R.I.P. Sean Taylor [Apr. 1st, 1983-Nov. 27th, 2008]

It’s a sad day in the NFL and being a fan it makes me angry over the tragedy that has taken the life of the Redskins Sean Taylor. I can only imagine the heartbreak and pain his family must be going through but none of that justifies the pointless actions of another that took this young man’s life. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Redskins seeing that I’m a fan of the Eagles but none of that matters when it comes to something like this. No matter who you are, you feel for what people are going through and I’m sure his family and teammates are going to be in for a good ordeal of grief. On behalf of myself and The Faded Ink, I would like to send condolences to the family of Sean Taylor and to say that even in times of darkness, the light is always at the end of the tunnel. May he rest in peace and may his memory live on for all eternity.

This Christmas

As is common for this time of year, films with a holiday theme are being released and I’ve always wondered why people fall for the same rehashed material year after year. Going in, I didn’t expect much from This Christmas nor did I get anything from it afterwards but I couldn’t help but feel that I had seen this movie before and it was done a hell of a lot better. I’m sure a lot of you remember a movie called Soul Food and while This Christmas is in no way comparable, I felt that its attempt to be something it’s not came off as weak.

Don’t get me wrong though, I enjoyed the film for what it was but I just thought that it had the potential to be a whole lot better. The cast was mostly perfect and I applaud them for their performances but only so much can be done with a script that was predictable . I expect most of the revenue to be brought in by the loyal fans of Chris Brown but his role is minor just like his appearance in Stomp The Yard. Although he gets more screen time, the downside is that if he wants to be taken seriously as an actor then he needs to find a role that lets him do more than sing and dance.

All in all, This Christmas is solid in its effort but if you’ve seen one Christmas movie then you’ve seen ‘em all. This Christmas is no exception and trust me, there’s nothing special about it so instead of wasting your $6.50 or so, wait for the DVD. You’ll be thankful you did.

Rating: 2 ½ inkblots out of 5

The Omen

Has it been a crazy year in college football or what? With the latest upsets of both Oregon and Oklahoma, the trend of high ranked teams going down continues and it makes you wonder which teams will be left standing after everything is all said and done. Right now, LSU and Kansas control their own destiny by being #1 and #2 respectively but all that can change in an instant with the way this college football season has gone. Still, aside from the fact that the current BCS format is nowhere near implementing a playoff, the year has been a success regardless of the outcome but please, please let there be a competitive BCS championship game unlike last year. After watching the classic USC/Texas game the year before, I expected the Ohio State/Florida match up to be a shoot out but everything good on paper doesn’t translate on the field and, sadly, that showed as Ohio State was flat out embarrassed by Florida.

All that aside, I’m interested to see how things will turn out but my gut feeling is telling me that LSU will hold on and be there but their opponent can be a number of teams. While Kansas has been good all year long and definitely deserving of their #2 ranking, I see them losing to Oklahoma so that helps out West Virginia and Missouri. Still, Ohio State could have a say in all this also if things align but I doubt it. The loss to Illinois was a serious blow to their national title hopes but it was nice to see them rebound with a win over their heated rival Michigan. Both teams played hard and it’s a shame someone had to lose but Ohio State played like they wanted it more and Michigan is just not that good of a team.

But like I was saying, this year in college football has been a roller coaster ride for the ages and I only expect that to continue in these last couple of weeks. We’ve had upsets, surprises, and great plays made but the real validity of the season comes with the BCS championship game…and with it looking like their will be no undefeated teams participating, I expect a great finish to an already great year.

That's So Raven

Other than Oprah Winfrey, the only other person I would want to be married to right now is the beautiful Raven Symone. I’m not sure how accurate this is but I read somewhere that she has an estimated net worth of $400 million so whoever said money can’t buy happiness, probably never had any. I’m not saying that her money would be what I was after because I could care less about that, her looks alone would be enough for me but it’s not like having $400 million somewhere would hurt. Anyway, check out these pics of Raven at an event for Cosmo. I think they came out pretty well and that they highlight Raven in all her glory but maybe that’s just me. A lot of people have been checking for Raven ever since she became legal, which is kind of sick if you’re a middle age guy watching her show on Disney, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic so I’m just glad that me and her are the same age.

