Music Year in Review: Monique's Faves

As 2011 comes to an end, I want to reflect on my favorite albums of the year, the soundtracks of my life for this year, the songs that will remind me of what I’ve endured, over what I have triumphed, where my mind was at heading into my thirties, why I made my transition back to Brooklyn. If you've been following me on twitter this year (@momowilly), you'll have noticed that I often mention the music I'm enjoying at the time, and three people come up frequently, Fonzworth Bentley, Amanda Seales, and Jean Grae.  There is a common thread in the fiber of the wonderful artists I’m highlighting: Individuality. These three are unique in voice, perspective and style. They don’t conform to the rules of hiphop, instead making their marks with their defiance of the status quo. These are the mavericks, the misfits, the avant-garde that are just close enough to the mainstream to put their toes in and yank their foot out of the water when they're ready.  I’m pleased to have an opportunity to share my reasons for enjoying the music they provided me this year. 

Oh, and it’s free. Yes. The music was free.  Well, one offers a pay option, but I got it for free. We’ll get into that later.  Enjoy!

Fonzworth Bentley’s C.O.L.O.U.R.S. (EP)

Fonzworth Bentley first caught my ear years ago on Myspace when I heard “Since I was 9.”  I thought it was a great introduction to the potential of a super dapper gent who was much more than Diddy’s umbrella holder.  There were murmurs of him being signed to GOOD music, to which I cheered because Kanye has a way to bring the best out of artists.  That eventually fell through but Bentley knew he wanted to put out his music, so he blessed us with the work C.O.L.O.U.R.S which includes songs we’d heard before like “Everybody” featuring Kanye and Andre 3000 plus some awesome newness.   “Runaway” was my wake up alarm for months because it got me moving!

At the time this came out, I was producing and hosting a TV show entitled The Show that focused on the new, the now, and the necessary of South Florida, so I was immersed in the fashion culture of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami and feeling pretty darn fresh, sexy and sophisticated.  Bentley’s mixtape kept me upbeat and positive with his motivational lyrics and inspiring stories.  His sense of humor runs through the tracks as he never really takes himself too seriously.  He’s the best at staying in his lane, always being a gentleman and never using profanity or derogatory terms to refer to women.  This isn’t an album for the masses, but makes a great case for urban contemporary hiphop.  And his flow is tighter than Boosie. Truly.

Bentley’s beats are slamming, an album of instrumentals woulda been nice.  I’m not super familiar with popular music, but I heard some of these beats are recycled.  He definitely chose the right beats to ride and does so with ease.  His southern drawl is warm and often quite sumptuous in various unexpected places throughout the album.  He makes a lady giggle and smile, reach for the wine and cheese, and enjoy a great evening under the moon.

Get the Music: Head to his official website to stream the whole album for a free listen. http://www.therealmrbentley.com

Cost: Select songs are available FREE with email request, the rest are on iTunes. I actually downloaded the whole thing for free from another site. I won't say where. If I had an iPod, I woulda paid for the songs, so you should. 

Upcoming: I don’t know what he’s doing. But I hope he’s gonna come out with some new music, his music, exactly how he wants it to sound and never compromise. He is truly a delight.

Follow: @cooloutrageous

Amanda Diva’s Madame Monochrome (EP)

Before she became Amanda Seales a few months back (another 30th bday inspired name change!), she released Madame Monochrome as Amanda Diva, a name familiar with anyone who watches VH1’s pop culture shows.  I’ve been following her on twitter for some time, and when I saw she had a new album, I was interested in hearing it. I checked it out one Saturday at work and thought it was a little mellow for my taste, wishing I had a glass of wine to enjoy with it.  I gave it another chance a few days later, putting it on my Blackberry and playing it in the whip.  Woah! This was my new favorite album.  Amanda’s voice is like chardonnay with sand, full bodied and gritty.  It’s so unique and interesting, engaging and distinct.  The writing quality is solid, covering topics like teen mothers ("Babies") and Black men lost ("Manchild") as well as love and life. Her delivery and soulfulness contribute to the full experience.  The production feels organic; it doesn’t sound as if her homies emailed some beats and she wrote to ‘em on the Q train with her Beats by Dre headphones.  Instead her voice weaves in between the music with confidence and surety.  

