Re-Discovered: The Blueprint

Before I ramble on, let me state:
YES I AM A HUGE JAY-Z FAN AND HAVE BEEN A HUGE JAY-Z FAN. IF YOU TRY TO DEBATE ME ON WHY HE'S NOT "WORTHY", I WILL SHOOT YOU DOWN BECAUSE I AM ENTITLED TO MY OPINION AND YOUR "UNWORTHY" FUN FACTS WON'T VEER MY FEELINGS. I'M STAYING LOYAL SO PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

ANYwhoooo, I was driving home late the other night...mad tired.....and not even the rather lovely selections of music on my iTouch could wake me up....UNTILLLL.....Jay-Z's "U Don't Know" came on. The Blueprint is an album that I can honestly say I will NEVER get tired of (and I get tired of ish quick). But it's even better when you haven't heard it in awhile. And Ya Know Ya Girl Was Getting Amped! The best thing about Jay-Z's songs is his portrayal of his confidence. You can definitely see the comfort with where he came from to where he is now. You can look back but you gotta move on...

YOU LEARN:

"I'm from the streets where the
hood could swallow 'em and, bullets'll follow 'em"

"They say that we are prone to violence, but it's home sweet home
Where personalities clash and chrome meets chrome"

"Welcome to hell where you are welcome to sell
But when them shells come you better return 'em
All scars we earn 'em, all cars we learn 'em like the back of our hand"

"Was clappin them flamers before I became famous
For playin me y'all shall forever remain nameless"


YOU GROW:

"I tell you the difference between me and them
They tryin to get they ones, I'm tryin to get them M's"

"Put this shit in motion ain't no rewindin me back
Could make 40 off a brick but one rhyme could beat that"

"That's another difference that's between me and them
Heh, I'm smarten up, open the market up"

"Momma ain't raised no fool
Put me anywhere on God's green earth, I'll triple my worth"

"Was born to dictate, never follow orders
Dickface, get your shit straight, fucka this is Big Jay"

#POW

You live and you learn...

LISTEN TO THIS ISH FOR MOTIVATION!

I Can't Fux Wit U If U Ain't Sang This Song 2Day

IN HONOR OF "THE KING"

Put Ya Effort Where Ya Mouth Is

I'm not trying to overwhelm you with the MLK blast. My boo Octavious already hit you with his thoughts, but this is a blog with 4 very different individuals...so expect 3 more...or maybe just mine.

ANYwhoooo, today is a day that was made to honor the birthday and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, 2day also marks the anniversary of the holiday....25 years. That is truly a feat in history.

I was talking to my mommy the other day and she was showing me all of her buttons that she had collected back in the day...and I'm talkin' TRULY back in the day as in the 60s and 70s...black power ish, Malcolm X, and of course MLK. Me being a button fanatic, I wanted all of them to have...but the meaning of them all didn't hit me until she explained (however, she did end up giving me her 'FREE ANGELA' button #FTW!). One of the buttons she had was one that was created in the efforts to pass MLK Day as an actual holiday...Well look where we are now...HEY HEY HEY!!!

After thinking about it, it's amazing to me how much work it takes trying to get a holiday passed....but to get a holiday passed in honor of a BLACK MAN??.....almost unheard of (especially back then). I was going to treat this holiday like all of the other holidays and enjoy my day off of school/work by playing Sims on the computer and rocking out to some Guitar Hero because I'm cool like that...But due to recent events (such as having a black President, the Haiti disaster, & much more...good and bad), I feel the need to take the time to reflect on my blessings. I am truly a blessed individual...thanks to the Lord and for Him putting "heroes" here on this Earth. People may pick to find negativity in these individuals, but I refuse to shun a brotha, or a sista, who works his/her a$$ off for a change. Am I or you doing the same?...We still have things to work on...from the masses of our planet all the way to our communities. However, change doesn't come without effort. So for all you people who strive to find what is wrong with MLK (and other individuals who have worked for a change), pause to think about your blessings and your progress...which, in part, is due to the efforts of those same hardworkers you blast on. As for the minorities (and our caucasian supporters), we would not be where we are today without the effort of "the King". Take the time out (even if it's a few minutes), to appreciate the change....even though there is more to come...

