The Road Less Traveled (Hip Hop Edition)

So I was cruising Myspace *Yes Meshia, I’m back on Myspace!* and I came across a blog post from my cousin, Saint Lewis, and it was titled “Hip Hop ain’t dead, these dudes is just scared.” In the post he talks about how real hip hop is still around but is overshadowed by current music played on the radio. *I’m paraphrasing of course, and he put it so much more eloquently.* This got me thinking about a post I did back on Myspace about 2 -3 yrs ago, back when D4L and Franchise Boys first started to pop. It was an open letter to hip hop stating how much I love it but that maybe we needed some time apart to grow together.

I feel like since then there have been some great strides in hip hop but there is still more of that “I got money so girl shake ya ass” type of music overshadowing real MC’s. That’s just my honest opinion. I can’t speak for anyone else but my Zune is filled with artists that don’t even get radio play. I don’t blame it all on ‘the machine’ and I don’t put the full blame of the artists *I use that term loosely* either. it’s a split. I feel that artists should have more integrity and not make certain music just because that’s what’s popular. The popular thing to do isn’t always the right thing to do. I also feel that ‘the machine’ should take responsibility for the image that they are putting out there to the masses.
If I hear one more child singing a song that was made purposely with incorrect grammar I think I’ll scream! *Ahem, T.I.’s ‘Ain’t I’ for example*

Has anyone noticed that the best music in hip hop is not the mainstream stuff? There are a few mainstream artists that are doing real hip hop but artists like Wale *my favorite rapper right now*, Kid Cudi, The Insomniaks, Marky, 88 Keys, Currency & Christian Rich are a few just off the top of my head. These are some of the artists that get heavy rotation from me as of right now.

They talk about how the record industry is in a bad state because of downloading but I think it also has to do with the music that’s been put out as of late. People are not willing to spend the money to buy an album from some of these established artists if they feel they aren’t’ getting their money’s worth. With so much copy cat music going on can you blame them? Why buy an album of someone using autotune like T-pain when I already have the T-pain album, or why buy an album from this artist when it sounds just like this other artist? *just examples, but you get my drift. I hope…* So many artists seem to be putting out music just because. Not really for the love of the culture or for the fans but just to fill some contractual obligation *ahem LL* or because they are about to go away for a while *ahem T.I.* or just for themselves *ahem Kanye*. I have to agree with 50 cent on one thing. If you come out and say I’m making this album for myself than you should keep that to yourself! I’m all for artist expression but you have to remember your audience. For example, right now as I type this I have to think about my audience as well as myself. I could write this post for myself and not care what my audience thinks but what would be the point of me posting it and putting it out there? I might as well just scribble this in my journal with my other personal stuff that will never be read by anyone else. Right? Am I just way off base with that or what?

I keep hearing people saying that hip hop isn’t dead it lives in *insert your local area/coast here*. Does that matter if it all sounds the same?
I was watching ‘Fade to Black’ about a week ago and Jay was in the studio talking to some people and one of the young rappers in the room made a good statement to sum up how I feel. He said *paraphrasing of course* that rappers these days are scared to say what they really feel because they don’t think that it’ll sell records. Sad. What do you do when you’re afraid to express yourself in an art form that is all about self expression? You play follow the leader. If MC killa just sold 1 million records talking about killing, then I guess I better make up some goon stories so I can sell a million too. Instead of creating my own lane I’ll just follow you in yours. We have got to be willing to take the road less traveled.

There’s a lot more I can say on hip hop, *music in general really* but I don’t want to take up too much of your time so I’ll leave it at that.

Peace,
Sincere

The Game Season 3 Episode 9 Recap

Okay so this episode starts off with Malik going over to Tasha’s house just in time to see her going out with the delivery guy. She’s dating others because she doesn’t want to go all in with Rick because she doesn’t want to be hurt again like she did with that coach.

