craigsplaylist

• 2011-12-03

  This is a sleeper. This song, with better vocals, a spruced up production with a crossover vibe to it, a verse or two from the likes of a Pitbull, Flo Rida, or Sean Paul type, a stronger visual with all the dancing and dance steps that’s already in there can make for a hit record. The verses, call and responses, hooks and melodies are no brainers. But then again, who am I? I have no idea what I’m talking about.

• 2011-05-17

  I choose not be poetic about this. I’ll describe this by words: SEXY. DOPE. POWERFUL. CHOREOGRAPHY. GRIMEY. SENSOUS. WOMEN. BEAUTY. DANCE. ART. CREATIVE. BODY. BODIES. FLAVOR. OFFICIAL. THUMBS. UP. CHOREOGRAPHERS. KIKI ELY. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ALUMNI. ORIGINAL. THANK YOU KRISTI FOR SHARING THIS. YOU KNOW MY PALETTE.

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  Amount Boyz are not to be reckoned with. Likely the smoothest most creative dance crew and choreographers around. I like these guys.

• 2011-03-22

  THE FORBIDDEN TOUR-The Most Stupid Brilliance

  “The Weak Can Never Forgive. Forgiveness is The Attribute Of The Strong”- Mahatma Ghandi

  In 2008, pre-Chris Brown and Rihanna controversy, I had an enlightening moment music and marketing-wise. English pop band, Level 42 had a hit single in 1985, “Something About You”. The most infectious and melodious ode from a lover to his/her love interest.

  The idea was that Chris Brown and Rihanna would make for the most undeniable duet to cover this 80’s hit. Needless to say, many, if not most of the pop songs topping the charts today are actual progressions from 80’s pop records.

  While planning a strategy to give this idea away to their camps (I have a million of these), all hell broke loose and I lost my gumption to pursue the project for…well, for obvious reasons.

  Fast forward… no matter how much judgment…disdain Chris Brown continues to thoughtlessly conjure up, he’s still the most undeniable R&B/Pop hitmaker, performer and dancer of his brand in the business today. While Rihanna, honestly speaking has not been broken in properly as a performer, she’s still a hit maker and a media darling. They are exactly who they were as Pop sensations 3 years ago. Both released projects in 2009 that were truly less than notable accomplishments and by this time next week, with Chris’ release today, they are both together again at the top of charts.

  Word on the street is that Rihanna’s planned tour has been postponed. This is usually due to poor ticket sales. Rihanna has not arrived as a bona fide performer; even with all of her successes. Ticket buying audiences are cognizant of this and didn’t buy into the tour. (I know why and what the solution is, but will need to be paid to advise). She needs a stronger billing…and MUST create the most important concert performance of her career…a show that will define her staying power.

  Chris Brown’s pairing with Usher on the OMG Tour would quite possibly have been  one of the most successful tours of 2010. That didn’t happen.

  There is no dancer, no record maker, no performer as raw and gifted as the kid. Not at the moment. Good look to any near future contenders.

  No one can deny forgiveness and no one can deny GREATNESS. Feel free to deny my delusion though.

  Here’s the prelim plan:

  • Rihanna and Chris covers Level 42’s “Something About You”
  • Shoot the ILLEST video of the year…premier it…where…(?)
  • Perform it on the BET Awards or the VMA’s
  • Tour the world as co-headliners on the “Aristocracy” World Tour.
  • Who opens for them…Bruno Mars???…Melanie Fiona???…

  ONLY RIHANNA AND CHRIS CAN SEND THE PAST WHERE IT BELONGS… CONTROL THE PRESS

  [SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE-CRITICS WILL TALK-FANS WILL CELEBRATE]

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  An Open Letter To Chris Brown (UPDATED)

  UPDATE: For all of you good people around the world that happened upon this letter I wrote to Chris back in January, I want to apologize for not updating you. I at least owed you the decency to let you know that I met Chris on January 26th at The Grove in Los Angeles. As I expected, it was nothing less than cordial. While his entourage (including security guard) seemed a bit inquisitive about my intentionally discrete greeting with him, I fast tracked to my purpose and revealed myself as the unabashed author of this ‘plea’ for him to accept the past as his responsibility and at all cost, ‘look at the re-emergence of success he has returned to now’ (maybe I should solicit a percentage of publishing for his #1 record, “Look At Me Now”). He asserted, politely that he did not read it. I concluded my moment with him, simply with, ‘please do read it…Chris, you’re it’.

  I dig his paintings, I’m blown away by the performances and from one dancer of an era to a dancer of this current era, I respect his footwork.

  I was up Tweeting early this AM on Pacific Standard Time (as my @craigsplaylist timeline will manifest) in favor of a deservingly successful first week for Chris’ album, F. A. M. E., which is out today…this, in a spirited follow up to the ‘open letter’. Apparently, moments following my Tweets, bad energy seeped its way into a moment that Chris’ publicist did a damn good job at booking; Album Release Day Interview on the very Network (ABC) that broadcast ‘whats her name’s’ pre-release revelation (20/20) in 2009 of the night that changed both artists ‘public profile’ forever.

  Robin Roberts who is one of ABC’s most darling Southern Belle’s MUST address the infamous night that made Chris Brown a controversial mainstay to GMA’s core female viewing audience. These females have daughters that they were likely going to trek down to Target with after school to buy the “F. A. M. E. CD”

  I wrote the following in the letter below:

  Control the press Chris. They ask questions; they provoke shocking responses in you. You’re perfect bait. Don’t be that. The only thing you owe the press is career-specific conversation, good music to review and awe-inspiring performances. I implore you to pay very close attention to those in your circle that don’t have the guts to tell you to STFU for your own good. Mistakes don’t make you the ‘bad boy’. Ignore anyone that’s encouraging you to wear that hat. You don’t want it. You’re black in America. You’re not gonna get too many chances. I personally think your rap verses are better than many struggling rappers, but do not adopt the blemished persona of a tough guy… like many of our rappers do.

