By shelz.

It’s been a busy year for Keyshia Cole.  She’s still dealing with a family that’s paid to be crazy, but now she has a fiancé and a son to add to the roster.  Plus, she’s crafting her 4^th studio album, Keyshia, which will determine whether the chanteuse is still with us on the periphery of R&B fame or has been swallowed up by all of her periphery issues. It’s do or die time.

Of course her first single, “I Ain’t Thru” is going to offer the obligatory Nicki Minaj feature, but should it?  Nicki’s hype machine runs full blast, but it’s non-transferable.  Her presence could lift the stock of the song, or Keyshia could serve as another soon to be discarded stepping stone on Nicki’s personal path to platinum plaques.  (I mean, do we really foresee another Minaj / Flo Rida joint?)

The intro is a lone organ with Keyshia OOoooOOO ing through a few notes.  It promises some church soul; a track for Keyshia to air out the pipes, but it doesn’t deliver. Once Nicki shouts her crew, the organ goes into a tick, bounce, bounce cadence more suited for the club than anyone’s church. (Unless you have those strobe light after hours services.) The production team adds a simple drum pitter patter and some of that good ole eerie Southern synth for drama.  Basic.

Its obvious Keyshia don’t like you hatin’ ass broads. No one is iller than her (except Planet Ill of course.) She’s not concerned about you dissin’ her because she’s fabulous.  She’s going to do her and shine and shimmer and get hers.  It’s a decent enough sentiment, but this track doesn’t allow Keyshia to belt those words out in a powerful, believable way.  Her esteem comes off a little limp, but Nicki’s doesn’t.

Minaj puts her psycho Sybil alter ego on the back burner for some Timbo rap.  It’s steel toed and to the point.  She’s a bad bitch who you don’t wanna catch during PMS.  She has no love for hood rats, mutts, ducks or even a goose.  Oh my.  The shot at aggins with no dental insurance is amusing.

Unfortunately, it appears even with one of her less dramatic offerings, Minaj has still managed to upstage Cole as she stomps closer to Pink Friday.  “I Ain’t Thru” doesn’t give Keyshia space to fly and relegates her to second string behind her feature artist. Hopefully, the crew behind this new release will change their minds, trust Keyshia’s talent and drop a ballad instead of using Nicki Minaj’s back to forge a return.

Keyshia Cole feat. Nicki Minaj – “I Ain’t Thru”

I_Ain_’t_Thru

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