The Things We Learned in 2008

2008 was an interesting year. We learned that CNN can be fun, OJ should’ve left the country, Beyonce is unstoppable, the “A Milli” beat is a musical cure-all, Some athletes hate money (Plaxico, Pacman), Tyler Perry can bring Hollywood to the hood (Greenbriar Stand Up), The Wire will be missed, Erykah Badu’s album was the truth—so was Lupe’s, Sarah Palin may not be smarter than a 5th grader, the Olympics should’ve been renamed the Bolt and Phelps Show, R. Kelly maybe Irish (lucky bastard), and gas can be too expensive(4.25 per gallon) and affordable(1.59 per gallon) in the same year! Here are a few other things that we learned in 2008.

A Black Man Can Become the Most Powerful Person on the Planet

An Oscar-winning screenwriter couldn’t have written a better a script. A young mixed race kid is born to a single mother and raised mostly by his white grandparents in an apartment in Hawaii. The kid dabbles into drugs and alcohol to fit in as a teen. He cleans up his act, attends Columbia, Harvard and moves to the Chi-Town where he meets a woman named Michelle. They get married, have kids, he practices law, and eventually gets into politics. He losses to Bobby Rush in 2000, but is elected to US Senate in 2004. Announces run for presidency and dodges Rev. Wright controversy, defeats Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Sarah Palin. November 4th happens….Can’t wait to see the movie!



Keyshia Cole’s Reality Show is Television Crack


I didn’t want to watch it. I tried my best to stay away. But it caught me one fateful night as I was searching through the channels. Neffe was hollering at anyone near as tears were running down her chap lips. Frankie was yelling, eating Popeye’s chicken, showing off her 20-year-old boyfriend and saying, “HOLLER!” Keyshia was busting guns, working out in skimpy outfits, and always seemed as if she was on the verge of cussing out her sister or mother. Before I knew it, I was hooked. The more I watched Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is, the more I felt like Pookie in that scene in New Jack City when he gets back on the crack pipe. I must now rehab by watching 12 straight hours of CNN and C-Span.

Real Gangstas and Thugs Don’t Make Music, They Work on Wall Street


Rick Ross never sold drugs (once a correctional officer) and Plies is not a goon(attended the University of South Florida). However, there are a few greedy white men in business suits who managed to pull a drive by on the nation’s financial stability. But it wasn’t over after the jack move was exposed. The government decided to bail those same crooks out by giving them billions of taxpayer’s dollars so that there companies (auto industry, banks, and mortgage firms) could stay afloat. Isn’t that a form of welfare? However, average citizens are losing their jobs everyday and still forced to pay their mortgages, school loans or car payments with little or no assistance from our good ole government. Maybe I should become a Wall Street G in 2009.


Riding Marta Can Be Dangerous…Or Entertaining

For all of my people who grew up in the A, the Marta “Soljah” Girl was nothing new. I’ve seen fights, a tongue-less preacher, an impersonator who dressed up as James Brown and danced, a guy who thought he played for the Atlanta Braves, and I’ve heard of people who’ve had sexual encounters on trains and in the train stations. So when the nation got a chance to see the Marta “Soljah” Girl do her thing via You Tube, I wasn’t too surprised. But this time, it just happened to be caught on camera. It was hands down the best viral video of 2008.

Auto Tune Must Be Destroyed!


It was cool when T-Pain reached into the Roger Troutman and Teddy Riley bag of music making by using auto-tune a few years back. But then he showed his new toy to his friends. Before we knew it, Lil Wayne, P. Diddy, and newcomers like Ron Browz decided to use the voice enhancing system. But when Kanye released 808’s, I figured it was time for engineers across the world to destroy auto-tune. Kudo’s to West for taking a chance as an artist, but the entire album sounded as if he was singing in the fan. In 5 years, auto-tune will be like Puffy’s shinny suits in the late-`90s. We all will be saying, “What the hell were they thinking?”

Happy New Year! I Wonder What Will Edutain Us in 2009...

Polow Da Don and Keri Hilson Shows Luv in Zone 4

Allen Iverson: The Epitome of Unthankfulness

Allen Iverson just doesn’t get it. And at the age of 33, it’s a good chance that he never will. One day after Iverson and the Detroit Pistons defeated the New York Knicks, Pistons’ coach Michael Curry called a one hour team practice on Thanksgiving morning.
Iverson failed to call the team or show up for the practice.
It is true that most NBA teams give their players Thanksgiving off unless a game is scheduled. But coach Curry felt that the Pistons needed more work to build team chemistry. Apparently, A.I. didn’t. He chose to show how ungrateful he is on a day when most of the nation has given thanks for their blessings.
With a salary that pays him over 20 million dollars, Iverson has received more than enough blessings. He gets paid a lot of money to do what he loves and only has to work 9 months out of the year. So one hour of basketball practice should not be seen as a chore.
There are millions of people who had to work on Thanksgiving. I’m sure that there are a few who had to wake up at the crack of dawn and catch the bus in the cold in order to work a 12-hour shift. And there are also people who would DO ALMOST ANYTHING for the opportunity to work on Thanksgiving. This week, I covered turkey drives done by Polow Da Don and Akon. I spoke to one single-mother who had just received a turkey and can goods from Akon. She and her daughter were well-dressed and didn’t have the appearance of a family that was experiencing economic hardship. But she told me that she hadn’t worked since June and was struggling to take care of herself and daughter.
So when I hear that Allen Iverson doesn’t want to throw a ball in a basket for 60 minutes on Thanksgiving, I can’t have any sympathy or respect for him. I don’t want to say “what’s up” or even shake his hand. He’s less than a man on this day. Be thankful if you are working. Be thankful that you are getting paid. Be thankful if you have the opportunity to do what you love to do. There are so many people who are struggling on this day and who will struggle tomorrow. It’s too bad that superior talent can’t make up for selfishness.

