Are You A Fan of Fayola?

 

Good R&B is hard to find, good Neo-Soul is even harder.  I like to think it's like searching for a needle in a haystack hoping that the horses don't eat it before you find it.  Fayola's Love, Hate & Passion is the needle that I was happy to find.  Between the songwriting, vocals and music production she does what Neo-Soul is supposed to do and that is speak to the soul.

Personally, I am in love with her vocal styling.  Her technique does an amazing trick of paying homage to past neo-soul influences and spinning it to be her own.  New listeners may pull out a lot of comparisons but hearing the journey this artist is making with her music will shift from comparisons to admiration.

Songs like, New is very reminiscent of the type of records being released by Chrisette Michele.  Where as song like Love is Love & Today is the Day provides a refreshing unique sound that boasts her talents as a singer-songwriter.  Other times you hear the Jill Scott sound poke out, ultimately, Fayola does the job of bringing out her personality and pulls your soul into her music.


If you can't take it straight from the horses mouth, take it from me, Fayola is a needle that shouldn't be in the haystack.  Check out her site and let us know, Are You A Fan Yet?

For more information on Fayola visit her site @ www.fay-o-la.com
You can also purchase her album off of Amazon by clicking here: Fayola - Love, Hate & Passion

Are You A Fan of Paragraphs? [Music]

"Minneapolis trio Paragraphs are keeping the post-rock sound alive with their stunning debut You Can’t Make a Ghost Without Its Sheet. An album chock-full of beautiful guitars, keys, and horns playfully dancing between the ears." switchbladecomb.com

"With You Can’t Make a Ghost Without Its Sheet, Minneapolis based band Paragraphs has done what many new bands fail to do, which is to create a confident, emotive and polished sounding debut record that sounds well beyond their years." reviler.org

"Paragraphs have crafted a gorgeous debut EP and are one of the more promising young bands in the Twin Cities." morecowbell.net

"These guys (and gal) look like students at a clean, Midwest liberal arts university. It’s impressive, then, that a band so young sounds so traveled. Where today’s youth are hell-bent on being simply loud and loudly simple, Paragraphs ups the creative ante with their complex, rich arrangements." weheartmusic.vox.com

That's a lot of pretty fantastic hype for this unassuming 3 piece out of Paisley Park Minneapolis, Minnesota, but it's well deserved. A little bit Mercury Program, a little bit Explosions in the Sky, Paragraphs (also sometimes known as Prgrphs) do all the stuff you'd expect out of any good indie/math rock/shoegaze outfit, but they have that extra thing. I can't quite put my finger on whether it's their affinity for the start/stops, or their passion for the sharps and flats, but it comes through in all their tunes and it never seems to get old.

If you like bands like the aforementioned Mercury Program and Explosions in the Sky, or bands like Maserati and If These Trees Could Talk, you should definitely check out Paragraphs. Their debut EP You Can't Make A Ghost Without Its Sheet is available for FREE on the band's website, but if you want to help Dan, Chris, and Brigitte out while they are recording their new record (which they funded completely by album sales and donations!), you can buy the album at CD Baby or iTunes. You can also check out their MySpace, Twitter, or Kickstarter page for updates.



ARE YOU A FAN YET?

Are You A Fan of Coko Korinne? [Music]

Excerpts from Bio

In a music industry where watered-down arrangements and over-tuned vocals are the norm, it can be next to impossible for a talented and truly unique artist to generate a buzz.  Instead of viewing these facts as restrictions, R&B singer, writer and producer Coko Korinne overcame these challenges and took the future of her music career into her own hands.

Raised in Memphis, TN, Coko was reading piano music before she was reading books.  This knack for approaching music at an unexpected angle would quickly become one of Coko’s trademarks.  Drawing inspiration from soulful R&B artists of the 90’s like Aaliyah and SWV, and the throbbing beats of the Memphis rap scene, Coko is poised to inject some much needed new flavor into today’s cookie-cutter, R&B industry.  Her pure voice, charged with both raw power and heart-breaking vulnerability, will give you goose bumps or have you dancing and bobbing your head.

In 2007, Coko launched Band Nerd Productions which specializes in the creation of songs, tracks and compositions for artists, Film/TV and video games.  You don’t often find an R&B artist from the Dirty South who can put bump in your trunk and write a commercial jingle that you can’t get out of your head.  Her jingles have been in the hands of McDonalds, Oscar Mayer and Kit Kat.

