Oh My It's On...

It has been a long time coming, but it may actually be finally here .   It took Kendrick Lamar a Compton based rapper to slap the F*** out of the New York rap scene and wake these dormant artist up.  Kendrick's Verse on Big Sean's Control Track was epic the brother put it down on a sick beat and made history well at least current history.  In the verse Kendrick proclaimed himself the King of New York and set everyone ablaze.  Kendrick's Verse on Control  How is a West Coast rapper going to call himself the king of New York?  However, because this is Hip Hop we must look deeper into what he said because no one ever says what they mean.  If you go back and listen to the line in its entity you will see the following.

"I'm in a destruction mode if the gold exists I'm important like the pope, I'm a Muslim on pork I'm Machiavelli's offspring, I'm the king of New York King of the Coast, one hand, I juggle them both"

As you can see he says he is the King of New York, but also notice that he stated that he is the King of the "Coast" aka West Coast and the offspring of TuPac, so he is proclaiming to be the best there is in the Game right now. He may very well be right because all of the other artist out today are to concerned with sounding like whoever is hottest artist out  or whoever is making the most money.  No one wants to step out on their own and take the reigns.   But this one Verse has awakened some of the best rappers out there they have gotten off of the  "chitlin' circuit" and went back to their roots and a few came out from the underground into the light of day  in order to let their feelings be known.

It seems everyone has made a response to this verse even Kevin Hart albeit comedic in nature.  But some of the most notable responses came from Papoose, Joe Budden, B.O.B and Lupe Fiasco.  All of these tracks where hot in their own way.  Papoose took the proclamation personal and spit pure acid over the airways.  This track is insane when you listen to it.  I will admit that I am a big Papoose fan ever since I heard Alphabet Slaughter.  But this track is what New York Battle rap used to be about.  Papoose has continued to be one of the only NYC Rappers who will rep to the Death.  Papoose Response

Joe Budden has a Video up on Youtube of when he first heard the track sitting in what looks like his house talking to some friends about it.  He heard the track and wasn't offended by it but did state that someone needed to step up and say something and even though he wasn't mentioned in the track he would do it because there is no one else that can.  Those are fierce words and he put it into his verse and proved his point.  His response was epic as well and went for a full 5:28  No hook just "Joey Badass" doing what he does.Joe Budden Response

But the most important thing from the "Control" verse is that Kendrick got exactly what he wanted.

"I got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you niggas Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas They dont wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you niggas !!!!!What is competition? I'm tryna raise the bar high Who tryna jump and get it?"

Competition he called out the Hip Hop community and laid down a challenge.  For that Kendrick I say thank you someone had to step up to the plate and try to get these so called artist to stand up.  We will see who stands up and who lays down.  I believe that the Big names and big money will continue to hide because lyrically they are ill equipped to deal with him.  In Today's rap game talent doesn't make you a star curb appeal does.  so the money makers do just that make money and not music.

So for those about to fight WE SALUTE YOU.

Where is the money coming from?

GOOD Lite: Infographic: Who's Paying for the President? http://goo.gl/mag/5md06B

Too much

This post is over a week late. I want to congratulate my seed DDG-88 and the newest addition to the Gayle clan Danielle on their union Thursday April 26, 2012.  I wish you both nothing but happiness and love for the rest of your days.

Manhood

It seems the standard of being a man has drastically declined.  Today what we allow to be called a man back in our Grandparents day would have been a laughing stock.  Men today are obsessed with the way they look, the clothes they wear, and the car they drive.  They have no care about what they are, it is all about the image.  Men use to be providers... hunters... gatherers.  Todays man is a testosterone filled woman.

Now we can look in many places in order to pass blame for this but lets start at home. Ladies you have to raise the standards of what you consider a man.  If you do that then men will raise the standard of what they have to do in order to attract you.  Ladies stop hyping up the men who wear nice clothes and drive nice cars, the impression is all I need is nice clothes and a nice car then I will get your attention.  Start looking at brothers who are doing things with there lives.  Find the Sexy in a 401K retirement plan.  Ask the brother what his 5 year goal is. These are the things that make a difference.  These are the things that a Man in todays society should be able to offer.  These are the things that will eventually make you happy in the future.  Not the 1995 q45 infinity  that he drove in 97...Man that ride was clean, while today you watch him stand at the bus stop waiting for his ride to the security job that he has down at the harbor.

Expect more from the men you allow into your life and you will see men start to change what is important to them.  You are the catalyst that brings about change.

Continuation

It is no secret that one of my all-time favorite Hip-Hop Artists is Pharoahe Monch. So here is probably one of the best verses I have ever heard him spit. Now don't get me wrong every time I listen to him I hear something new that makes me say damn. With that said understand that this verse right here always makes me say damn.

