Kings Just Rule and Most Are Never Understood!!!!!

You know I'm kinda of glad that the 2008 holiday season is coming to an end. What the f@#k?? Why do it have to be so stressful??? I guess this is a good thing....but I went through my depression before Thanksgiving. You see I was very close to my parents.....they are no longer with me...so the holidays kinda suck for me. To help me better cope, I use this time to reflect on my past as it relates to my parents.

The older I get the more I "think" I understand...especially when it comes to my Dad. There would be times when he would come in from work...he spoke and kept it moving...he was there but wasn't there....if you know what I mean???? Being a child....I thought it was something I did or that he was a mean and bitter old man....too young to consider the stresses that he was faced with everyday. Now that I'm a father of three I wonder if my children feel the same about me?

I'm the first to admit that I don't have it figured out...and I haven't met one man of Melanin that has. I could very well be wrong....but those that boast about having the answers really don't. There is something left undone in the psychy of the Black man and Black woman. Take me for example.....I have pretty much stayed out of trouble with the law...graduated from college....been married for 11 years...and I consider myself to be a good father. But sometimes I feel like it's not enough...and my wife at times reminds me that I need to step it up.

Part 2

"Nothing is Absolute"
a quote from my high school history teacher

Rollie

The Fat Boys Are Back...... Again

Checkout this article from BallerStatus on the Fat Boys.....for some reason I'm hungry........

Words by Todd Davis

Remember those good 'ole days of hip-hop? You know, that gGolden era" of rap? We're obviously talking about the 80s and early 90s -- Adidas track suits and shell toes. Gazelle shades. Kangol hats. Fat dookie ropes. Well, much of that is now considered a major fashion faux pas, although some "hipster rappers" seem to be slowly, but surely incorporating many of them same fads back into the culture. One thing that remains for certain is that the music itself will never go out of style. It can only be defined by one word: timeless.
READ MORE

Cynthia McKinney: Boat Attacked By Israeli Forces

An Israel Navy ship clashed on Tuesday with a small boat carrying international activists with aid destined for Gaza, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

There were no reported casualties from the incident involving the small cabin cruiser "Dignity" that sailed from Cyprus late on Monday.

One of the boat's passengers was former congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.
huffingtonpost.com

Breaking News:Blagojevich Makes His Pick To Fill Obama's Seat

Moments ago embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich named former state Attorney General Roland Burris today to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, calling him a "wise and distinguished senior statesman" with "unquestioned integrity." Blagojevich asked the media not to visit any of his political troubles on Burris.

"Please don't let the allegations against me taint this good and honest man," the governor said at a news conference in Chicago, Illinois.
FBI agents arrested Blagojevich on December 9 after federal prosecutors alleged, among other things, that he had tried to "sell" Obama's former Senate seat. Blagojevich denies any wrongdoing and has ignored calls to resign.

Read More

cnn.com

A Shout Out To N. Ali Early - CEO of KREATIVE SOULS Media Network

Hey yung world ...what the bidness be? I would like to give a super shout out to one of my closest homeboys and an inspiration to my whole matriculation as a pen pro in training. It is my pleasure to honor my "brotha from anotha motha" with this feature article.

When I think of the West Coast I think of three things and three things only: 1) Dr. Dre & NWA 2) Pac (tha hardest to ever bless a mic) and 3) N. Ali Early (tha most Cali dude I've ever known). A Bay Area native- Ali was born and raised in Richmond, California. Tha "YE-AREA!"... a northwestern portion of the "Golden State" has produced some of the most successful hip hop entrepreneurs who are all self-made millionaires. I am speaking of tha Bay Area greats ....tha likes of Too Sheezy, E 40, and MC Hammer. Say what you want but these type of katz pioneered and ushered in the whole new concept of independent salesmanship.

