Really though. I want to know the first joint you scooped from your local Sam Goody, Tower Records, or whatever record spot you used to frequent that bloggers such as myself put out of business. i miss those days when albums used to matter.

Mine? DMX’s “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot.” and then Mariah Carey’s “Butterfly.” Nevermind all of that. I did some hardcore brainstorming, and it was actually a very rare album that is no longer in production. It was Mickey Unrapped. I had forgotten about that one. Oh boy.

Don’t act like it didn’t have jams on it. I’m talking thumpers like the rabbit from Bambi. A couple trill guest appearances, too. And hella no name artists whose verses I was most likely reciting in the morning while I got dressed for elementary School. Damn. They got me. I still have it, and I’ve uploaded it for you. download it below. Before you do that though, I’m asking you to do two things.

First, jam a sample. Tag Team x Mickey x Minnie x Goofy x Donald x Daisy. It was like a 90′s “Swagger Like Us,” all the heavyweights were represented.

As you listen to this, I also want you to think about what you were jamming way back in the day. Go check out the stacks of records, tapes, and/or CDs behind your bed or on your desk, in your parent’s ancient collection. You know it’s somewhere in there. Let me know what you’re working with. I wanna hear everything from your first purchases to some honorable mentions to “what was I thinking when I went to the checkout line with this album?” like my Mickey Unrapped.

DOWNLOAD: Mickey Unrapped [Album]

What is sounding white, anyway!? I never got that concept. If you grew up in the suburbs, most of which tend to have substantially less black people than areas closer to the city, and you went to a private school, most of which are more expensive and not very diverse, then the chances are, you will grow up to be a product of your environment. So how can anybody be stupid enough to say something like “You aren’t black enough?” What is black?

I thought about all of this after reading this article on Bill Cosby’s daughter, Evin. Check the excerpt:

“My own people used to say to me, ‘You speak like a white woman.’ What does that even mean, anyway? Everyone has their way of speaking and living their life. No one should be judging and assuming that because I’m black, I have to speak in that hip-hop way. That’s something I prefer not to do.”

Oh boy! The hip hop way!? I don’t know about all that, Evin. And while she may have offended a bunch of black people with that statement, I actually understand what she’s trying to say, and i co-sign. Somebody once told me, jokingly, that I wasn’t really black. and i said, “I’m nigerian. I’m the blackest you can get. When you get there, let me know.” I even had a debate with a drunken Christina Campbell on her birthday last night about culture and lifestyle versus class, and some of these topics were discussed.

I digress. Don’t take it from me, though. Just let my man Remington Wallace Burnett break it down for you. LOL. This is a must watch!

“I know how to spot a fool, cuz they never shut up. If ya speak it, you don’t know it; you know it, ya don’t speak it.”

Don’t let anybody play you for a fool. Know your worth. Be nice to everybody. Watch out for the snakes. I don’t really have much else to say, except that this post is more for me, so that when I go to check my own site, I can read this and remember what made me say this stuff. Hopefully, it’s inspirational in a sense. Listen to Nesby Phips on this verse, at least the first eight bars. It’s where the quote’s from, anyway. The song is from Wiz’ Kush & Orange Juice. Wiz kills his verse as usual. But like I said, the message is in the beginning. Just enjoy this sh!t [J.E.T.S.] and I’ll update with something cooler in a bit.

P.S.: We working over here. If you wanna know the designers who are creating the masterpiece that is the headquarters for The Great Progression, holler at me.

Let’s keep it real. I don’t care who you are – jock, nerd, heart throb, class clown, recluse, homebody, mama’s boy, cool kid, shy guy – everybody who is anybody has a roster, girls and guys alike.

You know what i mean. a roster, a team, a squad. It’s far from that list of names in your favorite sports franchise’s brochure at the game; rather, it’s a term that my friends and i developed (no arguments here. we are, in fact, the originators of the term. If you believe otherwise and you’re looking for co-signers, you’re on the wrong blog. Go lobby for supporters somewhere else, because you’re S.O.L. on my turf.), and this is the perfect time to reveal the intricacies and inner workings of such an elaborate system.

JAM THAT SONG while you read. it’s smooth.

What’s a roster?

