The-Dream needs to dream good quality music

Born Terius Youngdell Nash, this singer, songwriter, and producer has penned some of the best pop songs of recent years. Together with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, The-Dream has been responsible for hits like Rihanna's inescapable 'Umbrella', B2K's 'Everything', and Beyonce's huge anthem 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)'.

This success allowed him to step out into the limelight himself with his 2007 debut album 'Love Hate' creating a buzz. But it was the follow-up, last year's 'Love vs. Money', that saw him make his name as a performer thanks to the successful singles 'Rockin' That Thang' and 'My Love' with Mariah Carey'.

His third album in three years, 'Love King' clearly aims to keep that momentum going - by recycling lyrics and beats. The result: songs like the title track (and lead single) sound overly familiar without ever matching his best work.

Lyrically too, he is on well-worn ground, moving from light, inconsequential love songs to the explicit extremes of mimicking R Kelly.

On the relatively fresh-sounding 'Nikki Part 2' he explains the rollercoaster ride that is his love life. And while 'Make-Up Bag' (featuring an inconsequential rap from T.I.) could just be about a bag with make-up in it, when he starts singing "If you ever make ya girlfriend mad/ Dont let ya good girl go bad/ Drop five stacks on the make-up bag" it's clear there's more going on. Has he bought someone's love to keep them? Has he been a cheating dog?

Questions like these loom large over 'Love King', especially in the light of recent revelations from his not-so-private-life - filing Christina Milian with divorce papers nine days before their baby is due; caught canoodling with his assistant.

Personal lives do affect one's work - on several songs he plays the unfaithful lover rather too convincingly - and can reflect it in a bad light but, lifestyle indiscretions aside, The-Dream remains a talented songwriter and producer.

He does need to find a new groove though. Despite claiming - like Jay-Z - that this is his last album, his next offering should be a real tell-all about his love life. There's clearly plenty of material for him to work from and it's likely to sell millions like Usher did with 2004's 'Confessions.'

Victory

The name DJ Khaled is synonymous with hits like 'I'm So Hood,' 'We Taking Over,' and 'Brown Paper Bag'.

He's worked closely with Fat Joe aka 'Crack', the whole of Terror Squad team, and just about half of the hip-hop industry. And he's the president of record label Def Jam South.

Not bad for a man who broke into the scene in 2006. On 'Victory', his fourth album in four years, he proves yet again why he's been so successful: he sticks to one formula, the working formula. He can't rap to save his life but produces beats and sources some of the best talents the American music industry has to offer.

So even though his music is easy to recognise, his ego isn't so huge that he won't work with big producers (such as The Runners, The Inkredibles, Drumma Boy, and Schife) and big stars.

Take 'Fed-Up'. The album's first single, the 'hood-dedicated song that's all about hustlin' and being being sick and tired of being sick and tired features Usher, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, and Drake.

'All I Do Is Win', in turn, features T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Rick Ross. It's the perfect club song – unlike the poorly produced 'Put Your Hands Up' that should have been taken back to the studio and be reworked.

'Killing Me' is another highlight; a reggae track boasting a chorus that sounds like Lil Wayne's 'A Milli', it features heavyweights Buju Banton, Busta Rhymes, and Bounty Killer.

Past collaborators like Akon, Brisco, Trick Daddy, Fat Joe, and production duo Cool & Dre don't make a return, but that creates a space for the struggling Jim Jones and less established names like Ace Hood, Lil Boosie, and Young Cash.

Somewhat appropriately then, DJ Khaled has explained the album's title reflects the way he inspires people with his music.

Despite lacking female singers and rappers, 'Victory' is already a winner. 

Eminem - Recovery

Contributed by: Mmapaseka Modibane

Seven albums into his career, Eminem has delivered one of his best works yet. 'Recovery' finds the troublesome and talented rapper focused, relaxed, and back at the top of his game.

After breaking five years of writers block with last year's average 'Relapse', the king of disses, comebacks, and crossover hits is on a road to, yes, recovery.

