All this depends on you guys, though; all you have to do to show your support is hit LIKE ME! at this site everyday until April 16th and we may have a chance to take this COOL movement to the next level!

Help a sista out and go vote!

Oh what, a post from the WordPress site?! Yes indeed, this is special: our boy Tripz just shot us his and Wes Wicks’ remix to YC’s smash “Racks”! Go ahead and have a listen then head over to our tumblr page to hear the FIRST drop off Tripz’s upcoming release, Interstate Music. Shit’s about to be a movie…camera block.

Ever since the ’90s, Raven Symoné has been kicking industry ass and taking names as a child actress and she hasn’t slowed down since her major debut on the critically acclaimed television sitcom, The Cosby Show.  After co-starring in another sitcom success (Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper), Raven began to spread her face around in movies and music, proving herself to be a triple threat in entertainment.  As a teen and young adult, Disney snatched her up for what would make her one of the top grossing African Americans in the country and one of the highest grossing Disney stars ever with the television show, That’s So Raven!.  No child resist Raven Baxter’s psychic powers and comedic fumbling and the formula proved to be gold for the network.  During her stint as a TV star, she was also recruited for the book series turned television movie The Cheetah Girls with 3LW members Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams.  The movie took the nation and world by storm, launching Raven into a stratosphere unlike anyone has ever known.

In addition to her contributions to the entertainment world by way of singing and acting, Raven is a star philanthropist widely known for her big heart as she’s donated her time to several causes including the Children’s Hospital, Red Cross and other great organizations.  Pepsi’s 2010 campaign, Pepsi We Inspire, honored Raven as part of their multi-cultural women’s empowerment movement alongside artists such as Queen Latifah, Taraji P. Henson, Thandie Newton, and Keyshia Cole.  The 25 year old superstar has represented full-figured women proudly throughout the years and has even said that her recent weight loss has caused her to feel awkward and uncomfortable at times due to the stares she now gets.

Raven Symoné is the perfect example of what can go right in the business as opposed to the horror stories that typically come with actors who start their careers at a young age. She’s managed to stay out of the media unless it’s for her work and has been able to build a brand for herself that includes producing, merchandising, and so much more. There is no stopping this graceful and honest black woman from getting what she wants and we honor her for this.

Raven has no plans of slowing down: she’s recording her fifth album and is set to release it this year and has also started production on a TV pilot for ABC Family entitled The Great State of Georgia.  I’ve been a fan of Raven’s work since the beginning and I’m so proud to see all that the $400 million dollar woman has accomplished over the years. Her story is inspiring and could happen to any of us as long as we work hard and maintain our integrity through it all.

Raven Symoné is Black History In The Making.

graphic designed by me

Colors are fancy, huh?! That’s right, theCOOL has moved to tumblr so click the picture above to follow us and get in the know!

The premise behind the title No Boys Allowed is that women should get into the habit of not entertaining the advances of little boys and that men should get into the habit of behaving as such. Great, I’m all for it and it’s sad that a whole album’s concept had to be based around this ideal because niggas should have had this together already. But I digress; the catch with this was that only male features appeared on the album. Clever, right? I thought it was cute. Score one for you, Keri.

Overall, I can comprehend the theme of the album and it was good. I think I was hoping for an In An Imperfect World sequel, but I didn’t get that. Her first album is special to me because it helped me and my friend through some things and while I’m not going through those things now, it’s nice to hope that material like that would get some shine. Instead, we have Keri hollerin’ about “The Way You Love Me” (mighty ratchetly, might I add) with that GOD forsaken Rick Ross featuring on it, — I swear, I just can’t get away from this guy no matter how hard I try! — then she’s exercising this false Island twang thing on “Bahm Bahm (Do It Once Again)”, and demanding that women put a finger in her man’s face to let him know she’s reached her “Breaking Point”.

*sighs*

Girl, what are we gonna do? I swear “Pretty Girl Rock” saved her because I honestly wasn’t going to give this album a chance due to what I’d seen beforehand. Keri’s a good person though and I’m a sucker for artists who are familiar to my ears, so I stepped out on faith. Despite what it may seem like, the album isn’t a total lost cause. There were more songs that salvaged my love for her than further tore it down. Sounds dramatic but I formulate close bonds to my favorite artists’ music; that’s what a fan does. Here’s what you did right, Keri:

You put Chris Brown on your album. As a quick side note, shout out to Chris because he’s been doing his thing on a lowkey level: I’ve heard his voice on three different albums that dropped in the past two weeks (DDM’s Last Train to Paris, Tank’s Now Or Never, and this album). That young man grinds and I respect it. Anyway, “One Night Stand” is a stand out track because the musical relationship between the two has evolved from super heart-warming “Superhuman” to I-need-this-release-immediately “One Night Stand”. Chris has grown since their ’07 collaboration and this song is a prime example of that. Next, Keri entrusted a portion of her album to the writer whom I stan for, Miss Ester Dean. These days, it seems like your project just is not poppin’ if you don’t have a hit from Dean! I love that just as I love “Toy Soldier” and “Lose Control”. I’m a bit partial to “Lose Control”; no specific reason, it just speaks to me a bit more. I’ll just recite the mantra in my household that states:

Ester Dean saves LIVES, hunni!

