"Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that's more productive."
--Donald Trump
"Sometimes...when you hold out for everything, you walk away with nothing"
--Ally McBeal
"I got this Icebox where my heart used to be..."
--Omarion
I've finally made it to my breaking point...
I've never quit anything that I started. I really haven't, it's not in my nature to quit. I've often marveled at my own level of willful perseverance. I get knocked down, beat up, and kicked, yet somehow I keep getting up asking for more.
This quality is most evident in my personal relationships and educational career. While I'm no where near giving up on my education, my personal relationships are definitely in turmoil.
2006 has probably been the most trying year for myself, my REAL friends, and my personal relationships. I am beginning to lose my ability to find the value in other people who I am not already acquainted with. Why? I feel the need to defend myself. Defend myself from what? From the pain that goes along with having a big heart. I have been truly heartbroken by certain people that I held near to me this year.
My outlook is atypical of what's to be expected. Many would be frustrated and see it as just another casualty of life. I think it's only a matter of people eliminating themselves. God is pruning me. Shedding dead weight from my circle. While it may be somewhat frustrating and painful on my end, I know it's for the better.
To all those that I've loved and lost, thank you for teaching me a valuable lesson in my life. Some things we just can't change...peace out. Enjoy your life, stay blessed.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Hip-Hop Is Dead?
Young Jeezy vs. Monie Luv
Ok, I am sick of people telling me "Hip-Hop Is Dead" and "The South Killed Hip-Hop." That is the most baseless, asinine, elitist claim I have ever heard in my life. In the interview above, Hip-Hop veteran (I refuse to call her a legend after this interview) Monie Luv ATTACKS Young Jeezy verbally. They discuss Lil' Wayne's most recent comments about Jay-Z (Which is an entirely new blog) and then she baits him into a conversation about whether or not hip-hop is truly dead.
While I don't necessarily like the way Jeezy handled it, I respect him for holding it down as a Southern Artist and a Man.
ATTENTION:Hip-Hop is NOT Dead!
The South is NOT responsible for any sort of negative shift in Hip-Hop and I'm tired of Northern Hip-Hop heads claiming that we are. As an artist I feel personally slighted. I don't have a record deal, I'm not making millions. I spit for the love. I MC. I am a rapper. When you say Southern rappers suck, by association I am lumped in.
I am a hip-hop purist. I long for the days of Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, Schooly D, a young LL Cool J, and Run DMC.
I am also a Southern Hip-Hop Purist. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is STILL in my heavy rotation. I still listen to Comin' Out Hard and get that tingly feeling in my spine. UGK is still my favorite Texas group!
Do I like everything that comes out of FYE with a "Hip-Hop" label on it? Hell No! I don't really care for snap music, trap music is very cliche', and crunk is on the verge of crap at times. Think about it though, those are three very distinct genres simply within southern hip-hop though! Rapper Big Pooh from Little Brother said it better than most. He said that the rappers from the south are the most versatile artists because we grew up listening to everything.
We have some of the BEST and BRIGHTEST in the game. Seriously. I know now why a lot of West Coast cats still don't really fool with Northern Hip Hop. When the West Coast began to reign in the 90's, a war sparked off! Mainly because a few cats from the North and some of the "Hip Hop Purists" didn't like the direction. I think it's ridiculous.
I find it amazing that the main critics of southern hip-hop are people who have never paid attention to it. It's SUPER hypocritical. They hate our snap dances, our "Walk It Out", and our "Poole Palace". We embraced their "Harlem Shake" and "Chicken Noodle Soup." They have Wu-Tang. We have the Dungeon Family. The South has ALWAYS been underrated in terms of lyricism and skill because of the Northern bias of the hip-hop media. We know New York is the birthplace, but damn can we shine too?!?!?!?!
Cee-Lo, Andre 3000, Big Boi, T.I., Lil' Wayne (after he stops feeling himself so much), Young Buck, Ludacris, Bun-B, Little Brother, Killa Mike.
All Southern Artists. All could hold their own in a cypher with anyone, anywhere. Jeezy was right about one thing he said in his interview. It's a new day, a new movement.
Take some cues from Fat Joe and show some love.
