Dear Vince Young

When Awards of any kind come up, whether in sports, entertainment, academics or what have you, there's always debate before and after the award is given as to who really deserves it. That's always the argument: did Person A really deserve the award or should Person B want to start a riot? In sports, the debate can be vicious and ongoing (think MVP awards, etc.), maybe never-ending. In football, but especially college football, the debate usually is a done deal, depending on how well that player is doing and how well the team is doing.

Yet, in your case Vince, you clearly were cheated by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Reggie Bush may have had an outstanding season, but when it came to the big game, you were the one who delivered, squeezing out probably the most exciting college football game I've ever seen. The look of defeat on Bush's face was laughable, considering how much of the limelight was being cast on he and USC's vaunted 2005 team. When it came time for the trophy, you were second in the voting. At the time I was neutral on the situation, but even judging from the professional careers of you two, it seems like you were the better player all along. Reggie is just a piece of New Orleans' success. You almost brought the Titans into the playoffs singlehandedly last season, winning 8 of your last 10 games, after the Titans started 0-6 with you on the bench. The way you handled the questions (below) about the Heisman shot you up about 20 points in the public eye, too. You didn't come outright and say you deserved it nor trash Reggie Bush. What Bush did was outside of the rules, and he fairly was stripped of the award. Judging from your character, and play on the field, we all know who really should've had it...

Neighborhood Newsletter (9/15)

After 9 Months, Only 2% of Haitian Rubble Cleared

How Police Get the Innocent to Confess

96% Say You Wash Hands; Only 85% Actually Do

Gay Saudi Diplomat Seeks Asylum in US

Employers Like State School Grads, Not Ivy Leaguers

'Warning Shot' Kills Teen Protester in South Africa

French Senate Bans Islamic Veils in Public

Facebook CEO Admits To Calling Users 'Dumb F*cks'

Dear Internships

If you get assigned an internship like this, LEAVE

Monday, I tackled the teachers in the first of this week's 'Back To School' series. Today, I'm getting a little more abstract and introspective about something every student should experience or at least should explore: internships. The modern internship was created to give students the opportunity to experience their field at a (very) basic level. Sometimes it results in a rewarding duration, and other times it's a period of pure drudgery. Let's dive into that a little more...

It's funny, I've always had one of you during the summer. As a matter of fact, all of my summer jobs were internships. Working retail never suited me. Working at one of you was just a nice thing to say: (insert name here)'s working at (insert company here) for the summer, and is doing (insert tasks here). It seemed prestigious. Along with having a physical job that I had to go to, every day, rain or shine, I've grown to loathe you, in the nicest way possible. Internships, you're like training camp for the big leagues, ie: a full time position. I can't say that I don't enjoy you. Meeting new people in a professional sense, getting to experience a field first-hand and getting the perks of having a job (depending on the locale) all make you something coveted and wanted. You give students an opportunity to see an office at it's most basic level: administrative. That lends itself to dealing with office politics, professional courtesy and understanding operations, which are all beneficial. At the same time, you bring a lot of different stuff to the picture that most students don't think about.

For one, you give kids the illusion that they're actually doing something in the big picture of XYZ Company. That's not the case. Oftentimes when students embark on you, they're given the most menial of tasks, usually ones that full-time employees should do. This work, aptly titled 'grunt work' for the grunts of discontent coming from an intern, is simply given so that the intern has something to do. Next, you put students under the supervision of people, who might not be the best to be under. Oftentimes, the person that an intern works under isn't a professional in their field, but an administrator whose job it is to oversee them and make sure that they're completing what drudgery they're given. That supervisor might not have any experience in the field and sometimes might not even be open to the idea of an intern being there, leading to tension in the office. You may advertise a professional experience, but what happens usually borders on general office help at a cheap price, sometimes free. Internships, you're not all that you're cracked up to be. Overall, I'd say that you are a good look, but not for everyone. Your system lends itself to students who work well in organized, and often rigid systems, or students who are extremely proactive. If a student has a problem with authority or are slow to be motivated, you aren't the right way to spend a summer. That said, you're definitely something that students should look into. If not to know whether an office setting is right, then just to be able to tell those 'Worst Internship Ever' stories. Lord knows I have a few...

