Ziggy's Friday Forethought 7: It Started With A Random Keystyle...

For "my" sake

My sanity

You utter the sweetest blasphemy

From your lips to my heart

Creating its own heartbeat

But quickly dying

The root of it all is decaying

As I watch you fall to pieces

Three words to end you

You chose slowly

Not wisely

Know that I am able to soar without you

HE and I control my existence

Loved me before you "loved" me

So I can be all I need

You fail to see that is not I that can save you

You must save yourself.

THE MORAL:

Low self esteem seems to be a trend these days. It can be subtle, but it's there. I had a lot of things running through my mind while I sat at this PC, and the poem above is a result. This won't be a long FF entry for today. The message is simple: before you can love anyone else, you must love yourself first. Love yourself harder than anyone else does. You really can't love a person the way they deserve to be loved until you love yourself in that way first.

That's why I start each and everyday by looking in the mirror and saying, "Ziggy, YOU are THE SHIT!"

Joking. But mantras work, if you're into self affirmations.

Digressing...people often jump into relationships thinking that they'll feel better about themselves if they can find someone else to love them. Wrong. Pay attention, and after a while, that person that you wanted to love love love love you, alllll the time, is going to be out the door. You should not need a babysitter/parental figure in a significant other. Why would you even expect someone to love you if you can't love yourself?

Trust me. Self love is the best love.

Be blessed, and enjoy this beautiful weekend!

(deuces.)

btw: I'll probably have a couple of random posts in the next few days. And be on the lookout for a BlackMuzik update. :o)

Ziggy's Friday Forethought 6: Standards

This post will be short and to the point, and it piggybacks off of the FF post a couple of weeks back. The only different is that it applies to the estrogen powered human beings.

But fellas, that doesn't mean you can't learn something as well. :o)

I'm officially tired of the men/women who complain about their significant others.

What pisses me off more is the whole "there aren't any more good black men" statement. It's become a mantra to some females, and it's sad and funny to hear them chant it--all the while, still dating the same dude they've been unhappy with for years. Oftentimes us women get into relationships and do something we shouldn't do until (you feel it's) necessary--settle. We put up with things that we know we can't stand, but out of fear of being alone, we put up with whatever it is we dislike in hopes that "he'll change". Which of course is another strike. Why try to change a man/woman, when you can simply go and find a better person that suits your needs? What's even funnier is this excuse...

"If I leave him/her, I'm gonna be mad to see him/her with someone else, doing better than he/she was with me. Especially after I put in all this work..."

I get it, I get it. It's like...leaving a pot after you've been waiting for it to boil, and as soon as you turn your eyes away, it boils over...right? Right.

In a galaxy far, far away, I used to be one of those women. Low self esteem, putting up with just about anything. I used to think my standards were too high, but as I got older I soon realized that I'm really not asking for much. I'm not a golddigger; I don't need a man's money/legacy/empire to complete me. Give me the basics and we're good. If I find myself unable to deal with a man's flaws, then it's my call to sever ties and keep it moving. I will not waste my own valuable time trying to make a man, or anyone for that matter, into something they're not or don't aspire to be. Also, come to the grips with the notion that there's nothing wrong with having standards! You should always want something/someone equal or greater than yourself. The key is growth, and if you feel yourself growing but your partner isn't, it's not time to change him/her. It's time to move on. As much as it may hurt, sometimes these things happen, and how you deal will eventually become a pattern in future relationships.

If you don't have standards at all, therein also lies your problem. There's nothing wrong with a mental list of pros and cons, but getting into a relationship and complaining because your partner isn't exactly who you thought they'd be won't cut it. Standards are starting to dissipate for us women because we lack the patience (and sometimes the sense) to figure out our likes and dislikes. You can't change anyone but yourself, and a man won't change for you because he already thinks he shouldn't have to...especially not for a woman who he thought was down for him from the beginning.

I'd really hate to see standards become cliche in 2009. Let's get it together, people!

Be blessed, and enjoy your weekend!

(deuces.)

