"So Sorry That We Fell in Love, Geronimo"

It's a shame that more people don't know the name Alex Da Kid. You've all heard my rant on how producers are a better indication of track success than artist, but I'll take it a step further and say that if the executive producer on your album is great, then your album will follow suit. Just ask Imagine Dragons whose debut album (Night Visions) went platinum with the help of Alex Da Kid executive producing the album.

Having said all that, Skylar Grey's new album Don't Look Down is also executive produced by Alex, Eminem and JR Rotem and it's going to hit iTunes on Tuesday. I've posted damn near all of her singles up until now and I'm not even sure if her new one featuring Big Sean and Travis Barker will be a single, but it's definitely worth a listen. You can call it the "just getting out of prison" anthem because it centers around getting reacquainted with someone when they've been gone for years. As per usual, Skylar's vocals shine all over the track, but just as much credit is in line for JR, whose beat and song organization put the track in a position to succeed. Honestly, it's hard to tell Travis Barker chipped in, but Big Sean's flow fit well on the track. Just one of many well put together tracks that are going to surface on Tuesday...#DontLookDown

Skylar Grey feat Big Sean & Travis Barker - Back From the Dead (prod by JR Rotem)

"I Feel Like Old Blue Jeans, 'Cause You Wear Me Out"

It's getting to the point that I'm so confident I'm going to like Skylar Grey's music, I immediately start crafting a post before I listen to her tracks. Sure, it helps that she again has stellar, top notch production from JR Rotem on her new single below, but her talent as a vocalist is undeniable. She continues her edgy storytelling with lyrics like...

"Smartass little girl, always on the run, playin' with fire and daddy's gun"

...but then she reels you back in on the melodic hook that analogizes the act of nagging being like an old pair of jeans. Lost in the shuffle of great singles that she has released recently like C'mon Let Me Ride and Final Warning is that both were preceded two years ago by her debut single off (Invisible) off her upcoming album Don't Look Down. I'm at a loss as far as which one is my favorite, but Wear Me Out ranks up there. Going four solid singles deep before releasing your album is a feat that is going to make it really difficult to resist iTunes on July 9th when her album hits iTunes...#WearMeOut

Skylar Grey - Wear Me Out (prod by JR Rotem)

Sean Kingston Gets Back 2 Life, Back 2 Reality

Ah yes, back to the winning formula for @seankingston. When I say formula, I mean a @jonathanrotem beat with old school sample and high profile cameo feature. For his newest single, Back 2 Life (Live it Up), the cameo feature happens to be @tip and the sample is from Soul II Soul's 1988 hit Back to Life (However Do You Want Me). Video below for a quick refresher on what 80's Pop/R&B sounded like...

Man that was the jam back in the day, wasn't it? Whether Sean Kingston did it justice with the sample is up for debate, though. I'll say that he's done a lot better (Beautiful Girls) and a lot worse (Born to be Wild) on previous samples. One thing I am sure of is that it's palatable enough to start a wildfire on top 40 radio. By my count this will be his fifth single released so far from his upcoming third studio album Back 2 Life.

If you asked me to rank the singles, I'd probably go with Letting Go (Dutty Love), Back 2 Life, Eenie Meenie, Party All Night, and Dumb Love. Rumor has it that Kingston may blow up the tracklist and start all over with the single below, which would be a ballsy move. Why not throw them in as fillers and have an end result that is a classic album with front to back singles? No release date in sight, but like any Sean Kingston release, it'll be chalked full of fun reggae and repeatable radio hits...#Back2Life

Sean Kingston feat T.I. - Back to Life (Live it Up) (prod by JR Rotem)
|iTunes

Sean Kingston and Nicki Minaj Love the Lion King

It's good to see that @seankingston is recovered enough from his boating accident back in May to start releasing new music. When phrases like "ejected from jet ski" and "intensive care" are used to describe how you're doing, it's never a good sign, but the good news is, he's expected to make a full recovery.

Back in October, Sean took to Facebook to reveal his new album title Back 2 Life. His new single below, Born to be Wild featuring @nickiminaj produced by radio mainstay @jonathanrotem is probably going to end up being the lead single. It's every bit as big of a sing along as the Lion King version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight...

