Just My Thoughts People

Top 10...

MC's in the game (right now), according to MTV. 

I saw this special that aired on MTV News this past Sunday in which they listed the top 10 rappers in the game right now.  A panel of 10 men, women, MTV producers, editors and writers based their votes on who is new to the game and who is controlling the crowd.  But from seeing the contenders, they clearly didn't stick to their plan.  Jim Jones and maybe Jeezy are the newest to the game out of all the 10, but I guess these are all the rappers consistently putting out music and a few who are giving us some brain food.

Here's their list...

10.  Jim Jones
9.    Common
8.    50 Cent
7.   Jay-Z
6.   Young Jeezy
5.   Kanye West
4.   Andre 3000
3.   Game
2.   T.I.
1.   Lil Wayne

Seems somewhat off to me.  I'm not feeling the Game's position or even his presence on this list.  "One Blood" is mainly what I remember and he had a few others that were ok ("Wouldn't Get Far"); Common and 50 should have been higher.  The panelists argued for quite awhile over the fact that Jim made the list and not Nas.  I agree depending on how you're really tabulating your votes.  If it's for lyrical prowess, then hell yea Nas should have been on but if you're talking about crowd possession, then Jim is right where he needs to be.  And Andre 3000 at #4?????? Really?  Nah, he should get the #1 spot.  Yea, he hasn't had a lot of singles as of late, but his one verse on one song murders everyone on the list simultaneously.   He and Wayne are both crafty but Andre actually has a lot more to say.  So here's my version of the list if I had to pick from everyone that they offered...

10.  Game
9.    Jim Jones
8.    Jay-Z
7.   Common
6.   50 Cent
5.   Young Jeezy
4.   Kanye West
3.   T.I.
2.   Lil Wayne
1.   Andre 3000

Click here to watch as they struggle to pick the #1 spot

Sure He's Cool, But Why Will You Vote For Him?

photos ganked from Crunk&Disorderly

I think it's cool that Vibe decided to run a cover story on presidential candidate Barack Obama and I might even have to pick this issue up just to see what they'll print about him.  But I also wonder how many people will vote for him just because he's black?  I know plenty of people who base their votes on who is popular or who their friends/family are voting for which is just wrong on so many levels.  I predict that unlike the campaign that Diddy ran last time, the younger generation really is up on their politics now and they will make a solid vote based on who they feel is truly the lesser of two evils and who is fighting for what they believe in (but of course I could be completely naive and overly optimistic).  For those of you who don't really know what his issues and views are, all you have to do is go to his website which will give you an overview but also listen to his speeches as well.  It's very important to see candidates in action.   I'm not big on speaking about politics - I vote for who I vote for and I just leave it at that and besides that, 98% of them are bogus anyway.  But since this is going to be one of the biggest races ever, I felt the need to briefly speak on it.  So here is some helpful info that you can link to on the candidate.  But remember, this is just a starting point. 

http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/

BET Continues to Disappoint

So with much hesitation I decided to sit down and watch one of BET’s new shows last night, “We Got To Do Better.” If you recall, the show was originally titled “Hot Ghetto Mess” and was based off of the website of the same name. The site would often post videos and pics of black people doing ridiculous things and wearing even more ridiculous outfits. You’ve probably seen most of these images in your inbox as I used to frequently receive them from my co-workers. At any rate, BET’s original intent was to bring the website to the small tube as if it would be part of their comedy line up or something, as if that’s what the black culture really needs right now. In a time where everything about us is being challenged and defeated, this was definitely about 10 steps in the wrong direction.

 So after some much needed criticism, the title was changed to “We Got To Do Better” and the shows intention is now to highlight everything that’s wrong, not only in the black culture but in general, and figure out better ways to be better black people. But lo and behold, a name change is simply a name change. From the first five minutes of the show, I already knew it was a lame attempt to back out of what was initially thought of as a grand idea. The host, Charlie Murphy tried his hardest to convince viewers that the show as an attempt to rectify wrongful and disgraceful behavior. I wish that I had been keeping count from the beginning because I could swear he said “We got to do better” at least 20 times. And it’s only a 30-minute show. So in between showing hot ghetto mess-ish clips, they have a street commentator who goes around asking random people questions of importance to test their ‘black’ knowledge. Questions were: “Who’s richer – Bill Gates or Jay-Z?,” “What happened first – blacks being able to vote or blacks being allowed to fight in the war?,” and “Who is Barack Obama?” which surprisingly a few people partially got correct.

