evIdenCE of truth

Poem for Ma's 50th Birthday

2011-10-09T08:52:00.002-04:00

It’s different now…

I’ve moved onto the avenues of the parenthood.

The love you’ve shown for us is better understood.

Well, I say understand, but it evades this man,

How you raised me and got a degree I guess "Can

God make it happen?" wasn’t ever in your questions,

And if it was, you learned to focus on your blessings.

See mama, I always admired how you kept faith

In the midst of struggles that may have come your way.

A part of me died when Aunt Addie said goodbye,

But I looked into your eyes and you were so sure that I

Would see her again – That it comforted my spirit.

Used to wonder about God’s voice, but when you speak I hear it.

And, I’m trying to stay on topic, but the fact of the matter,

Is that your life has truly pointed me up the ladder,

Straight to God’s graces. When we don’t think we can make it.

We give you a call and you reassure us where our place is.

Your whole essence – I mean career and all

Is centered on the question “what can I do for ya’ll?”

I try to follow the pattern and be more selfless.

But, that’s one of the areas I still need help with.

But your grandson is helping, you’ve shown that we’re destined

To fight the good fight and use love as our weapon.

So, in this world of education where everyday’s a work day.

We gotta stop and say Happy 50^th Birthday!

We love you, ma!

Mindspray...

2011-10-01T06:43:00.004-04:00

"I don't know how to start this..." - Nas

It is October 1st and I am down in Myrtle Beach for my LB's wedding. It's kinda weird, because on this very day six years ago I was marrying the woman of my dreams, Ronda Latoya Taylor. Here we are in 2011 providing well wishes to my line brother and his beautiful bride as they embark on the same journey. God is good.

Hmmm... God is good. This is a reality I've struggled with over the past year or so. I've faced some trials that made me question everything I've ever believed in. Well, there was one trial in particular that seriously got to me. On March 13, 2008 I stared into the eyes of a dying woman that I loved dearly and my world fell apart. It was the first time I truly questioned how God could be good if he allowed this to happen to my aunt.

But, I came to understand that death is a part of life. And, I was watching my aunt transition from this life to the next. I truly believe there is life after death. "If I can find in myself a desire which nothing in this world can satisfy, then my most practical conclusion is that I was made for another world" - C. S. Lewis. I do not believe that this life is all there is. My spirit and my mind tell me there's more. And, I'm thankful that my aunt was able to move into the abundance we were created for.

Through it all, I thank God for everything. I've got to do better. I've got a lot of growing to do. And, I have a young one now expecting me to show him the good life* - Blu. I truly believe this is only possible through Christ, so I've gotta do my part to stay connected.

God willing I can keep these blogs goin...

*Link contains explicit language

Baby Z - Growth...

2011-02-24T15:01:00.004-05:00

Wow… This whole parenthood thing is still in its beginning stages of sinking in. The more I think about it, the more blessed I feel. Ronda stepped out for a few to get her hair twisted, so it was on me to feed, burb, and change Zion. Well, then, feed, burb, and change him, again. I just started thinking about how my little boy is going to grow up to be a man with his own personality and own beliefs. I can teach him my beliefs and provide an example of how to live, but he will make his own decisions.

While I was feeding him, Asher Roth’s song “His Dream” started playing on iTunes on my computer. I used that song as the backdrop when I wrote a poem for my Dad’s 50^th birthday a couple of years ago. It’s a song Asher Roth wrote about his father’s life and continuing his dad’s dreams. I just started thinking about how my Dad held me in his arms like this 29 years ago. And, over time, I grew into the man I am today. I wonder what went through my Dad’s mind as he held me as an infant. I wonder what were his dreams for my life and his. I wonder how he felt when I was a talkative elementary school kid that would carry a conversation with any person that would listen. I wonder how he felt when I became a teenager, started defying his rules, and felt like my way was the best way. I wonder how it feels to see the child that used to depend on you for everything learn to stand on his own two. Zion needs Ronda and I for everything right now. And, we plan to provide it. Part of me wants to keep him in this state of dependence, because he has given my life new meaning and purpose. But, the larger part of me is excited about his growth. He will be a beast at life!

Let's get it, Z!

It's life... we gotta kill it!

God is… and always will be…

One day...

2010-09-26T21:42:00.005-04:00

For the last few days I've been researching 9th Wonder's work with David Banner and his involvement with Duke University. I got especially hype when I followed my sister's advice and looked up the clip of 9th and David Banner on 106 and Park. During their interview 9th referenced numerous spots in North Carolina including my hometown of WILSON. (Wide Awake received a shout out because the young lady who is featured in their new single hails from Insomnia City). So, yeah... that definitely had me hype. It's wonderful to see people getting out and pursuing their dreams as artists. God knows the world needs purposeful, committed poets and artists.

Later, I researched some information on 9th's class at Duke and found an excerpt of one of his classes where he was teaching students how to sample. I also saw a webcast from a panel discussion with Dr. Mark Anthony Neal and Dr. James Peterson about the impact of Illmatic. It was tight to see African American males passionately discuss a beloved topic like hip hop in an academic setting. I started imagining myself as a future professor teaching hip hop history classes. That would be a beautiful opportunity.

But, for now I must stay focused. I gotta handle business so that I can be hired at an area university. Then, maybe one day in the future, I'll be able to have academic conversations like 9th, Professor Neal, and Professor Peterson about one of my loves in life - hip hop music.

Maestro Knows - Episode 8 (Professor Wonder) from Maestro Knows on Vimeo.

Graduate Poem - For the Rising Seniors

2010-08-20T16:15:00.002-04:00

We’re created with divine doses of definite potential.

Connect it with kinetic and make moves influential.

These chil’ren think we kiddin’ when we cheerin’ for our kid in

The play or the band or the game or the stands.

Everyday I demand that those grades looking grand -

Opening up doors for you and yours.

Before we make an effect, we gotta know our cause.

Maybe I just pause, cuz we playin’ again.

Not stopping to rewind where the track begins.

So, we can hear with new ears; it plays back different.

We understand better when our vision’s replenished.

So, let’s re-plan this. Even when you get damaged.

Remember who you are, and the haters can’t stand it.

So, just tell ‘em sit down. You already earned your crown.

Got a little tassel attached. And, a full gown to match.

You lookin’ sharp as a tack. Ya mind is sharp – attack!

All the ignorance left. Some don’t have that graduate plaque.

So spread that love and spread that knowledge.

You've done your thing here. It’s on to the college.

And, when you get there and those challenges pop,

I already looked into your future – you can’t be stopped!

Graduate!

The Audacity of Hope (Part One)...

2010-08-13T07:46:00.005-04:00

This is the story of a girl – the realest thing I’ve wrote.

18 years old and her name is Hope.

As a young child, they always knew that she would float.

Help people cope… be pain’s antidote.

Well, when she was nine, hate saw her light shine.

And, it came at her with all its powers combined.

Rape is the word, but you can’t name such a crime.

You can already design its effect on her mind.

She tried to move on and shake those skeletons,

Or, convince herself that nothing went wrong.

But, evils came back and pillaged Hope’s home.

Her name she still owned but her mind was all gone.

Men in her life had taught that her worth

Lied in her ability to do physical work.

No need for intelligence, the body comes first.

Continually submersed in waters so perverse.

She gets popularity giving away charity.

Students get a laugh. She’s the source of hilarity.

They believe they read her life with such clarity.

Truth is a rarity. There lies a disparity.

Between what they see and what she wants to be.

But, she doesn’t know how to get from A to B.

She prays for help, but change comes slowly.

She feels so lowly. What is her destiny?

Well, she’s 18 and this is her report.

Change was conceived, but she decided to abort.

Prolly from the sorts of people that resort.

To taking Hope and calling her Ho for short.

The Audacity…

The Downfall (Audio/Video Version)...

2010-08-07T10:15:00.002-04:00

I made a short audio/video file to go with my last post. I think I'm going to start podcasting these...

The Downfall...

2010-08-05T11:43:00.012-04:00

They say the downfall of every civilization

Comes with lack of motivation. Drop in innovation.

Abundance of time spent creating vain operations.

Well, I’m here to do blood work… Let’s show the world how love work.

A wise man once told me watch your steps or else,

You’ll give your best to a jest that wants to make you less.

And, I heard those words, but I really didn’t heed ‘em.

I was more interested in the sins I felt I needed.

Those things made me comfortable, but also lethargic.

So now I’m wasting time doing things beyond logic.

I can’t live like this. And, the older generation,

Can’t see we’re like the group - we face new temptations.

This is a different beast than it was in their past.

This is what brought down the Romans and the Han so fast.

And, you can see the same thing happening in the rap game.

Dudes ain’t on they grind, they just want the rap fame.

So, when a J. Cole appears and pushes it forward.

He in a league of his own; other ballers not courted.

We gotta fight through complacency, like sins sedating me.

For multiple reasons, but this could end our legacy.

Forget that, we gotta fight, cuz truly it’s what’s right.

It’s like the devil planted seeds in our dreams at night.

It’s the worst case of inception, he slipped us deception

to make us believe that his way is progression.

What’s his way you say? When we’re absorbed with self.

We become impure and deceitful, and our love is wealth.

These were small as we picked ‘em up, but now we can’t get enough.

Is death the only answer? Nah. We have yet to live it up.

We gotta correct our current course of action.

So, we have to make a few turns to yield the main attraction.

How do we get there? I believe it’s a three part race.

The first leg is prayer, then discipline and grace.

And, I know those are my thoughts, and I’m just one of God’s children.

And, I have plenty other siblings in the building.

But, I really think we need to open this for conversation.

Or else we may see the downfall of this generation.

God is…

N-Word Poem with Chilli (TLC)

2010-07-08T19:34:00.000-04:00

Blessing Through Writing...

2010-07-02T07:11:00.002-04:00

Enjoy life. Smile. And, yours will shine bright.

This is our sublime light. Better yet, our divine right.

I hang around with the kids, but I’m an old man.

I speak like Common Sense when I got the mic in my hand.

I really don’t have anything special to say

Except I love you all and that’s the reason I write away.

That’s why I script these lines. That’s what God commanded.

To be seen without a pen, is me caught red handed.

I’d be in the wrong. Imprisoned is without a song.

Because even if I were imprisoned I could still get along

As long, as I could sit, write, and think,

Using the organ behind the organs that are used to blink.

I still don’t understand God’s mysterious ways.

He gives me rhymes as the signs that I’m giving Him praise.

I could be sitting here now dejected off life.

Then I start to write or type and everything’s alright.

And, I used to be concerned about the eloquence of rhymes.

Like I had to write it perfect if I wanted to touch minds.

But, I need God to touch mine, and if it reaches others,

That’s an added blessing – no complaints for this brother.

I have no doubt when I write these simple words.

They will bless others cuz I’m more blessed than I deserve.

So, ya’ll take that. I pray these words make facts

Of your life where you sit back and know God creates that.

God bless.

*Shout out to Tyrus for the inspiration from the Common quote "I guess my man's death, was my resurrection/ 'cause now I hear him sayin' from heaven/ WAKE UP!!!"