Give me your top 5 Southern Hip Hop Albums:
1. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
2. Comin' Out Hard
3. Soul Food
4. 400 Degreez
5. Da' Pimp and Da Gangsta
Ok, I am sick of people telling me "Hip-Hop Is Dead" and "The South Killed Hip-Hop." That is the most baseless, asinine, elitist claim I have ever heard in my life. In the interview above, Hip-Hop veteran (I refuse to call her a legend after this interview) Monie Luv ATTACKS Young Jeezy verbally. They discuss Lil' Wayne's most recent comments about Jay-Z (Which is an entirely new blog) and then she baits him into a conversation about whether or not hip-hop is truly dead.
While I don't necessarily like the way Jeezy handled it, I respect him for holding it down as a Southern Artist and a Man.
ATTENTION:Hip-Hop is NOT Dead!
The South is NOT responsible for any sort of negative shift in Hip-Hop and I'm tired of Northern Hip-Hop heads claiming that we are. As an artist I feel personally slighted. I don't have a record deal, I'm not making millions. I spit for the love. I MC. I am a rapper. When you say Southern rappers suck, by association I am lumped in.
I am a hip-hop purist. I long for the days of Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, Schooly D, a young LL Cool J, and Run DMC.
I am also a Southern Hip-Hop Purist. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is STILL in my heavy rotation. I still listen to Comin' Out Hard and get that tingly feeling in my spine. UGK is still my favorite Texas group!
Do I like everything that comes out of FYE with a "Hip-Hop" label on it? Hell No! I don't really care for snap music, trap music is very cliche', and crunk is on the verge of crap at times. Think about it though, those are three very distinct genres simply within southern hip-hop though! Rapper Big Pooh from Little Brother said it better than most. He said that the rappers from the south are the most versatile artists because we grew up listening to everything.
We have some of the BEST and BRIGHTEST in the game. Seriously. I know now why a lot of West Coast cats still don't really fool with Northern Hip Hop. When the West Coast began to reign in the 90's, a war sparked off! Mainly because a few cats from the North and some of the "Hip Hop Purists" didn't like the direction. I think it's ridiculous.
I find it amazing that the main critics of southern hip-hop are people who have never paid attention to it. It's SUPER hypocritical. They hate our snap dances, our "Walk It Out", and our "Poole Palace". We embraced their "Harlem Shake" and "Chicken Noodle Soup." They have Wu-Tang. We have the Dungeon Family. The South has ALWAYS been underrated in terms of lyricism and skill because of the Northern bias of the hip-hop media. We know New York is the birthplace, but damn can we shine too?!?!?!?!
Cee-Lo, Andre 3000, Big Boi, T.I., Lil' Wayne (after he stops feeling himself so much), Young Buck, Ludacris, Bun-B, Little Brother, Killa Mike.
All Southern Artists. All could hold their own in a cypher with anyone, anywhere. Jeezy was right about one thing he said in his interview. It's a new day, a new movement.
Take some cues from Fat Joe and show some love.
Give me your top 5 Southern Hip Hop Albums:
1. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
2. Comin' Out Hard
3. Soul Food
4. 400 Degreez
5. Da' Pimp and Da Gangsta
Friday, December 08, 2006
Play at Your Own Risk...
Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.
--Charlie Brown (Charles M. Schultz from hit Comic Strip "Peanuts")
Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.
___________________________________________________________________
I'm accustomed to not getting what I want. I'm definitely not worried about things that I know I can't have...materially. However, I just like any man, am always somewhat curious about what makes members of the opposite sex tick. This is not a "woman bashing" note by any means, it is simply an observation of the inconsistencies we tend to overlook when it comes to them.
I will never understand the logic behind women's choices in dating. 9 times out of 10, when I look at my boys, I can see why they would date the people they would. I can see how they can be attracted to them. My female associates, not so much. I'm often confused about what motivates women who always tout the virtues of intelligence, ambition, and stability to date people who are inferior to them in each category.
I have listened to women dog men without ceasing. I have listened to them bitterly make statements about how, "there are no good men left" or "a good man is hard to find" or (my personal favorite) "all the black men are either dead, in jail, or gay." I find these statements to be utterly false and also very aggravating as a good black man. I can rattle off 10 right now. The problem is no that we aren't out there the problem is that you either a) don't want to be with us, b) are with us and treat us like crap, or c) are too hung up on being with someone you know doesn't want to be with you. Honestly, like Katt Williams said, if you are over the age of 21 and you are still talking about how all men are dogs, you need to grow up and start saying all the dudes YOU choose to mess with are dogs.
