#iTunesSounds: Four To Know – December 6, 2015

“Four To Know” is a glimpse inside what’s current in the iTunes Music Libraries of our team members. We’ll provide four songs to grab and a breakdown of what appeals to us in each track.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

1) “Credit” by Ty Dolla $ign feat. Seyvn Streeter

BREAKDOWN: First of all, I owe an assist to our TheOrganizedGrind affiliate owner Donte Grant for his assist on this one. He told me that the new Dolla $ign album was a must listen. As usual, Grant was dead on. Placed in the middle of his “Free TC” CD, Ty delivered a crisp track as he teamed up with emering R&B artist Sevyn Streeter. It remains to be seen if this will make it to the airwaves as a single at some point during the life span of the release but it’s worth a listen ASAP.

2A/B) “Black Friday” by J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar

BREAKDOWN: As if the rumblings of these two teaming up for a collaboration album weren’t loud enough already, they each dropped separate tracks on the other’s beat. Lamar chose Cole’s “A Tale of 2 Citiez” while Cole jumped on Kendrick’s hit “Alright.” Neither spared the beat going all in with A Game verses to hold us over as we wait. Cole even alluded to a possible release date during the month of February. Stay Tuned. For now, enjoy both of these songs.

3) “For The Summer” by Fabolous

BREAKDOWN: Fab’s latest mixtape “Summertime Shootout” ironically dropped on Thanksgiving Day. This track was the opening track off of another quality output from the New York based rapper. In talking with PSBPopCulture.com Team Member, Keil Moore, the progression for Fab as a 38-year-old artist is impressive. Keep an eye out for the “Young OG Project II” album scheduled for a digital release on Christmas Day. If Fabolous keeps up his current pace of releases during the Fourth Quarter, his new nickname will be Mr. Winter Holiday.

FAVORITE LINE: “Girlfriend like really 2 Chainz for the summer? I’ve copped a few things that were dumber…With that said, I might cop two things for the summer. They both gonna be blacker than Lou’s thing for the summer.”

^^^ Fab with the witty reference to Los Angeles Laker Louis Williams (insert Drake – 6th Man reference) and his two girlfriends.

4) “Under the Stars” by John Legend

BREAKDOWN: This song takes me back to his “Once Again” album. “Under The Stars” is exactly the kind of ballad that Legend has perfected since my introduction to his music in 2003 on Slum Village’s “Selfish.” It was released in conjunction with Stella Artois“Give Beautifully” holiday campaign. Though Legend dropped the song for the holiday season, it has a year round feel to it.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

#EntertainmentPSB: “Fixer Upper” – Season Premier – December 1, 2015

As a homeowner, I find myself paying more attention to channels like HGTV than I ever did growing up in my parents home. My love for the series “Fixer Upper” is a result of having gone through the home buying (and renovating) process. I was introduced to the series by my Operations intern, Taylor Johnson, and have really enjoyed the first two seasons.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

As the show gears up for its’ third season on HGTV, Chip and Joanna Gaines are back at it. The married couple displays a unique way to blend their careers of renovating homes for clients throughout central Texas while raising a family based in the town of Waco, Texas. The couple is in the process of making themselves the most popular item to come from the town since Baylor University quarterback Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy in 2012. Before the show aired in 2013, the Gaineses had already renovated more than 100 homes building their Magnolia Homes business in the process.

In the third season, the two will tackle their toughest project to date as they build what is slated to be called “Magnolia Market.” It is scheduled to be completed sometime in July. In addition to silos and a warehouse that will contain the Magnolia Homes offices, part of the plan calls for a retail marketplace and an area for approximately 15 to 20 mobile food vendors and trucks. The WacoTrib reported that the city of Waco has contributed with a reported 208,376 in tax incentives to assist in the project. Even my dad, John Clay, is a big fan of the show and mentioned his excitement about the series premier over Thanksgiving Dinner last week.

Make sure to turn in to HGTV at 9 pm EST / 8 pm CST.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

#iTunesSounds: Four To Know – December 1, 2015

“Four To Know” is a glimpse inside what’s current in the iTunes Music Libraries of our team members. We’ll provide four songs to grab and a breakdown of what appeals to us in each track.

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

1) “Hello” by Erykah Badu feat. Andre 3000

BREAKDOWN: It’s always nice to hear from Miss Badu who was one of R&B’s go-to voices in the late ’90’s and early 2000’s. The fact that she brought Andre 3000 along for one of his few select verses that he drops annually was a pleasant surprise. The two team up over the classic Ronald Isley sample “Hello, It’s Me.” Andre delivers his seemingly timeless flow while Badu makes it feel like it’s 2000 all over again.

