The 3rd Coming

Hov is back. Yes, you read right. The Jiggaman is in the studio recording a new album, and he's already 9 songs deep. The first single should be leaked soon. When I get it, you'll get it.

Until then, peep the NY Times exclusive. (Since when did rappers announce their albums dropping in the New York Times?)


And to hold you further:

Kanye ft. Trick Daddy - I Can't Say No

Jay-Z - Allure/Flashing Lights Blend

Funny thing about this is that, not long after listening to "Flashing Lights" and falling in love with the track, I made a 2 song playlist entitled "Hypnotize Minds". The two songs on it? Kanye's "Flashing Lights" and Jay-Z's "Allure". Guess I'm not as avant garde as I thought.

And lastly, it's September 20. This week, my kids have been reading about the Jena 6 and so I wanted to remind everyone about today's importance in remembering how our country is still effed up. (In case any of you forgot that after earning your degree(s)).



I'll be posting the Real Talk with Bill Maher ft. Cornel West and Mos Def soon. Be on the lookout.

Burying the Hatchet

In lieu of Kanye's first week sales of 957K, many are considering 50's 691K a loss, citing it as the beginning of a downward trend...

I must say this, 691K is never a "loss" in pop music period! I will admit that the combination of waning interest, public displays of sensitivity, and a lukewarm album are the reason he didnt break 1.1M first week sales of The Massacre, however, his public tirades against 'Ye made that 957K possible. Dont get me wrong, 'Ye might be the Jesus Christ Superstar of post-millenial hip hop, but we all know that no amount of gimickry, street cred, or bds spins can beat old-fashioned anticipation; and thats just what Curtis did. His dramatic interviews and soundbytes make us care about these two releases. Sad part is, he hipped the world to the fact the 'Ye had an utterly awesome album under his belt and built the fever pitch against himself.

To all those who thought 50 would trump 'Ye, I ain't mad at ya.

To those who thought 50 would catch a complete brick, I bite my thumb at you.

Unless Interscope folds, Dre TRULY retires from his extended vacay, and Eminem starts writing books about fatherhood in the vein of "The Cos", 50 will NEVER BRICK. On Get Rich or Die Trying, 50 Cent convinced White America that he was the face of the streets, single-handedly brought fitness back to the hood despite a McDonalds on every corner, made everyone from Ivy Leaguers to D-Boys nationwide believe Many Men wished death on them, sold 2M in India alone, and garnered the seal of approval from the two biggest entities in Hip Hop left of Jay & Nelly. [In case you forgot, the thumbs up from Marshall and Andre made Obie Trice go gold twice, and D12 multiplatinum] And as much as y'all hate, The Massacre spawned Disco Inferno, Outta Control & Just A Lil Bit.

Now to speak to the relevance of 50's market. Suburban & rural White America comprises 70% of this nation. Is it any wonder that he does Hannah Montana numbers!?

Mr. West, on the other hand, might have finally developed the necessary controversy and drama to move in on that coveted market.

The beauty of Kanye's icon status is that he has championed the niche market. By niche I mean, select cultural demographics within America's population that are not large enough to individually propel an artist to Nelly numbers, but will keep him visibly relevant and banking on tour. Examples include The Roots, Common & Talib Kweli, children of the Post-Native Tongues/Late 90's underground scene. Kanye is the king of the college students (dropouts & post-bacc med students alike), the 30+ y/o golden-agers (who were us, ten years ago) that hate snap and loathe uber-violence, trend humpers & streetwear fashionists or former backpackers-turned-capitalists (myself) , skate/rap pre-teens, the black bourgeouis (talented 10th), and select hoods around the states. Whereas this collaborative market has kept Com' with grammy noms and solid sub-platinum numbers; Kanye has been able to combine this group with media-freak status and Time/Rolling Stones critical acclaim to bat 2-3M every time.

50 has no real footing on this turf, but when you're number #1 in the 'burbs and middle America, you cant go wrong. This distinction is the difference between 50's combined first week numbers of 1.9M for Get Rich and Massacre and Ye's combined 1.3M for Dropout and Registration resulting in US sales of 15M for 50 and 5M for Kanye.

Realistically, Kanye is to be commended for striking multi-platinum in a realm where his peers (Mos Def & Common) have made their money of tours and endorsements, not units; but 50 Cent is a beast. Kanye may put the greatest effort into his product, but 50 does the best job of product placement. And to really keep it funky, this 1st week may honestly not reflect the final numbers once the dust settles.

I'm putting all my chips on the Good Life single tho... if that dont draw like In Da Club, I might just be deaf, dumb and blind. If 'Ye dont start doing High School Musical numbers this is what we might be left with...

"I don't believe Cam'ron, I don't believe Jim Jones, I don't believe Lil Wayne, I don't believe Baby, I don't believe Game and I don't believe Fat Joe. My best friend sells the most records and makes the most money ... I've seen checks for $5.5 million that 50 is generating monthly just from Vitamin Water," he stated. I could call 50 right now and borrow $5 million dollars. It's not a problem.

This new album, I'm calling it 'I'm 50 Cent's Tax Write-Off.' I really don't care if it sells or generates any money towards Interscope, because Interscope only cares about three people: Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. I'm not going to sit here and grow gray hairs over it. I'm gonna give you the best music possible because 50 is going to make sure I'm all right. I can do five shows with 50 and make over $100,000 being his hypeman. So me going on tour with 50, I can generate millions of dollars that a artist would make doing shows off their own album."
-Tony Yayo

"Yeah they hyped out, but the b----s be lovin it"

"I'm feeling myself like I lost my keys"

mark ronson + amy winehouse + wale = eargasm

Wale - "Nike Boots"

P.S. Burmese food is the ish. just can't find em on the map.

Umm... wtf?

youtube. did the world even exist before it?

Kanye gets his John Tesh on

I'll be happy when i'm not posting kanye stuff anymore, but dangit, ole boy keeps making it too easy. Kudos to whoever his publicist is. Knowing 'Ye, its prolly him.

Good Things Come in Small Keri Hilsons... or sumthing

I feel for Rich Boy, I really do. Polow taking his shirt off was the worst thing that could have happened to Rich's career, no homo. But seriously though... legitimate Keri Hilson camera time!!!

Can I Talk My S*** Again!?

Now being the 'Ye advocate that I am... I normally wouldnt bring these issues to light, however being that VMA Nom'd Justice didn't get their due props for best video, I gotta keep it funky. How's the Louie Vuitton Don going to bitch and moan about 'Stronger' (a truly dope video... if you've seen Akira and fantasize about Harajuku Cassie, otherwise... ehh) getting snubbed against Justice's "D.A.N.C.E.", but he clearly liked it enough to draw inspiration for "Good Life". What's next? Body paint and sparks flying in the video for "Big Brother", with a complimentary Jay feature... iunno bout it. Either way Good Life is a dope video, the video ho is doper, and Graduation is human crack in the flesh!

Lauren London's got some comp

This may very well be premature, but either this youngin has a great stylist, or she's just bad. Oh yeah, nice video too. Very Parra-esque.