For 6 years, Coko was the choreographer of her sorority step team, which has been undefeated since 2003.  This same step team was featured in the box office hit movie “Stomp the Yard”. Coko’s greek life experience inspired her to write a smash hit called “Greek Dance” which is being played in colleges across Tennessee and is expected to become an epidemic through out the internet . Coko is also the creator of The Soundtrack Beat Battle, which is a nationwide competition for hip hop producers, put on in conjunction with Hard Rock Café and Big Fish Audio.

I say, be in the know before she blow.  This woman has talent and the look of a Star.  Check out the track "Greek Dance" by Coko below.  Also, she has a new joint called "Mr. Richard" on her site.  For more information visit: www.cokokorinne.com. 




ARE YOU A FAN YET?

Are You A Fan of J. Cole's new video? [Music]

The Video Who Dat by J. Cole hit the web on Monday, June 21st.  So, what we need to know now is ... Are You A Fan Yet?

 

For more information on J. Cole visit, www.jcolemusic.com.
ARE YOU A FAN YET?

Are You A Fan of Big Remo? [Music]

Artist Bio

Home of Camel and Pall Mall Cigarettes, Wachovia Bank, Texas Pete Hot Sauce, and Krispy Kreme Donuts, Winston Salem should be proud of another one of its creations.

Big Remo was born and raised in the Tre Four, his style being reminiscent of a time when Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Carolina had permanently drilled a spot for the south in hip hop's world. While southern hip hop artists attain fame with manufactured snap crackle and pop tunes, Remo stands out as the new school representer for the original rugged and raw southern rapper. Standing on the shoulders of no one, he is a testament that tenacity is what sets dope emcees apart from their peers.

A member of Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder's It's A Wonderful World Music Group/Jamla Records label, Remo refuses to let hip hop from the southern point of view be remembered for what dominates the radio and television for this generation.

Remo started writing at the age of 12. "My first rap album was ‘The Great Adventures of Slick Rick,' and I was heavily influenced by his gift to tell stories to beats and his great display of the 80's player," Remo says. His career started then, and he used to freestyle on the local Winston Salem radio stations. In 2003, he formed the group A.L.L.I.E.S. with friend Novej, and just a year later the duo was nearly picked up by Interscope Records. The two parted ways when the deal fell through, and Remo was asked by 9th Wonder to appear on 9th's first album, "Dream Merchant Vol. 2." When 9th started his label, there was no question about whether or not Remo belonged on the Jamla Lineup.

Remo is currently slated to release his first project through IWW/Jamla Records titled ENTRAPMENT, with production from Young Guru, Khrysis, M. Phases, and of course, 9th Wonder. ENTRAPMENT is laced with guest appearances from Remo's labelmates. This album is Remo's declaration of independence and secession from the union- he brings substance and consistency to the microwaveable hip hop with little to no nutritional value too many patrons consume today. He makes sure you know that Winston Salem makes all their products built to last. 
 
Dope flow & solid production = a Win. Visit Big Remo @ www.therealbigremo.com.  In the meanwhile here is the latest video by Big Remo called "GO" feat. 9thmatic.


BIG REMO ft. 9THMATIC - GO from Pricefilms on Vimeo.

ARE YOU A FAN YET?

Recovered [Eminem Recovery]

Rap is a fickle industry and it's very easy for artists to get complacent after they reach a certain level of success.  I personally believe the best artist do it for the love, not for the money.  Eminem is an artist that does it for the love and it shows with his 7th album, Recovery.

Although Relapse was one of the most successful albums to be released in 2009 many critics were divided, but, it's worth noting that Eminems worst critic bashes the album as if he wasn't the one to record it.  Another testimony to how serious this man takes his craft, is the fact that he appearerd on BET's Cypher last year.  Was this neccessary for a man whose last release sold over 600k units its first week?  No, but, it was necessary for a man who felt like his last album wasn't his best work and he needed to get back to the basics of trying the be the best.



I'm all about lyrics and I do believe that Em was on point lyrically on Relapse, the key element that was missing were strong songs.  That is where the magic was lost.  There is a talent that Eminem has that other rappers of his calibre do not have and that is making a song.  A good song evokes emotion and takes your mind to a place that you forgot or didn't realize was there in the first place (Little known fact Daniel Day-Lewis listened to Eminem everyday while filming Gangs of New York as inspiration for his character Bill the Butcher).  Joy, humor, rage, excitement... Eminems talent iss getting that out.  This is where Relapse fails and Recovery succeeds. 

