The Roots - "UnDun" Stream

Take a listen (no download) to the new Roots album due out soon.  Click the link.

The Roots - UnDun Full Album Stream

Diddy Might Get Mad

2012 is right around the corner, which means election time!!! Yay, 11 months of meaningless campaigning and political jargon from a bunch of pundits that know nothing.  Can't wait.

I feel bad for Obama, he tried, but the system we live in is purposely not set up for change.  We are stuck and the President of the United States has become more of a ceremonious figure-head much like the Royals of England.

Why should I vote this year?  It's like going to a restaurant and only having 2 options and being like "I'm here, I gotta eat something...fuck it, give me the liver and onions."

No matter what age, race, or gender the winner is, what can he/she really do for me that I shouldn't be doing for myself?  Do I really have to pick a team to feel like I did my part interact with my government?

What's the difference between middle class adults choosing between Republicans and Democrats, and urban youth choosing between Bloods and Crips?  Its all gang mentality and I'm tired of it.  No side is better than the other, and why should I be deemed "irresponsible" or "socially apathetic" if neither option really appeals to me?

I am strongly considering not participating in next year's elections. The only person I can honestly say can improve my standard of living is ME. 

Paying my taxes, making sure my kid gets a good education, and providing my family with health care all starts with me.  Not Barack, Herman, Newt, or Rick.  No matter what they promise you, they will fail in satisfying your needs.

It's a new world, there are no more public servants, just politicians...its all a business.  Republicans and Democrats have two of the biggest corporations in this country next to Wal-Mart and Microsoft.  It's all about the bottom line.  Our best bet is to be our own individual corporations, and stop counting on "change" from an outside source that has absolutely no insight on your situation.

I think I will go to the ballots on election day and write myself in, or maybe I'll just stay in and Occupy My Couch.  Who knows.

So It Begins...hopefully.

I'm expanding my portfolio a little bit to help get my name out there.  I recently was accepted to be a contributor to the sports website Bleacher Report.  I submitted my first article today, and it is officially posted on the site now. There's a link to my article at the bottom, so go check it out, comment, do whatever.  Later.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/929050-nba-solutions-contraction-is-necessary-to-stop-future-lockouts

Vote or Die

Wow, only 3 votes, however did Obama get elected?  I guess our generation is filled with apathy.  Well I guess Meth and Mary hold on to the title with an overwhelming 66.7% of the votes (2 votes...one was mine).  Don't think you guys are off the hook, I'm posting another poll about another musical subject.

This time I'm going to talk about the lost medium of the motion picture soundtrack.  Man, I used to anticipate the release of soundtracks.  Some where the only shining part of a shitty movie (High School High, Sunset Park, Who's The Man?...I don't care what anybody says, those movies sucked).  Artists created original music exclusively for movies, and most of the time that soundtrack was the only outlet that featured that song.  The song and movie would be forever intertwined.  You here 2 Live Crew's "Hoochie Mama," the first thing that pops in your head is Friday...Eric B & Rakim's "Know the Ledge," Juice, and so on.

Nowadays, with the Internet and the evolution of the importance of the single over that album, people hear the song and don't associate it with an actual movie.  Artists release the songs on their albums, mixtapes, and other compilations.  Flo-Rida's smash hit "Low" (just puked a little bit in my mouth), was released on the Step Up 2: The Streets Soundtrack (ugh...it's starting to leak out my mouth now).  Nobody would know that, because how many movies, TV shows, commercial, bar mitzvahs was it featured in afterwards?  Millions...I even think there's a Kidz Bop version. 

Now I'm about to take you on trip back to a time when soundtracks ruled the world and give you my list of the best motion picture soundtracks that were released in my lifetime (let's face it, nobody has rocked out to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in decades).  I'm going to give you my top 10 and list another poll and you ungrateful summabishes better vote...because if you don't, that means the terrorists have won. 