Ziggy's Friday Forethought 4: Blessings, NOT Burdens.

*photo courtesy of my Myspace page*


Two things I've discovered about myself in the past few months:

-I loathe complainers

-People without plans annoy me

These two things have always been something that bothered me, but as I'm kicking my life/career into 5th gear, my tolerance for nonsense is critically low. People who complain really work my nerves, and it's worse when people complain but do nothing to change what they're complaining about. I used to have a friends like this, but after many advice seeking conversations with me, they've discovered that Ziggy doesn't host pity parties. Ever. I'm not the kind of person to dwell on things that I can't change; I go into action and do whatever it takes to make sure there are no repeats.

Not having a general plan--you know, the "where do you see yourself in 5 years" theory--is something that only bothers me because I like to be around people who have goals and means of achieving them. I understand that sometimes there are lots of things that may form restraints, hindering you of reaching your goal...but if you don't have a goal, you have a serious problem. My two pet peeves coincide because when some people aren't happy about where they are in life, they complain rather than taking action. BOOOOOOOO. Whining about something doesn't change it for the better, it causes you to go further into the situation and analyze every aspect with "what ifs". I know for a fact that I have millions of things to complain about, but I don't want to block my blessings, so I thank God for the lesson and keep it moving, no matter how much it may hurt.

"Blessings, NOT Burdens". My personal mantra, if you will. If you are a person who is preoccupied with bitching and moaning about something that happened 4 months ago, you have no idea of the things that are passing you by. Opportunity knocks all the time, but every once in a while we lack the focus to answer. I used to be a complainer, someone who just dwelled on every little thing for entirely too long. I've since learned that I have so many things to be thankful for, and I know that more are on the way. Burdens are just a temporary obstacle to test our strength/faith/stability, and by complaining, you're letting the obstacle win. Regain your composure, dust yourself off and go back at it. Make friends with your same mindframe; being around people who will push you not only feels good, but it also brings better results than hanging with your Pity Party Crew.

Be blessed, and enjoy your weekend!

(dueces.)

Stand By Your Man

I read this story on CNN.com, and if this isn't the definition of a "ride or die chick", then I officially don't know what is.




"Robin Stearns, 28, watched her husband apply for jobs day in and day out. She watched him scour professional networking sites in an attempt to contact prospective employers.

Robin Stearns created a Web site to draw employers' attention to her jobless husband, Michael.

No response.
Then an idea came to her: Why not make him stand out by starting a Web site devoted to helping him find a job? She used her tax refund to buy a MacBook, which came with a Web site building feature. A few days later, myhusbandneedsajob.com was born."

You can check the rest of the story here.


This woman bought a MacBook (which costs a grip--expensive for no damn reason) with her own money and started a website to help her husband find a job. Selflessness at its finest. Her husband has gotten several e-mails regarding job opportunities since the site's opening. If I was that man, I'd deem everyday "My Wife Is AWESOME" day, lol.

I thnk it's admirable; I hear so many women who claim to be a "ride or die"* chick, but when the proverbial sh*t reeeeally hits the fan, zoom! Out the door, which is understandable in some cases, but if you're out before attempting to fix anything? Consider yourself a wimp. Especially in these days and times, when people are losing their jobs faster than they can say 401-K; who can really show that kind of dedication to the one that they love? I'm with it, I believe that in any relationship, your partner's goals should be just as important as yours, if you're serious. Not more important, but if you are with someone and you're considering spending your life with that person, make a plan. That means "I help you, you help me". Ladies, if your man wants to be an astronaut, help him out by getting information on what schools offer scholarships for his studies. Help him find work! Motivation is key, and he will love you endlessly if you show him you're there. Note: I said motivation, not nagging. Running the "did you do's" by your man is one sure way to annoy the hell out of him, so choose your words wisely. It also works vice versa, so men, if your lady has aspirations of being the best pediatric nurse you've ever heard of, give her a little push; help her study, make some flash cards, do something! You'll feel a shift in your relationship, trust me.

