August 16, 2006

NABJ–The Introduction

First, thanks to all of you that nominated me for Black Weblog Awards. I’m a finalist for the best writing on a blog, which I consider to be a serious honor. I’ll be given something you can click on to vote for me, but for now you can follow this link if you feel so inclined.

Greetings from Indianapolis!

The most important thing about the trip so far–this is the greatest hotel room I’ve ever had for less than $80.

Look at this.

Now look at this, the other room. That’s Fred B., a WMD in the window.

Check this–we got a skyline view! Well, at least what they call a “skyline” here. Not knockin’ the place, but it ain’t gonna look like Vegas at night.

And now, I head to register and look for some nourishment. As was the case last year, there will be updates. This year, more photos so you can track how Fred and I are holding up.

August 15, 2006

Andre vs. Nelly–Who’s the Better Singer?

Getting the last packing done for this here fancy trip to scenic Indianapolis. Before I try to get some sleep before this insanely early flight, I ask this question of great social import.

Who’s the better singer–Andre 3000 or Nelly?

I say Nelly. The girlfriend says Dre. Nelly’s not a good singer, but he stays within his limits. Andre appears to really think he can sing. He really does. And I have no idea why.

Talk amongst yourselves.

August 14, 2006

Goodness, What to Make of Idlewild?

Business…here’s a piece I had run in yesterday’s South Florida Sun-Sentinel about the supposed death of hip hop. Thanks to my man SP for that one.

I’m ridiculously swamped getting ready for NABJ, a meeting with the Page 2 folks, JR’s impending visit, finishing my syllabus for the courses at Elon and planning how to celebrate the girlfriend’s birthday while I’m out of town. But when I get my hands on a new OutKast record, I write about it ASAP.

Even though I know I’ll have to write about it again.

This Idlewild soundtrack…I’m not quite sure what to say about it. It’s been running as my background music for the last hour, and I like it. I can’t say I love it, but I haven’t been able to say that on the first run of an OutKast album since Aquemini. Full appreciation and evaluation of their stuff requires a lot of attention, and there just hasn’t been time for that yet.

This is the observation I can make now, and it’s one I’ll follow up on in a couple of weeks–I’m not sure this record can properly be enjoyed outside the context of the movie.

The sound is very old-timey at parts. Got that ragtime feel to it, or whatever I’m trying to describe this sound as. Better stated–very juke joint-ish. It’s a nice flavor, but it doesn’t really leap out at me right now like other Kast records have. The themes of the songs can be dealt with outside of the movie, but this sounds a lot more like a score than a soundtrack.

Spectacular soundtracks also double as scores. Superfly immediately comes to mind, as does Parade. Purple Rain is a different animal because the movie’s relationship to the music doesn’t always make sense. The movie is about a cat making music that no one likes but himself. But uhhh, that music that only he liked sold several million copies and enthralled theater goers and listeners alike. It’s a weird album, but there’s something strange about that juxtaposition.

Can Idlewild pull off that double? I’m honestly not sure right now. But those that are fearful that, at last, Kast will let us down need to chill. It’s definitely a good record, and I’ll probably say it’s a very good one once I get used to it.

But this is not at the level of quality of their stuff from 1993-2000. It’s clear that the separation between Big Boi and Andre has taken a toll on the group’s sound. And it’s even clearer that this is their last album together. It’s not a bad parting shot, but it kinda feels like Zeppelin’s Coda–if this is the end, it’s probably time.

Long of the short–give it a few listens. Some time around the release date, I’ll revisit this and give it a proper review.

August 11, 2006

25–Music Minutaie

So I had my 25 for today all planned out…and then I was struck with a really fun idea while listening to The Band and Muddy Waters on the boPod.

So here are 25 little music trivia questions.

1. What was Muddy Waters’ second cousin’s name?

2. On “Chocolate City” by Parliament, who does George propose be named First Lady?

3. What does Prince suggest he and his lady name their baby? And what is that name conditional upon?

4. What high school did Phife Dawg attend?

5. What the hell was Willie D. thinking when he put on that purple acid wash thing before the Geto Boys shot the album cover for We Can’t Be Stopped?

(I should retract that question because no one knows the answer to that. Further, Willie D. is one of the three last rappers I’d like to throw hands with.)

6. Finish the following Otis Redding lyric: “Pretty lil thang, lemme light yo candle/cuz mama i’m so hard to handle, now/….” What are the dots?

7. What is the setting of OutKast’s “Player’s Ball?”

8. On what album would I find LL Cool J’s “Goin Back to Cali?”

9. What’s that chick’s name that keeps popping up all over the Counting Crows’ August and Everything After?

10. Stagger Lee threw 7. What did Billy swear he threw?

11. What R&B legend showed up to his mentor’s funeral with his mentor’s wife and, according to witness, wore one of his mentor’s suits?