The man born Marshall Mathers has changed - but not much. He still raps about his daughter, his ex wife, and problems with drug addiction, but 'Recovery' shows the familiar subjects in a new light. His most emotional record yet, it finally reveals what this talented man went through without judgment.

"I almost made a song dissin' Lil Wayne/ It's like I was jealous of him 'cause of the attention he was gettin'/ I felt horrible about myself," he even confides in 'Talkin' 2 Myself'.

"I just wanna thank everybody for bein' so patient/ Bearin' with me over these last couple of years while I figure this sh*t out."

Almost as refreshing as this admission of self doubt is his choice to collaborate with people outside his inner circle. Of course Dr Dre is still around, but Eminem has recruited other producers like Alex da Kid, Just Blaze, Boi-1da, Jim Jonsin, and DJ Khalil - as well as bonafide pop stars.

Pink shows up on the heavily rhythmic 'Won't Back Down' but it's Rihanna who really surprises on 'Love The Way You Lie', one of the best collaborations of Eminem's career. "[The song] I did with Rihanna is one of those tracks that I felt like only she could pull it off, only she could do it," he explained and, judging from the results, he's right.

Not quite as good is his collaboration with Lil Wayne - 'No Love' - which samples the beats of Haddaway's 'What Is Love', but the hard-hitting 'Cinderella Man' (about second chances and abuse), 'On Fire', 'Seduction', and 'W.T.P. (White Trash Party)' help explain why the album has sold over a million copies within three weeks in the USA alone.

'Recovery' truly lives up to its name.

Say Something or SHUT UP!!!

In the past, well who is counting. Ive went from rock bottom, teary eyes, dissapointing moments, temptation and lastly denial. All of that has changed, for good.

Im the strong friend you know you can lean on, call at 3 am to talk about "i think my man is cheating" an the friend who hides booze cause she has a big bag. Thats me, the team player. Now how do u tell my friend that her man is a creep, a good lying creep?

Im stuck between a rock and a hot place. The Creep has mastered his game to unmentionable perfection. Now as a friend do i step in n say "Ba ho ja direthe" or do i just SHUT UP n wait for all hel to break loose?

My instincts are strongly leaning to "SHUT UP" but my heart says tell her. What if all this drama stays with me? What if im the one who will be in kak? Im not ready for my debut warm klaap encounter.

In most cases like these, one needs to be aware!

MPK,1

Change

Finding yourself is something that can take forever, i mean things that you loved when you were a kid to a teenager to now are all different and some are just ridiculous when you look back, but they made the person you are today.

Some of us are the loving kind (me included), we give love, when we are in a relationship we give it 100%, our work 100%, friendships 100%, God 200%(or whoever you praise), we have so much to give that its normal to love someone and not nag about their flaws.

I once overheard my brother telling his friends that "mosadi ke motho o mongwe oreng ha a rata monna abe a morata ka pelo yothle" meaning women are the only human beings that give love to their partners with an open heart regardless of past experiences. Its true and funny enough we do this all the time even to the blokes that have hurt us a gazillion times, not (hopefully) because we think we can change them, but we have HOPE!! (keep hope alive, LOL)

I just realised that im scared of being alone, ive been alone for the past 14 year due to Gods will so it kinds terrifies me to think that the i'll be alone till the end of time. Its not that ive built the great wall of china with three layers of stainless steal around me but simply its hard to find a decent guy. Not only that, im a buddy not a lover to some, i like it but loneliness is my fear.

With all of that i found me, the strong, independent, smart, funny, loving, sexy, self. It didn't take me two months to be where i am, it took a while, even now im still discovering things about myself and some of them are a bit disappointing.

But hey its life you cant have them all, to embrace my single-hood, i make me happy, i make sure before anything or any one i encounter i must first be sure if i want to do it, second, will i be happy and thirdly what will i learn from this?

Its not an easy task but hey, someone has to do it. Ladies, please take time to find out more about yourself in any aspect as you can discover. Learn to love you the way you are, if theres something you don't like,change it or shut up...

