"K. Michelle Rebels Against The Odds" - "Rebellious Soul" Album Review

K. Michelle's recent debut album Rebellious Soul  has been on repeat! I am going to do a short and sweet album review! Sorry I've been gone for a while, just been busy with life!

Reality star, mother, and R&B songstress K. Michelle let's you have it on Rebellious Soul. I will admit, when I first heard the album I did not like it at all! I kept thinking of her in the Love & Hip Hop ATL sense, which inhibited my listening. Like they say, the third time was charm. We all know that despite her character on the show, she is very talented. I honestly feel like she is real and raw, the female R. Kelly (R. Kelly is her mentor). She serves it to you like it is and we haven't seen a female like her in a minute. Keyshia Cole is too busy being opinionated, and MJB is focusing on expanding her music with her upcoming Christmas album. So we have K. Michelle, and I feel like it's her time. SHe also sold 78,000 in her first week of sales and came in the top ten on Billboard and Itunes! (She proved everyone wrong......I know she is feels so good to shut all the haters down.) I feel like I'm winning with you K!

Rebellious Soul Tracklisting


1. “My Life” ft. Meek Mill

2. “Damn”

3. “I Don’t Like Me”

4. “Can’t Raise a Man”

5. “V.S.O.P.”

6. “Pay My Bills”

7. “Sometimes”

8. “It’s Too Late”

9. “Hate on Her”

10. “When I Get a Man”

11. “A Mother’s Prayer




1. My Life


A somber opening of the album, K asks us "What you know about the grind in the streets? WHat you know about them girls on the pole?" It serves as a reality to how people struggle, how K. Michelle struggled and had to sacrifice to get to where she is. Don't judge a book by it's cover.


(The Interlude, "The Right One" is truly something special. This song is on the deluxe version which you can find at Best Buy.)






2. Damn
An emotional tale of loving someone and wanting to be with them but your life and their's won't allow that to happen. Missing out on a love, K. Michelle has detailed that she wrote the record about Chad Ochocinco. I love this song! It's deep, the vocals and lyrics hit the heart. -Golden Track



3. I Don't Like Me
This song here, has made me cry! It is about a woman who gives her body to a men time and time again, hoping they would LOVE her. Self -esteem is checked at the front door in this track. K. Michelle is making sure young girls and woman have a song that details what many of them experiene with men and sex. - Golden Track






4. Can't Raise a Man
You cannot raise a boy into a man! Ladies and Gents, take notes. Classic R&B. Has a MJB feel.






5 . V. S. O. P.
The lead single, this celebration track details on a relationship that is rocky but will be celebrated with a bottle or too of Very SPecial Old Pale ....... Vocals are life, beat is life, production, is some good R&B. I wish more of the songs had this type of up-tempo feel. - Golden Track


6. Pay My Bills
Now, this is where the R. Kelly comes out! K opens the track with a powerful note that will make you call your boo on speed dial! LOL! It's a naughty record... -Golden Track Vocals and lyrics are CRAZY/MIndBlowing


7. Sometimes
This old soul sounding song takes us to church as Miss K sings about how men come and go. Sometimes they come, sometimes they don't. One of the most vulnerable tracks, this should possibly be a single or on a Tyler Perry movie soundtrack! WHen I listen, I picture a sad lady sitting on a porch in memphis drinking whisky....pondering on a love that has her torn. IT's really a moving record that proves that K. Michelle is here to stay. -Golden Track


8. Ride Out
I skip this song....it's ok. I wish the beat was better. Or had a feature such as Wale or something.


9. Hate on Her -
I skip this song as well. It is R&B, "She stole my man but I ain't mad" record.


10. When I Get a Man
Everything and more, that is what this track is. The intro and how it fades in....the honesty in the lyrics and chorus...melody...is complete soul! Makes me stand up out my seat. K. Michelle sings about how when she gets a man...he will love her good! This was a good move because their are too many sad love songs by our R&B ladies. It's soft, feminine, and rough at the same time. - Golden Track


