They Call Me Miss Parker

[ SAD NEWS ] : Ashley "AJ" Jewell Killed

2009-10-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

On the evening of October 2nd, Ashley "AJ" Jewell was involved in a fight outside of Body Tap in Atlanta that left him gravely injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but did not make it. An employee of the club is being held on charges in connection with Jewell's death.

This is a very sad story. Not only for Jewell, whose life was tragically taken away from him, but for the six children he leaves behind. On Real Housewives of Atlanta, the fact that he had so many children played a role in why Kandi's mother was a bit hesitant to the fact they were getting married. Being as I watch the show, from what I could see, he was a good father and took care of his children. He even developed a good relationship with Kandi's daughter, Riley.

Kandi tweeted:

"I could never n a million years imagine this happening. please pray for AJ's children. that's who im the most concerned 4."

"im just in one of those moods where i dont wanna talk, i dont wanna b held & told its gonna b ok. i just wanna cry myself 2 sleep, alone."

-- via @KandiConnection

My condolences and best wishes to the Jewell and Burruss families.

This violence is getting way out of control.

SRC: WSBTV.com

[hottie] : taylor lautner

2009-09-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

I've never seen Twilight or read any
books related to it. But I've become hip to a little tenderoni
that stars in the movie series. His name is Taylor Lautner.

I never really saw him until last night while watching the
MTV VMA's. I thought he was a little cutie. I like his low
brow; it's hot (lol). I believe he is
a minor, so I'll leave my comments to a minimum.

Here's a few photos for your viewing pleasure. LOL.

[ hotness ]: lady gaga's VMA performance

2009-09-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

I think she's a freakin' weirdo BUT I love
her! She's so odd that you can't help but look at her.
She's like a blue elephant among "normal" looking elephants.
Which will you look at? The blue one. I liked her performance.
It's one of the more excited ones I've ever seen on the VMAs.
By the way, her album BANGS!

Lady Gaga - New Music - More Music Videos

VIDEO SRC : MTV.com

NO : smh @ lil mama

2009-09-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

*dead @ Lil/Lookin' like somebody's Mama walking
on stage at the end of Jay-Z & Alicia Key's performance.

Catch it at 5:23. The guts. That was an ever so EPIC FAIL!
I wonder how it feels to be snubbed on national tv. Smh @ these kids.

Jay-Z - New Music - More Music Videos

VIDEO SRC: MTV.com

[ UP CLOSE ] : jameel saleem -- the man, the filmmaker, the artist [PT. 1]

2009-09-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

the man, the filmmaker, the artist

There's a new kid on the block, by the name of Jameel Saleem. No, i didn't say Jamaal. I said Jameel, which means "beautiful" in Arabic. You know how sometimes people can have names that actually mean something great and they're nothing like what their name describes? Well, that doesn't apply to Jameel. He certainly lives up to his name. He is beautiful, or handsome in appearance but also the way about him. He gives off a very positive vibe. At first glance, he appears to be a timid individual, which he admits he used to be until he took acting classes saying that they forced him out of his shell.

Jameel was inspired to pursue a career in film making by his parents. Are his parents big time industry heads? Not at all. They are simply movie buffs that opened young Jameel's eyes up to another world.

"Since I can remember, they were watching movies. All types. Black and white movies I like now. Most of my friends don't have the same taste in movies I do."

He lists the film Harvey among his favorites. Actor Jimmy Stewart stars in the film. The story is about a six-foot tall, invisible rabbit. Jameel goes on to describe the story's main character as one of 'the most brilliant examples human kindness and human spirit.'

"I like films from the 30s, 40s and 50s. They had to concentrate on the story. If they couldn't draw people in with the story, it was pointless..."

As the discussion progresses, it becomes more and more apparent that Jameel only enjoys stories with what he describes as "heart." Another film on his top shelf is Second Hand Lions.

"I love the heart in that movie. That's why I like Wall-e so much. The story had heart. It's like you can tell the writer was crying while they wrote it. The movies I really feel are the ones I know come from that place ... I'm a crier, too."

In order to be in the "write" state of mind, Jameel mentions that writing in public isn't an easy task for him. He has to achieve a certain ambiance in order to begin writing.

"In my room with the T.V. on, with a movie on. It has to be a movie I've already seen. I can't be looking up, trying to pay attention. It has to be there. I have to be able to look up every once in a while and get out of that for a second. I need to hear it in the background."

I'm glad he mentioned noise. I thought I was the only one that couldn't stand to work in complete silence. It can be deafening at times. Speaking of deafening, it seems as though everyone's ears are turned down to those preaching to them. Jameel acknowledges that fact by stating,

"You're not going to help anyone by preaching to them. The days of preaching are dead. It's 2009. Nobody wants to get preached to, anymore. My thought is, you need to lead by example. Don't say 'Don't do this.' Just don't do it and hope that they look at you and see that you're doing something positive. And hopefully if they're smart, they'll do something about it. My movies are just an example. An example of the way it is and the way it should be. Or it's an example of what's really good...I want somebody to watch my movie and after seeing something good, go out and do something good."

Now, to young, Black Hollywood. There aren't too many actors out there that make you want to say "Wow, that man/woman can act!" Who would know better than Jameel?

"Nobody's impressing me too much. I thought that Anthony Mackie did a good job in The Hurt Locker...I'm looking forward to seeing more from him...I have young, black actors that are dope, really good. And I know how to use them correctly. I'll give them the materials to bring out their exceptional talent. I want to do what Spike Lee did for that generation of actors. I want to bring out a new generation of black actors. I don't think there are any black filmmakers that are out there, right now, bringing out the new generation of talent. You can't bring out the new generation of talent in a movie like You Got Served or Drumline [NO SHOTS]."

"The funny thing is, here in L.A., there are a lot of actors that aren't getting seen...Why? Because they're not Will Smith's son. Back in the day...black filmmakers weren't like 'Okay. I'ma do this film. Let me get some names. Let me get Meagan Good. Let me get Christina Milian. Let me get...Back in the day they were casting. 'Let me find the best actress for this role. An unknown.'"

(Story continued here.)

[ UP CLOSE ] : jameel saleem -- the man, the filmmaker, the artist [PT. 2]

2009-09-04T00:35:00.000-07:00

(continued from here.)

He admits to disagreeing with potential actors for roles with his investors due to the fact that they don't fit into his vision. He passes up on beautiful ladies in order to get that actress he feels will bring the character to life and not just be eye candy.

I'll digress for a moment because I thought this part of the discussion was interesting. Jameel definitely has plenty going for him. He's intelligent, charming, good-looking, ambitious and so forth. So, I know all you single ladies (no Beyonce) are probably wondering if Jameel is single. I have good news and bad news. The good news is, at the time of this interview, he was single. The bad news, he is currently in pursuit of a young woman's heart. He speaks so highly of her.

"If I were to be with her, I'd treat her like a princess."

His already gorgeous smile became even more luminous when I asked him how he felt. I could tell he's very into her, as he blushes while he's telling me about her. It's the most adorable thing!

