I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines.He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well.Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.”Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. Isaiah 5 : 1-5

Think of the above story as if it were your life. You have put alot of work into your life and at times it does not seem that your life yields success. But that is no reason to destroy your life. Do not ask, what else could you ahve done with your life. Maybe you should let go of some of the gardening practices that you are using. Let go of some of the chains that we have bound ourselves too. Free your mind and start anew!

The rain is pouring, smacking the streets violently while a track from Isaac Hayes album Hot Buttered Soul plays. Feels like a defining moment in ones life, the rain always seems to signify the end of one and the beginning of something else. I was reading Iyanla Vanzant’s Acts of Faith yesterday and she was talking about letting go. Whether you are letting go of a relationship, or relinquishing the psuedo control that you thought you had on your life, the issue is that we may have to let go. But letting go sounds insane, life’s troubles feel like your hanging from a cliff, your whole life depends on the moment you are in right now or so you think.

Who wants to let go, what ever you’re holding onto may feel to you like the bane of your existence. This is the mental build up that we give things, whether they are material or just things we feel like we can not live without. I read once, in order to receive you must strip yourself of all your possessions mentally and still believe that you have or will have again. This was a book dealing with taoism, it had some extremely great lessons. I have not been on my daily grind of writing this week. Check the blog, it’s updated sparingly. Partially it may be because I have no computer but more importantly it’s because I’m letting go. While letting go we do not know what door God will open but we have to have faith that he is about to show off in our lives. We have to have faith that these new beginnings, these new happenings though they may bare a dark moment, or a rainy day; there will be light in the end, a sun that shines upon our faces as we cry tears of joy. Peace and Grace be unto you!

You know, life is bound to be a roller-coaster if you keep looking back. A life that matters is focused on where you’re headed, not where you’ve already been.

Famous comedian George Carlin has passed away. Apparently he passed form heart failure. I remember being a little kid, probably to little to watch his stand up. At the time I didn’t get much of the jokes but I laughed anyway. My prayers go out to his family and i pray that God is with them at such a trying time. He was 71 years old, Peace and grace be unto his soul.

I was shocked that Soulja boy responded the way that he did. It shows a lack of respect for the older generation and leaders of Hip-Hop. I mean does Soulja Boy really think that he makes good music, like noone will remember this dude next year. And his response sounds like a immature little boy, BEAT IT!!!!

Here’s How The Whole Thing Started…

Here is Soulja boy’s response.

Soulja boy is fresh ass hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is sposed to be. He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain’t Hip Hop then what is? A bunch of wannabe keep it real rappers that ain’t even relevant, recycling samples trying to act like it’s 96 again and all they do is hate on new shit? Niggas always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year old kid, this is the golden age!!! That song was so dope cause everything he said had a hidden meaning… that’s Nas level shit… he just put it over some steel drums which is also some Nas shit if you had the 2nd album cassette with the bonus track “Silent Murder” on it. In closing… new niggas get ya money$$$$$$$$$$ Keep this shit fresh and original…. ain’t no fuckin’ rules to this shit and that’s what real hip hop is to me. - Kanye West

Now Kanye is rolling with Soulja Boy on this one. So basically if you spit on a record, loop it over a few times now you are Hip-Hop. Vanilla Ice is hip-Hop, hell if you come from the hood, make your own beats then you too can be hip hop. It doesn’t matter if you have any love for the culture, this genre of music. But clearly this is where the industry meets the culture, Soulja boy is what the industry has made. Times are changing so to say everything that is new is wack is proposterous. But for Kanye West to compare Soulja Boy to Nas is outrageous. Matter fact I am forgetting that Kanye goes on tirades and this was definitely one of them.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, he who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat”. - Theodore Roosevelt

Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. Mark 8: 37-38

There is a conversation going on right outside of where you are or you may be engaged in the conversation yourself. There are people who become visibly disgusted when you speak about your faith, or you may not know it but they choose to tune you out for fear that you will judge them. There is a conversation going on amongst men, amongst women and amongst believers and non believers. I know this because my brother Darian and I have this conversation often. We talk about how it has become unpopular and uncool to believe in God. To know his name and to valiantly represent him while we live in the world. Not only do we struggle with our own sinful ways (Mega Margaritas on Thursdays) but we struggle with our peers who judge us or have a fear of us judging them.

