Sunday Selection: Dawn from Danity Kane’s “Cruise Control”

The views expressed in this column are not the views expressed by AllHipHop.com.Are you really surprised that Danity Kane doesn’t have five members anymore? Come on, let’s be frank. You knew it was only a matter of time. The last two weeks have really been difficult for Danity Kane and their fans. Two members of the group were tossed out by Diddy (Aubrey O’Day and D. Woods). And all I have to say is – Too bad so sad! I can’t sit here and say that I am a huge fan of the girls or of the television series Making The Band, but with the recent drama surrounding it all my interest was peaked when I came across “Cruise Control,” a leaked song from one of the groups still standing members, Dawn Richard.In a recent interview with essence.com, Dawn Richard was asked about her pursuing a solo career and this is what she had to say, “It’s so interesting how the media chooses to interpret or report things. I have never said that I was pursuing a solo deal. I told someone that I have waited so long for my dream, and singing is my dream and has been for so long. I have done nothing on the side as far as solo projects; I’m not sidestepping. I have totally been supportive of the group—that’s my priority.”Hmmmm…ok. We’ll Dawn, I ain’t mad at you. That was the politically correct answer. And if that’s true, ok. Maybe it’s Diddy that’s pushing you to be a solo artist, and in the event that that’s the case I’m sure you’re not going to stop him. After all, who would? And in the event that you do become a solo artist on Bad Boy, good luck. I’m not alone when I take a look at the track record of Bad Boy artists and see that there is a “curse.” I mean really. Can you name one member or group past or present on the Bad Boy roster who’s had long term success and longevity on the label? Seriously! Come on. Do I need state specifics? Faith, 112, Ma$e, New Edition, Carl Thomas, Total, The L.O.X, Black Rob, Shyne, Loon, Dream, Cheri Dennis! The list goes on and on. And I say it’s only a matter of time before Cassie, Young Joc, Gorilla Zoe and Day 26 part ways with Diddy. Yes, record labels have artists who flop everyday; that’s the nature of the business. But there’s something about an artist’s plight over at Bad Boy that consistently crashes. Fortunately for Diddy he’s been successful at all his other ventures, because Bad Boy has the tendency to make em’ and literally break em’. After all, another point that Dawn made in her interview with essence.com was, “At the end of the day, I’m going to rock with the first priority, which is Danity Kane. Who knows what can happen, because Puff changes his mind every five seconds.” Every five seconds?  Ha ha! Maybe that explains the reason behind the “curse.” Diddy had no problem airing out some of Aubrey’s dirty laundry this week, so why not air out some of his. I respect him as a business man, but I think at times the failure of his artists on Bad Boy is over shadowed by him being successful on other plateaus. But it is what it is, and I ain’t hatin’, I’m just saying. Diddy called Aubrey promiscuous on last week’s episode of Making The Band. How many baby mama’s does Diddy have that we know of? Need I say more?But back to the reason why I decided to pick Dawn Richard this week as my Sunday Selection…Dawn has stated that she never said that she was pursuing a solo career. Well let’s say hypothetically she was, and that “Cruise Control” was her first single. How would you rate it? Hot or Not?  Personally, I think it’s decent. Dawn uses the Auto-Tune and it takes away from her original sound and almost makes it hard to understand what she’s singing, but the hook, the beat and the overall sound is ok. In the song she talks about putting a relationship on “Cruise Control” and just letting it ride, a concept I hope she’s applying to her own relationship with Q from Day 26 because all relationships are a struggle. And I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the song has the same song arrangement of Timbaland and Keri Hilson’s “The Way I Are,” so much of today’s music sounds alike I’m not surprised. But I’m going to leave it at that.    Until next time y’all enjoy this week’s Sunday Selection – “Cruise Control”.