09/14/09
Retired.
Thanks for all the support.
Retired.
Thanks for all the support.
09/02/2009
Being a big Jay-Z fan, I downloaded the Blueprint 3
within hours of its leak yesterday morning.
An interesting fact a lot of people don't know about him:
His name comes from his projects on Marcy Av.,
where the J and Z subway trains run.
(I don't think an M train ran in the 80's)
Anyway, I'm going to give a full, thorough review,
the type you see on Amazon and shit.
Track by track, here we go:
What We Talkin' About: Decent intro, solid production.
"I ain't talkin' bout gossip, I ain't talkin' bout Game,
I ain't talkin' bout Jimmy, I ain't talkin' bout Dame."
7/10
Thank You: Track sounds like it came from American Gangster, which is a good thing.
'Ye does a nice job here, I'm feelin' the horns.
8/10
D.O.A.: Just as every rapper tried to cash in on the Autotune, Jay tries to cash in on its "death".
I'm sorry, but as much as I want to like this song, it grew old way too fast.
6/10
Run This Town: Perfect single. Beat is fire.
Kanye commits murder on Hov's track. Nuff said.
9/10
Empire State of Mind: Title sound familiar? Hmm...
This is beautiful. It displays Jay-Z's amazing ability
to paint pictures with his words & Alicia Keys was perfect for the song.
It's probably a shoo-in for my second favorite track about
New York ever, second to the Nas counterpart.
I probably like this song more because I'm a
New Yorker, but hey, it's my review.
"Empty in May, got you feeling like a champion/
The city never sleeps, better slip you a Ambien."
10/10
Real As It Gets: Waste of a track. I like Jeezy,
but he's not worthy of a track on an album
with the word "Blueprint" in it.
5/10
On to the Next One: This year's A Milli. I hate it,
but I'll probably be forced to listen to it about 5,000 times this year.
Worst beat Jay has rapped on in a while. One hot line:
"Hov on that new shit, n*ggas like how come?
N*ggas want my old shit, buy my old album."
Well, I just might take that advice.
3/10
Off That: Not feelin' it. I expect much more from a Jay-Z x Drake collabo.
Timbaland also drops the ball.
4/10
A Star is Born: Favorite track on the album.
A veteran speaking on the game, and a "freshman" just rips it.
J. Cole is about to get a lot of exposure.
"Mobb Deep shook it, but Prodigy took it,
a little too far, you can't fuck with Brooklyn."
+1 for Brooklyn, -1 for Queens. Ouch.
10/10
Venus vs. Mars: lol.
"Me, I'm from the Apple, which means I'm a Mac(k)/
She's a PC, she lives in my lap."
(I added 2 points just for that line)
4/10
Already Home: Kid Cudi attempts to sound like John Legend,
while Hov talks about nothing.
Beat is pretty good, 'Ye is keeping it up.
6/10
Hate: I have a hard time listening to this song,
since every time I do, I imagine that the beat
is being made with a caveman blowing into an ancient instrument.
6/10
Reminder: Timbaland, meet sadface. Remember Big Pimpin'?
Hola Hovito? Dirt Off Your Shoulder? No? Didn't think so.
4/10
So Ambitious: Jay and Pharrell made a decent combo in
Blue Magic, and Frontin'. This isn't bad either,
but it lacks anything that makes it stand out.
Kind of boring, actually.
6/10
Young Forever: Great song to end the album with,
beautiful sample. Sometimes his nickname,
Young serves as a double meaning, and he definitely pulls it off well.
This is the kind of song you bump while driving in the sunset.
"So let's just stay in the moment, smoke some weed, drink some wine/
Reminisce, talk some shit, forever young is in your mind.
Leave a mark that can erase neither space nor time/
so when the director yells 'cut', I'll be fine"
9/10
OVERALL: 6/10
Oh, by the way, my new baby came in today. Get ready.
Being a big Jay-Z fan, I downloaded the Blueprint 3
within hours of its leak yesterday morning.
An interesting fact a lot of people don't know about him:
His name comes from his projects on Marcy Av.,
where the J and Z subway trains run.
(I don't think an M train ran in the 80's)
Anyway, I'm going to give a full, thorough review,
the type you see on Amazon and shit.
Track by track, here we go:
What We Talkin' About: Decent intro, solid production.
