Some of the most spurious statements that I have ever heard said about me have all implied that I do not like to try new things. This is, in fact utter rubbish - but I completely understand where they are coming from when they say such a thing.
I am now twenty years-old, and up until this point in my life I have only very rarely bothered to drink or do any sort of drugs. And when I do take part, I have always done so only in strict moderation. As a personal standard, I don't even intake anything that contains caffeine - no chocolate, coffee, soft drinks or even tea - and have managed to maintain that regimen for the past nine years or so.
Understandably, most people find that to be just a pinch overboard. I often hear such reasonable criticisms as "You don't drink fuckin' tea?!" or "You don't fuckin' drink tea!?" or even "Why the fuck wouldn't you fuckin' drink fuckin' tea you fuck?!?!!" But they never understand that caffeine is the only thing I truly abstain from. I know that the minuscule amounts of caffeine in most foodstuffs aren't really that bad for you, and that chocolate treats are oftentimes delicious. In fact, the only real reason I even started boycotting caffeine, at least at the personal level was due to a bet that I had with a friend in middle school that I couldn't go even one day without having a pop. Then, as things with me tend to do, it all just got out of hand.
But other than caffeinated products, everything else is fair game, so long as it doesn't interfere with my thinking, as I have never been one of those people who finds that drugs heighten perception and analytical abilities. For instance, I will have an alcoholic drink from time to time - whether it be a mixed drink, wine or beer. And while the first two make a bit of sense to me, as they are a flavourful way to take in alcohol - beer has always disgusted me. I have long maintained that beer only tastes good to drunken people.
I find it to be obvious: beer was conceived and designed by drunk people, for drunk people. And my not enjoying it isn't so much that I don't try new things as it is my reluctance to try things that have so frequently disappointed me on every level in the past.
For instance, last night I had a Broon (Newcastle Brown Ale to the rest of you), a beer that once upon a time was brewed right in the grand county of, you guessed it - Tyne & Wear - and while it does have a certain unique flavour to it that is completely absent from many other beers, it still tasted quite horsepissy to me.
I find that it is practically the same across the board - even with beers that are perennial winners of various accolades (such as First Gold, Samuel Adams or even Guinness), they still have the unfortunate taste of beer that one has to get through in order to appreciate the fact that it was aged for sixteen months in an oak barrel, or that they seasoned it with honey and ground almonds.
It's probably that I just do not find hops to be that appealing. That, or it could just be that I'm incredibly lazy, because when the same logic is applied to wines I can completely see and understand what they were going for (and perhaps more importantly, why they would bother). Most likely, it is between the two and resides on the fact that I am lazy, and grapes taste much better than hops. Either way, I'm right - and everyone else is probably too drunk to care.
11.11.08
Black to Back to Black.
Yes, I've been black - but when I come back, you'll know-know-know.
Instead of jumping into more 'serious' posts right out of the gate, let's have a buffer of more lighthearted material - shall we?
Q: How do you make a six-year-old girl cry twice?
A: Fuck her in the ass, then wipe your dick on her teddy bear.
Q: What's the difference between a politician and a bag of shit?
A: The bag.
-------------
A few weeks ago, there was a cruise ship that experienced near-total engine failure while it was heading from Miami, Florida to Kingston, Jamaica. The ship was stalled for the night, sitting in the Bermuda triangle - a fact which the captain and his crew were very wary of informing the passengers about. In fact, they managed to keep the fact that the ship had not moved on engine power for around eighteen hours to themselves, by just keeping the lone working engine on low power - even though any single engine couldn't dream of moving the heavy ship, even on full power.
All night, a very windy storm threw waves into the ship's hull, subtly pushing it off course - and by the time the repairs had been completed in the morning, they found the ship's equipment telling them that they were now turned to face nearly the opposite direction. After calculating the time that would be lost in turning back around and heading in the proper direction, the decision was made to dock at the nearest available port - in the Cayman Islands.
As the ship sailed, the storm continued - and after being hit by a series of particularly heavy waves, the ship's engines again failed. The storm continued, and the crew did their best to keep the ship on course, but due to the storm and their remote location - their navigation and communications equipment, which was never working properly - had completely failed.
The ship ended up tipping over, and sat laying on its side just off the coast of one of the unclaimed islands just east of the Caymans. Three passengers - two men and one woman - managed to swim to the nearest shore. They quickly discovered that while their cell phones had absolutely no chance of working, there was a plentiful amount of food - and even a small freshwater oasis not far from the shore. They made a shelter, and began searching for other people on the island.
A few years passed, and not once did they come into contact with any other human life. The unanimous conclusion was finally reached that they would likely never be found, so they decided to try and forget their past lives and just do what felt natural.
