The Music Cypher

"Backward" by Jordan Ward album cover Jordan Ward is back with his sophomore effort titled "Backward". Jordan Alexander Ward (born February 1, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He began his career as a dancer before transitioning to music. Jordan studied dance, including ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, throughout his teens. Before venturing into music, Jordan Ward established himself as a dancer, training and performing with various dance companies and in numerous stage productions. After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a backup dancer, touring with artists including Justin Bieber, Becky G, Janet Jackson, Usher, and Beyoncé. Ward launched his professional music career in 2017. In 2023, Ward released his debut studio album, Forward. Ward was nominated in 2024 for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist at the 55th NAACP Image Awards. Excerpt taken from  Jordan Ward Honestly, I did listen to his first alb...

  "SOUTH LDN LOVER GIRL" by Ms Banks album cover When she stepped in lookin' like a snack Mandem ready to attack You know what I want so give me dat And you know givers never lack (Uh-huh) When I stepped in lookin' like a snack The gyaldem ready to attack You know what I want so give me dat Yea we know givers never lack Lyrics taken from  Ms Banks - Snack Lyrics This bop as the youth say was my first introduction to the artist known as Ms Banks. However, while I love the song it was my first and only time listening to Ms Banks. Thyra Kigho Deshaun Oji (born 14 April 1994), better known by her stage name Ms Banks, is a Nigerian and British rapper, singer and songwriter. Ms Banks has cited Nicki Minaj as her biggest influence. She also cites Ms Dynamite, Estelle, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown and Beyonce as her influences. Excerpt taken from  Ms Banks She has released four mixtapes, one EP and in 2026 she has released her debut album titled "SOUTH LDN LOVER GIR...

"Monica" by Jack Harlow album review Here is the deal, I am indifferent when it comes to Jack Harlow's music. There are songs that I like such as his breakout hit "Whats Poppin", "Tyler Herro" , "Lovin On Me" and "Just Us" but it is not like I am highly anticipating any new music dropping from Jackman. So it should not come as a surprise that I never listened to any of his previous albums. That is where this blog comes into play because since creating the blog on Instagram and moving on to this platform I have discovered new artist and delve deeper into the sounds of my favourite artist. In terms of Harlow I have missed hist first three studio albums but now I am here for his fourth studio album titled "Monica". It was released by Atlantic Records on March 13, 2026. It marks Harlow's first release in almost three years following Jackman (2023). It features a collaboration with James Savage and features production from ...

Jason Derulo In my latest review of Jason Derulo's most recent EP titled "The Last Dance (Part 1)", check  here  I mentioned that he was one of my favourite musical guilty pleasures. Be on the lookout for that  Music Matters  it is coming very soon. So I figured why not give Joel the  Rewind  treatment this week. Here is some more information for those who may not know much about Mr. Derulo. Jason Joel Desrouleaux (born September 21, 1989), known professionally as Jason Derulo (formerly stylized as Derülo), is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Since the start of his solo recording career in 2009, he has sold over 250 million singles worldwide and has achieved fourteen platinum singles in the US. After contributing and writing songs for various artists, Derulo signed to recording label Beluga Heights, owned by record producer and industry veteran J. R. Rotem. After Beluga Heights became part of the Warner Music Group, Derulo became a recording artis...

Here are the top 10 songs I listened to the most for the week starting on the 15th March to the 21st March, 2026. 1. Never Gonna Let You Go by Faith Evans  (19 ▶️) 2. Snack by Ms Banks featuring Kida Kudz  (18 ▶️) 3. Escapism by Raye featuring 070 Shake  (17 ▶️) 4. Attitude by Leikeli47  (16 ▶️) 5. Popalik by Cho featuring Stefflon Don  (15 ▶️) 6. Soon As I Get Home by Faith Evans  (13 ▶️) 7. Boasty by Wiley featuring Stefflon Don, Sean Paul & Idris Elba  (12 ▶️) 8. Hard Out Here by Raye  (11 ▶️) 9. Boom Wuk by AlBeezy featuring Ce'cile  (10 ▶️) 10. Gueto by Iza  (8 ▶️) What have you been listening to this week?  Let me know in the comments!

"Ca$ino" by Baby Keem album cover Here is another train that I was late on boarding. However, this time I am not that far behind on Baby Keem's discography as I am for Harry Styles. That is because "Ca$ino" is only Keem's second studio album. Just like Harry, I knew of Baby Keem due to his connection to Kendrick Lamar but particularly because Normani starred in his video for the song "Family Ties". Ca$ino is Baby Keem’s long-awaited sophomore studio album, following his 2021 debut, The Melodic Blue. Throughout 2022, Keem was on Kendrick Lamar’s The Big Steppers Tour, along with Tanna Leone. Towards the end of the tour, Keem and Scott Bridgeway previewed multiple unreleased songs in Melbourne, Australia. Excerpt taken from  Ca$ino Baby Keem Based on only hearing that one song, I was intrigued but never really follwed through by listening to his debut album "The Melodic Blue" but I am here now so let us see what he has in store for us with ...

"Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally." by Harry Styles album cover Time to be honest as I always try to be with my readers. I have never been a fan of Harry Styles and his music. I was not a fan of One Direction as I simply find them to be corny with the exception of Boyz II Men, B5, 112 and some others. At the heart of the matter, I just prefer girl groups. Therefore, my opening statement about not being a fan of Harry's music should not be shocking. However, let us be clear I know of One Direction and all its members and enjoyed a few of their songs such as "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Story of My Life".  As for Harry's solo music, I am beyond late to this party. I have missed out on his three prior studio albums (expect album retrospectives) but as the sayings goes "better late than never!" So I am here now giving Harry a chance to turn me into an avid listener largely due to this blog. Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. was...

"3121" by Prince album cover The next album retrospective is " 3121 " by Prince. On Saturday 21st March 2026, this album turned twenty (20) years old. 3121 (pronounced "thirty-one twenty-one") is the thirty-first studio album by American musician Prince. Released on March 21, 2006 (3/21) by NPG Records and distributed, under a "one-album deal", by Universal Music, the album reinforced Prince's big comeback after the critical success of Musicology (2004). The only Prince album ever to debut atop the Billboard 200 during his lifetime, with over 180,000 copies sold in its first week, it knocked the soundtrack for High School Musical off the top spot and became Prince's first number one album since Batman in 1989, eventually being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).  The album's first single, "Te Amo Corazón", was released in the United States on December 13, 2005; the second single, "Bla...

"Rapture" by Anita Baker album cover The next album retrospective is " Rapture " by Anita Baker. On Friday 20th March 2026, this album turned forty (40) years old. Rapture is the second album by American vocalist Anita Baker, released in 1986. This became Baker's breakout album and earning her two Grammy Awards. The album's first track, "Sweet Love", was a top 10 Billboard hit in addition to winning a Grammy Award. The album has sold over eight million copies worldwide, including five million in the US alone. In 1984, while Baker was signed to Beverly Glen Music which had released her 1983 album The Songstress, she was offered a considerably better recording contract with Elektra Records, part of Warner Communications. As she was having some difficulties with Beverly Glen, she accepted Warner's offer and notified Beverly Glen that she was no longer willing to perform under the terms of her contract with them. As Baker commenced working on her f...