The Dirty LINEN

Hey Ashanti, I see you! I must say I am enjoying these new found spring colours this year - pastels. On that note, the 'Woman You Love' songstress was at Power 99 for start her promotion rounds yesterday morning. 
I guess because I (up in Canada...well Toronto anyways) am excited about summer with all this unusually warm weather these last couple of weeks, I can really appreciate this look. What I DO NOT appreciate is the fact that everyone feels compelled to wear those Red Bottoms. Don't get me wrong, they are lovely shoes and definately a statement shoe at its best, but ladies, we are blessed to have many talented designers who provide quality shoes of different shape, cut, colour, and/or price as well! Just saying...
I'm happy to say Ashanti has finally dropped her new video for her single 'Woman You Love'. She spoke to Philadelphia's Power 99 about turning down SEVEN offers from major record labels and launching her own record label called Written Entertainment (now that's bossy!) and what inspired her to title her album 'BraveHeart'. Peep the video below.

“The metaphor that I took was basically in the movie you have the Europeans, you have the soliders from London and the U.K.,” she said. “They have the big horses, they have the shields, the guns, the weapons… They’re all armored up. And then you have the Scots. They’re all raggedy, homemade weapons, and paint on their faces. It’s not an even playing ground, so I feel like with the [major labels], they’re bossed up. They have the big engine and all the artists signed to them and with the indies, it’s depending. It’s homemade, it’s homegrown. It’s a lesser engine. So the metaphor I was using was being brave and putting your blood and guts into it and fighting passionately to win.”

Ashanti has always been an artist to put 100% into her work. Kudos to her!


Heads up to the fashionistas, if you looking for where you can Ashanti's blazer, you can find it at www.farfetch.com for about  ₤643.00 (pounds)

I am glad that Melodie has been able to come out of that shadow ( you know what shadow I'm talking about ) and show the industry what she's made of! I'm so excited to see what she has to offer next! 

If you don't know, now you know - Azealia Banks is the newest addition to Female Rap and let me tell you this girl has a sick flow!

It's no doubt that this 20 year old from Harlem not only has a strong background in music ( graduated from La Guardia High school of Performing Arts, a reputable school-look it up ) but she's a versatile artist; proof of this is caught on her catchy single "Liquorice" (below), wind it down track "L8R" or her blunt dance track "212". She's already generated a name for herself, has flown to Europe for concert tours and such, and has caught the eye of several record labels!  Don'r believe me? The chick has performed for Karl Legerfield in Paris, Head of Chanel - now that's big movement. I'll be looking out for her because she's fresh and brings something new to the table. Period.
She knows she's good and has been known to have a not so great attitude, disputing that she should of been chosen to be included in XXL Magazine's freshman list; instead T.I's new artist from Australia, Iggy Azalea was chosen instead. Azealia tweeted a while back :

“How can you endorse a white woman who called herself a ‘runaway slave master’?”

and

“Sorry guys. But I’m pro black girl. I’m not anti white girl, but I’m also not here for any1 outside of my culture trying to trivialize very serious aspects of it.”

Iggy didn't respond directly to the remarks but tweeted :

“You can’t block my blessings! Today I’m celebrating! Get with it or kick rocks!” 

“First female freshman. Ever. Period. Thanks world! I used to stick XXL on my bedroom door, now I’m on the cover. Life is great.”

Here's my opinion whether you want to hear it or not - XXL Magazine was in the wrong for putting Iggy in that lineup BUT we all know that Azealia could of handled that better. Come on girl, we're rooting for you!


Seen debuting her song Grand Scam, Azealia gives the audience of Hip Hop something to look forward to as I believe she definitely has what it takes to make it far. But of course, like so many (*cough* Nicki Minaj *cough*) I hope she'll also be able to grow and EVOLVE without becoming sidetracked from who she truly is and not what Corporate may tell her to be.

Peep Ms. Banks spitting Grand Slam below at the O2 Academy. It has been confirmed that she has begun filming her second official single Liquorice in Paris with Lady Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti as her video director. This should be interesting...

Angel Lola Love or Lola Monroe has made the swift transition from video vixen to female emcee. The Ethiopian-born rapper has had a passion for music and wasn't afraid to showcase her talents. The video above is from the track Stay Scheming and I'm loving it! She has a good flow (Biggie, Big Pun, Bone Thugz influence maybe?) and I hope that when she makes that cross from mixtape to mainstream that she doesn't lose her touch like so many. Please agree with me when I say that we need more of a female influence when it comes to HipHop & Rap!
Read more about Lola Monroe after the jump!

Before she died a tragic death, Aaliyah was able to change the game with her smooth voice and her catchy hooks. She was a hair inspiration for some (me), an R&B artist that some looked up to (me) and sang some of 90's treasured classics. This video was released in 2000 and was featured on the soundtrack Romeo must die from the highly successful movie Romeo must die that she debuted in. Enjoy!.

Love and HipHop star Olivia debuts her video of her latest single, Walk Away. I hope we can see more material from her soon!

Busta Rhymes and Chris Brown team up together to make a hit "Why Stop Now" check it out.