'Thank Me Later' Photo Shoot

Welp, June 15th 2010 is an important date haha. Congratulations Drake! Your debut album is out and it's great. It's errrrrrthang I thought it would be.

So my friend & I are stuck in the airport. We decided to have our own 'Thank Me Later' photo shoot in the while we're waiting for our plane to come...
The album is great!! I'll be listening a lot. Hopefully our flight will come soon so we can make it home to Maryland tonight. I need some rest from all this TML hype lol :)

#ThankYouDrake

Artist Spotlight: iSH

'iSH' is a talented Canadian recording artist and actor. His debut mixtape 'The Name Is iSH" is out now and he's nowhere close to stopping. He starred in the television series "SOUL" and soon you'll be able to see him on The Family Channel's 'BAXTER'.

For all the horror movie fans, you guys will also be able to see him play 'Alex' in the upcoming 'Saw VII' 3D.

I recently had the chance to interview him with five quick questions.

Here is what he had to say:

MsTVAnkA’s Five Questions:

MsTVAnkA: Which do you like more: acting or making music?

iSH: I can't say I prefer one over the other. I love them both for different reasons. What I love about acting is being able to be someone else. I love exploring a character and getting to do things i'd never do in real life. The great thing about music is it's all on my own terms, I dont have to audition or anything to do it. Making music allows me to express myself and the way i'm feeling at any given moment. So i love them both!

MsTVAnkA: What was it like working alongside Keshia Chante in “SOUL” ?

iSH: Oh it was great, we hit it off right away. I played her brother in the show and we really became like siblings during that time, you know always teasing and cracking jokes. She's still like my lil sis now. I believe she made me her honorary brother "iSH Chante" or something haha. The whole cast became like one big family and we all keep in touch.

MsTVAnkA: What can we expect from you in 2010?

iSH: Alot, i'm happy to be really busy rightnow. I just released my debut mixtape titled "The Name is iSH" which has gotten a great response so far. Plus I'm finishing up my first album and we are about to release the lead single to radio, it's called "Priceless" and you can actually hear it first at www.ishmusic.ca .

On the acting front, I just filmed a new series called Baxter which airs on the Family Channel at 10:00 am on saturdays and sundays and you can catch me in the feature film "SAW VII" 3D.

MsTVAnkA: If you had the chance to work with any one artist, who would you choose?

iSH: That's an easy one for me...Stevie Wonder. I think he is a genious. I had been wanting to see him play live for awhile now and finally got to about a year ago, it was the best show i've seen.

MsTVAnkA: What are the top five songs that have been playing on your iPod lately?

iSH:

1. Bruno Mars - Count on Me

2. Kanye West - Power

3. Daniel Merriweather - Ciggarettes

4. Collie Buddz - Come Down

5. Plan B - She Said

iSH's debut mixtape, 'The Name is iSH' is available at http://ishmusic.bandcamp.com/.

To see and hear more of iSH go to www.ishmusic.ca AND...

You can follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheNameIsIsh

-Mikella

Ground Up - 'Turn Around'

This song is the latest release from Ground Up's upcoming and much anticipated mixtape, "Higher Ground".

The release date for "Higher Ground" is July 2, 2010, but Ground Up's next show is tomorrow --

Saturday June 5th, 7:00p.m.

Phoenix Lanes, Phoenix, PA

Check out Ground Up on their blog at groundupsounds.com or on Myspace at myspace.com/groundupsounds

Quote #2: Drake - "Overdose on Life"

"I used to cut the porch lights on, and now I cut the porch lights on just to let 'em know their foresight's wrong."

Foresight is a funny thing. I think Drake has a thing for going against people's expectations.

I, for one thought the "Best I Ever Had" video was hilarious, because it goes against the cliche music video where the guy walks along with his girl tell her how she's (allegedly) the best he's ever had. Drake made it funny & he also got to act in the video. A lot of people didn't like it though, because it wasn't the cliche stuff they expected.

The same thing happened with the "Find Your Love" video. A lot of generic people expected it to have shots of Drake & his love interest running through fields of summer sunshine falling in love lol. This didn't happen. Instead Drake expressed a message. I think it was a cool, grim idea.

Whatever it is, I think Drake likes to be unpredictable, keep people on the edge of their seat, & say what he wants to say with his music. With basically each new release, he lets the public know their foresight is wrong.

Enjoy "Overdose on Life" below.

Drake feat. Alicia Keys - "Fireworks"

Once again, Drake AND Alicia Keys deliver. This song is inspirational.

After seeing Drake in concert in Baltimore, I was able to get a preview of this song.

At the time, however, I didn't know Alicia Keys was on the track. They sound great.

Drake tells honest, sincere stories; he never fails to do this. Alicia Keys takes up the hook & sings it with passion.

That this song is a commentary on Drake's pathway to fame & success isn't a surprise.

The chorus lyrics say it all in these four concrete lines:

"All I see is fireworks . . . Every night is fireworks . . . All I see is fireworks . . . Taking off like fireworks."

I almost wish I could have an entire duet album from Alicia Keys and Drake. Great idea for the future lol.

Quote #1: Drake - "The Presentation"

"I'm perfecting my craft using _____. Tryna make some cheese off a single is a process. Get it? Craft, single, cheese, process. Sit back and admire the talent that I possess."

Yeaaaah. I like "The Presentation", a semi-introductory song on Drake's sophomore mixtape "Comeback Season." This song definitely reminds me of bright summer days and driving in fast cars lol. The main thing about this track is that the beat switches about a third of the way through & the second beat sounds good. I think I'll keep posting interesting Drake lyrics. I'll be able to comment on his experience with different women & people in the industry lol. I know Thank Me Later will be full of good listening music.

driiiiiizzzy. tml. 18 days.

Ground Up - New Website

Ground Up has a brand new website/blog and they update everyday with different info.
You can check out their music videos, download their mixtapes, and learn what they'll all about.
Check it out: groundupsounds.com/

Ground Up - Upcoming Shows:

June . 5 . 2010 — 7:00 PM Phoenixville Bowling Alley
June . 29 . 2010 — 9:00 PM Sand Bar (New Hope, US)
Sep . 11 . 2010 — 7:00 PM Penn State University (University Park, US) w/ Wiz Khalifa