Thursday Thoughts - Rolling Paper or Toilet Paper

Around this time last year I found myself chilling to the sounds of Wiz Khalifa's "OJ & Kush" and even a few times engaging in that "Taylor Gang" lifestyle. I even woke up extra early, the day his tickets were going on sale to make sure I got one.

He followed up with "Black and Yellow" which increased the anticipation of the album, then the bootleggers got it a week or two before it's official release and the report was negative, I thought I would hold out and purchase the cd like my partner Kwarmz. He then told me it was one of his worst purchases. I then proceeded to download (don't judge me)

I couldn't believe what my ears were hearing, it was a sound completely different to what I was expecting. That being said,  the album performed well commercially speaking as it came in at #2 on the Billboard Charts and in it's first weel shifting close to 200, 000 units off the back of a multi-platinum selling single. But as an original fan (well the first wave of OJ & Kush listeners) I feel like Wiz dissed me, I feel like an Everton fan when Rooney lifted his shirt after scoring and it had the message "once a blue, always a blue" then went to Manchester United the following season., as you do.

Before

After

Maybe I'm being over dramatic just a little, but hey thats how I feel and I guess with 'fans' like myself choosing to download, whereas 'die hard' fans since "Black and Yellow" would have been happy to hear the same sort of sound. Just happier, poppier and something that also ends with 'er' at the end.

I really do hope at Young Khalifa's show he doesn't perform too many tracks off the album or it will be a long night., and an appearance from Amber wouldn't hurt nobody or maybe thats just wishful thinking.

Till then I'll keep playing the songs which made me a fan.

Shouts to my brother Nomes on the title.

Thursday Thoughts- We're So Appalled

The latest internet phenoms, all have one thing in common, despite their musical styles appearing like night and day. One is a shirtless rapper from Los Angeles, that has gathered a lot of die-hard fans, over one video, in which he tops himself. The other is a 13 year old girl, that cannot sing, sings badly written songs, in which she details the interesting tidbits of her day, events such as eating cereal and waiting for the bus stop. The last, is from these shores, a young girl from Birmingham, bragging about how sexually prolific she is, this being made more sensational by the fact she is 17 years old. Now what has made Tyler, The Creator, Rebecca Black and OG Niki overnight YouTube sensations, is nothing to do with their musical talents, in Rebecca's case, its her actual lack of it, the three of them have achieved internet notoriety because something about their song/freestyle has been so outrageous.

Tyler, because he appears fully clothed at the start of the video, rapping about everyday things (threesomes with triceratops) by the end he has eaten a coakroach, his eyes have turned black, and for his finale, after taking off his shirt, revealing many gold chains, the young rapper ends up hanging himself. Rebecca Black's laughable but bankable 'Friday', people check her video to actually laugh at her, not realising they and countless others are racking up millions and millons of views (over 100 million in fact and two million downloads for the song), which naturally results in a bidding war, because hungry label execs are in search of a YouTube monster they can make a lot of money off. I'm talking Euros, Dollars, Pounds, Yen heck even Cedi's.  OG Niki, the young girl from Birmz, now has a verified account status on Twitter, usually stated on the profiles of mega celebrities or tweeting politicians. Word around the online watercooler is, that she is holding several meetings with important people in the industry, her rise to fame might be the most shocking, a girl bragging about her sexual exploits is nothing new, but being so graphic and talking about taking on six men, I am pretty sure this is brand new. Not even the Notorious K.I.M. or Ill Na Na herself (that's Foxy Brown, for the uneducated) were talking about things the way OG Niki does.

A still from the shockingly bad yet humorous video. Check out the grammar as well.

Which led me to thinking, if an aspiring artist wants a whole load of YouTube views, and to be a #hash-tag trending topic on Twitter, they might have to shock us, not blow us away by musical talent. Even look at a certain Ms. Minaj, before people started listening intently to her, the talk was whether her asset's are real or not, and how everybody wants to hit it, many girls included.