Well, after a few years of having either (or both) of the men at her whim, the woman began to feel guilty about what she had done. She felt that although they had been faced with an incredible tragedy, there was no excuse in abandoning her morals - and just letting herself be used for casual sex all the time. So she decided to put an end to it, and committed suicide. Of course this was very hard for the two men to take. But they banded together and reached the decision that they had been through a lot worse, and that surely they could make it through this.
After awhile nature once more took its inevitable course, and not even six months had passed by and the two men began to feel that they understood how absolutely horrible the woman must have felt about what she had been doing.
So they buried her.
-------------
A guy walks into a whorehouse and tells one of the girls he wants a blowjob. The girl takes him to a room and proceeds suck him off without a condom. While she does so, the guy sees a half-full bucket of sperm beside the bed.
He disregards the strange sight as he enjoys the best blowjob of his life. A second later, he shoots his load into her mouth. She takes every drop, but instead of swallowing, she spits the cum into the bucket.
The guy wonders aloud, "Don't like swallowing, huh?"
She wipes her mouth and replies, "No, another girl and I have a bet. Whoever fills up a bucket first gets to drink both buckets."
-------------
That's all for now, see you on Thursday.
Instead of jumping into more 'serious' posts right out of the gate, let's have a buffer of more lighthearted material - shall we?
Q: How do you make a six-year-old girl cry twice?
A: Fuck her in the ass, then wipe your dick on her teddy bear.
Q: What's the difference between a politician and a bag of shit?
A: The bag.
-------------
A few weeks ago, there was a cruise ship that experienced near-total engine failure while it was heading from Miami, Florida to Kingston, Jamaica. The ship was stalled for the night, sitting in the Bermuda triangle - a fact which the captain and his crew were very wary of informing the passengers about. In fact, they managed to keep the fact that the ship had not moved on engine power for around eighteen hours to themselves, by just keeping the lone working engine on low power - even though any single engine couldn't dream of moving the heavy ship, even on full power.
All night, a very windy storm threw waves into the ship's hull, subtly pushing it off course - and by the time the repairs had been completed in the morning, they found the ship's equipment telling them that they were now turned to face nearly the opposite direction. After calculating the time that would be lost in turning back around and heading in the proper direction, the decision was made to dock at the nearest available port - in the Cayman Islands.
As the ship sailed, the storm continued - and after being hit by a series of particularly heavy waves, the ship's engines again failed. The storm continued, and the crew did their best to keep the ship on course, but due to the storm and their remote location - their navigation and communications equipment, which was never working properly - had completely failed.
The ship ended up tipping over, and sat laying on its side just off the coast of one of the unclaimed islands just east of the Caymans. Three passengers - two men and one woman - managed to swim to the nearest shore. They quickly discovered that while their cell phones had absolutely no chance of working, there was a plentiful amount of food - and even a small freshwater oasis not far from the shore. They made a shelter, and began searching for other people on the island.
A few years passed, and not once did they come into contact with any other human life. The unanimous conclusion was finally reached that they would likely never be found, so they decided to try and forget their past lives and just do what felt natural.
Well, after a few years of having either (or both) of the men at her whim, the woman began to feel guilty about what she had done. She felt that although they had been faced with an incredible tragedy, there was no excuse in abandoning her morals - and just letting herself be used for casual sex all the time. So she decided to put an end to it, and committed suicide. Of course this was very hard for the two men to take. But they banded together and reached the decision that they had been through a lot worse, and that surely they could make it through this.
After awhile nature once more took its inevitable course, and not even six months had passed by and the two men began to feel that they understood how absolutely horrible the woman must have felt about what she had been doing.
So they buried her.
-------------
A guy walks into a whorehouse and tells one of the girls he wants a blowjob. The girl takes him to a room and proceeds suck him off without a condom. While she does so, the guy sees a half-full bucket of sperm beside the bed.
He disregards the strange sight as he enjoys the best blowjob of his life. A second later, he shoots his load into her mouth. She takes every drop, but instead of swallowing, she spits the cum into the bucket.
The guy wonders aloud, "Don't like swallowing, huh?"
She wipes her mouth and replies, "No, another girl and I have a bet. Whoever fills up a bucket first gets to drink both buckets."
-------------
That's all for now, see you on Thursday.
5.11.08
Election Reflection(s)
This blog has always been a vehicle exclusively reserved for my words and opinions, but when faced with a matter such as this election - I would be remiss to not post the equally (if not more) eloquent words of a friend of mine, whose worldview differs from my own from time to time.