My book is a ovary
The pages I lust to turn
My pen's the penis
When I write the ink's the sperm
Desire, the fire that ignites the torch to burn
This is not rocket science
This is easy to learn
My mic's the gavel
When I talk courts adjourned
Respect, even if you was ashes you couldn't urn
I embody antibiotics
You are infected with germs
Rap's fatally ill, please get concerned
Players, pick turns to play, get burned
I color commentate the game like Chick Hearns
This is the moment of truth for my opponents and liars
Vocals alone evoke the emotion of black choirs
Fire, you don't wanna get burned like Richard Pryor
Move back, who's that, there, the live wire
You will feel me
You will admire
(My) Struggle
(My) Hustle
(My) Soul, Desire

My book is a ovary / The pages I lust to turn / My pen's the penis
When I write the ink's the sperm

This line here is deep he basically unravels the image of his Rhymes being conceived through the love of his writing and being born when they vibrate the bones in your ears. The next line takes me into another direction and points out the fact that we all have desire and need to understand the purpose of desire.

Desire, the fire that ignites the torch to burn /
This is not rocket science /
This is easy to learn

The Next line speaks of Respect which he no doubt deserves. The image of the respect that a judge is given in a court room is the ANCHOR of this line. Followed by the use and visualization of the Urn. This solidifies the Idea that respect is earned not given.

My mic's the gavel / When I talk courts adjourned /
Respect, even if you was ashes you couldn't urn

The imagery of the ashes in the urn gives way to the next verse going back to NAS's statement that Hip Hop is dead. But Pharaohe moves on letting you know that he is above the hypocrisy of Hip Hop with the statement "I embody antibiotics"

I embody antibiotics / You are infected with germs / Rap's fatally ill, please get concerned

He continues along the same vein that MOS DEF started with the line "I am the shot clock above the Game". In following line Pharaohe sets himself apart from the rest by commentating the action.

Players, pick turns to play, get burned / I color commentate the game like Chick Hearns

The following lines basically speak for themselves. He is bringing out the genius which is Pharoahe Monch and telling everyone to take heed because he is here and will remain for a long time.

This is the moment of truth for my opponents and liars /
Vocals alone evoke the emotion of black choirs /
Fire, you don't wanna get burned like Richard Pryor /
Move back, who's that, there, the live wire /

I promise not to write anything else for at least 8 months about Pharoahe. have fun...

Life Wasted

Dear Kenyatta As Samad

I feel as though I have awakened from a long and restless sleep. The things that i held most dear to me and my most valued possession has for the most part been a figment of my imagination. As I Awaken I am confronted with the eerie fact that I am alone and isolated. Those that i thought where there are nowhere to be found, but what is there are the leeches and maggots that feed off of my dying carcass. I am unable to find anything that brings light to my life or a smile to my heart. I am bitter and cold and appear to be getting worse. When I reach out to those around me that I kept as safety nets I see that life moves on and so do they. For all the times that I have played the role of comforter and pillar now that I am falling apart there is no one to lean on. I am a world onto myself. And if I am unable to fix me then I am afraid there is no hope.

There have always been doors opening in front of me for me to pass through in order to reinvent myself, but it appears that those doors are no longer opening. I am trapped and desperate. This is not a suicide cry or a plea for acceptance or release. This is me kicking myself in the ASS and telling myself it is time to regain control and to get my life in order. I need to try and kick start my life and move forward out of this rut. I need to find me, the old happy me. The me; that I know I can be. I need to be free….


Stepphon D. Gayle

Went to Chuurch This Morning.

I can not help but to get excited whenever I hear this song. Monch reminded me of who I am, and what I am doing. This is my desire, my passion, my fire.

The lyrics are deep and listen closely because the meanings may not be as simple as they appear. In my opinion this brother is still one of the best out there even if he doesn't have the platinum plaques on the wall to bolster his success. By remaining true to his art and doing what he does he will remain at the top to my list.

The mini movie for the Song "CLAP" is deeply moving. This video is sure to get you to think and to look at things from a different point of view. Clap is the first single off of the New Album W.A.R. (We are Renegades) by Pharoahe Monch.

Idle Thoughts

Today while driving to work, for some reason I thought about suicide bombers. I have no idea why but it jumped into my head. But that quickly lead me to think about the Kamikaze pilots of world War II. Wouldn't you consider them to be suicide bombers? I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that they were the same. Fighting at all and any cost. Wow, the level of brain washing that it must take to tell someone to take their life for a cause that may not be their own. Incredible. But then I thought about the other side, consider the Kamikaze pilot who gave his life knowing that his family would be taken care of. Ironically enough the U.S. dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan thus rendering the contract that the Kamikaze pilots agreed to useless. knowing this would they have still went through with it? I wonder. Oh and for the record George A. Custer was a Dumbass.