10.) Love & Basketball (2000) - This was a real laid back soundtrack.  It featured some classic cuts from the 80s and 90s (Zapp, Guy, MC Lyte, etc...), mixed in with some of the smoothest artists of the time.  It had the Black Eyed Peas when they still cared about the music they created, introduced me to Bilal, featured the debut track from the Tony, Toni, Tone/En Vogue/A Tribe Called Quest hybrid group Lucy Pearl, "Dance Tonight."  Definitely a straight-through listen.

9.)  New Jersey Drive (1995) - This soundtrack was so major, it was a double album.  Nobody remembers the movie, but hip-hop fans can't forget the soundtrack.  This was released at the height of the East Coast/West Coast drama, but it featured artists from the east, west, and from down south.  Redman, Queen Latifah, Mac Mall, Coolio, Mad Lion, MC Eiht, and a young, fledgling Outkast.  My favorite cut from this album was "Can't You See" sung by Total featuring "the black Frank White" himself, The Notorious B.I.G.

8.)  Juice (1991) - You know a film featuring a young, up and coming Tupac Shakur playing a role that is still celebrated today, has to have a soundtrack that comes hard.  Juice didn't disappoint.  Pac did not have a song on the soundtrack, but other top notch talent carried the weight.  Hip-hop hall of famers Eric B & Rakim, Cypress Hill, Salt 'n' Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, and Too $hort.  The track that set the mood for the album was Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem."

7.)  Menace II Society (1993) - This film is probably second to only Boyz N Tha Hood in the now deserted "hood" film genre of the early 90s. The soundtrack matched the film's intensity.  Majority of the tracks were from west coast artists like Too $hort, Spice 1, DJ Quik, and Ant Banks.  The prolific story telling of MC Eiht on "Streiht Up Menace" was the pinnacle song of this album.

6.)  New Jack City (1990) - If there were a Mount Rushmore for "hood" movies, New Jack City would be one of the four representatives.  "Sit yo' five dolla ass down before I make change!!!"...ah, such a classic line, back to the soundtrack.  Besides featuring Ice-T and 2 Live Crew, this was predominantly a R&B album.  You had Guy, LeVert, Troop, Johnny Gill, Christopher Williams, and Keith Sweat.  The song that holds the hearts of many in this collection is Color Me Badd's classic song about freakin', "I Wanna Sex U Up."

5.)  The Show (1995) - 1995 shows up again, it's not called "the golden age of hip-hop" for nothing.  The Show was a half-assed documentary about hip-hop, but the soundtrack did not half-step at all.  Many classic moments on this collection of songs.  Biggie performing "Me & My Bitch" live in Philadelphia, Redman dropping one of the illest verses of all-time on "How High," and 2Pac standing out on the introspective "My Block."

4.)  Judgement Night (1993) - Once again, the movie...ehhh, the soundtrack...wow!  Way before Limp Bizkit, Everlast, and the Jay-Z/Linkin Park thing, there was this soundtrack.  It was a beautiful mash-up of rock and rap.  Songs featured Onyx and Biohazard together, Cypress Hill with Pearl Jam, and Slayer connecting with Ice-T.  My hands down favorite song on this soundtrack (and one of my favorite songs of all time) was "Fallin'" by De La Soul and Teenage Fanclub.

3.)  Above The Rim (1994) - Another movie featuring Tupac Shakur, another great soundtrack.  This was strictly west coast, and it solidified the foundation of Suge Knight's Death Row Records.  Tha Dogg Pound, Snoop Dogg, and H-Town all provided heat for this collection.  My favorite song wasn't even featured on the CD version, only on the cassette tape version (which pissed me off because I had to buy both, I didn't have loot like that at 14, shit I don't have loot like that now).  It was 2Pac's "Pain."  The overwhelming people's choice as the best song on the soundtrack was Warren G & Nate Dogg's "Regulate."

