Welcome to the Blueprint

In this day and age, fans are no longer loyal to the ones who paved the way. Whoever people are told to like, they like. We can blame this on the general age demographic on the average rap listener or the severe age gap between the Hip Hop Juggernauts of the mid 90s-early 2000s, but the fact remains, it is not about if Fan A grew up listening to artists directly influenced by Fan A's faorite artist, it's about do they have a hit single that 106 and Park is playing. And we've heard this argument before so I won't dwell on it too long. But this is where Hov steps in, this is where the Blueprint 3 is analyzed and I can see how important this album is. This CD is a step further into the genius that is Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z

So...What We Talking Bout

A great way to open the album. Hov is laying out a Blueprint to the Blueprint. Saying what he will address and what is not worth his time. It's a somewhat broad overview but then he gets into critics commenting on the fact he still speaks about the drug life despite the fact he is a multi-millionaire. He goes on to say "I aint talkin bout profit, I'm talkin bout pain. Talkin bout despair, I'm talking bout shame" And this is evident with his subtle references to the drug game in the past tense. Then in the third verse he gets down to the nitty gritty and smashes the immature mentality criticizing those "Posing with guns, shooting youtube up" and begs listeners to "Go with him to the White House." As I said, a great way to introduce the album, let's you know this will be an album for mature and seasoned ears only. And I wish I could continue with the quotables in this song but we'd be here all day

Thank You

A flashy song with an even flashier ambience. Jay raps in a pseudo British accent over jazzy horns essentially about the good life. This song too is filled with quotables especially the second verse from the "What size suit you is?" bar. But the stand out verse is the last one where he equates his opposers to the events of 9/11 (A sly testament to the original and third installment of the Blueprint's release date) saying his opponents destroyed themselves before they even had a chance essentially.

We all heard D.O.A. and I have a whole post dedicated to the song Here so just check that out. Run This Town I feel is a good song but Jay's first verse is lackluster. The second verse he stepped it up but Kanye came through and crushed it on all levels.

Then we got that Empire State of Mind

A Good anthem for NY. Besides the biting of the title from the GOAT, its a cool song. Alicia Keys honestly made the song what it is though. Other than that it was cool to hear Jay shoutin out some things that make NY what it is...just NY

Then we see that the Blueprint is Real as it Gets

With the help of Jeezy, Jay spits about doin real nigga things like making sure his man Emory Jones who is currently doing a bid is more than good when he comes home. My personal favorite part of the song is Jeezy spittin "That's gotta be disgusting it just make you wanna throw up/ This is big boy music shit just make you wanna grow up/Flow is like syrup it just make you wanna pour up"

Now it's time to grow up. On to the Next One ft Swizzy and Off That ft Drake are songs where Hov flexes his evolution muscle. He states "Niggas want my old shit, buy my old albums." As he said in interviews, his experiences are broader now so he cannot speak on the same things he was speaking on Reasonable Doubt or even Black Album. This sets the tone of the song and the message is Progression. On Off That he is doing what he is know to do well: Tell dudes to move on from whatever it is they think is popping at the moment. "Oversized clothes and chains we off that" "Chris we off that, Rims we off that, Timbs we off that" Just basically telling people to step it up, a sentiment I share with Young Hov

Then A Star is Born through The Blueprint

I didnt feel Jay like that on this song but I see what he was doing with it. Chronicling the rise of every major hip hop act. And lee-ways into J.Cole, the best new spitter out, symbolically telling the listener that one day J. Cole's name will be amongst those ranks

Let's take a trip to Venus and Mars

A story of a woman who Jay thought was the one but turned out to be a snake. The last verse is really stand out filled with ill word play. "We was sposed to Takeover, I caught her bumpin Ether" One of my favorite songs on the album but I admit it had to grow on me initially

But let's go back Home

Already Home is a cool track. From what I understand it's just Hov saying that he's comfortable where he is and with what he's doing in the game. And in his comfort he is saying people can't move him from there. The second verse is probably one of the illest on the album. Cudi should be honored to be on the track. He addresses the critics and nay-sayers saying "They call me a camel but I mastered the drought" among other jabs at the Haters

