Once in a while, Mark Zuckerberg is sitting up in his ivory tower looking at his own Facebook profile, and he says, "This shit needs to change." (Citation needed.) And so he moves some stuff around on the homepage, and he moves some stuff around on your profile, and he makes it look pretty. And Mark saw the Facebook, and the Facebook was good. (If you didn't get that biblical reference, you need to go to church this weekend.) Scene change. I sit in my dorm room, Xbox controller warm in hand, ready to kill some Geth. All of a sudden, I get the urge to check my Facebook, even though I did that literally five seconds ago. I notice the new changes. I look upon them with slight disdain, then in about five seconds, I realize that the changes are actually not that different, and in fact make the interface a little easier on the eyes. I change my status, then began my Mass Effect marathon.
12.08.2010
The New Facebook and Other Loose Ends.
Once in a while, Mark Zuckerberg is sitting up in his ivory tower looking at his own Facebook profile, and he says, "This shit needs to change." (Citation needed.) And so he moves some stuff around on the homepage, and he moves some stuff around on your profile, and he makes it look pretty. And Mark saw the Facebook, and the Facebook was good. (If you didn't get that biblical reference, you need to go to church this weekend.) Scene change. I sit in my dorm room, Xbox controller warm in hand, ready to kill some Geth. All of a sudden, I get the urge to check my Facebook, even though I did that literally five seconds ago. I notice the new changes. I look upon them with slight disdain, then in about five seconds, I realize that the changes are actually not that different, and in fact make the interface a little easier on the eyes. I change my status, then began my Mass Effect marathon.
12.02.2010
Runaway
Even if you don't like Kanye, you gotta appreciate the artistry. Anyway, I also have a new post coming, in order to discuss why I hate award shows and why Eminem is destroying rap. Stay tuned.
11.22.2010
11.21.2010
Video of the Week: FUCK YO MEAN MUG!!!!!
11.16.2010
Michael Vick and the American Prison System
Almost two years later, enter ex-convict. Almost two years later, he gets out of jail. Almost two years later, he's given another chance. Two years later, he's a possible MVP.
Where was this Michael Vick when I needed him? What changed Michael so much? In Atlanta, his disrespect and selfishness got him deemed a "coach-killer" by Jim Mora, Sr. Fast-forward to November 2010 and he's encouraging linemen and reprimanding return men for fumbling. This is a strong charge here, but I have to say it: Michael Vick is a better man than when he went to prison, and it is because of prison that he is a better man.
The American prison system is definitely not known for making sure its former residents stay out of prison. (Oh look! Statistics!) We focus more on punishment than rehabilitation. Everyday ex-cons can hardly find jobs, can't vote, or own even own slaves. (jk) But maybe, and just maybe, Mike's story is the happy one: the one of a man realizing his mistakes in prison and re-assessing his entire downfall. Perhaps it took Mike 18 months of shitty food and constant butthole guarding to realize how badly he tossed away the opportunity of a lifetime. Not only did he work his ass off to stay in shape for the NFL, he emerged from the gates a better man. A better leader. A better quarterback. A better person.
WEEZY IS BACK: New Song - Fire Flame (Remix)
11.03.2010
Head of the State
Pharrell May Be the Craziest/Most Creative Person Ever
10.27.2010
Lupe's Stealing my Ideas!
10.20.2010
Album Review: Chiddy Bang - The Preview
10.09.2010
G92: Boldy Saying No Homo Where It Should Have Been Before
Video of the Week: Lil Wayne - I am not a Human Being
10.06.2010
Diggin' in the Crates: Special Edition, Return of the Flamboyant
10.04.2010
Album Review: Lil Wayne I am not a Human Being
10.02.2010
G92: Boldy Saying No Homo Where It Should Have Been Before...Part 2
"We blasting off just like a laser, nigga: peyoom, peyoom, peyoom!"
Not really gay until he makes the sound effects, wich takes the homo-eroticism to a "whole-nother-level." Which leads me to say, "Wake up, Mr. West! For you, I insert the 'no homo.'"
