MIXTAPE OVERLOAD....

As I am listening to Chamillionaire's Mixtape Messiah 7 (the first disc at least, second one still to come), I now come off of reading an editorial on nappyafro.com, in regards to yes....the mixtape.

A lot of good points were made in the article. For example, I believe 2009 will forever be remembered as "the year of the mixtape". Mostly recognized for Drake "changing the game" with his So Far Gone mixtape and Gucci Mane getting more publicity and street cred than what he really deserves (not only that but I am getting sick of mentioning both). Not only that, but we're seeing a lot of new artists get love from the bloggers and the heads combined (Pac Div, Tiron, Diz Gibran, QuESt, XV) and others who increase their popularity from mixtapes (Wale, Slaughterhouse). And it is at a point where mixtapes are held at a higher account and importance than the actual album. Yes, I agreed, there is a huge problem with that.

I think where the problem mostly lies, is that right now, there are one too many mixtapes and even more DJ's that are putting out the same shit that you found on the latest Drama or Whoo Kid tape. Where it also gets sad, is that these DJ's are profiting from it. How many Gucci tapes do we really need out there??? I'm surprised Charles Hamilton put out THAT many tapes thinking we'd still keep an interest.

When it comes to an overload, it makes you wonder, what is even the point of putting out an album when you got 10-15 mixtapes of material. Some mixtapes come out and you wish that THIS was the album (Trey Songz's new mixtape).

However, sometimes, mixtapes serve as the outlet where artists can truly express themselves artistically and their albums (usually the case with major labels) are basically the product that is made to drive the "casual hip hop listener" to go to Best Buy or whatever record stores are still open to buy the CD or at least buy it off of iTunes. And despite contrary belief, mixtapes still serve as a purpose to break an artist, and increase his stock (once again Drake).

Other times, artists have no choice BUT to release mixtapes, due to being shelved and blackballed (Joe Budden) to still make the listeners aware that they're still out there and still droppin' heat. (Chamillionaire).

As an artist myself, I am unsigned, no label, and reside in a city, where our hip-hop scene has limited exposure (unless your name is Ray Nitti). However, this is how I look at it. Mixtapes for me, are ways to provide a glimpse into my skills, and where I can creatively go all out and show the city (the world) that this is what you can expect when I begin to work on my album, where the album is served to reach the "casual listener". However with me, I choose to not dumb down, but to attract those different sounds and styles into my own. There is a huge difference between being inspired and jackin' someone else's steez. And you know mine. (c) Method Man

So quite frankly, I agreed with most of the editorial, and I hope that people (the artists in general) realize that mixtapes can get you to that next level. But it is the album that will solidify it.

GUCCI MANE- GANGSTA GRILLZ THE SEQUEL

So it has been almost a week since Gucci's sequel to his previous Gangsta Grillz tape with DJ Drama has been released to the public. As it has been told in the past, as well as heard, when you listen to pretty much ANY Gucci Mane record/tape/album, do not go into the shit expecting things such as you know, extravagant wordplay, intricate rhyme schemes, clever metaphors, you need to listen to it with an open mind, and basically a tolerance for ignorance. In Gucci's case, you need to have a knack for beats and understand that Gucci's lyrics, are not at all at a level of let's saaaaaay Nas...but has the tendency to shock you with flow and humor underneath his mush-mouth delivery.

The tape is nothing out of the ordinary...it's the same ol' coochie coochie (Gucci Gucci). One thing I will not knock him for is his ear for beat selection. Much like Jeezy, the beats covers up his limitations.

However, as I said before...this is nothing NEW from him. As in nothing really that WOW'd me or whatever.

Much like the Movie, the Sequel gets no more than a "L" (or average) from me, as there are records that I can bump when strollin' (or walkin') through the neighborhood ("Pressure", "Awesome"). Then there is that one song that is gonna make me go ballistic in a club setting ("Wasted", "Superhero"). HOWEVER, there are songs where you are just waitin' to push that stop/pause/skip button ("Leading Lady", "Hottest Rapper", any record wit OJ Da Juiceman on it).

Either way, there is shit on here for everyone on this tape, but like every Gucci Mane tape, it won't satisfy everyone.

MAKING IT RAIN: THE EPITOME OF UNNECESSARY SELF-CONFIDENCE....

Okey dokey. So everyone knows about the video that has leaked for several days now that depicts the prime example of an athlete who just can't seem to catch a break, yes, i'm talking to YOU!!!....PAC-MAN ADAM JONES!!! (whom I never saw the hype anyway)

Anyways, the video depicts him at an very popular ATL strip club, (don't know the name and don't really care) but it shows him with a Louis Viutton bag (what straight male carries those to begin with???) of about $100,000 converted to stacks of $1 dollar bills (really?????) and tossing that shit in the air like it was confetti at the numerous rounds of desperate females in the tightest G-strings you can find at your nearest TJ Maxx. Other minions included producer/rapper Jermaine Dupri (whos beats sound like he's stuck in the year 1998)...and rapper-turned-quasi fashion designer Nelly (who sounds like he's stuck in 2000). Anyway, JD decides to take it upon himself and defend many of the male population inside of the strip joint and justify each and every one of their fried brain cells, by telling the girls, NOT to stop dancing, to continue doing their jobs, and get their money when they are done performing...as each and every one of those males make their hard earned million dollars a day...to waste it all...on a female's attention.....

Other incidents involved Pack-Man smacking a b****, caps busted outside a hotel...yada yada yada....


Now, I am all for going to strip clubs (as I am seen there on numerous occasions), however I don't see how my apperance, where I take pretty much $30-50 there, 2/3 of that small ass pocket change is spent on drinks (in which I mostly consume by my lonesome, unless I want to share the wealth) tipping (the girls (that I know), the bartenders (so that they dont become dicks and spit in your alcohol), the bathroom guys as they spend most of the night inhaling the toxic fumes of shit, urine, and cigarette smoke)....could measure up in any particular form of chauvinism or feeling of superiority towards women....when I can be a pro athlete, rapper, manwhore, etc. and take a large sum of my millions and just feel the need to throw it any and everywhere, creating a frenzy of broke "independent" women to come at my money like cheetahs feasting on their young, and then want to get MAD...because they're not DOING THEIR JOB.........

Jermaine Dupri....GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE AND TAKE BOW WOW'S MUSIC WITH YOU ON THE WAY OUT!!!!

It appears this whole need to make it rain on them ho's has invented a new way for niggas to be niggas. Not saying it speaks for just black people, as the occasional Colonel Sanders stand-ins, with their crusty beards, tinted glasses, and Santa Claus pot-bellies have infiltrated strip clubs to catch a glimpse of what life will be after divorce.

There are reasons to why I take so little to strip joints.

1. I know better.

and 2. I know more.

Now, this is not any particular way of saying I have better judgments than those baller type niggas. However, in a world that we live in right now, where money is being treated like army rations, why do we do it???

It seems for years, this vapid mixture of self-confidence and arrogance, keeps people looking at us going "what a bunch of niggers" (directed towards the hip hop culture...knowing almost everyone of color does it), however famous people try justifying it (JD) by claiming that it is a way of life that if you can't understand, don't fuck with it. But that's the thing though...I don't understand it, nor do I want to fuck with it. I don't even spend that much on the ACTUAL FEMALE.....why should I??? she ain't paying for my tuition dammit!!! The girls that usually know me come up to me for my time and ears, cause they know what I am about and what my motives are. The motives usually being if I am not gonna spend money on you....I'm NOT gonna spend money on you...it's just what it is. Plus, I usually wind up leaving the club still with money left over that can be saved or used for my dinner the next day, you know, personal needs.