Dear Kanye (re: the VMA's)

I didn't watch most of the VMA's. The Washington - Dallas game had my attention because it was as captivating as an opening game as I've ever seen (word to DC). That said, I tuned in to MTV's yearly ode to the music video late, only to catch one thing: your performance Ye. I Youtube'd Taylor Swift's performance, and it was lame at best. She tried to make an underhanded acceptance of your antics last year (which I thoroughly lambasted you for), which came off sounding preachy and quick to capitalize on a year's worth of free publicity. You rose above her by not even directing any attention to her, or allowing MTV to pan to her anorexic-looking behind. But that's neither here nor there. Taylor's performance sucked because it was bad. Your performance, on the other hand, was masterful.

Rather than come back with a Taylor Swift apology song or try to make amends for what some would perceive as an off year for you, you decided to thumb your nose at all the douchebags, *ssholes and what have you. Now, that may sound ridiculous on the surface, but when taking a look at the performance as a whole, one can't help but think you're one of the best musicians out right now. First of all, you came out there dressed in a bright red suit. At first I was clowning it, thinking about Eddie Murphy in Delirious, but then looking at the stage from the aerial view, your aim (pun intended) was obvious. Ye, you were the target, the red dot that everyone had been aiming at over the past year because of your antics. Visually, that made the 'Runaway' performance a symbolic spectacle. Ironically, the song is about you poking fun at yourself for 'finding what (you) don't like the most' in everything and broadcasting it. That message hearkens back to your town hall-esque meetings at Rolling Stone, Twitter and Facebook where you're trying to make music from a position of happiness rather than sadness. I suppose one of those positions is one where you can poke fun at yourself and the people who've been chucking darts at you over the past year. You made yourself the target for yourself and for everyone else.

The second reason the performance was dope was that you brought out Pusha T. Plus, it seems as if the younger Thornton brother has something to prove, much like you do. Of all the heads you have lined up on GOOD Music, Pusha is my favorite. He's got the charisma, attitude and BARS for a nice crossover, though most of white America let out a collective 'Who's that?' when he stepped on stage. It was one of the only highlights to what I heard (better yet, read, thanks to Twitter) was a pretty lame MTV Video Music Awards.

SIDENOTE: The VMA's are officially dead, by the way. There really was no reason for half of the show aside from the performances. Chelsea Handler (who is comedic gold on her show) fumbled through three hours of celebrity jokes and a Rick Ross ride, and still couldn't get a genuine laugh from the dead-silent crowd. MTV completely lost its appeal when she jumped into a hot-tub with the Dirty Jersey crew, and died when she came out 'pregnant'. RIP to MTV.

Your performance was trill for one more reason: it means hip-hop is the IT now. Along with Drake, Eminem and Nicki Minaj, your feature on MTV, a (canonized) world stage, was a testament to the idea that rap music is here to stay. Ye, you solidified yourself as a heavy-hitter again with the this performance and kept it oh-so-funky with Taylor Swift by not even mentioning that squeaky-clean pop martyr. While she tried to milk last year's folly again, you were looking a year ahead to a gang of awards. Regardless of America's sweetheart, Ye, you were masterful last night, putting an emphatic exclamation mark on one hell of a statement to the music industry over the past few months. Your next album is sounding damn near classical, and we have no clue what's even going to be on it. That's enough holding your pocket, though Ye. Let's hear a few more GOOD Friday's before we crown you again, though somehow we might not even need it after that performance...

Dear Teachers

There is a realization that I've come to about my academic life. It took 4 years (and counting) for me to turn this realization into an actual ideology, and now that I'm a senior I still can't fathom how this goes down: Teaching college kids SUCKS. Yes, it's that simple. And the sad part is, no one knows how much it sucks. Most of you are paid less than you should for getting large groups of sleepy, rude, self-absorbed, ignorant, 18-22 year olds buried in their phones and laptops, to recall some arcane subject that either A) is too general to mean anything to them or B) too focused for those not requiring it to care. I can't tell you how many times I've mentally checked out of a class because I simply didn't care about the material, and the teacher exacerbated that. Have no fear, though, professors. As a part of Dear Whoever's 'Back to School Week' I've got a few pointers that'll have your students (myself included), not only attentive, but wanting to pay attention and participate in class. Keep it locked this week for more school-related letters..