So I meet this kat for the first time in 92', a big nigga... like me (Ckly like 6'4, -I'm like 6'5) , so yall know we was hoopin and mash'n dudes out on the hardwood during these times. Me and tha big homie from the bay just clicked, I think we just connected on a lot of levels. Later on, while we were still in college me and Ckly (thas what the homies call him) ..u know nickname and shit...we got this crib by campus and set up shop.

It was at this stage ..that I seen tha homie Ckly start to take flight ...and believe me joe- that nigga never looked back! I remember he ran an article in the AUC Digest about me and his cousin ..tha homie Steve-O-eez O. We was rappin and shit at tha time ..did a show or somethin ....and I remember reading this article (I still got that shit at tha crib somewhere?). It was very eloquently written and it had a certain style to it. It made me and Steve seem like we was waaay bigger than what we really was. I was like ..yo good lookin out on that joint ol' boy ...u got crazy mad talented skills with that pen. Ali was always a sharp minded dude to me but the way he constucts his wording -I am a fan!

N. Ali Early has excelled as a "PEN PRO" over the years and has a laundry list of accolades and accreditation's under his belt. Some are: Founder of his own company KREATIVE SOULS MEDIA NETWORK, an active writer ...freelance work includes VIBE, XXL, tha SOURCE, KING, SMOOTH, RIME, OZONE, UPSCALE, GRIP, Rolling Out UrbanStyle Weekly, (can we agree he's worked with everybody). He has held various high ranking positions on his journey to the top becoming one of the most successful writers in the bizz today. Positions like a one-time Managing Editor, Editor At Large & Editor In Chief with GRIP and Chief Operations Officer/ West Coast Editor at OZONE. N. Ali Early, one of the industry's finest young talented journalist/pen pro. To snatch out of time and space three words that describe the man and his work .... "clever, kreative and resourceful."

-Stay tuned and be on tha lookout for Ali's latest endeavor with a fully filmed and documented series of his brand new cooking show and catering service dubbed "MAN MEALS." Yeeeee
-AD


pls visit Ali Early's web pgs-kreativesouls.com, myspace.com/tharealpaperboi, www.myspace.com/kreativesouls

Ghani Gautama, Quanstar, Central Division, Grand Prize Winners from Last Year: East Atlanta ICEHOUSE Sunday Jan 18th 2009

ghani gautama, quanstar & evaready raw, grand prize winners from last year,
Central Division

East Atlanta Icehouse
543 Flat Shoals Ave. SE Atlanta Ga. 30316

SPICE Fridays @ Me'lange hosted by Tangie of V103: 12/26/08

Me'lange

2077 Northlake Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084

Rollie's Birthday with: Ghani Gautama /Quanstar/Evaready/Adero Dawson/Mogie Israel @ East Atlanta ICEHOUSE: Sunday 01/18/2009

Come celebrate Rollie's Birthday with the staff of 48Bars.
There will performances by:

Ghani Gautama /Quanstar / Evaready/Adero Dawson/Mogie Israel
@
East Atlanta Icehouse | 543 Flat Shoals Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 | Tel 404.577.2073
Sunday 01/18/2009

Pete Rock - Made Man (feat Tarrey Torae)

I'm late on this one....O.K. really late.....but this joint is nice....

PRESIDENT-ELECT INTERVIEWED BY PROSECUTORS...

By JONATHAN WEISMAN

Federal prosecutors investigating alleged corruption by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich interviewed President-elect Barack Obama and two of his top advisers last week in connection with the case, according to a memo released Tuesday by the Obama transition team.

The five-page memo denies any wrongdoing or improper communication between the transition team and Mr. Blagojevich, who prosecutors allege sought to fill Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat in exchange for money or a better job. Prosecutors have said no one on the Obama transition team is a suspect.

Read More
online.wsj.com

Puma's 60th anniversary party, Lenox Mall Atlanta!!!!

BoneCrusher and Killer Mike headlining the event...Killer Mike spitting a hot 16!!! Killer said, "He is the BDP of the South!" Wow...until next time, Peace!!! www.puma.com Photo Credits: Eric Mason

I got this pic from Chilly-O..... BoneCrusher has been making his rounds...he Blessed Me'Lange at "Spice" last Friday....