Kudos to you, Robin, you set a great example!

(deuces.)

*"Ride or Die Chick" may be my next Friday Forethought topic. That's definitely another phrase that I hear wayyyy too much.

Ziggy's Friday Forethought 2: Estrogen Confusion

"But nevertheless don't mean to bust your bubble, but girls of the world ain't nothing but trouble..."

-The Fresh Prince, "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble"

I can count the number of female friends I have on one hand.

For as long as I remember, I've always been partial to hanging with those of the testosterone persuasion. My mother was sure that it was a phase; the awkward tomboy lifestyle that usually lasts until you stop wearing training bras, but I'm now well into my 20s and the XY chromosomes are still making their presence known in my life. Honestly, it was never a choice as to what gender of company I keep, but past experiences have taught me some harsh lessons, so I choose to keep my distance. I tried to embrace the female energy, truly I did, but each instance ended the same way: FAIL. I'll change names to protect the "innocent", but here are a couple examples.

-Case #1: Best friends since elementary school, Ziggy and Ashley* finally parted ways when entering middle school. Ziggy discovers that Ashley goes to her rival middle school, and they both have fun running the dozens about who's school is better. Things take a turn for the worse when Ashley and four other girls from her school viciously beat up Ziggy one day after school. Result: FAIL

-Case #2: Ziggy and Mia* have been best friends since birth. They've both equally confided in eachother on various subjects; boys being the majority as they got older. Mia gets involved with a mutual acquaintance of her and Ziggy, which turns sour after a few months. Before the end of their relationship, Mia and Ziggy get into argument due to Mia's incessant sharing of Ziggy's personal business with said boyfriend. Argument almost turns into physical altercation as Mia makes it clear that she is taking boyfriend's side. Violation of "the code"; result: FAIL

Now, these are just a couple of examples, but the most recent permanently seals my opinion and also provides further examples of why I would rather be in the company of the opposite sex. A while ago, after meeting Scuba for the first time, a female I consider to be a great friend said something that both angered and upset me.

"Damn Za, he's a cutie. What's he doing with you, though? I could never figure out how you pull these types of guys; good looking, good head on their shoulders, goals...the sex must be amazing."

*cue Flava Flav sound byte*

Wowwwwwwwwwwww. Seriously, though? Yes. She was dead serious; she really wanted to know. That's my problem. As females, it disgusts me that we have this wack ass crabs in a barrell complex with eachother. Can't be happy for a sista, but you'd love to take the time to dissect and tear down who I am to try and figure out why I have who/what I have. I would have answered my "friend", but I was too busy trying to keep my hands from developing a mind of their own and slapping whatever sense I could rattle up out of her. She basically assassinated my character right in front of me. She failed to perform her duties as a friend; instead of exclaiming her happiness for me, she decided to use her soapbox moment to display underlying jealousy by ripping my relationship apart. Not cool. If I hadn't been so upset, I would have given her an answer, and I'm sure it would have went like this...

"It's funny that you mention that, I'm still trying to figure out why dudes waste their time with you. All you do is sabotage everything. You're so used to being treated like s*it that when someone positive comes along, you automatically thing that something's up when it's not. You don't know how to be happy, so you're choosing to live vicariously through me and insult me at the same time. And although my sex life is not your business, we haven't had sex . Just because you choose to take the whore route by dropping your panties for every dude who blinks twice at you doesn't mean I'll do the same. And the bottom line is, I attract what I am and what I desire. Try changing your way of thinking, and maybe you too can pull a dude that cares about what's in your head instead of head."

I could have taken it there, but I chose the adult reaction; I said nothing, and after that conversation I decided to distance myself from her. If she's saying that to my face, Lord knows what she's saying about me to her friends, mutual or otherwise.

Since then, I've tried multiple times to begin new friendships with females, but there's always too much drama, and I always end up being the advice giver for situations that really don't require much thought. It's all too much work, and I'm a simple person. Besides that, I have my own issues and scrupples that need figuring, so I'm a little picky when it comes to dividing time between things that are important and pointless B/S. I've had too many instances where I've heard something come from a woman's mouth and gave her the "WTF?" face. Just doesn't cut it. Things just don't work out for me, which is totally fine; the female friends I have in my circle now are more than enough.

