Erica Mena is the personification of the American Dream.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Nike LeBron 12 Elite Series
When it comes to his sneaker releases, LeBron James definitely isn’t one to rest on his laurels. Like his other Nike drops, he’s been back in the lab tinkering on the Nike LeBron 12 to bring us the Elite series of the sneaker.
As usual, the post-season release proves to be the cream of the crop and has a few improvements to its build based on him playing on the court in them. The most notable improvement is the stability-providing cage around the upper that works in concert with the rest of the technology to provide an amazing new shoe.
Three colorways of the Nike LeBron 12 Elite are set to drop and the first one is the red Team colorway on April 18. After that you can expect the blue-tinged Elevate on May 15 and the sinister-feeling Rose Gold on June 5. Of course you can find them all at Nike.com on those dates as well as select retailers.
See 20 Surprising Sneaker Releases
Denitia and Sene Promote Good Vibes, Talk Changing Lives and Perform 'Side Fx.' for 'Next Up' [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]
Keep blinking to a minimum during denitia and sene’s stage performance because the nuances that separate them from their singing counterparts can’t be missed. This is art in motion. From denitia’s use of a synth keyboard and vocal processor to sene tapping away on a trigger pad that houses original music, they’re a self-contained unit creating mood-enhancing vibes. Think of them like a musical pop-up shop; they have all the components necessary to deliver their sound in a way that they want a listener to experience it — anywhere in the world.
When it comes to their songs, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based duo cover the gamut from chilled-out soul to futuristic electro to sanguine pop. They deliver a playful back and forth on the bittersweet “Casanova,” share matters of the heart with the ethereal “Divided” and get straight to the point on the warm synths of “Because We Are Fools.” These two exude sexy through their music with a shared vision, which is best exemplified on their previous efforts like 2012′s Blah Blah Blah EP, their 2013 album, His and Hers, and their 2014 side fx. EP. Their lyrics, which cover complex ground, never sound contrived and their rhythms are minimal yet sublimely effective.
“You either like it or you don’t,” sene, who hails from Brooklyn’s Ocean Avenue, tells The Boombox inside Smalls Jazz Club in New York’s Greenwich Village. “There’s such a hierarchy among musicians. I know it sometimes comes off rude maybe, so I say it with a smile, but I just think it’s music.”
Denitia, who grew up on a healthy musical diet of Smokey Robinson, Lauryn Hill and Al Green, isn’t a fan of all of the modifiers used to describe their sound. If there’s one she is comfortable with it’s “underground pop” because it encompasses everything they want to dabble in. “I’m pretty influenced from so many different types of music,” the Houston native shares. “I’ve really found my voice in soul music. I’m talking about ’60s, ’70s. Aretha [Franklin], Al Green. I feel like when we first started out and some of the beats were kind of hip-hoppy, we were able to go there a little bit. Go a little R&B with one style, and from there, it’s just evolved into whatever it is now.”
When denitia and sene (no caps, please) formed in 2011, they had no crystal ball to look into to see what their future held. They each had a solo vision with a passion for music before they crossed paths at the Brooklyn art and music collective known as the Clubhouse. Two heads are always better than one, and now over three years after teaming up, they’ve changed the dynamic not only for themselves but for those in their inner circle — just by using their innate talents.
“We were in very different places before we started working together. It’s crazy to think of — in the most humble way possible — we’ve literally changed the lives of so many people around us that our lives affect. Not that we’re changing lives out here,” says sene, who cites the Cadillacs and Mos Def as early influences. “But we changed the day-to-day lives of our loved ones. I’ll forever be grateful of that. I don’t know if it’s proud, but I’m very cognizant of it and every single day I remind myself. I enjoy working; no, don’t take that time off. Go work on something because this is really helping a lot of people.”
