Legacy Track of the Week - Emeli Sande ft Wretch 32 - Kingdom Coming
“Fuck that, Daddy, you're a king and the kingdom's coming, no more running, fuck that, Mummy, you're an angel, and this ain't no place for an angel, fuck that daddy...” 🙏🙏🙏 the best record off Emeli Sande’s latest EP is the title record that hits home for so many of us in the struggle, in which Sande effortlessly coasts through verses describing both the plight of a mother and father that’s deserving of so much more, highlighted by an infectious hook and a 3rd verse from London’s own Wretch 32 who puts his own heart and soul on the track and to incredible results. This is a monumental record that evokes the revolution burning inside of us all, and it’s my hope that this record finds it’s way to those who truly need it.
Chris Brown - Paradise
“I've been looking for love in all the wrong places (all the wrong places), and I've been looking for you in other girl's faces, it's time that I faced it (in other girl's faces), I messed up with you, I played the game but I broke all the rules” Produced by Cam Wallace this is perhaps the singular standout track on the 45 record compilation known as the infamously long awaited Heartbreak on a Full Moon, which has had promotional singles released for the last two years in spite of never seeming to gain any cohesion or direction in the process. The fact is the controversial superstar known formally to most as C Breezy has been rumored to have lost his mind in recent years, which is likely a sensational tabloid to some degree yet is only reaffirmed by moments and decisions that truly don’t make any logical sense all things considered. And as for dropping 45 records on one project? Unbeknownst to many Chris Brown has dropped two prior unofficial projects of almost the same length, making him not only peculiar and unpredictable and but also one of the most dedicated artists of the time period. Nonetheless in 45 records this is one of the very best, and is a great example as to why it’s worth it to press play on that 3 hours of music - or at least to come to LegacyArtsMedia to play through it’s finest moments.
Chris Brown ft R Kelly & Jhene Aiko - Juicy Booty
“Juicy, said I wanna get to know your juicy booty, tonight, so show me that, so show me that, so show me that, girl, I'm tryna make you juicy, yeah yeah, juicy, juicy booty, girl, tonight, so turn around, turn around, turn around, turn around, turn around” For all its controversy this is debatably a dynamite record and I co-sign this all the way, where even though it’s not quite as good as CB & R Kelly’s last collaboration, it’s still an undeniable heater that actually is highlighted by Jhene Aiko’s verse - who continues to make her name as an artist one good song at a time.
Chris Brown - Privacy
“No eyes but your eyes, ain't nobody here but you and me, licking your private parts (boom shakalacka), and I know you love your privacy…” The first of many promotional singles featured on the long awaited album, this one was released last March and had a relative impact yet nothing more. Overall it’s decent but I consider this mid-level quality for Breezy and nothing special by any means.
Chris Brown - Heartbreak On A Full Moon
“Heartbreak on a full moon, it's because of you, it’s because of you…” The title record is appropriately one of the strongest out of the 45 track compilation, and I can’t place it but this one gives me a vibe of a soundtrack to a hollywood movie as well as a feeling associated with something vintage New Edition… something like that…
Chris Brown - Hangover
“I'm so for real, this time, let your candy rain on me, babe, don't fuck it up it's on me, babe, if you fuck it up it's all on me, babe” Hidden at track 42 (if you can get that far) is a smooth vibe produced by a familiar trio of Rashad Johnson, Aaron Rogers, and Antwan “Amadeus” Thompson, who previously worked together to produce a standout record on Keyshia Cole’s latest album that was released just a few weeks prior.
Chris Brown - If You’re Down
“If you're down, I'm down (woah, ooh, na, na, yeah), if you're down, I'm down (woah, ooh, na, na), if you're down, I'm down…” Trust me it plays better than it reads, and truth be told hidden at track 36 this one is catchy af 🔥🔥🔥 produced by a trio of more unknowns (Mike ‘Scribz’ Riley, Daecolm, & ADP) on a different (more concise) album this could have gotten the video treatment and been a radio smash… particularly pop radio… in which this one could definitely have done some major numbers 💰💰💰
Chris Brown - Questions
“Girl, I got a question for ya, can I get an answer? yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” Another promotional single and this one never phased me, even though in interpolates a dancehall classic that in a way similar to Tory Lanez once again did very little for me.
