Dear Professional Baseball

DISCLAIMER: Before all of you baseball purists and 'America's Pastime' thumpers come and turn a Baseball Fury (100 e-points if you get that reference) on me, just know that I do watch baseball, and quite often in fact. I've just grown weary of summers dominated by baseball. It's as if the rest of the sports world takes summers off and we're stuck with an old, traditionalist of a sport. Check out these reasons for why professional baseball grinds my gears...

What about this was really exciting? #shoutout to the homie @JRSportBrief


1. Home runs suck. Don't deny it. Home runs are the most pointless highlight to ever flash before my TV screen. There's nothing particularly special about any particular home run, other than the fact that it clears the fence. Home runs are the same, every single time. It's a mystery to me as to why they even require the hitter to circle the bases. Doesn't the home run count as soon as it goes over the fence? Whatever the case, the crown jewel of the sport of baseball has grown less and less impressive as I've gotten older. And with the steroids era not yet in our rearview mirror, its still hard to give the nod to the home run's validity. Don't get me wrong. The feat of blasting a ball that far is impressive... But after seeing it once, I think the wow-factor wears off...

2. There's no parity in professional baseball. And that is coming from a born Yankees fan. As a betting man, there really is no reason to bet on baseball (sorry Pete Rose) considering the same teams are always winning, give or take a few that are declining. The lack of a salary cap has essentially made the MLB two leagues: the Haves and Have-nots, not the AL and NL. Squads like the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers, White Sox, Braves and Mets are continuously the cream of the crop, while teams like the Royals, Astros, Padres, Pirates, Athletics, Indians and Orioles are always bottom-dwellers. Even when those sucky teams manage to find a diamond in the rough of a player, he gets scooped up by one of the bigger teams because his original squad can't afford him. It's almost hilarious, because you have to wonder why those small-market teams even try anymore. Professional baseball has no appeal because there's never any chance of one of the lesser teams making a run, or even improving enough each year to challenge one of the big teams...

3. Can anyone tell me what the manager of a baseball team does? Seriously... I want to know, because every time I see a shot of the manager on TV, he's either speaking to one of the coaches under him, sitting down looking disinterested (probably eating sunflower seeds), or yelling at an umpire. Oh yeah... and he gets up in the dugout only to call the bullpen. Other than that we see him making signals and staring off into space. Sounds like one hell of a job. And what's with the manager having to wear the uniforms as well? Most of those guys don't look as though they've lifted a weight in decades. Why would you want them squeezing themselves into those near skintight pants and jerseys? All in all, the idea of a baseball manager boggles my mind. The permanence of that position will never make sense...

4. The game takes is too long and too slow. I've yet to sit down in front of a television and watch an entire baseball game, from first pitch to the last out. Nor do I know many people who can, unless they're at the game life. To do so would be nearing brutality. Between the commercials in between innings and pitching changes, and the time between actual pitches, baseball is a sport made for time wasting and lazy people. That's especially considering how little actual play is going on when they do play. It takes over 3 and a half hours for one baseball game to be over, when there might be 45 minutes of actual playing. And then the 7th inning stretch? What exactly are they stretching from? When you're not batting, you're in the dugout clowning around with your teammates. And when you're in the field 9/10 of the time, you're just standing there hoping for the ball to get hit into play near your area. The result of this is a long-winded, low-action, BORING game...

EDIT: Add to that, the fact that the baseball season is 162 games long. 162 games!!!!! That means 4,860 4-hour games, which is a number I don't even want to attempt to multiply. A long season of long games equal bored fans, which explains why the postseason is so short. It seems like the MLB has it backwards. But hey, who am I to judge?

There couldn't be a more accurate picture in all of the internets...


5. Baseball is just active enough to be called a sport, but is too lazy to be up there with basketball, football, hockey and soccer. As I said in previous points, you really don't have a lot of on-field action, except when the ball is in play. That lends itself to a lot of baseball players being on the less athletic side. But has anyone ever taken a look at some pitchers and designated hitters? Do the names David Wells, Prince Fielder, Mo Vaughn, Carlos Zambrano or David Ortiz ring any bells? If they don't then just picture a fat man wielding a baseball bat or pitching a baseball, and you've got the gist. Seriously, baseball is the only sport where you can be legitimately FAT and still play. Never mind football where even the heftiest of lineman can run the 40 in under 5 seconds. I'd be surprised if any of the guys I listed above can run to the bathroom in under 5 seconds. Baseball just lends itself to being unathletic, yet very athletic in certain capacities, which makes me question it as a sport...

