CS Lewis - "We are what we believe we are."

George Herbert - "Life is half spent before we know what it is."

Mae West - "Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before."

Henry A. Kissinger - "Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation."

In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends. - John Churton Collins

Dave Barry - "The four building blocks of the universe are fire, water, gravel and vinyl."

~~~

BREAKING NEWS! CHUCK D AIMS FOR THE TOP OF THE DEF JAM/MUSIC INDUSTRY PILE OF RAP ROADKILL, AND ONLY A DEVIL WOULD TRY TO KEEP HIM FROM GETTING THERE:

As Jay-Z vacates his post as Def Jam president, another Def Jam legend is vying for the high-level music industry position.

Chuck D of iconic group Public Enemy says he is the person for the job.

"After 10 years looking on the collapsing of the record industry, and upon hearing the news of Jay-Z stepping down from Def Jam, I would throw my name into the hat of somebody who understands how the hell Universal should establish the name-brands they acquire with stockholders money," Chuck D told AllHipHop.com.

Chuck D, real name Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, recorded under the Def Jam banner from 1987 to 1998 and churned out some of the label's biggest hits as the lead rapper of Public Enemy.

The rapper has always been a proponent of the internet and launched Rapstation.com in 1999 to offer readers free MP3 downloads and even downloadable ringtones, among other progressive elements.

Chuck D, who also runs his own Slam Jamz label, said that running Def Jam is a more viable option than tossing his hat into the political arena.

"So instead of me running for politics, this is an easier run into the world of influential culture," he continued. "I'm in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York on the regular as well as I [thoroughly understand] the international picture," Chuck said. "There would be some seismic changes, and I would be a little Huey Long-ish at it. If folks are clueless about this parallel that's precisely the problem." [Editor's note: Huey P. Long was a Great Depression-era politician that was hugely popular and successful. He was killed shortly after announcing a bid for the presidency.]

Chuck D also said that Jay-Z didn't quite have time to grow as the CEO, but cited what has been speculated that he'll be with Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin at Sony Records.

"I think a person like Jay-Z needed a bit more time, but I could imagine his corporate limitations, and he's gonna be working alongside a true music cat R.R. [Rick Rubin] to do his thing."

The music business' chief concern these days is monetary return and Chuck D, who is renowned for his political and social consciousness, said he could generate revenue as well.

"I'd show them how to make a profit, if they care. I will bring the noise. It will be interesting to hear the requirements here [for the job]," he concluded.

No successor to Jay-Z has been named at Def Jam and there is speculation as to who will become the next president of the legendary label.

Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond and Damon Dash have all been mentioned as potential candidates for the position.

Chuck D outlined his plan for Def Jam, as seen below:

1) Being ahead of the technology curve; preparing for a thinned out industry; and managing budget efficient acts is very noteworthy of my resume which is simple. I told these cats the online revolution was coming and they needed big adjustments. They relied on lawyers, courts, and accountants only to now look upward at Apple, etc.

2) Their cost factors didn't fit the times, I come from a world where the $50,000 investments resulted into 6 - 7 figures. Now it's a business where 7 figures are invested to make 6.

3) I would run it like sports. These artists would be busting their tails on tour and on the stage to gain a fan. They would be coached on how to do their thing right. Braintrust will be high, and subcontracting to the right contributors will be comparable of the efficiency of these labels like Jazz and catalog departments. You cannot have people working, that haven't the slightest clue of what they are in the middle of.

4) Any criminal mindedness in artistry, and management would have sit this one out, go their own way. It's like bad apples the long run ain't got nothing to do with entertainment. You can't mix the stage and off stage parodies.

