In Case You Couldn’t Find It In The Streets! Here you go!

Da Brat is hsockingly  cute in her new photoshoot for Vibe magazine, the rapper who was just released from Jail back in March wasted no time to get back in the limelight. Since being released from jail Da Brat has been doing covers songs other artists music and even put out a mixtape, now Da Brat has softened up for her new photoshoot with Vibe magazine  ditching the jeans and cornrows for a more feminine look and curly locks! Cute! And I see you in that BCBG spring collection!

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Chris Brown is an international superstar. He has 3 top 10 albums, numerous top 10 and #1 singles, and has sold over 20 million records worldwide. But after February 2009, when he had a demestic despute with his then girlfriend, fellow superstar Rihanna, no one has really thought about Chris Brown and all of his accomplishments. The general public’s perception of Brown was now that of a woman beater. And after such a horrendous crime, it was pretty safe to assume that Brown’s fanbase, which had been largely made up of women, would abandon him and as a result, his career would be over.

But Chris didn’t see it that way. Instead of taking some time off, later that same year he dropped his poorly recieved album Graffiti . Indeed his worst album, it may have garnered even more negative reviews than was necessary, given the time that it was released. But now, 3 years, 6 months of community service, and a flop album later, Chris Brown has officially fought his way back to prominence in the form of, what else? Music. After 2 highly successful mixtapes and 2 top 10 singles on the R&B charts, it was high time for a new Chris Brown album, appropriately titled F.A.M.E (Fans Are My Everything).

F.A.M.E doesn’t steer clear of Brown’s already winning formula of one radio-friendly song after another, but here he perfects what he started with his second album, Exclusive and struggled to do on Graffiti; exploring different genres while still making quality music with respect to that said genre. He’s done that here. Songs like She Aint You, a reimagining of Michael Jackson’s Human Nature and S.W.V’s Right Here (remix) and Up To You are great r&b/pop songs. Look At Me Now which see’s Chris, along with guest rapper Lil’ Wayne get overshadowed by the lyrical prowess of legendary MC Busta Rhymes, and Dueces show that Chris is quite comfortable in more of a hip-hop influenced atmosphere.

But where he has the most potential to shine is when he explores the realm of dance music. When it’s done right, that is. The criminally generic Yeah 3x was obviously made just to hop on the dance craze that’s presently sweeping through the music industry. But judging from the Michael Jackson influenced vocal Jamiroquai and inspired production of Say It With Me , it becomes apparent that Brown isn’t experimenting with dance just for commercial gain, but actually has some interest in it. And on the Benny Benassi produced Beautiful People, the most legit dance record from any of the other uber-successful pop stars, (Yeah you Usher!lol) it’s clear that he has respect for the genre also.

There are also the x-rated r&b slow jams like No Bullshit , and the Ludacris assisted Wet The Bed which are sure to make the freakiest individuals cheeks a little rosy.

The main problem here, as in most Chris Brown albums, is that there is no order in the tracklisting. There have been Greatest Hits and Best Of.. collections with more cohesiveness. But that aside, this will be the album that may put Brown’s wifebeater image to rest and put the focus back on his music. That’s if he doesn’t get angry and throw chairs and break windows at the studios of Good Morning America.. Oh he already did that… lol!

Jay-z & Kanye West: Hold The Throne- Not to long after releasing his 5th album “My Dark Twisted Fantasy” Kanye West announced that he will be doing a collaboration album with Jay-z. They hit the world with their first single “H.A.M” which in my opinion could have been a lot better lyrically If you’re going to go HAM really go HAM, but knowing Jay and Kanye they will hit us with another single soon to really show off how this album will be. With little information on this album such as producers and collaborators people are still anticipating this album from the two rap superstars.

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How is it possible that a city that contributed Three 6 Mafia, Yo Gotti, 8Ball and MJG to the music industry doesn’t have a memorable rap anthem?

New York has Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind.” Atlanta has Jermaine Dupri’s “Welcome to Atlanta.” California got a big shout out from Tupac on “California Love.” North Carolina was put on the hip-hop map by Petey Pablo’s “Raise Up.” Even Pittsburgh…yes, Pittsburgh; has joined the club with Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.”

Memphis, on the other hand, is still looking for that one song.

According to my made-up-on-the-fly rules, an anthem should make everyone else in the U.S. momentarily want to be from that city or state and it needs to get played at local sporting events. “Empire State of Mind” became so popular among New Yorkers that Hova performed it before game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium and during the Yankees’ victory parade.

Really, the closest we’ve come to a classic rap anthem in my opinion is “So M*Town” by Gyft. It’s catchy, it pumps you up when he belts out “I’m so M*Town, and mutha**** if you ain’t don’t throw M*Town,” and the video features some of the city’s most iconic imagines, including The Pyramid, Memphis-Mississippi Bridge, and the Fedex Forum.

Stepping up to the plate we have South Memphis’ own Mac Sleepy with his single “Memphis or Die”! Check it out and leave me you thoughts!

The internet has been in a frenzy with chatter about Concrete’s favorite Memphis hip hop artist SKEWBY! What’s he working on? When is it dropping? Where’s he performing next?

Well, I finally got the 411 from Skewby’s manager, Antonio, as they worked on the final details of the newest mixtape – and guess what! It’s arriving in EXACTLY ONE WEEK! More Details After the Jump! Read the rest of this entry »

Tity Boi a.k.a @2chainz , 1/2 of PLayaz Circle…will be in Memphis on November 20th performing live at:

Club ENVY
4069 Lamar Ave.
Memphis, Tennessee

It’s 18 & up plus LADIES are free until 11PM!

Music by: DJ Rocksteddy & DJ Larry Live w/Reggie P. Fine on the mic!

We also have a chance for you to meet @2chainz in person! Follow Concrete Memphis Mag on twitter and befriend us on Facebook  for your chance!