Rap is a fickle genre. While rock fans are willing to wait while their favorite bands cut fresh material, hip-hop heads expect artists to drop mixtapes between releases to remain relevant. As for r & b singers, well, they try to keep visible by singing hooks for rappers. The result: a whole lot of people falling off the map.
The lineup for tomorrow’s annual JAM’N-94.5 Summer Jam at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield features Ray J, Rick Ross, Trey Songz, the Dream, Lloyd and some other artists who, to be blunt, may not be remembered next year at this time.
Take a look back at the past four years of Summer Jam. It’s clear that certain suckers sink, while musical sluggers graduate from opening shows to headlining tours.
SUMMER JAM SLUGGERS
Lloyd (Summer Jam ’04)
New Orleans song boy Lloyd knows how to stay on top, which is why he’s back as one of the main attractions at tomorrow’s Summer Jam. In addition to releasing two solo albums in the past two years, he’s also kept himself in the spotlight by blessing tracks for an unprecedented number of rappers, from Yung Berg and Chamillionaire to Ludacris and Young Jeezy. He must be trading notes with his hometown buddy and fellow cameo king Lil’ Wayne; reportedly the two will drop a full-length collabo CD soon.
Ray J (Summer Jam ’06)
Ray J may not be able to keep milking being Brandy’s brother, but he’s come back with the summer’s tightest bubble-gum hit so far. Five years from now “Sexy Can I” might be as memorable as Ray J’s sex tape with Hollywood do-nothing/reality TV star Kim Kardashian, but right now he has dance floors thumping. No wonder he’s back at the Tweeter tomorrow.
Kanye West (Summer Jam ’04)
As needless as it is to prop Kanye West any further, his might be the wildest of all Summer Jam success stories. When West appeared at the 2004 concert, his “College Dropout” debut had just dropped, yet the popularity of his “Through the Wire” single was already enough to put him at the top of the bill. The rest, as he would say, is history.
SUMMER JAM SUCKERS
Brooke Valentine (Summer Jam ’05)
If you remember Brooke Valentine, it’s probably because of her thick lips and flawless midriff, not her 2004 semi-smash, “Girlfight.” The Houston native is still making records, but promoters who package summer lineups no longer want her. Which makes sense: Why have one girl sing generic booty shakers when you can get four for the price of one with Cherish, the Atlanta quartet performing tomorrow?
Ja Rule (Summer Jam ’04)
In the summer of 2002, you couldn’t listen to rap radio for more than five minutes without hearing Ja Rule in a corny love exchange with the hottest r & b girl of the moment. But when 50 Cent dented his reputation, and fans got sick of Ja romancing one minute and acting tough the next, they dumped him for new roughneck pretty boys like Plies and Flo Rida. Simply put, Ja no longer rules.
Murphy Lee (Summer Jam ’04)