2.)  Boomerang (1993) - What didn't this soundtrack have?  Complete.  Not much hip-hop on this one (only A Tribe Called Quest's "Hot Sex").  This album set the R&B standard for the time.  TLC, Johnny Gill, and Babyface.  It introduced us to Toni Braxton and all of her fineness.  It gave us one of the greatest love songs of all-time with Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" (they took Elvis' chart topping record).  That wasn't even my favorite song on the soundtrack, I loved, I mean love, PM Dawn's "I'd Die Without You."

1.)  Purple Rain (1984) - Fuck soundtracks, this might be one of the greatest albums of all-time by one of the greatest musicians of all-time.  I was about to turn 5 when this album dropped, and I still haven't heard much that was as innovative as this.  Nine songs, two #1 hits, four top 10 hits, and five top 25 hits. The Purple One did his thing with this one.  Opening up the album with the high energy "Let's Go Crazy" was genius.  His screaming ultimatum on "The Beautiful Ones" was breathtaking.  I have decided not to let my daughter hear "Darling Nikki" till she's 25, its audio porn.  The game changing no baseline of "When Doves Cry."  The title track, "Purple Rain"...'nuff said.  I can't pick a favorite, I think I might listen to it right now.

There's my list, you know the deal...vote, leave a comment, tell me your favorite soundtracks, or do absolutely nothing like you did last time.  I'll be waiting.

Yes, I'm Still On That...

So my new found infatuation with my old MySpace page has continued thru today.  This time I'm reading the comments from people I used to hang out with constantly 4 years ago, now I never see.  Is four years really that long?  Well some people are obvious leave behinds, like people from Cali, but some of these people live a town over and I never see.  What happened?  Did you get scared that I was gonna blog about...that's a random bullet, nobody's safe from that.  Did I piss you off?  I'm an asshole and you knew that, so getting pissed at me is part of the relationship.  So here is my mission today, I am gonna find all these people on Facebook and ask them why we don't kick it anymore, and all I want is a simple answer ("I don't know" is not an acceptable answer).  Ready, set, go.  Oh yeah, I'm gonna tag you in this blog link too so you understand why the hell I am contacting you after all of this time.  It's partially my fault, but mostly yours.  I'm still here.  In the meantime, enjoy another classic MySpace blog from October 4, 2007 directed towards Cubs fans after another tragic playoff loss.  Judging from the comments the previously anonymous text message responses are from Josh Burrell and Susie Karas (yes, I name names now, bitches).

Misery Cures Writer’s Block

Current mood:aggravated

Wow, I really had trouble this week thinking about something interesting to write this week for all of my fans (all zero of you...basically me). I was blocked. Two weeks and this asshole already has writer's block, can you believe it? Then at around 9:06 PM Central time last night it hit me...THE CUBBIES. Not even the Cubs, but their ignorant fans. It would be a lengthy feat to accomplish, that would require a mass amount of research (not really, but I don't just want to talk out of my ass, I would like some actual factuals thrown in there), so I talked shit to all my Cub fan friends via text message during the game last night to get the material I needed.

Now a lot of them didn't respond to my foolishness, but those that did, ha ha, it was like taking candy from a baby. I could talk shit about Cub fans for the next ten years based on the responses I got back last night. As most of you can tell, I am a White Sox fan. The Sox had a rough go at it this season, but aren't they allowed one since they won a World Series Championship in 2005. Technically, they have won more championships than the Yankees in the last five years, but I digress. I was skeptical of the Cubs making the playoffs this year, and rightfully so because they are "cursed," "jinxed," or my personal favorite, they just have miserably sucked the last two centuries. Once it was clear the Cubs were in the post season, I was fairly congratulatory towards Cubs' fans...until I congratulated a certain nameless manager at my job and he replied "...yeah and the best part about it is that we can throw it in the Sox fans' faces!!" Wow, was that really necessary? As a fan you should be more worried about the next team you play in the playoffs, not a team that is near the bottom of their division in a whole other league. Which goes into my first point, most Cub fans would rather hate the Sox than know what is going on with their own team. Ask a Cub fan to name last night's batting order, I bet they can't do it. Better yet, ask my girlfriend (sorry again, Julie) to name the Cubs' second baseman, or even what race is he...blank stare, or a "shut up Jon!" I know what you're saying right now, "but Jon isn't that what your doing right now?" My answer to that is no, this is completely different...no time to explain now...back to blogging.

