Editorial for Ballerstatus.com(Check me out)

The Hottest 10 R&B Singers In The Game ... Right Now

Published: Thursday - August 14, 2008 Words by Carl Lamarre

A few months ago, MTV had the liberty of constructing a list which consisted of the top 10 hottest rappers in the game. This incredulous list made fans, and rappers cringe in utter disgust as the "professionals" weeded out the good from the bad. Though the list drew a lot of controversy, and was considered an abomination to hip-hop. It made rappers step their game up. If all it took was a list for rappers to step their game up, then I figured maybe if someone compiled a group of male R&B singers, and made a list resembling the MTV standards maybe, then just maybe, we would see the same angst, and vigor among R&B singers.

Genius right? Well, I decided to take the liberty in orchestrating such a list. I'll be honest, the process was very tedious, and arduous, but it was done. I'm ready for the shots, and the "you're stupid comments" Here we go.

Hottest 10 R&B Singers Right Now

10. Justin Timberlake

If we were going by overall talent, and accomplishments, JT would undoubtedly be among the upper echelon. Futuresex / Lovesounds was dubbed as a classic, and instantly created comparisons between JT and Usher, as to whom was the king of R&B. Timberlake has owned the charts with three #1 hits, including "My Love," "What Goes Around," and "SexyBack." Since then, JT has been relatively quiet. It has been said that JT has taken some time off to pursue acting. Though that maybe true, earlier this year Justin made an appearance on Madonna's "4 Minutes" that ended up in the Hot 100 on Billboard.

9. Mario

The kid who was tired of being "Just A Friend" turned into a man with his heartfelt single "Music For Love." Mario is currently working on his fourth album that yet-to-be-titled, but is still making noise on the radio with "Music For Love." Also, Mario recently joined forces with the sultry Keyshia Coles on the remix for "Heavensent." Let's not forget about "Crying Out For Me” that had the ladies clutching on to their pillows at night in need of young crooner's touch.

8. Robin Thicke

The young stud fresh from Cali had women wooing with his last CD, The Evolution of Robin Thicke. This year, Thicke left his imprints on a couple of our favorite rappers tracks including 50 Cent's "Follow My Lead," and Lil Wayne's "Tie My Hands." Though he has been busy doing features, Mr. Thicke has returned on the R&B scene with his electrifying single "Magic." To up the ante, Thicke just did a remix of the record starring the Queen of R&B, Mary J Blige.

7. Trey Songz

Alright, this one was a difficult one. Trey Songz is sitting at #7 because Trey Day simply elevated his stock. The singles, "Wonderwoman," "Can't Help But Wait," and "Last Time," dominated the R&B charts. He even provided some assistance on Scarface's "Girl U Know," and LL Cool J's "Girl If I." Though Robin just dropped a single, it's not fair to ignore what Trey has done. As of now, Trey is currently working on his album titled Ready, expected to come out later this year.

6. Ryan Leslie

Songwriter-turned-R&B star, Ryan Leslie has taken off from writing and producing behind the scenes to pursue his career as an R&B phenom. Thus far Lesile has connected on all angles on only two singles. Yes the man doesn't have an album, and he's #6, but the reason he's that high is because "Addiction" is blazing on the airwaves, and is arguably the summer anthem. In addition, "Diamond Girl" is still receiving love on the air waves. With both songs sitting on the Hot 100, Leslie can only find himself moving on up.

5. Usher

I don't know if Usher is suffering from the Penny Hardaway fall off, or what, but Usher has been slipping in the eyes of many. In 2005, Usher delivered on the classical opus Confessions, and sold over an astounding 10 million records. With his recent release of his fifth album titled Here I Stand, Usher has received lukewarm reviews mixed with harsh criticism pertaining to his live performances. Though "Love In This Club" peaked #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, "Love In This Club, Pt. II," and "Moving Mountains" didn't fair the same.

4. Lloyd

Lloyd is steadily becoming one of the most consistent R&B cats in the game right now. With the success of his last album Street Love, Lloyd has decided to play teacher this time around and school a few cats on the protocols of R&B by releasing Lesson Of Love. Lloyd kept the formula the same by featuring Lil Wayne on his new single "Girls Around the World." Prior to his new album, Lloyd also kept busy by hopping on Huey's "When I Hustle," and Pitbull's "Secret Admirer."

3. The Dream

Like Leslie, Dream has made a similar transition from songwriter to R&B star. Dream's eclectic sound, and versatility has opened up a lot doors for him this year. Aside from the effervescent "I Love Your Girl," which was triumphant on the charts, Dream has made a stamp on being the new hit man for hooks. From LL Cool J's "Baby," to Gym Class Heroes "Cookie Jar," to Plies "Please Excuse My Hands," The Dream can't be stopped. The precocious songwriter is putting everybody on right now, including his damn self as he continues to cash check after check.