~~~

STYLES P, LIVE:



~~~

ONLINE RAP IS OUTTA CONTROL: Love/Hate 2007: Internet Edition

Trends. Bloggers. Commenters. Videos. www.XXLMAG.com takes a look back at the best—and worst—of everything online this year.


LOVE: ONLINE TRENDS

1. Bloggers Step in Front of the Camera
Between Bol appearing on the Parker Report and the Internets Celebrities covering your favorite hip-hop events, 2007 was the year that your favorite bloggers stepped into the spotlight. Who’s hiding behind their computers now?

2. Photoshop Humor
Cam’ron’s rhyme book. Tru-Life’s hacked MySpace. Bastardizations of XXL covers. Hilarity ensued all year long as rappers and fans alike got their copies of Adobe Photoshop crackin’ to get their point across.

3. Rappers Leaking Their Own Albums
Phonte, perhaps following Radiohead’s lead, leaked Little Brother’s third album Getback himself, thus taking back control.

HATE: ONLINE TRENDS

1. Label Leak Denial
Dear major record companies: your song/album/video has leaked to the internet earlier than you would have liked. Why are you pretending like it didn’t happen? Stop wasting time trying to “stop” the leak by removing it from a few websites. Stop planning “exclusive online listenings” for a month from now. Your release date has just been moved up. Deal with it.

2. Trailers/Teasers for Music Videos
Unless you’re spending Hammer “2 Legit 2 Quit”-type paper or making a real mini-movie, we don’t need a 30 second clip hyping up your 3 minute montage.

3. Releasing Fight Videos on YouTube
Editing grainy footage of your man socking (what appears to be) Papoose in the ear is decidedly not gangsta. Some things should just stay in the streets.


LOVE: CELEBRITY BLOGS

1. Just Blaze’s The Megatron Don
It’s no surprise that this nerd-turned-superproducer has the best grip on the blog format out of any of his famous peers.

2. Stretch Armstrong’s Konstant Kontact
His frequency leaves something to be desired, but when he actually blogs, this NYC DJ does it like only he can, dropping links to classic radio shows and unearthing rare jewels.

3. Prodigy’s HNIC 2 Blog
He’s new to the game, but P had a strong start by jotting down his pre-prison sentence thoughts.

HATE: CELEBRITY BLOGS

1. Mike Jones’ YouTube Channel/Video Blog
If we wanted this much contact with you, we’d call. It’s not like we forgot your number.

2. Saigon’s MySpace blog
Between hating on his label, quitting rap and then recanting his retirement a month later, this troubled NY rapper’s blog was one big nervous breakdown.

3. Jermaine Dupri’s Huffington Post Blog
We know you’re trying to get your Quincy on, but we’re pretty sure no one who reads your music business rants on this left-wing political site knows Jermaine Dupri from Jermaine Jackson.

~~~

My boy Okwerdz! this is 10 minutes of rap funnyness:



~~~

WANNA READ ABOUT GANGS FUCKING SHIT UP IN L.A.?

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/la-gangs-nine-miles-and-spreading/17861/

OR DO YOU WANNA READ ABOUT THE OTHER GANGS FUCKING SHIT UP IN L.A.?

http://www.laweekly.com/la-vida/a-considerable-town/the-slow-death-of-a-chocolate-city/17888/

~~~

VIDEO BREAKDOWN OF JAY-Z'S DEF JAM PRESIDENCY:



~~~

MY FIRST TIME LISTENING TO THE GUY JAY ELECTONICA - IT'S CALLED 'HARD TO GET' AND IT'S PRETTY FUCKIN ILL:



~~~

THIS WAS OFF U-GOD REDEMPTION, AN AMAZING DVD THAT YOU SHOULD SEE ASAP:



~~~

Five Ways to Welcome Change in the New Year

By Elizabeth Lesser

Raise your hand if you’ve had a crazy year with lots of changes--good, bad, or otherwise. Ok! Just as I thought; we’re all in this together. The most difficult change I've been dealing with is my sister’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. Sitting by her bed in the oncology unit the other day, I came across words by the great Sufi master, Hazrat Inayat Khan: "Walking on the turning wheel of the earth, living under the ever-rotating sun, man expects a peaceful life."

Reading them, I had an a-ha moment--I let go of demanding that life be predictable, easy, peaceful. Such a relief! I decided to make my New Year's resolution be about welcoming change with a willing heart. If you want to join me in this, here are some helpful ways to proceed...

1. Expect Change

Since we live in a changing universe, expect change. Good change, difficult change, destructive change, transformative change.

2. Make Friends With Change

Try not to fight change. Make unconditional friendship with it, in whatever form it arrives.

3. Relax Into the Mystery

There is so much more to this life than we can ever understand through our tiny brains and fearful hearts.

So in times of big change, it's good to be gentle and kind and patient with yourself. And to relax. The best peacemakers are those who are at peace with themselves.

4. Receive Change's Message

Be still and listen deeply for the truth that is carried on its winds--information about the past, wisdom about the present, and direction for the future.

5. Come Alive

Join forces with the dynamic flow of life. The African-American theologian Howard Thurman said: "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive."

And so, as the old year changes into the New Year, ask what makes you come alive, and then go do it--for your own sake, and in service of the greater good.

