Fabulous Stamp: V V Brown, Nneka

Nneka 

Big hair. Big voice. Big heart. Nneka Egbuna is on her way to becoming a big star (well, in the US at least – she’s already been compared to Lauryn Hill in the UK, I swear they have better artist!) I don’t remember how I first got introduced to her (I think she came on my Pandora – where I get introduced to awesome music on a daily basis) but I heard her song Heartbeat and I immediately had to Google her. I fell in love with her beautiful, ‘I-don’t-care’, enormous Afro, but more importantly I fell in love with her words – they were so powerful (then she started rapping and I was like whoa!). 

The Nigerian-German, who released her first US album, Concrete Jungle, earlier this year, sings and freestyles over tracks with a reggae rock sound. (She’s like Bob Marley, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill combined in one!) She talks about everything from love, hope, black consciousness,  issues in her hometown Warri in Nigeria and the relationship between America and Africa. This girl has got a voice!

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Songs You Should Download: Heartbeat, Uncomfortable Truth, Walking -- the whole album in general, the artwork is dope too. 

For The Free: On August 2^nd, Nneka will be performing in New York City at Highline Ballroom

V V Brown 

photo: elle.com 

London produces some of the best artists – (Adele, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, The Beatles…the list goes on) and the indie pop soul singer VV Brown (whose surname is Vanessa) doesn’t fall short. Not to mention her style is something to watch – she even modeled for the 2009 April/May Issue of Vogue and she’s gorgeous!

 I first heard the English singer, songwriter and at times freestyle rapper (she said she would battle Mr. West!) about a month ago when I needed some new music to put on my iTunes and my friend/ music soul mate told me to download I Love You and I ended up buying the whole album. Then BAM! this month she’s one of Elle’s Women in Music to watch in 2010 for their July issue (make sure you check it out there are lots of great woman artists and Rihanna works the cover!) In the article she talks about how people in the industry tried to change her musically, but she was stubborn and kept true to herself and hasn’t changed since – love her for this.

 With her London accent, funky style and unforgettable vocals V V Brown (who is Jamaican and Puerto Rican) is on her way to becoming something big. She released her first studio album, Travelling Like the Light, in 2009 – which if I could describe in one word is fun from the production to the lyrics (she’s no Amy, but she’s making a name for herself) she also has a few ballads. Right now she’s on a summer tour with Maroon 5 and Owl City, unfortunately she won’t be in NYC while I’m here.

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Songs to Download: I Love You (she really shows off her vocals), Shark In The Water, Travelling Like The Light, Everybody