Only thing missing is a few wimoweh a wimoweh a wimowehs on the JR sample, but you better believe the listening audiences will fill in the gaps. Can anyone say universal from little kids all the way to their parents who took them to the movie? Maybe the Nicki verse will turn off a few parents with the baby talk, but goodness this is going get a lot of radio play...#NumberOneSingleWatch

Sean Kingston feat Nicki Minaj - Born to be Wild (prod by JR Rotem)

|iTunes

Bobby Ray T.I. & Chris Martin Never Get Lost

You might be thinking to yourself, wait a minute, wasn't this song featuring @tip and @coldplay on @bobatl's No Genre mixtape like a year ago? To that I say, cheers observant reader because I was thinkin' the same damn thing myself because I posted this track on April 26th of last year. Yea I know, I was a little late on it considering the mixtape dropped on December 7th, 2010.

Regardless of timing or whether it was previously unreleased until now, I should get to the point of me re-posting the track. What you hear below is a new sounding version in that it's clearly been mastered with actual vocals from Chris Martin of Coldplay. If you're wondering what I mean, check out the original with Bobby Ray singing the hook. The authentic Coldplay vocals give it an added touch of freshness that the original didn't have. Sure the verses and beat provided by none other than JJJ JR! (@jonathanrotem) are the same great concoction, but a new hook can do wonders for a track.

Furthermore, you may be wondering what the intentions are for mastering this track. I wonder the same thing, but with the new T.I. and Bobby Ray collaboration album titled The Man & The Martian in the works, this might just end up being a single when it's all said and done. All I can say is it's about damn time this was made a single! I bet Coldplay was finally compen$ated on the sample and that's why they've got the green light to release it as a single...#MoneyTalk$

B.O.B. feat T.I. & Coldplay - Never Lost (prod by JR Rotem)

Bad Boy's New White Boy

Seems like every big record label needs a white boy these days. First it was Eminem, who blazed a trail for the likes of Asher Roth, Mac Miller and Yelawolf. Enter new Bad Boy/Interscope signee @machinegunkelly, a 21 year old from Shaker Heights (Cleveland) who makes a living with his rapid fire flow (hence the name). I'll let Sway fill in the rest of the details...

I can't hate one bit on the come up MGK has made from rapping in his basement, all the way to the bidding war that Diddy ended up winning. Which brings me to my next point, would Diddy not only invest, but outbid other prospective labels over just anyone? If the shoe fits, wear it (see Ciroc) and after one song, I'm listening. Shouts out to @jonathanrotem on the beat and @livvifranc on the hook on Warning Shot...#Duck

Machine Gun Kelly feat Livvi Franc - Warning Shot (prod by JR Rotem)

Videos of the Week

Lots of good stuff below including Adele shutting down the VMAs with her superb vocal performance of Someone Like You...

Adele Performs Someone Like You at VMAs (Best Performance)

Yelawolf - No Hands (Video)

How in the hell did Tyler, the Creator win best new artist over Wiz Khalifa & Big Sean?

J.R. Rotem Producing Nicki Minaj's New Single Fly

Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna - Fly (Video)

Wale feat Jeremiah & Rick Ross - That Way (Video)

Neon Hitch - Gucci, Gucci (Kreayshawn cover) (Video)

Sample Justice? Jason Derulo feat Auburn - Maniac (prod by JR Rotem)

It's been a minute (or 7 months) since I've posted some Derulo, but he's back with yet another potential radio hit on Maniac. New year, same formula with JR Rotem doing what he does best by taking a well known oldie sample and flipping it new school R&B style. When it comes to capturing listeners attention with a catchy well known sample, @jonathanrotem knows how to pick 'em. Whether you hate on his lack of originality or marvel at his ability to transform the old into the new, it's probably not a good idea to bet against his pop culture success.

If you need a refresher on the sample, give Michael Sembello's Maniac, which was featured in the 1983 Flashdance a quick listen...

Sure I've definitely heard better samples, but I'm digging the chemistry between @JASONDERULO & the new "princess of Beluga Heights" @callmeauburn. I wouldn't say they outdid the original by any stretch of the imagination, but they didn't ruin it either. Call it a push, but it's worth a few listens. It's not going to set the radio on fire, but it will help Auburn get her name out and it's good to hear somethin' new from Jason Derulo, who hasn't released much since touring all over the world the past half year.