Speakin of Haters

A song with a weird beat that sounds circa 808s and Heartbreak. Has some cool lyrics but a borderline forgettable track. Just seems like a track Hov wanted to throw on but still doesnt fall into the filler category

A Friendly Reminder

"They think I'm outta shape so lemme jog they memory" Sums this song up perfectly. Dont get me wrong, I HATE the beat and hook. But this is what I'm referring to when I say people have no loyalty. Jay is saying how can you people forget who he is and how could he of all people, fall off. This song is more about what he's saying but the way he's saying it is above par also, not the best but good enough.

Hov is Ambitious though...

A song for all the youngsters out there. The overall story is of all the people that doubted Jay but how he used it as fuel to get to where he is. Also it's coupled by an actually good Neptunes beat and hook and I havent seen that since...like....04.

But at the end we all wanna be Young Forever

This song I kinda dont get but it sounds cool to just chill out to and a good way to end the album. Sounds like Jay is trying to drop knowledge and at the same time seal his name in the Hip Hop annals of history. That's all I can really say about the song.

A lot of onliners are givin this album negative play but I'm really feelin it and its been on repeat ever since I downloaded it. Once I get paid I'm buying the album. Your mind has to be mature and expanded to UNDERSTAND this album let alone appreciate it. Hopefully it sparks the change needed in Hip Hop.

And here are the videos from the concert last night. REAL ILL!







All... Black... Everything......

It's Been a [:60]

I been in school for a couple weeks so I haven't had time to post up on here. Been a little hectic out here but lo and behold, I'm still alive.

I wanna make a post reviewin Blueprint 3 and Only Built for Cuban Linx 2 so expect that in the near future. In the mean time just rock out to some of the songs on these two great albums

The difference between a 4.0 and a 4.6

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The Man on the Horse Fell Off

On some real Christopher Reeves shit.

Those who know me know I was obsessed with Polo Ralph Lauren for a few years now. To the point where I couldn't leave the house without something Polo on me. Wallet, keys, cologne, scarf and any type of accessories were Lo'd up. And of course the clothes, down to the skin was Polo most of the time. But as time went on I felt like PRL was becoming less and less valuable. It's like when you were a kid and had one of the best collections but then as time goes on two things happen. For one, you grow and your preference changes. Instead of liking basketball cards, now you like art or video games. Second, your collection is devalued because the cards you once treasured, now belong to everyone else. As rarity decreases, so does the value. So naturally you're going to feel some type of way that any one now has access to things
you once cherished.

And once that lust is gone, what's left. I went shopping and looking at Polo reminds me of an ex-girlfriend. We had a long relationship. As a kid I used to see Lo around a lot. Always flashy and always looked good. I started messin with Lo heavy in college sophmore year. She was all over me and I loved her too! I was aware other dudes was messin wit Lo but not a lot of ppl was on her like I was. But within a year or so, everyone is claimin Lo as their own. But they don't know anything about Lo. They think wearin one style or coppin her from one place makes you and Lo one. They cant tell me where her father Ralph was born or where he went to school, Cant tell me where her mansion is or what the difference is with her labels. Who brought Polo to the hood? If you cant tell me why this post is Purple and Blue text on a Black background how can you say u love Lo? Do yall even know what RRL is? She don't know you niggas! But this isn't about them. It's about me and my one time, long term love for Lo.