"I ain't talkin' bout gossip, I ain't talkin' bout Game,
I ain't talkin' bout Jimmy, I ain't talkin' bout Dame."
7/10
Thank You: Track sounds like it came from American Gangster, which is a good thing.
'Ye does a nice job here, I'm feelin' the horns.
8/10
D.O.A.: Just as every rapper tried to cash in on the Autotune, Jay tries to cash in on its "death".
I'm sorry, but as much as I want to like this song, it grew old way too fast.
6/10
Run This Town: Perfect single. Beat is fire.
Kanye commits murder on Hov's track. Nuff said.
9/10
Empire State of Mind: Title sound familiar? Hmm...
This is beautiful. It displays Jay-Z's amazing ability
to paint pictures with his words & Alicia Keys was perfect for the song.
It's probably a shoo-in for my second favorite track about
New York ever, second to the Nas counterpart.
I probably like this song more because I'm a
New Yorker, but hey, it's my review.
"Empty in May, got you feeling like a champion/
The city never sleeps, better slip you a Ambien."
10/10
Real As It Gets: Waste of a track. I like Jeezy,
but he's not worthy of a track on an album
with the word "Blueprint" in it.
5/10
On to the Next One: This year's A Milli. I hate it,
but I'll probably be forced to listen to it about 5,000 times this year.
Worst beat Jay has rapped on in a while. One hot line:
"Hov on that new shit, n*ggas like how come?
N*ggas want my old shit, buy my old album."
Well, I just might take that advice.
3/10
Off That: Not feelin' it. I expect much more from a Jay-Z x Drake collabo.
Timbaland also drops the ball.
4/10
A Star is Born: Favorite track on the album.
A veteran speaking on the game, and a "freshman" just rips it.
J. Cole is about to get a lot of exposure.
"Mobb Deep shook it, but Prodigy took it,
a little too far, you can't fuck with Brooklyn."
+1 for Brooklyn, -1 for Queens. Ouch.
10/10
Venus vs. Mars: lol.
"Me, I'm from the Apple, which means I'm a Mac(k)/
She's a PC, she lives in my lap."
(I added 2 points just for that line)
4/10
Already Home: Kid Cudi attempts to sound like John Legend,
while Hov talks about nothing.
Beat is pretty good, 'Ye is keeping it up.
6/10
Hate: I have a hard time listening to this song,
since every time I do, I imagine that the beat
is being made with a caveman blowing into an ancient instrument.
6/10
Reminder: Timbaland, meet sadface. Remember Big Pimpin'?
Hola Hovito? Dirt Off Your Shoulder? No? Didn't think so.
4/10
So Ambitious: Jay and Pharrell made a decent combo in
Blue Magic, and Frontin'. This isn't bad either,
but it lacks anything that makes it stand out.
Kind of boring, actually.
6/10
Young Forever: Great song to end the album with,
beautiful sample. Sometimes his nickname,
Young serves as a double meaning, and he definitely pulls it off well.
This is the kind of song you bump while driving in the sunset.
"So let's just stay in the moment, smoke some weed, drink some wine/
Reminisce, talk some shit, forever young is in your mind.
Leave a mark that can erase neither space nor time/
so when the director yells 'cut', I'll be fine"
9/10
While I expect this album to grow on me in the future, I'm pretty disappointed with this effort. In my opinion, it's undeserving of the Blueprint title. Jay-Z teases us with hints of his remaining genius in storytelling and wordplay, but does it scarcely. At this moment, I still have American Gangster above this one in terms of his catalog.
I noticed something with the Blueprint 3. Jay-Z is .. a trend follower. People always talk about how he's on "his new shit", but he's never really been a pioneer. Mafioso rap in '96? Bling rap in '98? Soul sampling in '01? And now this electronic rap crap?
Now, trust me, I'm a big fan, but I believe part of his success is due to the fact that he can jump on other people's styles so well and adapt to the times. That's why he's been able to stay relevant so long. Unfortunately, as much as I hate to say it, his time may soon be up.
I noticed something with the Blueprint 3. Jay-Z is .. a trend follower. People always talk about how he's on "his new shit", but he's never really been a pioneer. Mafioso rap in '96? Bling rap in '98? Soul sampling in '01? And now this electronic rap crap?
