Thursday Thoughts- Last Of A Dying Breed

Been a while, but we are back with another thought for this day of the week. While I unwisely think of adding to  my modest Lacoste collection and I can only dream of having  an assortment of  Jordan trainers, I do have quite an impressive CD album collection. Probably beat into me during my younger days, when I would  take a look at my father's hi-fi system and could easily see a Lionel Richie LP sandwiched between an ABBA, Take That or Barry White.  On any given day I could even see an Elton John CD on top of a Daddy Lumba disc. Can't even lie, that stuff is still kinda hard to this day, that Elton John Duets album is no joke, and the song with ladyboy RuPaul, I can remember hearing on countless journeys in the car, is a certifiable banger.

This is not a post about Elton and his Rocket Man exploits, but one asking the question, does anyone still buy albums any more?  My older brother used to bring new albums home on a weekly basis, as he got older, and I got a little bit of change, I took on the mantle and probably have contributed to the half of the CD collection currently gathering dust in my room.

All of the artist's here, have at least 2 album entries in my collection.

People have asked me many times, why I continue to shell out on CDs, when I can download them for free and even get them before they are supposed to come out, that's all fine and dandy for some but not for me. When  you downloaded Get Rich or Die Tryin', and burned the disc, when you hear the songs, they might take you back to when you wearing Akademiks or slapping down your hair with Freeze Gel, but the burned disc doesn't, the actual album does.

It's all about the memories, when I bought the disc, the tracklisting, the fashion, the thank you's, the popular producers and rappers at the time, all this can come flooding back when you just pick up the case, well for me anyway.

Also, I buy albums from the artists I respect and the albums I have been looking out for, like eagerly anticipating. That being said, if I don't buy an album, I won't download it, cos I feel if I really wanted to buy it, I would have.

Close up of the albums in heavy rotation.

Matty and Nate get on to me about another one of my rules, not listening to an album's second single or some of the tracks that will appear on the LP, this is because I want to hear as much fresh material as possible, rather than having heard half the album, so only listening to like 7 tracks for the first time isn't desirable for me.

I have more rules, but I will leave them out for now. Also a lot of people I know have tons of DVD's, like serious collections, which to me is similar to blowing a stack on albums. What's even worse with films, after one or two plays, you probably wont watch them again and the longer they sit on your shelf or are just in your room, the more your friends have a tendency to want to ask to 'lend them for a bit', only for you to not ever see or to be in possession that film again.

The dusty rack, these CDs NEVER get played. There are like 20 albums here.

I don't know, maybe I am weird, but wanting to support my favourite artists's is not a bad thing, you get details on where the song was recorded, who did what and looking at the cover can bring back a ton of memories, a DVD or burned disc for me , just can't do that.

Are you a buyer like me or a RapidShare beast?

An Evening With The Black Stars

Yesterday, the whole HNW team, (there's just two of us by the way) rolled to Wembley to see England take on Ghana. I have never witnessed such an atmosphere in my life, really happy I witnessed this game up close. It could have been oh so different, as Dante had me standing near a hot dog stand, waiting for him to provide with my ticket. To top it off, I was wearing my prized pair of kicks, so I was looking out in fear random drops of ketchup and trying to spot a dimpled stocky individual at the same time.

Despite some instances over-excited folk standing up when Ghana had the ball on the halfway line (in footy, this usually only happens when a team looks like they might score).  Best match I have been to, and one of the funniest nights of my life. On the train, on the walkway to the Stadium, queuing up for £8 cheeseburgers, (not me, way too cheap for that) I heard some wild score predictions and I saw many friends, family members and old school/college people.

When Baby Jet netted that last minute equaliser, I think the noise we made could have been heard in Kumasi Market, the real one.

Shouts to Haw, Abz and Marc and everyone else I saw.

Thursday Thoughts- Public Service Announcement

Have to apologise, no Thursday Thoughts again this week. Just got home, will be back next week with more than one though, that's a promise.

Fear Of God

It's been long awaited, but tomorrow should be the first solo release from Pusha-T of the 'Clipse'. I've been from early and I also believe that his features during Kanye's G.O.O.D Friday series has earned him a wider a fan base. I have great  expectations of this mixtape and hope to hear more cocaine filled rhymes from Pusha.

 Pusha T - My God (Mastered) by Hypetrak

I'll be waiting for the download link as soon as I have it, so shall you. Till then peace.

Gassed

Just come across whilst browsing my timeline and I'm fully buzzing, littered with highly flammable punchlines and a lot of boastful claims Dirty Danger presents us with "Gassed".  I believe it will appear on Dirty Dangers debut release "I Aint Rich Yet" and the song  features fellow Ruff Sqwad/Flee Gang members Tinchy Stryder and Slix.

Enjoy

Thursday Thoughts- LASERS- Great Marketing Ploy or Real Talk?

Lupe Fiasco has basically been to hell and back with his label, Atlantic Records, over the release of his new album, LASERS. Originally meant to be a triple disc LP, called LUP.END (probably to quickly fulfil his contractual obligations, and then be able to retire). The label obviously scoffed at this idea, and Lupe had to release albums the good old fashioned way - one at a time. Many release dates for LASERS came and went, frustrated fans set up a petition for Atlantic to release the album, protests were even organised in show of support for Fiasco, a week before the protest, Lupe posted this image on Twitter (below) with Atlantic President Julie Greenwald, in an attempt to show, the artist and label were on the same page, with the March 8th release date (7th over here) being given as final. 

