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Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Beck Gets What He Deserves: So Whose Really the Racist?
I am more than pleased to announce that this "racist prick"(Glenn Beck) -like so many other chumps like him (of the caucasian persuasion) -who don't deserve the time of day, let alone be listed here- lost 36 companies who have pulled their advertising on his radio show because of his racially charged comments about President Obama. (click pic for full story)
My Sneaks 4 tha Week
Yall remember these fresh ass "BARKLEY's" when they 1st came out!! oooooweee... matter-of- fact I need a pair right now.. dig me.Friday, August 21, 2009
Equifax, Transunion, Experian, and Hip Hop
I may be a little hypocritical with this one but hey.....other then Russell Simmons (and the Rush Card is a rip off), I haven't heard anyone in hip hop speak on the importance of establishing and maintaining good credit. Let's face it people we're living in America and Credit is the pulse of it. President Obama is trying to hook the cable to the economy but it appears that those with “Good Credit” are the ones that are reaping the benefits.Actually hip hop displays the opposite of “Good Credit”...literally throwing cash around, purchasing items that depreciate as soon as you get them i.e. cars, clothing.......America is changing and the hip hop culture needs to change with it. My wife is reading “Girl, Get Your Credit Straight!”, by Glinda Bridgforth. It's an easy read and there is some good info in the book...such as how they come up with your credit score. Please don't think that I have a my ducks in a row...their not..but in the age of technology we can achieve what we seek to accomplish.
Rollie Gray
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Indie Hip Hop 101: Infrastructure: Part 2 of 3
I am an enormous cheap skate. I would rather tour in a PT Cruiser with no cruise control than a roomy minivan because it saves gas. I would much rather burn CD's and print labels out of my house rather than send it out to be done. I would even rather sleep on someone's floor over paying for a hotel; however, the biggest misstep that I've made in my cheapdom is not understanding the value of a great publicist.
A publicist is as general of a profession as being a teacher. Some are Kindergarten educators while others are fifth grade. Some teach high school history while others teach eighth grade biology. Their specialties vary based on their specific accomplishments; however, they all have the same basic training and work under the same purpose...teach. The same goes for the publicist. Some specialize in event planning while others focus on sponsorships. Some work with nonprofits, and some work with music. Their one purpose, though, is to get their clients as much exposure as possible.
Now don't get me wrong, that exposure comes with a price. Most publicists that I know that deal in the independent markets charge between $1500-$2000 a month and want a 3 month contract. So really you're talking $4500-$6000. Most times, the money's due up front. For the average hip hop artist that's scraping together everything that they have in order to survive and slowly prod ahead, this is almost an insult. I know, I'm one of of them. This is more than my entire recording budget. There was no way I could afford to pay that much for a publicist...I should have found a way though...http://hiphop101.wordpress.com
Thanks.
Janale Harris, 678.613.2776
First Team Music
A Shout Out to Erika J. Kendrick - "APPETITE"
If I were to use (3) words to describe this woman here.. "Tha Flyest Chick!" The talented Erika J. Kendrick... the well versed... well rounded.. highly intellectual... extremely dedicated... hardworking, trend-setting, strong willed... and hard to keep up with sensational woman (and not just cus she my sis) is truly a "work of art."
dero DawsonWednesday, August 19, 2009
How Fresh Is She? Amerie
Miss "1 Thing" has a brand new album... her sophomore offering is entitled In Love & War on Def Jam Records.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Mike Vick Signs
Congrats 2 Mike Vick -he signed (2yr. deal) w/ tha Philadelphia Eagles 2day! 2 Super-Star African American QB's... look out world and the entire NFL... here comes Philly! Freeway & Beans need 2 do a joint 4 this celebration!
Really Doe?
Another Yeezy protege'... Really Doe's album "First Impressions" is due out Aug 18th. You would've thought that GLC's joint would drop first but... oh well.. still Chi -Chicago stand up!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
How Fresh Is She? AALIYAH
R.I.P. to tha lovely and talented angel known to us all as Aaliyah. The 8th year anniversary of her death is upon us (Aug 25,2001')... still very very sad.. we will miss u always!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Complaints & Restraints: "U Just Tryin 2 Find Where tha Tissue Is..."
Now I know that a lot of brothers in the world today are going to be in complete and total agreement with me in this feature on women and relationships. You women out there... well maybe not so much-(lol).Question: Why is it that so many women today are not interested in the comprehensive understanding of the "dynamics" and general differences between men & women when it comes to perspectives???