A Reflection on a "Chicago Christmas"

Hey young world???? It's three days until Christmas, and I've been thinking about the Christmas's of my past. My childhood Christmas's sticks out the most. In Chicago with my family, friends, good food, snow, and the bitter cold. How could one forget the Chicago blizzard of 1979? When the snow began to fall over Chicago on New Year’s Eve in 1979......At six years old the snow was up to my chest.
Recently attended church service and the pastor spoke of how Christmas has become so "Matrixlize". He spoke of how the frantic manner in which people act during this time of year. How we run to the malls....how we run to everything...everything but the true meaning of Christmas. A "Chicago Christmas" to me represents the real meaning of Christmas. So on December 25th, 2008 I will find me a quiet spot in a crowded room with the sounds of laughter, random chatter, the smell of pies, cakes, turkey, and all of your holidays favorites......I will close my eyes.....open my heart, I will reminisce on the past while simultaneously relishing the moment.
Rollie

Warner Music Group Pulls Artists' Videos From YouTube

Allen Starbury
Music industry powerhouse Warner Music Group (WMG) has reportedly ordered video sharing giant YouTube.com to remove all music videos from its artists on their site, after negotiations between the two companies ended.

According to reports, WMG was trying to negotiate more music from revenues generated from plays of their artists' music videos, but failed to reach an agreement.

Despite the news, Warner's channel was still available on YouTube on Monday (December 22), and the company still wants to come to terms with the video sharing site.

"We are working actively to find a resolution with YouTube that would enable the return of our artists' content to the site," a statement from WMG read. "Until then, we simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide."
ballerstatus.com

Big Daddy Kane

Author: Paul W Arnold

Imagine this, you get an email asking if you would like to interview Big Daddy Kane. There’s a catch though: you only have one hour to prepare for the interview you’ve been dreaming of conducting since you were in the 6th grade. So, to all the Hip Hop junkies out there, if the above scenario was happening to you (and not instead to this incredibly fortunate writer), and you only had 60 minutes to think of everything you would want to discuss with one of Hip Hop’s undebatable legends, what would you ask?

Well, in Kane’s interview with HipHopDX, the topics of discussion ranged from the “secret” battles the Brooklyn emcee had with some very capable competition, including how King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal almost came to lyrical blows with another legendary golden era emcee (and set off a wax war that would have made Jay-Z and Nas’ “Takeover/Ether” exchange seem like child’s play), to what Big Daddy (“you know, as in your father”) thinks of today’s simple structured rhymes being perceived as comparable to his piercing barbs.

Read More

State 'Pleads With Public' Not To Drive In Snow

System Dumping Snow, Ice And Sleet Across Chicago Area
The state is issuing a stern warning to motorists: Stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary.

"We are literally at the point where we are pleading with the public to stay home," said IDOT spokeswoman Marisa Kollias. "The streets are like sheets of ice. It is a mixed storm; it's almost as if there are little ice pellets that are hitting my face when I stepped outside my house, and I will tell you, it's dangerous."
cbs2chicago.com

Obama's next pastor controversy - at inauguration

By Peter Henderson

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama has chosen a pastor who opposes gay marriage as a speaker at his inauguration, creating a commotion over what inclusiveness will mean for his administration.

Obama chose Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor of the southern California megachurch Saddleback, to give the invocation when he takes office in January.

The president-elect on Thursday said that he held views "absolutely contrary" to Warren on gay rights and abortion and described himself as "a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans."

reuters.com

Shut 'em down: Chrysler to shut down all production for one month

DETROIT (Reuters) - Citing a credit crisis and dwindling sales, Chrysler LLC on Wednesday said it would shut down all of its manufacturing operations from the end of this week for at least a month.