Jason Derulo feat Auburn - Maniac (prod by JR Rotem)

|Download

"These Girls Fall Like Dominoes, D-D-Dominoes"

With all these high profile albums dropping this month from Kanye to Cudi to Twista to J Cole's mixtape, I'd even throw in Nelly, Black Eyed Peas, Yelawolf and Lloyd Banks to the list of notable releases, it's going to be easy to overlook the Nicki Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday. After giving her album a full listen, I'm sold man, she's got damn near 10 tracks that I have a real hard time skipping over. My current favorites are the track below (which is surprisingly a bonus track despite it's obvious single appeal), Blazin' feat Kanye and her track with Drake, Moment For Life.

You take the three tracks I mentioned above and put it with the singles she has already Check It Out with Will I Am, Your Love, Massive Attack and current single Right Thru Me, that's an epic debut effort that deserves a lot of credit. I'd even venture to say other than Kanye's new album, Pink Friday is the best album that is dropping this month, even over Cudi's MOTM2, which is hard for me to admit.

It's hard to go wrong when you put JR Rotem behind the boards too and he didn't deviate from his sample based beats in creating another masterpiece. This time J-J-J-JR taps into UK's electro-rock duo The Big Pink's hit Dominos from 2009, which interestingly enough was a top 50 single in the US at one point. Check it out below...

Before JR sampled the track, I had never heard the original, which is also a really good track. If this doesn't end up being a single at some point then @nickiminaj's A&R and Marketing staff will be under utilizing it's potential. Only reason I can think of it not originally making the tracklist is because of sampling clearances? Ya never know...

Either way, this is a standout track, it has that high energy, engaging sound to it that makes it really hard to not like. Call it the JR audio cocaine special, he's a magician and this will serve as another feather in his cap. Oh and give Nicki her due, she has carved her own niche in Hip Hop and is far from flash in the pan, career wise...in other words this is only the beginning and she's going to continue to garner respect from her peers as well as fans of Hip Hop. Go support her debut effort when it drops tomorrow, it's way better than what I expected...

Nicki Minaj - Girls Fall Like Dominos (prod by JR Rotem)

|Download

Buzz Track: Pill feat I.Y.A.Z. - Blow Up (prod by JR Rotem)

Ah yea, a well put together radio friendly single for Pill to hang his hat on, which will only serve to increase his notoriety and get his name out in the public. In case you weren't privy to his latest mixtape hosted by @djdrama titled 1140:The Overdose, you should probably catch up because everyone else is still noddin' their heads to tracks like I'ma Ride and Westsiders.

No better or shorter way to a #1 single than working with the esteemed JR Rotem, who wakes up and urinates #1 singles. It helps too that he has I.Y.A.Z. under his Beluga Heights wing and has helped develop him into more than just a mini-Sean Kingston. Sure @iyazlive is a couple albums behind, but I'd argue his vocals are just as enticing as Sean's when on a hook.

Collabs aside @pill4180 is now showing me a little somethin' as far as turning potential into legit success with this single. He proved himself in my eyes with a solid mixtape and now it's looking like Warner Bros may be pushing for his album later this year titled The Medicine. Hopefully his record label doesn't stunt his growth and individuality by making too many of these "radio hits" because the whole JR Rotem cookie cutter single works, but everyone has went to that well.

How about letting the artists be themselves and take some chances big record labels?? #ThatShitDoesntSell...

I digress...give it a listen, it's catchier than anything you would expect to come from gangstapill...

Pill feat IYAZ - Blow Up (prod by JR Rotem)
| Download

Throwback Thurs: "More Money Means More Dough to Blow"

With Rick Ross's new album Teflon Don coming out in a little less than two weeks and tracks from that album blowing out Gulf of Mexico style (songs don't just leak anymore #ontothenextone), it's only fitting I revisit one of my favorite tracks of his. Sure Hustlin' is going to get all the credit as the "cannonball" single that got his name in the mainstream, but this cut from his debut album Port of Miami released in 2006 is where he exploded to me.

