I group major events in my life in two categories. Those categories are in acronym forms forms of S.E.E.s and S.T.E.s. The first one stands for what most are familiar with as Significant Emotional Events and the other is one coined by me Sphincter Tighten Event. I explain the second one because everyone knows about the first.
A S.T.E happens when you have been subjected to an unhealthy or unusual amount of stress. Remember not all stress is bad. Good stress increases your performance level through deadlines and challenge because it sometimes causes your body to produce adrenaline which may lead to profound levels of physical and mental performance. Think of a football game that's down to the wire and the play is designed for you to score, the pressure is on but your body responds appropriately.
Moving right along. Tuesday, 8 November 2008 history was made in this country and this world. I say this world because the U.S. is the undisputed leading super power in the world. This election will affect how our fellow world leaders few this nation. Don't ever discount that, mark my words. We are already having "slips" of tongues on how world leaders feel about our new president elect. Just google Italy's prime minister's bad choice in jokes and compliments.
This was a S.E.E. that bulled it's way to my top 3 in life. I will not divulge what are the other two because that's between myself and those involved. After being forced to read inaccurate protrayals of Black leaders for years in school and college and wonder if we would ever get over this horrific racial injustice hump I did witness what many elders deemed what would never happen in my lifetime or theirs.
Rappers have made songs addressing the matter for years. One of the most poignant lyrics ever concerning this monumental occurrence was said by the late Tupac Shakur many years ago in his rap "The Way It Is". Pac rhymes "and long he's heaven sent, we ain't ready to have a Black president". I guess Pac it was heaven sent? Nas later updated the issue and now has the one song that defines this event on his 2008 "Untiled" cd the song is appropriately titled "Black President". I encourage you all to find the DJ Green Latern mixtape version of this track. The reason is that you get the President Obama democratic nomination speech sample that starts the track. Very powerful song that sums up what the new president's monumentous rise to power. Once Nas gets away from the valid threats he may face, the very provactive truth of past presidents having African bloodlines (do the knowledge-it's true), pardon's for innocent Blacks in prison, putting Jeremiah Wright in his place, needed shots at racist, McCain's lame apology for not acknowledging MLK's federal holiday in Arizona and the required braggadocio as a rapper. The hook sums it up "Let's begin, Change the world!-(Pres. Obama-"they said" then "change the world!").
I've been playing that track all week. Heck at 1030 EST I was playing it loudly in my house! I had tears in my eyes. My bestfriend of 20+ years called we rejoiced on the phone and shed tears as men because we actually lived what people thought would never happened. My unlimited text plan on my cell phone was pushed to it's limits. I crafted my own texts that suddenly became forwards back to me that night and the following morning. I was simply tired of the ignorant jokes that I was receiving. I pissed off some acquiantences because I told them refrain from sending me the jovial racist and ignorant garbage.
Here are some questions I asked my peer groups recently now that the celebrations are dying down and opponents have come to grips and have realized the people have spoken and have taken appropriate action.
o Is Pres. (Elect) Obama now the greatest Black American ever?
o Does his accompolishment supersede Dr. King's efforts?
o Are we now seeing Dr. King's dream actually materialize in front of us? Meanining have we made his dream "tangible"?
o Should everyone deal with the reality that he will utimately be judge on his accompolishments as the president four years from now?
The one thing that we are forgetting is that now all Black parents can look their children in the eye and really have concrete evidence that their children can be anything just by pointing as his picture. I always looked at our Black astronauts for inspiration but now our kids will have the most powerful man on the planet to look up to and that statement is no longer a cliche!
The one thing I studied about his campaign is that I know he looked at Rev. Jackson's and Shirley Chisolm's campaigns and he realized you can't win if you only appear to address one demographic. You are running for the president of United States of America position not as the leader of a race. He caught everyone's eye in '04 with that stunning speech about unity at the Dem Convention. Now that I look at that speech I see foundation of his success. He had a crowd of mixed raced people nodding their heads in agreement with his every word. I was thinking this man is incredible! Then I began to look at him as a person and he was an everyday man. He shot hoops with his friends after work, he smoked (not good but he quit-lol), he had a sense of humor, he spoke like a man in my neighborhood, he chose his words wisely but knew when to bite and he acknowledge those who supported him with an undying sense of concern in his voice and eyes.
Did he garned votes because he's bi-racial? I'm saying no! He achieved this feat because he appealed to everyone who simply was tired of probably the worse president ever in the history of the US. He got me when I saw in an interview say "We must get out of Iraq as careful as carelessly as we got into it." I'm a Soldier and thought wow! This man said that with conviction but he took that stab at Bush with thought and precision. I really didn't care if he never served because he saw the Iraq War from a social and veteran standpoint. I've always said "Military service does not mean you are a stellar person because we thousands of turds in uniform who commit crimes too."
Anyway let's sit back and watch the change! Obama in '12!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The Best DJs Ever
I love DJing and I feel it's the foundation of rap music and one of the pillars of hip hop culture. I think back when the DJ was the focus and the rapper(s) complimented the DJ. It was a requirement to shout our DJ or you were not a real rap group or MC. The "Selecta" or "1 Man Band" had to get his/her shine or you were missing something. So this is an ode to my favorite facet of rap music that's somehow losing it's focus because of producers. Mixtape DJs will not be counted due to Serrato, CDs and computer DJ programs. I'm talking about spinning wax for a group or MC.
1. Terminator X (Public Enemy)
Remember he 'Only Speaks With His Hands Man, His Hands'. Guess what when he spoke, we listened and said "Dayum how does he do that?" His cuts and mastering of the 'transforming' scratch technique was seldom matched. Early PE records had to let him rock solo or they had to do a song bigging up argueably the best technical DJ of the era. His skill led to two solid solo albums.
2. Jam Master Jay (Run DMC)
What alot of you don't know is the late great Jay was the brains behind Rum DMC's whole persona and concepts. He wasn't the front runner like Run but they admit Jay was the brains to their success. Jay is a master of cutting and scratching. The lyrical greats had to let him rock. Remember this without Jay there's no Onyx or 50 Cent. Do the knowledge!
3. Jazzy Jeff
Yes we know all about his MC co-defendent. However, you better had been paying to attention to Jeff on their earlier work. Ok, I'll refresh your memory hmm, how about "Brand New Funk". Jeff was killing the 1200's on that track. Jeff is probably a close second to X in terms of turntable wizardry but Jay nudges him out because of his prominence and pioneer factor. Jeff even reappeared on Little Brother's "Can't Stop Me" reminding the new skool he's still got it on the tables.
4. DJ Premiere
Despite his amazing and historical production catalogue you have to recognize and realize his production success it clearly linked to his throw back DJ style. You knew Premiere was on the track because providing the hook for you via his DJ skill of injecting the hook in via scratch. Simple but highly demanded technique. It's pure hip hop culture when he's on the tables!
5. Grand Master Flash
Only reason why I don't put him higher because he faded away but came back with a fury in the 2K. He had to remind cats he's one of the pioneers of scratching records and how to properly catch the break. You have to watch him to appreciate this skill.
6. Kid Capri
He helped push DJing to the mainstream and show you he's one of the greatest he headlined Def Comedy Jam as their sonic requirement. You can't tell me you couldn't wait to hear him do his thing at the end of the show and the dancers get busy to his skills. One of the first to drop a mainstream DJ album as well.
7. DJ Rectangle
East coast cats are probably shaking their heads to this guy but he's a beast. I have a couple of his tapes from back in the day. Guess what? He played everything and I mean everything nothing regional about him. I heard some of my favorite west coast artists for the first time because of him.
8. DJ Scratch
Currently known for his production prowess but do the knowledge on this guy. He's the cat behind EPMD and Redman's show and sound. Very creative on the 1s & 2s! Remember the spin behind your back and scratch with your chin trick? He's one the first DJ to do this consistently and well. I've tried and uh let's say it cost me some needles.
9.Marley Marl
Marley is thought more of as an producers because the sheer number careers he broke and help guide in rap's formative years. We somehow forgot he's actually the guy scratching in all of those songs and constantly cutting in Roxanne Shante's "Roxanne's Revenge". The guy is nice but his prowess at sampling and creating some monster tracks made us forget what Marley's full time job used to be.
10. The Excutioners
This super group of DJs are incredible led by the infamous Roc Raida. I'm not going to name all of them but just listen to their cds and you can really appreicate what they bring to rap music. Pure turntable wizardry!
1. Terminator X (Public Enemy)
Remember he 'Only Speaks With His Hands Man, His Hands'. Guess what when he spoke, we listened and said "Dayum how does he do that?" His cuts and mastering of the 'transforming' scratch technique was seldom matched. Early PE records had to let him rock solo or they had to do a song bigging up argueably the best technical DJ of the era. His skill led to two solid solo albums.
2. Jam Master Jay (Run DMC)
What alot of you don't know is the late great Jay was the brains behind Rum DMC's whole persona and concepts. He wasn't the front runner like Run but they admit Jay was the brains to their success. Jay is a master of cutting and scratching. The lyrical greats had to let him rock. Remember this without Jay there's no Onyx or 50 Cent. Do the knowledge!
3. Jazzy Jeff
Yes we know all about his MC co-defendent. However, you better had been paying to attention to Jeff on their earlier work. Ok, I'll refresh your memory hmm, how about "Brand New Funk". Jeff was killing the 1200's on that track. Jeff is probably a close second to X in terms of turntable wizardry but Jay nudges him out because of his prominence and pioneer factor. Jeff even reappeared on Little Brother's "Can't Stop Me" reminding the new skool he's still got it on the tables.
4. DJ Premiere
Despite his amazing and historical production catalogue you have to recognize and realize his production success it clearly linked to his throw back DJ style. You knew Premiere was on the track because providing the hook for you via his DJ skill of injecting the hook in via scratch. Simple but highly demanded technique. It's pure hip hop culture when he's on the tables!
5. Grand Master Flash
Only reason why I don't put him higher because he faded away but came back with a fury in the 2K. He had to remind cats he's one of the pioneers of scratching records and how to properly catch the break. You have to watch him to appreciate this skill.
6. Kid Capri
He helped push DJing to the mainstream and show you he's one of the greatest he headlined Def Comedy Jam as their sonic requirement. You can't tell me you couldn't wait to hear him do his thing at the end of the show and the dancers get busy to his skills. One of the first to drop a mainstream DJ album as well.
7. DJ Rectangle
East coast cats are probably shaking their heads to this guy but he's a beast. I have a couple of his tapes from back in the day. Guess what? He played everything and I mean everything nothing regional about him. I heard some of my favorite west coast artists for the first time because of him.
8. DJ Scratch
Currently known for his production prowess but do the knowledge on this guy. He's the cat behind EPMD and Redman's show and sound. Very creative on the 1s & 2s! Remember the spin behind your back and scratch with your chin trick? He's one the first DJ to do this consistently and well. I've tried and uh let's say it cost me some needles.
9.Marley Marl
Marley is thought more of as an producers because the sheer number careers he broke and help guide in rap's formative years. We somehow forgot he's actually the guy scratching in all of those songs and constantly cutting in Roxanne Shante's "Roxanne's Revenge". The guy is nice but his prowess at sampling and creating some monster tracks made us forget what Marley's full time job used to be.
10. The Excutioners
This super group of DJs are incredible led by the infamous Roc Raida. I'm not going to name all of them but just listen to their cds and you can really appreicate what they bring to rap music. Pure turntable wizardry!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Greatest Rap Albums Ever
This has been debated and tarnished several times over. To prove a point VH1 listed Lil Wayne as one the top 3 rappers ever. I guess their employee urinanalysis program is pretty flawed. Anyhow here's "my" list. Feel free to second guess, scratch your head or complain-to yourself. Like I said it's mine and we all share a few common body parts and orifices so you get my picture.
Public Enemy-It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Even white people loves this Black power and awareness album-so that speaks volumes-LOL! I personally think I was enthralled by Terminator X's DJ prowess more than Chuck D's voice and the Bomb Squad's production. I really love pure DJing and X is incredible! Chuck made you listen and Flav made you laugh during the learning experience that was Black empowerment.
Run DMC-Raising Hell
This album opened doors for all rappers to delve into the mainstream. Pioneers!
Wu-Tang Clan-Enter Da 36 Chambers
This is a tape and CD I've personally replaced 3 times because it's been stolen or damaged that much. Go figure!
Eric B & Rakim-Pain In Full
Probably the first lyrical end to end burner made. The God was so ahead of his time. The lyrical blueprint!
BDP-By All Means Necessary
KRS-1 went from violence to knowledge due to the passing of DJ Scott La Rock and this energy created a masterpiece. It was a lyrical manifesto and call to the masses to wake-up!
LL Cool J-Bigger and Deffer
Some might say Radio but I hate to say it but "I Need Love" changed what was acceptable for rappers to rap about and it was cool to be sensitive but with an edge.
A Tribe Called Quest-The Low End Theory
My personal favorite Tribe album because of the jazzy feel of it and the banga "Scenario-Remix".
De La Soul-3 Feet High and Rising
Pot Holes In My Lawn did it for me! Then rap music changed forever due to them and BizMarkie sampling some whiners who were broke.
EPMD-Strictly Business
These guys were like an updated Run DMC to me but harder with less yelling. Made me go cop a fisherman hat and plaid pants and tell young girls to Get the Bozack!
Notorious B.I.G-Life After Death
C'mon there's no Jay-Z without the late great Francis M. White! He freestyled some pretty incredible stories on this album. Incredible!
M.C. Lyte-Lyte As A Rock
There hasn't been a female MC hard as Lyte in decades and we may never see or hear anyone either. Milk D's lil sis was killing it!
Common-Be
Yes, he had several note worthy albums but this is one that showed everyone and I mean everyone he's a lyrical beast and you should have been listening for 10+ years. Sad you missed out on his earlier stuff. So go cop them!
Queen Latifah-All the Hail Queen
Some might argue "U.N.I.T.Y" was her true soldifying moment-nope! "Wrath of My Madness" is still a very hard track and this album welcomed her as a future great before the acting.