The real shame is not that OG Niki and Rebecca Black may end up being exploited and scribbling newly developed signatures on many papers, not knowing what they are signing on the dotted line for, but as of writing this, I am watching a Cyhi Da Prynce interview on The Monique Show, someone with great potential, but may not realise it, because he could be too 'ordinary' for us to tweet or update our Blackberry's about him.  Tyler's line about picking Steve Wonder as a running back in American Football is pretty darn cold, but the drones off Tyler 'fans' who had only heard or seen him when the Yonkers vid dropped, but now rep Odd Future (his team) like they have been with them during the Myspace age, really annoys me. If the video wasn't out there, most of them probably still wouldn't have heard of him.



Peep the Tyler vid if you haven't (above), and you know where to go see Rebecca and the young OG. (YouTube folks, those videos are not being embedded anywhere around here).

Finally, any aspiring artists out there should intentionally make a bad song, have a video with a lot of T+A, or just be outrageous, that's the quickest way to gain the most amount of follwers or views on the ol' Tube. Maybe Tyler, Niki and Rebecca aren't so night and day after all, perhaps they met in the afternoon, and with plans to make the netboyz go crazy. I believe, it can be claimed they have. And then some.

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?

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.

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?

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? 

Thursday Thoughts- Nando's First Date Or Too Bait?

Being African and despite my slender frame, it should be no surprise that I am a chicken lover. A fanatical one, mother tells me, more like she abuses me when she thinks my portions or pickings, are a tad on the generous side. Now let me say this, before I get some e-mails from their legal team, well it doesn't even matter. But amongst us 'urban folk', whenever there is a celebratory dinner or just a place to go to rather than your Auntie's yard, Nando's is usually at the top of the list. Which got me to thinking, why? Is it because they do chicken well and that is something us 'urban folk' can't resist? Or is it because we have been conditioned on it, and its safe option, most of my friends have eaten there before, my family years back fell in love with the place, cos it was one of the only places where you could get hot/spicy food and chicken, outside of your house, relatives house and in a public/everyday setting- a restaurant.

Me, personally I think Nando's is cool, but would prefer to go somewhere else a Wagamama's or something along those lines, #justsaying.

The question I am posing, if you had got on with a guy/girl over BB/Twitter/FB or -shock horror- a good ol' fashioned phone call, and the location of the first date was being sorted, would the suggestion of Nando's let you down in terms of predictability or would be you licking your lips? Also secretly hoping that your date would pay for the whole order, there are some guys like this for real. 

And if any of you kids are hooking up at Nando's, bon appetite.

Thursday Thoughts- MMG, What Happens Next?

Now that all the fuss of Monday has passed (although I did nothing) it's time to get back to doing what I do. To pass time I have found myself (whilst not working, studying or making trips around the capital) getting highly gassed of what could be released from Maybach Music Group. As it stand's the head man "Roozzzaaaayyyyy" (I did mention i was gassed) has recruited DC spitter Wale. To me personally it's a very good addition to the squad as on Wale's debut, "Attention Deficit", I believe his craft wasn't exposed enough or respected enough. After dropping which Kwarmz claims to be the best mixtape of last year,   I do not beg to differ "More About Nothing" it got his buzz going and with that ear Rick Ross has for beat selection, it's looking like his next release will display his talents and may be a real problem to the scene.

Another signing is an up and coming artist from Philadelphia called Meek Mill. He featured on Ross' latest mixtape "Ashes To Ashes" on a track alongside Wale, he's definitely one to keep an eye out for real aggresive with a swag hopefully under the guidance of Ross he can molded into the finished article.

 Rick Ross Ft. Meek Mill & Wale - Pandemonium by RWDMagazine 

As it stands this ever growing imprint is caught up in the midst of a bidding war, labels such as Cash Money, Warner Brothers and Def Jam are trying to make MMG sign on their dotted lines.

