HIT OR MISS: Eminem's Lead Single 'Not Afraid' From New LP 'Not Afraid'...

HIT OR MISS: Eminem's Lead Single 'Not Afraid' From New LP 'Recovery'


Em, we could not be happier that you have realised that all those verses slanging off some of the hottest chicks in the game was just so - not funny. Because, when you do what you do in Not Afraid, where you prove just why you're considered one of the best in game, we remember just how damn talented you are.
The beat is sick, the verses slay and Em is even better than ever before. Like that's even possible, right?
VERDICT: HIT






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HIT OR MISS: Drake's Next Single 'Find Your Love' Is Released...

HIT OR MISS: Drake's Next Single 'Find Your Love' Is Released...






If Over and Find Your Love are any indication of what to expect from Drake's debut LP Thank Me Later, then we can definitely say that we'll be buying it on its release 15th June.

Definitely good stuff - not as good as Over, admittedly - but pretty damn good, nevertheless.

VERDICT: HIT







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HIT OR MISS: Kelly Rowland's New Single - 'Commander'..

HIT OR MISS: Kelly Rowland's New Single - 'Commander'..





YES, Kelly!!

This is EXACTLY how hard you SHOULD be coming!! The beat is infectious, that chorus is catchy as hell, we smell a HIT - and we've never been wrong so far!!
VERDICT: HIT

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HIT OR MISS: Ciara's Comeback Single 'Ride' Is Released...

HIT OR MISS: Ciara's Comeback Single 'Ride' Is Released...






Oh, Ci, this is definitely one of the best songs you've released for a while. We had our suspicions when we heard the preview, but we didn't want to get our hopes up.

It's going back to your hood roots, the chorus is infectious, the beat isn't just another Dream castoff that he's played out numerous times. We love it.

And if this is any indication of what to expect from your new LP, Bssic Instinct, we canNOT wait.

We hail the return of the Princess of R&B. Welcome back, Cici. We've missed you.

VERDICT: HIT





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HIT OR MISS: Christina Aguilera's Comeback Single - Not Myself Tonight..

Yes, Christina!! Yes! Yes!!

THIS is how you make a comeback!! Rihanna, take notes...


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HIT OR MISS: Christina Aguilera's Comeback Single - Not Myself Tonight...

HIT OR MISS: Christina Aguilera's Comeback Single - Not Myself Tonight...



Yes, Christina!! Yes! Yes!!

THIS is how you make a comeback!! Rihanna, take notes...


www.twitter.com/tha_phoenix

HIT OR MISS: Nicki Minaj's Debut Single - Massive Attack...

HIT OR MISS: Nicki Minaj's Debut Single - Massive Attack...

Below is one of the most anticipated debut singles of the last decade, Nicki Minaj's Massive Attack.

Our opinion? So far, we're kinda feeling it. It's the kind of song that takes a few listens to REALLY get, but, even without the hype surrounding our newest favourite female rapper, we still think this would be a smash on the BB100.

VERDICT: HIT







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HIT OR MISS: Janet Jackson's New Song 'Nothing' Hits ...

HIT OR MISS: Janet Jackson's New Song 'Nothing' Hits ...





The laid back Jermaine Dupri beat, the soft vocals...

This sounds like a return to form for Ms Jackson (cause we nasty), and, if this is an indication of her upcoming new album, we can't wait.

VERDICT: HIT


www.twitter.com/tha_phoenix

HIT OR MISS: Ke$ha's Third Single From Animal - Your Love Is My Drug...

HIT OR MISS: Ke$ha's Third Single From Animal - Your Love Is My Drug...





With its melodic line sounding eerily similar to her smash Tick Tock, Ke$ha's next single from her hugely successful debut album Animal, Your Love Is My Drug, looks set to be another hit for her.

Good beat, catchy lyrics, easy to hum...

VERDICT: HIT ... though perhaps slightly generic.


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HIT OR MISS: Omarion's New Track - Speedin'

HIT OR MISS: Omarion's New Track - Speedin'




What isn't there to love about this song? This is the first thing we've loved from the ex A-Lister's direction since the sickness that was Ice Box. And, the tight vocals, nice beat and sure-to-be-pretty-damn-good video, will all combine to make this one smash for the ex B2K member...

VERDICT: Hit - if there's any damn justice in the world...


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HIT OR MISS: Cassie Skydiver

HIT OR MISS: Cassie - Skydiver


HIT OR MISS: Cassie - Skydiver



This tune is actually kinda hot. The beat is decent, nice melody line. But, once again, a perfectly good song ruined by someone who couldn't even sing Twinkle Twinkle in an interesting way.


This tune is actually kinda hot. The beat is decent, nice melody line. But, once again, a perfectly good song ruined by someone who couldn't even sing Twinkle Twinkle in an interesting way.

Why, Diddy, why? Why keep giving this non talented entity decent music that could be killed by peeps like Day 26 or Dawn? Oh, no... Hang on a sec. We just got a *head*s up on why that might be...

VERDICT: Miss - but only cause it's Cassie. Aint nobody checking for her non talented arse...

NEXT!


www.twitter.com/tha_phoenix

HIT OR MISS: Rihanna's Next Single 'Leaks' - Wait Your Turn

HIT OR MISS: Rihanna's Next Single 'Leaks' - Wait Your Turn






Oh, Rhi, Rhi.

When you're an artist that has to rely purely on your (well, most of the time) admittedly kick-arse singles due to your considerable lack of singing/dancing/entertaining talent, you cannot afford to not come hard every time. Especially when many seem to be picking sides, and your ex is coming considerably harder with his I Can Transform Ya (we won't even mention some of the tactless jokes we've heard). Sorry, but it's true.