12. What did Neil Young hear on “Southern Man?”

13. On “Bold As Love,” Hendrix said, “my mellow, in this case, is not so mellow. In fact I’m trying to say it’s frightened like…” Dots?

14. What did Jagger say black girl “just like” on “Some Girls?”

15. On a similar theme, what did Lou Reed want his girlfriend’s name to be on “I Wanna Be Black?”

16. Marvin Gaye had a song called “Sanctified Lady.” What did he originally want that song to be titled, a song he tried to get released for years?

17. According to The White Album, what is happiness?

18. What is Van Morrison’s “Madame George” about?

19. What cologne does Slick Rick wear on “La-Di-Da-Di?”

20. What cologne does Snoop Doggy Dogg wear on “Lodi Dodi?”

21. How come Meth lost track of “The Killer” tape?

22. On “Supersonic,” what’s the “E” stand for?

23. Fill in the blank from teh following Haile Selassie quote–”until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than ______, me say war.”

24. How is it that Stevie Wonder makes so many visual references in his songs?

25. If Biggie told you to go to room 112, who would you say sent you?

Have fun. Most can be found on Google, but why cheat?

Here are the answers.

August 10, 2006

The Unfriendly Skies

Business…here’s a piece I’ve got on Page 2 about Donald Sterling’s role as a dreadful landlord.

So most of the universe knows about all the drama they’ve got going in the airports. It seems a foiled terrorist plot in London has everyone very worried. Many folks are aware that lotions, hair gels and other products are not allowed on planes.

But try this one on…

Friend of mine has a flight today. She received a call from her airline to let her know about all the drama. They let her know there would be restrictions.

“You’ll only be able to carry on a clear bag to hold your ID and credit cards.”

Gotta suck, but it’s understandable. Except she’s flying to Zurich!

An overseas flight with no music, no books, no magazines? Are you serious? They told her she might get the chance to buy books at the airport, but that she would be wise to ask before she wasted her money.

Because of that, I’m pretty sure that for a lot of people, today will be the worst day ever in the skies. On top of being the ashiest day in the history of flying, it will also be the testiest. What on Earth will someone do on a plane for that long? Good gracious.

It’s so bad that if Damon Stoudamire had been arrested today for sneaking contraband into the airport wrapped in tin foil, it wouldn’t seem so stupid.

(Yes it would. But it would be a little more comprehensible.)

Pray for me friend, please. If you’re that type, yanno.

August 9, 2006

Rihanna Needs to Stop Trippin’

First, here’s a funny story. I was online around 9am, and Sneaky Pete hit me up.

“What is it that people do this early? I’ve already read the entire paper and Newsweek.”

Pete couldn’t sleep, so he just got up early and had no idea of what to do. I long for those days.

Anyway, it’s time to trip on foolish things in songs. This woman named Rihanna has won the most recent prize, easily topping previous winner Beyonce Knowles.

So Rihanna’s got this song called “Unfaithful.” It’s a typical “I’m wrong for cheatin on my man” song. Except she seems find herself to be a little more important than she actually is. Quoting…

I don’t wanna do this anymore
I don’t wanna be the reason why
Everytime I walk out the door
I see him die a little more inside
I don’t wanna hurt him anymore
I don’t wanna take away his life
I don’t wanna be…
a murderer

His trust
I might as well take a gun and put it to his head
Get it over with
I don’t wanna do this
Anymore (anymore)

First, lemme say a little more about the song. It seems the protagonist really feels bad as she gets ready for dates with a dude that is not her man. FYI–it appears she lives with her man. But she’s gettin her hair did and all cute to roll out with her man on the side.

What kinda flaw pimpin is that? Who’s got the time to balance two relationships. That’s too much work. You’re a fool, you flaw pimp. Folks on the side are just that–folks on the side. Your game is atrocious, and you should be punished because of some clause that will be included in the pending G-Code.

But you know what? That doesn’t bother me. Why not? Because I’m pretty sure that if buddy knew the deal and wasn’t saying anything, he had a reason not to trip. It’s like a flip up of that old Johnnie Taylor song, “who’s makin love to yo old lady, while you was out makin love.” Dollars to donuts says he was on the horn the second shawty dipped out.

So with that in mind, I ask that Rihanna reconsider this whole euthanasia thing. First, I have a feeling this isn’t killing the dude teh way you think. I’m sure it didn’t feel good. I’ve been dipped out on before. It can be a little hard on the ego, especially when you’re young and still have faith in people.

