Two reviews peoplez! The first is my first Spoken Word Review for Future. He's
an excellent artist and a friend. Check out his myspace page and website.

The second is for my favorite R&B album at the moment, Justin Timberlake.
Enjoy!

Red

Future: The Darker Side Of Black “More Than Spoken Word” An Album Analysis
by Nfared
Spoken Word is probably the new wave of the future. The problem though is the
movement is still relatively an underground phenomena, only slightly breaking
through the surface with the success of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. Aside from that
show though, there are other artists that are keeping alive the dream of giving
Spoken Word as much exposure as mainstream Hip-Hop. Ed “Future” Wilson is one
such dreamer, delivering his third album, “The Darker Side Of Black”, with an
internal fury that suggests he is involved in something much bigger than he.

On “Johnny Storm” he struggles with his self-confidence and being considered
egotistical; “Personally I think I’m fantastic/marvelous even…” vs. “I don’t say
anything to you/I haven’t already said in the mirror…” He masterfully analyzes
though, making sense of it all with, “I only wish to display my passions
and/sometimes I get lost in translation…” The celebratory sound of “My Ambition
As A Writer” is almost as engaging as Future's wordplay. He holds The Spoken
Word scene in his hands and observes, “…Poetry has become less about serving/and
more about pleasing persons…” Unsympathetic to artistic complainers, he reels,
“You stayed up ‘til six in the morning writing/so what nigga deal with it.” He
then reveals his own purpose; “My ambition as a writer/is to never write
alone/so I sit next to his throne…” In support of education, “Monopoly” is
thought provoking; “The most dangerous people in the world ain’t toting guns and
breaking into homes/they paying back student
loans…” On “Call To Duty” though in a laid back tone, he fiercely assures he is
qualified for his craft, “…I’m versatile/can be nigga or brother/give it to you
rough an come off smooth like a used rubber/loquacious assassin…” He extends his
skill to the support of women with “Broken Homes” Critical of his own sex, he
frustratingly states, “I know I don’t speak for every brother/but it seems one
ignorant nigga can mess it up for all of us…soon as we see opportunities for
sex/we pull the trigga.” Hoping to spark a flame, he speaks to the struggle of
men, and then explains, “He’s a product of a broken home”.

Needle Meter Spoken Word is nothing new. Artists of all colors and from all
across the world are calling themselves Spoken Word Artist. Though hard to
culminate the feelings of all of these people, Future, seems to speak for an
entire community of artist, and his passion and skill make it almost impossible
to think anyone does not feel the way he does. Though as confident as a rapper,
his pride is more engaging than annoying, and though his wealth of knowledge may
seem insurmountable, he makes himself seem like a simple everyday person. Surely
if asked, that’s what he’ll tell you, but it’s obvious there is a force within
deeper and more powerful then even he probably realizes.
FIVE NEEDLES! Classic Album

For more info, go to www.myspace.com/futurepoetry or www.futurethepoet.com



Justin Timberlake: FUTURESEX/LOVEOSUNDS “A Sound Like Never Before” An Album
Analysis by Nfared
OK so there was the Janet thing. Many were unforgiving towards Janet, but also
towards Justin Timberlake for letting Janet take the bulk of the blame for the
incident. Justin has clearly moved on, creating an album that is probably one of
the more avant-garde R&B albums since well—since his first.
“FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS” his sophomore album is critical to his career, not only
because of the sophomore curse, but because honestly, he’s a white boy trying to
make it with the likes of Trey Songz, Ne-Yo, and Chris Brown. But hey, no
pressure.

Justin and producer Timberland seem to have been meant to be together on wax,
as proved with the bass heavy, invigorating “My Love”. The uptempo track is
classic Timberland, yet still manages to sound amazingly distinctive from--
anything. Justin, singing in full falsetto (and a strong one) is in love as he
questions, “If I wrote you a symphony/just to say how much you mean to me/what
would you do?” On the opposite end of love, “What Goes Around” features a broken
hearted Justin. He mockingly questions her decision in the beginning; “Hey
girl/is he everything you wanted in a man?” Audibly disturbed; “Don’t want to
think about it/don’t want to talk about it/I’m just so sick about it…” he finds
comfort in the karma of a chorus, “What goes around goes around goes around goes
all the way back around.” The flirty “Summer Love” is insanely addictive thanks
to the sound of 808’s and a smooth harmonic chorus, “I can’t want to fall in
love with you/you can’t wait to fall in love
with me/this just can’t be summer love/you see/this just can’t be summer love.”
Justin extends his voice beyond his fame with, “Losing My Way”. He sings the
story of substance abuse; “…see I can’t put down the pipe” and “I remember where
I was when I got my first buzz/I thought I was living the life…” Justin is
fluid, almost as if he can personally relate with, “It is breaking me
down/watching the world spin round/while my dreams fall down/is anybody out
there?” The prelude to the chorus is simply worded, yet touches the heart; “can
anybody out there hear me/cause I can’t seem to hear myself/can anybody out
there see me/cause I can’t seem to see myself/there’s got to be a heaven
somewhere/can you save me from this hell/can anybody out there feel me/cause I
can’t seem, to feel myself/losing my way."

Needle Meter Justin has created an amazing album here, simply put. The
futuristic sound created for each song with the production credit of himself,
Timberland, and Nate Hills is classic. The writing is fun when necessary and
moving, almost tear jerking, with ballads like, “Until The End Of Time” and
“(Another Song) All Over Again”. Though the short album leaves you wanting more
(only 12 tracks), that’s more than likely the point. He has put the past behind
and moved on with what he loves. Hopefully the rest of the world can do the same
as to not miss a masterpiece.
FIVE NEEDLES! CLASSIC ALBUM!





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