Xposition - June, 2018

Attention!!!

It's the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards and the K-Pop band BTS is the big winner taking home Best Group, Fiercest Fans for the BTS Army, Best Song That Makes You Smile for DNA and Best Dance Track for Steve Aoki's Remix of their Mic Drop. Their was only one good performance of the night and that was by Kelly Clarkson who won the Icon Award whose medley included her hits Miss Independent, Since U Been Gone, My Life Would Suck Without You, Catch My Breath, Stronger and Heat. Other wins of the night included:

• Best Artist: Shawn Mendes
• Breakout Artist of the Year: Camila Cabello
• Song of the Year: Camila Cabello - Havana
• Best New Artist: Bebe Rexha
• Best Collaboration: Kygo ft. Selena Gomez - It ain't me
• Impact Award: Janet Jackson

The BET Awards 2018 were also held in June with Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar each taking 2 awards with the former taking Viewer's Choice Award for Bodak Yellow and the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and the latter winning Album of the Year for DAMN. and Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. A tribute to Anita Baker saw Yolanda Adams, Ledisi and Marsha Ambrosious performing a medley of Caught Up In Love, Sweet Rapture and You Bring Me Joy. Other good performances of the night included Nicki Minaj with a medley of Chun-Li and Rich Sex and Migos' Walk It Talk It and Stir Fry. Other significant wins of the night included:

• Video of the Year: Drake - God's Plan
• Best Collaboration: DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller - Wild thoughts
• Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Beyonce
• Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Bruno Mars 
• Best Duo/Group: Migos
• Best New Artist: SZA

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup taking place in Russia, the much awaited World Cup Anthem - Live It Up was released, a collaboration by Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi. This was such an abysmal attempt at creating an inspirational hit, that fell far short from much hyped up expectations. The song brought back a forgotten 90s rapper, combined it with a Kosovar artist to give it a Russian flavour and tried to wrap the whole melodic mess up with a popular Latin artist, exploiting the renewed Spanglish wave. Even the Coca Cola sponsored Colors by Jason Derulo is better. I don't even want to comment on the mediocre performance at the Opening Ceremony.  

In the latest developments in the lawsuit between Kesha vs. Dr.Luke, in a redacted document filed in court a text message to Lady Gaga by Kesha was found alleging that Dr.Luke had raped Katy Perry. Now in the defamation suit that is ongoing Dr.Luke is seeking damages for the harm caused by Kesha's alleged malicious falsehoods. However, Kesha is claiming that these may be already in public record via social media and even court filings and that an averse decision against her would have a detrimental future effect on rape and domestic violence victims. 

In other news, Boyzone announced its farewell tour marking their 25th Anniversary commencing from none other than Sri Lanka. Foreigner also announced their first ever reunion performance, this time featuring all the original members. The Cardigans also announced their 20th Anniversary Tour which would promote their new album Gran Turismo. Meanwhile, Britney Spears announced a mega collaboration alongside Pitbull and Marc Anthony. 

This month too, we bade farewell to a rising artist - XXXTentacion. Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy whose stage name was XXXTentacion was shot at a motorcycle dealership, when he was leaving the premises in an apparent robbery. He was in critical condition before being pronounced death at the hospital. This 20-year old had a bright future ahead of him, as he was just starting his career and experiencing commercial success for his albums and singles. His lead single Sad! off his second album peaked in the US following his murder. 

In chart news, in the US, Drake's Nice For What returned to the top ending Childish Gambino's short reign with This Is America in the last two weeks of May. Drake was overthrown by Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign's Psycho in the third week which he regained in the fourth week, but only to be displaced by XXXTentacion's Sad! which peaked following the latter's death. During the month Ella Mai's Boo'd Up, BTS' Fake Love and Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B's Girls Like You entered the top 10.

In the UK, Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa's One Kiss continued its reign for the first three weeks of the month accumulating 8 whopping weeks at the top which was then replaced by Jess Glynne's I'll Be There, which in turn was replaced by Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato's Solo. During the month George Ezra's Shotgun, Cardi B, J Balvin & Bad Bunny's I Like It and Years & Years' If You're Over Me all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. Kanye West - Yikes
2. Lil Baby & Drake - Yes indeed
3. Selena Gomez - Back to you
4. Rita Ora, Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX - Girls
5. Shawn Mendes - Nervous 
6. Juice WRLD - Lucid dreams 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - April, 2018

Attention!!!

April was a devastating month for EDM as we bade farewell to Avicii, a powerhouse and an reckoning force in the industry. The global superstar who produced the hits Wake Me Up, Levels and Hey Brother even collaborated with the likes of Coldplay, Rita Ora, Robbie Williams and Leona Lewis. Avicii whose real name is Tim Bergling committed suicide by inflicting injuries upon himself through a broken wine bottle. This beloved artist was known to be struggling with alcohol use as well as mental stress for which he had earlier retired from touring in 2016. 