(You’ll have to forgive me on that last one. Even though I’ve got a girlfriend now, I kinda reflexively say really jaded things. Hard habit to break. I now have faith in people. Still not but about two or three of you–including my mother–but some faith, yes.)

However, it never got so bad that I wanted somebody to take me out. Nossireebob.

She gets a great big Dubois for that one.

Who do you think you are, shawty? What do you do that’s so incredible? Did you have your first child on Sunday morning but still have dinner ready at 6? What?

For years, I’ve said that R&B songwriting coudl be as destructive as hip hop’s, and it could do so in more insidious ways. You really listen close to how most male/female relationships are discussed in R&B, and you realize that people really kinda have messed up views on the way things go. A lot of irrational recommendations and the likes.

And this level of self-importance makes me wanna earl.

But I promise buddy’s doing okay on his own. He’s working on his own song entitled, “She Thank She Slick.”

August 8, 2006

A Crucial Ethical Dilemma

Too busy to do a post, but I’d like to put something up. So here’s today’s topic of discussion…

How do you feel about Wal-Mart?

a. Wal-Mart is a corporate giant that has no scruples, therefore I hate it.
b. The only reason I can afford scruples on my salary is with the money I save at Wal-Mart, so Viva Wally World!

Talk amongst yourselves.

August 7, 2006

No, I Don’t Have Any Shame

Could you please nominate me for the Black Weblog Awards?

Thank you.

August 7, 2006

It’s Baaaaaaaack…

Business…here’s a recap of the fishing extravaganzaa.

Yeah, so I was on TV this weekend. Check out a clip below.

There are other clips on YouTube, accessible by searching for “Michael Jackson A&E.” Check it out primarily because it’s a good film, but also because, well, I’m deep off in that piece!

But as much as I’d love to sit and talk me and that show, there’s something way more pressing–FLAVOR OF LOVE II!!!!
Continue reading It’s Baaaaaaaack……

August 4, 2006

25 (or so)–Cool Things To Happen In This Job

SSP–here’s the link to info about tomorrow’s television appearance. I’m sure most of you could care less about this, but I could care less that you care less. And you could care less that I could care less that you could care less, and I could care less that you could care…

Okay, that’s just going a little too far.

But I can’t lie–this is pretty cool to me. I still remember when they asked me if I was interested in doing this at all, how blown away I was that someone would care what I thought about anything. Now? Well, this is the third television appearance I’ve made since March. Been an interesting few years, to say the least.

July actually marked six years since I started writing professionally. Funny stuff has happened. Here’s 25 or so such things, in no particular order.

Making Guru feel old. So I interviewed Guru for the school paper as a favor to my man Tino Pasquier (TIno, where you at?). Guru stood me up the first time we were supposed to link up, but we did a phoner the next day.

If you don’t know, Guru’s been too old to be rappin’ since he started rappin’. But I didn’t think he’d get offended when I asked him what year he graduated for Morehouse. He thought I was trying to play him. I really wasn’t. But if I graduated in 1983, I’d think the lil young boy was tryin’ to play me, too.

LiL Jon–The Quietest Man on Earth.

As another favor for the school paper, I covered the festivities behind the Homecoming concert (more on that later). in 2000. While backstage, someone tapped me on the shoulder and let me know I could interview Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz if I wanted to. I figured why not…I wasn’t doing anythign else, and I always liked “Who You Wit.” So I go talk to him and he was dead ass silent, man. I learned a lot about his grind, but I had to listen really closely to hear it. Big Sam, on the other hand, was loud as hell.

One hour later, Jon hit the stage and was crunk as can be. One year later, he was a megastar.

Mystikal–not quite right.

In a strange quirk, Mystikal was scheduled to perform that Homecoming show for months…but coincidentally showed up the day his album, Let’s Get Ready hit #1. He pointed at every 1 we saw, whether on a clock or an elevator.

He also lit up a blunt in the limo provided by CAU the second he got comfortable. He went out of his way to say someone was a “faggot,” which was interesting to hear coming from the lips of a high school cheerleader. But he was kind enough leave his food in the car when we dropped him off at his hotel. That shrimp was good.

The Meagan Good tragedy.

I won’t go into all the particulars, but know this–I had a chance to at least spit game to Meagan Good. Then came the haters.

My highest interview ever was with…

Lisa Bonet. I don’t know if she was high when Iw as talking with her, but she definitely know who got that. Anytime someone tells you their life is totally dedicated to beauty–while doing an interview for a movie about motorcycles–you’re dealing with a stoner, Jack. But I think she smokes good, for whatever that’s worth.

My strangest interview ever was with…

Ja Rule, who called me 4 hours late and smacked in my ear the whole time before he told me about how he wanted to fight against real boxers in his next movie but not real boxers good enough to actually beat him up. Then why get the boxers, nigga?

