Video: Pac Div "Whiplash/Young Black Male"

Dope record. Dope video. Dope dudes. Dope mixtape. All dope everything.

Props to OnSmash

Obama Bows, Conservative Pundits Have Conniptions

President Obama visits Japanese emperor Akihito and his wife during his week-long trip to Asia. Instead of talking about Asian-US relations, the pundits want to focus on how Obama greeted the emperor. Enter “We The Best!” Khaled-style postering and you get this type of bullshit.

News photos of President Barack Obama bowing to Japan's emperor have incensed critics here, who said the US leader should stand tall when representing America overseas.

Obama on Monday was in China, having wrapped up the Japan leg of his Asia trip two days earlier. But Washington's punditocracy was still weighing whether or not the US president had disgraced his country two days earlier by having taken a deep bow at the waist while meeting Japan's Emperor Akihito.

Political talk shows have played and replayed the moment from the second day of Obama's week-long Asia tour, which set the blogosphere on fire and chat show tongues wagging.

"I don't know why President Obama thought that was appropriate. Maybe he thought it would play well in Japan. But it's not appropriate for an American president to bow to a foreign one," said conservative pundit William Kristol speaking on the Fox News Sunday program, adding that the gesture bespoke a United States that has become weak and overly-deferential under Obama.

Another conservative voice, Bill Bennett, said on CNN's "State of the Union" program: "It's ugly. I don't want to see it."

"We don't defer to emperors. We don't defer to kings or emperors. The president of the United States -- this coupled with so many apologies from the United States -- is just another thing," said Bennett. [Source]

This “We don’t bow to anyone” attitude is insulting. You don’t visit into someone else’s country and act like you’re the shit and the urine. It says more about your attitude towards them if you act like you have no sense of courtesy or respect. Trust, more talk would have been made if Obama straight disrespected the Emperor and his wife.

And for those that preach this idea of “American Exceptionalism”, I don’t have any problem with feeling a sense of pride about this country. As a two-category minority, I sometimes don’t feel it but hey, I understand. That being said, you earn respect when you give respect and frankly, for the past ten years, the attitude towards us as a nation is one of selfishness, arrogance and intellectual masturbation. The reason why people want to go at our throats is because we think we run this town, all-black everything. Obama did the right thing by showing respect and has done right by admitting that we have made mistakes as self-professed global leaders. The first step in conflict resolution is admitting when you are wrong. When you don’t, you have things like Iraq.

Outrage in Washington over Obama's Japan bow [Yahoo! News/AFP]

Video: Letoya "Regret" Featuring Ludacris

Her label deserves a Karate chop to the neck for not making this the first single off of her latest album, Lady Love.

Props to OnSmash

No Separation Between Certain Churches and the State

Ever since September 11th, America's new "Red Scare" involves Muslims, apparently, as those lovely hate-mongers on the other side of the aisle would say, the only religious group capable of plotting and killing Americans. "This guy was Muslim, right? He shot down our buildings for some guy named Allah!" Sigh. This is what we hear every damn time our national security is somewhat compromised.

Because of the unfortunate events at Fort Hood, America is now on another cycle of "America's Next Overreacting Terrorist Attack" hosted by Fox News, judged by closet-Conservative-racists, xenophobes and fake-Constitutional-zealots. When they asked, "Do we know if this is linked to terrorists, yet?", it was code for "Did some Muslims do it? You know that's what they do." Once we knew the shooters name, all "Hell" broke loose. "He had to be talking to some terrorists".

So you wonder what today's news is going to do? Shhhiiiitttt....

US federal prosecutors said Thursday they were moving to seize four mosques and a 36-story New York skyscraper from a non-profit Muslim group suspected of having ties to the Iranian government.

The Alavi Foundation has been providing "numerous services" and illegally funneling funds to the Iranian government through money laundering, according to the office of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara.

Bharara filed a forfeiture action with a New York federal court to seize bank accounts owned by the group and a suspected front company, as well as the office tower and Islamic centers in the states of Maryland, Virginia, Texas and California.

"As today's complaint alleges in great detail, the Alavi Foundation has effectively been a front for the government of Iran," Bharara said in a statement.

"For two decades, the Alavi Foundation's affairs have been directed by various Iranian officials, including Iranian ambassadors to the United Nations, in violation of a series of American laws."

Washington has long accused Tehran of funding terror groups and of seeking to produce a nuclear bomb under cover of its suspect civilian nuclear program. [Source]

Now every mosque is a money-funneling, hate-teaching terrorist machine.

American Muslims have every right to pissed off at this country. We portray them as terrorists and attack their mosques and religious centers. We suspect their presence in every gruesome violent attack in recent memory. I completely understand wanting to commit the most foul middle-finger-salute ever to this country. A country that fails to realize that you breed more evil my honoring evil.