1. Make the curriculum, syllabus and requirments as clear and as concise as possible. Too many times the classes that we students need to take have these ridiculously convoluted class policies. Whether it's a lack of gradeable material, too much material on exams or what have you, get your administrative and logistical sh*t down pat. There's nothing more annoying than a professor who's whole class is spent trying to figure out when stuff is due or when we have to cram because they don't know. I suppose that's all a matter of organization and preparation. Yet, every year there's that one teacher who's syllabus and course direction look like he/she made it up while high off some amazing shrooms, driving to class that morning. I guarantee if your requirements are clear, then your head will be too at the end of the term. Having a clear syllabus prevents you from switching it up on us after 10 weeks and it gives us an understanding of how much we can or can't afford to slack off.

2. Drop the TA's. Seriously. It's one thing to have another professor cover for you when you either don't have the time or are grading papers or something of that nature. It's another thing to completely drop your duties as a professor and hand it off to someone less than a year removed from the same position we were. Come on. We barely want to see your faces in the morning handing out exams and lecturing us for an hour and a half. What makes you think we want some extra-bubbly, brown-nosed kid with a taste for power and not enough friends doing the same thing, trying to impersonate you? Not only do most of these heads know diddly squat compared to you about the material, it's almost an insult when they try to reprimand the classroom (think having your nana as a substitute in grade school). We don't come to school for another student's expertise, we came for yours. Just suck it up and show up. We're there, and there's no reason you shouldn't be.

3. I don't know who you guys have got to talk to about this one, but someone's got to take a stand. Because it's you, the teachers, providing the material, it should be you: FIND A WAY TO GET LESS EXPENSIVE BOOKS!!! That is really one of the things that irks me about college. If I'm going to get stuck for my paper (Biggie voice), I'd rather it not be by hunks of paper and cardboard that I can eschew reading by coming to class and taking notes. For God's sakes, one of my textbooks is over $200!!!!! Do you know what I can do with that money? Is McGraw-Hill or whichever textbook company the only entity on the planet with some of this information? Or better yet, have all the textbook companies banded together with Barnes and Noble to make some kind of 'textbook Illuminati,' destined to run our pockets and come out with the same information in a different version next year? Professors, if you're going to be the ones setting the curriculum for us, at least have some sympathy and try to use older versions, or something...

4. Enough with the group projects already, teachers. I don't like groups. As a matter of fact, groups are the reason I'm glad I'm done with all of my business classes. You guys seem to think that placing a bunch of us students together for the common purpose of writing some BS paper, that we each could've written by ourselves will help us build our people skills. SIKE. This ISN'T 'The Real World', and I'm certainly not really trying to be polite with the kid who hasn't been to class all term or the kid who'll give everyone in the group a bad grade for dumb crap. The thing is, most of us already don't want to do any work, much less get graded harshly for it. What makes you think we want to let a bunch of strangers have some bearing on our grade? I'd rather mess up a project on my own and be upset with myself, than have a gang of fools I'll probably never see again have a hand in determining it...

5. I don't think I'm alone in saying that class can be more boring than watching baseball highlights, so teachers, do yourselves and us a all a favor: BE MORE ENGAGING!!! If you're going to teach about molecules and atoms, be peppy about it! If you're lecturing on economics, have some umph in your voice! Quit reading from PowerPoints and droning on about insignificant topics for half the class. Quit trying to fish for answers from us when you're not even trying to keep us interested. There's nothing worse than a teacher with no wit and no personality in their class. It's like trying to stay awake after a 3 AM trip to Waffle House, with some soothing music playing and the warmest Snuggie draped around you: it won't work. Period. Use weird voices and stupid stories if you have to. Make fun of some of the class (that's a great way to get me interested). Hell, dress up like a clown if you have to. Do something to make me feel like I'm not hearing 'Beuller.. Beuller.. Beuller' for 2 hours...

There you have it professors. We students know your job is thankless and annoying sometimes. We just wish you would try to make it easy for us. After all, you've been through the same stuff going to school. At least try and be sympathetic and hey, maybe we'll all learn something this term (corny tie-in)...