The blanket shutdown marked a deepening of the financial crisis for the embattled U.S. auto industry and came as Chrysler and its larger rival General Motors Corp both seek to shore up cash as they seek a federal bailout they say they need to survive.

Reuters

Who buys a Chrysler anyway????

Are You Dreaming of a White Christmas????

Vegas: Biggest Snow in 30 years...
WATCH: NYC May Get 6 Inches Tomorrow...
Chicago: One Foot...
FREAK: SNOW IN MALIBU...
Major Winter Storm Parade...
Be safe out there......

Ms. Dia's "All Stars" Birthday Jam : Thursday December 18th @ Apache Cafe

Apache Cafe

Russell Simmons' Visa RushCard Hits $2 Billion Mark

Hip Hop mogul-turned-philanthropist, Russel Simmons’ latest endeavor, the debt-reducing Visa RushCard, recently hit the two billion dollar deposit mark in a time when more Americans than ever can use the extra help. Simmons’ RushCard is a prepaid Visa Card, similar to a debit card that allows people with bad credit to have the same opportunities while building up good credit.

"I'm personally very happy that RushCard is benefiting and empowering people exactly as it was intended," said Simmons.

The card allows members to track their transactions online while including debt reducing strategies and restriction to prevent over drafting or over use.

"I tried the Card out, it's cool but it is still a bank.....just like everything else please read the fine print. At the time I used the card there wasn't any monthly fees, but I was charged one dollar for every transactions, something I didn't like. If you want to go the prepaid route I recommend greendot. About five bucks monthly fee and free direct deposits".

Shout Out to Barack Obama

Hey young world??? This week's "Shout Out" goes the President Elect Barack Obama. It's no question that Obama is an inspiration...but I would like to speak about how I identify with him. I thought long and hard about this one and it came to me after I revisited his first publication "Dreams of My Father". In chapter seven of the book Barack began to tell his story of when he decided to become a community organizer and move to Chicago in 1983. I too had dreams of organizing and working in politics, I wanted to do something to change the circumstances in which I was living in. Therefore, while reading I felt a sentimental yearning for the past, as he spoke of the pride we had in Chicago when Harold Washington was elected Mayor. He also spoke of the segregation, unity, politics, the church, the gray overcast, frigid temperatures, black nationalism, despair, Nation of Islam, Altgeld Garden, Hyde Park.....you get the picture.

But what really hit home is the statement he made in chapter thirteen page 252..." And if fact, in may have been the growing familiarity with the landscape, the counsel of time, that gave me the sense that something different was going on with the children of the South Side that spring of 1987; that invisible line has been crossed, a blind and ugly corner turned'.

My wife often tells that it is not aways about me, but in this case I was there on the South Side in '87..... after I graduated from grade school...I road the 79th street bus to Curie H.S. from Stoney Island to Archer. It's crazy but when your living in an environment, when it's all that you know...you tend to believe that's all life has to offer. But President Elect Obama has shown millions around the world that life is what you make it!!!! I made it out, I'm blessed to be here in Atlanta with a beautiful family and the homies, but I will forever love Chicago....it's my home, Chicago breeds leaders....in closing....as Laura Gray used to say..."if you can make it in Chicago, you can make it it anywhere." God bless you all, Obama, and America.

Rollie

SPICE FRIDAYS: Me'Lange @ Seasons 12/19/08

2077 Northlake Pkwy Tucker, GA 30084
EntertainCorp.com

New Years Eve Bash 12/31/08: 300 Atlanta

300 Atlanta
2175 Savoy Dr
Chamblee, GA 30341
(770) 451-8605

Shoe thrower receives "Pumpkinhead" in custody

The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten in custody.

Muntadar al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.

Mr Zaidi threw his shoes at Mr Bush at a news conference, calling him "a dog".

The BBC tried to contact Iraq's top security official but he was not available for comment.

news.bbc.co.uk

Rollie: A real humble dude...who really don't flexs...

