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Just listened to the new Dirty Money track "I Want Ur Love" and I must say, this is actually really good. Great vocals, great production, totally radio-friendly and club-friendly without sounding like every other electro-pop song flooding the airwaves these days. And the Golden Filter's "Favourite Things" sample is brilliant. I have to give it up to Dirty Money for keeping it sexy with this one.

diddy-dirty_money-want_your_love.mp3

As a matter of fact, Dirty Money has yet to release a disappointing track. I personally love Dawn Richard's vocals and think Kalenna has a lot of swag that most people are overlooking. Diddy will always be wackballs to me, but dare I say, he may actually have a hit on his hands with "Last Train to Paris". 

I saw Janelle Monae at Highline Ballroom May 18th. They said doors opened at 8 p.m. but of course in New York City that meant I did not get inside until about 9:15 p.m. after waiting in line since 7:30 p.m. I won't even get into the cold and the rain and the "friends" who popped up at the last minute to cut the line.

Upon entering Highline I was met with a cardboard cutout of Janelle holding a sign that advised we must listen to The Archandroid (that's her upcoming album) from beginning to end to appreciate it fully. There were various other cutouts that may have had other messages, but honestly by then I was tired and just ready for her to do the 2-3 songs I knew and liked so I could get on my merry way.

Time Magazine has named Lady Gaga the most influential artist in the world. And all I can say is, really?

As a musician the subject of Gaga has riled me up for months. I have written about it before and discussed my opinion of her persona, lyrical content and musicianship at length with friends and even strangers. No doubt, many musicians and music fans have done the same. She's a great subject for debate and conversation.

But to say she is influencing anyone except perhaps a handful of current or aspiring pop singers (and a few drag queens) who believe copying her style and persona will allow them to skyrocket their careers in like fashion, is a bit of an exaggeration.

More to the point, I honestly haven't even thought about Gaga in recent months and I get the sense that a lot of people feel the same way.

This is not to say I have any estimation that Gaga will fade into oblivion. But it is to say there's only so long those same tired shock and awe tactics we have all seen before fall flat, and Gaga has to offer something of substance.