And hopefully MTV Jam of the Week is enough of a consolation for Yeezy.

Kanye West and Lil Wayne

"I'm a grown man, but I wear pampers"

This never gets old. Weezy kills 'Ye in this one. Maybe this dude shoulda wrote Weezy's verse for "Barry Bonds"

Back again for the first time

This is it people. It's Sunday night. I'm on my way to bed. When I wake up tomorrow, I'll be a teacher again, in a new classroom with 30 new faces in front of me and 180 days to fill and fall in love all over again (no Jacko). I'm nervous. My stomach won't stop churning. The truth is that I'm much more prepared for this first day of school than I was last year. I know it, but I don't feel it. Not yet. Maybe it'll all come back to me once I see them, but I doubt that. It's more likely to come back when I see my former students than these unidentified beings on my class list. Nonetheless, the future is here. My mornings, afternoons and evenings will now be spent almost entirely in Southwest Philadelphia. All the stuff I said I wanted to do, I gotta do now. Time to show and prove.

Epictetus said "Only the educated are free." I'm ready to liberate. Let's not call it the first day of school. It's more like Juneteenth.

walk with me. (round 2)

The kids need you Mr. Garr...

"Plies is an interesting name for a rapper, how did you get that nickname?"

"Plies is a tool, You can use it to put the squeeze on things, like I'm doing to these niggas in the rap game. I got the squeeze on them real tight, they feeling the pressure, or you can use it to pull things out. I pull out all the bullshit and keep the real you feel me? It also a word you can use in terms of things goin' on in yo life, ya dig. You may hear something I say and say that it plies to me. Plies straight to me."

"I've heard of a tool called a Pliers and the term applies."

"You know what I'm trying to say my nigga, just buy my album, I'm from the South my nigga, we don't learn no grammar. My Album out August 7, 2007, cop three copies each, it's Christmas in July fo' real, ya dig?

-Plies Interview @ Ozone Awards

Nuff said... save the music y'all.

Let man's soul be a sphere

So I decided to buy a book the other day. The decision was a long way in the making, seeing as I had at some point over the Summer realized that reading was, indeed, fundamental. Checking out books from the library was cool, only thing is it gets frustrating cuz you can't (/not supposed to) write in a library book. So I came to the conclusion that I would actually have to take sneaker money and put it towards something more erudite.

Seeing as this is my first true foray into leisure reading for a very long time, I figured I should ease myself into the practice. A book of poems would be best, by someone I could count on for quality writing. The result: Riding Westward by Wash U prof Carl Phillips.

I won't say much about what I've read so far other than it's vicious. And intense. Yeah, that's it. No reviews here. I haven't even finished reading the thing. But can I shout out the cover art on this one? Is that alone not reason enough to buy the book? Well, if that isn't enough for you vultures, I guess I'll give y'all an excerpt.

P.S. I will pay 1,000 Zambian Kwacha to whoever knows where Phillips got the title for his book. (Without using the internet) I'll even pay it in US dollars.

STL Stand Up

Jenny Owen Youngs - Hot in Herre

This is a white girl from New Jersey covering Nelly's hit. I'm still not sure how I always seem to find stuff like this.

Trickle Down Nigganomics

I'm setting up my classroom. That means one thing: Summer's over. Not officially, we have 20-something days till it's officially Fall. But Labor Day is this Monday, and like I said, I'm setting up my classroom. That basically means fun in the sun is done. So, since I'm bored and waiting for my couch and coffee table (upgrades abound, son), I'ma put some of y'all onto some ish.

Dunks are dead. This is very old news to the true sneakerhead, (as is the fact that--like hip hop--a good Dunk never dies), but to the masses, Nike Dunks are still the ish. People come to me a lot and ask me about Dunks as though they're discovering something. I try my best to help them without shattering their dreams, but Nike pretty much exhausted the creative possibilities of the Dunk model a few years ago. [stunting] I've only bought one pair of Dunks in the last 2 years and I've worn em less than 5 times [/stunting]. I say this not for the stuntastic arrogance of it, but more so to let you know that the golden days are long gone. Even more so for the Dunk SB game. So stop buying dunks to stunt. You're failing. You look like everybody else.

For the newbie sneakerhead, some words of wisdom: buy what you like. That may mean you buy those composition notebook dunks cuz you like them. Whatever, to each their own. An arrogant old head such as myself will look down on u, but hey, who listens to Al Sharpton these days anyway? Secondly, do your research. Don't get had by fakes. College provided me with hour upon hour of unstructured time with which I was fortunate enough to procrastinate with a purpose. The result: I know too much about sneakers and not enough about English Lit. I can spot a fake in the dark from across the street, but can't remember most books I've read. (Think about how many books I actually read.) Lastly, know that the sneaker game is not what it used to be. There is no reason to let capitalism force you to pay 2 times the retail price of a pair of kicks unless they were only released in some random place like Turkmenistan in a limited run of 274 pairs. Otherwise, chill. If ebayreseller24 wants $200 for a shoe he paid $65 for, come up with a creative expletive and tell it to him. It's not that serious.

There are exceptions though. I mean, you can't put a pricetag on love and if the shoe is one of ur grails, then honestly, it's fair game. That's how I got my OG Flightposites. But that's when u gotta make sure u do ur research. You may really crave some strawberry jam (hmm), but that doesn't mean you're gonna pay $12 for a 8-oz jar. Just means u might get it at Whole Foods (pause) and not at Wal-mart. Ya dig?

So yeah, Dunks are Dead, but if you still like what they're making, by all means, cop till you drop. But if u wanna be stuntastic, stop. Especially if ur only buying SB Dunks cuz of the "SB". Those ppl are losers. Don't be a loser.

Really, I say give up on the sneaker game altogether, unless ur buying OG (original) joints from back in the day. Buy yourself some jeans. Nice ones. And by "nice" I mean "These ain't Diesel, nigga, these is Evisu" type nice. And don't be a jerk and get a whole bunch of ridiculousness on the backpocket to announce what you're wearing. Do you really want everyone staring at ur butt cheeks?

Here. I'll name drop; you google:

LVC
Sugar Cane
APC
PRPS
Samurai

This is by no means exhaustive and it's actually not as ballerific of a list as I guess I could make, but they make good stuff. And while ur at it, look up "selvage" so you can be a snob. (I'm being more genuine than sarcastic here). To conclude the ostentation (sidebar: pretensions of any sort annoy me, including this post), I just picked up a pair of APC's today. I have a pair of Canes and the LVC's were my first pair of raw selvage denim. They're fading nicely. If I win the lotto, I'll buy myself a pair of PRPS, but I since I don't play the lottery, I guess I'll have to steal them when I need street cred to get my rap career off the ground.

Oh look, the couch is here.

Haters hate

I got 'em. Do you?

And no, I won't be posting links for it. Sucks for you, huh? Ha. What can I say, I'm getting back into teacher mode.

Call Me... "Mr. Bootlegger"

"Nothing made sense anymore. Nothing at all...."

