Lady Gaga – 10 Game Changing Artists of 2010

Lady Gaga’s 2010 boiled down to two words:

Meat Dress.

Let’s face it the self-proclaimed pop diva did not have nearly an explosive year as she did in 2009, but those MTV VMAs may have made the pop star’s year. In fact, everything that made Lady Gaga a big deal in 2010 boiled down to the VMAs….

1. Her repitore…Gaga’s music videos were absolutely shocking in 2010. From the 9-minute mini movie “Telephone” co-staring Beyonce, to the scary and provacotavie “Alejandro” it was Gaga’s videos that seperated her from every other pop star.
2. Her clothes…Gaga had two notable outfits at the VMAs first the meat dress… enough said. There was also her red carpet dress where she was aided by soliders who had to resign for the army due to their sexual preference. Gaga tried her best, and succeeded, in 2010 to reapeal don’t ask don’t tell.
3. Her statements…The best part of the VMAs the 19 words Gaga sang from her new album “Born This Way.” The highly anticipated album is due in Feburary.
4. Her performances…Gaga had a wide variety of sexually charged and musically fantastic performances. From her “Alejandro” on American Idol to her “Speechless” at the Grammys to her world-wide never ending Monster Ball Tour, Gaga never stopped performing

So perhaps the Gaga’s year boiled down to three words: VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS

Lady Gaga, 2010 would not have been the same without you.

Bruno Mars – 10 Game Changing Artist of 2010

In 2010 Bruno Mars made the genre singer/songwriter even stronger. Not only did he sing on hits such as Nothin’ On You and Billionare, but the R&B singer co-wrote this year’s megahit (Expletive) You by Cee-Lo Green. Mars then released his debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans filled with smoot R&B ballads such as the irresistable Just the Way You Are and the powerful Grenade.

Mars made headlines earlier in September after he was caught snorting cocaine at a Vegas nightclub, but a court date has yet to be set.

Mars was nominated for 8 Grammy nominations, and his album was uneligable proving that great things are to come for the singer.

Bruno Mars, 2010 would not have been the same without you.

Eminem – 10 Game Changing Artists of 2010

Let’s be honest that last Relapse CD was eh…. the most honest Eminem lyric of all time.

This year Eminem was ready for a comeback, and not like the one he had last year, when he released his subpar Relapse. Instead of writing not-funny pointless raps like We Made You and Ass Like That, Eminem wrote songs with meaning. He brought out his inner storyteller, on his new album Recovery, which was aided by #1 hits such as Not Afraid and Love the Way You Lie. Lie, which he performed with Rihanna became the song of the summer, and the anthem for abusive relationships. The video which starred Megan Fox became the video that reached 1 million views the fastest in the history of YouTube.

His success came with accolades. His music video for Not Afraid earned the rapper 2 MTV Video Music Awards. His album Recovery became the highest selling album of 2010, and he closed off the year with 10 Grammy nominations. In a year which also featured an intimate Rolling Stone cover and a mini-tour with Jay-Z, Eminem did recover.

Nicki Minaj – 10 Game Changing Artists of 2010

 

The biggest female MC in the game, Nicki Minaj, began the year as nothing but a footnote. She was the featuring artist that made the year’s best songs great. Although the diva’s unique personality may have been overshadowed by her outrageous outfits (See: Image Above), that all changed after an appearance on Kanye West’s Monster, a song where she out-rapped major rappers including Rick Ro$$ and Jay-Z. After various delay’s and an underperforming first single, Minaj’s album got pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2010, but that did not hinder Minaj’s fan-base (to whom she refers “the Barbiez”). The album sold 375,000 copies in the first week and debuted at #2.

The year did come as a struggle to Minaj, being the only female in her genre. She was heavily criticized by Lil Kim, but instead of Kim fighting back on radio shows, Minaj fought back in her Eminem collabo Roman’s Revenge in which she calls Kim a has-been.

Minaj has ranked supreme in 2010, and shows no signs of slowing down. Plans for a tour have yet to be announced.

Nicki Minaj, 2010 would not have been the same without you.

 

Drake – 10 Game Changing Artist of 2010

Drake, the Canadian mixtape king of last year, exploded in 2010. His debut album Thank Me Later sold over 400,000 copies in its first week. His unique style of part hardcore rapping, and part smooth singing was something Drake was able to perfect on his highly anticipated album. The album was able to please everyone, he sounded sweet on mainstream hits such as Find Your Love, and was able to win over hip-hop fans with Over, the most powerful song on the album.

Drake was also featured in hip-hop group Young Money, along side label-mates Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. The group produced a top 10 album, and various hit singles.

Drake ended 2010 by earning four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, where he will go head-to-head with fellow Canadian, Justin Beiber.

Drake, 2010 would not have been the same without you.

Ke$ha – 10 Game Changing Artists of 2010

Starting January 5, Ke$ha owned 2010, that was the day her debut album Animal was released. The album which would shoot right to number 1 on the Billboard 200 would spring 4 top-ten singles, including TiK ToK, the party girl’s ode to Mick Jagger and P. Diddy. To date, the album has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and gave Ke$ha 3 American Music Awards and 3 Video Music Award nominations.

Of course the year would not come without controversy. The artist was constantly criticized by bloggers and music-critics alike for her auto-tuned aided singles which made others question her true talent (See: American Idol Performance). Music Fans were shocked when Ke$ha was snubbed by the Recording Academy, who failed to provide her with a single Grammy nomination, including Best New Artist, in which she was easily eligable.

Ke$ha ended the year with her a la Lady Gaga EP/re-release entitled Cannibal which included We R Who We R, the 17th song in history to debut at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This past summer, Ke$ha also toured alongside Rihanna on the Last Girl On Earth Tour. Ke$ha plans to embark on her first solo tour The Get $leazy Tour later this year.

Ke$ha, 2010 would not have been the same without you.