ALIFE Fall/Winter 2010 Collection

Those of you who've been following Dear Whoever for a while now might notice that I've all but curbed most fashion and sneaker posts, save a few exceptional ones. That's not because I've given up on it. It's just that most brands are melding into the same category, and, as I find myself getting a bit older, hanging on to traditional streetwear brands is a bit lame. Some however continue to surprise me, if not by the designs themselves then by the way they're presented. ALIFE is always going to be on the scene. They've got way too much pull and a lot of creative minds rocking with them at this point. I guess it's no surprise that the lookbook for this year's fall/winter collection is so dope. A series of stop-motion photography with a white backdrop is all the NYC brand needed to show off their new collection of traditional graphic tees, flannel button downs, sweaters, hoodies and of course, their sneakers. The music does the video justice too. Check the lookbook out in slower motion here...

Neighborhood Newsletter (9/9)

San Francisco Homeless Protest McDonald's Dollar Menu Price Increase

French Soccer Team Boots Gay Player

More Americans Becoming Day Laborers

US Guns Litter 90% of Mexican Crime Scenes

Rodney King to Marry his Juror

Iraqi Prank TV Show Plants Fake Car Bombs

The Best Jobs In America

The Future of Ad Agencies and Social Media

3% of Twitter Traffic Bieber-Related

Do We Have the Right to Lie?

Chiddy Bang - The Good Life (Co-produced by Pharrell)

Chiddy Bang - The Good Life (Produced by Pharrell)

The whole producer-MC combination somewhat throws me for a loop, especially when the producer doesn't really rap. Acts like Kidz in the Hall are dope, but without Double-O, can Naledge hold a track down? Can Mikey Rocks rock a beat that Chuck didn't bless? Was CL Smooth as good without Pete Rock? I guess those questions are more rhetorical than ones that can actually be answered, yet it's always interesting to see the MC rock over another producer's beat. In this case, Chiddy Bang hooked up with Skateboard P (he co-produced it) for this cut off their upcoming work 'The Preview', to be released in October. You can definitely tell where Pharrell left his mark (the drums for sure) and where Noah did his thing (the crescendo has his name all over it). Add some nice verses by Chiddy, and you've got a certified head knocker for the fall. Check the track out and be on the lookout for more from Chiddy Bang...

Dear XV (re: Vizzy Zone)

DOWNLOAD: XV - Vizzy Zone

The difference between the artists that make it from blog-fame to actual fame is simple: the ones that make it can straddle the line between musicality and being palatable, while the ones that don't focus too much on one aspect more than the other. XV, you seem like you've got a decent balance in the works, but need some time developing your style. A lot of the mixtape was exceptional, but a noticeable amount of it seemed like you were keeping the listener in limbo, which we'll discuss further:

First of all, lyrically, this mixtape was one of the best I've heard in a while. The references you made were both arcane and far-fetched. Vizzy, your mixtape was a barrage of bars from start to finish. "I be eating beats like Doug Funnie be" made me literally bust out laughing. At one point you were just going punchline for punchline for punchline and it was as if one couldn't listen fast enough. I found myself rewinding this tape constantly, attempting to catch your lyrics, because some of them were beyond slick. Bar for bar Vizzy, you're one of the best out, and there is no denying that. That said, your lyrical prowess can be a gift and a curse. While heads such as myself are bar-hungry, other people aren't as receptive to these types of songs. Sometimes the listener just wants to enjoy the song and nod their head, not listen with a pen and pad and hit rewind every 30 seconds. I suppose it's trivial to mention, yet it's something that really stuck out with Vizzy Zone. Even so, this tape was like lightning in a bottle when it comes to lyricism, which is something that no one can take away from you, and everyone should take notice of.

Secondly, this tape's beats varied from FIRE to mehhhhhh. XV, I think your selection needs a bit of work. While looking at the myriad of producers on Vizzy Zone, I feel like you picked some of these guys more because they're up-and-coming than because they matched your style. Vizzy, your rhyme scheme lends itself to long bars and even longer trains of thought/metaphors. Your beats should mirror that ideology. Hip-hop has become a genre that's beat-driven, and a few producers run the top of the game. That said, not every one of them is right for every artist. At times, I wish that the beats on your tape were either slower, or less complex. It seemed like the producers were trying to fit too much into the music at the expense of simplicity and austerity. You should know that better than anyone, having been pushed back since 2005. Sometimes doing too much, especially musically, makes one less appealing. The beats weren't able to take away from your lyrics, but some of them bothered me enough to mention.

