New Video: Where Have You Been

In other posts/open letters I've written Rihanna, I have often complained about her laziness. Yes she puts out an album every year and drops a new single every 6 weeks, but it just sometimes seems half assed. She started off her "Talk That Talk" era with "We Found Love" which is a huge dance song, but she didn't really dance in the video. Luckily it was an emotional take on young, crazy love, so I let that slide. "You Da One" was next and I freaking love the song. The video was forgettable and the song didn't perform well. They rushed to release the Jay Z assisted, "Talk That Talk" but that didn't work. I thought she'd given up promotion of the CD and moved onto her summer movie. I was wrong. Today she dropped the video for "Where Have You Been"

Before I go on, let's get one thing straight: Rihanna stopped giving a fuck years ago. Read her Twitter and you'll see that she is committed to the cause of not giving a fuck. Why did I bring this up? I like the word "fuck" and I say that to show that she doesn't really seemed concerned about pleasing the haters. Hell she doesn't even really seem to care too much about pleasing her fans. I don't know what inspired/motivated her to make such a bomb ass video, but I am perfectly ok with it. Finally she delivers a video that proves why she is deserving of all of that attention.

Some highlights:

I like the intro, where is is coming out of the water like some fierce swamp creature with scales over her titties.

At :47 I love that look. She looks so freaking exotic.

:52 she starts out in the first dance break that puts an island twist on the stanky leg. The choreo is sick and is full of intricate footwork.

1:30 she busts out a new lacefront. I like it because it makes me think of Whitney Houston. This begins the SECOND dance moment, which is her and all girls contorting on the floor. It kind of took me to Beyonce in "Run the World" but this has more stank on it.

1:54 Rihanna and her girls get off the floor and work it while standing. They do some arm movements and make what looks to be an eye that SHUTS. AWESOME.

3:08 starts the dance moment where Rihanna's dance is dedicated to her coochie. She frames it with her hands.

3:14 Ooop! It just got better, she does a move that I'm either calling "The Pussy Pat" or the "Coochie Clap"


3:30 This look has Rihanna looking like some queen of the forest or an Indian Goddess.


Rihanna goes back into the water, but this time we see that it is filled with her hot male dancers. I'm pretty sure it's safe to assume that she's gonna get it in.




So this video is pretty fucking amazing. She looks good AND she danced. See, girl, it wasn't that bad! Save beauty videos for ballads. But please don't put out ballads. It just never a good idea. I needed this after being let down by Nicki's "Starships" video. Thank you Rihanna.

Album Review: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Nicki is dropping her follow up to her successful first album, "Pink Friday" with an album with an original title, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" I think the title is kind of dumb, but whatever. Nicki has said she is pretty much at the point where she is able to do whatever she wants and people will eat it up. This is good, as it allows her to experiment and try things without feeling the need to please people. This album shows some growth, but it also shows her dabbling in a bit of everything and effectively seems like it's meant to please everyone. There is pop, R&B, and oh yeah, she raps too.

Roman Holiday: I didn't get or even like this song when she premiered it on the Grammy's. I think the performance was just too fucked up for me to focus. Now that I've listened to it, I get it. It's a great way to start out a CD, as has a frenzied pace and has a message of "Ok, I'm back to talk some SERIOUS shit"

Hood Shit:
Come on a Cone: This song has a hot beat. Nicki is talking some serious shit on this. She has a serious ODB vibe that people have come to want. I think the highlight of the song is her singing "Dick on your face" Like who says that?

I Am Your Leader: She pairs up with Cam'ron and Rick Ross. I didn't even know Cam was still putting out music, so I was shocked as hell. I actually like his verse a lot.

Beez in the Trap: this is for strippers and lovers of ratchet ass things.

Hov Lane: The beat reminds me of a throwback Lil Wayne/Hot Boys beat.

Roman Reloaded: "More knots than Eric from Basketball Wives" hahaha She is popping off on Rap Bitches. Again. *yawn* Little Wayne jumps on for some credibility.

Champion: How she got Nas to collaborate with her is beyond me. He is official and Nicki seems to realise this as this song is a bit more serious in the lyrical content. She sings the hook, probably to prepare us for things to come.

Right By My Side: She teams up with Chris Brown for an R&B joint. Told you she was prepping us for more singing... I like her verse at the end

Sex in the Lounge: nothing too notable about this song for me

Fist Pump Nation:
Starships: I really don't love this song. I feel like Miley Cyrus should have sung this. I am apparently in the minority, as this is one of her biggest songs. THis will be our first taste of Nicki's venture into fist pump nation.

Pound the Alarm: More club friendly music in the same vein ass Flo Rida.

Whip It: Nothing too special about it, but I like songs that have the sound of a whip in it. I'm a sucker for it, I guess.

Slow Jams:

Automatic: I feel like this could have been a Jennifer Lopez song to follow up "On the Floor"

Beautiful Sinner: Nicki singing over a club beat that builds up to a dramatic chorus.

Mariyln Monroe: I thought this was only a demo, but apparently it made the cut. This is us seeing Nicki being vulnerable.

Young Forever: The beat is cute, but the song is just ok to me.

Fire Burns: I think I would like this song more if Rihanna sang it.

Gun Shot: She teams up with Beenie man. I love when she busts out the island swagger. I really wish she would have went harder, but she is singing here. I would love to hear them trade verses, but I guess i'm asking too much.

Bonus Tracks:

Stupid Hoe: a ridiculous song that has Nicki *gasp* throwing jabs at a female MC *cough* Lil' Kim *cough*

Turn Me On: This was a huge song for Guetta and Nicki and I'm sure gave her the confidence to make a whole fist pump section to her album

Va Va Voom: Super Bass Part II. The same people that lost it over Super Bass will probably like this.




Overall I think this is a solid offering. There really is a lot of genre crossover going on throughout, which makes the album sound a bit schizo when you listen to it on shuffle. I think I need to come to terms with the fact that Nicki has been told she can sing and likes to sing a lot. I don't think it's horrible, but I really love it when she is rapping and dropping memorable verses. I was thinking that maybe she would shut people up who say that her most memorable verses are on other people's songs, but she really didn't do that here. Ahh well, still a solid album and I'm sure it'll be shoved down my throat for the next 2 years, so I had better get on board QUICK.

I'm not even going to talk about the album artwork...