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Nelly, Pussycat Dolls, T.I., Gym Class Heroes and Jazmine Sullivan

the music press

sun 10/12/2008

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After a four-year hiatus, St. Louis rapper Nelly delivers his fifth album, Brass Knuckles. The Village Voice says he's playing second fiddle to his guests, "many of whom, uncomfortably enough, have eclipsed their host in the public consciousness (Fergie, Rick Ross)." The Boston Globe thinks he waited too long: "Four years is a long time to be gone. The market he had essentially cornered since 2000 was in middle school the last time he released a record."
Girl-power pop combo Pussycat Dolls deliver their sophomore effort, Doll Domination, a "collection of electro-pop songs that are the opposite of sex: belligerent come-ons and odes to singledom stripped of pleasure, adventure or anything resembling fun," according to the Los Angeles Times. "After the inexplicable 'failure' of Nicole's solo album … it was smart to spotlight the, uh, talents of the other pussycats this go 'round," observes Slant Magazine.
Atlanta's T.I. drops Paper Trail, an album in which he "mostly dispenses with the Tupac-wannabe gangsta-confessor pretensions to deliver catchy, tight, bombastic pop-rap," according to Rolling Stone. T.I. finds the "perfect balance of comedy and tragedy, swagger and humble attitude, pop music and hardcore hip-hop," and "[lives] up to the nickname 'Jay-Z of the South' in a big way," gushes webzine Rap Reviews.
New York rap-rockers Gym Class Heroes return with their fourth album, The Quilt, a "misguided effort to be taken seriously as a hip-hop band," according to Entertainment Weekly. "It's the kind of benign mall music that's likely to be played ad nauseam at trendy chains like Wet Seal and Forever 21 while tweens shop for colored denim and leggings." Spin magazine agrees: "These dudes … are the Black Eyed Peas of the Warped tour set."
R&B newcomer Jazmine Sullivan flexes her songwriting skills on her debut, Fearless, an album "just two songs shy of being a benchmark classic in the annals of music history," proclaims Soul Tracks. "Sullivan may be just 21, but the singer-songwriter proves herself a veteran in the game of love," declares Billboard.com. Sullivan's vocals are "perfection," raves Vibe magazine.

also tagged Nelly, pussycat dolls, t.i., gym class heroes, jazmine sullivan

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11 responses to “the music press: Nelly, Pussycat Dolls, T.I., Gym Class Heroes and Jazmine Sullivan”

i love all of them and the music that they do is wowwwwwwwwww super cool...

gotta luv TI

well i dont think that only cause Nelly took along time
to come back. doesnt mean nothing...
Well i am not the biggest fan of the Pussycatt Dolls.. But T.I. got a good new CD... i like alot of the new songs...
Gym cass Heroes are goos ones to.. I would say right now
my favorite jam Is Cookie Jar so far.. IT was a good mix with The Dream.. N Jazmine.. Now that girl has talent. I reallt luv her jam.. I Need U.. & Bust Your Windows.... Luv it.. =)

♥Mizz Guera♥

mon 10/13 7:30am

wow cool nelly luk really sexy there. jazmine sullivan and travis mccoy are haitian mi did not kno dat.

alexandra

mon 10/13 11:15am

i can honestly say that i look forward to those albums.

la princesa

mon 10/13 12:54pm

Not to excited but I'll take a listen.

Jorge C

mon 10/13 3:55pm

jazmine sullivan is the real deal got mad talent... as for T.i first time i heard his album i thought it was good...but now its like meh.... I think he try to hard to project himself as the Thug Messiah and dude needs to cut that noise cause he aint that nice..... I still think Ice Cube and Jezzy are tied for rap album of the year.....Nas had a good one but hes all bark and no bitel...... He screams about in justices but doesnt say how we can change them...