Follower Critique: Tess Henley - High Heels & Sneakers

I haven't done one of these in a while. It's not that I haven't wanted to review one the blog's Twitter followers, its just that very few of my followers have intrigued me enough to listen to their music. It's an emotional roller coaster to say the least.

I get all excited when I get a notification that I have a new follower, then I see who it is, and it's somewhat disappointing. Its like, did you even look at the background of the type of music that is showcased on the blog? No, MC Such-n-Such, I do not want to hear your latest album titled Bitchez, Weed, Money, & Gunz.
As for you DJ Stank-Booty, I will not download your latest mixtape She Twerks Hard for the Money Vol. 14 (you see what I did there, elementary word play with the title of a Donna Summer classic).

Grand Theft Auto V Wrap-Up

I full on love Grand Theft Auto V.  I love all GTA games starting at III and up.

So, literally everyone is talking about this game.  Blogging, reviewing, writing, tweeting, updating, shouting from rooftops.....  you get my point.  I've seen people complain that, "other games with smaller budgets don't get this kind of coverage, so it's not fair, and that GTA doesn't deserve the praise."  Those people are what I like to call, "bitter dicks."

Daily Throwback: Nappy Roots - Awnaw

The Shuffle God's country cousin must of picked this one. I seriously haven't heard this cut in a minute. The Nappy Roots weren't the average run of the mill southern bumpkin rap group, which is why I liked them. While they were hot, I would have liked to have heard a collabo with them and Outkast, Goodie Mob, or anybody else who was a member of Atlanta's famed Dungeon Family crew. They seemed to be on the same musical wavelength as the DF Express. Hell, I'd kill for the members of Outkast to drop something together nowadays, but that probably won't happen. Awnaw's hook is so infectious, one listen will have you singing it in your sleep. You're welcome.

A.D.D. Report: Drake-ing Bad

Question: is AMC the new HBO?? HBO has had great luck with producing some all-time great dramas. The Wire, Oz, Sopranos...all classics! AMC has The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad. I like both shows (well I actually LOVE The Walking Dead).

I'm probably one of a few that thinks Breaking Bad is just ok. I guess I just expected so much more. I do admit a bias of liking zombies a hell of a lot more than drug cartels, but nothing tops a good old fashioned ruthless drug cartel. I thought his family would be in harm's way at least once in the storyline, but in 5 seasons neither the son, the daughter, nor the mother have ever been abducted or scratched. I mean the son is handicapped which is such an easy target in my opinion.

Fall TV Review: FOX Tuesday Night Line-Up

For the last 7-8 years, my favorite television viewing night of the week has been Thurday nights on NBC. With the departure of The Office and 30 Rock, that line-up has been decimated into fractions of what it used to be.

Don't get me wrong, I still love me some Parks & Recreation and Community, but two shows do not a prime-time line-up build. Don't you fret lil' NBC, if that Michael J Fox Show finds a way to formulate plots beyond Marty McFly's Parkinson's disorder and manage to be entertaining, you could find your Thursday night line-up back in my good graces.


So now my attention has been turned to the FOX Tuesday night line-up. I was already a huge fan of New Girl and The Mindy Project, so I planned on tuning in for at least an hour's worth of programming. They also added two more comedies backed by some intriguing credentials.

Batting lead-off is Dads, starring Seth Green, which is executive produced by Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane. In the number 2 hole is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starring Andy Samberg and what looks like a tremendous ensemble on paper. Brooklyn Nine-Nine was created by key contributors to The Office and Parks & Recreation. 

On paper, this sounds like a can't miss night of comedy, but I have been disappointed before (damn you Will Arnett and David Cross for your stupid and unfunny Running Wilde). Last night was the season premier of FOX's re-vamped Tuesday night line-up, and here's my show by show break down.

Happy Birthday Nasir Jones

The man behind one of the top 5 greatest hip-hop albums of all-time turned 40 today.  I really can't believe, I've been listening to his music for almost 20 years. It really seems like it was yesterday I was ripping off the cellophane off the Illmatic cassette tape I just purchased from Tower Records (Google that, youngsters), eagerly popping it in my Sony Walkman (you might need to Google that as well), and just visualizing the street soliloquies Nasty Nas spoke in my mind.

Nas was one of the first rappers, for me at least, to really emphasize using imagery in his rhyme scheme. While many rappers could tell a story, Nas could literally paint a picture with his words.  It was like each song was a different scene from a movie he was scripting for Martin Scorsese to direct.

To this day, Nas is still a top tier rhyme-spitter. He has seen many come and go, and he still stands firmly atop of the pantheon of hip-hop greats.  To salute this legend on his born day, I have enclosed one all-time favorite Nas songs. You're welcome.