To paraphrase the words of Edward R. Murrow - 'He is a civilized individual who does not insist upon agreement with his political or religious principles as a pre-condition for conversation or friendship.' And while I may not agree with the words he has submitted, I give him this forum because I hold his opinions in high regard, however much they may differ from mine. With that, I leave you with the words of my good friend Shawn.
-------------
Although I am saddened by the reports of voter fraud and intimidation (as well as the lack of reports of said activity by certain newscasters), America has spoken. And for many of us, America was not on our side this time around. We have now elected a president who supports abortion in virtually any case, and although he claims Christianity, he does not show any signs thereof, other than calling his openly racist pastor a "great man".
This may go down as the election where the Moral Majority was not only defeated, but was obliterated first by a lack of acceptable choices, shortly followed by landslide defeat. But what do we do now? First of all, as Christians, we are instructed to pray for the leadership of our nation. That seems like it might be pretty hard to do, but if we didn't do anything we are instructed to do because it might be difficult, where does that leave us?
The Bible also says that authorities and rulers are set in place by God for His purpose (I'm just writing this as a short note, so feel free to correct me if I misstate something). I was at Bible study a few weeks ago where we were expressing our concern about the upcoming election. There was a couple there who had spent most of their lives in foreign nations spreading the gospel. Since we knew that they had a perspective we didn't on American politics, given that they were both Americans and foreigners at the same time, we asked for their input. Frankly, I was surprised to hear their indifference to the whole thing. When they explained, it made a little more sense, however.
What they said was that, on one hand, we had a candidate who supported Christian principals, though not to the extent that many Christians would want, and on the other hand, we had a candidate that would likely fight against Christians on many many issues and chip away at the country's foundation as well as people's basic rights.
Neither one is really that great of a choice (as we have known for quite some time), but then the fact was brought up that there are no mediocre Christians in Muslim or Communist nations. There is no "Yeah, I go to church, but I really only believe some of it." There is no "I'll change later. For now, I'm enjoying living my own life without religion telling me what to do." What there is in those nations is people honestly and earnestly living their lives for their God, and relying on Him instead of their own wealth and comfort.
It has become too easy to be a Christian American. Too casual. My guess is that we will see a decline in the number of people who claim Christianity in the coming years, but I'm willing to bet we will see more Christians.
-------------
Some readers may find themselves cheering in wholehearted agreement with this post. Some may find themselves with views in an almost polar opposition to them. Regardless of your reaction, all are welcome to express themselves in the comments section or even in an eMail to tribalmultimedia@gmail.com
To paraphrase the words of Edward R. Murrow - 'He is a civilized individual who does not insist upon agreement with his political or religious principles as a pre-condition for conversation or friendship.' And while I may not agree with the words he has submitted, I give him this forum because I hold his opinions in high regard, however much they may differ from mine. With that, I leave you with the words of my good friend Shawn.
-------------
Although I am saddened by the reports of voter fraud and intimidation (as well as the lack of reports of said activity by certain newscasters), America has spoken. And for many of us, America was not on our side this time around. We have now elected a president who supports abortion in virtually any case, and although he claims Christianity, he does not show any signs thereof, other than calling his openly racist pastor a "great man".
This may go down as the election where the Moral Majority was not only defeated, but was obliterated first by a lack of acceptable choices, shortly followed by landslide defeat. But what do we do now? First of all, as Christians, we are instructed to pray for the leadership of our nation. That seems like it might be pretty hard to do, but if we didn't do anything we are instructed to do because it might be difficult, where does that leave us?
The Bible also says that authorities and rulers are set in place by God for His purpose (I'm just writing this as a short note, so feel free to correct me if I misstate something). I was at Bible study a few weeks ago where we were expressing our concern about the upcoming election. There was a couple there who had spent most of their lives in foreign nations spreading the gospel. Since we knew that they had a perspective we didn't on American politics, given that they were both Americans and foreigners at the same time, we asked for their input. Frankly, I was surprised to hear their indifference to the whole thing. When they explained, it made a little more sense, however.
What they said was that, on one hand, we had a candidate who supported Christian principals, though not to the extent that many Christians would want, and on the other hand, we had a candidate that would likely fight against Christians on many many issues and chip away at the country's foundation as well as people's basic rights.
Neither one is really that great of a choice (as we have known for quite some time), but then the fact was brought up that there are no mediocre Christians in Muslim or Communist nations. There is no "Yeah, I go to church, but I really only believe some of it." There is no "I'll change later. For now, I'm enjoying living my own life without religion telling me what to do." What there is in those nations is people honestly and earnestly living their lives for their God, and relying on Him instead of their own wealth and comfort.
It has become too easy to be a Christian American. Too casual. My guess is that we will see a decline in the number of people who claim Christianity in the coming years, but I'm willing to bet we will see more Christians.