Now, trust me, I'm a big fan, but I believe part of his success is due to the fact that he can jump on other people's styles so well and adapt to the times. That's why he's been able to stay relevant so long. Unfortunately, as much as I hate to say it, his time may soon be up.
OVERALL: 6/10
Oh, by the way, my new baby came in today. Get ready.
08/31/2009
One of the most comfy shoes I have ever worn.
These didn't release in the States, so a big shoutout to Matt for the hookup.
Last day of work today.. Time to get on that Mass Effect.
One of the most comfy shoes I have ever worn.
These didn't release in the States, so a big shoutout to Matt for the hookup.
Last day of work today.. Time to get on that Mass Effect.
08/27/09
I just want everyone to take some time out of your day and think
about this series of moving pictures I assembled below.
The world is real, and sometimes I sit back and ponder about how a lot of things are bigger than me, you, or anyone else. Things happen on such a grand scale, yet they are the result of individual behaviors.
Greed, lust, envy, etc.
You know, the usual. Anyway, here they are.
Be easy.
I just want everyone to take some time out of your day and think
about this series of moving pictures I assembled below.
The world is real, and sometimes I sit back and ponder about how a lot of things are bigger than me, you, or anyone else. Things happen on such a grand scale, yet they are the result of individual behaviors.
Greed, lust, envy, etc.
You know, the usual. Anyway, here they are.
Be easy.
08/19/09
Sorry I've been MIA lately, been busy in my home city.
Stopped by Soho the other day and picked these up from Blue in Green.
Samurai S5000BK. Just beautiful.
Yes, I jacked the pics from the online store,
but considering how much I dropped there, it should be alright.
I also came across this documentary yesterday, and watched it in full today.
Now, I'm no conspiracy kook, and I'm not totally falling for this new world order thing,
but I definitely don't believe that the corporate-controlled media is telling us the entire truth.
There are without a doubt larger forces at work than the general public believes.
Definitely worth a watch, I guarantee you'll learn more than you ever learned
spinning your pencil in history class.
Sorry I've been MIA lately, been busy in my home city.
Stopped by Soho the other day and picked these up from Blue in Green.
Samurai S5000BK. Just beautiful.
Yes, I jacked the pics from the online store,
but considering how much I dropped there, it should be alright.
I also came across this documentary yesterday, and watched it in full today.
Now, I'm no conspiracy kook, and I'm not totally falling for this new world order thing,
but I definitely don't believe that the corporate-controlled media is telling us the entire truth.
There are without a doubt larger forces at work than the general public believes.
Definitely worth a watch, I guarantee you'll learn more than you ever learned
spinning your pencil in history class.
08/10/09
Word to Slaughterhouse.
Real therapeutic song.
BTW, if anyone finds this instrumental, please please please send it my way.
Word to Slaughterhouse.
Real therapeutic song.
BTW, if anyone finds this instrumental, please please please send it my way.
08/07/2009
Southern rap legend Scarface is calling it quits.
Face has a lot to say about the current generation of hip-hop.
Long read, but it's interesting to hear a veteran's thoughts.
Scarface: I'm Done
"The minute it turned into a business and not a culture it became too watered down. The essence of Hip-Hop is not in the music anymore."
"Hip-Hop ain’t no “booty-dew. Do the booty-dew, do the booty-dew—do the so and so, do the so and so-you know."
The Diary and The Fix were classics. Sad day for hip-hop.
Southern rap legend Scarface is calling it quits.
Face has a lot to say about the current generation of hip-hop.
Long read, but it's interesting to hear a veteran's thoughts.
Scarface: I'm Done
"The minute it turned into a business and not a culture it became too watered down. The essence of Hip-Hop is not in the music anymore."
"Hip-Hop ain’t no “booty-dew. Do the booty-dew, do the booty-dew—do the so and so, do the so and so-you know."
The Diary and The Fix were classics. Sad day for hip-hop.
08/03/2009
Props to Mike for showing me this.
Handball was pretty much the sport I grew up on,
and it was great to read a real, legit article that somewhat captures
the essence of the culture that comes along with the New York sport.
Definitely another reason I miss home.
Props to Mike for showing me this.
Handball was pretty much the sport I grew up on,
and it was great to read a real, legit article that somewhat captures
the essence of the culture that comes along with the New York sport.
Definitely another reason I miss home.