From the looks of the tracklist, it seems like he's trying a new route on his newest album that is geared more towards reeling in some more mainstream success, rather than sticking with the sound that got him to where he's at now characterized by trap anthems like Hustlin', Speedin' and Push It. No production from JR Rotem, DJ Toomp, Cool n Dre and most notably The Runners has me a little worried about the quality of his new album. No disrespect to J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League because he's proven he can bring it on more than a few occasions, but he's done some classic tracks with the aforementioned producers and the lack of their presence on his new music has me skipping lots of Rick Ross material lately. That new single with Ne-Yo was garbage in my opinion and while I do appreciate the Drake collab on the new album along with yet ANOTHER Maybach Music track, it's not looking good.

Now that all that skepticism is outta my system, let's focus on what got Rick here with Blow, where he raps over a boisterous Cool n Dre beat that can be heard for miles with a little bit of volume. These are the types of tracks that make me think of Miami hip hop and the loud organ/synth combination that has dominated that region thanks mostly to @COOLANDDRE and @THERUNNERS. The whiny synthesizers and depth of the bass are the allure to me and it helps too that William Roberts contributes some cohesive, baller status verses in sort of a talk it before you live it sort of way. Now that he's actually living it, it's cool to look back and admire the confidence, while *hoping* for future tracks that get back to this sound.

Hit the recliner and throw it way back on hot as a melonfarmer Thursday...

Rick Ross feat Dre - Blow (prod by Cool n Dre)
|Download

The Most Vicious F Word in the Dictionary

We've all heard it at some point in our lives from someone we deeply care about and despite the good intentions of the person saying it, the F work can be the most painful work in the dictionary. Now before you go assuming the word I'm talking about rhymes with any combination of truck, trucking or trucked, you're misinformed, that word is usually intended to be a relief or intentionally hurtful. It's the F word that isn't meant to be intentionally hurtful that wreaks the most havoc because you would honestly rather be called a mothertrucking witch or ?sshole than this word when the person delivering the blow sheepishly proposes becoming the F word, which as kindhearted as it is intended to be, turns into the most degrading relationship proposition imaginable.

If you haven't figured it out yet, or scrolled down to see the song title, the F word I'm talking about is the word friend. The dictionary definition of friend is as follows:

friend (noun) - 1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
friend (verb) - (sadly this is now an alternate definition...smh)
1. To add (someone) as a friend on a social networking website.

Now if I were to get the opportunity to amend the dictionary definition to include an alternate, more real life use of the word, my definition would be as follows:

friend (noun) - a person with whom you used to be in a relationship with and trust that now only likes you enough to offer a compensatory, contrived offering of distanced companionship in a last ditch effort to make you feel less hurt seconds after removing your once beating heart from your chest

Hopefully that wasn't too graphic for the kids frequenting my blog (yea right), but I suppose they need to learn at some point because the double edged sword that is the word friend is unforgiving and deceiving in it's double meaning. Oh what's that wanna be player in the back who is trying to act hard like this has never happened to him? You've never caught a touchdown pass with two feet in friendzone (respect the NFL rules)?? Not my fault you settle for insecure, fat girls/guys, reach higher dude/woman. If you haven't heard the phrase "I think we should just be friends" or at least attempted to out-punt your coverage only to shank it into the stands 10 yards down the field, you need to stop settling for that net 30 yd punt...dudes in the NFL college get cut for that kind of effort.

Now that I've gotten that spiteful, but fulfilling rant of my chest, let's focus forward on the ballad at hand by IYAZ, who, by the way keeps putting out hit after hit if you haven't noticed. It would be hard to argue that JR Rotem's influence on IYAZ's hits hasn't been the primary fuel behind his splash into mainstream music, but IYAZ still has to delivery the catchy hooks and execute verses, so more power to him. Add this to the two aforementioned tracks, plus his upcoming single So Big (that I'm also a big fan of) and you've got yourself 4 legit hits on a debut album, which is almost unheard of.

Everyone knows someone who is an absolute lock for being a perennial All-Pro Wide Receiver for catching TD's in the friendzone (I see you Kman!), but needless to say, regardless of man or woman being effected, it's never fun to hear about or watch the catches (especially if they are in slow-mo). On a funny note, I found a message board conversation that discussed the friendzone topic that is absolutely hilarious (see here). The most accurate quote I saw on the whole post was "Yea, (the friend zone) is real, but there's nothing a little alcohol can't fix." For all you visual learners, here's another artist's rendition of the friendzone with a cameo from Mario:

Then, in case there are folks reading this who are wanting to get out of the friendzone, here is an artist's rendition of how to get out of the friendzone and into the greener pasture that is a (supposedly) a relationship:

Even I don't even have the audacity to take credit for coming up with something that nerdy, creative and absolutely hilarious, thank yab. I think IYAZ summarizes it best on the hook by saying:

Oh no you didnt just call me friend
Oh no I must be hearing things
You can call me wrong
You can call me right
But dont you call me friend tonight

IYAZ - Friend (prod by JR Rotem)
Cop it on iTunes

B.O.B. feat T.I. - Not Lost (prod by JR Rotem)

On the eve before his debut album release, I've decided that the amount of quality tracks B.O.B. has released lately has become a re-cotdamn-diculous. I've taken a lap around Bobby Ray's new album The Adventures of Bobby Ray only to find maybe 1-2 tracks that I didn't want to put on repeat out of 12 (full album review will come in the next week or so). That's insane, I don't care who it is, it could be your favorite artist regardless of genre and you'll still find your way skipping a few tracks on the album, but 1-2?? That's it?? Even better, this track he did with T.I. isn't even going to make the final cut of his album because Coldplay wouldn't clear the sample.

While there hasn't been a statement made officially declaring that Coldplay put the brakes on releasing this track, you would have to be retarded to think this wouldn't have been a huge single and big addition to his new album. Of course, who better to create the sample than the sample master J J J JR Rotem. Pretty cool that he had a minute to contribute to the album for a hot sec in between launching Jason Derulo's career to instant stardom. Tip of the cap (as usual) on the Coldplay sample, absolutely nailing to vibe of the original track with a twist of Hip Hop. Really cool how the piano intro leads into the J J J JR, giving way to an addictingly upbeat canvas for B.O.B. and T.I. to shine on.

The truly inspirational verse from T.I. is what serves as the proverbial icing on the cake for an already great track. Check the lyrics:

T.I. Verse

All I know is keep going, sh-t don’t stop
until the hustle double up and put the click on top
used to wanna have the bricks on lock
til we went to prison saw we couldn’t pick them locks
easy decision, now a n-gga think I lost my touch
listen if I aint the realest ever done it, I aint off by much
so please don’t wake me up if I’m dreaming in the fast lane speedin’ no safety belt
and it’s a marathon pace yourself
in this race for wealth, talkin’ sh-t just a waste of breath
chasing me like chasing your tail, your never gon catch it
respect is something you never get if you never had it
I’m looking back and laughing, this life of mine
brought me all the way here from my life of crime
just a constant reminder that the end I’ll be always the one who knows all see’s all
be-cause…"
[via killerhiphop]

Pretty rare to get such a personal, down to earth verse from T.I. like that, so take it for what its worth...(quite a bit). Also really liked how Bobby Ray went off the beaten path on his last verse with an off the brain, simple rhyme laden, storytelling-style prediction freestyle of sorts to finish the track. All I have to say is what are you thinking Coldplay??? Are you honestly scared they were gonna top you on your own track? All joking aside that may have actually happened considering T.I. always gets mainstream credibility, JR Rotem has been responsible for numerous #1 singles and on top of the B.O.B. currently has the #1 single on Billboard right now.

Give it a listen...

B.O.B. feat T.I. - Not Lost (prod by JR Rotem) Great Sample!!!


In case you're not as excited as me for his album (100% chance), check out these four short professional videos of some of his backstage and concert footage. The fourth episode was just released hours ago. I would pay a lot of money to see him in concert right now and know for a fact it would be more entertaining than Drake...(sorry homie, dude rocks the guitar and sings too)...these will probably make you go look up his tour schedule...#justsayin

The Adventures of Bobby Ray Episode 1

The Adventures of Bobby Ray Episode 2

The Adventures of Bobby Ray Episode 3

The Adventures of Bobby Ray Episode 4

Man I wish I had cool tour videos that were edited with my music in the background makin' me look waaay cooler than I really am. Seriously though, go out and cop his album, dude has given us 6 free ones, show some love.

Buzz Track: AON feat IYAZ - My Girl (prod by JR Rotem)

Welp...it's officially cool nowadays to go by an acronym rather than your real name. We have two examples of that here with IYAZ whom you've now heard a few different hits from. IYAZ's real name is Keidran Jones and I really have no idea how that loosely translates to his stage name. On the other hand we have new up and coming artist AON, out of all places Chicago (is it me or is Chicago gettin' it in of late with new artists?). His real name is Hence Opoku, while his stage name stands for Ambitious Or Nothing, which makes for a little more understandable and unique real name/nickname combo than IYAZ.