I guess all in all, what I am saying in relation to what illseed of Allhiphop.com referred to in his editorial on the same topic, is that we ought to give the strippers a little reward for their actual interaction with us, whether physical or verbal, whatever. And perhaps the sexual and financial power trip these guys are on when throwing their money to the ground, is one of the mindless character traits that us men have when we choose to exemplify our superiority towards the opposite sex therefore, belittling or degrading the girls in the process, cause it is the cool thing to do, by throwing it to them...like food being tossed to prisoners.

It's like I said, I love the strip club, but not to the point, to where I am willing to throw away large sums of money....

(think about it: Pac-Man $100,000 > Me $30-60)

......just because I get off on the empowerment that ballin' can bring...

To celebrities, step out of the alternate reality that you reside in and wake up to what is really going on around you....

CLASSIC RECORDS....I SHOULD JUST LET STAY CLASSICS

And this is all in relation to the little conflict that I have had with listening to music this year. Both current and of the past. However, this is something that I have had issue with, and as I write this, I believe that I may have discussed this in a blog post of the past.

I review albums, on a regular. It's mostly how I differentiate the real from the fake, or basically, the bullshit from the fertilized...if that even makes sense.

However, lately, every classic album that I have bought/DL'ed/stole from others have been just that...classics. So the problem is why am I still rating albums???

Lately this year, I have listened to albums based on emotion. In other words, do I think something is going to uplift me in a way that my passion for what I love to do will return in some kind of fashion??? Honestly no...I haven't got that from albums. Let's review the major releases.

Jadakiss- good album, nothing memorable however.

Rick Ross- improvement (unexpected or not) however, the whole CO thing still bugs me.

Eminem- not the Em I wanted to hear. I feel for the more personal shit. Character Em, I can only take in doses....small doses.

Meth & Red- an album I once thought was album of the year, after another listen...well....nothing memorable.

Busta- legend of the fall-offs.

Asher Roth- I don't believe the great white hype. He's not a bad artist, but the album is so inconsistent.

Cam'Ron- ehhhh....

Jim Jones- see Cam'Ron.....

Flo Rida, Mike Jones, Bow Wow, Mims, Gorilla Zoe, etc.- See Cameron and Jenny Jones.

The only rap albums (on major labels) that I have enjoyed from top to bottom is basically two albums...

Mos Def's "The Ecstatic" and UGK's "UGK 4 Life" (excluding that piece of shit track with Akon)

Other albums I haven't necessarily got to yet (Twista's "Category F5", Maino's "If Tomorrow Comes")...some I haven't bothered (Ace Hood's "Ruthless")


The only albums that I have really enjoyed this year have all been "INDEPENDENT" records...or as ya'll like to call it "UNDERGROUND" was "Chamber Music", "The Truth Is Here", "Padded Room", the beautiful "Jay Stay Paid".


Meanwhile, I have stuck to my classic albums. Because there is so much room on my iPod that I have limited my album lists to near 8-9 songs out of what are possibly 15 tracks overall...while leaving room for 10 albums that I listen to all through, from top to bottom.

And I haven't felt the need to wanna review or rate them. I just want to listen to the music and see for myself if it deserves classic status. It feels....corny nowadays and especially for me being the age that I am. I will probably review just current albums, but I doubt I will do that to...and mostly 'cause nothing has impressed me. Except for a few albums....and then not only that, but my favorite records have been....mixtapes.

The following:

J. Cole, Pac Division, U-N-I, Rhymefest, Joell Ortiz, Emilio Rojas, QUEST!!!

and yes...Drake.

Have put out great records and have released them (free of charge)...even 50's tapes have been good....and you can even filter out an "OKAY" tape from Gucci Mane or OJ Da Juiceman....eeeven Soldier Kid put a tape out today....and confirmed my belief and faith that he stop making records one day....

So the way that I see it...is that 2009...is the year of the mixtape.

A vivid idea that the industry is indeed CHANGING.

A MESSAGE TO THE GAME

.........GET OVER IT!!!!.........

WAS HE SINCERE???

In my opinion......no.

Because of this....

1. I often believed that anyone that has to read an apology off of cue cards either A. Didn't mean what they say or B. Using this as their own personal gain. He seems like he's doing both.

2. ......Who talks like that? "What I did was fucking retarded!" lol.

3. It does NOT take SIX FUCKING MONTHS to apologize for something of this nature and severity. Despite what your attorneys say or what the public has done to ridicule you every step of the way since your incident, you should have "manned up" then...not six months later.

I believe that this rehearsed, near-remorseless apology, is another example of the downward spiral that he and his career is continuing to take. Since his new album is rumored to come out this year, is anybody really gonna be checking for him? More stunts like these, and I highly doubt it....say hello to the has-beens Chris, you done R. Kelly'd ya'self.

JUST WRITING

Yea, I mean there is a wide range of things that have been on my mind as of late, as I endure this process of writing for my next mixtape, Written In Blood 3. I mean, for the last couple days, I have realized that I have been writing nothing but downers, sad songs, excerpts of doubt, fear, and mental recklessness.

A lot of that has and had to do with me dealing. Dealing with the fact that the one person that I love more than myself, hates me for all eternity. Maybe not, but that is how everything is portrayed. A lot of things don't make sense. Not as to whether or not I regret the break up, because to an extent I don't and know that it was best for me. It's more of just, wondering what does she want from me? I mean I don't know of any other way I can possibly explain my side of the story, without receiving a backlash of doubt from her, and watch it roll in like a tsunami to destroy everything that is left of our relationship. The one thing that I hate more is when she says things such as her wishing that I would have done something terrible to her, to make the pain easier to deal with or let the hate for me grow immensely.

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT???

It's like saying you wished that I cheated on her, or talked shit about her to everyone else, much like what all her friends and family did in regards to me, relaying that I wasn't good enough for her, or that I am gonna hurt her, or that I'm slime. Even when we were going through our shit, I defended her, and not one member of my family or any of my friends (well, except Krystle but she's an ass like that) had said she was wrong for me.

But its like I said before, when promises are made on a regular basis, and are never fulfilled, what do you expect? I would rather get myself together than to have so much self-hatred that I take it out on her, in which for a certain period I had. The thoughts of suicide or doing something terrible to myself lingered so many times during our first tenure, all 'cause I had never loved anyone like I did her, and that it drove me crazy that problems were unresolved.

I do NOT want to go down that path again.

But I apologized and I have tried making things right, but apparently she would rather I keep my distance and leave her alone, in which I understand, but at the same time, the fact that we can never be friends again, or she'd rather hate me for the rest of my life, kills me. I do NOT need another "Rhea" in my life, or an ex-girlfriend or friend in general that turns into an enemy. There's a part of me that wants to give up, but at the same time, there has been so many times that I have heard that from women or that I have said that myself.

I've managed to rectify relationships, with the exception of one (you know who) because they are at least rational enough to understand the flaws and plights of our situations and are not taking every second bashing me with complaints and "you coulda did this" or "you never cared about me" garbage. So does she mean what she says? I am not sure. From what it seems, she means it, but life is too short to hold grudges, or to feel anger. Although I can do the same, I hope she understands that as well. But I guess I'll never know, as I feel like I will always be looked at as a mistake in her eyes.



I guess, this time around, the reasons for making Written In Blood 3, is to sort through all of the emotions and make quality music, outside of the bullshit we been getting lately. Mixtapes have been key lately for breaking artists, or furthering their evergrowing popularity (Drake, Wale, Bobby Ray, J. Cole)...although too many can drive a wedge between genius and insanity (Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, Charles Hamilton, Max B). Me on the other hand, is me laying rest to the issues that have plagued my life and my music in the last couple months. I feel bad that I haven't taken this year to my advantage and made as much music as possible, but somehow that is all changing.

