Jonathan McReynolds is one of my favorite music artists right now. I had the chance to see him perform live at the Buckhead Theatre at the end of March. He’s got a fantastic voice, vision for his brand and seems to be dialed in to what God is using him for on this platform. McReynolds is arguably the leader of the new age gospel sound that has more of a modern day RnB vibe to it. His single, “Make Room,” is a national hit while the track “God Is Good” definitely takes the No. 1 spot in my rotation. Listen to both:

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher & creative fashion director of BrandonClayStyle.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Instagram @BrandonClayStyle.

As the leader of G.O.O.D. Music, Kanye West is in charge of marketing for an entire team of quality artists including himself. The 2018 theme is seven-track albums for releasing throughout the summer for the whole crew all executive produced by West himself. He’s in Jackson, Wyoming putting together the music. West’s personal album is the second one in the string of releases. As we’ve come to expect from ‘Ye, the music is a bit scattered at times especially early in the album. By the time we reach “Wouldn’t Leave,” Kanye settled into his bag delivering the type of sample-infused production that made him a star musically early in his career.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

Track Rating:

1) No Mistakes (vintage Kanye here)
2) Wouldn’t Leave (PND, Jeremiah and Ty Dolla $ign all jumped on this)
3) Ghost Town
4) Violent Crimes (the singing on this one is fantastic, guest appearance by Nicki)
5) All Mine
6) Yikes
7) I Thought About Killing You (this man talked for 2 minutes to start a 20 min album)

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

From the cover art of Whitney Houston‘s bathroom to the seven-track length drop, this release marks a different, more calculated version of Pusha T than we’ve seen to date. Push has been a mainstay of the rap game since the early 2000’s relying heavily on his experience moving drugs as his topic base for verses. Not only does he stay on course but enlists Kanye West for all seven beats to assist his cause. Another veteran of the narcotic industry talk, Rick Ross, joins Push as the only non-West feature on the album.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

Clocking in at just over 20 minutes, Daytona represents what could become the new industry standard of “less equaling more.” The production coupled with the verses gives Pusha his first masterpiece release in years. Just four days after the release, Pusha gave us a diss record against Drake called “The Story of Adidon.” It’s so good that it deserves it’s own article. Stay tuned.

A letter from one of my idols… ✍🏿 @diddy (peep the stationary) #DAYTONA

A post shared by Pusha T (@kingpush) on May 24, 2018 at 10:25pm PDT

Track Rating:

1) The Story of Adidon (yes I consider this part of the album – a bonus cut)
2) Infrared
3) What Would Meek Do? (this was CLEARLY a setup for what’s happened this week)
4) If You Know You Know
5) Santeria
6) Hard Piano (feat. Rick Ross)
7) The Games We Play
8) Come Back Baby

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

It’s safe to say, Drake appears to be in full go mode when it comes to his upcoming album releasing new music for the second time this calendar year. He’s got another hit on his hands with “Nice For What.”

#PSBPopCulture🍑

Love the Lauryn Hill looped sample from @murdabeatz_ on this new @Drake track.

My man @shotbylarry of @ParallelsMedia_ says it’s going right to the top of the charts with God’s Plan.

I agree.

INSTAGRAM: https://t.co/c3AyUbQSjZ pic.twitter.com/LYdW2hG1d7

— Brandon Clay (@psbpopculturebc) April 7, 2018

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

THE BREAKDOWN:

Murda Beatz went crazy on this vintage Lauryn Hill sample. I spent the majority of my flight from Atlanta to San Antonio to cover Ray Caldwell’s event this morning listening to the song. Larry Rhinehart of ParallelsMedia.com expects the song to catapult right alongside “God’s Plan” at the top of the charts. I completely agree.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

Cardi B has been on a crazy wave for the past 12 months. She’s dropped herself or been featured on multiple No. 1 hits, joined Bruno Mars on a nationwide tour and is dating Migos member Offset. The two are set to have their first child together later this year. Right now, all eyes are on Cardi as her debut studio album is scheduled for a release next month. In anticipation, her latest single “Be Careful” was posted today.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

THE BREAKDOWN:

For the first time, the delay in Cardi’s album might have worked against her here. Be Careful is a solid track addressing infidelity in a relationship but doesn’t have the punch that her other single releases to date have possessed. It’s a different sound and will provide depth to the album. But with the wave she’s on right now, Cardi didn’t need another pre-album single unless it was a can’t miss No. 1 record.