I predict a bright 2011 for MMG, I just hope they can fulfill Wale's potential and push him to a strong first week sales and  an album that garners critical acclaim. As for Meek I hope he's given a platform to showcase his skills, and that in a few years his name cannot be grouped alongside Gage and Bishop Lamont. If you have never heard of Gage or Bishop Lamont then this is exactly what I'm talking about.

Until next time.

UPDATE: 19th Feb, It was announced that MMG has signed to Warner Bros. Good luck to them.

Thursday Thoughts- Feb 14th, Just Another Day

Saint Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, and whilst many couples will snuggle up over the weekend in cinemas and various Travelodge's up and down the country, it will be a regular 24 hours for me. That will be if you don't know, going on the Sky Sports webiste and Nah Right, keeping it locked to Sky Sports News the whole day, (even with the transfer window now closed) and work, if I am in that day.

Come Monday, I won't be surprised to see many people on Facebook dedicating their status or making angry posts about how much they hate the day, when most of them would be making some soppy, moist ode to their lover if they had one. Myself, I will keep it 100, and do what I always do, look and laugh at the same people over-exposing their lives and post nothing about my own. Some people on Facebook need to re-locate to Twitter and stop broadcasting their life to 800 friends, 782 of them are the people they  DON'T speak to on a regular basis. You can embarass yourself a lot less when you have a limit of 140 characters.

Clinton Cards and Love Hearts must make 42% of their annual revenue in February times.

Funnily enough during my younger years, I seemed to think every boy hated Valentines and every girl ranked it as the second most important day of their lives just ahead of getting married or seeing David Beckham/B2K in the flesh. Nowadays, a lot of girls actually do not rate the day, seeing it as a waste of time, and something with little meaning, I don't know whether that is to do with the sudden of influx of trill bitches we have but a few ladies have changed to their tune about February 14th.

I can't recall ever celebrating a Valentine's day, and on Monday the only thing I will make love to is that Kendrick Lamar's Overly Dedicated mixtape. Some stuff on there, like this is actually unreal.

Whatever you get or don't get on Valentine's day, it could be worse.

Something like this.

Thursday Thoughts - Life Is A Roller Coaster

This week I've had many thoughts more time negative than positive, but through the course of this post I aim to give you an insight to the latest roller coaster I've been riding without being too emo or boring you.

This last fortnight it seems dark clouds have been following me "Shit is to too crazy,/I had bad luck like I went and fucked the voodoo lady" (Styles P).
To begin with I seen my everything (Mum) collapse in front of me, it was most probably the most scariest thing I've witnessed in my life. I  had thought I was parting ways with my first love, the only woman I've genuinely whole-heartedly cared for, thank God she woke up. This was the beginning of events or as I call it the big dip of a roller coaster "Life is a roller coaster, just got to ride it" (Ronan Keating). 

As the week progressed I thought maybe it would pick up but I was met with yet another dive on this wild trip. My cousins (well my boys, but they are more or less family) were in a serious car crash, like the ones you see on TV but never consider to be real. The car flipped 8 times, once again a glimmer of lady luck shined, and nobody died but the injuries were intense and recovery has been slow but its looking like they're all on the mend. For a moment I thought I had lost them too, it seems all too much all too soon right?  Surely things can only get better right? Wrong, true to the saying "bad things happen in three's", the last straw has been taken, prior to the first to events my cousin was on trial, for ages I waited in hope that he would be found "not guilty" but on this constantly descending roller coaster there could only be one result "guilty" so now my my I've lost a sibling to the system for a minimum of 19 years.  

Although everything seems negative whilst alone with my thoughts I've come to the conclusion I need to appreciate the more simpler things in life, because tomorrow is not promised, and I believe the most important things in life are priceless. I believe that for the people you love you shouldn't wait for their absence to show appreciation for their presence. So to all those in my life this is my PSA to you, thank you for your contribution it doesn't go unnoticed. To the friendships that died or faded, "My success to you even if you wish me the opposite" (Nas).

I write this not seeking sympathy, or attention only to share my thoughts.

