I just had to add this… it’s holiday bump within my iPOD rotation… Alicia Key’s new album “As I am” is maturity at it’s finest. A personal dedication to how R&B grows up, matures within one and song writing lyrics (on a personal side) up above commercial expectations. The words are drenched with so much emotion and care, I couldn’t help but feel for Alicia. “As I am” is a commitment to good music that wins more than awards. It’s a Soul album with heart. There’s no corny break up to make ups ballads or freak you in the bed tracks featured in “As I am.” The albums all heart filled with maturity and honesty moving R&B to the right direction.

“No one” truly is the feel good track of the year for me. You can get lost in the words and really feel the music. While her new single “Like you’ll never see me again” is a sweet laid back track that isn’t overkill on saying goodbye…. her opening track “Go Ahead” gives you that early sense of how deep the albums quality is going to represent… I would’ve compared her to Common (The MC and as in the Female R&B version due to her maturity!) One of my favorite tracks in the album is “Lesson Learned” featuring John Mayer which is one of the albums more flavored ballads.

While I wouldn’t say it’s Alicia’s best release to date… she’s all grown up and doin’ good. You can really appreciate this album as to some of the other freaky releases of the year… this one’s a keeper everyone under the fireplace can appreciate. You did good Alicia!

It’s barely been a Year since “More Fish” and GFK drops another one?!?
Don’t worry folks… this ones certified dope!

Daaamn! We back at it again with another GFK release?!? Yep, just about a year after the highly slept on “More Fish” (a significantly dope album, commercial failure due to record sales) Ghostface drops the bomb on a surprise Wu-banger! Now 4 albums under his belt under with Def Jam (7 total!), The Big Doe Rehab reaches achievements to GFK’s consistent presence in the game and another solid album that has peeps satisfied with Ghost’s affection for pure Hip-Hop music. Can you believe it? This is GFK’s 7th solid release to date and it’s elevation to satisfy his fan base is a blessing to everyone copping his music.

You can always count on Ghostface to bring the heat. While “Fishscale” (his 5th album) took Ghost to the next level of top-of-the-line MC’s status, and “More Fish” extended his creativeness and lyrical sharpness to the masses… “The Big Doe Rehab” truly is a celebration as titled on his current single “We Celebrate” featuring an ageless Kid Capri (Hip-Hop’s Dick Clark!) hypin’ up the track! (Sampled off of the Classic “I just want to Celebrate” sample from Earth, Wind and Fire) “Tony Seigle aka the Barrel Brothers” is a track full of heat… I gotta say it brings the best outta Bienie Siegle who feels most comfortable rhyming alongside a lyrical beast like GFK. Collabo in the works? I truly would like to see it between these 2! “Yolanda’s House” is a smooth 70’s throwback swing of soul featuring smoothed out lyrics by Raekwon and Method Man… think “Camay 2007″ on the creative tip! The album features solid collabo’s with other Wu members like U-God on “Rec Room Therapy” and “Killa Lipstick” featuring Mef and Masta Killa on anothers 70’s swing of beats. Ghost face’s selection of beats and creativeness just brings out great chemistry within each Wu-featured track. I can’t be mad at Theodore Unit’s Trife Da’ God who we’ve seen come of age in past GFK albums. The kid truly is nice under Ghost’s mentorship. (Peep “Yapp City” and “Paisley Darts” for his maturity)

It truly is a great time to be a Wu fan. The group album “The 8th Diagram” hits stores next week and having ghost rep a 70’s style album boasting soul-infectious beats and an all-star line up holding it’s weight gives more appreciation to his content and followers who appreciate his music. I expect to see 6-7 more solid albums from Ghost who can really hold it down for the Wu! I wouldn’t be surprised is I rock Wu-Tang Clan till I’m 70… shoot, The Wu is a lifestyle for me… a culture… I’ll take their music to the grave!

Classic material. Needs no explanation. More vids after the jump.

(more after the jump…)