-------------
Some readers may find themselves cheering in wholehearted agreement with this post. Some may find themselves with views in an almost polar opposition to them. Regardless of your reaction, all are welcome to express themselves in the comments section or even in an eMail to tribalmultimedia@gmail.com
This Week's World In Review.
"Barack Hussein Obama is the President-Elect of the United States of America."
These words symbolize not only the introduction of a new administration, but also a new era in global politics. No longer are the pep talks of 'anything is possible' generic words used to motivate the children of the world to undefined goals, but are facts of life that no longer require words - but only a motion towards the man who now leads the country. Perhaps this is a symbol of a new trend in world affairs, that color is no longer a determining factor to be accounted among the attributes of a potential elected official.
As I watch these events unfold before my eyes, I am firmly entrenched in the knowledge that we do not yet live in a time where people are judged only in that respect, but I do have hope that this puts us ever so much closer to such a world. A world where all colors, creeds, nationalities and faiths can look upon each other only as fellow human beings in this grand society we have built.
It is no secret to those who know me that I have long since dreamed of a world where the words of Malcolm X would shine on the faces of the population, and I hope from the deepest reaches of my heart that this is a sign that those words, visions and ideals are still alive. I hope that each new day shows us that the closer we can exist with one another as a civilization, the stronger we are as individuals.
I pray that now, some forty-three years after he was forcibly removed from this earth our most misunderstood hero finally begins to get his chance to prove just how true his words were.
Whether or not you agree with his political, religious or personal ideals - the election of Barack Obama represents this: so long as there is an America to talk about, so long as the words "freedom" and "unity" survive - it shall be represented by one thing and one thing alone, "We The People".
During all the time I have lived in America, I have grown more and more confident that those words are all most people want to believe. That "We The People" still have a voice in shaping the world within which we live.
-------------
BaffleGate has been on hiatus for a few months now, but soon I will be right back on task. Promise.
These words symbolize not only the introduction of a new administration, but also a new era in global politics. No longer are the pep talks of 'anything is possible' generic words used to motivate the children of the world to undefined goals, but are facts of life that no longer require words - but only a motion towards the man who now leads the country. Perhaps this is a symbol of a new trend in world affairs, that color is no longer a determining factor to be accounted among the attributes of a potential elected official.
As I watch these events unfold before my eyes, I am firmly entrenched in the knowledge that we do not yet live in a time where people are judged only in that respect, but I do have hope that this puts us ever so much closer to such a world. A world where all colors, creeds, nationalities and faiths can look upon each other only as fellow human beings in this grand society we have built.
It is no secret to those who know me that I have long since dreamed of a world where the words of Malcolm X would shine on the faces of the population, and I hope from the deepest reaches of my heart that this is a sign that those words, visions and ideals are still alive. I hope that each new day shows us that the closer we can exist with one another as a civilization, the stronger we are as individuals.
I pray that now, some forty-three years after he was forcibly removed from this earth our most misunderstood hero finally begins to get his chance to prove just how true his words were.
Whether or not you agree with his political, religious or personal ideals - the election of Barack Obama represents this: so long as there is an America to talk about, so long as the words "freedom" and "unity" survive - it shall be represented by one thing and one thing alone, "We The People".
During all the time I have lived in America, I have grown more and more confident that those words are all most people want to believe. That "We The People" still have a voice in shaping the world within which we live.
-------------
BaffleGate has been on hiatus for a few months now, but soon I will be right back on task. Promise.
10.6.08
Snoopy D-O-Double-Gizzle.
Rating a hip-hop personality is often quite simply a matter of charting the level of success (usually in sales) they managed, and how long they were able to maintain that success. Which makes Calvin Broadus an interesting character in the grand story of hip-hop, in that depending on the level on which he is enjoyed by a particular person, the argument could be made for his either being the most over or under-rated lyricist of all-time.
From one perspective, he has had a very large hand in bringing the current state of rap to the forefront - that of the bling-coated, sex-obsessed 'hoodlums'. Then again, he has only one album that is considered to have much top-to-bottom weight (coincidentally, his solo debut Doggystyle) - despite being aligned with many of the top producers and organizations while they sat at arguably the peak of their creativity and influence (Dr. Dre/Death Row, Master P/No Limit, Pharrell Williams/the new 'free' market).
Today we examine the career of Snoop Dogg through his albums, in an attempt to ascertain how he has maintained his success thus far into his sixteen year career.
