We'll Always Love Big Poppa...

We miss you BIG...

Listen/Download: Jadakiss "Letter To B.I.G."

The Reason For The Season...

I'm not here to preach to anybody, but I just like to call it like I see it....

The Past, Present, and Future...

I want to wish everyone out there a great holiday season. Thanks for the support, comments, and love...

You Think It's Tough Now? Come To Africa...

When ever I am having a hard time getting into the holidays this year because of our on going "Recession", I always like to think about this line from a M.I.A. song Hussel....

M.I.A. has a song on her Kala album called 20 Dollars which is reportedly about her visit to Liberia, West Africa last year.

Hussel (Featuring Afrikan Boy) - M.I.A.

20 Dollar - M.I.A.

M.I.A. in Liberia

Move On...

Great music from half the house...

Download/Listen: Joell Ortiz Ft Joe Budden "Move On"

illidelphia English Connection...

The Roots Band perform one of my favorite joints ever from them with Estelle replacing Ms. Badu....

The Nation's Capital...

The DMV has replaced the nation's top states as the hotbed for the nation's top basketball recruits. Read more here

DC Blue Devils (My Former Team)
DC Assult

Revenge Of The N.E.R.D...

My first memories of Pharrell was in high school when he did the tracks for Nore. Then came "I Just Want To Love You" by Jay-Z and I was hooked to his sound. Pharrell has made it cool to be a nerd, stake board, listen to other genres besides rap or R&B, wear bright color clothes and shoes, all the while making some of the greatest and most classic music of our time. He was worked with artist from Jay-Z to Justin Timberlake, creating a perfect mesh between his unique sound and style with the artists own talents. My homie Modi at DCtoBC loves this guy like I love Jay-Z, Magic Johnson, and cornbread. If you know me, then you know thats a whole lot of loving. So I thought it would be only right if I let him finish off this post.

Modi

ha. thank you sir. i do love skateboard p. he can do no wrong in my book. plus, he has some sort of magical fountain of youth, because he doesn't age. i heard he's still 23, but that's just word on the street. skateboard is a trendsetter like dan said. i mean, when was skateboarding cool for black people? not until pharrell co-signed it as acceptable and encouraged. and let's not forget his work with N*E*R*D, either. he goes hard and gets millions of bucks for beats for madonna, britney, jay-z, TI, etc., but he is on his indie stuff too. a black rock star whose official, unlike the shop boyz. it's about the music to him, the dollars are really nothing in the long run. when he retires, it'll probably be the saddest day in music.

Evolution Of The Neptunes...

Neptunes

Suicide Or Homicide...

The NAACP doesn't think so and either do I. A Mississippi high school football star earlier this week during a traffic stop but no one but the officer and dead football player know what really happened. Read the story and you be the judge.... Story 1/ Story 2

Either You Slang The Rock, Or You Got A Wicked Jumpshot...

Joell Ortiz on Kid Cudi's Day N Nite...

Listen/Download: Joell Ortiz - Day N Nite (Williamsburgh/Greenpoint Brooklyn Remix)

“Breakin’ daylight, Not going home until that re-up money’s right…
He pumps that dope that keeps’em leanin’ to the right…”

Strangers in a Strange Land...

We need to bring our sons, daughters,brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers home so we can stop seeing images like this. A senseless war over a couple of dollars and cents. I really hope President Obama keeps to his word and gets these folks out of Iraq and elsewhere asap.



If these ideas and plans fall through and don't come to pass, then we will continue to see more pictures like this...

Today In Black History...

On this date in 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified to outlaw slavery in the United States. Lincoln and others were concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure during the Civil War, but ended keeping it and adding it to the constitution. I have mixed feelings about this topic and about Lincoln. I don't really like the amount of credit he gets from the public especially blacks about ending slavery. I'll save that for another post...




Stephen Biko was born on this date in 1946. He was a nonviolent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s. More on Biko

Where To Sir???

This is a picture that was on a memory card that I found last year while in New York. I'm not even sure where this was taken or what it even is. When I heard Kanye's Streetlights this picture came back to mind. I'm so glad I got myself a good camera this summer. Pictures really do say some much yet so little. YEBies invest in a good camera and external memory and click away. Memories especially with pictures to go with them are priceless....