08/02/2009
For all the true hip-hop heads..
I just peeped Slaughterhouse's debut self-titled album.
My God. Fuckin' ridiculous.
No if's and's but's or maybe's.
Sorry, no link here, I don't want the Feds on my ass.
For all the true hip-hop heads..
I just peeped Slaughterhouse's debut self-titled album.
My God. Fuckin' ridiculous.
No if's and's but's or maybe's.
Sorry, no link here, I don't want the Feds on my ass.
07/30/09
Made this for dinner yesterday,
and I couldn't help but take a picture of my beautiful work.
Chicken teriyaki, Spinach w. garlic & Rice
Master Chef right here.
That reminds me of this old school joint.
Every time I listen to this song, I feel like I'm watching a mob movie.
Be easy.
Made this for dinner yesterday,
and I couldn't help but take a picture of my beautiful work.
Chicken teriyaki, Spinach w. garlic & Rice
Master Chef right here.
That reminds me of this old school joint.
Every time I listen to this song, I feel like I'm watching a mob movie.
Be easy.
07/27/09
On the educational tip lately.
I was browsing the news today and I came across this interesting article.
To avoid sounding insane, let's lay out the facts in an organized fashion.
There is a huge international black market for organs.
My argument is, why not legalize the buying and selling of organs?
That way, the government can regulate their transfer to ensure safety and we don't have these "greedy brokers" capitalizing on this vital need. Not to mention the deaths of people awaiting kidney transplants from suitable donors. Obviously, due to the economic principles of supply and demand, the amount of money per seller will decrease, but let's face it, anyone willing to give up a kidney for some cash could really use it.
Oh, and please don't give me that "moral issue" bullshit.
I will simply point you here.
In other news, Ms. (Mr?) Hermaphrodite joins Jimmy's gang.
GOONIES !
On the educational tip lately.
I was browsing the news today and I came across this interesting article.
To avoid sounding insane, let's lay out the facts in an organized fashion.
- There are many, many people willing to give up an organ to make some extra money.
- There is a larger demand for kidneys than there is supply.
My argument is, why not legalize the buying and selling of organs?
That way, the government can regulate their transfer to ensure safety and we don't have these "greedy brokers" capitalizing on this vital need. Not to mention the deaths of people awaiting kidney transplants from suitable donors. Obviously, due to the economic principles of supply and demand, the amount of money per seller will decrease, but let's face it, anyone willing to give up a kidney for some cash could really use it.
Oh, and please don't give me that "moral issue" bullshit.
I will simply point you here.
In other news, Ms. (Mr?) Hermaphrodite joins Jimmy's gang.
GOONIES !
07/23/09
Bape, you never cease to amuse me.
These drop tomorrow, the 24th,
at Bape NYC & LA.
Also happening tomorrow..
In conclusion, all signs are pointing to the fact that I belong home.
Bape, you never cease to amuse me.
These drop tomorrow, the 24th,
at Bape NYC & LA.
Also happening tomorrow..
In conclusion, all signs are pointing to the fact that I belong home.
07/21/09
"I know this ain't you, so stop tryin' to force it
But if it really is, the change is worse than I thought it.."
"I know this ain't you, so stop tryin' to force it
But if it really is, the change is worse than I thought it.."
07/19/09
I miss my city.
What other place can take such a big hit and still stand as strong?
Nothing like it.
I miss my city.
What other place can take such a big hit and still stand as strong?
Nothing like it.
07/17/2009
I finally got PAID today.
Almost feeling like Jigga right now..
Alright, I'm exaggerating. I did pick up a little somethin' though.
Be easy.
I finally got PAID today.
Almost feeling like Jigga right now..
Alright, I'm exaggerating. I did pick up a little somethin' though.
Be easy.
07/14/09
Normally, I would never have any sort of fakes or counterfeits on this blog.
But this is a great story. Fake shoes are still shoes, and there are always people in need.
07/11/09
By the time the school year rolls around, I will be undefeatable in this game. On my down time, I've been playing 2K9 (which I will also be unbeatable in) and Round 4. On top of Halo, of course. Fight Night Round 4 is a must cop for anyone with a 360 who likes to whoop ass on a regular basis. Lennox Lewis is a straight beast. You're not eating my kids, Tyson.
Ballin', as always.