One text I received was "how does your team go from being the best to damn near the worst in just two years? At least the Cubs have maintained a level of consistency." Exactly, a level of consistent shittiness. Team go from champs to chumps all the time, just look at the Bears this years. Some examples in baseball:  the 1998 Florida Marlins, the 2003 Anaheim Angels, the 2004 Florida Marlins, and even this seasons' St. Louis Cardinals. All teams have a cycle to go through (except the damn Yankees and Red Sox), the Cubs don't move in circular motion, just a straight line of shit-tacular proportions.

Another response I received is "...I don't see your team playing now." No you don't. You know why, cause they sucked this season. Nothing more nothing less. No excuses, they didn't perform, so they lost. Cub fans have more excuses for sucking than Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton. The Goat, the '69 Mets, Steve Garvey, and Steve Bartman. How about using you played like shit so you lost as an excuse. It works, trust me, and it's easier to let go of, which I know is hard for Cubs fans to do (when is Ryno, Mad Dog, and Gracie coming back?). You guys have nobody to blame but yourselves. You have created these so-called curses, and now everyone to ever put on a Cubs jersey believes in them. Once they get in pressure situations, they will hope the curse doesn't affect them and try to do everything in their power to not be jinxed , then they overplay a little bit, and BAM

Other response I got were "you're a fag," "fuck you," "I hate you," "whatever," and etc... Those pretty much speak for themselves. So to end, I would like to say with the sincerest of all meanings...GO ARIZONA!!! Fuck The Cubs. I'm out. 

MySpace Account is Still Valid!?!?!

So for shits and giggles, I checked to see if my old MySpace account was still intact (for those who don't know MySpace = (Facebook - pokes - likes) + cool background decorations + customized background music).  Golly gee, it was still alive and kicking, just the way I left it 3 or 4 years ago.  It was like when you find that old Atari in your attic, you hook it up, it's cool for a second, but then that shit gets old real fast.  I did find some interesting things though, some old blogs I wrote on MySpace.  I was quite the asshole I might say.  Cynicism and sarcasm at its greatest.  My view of the world has changed a little bit since then, and I wouldn't say that I don't agree with what I wrote back then, but I would just say maybe nowadays I would say it differently.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  I'm not sure.  From what I read I was a little bit more "raw," a little "hungrier" than I am now.  I'm kind of jealous how that guy wrote, I gotta find him again, he had an edge to him.  Not to say I'm not an asshole today, because I am (ask my co-workers, family, pets, etc...they'll all agree).  Just a more mellow asshole...sometimes (ask Jodi Dion).  I just want to harness that level of asshole-osity I possessed back then, and harness that dickhead energy into my writing now. 

Here is an example of that asshole-osity.  This is a blog I wrote September 19, 2007, my first one to be exact (damn I was still in my twenties).  I remember my wife (at the time only my girlfriend/mother of my child) was not so pleased about this post. It was raw emotion and observation.  A lot of truth, and some exaggeration (I never "percolated" at Coach House...maybe just a broad example, or maybe hung over while writing the post...only the MySpace gods know now).  Take a peek into the past, my MySpace time capsule.  I'll post the other old blogs some other time, but enjoy this one for now. 

P.S.  - Peep the emoticon, I forgot all about them shits, haahaha!
P.P.S - I will never, never, ever, ever, never conclude any future blogs with "Holla Atcha Boy," that was corny and so 2007.

