Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Chronicles of a Half-Assed Heroes Show

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't a bad show, it's just not a good show.  I thought it was cool that they had a cameo from Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, but those are the highlights of the series.  Other than that, the show is pretty ordinary.

As a nerd, I would have loved it if at least one character on the "team" was an established Marvel character. I get that they want "new blood," to be free from nerd scrutiny, but minor characters should be fair game. Not even one super power on the team!  Lets take look at the characters we're stuck with.

Daily Throwback: Ruff Ryders - Scenario 2000

The Shuffle God is ruthless for this one! This posse cut had me going bonkers when it dropped. It was featured on Eve's 1999 debut album, Let There Be Eve: The Ruff Ryders' First Lady. That's how dope it was, it made me buy Eve's album...yes people, I once spent money on an E-V-E album. This song was originally supposed to be a remix of Jay Z's summer anthem from that year, Jigga, My N*gga, which was produced by the Ruff Ryders' very own Swizz Beats, but I guess Hov was late to the studio that day to record his verse. The song was still the definition of fire, and made my 1987 Chevy Barreta feel like it was a fully loaded Hummer when this song exploded through the speakers. You got something to get off your chest? Listen to this, and all the weight will be lifted. You're welcome.

A.D.D. Report: NBA 2013 Tip-Off

Opening night in the NBA has come and gone, and it did not disappoint (well my Bulls did).

Nirvana's In Utero, 20 years later.

Nirvana was my favorite band growing up.  It was my "gateway drug" into music. I was (am) a late bloomer, and I remember one day, playing GI Joes on my driveway with my friend Todd, and a kid came down with a cassette single for Smells like Teen Spirit he was looking to get rid of.  After a few minutes of negotiations, I decided that the Single was worth about 2 GI Joes, and a trade was made.  It ruined me forever.

2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: LL Cool J vs. N.W.A

I haven't posted in a while, so here you go. I feel a little rusty, so if it reads a little forced, fuck off and keep your opinion to yourself. Keep in mind that I am an artist, and I'm sensitive about my shit (Badu voice). Let's get to it, shall we.

A tell-tale sign that you are getting old is when you recognize the names of majority of the nominees for the 2014 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This year I have actually heard music from 11 out of the 16 nominees...damn I'm old.

Not all of the acts will make the cut. Nirvana, Deep Purple, and Kiss are clear cut favorites to make it into the 2014 class. With the committee inducting a hip-hop/rap act in each of the past two years (Public Enemy in 2013, and the Beastie Boys in 2012), I'm guess that trend will continue for the 2014 inductees.

What that means is that one spot will belong to either LL Cool J or N.W.A. On paper, that sounds like an epic battle, but in actuality, I believe there is no question who truly deserves the honor. The world's premier lip-licker, James Todd Smith a.k.a. Ladies Love Cool James, is hands down better than N.W.A.

Bleacher Report: Horace Grant: "You Can't Compare Anybody to Michael"

Finally, in a world where it has become cool to hate on the greatness that is Michael Jordan, his old teammate has come correct. Maybe it's his way of redeeming himself to Bulls' fans for jumping ship to play with Penny and Shaq in Orlando when MJ retired the first time. Maybe it's an undercover jab at Scottie Pippen for not bowing down and respecting the legacy of the Great Deuce-Trey and saying LeBron could be better. Whatever it is, I like it. Preach, Horace, preach! You're welcome.

Bleacher Report: Horace Grant: "You Can't Compare Anybody to Michael"

New Music: Aloe Blacc - Love Is The Answer (produced by Pharrell)

I remember a few years ago this man was telling us how he needed a dollar, now he's doing songs with Pharrell.  Looks like he got that dollar and then some. Love Is The Answer is from Aloe Blacc's Wake Me Up EP, and I am REALLY feeling it. Aloe's voice has that powerful and gruffy Roy Ayers/Bill Withers vibe to it that I dig. As for the beat, (I hate to do it to you again, Pharrell, but...), it has the perfect blend of bounce and groove to it, but it kind of sounds like Pharrell borrowed from, stole from, paid homage to parts of Herb Alpert's 1979 jazz classic Rise.

It might sound familiar because Diddy also borrowed, stole, sampled, Diddy-ed elements of it for The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 hit Hypnotize. Great minds think alike, I guess. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal to me, but Pharrell kind of annoyed me when he played the Vanilla Ice card when he was questioned about his last allegations of musical theft (the eerie similarities between Robin Thicke's summer smash Blurred Lines and Marvin Gaye's classic Got To Give It Up). Here's what he told the Associated Press last month:

"If you read music, all you have to do is read the sheet music, it's completely different. [Marvin Gaye] is the king of all kings, so let's be clear about that, and we take our hats off to him. But anybody that plays music and reads music, just simply go to the piano and play the two. One's minor and one's major. And not even in the same key."

Now, I can understand than no artist wants their creativity questioned, but at the same time, don't discredit the intelligence of your audience. Just admit it, you like to borrow from legends. We get it, Rise and Got To Give It Up are infectious jams, you couldn't help yourself.

All of that aside, I really like this song, and if you value my musical opinion you will too. You're welcome.