The coolest interview I ever did was with…

Morris Chestnut. I’ll be real–I’d love to be able to hate on Morris Chestnut. On the strength, the dude could pull my woman from directly under me, and I’d be able to do nothing about it. But I can’t hate because he was cooler than I’d be if I were him. Straight up–you wouldn’t be able to tell me shit if I was him. Instead, he turned out to be the most genuine interview I’d ever done. And he did the interview with a cast on from a torn Achilles. Good folks.

The wackest interview I ever did was with…

Aaron McGruder. Actually, the interview was cool. When he cut it short to get at some subpar chicks that I wouldn’t even try to spit game to, he lost me. BTW, thy weren’t all subpar. But I wouldn’t have spit no game to most of them, and I was broke.

But the most interesting interview was with…

Bun-B. Me and Aden once spent an hour just listening to the tape of my interview with him. If you get a chance, check out this one he did with Jon Caramanica. Great piece of work.

Most fan-like interview moment ever

I hate people that wanna be fans when they’re working entertainment stuff. We got a job, and that’s that. Well, Tino and I were backstage doing an interview with Billy Danze from MOP. I told Billy that DJ Premier and I had a few connections (we attended the same high school, and I’ve known his father since I was a child). After that, Primo happened to call. Man, I was tryin’ my best to try to get Billy to pass me the phone. It was like when I was a kid trying to get my parents to pass the phone over so I could talk to my brother.

And Billy didn’t. I was kinda hurt.

Best concert ever seen for free in the name of “work”

Okayplayer 2000, at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. dead prez, Slum Village, Kweli, Common, Badu, the Jazzyfatnastees (with Tracey’s fine ass)…all basked by The Roots. Killer show, especially since folks love to show out for Atlanta crowds. And I was there “covering” it all.

Worst Concernt Seen for Free

Mos Def, Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, 2000. That was the first sign that The New Danger would suck. His ambitions simply stretched farther than his ability.

Funniest Sight

Amare Stoudemire in San Diego, in a skintight suit with lights all over it. Wore it for a motion capture sequence for a video game he was shilling.

Most Intimidating Moment

Dappin’ Stoudemire up, wondering where my hand went. And my hands are pretty big.

Most surprising moment

Walking past Ron Artest in the locker room of the Toyota Center in Houston, giving him the head nod, and him saying hello and patting me on the back as I walked past him. He’s a really nice type of guy…but just a little volatile.

Another high interview moment

Roy Hargrove. Did a phoner with him a few years ago. He was in New York, I believe. He laughed at most of his own jokes. Except he wasn’t telling jokes. And never could say mor ethan about three words at a time. I’m not saying he was high, but it sure sounded like it.

Hangin with Little Brother at Dook last May

That wasn’t really job related. That was moreso “I’m cool with Aden Darity” related. But that’s the most fun I’ve ever had talking music with anyone. That was followed two days later by Phonte being kind enough to let me and the folk preview The Minstrel Show in his living room, which was followed by our lives being changed by our first listen to “Trapped in the Closet.” Dead serious.

Outside the Lines

True story…I was trying to answer my phone a fwe months ago when I had an e-mail come through. So I read the e-mail, which was asking me to be on OTL. At the same time, I realized the phone call was from Fred Batiste. How did I answer?

I’m gonna be on mu’fuckin Outside the Goddam Lines!

Not quite “I’m going to Disney World,” but oh well. I was so so so gassed, but…

4 Qtrs

Thank goodness I had a chance to get it right. Shouts to ESPNews for that.

Most religious experience

The ACC Tournament. For the first time, I really felt like I was deep in this game. I sat behind John Feinstein at games. My coolest story, actually….

I saw something going on in the stands that I thought would be of use to David Steele of the Baltimore Sun, so I told him about it. Months later, I sent him an e-mail about something else and told him that I was the guy that tapped him on the shoulder at the tournament.

The killer part? He knew who I was, but dind’t know that it was me that talked to him at the tournament. Surprisingly, people actually read this shit I write.

Most Surprising Moment

So it was my senior year of college, and I was sleeping as hard as I could because I was going through something that could probably now be diagnosed as clinical depression. Or maybe I was just sleeping off a drunk.

Either way, I got a call from a classmate asking if I had heard. Heard what?

“Tavis Smiley just got done talking about you on Tom Joyner.”

I was 20 years old and had started writing less than a year before in an attempt to stay busy. Never thought anythign like that would happen. For that, like many other things, I have to thank Cory Brown.

Short of 25, I have to stop. It’s just been a helluva last few years, and I’m pretty happy with how things have gone. Just wish I had a fuckin clue of how they’re going to go.