2. Ne-Yo

Could 2008 indeed be the Year of the Gentleman? Well if Ne-Yo keeps stroking the pen the way he has, then I don't see a problem. Ne-Yo has yet to falter, and continues to make his presence felt on the charts and on the radio. The maestro is coming fresh off a platinum album, and has been hot from the field by connecting with his first single "Closer," and his follow up single "Miss Independent." His feature on Piles' "Bust It Baby (Pt. 2)" helped him remain on the scene. Ne-Yo even got his swag on, with the pretentious "A Mille" freestyle taking shots at the man who's sitting at number one.

1. Chris Brown

All it took was three years for the kid to take the crown. With a go-getter mentality, the then 16-year-old came, saw, and conquered the R&B game. Right now, Chris Breezy is sitting comfortably at the #1 spot. Breezy has gained love from different facets of the music industry. Brown recently was featured on Nas' "Make the World Go Round," off of Nasir's Untitled album, and was anointed as the "young Michael Jackson" by the legendary MC. Brown continues to have fans oozing and gushing for more as his last CD, Exclusive, which wheeled in almost 2 million copies, and three Top 5 Billboard hits. Though Brown has recently embarked on acting, he has recently re-released Exclusive with four brand new songs.

On the Verge: Sterling Simms, Sean Garrett, Pleasure P

This is it. It was hard, but I think I got it right. These are the ten hottest R&B cats out right now. Hopefully these artists step their game, and contest Chris Brown for that top spot, because right now, he's the man in charge. Let the debating begin.

Check me out at http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/editorialscolumns/2008/08/5273/

Guess Who’s Bizzakk(Talking about my times Interning at Vibe)

Guess Who’s Bizzakk

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls let me first start by saying what's good America. I hope you all are living your lives accordingly, and trouble free. Excuse me for the introduction, but it was necessary considering I'm in a good ass mood. For people reading for the first time, my name is Carl Lamarre, and I'm an Editorial Intern at Vibe Magazine. I'm here to provide yall with a second helping from my wonderful adventures at Vibe. Since we last spoke, I've been going back and forth grinding with my fellow interns. The workload has been arduous, and tedious but what can I say? All of us grind collectively, and get the job done. A couple of celebrities popped up while we were working. Pretty Ricky, and Derek Luke both stopped by, and said what up. Also, today Mashonda stopped by, and must I say she's one fine honey bun. Derek Luke was pretty cool too. He's a real laid back, down to earth type of brother. I can't front when I saw him, my initial reaction was to shout out "Yo what's good Antoine Fish", but then I realized I would be making a complete ass out of myself so I just gave him a handshake and kept it moving. As for what Vibe has in store, all I'm gonna say is damn. I just recommend that yall sleep by your nearest newsstand because they're cooking up a storm in here. Honestly, by the way they're making moves, I could see why there's a reason Vibe is sitting on top like a hair wig. I'll catch yall on the next piece, and like Mr. West I'm gone.

Happy 15th Vibe

Myspace.com/vibemagazine for my other posts

Cats Out The Bag (Skillz Million Dollar Backpack Album Review) From Vibe Radar

A rapper never needed much. A rapper was content with simply a Jansport, and a notebook to leak out their emotions, but now everything appears to be in reverse. Instead of flossing lyricism, and intricate wordplay, rappers have deviated from the essentials in hopes of achieving commercial success. Still, some covet the essence of hip-hop, and stay true to their roots by rocking the ever so legendary backpack. For instance, Skills debut "Million Dollar Backpack" proves that a Jansport still has the ability to sustain the rain, especially in this day and age.
To get things started, Skills calls upon his homeboy Freeway on his first single “Don’t Act Like You Don’t Know”. Skills and Freeway play hot potato with the flow as each effortlessly lace flawless verses.” In this track Skills openly mentions his ghostwriting prowess as he boasts “I’m Sean Garrett with the lyrics.” Skills proves to come equipped with the lyrics because he doesn’t forget to exude the main ingredient strapped in his backpack: his bravado. The braggadocio he conveys on this album doesn’t even come off as redundant. On “Sick” he validates his cockiness by saying “I was sick before Jeezy knew what an adlib was. Yeaaahhh”, and further elaborates by saying “I was sick before the south had hits//Sick before you knew how to download something this sick.”

One also has to be enamored with the production on the album. Skills’ selections are beneficial, as the laid back beats help the album run smoothly. “My Phone” comes up as interesting ode to the ladies of the game, while “He Don’t Know Me” proves to be another radio friendly joint. What many undermine is the fact that Skills prides himself on delivering, especially when he has people on the guest slot. So when he rhymes along aside lyrical geniuses Common, "So Far So Good" and Black Thought from the Roots " Hold Tight", he shines and never fades from the ambiance.
Skillz's Million Dollar Backpack is a perfect example that maybe sporting a Louis Vuitton bag isn’t always the answer.