By the time the school year rolls around, I will be undefeatable in this game. On my down time, I've been playing 2K9 (which I will also be unbeatable in) and Round 4. On top of Halo, of course. Fight Night Round 4 is a must cop for anyone with a 360 who likes to whoop ass on a regular basis. Lennox Lewis is a straight beast. You're not eating my kids, Tyson.
Ballin', as always.
07/09/09
I'm not into anime at all, but these are probably the coolest, trippiest ads I've ever seen. These were designed by Takashi Murakami for none other than Louis V. The first one is called "Superflat Monogram" and the second one is "Superflat First Love." Don't ask me where those names came from.
I'm not into anime at all, but these are probably the coolest, trippiest ads I've ever seen. These were designed by Takashi Murakami for none other than Louis V. The first one is called "Superflat Monogram" and the second one is "Superflat First Love." Don't ask me where those names came from.
07/02/2009
These finally came in the mail today. Air Jordan XI Black/Red, commonly referred to as the "Bred" (black mushed with red) colorway. As much as I hate to admit it, these are from the Countdown Pack that came out late last year. Unfortunately, I was forced to get these. As you will see, I put my pair from '01 through too much.
Crispy CDP pair
Both pairs together
2001 Pair.. Believe me I cringed when I first noticed this.
Yes, that is the sole splitting from the rest of the shoe.
I've also been staying on top of my sandwich game lately.
That's right, a Turkey BLT, plus an egg, with mayo. Hell yeah, I'm eating good.
And just cause I feel like it, a track for hungry ears.
These finally came in the mail today. Air Jordan XI Black/Red, commonly referred to as the "Bred" (black mushed with red) colorway. As much as I hate to admit it, these are from the Countdown Pack that came out late last year. Unfortunately, I was forced to get these. As you will see, I put my pair from '01 through too much.
Crispy CDP pair
Both pairs together
2001 Pair.. Believe me I cringed when I first noticed this.
Yes, that is the sole splitting from the rest of the shoe.
I've also been staying on top of my sandwich game lately.
That's right, a Turkey BLT, plus an egg, with mayo. Hell yeah, I'm eating good.
And just cause I feel like it, a track for hungry ears.
06/26/09
So a lot of shit went down these past few days.
First, in case you've been living under a boulder, the greatest entertainer of all time died yesterday at 50. Now I'm not going to front like I'm Mike's biggest fan. Honestly, while this news saddens me, it really doesn't affect me the way a lot of people are pretending it affects them. I knew MJ through his music, and through that, he will never die. I just hate how all the television stations, tabloids, even everyday people, are jumping on this and putting out all kinds of tributes or acting like this is the worst news to them, when just last year they were calling him being a child molester. Public opinion is a funny thing, isn't it? Regardless, R.I.P. Michael Jackson. Most def a legend.
A chart of his influence on hip-hop:
Moving on, with the draft and the two big trades yesterday, the NBA is definitely keeping things interesting.
My predictions:
- Stephen Curry will be an All-Star. Next Reggie Miller?
- Lebron + Big Diesel will not win a championship.
In fact, they're going to do worse than they did this year.
- Lakers are definitely not going anywhere next year.
- The Magic will continue to dominate in the Eastern Conference,
but they will not be able to stop..
- the C's! 2010 Champions.
Last, but not least, there's a new Flight Club opening on Prince & Lafayette, around Supreme and where Clientele used to be. Check it out here. I'm disappointed that I'm missing this and Sneakerpimps this weekend, but I'll definitely be in the new FC in August with a bunch of dough to spend.
06/25/09
I can't stop listening to this dude. Bumped him on the way to work and back, two days in a row. I know everyone from the Midwest and his/her momma know about Mike Posner, but he hasn't really blown up in the East Coast yet. Mike Posner is a junior (now a senior, I guess) at Duke University who puts out "pop music that rappers like", in his own words. The way I would put it: he keeps it catchy without being trashy. You can download his mixtape, A Matter of Time, on iTunes for FREE. That's right kiddies, free crack for your music box. Highlights are Who Knows, Drug Dealer Girl, Cooler than Me, and Hey Cupid.
I know I'm a little late on reading this book, but it is amazing. It kept my sleepy ass up, begging me to finish it. The thing I liked most is that Hosseini decided to focus on the women for this one, as opposed to The Kite Runner. While googling the picture of the cover for this post, I found out they plan on making this into a movie too. I already know they're gonna fuck it up.