11. A Mother's Prayer
A beautiful dedication to her son....this is simply amazing. A smooth and perfect way to complete the album of Rebellion. GO K! - Golden Track


There are interludes on this album such as "Rebuild This House and Coochie Symphony.....take a listen and formulate your own opinion! Overall this album is R&B Gold. People keep comparing K. Michelle to Keyshia Cole...they do have similarities but K. Michelle has her own image that stirs away from Keyshia Cole. Her music hits you. Keyshia's does as well......but they are different to me. I say this album is a good listen for Fall, if you just broke up with someone, if you are still getitng over a break up, or if you just love good ole' REAL music.


-KL

#KLTunes - Who I'm Bumping in August

Hello world. I have been gone!!!!! So sorry about that! Just been super busy! 

Let me share with you who has been on my ipod getting me through! Music is my everything and I literally cannot function in this crazy world without it. It's a great distraction that always uplifts. You can literally FEEL IT! I think that's what makes it so special. 

Anyways take a look! 

1. K. Michelle 

With her recent triumphant release titled Rebellious Soul, K.Michelle without a doubt is one of the trailblazers of R&B right now. Despite what people may think about her and her personality of the infamous Love & Hip Hop ATL she has managed to gain herself a record deal and pursue her dreams. I will admit at times I was torn in my liking of her because of some of the things I saw on the show and other antics, but I enjoy her music. She has been through a lot and does a magnificent job songwriting and singing about her experiences. WHat I love about her and her music is that IT EVOKES EMOTION IN YOU, Her voice is powerful and she is pure fire in the studio. I say this is a great album for the fall. SHe sings about relationships, self esteem, MEN NOT ACTING RIGHT (Do they ever?), her son, and everything young women go through. Favorite songs - Damn, I Don't Like Me, My Life, The Right One, When I Get a Man, VSOP, Ride Out....I REALLY ENJOY THe ENTIRE ALBUM. 

CHECK IT OUT! 

2. Azealia Banks 

For some reason, I've been very attracted to Fantasea. Her mix-tape was released last summer and was literally the soundtrack of my life. I cannot wait for her official album which should be here in the fall. 

Tracks on repeat: Luxury, Paradiso, Fantasea, Atlantis, Fierce, Aquababe, Esta Noche. 

Her new single "ATM Jam" ft. Pharell is also a BANGER.

3. Tamar Braxton 

I love me some Tamar Braxton. Both of her smash hit singles, "The One" & "Love and War" have done nothing but rudely torture as I wait for her September 3rd sophomore album Love and War. 

4. Kelly Rowland 

I am still bumping Talk a Good Game. I've done reviews for and spoke for Kelly back in July! :) 

Tracks: Talk a Good Game, Red Wine, Street Life, Gone, You've Changed. 

5. Jay - Z 

As I hustle in these streets....... Jay-Z definitely sets the tone. MCHG has been on repeat! 

Tracks I love: BBC, Versus, Oceans, Tom Ford, Heaven, Part 2 (On the Run), and JAY Z Blue. 

Chrisette Michele "Better" Album Review - A Lady Just Wants To Be Loved

Hola! Chrisette Michele is back with her fourth album titled Better. A journey of a woman who has flipped the script and changed her mentality of love, she seeks it again with this album. Full of love songs, the album also details the frustrations of being in a relationship, winning someone's affection, not being the right one for someone, being single and happy, it offers a twist to your typical love song album. 