Currently the pair, who find joy in cracking jokes on each other, are crafting their sophomore opus. “The Fan” is an indication of what’s to come from the project, which will be full of their pop and R&B-driven sensibilities. “Just like a fan, you cool me down, you love me now, just like I am,” they sing in unison on the track.
Denitia and sene’s next agenda is to bring their movement to a wider audience by touring. Their ingenuity and desire to color outside of the music industry’s lines will likely bring them far away from their roots in Beyonce’s hometown and Biggie’s stomping grounds, respectively. As The Boombox’s #NextUp artists sit beside each other in Smalls, they finish each other’s thoughts without rudely chiming in and throw in a few laughs for good measure. The positive energy is palpable, which translates into their music. But just like any working relationship in a group, there’s always that one little thing (call it a pet peeve or a quirk) that can be pointed out about the other when it comes to their personality.
“If you can’t fall asleep and you have counted all the sheep, just get sene to tell you a story and you will be sleeping like a baby in no time,” denitia admits with a laugh. “It could be up to 30 minutes. Just wind him up and let him go.”
Just don’t sleep on these two when it comes to their sonic chemistry.
Watch above as denitia and sene discuss their musical direction, changing lives and perform the silky sounds of “Because We Are Fools and “Side fx.” for The Boombox’s #NextUp series presented by McDonald’s.
Watch denitia and sene Perform “Side fx.” for The Boombox’s #NextUp Series
See Photos of denitia and sene From The Boombox’s #NextUp Performance
Big Sean Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Dark Sky Paradise'
Three months into 2015 and Big Sean is celebrating a major accomplishment. In addition to bouncing back from the sophomore jinx and releasing what some have deemed a career-defining album, the Detroit native adds another win to his growing list of accolades when his Dark Sky Paradise album nabbed the top spot on the Billboard 200, giving the rapper his first No. 1 debut on the charts.
The critically-acclaimed album, which features the E-40-assisted banger “I Don’t F— With You” as well as the Drake-assisted heater “Blessings,” sold 173,000 copies in its first week, according to Billboard. Of that number, 139,000 copies were pure album sales, giving Sean his best week ever, nearly doubling the 87,000 copies moved of his 2011 debut, Finally Famous.
Big Sean seems extremely grateful for his fans’ support, posting a tweet directed at his supporters. “Thank u guys for an amazing week and giving me my 1st #1 album! Dark Sky Paradise! The support means everything. truly Blessed!” he wrote.
And the rhymer had some tough company to beat this week, including Kid Rock and the Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack, which came in at the No. 2 and No. 3 slots on the charts, respectively. But when all was said and done, Sean proved that while hip-hop’s demise has been much-talked about, moments like this prove otherwise.
Check out the rest of the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart below.
1. Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise – 173,000
2. Kid Rock – First Kiss – 146,000
3. Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack – 108,000
4. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – 99,000
5. Taylor Swift – 1989 – 78,000
6. Ed Sheeran – X – 73,000
7. Chris Brown and Tyga – Fan of a Fan: The Album – 67,000
8. Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour – 60,000
9. Imagine Dragons – Smoke + Mirrors – 55,000
10. Maroon 5 – V – 49,000
See 10 Most Anticipated Rap Albums of 2015
Dame Dash Discusses Jay Z Possibly Being An Informant
It's been somewhat of a resurrection year for the man known as Dame Dash, as the former Roc-A-Fella exec has quite a few projects lined up for 2015, most notably venturing into the digital media forefront, where he recently panned out a deal to work alongside Kanye West on the fittingly titled series, "Loisadas.
Reel Life: T.I. Confirms "ATL" Sequel on Instagram (@tip)
While there have been hints here and there that a sequel to the 2006 movie "ATL" was in production, T.
S. African Artist Calls Drake a "F****t" While Touring Together
Yolandi Visser of South African group Die Antwood recently had some harsh words for Toronto "it" boy Drake, calling the MC a homophobic slur on Instagram this Saturday soon after performing at the same venue as the "Legend" rapper.
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