When Keeping It "Real" Goes Wrong
Let's take Monica for instance. Her new album The Makings of Me is in stores now. Monica will be the first to tell you that she is hood. Her latest album isn't exactly setting the charts on fire. It is a good album nonetheless. I will say the album has some "ghetto" moments. Case in point, take "Sideline Ho" which would seem appropriate for someone like Mya. Monica however does make the song work. Monica is singing about real things. Many women and......men have played the role of "Sideline Ho". Monica is no stranger to drama. Suicide, rivalries, high-profile relationships, motherhood, and countless other rumores have plagued the singer. So it should be no surprise when she sings about incidents pertaining to her real life.
The point of this whole post is to say that keeping it real can have its advantages and disadvantages. I think this is something Monica has dealt with for quite some time. The record label is saying "don't ignore the Pop crowd". Monica is saying "I want to let people know the real me." The real Monica is outspoken, country, and hood!
The internet community is a very huge community. Initial reaction to Monica's album was that it was deemed ghetto and fake. Many felt like this album wasn't a proper representation of the singer. Monica's The Boy Is Mine album is her most popular and Pop-ish sounding album to date. Many of her Pop fans feel alienated by Monica's most R&B-tinged music. After all the woman is a R&B artist, what do you expect. Yes she has crossed over. Yes she has fans! Yes she is R&B. Yes she is Pop!
Monica usually plays it pretty safe with each release of hers. Many wonder why the singer never takes any risks while recording. I think Makings of Me is her riskiest album to date. Makings of Me is what After The Storm was meant to be. But it didn't float well and the album was reworked hugely. Monica was obviously given more freedom with this record.
The point of this whole post is to say that keeping it real can have its advantages and disadvantages. I think this is something Monica has dealt with for quite some time. The record label is saying "don't ignore the Pop crowd". Monica is saying "I want to let people know the real me." The real Monica is outspoken, country, and hood!
The internet community is a very huge community. Initial reaction to Monica's album was that it was deemed ghetto and fake. Many felt like this album wasn't a proper representation of the singer. Monica's The Boy Is Mine album is her most popular and Pop-ish sounding album to date. Many of her Pop fans feel alienated by Monica's most R&B-tinged music. After all the woman is a R&B artist, what do you expect. Yes she has crossed over. Yes she has fans! Yes she is R&B. Yes she is Pop!
Monica usually plays it pretty safe with each release of hers. Many wonder why the singer never takes any risks while recording. I think Makings of Me is her riskiest album to date. Makings of Me is what After The Storm was meant to be. But it didn't float well and the album was reworked hugely. Monica was obviously given more freedom with this record.
Comments
But I was wondering if you've heard of an artist named Megan Rochell(e?)? She's signed with defjam and her album is called You, Me, and the Radio. But there's a song on there that i cannot find ANYWHERE to download it from. It's called "Let Go" and it's hella good.
Now, I dunno if you take requests lol but i was jw if you could help me out. If not, it's all good. :)
Keep up the good work!,
K. Val