The Fever

Its getting hot down here. In Atlanta that can only mean 2 things. More music and more violence.
Its a sickness with us. Its something about the hot sun beaming down on you that makes you either want to dance or want to shoot somebody.

Every summer has a soundtrack. I don't know why music and heat go together. If its hot and music is playing maybe it feels like a club and that makes the day better. Maybe it just takes your mind off the heat. Whatever it is I know, as do a lot of people, that you can't go through a summer day without listening to music. Record companies know that. That's why the hot albums come out in the summer time. Everybody buys it, everybody plays it. It sets the mood for 3 hot months. "Its Dark and Hell Is Hot" is one of my picks for the ultimate summer album (name one person that wasn't rocking DMX that summer). I'm throwing T.I. "King" out there for an early pick for this summer (I am in ATL right now).

Now I'm a cool guy. I went to get gas one day my first summer here in the Atl. Standing at the pump (in the shade mind you) I was so hot that I would have hit the person pumping gas beside me if they were closer. However it was so hot I couldn't make it over in time to bust that bitch in the face like the heat was telling me to. (I'm sorry but everybody is a bitch when its that hot out). So I ended up getting in my car, hanging my head out the window screaming " SH#T!! ITS HOT!! IT'S MUHTAF#@KIN HOT AS A MUTHAF#@KA!!"

It makes you mad to be that hot. Its all around you and no matter what you do you can't escape it. You feel trapped. You feel completely helpless and hot. When crack heads start cooking on the sidewalk waiting for the MARTA, the heat starts to affect you. It clouds your mind. Its hard to think straight when it feels like you live in an oven. Everything aggrevates you. For whatever reason, could be they aren't as lazy as I am or could be they're more sensitive to the heat, people start lashing out. You're more likely to just say "F#@k it" and rob a liquor store when its 110 degrees outside and you don't have anything to do. You're more likely to pistol whip your spades partner for underbidding when all you see is heat lines past 10 feet from you. Domestic violence skyrockets because guys won't leave an air conditioned house to go bake outside and women won't back down because (and I quote) "It's too damn hot for me to be dealin' wit yo ass".

I woke up this morning and caught the news. Three black men were involved in a shoot out with a fifteen year old after an arguement. The fifteen year old was in critcal condition, another person was shot and aprehended. One suspect was shot but escaped on foot down Bankhead after what is being described as an "old west style shoot out". Weather man said today's high was 79 degrees.

Its gonna be a long summer.

Smoke, Mirrors, and Rappers

TI is starring in a new movie with Big Boi. Trina guest starring on Desperate Housewives. Ludacris is on Law&Order. wow. I'm so excited. You ask me this whole rapper=actor thing is getting out of hand.

It works for all the companies involved. Think about it. You have a record label and a "hot" rapper. What better way is it to promote your artist to millions of people than to get them in a role (however small) in a movie or on a tv show? If you are the tv producer or movie producer, what better way is it to add to the buzz of a tv/movie than to attach the name of a "hot" artist to it (however small their role actually is)? If you are the "hot" artist, they are paying you a nice sum of money to recite some words. How could you say no to that?

Its the consumer that gets f#%ked over in the end. Once you get into adding buzz to a movie, making your movie "hot", you take away from the time spent making your movie GOOD. I go to movies to be wowed and entertained. I go to get away from the world and for 2 hours live in the movie. I go to see good actors with a good script and a good director come together and make magic. I go to see a GOOD movie.

What did Nelly add to "The Longest Yard"? Was 50's ode to himself "Get Rich or Die aTryin" even worth watching? Did Eve really qualify to be in "Barbershop"? Let's not talk about Ja Rule and the string of utterly worthless flicks he's unleashed on the masses.

People might try to stick up for their people. I hear your arguments. Ludacris was in "Crash". Well...the movie didn't exactly hinge on Luda. The script was superb and the direction was flawless. A trash can could've robbed Sandra Bullock and the movie would win an Oscar. It had Don Cheadle and Terrance Howard in it for God's sake. Let's not confuse making a movie good and not f#!kin up a movie.

I just don't like, what seems to be, this laziness taking over movies. Let's not go out to do a talent search and bank on a no-name, up-and-coming actor that might end up being the next Denzel, or the Halle Berry. Let's not go find that superstar in waiting that has a passion for the craft and true talent. Let's get that guy with that song out and put him in the movie. That's guaranteed money. It doesn't matter if the movie is good as long as we get that money.

