Picture of the Day

Imaged found at Sickamore's. This pic is ILL. It's from the German Magazine, Deutsch.

Europeans man, I tell ya!

Throwback: Disco Lady

Johnnie Taylor - Disco Lady

"Move it in, move it round, disco lady/
Move it in, move it out, shove it in, round about, disco lady"

Fellas, how can you NOT enjoy this? It's guys like this who were the pre-cursor to Robert Kelly.

I hate it when this happens

I'm not really sure why, but I really, really like this song.

Gorilla Zoe (ft. Lil Wayne) - Lost



Like I said, I'm not sure why I like it. I think it's just the melody of the hook because it's not Zoe's singing or Wayne's rapping/singing.

Sly Fox

NaS was/is correct.

Looks...*dies*

...laughing!























Pure comedy! LOL.

My personal favorites are Big Ricky Ross, Lethal Weapon, and RoboBOSS. And the best one of them all is the Kung Fu BOSS joint. LMAO!

Source of pics: thisis50.com

I take my time...

before I manifest a rhyme.

VIDEO: Big Pooh - With You

1/2 of (IMO) the most under-rated and under-appreciated duo in hip-hop right now, Little Brother.

Picture of the Day

Rick Ross: Losing credibility by the minute...

That's the life? Sitting in a black and white studio with a bunch of liquor, hired models, and your boys?

Seriously, you can't convince me that this is your life when you didn't even shoot it at your crib. The fock?

Anywho, it's already been "exposed" that Rick Ross was probably once a correctional officer. Not that being a correctional officer is a bad thing. It is a job. And, it's not drug-dealing, which technically is a bad thing. The idea of Ross being a CO seems to go against the idea that Rick Ross was (or still is) in fact a big time drug dealer. Riiiiight. Because we all really thought he was the fat, black, Tony Montana. Of course we didn't! But we were entertained by his attempt to portray one through his music and Maybach Music cranks just that hard.

So while we don't know (or care in my case) whether or not he really did sell drugs, what we do know is that Rick Ross is full of shyt regardless. He shot a video for one of my favorite songs off his album (that's titled "This Is The Life") and the video is in a studio with a bunch of his nameless boys, some (fine-azz) rented models, and a bunch of liquor he probably got paid to show in the video. Everything about the video screams "this is not my real life!". Granted, he didn't call the song "This is MY Life", but everything he talks about in the song refers to him and how much allegedly cool shyt he does or has. Sure, Rick. SURE!

Dude could have at least shot the video at his house (because we assume he has at least purchased a nice sized home, if not a mansion) or a house he rented (like in this video) and made us wonder if it was really his. With all his credibility problems over the last week or so Ross either needed to catch a gun/drug charge this week or shoot a video on some real gully or believably opulent shyt. This idiot did none of the above and instead tries to pass off something to the public that screams bowlshyt.

Negro please!

I'll still bang TRILLA because it's one of my favorite albums so far this year (yep, I said it). But Rick Ross has the same problem lots of young black males have today. They don't know who they are (yet) so they tell you that they're everything.

"We don't believe you! You need more people!"

The TIs at Def Jam/Universal must listen to NPR

Am I the only person who has noticed that within the last two weeks, there have been a crapload of Freeway and Young Chris songs hitting the InterWeb/streets (fyi - the InterWeb is the new bootleggah, minus the exchange of cash for goods)?

Anywho, my man Sei put me on (I PUT ONNNN) to this NPR review of the Carter 3 (an album I kinda went on a lil while back). In said review, the author (Robert Christgau) suggest that the Carter 3's sales (a milli a milli a milli, in the first week) were due to "a daring marketing strategy that doubled as a cocky musical challenge" and that "In the two-and-a-half years between major-label releases, Lil Wayne whetted his fans' appetites by giving away more songs than anyone can count."

The key there is that he gave the shyt away. So now I'm seeing artists like Mickey Factz, Freeway, Young Chris, and others with songs poppin up all over the InterWeb. Mickey is definitely giving his songs away in the form of a mixtape series called "The Leak". I'm not so sure about Freezer and Young Chris leaking everything that's hit the name from them on purpose, but this stuff isn't hitting the nets by chance either. And while I think Mickey's leaked songs are a pretty brilliant mixtape concept, it doesn't have me itching to hear an entire album, just "Good Money". Not that Mickey's songs are wack (because they aren't), but because I'm not into being inundated with free songs off the InterWeb because there's far more noise than there is music. And that's what I think the problem is with technology and music nowadays. The market is flooded with crap.