9.29.2010
KanYe signs Mos Def: G.O.O.D. Music takeover is imminent
9.28.2010
Diggin' in the Crates: Vol. 3
9.27.2010
9.24.2010
Vid of the Week: Chiddy Bang, Pass Out
9.17.2010
Cudi Spazzin
Speaking of Wale, when you hit that fan at your show last December, he came out with a line about it ["Throwin' 'round wallets like the dude that Kid Cudi hit," from "Thank You Freestyle"].
Kid Cudi: It wasn’t a shot, it’s just a simple-ass rhyme by a simple-ass rapper. You can’t let that shit faze you. That’s one of those raps that just shows the world that you wack. Why would you even use that as a metaphor? Everybody think they Hov. Niggas ain’t got the magic like they think they do; there’s only a couple of wizards in this game. I’m a wizard and I know it.
How do you feel about the “emo” label?
Kid Cudi: DMX is emo and he’s one of the realest niggas in the game. Emotion is what hip-hop thrives on. Don’t you want your music to have emotion in it? People like to always throw some negative cloud over it. Doesn’t even make sense. Jeezy is emo. When that nigga be rapping, you feel it. You know that nigga’s talking some real shit.
How heavy did the drug use get?
Kid Cudi: I started doing cocaine to get through interviews, ’cause people wanted to know a lot about my personal life and I wasn’t prepared for a 60 Minutes interview every time. Doing bumps I was able to get through the day, but then I would smoke weed to calm me down—it was the only way I could get through the day without people noticing I was doing it.
Kid Cudi: There’s another thing people don’t know. I have a daughter, born March 26th of this year. Her name is Vada, and she’s fucking awesome. That was eating me up, and it was stressing me out that nobody knew about her. I was trying to escape from that, too. Just trying to figure it out and make everyone happy, it’s a lot for somebody my age to handle. I was manning up and dealing with it in what I thought was the right way, but it was the wrong way. I want to be around for her. I can honestly say she was the wake-up call. The reality that it’s bigger than just you now—you have a responsibility and there’s no more time for mistakes. It’s time to stop fucking around.
So is that it for cocaine?
Kid Cudi: Yup. No more blow. People do drugs to camouflage emotions and run away from their problems. Now I’m going to deal with certain things as they come, prioritize shit—man up, so to speak. Just for the record, it bugged me out that people said it was liquid cocaine. No, I’m just fucking rich, and my blow comes in a jar. There was no liquid in it—that shit makes no sense.
At the Converse show in July where you acknowledged using cocaine, you said you’re going to be around until you’re “old as fuck,” and also said, “I’m sorry if I let you down, I love you.” Did you feel like you let your fans down?
Kid Cudi: Every time I snap. I’m sitting there making songs like “Heart of a Lion” and talking about getting through anything, and rising up, and I’m up here snapping and letting people break my shell. I have to practice what I preach. I get strength, and the kids use it.
9.16.2010
Diggin' in the Crates: Vol. 2
P.S. You might recognize the beat. Shawty Lo sampled it for his song "Dey Know."
9.13.2010
The 2010 VMA's: Kanye vs. Taylor Round II
9.11.2010
The Evolution of the Rap Group
In 1979, Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee, better known as the hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang, released their hit song "Rapper's Delight." This was the first hip-hop song to become a Top 40 hit on the radio. "Rapper's Delight" brought the gem that was hip-hop to mainstream American audiences. It is heralded by most as the inauguration, the genesis, the very origin of the recorded history of rap in America. Followed closely by the introduction of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, hip-hop started off with the first few noticeable acts being groups. But I suppose that solo success overshadowed the importance of sticking to origins, and the rap group became a subgenre in the overall category of hip-hop. Over the course of the years, the rap group has intended to stay relevant and present. Groups like A Tribe Called Quest graced the game with their immediate classics, and recorded albums now referenced incessantly by any rapper trying to prove he knows the game's history. With Low End Theory and Midnight Maruaders consistently being put near the top of many "Best Album Lists," their impact is obvious. De La Soul gave themselves a foothold on the rap mountain with their lyrical prowess. Public Enemy gave a soundtrack to the youth as they called for a revolution. NWA lent their voice to the new gangsta rap and unknowingly gave many 21st Century preppy kids the soundtrack for which they would claim knowledge of rap for the rest of their lives. And need I say anything about Wu-Tang?