Tracklist:
01 – Be In Love
02 – A Couple Of Lovers
03 – Let Me Win
04 – Rich Hipster (Feat. Wale)
05 – Love Won’t Leave Me Out
06 – Interlude (In My Head – Better)
07 – Better
08 – Snow
09 – Visual Love
10 – Charades (Feat. 2 Chainz)
11 – Interlude (My Heart – Convo With Boyfriend)
12 – You Mean That Much To Me
13 – Supa
14 – Interlude (In My Bed – Sleeping Alone)
15 – Get Through The Night
16 – Can The Cool Be Loved (Feat. Bilal & Dunson)
17 – Ten Foot Stilettos
18 – Interlude (Perch Yo Girlz – Phone Convo)
19 – I’m Still Fly
20 – Love In The Afternoon (Feat. Nello Luchi)

1. Be In Love - 

Chrisette opens the track by simply saying "I can do this, I wanna be in love." A great opening to the journey Chrisette will take us on. It serves as an intro to the album. Has an old school feel to it and may make you want to be in love again. She sings about how she is ready for love again, admitting something that a lot of people never want to admit. Everybody always tryna be all hard and about that single life - but not Chrisette. It''s a hopeful record as well, "Love will put me first this time, it will feel so right, forget the past, I'm open again."  It's a great segue way into the lead single of the album "A Couple of Forevers". 

2. A Couple of Forevers - 

The lead single from the album! I love this song! It's so romantic. This is a song for the hopeless romantics out there. It's about wanting the feeling of love to last forever and ever. She is singing to her significant other about how strong they are together and she wants it to last, not just forever, but a couple of forevers. Whats so magical about this record is that it sounds so smooth and old school, like a 60's soul record.  A Golden track from the album

3. Let Me Win - 

Ever been in a relationship or in a situation where you are trying to win someone's affection and they won;t open up? They won't let you win. She pleading for this person to give her a break in this game of love, as we all have probably been there before. I love the beat to this song and the message. It sounds like a cut from her first album "I Am". The game of love is a gamble. 

4. Rich Hipster - 

Taken form her mix-tape "An Audiovisual Presentation: Audrey Hepburn" This is one of my favorite cuts. I'm not all that familiar with hipster culture, but this song is about being free. Getting a tat if you want, traveling the world, you feel rich, but not financially rich, rich on the inside. You are completely satisfied and doing whatever you want. It's also about getting along with everyone, making new friends, accepting the unusual, and truly embracing unity. "Wave you love when you wave your flag!" 

Wale added a little spark to the track, but I feel like Common may have been a better feature. Overall it's a golden track. 

5. Love Won't Leave Me Out - 

Similar to Be In Love, this song is vulnerable. Open. It's about self evaluating your self and your relationship to love. "See a girl with a broken heart, See a girl with the broken scars." The message is clear, you will fall in love and may get hurt, but you have to learn from it, self- evaluate, and learn that love won't leave you out. Be hopeful and open. 

6. Interlude (In My Head - Better) - Transition into Better. 

7. Better -

 Love will make me feel better. It's self explanatory. The rawness of this record is good and the positive outlook on love. It is the title of the album as well, supporting the concept correctly. Her vocals - just pull my edges out! LOL! But it's really an outstanding record. 

8. Snow - 

Now the sadness of love comes in, but with a twist. I honestly never heard a record where someone is telling there lover "Look, I'm not the one for you. I'm trying to protect you from me. You don't want to love me. I have a lot of stuff within me and a lot thats going on and I don't think you can handle me. I'm giving you a warning." I love this song...it's cold..a cold piece of work. It's melancholy and harsh feel supports those who are afraid to love someone, because they feel guarded, they feel as if they're hearts our cold and no one should want to be with them. It's a deep, powerful song. A certified Golden track! :) One of my Favorites. 

9. Visual Love - 

This song is funky, sassy, and real. Makes you want to get out on the dance floor with your girls looking fabulous. This brings a new concept to not falling for someone's BS when it ocmes to them saying they love you. Basically, this person is attracted to you only for your looks, hence the title Visual Love. "Your eyes tell me you love me, but that don't mean you do, and I;m not gonna let you hurt me when you SEE someone new." Love runs deeper than physical attraction. Many just throw the word around, knowing that they are in lust. A Golden Track. 