I can't stop listening to this dude. Bumped him on the way to work and back, two days in a row. I know everyone from the Midwest and his/her momma know about Mike Posner, but he hasn't really blown up in the East Coast yet. Mike Posner is a junior (now a senior, I guess) at Duke University who puts out "pop music that rappers like", in his own words. The way I would put it: he keeps it catchy without being trashy. You can download his mixtape, A Matter of Time, on iTunes for FREE. That's right kiddies, free crack for your music box. Highlights are Who Knows, Drug Dealer Girl, Cooler than Me, and Hey Cupid.
I know I'm a little late on reading this book, but it is amazing. It kept my sleepy ass up, begging me to finish it. The thing I liked most is that Hosseini decided to focus on the women for this one, as opposed to The Kite Runner. While googling the picture of the cover for this post, I found out they plan on making this into a movie too. I already know they're gonna fuck it up.
06/20/09
What up world. Special project to share today. I recently finished up washing my daily jeans, the Sugarcane Okinawa's. I copped this pair of denim about two years ago, and have been wearing them on and off since then. The details on these are crazy: they're woven with cotton and sugar cane fibers, they use indigo harvested from the Okinawa Islands in Japan, and last but definitely not least, the snakeskin patch is made from the skin of Habu snake, the indigenous poisonous snake of Okinawa.
Before the wash:
So I gave them a warm soak for about half an hour in my tub, followed by a delicate machine washing with cold water, no spin cycle.
After the wash:
Whiskers and honeycombs are starting to look pretty good, but I definitely have to put in some more work in when fall swings back around.
What up world. Special project to share today. I recently finished up washing my daily jeans, the Sugarcane Okinawa's. I copped this pair of denim about two years ago, and have been wearing them on and off since then. The details on these are crazy: they're woven with cotton and sugar cane fibers, they use indigo harvested from the Okinawa Islands in Japan, and last but definitely not least, the snakeskin patch is made from the skin of Habu snake, the indigenous poisonous snake of Okinawa.
Before the wash:
So I gave them a warm soak for about half an hour in my tub, followed by a delicate machine washing with cold water, no spin cycle.
After the wash:
Whiskers and honeycombs are starting to look pretty good, but I definitely have to put in some more work in when fall swings back around.
06/17/09
Hit up Soho today + Throwback pickup in the mail + Throwback joint
(props to Tiff for the 1st pic)
Hit up Soho today + Throwback pickup in the mail + Throwback joint
(props to Tiff for the 1st pic)
Flyyyy like an eagle, fo' sheezo!
06/16/09
Sup everyone,
So this is my first post on my blog. I decided to make it cause I thought it would be interesting, we'll see how well I can keep up with it. Excuse the lack of theme, I haven't had time to customize it yet.
Just finished filling out a shitload of W-4's and other employment related forms, getting ready for the work portion of my summer. But this past week I've been doing a lot of chillin', hanging out with friends and family.
Got some udon yesterday, fried chicken plus an egg on top and beef on the side. Hard to top..
Sup everyone,
So this is my first post on my blog. I decided to make it cause I thought it would be interesting, we'll see how well I can keep up with it. Excuse the lack of theme, I haven't had time to customize it yet.
Just finished filling out a shitload of W-4's and other employment related forms, getting ready for the work portion of my summer. But this past week I've been doing a lot of chillin', hanging out with friends and family.
Got some udon yesterday, fried chicken plus an egg on top and beef on the side. Hard to top..
..until I went to Dressler in the BK (Williamsburg, where gentrification is more obvious than a tiger in a bathroom..) with my parents today. Nothing better than some delicious, free food. Especially that shit that makes your mouth water. My appetizer and entree, respectively.
And if that didn't make my day, this new single from Lupe Fiasco's next album Lasers called "Shining Down" must have done the trick. I'm not Lupe's biggest fan (or smallest..), but I can definitely appreciate this.
What I wore today, plus a new pickup from a few days ago.
Peace.
And if that didn't make my day, this new single from Lupe Fiasco's next album Lasers called "Shining Down" must have done the trick. I'm not Lupe's biggest fan (or smallest..), but I can definitely appreciate this.
What I wore today, plus a new pickup from a few days ago.
Peace.
