It would appear as though Canada will be producing some big name musicians in the coming years.  Normally you don't get a lot of news or fame from the bordering country, but it seems that there are a lot of nice gems that have started making some big noise in the music industry.  Like Drake, Colin Munroe has recently gained a ton of publicity and has recently been featured on a very solid track off of Izza Kizza's most recent mixtape entitled, "Connect the Dots".  Munroe has gotten a lot of rep and popularity via his take on Kanye Wests' hit song, "Flashing Lights".  His music video and version of the song have gotten a ton of play time on many sites, television shows, and has been passed along by word of mouth.  It is truly impressive how some young musicians get their start, it seems almost like every young musician now a day gets into the music game in a different way.

Colin Munroe, unlike many of the young musicians in this group, has a sound that is truly unique and special.  I don't think I have ever heard music such as his, it combines a lot of "Pop" sounds and all the while has some Rock, R&B, and Hip-Hop thrown in there with it.  It is a very unique mix, and his voice is well suited for it.  I mean if I had to sum up his genre and style, it would be Pop with a mix of Hip-Hop.  He is a very versatile musician, mainly because he has the ability to sing, rap, and his lyrical flow is very solid.  A little while back, he put out a mixtape entitled, Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero.  I had never heard of this young musician before, and a friend of mine turned me on to his mixtape.  Dudes got talent, enough said... Well I guess it is not, "enough said," because I got a whole lot more to say about this guy!

Now I don't know what this dudes plans are for his future musical career, but the track listing on his mixtape is just plain crazy!  The mixtape features some big name musicians, and is something that at the time I got it, was bumpin' on my car radio on a regular basis (now I put it on every now and then, depends on what type of mood I am in!).  On the tape, Munroe features some solid musicians such as, Joell Ortiz, up and comer Mickey Factz, fellow Canadian native Drake, Izza Kizza, MIMS, and up and comer Novel (who is the man!).  Anyway, you can tell that this young guy has the makings of becoming someone great, and I promise you that if you give the guys music a listen, you'll fall in love with it!  

Colin Munroe is someone you all should be keeping an eye on as '09 rolls on.  I don't really know if he is putting out an LP this year, but from what I have gathered, he is planning on releasing another mixtape.  If you haven't heard of Colin Munroe yet, then you better get on the train and go along for the ride, because this young man has a very great musical career that will for sure be filled with hit tunes and solid tracks for many years to come.  If Colin Munroe ever reads this, then hit us up with an e-mail, we would love to do an inteview with you, and cover some more of your work... You can reach us by our E-MAIL, and we hope to hear from you soon!  If you are a Munroe fan, or have given this guys music a listen, then drop a comment and let us know what you think about it, I doubt you will find many haters out there, the guy has pure talent, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets wrapped up in a label deal real soon!

Check Back Here For More Colin Munroe News & For More Incoming Class of '09 Posts

Well I guess it doesn't matter if the Lions have the first pick, or the last pick in the draft, because either way you look at it, they will mess it up.  Now I am not saying that drafting the top QB in this years draft was bad, but there are so many other holes that needed to be filled, other than the QB situation.  Here is my take on the whole scenario for the Lions.  They are in desperate need for an Offensive Line.  They could have either traded down their #1 pick to get two lower picks in the draft and take two solid defensive players.  This would have allowed them to get the most young talent defensively, something they really need.

Defense wins championships, but offense definitely helps a lot as well.  I really like Stafford, and I think he has a rather fantastic arm for a young kid, but when you look at the Lions offensive side of the spectrum, your left with some huge holes.  There is no Offensive Line left.  If the Lions had Tom Brady throwing the ball last season, they still would have been awful.  Your QB needs to be safe at all times, and in order to run the ball successfully in the NFL, you need a strong O-Line creating holes for your RB to run through!  I mean I guess the Lions are awful at drafting (which we have known for years), and they stink at trading as well!  Oh well, I say sell the franchise to Europe... or better yet, GET A NEW OWNER!!! It all starts with the owner of the team, and how badly he wants to win!  Mike Illitch of the Detroit Red Wings/Detroit Tigers is not satisfied with a bad team, so he makes sure that those he puts in charge are going to help his teams succeed.