Little Brother-The Minstrel Show
Very few albums get a full uninterrupted play from my finnicky ears but these NC cats really killed their second album but people still are asking who? Heads better recognize!
N.W.A.- Straight Outta Compton
My mom hated this album for the cursing but it made me recopy it several times. I loved the anger and wondered if it was really that bad out in California. Actually it is.
Ice Cube-Amerikkka's Most Wanted
One of the smartest and business savvy rappers ever. Glad he went solo because this album wouldn't have happened.
Scarface-The Fix
I love the Ghetto Boys and alotta of my friends would ask what the heck are you listening to and call them wack. Naw Scarface was killing it for awhile but this album made him national just listen to it!
Souls of Mischief-93 til Infinity
What I love about these guys was that they repped Cali but didn't have the "Cali flow". They were like a west coast Native Tongues affilliate. The tracks fit somewhere in between as well.
Slick Rick-The Adventures of Slick Rick
A ton of classics came from this album he was uplifting, funny and raunchy all in one on this album. The Ruler was in pure form here!
Onyx-Baccdafucup!
The first time I saw video I was like "whoa" are those machine guns? I was only 16 and I couldn't believe it was okay to tell someone to pull guns like that. The violence was intoxicating but not motivating-lol! They paved the way for groups like M.O.P. etc
Redman-Whut! Thee Album
Before Reggie Noble was blatantly funny lyrically he was purely lyrical with a bit of humor and wit here and there. He rocked the E. Sermon tracks from start to finish. Helped usher in the bummy grimey look that my high school hated-LOL!
Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah-Only Built for Cuban Linx
OMG! "The Purple Tape" This would be higher but I had to pay proper homage to the pioneers. However I will admit this probably my 2nd favorite album ever next P.E.'s. The beats, lyrics, skits and the posse cuts are pure genious and everyone wanted an alias after this.
Nas-Illmatic
1st time out and Nasir Jones made a classic and people wanted him to never grow or advance past this masterpiece and ridiculed him for it. The only MC to go against Jay-Z lose a few times then murder him and have Sean admit that he couldn't come back after Ether. Now they are pals.
Jay Z-Hardnock Life Vol. 1
Ok, Ok why not Reasonable Doubt? Well that album grew on me plus I feel this album had more expansion to it and way harder tracks IMO. I had to replace this one a few times too. Thx fellas for stealing or scratching my cds so much!
Method Man-Tical
Very dirty grimey album but you love it. "Bring Da Pain" is still my theme song. Meth admits this is not the original version of the album but it became a masterpiece. He was never able to duplicate the success of this due to everyone wanting RZA to produce all of his albums like this one.
Dr. Dre-The Chronic
I think the mid-90's was the Golden Era of Hip Hop. This album was a beast and didn't matter where you were from you bumped this G-Funk cd and nodded your head. It wasn't really the lyricsim on this album that made you want to listen it was Dre's melding of rap and funk and how it hypnotically smoothed you out.
Gangstarr-No More Mr. Nice Guy
Who can doubt "Manifest" and Guru's simple but resonating lyrics on this album. This was the startings of one of rap's greatest producer's career. Guru is a good lyricist but Premier steals it with his scratched in hooks and beats.
Busta Rhymes-The Coming
Rarrarggh like a dungeon dragon! Hip Hop quotable that sparked a stellar career and this debut album that was dirty enough and party friendly for all. Playful but hard lyrics were ear catching.
Brand Nubian-All For One
Glad they dropped the old moniker and became positive rappers. Kept the 5 Percent Nation buzz growing and building with this album. Too bad Grand Puba was feeling himself too much and left the group.
Black Moon-Enta Da Stage
Any MC who has worn or rocks a backpack owes it to these guys lead by Buckshot Shorty (drops the Shorty soon after this album). The hard beats provided by DJ Evil Dee and Buck's lyrics make this a must have. Far too many classics on this album.
Snoop Doggy Dog-Doggy Style
I remember I heard "Deep Cover" and thought "Dayum who's that cat with Dre and that beat-OMG!" Enter one of the greatest west coast rappers ever and ushered in the pimp swagger and vernacular. With his laid back flow and Dre's beats this album is a must have.
Ol Dirty Bastard-Return to the 36th Chambers
Some will probably say how? Well here's how for me my girlfriend at the time back in 94 told me to buy this because she kept hearing dudes at work play it and it was funny but hard. I was like really-Ms Rnb love songs like this dirty grimey stuff? Well guess what ol' girl was right this a killa album. Dirty's insane singing and rhymes meshed perfectly with RZA's beats. I actually bought this CD because he had "Dirty Dancing" feat. Method Man which is a banga!
Public Enemy-It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Even white people loves this Black power and awareness album-so that speaks volumes-LOL! I personally think I was enthralled by Terminator X's DJ prowess more than Chuck D's voice and the Bomb Squad's production. I really love pure DJing and X is incredible! Chuck made you listen and Flav made you laugh during the learning experience that was Black empowerment.
Run DMC-Raising Hell
This album opened doors for all rappers to delve into the mainstream. Pioneers!
Wu-Tang Clan-Enter Da 36 Chambers
This is a tape and CD I've personally replaced 3 times because it's been stolen or damaged that much. Go figure!
Eric B & Rakim-Pain In Full
Probably the first lyrical end to end burner made. The God was so ahead of his time. The lyrical blueprint!
BDP-By All Means Necessary
KRS-1 went from violence to knowledge due to the passing of DJ Scott La Rock and this energy created a masterpiece. It was a lyrical manifesto and call to the masses to wake-up!
LL Cool J-Bigger and Deffer
Some might say Radio but I hate to say it but "I Need Love" changed what was acceptable for rappers to rap about and it was cool to be sensitive but with an edge.
A Tribe Called Quest-The Low End Theory
My personal favorite Tribe album because of the jazzy feel of it and the banga "Scenario-Remix".
De La Soul-3 Feet High and Rising
Pot Holes In My Lawn did it for me! Then rap music changed forever due to them and BizMarkie sampling some whiners who were broke.
EPMD-Strictly Business
These guys were like an updated Run DMC to me but harder with less yelling. Made me go cop a fisherman hat and plaid pants and tell young girls to Get the Bozack!
Notorious B.I.G-Life After Death
C'mon there's no Jay-Z without the late great Francis M. White! He freestyled some pretty incredible stories on this album. Incredible!
M.C. Lyte-Lyte As A Rock
There hasn't been a female MC hard as Lyte in decades and we may never see or hear anyone either. Milk D's lil sis was killing it!
Common-Be
Yes, he had several note worthy albums but this is one that showed everyone and I mean everyone he's a lyrical beast and you should have been listening for 10+ years. Sad you missed out on his earlier stuff. So go cop them!
Queen Latifah-All the Hail Queen
Some might argue "U.N.I.T.Y" was her true soldifying moment-nope! "Wrath of My Madness" is still a very hard track and this album welcomed her as a future great before the acting.
Little Brother-The Minstrel Show
Very few albums get a full uninterrupted play from my finnicky ears but these NC cats really killed their second album but people still are asking who? Heads better recognize!
N.W.A.- Straight Outta Compton
My mom hated this album for the cursing but it made me recopy it several times. I loved the anger and wondered if it was really that bad out in California. Actually it is.
Ice Cube-Amerikkka's Most Wanted
One of the smartest and business savvy rappers ever. Glad he went solo because this album wouldn't have happened.
Scarface-The Fix
I love the Ghetto Boys and alotta of my friends would ask what the heck are you listening to and call them wack. Naw Scarface was killing it for awhile but this album made him national just listen to it!
Souls of Mischief-93 til Infinity
What I love about these guys was that they repped Cali but didn't have the "Cali flow". They were like a west coast Native Tongues affilliate. The tracks fit somewhere in between as well.
Slick Rick-The Adventures of Slick Rick
A ton of classics came from this album he was uplifting, funny and raunchy all in one on this album. The Ruler was in pure form here!
Onyx-Baccdafucup!
The first time I saw video I was like "whoa" are those machine guns? I was only 16 and I couldn't believe it was okay to tell someone to pull guns like that. The violence was intoxicating but not motivating-lol! They paved the way for groups like M.O.P. etc
Redman-Whut! Thee Album
Before Reggie Noble was blatantly funny lyrically he was purely lyrical with a bit of humor and wit here and there. He rocked the E. Sermon tracks from start to finish. Helped usher in the bummy grimey look that my high school hated-LOL!
Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah-Only Built for Cuban Linx
OMG! "The Purple Tape" This would be higher but I had to pay proper homage to the pioneers. However I will admit this probably my 2nd favorite album ever next P.E.'s. The beats, lyrics, skits and the posse cuts are pure genious and everyone wanted an alias after this.
Nas-Illmatic
1st time out and Nasir Jones made a classic and people wanted him to never grow or advance past this masterpiece and ridiculed him for it. The only MC to go against Jay-Z lose a few times then murder him and have Sean admit that he couldn't come back after Ether. Now they are pals.
Jay Z-Hardnock Life Vol. 1
Ok, Ok why not Reasonable Doubt? Well that album grew on me plus I feel this album had more expansion to it and way harder tracks IMO. I had to replace this one a few times too. Thx fellas for stealing or scratching my cds so much!
Method Man-Tical
Very dirty grimey album but you love it. "Bring Da Pain" is still my theme song. Meth admits this is not the original version of the album but it became a masterpiece. He was never able to duplicate the success of this due to everyone wanting RZA to produce all of his albums like this one.
Dr. Dre-The Chronic
I think the mid-90's was the Golden Era of Hip Hop. This album was a beast and didn't matter where you were from you bumped this G-Funk cd and nodded your head. It wasn't really the lyricsim on this album that made you want to listen it was Dre's melding of rap and funk and how it hypnotically smoothed you out.
Gangstarr-No More Mr. Nice Guy
Who can doubt "Manifest" and Guru's simple but resonating lyrics on this album. This was the startings of one of rap's greatest producer's career. Guru is a good lyricist but Premier steals it with his scratched in hooks and beats.
Busta Rhymes-The Coming
Rarrarggh like a dungeon dragon! Hip Hop quotable that sparked a stellar career and this debut album that was dirty enough and party friendly for all. Playful but hard lyrics were ear catching.
Brand Nubian-All For One
Glad they dropped the old moniker and became positive rappers. Kept the 5 Percent Nation buzz growing and building with this album. Too bad Grand Puba was feeling himself too much and left the group.
Black Moon-Enta Da Stage
Any MC who has worn or rocks a backpack owes it to these guys lead by Buckshot Shorty (drops the Shorty soon after this album). The hard beats provided by DJ Evil Dee and Buck's lyrics make this a must have. Far too many classics on this album.
Snoop Doggy Dog-Doggy Style
I remember I heard "Deep Cover" and thought "Dayum who's that cat with Dre and that beat-OMG!" Enter one of the greatest west coast rappers ever and ushered in the pimp swagger and vernacular. With his laid back flow and Dre's beats this album is a must have.
Ol Dirty Bastard-Return to the 36th Chambers
Some will probably say how? Well here's how for me my girlfriend at the time back in 94 told me to buy this because she kept hearing dudes at work play it and it was funny but hard. I was like really-Ms Rnb love songs like this dirty grimey stuff? Well guess what ol' girl was right this a killa album. Dirty's insane singing and rhymes meshed perfectly with RZA's beats. I actually bought this CD because he had "Dirty Dancing" feat. Method Man which is a banga!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Concept Posts (Dirty Luv Series)
In the coming weeks be on the look out for my concept posts.
First up on my thematic drops will be my now famous "Dirty Luv" Compilations. You say "how is it famous if I haven't got them?" Well, people I know have heard these cds playing in my office or vehicle and asked "What's up with the pissed off, sad and grimey love songs Tee?" It's just a plethora thoughts melded into music that's all.
So be on the look out for Dirty Luv Vols 1-4. I'm also prepping an ol skool Dirty Luv joint. I'm only doing one volume of that concept because there are far too many 60-70s down and out tracks to pick from.
The tracks will speak to you about cheating, leaving, trying to make it work, lovers who can't make up their minds and just dealing with the pain of bad relationships. All of the negative stuff that grown people go through when dealing with mates past or present. Nothing to read into, just enjoy the music.
BTW-I don't talk over my compilations.
First up on my thematic drops will be my now famous "Dirty Luv" Compilations. You say "how is it famous if I haven't got them?" Well, people I know have heard these cds playing in my office or vehicle and asked "What's up with the pissed off, sad and grimey love songs Tee?" It's just a plethora thoughts melded into music that's all.
So be on the look out for Dirty Luv Vols 1-4. I'm also prepping an ol skool Dirty Luv joint. I'm only doing one volume of that concept because there are far too many 60-70s down and out tracks to pick from.
The tracks will speak to you about cheating, leaving, trying to make it work, lovers who can't make up their minds and just dealing with the pain of bad relationships. All of the negative stuff that grown people go through when dealing with mates past or present. Nothing to read into, just enjoy the music.
BTW-I don't talk over my compilations.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Black President
Nas made an incredible CD! Well maybe I'm swayed because he's my favorite Emcee and rapper. Yes folks there's a huge difference.
I never thought in my lifetime I would see a Black man rise from the shadow of doubt and hate to emerge within a day of leading the most powerful country on this planet. What's really incredible he's done it with the vote and assurance of all races. He did lean on the respect of the Black community to propel him ahead in votes. I hate to say it but we simply don't vote enough and that saddens me but many of us are the first to complain or stick our hands out to remind the majority that we are owed for our tragic history. True we do need more acknowledgement but we better start doing something far more positive and evolutionary to show the masses we are truely as great as we know we are instead of killing one another and glorifying negativity and objectivity.
Will he win? I truely believe he has what it takes to topple a guy who's from a state that doesn't even want to acknowledge the great MLK. Do you really expect for us stand behind you and you support that real legislative measure? Simple put Barack is for the people. It will take more than a vogue t-shirt to show support it will take ballots. Ballots that will counted accurately and fairly for once.
