challenge to lyricists

I am a product of hip-hop; I could be considered a member of the founding generation of hip-hop. And although I like the beats and the music that I hear, there is something lacking that makes me uneasy. There seem to be a lack of lyricists nowadays. Sure everyone claims to be a lyricist, but there are very few.

By definition a lyricist is one who writes songs, but it seems as if a lyricist should also be socially conscious, creative and never willing to write about or on the same subject matter over and over. Currently, the only thing that one hears about in the hip-hop game is materialism, vanity and falsehoods that do nothing to improve the corpus of listeners that make such artists wealthy. Sure, I have heard that this is what goes on in the streets, and that people want to purchase these songs, but isn’t there a higher purpose to making music than just stacking loot?

I just wonder how many times can one talk about shooting folks, selling drugs, platinum teeth, diamonds in a watch on their wrist, cocaine, 24-inch rims or smoking purp? How much can this actually be contributing to the betterment of folks that are already devastated historically by the pangs of racism and prejudice? Now don’t get me wrong, I listen to the same music too, and like most of it, but there is a greater good, people. Not to mention, half these folks talking about the dirt they are doing or are likely to do, don’t even live in the communities they write about.

So y’all folks who consider yourselves to be dope lyricists, show me something, because for the record, you’re just talking out of the side of your neck and repeating news that ain’t newsworthy at all.

take me out to the ball game

Hey had a great weekend. a few bars and a few parties - recant it was the weekend of the BET hip-hop awards.






But on sunday, i was at the dome, with the best of company - my secret service. we had a ball and they say a picture is worth a thousand words, then here are three - with the exception of the sorry falcons.






Good lookin Cuz for the lux-u-ray Box suite.

The Bad and the Stupid

There used to be a statement that was really over used that was taken from a cowboy movie – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I have modified this to the aforementioned title. Why, Well first, yesterday my homeboy, Harold Ford Jr., lost his bid for the US senate seat for the state of Tennessee. I call him a homeboy because not only we are from the same city of Memphis, Tennessee but also because I know him and remember when he would always come over with his father to a neighbor’s house across the street when we were all much younger. I am proud of his accomplishments but this Libertarian here really did want him to win. Nonetheless, he has still made history and I expect greater things in the future from this 36 year Harvard law school graduate. This was the Bad for me.

The stupid well there was a lot to select from. However, I decided to select two, one of which is rather tragic. University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was fatally shot Tuesday. A senior, he was expected to be taken in next spring's NFL draft. All this opportunity is a waste, since he was proffered an opportunity for both a higher education and a chance to make millions by merely playing sports. I do not know what transpired, but I am certain that there are consequences to our behavior. Sometimes its best to think and avoid situations, but such would suggest that thinking and reasoning are skills that al posses.

Lastly, there is the man that is scheduled to host the BET awards here in the ATL – Katt Williams. The 35 year-old Williams was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after a stolen gun was found in his briefcase, airport police said on Monday after he was stopped at a security checkpoint. First, it is difficult to see this as something other than a publicity stunt, so maybe he can have something to joke about on stage at the fox. But why waste money and time? And more importantly, why travel with a throwaway on a plan, it aint like you ca keep it under your seat. Any way, next time, go to the city of destination if you fly, and purchase a throwaway there, they should be rather easy to obtain.

where did this happen and when - man shot 81 times

How many Bullets does it take to shoot an un-armed Brother? Answer is 81

Lieber-Wuss

Something historic just happened recently, Joe Lieberman became just the fourth incumbent senator to lose a primary since 1980. After his lose, he then announced he would continue to run, but as an independent – specifically what he called an independent democrat. Appears as if his independent democratic ways is what lost him the race in the first place.

Lets face it, Ned Lamont, a millionaire cable mogul is new school and without wrinkles. In contrast, Lieberman is stuffy and viewed as a pocket man for a Bellicose President. Some argue that Joe Lieberman has been an effective Democratic Senator for Connecticut and for America. By changing affiliation, this supposedly honorable senator is telling folks it is ok to be a sore looser, to take your ball and go home when you are not picked to play.

Who cares if Leiberman’s loss will make the Democratic Party more extreme far left or that Democratic candidates become unelectable? I just think he send the wrong message, saying that if you lose fairly, then you can turncoat on the folks that carried you and mess it up for them. It also says that Three-term U.S. Senators are obsolete and out of touch with the populous that in most respects are sick of the war/occupation in Iraq. All in all it just says that Senator Lieberman is a wuss and a wuss by genetic make-up is part wimp and part pussy.

Just a few thoughts

I am not married, but I have been. However, over the years I have come to conclude that there are things that are genderless that everybody can do if their desire is to make it last infinitely. Now I’m not trying to give advice or be Dr. Phil or Judge Judy. But here goes.