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

P.S. Know your History --> click HERE

Twiggy's Vent Session

I went to SYGU's "2010" party last night and had a BLAST!...Got my groove on and kicked it with the homies. If anyone knows me, you would know that I can basically dance/jam to anything (minus J.Lo). But when I am grooving and I get interrupted by BS talk from a DJ....then that is a NO GO BUDDY! There was one DJ who happened to blow out 1/2 of my ear drum due to excessive screaming...not to mention, I couldn't understand him because he was speaking the same language as Donnie from the Wild Thornberrys. But ANYwhooo, after I finally became accustomed to this "sound", here he comes with this nonsense (and this was said/done multiple times):

"This is for the people 25 and older!...If you not 25 and older, you probably don't kno' nuthin bout this!!....If you 25 and older raise ya hands!!!....These young folks don't know about this!!"

*blank face* If I recall, this was a 21 and up event...so um....yea....what's up with this "25 & up" talk??....But that is besides the point. If you are going to pick an age to stretch the generation gap...at least go for 30-40. Because 25 is ONLY 3 years older than me....so tell me how I couldn't be on the same stuff they are on. So you tellin ME that these 25-year-olds were 3 years old rockin' out to some Slick Rick and Run DMC??...maybe so...but I know for a fact you didn't know what they were talking about and probably didn't learn the lyrics until you printed them out on AZLyrics.com in the late 90s. But THAT is besides the point...(not really but let me make my closing statement):

MUSIC HAS NO AGE!!

Do artists make music with an expiration date?....I sure hope not. That would mean that they have no true passion. Music lives on forever. So stuff from the past has caught up to me in this present day...for me to enjoy and jam WITH you if not MORE than you. Just check my iPod. The range is CrrAzyy! Just PLEASE....stop trying to feel special by putting yourself in a certain category....because besides the birth date, I've probably already been there. You might just learn from me. Think about it.

-CASE CLOSED-

The End.

Michael Jackson x Spike Lee

People always say that Michael Jackson's death was over-hyped especially when there are tons of people dying everyday. In my opinion, Michael has dealt with hype his whole life so this is nothing new. It is just a shame that someone finally gains more respect when all is done. But to each his own.

ANYwhooooo....this is a video of Michael's last/recent single "This Is It" (probably not last because you know how unreleased tracks get thrown out there). Dope thing about it?...It is directed by Spike Lee. If you know any of Spike's productions, you would know that certain things pop out at you. And you can grab a feeling and take it with you. The thing that touched me the most was at the 3:20 mark. I'll let you see what happens. All I will say is: MJ's "fire" will continue to burn.

Check it out:

Michael Jackson - This Is It - Directed by Spike Lee from 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks on Vimeo.

Beatles Remake -Thumbs Up-

I AM A BEATLES FAN!...So when i hear of artists remaking Beatles' classics, my nose turns up. The Beatles put a lot of creativity, intelligence, & talent in there work producing a pleasing sound and dope melodies...no doubt. HOWEVER, i came upon a remake by talented musician Martin Luther McCoy. He simply revamped The Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". I had to hear Martin Luther's version since I truly adore the original. As I pressed 'play', my heart fluttered. I do not like to hear things get jacked up...especially when it comes to good music. But Martin did no wrong....in my opinion of course. He brought a lot of soul to the song, but kept the song's groove. I totally dig it. Check it out yourself:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Martin Luther McCoy

To hear the original version of The Beatles' classic...click HERE!

To Be Copped

SCORE!!! Marge Simpson covers the November issue of Playboy in celebration of The Simpson's 20th anniversary. Issue hits news stands October 16th.

Music to my ears...

Now most of the people that know that I listen to a lot of Gospel music, but one thing that most don't know is that I am a pretty big old school jazz fan. People such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis are what I really like, and its partly due to the fact that I was raised in a house where two kinds of music dominated, gospel(mom) and jazz(dad). So here's a salute to some of my jazz favorites. Sit back and relax...

Naima - John Coltrane

Blue In Green - Miles Davis

Second to None

• Fade to Black is one of my favorite movies ever.
• Jay-z is my fave rapper...and that's staying. I'm not knockin' "my" legend. Hands down. Nuff said.
• Pharrell is a genius with the beats. His vibe is so soothing (...and his look is pleasing. HA!)
• Put the two together and you have magic.

Enjoy the show...

Some original "swagger"

Song: Come Together

Artist(s): The Beatles

Just listen to how the beat comes in....that's sum cool/suave/funky/swaggery type sh*t...

Discover The Beatles!

Another Great Gone

The First Black DIVA. Died this week at age 81. . .

"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma." - Eartha Kitt

. . . Now thats a Bad B!!!!

Legend Living In My Heart

Marvin means so much to me.

He teaches me.

He inspires me.

He seduces me.

He loves me.

He motivates me.

He calms me.

He uplifts me.

He heals me.

He informs me.

He saddens me.

He understands me.

He grooves me.



He's here.

He never left.

He's always in my heart...