2 Weeks Left. P.S. "50's" brief soliloquy is classic.

You be the judge...

Kanye West ft. John Legend - "Home"

vs.

Kanye West ft. Chris Martin (of Coldplay) - "Homecoming"

"Home" is over 4 years old. "Homecoming" is on Kanye's upcoming album. Let's just say that if I thought the latter was better than the former, I wouldn'ta made this post, but judge for urselves.

Kenny Chesney - Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates in stores September 11.

And in case u haven't noticed, I like hyperlinks.

I want a space suit

Common ft. Lily Allen "Drivin' Me Wild." Features my current favorite woman, Lauren London, and every man's everyman, Jeremy Piven.

3 cheers for cocopuffs. 4 cheers for decent rap videos.

R.I.P. Ringtone Rap

Told you so.

Let's hope he isn't killed by the growing hype.

*Edit* MTV won't let me post the video here (what's the point of having an embed code then?!) so click the link they have and u can watch it on their website.

*Edit #2* Why be selfish?

2nd Best Rap Video of the Year

Trick Daddy is without question one of the most underrated rappers of all time. Name a track he's been on that he HASN'T murdered. I think T-Pain and Trick Daddy could really be the Best of Both Worlds. And no matter how much I abhor DJ Khaled's incessant use of the word "nugga" (not a typo), and his complete disregard for grammatical structure ("We the best! Who? We!" :-/), I cannot deny that this track goes hard. Not to mention that this video is outstanding. It does what a music video's sposed to do, make you like a song even more than you did at first. Three cheers for DJ Khaled, the only Arab I know of who has carte blanche to say "nigga" whenever he pleases. Word to Michael Richards.

P.S. Khaled's call and response monologue "We the best! Who? We!" is prolly not grammatically incorrect. The answer to "Who?" is really "We are." Thus, shortening the phrase correctly, one should actually say "We" as Khaled says and not "Us" as 99.9% of Americans would because you cannot say "Us are." It is the same principle that applies to the use of pronouns in subjects and predicate clauses. One says "Jane and I are talking" not "Me and Jane are talking" for the same reason because if one removed "Jane" it would become "I am talking" not "Me am talking." One says "Mom gave that to me and Jane" and not "Mom gave that to Jane and I" because removal of "Jane" would leave "Mom gave that to me" which of course is correct, not "Mom gave that to I." I guess he learned something in those English as a Second Language classes.

See, you learned something today. Still doesn't take away from the fact that Khaled sounds stupid when he says it. But hey, he's so hood, he prolly doesn't even care. And with a video/song combo this vicious, I wouldn't either.

Big Brother is watching

Kanye Tudda performs "Big Brother" live at a secret concert in England. This song is sposed to be a candid reflection on his relationship with his "big bro" Jay-Z (pause.) I'm sure u all've heard about the whole 'Ye vs 50 Cent "soundscan showdown" on September 11. I'm lookin forward to Graduation, don't care about Curtis--pun intended. But if anything ppl, dead this desperate attempt to keep rap relevant and buy the Kenny Chesney album on September 11 just to prove a point. I'm highly considering it, and the last CD I bought was Black on Both Sides.

Better yet, buy the new street DVD featuring one of Jay-Z's former homeys, De-Haven. This dude useta run the street with Kanye's big brother back in the day and says the Jiggaman abandoned his duties as a friend. It's all interesting considering that ppl been takin shots at Jigga's character for quite some time, but when it was ppl like Cam'ron, we ignored him. (But really, can u blame anyone for ignoring Cam?) Then Jay snatched the Roc from Dame and things seemed a lil fishy, but I trusted that he prolly had good reason. It wasn't his lust for money and status that caused him to do that. It was prolly Dame's fault.

But now, iunno. I'm not ignoring the fact that some people hate, but when a lot of ppl start sayin the same thing, *shrugs* it's time to pay attention. Another one of President Carter's old homeys, Calvin Klein (a Brooklyn drug dealer, not the clothing designer) was on radio a month or so ago making similar claims about Jay's (lack of) character and integrity. He even went as far as to say that Jay has always been a "white boy" on the inside. Interesting. And then around the 3:20 mark in the video up top, 'Ye talks about how Jay went and snatched Coldplay right after Kanye went and told him he was gonna do a song with them. It doesn't take much to connect the dots here, but what does that say for the legacy of one of the most poetic and prolific rappers of all time? It certainly doesn't take away from his work, but legends become legends because, the magnitude of their achievements is fortified in some way by integrity of some sort.

But then again, maybe it just reveals his humanity. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence but owned slaves and banged one of em, Michael Jackson made Thriller but likes to sleep with little boys, R. Kelly... well, you see where I'm going. All great people are still people. They don't transcend their humanity by achieving fame. Still, I feel some type of way about the Jay thing (no homo). Rappers require authenticity. One of the worst ways to diss a rapper isn't to talk about what nasty things you're gonna do to his wife or daughter or how many times ur gonna shoot him and his entire neighborhood up, it's to attack his credibility. To reveal someone as a fraud, as an outsider masquerading as an insider. As someone who says one thing, but lives another. Know why Prodigy still hasn't recovered from Summer Jam 2001? Cuz Jay showed him in a tu-tu. You can't make "Shook Ones" and wear tu-tu's. I don't care how old you were. That's not hip-hop. The day you wear tights is the day you sign off on ever becoming any sort of gangster rapper. Better rap about politics or love nigga. Ain't no gun bustin' hapnin. I will not be robbed by a nigga who wore leotards. Forget half-way crooks, you'll be half-way dead son.

But I digress... (and i'm also kinda kidding. we call it "hyperbole")

People revere Jay because we came to believe that he rapped the truth. What happens if it turns out to be that Jay never lived it, he witnessed it from his folk's pad, scribbled in his notepad, and created his life?

In essence, I doubt that that is the case, but I do realize that the Big Homey is prolly not the nigga you trust. Separate the art from the artist. Look at what he's done. With romanticism comes revisionism (did I just make up a word?). Basically, when you romanticize anything--an event, a person, an object--it is inevitably followed by some sort of revision of that story. The Americans weren't so entitled to invade Mexico in the 19th century; JFK was a womanizer; Chinese toys kill babies with lead paint. Something happens to bring it all back in perspective.

Here's some perspective.

"I got niggas that'll blast for me... no religion"

If Complex Buyers' Guide is my personal bible... and not in that anti-Jesus kinda way but aesthetically speaking, Antenna which premiered this month, is like the Torah; bigger, more complicated, read from right to left i think, and old testament kinda hardcore. 200+ pages of random cool stuff from A-Z, literally. It takes the Houston slanguage of "havin thangs" to HNL* status. From vintage candy cigarettes to ridiculous bluetooth accessories, to Burton luggage, to PRPS Denim & Maharishi outerwear, Antenna kills it. Light on columns, heavy on gear. And despite the 7.95 price tag I got stuck with in Chicago's Midway Airport this weekend (to avoid paying for an issue of VIBEKingXXLoftheSource) the annual subscription price of $16 is dumb cheap for a lil religion.