10. Charades - 

Comparing someone's bull crap and trash to a game of charades is an excellent metaphor. People can often be actors, playing characters and personas to win you over or romantically. But you know the deal, you can see right through it. That the perpective of this record. "I Ain't about that life.com period." 

2 Chainz is a complete mess on the record LOL. It's hard to know he did "ALL I WANT FO MY BURFDAY IS A BIG BOOTAY....." and rap with Chrisette. But he adds fun to the record.  

11. Interlude (My heart - Convo with Boyfriend) - 

This interlude is so deep and romantic. Just listen to it. Especially if your a hopeless romantic. It lowkey made me gushy, a little teary LOL!

12. You Mean That Much to Me - 

This song is about putting it all on the line for the one you love. It's good, feel good. It;s a love song about someone you would give it all up for. An offering. Beautiful song. 

13. Supa - 

She gave me Alicia Keys! This is about when your in love with someone and you have to tell them the good and bad about you. This is when your relationship starts to run into arguments and expectations. They get an attitude, you get one.  "I can't be supa all the time, with the S on my chest."  An honest and confronting record. 

14. Interlude - (In My Bed - Sleeping Alone) - 

"My favorite part of a relationship, is holding each other through the night - safety you know?" 

Poetry that details sleeping alone late at night - a perfect transition into the next track.

15. Get Through The Night - 

Now this song is a GOLDEN RECORD! It's so sad yet healing. It honestly helped me get through some personal things. So if you just broke up with someone and experiencing the pain of it, this is a good comforting song. You can cry to it, stare at a wall, and recover. "I know I'll smile in the day time, wait till the sunlight, everything will be alright, I know it will, just gotta get through the night." 

I love this song. Highly suggest it. 

16 . Can The Cool Be Loved - 

Chrisette admits her positives and negatives. "I'm only me, just cool."  Growth, swag, spreading light and love...this song is about being real with yourself and everything you do and also aksing "Can the cool in me, that side of me, just be loved and accepted?." In Chrisette's case, she is just another person in this world with emotions, a career, good qualities, bad qualities, and a muse for music. Bilal and Dunson bring that neo soul hip hop feel. One of my favorites. Overall it's a feel good golden track. The cool people just wanna be loved. 

17. Ten Foot Stilettos  - 

One of my fav's from the album! I love how simple and classy the beat is. It's about making it through life, getitng it hurt, and walking above it in the end. You are high above the drama, the BS, the troubles of everything. "I'm a real tough girl, but I'm sweet at heart. Live in a real rough world, oh I can fall apart, but I just won't fail." If you need strength, put this on. Stand tall! Chrisette also sounds like Erykah Badu on this record! Golden Track! 

18. Interlude (Perch Yo Gurlz - Phone Convo)  - 

Reminds m on phone convos with my girlfriends! 

19. I'm Still Fly - 

I love this song! She sings about being single and still being fly. I like the message because sometimes when we are single we feel so insecure about it. Like we need someone all the time. It's good to just go out with your girls or boys and not expect any phone numbers or dates. Either way you are still fly. The jazzy feel of this record makes it a classic. Upbeat and to the point.  Golden Track. One of my fav's! 

20. Love in the Afternoon - 

This is also another one of my favorites. She sings about how people always make love in the evening. Well, what about making love in the afternoon? The beat and production is fabulous. This was also on her mix-tape last year. The rapper Nello Luchi brought a fantastic pop to the song. Its a nice smooth way to end the album. :) 

Overall, The album's slower songs about love can become repetitive in the messages they send but it's based off of love so it works. I found myself skipping some records. For example, I often play "Get Through the Night: or "Snow" when I'm feeling a little blue. But I mostly listen to the more upbeat records and the one's that reflect on love in a positive light. It's a great, solid, contribution to R&B from Ms. Chrisette Michele. I say get yourself a copy, it allows you to reflect on love, the good and the bad of it. 

Hugs, Kisses, and Wishes.