K. Michelle Flaunts Her Versatility at 'More Issues Than Vogue' Album Release Concert in New York City
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
March 31, 2016 K. Michelle Flaunts Her Versatility at 'More Issues Than Vogue' Album Release Concert in New York City Memphis multi-hyphenate K. Michelle celebrated the release of her third album, More Issues Than Vogue, with a full concert on Tuesday night (March 29) at New York City's Webster Hall. Sporting a black one-piece that would make Wonder Woman jealous, the singer commanded the stage, proving she’s more than a reality TV personality. That’s not to say her set wasn’t loaded with outrageous soundbites. “You may have broken up with him, but you forgot that you also broke up with that dick,” she lamented about no-good lovers in between songs. Before launching into the piano-driven slow jam, she also said, “On my nightstand, I have my dildo, a Bible and my pills -- everything that keeps me calm. That’s where “Nightstand” came from.” She also started the party with the T-Pain assisted jam "Mindful" and threw it back to her 2013 debut with the raunchy "Pay My Bills." The evening carried its more somber moments, as well. At one point, K. Michelle gave her back-up singers the chance to shine, allowing them each to sing a solo as they banded together for an impressive medley that included Adele’s “Hello” and Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody.” She also noted how she took pride in hand-picking each backup vocalist. She even delivered earlier fan favorites like "Ain't You" off Issues as well as "Maybe I Should Call" off her 2014 effort Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? The most vulnerable moment of the evening came when K. Michelle delivered a speech about being pigeon-holed in the industry. She explained that while executives wanted her to be another Mary J. Blige or Keyshia Cole, she had something different to offer: an appreciation for country music. She even shared that the first cassette tape she got from her mother was from country duo The Judds. “I owe it to myself to sing a little music that I do love,” she said to applause. “I want to introduce my fans other music. Music is music.” She then segued into enthusiastic covers of The Judds’ 1990 track “Born to Be Blue" and the Dixie Chicks’ 1999 song “Sin Wagon.” She finished the country set with a heartfelt performance of “Memphis,” a bonus track on MITV. K. Michelle closed the show with a special treat for her fans: “It’s about to get super fucking rachet. I will not forget where I came from,” says the singer who once hurled a candle at castmate Rasheeda on a 2013 episode of VH1's Love & Hip Hop. K. then jumped into “Medley” from her first mixtape, 2012's 0 Fucks Given, and delivered her special take on Yo Gotti’s "Down in the DM," proving that versatility is her forte. January 25, 2016 K. Michelle Talks Upcoming 'Non-Urban' Third Album & 'My Life' Season 2 K. Michelle turns into an L.A. transplant for season 2 of her VH1 series My Life. The Love & Hip Hop alum (who'll still be starring in Mona Scott-Young's franchise for LHH: Atlanta this year) gets to work on her third album -- the follow-up to her two No. 1 albums: 2013's Rebellious Soul and 2014's sophomore set Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? -- while aiming for a "non-urban" sound, as seen in the show's supertrailer. "I want to be able to sing what I want," she tells Billboard a day before her single "Not a Little Bit" drops. "If I want to be able to sing country, I want to be able to show that. I want to be able to sing ballads that touch the world and not just one demographic. I’m just not going to be told that because I’m black, I have to do this anymore." She says you can expect her singing country andtackling dance records on the yet-to-be-titled LP. "It’s just a variety of music that feels good." Between hopping from Atlanta to L.A. to London while recording the album, My Life also finds K. Michelle in the throes of dating. Being able to live her love life in front of the cameras -- whether she's on the prowl for a "Caucasian man" or starting up the rumor mill with Nicki Minaj's ex Safaree -- the Memphis-bred songstress reps her single status well. "I don’t think [putting my love life out there] is a challenge. My love life is a big part of my music," she offers. "It’s a big part of everything and people take it so seriously with me. It’s so crazy, like I can’t date normal people! So putting it on the show is really no different than putting it to the music other than [viewers] get to actually see me in the relationship and what it’s like to go through it." K. Michelle Debuts at No. 1 on R&B Albums Comparing her time on Love & Hip Hop, one main difference about spearheading her own show is having the freedom to be the boss and not worry about a drink-throwing catfight. "You really get to be in detail with what goes on," explains K., who is also working on her home goods line, restaurant in Atlanta and a specialty drink with Jack Daniels. "I can’t control what the other girls do around me but when it’s my show, I’m the executive producer so I’m very much involved with what goes on and I’m very big on non-scripted -- I don’t like scripted things. I like [for the show] to go with the flow. I can film how I wanna film. I can make it the truth and keep it the truth." Get a taste of K. Michelle's truth in the exclusive clip below, where she confides in rapper Trina about her new music. K. Michelle: My Life hits small screens on Monday (Jan. 25) on VH1 at 9:30 p.m. ET. March 31, 2016 REVIEW: K. Michelle Had 'More Issues Than Vogue' And More Strength Than A Soldier At NYC Album Release Show Walking up the block to Webster Hall in New York City on Tuesday (March 29) night, excited fans of K. Michelle had huge smiles on their faces as they were racing to the door, and singing and humming her songs. They were ready to get their entire lives at K.’s More Issues Than Vogue album release concert, and quite frankly, so was I. I’ve always been intensely in love with her work, which have always been like underrated masterpieces that were some of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life. But hey, even the great Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings weren’t appreciated until years after they were created, right? Entering the venue, K.’s opening act was a DJ who was doing one heck of a job getting her fans turnt up enough to see their idol. The fans dancing in the crowd gave me a HBCU party vibe with a twist of 1990s music flavor, and a side of ratchet (I have my ratchet tendencies too, so relax). “Music is music. And it makes you feel, even if it's country, gospel, jazz, music heals.” In no time, the DJ shouted, “Who’s ready for K. Michelle??!!!” And like clockwork, the crowd began chanted her name passionately. They were ready for her to come thrrooouuugghhhhh! And she did. Her backup singers hit the stage first doing a dance number and then out of nowhere, I heard a confident, yet slightly country “Ooooowwwww!” And you already know, the queen stepped out, full of energy, performing “Mindful” from her third studio album. For her entire set, I felt an extremely rare feeling that many shows don’t allow me to feel: comfort. Like K. Michelle admitted in the beginning of her show, I too, am very big on energy. The way K. was engaging with the crowd, you would’ve sworn she was your favorite cousin that you would always want to chill with, or a best friend who you’ve known for years back. The “guy drama” stories that she told in between songs really made you feel like you and her were just hella cool. While most performers keep the chit-chat at a minimum and perform songs before they quickly chuck the deuces to fans that they “love,” K. made us feel welcomed with her southern-hospitalized, home girl-styled warmth…not to mention her phenomenal, non-studio edited pipes. “I love to write. I love the music. I don’t like the industry. I don’t like the fakeness, I don’t like the politics. ” From preaching those table talk words like, “There’s always a hater in the corner” and “There’s nothing like a grown a** boy with good sex…and no car…and five baby mamas,” K. made every fan in the hall feel closer to her, me included, than ever before. This was also apparent when she sensed her backup singers (with mega-pipes of their own) were a bit nervous and gave them the spotlight to slay the mics, before telling them that it was OK to loosen up because they were “among family.” Taking it back during certain moments of her show, she also blessed her adoring fans with songs from Rebellious Soul and Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart? Her day ones’ eyes gleamed with joy and the upmost love and admiration for K.