But back to my original point...

My guess is that the TIPPORDS (read: TIs) at Def Jam/Universal saw the success of the Carter 3 and thought similarly to what Christgau seems to have thought. That is... "Wayne put out a bunch of free shyt and then he sold a million in the first week because fans started itching for more." Then the TIs started thinking it could work for everyone else. Not too shrewd, not to stupid either though. Why wouldn't it be worth a shot for other investments artists?

Leaking songs to the net prior to an album's release is nothing new. Lots of artists have leaked a mixtape (or two) to create a buzz for their albums. But Lil Wayne took the shyt to a stupid-azz level. I repeat, a stupid-azz level. There were so many songs and mixtapes hitting the net/streets between the Carter 3 and his release prior to that, that I got tired of hearing it. No bull. I will give him credit in that he obviously had a serious work ethic that most of these artists don't seem to have. But I can't be convinced that the leakage of 6 or 10 or 20 songs (or ten mixtapes) by any other artist in a relatively short period of time means anything either, unless all of (or a majority) of those songs are completely and undeniably DOPE. Not that Wayne's were dope across the board, but there were so many released that you couldn't help but liking some of them if for nothing else than his slick wordplay.

But my point in this post is that maybe (just maybe) the higher-ups at these record labels are going to start pulling a Lil Wayne and releasing a bunch of their artists' records in the form of mixtapes, interWeb leaks, or some other form of "free promotion" in an effort to create a buzz similar to that of the Carter 3. I'm all for free music (of course) but I personally think it's a crock of shyt that all those songs were the sole reason that people wanted to buy the Carter 3. I think that it was a combination of lots of factors like media hype, Lil Wayne's level of lyricism, his features, his run-ins with the law, and the free ish he unleashed on the hip-hop audience. But I do agree with Christgau in that Lil Wayne "redefined" the mixtape scene.

I wonder if this is going to pan out well for Chris and Free considering studio time is not free and I am sure Def Jam is going to want their advance money recouped. Rappers might want to start investing more in themselves (ie - their product) by purchasing top-notch home studios (that is, if they own a home or momma/roommate wil let them) and providing their favorite producers with Food and Liquor (and weed probably) in order to keep the costs low on all this music they are gonna give away free on the InterWeb. It is a Recession, isn't it?!?!

Don't say I never put you on to some good ish

That good "ish" in this case would be Jay Smooth's blog, Ill Doctrine. I have yet to see a post of his that was not on point. I put a lot of noise up on this site and you probably skip blogposts regularly. But you can't miss a single post over at illdoctrine, trust me.

The impetus for this post (which is pretty much an e-slurping of the illdoctrine website, I'll admit) is the following video from Jay Smooth...


Go ahead, get over there...

Miss Independent: Me and Ne-Yo are on the same page

Ne-Yo - Miss Independent
I just listened to the song above by Ne-Yo. After listening, it's obvious that Ne-Yo has taped some of the conversations me and Woo have had and/or done some hacking into my email account. Dude pretty much ran through the litany of things that make an independent woman so attractive to me.

"Cuz she walk like a boss, talk like a boss. Move like a boss, do what a boss do...something about a woman that can do for herself. I look at her and it makes me proud."

I just randomly picked a part to quote as I am rushing out of the office, but the key here is that she really is a "boss". Not faking it. It's a sheitload of women out here that walk like they're worth a million bucks and as a result, too good to talk to "yo azz". But lots of times it's only a cover-up for other issues of self-worth that they have. And then there are women that are doing well for themselves but still maintain the humility and social skills to be easy to talk to, down-to-earth, and have something worthwhile to talk about aside from a bunch of trivial bowlshyt.

And d@mn if Ne-Yo didn't hit the nail on the head with a sledgehammer on this one. I was just having an e-versation with a friend about this topic yesterday so it kind of hit home for me. But Ne-Yo neatly describes the type of woman that turns me on and impresses me. Of course he doesn't cover everything though. And yes it is something about a woman that has her stuff together and doesn't need you but chooses to spend time with you because she genuinely enjoys you and sees as much in you as you do in her.