Anyway, onward to my evaluation of the actual pick itself.  Matt Stafford is young, and fresh out of his Junior year in college.  This being said, there is a ton of upside to signing a young kid like this with a lot of promise.  He will be learning from one of the great NFL QB's to ever play the game in Cullpepper, and after Cullpepper is done in Detroit, it will be Stafford's offense to take over and run.  He has a heck of an arm for a person his age, so getting the ball downfield and to recievers should not be a huge problem.  The Stafford/Calvin Johnson connection should be a dominant force once they establish a strong relationship (we hope) and that will hopefully help jump start the Lion offense.

The Lions could have waited to draft a solid QB next year in the draft because there are like four or five coming out of college next year (that we know of).  They could have gone full out on defense/o-line, gotten that stuff straightened out, and have a somewhat decent record which would allow them to have a solid draft pick the following year.  Then they pick up a fantastic young QB who can be protected by a solid o-line and backed up by a strong defense.  It will be interesting to see how this pick plays out, only time will tell Lions fans... Only time will tell.  Who knows, you could be looking at the team that goes 0-32 for the first time (two straight seasons of 0-16, I wouldn't put it past them to do that!)

Pick Choice: C+/B-

Rest of the Draft Picks (First Round Only):

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith (OT) 

3. KC Chiefs: Tyson Jackson (DE)

4. Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry (OLB)

5. NY Jets: Mark Sanchez (QB)

6. Cincinnati Bangles: Andre Smith (OT)

7. Oakland Raiders: Darius Haywood-Bey (WR)

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe (OT)

9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji (DT)

10. SF 49'ers: Michael Crabtree (WR)

11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin (DE)

12. Denver Broncos: Knowshon Moreno (RB)

13. Washington Redskins: Brian Orakpo (DE)

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins (CB)

15. Texas Texans: Brian Cushing (OLB)

16. San Diego Chargers: Larry English (DE)

17. TB Buccaneers: Josh Freeman (QB)

18. Denver Broncos: Robert Ayers (LB)

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Maclin (WR)

20. Detroit Lions: Brandon Pettigrew (TE)

21. Cleveland Browns: Alex Mack (C)

22. Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin (WR)

23. Baltimore Ravens: Michael Oher (OT)

24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry (DT)

25. Miami Dolphins: Vontae Davis (CB)

26. Green Bay Packers: Clay Matthews (OLB)

27. Indianapolis Colts: Donald Brown (RB)

28. Buffalo Bills: Eric Wood (C)

29. NY Giants: Hakeem Nicks (WR)

30. Tennessee Titans: Kenny Britt (WR)

31. Arizona Cardinals: Chris Wells (RB)

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Evander Hood (DT)

Matt Stafford On Being Drafted By The Lions & Being The #1 Overall Pick:

Feel Free To Comment On The Rounds That Followed The First, And Which Teams You Thought Benefited From The Draft... Will The Lions Find Success With Matt Stafford?

Check Out The Album Artwork Here

Click On Picture Above To View Bigger Version Of Em's Cover Spot On Vibe Magazine

Now unless you have been living under a rock for the majority of your life, then I am sure you have heard of the 8-Mile rapper that goes by the stage name of Eminem.  Now in recent news, he is dropping his sixth album entitled, Relapse.  The album comes after a hiatus from the music scene that began after his LP, Encore, released back in 2004.  The Michigan native has had a pretty impressive music career thus far, and he looks to impress those who have hated him in the past with his upcoming album, and you know how Slim Shady roles... So this album won't feature any Auto-Tune/808's on it... The album is for sure one of the more anticipated albums of 2009, and many music fans around the world have been wondering when the day that Marshall Mathers would release another LP.  I guess these fans questions have been answered, seeing as the Relapse album is set to be released on May 15th, 2009.