Jamie Foxx feat. T.I. "Just Like Me"

T.I. Testifies in Murder Trial

Jadakiss feat. Jay-Z "WHO RUN THIS"

Jada remains one of the hardest spitters in the game.

Kanye West and T-Pain "Go Hard"

Auto-tune on steriods! This is kinda hot, but I'm still waiting on the day when auto-tune becomes obsolete.

Barack Obama's Inspiration: Ann Nixon Cooper

I shot this video a few weeks prior to the election. Barack Obama mentioned Ann Nixon Cooper in his acceptance speech. She's 106 years old and was proud to vote for the first black president.

R.I.P. Shakir Stewart

I met Shakir Stewart back in 2005 during my first year at ro. Shakir was working as an A&R at Def Jam and was on the verge of breaking Young Jeezy after the Trap or Die mixtape. I interviewed Shakir and he talked about how he grew up in the Bay Area and the opportunities that he saw in Atlanta after moving to the city to attend Morehouse. He also discussed working odd jobs and paying his dues to make a name for himself in the music industry. He seemed to have a thirst to achieve and I wasn’t surprised when I heard that he was taking over Jay-Z’s old job as the VP of Def Jam a few months back. In a matter of time, I could see dude as the next powerful mogul in hip-hop.
So when I heard of his death that occured Saturday afternoon, I was extremely shocked. According to Atlanta Police, Shakir died of a self-inflicted wound. More should be made known about the case, but Shakir didn’t come off as a guy who would do this to himself. At the same time, I’m not sure what he was going through personally. I hope that his family will be able to discover more answers soon. Shakir will be sorely missed in the music industry and by all who knew him.

Lil Wayne Likes to Get Arrested

LeBron James Proposes Without a Ring!

Nike continues to leave the comp in the dust when it comes to advertising..

Beyonce on That Blue Magic?

"She Wants That Old Thing Back"....On the real, B takes it to the limit for next movie role

Serena Williams Takes it Off!?

Dupe Dealers: Why Rappers Really Lie

"I never tried to hide my past! I put my name inside all my CDs. My company has my SS #. I could've put a company name...I done been up and I done been down and that's what make me who I am. I never ratted on a nigga! I never prosecuted a nigga! I never locked up a nigga that is first and foremost. I always felt that me being the nigga I am, I never owed a nigga an explanation. When I'm making my music and I'm talking about blow, it's because I did it. When I say that I'm rich off of cocaine, it's because I did it. Those are the street principles that apply." -- Rick Ross

Rick Ross did a little back pedaling a few days ago when he finally admitted to being a correctional officer after first denying it. The Miami rapper has since been ridiculed by several news outlets and blogsites for telling an untruth about his past. However, the story of Rick’s deceit really has nothing to do with him. Like a lot of us, he fell victim to a high. I think Rick James put it best when he said, “Cocaine is a hell of a drug.”
A few years after I was born [1980], President Ronald Reagan and his homeboy Oliver North decided that it would be a cool idea to support a rebel group that would overthrow Nicaragua’s communist government—because we all know that Communism is evil. Known as the Contras, the rebel group eventually ran out of funding. So to pick up the tab, North and CIA operatives allowed tons of cocaine to enter to the US. Most of the cocaine somehow found its way to some of the poorest neighborhoods in America.
Foreign drug distributors sought black males from the ages of 16 to 30 who were intelligent and held a large amount of influence in their neighborhoods. The distributors gave the young men power to open up drug franchises in their communities. Like McDonald’s, there was usually one guy or group that supplied cocaine to other dealers in certain sections of a city. All of sudden, young black millionaires were being created from the sell of cocaine. People like Fat Cat from New York, the real Rick Ross in LA, and the Miami Boys in Miami and Atlanta.
Around the same time, rap was just becoming a respectable form of music. Although rap started as great party music, rappers began to tell stories of the dealers and users that were gripping the inner cities of America. There were eloquent examinations of drug dealing on songs like P.E.’s “Night of the Living Basehead,” NWA’s “Dopeman” and, my favorite, KRS-One’s “Love’s Gonna Get’cha.” Biggie, Jay-Z, and Scarface also told prolific stories of the highs and inescapable lows of the drug business. But by the mid-1990’s, the rap industry hit the crack pipe--literally. Records about crack deals sold, and most of us bought them. The record labels caught on and wanted to continue to sell what the public was buying. Before we knew it, almost every rapper who released a record had a dope tale or two, or three. While rap was once a way for dudes to examine the affects of crack, it suddenly became an endorsement for it. We no longer heard the perils of drug dealing. It became about achieving the American dream through the sell of kilos of cocaine.
So a guy like Rick Ross [the rapper] comes along. He grows up in Dade County and is likely a product of the hood. But he is able to make a few good decisions and earns a football scholarship to Albany State University. However, he gets injured and soon returns home. But he doesn’t go into the streets; he works an honest job as a CO that pays him $23,000 a year. He eventually hooks up with Slip
N Slide records and pursues a rap career. After years on the label, he breaks through with “Hustlin.” Ross builds a new persona and suddenly becomes the second coming of Tony Montana—in order to sell records. He became addicted to the high of selling the life and times of a D-boy. But he never lived that life and I seriously doubt if he “made a couple million dollars last year dealing weight.”
The sad part is that rappers such as Ross, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, T.I.[who seems to be maturing], Fat Joe, and The Clipse couldn’t sell you a Kilo of cocaine even if you offered them three times the market value. But they are allowed to promote drug dealing as a viable occupation. The dope man lies need to stop. Youngsters are growing listening to rap and believing in a dead end game. I think it’s about time that rappers put the pipe down.