Alrighty, back to business. “Beautiful Mistake” is a dope track that I thoroughly encourage any woman who finally sees the light and ends a relationship that was fun but just not productive. I really love that song actually; that and “All The Boys”, which was co-written by one John Legend. POW! Love that man, but yeah this song is great: it’s basically Keri running down the list of boys she’s had to go through to get to the man she’s always wanted. Yes, I’m all for that.

As usual, I got the iTunes Deluxe Edition of No Boys Allowed, which actually contains the bulk of the album that I liked. “Lie To Me”, though the concept gives me Mario Winans’ “I Don’t Wanna Know” and I thought that song was a bit of a punk move on a man’s behalf, is pretty good thanks to NBA’s co-executive producer, Timbaland. “Hustler” is a dope track as well, but my favorite of the exclusives has to be “Fearless” for reasons that don’t relate to the song’s pretense which is Keri saying that she’s ready to love freely and willingly. I have this theme for 2011 that involves being fearless, so I loved that she had something that could relate to that.

All in all, No Boys Allowed didn’t live up to my expectations but it’s still a good album. I liked more songs than I didn’t like and that’s good to me. Keri’s finding her footing and as much as people try to say that she’s trying to BE Beyonce, I don’t think that’s the case. Because B has monopolized the female R&B game the way she has I think that when an artist takes a slightly different route that may resemble similarities between the two, people start assuming shit. Keri’s bread and butter is in songwriting and as long as she doesn’t let that fall to the wayside, she can be the singer-songwriter that can two-step. Absolutely no shade in that and there’s nothing wrong with that. She should be proud of that and more people should acknowledge her for that.

Should you decide to indulge in sophomore Keri’s efforts, head on over to iTunes and cop that. It’s one of those “here’s my opinion but you be the judge because I’m lowkey picky” kind of situations. You be the judge.

Her eyes are freakin’ gorgeous, I hate her. Just kidding; her CD booklet is very eye catching though. I’ll give her that. Hussy can take a mean photo. Go Keri; I really am rooting for you.

These ladies can sing and I love their energy; Boi is legit, I’m tellin’ you.

As a little bonus, check out the clip of members Erika and Sheena singing Shontelle’s “Impossible”, which happens to be one of my favorite songs out today. Those girls ripped it! Can’t wait to hear more from the group; I’m excited.

Score once again for Detroit!

“Ey Ey Ey” – Boi [DOWNLOAD]

I’ve been sitting on this for a month; not on purpose, though. I introduce to you all Detroit rapper/producer Nino Staxx. His material’s dope; I’m feeling his tone too. That’s a deal breaker for me, if you didn’t know; if I can’t vibe out to the sound of your voice, please know that it’s curtains for you. Luckily Nino made the cut. Here’s his track “Fly With Me” and peep his bio to get to know him a bit more. I’m sure you’ll see his face on theCOOL a lot more in the near future.

Record Producer and Artist, Nino Staxx, was born in Detroit, Michigan in the fall of 1989 as Andre Johnson. Nino’s unique style of music sets him apart from many upcoming artists and producers. His passion for music is heard in his sensational style which is bringing an innovative sound to the industry.

He was primarily raised by his mother, along with a lot of support from his grandmother on Detroit’s eastside, which is where he lived until age 10. West Palm Beach, Florida has been his home for the past 9 years. Nino graduated from Palm Beach Lakes High School and is currently enrolled in college for Computer Networking. He is looking forward to graduation soon.

Tupac is one of his favorite musical mentors, because of his genuine, smooth poetic flow. Kanye West is also one of his favorite musical mentors, because of his different and distinctive sound.

Nino began producing at age 15 and has greatly accelerated since he started. Nino’s recent endeavors include multiple local performances and in his hometown Detroit, radio interviews, online interviews and opening performances. His song “I Aint Cuffin” has been played on WMBX 102.3 Mainstream radio in South Florida. Also, his tribute to the Haitian earthquake “Stay Strong” was aired in Queens, NY on Comcast channels 57 and 18 during March 2010. He has accumulated an enormous team of supporters and has become well known amongst the online community.

He is currently starting his own record label, First Class Records and attributes much of his accomplishments to a few major supporters in his life; his Mom, Olivia Johnson, his Uncle Dathan (Trillion), his Grandmother, Janice McClenic and his best friend Sean B.

He looks forward to working with many mainstream Artists in the near future. Stay posted.!!!

 

P.S. LOVE that he’s in school while pursuing his dream. It’s becoming more common and I couldn’t be happier. Get those degrees, people!

“Fly With Me” – Nino Staxx