Get loose and wild with the perpetually uninhibited Colombian pop star Shakira on her new single "Loca," which returns the singer to her Latin roots. Beloved 90s act Jamiroquai swoops in with an updated version of his classic jazzy/electronic/dance sound. Given all the affection toward the dance genre these days, now's a ripe time for a comeback. And the leading ladies of Young Money, Nicki Minaj and Shanell, team up against Cupid. Love is a battlefield after all.
Listen to the new singles and get the scoop below
Shakira feat. Dizzee Rascal - Loca
What's good:Even though Shakira's no stranger to U.S. shores, she's still best received when she wears her ethnicity on her sleeve. She's sort of a new age Carmen Miranda in that way. With her last single, "She Wolf," she put together smart, sexy eletronica track, only to find that American audiences weren't as receptive to a blatantly Latina Shakira. So here she is again, with a new album one year later, hollering about "loca" she is and promising to moan "ay papi." The good news is that even though Shakira shined on "She Wolf," she really hits her sweet spot with rougher, unpolished material like this. The production is dangerous and jittery, designed to get the hips moving. If you loved "Hips Don't Lie," this is it's dirty dancing cousin.
What's bad: In a way, the choice to put Dizzee Rascal, a popular rapper in the UK but relatively unknown in the US, is a brave one. But in another way, it's a bit of a dangerous gamble. The obvious choice for a Latin-inspired track like this would be someone like Pitbull, and his verse would've probably set the record on fire with his playful mix of dirty talking Spanglish. Dizzee on the other hand sort of stumbles about on the track like the gringo that he is. That's why if you understand Spanish, the Spanish version of "Loca" is so much better.
Jamiroquai - White Knuckle Ride
What's good: You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and in Jamiroquai's case that's a good thing. Make no mistake about it: "White Knuckle Ride" is classic Jamiroquai. It will have your disco ball spinning and Soul Train lines forming with it's funky groove. But it also feels fresh enough to play in today's music scene. It's the perfect marriage of the past with the present. And just try to dislike the Bee Gees-inspired yelps of "Pressure!" You're helpless, don't even bother.
What's bad: Even though rap features on tracks can prove to be distracting and without merit, this track could use a good rapper on it as bait for the younger audiences. Certainly stay away from the modern Marky Mark, Flo Rida, but maybe a Pharrell or even a Kanye West on the track could've boosted the hip factor up a notch or two.
Shanell feat Nicki Minaj - Cupid's Got a Gun
What's good: It kind of sounds like a Dirty Money song, but this is Young Moolah, baby! The bleak song's lyrics are appropriately melodramatic for both artists, especially Nicki Minaj, who is always good for ratcheting the drama up a notch or two. Shanell surprisingly shows off a pretty, crystal clear voice. D.Woods' little sister might have a leg up on her in this music game.
What's bad: Nicki is underused. Where's her spitfire verse full of quotables? She's criminally used more as a background singer, rather than a co-star. While it's great that Shanell is getting her own platform, putting these two together should've been more of a Brandy and Monica affair.