Interesting how the same people who make these judgments are the first people to ask you to pray for them when something goes wrong. God has become a back up plan, an “if all else fails” type of plan. Less than plan B, more like plan E; our desperation plan when times get rough and we need a little bit more than what we feel we can offer. So I was looking on biblegateway.com and I found this scripture in Mark. If we are ashamed to be Christians, to believe in a higher being and represent the principles that God has laid for us then we will be denied later. And for what, for fear that other people will judge you, for a lack of understanding the long run and being content with the short term winnings of the world. I bring all this up because I struggle myself. People say “yo i heard you got religious” and by no means have I gotten religious, I am just finding a new side of myself. I ‘m still the same ole Ced, but what if I did get religious and I cut out all of my weekly shenanigans that find me on top of cars and other nonsense. Would I then be uncool, unpopular, if so I am sure those are the people I don’t need. In fact the person I do need has already warned me about being ashamed of him and failing to have a relationship with him. That is the friend I shall listen to. Peace and Grace be unto you!

Don’t worry, God’s got you!

My mom has been playing Ayo all day. She’s definitely a talented singer, and her music really touches the soul. Enjoy!

N.E.R.D “SEEING SOUNDS” Album Review

“I’ll never forget I was like 7 years old, I closed my eyes and that’s when it happened. I STARTED SEEING SOUNDS!” With the backdrop of music that reminds you of the Pee Wee Herman days, Pharrell spits these words on “Time for some Action” and the trance begins, you become a part of outer space, you’re traveling to Planet N.E.R.D. A world where a hard core hip hop head can meet an alternative skateboard punk rock kinda kid while their both tryna holler at a Soulful, R&B girl. I SEE DEAD PEOPLE, I SEE SOUNDS!

I think the thing you have to love about N.E.R.D albums is that they are not made for the mainstream. It’s almost as if Pharrell and Chad make beats and do cameos on all mainstream music just so they can afford their addiction. Their addiction to making music that transcends a kid from the projects to the suburb with tales of women, drugs, relationships, and everyday life. Expect the beats to blare out your speakers. Tracks like “Anti Matter” might throw you at first but then you’ll realize this ain’t normal, it wasn’t intended to be.

“Sooner or Later” has people who are not typical N.E.R.D fans crossing over into Planet N.E.R.D. The instruments take you somewhere you’ve been before, with every drum snare you are starting to see the picture they are painting, you are beginning to see your own sounds. With a NERD album you are really bound to get double the amount of songs you bargained for. Every song has a bridge where the beat changes up, the vocals change up and you are given a teaser of another dope beat. I guess when you get super producers who make albums they have so many hot beats to choose from they have to be creative to get all of their sound in there.

“Yeah You” finds any male or female’s nightmare; a stalker who just doesn’t get it! If on the album Pharrell and his cohorts were trying to make music where the listeners see the potential video it definitely worked. For this track I see a new version of Black Sheep’s Strobelite Honey video treatment. Most are too young to remember, just go on youtube and look it up.

The smash hit single “Everyone Nose” has the streets buzzing, the clubs buzzing and THE “Black Mac” has been pumping it for months. Celebrity Insiders aren’t even mad that N.E.R.D. is exposing why some girls always feel the need to “POWDER” their noses. On the bridge Pharrell might even be trying to tell the girl to slow down with all her reckless partying while also trying to help himself to some of her wild behaviors. Already an Internet favorite is the extra-terrestrial “Spaz”. With an opening line like “I’m a little teapot short and stout” you have to wonder what the f*** is this song about to be about. Just Spaz if you want to!

I walk into my 16 year old brother’s room, a young dude who is more worried about the new Jordan’s or some Air Force one’s and I hear “Love Bomb” pumping out of the computer speakers. Why is that, why is this album crossing age groups, genres, and racial boundaries. Because everyone needs an escape from reality and that’s what this album offers, FREEDOM. Freedom to say whatever you want, listen to whatever you want. There is nothing typical about the music and the vocals can be just as confusing. But uff it, just go with the flow. Welcome to PLANET N.E.R.D where the norm is not so normal but the catch is you don’t care because you like it! I SEE DEAD PEOPLE, I SEE SOUNDS!

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!