On top of that, dude is only 16! Pretty crazy, but my guess is captain radio hit himself (JR Rotem) snatched up this talented kid, put his new artist IYAZ (who has a undeniably radio friendly voice now) on the hook and said let's see if this catches fire?. My prediction is that once a few people get a listen of this track it will end up being a pretty sizeable, well-known top 25 hit and do some serious work on the charts. I don't know if it will be able to reach IYAZ's Replay status, but still this is a real feel good summertime feeling track. I'll be the first to admit, I slept on this track last month and didn't give it the proper credit...until I realized on my road trip to DC this weekend how much I actually liked the track.

I'm not about to discount this as a young cat jumping on a ready-made Rotem hit either. AON has some swag about his flow, he doesn't sound like he's 16 at all. While the hook is what will suck people in with IYAZ's addicting reggae flow, the verses aren't a let down at all in my opinion. Given it's easier to drive when you've got JR at the wheel, but still there's something more here than just a young kid making one radio hit. Take for instance the last verse of the track where AON shows a lil' lyrical creativity...

"It's a fact, I should have them bragging rights

cause my girl be the baddest and uh...she actin right

it's magic right how she keep me Glad-ys night

I gotta beat it, cause lil momma bad as Mike

Her body mean even when she actin nice

In fact I might, wife if she actin right

Give her bling so bright it will max the light

Can't be a playa no more, I have to wife"

And then when he finishes with a line like...

"You so bad...you can keep my first and my last name...HAHA!!"

...smh...but still a good line and an exhibit of the swag on deck. Lookin' forward for more to come from AON, but man no lie, every time I've listened to this track the past week it's done nothing by pour more gasoline on it's potential...somethin' tells me if you don't get to listenin' to this soon, you're gonna miss the bus and it's gonna be on everyone else's playlist before you...don't be typical, cop it and share it with your friends you greedy melon farmer...

AON feat IYAZ - My Girl (prod by JR Rotem) HOTTT SUMMER TRACK!!!

Jason Derulo - Together We'll Sing (prod by JR Rotem)

Somehow this one managed to get cut from Jason's newly released album that is currently sitting at #52 on the Billboard top 10. I've questioned aloud why his first album was only 9 songs especially when he has unfinished tracks or demo tracks that would have been great additions to his (already) popular album. I wouldn't have even dared classify this one as a "filler" track as the emotion and lyrical content reel you in with the story of real life struggles.

The slow piano vibe set off by none other than JR himself, leads the way for an emotion evoking, personally accessible track that deal with subjects like heartbreak over losing someone you love to a war overseas and the struggles a single mom with cancer goes through after an unintended pregnancy. Pretty heavy stuff and despite this track sounding like a demo that is missing a third verse, its potential to be a powerful track can't be ignored.

Take it for what its worth, but the picture painted by this track is very real for a lot of people, which is something to keep in mind when you're thinking life is picking on you...it could always be worse homie. #shotofperspective

Check it out...

Jason Derulo - Together We'll Sing (prod by JR Rotem) Slow Jam!!!

Jason Derulo Album Review

Pictured above is Jason Derulo with American Idol judge, and Warner Bros. Records Senior Vice President of A&R Kara DioGuardi and super producer JR Rotem holding a nice sized record plaque signifying that his first single Whatcha Say is certified platinum. Beleive it or not that record has sold over 4 million copies, with 3 million copies out of the 4 being sold in the US. Pretty crazy for someone who you were completely unfamiliar with last year.

It goes without saying, just based on his two singles Whatcha Say and In My Head, his self titled debut album should go platinum.The main critique I have read about his new album is the length, being only 9 songs with 1 digital bonus track if you buy it on iTunes. Personally, I am not going to look down on him trying to do what he needs to produce a successful album, which he may have thought is only 9 tracks deep for whatever reason. Maybe other tracks didn't fit the vibe he was going for, maybe he knew it was going to sell enough based on his two huge singles? Either way, I didn't mind, I actually think it's smarter nowadays for artists to give us less by way of an album and rely more on singles (because those sell more on iTunes than whole albums).