I plan on recording every week, Written In Blood 3 should be out my early to mid August, Hell Week (the first official album) will be out after that, and then I hope to have another EP out, where is nothing but relieving myself of the stressful vibes and have something out in time for the beginning of the semester and fall. You can say there will be more feel good music on there for a change. If only I can expose the horror first.

UPDATE

My blogging game has been off I truly admit on my part. But what can you say when you have a gazillion things going on at one time? Mostly, what has been occurring these last several days all surround the upcoming releases of two projects that have been a year in the making.

Written In Blood 3- a mixtape that has been worked on since the LAST Written In Blood tape, lol. I consider this project to be the most personal record I have done yet. I consider this coping with my maturity as a person and as an artist. A lot of things I plan to talk about are....well, you will have to wait and see.

HELL WEEK- Finally, finally, finally...this album/EP is coming out. We got most of the shit recorded. My parts are all done except for one and another is being re-recorded when we get the time to do it. Either way, this is all going to be the pinnacle of all the BULL shit that we have experienced these last several months.

Okay, this is a crappy blog/update, but that's what's happened. So long.

MUST BE NICE

I'm on a roll today with these posts....let me keep em goin...



Another Worldstar masterpiece. Three white kids (two males, one female) are in their home studio, and two of them are freestyling over a beat from underground-known producer Kev Brown (if you use to listen to Milwaukee's Late Night Hype Show a few years back, his shit and Oddisee's got a lot of burn). These cats are coo...I like to see others come harder.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE FOR YA....

The story given for this, was apparently this took place in Haiti and the guy that you see came from the club and went straight to church in the early morning. Then again, this came from Worldstarhiphop, so I don't necessarily know how valid that story really is. Perhaps it was a case of over-excitement. Either way, this is a funny as hell video to watch. At the same time...disturbing...the same time...you cannot help but show sympathy....just a little bit.

LATE PASS: THIS WEEK IN COONERY.....

So, the buzz all around this week, has been what I would like to consider as the very reason why I do not watch BET for music anymore. The only time I watch BET is for Smart Guy and The Game. Anyways, the BET Awards were this past Sunday, and you can tell that the recent passing of Michael Jackson brought the vibe down to where the show was mostly a show filled with dedications, tributes, and performances. Understandable....then this shit happened....



You got Drake sitting in a stool (due to a torn ACL allegedly) half-assing his performance of "Best I Ever Had", then you have Lil' Wayne and his Young Money minions performing "Every Girl" while putting the censors at their mercy. As well as a bunch of pre-teen girls coming on stage during the performance surrounding Drizzy (one of them were apparently Lil' Wayne's daughter)...then Birdman or Birdshit as 2dopeboyz.com refers to him as, performs "Always Strapped" wishing his mouth was strapped shut so that he was unable to speak. A horrid performance, and a horrid night in Drake's young career. Then as well as the video for "Best I Ever Had" premiering....FINALLY!!!...he makes up his mind and decides to sign with Lil' Wayne and Young Money....*sigh*...

Okay, I believe in loyalty....but don't you think that this performance shows that Drake is beyond Wayne and his weed-carriers' antics? There were so many routes he could take (sign wit Jay and Roc Nation, go to Kanye and G.O.O.D. music, go independent)...instead he chose the easy way out and the route that we all expected anyways, and is now included himself in the freak show circus that is Young Money. All I hope for now, is that the quality of his music does not decline as whenever Drake and Wayne get together, the songs falter (mostly due to Wayne's over-unpredictability). Here's your chance to prove me wrong, and maybe I'll thank you later, and buy your album........maybe....But never do I wanna see such brainless fuckery on stage again.

If that wasn't enough, here is a video of Hurricane Chris performing "Halle Berry (She's Fine)", in front of Louisiana's House of Representatives. The first thing I thought was.....why? and the next thing I thought was how? And I concluded my thoughts with, "It is no wonder we blame the South for everything"....



This has prompted me to start something new every week. Every week I will come across something that will have me shake my head in disgrace of being a human being (usually targeted to my own race). So if I see it, I will post it, and I will give my comments, so take these and enjoy it biatch.

*Apparently the rumor is according to Complex Magazine, Drake is signed to Cortez Bryant's Hip Hop Since 1978 & their company Aspire Music Group, where it is a joint venture with Lil' Wayne's Young Money and he is not signed as a Universal artist, however they play a part in the distribution of his records*

....sure.

TRYING TO DEAL....

Okay, so it has been awhile since I had updated this son of a biatch...A lot has gone on during that time. Of course, the main highlight is the breakup between me and Adrianne. During the course of the last few days, I have done everything to deal. From hanging with friends, to going out on my own, to just flat out being alone. From the start, I began to move on and begin a new chapter in my life, which started today, as I began writing and recording for the next volume of Written In Blood. The first song I wrote was called "Winter of the Heart". The song is basically describing a small part of what happened in our relationship and my feelings towards trying to deal with the situation while trying to move on, yet at the same time recognizing how she is feeling and how much it kills that I had to do this.

Do I feel a little hurt due to the fact that she decided to call our relationship "a prison", yea, I mean who wouldn't take offense to that. It makes me begin to believe that she felt that she was trapped or that she feels she is better off without me in her life. Especially with the idea that she believes it would be easier if I had cheated on her or that she did something wrong to me. Honestly, what the fuck would that prove? That the pain would be easier to deal had I done something wrong? So, that the fact that her friends and her family having the idea that I am a "loser" would be justified in some twisted type of fashion?

I understand the anger, but come on, is it saying that the 2-3 years we been friends and lovers meant absolutely nothing? I know I hurt her and I know that maybe in her mind, breaking up with her was the easy way out of my issues, but I told her my reasons, I regret that it had to come to this, and I am trying to make things right between the both of us, but I am NOT going to continue beating myself up about the whole situation.

Was calling her the wrong thing to do? there is no yes/no answer. But I just miss hearing her voice. I miss being able to talk to her about anything and everything, but at the same time, I can't condone feeling like I am the enemy for this entire ordeal. I was simply being honest and true to what I felt and believed. I just hate that it cost us both each other's support and company in the process.

Times like these...where....you just wanna die.....

This will probably be the LONGEST blog that I ever do.....



As hours pass, I for one still can't believe that one of the greatest artists and entertainers to ever live...is gone.

Found out from co-workers and customers during the first fifteen minutes of my shift at work today, that Michael Jackson had died today. Later found out that he died from cardiac arrest aka a heart attack.

The irony of this tragedy is that as I was reading an article from the latest edition of Rolling Stone (unfortunately the Jonas Brothers made the cover...again) that he maybe having health problems due to overpreparing for his "comeback" tour in Europe.

The way I see it is, no matter if you're a pop star, rock 'n roller, hip hop head, or soul crooner, Michael Jackson had some if not a major influence on you. You can even it see it more now in today's generation of artists, from Justin Timberlake



to Usher



to Chris Brown



Even in hip-hop.....