Now today, perhaps there is a revival in the making. Supergroups once again are emerging. Helmed by Lil Wayne, the Young Money alliance has attempted to create a monopoly of sorts on the radio. Perhaps the Cali Swag District will avoid one hit wondership and have success unseen by fellow dance rappers Crank Squad and Dem Heizman Boyz. But these two will never have both commercial success and legitimate ranking in the eyes of the classic hip-hop heads. The hope, I suppose, rests on the shoulders of Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music label. Featuring a collection of both critically acclaimed and under appreciated performers such as Kanye himself, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, GLC, Charlie Wilson, Mr Hudson, and a selection of others. Perhaps Kanye can do what Weezy couldn't. Who knows though? Perhaps the Cool Kids will bring the group theory back. Perhaps the New Boys will show us a unseen level of talent. Once again, only time will tell.
9.08.2010
Diggin' in the Crates: Vol. 1
This is Lamont Coleman, a.k.a. Big L. Definitely one of the best hip-hop lyricists in the history of the game. If you think that Lil Wayne has humorous punchlines, wait until you hear this guy. A lot of these Diggin' in the Crates posts will be songs from in him, in all likelihood (Only fitting since I got the name of the series from him). Big L, unfortunately shot down in 1999, was probably the best rapper alive at the time of his murder. This is only one example of the rapping ability that he has. Be sure to look up more of his stuff.
G92: Boldy Saying No Homo Where It Should Have Been Said Long Before
9.06.2010
Free Weezy
With fifty-eight days left until the release of Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., the hip-hop world is moving forward slowly without the constant production of songs from the self-proclaimed "Best Rapper Alive." Young Money's presence is steady felt, however, despite his absence, by the young Drake and the bisexual(?) Nicki Minaj. But without Weezy, one must admit, the game is not the same. Wayne's style has been imitated by so many and duplicated by none. When he was at the summit of the hip-hop mountain, there were so many who wanted to walk in his footsteps. Even the ever original Kid Cudi, known for his cutting-edge honesty and creativity, at one point in time modeled himself after the CEO of Young Moolah. (I must cite Daniel Conover for this reference, he provided me with this information.) With so many constant attempts at recreating the style of Birdman J.R., (failed attempts, I might add) there was nothing more soothing than hearing the king himself grace us with his lyrical bars. But alas, all good things must end, and his reign stopped short with his admission into Rikers.
Which brings us to this point. J. Cole is now playing on the radio. Although bubble gum rap is still evident, lyrical skill is being more and more valued. Drake still claims much popularity, but I hear more and more requests for Eminem. It seems as if people have stopped trying to imitate WFB. A diehard fan like myself must wonder what this means for the Lousianimal. It is obvious that the Young Lion must step up his game and rise to the occasion in what seems to be a reviving hip-hop genre. During his stay in jail, he has begun writing lyrics instead of relying on his quick wit to fill his rhyme books. One can only hope that this will be enough for Birdman's son to stay on top in a dynamic game, or else Lil Weezyana will be out of a job. Only time will tell.
9.05.2010
KanYe Continues G.O.O.D. Fridays With Latest Release
9.03.2010
"I Can't Believe I'm Back Up In This Muhfucka!"
1) If you haven't downloaded Summer School the Mixtape yet, I disown you as a friend. DatPiff, Youtube, Mediafire, Facebook Page, it's all over the net, no excuses.
2) Boston is amazing, I can't even get into it here. But I will be expecting a lot of y'all to come visit me while I'm up here, hit up some Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins games. You know.
3)A part of my work study job is working for BU Central, which is the underground concert venue at BU. They have a blog which, when it is up and operating, your boy will be writing for. Y'all being my faithful followers, I'll give you sneak previews and what not.
4) I'm also trying to get my own radio show on WTBU, the Boston University radio station. I'll update y'all as shit happens.
5) I'm back up in this muhfucka. Catch y'all later. Dueces.
8.31.2010
"How you make this beat, huh? On the wake and bake?"
