Myspace Music: Drake

I've decided to spotlight a myspace music profile every week. For this premiere post I want to shine my little light on a MC out of Toronto named Drake. Apparently he is a actor on some Canadian Saved By the Bell/BH 90210 teen drama called Degrassi. Though I can't confirm that his acting skills will win him an Oscar anytime soon, I can co-sign to the fact that he is a pretty dope rapper. He's already recorded a solid single with two of my favorite artists Little Brother and Dwele and his official single, "Replacement Girl" features Trey Songz and will probably be played any day now on your local stations. Go check out his page: Drake

Real Muthaphukkin G's

I'm a little upset with the lack of love out there for one of hip hop's pioneers. Today marks the 12th year since Eazy's departure. Let's remember the man that brought us such classics as "Boyz N Da Hood", "We Want Eazy" and "Real Muthaphukkin G's".

Crunk Ain't Dead

Well lets all congratulate Lil Jon for contributing to the stereotype that rappers are frivolous beings with a limited understanding of money management. According to XXL mag, Lil Jonathan has set a Guinness World Record for his "Crunk Ain't Dead" chain. Apparently this 5lb. pendant is worth $500,000 and has 73 diamond carats. I guess it pays well to use the same synth in every beat you do and claim it as your "signature sound". When asked about this new record Jon responded "Let’s just see how many rappers try to outdo my pendant and break my record. They don’t call me the King of Crunk for nothing!” Sounds like a challenge to me. I wonder what rapper will accept Jon's challenge and delve further into ignorance.

Good Riddance!

Coach K has a reputation of keeping his players at Duke until their senior years but looks like Josh McRoberts will join the likes of Cory Maggette, Elton Brand, Luol Deng and William Avery as players that left Duke early. Personally I really didn't care for McRoberts to begin with. For a kid of his size he should have been more dominant and forceful. He did have a few moments of brillance, but the key word there is "few". This year we needed him to really step up, but as we all know now, he fell short. So what does this mean for Duke next year? Well according to fox sports, Coach K knew at the end of last season that Josh was going to leave. So I'm quite sure Coach K has another awkward looking white dude to replace McRoberts.

Am I too old for hip hop?

So I'm fresh off a long, exhaustive but fun weekend that included a stop at The Street Dreams Tour with Jeezy and Lil Wayne and also the Unpredictable tour with Jamie Foxx. While enjoying the live show I was hit with a revelation. The moment came during Jeezy's performance when he asked the crowd to "put ya hood up". Here I am a 27 year old grad student in a sea of preteen and misguided youth and Jeezy is prompting me to "put my hood up". Don't get me wrong, I like Jeezy and Lil Wayne and a few of the others that comprise this new generation of hip hop but at the precise moment I realized that I have completely outgrown the content and antics of this newer generation of hip hoppers. I guess I'm just getting old.

Life is Good...

Stop everything you are doing, drive to your nearest Best Buy and purchase Rollbounce Waist Deep starring Tyrese and the ever so sexy Meagan Good. As my ode to women (history) continues, today I wanted to acknowledge the woman with the best pair of lips on the planet. This was a title previously held by the late Aaliyah, until Meagan came along and kissed the competition goodbye. Ok, so she's not the best actress and she did play in that atrocious D.E.B.S. movie, but with those lips and that smile, who cares?!

Brown Sugar...

Since it is Women's History month, I thought it would be appropriate for me to post a few pics of women that I truly appreciate. Now I know in some round about way this could probably be interpreted as being sexist but who cares?! So on the top of my list of women that I really "appreciate", is the incomparable Sanaa Lathan. She is the prototype of my perfect woman. If I could manufacture my "dream" girl like the fellas on Weird Science, she would be it. Now if I could only convince her to co-star in my own home video, like Brandy's brother, my life would be complete.

Read a book damnnit!

I will admit, outside of my subscription to Complex magazine and an occasional read of Scratch, I'm not a big reader. I do frequent Barnes and Noble but its usually just to skim through some magazines on a lazy sunday. Of the few books that I have read, Gunshots in my Cook up is definitely one of my favorites. Some of you may remember the author Selwyn Hinds as the former editor of The Source back when they were actually a credible magazine. This is a must read for anyone that is passionate about hip hop. For a young writer like myself this book is not only inspiring but it serves as a blueprint for getting in the game.

The Pussycat Dolls are the new Wu Tang...

So I'm scanning through the channels trying my best to avoid anything that's remotely close to "reality" television (which is getting VERY hard these days) and what do I run into? The worst reality show ever produced. The CW network, previously known as UPN (responsible for such travesties as "Cuts", and that dreaded Eve show), has a new reality show featuring a gang of young starlets trying to become the new member of The Pussycat Dolls. Doesn't anyone want to be a doctor or a lawyer anymore? Everyone can't be a rapper or be in a damn pop group. But anyway, I wasn't surprised to see another reality show featuring a pop group (remember that TLC show), I was surprised to find out that The Pussycat Dolls are looking for a new member. Seriously, why? Other than that chick Nicole, I have no idea who those other broads are. And the only reason why I know Nicole is because that damn Diddy song she was featured on was played a million times on BET. I know they had a "big" year in '06 but don't they know that's just another chick they have to split the check with?

Return of the Swagger

I'm back after battling a severe case of laziness and procrastination. Unfortunately, 90's week ended short after a few other things in my life took precedent. In the week since my departure The Roots performed here in Myrtle Beach @ the H.O.B, Kelis was arrested, Diddy allegedly smacked fire outta some dudes ass, Kanye released his worst video ever and Anna Nicole was finally buried. Neither of these things moved me more than a story out of Texas. Two ignorant ass teenage niggas taught two toddlers how to smoke a blunt. I know this story has been repeatedly played and rightfully so but I just can't get over it. This is just painfully ignorant! As much as I want this to be an isolated incident of ignorance that has no ties to race, I just can't help but to feel ashamed of the youth of black America. My big homie Tariq Nasheed weighed in on the controversy in his "Grown Crack Babies podcast. Listen to this!


In other news, I can quit cryin' about missing The Roots @ HOB because Mr. Hip Hop is Dead himself Nas will be here April 6th!!!