Happy New Year: 2012 - 2013 Albums and News- Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha-T, Rihanna, Asap Rocky, Lady Gaga, Big Boi & More (AUDIO UPDATES Explicit)

Happy New Year!!! I pray everyone has a healthy, successful and safe 2013. 

2012 was kind of cool, almost sorry to see it go, but we gotta keep it moving....  

Most who know me, know I love music!  All kinds of music.  So I wanna share more albums, and moments I enjoyed in 2012.

Rick Ross is one of my favorite artists. 

Although many of his songs sound the same; almost everything he touches is gold.  

MMG put together a nice team.  Dope artists. 

I like Self Made 2 better than Vol. 1.  I first heard Self Made 2, on a birthday trip to Orlando, Florida, in June.

My favorite songs:

1. M.I.A  - Omarion and Wale
2. Actin' Up - Wale, Meek Mill ft. French Montana
3. Black Magic - Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross Black on Black - Gunplay ft. Ace Hood & Bun 
4. Bag of Money - Wale, Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross and T-Pain
5. Let's Talk - Omarion ft. Rick Ross
6. Power Circle - Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross & Kendrick Lamar
7. I Be Puttn' On - Wale ft. Wiz Khalifa

G.O.O.D Music's compilation album Cruel Summer stirred up a lot of hype.  

The album was pushed back a number of times, but was definitely worth the wait!  

Readers who followed this blog from the beginning, know I love Kanye's music and style amongst other things and he doesn't disappoint with Cruel Summer.  He blessed us with another masterpiece.  Great features.  So good, I can't figure out which track is my favorite!

*Sidebar* Is it just me, or does it look like the angel is throwing up the Roc "diamond" sign, when you look at the album cover quick and then look away?

Anyway, R. Kelly, Ghostface, Raekwon, Mase, Chief Keef, The Dream and Marsha Ambrosius features did their thing on the album.  Everyone came hard.  Naturally; Jay killed his verse on Clique. 

Jay made sure to perform Clique during his 8-day concert at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn (the show I attended was awesome by the way, Beyonce made a surprise appearance).  

Pics of us at concert:

Urban Fashion Sense (CEO) and friends at Jay-Z Barclay Concert

Kanye shocked us with baby news as we patiently wait for the Cruel Summers' sequel; Cruel Winter....  He and Kim Kardashian are expecting a baby!  

They've been on a path seeking true love for awhile and have a lot in common. So happy for them.  Congratulations KK!!

But hol' up! I'm so confused.  Which record is the best?  Mercy, The One, The Morning, Don't Like or New God Flow??

Speaking of New God Flow, Ghostface came for war, but Pusha slaughtered!  Shout out Pusha-T; saw him in D.C. for Howard Homecoming in October.

October, was an incredible month for music.  

RED.  My girl Taylor Swift released her fourth album on October 22nd, the same day as my boy Kendrick Lamar!  

These two were battling for the number one billboard spot for weeks after. While I've been rocking with Taylor since her first song Love Story, I recently started listening to Kendrick.

Taylor's album is good, but I listen to Kendrick's album daily, still.  Classic.  

See my review here....

Here's my favorites on Taylor's RED album:

1. Holy Ground *****

2. Everything Has Changed ft. Ed Sheeran *****

3. State of Grace ****

4. I Knew You Were Trouble ***

5. The Lucky One **

6. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together *

Rihanna's album Unapologetic was another favorite this year.  It reminds me of a mixtape. She sampled a lot of good songs. 

All the buzz around the album allowed for an enormous media following too. Literally!  

Rihanna allowed 200 journalist and fans to accompany her around the world on her 'Rihanna Plane' tour, which was great marketing. Unapologetic was promoted by the mass media and received great reviews.  

Rihanna used the attention to give back to Hurricane Sandy victims.

She collaborated with the NY Daily News for a chairty album listening event at the 40/40 Club in Manhattan.  I went.  It was so dope to see the Bajan beauty.

My Top 8 on this album are:

1. Diamonds

2. Loveeeeeee Song ft. Future

3 Nobody's Business ft. Chris Brown

4. Numb ft. Eminem

5. Pour It Up

6. Stay ft. Mikky Ekko

7. Phresh Off The Runway

8. No Love Allowed

T.I. Got the 'Trap Back Jumpin' wit'  

Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head  

In my opinion; the best tracks are:

-Hallelujah

-Trap Back Jumpin'

-Cruisin' (Let me find out T.I. singing... Lol) 

-Hello ft. Cee Lo Green 

-Sorry ft. Andre 3000 

-Wildside ft. A$AP Rocky 

-Guns and Roses ft. Pink

-Go Get It

-Ball ft. Lil Wayne

I can't rate these tracks.  I like them all about the same.  

I wouldn't say this is T.I.'s best work, but definitely, another good album.

On the flip side, Big Boi dropped Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors a week before T.I. and honestly I only listen to half the album, but I LOVE the songs.  #Replay.

Check the tracks below:

1. She Hates Me ft. Kid Cudi *****

2. Shoes For Running ft. B.o.B and Wavves *****

3. Descending ft. Little Dragon ****

4. Tremendous ft. Bosko ****

5. Lines ft. A$AP Rocky and Phantogram ****

6. Raspberries ft. Mouche and Scar **

7. Mama Told Me ft. Kelly Rowland ***

8. She Said OK ft. Theophilus London and Truce *

The features on this album are dope; like B.o.B, he's nice!

I copped his album Strange Clouds as well.  It's pretty good.

A$AP Rocky was a surprising feature, but his collaboration is a good one.

People give A$AP Rocky mixed reviews when it comes to his actual lyrical talent, but no one can deny that his Harlem swag, and fashion sense are intriguing.  

I enjoy watching Rocky's interviews.  He comes off as conversational and open minded.  

Not to mention great eye candy!  

I first heard about A$AP Rocky from my people at Bergdorf Goodman 2 years ago.  When they played Rocky's 'Peso', I swore up and down that Max B was on the hook.  

'Peso' is a song on A$AP's LiveLoveA$AP mixtape. 

'Peso' and 'Palace' are the only two songs I like on the mixtape, and I love Palace!  

It's something about the Clams Casino mix, that sounds similar to New God Flow. 

I don't know, that's just me, but Rocky gave that beat the business!  Flow so dope.

Rocky is scheduled to drop Long.Live.A$AP the album this month on January 15th, unfortunately, it has already leaked.  I'm anxious to hear the whole album, I refuse to listen to any leaked download.  

Sadly, Rocky also gave us some unfortunate news, the day after Christmas - his father passed away....  

My condolences are with him and his family.  His father was also a descendent of Barbados.

I'm also anxiously awaiting Lady Gaga's Art Pop album.  I'm a huge fan of Gaga, I have all three albums.  Born This Way wasn't as good as the first two.

The best songs were:

-You and I, 

-Edge of Glory 

-Marry The Night 

-Born This Way

My favorite Gaga album is Fame Monster. 

My favorite tracks are:

-Monster 

-Speechless

-Bad Romance

-Telephone 

-Dance In The Dark

So yeah I'm really excited for Art Pop.  Gaga leaked a track called CAKE on the Internet and her fans are going crazy.  She rapping to Trap music?!  

So sick! Listen to it below:

There is a new verse on this mix, I'm not sure if it's actually Gaga, but still sounds hot.

Cheers to a New Year and great music in 2013 

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