My only issue with the album has to do with the oversampling being a little over the top. We all know the sample worked real well for Whatcha Say (50 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS!!!), but with songs like Ridin' Solo borrowing Bittersweet Symphony's strings and Love Hangover sampling the classic Men at Work's Who Can it Be Now, the JR Rotem-ing of the album came off as a little over the top. I say that now, but currently Ridin Solo is ranked 12th in the Billboard Top 100 and climbing, so evidently I may be on an island with that critique. Now that I re-think it, it's almost like I'm saying he did too good of a job at creating catchy radio friendly singles that everyone could relate to sound wise due to the familiarity of the sample. To each their own, but In My Head is still my favorite single of his so far because of it's originality.

Two other tracks I've gained an appreciation for after a full listen are What If and the bonus track Queen of Hearts. I really liked the simplicity of the do do dodo on the chorus on What If. It's a catchy ballad lyrically and the slow piano vibe blends well. I've written previously about Queen of Hearts, but I really like the slower version of the track that didn't end up being the album version. The upbeat version is also good, but the slow version allows JD to shine more vocally. Check out the slow version...

Jason Derulo - Queen of Hearts (slow version) Better Version!!!

In it's entirety I'd say Jason did one hell of a job on the album mixing in samples with original material and also blending the fast/slow tracks. Fallen and Encore are the only filler tracks out of 9 in my opinion, which isn't bad at all. Out of the 7 solid tracks, at least 3 of them are going to be top 10 Billboard singles too, so I think Jaysahn can hang his hat on that. The only two tracks I haven't touched on are Blind and The Sky's the Limit, both of which I had posted about before and are respectable tracks worth a listen. The only track I really wish would have made the final tracklist is Fairytale, which was a great mid-tempo love song that would have fit well as a middle ground track tempo wise, offsetting the fast and slow tracks.

Overall I'll give the album 4 headphones because it was a great debut effort with a timeless single or two on it.

If it was a little longer with mainly original beats and lacked the aforementioned filler tracks , it would have been in the discussion as a classic album. A classic single doesn't necessarily mean classic album, but I will give JR Rotem a 4.5 headphone rating on the production of the album. Most of these songs would be naked if he hadn't laid the groundwork with accessible samples and catchy instrumentals. As a bonus, here's a new remix to In My Head with the barbie doll herself, Nicki Minaj.

Jason Derulo feat Nikki Minaj - In My Head (remix) New Beat Hot Remix!!!

Who Rocked it Better? IYAZ - At Last (prod by JR Rotem)

First recorded by Nat King Cole in 1957, the song At Last has been since covered more times than wide receivers opposite Darrelle Revis (assist Joey).

Regardless of what artist covered the song, the bluesy feeling that results from the harmony and strings in the background is timeless. I'd even opine that this track has been covered by three of the greatest ballad vocalists ever (Nat King Cole, Celine Dion, Beyonce). Pretty tall order for an up and coming R&B act putting out a first album to follow in those footsteps.

Buuuuttt...it helps when you have the sample master JR Rotem, who is re-shaping the genre of Pop-R&B with the likes of Jason Derulo and Sean Kingston . Dare I say this sounds strikingly familiar to JR Rotem's use of Ben E King's Stand by Me by Sean Kingston? Some may hate on JR for "borrowing" past songs and more or less cashing in on the built in familiarity that comes from sampling these songs, but you can't argue that he does re-shape the recycled tracks into something that this generation can relate to sound wise. By building musical generational bridges between sampled tracks and new tracks, he allows older generations to relate with the younger sound. Whatever JR supposedly lacks in originality by sampling these oldies, he makes up for in genius by flipping them into radio friendly pop anthems.

IYAZ isn't really a candidate for vocalist of the year, but his album (similar to Jason Derulo's) is shaping up to be a splash. It's hard to imagine that both Derulo and IYAZ have yet to release an album but both have two heavyweight radio hits with JD - Whatcha Say, In My Head and IYAZ - Replay, Solo.

Give the five songs a listen and I encourage donating your 2 cents on the poll below...