With the tumultous week that I have had so far, from the break up with Adrianne, to my stress, THIS is the prime example of that old saying "Do NOT take life for granted". I think with all of the scrutiny and all of the jokes that we have made, in writing Michael off the last several years as "Wacko Jacko" or any name that you can create to describe his unorthodox behaviour (I can't lie I was laughing as well) we all forgot what it is to like the MUSIC. I can't recall any particular song that made me want to dance, cry, smile, or any human emotion other than a Michael Jackson song. It is not just an influence on a particular group of artists or a plethora of dancers, or fashionistas, he influenced damn near the WHOLE WORLD. Hell, he DID influence the whole world. This is way past a 2Pac or a Biggie or a Kurt Cobain or a Jimi Hendrix, he was THE entertainer. With that, here's five (out of the 15 I made a list out of) of my favorite MJ songs of all time. Enjoy the songs on your own time or what not, whatever, just enjoy. R.I.P. to the definitive and true KING OF POP!!! You will GREATLY be missed........


5. "Jam"

For the video, this was when two of the greats in their own respective fields collided. Michael vs. Michael....Jackson vs. Jordan. It's just that vibe you get when you hear the song, it's just high-octane energy. The Heavy D cameo makes it better also.

4. "Human Nature"

Not only is it a sample in one of the greatest hip hop songs ever, Nas' "It Ain't Hard To Tell", but a memory that will always stick in my head when I hear this song, is my mom sitting next to me in the car as she drives, with tears coming down her eyes, while "Human Nature" played on the radio.

3. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

The song that made me get into Michael again, after years of straying away from him.

2. "Dirty Diana"

This is for the rock/metalhead side of Mad Static, Slash apparently doing the guitar on the track, but it is that song that describes that particular groupie (or celebrity) that will do anything for stardom (every video vixen today) or maybe I have the story mixed up and I don't wanna think of what really happened, lol.

1. "Smooth Criminal"

No words needed.

But instead, I will present this to you....



Also, so they are not forgotten, Rest in Peace to actress Farrah Fawcett (who passed away five hours before Michael) and TV personality Ed McMahon (who passed in the same hospital).

CLOSING A CHAPTER

Okay so a lot of you have been wondering as to how the hell I became single that "instantly". Received and made a lot of phonecalls and texts in regards to the entire situation. And yes, it's true. We are no longer together.

I can't necessarily say that the results stemmed from one general conflict. It came from a lot of things. One of them being the constant fighting. Every day and every week arguing, complaining, about the same general stuff, that we both said to each other, time and time again, that we could fix to better the relationship. Nothing worked, as we always kept resorting back to our own ways and moods. It's safe to say it was pride.

Also, on my behalf, dealing with the issues of being in a long-distance relationship and letting that coincide with my own "personal demons", not knowing what my future holds. For one, questioning whether or not I will EVER finish school, not being where I want to be with my career right now, and damaging relationships with people I care about the most (my family).

It just got to the point, where it was basically too much to handle for me. I begin questioning myself. Whether or not I was ready to handle a long distance relationship. Not being able to see each other everyday, the constant arguing, the need and want for the other to support what you do and for it to only get it halfway. I just felt, that perhaps....I wasn't ready as much as I thought it was...and those reoccuring emotions...led me to let her go.

Was it the right thing for me to do, naturally yes...but keep in mind, it's something that although I had to do for me, is something that I NEVER wanted to feel like I had to do. I wish she could understand the depth of my internal strife, but some things are just better left the way they are I suppose.

I don't ever want to regret nor forget the time that we did spend together, the tears I shed on her shoulder and vice versa, the emotions that stir when I look at her photos or read anything she says, or hear her voice, because she did make me look at both life and love in a different light.

I'm just at a point in my life, where right now, if I ever want to survive in both life and love, then I have to work on myself first, which means finishing school, going extra hard at my music and art, get closer to my family, since I never seem to tell them anything in regards to me. I don't know if yall can consider that selfish at all, but what good is it for me to destroy a relationship that I cherish if it is me who is feeling that I am the one causing the problems, because I can't handle what is going on in my life outside of the relationship. For that alone, I'm not willing to commit to ANYONE, until I MYSELF feel I'm ready to.

Right now, I just have to worry about me. But this girl is someone that I don't want to just become a distant memory. I hope that she can see it in her heart to forgive me for doing what I did. And not that I regret breaking up with her, because in my heart I know it was best for me, but I do regret, not putting enough effort for her to be loved, for not opening up more, for her to not see how much I loved her, as I defended her every single day I mentioned her name. And for that I deeply and sincerely apologize, and I just hope that if she does see me as a different person, it is because I am working hard on myself to change.

I hope one day, we can again have the kind of friendship we had before we became boyfriend/girlfriend, and that in her eyes I'm not an evil person in any way, shape, or form, and so I will give her as much time and space that she needs to deal. But it is like I said, I have to follow my heart and my life will go on. I just hope she understands someday.

I'M GOIN' TO HELL FOR EVEN LAUGHING AT THIS

This was from a WGN (Chicago news station) live morning news telecast, where one of the reporters dunks on a three year old.

You know. This is one of those clips where you're on either side of the fence. You're either saying this is the wrongest thing you can do to a kid and his already frail self-esteem or you're laughing your ass off at this. I am doing the latter.

I'M IN HELL......

Naw, ya know what, I can't even hate on this here, cause I know this was all done in good fun, and I cannot tell a lie. This is funny as hell...and seeing as how the CMT awards was a while ago......yeeeaaaa....so enjoy.

IT'S A RECESSION...AND YOU DO THIS....

T-Pain, I would like to applaud and congratulate you, on taking the award for "We Couldn't Be Any More Niggerish Than We Already Were Or Are".

YOUNG JEEZY "24 23" (KOBE/LEBRON)

This is apparently off of "Thug Motivation 103" coming soon, but more importantly, this is a diss going at the biggest cornballs in the game right now, that being Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman. No it's no "Bridge Is Over", no its no "Takeover", no its no "Hit 'Em Up", or "Second Round KO"...WHATEVER WHATEVER WHATEVEEEERRRR!!!! This is trap music at its finest, Jeezy back at his trap SHIT, and Jeezy's throwin' shots, take it for what it fuckin' is. This shit goes HARD!!! (Pay close attention to the second half of the first 16's). I can't wait to hear what kinda advanced brands of heavy lyricism that both Gucci and the Juiceman are gonna stir up from their nursery rhyme dictionary. Better go back to cookin' crack nigggggaaaaa!!!

IS HE CORRECT???

After watching this a couple of times, I feel a little bit of what JD is saying. Being from Milwaukee, and liking the music that I like, it is safe to say that I am very diverse altogether, as a music lover and as an individual. So, for me, it is very likely for me to hear LMFAO on the radio if it is a station such as 88Nine, which is known for their eclectic lineup of music (where else are you gonna hear Atmosphere, Erykah Badu, and Michael Franti & Spearhead all in one hour?) and somewhere bands like Chester French are selling out shows and club gigs based off of their music alone and because their buzz spread from word-of-mouth. And our "underground rap" scene is more known than any other subgenre of hip hop in the city.

However, Milwaukee is a city that is known for "dickriding" other cities. That is where a lot of what you would hear on a station like V100, You hear records that have a better chance of getting airplay in Atlanta or Houston or some city located in the South than it would here.

We're in a time now where albums are selling less, labels are afraid to take chances and risks on new artists, and new artists, put out relentless material, and despite large fanbases, they are unable to build on that buzz by both critical and commercial acclaim (it often happens with either/or). Hip-Hop is crowded as fuck right now. For every Drake, there is a Soulja Boy, for every Asher Roth there is a Charles Hamilton. You wanna take it there, for every Dyme-A-Duzin, there is a Lil' Crazed (neither are wack, but you get my drift). And because the labels are afraid to bank on the artist that has it all (talent, range, popularity), they instead decide that they are going to invest their money on the trend, whether it is Auto-Tune or the latest and advanced version of the Hokey Pokey (via the Stanky Leg or the Ricky Bobby).