Putting First Things First...

2010-06-29T05:08:00.004-04:00

This year I taught my Student Leadership class the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. They were probably not aware that as I taught them these habits, I was taking notes myself. The 7 Habits are:

1) Be Proactive
2) Begin With the End in Mind
3) Putting First Things First
4) Think Win-Win
5) Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
6) Synergize
7) Sharpen The Saw.

Right now my mind is on habit 3 - "Putting First Things First." When we discussed this habit in class, I posed the question, "What are the biggest time wasters in your life?" The answers ranged from Facebook, to downloading music, to talking on the phone, to school. Then, students brainstormed ways that they might better utilize their time. They concluded that it would be more beneficial to spend time studying, doing homework, or helping out around the house.

So, I was inspired to do some personal reflection and identify the biggest time wasters in my life. I'm pretty sure that all of my biggest time wasters are mental. I simply spend too much time thinking about things that do not help my personal growth. So, I'm in prayer about readjusting my mind and thoughts, so that I may grow and be more productive in life.

God bless... my thought process (att: Cee-lo)...

So, what are your biggest time wasters? (rhetorical question)

Michael...

2010-06-23T23:39:00.002-04:00

The first anniversary of Michael Jackson's passing is this Friday, so I've been revisiting his musical legacy. As I listened to 'Can You Feel It' and read the lyrics in the cover of the CD (yes, I actually bought the 'Triumph' CD), I thought to myself, "Dang... This is a beautiful, hopeful song." And so, it makes Michael's death hurt even more. He was a loving man that sincerely wanted to make life better for everybody. Check the lyrics he wrote for 'Can You Feel It':

All the colors of the world should be

loving each other wholeheartedly.

Yes, it's all right.

Take my message to your brother and tell him twice.

Spread the word and try to teach the man

Who's hating his brother, when hate won't do.

When we're all the same, 'cause the blood inside me is inside you.

Can you feel it?

30 years later, I still feel you, Mike.

Then, I watched the video, which was equally positive and moving. By today's standards, I'm sure people will have choice words for it. But, whatever. Please allow the Jacksons the opportunity to sprinkle the world with a little love and raise rainbows in some stormy areas. It can't hurt.

I wonder if it would be possible for us to have positive messages and themes like the ones displayed in this video in a current hip hop video. I think it could happen. As a matter of fact, 'Can You Feel It' is likely the inspiration for Kweli and Hi-Tek's 'In This World' video. It, too, has dark scenery in a global context, and features sprinkles of their energy traveling around the world. I don't think that's too far fetched.

But, I digress (Att: Eugene).

My point for this post is to highlight the void left by Michael's death. Do we have any current artists that live and die to make 'life' music? Mike was all about the people. It was guaranteed that when he came out with new music, he was going to address major global issues. And, when he did, he was going to do it BIG. Love was the foundation of his legacy. He wasn't concerned with money, power, or women - the biggest vices for many male artists, today. He just wanted to heal the world. Does ANYBODY have this type of vision now? Is anybody crazy enough to think this world could actually be a better place? Is there anyone out there whose innocence hasn't been corrupted to the point that they no longer believe in the power of love?

I'm just sayin...

The Soloist...

2010-06-21T23:24:00.004-04:00

My wife and I just finished watching a movie we purchased from Blockbuster on one of those "Buy 5 for $20" deals. The movie, "The Soloist," featured another great performance from Jamie Foxx. He played a very convincing schizophrenic musician that found himself on the streets of L.A. after being a promising prodigy at Juilliard.

I was captivated by two of the themes in "The Soloist." First of all, the portrayal of homeless life in L.A. was vivid and prompted one to think about how people are able to cope in such conditions. Secondly, it was amazing to see how God spoke to people in different ways in the film (although this may simply be my interpretation). For Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie's character), God spoke to him through music and, eventually, friends and family.

After watching this movie, I revisited some of the classical music I was fond of in high school, which was a serious blessing. One particular song - Yanni's Nightingale - was my joint back in '98... (Yeah, I actually listened to Yanni in high school - in addition to Outkast, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Slum Village, etc).

But, yeah... I say all of this to say that when you know that God has a way of speaking to you, allow Him to speak often. Try not to cut Him off... He's trying to bless you...

Distant Relatives (Review)

2010-06-19T08:45:00.002-04:00

As we all know, my favorite rapper of all time has teamed with the son of one of my favorite artists of all time to create a cross genre album entitled "Distant Relatives." I will try to be objective in my review of this album, but everyone knows I am biased from the jump.

The idea for "Distant Relatives" began after Nas and Damien Marley recorded "Road to Zion" in 2005. What has resulted is a wonderfully planned and decently executed work of art.

The album begins with the uptempo "As We Enter," which basically introduces the world to the newly formed union of Nas and Damien. Nas boasts, "Must be dementia/ that you ever thought you could touch our credentials." They show their solidarity off the top by trading rap and reggae verses, seamlessly.

I will not take the time to review each song, but I will comment on the album as a unit. "Distant Relatives" (DR) is beautiful conceptually and artistically. It has been in the making for a few years now, and the patience of its creation shows. First of all, the artwork in the booklet is amazing. Historic artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone and images of Menelik II are set in a Black and Gold background. Musically, Nas and Damien flow well together. All of the production is handled by Damien Marley, so there is a reggae-feel throughout and it is very cohesive.

Thus, it is difficult to highlight standout tracks on DR. It is not the type of album where you say "Number 7 is a banger!" Instead, it is like one continuous track that you either like or do not like. If I had to choose favorite tracks, I'd say "Tribes at War," "Count Your Blessings," "In His Own Words," "Patience," and "Africa Must Wake Up." K'Naan shows off on his appearance in "Tribes at War," and Lil Wayne does a decent job on "My Generation." Some may consider the latter a little sappy, but we need a little positivity every now and then.

The shortcomings of this album are simple - many of Nas's verses miss the mark. Nas is one of the greatest rappers of all time and his voice and flow alone enhance a track. Sadly, he has to rely on these strengths too often on DR. Whereas Damien's lyrics come off as real and sincere, Nas's lyrics often seem superficial. For example, "In His Own Words" is a song framed by Damien to explain how God will see you through any challenge. Nas takes this time to rap about how he swears he saw God's face in his Claiborne watch. Bruh - seriously? I guess Nas can't help it - he's rich.

All in all, the album has a good feel and is worth giving a listen. This is especially if you want to listen to something exotic that still makes you feel at home.

Beats - 4

Lyrics - 4

Creativity - 4

Turn It Down (Poem)

2010-06-19T07:20:00.008-04:00

This world is "all the way turnt up..."

- Which is cool for a party, but this ain't one,

I bank fun,

cuz I know eventually I'ma need it whenever complaints come.

- the negativity

crowds out the love. And, it's killing me.

I gotta turn it all down.

And, turn silence to a tall sound.

It gives me posture.

I'ma stand up guy, but not a mobster,

or tough guy.

I just got enough faith to see us fly.

But, before we get UP, I gotta turn this world DOWN.

Cuz its demands are sands and oceans that drown,

the solid rock that we're standing on,

erodes it til it's almost gone,

and, we're floating in the flow of concerns that they condone.

Nah, I'm built for land. Wasn't ever good at swimming.

So, I rise from waters like Mike Phelps after winning.

But, instead of roars of applause, I pray for moments of silence.

Calm and Quiet are invited to have a riot of violence.

I just want peace.

But, have to fight to cease,

the inclination of my imagination to want noise to increase.

So, part of me can't blame the world for being so loud.

Cuz I make madd noise, and it's hard to turn me down.

But, I know I must. The world needs less talk, more trust.

So, if I ain't building you up, what's there to discuss?

Thus, my words are all out - an open book with pages ripped out.

Silence is So Def... So, I'm just gonna shut my mouth.

Visions for the Future...

2009-12-31T07:02:00.003-05:00

I'm blessed... I've been talking to God about His visions for my present and future. He told me that this is what He envisions for my life...

1) Improve Education

2) Be a part of one of the greatest marriages of all time

3) Enjoy life and help others to enjoy it more abundantly

That's pretty much it.

LET'S GET IT!!!!!!!

(Photo which captures my hypeness)

The Party Parable...

2009-12-06T10:59:00.003-05:00

I was reading a few parables in the Bible and I thought about how Jesus used the art of storytelling to illustrate ideals He wanted to teach. So, I came up with the following parable about life:

After a long week of work, John decides that he is going to a party on Saturday night. Once he arrives, he hears all of his favorite songs banging from the speakers and there are plenty of attractive people in attendance. He has a good time, but knows it could have been better if his boy Steve could have been there. He and Steve have been known to wild out together, and it’s just not the same if he’s not there.

Well, this is what it is like to live without Jesus. We will still have our opportunities to have fun, but it just won’t be the same without Him. We’ll always feel like something is missing. What’s worse is many of us have never been to the party with Jesus, so we don’t know what we are missing. We enjoy the thrills that are at the party, but have no idea how much fun the party could be.

It is the job of Christians to show the world just how tight life can be with Jesus. But, first we have to believe it and live it. That’s the foundation of evangelism.

Judging...

2009-08-01T11:13:00.002-04:00

After thinking about a personal issue where I felt like I may be judging someone, I decided to look up the word to see exactly what it means...

judge - to form an opinion about

Wow... That's all it takes to judge! I do that all the time... I guess that's something for me to think about...

These Songs...

2009-07-24T09:52:00.005-04:00

have popped up on my Ipod the last couple of days and almost got people hurt...

James Morrison - 'You Give Me Something'

Marsha Ambrosius - 'Co-Star'

Maxwell - 'Fistful of Tears'

Heather Headley - 'I Wish I Wasn't'

Foreign Exchange - 'Take Off The Blues'

That is all for now...

Brenda's Got A Baby...

2009-07-23T21:12:00.001-04:00

Every now and then, I start thinking back to the first song to seriously alter my thinking about life. That song was released in 1991 as the debut single of an up and coming artist named Tupac Shakur.

This song represents all that I love about hip hop...

A Great Man has passed away...

2009-03-26T21:36:00.004-04:00

Dr. John Hope Franklin was a groundbreaking historian. Ronda and I were blessed with the opportunity to sit in his home last summer and have a conversation with him and the daughter of Kenneth and Mamie Clark (of the famed baby doll test). We worked with the John Hope Franklin Scholars program at Duke from 2006-2008. He will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace, Dr. Franklin.

Broke is the New Rich...

2009-03-02T07:08:00.004-05:00

Lately, I've been reading Thomas Friedman's "Hot, Flat, and Crowded." It is a book about why America needs a 'green' revolution and how that could impact the world. I must say that I am eating up everything that the book says, because it is confirming a lot of my beliefs.