Sex is nonnegotiable. Without hesitation, it is the obligation of either partner to serve and take care of the other whenever they require such, unless existing circumstances of the medical variety presents otherwise.

Be Spontaneous, however it may manifest from having sex in a bathroom in a public restaurant to going for coffee and looking at magazines. Even a walk in the park (free) to blow a fat one or have a wine cooler is cool.

Don’t criticize or patronize. Whether it is starting an argument over a cd being put in the wrong place or him making all your problems seem simple and easy to solve, one cannot harp on petty things that make no real difference. In addition, you cannot always simplify what another say when they come to you with their problems. What may be simple to you may not be simple to them and no words may be the best words to say.

Find daycare. Don’t laugh, if you have children especially two years or younger, it is essential to find daycare or else quality time will be reduced to work which may result into petty disagreements that become interpersonal over time.

Fidelity. Just act as if your vows is to yourself as well as her men especially. Being unfaithful implies deceit and deceit is the wedge in trust. You loose trust either you forgive and move on or loose the relationship.

Show value, respect and appreciation for one another. To give one worth in action is more valuable than the words “I love you.” Meaning the goal is to look each other in the eyes and hold hands as friends for life.

Just a few thoughts from a Memphis Mac.

mindless boy sports

Be truthful, do those who program television and news broadcasts really think that I am going to be interested in the war on terror, the Pope’s remarks regarding Islam, the ramblings of a known racist — Senator George Allen of Virginia or the death of Anna Nicole Smith’s son, when it is NFL Sunday, week two?

Well, I am not interested and I actually wish it were on first thing in the morning, beginning immediately after CSPAN’s “Washington Journal.” That would be perfect timing, particularly when there was no expected sighting of Tiger Woods in his traditional red shirt, kicking a$$.
In addition, my progeny like football, too. Particularly my baby girl, who at 15 months, pulls her little portable chair up, places its back against the sofa, sits down with her bottle and proceeds to look at the games with the same fervor as her brother and I do. She is certain to make a great wife one day for a real man.

So women, get off your high horses. Who cares if football is a game for boys? No matter what, regardless of our ages, we are still children at heart. I would likely look at something newsworthy on the weekends if it were of interest to me, such as the human rights disgrace in Darfur, Sudan. However, until then, be comfortable that you at least know where your man is, and be thankful for mindless boy sports.

the last 4 letters

Truth, trust, hurtThere are some things that are nonnegotiable. Most of these are esoteric, but nonetheless important and invaluable to mankind. However, I have come to learn that many of us have not accepted these esoteric concepts as being worthy of practicing, especially when it comes to being truthful and telling the truth.

It seems that many people are comfortable with being dishonest and would prefer to withhold the truth or even lie for whatever reason. If a person lies to you, they have no respect or value for you or themselves. I feel that all I have is my word, and that my words should be backed with action. In other words, if I state I will do something, I will; and if confronted on any subject, I feel obligated to tell the truth, regardless of the outcome.

No matter what you do when you interact with other people, be truthful and honest. By doing so, you can’t go wrong. The least of your problems is keeping up with your lie and your actions will leave other people with the observation that you deserve respect because of your truthfulness, despite the fact that it may hurt others. But then again, the truth hurts, and it is no coincidence that the last four letters in the word truth can be used to spell hurt; meaning it will always be better to be told a hurtful truth than to be told a comforting lie.

add it up

Over the past few decades there has been a severe decline in academic achievement in the children that have been matriculating through both our private and public school systems. This is consistent for all academic disciplines including reading, science and math. However it is math, and the curious disdain that we have for this subject in particular, that I would like to discuss.

A recent report released by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) has documented what we have been seeing occur all along — American students are poor at mathematics. The study was conducted over a three-year period and concluded that the United States ranked 24th out of 29 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. As a state, Georgia also ranks among the lowest in average SAT score (1477) at 46 out of 50 states and remains last among all states in math.

Without math there would be no money, no calendars, nothing. Students from Finland and South Korea were the top scorers on the survey. We need to have a true understanding of the importance of learning information. Math, specifically. Sure you won’t be asked to do axiomatic set theory in the workplace (albeit I do, with regards to some forms of regression analysis). But it is still nice to know.

One day, you won’t have the skill set to make the batteries that go into the calculators we will use to do our adding, subtracting and division. What then? Oh, my fault, math is stupid and we hate it.

had a great time this weekend

judged a model contest for nu-south lemonade
my boy is the owner - good lookin Huissen border="0" />

It was at my boys house, he had fun too
And I met Charita - she say she a model
u make the call - she said shed like to kick it with me -i said cool and went and got another plate

i think lil momma here was on that diva juice - 1st runner upI was in by 1215am - even after the party

at Lawyer Milloy's House

Funkadelic is my favorite group