2) “No Shade” by Chaz French feat. Wale

BREAKDOWN: A relative newcomer to the mainstream scene, keep an eye on Chaz French. I owe an assist to PSBPopCulture.com Team Member, Jordan Davis, for this one. French comes through with a quality output on this one even singing the hook. Meanwhile his veteran counterpart, Wale, delivered a mean punch on the type of R&B type of track we’ve come to expect Mr. Folarin to body.

3) “Contradiction” by Mail Music feat. Jhene Aiko

BREAKDOWN: Mali Music has been on the scene for years but has started to breakout as a mainstream R&B solo artist since the release of “Beautiful.” I have to credit current Notre Dame freshman Ali Patberg for the lob on that track 18 months ago. Now Mali is back on the Spike Lee movie “Chi-Raq” soundtrack. He brought emerging female R&B artist Jhene Aiko along on this one and together the combine to knock this one out the park. The high pitch sound floating on top of the melody reminds me of the style Justin Bieber used on “Sorry” and adds to the sound of this one.

4) “Send My Love” (To Your New Lover) by Adele

BREAKDOWN: On a “25” CD loaded with soon-to-be Billboard chart toppers, this one stands out with it’s upbeat tempo as she does her 1-2 on the track. The feel in sequence and message makes me think of “Rumour Has It” off of Adele’s “21” output. Ironically, it’s the second track on the CD the same way Rumour Has It was.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

#iTunesSounds: Justin Bieber – “Purpose” – November 30, 2015

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

Since releasing his debut EP, “My World”, in late 2009, Justin Bieber has become one of the most popular artists worldwide regardless of genre. His latest release, “Purpose”, is his first studio release since 2012 and showcases a distinct sound that is maturing with his age. Over the past three years, the now 21-year-old singer has had some issues away from the music studio. That said, Bieber delivered a hit when needed with this one. We take a look at this latest album.

My Fantastic Four tracks off of Purpose are as follows:

2) “I’ll Show You”

BREAKDOWN: Bieber doesn’t waste anytime addressing the missteps of the past couple of years: the pressure of the fame, stardom and celebrity.



FAVORITE LINE: “This life’s not easy. I’m not made out of steel. Forget that I’m human, forget that I’m real.

4) “Sorry”

BREAKDOWN: This is a hit. From the opening sounds that proceed Bieber’s voice coming on the track to his voice floating over the strong melody. He performed this one at the American Music Awards and I am sure that will see this stay on the Billboard charts for weeks to come.

FAVORITE LINE: “You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty. You know I try but I don’t do too well with apologies.”

8) “Love Yourself”

BREAKDOWN: This is the moment that we all talk about with the significant other who steps in saying everything in life is wrong but them. Friends, family and even the other person. Bieber touches this with a smooth beat and a some lightly played instruments as his voice tap dances on the track.

FAVORITE LINE: “My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone. And I never like to admit that I was wrong.”

Listen to more about this topic on the PSBPopCulture.com Report at the 7:00 min mark:

17) “Trust”

BREAKDOWN: This is my favorite song on the album. The whole sound has a real Timberlake post-NSync feel. The bass line is a perfect compliment to the R&B like production on this one. Bieber does a good job of showing his growing diversity on a track that he can deliver live with a female fan on stage as opposed to having to choreograph a dance for this one.

FAVORITE LINE: “Let’s be honest with ourselves. Did we really come this far just to watch it go down the drain?”

Honorable Mention: “We Are” feat. Nas

BREAKDOWN: Bieber teams up with arguably a Top Five rapper in the history of the game for this one. To my surprise, the track didn’t feel forced even though at 42, Nas could be Bieber’s father.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

#TeenLifeStyle: Aunt Stella – November 30, 2015

By: Stella Alverson @StellaAPSB

Most people have to wait until they have a niece or nephew when they are in their twenties or thirties. For me, I am able to say I have a nephew as a sixteen-year-old. Tillman Gray Alverson is my brother William’s son. Tillman was born on November 6 at 4:09 am. My mom (Cindy Alverson) and I got the call that William’s wife Helen Anne was going into labor after school on Thursday, and we immediately got excited. Mom took our chocolate labs to the veterinarian, and I started packing our bags. We immediately made the four and a half hours to Dothan.