Thursday Thoughts - Family Intruder

As the days roll on it appears single parent families are on the increase and the age of women having babies has decreased. I know a few females with children and no partner and see plenty of pretty girl's pushing buggies around. This has often left me to ask myself could I go out with or start seeing a girl who has a baby?

More time I find myself saying no, as I believe the father of the child will always come before me (not that I'm selfish, I'm just saying) providing he is still around. Also at times I ask myself is it fair for me to enter the child's life like that when it's not guaranteed I'll stay around, but I would like to believe I have a lot to offer (not any time soon) so that shouldn't be a problem, but still I question myself.

In addition I'll have to deal with the constant ear ache of extended family and my friends complaining about the excess baggage, not that I care what they have to say but I cant be bothered to deal with them.

People are becoming younger and younger these days, for now I can't foresee me being put in that situation but as it's said "you can't help who you fall for" #Justsaying.

Thursday Thoughts - Trashy TV and Video Girls

Its likely this week, you either watched Jersey Shore or Bad Girls Club this week, or someone you know was watching it and was enjoying witnessing the 'everyday happenings' of either show. Jersey Shore or Bad Girls Club,  iswhere we see recklessness on another level and yet we know and love it, the Hills wasn't trashy, but it was us thrown in another life some of us would love to live.

Some girl from a Bad Girls Club Series

If that wasn't you, you may have seen  a nice pic of a model/fashion icon/ ex video girl on holiday in the Bahamas, or wiping their nose, being snapped by the Paparazzi.


Famous ex-girlfriends of rappers, Kim K and Amber Rose have a truckload of followers and fans on Twitter and Facebook respectively. There's nothing wrong with that, but we start getting tight and scratching our heads, when we hear news of Rose stunting in a Lamborghini.


Amber Rose, who I do not hate and wouldn't mind if she got my BB pin, does seem to have a penchant for rappers, whether it be Wiz, 'Ye or Fab. Yes, the girl is stunning, yes the girl is bald, but this was not enough for her to became famous on her own right, that's where a the famous Chi-Town MC/producer comes in. Like ultimately, that's the reason for the fame and the ever increasing amount of 'fans'. 

Amber Rose

When Sheryl Gascoigne went on I'm A Celebrity...., the reason being she was one married to ex-footballer, Paul Gascoigne. So you divorce the guy, that was a lousy and violent husband to you, but keep his surname for celebrity purposes? Alex Reid, will probably be in the limelight for a long while now, even after his failed marriage with Jordan is finalised. Works both ways, I fully know this.

I am not saying we should all follow Princeton Professor Cornell West on Twitter, but don't get upset when all these Tweets and YouTube searches about these said characters, earns them multi-millions in revenue from farcical reality shows, 'self-penned' books, and sponsorship deals. And please for me whatever you do, don't call them great businesswomen or men for that matter, any day now, one of the WSHH pre-op sex change video hoes will make it. They have a team which tells them to sign the biggest and most lucrative, stars don't spend hours pondering over deals, aligning themselves with brands, they have well paid experts to do that.

Forget the outfits, you understand what I'm getting at.

So the next time, you see a Snooki high up on the Forbes money list, or Kim K with her own chain of hotels, acknowledge they have gone far, but they were not the brains (no pun intended) of the operation.

Thursday Thoughts - Concerts & Shows

This week my good friend @AbzPapes and I were one of the few lucky people who did not end up spending my Monday evening watching EastEnders or Crawley vs Derby.

J Cole

As we managed to get a pair of Drake tickets before they sold out. Upon arriving at Hammersmith I saw a long queue of fans eagerly waiting for the doors to open, some with posters others singing his songs. The show was intense and full of good vibes. It kicked of by J. Cole taking to stage and warming up the crowd with tracks of "Friday Night Lights". Before his set ended and left fans with mainstream single "Who Dat". At this point fans where more than ready to see the man they had lining up for in the cold (some longer than others).

