Melt In Your Ears: Amerie feat. Fabolous – More Than Love video

Happy New Year to everyone! I had a wonderful Christmas holiday back in my hometown of Edmonton with my family, which was great! Cold, but great. I was even able to gather some new music for the CF from my visit since my Edmonton peoples do know their music every now and then! I was also able to do some listening of some albums like Alicia’s newest effort, R.Kelly’s Untitiled and Robin Thicke’s album. I have my work cut out for me for reviews. I spent New Year’s with some friends in Detroit where I currently am. Looking forward to crafting the list for the best of 2009 on the ChokLit Factory and to hearing all your thoughts.

Until then, check out the new video for Amerie’s third single, More Than Love featuring Fabolous on the track. Amerie hasn’t had the best reaction from her fourth release Love & War she dropped a few months back. Something about Amerie is not catching on with the mainstream. I personally think she was lacking a hit song, but I’m sure many would disagree. Nonetheless, I still enjoy her music and her lyrics. More Than Love has Amerie questioning whether Love is enough to make a relationship really work (It isn’t.) Fabolous plays his part well in the song and video, but nothing groundbreaking here folks! Check out the video below.

Butta of the Week (continued): Amerie – Heard ‘Em All video

Here is the full version of Amerie’s video, directed by Anthony Mandler. I noticed that Weezy isn’t in the video or wasn’t included in the single release at all. Hence Amerie begins the song a little awkwardly without the 16-bar intro. Still, this video is pretty hot.  Amerie has definitely stepped up her dancing game on this one, although the moves are not overly difficult. I actually really like the concept of the video as well as its styling and overall feel. Amerie looks comfortable in this grimey yet fashionable role, especially since we are used to seeing her a lot more girly and feminine. Expect to see this video very often on 106 & Park. Did ya’ll like it?

Butta of the Week! Amerie feat. Lil Wayne – Heard ‘Em All

Amerie’s second single off her forthcoming Love & War album almost slipped through the Choklit cracks. But here it is in all its glory. Heard ‘em All features the best of what can safely be called, ‘Amerie’s sound’. It evokes that brassy D.C go-go sound Amerie is well-known for, along with staccato melodies and an urgent, quickened pace. Amerie sounds great on the song as she warns all potential suitors to keep their distance unless they have something real for her.  Also check out a sneak peak of the making of the video for Heard ‘Em All. The remix I posted features Lil Wayne, although I do not see him in this video footage. This definitely looks like the type of song Amerie needs. Why R U was an ok song, but I don’t think it generated the buzz she needed. Amerie really needs a hard-knocking hit to make a dent in this Beyonce/Rihanna-focused music industry & media. The choreography is lookin’ hot too! What do ya’ll think of the song and video?

Amerie feat. Lil Wayne – Heard ‘em All

Melt in Your Ears: Video Premiere for Amerie’s Why R U?

Not to pull a Sandra Rose on everybody and call Homegirl out...this just cannot be ignored any longer! lol Now back to the MUSIC!

Not long after releasing her debut Single off of her first Def Jam album,  Amerie has released the Ray Kay-directed video. Why R U is given a rough, street and graffiti-inspired treatment to match the rawness of the beat (well, that’s my interpretation at least…). Amerie looks great rockin’ her liquid leggings (STILL in style ), complicated layered dresses & vests, and of course, those legs! People are still complaining that this song isn’t catchy enough and now they are murmuring the video is too boring. The video is nice and has a good feel to it, not sure if its memorable though. The song has been getting some decent radio airplay though (could be because this is Def Jam doing the promo this time around for Amerie) so I’m hoping the Single fares better on the charts and with Digital Sales. My favourite part of the video was when Amerie did a couple of dance moves alongside her all-black clad B-Boy dancer. I wish they extended that scene. I think the tendency of this song to sound slow-moving and laid back song could have been challenged if there was more movement and dance in the video. My opinion only.  Amerie looks great, I wish her much success this time around…

What did ya’ll think? I know Mr. Knovember must have something to say since he knows a thang or too about visuals…

Melt in Your Ears: RichGirl brings the HEAT!

Audra, Brave, Lyndriette and Seven

This must be Girl Group season. Despite no R&B Girl Group having any real mainstream success since Destiny’s Child, Record labels are flocking like moths to a flame for these new girl groups poppin’ up everywhere. Between Electrik Red, Sophia Fresh and Danity Kane, the one thing lacking with these groups has been the powerhouse vocals Destiny’s Child Beyonce brought to the table.  Now here comes along a little group called RichGirl.  Audra, Brave, Lyndriette & Seven make up the 4 young ladies of RichGirl, a group headed by producer Rich Harrison of Amerie’s 1 thing fame.  2 of the females were associates of Rich’s through the industry connects while the other two were recruited through Myspace and through an audition process.

Of course all 4 women are beautiful, and represents all 4 different shades. But wait – they can SING! All of them! Peep their first video, He Ain’t With Me Now (Tho), a hard-hitting track with tonnes of energy, sass and percussion. The girls channel Amerie’s energy from 1 thing, but give their own taste to it. And their voices are on point. RichGirl is expecting to release their self-titled album this Summer on Rich Harrison’s label, RichCraft. Also check out their first U.S single 24 inches below. There is another version featuring Bun B floating around and expect to hear a remix coming up for 24′ inches featuring Jim Jones & Lloyd Banks.

I think these girls have choklit mounds of potential! Also, the opening singer favors Beyonce in the voice. What do ya’ll think of RichGirl?

Melt in Your Ears: Amerie – Why R U

Amerie is back with a new sound and a new Label! Now signed with Def Jam after parting with Sony Records last year, Amerie is trying to make a comeback without her former production partner, Rich Harrison (responsible for One Thing, and now also working with Yound Steff!). The tentative title for the new album is In Love & War.

Why R U was released to the ‘Nets a couple days ago to some mixed reviews. I for one, think this song – produced by the Buchanans, is hot! It is a bit of a throwback to the 90s Hip Hop era and sounds different from everything else on the Radio right now. I think the song has potential – just needs a hot video, that I’m sure Amerie can deliver. I love Amerie’s voice; I think it has a lot of grit and substance and she deserves success. her last effort, Touch was pretty solid, but I believe some label politics led them to cut promotion of her second single, Touch that featured T.I.

Anywhoo…take a listen and let me know what ya’ll think!

Amerie – Why R U