Eminem comes out the gate to evoke inspiration with his first single, Not Afraid, a departure from his previous efforts which would jump off with catchy melodies that would force you to memorize the lyrics after the second listen (WhyDoIKnowTheLyricsToThisSong-itis).  Songs like On Fire, Almost Famous & No Love reminds me that the lyricist that I used to rock to before the major label debut is still there.  Going Through Changes in my opinion is the most heartfelt song on the entire album, compared to I Love The Way You Lie which feels like a song that was inevitably going to be a single that women will gravitate towards (and it reminds me of a 80s pop song).  I cannot leave out W.T.P. where Eminem finally did a club worthy song (I'm not including Crack a Bottle, I'm talking about a solo joint), I honestly thought this couldn't be done by Em.  The fact its called a White Trash Party gives it the free pass for Eminem to cut loose and still have it be a banger.

I'm a fan of the album.  Even though Eminem isn't back to his bleach blonde songs and even if he doesn't connect on every song like he did with his previous releases before Relapse, this is a good walk towards recovery.

Whats the verdict on Conviction! [Movie Trailer]

First off lets get the fact that Sam Rockwell is a slept on actor out of the way.  I remember when i first saw him in the Green Mile and he was killing it as the crazy inmate, then, I turn around and watched this movie he starred in called Moon.  In it he was a man who had the job of harvesting rocks (which in the future is earths new source of energy) ... alone... on the moon.  Cast Away + 2001: a Space Odyssey = Moon.  Imagine that.  The man has range and the trailer for CONVICTION shows it.  I'm excited to see this movie because its been a while since I've seen a true story that doesn't feel familiar like The Blind Side does.  I'm a fan of this trailer because of the cast and the story feels unique.  The fact its based on a true story adds a whole new dimension to the potential this movie has.  Are You A Fan Yet?

The future playing the past. [Stax Music Academy]

AreYouAFanYet.com will be making it a point to highlight new and old music, whether it is the unknown to the commercially successful.  We ask that the public show that they are true fans and support all artists and organizations that take time to create music for your consumption. 

My sister and I were walking down Main St. in Memphis, TN and came across an amazing performance by some teens from the Stax Music Academy.  I remember pep rallys in high school and no disrepect, they weren't rocking like this...  This happened over a week ago but I didn't get a chance to upload the vid til now.  Please listen to their rendition of Mr. Big Stuff by Jean Knight, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get by The Dramatics and Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding.

Sorry for the quality of the video.  Like I said we were walking down the street so I taped it with my cell phone.  Regardless of the quality of the video the quality of the talent can't be denied.

These kids are very talented and as a Fan, I recommend that you visit their site to learn more information about this wonderful organization (and possibly make a donation).  Click here to visit The Stax Music Academy Web Site

I'm without a doubt a fan, Are You A Fan Yet?  Let us know...

Infrared Fans? [Jordan 6 "Infrared" Pack]

This Saturday is a big day for sneaker heads and Jordan fans alike. The highly-anticipated Air Jordan 6 pack is set to release at Jordan Brand retailers nationwide. The pack includes two pairs of the Jordan 6 in two different color ways: A black/infrared pair- retroed a decade ago, and the white/infrared pair, which has never been retroed to date.

The Jordan 6 is arguably a staple in Jordan’s career as he won his first championship wearing these exact kicks in 1991. This package is unique in a sense that each pair comes in a zip-lock type bag safeguarding its freshness and icy soles. Like many of the Jordan packs released to date, these will cost you a pretty penny. Retail is $310 but you better set your alarms EARLY to get in line or you may miss out! 

Now, this is probably the most anticipated pack next to the Jordan 11/12 Collezione Countdown pack that released during the holidays in December 2008. Is this pack a must copp for you? Are You A Fan Yet?