6. The rules in baseball are completely fudged. Only in the MLB can you hit a home run in one park and not hit one in another. Only in the MLB are the fences different heights in different stadiums or the outfields different areas. Only in the MLB is video-evidence eschewed because of the umpire's cataract-filled discerning eye. And only in the MLB do we have different rules for different leagues. Seriously, can baseball get its own rules down pat? How can you allow the designated hitter in the AL and not the NL or vice versa? Shouldn't there be some sort of standard for how the game is played at the professional level? How do I explain that concept to someone who's never watched baseball before (ie: the rest of the developing world sans Latin America & Japan)? I don't think I possess the words to do so, nor should I have to. Professional baseball seems more like a loose affiliation of leagues more than one entity because of these differences, and it takes away from the integrity of the game. Then again, everyone lied about steroids. Baseball doesn't have a lot of integrity to fall back on anyway...

24 Hour Karate School - Release Date Confirmed

The wait is over. That's right. The wait is over. All of you underground heads that have been waiting for the Ski Beatz-headed collaborative project '24 Hour Karate School' can finally breathe a sigh of relief, as the album is now slated to drop on September 14th. Featuring Curren$y, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Stalley, Jim Jones, Rugz D. Bewler, Tabi Bonney, Wiz Khalifa, The Cool Kids, Camp Lo, Jean Grae and Terri Walker, this figures to be one of the most hyped-releases of the year. What baffles me is how many of the tracks are already available on the interwebs. Does that take away from the value of the complete work? Not necessarily, though Ski may very well have to pull something crazy out of his dojo to keep all of the students happy. Again, 24 Hour Karate School drops on September 14th, just in time for you to bump it on that 'back to school' playlist. Check out the promo video DD172 and Creative Control released to go with the good news...

The Seabreacher X

*cues Jaws theme music* I can't ever say that I've wanted to ride a shark, though the prospect would be a hell of a story for the kids. Unfortunately, I enjoy my limbs, and haven't grown any gills yet, so finding my way near one of these beastly fish is more unlikely than a Ja Rule comeback tour. Even so, the allure of the shark is undeniable: powerful, vicious, and apparently tasty with some lemon pepper and olive oil. The folks over at Innespace, an aquatic engineering company, have designed the Seabreacher X, the latest in their line of 'submersible watercrafts'. The Seabreacher obviously takes the form of a great white shark, but seats two, for those romantic nights on the water, travelling at break-neck speeds. It boasts a 260hp supercharged engine, propelling the vessel to a top speed of 50mph on the surface and 25mph below. Below? Yes, below. The Seabreacher X is capable of dipping under the water for a unique experience. The best part, though, is the actual breaching, where the Seabreacher can literally 'jump' out of the water. This looks like one hell of an idea, but for $60,000 and up, Innespace can keep them. Doesn't hurt to dream though...

Big Sean - What I Do x I Go Hard (ft. Pat Piff)

Big Sean - I Go Hard (ft. Pat Piff)


Big Sean - What I Do

One thing I can never deny about Big Sean is that he's damn near impossible to not nod your head to the GOOD Music member. His rhymes roll of his tongue well and he can ride a beat as well as anyone of the young bucks in the game. I'll admit I slept on Sean, though sometimes he can get more repetitive than Waka Flocka's ad-libs. Finally Famous Vol. 3 is upcoming, but without a release date at this moment. I can't say whether I'm going to like the third and final installment on the interweb-loved mixtape series. Yet, Sean's charisma and trademark slow-flow pique the ears' interest more and more. These are the newest leaks from the tape, with the Pat Piff-assisted track boasting a bass-heavy beat and Sean waxing prophetic about how good he is. You can say the exact thing about the second one. I guess if hip-hop has to evolve into a huge boasting contest, the way rappers do it should set them apart. Sean might not be Wordsworth, but he'll be able to (relatively) hold his own against his labelmates Cudder and Ye, come September...

BONUS: Completely forgot to post this up, but Sean's trailer for Finally Famous: Volume 3 is definitely worth seeing...