Jameel currently has a web series on YouTube called Exit Strategy, in which a young man does any and everything to get out of a relationship with his controlling girlfriend. It's absolutely hilarious. I won't give it away, though, as Jameel and I want you to check it out for yourself. Think along the lines of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

His next project is a romantic comedy. This story revolves around a young man that has never been in love.

"The character is loosely based on myself. I wrote a book called Cream Soda For the Soul. I didn't release it, yet. It's about my love life from 5th grade until now...I was trying to figure out my own feelings. And try to figure out why things had never gone right with my relationships. So I wrote that book."

"The character in the movie is a casting director, casting a movie that's an adaptation of my book. I play myself in the movie...The book and the movie are going to be released at the same time."

I'll leave it at that. I don't want to spoil it for you all.

I know I look forward to seeing more from this young man. Just speaking with him for that brief period, I ascertained that he's after the 'W' and will not accept anything less. And he shouldn't. No one should. I advise you to remember the name and the face. Before we ended our meeting, we spoke about leaders. He said,

"Our generation has no role models."

It's sad but true. We're making role models of people with no desire to change the present and create a future. We need to breed leaders. Our leaders begin with us. Jameel is making his mark, not only in the film industry but also in the world. While he's contributing to the art of film making, what will you be doing?

Visit his site SaleemFilms.com.

COMMERCIAL : jay-z rhapsody promo

2009-08-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

i thought this commercial was kind of dope.
i'm not really anticipating jay-z's album but
this is a good look.

SRC: StreetzTalk.net

FUNNY : jameel & reign -- does this look gay?

2009-08-31T22:41:00.000-07:00

thought this was funny.
from film maker jameel saleem & reign.

interview w/ mr. saleem coming SOON!

TRAGIC : report -- dj am passes away

2009-08-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

i'm sure no one could agree more that the summer
of 2009 has proven to be one of the most depressing.
there have been an excessive amount of deaths, especially
among those in the public eye.

today, Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, was found
dead in his New York apartment. friends said they had not
seen him in a few days and became worried. the news was first
broken by TMZ.com.

it's not confirmed as to what caused his death but
according to TMZ's report, drug paraphernalia was
found at the scene.

i knew of DJ AM from the mixtape 'fix your face.'

his last tweet via his Twitter profile
was as follows:

"New york, new york. Big city of dreams, but everything in new york aint always what it seems."

he was 36 years old.

life happens fast. make sure you live each day as
if it were your last.

SRC: TMZ.com

DRAMA : rhoa -- nene & kim altercation

2009-08-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

the real housewives of atlanta made an
appearance on ryan seacrest's show. and this is what happened...

FUNNY : skittles -- warp the rainbow

2009-08-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

this commercial is the guts! LOL.
if you haven't seen it, here you go.

NEW VIDEO : ghostface ft. raheem devaughn -- baby

2009-08-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

directed by Taj ('hero' by nas, 'who's real' by jadakiss, 'so beautiful' by musiQ).

great director.

DOWNLOAD : pretty slick -- the rebirth mixtape

2009-08-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

go ahead & download the kid, pretty slick's
mixtape. it's called the rebirth. we support
cali artists.

also, catch him on twitter @psthecaliprince

[ click here for the download ]

NEW MUSIC : stix -- love is gone

2009-08-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

ANTICIPATING : jay-z -- bp3

2009-08-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

i've been hearing not so favorable reviews about
the tracks that were leaked from jay-z's forthcoming
the blueprint 3.

'venus vs. mars' (received positive reviews) & 'off that' (not so good reviews) among the leaked.
i didn't really care too much for 'd.o.a.' or 'run this town.'
maybe i'm an alien. it seems the rest of the population
caught onto the former singles.

my twitter timeline was jumping with negative responses
to what the tweets had heard. most unimpressed. one of
my followers even said, "jay-z's album is setting up to
be the most over-hyped, disappointing album this year." --ouch

it appears jay-z is losing his luster. that's not always a
negative thing. it's just time for him to move on to do
bigger and better things. he's already proven to be a savvy
businessman. he should just take that and run with it.

i'm not sure if it's official but here's the track listing below.

1. What We Talkin' About ft. Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun
2. Thank You
3. D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
4. Run This Town ft. Kanye West and Rihanna
5. Empire State of Mind ft. Alicia Keys
6. Real as It Gets ft. Young Jeezy
7. On to the Next One ft. Swizz Beatz
8. Off That ft. Drake
9. A Star is Born ft. J. Cole
10. Venus vs. Mars
11. Already Home ft. Kid Cudi
12. Hate feat. Kanye West
13. Reminder
14. So Ambitious ft. Pharrell
15. Young Forever ft. Mr. Hudson

GIMME BAGS : by betsey johnson

2009-08-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

i LOVE betsey johnson's crazy behind.
her bags are on crack!

FLIX : the truman show

2009-08-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite movies of all-time.
i saw it about a year after it was released.
at the time, i couldn't understand it.
but after watching it five years later in a psych
class, i developed a different view.
here's the trailer.

"The Truman Show has been analyzed as a thesis on Christianity, simulated reality, existentialism and the forthcoming rise of reality television" (source)

[ backward ] u-n-i : k.r.e.a.m.

2009-08-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

kinda old but i still like it. LOL

FLYNESS : shoes by steve madden

2009-08-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

AWESOME shoes by steve madden. i'm pre-ordering them.
southern california's lack of "real" seasons allows
women to sport open-toe shoes year round.

www.stevemadden.com

save money & space ...

2009-08-25T18:17:00.001-07:00

a friend of mine was just married last month and i
checked out her & her husband's new spot. it's a really cute
apartment and she's doing well to decorate. what caught my eye
in the living room was their living room set. i normally don't
like sectionals but this one is kind of fly.

it has built in end tables, which is space saving as well as
good for the pockets. she also got the coffee table. the set is
unique, composed of both suede and wood. she's changing the
throw pillows to make them accent the room more. they have a warm
vibe in their living room.

i believe it's from jc penney.

[ on the come-up ] : producer -- swiff d

2009-08-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

all hope isn't lost for music coming out of California. just in the nick of time, here comes swiff d. if you don't know who he is, you better get familiar real quick; i did. it's actually a bit random how i found him. one of my friends on Twitter was following him. i saw him having a conversation with swiff d and clicked on swiff d's username. i peeped a few of his tweets and thought they were interesting, so i began following him. i clicked on the url on his profile, as well. it lead me to his MySpace.com/SwiffVega profile. i checked out the tracks he has listed and immediately dug them. also, just from listening to what was on his profile, i came upon pac div. hearing what they cook up together is crazy!

swiff d + pac div = crack

i really thought California artists and producers had drifted into obscurity. but hearing swiff d's work gave me a new hope. i can say i am optimistic about the future.

swiff d's story is a unique one. from homeless to producing for the likes of snoop dogg, red & meth, anthony hamilton and jadakiss.

