Five Artists to Watch in 2009

KENDALL Sun, May 24, 2009 at 03:25 AM EST

I was visiting my cousin out in Ventura and heard this guy named RIPEM singing. He sings soo good and he had all the girls screaming cause he also dances like Chris Brown. I found him on myspace. You should check him out!! Myspace.com/ripemmusic

Alex Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM EST

Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://cleaning.emenace.com/cleanroo93/11.html heat exchanger air water cleaning undefined

Alex Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 08:32 AM EST

Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://hardwood-floor.emenace.com/brucehar62/37.html bathroom floor tile undefined

Gilat Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 03:30 PM EST

hey Margeaux!
check out new rapper Clap Cognac www.myspace.com/clapcognac
he comes from a jamaican/west african background but represents the birthpace of hip hop Bronx, NY. he has been nominated for many indie awards and has released 7 independent street albums u can download them for free at datpiff.com (search clap cognac)i hope u get a chance to check him out! he is defintely an artist to watch in 2009!

Preston Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 02:25 AM EST

Maybe Teyana Taylor was recording the album during all of 2008 with Pharrell and some other producers, so that's why you might not have heard her. I hope that she gets several songs from Pharrell so that she can have some potential hits and those beats have got to be funky! The Super 16 episode on MTV had to have given her more exposure for her Google Me song. Very good song title regarding a man googling on the computer to find that special girl for a relationship.

Houstonian Jen in DC Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 09:38 PM EST

I really don't understand the vitriol. Who cares if her column is focused on hip-hop and R&B artists? (which doesn't bore me by the way) Who cares what it is entitled? It's like some of you think clicking on the blog link should first direct you to a page saying, "WARNING: Hip-Hop and R&B Music approaching" Don't like the blog, don't read it. Some of us actually enjoy it. Sincerely, Jen (a fan of hip-hop, R&B, blues, classical, jazz, latin, musical theatre, rock and even a little bit of country)

Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 12:22 PM EST

Why we should watch the Fleet Foxes ?

Artists to watch are the ones that will released they debut album yet. Fleet Foxes already debuted, and already proved how awesome they are.

These artists will going to prove (or not) if they really deserved to be watched.

I think this ones are not the best chocie, but let's wait their albums.

As a Fleet Foxes fan since 2006, it's really good how they are rockin' the music world right now, despite taking 2 years until this happen. They were watched and deliveried a great work. And they're here to stay, finallly some fresh and original rock.

Jon Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 12:00 PM EST

It's come to this, has it? No wonder I haven't picked up an actual "EW" magazine in five years.

Fleet Foxes==08 Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 06:26 PM EST

What happened to Fleet Foxes...? This indie band ruled 08 and came out on the top of more critics list than any other thing she has put in her "Music, New & Review" blog.

Astro Boy Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 06:08 PM EST

I think the readers here need to re-think popular music. Margeaux's selection of music is very relevant and everyone complaining need to open their minds some more.

fluff Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 10:15 PM EST

Margeaux - what about musical genres other than hiphop, R&B or rap??? any thoughts? ever?

anthony Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 07:37 PM EST

nycole valentina is someone you should check out margeaux. She was featured on mtvs trls "under the radar" and recently signed a production deal. Nycole valentina is definitely an artist to watch in 09

Chris Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 07:30 PM EST

I could be wrong but she said she wanted to include 9 but she was only excited about 5. Maybe she is only excited about R&B and Hip-Hop artists right now. (Not that I agree, Hip Hop & R&B bore me for the most part.) If you read her blog you will see she does talk about other genres of music. If she puts Hip-Hop/R&B in her title then she can't really talk about Taylor Swift or Britney Spears or whoever else might not fall under those 2 categories.

Ed Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 05:27 PM EST

I must agree with many of the comments. The tag line for this blog is "Backstage, in the studio, and on the scene." It does not specify a music genre, so to have this list filled with rap and R & B is a bit of a letdown. As someone who writes about music for the magazine, Margeaux should have a more diversified list. What about rock, alternative, pop, country?

Alex Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 05:25 PM EST

Normally I laugh at all the e-whiners that come on here simply to complain and make themselves feel better about themselves. But this time I have to agree this is a pretty narrow group of hip hop and R&B artists. Either expand your horizons or re-title this Margeaux's R&B and Hip Hop blog.

Christina Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 04:21 PM EST

When this blog started I thought it was going to be a general music blog. Was I wrong, this is a R&B/rap blog. I've read EW for a few years and I know enough that R&B/rap is only a small fraction of the music tastes of its readers. This blog would be much more interesting if it encapsulated all genres of music and not just R&B/rap.

supertrooper Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 03:46 PM EST

If i liked R&B and rap then maybe I would care about this poorly written review.

SH Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 02:42 PM EST

Here's how to fix this blog (and this is from a major hip-hop and soul fan):

1. Remove the name "Margeaux's Mix" and rename it with some more generic music-related title.

2. Get another music writer (or several) that focus on other genres and keep Margeaux assigned to hip-hop/soul/R&B.

3. Let these writers post here with the "categories" subliners indicating the genre and topic.

EW and Margeaux, there are more than one genres of music out there. While I lurve me Maxwell, I'd also like to read about news and goings-on of other musicians OUTSIDE of Beyonce, Kanye West, and Britney Spears (a RARE exception to the R&B/hip-hip rule but over-reported nonetheless).

seriously? Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 02:41 PM EST

no rock, country, or pop artists at all?

they need to retitle this blog.

Phil Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 02:12 PM EST

Maregaux I am inclined to agree with everyone below blowing smoke in your face for looking forward to so many hip-hop & R&B acts and not mentioning any pop/rock artists. In your defense, January is a very slow time right after the holidays for releasing any info. about upcoming projects for the year, so I do have to say I understand your point when mentioning 5 instead of 9. Some of these artists you did mention are kinda BLAH to me. I don't understand the buzz on Wale AT ALL. I am sure Mark Ronson's production will be a selling point for his debut, but even when iTunes gave away his tune LASt year entitled "Nike Boots" I was like, umm glad this is free cuz it sucks! Mark Ronson's production on The Asteroid Galaxy should hopefully go over well this year, as well as Chester French, whom I hope have a super huge hit with "She Loves Everybody" after I've been loving the track since 2007! Oh & iTunes free single of this week, Erin McCarley should get a mention, she has alot of potential!

Matt Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 01:37 PM EST

I was thinking what Sam wrote. The only 5 to watch are rappers or R&B artists? How about this new band out of Boston?
http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=308477
The UK's Sunday Times gave them 4 out of 5 stars. Pretty original sound.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article5325555.ece
I think there's a lot more out there to be excited about that these 5 niche artists above.

curt Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 01:36 PM EST

What's up w/ all the F'ing rappers. Can't stand them. I don't think it takes any talent to throw that S#(t together. It's just noise. If these are the 5 you are looking forward to, you don't have much of a life.

jaime Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 01:23 PM EST

Im really really excited to see how Kelly Clarkson does with the new album coming out soon!!! I loved My December...and have been waiting for new music for a LONOG TIME NOW!!!

2009 WILL BE HER YEAR!!

Sam Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 01:10 PM EST

This should be titled "5 Hip-Hop/R&B artists to watch".

Lydie Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 01:05 PM EST

Kewl that you mentioned Corneille. I loved his French CDs and can't wait til he switches over to English. His voice reminds me a lot of Craig David's.