Being Broke in a Relationship! "Whatever You Like"

This has been out for a minute, but Lil Duval shows what its like to date while broke.

Q-Tip "Move It"

Q-Tip channels MJ's classic "Rock With You" video.

T.I. and Jay-Z Live in NYC

Have Black Women Given Up On Black Men?

A few days ago, I took a female friend to the movies to see “Righteous Kill.” At first, she suggested that we see “The Family That Preys” by Tyler Perry. I adamantly disapproved of paying to spend two hours of my life watching a Tyler Perry film—on purpose. I applaud Perry for kicking ass in Hollywood and experiencing success on his own terms, but his movies are often predictable and feature one-dimensional characters. But that’s beside the point. After I told my friend that I didn’t care to see “The Family..,” she jokingly said, “That’s why I’m about to start dating white men, they wouldn’t mind seeing a Tyler Perry movie with me.” It was a pretty funny come back, but I wondered if a large number of black women were really considering dating white men.
However, I have a feeling that a lot of black women are considering interracial relationships due to the media’s perception of black men. If you relied on the media to tell you who black men were, you would think that all black men were jobless, criminals, irresponsible, weed smokers, cheaters, uneducated, or gay. In turn, many black women have bought into the notion that there is a shortage of good black men.
I understand what a lot of black women are going through when it comes to dating black men. I have sisters, close female friends, and I have dated black women who have discussed their issues regarding black men who have mistreated them. But what I see in a lot of cases are black women who choose to date losers. They may become involved with a guy because of status, looks, or even sex. What they fail to realize is that just because a guy has status, looks, or good sex, it doesn’t mean that his behavior or habits aren’t destructive. But black women have an innate desire to want to heal their men. And what I usually find is that women will continue to date guys with bad habits because they believe that they can change them.
However, there isn’t one woman on earth who can change a man’s behavior. I’m not saying that we can’t turn our lives around and be good family men as we get older, but that only occurs when WE decide it’s the right thing to do. So many black women continue to date the same type of guy over and over. And when they get the same hurtful results, they become frustrated at BLACK MEN—not the TYPE of men who they are dating. It’s easy to say, “I’m tired of black men, it’s time for me to date a white guy.” But I think that is myopic thinking. Because just like there are black guys who have destructive behaviors, there are white guys who have destructive behaviors also. I don’t want black women to think that dating any ole white guy will change their life. I want them to understand that dating a man with values, respect, and integrity—whether he’s black, white, Indian, Arabian, Italian or Asian, will allow them to be at peace with who they are with.

Those are my thoughts, but is it time for black men to press the panic button? Are black women fed up?

As you ponder, here are a few other notable black women who are feeling the Fever:

Eve


Kelly Rowland

Q-Tip "Gettin Up"

It's good to see Q-Tip back in the hip-hop game. He kinda lost me with that "Vibrant Thing" ish, but he takes it back to the vintage Tribe sound with this new cut. Enjoy.

N.E.R.D feat Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco "Everybody Nose"

Sarah Palin's Daughter's REAL Baby Daddy!?

Is this kid looking for free pub, or is this a legit story. Check it out for yourself.

Rednecks For Obama!

I shot this video when I was in Denver for the DNC. I figured that I would come across people from all walks of life, but I never expected to meet full blooded Rednecks who were in support of Obama. As funny as this video is, it proves again that we are witnessing history in the making.

Why Palin Shouldn’t Make You Panic

A few supporters of Barack Obama began to quiver after John McCain selected Sarah Palin to be his running mate. A major defection by angry old Democratic women who supported Hilary Clinton seemed very likely. Politricks is an emotional sport, and John McCain did his best to tug at the emotions of women who would love to see a female in such a powerful position. However, McCain may have reacted prematurely. Here are a few reasons why:

1) Small Timer-I’m not saying that greatness can’t come from small places, but picking Palin for Vice President is kind of like hiring a mayor of a city to be veep. Alaska’s population is just over 700,000. So that means she was in charge of a state that has a few more people than cities such as Austin, Memphis, or Baltimore. And the problems that occur in Alaska can’t compare to the drama that takes place in the M-Town and in B-More. Good luck with taking over the entire United Sates if McCain is no longer available.