[read more about him here.]

he is definitely one to look out for. he was also mentioned in an article, on Complex mag's site, featuring the top 5 in-house producers to check for [click here for the article]

i wish him much success in all his endeavors.

[ new music ] : new boyz -- crickets

2009-08-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

as much as i can't stand guys in girls' jeans, i like this song. it's by the newest rap duo, out of Cali; NEW BOYZ. their music, of course, is geared more toward the teeny-bopper crowd. but i found myself rockin' to this song crickets.

take a listen.

New Music.

[ youtube hit ]: nicholi from nyc

2009-08-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

i was watching GOOD DAY AMERICA not too long ago and they featured a young boy by the name of Nicholi. the reason he was brought up is due to his quick web fame. his favorite place to go, after school, is to an apple store in manhattan. there, he makes videos and uploads them to his YouTube.com channel. i think he's just adorable! i actually have an interview coming up soon for him. but here's one of his videos.

check the guy @ 2:21; COMEDY! LOL

aaliyah -- one in a million

2009-08-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

today, 8 years ago, the world lost one
of its shining stars; Aaliyah. it's hard to believe that it's been 8 years since she passed away. i can remember when i heard the news. i was 15 years old and on summer vacation in Santa Barbara and my dad yelled my name. i ran downstairs and he said, "Aaliyah died." i told him he had to be mistaken but he turned the tv to CNN and i saw the story. i was heartbroken. Aaliyah was one of the only singers, at the time, that i felt i could relate to. she was the tomboy, coming into her own as a woman. and that's how i was. i had learned the dances from try again, one in a million, are you that somebody. she made the choreography look good with little effort. she was a natural.

thinking about it now, her untimely death hits home a little more simply because she was my age when she died. to think about dying now, so young, with so much left to do is absolutely crazy. Aaliyah was a rising star. enough of my thoughts. here's a video pulled from YouTube of her. a little montage if you will.

jay-z x kanye x rihanna: run this town video

2009-08-20T15:25:00.001-07:00

The song still isn't my favorite BUT I do
like Rihanna on the hook. The video isn't ultra original.
Then again, whose is? It's reminiscent of California Love by
2Pac & Dr. Dre. Anyway, here it is Run This Town

SRC: smokingsection.uproxx.com

kanye + alexis !@#

2009-07-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

Yes-- They've been broken up for quite some time but I still love them! LOL. Seriously, I like Alexis and Kanye MUCH more than Kanye and Amber. Let me make this clear now: I do not know any of the aforementioned parties personally but I was formally introduced to Kanye and Alexis, a couple of years ago and ran into him out in LA. As for Amber, I've never met her. What I can say, is when I met Kanye and Alexis, they were both nice. I carried on a cool conversation with her before she had to depart. She actually has friends out where I live and told me she visits the area often. Kanye didn't come off to me as a man with an ENORMOUS ego. He was real cool. He and Alexis actually offered me tacos but I declined as my stomach was already on lean mode LOL. He seems to be a real cool dude. I met them through a friend that knows Kanye. I hope they get back together, though. They make a cute couple.

IN MY OPINION, Amber seems to be a temp. She looks like some kind of product; a creation of K.West, LLC. Maybe she isn't. Maybe he's really into her. But she's taking this new found 'celebritism' to new heights. I guess milk it for as long as you can, right? Honestly, I don't think she'll be relevant for too long. I know many of you are already on some "She's a super hater" tip, but I'm not. We're all entitled to our own opinion, and this is mine; take it or leave it.

it's always sunny !@#

2009-07-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

I think I've found love, you guys! Randomly, I'm on Hulu.com looking for a cool little show to watch on this ever so boring Saturday and I come across "Sunny." Now, I had seen commercials for the show, even years ago. But I kind of played the show to the left because it looked boring. So, since I wasn't in a rush to do anything else, I decided to watch the show via Hulu. Logically, I did not start from where the series left off. Instead, I began at the very beginning; season 1. I've been watching it for about 2.5 hours now and I really like this show. It's similar to Seinfeld in that there is no real plot. And it's VERY random. If you don't like random, sarcastic, dry comedy; too bad for you! You all should check it out.

Here's what i believe is the 1st episode.

кмно

mike glenn's b-ball camp for the deaf !@#

2009-07-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

It isn't too often that we read or hear anything good on the news, especially during these last several months. I came across this story, on Twitter.com, posted by the folks at CNN. This story is about former NBA guard, Mike Glenn, who opened up a basketball camp for the deaf. Stories like these really make you think about what you're doing with your life. Whether you're living for yourself, or trying to make an impact on others'. I'll let T.J. Holmes fine behind (lol) fill you in on the story.

EX-Factor !@#

2009-07-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

When one enters into a relationship, it can be said that his/her contact with that of the opposite sex, ESPECIALLY exes, ceases or decreases significantly. At least it should. Personally, I have been in a situation where I maintained contact with someone I dated at one point, while in a relationship. How did that go you ask? I'm single (Haha)

No, seriously, it wasn't a good look. Not so much for my own sake, but for that of the person I had become involved with.

That current-person may feel that the door is still open for anything to happen between you and this EX-person. He/she may feel if the opportunity presented itself, you and the EX-person might rekindle what you once had. No, it's not always an issue of being secure with oneself but it can be that the current does not trust the former; and not without just cause. Their main squeeze is still talking to his/her ex. With this person being 'The Ex', one would think they were an ex for a reason (reasons may vary, but that's not important).

Are you that hanger-on? Do you feel you can be JUST friends with an ex? If you answered 'yes' to that question, please feel free to reason. I.M.O. but most importantly, experience, it's proven almost impossible to be just friends with someone you were seriously involved with. First, there are things that person may know about you (& vice versa) that drew you closer together, ie. family problems, or even your own personal problems. Secondly, you two shared moments that you more than likely will NOT share with your current. Finally, 97.67% of the time, the former has a hidden agenda (there is a SMALL percentage that slips through the cracks that doesn't, but for the most part, the stats are correct LOL).

I'm not telling you what you should and shouldn't do but consider the situation from your current's P.O.V. BEFORE you consider that of the former's and you'll save yourself a lot of drama (trust, from experience).

chris brown's apology !@#

2009-07-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

today, Chris Brown's people decided to throw up a video apology to his fans, but most importantly, to Rihanna. It received mixed reviews, as it hit the Twitter feed. Many people made rude comments, suggesting that since Chris was reading from a teleprompter, he was not sincere. Others said what he did was unforgivable. Though, this is a serious issue, I do NOT believe it is unforgivable. People need to learn to remove themselves from their own situation, and place themselves in another's shoes. Never do I/have I condoned anyone putting hands on another party; that's NEVER the way to solve an issue. None of us was a fly on the car window when these events took place, so we can NOT pass judgment as to what REALLY happened. We only know as far as the media has alluded to.