Being a Soldier I do think he may have one of us over with the "16 months and out pledge". Is he realistic from a strategic standpoint? Yes and no. Yes, this will force the Iraqi government to step up and take account for their own peace since it's "an embarrassment to have a soverign nation occuppied". They are right they are not free they are occuppied. However, the consequences could be drastic and irreversible if we don't do this right and with clear thoughts and viable back-up plans. None of us (Soldiers) want to go there or back over there for 12 plus months. However, it will look like our buddies will have perished in vain if things are not done properly. Now the focus is Afghanistan and I like I told many of peers and subordinates the flow of troops will be to Afghanistan. The dynamic with the OEF mission is that it's clearly been tied to 9/11. None of us feel it's a wasted mission, conspiracies and questions are abound but you will smack anyone in the mouth who attacks you. So the public is okay with a "surge" to the OEF side of the war. If he wins his strategic accumen will be tested hard and early. I hope he's talking to the right people.
Sadly ignorance is abound because of his skin tone. Maybe this will be the event in this country history where the idiots will realize "it's over, we can't win or cause fear anymore". The problem is racism and all of of those other forms of bias are learned behaviors. All it takes is an eager ear to plant that seed.
I never thought in my lifetime I would see a Black man rise from the shadow of doubt and hate to emerge within a day of leading the most powerful country on this planet. What's really incredible he's done it with the vote and assurance of all races. He did lean on the respect of the Black community to propel him ahead in votes. I hate to say it but we simply don't vote enough and that saddens me but many of us are the first to complain or stick our hands out to remind the majority that we are owed for our tragic history. True we do need more acknowledgement but we better start doing something far more positive and evolutionary to show the masses we are truely as great as we know we are instead of killing one another and glorifying negativity and objectivity.
Will he win? I truely believe he has what it takes to topple a guy who's from a state that doesn't even want to acknowledge the great MLK. Do you really expect for us stand behind you and you support that real legislative measure? Simple put Barack is for the people. It will take more than a vogue t-shirt to show support it will take ballots. Ballots that will counted accurately and fairly for once.
Being a Soldier I do think he may have one of us over with the "16 months and out pledge". Is he realistic from a strategic standpoint? Yes and no. Yes, this will force the Iraqi government to step up and take account for their own peace since it's "an embarrassment to have a soverign nation occuppied". They are right they are not free they are occuppied. However, the consequences could be drastic and irreversible if we don't do this right and with clear thoughts and viable back-up plans. None of us (Soldiers) want to go there or back over there for 12 plus months. However, it will look like our buddies will have perished in vain if things are not done properly. Now the focus is Afghanistan and I like I told many of peers and subordinates the flow of troops will be to Afghanistan. The dynamic with the OEF mission is that it's clearly been tied to 9/11. None of us feel it's a wasted mission, conspiracies and questions are abound but you will smack anyone in the mouth who attacks you. So the public is okay with a "surge" to the OEF side of the war. If he wins his strategic accumen will be tested hard and early. I hope he's talking to the right people.
Sadly ignorance is abound because of his skin tone. Maybe this will be the event in this country history where the idiots will realize "it's over, we can't win or cause fear anymore". The problem is racism and all of of those other forms of bias are learned behaviors. All it takes is an eager ear to plant that seed.
Kink in My Armor
Sometimes in life you beat the odds and do things you were told you would never be able to do. Whether it's physical or mental, you simply need to prove the naysayers wrong. It gives you a sense of satisfaction to know you overcame the obstacle that was supposedly insurmountable.
Recently I celebrated a joyous moment and was elated. I guess the most high has a way of balancing you out by reminding you "It Was Written". After years of people wondering how do I do it and close family members knowing the physical flaw it appears it has caught up to me, again. I'm not "The Hulk" anymore just David Banner without the gamma rays. My fury and anger of people doubting me can't carry me past what I thought was a "supposed" flaw. It's real now and I have to reserve myself to "ordinary" stuff or the it could be dire.
I've never felt so dejected in my life. I'm simply known more for my physical prowess than anything else. People close to me know I beat the odds and somehow slipped into a career I shouldn't even be in. To quote the P. Diddy "Glorious" song featuring Biggie and Busta Rhymes "It's all fucked up now! What am I'm going to do now?" Exactly what am I'm going to do now?
There's a person I confided in who didn't believe me and that really upset me. Was it disbelief or was it anger due to a falling out? One of my stronger traits is that if I say I have your back, I got it no matter what. I expect the same from anyone I tell that too. I guess people aren't made of finer things anymore?
Will this simply slow me down or show me the back page of my book? Who knows? Im just going to live out what's planned for me.
Recently I celebrated a joyous moment and was elated. I guess the most high has a way of balancing you out by reminding you "It Was Written". After years of people wondering how do I do it and close family members knowing the physical flaw it appears it has caught up to me, again. I'm not "The Hulk" anymore just David Banner without the gamma rays. My fury and anger of people doubting me can't carry me past what I thought was a "supposed" flaw. It's real now and I have to reserve myself to "ordinary" stuff or the it could be dire.
I've never felt so dejected in my life. I'm simply known more for my physical prowess than anything else. People close to me know I beat the odds and somehow slipped into a career I shouldn't even be in. To quote the P. Diddy "Glorious" song featuring Biggie and Busta Rhymes "It's all fucked up now! What am I'm going to do now?" Exactly what am I'm going to do now?
There's a person I confided in who didn't believe me and that really upset me. Was it disbelief or was it anger due to a falling out? One of my stronger traits is that if I say I have your back, I got it no matter what. I expect the same from anyone I tell that too. I guess people aren't made of finer things anymore?
Will this simply slow me down or show me the back page of my book? Who knows? Im just going to live out what's planned for me.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
The Happiest and Worst Time of the Year
Late January to Mid March is arguably the most stressful or happiest time for all promotable Army Staff Sergeants. This is the time of the year that Army convenes it's centralized promotion board for selection to Sergeant First Class.
This is a huge step for all junior NCOs because it means you have had a good career so far. It's not a good thing to retire in the Army as a Staff Sergeant. Corporal through Staff Sergeant are the Army's junior NCO ranks. All of those ranks are important but to make it to the senior NCO ranks means you have made it into the elite and privileged. You won't we be bogged down with most simple tasks that junior soldiers have to go through as a right of passage and sometimes paying dues until you advance.
So why is it such a big deal to be selected for SFC? Well, it's simple look at our sister services and their promotion systems. If you are aware of their systems and have done any joint assignments or know a good deal of sailors, airmen and marines they will tell you that they feel their systems have major holes compared to our. We don't test! However, we stress stellar performance in tough and challenging assignments.
More on that last line. I always tell my friends when they question the board proceedings look in the mirror first. Ask yourself those hard questions.
o Am I seeking positions of greater responsibility?
o Am I seeking an assignment that grows, implements programs or validates training and our soldiers?
o Am I constantly seeking self improvement?
o Am I maintaining myself and my soldiers in a state of peek physical fitness?
o Am I improving programs or implementing new programs to improve my unit's readiness and our soldiers growth?
I just hit all of the things the board members look at when they are looking at your NCOERs. If you aren't doing those things then you are behind the curve already expect to be passed up.
I will say this to be fair to my brethren who are in large MOSs, your numbers dictate how many and how fast they will promote. It's simple if there's a need the Army must fill it. Which means when numbers are involved in the bigger jobs some eye catching issues will be overlooked to fill a void unlike the smaller MOSs. The Army can't afford to over look average performance in the smaller jobs because then the effect of that decision will be felt for years to come if that NCO doesn't change or improve.
So how do they score or measure the eligible SSGs? There is a scoring system in place to move a candidate for promotion up or down.
This is a +5 or +6 system and it works in reverse as well.
So what do they look for as good discriminators?
o Special duty assignments= Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, Equal Opportunity Advisor, Inspector General NCO
o Consistently 270+ (90 in each event)
0 Awards for stellar performance
o College (degree or obtaining a great deal of credits towards a degree)
0 Winning boards NCO of the Quarter, Year, Installation, MACOM or Army, Sergeant Audie Murphy or Sergeant Morales
o How do you look in uniform (no-brainer but some of us think otherwise and make excuses)
One of the biggest misconceptions is the special duty assignment is an automatic selection for SFC.
Wrong, I've witnessed this first hand. Just because you wear the badge doesn't mean you warrant promotion. You must perform and compete against your peers at a high level for you to stand out. Yes, it does help because the job is extremely demanding but you must do well in it for the Army to promote you.
Common preparation flaws that kill us before we get started.
o Old DA photos (usually because we gained a ton of weight and don't want the board members to see it) They will call the unit order you to tape that individual!
o Out of date APFT scores (didn't do so well and don't want the board members to match up your ERB and NCOERs to see what happened or didn't happen)
o Errors on your ERB (6 eyes are better than two, so let your 1SG and a couple of CSMs look at it)
o Failing to send in supporting documents to be included on your official file. It must match your ERB or looks like you are careless or lying.
o Taking an updated DA Photo but not having someone look over your uniform or taking the photo alone. The photographer isn't responsible for how you look just the photo.
Now you have done everything right what now. You wait and pray those SGMs and CSMs like what they see. Honestly, I really wasn't expecting to be selected on my first look. Why? I was young in my MOS and I had been on a string of 2 year assignments. I did feel I was extremely competitive. I was working outside of my MOS as a Drill Sergeant and doing really well. "I was doing the things that Army wants you to do" according to a CSM that I know. Well it worked out well for me. Now I understand the process and the value of picking a more senior NCOs brain and avoiding issues that could harm me. Does that mean I live for the promotions? No! It means refuse to become complacent no matter what assignment you are ordered to.
As an NCO you know you must lead and develop soldiers and remedy their issues. It's an implied task to take care of the troops directly or indirectly. I figured out as a young SGT if you are assigned to a unit that's not mission heavy find a program that's broken or needs revamping and fix it. Those programs are usually the more personal time demanding and dirty. Think of the Safety, EO and Special Populations PT programs and you can't go wrong. Those programs directly effect the unit's climate and soldiers.
Report to that unit and observe how it does business. Talk to the junior troops first then talk to your peers. Discern positively between complaints and valid issues and request the program that seems to be issue with the troops. Trust me even the best units has a flawed program or three.
Some things I honed in own in my tenure as an NCO
o Platoon PT programs
o Special Populations PT
o Equal Opportunity (high value program! but very demanding)
o Safety (heavy focus on this Army-wide)
o Unit functions (dining in/out, organization day, nco call, nco induction)
o Unit sports and Post level teams (I was MVP and selected as a Post Level Coach)
o Youth sports (personally rewarding!)
o Pre WLC Chief Instructor (personally rewarding!)
Some of us do things to be seen but I avoid that limelight and butt kissing. Simply do the job well because you want implement and grow positive change. Become a beacon of hope for things that are wrong and work on fostering change because you personally believe in it not because you are gunning for that excellence bullet. That will happen but do it because you know it's right
Notice I didn't mention anything directly dealing with my job. You must perform in your job and you know that. So no need to mention what you do well in your own little box. You can't that right then you deserve to be promoted. This is all about the Army as a whole and the community in some cases. I did those things because I felt I had ideas and goals that were conducive to positive change not because I wanted to be seen.
So keep your heads up and keep pushing!
This is a huge step for all junior NCOs because it means you have had a good career so far. It's not a good thing to retire in the Army as a Staff Sergeant. Corporal through Staff Sergeant are the Army's junior NCO ranks. All of those ranks are important but to make it to the senior NCO ranks means you have made it into the elite and privileged. You won't we be bogged down with most simple tasks that junior soldiers have to go through as a right of passage and sometimes paying dues until you advance.
So why is it such a big deal to be selected for SFC? Well, it's simple look at our sister services and their promotion systems. If you are aware of their systems and have done any joint assignments or know a good deal of sailors, airmen and marines they will tell you that they feel their systems have major holes compared to our. We don't test! However, we stress stellar performance in tough and challenging assignments.
More on that last line. I always tell my friends when they question the board proceedings look in the mirror first. Ask yourself those hard questions.
o Am I seeking positions of greater responsibility?
o Am I seeking an assignment that grows, implements programs or validates training and our soldiers?
o Am I constantly seeking self improvement?
o Am I maintaining myself and my soldiers in a state of peek physical fitness?
o Am I improving programs or implementing new programs to improve my unit's readiness and our soldiers growth?
I just hit all of the things the board members look at when they are looking at your NCOERs. If you aren't doing those things then you are behind the curve already expect to be passed up.
I will say this to be fair to my brethren who are in large MOSs, your numbers dictate how many and how fast they will promote. It's simple if there's a need the Army must fill it. Which means when numbers are involved in the bigger jobs some eye catching issues will be overlooked to fill a void unlike the smaller MOSs. The Army can't afford to over look average performance in the smaller jobs because then the effect of that decision will be felt for years to come if that NCO doesn't change or improve.
So how do they score or measure the eligible SSGs? There is a scoring system in place to move a candidate for promotion up or down.
This is a +5 or +6 system and it works in reverse as well.
So what do they look for as good discriminators?
o Special duty assignments= Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, Equal Opportunity Advisor, Inspector General NCO
o Consistently 270+ (90 in each event)
0 Awards for stellar performance
o College (degree or obtaining a great deal of credits towards a degree)
0 Winning boards NCO of the Quarter, Year, Installation, MACOM or Army, Sergeant Audie Murphy or Sergeant Morales
o How do you look in uniform (no-brainer but some of us think otherwise and make excuses)
One of the biggest misconceptions is the special duty assignment is an automatic selection for SFC.
Wrong, I've witnessed this first hand. Just because you wear the badge doesn't mean you warrant promotion. You must perform and compete against your peers at a high level for you to stand out. Yes, it does help because the job is extremely demanding but you must do well in it for the Army to promote you.
