Good Morning

Good Morning (2008!), how appropriate is that? The Wire is doing its final lap, and I have the feeling we won't even be granted a victory lap afterwards, so we have to ride out with this final go around.

The sad truth is that the show will be something that could have been so much more. It truly is one of the most underrated cable shows of the century (eh, why not?), and you know what? I love that fact.

Well, it is somewhat of a love/hate relationship. I love the fact that a select few people are familiar w/ The Wire, creating a group of intelligent and mindful conversation exchanges amongst these people I come in to contact with. However, at the same time...it's the issues that the show brings up that I don't feel are being grasped by enough people.

I remember it was summer '02 and I sat with my mom and watched the first episode of this epic series. Needless to say, we were like "naaah son", and even after a second episode, we passed.

It was a Saturday evening (or maybe it was Sunday?) marathon that they were showing the past three episodes that had aired so far that I decided to go ahead and record on the Maxell video tape.

WHOA! Convincing mom to sit down and watch the episodes, we were really hooked! Although we share different opinions on the second season (I loved it, moms could have done without it...), the overall feeling is utmost respect and appreciation for such a high quality product.

See, a lot of people can only go as far as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Oz. The problem is that The Wire is complex, intriguing, and at times, mind-boggling (?) while presenting new challenges in each episode. Well, guess what? Life is too.

Unpredictable and shocking in the way it is able to hold a mirror up to us (America) and showing the true problems that exist in our system in relation to government, schools, police, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I watched Sorpanos and Oz to the point that I stood in line with the box sets 'til I re-read the price tag and was a shook one, yup! However, you cannot convince me that the same, or even SIMILAR, lessons are being taught or illustrated via those other shows as compared to The Wire.

I still cannot believe that the show is finally ending, and it didn't take nearly 10 years (shout-out to 'Oz'...soo lost my attention towards the last seasons), complaining lead actors (Tony who?) not satisfied w/ the income coming in, or a sudden shot to the head (I was really hoping for an explanation to John From Cincinnati) Rather, just like life, all things come to an end.

Believe me, when the final credits roll on the last episode, life in Baltimore will still continue. Miss the show? Drive down I-95 (or up...) and go to Baltimore. The police department will still be there with a handful of Daniels and MacNultys. You may be able to spot one or two Bodies or even a glimpse of a Marlo.

Okay, I'm straying on and on, let me cut to the chase. The show, I believe, was not intended to just be an intense storyline that has a clear beginning, middle, and end...but rather, it gives us a 'peek' at life in a place (Baltimore) where it can best show vivid images of what problems and solutions exist in the urban cities. It is up to us to pick it up and continue the script. A better Baltimore? How about a better world? No? Well, let's keep it local for now, the world can come later.

***Side Note: Less than 2 hours from the ball dropping in NYC, million plus (?) people gathered at Times Square, I'm smiling in bed with a burnin' hot lap top and realizing that it is ALREADY 2008 in The Netherlands, England, France, China, and nearly everywhere else past the Atlantic Ocean...I'm going to sleep, yo!!!***

Umi Says

***Side Note: If you have 'never' heard "Umi Says" by Mos Def, you should def. not be reading these posts...stop hurting yourself and YouTube it now!!!***


Remember when Jordans used to really mean something? Seriously. I still remember the importance of them from the 'Do The Right Thing' film. Don't you remember when the biker (white dude, sorry, I call a spade a spade) accidentally stepped on Buggin' Out's Jordans? Come on, that was '88 ('89?) and Jordans were 'that' serious? YES!

My point made exactly! I didn't get my first pair of 'official' pair of J's 'til middle school, I believe it was either at the end of my 7th grade year or the beginning of 8th... They were the 14's. Awwwwww, the recognition, respect, and utter 'yeah yo'.... Maybe you didn't go through what I went through, but I would wear my shoes (J's especially) as if I DIDN'T save, save, and SAVE every last penny (had to sacrifice sooo many lunches...) in order to buy them. I just pretended like it really was nothing. Of course on the inside I was screaming louder than a retro Metallica accappella (sorry, no spell check on here!)....

I miss that feeling! Not so much for the regular Nikes (Soho is Public Enemy #1) that I can find and impress any day (still saving lunch money, though...), but the feeling of having "Jordans". The word "Jordans" held so much value. If you could mention Jordans and apply "me", "I" or "have" in the same sentence, you carried the torch. You were on Broadway. You were the 'ish....(sooo Dreamin' it right now...)

I don't have that same feeling anymore. You can tell that it is a mutual feeling among many of us. Think about it. Wouldn't we all prefer a pair of Retros rather than the new 22's (I think?) that are coming out next?

Well, Sam Cooke said that change would come, but who would have ever thought it would have impacted the Jordan era so hard.

Booty Meat

You 'know' I was very tempted and was just a 'copy and paste' click away from putting a booty from 'onionbooty.com' on here, but I figure I'll pay homage to the artist who is behind this song...

"Youuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!" Months after "Crank Dat" gained popular attention, I am somehow stuck and hooked to one of Soulja Boy Tell'em's other previously released singles, "Booty Meat"......... From finding the Disney animated version of this song to watching girls "Shake that thing, Miss." on www.dangwtf.com to this particular record, it is amazing....

Really! Think about how many songs don't get straight to the point, "You and that monkey", "Shake it fast", etc......however, this 'TEENAGER' cut all the chit chat and just got straight to the point...

"Girl shake that booty meat, that booty meat. Shake that booty meat."

Yes, those are quoted word for word. The song is addictive, I swear! Just to illustrate how addictive it is, I nearly hit up everyone on the top friends section of myspace with this video, just too good to turn up.

This discussion actually leads me in to my main discussion, young rappers. I have to admit, from 'Crank Dat', all I could think about was "'amnnnnn, hip hop is really dying..." Fo' real fo' real, but this song has really helped me re-think my thoughts.

Don't lie to yourself, we are way too quick to judge. It is the truth. We hear these 'kids' spittin' rhymes that sound so nursery and goofy and we immediately down them and give them M's (Mediums for all of you non-XXL Magazine readers!) at best.

During this past Christmas dinner, I was talking w/ my cousin about these 'young' rappers and I was shocked at what he said.

"Hurricane Chris is going to be really good."

WHAT!? How could the lil' "A bay bay" kid have gotten the respect from my slightly older cousin, a true hip hop head? I was shocked and my cousin broke it down. He explained to me how there are these goofy commercial records that get release ('Politics As Usual', I know...), but some of these under-aged kids that don't even have a driver's license are actually.....uuhhhmmm.....'good'. Really!

Of course at the end of the day, the audience will decide the longevity of an artist, right? Now, going back to Soulja Boy Tell'em, I am sure he won't be on some Redman type stuff and have a "Booty Meat part 2-6", but give him time and I think he'll develop well.

You ALSO have to remember that a lot of these 'kids' (sooory, but y'all are still Sour Patch, catch up!) are trying to get signed. Learn the tricks of the trade. Labels are NOT looking for the Nas and Common rappers that are so lyrical they have to have Encyclopedia's at the listening sessions. Hence we have: "Crank Dat", "A Bay Bay", "Sexy Lady", etc.

While I still can't see myself going and buyin' Soulja Boy Tell'em's album from Best Buy, I'll def. continue paying closer attention and using up all of those 'Listen now' samples from Amazon.com!

Break of Dawn

Okay, okay.....let it all out..... I know whenever people see photos of or hear the name, Michael Jackson, the laughter always begins and no one takes him seriously.....

Word to the title of this posting and my big homie Kevin Michael that was takin' back some memories w/ me as we both admitted that we mess w/ this song MAD hard...Mike is in every sense of the word, 'classic'.....

You know what the real problem is? People take his personal life in to consideration first, rather than studying his music...really! Mike is discussed in so many different forms, but you can not take away his track record...

It is pointless to take the time to go over his 'wins'.....ranging from "Thriller" to "History"....to "Invincible".....but I will say that Mike makes Justin Timberlake, Usher, and all of the others look like apple sauce...

I remember hearing Mike in the early '90s....with the whole "Free Willy 2" soundtrack, and I didn't think too much of him then. Of course it was the coverage and various talks about his personal life that got me interested on to what he was about....think about it, the big homie was doin' everything from commercials w/ Michael Jordan to wifing Elvis' daughter..say word? WORD.

Yes, I'll admit...this blog posting is a bit 'random', but why not? We haven't heard much about what is going on w/ Mike, and the kids are getting older (ouch! That was a slight jab...), so I figure that I could take a minute to shine light on him.

Mike is an icon. He is classic. He is legendary. He is music.

When you really break it all down, he belongs in a category all by himself. Come on, remember all of those fans passing out just by his presence? That was 'not' accidental, Mike has (had?) that power.

Trying to catch an 8 o'clock movie on a Saturday night, I will kindly say 'peace' and for everyone, please put down the tabloids and do your research on the guy that even helped spark Joe Pesci's career (that movie was sooo ill), put a dent in the video game industry ('50' was about 10+ years late w/ 'Bulletproof'), and made you appreciate him for at 'least' the music....