After the date, she goes over to Kelly’s place to talk about it with Kelly and Med school. It didn’t go so well.
Seems Med School is dating both the doctor and Derwin at the same time. *The new Melanie is a lil ho-ish.* Kelly gets a call from Brittany because she doesn’t want to be at her dad’s apartment anymore. When her mom tells her that she can’t come home she starts to ignore her dad *she has really turned that girl against her dad* and doesn’t want to do anything with him but complain.

Over at the Doc’s birthday party, Med school is being a total lush and *you not gonna believe this ish* has sex in the bathroom! *Yes! sex in a public bathroom! Nasty heffa!*

Tasha and Kelly end up going to the party anyway out of boredom and Tasha sees Rick at the party as well. He told her he was going to John Mayer’s house. she has a total breakdown and go to the bathroom to catch Med school taking a monkey bath. *Monkey bath = a quick wash-up hitting the major spots*

Back to Jason’s apt… Derwin stops by to see if he has an egg timer and Med school calls to cancel on him, claiming that she’s sick. *the real reason is that she just had bathroom sex with ole boy and is feeling nasty.* Derwin gives Jason some good parental advice on how to handle Brittany.

Back at the club… The reason Rick was at the club/bar was to meet Malik to tell him that he is in love with Tasha.

Bad Ass Brittany finally comes out of the bathroom *still talking smack to Jason* and he tries to explain to her what’s really going on with the divorce and all. She seems to understand.

At Tasha’s crib… As she’s enjoying a nice bottle of dark liquor, Rick sneaks in behind her to surprise her and tell her he loves her, but she’s not trying to hear it because she saw him at the club. He tells her what really happened and she doesn’t believe him. she calls Malik and he tells her not to mess it up this time, while Rick explains that he loves her and he’s not going to treat her like all those other men.

At Derwin’s spot… Before Med school leaves to go Derwin surprises her with a cheesesteak from their favorite place back in college. It’s their sexiversary *yes they made that ish up* he even has glow in the dark condoms. Now she’s about to have sex with Derwin *What the hell!!* but she can’t go through with it. *her conscience finally kicks in* Derwin being the dude that he is, thinks that he may be pressuring her *not that she’s really a ho* and decides to continue to just check in like before and when she’s ready, she’s ready. she leaves with this guilty look on her face, ending this episode.

Okay so the new med school is a ho! don’t get me wrong I’m not saying this as a sexist thing. Dr. What’s his name is a ho too. but 2 ho’s don’t make a housewife (insert crickets…). I still can’t believe she had sex with dude in the bathroom. Come on Med school. You have really changed! If you notice at the end when she was leaving you can tell that she was feeling remorse for what she did because she wanted to cancel on Derwin and when she went she couldn’t go all the way with him, even though she wanted to. She felt too dirty. I think there is still hope for Med school but she needs to stop this ho-ish activity and stick to what she knows best. Chasing after Derwin.

Give Thanks

Since this is the Thanksgiving holiday season I thought I would share a few things that I’m thankful for or that I give thanks for.

Giving Thanks from Sincere on Vimeo.

What do you give thanks for?

Blog Links

I honestly have no earthly idea what happened but somehow blogger has deleted ALL of my links. I have added some of them back but I can’t remember every single blog that was listed. So now is the time to have your blog added or re-added to the list! Just reply with your link and it’s as good as up there. Thanks a milli!!

Sincere

The Game Season 3 Episode 8 Recap

This episode starts with Mel AKA Med school walking into the hospital for the first time with her ‘white coat’ on cutting to montages of her making her rounds and such feeling all confident. When she sees one particular doctor in the lounge area coming out of the shower and jumps on him. *WTH! Didn’t she just break up with Derwin? that was a quick turn around.* Come to find out he’s her instructor while in her residency. Her on her first patient she attempts to draw some blood and well, it doesn’t go very well and the instructor let’s her hear it. Of course med school being med school gets all hurt and offended and leaves the room. Seems she’s been dating this doctor for a few weeks. She is really blurring the lines between a personal relationship and a working one.