Third off, the collaborations you featured on Vizzy Zone were well-placed. A lot of artists have features because they can't populate an entire work by themselves. Every one of your features worked well with your style. The song 'She Go, I Go' with Chiddy Bang was dope, as was 'Reset Button' with Talib Kweli. I suppose talent recognizes the same and you were able to recruit some serious talent to help you on this tape. Fourth off, Vizzy, you seriously need to work on your choruses, bridges or whatever you want to call them. Too much of the time, you ended up just chanting non-rhythmically over the beat, rather than just leaving the choruses alone, or finding someone else to write or do them for you. Vizzy, you're not Wiz Khalifa. Your voice nor your style lend themselves to melody. Not that you'd be unable to string together a competent hook, but I think there were too many times during the tape where you sounded like a lost wolf with a f*cked up howl.

In closing, Vizzy, this was a valiant effort. It was good, not great. I think one of the downfalls of the blogosphere is that every week we get new work from different artists, and the hype that surrounds the work usually overshadows the truth about that work. Vizzy Zone made me realize that lyricism is alive and well, as is creativity in that realm. Also, might I say, the cover for this tape is beyond PIFF. Whoever did it either is the next Van Gogh or has been taking some of the best psychedelic drugs ever produced. In terms of replay value, some of Vizzy Zone's tracks will definitely be in rotation for a while. That's just a testament to how good an MC you have the opportunity to be. With some finetuning, I would not be surprised if you were the next cat to make that big break. Like I said before, it's all about balance when coming up in hip-hop. Can you make the stans happy while giving the radio something to play? Can you be a lyricist while still being palatable? Can you make songs with content that still make you nod your head? You're well on your way, Vizzy. Your 'Zone' is an eerie one, but one that begs to be visited more than once. Kudos on a nice tape.

#dopetracks
The Flying V
Gettin Bizzy
Reset Button
Vizzy Zone
She Go, I Go
Falling Awake

Loosies:
XV - We Zonin' (prod. Seven)
XV – Top Of the Roof (prod. Seven)
XV – Gettin’ BiZZy (prod. Seven)
XV – T.A.L.K. (prod. Seven)

Dear Matt Leinart

Kurt: Coulda been you, bro... Matt: *emo sigh*

via ESPN:

The Arizona Cardinals have released Matt Leinart, parting ways with the former Heisman Trophy winner who was supposed to be the team's franchise quarterback but couldn't escape the backup role.
The team made the announcement on Saturday, shortly before the Cardinals had to reach their 53-man roster limit.

"In fairness to Matt, I think that it would be a tough position for him to be in a backup role," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Maybe a fresh start for him is what would be a good thing, for all of us."

I always find it funny when athletes go from the college game to the professional game and lose their mojos. Situations like that beg the simple question: What happened? From off-the-field trouble, to coaching and administrative changes, there's usually a veritable reason for why a player loses his stride after making a move to the pros. In the NFL, there are so many variables to a player's success, that sometimes drafting the best player is a simple game of chance. At the same time, there still exists the idea of a can't-miss prospect; a player who's on-field laurels translate perfectly from the college to pro game. You, Matt Leinart were one of those prospects, and now that you've officially been relegated to a future journeyman, it's high time to out you on the wackness that has pervaded your career.