'til the break of dawn....

Return of the Mac

Finally, finally, finally....I can't even fake it (to make it) anymore....morning radio is finally going to get BACK on point.....

Normally I am a little bit more somber and gentle when discussing things that I am not really 'feelin'....but say word son, NAH!!!

WACK: Miss Jones in the Morning (Hot 97) **Sorry Envy, you're my man...but your girl is wack, fo' real fo' real...***

WACK: The Ed Lover Show (Power 105)

Now if my faithful source (xxlmag.com) is correct, the big homie Star (and Buckwild) should be returning January 15th, 2008......

http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=16725

I can't even apologize for not feeling the other two morning shows.....while I am really not the one to spend time whining or complaining over wackness, I have to shed a few words confirming how pitiful those two prior shows are, and WHY Star will be welcomed with open arms....

MISS JONES IN THE MORNING

I don't even know where to start w/ Miss Jones. In addition to her having babies (at a crazy rate!) and being absent from the show quite often, I have to dish it out on how corny the program is. I won't lie, it 'used' to be ill. I remember moving to Jersey in the summer of 2004, and listening to the squad......Miss Jones/Envy/Miss Info/Ashy Larry......the show was crazy! Remember the whole Ma$e controversy? Yerrp, all right there.....

But now, the show has been colder than the Miami Heat... From losing Miss Info, Ashy Larry, and the 'heart' of the show....their tactics are just straight wack. Prank phone calls have not been funny since The Jerky Boys...well, okay...since Crank Yankers..... In addition to the calls, there is Psychic and Tarot Card Readings, and Miss Jones prides herself on being soo 'ghetto'.........I had to just straight up boycott the show when I turned it on the other day and she said something along the lines of "oh, that is what white people do..."....come on lil' mama, they're PAYING your bills.....creativiy, originality, and common sense are ALL missing from the show, R.I.P 'Miss Jones in the Morning'....

ED LOVER

Awwww, I'm sorry big homie, I have to dish it out just a lil' bit on Eddie. First off, his hip hop credibility card is def. respected, but when it comes to knockin' out others for your shine, naaah yoooo...

Okay, so maybe I have a few of you lost, but just dig it for a minute...(sooo '70s w/ it, check it yo!)...before Ed Lover was on in the Morning...it was....STAR AND BUC! Yup, yup...I won't get in to the details, but there were some legal troubles which led to the show getting canceled. Therefore, it became Big Tigger, Egypt, and Ashy Larry taking over a morning show.....then, Tigger disappeared on some 'Now you see me, now you don't' type stuff, and it just turned in to Ashy and Egypt.....aiiight, so things were going pretty well, and then dun dun duuuun, the big homie Ed Lover gets a time slot change and the whole show gets switched to "ED LOVER in the Morning"....'aaaamn, fo' real fo' real?

Again, realize that I am coming from the outside and looking in....it may have been something with the ratings, or not...I don't know....but I will just say that Ed Lover in the Morning is NOT the answer to the need to have a competing Morning Show on Power 105.

From his obnoxious laughs and very 'open' (way too open...) self, Ed deserves his own reality show, not morning show.....

This all leaves me with giving a big shout-out and warm welcoming to Star and his gang of side kicks.......if you're not familiar w/ Star, def. do your research! His intelligence, constant hatin', and civilized humor all make for grade A entertainment.......'til the 15th, I'm rockin' with the iPod, fo' real fo' real!

Locked Up

Before I even begin this posting, I would like to give a crucial moment of silence and my deepest respect for the family of Benazir Bhutto.



Going head first in to my posting for today (I'm telling you, I keep on hittin' crunch time w/ these postings, but have YET to catch an "L" w/ respect to having them on time....ya dig????), I just have to ask....WHERE THE F*&K IS SHYNE!?

Okay, okay...let me catch my breath (uh-huh, uh-huh), of course I know 'where' he is, locked up since '00/'01....but what is his status? Remember his brief recovery in the summer of '04? The single 'Jimmy Choo' featuring Ashanti? The articles in XXL, The Source, etc.?

Fast forward to winter '07-'08, and where is the big homie? Wasn't he supposed to have a possible parole hearing soon? Fo' real fo' real? I know we were all concerned about the sales between 50/Kanye (shout-out to Universal! Sooo gangsta w/ that marketing plan...) along with how many steps Britney had during the MTV awards show...but c'mon maaaaan......Shyne?

Think about it, we nearly gave Tony Yayo the benefit of 24/7 (okay, maybe I'm bein' a lil' drastic) coverage while he was only servin' a year bid, if that?

Where is Shyne? (You know what I mean...)

Trust me, I've checked allhiphop.com, xxlmag.com, sohh.com....nadanutta thing.....well, I suppose if Pun (R.I.P) has his own myspace page, I may have the best luck tryin' there......but in the meantime, can we have a Shyne feature in a magazine? I'll even settle for a YouTube feature video!

Hopefully we don't have to wait 'til the big homie's release in 2010 'fore we get to see what's really really really good.....(sooo '02 with it right now....Killa!)

Eric B. Is President

"Can U Believe" that by this time next year we will have a new president? I suppose at this point we could really care less if we get a Republican or Democrat just as long as we get rid of Bush, right?

Seriously though, watching Chris Matthews' "Hard Ball" on MSNBC you just realize how much we DON'T know about our candidates...

I can't even fake, I have been so focused on 'The Carter Administration' (Jigga!) that I have hardly paid any attention to our own government. And at the end of the day, my paychecks have little to do with the actions of Def Jam, nah mean?

It is really amazing to me that this coming up election is going to be cwwazy interesting. A sad fact that many of 'us' (the 'young'ns) do not realize is that if we just took a few minutes a day, and focused on the coverage of news...or at least the primaries that are coming up in the next few weeks, we'd all be surprised.

Surprised for reasons that include how hilarious and informative the news anchors (chill, 'Fox', def. not including yoU) such as an analysist (?) on Hardball referring to John McCain as 'The Night of the Living Dead' because homie came outta the hole and it murkin' the other Republican candidates...fo' real fo' real...

Being that a single blog posting alone may not be enough to get people to put "nytimes.com" as their homepage or even pick up those spare papers on the trains/subways, I have come up w/ a solution...

Fo' get the whole 'Vote or Die' campaign.....in addition to being borderline 'Nazi'-like, the pressure and fakery that was being applied to the 'young' crowd to motivate them to vote fell shorter than Chamillionaire's first week's sales...say word, WORD.

"Fo' get about it!" -Good Fellas, The Sopranos, Analyze This, (insert your own Italian flick)

What we CAN do is continue to have hip hop artists support and express their feelings about the candidates....can you imagine how powerful it would be to hear Fifty say "CCC CCC CCClllin-tonnnnn!" or even hear Kanye reppin' Obama by doing a "Stronger 2008" for the big homie?

Okay, so maybe those are both two REALLY MAINSTREAM typical examples, but listening to Ghostface and Common's albums, there are clear mentions of the presidential candidate, Obama.....lets just push it a little bit harder....

Think about the POSITIVE impact something like this would have! In addition to getting more attention paid to hip hop and correcting the misconceptions that we receive in the community, hip hop will show versatility and actually help influence listeners to 'get familiar' (Sooo Clinton Sparkin' it...)

The problem with the 'Vote or Die' campaign (in addition to Puff just lookin' wiggity wiggity wack w/ those t-shirts) was trying to FORCE us to do something. Between me and you, if someone is pushing me hard to go one direction, I'm fallin' back and sayin' "Naah, son...." However, I did vote in 2004 but it had nuffin' to do w/ the 'Vote or Die' movement....

I remember seeing and hearing so many rap artists come together to address the problems in Africa w/ the spread of HIV/AIDS, and even more so during the times of Hurricane Katrina and the Jena 6. Why not now? The great thing about this idea is the fact that there isn't any major crisis or life-threatening event taking place, just a chance to get anyone and everyone listening to hip hop the chance to be curious about a candidate...

Also, many of us are so quick to say 'Democrat' without even taking a breath or knowing who is running for that particular ticket... With this suggested movement, artists wouldn't even have to emphasize who they're rollin' with......and you know what...if there are artists that don't believe in voting, fine...let them spit a hot 16 about WHY...(on some Jada Summer '04, bare with me...)

As a matter of fact, PERFECT example.....Jadakiss "Why" is a great illustration of what I am pushing. "Why'd Bush knock down the Towers, why you around those cowards," -Jada

Don't sugarcoat anything, keep it gully and true to yourself. At the end of the day, it is just something to make you say "HHhmmmmm...."

'Thought I was a doughnut, and tried to glaze me.' -Rakim, "Eric B. Is President"

For Da Fam

Err....trust me, I really tried finding a 'perfect' photo for this title and subject...but at the end of the day, I have to go w/ 'my fam(ily)'..fo' real fo' real....

Despite high expectations and nervousness (?) spreading faster than ring tones, the get-together was cwwwazy nice! NO DETAILS, SORRY....however, I do want to stress the importance of fam(ily)...