Pz.

*Hol' Nutha Level

101 Posts and Running

Closing in on a year, You Hype! Sike Nah... recently passed the 100 mark in posts. We celebrated accordingly and, after our Salvadorian maid cleaned up the mess of half-empty bottles of Chandon and kicked out all the groupies the morning after, were left with the satisfactory feeling of having accomplished something. I started this as my means of maintaining sanity in what was one of the most vexing periods of my life. It was sposed to allow me to vent all the hot steam. I definitely had no idea how to "blog." My first post didn't even have a title. Not that there are any rules to this, but i got graphics and music now. The homie DKG joined the team and upgraded the jawn. Niggas is posting comments and ish (even if 90% are from Jeff). The homies in St. Louis always let me know they enjoyed reading it. What can I say other than uh... thanks? I really appreciate the love, cuz if yall didn't read this, it would really mean I was talking to myself, which is a sign of insanity. Thus, being that the blog's purpose was to prevent such a state, you, the people, are more responsible for maintaining my present (but fragile) state of sanity than you may think. So yeah, thanks.

Now, seeing as this is the first of the next hundred posts, I think i'm jus gonna ramble. Buckle up.

Last night, I went to the club with some friends for a birthday party. It was fun. (Note: "Fun" is a relative statement, based on factors like company and location. That is to say "Fun" in DC wit the niggas is not equivalent to "Fun" in Vegas with Paris Hilton and definitely not "Fun" in a Philadelphia nightclub.) I've come to a realization. Philadelphia is the San Francisco of big, black women. You know what Mecca means to Muslims or San Fran means to gays or Atlanta means to black men who call themselves straight but enjoy other men's privates? Yeah, Philly is that for big, black women. Sorry skinny heffas, you have no place in this city. Seriously, big girls run the club, or at least the ones I've been to (which really doesn't mean much). And the funny thing is, they come dressed to the hilt, clearly ready to party. Bony broads get no love. Big girls be wearing them freakum dresses, you know the "short and backless" jawns, but have you seen a fat black women in anything backless? There are an inexplicably infinite number of folds of skin. No details necessary, just use your imaginations.

Aside from the big girls, there is a second phenomenon that is strange in its acceptance among niggas. Some dangerously crunk nigga in the club last night decided to make it rain during T-Pain's "Buy You a Drink." I've yet to understand how or why this is an acceptable practice in anywhere but a strip club by individuals who ACTUALLY HAVE MONEY TO THROW AWAY LIKE USED KLEENEX. Regular niggas have no place doing that. Frankly, I don't believe you. Ur not caking like that. And yes, ur durn right I'm picking up any and every dollar bill that comes anywhere near me; and I know that in ur heart of hearts, you wish u were me, getting back the money I spent on drinks, rather than you, the foolish nigga blowing your unemployment check in the club. Cuz trust, I'm not too cool to be seen picking up money off the ground or grabbing it out the air. I'm broke and I ain't afraid to admit it. I hate paying cover and buying drinks. If I can get back ANY of that money, I consider it all worthwhile.

Speaking of things worthwhile, loyal readers know I stopped listening to (99% of) rap. It's gotten so bad that I didn't even hear that Plies song "Shawty" til like 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure, but I think it was sposed to be old by then. *Shrugs* oh well. [Insert title of the last Nas album here.] Outside of the catchy, ringtone-happy hook, can't say I missed much. And of course the whole MTV Brain Trust (tsk tsk for that name) was tryna inject some fire back into the game with their list. Oh well, I applaud them for the effort and for the list. With the exception of The Game (I've never been a fan of him) I won't completely hate on it. That said tho, I've been grooving to two pretty good albums that are pretty left of center. And guess what? That's right, I'm gonna put u on.

Alice Smith's For Lovers, Dreamers & Me is a pretty solid album by a pretty unknown talent. They played one of her tracks, "Dreams," on an episode of Entourage (the one where Turtle was sposed to bang the blonde chick in a bunny outfit) and I liked it enough to go surfing the net for the album. Download it by clicking the cover or click here.


Big ups to David Kenneth. If you downloaded the Pure White Audio Mixtape, then you'll recognize that Feist sang the cooky-but-catchy "My Moon My Man". I'll admit, this one may be a lil too left field for some of you. It doesn't come with any dance moves and I don't think Feist has a grill, but The Reminder is a great album despite these major shortcomings. She's Canadian anyway, iunt think they've learned about that stuff yet. Standout tracks are "So Sorry," "My Moon My Man," "Sealion" (a very fresh cover of the Nina Simone track "See Line Woman"), "The Limit to Your Love," "1234," and "Brandy Alexander." I just name-checked about half the album, so I guess I shoulda just said it was a good album. Click the album cover above to download it. Album's very chill tho. Definitely not what you play on ur way to a party, more like the joint you play during bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic to keep u calm. As Feist sings in "Brandy Alexander," "it goes down easy." Pause.

In other news, the never-ending struggle between me and higher education may (heavy on the unpredictability denoted by the use of "may") be drawing to a close. No, I'm not dropping out. What I have been doing is turning in papers on time and getting A's. Yes, big things are popping. My final paper is due this Thursday and will be the true test of my scholastic maturity. I might live up to this "potential" thing after all. Maybe I can finagle my way back to the M.S. ed. program again. We'll see.

Until then, I'll enjoy the present. I have exactly one month left of my summer break. The first day of school is September 10th, after that, it's back to the daily grind. But it's definitely a different feeling this go 'round. Like, I got my hands around the joystick (pause) and know what i'm sposed to be doing now. I plan on ruffling some feathers this year to combat the culture of failure at Tilden. Plans include: frequent field trips to expose and connect my kids to positive black people, a class garden, possible class mural, and some other things. Hopefully i'll be able to work out something for them to visit UPenn. I might be living at Tilden next year, but I don't mind. (Famous last words. Let's see if my tune changes in a couple months.)

For now though, life's all about trying to survive in heat that reminds me in some cosmic ancestral way of the Middle Passage. Luckily, a gang of storms came through this weekend and cooled us off. And did I mention I started reading a book? For fun? No bull. I picked up Coin of the Realm by Wash U Prof/Poet extraordinaire Carl Phillips. It's a prose work on the art and conventions of poetry. It's dense, but only cuz the nigga's intelligent. I'm sure he wouldn't like being referred to as "nigga" but oh well, I haven't received an email from Al Sharpton and even if I did, I'd prolly ignore it. Since Paul Mooney said he wasn't gonna say nigga no more, somebody's gotta take his place.

Call Me... "Mr. Nigga? Nigga Nigga?"

P.S. in my rush to deliver the freshest goods, the version of M.I.A.'s Kala on the blog doesn't have "Paper Planes." It's sposed to be track 11, right before "Come Around." Aqui

This is Mr. Nigga, signing off.