8.30.2010
"We The Greatest In The World Baby!" Why KanYe Is Hip Hop's Savior
8.29.2010
Back On The Grind
7.23.2010
Summer School: The Mixtape
And so we reconvened weeks later at Alex Helm's house for a one day session. Same crew, same objective. There we completed two songs, the John Mayer-samples "Gone" and the relentless lyrical showcase that is "No Hook." We decided to get together again the next day to record; however, a lack of a recording space denied us this privilege, and our DJ once again went home without his goal accomplished.
Until he devised a plan for a marathon recording session. One weekend in Raleigh. Twelve tracks. Three rappers. And success was imminent. With Monster and Bojangles Chicken in our systems, running on POW sleep hours, staying up late enough to watch the sunrise, we finished our project. From first hearing the ever smooth completed version of "Slowdown," to yelling and screaming on the hard-hitting "Drop the Mixtape," we went "ham" on that bitch. Constantly leaking songs to people such as the illustrious character that is William Charnock (one of the greatest men in the city, post on him coming soon), we created a buzz that could only be quelled with the release of the mixtape itself. So here it is: Summer School.
7.11.2010
LeBron to the Heat, Cleveland to end in armageddon shortly, Gilbert throws hissy fit.
Facebook Relationships
Case in point: One of my biggest concerns with Facebook is the relationship status shit. First of all, we have reached the point that if you're goin out with somebody, but it ain't on Facebook, it's not official. It's not "Facebook official." That's funny to me. But I kinda understand it though, so I'm not gonna shit on it. But the next thing: In an open relationship with. What does that mean? "We're both whores so we tryna bump uglies with other people too?" "I like her, but I don't like the bitch THAT much." "I like him, but I', tryna get with that other dude on the side." I've seen people in open relationships on Facebook, and I don't f****** approve, okay? That's stupid. Almost as stupid as "it's complicated," because if it was that damn complicated, you would be figuring that shit out and not putting it on Facebook. Enough, though; I digress. What I really, truly, and honestly love is this: A couple breaks up. They each change their relationship status to single, and outta nowhere, mothaf***** just start liking the hell out of it. I'm talking like 10 likes on a bitch being single. It's hilarious. Now when it's people I know well, and I know what's going on, it can be a sign of support. "That bitch has issues, dog, you need to be single. *Like*" "That dude cheated on you, what a douche!*Like" "About time y'all broke up, I been tryna smash your girl for like a month. *Like*" But if I don't know the situation, I just laugh my ass off in curiosity. What could the situation be where all of a dude's friends like that he's single? I would never like that in reality, because that means one of my boys just entered into a recession of his economy (you know what economy I'm talking bout) and in no way does that make me happy. As for girls, they do crazy shit all the time, so I just don't know.
That kinda stuff makes me love Facebook. I've seen enough Facebook fight break-ups, enough photo comment fights (shout out to Kyle Sharples), and all that crap, so when people band together over something like that, I smile. Maybe I'll even like it.
Music Review by Kurt Jensen
6.20.2010
Singer-Rappers and the Industry
August rolls around, a month after the mixtape dropped, and I heard that he was visiting the Norva in Norfolk for a concert. I immediately buy my tickets, and later, with my friend Noel Martinez in the back seat, and Hutton Adcock waiting there, head to the concert. There, I anxiously enjoy the first opening act, named 88-Keys, while I wait for Cudi. But the second opening act, a man who introduces himself as Bobby Ray, comes to the stage, and for a good thirty minutes, I forgot the reason why I came to Norfolk. His skill with a guitar is what catches my attention at first. Then his ability to switch gracefully between rapper and singer. Overall, the man changed my idea of what a rapper was. I came to the concert to see Cudi, but B.o.B. simply blew my mind. With Kanye in a state of dormancy, and Lil Wayne on his steady decline in skill, I honestly thought that it would be this man who would bring hip-hop back to the forefront of American culture. A rapper with an actual musical background who played guitar, piano, produced his own songs, wrote his lyrics, switched from hood to graceful in a second. I put my hopes for the genre into him. Simply put, I considered him the Messiah of rap.