2) Family Values-The Republican Party has always pushed the importance of family values. In fact, Palin has pushed for abstinence only programs and disagrees with sex education in schools. When one of the most important leaders of the party has a teenage daughter that’s pregnant, it’s really not a good look. Sure, every family has its own problems and it does humanize Palin. But how can a potential President guide a country if she or he can’t guide their own family correctly?

3) Corruption?-Palin is being investigated on whether she fired a state employee who refused to fire a trooper who divorced her sister. If she’s found guilty, that could really pose a problem for McCain. It also questions her emotional stability and her ethics.

4) Geraldine Ferraro-In 1984, Walter Mondale decided that he wanted to make a political splash by selecting a woman to be his veep. Women across America were ecstatic of the choice—at first. However, like old Pepsi, the Ferraro fiasco fizzled out and led to 8 more years of Republican power.

The honey moon may last for a few weeks, but I predict that Palin’s star will soon fall. She has no substance and McCain’s gamble won’t payoff. Maybe McCain should have picked Condi Rice. Although she's tainted by the Bush Admin, Condi did her thing when it came to foreign affairs. I'm sure she's more ready to lead than a lady who governs a place that is known for snow dogs and Igloos.

John Legend and Dre 3000 "Green Light"

Andre 3000 continues to prove why he could be the most prolific emcee in hip-hop with another spotlight stealing guest appearance. I just wonder what would happen if he really cared about rapping.

Obamamania! Live From the DNC

People from across America showed their support for Barack Obama by expressing themselves creatively at the DNC in Dever. Here are a few of the eye-catching sights.

Iowa resident makes good use of corn


Obama is often seen in strange places at the DNC


Did she get attacked by an American flag?



The Hooptie version of the Obamamobile


Cowgirl reps for Obama Texas style


Throw away the teddy bears, Clinton and Obama dolls are keeping kids cozy.

Denzel Washington Owns a Fast Food Restaurant!

I know this video has been out for a minute, but I have to share with my folks who haven't seen it yet. One of the funniest stand up acts that I have seen in a while.

The Most Underrated Southern Rap Albums Ever

I was scheduled to go the Ozone Awards (an awards show that honors southern hip-hop) in Houston this weekend, but I traveled to Cincinnati and then Indiana in order to cover the Bengals and Colts training camps instead. Both of the training camps are located in small towns that are miles from meaningful civilization. So during down time, the only form of entertainment that I had was the internet, cable TV, and, of course, watching the locals hit up the Golden Corral as if it was Club Visions in Atlanta, circa 2002. So to kill a few hours (which are kind of like days in a small country town), I decided to listen to a few throwback Southern rap albums. It took me back 10-12 years ago when the South was basically at the bottom (pun intended) of hip-hop when it came to respect. Sure, everyone loved OutKast, some heads were into UGK, 8Ball & MJG made noise, and (hate it or love it) Master P was getting money as if he was printing it. But there were some legit southern rap albums that were great but went unnoticed. So I decided to put together a list of the 5 most underrated southern rap albums in history. I suggest you go back and re-up.

1)MJG-No More Glory: Every now and then, an album gets you from the moment that you press play. While in the 11th grade, a friend handed me his CD player so that I could listen to the first track, “Keep Your Mind.” On the track, MJ didn’t Pimp, sell dope, kill a nucca, or brag about money. The dude rapped about everyday things like paying bills, having a bad job, misplaced desires, being stuck in a bad relationship, and the importance of remaining positive despite all of the bad things that can happen in life. I was already a big 8 Ball & MJG fan, but the way MJG dissected life on No More Glory was almost as potent as Pac’s Me Against the World. Other gems were “Shine and Recline,” “What is This,” and “Middle of the Night.”

2)The Witchdoctor- A S.W.A.T. Healin Ritual: I really believed that Organize Noize was going to sell huge a la No Limit during the late 1990s. But Rico (Wade) and ‘em couldn’t take the artists who were under their Interscope imprint (Organize Noize) to the next level. The Witchdoctor put together a masterpiece, however. From start to finish, the album is as street as Southernplayalistc.., as soulful as Soul Food, and had harmony like The Mis-Education of Lauryn Hill. If you haven’t heard this album yet, pick this up now-it’s still bumping til this day. Hot cuts include “Holiday,” “Remedy,” and “Dez Only 1.”

3) 8Ball & MJG-In Our Lifetime Vol. 1: Ball and J were bringing the heat during the `90s. 8Ball & MJG take turns giving their take on life during a rough time when they both were upset with T. Draper (CEO of Suave House) over shady business. Although the album had some banging club junts, it was very personal and likely the group’s most well-rounded album (it beats out Coming Out Hard and On Top of World when it comes to consistency). Hot junts include “Nobody But Me,” “Daylight,” and “Throw Your Hands Up” feat. Outkast.