MTV's Hottest Rappers

MTV recently released their 10 Hottest Rappers List, and its caused quite the stir... lol

1. Lil' Wayne
2. T.I.
3. The Game
4. Andre 3000
5. Kanye West
6. Young Jeezy
7. Jay-Z
8. 50 Cent
9. Common
10. Jim Jones

Not to drag this one out any further, but I heard about the MTV list as well and I honestly wasn't put off by many of the decisions... If your criterion for this list is swagger, sales, "now" factor, and impact on the streets, with a hint of quality... we all know Wayne, T.I., and Jay were a lock for this list. Jay is a brand like never before, and everyone wants a feature from the "King of the South" and the "Best Rapper". As far as the rest, I'll be the first person to vouch for Jim Jones.

[pause]

By all means, Jim is trash... but there is something to be said for having the second most features on O.P.P. this year behind Wayne and Andre3000. Also there is something to be said for coming from Village People status in Hip-Hop fashion, to tricking the streets into wearing wallets chains, biker vests, and sagging Chip & Pepper low-rise jeans in a matter of 12 months. Jim stays.

50 stays, sheerly on track record and endorsements... because the streets are not f---ing with him anymore and no one is looking to him for fashion tips (did y'all see that monkey suit in the Ciara video!?)

Andre3000 is preparing the game for a vicious and much needed Outkast come back.Say what you want about 'Ye, but hip-hop needs him. Average rhymes or not, he maintains fashion icon status and his albums are actually anticipated (even though "Cant Tell Me Nothing" is subpar at best). Plus "Stronger" is DOPE!

I would actually question The Game's NOW factor, and toss him up with Young Joc & Lupe Fiasco... I know its weird, but Game has the numbers and skill minus the respect, Joc is the new millenium Ma$e minus lyrics, and Lupe caught a brick on sales, but maintained crazy exposure, crossover appeal, a shoe with Reebok and is a shining beam of hope for the commercial draw of lyric-driven rap.

Jeezy is the streets lol.

Common is more relevant than he's ever been, and at a time when Hip-Hop needs his diversity the most.

MTV hit it right on the head... with The Game, Lupe, and Joc in a cage match for the last spot.

[pause]

Hip-Hop is no longer about expression, or even b.s. commercial vs. real conflicts, its about survival in a depressed market. Downloads didnt destroy the game, nor did the South, the cross section of complacency and technology did. ANYONE with a laptop, software, a hookup with a hot DJ, and a camera for youtube can make a fire ringtone (seriously).Rappers dont make records, they make singles and ringtones, and the world is catching on. Rappers began treating albums like the Yankees, and forgot how to create something memorable that the people connect with. In the late 90's commercial boom of hip-hop, bigger meant better, but somewhere along the lines the essence was sacrificed. You can buy the most collaborations and expensive beats, but in 2007, that can't cover up the lack of talent or passion for the game.The reason only one album went platinum in the 2006 calendar year, is because only 3 other records had an equal or greater anticipation and they came out in the 4th quarter.

[i'm done]

With that said, my 10

1. Lil' Wayne (one hit away...)
2. Jay-Z ("Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why/ Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov still alive")
3. T.I. (I'll forgive him for TI vs. TIP, he dropped 06's best album and upped the ante for the South)
4. OutKast (because Andre AND Big Boi are killing the game)
5. Lupe Fiasco (a musical genius developing at a crazy pace... beware his second release)
6. Pusha T (of the Clipse... thank them for cocaine anthems and BAPE)
7. Kanye West (decent lyricist, best hip-hop ARTIST in the game)
8. Nas (Hip Hop Is Dead gave me hope for 2007)
9. Common (Be was a modern classic, Finding Forever is life changing)
10. Ghostface Killah (most visual and entertaining rapper ever)

peace.

Perspective

So many times I'm, covering my eyes
Peeking through my fingers
Tryin' to hide my, frustration at the way that we treat...
(Seems like we don't even care)
Turn on the TV, seein' the pain
Sayin', "Such a shame,"
Then tryin' to go on with my life
Of that, I too, am guilty
(Seems like we don't even care)
So we send a lil' money, tell 'em it's alright
To be able to sleep at night
You will pay that price
While some of these folks lost their whole life
(Seems like we don't even care)
Now it wasn't on the nightly news no more
Suddenly it didn't matter to you no more
In the end almost nothing changed
What the hell, what was that for?
(Seems like we don't even care)




My heart goes out to those in Minneapolis, but I can't stop thinking about...


People was poor before the hurricane came
But when the downpour poured is like when Mary J. sang
Every day it rains, so every day the pain
But ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame
For life is a chain, cause and effected
Niggas off the chain because they affected
It's a dirty game so whatever is effective
From weed to selling 'caine, gotta put that in effect
Wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot?
Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof?
Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you
The next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
The Commander-in-Chief just flew by
Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats
Just proved, Jet Blue he's not
Jet flew by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped?
Huh, that'd been something to watch
Helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots
Couple of portraits then ignored 'em
He'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids
Poor kids, just 'cause they were poor kids
Left 'em on they porches. Same old story in New Orleans
Silly rappers, because we got a couple Porches
MTV stopped by to film our fortresses
We forget the unfortunate
Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time
So in reality I didn't give a dime, or a damn
I just put my monies in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded
Nothin' but a bandit
Left them folks abandoned
Damn, that money that we gave was just a band-aid
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
Can't say we better off than we was before
In synopsis this is my minority report
-Jay-Z

See success and its outcome?

MINE! ALL MINE!!!

So the pic speaks to the last post. And no, I did not stand in a line. It was an easy cop. Almost bought 2 purrs. Word to Delmar Boulevard.

And oh, ya boy definitely got 100% on the paper he turned in (on time!) last week, so you can't tell me nothin'.

Tuhday wuz a guud day.

Got Caught Sleepin

So today I was chilling in my rather warm apartment. The heat at some point was starting to get to me so I decided to take an afternoon nap. I can do that, it's not like I have to teach or any (immediately impending) work to do. So I caught some Z's.

I woke up about 6:30ish and mulled around for a lil bit before I picked up my board and began surfing the web. To my utter surprise, I discovered this:



The Nike Mita Trainer Dunks. I know, you've never seen them before so go ahead, google them. Don't know how successful u'll be. No, you won't find these at the mall nor at ur 3rd rate sneaker spot. It's another reason why I love Philly and why I'm also dead broke, but that's neither here nor there.

They released here today at one of Philly's sneaker boutiques, at like 5 IN THE FRIGGIN AFTERNOON. In other words, mid-nap. Now, I definitely feel some type of way about all this. 1) Philly stores get most shipments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that is almost always when new gear drops here. 2) Most shipments come between 1 and 3PM (don't ask me how or why I know this) so if it's past this time and a store hasn't updated their stocklist, then ur pretty safe to assume they're not getting them that day. 3) When I last spoke to someone at the store, they told me they were getting them in on Thursday, so I kinda rested easy on this release, assuming that I could get them easily on Thursday after class.

Now, to the store's credit, these were a very limited quickstrike release, which meant that the store really had no idea when they were gonna get the shoes, and it would not be unheard of for these to be delivered at an unorthodox time.

