It's Been A Long Time...

Shouldn't have left you without a dope beat to step to. Whats up everybody its your favorite man signing in. I know its been quite awhile since I drop my thoughts on you...so you wondering whats on my mind: Barack Obama, Jennifer Hudson, Heroes, Las Vegas, China, Amircan Idol, and whatever the heck else is on my mind.

I was going to start with Barack but I have to skip to American Idol. Now I will admit that I watched the first week and laughed at everyone that couldn't sing a lick. And then I had thoughts about myself standing in front of that panel and I actually like my chances. All I know is you let me sing Shai, "If I Ever Fall In Love" and I might be headed straight to Hollywood. But for the first time in over a month I am catching Idol and I think they are down to almost 20 people. And I am thinking about how much of a factory this show is.
Read Right Here

I guess the reason why I called it a factory was because I don't have to watch it and I can guess the type of people that will make it to the final round. You have your "I don't look like a singer", "Beauty but singing is suspect", "Shy, not sure if I can sing on the big stage", "Hey I'm a rebel...but I'll sing while I'm here", and "Ohhh by the way we can drag this contest on but the world knows I am the best singer" personalities. There is always a little bit of scandal, stars that got booted that go on to stardom, and don't forget the ability to text message your life away so that Fox collects all the way to the bank.

This leads to the next thing that was on my mind...former Idol Jennifer Hudson. This girl has been living it up with a hit role in a big move, which I want to see, I wonder which personality she played while on the show. Save the drama, vote Obama that will be my motto all the way to the elections. I really like Obama and all that he stands for and I know many people would like to protect him and fear for his life, but Barack has the ability to do more than make history. He can run a country in a clean, fair, and possibly bipartisan fashion. Heroes is a show that I have started to watch and I like the plot. Its almost like an X-Men type of feel but like the cartoon lacks in the reality department. The show I most recently watch talked of a plant where they experimented with humans and then created people with crazy abilities to read minds, create fire, move through walls...and that good stuff. Good ole china has created a buying opportunity for my stock portfolio. In case you didn't notice China who has single handily propped up the worlds economy for the last few years had a slight stock market plunge. It dropped 9% the other day which lead the Dow Jones to fall roughly 500 points. Tread cautiously in this market but look for great buying opportunities. And finally, my thoughts on Las Vegas and All-Star weekend. There was a lot of noise and negativity around the All Star break but being there on ground zero I have to say it was one of the best vacations that I have had. Unfortunately I have to send a reminder to America that whenever a group of people of a similar culture get together it doesn't always have to be looked at negatively. Vegas was a melting pot of colors and that should be appreciated, not depreciated.

Holla

HIP HOP IS DEAD!

Is it true, the latest report is that HIP HOP has been murdered, yep ya heard me murder in the first degree. Why all the bulletins on this latest death, my theory is because everyone wants to be the first one to say they called it right. I mean you have economists (Sorry had to go deep, look at the name of my blog!) every year that guess the rise and fall of the stock market and each year its guaranteed one side will be wrong. But whoa if you're on the right side, you will be published in newsletters, show up on CNBC, and probably even get a book deal if it happens to be one of the largest rises or falls ever known to the market. I will get off this analogy but think of it this way, image if you were the analysts that on tv or on print predicted the fall of the tech boom in the 90's or the market slump after 9/11. These guys were heralded as outright geniuses...but how many of those genius analysts predicted that the market would come roaring back like it has. Haven't checked, well the Dow has recently set its ALL TIME HIGH.

But back to the topic at hand:
Read the HIP HOP autopsy


We are all in the prediction game, but what ammunition do the naysayers have. Well try this on for size. This years 2006 Billboards did not record 1 hiphop artist in the top 10, except for Eminem's Curtain Call...but this was a greatest hits album. I know, your next question is what the heck made up the top 10, check this out and don't rub your eyes...I already tried:

1 SOME HEARTS CARRIE UNDERWOOD 3,721,7622
2 HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL SOUNDTRACK 3,252,743
3 ALL THE RIGHT REASONS NICKELBACK 3,043,246
4 ME & MY GANG RASCAL FLATTS 2,761,915
5 THE BREAKTHROUGH MARY J BLIGE 2,636,062
6 CURTAIN CALL: THE HITS EMINEM 2,576,365
7 BACK TO BEDLAM JAMES BLUNT 2,231,085
8 THE ROAD AND THE RADIO KENNY CHESNEY 2,100,744
9 THE LEGEND OF JOHNNY CASH JOHNNY CASH 2,004,003
10 BREAKAWAY KELLY CLARKSON 1,980,966

As you can see country dominated the theme. Overall these numbers look low but I guess we have been spoiled by the numbers Ludacris, Eminem, 50 Cent, Jay Z and other popular hiphop artists have registered recently. So where is hip hop closest representor that would be TI's King @ roughly 1.5M records sold. As you can see R&B was well represented with Mary J at #5, Mariah Carey #11, pop/hiphop group Black Eyed Peas #14, Jamie Foxx #15, Chris Brown #17, Justin Timberlake #18, Ne-Yo #28, and the next true hiphop artist Chamillionaire at #35 with 1.2 M. Get Rich or Dye Tryin Soundtrack, Notorious BIG, Gnarls Barkley and Lil Wayneare other notables just above 1M.