So where do we go from here? For one I'm not purchasing anything with a Polo man on it. If I cop and its Polo, only the TRUE Polo heads will know. Starting with the Jelani Calfskin Loafers [Holla yes they ARE really named "Jelani"] As I grow older, I feel like I'm more interested in looking good rather than chasing names, so if you see me, My new clothes won't have a logo on it probably. Or you may see me in some loafers, Nudies and a regular tee or flannel. Ya swag it's what's gotta start makin you not your tag. Lo has taught me a lot, ups and downs, goods and bads. So who knows what's going to happen in the future. Hopefully the posers' wells run dry and they revert back to Cavi or something. Or maybe Rocawear will come back and I can reach in my closet and pull all my vintage Roc jeans out. But until then, shouts to the real Lo Heads

K-Lo
Semi Lo
Sharp Lo
Polo Pat
Todd
Darren
Prince Zeem

And shouts to all the niggas wearin US Polo Association! You too are wanted for Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Kill a Brand!

5th Ave Residents

www.5thaveresidents.blogspot.com

Fashion is a passion and past time of mine. Now I aint the flyest but I do well for myself. So to stay up on your latest fashion excerpts, stay close to the 5AR blog.

Shouts to the boy Chris Stylez and that boy Hec wit they new blog [link above]. These not kids that follow the trends of what's hot. They blazin they own trail so support this ~Wave~

-5AR 5th Ave Residents Enter the wonderful world of our flashy fashion lifestyles where being fly is a state of mind. We tell you what's hot, what’s real, and what is just out of style. Step into our fantasy world where everything's a reality. -

Throw It In The Bag feat. The-Dream - Fabolous

[UP]Date

Summer is coming to a close...but the door is moving slow. So until it shuts and I have to open the all too familiar door known as "Fall Semester," I'm going to try and do two (three if you wanna be smart) things. Rest and Recuperate and have as much fun as possible

If you get to see me within this week before I go back for RA training, feel blessed lol. Means you mean a lot to the kid because there is nothing I'm loving more than my full sized futon, laptop, 32 inch HDTV and Blackberry Tour. No where I'd rather be than the second floor of that Halset st home. Not to say I haven't been out. Got to see a reeaalll cool prettyful young lady yesterday then me and some Bronx natives turned it up on the lower east side last night haha. Not to mention the weekly Buffalo Wild Wings visits.

But all in all this has been an ILL ass summer. At JP not only did I learn so much about the business I was in, I took some life lessons with me too.

1) Always hit the ground running. Don't wait for someone to give u advice on something that you could be doing better to improve upon it. Do what you gotta do off top and bang it out.

2) Don't let anything pass you twice. If you are in a field where you know nothing about nothing (which is how it was for me in Prime Brokerage) if you hear something once and you dont know what it is you should ask but if you don't, the next time you hear it you have to inquire about it and learn what it is. That goes for anything in life, we should be on a constant quest for learning

3) BE HUMBLE! I gotta big EGO (oww) and I always think I'm right but in life when you are the student you have to submit yourself to the teacher. Take everything as constructive criticism, learn as much as you can because NO ONE knows everything. That's a lesson I learned at JP and I'm taking with me for life.

Now that all that's said, It's gonna be a LIVE weekend. Who knows what's gonna happen tonight but tomorrow is Moriam's wedding (damn shame it aint to me). The world is my oyster until I go back to school on Tuesday

So in the mean time, I'm contemplating how (really IF i should) I can blow this check I just got. It's been a a LONG tiring summer and I need to treat myself. Let's see...Louis messenger bag, BK Circus sale, Versace shades... all of the above?

Song of the week - From the CLASSIC album Ironman, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna and Raekwon - Fish

What up Sharina!

Blueprint 3

Ya'll Ready?

1. What We Talking About (Produced by Kanye West)
2. D.O.A. (Produced by No I.D.)
3. Weigh Me Down Feat. Kid Cudi (Produced by Kanye West)
4. Unforgiven (Produced by Kanye West, Additional Production: MGMT)
5. Run This Town Feat. Rihanna & Kanye West (Produced by Kanye West)
6. Empire State Of Mind Feat. Nas (Produced by Kanye West & No I.D.)
7. When It Comes To This (Produced by Timbaland)
8. Always Feat. Drake (Produced by Kanye West)
9. Scenes From The Past (Produced by No I.D., Co-produced by Kanye West)
10. Everyday A Star Is Born Feat. Mr. Hudson (Produced by Kanye West)
11. Already Home (Produced by Kanye West)
12. Forever Young Feat. Mr. Hudson (Produced by Kanye West)
13. Thank You (Produced by No I.D.)