Raunchy Rebellious

With thanksgiving less than a week away, there’s plenty of things I’m thankful for but none more than for Jay-Z finding Rihanna. Although she can’t really sing or do much else, I’d have to say that her status as “eye candy” is well established. I mean, look at her in these scans from the latest issue of You magazine. I can think of a bunch of adjectives to describe these pictures but none would be even remotely decent for a website of this nature.

All jokes aside, Rihanna looks hot and the pictorial came out tasteful if anything else but there’s just something about Rihanna that I can’t quite put my finger on. I realize that as an artist her credibility isn’t winning over fans due to the fact that she’s not much of a singer but “Umbrella” was a hit and I’m still scratching my head as to why? Think about it, just imagine Rihanna singing that song acapella. Thought about it yet? Yeah…shit doesn’t sound too good, huh? I’m not gonna lie, the song was catchy and I’ll admit that I caught myself singing along as well but the only good thing about the whole damn song was that it made for one hell of a video. Am I right? Of course I’m right and I dare someone to say differently but all that is irrelevant right now anyway. Rihanna is an entertainer to the definition and as long as she continues to preserve her sexy, I’m sure fans will continue to buy into Ms. S.O.S. Lord knows I have so dammit, Rihanna,…I hate that I love you.

Lil' Wayne XXL Magazine Cover

I haven’t been feelin’ XXL lately but peep the preview scans from the upcoming Love/Hate issue. As you can see, Lil’ Wayne is on the cover and although it seems as though Lil’ Wayne is over saturating himself by being pretty much everywhere…I think this only heightens the anticipation for Tha Carter 3. Mixtapes aside and save for guest appearances, 2007 will be remembered as the year of Lil’ Wayne and by all indications, 2008 has the potential to be the same. Whether or not TC3 lives up to all its glory remains a mystery to me but Wayne has gotten better with each album. For all we know, Wayne could be delivering us his first “classic” and you know what they say, “third times the charm”.

Celtic Pride

Maybe it’s just me but last time I checked, the new and improved Boston Celtics haven’t proven anything just yet; so for people to automatically assume that the Larry O’Brien trophy will reside in Boston…all those thoughts are premature if you ask me. I’ll admit, the east is pretty weak so Boston has just as good a chance as any other team to represent the eastern conference in the finals but it’s a long season. Anything can happen from now until then but barring a season-ending injury to Garnett, Pierce, or Allen, I’d have to agree that the Celtics are the frontrunners.

Let’s not forget though, Detroit is still a good team and I’m sure they’ll be around come playoff time along with Cleveland, Chicago, Orlando, New Jersey, and Washington but it’s just too early to tell. 7-0 is still a good start though and I commend “the big 3” for their stellar play as of late but can they sustain it for 82 games is the big question. I’m sure they can but all this talk of them winning 70+ games is a bit unrealistic. The competition in the NBA is so evenly distributed throughout the league that it would be hard pressed for any team to do such a thing so all those notions can be thrown out the window.

Basically, Boston is loaded and primed to make a playoff run come that time of the year and, realistically, have a clear shot of winning it all. Will they or won’t they remains to be seen but that’s why they play the games. Everything will unfold on the court so whatever way the ball bounces, a new champion will be crowned either way.

Alicia Keys: As I Am

If Hip-Hop is dead, R&B is alive and well. Conspicuous by her absence, Alicia Keys returns with her third studio album, As I Am, and the time away really helped her deliver a smooth, mellowed out record that fans will be sure to enjoy. Unlike most albums that lack a real presence, As I Am carries an ambiance throughout that reminds you just why we fell in love with Alicia in the first place. Her voice is amazing here and the passion in which she sings with makes every record become personal. Even better, I found the album to be one of those that you just put on and press play throughout because every track is good in its own way. Whether it’s the remorseful “Lesson Learned” featuring John Mayer or the empowering “Superwoman”, Alicia shines bright in all her glory and exceeds expectations with an album equally as good as her previous two.

As an artist, Alicia undoubtedly gives her all when it comes to her work and it reflects in her music. The songwriting and subject matter on this album commentates a more mature tone than her last album and that compliments her skills as a great songwriter. Production wise, the album has a assorted range of instrumentation and instead of forcing things, Alicia is able to fit herself nicely to every track.

