Happy Anniversary

One year ago today I started my blog. I just want to take this time out to thank EVERYONE who has stopped by (and commented) on this thing.

I can't believe that it's been a whole year. Time really flies when you are ranting about bullshit. I want to thank a couple of bloggers out there who keep my traffic flowing: Panama Jackson, Kajuana, Nia, Nominal Me, Humanity Critic, Ms. Blaze, Xquizzyt1 and my friend at The Marigold Trail. Thanks for linking me to your sites.

Special thanks to the people at We the Voices.com. I know the site has been on hiatus for a while but I hope you guys come back soon.

Stella's Groove sounds like the Village People

When I first hear this story I had to laugh just little.

Karma is a bitch isn't it folks. Terry McMillan has made a fortune male bashing and now it's come back to bite her on the ass.

For those of you who don't know Terry McMillan she's the woman who gave us such urban novels such as Disappearing Acts, Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

The heroine in her books are always these middle aged black women who've been dogged by men. But some how they manage to over come their troubles and start a new with the help of their girlfriends or a younger man.

I always thought it is kinda funny that Terry McMillan married a man 23 (Jonathan Plummer) years her junior. But for him to turn out to be gay after all this time is just amazing to me. It would appear that he seduced her and married her just to get US citizenship.

It is a shame that an accomplished, intelligent, and beautiful black woman was such a fool for love.

The real question is...Is Mr. Plummer entitled to a share of the royalties of Ms. McMillian's bestseller "How Stella Got Her Groove Back"? Personally I feel he's entitled to some money. Why, you ask? Because he was her muse. Granted it all blew up in her face but he still deserves some money for being her inspiration.

Let me know what you think on this one folks.

Hip Hop Wednesday 6-22-05

Here are some minor notes:

• March 9, 1997 Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.) was killed shortly after midnight, on a Los Angeles boulevard after someone in a dark sedan fired seven shots into his sport utility vehicle while both cars were stopped at a light. Wallace was heading to a hotel following the Vibe Magazine awards show after-party.
  
  Eight years? Eight freakin years? Finally the family gets their day in court. The civil suit alleges that Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight ordered the 1997 murder of Wallace and that former various LAPD officers helped cover up the murder and stifle an investigation.

• The Game has 300 Bars for 50 Cent. Download here. 15 minutes of pure hate.

• Cassidy was denied bail after surrendering to police. This is normal for people accused of murder in Pennsylvania.

• Rize a new documentary by David LaChapelle is set for release this Friday 6-24-05.

America's God

I thought OJ was a fluke. Then came the Kobe Bryant case (I still can't believe that it didn't even go to trial) and after that Robert Blake. Then came the BIG ONE. Michael Jackson.

For over 10 years there were rumors of child molestation. And he even had to pay one kid off back in the late 90's. But this trial was supposed to be different. The result. NOT GUILTY.

I am the owner of several Michael Jackson albums and I do like his music. But I hate what he's been reduced to over the years. Make no mistake he is probably one of the most talented entertainers ever. Do I think he molested this kid? No, not this kid. But I do think something happened with another kid at some other time? Yeah probably but we will never hear about that. Which leads me to my point.

America's God is money. It's just that simple. We talk a lot in this country, ya know what I mean. RIGHTS, JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, blah blah blah. All of it is just talk folks. Money is the only thing that gets things done around here. If you are a male with enough money (and a little bit of fame) you can do ANYTHING YOU WANT. Anything? Ya mean I can kill somebody? Yes you can kill somebody. You mean I can sleep with little boys? Yes you can sleep with little boys.

Is it that simple? What about the law? What about justice? Sorry folks it's just talk.

What if instead of marching and hollarin black people POOLED their money together in an effort to obtain some kind of communal WEALTH? We (as a people) probably would be a little more ahead hmmmmmmmm. We were too busy fighting for CIVIL RIGHTS and we failed to see the big picture. We were too busy fighting the law to see that the law can be BOUGHT and SOLD for the right price. The law is not the answer, money is.
It's very upsetting to learn this simple rule so late in life. I should have kept up with those piano lessons my mom made me take or maybe learn to sing and dance or maybe play ball. Yes granted I would have to deal with being a commodity but at least I would be above the law.