Bonus Tracks:
14. Sound Of The 70s (Produced by Kanye West)
15. We Made History (Produced by Kanye West)

Song of the Week!

Secretly, I just wanted to have another post in between this week's and last week's post so I wouldn't seem like a bad blogger

This week's song of the week I been pumpin for a lil minute now from an artist I've been on since High School

An underground legend and a hipster idol. MF DOOM aka King Geedorah AKA Viktor Vaughn AKA Supervillain etc etc new CD, Born Like This is pretty good to say the least. Here's my favorite track off the joint called Gazillion Ear

In the words of Drake

At the end of every damn song..."I don't know what to say" or some sort of variant of expression for a lack of words. It's the same old same old. I'm just lacking a track ball, no big deal. Its been a great weekend though. Partied with old friends, Partied with new friends and slept like no one's business. Also approaching the last week of work. Sad so that's all I'm going to say about that.

I really have NOTHING I wanna share for the time being. RIP Baatin of Slum Village. First Dilla now this? smh...

So I'll just leave off with my fav Slum Village song. owww

selfish - slum village

Song of the Week!

I think if I do something like a song of the week it will keep me updating my blog...at least on a weekly basis

So here is my pick for song of the week!

5 Things I Hate About You

Not necessarily YOU my lovely and loyal reader. But this is rather the 5 major turn-offs for me of the opposite sex

5. Bird

Nothing worse than a female that feels that speaking with her mouth isn't enough so she reinforces it with superfluous hand and neck movements as well as the clicking noise...that damn clicking noise

4. Absurd colored hair

Because blue belongs on Smurfs

3. Girls attracted to dudes not doing anything with themselves

Some girls just like LOW-LIFE niggas. They go on to get pregnant by aforementioned male as he simultaneously leaves her to fend for herself. She then goes on to raise a child who is gonna eventually (and sadly) end up not doing anything with themself

2. Colored contacts

Because these chicks aren't happy with the eyes God gave to African American women. We are BLACK...we don't have grey, blue, hazel eyes. It just shows me the girl aint confident in who she is and fake at face value

1. Smoking

Ya'll know I love Alicia Keys right? But if I ever saw her smoking a cig I would literally cry. This is the absolute turn off. I remember a time I was approacing a chick to put those SMOOTH moves you all know me for :-) on her. As i got within 10 steps she pulled out a bone and lit it. I did an ill 180. She might have even taken it out to KEEP me from talking to her, a defense mechanism of sorts. But that's one force field I would never attempt to cross. Store clerks should be banned from selling cigs to beautiful women. A law should be passed...

R.I.P. - Rest in Publicity

Dave Chappelle had a joke on one of his comedy shows [For What it's Worth] saying that whenever there's turmoil in the world, something happens in regards to Michael Jackson. There are a million things going on in the world right now such as Iran, the economy (bail-out and such) and the war, but the news has been flooded with Michael Jackson news to distract the masses from the real things at hand. But that's not what this is about completely.

When The King of Pop first passed, all the coverage on him was virtually all positive. We didn't know how he died we just knew that he died, and FAR too soon. We were in a state of mourning and confusion (some of us still are I know I am) so I guess the news showed some respect and just honored Jackson's memory. But as time went on and the anxiousness for the coroner and autopsy report grew, the reports on "Jacko" as they still maliciously call him, grew increasingly negative. I thought tabloids would even show some respect but that was clearly naive of me. Reports started delving into Mike's prescription drug addiction, the real parents of his children, Bill O'Reilly SCOFFIN about him not being a black icon and of course the mystery of the disappearing melanin.

