Hov is a funny dude, here he is ricking and rolling Live At Glastonbury!

TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER

Like Father, Like Son
What is a father?
Any man can make a baby
But it takes a real man to father a child
To nurture, protect and teach that child the way, requires not only a man
But a father
I thought today how on Father’s Day
The radio is not blaring with music that represents the good fathers of the world
The ones who work 2 jobs to support a family of 6
The men who provide for their families in times of scarcity and abundance
Where is the love for those fathers?
For my father
No monetary value could replace the lessons and energy you have given me
However, I offer this gift of gratitude
A gift of appreciation for you took me as your own
and epitomize what a father should be
It’s not about hanging out in the streets
It’s about HOME
It’s not about fast girls.
It’s about finding a woman like my mother you would say
So today I say thank you to my father
And while the radio may not play a million songs
The rest of the world may not acknowledge you
I salute you dad, for without you I would not be the man God has destined me to be.
HAPPY HATHERS DAY KENNY MACK AKA DAD!
Yours truly,
Oscar

Lil Wayne The Carter III Review

Let it be known that I am far from one of these Lil Wayne fanatics who hang onto every word that he says. I am often disappointed with the state of Hip-Hop or mainstream Hip-Hop because there is a difference. I am still feeling some type of way that Common was not even mentioned in the Hottest MC’s or even MTV’s Honorable mention. But MTV sucks and we all know that they by no means represent the real Hip-Hop.

With that said Lil Wayne’s new album The Carter III is CRACK! Like I can’t feel my face because it’s numb CRACK! With all the anticipation for this album there are many a critic who are running around the Internet making false claims. Claiming Weezy has lost it, the album sucks ect. Ect. I cannot conform to these fair-weather fans, their empty screams sound just as ridiculous as the dude on MTV who was fighting to get Soulja Boy on the top ten (yea, I’m still not over that).

Now before I go any further, is the Carter III comparable to Reasonable Doubt, Illmatic, or Ready To Die. Not at all, those albums are classics and you would be hard pressed to find an artist who could prepare such a lethal album in the current state of Hip-Hop. However one cannot deny that Wayne is one of the hottest mainstream rappers right now.

Let’s get to the album, did he not rip it on 3-Peat, Mr. Carter, A Milli. I mean he starts the album off with a mean flow and witty lines. He and Jay trade bars like ferocious animals on Mr. Carter. Hov himself passes the torch and calls Wayne the heir to the throne. I think Wayne has come along way; I would like to see him focus on more than hit punch lines and actually start saying something valuable. The pyramids were not built in a day, everything is a process and on this album along side his typical swagger and punch line filled rhymes Wayne goes beneath the surface and says some things with some depth on the album. It is always good to see an artist grow!

Mrs. Officer is a certified summer banger; I’m already riding around with the sunroof open letting that joint blare out the speakers. Props to the joint with David Banner, it has that real deep dirty South feel. That Mississippi, New Orleans, Texas feel, which is major that with all this success Weezy can pay respect to his roots and turn the mainstream onto it.

Not to many features on here but those that are on the album are notable. More specifically when Fab meets Wayne meets Juelz we have a nice mix. I haven’t seen Fab spitting like this since he was on the Clue Mixtapes. Now that’s how you let the build beat b****. Another banger for you pump around the way. First I want you to Phone Home then go play in some fire. The production on this album is amazing, hands down.

Concept wise, can you really hate on the genius of Dr. Carter. The game needs a heart shock, something to revive it and this concept, delivery and flow make it one of the hottest tracks on the album….. I saved yo life! I guess hip Hop ain’t dead. Shoot me down, the slow and weak cannot comprehend it and I will not break it down for you.  Tie my Hands, after his completely ignorant statement about New Orleans in the interview I posted on the blog a few weeks ago, I was happy to see him acknowledge the sad state of New Orleans and the disenfranchisement people of color.

Last but certainly not least did Wayne get political on Misunderstood. Did Wayne go and sample Nina Simone and try to put some soul on this. My only complaint here is that Common just used this same sample not even a year ago. In my opinion Common’s version was better but nevertheless the best part of the song was Wayne’s personal reflection on what’s going on with the state of black people and how it relates to the law. His words for Al Sharpton were tough but I felt them. Like if you are not going to reach out and help a young brother improve then please do not say anything at all. All in all I give the album 4/5, it is not a classic but it is definitely a good effort put forth by Wayne!