As far as I’m concerned, Alicia is the best at what she does and proof at that can be heard on “Like You’ll Never See Me Again”. By far, this is my favorite song on the album along with a few others but just the way this record sounds is incredible. It’s simple but just the way Alicia delivers on it makes it all the more special. The same could be said for the entire album, overall. There’s no doubt Alicia Keys is becoming one of the greatest singers of our generation and with As I Am…I expect her to only gain more people to believe that as well.

Rating: 8.5 headphones Out of 10

*þµrþlê Råïñ [Purple Rain]

"Interpretation is in the eye of the beholder…"

Look, I understand that you and I are not the same people we were when we first met and that the relationship we have now is one I never could've envisioned (especially when considering what all we've been through) but the past is just that…the past. I'm man enough to acknowledge the fact that I have my fair share of regrets as well as mistakes but in retrospect it's easy to fall back on the notion of "what if". I just feel like for every one step forward, subsequently it was like taking two steps back whenever things would start to go sour between us but what can I say…pride can be hard to swallow sometimes.

As a man, it's easy to get caught up in the formality of not showing emotion when it comes to certain things but love and hate seem to have an adverse effect on principles such as the aforementioned. Love(or the idea of being in love) makes us do stupid things and equally hate is a manifestation of itself so in a roundabout way, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hate that I love you. I can only say it in so many words but mean it with all my heart.

It would be easy to sit here and write this long, drawn-out explanation about where it all went wrong but the writing was on the wall a long time ago. You can only pretend for so long and for too long I've done nothing but sit idly by and try to make things work but for what? For me to sit here and continue to play the fool in this game of cat and mouse? As much as I would love for things to work out between us, the more I realize that you and I are just not meant to be together. For everything we have in common, the less in common we become and it's grown to the point that all we do is nothing but argue. Not so much in the sense of a heated exchange but more so simply for the sake of it so why hold on to something that neither of us are no longer happy to be a part of?

The last thing I ever wanted was to have things end this way and to come so far just to throw away what we had hurts more than anything in the world. However, you and I both know that a relationship between us is beyond repair and that the hardest thing to mend is a broken heart. I gave you mine a long time ago and now the only thing left is to pick mine up off the floor. No more heartache. No more pain. The only thing left is the sweet sound of the purple rain.
________________________________________________________
[Author Interpretation]
It's crazy how you can take a concept such as "Purple Rain" and run with it but somehow I did just that. I'm not really a fan of Prince but, as you can tell, his influence inspired this blog so to discourage people from misinterpreting this beautiful piece of literature, I think it's only fair to enlighten those who may be scratching their heads, trying to figure out what the hell I'm talking about.

On the surface, it appears as though I'm talking from the perspective of an impending break-up but things aren't always what they appear to be. It's never said what kind of relationship is being pushed to the side so, easily, I could be talking about a friendship as well. It all depends on the reader's interpretation because the way I wrote it, I intended it to be something everybody could relate to. We've all had bad relationships and we've all had friends that weren't any good so there comes a point that instead of holding on...you gotta let go, even though it may cause someone to get hurt.

Emotionally, my intention was to connect with those who read this because anytime you can play on human emotion, the more personal it becomes. When people can relate to what you're saying or trying to get across, the deeper the message becomes uprooted. That being said, I feel that to say more would defeat the whole purpose of this literary achiement but keep in mind that the interpretation I've given so far is only scratching the surface ...it's up to you to interpret the rest.

This Isn't Your Mother's Girl Scouts...

…and thank God for that. I’m not a big fan of reality TV [aside from Big Brother on CBS] but that doesn’t mean that I’m not familiar with Tocarra Jones. Ever since she appeared on America’s Next Top Model I’ve been a fan so heaven forbid she loses weight because she looks good the way she is. I think it’s great that Tocarra represents the alternative towards an industry that tends to promote a superficial image so I was disappointed to see her eliminated from the show. Needless to say, I stopped watching thereafter but it’s good to see that in spite of a minor setback, Tocarra has made a name for herself.

I’m sure a lot of you are familiar but Tocarra is currently one of the hosts of the late night BET show Take The Cake and even though the show has become somewhat of a success, I’m sure Tocarra has played a big part in that. Most people I talk to only watch because of her; besides…the show is whack, it’s no wonder why they have to give away money also. Still, I’m hoping a second season will air but if not then it was fun while it lasted. Seeing Tocarra in outfits like this will be well worth it but a guy can dream, can’t he?