I tried to catch a nap in the car on the way down, but sadly, Mom kept waking me up for various reasons—none of which I found important as I thought I direly needed my sleep. Mom and I made it to Dothan at about 10:30 pm, and little Tillman didn’t come until 4:08 am. Dad (Bill Alverson) and I chose to head out to his car to catch a few z’s while we were waiting. Mom on the other hand was too excited to sleep and stayed in the waiting room with Helen Anne’s mother Kay and two close friends. My brother William came to get us all from the waiting room around 6 am, and Tillman was adorable. At 6 pounds 13 ounces, he was tiny, but he was the first newborn I’ve ever held.

William-Tillman

When my mom first put him in my arms, all eyes were on me keeping a watch out for any complications or issues. I didn’t mind of course, I had the least amount of baby experience by far, but I wanted to hold him so badly. Dad on the other hand refused to hold him until the next day for fear of dropping him. Tillman is two weeks old now, and he’s growing by the day. He’s only been out of the house two times: to go to the doctor and head to his grandparents’ house for Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t stop the family from bringing him clothes every chance we get. Thanks to his own dad and his other aunt Blanche, Tillman owns two different Houston Rockets outfits, including adidas sweatpants. I personally am trying to get him interested in my sport, so he also owns a volleyball shirt to support the cool aunt at her tournaments. In my opinion, he has two of the best parents around, and he’ll be just alright in the Alverson family.

Stella-A-PSBStella Alverson is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with her #TeenLifeStyle articles. Alverson has been around the PSBPopCulture.com Team since her early days and is well versed in how we do things around here. She is currently an Honor Roll student at Buford High School and is on her way to playing college volleyball upon high school graduation.

#EntertainmentPSB: The Future of Atlanta Music – November 23, 2015

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture and By: Jordan Davis @JDavisPSB

Atlanta is a city well known recently for pushing the pace forward in entertainment, fashion and music alike. With everyone trying to get into fashion, art, and music the level of competition throughout is at what some would say is an all time high.

In addition to industry success: followers, likes and retweets are coveted by even the most established in the fields above. Two Atlanta-based producers share more than early age success and a household, they share a direct family bond. Brothers (@DamiThaPrince) & (@SoundByAde) continue to show they belong in the conversation of who has next from the city that forever changed the hip-hop landscape with OutKast emergence in the late-90’s.

In just four years, they’ve gone from producing beats in their family’s living room in the hopes for the glory to working with some of the hottest young artists in lavish studios reserved for the industry leaders. To date, the brothers have worked with emerging artists such as Bryson Tiller, BJ The Chicago Kid and Montana of 300.

At the ripe old ages of 19 and 20, Dami and Ade are creating their own fast lane in a city where the H-O-V Lane is always the move. Based on their current path, they are well on their way to be two of the hottest producers out of Atlanta for years to come. With a production team that resembles 808 Mafia, they plan on becoming the go to name for artists looking for the next Billboard chart topper.

We sat down with Ade & Dami to see what motivates them through the long nights in the studio, how they manage college while chopping up the music their friends will soon party to and where they are headed from here.

Question: Who do you look up to for music inspiration?

Dami: Honestly, my brother. It’s a musical competition in their house.

Ade: I look up to Kanye West as a musical inspiration. I like his “My Twisted Dark Fantasy” CD the most.

Question: Who would you love to work with?

Dami: PartyNextDoor. He’s just dope right now.

Ade: Pusha T. His style is inline with the music that I’m making.

Question: What was your favorite song of the year?

Dami: “Just Another Interlude” by Bryson Tiller

Ade: “Momma” by Kendrick Lamar off of “To Pimp A Butterfly”

Question: Take on Drake and Meek Mill situation?

Dami: People just love Drake. It’s honestly real hard to get at Drake because of the position that he’s in.

Ade: Everyone’s just riding Drake. Meek is a still a good artist. The people are gonna be back on the Meek bandwagon when Dreamchasers 4 drops.

Jordan: There should have just been Meek on the track, no other voices / no features. Classic battle rap: one on one.

Brandon: Meek tried to do too much. Should have spit quick facts, touched on Drake’s relationship with Serena all over three beats – that throwback Funkmaster Flex style. Rewind the dope lines three or four times in a row.

Question: Name an artist on the come up?

Dami: I vibe with Pouya. He’s an artist from Florida who definitely got bars.

Ade: I’m rockin’ with Travi$ Scott right now. You can see the Kanye influence.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

J-Davis-PSBPopCulture Jordan Davis is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with a unique blend of #PSBPopCulture reviews. Davis has been rocking the latest trends since arriving here in 1995. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State, a Social Media Intern with PeachStateBasketball.com and is well on his way to being the youngest in charge sooner than later.

