Hi, my name is Mindbender! How are you feeling today? It better be nothing short of excellent :)
Okay, as I get into the habit of doing these at least once a week, I'm going to make it worth our time and energy. It's time to be SUPREMELY HONEST with myself and you:

I love my life. I love you. But I'm afraid of my life, sometimes, and I'm afraid of you.
I'm afraid of how much devoting myself to hip hop history and music will change my world.
And I'm afraid of how my relationships will change when my friends and family learn how crazy I am for hip hop culture and music, how far I want to take things, and how revolutionary some of my ideas are...
but it's a case of 'damned if you do, and damned if you don't'. I am born to do this, and I don't do anything better in my life, than serve hip hop culture and give you truth and love... but as Mos Def said: "it's kinda dangerous to be an MC/ they shot Tupac and Biggie!"

Guess I just need to get a bulletproof vest and run towards my destiny with a mic in my hand!
Okay... I'm reloaded!

Today: I'm detoxing myself (thanks, Gracie!) and starting a 7-day-long studio blackout session. I got tons of beats here, I got lots of rhymes, and I gotta get my new shit ready for July! This is going to be the best summer ever for Toronto, and I'm going to be a big part of it!

www.reverbnation.com/mindbender is going to have all my songs on it

How many times have you seen the 'Love For Sale' video? Have you seen it in the last 2 weeks? No? Here, check it out again before you get into this week's goodies:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbfct-9ebE0
( Mindbender loves you :)

OKAY, ENOUGH ABOUT ME! LET'S CHECK OUT WHAT THE REST OF THE HIP HOP WORLD IS SAYIN':

Lots been going on lately... I'm doing my best to stay in touch with you, and get all my creations done too! Kanye West said on his blog (www.kanyeuniversecity.com) that he only sleeps one hour a day! If that's what it takes to get on his level, then... good morning forever! LOL!

~~~
FRESH OUT THE 'LOVE IS INSANITY' DEPT.:
Okay, long story short: Remy Ma (allegedly) shot her childhood homegirl in the guts over a few thousand bucks a few months ago. She recently went to trial. A few days ago, the verdict came down. Fat Joe's least favorite female rapper got 8 years in jail for attempted murdaaa. Her (no longer) secret fiancee Papoose (formerly "next big thing in NYC" rapper) went nutzo in the courtroom when Remy was sentenced. And he allegedly tried to break her out with some sort of key (c'mon... NOBODY'S that stupid, are they?)

Well, here's Papoose's song to Remy for you to download, if you are interested: http://sharebee.com/9fab1bd5

...and say goodbye to another female MC from the rap game. They are getting way too rare in hip hop. Bring back (the righteous version of) Lauryn Hill!
~~~

FRESH OUT THE 'NEVER SAY DIE' DEPT.:

Who woulda thunk it?! Apparently, right now, while you are there doing whatever you're doing today: ROBERT KELLY IS ACTUALLY ON TRIAL FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY!
Finally! Justice may be served! (I have seen the tape. It IS him. Sorry to break it to any of you (trapped in the) closet R. Kelly fans, LOL!

Here's an update:

As the child pornography trial of R&B superstar R.Kelly approaches, attorneys for both sides recently added five new jurors.

Three jurors had already been selected; two African-Americans (one man and one woman) and a white man. Now the number has been increased to eight jurors, with five more having been selected on Tuesday (May 13). The jury now consists of five men and three women and an even split of both black and white jurors, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This makes the selection process half complete, as 12 jurors and four alternates will ultimately be picked.

Of the recently added jurors is a 20-something white woman studying criminal justice who aspires to be a police officer.

When asked her views of the justice system, she said, "I like it and think it is a fair system when done properly." The woman professed to know nothing about the R. Kelly case, except that he is a singer who had been arrested. She said she barely knows his music, just the "very old stuff."

Another juror, an African-American man, a student, said he heard about the case on TV and radio, but could "absolutely" put that aside and judge the case on the evidence.

"I haven't seen the tape, and I haven't followed the story," he said.

A white man also selected said he had past experience as a juror, having served on two civil cases.