So all in all, it was an awkward, non-provoking, weak attempt of a show. Even funny man Charlie Murphy couldn’t save it. I kept waiting for them to play the sound of crickets chirping whenever his solo commentary aired. Talk about needing to do better. I can’t find anything on BET’s website about it since it aired last night so let’s hope they decide to cut it short. Why don’t they just bring back something like “Teen Summit” and BET News????? All they do is run the same videos all day. Hell, even MTV has cut down about 90% of the videos and run more shows and these are some of the same shows that BET has taken and flipped into their own version. “Baldwin Hills” is the black version of “Laguna Beach," " SOB" is the black  version of "Punk'd" and they turned a non-MTV show and flipped it - "Hell Date" is "Blind Date."

 And I know better than to expect much from this urban station but they could at least put some effort into it. Don’t even get me started on that ‘game show’ “Take The Cake.” Sighhh I digress…

 And to add insult to injury…

Deelishis - Rumpshaker

Serena

image courtesy of www.sandrarose.com

If you haven't already seen it, here is the picture everyone has been circulating around the websphere.  It's from the final issue of Jane magazine and also features other celebs such as Eva Mendez.  Being that I'm not a man, I don't see the appeal (she looks so...strong) but at the same time I'm not a hater and if you like it, I love it.  Enjoy fellas! 

New Video: Ja Rule feat. Lil Wayne - Uh Oh

Besides the probability of this having been a publicity stunt, I'm not sure how well Ja Rule is going to do in today's climate.  He seems out of place in the song and the video as well.  I don't know if it's the amount of time that he spent away or the dated sound of the song.  He obviously knew the status of his relevancy, otherwise he wouldn't have enlisted the hottest rapper/collaborator/remix king out there right now - Lil Wayne, who murders him on this track.  Trust, if it weren't for his presence, I wouldn't have even bothered to listen.

A friend of mine brought up a good point though.  Many have lost respect for Ja because after 50 shut him and his whole crew down, he didn't fight back and just faded away into oblivion.  He had  a few songs here and there, I can remember "Clap Back" and "New York" but nothing solid or longlasting.  We didn't even really hear much from Ashanti.  Even realizing that they had the whole legal situation with Irv, something still should have been done to keep The Inc. in people's mouths.  But I guess they're giving it another go 'round:  Irv has a reality show due out soon, Ashanti has the single out with Jagged Edge and now this effort.  So what do you all think - is his time up???

Bitterness Besets Me

While scavenging through my roll of blogs the other day, I came across something that made me laugh and think all at the same time.  Bossip did a "Quote of The Day" on Melanie Brown in which she says about her new love:

“He’s the love of my life and I’m going to marry him. Stephen’s been a godsend. Eddie hasn’t been in touch once since I had the baby, it’s unbelievable. But Stephen has been a tower of strength. Stephen’s got a much bigger c**k as well!”

tsk tsk Mel B.  This is from the same woman who said she had planned to marry him.  So apparently the d8ck size couldn't have been that monumental of an issue if you were going to wake up to it every morning for the rest of your life.   But  why is this the card that  a lot of women play after a nasty breakup and most importantly, why do you trash your ex after it's over?  To hear about the endless blissfulness of a relationship that was ongoing for two years to all of a sudden hearing things like he was a liar, a cheater, the sex was bad, I didn't really feel that deeply about him anyway reflects badly on the bearer of these words.  It shows that either you were stupid to stay in a relationship for that long knowing that all these things were going on and it only ended because the other person ended it or that you are stretching the truth because you're hurt.

And do things like this (putting his lack of manhood on blast) really hurt a man?  I guess if it's true then it would but I would hope by now that people realize it's just a silly ploy to mask one's true feelings.  I've also heard that eluding to the fact that a man doesn't have a lot of money is another tactic as well in which case you just come off looking like a gold digger and yet and still, you were with his broke azz. 

And women aren't the only ones guilty of the bitter quotes.  I think men mainly use it in the face of embarrassment such as the classic case when a man tries to spit his top-notch game at a female only to get shot down.  You know what he says to that: "F8ck you bitch, you not that fine anyway."  Boy stop.  I was clearly fine enough to get your attention.   Comments such as this only make me mad for about a half a second and then I'm on my merry way.  I think it would take much more to hurt me, like "Your writing sucks."  But that's just me.

So the next time your ex goes on one of these tirades, just nod, smile, and keep it moving because you both know what the real deal is.

New Video: Diddy feat. Mario Winans - Through the Pain (Dear Kim)

What, was this video done like 2 seconds after Diddy and Kim "broke up?"  Say what you will, he is a marketing genius and it seems like he's showing Kim the ropes of the game.  I say in about 10 years these two will be tucked away on some private island never to be seen again.