Then the the first single, Show Goes On dropped,. No talk, obviously in the lead time to an album release, artists have to do a lot of press. 

 Lupe Fiasco Feat. Bruno Mas - Nothin' On You (Original) 

(Atlantic supposedly gave Lupe many songs to record, this being one of them. Many songs, choruses and beats are shopped around before seeing the light of day. B.o.B was given this song, because Atlantic were not happy with the job the 1st & 15th representer did).

Lo and behold two weeks before the album drops, Lupe seemingly every other day has something to say, about he hates certain songs on the album, how he was feeling suicidal after his botched version of the song that became B.o.B's worldwide smash, you name it he said it. The general public responded, by turning out in their droves to purchase the album, I would have thought, publicly disowning your latest album was not the smartest move, however Lupe has been projected to sell well over 200,000 copies. This would be the biggest opening of the year so far (in the US) behind Adele's 21.  It led me to start thinking, is Lupe really unhappy or wants people to feel sorry for him and rush out and buy the album?

The album in its final form.

Like think back to The Black Album, the reviews, all the hype, all the interviews were not about another rapper from in my opinion, The Greatest Rapper, they were all about his 'retirement'. Kingdom Come, American Gangster and Jay-Z Collections Vol.1 later, a major label accepting a succesfull rapper's resignation is like if Paramount allowed Steven Spielberg to retire in the middle of production Saving Private Ryan or something, the income that would come in, is too great too ignore on compassionate grounds. 

I rate Lupe Fiasco very highly, although I cannot understand what he is on about sometimes, he is a top class lyricist and The Cool was a great album. However, every day I was waking up to quotes and soundbites from Fiasco, I am just wondering if it was from a disgruntled employee, or the ugly duckling who turned into the label's precious but problematic child, who was finally taking orders from upstairs.


Any thoughts?

Reebook GL 6000 SS11 Collection

I have been a fan of some of the most recent products, I own a pair of Paris Runners and my own pair of  GL 6000. These two are part of the Spring/Summer collection and this time, its a thumbs down from me.

Someone said, this is the best part of either colourway.

Turn Off The Radio

Nate will be there, so will I, you can be there if you want. Simples

Air Jordan Retro I-XXII (1-22)

Entertaining video by a sneakerhead from Oslo, (Norway) by the name of Mike displaying his Jordan trainers, ranging from numbers 1 to 22. Now, that is what I call a collection.

Kindle Freestyle

Nice freestyle from the guy they call Brewer, clever use of the instrumental used on the Amazon Kindle adverts. Listen closely, yours truly gets a mention.

Trapstar YoYo Mixtape

Last Thursday, the Trapstar and YoYo showcase popped off. I wasn't present because at that time, I was paying my phone bill (at work), however these pics and personal reports confirm to me I should have pulled a sickie. Pics and the serious showcase mix provided by DJ Motive is below.

Trapstar X YoYo Mix by DJ Motive by TrapstarLDN

Pics courtesy of the Trapstar blog.

6 foot 7 foot

I posted the audio for this a while ago, the video has now dropped. Hype Williams is the director and you do not have to worry about having epileptic fits.



Enjoy

Thursday Thoughts - Oral

Oral sex also known as "head", yes my Thursday Thoughts is about this often called "taboo topic". For ages I've had this debate with my friends, both male and female, about it. Many claimed they would never indulge or looked in disgust and there was always the odd person who would put themselves out there and admit to being a keen practicer.

"You niggers are sweet like the pussy i eat" :s 

The above lyric is from the P***y Monster himself Lil' Wayne. I have heard Tunechi and many another rappers from the other side of the Atlantic (America for those of you who were late to Geography) come up with inventive ways when rapping about 'eating'. I have even heard jokes about napkins and whetting the appetite. Over here some older guys let me know, they are down for the cause of pleasing their lady in every which way, so maybe it's a youthful frame of mind, which is the reason why some are so opposed.

 
 Amongst males, or at the least the ones I have come across in my life, it seems here in the UK giving head is frowned upon, but if you receive it your the GUY, where as in America its more of a social norm but I believe it's slowly but surely being accepted in society.
I'm not going to lie I'm a fan of receiving head, then again who isn't? 

I remember back in my school days anyone that even had the thought of doing it was deemed or labelled something negative, but as you get older these views change... Surely?
 

I guess it's different for boys and girls, I mean its always seemed just that little bit more acceptable when a girl gives it to a guy but why is this?? I suppose, being honest, to give it to a woman is more intimate you can't deny that and no male wants to be on the receiving end of the "bow cat" jokes.. But at the end of the day we are all adults having fun.. 

So that being said, will more men and women be using their head, to please one another, and own up or will we in public be vocal about it never going 'DownTown' but have a yearly season pass in the bedroom?

Time will tell, but are you or any of your friends oral (speak about it) about giving oral?