The lights dimmed, voices rose and Drake took to the stage like a man with a point to prove. Commanding the stage and performing songs from "Thank Me Later" as well as hook's and verses he featured on for other artist's such as Rick Ross' "Aston Martin Music" and Timbalands' "Say Something". Come to think of it, he performed a catalogue of music, and had me singing along for quite a long time.

Drake

As I reflected on the show and other artists that I had seen prior to this I thought to myself I thoroughly enjoy their shows and genuinely have a very good time. Also, that seeing an artist live allows people to see them in a different light when compared to seeing them in music video's or documentaries. Some might say they have the chance to actually connect with the artist.


That being said I have promised myself to get to more shows and concerts if I like the artist. Looking at this year's calender I will be going to see Wiz Khalifa in May, and I might just find myself at  one of Ne-Yo's tour dates which will feature Trey Songz and Chipmunk next month.

What do you prefer seeing the artist live, or catching everything on YouTube a few days hours later?

Thursday Thoughts - My Year End List

 Since its the first Thursday of 2011, and we have been slacking lately (apologies), I present to you my list of all things good and bad in 2010. Mostly music related with a little bit of fashion and popular culture added into the Gumbo pot. Don't judge me.

Mixtape of The Year: Wale - More About Nothing

A lot of people will probably go for J Cole's Friday Night Lights, which was brilliant to be honest, but offered nothing new on two counts, subject matter and what we have come to expect. I have heard about Wale for a long while, but this mixtape opened my eyes, impressive beat selection, several stellar verses and the various topics he touches upon. On top of that,  with all the Seinfield excerpts, making that sitcom seem humorous to me, is an achievement in itself.

Below one of the standout cuts, in which he explains why he fell out with fellow '09 GQ Man of The Year, Kid Cudi.

 06 The Numbers Won (Competition) 

Album Of The Year: Really wanted to go with Pilot Talk, but this musically blew me away. The production, some serious guest verses by the like of Nicki Minaj, Rozay and Pusha Terrence. 'Gorgeous' is simply that, the arrangements on many songs, both vocally and production-wise not to mention the Chris Rock piece on 'Blame Game'. It's still hilarious to me to this day and more enjoyable than a lot of your favourite songs. A plethora of reasons why, but honestly could have won off the drum programming on 'All Of The Lights' alone. One of my greatest albums. Of all-time.

Two Favourite Male Looks: Pocket Tees and Espadrilles.

I am about to go OTT with the pocket tees, I have like 5 already, in two designs. And with the 'drilles, they can do a lot of things to any outfit. I do, however question folk that wear them on those Syberia-like nights.



Two Least Favourite Female Looks: Fur Jackets and Fake Eyelashes

I have spoken about my disdain for furs before. But these 'feather' eyelashes have got to go, not only are they over-elaborate and just plain silly, girls have stopped wearing for them occasions, and started plastering them on a day-to-day basis. Like in the morning, where is one going at 10am, where feathered fake eyelashes are a must? Hope this trend thingybobby dies very soon.

Some personal moments of 2010: Graduating from Uni
                                                    Getting asked for I.D. for a 18+ game
                                                    Celebrating Christmas in GH.

Thursday Thoughts - New Years Resolutions

It's the first Thursday of the year, I believe everyone has had time to settle and recover from all the festivities of the Christmas and the run up to New Year. After speaking to a few friends the common question always pops up, "What's your New Years Resolution?". I've been met with a few answers some claim to join the gym, cut out fast food, make as much money as possible and so forth. Although they're intentions are good I'm led to believe that they are half hearted promises as my friends are yet to put one foot forward in the direction of achieving they're resolutions.

Me personally when asked that question my response is I don't really have any, I just want to better myself as a person and learn from my mistakes of the previous year.

Those are just my thoughts ...

Thursday Thoughts- WTF Is Urban?