Here's his video.

wackin' it off !@#

2009-07-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

So, apparently, everyone has taken it upon themselves to chop their locks. It's like a ripple effect. The latest cutter is Ciara; she posted a picture on her Twitter.com account. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Honestly, it just looks like a wig that was cut short. Maybe it's just the angle... Hopefully, she can make it work. If she doesn't like it, she can always switch back to the lace fronts and weaves until it grows back out. I applaud your bravery, CiCi.

ne-yo in tears !@#

2009-07-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

This video of R&B artist Ne-Yo surfaced on YouTube.com showing him in tears at a show in Manchester. Too sad. Hopefully, whatever was bothering him has fizzled and he's okay.

nba offseason: drafts & trades !@#

2009-07-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

I really should scratch "drafts" from the posting title because I'm not overly concerned about the draft. What I am concerned about, are the trades that have been going on over the last week and the possibles.

TRADE #1: Ron Artest for Trevor Ariza

Now, this has to be one of the dumbest moves I've seen, thus far. Not so much on Artest's part but on Ariza's. Ariza's agent, Daniel Lee stated to NBA.com:

"I told Mitch that it was never about the money; it was about respect."

What Ariza and Lee fail to realize is that Ariza will NOT be a "star" anywhere else. He doesn't have, as the French say, the jene sais quoi to shine on his own. He does not possess that leadership quality to be the star player of a team. And he's going to be smacking himself every morning in Houston. With Yao Ming's foot injury worsening and Tracy McGrady's comeback taking longer than one would like, Ariza is in for it.

As for Artest, he's a good addition to the Lakers. His role, I would assume, is to be the Dennis Rodman to Kobe's Michael Jordan. The Lakers really don't have someone to play Robin to Kobe's Batman. This shall be interesting. We'll see how 'As the NBA World Turns' unfolds...

Next up!

Trade #2: Zach Randolph for Quentin Richardson

*sigh* I'm torn...I absolutely adore both players. Randolph has done quite a bit for the Clips. I honestly thought he was a good fit. But apparently, he's TOO good of a fit. The Clippers really were trying to free up some PT for the newcomer, Blake Griffin. They also, freed up a few dollars. Randolph still had $33 mil left in his contract for the next 2 seasons. And since there is an enormous gap between Richardson and Randolph's salaries, the Clips received an $8 mil trade exception.

[It also clears salary-cap space for the all-important summer of 2010, when marquee players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will be free agents. The Clippers will now have approximately $17 million in cap space available for the summer of 2010 (DailyNews.com)]

I don't want to be a nay-sayer, but I STRONGLY doubt that LeBron or Dwyane will be on the first thing smoking to the Clippers.

Trade #3: Amar'e Stoudemire for the entire Warriors Squad

I could have sworn, a few days ago, I saw quite a few tweets on Twitter.com about Amar'e being traded to the Warriors. The trade was rumored to involve players Brandan Wright, Andris Biedrins, and Marco Belinelli. That would have been a risky move on the Warriors part, seeing as though good ol' Stoude will be a free agent next summer. I wouldn't mind seeing Amar'e in the Golden State but then, he probably wouldn't have much of a team. I still like him and Steve Nash, together though.

By the way, toodles to Shaq!

puffy's feathers ruffled !@#

2009-06-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, there were a variety of festivities that took place for the BET Awards show. Sean "Puffy" Combs threw a soiree at the LA hot spot MyHouse. During his dj set, Puffy put on "Man in the Mirror" by the late Michael Jackson. Many of the party goers flooded the dance floor and began enjoying themselves. Upon seeing this, Combs stopped the record and told the crowd

"While you guys are talking and laughing, you're not hearing his words. You're not listening to his words. I need you to hear what he's saying! Listen to the message that he is telling us."

Now, maybe I'm just being insensitive but I honestly didn't see anything wrong with the guests enjoying themselves, while grooving to some MJ. After all, the award show celebrated his work, both humanitarian and as an artist. Personally, I wouldn't want people at my party moping around with their bottom lips poked out because they were upset. Of course people are upset that he died but let them embrace his music and be happy. I highly doubt he would want people to stand around and be depressed when it's a celebration.

Source: Combs Furious After Rowdy Jackson Tribute via KIIS-FM

the roughest week ever !@#

2009-06-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

It has been, arguably, one of the most sad weeks in entertainment in quite a long time. There were FOUR deaths besides Michael Jackson, Ed McMahon; Farrah Fawcett; and Billy Mays.

This is how I remember each of them:

I remember Ed McMahon as the Star Search guy. I used to watch the show like people watch American Idol, now. I wanted to be a contestant SO bad...LOL. But that ship sailed.

Ms. Farrah Fawcett...actress and sex symbol. I've seen a few episodes of the original Charlie's Angels and they got it ALL the way in! She had the highest selling pin-up poster of all time, selling 12 million copies! The photo above is that photo. A very brave person, facing her illness the way she did. She will be missed.

We all know Billy Mays as the OxiClean pitchman. Sadly, he was discovered by his wife, on Sunday morning. I remember those infomercials with Mr. Mays screaming at the top of his lungs. He made you feel if you didn't buy the product he was pitching, that you'd have to forfeit your firstborn LOL. He had just begun a new series called Pitchmen with his co-host and friend Anthony Sullivan.

They will certainly all be missed.

joe jackson !@#

2009-06-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

Okay so of course I don't have to make too much mention of it, but Michael Jackson died on June 23, 2009. Now, there has been lots of speculation as to the cause of death. As of now, no one is quite sure and a second autopsy is to be conducted soon.

I was on Youtube, looking for a video of a particular performance and stumbled across this impromptu interview a CNN correspondent conducted with Joe Jackson, Michael's father. Now, I don't know any of the Jacksons personally, although I know people that do. And from what I hear, the patriarch of the family, Joe, is an interesting character. But check the video... He doesn't seem to be paying attention to the reporter.

magic v. celtics !@#

2009-05-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

Am I wrong for laughing at this?

Too darn funny! Alston popped House in the back of his head like he was his child! ROFL! It's okay, Rafer. I would've done the same thing, if not worse. Ah well...I want the Celtics to get their you-know-what's busted so Eddie House can eat his words.

does rihanna have a new old man !@#

2009-05-05T11:13:00.001-07:00

An older photo of Rihanna & Negus Sealy

According to The Hollywood Gossip website, she does. But it isn't anyone new, at least not for her. Apparently, Ri-Ri and Negus Sealy had dated, pre Chris Breezy. A source rats to the UK's News of the World, "Rihanna and Negus both realized there was a strong sexual attraction between them and became inseperable..." If this is true, Miss Fenty moves relatively quickly for a battered woman. Not as fast as Brown but speedy nonetheless.

gay or nay !@#

2009-05-05T10:16:00.001-07:00

Homosexual:
somebody who is sexually attracted to members of his or her own sex. -- Encarta.

