This week Nicki Minaj – who came number two in our ‘Sound Of 2010′ poll – is number one in the US New Release Chart, with her latest single ‘Your Love’.
To check the full chart click read more (You may have to turn ‘Mobile Theme’ off to view this chart correctly in Shazam’s apps).
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A new number one in the Shazam New-release chart USA as Usher and Nicki Minaj storm to the top with ‘Little Freak’.
To check the full chart click read more (You may have to turn ‘Mobile Theme’ off to view this chart correctly in Shazam’s apps).
‘Little Freak’ is the third taster to surface from Usher’s forthcoming album, ‘Raymond Vs. Raymond’. Recent singles ‘Papers’ and ‘Hey Daddy’ both had a more risqué flavour than any of Usher’s previous work, signalling a slight change of direction for the R&B singer on his latest work. Carrying on with this trend Usher has recruited Nicki Minaj to co-star on his latest single – probably the most outrageous female rapper of the moment.
Produced by über beat-smith Polow Da Don; ‘Little Freak’ has a distinct Atlanta flavour thanks to a heavy half step, cheeky Stevie Wonder sample and a speaker rattling bottom end. The highlight of the track comes in the shape of Minaj’s rapid fire verse which perfectly displays why UK Hip Hop legend Tim Westwood has been bombarding Twitter with messages such as, “Minaj has got the buzz right now!”
As the year draws to a close, the focus quickly shifts from assessing which acts were big in the last 12 months and turns to working out which artists will break through in 2010. Buzz lists such as The BBC’s Sound Of 2010 and Spin magazine’s ‘10 Artists to Watch’ are widely recognised as being among the best at predicting which acts will breakthrough in the following year. However these lists are mainly subjective, based on the individual tastes of those compiling the pole. Shazam’s Sound Of 2010 is different. Derived from the music tastes of its 50 million users, Shazam’s Sound Of 2010 brings a quantifiable quality to its predictions for the New Year and picks many bands that have been heavily talked about on this very blog!
As Will Mills, Shazam’s Music & Content Director says; Music & Content Director says; “User generated data from Shazam has for the last two years picked out some of the most successful acts mooted for stardom by the critics from Duffy to Empire of the Sun. Our 50 million users have spoken and this year have picked out acts like The Drums, Nicki Minaj and Delphic as ones to watch in 2010.”
The Drums currently sit atop Shazam’s Sound of 2010 chart thanks to the success of their debut EP, ‘Summertime!’, to be shortly followed by the release of their first album in January. Shazam users have really got behind this explosive band, who mix the pop sensibilities of the Beach Boys with the post punk output of Factory Records. Acts like the Mancunian electro-influenced guitar band Delphic also made the Shazam top five with users across the globe forecasting big things for them next year. Recently signed to Polydor, Delphic produce harmony laden electro pop tunes and have already appeared on the Jools Holland show in the UK.
Music pundits across both sides of the Atlantic seem to be betting heavily on soul and rock next year. The BBC is predicting the half Jamaican soul singer Rox to take the music world by storm in 2010 and US-based Spin magazine is rating rockers like Free Energy and Final Fantasy as the next big thing. However, Shazam users have shown a little more diversity in their musical tastes and predictions, tagging breakthrough acts like Queens-based rapper Nicki Minaj and smooth crooner Chase Coy as just two of their preferred sounds of 2010. A teenage acoustic troubadour, Chase Coy has been wowing his MySpace followers with a clutch of songs already this year, whilst Nicki Minaj is the latest discovery by Lil’ Wayne’s record label Young Money Entertainment.
The pundits and the public do agree on some of the acts set to do well, with both the BBC pundits and Shazam users rating Brit Award-winning Ellie Goulding as a rising star for 2010. Born in Wales, this singer songwriter completes Shazam’s Sound of 2010. Fronting an eclectic mix of styles with her enchanting voice, Ellie Goulding has attracted a wealth of hype with her single Under the Sheets.
Shazam’s Sound of 2010:
| 1) The Drums |
| 2) Nicki Minaj |
| 3) Ellie Goulding |
| 4) Chase Coy |
| 5) Delphic |
Nicki Minaj looks to be an artist set for big things in 2010. Her early mixtapes, ‘Playtime Is Over’ and ‘Sukka Free’, gained her plenty of plaudits with the underground hip hop community when they surfaced in 2007 and 2008 respectively. However, a close association with Lil Wayne and The Cash Money Records collective has seen the New York rapper’s appeal rise immeasurably in the last 12 months or so.
Her third mixtape, ‘Beam Me Up Scotty’, was released in August on Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money Records and has since been touted by taste makers such as The Source magazine as one of the best of the year. Featuring appearances from A-list rappers such as Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Busta Rhymes, Bobby Valentino and Drake as well as a genuine sleeper hit in the shape of ‘I Get Crazy’; it’s not hard to see why ‘Beam Me Up Scotty’s’ been held in such high praise.
With her notoriously revealing outfits, rapid fire flow and X-rated lyrics, Minaj comes across like an even racier version of Lil’ Kim. With a cameo appearance on Young Money’s already massive ‘Bedrock’ and a full solo album due for release early next year; Nicki Minaj is definitely an artist to look out for in the next few months.
For more info on Nicki Minaj check out her MySpace.
Jay Sean looks set to follow up the huge success of his previous Billboard 1 hit with his new single ‘Do You Remember’ which hits the top spot in the Shazam New Release Chart USA this week. New entries on the chart also come from Plies, Timbaland & Drake, Flyleaf, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown and Cash Money artist Nicki Minaj; who enters the chart this week with a little help from the hardest working man in hip hop, Lil Wayne.
Check the full chart here
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