In recent news, Eminem has come under some crazy scrutiny for his music video for the hit single, "We Made You". Why you might ask...?  Well the song and video took some shots at a lot of the celebrities that you and I all love to poke fun at.  The video features some jabs at former VP candidate Sara Palin, along with some remarks about Jessica Simpson, Amy Winehouse, and the ever so good looking, Kim Kardashian.  While the music video may have taken some unneeded jabs and remarks about people, it definitely shows that Eminem is bringing it hard, and is for sure back in the game.  Some people took the song better then others.  Kim Kardashian took a liking to being mentioned in the Eminem song, and stated that she was honored to be brought up by the Detroiter.  Jessica Simpson on the other hand seemed to be pretty displeased with the comments made about her (oh well, why don't you and Tony Homo go do something about it!?).  Anyway, I was glad to see the music video, really showed me that Em is back for good, and it sure was great to see some positive controversy go down in the music industry!

SInce Em has been out of the game, there have been a ton of new musicians and changes to the game.  For one thing, Kanye West is doing his thing and since Em left, has put out three albums and seemed to have taken over the music industry in his absence.  But like any good sports team, the young end up replacing the old in some way or another.  It is hard to do such a thing in the music industry, and by no means has Asher Roth replaced Eminem in anyway or form.  I know Asher hates being compared to Eminem, so I won't even mention the comparison on here, mainly because I agree with him.  They are similar, but for the most part, they are extremely different types of musicians.  Eminem was recently asked what he thought about the young up and comer that has taken the music industry by storm, and Eminem replied with a great response.  He told the media outlets and the world that he really digs Asher and what he does!  That is great, I would hate to see there be conflict with the two of them, they both seem real chill and I love each of their music respectively!  Eminem said the following on the up and coming musician Asher Roth:

"Asher Roth, I haven’t had a chance to, like, really get into everything, like, really get into what he’s about, because I’ve only hear a couple songs. There was talk about people saying he sounded like me, and he was doing this and that and, you know, trying to take what I do and do it. You know, shit like that. I’ve heard things. But the stuff that I’ve heard from him honestly, which certainly isn’t enough for me to make my own opinion and say, ‘Yeah, he does sound like me’ or ‘No, he doesn’t.’ But the couple of songs I’ve head, I don’t really think he does. You know what I mean? He’s doing his own thing. I can respect it, too, because at the end of the day, I think he’s dope."

Like all of Em's past albums, the album artwork seems quintessential to the albums theme, and his expression for the album.  If you look at past LP's you will see that they are showing some sort of aspect of his life.  This album artwork features a mosaic of Eminems face made out of perscription pills.  In case you all don't know, Em fell into a relapse when he lost one of his good friends to gun violence.  He didn't leave his house and was out of the public eye for a long time, and seems to have regained control of his life!  He will be putting out the long anticipate Eminem album that so many people have been talking about for so long (actually only like two years, talks of the Eminem album started in 2007 when 50 Cent and the one time Shady Records musician Stat Quo said Em was in the studio doing some recordings)!  Anyway, without a further a do, I present to you, the FINALIZED track listing for Eminem's upcoming LP release entitled, Relapse.

So in case ya'll were wondering, I am really amped for the King Mathers album to drop on May 15th.  If you are a Detroiter, someone who digs true Rap/Hip-Hop, or someone who is looking to get into some new music that they haven't heard before, then this album will for sure be for you!  I haven't heard much off the album yet, they have been real good about keeping the leakage to a minimum, which is really great!  The album looks like it is going to be killer, and I am sure that Eminem is going to be doing it big in his first LP release since 2004.  Anyway, be sure to cop the album on May 15th, and check back over here for more Relapse information in the near future.