The problem:

1. The fact that they released this late in the day means that most of the city's sneakerfiends are in the same position as me. They're finding out after the shop's closed already. (They close at 7.)
2. Capitalism and commerce 101: Supply vs. Demand. You may not know much about the niche sneakerhead market, but i'm really normal compared to most ppl with this fetish. Scenes like this are not unheard of for limited sneaker releases. Now really, I am far too old and far too cool to stand in a line of high schoolers spending their allowances on some kicks. But I'm not exactly above the practice (lol). So basically, I expect for there to be a line of patrons at the shop's doors when they open at noon tommorow.
3. When do I have class tomorrow? 9am to 12noon. That's right, I get outta class when the store opens, i.e. when there are already 20 ppl salivating outside the store like fiends itching for a fix. And remember, this is a limited release. They may only have one or two pairs of each size. Where will I be? 40 blocks away in West Philly atoning for my sins last semester. AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

Now, if I don't get the shoes, it won't really hurt my soul too badly. Just keeps money in my pocket. But this year's sneaker game has been akin to the Hip Hop game: not too many really good releases. Moreover, (yeah. "moreover".) I haven't been a fan of most the releases that have been hyped. (Example: See Nike Dunk SB MF Doom) So when there is a shoe that I like, and I know that it's out of the reaches of the proletariat, kinda makes the blood rush. pause.

Gives new meaning to "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death," huh? Wish me luck tomorrow.

DJ Ken Paxton - Pure White Audio

Always one to show love when its due... I figured I'd hit youhypesikenah's constituents with a key of that good. As you know, we love music and you love free stuff so its a perfect deal. The following is 60 minutes of eclectic grooves you need in your life, mixed by yours truly, David Kenneth aka DJ Ken Paxton.


Pure White Intro
MIA - Bamboo Banger
Lloyd - Get It Shawty Remix (Feat. Lil Wayne & Big Boi)
Kid Sister - Pro Nails (Feat. Kanye West)
Feist - My Moon My Man
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Stronger Sample)
Kanye West - Stronger
P & The Yessirs - Number One (Feat. Kanye West)
Saturday Love/Last Night Mashup
Timbaland - The Way I Are (Feat. Keri Hilson)
Wale - Good Girls
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt
Cassie - Sometimes
Common - Driving Me Wild (Feat. Lily Allen)
Hero Interlude
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
SaRa - Hollywood
Wale - Ice Cream Girl
Andre 3000 - Int'l Players Anthem (verse)
Kanye West - Bittersweet (Feat. John Mayer)
Althea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking (Sean Paul 'Still In Love' Sample)
Plies - Shawty (Feat. T-Pain)
Dynasty - Adventures in the Land of Music (Luchini Sample)
Camp Lo - Luchini
Prince - Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Feat. Q-Tip)
P & The Yessirs - Mamacita (Feat. Daddy Yankee)
Fonzworth Bentley - Everybody (Feat. Andre 3000 & Kanye West)
Gemini - We On (Feat. Lupe Fiasco)
Starship Outro (Prod. by The Paxtons)

Enjoy

Nothing subpar about the subcontinent

M.I.A.'s latest album, Kala. Click on the album cover to download.

I'm only 3 tracks deep as I post this, but so far so-friggin-good. And yeah, MTV came out with their "10 Hottest MC's in the Game"[/pause] list. M.I.A. is hotter than all of them... except 3000 and Weezy (no homo). Yes, I'm gonna say she's hotter than even Common.

pause.

Speaking of which, BE > Finding Forever. I kinda knew it wasn't gonna be as good as soon as I saw the album cover. If you've seen it, you might get my drift. That doesn't mean it's not an alright album, the production is definitely great, and the lyrics are good, but they're far from Mr. Sense's best. I feel like they already released the best songs. Obviously, Comm needs to take a page outta Kanye's book as far as marketing goes.

But yeah, back to M.I.A. Top 3 Hottest in the Game right now. She and her sound are definitely love or hate, but if u hate it then it's prolly cuz ur lame. No, really, I'm being serious. I could expound upon why only lame ppl would hate her but then u'd be reading this for another 2 hours as I talked about music, politics, race, ideologies, history, and ringtones (yeah nigga. ringtones). But I'll keep all that to myself. Just don't be surprised if you tell me you think she sucks and I stop talking to you. I would say it's not personal, but it is. I try to make sure all my friends IQ's are above 12 respectively. (So yes, you can like DipSet and still be my friend). But telling me that you hate M.I.A. would inform me that you are far beneath that baseline.

Surf the internets and find the video for one of the best (and craziest) songs, "Boyz." BTW, it's a great song to do the Sponge Bob Dance to.

Call me... (somewhat) big on the underground.

School Daze

You gotta know I was feeling this. I teach in the hood, son. This might be Room 401's theme song come September.

knowledge of self

K-Os "Crucial"

nuff sed.

Remember "Tip Drill"?

Pause.

Discuss.

Intuition is there even when my vision's impaired

Raul Midon. I would recommend listening first, then coming back to watch and listen.

P.S. Dood's blind. Don't know if he's counting 1's or 50's.

Damn right, I kiss my daddy

Does Baby know ur "single and ready to mingle" Wayne?

I read somewhere that "Weezy F. Baby" stands for "Weezy [effs] Baby." Sorry for the expletives ppl. I try to keep it PG-13, but there's only so much u can edit with these potty-mouth rappers (pause).

David Kenneth's True DC Stories

As a new contributor to You Hype? Sike Nah... I feel the need to hit u with one of the classics:

"So I'm downtown in DC last night, at this little spot called Eyebar. I didnt really expect too much taking a few things into consideration...

Its Tuesday.
Its a bar called Eyebar, which happens to be on I Street.
What are the chances of a bar, catchily named after its street, popping on a Tuesday.

But then again what were the chances of a plane hitting the Pentagon? Clearly anything goes in the nation's capitol. Regardless, after getting bounced from the VIP section by Miami Heat star Eddie Jones and his 4 goons, I could tell this wasn't a normal tuesday night happy hour. Upon hitting the second floor I saw more Heat players in one reserved section, and Roc-A-Fella artist/ Jim Jones' latest wedgie threat, Tru Life w/ entourage in the other.

First note. NBA listings couldnt be farther from the truth. (6'6" Jones was my height and 6'8" Dorell Wright was as tall as Chris)
Second note. If they look lame on the court, chances are their real-life persona isnt too far off. (Case in point, Antoine Walker)
Third note. Rappers are flesh & blood people, just like us, with equally thin skin and insecurites (Enter Tru Life...)

The cold-hard facts about Jay-Z's latest protege.
Tru Life's VIP was packed with 6 niggas as compared to Walker and Wright's 6 groupies
The entire entourage, including Life, were Roc-A-Wear'd out but made sure to keep their chains tucked
When the DJ played his new single which nobody seems to know, the floor cleared, as he snatched the mic and proceeded to spit his own adlibs

and the true highlight of the evening...