Common preparation flaws that kill us before we get started.
o Old DA photos (usually because we gained a ton of weight and don't want the board members to see it) They will call the unit order you to tape that individual!
o Out of date APFT scores (didn't do so well and don't want the board members to match up your ERB and NCOERs to see what happened or didn't happen)
o Errors on your ERB (6 eyes are better than two, so let your 1SG and a couple of CSMs look at it)
o Failing to send in supporting documents to be included on your official file. It must match your ERB or looks like you are careless or lying.
o Taking an updated DA Photo but not having someone look over your uniform or taking the photo alone. The photographer isn't responsible for how you look just the photo.
Now you have done everything right what now. You wait and pray those SGMs and CSMs like what they see. Honestly, I really wasn't expecting to be selected on my first look. Why? I was young in my MOS and I had been on a string of 2 year assignments. I did feel I was extremely competitive. I was working outside of my MOS as a Drill Sergeant and doing really well. "I was doing the things that Army wants you to do" according to a CSM that I know. Well it worked out well for me. Now I understand the process and the value of picking a more senior NCOs brain and avoiding issues that could harm me. Does that mean I live for the promotions? No! It means refuse to become complacent no matter what assignment you are ordered to.
As an NCO you know you must lead and develop soldiers and remedy their issues. It's an implied task to take care of the troops directly or indirectly. I figured out as a young SGT if you are assigned to a unit that's not mission heavy find a program that's broken or needs revamping and fix it. Those programs are usually the more personal time demanding and dirty. Think of the Safety, EO and Special Populations PT programs and you can't go wrong. Those programs directly effect the unit's climate and soldiers.
Report to that unit and observe how it does business. Talk to the junior troops first then talk to your peers. Discern positively between complaints and valid issues and request the program that seems to be issue with the troops. Trust me even the best units has a flawed program or three.
Some things I honed in own in my tenure as an NCO
o Platoon PT programs
o Special Populations PT
o Equal Opportunity (high value program! but very demanding)
o Safety (heavy focus on this Army-wide)
o Unit functions (dining in/out, organization day, nco call, nco induction)
o Unit sports and Post level teams (I was MVP and selected as a Post Level Coach)
o Youth sports (personally rewarding!)
o Pre WLC Chief Instructor (personally rewarding!)
Some of us do things to be seen but I avoid that limelight and butt kissing. Simply do the job well because you want implement and grow positive change. Become a beacon of hope for things that are wrong and work on fostering change because you personally believe in it not because you are gunning for that excellence bullet. That will happen but do it because you know it's right
Notice I didn't mention anything directly dealing with my job. You must perform in your job and you know that. So no need to mention what you do well in your own little box. You can't that right then you deserve to be promoted. This is all about the Army as a whole and the community in some cases. I did those things because I felt I had ideas and goals that were conducive to positive change not because I wanted to be seen.
So keep your heads up and keep pushing!
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Greatest RB Ever!
Out of remote fields of Wichita, Kansas rose a future NFL Hall Famer that was doubted and ridiculed but he proved his doubters wrong on his first carry of his career. He showed instantly that his career, all though short at Oklahoma State was not one of just a great Heisman Trophy winning collegiate super star but he was the truth!
He was chastised because he wasn't media savvy and it was much to be desired of his social skills but when this 5-9, 212 lbs of pure excitement suited up fans nationwide held their breath. Barry was the only RB to ever make a loss of yardage look exciting. The cuts, spins, jukes, stutter steps, reversal of field and the infamous jump cut made several All-Pro opponents look like they should have waited to join the XFL. Warren Sapp and the late Reggie White said "The key to stopping Barry was wait for him to stop himself and while he was doing that pray that you don't make it on SportsCenter."
Favorite highlight of Barry Sanders is a game of he played against the Bears in the early 90s. The Bears had seemingly corralled Mr. Sanders on the right sidelines. He was surrounded and he looked he achieved a paltry 3 yard run but no. Barry had somehow got into a sprawled squat, popped up and spun out this sure tackle situation and bolted back across the middle of the field. You could see Pro Bowl Safety Mark Carrier recognizing it was too late to do anything in the distance and didn't bother to give chase. If you ever buy his book "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" that highlight is there.
Did I try to run like Barry Sanders when I was in high school. Yes, I did but you can't imitate someone who sincerely admitted he did not practice those uncanny and godlike moves. I practiced his jump cut and was okay at it but he was too explosive to copy. I would get tackled soon after most times if I didn't time it right. See I had to think about his style, Barry Sanders just did it because it was in his talent pool already.
So I owe the greatest RB ever to play in college and the NFL my brief moment in the limelight.
Don't even mention Emmitt Smith in this conversation. Even I, right now I could probably gain about 800yds with that line he had along with that awesome FB.
He was chastised because he wasn't media savvy and it was much to be desired of his social skills but when this 5-9, 212 lbs of pure excitement suited up fans nationwide held their breath. Barry was the only RB to ever make a loss of yardage look exciting. The cuts, spins, jukes, stutter steps, reversal of field and the infamous jump cut made several All-Pro opponents look like they should have waited to join the XFL. Warren Sapp and the late Reggie White said "The key to stopping Barry was wait for him to stop himself and while he was doing that pray that you don't make it on SportsCenter."
Favorite highlight of Barry Sanders is a game of he played against the Bears in the early 90s. The Bears had seemingly corralled Mr. Sanders on the right sidelines. He was surrounded and he looked he achieved a paltry 3 yard run but no. Barry had somehow got into a sprawled squat, popped up and spun out this sure tackle situation and bolted back across the middle of the field. You could see Pro Bowl Safety Mark Carrier recognizing it was too late to do anything in the distance and didn't bother to give chase. If you ever buy his book "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" that highlight is there.
Did I try to run like Barry Sanders when I was in high school. Yes, I did but you can't imitate someone who sincerely admitted he did not practice those uncanny and godlike moves. I practiced his jump cut and was okay at it but he was too explosive to copy. I would get tackled soon after most times if I didn't time it right. See I had to think about his style, Barry Sanders just did it because it was in his talent pool already.
So I owe the greatest RB ever to play in college and the NFL my brief moment in the limelight.
Don't even mention Emmitt Smith in this conversation. Even I, right now I could probably gain about 800yds with that line he had along with that awesome FB.
The Realest Shyt I Ever Wrote (Pt 1.)
Keeping with my blog's namesake I decided to write well more accurately type entry one of some real shyt.
Funny how you have this in depth conversation about an issue that effects you personally and someone actually gets your thoughts published. Not because you asked them but they were thinking and have been thinking what you have been thinking for years!
Many moons ago, well not that many, when I was a junior trooper I had to pay Uncle Samuel taxes. I did not make much money back then by military standards but I wasn't struggling either. H&R Block in Germany prepared my tax return in a rather swift manner and quickly informed me I owed the establishment a little over a hundred dollars and my home state of Maryland wanted some of me too. I questioned "How"? The tax specialist crunched away showing how I had moved into this bracket and another due to my additional cost of living dollars for being overseas. After writing those checks I got smart, real smart. I read up on deductions and how to claim them. Then I met a good connection who was a tax wiz who schooled me even more and found all kinds of legal dollars for me. Made me nervous the first time but it was all legit. I refuse to give up is name due to him wanting to keep a small trusted clientele base and focus on his new career out of the Army. Anyhow, shouts out to my man "Hector"!
Now that I'm off my soap box I'll get to the meat and taters of it all. Why in Hades are service members taxed in the first place! In reality are we not basically paying for our checks and the Leave and Earnings Statements we print off? If you really want to bolster the ranks in all of the branches and that includes the Department of Transportation's baseball bat the Coast Guard, tax exempt us! You do it for the length of our deployments and no one seems to notice or care about this "unavailable" federal revenue anyway. You would have a huge talent pool flooding the recruiting stations dying to get in.
Think about it? We have young families on WIC and food stamps! Freaking government assistance and we assist, I mean implement the government's military will upon anyway who challenges the nations or who the President and his pals thinks poses a challenges. (More on that later or read an earlier post of mine). The most junior trooper would reap immediate benefits of being tax exempt. I would counsel the snot and corrective trained any youngster who had financial problems if this was enacted.
I think about my pay and I'm doing well because I earned the right to do well over the years but tax exemption status would place me at entry level baller status by some accords. I'm talking several hundreds dollars returned me monthly instead of me praying that "Hector" digs in the IRS' plethora stipulations to get me most of my money it was drying rodding me for all year.
Heck, I would even considering being a recruiter (ugggh did I just say that-forgive me family). I could sell that line quite well.
"Excuse me, can I have a word with you about all that Army could offer you"
"Did you know we offer 100% college tuition payment including books"
-Still no bites on the lines
"Did you know you could transfer your GI Bill to your kids in the near future"
"Did you know we offer $350,000 guarantee home loans"
-Nothing because he's not thinking ahead that far
"Have you ever wanted to visit Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico"
"C'mon now what job doesn't require you pay any taxes!"
-Sign me up Dude, Sir, Sarge or whatever they call you dudes!
See, fish in a barrel. They would be swelling the MEPs stations with all kinds of high value recruits. We could then tell the ones that have shady backgrounds to go away again.
Somebody please hear my pleas in congress!
Funny how you have this in depth conversation about an issue that effects you personally and someone actually gets your thoughts published. Not because you asked them but they were thinking and have been thinking what you have been thinking for years!
Many moons ago, well not that many, when I was a junior trooper I had to pay Uncle Samuel taxes. I did not make much money back then by military standards but I wasn't struggling either. H&R Block in Germany prepared my tax return in a rather swift manner and quickly informed me I owed the establishment a little over a hundred dollars and my home state of Maryland wanted some of me too. I questioned "How"? The tax specialist crunched away showing how I had moved into this bracket and another due to my additional cost of living dollars for being overseas. After writing those checks I got smart, real smart. I read up on deductions and how to claim them. Then I met a good connection who was a tax wiz who schooled me even more and found all kinds of legal dollars for me. Made me nervous the first time but it was all legit. I refuse to give up is name due to him wanting to keep a small trusted clientele base and focus on his new career out of the Army. Anyhow, shouts out to my man "Hector"!
Now that I'm off my soap box I'll get to the meat and taters of it all. Why in Hades are service members taxed in the first place! In reality are we not basically paying for our checks and the Leave and Earnings Statements we print off? If you really want to bolster the ranks in all of the branches and that includes the Department of Transportation's baseball bat the Coast Guard, tax exempt us! You do it for the length of our deployments and no one seems to notice or care about this "unavailable" federal revenue anyway. You would have a huge talent pool flooding the recruiting stations dying to get in.
Think about it? We have young families on WIC and food stamps! Freaking government assistance and we assist, I mean implement the government's military will upon anyway who challenges the nations or who the President and his pals thinks poses a challenges. (More on that later or read an earlier post of mine). The most junior trooper would reap immediate benefits of being tax exempt. I would counsel the snot and corrective trained any youngster who had financial problems if this was enacted.
I think about my pay and I'm doing well because I earned the right to do well over the years but tax exemption status would place me at entry level baller status by some accords. I'm talking several hundreds dollars returned me monthly instead of me praying that "Hector" digs in the IRS' plethora stipulations to get me most of my money it was drying rodding me for all year.
Heck, I would even considering being a recruiter (ugggh did I just say that-forgive me family). I could sell that line quite well.
"Excuse me, can I have a word with you about all that Army could offer you"
"Did you know we offer 100% college tuition payment including books"
-Still no bites on the lines
"Did you know you could transfer your GI Bill to your kids in the near future"
"Did you know we offer $350,000 guarantee home loans"
-Nothing because he's not thinking ahead that far
"Have you ever wanted to visit Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico"
"C'mon now what job doesn't require you pay any taxes!"
-Sign me up Dude, Sir, Sarge or whatever they call you dudes!
See, fish in a barrel. They would be swelling the MEPs stations with all kinds of high value recruits. We could then tell the ones that have shady backgrounds to go away again.
Somebody please hear my pleas in congress!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
NFL vs College Football (A Man Topic to spill beer and yell about on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights)
First off and for the record I love football but track and field is in my soul. (Figure that out you undedicated turds!) Anyway I can spend and entire weekend on the couch watching this competitive gladiator sport that only warfare rivals. You can't beat the strategy and battles that are being waged in various locations on the field. However, college football is way more authentic to me and I will state my case in my next poisonous paragraphs.
College football is football in is purest and represents football at it's most competitive level. I know you are saying how? Isn't it their goal since Pop Warner to play in the NFL? Here's how, only one in 1 in 2500 little snot nose twerps will get to play in the NFL. Most will play in high school and some will play at some level of the collegiate ranks. Heck, I'm a walking example of those figures. My budding and I say that loosely HS career was cut short due to constant injuries and being undersized. So you have a good number playing whether it's JUCO, NAIA, DIV III, II or FCS or FBS. The latter formerly none as DIV 1AA and DIV 1A respectively. Why did they do that? Heck the excuse is to remove the mindset that DIV 1AA is an inferior level of CFB than DIV 1A. Well it is actually and it's based on money and enrollment plus the 'your pretty good but you aren't amazing" premise.
How did that come about? Well it's true if you look at these examples. Every year some QB transfer from a big name school i.e. Oklahoma because of "lack of playing time". I used the QB because this happens more at this position and is more noteworthy than any other because they usually create an immediate impact once they play. The highly recruited QB transfers to a FCS (DIV 1AA) school and usually is an immediate starter through noted talented and he "wasn't given a chance to blossom" factors. They pick up the small school's not as complex offense and lights his new conference and foes on fire. However, if you aren't actively looking for the "where did so and so go" QB you won't know about his gaudy numbers that he could and should have posted at his previous level. No TV contracts, hardly any ESPN love and no BOWLS to play in. Just the very fair playoffs to carry his team through and hope they make it far enough to be in tv in the semi-finals. That's if his supporting cast is good enough to make to the playoffs.