So another big year, for the UK urban scene with acts like Tinie Tempah reaching the stratosphere, N-Dubz still churning out hits like nobody's business and acts like Roll Deep, Skepta, and Wiley all charting with mainstream dancy tracks, in the case of William and his boys, consistently. Pro Green also had a very good 2010. Devlin, who released his major label debut this year, Bud, Sweat & Beers, earlier this year didn't really deviate from his sound, rapid-fire delivery, lyrical content and thought provoking material. However because of this he was never going to set the world alight, and he didn't, haven't heard the album, but unlike some other acts, will happily give it a listen.

Mainly what my gripe is, the moment when you get signed, the moment every MC/rapper (sometimes artist) dreads, underrated or overpaid? Griminal just inked with Universal a little while ago, we will see if his music steers from him single-handedly repping NASTY Crew at every possible chance to more poppy crossover appeal? 'Supa Dupa', his first release after the signing of his deal, implies otherwise. Not for a second, am I criticising any of these acts or MC's I have mentioned, but with the power of the internet I am surprised. Surprised, we haven't earthed an unknown talent, most of the time, its a popular artist who has been grinding for a while and then finally gets the little push, the backing of a machine and bucket-loads of Pounds on marketing and what not. There's no Kanye West similarity I can make off the top of my head, nor a British hip hop lyricist that has fiends fans going crazy over the product being supplied, like Jay Electronica. Not even a Soulja Boy reference or similarity can be made. Interestingly, Jessie J, Britian's newest Pop Princess, made her name on YouTube as a aspiring singer belting out hits on her bedroom floor.

 I would just like it, if artists on their second album could make songs like 'She Likes To' that would chart Top 20, but the album would sell on the strength of the artist, not whether the first single was soppy or synthy enough. The scene is called urban for two reasons, its not big enough and it has no sound. Hip-hop has trends, soul samples, Auto-Tune, chopped n screwed voice effects, but the sound more or less is the same.

Selling out is cool, I'm all for catchy singles with bait and over-featured R'n'B singers, but having to leave your genre or comfort zone, (can tell this when a song sounds forced), just so radio will pick you up, speaks volumes of a scene in its infancy.

Any thoughts on the 'urban' scene?

Thursday Thoughts - Ugg Boots

Is this fair?

Most probably the most common footwear likely to be found on females come this time of the year. Whether they are authentic or just imitations from shops like New Look or Shoezone, Ugg boots are the shoe boot built for these cold winter days. I must admit I am a fan of girl in Ugg's, especially when they are in good condition cause like most folk I'm sure they'd agree that slumped Ugg's are a sight for sore eyes, what's worse is when they are slumped and I've made the effort to look for the Ugg logo at the back, as soon as they walk past me, only to be greeted by nothing but the sound of the girl dragging her feet.

Is this fair?

That's my venting over, as I was saying they are very common amongst females coming in a variation of styles and colours, and nowadays I've seen a few males wearing them, and they are often slated as gay or camp. I personally think they're alright well only the classic black pair anything else is way too far out of the comfort zone. On my trips to Amsterdam I've seen males in abundance wearing them with Moncler jackets and I must say it drops nicely. That being said no matter how many times I hear how comfortable or how warm they are I highly doubt you will find me galavanting around the capital with them on, well not for now anyway.

So as I leave I ask what are your thoughts on men wearing Ugg's? And also if your Ugg's are slumped or leaning please put them to a side and accept that a new pair (real or fake) maybe your best option.

Thursday Thoughts - Dr Who Capes and 'Chinchilla Fur' Coats

Chinchillas. Not this kind but more like.....

These. Not one of Fif's finest moments.

Almost all high street stores are now selling faux fur jackets, in the store I work in, they also sell these 'fur jackets'. Because of this I have seen how people can try on the ghastly things, and start swanning around or strutting their stuff as if they are modelling the Emperor's New Clothes. In reality, they are just wearing German Shepherd but seem to think they are decked in the finest of Chinchillas.

Now I am not a member of PETA, nor am I an animal lover, my typical West-African diet does not allow me to be one, its a Thursday so I am just sharing my thoughts. Wearing a faux fur coat is cool, but a one that drapes to floor like the one that got Frank Lucas (American Gangster) in trouble or one with bristling with whiskers is a no-no.