The Chronic
[Dr. Dre album - Snoop is featured on twelve of its sixteen tracks]
Sales: 3.00 x Platinum (US)
Widely considered to be perhaps the most influential album on the modern hip-hop sound and culture, Snoop Dogg's heavy involvement in The Chronic earned him the type of success and credibility that many artists have to work years to even approach. But it was not as though this was solely the doing of his being supported by Dr. Dre - Snoop's flow, particularly on the instant-classic "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", was both respected and met with critical acclaim for its balance between complex and effortless -- perhaps not a product of, but most assuredly an inspiration to the now heavily prevalent freestyle delivery. And when paired with tracks like "Fuck wit Dre Day", it served to establish his now well-known blunted-out, "don't hafta nothin'"-type persona.
Doggystyle
[executive production - Dr. Dre]
Sales: 4.00 x Platinum (US)
Even upon its release, the sound and feel of Doggystyle was immediately compared to that of The Chronic - which can easily be attributed to both Dr. Dre's production of the album, and the atmosphere held as standard at the Death Row Records studios - as described by Bruce Williams:
Sales: 2.00 x Platinum (US)
Snoop's first release outside of both Death Row Records and the all West Coast/G-Funk sound that was their signature at the time. Although his next album No Limit Top Dogg would be more appreciated, Da Game would outsell it nearly two-to-one, and would deliver a firm message in the successful mixing of Nu-South production with West Coast lyricism - that collaboration was something to be sought, not shunned, an especially important message delivered just about a year and a half removed from the Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. killings. A message that not only rings true today, but dictates the genre - while hot producers serving as freelance hitmakers to whoever pays, lyricists still show pride in their geographic roots - but without the foolish beefs that cost the genre so much in talent and poor media exposure in the late 1990s.
Tha Last Meal
[released by Doggystyle as supported by No Limit & Priority Records; produced by Dr. Dre]
Sales: 1.00 x Platinum (US)
After a brief return to his G-Funk roots with No Limit Top Dogg in 1999, Snoop started off the new millennium with his first release on his own vanity label, Doggystyle. And with the new label came a new approach that lasts to this day, and is almost universally embraced within the upper echelon of hip-hop - that of the super-pimp-a-listic playa spectacular. It was almost as though Snoop had paid his dues, and could now use his name as a ticket to easy success - using beats from only the hottest producers, and being backed up by an all-star cast of guests (such as Nate Dogg on "Lay Low", Pharrell Williams on "Beautiful" and "Drop It Like It's Hot"). Much like Jay-Z, Snoop learned that he could be honest and rap about his riches and luxurious lifestyle - and that people would still buy his records, so long as the track was club-worthy.
Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle
Sales: ; Awards: 2001 Adult Video News Awards for Best Music, Adult Video News Awards for Top Selling Tape of 2001
In his first move that directly set trends, without being apart of a larger product - Snoop 'hosted' his own hardcore pornographic music video, "Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle". He was quickly followed by artists such as Mystikal, Yukmouth and Too Short - which all assisted in establishing a base of operations for Hustler's new clothing line and record label. Incidentally, while the scenes were filmed at Snoop's house - he is never involved directly with any of them - and most adult film critics have gone so far as to proclaim that the the video bears false advertising (in regard to the 'hardcore' level of the scenes). This video would later be followed up by a Snoop Dogg-endorsed Girls Gone Wild installment, but neither have seemed to assist or harm Snoop's career in any significant way.
-------------
So what is the lesson learned by looking at Snoop Dogg's career? What is his grand secret of success? In a word - consistency. Snoop has never truly reinvented himself as one brand or another of emcee - and while his status elevated, so did the references in his rhymes. His youthful pursuit of money gave way to the braggadocio-styled lyrics of other successful capitalists such as Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. But perhaps most importantly, Snoop has always had a sense of humour towards all of his affairs. Whether through cameos in Half Baked or his plain honesty in interviews (with a follow-up to that available here), Snoop has never hid any aspect of his life from the public - and seems to have been handsomely rewarded for that.
As far as influence goes, outside of his -izzy/-izzle suffixation, it can be argued that most influence in music is done on the other side of the booth - via production, and that Snoop's major contribution in that court has been in his willingness to work with whomever will gain him the surest path to success - a model that is utilized by nearly every platinum-selling artist in any genre nowadays. But regardless of how large the mark may be, it cannot be argued that Snoop Dogg's is a brand that will remain for quite some time, perhaps even after he has hung up the pimp hat and cane for the last time.
From one perspective, he has had a very large hand in bringing the current state of rap to the forefront - that of the bling-coated, sex-obsessed 'hoodlums'. Then again, he has only one album that is considered to have much top-to-bottom weight (coincidentally, his solo debut Doggystyle) - despite being aligned with many of the top producers and organizations while they sat at arguably the peak of their creativity and influence (Dr. Dre/Death Row, Master P/No Limit, Pharrell Williams/the new 'free' market).
