What's the formula?

So far all I have is Me=Sub^stacked, since E=MC² was already taken, twice.

I won’t say I have no idea what I’m doing. But I certainly don’t know exactly what I’m doing on Substack. So this is my first try. This week, I’ve got a host of anniversaries to highlight, a new album worth a listen, a little footage I grabbed at a recent show and of course, there’s some Aretha in the mix. My goal is to serve up 2-3 of these per month. There will be a mix of new content I’ve published elsewhere (namely The97 & 365DaysofAretha) and things that are both exclusive to Substack. I’m also going to experiment with paid-exclusives (hey, life ain’t cheap), but that’s for another day. This first one is all free!

VH1 Divas Live at 25

I affectionately call Divas my musical fertile crescent, because it really was the breeding ground for my taste in music. I wrote a long (and still-in-need-of-an-edit breakdown of the show which went out on the show’s anniversary. Read more.

The Weekly Aretha

I’m not always listening to Aretha Franklin, but Aretha is always either in the mix or adjacent to it. This week, I’m squarely focused on 1978’s Almighty Fire, which just turned 45. I decided to do my latest 365DaysOfAretha essay on “More Than Just A Joy" to celebrate. Read more.

Mariah Madness: M-I-M-I at 18

This month also marks some significant musical anniversaries in my world. First up, is the 18th anniversary of Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi. In 2021, I dove into the soulful influence that made up the album’s backbone. Read more.

Mariah Madness Continued: E=MC² Turns 15

I still vividly remember the release of Mariah Carey’s 2008 victory lap album, E=MC². It was senior year of high school, and I had a car. That meant that I got to buy the album myself. So, thanks to school-wide free periods on release day (which was Tuesday back then), I hauled ass to Best Buy on Route 22 in Union, NJ, and snagged my deluxe edition copy of the album on my way to school. The deluxe came in a digipak (the soft casing) and included an iPod cover, which I still have buried somewhere. I had also pre-ordered the album on iTunes, because this was the exasperating era of iTunes pre-order bonus tracks. Since then I’ve acquired a copy of the Japan edition of the album, which includes both bonus tracks. They’re also now on Spotify and beyond.

E=MC² is an exemplary body of work. After delivering a masterclass on comebacks with 2005’s The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah used the return to respect and prominence to fuel the creation of this record. She once said that Emancipation was dinner, and E=MC² was dessert. It’s much more playful than it’s predecessor, evidenced by the lead single, “Touch My Body.”

It was such an exciting time as a fan. She recruited a whole new roster of voices to join her on the album. Most notable for me was Damian Marley, who had rocketed onto my radar in 2005 thanks to the ubiquitous “Welcome to Jamrock.” for the reggae-tinged “Cruise Control.” She also closed the album with another stellar gospel closer. While “Fly Like A Bird” was a call to rise above, “I Wish You Well” is a holy kiss-off. With just a piano and background vocals, Mariah fires off Bible-verse-referencing diss after diss aimed at three separate and still-unknown individuals (though speculation has indicated that those people could be Tommy Mottola, her siblings, and Brenda K. Starr, among others).

I’ve always been partial to the international bonus track, “Heat.” Produced by will.i.am, it has a feel akin to Fergie’s “Clumsy,” but it’s a searing diss record. “You think I won’t come out these heels and make it clear, ho? I ain’t the one. You think I won’t fuck up my hair and take it there bitch?” she coos on the chorus. It’s fun, yet fiery.

Another fun moment is “For The Record,” which partially debuted a few years prior on the commercial for Mariah’s debut fragrance M by Mariah Carey. I also love “Thanx 4 Nothin’” with Mariah dropping a So So Def ad-lib that causes Jermaine Dupri to laugh “I ain’t even gotta say it.” With an acoustic guitar driving the record, it always feels like it’s part of a devastating four-part series that began with the longing of “My All,” into the uncertainly of “After Tonight,” through to the heartbreak of “I Only Wanted,” and concluding here with the deception of “Thanx.” Mariah earned all her accolades on this one. I even got to see Mariah (kind of) on Good Morning America a few weeks after the album dropped. Here’s a photo I got of her waving to me:

Still Bad

Speaking of 15th anniversaries, April 8 marked the 15th anniversary of Trina’s Still Da Baddest LP. Trina’s been a fixture on social media this week thanks to a fantastic entry into NPR’s Tiny Desk series (which also garnered some ridiculous criticism because Trina isn’t a singer). But back to Still Da Baddest, and a tiring buying experience. Best Buy, Walmart, Circuit City, and iTunes all had their own versions. I have the Best Buy version because it had the most bonus tracks (three). It’s sad because in this age most of that information and content has been lost to time. Thankfully, iTunes has since made their bonus track, the searing Khia diss “You Ain’t Nothing,” available for purchase as a standalone track.

Trina was on a roll with this record. It’s my favorite in her catalog. In the wake of her split with Lil’ Wayne, she forged one of her most enduring records, “Single Again.” And despite a studio-theft and early leak, the song still soared. There’s even an all-star remix including Lil’ Wayne (and an extended Wayne-only version, if you look hard enough). But Trina was on fire here. Track after track, she makes it clear that she is, in fact still da baddest. Cuts like “Clear It Out” and “Killing You Hoes” and dominant flexes, “Still Da Baddest” flows with resilience and superiority, “Wish I Never Met You” and “Single Again” demonstrate vulnerability, and “Look Back At Me” is a masterclass in the pussy rap that Trina helped forge.

Something Else

I was averse to Paloma Faith when I was first exposed to her in 2012. It just didn’t click for me. But in 2014, A Perfect Contradiction became my album of the year. These songs and productions fit her like a glove. “Impossible Heart,” with it’s slick disco touches is still a favorite. Also, that album cover is still 10/10.

The Sunshine

On Good Friday I had the privilege to attend Glory to Glory, a gospel program at BAM in Brooklyn, curated by Solange. The big draw of the show? The Clark Sisters. A truly divine moment to see this holy women on one of the holiest days of the year. Here’s some footage I got at the show:

One Last Thing

Something new that I’ve been stuck on is Ellie Goulding’s new album Higher Than Heaven. It’s a solid, consistent dance pop record that plays well from end to end. One of my favorites is “Cure For Love”:

That’s it for this week, and it’s more than enough! I’ll be back soon with more. Expect some Madonna, Etta, more Aretha, and God knows what else in the next edition.