A person’s roster is a group of individuals, occasionally referred to as prospects, which share some type attraction with that person. The level of attraction can range anywhere from booty call jumpoffs to certified wifey material, and every notch between. Rosters have proven to be advantageous to and preferred by many because of their ability to always provide options. Wanna hit that movie at the Uptown, but have no one to see it with? Check the roster. Starving, but don’t feel like eating by yourself? Check that roster. Need to “wow” your friends with your ability to bring yet another dime to one of those house parties on 16th street? Check that damn roster. Bladaow. That’s what it’s for, baby.

Rosters have, until recently, been under harsh scrutiny for their contribution to ruining relationships and ideal situations. Fortunately, I have developed a few pointers to limit problems as well as lessen the collateral damage done by these rosters. Follow these guidelines closely before and during your team’s draft.

1.    Never add friend’s siblings, roommates, close friends, or any other type of special relationship to the roster. It has disaster written all over it. TRUST ME.

2.    Stay away from similar networks. In a world of Facebook, Twitter, text messages, and encouraged networking, one tagged picture or retweeted message seen by the wrong set of eyes could bring your all-star roster’s playoff run to a screeching halt faster than you can say “oh let’s doooo it”.

3.    Keep your $#!t tight. Nobody wants to know they’re one of a few, or worse, one of many. Even if they do know, they never want to hear it from your mouth. Work on the “don’t ask, don’t tell” communication method, and things should be smooth sailing.

4.    Unless you can afford it, leave the high maintenance players to the big dogs. i’m talking about like Tom Cruise or Will Smith. let those guys wine and dine them. Chances are, you don’t really want the ones who require all that. Work and live within your means. You don’t wanna hit her with flowers one day and then struggle to pay the bill at P.F. Changs the next.

5.    Trading players and other negotiations are tolerable, but sweet talking them to switch sides isn’t. If you think you can better your chances at winning the title with a player on another team, work out a deal. Don’t try and scoop them on the low, because karma is will rock you. (this essentially reads, “be cautious when adding somebody new to the roster, and know what you’re dealing with and getting yourself into.”)

Now that you know the cardinal rules of rosters, let me highlight a few things.

Championship Bottles.

The goals associated with these rosters vary. the two most popular:

1.    To eventually find the one person you actually care about

2.    To build a monster team during your prime so that when you become older, you can look back and say “damn. i was doing great work with that squad.”

Either way, you are looking to win, and that takes MVP-caliber talent. so find that, ASAP.

Size Doesn’t Matter.

The depth of one’s roster means nothing. instead, it depends on the preference of the creator of the squad. Some may enjoy being able to cycle through girls like they do outfits, and perhaps not see the same girl for weeks, even months. Their benchwarmers are frequently rotated in, and therefore the utmost energy can be exerted on each and every chill session with one of these team players. Others keep a close-knit circle of durable, solid starters, very rarely tapping into their injured reserves unless absolutely necessary. whatever strategy floats your boat.

Always Recruit.

Hold open gyms, invite players to individual workouts, and throw them in some light scrimmages. See how they work, and you just might be surprised with their compatibility with the team. Don’t just look for all-stars. you may need a veteran or a role player on the squad. Or maybe you need reinforcements on the bench in case things get tough. And don’t get me started on relocation! That’s the number one roster killer for many. Some strive to be like Ludacris and lock down as many different area codes / time zones as you can. Like I said, you never know what the future holds.

Maintain Relationships.

Always communicate with your players. Let them know that you haven’t forgot about them, even if it’s as simple as a text, call, a quick visit or a wall post. That way, they can’t really get upset about their playing time.

Don’t Be Mad.

You can never be too blown when you suspect you may be on somebody’s roster. After all, rosters aren’t permanent or set in stone, and in many situations, they are more of a safety net for those too insecure or unsure of a future with a given guy or girl. So really, the chances of you being on some type of roster are relatively high. Just make sure you’re aware of this before you start making long distance, surprise trips to see them and they aren’t picking up phone calls.

The next time you see someone spitting game your way, try and figure where they fit in on your depth chart. You may just end up creating the most crucial squad of all time, and everybody will be jumping for joy when you bring home the title.

The reason I decided to stretch this metaphor to obnoxious lengths was to get a point across. It’s a new year. 2010. This is the chance to start fresh, and to decide what you really want. Are you about all the eggs in one basket? You know if that basket drops, you have nothing to make that omelette you love so much with, right? Yeah, exactly. It’s harder than you thought. And truth be told, honesty is the best policy. It may hurt, but at least you can’t say they didn’t keep it 100.

