Kanye West Was Right!

Kanye West was right. He's been right all along and people are too uppity and sensitive to accept that. The 2009 MTV Awards was just the cusp or more so the tip of iceberg. Was Kanye's ill timed interjection during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech a good look? No. But we can hardly find fault in being a passionate, especially when the industry's climate is as bland as it today. I don't want to hear anything about Taylor being too young; she's 20 and that's old enough. I didn't think that her video was better than Beyonce's video (it's not like I watched either one) but I figured that it's MTV and it's largely a pop station that focuses it's energy on a specific demographic but the grammy's changed all that for me.

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Rap In The 90's: The Black Eyed Peas "Fallin' Up"

The lead single from The Black Eyed Peas debut album, Behind The Front. This is one of my favorite albums from this group and I'm still a fan. Says alot, especially in these days and times of indecisive music supporters.

"Just To Get By..."

Struggling. Hustling. Grinding. Webster's Dictionary offers many words that all fit "getting by". Nothing is accomplished by exerting the minimal amount of effort or by not educating yourself to ways of the world in which we live. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't read an article no matter how intellectually stimulating it may or may not be with the sole purpose of keeping my mind active. Not paying attention or not being acclamated to constant change is like death to me. Sharpening my mental image is one of the ways that I "get by".

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Rap In The 90's: Jay-Z "Dead Presidents"

One of my favorite songs from one of my all-time favorite Hip-Hop albums. Reasonable Doubt is a classic and still kills the competition. This video is a great moment in rap. Biggie Smalls, AZ, Jay-Z, Lil' Cease, Dame Dash and Biggs Burke (Hov's former Roc-A-Fella partners) were all united in this piece of rap history.

A Matter Of Trust...

“Self-trust is the first secret of success” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I feel like people take trust for granted. It's something that's easy to lose and very difficult to retrieve. You grow up trusting your family, friends, and other influential individuals more than your own judgement and that's probably the most dangerous and reckless thing that could ever occur. Some individuals feed upon trust as it exposes vulnerability and the effects of that never ends amicably. You can't believe everything you see nor every kind word that's heard. I have more respect for a stranger who has the decency to give me constructive criticism than a "friend" who just says "nice" things to stroke my ego. It's all about being honest with yourself and others. But if you're not, you allow yourself to become detached from reality. And when you can't make the differentiation between what is and what isn't real, there's a problem.

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Solediction TV: Episode 1

Respect The Hustle. Solediction is more than a fashion blog, its a site that represents a lifestyle. I've been a strong proponent of seeing people putting in necessary work. Angelo Logan, Tony Logan, and Taevon Palmer are perfect examples of how youth and ambition can combine and conceive something great.

Check out Solediction!

Anti-Clone Academy "Episode 1"

This is a new release from PardonMyFresh Music and by looking at the cover art you probably have a good idea about the direction that they are NOT heading in. Anti-Clone Academy consists of artist/producers AO & Mylon and as they stated on their site... "It Has Begun!"

Download: Anti-Clone Academy - Episode 1

A.P. "Turbulence"

All Bets Down: A.P. "Turbulence" VIDEO from All Bets Down Entertainment on Vimeo.

The big homie A.P. brings you his latest video for "Turbulence" and he's dropping knowledge on this one. Check out A.P.'s latest project "Terminal A" which can be found on iTunes.

"Can't Get Enough Of That Sugar Crisp"

My friend ChrisConsin posted a picture via Twitter of the Golden Crisp Sugar Bear and stated that it was me. I see the similarities. We walk with a serious bop, have dope speaking voices (that's what people tell me), and eat cereal. I'll be singing this jingle for the rest of the day LOL!

Vandalyzm "Vandalyzm Is Not The Father" Mixtape

I was first introduced to Vandalyzm on 9th Wonder's 2nd installment of The Dream Merchant series. Vandalyzm is an emcee out of St. Louis and he reps his city well with lyricism that's not to be slept on. Check out the mixtape

Download: Vandalyzm - Vandalyzm Is Not The Father Mixtape

Vandalyzm's Myspace