4) Playa Fly-Fly Shit: Some of the hottest underground rappers in the 1990s came from Memphis, Tenn. TommyWright the III, Skinny Pimp, and Playa Fly were local stars that put out some interesting music. In 1998, Playa Fly dropped an underground classic with Fly Shit. I remember listening to it for the first time in my homeboy’s car and loving how cheap and hood the songs were. It sounded as if the songs were made in a basement. But that cheap sound blended perfectly with Fly’s rugged voice. My favorite song was “Crownin’ Me.” As I type, that’s still one of the hardest hip-hop songs ever made. Check out, “Havin Things,” “Work to Do,” and “Nappy Hair Gold Teeth.”

5. Devin The Dude-Self titled: I couldn’t have a list about southern rap without adding Houston. UGK’s Riding Dirty was going to be a choice, but that album got a lot of respect from hip-hop heads across the nation as the years went on(thanks to "Big Pimping"). So Devin The Dude’s self-titled classic debut makes the cut. Devin’s silky flow and hilarious take on Texas life allowed listeners to laugh, think, and mellow out. Always clever, Devin did his thing on the tracks, “Write and Wrong,” “Alright,” and “One Day at a Time.”

Bonus: Bun B’s "You're Everything"

The Best Back to School Shoes of All-Time

In about a week or two, youngstas from across the nation will be forced to kiss their summers goodbye as the 2008-09 school year begins. As the big yellow buses prepare to clog up morning traffic and the youngins get their new outfits together, I can’t help but to remember how it felt to get ready for the first day of school. Let’s be honest, we all treated the first day of school as if it was a fashion show. Everybody would be checking each other out and doing their best to make an impression of their own. And the best way to make an impression was to have some fly shoes and clothes. Because in middle and high school, being fresh to def was everything-and to some, it was the only thing.
Now there were two ways that you could approach the first day of school.
1) You could wear your “new” clothes on the first day and week to establish a fresh new look.
2) Or, you could reserve all of your new gear for the first three weeks and come fresh during the second month when everyone else's new clothes had become "old."

Either way, the first day of school is the Oscars or Grammy Awards for teenagers. To pay homage to the good old days, I decided to give my list of the top back to school shoes of all-time (really just my era).

Cortez Nikes A.K.A Dope Man Nikes or Eazy E Nikes

Created in the 1970’s, these shoes made a comeback in 1991. They were pretty cheap (about $39 in 1990) and could be worn with almost anything. But Cortez Nikes were made for leisure. If you did alot of running or jumping, they would fall apart in about three weeks.

Huarache Nikes

Around 1992, the Huarche Nikes were all about flash. Because of the elaborate colors, you really had to think about what you were going to wear with them. But most of the times, the color schemes didn’t deter those who owned them. I mean they were $90 shoes, so who really cared if you rocked teal and yellow shoes with a red and gold t-shirt?

Nike Air Max and AF1’s

When I was a teenager, it seemed as if everyone who I knew owned a pair of Air Max or Air Force One’s. I have to admit, Nike had a Monopoly on street wear during the
‘80s and ‘90s.

Stan Smith Adidas

Adidas made a little noise with their Kobe shoe in 1996 and their Street Ball shoe line, but the Stan Smith and Shell Toes have stood the test of time. The Stan Smith was a cool back to school shoe that was subtle and respectable.

New Balance

In the late-1990’s, New Balance became an alternative to those who wanted to go opposite of the Nike takeover. They came in various colors and (like Cortez Nikes) they could be rocked with almost any outfit.

Honorable Mention: Timberlands, Reebok Classics, Hi Tek Boots, Nike Air Flights, Chuck Taylors. If I missed any shoes, please feel free to put me up on game.

P.S. Of course, Air Jordans ruled every year.

Young Jeezy feat. Kayne West "Put On" (Video)

Jeezy and Kayne bring the heat on one of the hottest songs of the summer. Check it Out.

Sex at the Workplace

Dating a person at the place where you work can be a job within itself. So if you find yourself attracted to a co-worker and you’re thinking of crossing that line, you might want to take the time to examine what can be gained or lost from delving into a relationship with someone at your J-O-B.

The Advantages:

More Time Together-If you make the decision to get involved with a co-worker, you now have ample time to see who they are on a daily basis. A person can only hide themselves for so long. Lunch dates and conversations during coffee breaks will help you to find out if this person really is the “one.”

Easy Access-Maybe you’re in need of midday love or a quick massage to ease the stress that can occur during the workday. There’s no need to wait until after dinner, your partner is there (even if it’s only for a few minutes) to handle those duties.

Employment Factor-If you’re involved with a person at your job, it’s good to know that she/he has a job. You know that they have their own money and unless there is an extreme circumstance (overdue child support, bad drug habit, etc), they can’t claim to be broke every week.

Disadvantages:

Too Close for Comfort- Now that you have gotten with your attractive co-worker, you suddenly realize that they are everywhere. You see them first thing in the morning, you hangout with them for lunch everyday, you chat with them during a snack break. And if you have the audacity to move in with this person, you will also have to see their face and hear their mouth when you get home. Let’s just hope that you really love this person because too much quality time can be a punishment.

Gossip-Try not to make the mistake of dating more than two people at your job. The office does talk and everyone will be in your business. The slight stares and snickers that you hear whenever you walk by a group of co-workers can make it very uneasy.

