I heard about that 'Black Reign' album! Good question. I will be checking into her site to see when its coming out too!

peace!

I'm afraid I will have to agree with Rick James on this one. Even on her version of HCYDCM, she sounds like she gets off key in a couple of places on the record. I am feelin' Jill Scott, India Arie, and Amel Larrieux much more so than Alicia.

I KNOW I am about to start a FIRESTORE by this next statement but I just thought about someone else that is overly hyped. And that is none other than MARY J.BLIGE. I put her in the same category as Alicia Keys as far as being overly hpyed. It continues to FLOOR me at how many people put her in the same category as Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, and Whitney Hosuton (the younger version). Mary J.Blige as well as Alicia Keys are far from being brilliant talent wise, yet they are looked upon by so many as legendary and iconic. Does anyone else feel me on this?
[This message was edited Sat Apr 20 22:24:52 PDT 2002 by VelvetJ]

I'll say this...again why even compare? Alicia ain't tryin 2 go in2 the studio with the thought of out doing Miss Teena~ U think Teena goes 2 bed worried about Madonna being better then her? If U can't respect Keys talents, then all who say she don't got the chops (the goods) U go out & do what she does in all aspects of music and see how U fair...feel me~ Oh Oh, whats that? U yourself who says Keys ain't all that can't sing alick?? Yeah thats always the case~ If your going 2 B a critic B a good one..B real~ I feel Jill Scott, Meshell Ndegeocello, India Arie, Amel, as well Chaka Kahn, Roberta Flack & Minnie Riperton etc...But I'm not gonna down one or the other or say shes better then her....thats really kids talk. Let everyone do there thing & on there own foundation. I go way back with Teena but I never felt the need 2 say "well she can blow (sing) 4 a white woman but she ain't got shit on Miss R-e-s-p-e-c-t Franklin" U know..thats crazy 2 compare, & doing it here is just in bad taste. I'm as old skool as anyone who claims 2 B. But if U understand music & a talented atrist like this who has great maturity/skills 4 being so young....U need 2 B a bit more positive and straight give up the earned respect. So what if she got a bank roll type of hype behind her....shes been backing it up under the huge & heavy spotlight. Shes doin the work, not just sittin pretty... "ala Vanity." And once again if U think U can do better then Keys, get your ass out there and do half of what shes doing right now~....2 much hating and shallow ganging up like she's some Milli Vanilli. Sure time will tell if she will still B around in 10rs, but how many good or very good singers/musicans get the boot or 4gotton about (ALOT).....this is a tough biz I don't care what U bring 2 the table, nothing last or is a sure-thing no matter how tight...hmmm, ask Teena feel me.~ And 4 the record I don't think Alicia's the greatest anything... But music today (alot of it) by way of pre-fab pop talentless crap thats more about dancing then singing or playing a instrument...U need 2 B happy that this young woman can write songs sing, produce, read & write music, plays piano, perform live. Thats what music used 2 B about at one time...remember? Sure maybe some artist should B as respected like, "Meshell Ndegeocello" out the box the way Keys has... but hey, she had Clive so don't fault her 4 it~ Thats the way the biz works sometimes, its not always fair...But then again thats life?

Speaking of Rick James....over the weekend,I was listening to his 'Live In Long Beach 1981' CD (it's the bonus disc in his remastered 'Street Songs' deluxe edition).THAT SHOW IS INCREDIBLE!!! It's funny to hear Rick continuously get the audience to shout "Hell yeah!" over and over...lol...

I also love the part where Teena Marie comes out.But where is their 30-minute version of "Fire And Desire" that was usually performed on that tour?

DavidEye said:

*** The concert as a whole was very good 2 get a feel 4 how Rick is in concert. I don't think his vocals were anything outstanding, but its a must have 4 James fans seeing thats the only live cd I've heard. Teena Marie more then holds her own sounding fantasitc blowin like we know she can~ Interesting time in (81) as James pointed out the death of a much loved Bob Marley, as well as the killings in Atlanta that gripped the South and much of America. I hope more live stuff does vome out from Rick....a live concert DVD & Video of how he funked it up would B tight~

UsexyMF said:[quote]

DavidEye said:

*** The concert as a whole was very good 2 get a feel 4 how Rick is in concert.
My bad, it should read how Rick "used" 2 B in concert.

I agree with Rick James... alicia Keys is definitely being hyped up... yeah she can play piano and has a nice voice but all i see her doping is trying to be sexy in front of the camera... she just being portrayed as sweet looking thing making her sell more records... that's bullshit, but the way commercial pop works...

Alicia Keys to me, definitely is commercial r&b pop act with a nice flavour of musical quality to it, nothing more...