Relapse Track Listing:

1. Dr. West (Skit)
   
2. 3am
   
3. My Mom
   
4. Insane
   
5. Bagpipes From Baghdad
   
6. Hello
   
7. Tonya (Skit)
   
8. Same Song & Dance
   
9. We Made You
   
10. Medicine Ball
    
11. Paul (Skit)
    
12. Stay Wide Awake
    
13. Old Time’s Sake (Feat. Dr. Dre)
    
14. Must Be The Ganja
    
15. Mr. Mathers
    
16. Deja Vu
    
17. Beautiful
18. Crack A Bottle (Feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent)
19. Steve Berman (Skit)
20. Underground/Ken Kaniff

Asher Roth On Comparisons Between Him & Eminem:

The Making of "We Made You" Music Video (Part 1):


Check Out Our Past Eminem Post Here With The Leaked Album Art + Mention of Relapse 2

Check Out The Discussion We Had On The "We Made You" Music Video Here

Check Back Here For More Eminem, Relapse, Relapse 2, and Music News In The Coming Weeks

Now some say that the video below is disrespectful to MLK, the things he stood for, and the whole freedom movement.  To all those who make a comment like this, I must point out that music, unlike words, speeches, and writing is something that crosses all barriers, and is something that truly expresses us as people, and can influence us.  I am sorry if people disagree with me, and find the video below disrespectful, but music comes from the heart and the soul.  How can someone say that the creativity and catchiness of the song is something that is disrespectful.  The song was made not to be against MLK or what he stood for, rather to pay tribute and to use another way to express his wise words of wisdom and to convey his message a new way.  What do you all think about the song, controversy?  Feel free to add your opinion on the subject matter and let us know what you think about it!

Ya'll need to watch this, make sure you are safe, and get checked out if you fit the symptoms.  Normally I don't really fret about these outbreaks, but this stuff seems real, and dangerous, so be on the lookout for some of the causes.  I am not a big fan of panicking, but I definitely don't want to be the guy who has swine flu!!! So be careful, be safe, and LIVE LIFE!!!  Hope everyone who does have the swine flu virus is doing okay, and that hopefully there will be a cure for it in the foreseeable future!

So I have noticed that this live performance with Big Sean and Mike Posner has been making its rounds on the internet, and not to conform to society or anything like that, I am going to post it up.  The only real reason why this video is getting some post-time on the blog is because it really does explain everything I talked about when I did that post about Mike Posner.  The guy lives, breathes, and loves music!  The video is great, and it proves to me that this guy is definitely ready to explode!  Anyway, check the video below of Mr. Posner and Big Sean doin' it big LIVE at Duke University... Hip-Hop world, looks like we found our saviors!

Bonus Video... Mike Posner x Big Sean x 9th Wonder In The Studio:

Check Back Here For More Mike Posner News + Big Sean News

Also, Be On The Lookout For Our Interview With Mike Posner, COMING SOON!!!

I really hope you guys have seen this video before, and if not you're in for a treat. This short video titled, "David at the Dentist" recaps a child's euphoria in the car on the way home from a Novocaine shot at the dentist. Let's just say David gets a bit loopy and has no clue what's going on. A remix was recently born and adds excitement to the events occurring on screen.

It has been a long while since I introduced some new musicians to all of ya'll, so I figured that I should probably get back on that and start throwing out some more musicians names to keep an eye on this upcoming year.  We have been over the most popular so far, KiD CuDi, Asher Roth, Big Sean, Charles Hamilton... but now it is time to give you all a taste of some of the other people who will be making some noise in '09 and will for sure be putting out some stellar stuff.  We have already covered some reviews for some of the musicians above, but who cares, there is way more to a musician than just his or her music, it is all about their personality and dedication to music itself.

Today we are going to cover one of my favorite musicians who has recently started making some noise with his most recent mixtape, A Matter of Time.  The musician I am talking about (in case you have not figured it out yet...), is Mike Posner.  He is a young musician who has already accomplished so many feats in his musical career.  The truly amazing thing is that this young musician is able to juggle his studies as a college student at the University of Duke all the while making great music and doing very well in school.  In an article I found on the Duke web-site, it states that not only is he a serious musician, but he is also a serious student as well.  It seems a though everything that Mr. Posner does, he does with a sense of seriousness and devotion.  Something that truly is not seen in many musicians in the music industry today.  He is living proof that Hip-Hop may not be "dead" and maybe it was merely just in a coma from when Soulja Boy released his first album.  Looks like Asher Roth won't be the only white-jewish musician trying to make it big in the music industry, seeing as Mike Posner (who fits the same profile as Asher Roth) is making some progress in trying to get a record deal and is also working on releasing his first album with The Brain Trust.  In case you all don't know, The Brain Trust consists of two other Duke musicians, a Senior by the name of Eric Holljes, and Duke sophomore Jeff Oh.