We know that our world is becoming hot because of the effects of global warming. We have introduced many pollutants in our atmosphere that could cause major issues in the near future. Our world is becoming flat because of the growing, global middle class. While there are still many impoverished parts of the world, prosperity is spreading to some pretty major population centers - namely, India and China. This leads to Friedman's final point about the earth becoming crowded. Some predictions say that the earth could have as many as 9 billion people by the year 2050. Friedman argues that the bigger issue with population growth isn't the sheer number of people - it is the number of 'Americans' in the world. He writes about how American materialism has spread around the globe and how this is having environmental consequences.

So, here's my philosophy for life - broke is the new rich. My wife and I are notorious for 'ballin on a budget' and we believe it is something that needs to spread. We (Americans) need to get away from living extravagant lifestyles (that none of us can really afford) and take it back to the basics. (I may even go to the extreme of buying from thrift shops). I understand that some people are already in this (budget) mindset because of the recession. However, I believe this needs to be a mindset for life.

What does money and material possessions really do for anybody anyway? Ecclesiastes 5:11 says that 'as goods increase, so do those who consume them.' What's the point? The more we get, the more we want. "You can never get enough of what you do not really want" says Historian Huston Smith.

Forget it - broke is the new rich and love is the new money. And, I'm trying to live a life where I'm tossing out dollars everywhere. That's peace right there.

All Masculinity Aside...

2009-01-03T18:39:00.002-05:00

I needed to do this post...

I was listening to Mary J. Blige's "Not Gon Cry" and all I kept thinking is Babyface is one of the sickest individuals of all time. This guy's ability to put himself in another person's shoes and write a song is phenomenal. What are his best songs? Here are some of my nominations:

Boyz II Men - End of the Road, On Bended Knee, and I'll Make Love to You

Toni Braxton - I Love Me Some Him, Breathe Again

Mary J. Blige - Not Gon Cry

The Deele - Two Occasions

Bobby Brown - Every Little Step

Top Hip Hop/Rap Albums of 2008

2008-12-22T08:55:00.003-05:00

(This list is based on albums I actually heard in 2008. So, albums like Game's L.A.X. had no chance. Also, I'd like to mention that I did listen to more than 10 hip hop albums this year. And, if an album did not make this list, it means that the album was simply wack - i.e. Common's Universal Mind Control).

10. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III - Had a couple of decent songs (i.e. Tie My Hands and Mr. Carter), but was generally disappointing. It was nowhere near Tha Carter II.

9. Buckshot and 9th Wonder - The Formula - Pure hip hop that was well executed. You got exactly what you expected - a Buckshot flow over 9th Wonder beats. Sometimes it's good to listen to music that sticks to a good formula.

8. Murs and 9th Wonder - Sweet Lord - Once again, this is pure hip hop that was well executed. I liked this a little better than The Formula, because it was more fun to listen to. Murs and 9th work really well together.

7. Ludacris - Theater of the Mind - If I were doing personal preferences, this would have been number 10 (and Carter III would have been eliminated, because Nicolay and Kay's Timeline would have been included). But, this was a solid CD that was very formulaic in its success. Luda followed the guideline for making a good hip hop album (a beat from Premo, features from the best artists, etc.) As a matter of fact, this could have been called 'The Formula', also.

6. Jake One - White Van Music - This is a compilation put together by producer Jake One. And, quite frankly - it's amazing. He combined the likes of MF Doom, Freeway, Little Brother, Elzhi, Royce Da 5'9", Evidence, Prodigy, Brother Ali, and others and it came off very well.

5. Young Jeezy - The Recession - Now, we're getting into the CD's I really liked. Although, Jeezy's decision to rap about the recession was likely a publicity stunt, I applaud him. For the first time, Jeezy made a concerted effort to rap about something other than birds and snowmen. He did a decent job. Although half of his album sounds like typical drug talk, the other half shows hints of diversity. He had one of the hottest singles of the year (Put On), which featured two of the best verses of the year (from Jay and Kanye), and he had decent beats, also. He created what will be a historic anthem for 2008 (My President), and rapped about people's struggles during one of the worst presidencies in U.S. history. He was one of only two mainstream artists who tried to tackle American politics head-on. I can respect that. (Good songs also included Crazy World, Circulate, and Don't Do It).

4. Nas - Untitled - Well, we have the same old story from Nas. He had a good theme and content for his CD. He addressed many relevant issues. His lyrics were good, quotable, and well thought out. But, Nas' CD's always come off like books. Like, they're good to listen to and get info from, but then you lay them aside and don't pick them up until you need to refresh those thoughts, again. Well, that's how I feel. For many of the younger generation, that haven't had the privilege of reading some of the things adults have read, or going to college, this could be a very important album. Who else is rapping about the dangers of fried chicken and heart disease?

3. The Roots - Rising Down - This was the year's sleeper. Beatwise, it was a decent CD. But, what made this CD better than the last however many CD's since Things Fall Apart, was the guest appearances. I've come to the conclusion that Black Thought can't do it by himself. He steps his game up when he has company, and everybody comes out sounding better. The Roots had a swarm of hot underground MC's on this CD (Mos Def, Styles P, Wale, Kweli, Common, Saigon, Truck North, Porn, Peedi Peedi), not to mention their usual helpers (Malik B and Dice Raw). Guests are what made Things Fall Apart special (remember Mos Def, Common, Erykah Badu, Eve, Beanie Sigel, Dice Raw, and Malik B). Take away the Pow Wows and label complaints and you have a well-produced CD that covers a variety of topics and a host of hot MC's doing what they do best. It's hard to compete with that.

2. Wale - Mixtape about Nothing - Wale is a sick MC. The go-go background gives his music energy and uniqueness. He's knowledgeable about a plethora of things. He's the new kid on the block with the new sound, and that's what makes him special right now.

1. T.I. - Paper Trail - My only issue at this point is I've been typing so much about these other CD's that I'm a little tired. Regardless, I must explain why T.I.'s CD is BY FAR the BEST HIP HOP CD OF 2008. For one, T.I. was dealing with the issue of real struggle during the creation of this CD. Somehow I believe being on house arrest while awaiting a jail sentence elicits emotions that evade the majority of artists in the music industry. You see, other artists couldn't replicate what T.I. was feeling as he made Paper Trail. And, that's what made this CD stand out. Of course, he still has his 'regular hip hop songs' that lack any real substance. And, if this CD had been made without the likes of 'No Matter What', 'Live your Life', and 'Dead and Gone,' I would have felt the same way about it that I felt about Theater of the Mind. But, these songs show T.I.'s struggle with life - something we all can relate to. The album shows his resilience in dealing with obstacles. It shows his mindset in trying to be positive in the face of negativity. Hip hop needed this CD.

Further explanation for the excellence of this CD - at least 10 of the songs on the CD could have been successful singles. And, that doesn't even include at least one of the hottest songs on the CD (I'm Illy). He murdered the "best" rappers in the game right now on Swagga Like Us. He had the number one song in the country in Whatever You Like, only to have it knocked from the top spot by another song from his album (Live Your Life). He had club bangers (Swing Ya Rag) and quotables (Ya values is in disarray, prioritizing horribly/ unhappy with the riches, cuz ya piss poor morally). This dude was ILLY!!!

The Year in R&B

2008-12-21T21:23:00.005-05:00

There were some R&B songs this year that almost caused the destruction of most of my musical equipment... Looking back on it - the guys kinda represented this year...

On the commercial side...

Ashanti - 'The Way I Love You' (the first and only time Ashanti will have one of my favorite songs of the year)

Ne-Yo - 'Single' (Polow Da Don killed it! Rell, Don't sleep!)

Usher - 'Love in this Club' (Parts 1 AND 2) (Lyrically, both of them were terrible, but still hot)

Usher - 'Moving Mountains' - no explanation needed

Mary J. Blige - 'Hurt Again' - see earlier post

Raheem Devaughn - 'Customer' - see earlier post

Jennifer Hudson - 'Spotlight' - see earlier post

Jennifer Hudson - 'We Gon' Fight' - very good song

Jazmine Sullivan - 'Need U Bad' - see earlier post

Robin Thicke - 'Magic' - see earlier post

Lyfe Jennings - 'Never Never Land' - Hate all you want - I really liked this song.

On the underground side:

Raphael Saadiq - 'Oh Girl' - see earlier post

Raphael Saadiq - 'Never Give You Up' - Raphael dropped a very good CD this year - this was a standout

Foreign Exchange - 'All or Nothing' - a good statement on when relationships go through tough times

Foreign Exchange - 'Take off the Blues' - dang, this song is smooth!

Marsha Ambrosius - 'Co-Star' - see earlier post

Best R&B CD's I heard this year:

1. Foreign Exchange - 'Leave it all Behind' - This CD deserves its own separate review, but I'll try to make it short. This CD was a very mature, modern, exotic-sounding take on the issues of love and marriage. It's been like a theme CD for me this year.

2. Usher - 'Here I Stand' - This CD was the most slept on for '08. It was WAY better than people gave it credit for. 'Love in this Club' (Parts 1 and 2), 'Moving Mountains', 'Appetite', 'Lifetime', 'Best Thing', 'Love You Gently', and 'Before I Met You' were all good songs, at worst.

3. Raphael Saadiq - 'The Way I See It' - Saadiq decided to create a 60's sound, throwback album. And, he did a great job. Give it a listen, if you haven't already.

Sick Quotes

2008-11-27T07:41:00.002-05:00

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled - was convincing the world he didn't exist" - from The Usual Suspects

"You can never get enough of what you do not really want" - Huston Smith (Religious Historian)

Another Devotional...

2008-11-27T07:32:00.003-05:00

I'm stealing a bunch of stuff from christianitytoday.com this week, because they have all these devotionals on being thankful. These devotionals explain precisely what has been on my mind lately. I'm trying to learn to be thankful for the blessings I have. This is one of the main reasons why "Live Your Life" by T.I. and Rhianna has become my theme song. I'm learning to appreciate what I have in life and not worry about what I don't have. Anyway, here's the devotional:

Griping rises with income, concluded two economists who studied the U.S. and four other wealthy nations. "People who were otherwise statistically similar complained more about the 'time squeeze' as their incomes rose. The more money people have," the economists concluded, "the more things they can do with their time; as time becomes more valuable, they increasingly resent that they can't create more of it."

Similarly, as choices multiply, notes The Paradox of Choice author Barry Schwartz, people feel overwhelmed by the burden of having to research the best option. After they buy, if they feel they made the wrong choice, then they're miserable.

Gregg Easterbrook's book The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse, documents how as people's material lives have improved dramatically, their inner lives have declined. Depression, loneliness, and frustration are all much higher than 50 years ago. Easterbrook's prescription? Stop focusing on ourselves. Instead concentrate on being grateful for our daily blessings, on the deeper truths of what really matters in life, and on how we can help our neighbors around the world.

Something to Remember...

2008-11-26T08:50:00.003-05:00

This is a quote that I read in a recent devotional on christianitytoday.com in regards to being thankful:

"But sometimes plenty provokes pride. The more successful men become, the more self-sufficient they tend to be. The wiser men become, the more thankful they are to the Lord who gave them success." - Stuart Briscoe

Just My Thoughts...

2008-11-01T05:33:00.004-04:00

On 'The Cool'...