Yep, you honor evil by letting everyone know about it. There is a group of people plotting to hurt Muslims right now and guess what, where do you think they received the mental ammunition to make it happen? Us. We're guilty of singling out an entire group of people based off the action to few. Blacks know about this. Asians know about this. Germans know about this. Gays and Lesbians know about this. The poor knows about this. AMERICANS know about this. We're guilty of doing what has been done to us: Throwing an entire group of people under the bus, only to get up and come back with a 18-wheeler to get revenge.


US to seize mosques, skyscraper of Iran-linked group [Google/AFP]

When It Feels So Good…

Even at 22, I can have some really juvenile moments. I was sitting on the couch, phone in my left hand, contemplating whether I should give him a call. I was nervous as hell, excuses playing in my mind to not call him … “maybe he’s busy”, “what if he doesn’t pick up?” I kept staring at his number but couldn’t press the “Call” button, feeling butterflies in my stomach, trying to calm myself down but couldn’t.

I felt like I was 15 again. I looked back at the first time I called a boy; those same feelings I felt as a teenager, I felt at that very moment. The phone kept ringing, I still was nervous. Practicing how I am going to say “Hi” to him. So when I did, and he said “Hi” back, it was a sigh of relief.

But then I started to over-analyze everything. His voice, his sentences, his jokes. Everything he did, I threw into the ‘Ciara Machine of Reasons to Hang Up’ machine. He was doing okay, even one of his corny jokes made me laugh. Even one of my corny jokes made him a laugh. Even the more, uh, “grown” jokes. I was invested mentally into dude. One hour turned into two into three…

Into six hours and thirty-five minutes. Six. Three. Five. We talked the entire night until I gave myself a swift kick in the ass to go to bed. I was tired the whole time but I didn’t care. I felt obligated to stay on the phone with him, even though I had every excuse not to. I couldn’t even lie myself off of the phone. I didn’t want to go. Even looking out the window and seeing the junior high school kids walk off the school bus and into school didn’t stop me. Morning show radio didn’t stop me. Smelling my Grandma’s coffee brewing downstairs didn’t stop me. Forget the whole “what else could you talk about?” creed; I wanted to repeat conversations so that I didn’t have to hang up the phone.

I remember the first time I felt that way. I was 15, talking to this boy named Rob. I met him on a Friday and talked to him all Saturday and Sunday until my Dad yelled at me to get off of the phone. I didn’t want the conversation to end even though I knew it had to. Imagine feeling that at 22?

That’s what it should feel like. It should like those innocent moments in life, so genuine and so immune from all the evil that dreams of destroying moments like these. When it feels so good when moments like these happen. You can’t even ‘describe how you’re feeling’ good. ‘Catch yourself smiling in the middle of the day’ good. Just good.

Video: UCB "Pat Your Weave" feat. Wale

Uncalled 4 Band has come a long way since "Married 2 Juana". Wale has come a long way from Montgomery County, Maryland (don't act like we don't know, joe.)

Props to OnSmash

A White Van.

That white van. A damn white box on four wheels had the entire Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia shook. We were told to watch out for White vans because the 'DC Sniper' stalked out his prey while inside of one. We were told to stay alert at gas stations, bus stops and grocery store parking lots. His victims were unsuspecting patrons yet open targets for the bullet.

Football games were cancelled and schools were on lock down. I remember because I was locked in a classroom – 10th Grade Chemistry – with my then best friend, Novy, trying to pass the time away while school officials determined whether we could walk down certain hallways without being visible. The sniper had just shot someone less than 10 miles away from my high school, therefore we were stuck. Code Red.

Today will be the day when the infamous DC snipers’ own life gets sniped out – by the state. I, for one, remember what he did to my neighborhood and how he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Not a fan of capital punishment though. Twelve jurors decided that route.

From Route 355 to Hell.

My Take on Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z

That's it. Carry on...

Required Reading: "How Hip-Hop Amped Up the NBA" , ESPN the Magazine, February 2005

Every couple of days, I'll go back into my magazine stash and find some old articles that hold some significance here and now. From hip-hop to sports to politics, see how much little can change and what really stays the same.

To commemorate the beginning of a new NBA season, I went back into my archives to find a February 2005 article from ESPN the Magazine that explains the impact of the hip-hop on the NBA. The articles features the opinions of rappers, athletes, marketing experts and business owners who may have contributed to the rise of the NBA's hip-hop culture.

Pretty dope to read. I laughed my ass of when they called Allen Iverson a "shelved hip-hop artist". "40 Bars", anybody?

(click to enlarge)

ETHER.

Chris Brown should hide in a cave for awhile. *DVRs 20/20*

Spotted at Rap Radar

Video: BKS "Back and Forth"

BKS- "Back and Forth" Music Video from BKS Star on Vimeo.

I meant to drop this video on my blog awhile back but better late than never, right?