The awards season was full on swing as the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards were held with Chris Stapleton being the big winner of the night winning Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for From a Room: Volume 1 although the Entertainer of  the Year went to Jason Aldean. Some great performances included Carrie Underwood's Cry Pretty, Kane Brown & Lauren Alaina's What Ifs, Florida Georgia Line & Bebe Rexha's Meant To Be and Maren Morris' Rich. Other significant wins of the night included:

• Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
• Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne
• Vocal Group of the Year: Old Dominion
• Single Record of the Year: Sam Hunt - Body like a back road
• Song of the Year: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & John Randall - Tin Man
• Video of the Year: Brothers Osborne - It ain't my fault

The 25th Billboard Latin Music Awards were also held with Daddy Yankee sweeping the wins with 8 including Hot Latin Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for Despacito which won all 6 of its nominations. The Mexican rock band Maná was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Some of the other major wins included:

• Artist of the Year: Ozuna
• New Artist of the Year: Christian Nodal
• Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year - Male: Luis Fonsi 
• Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year - Female: Shakira
• Top Latin Album of the Year: Nicky Jam - Fénix
• Latin Pop Song of the Year: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber - Despacito

The Billboard Music Awards 2018 announced its nominations with Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars each with 15 nods followed by Post Malone with 13, Imagine Dragons with 11 and Drake with 9. 21 Savage, Camila Cabello, Khalid and Kodak Black all vie for the coveted Top New Artist award. The ceremony is to be held in May hosted by Kelly Clarkson. 

The Voice UK in its seven season crowned Ruti Olajugbagbe coached by Sir Tom Jones. Her coronation song was Dreams by The Cranberries whose lead singer Dolores O'Riordan passed away earlier this year. 

Songwriting credits is a serious matter, as many in the industry found out the hard way ie. Blurred Lines, Photograph etc. The latest is when Tulisa won a 5-year legal battle against Will.I.Am and Britney Spears for Scream & Shout, which she claimed helped to write. Tulisa claimed that she co-wrote the song I Don't Give A Fuck for her debut album The Female Boss. While the song did not make the final cut, Will.I.Am went on to collaborate with Spears using this song for Scream & Shout. The lawsuit revealed that Tulisa's vocals were still on the song alongside Spears’ in the finally-released track. The victory ensures Tulisa of an official songwriting credit on the song and 10% of the worldwide publishing rights and income for the record. All money made from the track was frozen when the lawsuit was launched in 2012.

In chart news, in the US Drake continued his reign with God's Plan accumulating altogether 11 weeks at the top of the charts, after which he replaced himself at the top with Nice For What, which remained at the top till the end of the month. During the month The Weekend's Call Out My Name, Cardi B, J Balvin and Bad Bunny's I Like It, Nicki Minaj's Chun-Li and Migos ft. Drake's Walk It Talk It all entered the top 10. 

In the UK, with the end of March came Drake's reign as Rudimental ft. Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen's These Days finally overthrew God's Plan in the first week. However, this was short lived as Lil Dicky ft. Chris Brown's Freaky Friday became No.1 in the second week which again was toppled by Drake's Nice For What and then again by the mammoth collaboration between Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa's One Kiss which claimed the top spot. During the month Sigala & Paloma Faith's Lullaby and The Weeknd's Call Out My Name both entered the top 10.  

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. David Guetta & Sia - Flames
2. Khalid & Normani - Love lies 
3. Years & Years - Sanctify 
4. Kylie  Minogue - Dancing
5. Imagine Dragons - Whatever it takes 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

LINKIN PARK ~ Rap Rock Royalty ~

Attention!!!

It is one thing to master one genre of music, but it is yet another to master two, mash them up and develop an entirely new unique sound. This is exactly what Linkin Park did in the early 2000s when they entered the mainstream music industry. Taking Alternative Rock to new heights with the incorporation of Rap, EDM and Nu Metal, Linkin Park turned the industry as a whole towards a new era of radio friendly rock music. With multi-platinum selling albums alongside global smash hits and awards and accolades from the Grammys to UN Global Leadership Awards, Linkin Park became the best-selling band of the 21st century and one of the best-selling artists in the world. 

While we commemorate the first year death anniversary of lead vocalist Chester Bennington, let's look back at this band who left their mark on the Rock music scene as well as becoming pop/rock cultural icons of the new millennium.

Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, and Brad Delson were high school friends who after their graduation recruited Dave Farrell and Joe Hahn to form a band, then called Xero. Initially recording and producing in Shinoda's bedroom studio, the band failed to make headway in terms of a record deal. In 1999, the band recruited Chester Bennington whose vocals complemented those of Shinoda's. In rebranding their name, the band chose the name Lincoln Park and opted to "Linkin Park" in order to obtain the internet domain name - linkinpark.com. With the new sound and new name the band finally landed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records through which they released their debut studio album Hybrid Theory.

It is no secret that the late nineties and the early noughties belonged to Pop. On one end there were the boy/girl bands such as Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Boyzone, All Saints etc. creating a cultural phenomenon in the music world, while on the other end there were the solo Pop stars such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez who were gaining ground in the industry.