The Wait Is Ova or Wait Your Turn, or whatever it's called, is simply NGE (Not Good Enough). After the shitty Russian Roulette (which has only debuted at #100 on airplay - v.low for Rhi Rhi), you needed to come with a smash of a second single to make everyone forget all about it (remember our Two Single Rule? See http://tinyurl.com/y8w5qyn if you've forgotten it.); a club banger that everyone would love. Not necessarily on the same par as the genius Umbrella, 'cause, let's be honest, those songs only come around about once every decade or so. But something that kicks-arse, not something that barely even lifts its' leg.

It's not on.

This song is weak at best, the production is half-arsed and sounds as if it belongs to two or three songs, rather than one (and ignore the people who say this is just a rough cut. We all know they're not going to change the entire song completely, which is what it needs to be anything better than Alright At Best or AAB.), and Rhi Rhi's deep notes don't sound on point. They should have tried to keep this song in the same register as Take A Bow- which we actually really liked, 'cause it was quite pleasant to the ear - as Rhi's voice is, when she's not attempting vocal acrobatics more suited to the likes of Queen B, Christina, Mariah, Leona and Whitney.

Stick to what you're good at. You never see Princess Brit Brit trying to reach for those top notes; she knows she's not the best singer and concentrates on what we all love her for - performing her arse off. Which reminds us; the next time you want to laugh at Brit (as Rhi did at the 07 VMAs) please remember that she's a better performer than you any day of the damn week.

The Wait Is Ova? No, honey. If your next single isn't a smash, we'll be replacing the first word with 'career'.

VERDICT: MISS

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HIT OR MISS: Alexandra Burke - The Silence

HIT OR MISS: Alexandra Burke - The Silence

So far, we're loving Ms Burke's debut album Overcome, and this is one of our fave songs off it. With production by RedOne (one of our top producers of the moment), the strong vocals and haunting melody left us wanting more and more; and, if we weren't convinced that 2010 will be the year of AB, then we definitely are now.

We love. Love. LOVE.

VERDICT: HIT

twitter.com/tha_phoenix

HIT OR MISS: Britney's New Single - 3

HIT OR MISS: Britney's New Single - 3





It's not exactly a secret that we love the Princess, but, even if this song were sung by someone else, we would still love it just as much.

The chorus is catchy as Hell ('1,2,3...'), the lyrics are up to the standard of fabulousity we've come to expect from legendary songwriter Max Martin, and, as usual, Britney adds an energy and infectious quality to an already good beat...

Just how do you manage to never disappoint us music-wise, Brit?

We love.

Ah lot.

VERDICT: HIT


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HIT OR MISS: Leona's New Single - Happy

HIT OR MISS: Leona's New Single - Happy







The thing is, first time we listened to Happy, the first single off Leona's sophomore album, Echo (out 13th November) we were like 'OK, she's doing her thang on it, nice beat...'. But. that was pretty much it.



Now, that we've listened to it twice, thrice, we're IN LOVE with it. So understated, yet beautiful... reminiscent of Run, her second no. 1 in the UK. Her voice has become even more gwajus... she's obviously been working v. hard - not that we expected anything less from our girl. The instruments don't overpower the song, which sometimes tends to happen, and it's so soulful, so heartfelt that even the most cynical will stop and say, ' keep slayin' em, Leona'...



And we couldn't be happier to hear that Leona co-wrote it, with Ryan Tedder ( who killed that production on the world wide smash, Bleeding Love) doing his thing on the beat. She's definitely grown as an artist, and the cover ( see below) is also branging that whole sexy diva vibe.















We now just can't wait for both Echo and her upcoming performance of Happy on 17th September's VH1's Divas...


VERDICT: WORLDWIDE HIT

HIT OR MISS: Sugababes New Single - About A Girl

HIT OR MISS: Sugababes New Single - About A Girl










Now, this we love. Produced by RedOne, and with a SICK thumping beat, this is guaranteed to be a huge club smash. And, with a video rumoured to be Kill Bill themed, we can't wait for the Sweet7's release on 23rd November.

You know you're gonna be singing the hook all autumn long...

VERDICT: HIT

HIT OR MISS: Cheryl Cole's New Solo Single

HIT OR MISS: Cheryl Cole's New Solo Single






Erm...

You know that we love us some Cheryl, but, this is a bit... blah.

Fight For This Love, the first single off CC's debut album Three Words (out 26th October), will be released 19th October, and was written by Steve Kipner, Andre Merritt and Wayne Wilkins.

We can always smell a hit a mile off, but, although this will do well because, come on, it's Cheryl Cole (Britain's sweetheart), it's not exactly a track you'll remember this time next year. Or even in a few months time.

Hence, it's blah...

Still, our verdict is : HIT

HIT OR MISS: She Wants To Know What Love Is

Mariah's New Single: I Want To Know What Love Is

Naturally, we doubted Perez's verdict that this isn't a hit... and it comes as no surprise that he doesn't like it. We all know Perez can't stand any female artist that

a) is more fabulous than him

and

b) couldn't care less what he thinks...

So it stands to reason that he practically hates this. Besides, his opinion hardly counts.

Moving on swiftly, we ( along with most people, apparently) think that her cover of I Want To Know What Love Is is a smash, and is sure to spark a tear in the eye of even the most sombre. With her soaring vocals and the perfectly used choir at the end, we think it's reminiscent ( in a sick way, bien sur) of 90's Mariah... which we personally love just as much as Noughties Mariah.

But, why take our word for it (even though that is also ideal)? Listen for yourselves...

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