Jay-Z: American Gangster

Truth be told, I’ve only been a fan of Jay-Z since Vol 2...Hard Knock Life so it would be pretty ignorant of me to make a whole bunch of comparisons to his previous work when knowing that I still have yet to hear Reasonable Doubt. Yeah, it doesn’t make much sense to me either but after PURCHASING American Gangster and giving it a pretty thorough listen, I intend to do just that. Lyrically, Jay does not disappoint and using inspiration from the film of the same name as a backdrop, Jay weaves the tale of the rise and fall of a hustler. Although heavily inspired, most of the tracks are gratuitously based on scenes from the film but not so much as from the point of view of Frank Lucas. Instead, Jay creates his own graphic audio tale and the uncut product is 100% pure.

As a whole, the album is clearly not to be intended as commercial and that’s where I think a lot of people are downplaying the greatness of it. Last year’s Kingdom Come was sub par at best so just the fact that American Gangster re-establishes Jay-Z as the Jay-Z we know and love is a win all by itself. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Jay ever fell off but lyrically, Jay came with it this time. You could tell that his heart was into it as well as his mind, so the payoff is what some have deemed a “classic”. Do I agree? Yes, I do but not wholeheartedly . I disliked the Lil’ Wayne assisted “Hello Brooklyn 2.0” and thought it could’ve been better but, at the same time, thought it was good for Hip-Hop to hear Jay and Wayne on the same track. Other that that one minuscule detail, the album is a success in my book and will undoubtedly be among the many candidates for album of the year. And the winner is, Hov!

Rating: 9.5 headphones Out of 10

Touched by an Angel

Video girls come and go and I’m sure Angel, aka Lola Luv, will be no exception but there’s no denying that in such a short time, she’s become the new “it” girl. Having appeared in numerous videos (more recently in new ones from Kanye West, Twista, and Trey Songz), Angel is becoming a star in her own right…but, with her profession comes plenty of criticism as well. The term “video vixen” comes to mind with things such as this as well as other colorful words that aren’t so pleasant but behind the layers of make-up lies a human being so I find it hard to criticize someone’s profession. In no way am I saying that I’m fine with the glorification of African-American women in rap videos and how their portrayed because most videos today are exploitive to the point of soft-core porn, but what I am saying is that most of these women made a choice and that choice holds them responsible for the same things we criticize them for.

It’s easy to sit back and argue about how subjugated today’s youth is to both audio and visual seduction but who’s really at fault should be the main question. Right? I mean, regardless of how much you try to overprotect your child thinking it’s for their best interest, the more their likely to rebel and want to do the exact opposite of what you said not to. Is it bad parenting? No, I wouldn’t go as far to say that but my whole thing is that instead of finding something like music, movies, etc. to blame, take a look at the family dynamics in your own home and see where things may have gone awry. It’s commonplace for things to be a little off but that is what makes us all unique. We all have our faults but it’s the things that we’re good at that overshadows all the negative parts of our persona. Again, the central point of all this is not to morally justify what all is associated with being a “video girl” because some girls really are in it for the groupie aspect, but it’s unfair by the same token as some are only using the video route as a venue for other successful aspirations.

Whether or not Angel falls into the category of “video girl” or “business woman” remains to be seen but I think people would be better off leaving well enough alone and out of other people’s business. It sounds like an ideal scenario but, sadly, gossip…gossip is the universal language that connects us all and without it, what would we ever talk about?

For more of Angel, aka Lola Luv, be sure to check out her website http://www.angelakalolaluv.com

Cassidy-B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story

I think it’s an overwhelming consensus that Cassidy is better suited for mixtapes and freestyle battles because his latest album is nothing more than a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the talent Cassidy has as a lyricist but potential can only go so far. Although his last two albums weren’t well received, I found them to be somewhat entertaining so I expected a whole lot more from this one only to find myself skipping track after track. For some reason the album just didn’t appeal to me and I find it frustrating that an artist of Cassidy’s caliber can’t seem to make a decent album. So much so that it made me question how his producer, Swiss Beatz (of all people), could have a better album than him. Logically, it doesn’t make much sense because Cassidy is a better rapper, hands down, but in the words of Cassidy, “it is what it is”.

