They Be Dancin’

during my morning commute this song came on and I thought “that’s it!” my post inspiration. I really don’t write just to write, and sometimes since I listen to the same songs over and over–with  the sprinkle of new stuff here and there, hence my In My Earbuds features, I often get writer’s block of sorts where I don’t have any inspiration to blog.

This song isn’t new by any means but it just sparked something in me.  Since I have written about my total adoration of 112 before, I won’t repeat but you can read it here if you missed it. I will instead feature some of my favorite dance tracks. When I heard this song I immediately thought of the choreography from the video, and I wanted to dance. Right there on the train, lol. I came up in the era of music videos–actually birthed in the 80s as me, so I remember when a music video was an EVENT. something you couldn’t wait to peep, and it actually correlated with the message of the song. Nowadays, not so much.

Here are a few of my faves from girls, guys, and groups. No rhyme or reason for choosing, the criteria is just that hearing the song automatically makes me think of the video and dancing. I’m not going to go super obvious with Michael Jackson. Or New Edition either–y’all should already know I stan for them!!! And uhm. No Beyonce either.

This woman that taught me how to dance, or put something in my little heart that made me want to dance at a young age. no bs. And I could’ve chose a billion different videos with much better choreography but on some trippy disco shit, I fux with this song. Maybe not at the time it was released, but definitely now. I hope I didn’t lose y’all. lol. But I had to get Madge in first…

When you think of N’Sync, you think of dancing. period. Can’t deny their influence of the late 90s/early 2000s. I def was a fan. Still a JT fan and looking forward to his upcoming project–its about time!

*bows* I mean I know I said I wouldn’t feature her bro but I would be remiss if I didn’t pay homage to the second woman that taught me how to dance! If you are a girl and didn’t stand up in your living room trying to learn this entire routine I don’t know what your youth was like!

This is my favorite Chris Brown dance vid hands down. I remember when he first came out and I thought “Run It” was a cute song; “Excuse Me Miss” as well but it wasn’t until I heard “Gimme That” that I really started paying attention to him. This song stuck with me and every time I hear this song I just wanna dance nonstop, its a perfect pop song to me. “I know you like how I lean in the lac, you can be in the back singing gimme gimme!” Say what you want about Young Chris but that is a dancin mofo. I looooves a guy that can dance.

Aaliyah had many dance hits, but for some reason this one is very memorable to me. Loved this video! “is it my go or is it your go? sometimes I’m goody goody but right now I’m naughty naughty!” I also have to listen to/prefer the VA superfriendz remix of this song because they used to play it OUT on the radio at home!

Uhm. this was back when I still loved me some Ursher. This is a break up/get my swagger back anthem.  Awesome choreography here.

I’m a Slave 4 U still gets regular rotation on my ipod. Can’t deny that Neptunes beat! This was Britney in her prime, right before her downward spiral… “baby, don’t you wanna…dance up on me?”

I had a good time writing this post. Most of these videos I haven’t seen in years and pulling this post together was a good trip down memory lane. I really could do this all day. I mean we have Ciara, Bey, more Usher, Breezy–ah, so many to choose from! But before I go…and because I gotta include some good #hoshit, from the one hit wonder Ester Dean. I mean, this song… *drops it low*

Let me know what some of your favorite dance videos are in the comments.

What’s in my earbuds…sexy

so!

this has been a good time for music. I have been previewing a lot of new music lately. Chrisette Michele and Jazmin Sullivan both have studio albums released today: Let Freedom Reign and Love Me Back, respectively. This blog post is not a full through review as I need more time to develop my thoughts on all the music I’ve been bumping lately, but just a quick overview of what I’m checking for–so that you all can check for it too, ya dig? or not, whatever your flavor.

over the weekend I also acquired Chris Brown’s new mixtape In My Zone 2 and from first and second listen I must say it is pretty good!

yesterday I also happened to get into the latest mixtape release from my lova Raheem DeVaughn. Now anybody that knows me knows that I love him so. He is my modern day Marvin Gaye. yes. it is that serious to me and I don’t care if you don’t agree. I talk about R&B a lot–it is my favorite music genre, true pure soul music I should say. but I love R&B of all facets. I got love for Robin Thicke, Foreign Exchange, I mean older 90s stuff like Dru Hill and 112. and lets not even talk about classic groups like EWF, Isleys, Maze & Frankie Beverly, etc. On the more recent front I got love for Bruno Mars. A man singing about love with a good voice does it for me. so anyway, back to Raheem.

His new mixtape Jackin4Beats is much like his Mr February x March Madness joint I reviewed earlier this year with how he covers current songs and/or spins the beats for his own pleasure. Whether its Night and Day, or Prototype, Bonita Applebum, or even more recently on this mixtape Trey’s Can’t Be Friends, he delivers.

Speaking of Trey, he released a mixtape of the same concept #lemmegetdatbeat. So about 4 songs in? hated it. But I shouldve done some research prior to d/l’ing and I wouldve known its all his rap alter ego Trigga and I’m so good on that. I am a Trey fan from way back, when his remixes were featuring local VA artists that nobody but 804 folks knew. I still bump I Gotta Make it/Trey Day/Anticipation heavily. but that’s about it. I’ve been told the 3 Ps or whatever CD is better than Ready but I’m just not interested in listening to it yet. He’s heading quickly to overexposure and I’d like to preserve the love I have left for my 804 homie as is, for now!

so last night I’m up pretty late on twitter and my lova Rah drops this new vid and tags it #twitterafterdark. now I see this often and I don’t typically engage sexy talk with celebs cuz I think its hella corny. but I decided to see what he was talking about! soooooo glad I did. just earlier in the evening while previewing the new mixtape I tweeted:

“so @368hustlers version of Single is real sexy like. but of course…”

so color my surprise when I see he has a video for it! and HAVE MERCY what a video it is. I couldve saved this for #freakyfriday but to be honest I couldn’t wait. I watched it about 4 times last night on my blackberry. and I HATE watching vids on the phone. Trey said he invented what?! who?! no sir. Raheem did that, and if he aint invent it he is definitely showcasing his interests and talents on this here vid. check it out if you dare, its not work safe really.

but back to jackin 4 beats, lemme hold that beat and the like. I dig the concept. Actually I prefer Trey’s remakes of popular songs more than his recent original material #shots #sowhat, and I appreciate what these mixtapes do, they gear you up and make you excited for a studio album. I just hope the studio album is good too. Rappers have recently proven that mixtapes are where they choose to flourish and shine–Wale’s More About Nothing is still my fave this year, yes topping Friday Night Lights, but not by much.

With R&B, you need to be equally consistent with both avenues, IMO. I have always heavily critiqued Raheem’s albums in particular because I am that much of a fan, and I ADORED The Love Experience. That CD still sets the standard that he has YET to reach again. Some of my favorite songs by him are on that album. And when Love Behind the Melody came out and while I was hooked on all things “Love Drug” I admit it took about a year for that CD to grow on me individually and for me to truly stop comparing the two albums. Then The Love & War Masterpeace came out this year and I probably won’t love it until next year. That’s just how I am sometimes.

I will always dig Raheem. He talks about love in a romantic way, he talks about sex in a sensual, erotic way that isn’t crass and you can tell he adores the female frame. He makes music for women that love men that love women. Not just tolerate them, not just want to sex them, but LOVE THEM. And for that,  I love him and will always support his music.