I'm sure we all know some homosexual individuals and perhaps are close to some. I sat next to a gay guy, my senior year, in my US Government class. He was super funny and animated, real cool. Although I didn't agree with his lifestyle, I never looked down upon him. Who am I to judge? That's up to God. But recently, I've gotten back in touch with a friend of mine, who I actually kind of had a small crush on a few years ago. When we became friends, everything was all cool and whatnot. And the more we talked, of course I learned more about him. Eventually, we got into deeper things. He told me that he was bi-sexual. I honestly don't understand how one can be "bi"... I wouldn't think there'd be a gray area. You're either gay or you aren't, right? Anyway, so the last time he and I spoke, he said he was thinking about dating this one girl. He said she might be the one to make him come back to hetero team. I was thinking "oh, okay. Cool." Then, I speak to him this morning, inquiring about his activities. He told me he and some guy were going to see a female artist perform this summer. I'm thinking to myself "what two guys go see her, together?" So I asked him was it his boy or his boooy. He said the latter. Now, I was confused. I could've sworn he said he was hitting for Team Hetero...but he said he and the girl didn't work out and that the guy did. Maybe I'm being a weirdo. My feelings for him won't change; that's still my homie. I'm just a little confused. So, now, I'm back to my question: Is it really possible to be bi-sexual? Discussing it with others, the majority says, one can only be gay or straight; there is no middle. And I'm in agreement with that. One is either male or female. It's either hot or cold. Eh...I'm rambling, now. 'Tis it.

turn my fag on !@#

2009-05-02T15:16:00.001-07:00

Apparently, the guy in my last post has a YouTube channel (Bee318ti). And I just happened to be browsing it because I was wondering what else this cat had to say. I came across a video he has called 'Turn My Fag On.' I'm sure you've heard of 'Turn My Swag On' by Soulja Boy Tellem...This is Bee318ti's version.

LMAO @ "...duck walk on you stank a-- b*tch."

who is keri hilson !@#

2009-05-02T15:09:00.000-07:00

LMAO @ this ! Grabbed this from Necole Bitchie. Just watch.

monica's hair !@#

2009-05-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

So, i was browsing Necole Bitchie's website and saw a few photos of Monica at Ciara's album release party, this last week. I've always loved Mon's cuts but this particular one inspired me (lol). Take a look...

Isn't it too cute? I love it! I wish Monica would drop something, soon! Sheesh.

maxwell !@#

2009-05-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

New music comes from my guy, Maxwell. The track is entitled 'Pretty Wings.' I really like it. I'd been hearing for the past couple of weeks about it, through friends on Twitter and decided to check it out myself. I dig. I'm also into Maxwell's look, now. He looks as if he's missing something, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing. He actually resembles my friend Skylor, now. Haha! I'll post a picture of Sky, later. For now, here's the video 'Pretty Wings.'

the worst day, ever !@#

2009-04-16T13:10:00.001-07:00

I'm having the worst day of my life, at work! I'm extremely irritated. Really to the point of no return. My day can't turn around from this. The worst customer I've ever spoken to called and before I could get 2 words out, starts cursing! I wanted to hang up on her but of course, I can't. So, she's going on and on and eventually I fix her problem. An hour goes by and I answer the phone; it's her again! And she's worse than she was before. Smh. She wants to speak to a supervisor, etc. I gladly transferred her to one. I wanted to choke slam her so bad...

Now, I'm on my lunch; sitting in my car. I'm beginning to get sleepy. I should just take a cat nap and hopefully feel better when I wake up.

So, I'm contemplating purchasing my own domain. Motivation being I want to have my own website to show samples of my work as well as documenting my experiences in PR and entertainment. I almost have half a mind to hire a camera crew and make my own little mini-reality episodes for the site. That's not a bad idea but I don't know how many people would be interested. My name is not Tahiry and my behind isn't big enough to eat a 4 course meal off of. Speaking of Joe Budden's lady, I wonder if she has any real aspirations. Not saying being a regular cast member of 'Joe Budden TV' isn't every girl's dream, but what does she really want to do with her life? And why do people call Joe Budden Joe Buddens? There's no 's' at the end!

Over the last week and a half, I've spoken with a few different people in PR and i'd like to apply for an internship with them. The only thing is, i'd probably have to limit my choice to one because of the activities I'll have going this summer, i.e. school, other projects and a mini-vacay. Amber and I are planning this soiree for the summer and we both agreed it has to be the cat's meow. Absolutely NO half-stepping. So, we're putting it on in Hollyweird, at this one spot off of Ivar and Hollywood. Should be interesting. --via G1

april 11, 2009 !@#

2009-04-11T13:17:00.001-07:00

Went to MOOD, last night with Abel, Anna, Davon, Rachel & Ruby. We had a smashing time. It started out a little rough because Anna was upset she had to pay to get in. But she & Ruby got hip to the program after I bought them a round. I just wanted everyone to have a good time. We ended up enjoying ourselves. It's real funny how no matter what group of people I'm with, we're always the life of the party. Everyone was trying to rock with us. It's crazy that happens (lol). The club was a cool little spot on Hollywood Blvd. "...maybe slide through Hyde, might include MOOD. Maybe go to Area if it's in the area."--Fabolous 'Real Playa Like.' Everytime I hear someone mention any of those places, I think of that song.

Moving along, I haven't blogged in probably I week and some change. I kind of missed it. So, a catch up on the events that took place within that time span is in order. At the top of last week, I found out that a young man that grew up with my little sister was murdered. He was playing football for the University of Minnesota but due to no maintaining his grades, he came back home to Cali to fix that. From what I understand, he left a party, in South Central, around 1 a.m. He was driving down Slauson Ave. and apparently was shot in the head. The Police discovered his car as it rolled to a stop. My heart broke when I heard the news. Damien was only 19 years-old. It's insane the way some people can take another's life. My sister and I immediately thought of his family; he was the oldest child. He'd been doing so well. Incidents like this really magnify the fact that life is truly a gift. No one is promised tomorrow. I've been doing my best to forget disagreements and trivial matters I may have had with someone. I wouldn't want either of us to not be here and had this issue, preventing either of us from going through the 'I wish I had made ammends' trip. I want people to remember me in a positive light.

This California weather has been interesting the last couple of days. 80 degrees and magnificent one day, then the next it's raining and freezing. I totally understand how one could get sick. I'm off to take a nap, now. I'm suffering from a minor hangover and I just ate my first meal of the day. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend! --via G1

old regular !@#

2009-04-01T13:28:00.001-07:00

I had the worst time in traffic on the 15 South, this morning. I was too irritated. So, I jumped off on Jurupa and took Milliken to the 60 West. Traffic in SoCal is the absolute worst! That's one reason I wanted to move somewhere that isn't as fast as LA. Anyway, so Kanye's shoe, the Air Yeezy, is due out shortly. I haven't really slipped my foot into a sneaker in quite some time but I can not tell a lie. If I can find them in my size, I shall throw caution to the wind and purchase them. I think they'd look cute on my small feet, haha! I'm on my lunch, trying to rap this entry up. I still gotta finish the p.r. for Grant when I get home. Hopefully, it's hot. I want them to have a good look. --via G1

tuesday !@#

2009-03-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start this entry by sending my condolences as well as my best to the Revelus family. They're a family whose 23 year-old son, Kerby, murdered their 5 year-old daughter, Bianca; 17 year-old daughter, Samantha; and tried to do the same to 9 year-old Sarafina. Kerby was shot and killed by police. My heart goes out to them, after losing 3 children in one day. I read the story while I was at work and became sick to my stomach. I could not believe something like this could happen. CNN correspondent, Ashley Fantz, used the fitting word of 'savagery' to describe what took place. I just shook my head in disbelief that this could happen in a family. I can't type anymore about it; I'm so upset...I really feel the pain in my heart. I can't help but cry. You can learn more about the story by watching here