American Idol Demo Review (Jason Castro) For Vibe's Weekly Newsletter

American Idol isn’t a hoax. Ask Jason Castro. Known for his candor and candid responses, judge Simon Cowell is prone to lash at contestants for their abysmal performances. So the night Jason Castro performed I Shot the Sheriff, with his dreads swinging a la Bob Marley, a vexed Cowell with no remorse stated for him to “pack your suitcase”. As fate would have it, the affable Castro was eliminated not because of his altruistic persona that the audience grew to admire, but because of his horrendous rendition. While Kanye’s “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” line may apply to the Louis Vutton Don, the same can’t be said for Castro and his American Idol Rendition CD.
The intro “I Don’t Want To Cry” starts a tad slow, but the overpowering hook clearly depicts the vividness and elusiveness behind Castro’s heartfelt lyrics. In “Traveling Thru” the song takes a slight country approach that displays some versatility from the young crooner. The background singers prove to be effective during the first two tracks as Castro did appear a bit weary and lackluster at times. The highlight of the CD comes in the form of the cogent “Fragile”. Castro takes a page from Mr. Usher Raymond’s book, and incorporates a Spanish girl to sing along with him, as he shows some fluency in the language himself. The song helped fans see that a creative bone did exist in the one dimensional singer. Sadly, things would go down hill from there. It appeared Castro was shooting air balls at the basket, as each track proved to be a no-go. For a huge portion of the cd Castro is vulnerable. The mellowness of the album drifts to utter boredom as every track after Fragile appears to be a snooze fest. Also, the addition of background singers goes to show his lack of taking over a song, as they carried him to make the track listenable. “If I Fell” has the effect of appealing to an older demographics, preferably senior citizens due to its lack of umph.
Jason Castro shows some upside, and potential as his vocal abilities is undoubtedly there. If Castro continues to demonstrate versatility, and experimentations with different sounds, he has the opportunity to be more of an opening act, rather than someone’s bathroom break.

Big Name Hip Hop Acts to Perform at Democratic National Convention(From Vibe.Com July 15th 2008)

The man who once said George Bush doesn’t care about black people, is about to once again be under the flashing lights of the political stage. Washingtonpost.com is reporting Kanye West, along with Wyclef Jean, and N.E.R.D. are all slated to perform at this year’s Democratic National Convention. The convention, taking place in Denver, Colorado, will be a star-studded affair. Other guests include actors Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Forrest Whittaker, and many more. While many will focus their attention on the political issues, an avid listener of hip-hop will certainly not feel left out. Though music fans are excited about the roster of performers, expect none of the controversial songs from any of the acts. Just this past week, Senator Barack Obama himself, rebuked comedian Bernie Mac’s stand-up routine at a fundraiser in Chicago. Still, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has displayed some interest in hip hop. In a VIBE cover story for the September 2007 issue, Obama told VIBE contributor and blogger Jeff Chang, “I'm old school, so generally, generally, I'm more of a jazz guy, a Miles Davis, a John Coltrane guy… But having said that, I'm current enough that on my iPod I've got a little bit of Jay-Z. I've got a little Beyonce."

To read at Vibe.com, here's the link http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2008/07/big_name_hip_hop_acts_to_perform_at_dnc/

Icebox Nah Not Really (Throwback Edition)

I reassembled my heart...yeah without surgery...when i said i didn't love you...yeah i committed perjury...not only did i lie to you, i lied to myself...it appeared you were done with this novel when you lied me on the shelf...yeah i'm an extensive read which provokes thought...these dudes are baby books with big pictures, and simplisitic diction which lacks substance...from their lackluster cover to their rudimentary lines...they fail to display the same candor or electrifying lines...for when you lacked power who instilled the light back in your eyes...for when ya mind was famished and needed food for thought, who supplied you heartfelt similes and breathtaking metaphors...breathtaking lines which made you grab ya pump...breathe in...look down before you jump...because you only read from page 1 to 45, and decided to read later...you decided to listen to the critics and read when convienent...recommend you pick up now, and not when you really need it...cuz another owner may enjoy the gold encrusted cover and be willing to engulf on this journey...so take the bookmark off and continue at 46, for you will see this journey will happily instill bliss

Untitled(Throwback Edition)

why quote you when i could quote myself...your life is fiction, needs fixing so here some help...hear some diction, a clear depiction of one self...could enhance our perception...glances from our stances could lead to misconception...except when, the real deal appeals to us...blinded by ignorance so whats real to us...food for thought no longer is a meal to us...i'm stuck...corrupt...in this world of illusions...believing i could survive off ice cubes in the sahara...believing i could no longer enrich or expand my mind...divine intervention is needed...because i'm wheeling and dealing lookin through my rear...what appears through my window...a breezy day signifying i go where the wind blows...