It Must Be Magic is the euphoric feeling I got the first time I listened to the Teena Marie album of the same title. I hope anyone who reads my blog will share with me in that feeling.
So, it is no secret I stan for a great pair of shoes. In the past, Giuseppe Zanotti has given me life with some of his designs. Beyonce made a pair absolutely famous a few years back. So, Kanye West who has forayed into the fashion industry, as if anyone could do it, has designed for the design house.
Zanotti has always given me shoes with an incredible ankle silhouette, but the shoes this season are all about color and fabric. Check them out!
The Infamous Kanye Heel!
SIDEBAR: That Kanye heel is $5800! I don't know about that one Mr. West!
So, this little gem popped up on my Twitter early this morning, and I have to say, I was feeling it immediately! This jawn, appropriately titled, "Party," features Beyonce', Andre 3000 and Kanye. It was produced by Ye and Consequence, and it has that late 90's R&B, hip-hop feel to it.
So, of course, I missed the Cleveland Show yesterday because sleep finally caught me when I made it home from church. But, I checked it out on Hulu and it did not disappoint. This episode featured Kanye West and Taraji Henson.
The relationship between Cleveland Jr. and the cute-yet-sadistic little Rollo has become my new guilty pleasure. I just love these two. In this episode, Rollo attempts to help Cleveland Jr. obtain the object of his affection, only to end up wanting her for himself. Defeated that she only sees him as a little kid, Cleveland Jr. runs into a problem when he is faced with her not-ready-to-be-her-ex, Kenny West. The local, but famous school rapper, Kenny West (played by Kanye). The best part is when these two face off in a rap battle at a school party.
Check it out...
I heard that Kanye's character will be back for future episodes, I can't wait!
Amber Rose, Kanye West's (sometimes she's straight, sometimes she's gay) girlfriend better watch out, because Ye and Keri were getting it in, in her new video, "Knock You Down," featuring Ye and Ne-Yo.
The song is not exceptional, but it is tolerable. Personally it would be a lot better without Ne-Yo. This track would have been banging with The Dream! With all of that said, I couldn't help but notice the chemistry between Ye and Keri...hmmmmm, I'm sure we'll hear about more of this.
So today, I come across videos for two songs that I believe will slowly but surely change the face of hip hop. I don't think that it is a coincidence that both artists come out of Chicago and I further don't think it is a coincidence that they are both affiliated with one another.
First off the cuff is Mr. West, Mr. West! He's been kind of quiet lately. He surprised fans with his decision to perform "Love Lockdown" at the VMA's even before the song got radio play. I liked it then, I love it now. The video is a bit awkward, but then it does fit the mood and the lyrics of the song. Check it out.
But another pleasant surprise was "Universal Mind Control," by Common. Coming off probably one of the best years he has ever had in both music and film, not to mention cuffing Serena Williams as his girlfriend. Common, drops this Pharrell-produced futuristic-yet-old-school inspired hip hop track that you immediately want to shake your groove thang to. It's different, yet somehow familiar. I love it, it proves why these two are trendsetters in hip hop.
These are my two vids for the day, but with a few eagerly anticipated records coming out this winter, I am sure there will be much more hot music in '08!
Well folks it's been almost a month since I have regurgitated random thoughts on this blog, so here is some randomness for the month of June.
So, the weather is officially HOT now, which means that we ladies are having the feet out more. Now, thus far I have seen quite a few infractions...ladies, please oil, grease, moisturize or whatever you do to your feet before you pull them out all willy nilly. People of color do get ash, and thus when we show more skin, moisture is important. Go ahead, splurge, get that pedicure, you'll love it and so will your feet. For some, it is just plain necessary.
It is with sadness that I report the death of comedian, George Carlin. I really liked him, I always thought his incredible wit, penchant for finding humor in a ridiculous government, and his courage to attack the wrongs of this country were what made him brilliant.
I think I was about ten or eleven, the first time I watched his stand up. That was the first time I heard the term "N.I.M.B.Y." otherwise known as Not In My Backyard. Nimby was Carlin's way of telling people that we are all okay with righting the wrongs of society, as long as it's not in our backyards. Put the prisoners, juvenile delinquents, drug addicts, etc. in some far away place and we'll all be okay. He will be greatly missed.
BEEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clearly this weekend was the weekend for all of those with beef with someone else to let it rip. First up....Ice T and Soulja Boy????????? What?
As you can hear in this clip, Ice T basically feels that Souljah Boy singlehandedly ruined hip hop. I might be willing to agree, but I can't give the tike that much credit. While his song had soccer moms learning the dance, it is my belief in three years he will be long forgotten, thus he can't be given credit for such a feat in this great genre. No, in fact, many lame MC's contributed to the fall of hip hop.