Today we examine the career of Snoop Dogg through his albums, in an attempt to ascertain how he has maintained his success thus far into his sixteen year career.
The Chronic
[Dr. Dre album - Snoop is featured on twelve of its sixteen tracks]
Sales: 3.00 x Platinum (US)
Widely considered to be perhaps the most influential album on the modern hip-hop sound and culture, Snoop Dogg's heavy involvement in The Chronic earned him the type of success and credibility that many artists have to work years to even approach. But it was not as though this was solely the doing of his being supported by Dr. Dre - Snoop's flow, particularly on the instant-classic "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", was both respected and met with critical acclaim for its balance between complex and effortless -- perhaps not a product of, but most assuredly an inspiration to the now heavily prevalent freestyle delivery. And when paired with tracks like "Fuck wit Dre Day", it served to establish his now well-known blunted-out, "don't hafta nothin'"-type persona.
Doggystyle
[executive production - Dr. Dre]
Sales: 4.00 x Platinum (US)
Even upon its release, the sound and feel of Doggystyle was immediately compared to that of The Chronic - which can easily be attributed to both Dr. Dre's production of the album, and the atmosphere held as standard at the Death Row Records studios - as described by Bruce Williams:
"Dre’s going to be the first one in the studio and the last one to leave. He’ll start messing with a beat. As the beat starts pumping, the guys start filtering in. Everybody will get their little drink and smoke in. Soon enough the beat starts to make a presence. You’ll look around the room and every cat that was a rapper – from Kurupt to Daz to Snoop – will grab a pen. They would start writing while Dre is making a beat so by the time he’s finished with the beat, they are ready to hit the booth and start spittin'. To see those young cats – they were all hungry and wanted to make something dope. The atmosphere that was there, you couldn’t be wack (...)"Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told [executive production - Master P]
Sales: 2.00 x Platinum (US)
Snoop's first release outside of both Death Row Records and the all West Coast/G-Funk sound that was their signature at the time. Although his next album No Limit Top Dogg would be more appreciated, Da Game would outsell it nearly two-to-one, and would deliver a firm message in the successful mixing of Nu-South production with West Coast lyricism - that collaboration was something to be sought, not shunned, an especially important message delivered just about a year and a half removed from the Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. killings. A message that not only rings true today, but dictates the genre - while hot producers serving as freelance hitmakers to whoever pays, lyricists still show pride in their geographic roots - but without the foolish beefs that cost the genre so much in talent and poor media exposure in the late 1990s.
Tha Last Meal
[released by Doggystyle as supported by No Limit & Priority Records; produced by Dr. Dre]
Sales: 1.00 x Platinum (US)
After a brief return to his G-Funk roots with No Limit Top Dogg in 1999, Snoop started off the new millennium with his first release on his own vanity label, Doggystyle. And with the new label came a new approach that lasts to this day, and is almost universally embraced within the upper echelon of hip-hop - that of the super-pimp-a-listic playa spectacular. It was almost as though Snoop had paid his dues, and could now use his name as a ticket to easy success - using beats from only the hottest producers, and being backed up by an all-star cast of guests (such as Nate Dogg on "Lay Low", Pharrell Williams on "Beautiful" and "Drop It Like It's Hot"). Much like Jay-Z, Snoop learned that he could be honest and rap about his riches and luxurious lifestyle - and that people would still buy his records, so long as the track was club-worthy.
Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle
Sales: ; Awards: 2001 Adult Video News Awards for Best Music, Adult Video News Awards for Top Selling Tape of 2001
In his first move that directly set trends, without being apart of a larger product - Snoop 'hosted' his own hardcore pornographic music video, "Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle". He was quickly followed by artists such as Mystikal, Yukmouth and Too Short - which all assisted in establishing a base of operations for Hustler's new clothing line and record label. Incidentally, while the scenes were filmed at Snoop's house - he is never involved directly with any of them - and most adult film critics have gone so far as to proclaim that the the video bears false advertising (in regard to the 'hardcore' level of the scenes). This video would later be followed up by a Snoop Dogg-endorsed Girls Gone Wild installment, but neither have seemed to assist or harm Snoop's career in any significant way.
-------------
So what is the lesson learned by looking at Snoop Dogg's career? What is his grand secret of success? In a word - consistency. Snoop has never truly reinvented himself as one brand or another of emcee - and while his status elevated, so did the references in his rhymes. His youthful pursuit of money gave way to the braggadocio-styled lyrics of other successful capitalists such as Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. But perhaps most importantly, Snoop has always had a sense of humour towards all of his affairs. Whether through cameos in Half Baked or his plain honesty in interviews (with a follow-up to that available here), Snoop has never hid any aspect of his life from the public - and seems to have been handsomely rewarded for that.