You can tell from the title alone that this is not some 'Cosby' show or 'Family Matters'-type discussion that I want to give some insight on...it is the "fam", whether that includes a crazy Wayans Brothers 'big' fam, or just you and your dog (no 'X', a 'real' dog....)....your 'fam' is ALWAYS there for you...

Again, I am not necessarily talking about moms, pops, your crazy cousin (yes, Trevor...I swear I love you despite your crazy-ness, you got me lookin' good!) or anyone else that falls in to the blood line....before moving to northern New Jersey where I am embraced by my NJ/NY family always, it had always been me, mom, and some cwazy dog(gie)s. Therefore, my 'fam' included them....Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc., it has always been them.

Therefore, you can only imagine how 'good' it feels to have your real 'fam' embrace you like mine. Today was incredible...from whining and complainin'...."eerr....the house isn't big enough to fit everyone inside.", to going crazy and smilin' more than MA$E from '97...I truly do if 'For Da Fam'.....

At the end of the day, the girls....people....accomplishments..."L"s (I've always been able to bounce back, I lose less than San Antonio..come on, maaan!), etc. mean 'NUFFIN' without having them.....

I used to think that I should be like Omar (The Wire) and just be completely independent and take care of things on my own...which I do, but fo' get that...you really realize how important 'fam' is when you're around them. Take away all of your personal insecurities, the pressed button-downs, fitteds, make-up, and all of that other stuff, and you're stuck with that happy 'kid' that can only be YOURSELF while around the 'fam'....

Sooooo, (still recovering from too many helpings of ham and macaroni, w/ Cranberry Relish..(never heard of it? Step your gourmet game UP!).....bare w/ me!), the moral of the story? Kiss (Kiss) your fam, your REAL fam......and cherish the 'day'....(sooo Sade w/ it, chea!!!!)

PS....Can we please stop the 'fam' usage for referring to our people? Southerners are still hijacking the 'son' thing, and 'fam' has already been targeted!

No Time

All good things come to an end, eventually..........

It is OFFICIAL. Jigga is tippin' his hat and walkin' on out.....DEF what??? "Nah, son..."

Okay, in lamest terms, "Jay "Shawn Carter" Z is resigning from Def Jam". Makes sense now?

Well, the truth is that I am T-minus 4 hours away from being bombarded by a house full of family members (all from my father's side..the 'crazy' side...) and I am trying to knock out a quick posting....so I figure that it is only right to discuss the Jigga situation.....

While most of us in the 'hip hop' world had a feeling that something funny was going to happen (we all thought it involved 'Big Chips', but who would have thought that the explanation would have been 'new challenges'...) when we learned that his contract was coming to an end soon.

Not taking the time to look at the success (and MAJOR failures; Young Gunz, Memphis Bleek, Joe Budden (who!), LL, Mef, Red, The Roots....I'm done!)) he has had while president of one of the most legendary record labels of all time, especially for hip hop...I WILL make some predictions...

NEVER CAN SAY GOOD-BYE
Jay-Z, believe it or not, is no where close to done recording. So knock that out of your mind RIGHT now. As long as Puffy is still appearing in other rappers' videos, Jay will be slingin' rap rhymes.

CHANGE
Def Jam? Ha! Too many headaches, too many rappers, too many temptations..(shout-out to the lil' homie, RIHANNA!) Jay will find himself in another spot, another 'less painful' challenge, another label. (How's Rick Rubin doing as of lately?)

BIG CHIPS
More ventures. More investing. Jay is going to hit'em harder than those 'Buy Lot' features on the GTA: Vice City Stories features! Spend money, sit back and let it make you money......(but the Nets? Still at Continental? Still the NEW JERSEY Nets?)

ROCA-WHAT
As far as what will happen w/ Rocafella Records? Your guess is as good as mine!

Stay Tuned!

Driving Me Wild

I am really on the verge of saying, "Calm the F**K Down!!!!!!!!!!!!" on some Samuel L. Jackson from 'Do The Right Thing' style stuff....(wow, to write and not curse is soooo me, huh?)

Really, what the **BEEP** is up w/ all of these hip hop artists going around w/ shotguns, pistols, machine guns, OH MY! Really...this has gone far enough. From reading about Yung Joc getting arrested yesterday for having a loaded GUN, to Kat Williams...Mr. "And this 'ish right here" Funny Man getting locked up for having a STOLEN gun at the airport, to the "Big Things Poppin'" rapper, TI, on house arrest for a HANDFUL of guns while on probation.............DANG, WTF?!

Now believe you, me......I am probably one of the biggest Grand Theft Auto playing, Elmer Fudd and Yosiminee Sam (?) watching, and squirt GUN shooting people you will ever meet......so please don't get it twisted..........I am not saying boycott anything or to stop this and that......but really, what is going on w/ our peeps?

I remember Chris Rock's '04 HBO Special where he said that it is getting harder and harder to defend hip hop nowadays..and the big homie is right! We had a hard enough time trying to convince people that Don Imus is a racist and that his actions do not have a direct relationship w/ hip hop..................BUT w/ all of these gun charges, awwwww gggeeesssshhhh.

It is 9:09 AM on a Monday morning, still scraping ham and toast from my gums, and I can't even look at my hip hop news sites without having to immediately rush to the blog...errrr......

Well, there is one solution to the gun problem............STOP! I know it sounds easier said than done, so maybe I should revise that....how about people like Yung Joc, TI, even lil' man K-Dub stop rollin' with them 'thangs'.......isn't that why we have body guards? Oh, that goes against your 'gangsta'.....cool, cool...........here is how we settle that...:

K-Dub throws a big stand-up special called, "Guns and Roses", or some crazy title that mocks or uses 'Guns' in the title..............in the special he can make fun of himself for the gun incident, BUT at the same time he can say how the body guard is like his big "b***h"...you know, make having a bodyguard sound and seem funny? Sooo funny that these guys will actually WANT a bodyguard.....'ya dig'?

Next, TI...still on house arrest decides to keep making new music and calls in the other lil' homie, Joc.....they make a quick collabo talking about whose body guard gets things poppin' the most....can't you see it?

"Homie better chill, my BG (Body Guard) Phil, get it movin' fast and have you hidden in the Hills" -TI

"Phil better quit, 'cause Rashim keeps them lil' buddies from the outside to the inside of the whip, ice grillin' haters rappin, "I Know You See It..".." -Yung Joc

Okay...so they could take a little bit of time and make better rhymes...but really, the gun problem is getting way out of line....I'm out, still catching up on my daily dose of SOHH, XXLMAG, BALLERSTATUS, NAHRIGHT, MISSINFO.TV, and GOCYRUSGO.BLOGSPOT.COM......oh yes, I'm sooo sooo serious w/ this rap game!

All Night Long

Okay, a couple of 'reallllly' quick truths.......first, I really wanted the title to say "Can't Stop, Won't Stop"...but I didn't have this song on my iTunes for me to type to (and I REALLY didn't feel like going to the living room to load it up!) AND YouTube only had the remix version w/ Chingy....'no, thanks'......so I have to settle for the "All Night Long" Robin Thicke record w/ Weezy....SECOND, Elliot Wilson (Yellow 'igga) form XXL Magazine is incredible......THIRD, I really am trying to go to bed......but w/ Coke (the one that puts a smile on the face, be easy!), pizza, and an assortment of X-Mas cookies in my system...I'm really battling between blogging/myspace harrassement (I know it is not spelled right, bare w/ me!)/and random Google seachin'!

Now that most of that stuff is knocked out the way, I want to spend a few lines paying tribute to the really scary looking big homie up there (E-Money, come on...it is ALL love at the end of the day, but YOU know that you look a lil' bugged in this photo...), and his 24 blogs in 24 hours that went on xxlmag.com

As I finally remembered and checked it out hours and hours AFTER he had completed his final and 'bonus' session, I was really shocked at the lack of comments people had left on his blogs. While he did have a few over single digits, the comments were shorter than leprechauns (does that really make sense, regardless...shout-out to Biggie).........however, the main point is that the REAL issues he was discussing and analyzing were all extremely valid, well-made, and presented in such a professional way that I nearly felt like replacing my NYTimes.com homepage to xxlmag.com...but come on, "Wake Up!" (Vanilla Sky'ing it right now...)

In Wilson's blogs, he talked about all valid things in hip hop, even arguing for a 'new' replacement type of coach for the Knicks, slept on and nearly forgotten rappers TODAY, and a lot of behind-the-scenes situations that happened at XXL Magazine along with the other places he has worked at....

Still not even a full two/three (I'm sooo lazy-eyed w/ it that I can't even bring myself to realize how long I have exactly been on this blogspot....) weeks on this site, I am just realizing how powerful these blog postings are. For me, personally, I use this as another outlet for me to run my mouth, while making really good (glad my old English teachers don't read these blogs...I feel like I would be feeling those frowns!) points about most things involving hip-hop...BUT keep in mind, soon(er than later), I will begin to branch out (just "A Lil' Bit") and bring in the discussions to current events, especially along the lines of fashion and sports...(Knicks, you're not safe much longer!)