Don't try to hustle me. Don't use smoke and mirrors and famous people to distract me from your horrible movie. The opportunity to see a famous person dressing up and reciting a few lines is not enough to get me to go see a movie. Let's get back to quality please. Keep these suck ass actors/rappers off the movie screens.

IF YOU AINT GOT...

"some of the shit y'all pop to it, I ain't relatin'
if I don't like it I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hatin'"
-Common "6th Sense"


I'm going to be honest right now. I hate a lot of music on the radio. I hate a lot of music out anywhere. I LOVE music but everytime I turn around some guy has tough ass beat on and is talking about absolutely nothing. Either that or some fine ass non-singing sista is trying to destroy my eardrums. Lyrics? Good songwriting? Originality? What's that?

Don't fret my true music lovers (and if you don't know the song where I got my beautiful opening quote I'm not talking to you). There is some good stuff out there (few and far between as they are). What I'm going to do is let you know what the good stuff is and why I think its good. So if you ain't got it...you f*#ckin suck. (excuse my language)

If you aint got Anthony Hamilton's "Ain't Nobody Worryin'" you f@#*kin suck.

There is not a man in the game right now that has more soul than Anthony Hamiliton. To compare him to anybody you have to go back to the 70's. He's cut from the same cloth as Marvin Gaye and Lou Rawls. He has that distinctive voice that carries all kinds of emotions with it and flows into your soul. It's something real genuine to it. Real natural. In the 20's, he would've been one of those guys that traveled the country with a guitar and a suitcase, hopping from boxcar to boxcar performing gigs for a place to sleep and a bottle of jack. A true artist. That's too real for y'all.

"Can't Let Go" comes on and he starts "Why must they try, to tear down my house when they, know its made from love, and they can never stand in our way, we made a vow to love, through it all, we are one, and no one has the right to tear my loving down"

That's good music. It's all about love. Not "let me beat them skins" "get naked so i can get up in it." It crosses that line from momentary sensation and lust, into being together and passion. You can't make good music without that passion.

It's something down home country about the whole album. Takes you back in time to your grandma's house. Where your daddy had to wear his Sunday best and introduce himself to your family in order to take your moms out to the drive in. "Cool like a fresh breeze, ooohh Please come with me, Let's take a ride, Swing to the other side, I'm much obliged to make your aquaintance, You're full of substance, and oh girl I love it" on "Southern Stuff".

You feel the music when it plays like on the wonderfully smooth "The Truth". "If you take a little walk with me, Girl I'll lead you to the truth, and you should never give up on me, Girl I'll share it all to you" He'll lead you to the truth girl! How can you not feel that? There are several songs on this album I think can be played for years to come. I want to play a couple of them in September when I do my thing. It's classic material people.

From the relationship troubles of "Where Did It Go Wrong" to the big girl shout out of "Sista Big Bones" to the love-fest of "Change Your World" this cd is a wonderful listen.

Bottom line, if you don't have it then you f#@*kin suck.

Come kick it with Jesus

I think the bible is a wonderful book. Its a tool that gives a compass for morals and behaviors. It has the most wonderful stories in it. You can look to it for guidance on any subject you want. Not specificly but through interpretation there is something in there that relates to any situation.

That's the proverbial rub. It's all about interpretation.

Most of the bible was written and rewritten by poets and playrights hired by kings. Then it was copied, edited, rewritten, copied, translated, copied, and on and on for generations. The true word from the original writers is so diluted and manipulated it's a shame. Does that stop the zealots? Hell no. When faced with adversity what is a religious zealot to do? Well, take bits and pieces from the bible that work with your arguements and don't talk about the rest. Then quote your hand picked scripture to prove God is with you and condemn everything and everybody against your interpretation. That's all it is, whether they admit it or not, their personal interpretation of what they think God wants. I've got an interpretation too.

A white men, a black man and Jesus walk into a bar. The bartender for some reason or another says "My uncle passed away a little while ago and you know I been thinking about being up in this bar surrounded by all this sin. I must admit I've done a little bit of wrong myself. I don't know what to think about it all. I'm lost in this big ol' world and I don't know which way to go. You clean looking fellas look like exactly the type of people that can help me. What should I do?"

The white man stands up, waves his bible and says "First thing son, you're not gay are you?" "No" replies the bartender. "Good" continues the white man. "Tell me everything you ever did wrong, son. Live by this great book because everything in it is absolutely true and pledge your life to me. Repent all your sins and walk with me in Christ the Lord. Then we will travel the world forcing our teachings of love and respect and holinesson everybody. We will destroy anything and kill anyone that is even remotely against us until the whole world believes in what we do and follows us."