It got sickening. I usually understand where these people come from with their hateful messages. But how could you bad mouth Michael Jackson in death nonetheless? Yea he was on pills but that's our fault. And I say our because we've all made MJ jokes about his skin or court cases or his pet monkey Bubbles. Yea there's something weird about his kids being white as snow seeing as how the K.O.P. has that Negro DNA. And as far as Mike not being a black icon...I have no words. If he isnt a black icon I dont know who is. He donated tons of money to the Negro College Fund and various other African American oriented charities. So what he messed with white girls. What rich black man doesnt love the White Womenzz (As my room mate puts it). As a child he was told the features attributed to his African decent were ugly. That kinda stuff can severely FUCK up someone's perspective of reality. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is that usually when the media attacks someone after they die, I'm not surprised. But this is above all that I've seen. M.J. was the biggest superstar the world has ever seen. He touched and changed people's lives. Made grown men faint.

There are certain people that are off limits to scrutiny especially after death I feel. I tried to understand like was it because he was black, was it because he was misunderstood or was it just because the media is just that low? But it's not about that I see. I think it's because we always feed into this shit. Because we'd rather NOT know what's REALLY going on in the world. How other people in Iran can tell you the last 5 US presidents and I MYSELF PERSONALLY can't tell you the last two presidents of Iran. We are always are concerned with what people we don't know are doing. People that don't know us. But when it comes to things that actually matter, we're deaf and blind. I don't fault any one because I'm guilty of it too. And when the news is negative our mouths salivate. And it may not be YOU per se` but there are a good number of people who do. And because of this, this cycle will continue. It honestly makes me EXTREMELY upset to see stuff like this no matter who it is. It's low to attack someone when there's no way for them to defend themself. But one thing I learned in Bus 110 is that if there's a market for it, it will be produced. So until we grow up and stop requesting this shit, these type of things wont stop. It hit home when they did it to Mike and kind of opened my eyes. And a star as big as Mike will never Rest in Peace. They even saying they seen his damn ghost! What part of the game is that? Let's just remember him in the ways he entertained us, not "entertained" us...you get me?
In regards to his memory we should be Commemorative, not Speculative

Definition of a Random Post

Weather = Raining

Been nice for the most part here and I heard NY weather is bangin. Long overdue. I know what you're thinking, (I wish I did though) and no this is NOT my N.O. recap post. Just sitting in the hotel waiting to go to a Cookout. Ya'll can check out the vid on facebook how big we doin' it [Insert Jadakiss laugh]

I honestly just wanted to post some songs that mean a lot to me/Songs I can't live without. Little description on the song right under the vid of course. As time goes on, in this blog you'll see I'm going to post a song every post or at least every other post. Because music is an every day thing to me and I like to think of this blog as a representation of the kid. Soooo heeerrree wweee goooo


Nas - Nas is Like

Nas Is Like - Nas

From the first opening of the snare to the last echo of the hook, this is bar for bar my favorite Nas song. "Freedom or jail a clips inserted/ A baby's being born the same time my man is murdered/ The beginning and end" He.Is.The.GOAT.



Jay-Z - Dead Presidents II



One of my favorite Jay songs as well as one of my closest friends favorite all time song. We used to sing it word for word waaayyy back in the day


Mos Def - Umi Says


This song always moves me! And seein it live was even crazier


Common - I Used to love H.E.R.


One of the BEST Hip Hop songs of all time. Might be the best to be honest. And Common is the MAN live

Michael Jackson - Remember the Time


Remember The Time - Michael Jackson

Need I say more? My favorite song from the GOAT. Rest in Peace

Joe Budden - All of Me


Probably the most underrated rappers of all time. This is one of my favorite songs ever. The dude envokes soo much emotion and paints the picture so vivid. I feel sorry for everyone that knows him only as "The Pump it Up dude"


Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock


Haha...my favorite rock song ever! I love the Pumpkins and if u seen me on Guitar Hero 3 you know I used to MURDER this song. Then Rock Band killed the drums. Everything from the distortion to the build up is crazy to me! The song is about the music industry watering down music to make it more radio/TV friendly. My how history repeats itself