The other issue is college football teams run a myriad of offenses and plays that I love. The NFL has been watered down to some variation of the Bill Walsh plague-lol! Yes, the West Coast Offense has been a full fledge pestilence in the NFL for well over 10yrs. While CFB teams line up in the Run n Shoot, Spread, Power I, Flexbone, Wishbone, West Coast and Multiple Set schemes. I love to see the option ran with perfection. A QB, FB and TB all doing a wonderful ballet of fakes, counters and pitches and when read properly it is lethal! So lethal I have problems winning on NCAA football if I don't have the personnel to run this play in some form. The service academies would have moved to the FCS years ago if they didn't keep their many variations of the option in their offense because the have weight restrictions and the option keeps them competitive, well Navy and now Air Force are competitive. Army is trying to go conventional but is struggling to get the best skill players to enroll.
I do digress because the Spread Offense is now littering the playbooks of major programs throughout the FBS. If they aren't using it they are tinkering with the possiblity of using it through hiring a coordinator with the skill to install it and recruiting players who fit the system. The offense is exactly what it says, spread the field creating gaps in the defense through play action fakes, option reads and good WR play and blocking. You need a ton of speed on your teams to make it unstoppable.
The bowl games and the FCS' playoff systems creates it's on drama throughout the season. However, greed has inflated the bowl system to an fiscal feeding frenzy. I personally don't feel a 6-6 teams has a place in a bowl. I grew up learning I wasn't rewarded for mediocrity but I guess my mentors were wrong in this case. You watch these bowl games and scratch your head why? Okay, it's an awesome recruiting tool to tell your prized recruit you played in a bowl the last six years but it was Nappa Autoparts Bowl, Ruby Tuesday Football Extraganza or the Montreal Madness Bowl. Which pretty much tells the recruit either you are just good enough to fund your other non-revenue sports and nifty uniforms for the football team or you are constantly on the cusp of being really good. I say do away with these low attendance bowl games and turn the top five into a play-off. We all know the BCS is a good ol boy system for the big boy conferences. Well, Hawaii didn't help the mid-major conferences cause this year either.
The players play harder in CFB as well because they are working towards goals at their level and the hopes of making it to the NFL. In the NFL you see players tip-toeing or taking downs off because it's a contract year. It's sickening! Then you see a "who the heck is that" have a great game in the play-offs and gets a huge contract only to disappear again. Can anyone say Tampa Bay's Larry Brown?
The one thing I would love to see is an offensive coordinator gutsy enough to run the option constantly in the NFL-lol!
College football is football in is purest and represents football at it's most competitive level. I know you are saying how? Isn't it their goal since Pop Warner to play in the NFL? Here's how, only one in 1 in 2500 little snot nose twerps will get to play in the NFL. Most will play in high school and some will play at some level of the collegiate ranks. Heck, I'm a walking example of those figures. My budding and I say that loosely HS career was cut short due to constant injuries and being undersized. So you have a good number playing whether it's JUCO, NAIA, DIV III, II or FCS or FBS. The latter formerly none as DIV 1AA and DIV 1A respectively. Why did they do that? Heck the excuse is to remove the mindset that DIV 1AA is an inferior level of CFB than DIV 1A. Well it is actually and it's based on money and enrollment plus the 'your pretty good but you aren't amazing" premise.
How did that come about? Well it's true if you look at these examples. Every year some QB transfer from a big name school i.e. Oklahoma because of "lack of playing time". I used the QB because this happens more at this position and is more noteworthy than any other because they usually create an immediate impact once they play. The highly recruited QB transfers to a FCS (DIV 1AA) school and usually is an immediate starter through noted talented and he "wasn't given a chance to blossom" factors. They pick up the small school's not as complex offense and lights his new conference and foes on fire. However, if you aren't actively looking for the "where did so and so go" QB you won't know about his gaudy numbers that he could and should have posted at his previous level. No TV contracts, hardly any ESPN love and no BOWLS to play in. Just the very fair playoffs to carry his team through and hope they make it far enough to be in tv in the semi-finals. That's if his supporting cast is good enough to make to the playoffs.
The other issue is college football teams run a myriad of offenses and plays that I love. The NFL has been watered down to some variation of the Bill Walsh plague-lol! Yes, the West Coast Offense has been a full fledge pestilence in the NFL for well over 10yrs. While CFB teams line up in the Run n Shoot, Spread, Power I, Flexbone, Wishbone, West Coast and Multiple Set schemes. I love to see the option ran with perfection. A QB, FB and TB all doing a wonderful ballet of fakes, counters and pitches and when read properly it is lethal! So lethal I have problems winning on NCAA football if I don't have the personnel to run this play in some form. The service academies would have moved to the FCS years ago if they didn't keep their many variations of the option in their offense because the have weight restrictions and the option keeps them competitive, well Navy and now Air Force are competitive. Army is trying to go conventional but is struggling to get the best skill players to enroll.
I do digress because the Spread Offense is now littering the playbooks of major programs throughout the FBS. If they aren't using it they are tinkering with the possiblity of using it through hiring a coordinator with the skill to install it and recruiting players who fit the system. The offense is exactly what it says, spread the field creating gaps in the defense through play action fakes, option reads and good WR play and blocking. You need a ton of speed on your teams to make it unstoppable.
The bowl games and the FCS' playoff systems creates it's on drama throughout the season. However, greed has inflated the bowl system to an fiscal feeding frenzy. I personally don't feel a 6-6 teams has a place in a bowl. I grew up learning I wasn't rewarded for mediocrity but I guess my mentors were wrong in this case. You watch these bowl games and scratch your head why? Okay, it's an awesome recruiting tool to tell your prized recruit you played in a bowl the last six years but it was Nappa Autoparts Bowl, Ruby Tuesday Football Extraganza or the Montreal Madness Bowl. Which pretty much tells the recruit either you are just good enough to fund your other non-revenue sports and nifty uniforms for the football team or you are constantly on the cusp of being really good. I say do away with these low attendance bowl games and turn the top five into a play-off. We all know the BCS is a good ol boy system for the big boy conferences. Well, Hawaii didn't help the mid-major conferences cause this year either.
The players play harder in CFB as well because they are working towards goals at their level and the hopes of making it to the NFL. In the NFL you see players tip-toeing or taking downs off because it's a contract year. It's sickening! Then you see a "who the heck is that" have a great game in the play-offs and gets a huge contract only to disappear again. Can anyone say Tampa Bay's Larry Brown?
The one thing I would love to see is an offensive coordinator gutsy enough to run the option constantly in the NFL-lol!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Favorite Producers
Ever listen to a track and you knew right away who produced that? I mean really produced it not knob turning and placement ala Diddy.
1. RZA-Created the sped up soul sample technique that a certain attention drone claims to fame now. You could tell RZA's tracks by how dirty and unclean the tracks sound. Like he was still in the basement chopping it up with a tape deck and a 2 channel mixer. Way above average rapper!
2. DJ Premier-Premier creates his own hooks for you by scratching them in like a true DJ. I love that signature call sign of his. Pure rap in it's rawest form.
3. Pete Rock-Remember the "Shut Em Down-Remix"? The horns, the xtra treble flavor and of course the pan-mixing (sound travels from one speaker to the next). That's Pete's signature track and he's dropped better jewels! He's a decent rapper too!
4. Large Professor-Stay true to the artform. No gimmicks just tracks that fits the artist, namely Nas. My favorite Xtra P track is "Nas-Your the Man".
5. Dr. Dre-As of late it's now known Dre hasn't really 100% produced everything his name appears on. He's sometimes taken a Diddy role and gave other proteges his vision to follow then coming back and cleaning it up. Decent rapper but seldom writes anything. Jay Z wrote his biggest solo joint "Still Dre". Listen close and you can hear Jay's cadence. He is responsible for that "West Coast G Funk" sound.
6. Kanye West-If it wasn't for his antics overshadowing his musical gifts I would rate him higher. He's awesome but the problem is he tells you he's awesome all the time. The issue is not all of his tracks are awesome just a few great ones. Really has evolved as a rapper. Thanks from always being exposed to the game's best-Jay Z & Common.
7. Timbaland-As of late he's stayed away from rap tracks a bit but he changes his style so often you can't say "Aw Timb did it again". He knows some producers copy him far too much. His best work may have been Aaliyah's second album. Signature stumbling drums were just flagrantly stolen. So he switched it up again!
8. Swizz Beats-He gives rappers beats and a user friendly hook. Once he got away from the keyboard synth simple tracks he was truely a monster. Handclaps are his call sign. Average rapper but adequate. He even took Beyonce's voice and bounced her in the club. Ladies you know the song.
9. Easy Mo B-You need a remix that was just as good or better than the orignal? Call Mo B! Remember "Flavor in Ya Ear" was hot? Well, you loved the remix even more huh? Used to be a rapper.
10. The Neptunes-Would have placed higher but Pharrell has a problem of having to be on track all of the time and the freaking video. Once they left the keyboard stuff alone and the "Neptune Phaser Sounds" alone they exploded. He made Nore a club favorite couple of times over. So-so rapper nothing to rewind your cds over though.
11. Mannie Fresh-On the strength of "Drag Em in the River" and "Project English" I have to give him this spot to him. Single handly is responsible for the entire early Cash Money production catalog. Even RZA let his proteges get some burn to preserve his sound.
12. Hi Tek-Goodness! Who thought the Natti had this talent? Kweli's right hand on the boards and sometimes the mic. I had to look twice to see that he did 50's "Ryder Music" and Game's "Running". It sounds very Dre like but that shows you just how talented he is if he can seamless cross region sounds so well. He's an okay rapper by the way.
13. Hitmen-The real producers behind Diddy projects. These are guys that do it. All of these guys are great producers in their own right but they cook up magic when they are working Badboy projects.
14. Jazze Pha-It's in his gene's he has some very prominent bloodlines from the funk and soul days. His only knock is that he has to be on the track vocally all of the time.
15. Prince Paul-You need a concept album call this former Stetsasonic DJ and Gravedigga producer and DJ. So creative and intelligent he has done some zany projects i.e. Handsome Boy Modeling School and still gets mad love for his ability to tell a story through his production.
1. RZA-Created the sped up soul sample technique that a certain attention drone claims to fame now. You could tell RZA's tracks by how dirty and unclean the tracks sound. Like he was still in the basement chopping it up with a tape deck and a 2 channel mixer. Way above average rapper!
2. DJ Premier-Premier creates his own hooks for you by scratching them in like a true DJ. I love that signature call sign of his. Pure rap in it's rawest form.
3. Pete Rock-Remember the "Shut Em Down-Remix"? The horns, the xtra treble flavor and of course the pan-mixing (sound travels from one speaker to the next). That's Pete's signature track and he's dropped better jewels! He's a decent rapper too!
4. Large Professor-Stay true to the artform. No gimmicks just tracks that fits the artist, namely Nas. My favorite Xtra P track is "Nas-Your the Man".
5. Dr. Dre-As of late it's now known Dre hasn't really 100% produced everything his name appears on. He's sometimes taken a Diddy role and gave other proteges his vision to follow then coming back and cleaning it up. Decent rapper but seldom writes anything. Jay Z wrote his biggest solo joint "Still Dre". Listen close and you can hear Jay's cadence. He is responsible for that "West Coast G Funk" sound.
6. Kanye West-If it wasn't for his antics overshadowing his musical gifts I would rate him higher. He's awesome but the problem is he tells you he's awesome all the time. The issue is not all of his tracks are awesome just a few great ones. Really has evolved as a rapper. Thanks from always being exposed to the game's best-Jay Z & Common.
7. Timbaland-As of late he's stayed away from rap tracks a bit but he changes his style so often you can't say "Aw Timb did it again". He knows some producers copy him far too much. His best work may have been Aaliyah's second album. Signature stumbling drums were just flagrantly stolen. So he switched it up again!
8. Swizz Beats-He gives rappers beats and a user friendly hook. Once he got away from the keyboard synth simple tracks he was truely a monster. Handclaps are his call sign. Average rapper but adequate. He even took Beyonce's voice and bounced her in the club. Ladies you know the song.
9. Easy Mo B-You need a remix that was just as good or better than the orignal? Call Mo B! Remember "Flavor in Ya Ear" was hot? Well, you loved the remix even more huh? Used to be a rapper.
10. The Neptunes-Would have placed higher but Pharrell has a problem of having to be on track all of the time and the freaking video. Once they left the keyboard stuff alone and the "Neptune Phaser Sounds" alone they exploded. He made Nore a club favorite couple of times over. So-so rapper nothing to rewind your cds over though.
11. Mannie Fresh-On the strength of "Drag Em in the River" and "Project English" I have to give him this spot to him. Single handly is responsible for the entire early Cash Money production catalog. Even RZA let his proteges get some burn to preserve his sound.
12. Hi Tek-Goodness! Who thought the Natti had this talent? Kweli's right hand on the boards and sometimes the mic. I had to look twice to see that he did 50's "Ryder Music" and Game's "Running". It sounds very Dre like but that shows you just how talented he is if he can seamless cross region sounds so well. He's an okay rapper by the way.
13. Hitmen-The real producers behind Diddy projects. These are guys that do it. All of these guys are great producers in their own right but they cook up magic when they are working Badboy projects.
14. Jazze Pha-It's in his gene's he has some very prominent bloodlines from the funk and soul days. His only knock is that he has to be on the track vocally all of the time.
15. Prince Paul-You need a concept album call this former Stetsasonic DJ and Gravedigga producer and DJ. So creative and intelligent he has done some zany projects i.e. Handsome Boy Modeling School and still gets mad love for his ability to tell a story through his production.
"My" Favorite Rap Groups
Remember these are my favorites not yours!