At the Sabers training facility Malik and Jason are talking some silliness about the importance of what side you put Mayo on when making a sandwich when Derwin comes out. They seem to ignore him so he pushes a laundry cart into them forcing them to recognize that he’s there. They decide to tell him why people have been avoiding him. It’s because of his knee injury. He lets Malik and Jason talk him into getting Erv on the phone and making him ‘show him the money’ *uht oh. Hope he doesn’t go all Cuba Gooding on him*

Back at the Hospital… Med school tries to reconcile with the patient from earlier and starts talking to her about her problems with Derwin. As she spills her guts about what’s going on with her and Derwin, she ends up making a good impression on the patient and getting the blood that she tried to get the first time.

Back at Derwin’s… Instead of Erv showing up Tasha shows up to talk about what’s going on. She puts it straight forward to him. His stock has dropped and the people making money off of him no longer care about him. Then she kicks him out of his own house.
Later on Janay arrives to check on him and he’s all drunk and playing some sad depressing music. He seems worried that he can’t play ball ever again and Janay seems to be there to help him see the way. She’s not gonna bail on him because he’s didn’t bail on her or their son * yes SON! they’re having a boy!* Now he seems to have the desire and confidence to come back stronger than ever. *Maybe Janay isn’t so bad after all*

At the hospital again… Med school is still int he room with the patient from before only this time the patient is sleep when Doctor dude comes in trying to hug and get back in her good graces. It only takes a kiss on the neck for her to be back. She tells him that he can make it up later only to find out that he has plans with big booty Daphne. *I guess Med school thought she was the only one getting some*. She tries to play it off when she finds out that he doesn’t want to be exclusively hers but of course her anger shows clearly. *now that was funny, not really but really it was! Haha!* She starts crying right there in the patient’s room and she wakes up to talk about it. She tells her that she’s a ‘side part under’. basically, she plays it safe. she says that she just caught her on an off day. *whatever Med school, if that’s what you need to get through the day than so be it* She just had a secret 3 week affair with her supervisor and slept with 4 men this year. *Wow somebody call the riot police!* The lady tells her to live her life and not to worry about what others think. later, she hooks up with the doctor for drinks and has him leave after a few drinks only to meet up with Derwin for dinner in the same restaurant! *yes! the same restaurant. she went from the bar drinking with the doctor to the restaurant to eat with Derwin! Okay Mel I’m gonna need you to slow down before you get yourself caught up!*
she tells him that she’s sorry about the way they ended and that she loves him but is not ready for them to be a couple again. she wants him to be a part of her life though. She’s gonna give him Mondays and Thursdays and on the other days they will just ‘check in’ with each other for the times in between, ending this week’s episode.

The Game Season 3 Episode 7 Recap

This episode starts out with Derwin at Med school’s ceremony for entering her residency. Seems it’s some problem and she won’t be getting her white coat. *how embarrassing*. Later back at Derwin’s place she’s still going on about it. Come to find out that she is on academic probation and lost her grant. *I thought Trey Wiggs paid for this semester? Or was that last semester? Either way, when did she get a grant and how do you not know you’re on academic probation? Letter or not, you know you’re failing right?* When she tells Derwin it’s his fault for not forwarding the mail, he hits her with asking Trey Wiggs for the money and the only comeback she has is ‘baby daddy’ *weak* Of course they kiss and make up. Derwin ends up writing a check so that she can enter residency.

Over at Tasha’s… Tasha tells Malik that she is dating Rick Fox and he’s cool with the idea. She decides to throw a bbq so that they can get to know each other better. Kelly’s supposed to be bringing her new boyfriend as well.

Erv (the agent) shows up at Derwin’s place out of the blue and tells him that the Sabres front office is not happy with Derwin’s injury and they think that he’s damaged goods. * he must have hurt it when he was fighting with Jerome over Med school that one time*. There’s a possibility that he could be cut from the team.
Med school comes out but he refuses to tell her what is really going on and covers by taking the trash out.
Derwin heads over to Jason’s spot to talk about his situation with the team. Seems he’s gone to the wrong person for advice. Jason’s a little bitter about his relationship falling apart.
So Med school calls home to her mom to help her with the money for school, but it comes at a price. Her mom wants her to beg for it and calls her dad so they can both harp in on it. They will only give her the money because they think that she’s not with Derwin anymore.