As far as influence goes, outside of his -izzy/-izzle suffixation, it can be argued that most influence in music is done on the other side of the booth - via production, and that Snoop's major contribution in that court has been in his willingness to work with whomever will gain him the surest path to success - a model that is utilized by nearly every platinum-selling artist in any genre nowadays. But regardless of how large the mark may be, it cannot be argued that Snoop Dogg's is a brand that will remain for quite some time, perhaps even after he has hung up the pimp hat and cane for the last time.
6.6.08
"There appears to be an event happening..."
The working thesis for this particular entry is as follows: "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
Derrick Comedy: Spelling Bee [NSFW]
Following that clip, and before any discussion takes place, it should first be stated that very rarely is racial humour of any fashion appreciated on a universal level, and that it is the responsibility of the joke-teller to point out the comical nature of the joke, and not the responsibility of those hearing the joke to stop, analyze and then determine whether to be offended or entertained.
That said, holding something up to the light is not the same as making light of it.
The language of hate has many different faces and dialects, and regardless of how easily any given individual can picture a perfect world - the reality within which we live is far from those dreams of utopia. Derogatory terms rarely have a shelf life, and to take on such a subject without first understanding both the history and modern application of such terms is just as, if not more ignorant than simply applying such words in everyday conversation. For as weak of an argument as it is, at least one can make a case of accidental ignorance - if they were raised around such words, and never were introduced to detestable history of their use as a blanket term for people who share only an ethnic background or similar skin tone.
Armed with that knowledge, even the casual use of such words as 'nigger' or 'faggot' can only be defined as direct and conscious ignorance of the fact that all people are born as equals, and that only in our actions can we then separate 'good' from 'bad'. And if the intent is to utilize such terms to get a laugh, then that person or group of people are guilty of satire in it's poorest and least effective form.
But if the joke simply 'must' be made, it should make light of things that even those within the race of focus can appreciate as either ludicrous stereotypes or otherwise harmless observations - and not simply make sweeping generalizations in and of itself.
There is often a sense of entitlement, especially among the black community, to their right to the casual usage of terms that they would never tolerate a non-member of their race to use even comically. It is referred to as 'taking the power away' from the terms, but in reality such actions only serve to grant more power to those who use it 'without permission'. Quite honestly, the level of idiocy exhibited from many musicians and entertainers who could otherwise be considered very capable thinkers is troubling - namely, those who speak out against racism only to cater to the many tenets that make up the stereotypes that they are unfairly held against.
Such behaviour is detestable, yes - but it does allow us to see that in this modern world, we have grown into a global society still filled with two types of people: hunters and gatherers.
In the past, hunters were directly responsible for the survival of not only themselves, but their families - all by spending their life out tracking, stalking and finally killing their prey. And that carcass would serve not just as food, but as tools, clothing and shelter to get that family through a winter that most cannot even begin to fathom - tucked into their warm safe beds, with thermostats just a few steps away to drive off any sneaking discomfort that manages to find its way through their insulated walls.
And while there have been significant developments since that time, particularly in the terms of medical science, architecture and the development of a monetary system - modern hunters still have an important tie to their predecessors. Their lives are dedicated to the search - often forging out on a path less chosen, in order to track and eventually come across their goal: to dominate something much larger than themselves, and use it to provide for those they hold dear.
Meanwhile, gatherers supplemented the time between kills by harvesting nuts, roots and berries from the wild. And while they didn't provide the impressive bulk and diverse functionality that the hunters did with their contributions, they oftentimes represented the only source of food that a family would have during periods of drought and especially trying hunting seasons.
The most important thing about early gatherers was that they worked in conjunction with the hunters to provide, and never saw their jobs as unimportant or not as prestigious as that of the hunters' - they had neither time nor need for such internal debate. Their only concern was that of keeping their family alive and on course, focused only on making it to the next round of provisions from their hunting partners.
And that is the point on which modern gatherers diverge from their historical forebears. Most modern gatherers can only be found following the trails blazed by their hunting counterparts, gathering only enough to support their own needs - and most often spending any time that remains attempting to bring down other gatherers, or defame the accomplishments of the hunters who allowed them to live with comfort in a world they often feel does not meet some mythic standard that is owed to them.
They use every possible means available to enrich only themselves, and curse anyone who questions their motives or methods. They stand as icons of bitterness, upset that they were not solely responsible for creating or developing the ideas and standards they have used to provide a life for themselves, and never truly appreciative of the fortunes they are afforded.