First of all, it was the best album of '07 creatively and thematically. Aside from that, I agree with Lupe about the causes and effects of our desire to be 'cool.' We have an inborn desire to be a part of a community and to fit in. However, when these desires grow past our desire to be the individuals that God created us to be, we have a problem.

On Religions...

I taught my students about Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism this week. One of the themes that I noticed while teaching these religions is that they all focus on means of alleviating suffering. They all believe that ultimately, behind everything, there is one universal force. They all are means of helping individuals get better by aligning themselves with a higher power.

On Life...

Life is real. I love Kweli's idea of life being a 'beautiful struggle.' That's exactly what it is. It's a shame that many of our beautiful moments are wasted because we are busy thinking of what's next. Furthermore, it often feels that the times of struggle outweigh the good times. I believe life is balanced and there's a silver lining in every dark cloud.

On Faith and Hope...

Keeping faith may be my hardest task right now. I lose faith, QUICK! As soon as some stuff goes against my plans, I'm like "ESS!! I know this ish wasn't gonna work!!" This is simply evil working in my life. Believers keep this world sane. Believers give this world hope. Just think about all that Barack has been able to accomplish with the audacity of hope.

On Dannie Bullock...

My dad has had more of an effect on my life than he will ever know. He has set an example for me of a life that revolves around God, family, and service. He works a lot, but when he's not at work, he is focused on being a better man and caring for his family. That's essentially what life is about, right? He's shown me the value of cutting the extra out of my life.

On Selfishness...

It is what every human being has some degree of. It is what causes much of our suffering in this life. It is the opposite of what every major religion teaches. It is also the opposite of marriage. It is childish and something we must grow out of. It, and it's cousin - pride, are the complete anti-god sentiments (att. C.S. Lewis).

On Suffering...

The grandfather of a good friend of mine recently put a gun to his head and took his life. He was 78 years old. Suffering knows no age. Suffering doesn't care what you've been through in life or what you're going through. It doesn't let up for anybody. We must be mindful of the role we play in suffering and try not to bring more on ourselves than life is already going to bring.

On Intellect...

Intellect is a talent. It doesn't make anybody better or worse than anybody else. Some people view intellectuals as uppity because they may appear or speak differently. However, they can't help it. We communicate differently based on who we are. People shouldn't be criticized or hated for being who they are. And, those who are hated, shouldn't hate in return.

On Money...

Money is something else we use to classify ourselves. Some people are talented when it comes to making and spending money. This doesn't make them better or worse than anybody else. However, we often criticize people that do not make much money, or do not spend it wisely. And, we also criticize people that are able to get, and keep, money.

Hip Hop is Middle Class...

2008-10-12T20:27:00.002-04:00

Hip hop used to be the voice that gave insight into what was going on in inner city America. Hip hop was a major part of my inspiration to teach in an inner city school. What happened? Why can't anyone tell a real story about what is going on in "the hood" anymore?

Misuse of Scripture...

2008-09-12T06:09:00.004-04:00

I often go to Bible.com to read their daily scriptures and devotionals. However, I am often at odds with the conservative nature of their interpretation of scripture. They basically have a devotional today that discourages change...

"Proverbs 24:21-22 (KJV):

21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

Proverbs 24:21-22 (AMP):
21 My son, reverently fear the Lord and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change (of allegiance, and are revolutionary);
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the punishment and ruin which both (the Lord and the king) will bring upon the rebellious?"

They go on to explain why revolution is wrong because of these scriptures:

Romans 13:1-4:
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?

For those that do not know, I'm teaching world history this year. As I have been studying history, I have noticed a theme. Governments always support religions that align with their political ideals. That idea is nothing new, right? But, part of this reality is bothering me a little bit. Will we really receive damnation if we resist corrupt government officials?

I've always tried to explain to a certain friend of mine why I like Bob Marley. The primary reason I get down with Marley is because he made "Change Music." He was all about resisting established 'evil' practices. Now, I don't totally agree with these lyrics from "Get Up, Stand Up", but I can understand where he's coming from:

"Preacher man don't tell me heaven is under the earth,

I know you don't know what life is really worth,

It's not all that glitters is gold,

Half the story has never been told,

So now (we) see the light,

(We) stand up for our rights."

What is he saying here? Don't use religion as a means of oppressing me! If that's not evil, I don't know what is...

"We're sick and tired of your ism, schism,

(You want us to) Die and go to heaven in Jesus name, Lord.

We know and we understand,

a mighty god is a living man.

You can fool some people sometimes,

but you can't fool all the people all the time.

So, now we see the light,

We stand up for our rights."

Ok - let's get back to scripture. So, supposedly Paul wrote these verses to the Romans... Mmmm, that's interesting. Because, I'm pretty sure Paul was an advocate of change. After all, he went through a bigger change in his life than any other early apostle. Furthermore, the gospel of Jesus is a gospel of repentance and redemption - both of which imply change.

Bible.com's use of these scriptures sounds like pure game to me.

You can fool some people sometimes... But, you can't fool all the people all the time.

"Change WE can PARTICIPATE in"

2008-09-01T07:19:00.007-04:00

My pastor gave a great sermon yesterday about being bold for Christ. It surprised me because I was expecting him to speak more about the Democratic National Convention and last week’s political proceedings (in addition to preaching about Jesus). However, my pastor did not go in that direction at all. Instead, he spoke about Jesus and how we need to continue to get closer to him, because that’s what really changes people.

So, I began to think about it more.

Obama’s bid for presidency is so significant because he’s not just a candidate that is promising to change legislation – he is changing people’s hearts. This is what puts him in the same vein as MLK. It is important that we remember that the movement that included MLK was a massive movement. There were millions of people that marched, protested, did sit-ins, and boycotted for civil rights. We must remember that Obama’s message is not “I am going to change the world,” but rather “We are going to change the world.” So, what are we going to do? How are we going to show the change that Obama has made in our hearts? What are we going to do to become better people?

The First Week is Done...

2008-08-30T07:58:00.002-04:00

We returned to school this week and things went fairly well. There is always an adjustment for teachers AND students, because most people would prefer to remain on vacation, rather than returning to work. However, I'm blessed, because I feel a little more motivated this year. And, I'm focused on not allowing that motivation to dwindle.

The Democratic National Convention also gave me some ammunition for the year. Obama reached 'cousin' status earlier this year, and he continued to exemplify exactly why he is, unequivocally, that dude. It is beautiful to witness someone walking in the destiny that God outlined for them.

He gets the glory for this...

When the wife doesn't listen

2008-08-22T08:56:00.001-04:00

Quite Hilarious...

Knowledge Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

2008-08-14T20:57:00.003-04:00

"History school us to spend our money foolish/ Bond with jewelers and watch for intruders/ I stepped it up another level..."

In the song "Can I Live" Jay-Z compares his addiction to wealth to the attraction dope fiends feel to their choice drug.  As he speaks about his most passionate possession, he drops the preceding jewels of knowledge.  In addition to those lines, Jay also made a strong statement by way of an interviewer in "22 2's."

Allow me to explain.

During the song, an interviewer is commending Jay-Z for his success (i.e. starting Roc-a-fella records).  While she is complimenting Jay-Z, she pauses to speak on the fact that she smells reefer in the crowd and scolds the black audience for its inability to properly in public places.  She continues, "That's why, our people don't have anything." Someone then yells at her to "Shut the f#%$ up!"

I understood the point of this exchange as a 14 year old; but I have a stronger appreciation for it as an adult.  Jay told us (in so many words) that discipline allowed him to accomplish his goals. And, he knew, from day one, that separated him from many other talented people.  It would be a beautiful day if more people could decipher and apply this message.

Cousin Status...

2008-08-02T08:35:00.005-04:00

Recently, I realized that some artists have created music so hot that they must be related to me... Therefore, they have received 'cousin' status.

The following artists have reached this momentous plateau:

Robin Thicke for "Magic" (best song out right now - despite differences in pigment, I'm pretty sure we're related)

Raphael Saadiq for "Oh Girl"

Raheem Devaughn for "Customer" (aging, but still good)

Jennifer Hudson for "Spotlight" (explanation - the song is well written)

Nas for "Queens Get the Money"

Dwele for "Open Your Eyes"

Ceelo Green (under the guise of Gnarls Barkley) for "Surprise"

Keri Hilson for "Love Ya"

That is all for now.

AIDS in Black America

2008-07-31T08:50:00.002-04:00

I recently read this quote on CNN and it surprised me:

"AIDS remains the leading cause of death among black women between ages 25 and 34."

I was like, "Dang! Nothing kills black women between the ages of 25 and 34 like AIDS does? That doesn't sound right."

Then, as I thought about it I realized a few things:

1) Many black women don't die between the ages of 25 and 34, period.
2) The number of black women that die of AIDS probably is higher than the number of women that are murdered, killed in car accidents, or die of other health reasons.

But, still... That's messed up. There are a lot of black people dying of AIDS in America. I probably haven't thought much about it, because I haven't known anyone in that situation. But, it definitely deserves our attention.

Reagan/Nas

2008-07-18T11:29:00.002-04:00

I'm out in L.A. right now at Reagan's presidential library studying his presidency. Specifically, I'm studying his 'War on Drugs.' I just wanted to say the feeling of reading about Reagan's presidency while listening to the Nas 'Nigger' CD is ETHEReal...

Death Van...

2008-07-12T20:10:00.009-04:00

This is pretty old, but I just heard about it earlier this week. Apparently, China now administers many of its capital punishments via 'death van.' Here's an excerpt from the article:

"The country that executed more than four times as many convicts as the rest of the world combined last year is slowly phasing out public executions by firing squad in favor of lethal injections. Unlike the United States and Singapore, the only two other countries where death is administered by injection, China metes out capital punishment from specially equipped "death vans" that shuttle from town to town.

Makers of the death vans say the vehicles and injections are a civilized alternative to the firing squad, ending the life of the condemned more quickly, clinically and safely. The switch from gunshots to injections is a sign that China "promotes human rights now," says Kang Zhongwen, who designed the Jinguan Automobile death van..."

With the "One Child Policy" and the "Death Van," China's government seems to have an interesting take on how to handle life in their country. We know that their country is extremely overpopulated and a population reduction could help in many ways (i.e. provide more physical space and lessen economic and environmental strain). How do we feel about their methods of dealing with this issue?

Are We Contributing to this Artist's Demise?

2008-06-30T22:25:00.001-04:00

As many of you know, I like Amy Winehouse's album, "Back to Black." However, I'm wondering if my purchase of her album is only contributing to her downfall. I have not seen one performance from her where she was not incoherent. Which makes me ask the question - who keeps booking this girl for their shows? Have they not seen her perform? Do they not know she's a crack/cocaine head? Do they not know she needs to be in rehab? Why are they taking advantage of her? She needs help - seriously. And, why do people clap at her performances? They suck... I genuinely feel sorry for her whenever I see her perform.

I know it's something that many artists go through, but I don't think it's good to encourage people when we know they have a problem. Which is part of the reason why I will not support a codeine-intoxicated Lil Wayne. Dude needs help.