1. Wu Tang Clan - The best conglomeration of rappers ever! Don't even debate that
2. Run DMC - The pioneers!
3. EPMD - So simple with the flows but they were too cool to question their wit
4. De La Soul - Sampling wasn't a big deal until these guys went complex and creative
5. NWA - You mention gangsta rap or west coast these are they guys you say next
6. A Tribe Called Quest - Production, skillz and positivity with a subtle but happy edge
7. Eric B and Rakim - You have the God on the mic but Eric B killed it for them being selfish
8. Mobb Deep - Hav's beats and P's threats, violent sonic mastery!
9. Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five - Another group of pioneers, first cautious rap track
10. Salt n Pepa - I really don't see another crew of females doing this again, seriously!
11. M.O.P.- They stepped Mobb Deep's level of violence up a notch but you love it!
12. Geto Boys - TX's first supreme lyrical team. My Minds Playin Tricks-nuff said!
12. The LOX - Pardon the shiney suit tampering but these dudes are a beastly collective!
12. BDP- Ok, we tend to overlook Scott La Rock's prominence in the early years but Shan knows
13.Outkast - Loved these guys first 3 albums then evolved a bit too much for me
14. Public Enemy - Chuck, Flav, Terminator X and the S1Ws let's start a revolution!
15. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Forget the happy songs but remember Brand New Funk?
16. Brand Nubian - Whether with or without Puba these guys are on point.
17. The Roots - If BlackThought kept a consistent lyrical co-D they would be incredible to me
18. Little Brother - Some of you still don't know them; please come back 9th Wonder!
19. Onyx - Their first two albums were insane! Especially tracks like "Last Days"
20. Souls of Mischief - You would think twice if someone told you they were from Cali, complex!
Honorable Mention
0 Digital Underground - Hey Pac owes his career to them
0 3rd Base - Two stellar albums from rap's first white answer to EPMD and then they split just like EPMD, so sad
o X Clan - Too bad they were successful in era that it was vogue to be ultra aware of your heritage
o Das Efx - They were hurt by not being able to shack there fadish and often bitten "Bum Skiggidy Bum" style but are great lyricist all the same. Even Jay Z was biting them!
0 Boot Camp Clik - They are more of a collective than a group. A gathering of 4 groups Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah, OGC and Smiff n Wessun and few other misc MCs. That "For The People" album that was so anticipated by fans but was one of the biggest let downs in rap "can't wait for that to drop" history. They lost their foot hold next Wu with this album. You have to admit they rival Wu Tang with the sheer number of top notch MCs. Buckshot, Sean Price, Rock and Steele lead the pack.
1. Wu Tang Clan - The best conglomeration of rappers ever! Don't even debate that
2. Run DMC - The pioneers!
3. EPMD - So simple with the flows but they were too cool to question their wit
4. De La Soul - Sampling wasn't a big deal until these guys went complex and creative
5. NWA - You mention gangsta rap or west coast these are they guys you say next
6. A Tribe Called Quest - Production, skillz and positivity with a subtle but happy edge
7. Eric B and Rakim - You have the God on the mic but Eric B killed it for them being selfish
8. Mobb Deep - Hav's beats and P's threats, violent sonic mastery!
9. Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five - Another group of pioneers, first cautious rap track
10. Salt n Pepa - I really don't see another crew of females doing this again, seriously!
11. M.O.P.- They stepped Mobb Deep's level of violence up a notch but you love it!
12. Geto Boys - TX's first supreme lyrical team. My Minds Playin Tricks-nuff said!
12. The LOX - Pardon the shiney suit tampering but these dudes are a beastly collective!
12. BDP- Ok, we tend to overlook Scott La Rock's prominence in the early years but Shan knows
13.Outkast - Loved these guys first 3 albums then evolved a bit too much for me
14. Public Enemy - Chuck, Flav, Terminator X and the S1Ws let's start a revolution!
15. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Forget the happy songs but remember Brand New Funk?
16. Brand Nubian - Whether with or without Puba these guys are on point.
17. The Roots - If BlackThought kept a consistent lyrical co-D they would be incredible to me
18. Little Brother - Some of you still don't know them; please come back 9th Wonder!
19. Onyx - Their first two albums were insane! Especially tracks like "Last Days"
20. Souls of Mischief - You would think twice if someone told you they were from Cali, complex!
Honorable Mention
0 Digital Underground - Hey Pac owes his career to them
0 3rd Base - Two stellar albums from rap's first white answer to EPMD and then they split just like EPMD, so sad
o X Clan - Too bad they were successful in era that it was vogue to be ultra aware of your heritage
o Das Efx - They were hurt by not being able to shack there fadish and often bitten "Bum Skiggidy Bum" style but are great lyricist all the same. Even Jay Z was biting them!
0 Boot Camp Clik - They are more of a collective than a group. A gathering of 4 groups Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah, OGC and Smiff n Wessun and few other misc MCs. That "For The People" album that was so anticipated by fans but was one of the biggest let downs in rap "can't wait for that to drop" history. They lost their foot hold next Wu with this album. You have to admit they rival Wu Tang with the sheer number of top notch MCs. Buckshot, Sean Price, Rock and Steele lead the pack.
Time for comedy!
Some of you don't know but I can tell a good joke or three and laughing is a hobby to me despite my serious visage.
So courtesy of da tube I bring you some of my funniest musical clips.
I'll title them for you:
When a Preacher Wants to be Prez
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7xgtAWfSWM
Naw Llama Boy Tell'em!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oWSPcyJpdKs&feature=user
I Love Skillz for Clowning People's Stupidity Every Year!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9L74KHJZX-g&feature=related
So courtesy of da tube I bring you some of my funniest musical clips.
I'll title them for you:
When a Preacher Wants to be Prez
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7xgtAWfSWM
Naw Llama Boy Tell'em!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oWSPcyJpdKs&feature=user
I Love Skillz for Clowning People's Stupidity Every Year!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9L74KHJZX-g&feature=related
Monday, March 3, 2008
The Wire (I had to do it!)
Every Sunday for last few years nothing gets done at 9pm on Sundays. I have very few favorite shows but this show is addictive.
The thing that's compelling is the pure realism of the show. They nailed the slang, mannerisms and cultural backdrops perfectly. You could even hear songs from local rap cat Bossman or club music playing in the ground.
My soul goal was to acquire all of seasons and make a super Dual Layer DVD compilation of all of them. I even watch the reruns as if I never saw them. Most times it's too link something from a current episode and find out why it's now relevant.
I really want a movie as a prequel to show or at least two more seasons.
Favorite Characters
Omar-How do you make a gay guy so menacing and feared but respected and make the character work so well? "Omar coming!" Cats scampering off and tossing their work at him. This dude has a code of morals too, compelling?
McNulty-Good cop with too many vices. How gets so much booty is amazing to me.
Bodie-A true street soldier. This is a guy you want on your team!
Dookey-He reminds of a guy that lived in my neighborhood I grew up in. Smart but neglected.
Snoop-You swear she was one of those little knucklehead dudes but she's a stone cold killer. "yeeraooh"
The thing that's compelling is the pure realism of the show. They nailed the slang, mannerisms and cultural backdrops perfectly. You could even hear songs from local rap cat Bossman or club music playing in the ground.
My soul goal was to acquire all of seasons and make a super Dual Layer DVD compilation of all of them. I even watch the reruns as if I never saw them. Most times it's too link something from a current episode and find out why it's now relevant.
I really want a movie as a prequel to show or at least two more seasons.
Favorite Characters
Omar-How do you make a gay guy so menacing and feared but respected and make the character work so well? "Omar coming!" Cats scampering off and tossing their work at him. This dude has a code of morals too, compelling?
McNulty-Good cop with too many vices. How gets so much booty is amazing to me.
Bodie-A true street soldier. This is a guy you want on your team!
Dookey-He reminds of a guy that lived in my neighborhood I grew up in. Smart but neglected.
Snoop-You swear she was one of those little knucklehead dudes but she's a stone cold killer. "yeeraooh"
"My" Top 20 Rappers of All-Time
In case you haven't notice I'm a very broad individual when it comes to culture but with music my allegiance lies with rap music.
*Disclaimer for you so call fans of rap music: Hip-Hop is the culture, Rap is the music. KRS-1 told you idiots more than a decade ago! So stop it!*
1. Nas-Just keeps getting better and better IMO!
2. Jay-Z-I still can't believe he writes nothing
3. Rakim-The "God Emcee"! If it wasn't for him alotta these cats would still be selling drugs
4. Notorious B.I.G- "Black and ugly as eva" C'mon now, he made that sexy for the ladies
5. KRS-1-The Teacha! If you don't have is early work you are wrong!
6. Big Daddy Kane-His metaphors and mack style has fathered many careers
7. Ice Cube-He instantly had me hooked on "Dope Man"-It was once said.........
8. Chuck D-His clarity and power made me want to march or revolt as an 11yr old
9. Scarface-TX should bow down to him. Lyrically he has carried them to relevance for years!
10. Method Man-So versatile and clever you waited for his verses
11. Pharoahe Monch-Stress! Some of you don't even know that song but this guy is a lyrical beast
12. Talib Kweli-Intelligent with a street edge
12. MC Lyte-If Rakim is the God Emcee; Hands down no one touches the Godess Emcee
13. Common-We knock him for that Badu influenced album but lyrically you have to listen to him
14. Redman-Lyrical comedic fitness, you will laugh and be blown away at the same time
15.LL Cool J-Monster Career! When he's not dedicating an album to ladies he's a beast
16. Tupac-I would rate him higher but the later part of his career was marred by ignorance
17. Snoop Dog-His cadence and voice gave Da Brat a career-lol!
18. GZA-He pretty much created the concept song genre "Labels", "Animal Planet" etc
19. Busta Rhyme-Pure Energy since he was 17! Rarrarrggh like a Dungeon Dragon! Man listen!
20. Black Thought-He's far too underrated because his sonic buddies overshadow his masterful flows
*Honorable Mention List*
o MF Doom-Remember KMD? Well Mister Peach Fuzz has transformed into a super lyrical villian
o Special Ed-Simple but witty and well loved; was leading rap's golden years
o Ras Kass-If it wasn't for label woes and poor marketing we would hear more from this left coast beast!
Hate me later but these are "My" Top 20.
-Career length with relevance was factored in (LL Cool J had to get a nod because of that)
-Sparks your mental (huge factor for me)
-Changed the game (Rakim, Nas, Biggie and Big Daddy Kane) were the measuring sticks
-Groundbreaking status (MC Lyte) lyrically we haven't seen a female dominate like that or probably one see another. (She didn't need to overtly nasty or sexy for people to listen!)
*Disclaimer for you so call fans of rap music: Hip-Hop is the culture, Rap is the music. KRS-1 told you idiots more than a decade ago! So stop it!*
1. Nas-Just keeps getting better and better IMO!
2. Jay-Z-I still can't believe he writes nothing
3. Rakim-The "God Emcee"! If it wasn't for him alotta these cats would still be selling drugs
4. Notorious B.I.G- "Black and ugly as eva" C'mon now, he made that sexy for the ladies
5. KRS-1-The Teacha! If you don't have is early work you are wrong!
6. Big Daddy Kane-His metaphors and mack style has fathered many careers
7. Ice Cube-He instantly had me hooked on "Dope Man"-It was once said.........
8. Chuck D-His clarity and power made me want to march or revolt as an 11yr old
9. Scarface-TX should bow down to him. Lyrically he has carried them to relevance for years!
10. Method Man-So versatile and clever you waited for his verses
11. Pharoahe Monch-Stress! Some of you don't even know that song but this guy is a lyrical beast
12. Talib Kweli-Intelligent with a street edge
12. MC Lyte-If Rakim is the God Emcee; Hands down no one touches the Godess Emcee
13. Common-We knock him for that Badu influenced album but lyrically you have to listen to him
14. Redman-Lyrical comedic fitness, you will laugh and be blown away at the same time
15.LL Cool J-Monster Career! When he's not dedicating an album to ladies he's a beast
16. Tupac-I would rate him higher but the later part of his career was marred by ignorance
17. Snoop Dog-His cadence and voice gave Da Brat a career-lol!
18. GZA-He pretty much created the concept song genre "Labels", "Animal Planet" etc
19. Busta Rhyme-Pure Energy since he was 17! Rarrarrggh like a Dungeon Dragon! Man listen!
20. Black Thought-He's far too underrated because his sonic buddies overshadow his masterful flows
*Honorable Mention List*
o MF Doom-Remember KMD? Well Mister Peach Fuzz has transformed into a super lyrical villian
o Special Ed-Simple but witty and well loved; was leading rap's golden years
o Ras Kass-If it wasn't for label woes and poor marketing we would hear more from this left coast beast!
Hate me later but these are "My" Top 20.
-Career length with relevance was factored in (LL Cool J had to get a nod because of that)
-Sparks your mental (huge factor for me)
-Changed the game (Rakim, Nas, Biggie and Big Daddy Kane) were the measuring sticks
-Groundbreaking status (MC Lyte) lyrically we haven't seen a female dominate like that or probably one see another. (She didn't need to overtly nasty or sexy for people to listen!)
Don't You Cat's Have Real Family?
In case you didn't realize it yet, I'm from Baltimore. Yes, B-more or Charm City not Dundalk, Towson, Parkville or Rosedale for those of you who front all of the time. Be proud of your suburban lineage-lol! That's a post in itself that my man Du and I could rant about in a little bit.
In mid 90's everyone had to make their city's image tough by giving it a crime related alias. Charm City just wasn't hard enough for the youngsters I guess? So the hoppaz (young street rats) came with Harm City, Bodymore, Murdamore and then state became extra gully with Murderland. Why? Is it cool to embrace our horrific murder rate?
To put this in context for you in a personal light that is. In 99 I lost 19 friends and family to senseless violence and I was not bragging one bit. What was bad the Sun newspaper ran a huge article about the insane 300+ murders that year and that's how I counted the people I knew. I knew the number but actually seeing their names is really what solidified it for me. You really think I wanted to brag about that? Heck No!
Growing up Baltimore had two known gangs that could be remotely related to anything the Bloods, Crips, Folk, Vice Lords or Black Gangsta Disciples were doing. We had the Old York Boys and Cator Ave Boys as our distant relatives of the Bloods and Crips. Unlike most gangs they didn't have a huge following or sets around the city. They were confined a very small area of East Baltimore. Their claim to fame was Tupac mentioned the streets on "My Block".