This is the world in which we live today, and this is the world that those of you with children will be leaving to them as inheritance, unless we can agree to take a stand against the benchmarks currently held in regard to such topics. Otherwise, the already bleak future we have as our forecast will only become more dismal and disjointed as time goes on - until we are left in a world of irrationality within which the ignorance of today will only be met by the blindness of tomorrow.
Derrick Comedy: Spelling Bee [NSFW]
Following that clip, and before any discussion takes place, it should first be stated that very rarely is racial humour of any fashion appreciated on a universal level, and that it is the responsibility of the joke-teller to point out the comical nature of the joke, and not the responsibility of those hearing the joke to stop, analyze and then determine whether to be offended or entertained.
That said, holding something up to the light is not the same as making light of it.
The language of hate has many different faces and dialects, and regardless of how easily any given individual can picture a perfect world - the reality within which we live is far from those dreams of utopia. Derogatory terms rarely have a shelf life, and to take on such a subject without first understanding both the history and modern application of such terms is just as, if not more ignorant than simply applying such words in everyday conversation. For as weak of an argument as it is, at least one can make a case of accidental ignorance - if they were raised around such words, and never were introduced to detestable history of their use as a blanket term for people who share only an ethnic background or similar skin tone.
Armed with that knowledge, even the casual use of such words as 'nigger' or 'faggot' can only be defined as direct and conscious ignorance of the fact that all people are born as equals, and that only in our actions can we then separate 'good' from 'bad'. And if the intent is to utilize such terms to get a laugh, then that person or group of people are guilty of satire in it's poorest and least effective form.
But if the joke simply 'must' be made, it should make light of things that even those within the race of focus can appreciate as either ludicrous stereotypes or otherwise harmless observations - and not simply make sweeping generalizations in and of itself.
There is often a sense of entitlement, especially among the black community, to their right to the casual usage of terms that they would never tolerate a non-member of their race to use even comically. It is referred to as 'taking the power away' from the terms, but in reality such actions only serve to grant more power to those who use it 'without permission'. Quite honestly, the level of idiocy exhibited from many musicians and entertainers who could otherwise be considered very capable thinkers is troubling - namely, those who speak out against racism only to cater to the many tenets that make up the stereotypes that they are unfairly held against.
Such behaviour is detestable, yes - but it does allow us to see that in this modern world, we have grown into a global society still filled with two types of people: hunters and gatherers.
In the past, hunters were directly responsible for the survival of not only themselves, but their families - all by spending their life out tracking, stalking and finally killing their prey. And that carcass would serve not just as food, but as tools, clothing and shelter to get that family through a winter that most cannot even begin to fathom - tucked into their warm safe beds, with thermostats just a few steps away to drive off any sneaking discomfort that manages to find its way through their insulated walls.
And while there have been significant developments since that time, particularly in the terms of medical science, architecture and the development of a monetary system - modern hunters still have an important tie to their predecessors. Their lives are dedicated to the search - often forging out on a path less chosen, in order to track and eventually come across their goal: to dominate something much larger than themselves, and use it to provide for those they hold dear.
Meanwhile, gatherers supplemented the time between kills by harvesting nuts, roots and berries from the wild. And while they didn't provide the impressive bulk and diverse functionality that the hunters did with their contributions, they oftentimes represented the only source of food that a family would have during periods of drought and especially trying hunting seasons.
The most important thing about early gatherers was that they worked in conjunction with the hunters to provide, and never saw their jobs as unimportant or not as prestigious as that of the hunters' - they had neither time nor need for such internal debate. Their only concern was that of keeping their family alive and on course, focused only on making it to the next round of provisions from their hunting partners.
And that is the point on which modern gatherers diverge from their historical forebears. Most modern gatherers can only be found following the trails blazed by their hunting counterparts, gathering only enough to support their own needs - and most often spending any time that remains attempting to bring down other gatherers, or defame the accomplishments of the hunters who allowed them to live with comfort in a world they often feel does not meet some mythic standard that is owed to them.
They use every possible means available to enrich only themselves, and curse anyone who questions their motives or methods. They stand as icons of bitterness, upset that they were not solely responsible for creating or developing the ideas and standards they have used to provide a life for themselves, and never truly appreciative of the fortunes they are afforded.
This is the world in which we live today, and this is the world that those of you with children will be leaving to them as inheritance, unless we can agree to take a stand against the benchmarks currently held in regard to such topics. Otherwise, the already bleak future we have as our forecast will only become more dismal and disjointed as time goes on - until we are left in a world of irrationality within which the ignorance of today will only be met by the blindness of tomorrow.
4.6.08
The Collapse of the English Language or; hw txts r fukin up shyt
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