So what does this all mean, two things in my theory. I think that this was just the year of the singles for hiphop. You have a number of big singles from smaller artists and these artist will need time to crossover. Think of the huge singles of 2006:
Walk it - DJ Unk
Soul Survivor Young Jeezy ft Akon
Lean Wit it Rock Wit it - Dem Franchise Boyz
Chicken Noodle Soup
We Fly High - Jim Jones
What You Know About That - TI
Golddigger - Kanye West
Grillz - Nelly
Ridin - Chamillionaire
Hustlin - Rick Ross

Look at this list closely and realize that most of these artists are on their first or second album. My second theory is the lines of R&B, pop, and hiphop are blurring and definitely more because of hiphop. Again the top albums and in R&B and pop have a heavy dose of hiphop influence. Check this list out:
Chris Brown - newcomer with hiphop influence. Example had a song featuring Little Wayne
Ne Yo - first single was a hiphop track with Peedi
Mary J - long ties to hiphop with classics of her and Method Man, Game, and P Diddy
Mariah Carey - same can be said of her hiphop collabo's
Jamie Foxx - his hit single featured Ludacris
Pussycat Dolls - hits singles featured Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg
Fergie - part of Black Eye Peas
Justin Timberlake - productions ooze of Timbaland, a well know hiphop producer and artist (courtesy of Timbaland you can now throw Nelly Furtado and Omarion)
Ciara - featured Bow Wow and Chamillionaire on songs

Do you get my point!!! And to finish things off, we had none of our heavyweights drop albums this year. My prediction, this will be a huge year for hiphop and other artists with huge hiphop influences. These albums and more will make sure of that:
The Game - Doctor's Advocate, not a classic...but creeps close
Jay Z - Kingdom Come, this album has brought even me back to Jay Z's side, check out my write up on his tight track "Lost Ones"
Nas - Hip Hop is dead is the name of the new album and he's teamed up with Jay
Ludacris - great album, and he's evolving...kinda like Nelly has
Young Jeezy - note he was a newcomer less than two years ago
Akon - already blazing the charts
Eminem - he's put together a compilation album "Eminem presents the Re UP"
50 Cent - album coming soon
Snoop Dogg - The Blue Carpet Treatment

My prediction HIP HOP takes its throne back and we shake our way back into 2007!

Nuff said

The Big Game

So what do we do know. With the crazy system known as the BCS, determining who will play for the national championship will be tougher than ever. I don't think that I am a fan of having Ohio State and Michigan square off again in round two of the event. Besides with OSU taking Game 1, it would be fitting that UM takes game 2 and then we find ourselves back in the same predicament. How do you determine who the champion is with both teams potentially splitting the season series. And what about the other teams that deserve a chance...well you do the math.

USC - they lost to Oregon State (hmmm the Beavers aren't even at the top of the PAC10)
The mighty Notre Dame - They got blown out by Michigan
Florida - they make a decent argument but the Gators are not the best 1 loss team, they got handled by Auburn
Arkansas - a good 1 loss team but the strength of schedule isn't as good as Notre Dame

Alas it appears as if it should be a rematch Ohio State and Michigan. And by the watch Troy Smith for Heisman.

A Birthday to Remember...I think

Yeah boyyyy...I'm not Flavor Flav but my peoples had me feeling like I was the man of the hour. Shots out to all of the people that surprised me in some way or another by putting together a few nights of all out fun. Anyone not pictured here, I apologize but it was supposed be a regular night out with maybe 2 or 3 people. Here's what happens when you're friends won't let you get old in peace.