Theres nothing thats unattractive like a woman with issues with herself and complains to others. Learn to believe in yourself, you have one life to live and make sure when you look back, its the kinda life you wish someone could relive and be proud of. Your life is like a painting, a masterpiece thats painted with life's experiences, your job as the painter is to reflect what you would LOVE to see, i don't think anyone is happy to see sadness.

Lets find those whimsical brushes and paint paintings that we could be proud to hang in our houses even in the toilet.

Hip-Hop's New Breed-Khuli Chana

If Kanye West and Nas found a way to cheat science and have a lovechild, his name would be Khuli Chana aka The Motswakoriginator.

Born and bred in Mmabatho, he first broke onto the scene with Morafe - one of South Africa's biggest and most respected motswako bands - and their hits like 'Dula', 'Lekwalo To Motswako', 'The Whole Thing' and the unforgettable 'Here We Stand'.

Now Khuli is riding solo. Opening a serious gap within the new taste of South African hip-hop, his debut album, 'The Motswakoriginator' is a breath of fresh air. Not too much conscious rap. No bubblegum garbage lyrics. Not too overtly motswako. Instead, it's well crafted and brilliantly produced, featuring such hot names as TowdeeMac and Kay-G of Morafe fame, IV League, Octave Couplet, and Jazz Worx.  

The collection opens up with 'Futhumatsa' simply meaning "Warm-up" which is what he does to you before blowing you away. Lyrically this guy is deadly. His flow is flawlessly amazing; his rhymes and punchlines are on point. And he knows how to move you with music.

The up-beat dance-along 'Tswakstikem' will have you clearing the furniture out of your way; 'Sthandwa Sam' featuring Towdee Mac quite rightly dominated the airwaves; 'No More Hunger pt.1' featuring Mr "Make the circle bigger" J.R is a hit waiting to happen; the soulful 'Freshe' is simply mesmerising; the kwaito-flavoured 'Kasi Yami' has mass appeal; and his Kanye-rivaling sampling skills come to the fore on the excellent 'Break Me Off' (even though there's someone's mama on the floor).

Clearly showing the talent Khuli has been suppressing when he's with Morafe, 'The Motswakoriginator' fully embraces the whole point of a solo album: go all-out. This is a one-size-fits-all collection - it has humour, amazing lyrics, and good beats - from the new hip-hop heavyweight slowly climbing to the top.

HHP, don't look back - Khuli is on your tail… 

The Brave Fool, Thank U, Mr F

When something is too GOOD to be true, it usually is. Here i was, lashing on how i will NEVER love again only to realise im in-love with life and its ups and downs.

But i was talking bout loving another human being like i did with Mr M, (please im smart enough to to snitch on myself, LOL). Me n Mr M, were amazing together (so i thought)then the whole thing happened and had a DIVA BREAK UP MOMENT, i pulled myself towards myself when Mr F came into the picture, we are not lovers, just friends (no benefits either). His a smart,no intelligent man, has a warm heart, amazing, motivating, i mean this is an ideal man for most single ladies out there and i just love being his friend.

Well, we all know the heart has no respect for difficult situations and how sometimes it makes more sense to leave things the way they are. I started to get all warm and fuzzy like it was spring in my stomach while im wearing a ching-chingler on the outside. I cared like i shouldn't and it made it hard to focus on the game at hand, ME. I dont care who you are, how old you are, how much money you have but loneliness will creep on you like a motherF^&%$*.

From feeling totally alone to having someone who cares about you, its silly not to feel ANYTHING for this person. Time and time again, i reassured myself that this is just fun, "Who will get hurt, not me." I'm an idiot (im only gonna admit this once in my life-time) how can i be this blind, how can i let my insecurities create a part of me that i dont benefit from? I let past experiences ruin the good life i long for.

Im taking charge, im not gonna let another good deal slip through my fingers, im not gonna let myself live in fear, im not gonna let myself miss an opportunity to say I LOVE U, and mean it, im not gonna be ashamed to text i miss you. It takes a fool to fall and never get back on track but it takes a BRAVE fool to crawl to happiness, im that BRAVE FOOL, im crawling to my happiness, i deserve it....

Love, Mmapaseka aka MpKaY