So, to my female readers (or really anyone who'd like to jump in), do you have a hard time seeing eye to eye with the same sex? Why? I know I can't be the only one to share the same reasonings. Let me know what you think.

(deuces.)

Ziggy's Friday Forethought*: Haters.

*this post was inspired by a conversation I overheard at work today. Of course I couldn't say anything to the customer, but if I could have, it would have went a little something like this...

It's time to bury the word HATER.

I'll make this short and to the point: over the past few years, the word "hater" has become some sort of verbal monster; being spewed out of mouths of any and everybody. As soon as you so much as disagree with the way a person breathes, you're labeled a hater. Maino released "Hi Hater" and I practically laughed my ass off; I wasn't aware that Maino was known or cared about enough to have haters in the first place.

Worse than the abuse of the word is the actual reasoning behind why people use it. Some people love to say they have haters for the most minimal of reasons--just because someone doesn't like the color of those Chucks you have on does not constitute them as a hater, genius. They just don't like the color. Now, if that person happens to hop in their car and roll over your Chucks with your feet still in them, yelling something like "You'll never wear another pair of Chucks again, mutha f&*^@!", they miiiiight be a hater. Or in serious need of a room with padded walls and a jacket so they can hug themselves all day.

In closing: kill it, people. There's nothing wrong with people disagreeing with your style/way of life/occupation/etc. No one has to like or appreciate everything you do. However, if there are people who spread vicious rumors or basically attack your character, that person is unhappy and could be labeled a hater. Other than that, keep it moving; realize that in life, there are some people who thrive on being unhappy, and you could be the fuel that keeps them going.

By the way, if you're one of those people who are constantly claiming to have haters, but have no evidence to back it up whatsoever? Anddddd not only do you make the claim, but notice that people tend to stay away from you? Anddddd you're a person who, with the more haters you claim to have, the less friends you actually keep?
You don't have haters. You're probably just an asshole.
You're welcome.

(deuces.)

*I'm debating on having Friday Forethoughts as a regular thing; probably to be typed during my last half hour of work. Thoughts, anyone?

If This Is A Joke...I'm Not Laughing.

Allow me to begin this blog with a backstory. I've been having this idea for a post regarding everyone's favorite...DJ? Overpaid hypeman? Loudmouth? Pick one, either way...I'm talking about DJ Khaled. Chances are, if you've listened to the radio (blah) once or twice in the past 3 or 4 years, you've probably heard his high pitched voice interrupting some million-artist-featured (which, by the way, starts to become the same crew of people) track, reassuring you that "WE DA BEST!"

So, after I did that little intro, I was going to pose the question: Will Khaled Really Go In This Time? Then I was going to briefly touch on his growing beef with 50 Cent, who has officially kicked everything into the millionth gear by bringing Khaled's moms into the beef. I was going to include a link to this video (since embedding is disabled on almost each one available), T-Pain's "Karaoke"; a video in which Khaled can be seen kicking over tables and pointing in elderly people's faces, threatening to "pull their skirts" and "go in"...let's not forget his promise to always "Go HARD".

Once I was done with establishing my story, I would briefly question if, at the heightening of this Fif/Ross/Khaled beef; said DJ would finally sh*t or get off the pot by "going hard" and "going in" as he claims he always does. On someone else's track. I mean, I always hear him saying something to this degree, but I have seen nothing that would make me say, "Yo! That dude Khaled really goes hard!"

I was going to let the readers know how peeved I am at this guy for making money by doing absolutely nothing. My story was going to be the bees knees, I swear it.

Then, I read this story, and now I don't know if I want to laugh or cry.

"Khaled, known as of late for bringing slews of artists together on his popular posse cuts will officially be taking over Def Jam's southern division, once led by legendary rapper Scarface."