Peanuts x Lacoste - Peanuts 60th Anniversary Polos

Everyone loves the Peanuts. If you don't, then I'm not sure what planet you're from, or if you have a heart. 60 years ago, Charles Schultz started penning what would become the most popular comic strip in the world (sorry Boondocks), running from October 2, 1950 to February 13, 2000, now in syndication. From Lucy's constant bullying of Charlie Brown, to Linus' love affair with his blanket, to Marcy and Peppermint Patty's questionable relationship, the strip could captivate even the surliest of readers. To commemorate the anniversary, the good folk at Lacoste decided to team their iconic crocodile (not alligator) with Schultz' rag-tag bunch of baseball-playing suburban kids on their classic white polo shirt. The result is a nice set of shirts that have charming written all over them. The only thing is, they're available exclusively at Dover Street Market in London. That means you'll have to get your overseas connects up to get your hands on one of them... Either that or eBay. Whatever the case, the concept is dope. Check out the Peanuts x Lacoste 60th Anniversary Collection...

Consider it copped... maybe.

Neighborhood Newsletter (8/17)

Words of wisdom from a fellow cynic...

France urged to repay Haiti billions paid for its independence

Zebras Run Amok in Sacramento

Worldwide Extreme Weather, a Case for Global Warming

Republicans Support Strip Clubs At Ground Zero, But Not a Mosque

What's Worse Than Credit Card Debt? Student Loans

'Hindenburg Omen' Points to Wall Street Crash in September

Afghanistan Discovers 1.8 Billion Barrel Oilfield in Taliban Territory

Why Your Kids Need Recess

The Class of 2014 Doesn't Use Cursive — Or E-mail

Nadja Benaissa, German Pop Singer, On Trial For Knowlingly Spreading HIV

NBA 2K11 Trailer

*wipes drool off chin* I am an NBA 2K veteran. Yes, I said it. A veteran. I've been playing NBA 2K exclusively since 2000, when it graced its basketball goodness on the now-dead Dreamcast. I remember heads clowning it for years, only to come around two years ago, when they realized NBA Live Elite was doo. That said, I've been waiting for years to see Michael Jordan grace the best NBA video game out. That year is upon us. October 5th marks the release date for the 11th edition of NBA 2K, and I for one, cannot wait. Just check out the trailer and see how incredibly dope this game looks...

Dear Outasight (re: Never Say Never)

(DOWNLOAD LINK BELOW)

I may not always act like it, but I do get tired of rap at times. Not in the sense that I can't listen to hooks, punchlines and verses, but more in the sense that the musical sensibilities of hip-hop tire me sometimes, especially when people are putting out similar music. That's where artists like yourself, Richard Andrews (better known as Outasight) come into play. A Yonkers native is a singer/songwriter/rapper/musician, your musical talents are like a melting pot of jazz, soul, folk and hip-hop. What ends up happening is that you sounds unlike any artist I've heard over the past few years. Notice, I'm slow to put you in a genre, because you straddle so many lines without taking away the integral essence of each. That said, your newest mixtape, 'Never Say Never' (in collaboration with LRG) is just a piece of the smörgåsbord that you offer. The tape starts out with an upbeat chant called 'Complicated,' regaling in the complications of your early life, rife with your trademark singing voice and verses to break it up:

A prep school graduate with a C-average, but I never seen average / I would talk all night bout being Outasight , but I never kareem’d magic / Till I put the words to bed, and woke up the action, and canned the laughter / I ain’t trying to make a stand, I’m trying to fill up the rafters...

You then move on to the title track, 'Never Say Never,' an inspiring, mid-tempo, sing-songy riff about believing in yourself (who does that anymore?). In all honesty, it sounds like you made this mixtape for people to start their days to, evidenced by some the rosy acoustics and snare-heavy beats behind them. The tracks go on, with an ode to inebriated nights in 'Dizzy', a jump-worthy Freddie Gibbs (I'm slowly becoming a fan) feature in 'Near the End', and a bass-laced love track called 'Dear Heartache'.

Dude, you really have a penchant for making mixtapes that sound like albums. When I listen, I almost never am tempted to hit skip, for fear that I might miss a bright musical note sprinkled gingerly about one of your tracks. You really sat down and thought about how you wanted to construct this tape. It goes on to have a feature with XV that is impossible to not nod to in 'Lush Life' and a gospel-sounding anthem in 'Believe'. Yet the highlight for the mixtape in my opinion was your track 'Twenty-Something'. You described the pitfalls of being 1/4 done with life in this era as a pressure-filled one, rife with uncertainty and unfair expectations. It hit me right in the heart and I had to repeat another 3 times, before finishing the mixtape.

