JumpinJack AJ

JOHN MAYER - Neon Room For Squares (2001)

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It contained the originals and the remixed version. The remixed versions were good, or at least tolerable. The doctored 2Pac albums got increasingly weak starting with Until The End of Time and Better Dayz. Loyal To The Game and Pac's Life are extremely difficult to sit through. There's no excuse for what they did with those last two albums.

It's not worth starting a new post about it...but here's a pic of Tatyana and FP at the Black Girls Rock event. That jacket is fly, but the open shirt, scarf, and full beard....I'm not feeling them. LOL

It's small, but there is a market for people who buy CD's. As a collector, I have conversations on this topic from time to time, and I'm actually surprised how many people I know who still by CD's. CD's still offer the best sound quality. The Playlist series always has album covers like this. Look up any number albums and you'll see that it's their trademark.

New Tupac Music From the Vaults Headed for ReleaseCompany behind posthumous Doors, Otis Redding projects now working with Shakur estate By Kory Grow March 27, 2015Previously unreleased recordings by Tupac Shakur will come out as new releases now that a new company has begun handling the late rapper's estate. Shakur's mother, Afeni, has been working with JAM, Inc. since 2013, according to Billboard, and has given the company access to everything in her collection. The company has consulted with the Michael Jackson estate and has worked with the Doors, Janis Joplin and Otis Redding, among others, on enriching their legacies. Jeff Jampol, who owns JAM Inc., said he's dug through "unreleased music, released music, remixes, original demos, writings, scripts, plans, video treatments [and] poems." Despite the fact that several posthumous Tupac albums have come out since the rapper's death in 1996, there is apparently still plenty of unreleased material. Jampol described his company's intention as giving the Shakur estate a "total reset." "Some of [the material] is in bits and pieces, some of it is complete; some of it is good, some of it needs work," said Tom Whalley, who signed Shakur to Interscope and is working with Jampol on the project. "But I think the work that is left can be completed, and is worth his fans hearing." One of the first steps was a recent Powerade commercial, which featured Shakur reciting the "rose that grew from concrete" line from "Mama's Just A Little Girl." Another was the conversation between Shakur and Kendrick Lamar on the latter rapper's recent "Mortal Man," a track on To Pimp a Butterfly, which was culled from a 1994 interview with Shakur. Whalley said he'd considered doing a project similar to the Bob Dylan project Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes, in which other musicians sang "lost" Dylan lyrics in songs they wrote. The Lamar interpolation came around the time he was considering that. Other components in the project include the rapper's recent Grammy Museum exhibition and a biography. Jampol is currently negotiating with an author for that, whom he describes as a "very serious writer." Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-tupac-music-from-the-vaults-headed-for-release-20150327#ixzz3Vdq0xGRv

Ahhhh, Rest in peace, Apache. I always loved the production of this. MADONNA - Beautiful Scars Rebel Heart (2015)

If that's it, I'm not surprised, but let's acknowledge that is this the first time EVER that the Live At Nassau Coliseum is being released on CD. Previously it was only every available on the vinyl single, coupled with "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" (1988 Remix). Plus, the TLAC Remix of "Lovely Daze was only available on non-US CD singles. With the buzz of FP recording new music, it's good that this is coming out and will be in places like Walmart.

ED SHEERAN - The Man X (2014)

As long time fans, it's not too likely we'll see pictures we haven't seen before, but it'll likely have an insert with additional photos in it. I'm not sure if this is correct, as I found it on Oldies.com, where it says the album was released in January (which it wasn't). Based on the title, it sounds like they are referring to the previous greatest hits compilation. "All the charting singles, The Very Best of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince contains just about everything that any disc jockey played by the duo, including lighthearted smart-ass favorites like "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" and "Parents Just Don't Understand," silly topical fluff like "A Nightmare on My Street" and "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson," surprisingly durable minor hits like "Brand New Funk" and "The Things U Do," and even Jazzy Jeff's nimble instrumental flipping of tracks by Bob James, the Mizell Brothers, and Marvin Gaye ("A Touch of Jazz"). One significant track that doesn't appear is "You Saw My Blinker," a rare example of cranky bitterness from the otherwise wisecracking, punchline-delivering Fresh Prince."

I was thinking the same thing. This was the perfect event to kick off the new season. I wish it were an hour and a half long.

The Family Affair album was only released on his website back in 1998. I love the album, though it's a true Hip-Hop/Gospel album in the sense that he isn't rhyming on every song. Sometimes I just wanna hear the Hip-Hop songs on it. I a dubbed copy that was advertised as the real thing, so I'm hoping to find an affordable REAL copy some day. A handful of these songs were on his Too Tight album he did with 2Pac and Deathrow. He re-wrote some of them and tweaked the production some on the tracks that moved to this album.

TLC - This Is How It Should Be Done OoOoOoOhhh... On The TLC Tip (1992) For those of you who are fans of Marley Marl and didn't know, this is one of two tracks he produced for TLC.

USHER + CHRIS BROWN - All Falls Down (Usher's upcoming album) (2015)

BLANCA - Sunshine Who I Am (EP) (2015)

I haven't seen additional pictures yet. I got this from the official 2Pac Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tupacshakur

Not sure why the video isn't showing in the post, but the link will take you to the video on her YouTube channel.

I'm unaware of any news as to if Jazzy is involved in the project, but I still feel this belongs here. "Jill Scott hasn't dropped a new album in four years, since 2011's The Light of the Sun—but no longer shall that be! Her fifth studio album is on the way, and now we have new music from it in the form of the swaying, horn-drenched "You Don't Know." The video for the tune is above, a collaboration between Scott and director Nzingha Stewart, it features Scott doing her powerful thing in a nightclub setting. Keep your eyes peeled for the Questlove cameo, too." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHyxrR0dxfo

Wow, I love this. Coincidentally, I popped Too Legit To Quit in the CD deck on the drive home today. I hate that one of the emcees with one of the biggest hearts is looked down on by some because of his massive success in the late 80's and early 90's. This is a beautiful song. The simplicity is perfect and unlike anything he's ever done before. Touching lyrics, and understated sound with live instruments, and great soulful vocals on the hook. I'm so happy with this new song.