If it All Falls Apart- What happens when the romance disappears and you just can’t stand the person anymore? Well, you can’t just ignore their calls because they know where you work and have the ability to be in your face everyday. And if someone gets hurt, things can get really dramatic (flattened tires, arguments in the office, more bad gossip, etc). No one wants to deal with a frustrated ex at the place where they collect their paychecks.

Lil Wayne Outdone? Obama A Milli Remix

Have The Obamas become America’s Truth Serum?

So I’m searching through different websites this morning and I run across the latest cover of The New Yorker. For those who are unfamiliar with the publication, it’s has been around since 1925 and is known for its political commentary and satire. It’s also well respected around the nation. So when I saw the cartoon of Barack Obama dressed in Islamic garb while fist-bumping his wife Michelle who has an afro and machine gun, I smiled on the inside. In no way was the picture funny, but the fact that those thoughts were allowed to be depicted was amusing. The cartoonist, publisher, and editor of The New Yorker showed the world who they really are. And it’s wonderful. In today’s America, there are a lot of individuals who will claim that racism is dead. Some believe that the views which were common in the 1950s no longer exist. The mention of racism has become so taboo that minorities are often criticized for overusing the race card. I could take the time to point out racial disparities in victims of crime, health care, imprisonment, education attainment, and employment to prove that a level of racism is still prevalent. But it’s even sweeter when a nationally respected magazine is dumb enough to blatantly say something that many racists and uninformed people are thinking to themselves. In an attempt to cover their exposed asses, The New Yorker admitted that the picture was supposed to reflect the hate and ridicule that the Obamas have to endure. But when a joke has to be explained, the punch line is lost. However, it wasn't a joke. It was their truth and it's how they really see things at The New Yorker. The picture ends up perpetuating ugly stereotypes and it furthers doubts amongst people who have questioned what the Obamas stand for. I wonder if the The New Yorker would have attempted to use their Crayons to draw George Bush or John McCain in KKK outfits holding nooses while their wives were depicted as toothless prostitutes. I guess we will never find out.

Some Real News About Fox and The Evil Empire

It’s always good to understand what you are representing before you assume it to be acceptable. I’m sure over 90 % of the people who are taking the time to read this blog have a MySpace page (including me). Although it’s becoming a little played out, for a while it was the hottest way to reconnect with old friends, hit up groupies, or push a product to a mass audience. The networking site has made stars in a matter of months (Soulja Boy used the site to create a fan base and it eventually turned the youngster into a 17-year-old millionaire). But MySpace is owned by a company called News Corp. which is ran by a shrewd little guy from Australia named Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch is a billionaire who also publishes 175 newspapers, owns Twentieth Century Fox Studio, Fox Network and the infamous Fox News. The dude handles his business, but he also has an evil agenda that only grows as he gets more money.

Here are a few things you should know about Murdoch:

Murdoch gave "his full backing to the war, praising George Bush as acting 'morally' and 'correctly' and describing Tony Blair as 'full of guts'" for his support of the war. Murdoch said just before the war, "We can't back down now – I think Bush is acting very morally, very correctly."

Murdoch specifically created Fox News in order to counteract CNN and what he called “Left-wing bias.” Fox News has signature shows by Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and a slew of other right-winger (republicans) hosts. Fox News is likely the most one-sided station on television. The station often praises Bush, backs the NRA, condemns democrats, they called Michelle Obama a "Baby Momma," and they played the Jeremiah Wright sermon so much that I thought that they would include it in their new fall line-up.

But Murdoch maybe on his way to the biggest bluff in his career. During an interview with Kara Swisher at the All Things Digital Conference, Murdoch praised Barack Obama and said that he may vote for him in November. However, this is not the time to become giddy. Murdoch is always playing chess and is probably positioning himself for the next takeover.

With all that said. Here is Nas and his new video for the song “Sly Fox.”

Check This Out Now! Killer Mike Feat. Ice Cube "Pressure"

In 2003, Bone Crusher, T.I., and Killer Mike collaborated on the hit single "Never Scared." The video marked the beginning of a new A-Town movement in rap. T.I., Bone Crusher, and Killer Mike were all in search of themselves and looking to build legitimate careers that year. Bone Crusher's antics reminded people of a southern version of Busta Rhyme, Killer Mike was equipped with an agressive political stance that was reminiscent of Ice Cube, and T.I. had a swag that caused many to view him as a southern version of Jay-Z. Killer Mike possesed the best lyrical prowess out of the three, but T.I. eventually ended up having the more successful career. Killer Mike has always been a better rapper than T.I., but I think his career has suffered because he hasn't balanced radio friendly hits well. However, he is an important voice in hip-hop and I hope that he's able to get to a descent point before he becomes irrelevant in the game (it happens to every rapper). His latest video "Pressure" will make you think twice about ever consuming bullshit rap again.