A lot of music artists, -- Philly rappers really -- will add me on Twitter so I can listen to their music. Most of the time, I don't. Not that I'm close-minded about my hip-hop but if you hit me on Twitter 50-11 times a day to listen to your track, I'm not going to. BKS was different.

True story, the initial reason why I gave BKS a shot is because I thought one of the members was fine as hell. Sorry, I'm a chick ... cut me some slack. But then I heard their tape and it's tough. "Back and Forth" is my favorite plus the dudes are reppin' the DC Metro Area (Northern VA). See, who says I don't support DC Urreah rap?

Follow BKS on Twitter

Video: P89 "2 of the Illest" feat. Freeway

Ain't that bad.

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to approach this Beans/Jay thing. I was thinking about vlogging about it but I had wrote something about Beans' shots fired moment at Jay's concert two weeks ago and I want to use it (ha!).

My take on Beans vs. Jay is coming soon.

Props to Freeway and his Twitter. EARLY!

Where Have You Been?*

Yes, yes, yes. Remember when I wrote a while back that life doesn't care if you blog. I definitely had one of those extended life vacations in the month of October.

My odd work hours plus my job now cutting my hours has messed me up. Search for second job starts now.

I promise that in November, things will start to get back in order. To be honest, I didn't have a desire to write at all thanks to my attitude reverting back to where it was pre-new job. Certain environments just kill your spirits and this would one of them. I'm trying to stay positive in all of this mess and all you goons who read this blog help me do that. The fact that mad people were asking about my blog via Twitter -- and a certain person who makes me smile even when he's being an asshole about his -- kept me from shutting this whole thing down.

As for "What's Sex to a Teenager?" That's postponed indefinitely until I find the time to do this. It involves a lot of research and I want to take it seriously. The potential for this thing could be insane.

Since I'm trying to get this blog back afloat, I'm going to be talking about sports and music more. I haven't talked about politics -- and my "play aunt" Michelle Obama -- in a minute but we'll get back to that.

Thanks for the people who still come through to this blog. Thanks to a certain person for getting on my ass about not updating it. Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles for winning and thanks in advance to the Dallas Cowboys for losing this Sunday night. Smooches to you all.

*Beanie v. Jay-Z ... vlog coming.

Video: Freddie Gibbs "Womb 2 The Tomb" feat. Pill

Pill and Freddie Gibbs are my reason for breathing when it comes to this hip-hop thing. Seriously, these dudes plus my original hip-hop baby daddies, Pac Div, give me hope that regional hip-hop -- GOOD regional hip-hop -- ain't dead. Yes, it's okay to rep where you're from, if you're going to do it right.

Props to OnSmash and Nah Right

Now it’s Rihanna’s Turn

I guess it never goes away, huh? Rihanna is set to give her first television interview since the domestic-incident-heard-around-the-world to ABC’s Diane Sawyer on 20/20. She actually gave her first interview to Glamour magazine, who named her Woman of the Year (for surviving that attack, I assume).

Last August and September, I scolded Chris for going on Larry King Live and confessing his feelings to the world because I thought he didn’t need to explain anything to anybody except Rihanna and the authorities involved. He didn’t owe me an apology; he didn’t two-piece my face back to the fat meat. He’s done some more apologizing since then and frankly, I could care less about what he has to say.

Now, Rihanna is a different story. I also said in my vlog about Chris Brown’s CNN experience that she isn’t obligated to speak about the incident and that she shouldn’t. First, it isn’t any of our business and secondly, that picture said enough about what happened that night. But after reading some of her quotes in the upcoming issue of Glamour, I’m starting to change my tune a bit.

Via Rap Radar via Glamour

On the TMZ assault photo

It was humiliating; that is not a photo you would show to anybody. I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it’s my life. I was disappointed, especially when I found out the photo was [supposedly leaked by] two women.

Message to young woman

Domestic violence is a big secret. No kid goes around and lets people know their parents fight. Teenage girls can’t tell their parents that their boyfriend beat them up. You don’t dare let your neighbor know that you fight. It’s one of the things we [women] will hide, because it’s embarrassing. My story was broadcast all over the world for people to see, and they have followed every step of my recovery. The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that. I want to give as much insight as I can to young women, because I feel like I represent a voice that really isn’t heard. Now I can help speak for those women.

That message to young woman got to me something fierce. Everything she said was the truth. Domestic violence is one of those noticed-unnoticed crimes. People know it’s popping off but until they actually see fist-to-face, it’s not happening. Whether she likes it or not, Rihanna is the face of domestic violence for this young generation (Tina who?) and if she takes that seriously, maybe one girl will get out of a abusive relationship.

But I don’t think people will be watching 20/20 or reading Glamour for those nuggets of wisdom and maturity. People want to see if she will ether Chris Brown back to Virginia. The best ether is to make Chris Brown look like an asshole without calling him one. I think she’s getting it right so far.