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Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Skincare Must For Exams

It's exam season and everyone is stressed out! With summer coming up I thought it would be a good idea to head to the Body Shop to revive my skin, so no one would know I've spent the last few weeks with my head in a textbook.

First up, we have the Vitamin C Skin Reviver and Energising Face Spritz, both excellent for giving tired skin a radiant boost. Then we have Wonderblur, which helps smooth out fine lines that are bound to occur after all nighters.

Next up are some of the Maca Root range for men. The Exfoliating Face Wash is a great post shave treat, helping combat shaving bumps and ingrown hairs. The Face Protector and Eye Serum are perfect little additions to moisturise the skin with added SPF protection.

Here we have the Seaweed Face Mask, which is a great luxury after a hectic week and the Soothing Aloe Night Cream helps keep the skin calm and fresh looking.

Hand moisturises are always a nice treat throughout the day, they smell and feel great :).

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

AZEALIA BANKS - "BROKE WITH EXPENSIVE TASTE"

Labelling her debut album as "the best album ever", Azealia Banks set herself a high bar. Following the 1991 EP and Fantasea mixtape, the long-anticipated Broke With Expensive Taste has finally dropped in a surprise "Beyonce"-style fashion. The question is: was it worth the wait?

With a tracklist of 16 (6 of which have been previously released) Ms Banks shows versatility and growth since we last heard Fantasea. With solid production on every track, and a mixture of singing and rapping that doesn't feel forced, Azealia was right to say the album was something special. The tracks flow cohesively, featuring Azealia's usual 'alternative' take on the current music scene, with Garage influenced beats on Desperado, house on Soda and more heavy hitting Hip Hop on Ice Princess.

Critical success was bound to happen, as long as Azealia kept doing whatever made 212 and Van Vogue so instantly memorable, here's to hoping she also scores the commercial success!

Highlights: Wallace, Soda, Desparado and JFK.

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

MUSIC VIDEO: Nicki Minaj - 'Anaconda'

Nicki Minaj unleashes one of the hottest videos ever! The infectiously catchy tune's visual shows Nicki shaking her assets all over the place. Sure to boost interest in the song, the video sees the rapper return to the pink theme we've come to associate with brand Nicki. Peep the super solid effort bellow.

I love how Nicki really goes for it in this clip, nothing is held back. Kudos for the Drake cameo (wonder how SB feels haha).

Personal Highlight: the fashion shoots featuring Balmain and Alexander McQueen, and the amazing chair scenes (shows how much I love a great foreground on a simple white background).

*Waits for the VMAs*

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

MUSIC: Nicki Minaj - "No Flex Zone Remix"

Nicki Minaj has dropped her remix to "No Flex Zone", showcasing her versatility, flow and word play once again. Sure to cause people to question who she's directing certain bars towards (it really doesn't matter, it can't detract from the fact Nicki is one of the best rappers out there). This is great for a surprise release but Nicki needs to bring something totally different for her third album. "Pills N Potions" was a move in the right direction, but something more impactful and memorable needs to be delivered.

"Ass still fat its on Rick Ross".

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

MUSIC VIDEO: Nicki Minaj - Pills N Potions

Nicki Minaj has finally dropped the video for her potential sleeper hit "Pills N Potions". Showing a more vulnerable and natural look Nicki poses alongside co-star The Game. With some smart visual effects, and some that are just random, Pills looks like a behind the scenes video of a photo-shoot. It's refreshing to she a less vibrant Nicki. It looks great and works well with the song, however, upon first watch it appears to be a bit lacklustre.
The music video for a performers first single is often loud and in your face and catches your attention from the get go, but maybe this is Nicki's master plan; tone it all done, make you want to see more, rather than throwing it in your face. Overall, both the song and the video are growers, which is a wise decision from the often bold rapstress.

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

MUSIC: NICKI MINAJ - "PILLS N POTIONS"

It's here, Nicki Minaj's first single from The Pinkprint. "Pills N Potions" is an unexpected turn from what we've heard from Nicki so far this year. However, it shows a more vulnerable side of Nicki which has been missing from her recent efforts. The beat and chorus are summer ready and the verses focus less on wit or metaphors but story-telling, to an extent. Another verse or two would of made this a more solid effort.

On initial hearing it sounds like a grower, still not sure if this is what Nicki needs to score a number one on the Billboard Hot 100, but time shall tell.