Since I have started this blog, my desire to have at least 1-2 daily posts has continued to grow...(okay, I took an "L" last night (or was it the night before?), because I passed out on some "its a school night, honey" stuff...fo' real fo' real.....

Anyway, going back to the title "All Night Long", I just wanted to pay homage to Elliot's passion for staying true to his art form (writing, duh maaan) and bangin' those hours out! Okay..........this was a 'bonus' posting for today, I'm out like a Jheri Curl that re-emerged itself at Flex's Tunnel one night event he's having in just another few days! Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh? What ever happened to Jim Jones and Juelz Santana NOT being mentioned WITHOUT some mention of Cam'ron? 'amn, Things Done Changed....fo' real fo' real...........

Catchin' more Zzzzzzz's than (Fill in the blank, too 'knocked out' to put some catchy line in there!)

The Rotten Apple

"New York, New York"

If I were on a mock debate team and had to defend the reasons why New York City is hands-down the 'best' city in the world, I'd hit'em with one of those Street Fighter triple combo moves.....uhhmm....in other words, "I'd win"

New York can be broken down in so many ways that it actually becomes a bit 'boring'....we've heard the various reasons for why New York is the 'best'.....

"IF you can make it in NY, you can make it anywhere."

Trust me, there are way too many quotes to list here...but I'm going to give you the 'nitty' gritty for why NY is one of the most crazy and 'lasting' cities that many people will never get to experience.....

"The Truth"
Behind it all, the attitudes of 'New Yorkers' is classic. While the occasional 'Frank Rizzo' may pop up, the 'Eh, howya doin' attitude makes NY just that...when I was interning and was still learning the streets of NY, I went in to bundles of stores (Radio Shack, news stands, etc.) to ask what direction a certain place was...and to my surprise, the love and smiles that I received really made me relax and feel at 'home'

"The Silver Horse"
While the first few times may be more mind-boggling than those Sudoku games, the Metro system in New York is one of the most city-feeling places you can imagine. Forget those scenes from "King of New York" and "The Warriors", I promise you...the most fear you'll get riding on the train is the sound of a 5 year old screaming about watching a cartoon.

Don't be alarmed, but the 'entertainment' on the trains is crazy exciting too. From the desperate and humble (bums?) unemployed men singing and just begging for any last change you may have to the trained groups of performers, street dancers, Mexican bands, and drummers that ride the train.......you're guaranteed tons of excitement! Just have a good few singles in your pocket, you'll def. be tempted to show appreciation...and eh, you can finally save some of that iPod battery's juice, or save that section of the Times for the ride back....

"Bon Appetit"

I really hope that I spelled that right...(sad, huh? French minor questioning his French spelling!)...yes, the prices are high....you're in Manhattan, baby...whadyathink?! You're paying for the 'experience'....remember? Well, when you're actually working in New York, you quickly learn the best hot spots to buy 'lunch'.....from the REAL "New York" slices of pizza (trust me, 'The Heights' (Washington Heights, 181st/Broadway, "Tonys" (? I think...)...is the best!!!...), to the Hala Hala (okay, it is really called Halal...) food, the 'taste' of New York is everywhere.....you just have to experiment and see what really gets your taste buds buzzin'.........

"The Happy Ending"

Way too many places to name..... Central Park? Too good, I'll have to save that for another posting later on....Central Park has 'too' many perks...but playing it even more safe, Coney Island. Not familiar? Watch "He Got Game", you'll get a rough idea of what I'm talking about. The boardwalk, the Brooklyn atmosphere, cotton candy, and the classic "Nathan's" are more than enough reasons to take the F/V/Q trains to the last stop........

New York, New York...........to be continued!

Kick, Push

At first glance, you would say...."Say word, son?" Yeeerp, skate boarding.

Maybe it was the titled 'title' (uh, huh?) "Kick, Push" playing, finally realizing what exactly Lupe was speaking about (say word, I thought it was something completely different!). Or maybe it was watching "Lords of Dogtown" about 28 times on my PSP (came as a bonus UMD, got bored, decided to watch it...WHOA...new 'love')...

Regardless of the reason, I am in 'love' (again...), but minus the beating heart and 'oven' (wink, wink, WIINNNNNK).... I would say it was mid-summer ('07) that I really said to myself, "I want a skateboard.."

Now keep in mind that I 'am' an 80s baby, so when the skateboards did get popular, I was a lil' late w/ it... The really sad part about it is that mom surprised me w/ a skateboard that she got from a garage sale, but it was a banana-yellow, mad hard plastic board.....so I didn't have that 'skateboard' look that I 'soooo' wanted....nah mean?

Fast-forward about 15+ years, and I feel like a kid again. I can't even believe it, I just finally broke out and said that I really wanted one. Going back to how I began this posting, you wouldn't even take me for a skateboarder....the big fitted hats, ever-changing Kanye-to-50 dress code....I'm typically classified in the 'urban' dept, and the fact that I can just shock people by expanding my boundaries is amazing....

While I may not go as hard as before, I still make skate board jokes...like using the Wayne's World tone of voice and saying "Skaattter duddddde"....it's corny, I know... The feeling of getting on to that skateboard is borderline sexual (wow...I'm such the 40 Year Old Virgin w/ it!). You feel free, cruising......I can understand the passion that so many of these...wait, RE-WRITE..."my" (yeah, baby!) people feel as they decide to skateboard...

There really are not any boundaries...it is the ultimate, "Screw you guys, I'm going home" freedom that makes it so orgasmic... While you have a ton of people focused on their appearance, style, smile.......you also have a small Soviet Union-like army of people (male AND female) across the world jumping flights of steps with no concerns of bruises, chipped teeth (ouchhh!), or dirtied clothes.... I love it.

I'll admit, with my 8.99 Wal-Mart skate board (hey, it's a good start!) becoming more and more like a pair of Nikes that I continue to deny that they're getting 'old', I am in love......just call me "Skateboard C"........

American Dreamin'

I promise you, I "love" it while "hating" it at the same exact time.

"The Hustle"

It gets dissed. It gets glorified. It is the topic in about 92% of hip hop records (sooooo Wikipedia with it!). It relates to EVERYONE.

Whether you're fresh out the box and back to the corner, straight out of law school going for the big leagues, trying to land your spot in Wall Street, or just trying to make a lil' somethin' to get through school or IN school, we are a community of one.

I'm serious! See, the problem that lies in front of many of us is the myth or common belief that hustlers resemble brown skin tones and are obvious to point out....come on maaaaaan, fo' real fo' real? "The Corporate Hustle", point made?

I really want to say that we all have this hustler mentality within all of us, and I do believe it is true...let me just clarify. Okay, we all have this characteristic, BUT...I will say that we're like Neo from 'The Matrix'....he spent nearly 30+ years in 'The Matrix' (?....bare w/ me!) and then realized he was 'The One'....well, the same may be said with the average person and them realizing that they have a hustler ready to rock n' roll deep within themselves.

The reason I say I 'hate' it is because much like Ed Norton's character from "Fight Club", you begin to dislike this other person, which is yourself! Really, sometimes I just wish I could resist the hustle, and look at things from a slightly more conservative way....but it comes down to reality, access, and REALITY....

You see the opportunity to either make a few extra dollars, whether it is from "crack rock" or "a wicked jump shot", or just the chance to get a personal gain out of something...and you TAKE IT.

A bad misconception about hustling is that it always has to involve currency (money, come on college heads...), which is not true. Although that may be due to a lot of hip hop artists' songs about profiting from their hustle, I will tell you that it does not always involve the dollar, dollar, dollar bills....(but it may be the 'end' result...)

Trying to get my first internship towards the end of my freshman year at Rutgers, I hustled.... From rushing to the computer labs w/ 'good' resume paper to make stacks of copies to sending professional e-mails to various places I was interested in, while studying for exams, that was my hustle. While this particular hustle may have not seemed like the average 'hustle' many of us are familiar with, I'll tell you that I worked and worked and got my hustle game really going on.

The hustle paid off, landing me my first internship at Cornerstone Promotion/The Fader Magazine here in New York City. But my hustle was far from over...(between 'us', I was highly influenced by P. Diddy's hustle from going to DC from NY and back for his internship)...I continued by making sure I was one of the most "seen" and hardworking interns there.

I got an address book, began 'networking' with the contacts I made there, and the rest is history. We all like to believe that hustles pay off, and many do....many don't....but I can tell you that finishing up my last year at Rutgers, I made the transition from intern to part-time employee, while having a position over at Capitol Records, also....

I may have already lost some of you, but for the ones still reading...the other 'hustlers', just remember...stay focused, and don't stop, baby!!!! (Yes, that is the 'hustler' Cyrus speaking to you...too hard to keep him quiet...)

C.R.E.A.M

I love money. Honestly, I really love money. My only issue with money, however, is the idea that it can breathe and bring our deepest desires.

Now, you're probably like me..."if I only had [insert ideal dollar amount], I'd have no worries." I swear, I wish I could support that statement but I know that it is not true. Feeling like a deep chapter has just been read, I am coming to terms with the power of a dollar (50!)...