New Video: Chingy feat. Luda, Small World, Steph Jones - Celebrity Chick

"Celebrity Chick" is the first single from the upcoming DTP compliation, Strength in Numbers.  It's good to see that Chingy has come to his senses and hooked back up with the guy who helped get him out there in the first place.  The song is catchy with nice production and is a certified club joint and radio burner.

"Duffle Bag Boys," my personal favorite (Playaz Circle feat. Lil Wayne) will be the second single from the compilation and they will soon be shooting a video for it.

Here is the tracklisting as of today, for the compliation:

1. “Celebrity Chick” – by Chingy, Steph Jones, and Small World
2. “Hot Tamales” by Small World, Chingy, and Serius Jones
3. “Jealous Of Me” by Small World, Shawn Jay, and Tity Boi
4. “Don’t Check Me” by Ludacris, Playaz Circle, and I-20
5. “Windy City” by Block Xchange, Shawnna, and Ludacris
6. “The Game” by Shareefa, Serius Jones, Chingy, and Small World
7. “DTP” by Willy Northpole and I-20
9. “Speakers In the Trunk” by Brolic D and Tity Boi
10. “Let’s Go”(Remix) by Bobby Valentino featuring Lil’ Fate
11. “Duffle Bag Boy” by Playaz Circle featuring Lil’ Wayne
12. “Live On Stage” by DTP Family (including Small World, Brolic D, Playaz Circle, Smoke, Willy Northpole, and Ludacris)
13. “Act Like Us” by Playaz Circle, Serius Jones, and Willy Northpole
14. “We Ain’t Worried ‘Bout U” by Ludacris

Top 10...

Reasons That Having A Corporate Job Isn't Half Bad

About three months ago, about the same time I began my blog, I found out that the corporate beast had rendered myself and my co-workers useless and we had two weeks to pack our sh8t and get the hell out.   The beast, which  we used to affectionately refer to as  "I Bullshit Mostly" (which I'm pretty sure you can figure out) had become my home for almost 6 years.  It was the first job I had out of college and I really only got it because a family friend knew the hiring manager (remember - it's who you know, not what you know).  It was intended to be just a job until I found my career which at the time I can't even remember what I really wanted to do.  I know that I always complained about the work and the people and the pay and so forth and was almost happy upon hearing the news.  I thought, finally, the shackles have been released and I am free to pursue my real life dreams (but we all know that being complacent will always hold you down and I do not condone it at all).  At any rate, since being dumped I have begun to realize that maybe the job wasn't half bad at all.

Here are 10 reasons why...

10.  FREE USE OF A COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET
I hardly used the laptop that I paid nearly a stack for at home, unless I failed to complete my homework assignments while at work.  Through BellSouth, I purchased the cheapest possible internet package and even purchased one of those little mini hard drives in case I did have to fire up my own personal computer at home and transfer any personal documents from the work computer to the home computer.

9.  REST AND RELAXATION
The older women at work used to go on and on about how they loved being at work because it gave them a break from being at home.  I never understood what the hell they meant until now.  Being at home all day is a whole new world.  It's still hectic, but in a very different way.  I used to wake up at 5.15 am, get home around 5.00 pm, spend time and take care of my daughter, see the hubby for about 10 minutes before he heads out to work, maybe cook something, and doze off to  whatever was on Nick At Nite.  Now, it's wake up at 6.30 am, chase my daughter around the house, take her to the park, read to her, listen to the phone ring all day, begin more job ventures, cook nearly everyday, clean up every 15 minutes, take a few shots of whatever liquor we have in stock, stay up until the azz crack of down writing, hit the sack around 3 am and it starts all over again.  Even if I have time on the clock to take a nap, I can't because my mind is still running.  It's pretty much a non-stop day - no propping your feet up and staring at the computer screen at all.

8.  GOSSIP
I usually don't condone gossip and I most certainly try not to indulge in it but I am, for some reason one of those people that gets beat in the head with everyone's problems, concerns, life dreams and whatnots.  While at times it got to be extremely time-consuming (they always want to talk when you're trying to watch YouTube clips in your cubicle or make some long-distance calls or sleep or whatever), it did make for a pretty interesting day.  I worked with 17 other women and knew everything about every single one of them from who they were sleeping with (astoundingly, 4 of them were sleeping with the same guy at once), to whose marriage sucked to who gets wild at the clubs.  Certainly makes you forget about the petty issues that you may have.