As the DJ teased the crowd with the opening sample from Jim Jones' "Ballin", one of Tru Life's entourage got a bit caught up and prematurely through up the Fadeaway... only to have it yanked down by the visibly bitter rapper. After which, the DJ assured him, "dont worry Tru, we got you" and played Jay-Z's "Brooklyn" freestyle to the same beat, much to his delight.

The moral of the story... professional athletes lie about their height and rappers are emotional."

Summer Soft

Today's the unofficial last day of my summer break. It really hurts on the inside. Like really. Oh well, put a heel on a gym shoe and get grown, Mr. Garr. I'll get over it.

Knocked Up deleted scene - Kuni Gone Wild

There isn't a word in the english language to describe how hilarious this is. If you haven't seen "Knocked Up" yet, ur lame.

Shalom.

Under my um-ber-ella... ella... ella...

decided to blow the dust off an old poem. read it. read into it. but don't read too much into it. and oh, it's long. ha.

Broken: a poem in parts

I. Clouds

my fist can’t break
through the paper bag of
my thoughts, tree rings leading
only to themselves. (what do my words make) since
this straw hat keeps the light
out of my eyes the heat
empties out of my head in ribbons that

tie knots in the air
there is work to be done

things to hold onto
blesséd gossamer threads
to stick to something, anything
strong enough to carry the weight
of my thin filament.


II. Do you love me

The question marks
my anxiety, establishes
the border between
that which is and cannot be
said without compromise
and fear held without conquest;
but oh, so lonely, with nothing
to say.


III. Rosebush

How peacefully do these waters fester
Held at bay by the strength of men
The hand of man immortalized in concrete slabs
And the city beneath that most mighty palm
Sifting nonchalance within itself
Unaware of the danger in a trickle.

And you, a buttress breeched, must hold back the ocean’s tide
In the face of the moon, must dam yourself unto yourself,
A broken spirit flooded into the chaos of equilibrium.


IV. Mourning Lovesickness

At first, I told myself
that it was my heart
sunken into my belly
that shook my stomach
every morning, dragging
me down to my knees
before this porcelain altar
to spill my guts.

I am lovesick,
me said, searching
the water for heart-chunks
among the morn’s vomit,
so sick of love
that I came head-bent
before a toilet as if in
daily ritual prayer
over some gestating sacrifice.

As the anger waned,
the pang in my belly grew,
each morning’s release making room
for divine intervention,
the sanctity found only in sin;

My knees buckled
to better carry the weight
I couldn’t stand.


V. Broken

Everything seemed to come
down in pieces. Even the rain
fell like glass: as if her soul had fallen
like a brick through some window
in heaven. She, with no umbrella
left, to wade sole-deep in a sea of piece
and fragment, shard and crumb.

Rain spilled from heaven’s floor like mop water,
in thick, heavy strings—yarn
that poked persistently at her dogged body
as though she were a needle. Drops reaching into her
stomach like a bullet. A slug, this bellied burden, whose growth bore
down and into her with each dribble of fallen cloud,
each fleeting dash of rain. She could not escape:
there were icy puddles in the pockets of her raincoat
that drowned her clenched, knotted hands.

Still, the clouds extinguished themselves above her,
bleeding drop by drop, resolute in their confusion
to empty as well as fill. Maybe standing
in the midst of it all,
she understood.

She, drenched and jeweled, beaded with rain,
baptizing the strange fruit of sorrow. Rainwater broke her
cheeks and crawled through the tracks of her
years.

Her eyes were dry,
now.

The writing on the wall

Leda, After the Swan
by Carl Phillips

Perhaps,
in the exaggerated grace
of his weight
settling,

the wings
raised, held in
strike-or-embrace
position,

I recognized
something more
than swan, I can't say.

There was just
this barely defined
shoulder, whose feathers
came away in my hands,

and the bit of world
left beyond it, coming down

to the heat-crippled field,

ravens the precise color of
sorrow in good light, neither
black nor blue, like fallen
stitches upon it,

and the hour forever,
it seemed, half-stepping
its way elsewhere--

then
everything, I
remember, began
happening more quickly.

Pause.

It's 3.5 minutes, but all u need to see is the first 30 seconds, pay specific attention at 22-25 seconds.

That is all.

Just bob your head like you get it

Click the album cover to download. Rap ambassador for the capital, fresh off the international tour with Mark Ronson (who just released his album Version state-side.) Long-awaited, but well worth it. I love hip hop.

The Burning Bush

Find it.

Bring down my blood pressure

What happens when u lock Kanye, Swizz Beats, and Drag-On (yes, Drag-On. That's not a typo) in a trailer with a video camera. (Can I get "No Homo" for $800, Alex?)

Same old song

"Rap has gradually degenerated from an art form into a ring tone. It's a hip catchphrase or a musical riff with a short shelf life. It has a novelty element that captures the listener's imagination, but it's not a song. It won't build a career. That's why we're seeing this backlash."

read the article.

bad hip hop raises my blood pressure. seriously.

P.S. I got 4 hours of Funkmaster Flex blacking out on the 4th with gutta 90's hip hop. Beautiful. Also, Flex played The Mad Rapper a couple weeks ago and publicly rebuffed the "stop snitchin'" movement as well as the state of hip hop. You know it's a problem when Flex is pissed.

Flex is You hype! Sike nah...'s first Hero of the Week.



And lastly, I un-DS'ed my Bobbito Air Force 1's today. ("un-DS": to wear for the first time.) Them thangs are beautiful. Perfect shoe for the summer.

Well whuddaya know

I have much more music than I actually listen to. Randomly, looking for another song, found this on my computer.
Project Pat - "I Choose You" http://www.zshare.net/audio/2575534b556e24/

sound familiar, don't it?

Spell iPhone, Mexican.

I found this picture of 5 grass cutters (with 7 iPhones) hilarious. Is this why they swam across the Rio Grande? Two drop 4-5 stacks on phones? Yes I'm racist. Yes I'm hating.


And while I'm hating, how bout something a lil more justified?

Here's the mayor of Philadelphia, John Street, waiting in line for an iPhone on Friday. He was 3rd in line and got there at 3:30am. Yes, 3:30 in the morning. Watching this, you wouldn't think that Philadelphia is the deadliest major city in the U.S. Or maybe you would. With leadership like this, no wonder the city's crumbling.

Needless to say, not too many ppl were happy when they discovered this. Watch this video of a tax-paying, city government employee, rip Mayor Street a new one.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=952695&cl=3202261&src=news

Oh the irony

http://www.sendspace.com/file/mnr08b

Download the album. Make sure u have winrar so u can open the file. (If u don't have winrar, google it and download it. It's free.) Be patient. Sendspace is kinda slow.

So about the album. All I have to say is it's a white boy (obviously) whose album is entitled "S.O.S.: Save Our Soul" (Captain Obvious strikes again). Hence the title. It's 11 tracks, 10 of which are covers of soul classics. If you read this blog as much as I do, then you should see where I'm taking this. (If u don't then holler at "The Curse of Ham" post from March 19.) White boy. Sings soul. Kills it. Like "send chills up ur spine and catch the holy ghost" kills it.