This is pretty dope. In 1996 2Pac was working on a script for a film called All The Way. He jotted down his dream cast and put him and FP in the leading roles, and even refers to him as "Fresh Prince." He also lists Jada, Bill Bellamy, MC Hammer, Heavy D, Ice Cube, MC Eiht, Robin Givins, Marky Mark, Marlon Wayens, Chris Tucker, Everlast, Ricky Harris, the group Illegal, Mac Mall, Richie Rich, Arsenio Hall, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Scarface, Yo Yo, Treach, Sticky Fingaz, Freddie Foxx, R. Kelly, K-Ci, Mary J. Blige, Snoop, Vesta, Luke, Pattie LaBelle, Method Man, Rakwon, Shyheim, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield. That would pretty much be the dopest cast ever...lol. I especially like that it really shows who 2Pac respected. Notice the lack of Deathrow artists. It's mostly classic emcees and emcees who had mainstream success. If anyone ever thought there was tension between FP and 2Pac since Jada was one of 2Pac's best friends, I'm pretty sure that's been squashed with this. It shows that they were cool enough that he believed FP would accept the role. At the time that he wrote this, Independence Day probably hadn't even been released, which says a lot. Here's a page from the exhibit that's currently at The Grammy Museum in LA. Apparently pages from the script are on display as well.

I've heard that Chancey is difficult to work with. Teddy, on the other hand seems to have difficulty of keeping his legendary groups consistently together. Teddy seems to always have his heart in the right place though. I think it's silly that he's the best known group member, but has been touring under BS2 since he can't use the name BLACKstreet. Chancey may be the true vocalist, but only legit BLACKstreet fans are trying to see his version of BLACKstreet. ------------------------------------------------ Teddy Riley sues Blackstreet bandmate for $1MBy Selim Algar March 18, 2015 | 2:28pm Chauncey Hannibal and Teddy Riley Photo: GettyHe says it was a stone-cold double-cross — “No Diggity.” ​R​&B legend Teddy Riley claims his former bandmate stole the trademark for their group “Blackstreet” and commingled company funds to squirm out of child support and tax obligations, according to a scathing $1 million Brooklyn federal lawsuit. Riley, 48, who has worked with music megastars from Robin Thicke to Snoop Dogg, accuses ​former partner ​Chauncey Hannibal of sneakily allowing a trademark renewal application to lapse so he could reapply for it on his own and reap financial benefits. The case claims that Hannibal knowingly failed to alert Riley that the trademark for “Blackstreet” was due for renewal so he could pull off the theft. Once the trademark expired, Hannibal secretly applied for it on his own, papers state. “Hannibal trademarked Blackstreet to gain economic advantage for himself,” the suit states. “Defendant Hannibal told Plaintiff Riley that he was going to add him to the illegal and fraudulently filed trademark registration but never did as evidenced by the second trademark registration filed by defendant Hannibal,” court papers state. Riley claims that he even forked over $90,000 to Hannibal to sort out the trademark fiasco but was never repaid. The loss of the documentation will cost Riley more than $1 million, he claims in the suit. In addition, Hannibal also sought to get out of IRS and child support obligations by commingling personal and company cash, the suit states. “Hannibal was using the V​i​rginia corporate entity to commingle funds and secrete assets away from the purview of state child support authorities and tax officials from the IRS, which he was legally obligated for,” court papers state. The former partners, who founded Blackstreet together in 1992, have been warring for years over claims to the band that still performs across the country. Hannibal has blasted Riley in the past for performing as Blackstreet with other bandmates. ​They had a huge hit with “No Diggity” in 1996, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts​. The group is slated to perform at the refurbished Kings Theater in Brooklyn on March 28.

Less than a month, y'all. I can't find the tracklisting yet, but here's the cover.

BRITT NICOLE - Set The World On Fire (Neon Feather Remix) The Remixes (2015)

MAT KEARNEY - Just Kids Just Kids (2015)

I just wanna say that this is what I was hoping from her. I love her first three albums. Once the drama started, big dance singles overtook her career, though there are still some good songs throughout her albums. She pumped out at least one album a year until she took this break. I'm looking forward to more substantial lyrics and more musical production. I can't say that her current single is a perfect example, as Kanye West only takes away from the song, but I'm hopefully this album is everything it could be, and that her fame helps continue music's shift back to a better place.

Rihanna On New Album: It Will Be 'Timeless'By Jocelyn Vena | March 17, 2015 8:37 AM EDT Rihanna officially kicked off her next album cycle with the release of her Kanye West and Paul McCartney collaboration "FourFiveSeconds" back in January. With fans anxiously waiting for more details about the singer's forthcoming eighth studio album, she shared that the release will be a departure from what anyone might be expecting. "I've made a lot of songs that are just really, really big songs. From the jump, they just blow up," she told MTV about the album. "And I wanted to kind of get back to - not that they weren't real music, but I just wanted to focus on things that felt real, that felt soulful, that felt forever." Rihanna further noted that the release will have a "timeless" vibe to it."I wanted songs that I could perform in 15 years; I wanted an album that I could perform in 15 years," she said. "Not any songs that were burnt out. I find that when I get on stage now, I don't want to perform a lot of my songs because they don't feel like me. So I want to make songs that are timeless." http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6502357/rihanna-on-new-album-it-will-be-timeless