Mostly "all" (there maybe a select few in the entire universe- the % is super low tho) women want to argue why their views on a given situation or circumstance are right -and will take extreme measures at times to get their points-of-view across to their men. The problem here is that a lot of women are so self-centered and shallow in their thought process that they figure that the views and conclusions that they arrive at is the only logical answers when they couldn't be more wrong.
Men and Women since the beginning of time have two totally different perspectives on not just life in general ...but especially as it relates to relationships. Women see things in one light and men see things in another- not to say either is "right" or "wrong" -just different perspectives. I guess the grand ol' notion that "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" holds true to form.
Now for my female readers I'm sure to catch some ridicule and maybe some bogus responses -I mean after all I am a man which makes me biased to some degree, but in my honest opinion women speak from an emotional stand-point whereas men sometime suppress the feeling of emotion and speak more from a reality or a somewhat simplistic point of view.
Women -stop the constant nagging and complaining... if your man ain't doing right by you -bounce or tell him to get tha hell on, but all the trivial drama to see if you can get a rise out of a dude to see if he cares... come on. Then there's the "control freak" -because of their own insecurity they wanna impose they shit on you. Everything is an accusation from the moment you leave tha crib til you get back... why didn't you call me? Why didn't you answer your phone? Who were you with? Where did you go? I'm gonna check his phone, I'm gonna check his email account cus you know I figured out his pass code. Ladies, a few words of advice... yall "cut it out" ...yall need to really let go of the insecurities and "cut that shit out!" Most of yall got good men for tha most part -and in this day and age where homosexuality is running rampant you need to really stop and think about what your issues is respectively and stop "trying to find where the tissue is".... always playing the victims -we all need to grow up and act like adults.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
New Day, Same Shit, Same Struggle
I understand that I may be a little late with this one...my apologies for not being as quick as most. It just takes me a moment to process my thoughts. Here is my take on the arrest of the prominent Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Both Sgt. James Crowley (The Cambridge cop) and Gates could handled the situation better and President Obama should have stayed out of it. I can vividly remember my first encounter with a white police officer, without going into detail..let me just say it wasn't a pleasant experience. That was over 20 years ago and my encounters overs the years has pretty much been the same..... this goes for black and white cops. To this day I feel awkward around the police or anyone with a gun. I carried a gun once or twice and it gives you a “God Complex”..it fucks with your mental to know that you can take someone's life. When Crowley found out that it was Gates's house the shit should have been over. When Gates spazed out Crowley felted disrespected as an officer but most of all a white male who was probably subconsciously hating on this successful brother.
Can anyone really trip on Gates's reaction? A man who wittiness the civil rights movement, who is distinguished, who was in his home? When President Obama was asked about the incident at the press conference he should have kept it moving. Why fall into the trap? Then invite the officer to the White House?
Racial profiling has and will continue to go on in America, it is in it's DNA. The hope is in the children, for it is something special to look at a person and see pass their exterior.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Who killin em in the UK. Everybody gonna to say.....
"Just touched down in London town. Bet they give me a pound. Tell them put the money in my hand right now. Tell the promoter we need more seats, We just sold out all the floor seats"
Kanye West
The staff here at 48Bars often have a round table about the current state of hip hop. I'm a B-Boy... but to be honest I'm just not feeling it right now. Could it be that hip hop is for the youth? Or is it just that I'm tried of hip hop in America? During my journey with this music I have spoke to many that have stated that hip hop has a different vibe overseas. I have heard this from reliable sources, Dres tha Beatnik, Nemy Nem, Tarrey Torae, Adero, and my man Tony Cohiba. The word is that overseas they are crazy for hip hop in it's truest form.
With that said we have been toying with the idea of going to London to do some shows. We have been doing our research on how their independent circuit works, i.e. venues, shows, publishing, etc. During my research I came across www.qype.co.uk, which is a site that gives information about the above mentioned. The trick to finding spots to rock (if you don't have a connect) is to just reach out to the venues. It's like the age old saying never judge a book by it's cover, you just have to call a speak to someone and ask questions. Qype has pertinent information about restaurants i.e. contact info and info about ambiance and atmosphere. During my google search I put in london restaurants, restaurants london, pubs in london, and pubs london, I got a million results. If you're planning a trip to London, and you need some info on eating, drinking, shopping, arts, entertainment, health and beauty, events, or in my case the nightlife, checkout www.qype.co.uk.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
My Sneaks 4 tha Week
High-Top Stan Smith's ....circa 1981' -the colors green/black are pretty sick right here!