A Matter of Time is for sure one of my Top 10 Mixtapes, and the tape itself has really been his segway into the music industry.  Now that is not to say his first mixtape, Reflections of a Teen was not good, I have only heard one track off that tape entitled, "Summertime" and I truly love it.  If anyone out there has his first mixtape, can you upload it to a site online and post it in the comments, I have been trying to get my hands on it for such a long time!  Another great part about Mike Posner is that he gives back to his roots.  He has a lot of love for both his hometown in California, and where he grew up, here in Michigan.  His music has an influence of Cali/Detroit sound to it, and I think that that's one of the reasons why I like it so much.  His music is so great because it isn't something you hear on a regular basis.  The lyrical flow and music he produces is just so unique and hard to imitate, it makes his music that much better, and that much more interesting.  He has had many associated acts as he has risen to the current stage he is at in his musical career.  Some musicians who you could pair him up with is Big Sean, Pat Piff, Pharrell/N.E.R.D., and from what I understand off this article on the Duke web-site, Asher Roth...

I can tell that Mr. Posner is going to have a very long and very successful career in the music industry not just because of his unique sound and great feel for music, but for his relationship with his fans and other musicians in the music industry.  When I saw him live, he put on a heck of a show.  Him and Big Sean (and N.E.R.D. too, but they aren't from Michigan) got the hometown fans moving, I have never really seen anything like that at a Hip-Hop concert before.  Another example of Posner being very in-touch with his fans is when he was handing out free, signed mixtapes at a shoe/clothing shop in Birmingham, Michigan.  He was at a shop called, "Revive" and I had never been there before (but it would appear that I will be making my way back there at some point seeing as it was a pretty sick shop).  I decided that as a fan, a music blogger, and as a music geek, it was my job... NO, MY DUTY to go down to this unknown shop, and pick up my free signed mixtape.  I ended up getting a whole lot more than that!  I got to the store, and ended up waiting in a line for an hour and half.  So many people showed up to meet Mike Posner and to get his autograph, it was something crazy!  I mean he is loved by Michiganders and all who listen to his music.  The true thing that will make him successful is his relationship with his fans.  I walked into that shop, after waiting so long in a line, and when it is my turn to meet him, I am greeted by a chill guy, who is by far the most friendly celebrity I have ever met!  It is something that is rarely seen by many musicians out there, it is something that up and coming musicians should really take notes on, and something that musicians who have already made it big should try to do more of.  Be more giving to your fans, and you will succeed much more!  

For only being a Junior at the University of Duke, Mike Posner has a very mature and very confident personality.  His love for music, school, and his fans is something that will lead him to succeed in his future endeavors, whether they be in music or some other profession.  He has this deep love for music which seems to be rooted in his personality, which is why he is so close with his fans and with his music making team.  There really isn't much more to tell you about Mr. Posner, I think I have covered it all... He is a great guy, a great musician, and a great student... What more can I say?  Anyway, be sure to check back here later for out exclusive interview with Mike Posner, and be sure to check back here for more Mixtape/Album News coming your way when we hear more about it.  The title of his first album will be called The New Deal, and you can expect a mixtape from him around September this year (just in time for all those college students to get back to work!).

Check Out Our Review of A Matter of Time Here!!!

Check Out Mike Posner& The Brain Trust On MySpace

Check Out Mike Posner & The Brain Trust On Twitter

Check Out Mike Posner & The Brain Trust On Facebook

Check Out Mike Posner & The Brain Trust On YouTube

Download A Matter of Time Here:

[iTunes] [zShare] [Bodango] [DepositFiles] [MegaUpload]

Stay Tuned For More Mike Posner Updates Coming To You In The Near Future!!!