#PSBSportsChop: In Defense of Jay Cutler – November 22, 2015

By: Jonathan Hemingway @JLHemingwayPSB

I will admit that I am a fan of Jay Cutler. I am fully aware of how silly this may sound to many, but I cannot help it. I am a Bears fan and here are the quarterbacks the team has played since I was a kid:

Jim McMahon (Super Bowl winner)
Mike Tomczak
Doug Flutie
Jim Harbaough
Peter Tom Willis
Steve Walsh
Erik Kramer
Dave Krieg
Rick Mirer
Steve Stenstrom
Moses Moreno
Shane Matthews
Cade McNown
Jim Miller
Chris Chandler
Henry Burris
Kordell Stewart
Rex Grossman
Chad Hutchinson
Craig Kenzel
Kyle Orton
Brian Griese
Jay Cutler

That is a list devoid of a legendary quarterback.

All of these years we have prided ourselves as the “Monsters of the Midway,” but somehow never find a QB with talent. Yes, we did go to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman but this is a guy who had more “Bad Rex” moments than “Good Rex.” Lovie Smith’s turnover creating defense should truly get the credit there.

Then we find Jay Cutler. Highly talented. Highly controversial. I concede what the detractors will say about him:

– He has poor body language
– He makes critical bad decisions
– He does not excude the ‘air’ of a leader

Fact is this: Jay Cutler has won more games and thrown for more touchdowns than any Chicago quarterback, EVER. He may be fatally flawed. He just may never be good enough to lead us back to another Super Bowl. I understand all of this. But I still root for the guy. Why? I am not sure.
But here is an attempt at an explanation…

First: There are LOTS of bad quarterbacks in the league. Sure we could trade or cut the guy, but that would get a guy like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Mark Sanchez…You do not just find an Aaron Rodgers on every street corner.

Second: I am stubborn. I have taken plenty of criticism for Jay’s play in multiple group texts over the years. I would like nothing more than to see Jay Cutler lead the Bears to another playoff appearance. But somehow I think this guy can turn it around.

This season has been a victory for Cutler of sorts. Coach Fox’s new offense has calmed Cutler down. An experienced offensive line has given him more time. While an increased emphasis on the run game has given Cutler balance. His numbers are not gaudy (13 TD’s, 5 INT, 267 yards per game), but they are serviceable. He has kept them in games that last year would have been blow outs. Me, along with many other Bears fans, are very pleased with this year’s start.

We will learn some more about Cutler and the 4-5 Bears when they take on the Denver Broncos, which happens to be Cutler’s (and head coach John Fox) former team.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

#iTunesSounds: Four To Know – November 22, 2015

By: Brandon Clay @PSBPopCulture

Angie Stone – 2 Bad Habits

Stone has long been one of my top R&B female artists dating back to the “Mahogany Soul” release in 2001. Though not a household crossover name like Mary J. Blige, Stone is go-to for quality singles and deep album cuts. Her latest album, “Dream”, is no different. “2 Bad Habits” is the lead single off of this CD and is what I’ve come to expect from the singer. Smooth production with a voice that carries the track from there and turns it into a hit.

Dave East – Forbes List

East went to a real member of the Hip-Hop Forbes List, Nas, for this title cut off of his 20-track debut album, “Hate Me Now.” East pays homage to Nas with the album title as a play on one of the legendary rapper’s classic hits. They both deliver some notable lines in the process.

FAVORITE LINE: “I been literally rich since ’96, would have hit my enemies with a Tek in ’96.” – Nas

MisterWives – Our Own House

MisterWives is an indie pop band who got the ball rolling in 2012. They released an EP, “Reflections,” in 2014. This one slipped right past me with a First Quarter of 2015 release. “Our Own House” is actually the title track off of their debut album with the same title. It’s done well on the U.S. charts reaching as high as No. 31 overall, No. 7 in Alternative. With an uptempo beat and full sound, lead singer Mandy Lee does her thing on this single tying it all together with a catchy sound.

Nick Grant – Royalty

Grant enlisted Cyhi The Prince for this single. Cyhi has been on the Atlanta scene for years and was even signed to G.O.O.D. Music for a while. That said, his counterpart on this track is so new to the scene that he doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page yet. If this song takes off of the way that I think it will, that gap won’t last much longer for South Carolina native Nick Grant. The beat favors a classic rap track from A Tribe Called Quest “Bonita Applebum” and both artists do their thing on the track.

FAVORITE LINE: “Only the Family Matters like Harriet Winslow/AK singing like it’s married to Swizz.”

BREAKDOWN: A play on the 1990’s hit TV show followed by a witty reference to Grammy winner Alicia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz.

Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @PSBPopCulture.