I am not necessarily blaming the staggering impact of quality rap and hip-hop on the radio on trends, it is much bigger than that, it is more of the imbalance that we suffer nowadays whenever we do listen to the radio. How often do you think you will hear Q-Tip or The Roots on V100? Unless they're playing "Vivrant Thing" or "You Got Me". Hence that these are mega-hits, but still these are artists that still put out quality singles, songs that I will definitely take over a "Make the Trap Say Aye" or a "Bricks" any day (noting that I am in my right mind at the time).

So my question to you is this, is the radio fine the way it is? Or is it blatant musical segregation that is causing what we have endured over the last several years? Because in my eyes, it is getting worse and worse and worse.

THE WIDESPREAD VIRUS THAT IS CALLED "NIGGADOM"

Okay, so for those that know me, you know what happened to me Monday night.

As I am coming home from a slow yet fast day at work, I go home excited for my three days off and well-needed rest. As I am crossing the street, and trying to turn my iPod off where I had KRS-One playing in my earphones so I wasn't aware, some young nigga runs up on me and hits me on the side of the ear where my temple is. It didn't knock me out or knock me down, but it did tweak how the sound came out in my earphones as I found out later that night. So I turn around, find out what the fuck was up, and its the young dude, with like three other niggas in the distance, looking like they were laughing or pleased wit what they saw. I had my arms extended out, not really looking to fight, but I'm like "what are you doing?". One of em say "pick up yo' hat man", and they walk off.

So my guess is that it was nothing more than a wack ass attempt at portraying a gang initiation. And if it wasn't that, then it was some lame joke or something young punks do when school is out and they have no money or no job to keep them busy.

The incident hasn't really changed the way I move around the city. I still do what I do, and handle it how I always do, just I become more aware of what the fuck I am doing and who is around me at nighttime, but usually don't nobody be outside. Maybe it was just one of those nights, and plus it was around 11.


Worst come to worst, I'm sick of niggas in general. Don't get it twisted, because I love my brothers and sisters, but I'm thinking to myself, why the fuck do we do these kind of things to each other. We are already looked at as being ignorant, too dependent, as troublemakers, and all kinds of shit, and yet we kill each other every night, we start wars (conflicts) with each other every day, and what for???

Money.....fame....women.....material bullshit.

Do you feel like a man when you run up on someone from behind? Do you feel empowered knowing that three or four other niggas got your back to outnumber one person....ONE PERSON???....and do you feel like you can destroy everything you touch using a weapon instead of using your own two fists??? Nigga, that ain't called survival, and it is definitely not called strength or empowerment, that shit is called COWARDICE.

And I have seen or heard of too many good people die over bullshit things these last twenty three years of my life.

But as I said before...I'm not gonna let this kinda shit affect the way I live my life, and let it be known, it's the evil that men do, and the shit niggas pull, that ends up with them laying in coffins instead of their beds at night.

In the end.....the good die mostly over bullshit.

IT'S THE END ALRIGHT....

I remember a day when the Black Eyed Peas represented everything that I love about hip hop today. When they took it back to the essence. They weren't the best on a lyrical standpoint, but then again, when you heard their music, that really didn't matter, because it had that original feel-good vibe to their music. Shit you can blast out ya boombox (note MP3's players weren't that big and iPods didn't exist yet) Their music represented all that was the "elements" of the hip-hop culture if you will. I remember shit like this....



and........



and they had a white girl before the Ferg...



Years went by and they kinda disappeared for a bit. I didn't understand it, nor was I in that right state of mind to care, but then I noticed they returned...with a new white girl...and a way too happy song...a bit pop if you will...but still I was feelin' it...but I started to doubt.



The Elephunk album started to have me question everything about them. Especially, when I realized the Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get It Started" or for those that don't give a fuck about Wal-Mart led censorship, "Let's Get Retarded"...won the Grammy for best rap song or whatever...the first thing I thought to myself was....that was a rap song???

Then came Monkey Business. Man....you wanna dumb down to sell records...you follow the Black Eyed Peas formula...



Around this time, everything Black Eyed Peas was hard for me to swallow (pause). Especially when cats like Kanye, Common, and T.I. were getting ready to reach the height of their popularity only to get shafted by the radio-friendly, corporate-backed sugary-sweet, tooth-rotting music that the BEP were putting out. I mean at least back in the day Taboo and Apl had mic time and verses...now...I dont know what they do, I mean what are they, hypemen? bodyguards? It's all Fergie wit Will.I.Am behind the beats.

So Fergie went solo for a bit and got crazy popular, Will.I.Am dropped a solo....(and no one cared)...but at the same time, he felt he needed to prove himself that he was just as hip-hop as any nigga in the game. So from there, he started producing for almost EVERYONE...from legends like Nas and Common to future greats like the Game to lesser knowns like Murs.

It had to be at least two years...and the BEP started working on a new album...and just when I think, all is gonna be well....I get this.....



Now "Boom Boom Pow" aint as bad as one would think it would be, BUT...I absolutely HATE when someone comes out and claim this as the BEP is changing the game...All I see this as is a rip off of Afrika Bambattaa's "Planet Rock" dosed with idiotic lyrics about the year 3008 manipulated by the fine workings of an Auto-Tune program....ROCK AND RAAAAAWWWLLL....

What is the point of this blog? It is simple. For years, I've been questioning to whether the Black Eyed Peas can return to that vibe that I had for years listening to their music. Fergie is talented, Will.I.Am is talented, Taboo and Apl....good for what they do....but that really ain't to say I am satisfied with the product they are putting out now. Nor do I believe I ever will now. They basically said "Fuck You" to hip hop and have now driving down the crash-and-burn lane of pop music and vow never to return...and if you don't believe....



Man...Jamie Foxx hit it on the head on the Foxxhole a little while ago...

DEATH OF AUTOTUNE

This right jeah....is the newest track off of Jay-Z's upcoming Blueprint 3 which we all found out will be released on 9/11 (ironically the date of the 1st Blueprint album). Since it came out, there has been a lot of mixed reaction. Of course you are hearing the typical "Jay's lyrics suck" responses along with the "Shit will never be as great as Reasonable Doubt" quotes coming from these 9year old lames with faggot tendencies, who prolly wasn't even into Jay until The Black Album.

Look, we know already....nothing will ever come close to Reasonable Doubt...hell Mos Def will never make another Black On Both Sides...but I am loving The Ecstatic right now as I am typing this...

My thoughts on this is that THIS is particularly what hip hop needed after this dry-as-fuck first half of the year for hip-hop releases (with the exception of the new Dilla album, the new Mos album, Blackout 2). From the sounds of it, he is basically going at EVERYBODY. Auto-tune is effective when it is used correctly, however most emcees either A)abuse the tool to the point where they become unlistenable or B) believe that there is an automatic success to using the tool because everyone else is using it, instead they are another victim to a passing trend.

I doubt anybody is gonna even TRY to use it after this song, however i DON'T believe that it is going to go away that soon either. As long as there is a T-Pain, Lil' Wayne, Kanye making hits with it...then I ono...but I am about as sick of it as everyone else. Ain't nothing wrong with trying new things, the culture thrives on it, but there's a thin line between being original and sounding unoriginal and quite frankly these cats are using this as a scapegoat for staying fresh in an already crowded genre.

BUY MOS DEF'S THE ECSTATIC TUESDAY!!!

ANOTHER NIGHT WHERE I SHOULD BE SLEEP

But that is what happens when you start to acquire some kind of inspiration for the things that you do. Whether that be in life, in love, or whatever.