Perfect example...I was on the A Express Train yesterday w/ mom, and as we're sitting, we noticed this small group of three guys that come on. Immediately, after noticing their instruments, I'm thinking "aaah maaan, here we go", but the performance was crazy nice, the energy was felt from both ends of the car and mom beat me to the wallet to give them a small (dollar, dollar dollar bill y'all) donation....

Posting a small uhhmmm...'post' (Soooo Austin Powers, huh?) about money did not come to my mind right away...rather, it was trying to go to bed and rather than falling in to a deep trance w/ Rosario Dawson telling me to chase her through a Candy/Toy Shop (ex: FAQ Swartz), I just kept getting different thoughts in my head.

Then it just came to me...(one of the guys reminded me of my best friend, Barry, so I was a little biased with my thinking)..."money". One of my former Rutgers professor's sayings will always be, "When they say it's not about the money, it's about the money!" Really, it is....

Here's the challenge, (really, prepare yourself...) name something or someone that is NOT reliant on some form of currency? Even the non-profit organizations (ex: Red Cross) need their government funding ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ MINUS $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...that of course reflects the cuts in funds...yeeerp, 'ish is real...).

We're judged by the way we dress, the car or means of transportation we use, our cell phones, even what you buy during lunch! (I won't even lie, Getz....I've seen you go with slices of pizza and soda FAR too many times big homie!) What is even sadder is the fact that I only contribute to this stereo-typing and judging.

One of my favorite lines from the HIGHLY missed 'Empire'...wait, I take that back...that movie was slightly wack....ANYWAY, John Leguizamo's character "Victor" explains that it is all about how you look. Even if you "don't" have money, LOOK like you do.

And that leads to the next big issue. Say you could have whichever amount of money needed to 'resolve' any issues. This may range from personal debt to worldwide deficits....even having all of that taken care of, you're left w/ the problem of many businesses going out of business because they profit from loans, interest payments, credit debt, etc....okay, I'm goin' a little bit too far off, huh? (Coming up on 12 AM on the day that I just began a week long vacation from my j-to the izzo "o"-b, fo' give me, "Yo!"...)

Okay, so......the main lesson for today? Money is an imaginary solution and excuse that people use all the time, but god 'amn if it sure doesn't feel good to have it in your pocket, bank checking/savings account, or straight old school...your "piggy bank"....."Cash Rules Everything Around Me, CREAM, Get The Money, Dolla Dolla Dolla Bill Y'all"

Girls, Girls, Girls

"Of course I love you. I love all y'all.....hahahahhah....fo' real.." -Jay Z

Just for the record, I have 'no' idea who these girls exactly are, but that is besides the point...they illustrate my desire and love...for, GIRLS (Women...politically correct, right?)

Out of all honesty, that is the truth. When Jay says "I love all y'all", despite the lil' laugh, it is true. You could say to me right now, "Cyrus, you can have any ONE girl in the world....ANY...." and I still would not be satisfied.

You know, some people argue that they would take a particular feature from each 'dime piece' they supposedly 'love', and that would create the perfect girl...soo soo serious? Come on, wake up!

Lets go w/ that scenario....Vida Guerra's back (wink, wink), Angelina Jolie's lips, Kimora Simmon's height, Joy Bryant's attitude....etc etc etc....and I STILL would have that desire to wonder about the girl sitting dead across from me on the 1 Train....

I think I discovered it. Now I don't want to say "I'll never get married", but I just cannot see it. Even when I'm pushing 70, I'll still want to talk with Rosa at the coffee shop while playing Scrabble with Brianna on Tuesday nights.....fo' real fo' real.....

A good friend of mine said it best, and while at the time I didn't take him serious...it makes perfect sense. The reason why men cheat is because although they are in a good relationship with someone that they care about so much, you cannot help but notice other characteristics that another (or few) group(s) of women have....I really dislike to suppor this theory, but it is true.

Take me for example, I have only been in single digit relationships...meaning, I've been in 'long' (does 1 month count?) term relationships less times than Jay-Z has released albums....fo' real fo' real.....and I understand why...(okay, maybe because during intimate times I refuse to wear anything more or less than black ankle socks and a matching du-rag...yerppp), I just love'em all!

I often get the line, "So how come you don't have a girl?" (which is usually a strategy for them to try to link up with me...), and I have never just come out and said: Because I 'love' too many girls. Really, it is true. I always come with the line about "I'm too busy, staying focused...", and starting TODAY (December 20th, 2007), it stops.

"I can't see myself with one single girl, I just have too many interests in too many different types of girls.." (New line?)

Okay, so maybe I will need to tune up my response to the question about me being single (FYI: the 'married' status on the myspace jump-off is sooo serious, huh?), but you guys get the point.

Even Wu (-tang) did it best when they made "Ice Cream" talking about all of the different flavas of girls they like. From the Butta Ricans (?) and so on...they were dead on point.

So go ahead..ask me 'what' type of girl I want. I will tell you I want ONE girl that is smart and has a sexy wit. I want ONE girl that is soo urban with her clothing that her fitted, gold chain, and Nike kicks has me looking 'shook'. I want ONE girl that is so Alicia Keys and with a catalogue of hip hop knowledge that would put Elliot (XXL) out-of-business. I want ONE girl that wants nothing to do with hip hop and prefers the spiritual, Corinne Bailey Rae route..... Okay, you 'know' I could go all day....but the point being that there is not ONE girl that will satisfy me (she hasn't been created yet?), so can we agree cheating may finally have a defense? ("Don't get w/ him girl!") Okay, so maybe I just ethered myself for the girl that I eventually fall for (again) and declare my love and self to, who will just use this posting as HER defense....but 'til that day, I'll just end it on such a clever note....

"I love girls, girls, girls, girls....." -Cyrus

Freeze

Maybe 'Fif'(ty) was playing this particular record ("Freeze" LL Cool J featuring Lyfe Jennings) when he was contemplating dropping Olivia from G-Unit. Then again, maybe that was not the case.

While I won't use an entire blog to decipher (spelled right?) what and how 50 was thinking when he shocked (at least me) the world about the lip glossed (take that Lil' Mama!), cleavage heavy, and just "'amn, mad sexy" singer, "Olivia" from the highly acclaimed and criticized group, G-Unit.

Personally, I was getting a lil' scurred when Banks bricked w/ his sophomore album, and Buck couldn't follow up any better with "Buck The World". All I could think about is, "Olivia, Olivia, Olivia, Spider Loc, M.O.P, Mobb Deep, and Olivia." I won't even lie, that whole sexy complexion mixed w/ that lil' bit of "bad girl" attitude, mmmmm.......... I can't fake it (to make it), I had a "Crush On [Olivia]", big time!

Okay, maybe she wasn't to supposed to be placed under the same radar as Keyshia Cole, Mary Mary Mary J Blige, or even (ugh...) Ashanti, but still........come on....you guys remember those records....

"If I was your best friend, I'd want you 'round all the time." -Best Friend (remix) 50 Cent featuring Olivia

"Summer, winter, spring and fall, I'll be around to get your call, 'cause you're my baby..." -All Seasons, 50 Cent featuring Olivia

"Sometime, outside, making love while the rain is pourin'...." So Sexy, Olivia

Okay, so maybe I followed her records a lil' bit too close, right? But 'amn, Olivia (is) was my girl! Quote me, (if) when her album drops...regardless of what label she is on, I'm buying it. Yes, I have my connects in the industry, but I am BUYING it. Rest assured baby (baby, baby), I gotcha more than Lupe thinkin' about his first week numbers...(ohhh! Low blow?)

Really though, I am using the song title "Freeze", because I think I know how Fif felt about home girl. As much as he loved (industry love, don't get it twisted) Olivia, and the physical and musical talent she has...he had to cut the loose strings.

As much as I ride for G-Unit, I have to beg to differ though....are you serious, Fifty? Curtis? Cuuuurrrrrrrttttttttiiiiissss? Come on, since Guess Who's Back to Curtis, I've stood by your side....but this was just silly.

You have so many other artists on the label; Hot Rod, Spider Loc, M.O.P, etc...and you decide to get rid of the only female act on the squad? Aiiight, maybe I don't know about the internal conflicts that may have occurred, but did you think that getting rid of "shawty" was the best move? I know Funk Flex hyped you up, saying that she was a big mouth and cocky, but Fif...breathe easy big homie!

I'll even take the "L" and not say anything about how Flex dissed (my current location,) Capitol Records, saying that she should go here, a "bad label"...but Fifty, to kind of laugh it off. I knew you were catching feelings from that, I could see you on the You Tube video...but you had to play your part....

So enough of the "shoulda, woulda, coulda", and lets get down (and dirty) with the quick solution: GET OLIVIA BACK!!!!!! Look, you always stand firm with all of your decisions, we understand...but Fif, just like the album got less reviews, the same may be said about you dropping Olivia. You need that strong, sexy, (f**king incredible), singing voice....and Mary won't be able to do too many more records for you...(she's catching up to Whitney....come on)

Get Olivia (back), complete your final record obligation w/ Interscope (you know the actual last requirement will just be your Greatest Hits album...) and bring back that classic "Power of the Dollar" mixed w/ "Guess Who's Back" with sprinkles of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" and I guarantee that the bandwagon's tire will finally be repaired.