[ woo-sah ]

On another note, I received a notification from Twitter.com that I had a new "follower." His Twitter screen name is IWearYourShirt. I found his name interesting, so I visited his profile. On his profile, Jason posted a link to his website of the same name. He's wearing a different shirt every day of the year. Jason is selling his 'tee space' to various companies and organizations for advertising purposes. He states "In this up and down economy I’m outsourcing my wardrobe (namely shirts) to corporate america and you! I’m going to wear a different shirt for 365 days straight in 2009, take multiple pictures throughout my day and blog about it. Days are sold at “face value” so January 1 is $1 and December 31 is $365" (iwearyourshirt.com)

This is Jason of iwearyourshirt.com

I thought this idea was creative and ingenious! Everyone needs money. And this economy ain't gettin' no better. Why not sell your body? (lol) Pssh. I wish I'd come up with this idea; who doesn't want a cute girl advertising their company?? Hehe. Let me stop. Everyday, I'm hustlin'... Rick Ross's words have never proven to be so true. Do what you gotta do, Jason! I see you!

I must also thank Arcieri Keness for the nice little shout in his latest entry. I have to represent my dude in a large way. I know he'd do the same. With that said, PICK UP HIS BOOK, stat !

weekend wrap up !@#

2009-03-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

My weekend was pretty much uneventful save for my Uncle Mike's memorial service, yesterday afternoon. It was good seeing a lot of family and friends that I haven't seen in years but it just wasn't under good circumstances. I'm going to try my best to keep in touch with my family and everyone else that matters because I don't want anyone to feel as if I don't care or I'm not thinking about them.

I'm still working on the rough draft of that press release for SCApparel.net. I should have it complete by Tuesday. I'll shoot Grant a copy of it.

I enjoyed this weekend. It felt unusually good to stay in the house and just relax. My body's needed some relaxation but I haven't given it any, lately. Vladimir & Brandon are leaving tomorrow afternoon. I missed Vlad their whole trip out here because of schedule conflictions, but also due to my laziness. I'll catch him another time. I'm sure he and Brandon will be out here shortly, to visit some girls (lol).

I'm so going to try and make this upcoming week a great one by preparing for my meetings, getting errands done as soon as they arise and just keeping a positive outlook on things. Life's too short to dwell on the negative. I need to just turn bad situations into learning experiences and make them brighter.

I've kind of, sort of decided against moving to Columbus, Ga for now. I'm just going to stick with Cal State LA and call it a day for my undergrad. I don't want to be too far from family and friends but also, there are plenty of opportunities out in LA as far as PR goes. I just need to work hard, network and be patient; something will come.

Demitri and I are hooking up next weekend for a session. We've been in dire need for one. I have so many lyrics that need a home on a beat. I want to hook up with Arcieri Keness, as well. I've been trying to get him out to Cali for the longest. He's an awesome lyricist. Speaking of him, I gotta pick up his poetry book. And you do, too. It's called 'Godspeed.' You can find it on Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. My boy is doing it big. He's working on a children's book. I love him (lol). His blog is http://www.arcierikeness.blogspot.com/ . Check him out!

t.g.i.f. !@#

2009-03-27T11:22:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday, All ! I don't know about you, but I'm extremely happy to see the weekend. This week was slow but flew by, if that makes sense. I want to go to the beach if it's warm enough. This weekend is going to be a chill one for me, for the most part. I'm going to link up with Demitri to get some music done. Max and I need to hook up as well. She was working for a record label in the U.K. for a while and I want some advice.

My Capital One card will be paid off this month. I'm super hype! One less bill. Haha.

I told Q-Tip I made a video for him and I sent it to him, yesterday. He should get a kick out of it (lol). Hopefully, he doesn't show anyone. That'd be awful! I'd die of embarassment. It isn't any kind of shady video. I'm just asking him a few questions. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with a favor I asked him through direct messaging on Twitter.com. I'm sure he'll laugh, though, because I did it all in one take.

I'm so ready for the Summer. I want to quit my job and just attend school full-time, like I used to. I performed better when I was working part-time and in school full-time. I'd like to just go to school and intern, though. I've also been having reservations about relocating to Georgia. I'm not too sure if that's what I want to do. Being far from my family and friends will be hard :o( My dad will probably tell me to "man up" and do it (lol). That reminds me, I have to get my passport before he kills me. He wants to take my sister, Bryanna, and I out of the country. I'm kind of leary about traveling with my dad. I haven't gone anywhere with him since I was about 16 or 17 years old. This super long road trip from Santa Barbara, California to Houston, Texas. That was crazy. We didn't butt heads or anything as we were accustomed to doing back then. But it was strange being in closed quarters with him for so long. The drive from El Paso to Houston alone was 12 hours. The trip turned out to be okay though. He spoke at a Buffalo Soldier reunion. We took pictures at the place the reunion was held at. All the former soldiers we met were pretty cool. I have no recollection of the drive back. How weird is that? LoL. We'll see where this man is trying to take us, now. Probably somewhere far away to dump our bodies where no one will ever find us. Haha! I keed. I hope it's a nice trip. --via G1

hollywoooood !@#

2009-03-26T09:15:00.001-07:00

I can't wait until my bew Jamal gets to Cali. I've been itching to get into some mischief with him! (LOL) He has lots to do when he gets here, though. I wouldn't mind helping him out. I care for him and want him to succeed. A lot of people get taken advantage of when they come to Hollywood to pursue their entertainment career. So, I shall prove to be Jamal's right-hand gal.

I spoke with Grant of SC Apparel. He seems to be a very goal-oriented and focused young man. I say 'young man' because he is relatively young; he's 18 years old. He's ahead of his time. Grant is truly a pleasure to converse with. His head is on right and he knows what he's doing. I look forward to watching he and Ray's growth as partners and as a business. I'll be putting bugs in all my friends' ears. This release will be promising. Hopefully this weekend will be good.