Thoughts?

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The other night this girl told me that every guys favorite rapper is Jay-Z. “I dont believe her she needs more people!” I remember the first time i heard Hov, I remember back in 96 stealing my uncles Reasonable Doubt CD. Hov has pushed me through good and bad times, so as I celebrate tonight I’m asking “CAN I LIVE”!

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Jay-Z & Usher coming through with the heat!!!!

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There will be no free downloads of this album from my site, however I will let it be known that the album is on the money. Many rumors have been circling around the internet and the blogs that Usher was about to drop a dud.

Well if you’re a 5 year old and can not appreciate a man’s growth through his music then you will probably not like this. But if you are ready for a sincere to R&B, I mean that real rhythm and blues then I suggest you go out and purchase Usher’s new album when it drops on Tuesday, May 27th.

From the beginning to the end of the album Usher will bring you on a roller coaster journey of a man and his emotions battling love and facing his fears head on. “Moving Mountains” finds Usher more than comfortable while divulging his feelings about a love going down the wrong path. Those who have been there can relate to the metaphor with ease and are fighting for Ush to move the mountain, climbing and hoping for things to change. What can you do?

“Prayer for you” is just an interlude but you can see the growth in my man Usher singing a prayer for his little man. I remember back when Usher was a young dude singing “just call me a mack” and now he is showing the true evolution going from the ladies man to now becoming a family man.

A sure hit for the radio “Best Thing” finds Young Hov and Usher riding the beat getting the ladies ready for a hot summer!

“Appetite” will be a favorite of all these gossip sites looking to throw some salt or hate into dude’s new marriage. He’s hitting the fellas with a message though telling us not to feed our appetites or we’ll be trying to get into the crib but the key won’t fit no more.

All the Ladies looking to find that special dude will hope that when the time comes that he serenades them with the words to “Before I Met You”! A beautiful dedication to the special one in your life, like I said Usher is definitely showing growth on this one, not the same player from Confessions!

Everyone is going to attempt to compare this album to Usher’s last but that will be their first mistake. You can not compare the two; Usher released Confessions at 25 fresh out of break up. He is now 29 and a happily married man with a child, in those four years there has obviously been a lot of growth and it shows on Here I Am. Quality Product, I’ll be buying the retail copy as soon as it drops on the 27th!

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1. Intro
2. Love In This Club featuring Young Jeezy
3. This Ain’t Sex
4. Trading Places
5. Moving Mountains
6. What’s Your Name featuring will.i.am
7. Prayer For You Interlude
8. Something Special
9. Love You Gently
10. Best Thing featuring Jay Z
11. Before I Met You
12. His Mistakes
13. Appetite
14. What’s A Man To Do
15. Lifetime
16. Love In This Club Part II featuring Beyoncé & Lil Wayne
17. Here I Stand
18. Will Work For Love

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with the fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

I woke up very late this morning (lol) after having a “great” weekend. One of the first things on my mind was how lucky I am to have built such great friendships. This entire weekend was spent with people whom I truly consider my closest friends and we wound up any and everywhere. A great part of building friendships is having the opportunity to watch your friends grow and prosper. One person landed a new high - paying job, so we drove to NY to celebrate. Three more are graduating from Temple this week; more cause to celebrate. And lastly if I was Kanye West (which I’m not, I’m THE CEDRIC SHINE, LOL) my buddy Chris Thomas would be Jay - Z, making him my Big Brother. Yesterday I got to watch him graduate from Penn State’s phenomenal Business Program gaining his MBA.

All this to say I am very grateful for the friends that I have in my life and very thankful that I can be a special part of their finest moments. I feel my time is better spent around people who have my best interest at heart and I have theirs. We are as good as the company we keep around ourselves. The bible tells us that iron sharpens iron, and judging from this weekend I have some of the sharpest iron surrounding me. I pray that I can be as sharp as those who have influenced me. So today I am honoring my great friendships, I think you should too for without them there would be no us. Peace and Grace be unto you.

A wise man who knows proverbs reconciles difficulties.