Music Album: The MF Life by Melanie Fiona

Many would not know that Melanie Fiona is actually signed to Roc Nation, and I think it is because the label boasts of mega superstars like Rihanna, Kanye West and even Jay-Z. So it is very hard for other artists on the label to get the mainstream exposure because with a roster like theirs it is very easy for their shine to be eclipsed. However, Melanie has managed to create a name for herself, her debut album The Bridge, spawned the grammy-nominated hit single, It Kills Me and the album became a r&b must have. She managed to tour with Jay-Z and on her own and was able to build an audience.

2012 seems to be a great year ahead for Melanie, she won two grammys this year for her duet with Cee-Lo Green (Fool For You), and after many push backs, the release of her sophomore album finally sees the light of day.The albums first single, the heartbreaking ballad Gone and Never Coming Back was not received too well, but it did not take away the fact that it was a fantastic song. In attempt to try something different, she got into the studio with hitmaker Rico Love and crafted the cutting edge ballad 4AM, where she wails "Its 4AM and my lover won't answer, he is probably out there with a dancer, sipping champagne while I'm in his bed". It is clear that Melanie is not has happy and lovestruck as she was on her debut. She has not hidden the fact that something happened to her which inspired a lot of the songs on this album. On I Been That Girl, she sings to a girl that is now dating an ex with the opening lines "I heard about the tats on his brand new car, I knew that he'd drive you crazy" Though the overall theme of the album is heartbreak driven, she shows that she is still hopeful to do much better when it comes to love on the uptempo, J. Cole-assisted This Time. The highlight of this album is the emotional and vocally-powerful Wrong Side of a Love Song - a traditional ballad that actually reminded me of the late- Whitney Houston and would most likely become a contender for best r&b song at next years grammys.

Melanie Fiona is one of those artists who is talented, plain and simple. She has a very strong raspy voice that has the versatality to sing different genres from reggae to hip hop, soul to funk. I fell in love with her debut album and this one only further secures her a place on my ipod and my musical collection. I love her and her music, a certified legend in the making.