Chris Brown - Emotions
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5 A.M., why do you keep playing with emotions? (Why you, yeah), 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 A.M., baby, why you playing with emotions? (Why?)” Produced by Billboard and hidden all the way towards the end at track 43 is another heater that could’ve easily been a certified smash, and instead it will likely never be heard by many who had lost interest after something like track 16...
Chris Brown ft Ty Dolla $ign, Verse Simmonds - Only 4 Me
“Faces in my pillow case, mascara on my sheets, she shake it for the money, she shake it like a freak, oh only for me, me, me, oh, tonight, only for me, me, me” Truth be told tracks 40 through 44 are all legitimate heaters, and honestly the amount of filler that precedes them is almost unforgivable - nonetheless this one is definitely 🔥🔥🔥
Chris Brown ft Usher & Gucci Mane - Party
“Pull up on your bitch, tell your man I'm sorry, hundred on my wrist, jumpin' out the 'rari, Ooh, she hit the splits, she know how to party, when I'm with my clique, we know how to party” Released last December (11 months before the album) this is honestly as mid-level as it gets, basically exemplifying the mismanagement of a project that desperately needed some direction.
Chris Brown - Lost & Found
“At the end of the day you know yourself…” The very first record of the 45 is your typical CB addressment to the haters… and tbh it’s more lukewarm than it is an actual heater…
Chris Brown - Confidence
“Fifty Shades ooh tie your hands properly, I'm loving it get on top me, inside you is where I wanna be, I love everything but most importantly, it's your confidence” Produced by Cardiak, A1, Yung Berg (😴), & Soundz, this at track 7 is overall a nice album cut and a nice addition to the compilation.
Chris Brown - Sip
“My baby's coming over, we don't even need no foreplay, even when we sober, we get drunk off love and then sex all day, sip to this…” At Track 11 of 45 this one is more than decent, ultimately worth a listen...
Chris Brown - Tough Love
“It’s not magic… baby there’s no secret to love…” Produced by Boi-1da track 27 is a smooth ride and one of the best on the tape, yet unfortunately most will never hear it due to the unnecessary volume on the tape altogether.
Chris Brown ft Yo Gotti & A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie - Pills & Automobiles
“Wet, wet, wet, wet (yeah), Wet, wet, wet, wet (ayy, yeah, ayy, yeah)” One of the last promotional singles (actually perhaps the only official single) and this one is lowkey 🔥🔥🔥, I fux with this record and video all the way.
Chris Brown - Covered In You
“Never been scared to get wet, no umbrella, you can rain all night, oh woah, woah, and go ahead and drench me with your body, by the time you're finished, baby, I'll be covered in youuu” Track 29 is good for the candlelight and chocolate covered strawberries (I’d say Sip is the only other record that would fit in this category) and for that reason it’s certainly worth a spin if it's the right time or mood.
Chris Brown - On Me
“Put it on me every single time, on me, that pussy mine, yeah (you better put it all on me)” Produced one again by the trio of Rashad Johnson, Aaron Rogers, and Antwan “Amadeus” Thompson, track 32 is an uptempo dance record and easily one of the standouts on the tape
Chris Brown - Tell Me What To Do
“Tell me what to do, baby, tell me what to do, baby (yeah), I just wanna please you right… how you want me to kiss it, babe? Just tell me, girl” Produced by D.A. Doman this record (track 33) for some reason reminds me of a Tevin Campbell throwback or perhaps a Ralph Tresvant, but that may be overstating it…
Chris Brown - Grass Ain’t Greener
“You used to be the one to talk to on the side, waiting for my love to break up, it's crazy how your ass can walk through every night, acting like you been a player, that grass ain't greener on the other side, I've been there” The very last record on the album (track 45) is the very first promotional single that was released TWO May’s ago, from May 2016 and nevermind how old the record is the more important fact is that it is officially the most lukewarm single that C Breezy has ever released. This was mid two years ago and it’s still mid today.
21 Savage, Offset, Metro Boomin ft Travis Scott - Ghostface Killers
“Everybody the same, all these ****** sound alike (dick riders), Fox 5 gang, turn you to a candlelight, bitch boy I'm a mobster, shrimp in my pasta, Jamaican Don Dada, hang 'round the shottas, Mad Max *****, yeah I hang with the killers (21), Planet of the Apes, yeah I hang around gorillas (on god)” So apparently three visionaries known as 21 Savage, Offset, & Metro Boomin have combined their talents to form a supergroup known as…. 21 Savage, Offset, & Metro Boomin??? They have no name??? Well alright then… either way their debut project titled Without Warning has a few decent moments on it highlighted by Metro Boomin’s production (no surprise) and a few other humorous moments that are honestly good for a few laughs and not much else.