Just remember folks next time you hear some guy on TV yellin about justice or some guy yelling about morality and religion. Just remember that America's God is money and the number one thing we love selling in this country is BULLSHIT.

Hip Hop Wednesday 6-8-05

Here are our top stories:

• Once again it's on between The Game and 50 Cent. Why is Hot 97's Summer Jam always controversial. I really hope this doesn't end badly. In my opinion The Game had every right to shoot his mouth off. Behind the scenes members of G-Unit have been shooting their mouths off about him for months. Case in point Tony YeYo was interviewed recently by Star (from the Star and Buc Wild show). When he was asked about the Game he called him a "Ungrateful" (I'm paraphrasing). So I'm rhydin wit cha Game. F*ck 50!

• Looks like Young Buck is going to stand trial for that Vibe awards stabbing. Maybe he'll get probation like Jay-Z did back when Jay had his little run in with the law.
  
• Speaking of Jay-Z, President Carter is going to be working with Foxy Brown on several tracks on her new album. This woman needs all the help she can get to get her self established. Now that Lil Kim is in jail there really isn't a woman in the top spot so maybe the time is right for a Foxy Brown comeback. The girl ain't even 30 and she's trying a comeback? Damn the music business is rough.

A Progressive Man's Dilemma

I consider myself an open minded progressive man. But lately I've noticed that I might be a little too progressive for my own good.

In a relationship the man and women both have respective roles. Traditionally the woman is the care giver and the nurturer and the man is the bread winner and the one that provides a sense of security. In a progressive relationship the roles can sometimes get blurred.

Growing up I thought a woman's role was to cook, clean, raise the children and look pretty. As I grew older I learnt that these expectations were a part of a patriarchy that was created to hold women down. Yeah I took a woman's studies course in college. I had no idea that expecting a woman to cook and clean was apart of an oppressive order. Who knew? After learning all this my expectations changed. I learnt to expect nothing. Whatever role you want I would complement that. But recently me and my girlfriend have been fighting over what a man and woman's role should be.

I have various roles in my relationship. I cook, lift the heavy sh*t around the house, pay the cable bill and I can be quite nurturing (supportive) when need be. My girlfriend's role is to clean, keep the lights on, and be equally supportive (and nurturing).

Now this sounds all simple and good doesn't it? Think again.

I've got no problem cooking, and being nurturing but from time to time my girlfriend expects me to do shit that I just hate. For instance. Carrying her bag. My girlfriend carries a BRIGHT ORANGE bag and from time to time when it gets too heavy for her she asks me to carry it. I know that people cannot tell it's a woman's bag but I KNOW IT'S ONE. Sorry I just had to vent there. My point is, I didn't sign on to be a freakin valet.

Question to all the ladies out there: Do you really expect your man to carry your bag (when it gets heavy)?

See my problem is I don't expect anything from her that would even compare to that. Yeah I'm a tit for tat kind of guy. I guess I'm kind of confused as to what a woman's role should be.

Ladies I need some feedback here.

Hip Hop Wednesday 6-1-05

It seems 50 Cent's empire is just getting bigger.

MTV was probably one of the first to break this story.

In my opinion it's not a bad move for both M.O.P. and Mobb Deep. The only potential problem I see happening is them going TOO mainstream to the point where the music suffers. For years M.O.P. and Mobb Deep have had critical underground success but it's never panned out financially.

And in all of this where does that leave Nas? For years Nas has had close ties to Mobb Deep. And in the past there have been harsh words between 50 and Nas. Some how I see a battle coming out of this. Hope it's good for business.

As far as M.O.P. goes I think they will definitely come out lovely with this deal. They came out on the short end of the stick when Jay and Dame split, I hope they can make some serious paper in the near future with G-Unit. I hope they can come out behind the shadow of G-Unit and make a name for themselves. Good luck boyz.

Here's a little hate on 50 Cent.