “unsafe food additive.” The deadly combination of alcohol and caffeine in the drink has been linked to cases involving blackouts, alcohol poisoning, and even death.

On Nov. 16, the makers of Four Loko, Phusion Projects, announced that it would remove caffeine, guarana and taurine, from the popular drink and that they are trying to work with the FDA so that the drink won’t be banned from all shelves.

“Over the last several months we have been more than willing to talk with regulators and policymakers on the national, state, and local levels. Our company has a history of being as cooperative as we possibly can to ensure that our products are consumed safely, responsibly and only by of-age adults,” said Phusion’s three co founders and managing partners, Chris Hunter, Jeff Wright and Jaisen Freeman.

According to the Baltimore Sun, on Nov. 17, Maryland’s Comptroller Peter Franchot, convinced two of Maryland’s largest alcohol trade groups to stop selling the highly caffeinated alcoholic beverage.

“For the sake of all Marylanders, we need to get this products off the shelves as soon as possible,” said Franchot.

His efforts couldn’t come at a better time.

With the Nov. 7 death of 21 year-old Maryland native, Courtney Spurry who crashed her vehicle into a tree after drinking two cans of Four Loko’s, Maryland became the most recent state to ban the intoxicating party drink.

In an interview with WJZ, Maryland’s attorney general, Doug Gansler, mentioned that the incident with Spurry could happen to anyone if Four Loko stays on the market.

“Attorney’s generals are working collectively to ban these products from the market. We’re also working with the federal government, the FDA, to get them to ban it nationally,” Gansler said.

While the FDA is looking into banning heavily caffeinated alcoholic beverages like Four Loko and others, the drink hasn’t been effectively banned all 50 states yet.

Even with Phusion Projects removing caffeine from Four Loko, it still doesn’t make up for the people who have been hospitalized and lost their lives due to this easily accessible intoxicating ‘blackout’ in a can, but it is a step in the right direction.