A True Ambassador to the Rap Game!!!

We have had many people come along in the 30 plus year history of Hip-Hop and represent us as a people and a culture rather properly. We have had political, cultural, social and artistic agendas carried out in the name of Good Music. However, there can be no Heaven if there is no Hell? I and countless fans of rap across the globe have had to put up with a Snow for every Tupac. We have had to put up with a PM Dawn for every Biggie. We have had (and some are still enduring) a Tony Yayo for every KRS-One. We have lived through our fair share of Ying-Yang Twins for every Public Enemy. There are SO MANY wack rappers out there, that I could talk for weeks about the sheer amount of BULLSHIT that passes itself off as rap these days.

Nas said Hip-Hop was dead. I have heard arguments on both sides of this issue. Is it dead? Whose fault is it? Can it be resurrected? Or has Hip-Hop simply taken on another form? Hip-Hop at its roots was ALWAYS about having a good time and recognizing the social ills that plagued our community. In the 80's during the crack epidemic, this changed. Rap was filled with stories from New York, the south but primarily the west coast of drugs, guns, women and excess. True 80's. Lyricism and content gave way to style and lack of substance. The saddest part of all of this is that if you listen to or are ever involved in an argument with people nowadays about what is good rap music. Especially kids. Oohhh, the pointless arguments about who is better, Soulja Boy or The GS Boys. Gimme a break. I have heard people say Plies or Lil Wayne is the Greatest. You can't be serious?

However, we have had an ambassador for the rap game return from a self imposed hiatus. Jay-Z is back. You heard it here FIRST, "The Blueprint 3" is TIGHT!!! Jay bowed out with "The Black Album", which was a good album with some memorable tracks. His so-called return in "Kingdom Come" was not a "TRUE" Jay Z album and I only say that in the alienation of his true base - taking streets raps and everyday situations and finding a way to relate them to people who have not lived them. Last Friday, Jay-Z appeared on Bill Maher's show on HBO. It was refreshing to listen to an interview that I didn't have to get the newest slang dictionary to decipher. It was nice to listen to someone not say, "Yaknowutumsayin" or "Nawmean" every few seconds. It was nice to watch an interview with a rap artist who wasn't so high that he didn't know where he was, let alone who he was talking to. It was nice to hear someone talk about the art involved and that they weren't shitting on the buying public and putting down just ANYTHING in the studio. I think all rap artists should watch this interview as part of their hip-hop orientation and learn about longevity and building your brand to something more than a brief period of being "paid" because you could buy some big ass necklaces and old school cars.

Anyway, you'll see what I'm talking about. Well without further ado:

Rap's True Ambassador Parts 1 - 4
Don't believe me....check these videos out.....

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Well until next time....
R. Steed (Big Goldie)
"Fluffy Puffy - The Media Mogul in Training"
www.dashowtv.com
www.arewenotentertained.blogspot.com

What's entertaining me today 6/13/09

Today is a bit of a slow day for what has entertained me. However, there is never a day that passes that I am not entertained in some form or another. So what is on the agenda for today?

*UFC 99: The Comeback
*Lakers vs. Magic
*True Blood
*Digital Television Transition

1. UFC 99: The Comeback - Tonight is a really great card in the UFC. The fight is in Germany, so it actually came on pay-per-view at 2:30 because Germany is 6 hours ahead of Eastern daylight time. The card features Dan Hardy vs. Marcus Davis in a severe welterwight grudge match. In a lightweight match Spencer Fisher takes on Caol Uno. In another highly contested welterweight match Mike Swick takes on Ben Saunders in a match that both predict will only end in knockout. Now the matches everyone really wants. Cro-Cop takes on Mustapha Al-Turk in Cro-Cop's second debut with UFC. Two of the rising stars of the heavyweight division go toe to toe with the match up of Cain Velasquez vs. Cheick Kongo. Cheick Kongo accepted this fight 3 weeks ago after Velasquez's opponent of Heath Herring had to pull out of the fight. And in the co-main event, two of the most exciting stars in the UFC ever face off in former welterweight champion Rich Franklin and former Pride champion Wanderlei Silva. This is a UFC event to watch... dont believe me.....check this out.....