"What you need to do" says the black man "What ya need TO DOOOO, is uh, change your life, uh I said change YO LIIIIIFE. Live by the word of GOD as given to us straight from his mouth to the page to the bible,uh. Then fix this place up uh, get some marketing, and a gimmick, and put the butts in the seats, and get rich. By a Benz, get a house, uh I said you need to get RIIICH. Like God wants you to. Then when you give back 10% to GOD, uh for giving you all your riches that he wants you to have. Pray about your problems. I said PRAAAAAY ABOUT IT. Then donate to the church fund, and the pastor's fund, and this fund, and that fund. Then GOD will be with you and let you, uh, LET YOUUUUU, uh, INTO HEAVEN. Everybody else will burn in hell. You're not gay are?" "No sir" "Good"

The bartender looks at Jesus. "Is that how it is?"

"You know what, brother. Can I call you brother?" says Jesus. "I know you're a sinner. We're all sinners. But that was yesterday. I like you. Matter of fact I love you. My father does too. He's always going to love you. If you let me into your heart and follow my teachings of tolerance, love, and caring for your fellow man then you can come kick it with me and pops in heaven."

That's what I'm talking about. I'm kicking it with Jesus.

Sharp I tell you!

I had a mind like a steel trap until I got a cell phone. I was a quiz bowl champion (OK, not a champion per se but we beat Weldon). I was sharp. Sharp I tell you!

Now I can't remember a phone number to save my life. I don't even know my new house number. God forbid I break this thing or lose it. I'd be lost as hell. It's eroded my memory very slowly but surely. I hate it but I love it. It does one thing I could never do...remember birthdays.

I'm anti-birthday. I never really got anything for my birthday so it was never special to me. Except for getting to change my age its served me no prupose for 25 years. I call myself transitioning into maturity as of late. Part of that is acknowledging that the world is more than just me. So I'm making and effort to right myself this year. Life causes people to value things differently. I accept that while my birthday this year will just be another Wednesday for me, birthdays for other people are another way to recieve love from their friends and family, another way to know that other people care about you.

I can dig that.

I'm anti-birthday but I'm not anti-spreading love. I apologize to every friend I ever had for not remembering their special day. I didn't mean to offend or hurt any of you.

I say all that to say....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXIS!!
I miss you girl. You're one of my best friends ever. I wouldn't trade you for the world. Have great day. Don't drink the whole bottle!

Next year...birthday presents...

Ignorance is Bliss

"'cause they don't know no better baby."

That's what mom dukes used to say when I was a little man and would ask about all the bad stuff going on around me in Mosby Court. I woke up and saw some hardcore stuff. Drugs, fights, all the ghetto sins we witness every day. For the longest time I thought that was the answer. Now I know ma had it half right.

I woke up everyday in the same mess as everybody else, went to the same ragedy poor schools, same gunshot interupted sleep. I saw the same foul stuff. I made the tough choices everyday. I put in the extra work and worked hard to get somethng out of life. Then one faithful day in January 04 some random ass dude,or dudes, decides to break into my house and take everything they could even the damn couch.
The Damn Couch!!

"cause they dont know no better baby."

Ma they ate my pop tarts! They came in my house rambled through my stuff and before they left, they ate my pop tarts so they wouldn't get any hunger pains while carrying a loveseat on their backs. (tha bastids!!)
Yeah I'm still mad. I hate to give any excuses to those niggas that got me like that but I have got to concede a few points. First, America is not pro-black by any stretch of the imagination. Two, there are systems set up to keep African Americans down. Three, my generation has been devastated by crack, fatherless homes,blah blah blah. I can go on.

Maybe they don't know any better mama. I'll add to that. They don't want to know any better. I think that if they stepped outside of themselves and saw how they fell into the traps of the system, they would be depressed. If they ever looked at their lives and saw the crab mentality that had overtaken them and how they passed it down to the next generation through neglect and abuse, it would destroy what little self esteem they have. They would kill themselves if they ever woke up and realized that they had committed the most unforgivable offenses against their own people.

Don't worry niggas. Your ignorance will save you.

P.S.
I want to give a big shout out to the dumb ass, diaper wearing, mush mouthed, cockeyed, limp dicked, slew footed mutha fucka that stole my couch. I see you, you bitch ass muthafuka. Yeah I'm still mad!!