Lauryn Hill - Miseducation of Lauryn Hill


THE BEST R&B song from one of the greatest to ever do it. I hate talking about Lauryn because it's so sad what happened to her and her career. But the day she's back full fledged I'll be in the front of the line


Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees


Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands. This vid is from 93 and theyre still making [GREAT] music in 2009. The song is about consumerism and people being fake...like plastic copies of what they should be


Incubus - Warning


Warning - Incubus
I remember watching this video on MTV randomly like these Dudes are OD weird. Years later I became a big fan of them. Do as they say on the song. Dont let life pass you by


Kanye West - The Glory


Not my favorite Ye song but it's up there. I was hard pressed to find an absolute Kanye song I can call my favorite but this will do

I'll holla

Nahliinzzzzz

Yo folk

I'm going to New Orleans, The Big Easy ( I think they call it that *shrugs*), the Fie Oh Foh! etc etc

So I probably won't post unless something real ILL happens. I'm going down there with money a positive attitude, fly clothes and that good ol' Brooklyn Swag and I'm trying to fill the ambiance with it smell me? So pray for me all around, safe flight safe trip and have faith in God that I'll make it back in one piece. I'ma leave ya'll with a bangin song by some old Desert Storm Artists, Ransom, Hitchcock, Fabolous and Joe Budden. I rediscovered it on Mission: iPod Salvation after the Great Wipeout of 09.

But yea....I'll Holla!

Hi Bestest!

The Autopsy of Death of Autotune

After average Jay song after average Jay song, I remember thinking "Wow...Blueprint 3 is gonna SUCK." But then one night chillin at my man Verdie crib wit the usual suspects (G-Money) we get the call about Flex bombin a new Jay joint crazy. So we listen but couldnt really here it over Flex and Mr C incessant dickriding. So I listened to it another day thought it was cool but was still like eh...Jay needs to step it up.

But after further listening to this song I can acknowledge its genius. At first listen it's like Okay I get it old man, you're mad at the autotune and who blames you. But listen to what he's saying and more importantly HOW he's saying it. There's no crazy lyrical word play. Nigga is TELLING you what it is. Yall niggas is carbon copies! Lines like

This is anti-autotune, death of the ringtone

No lyin, your niggas’ jeans too tight
Your colors too bright, your voice too light.

And my favorite line of the year maybe next to Ross' "Snakes slither then they coil"

I don’t be in the project hallway
Talkin’ bout how I be in the project all day
That sounds stupid to me,

He just tellin niggas what it is! The message is THIS IS NOT HIP HOP! It's not a song the shit is a TESTIMONY Straight from the pough! Had Jay been...well, Jay, this song would have gone over people's heads. Had he personified auto-tune as a person or something people woulda said this is wack tell that old ass nigga to shut up. But the reasons why people dislike the song (the uncanny time signature of the flow, lack of wordplay, weird anti-mainstream beat) are what make this song what it is. This is Jay's statement that hip-hop needs change. And he's not going about it in a conventional way. I'm gonna ride this wave. Blueprint 3 still may be wack but I'm interested in what the second best rapper of all time has to say

And for the record...Nas said this 3 years ago on Hip Hop is Dead...ha ha the G.O.A.T.

PS: My take on the cutting of the hair...He trying to say yea I been gone for a minute, lookin scruffy, let yall do yall thing but now It's go time. Take off the blazer, loosen up the tie, step inside the booth, Superman is ALIVE!

Rest in Peace to the King of Pop

They can say all the bad things in the world about the man we know as Michael Jackson but you can't deny his impact on music. What grown man do you know can make other grown men faint when he comes on a stage? The man was an icon and I could sit here and type AALLLL day about the impact he's made on music and the world itself. As I watch the video for Bad (shot at Hoyt and Schermerhorn Brooklyn owww) and listen to his Jackson 5 songs on the radio, it's setting in that Michael Jackson has passed. Like we're all thinking, MJ can't die! That's impossible. So unexpected, sudden which only adds to the sadness of the situation. I'm honestly speechless and writing this post is hard. Not because I'm speechless but because I grew up listening to this man EVERY DAY! In pre-school we did a Thriller play then I came home to Jackson 5 songs and the Thriller album. One of my favorite videos of all time is Do You Remember the Time because as a kid I knew all the steps and dialogue in the video.