Fall TV Preview: 7 Best Returning Characters

Can you smell it? The smell of new fall TV, and so far it's scent smells free of Gordon Ramsey, ugh nevermind there's a Master Chef kids edition. Really though, how many shows does that man need? He's like a mean Dick Clark in a chef's jacket.

This is the time of the year old standards return, and the networks try to cram new characters down our throats. Call me old fashioned, but I don't know about the six of you that read this blog, but when I choose to regularly include show into my television viewing habits, I'm in it with said show's characters for the long haul, so it takes a lot for me to allow a new one in my life. It's all about commitment, people!

To show you who I hold dear to my TV viewing heart, I devised a list of my favorite characters from shows I watch that are returning this fall.

(Sidebar #1: Keep in mind I said "returning this fall", so I don't want to hear any of that "What about Workaholics?" shit. They don't start up again until next year.)

(Sidebar #2: Keep in mind I said "shows I watch", so I don't want to hear any of that "What about Sons of Anarchy or Walking Dead?" shit. You can get mad if you want to, but they don't see the light of day on my DVR.)

Fall TV Preview: Tim's Top 5 Newbies

So, to say I watch a lot of TV is a bit of an understatement.  Every Fall I get real frantic with my DVR, and bring it to capacity 3-4 times a week.  This Fall is no different, and with 5 new shows that I'm really looking forward to(not to mention the other 20-30 that I'll watch based on my addiction), I hope my DVR can take it.  Let's take a look at what I'm feeling this year.

Trailer: True Detectives (New HBO Series)

Goddammit, HBO! I just can't quit you!(no Brokeback) Every time I think I can escape your couch potato inducing clutches, you draw me back in.

This shit right here (Katt Williams voice...where is Katt by the way...any who) looks like the truth. I can't hate on Matthew McConaughey, even though he does need to start making more of a conscious effort to keep his shirt on. He's a good actor. Then you go and throw in Woody Harrelson? That just unfair! How do you expect me to break by Home Box Office addiction when you do shit like that? Woody is the man.

Well, I guess you got me locked in a little longer HBO, well played. I will be eagerly awaiting this drama series' debut in January. This looks like it could take the drama game back from AMC. In my opinion, McConaughey does his best work while working off dark scripted plots. I guess I found my hold over until network spring finale season.  You're welcome.

Daily Throwback: Cypress Hill - How I Can Just Kill A Man

The Shuffle God is feeling a little feisty with this one. Cypress Hill introduced me to a whole world of hip-hop with their first album, Cypress Hill. Hailing from California, Cypress Hill came out at time when it was too easy differentiate between West Coast and East Coast hip-hop, but refused to let their region define their sound. Both B-Real's nasal delivery and Sen Dog's booming ad libs are iconic sounds of hip-hop history. DJ Muggs production was second to none, and to this day his sound cannot be duplicated. This song was one of my summer anthems when I was 12 years old, it made me want to rock a flannel button-up and a wool skully in July. I wore this tape out. You're welcome.

Trailer: RoboCop

Let it be known that all major Hollywood studios will not rest until every movie icon from the 1980s is remade and revamped. I can see it now..."Vin Diesel as Sylvester Stallone as Cobra" or "Zac Efron goes back in time to 1992 in a Toyota Prius time machine in Back to the Future!" I literally had to swallow back a little bit of vomit as I typed that.

It's happening people, our childhood has become nostalgic fodder to be reheated like a cheap TV dinner by Hollywood execs.  It's only a matter of time before they snatch up The Goonies and The Gremlins.

Now normally I am the first one to write-off a remake (they should have left The Karate Kid & Total Recall alone), but I must say, after watching this trailer for retooled RoboCop, I'm mildly excited about seeing the final product.  It looks like they gave the RoboCop character more of a human element, and more awareness that he has been made into somewhat of a law enforcement monster. 

The movie drops in 2014, and it should be a contender for highest grossing, and why shouldn't it be? It's got Samuel "Muthaphuckin'" Jackson in a wig. Check out the trailer. You're welcome.

Mike Patton: Top 11

I can't stop talking about Mike Patton.

Mike Patton is the lead singer for Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom, and has appeared on many other projects as well.

I feel like Mike Patton has made some of the greatest music of all time, and will continue to do so for a while. The man picks projects to simply work with people he hasn't before, so he can grow musically.  This is a sign of a great artist.  The sad fact is, he's not really known for anything other than his singing duties in Faith No More.  Mike Patton is an artist that goes from hip hop to classical, and does it all with ease.

Glove Love

Recently Gary Payton did an interview where he said John Stockton was the hardest person he ever had to guard. Those unfamiliar with Gary Payton, he is a NBA Defensive Player Of The Year winner. He has been on multiple NBA All-Defensive teams, and next to Scottie Pippen, he is arguably the best on-ball defender in NBA history.