"Khaled will oversee such artists' releases as Ludacris, Young Jeezy and Ace Hood. Rick Ross, who has worked with Khaled on numerous projects, will have the fist album released during Khaled's tenure - the upcoming Deeper Than Rap."

Wait. The hypeman is going to be PRESIDENT of DEF JAM South?! Where the hell have I been?! How did this happen?! Does anyone else see a problem with this? He's going to be overseeing artists that have been in the game longer than him. Wow.

I'm officially afraid of the future of Hip Hop.

If Weezy's rock album goes platinum the first week out...I may just take a blogging hiatus.

I'M GOING IN.

(deuces.)

So I found the video after finishing the post...didn't want to go back and edit, so here it is at the end. Check your dude Khaled out: threatening or annoying? You be the judge.

btw: I'm really hoping that the article was really some sort of pre-April Fool's joke. HipHopDX is known for dropping a few phony funnies.

Monkeys and Stimulus Bills...there's a connection?!

Photo courtesy of New York Post

Errr uhhh...WTF?
From my understanding, this is supposed to be a comic about a woman who was attacked by her pet chimp. But...what does the stimulus bill have to do with it?

This was actually posted in today's paper. Sean Delonas is the credited cartoonist.

In my opinion, a picture is worth a thousand words. If this cat can come up with a logical explanation as to why a chimpanzee is related to our Pres' first legislative victory, maybe I'd consider seeing the other side of the coin. Until then, I'd like to call this casual racism...? Maybe? I mean, can you blame me? I'm doing the visual math.

Two white police officers+one dead monkey=stimulus bill joke

Somebody has some explaining to do, but luckily; our good ole permed up buddy, the Rev. Al Sharpton, is already on the case.

Sure, Sharpton (and maybe myself) could be making a mountain out of a mole hill. Maybe he's implying that whoever wrote the stimulus bill (The House?) had the mental capacity of a monkey? Yeah, maybe that's it.

But, wait...it's been scientifically proven that monkeys are as smart as humans, Zig. Look at the woman who got attacked. Her chimp let himself out of the house by using a key and unlocking the door. All on his own.

Welp, my self conscious just told me to rule that connection out.

So...what do you guys think? Is this something that should be swept under the rug?

Is it really that serious? What should happen to Delonas? Are you just as confused as I am?

Drop your thoughts in the comment box.

(deuces.)

EVERY girl in the world, really?

I'm sure that there are plenty of blogs and websites who have been writing about this track; it's been out for a good minute now. Lil Wayne and crew (Gudda Gudda, Drake, Mack Maine and Jae Millz) dropped the song "Every Girl", and I'm sure it's the manwhore's anthem for 2009...and maybe beyond, unless someone comes up with something smuttier.

Personally, I'm not really a fan of the track for obvious reasons. The hook alone is enough for me shut it out: "...I wish I could f*ck every girl in the world..." Wow. That's awesome, really. You guys really made me feel like the garbage God placed me on this earth to be. Feel free to share your desires of sexually exploiting me on wax, I'm sure your boys will get a kick out of it. But, as much as I dislike the song, I'm pretty sure it'll be a hit because why? Because it's LITTLE FRIGGIN' WAYNE. I actually like Wayne...on his good days, i.e. "Dr. Carter", "Let The Beat Build"; you know, songs he does when he doesn't sound like he's got every drug you can name in front of him in the booth.

Let me get to the point of this post: as annoying as the hook is, there is one verse that crosses this joint over from annoying to just plain disturbing.

Sanaa Lathan

Meagan Good

Angelina Jolie

D Woods

For free suites I'd give Paris Hilton all-nighters

In about 3 years, holla at me Miley Cyrus

I don't discriminate, no not at all

Kit-Kat a midget, if that ass off, I break her off

I exchange Vcards with the retards

And get behind a Christian like Dior cause he are...

Um, Mack Maine...wtF? The line in bold is what made me rewind his verse on my first listen; I was pretty much cool with the first few lines. But midgets, Christians (which I somewhat understand due to that church girl/freak stigma) and the mentally challenged? Is this supposed to be hot?