Now, folks before you get the popcorn, there is a zippy and unexpected twist to this drama. Yes, another player has entered this Act and it is none other than Kanye West. Now as much as I support this hometown guy, he is a bit nuts at times. This is DEFINITELY one of those times.
His comments on the matter, according to Mediatakeout.com:
"Soulja Boy is fresh as hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is 'sposed to be. He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't Hip Hop then what is? A bunch of wannabe keep it real rappers that ain't even relevant, recycling samples trying to act like it's 96 again and all they do is hate on new sh*t? N*ggas always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year old kid, this is the golden age!!! That song was so dope cause everything he said had a hidden meaning... that's Nas level shit... he just put it over some steel drums which is also some Nas shit if you had the 2nd album cassette with the bonus track "Silent Murder" on it. In closing... new n*ggas get ya money$$$$$$$$$$ Keep this sh*t fresh and original.... ain't no f*ckin' rules to this sh*t and that's what real hip hop is to me. "
WTFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is Kanye smoking that stuff? Is he sipping the yak? Comparing Soulja Boy to Nas is like comparing that hooker on Madison and Halsted to the Bunny Ranch. Two separate worlds. To make matters worse, he went even further, by stating on his blog that they have similar styles and music!!! First of all, when Nas first hit, he didn't even have a label, manager or promotion. They dropped him thinking his underground hip hop style would fall flat, instead of getting five mics from The Source and becoming an instant classic. Soulja Boy has one hit, and he has soccer moms doing his dance. Nas didn't inspire a new dance, he inspired a new way of thinking in hip hop. He inspired a consciousness in hip hop with a very real street edge. The two are NOTHING alike. It is just....wait, I need to breathe....it is just unthinkable that Kanye would compare the two and go even further by saying they are just alike! This is insulting as hell, and real heads would have to give him a virtual pimp slap for that grave infraction.
And for HIM to diss mixing samples, something he has made a career out of, is just preposterous! No, it's not '96, but Nas never has cared about everybody loving him or his music. He has always made the kind of music he wants to make. Soulja Boy isn't rapping with hidden meaning. He knew very well that white kids and their moms wouldn't know that "Superman that Hoe" was a porn term. This is complete and utter bullshyt for Kanye to even try and defend such garbage! Clearly they caught him at a high moment.
I digress....
In other BEEF, Shaquille "Overrated and Trying to Be A Cop" O'Neal is running his fat mouth again. Dissing Kobe in a rap he gave at a NY club, he disses him in a "Kobe couldn't do it without me" fashion regarding the Lakers losing to the Celtics in the Finals.
Okay, I need about 30 seconds...
WTFFFFFFFF! Shaq couldn't do it without Dwayne Wade! Let's face it, Shaq has gotten lucky in his career, in that he has always played alongside superstars. Everyone knows the year the Heat won, they were lucky as hell, and if it hadn't been for Wade, the Heat wouldn't have won a damn thing. Shaq was almost nonexistent in the Finals that year, he played not even half the season, and then got hurt going into the playoffs. In fact, it was all that extra playing and compensating that has kept Wade on the bench the past year and a half. As soon as Wade went down, the team had the worst record they've had in years, got swept by the Bulls in the playoffs one year, and just plain didn't make it the next. And this year, the Lakers beat the Suns, so what the hell is Shaq talking about? With Nash, Stoudemaire and Hill, Shaq couldn't get it done, and before he waddled into the desert, they were the favorite in the West.
Did he really say, Kobe made him get a divorce??? Wasn't that slip-up like four or five years ago? Was he really wearing a large chain that said BIG?? See, this is why Shaq has become a joke - he spends too much time on buffoonery in the off season, and less time trying to stay in shape, thus being relevant once the season starts. The funny thing is Kobe will get it without Shaq, and I wonder what Mr. Bigmouth will say then. UUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!
KNOCKED UP!
So, in the past year, 17 girls at Gloucester High School have gotten pregnant. That's four times the amount the school normally has. Almost all of the girls are high school sophomores, and the Mayor of Gloucester claims that this is because Mayor Patrick Duvall has cut funding for many of the school's programs and the "No Child Left Behind," plan has failed.
All of the girls took Sexual Education in their freshman year, however, the school stopped the practice of passing out contraceptives, when they fired the school doctor for giving out contraception. However, several parents and school officials not only admit to seeing the girls celebrate and high five upon hearing that they've conceived, but some have been hearing about this alleged pact from their kids for months now.
Gloucester, MA is a small fishing town off Cape Ann. Most of the industry for the town comes from fishing, an industry that has taken a hit in this failing economy. Many families have been broken as a result, and many believe that the pact is a quest for unconditional love. Whatever the case, clearly there is a problem and it starts with communicating and then educating the girls at this school. Being a parent is hard, and a lot of work, I pray that they continue with their lives and follow their dreams. We have fallen on hard times, but there is still hope. I just hope they realize this!