I'm not going to lie. I despise USC as a football program. I don't even think I have a good reason (guess that makes me a hater), aside from the fact that most, if not all of their players, including yourself are what we sports pundits like to call 'system players'. Be real, Matt. Do you honestly think you would've put up the numbers you did at a different school. When one checks out your track record, a lot of your success was because of the players around you. The college game, to me, is much more team-oriented than the pro game. Schools that constantly recruit full classes of blue-chips are always going to be at the top, because their entire squad gets an injection of new blood on both sides of the ball. Matt, you had one doozy of a team around you. Reggie Bush, Lendale White, Sam Baker, Darnell Bing, Brian Cushing, Fred Davis, Rey Maualuga, to name a few, were all on the team with you. Those dudes all went pro and are playing at a high level now. That said, how can anyone debate that your success wasn't (in part) due to your surroundings. For God's sakes, your coach Pete Carrol practically made it impossible for you to not light up the scoreboard! When you got to the NFL, I knew you were doomed, but tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Kurt Warner is one of the best QB's of the past decade. The man is a consummate professional and is easily one of the most knowledgeable players in recent history. That the Cardinals would draft you to back him up was literally, the PERFECT situation for you. Denny Green, and (the next head coach) Ken Whisenhunt laid out a red carpet for you. You had two top-5 receivers lining up at your sides, a competent defense on the other side of the ball, and a dedicated coaching staff. As far as I'm concerned, there was no reason for you to not excel once Kurt decided to call it quits after the 2009 season. In fact, Matt, you should've been starting from 2008, but just kept handing the position back over to Warner. Enter this season, and the atmosphere around the Cardinals was tense. Add to the fact that you were complaining about your role, and the world knew you were on thin ice in regards to your standing with the Cardinals. Tack on a lousy preseason (when I say lousy, I mean I probably could have done better) and it was curtains for you. No wonder they released you. All you can really hope for now is a good seat on the bench in Houston. Matt Schaub is actually nice, and unless he loses an arm in a freak accident, you won't be seeing the field anytime soon. What's interesting about football is how much influence the quarterback has on the game at large. When one looks at you play (professionally) you get the the sense that you're not even in control of yourself, much less the game. I suppose this stop with the Texans might yield a second chance, but how many chances should a Heisman winner really get?

Chip Tha Ripper – From Me To You: The Prelude To Gift Raps

Chip Tha Ripper – From Me To You: The Prelude To Gift Raps

Sometimes you have to ease into liking a rapper. It's not everyday that you hear an artist's work and are immediately drawn to their flow, lyrics or attitude on the mic. At the same time, one can recognize when an artist does have talent as a rapper. That's been my opinion on Chip Tha Ripper for the past year. I've always thought him to be a decent lyricist as well as having a good presence on the mic, but had qualms about his ability to make an actual 'song'. Also, I debate his content. I guess it's only right that my frustration with him come to an end in time for his newest release 'From Me To You: The Prelude To Gift Raps'. Chip, on this 6-track EP shows the listener why he's worth a listen: pure zoning, relaxation and easy-going rhymes. Chip is so Cleveland that it's a problem. Whereas most MC's would have trouble with slowed down beats, Chip has a penchant for adjusting his rhymes to match the track, without losing words or becoming short-winded. What surprised me was how comfortable he seemed talking much grimier on wax. Usually blog-age rappers tend to shy away from those themes (word to Gangsta Gibbs) in lieu of the partying lifestyle and swag raps. Chip, however was able to paint a picture of both with hazed-out bars and syrupy-smooth delivery over even smoother beats. He didn't try to hide his new-ageism, but still kept it funky about the state of his city. Overall, Chip may not have made a fan of me, but certainly kept my attention for all six tracks. I'm definitely hoping some Chuck Inglish production will be able to bring out more of the same. Until then, I'm just gonna vibe out to 'From Me to You'. Check out the d/l link...

Touchscreens of the Future

If I told you that the old ideas about 'the Future' from movies would come true in the next decade, would you believe me? Now that I think of it, I might not believe you either. The fascinating technological concepts of movies such as Minority Report, the Matrix and the latest Star Trek, always seemed farfetched, considering how slowly companies are to unveil their future plans. However, that doesn't mean those pipe-dreams can't or won't be achieved in time for my generation to care or take advantage. Swedish tech startup, TAT, commissioned a bunch of designers, tech people and computing engineers to design a realistic and aesthetically-captivating model of the future of the touch screen, called Open Initiative. The result is quite astonishing, to say the least. The video above shows a rendering of what the future holds for us, computing-wise. From alarm clocks you don't have to fumble around the snooze button for, to mirrors that show news headlines, to wireless collaboration and sharing over touch-friendly user interfaces, it seems as if the sky is the limit. It will be interesting to see if companies pick up this model or can run with it at all, because this simply looks cool. The fact that it's integrated in regular life, but not hindering it by being too (there is such a thing; think robot vacuums) has me thinking the future won't be as automated as we think. My only concern is how integrating all of the networks we have will work out. That's neither here nor there at the design point, though. Check out the video, and see what the next generation is looking like...

