AccioEmpireBuilder

Updated. Added some Jay-Z-produced (not just Roc Nation) documentaries as he is in his producer bag right now, and the stats still stand.

Beyonce and Rihanna made albums that will withstand the test of time. Easily Top 2. Stefani should be thankful to Taylor: this is probably the first time Lady Gaga isn't at the bottom of one of these discussions for playing it safe with phoned-in dance pop and folk ballads because of how badly Taylor damaged her post-Folklore reputation these last 5 projects.

Listening right now. Favorite Records: "Too Easy" "Empty Stadiums" (an avant-garde, garage-influenced banger) "Overdramatic" (very Solange When I Get Home or Chloe x Halle Ungodly Hour ) "I'd Rather Be Alone" (her "Kiss It Better") "Crash Out" (Kinda wish this went on BBANGEL instead as I think this (not "Needs") was the melodic pop/hip-hop "Nasty"/"No Broke Boys" record that project needed to chart.) "Pillow Fight" (I hope a Nas or JID samples this beat.) "Twentyfive Eight" (Underwater bop. Janet-meets-Aaliyah-meets-Kelela-meets-early Fantasea Azealia Banks) "Popstar" (Love the Imogen Heap layering in the chorus. Very early 2010s Mariah in the verses - I think a nostalgic Wiz Khalifa verse would be a perfect addition.) "Cloud 9" (I hope Kanye samples this beat.)

Her debut album launch, having to modify her vocal delivery mid-era to satisfy a Carrie Underwood-loving Country audience, and going from Abercrombie model to Wal-Mart dress line were her shaky start. Thankfully she got it together and it has only been up from there. A remarkable success story. Even her debut blew up amidst the hysteria of her later albums. I love when the public buys into a project / artist so much they revisit old work and push units of that too: SZA's CTRL when SOS was taking a bit longer to land on shelves, the project housing Billie Eilish's "Ocean Eyes" after "Bad Guy," etc. I'm waiting for them to go crazy with Ravyn Lenae's expansive pre-"Love Me Not" catalog.

This might be the beat of the third CC Shaboozey collaboration that was left on the cutting room floor.

Yup. In a perfect world, this is how the singles campaign would've looked/sounded: Lead single (a track Christina turned down): Second single: Third single (a quintessential Xtina song to bring Pop radio back into the fold after a decidedly Urban direction): Fourth + Last single (the perfect segue to her Spanish album - just needed a better vocalist than JLo lol):

I was talking about that a few months back in the Beyonce thread and I really think she should link up with fellow H-Town native and Beyonce's former Parkwood signee INGRID ("Love Drought"). Thinking about how Nicki had a standing hook-writing order with Ester Dean for her first three albums, maybe Sevyn Streeter or Bibi Bourelly ("BBHMM") is her girl.

I'm all for it! I hope she used the "more is more" approach Beyonce utilized on her "Savage (Remix)" and gets this onto the Billboard Hot 100. "Whenever" was definitely marketed like something with the potential of a lead single (but sounded like a re-release lead), and that narrowly missed the charts. I hope she uses the "shock and awe" blueprint of her solo #1 "Hiss" to create her leads moving forward.

"Don't Hurt Yourself," "Find Your Way Back," "6 Inch," "Water," and "Pray You Catch Me" should all be on her page. Tidal exclusive "Feeling Myself" should also be there (albeit on Nicki's page).

Not sure if this is her reasoning..., but why would I over-exert myself to release new visuals when Black Is King, my most expansive set of visuals, is languishing in squalor/neglect on Disney+ ? The fact no groundswell of viewership (on Disney+ or even the standalone videos on YouTube) has occurred even years after the Wakandification / We Wuz Kangz / Mud Hut narratives were debunked is probably an indication to her team that other things can take priority. Actions definitely speak louder than words when self-financing BIG projects. **Shrugs**

I am personally surprised she didn't pull a Megan Thee Stallion and "Create" an English album to get out of her Kemosabe contract before this fifth album she just released. The majority of these are Luke records and I'm surprised he wouldn't want that. She could've even pulled a Frank Ocean and released this as the throwaway Endless to her fifth Spanish Album's Blonde. Play It Again EP ("Play It Again", "Can't Get Enough" f. Pitbull, "Built For This", "Zoomin' Zoomin'", "Lovin What You Do") Becky From The Block You Love It Shower Rain (a Dr. Luke x Tinashe Joyride 1.0 outtake that Becky G recorded) (I'll put it below) Can't Stop Dancin' Lovin' So Hard Break A Sweat LBD (Little Black Dress) Green Light Go Secrets They Ain't Ready My Man Rotate

I know this wasn't a hit with her fanbase, but the parts in "Skirt" where the moans increase (starting at 1:00) would be a very cool intro. She could even segue into "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" from there.

I think "Dreams" is her next "Morning Dew (Donk)." Just me? I'm going to go very early in her solo career with my picks:

We're back in 2015... what are you talking about?

I would love to see Baby Keem, Absolutely, Chloe x Halle, SZA, James Blake, Kelela, 070 Shake, Sam Smith, and Madison Beer submit something. These albums have typically been a safe space for darker, more cinematic Alt-R&B and Alt-Pop.