Sun, Moon, and Stars...

2008-06-26T11:57:00.002-04:00

and more...

This type of stuff is interesting to me...

I think God is big.

Tha Carter III

2008-06-05T18:35:00.001-04:00

Based off of a few preliminary listens, I must say that Tha Carter III...

SUCKS!!!

That ish is horrible!!!

We're Old...

2008-06-03T21:51:00.002-04:00

I decided to check to see how old Tupac and Biggie were when they died...

Tupac was 25... Biggie was 24...

Think about how much musical material 2pac created in his 25 years...

I need to do something with my life... We're getting old

Church Attitude Toward Sin

2008-05-26T14:52:00.000-04:00

I was just reading an article where the author was asking "Has the American church become soft on sin?"

The point of the article was to bring awareness to the fact that we are fallen creatures that need Jesus.

Well, I think it is important that we realize we are fallen creatures that mess up stuff, regularly. Even after we find Jesus, we still mess up stuff. Maybe this is my question - what difference does a relationship with Jesus make in a person's life? Because, we all know Christians that do the ugliest things (att: Kanye). We're supposed to be new creatures washed in the blood of Jesus. Is that true? Do we ever really change?

If we do change, is it because we put our minds to it?

Or, is it because we put our minds to it and we have supernatural assistance?

Fox News Joke...

2008-05-26T14:51:00.000-04:00

This is hilarious...

(Not Really)

Glow in the Dark Tour

2008-05-25T22:27:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I checked out the ‘Glow in the Dark’ tour when it came to Raleigh. I must say that I was pretty impressed with the show.

It began with a performance from Lupe Fiasco that started well before the originally advertised time. Thus, he performed for a crowd of about 200 people. Although, he was my favorite lyricist and artist at this event, his performance was pretty uninspiring. The stage set up was simply Lupe and a DJ. It was a good thing I really like his music.

The next artist to perform was N.E.R.D. By the time they took the stage, the crowd was about 70% full. Pharrell did his thing and really energized the audience. Since security was giving him issues about allowing people to come closer to the stage, he came out to the crowd. I’m not a big N.E.R.D. fan, but even I was stuck singing “All the girls standing in the line for the BATHROOM!!!”

I missed the first part of the Rhianna show because I went to get something to eat. When I got back to my seat, I realized Rhianna was putting on a good show. She was the only one that actually had clothing and props that glowed in the dark. Choreographically speaking, she had the best show. And, (I’m sorry Rell) Umbrella almost tore the place apart! Everybody was wildin’ when she performed that joint!

Ok, so now it was time for the feature artist – Mr. Kanye to the… It took them about 45 minutes to get his set together because it was pretty complex. When it was finished, they revealed this large platform that looked like a desert , which was backed by a huge screen to simulate his ‘spaceship’. The theme of the show is based on the idea of Kanye crash landing on a planet and rapping until the ship is able to repair itself. I know that sounds dumb, but that’s about all I got out of it.

So, for the next hour, or so, we watched Kanye perform with all his heart. I have to give it to him – he’s a great live performer. My only complaint is – he was the ONLY performer. He had all his musicians and singers behind the set so we couldn’t see them. I was like, Dang nukka… can they get a little shine? So, at the end of the show he had the camera man show their faces on the big screens. They were back there looking like they were in a sweat shop.

Ok – back to the performance. He started with Good Morning and went through I Wonder, Heard Em Say, Through The Wire, Champion, Get ‘Em High, Diamonds, Can’t Tell Me Nothin’, Flashing Lights, Spaceship, All Falls Down, and Golddigger. At this point, I’m thinking “Dang, this nukka has a lot of hits.” So, he continued with Good Life, Jesus Walks, and an emotional Hey Mama (the show was during Mother’s Day weekend). He closed the show with Stronger, Homecoming, and Touch the Sky. Apparently, Lupe was supposed to come out during his verse in Touch the Sky, but he didn’t for whatever reason. I was a little upset with that, but I got over it.

My only critique is that the presence of musicians and vocalists could have enhanced the show. But, Kanye, wanted the stage to himself so he could do his thing. And, he definitely gave the crowd their money’s worth. Bottom line - “Kanye, you (might be) a genius!”

The Cookout

2008-05-25T22:25:00.001-04:00

Today was a blessing. I went to a cookout in Goldston, NC with my wife and the family. The food was great (as usual) as was the conversation. I just have to take a minute to let it all soak in.

Lately, the opportunities I’ve had to engage in thorough conversations with people my age have been few and far between. I really appreciated today and God gets the glory for it all.

The Way Life Is...

2008-05-20T21:35:00.002-04:00

I've been on the grind, lately... I mean, a serious grind... Just running from place to place...

I'm blessed, though. In the midst of everything, I still had the chance to enjoy the Glow in the Dark tour, a lengthy conversation with John Hope Franklin and the daughter of Kenneth and Mamie Clark, and some successful classes with my students.

D'evil is a liar - all is good...

Be blessed

I don't think people realize...

2008-05-09T10:34:00.001-04:00

this is one of the best hip hop songs of all time...

How do you start...

2008-05-09T09:09:00.001-04:00

dating in late March and get married in early May?

Nick and Mariah bout stupid.

Today's Throwback Verse (an excerpt)...

2008-04-15T10:06:00.004-04:00

...And it's sad, so all I can write about is what I had
Interpretations of life good and bad with a pen and pad.
It seems like abortion, when I just write a small portion,
And it's either crumpled up or torn without lettin the thought be born.
Young minded, and blinded in those days;
I didn't want to have a thought that I couldn't raise,
nurture, and care for, Be there for,
help prepare for, the times ahead
When someone doesn't agree with what is said,
And if they did, don't get all arrogant cause that's my kid
Just be thankful that it's good and somebody overstood
Now, the listener in here want the same flow but I gotta let it grow
Clever enough to let it go, if I don't wanna rap no mo'
And I'll make sure that no one ever forgets
It's immortalized forever, on wax, CD's, and casettes
And when someone goes to the store and purchases it for ten
The life cycle starts all over again
And I was granted this music as my soulmate, to procreate
and give back what I was given - a life worth livin

-Cee-lo Green

(Verse from the title track of Goodie Mob's 'Still Standing')

Genesis to Revelation...

2008-04-13T15:32:00.003-04:00

So, Eden was created as a perfect place. Adam and Eve were given one rule to follow while there – do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They did not listen. And, thus the history of humanity is created.

Skip ahead to Revelation and we pass all of human history. Matter of fact, we pass the present and meet the future. In Revelation, there are all types of conflicts that threaten humanity. The foundation of all conflicts is still good versus evil. Apparently, we never get over that. Then there is the lamb versus the dragon, Jerusalem versus Babylon, and the bride versus the prostitute. I believe these conflicts give us better insight into the knowledge of good and evil that God tried to keep us from in the first place. The ultimate evil is pride – or the thought that we don’t need God. This is Babylonian thinking. The prostitute does what she wants and has no regard for God. This is the exact opposite of what God intended. Furthermore, it doesn’t surprise me that a prostitute is used to symbolize the downfall of humanity. I barely think it’s a symbol. It’s almost a literal translation of what’s going to mess us up.

It’s interesting that as it was in the Garden of Eden, so shall it be at Armageddon. We must repent and dedicate our lives to serving God. There’s no time for playing around. This temporary life has eternal consequences.

This is my metaphor for it all…

Life is a movie. We have to make it a good one, because God is gonna critique it in the end. We don’t want him looking at our film and being like “That joint sucked!!!” (Tosses DVD over shoulder into hell).

April 4, 1968

2008-04-04T09:17:00.006-04:00

The following is a post I did on Twilla's blog earlier this year:

“I saw Martin Luther King’s dream as one man’s own/
To me, the march on Washington could have been 250,000 King clones.
Because I didn’t see the fire in me to go out and spark a revolution…”

This is an excerpt from a poem I wrote about 5 years ago. I believe it best sums up my current attitude towards the King legacy - Do your part. Do whatever you can to make a positive change in the world.

There were times when I looked up to King and, even, wanted to replicate some of his accomplishments. Those times are gone. Now, I’m much more concerned with doing God’s will and leaving an impact that only K.B. could leave. Is this arrogance? Not at all. I hardly believe that God has destined me for a role even remotely close to that of Dr. King. However, I know He made me for a specific purpose. And, I’m proud of that purpose. And, I will do what He says.

It is a little known fact that MLK’s best speech was made on the eve of his demise. In “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” King declared, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will… I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!”

(Light Bulb goes off) Aha! That is it! This is the important thing to remember about Dr. King. When it comes down to it, it’s all about doing God’s will. It’s about doing what He called us to do. Love everybody and become more and more selfless.

And, that is the life, legacy, and spirit of Dr. King.

The Purpose of Schools

2008-04-01T11:13:00.002-04:00

This is a just a random post about my career in education.

What is the purpose of education?

Is it to prepare students to get jobs?

Is it to help students become respectful and responsible adults?

Is it to help our country progress?

I've been reading the book "The Challenge to Care in Schools" by Nel Noddings. She is a great author that tackles the deeper, foundational issues of education. In this book she argues, "the moral purpose of education precedes and guides all others." I agree with this sentiment. I believe educators have a responsibility to help students to become the best people they can be and prepare them to care for themselves and others as adults.

Noddings continues, "Instead of preparing everyone for college in the name of democracy and equality of opportunity, schools should be instilling in students a respect for all forms of honest work done well." I DEFINITELY AGREE!!! Everybody doesn't need to go to college. We just need to make that an option for anybody that wants to go. And, we need to push some students to go that show strong academic potential. But, everybody isn't a 'student'. People have different talents. We need better schools that do a better job of preparing ALL students for life after high school. Half the reason that the dropout rate is so high is because we're trying to force kids to do things they have NO motivation to do or see any relevance in doing.

I understand that there are no simple answers for these problems. But, our education system has to do a better job of addressing them.

Music I Grew Up On...

2008-03-30T19:51:00.004-04:00

It's Spring Break and I've taken some time to revisit the music I used to listen to when I was in middle school. I have reached the following conclusion - I can't say ANYTHING about the music that is consumed by today's kids.

I went back and listened to the following artists and can't understand how God could ever forgive any of this:

1) Da Brat (yes, Da Brat - her first album was hot)

2) Redman

3) Junior Mafia

4) Mobb Deep

5) Conscious Daughters - We Roll Deep (random)

6) Ill Al Skratch (random)

These were some cussin' artists! And, let's not even talk about content!

We often talk like this generation is going down the tubes. But, many of us did the same things when we were their age. If we turned out ok, they can, too.

Death Comes in Threes?

2008-03-15T07:35:00.002-04:00

Within the past 3 weeks my mother has lost her father, uncle, and sister.

Please keep my family in your prayers. I'm not even prepared at this time to say anything about the life of my aunt. I loved her dearly. But, I'm glad she's in a better place and not battling cancer anymore.

Throwback Verse...

2008-03-09T20:40:00.002-04:00

I was listening to this today and think this is a slept on verse...