7.  COOKED FOOD
While I'm not one of those chicks who will say "I don't know how to cook,"  I basically cook when I have to, which is about every other day and I always wait until the fridge is damn near empty before I begin looking for something to throw on the stove.  While working, I ate breakfast and lunch with no effort at all.  This obviously is not cheap, since the prices in workplace barfeterias are twice what you'd pay in a five-star restaurant but convenience is everything so on a weekly basis I probably paid around $50+ for food, not including trips to the snack machine or going out to eat during 2-hour lunches.

6.  2-HOUR LUNCHES
Yes, when we break - we break!  Not much explanation needed here.  This is the perfect time to head out with the co-workers and complain about your day, have a little drink if you dare and catch up on more office gossip.

5.  TALKING TO OLD FRIENDS
I'm not much of  a phone yakker, and I most certainly don't want to sit on the phone all night once I get home from such a hard day at work, so the perfect time to do all of this is - at work.  Especially if the old friends are out of state.  Free long-distance!

4.  HANDLING PERSONAL BUSINESS
This could probably be merged with #10, but the free use of a large network printer, scanner, copier, fax machine, paper, pens/pencils and whatever other office supplies your office has is PRICELESS.  I dabble in real estate off and on and conducted 95% of my business while on I Bullshit Mostly's time. This included searching for properties, making phone calls to see properties, sending emails, making hundreds of copies of homes and directions to each home, faxing contracts, going out for inspections, walk-throughs and closings...the possibilities are endless!  I also did a huge bulk of my homework while on corporate time, lots of google-related research, online shopping, paying bills, grocery shopping, running errands...you get the point.  You can do all this while still getting paid, and when you get home, you don't have sh8t to do!

3.  HAVING SOMEWHERE TO SHOWCASE YOUR STYLE
Having to be somewhere everyday enables you to show off your clothes and your new hairstyle, your latest accessories etc.  Being at home most days is just a waste of clothing, and not that I'm drab and frumpy at home (that is SO not the case) but I do feel kind of funny walking around the house or going to the park in 4-inch heels, tight jeans and a low-cut shirt.

2.  KEEPING UP WITH MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT NEWS...
This is perhaps the most hurtful part of the whole debacle.  While working, I had time to listen to every single new cd, single, artist, beef battle, entertainment gossip that existed and believe me, I was on top of my sh8t ya'll.  I had a routine at work - my hours were from 7.00 am - 3.30 pm so I got in around 7.30, chit-chatted for awhile, went to the barfeteria to grab breakfast, ate at my desk while surfing the web, took a bathroom break, worked while listening to new music, took an hour or so lunch break while reading through the internets, worked until about 2.00, surfed the web some more/listened to music and was in the parking lot in my car around 3.20 pm.

1.  A F8CKING PAYCHECK!
While I get money here and there through my various job ventures, there is nothing like receiving a direct deposit on a weekly basis, knowing that you performed the work that was required of you while simultaneously managing your personal life.

The Replacements

I swear, every time I hear "Sexy Lady" it makes me think of Lil Bow Wow

I realize that when we mention 'hip-hop', Bow Wow is not one of the many artists that comes to mind, but you must give him his just due - he's been spewing out hit singles and albums on a near consistent basis since 2000 and he was only like 13 at the start of his career; ruled 106 & Park for like, ever; was the star of The Scream Tour and so on and so forth.

And I really only bring him up because of the recent influx of kiddie/young adult artists and he is nowhere in sight.  I expected him to be the younger version of Jim Jones, appearing on everyone's remixes - from Lil Mama to Chris Brown to Sean Kingston.   He had a nice song out last year, "Fresh Az I'm Iz" which I'm pretty sure T.I. wrote (or at least sounds like he did) and since then, there's been nothing.  T.I. and his former love, Ciara have taken over the scream tour by headlining Screamfest and every time I see that Young Berg video, it makes me think that it should have been Bow Wow's song.  Plus, he got booted off of R. Kelly's joint, "I'm A Flirt" by none other than T.I. geez.

We all know that my favorite magazine is XXL and I pretty much read every article in it whether I like an artist or not and lo and behold, there was an article on Bow weezy discussing the hinderance of his kiddie image - his label will not allow him to use profanity, his mom still feels like he's a kid and is not ready for the adult life.  He's a 21-year old man living the life of a 15-year old kid, but realistically, how do you escape the image that is burned into everyone's memory of you?  There is absolutely no way that he can come out hardbodied, talkin about trappin and f8ckin chicks.  Who would take him seriously?  It's kinda like he's at Jay-Z's level in terms of outgrowing his audience.  It just may be time for him to start producing and developing artists and doing the movie thing.  The Price of Fame, indeed.

Nothing prolific, just a random thought that I had...

And this is why I always say that being a child star sucks azz.  It almost always ends up in doomsville...