To each his own - I know some of you fools like a trophy wife or a chick you can manipulate/control all the time - but give me Miss Independent.

Not too independent though. Some women take that shyt to a whole new level that's a bit extra.

Passenger's a red bone, her weave look like some curly fries!

They needed Keyshia Cole and one of Russell's nieces to be in the video (preferably the oldest, Vanessa).

And I see Jeezy is getting "political" is his own way. Good shyt.

Young girl terrified of George Bush

It's almost like she saw Dick Cheney...


Props to L for sending me this video.

Farnsworth Bentley is G.O.O.D. for Hip-Hop

....Not that rap shyt though.

Check out the new track by Farnsworth Bentley featuring Kanye West, Andre 3000 & Sa-Ra called "(Everybody) Don't Stop"...


If you don't like this you're probably a hater, have no sense of humor, don't like good music, or probably aren't that much fun to begin with. Accept it early-on that this is a good song. That way 2 weeks or a month from now when you start bopping and smiling when it comes on, you won't feel like you've put your foot in your mouth.

Don't let the fact that it's a Farnsworth Bentley song turn you into a prejudging hater!

By the way, Farnsworth might be one of the smartest people in hip-hop. He turned his post as Diddy's manservant and seeming "court-jester" in lots of hip-hop videos into a killer collabo. And I assume that he's probably also formed lots of great relationships with artists that will come in handy down the road. And you've gotta think that if Kanye and 3-$tacks respect him (hell, Yeezy signed him) then there are probably lots of other artists that do as well. And I'm sure Diddy would provide some marketing support if asked.

Post inspired by JAC.

Barack is trying to say something...

Numero uno, by insisting that "Blacks show greater responsibility for their actions" and saying that he won't stop saying it, he is telling Jesse Jackson that not only will he be keeping his testes, but that Jesse can kiss his bumper (just kiss it). I know I'd be thinking...

"Jesse thinks I'm talking down to Blacks does he? That's cool. I ain't even mad at him. But let's see how he likes this..."

Number two, he is saying that he is not the savior of Black people. He doesn't want us to think that he is going to hold us to any different standard than any other American. And in the case of being responsible for one's actions, I think it's 100% fine. Lots of us DO need to grow up and be responsible for our actions. It's not his job to make it easier for us to bullshyt and "get by". This goes along with what he's been saying for the duration of his presidential run which is that WE are the change that we need. We can't sit around and think that a Black president is gonna make everything sweet for us. We have to be responsible for ourselves.

Any Black person that feels like Barack is talking down by making these statements is probably someone that isn't responsible, just doesn't get it, or is a jealous and hatin' azz crab-in-the-barrel like Jesse Jackson. I'm glad Barack is sticking to his guns on this one and I don't think that he's talking down at all. I think he's keeping it real! And it doesn't get much realer than this:

"'If we're serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, our own families and our own communities...That starts with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV and putting away the video games; attending those parent-teacher conferences, helping our children with their homework and setting a good example...

I know some say I've been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I'm not going to stop talking about it. Because I believe that in the end, it doesn't matter how much money we invest in our communities, or how many 10-point plans we propose, or how many government programs we launch — none of it will make any difference if we don't seize more responsibility in our own lives."

Get your weight up, not your hate up.

The New Yorker = Risqué Provacateur

I understand what they're trying to convey/do here, but there are so many other ways to prove your point. A satirical sketch painting the Obama's as terroristic militants may make sense to those who keep up with politics and those who have tried to paint the Obama's with that brush. But aren't there better ways to make the point that painting the Obama's as such is not fair or accurate? But this is what the New Yorker does so I guess it's just par for the course.

Being provocative can be great, but many people are just going to see the cover, view it as offensive, and not take the time to understand the point that's being made. And that's not the magazine's fault by any means as it's our responsibility to stay abreast of what's going on. But with all the other tasteless and stereotypical stuff that's been thrown around with regard to the Obama's, you'd hope that the New Yorker would find a more tasteful way to be provocative (read: make their point) or just leave it alone altogether.