Fellas, at some point and time in your life you will realize that you are in somebody's life for their convenience only. The relationship is NOT reciprocal. Unrequited love sucks, and we all know it. There has been at least ONE female in every guy's life that he has loved to DEATH. He would have tried to fight the fleshly incarnation of pain itself for her honor and protection. He treated her like a queen and all he got in return was the Red Badge of "Friendship". Ladies, when you do that, you're essentially spitting in the guy's face and telling him, "You're not good enough for me." Then 2 days later you'll call him at 2 a.m. for comforting while a man that doesn't even COMPARE to him is doing you wrong. I have been in this situation. I used to find it annoying, now I find it amusing...
Some people may be wondering about my motivation behind this. Well, let me give it to you. I'm getting tired of black women who are upwardly mobile, intelligent, stable, focused, highly active, and independent completely disrespecting black men. It's old, it's trifling, and it's probably the reason you're single. I simply cannot understand why some women who are building a career and making themselves economically viable cannot deal with a man who is doing the same. Simple cowardice seems to be the answer, you've dealt with men who have had nothing comparable in terms of intellect and drive, yet when you find a good man such as myself, or one of the people I associate, with you run. No one wants to buy a problem. No one wants to commit to frustration. If we can grow up and treat you with respect, admiration, and love, can you return the favor with some understanding at the very least?
--Charlie Brown (Charles M. Schultz from hit Comic Strip "Peanuts")
Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.
___________________________________________________________________
I'm accustomed to not getting what I want. I'm definitely not worried about things that I know I can't have...materially. However, I just like any man, am always somewhat curious about what makes members of the opposite sex tick. This is not a "woman bashing" note by any means, it is simply an observation of the inconsistencies we tend to overlook when it comes to them.
I will never understand the logic behind women's choices in dating. 9 times out of 10, when I look at my boys, I can see why they would date the people they would. I can see how they can be attracted to them. My female associates, not so much. I'm often confused about what motivates women who always tout the virtues of intelligence, ambition, and stability to date people who are inferior to them in each category.
I have listened to women dog men without ceasing. I have listened to them bitterly make statements about how, "there are no good men left" or "a good man is hard to find" or (my personal favorite) "all the black men are either dead, in jail, or gay." I find these statements to be utterly false and also very aggravating as a good black man. I can rattle off 10 right now. The problem is no that we aren't out there the problem is that you either a) don't want to be with us, b) are with us and treat us like crap, or c) are too hung up on being with someone you know doesn't want to be with you. Honestly, like Katt Williams said, if you are over the age of 21 and you are still talking about how all men are dogs, you need to grow up and start saying all the dudes YOU choose to mess with are dogs.
Fellas, at some point and time in your life you will realize that you are in somebody's life for their convenience only. The relationship is NOT reciprocal. Unrequited love sucks, and we all know it. There has been at least ONE female in every guy's life that he has loved to DEATH. He would have tried to fight the fleshly incarnation of pain itself for her honor and protection. He treated her like a queen and all he got in return was the Red Badge of "Friendship". Ladies, when you do that, you're essentially spitting in the guy's face and telling him, "You're not good enough for me." Then 2 days later you'll call him at 2 a.m. for comforting while a man that doesn't even COMPARE to him is doing you wrong. I have been in this situation. I used to find it annoying, now I find it amusing...
Some people may be wondering about my motivation behind this. Well, let me give it to you. I'm getting tired of black women who are upwardly mobile, intelligent, stable, focused, highly active, and independent completely disrespecting black men. It's old, it's trifling, and it's probably the reason you're single. I simply cannot understand why some women who are building a career and making themselves economically viable cannot deal with a man who is doing the same. Simple cowardice seems to be the answer, you've dealt with men who have had nothing comparable in terms of intellect and drive, yet when you find a good man such as myself, or one of the people I associate, with you run. No one wants to buy a problem. No one wants to commit to frustration. If we can grow up and treat you with respect, admiration, and love, can you return the favor with some understanding at the very least?
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