Just Say No to Meat: When Beef Goes Bad Part 1-Shaq vs Kobe

Do you remember the days when beefs were as exciting as the first 10 seconds of a Mike Tyson fight? You know, beefs like Jay-Z vs. Nas, Ice Cube vs. N.W.A., Oprah vs. Hip-Hop, and Michael Jackson vs. Little Boys (OK, that was pretty low-we all luv Mike, but R.Kelly-not so much). But the point is that we kind of looked forward to see who would come out on top with the best line, rebuttal, or law suite. But beef has taken a scary turn of late. Someone recently made the foolish decision of allowing Shaq to pick up a mic again (Didn’t the album Shaq Fu: Da Return teach us anything about allowing a 7-foot NBA center to rap?). Well, in a disgustingly awful freestyle, Shaq called out Kobe by saying “Last week, Kobe couldn’t do without me,” and “Kobe ratted me out. That’s why I’m getting divorced (referring to Kobe snitching on Shaq after being questioned by police a few years back).” Now this entire ordeal makes for great comedy because it continues to take on an idiotic life of its own. Apparently Shaq has been stripped of his special deputy badge by Sheriff Joe Arpaio who didn’t like the fact that Shaq said, “That’s like a white boy tryin to be more nigga than me.” So Shaq’s wack azz rap has fueled an already wack azz beef and caused him to lose his wack azz Sheriff badges. I mean for real, did Shaq really think he was going to be the next coming of T.J. Hooker because he already knows that he could never be as good as Young MC? Instead of busting freestyles about a beef that should have died when he departed for Miami a few years back, Shaq should be in someone’s gym practicing free throws or finding a way to salvage the last days of his faltering NBA career. And this is not in defense of Kobe (but a response on wax would make this even more hilarious), this is in defense of beef. I’m all for legitimate battles that are historically significant and seriously intriguing. Shaq vs. Kobe causes me to chuckle at a millionaire who apparently needs an off-season hobby.

Is Cheating Natural?

Prelude-If you’re old enough to remember the TV show "Land of the Lost," there is a good chance that you have cheated on someone, or someone has cheated on you. I wrote this piece a while back after realizing how many people were being affected by cheating. I personally believe that cheating is selfish, but I wanted to take a deeper look at it. Check out my formula and tell me what you think.-a.r.

Finding out that your partner has cheated is probably the worst thing that can happen in a relationship. It can create a tug of emotion that can cause a sane person to turn into a schizoid in a matter of seconds. The pain can essentially lead to reckless reactions and cause a person to feel hate towards the opposite sex. But before you judge the unforgivable misdeed of cheating, you might want to understand why it really occurs.
First of all, you need to understand the history of monogamy and why it has become the ideal in relationships. Monogamy is basically an Anglo-Saxon concept that originated over 10,000 years ago. But while the concept seems to favor women, it was actually used to sedate a woman’s desire to have relationships with more than one man. Women were sometimes coerced, via the chastity belt, to remain sexually committed to one man. This insured her husband that he was the father of any child that she would bare. On the other hand, monogamy did not confirm the sexual fidelity of a man. It did secure the emotional investment of a father to his offspring, however.
The innate reasons why humans cheat may boil down to the spreading and gathering of genes. According to new findings from evolutionary psychologists, cheating is almost as natural as breathing. Men posses an almost unlimited potential rate to reproduce. So those who cheat may unconsciously do so to insure that their genes are spread to future offspring. Women, however, can only reproduce once a year. As a result, a woman’s reason for cheating may differ. A woman may unconsciously cheat to ensure that her offspring carries the genes of a prototypical male. Curiosities, lack of satisfaction, and revenge are other underlying factors that may play a part in infidelity.
Although there is a natural urge for humans to seek affection outside of their relationships, social standards may cause individuals to think twice or feel regret when they cheat. Also, with the potential spread of disease, the issue of health may play
a role in a person’s decision to remain fateful. We all have the ability to restrain from lustful desires. This allows us to make moral decisions that can be beneficial to our future, and the future of individuals who we choose to be involved with. However, our ability to think rational does not always translate into rational decisions. Therefore, our desires to have more than one mate are, at the core, naturally human.

Nas and the Nigger Experience

In a time when a lot of rap has been reduced to money throwing, teeny bop dances,p-popping, and d-boy recitals, Nas stirs the tiresome hip-hop pot by dedicating an entire album to the most controversial epithet in the English language. On the recently released eight minute video “Be a Nigga Too,” Nas attempts to show wide spread discrimination by giving every ethnic group the bitter privilege of being “niggas.” The video and song is reminiscent of the montage in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing where different racial groups stare into the camera and hurl insults at each other. It’s a very artsy video, but you will not see the uncut version on MTV or BET. Nas goes opposite of the safe route to challenge himself and the racial climate in America.

Lil' Wayne: Does Weezy Strike Out or is Tha Carter III times Dope?