Outasight, you've successfully melded three genres with little correlation, while writing songs that capture the mindset of a wandering, yet intuitive generation. No, I'm not saying you're the equivalent of the Beatles (word to 'My Generation), but if I were to pick a recent artist that's made music that could stand the test of time, you would be one of the top candidates. In today's industry, music shelf life is about two weeks, with most songs' popularity outliving that of the artists. You, however, are making music that will always have a place in my playlist. Outasight, your music always seems like it comes from the most genuine and earnest places. Maybe that's a function of the beats. Maybe its your ability to sing, harmonize and rap on the same track that gives you flexibility to express yourself. Maybe its the glasses. I don't know. What I do know is that works like 'Never Say Never' don't come around often. You can charge that to a number of things, but doing so would only take away from just sitting back and enjoying the music. Kudos on a dope mixtape and I'll keep my eyes peeled for an album. Oh yeah... And huge #shoutouts to the Notherground fam. You and those fellows are doing great work on the interwebs...

The Kid Daytona - The Champ

The Kid Daytona - The Champ (Produced by Ted Smooth)

The Kid Daytona is one of the few artists out there who takes time to develop his craft before he lets the world see what he's cooking up. That explains the dire drought between new offerings from the Bronx (*shots lick off*) representer. His flow and delivery don't sound like everyone else out there. He doesn't drop one word punchlines or use silly wordplay, but still manages to be palatable to the ears. Add to that an ear for great beats, and you've got yourself a hell of an MC. His new project 'The Interlude LP,' in collaboration with LRG drops this month, and the 2nd leak is an ode to better days in hip-hop, with an early hip-hop sample to boot (if anyone can name it, that's 100 e-points; I'm too young to remember). Lyrically, he spits venom and I dare anyone to contest that. Daytona's definitely got something going here that will get you NYC hip-hop fans excited again. Check out the new leak and get hyped for 'The Interlude LP'...

The Census: No One Man Should Have All That Power

PREAMBLE: For those of you who haven't been following the blog since last year, I had a section on it called 'The Census'. The premise behind it was that I would present an issue, then pose a question in a poll, where you, the readers would have the opportunity to vote on it for a week. Unfortunately, the voting got a little sparse, so I canned it... Until now. The Census is back, but now, rather than voting on it, I simply implore you, friends, to chime in in the comments section. One of the reasons I started Dear Whoever was to have an open forum for dialogue on what's going on in the world today. Some of that dialogue takes place through my letters, but I would love it if my readers got some time to voice their opinions. So here goes... This is the first round of the new, kinda improved, Census. Enjoy folks...



I guess the title is a little misleading, considering Justin Bieber is merely a teenager (didn't stop the Power Rangers, though). At the same time, he's not exempt from the rules that govern the social media frenzy that has everyone glued to their computers and phones now. And while we're on the topic of being glue to one's phone, please take a look below to see the kind of influence and power that we give to one man. Justin Bieber retaliated against a failed Twitter hack by tweeting that person's phone number to his 4.5 million fans (source). The fan, Detroit teen Kevin Kristopik, went on to receive over 26,000 texts ranging from laughter to outright hate. His cell phone bill is estimated to be upwards of $5000, given he doesn't have unlimited texting. Cell phone fees aside, is this the kind of society that we live in? Do the frivolities of celebrities enamor us that much that we kowtow to their every beck and call. Truthfully, what did any of those 26,000 text messages do for the people that weren't Justin Bieber. My guess is little to nothing. So I suppose the question is, how did we allow someone to gain that type of influence over people? The same thing happened to the 'chosen one,' a random Twitter user that Kanye West decided to follow. Steven Holmes had to delete his Twitter to get away from the promoters, social media hawks and random bystanders contacting him because of some supposed 'relationship' he had with Kanye. Is it just me or has social networking gotten a little too crazy?

That's what happens to your phone when you mess with Justin Bieber's Twitter...