Speaking of, the artist formerly known as Diva can come off slightly arrogant, a little cocky, but having personally dealt with this misconception, I smile at the bars and nod in amusement.  She IS as talented as she says she is, there's no denying it.  In an era where there are more fly by night than fly to heights acts, she is a rare breed. She sings and raps—in the poet turned rapper vein—and she’s funny and relatable.  This is the EP I put on when I’m working on something that matters, creatively or business wise. She has a very “homegirl” feel, a no-nonsense friend who is encouraging and supportive.  “Little Things (Remix)” was the fave for awhile as her words got me through a trying time relationship-wise where I had to recognize that if I wanted to continue enjoying the big things that were worth it, I'd have to start accepting the annoying small things.  It’s still in rotation.  

For an artist of her many talents, one might expect the album to feel disjointed or all over the place.  However unlike a  popular male rapper/vocalist, Amanda’s balance is endearing as she seamlessly eases into both like a pinch hitter.  She’s fluid yet controlled, never manic or contrived on these joints.  There's great beauty in her singing background to her own rhymes.

Get the Music: Download the Free EP at her official website, http://www.amandaseales.com

Cost: FREE

Upcoming:  She is working on her long-awaited album Technicolor Lover as well as an amazing and timely one woman play entitled Death of the Diva.  She's a great actress and comedian in addition to visual artist (painter) and DJ.  I continue to be inspired by her tenacity and persistence.  She is definitely the definition of Renaissance Woman. 

Follow: @amandaseales 

Jean Grae’s Cookies or Comas Mixtape 

hosted by DJ Drama

What can I say about Jean Grae that hasn’t already been said? She’s definitely Top 5 MC of all time, not female. Trust, she will lyrically body your favorite rapper especially these soft as Charmin, unicorn-hugging-in-the-forest types out right now.  Her flows vary, her vocabularly’s sick, and she’s an MC clearly of crazy high intelligence but never seems to be showing off.  Though she speaks with amazing clarity and diction, her tracks are constant rewinds, a great game of "what did she just say?" It’s a delight when you’re privy to a reference as you recognize the depth of her sometimes triple entendre.  It makes you listen harder because you want to get all the jokes, understand all the insiders, and also thank Rap Genius for making it make just a little more sense.  

This mixtape came out when I was very frustrated about many things in my life and the whole CD is pretty angry.  I was often Ragey McKillsome and Jean's music got me to express the frustration and move forward in a healthy manner.  "Killing 'Em" was on repeat the entire rides to and from work many days. 

Jean Grae’s unfairly been labeled a “backpack” and “conscious” rapper when she is so far left of those silly boxes with all the murder-murder kill-kill talk on here.  She’s definitely more gangsta than wanksta, yet more pranksta than anything else.  She has an amazing dry wit, choke on your spit dry.  Lyrically, she can’t be stopped. Through all the rappity-rap slaying, Jeannie's vulnerability shines brightest on songs like "Blame Game" about an unhappy relationship and "You don't like it" where she addresses her underground status and desire to be a great commercial success. 

Honestly, I couldn’t tell you a thing about the production value because Jeannie is always the star of the show.  The guest appearances are all top notch, but she bests everyone of them including heavyweights like Talib Kweli, Styles P, Pharaohe Monch and Royce da 5’9.  My ten year-old daughter loves the mixtape so much, she listens while doing her homework, and she’s never been more focused.  

Jeannie sometimes comes across like she needs a hug, but that you’ll have to check her hands for itching powder because she’s a mean, abrasive, unpredictable trickster. An almost unapproachable approachability, like you wanna say something so she can dis you.  I’m certain these type of S&M relationships are common in her life.  Using music as her outlet for the vitriole,  she would have to be super sweet in real life to be so acrid on a record.  A trip through Jean Grae’s mind is like no trip of acid imaginable, and we are fortunate to get lifted on every word.

Get the Music: Head to her official website, http://www.jeangrae.com to download the whole thing. The website doesn't have anything else but that, so there are no distractions.

Cost: FREE

Upcoming: She has a show called Life of Jeannie coming out where we get  to experience another facet of Ms. Grae's functional schizophrenia. Her highly anticipated album Cake or Death is coming soon, but not soon enough. #shit  Her writing acumen, imagination, and wit definitely deserve a multi-dimensional platform. 

Follow: @jeangreasy



Special Bonus:

Jean Grae and Mela Machinko just released the awesomest Christmas album of all time as the duo Hellpit Faeries. Download the FREE EP Jingle Fuckin' Bells.  It is everything a holiday album should be.  And check out the video for "The Most Fucking Wonderful Time".  Jean is doing exactly what we've been waiting for from her and she doesn't disappoint.  She and Mela are having a blast.  My daughter is playing it 24-7.  This will always signify my final return to Brooklyn. Thanks ladies for the best soundtrack to the season. 
Follow: @melamachinko @hellpitfaeries