"[She] waited, [she] waited, time went by..all I do is cry, silly........." -Best Friend

Shame On A N***a (Radio Friendly Edit)

No, don't worry, this posting has hardly any relationship to Michael Jackson, promise. Since starting this blog no more than 10 or so days ago, I have been wondering if I would ever run out of things to say, DAILY...?

Well, for better (or worse?), rest assured that my mind thinks all the time (uhhmm, 'duh'?) and coming up the stairs from Penn Station, I noticed the topic of this blog walking past me....THE JHERI CURL (You can even spell check, this is the correct spellin, yo!)

Can it all be that simple? Nearly 2008 and some hair styles just won't go away, no matter how much we try? Honestly, I know that there are 'some' people that just won't budge...(like no matter how many times you try to convince them that the iPod is the new CD Player....but nope!)...and I can live with that...but the Jheri Curl is a WHOLE different story.

Now when I remind you of that particular style, what comes to mind? Be honest? THE FLAT TOP!? Yup, I thought about that too, but the Jheri Curl was even BEFORE that! See where I'm going with this?

I already know some of the arguments against this stance forming right now..."Well, Cyrus...all of the 80s styles are coming back...bright colors, hi top shoes, etc..." Sure, okay...I'll give you that, but the hair fashion?

Let's be serious. Flip the script, from black to white people. Can you really see the.......uhhmm.........you know, the whole long haired, VH1 'Remember the 80s' styles, that was just cwazy......

But the Jheri Curl was special, just like that one Gremlin...(my movie knowledge and names are way off right now, my fault...), remember...the fluffy, white one? Well the Jheri Curl was scary....maybe the most scary (minus those spiked mohawks) of its time. The dripping of the curl juice, the shine, the overlapping across the back of the neck..............

Maybe I'm bugging, but all I know is that when I got hit with the Jheri Curl today, I nearly tripped over my size 13 Nike Court Foces and drifted in to a scene from Coming to America...say word, WORD!

Say Goodbye Hollywood

(I should have really have used 'The Takeover, huh?)

Okay, let's go...lets go...LETS GO...(those English papers were a 'snitch' [radio friendly version?]...).....this is the scene:

I'm trying to go to bed last night, just finishing up Jungle Fever, and then I couldn't resist double-checking the movie listings on my (mom's) HBO On-Demand feature, and I 'had' to put on Fight Club....while only watching about a fourth of the film, I just felt so many feelings and emotions...

I remember going to Blockbuster to pick this film up. "Hey dude" normally followed once I came in and the bell rang (ding!)...well, I take that back..depending on how they felt on a particular day and which location I chose to go to, the greetings were always different....

Anyway, I just remember the piles of VHS movies and limited quanity/section of DVD movies that were available. I won't even lie, I really wanted to work at Blockbuster when looking to jump head-first in to the corporate world in the 8th grade...the atmosphere, the smell of popcorn (where DID that smell come from?), the endless lanes of Nintendo 64 and Playstation games, the magazine racks that kept your attention while waiting in the long lines.......and then......BOOM!!!! Netflix....

I won't even lie, at first I caught feelings...I denied it, I even told others "Man, that sounds wack (in reference to Netflix)".....but deep inside my mind, I could only think....(awwwww, I wonder.....)

And that's when the walls fell in...." $5.99? What!? "Uhhh yeah, and you get it an extra day or somethin'...." My money was burnin' my pants fast! I couldn't believe the lengths Blockbuster was goin'.....I shrugged, but after another slight increase I shrugged and just waited for the bootlegs.

THEN, the beginning of the end for Blockbuster began. In addition to DVDs coming out nearly 6 months after their theaterical (?) release and reasonably priced, HBO On-Demand exploding thanks to Comcast, and.....NETFLIX!!! They were drawing in their customers w/ their "Free Trial, $4.99/month" deals....and I still resisted....

But then it was an internal affair...dun dun duuuun, my grandparents LOVED it. They tried it, bragged to mom about it, and I was duped/forced in to setting up an account for us. Trying to hide my excitement, the first DVD came and since then....I've been Netflix'ed up! The extremely fast delivery, explicit descrpitions, details on the site, and the worry-free-worries of late fees have made me so proud to be a Netflix member that you would think that this is a product placement deal, huh?

Sorry Blockbuster, you had my trust and resorted to desperate measures....come on, you tried to knock-off Netflix with the same set-up...have some pride baby....

Netflixin' it to the sky!

All I Need

Awwwww, I really could not resist this photo. Honestly, I was looking to only put a photo of a New Era Yankee fitted cap, and SOMEHOW (Cough cough...) came across this photo. But it will work, (fellas....please wipe the fog from your glasses...)

While I may like to kid around and say that all I need is a dimed out shorty dressed in nothing but J's (Jordans, come on....catch up!), the question is fo' real fo' real. What do you need?

Santa is coming, (no disrespect, but he is globally respected...goin' w/ this Holiday figure, sorry!) and the question is simple, what do you want...nah, what do you need?

Jay had fun with the line..."a sunny day, some chicks that want to play, and I'll be on my way...", so maybe that is what I was doing with my bootleg Beyonce/Ciara combo up top, but I just took a second and really asked myself the question...

Think about it, only 10 items you're able to have on an island ('amn, Castaway woulda been way borin' w/ this feature, huh?)...what do you NEED? I know the scenario is mad corny, but really...what could you survive with.

It has been bugging me out just a lil' bit. While I see my needs ranging from my cherished black du rag and assorted New York Yankee fitted collection to Coca-Cola and Cool Ranch Doritos, I have to really get serious. But that's the problem. When I 'really' start to think about what I need, it seems like when you were in school and thought about 'how can numbers be infinite? It has to stop SOMEWHERE???', well....I'm stuck with an endless list....my childhood photo album, Doggie (Mom, you know we both have custody...), my emergency Altoid container, my The Man Who Knew Too Little/John Leguizamo's Freak/Dave Chappelle's Kill'em Them Softly all recorded on a single VHS tape, my G-Unit bootleg CD collection.....ahhhh......you see? That was a straight freestyle list, imagine how intense it would become if I really got nitty gritty?!

Sooo....keepin' it short and sweet, WHAT DO YOU NEED? Think about it hard, not TOO hard, but precise.....and hold those images or that single thing that you need in your mind (really though, write it down!) and see if Santa (or your pops dressed up...whoa) can fulfill that....although, if your need is like mine, I say let Santa sit this one out! Drifting into dream land w/ my Jordan shorty....ahhhhh....

Fight The Power

Remember this song? Well, fo' get that...remember the movie that this song was famously (word?) attached to??? "Do The Right Thing"

Okay, bare with me...I promise I'm not writing a post to argue for black rights (I'll save that 'til February...relax, relax....) and going against 'the system', rather I want to focus on one of the greatest directors of all time, Spike Lee.

Just like a star champion: Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and the many others that made history, but could never truly get the 'gold', Spike belongs in that same category....wait, you think I'm buggin' (say word?)

She's Gotta Have It, Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X...wait, are you soo soo serious? Not enough? Mo' Better Blues, Clockers, Crooklyn, Get On The Bus....no, I can't try to convince you, but just listen...

Spike Lee was the Nas of movie magic...his ability to address issues that we all live around (come on, Do The Right Thing had Crash beat by 15+ years!) and breathe, specifically the racial tension between ALL minorities....truly amazing.

Think about it, before the whole "Rodney King" incident, Spike was putting those situations in full context, right in YO FACE! (YEaaaaaah Boyyyyyy)

No seriously, the movies were 'amn near (shoulda been) automatic Oscar Winners, instantly! But with competition coming from equally (depends on your point of view) as good films like Forest Gump and Pulp Fiction, he was ALWAYS in the finals, but could not secure the ring.

But I am a person about moving forward, so I don't want to dwell on the past... My main issue is Spike's consistency and message-driven films that ruled the late and early '90s. Let's all be serious, do you really think "Inside Man" could compete against a film as strong as Mo' Better Blues? It is just the feeling that was in all of those movies....I miss that feeling. Say word, WORD.

The look and appearance of 'hungry' actors and actresses that were so in to their character that you couldn't even believe it....(ex: Sam Jackson being a hilarious radio personality on Do The Right Thing THEN switching to a doped out crackhead on Jungle Fever) I just miss that....now don't get me wrong, I know its all about the true power controller (Hollywood), and just like the music industry, s**t done changed (word to B.I.G), and we all have to learn to adapt and move forward..so I will give Spike his credit for other films I have enjoyed like "Bamboozled" and "The 25th Hour", but come oooonnnnnn, Mooooooookie (if you aren't familiar with that phrase, Netflix Do The Right Thing...NOW!!!)