Offset, Metro Boomin - Ric Flair Drip
“I'm tryna fuck you and your bestie, yeah (hey), Chopper with the scope so do not test me, (drrt) yeah (drrt), Ric Flair drip, go "woo" on a bitch (woo), fifty-seven ninety, split the coupe on my wrist (ice), multi-million dollar, I'm a fool with the hits (ay), hop up in the Lamb and drop the roof, show the tits (skrt)” Speaking of humorous moments you need not look any further than this particular record that’s exactly what it should be, and is apparently produced by Bijan Amir whose signature tag is included alongside the far more notable “Metro Boomin want some more…” and while we honestly have more than enough and I can’t be mad at this record all the same.
21 Savage, Metro Boomin - My Choppa Hate ******
“Hang around a lot of gang bangin' ass ******, Crip, Blood, blue or red, what you bang *****? You might got a pistol but this stick is way bigger, I call it KKK, cause my choppa hate *****” Produced by CuBeatz alongside Metro Boomin, this is one of the other “standouts” off the Without Warning project, that is ultimately a 21 Savage solo album cut that for his namesake is likely to do numbers.
Maroon 5 - Best 4 U
“I just want the best for you, I just want the best for you, but I'm just not the best for you, you don't want what I'm gonna put ya through” The opening record off Maroon 5’s latest album (written and produced by Julian Bunetta and company) definitely has a nice vibe to it and I’m sure will do it’s numbers… personally it’s not an undeniable heater but I can’t be mad at this at all.
Maroon 5 - Wait
“Wait, can you turn around, can you turn around? Just wait, can we work this out, can we work this out? Just wait, can you come here please? 'Cause I wanna be with you” Another one of the most infectious melodies off Red Pill Blues is this record written and produced by John Ryan, who provided Adam Levine all that he needed to make this a track worth mentioning.
Maroon 5 - Denim Jacket
“But I miss you and that denim jacket, I let you get away, I let you get away, do you still wear that denim jacket? I let you get away, I let you get away” Hidden at track 11 is a potential single off Red Pill Blues that is easily one of the best records on the tape. All Maroon 5 fans press play.
Emeli Sande ft Dave East - Soon
“Yeah, I'll come to visit you soon… soon…” Produced by Troy Lynch & Gavin Powell this one is both emotional and relatable and one of the best records off Kingdom Coming, the latest release from Emeli Sande that by no surprise features Harlem’s own Dave East - considering East’s affiliation with Nas whom Sande opened up for during the Barclay’s show with Maxwell last Valentine’s Day - in which yours truly was most definitely in attendance.
Emeli Sande - Love Not War
“Lay down, your soul, take less, and give more, love your brother, sister, like before, make love, and not war, make love, and not war, not war, not war, not war, not war” For those not familiar with Emeli Sande you must not wait any longer, as the Scottish singer who was born to a Zambian father and English mother has lyrics and melodies that are relatable to all the human souls and spirits across the globe, made evident in this simple yet powerful record that preaches an age old adage that is as relevant today as ever before.
Sam Smith - HIM
“Holy Father, we need to talk, I have a secret, that I can’t keep, I’m not the boy that, you thought you wanted, please don’t get angry, have faith in me” A powerful record that’s said to not be autobiographical, this is nonetheless one of the standouts off Sam Smith’s latest album titled The Thrill of It All, which in time will likely be defined by the impact of this very record that entails a young boy explaining his affection for another man in spite of much judgment and criticism. Within this record Smith very explicitly returns that criticism towards the Church and Religion in general, stating that God does indeed love those who are gay and shame on the priest or father who would say otherwise - officially making this once again one of the more significant and meaningful records to come out in some time.
Sam Smith ft The Dap-Kings Horns - Baby, You Make Me Crazy
“So I’m gonna play my favourite rhythm, got to get you out my system, I would do anything to keep you off my mind, I’m gonna have to call my sisters, be around the ones who listen, anything to drown you out tonight” Although it’s a feel good record the lyrics actually describe heartache and pain, yet also a further sense of resiliency and strength that provides the overall message of what’s one of the clear standouts on Smith’s latest The Thrill of It All.