Back at Tasha’s crib… Joe, Kelly’s date, shows up at the party but she’s not there and when Tasha calls she backs out of it. *trife ass*. Joe drops the news that Rick and Robin once dated and all hell breaks loose!

So when Med school comes home she finds Derwin filling out some papers. Wehn asked what they are he tells her that it’s some health insurance stuff and life insurance for Janay in case some thing happens to him. The life insurance policy is for $5 million! As you might have guessed, Med school gets all upset which leads to a big argument. She complains of hos tired she is of having to hold her tongue and walk on egg shells yada yada *I think she made this fight so that they could break up because her parents gave her the money under the assumption that they were done, just my opinion though*. Derwin finally steps up and puts her back in her place. He says it’s her fault that his career could be over and his child’s life could possibly be all messed up from now on. He finally tells her that his child comes before her *Finally! I’ve been waiting on him to say that since she acted out at the restaurant*. That’s something she can never compete with so she gets takes his key off of her keyring and throws it on the floor only to walk out the door and start crying and yelling that she is done. *Wow. that argument was a long time coming*
they then show a montage of everyone; Tasha and Rick make up, Kelly goes to Joe’s place to apologize, Med school gets ehr white coat, and Derwin sulks while watching video of Med school. Thus ending this week’s episode.

Don’t Argue With Fools…

Okay, I have to get one thing straight. I don’t like to argue. I love to debate. I love debating so much that I will often take the opposite view point just so I can be able to see the issue from both sides.
I was at work today and I was having a small disagreement with one of my co-workers and someone says to me ‘you just like to argue’. I promptly turned around and told her that
1st – we are not arguing and you might want to stay out of other people’s conversation.
and 2nd – I don’t like to Argue but I love to debate.
Of course the response was not well received. The people around that understood this statement took it for what it was and the ones that didn’t well… I don’t know what to tell you.
I don’t like to argue and I make it a fact not to. I hate the idea of arguing. Now debating is something I love. I state my opinion, you state yours. I state why i feel that way and you state yours. In the end if you convince me I can change my opinion and vice versa. With arguing it’s totally different. There is no persuading the other person to see your side of view by backing up your opinion with either fact or some sort of relevant idea as to why you’re right. it’s just you spouting your views onto someone. And after all the yelling and screaming or whatever, both of you will walk away frustrated with the same opinions or view that you started with. such a waste of time and breath.
I approach diagreements totally different. I start out debating the issues with you. Once I see that you are not willing to engage in a simple debate then I just state my case and move on. There’s no need to sit here and go back and forth with you when I know and you know that once it’s all said and done, I’m still going to think what I think and you’ll still think what you think.
Arguing is pointless. I mean who does that? why argue just to argue? why am I going to waste my time arguing with you when I know I can’t change your mind on the subject? I’m about opening people’s minds to other things not just ramming my opinion down your throat.
am I wrong for wanting to know why you feel so strongly about something anyway? I mean if you feel like strawberry ice cream is better than chocolate than wouldn’t you have some ideas to back it up? Right? I know there are more serious and/or important issues than ice cream but I just used that as an example so you can get my drift. Plus I have the taste for some Chocolate Devotion from Coldstone on my brain.
So once again, I don’t argue with fools but i debate with dummies all day…

Peace
Sincere

The Game Season 3 Episode 6 Recap

This episode starts with the sunbeams dedicating a home that was built for some orphans. Kelly isn’t there so Tasha and Med school try to reach her, to no avail. The kids wanted to present her with a plaque but since she’s not there to accept they run off crying because she abandoned them. Tasha tries to save the moment by yelling “Timmy’s got a gun!”

later on they run into Kelly at a paint studio and question her on why she wasn’t there and she says that she’s done with the sunbeams and that she is getting rid of all the things that involve Jason. She needs her space.