Michael Jackson. That's one name you can say on Mars and someone would know who the hell you were talking about. A man we never knew personally moved us all in unexplainable and immeasureable ways. You would be hard pressed to find a star bigger than him. I can't say any more about this man. I can say "The Greatest Performer, Artist, Musician of all Time" until my fingers fall off...but it still wouldnt be Enough. Here is the Thriller video for yall.


Thriller - Michael Jackson

Rest in Peace to the G.O.A.T. - Michael Jackson

Film

New Nas song called Film...how can any one say this man is not the Greatest Of All Time...the GOAT!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/6169688265e86255/

But it's crazy how powerful Film is. The age we live in, we can see images and videos from across the world in almost real time. Two days I saw a film of a girl in Iran being shot by the opposition fighters. I think they're called the Basji, they're hired by the government, wear plain clothes but have weapons and the right to basically oppose any opposition going on. Their task was to quell the recent uprisings of citizens in reaction to the election where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won. Apparently this girl was protesting and was gunned down. One bullet to the heart. I saw the video and it was honestly the hardest thing to watch. Harder than 2 girls 1 cup, pain olympics, any thing I've ever seen. Cuz that shit dont happen like it does in the movies. It was crazy...I aint gonna post the video but below is a link to the story. Read and Learn about what's going on in this world. The crazy part about it all is that even though people are being killed they are still out there protesting. Still showing us films of their struggle via mobile phones, facebook, twitter (its still wack) Being threatened with death, imprisonment etc and they're still marching. Looking back at our 2000 Election, we kinda took the fact that our country was stolen from us kind of lightly. Little internet article here, book there, Michael Moore movie here and there. But these people are ready to die for their's. Respectable to say the least. We could learn something from them but then again we're American, our way or the high way...right?...Right

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6561253.ece

Link has the video. I couldnt even be on the page for too long.

"Lifestyles of the Young, Black and Wreckless"

"A generation of niggas strapped and askin questions like tell me Why I aint got shit?"

I been talkin about this kid J. Cole for a minute now. He's Jay's first artist signed to Roc Nation and he's REALLY talented. He produces a lot of his own stuff. He got a great story behind him. From NC but went to St. Johns. Only came to NY to persue his dream. Kid is lyrically inclined. I'm really looking forward to hearing his CD because his first two mixtapes are pretty flawless. Here's a few songs just to introduce dude to you.

Throw It Up - J. Cole

Illmatic - Track One

I know...I'm a hypocrite.

But for a long time I been thinking where can I, mild-mannered Jelani Brooks, display the thoughts that make me who I am? The thoughts I think everyone should and should NOT have access to. Because over the last year I've seen incredible growth and change in not only myself, but my friends, family and community. That growth is the Inspiration of this blog.

"Not saying I'm going to change the world, but I'm going to spark the mind that changes the world." - Tupac

And I'm not going to be one of those Hip, trendy, cool fashionistas pretending to be all up in the mix you know. I'm only going to speak on what I Know (How to be cooler than a pola bear's toe nails), Like (the female gender), Hate (Rain) and Love (Money). I can only speak for me, Jelani, Lani, Ace, Brooks, Jelly, Ugster or any other variation of the being that is JELANI T. BROOKS.

So with that said, I now have something else to occupy my time, keep me from doing things that matter in the grand scheme of things, and hopefully keep YOU, the appreciated Reader Thinking, Growing and Entertained.

You were personally invited to this world and this is an exclusive club for the time being. So keep it that way until further notice. It's a secret society, all we ask is trust!

Now that I'm done scoffin...WHATS GOOOOOOOOOODDD!!!!