Today's Pick

Nicki Minaj hits us off with her romantic side in her just-premiered music video on MTV for "Right By My Side," the second single from her sophomore studio album, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded." Los Angeles-based Turkish-American record producer "Oak" Felder and his partner, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, created the soundscape. The pair also helmed Minaj's hit single, "Your Love."
Musically, "Right by My Side" is an upbeat take on a downtempo pop ballad with heavily influenced by R&B, hip hop, and features a glossy, bubbly production. Minaj primarily singing rather than rapping, while Chris Brown joins her on the song with some lines in which he croons his wish to reconcile with his girl after their relationship floundered. Both artists are serial collaborators, having contributed to many other tunes.
The 29-year-old rap princess explained about the song: "Toward the end of the album I wanted something more melodic that I could give to urban radio and that pop radio could enjoy as well. I actually had the beats for like 3 months just sitting in my computer and then I said, 'You know what? This sounds like a summer, R&B classic joint' and I just could not hear anyone else on it but Chris Brown."
Brown shows off his vocal selections, but he's not the only star singer featured in the Benny Boom-directed clip, as the Queens legend 'Champion' Nas plays the role of Minaj's love interest in her romantic story. The bright and cheery video opens with a pensive Minaj seated in a high-backed chair fit for a queen; her mind is clearly elsewhere, unaware of the camera's gaze. Only a few seconds pass before Nas struts into the scene and the two lean in to share a smooch only to find their lives subjected to a rewind sequence before their lips touch.

Duet partners Drake and Rihanna teamed up again and finally unveiled his long-in-the-works video for "Take Care," the first single and title track from 25-year-old Canadian rapper's sophomore album, which has a far more complicated history than the usual pop hit. Drake explained how his childhood favorite Winnie the Pooh was a key inspiration while conceptualizing "Take Care."
Over the past three years, Drake has risen from mixtape maestro to genuine superstar; the kind of enigmatic talent who can proudly embrace his "emotional" side one minute, then release the "Practice" video the next. And in doing so, he has carved out a rather unique niche in the world of hip-hop and R&B, and we're not just talking about his sweaters. Often duplicated, but never replicated, there truly is no one making music quite like him. And yet, despite all that, Drake has never made a truly great music video, or at least one that fits neatly into his maudlin, monochromatic world. Until now this one.
Rather than being a warning to be particularly careful, "take care" is more of a declaration of goodwill meaning "look after yourself." The phrase became current around 1970. Samples Jamie xx's remix of Gil Scott-Heron's version of "I'll Take Care of You," the track finds him linking up with Rihanna who sings the original words of the song while Drake raps, and the cross-genre couple promising to "take care" of each other after being wounded by their lovers. Rihanna's lifts the depressive mood which is present on the majority of Drake's songs.
Filled with animal imagery, natural landscapes and achingly tense slow-motion effects, the the Yoann Lemoine-directed clip is as beautifully elegant as the song, especially with regard to the chemistry between its two stars. The black and white with occasional color washes video has a very intimate, humbling and delicate vibe with minimal visuals which allows us to focus on them. It comes off as an artistic therapy session where Drake reveals his inner feelings all while Rihanna listens and reacts to his subtle emotions. Simplicity at its best.