So the pen is mightier than the sword my lord
My first picture was a line-up, now I'm on the Forbes
And I still remain an artiste through this all
If you force my hand I'll be forced to draw
If the war calls for Warhol's
Hope you got enough space on your hall's walls
I make niggaz murals, then escape the bureau's
investigation, out in Europe on vacation
I'm back for these puppies with the pound boy
(Blaow) Here's a round boy (blaow blaow) down boy
Sound boy, you don't wanna soundclash loud noise
leave niggaz paranoid if not paralyzed
Which means you can't walk in my shoes
Too much green you can't talk in my hue
Extend the team, nigga holla at Lu'
1st and 15th, that's my cue, I'm through

-Jay-Z (guest feature on "Pressure" from Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor)

Nice R&B Track...

2008-03-03T10:03:00.001-05:00

Mary J. - 'Hurt Again' off Growing Pains

Who in the world...

2008-03-02T06:18:00.003-05:00

gave Ashanti that beat for her new song!?!

Man, I don't even care... G points aside - that joint is hot...

Death is swallowed up in Victory...

2008-02-29T08:16:00.002-05:00

At the beginning of the year, I said that I wanted to keep Heaven as a focus for 2008. Well, with the passing of my grandfather, it has led me to review a scripture that means a lot to me.

The scripture is 1 Corinthians 15. It sums up the Christian's view of death and resurrection with the 36th verse - "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies." So, for anything to truly live, it must die first. Paul, (the book's author) writes about how seeds are sown in one form, but that first form always dies. It is then that those same seeds are resurrected as a totally different body.

I think a lot of people don't understand how vital the reality of Heaven is to the Christian faith. If there is no Heaven, then half of the faith is pointless. Two main ideas of the religion are to 1) help us cope with the present life and 2) provide us an eternal resting place after this life is over.

"Life is temporary, but the soul is eternal." - Mos Def

We have to keep things in perspective and realize that this life is only a drop in the bucket compared to the abyss that is eternity.

R.I.P. Steve "Static" Garrett

2008-02-26T08:49:00.004-05:00

Rell, you heard about this?

Static was that dude. Wikipedia cites him with either written, production, or vocal credit on the following songs:

"Pony" - Ginuwine

"Are You That Somebody" - Aaliyah

"Cheers 2 U" - Playa

"So Anxious" - Ginuwine

"Rock the Boat" - Aaliyah

"More than a Woman" - Aaliyah

"Try Again" - Aaliyah

"We Need a Resolution" - Aaliyah

(He's in the back, left corner of the pic)

R.I.P. Raymond Lofton

2008-02-26T08:33:00.004-05:00

My Grandfather, Raymond Lofton, passed away yesterday. I'm glad that he was able to move on, because he had been sick for a while. I must admit he was a grandparent that I did not spend much time around, but I cared for him, nevertheless. My fondest memories of him are all connected to his tobacco farm. I used to work there in the summers to pay for back-to-school clothes. He was a man who loved his family, and was loved by his family.

Ronda, my sister, and I went to see him a few weeks ago when he was in the hospital. He was in great spirits - still laughing, cracking jokes, and so on. However, it was at that point the doctors told us he only had 3-6 months left to live. He didn't make it that long. He was only able to press on for about three more weeks.

But, now... he's resting in peace. God bless you, Granddad.

So, I guess this means... It's ON!!!

2008-02-20T08:54:00.001-05:00

Check out this excerpt from a News and Observer article:

Krzyzewski had revealed that one of his players, Nolan Smith, had been playing despite an injured knee.

"[He] has been dealing with that since -- and unlike other schools we don't release our injuries -- so I thought he played a strong game tonight," Krzyzewski said.

That nine-word aside about "other schools" was, Williams said on Tuesday, "aimed toward us."
Williams said Krzyzewski should coach his "own [darn] team."

"Regardless of what somebody else says about they have injuries too, which is a bunch of bunk, so I don't give a crap what somebody else says, but coach their own [darn] team, I'll coach my team," Williams said on his own radio show Monday night.

March 8th, son! Cameron Indoor. It's a wrap like a doobie!

The N-Word (Poem)

2008-02-18T20:20:00.006-05:00

I never say the N-word, eventhough, I just did.
But, I only said it as a statement on how we now live.
We don’t know what we’re saying, when our people try to grow,
We throw that word out so they can’t reap what they sow.
Like, N-word, will you make it? I think not.
We, 'N-word please!' those that try to be on top.
Oh, yeah, 'that’s my N-word'... mind what I’m saying.
Everyone will go on, like “K.B. was just playing”,
While the word keeps slaying – we try to do positive,
The word takes our hope and decimates what we’ve got to give.
I dealt with it, too. When I spoke on my dreams,
People were like, N-word – you can’t accomplish those things!
So, I brushed it off. Chip on our shoulder? We learn to shrug it off.
'Keep it gangsta, N-word.' Do we feel that there is lovin’ lost?
Let me think on that - maybe it can be nicely used.
Like, when you think I’m bruised - N-word, I don’t lose.
That’s the confidence it gives me, it just rolls off the tongue.
To let you know I only rest when the battle is won.
N-word say n-word - it’s a crazy contradiction.
But if you get my vision, you’ll see, that’s the prescription.
We need to come together, sit, and think of a word better.
Oh, and the N-word to get rid of is NEVER.
And, I’ll run that back, so our minds can match.

We don’t know what we’re saying, when our people try to grow,
We throw that word out so they can’t reap what they sow.
Like - never will you make it. I think not.
We, never please those that try to be on top.
Oh, yeah, that’s my... Never mind what I’m saying.
Everyone will go on, like “K.B. was just playing”,
While the word keeps slaying – we try to do positive,
The word takes our hope and decimates what we’ve got to give.
I dealt with it, too. When I spoke on my dreams,
People were like - NEVER – you can’t accomplish those things.
And, I brushed it off. Chip on our shoulder? We learn to shrug it off.
Keep it gangsta. Never do we feel that there is lovin’ lost.

Let me think on that - maybe it can be nicely used.
Like, when you think I’m bruised, NEVER, I don’t lose.
That’s the confidence it gives me, it just rolls off the tongue.
To let you know I only rest when the battle is won.

Never say never - it’s a crazy contradiction.
But if you get my vision, you’ll see, that’s the prescription.
We need to come together, sit, and think of a word better.
Oh, and the N-word to get rid of is NEVER.

Black Pharoahs

2008-02-18T19:55:00.004-05:00

Ronda recently bought me a copy of 'National Geographic Magazine.' I appreciated it because the cover article was entitled 'The Black Pharoahs.' Anyone that knows me, knows I'm an Alpha and I get hype at the mention of a word like pharoah.

The cover article was about Nubian warriors that conquered Egypt for 3/4 of a century around 700 B.C. Little is known about this dynasty because they were black. Yeah, it's just that simple. And, I don't mean black like Egyptian/Middle Eastern black. I mean they were black like the heart of Africa black. Their dynasty was ignored by many archaeologists for years because they didn't want to believe that Nubian warriors ruled Egypt. Surprising, right?

I hope that I am able to explore the world and research some of these sites, one day. However, researching the ruins of the Nubian dynasty will be pretty difficult because most of them are under water now. When the Aswan High Dam was built along the Nile River, the remains of many historic Nubian villages were left under 250 feet of water. Sucks, right?

The history of Africa is interesting to me. I'm currently reading 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' and plan to learn alot about the history of the 'dark continent' and the rest of the world.

It's been a long time...

2008-02-18T19:53:00.002-05:00

I'm telling you... life is real. I've been on the run like...

I'm not even gonna go into that. I'm blessed - that's the bottom line. And, I'm realizing that I need to take more time to post on this blog - for therapy purposes.

Hopefully, I'll follow this post with a post about something. We'll see...

Jury Duty...

2008-02-10T14:24:00.000-05:00

I had jury duty for the first time in my life last week. Aside from it being a very boring experience, I found a few things interesting as I entered the waiting room for the prospective jurors:

1) The Prevalence of Bibles. I didn't expect for the room to be covered in Bibles. I had no idea why they were there except for people to read while they waited. I thought that was interesting in this day and time. I mean, I enjoyed my time to read a few scriptures, but most other people didn't touch them. What did I expect to see more of? I guess, Sports Illustrated.

2) The Fact that we swore on Bibles (Part 1): How many Americans consider themselves seriously religious? How many Americans would swear on a Bible and still lie under oath? I assume that most liars would still lie even after swearing on a Bible.

3) The Fact that we swore on Bibles (Part 2): Doesn't Jesus say (in the Bible) that we are not supposed to swear? I distinctly remember reading in Matthew, chapter 5, that we should not swear at all, but let our answers be 'yes' and 'no.' So, why are we swearing on Bibles in the court of law?

These were just things I found interesting.

Ms. Hill...

2008-02-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

I was just listening to an interview with Cormega on Spitkicker Radio...

The female radio host asked Cormega "Who's the best female MC?" Cormega thought for a second before saying "Lauryn Hill." The radio host responded and said "Come on, she ain't been relevant since her first child!" A few people in the studio laughed, then Cormega responded, "Nah, that Unplugged $h!t was in '01." The radio host laughed again and said, "Are you serious!?! That album was terrible. She was crying through the whole thing. It sounded like one, long song." Cormega clearly didn't agree and was about to respond again, but decided to take the conversation in a different direction...

What is interesting to me is the fact that there are many people that think Unplugged was another testament of Lauryn's greatness. While others think it was a sign of her insanity.

I would ask what do you think... But, I'm sure I already know...

The 'N' Word

2008-01-26T13:36:00.000-05:00

People say it's a word of negativity, but I must learn to say it. Especially, with people constantly asking for my input and time. I must learn to respond with an emphatic,

'NO!'

Hopefully, This is a Focus for 2008...

2008-01-01T10:12:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning and was reading C.S. Lewis, again. The following quote stuck out to me as a possible focus for '08:

"I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country (Heaven) and to help others to do the same."

I hope that this is something I can do for the New Year. C.S. Lewis also makes a good point about Heaven in the book:

"The point is not that God will refuse you admission to His eternal world if you have not got certain qualities of character: the point is that if people have not got at least the beginnings of those qualities inside them, then no possible external conditions could make a 'Heaven' for them."

Basically, Heaven won't be Heaven if we aren't seeking God on a regular basis.

Aside from the Bible, C.S. Lewis' 'Mere Christianity' is the best book ever written about Christianity.

2007 Music Review

2007-12-27T12:01:00.000-05:00

I'm changing. I used to be able to give a detailed, accurate account of the best hip hop songs in any given year. Now, I sit here, confused, trying to create a list of the best songs hip hop offered for the year.

I was only able to come up with eight.

Is this because there were only eight good hip hop songs this year? No. It's because I only know of 8 songs that I feel were worthy of making this list.

Top Eight Hip Hop songs of '07.

