[Misanthrope]

Originally posted by Chemical X.

where is his influence, because i genuinely don't hear it? feel free to enlighten me. is it the lyrics? the sound? where does any of it remind you of kanye?

The reason none of you hear it is because you stan hard for her. Hearing me say that her new music sounds similar to Kanyes bothers you all because you think thats me saying shes being unoriginal or that shes not in control of her sound or her career. Thats not what im saying. But anyone that doesn't hear parallels with her new sound and Kanyes are just choosing not to hear it.

Anyway, its two songs off an album. Its not even that serious. And the only reason it even bothers me that they sound like Kanye is because im not at all into what hes doing musically right now.

[Shaliydah88]

R8 doesn't QUITE seem like it's going to be my cup of tea. The only reason I've come to like some of the things I've heard is because of who is singing them.

[Gavroche]

Higher > Kiss It Better > Promised > A Night

[Misanthrope]

Originally posted by Shaliydah88

R8 doesn't QUITE seem like it's going to be my cup of tea. The only reason I've come to like some of the things I've heard is because of who is singing them.

I don't like FourFiveSecond or this snippet of Higher. But the other snippets we've heard i've liked. I think this album sounds like a complete departure from everything else shes done so I have no idea what to expect in full.

[Chemical X.]

Originally posted by Misanthrope

The reason none of you hear it is because you stan hard for her. Hearing me say that her new music sounds similar to Kanyes bothers you all because you think thats me saying shes being unoriginal or that shes not in control of her sound or her career. Thats not what im saying. But anyone that doesn't hear parallels with her new sound and Kanyes are just choosing not to hear it.

Anyway, its two songs off an album. Its not even that serious. And the only reason it even bothers me that they sound like Kanye is because im not at all into what hes doing musically right now.

i was being snarky before, but i genuinely don't hear it? like... stripped down productions? scratchy/non-edited vocals? none of that reminds me of kanye's new stuff. i see the comparisons between FFS and Only One, but mostly that they're acoustic. this doesn't sound like wolves nor all day, imo...

when i think of kanye's music in general, i think of grand and "smooth" productions, samples, etc. he helped produced big sean's latest release and it's pretty obvious when you hear some of the production and song structures.

i mean, can you explain what you're referring to? or are you going to insist that i'm "choosing" not to hear the similarities? if you don't want to engage in this discussion then i guess the convo's over

[Misanthrope]

Originally posted by Chemical X.

i was being snarky before, but i genuinely don't hear it? like... stripped down productions? scratchy/non-edited vocals? none of that reminds me of kanye's new stuff. i see the comparisons between FFS and Only One, but mostly that they're acoustic. this doesn't sound like wolves nor all day, imo...

when i think of kanye's music in general, i think of grand and "smooth" productions, samples, etc. he helped produced big sean's latest release and it's pretty obvious when you hear some of the production and song structures.

i mean, can you explain what you're referring to? or are you going to insist that i'm "choosing" not to hear the similarities? if you don't want to engage in this discussion then i guess the convo's over

A Night sounds similar to Wolves. What do you want me to get technical with you at every element of his production that sounds similar to hers? No. Its a general vibe. This sort of grungy and natural look/vocals. Its even more apparent by how drastically different the vibe we're being given of this album is in comparison to everything shes made before. Its no coincidence that shes this drastically different and he just happens to be apart of the project. There are similarities because he is involved. Like I said before, if you don't hear it its because you're choosing not to.

[BajanBeauty]

The fact that you said A Night sounds similar to Wolves disproves your theory.

A Night was made by Mitus and Rihanna. Kanye had no dealings in that song being written or production. You can look up the song writing and production credits…
-& again Rih has done soooooo many studio recordings where Kanye was no where in sight. Not photographed leaving/ entering or in the studio w her.

So just because people don't hear these similarities does not mean its because they're choosing not to. I genuinely don't hear the Kanye influence either.

I'd love to have a level headed convo w you but you're coming across as very defensive/ narrow minded in this and the other thread. Being a fan does not take away ones ability to rationalize situations.

[Deemy]

Originally posted by NewRihannaStan

I was wishing for another LOUD but R8 so far has been great..

I must be deaf because I don't see anything at least being better than Only Girl or Whats My Name yet.

[Chemical X.]