Oldie but a Goodie


Here are some of the pictures from a few nights that I won't be forgetting anytime soon:

Pay It Front, Back, and Side to Side

Now I now you're not sure where I was going with this title but I have to admit I wasn't sure either. I couldn't tell if I had a UGK classic song stuck in my head or if this had real meaning. And by the way, if you are thinking what/or who is UGK and exactly what I am referring to then you are not a true hip hop head. But enough of that, my real meaning for this post is to highlight the importance of giving. So I am telling everyone out there to to give front, back, and side to side. Now I could have been cliche and just said "Pay It Forward"...like the movie but thats not me.
Giving Back


On my quest to better myself, and believe me there is a lot I have to work on. I wanted to share my experience and hope that you all continue or start to do anything at all that you can to make a small difference in the world we live in. So my plea is that in a time where its easy to bash politicians for there slander filled ads and moral injustices, lets move them to the side (because their only human) and take matters into our own hands. Please VOTE, VOLUNTEER, DONATE, and PRAY, so that you can make a difference in what the world looks like tomorrow. Here are some pretty cool experiences from my chance to volunteer with Big Brother/Big Sisters. It doesn't have to be with an organization, it could be you making a difference on your block our at the Y, or donating clothes. Let me know what your thoughts on this.

Jay Z for President

Okay how about more like CEO of Def Jam Records. But if this man was running for president I would have to give him serious thought. I guess I will start off by telling you that I have been a fan of the Jigga Man but I never given the man credit because when the industry came calling and he crossed over I began to wonder…how much of the music is really Jay and how much of it is million dollar beats, ghost writers, and high budget videos.
H to the IZZO

As we all know Jay has returned from retirement and he has a lot to say and do in the world of music and business. Where do we start, this man has amassed an empire fit for a king. With the help of Dame Dash, they started Roc-A-Fella Records and RocaWear clothing. Later follows the epic rise of the artist who then does the music merger of the decade and sells Roc-A-Fella to Def Jam Records and take over as big chief of the entire label. But lets not forget his ownership of the 40/40 Club in NYC and part ownership of the New Jersey Nets. Now my reason for writing this article…Jay Z has released an album after declaring his retirement. So many questions have swirled about Jay’s strange split from Damon Dash and his relationship with Beyonce. Well Jay may have put all those questions to rest with the record: “Lost One”. This is by far one of my favorite tracks my Jay and the reason is because with all the things he could rap about his chose to rap about things in his life in a simple but very skillful way. This laid back song has an old school feel and possibly has the lovely Jill Scott singing the hook. It is my belief that Jay may be finally speaking out about his relationship with Dame Dash, Beyonce, and the choices he’s been forced to make with these relationships. If you don’t believe me, check out these lyrics that I think he used to describe his relationship with (Broken down in parentheses):

Dame Dash

- I heard motherfucka’s sayin they made Hov, made Hov say okay so make another Hov (Common statement made by Dame, he has attempted to start another label)
- We parted ways like Ben and J-Lo (Reference to the split of Dame and Hov, involving Hov using his majority ownership to buy out Dame’s ownership of Roc-A-Fella Records and Rocawear clothing)
- Should have stayed in food and beverage…too much flossing, too much Sam Rothstein (Well known that Roc-A-Fella distributes Armadale, a vodka. And Sam Rothstein is a reference that comes from the movie Casino…Sam a well known mobster who was running a major mob owned casino, but got a big head, spent lots of money, and got away from what he was good at. It was obvious Dame loved the limelight and was in every video actin a fool)
- I ain’t a bitch but I gotta divorce them (Reference to the split)
- Fame, the worst drug known to man

Beyonce
- I don’t think its meant to be, “B”, for she loves her work more than she loves me
- So we aint we, its me and her, cause what she prefers over me is work, and that’s where we differ
- In times she mature, and maybe we can be we again like we were
- And to ask her now ain’t fair (It was rumor that Jay was going to ask “B” to marry him this year)

Indecent Proposal

Now you think you get a little slack for working in the music industry. You get to meet the biggest names in the industry of rock, pop, and hip hop. So working for magazines dedicated to this industry should be the greatest jobs in the world. Could you imagine working for Rolling Stone, Vibe, Source, and XXL. I have this picture that working for a music magazine must be similar to working for a tech company during the dot com era. You got the bean bags for chairs, ping pong tables, and the best cafeteria money can buy. These were the perks to foster innovative thinking and generate enormous profits. So read more to find out what working at the Source Hip Hop magazine gets you. Xtra Read All About It


The perks of working at a hip hop magazine probably include extravagant flights, "relations" with rappers and singers, maybe a little pharmaceutical drug use (and I'm not talking prescription), non stop foul language, and a few movies that probably get the > than R rating. Well its safe to say that no matter where you work we all have to play by the same rules. Kim Osorio, the former Editor In Chief at The Source magazine, filed charges against two executives at the Source at the time. Kim was awarded a $15 million dollar verdict which includes wrongful termination and defamation of character.

In closing, its amazing when art imititates life you are reminded that you still have to play by the rules. The workplace is not a music video and women can't be treated like objects, no matter what you're favorite musician says.

See a write up of the case here: http://sohh.com/articles/article.php/10081