Froeman's Take

Drake's "Thank Me Later" Deserves Immediate Gratitude

Months ago Aubrey Graham's (also known by his stagename, Drake) fingers tapped away at his Blackberry keys, whirling lyrics together to give birth to what would become his first official studio album Thank Me Later.  In just twelve days in the United States alone, the album sold 604,000 copies and was the number one album on the United States Billboard Chart.

Drake, Canadian actor turned rapper has seemingly come out of nowhere... because he actually has.  Just a few years ago he discovered his talent for rapping and singing in which few before him had found success (including such names as tupac).  With his producer/friend they took to putting together a mix tape.  Not long after that he recieved a call from Lil Wayne, an invitation to the group, Young Money.  Drake's discography so far includes three mixtapes, Room For Improvement, Comeback Season, and So Far Gone, his new studio album, Thank Me Later as well as various singles produced with other stars including Eminem, Kanye West, and the members of Young Money who put together the collabrative album, We Are Young Money in late 2009.

Drake is not only highly talented, but his is highly respectable as well.  Still close with his mom, Graham puts his family life as one of his top priorities and the hard working life style and morals that he professes in his raps exhibit proof of his strong family background.  In July of 2010, Drake has put his entire European tour on hold to tend to his mother's illness.  Also near the top of his priority list is his producer and friend, "40,"  40 is on the road with Drake and invloved with his music career more than anyone.  40 is who pushed Drake to exercize his musical talents in the beggining.

Many would argue that Drake is no where near the top of the rap game on this day.  But, I don't think anyone would disagree that he is climbling the ladder of success faster than anyone worth mentioning.  He knows he is not at the top yet and he wants his fans and critics to know that as well, but he also wants them to know that he is working every day to get there and that he knows he can be the best.

 The word that I know I have already used, but still keeps popping into my head to describe Drake is respect.  He gives it in every due place and he has earned a lot of it from his peers, his family, his fans, and from me.  I hope to see more from him and I am excited to see how large Drake becomes.

Bowling for Soup: Your Fifth-Grade Hits, My Life-Long Soundtrack

I don’t know about the rest of you, but in the fifth grade when I stepped onto the bus with my Sony CD player and the new Bowling for Soup album at the time; A Hangover You Don’t Deserve, (by the way, I had no clue what a hangover was and why I didn’t deserve one) I was instantly the celebrated as the coolest kid in school.  As we walked down the halls and played out at recess, we sang along to hits like “1985” and “Almost” and though we didn’t understand any of the adult-oriented words and did not come close to catching any of the themes throughout the music, we loved it!

For some, the obsession ended with fifth grade graduation.  Others, it faded out into the sixth grade.  But not for me.  BFS ran deep through my veins and to this day, I still sometimes get nervous breakdowns where the only thing I can turn to is my blessed albums by Bowling for Soup.

If it wasn’t for Bowling for Soup I probably would not have made it through elementary school let alone middle school.  With Jaret Reddick’s lyrics guiding me through the night, I can rest assured that there is hope in the future.

  Some lyrical genius mixed with instrumental talent and a divine inspiration Bowling for Soup has been able to keep kids throughout the world on their toes as to what will come next.  Pandemonium ensued last January as their seventh studio album; Sorry for Partyin' was released. 

Though I have been disappointed recently, because as I have been avidly checking my email as well as the BFS home page, all of their tour dates have been posted in Europe! This is an outrage to me, as there are so many big fans right here in the United States!  Maybe if a member or associate of Bowling for Soup reads this they might bring the “Party in Your Pants Tour” back home where the party started.

Though their style has become somewhat less “punk” and more “pop,” they still hold true their somewhat existent core.  Let’s just say that if they keep making it, I’ll keep buying it.

In My Headphones: Delta Spirit

Though I’ve had some of their music for quite some time now, and they are not exactly new, debuting in 2005, I’ve really been getting into the band; Delta Spirit in the past few days.  Their music grabs a hold of me mostly when I’m absentminded in the car.  They’re a fascinating band and I thought I might take a better look at what they’re all about.

With quick beats, slow lyrics, and some instrumental genius, Delta Spirit comes together to form a great alternative rock band.  With three guitarists and a busker they grabbed off the streets (who actually turns out to be my favorite feature of the band) they made their debut with the EP I Think I’ve Found It, and followed up with their first full length album; Ode to Sunshine.  Their most recent project is titled “History From Below” and is to be released some time in May.

My favorite songs include Streetwalker and Trashcan.  Lately I can’t seem to get enough of Delta Spirit, and I am hoping they release a tour stop somewhere in the Midwest.  But in the meanwhile, I have to say that I am more than excited to get my hands and ears on “History From Below.”

 

Rihanna's New Album "Rated R" - Reccommend E for Everyone

Barbadian native, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, better known as "Rihanna", is undoubtedly one of the leading popular artists of the decade.  Surfacing onto the music scene with her first album in 2005; Music of the Sun, hits such as Pon de Replay, Umbrella, Disturbuia, and most recently Hard have defined the Rihanna that you love today.

After being signed by Jay-Z at Def Jam Recordings, this "Good Girl Gone Bad" paired up with a slew of artists like Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Justin Timberlake, Akon, and Jay-Z himself to produce a plethora of chart-toppers.  Also not to be left off her resume is her modeling career (Nike, Covergirl, Clinique) as well as her acting career, as she had a cameo appearance in Bring it On: All or Nothing.

Rihanna's personal life is about as inspiring as can be considering where she has come from and what she has all given back.  Also not to mention her humiliating period of public over-exposure due to a leaked photograph of her injuries inflicted by her former boyfriend Chris Brown.  Despite what seemed to be a national, public aura of detest coming Barbados, Rihanna has made great attempts to represent her country such as incorporating the Barbadian flag and trident into her music videos.Also, her philantropic actions are not to go unnoticed.  In 2006, she created the Believe Foundation which was aimed at helping terminally ill children, an aspiration she has had since childhood.

What I would really like to focus on now is Rihanna's latest album "Rated R."  To me, this album is one that I can listen to straight through, over and over again without becoming tired of it.  The songs, though very diverse in attitude, tempo, and even musical style all seem to blend together to form one beautiful album.  My favorite songs include Photographs(feat. Will.i.am.), Rockstar101(feat. Slash), and Rude Boy.  With a bit darker tone than her previous work, Rihanna brings to the table plenty of originalty and once again sets herself apart from the rest of the crowd.

Rihanna confirmed her 2010 tour through Europe on MTV in December.  You may be surprised that her tour is going to be in Europe instead of the United States.  To me, this is logical in that she is extremely popular across the pond, especially in Eastern Europe.  Also, this does not mean she will not tour the States, in that her last stop in Europe is in May, leaving plenty of time for many shows throughout the US.

Rihanna is in my opinion a true modern-day renaissance-woman.  She has expanded her horizons into many different categories of public productions, philantropy, as well as many personal endeavors.  Without a doubt, that Rihanna rain just don't let up.