So tell me people, where do you stand on the power of social media and how much influence we place in the hands of celebrities through that medium? Do we give stars too much pull in our lives? How is it that Justin Bieber can get thousands of fan(atics) to barrage a phone and Kanye can cause a person's social networking experience to crumble? Where do we draw the line between harmless online fun, and jeer-worthy groupthink? Please, please, please throw some comments below. I'd love to hear what you guys think!

Dear Cynical Rap Fans

Bun tore this guy a new one and made this message clear: Respect the MC, especially if you can't do it.

One of my friends dropped a serious gem on me a few weeks back: being a blogger (especially dealing with music or sports) is essentially being a professional hater. Now all you bloggers and hip-hop fans out there, let that statement sink in and marinate for a few seconds. As a blogger or a rap fan, you specialize in hating. You might very well love and adore a few acts, genres and movement among the greater movement of hip-hop, yet a great deal of your time is spent actively, vehemently and vocally disliking other entities, if not for page views and ratings, then for e-props and an ego boost. That said, I can't even distance myself from that bug. This blog, in many a post, has been a forum for airing out my grievances with issues in rap, rather than bigging up those that I side with. The whole hip-hop universe is riddled with hate, from angry Twitter rants from artists and fans alike (guilty), to random beefs, to the blogs themselves being partial. It's as if we've forgotten the fact that hip-hop was supposed to be fun at one point. Gone is the jovial, gregarious nature of the inner-city art form, as hip-hop becomes cold, impersonal and pugnacious behind computer screens. You'd think that at a showcase of the purest form of hip-hop congregation, the freestyle battle, heads would be able to chime in on the victors without the jeering and hate coming from the crowd. That clearly wasn't the case.

Bun B is the trillest. Point blank. If you have any questions as to why all of his albums include the word 'trill', it is because Bun is simply trill. That's why you can't be mad at Bun issuing a challenge to one of you, a cynical, hating, hip-hop concert dweller, probably fresh off his millionth listen to Atmosphere's 'Overcast' and donning his traditional backpack. As a cynical hip-hop fan, this fool jeered and taunted the contestants from the crowd for the whole show, only to be called out on stage by The Trill One and fumble over a really, really shitty freestyle. That freestyle, and the deafening boos from the crowd not only gave him a first class ticket to the exit, they showed the dangers of being a hater.

Cynical hip-hop fans, how many of you can rap? ...I mean really rap. How many of you can piece together a verse over a beat, or write an ill chorus, or go off the top of the dome in a battle? How many of you can rock a crowd and have thousands singing along to your songs? *crickets* My guess is few, if any of you; myself included. Too often do you find that the ones criticizing the art form the most are the least exceptional at that artform. They say those who can't do, critic, and those who can't critic simply sit on the sidelines giving sideways comments. We can all name at least one head whose life goal and prerogative is to rake muck at every possible instance. Unfortunately, not all of them have or will have the blessing of being publicly embarrassed by a hip-hop legend to humble them. That said, it's not really our job to put you in your place, oh scornful hip-hop fan. Where did all of this hate come from anyway? Whether you're a failed rapper, producer, or manager who started a blog, or you've had a hip-hop snob license for over a decade, keep the hate to a minimum, especially if you can't rap to save a second of your life. Lord knows I might have needed this letter more than you, to remind me not only that not everything has to be battle, but also to work on my freestyling, in the event that I ever do get called out. To you, oh cynical hip-hop fan, I hope the same wisdom be imparted. Maybe you'll get to see the show instead of getting booed out of the venue...

Dear Islamophobes

It usually takes a tragic event to polarize people. Something crazy, even unbelievable, has to happen to sway people's opinions, or divide those opinions on an issue. That said, there hasn't been a more polarizing issue in the past decade than the attacks on September 11th. The events of that day sparked a war on two fronts, a deficit stemming from military overspending and an anti-American sentiment around the world. But the most ridiculous fallout from the attacks has less to do with feasible things, and more to do with an undertone that's hit a fever pitch over the past few weeks: Islamophobia.

