Crack A Bottle - Eminem

From Mahalo.com "A completed version of Eminem's "Crack a Bottle," which features 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, leaked online January 6, 2009. "Crack a Bottle" will be released on Eminem's forthcoming album, Relapse  Originally believed to be titled "Number One," an early version of the song was leaked in December 2008.

Fast Facts

1. Producer: Dr. Dre
2. Leaked on December 5, 2008
3. Was originally believed to be called "Number One"¹
4. Released on the DJ Big Mike and Neptune mixtape4th Quarter Pressure Part 2
5. Eminem's label, Interscope, has refused to comment on the leak²
6. Eminem said he is filling in on a couple of verse's that are meant to be for Dre³
7. Dr. Dre apparently put his own solo album, Detox, on hold to help Eminem finish his upcoming solo album, Relapse.^2"

This beat is good stuff, vintage Dre.  But the Chorus is kind of "meh".

Beat:  ****

Lyrics:  ***.5

Apologize - One Republic

This CD is good stuff. Fun Fact: Timbaland was training Ryan Tedder (One Republic's front man) as his production protege back in the day. Fun Fact: Swearing helps you make a point more effectively!

Lyrics: ***

Beat: ****

Sensual Seduction - Snoop Dogg

I know Snoop caught a whole lot of flack for recording this, but the video was funny as hell. Just random.

Beat: ***.5

Lyrics: *** (Snoop actually pulled off the Autotune thing)

Crank That - Soulja Boy

Youuuuu!!! The track that bought Soulja Boy three houses, this is just good stuff. The steel drums, the nonsense lyrics, the whole thing. He's failed to repeat this success yet, and who knows if he ever will? (I'm betting he won't).

Lyrics: hahahaha, yeah **

Beat: ***.5

The Real Slim Shady - Eminem

Eminem's gonna be dropping that new album soon (I'm assuming, giving that he's started to drop more guest appearances than usual). I'm really looking forward to it, cause I've really liked some of the work Dr. Dre has been doing lately("Get It In", the stuff with Stat Quo) when not lifting trucks over his head.

Real Slim Shady was the track to launch Eminem's pop career.

Beat: ***.5

Lyrics: **** (at the time, this kind of crazy, irreverent rapping was a breath of fresh air)

Gives You Hell - All American Rejects

These guys seem like a genuinely nice group in all the interviews, but the guitar solo in this song is probably the worst thing ever recorded.  Nice little pop tune.

Beat:  ***

Lyrics:  ***

Gotta Be Somebody - Nickelback

Nickelback just gets hated on like crazy, but somebody must enjoy them, since they sell like a bazillion units.  But I guess the Jonas Brothers do to, so that's not really much of an argument.  Another Nickelback hit, play it loud while drinking MGD.  

See You In My Nightmares - Kanyeezie

I really like 808s and Heartbreaks, but reviews are all over the map for it.  I think if you're expecting another College Dropout you'll be crazy disappointed, but if you want some different kind of, I'd almost say trip-hop, then I think you'll enjoy this.  I think I remember Kanye sampling Portishead for Breathless for this MTV Making The Beat special, and at the time I thought it was kind of a fresh sound.

Make My Day - Common

This CD is garbage.  But Common disagrees, check out this awesome quote:

"On a scale of 1 to 10 this CD is like an 11."  That's not even on the scale!  

Clap Again - Akon

I'm telling you, this CD is hot from like front to back.  Just good pop music.  There's a reason that Akon has like a trillion dollar mansion and lambourghini (hint:  his short stint as a porno star).

Beautiful U R - Deborah Cox

Man, Cox is on fire with this one.  Lovin' Cox!  With a beat this good, everyone's gonna be on Cox. Put some Cox on your phone.

...

Cox

I Hate This Part - Pussycat Dolls

Remember when Nicole went off to do her own thing and failed horribly?  Seriously, what was up with that?  "I Hate This Part" is good stuff, liking it a lot more than the "When I Grow Up" trainwreck that they put out as lead single.

Kiss Me Through The Phone - Soulja Boy

I really liked this song when it was called "Whatever You Like" by T.I.  Such a blatant ripoff, seriously.  I'm not even looking at the production credits on this, but I'm betting it's Jim Jonsin again.  Jim Jonsin=good.  Soulja Boy=the next Mc Hammer

Poker Face - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga puts out another pop hit.  Oh yeah!  Can't read my...can't read my POKAH FACE.  Or can I?!?!?  The mysteries never end.

Get Up - 50 Cent

I love this song.  Anytime I throw it on, it gets the people moving.  This sees Scott Storch returning to top form after the bankruptcy thing, and cranking out another hit.  If he keeps this up he'll be able to get the Bentley off layaway.  I'm a little concerned about 50 cent not switching up his lyrics enough.  Will people still check for him with another album with songs about drugs, clubbing, and getting money?  But definitely check this song out. 

Beat:  ****

Lyrics: **.5 (same "in the club, get your butt on the floor" stuff)

Human - The Killers

In my opinion, the Killers have really fallen off since their first album.  I think with the first album, they were just having fun, trying to emulate that 80s sound, and they put out their best work.  But after that album, they started taking their sound more seriously and started to focus on sounding more mature.  The result being kind of boring music.  This song is decent, but nothing to write home about. 

Beat:  **.5

Lyrics: **.5

Beautiful - Akon

This song is excellent.  I get a lot of flack for listening to Akon, but rest assured, I'm all man!  This is a really good CD, seriously.  Since T-Pain showed Akon how to use Logic for production, you can hear how much his production has advanced.  Seriously, I was listening to Akon's "Trouble" the other day and it's like night and day how much better this CD sounds.  If you're into production, definitely check into Apple Logic and a cheap midi controller.  My CD player is a piece of garbage, so I have to put the CD in like 20000 times to get it to play, but it's still worth it.   Some people claim that lyrically Akon has actually been deteriorating, but if you've been listening to Akon for lyrics, then you're probably watching Baywatch for the plot.

Beat: ****.5

Lyrics:  ***

 

Danny Fernandez - Fantasy

Out of all of CP Records, Danny Fernandez is the only one I think has a decent chance of blowing up as an artist.  He tends to have good production, good hooks, and decent videos.  I'm a little curious how he's going to give a girl "trips around the world" given that CP Records isn't turning a profit yet.  Maybe he's flying with Sunwing, or helping her get a job as a stewardess.

Beat:  ***.5

Lyrics:  **.5