Jason moves into the building where Derwin live. They are now neighbors and Derwin tries to get him to go to church with him so that he can start to get his life back on track. He declines.

He decides to go over to Malik’s to see what he’s up to. Well, Malik and T.T. seem to be having some kind of strip party going on. Eveytime T.T. rings a bell they have to take off a piece of clothing. While there he meets a hoodrat that is just as cheap as he is.

To get over Jason, Kelly decides to go out with her high school friends. They go to a club that they can’t get into so they decide to leave but her friend drops Jason’s name to the bouncer and they end up getting in.
The club is comping drinks and all kinds of stuff for Mrs. Jason Pitts. She says she doesn’t want it and her friends let her know that if it weren’t for Jason she wouldn’t have a life as glamorous and that she should be thankful. A guy walks up and asks for her number making her all syced because someone thought of her as someone other than Mrs. Jason Pitts.
Meanwhile Jason is back at Malik’s crib hitting it off with the frugal hoodrat.

It’s the next morning and Jason is awakened by a knock at the door. It’s Kelly with his daughter Brittany. It’s Jason’s day with brittany but he has some overnight company that he doesn’t want her to see. When Kelly hears her in the bathroom she brings Brittany inside the apartment as she confronts Jason and the girl. She storms out crying. When he goes to apologize she makes him appear to be the bad guy.
He later turns to praying with Derwin but can’t seem to get it right so he just tries some straight talk about how he loves Kelly and wants her back. He begs God not to take his family away and to show him how to fix it.
While Jason’s praying for his family to get back together Kelly is calls the guy from the club to make plans for a date, thus ending this week’s episode.

Okay so let’s start with Jason and Kelly. I’m all for the divorce or if they get back together, either way I’m good, but they need to make a choice. All this back and forth is boring me. this episode was dedicated to their troubled marriage and horrible divorce so I had to suffer through another week of her ugly face crying. I’m trying to understand why she always paints Jason as the bad guy? Like when she came to the apartment and brought the little girl inside the apartment when she confronted him and the girl in the bathroom. She knew someone was there but she still brought that little girl in to see it. why didn’t she just leave? Whatever though. I’m kinda glad Jason moved on because Kelly is most definitely not where it’s at. even though they want each other back I don’t think that’s too wise of a decision. She’ll realize how good she had it when he’s gone, and vice versa, once the divorce is final. Next week should prove interesting.

The Game Season 3 episode 5 Recap

This episode begins with Malik coming over to Tasha’s to make amends for the way he acted towards her and not telling her he got married. he gives her a basket of goodies ( dark liquor and freeze-dried hot wings) *Ghetto!!* The reason for the goodies was to butter her up so that she would come to him and Robin’s wedding reception. She refuses to go and she keeps calling him stupid, when he says he’s not she responds with ” yes you is!!” *now who’s the stupid one again?*
So Malik and Robin stage a fake reception to go along with their fake marriage, but Essence magazine has their doubts because neither parents are there.

Tasha goes with Rick to meet his mom but I don’t think he told her that they are dating because she keeps thinking that Tasha works there as a sandwich girl. *Wow*

Med school and Derwin show up to the reception and they bump into Tisha and Duane Martin. Tisha says something about Med school being pregnant confusing her with Janay * ahh snap!! that had to hurt.* I’m sure this will ruin the night.

Jason runs into Kelly at the reception as well. *of course she’s drinking that liquor like a fish!* Essence is all over them because they came separately. *When did Essence turn into a tabloid type mag?*

Back at Rick’s mom’s house…. His mother says she’s fed up with Tasha distracting him from watching the movie and distracting him rom his career goals * a bit jealous aren’t we mom?* Just being plain disrespectful to Tasha and Rick *exactly how Tasha acts towards Malik*. Now Tasha sees how she acts towards Malik and how it makes the child feel.