International Players Anthem - UGK f/ Outkast

Lupe Fiasco - Hip Hop Saved My Life

Jay-Z f/ Nas - Success

Kanye West - Stronger

Kanye West f/ Dwele - Flashing Lights
Common f/ Dwele - The People

9th Wonder f/ Saigon and Joe Scudda - Saved

Saigon - Come On Baby

My Personal Top 20 Songs of '07 (Any Genre):

James Morrison - You Give Me Something

Chrisette Michele - If I Have My Way

Chrisette Michele - Let's Rock

Kanye West - Stronger

T.I. - Big Things Poppin'

Jay-Z - Say Hello

9th Wonder - Saved

Common f/ Dwele - The People

UGK f/ Outkast - International Players Anthem

Musiq - Teachme

Elliot Yamin - Wait For You

Fantasia - When I See You

J Holiday - Bed

Rich Boy - Throw Some D's

Lupe Fiasco - Superstar

Lupe Fiasco - Dumb it Down

Maroon 5 - Back At Your Door

Kanye West f/ John Mayer - Bittersweet

Kanye West f/ Dwele - Flashing Lights

Keyshia Cole - I Remember

Top 10 Albums of '07 (Any Genre):

10) Talib Kweli - Eardrum

9) Pharoahe Monch - Desire

8) Alicia Keys - As I Am

7) Chrisette Michele - I Am

6) Kanye West - Graduation

5) Little Brother - The Getback (based off of the opinions of friends)

4) Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (very depressing, but very good)

Top Three are all interchangeable

3) Common - Finding Forever

2) Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

1) Jay-Z - American Gangster

Based on his '07 performances, the artist to watch for '08 is...

Dwele'.

(I'll buy whatever he releases even if nobody else does).

Hood Line of the Year...

2007-12-20T12:32:00.000-05:00

This is so random, but I had to post about my favorite, hoodest line of the year...

"I never buy a Phantom/
28's CAN'T FIT!!!!"

-Plies from "I'm So Hood"

Be Without You...

2007-12-14T08:29:00.000-05:00

I'm just sitting here listening to my mp3 player. And, that Mary J. just struck a nerve with me.

Is 'Be Without You' the best R&B song to be released in the past couple of years?

Lupe Fiasco...

2007-12-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Why have I gotten calls from multiple people (including my lil sister) telling me that Lupe's album (which drops Dec. 18th) will be the best album of '07?

Are the snippets that good? I haven't listened to them. I'm trying to wait until the album comes out.

Something is wrong with Lil Wayne...

2007-11-28T17:52:00.000-05:00

Peep this Lil Wayne Quote about taking care of problems with people:

“You’d expect me to pay somebody to do it? You supposed to be able to do anything in this world. That’s what Martin Luther King told me. He ain’t never put a specific on what to [do]. He said you can do anything. ‘Kill’ falls under that.”

Album Review - American Gangster

2007-11-14T14:06:00.000-05:00

Well, it took me a while, but, I had to write a review for this album.

"American Gangster" is the best hip hop album to be released this year. Jay-Z vocalizes his best lyrics since... Reasonable Doubt over the best beats since Blueprint. Let me explain...

The album begins with an intro and the first song "Pray." "Pray" is an essential start to this album, as Jay rhymes about growing up around the game and understanding the facts of life. You swear Jay-Z just stepped off the block as he reminisces about what life was like before he started making money. The beat matches his dark energy and the song accomplishes it's goal - putting you back in that Reasonable Doubt state of mind.

Jay continues the trend with the soulful "American Dreaming." What's special about this album? Jay is spitting quotables. "You're in the game now where only time can tell/ Survive the droughts - I wish you well/ Survive the droughts, I wish you well?/ How sick am I? I wish you health." Jay is really trying to be clever on this CD. He's not just rapping about being wealthy. He's trying to show you how to do this, son!

"Hello Brooklyn 2.0" is what it is - a song with Lil Wayne singing on it. I mean, why not? The kids will love it. And, it has a good baseline to it. It's a nice interlude before Jay gets back to business on "No Hook".

"No Hook" is an autobiographical song straight from the gutter. He jacks the line (I don't need no hook for this ----) from "Shawty is a 10" for the segway in this song - but, it comes off nice. "Roc Boys" is energetic and catchy. "Sweet" is a good song, but is my least favorite on the album.

"I Know" is a stellar track (produced by the Neptunes) about heroin. Matter of fact, it's such a good song, I wish it wasn't about heroin. "Party Life" is a smooth song with Jay doing what he does best - being conceited. And, when I say smooth, I mean polished and cool (shout to the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus).

Ok, after saying all that - we still haven't got to the best part of the album. The rest is SICK!!! "Ignorant $#!%" is about 4 years old, but it's a hot song and contains new verses. "Say Hello" is turning out to be my favorite cut. It's another example of Toomp's talent and uses a beautiful sample. They let it ride for over 5 minutes to make it the longest song on the album. "Success" features Nas and is American Gangster's climax. No ID (formerly Common's in-house producer) creates a beat bursting with organs and drums for Nas and Jay to do their thing over. The closer is a track called "Fallin.'" It features Jermaine Dupri as its producer, and Jay as the scripter of lyrics about the inevitable fall of a hustler.

The bonus tracks are good, too. "Blue Magic" was the lead single and fits in well as a bonus. The song, "American Gangster" provides the usual Just Blaze energy just in time to close the album.

"American Gangster" is the best overall hip hop album we've received in about 2 years. It's catching alot of people by surprise, but Jay created a very amazing album in a matter of 3 weeks. He just may be the G.O.A.T.

Beats - 5
Lyrics - 4.5
Creativity - 4.5

Genarlow is...

2007-10-26T12:53:00.000-04:00

FREE!!!

Why Did I Get Married...

2007-10-16T08:24:00.000-04:00

Tyler Perry's new movie "Why Did I Get Married?" is a good movie. It has good acting, a good storyline, it isn't cheesy, and Madea ain't in it (for the Madea haters).

It is simply a good, real movie about marriage. Tasha Smith anchors the movie with her "keep it real" comedy. It prompted my wife and I to have some sincere conversations about the state of our marriage after we saw it. I was impressed.

Go check it out.

T.I...

2007-10-16T08:10:00.000-04:00

You Gots to be stupid! Yo' behind is on probation and you gonna get caught buying some machine guns!!!

He stupid! How you buying guns on your way to an awards show!?! Just in case you lose?

And, I don't care if he was set up. He stupid.

The MZ Saga Continues...

2007-10-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

I'm wack, because I just found out about this this past weekend. But, my frat (my former chapter in particular) is tight. They commemorated the Little Rock Nine in premier fashion. Check the DTH article here.

Unequal Distribution of Wealth

2007-10-04T07:10:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, my wife and I were in Charlotte. While we were there we decided to visit one of her friends that works in South Park Mall. I knew this mall would be a little different from any other mall in North Carolina because it had a Neiman Marcus. I think I've only been to Neiman Marcus once before (when I was in Boston).

Well, while I was in the store, I noticed some of the most over-priced things I've ever seen in my life. I'm thinking things like "Is this blazer really $1300?" And, "Do they have a $125 plastic bracelet just laying out on a rack like it's 50 cents?" And, then it hit me. The crap is only worth 50 cents in reality, so why not treat it that way?

On the real - who has money to shop in these places? And, WHY are they shopping here? I guess so they can "pay $400 bucks on this - just to say nigga you ain't up on this!" I'm stereotyping the wealthy right now, but if people stayed a little more grounded once they blew up (meaning giving to the less fortunate) so many people wouldn't have to live in poverty. Unless, of course, by paying $1300 for a blazer I'm really paying 2 months of rent for a struggling family. But, is that where the money is going?

It's crazy. I'm walking through this store feeling like I need to cover up the little Polo man on my shirt cuz he ain't cuttin it.

Hip Hop vs. America

2007-09-30T22:17:00.000-04:00

I'm not gonna take the time to really talk about it now, but I wanted to say how tight BET's special "Hip Hop vs. America" was. If you saw it, post responses. If you didn't, check out the re-runs.

Worst Hip Hop Lyric Ever...

2007-09-30T17:15:00.000-04:00

Wow... I didn't know other people agreed with me on this...

Lupe Fiasco...

2007-09-28T23:22:00.000-04:00

Somebody please listen to Lupe's new single "Dumb it Down" and tell me he doesn't spit the best lyrics in the game right now. There is nobody out there saying anything close to what this dude is saying.

Here's a link to hiphopdx.com. I don't know how to post the youtube links, yet. (I'm wack)

Tom Joyner Quote...

2007-09-25T15:39:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you all heard about Juanita Bynum and the beatdown(s) she received from her husband Thomas Weeks, III. Well, I don't know if ya'll heard about what Tom Joyner asked on his show last week.

Quote: "If you're a prophet, didn't you see this coming?"

Life - The Realness...

2007-09-25T15:14:00.001-04:00

I was talking to a friend yesterday that is dealing with some tough situations in life. What was his conclusion? - "Life is real... but, that's ok."

I've talked alot with people about the quarter life crisis, stress, and other related topics. It is still interesting to me how people in their mid-twenties grapple with the realities of adult life. When crazy things happen, it still blindsides us. Like - "DA#%!! Life is kickin' my @$$!"

And, the truth is - it will continue to kick our behinds. We will continue to lose some and win some. And, thus, we develop faith... faith that better days lie ahead. I'm reminded of one of my old away messages:

I looked into your future...

You will not lose...

Congratulations.

K.B... the Conservative...

2007-09-19T21:10:00.000-04:00

First of all, let me just say this - I do not believe the Jena 6 deserve to be charged with attempted murder. It was a school fight. The highest charge should be some sort of juvenile assault.

Now, with that being said - I can't say I'm all on the Jena 6 bandwagon. I was much more moved by the stories of Sean Bell, Marcus Dixon, and Genarlow Wilson (who, by the way, is STILL in prison - after 2.5 years!) All of those stories had a significant difference in the black victim - they didn't cause harm to anybody! Sean Bell was coming out of a strip club and got shot 50 times. Marcus Dixon had consensual sex with a white girl and got 10 years. Genarlow Wilson received oral sex from a very willing white female and is serving a 10 year sentence. Why isn't there a bus full of Durhamites riding to ATL to get him out of prison?

I guess it's the blatant racist nature of the Jena situation - complete with nooses and everything. Maybe it's because the Jena 6 weren't messing with white girls - which black people tend to trip about, anyway. I don't know. I've already had a conversation with my kids about the Jena 6. I sincerely told them that I thought it was an unfair punishment for the crime. When asked if I was wearing black tomorrow, I simply replied "I already wore my black shirt this week. I don't have another one." Am I wack for not being eager to support?

Album Review - Kanye West - Graduation

2007-09-14T10:08:00.000-04:00

When I first heard this CD, I was pretty disappointed. I felt it was a let down from previous efforts. But, in all honesty, Kanye had nowhere to go, but down. His first album is a classic and his second is a masterpiece. How do you follow that?

Although "Graduation" doesn't stack up to Kanye's first two efforts, it is still a G.O.O.D. CD. He starts off with a similar pattern to "Late Registration" as he wakes us up with "Good Morning." It is a solid song with a mellow mood covering the topic of graduation. He continues the Late Registration trend with "Champion", which gives me the feeling of "Touch the Sky" all over again. It is up tempo and triumphant.