Broken Cherry

                                            Current mood:creative

Well, I'm gonna test this shit out finally. I figure if I want to be writer whose works are viewed in the public domain, then what better way to finally pimp Myspace and perfect my craft for all of you to see. I have read a few blogs and it seems they consist of peoples' gripes, so what should I bitch about? I got it! Women...more specifically, women as girlfriends, spouses, wives, common-law partners, domestic partners,...you get it right, I don't need to go on?  I have been dating my girlfriend for almost 5 years (with a small break in between, but we won't go into that...not today at least), and is it just me, but do women just chose not to even attempt to gain a clear understanding of the male species?  To break it down further, I don't think she knows me after 5 years. Women say men don't pay attention...I'll give you that, but women don't know who they are with. I think they have a perception of who they want to be with and try to (don't quote Beyonce...aw fuck it) "upgrade you" into that imaginary person. For those of you that know my girlfriend, next time you see her, ask her what is Jon's favorite color, and watch the look of utter confusion take over her face. Not to say that she is totally oblivious to my likes and dislikes, she can get the easy ones. Favorite Food: what grown ass man doesn't like a good steak. Favorite TV Show: pretty safe with any sport or Sportscenter. I love that statement that goes "You used to act so nice and romantic when we first started dating." Duh, I was trying to fuck you at the time. Shit, you used to watch football with me and not look disgusted. Duh, she was trying trick you into believing she was the "cool girl."(much love, Julie). I understand that women have plans and dreams that were developed in their minds when they were 5 years old (i.e. marriage, dog, cat, 2.5 kids, house with white picket fence, etc...), but if that plan is deviated from, why must they mold their reality into the perception of that dream. I know a few couples where the woman knows their male spouse is fed up, but will still go on thinking everything is peachy keen. Why? Obviously both of you are not happy, why go on living a lie. The guy thinks if he's a bigger and bigger dick the girl  will get fed up, and the girl can ignore it until the guy goes OJ on her, or until the kids graduate college. Either way, all that shit can be avoided if you ladies get to know the guy you originally started dating and stop trying to change him. We don't change, we just stop doing shit with you. I love to conversate, just not with you about bills and money all the goddamn time. I love to drink, just not with you when you get drunk and ask me "when are we gonna get married?" every ten fucking minutes. I love to have sex, just not missionary all the time. I guess what I am trying to say ladies is, that guy you met sloppy drunk 3 years ago at the Coach House at 2:37 AM Central time that knocked you off your feet while doing the Percolator is still there deep down. He just hiding from that crazy bitch that swallowed his girlfriend that used to not nag, and give him road head (without having to be asked mind you). You just got to figure out how to get him to open the door and come out. It won't take much, maybe a steak and a threesome. I'm Out!!!!  Holla Atcha Boy.  

Just Checking

I'm bored at work, just checking to if this Blogger iPhone app is legit. Scary monsters...I can blog on the go, stay tuned.

So Far, So Good

I know this might be a little pre-mature, especially with new albums by J. Cole, Drake, and 9th Wonder coming up, but I'm about to hit you with my list of the top verses of 2011 (so far).  Let me warn you now, there is no Jigga, Weezy, or Yeezy on this list.  This is a best verse/freestyle list, not best song...remember that.  I will hyperlink the titles so you can hear the song.  So without further ado...

10.) Busta Rhymes "Look At Me Know (Remix)" - Bussa Buss is the remix killer.  He hasn't shined on his own shit since "Touch It," but has been consistently killing it on everyone else's remixes.  This is another example of that.  I can't even pull out one stand-out line to use as an example, this whole verse is stand-out.  If he could only bring the same enthusiasm to his albums.

9.)  Eminem "A Kiss" - This is from Em & Royce's Bad Meets Evil EP.  Since the rehab, it has been said that Shady lost a little bit of his edge, his ability to ridicule his pop music peers was fading.  Em killed that talk on here by throwing darts at the current pop monster, Lady Gaga, on his third verse:

These bells are my mating call
And I'm here, bell's waiting and tell Lady Gaga
She can quit her job at the post office
She's still a male lady
Wouldn't fuck her with her dick
You heard the verdict's in, he's allergic to divas
And take meat cleavers to 'em
Him don't give a damn about beaver do him?

