Telephoned EP
Do you like weird shit? Sure you do, that’s why you’re here. And by here, we don’t mean on this website, we mean on this Earth. Cause just as the powers of the internet and advances in home music production once compelled you and your boys to rap over old Kanye beats, so too have these technological marvels influenced young Brooklynites Sammy Bananas and Maggie Horn. Together, the two Fool’s Gold representatives make up Telephoned, a project reinterpreting R&B in some ways we never could have imagined. They’ve just released and entire EP, which you can download through RCRD LBL, or preview below to get a taste of some of that futuristic.
VIDEO: Trey Songz, “One Love”
What do you think Trey Songz does more, sing or have sex? Ha! It was a trick question. He sings about having sex all day, every day. And that’s kind of what modern R&B is but Songz has clearly mastered the role of fantasy tour guide. Or maybe we’re just easily blinded by washboard abs? Either way, “One Love” is foreplay for Songz’ foreclosure on your heart. And once it’s his, YOU NEVER GET IT BACK!
VIDEO: Jeremih, “Raindrops”
It’s not every day that we get to have “Birthday Sex.” Well, really, not every year either, but last year’s smash is next year’s bar mitzvah song. Jeremih followed it up with a surprise hit in “I’m A Star,” but raindrops, the most romantic of the three has a video set in the un-romantic of places, a pay for play strip club. THE strip club actually, ATL’s very own Magic City. Magic wasn’t all that was in the air on set, and neither was money, as young Jeremih brought love to this club.
Usher, “The Realest One”
Usher’s been known to talk about some real life sitch-eeations, but also some contrived ones so when we hear “The Realest One,” we’re not sure which side of the truth fence he’s on. Either way, it should help him find a new shawty as we’ve heard he’s now completely free to find another.
Download: Usher, “The Realest One”
Ayah, “In My Lifetime”
“In My Lifetime” is from Ayah’s album 4:15, available now at ayahmusic.com. The chorus borrow some inspiration from Mary J’s “My Life,” a seminal song and album for both young Mary and Tupac Shakur. Grab 4:15 and experience the greatness that greatness begets.
Ne-Yo, “Never Knew I Needed”
Why is Ne-Yo so lonely? Girls love him around the world. Does he love girls (around the world)? Of course not. He want’s a special someone. Doesn’t matter what era of United States history they come from, as long as they are open-minded and understanding of his lifestyle. The lifestyle of a superstar performer, that is.
Malik, “Crazy”
We’ll be honest, we knew nothing about Malik until he @’d us on Twitter (please note, we will look at that shit) and sent us a link for the above video. And though the video is just as much a modeling agency comp card as it is a music video, this song should be on the radio RIGHT NOW.
Lloyd f. J. Holiday, “Take It Off”
We might be grasping for straws here, but two dudes telling one girl to take it off seems a little frat party rape-y, no? Aside from a unfair numbers game, this still knocks cause “Lloyd Mayweather” and J. Holiday are singing over some kind of space-thump that sounds like Jeezy should be rapping over it, and have probably creating the trap star equivalent of New Jack Swing. New Trap Swing? Oh shit, we on one!
Download: Lloyd f. J. Holiday, “Take It Off”
Ryan Leslie, “I Choose You”
“R. Les for prez!” Fabolous proclaimed on one of his a Ryan Leslie’s now regular link-ups. Well, we already have a president. One who, coincidentally, is also black and who also went to Harvard. R. Les, however, doesn’t have the nation’s problems on his shoulders, but instead, the age old qualm of finding true love and doing right by his main gal. But at least he’s got the first part figured out.
Download: Ryan Leslie, “I Choose You”
Alicia Keys, “Doesn’t Mean Anything”
In a pretty shocking turn of events, Alicia Keys has been at the center of some strange controversy lately, what with Lil Mama sabotaging her VMA performance and her new boo Swizz Beatz’s wife writing open letters and all. And yet, somehow she rises to write and film a video for a song alluding to just how much she needs someone (a one man band-man perhaps?) to share her numerous blessings with. Also, she ends up in the desert somehow.