Here's the Unofficial video to "Streetlight". I think its pretty well done. Lets see what Kanye does with this song and concept....

Start Them Off Right...

Start your YEBies off right with good music even on their own station. Check out The Roots on Nick Jr...

Roots On Nick Jr..

Hump-Day Music... Adele 1988...

Mick Boogie used Adele’s album 19 as the base framework for this album. Adele’s album 19 set trends and created influence in the pop, rock and international worlds. Combine that with the hip-hop sensibilities of the late 1980s, considered by many hip-hop’s golden age and you get this sick album...


Mick Boogie presents... Adele: 1988 from MickBoogie on Vimeo.

Download here... 1988
Listen Here.... 1988

Gnarls B amd Jay Elect....

Gnarls Barkley with my favorite MC out of New Orleans rite now Jay Electronica...


Download: Gnarls Barkley Ft Jay Electronica "Who Gonna Save My Soul"


Jay's Verse... Its like Poerty...

love is conditional
i never knew that mary'd put a whole in my fishin' boat
i got to trippin mo'
she went to bitchin' mo
the court of universal law said it wasn't permissible
she went to forte
i stayed pianissimo
then i went to forte
and she went to physical
should i go?
should i stay and withstand the additional
attacks on the mental and the physical?
its gon get dangerous
why waste time in these childlike exchanges
why waste time with these childlike games
its just make up to break up
cryin' all the time baby messin' up your makeup
try and scratch my face up
she say "i need communication jay but you don't say much"
i know it ain't okay but…
i'm from where niggas keep they mouths closed and the gate shut.
it seems like only yesterday that i was just a kid in christian dior velour, ballys and a shape up…
spinnin' on cardboard
and tryna rip a break up.
life comes at you fast.
i went from sleepin' in class to sleepin' the streets forgettin' where i wake up.
when i was hit with trial,
i slipped into survival
mode
and did alotta shit a nigga wasn't proud of
so…
so when i be sittin' on the couch with a blank head,
i be at the homeless shelter Jefferson in Bankhead.
a jack sippin dank head
makin' sure niggas don't steal my clothes,
tryna make a path so i fulfill my goals,
tryna take a bath so i can heal my soul…
a little bit of laughter to conceal my woes…
who gon save me?

Bonus: "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"

Sooner Or Later...

New video from my favorite NERDS besides the candy...

Roc-A-Fella’s 2001 Freestyle Session on Hot97 pt.7

Damn I miss the good ole days, when labels were really labels...

PREVIOUS: Roc-A-Fella’s 2001 Freestyle Session on Hot97 pt.6

YEBies Rock...

YEBies really like rock music on the low and especially live soulful bands like Maroon 5 and The Dave Matthews Band.

Maroon 5- If I Never See Your Face Again (Swizz Beats Remix)


This is off Maroon 5’s Call and Response: The Remix Album which is in stores now.

Bonus: Maroon 5 "Secret" (DJ Premier Remix)

Keep Your Friends Close, Keep Your Foes closer...

WRTN... Mase

I thought this sunday would be a perfect day to talk about rapper turned pastor turned rapper Mase. Now I have to admit that back in the day Mase was my man on Bad Boy. He could do no wrong in my eyes especially after Biggie pasted away. M-A-dollar sign-E had that unique Harlem swag and style yet was very chill and laid back. During this time in hip-hop after the deaths of Tupac and Biggie people wanted to party and have a good time and Bad Boy lead by Puff and Mase ushered us into that phase of rap. Mase was on the cusp of Bad Boy's assault on taking over radio & had no true foes in the game. Betha was more widely accepted by the wearers of Timbs as well as those who preferred Coogis & gators.



On April 20, 1999, during an interview with Funkmaster Flex of New York radio station Hot 97, Mase announced his retirement from music. This was during the promotional period for his second album. The rapper left Bad Boy and Harlem and moved to Atlanta and became a preacher. There were rumors that he was ran out of town or that we lost the love for the music and lifestyle. Mase would go on to say that he left because he felt had a higher calling.

In 2004, Mase made a come-back to the game with his album Welcome Back. On this album Mase had a much cleaner image and didn't curse on the entire CD. He stayed away from topics that he was once know for.