8.)  Childish Gambino "Rolling in the Deep (Remix)" - For those of you who don't know who Childish Gambino/Donald Glover/"Troy" from Community is, allow me to introduce you.  This man is about to hit the scene with a full head of steam (hey, that almost rhymed).  He gained notoriety this year, with his verse on the remix to Adele's breakout hit this year.  His mental convo with an ex is flawless.

Spread shit around, "You know that his glasses fake"
That's why I'm dating girls now whose asses ain't
"Damn, Donald, why you gotta be so mean?"I'm a nice guy, that's why you broke up with me
You probably in the club dancing to this right now

Play it cool, text me when you walk out

7.)  Andre 3000 "Sleazy (Remix)" - 3 Stacks...with Ke$ha???  That's what I said when I saw it.  I wanted to pass it over, but couldn't, it's still Andre 3000.  I'm glad I didn't.  This is another prime example of Andre's superior storytelling abilities.  His verse has very little to do with the actual song, but its still stellar none the less.

6.)  Drake "All of the Lights (Remix)" - Can you even call him a protege anymore.  Drake is so much better than Lil' Wayne now, there's no comparison.  I'm usually not one for all the "swag" talk, but his delivery of his verse was powerful. If you thought you had swag, after you heard this, you went to lift some weights.  Perfect verse to end the all-star remix, like having Usain Bolt as the anchor to your 4x100 relay team.

5.) Nas "Outro" - Of course, the best song on Lil' Wayne's Carter IV didn't even feature Lil' Wayne.  The outro of the album featured a quartet of stars, but none shined brighter than Mr. Nasir Jones.  I mean come on, it's Nas...do I really have to give an example?  I will just for shits and giggles.

Look who crept in with automatic weapons

Reppin' QB till the death of him

That, nigga that inspired lyrical tyrants like Kanye West and Em

Track record, goes back to the Essence

Smack adolescents who ask who the best is

I'm nasty like gas from a fat man's intestines

4.)  Lupe Fiasco "Words I Never Said" - Lupe has the potential to be the best in the game.  He can rap about anything and make it sound good.  The first verse of this song from his latest album Lasers, is a just a lyrical lecture about what he thinks is really going on in the political world, and nobody is safe, not even Obama.



Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist

Gaza strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say shit

That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either

I'm a part of the problem, my problem is I'm peaceful

3.)  Jay Electronica "Jazzmatazz" - This man is probably the best lyricist that nobody has heard of.  No albums, but a handful of already classic songs.  He gives New Orleans rappers credibility.  His verses are fluid and intelligent, and he's probably the only rapper that can mention Yo Gabba Gabba in his raps and still get taken seriously.  The second verse of this song is pure genius.

They silence you with force and then indoctrinate the children

Yo Gabba Gabba, Ahmadinejad will blow up your apartment if you don't observe the sabbath

I look the devil in his eye and say abracadabra

Then drown 'em in the mighty light his brain couldn't fathom

Scrappin' every day, just like fight club

A thriller and a smooth criminal like Mike was

2.) Childish Gambino "Break (AOTL)" - Yes this guy again.  Even though you never heard of him, he is that good.  He has been mentioned twice, while Jay-Z or Kanye

1.)  Joe Budden "Ordinary Love Shit (Part 3)" - All I can say about this freestyle is wow.  Jumpoff Joey's ability to get personally and still keep his lyrical prowless is second to none.  Using the Frank Ocean breakout hit "Novocaine" beat as a backdrop, Joe tells the story of his tumultuous relationship with video vixen Esther Baxter.  Damn, Derrick Ward, really?

Well that's my list, what do you think?  Am I wrong, am I right, did I miss something?  Let me know.  See you at the next post.

This Is The Best You Can Do?