Such as last night when I went to the Highbury Pub on the south side of Milwaukee for the first time. My homies in the Boombox Saints crew were performing (my first time seeing what they can do live, after highly doubting them) and I can say that they brought it fa sho. Then of course, I went up, did a poem, got back down and everything was peace. At the same time, I was a bit discouraged. Discouraged due to the fact that I am thinking well, maybe spoken word is not gonna work at these kind of places. This is where that hip hop shit need to be heard. So I figured what I'm gonna do is for next week, I am going to show up at the Highbury and do either a old joint or a new joint. Either way, it is time I show my skill...

Here is a part of the Method Man & Redman (w/Busta Rhymes) interview from the Juan Epstein (Cipha Sounds & Peter Rosenberg) show....

A WEEKEND MUCH NEEDED

Hello everybody. I am sitting here in front of my girlfriend's laptop watching and listening to the Travis Barker remix of Eminem's "3AM" (good to see him back on the drums).

Meanwhile, I am in Green Bay, spending a much needed weekend with my love. And the funny thing about this weekend. WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE ARGUMENT SINCE I GOT HERE!!!! Yet....(not trying to jinx myself) and knowing how I have been lately with the stress building and the tension growing in regards to my future endeavors (music and school), I am even surprised at myself.

But yes...so starting tomorrow, I begin serious writing on my three projects hoping for ALL of them to be released in all three months of the summer.

1- Beatjacking 101- Basically "Summer Soulstice Vol. 3" except its not on the "remix" tip, but it is more of me and not just a verse or two, so I guess you can say it is the Heartbreak tape with different beats

2- Written In Blood, Vol. 3- a continuation of my twisted thoughts and ALL original by ALL means.

3- The "Untitled" project with me and Amanda, which is an EP of our collaborative thoughts and plots to rule the world.

Also, much props to Dart Adams for his blog on Drake from a couple days ago, as I been conflicted as fuck wit this dude. But I have taken "So Far Gone" for what it is pretty much and honestly, I was able to write and think more listening to that in the last few days than my old school shit....

Ok.....later homies.

Oh....and here's a video with Rosenberg's crappy camera work according to the gf, as he interviews Drake (and plugs himself in the process)

....and there's a little run-in as well....

NOVELTY RAP AT IT'S FINEST!!!

This is one of those songs/videos, where I am not really interested in what these niggas are saying nor doing. If anything I try my hardest to block them out in anyway possible and focus on the focus of this particular video/song. One of my favorite things.....a white girl with a booty.

In the last couple of weeks, I have been daring people that I will be doing a remix for this song. Gimme a few days. You will be surprised.

I HAVEN'T WRITTEN AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO...

And I mostly blame life for that....

I believe the culmination for all of the bad luck I have had with all of the elements that make up my life, came in the form of me losing my ID as well as my check/debit card on (perhaps the city bus).

Whether it was carelessness or not, it did in fact make me look at things in maybe an unnecessary perspective. That maybe God is trying to send me some kind of message (or at least that is what my friend Courtenay said to me.)

I wish that I could put a lot of what has happened to me and what I have endured mentally and physically into a way that at the same time remedies what I am going through while it is giving people a bird's eye view into the man that people are not used to seeing.

At the end of the day, I wish the world could just sink into me and my thoughts....

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME I SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT YOU...PART 627?!?!

But as of this moment, I am done with school for this semester and for the year. Year number six, here I come...I honestly do not know why I am still in school after all of these years. I mean, school keeps me on my feet, keeps me grounded, keeps me yearning to learn, but have you ever felt that out of all your hard work, you are getting absolutely NOWHERE? I feel that I should be in studio classes actually DOING something, instead of sitting down and listening to a voice that projects across a gigantic lecture hall, with the ability of passing out from overbearing boredom (no disrespect to my professors). If I wanna hear a projected voice putting me to sleep, I'll listen to Asher Roth's new album.

Yet, the thing is, with the idea that I feel I am getting nowhere, it motivates me to pursue what I want to do, and learn more about what I do, without letting school hold me back from doing so within the institution. At the end of the day, a diploma should not define me. My hard work and determination as well as dedication should provide others for who I am as an individual. If I choose not to give a fuck, it would show, or perhaps it is when that question pops up in class, and I wonder, "Why the hell am I here?".

Bottom line is, this week has been hella stressful for me and for those around me. And I apologize for letting my stress, my anger, my frustration, and my fears affect the way that I treat those that care for me that much, especially to my queens (Mom, Adrianne) my princess (Amaya) and I give thanks to the homies that stood by me (Randal, Leon, Frank, Amanda) and a big ups to the haters (Rhea).

This summer, I look to get out my dreams and make use of the trying times that our country is in.

A GOOD ANALOGY OF WHO CAN USE THE N-WORD....

My opinion later on in the day.....

IS BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE???

Over the last couple of months, I have been hearing nothing except for who is gonna carry the torch for New York City. In the last issue of XXL with Officer Ricky on the cover, there is an article about the last crop of emcees from Hip Hop's capital...and how years later....they are either shelved, dropped from labels, or we don't know where the hell they are right now.

Joell Ortiz- signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath, but with the Three-Headed monster, there was no tellin' when he was going to drop so he left.

Papoose- signed to Jive for a $1.5 million dollar deal, buzz was huge from '04-06...but he left...and since then we ain't heard from him.

Saigon- signed to Atlantic, yet his album was delayed time after time after time, and the greatest story remains NEVER told.

Uncle Murda; Tru Life- signed to the Roc.....then got dropped.

Nowadays...there are two emcees that I hear on the regular from others whether online or in magazines, that in which they believe are going to bring NY back to the forefront....



From Brooklyn....Maino





From Brooklyn....Red Cafe



Now before today, I ain't heard a lot of their material, other than their singles. For Maino, he struck gold last year around this time with the block anthem, club favorite, retro-sounding, "Hi Hater" and now with the "Live Your Life-esque", Just Blaze produced (irony) "All The Above" featuring T-Pain.

For Red Cafe, I heard before on Fabolous mixtapes from like 2006. A lot of his shit were club hits/street anthems ("Bling Blaow", "Paper Touchin'") and now with "Hottest In The Hood" that just been remixed with an all star cast (Diddy, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Rick Ross, OJ Da Juiceman (why???)) and been jacked by the top lyricists in the game (Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9", Lloyd Banks).

Now I decided to listen to tapes respectively from them, Maino's "I'm the Victim" tape featuring DJ Trigga, and Red Cafe's "Eviction Notice".

From what I heard. I ain't impressed, but I ain't disappointed either. If anything I give their tapes a 7/10 as a whole. The songs as a whole are bangin', but at the same time, their skills are average at best, but they still spit better than most of these niggas out here today (Gucci, Juiceman, Soulja Boy, any niggas wit a dance out right now).

Of course, the ultimate result is the album. Maino's "If Tomorrow Comes" is out June 24th and although Red Cafe has an album already released with DJ Envy (via Koch/E1 entertainment), his official album "The Shakedown" should be out later this year, via a joint venture with Akon's Konvict Muzik (the label Red Cafe was originally signed to) and Diddy's Bad Boy (oh lord....)

I don't really know if they are the ones I'd go to in regards to holdin' the NY down, Jadakiss is already doin' a good job wit that, surprisingly selling over 200,000 copies of his new album in three weeks, with little to no publicity. the new Jim Jones is out, Cam'Ron's about to return (especially with possible rumors of a Dipset reunion), Busta's heatin' the streets up right now ("Arab Money", "Conglomerate"), 50's plottin' his return (in midst of the Rick Ross fiasco), Fabolous of course doin' his thing, Mos Def's new album comin' this summer, Reflection Eternal's album (Kweli & Hi-Tek), as well as Blueprint 3 (Jay-Z) scheduled for this year as well.