Nat King Cole - At Last

Etta James - At Last

Celine Dion - At Last

Beyonce - At Last

IYAZ - At Last (prod by JR Rotem)

GWDJ Verdict: Overall, I give IYAZ's version a B+, it's catchy as hell and will make moves on the radio without a doubt. I can't take anything away from Nat King Cole and Etta James's versions, I bet if I was like 40 years older I would still be rockin' both those on 45' records. Celine Dion definitely brings it vocally in a grown and sexy way on her rendition of the track, but in my opinion Beyonce rocked it the best. She brings the soulfulness through her voice that was meant for this track, which is why she Rocked...it...Best.

Jason Derulo - Blind (prod by JR Rotem)

Another new one from Jaysahn who keeps the sentimental mood goin' with this piano laced ballad titled Blind. The track had originally been released as a demo, but this version is the finished product.

Bet you didn't know Jason is a Haitian-American and his original name is Jason Desrouleaux. Again, his album will be released in a few weeks on March 2nd with the following confirmed track list.

Confirmed by iTunes & his website:

1. Whatcha Say
2. Ridin' Solo
3. In My Head
4. The Sky's The Limit
5. What If
6. Love Hangover
7. Encore
8. Fallen
9. Blind
10. Queen Of Hearts (Digital Bonus Track)

This is more of an ode to those of us who have been Stevie Wondered through a relationship experience, thinking everything is going right then you wake up one day and can't see.

Give it a listen....

Jason Derulo - Blind (prod by JR Rotem) Hot Ballad!!

Jason Derulo - Locked in Love (prod by JR Rotem)

This new one is more of a demo than something you'll hear being made into a new song. JD is not afraid to do a whole song is falsetto, case in point Locked in Love. Still, a piano beat by JR Rotem + lyrics about bein' in love...pretty hard to go away from that formula.

Not my favorite of his tracks, but he seems to be what everybody is feindin' for at the moment, so I felt obligated to share. We're less than a month away from his March 2nd release of his self titled album. No confirmed track list yet, but my guess is I'll be pretty busy the next month posting and raving about a lot of the songs we still haven't heard yet.

If you're a fan of the high notes, be sure to give this a play or two...

Jason Derulo - Locked in Love (prod by JR Rotem) New Demo!

2 New Jason Derulo Tracks - Outta This World and Message in a Bottle

Pictured above is ya boy JD performing at the NY Jets rally before they heroically fell to the unstoppable Indianapolis Colts...and before you're quick to call me a bandwagon jumper, read the piece above titled "About the GWDJ" and note that said High School was in the great state of Indiana, which automatically gives me a license to rep Naptown's own Indianapolis Colts.

Getting back to the music, here's two more tracks by Jaysahn Derulo with the first and newest having single worthy potential and engineered by none other than JJJR Rotem. He's Sean Kingston-ing the shit out of Derulo's upcoming album, stocking it with single after single and making it damn near impossible for people to avoid his music and buy into him. To be honest I'm a little surprised In My Head has caught fire like it has, quickly becoming a song that everyone in the club knows and sings along to (happened twice in front of my eyes last weekend). It's never going to reach the appeal level that Whatcha Say did, but it's still no doubt a legitimate, potentially platinum single and a great great move by the Derulo camp because Whatcha Say wasn't exactly upbeat enough of a song that you'd hear it in the club...In My Head is though.

To put things in perspective, this new track Outta This World is a lot more similar to Whatcha Say in that it's a slower ballad, but instead of the sad lyrics, it has a lot more uplifting feel to it. Gotta love those whiney synthesizers that JR has become known for in the background. Solid effort that while may not be single worthy, is definitely a lot more than a filler track on an album that is clearly destined for platinum status after his first two singles have been gobbled up and consumed by mainstream radio. Give it a listen:

Jason Derulo - Outta This World (prod by JR Rotem) Hott!!!


As a bonus, here's the newest version of a demo originally done by Jackie Boyz titled Queen of Hearts...

Jackie Boyz feat Jason Derulo - Queen of Hearts (prod by JR Rotem) Better!!


...which then turned into She Flys Me Away Better!!
Jason Derulo - She Flys Me Away (prod by JR Rotem) Best!!!


...and has now finally landeed on the title being Message in A Bottle

Jason Derulo - Message in a Bottle (prod by JR Rotem) Good!


Only things for sure are the facts that the song is definitely produced...and produced quite well by JR Rotem, one version will be on his upcoming album and also the Jackie Boyz are and will continue to be slept on despite their crazy talent.