When was the last time you saw a really good movie?  I mean a really good movie, a movie you would go to the theater again to see (Twilight/Harry Potter/LOTR geeks sit down please, you don't count...go get help).  Studios have lost their mojo and all ability to be creative.  They seem to be more worried about the marketing of the movie than the actual product.  I'm seeing commercials about up coming movies, and they are all garbage. 

Let's see what we got...Dolphin Tail, the uplifting tale of a dolphin with a prosthetic tail.  Come on!  The movie doesn't need to be 90 minutes, 5 minutes at the most.  My synopsis of the remake:  dolphin has tail, dolphin loses tail, dolphin get put into a can, and I make a delicious sandwich (light mayo, maybe some relish and a hard boiled egg)...done, good night.

What else is there?  Contagion, or what I call Outbreak 2011.  This one's different, it has Matt Damon...who cares.  Spoiler alert:  Matt Damon will lose someone he loves to a mysterious disease, search for answers, run from people, and maybe, just maybe find a miracle cure to save the remainder of the human race.

Let's go to Moneyball.  This looks alright, seems like it was written well, but how much did Billy Beane revolutionize baseball scouting if he never won a World Series?  How motivational can this movie be.  Steinbrenner proved a long time ago that the check book is mightier than the computer.  The A's haven't won under this system.  How do they end the movie, showing the Yankees knock them out the playoffs?  Times are rough, I think America needs to see a winner, not an also ran.

I'll end this post with my favorite upcoming piece of rubbish, Real Steel.  the underdog story of a boxing robot.  Did Oscar De La Hoya get high and write a movie.  This is just CGI Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots.  It would be more intriguing if I found out it was the sequel to the shitty Shaquille O'Neal movie.  I smell a video game in the making.

Ah, I got that off my chest.  I'll quit my bitching for now, but come on, is this really what we want to see?

Featuring...

I originally posted this poll at Culturally Ruined, but only 3 people voted (this time I'm hoping for a nice, round number of 6...one for each nominee and a tie-breaker).  I would like to talk about the lost art of the R&B/Hip-Hop collabo. I don't know if the industry is over saturated with them so we just don't notice them anymore, or they just plain suck most of the time so we don't care. I'd like to think its a little of both.

Back in the 80s they were rare because hip-hop was still thought of as fad so a lot of prominent R&B stars shied away from incorporating rappers in their music. I think it was around '87 or '88 when the first real collabo banger came out with Jody Watley's "Friends" featuring the god himself, Rakim. A match made in heaven. That just got the ball rolling. Soon we saw Heavy D. and Al B. Sure link up, Tony, Toni, Tone hook-up with Tupac's brother Mocedes The Mellow (a.k.a. MoPreme) on "Feels Good", and Father MC and a then unknown Jodeci got together a few times.

Then in 1995 came possible the ultimate style mash-up: Method Man and Mary J. Blige's "You're All I Need." One word: Classic! I mean the shit won a Grammy, man. The Grammy committee even installed a hip-hop/r&b collabo category in the yearly ceremony. After that it was full steam ahead. Every rapper needed a R&B singer on a track. Mary J. guest starred on many a hip-hop album. That was the Fugees whole gimmick. Common and Chantay Savage, Jay-Z and Babyface, LL Cool J and Boyz II Men, and the list goes on. Rappers even started to sing (Ja Rule, I'm looking your way homie). It seemed as collabos became common, the less both artists on the track seem to care about the quality of the song. It became a lost art.

So here is my challenge to all you hip-hop and r&b stars, take out Mary and Meth from the number one spot, and be in the studio at the same time so you can vibe off of each others creative energy. Right now it seems like there is a resurgence of hip-hop/R&B collabos, but it's either Lil' Wayne on a singer's track or Trey Songz singing the hook for a rapper...boring!!! Lets see Common and Alicia Keys, Kanye and Frank Ocean, Mos Def and Dwele, Lupe Fiasco and Erykah Badu, or Drake and...uh...Drake. There it is, the challenge is out there.