Let me know how you feel in the comments section.

UPDATE: this is a throwback post, only to entertain in the downtime. and since i wrote this, i broke my rule on 7.18.09, when i went to station 9 and was leaning so hard that a clever girl with a great eye for a drunk guy got me. oh well. she was just at the right place at the right time. at least she was kinda cool.

i enjoyed my first weekend as (somewhat of) a college graduate recently, and i won’t lie – it’s more powerful than the typical college dorm get together. not to say that it’s better or anything; the two environments have completely different dynamics. at the college house party, you can have some b-ball shorts and one of these russian hats on and do better work than the guy who went to barney’s co-op and bought a whole outfit as long as you are smooth and keep people entertained. this “going out” stuff however, things aren’t as casual. you have to come presentable! if you’ll check the picture above, i’m the underdressed chump in the middle. if i didn’t have my man melvin (he’s in the all black. no games. promotes hard. let’s get it.) get me in for the freeskee, i’d be outside assed out with the promoters that hand out the flyers. pay close attention to the picture. i will refer to it again shortly.

friday i went to this afro beat event hosted by the lovely ladies behind lunch box theory (pics are here so you can get a nice visual…i think i’m in one.) and it was marvelous. i’m talking more east african nubian princesses than east africa itself. a very diverse crowd of people who came to have a good time and enjoy the eclectic sounds of DJ undadog and his african drummers rather than to stunt like the typical club/lounge situation. i think it was the best party i’ve been to in a while, and i thank everybody involved for that epic night.

saturday was also powerful in its own way. the picture you see above, with all smiles, is from an outing at a spot called republic. more for OG’s, me and my man spencer (checkered shirt, left-hand side. @drspaceman for you twitter fiends) somehow finagled our way in there without paying that $20 hit to the wallet. the hardest part about going out is the money for the alcohol. now, melvin and my homie daniel (aka @yebies for you twitter fiends) hooked us up with the majority of our drinks, but i did make it to the bar once to purchase my own concoction for me and spence. as i was ordering my drink, i heard some chit chatter to my left. as i turn, i discover it is the young woman pictured above. she’s talking about “…why don’t you add a jack and coke to that tab…” and tries to smile at me.

WHAT!?

chamillionaire once taught me, “if a skeezer, wants me to feed her, with my visa, then i’ma leave her.” now, she wasn’t a skeezer. that just sounds so god-awful. but how come when i was posted up like a stamp earlier she weren’t talkin about anything!? only when i hit the bar was she trying to milk me like a cow’s teats for some free drank. no way, josé. i don’t get it. i didn’t say anything crazy. instead, i pretended i didn’t hear what she said. “what was that?” she smirked and gave me one of those “nevermind” looks, visibly agitated. a few minutes later, she hopped in this picture with us.

what was my point behind writing this? that i will never ever purchase a drink for anybody i don’t know. it’s not my place. i know i’ll feel like if i buy them a drink, i deserve something in return. who knows what, and who knows why i feel like that. it’s only right if you purchase something, you get a product! conversation shouldn’t be purchased, should it!? but i know people who feel like buying drinks ain’t $#!t. that’s just how they get the night started. to each their own.

i want to know how guys and gals feel about drinks at the bar. hit the comment section and let me know.

Press play before you read a cot’ damn thing. and note: this idea wasn’t brought up by me. it was a friend’s idea, and i thought the question was valid. plus, the song goes so well with it, i needed to actually see what the masses thought about the combo of the question and the song in one blog post. ha.

Simple as that. DC heads, you already know what a “rolla” is. For the people not from around my area, Urban Dictionary can define it for you:

Someone (usually a female, but can definitely be applied to males as well) who will have sex with anybody/everybody and continuous to next guy after guy/girl after girl. also has an additional connotation of a person that gives oral sex.
“Man she a rolla!”
“I don’t mess with rollas”

The meaning of word basically means moving on to next guy to next guy (or girl), you’re rolling around. That’s why the word is called “rolla.” Quinn prefers “skates with no brakes,” but to each their own. So tell me, guys. could you? Don’t lie. Let’s talk about it. And that song you heard above was from M1 platoon’s mixtape, available here. So get that (or if you just want “Wife The Rolla”, here it is. but you should get the whole thing too.), and then discuss. Ok? Ok!

note: the re-up is because i’m putting this in the hall of fame posts. it’s too crucial and important not to be there. everybody can relate.