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

MUSIC: BANKS - "GODDESS"

This song has been out for 18 days so it's not that new, but I had to write about it! "GODDESS", the title track from BANKS debut album is incredible. The lyrics and delivery evoke so many emotions, even to someone who hasn't been in a relationship like the one she paints a picture off. It falls in line with one of Beyonce's female empowerment anthems, but does so in a much more subtle way; it doesn't make you want to dance around and laugh about all the people who missed out on you, it makes you want to walk past your unappreciative ex-partner and let them bask in your presence.

She's a GODDESS you never got this.

Peace and Blessings,
Andre

MUSIC: LIL WAYNE - "D'USSE"

Every time Lil Wayne gives us a glimpse of the same greatness he demonstrated on 'A Milli' everyone gets excited. His new track "D'Usse" shows a large fraction of that greatness. With the release of this track faith has been restored in Tha Carter V. Every line is a punchline, and its packed with metaphors and a great flow. Lil Wayne returns to the form of previous incarnations, proving he never 'fell off'.

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

RETROSPECT: Lady Gaga - "G.U.Y"

As a whole Lady Gaga's ARTPOP was tinged with the correct hints of pop, R&B and dance to bring the singer to the heights of critical and commercial success her 2009 EP The Fame Monster reached. But, the same commercial success was obviously not going to happen: a lackluster, slow-burner promotional campaign and one music video (out of the two produced from the album) before release didn't create enough buzz around the project.
So after month's of being out, Gaga and her team tried to regain some sort of hype by releasing G.U.Y as a single and releasing a video for it.

As an album track G.U.Y fulfils all the needs of the listener; the production is solid, the chorus and hook are catchy and the lyrics have Gaga's quirk (I particularly love the bridge's overtly sexual lyrics). As a single, the song is projected in a whole new light. I always like to withhold my thoughts on a song until it comes on the radio, but I never heard G.U.Y once playing on any station, which is disappointing. However, with such a visually stunning video, acting like the angel to Bad Romance's demon. The bright cinematography captures the essence of the song perfectly, it's light, bold and sexy. Also, the choreography is so damn good, personifying just how raunchy the song is. But charting at No.76 doesn't cut it for a Gaga song, G.U.Y should have been release much earlier to build on the hype/mess that was generated with the teasing of Venus and the release of Do What U Want (probably one of the most underrated songs of the year, it's just so perfect).

Still waiting for the "Do What U Want" video... And maybe ARTPOP ACT II

Peace and Blessings,
Andre

MUSIC: Lil Wayne ft Drake - "Believe Me"

I should be doing work right now, but it seems YMCMB are trying to disrupt my day.
Lil Wayne released the first single of his 'kind-of' anticipated The Carter V (The Carter IV sold well but did anyone really like it as much as the third in the collection?). As exepcedt the track "Believe Me" features Drake, which is a good move since Drake is pulling in all this media attention whilst Lil Wayne is surprisingly low-key.

I think everyone will agree when I say that Lil Wayne's lyrical ability far surpasses that of his Young Money mentor Birdman. In continuing fashion, this track shows how Drake has now overstepped the marker Lil Wayne set. The song should really be Drake featuring Lil Wayne. All in all, both deliver solid verses, but nothing that's going change the game. By the sounds of it The Carter V is gonna be an album we've already heard before, with no groundbreaking changes. But I'll withhold my judgement until its out.

Peace and Blessings,

Andre

MUSIC: Nicki Minaj ft. Soulja Boy - "YASSS BISH!!"

Today I woke up with the plan of going to the library and revising. Then I checked Twitter to see nothing but Barbz on my timeline.

"YASSS BISH!" is lyrically everything. Nicki's delivery and flow are something else. The beat and Soulja Boy's contribution are alright, but overshadowed by Nicki's power on this track. There's no warning, no subtlety, it's just straight lyricism. A lot of Hip Hop fans say NIcki's lyricism isn't smart enough to be given as much credit as it gets, but they should listen to this song. It's comical and relevant in every sense of pop culture, addressing things such as the Donald Sterling issue and nodding to the Real Housewives of Atlanta. This song solidifies Nicki's position in rap, she's at the top; she can drop a track, just spitting, and people freak out.
Sitting and waiting to be slayed when The Pinkprint drops.

"Fix it Jesus".

Peace and Blessings,
Andre

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