From The Attic

Crawling for the Ratings

Rihanna's new album, Rated R, definitely receives a 9.5 in my eyes. One reason it receives a 9.5 is because the R&B genius, Ne-Yo, helped write a lot of the songs. While Ne-Yo helped write this album, Rhianna found a way to bring the words to life. She created the album to purposely be a little more dark, morbid and "edgier". The Young Money rapper, Nicki Minaj, also created a demo song for Rhianna which inspired her to contact the producers of the song, Chase and Status, to give the album a rock edge. I have had this album on repeat since it dropped. It is truly her best, and I like the new style.


(My opinions are not bias in anyway. What celebrities do in their personal life has nothing to do with mine and that is how everyone should look at it.)

Chris Brown's new album, Graffiti, did not paint the best picture in my heart. I understand his struggle, pain, and emotions, but his album was an epic fail. Although he seems to play the "woe is me" game, he does not receive my pity. His personal problems should not be the root of songs on the album. While he has some fast paced songs, he still does not break through. He plays on a new techno style, but it does not work well for his voice. Chris Brown worked with Polow Da Don, Swizz Beats, The Runners, and The Messengers and more! I believe they are all great producers, but in my eyes they did not mesh well. I have loved everything Chris Brown has come out with, which is why it is such a shock I feel this way about Graffiti. The album has no median, it is either depressing or energetic. Either way, I give it a 6 for effort.

Room # 7

Make or Break ?

• According to everyone, this mix tape was supposed to bring the "old Lil Wayne" back out. This mix tape was supposed to show the game the "hunger" that he still has inside of him. While he brings the energy to the freestyles he spit on previously used beats from other artists, he leaves behind the genius lyrics. This is NOT Weezy at his best, and he has done better. His strongest songs on the mix tape would have to be :
  

1. "DOA"
   
2. "Run This Town"
   
3. "Sweet Dreams"
4. "Ice Cream Paint Job".
   

• He freestyles on the Black Eyed Peas' "I Got A Feeling" beat, and it was a flunk. This article is completely opinionated, however; many people share the same view on 'No Ceilings'. The various artist who featured on the mix tape also could have done an extremely better job. On a scale from 1-10, I will give it a 7 for the effort.

Word With No Meaning

I gave more than i could , more than i should , more than i would !
Opened up my soul & emptied it from the start ; let everything spill out straight from the heart .
I managed to live up to certain expectations , not realizing i was the only one patient .
Accepting flaws & ignoring faults , although it meant being hurt , the same never seemed to be returned .
Life seemed so incomplete without what (at the time) seemed to be a necessity .
Failing to please & satisfy myself , only satisfying someone else.
Accepting less than i deserved , & giving more than what was earned .
Falling by myself , & picking myself back up ; & still falling with the same faith
as if I'd receive help .
Making unreasonable decisions & not including my thoughts .
Never did anything according to wah I'd want .
Why did I stay? Why should I stay ? Why could i stay ?
I couldn't see life without a human being ,
Who already began planning a future without me .
Living with false hopes & dreams which ended up being no more than a memory.
Nothing like what it seemed to be.
What once was "perfect" now wasn't worth it . What once was the BEST , is left in the past.
Something so GREAT feels like a mistake.
The love ,
the trust ,
the friendship
all has ended.
What should have worked , could have worked , or would have worked
is now jus a meaningless word. ©

*Amanda Lynn

Mariah Nevaeh's First Birthday Party

Carnival

While boarding the 2008 Carnival Cruise on the port in Florida, my expectations grew wild. I expected nothing less from the four places I was supposed to visit; however, a hurricane stormed through and I had to bypass my first stop, Bahamas. Although I skipped that stop, I got to see St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and Turks & Caicos. I spent 7 days on the luxurious Carnival Ship and met wonderful people.

St.Thomas

Puerto Rico

Graffiti Heaven