We Plug 2 You... ASA - Beautiful Imperfection
This is a long over-due feature and after I am done, you will see why I still felt the need to share this with you, 3 months later. Some of you may already know this artist, dare I say you should and for some, she will be totally new, so let me give you a little bit of background info.
ASA is a Singer/Songwriter (Government name: Bukola Elemide) who was born in Paris, France and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. It was while in Nigeria, that she started singing and discovered music but it was not until she moved back to Paris during her adult life, that she found and formed her musical style. Her Musical influences include Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Rafel Saadiq as well as Angelique Kidjo and you can actually tell from her songs that she does not just say this. So when we say ASA's music is a fusion of Pop, Soul, R&B, World, Funk & Reggae, it is exactly that, all beautifully sung in Yoruba and English.
I must confess that I was not a fan of her début self-titled album 'Asa (Asha)', there was just something missing that I could not quite place my finger on, although I could not deny how beautiful and soulful her voice was. With her sophomore album 'Beautiful Imperfection' which came out last October in Europe & Africa and is soon to be released in the UK & US, I must say I am quite flawed. It's everything working well together; her sound, the music, the elements of live music, the well thought out lyrics, the story in every song and the emotions they evoke. This album is bright and happy while still remaining soulful. I give this album a 9/10 without question. But I'm rambling on, you listen for yourself.
This first song is titled 'Maybe' and I absolutely love it. I love the blend of Acoustic Pop and Soul music; the lush piano chords and the soft guitar riffs; the drums patterns and the perfectly arranged backing vocals. This song is simply beautiful and it gives you so much assurance and inner peace, well it gives me so much assurance and inner peace anyway. Add that amazing voice and what she is saying on the record into the mix and you can't help but fall in love with this song.
"I'm gonna be myself, and nobody can, nobody can stop me. I'll finally be, who I'll be"
This second song is titled 'Dreamer Girl (Have You Ever Heard)' on which she encourages you to dream, because maybe someday, that elusive day we all hope for (like when I win the lottery and become a millionaire) will eventually come to pass. Asa's stripped-down acoustic sound really shines through on this and the melody of this song is without question the best on the album. This song is actually my personal favourite, primarily because I can relate. As with this one, quite a lot of songs on this album are very relatable and on songs like 'Bimpe' and 'Ore', you almost think this might be a personal story for her.
"You might think, that she is a bit naive when she says that someday she'll be queen. Is it impossible, is it a crime or is it a silly state of mind"
This next song is called 'Baby Gone' and it's four heavenly minutes of Blues-infused slow tempo guitar-driven soul music. I love this song especially because it's from the perspective of a woman who's lost her significant other and desperately wants him back, usually it's the other way round with the male character wanting the woman back so it's good to hear the contrast. This song is so raw, brutally honest and very sad, it's hard not to appreciate this. Asa's voice, the musical arrangements and harmonies evoke so much passion and the pain in this song resonates with me. Can I just say mention the violin solo from 2:30 minutes? Mentioned...
"I wish I kissed you deeper, can we find a way? A way. My baby is gone, gone, gone"
Lastly and not in the least by any chance, I thought I ought to share a more upbeat song to end things just right. A little less up-beat than the official lead single for the album 'Be Your Man' but equally as happy is the very catchy summery tune, 'Why Can't We'. This definitely makes you want to move your feet, the way only a good Pop song can make you do. I love the horns & drums combination on this one, they give the song so much energy just at the right moments and it reminds me of a Disney song and a Jack Johnson song all at the same time if that's even possible. Very enjoyable!
"What is life about? Did nobody tell you. The reason why I ask, I can see you are so confused. You worry much about the things you cannot see. You have it all with your money, you still complain"
This album is as perfect as they come. I did not skip a single track on this record and I suspect you wouldn't either. Even if you do not understand the songs in Yoruba, I am sure that the melodies, harmonies of the songs and the quality of music on 'Beautiful Imperfection' will keep you listening. ASA's voice is soooo beautiful and you'll find yourself in a very peaceful place when you listen to this album so I encourage you to definitely purchase this album at the jump.
Asa's Beautiful Imperfection is released in the UK on the 4th of April, 2011 and in America during the Fall.
Purchase: Asa - Beautiful Imperfection (iTunes France // Amazon Germany)
Keep Tabs on Asa: Facebook // Twitter // Website
Asa's Beautiful Imperfection is released in the UK on the 4th of April, 2011 and in America during the Fall.