Conceptually, Cassidy seems to be stuck with this whole idea of “battling” his split personalities and, quite frankly, it’s starting to get old. It worked on his first album and barely made by on his second but by the time you’re on your third, eventually it’s time to grow and that’s what Cassidy fails to do. I’m not sure if he’s complacent, content, or a bunch of other words that I don’t even know but it feels like I’m listening to the same things he rapped about on his last two albums. Other than the fact that he beat a murder charge and survived a near-fatal car accident, what else does he have to say? My honest opinion is that he rushed this whole entire project and instead, should’ve took his time and been patient. The knock on Cassidy is that he’ll never be able to deliver a “classic” album and that right there should’ve been motivation enough. Unfortunaly, Cassidy fails miserably in his effort and while hardcore Cassidy fans will be remotely entertained, others will probably let B.A.R.S. fall on deaf ears. Truth be told, I know I did.

Rating: 5.5 headphones Out of 10

Are You In That Mood Yet?

I don’t really anticipate CD’s as much anymore thanks in part to Limewire, however, one CD that I am looking forward to is Joe Budden’s Mood Muzik 3: It’s About To Get Worse. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mood Muzik 2 proved that Joe Budden is, by far, the most underrated rapper alive and with the pending release of Mood Muzik 3...I expect him to only build on the great body of work he’s released thus far.

I’m not sure if you can tell or not, but Joe Budden is one of my favorite rappers. Needless to say, I’m more than happy that Def Jam finally released him because talent like his does not deserve to be pushed to the side. Personally, I feel that Def Jam mishandled the whole situation and should’ve released him a long time ago but pride can be a bitch sometimes. People never want to admit when they’re wrong but all of that is in the past. I’m sure whatever label Budden decides to sign with will realize what he brings to the table as an artist so the trade off of him being dropped will even out once everything is all said and done.

Getting back to the upcoming release of MM3, I read somewhere that it is scheduled to be released sometime in December and heaven forbid it gets pushed back. Would I be surprised? No. Disappointed? Yes. Anticipation is one thing but constant delays just kill whatever excitement there is around things of this nature. Then again, maybe I’m the only one that even cares. All I know is that no other artist is comparable to Joe Budden right now and aside from new albums from Lupe Fiasco and Lil’ Wayne, MM3 is definitely one of the few albums I’ll be checking for this fall. Are you in that mood yet?

Keyshia Cole's Vibe

I’m not much of a fan of Vibe magazine but I have to give credit where credit is due. Vibe has done what other magazines haven’t been able to do and that’s to get Keyshia Cole to “open” up. I understand that Keyshia has grown since her first album but this is definitely surprising to see her like this. I mean, her latest video was something different too and to be honest, I couldn’t tell you what she was singing about nor do I care, all I know is that after having my TV on mute for 3 minutes…I was that close to heaven.

In all seriousness though, I like the fact that Keyshia is exploring the sensual side of her womanhood because, unlike most, its done tastefully. Keyshia realizes that plenty of her fans are young African-American women and with so many mixed messages being conveyed, it's good that a positive role model like Keyshia is gracious enough to know that her image is the most fragile thing she has going.

A lot of entertainers disown the responsibility of being a “role model” but like it or not, that’s just the way it is. People are influenced by what their favorite “so and so” is and does so just the fact that Keyshia realizes that and remains humble by it, is something I feel should be commended. African-American women are more than what some music defines them to be and if more people took the time and effort to help educate some of those that are lost, then everything would fall in place. Stop blaming music for bad parenting and stop relying on things of that nature to be a babysitter! Morals and shit like that should be taught early so instead of blaming society for what you think is the problem, how about taking a look in the mirror and facing facts for what they really are. Besides, the first role model your kid ever has is you as a parent and apparently…some people just aren’t that to begin with.

Of all the "Things We Lost in the Fire"...