Fast forward several months, and suddenly Kid Cudi is playing on the radio. I'm talking number one single kinda stuff. Everyone I know, and a ton of people that I dislike, are suddenly singing his songs. I was a tad bitter at first. I mean I had been listening to this dude with Conover and Hutton Adcock for months. Songs are available in two seconds now on the internet that months ago it took me hours of google-ing to find. But it passed slowly, because I fully believe in Kid Cudi and appreciate who he is, and with time I came to come to terms with his new-found popularity. It was easy because I knew from all of the Cudi that I had on my iPod BEFORE his album came out, that he was just making his type of music, not being manipulated by the A&R machine for marketing purposes. The man was being open and honest and not changing his ways. When people sang Day and Night, to them it was catchy, but to him it was sorrowful. When people sang Pursuit of Happiness, to them it was "deep" (which can be an incredibly superficial way to describe something) but to him, it was just life. So I bought Man on the Moon, and listened religiously. Months later yet, I see on iTunes that Bobby Ray is coming out with a single. I immediately faint, and when I awaken, I listen to it. Clever lines, nice background singing from the man himself, and a guest appearance from some Matthew Santos wannabe, sounds good to me. Maybe not the best B.o.B. song, but he needed something to create a buzz, so I'll live with it. But in the back of my mind, there was a shadow of doubt. What if he had lost what made him so great before, and God forbid, what if his whole album sounded like "Nothin' On You." History tells the tale of Ric being right once again. The anxious waiting for SEVEN MONTHS for this man to blow up and become famous now amounted to nothing, as his musical stylings had become a music label tool. Instead of appealing to music lovers because he is an open and honest musician, all that matter are the demographics that buy his music. The machine that is the industry got to him and tore him apart. Most B.o.B. "fans" now don't even understand the musical growth that it took for him to get where it is now.
Which brings me to my point. When people talk about the "Death of Hip-Hop" nowadays, and bite my thumb at them. Hip-Hop will never die; as long as there are backpack rappers, as long as guys are scratching records on turntables (like me and Daniel, please contact one of us for our services, Generation Nine Two), as long as people freestyle on the corner, the culture remains breathing. However, developments like this B.o.B. situation really do threaten the health of Hip-Hop. Here was a guy who honestly had something to say. A boy who grew up in a handmade two room house, who understood the meaning of struggle for black and white people, who understood being bullied, who understood being poor, who understood having dreams and making them come true yourself. And for all that experience, I get the girl from Paramore and a clever video for "Nothin' On You." I suppose it's my fault for having such high hopes. But the man had so much potential.
It makes me wary. Here is the archetype of what Hip-Hop's true Messiah should be. And he was twisted in seven months. Is this gonna happen every time a rapper with promise shows up on the stage. Singer-rappers are my favorite, because the variety of styles without having to rely on other people creates a good vibe in a song. But every time one of these hybrids occur, is the media and popularity gonna ignore their real message for the sake of novelty? God, I hope not. I still have my faith in Cudi. I still love B.o.B. But I'm also still waiting for someone to show up. I hope to God that I man can both rap and sing, and not be expected to turn into a pop sensation. Why can't he do both and still be a good hip-hop artist. Why do we have to appeal to the masses with this shit? Newsflash: T-Pain can rap. Trey Songz can rap. But they won't get exposure because of the way they are marketed. Marketing should not determine which of man's skills he gets to showcase. That is bullshit. B.o.B is becoming a martyr in the eyes of his former fans.
So please, download B.o.B's earlier mixtapes, so you can understand his musical journey. Enlighten yourself. The more enlightened people there are, the more likely it is for B.o..B to return to form.
Disclaimer: B.o.B made a good CD. I enjoy the song Airplanes, he was open and honest in it, that's all I wanted. I just would've like a rapper to put out a hip-hop album, not a pop album. I also find it very humorous that B.o.B always talks about people hating on him in blogs, and here I am hating on him in a blog. (If you never got the B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray mixtape, you wouldn't know this tidbit, you fucking pop-loving posers. JK. I'm not Madigan Mayberry.)
P.S. Free Kid Cudi