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.....