But Maino and Red Cafe have a bright future as long as they can keep pumpin' out the hits. I just don't think they anyone I'd listen to everyday though.





the white kids caught on quick.....yall on to somethin'!!!!

THE DOUBLE STANDARD

The double standard in hip hop has taken its toll on my mentality as of late. More recently, one white boy from Pennsylvania, that just had an album debut at #5 and along with fellow whitey, has a thing for "nappy headed hos".




Mr. Asher Roth

Now I heard about this incident about a week in advance and it didn't even get any attention til recently. Where Asher left an update on his Twitter account, where he claimed he was at Rutgers University kickin' it with "nappy headed hos".

Now at the moment I read this, I didn't even get upset and after talking to my girlfriend a little bit, I came to a conclusion.

WE AS BLACK PEOPLE GOT SOME NERVE.....

What I mean by that, is that black entertainers (more referring to hip-hop) got some nerve where we can constantly put out songs and release videos and come on other media publications, where we are constantly referring to women as nothing more than inferior to us as a male species. To where they are objects. To where they are pretty much....meaningless.

Do I accept the nature of Asher Roth's comments...no.

At the same time, who are we to be this overly offended, as we take part of the double standard everyday in our lives and careers by exploiting and glorifying the negative aspects of our culture through rampant materialism.

I mean are we celebrating the fact that we are rich or are we using our stupidity to rub our success in the faces of those that are less opportunistic or less fortunate?



I know I turned this into something that is completely off topic in regards to the Asher Roth comments, but this is an element of the incident, that plagues us today. If you can't practice what you preach, then it really shouldn't have been said in the first place. Why do you think I often go around saying that I myself am not a fucking role model?

THE FUNNIEST SHIT I HAVE EVER SEEN.....

And I know it is wrong of me to laugh at this and whatnot. Hell, I don't even know if this is a real case to be completely honest. But if it is true....man, is karma a bitch or WHAT???

*DISCLAIMER* PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LAST TWO MINUTES!!!

WHAT IS THIS SHIT?????

Thank God for mute. The white chick look hot tho.

AND I JUST REALIZED....

The last post I just made about Drake is pretty much a repeat of a previous one I did. Click on Drake's label and do a compare and contrast if you will. Now that I think about it, if I did do two blogs expressing the same feelings...chances are this is serious than I thought. Well lemme know what ya think.

IS MY REVELATION COMING TRUE???

That all of this time...I've been overhyping an artist that is average at best???

You know how you listen to a new artist, you feel good about that artist, you thinkin' to yourself, man...this is THAT nigga!!! You start taking the artist's shit to all of your friends, and THEY start likin the shit...well that's how I felt at the time about Drake. I intensely watched Degrassi growing up (well, it aint been that long) more cause all the shit that happened on there, I was experiencing myself or I had friends who experienced it...not to mention the girls on there were hot.

So, the moment I heard Aubrey Graham aka Drake was a rapper...I'm like, "NO FUCKING WAY"!!! This was like around late '06 into '07...everything feels like one big fucking year nowadays.

2006- ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT- a good start, not perfect, but good start.

2007- COMEBACK SEASON- this was the shit that had me re-evaluate everything (at the time I thought "swag" was cool)

until.......



THE WAYNE-BOLA EFFECT!!!

enter throughout 2008...where you begin hearing Drake remix Wayne tracks ("Man Of The Year", "A Milli") you start to notice him in Wayne's videos ("A Milli" again) and he starts to appear at his shows ("The I Am Music Tour") and they even begin to do tracks together....



enter Valentine's Day...and SO FAR GONE is released....

The latest mixtape where it isn't just taking the inspiration of "808s and Heartbreak", they're damn near emulating the album...all I did was remix it...*mixtape on the upper right hand corner*...*SHAMELESS PLUG*

Now, I didn't really feel it as much as "Comeback Season" at first, then the more I listened to it, the more I began to enjoy it, and the more I enjoyed it, the more I started to question, and the more I questioned, the more I began to see what I am seeing now.

I'm beginning to recognize the flaws that a lot of the fans and bloggers are exposing as well. The fact that he doesn't have a lot of range in his singing, or he is beginning to pick up Wayne's bad habits (Auto-Tune), or that when you really think about it, his content is pretty limited (clothes, women, money, blah, blah, blah) and someone such as myself, always goes back to the shit that I can relate to the most (Brother Ali, Talib Kweli, Nas, Atmosphere). It took a couple blogs and many, MANY listens to finally realize that...and then not only that...I think this was the icing on the cake...being one of the recent episodes of Joe Budden TV.



When is Jumpoff on a nigga's dick THAT much...(other than the other members of Slaughterhouse, lol).

Not only that, but they played "Best I Ever Had" at Texture this past Saturday...and this shit was off a fuckin' mixtape. Although, a lot of my tracks are from mixtapes. Heheh.

But yea, this ain't a diss to Drake at all, as two of his latest is on my iPod right now at this VERY MOMENTO. But, like I said, I always appreciate the things or topics I relate to MORE. And honestly, has Drake ever endured hard times? I'm not one to judge, but cot damn, there is a difference between storytelling and just flat out bragging. Drake likes to tread the waters of both. So this shit will do for now, but I'm really waiting for him to pull a Jay-Z's "Minority Report" or a Lil' Wayne's "Tie My Hands" or a Kanye's "Roses". Something that will make us look at Drake for a brief minute as more than just a braggadacious rapper, otherwise we might as well look at him as another Kanye/Wayne clone, that kicks it with Trey Songz from time to time. And believe you me....THIS HERE IS ON SOME TRUUUTHHHFUL SHIT.



"I hate an actor that plays a rapper"
-Big Pun "John Blaze"



Keep in mind...it's only hatin' if ya jealous...

AFTER ALL OF THIS I'M THINKING....

Maybe I been on Rick Ross a little too hard lately...

Now, I been contemplating this since I copped the latest issue of XXL, with Officer Ricky on the cover. He claims that his credibility isn't hurt from the last couple months, being crucified by the Hip Hop community, for lying about being a correctional officer, before we knew him for what he is today.

I always said, that I am not upset that he was a C.O. Being a correctional officer is as regular as any other job. You think if I ever were to be famous, that I'm gonna enjoy the idea of saying I use to work at Sam Goody (the root of all evil in regards to music)? What bothered me the most is that...well....it took him so long to admit it. Are you that ashamed of your past? 'Cause we all know you ain't got all that shit...then again Biggie didn't....is it going back to the idea that Officer Ricky was posing all along...that rap...is...merely...entertainment?

And all these images that we see on the television everyday, or when we play a new record, that these images are nothing more than facades of what we wish we were, or what we hope we are in the future?

Well, I know for myself, living where I live, and living with what I live with, and knowing what I know, I NEVER want that kind of living, never have and never will. so don't ever catch me rhyming like I'm the spokesperson for a clothing brand that will disappear in five years anyway.

Far as Ross, I suppose he has held his own to get him this far. All 50 did was make an ass of himself in the end, with the "Pimpin' Curly" videos while resorting to his usual antics, which in the long run.....no one cares anymore.

Does it sound like I'm figuratively kissing Ross's cellulite ass? Maybe.