- Submitted by R'us

No bets on Jonah Hex. [Jonah Hex]

I'm not a fan.  Nothing in these trailers are catching me.  I like Josh Brolin as an actor (dope in W. & No Country for Old Men) but Jonah Hex isn't worth ruining a good run.  Is it me or are they putting a lot of emphasis on Meagan Fox than they are on the actual story.  Not to mention they are making me feel like its a corny movie.  I don't want a story like that being wasted on sex puns and guns.  Lets make the characters shine and then everything else will fall into place.  Especially when it comes to movies that are based on comic books, this is where they succeed.  Anytime a movie is about to come out and if its based on a comic book, I try to explain it to my wife in ways that she can relate and understand, so she will go with me to see it.  I know that if I can't explain a movie twitter-style (140 characters or less) she's not going to see it.  Correct me if I'm wrong women drive up sales. Period.  Not ticket sales, not album sales... sales.  Needless to say I'm not going to see Jonah Hex because the trailers are corny and the Mrs. will not tolerate hearing me complain how Meagan Fox has no a**.  I'm not watching it, maybe on Netflix. I'm not a Fan.  We'll see if enough people recommend it, in the meanwhile, Are You A Fan Yet?

Are we going to be getting a lot of hot air? [The Last Airbender]

I used to catch scenes of the TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender when my brother would be watching Nickelodeon back in the day.  It always caught my attention because the show was much deeper than your average childrens programing.  They were talking about meditation, chakra, spirit realms, war among nations, life & death.  Topics that are not easy for kids to understand, shoot, not easy for some adults to understand.  The point is the show didn't dumb it down they made it part of the story and part of what being the Avatar was about.  The show also focused on a young boys reluctance to take on a responsibility that was greater than himself and over coming that fear and accepting the challenge.  The show is very story driven and has a moral compass that always points to doing whats right, something you rarely see on television where the gray area reign supreme.  Another thing that makes the cartoon special is that it was planned to end.  They had a story to tell and they let it go after it was told.  I know, it seems like I know a lot about the show for someone who has only seen it in passing right.  After the movie was announced I decided to go on Netflix and the first season was streaming.  I was hooked.  About a month ago the other 2 seasons were as well.  I'm a fan of the show and I'm hoping Hollywood does the movie right.  Judging from the trailer... I'm pleased.  When it comes to the show, I'm a fan.  The trailer I'm a fan.  Are You A Fan Yet?

What's the definition of insanity again? [Mortal Kombat: Rebirth]

I know I'm hitting this late but, when something is great I say better late than never ...

This is a case where I'll be happy if Hollywood takes another shot at a fighting game on screen.

My people, I am a fan of this right here.  A big fan.  The reason why is because movies that revolve around a fighting game try too hard to incorporate every character into the storyline to satisfy the fan base and that in my opinion cannot work.  Focus on one interesting character give them a villain that the fans know and non-fans can see that the main character abhors and have them duke it out.  All the other characters can be easter eggs (Except Dan, I don't want to see Dan from Street Fighter in a movie.) or set up for the next character based movie.  Y'know what we all hoped Chun Li's movie would do.

Fighting games have a rich base of characters that all have their own story that can be explored (can we say sequels, No Dan).  This clip here is the right direction to go because you believe that this world can exist.  The fact that the authorities in the midst of chaos give an imprisoned assassin the mission to kill all who stand in the way of him reaching his enemy is GOLD.  I hope the studios take advantage of this because about 40% of MK characters could be part of a potential blockbusting franchise.  If done right.  In regards to this clip, I'm A Fan... Are You A Fan Yet?

I Shutter to think about the Island [SHUTTER ISLAND]

No, this has nothing to do with LOST. Although, I am going through withdrawal and I've sworn off TV since the finale aired (a replacement will never be found).  This is about the movie that I'm expecting to receive via Netflix.  Shutter Island (Shutter Island [Blu-ray]) 

I've heard nothing but good things about this and seeing how Martin Scorsese is behind it I wonder why I didn't see it when it released in the theatre.  The point of this post is to say that I feel like Scorsese's work has been more on the "stylish & artistic" instead of "stylish & blunt."  Think about how grimy Casino and Goodfellas felt compared to The Departed and Aviator.  Even Gangs of New York didnt feed me the tension I felt when watching Deniro stalk the Bowden family in Cape Fear.  I'm not saying the man lost his edge, I'm saying his style became sharper and isn't the blunt instrument of suspense it used to be.

With that said, Shutter Island is classified as a thriller.  I'm anxious to see if I get the classic Scorsese tension from the simple things.  Y'know things like having a midnight snack with your mother and friends while a body's in the trunk or am I going to get another Bringing out the Dead (I hope not).

With that said I have to ask, Martin Scorsese and Shutter Island.  Are You A Fan Yet?