My Uncle Mike's memorial service is tomorrow, Friday. I'm not particularly looking forward to going, though. I hate funerals. I don't like seeing my family broken up. Ugh, it just sucks. I want to be there for everyone but I just don't want to be at the memorial service. I'd rather wait outside until it's over and go back to my Granny's house. Goodness gracious. On a high note, Demitri and I are headed into the studio, this weekend. We need to get some songs done! We've been slacking...well, I've been slacking (lol). I've been so busy with other things that I've neglected my music. Grrr ! I'm going to be productive. --via G1

stop the presses !@#

2009-03-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Grumble, grumble grumble. I'm posted on my slave ship, otherwise known as my place of employment. I'm ever so bored. So, I decided to blog. I'm going to be speaking with one of the owners of SCApparel.net, today. Our chit chat, of course, is business. He wants to employ my writing skills for a press release for the company. I've been scouring my books as well as journals and other publications, looking for the way to write a nearly perfect press release. I'm very anal and critical when it comes to my writing, especially if its a story or something for someone else. My dad, The Dream Shatterer, couldn't criticize my work like I do. I have to admit, when I received that email from Grant, I was a little apprehensive about taking on the task. Then, I realized I need to be more confident. I was the one that volunteered myself to assist him with his company's PR needs; I need the experience. Now, I'm excited about it. It's a challenege and I'm ready for it! Oh gosh, that sounded way too corny. Oh well. I can't wait to speak to him, later. -- via G1

the opener !@#

2009-03-24T21:39:00.001-07:00

so, basically, i'm taking a crack at this blogging jazz-a-matazz (of course i know that's not a word!).

actually, that would be a SECOND crack at it. i had begun blogging a few years ago, but fell off majorly! so bad that i don't even remember my email address or the url for that bad boy (lol). oh well, i'm over it & i'm sure you were over it before i even mentioned it. i'm going to try my hardest to get an entry in at least every other day. now, that i stepped my cellular gadget game up a scoatch (i stole that lovely adjective from the movie 'loser') i can blog quickly & conveniently anywhere. look out perez hilton, miss brit is hot on your ugg boot heels!

i hope that i don't bore whatever poor soul seems to wander to my blog with my randomness. as ri-ri put it, "it's getting late..." it's time for me to shower, shine & sleep. i'll catch up later.

night, world.

questions !@#

2008-04-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

i'm wondering...

is there a place for me ?

is there somewhere i can be 110% myself & me ?

why can't we get it right ?

is there a solution in sight ?

why is there so much war money ?

when there's people going hungry ?

how can one fix others' problems ?

when the ones they have, they can't even solve 'em ?

twenty-five things that killed hip-hop !@#

2008-04-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

I did not create this list but what do you think about this list?

source below...

SoulBounce.com

25 Things That Killed (and are Still Killing) Urban Music

In the midst of everyone's declarations that "Hip Hop is Dead" we somehow forgot the slow death that is spreading across all aspects of "urban" music, as the legacy of Soul and its close cousins has devolved into a writhing mass of commercialism, homogenization, thuggification and overall laziness. Now, in no particular order, we present to you the "25 Things That Killed (and are Still Killing) Urban Music" because you love lists and SoulBounce isn't afraid to say what you're thinking. Keep in mind that there will be some overlap, as certain items gave way to others that deserve their own spanking.

1. The End of the "Event" Album: There was a time when albums encompassed an era that included a look, a feel, and a style that informed an artist's videos and live performances for as long as they (or the label) could squeeze revenue from a project by releasing singles. The "event" album can chiefly be credited to Jacksons Michael and Janet, who have entire timelines built around the idea of a "Thriller Era" or a "Rhythm Nation Era". Nowadays, instead of treating albums as what they are (a collection of songs with one unifying theme) artists are more likely to seek out the most ubiquitous Hip Hop beatmakers of the moment and record over a hundred songs from which to "pick" singles. Also, when you have artists that are too scared to release music with a healthy 3-5 year gap in between, the lines to between albums begin to blur, and the eras become indistinguishable, rendering them null.

2. Big Name Hip Hop Producers: With respect due to the beatmakers that introduce a track with the name of their production imprint, ad-lib all over it, and insert themselves as guest rappers 50% of the time, they overshadow the actual vocalist of a song. We certainly don't begrudge any of them the right to employment, but when an artist has to do an inventory of who produced her project to qualifiy it instead of telling us what the album is about, we have to take exception. Reality check: If you're trying to goad me into a purchasing your album because you have a Pharrell beat on it and I'm a Pharrell fan, then that's the only song I'm buying. Your album has to have legs of its own.

3. Deaths of The Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac: You can probably draw a direct line from the deaths of Biggie and 'Pac to the current state of Hip Hop. The two of them cultivated a style that even a decade later is re- and misappropriated to the nth. Perhaps if they were still alive, they'd have pushed the genre forward. Or maybe they'd be wack and irrelevant. Hey, at least they died while they were still good.

4. "Neo-Soul": We understand the emergence of the "neo-soul" genre as a response to the growing commercialization of modern R&B. But even the artists lumped into this category began to the see that the term was as much a marketing ploy as the very things they eschewed. The language used to describe these artists ranged from "organic" to "avant garde" and any press materials would claim that he/she looks up to Stevie, Marvin and Donnie. And don't stand too close to the stage lest you get burned by the candles and frankencense! Before long, the audience would be fooled and we would either grow to love or loathe this music, defending the art of its purveyors and loudly wondering why they couldn't move as many units as their mainstream counterparts. Simply put, "neo-soul" has become a term used by people to describe music they respect but would never buy.

5. Reality TV: Aside from the manufactured Pop idols that are struggling to stay signed within their prize contracts, we have to question the motives of Sean Combs, Robin Antin and Missy Elliott, who have all aped the reality television format to generate acts for their own stable of artists. To be sure, reality TV has replaced proper Artist Development as a means for these entrepreneurs to cash in, stroke their egos and embarrass people who, 9 times out of 10, deserve it. Speaking of which, what's O'so Krispie doing?

6. Lazy A&R Departments: Did you know that A&R people are also responsible for Artist Development? Probably not, since these days a newly-signed artist is more likely to be stripped of their identity and given one that falls in step with what's popular or, even worse, none at all. Take Cheri Dennis for example. While her album has a respectable amount of solid R&B tracks, we still don't know who Cheri Dennis is, what sets her apart from everyone else or even what she sounds like. But, she has earned the distinction of being signed to her label for nearly a decade with no album to speak of. Did the A&R department utilize that time by playing Spades? Probably.

7. Scarface and The Untouchables: Okay, rapper, we get it, Scarface and The Untouchables are the greatest movies ever made; your life in celluloid, even. But, if you look close enough, you'll come to learn that you are neither Pacino or De Niro and should stop emulating them by using audio clips from the films in your interludes and the script in your lyrics. Too many of you are still doing this after all these years. Also, tell members of your crew to stop calling themselves "Ness" and "Nitti". Just, please, cut it out. Thank you.

8. Thugs: Not only do we have "Studio Thugs" that use de Palma films to inform their image (see above) but there's the "Corporate Thug" (robs an artist of his publishing and signs him to a hellified contract he could never fulfill) and the questionable "R&B Thug", which happened somewhere between R. Kelly and Jodeci and continues to this day. Along the way, labels got the bright idea that the way to a woman's heart was by selling drugs and beating up people. Sexy! This trend has also given rise to something else we'll never understand: "R&B Beef", in which two singers talk trash about each other to the media. Unfortunately, this doesn't result in a "sing-off" but pretty much makes everyone involved look kind of retarded.