~~~

SNOOP DROPPING TRUTH on JAMIE FOXX'S RADIO SHOW'S ASS:

http://www.celebully.com/snoop-before-biggie-died-jay-z-was-just-a-regular-ass-nigga-p311.html

~~~

BEHIND THE SCENES @ 'THE RAP-UP BY SKILLZ IN 2007'



www.okayplayer.com

~~~

(Cave) Man Laws of Life:

Man Laws

1: Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.

2: It is OK for a man to cry ONLY under the following Circumstances:

(a) When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
(b) The moment Angelina Jolie starts unbuttoning her Blouse.
(c) After wrecking your boss's car.
(d) When she is using her teeth.

3: Any Man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and eaten by his buddies.

4: Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.

5: If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.

6: Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy's fridge is forbidden. However complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.

7: No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your buddy's birthday is strictly optional. At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy's choice.

8: On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.

9: When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.

10: You may flatulate in front of a woman only after you have brought her to climax. If you trap her head under the covers for the purpose of flatulent entertainment, she's officially your girlfriend.

11: It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you're sunning on a tropical beach ... and it's delivered by a topless model and only when it's free.

12: Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick another guy in the nuts.

13: Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.

14: Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.

15: If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.

16: Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.

17: A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.

18: Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that's just greedy.

19: If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.

20: Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she's withholding sex pending your response.

21: Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man While lifting weights:

a) Yeah, Baby, Push it!
b) C'mon, give me one more! Harder!
c) Another set and we can hit the showers!

22: Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e., both urinating, both waiting In line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.

23: Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang up if necessary.

24:The morning after you and a girl who was formerly "just a friend" have carnal, drunken monkey sex, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty is no reason for you not to nail each other again before the discussion occurs about what a big mistake it was.

25: It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.

26: Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.

27: The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.

28: There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men's Gymnastics. Ever.

(I DON'T LIVE BY THIS -AT ALL-. I JUST SHARE THE INFO, LOL)

~~~

DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN AND THE CRAZY GIRL THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH... I REMEMBER HIM TELLING ME ABOUT HER, SHE'S NUTZO!

http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/video/detail.asp?ID=726&Video=Del-The-Funky-Homosapien-Interview-Pt-1-Live-At-The-Middle-East-Cambridge-MA-5-31-07

~~~

so yeah. the year's done. thank god I survived this one.
2008, TIME TO SET SHIT STRAIGHT. AIN'T NO HALF STEPPIN', WORD TO BIG DADDY KANE.
2 THOUSAND GREAT IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT... THE 07 COULDN'T HAVE BEEN UNLUCKIER. BUT I GREW A LOT AND LEARNED A LOT MORE... AND DID A LOT OF THINGS I NEVER DONE BEFORE. TIME TO KEEP THAT STREAK GOING!

supreme love to Diane Iantorno, we survived our worst times yet, and are still growing together. let's keep going!

PEACE TO MY BROTHER CONSPIRACY. WALK YOUR PATH, BRO. JUST DON'T WALK INTO A DEAD END.

PEACE TO MY BROTHER DALE, CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR MARRIAGE TO MONIQUE, AND MAD LOVE TO AKAYLA!

PEACE TO MERIC MOIR, I LOVE YOU BROTHER! YOUR GROWTH AMAZES ME EVERY TIME I SEE IT. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, NOT ANYONE'S INSTRUCTIONS.

PEACE TO MERTELLA, MY GODDESS OF A MOTHER. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVE STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER INTELLECTUALLY, BUT OUR HEARTS ARE STILL POINTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

Peace to everything and everyone I met in 2007... especially Grace Clare.
I love you more than words could even begin to express, capture and convey.

Next year, I will become THE MOST SUPREME HIGH MINDBENDER FUTURAMA MIRRORCLE THAT ADHIMUSIC CAN MANIFEST AND CREATE.

time to be pure love.
word to Jim Morrison, let's break on thru to the other side
see you in 2008, yo!
Mindbender Loves You All