Originally posted by Misanthrope

A Night sounds similar to Wolves. What do you want me to get technical with you at every element of his production that sounds similar to hers? No. Its a general vibe. This sort of grungy and natural look/vocals. Its even more apparent by how drastically different the vibe we're being given of this album is in comparison to everything shes made before. Its no coincidence that shes this drastically different and he just happens to be apart of the project. There are similarities because he is involved. Like I said before, if you don't hear it its because you're choosing not to.

i sort of see what you're saying, i suppose they're both using a dark and stripped down aesthetic. maybe i am blinded by being a stan, but i'm not going to sit here and act like rih has never gone down similar paths before. like, even with UNA, she wasn't doing elaborate and flashy videos/photoshoots anymore. she has been experimenting with "alternative" and dark looks since 2013. to imply that the three snippets we've heard have any semblance to kanye's recent work is, in my opnion, jumping the gun and simply incorrect. like i said before, am i supposed to believe that the variety of dark/grungy looks she's sported since 2013 are because of kanye? as if a 90's revival hasn't been slowly creeping onto the cultural landscape for the past few years? or that the snippets have anything in common with kanye's new work, when they sound nothing like his new songs and each snippet has been drastically different? again, i don't see it

and finally, i don't find the insistence on kanye's involvement to be insulting at all. i like kanye as an artist, and if the album actually sounds like he was steering it, than i'll have no problem admitting that. i just feel like people are seeing rih do something unexpected and attributing that to kanye? just because of FFS and because he mentioned her during an interview. if he had said nothing i don't think his name would be brought up right now.

[Deemy]

I like Higher,. But I'd kill her if she ever made it a single. Thats the type of song you do on tour or perform amongst your peers.

[TheFireLexus]

Are we forgetting Rihanna made Rated R with no involvement whatsoever from Kanye? Since we're talking dark and grungy vibes in music.

Anyway, the vocals in the second snippet of Higher sound quite strained. That's why I love the Grammy performance of Four Five Seconds so much. The singing was smooth and effortless, while still maintaining the grit and rasp in the vocals.

[BajanBeauty]

Originally posted by Chemical X.

i sort of see what you're saying, i suppose they're both using a dark and stripped down aesthetic. maybe i am blinded by being a stan, but i'm not going to sit here and act like rih has never gone down similar paths before. like, even with UNA, she wasn't doing elaborate and flashy videos/photoshoots anymore. she has been experimenting with "alternative" and dark looks since 2013. to imply that the three snippets we've heard have any semblance to kanye's recent work is, in my opnion, jumping the gun and simply incorrect. like i said before, am i supposed to believe that the variety of dark/grungy looks she's sported since 2013 are because of kanye? as if a 90's revival hasn't been slowly creeping onto the cultural landscape for the past few years? or that the snippets have anything in common with kanye's new work, when they sound nothing like his new songs and each snippet has been drastically different? again, i don't see it

and finally, i don't find the insistence on kanye's involvement to be insulting at all. i like kanye as an artist, and if the album actually sounds like he was steering it, than i'll have no problem admitting that. i just feel like people are seeing rih do something unexpected and attributing that to kanye? just because of FFS and because he mentioned her during an interview. if he had said nothing i don't think his name would be brought up right now.

& thats the honest truth…
Had Kanye not opened his mouth nobody would be attributing anything Rih has done so far to him.

[NewRihannaStan]

Originally posted by Deemy

I must be deaf because I don't see anything at least being better than Only Girl or Whats My Name yet.

Well Rihanna hasnt made anything better than OG and Slay My Name yet so you have a point .

But my point is that I like the direction R8 is taking . I like the stripped down tone I'm loving the look and her raw vocals . Higher>>>>>

[Grim]

OG has not aged well. It's hardly one of her best, even on Loud.

[EloiseheartsRiRi]

So basically R8 got delayed cuz of Home concept album which ended up being scrapped too.
And we get 2-3 songs. And Dancing in the Dark, which is as mediocre as it could get.
While her vocals are the best this era, raw and with many layerings, the tracks are a total disaster.
At least we know the album is a folk indie effort orchestrated by Kanye West.
Who told her that accoustic music is IN It's good and all but the potential for grand pop tracks is gone..
Oh, well Loud 2.0 will come on November
If It doesn't get 80 plus metascore though
At least she is now finally familiar with Bon Iver

[MikeFenty]

Originally posted by Cain

I'm having my internship at this old man's studio (he's 61) and he always has like 60s/70s music on through Spotify and honestly some of it slays

Wouldn't mind Rih going in that direction with R8

A dream come true.

[Grim]

Meltdowns over 15-30 second snippets

[NewRihannaStan]

OG aged perfectly as a dance pop song .!!! I mean it's going to be on the Soundtrack .!! OMG Rih.!!

[NewRihannaStan]

Phake Nhavi

[Black Pearl]

Dancing In The Dark does not sound cute Glad the flawless TTS was the first single.