J. Cole - Villematic

J. Cole - Villematic

Cole has never been one to mince words on a track. Rather than going for inane wordplay and punchlines on his tracks, the Fayetteville MC has a penchant for telling stories, making points and having a reason and idea for every song he makes. J. Cole's 'Cole World' still is slated to drop on October 26th, with this track, "Villematic" as one of the next up. He responds to the comparisons between himself and Nas, while chucking verbal salt at those who question his 'realness', for lack of a better term. Claiming that he knows his "debut gon ship, but is it gon' sell?", it's refreshing to see an artist be vulnerable on wax while still keeping his confidence at an all-time high. It just seems like everything that J. Cole puts his voice on is gold. Like I said, he doesn't mince words, and his work comes off as both genuine and exceptional because of that. Enjoy the track, people...

EDIT: Forgot about this. Apparently Cole is also prepping a new mixtape, as he tweeted here. Should be a great fall for hip-hop...

Kardi - Black Ferris Beuller

Kardi - Black Ferris Beuller

Kardi is for real. Let that sink in for a little... Seriously. I'm not bigging the man up because the Prep circle is up on the man. I'm basing this off tracks like 'Black Ferris Beuller', that showcase the Bronx-bred, Middlesex-grown MC in his braggadocious element. His new work, 'The Valedictorian' is looking like it's going to be an ode to a lifestyle I know well, so it's quite easy to resonate, yet the amount of bars this young man has is ridiculous. Add to that a dedicated production team (#shoutout to MC's that have original production, instead of going on other n*ggas' beats constantly), and you've got gold. I'm interested to see what the reaction to the tape is though. Many times, heads are reluctant to try a new artist until they get a huge cosign. I know XV and Chiddy Bang are already on the Kardi bandwagon, but when's this guy gonna get his break? I guess we'll wait and see while bumping this track.

I'm living like a Monstarr, got a team of freaks / Cause I went from poor to rich like Cream of Wheat / See, I'm something like a Black Ferris Beuller / Getting medulla, from my tutor, while I'm rollin Buddha / This'll prolly be the track that you threw up, to tell your friends that you knew me before I blew up

C'Mon Son....

Neighborhood Newsletter (9/3)

I wish this song was released when I broke up with my last ex...

Troy Polamalu's Hair Insured for $1 Million

Amazon River at 40-Year Low

Getting High on Ecstasy May Help Soldiers' PTSD

Young, Single Women Out-Earn Men

America is Fat as FUCK

7 Traits of Real Men

7 Ways To Ruin Your Relationship Without Realizing You’re Doing It

Why McDonald's Food Never Decays

Indian woman breastfeeds calf

6' 9" teenager quits school because she can't fit on school bus

Freestyle Friday (8/3)

Hey people. Friday equals freestyles and these two are at two different ends of the spectrum in terms of the rap radar. The first one is by the homie The Kid Daytona over at Tony Toca's radio show. I've been trying to put heads on to Daytona since I've started this blog, but I think they're finally starting to take notice. He drops off a nice (written) verse about his struggles in the industry, and glow-wise I don't think too many up-and-comers are messing with him. Daytona can do the swaggerific raps, but he definitely excels at the introspective. The second one is from Mac Miller, as he stops at YRB radio and drops a freestyle about his lifestyle as of late, complete with swag raps, fast women, and tons of mind-altering substances. I'm not going to knock the young man though, because he can actually spit, and keeps impressing me with his freestyles. Now if only his mixtape was up to snuff. Whatever the case, check out both freestyles

Dear Glenn Beck

These are your people, Glenn... What exactly are they taking America back from again??

There are only a handful of people that I would actively wish physical harm on. Tom Brady and Comcast's CEO are two that I can think of offhand, but you, Mr. Beck have officially made the list of 'People I Want to See Literally Break a Leg'. Glenn, I really tried hard not to cast your name asunder, because, you try. You try to make your biting racist rhetoric as safe as possible. You try to keep your xenophobic undertones under wraps, by dubbing everything a fight for 'American values'. Hell, you even try to keep everything multicultural by having rallies on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. I can understand why you want to play the middle ground. At the same time, I despise everything about you that I just stated.