Purchase: Asa - Beautiful Imperfection (iTunes France // Amazon Germany)
Keep Tabs on Asa: Facebook // Twitter // Website
Till Next Time
Peace, Love and Good Music
Neefemi
We Plug to You... Mentalist - Make You Proud
This is my debut post so I guess you guys don't know me... Lemme introduce myself, I'm Max (full name Maxim) and yeah its my real name, my mom was really into the magazine when she was pregnant. I'm a student but I often moonlight as a music reviewer and I love it, music is what keeps me going. I only mostly listen to rap but I can also stand some pop and R&B songs from time to time but enough about me so I can serve you some GOOD music.
This song you just heard is titled 'Mentro', it features Krimzon on vocals and it's produced by Loudmouth Melvin, I really love how laid-back the beat is. I feel this song pays homage to the rappers from the golden-age of music (80's/90's Hip-Hop) beautifully with it's musical backdrop and Mentalist's rap style. This track is for all aspiring rappers or anyone struggling out there striving to make it, Krimzon was perfect on the hook and that soulful vocal sample at the end of the song is just amazing. This is one of those songs you need to have on your 'Lazy Saturday' or 'Hanging with the Friends' playlist, the point is though that this is one song you need to get!
This next track you just heard is my favourite track on the album, 'Mirage' featuring our very own Shanaz Dorsett; Shanaz worked the beat beautifully with her voice, it's amazing to listen to. Another Soulful laid-back musical backdrop provided for by Loudmouth Melvin for this retrospective song and Mentalist does not disappoint. This one's for the folks who try hard to acquire the money and fame; a friendly warning to keep you grounded always because the spotlight can sometimes ruin you. Mentalist drops some deep lyrics while narrating the story of a girl who seemed to be carried away by the shiny things in life. Listen...
This final track I will be plugging is titled 'Oh Yer' and it features Loudmouth Melvin, not as the producer this time but going toe-to-toe with Mentalist in the lyrical ring. This is a more upbeat and hard-hitting Hip-Hop song with Mentalist going more hardcore on this beat as well as Loudmouth Melvin, they both stepped their game up on this joint with Mentalist going in on the hook with...
"Ain't nobody hot as me // They can say they got it locked BUT you know I got the keys!"and Loudmouth dropping serious quotables like...
"I heard dude say I'm biting, I'm innocent // I don't rise to that pussy shit, I'm impotent..."This has a more aggressive delivery and beat which both rappers oblige to. Hope you enjoyed it.
I really do love this mixtape... It's got that old school feel to it and it's very reminiscent of the golden era of Hip-Hop music. Mentalist has got the lyrical skills, delivery, flow; the whole package but if there's just one problem I have with 'Make You Proud' is that every song just seemed to sound of the same vibe, like totally Indie/Neo-Soul Hip-Hop and not saying that it's entirely a bad thing as the songs come out really well and this vibe might very well be your thing but I did want to hear some more variety.
'Make You Proud' is an album for the mature Hip-Hop fans, its been a while since I personally heard Hip-Hop like this, his ingenuity is plentiful and I really admire his creativity but then again, if you knew Mentalist before 'Make You Proud', this might all likely be old news to you. I think he is inspired by rappers from the golden-age of rap because he sounds very much like they do and in an industry which has been overtaken by witty punchlines and gimmicky metaphors to dumb it down for the listener, Mentalist might suffer the same unfortunate fate that a lot of others before him have endured, which is having to wait for people to comprehend how special his gift really is. When you are so far ahead of the game, it will always take quite some time for the average listener to understand what you're about or catch up with you. But for those of you who have been desperately waiting for some real & honest Hip-Hop music to take the UK scene to that next level, you might wanna look towards Mentalist for starters. Download this mixtape and understand what I am talking about
Download: Mentalist - Make You Proud (Album)
Until the Next Time...
Max
'Make You Proud' is an album for the mature Hip-Hop fans, its been a while since I personally heard Hip-Hop like this, his ingenuity is plentiful and I really admire his creativity but then again, if you knew Mentalist before 'Make You Proud', this might all likely be old news to you. I think he is inspired by rappers from the golden-age of rap because he sounds very much like they do and in an industry which has been overtaken by witty punchlines and gimmicky metaphors to dumb it down for the listener, Mentalist might suffer the same unfortunate fate that a lot of others before him have endured, which is having to wait for people to comprehend how special his gift really is. When you are so far ahead of the game, it will always take quite some time for the average listener to understand what you're about or catch up with you. But for those of you who have been desperately waiting for some real & honest Hip-Hop music to take the UK scene to that next level, you might wanna look towards Mentalist for starters. Download this mixtape and understand what I am talking about
Download: Mentalist - Make You Proud (Album)
Until the Next Time...
Max
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