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!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
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.
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