SPOILER: DON'T READ IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW WHO WON.....
(highlight up to video)

Dan Hardy defeats Marcus Davis - split decision
Spencer Fisher defeats Caol Uno - unanimous decision
Mike Swick defeats Ben Saunders - TKO
Cro-Cop defeats Mustapha Al-Turk - TKO
Cain Velasquez defeats Cheick Kongo - unanimous decision
Rich Franklin defeats Wanderlei Silva - unanimous decision



2. Lakers vs. Magic - I have been saying since before the conference finals were over that whoever comes out of the West will win the NBA finals. I didn't think Lebron had enough team around him to win it all. Some people will then say, "but the had the best record this season..". So! The playoffs are different. It is a new season. However, the Magic have been doing everything they can to put the Lakers down. It just hasn't been enough. Both teams match up well, but the Lakers have a team with people that can create their own shot (ie...Kobe...) and a well balanced team when all cylinders are firing. They have post presence in Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. They have an extremely solid clutch point guard in Derek Fisher. They have a solid role player who can step up and hit big shots from time to time in Trevor Ariza. ..and they have arguably the BEST player in the game in Kobe Bryant. Kobe can create his own shot and seemingly hit just about every shot he puts up. The Magic have a good team in Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee (props for a Western KY player - rookie at that...), Mikael Pietrus, Rashard Lewis and the most frightening defender in the NBA, Dwight Howard. Even though the Magic have players that can step up and hit big shots, they don't have any that can create their own shot like Kobe and none that really put up big points. If the Lakers have their 2nd and 3rd scorers show up, it is a long night for whoever they are playing. And that brings up to game 4. With 4.6 seconds left on the clock, Jameer Nelson's defense on clutch shooter Derek Fisher was non-existent. That is some of the poorest defense I've seen since watching a middle school game. And to not only let him do it at the end of regulation and in Overtime is unacceptable. I think it's amazing that Jameer Nelson recovered so quickly from shoulder surgery when he wasn't supposed to play anymore this season, but that defense????......WOW!!! Was this one hell of a comeback by the Lakers or an unforgiveable choke fest by the Magic. You decide....Here are highlights from Game 4...Check this out....



3. True Blood - The Season 2 premiere for the outstanding HBO series, True Blood is tomorrow, Sunday June 14th at 9PM. The series was created by Alan Ball and is based on the Sookie Stackhouse Novel series by Charlaine Harris. This critically acclaimed series even managed to snag a Golden Globe earlier this year for Season 1 due to the superb acting of Anna Paquin (whom also has an Oscar for her role in "The Piano", but most will remember her as "Rogue" from the X-Men movies). This series has introduced us to vampires (which are all the rage right now due to the undeniable appeal of the Twilight movies) in a new way, as well as shapeshifters and telepaths. This show takes the approach of what if we knew that vampires were among us? Interesting premise. How would this affect people's sensibilities and even moreso those people who are completely obsessed with the gothic and vampire culture. Who is to say what this season has in store, but if last season is any indicator, this season is going to be great.



4. Digital Television Transition - Yesterday was the day that many a grandparent the land over have dreaded. The day has come and gone to transition over to digital television. Can anyone tell a difference? Not yet, I don't suppose. I was so used to going to my grandmother's house and seeing the smaller TV on top of the old 1970's console television with the rabbit ears antenna. But now my grandmother has to moved to the digital age even though she's an analog type of lady. It is estimated to still be over 3 million people who were not ready for the conversion yesterday. I was at Best Buy and saw a mountain of digital converter boxes made by Apex for $49.99. There will be many of us who are completely unaffected by the transition and had already made our choice long ago with someone's cable or satellite service. However, if you are unsure about this whole digital transition, the best place to start doing some research is the Government's digital television website, www.dtv.gov Here I have included a video about Tivo's HD service. Not that I recommend Tivo, (I have digital cable with a DVR box, but it's the same thing as saying Tivo all the time. I often refer to it as Tivo) Those of us who are part of the digital age find that a Tivo or DVR service is a must. Dont believe me.....Check this out....



Well until next time....
R. Steed (Big Goldie)
"Fluffy Puffy - The Media Mogul in Training"
www.dashowtv.com