9. Crime: Between violating probation, not paying child support, being pulled over and caught with an ounce of weed or cocaine, assaulting nail technicians, shooting people, tossing concertgoers off the stage, committing perjury, tax evasion, and urinating on minors, we have to wonder if being a good artist means being a bad citizen.

10. Ringtones: "Real Music Ringtones" were created as a way to distinguish your ringing cellular from someone else's while also bringing you closer to your favorite artist. Unfortunately, the labels realized this was the only way to generate revenue and started making music for the sole purpose of selling ringtones. Now, we have stripped-down keyboard beats and grunts and "yaahhs" instead of lyrics. Is that my cellphone ringing or yours? We'll never know, because we both downloaded Soulja Boy.

11. Lack of Music Programs in Schools: Programs like Garage Band have not only made producers lazy, but undercut the importance of immersing young would-be musicians in music history as well as basic composition. Unless a popular musician was trained in the church, they probably lucked into a contract without knowing how to write, play an instrument, or worse, sing a note.

12. BET (and by extension its corporate owner) is on a mission to not only destroy urban music, but poison the perception of Black people in the process. If we were to use this network as a guide (and people unfortunately do), we would believe that "drug dealer > rapper > pimp" is a logical career path, alcoholic beverages can be used as bodysplash, women of exotic or indeterminate race are the standard of beauty, darker-skinned women are only valuable if they have a big ass and a tiny waist, a person's worth can only be determined by what they drive and what they wear, you ain't sh*t if you're over 30, and a week's worth of debauchery and decadence can be undone with a Sunday marathon of religious programming. It's funny because it's true.

13. The Radio: Used to be, you would turn on the radio and hear a variety of artists with a variety of sounds. But due to the "Clear Channeling" of Urban Radio, you'll hear a T-Pain song followed by 15 minutes of commercials, followed by a song featuring T-Pain, some shucking and jiving by unbearable radio personalities for five minutes, then something that resembles a T-Pain song, but isn't because just about everyone sounds like T-Pain now. And it's probably a commercial.

14. Spineless Club DJs: If you're going out to a club, you might as well sit in the house and blast the radio instead of paying the inflated cover charge. Once upon a time, DJs were tastemakers, but now so many of them are afraid they'll clear the floor by spinning something new that they just play album versions of songs people are tired of but are too drunk to notice. Then, they add insult to injury by showing off their "skills" with poorly-timed scratches, blends that don't line up and screaming over the music. And consider yourself lucky if you happen upon a DJ with ACTUAL! VINYL! RECORDS!

15. Mainstream Hip Hop Publications: Back in the 90's, holding one of these rags in your hands was like holding a monthly Bible to all things Hip Hop and R&B. Now, they've all been relegated to chasing blogs and reiterating things we already knew weeks ahead instead of properly utilizing the print medium to do something unique. Changes in personnel and ownership aside, they were already marching towards irrelevance. Even the covers suck now, but you probably won't get the damn thing delivered on time in order to find out.

16. Bloggers: Guilty as charged! Trifle few of us are qualified to be writing about music with any authority, especially since most of the people behind blogs haven't been alive long enough to have a healthy perspective on the subject. Although it can be argued that record companies rely on blogs for buzz, most of the music championed by popular websites is the same music that would've gotten attention anyway. Also, we have to point out that the commenting system has turned discussions about music into an unholy war of "haters" versus "stans", where everyone is an expert on what they hate or love, but have no concept of anything else including real life. Oh, and providing your readers with the URL to full album leaks doesn't "help" the artist.

17. Youtube & Myspace: On the Internet, everyone is a star (thank you, thank you). But while sites like Myspace and Youtube can provide mainstream and indie musicians with a means of cultivating and connecting with an audience, it becomes a chore to sort through the muck of people with a webcam and a login classifying themselves as "artists". And damn you all to Hell for having the crap you made in Grandma's basement on auto-play.

18. Singing Rappers, Acting Rappers & Rapping Athletes: We'll keep this short. Every now and then you'll happen upon someone that has been able to organically transition from one career to another. Will and Latifah come to mind. To everyone else (coughCurtiscough), stay in your lane. Again, we don't begrudge anyone the chance to make some extra ends; it just shouldn't be at the expense of the audience.

19. The End of Real Singing Groups: Once upon a time, you not only had singing groups that weren't put together by a reality show, but wherein each member contributed a distinct voice or purpose to the group. Sometimes they had members that barely sang a note, but who actually produced or wrote the song. Point is, throwing a bunch of strangers in a house with one phone and giving them makeovers doesn't create synergy. Also, name a recent singing group that wasn't created for a television show or for the purpose of launching someone's solo career. Exactly.

20. "Kanyitis" is a temporary, yet frequent, illness that afflicts singers and rappers alike, wherein an artist waits until the precise moment they are in front of a camera, microphone or reporter to say something shocking and stupid, which will then be quoted by bloggers and searched on Youtube ad nauseum. Then the artist has to explain what they "really" meant, but by that time everyone already thinks they're nuts and doesn't care about a retraction.

21. Death of Aaliyah: Not that Aaliyah took an entire genre of music with her to the grave, but it can be argued that her passing made way for a wave of young, pretty dancers with okay voices and no personality. Only difference between them and Aaliyah is, Aaliyah had personality along with talent, ideas and a willingness to experiment. Also, she wasn't so full of herself.

22. Money: Even worse than artists releasing garbage because they know it sells is the audience's obsession with how much an artist makes. Unfortunately, we've given lack of artistry a pass because someone's "making that paper", which totally undermines the hard work of true creative talents that are constantly writing, recording, and performing. When I buy an album I don't want to hear an entrepreneur, which brings us to--

23. Products & Brands: Whether rappers and singers are inserting the names of designer alcoholic beverages into their lyrics or cable companies are inserting rappers and singers in their ad campaigns, things come to a point where we need to start realizing how owned these artists are. There's a thin line between businessperson and corporate slave. We'd also like to reiterate a fact that has been pointed out time and time again over the past 10 years: If you can't pronounce it, why should we care that you're wearing it, driving it, or drinking it?

24. People That Aren't in Any Way Associated with Music: Opportunities in the industry are built on connections and there's almost never been a time when someone didn't rise to stardom on someone else's coattails. But now, things have gotten way out of hand. Why be an actual artist when you can be someone that danced in videos, screwed a bunch of rappers and got a book deal? Or, you can be a butler or Executive In Charge of Umbrella-Carrying? Or, worse, be the "Fifth Mic" guy on stage and reliable instigator? Who needs a recording studio?

25. Teenagers: Young people have always had the power to determine trends in all genres of music, which is why corporations defer to them. However, today's teenagers seem to be slightly more insipid than they were in previous generations and definitely have a shorter attention span. Whether it's the teens themselves driving the garbage labels are releasing, or the labels that are leading teens down a path of ignorance, is totally up for debate. It's the chicken/egg question in its purest form.