They're making a video. Somebody help me.

(deuces.)

Vulnerable.

Okay, so... I'd like to say I'm sort of tough. I mean, some may agree; judging by my posts, I really haven't posted anything too...open. I always talk about music, something random and always with a splash of humor, sarcasm and real thought. But, every so often, I let loose and simoultaneously let my guard down. It can be a good thing, a great thing...I just hate being too...mushy. If I'm not writing it in a poem, you won't hear it from me. My own defense mechanism. I'll let you in if I deem you worthy enough.

The only thing that gets me open is music. Music is a powerful thing, you know. High frequencies can make you feel alive, jubilant; while lower frequencies can drive emotions of anger and sexual energy. Listen to your favorite Plies song. That's why you feel like stabbing someone after getting it in with your chick...on the same song. Depending on what I'm listen to, if you pay attention you can almost easily determine my mood. I listen to what centers me in a given situation.

Now, if you've been reading, you'll remember my post about Beyonce (hilarious video included) a while back. Well, B's done it again, dammit. I only took a couple of listens to I Am...Sasha Fierce, so I didn't give it a chance to do my usual nerd thing and dissect every track. Recently, Scuba and I had been hitting some rough patches for a little while now, so naturally I've been turning to music to soothe me. I was sitting at the PC one day, letting iTunes randomly play out my life, and I stumble across some of the most beautiful lyrics I've heard...well, not most (do you listen to Phyllis Hyman?!), but given the situation, I was feeling a little sensitive at the time.

Damn you, Mrs. Knowles-Carter, for "Halo".

Halo - Beyoncé

The song was so...necessary at that time; combined with my emotions of the moment, I was almost moved to tears. Some songs (if "formatted" correctly) can tap into your mental, and before you know it, you're belting along, picturing your loved one standing in front of you while you serve him what's his a la "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going". Not that that was me or anything.

I'll have you know, Scuba and I are doing great. Life just has the habit of forcing lessons on you when you least expect it. But the truth is, and I tell him this on a daily basis, this is the best relationship I've been in...ever. The love is there, the respect is definitely there and he's my best friend, so we don't have to worry about awkward moments when it's time to have adult conversations. I could say so much about one man...but I'm tough, remember? That's all you get for one month.

(deuces.)

BET does something right...word?

It happened again! Another nerdgasm!

BET redeemed themselves for their (mostly) sucky programming with last night's BET Honors. Hosted by Gabrielle Union, BET paid recognition to pioneers and legends in the African American community such as Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige, Magic Johnson and a personal favorite of mine, Judith Jamison.

Music was great; each honoree got a special performance by artists like Anthony Hamilton, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Monica (she's back!), Anita Baker...

pause. Anita Baker's performance gave me chills! Best performance of the night by far. Performing right after Monica to honor Mary J. Blige, she definitely brought the old school vibe to the forefront, singing one of her hits, "Rapture". Although Anita brought the vocal fire, Monica got a standing ovation for her performance, and more for her heart-to-heart moment with Mary on stage, where she was quoted to say "...most of all, you taught me to love myself, and let him catch up with the woman that I've become..." Wow! Even my brother stood up and applauded her for that. Scuba stood up and gave me a kiss. Awww.

Anita is truly an example of the music I miss and love. Whoooooo!

If you watched, what were your favorite moments? You know how to let me know...drop those bombs! And by bombs...I mean comments. :)

(deuces.)

