Blame It – Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain

It’s been a minute since I posted a music favorite because I honestly have to FEEL the song. Well, Jamie Foxx gets this CARAMEL BELLA’s music pick. His latest, “Blame It,” featuring T-Pain, off his “Intuition” album is soo hot that it hasn’t left my CD changer or iTunes since I started playing it. I commute about 30 minutes to graduate school  each day and sometimes I repeat the song the whole way (yes, I know.. a bit excessive).  It’s just what a girl needs to get excited about the day (and wake up).

But speaking of the song and its lyrics. You have to love the lines:

“She said she usually don’t…But I know that she fronts. ‘Cause shorty knows what she wants. She doesn’t want to seem like she’s easy..”

So ladies, do we blame alcohol for our intimate (*wink*) indiscretions? And fellas, do you buy the bellas drinks to lower their inhibitions?? Hmmm.. Interesting things to ponder while shaking your butt to Foxx’s “Blame It.”

And check out all the celebrities in the video (directed by Hype Williams): Forrest Whitaker, Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Howard, Jake Gyllenhaal, and of course T-Pain. It seems more like a mini-movie than your usual hip hop video fare.

Enjoy!

Smooches,

The Caramel Bella

Okay, call me crazy or a little out of my mind… but I’m loving Common’s new song, “Universal Mind Control.” I just keep playing it and playing it. It’s stuck on rewind. It’s something about the beat, which is reminiscent of Afrika Bambaata’s Planet Rock, that makes me start dancing. I can’t sit still. That’s one of the qualities of all my favorite tracks. (And of course, the male beauty that is Common surely adds to the package.) Check it out.

Smooches,
The Caramel Bella

P.S. So are you feeling the song and video like I am???

So, what do you all think of Beyoncé’s “If I Was A Boy” video? Personally, I’m digging the video – it makes me like the song. It depicts the complexity of relationships as well as plays into the men are from mars, women are from venus stereotypes — albeit successfully. Most women could probably relate to Beyoncé’s “female-role” character at some point in their lives. Let’s home the boys are listening so our relationships could improve.

And I’m sure all the men out there are loving Beyoncé in the police officer outfit. (Lil Wayne’s Mrs. Officer lyrics quickly come to mind.) She looks great in anything.

Check out the video for yourself. Once again, Ms. B is doing her thang!

President Barack Obama even has Jay-Z fired up. Check it out..

Jay-Z My President is black Remix LIVE 1-18-09 from pleasedontstare.com on Vimeo.

Okay.. so I’m taking a mini-mental break from the Inauguration with a musical digression. I am so in love with the Beyoncé song, Diva. I get pumped up every time I hear it. “A diva is a female version of a hustler.” Wow. Great lyrics. So, I dedicate this song to all of my women friends, family members, associates, soon-to-be friends and tweeple who are working hard to make their dreams come true – like real divas should. This is our anthem! Check out the video.

Many of you may be surprised…. but I’m a Lil Wayne fan. I know all of his lyrics are not politically correct or paint women in the best light. And I think his music (and a lot of hip hop at the moment) is for grown folks only. But it doesn’t stop me from being a hip hop head. With that being said, the beats are the JAM!!!! This is one of my favorite songs at the moment. It’s “Mrs. Officer/Comfortable” featuring Bobby Valentino. (Hey, a bella has to dance too.) Doesn’t the “wee-a-wee” stick in your head?! Check out the vid. Maybe it will become one of your favs too?

Smooches,

The Caramel Bella

I love politically active celebs and music with powerful messages. LL Cool J and Wyclef have created a song called “Mr. President.” It is a direct address to Mr. George W. Bush. They bring up topics like the Iraq war, Sept. 11 and the lack of health care. Hopefully, our President-Elect, Barack Obama, will do a much better job.

Smooches,

The Caramel Bella

This post truly goes out to the 30 and over crowd, and those Gen-X’ers who remember what’s now considered “old skool” hip hop! Black Sheep has remixed their 1991 hit, “The Choice is Yours” into an Obama anthem. The underlying subtext is that you can get with this: “Progress/Obama” or you can get with that: “McCain/Bush.” And hey, you can achieve the choice by VOTING! Check it out.

“A Milli,” “Lollipop,” “Got Money” and his recent single “Mrs. Officer” are just a few of Lil Wayne’s hits, who stole the stage at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Saturday. The show could have been called Mr. Weezy’s (aka Lil Wayne) because he ran it. Nominated for 12 awards, Lil Wayne picked up Lyricist of the Year, MVP of the Year and People’s Champ.

“These awards have been wonderful, especially when they call my name,” Wayne told MTV News. “That’s the best part about them. Twelve nominations — I think the only categories I’m not in are the female categories.”

Although the numerous awards may make his accomplishments seem easy, Lil Wayne beat out T-Pain (who he collaborated with on “Got Money”, DJ Khaled, T.I., Kanye West and Jay-Z for MVP.

And Weezy F. Baby, the rapper from the 17th Ward in New Orleans, announced he is expecting another son in “a couple of days” during his Lyricist of the Year award acceptance. Quite the family man, MTV reported that he dedicated the MVP award to his daughter.

(more…)

Pure craziness today is that Rapper Kanye West was arrested today at LAX airport for attacking two paparazzi. He was formally charged with felony vandalism. According to reports, Kanye and his bodyguard/manager, Don Crowley, destroyed the photographer’s equipment valued at over $10,000. (And I thought I was having a bad day.)

Maybe someone needs to breathe and relax.

Smooches,

The Caramel Bella