UPDATE: Here's a very thought-provoking and quite honestly "on point" article focusing more on Michelle Obama's image in the above picture.

NaS - Sly Fox

WE are the Media!

Jesse Jackson: This Focking GUY!

UPDATE: When it rains, it pours...

---

Like I said earlier, Jesse Jackson is an idiot!

Why?

Jesse's dumb/fake/bama azz went and said this...



Why am I NOT surprised?

First and foremost, how crass is that statement?

"I want to cut his fucking nuts off!"

I know I have said some crass stuff before in my life but I don't think I've ever said I would like to yank off another man's testicles. And for Jesse to say this to another man while he "thought" (big dummy) he was off-camera is just completely moronic. Even if you think you're off camera, you don't say that to anyone in that type of forum. DUMMY!

Seriously, of all the horrible things you can say that you would do to another man, I don't think castrating him would be the first thing to come to my mind. Or maybe that's some old school shyt I just don't know about. Punching him in the face, yes. Castration? Not really. Seriously though, you don't joke or play with a man's nuts. No pun intended.

Secondly, how odd is it that Jesse is upset with Barack for "talking down" to Black people by telling Black men they need to be responsible fathers? Doesn't Mr. Jackson have a few secrets in the fatherhood department that were unearthed a few years ago? So I guess he took offense because the shoe fits. Hmmmmnnn. Perhaps Barack should talk to him. Aside from that, if he says Barack has been talking down to Black people then what the hell has Bill Cosby been doing in recent years?

For years now I've had a sort of internal battle between trying to respect old-school Black leaders like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton - who both (in my opinion) have made some questionable moves in the past and speak too often - and disregarding them as political puppets trying to serve their own selfish interests. Are these guys only posing as pro-Black to further their own political/monetary agenda? Sometimes I feel like they are, other times I don't. Are they sincere? I almost always feel like Al is faker than Pam Anderson's cleavage, but sometimes I feel Jesse is sincere. And this time, you can tell he was sincere. People say the most truthful things when they think no one's watching or listening. And Jesse doesn't even come across sincere in the apology he issued or the interviews since everything hit the fan.

Regardless of the apology (shown below), it's obvious Jesse dislikes something about the way Barack is handling things. That's fine. Nobody should have on blinders when it comes to Barack and what he's doing or his platform. But I think a bit more than dislike is required to say that you'd cut someone's nuts off. That's hatred. And isn't this guy supposed to be a REVEREND?

I watched Jesse this morning on the Early Show trying to seem apologetic while also managing to come across as bull-headed, argumentative, and unhappy with the way Barack has been handling the "substance" of his faith-based campaign. After making the statement he made though, I don't see how anyone can respect what he's saying or believe that he "unequivocally" supports Barack Obama. Does he even know what "unequivocally" means?

He definitely put his foot in his mouth on this one. I guess "Sly Fox" caught Jesse's slippin', LOL. By the way, if you saw my post yesterday about Killer Mike's song "Pressure", you'll notice that he talks about fake-azz Black leaders like Jesse.

Black politicians, show bowlshytting/
And you funky azz preachers wit ya pulpittin'/
Our King had dreams and a big vision/
All you give us is government and religion/
Are you a freedom fighter, or a stool pigeon/
Is you down for ya people and the big mission/
Or you a dirty nikkah working for a focking Clinton/
Or you a dirty nikkah working for a focking Bush/



Now if that isn't a crock of shyt, I don't know what is. "I wanna put this behind me". Oh I bet you do, brother. I bet you do!

And just like Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jesse Jackson appears to be yet another proverbial "crab in the barrel" nitpicking issues with a candidate who has the potential and impetus to do more good for Blacks and lower-class citizens than any candidate since I've been living. Isn't that what Jesse should want? Jeremiah too! Jealousy is so 1990's.

Not only politicians, but all of us need to understand that Barack is NOT your one-way ticket to fixing America. Not everything in his platform or policies will you agree with or like. But you can't fix everything that's wrong with America in a day, a week, a month, a year, or even a term. But you can vote for someone that you believe will bring about a change for the better and not further digression. I can't believe that politicians that are a lot smarter than me can't see this or that they can see this and still not manage to shut the hell up and stop undermining steps toward progression. It's not about you, it's about US!