Here are the top 5 Hip-Hop/R&B Collabos of all-time...according to me of course:

5.) Nas ft. Lauryn Hill - "If I Ruled the World"

4.) Lupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott - "Daydreamin'"

3.) 112 ft. The Notorious B.I.G. & Ma$e - "Only You Remix"

2.) The Roots ft. Erykah Badu - "You Got Me"

1.) Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige - "You're All I Need"

I posted a poll on the side too, so vote and let me know what you think the top dog is.  If you disagree, hit me with a comment and tell me who should be up there.  Maybe I could set up a bracket...naw, too much work.

The Good Ol' Boob Tube

It was kind of chilly today, so you know what that means...fall is upon us, which brings a new season of television.  With that new season come shows I enjoy, and some I hate.  I'm tired of people making big deals out of silly television shows, especially shows that aren't good.  Here is my list of the top five most overrated shows on television that people (for some reason) go ga-ga over.

5. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (FX)

Maybe I didn't give it a full chance.  Maybe it was over hyped.  I tried it, didn't think it was that funny.  Quirky humor only works for me when it is well written. (see "Arrested Development")

4. "Sons of Anarchy" (FX)

What if the "Sopranos" had a one-night-stand with "American Chopper"...and they had a baby...which they dropped on its head...and shook...and fed lead paint chips to.  Then you would get "Sons of Anarchy." 

3. "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS)

Doogie Howser + The band camp girl from "American Pie" + a laugh track = a hit???  Only on CBS I guess. (Don't get me started on the "CSI" franchise)

2. "Glee" (FOX)

Where do I start.  The producers are genius, because they can hide the fact that each episode is plot deficient by having these annoying kids sing pop songs every five minutes.  Its just an attempt to be an edgy version of Disney's "High School Musical."

Drum roll please.....

1.) "Jersey Shore" (MTV)

What can I say that hasn't already been said?  Watching "Jersey Shore" is like eating just the skin from KFC's extra crispy chicken, nothing good can come from it.  I have never watched an episode, but I'm pretty sure I can tell you the plot to 99.9% of the episodes.  Wake up, set up conflict, get ready to go out, go out, get drunk, dance, get more drunk, meet some girls that REALLY want to be on television (by any means necessary)...I think you get it.  Throw in some verbal spats, physical conflicts, sex, hair product and some corny catch phrases that will sadly catch on, and we have the phenomena that is "Jersey Shore."  The worst part is, these people are now rich.  Ignorance really is bliss.  I'd rather alternate between Jerry Springer and Maury.

Re-re-re-remix Bay-bay!!!

Well, well, well...welcome.  I finally graduated college last June, and throughout my promising job search (insert sarcasm here) I have found myself with a lot of spare free time, so I said lets get the band back together and start the good ol' blog up again. 

My last blog was titled Culturally Ruined (http://culturallyruined.blogspot.com/ ...number one on Google when you search "culturally ruined"...ballin'!!!).  I started it while in school, so it was hard to keep the ball rolling, so my posts became few and far between (you try squeezing a blog in your schedule with school, work, daddy duties, marriage, fantasy sports, Facebooking...it gets rough).  I like doing though, so said "eff it" (that's Tweener-ese for "fuck it"), I can only say so much on Facebook or Twitter before someone (wife, friends, co-workers, midgets...) gets offended, so lets start it up again. 

My posts on Culturally Ruined mostly focused on the hip-hop culture that I love so dearly (well at least the parts of it that I like).  I plan on doing that here at A.K.A...Culture, but I will also try to document everything that enters my pretty little brain of mine (well most things...ok, some things...alright, a fraction of my thoughts).  I'll have polls and encourage anyone to comment on my posts.  My NyQuil cold and cough medicine is kicking in, so I'll end my intro here.  So in words of Ralph Cramden..."and away we go!!!"

P.S. - For a mini-preview (redundant?) check out Culturally Ruined for yourself.