During the release of Hybrid Theory in 2000, Alternative Rock was not a new genre to the charts. We had the likes of Lifehouse, 3 Doors Down, Staind, Matchbox Twenty and The Calling with Creed and Nickelback even topping the charts. The initial releases off of the album - One Step Closer, Crawling and Papercut were well received globally and the critics loved the sound, with Crawling going on to win the Best Hard Rock Performance at the 2002 Grammy Awards.

But the final release In The End was the hit that cemented the band's reckoning force in the music industry. The hit reached the top tiers in the global charts and is now considered their signature song. With a prominent piano riff alongside Shinoda's rapping the verse and Bennington's vocals climaxing on the chorus, the song achieved a perfect balance of their hybrid theory of rap rock. Hybrid Theory went on to become the best selling debut album by a band in the 21st century and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards wherein the band was also nominated for Best New Artist (losing to Alicia Keys).

In 2003, the band released their second studio album Meteora which experienced instant commercial success. The band continued with their amalgamation of rap rock, nu metal and alternative rock into the album easily reflected in the hits Somewhere I Belong and Numb. In a collaboration effort with Jay-Z the band mashed his Encore with their Numb which earned them the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Although I believe that nothing can beat the original track. Faint and Breaking the Habit were also memorable songs from the album.

Their third studio album Minutes to Midnight (2007) reached the top in almost all the countries it started and produced their most commercially successful hit What I've Done. The album deviated a little from their nu metal sound and focused more on alternative rock which had taken over the Rock music industry at the time. The album also spawned the singles Bleed It Out and Shadow of the Day which achieved moderate success.

Following in the footsteps of Evanescence (Dare Devil) and Chad Kroeger (Spiderman) Linkin Park recorded New Divide, the main theme for the soundtrack of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The song was an instant hit as it had incorporated elements of electronic music, which alongside the popularity of Electropop and the emergence of EDM enabled the band to keep up with the changing times.

Keeping up with the times to be relevant proved fatal to the band in their fourth studio album A Thousand Suns (2010). In a significant departure from their usual sound the band chose to adopt more electronic and progressive rock forgetting their alternative and rap rock roots. Only The Catalyst proved to be successful from the album with Waiting for the End and Iridescent achieving average success as they should.

In their next album Living Things (2012), the band got the genre mix right with just the right amount of electronic music incorporated into their core alternative and rap rock. Burn it Down was the lead single off the album which experienced commercial and chart success more than any single off the previous album. Castle of Glass is the first song of the band which merged more electronic music into the song and one of the few songs that they got right with this unorthodox mix.

The success for the band with electronic music was followed up with Recharged (2013) an entire album of remixes out of which the track A Light that Never Comes, a collaboration with EDM artist Steve Aoki proved to be a commercial as well as a critical success. This hit cemented the fact that Linkin Park can be adaptable to any era and successful with the new trends and genres emerging in the industry.

The band released their sixth studio album A Hunting Party in 2014 and attempted at a return to their original sound. The record was to be entirely composed of alternative rock with their signature nu metal and rap rock flavour although the band took it further by making the sound more aligned with hard rock. However, the album did not prove to be as successful as the preceding albums, owing mostly to the mainstream being engulfed by EDM and Pop with little to no room for Rock or any other genre for that matter. None of the songs from the album were memorable with the exception of Final Masquerade and received only lukewarm reception from the fans.

Their final album with Chester Bennington - One More Light was released in 2017 which deviated completely from their sound entirely producing a pop rock album incorporating electropop into the record. The lead track Heavy was a collaboration with Pop and R&B artist Kiiara which received polarizing reviews from critics and mixed reception from fans. The album seemed like an attempt to keep up with the era of Ed Sheeran and Adele and failing miserably on the mainstream front. While the album received moderate success, the singles failed to meet the mark. Two months after the release of the album, Bennington took his own life, that shook the entire music industry. One More Light, a slow acoustic single, the title track from the album was released as the last single which received heavy radio airplay due to the lead vocalist's death.

Following the tragedy that befell the band, the members have indicated every intention of continuing with the band. What the outcome of such statements are yet to be seen. The final album's marked difference in terms of genre and the death of Bennington lead many questions as to the future of the band.

However, one thing is for sure, the legacy of Linkin Park, whether this is the end for them or not will live on as a reckoning force in Rock music. Their contribution to Alternative Rock, Nu Metal and Rap Rock will be remembered for generations as their hits In the End, Somewhere I Belong and Numb are now more or less inducted into the hall of fame of rock. Their collision of rap and rock and amalgamating genres will be carried into the future by the likes of inspired artists such as Imagine Dragons and Twenty One Pilots. But most of all Linkin Park shall remain forever in the hearts of those struggling teenagers who grew up in the noughties, because in the end they did matter.  

Till the next review...

At Ease!!!