You could wear whatever color you wanted in Baltimore until around 2003-2004. That's when I heard the typical country wide gangs had found a new city to move on. I started seeing the grafitti and seeing the young dudes with flags. They still seemed very fake to me. This was because I had traveled to some places and met people who were or are still active in the that lifestyle. They were laughing at these Mid-Atlantic wannabees as they called them. A close friend of mine always quipped "Too many BET videos have been watched-lol!" Jokingly and perceptively he was right.
Our "gangs" if you will, were just cats who sold drugs on a particular corner. You could go anywhere in the city wearing red, blue or black and gold and no one would look at you funny besides joking that you matched a bit too much or clown you about being a fake Mack 10 or Snoop Dog. Colors and organized gangs were a joke to us-just some West Coast insanity. Not now! I saw some little guys with purple bandanas hanging out of their back pockets in NE Baltimore. I wondered what "set" they were claiming, Raven Mob, Barney Bangaz or the Syrup Sippaz? I guess I'm getting old and find gangs as nothing more than a criminal hodge podge of youngsters looking for a tough identity to fill a family void?
In that note. I never sought the "love" as they call from large groups of males. I have two large families and loved pretty well by them all. Heck, my job could be compared to a gang with me being a "set king" if you will. We wear uniforms, we stress loyalty, comraderie and we have a hierarchy that's copied by street idiots who really don't understand it at all. None positive ever comes out gang mentality or action. Usually there's some older "boss" manipulating young males or females for their own benefit. The youngster want to prove their worth and earn street cred so they succumb to idiotic initiation rights that either severely harm them or others.
In closing parents love your kids and make time for them because their are "groups" who claim they can show the "love" that you may lead you to closing a casket or bars closing in on them.
In mid 90's everyone had to make their city's image tough by giving it a crime related alias. Charm City just wasn't hard enough for the youngsters I guess? So the hoppaz (young street rats) came with Harm City, Bodymore, Murdamore and then state became extra gully with Murderland. Why? Is it cool to embrace our horrific murder rate?
To put this in context for you in a personal light that is. In 99 I lost 19 friends and family to senseless violence and I was not bragging one bit. What was bad the Sun newspaper ran a huge article about the insane 300+ murders that year and that's how I counted the people I knew. I knew the number but actually seeing their names is really what solidified it for me. You really think I wanted to brag about that? Heck No!
Growing up Baltimore had two known gangs that could be remotely related to anything the Bloods, Crips, Folk, Vice Lords or Black Gangsta Disciples were doing. We had the Old York Boys and Cator Ave Boys as our distant relatives of the Bloods and Crips. Unlike most gangs they didn't have a huge following or sets around the city. They were confined a very small area of East Baltimore. Their claim to fame was Tupac mentioned the streets on "My Block".
You could wear whatever color you wanted in Baltimore until around 2003-2004. That's when I heard the typical country wide gangs had found a new city to move on. I started seeing the grafitti and seeing the young dudes with flags. They still seemed very fake to me. This was because I had traveled to some places and met people who were or are still active in the that lifestyle. They were laughing at these Mid-Atlantic wannabees as they called them. A close friend of mine always quipped "Too many BET videos have been watched-lol!" Jokingly and perceptively he was right.
Our "gangs" if you will, were just cats who sold drugs on a particular corner. You could go anywhere in the city wearing red, blue or black and gold and no one would look at you funny besides joking that you matched a bit too much or clown you about being a fake Mack 10 or Snoop Dog. Colors and organized gangs were a joke to us-just some West Coast insanity. Not now! I saw some little guys with purple bandanas hanging out of their back pockets in NE Baltimore. I wondered what "set" they were claiming, Raven Mob, Barney Bangaz or the Syrup Sippaz? I guess I'm getting old and find gangs as nothing more than a criminal hodge podge of youngsters looking for a tough identity to fill a family void?
In that note. I never sought the "love" as they call from large groups of males. I have two large families and loved pretty well by them all. Heck, my job could be compared to a gang with me being a "set king" if you will. We wear uniforms, we stress loyalty, comraderie and we have a hierarchy that's copied by street idiots who really don't understand it at all. None positive ever comes out gang mentality or action. Usually there's some older "boss" manipulating young males or females for their own benefit. The youngster want to prove their worth and earn street cred so they succumb to idiotic initiation rights that either severely harm them or others.
In closing parents love your kids and make time for them because their are "groups" who claim they can show the "love" that you may lead you to closing a casket or bars closing in on them.
Monday, February 18, 2008
And yet more Recerts......
Okay, true believers I mentioned my last trip horrific. This one was a mild surprise. The issues I had this time was the weather, my 10hr drive and door key code reader failing-constantly.
I flew back home for a mere day before my next trip to lovely Edgewood, MD. Sorry, I'm stretching it-LOL! Edgewood, MD isn't known for much except that it's has a small Army post. I mean it's winter in MD and it can be brutal. I was born and raised in Baltimore for 20yrs and the I had the dubious distinction of being stationed at Fort Meade, MD for 2.5yrs. So I know the place pretty well.
Anyway I get to my room at 9am after driving through the night to avoid traffic hassles. (Good idea for all of you that zip up and down the I-95). Bad idea if you've been loaded off 5hr Shot energy drinks. Those things work, too well for my little body. So I'm wired but I'm crashing hard to as I put my bags away.
The class was at the Ramada and I had a room in the very hotel. So no driving and no traffic woes for me-jeaaahhhh!
Then the madness begins. It's freezing in MD! I mean I was basking in 65-78 weather in TX and it was 65 in GA. So this is a bit much for me. I know, I know-But you are from there you should be used to this. Please I can't stand the cold but I did with the heat pretty well.
My HVAC unit in my room had a personality disorder. It could not decide if it wanted to be hot or cold and medium wasn't a dialect or setting it was remotely familiar with. So I had to be innovative and deflect the Hades jet blast air to floor so it would cool off before it enveloped me in a dry death wrenching dehydrating grip all week.
My key codes kept getting wiped and they finally figured out on Thursday it wasn't me it was the door reader. So I had to leave class for 30mins and move my stuff. Usually I don't unpack and use the hangers or drawers in the room when travel for a week or less. I just live out of my bag. This time I unpacked, oops! Won't do that again-LOL!
Now for the class. It actually wasn't that bad. Lengthy breaks and some humor throughout. My visions of shopping and visiting were dashed by oodles of homework and studying. I refuse to get a free trip, free training, free lodging and come back as a failure so I focus on the mission at hand then I ball out!
The hotel staff kept fat and happy by providing us with a plethora of additional breakfast items even though they had a continental breakfast laid for us earlier. T hen snacks and drinks flowed throughout the day. I'm not a coffee drinker but I was trying to lay off the Full Throttle addiction I developed back in 05 and my last job sometimes "required" a couple of large cans on some days. So I created a "Hood Cappuccino" if you will. Just some hot coco mix thrown in some regular coffee. The extreme rush of caffienated sugar is a but much I feel heart scream "Fool! What are you doing to me!"
Yes I ate a few crab cakes. C'mon I'm a true Charm City kid, I had to do it.
The exam was a 70 question open book torture test. It didn't help the heat was non-existent this particular day. So spent the 3hr near mental death experience chasing my nose and flipping pages. Speaking of pages, we had 6 references to flip through for answers. Yes, some people failed. Why? They don't know how tab key points in their books.
Now I'm back in my warm cozy house and happy it's all over. Now for the last part of the trip. Filing my travel claims-ugggh the headache. However, the money is always nice!
I flew back home for a mere day before my next trip to lovely Edgewood, MD. Sorry, I'm stretching it-LOL! Edgewood, MD isn't known for much except that it's has a small Army post. I mean it's winter in MD and it can be brutal. I was born and raised in Baltimore for 20yrs and the I had the dubious distinction of being stationed at Fort Meade, MD for 2.5yrs. So I know the place pretty well.
Anyway I get to my room at 9am after driving through the night to avoid traffic hassles. (Good idea for all of you that zip up and down the I-95). Bad idea if you've been loaded off 5hr Shot energy drinks. Those things work, too well for my little body. So I'm wired but I'm crashing hard to as I put my bags away.
The class was at the Ramada and I had a room in the very hotel. So no driving and no traffic woes for me-jeaaahhhh!
Then the madness begins. It's freezing in MD! I mean I was basking in 65-78 weather in TX and it was 65 in GA. So this is a bit much for me. I know, I know-But you are from there you should be used to this. Please I can't stand the cold but I did with the heat pretty well.
My HVAC unit in my room had a personality disorder. It could not decide if it wanted to be hot or cold and medium wasn't a dialect or setting it was remotely familiar with. So I had to be innovative and deflect the Hades jet blast air to floor so it would cool off before it enveloped me in a dry death wrenching dehydrating grip all week.
My key codes kept getting wiped and they finally figured out on Thursday it wasn't me it was the door reader. So I had to leave class for 30mins and move my stuff. Usually I don't unpack and use the hangers or drawers in the room when travel for a week or less. I just live out of my bag. This time I unpacked, oops! Won't do that again-LOL!
Now for the class. It actually wasn't that bad. Lengthy breaks and some humor throughout. My visions of shopping and visiting were dashed by oodles of homework and studying. I refuse to get a free trip, free training, free lodging and come back as a failure so I focus on the mission at hand then I ball out!
The hotel staff kept fat and happy by providing us with a plethora of additional breakfast items even though they had a continental breakfast laid for us earlier. T hen snacks and drinks flowed throughout the day. I'm not a coffee drinker but I was trying to lay off the Full Throttle addiction I developed back in 05 and my last job sometimes "required" a couple of large cans on some days. So I created a "Hood Cappuccino" if you will. Just some hot coco mix thrown in some regular coffee. The extreme rush of caffienated sugar is a but much I feel heart scream "Fool! What are you doing to me!"
Yes I ate a few crab cakes. C'mon I'm a true Charm City kid, I had to do it.
The exam was a 70 question open book torture test. It didn't help the heat was non-existent this particular day. So spent the 3hr near mental death experience chasing my nose and flipping pages. Speaking of pages, we had 6 references to flip through for answers. Yes, some people failed. Why? They don't know how tab key points in their books.
Now I'm back in my warm cozy house and happy it's all over. Now for the last part of the trip. Filing my travel claims-ugggh the headache. However, the money is always nice!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Sometimes You May Look Forward To Something too Much?
I love traveling, especially when the government is paying. Sometimes I think I get excited when I find out I can cop a free trip at Uncle Samuel's expense. Well let me get started with the horror-LOL!
Sunday I arrived in San Antonio excited because I made it with no delays or any other insanity that happens usually when I fly. (That's a blog in itself!)
The madness begins-
Avis has slick marketing when it comes to their rentals. Hidden gas fees that I nearly lost my usual cool over with the counter dude. Iron that crap out.
I arrive at my reserved hotel.
-Idiots gave up my reservation because I didn't get there at a certain time. Price gouging due to the annual San Antonio Rodeo. I gives a flying phugg about horses and bulls. By the way fam, I reserved this room back in December of 2007!
-I go to the Hilton. They too are gouging and act like they don't know what a government agency tax exemption form is. So I went online and presented the exemption form to the uniformed suited idiots who's only response was "Oh we didn't realize you were here on official business, Sir?" I guess I should have worn the "appropriate attire" perhaps? The Hilton isn't that ballerific people. Apparently the money goes to Paris' Yorkie dog or something? I had to ask for extra towels and they left trash in the trash can in my room. Be wary of hotels with proprietary restaurants in them. They never will have fridges or microwaves because they want you to pay $6 beers and $21 dollars for a cute but small steak meal.
-Now for the training. It sucked!!!! Last time I came for this recertification there were only two exams. There are exams everyday now but Monday! I mean what changed that I didn't know about? Some instructors didn't want to give us a full ten minute break. "Let's take a 3 minute break, okay?" No mawphucka it's not okay. It takes me longer than that to piss! When you get short breaks it usually alludes to you leaving early. Oh hellz nawz! How about 5pm or 5:15. Then listening to someone so full of themselves and tellling irrelevant stories as if we were excited. Then he demanded for us to exchange info with him. No playa I'm no longer interested, next!
Guess what? I get to go another training starting this Monday. Well at least they were horrible last time and I expect nothing less from them as well.
Sunday I arrived in San Antonio excited because I made it with no delays or any other insanity that happens usually when I fly. (That's a blog in itself!)
The madness begins-
Avis has slick marketing when it comes to their rentals. Hidden gas fees that I nearly lost my usual cool over with the counter dude. Iron that crap out.
I arrive at my reserved hotel.
-Idiots gave up my reservation because I didn't get there at a certain time. Price gouging due to the annual San Antonio Rodeo. I gives a flying phugg about horses and bulls. By the way fam, I reserved this room back in December of 2007!
-I go to the Hilton. They too are gouging and act like they don't know what a government agency tax exemption form is. So I went online and presented the exemption form to the uniformed suited idiots who's only response was "Oh we didn't realize you were here on official business, Sir?" I guess I should have worn the "appropriate attire" perhaps? The Hilton isn't that ballerific people. Apparently the money goes to Paris' Yorkie dog or something? I had to ask for extra towels and they left trash in the trash can in my room. Be wary of hotels with proprietary restaurants in them. They never will have fridges or microwaves because they want you to pay $6 beers and $21 dollars for a cute but small steak meal.
-Now for the training. It sucked!!!! Last time I came for this recertification there were only two exams. There are exams everyday now but Monday! I mean what changed that I didn't know about? Some instructors didn't want to give us a full ten minute break. "Let's take a 3 minute break, okay?" No mawphucka it's not okay. It takes me longer than that to piss! When you get short breaks it usually alludes to you leaving early. Oh hellz nawz! How about 5pm or 5:15. Then listening to someone so full of themselves and tellling irrelevant stories as if we were excited. Then he demanded for us to exchange info with him. No playa I'm no longer interested, next!
Guess what? I get to go another training starting this Monday. Well at least they were horrible last time and I expect nothing less from them as well.