#TeenLifeStyle: Buford Volleyball – State Champs – November 16, 2015

“State Championship Day” fell on Halloween this year. At Buford High, we call it that because it is one of the few days where two separate sports get to compete for the title of State Champion on the same day. We were fortunate enough to win both of these titles. The 2015 crown was the ninth (yes, ninth) straight title for the softball team coached by Tony Wolfe while the first ever title for Buford volleyball.

By: Stella Alverson @StellaAPSB

To prepare for our match, Coach Daniels called for a team focusing day with yoga and a dinner provided by a previous principal of Buford. Our coaches left us with a very inspiring and uplifting speech, and then we were left to our thoughts for the night. Personally, I was so excited and ready to play I had difficulty falling asleep, but when I did, I dreamed of the court, the stands, and the trophy that we all had envisioned so many times before.

In the morning, we met at the school for our breakfast of champions—or so we hoped. The bus rolled out towards Marietta High School at 8:30 am to face St. Pius, and we were pumped. After a song suggestion from my sister Blanche, I blasted “Big Rings” by Drake for the whole bus to hear, to be motivated.

ED’s Note: “Big Rings” is one of my favorite songs off of the Drake / Future collaboration “What A Time To Be Alive.”

About an hour later, we arrived at the school, and after signing in, we bounded down the hallway into the locker room, following the pregame ritual of listening to our warm up playlist despite not having any speakers other than the phone’s. Our favorites just happen to be “Pipe It Up” by Migos, “Halftime” by Homebwoi and Ying Yang Twins, and “Hotline Bling” by Drake, just to name a few.

Once it was time for the match to start, we were ready. BWOD was written on everyone’s fingers, Buford Wolves Or Die. Our team mantra. Right before the National Anthem, one common message was passed along the line, “Imagine the last point. Pass it down.” After we clapped St. Pius’s hands and wished them good luck, it was time for the match to begin.

The match was the closest match we’d had all year. It was a fifth set battle after we won the first two sets 26-24 and 25-12, and St. Pius won the next two 26-24 and 25-23. We were both playing our hearts out, it was time to battle once the ref blew the whistle signaling the 5th set to commence. Our faith didn’t waver any after starting the set off down 0-2 despite the set only being scored to 15. Then, we kicked in into overdrive, busting out of the gate with many service runs getting us to a 14-10 lead. Then, on match point, Tatum Shipes nailed a 10-foot-line kill in the face of a Pius defender, ending the match. The Buford side of the gym erupted. We charged the court, jumped in each other’s arms, and screamed at the top of our lungs. We did it. We had made Buford history. The road to the ring was complete.

Next up is the club volleyball season. I’ll keep you posted once I get my schedule and team finalized.

Stella-A-PSBStella Alverson is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with her #TeenLifeStyle articles. Alverson has been around the PSBPopCulture.com Team since her early days and is well versed in how we do things around here. She is currently an Honor Roll student at Buford High School and is on her way to playing college volleyball upon high school graduation.

#EntertainmentPSB: Call of Duty “Black Ops 3” – November 16, 2015

By: Jordan Davis @JDavisPSB

In college, the biggest thing that helps me get through the long and stressful semester is my (limited) free time. For some, it’s being on a sports team, but for me and my crew it’s a combination of working out and video games. My editor, Brandon Clay, thinks he’s stronger than me but I got him beat while still making time to play video games. Other than FIFA, NBA 2K, and Madden, one of our favorite video game franchises is the Call Of Duty series.

Last year, Call of Duty released “Advanced Warfare” but that one didn’t catch on with our crew. The extent of how futuristic the game was made it feel more like a Halo or Gears of War. Fast forward a year to the latest Call of Duty release of “Black Ops 3” was announced we knew what was going to be occupying our late nights. As expected, the graphics are superb and the realism of the gameplay can draw even non gamers to the screen. The moment you turn the game on the introduction page reads, “Forget a sick day, you’ll need a sick week.”

We are either all crammed into one apartment playing or playing together online. After we finish working out around 9:00 pm, my online group – Brett Byerly, Dante Sawyer and CJ James – will stay up until as late as 4:00 am (weekends only of course) glued to our flat screen. Without a doubt, Black Ops 3 is a game that I would recommend for any age and any game experience level.

J-Davis-PSBPopCulture Jordan Davis is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with a unique blend of #PSBPopCulture reviews. Davis has been rocking the latest trends since arriving here in 1995. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State, a Social Media Intern with PeachStateBasketball.com and is well on his way to being the youngest in charge sooner than later.

You can follow him on Twitter @JDavisPSB.