Ya Boy at

SPICE Fridays: Me'lange
2077 Northlake Pkwy Tucker, GA 30084

B.O.B. (Boots Over Baghdad) :Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoe At Bush

Rosenberg Pocketumentary: A DJ Premier Tribute

Colin Powell gives Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh the Business

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell took aim at Sarah Palin and the Republican party's emphasis on small-town values during an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakharia that will air this Sunday.

Powell also says that we should rethink its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military. And he tells Republicans that they should stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.

Read More
Huffingtonpost.com

Consequence Signs With Motown Records

Author: Danielle Harling

After a rocky, three-year stint with Sony/RED, Queens rapper Consequence [click to read] has recently signed with Motown Records.

"In conjunction with of course G.O.O.D. Music and my new upstart company Band Camp Records which is headed by myself and Rik Cordero we're about to 'Get Shit Shaking Fam!!!'" Consequence stated via his blog at ItsTheCons.com. "It has been almost two years since Day Job dropped. I remember the struggles and adversity I was faced with when attempting to get a release date from Sony. I just have to say two things. Thank Allah and it was worth it!!!"

Ironically, Consequence was signed to Motown by Sylvia Rhone, who also signed him to Elektra Records in the late '90's. "The Cons" made a name for himself after being prominently featured on A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes and Life album.

Consequence, who released his debut album Don't Quit Your Day Job [click to read] last year, will join the likes of Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, and Akon who are all signed to or distributed through Universal. Consequence's first album on Motown will feature production by both Q-Tip and Kanye West.

The album, which is currently titled You Win Some, You Lose Some will be released either summer or spring of 2009.

Jackson Jr. denies wrongdoing in Ill. gov scandal

By CHARLES BABINGTON

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said Wednesday he openly sought appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat but denied offering favors in return to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and said he was not involved "whatsoever in any wrongdoing."

A lawyer for Jackson acknowledged that the Illinois Democrat is "Senate Candidate 5" in the 76-page federal complaint filed against Blagojevich, who was arrested Tuesday. Wiretapped conversations suggest Blagojevich felt the candidate would raise campaign money for him in exchange for being appointed to the Senate seat vacated by the president-elect.

READ MORE

myway.com

DJ Don Cannon Leaves Aphilliates

Author: Omar Burgess

After working with the Aphilliates on an official album and countless mixtapes, DJ Don Cannon [click to read] confirmed he left Aphilliates Music Group via press release yesterday. Cannon will now be managed by Disturbing Tha Peace co-founders Chaka Zulu and Jeff Dixon.

"The split is merely a business and creative difference, musically, nothing to do with the personal relationship. We are on good terms, and speak often," Cannon stated.

READ MORE

ThePetitionSite: $1,000,000 TO BAIL OUT EACH LIVING U.S. CITIZEN

Imitation is the best form of flattery: Hey young world if you recall on Monday October 13th 2008 48Bars posted:48BARS STIMULUS/BAILOUT PROPOSAL- ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR EVERY CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.

Well since that time it appears that others has jumped on the bandwagon, without giving 48bars the proper credit. Around November 27th 2008 on thepetitionsite.com..... someone posted their version of the bailout..... $1,000,000 TO BAIL OUT EACH LIVING U.S. CITIZEN.

"THERE IS A QUICK FIX TO THE U.S. ECONOMY, SAVE THE AMERICAN TAX PAYERS MONEY, CREATE NEW JOBS IN AMERICA, CONSERVE ENERGY, LOWER CRIME RATES AND EVEN HELP WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ALL WITH ONE SIMPLE SOLUTION, GIVE EACH LIVING AMERICAN CITIZEN (A ONE TIME ONLY) $1,000,000. LETS CALL IT THE LONG TERM STIMULUS PACKAGE".

Sounds familar???? But hey this is the not the last idea of this kind the come from us. In the month of January 2008 48Bars will introduce to the world the 48BarsManifesto.