Arguably the most influential artist in hip-hop has finally given his nasally voice to an official album that is actually his. Dewayne “Lilweezyiana” Carter has taken a timeout from appearing on every remix and hook in order to drop Tha Carter III. This album will go down as one of the most anticipated albums in hip-hop history. As far as hype is concerned, CIII is in the same league as Snoop’s Doggy Style, Pac’s All Eyez On Me, 50’s Get Rich or Die Tryin, Kast’s SpeakerBoxxx/Love Below, Jay’s Black Album, and Ye’s Graduation. And he deserves it. In this decade, no rapper has worked harder than Jr. to prove that he can rhyme a few words over beat. Must of us wrote the kid off during the time when his fellow label mates were jumping ship as if Baby and Slim were planning to set the Cash Money Yacht on fire. After the release of the lackluster 500 Degreez, W.F.’s career seemed to be headed towards the purgatory.
But something happened in the summer of 2002. Bootleggers and online geeks began distributing a series of mixtapes called Squad-Up. The little one joined as an honorary member of the N.O. group Squad Up and suddenly began to rap with more passion. He eventually parted with the group and released the mixtape classics Dedication and Da Drought. During that period, the kid stopped being a rapper and became a student of hip-hop. You could hear the influence of Jay-Z and other east coast rappers in his delivery. By the time The Carter was released, Jr. had totally reinvented himself by positioning himself as a legit lyricist. He eventually developed a 2 Pacesque addiction to the studio by recording hundreds of freestyles that had fans itching for the next fix.
There was a downside to his surge, however. Wayne became so prevalent on the radio, mixtapes, and features that a few fans became irritated by the over saturation. This leads me to Tha Carter III. I wondered if the kid had enough in him to deliver a great album after so much hype. The album starts strong with the cuts “Mr. Carter,” “A Milli,” and “Dr. Carter.” My only gripe with Tha Carter III is Jr.’s unwillingness or inability to remain on subject. He often rambles and gets lost in his own desire to shock listeners with a memorable line.
On “3-Peat,” W.F. spits, “I'm on it, ooh I'm on it. I'm so on it and however you want it. You can get it tonight ho, And all night ho I get the beat from (Mistro). A fuckin right ho. I might crazy go on these niggas I dont give a mothafuck, Run up in a nigga house and shoot his grandmother up, what! What I don’t give a motherfuck get cha baby kidnapped And ya baby mother fuck.” His wordplay was clever, but what is he saying? What can we really take from that line? This sort of lyrical rambling happens often on CIII, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a SOLID, but not GREAT, album. Sure, he speaks on Hurricane Katrina [“Tie My Hands”], and a personal battle against himself [“Shoot Me Down”], but more must be offered. To claim legit greatness (i.e. Nas’s Illmatic, Jay’s Reasonable Doubt and Black Album, Tupac’s Me Against the World, or Biggie’s Ready to Die) the kid from the bayou must use his wittiness to focus more and create an album that tells us something that we haven’t already heard.

I Think I’m in Love With Fornication…….That’s “Californication”

Anyone who really knows me understands how thoroughly unimpressed I am with television programming. The only time that I will voluntarily watch TV is to catch an NBA game, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” or CNN’s “Election Center” (Obama lapping Clinton to become the Democratic presidential nominee was the real Amazing Race). But since “Chappell’s Show” ended prematurely in 2006, and “The Wire” took its final bow in March (big props to Season 4, one of the best seasons in television history), TV watching has turned into an unpleasant task. I’ve attempted to latch on to the “hit” shows such “24,” “Ugly Betty” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “24,” “CSI:Miami,” and the never-ending “Lost,” but I immediately lost interest because most of the storylines seemed contrived, superficial, predictable, and just plain cheesy.
Well a few weeks ago, while flipping through the channels I stumbled upon a TV show that centers on a self-admiring/highly obnoxious author who drowns himself in women and booze in order to numb himself to the pain of seeing his ex-girlfriend marry a presumable dork. While the premise of the show is far from groundbreaking, I like the fact that it’s a tragic comedy that shuns perfection at a pace that seems very true to life. I’m currently playing catch up on Season 1 (On Demand is a beast!), and anticipating the start of season 2 this summer. Am I missing out on something or is “Californication” really the best show on TV?

Witness to a Barack Star

I figure that I should start The Formula with one of the most important events in American history. On June 3rd, I was assigned to cover the Barack Obama rally in St. Paul, Minn. This was my first visit to St. Paul and I can’t say that I was excited about the city itself. No offense to the citizens of St. Paul, but I kept thinking to myself that ‘it seemed like a good place to get some great sleep.’
I arrived in St. Paul around 11:00 a.m. and I was greeted by drizzling rain and a temperature of about 50 degrees. I’m from Atlanta and June is usually accompanied by sticky 90 degree weather and girls that wear…, well I won’t go there on this entry. But the folks of St. Paul were undeterred by the overcast and constant rain. I got to the Xcel Energy Center shortly after noon and expected to only see other media outlets setting up for the rally which started at 7 p.m. To my surprise, there was close to 300 people waiting in line so that they would be assured a seat in the arena which could hold up to 18,000 people. I spoke with several of the individuals in line and discovered that a few of them had been waiting outside as early as 7:30 a.m.
The atmosphere became more intense around 8 p.m. The Xcel Energy Center was near capacity and 15,000 more people were outside in the cold waiting to listen to Obama’s speech. When Sen. Obama finally announced that he would be the Democratic presidential nominee, the crowd was in a complete frenzy. The atmosphere reminded me of one of those Michael Jackson concerts in the ‘80s, or a dynamic Super Bowl like the New York Giants upset of the New England Patriots. It was a surreal moment in which Barack Obama became the first black presidential nominee and one of the first political figures in my time [‘80s baby] to hold down a rally like a concert. Barack On!