Let’s go back to the reception… T.T. *silly ass* is making a toast with a slide show presentation and interpretive Mimes before Tasha pops in to pay her respects and give the couple love. * is it me or does Robin look older than Tasha?* She pulls Malik to the side and says how sorry she is for doubting him and calling him stupid. After they make up they dance the night away. *dancing to Double Dutch Bus by Frankie Smith*
Derwin seems really worried about his career but all Jalen Rose can think about is whether he will finish his steak and why his girl is drinking if she’s pregnant * uht oh.. there they go again! I see they threw in a quick jab about Girlfriends going off the air when med school asks someone from TV guide.* Of course this infuriates Med school so Derwin interrupts T.T. *again* to profess his love to med school and to let everyone know that he loves her but is having a baby with ex. Loves the Baby *if it’s his* but not the ex.
Malik and Robin have their first dance *the song is beautiful, if anyone knows what it is please let me know*. Everyone joins in on the dance including Kelly and Jason, they dance together and then leave *there still may be hope for this relationship after all*. Rick shows up to the reception to apologize for his mother’s behavior and to say he is ready to stand on his own two feet.

The next morning Jason and Kelly wake up together but she doesn’t want Brittany to see them together because she might think they are getting back together. *just like me and Jason did* This to her was a one night fling or ‘double back’ as she put it. *nasty heffa!* And then hit him with the divorce papers. * wow! she is a trip!*

At the reception Malik and Robin get the news that they will make the cover of Essence because they are a ‘real’ black couple. He then gives her his grandmother’s ring and says that it deserves to be on the finger of the woman he loves. he hits back with it needs to be on the finger of the woman that loves him back *ah man damn!* She shows that she’s all about the publicity and not even close to the feelings. Malik pulls a Mike Tyson and gets buck on her. * he didn’t hit her but mentally taxed that ass!!* She wants him to stay married for her reasons but now she’s gonna stay married for his. this ends another episode.

Wow Malik went all out for this reception to make Robin happy and to try and prove to the world that their love is real. I know he really loves her but has a way to go before convincing her to love him back for real and not just for show. I’m so glad Kelly and Jason finally gave up the ghost and got the divorce papers rolling. Even though I think it was dirty how she slept with him then the next morning hit him with the papers but hey, it is what it is. Did anyone notice that this is the second consecutive episode that they talk about Malik’s dad? Hmmm.. I wonder if we’ll see a guest appearance next week or maybe for the season ending. I don’t know about you guys but this whole baby mama scenario is getting played. I’m so tired of hearing about it. And after med school’s little tantrum in the restaurant last week, I’m really sick of it. I really don’t see Tasha and Rick’s relationship going anywhere. Either that or I’m not interested in it going anywhere. I think it’s the latter. Hopefully next week will be filled with more surprises and T.T. can get a bigger role, maybe even a spin off! What are your thoughts on this week’s episode?

Peace
Sincere

Keep It Moving – Barack Obama Edition

I have wrestled with the idea of writing something on the election. I knew I had to say something about it but I don’t like to re-hash what’s already been said a milli times on other blogs. I think that’s why people come to my spot so they can get my thoughts on things and not a post of what someone else thinks. so I decided to put it my way. I am extremely excited to see ‘that one’ win the election, but we can’t stop there. I feel that this is a stepping stone to a better black america. We can’t rely on him to fix everything alone. The same way we all came together to get the word out and vote for him, we need to get together and make a difference in our individual communities. don’t get complacent and think that since we have a black president than we’re all good. He’s not just the president of black america, he’s the president of ALL america! Remember that. I want to start an initiative to mentor the youth and let them know that there’s more to life than what they can even imagine. Each one teach one type of thing.
I just feel like celebration is cool but we have got to get back on the grind and start making things happen. Obama has helped to break the some of the stereotypes surrounding black people (especially men) but it’s up to me and you to go even further and smash even more stereotypes. We’ve come a long way and there’s no turning back. Gotta keep moving forward!!

Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. Barack ran so we could fly.

Peace,
Sincere