“What’s All The Hype About?!!?”

What’s going on with Hype Williams?  Has he lost his mind?!!?  The guy responsible for creating such visual treats like Busta Rhymes “Woo-Hah” [Got You All In Check] is now making Belly-esque ass-features with his new video trend.

He’s typically sold the same premise of a video to those few schmucks [Smitty, Beyoncé, and a gaggle of others].

Next on that list aptly called, “The Unfortunates” [because unfortunately, they should've had another director come up with the treatment for their video] — is the newest R&B sensation — Ne-Yo.

You can check out the “HYPE” down below…

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In other news, owners of the trendy Blackberry may soon find themselves disappointed.  Why?  Because someone didn’t hit the patent office too quick.  I guess one of the companies [RIM] is trying the gangsta stranglehold move by saying, “We ain’t fuckin’ wit chall, we in Canada – we’re untouchable, ay!“  Whatever!?!  Just as long as they don’t shut off my e-mail service.  I JUST got this phone.  I’m using it for the best of my abilities. 

There will probably not be an update tomorrow, unless there is something earth shattering.  Have a few business pieces to get ready for.

“Year of the Dog”

– January 29th, 2006 –

 Hate to do two posts in one day, but I just read that this year in China is considered the “year of the dog” [1982, stand up!!!]  I am not to deep on Chinese culture so anyway that I can say that this is my year in any culture is cool with me.  Also… the missus and I were featured in the paper together.  You can read it online here.  Also my first business piece with the Daily Kent Stater ran on Friday, but for those who are interested — you can read it online here, as well.

A little backstory to that piece; It was originally entitled, “A Challenge Issued” — because I felt that the executive members of the B.U.S. board weren’t doing all that they could do to uplift the plight of Black students here at Kent State University.  I wrote it under the notion that it would spark something to change what we’ve been doing to doing something that we should be doing. 

I don’t know if I accomplished that with the written piece itself, but the Stater sure did spark interest with its edited title ["BUS should do more, talk less"].  More people were upset about what title may had implied versus what the subject matter was discussing.  In the end, a few people were upset and other [plenty of 'em] felt that not only did I have the right to speak out on it, but that it was about time that someone did so.

In the end, I thought that it was a right thing to do for the sanity of those who decide to participate in the upliftment of the consciousness of Black folks. 

What else is going on?  The missus has a music video on the way as I have said before.  Today and tomorrow are the auditions and for anyone within the Kent, OH area — please stop by and look out for the flyers for more information.  The group that is coming is Nothin’ But Strings — please visit their site if you wish to know more.

What’s next?  Another business piece from the Kent Stater, an interview with Mister-Mister Scarface and The Product coming soon, and I think that I’ll be able to track Clinton Sparks down and holla at him.  Enjoy the week.  Peace!

“Sucker Free Sunday”

– January 29th, 2006 –

My take on the popular MTV2 “Sucker Free Sunday” will be a video from Onyx with “Slam”.

Enjoy!!

“Before The Clock Ticks”

– January 26th, 2006 –

Reality television shows have been around for awhile. Since the creation of those hidden reality prank TV shows, execs and advertisers have ran with the ball and knocked it out of the park at least 8 out of 10 times.

One of those homeruns was “The Real World”. Although I loathe the show now [although I find the Inferno to be quite hilarious], “TRW” provided us moments that no one could quite forget [remember when ole boy slapped that girl in the face?!!? Surprised he wasn't lynched].

With the Bachelor, The Real World, Wife Swap, and even that home-making show on ABC not captivating enough to maintain my attention… what do I watch?!

VH1: Celebrealities

I thought that Hulk Hogan’s show was alright. That Brady Bunch joint was trash. Celebrity Fit Club is bananas — both last season and this season. Harvey is a mean looking dude. In a one-on-one fight though… he probably would kill me. When he gets mad, he looks similar to a certain enemy of a certain former action hero movie star.

But the show that I am really diggin’ is… Flavor of Love. The Chicken episode is undoubtedly a classic. But what’s the point of this long diatribe, you ask?

Well Bo and I were talking and I came across a photo of Cristal Stevenson [also known as "Serious" to those who watch the show. Much props to The Justus Leage for these flicks.

[Disclaimer: For those viewing the site -- these pictures should be viewed by those 18+ or older.]

Since Serious’ time ran out [seriously... haha!] — I guess a way to go is to give tribute to the model… also known as “Serious”.

• Smiley
• Philly
• Pose
• Side
• Business Woman
• Flavor Flav

On the site the pictures were posted some time in November. So, I don’t know how old or new these pictures are. Just found it interesting, that’s all.