Rollie

"CHI ILL", "ILL STATE", "COUNTY OF CROOKS": Why is Illinois so corrupt?

A visibly disgusted FBI special agent Robert Grant stood at a podium in Chicago during a press conference today announcing the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and hurling his contempt at the entire political culture of the state of Illinois.

“If it is not the most corrupt state in the United States, it’s certainly one hell of a competitor,” Grant said, his disheveled shock of black hair giving some indication of the dramatic and stressful events of the day.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald termed the events leading up to the governor’s early-morning arrest by the FBI, “a corruption crime spree,” and said it was “an appalling statement about what’s been happening in Illinois government.”

So just what is the problem with Illinois?
READ MORE
politico.com

Kanye West: Jacking For Beats

We all knew Kanye West uses samples, but did you know it was this deep. Check out this video, put together by DefSounds, showing which songs Kanye has created, and their originals. There's a lot of them.

This ones is for you Mogie.....

MY PAIN RUNS DEEP

Everyday stresses, bills, and a shady 9 to 5....
I get' high...a little nose candy just to get by....
I checkout CNN: Bailouts, Recession, Access Hollywood: Britney, Angela, Brad, Will and Jada.....
While random bullets fly on the South Side of the Chi......
Even as a youngster pain was in the sky.....
pops causing ruckus coming in drunk while moms makes a fuss.....
I was a fool all through high school....
Fresh Prince did it....I was trying to keep up.....
But now I'm labeled as a "what the fuck happened?"
Who can I blame ? Smoking weed....at Magic City....asses clappin'.....So now I'm hopeless....
rollin' down 285 swervin'....But don't worry I'm about to crash up on the curb cause my vision blurry.....Strongly based on TUPAC's PAIN on the Above the Rim Soundtrack

Rollie

Breaking News: Obama Senate Seat Up for Grabs

This just in: early this morning in my home town of Chicago, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, was taken into custody by Federal Agents for allegedly holding President Elect Obamas' newly vacated senate seat up for ransom. Here is an insert that was taken from www.thesmokinggun.com . The criminal complaint filed today against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich contains a remarkable section detailing the Democratic politician's alleged attempt to cash in on his ability to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Attached to the U.S. District Court complaint is an FBI affidavit, excerpted below, alleging that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps noting that the Senate seat "is a fucking valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing." He was also recorded saying that unless "I get something real good," he would appoint himself to the vacancy. "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself." According to the surreptitiously recorded conversations, Blagojevich spoke with associates about the possibility of trading the Senate post for either an ambassadorship or a Cabinet post. The Democratic politician, according to the affidavit sworn by FBI Agent Daniel Cain, "analogized his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to various teams." Blagojevich, 51, and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested this morning on political corruption charges.
Read More
thesmokinggun.com

Common Releases Clothing Line With Microsoft

by Ronnie Gamble

Chicago rapper Common celebrated the debut of a brand new clothing line this week, called Softwear, a collaboration with himself and software giant Microsoft.

The line is 80s-inspired, with typefaces and fonts that Microsoft used in its early years, and also includes a mug shot tee of the company's founder Bill Gates.

"When I wear t-shirts, I want it to look fly, but say something too," Common told AOL's Blackvoices. "So some of the shirts got messages, some of it bring ... all of it got a purpose, all of its got a certain nostalgia of '85 and that era. I really wanted it to be progressive pieces that have purpose."

Items from Softwear line are expected to retail for approximately $32, and will be available in late December at specialty retailers nationwide -- including Union (NYC) Leaders and 1354 (Chicago), Wish (Atlanta), and Major (Washington DC).

For more information, visit SoftwearByMicrosoft.com.
ballerstatus.com

Why Can't We "Voltron"??

Whut up yung world....yung world?? It's ya boy Dero here with a lil fundamental question that has been fucking with me since college........"Why Can't We Voltron"? Now I'm sure that many of you all out there in blog land reading this can remember the awesome cartoon about the giant robot tigers who would come together and "connect" literally to form the mega robot Voltron back in the 80's. Well... why is it that you and some of yo guys right....maybe dudes you've known since grade school- can't seem to get that premise.