Glenn, let's get straight to the point, because mincing words doesn't pay bills: You are underhandedly racist, conservatively short-sighted, and overzealous in your definition of 'American'. It seems like every time I hear your name in the media, it's not in relation to anything positive or uplifting. Your rally for 'Restoring Honor' was anything but honorable, regardless of how peaceful a picture you wanted to paint. If it isn't calling Obama out on his birthplace (for the 1000th time), it's promoting fear among an American people that are already confused as hell. You see, Glenn, you're the type of person who sees the idiocy going on in our country, and rather than inform the public, you use it to mold their opinions to your sick, twisted, white-picket fantasy of what you think America should be. What you fail to realize though, is that NO ONE IS INHERENTLY AMERICAN!! Don't you realize that this land was shanghai'ed from Native Americans, worked on the backs of slaves and immigrants and built to greatness by the descendants of people from all over the world? Even in your talks of 'returning America to God', you fail to realize that God doesn't see color. He doesn't see race, gender, ethnicity or country of origin. And he certainly doesn't see the size of your wallet or your socioeconomic bracket. I've always wondered where people like yourself found these doctrines. Are we reading the same Bible?

Glenn, its obvious you have more on your agenda than 'American values'. You're a Class-A fear-monger. You're fodder for the bass-ackwards inbred folk who still think it's 1896 and that Africa is devoid of light. You speak to the (non)sensibilities of White Americans who, for the first time in their lives, are realizing that they aren't the only ones who matter. It's hilarious how people act when they aren't as powerful anymore, especially you. You start acting as if your victims. Of what I have no clue, considering you (white male) have been the world's ruling class since people knew what skin color was. Glenn, take my advice. Stop believing that America is the land of opportunity for only your kind. Not only will that mode of thinking hold back the country, it will probably wipe you and your kind out before you think. Hate written in pretty, rosy letters is still hate. You should know that better than anyone, but hey what do I know. 'Restoring honor' apparently has a race qualification, so I might have to just sit this one out....

Marvel Universe x Hip-Hop Album Covers

Snatched from Nappy Afro

It's always refreshing to see two different mediums mashed together in a coherent fashion. In this case, we've got the superheroes of yesterday in their comic form with some classic hip-hop albums from yesteryear. The result is one of the most creative graphic design works I've seen in damn near forever. I won't kill you with words, because the images speak for themselves. Just try to guess what superheroes and what albums these are. 1000 e-points to anyone who can guess all of them. Check the rest out after the jump, and comment below if you can figure any of them out!!

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No Excuse Not to Wash Your Hands Now

Funny diagram, but it's so simple.. How did we not think of this before???

One thing that I hate about being in public is using public restrooms. Obviously, for men the experience is a little less unsanitary than for women. Nonetheless, the nastiness and grime that I see in people's bathroom behavior is reason enough for me to think cholera and dysentery will rear their ugly heads again. No one washes their hands! And if they do, it's a small splash of water. In the most plain terms, that don't work! It seems like people need to be reminded left and right that keeping your hands clean is the easiest route to not spending two days cuddled up with some tissue and Benadryl (much like I was yesterday). I guess the good people over at Yanko Design felt the same way, because they've come up with a combination urinal with both a urinal and faucet built in. Not only does the 'Eco Urinal' create incentive to wash your hands (the sh*t is literally in front of you), it also saves water. The water you use to wash your hand gets siphoned down in to the urinal portion to wash away whatever excrement you put out. Somehow, I think this design can change the whole public bathroom game from a nasty, potentially disease-ridden affair, to something less nerve-wracking to germaphobes. Check out a rendering of the invention, and make sure you WASH YOUR HANDS!!

Nas - Last Real N*gga Alive

Nas - Last Real Nigga Alive

DJ Green Lantern's Invasion Radio 2K10 mixtape came and went on Monday with features from Jay-Z, Curren$y, Young Chris, Emilio Rojas and others, but the track that really caught my eye is a song where Nas gives a big middle finger to the entertainment industry and the fake personalities that infest it today. He takes subliminals at Lamar Odom, the Kardashians and hip-hop as a whole. It's actually really, really refreshing to see someone call out hip-hop for going Hollywood, albeit in such a direct fashion. Nasir usually is on the more truthful end of the spectrum, so it's not surprising. Yet, I'd love to see another album (a la 'Untitled') where this man goes in on the state of black people. Ahhh, to dream. Just enjoy the track people...