…Halle Berry’s career had to of been one of them. It’s sad that a one-time Oscar winner has been reduced to a proverbial afterthought but in all fairness, all the negative criticism is self-afflicted. Her recent role selection has been questionable to say the least and it makes you wonder if all was lost the moment she won an Academy award. I’m not saying that Halle doesn’t bring value to anything anymore because…let’s face it…a lot of people only see a movie because she’s in it. Most could care less about plot or anything else of relevance, however, the catch-22 of all that is that Halle has become complacent in my opinion. The last movie of hers that I watched was Perfect Stranger and I just felt like a complete idiot for not only wasting my time but money as well. I hate movies that make themselves smarter than they really are and while I realize that it’s easy to criticize from my vantage point, I really have to question what Halle was thinking when she signed on to do this awful, awful movie. The same could be said for Bruce Willis. I mean, I understand that the chance to work with Halle Berry only comes every so often but just acknowledge it for what it is and save me the time of watching this crap that you call a movie. I’ve seen better acting in porn and some of that shit doesn’t even have a plot…how’s that for a review?

I know what you’re thinking. How can somebody criticize an actress that has crossed barriers that were once unimaginable (being the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award) and achieved so much in their career? Well, my whole thing is that regardless of who you are and what you represent, everybody is entitled to their fair share of criticism both positive and negative. As far as what Halle represents? I understand that it is very much a big deal for what she’s accomplished in being the first African-American woman to win an Academy award for best actress but my response to all that is, “but under what circumstances?” It took an explicit sex scene with Billy Bob Thornton for people to recognize talent? What kind of shit is that? The same could be said for Denzel Washington. It shouldn’t of taken his role as a crooked cop to award Denzel for something that he’s worked hard for over the years and there’s no doubt in my mind that he deserves it but society is just backwards sometimes.

Getting back on track…I realize that as an actress it’s hard to find work with everything being so competitive in this particular industry but doesn’t ONE person, at least, have common sense? Catwoman was horrendously bad, Gothika was laughable, and Perfect Stranger is not even worth mentioning. Words can’t describe how pissed off I am about this and although it might not be a big deal to some people…dammit it means something to me. All in all, I wish we could just incinerate every single copy of these films before they continue to pollute our local retail outlets/video stores but that’s just wishful thinking on my part. Even better, it would be great if I could just erase the thought of knowing that I sat through all of these and that I paid to do so. Either option would be just fine by me but then people would be scratching their head, asking themselves, “What was Monster’s Ball about again?” Oh wait…other than the fact that Halle Berry was naked in it…who really sat through the movie for the plot? On that note…I rest my case. Class dismissed.

Chris Brown: Exclusive

Since the release of his 2005 self titled debut, Chris Brown has remained busy by appearing in films (Stomp The Yard, This Christmas) as well as television (The O.C.), so his inevitable return to music is sure to excite the “106 & Park audience” that has come to love and support him. Although he’s matured since his last go around, Chris remains loyal to his audience on his second album, Exclusive, and seemingly picks up right where his last left off. While contrite in its effort, Exclusive is more of a step down when compared to his previous opus and proves more than anything that playing it safe is not always the best choice. Overall, the album boasts better quality and the feel is more of a complete piece of work but the essence that made his first album work is seemingly nonexistent here.

Call it a sophomore jinx but second albums rarely live up to their predecessor. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Exclusive is a bad album because it’s really not. The subject matter is routine for someone Chris’s age so I’m sure a lot of his fans will be able to relate but my personal feeling is that Chris has so much potential yet is limited to this uniformed structure of how people want him to be. I respect the fact that Chris is willing to take risks when it comes to some of his song selections because when things come together, it really works well. Case and point would be his latest single, “Kiss Kiss”, produced by and featuring T-Pain and the counterbalance would be the dreadfully awful “Wall to Wall”. Without question, it’s clear to see why Jive Records decided to go with another single after “Wall to Wall” was not well received and while the current single is slowly gaining buzz, the follow up to “Kiss Kiss” will be equally important as well.

My best guess is that it will be a ballad (“Take You Down”) but up-tempo (“Picture Perfect”) is always an option. Either choice would be perfect but it all depends on how well the album does its first week. All that aside, Chris has plenty of material to choose from and plenty of help as well. Notable guest appearances include: Kanye West, Will.I.Am, Big Boi, T-Pain, Lil’ Wayne, and The Game so Chris is loaded as far as features are concerned. Vocally, Chris has grown into a class of his own and you can tell that he’s slowly finding his own voice. While he’s far from being mentioned in the same sentence as an Usher, Chris is slowly laying down the framework for where he hopes to be one day. Exclusive is part of that framework and after its all said and done will probably be an afterthought upon his next release but until then, his diehard fans will settle for his latest offering and be more than pleased with the result.