Spike, I know you banked in a lot from Inside Man, and you were still able to put your movie touch (style) in to it, like the camera in front of the main actor as he is strolling non-stop....but can you take a second to go to Hollywood's door step and ask for a few minutes? Really, the Knicks could use some of that extra pressure off of their backs (Currently the second worst record in the Eastern Conference, you won't be missing anything...), just think about it, at least?

I'll keep waitin' Spike, because just like it HAD to be the shoes for Mike (Jordan), it HAS to be you with the films, get outta that retirement mode and hit'em w/ some of that good ol' STRAIGHT OUTTA BROOKLYN flava, at least one more time...word to Jigga.

Big Momma Thang

You know when I tried to search Images on Google, I really wanted an image of "Dang WTF?", due to my subject for discussion on this borderline Saturday evening posting. But like the '02 Western Conference Finals, you have to suck it up (those refs had planned agendas!) and go with what you can get...

Dangwtf.com, simply amazing. While I try to keep my personal life (chea right...) and blog postings apart, I cannot resist this temptation to discuss a site that has had me up past 2 AM for consecutive weeks....http://www.dangwtf.com Honestly, I can't even remember how I came across it...(maybe it was that Google Search "booty shakin' girls doin' their thing in front of a camera...)...but a quick FYI: Amateur 18+ women (cough cough plenty of housewives cough cough....) getting their digi cams and web cams out and deciding to show the cyber world what they can do behind closed doors....yes, (wait, you have never heard of the site and still reading this!? Minimize this, check it out, and continue reading!)

My favorite part of the site is the teasing and anonymity (?) behind a majority of girls....from girls wearing obscenely big and wild hats to girls that decide to put the cams in a permanent "below the belly" position, the desire to hid their true identity is classic. (You know those Target employers check daily to see if you're shakin' and jigglin' on the 'net.....or maybe it is the Ike Turner-driven (no RIP, word to Tina) boyfriends that make'em go out more covered than an Amish wife...)

The site is so authentic and 'real'...(real 4, real 4...)....the women are in complete power and I feel like I'm getting free Champagne Room dances...really....but it is not just the 'amn.....look at that a**!' feature that is overwhelming, it is some of the hilarious tactics and moves by at least a third of the women on there. For examle, there is one girl that is 'determined' to get 'her freak on', so she gets an over-sized stuffed animal, and literally grinds on it, throws it on the bed, grinds even more....and you can't help but burst out laughin' along with feeling sorry for that poor animal...(it had NO idea what was happening!)

Another crazy feature about this site, that has NO strings attached (ex: fees, subscriptions, memberships, etc.), is the ability to rate every video on a 1 to 5 scale. You'd be amazed at the levels some of these booty-shakin' divas (more or less) will go to for the high votes. From pre-planned tactics (having a pitcher of water waiting for a wet tee-shirt surprise) to straight crack (shout-outs to Fat Joe!) shots, each video brings plenty of "Dang, WTF!" momements.....

Women and Men (and kids, come on...at least high schoolers, you've seen them from Superbad) alike can appreciate and respect this site. From utter moments of silence with jaws dropped to more laughs than a Rick James vs Prince sketch, you're def. sure to say, "Cyrus, WTF!? Uhm........thanks.....I think...."

You're welcome, you're all welcome.

Encore

Can you ever really say good-bye? (No Chris Brown...No Michael Jackson (Jackson 5)....No, no, no...) Really. Think about it. Not just with musicians and artists (although I am basing this argument on Jigga) Whether it be a relationship (ex: "I Want You" -Common) or passion (Myspace/Facebook(Bangbros!) addicts...), can you really just let it go?

While there have been endless amounts of articles, blogs, message boards, and unscripted talk about Jay-Z, his retirement, and a track record of his past history....just consider this: Sold drugs (he guessed he could sell CDs, too!), decided to make ONE album and 'retire', grew as an artist....decided to REALLY retire w/ "The Black Album", and now look, three albums later (yes, you 'do' have to count Best of Both Worlds: Unfinished Business as another album...) and Jay-Z isn't ready to give it all up....

I hate it, I love it. He is the irony of retirement. From the movies where a 'retired' cop goes in for ONE final mission/case/pursuit (although depending on the success, he/she may CONTINUE to remain unretired/retired) to your favorite rapper's favorite role model is racing against the age machine but can't let go of that feeling....it is the creativity and irony of the word (and song) "Encore"

(You'll also have to forgive me, nearly falling asleep on a hot Dell Lap Top watching the Warriors try to stand a chance against Kobe...)

But the only thing Jay didn't realize was that while we were all screamin', "Jig-ga, Jig-ga", it was really his inner being (too spiritual, nah...you're rollin' w/ me...) that was telling him, "Come on, scream 'til your lungs get soar!"

This same path was taken by Michael Jordan. The track record was incredible. How in the world do you go out with so much glory, a game winning last shot, and the perfect ending to a career story? Win it all. Jay did the same thing...The Black Album shut everybody up...they 'knew' the record had to be amazing if it were to be the 'last' album...but while we missed Jay as he sat behind the desk at Def Jam, it was 'him' that wanted to shine (even brighter) again....

(Lap top too hot!)

Still runnin' (walkin'!) on that victory lap, excellence is expected, longevity (def. not spelled right!) is not...Hello Brooklyn, Goodnight Jerz...

That's What's Happenin'

Awww.......this is my first Friday, (still not a full week since having this blog, can you believe it, fo' real fo' real!?)

About 1/18 of the readers will know that this title is from the Madd Rapper's album, "Tell'em Why You Mad", which was sooo under-rated (spelled right?) in '99 and it has some of the best songs on here.....

Example: Eminem getting his shot to kick the "Slim Shady LP" to the side and show people that he wants to really rip the mic, 50 Cent getting his notorious song "How to Rob" out in the open...(shots were fired, yes...), Ma$e was about three or four prayers away from retiring, but still rappin' ill(matic) with the shiny suit fresh off of 3+ Million "Harlem World" albums sold, need I really continue?

This is 'my' song....with a big smile on my face, the weekend waitin' like Eva Longoria (ugh, does it really matter if I spelled her name wrong?) awaiting Tony to say "Oui" (in regards to marriage..come on, catch up!), my dog(gies) ready to get their early morning runs through the "DOGS MUST BE ON LEASHES" park (I love 'breaking' the rules!), and yada yada yada.....

I'm feeling [Tony The Tiger] GREAT! With a smile going from the left side of my face to my poked out right ear, I'm smiling like Ma$e back in '97...(hence the photo beign used?)

Soooo....gettin' my "It's the motherf**kin' WEEKEND, baby!" mode in 'ready' mode, I'm going to cut this short and simple.......get your 'favorite' song that gets you in that 'mood' (keep your clothes on, romantic posts will follow later!) and just smile, and have FUN! Too many folks are sweatin' the small stuff, and it's ALL SMALL STUFF!

Hate It Or Love It

The title is perfect, isn't it? Hate myspace, love myspace, addicted to myspace? (Just saw Sam Jackson as a doped out drug addict (crackhead) in Jungle Fever last night, you're addicted to myspace....get over it...)

I will take myself as a prime example of the "Hate It Or Love it" feature. (Also keep in mind, this goes for all of you Facebook subscribers, too) I wouldn't say that I hated myspace, but I never had taken the time to check it out...

Then, PURELY as a marketing strategy for the label (specifically for the Capitol Urban Mixshow Dept), I decided, "well, I might as well make a page dedicated to our artists and the latest info on them...."

THEN.....MYSPACE!!!!!!!! It began as a once a day (usually in the mornings...) affair, checking to see how many DJs sent add requests, and how many I had that added us. Keep in mind, I was/am not an 'internet' head, (computer nerd!) so I only placed one photo in the picture section. It was (anonymous) that said, "Awww, cute. Is that really you?" That, in turn, made me say....'wow, I need to put my 'good' photo(s) on here, she's kinda cute..."

But then it began...(dun, dun, duuuun)....I was being seduced by a piece of technology that always acted so innocent. While I had a change of heart with my previous engagement (Facebook, too many weird high school people (I'd only seen them in the hallway!) were adding me as their friend, whoa!), this new 'love' was treatin' me better than Biggie's "B*tch", fo' real fo' real....

NEW MESSAGES!, NEW FRIEND REQUESTS!, NEW COMMENTS!, yes...you know the story...my Capitol page (http://www.myspace.com/themixshowcommission) was becoming my own personal page. My addiction was nearly the same as Sam's or even Bubbles (The Wire). I would tell myself, okay, fall back for a few days...(let the "Last Login" seem like I didn't 'care' about myspace), don't read a message right away, etc.....

Fast Forward: Just like when Frenchy (Frenchie) from THE DEPARTED deaded himself when he knew the car was getting ready to explode, I did the same with the page. The 2,000+ friends, personal comments, etc...nah son....I'm DONE! Day One, Day Two,........I held out for a good few months before realizing, NETWORKING, NETWORKING, NETWORKING! Duhhhhhh.....why hadn't I thought about that sooner! (Shout outs to Sean Rock, Young Sav, Michele (Yeah, yo...crazy), all the DJs, Brian (KING), XXL Mag, etc...)