After his short clean return, Mase returned to his old rap ways and joined 50 Cent and G-Unit. Betha would go on to have half hearted beefs with Camron and Jim Jones of Dipset and follow label mate Loon.

Hot 97 Interview Cam & Jim Jones Diss Mase - Cam,Jim Jones & Mase

YEBies Xmas/ Kwanzaa Gift List,,,

No matter how old we get, we will never get too old to want gifts...

1. Gift Certificates- Who doesn't like the freedom to get what you reallllly want for the holidays...
2. Latest Gadgets- We love to show off our new iPhones and Blackberrys or invite people over to watch the game on your new flat screens.
   
3. Artwork- All forms of artwork are a nice choice. African artwork is especially great around the house or office.
   
4. Books- Always a great add to your already growing library of literature. Coffee table books
   are always a great way to show your style and taste in things.

YEBies Love....

Prince and they love A Tribe Called Quest (especially Q-Tip). Put the two together on stage and you get this....



Bonus Video: Q-Tip "Renaissance Rap"

The Circle Of Life (Hip-Hop)....

Charles Hamilton "Brooklyn Girls"


Now doesn't that remind you of this:

LL Cool J "Around The Way Girl"


And to be honest, I know i might be bias but I still think The DMV has got the baddest females in the land...

Today In Black History...

On this date in 1963 Kenya received their independence from Great Britain with Jomo Kenyatta as its first minister. As an independent country, Kenya was initially a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch as its nominal head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government. In December 1964, however, Kenya became a republic with a president as both head of state and head of government. Kenyatta was chosen as the country’s first president. Kenyatta died in 1978, but became Kenya's most famous country man before his passing.

Jomo Kenyatta

Kenya is known for their distance runners and they usually fair very well in the Summer Olympics and other events around the world. Kenya has been in the news of late in America because of the connection between President-Elect Obama and the country being the birthplace of his father and also him having sibling living there.

Wise Words From A Wise Man....

"Life is always stronger then death, and life shall win every time"

Dr. Cornel West presents Big Boi with 2008 Renaissance Award

Mr. West is the man for this introduction. I wish I could have had him as a professor during college...

TGIF...

This is how your fridays should be after a long week of work or school or what ever all you YEBies are doing around the world....

Raheem Devaughn - Friday (Shut The Club Down) - Raheem DeVaughn

Athletes And Guns...

ESPN's show Outside The Lines takes a look at athletes and the use of guns.

Paying Homage...T.R.O.Y...

When we think of first blacks in sports here in America the names you usually hear are Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Larry Doby, Jack Johnson, Althea Gibson, and Arthur Ashe, however there is one name that often goes under the radar by most Americans, Bill Willis.

Willis was one of the four original black players in 1946 to break the color barrier to play professional football in America. Willis was the first black All-American in Ohio State football history. As a two-way star he helped lead the 1942 Buckeye team to the national championship. In 1946 Willis was signed by the Cleveland Browns of the AAFC(All-American Football Conference which later became the AFC of the NFL) and took off where he left off in college. He continued to play both ways as a pro which is unheard of these days. The Browns won their league title every year they played in the AAFC, and Willis was named as an All League player in three of those four years. In 1950 the Browns moved into the NFL and Willis was a 3 time pro bowler. Willis is one of few players in any sport to be in the Hall of Fame on the Pro, College, and High School levels. When Willis retired from football after the 1953 season, he later become the director of the Ohio Youth Commission where he helped out the youth of Ohio and gave back to his community which was so important to him in his life.

Over the past year I developed a special relationship with the Willis family (especially his Imani who is an amazing person herself) and from everything I have heard and have seen Bill the football player doesn't even scratch the surface of Bill the father, grandfather, uncle, friend, coach, adviser, and so much more. I got a chance to visit his hometown of Columbus, Ohio earlier this year and I was amazed to see how many people he touched in such a special way. The words and pictures gave me a little taste of how great of a person he truly was. The thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the fact that THE Ohio State University waited so long to honor such great and influential man to their program. When I think about all the other players who had their jerseys retired before his in this program's storied history, most would have never gotten a chance to excel at OSU if it wasn't for Willis and his ability to endure all the things he had to face as a black man America during his collegiate career. They should not have waited until he was sick and on his way away from us to give him his just praise. Like my mom always tells me, " Give me my flowers and praise when I'm alive, not dead"