But if you want me to really forgive you, make a classic rap album. Deeper Than Rap is FAR from that, but from what I've heard so far and what I'm listening to now, it's a hell of a start. But keep this in mind, keep it trilla in everything you say, and maybe we'll start to take you seriously.

DUMB ASS QUOTE OF THE DAY GOES TO....

OFFICER RIIIICCCCCCKKKKKKKYYYYYYY!!!!!! (50 SHOUT OUT)

Now it appears that dude is putting the wrong name in his mouth. On a recent interview on Hot97, Rick Ross commented on the new video for Eminem's "We Made You". He simply said the following....

"His swag ain't the same"

Now I was gonna save this for last night, but I forgot to post. My thoughts on the new Eminem.....

It is what it is I guess.

This isn't necessarily the Slim that I wanted to hear though. The Slim that helped bury the careers of Ja Rule and Benzino, shut the mouth of Canibus, and yada yada yada. But I guess this will do right now. Quite frankly he has to attract the white kids first, ya know the kind that will confuse him for Asher Roth. lol.



My honest opinion, I thought he would hit these bitches harder than what he did. But what it turned out to be was a 4-minute track of infatuations for the most dysfunctional females on Earth. He was treading the same waters he did on "The Real Slim Shady", "Without Me", and "Just Lose It", but we ALL expected this. And hopefully this Relapse doesn't become an overdose...of the same shit from Encore.

Don't let me down Marshall.

Here is the link to the interview....

http://www.zshare.net/audio/58785551097aeaa7/

IT IS OFFICIAL

Max B has the BIGGEST ego in rap music right now.

It's bad enough that you put you put yourself in the #1, #2, and #3 position in your own personal top five (over Biggie and 2Pac of all people) but now you're saying no is paying attention to Jim Jones? Not that I am a fan of Capo's antics, but he is one of the few holding down the NY right NOW....cause we all know yo' ass ain't doin' it. It's even worse when pro basketball player Ron Artest, is sayin' yo ass is gonna do 700,000 to a million records in one week. Fat......FAT....chance.

Here's one of his old interviews with XXL.

STUDENT AND THE TEACHER

G.O.O.D. Music rapper, Consequence took footage of this during Kanye's "Glow in the Dark" tour this past summer. Skateboard P was on point with the Busta & Q-Tip impressions. If you notice, that little puke Chris Brown is sitting down behind Pharrell, with perhaps having absolutely no idea who the Jungle Brothers or the Gang Starr records they're talking about.

AFTER HEARING THIS.....

....I'm rethinking my Twitter account...lol.



FOUR POSTS IN ONE DAY....WHAT THE FRICK???? haha!!!

AND ON A SERIOUS NOTE....

My girlfriend told me about this yesterday when I got home from work. Say a prayer for the victims of this incident and the families and friends affected by this. My heart and my condolences goes out to yall.

I THOUGHT OF SOMETHIN'

I just realized that I made a list last week with a list of all the albums in which I showed interest in listening to in the next couple of months, because honestly, I haven't been keeping track lately, with my mind circulating around rock and R&B lately; meanwhile my frustration with rap music is increasing, not just with the music itself, but the antics going on outside of that...see my other blogs.

So where I had around 20 albums I wanted to listen to...I narrowed it down to about......SIX....JUST SIX....make that SEVEN cause the new UGK came out this past Tuesday...come to think, make that EIGHT...cause that new Jim Jones album...I'm skeptical....To the point where I'm gonna ad-lib every one of my sentences (DUBBING)as much as that don't even make sense (WEIRD SHIT) so now here's the decision I made.(CHOICES)...naw, you know that...SLASH THAT SHIT IN HALF!!! so where it's 20 albums, slash it to TEN.

So it comes down to UGK, Jim Jones, DOOM, Reks, P.O.S., Brother Ali (EP), Saigon, and the new B-Real. While I STILL need to finish listening to the Joe Budden album. Now that Okayplayer.com has given the shit a score of 84. That's something for ya!!!And I been hearing some good shit bout the new Slim Thug album.

And next week, its the new Jadakiss and I'll see if I wanna hear the new MIMS album, now that I found out Tech N9ne is on the record....RIDICULOUS!!!

Speaking of Tech...this is the latest track of the second album from his "Collabos" series coming soon...its featuring Slaughterhouse's own Crooked I and the equally lethal lyricist Chino XL (who is on my Facebook, yay!!!)

"Sickology 101"

ATMOSPHERE- "YOUR GLASS HOUSE"

This is the 4th video off of Atmosphere's "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold" album. It's a really creepy video for myself, seeing as how I too am an alcoholic. lol.

I'M USING THIS RIGHT JEAAHHHH....

to list the choices that i have for my design analysis that is due this Thursday (technically Friday 12:00AM)

James Montgomery Flagg - U.S. Military poster

George Lois- Muhammad Ali cover for Esquire Magazine

Ben Shahn- US Office of War poster (1943)

THE ALBUMS I NEED 2 LISTEN 2 ASAP....

EXILE-RADIO
DOOM- BORN LIKE THIS
REKS- MORE GREY HAIRS
GORILLA ZOE- DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS
JOHN ROBINSON- WHO IS THIS MAN?
X-CLAN- MAINSTREAM OUTLAWZ
P.O.S.- NEVER BETTER
ZION I- THE TAKEOVER
JOE BUDDEN- PADDED ROOM (need to finish)
B-REAL- SMOKE N' MIRRORS
HAVOC- HIDDEN FILES
K'NAAN- TROUBADOUR
PROJECT PAT- REAL RECOGNIZE REAL
BROTHER ALI- TRUTH IS HERE EP (need to buy)
CNN- CHANNEL 10
SAIGON & STATIK SELEKTAH- ALL IN A DAY'S WORK
JIM JONES- PRAY IV REIGN
SLIM THUG- BOSS OF ALL BOSSES
FLO-RIDA- R.O.O.T.S.


....lot of work to do....

I THOUGHT I WAS DONE WIT THIS FUCKIN' SNOW...

But it turns out no, as I am inside tonight early than what I should be. But maybe that is a good thing as I really wanna take this time to spend much-needed time on some songs that are either unfinished or non-existent.

Besides all that, today my photoshoot finally, FINALLY took place. Amanda and I got some good shots in. My facial expressions could use some work, but for that being my first time, what the hell eh? I'll let you be the judge when I put them out.

Man, I been fuckin' HOOKED on the new season of Making the Band. Not that I don't know that whatever I been fuckin' seein' in regards to Que and his "bitchassness" as of late, is affecting them to the point to where they gon' breakup...everything seem to be peachy. Don't believe? Check this episode of JD's "Living the Life" from two weeks ago.



But this is an album that I can't wait for, seeing is how not just with them, but a lot of the latest R&B releases from The-Dream, J. Holiday, Keri Hilson just this past Tuesday, and shit from last year (Ne-Yo, Musiq, Anthony Hamilton, Lyfe, Bobby V, Keyshia Cole) bringing traditional R&B back to the forefront, while all these Auto-Tune/Voicebox niggas (T-Pain, Akon, Ray J, anyone with low vocal qualities). Hell, I been more excited for shit in R&B than I have with the latest rap releases and there's been a lot of shit (DOOM, Reks, Jim Jones, Joe Budden, Saigon) Here's some shit from the new Day26 album on April 14th.

"I'ma Put It On Her" (ft. Diddy & Yung Joc)



"Vixen" (ft. Sean Garrett)



and because I feel this need to have more buzz than what its been getting...and cause I'm sure Adrianne will be curious...here's some new UGK, from their last album "UGK 4 Life" out this Tuesday...

"Da Game Been Good To Me"



R.I.P. PIMP C!!!!!