Another juror, a black woman in her 20s, is a teacher's assistant at St. Agatha parish, the church on the West Side of Chicago where the Rev. Daniel McCormack worked before pleading guilty last year to sexually abusing boys. The woman said she had previously discussed the Kelly case with friends, who are divided on his guilt or innocence.

The fifth juror picked Tuesday is a compliance officer with a Chicago investment firm. The man said he had looked the Kelly case up on the Internet and read a "couple of stories," and that he knew someone who had been a victim of sexual abuse. But he said neither factor would prevent him from being fair.

"I'd hold myself to a very high standard," he said.

It is speculated that the remaining jury spots could be filled by week's end as selection will continue today.

Kelly is facing 14 counts of child pornography for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. He has pleaded not guilty and faces up to 15 years.
LOCK HIM UP! THAT MAN HAS NEEDED SOME KIND OF REHAB FOR WAY TOO LONG!

OKAY, ENOUGH WITH THE CHILD PORN STUFF. HERE'S SOME OTHER RANDOM SUPER FUN STUFF:
~~~
Did you see the pics of Suge Knight getting knocked the fuck out?!
http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/suge_knight_knockout

Did you read about Tribe Called Quest contemplating another album?!
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1116

Did you hear the "leaked" Dr. Dre 'Detox' street single?!
http://www.spinemagazine.com/music/may/prophet/itslikethat.mp3

Link to something new from Raekwon's Only Built for Cuban Linx 2 (for real!!!):
http://www.spinemagazine.com/music/may/raekwon/necro.mp3

and this amazing El-P remix with Kidz in the Hall
http://www.spinemagazine.com/music/may/kidzinthehall/drivingdowntheblock_rmx.mp3

~~~
SHOWS WHERE YOU WILL SEE MINDBENDER :)

NASTY NAS aka THE BEST MC IN HIP HOP HISTORY (in my humble little opinion)
featuring Famous
Saturday May 24, 2008
Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay E.)
Tickets are $44.50 (plus any additional fees) in advance and available at Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes and Play De Record
All Ages Event, Doors @ 9:00pm, Show @ 10:00pm
~~~
AYAH IS THE PROBLEM WOMAN
mixtape and video release for the single:
Pusha Man ft. Tona
May 28th @ Revival (783 College St.)
presented by Roundtable Ent
Hosted by Wan Luv
Music By Boogeyme'n and Dj Mensa
VERY SPECIAL LIVE BAND PERFORMANCE by Ayah and friends.
Door open @ 9pm
Cover, $5 or $10 with cd (separate purchase of cd available)
~~~
THE ACADEMY, ROUNDTABLE ENT. and MEANEST UNDERGROUND DJ BATTLE present...
DJ SOUNDCLASH III and MUDJ BATTLE TORONTO (debut)
AN OFFICIAL STYLUS SPINFEST 2008 EVENT
feat. SWEET TOUCH FOUNDATION . DJ WRISTPECT & ILLAMENT . CIRCLE RESEARCH
MUDJ BATTLE: DJ FASE vs. DJ LAW
hosted by BOZACK MORRIS and WAN LUV
~~~
EVENT INFO: http://www.themanifesto.ca/GetUpStandUp_FundraiserFlyer.jpg
GET UP STAND UP: A REGGAE JAM TO RAISE MONEY FOR A COMPUTER PROGRAM IN NINE MILE, JAMAICA, STEPNEY ALL AGE SCHOOL, BOB MARLEY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL!
LIVE BANDS, PERFORMANCES AND DJ SETS: DJ ENEE FAR - I, S. RASWELL W/ I-MANE, SUFFERAH SESSIONS, JAH B & MICHAEL CRYSTAL, KING REIGN, WHAT IT IS - HOSTED BY BIG NORM & CASS
DOORS @ 9 PM | $10 MIN. DONATION ALL PROCEEDS TO THE PROJECT PLEASE BRING A CANNED FOOD ITEM TO BE DONATED TO THE DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK IN TORONTO

I'm just getting started, family... stay tuned!
-Mindbender Supreme
http://www.reverbnation.com/mindbender