Just so u know what I mean when I say he kills it, Mr. Broussard did a cover of Donny Hathaway's "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know". If you know me, then you know that my all-time favorite artist is Donny Hathaway. Yes, I like Donny more than Jay-Z. (That means a lot. No homo.) Since I'm such a Donny Hathaway fan, I am a VERY harsh critic of any person who feels like they should desecrate a studio by doing a cover of any of his songs. I've yet to hear ONE individual cover a Donny Hathaway song and it sound OK, much less good or even great. Iunno what it is, nobody but Donny can get there.

So I'm listening to Marc Broussard kill track after track on this CD. It gets to track 5, "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know". I'm a nervous skeptic. I'm like, nobody's ever kilt a Donny song except Donny. But I'm also like, this dude just kilt the first 4 tracks. And finally I'm like, he's white! So I'm feeling quite ambivalent.

Let's just say that before about 20 minutes ago, I had never heard another singer other than Donny Hathaway do a Donny Hathaway song justice. Now there's only one other person, and he's white. I feel some type of way about all this.

Moral of the story: Download the CD. Enjoy it. It's great music. Too bad he wasn't black.

But to restore some vestige of hope, here's a new one from Teedra Moses. If you don't know who she is, see if u can find the best R&B album of the decade Complex Simplicity somewhere. It's the best CD you never heard of.

Anyway, her next album's been due for quite some time. This is sposed to be the first single. It samples a familiar soul record. (I always try to keep a theme with these posts)

"Love's Gonna Be" - Teedra Moses
http://www.sendspace.com/file/5og2h4
http://rapidshare.com/files/39773795/lovesgonnabe.mp3

2 links. Same song. In case one's down, try the other. If neither work, then u better hope u have VIP access to my music. Otherwise, it's limewire for youuuuuuuuu.

Cuz it's black music month

...and also the month of my bday, and the beginning of summer, I'm gonna bless yall.

Now, those who know me know that I am the self-proclaimed King of the Playlist. I can do magic with an 80 minute blank cd. Since I've been in the real world (and moved my music to the external hard drive) I lost all my former playlists and haven't had much time to make new ones. But don't cry for me argentina, the truth is I never left you. This summer is all about destroy and rebuild.

The following fits on an 80 minute cd, for those without mp3 players.
I call it "Real Niggas Light Candles"

"These Streets" - Paolo Nutini
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476217505ab31/
"Fame" - Citizen Cope
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476239270b3a9/
"'Round Midnight" - Thelonious Monk
http://www.zshare.net/download/2476293b60ddc4/
"Peachtree Blues" - Janelle Monae
http://www.zshare.net/audio/24763126e78bd6/
"Giving Up" - Donny Hathaway
http://www.zshare.net/audio/24763656156487/
"Sideways" - Citizen Cope
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476258c46704c/
"Mr. Curiosity" - Jason Mraz
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476389d9158e6/
"Open Your Eyes" - Bobby Caldwell
http://www.zshare.net/audio/24764050a5b775/
"Where Did My Baby Go" - John Legend
http://www.zshare.net/audio/247643169bcf84/
"If It's Magic" - Stevie Wonder
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476453c26e661/
"I Got It Bad & That Ain't Good" - Nina Simone
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476469e1d249a/
"Love Is You" - Chrisette Michele
http://www.zshare.net/audio/247650525e4e19/
"Ne me quitte pas" - Nina Simone
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2476488d3faf39/
"Chariot" (stripped)- Gavin DeGraw
http://www.zshare.net/audio/24765223536f57/
"To Be Young, Gifted & Black" - Donny Hathaway
http://www.zshare.net/audio/24765579b708d2/

(FYI: The Citizen Cope songs have different names than what the actual songs are. )

For a proper, full-bodied, listening experience, one must play the following in order. Nothing is coincidental. So when the sun goes down, open the windows, let the summer breeze wrap round ur legs, light a candle, take a seat, prop ur feet on a coffee table, and close ur eyes...

Call Me... too grown for kidz bop.

Is Kanye kissin on Cassie?

P.S. "International Player's Anthem" still holds the title for video of the year. This didn't even come close.

I Choose You

Video of the Year. Leave it to Andre Benjamin.

It's not just me.

So Wale has appeared on a few remix tracks by british/new york DJ/Producer Mark Ronson. If you were smart, you downloaded Version when I posted a link a month or so ago. Just found a new Wale joint with him rapping over "Outversion" (which happens to be one of my favorite tracks off the aforementioned album).

http://www.sendspace.com/file/xrxd2t

I could be a professional "tastemaker," except I'm too much of a music snob.

P.S. I'm bout to take a nap, but i'll prolly add another post, seeing as it's May 31 and June, also known as "The Final Month of School," begins tomorrow. stay tuned...

Oy

Vey.


Yes. This was worth a post.

P.S.
Daft Punk - "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
Edwin Birdsong - "Cola Bottle Baby"
Thom Yorke - "The Eraser"

If you have Kanye's Can't Tell Me Nothing Mixtape, you'll understand.

But yeah, back to the point. Oy. Vey.

It's ME snitches!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/33563841/Chrisette_Michelle-I_Am-_Advance_-2007-RAGEMP3.rar

For those who read this regularly, there are a number of artists for whom I feel the need to champion at every possible moment. Chrisette Michelle is one of these artists. Her debut album is due soon I guess, but this is the album sampler. 5 solid (and pretty wholesome) R&B tracks. Girl's got a full jazzy-r&b voice a la Jill Scott. I'm sure there will be plenty comparisons between the two.

And while I'm on the subject, how bout a new track from Jill?

http://www.sendspace.com/file/3vgg34 ->It's a banger.



Name some artists you know I always talk about: Ms. Winehouse, Wale, Janelle Monae. hmm.. What about Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" with a verse from Wale thrown on for good measure? Here ya go, "Rehab" remix featuring Wale.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/2007533bf5cf30/

And here's one with just Wale. "Rediscover Me." It's kinda old, but what's old to me is always new to you.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ezbnbz



And if you thought I was gonna bring up Ms. Monae without putting you onto something, u'd... prolly be justified, but i'm not gonna be grimy like that. The bootleggers over at Purple Ribbon are keepin the cap on tight for her first album, Metropolis. It's gonna be quite an ambitious album (or rather "Suite" of albums). Either way holler at her MySpace page and listen to the first single off the new album, "Violet Stars Happy Hunting." The girl's quirky in a "cool-at-first-but-weird-and-unsettling-after-a-while" way. Me gusta!

http://www.myspace.com/janellemonae


In other news, Common's got a few tracks making their way around the "internets," and Kanye's looking to do big things with Graduation. Just heard a nice lil Talib track today. Nope, no links, you greedy leeches. Be happy with what I gave you.

Ok ok, how bout a snippet of what's rumored to be Kanye's first single off Graduation?
http://www.zshare.net/audio/204110512f8b38/

There. Happy now?

Call me... the musical acrobat.