Beat-wise, "Stronger" is definitely one of the highlights of the album. You know Kanye had to be feeling it as he lets it ride for 5 minutes and it becomes one of the longest tracks on the album. This song just gets me hype for life. "I Wonder", is an introspective piece that comes off quite well. This is Kanye at his deepest on the album before he shallows up for "Good Life" with T-Pain. Don't mistake me calling it shallow for me saying I don't like it. It comes off well and will be a great feel good song for the next couple of months.

"Can't Tell Me Nothing" is a great song, and comes off really gangsta with the Young Jeezy adlibs. I'm feeling Kanye as he spits "I had a dream I could buy my way to Heaven/when I awoke, I spent that on a necklace/ I told God I'd be back in a second/ Man, it's so hard not to act reckless." For some reason, I just get into alot of the things Kanye says about life.

"Barry Bonds" is a good introduction to the team that will collaborate more on Lil Wayne's upcoming CD, "The Carter Three". Weezy and Wayne work well here and make a notable contribution to the CD. The collabo that follows is the worst song to appear on ANY Kanye CD - "Drunk and Hot Girls" with Mos Def.

"Flash Lights" with Dwele is stellar. The beat is hypnotic and it's a good song, overall. "Everything I Am" with DJ Premier is a good, mellow song, also. "The Glory" is good, but not special. It could possibly be a leftover from "College Dropout." I hate "Homecoming" because it is simply a remix of a song Kanye did with John Legend FOUR YEARS AGO!

The album closes with "Big Brother" which is Kanye's ode to Jay-Z. Real hip hop heads will love it, and like Kanye says at the end - "Toomp killed this $#!T"

My complaints - Kanye should have scrapped "Drunk and Hot Girls" and included "Bittersweet" with John Mayer. That song would have shined on this album and made it even better. I can't complain, though. Kanye gave us more G.O.O.D. music with this album.

Ratings:

Beats - 4

Rhymes - 4

Creativity- 4

My Hopes...

2007-09-12T08:54:00.000-04:00

I hope to be back soon. The year has started, and it's hectic as usual...

God bless everybody that still checks this blog.

An old wish...

2007-08-09T11:30:00.000-04:00

I read an article this morning about an old desire of mine - to change the world. The article basically highlights the problems in this desire and corrects them. It says we should follow Jesus' ethic of service - no matter how insignificant the service may seem.

Does this mean we aim low? Nah, not really. We can still pray big prayers, and work for big things that will benefit us and others. But, we run into problems when we try to change people and cultures.

Here's the article - "On Not Transforming the World"

Stress Management...

2007-08-07T09:56:00.000-04:00

The summer is coming to a close and it's back to the grind for my wife and I. I can already feel stress creeping back into my life as people ask us to do a million and one things. What are some ways you deal with stress?

Here are some suggestions I've received over the years:

-play ball

-go for a run

-get a massage

-smoke (anything)

-listen to music

-write a song

-stretch/work out

-take a vacation/retreat

(This second pic is for my wife... I thought she'd like it)

Finally Going to Trial...

2007-08-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

Get hype! R. Kelly is finally going to trial!

Why am I hype?

I don't know.

I just feel like this dude really should at least go to court.

Hip Hop in '07...

2007-07-26T21:45:00.000-04:00

I spent a significant amount of time the past couple of days listening to what's new in hip hop. This year has a lot of potential to be good. Well, that's if Lil Wayne drops this year (and we get a new album from Little Brother).

Check the possible line-up for '07:

T.I. - T.I. v. T.I.P. (an ok CD that's doing commercially well right now)
Pharoahe Monch - Desire
Common - Finding Forever (A good follow-up to 'Be')
Talib Kweli - Eardrum (This is way better than 'Beautiful Struggle')
Lil Wayne - The Carter III
Little Brother - The Getback
50 Cent - Curtis (I don't care for 50, but this will be a major release)
Kanye West - Graduation
Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told

My Apologies...

2007-07-18T18:32:00.001-04:00

I was in Indianapolis last week at new teacher training for the technology school we're starting next year.

I'm in Austin, TX this week conducting research on Lyndon B. Johnson at his presidential library on the UT campus.

I hope to post about something, soon.

Classic Hip Hop (after Aquemini)...

2007-07-03T07:49:00.001-04:00

So, with T.I. v. T.I.P. dropping today, TI's talking all this stuff about it being a classic hip hop album and all that (like everybody says about their album). Anyway, T.I. compares it to Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, and Aquemini as far as what type of classic it is. I told my brother-in-law about this and he brought up the fact that T.I. skipped a bunch of recent classics to compare his album to. That made me think - have there been any classics since Aquemini? I tend to sleep on hip hop that was made after the golden era of 1994-1998. So, I decided to compile yet another list of classic hip hop - post Aquemini.

My criteria for this list - simply the fact that these were extremely popular albums that everybody liked to some degree.

Dr. Dre - 2001 - featured great production, a rising Eminem, and hits that people will always remember. Singles included "Forgot About Dre", "Still D.R.E.", "Next Episode", and "Xplosive." It went 6x platinum in the U.S. and sold 10 million total worldwide.

Eminem - The Marshal Mathers LP - This was Eminem at his best. And, one can easily make the argument that Eminem was the best rapper from 2000-2005. This album sold like no other hip hop album has yet to do - 1.7 million in its first week! Singles included "The Real Slim Shady", "The Way I Am", and the classic "Stan."

Jay-Z - The Blueprint - Lyrically, this is not Jay's best, but the production is top-notch. This brought back the art of sampling in hip hop. Just Blaze and Kanye murdered this album and made it a classic. Singles included "Izzo", "Girls, Girls, Girls", and "Song Cry".

50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Trying - Anybody see a trend here? Except for Blueprint, this is all Dr. Dre (and Eminem, I guess). This CD sold 7.5 million in the U.S. and 12 million worldwide. Singles included "In the Club", "P.I.M.P.", "21 Questions", and "Many Men".

Outkast - SpeakerBoxx/Love Below - This CD went diamond - nuff said. This is the crowning achievement of Outkast's illustrious career. They are the greatest hip hop group of all time. I may support this claim later. But, they've done it all. This CD's singles included "Hey Ya", "The Way You Move", "Roses", and "Prototype."

Kanye West - The College Dropout - Another slight trend is developing - Kanye West-influenced hip hop. In my opinion, Kanye has two classics, but this is the most influential of the two. Kanye made substance popular with this album. Two of his singles had pretty thorough content ("All Falls Down" and "Jesus Walks"). While two of his other singles said absolutely nothing ("Slow Jamz" and "The New Workout Plan"). But, all in all, he made an album that many people loved.

As the Ruin Falls...

2007-06-30T12:25:00.001-04:00

Rell sent me this poem yesterday. Ironically, I had been praying about precisely what the poem addresses. Side note: C.S. Lewis was sick:

As the Ruin Falls

All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through.
I want God, you, all friends merely to serve my turn.

Peace, re-assurance, pleasure are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin:
I talk of love - a scholar's parrot may talk Greek-
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.

Only that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack.
I see the chasm. And everything you are was making
My heart into a bridge by which I might get back
From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking.

For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The pains
You give me are more precious than all other gains.

...

2007-06-29T13:15:00.000-04:00

Carlos, man... this rhyme is just for you, I gotta write it.
When you spoke about your future, I would get excited.
Telling me that you were gonna be right down the street,
and you were hoping that we would stay close and still speak.
And, I said no problem - you can holla at us,
whenever you need something while at St. August's.
Those last few days you kept poppin in my room,
sellin' mixtapes, and gettin' hype about the 8th of June.
Giving me prom pictures, invitations to parties,
a million and one reasons why you were being tardy.
Man, if I woulda known those would be the last times...

You had a humble spirit, and always so selfless.
And that was a crazy trait in a world so selfish.
In your eyes, one could tell that you were the type,
that didn't want to hurt anybody, you just wanted to do right.
I mean, you'd defend yourself if others tried to joke.
But, aside from that you weren't the type to poke
fun at others - you were just a nice guy.
And, that really makes me wonder why did you have to die?

But, man... Rest in peace - go on and relax.
Cuz Heaven's got some things that this world couldn't match.
So, we're happy for you in every way.
And we know that we'll see you again someday.

God bless you.

R.I.P. Decarlo Polk

2007-06-28T21:54:00.000-04:00

See Limited Edition's blog here.

What you can do with...

2007-06-22T17:50:00.000-04:00

the money that you used for Jordans.

The inspiration for this post is as follows: I bought some Jordan Retro 3's a couple of days ago. I bought them because I liked them and I had never had a pair of Jordans before. Something in me made me feel like I was the only black man aged 22-28 who had never had a pair. But, after talking to my two LB's I realized I wasn't the only black man that hadn't had some Jordans and, I felt, it was a waste of money. So, I took them back and these are the things I was able to do with my returned Jordan money:

buy my sister a graduation gift
take a friend out to eat for his birthday
get a haircut
fill my car up with gas
buy an fm transmitter for my mp3 player
buy Chrisette Michele's CD
buy a meal at McDonald's

I must say I'd rather have all of those things than one pair of shoes. I'll go to the Nike factory and get me some cheaper kicks soon.

The Most Popular Diss Track of All Time...

2007-06-20T18:03:00.000-04:00

So, I'm hoping no one has heard about the latest hip hop beef in St. Louis (If you haven't - good for you). Anyway, Huey (of Pop, Lock, and Drop it fame) has taken a shot at Nelly. That's part of what inspired this post.

I think I have located the most popular diss track of all time. And the thing is - I don't think most of us even knew it was a diss. I didn't even like it when I first heard it because they were talking about my favorite group.

So, this infamous diss record was none other than Kris Kross' 'Jump.' This entire song (which was #1 on the Billboard Charts for eight straight weeks) was a diss towards another popular kid group at the time - Another Bad Creation (of 'Iesha' and 'Playground' fame). Don't believe me? Check out the verses:

"Don't try to compare us to Another Bad little fad
I'm the Mac and I'm bad give you something that you never had
I'll make ya Jump Jump wiggle and shake your rump
Cuz I be kicking the flavor that makes you wanna Jump
How high? Real high, cuz I'm just so fly
A young, loveable, huggable type of guy
And everything is to the back with a little slack,
cuz inside out is wiggidy wiggidy wiggidy wack
I come stompin' with something to keep you jumpin'
R&B Rap and bullcrap is what I'm dumpin'.
And, yo it's something about Kris Kross - we all that,
So, when they ask "Do they rock" say "Believe that"

(In verse two)
"In the mix I make the six step back
They try to step to the Mac then they got jacked
To the back you'll be sportin' the gear that ain't coincidental
And like you know and don't be claiming that it's mental
Two lil' kids with a flow you ain't ever heard
And nothing fakin' - you can understand every word
As you listen to my cool school melody
The Daddy makes you J-U-M-P

Has there ever been another diss track as accepted in popular culture as this?