Rating: 6.0 headphones Out of 10

American Gangster

It would be easy to sit here and write out this long, elaborate diatribe of how good American Gangster really is but none of it would serve the movie its just due. It’s rare that a movie with so much promise delivers scene after scene and coming in at an approximate run time of 2 hrs and 37 min, every scene is concise in its efforts to draw audiences into what all is going on between/around all these characters. Even from its opening scene, American Gangster pulls you in and unlike every other mafia kingpin story, the film remains raw from beginning to end.

First things first though, American Gangster is based on a true story and tells the tale of Harlem heroin kingpin, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington). Uninspired by conventional methods of drug trafficking, Lucas aspires to cut out the middle man by smuggling it into the states via American service planes returning from the Vietnam War. While pragmatic in establishing what he hopes to accomplish, Lucas embodies the reality around him and relishes the notion of controlling everything he puts his hands on. Make no mistake, Lucas is his own boss and, in some ways, his own worst enemy but the dividing line between the two are not even close. The same could be said for Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), a detective who works off of merit alone, who in spite of the fact that he’s seemingly caught in the middle of a paradox, is working to bring Lucas and all he represents down.

Respectively, Lucas and Roberts are the antagonist and protagonist characters of this gritty, uncut story and the way Washington and Crowe are able to bring life to these characters is simply amazing. The performances of both actors make the film work in so many ways but the essence of the film lies in its fluidity. Ridley Scott masterfully paces the film throughout and the payoff is the moment Lucas and Roberts come face to face. By far it is one of the best scenes in the movie and although it comes off as simple, it exemplifies the conflict both characters had been trying to overcome throughout.

Without question, American Gangster deserves the praise it is getting from critics and movie goers alike and will be sure to become a new American classic. Whether or not it belongs among such names as Scarface, The Godfather, and things of that nature remain to be seen but at its purest, American Gangster is the antithesis of what we all strive for in the American dream. Life, love, and the pursuit of happiness…all by any means necessary.

Rating: 5 inkblots out of 5

American Gangster is rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity, and sexuality.

Playaz Circle: Supply & Demand

Ever since its inception, Disturbing Tha’ Peace has been consistent in one facet...loyalty. Unlike other record labels that shelter their artists, Disturbing Tha’ Peace embraces individuality [in spite of the fact that Ludacris is clearly the focal point] and more importantly, allows its artists to actually RELEASE albums. Albeit a bit rushed sometimes, recent releases have been relatively good when compared to the flood of material that is out but all is lost in poor sales and chart performance. Not wanting to fall victim to the same fate, Disturbing Tha’ Peace’s latest act, Playaz Circle, has stepped to the forefront and hope to educate people on the basic principles of supply and demand.

Getting things started, “Dear Mr. LA Reid” serves as an opus to the hard work and dedication Dolla and Titty Boi have put in over the years to get here and while both members are far from being named lyricist of the year…the track works in that it allows them to be themselves. Conceptually, the album works because of this fact alone as none of the tracks seem forced. Trap music has become a constant staple among southern hip-hop artists and unlike those who are more so in it to exploit it, it’s evident that Playaz Circle is far from doing just that.

At only 11-tracks, Supply & Demand makes for a solid debut and should prove to be remotely profitable for Playaz Circle just off of the success of the Lil’ Wayne assisted “Duffle Bag Boy” alone. Aside from the aforementioned, guest appearances are few and far between but peep the Shawnna featured “Gucci Bag”. Although Shawnna is no longer with DTP, her verse alone makes you wonder why Ludacris would let her walk away because when compared to a lot of male rappers, half of them can’t hold a torch to Shawnna when she’s on top of her game. Real talk! Other standout cuts include “#1Trap Pick” and “Betta Knock” but overall the album is solid in its effort. Often times, debut albums are oversaturated but there seems to be a perfect mixture here of surefire beats, sub par lyrics, and relative subject matter which makes for a decent introduction for Playaz Circle and the perfect segue into the upcoming DTP compilation album due sometime in January.

Rating: 6.5 headphones out of 10