Capes

These I am actually cool with, I can respect a woman in a nice cape. Its just that I am concerned to as how far can the Dr Who obsession go? I have even seen tweed blazers coming into play a lot more recently, and even riding boots (No Yeo Valley). I am just saying lets not overdo it ladies, and in this increasingly unisex world we live in, we now have men's jeggings, and open-toed sandals, mandals. I just don't want to see no men or women head to toe in the Good Doctor's gear, hanging around telephone boxes and trying to communicate with Daleks.

Note to manufacturers, not everyone should try their hand at certain clothes, if you pop into ASDA for grapes and walk out with a fur coat, that is not correct.

Shouts to Beezy on this one. What do you think, have any thoughts on capes or 'faux fur'?

Thursday Thoughts - Diamonds Are Forever?

In the past week, it was made public that rapper Jay Electronica has signed to Roc Nation. This might not jump out as you read, but I aim to explain and help you understand what is going on and why I have selected this story as the topic of my Thursday Thought.

Jay Electronica was is an undeground artist hailing from New Orleans,  building a buzz and demanding attention from the mainstream hip hop community as well as purists after dropping underground gems such as "Exhibit A" and "Exhibit C".  Below is the much-talked about "Exhibit A".

 Jay Electronica - Exhibit A (Transformations) (Produced by Just Blaze)

Fans and critics alike have been singing his praises and annointed him as the next "God MC" and have placed the burden of him to restore Hip-Hop back to a "healthy" state for some, maybe back to the days of ATCQ (A Tribe Called Quest) or something similar to The Roots or Mos Def. As a result the buzz Jay Electronica has built for himself, it was only a matter of time before the majors came fishing for his signatures. Big names such as Nas, T.I. and Diddy all asked where he was going to make his recording home, and when he would drop his mainsteam debut LP. Keeping many in the dark for almost a year now he has just signed to Roc Nation as I mentioned before.

This may have raised a few eyebrows, as it did it to mine. I've asked myself on many occasions was it the right move, as labels ultimately hold the cards and tend to interfere with artists work too much. Thus not showing the true colours of the artist but showing that they can make what will sell  at the current time.

Jay Eletronica also was good friends with Mr Carter's former partner in crime, Dame Dash. Jay Elec has been found at  DD172 on many occasions, and has recorded with several DD172 artists such as Mos Def and Curren$y. What will Dame make of this move? Respect his friend's business acumen or see this as an act of betrayal?

 Amanda Diva, Dame, Curren$y and Jay Elec back in the gold ol' days.

Also I asked myself him working under Jay-Z would he flourish as an artist as the current roster boasts J. Cole as well as Willow Smith both acts in which I believe his time will be dedicated to, to add insult to injury while Jay-Z was the head of Def-Jam some may argue his time in that position was not utilised correctly. That being said, some may argue that him signing to Roc Nation will introduce him to a whole new audience, however his die hard fans will hope that he does not become consumed of the idea of chasing platinum selling albums but rather focusing on making a classic LP.

Recently to hit the net is a track that features Jay Electronica, Mr Carter, The-Dream and Charlotte Gainsbourg called "The Shiny Suit Theory".

Jay Electronica featuring Jay-Z, The-Dream & Charlotte Gainsbourg - Shiny Suit Theory

When I first heard this I had to shout my brother Kwarmz just to make sure he has heard what I had just listened to, if this is a product of what is to come then all Jay Electronica fans have nothing to worry about as the chemistry shown on the track is nice.

What do you think about Jay Elec's decision?

Stay tuned for next week's Thursday Thought with Kwarmz.

Thursday Thoughts

From next week, you can expect a brand new weekly feature, Thursday Thoughts. Myself and the boy Dantz at HNW, will be expressing our opinions on a variety of topics. We will take alternate turns, so I will start next week and then Dante the following week, and so forth and so on.

Just giving you lot the heads up. Blog Out