In New York City, a few blocks away from Ground Zero, where the two towers were felled, a mosque is being planned for construction in the near future. Conservatives, fundamentals, and the cowardly all fall under the same banner when it comes to the construction: Islamophobes. You all have taken fear-mongering to new heights with your opposition to this mosque, and it all stems from anti-Islamic sentiment. I understand that the salty taste left in your mouth from 9/11 makes you want these mosque-builders to hightail it to the nearest cave. But wait a second.... Isn't this America? ...as in, the United States of America, the country whose foundation was built on a bedrock of religious tolerance. Weren't the first settlers coming here in search of religious freedom? That's what I thought! Hell, it's in our Constitution! Why now, are you guys going to try and take that freedom away from a perfectly legitimate entity? I'll tell you why: anger, fear and prejudice. By opposing the mosque, you've basically given credence to the idea of terrorism. The people who planned the 9/11 attacks scared you so much, that you automatically take the aspirations of any Islamic or Muslim individual with a grain of salt. You can't even see past the fact that the construction will feature a community and cultural center, complete with a pool, rec center and community outreach programs for a part of the city that's dying for an adrenaline shot. That's what the terrorists wanted! Fear!

It's not that you should forget the horrors that occurred on September 11th, 2001. It's that there shouldn't be any barriers to peaceful development. I'm tired of people believing that religion should make its way into politics. It certainly affects our political stances, but shouldn't be our litmus test for a person or entity's worth. If the good people at the Cordoba Institute (an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West) wants to build a mosque, let them rock!! Don't use fear-mongering and crocodile tears from 9/11 to push forward an agenda of religious intolerance. That's like going to a different country, destroying their infrastructure, killing their leaders and pushing your religion in their faces, under the guise of democracy. Oh wait... You guys did that too...

Neighborhood Newsletter (8/13)

A judge's worst nightmare... No one wants to be the first to rule on it, but everyone will tag along once it happens

Research Calls Into Question 'Toning Shoe' Benefits

How to Make Introductions Like a Gentleman

1 in 12 US Babies Born to Illegal Immigrants

NY police find live cat 'marinating' in car trunk

Are you ready for a world without antibiotics?

Android has now overtaken iPhone worldwide

Disney faces $200K lawsuit for alleged Donald Duck groping

Obama to Sign $600M Border Security Bill

Thousands Crowd Atlanta Housing Authority For Section 8 Waiting List, Fights Break Out

Mickey Factz - Paradise (Music Video)

Okay, so Mickey Factz is claiming in his upcoming mixtape 'I'm Better Than You' that he's... better than everyone else in the rap game. While he's had some great leaks, some of them have been sub-par, retracting back to that tired, convoluted flow. The track 'Paradise' was one of those that I was kind of lukewarm about. But as most hip-hop heads know, sometimes the best part about a song isn't the song itself, but the music video. That's the case with the visuals for 'Paradise'. The video, directed by Phil the God, takes Mick back to his roots in the Bronx, where he does the typical hood music video. Complete with trademark bodega, random street shots and a gang o' n*ggas behind him, Mickey does his best 90's impression, and surprisingly makes the song sound a lot better. I guess the sepia tones and mean mugs served him well. Hopefully, the whole mixtape doesn't need a visual for us to rock to it. Whatever the case, check out the video for Mickey Factz's 'Paradise'...

Freestyle Friday (8/13)

It's Friday, which means freestyles. You guys know that. But it's also Friday the 13th, which means we're gonna do something a little different. Today we're going to enter..... (gasp) The Freestyle Twilight ZOOOONE. No, seriously. Today we've got Vado on VLADTV dropping off a 16 going a capella. Honestly, Vado surprises me all the time. He's got a few slick lines in this freestyle, which is a far cry from some of the simple stuff he spits sometimes. 'Slime Flu' still doesn't have a release date, but I suppose when you're going hard on the promo like V-12, you can afford some procrastination. Now, for the scary, eerie, Twilight Zone freestyle. Cassidy might as well make his next promo picture a milk carton. He has been MIA in the rap game for over a year now. You'd suppose the next freestyle he'd come out with would be pure piff... No. It isn't. In fact, that's the eerie part. Cass has slipped so far that he has to resort to using a tired, Roscoe Dash flow. -_____- I hope he's just been smoking too much and this isn't what we're going to see from here on out. Whatever the case, enjoy both freestyles, for the lines and the laughs...

