New Music to Know: Mack Wilds... To us, [the album] felt like... New Music To Know: Painted landsen

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Particularly with the release of her debut, Rebellious Soul , the Love & Hip Hop star broke orbit from the VH1 reality show that boosted her notoriety as a no-muss, no-fuss personality. So much so that she s inspired her own forthcoming spin-off, No New Friends .
One listen to Rebellious Soul — which debuted at the top spot of Billboard s R&B Albums chart and at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in August — reinforces that sassy, salt-of-the-earth brand. More importantly, what grounds it into something substantial is her #RebelAgainst campaign, an awareness-raising social media initiative in which K. Michelle’s fans speak out against domestic violence, racism, sexism and other social problems as well as personal life issues.
With that cause and her music, Michelle seems to be doing everything she can to shake herself free from the box of trumped-up, reality TV drama. And with her accomplishments in 2013 and her plans for 2014 so far, it seems to be working. Last month, K. Michelle won Best New Artist at the Soul Train Awards, a nod from one part of the music industry that thinks of her as more than a reality star. Moreover, Michelle is working on a musical with more details to come soon, her label, Atlantic Records, confirms to Radio.com .
Lately, R&B has heralded eccentric sounds from new talent landsend ( Janelle Monae , Frank Ocean , Miguel ) and continuing legacies ( R. Kelly , anyone with the last name Braxton). But K. Michelle has stepped out — deflecting haters and questions about her Love and Hip Hop -documented personal landsend life — on her own path, with an approach in R&B reminiscent of Mary J. Blige or Hit Em Up Style singer Blu Cantrell: a woman scorned, trying to rise above it all.
On Rebellious Soul , you can hear that she s trying to get her drama in order but, girl, she needs a drink — some Henny chillin on ice, she sings on V.S.O.P. (a French designation for cognac or brandy: Very Special Old Pale) — and she s not gonna take mess from nobody anymore.
The EP ends out quite a year for K. Michelle, who headlined a tour with Radio.com New Music to Know Artist Sevyn Streeter . And still, the release amounts to a quick breather among a busy schedule. Michelle is doing live dates through the end of the year and her second single off Rebellious Soul — the rousing Can t Raise a Man — is set for release soon. It s sure to make her 2014 very special” as well.
Interview: Against Me! and... While the emotional core... New Music to Know: Mack Wilds Writes landsend a Love Letter to New York with GRAMMY-Nominated Debut Interview: Charles Bradley Channels James Brown & Past Struggles During landsend his Unmissable Live Shows
New Music to Know: Mack Wilds... To us, [the album] felt like... New Music To Know: Painted landsend Palms Take the Information Superhighway All the Way Back to the 60s New Music To Know: Echosmith Aspires Toward Role Model Status
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