LISTEN:

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

Youngboy Never Broke Again appears to have next up on the rap scene. His song “No Smoke” has seen airplay nationally and he’s looking to follow that one with previously released tracks “Outside Today” and “Solar Eclipse.”

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

THE BREAKDOWN:

The gem of the album slated to release next month might be the brand new track “Right or Wrong” featuring Future. Youngboy talks about dealing with the gambles that have had him in trouble with the law over the past couple of years and his sons amongst other topics. Meanwhile, Future gets back to his early 2017 flow that produced two No. 1 albums.

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

As if it were 2008 all over again, Drake jumped on an unreleased track from Wayne’s latest installment in the Dedication series. The “Family Feud” beat came from Jay-Z’s 4:44 album in 2017 and the release from Drake was timed perfectly after HOV dropped the video release on Friday.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

THE BREAKDOWN:

You can tell from some of the content that this verse is fresh out of the packaging and starts the year off right after a relatively slow musical year for arguably the best rapper in the game not named Jay himself.

Favorite Quotes from Drake in this one:

“Super Bowl goals. I’m at the crib with Puff (Sean Combs) and he got Kaepernick on the phone. He’s in a whole different mode.” — direct wordplay on how Jay starts his version mixed with Combs recent declaration that he wants to buy the NFL’s Carolina Panthers

“Tell me if TD Bank is approving loans. I’m thinking of paying Wayne what Universal owes. He spent a whole career going Platinum and Gold. He should own half the label. This is outta control.” — reference to the longstanding battle between Wayne and Cash Money founder Birdman on money owed to Wayne over the course of his career

“Somebody get Larry Jackson on the phone. I need some ownership if we pressing go. Business is boomin’ on behalf of me. I need a bite out of the Apple like Adam and Eve.” — Jackson is the streaming head of content for Apple Music. Drake has a deal with the service to the tune of 20 million but sounds like a renegotiation is in the works.

“…or too long like a sentence from a Philly judge. What’s the point in all the beefing when we really blood?!?” — sounds like a Meek Mill / Drake reunion could be on deck if Meek can ever get out of jail. #FreeMeek

“This pudding taste like the proof. If I ever see Trump, he better salute.”

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

K. Michelle just dropped her latest album “Kimberly: The People I Used to Know.” last week. She is one of the go-to artists in the RnB game love the past five years and the diversity in this album shows why. “Crazy Like You” is her latest single off the album.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

THE BREAKDOWN:

Since stepping into the game, K. Michelle has shown herself to be an immensely talented artist. This is one of my favorite tracks to date. She sings and even raps fluidly to get her point across here.

LISTEN TO THE SONG:

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.

Brent Faiyaz is a 22-year-old singer whose rise to the mainstream of RnB is directly tied to his performance singing the hook on the smash single “Crew” with Goldlink and Shy Glizzy. The song has been a mainstay on charts nationwide since the summer. Faiyaz has been recording with a 3-man group called “Sonder” thus the name of his solo project. The collective success of his music the past 18 months has propelled Faiyaz into a place where he was finally able to release his debut solo album “Sonder Son.”

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCultureBC

THE BREAKDOWN:

The Baltimore, Maryland native is definitely one to keep an eye on. His sound reminds me of Donell Jones in his early years. My favorite three songs off of Sonder Son are:

Track 6: Stay Down
Track 8: Talk 2 U
Track 10: So Far Gone / Fast Life Bluez

LISTEN TO A FAIYAZ INTERVIEW ABOUT SONDER SON:

Brandon Clay serves as the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com. A self-professed entertainment, music and sports junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. Adding in a SLAM (Basketball) Magazine subscription in the late-90’s had him setup up for lifelong success. Clay is also a founding member of the “Luxury Boys Club” designed to stay on top of whatever is next in the world of PopCulture. You can follow him on Twitter @psbpopculture.