grammy nerdgasms

Yes, I said nerdgasm. That was what I experienced as I watched the 51st Annual Grammy Awards last night. I won't get into too many highlights, but if you have sense you'll know that that was possibly the best Grammy Awards in a pretty long time. Every performance was awesome, even down to Neil Diamond, who looked a tad bit stoned during his set. The only thing I didn't agree with was the last award for Record of the Year, given to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Nothing against them, I actually love their music, but considering who they were up against--Coldplay, Lil' Wayne, Radiohead and Neyo--the fact that they pulled that off is still a little questionable to me. Chrisette Michele won a Grammy for "Be OK", M.I.A. looked beautiful on stage, pregnant belly and all; Beyonce was nowhere to be found and neither were Rihanna and Chris Brown, whose reasons for their no-shows were revealed earlier this morning. Whitney looked blasted, J-Hud pulled off an incredible performance, Boyz II Men were spotted singing backup for JT and Al Green(?), the Jonas Brothers performed with Stevie Wonder, T.I. and JT's "Dead and Gone" was spectacular, Adele sang effortlessly alongside Sugarland...the list goes on and on. Nerdgasm, I tell you. NERDGASM!

So now I'm going to upset a couple of people. Now, being a lover of all music, I loved every performance last night. Carrie Underwood's performance of "Last Name" was excellent, and I actually love Sugarland! But...if I have to pick a favorite performance last night, who would it be?

If you guessed (typically?) the "Hip Hop Summit" styled-performance of "Swagga Like Us", you're wrong. Don't get me wrong, the performance was great; the Dean Martin theme and black/white view was dope, and as mentioned above, M.I.A. rocked it. But, my personal pick for this years' best performance goes to Radiohead. Thom Yorke and crew teamed up with the USC Trojans Marching Band and tore the place down. I mean, come on. They had a marching band!!!

Best performance of the night, hands down. Radiohead is already a genius group, and live they're even better. Listen to the music, and you'll see what I mean.

What were your favorite moments/performances last night? Drop your thoughts in the comment box. :o)

(deuces.)

I Liked It...But Didn't Want to Put A Ring On It.

For the record, let me say I am not a Beyonce fan.
I'm pretty sure some diehard B fan/stalker just stumbled upon my blog and almost vomited onto his/her "I Am..". cd. Grow up. I said I'm not a fan. Meaning, I love (some of) her music; her business ethics are pretty decent, and she's making money; which I'm not mad at at all. But...I believe that once you've captured a certain crowd, if you're as good as critics say you are, your fans won't mind you growing up musically. With that being said, NO, I did not like "Single Ladies" OR "Diva". She's pushing 30, and she's married. And, to my knowledge, a diva is not the female version of a hustler. Or maybe that's just me. Long story short, I think Beyonce is a great performer, her vocals are hot, and she definitely knows how to make people remember her music. Hell, I'll admit to having a (legal!) copy of "Dangerously In Love". "B-Day" and "I Am..."? Not so much. But, kudos to you, Mrs. Knowles-Carter.

To those uttering that over abused H word past your lips: stop. I am not, nor have I ever been a hater. I admire her hustle, and as I said above, her voice is incredible. I love Beyonce, but I don't have to like everything that she does, right? Right.

Now...if you thought what I said was bad, check out one of my Top 5 (of the moment) fave YouTube videos. And to those B fans cleaning vomit off of your concert ticket stubs, see if you call ME a hater after.

LMMFAO. I swear I laugh every time.

Oh. I'll have those 30/30s and the vacation post soon...but I needed to share this with you guys. You're all welcome.

(deuces.)

the "Boss" has me lost.

First thing's first:

I probably should've posted something about this album a little earlier, but it's really never too late. I deem it a classic. In my opinion, he makes up greatly for Release Therapy, which wasn't all that great. Lyricism is a plus on Theater, and of course you can expect some made-for-the-club hits, i.e. "One More Drink" feat. Mr. Autotunes himself, T-Pain.

Now, I'm okay with having featured artists on your album, but I believe that (a) they should not come with a better verse than you (Em's first verse; "Renegade" ring a bell?), but at the same time they should (b) not have a completely garbage verse, either. Everyone's favorite Boss/Correctional Officer totally misses both marks on Luda's track "Southern Gangsta". It was already my least favorite track on the album to begin with, but Rick Ross certifies it roadkill with this opening line:

"I got a letter from the government the other day//I opened it, read it//It said we were hustlers..."

