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....