Digital Reflex Camera

What does it really take to redesign one of the oldest concepts in the book? Some try to make the old design better by adding on to it and trying to make more out of it. Others, on the other hand go forward by going backwards, simplifying the design. That's the case with Yaniv Berg’s Digital Reflex Camera. Instead of being a typical box-shaped camera with a lens protruding out, the Reflex Camera has a periscope-like design, enabling all you photographers out there to take pictures from a different angle and stance. The designer, Yaniv Berg, took a hint from the cameras of olden days that had their eyepieces at the top of the camera instead of the back. The camera also can be turned on its lens for a unique photo-viewing experience. I know some of you photographers that read the blog wouldn't mind getting your hands on one of these. No word on whether it'll hit the streets, but you can ogle these pictures until we find out...

J. Cole - Blow Up (Produced by J. Cole)

J. Cole - Blow Up (Produced by J. Cole)

Can we toss out the 'musical prodigy' title for J. Cole yet? I think it's due time for Cole to get his props as both an MC (we already knew that) AND as a producer. Most heads don't know that most of 'The Warm Up' was produced by Jermaine, or that all of his recent leaks (with the exception of one which slips my mind) were as well. Cole tends to pick hard bass lines with not a lot in the snare department. He also like to include these nice recurring loops with a small melody (think the undertone of 'Who Dat'), which gives his beats a different feel from most of what's out there now. This latest loosie may or may not be (I really think Cole is just f*cking with us now) on the new album, which, apparently doesn't have a title anymore. No worries though. With rhymes like this dropping every so often, October doesn't seem that far away. Cole spits on this track about religious hypocrisy, graduating college with debt and more of his pre-Roc Nation woes. Sh*t, he sounds a lot like me. But let's not get into comparisons here. Just enjoy the track and be on the lookout for more from the Grown Simba...

Band of Outsiders x Sperry 2010 Fall/Winter Collection

Not sure if I would rock these, but they're definitely an eye-catcher...

Recently, I've grown an infatuation with Sperry's. My father, unbeknownst to me until about a year ago, is the freshest man on the planet, starting with his shoes. His favorites, which are ironically (ironic, because I thought I'd be wearing sneakers for the rest of my life) mine now are Sperry Topsider Authentic Originals, which are essentially classics in the boat shoe industry. California brand Band of Outsiders has been collaborating with Sperry for the past few seasons, adding new materials and colorways to an austere silhouette. The collab continues this fall with more funky designs from Band of Outsiders. This season we look forward to a furry Original Authentic, a black leather high-top chukka, brown corduroy on some penny loafers and Original Authentics, and a grey canvas design as well (must-cop). These new takes on a classic brand are conservative enough for my father, but fresh enough of a concept for me. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Check out some flicks of the collab between Band of Outsiders and Sperry...

Consider these next two copped...

Kanye West - See Me Now (ft. Beyonce' & Charlie Wilson)

No relation to the song... I just really like this GIF.


Kanye West - See Me Now (ft. Beyonce' & Charlie Wilson)

Welp... Another Kanye track has hit the interwebs, and every musically-affiliated blog and blogger has rushed to post it, not mentioning anything about the song other than the fact that it's here and that Beyonce and Charlie Wilson is on it. Dear Whoever is different. We like the discourse that goes along with the song itself. Kanye's 2nd leak off 'the Album Formerly Known as Good Ass Job,' is an upbeat anthem to the changes that happen when one has been in the industry as long as Ye, Bey and Chuck. Bey does a hefty amount of cussin (if you call cussin throwing out the n-word), Charlie does his trademark swooning, and Ye has two verses ripe with punchlines and wordplay and that original Kanye-esque cockiness that made everyone love him i nthe first place. I can't fade it. Ye's album is going to be pure piff. I dare anyone to say differently based on what's leaked out. Everything, including this leak sounds beautifully constructed, and/or divinely inspired. Please check out the leak, and support blogs that actually blog, not post. *gets off soapbox*

Seat Savers

I'm not going to lie. I love my space, as do most people. One of the ways that manifests itself is in seating and seating arrangements. Whether taking the bus or train or sitting in a public facility, I usually don't like sitting in close proximity to people. A bunch of you probably feel the same way. There's an effective and funny way to hold your spot down while you go about your business, or detract potential seat mates from invading your personal bubble. The good people at Shockblast created Seat Savers with nothing more than high-grade rubber. As you can tell, the effect is pretty realistic... a bit underhanded, but realistic enough to serve its purpose. If not that, it's a pretty good prank. Check out some of the different Seat Savers...