Share your thoughts.

“…The Brotha Made “Reasonable Doubt”…”

– January 25th, 2006 –

“Who’s the best emcees? Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas?” The age-old question posed by many a Hip-Hop fan is “who’s the best”…? In a culture where we have G.O.A.T.’s, King’s, and a God MC — one of the primary focuses in the game is being the best. My friend, Kareem, is a Jay-Z elitist. He feels that he’s the best MC and that anything anyone [anyone being Cam'Ron] has to say about it being otherwise is malarky. That’s right, I said malarky. His “reasoning” behind his feelings? “…the brotha made ‘Reasonable Doubt’“.

My feelings don’t matter in this arguement — I’m being unbiased. But B-Sims, on the other hand, feels that Cam was just a voice for the voiceless. I, for one, like the stance [and smarts] that Jay seems to have about the situation.

Jay said to MTV News:

“My thing is, it’s such an obvious ploy for attention and to get people to talk about it and for [Cam to] sell albums,” Jay-Z told MTV News “I’m torn…I feel like I would be stupid to even pay that any attention, because it’s such a ploy. N**gas is holding press conferences behind [the dis record]…That’s not even a good dis record. That s**t is trash. I’m torn. We’ll see what happens. Maybe on my time we’ll deal with it, but I’m not really pressed. I’m inspired by good artistic s**t. Cam’s s**t is not artistic. There’s nothing good about it. Everything about it is an obvious ploy to get attention. Nobody wants to get used.”

Basically, Killa Season it’s definitely not… It’s gotta suck that you’re not worth the attention of someone who is the center of attention. I wonder if Dame is making his trademark smirk and saying, “Rats… foiled again…” If what was said was true and Dame was just using Cam’Ron to get at Hov — wouldn’t that be a “homo” thing to do?

“Males shouldn’t be jealous… that’s a female trait”

– Jay-Z

In any regards, I think that this is something that the public is going to slowly forget about as we get deeper into 2006. Then… when we least expect it, Jay-Z will have footage of Cameron Giles being birthed into the world wearing a pink hat and fu-fu with the frills on the end.

Shouts out to Bol and Danyel for hitting up the page. Please continue to stop through and give advice when/if necessarily. Appreciate it.

“The Greatest Player Ever?!”

– January 24th, 2006 – 

Nah, I don’t think that Kobe is the greatest player ever… but I sure wish that I had caught that game on the television.  I should invest in that NBA All-League Pass or something like that.  Kobe Bryant [for those that don't know] scored 81-points the other night versus the Toronto Raptors. 

 To me — the Raptors are a garbage team with talent.  Bosh is developing nicely and Jalen Rose still has some life left in him.  But it seems like cats do them dirty once they step foot on the court.  Remember when King James lit ‘em up for about 50-plus?  Even though the Cavs lost that game, it still must’ve been upsetting for the Raptors defense — knowing that they couldn’t really stop James from scoring.  Only way to defeat him was to score more points than he could.

Well, that wasn’t the case with Kobe.  He not only brought the Lakers back to win the game, he outscored a few other teams who had games that same night. 

Speakings of games — I missed the Suns/Supersonics game and that was a tragedy.  Ray Allen [who is still probably spending residual checks off of "He Got Game"] crushed Steve Nash’s heart with a buzzer-beater three point in double overtime. 

You gotta love the NBA… it’s fantastic!!!

El Presidente just can’t play his position in peace, huh?  For those who have been on another planet, you too, can hear what Harlem’s Finest has to say about the Brooklyn Brawler.  Cam made a lot of claims, both vague and wide-out in the open.  Do I think Jay will respond?  I don’t know.  Not sure that I even want him to.  When it comes to rappers and retirement that is something that only lasts for so long [remember Too $hort???].  Jay is comfortable in the H.P.I.C. chair with acts like Young Jeezy, Mariah Carey, and Juelz putting up numbers.  Marcy’s Finest doesn’t need to come back and wreck shop on Cam.  Especially, not when Queens has finally stepped into the Def Jam building!  I think that a Jay/Nas collabo on an album would be great for the culture.  If shit like “Laffy Taffy” and “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It,” gets major airplay then a joint with those two will certainly pull in the masses.  But will an album from Nas on Def Jam do anything significant?  Meaning will it go platinum?!  Crack Music is in and Byron Crawford thinks that Nas’s good years have already left. 

What do you think?  Hit up the comments and tell me what you think.