I have to say this...

JESSE JACKSON IS AN IDIOT!


TO BE CONTINUED...

"The price of freedom is death"

Killer Mike is trying to get Guantanamo'd with his video for Pressure (featuring Ice Cube). And that's "Guantanamo'd", as in Guantanamo Bay. But you know what? I love that he has the guts, knowledge of history, and intelligence to put out a song and video like this. It's obvious he's not concerned with selling records but with opening people's eyes. We need artists like this to offset those that don't address these issues at all or sound un-educated or delirious when they make an attempt. Props to Killer Mike!

This video is probably the hardest shyt since Nas's Be A Nigger Too video and I'm loving both of them! Also, it was a nice touch putting O'Shea on the track.

Just off the visuals alone you want to go and smack the hell out of the first "ignant" azz person that says something reckless in regard to Black folks.


Somebody get Killer Mike, Cube, and [hesitates...] NaS in Barack's Cabinet. By the way, where was NaSiR when this was being recorded?

They tryna bring the 80s back...

...that's okay with me, that's where they made me at!" -- Jay Z

No words, just visions...

Go 'head girlfriend!!!

I'm not sure what statement Renee Martin (seen below) is trying to make other than saying "I have freedom of speech", but I'm sure that it takes some talent to sing the Black National Anthem (Lift Every Voice and Sing) to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner. I was impressed. Not that that is saying much.

However, I'm not sure what point she was trying to make other than showing that we all have freedom of speech. She had the Black guy to her left about to lose his bowels.



It is kinda dope, but ya'll best believe that shyt like this is gonna get SHUT DOWN very quickly from here on out. They giving us a shot at a Black president (LOL) and you best believe they ain't letting you get too much leeway with this type of racially rebellious shenanigans.

PS - HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

NeYo > Lil Wayne

You make the call...

Lil Wayne - A Milli



NeYo - A Milli



LOL @ Bussa-BUSS!

Bonjour Tout Le Monde

Last week I dropped a post about my trip to Montreal. Well, now I'm back and I had a fantastic time in Montreal. I didn't hit any strip joints and I didn't even hit a club/lounge for that matter, but I had a great time!

A few things you might want to know if you ever plan on visiting:

1. Everything is in French and English. Makes for some interesting navigation around the city.
2. Everybody starts speaking French to you until they realize you're an American or you don't speak French, whichever comes first.
3. Downtown Montreal is a lot like most popular U.S. cities (NYC, San Fran, D.C., etc.). There are always lots of people walking around, shops and restaurants everywhere, Starbucks and McDonalds are frequent sites, and the occasional homeless person begs you for money. But it also has a very European feel (as if I really know) to it as well.
4. Shyt is expensive! I paid $1.39 (Canadian currency) for a TWIX bar. WTF? I assume it's even worse over in Europe, but I couldn't help but notice how everything seemed a bit pricier.
5. They sell Cuban cigars in Montreal. That's all Imma say about that (hehe).
6. The women of Montreal (at least the ones in downtown) are very pERTY.
7. The stereotype that Canadians are nice does not apply to the women referenced in #6 above, though they're not mean either. But pretty much everyone else is cool.
8. Be sure to get a little Canadian cash at the airport when you arrive. Even though you can use your credit card pretty much everywhere, it comes in handy to have cash.
9. Downtown Montreal is a very walkable area. Not once did I feel like I could be in danger (then again, I live in Bmore so my barometer is probably really low).
10. Did I mention that they sell Cuban cigars and that the women are beautiful?
11. Most black people that you see there are from Africa. I found this interesting but I guess this is a result of my not having traveled abroad a lot. I'm used to seeing Black people and actually seek out Black folks when I go out of town. Don't waste your time with that in Montreal because I'd put money on it that most of the people there were either first or second generation Africans that moved to Montreal. And to belabor the point a little bit more, it's almost sad how the role that race plays in the U.S. has me someone conditioned to actually pay attention to this shyt in other places. Other countries don't appear to have the same racial biases that we do.
12. Visit the Olympic Park if you go to Montreal.
13. Visit Old Montreal.
14. The Best Western Europa in Downtown Montreal is worth every penny!

Check out some of the flicks after the jump...