No, I have not altered his line for my own sake. Dude really said that.WTF? What the hell are you talking about? I would post the song, but I'd rather not taint my post with his wackness. =/ Check out imeem and get one of the imeem wizards to pull the song up for you.

If anyone understands what he's talking about and wouldn't mind breaking it down to me, please don't hesitate to drop me a comment.

Have your own picks for wackest lines/verses? Post them here.

(deuces.)

btw: expect 2/30 later in the day.

bootleg book review

So, I just realized that I took a break from blogging...without saying I would take a break.
Awesome.
Let me explain a little something about myself: I am a book fanatic. Seriously. Example: Of all the Harry Potter books in the entire series (yes I read HP; wanna fight about it?), the maximum time used for completing just one book was less than two days. One of the books is 870 pages deep. Now, I'm not limited to the wacky wizarding hijinks that occurs at Hogwarts; I pretty much read anything that will catch my eye and imagination by at least the second paragraph. Tananarive Due, Octavia Butler, Walter Mosley...the list literally goes on. My love for reading is almost as strong as my love for music, and depending on the genres of said loves, I may participate in some fraternization of the two. Yes, I'm greedy; damn it.

Moving along...the reason behind my brief "disappearance" lies here. You're looking at the follow-up novel to Sister Soulja's "The Coldest Winter Ever". This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. There you are, enjoying some quiet reading time on the couch...uh-oh, it's getting late...better just read one more chapter, or at least finish the one you started...and before it's too late, it's 3am and you've read half the book.


Or maybe that's just me. :)


Anyways, I'm not some professional, ridiculously high paid book reviewer, so I'll keep it short. If you're a fan of this author...well, you should already have the book. Ha. If you're not a fan of the author but a fan of reading, pick it up.

And if you'd like to have your mind somewhat blown by a fictional character's views on your very own morals, values, mores, religion, race...


...I'm giving the book away. Borrow it, purchase it. READ IT.

(deuces.)

Ne-Yo Killed the "Goon"; Burning the Gucci Bandana.

Whenever I get my chance, I will personally thank this guy. His awesomeness level has just shot through the roof!

To set the record straight: I'm a music lover. No bias against any genre; I'll listen to just about anything. BUT...I have a problem with garbage. No offense to listeners of today's music--everyone's entitled to an opinion, true--but I need something that has SUBSTANCE. My brain will pretty much turn to shit if I listen to someone who's "dunn dunn it all" all day. And, I also understand that one can't stay stuck in the past...but if that's the only place I can hold a conversation about a Black Star track, without confused looks, then so be it. I really try to open my ears to whatever's on the radio, stay "hip to the times"; but donks and talks of getting silly keep making my ears bleed. And imagine my confusion when I tried to give "the baddest bitch" a chance, turned on a slow track, and started hearing about her expressing her love of bumping uglies? Everyone wants to be a goon, and we as listeners accept it as long as my fingers keep snapping; there's no longer a head nodding effect, we're all dancers now. Who cares about the song, is the hook right? If I can't wave my louie rag/gucci bandana to it, or ride around in my ridiculously unafforable whip; without getting anything but jealous stares, I don't wanna listen to it!

Plain and simple, I miss music in its raw, unique and edgy form. And I'm talking about every genre I listen to. Ne-Yo gets a shout out for taking one word and making it (in my opinion) the official ladies' anthem of the...?? When was the last official ladies' anthem? Who knows. Point is, Ne-Yo called us "I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T", but didn't contradict himself by calling us bitches right after, or complimenting our head game. Kudos to you, Ne-Yo. He's not just helping to ressurect the gentleman, he's bringing back the man. Let's hope others begin to follow suit...so some of these lost females can feel good about themselves, outside of having the phattest ass on the block. I prefer having the biggest brain, not the biggest chain.

Just to sum it up, no one can better explain how I'm feeling than my favorite slept on emcee--Joe Budden.

"...saw a video called "Lookin' Ass Nigga", grabbed the remote; tired of lookin' at niggas."

I can't recognize the love of my life anymore. Something's definitely wrong.