If you are not aware .....there is major strength in numbers! When you come in you want to come ..in force. For instance when you attend a new a new school ...you try to find your crowd, the guys who most relate to the person who you are...you know where you fit in at. Have you ever heard the saying ....2 minds are better than 1? Well 2 good minds anyway, the point is ....if you have 2 or more like minds focused on 1 common goal then you are likely to achieve your goal sooner.

Now I have approached some of my personal guys on different occasions to help me to facilitate a project or I may have signed on to help one of them, here is what I have found each time around. The energy in the very beginning may be awesome or at least appears to have those tendencies. However, if there is no "absolute focal power" being exercised by everyone on board ....guess what??? Shit never works out for the good..... and I'll tell you why... because of- first and foremost- the "EGO TRIPPIN" (how much do I get paid?!) -then at some point someone allows interference from an outside force. Whether the outside force is your girl, your job, your family .....it doesn't matter -at some point you have to make the conscious decision individually as well as collectively that we are going to go "all in" and at "all times!" (or at least the majority of the time... every adult has responsibilities of their own). It is then and only then that you will successfully achieve your goals in life.

This -for me has really been extremely challenging. I wish there was a simplified way of bringing dudes together minus all the bullshit. The truth is ...at the end of the day...... they gotta want to do it and be willing to sacrifice and more importantly stay focused for the "entire duration."

Yo ...I'll leave yall with this thought .....remember Jay-Z's movie "Fade to Black" when he made that lil documentary-style movie about him supposedly leaving the rap game alone?? Well there is a seen in that movie where Hovie Hov is being interviewed and he turns and looks directly in the camera and tells the world.....that the hardest thing that he ever had to do through it all was to try and get ...a group of people on the same shit at the same time who were "ALL" focused. He said that it was the hardest shit ever...bar none- but guess what ......IT CAN BE DONE!! The question then is ......how bad do you want it??

Adero

CD Review: 'Universal Mind Control' by Common

"If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating"
6th Sense Lyrics: Like Water for Chocolate: Common

Hey young world???? This morning I checked out Common's "Universal Mind Control"....(his eighth album). At first listen I'm not feeling it. But in all fairness it takes me a minute before I feel any CD. Hell I'm still trying to figure out "Electric Circus".....LOL. Clearly this CD is for the ladies and the club with 7 of the 10 songs produced by the Neptunes. A few songs are catchy like "Announcement" featuring Pharrell, "Too Fly" with Kanye, and the title track "Universal Mind Control" which is on some Retro 80's shit. Although the songs are catchy they lack substance. I guess what puzzles me is that for years Common has went against the industry status quo and I don't understand why he would resort to putting out mindless music???? Like Kanye say... "what do I know?" Common is still one of my favorite artist...and a pioneer of hip hop......but if I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating.....

Rollie

Tribune Co. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

By James Rainey and Michael A. Hiltzik

The company that owns the Los Angeles Times, KTLA Channel 5 and the Chicago Tribune filed for bankruptcy protection today, seeking relief from $12 billion in debt that largely stems from last year's leveraged buyout of the media firm.

Tribune Co. directors approved the action to seek Chapter 11 protection in a meeting today, saying they want to restructure payments to banks and other creditors, following real estate magnate Sam Zell's purchase of the company last year.
latimes.com

The New York Times Company plans to borrow up to $225 million against its mid-Manhattan headquarters building

The New York Times Company plans to borrow up to $225 million against its mid-Manhattan headquarters building, to ease a potential cash flow squeeze as the company grapples with tighter credit and shrinking profits.The company has retained Cushman & Wakefield, the real estate firm, to act as its agent to secure financing, either in the form of a mortgage or a sale-leaseback arrangement, said James Follo, the Times Company's chief financial officer.

iht.com