Corporate B-Boyism is a philosophy of liminality. It is the direct result of my growing up Hip-Hop in a middle-class home. It is the point where expensive private schooling and a lifetime of listening to Wu-Tang, Nas, Jay-Z, and Rakim records converge. As a performer, I am as likely to show up in a suit as I am in freshly unique casual gear. Corporate B-Boyism means accessorizing large DJ grade headphones with a cashmere suit. It means cufflinks & French cuff shirts with jeans and a blazer. It means my fedora is flyer than your Nike’s. It is eloquence punctuated with a middle finger and a crotch grab. Word to Michael. Welcome to my world.
Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 10:33AM Fu-gee-La, Hip-hop, Lauryn Hill, Rock The Bells | in Hip-Hop | Friday, August 27, 2010 at 09:41PM 
Have you ever had sex with a pharoah?
I put the pussy in a sarcophagus
now she claiming I bruise her esophagus
head of the class and she just want a swallowship
I’m living the future so the presence is my past
my presence is a present kiss my ass - Kanye West
Kanye West struck a match, and lit the Twitterverse on FIRE with this one. Ye delivered a quality verse, Ross was... an introduction (**yawn**), Hov's flow almost broke my neck (pause), and Nicki Minaj MURDERED the entire track. Her delivery is the standout here, which is a VERY difficult feat considering the company she kept on this one. Her out of nowhere innovative delivery is reminiscent of Busta Rhymes on "Scenario". I'm not quoting it. You need to hear it. I would have loved to see the recording process on this one.
In other news, Jay-Z CRUSHED Beanie Siegel with a subliminal jab.
everybody wanna know what my achilles heel is
LOVE I dont get enough of it
all I get is these vampires and blood suckers
all I see is these n-ggas I’ve made millionnaires
milling about, spilling there feelings in the air - Hov
The song is from the upcoming Kanye x Jay-Z EP, Watch the Throne.
What do you think? Listen or download, and weigh in.
G.O.O.D. Fridays, Jay-Z, kanye west, monster, nicki minaj, rick ross, watch the throne | in Hip-Hop | Monday, August 23, 2010 at 05:00PM 
"No one man should have all that power" - Police Officer in Spike Lee's epic film, Malcolm X.
It is amazing to witness how Kanye West transforms himself and grows with every album. Each project is sonically unique to it's predecessor. College Dropout was a backpacker boom-bap album, Late Registration was filled with epic strings, Graduation was Japanese synths, and 808s was Electronica ala Portishead. What does "Power" say about the return of Ye? His upcoming album, Dark Twisted Fantasy (formerly Good A** Job), is one of the most anticipated albums of 2010. The production on power is laced with soul claps, haunting looped chant vocals, guitars, and drums. The organic instrumental allows his vocals to truly come to the forefront, and for a pleasant change, the entire song isn't about Ye's ego. There is vulnerability, a fight with inner demons, and call to return. This is a comeback record. No question about it. And it is successful in that.
Dwele, Jay-Z, MusicMonday, SSwizz Beatz, kanye west, power, power remix | in Hip-Hop | Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 12:44PM 
PWR
I’ve been walking through the wilderness 40 days & 40 nights / saw God on the road to Damascus, he removed my sight / the Devil tempted me and urged me to turn stones to food / he wanted me to eat rocks and die cold in the pool / of blood from ruptured organs, he wants me / to father many poems and discard them as orphans / forked tongue hisses in my ear to have mental abortions / kill my pieces before they form, mar my purpose with doubt / ignore my power and forget what I’m about / I turn to the 4 corners, North, East, West, South / salute the ancestors, cast lots, and pray for a way out / conversing with the Inner Light removes the scabs from my eyes / I can see now, much to the djinn’s surprise / like a phoenix from the ashes, still I rise / face reconstructed to falcon with tattooed eyes / Son of Man, Son of God. God’s Sun, sun, god / focusing on today’s Math as much as following my path / I almost forgot I had wings, a purple robe, & a king’s staff / call me Pharaoh Pro, depicted as Heru / I encourage you to journey into the wilderness / and find the God in you too
Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 09:43AM 
This video is from Indelible poet Thiahera Nurse's feature at Mike Geffner's Inspired Word this spring.
Thia, you have truly blossomed into an amazing artist. You were so powerful that night, that many who attended are STILL talking about you. Keep shining.
Indelible, Inspired Word, Thiahera Nurse, poet | in Indelible | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 12:09AM My heart moves to the pit of my stomach as each sentence is uttered. Ventricles that appeared strong fade to stained glass, each shard quakes in fear of sledgehammer words and brass knuckle reality. Syllables crossing her lips pull cardiac tissue wishbone. She snaps me with one kiss. I taste a possibility I refuse to fathom, an unnerving tragedy, a concept marinated in dread.
Mortality.
That was yesterday.
Today, she wants to leave, and there might not be a damn thing I can do about it.
Not my fault she says. I smile, attempting to digest such sugar coated sentiments.
This is when everything decides to shut down. Walls raise, gates shut, moats are dug and filled, and archers stand at the ready with bows drawn. Welcome to my emotional fortifications, my mechanisms and masonry of defense, my impenetrable stone facade with a blank facial expression to match. This is the only way I know to keep from breaking, the structure I erect to prevent fracture, the uncharacteristic apathetic stoicism.
All of it is fraudulent.
Beneath my surface a tempest brews, gale force winds erupt into water spouts, my heart is a typhoon. A change in wind will cause me to bleed water.
It has always amazed me that paradise is capable of the most catastrophic weather.
I hope the sun shines tomorrow.
orphan, poetry, prose, work in progress | in Poetry | Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 04:20PM 
Writer Bené Viera was featured yesterday on the Michael Baisden Show. The focus of the segment of Tuesday's show wad the topic of her article, Dumb it Down, which was featured on Essence.com. Bené also posted extensively on her site regarding her journey to NYC in search of her break into the journalism industry. The post is filled with many gems for aspiring writers, and is a chronicle of a young woman's quest to bring her dreams to fruition.
That's your cue to read it here. - Either love me, or leave me alone - Jay-Z, "Already Home"
You can listen to the podcast below, directly on Michael Baisden's podcast site. Ms. Viera's interview begins at 11:15, although the entire segment of Baisden's show focused on the topic of her article.
Bené Viera, Dumb it Down, Essence, Michael Baisden, black women, dating | in Culture, Editorial, News | ;)