Hated it, loved it, addicted to it...until I can decipher (?) my true feelings (maybe a combo of all three?) I'll just leave it as:

http://www.myspace.com/cyruskylelanghorne

I'm soooo technical....

This Is Why I'm Hot

The instrumental is what really sold the song, you do realize that right? Right along with "Throw Some D's"...it is the background music that is the (magic) potion.

I remember being at Capitol last year and we had PILES of this record on CD and vinyl. Very little radio buzz, with media base looking like it was watching its calorie in-take...in other words, LOW SPINS!

But just like anything else that starts small and then KA BOOM! Spins went through the roof! Now while many attribute the song's success coming from (DJ) Enuff spinning it as a favor from my 'Big Brother' (Kanye, your mind is cwazy) and essentielly (spelled right?) having its growth STRAIGHT OUTTA NY, I beg to differ. It was the RING TONES!

The ring tones sold this song, which goes along with my first argument, "the instrumental sold this song...which gave birth to its first born, the evolving ring tone. We all know the lyrics, "This is why, this is why...I'm hot", and its the fact that we hear that background music and begin to nod our heads waiting for the beat to drop back in...

Ring tones, ring tones, ring tones...I know the ring tone (game) addicts started before this record, with the popular "Game Over" and other records, but it was seeing this practically 'unknown' kid have a small buzz and BLOW UP (Over one million ring tones sold, no album out, serious???) that gave the record labels wet spots in their undergarments (apologizes for the under 18 readers...). While Lil' Flips "Game Over" did well, the labels knew he was already well established. MIMS was not. This guy dropped a dope song (thanks to the production, beat) and the ringtones 'established' this guy, along with getting his records in HEAVY rotation everywhere from WQHT (NY) to KBTT (San Antonio, TX) and KDAY (CA)...

Unfortunately, while this tactic of making a dope (sorry, I'm keepin' it sooo retro) sounding song is being more bitten by other record labels than a Jay-Z verse, artist development is severely lacking. Rather than a label taking the time to develop and invest in the overall image of their artist, they are looking for that 'one' (or two, depending on the label...) songs that will make'em say "Unnnnnnnnnn" (Shout-out to Master P, No Limit? Pwwweease) and will focus on marketing that one song and hoping to sell off of the ring tones....merchandising...(myspace, iTunes, etc.....)....

Well, until the Game gets a major make-over, I guess we'll all be singing, "This is Why I'm Throw(in) Some D's on that Superman, Yooooooooouuuuu"

Make Me Better

I won't even lie. There were quite a few other possible "titles" that I was considering..."All I Need", "So Into You", etc....but the record that really came to my mind is "Bonnie and Shyne", further taking me in to the 'recent' "Make Me Better" collabo with Fabolous and Ne-Yo.

This particular blog posting is showing love and respect to all of the great fellas that have that down a** *itch that really does make them better. The one that "hid the drugs in the park" or being "the better half"....the list is quite expansive....just take my photo example, "Bonnie and Clyde"...despite going out with guns blazin', these two took the town over and never looked back...

Forget the white picket fences and charm bells ringing in the back, I need the girls (girls, girls) that have a fitted to compliment mine. Nikes that make mine look like they're still catching up. A b-boy stance to my "yeeeeaaaah boooooy" Flava Flav shout-outs... She has the Double Mint Gum while I have the emergency Altoids. Where is the Gail (or was it Gayle?) to Carlito ('s Way)? Where is my La La to Jesus Shuttlesworth? Where is my Beatrice to Bill (before the revenge saga...)? Don't get me wrong, Beyonce and Jay make a good couple, but its the Flava Flavs and the crazy white chick (?) that are in it to win it.

Sawed off shoty, hands on the pump, sippin' on a forty, smokin' on a blunt...[got my shorty to the side with the keys to the trunk]...la la la la la la la.......

Hustler's Ambition

Hate him or Love Him, 50 is energy. You cannot deny that much, despite his 'poor' performance with his latest release, Curtis...although I beg to differ, this guy delivers, 'energy'...check out his track record:

Get Rich or Die Tryin': Blood Hound
The Massacre: Disco Inferno
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Soundtrack): Hustler's Ambition
Curtis: I Get Money

His motivation and drive to 'win' has sometimes created questionable records like Best Friend and Amusement Park, you cannot argue against the energy he is able to create with every record.

Typing this post as the title track plays on with the Repeat One feature, I just feel energized. Maybe it is the story line, "I need you to hate me, so I can use it for the/your (?) energy.." or maybe it is the fact that I've been bumpin' 50 since "Guess Who's Back" and haven't looked back...it just feels GOOD! (G-Unit album coming out first quarter...product placement?)

Still trying to keep these posts at a reasonable length, I will end this particular one with my main argument...50, Energy, Vitamin Water!

Slow Jamz

My biggest crush since high school, well, maybe even longer than that...the point is that Rosario Dawson is one of the most slept on beauties, period. I was tempted to say 'in the entertainment industry', but fo' get that.

Take it from me, a lightly complexioned "Other" that has spent more than enough time down the streets of 181st/Broadway, sippin' a Thai Iced Tea in Manhattan and purchased bootleg DVDs from Brooklyn (the main point being that my complexion has given me acceptable access everywhere...but hey, who says race is a matter...cough cough Don Imus...cough cough...), Rosario Dawson is a beauty, point blank period!

The smile strikes your heart. Her eyes make you feel like you're watching a Bambi flick with your girl (hey, myspace girls count too, go get'er!). Her body figure makes women jealous. Even Ray Allen couldn't resist her....uhhmm....you get the point...

But this natur(elle)al charmer did not get her first shot at stardom in 'He Got Game', home girl has been puttin' it down since 'Kids'. With all of the talk about Eva Mendez (you 'go girl', from a minor role, full nude shot in Training Day to headlinin' 'Hitch' with Big Willy, shake Hollywood for the money!) and Eva Longloria, Rosario gets the 'underground' treatment. And please don't get me started with her excellent acting from 'The 25th Hour' to the bomb 'Alexander' (Right?), she has proven she can do it all...

My fitted hat bows to your beauty, style, and flava...my dream girl (Sorry Beyonce, you ain't got nuffin' on Rosa Rosa), Ms. Dawson...

Change Clothes

Remember when this song came out? I remember it precisely! (Sorry DJ Precise, had to hit you with a subliminal!) Hip-Hop seemed to be under control, remember? The G-Unit "Beg For Mercy" album dropped at the same time as "The Black Album" due to the beginning (of the end?) online downloading. Although this may have been the first single, and my favorites range from "Allure" to "My 1st Song", this just gives you that good ol' "Jigga" feeling. Commercial, borderline "Pop", too happy? Who cared? The album was incredible, but it is this song, alone, that just allowed you to kick back and relax. (The Record Labels were still breathing...)

Having this song on repeat on my iTunes, it just feels, "Good". No worries, no concerns, just 'livin'. Nah mean? (Nah Right, I'm going to catch you one day, Eskay!) Truth is, hip hop seemed like it was in a great position. Even "Chingy" was selling 3 Million, can you believe (sing it Thicke!)?

I am going to associate this song to the New England Patriots. With illegal downloading translating in to 'close calls' and 'refs' in the National Football League, the Patriots have just been riding the high end. Seemlingly unbeatable, whether you hate'em or love'em, you just have to appreciate the excitement behind it. Maybe I'm going to far off of the deep end, but if Lil' Wayne is crazy, then I'm just a buckle or two from that! (Shout-out to the Complex issue!)

So as I let this song continue on my iTunes for the rest of the night, I am going to continue to remember the times when ring tones were not bragging rights and equivalent to album sales, dance songs were still in nursery school, and things were just fun, not full politics and desperate marketing strategies just to go 'gold'. Take a second, change clothes, and go! I'm outta outta outta here 'baby'...

Make A Movie Out 'Em

The Introduction, sounds like a good beginning, huh? Yes, "A Jogging Session With Cyrus", I figure the idea in a 'first' blogging post is to lay the groundwork and ideas behind my intentions on this blog, right?

Well, time is money (shout-out to Styles P!), so I will sum it all up right here:

"A Jogging Session With Cyrus": Seemingly never-ending journey with me, keep up!

Idea Behind This Blog: Hip Hop (Music, in general..I hope...but hip hop shall dominate, it needs juice), Entertainment, Gossip, News (What's news, though? I suppose in my mind), An Alternative to the Addictive Myspace Lure, Fashion, Style, and Everything In Between.

Who the F*&K is Cyrus?: Time Shall Tell, in the meantime, "Male, Open-Minded, Journalist, Single! (Cough Cough, Ladies? Single Mothers? Desperate Love Seekers?), Hilarious combine with Lame Jokester, Random Thought-thinker, Quick-typer that acknowledges his own spelling mistakes and builds off of that, me"

Title: Anything from famous quotes to song, album, and movie titles. (Should Provide the Emphasis Behind the Blog...but we shall see!)

Why Are You Still Reading This?: Don't worry, everything has a beginning!