you know exactly what e-game is. it’s the facebook message to that boy whose in your econometrics lecture and you’ve been dying to meet. it’s that blackberry message you send to the girl you’re kinda talking to right after she leaves your room that reads: “i really wish you woulda stayed here tonite… ” it’s that shameful mass instant message you (simultaneously) send to all your crushes when you’re intoxicated. good lord! say what you wanna say, but i’ve come to the conclusion that everybody is a lot of people are about e-game.

please, press play.

e-game is the preferred method of flirtation communication because technology took over the world a few years decades ago. and frankly, we’re just busy as $#!t to get too personal with people these days. especially us college kids. i got feature writing assignments to do, entourage to watch, n64 to play, weights to try and lift, salmon to eat, and global power moves to make, etc. it’s not really convenient to invest too much time in communicating with anybody if it’s not through text, IM, etc. and that’s the truth.

i’ve broken down the positive and negative aspects of e-game down for you below. read on.

pros

- it’s like ’08′s version of the phone call. except more digital, kinda. and you can’t talk to 5 people at once on the phone (unless you want a five person conference call). with e-game, you can. with ease.

- you can multi-task extremely well. when your phone vibrates or your IM box flashes, it means someone cares enough about you to hit you up. and you can do this while doing virtually anything. dropping bills on some heels in the streets of georgetown, whispering sweet nothings into the ear of this long-hair-don’t-care PYT in the corner of the party, or (if you’re really grimy) while you’re in the bed with somebody else. yeah, i just went there. but i’m being real. at least you’re showing some love, right?

- you can be pretty darn bold. too shy to say stuff in person? dag, homie. sounds like a personal problem to me. but really, you can say some things that you may not be able to say in person via e-game. sounds lame, but it isn’t. but be careful! this can work against you. i’ll explain later.

- time lapses. you ever get asked a question in real life, and answer way too fast without thinking in depth about it?! with e-game, you can post up for a second and break it down, allowing enough time to do research (google, wikipedia, social networking profile stalking, etc.) to say exactly what you want to say. also, you can appear much more calm and collected via e-game. take your time answering somebody! go do a few pushups, or run to the dining hall before you respond. it illustrates your nonchalant attitude towards the situation, even if he/she has your heart beating in triple time. deceiving? probably. illegal? not a chance.

cons

- social awkwardness. you can be vicious with the words behind that smart phone or that computer screen (sup guys.) but you could be a lame in real life. wowzers. establish yourself as a healthy, sane human being early. meaning, try to balance traditional, face-to-face communication with the e-game. shoot, it’s 2008…skype them or hit ‘em with that video chat if need be. at least you’re making an honest effort.

- you can’t gauge emotion accurately. at all! all we got is smileys, a few phrases (“lol” is all i have in my arsenal), and caps lock. besides that, there’s not much more one can do to express themselves. so when someone says something via e-game, you don’t know exaaactly how they meant it. was it a joke? a diss? a flirtatious gesture? a warning shot!? YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW!

- you can be pretty darn bold. told you i’d come back to this one. if you’re too bold, you can get rocked. what do i mean!? well, don’t try and be slick and pull a romeo-esque line, cuz homegirl is gonna tell her homegirls, and they’ll secretly laugh at you behind your back whenever you walk by. you think you wooed her with that text, when in reality it was weaksauce. oh, and don’t use that camera phone too…liberally. remember what happened to neyo!? yeah, you better click that link if you don’t know. not for work safe, either. i’m tryna tell you, the walls have ears, eyes, and a meaaan set of fangs. you will get rocked like that the two in the picture you just checked out a few seconds ago.

- your e-persona doesn’t match your real life. before you decide to take on a life of e-game, make sure you are as cool in real life as your e-persona. you don’t wanna be that guy/gal who has great convos via text or IM, but when you actually go out to dinner with that person, you can’t even look them in the face or say the same jokes you used to use when spitting that e-game! and likewise, those getting spat e-game: watch out for these goons/goonettes! they’re ruining the reputation for those who are great e-gamers. don’t be all about business on the text and then get cold feet in person! it can make or break things.

that’s really all i can think of right about now. any more pros and cons? any falsehoods lurking in the text of this entry? agree? disagree!? talk to me, man.

Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather” is considered one of American cinemas most acclaimed masterpieces. Hip Hop music has always held gangster movies close to the heart. Through out the culture you can hear the influences in different verses of song to the names of the artists themselves.

Many emcees have nicknamed themselves Al Pacino’s famed character, Michael. Hip Hop’s King Jay-Z took on this moniker on two different songs. On his first LP “Reasonable Doubt” he chanted “My portfolio reads: / leads to Don Corleone, n*gga please”. The track “Politics as Usual” speaks of the element of hustle, a main ingredient to the Corleone’s rise to the top. He revisited the name on the second Blueprint installment on “Guns & Roses” featuring rock icon Lenny Kravitz. Another legendary emcee by the name of Big L used Michael’s namesake on the track “Flamboyant”. The words from Lamont Colemon would ring out “Big L, Corleone A smooth kid that’ll run up in your baby mother / Big L, for real Corleone is too advanced for yall / Big L, I’m a pimped out nigga for real / Big L Corleone is too advanced for yall”. Raps super group of the late nineties The Firm introduced themselves on NaS‘ second LP with words from AZ. Once again you would hear the famous name. “Who pull the late, We play for high stakes at gun point / Catch’em and break undress’em tie’em With tape no escape / The Corleone Fettucini Capone Roam in your own zone / Get kidnapped and clapped in your dome We go it sewn….”

Some of rap’s most famous emcee’s album titles had great influence from the movie. Former Bad Boy Records artist Shyne named his second album “Godfather Buried Alive” when he made the transition to Def Jam. Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon The Chef named his second album “Immobilarity”. This was a play on the name of the international real estate holding company Michael seeked to buy the Vatican’s shares from in the third movie.

The late and great Notorious B.I.G. had dreams of creating an elite collective of emcees called “The Commision”. In Godfather III, the group of crime bosses that made up the Mafia Council was assassinated by Joey Zasa. This too would not come to fruition because of his untimely death of Christopher Wallace. The third movie would also have influence in songs such as “GOD Part III” by Queens rap group, Mobb Deep. Even the South caught the fever of The Godfather. Trillville‘s member named himself Don P, but also goes by Don Corleone. Needless to say, the movie has had a tremendous impact on hip-hop culture.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg. But after thumbing through hip-hop’s footnotes, a greater question stands: what exactly is it about the gangster flick that makes rappers want to constantly refer to it like faithful Christians do the Bible? Discussion is encouraged.

[Editor's Note: Huge shout out to Pardon Me Duke, because without PMD, this article wouldn't be here. ]

the simpsons have been around for nearly two decades. in fact, word is that they’re about to become the longest running prime-time show in history. i’m barely older than a cartoon, and that’s a bit scary. but what’s scarier is that bart simpson and everybody else in springfield (and if you think about it, every cartoon character alive) has been rocking the exact same outfit forever. good grief. my question is, does he rock the same joints every day, or does he have multiple red shirts and blue pants?

last week, i found a comfortable outfit that i enjoyed so much that i decided to wear it again. and again. and again. four straight days rocking the exact same gear. yes, i changed my under garments and such, but after showering, i hopped right back into the ‘fit and kept it moving. surprisingly, nobody called me out, and i rather enjoyed it. i had a convo with my man ice cream cones, who officially coined the phrase “i’m bout to bart simpson it“, and he said that he couldn’t fade that lifestlyle. i, on the other hand, am strongly considering it. kind of. buying 10 of the same outfit, from head to toe, and keeping it in seasonal rotation for a while. i think it’d be kinda cool, you know? could you do it!?

re-up because i’ve been getting a lot of e-mails about the fact that the DL link in this post is down. i don’t really care what genre of music you like. this song should appease you.

among the best songs i’ve heard all year. this guy, who could easily be mistaken for an extra in oliver twist, is actually one of the more creative electro / dance producers i’ve come across. his ear is phenomenal, as you’re about to see. PFOP put me on a few days ago, and i’ve never been so grateful.

DL: Daedelus – My Beau (feat. Erika Kane & Paperboy)
BONUS: Ghost Town DJ’s – My Boo

wow. his new album, love to make music to, dropped not too long ago. i bought it on iTunes, that’s how much i support his music. hit his myspace and get familiar real quick. shout out to the dudes over @ blind i for being up on him, too.

oh, and there will definitely be a couple of people who DL the first track, and not the second. i guarantee by the end of the day, you’ll be back here DL’ing the second track, too. watch.