  [Allow me to put my Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and PR internships to work]. How does Chris Brown control the press?

  • Know a GREAT press opportunity from a cheap one. GMA with Robin Roberts, GREAT! Dudes chasing you around The Grove with an XH Series Canon? Hit ‘em with a smile, a greeting, deuces, ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’.
  • Man up on a national stage like GMA. Seize the best opportunity to load your answers regarding the past with such a rational and potent dose of the truth that you disable any other journalist from asking the same thing twice. Control the press. 
  • Always remember why you’re on a show like Good Morning America and humble yourself at the opportunity. Your publicist and label; especially in your PR realm go through GREAT lengths for you to be on a huge show as such.
  • Listen closely to that person that’s not eating, shopping, vacaying, partying with you and laughing at EVERYTHING out of your mouth…the person that hopefully checked you when you stormed out into Time Square this AM from ABC…the person that isn’t just enjoying your limelight, but ‘gets it’.

  I hope to GOD you or a truly valuable constituent in your entourage reads this and insists that you digest it. This ain’t about the author of the letter. Not about my timeline. I have 200+ followers. This is about GREATNESS. Great people urge others to be GREAT. This is urgent homie. Humbly, I urge you.

  ————————————————————————————————————————

  Dear Breezy,

  I felt compelled to write this open letter to you on behalf of at the very least a valuable fraction of your fans, industry influencers and hopefully everyone in your circle. I predict there must be at least one ‘yes’ person in the universe that would consider this plea that of a deranged being. I can say, I’ve been many things and accomplished just as much in life, but I am far from deranged…maybe remotely, but not fully.

  Chris, you’ve heard this before, but receive my words independent of bias and fanfare. You’re an undeniably gifted brother. You’re a threat for your competitors and the barometer for Pop/R&B is to be measured by you for at least the next 15 years. This was the case for Bobby Brown in the late 80’s through the 90’s. It has been the case for Usher from the early 90’s ‘til the present. R. Kelly has persevered and stood his ground as well.

  I have no idea what actually occurred with you and your well publicized relationship with the ‘belle from Barbados’ two years ago, but what was told and shown by the press was ugly and I, along with everyone else on earth that condemns violence and more importantly, domestic violence blasted you based on what we saw, read and heard. At that time you were not only blackballed by every marketing vehicle in the business, but you were condemned by your fans as well. I doubt no one in February of 2009 even attempted to fantasize about your return to the top of the charts, which you are today.

  Since then, you have lost some lucrative endorsements, but have been given countless opportunities at redemption; mostly centered around still having a record deal and support from the team behind your career. In the process of redemption, BET, Larry King and countless other outlets have and continued to, not just support you, but exemplify the value of second chances. And you, as you are entitled to, have made mistakes (as we all do). However Chris, your missteps are extraordinary because of your stature as a public figure and celebrity. So, I offer you the aforementioned preface to set you up for a straight shot of ‘the real.’

  You are the #1 R&B and Pop artist of your time. You are R&B royalty. Since the incident in ’09, somehow you have bounced back to the top of the charts in multiple formats. Granted, all the records are damn good!. You have garnered at least 3 chart topping hits. You delivered one of the most memorable performances in 2010 on the BET Awards. You have and continue to remain genuinely connected to your fans, while your mature cheerleaders respect your star’s illumination. To say that you’re back is not enough.

  How much better can it get for you though? What’s your pinnacle? Let me tell you what it is: You can live at the top of the charts. You have the voice and you have the records.  No one can outperform you. NO ONE. You haven’t even began to show the world who you really are as a star.

  What dims your illuminating star though? Let me tell you: responding to past and irrelevant individuals on Twitter; Blasting your record company publically. Never ever call out the staff at your label home in public, unless you’re prepared to leave. And even then it isn’t warranted, because what’s unethical is unethical. Remember, this is the staff that feeds their kids by taking risks trying to revive careers that have been jolted by darkening publicity. Never ever call out your label home.  Control the press Chris. They ask questions; they provoke shocking responses in you. You’re perfect bait. Don’t be that. The only thing you owe the press is career-specific conversation, good music to review and awe-inspiring performances. I implore you to pay very close attention to those in your circle that don’t have the guts to tell you to STFU for your own good. Mistakes don’t make you the ‘bad boy’. Ignore anyone that’s encouraging you to wear that hat. You don’t want it. You’re black in America. You’re not gonna get too many chances. I personally think your rap verses are better than many struggling rappers, but do not adopt the blemished persona of a tough guy… like many of our rappers do. We need you on our channels, our airwaves and on the stage. Fall back from the BS because it’s gonna keep coming to you. Stop creating causes for apologies.

  I mentioned Bobby, R. Kelly and Usher as trailblazers. You’re not here absent of their successes. And yes, I know they’ve made mistakes too, but my open letter is not for them. This letter is for you.

  25 years ago, Bobby Brown released his first solo album, entitled, “King of Stage”. The name said it all. Chris, you’re ‘it’. Be that.
  

  Nothing but love,
  

  @craigsplaylist

• 2011-03-16

  olubumi asked: Thanks for the follow! I like your blog. You write very well

  Thank you VERY much!