Monday, January 28, 2008
You Idiots Have Tarnished My Beloved Sport
It's well known I love futbol de americano for my latin/hispanic cats or felines I know. I could watch football all day long in between showers and food re-ups. However, I kinda fell upon my the sport that I'm in love with and have loved sense I was 14. Track and Field!
Track was my girl in high school. She was good to me and even rewarded with higher education and propz that I never imagined. I ran track initially to get faster for football. Well, I wasn't growing fast enough for my Barry Sanders like dreams and my football career ended fast and abruptly to my sad demise. However, a great man saw a bit of potential in me and the rest was history. I wasn't overwhelming good but I had some pretty good performances.
Hmm Marion Jones......My coach always said sprinters did suddenly become dominant. It was a gradual build up. Simply put Marion wasn't overwhelming anyone early on. Then she exploded into this superstar. She was too powerful it seemed and he and I would wonder sometimes about her performances.
Then it all started happening. A plethora of big name sprinters were going down in droves. Marion's former husband even dropped dime on her and no one believed him. They chalked it up to a bitter divorce and scorn. Nope, he was did on.
Track is the ultimate individual sport. Your natural ability against another human's natural ability. Equipment has very little to do with your performance and teammates have no direct effect on how fast you run or how far. Relays are only times another person effects your performance. Even so the exchange has to be severely handled that it effects your outcome.
Now no one believes in the US's dominance in sprints anymore. They all seem suspect to the world now. Our distance runners have never been dominate in the last 25 years. So now we will simply look average and like a bunch of non-factors like how Germans and Russians reps were tainted for years. I guess we will wait it out and try to restore the feeling.
Track was my girl in high school. She was good to me and even rewarded with higher education and propz that I never imagined. I ran track initially to get faster for football. Well, I wasn't growing fast enough for my Barry Sanders like dreams and my football career ended fast and abruptly to my sad demise. However, a great man saw a bit of potential in me and the rest was history. I wasn't overwhelming good but I had some pretty good performances.
Hmm Marion Jones......My coach always said sprinters did suddenly become dominant. It was a gradual build up. Simply put Marion wasn't overwhelming anyone early on. Then she exploded into this superstar. She was too powerful it seemed and he and I would wonder sometimes about her performances.
Then it all started happening. A plethora of big name sprinters were going down in droves. Marion's former husband even dropped dime on her and no one believed him. They chalked it up to a bitter divorce and scorn. Nope, he was did on.
Track is the ultimate individual sport. Your natural ability against another human's natural ability. Equipment has very little to do with your performance and teammates have no direct effect on how fast you run or how far. Relays are only times another person effects your performance. Even so the exchange has to be severely handled that it effects your outcome.
Now no one believes in the US's dominance in sprints anymore. They all seem suspect to the world now. Our distance runners have never been dominate in the last 25 years. So now we will simply look average and like a bunch of non-factors like how Germans and Russians reps were tainted for years. I guess we will wait it out and try to restore the feeling.
Shyt My Uncle Told Me LOL!
Alotta people that know me will agree that I'm funny. Not sure where I got my humor from but my parents are no comedians, well at least not intentionally. I make real life stuff that happened to me that wasn't remotely funny at the time funny for my listeners. I won't lie I went through some messed up and unneeded stuff as a kid. It's what makes me who I am but now I laugh the pain away because I refuse to be a "case" and can't cope with daily life.
Anyway, my oldest uncle had this thing about "schooling" his young nephews. My uncle was the family barber as a kid. It actually cut 90% of his nephews hair and he did a good job. Props to my uncle because the man is blessed with multi-talented hands. He would sit you on the toilet seat in his bathroom and smoke his cigarette and tell you stories. Some serious and some downright raunchy and humorous. When I was about 13 he figured it was now time to bless the young'n with the verbal knowledge of men.
Lesson 1 STDs
Big unc told me there was a way to find out if a girl was "burning". He swore it was fool proof. The man said your nose could fool you. So don't rely on that but don't disregard it either. The technique was to distract the girl while you are fingering the cooch then sneak a sniff. Sniff test checks out proceed to next mission. The follow on mission required you to play a bit of your ear wax in her cooch without her knowing it. NO LIE! The wise man said if she jumps or squirms something is wrong. I couldn't believe my ears! He told alright fine don't do it and see what happens.
Naw big unc, a condom will do just fine!
Lesson 2 Basic Math
Now this lesson is priceless because I can almost confirm he was living his own words. Trust me I spent enough summers at his house helping out to see this. He told me to stay with from those fine pretty girls because they were too much drama. Okay, he had a point meaning all of the other guys will be after her. Chances are she's going to get conceited and the games began. So what's a dude to do? Get a not so hot chick? Yep!
It was like this according to my uncle, "If you can't get yourself a ten, get five twos." Hmm? The man was an astute mathematician too LOL! Okay the formula was this, well its kinda like a hood Pythagarean Theorem if you will. Each of these said "2" brought something to the table that you needed this ten to but then ten only looked good and was incapable of offering anything but something nice to look at. Basically was a great cook, ultra nice, cleaned for you, super freak and one was there when ever you needed her no matter what. Fellaz the man is probably a genius of sorts because I can't say I found one woman who actually did all of that in one package. You just kinda go through life accepted there's always a category that needs work-lol!
The man actually had women like that around. No lie!
Lesson 3 The Rule of Percentages
Okay finally that made sense to me from the start. He said all women want a man who be the energizer bunny in bed and wow them each time. Basically keep them off balance with new revelations each time out. With that ability you will never be alone he said. Hmmm? Well the man was on to something. For my tricycle with training wheels population he meant go all out sometimes then kinda all out sometimes.
Anyway, my oldest uncle had this thing about "schooling" his young nephews. My uncle was the family barber as a kid. It actually cut 90% of his nephews hair and he did a good job. Props to my uncle because the man is blessed with multi-talented hands. He would sit you on the toilet seat in his bathroom and smoke his cigarette and tell you stories. Some serious and some downright raunchy and humorous. When I was about 13 he figured it was now time to bless the young'n with the verbal knowledge of men.
Lesson 1 STDs
Big unc told me there was a way to find out if a girl was "burning". He swore it was fool proof. The man said your nose could fool you. So don't rely on that but don't disregard it either. The technique was to distract the girl while you are fingering the cooch then sneak a sniff. Sniff test checks out proceed to next mission. The follow on mission required you to play a bit of your ear wax in her cooch without her knowing it. NO LIE! The wise man said if she jumps or squirms something is wrong. I couldn't believe my ears! He told alright fine don't do it and see what happens.
Naw big unc, a condom will do just fine!
Lesson 2 Basic Math
Now this lesson is priceless because I can almost confirm he was living his own words. Trust me I spent enough summers at his house helping out to see this. He told me to stay with from those fine pretty girls because they were too much drama. Okay, he had a point meaning all of the other guys will be after her. Chances are she's going to get conceited and the games began. So what's a dude to do? Get a not so hot chick? Yep!
It was like this according to my uncle, "If you can't get yourself a ten, get five twos." Hmm? The man was an astute mathematician too LOL! Okay the formula was this, well its kinda like a hood Pythagarean Theorem if you will. Each of these said "2" brought something to the table that you needed this ten to but then ten only looked good and was incapable of offering anything but something nice to look at. Basically was a great cook, ultra nice, cleaned for you, super freak and one was there when ever you needed her no matter what. Fellaz the man is probably a genius of sorts because I can't say I found one woman who actually did all of that in one package. You just kinda go through life accepted there's always a category that needs work-lol!
The man actually had women like that around. No lie!
Lesson 3 The Rule of Percentages
Okay finally that made sense to me from the start. He said all women want a man who be the energizer bunny in bed and wow them each time. Basically keep them off balance with new revelations each time out. With that ability you will never be alone he said. Hmmm? Well the man was on to something. For my tricycle with training wheels population he meant go all out sometimes then kinda all out sometimes.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Nas Illmatic-Illmatic (10yr Anniversary Release)
First off this is one of rap's greatest albums ever. Don't even try to debate it. If you doubt it either you are too young or caught up on some coastal regional stupidity. The problem I had with this joint when it dropped was it was TOOOOO short! I wanted Nasir Jones to continue to murder my eardrums and stimulate my mental for at least 5 more tracks. However, Nas had it right he put quality over quantity into this album before everyone would flood the market with double cds full of studio floor fodder.
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/29061653/NaS_-_Illmatic10thannivDISC1.zip.html
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/29064760/NaS_-_Illmatic10thannivDISC2.zip.html
Note this at 256kbs bitrate. Meaning it will sound just like the original joint not compressed like 95% of the joints on your comp right now.
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/29061653/NaS_-_Illmatic10thannivDISC1.zip.html
hxxp://rapidshare.com/files/29064760/NaS_-_Illmatic10thannivDISC2.zip.html
Note this at 256kbs bitrate. Meaning it will sound just like the original joint not compressed like 95% of the joints on your comp right now.
Ultra Magnetic MCs-Critical Beatdown
Another one of my favorite ol skool tapes. Yeah I said tape because the CD game wasn't poppin yet. I remember as a young skrappa reciting the hook to "Ego Trippin". "Magnetic, Magnetic". Funny how that track is listed as the 12" Remix but I've never heard the original? Maybe someone can help me out.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=C6S8PZ4G
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=C6S8PZ4G
Now for the What You Really Came Here For
The Source Fat Tape
1. Terminator X feat Chuck D & Sista Souljah - Buck Whylin
2. Brand Nubian - Who Get Busy Like This Man
3. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Streets Of New York
4. A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix)
5. Eric B & Rakim - The Ghetto (Drums Mix)
6. Ice Cube - Who's The Mack
7. Boogie Down Productions - Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love)
8. 3rd Bass - Products of the Environment (Marley Marl Remix)
9. LL Cool J - Boomin' System (Underground Mix)
10. Frescho & DJ Miz - Ain't You Freshco?
11. Barsha - Who's The Master?12. K Solo - Your Mom's In My Business
13. Michie Mee & LA Luv - Jamaican Funk
14. Poor Righteous Teachers - Rock Dis Funky Joint
15. KMC - Gangsters
Since I'm an ol'skool rap fan I'll bless ya'll with Real Shyt I "found"
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BOAGJYAM
1. Terminator X feat Chuck D & Sista Souljah - Buck Whylin
2. Brand Nubian - Who Get Busy Like This Man
3. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Streets Of New York
4. A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix)
5. Eric B & Rakim - The Ghetto (Drums Mix)
6. Ice Cube - Who's The Mack
7. Boogie Down Productions - Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love)
8. 3rd Bass - Products of the Environment (Marley Marl Remix)
9. LL Cool J - Boomin' System (Underground Mix)
10. Frescho & DJ Miz - Ain't You Freshco?
11. Barsha - Who's The Master?12. K Solo - Your Mom's In My Business
13. Michie Mee & LA Luv - Jamaican Funk
14. Poor Righteous Teachers - Rock Dis Funky Joint
15. KMC - Gangsters
Since I'm an ol'skool rap fan I'll bless ya'll with Real Shyt I "found"
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BOAGJYAM
Politics and Bovine Excrement
Ahhh the campaign trail and the drama of the state primaries. If you are invoking your constitutional right than you are paying attention to this stuff. If not you are pretty worthless in my view and you should move to some other land that suffocates your basic rights as a human.
Anyway, I'm too concern about the republicans and their "I can do better than you and religious mud slinging" mentalities. None of those dudes excite me. Naw ol Hil and Barack are getting it on. Barack being the charismatic and witty Black man who's actually held in high regard by large percentage of white voters are engaged in verbal and character warfare. Hillary has the "leverage" of having a former president as husband who's often humorously and seriously referred to sometimes as the first "Black President" on her side. Trust me many Black voters were offended by the tactics Bill began using and felt "betrayed" somehow. Remember we are the group of people that laughed when it was made public that he got head in the oval office from an intern. That became stuff of urban lore. I mean what man wouldn't want to brag that he got some skull in the ultimate office. Problem was he picked the wrong chick!
No one expected Obama to destroy Clinton in those keys states and the now the winds of change may be upon us, seriously. Either way it now appears that we may have a woman or Black man as our president. The Republicans are reeling from these two candidates onslaughts in key states. Is out society finally letting go the white collar oppressive stance to progression? The base the Republicans are trying to separate themselves on is the needed change of view on Iraq. It's getting ugly and lies are being slung and twisting of words are being quoted or should say misquoted. Yeah, you Mr. Warhero McCain! Shame on you for blatantly lying on your opponent just calm down his surge.
Anyway that's just how I feel and I don't expect anyone else to follow me on these views. Do you and I'll do me!
Anyway, I'm too concern about the republicans and their "I can do better than you and religious mud slinging" mentalities. None of those dudes excite me. Naw ol Hil and Barack are getting it on. Barack being the charismatic and witty Black man who's actually held in high regard by large percentage of white voters are engaged in verbal and character warfare. Hillary has the "leverage" of having a former president as husband who's often humorously and seriously referred to sometimes as the first "Black President" on her side. Trust me many Black voters were offended by the tactics Bill began using and felt "betrayed" somehow. Remember we are the group of people that laughed when it was made public that he got head in the oval office from an intern. That became stuff of urban lore. I mean what man wouldn't want to brag that he got some skull in the ultimate office. Problem was he picked the wrong chick!
No one expected Obama to destroy Clinton in those keys states and the now the winds of change may be upon us, seriously. Either way it now appears that we may have a woman or Black man as our president. The Republicans are reeling from these two candidates onslaughts in key states. Is out society finally letting go the white collar oppressive stance to progression? The base the Republicans are trying to separate themselves on is the needed change of view on Iraq. It's getting ugly and lies are being slung and twisting of words are being quoted or should say misquoted. Yeah, you Mr. Warhero McCain! Shame on you for blatantly lying on your opponent just calm down his surge.
Anyway that's just how I feel and I don't expect anyone else to follow me on these views. Do you and I'll do me!
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