ADDICTION – A look at drugs and hip-hop

December 1, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Some critics have said that rap music has turned from rapping about selling drugs to them expressing how they take the drugs.

The problem is when people write off hip hop’s history with drugs as just a product of ‘mumble rap’.

Yes it’s true that early records like Grandmaster Flash’s The Message were cultural conscious this was also when many thought of cocaine as a party drug which gave way to ‘ready rock’ or ‘crack’.

I feel this is the same with ecstasy or better know in the community as molly.

Historically this was also seen as a party drug and now it’s moved from the clubs to the hip hop airwaves.

LOYALTY – The lie of sports leagues

November 24, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

If there was any example that the call for loyalty goes both ways it would’ve been in this opportunity.

Isaiah did everything right. The fans loved him, he played hurt both emotionally and physically.

He played through a hip injury only after leading his team to not only a series win against the Chicago Bulls but also the Washington Wizards this was after he lost his sister in a car accident.

Why I Love Black-ish

November 18, 2017September 22, 2019Leave a comment

This is my new favorite show.

Now that the TGIF era is over and watching media is more splintered the tradition of a mass amount of people coming together to watch appointment television no longer happens.

Out of this streaming era there are shows from cable to streaming that still effect watchers in a deep way.

For me that is ABC’s Black-ish.

Young Black America – The Wins & Losses of Meek Mill

November 10, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Sometimes it seems probation is better than sitting in a cell but to be honest this might not always be the case.

The system is not for us and it set up for citizens to become repeat offenders and return especially with the advent of mass incarceration due to the privatization of prisons.

From The Stage to the Pulpit – The Parallels of MC Hammer & Ma$e

November 3, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Each man’s legacy is readily solidified in the rap game.

MC Hammer’s lyrical references are mainly refereed to his loss of 30 million but also Fifth Harmony recently his Pumps and a Bump record.

Though criticized for his endorsements as selling out Hammer opened the door for rappers to see money promoting brands.

Hardcore reality rappers Ice Cube, Biggie and Tupac all benefited in turn endorsing St. Ides and even more with Sprite targeting rappers like Nas and Grand Puma for their Obey Your Thirst campaign.

Mase’s legacy is lyrical references to him being a rapper turned pastor.

Though he introduced Cam’ron to Biggie and taught Jim Jones how to rap his biggest impact was him inspiring artists.

Harlem’s own A$AP Mob from Rocky to Ferg has credited Mase as an influence and French Montana went as far as announcing Mase would executive produce his debut album.

He was recruited to MMG by Rick Ross and was featured on Wale’s Slight Work remix.

Drake and even his old rival Jay-Z has quoted his memorable lyrics from his guest verses.

Kanye has repeatedly said Mase was his favorite rapper and even produced the remix to Welcome Back and featured Mase on GOOD Music’s Cruel Summer album.

Why I Love Justin Timberlake’s Justified

October 18, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Initially the framework for Justified was birthed out of a desire for The Neptunes to produce for Michael Jackson and take him back to an updated Off The Wall sound so it makes sense why their tracks sound like classic pop with infectious bridges and live drums paired with funky synths and guitars.

This is such a great album and I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of Pharrell & Chad, Timbaland, R&B, NSYNC and of course Justin Timberlake.

Why I Love Kingsman: The Secret Service

October 14, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

After the release of the sequel I went back to see the original.
This was a movie adaptation from the comic series by Mark Miller & Dave Gibbons.

From references to spy leads like Jason Bourne and James Bond this film truly felt like a fresh movie.

In the era of remaking nostalgic classics like Transformers and Power Rangers this My Fair Lady story wasn't completely faithful to the source material but changed to improve the director's feelings about discovering a new take on a classic story.

Why I Love Girl Meets Ski Lodge

October 6, 2017September 22, 2019Leave a comment

I love that their take wasn't classic Boy Meets World.

Even though I thought they wanted Lucas and Riley to be the next Cory and Topanga they took the Frozen angle and highlighted that Riley's greatest relationship was her friendship with Maya. This was seen in the ending conversation of this episode but also in Girl Meets Sixteen where Riles is unsure of what will happen with her and Lucas but they both are definite in how their relationship with be even stronger.

BIG3 – A Classic Remix of Basketball

September 30, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Since the very beginning the Big3 has had some exciting proceedings. During the first game there was a buzzer beater as Power’s Deshawn Stephenson hit the dagger over beating Tri-State.

This was a venture of creating a new sports league by hip hop legend Ice Cube and power broker Jeff Kwatinetz.

We’ve seen new sports leagues being formed before with varying successes.

Trappings Of Fame

September 22, 2017May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Either this life is meaningless or it's meaning is eclipsed by a series of events that satisfy for the moment
But once your moment is passed your moments' the past then poof you can't revive it or hold it - Da Truth, This Is For You

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