Mary J. Blige ft. Trey Songz "Hood Love"

Cheers!

Mary J. Blige ft. Trey Songz "Hood Love"

President Obama Gives His Views on Hip Hop

I'm going to invent a "COOLEST PRESIDENT EVER" award... lol

JAY-Z BP3 2010 TOUR ft. YOUNG JEEZY

This should be pretty spectacular...

Pull out your wallets. Pre-sale tickets go on sale on November 10, 2009 and regular tickets go on sale in select markets on November 13, 2009 at LiveNation...

Here's a taste of what ya'll will get...

Marcus Jordan Make's UCF Pay the Price...

"It might be the most expensive pairs of Air Jordans ever worn. When Marcus Jordan took the floor Wednesday night for the University of Central Florida’s basketball team wearing Air Jordans..."

Click here to the read the rest of the article...

JUMPMAN23

Rihanna Breaks Her Silence

I post this and I will post the rest of the interview after it airs, not because it's Rihanna and she's a celebtrity, but because the overall issue of domestic violence is one that needs to be analyzed and truly discussed in all communities. There are too many young women being silently abused by their partners, who will not stand up, for a myriad of understandable reasons, and share their pain and story with others. I can only imagine what a horrific experience it was for Rihanna and it is for so many women. I commend those who are strong enough to reveal their story in hopes that it will help put an end to such a common and torturous act...

Have a look...

QUOTE ME...

Two quotes I read last night that hit home with me...

"The beauty of life is to experience yourself." ~ Unknown

and...

"The art of happiness is to serve all." ~ Unknown

Sesame Street: The New Deal

For old times sake...





This article was interesting. I touched on the ways Sesmate Street has changed in order to cater to the new character of American children...

"In the early days of "Sesame Street" -- that is, B.E. (Before Elmo) -- Sesame Street was a pretty grimy place. The brownstone at 123 Sesame Street looked like it needed a serious power washing, the storefront of Mr. Hooper's shop was intentionally dingy and the Fix-It Shop's window was cluttered with toasters. It was gritty, but gritty in a magical way." ~ CNN

Zo "Just Waiting Too" EP

Just got put on to this... Thanks Raq!

Zo "Just Waiting Too" EP

Zo! (n) -- 1. Metro Detroit-born, Metro DC-based musician/producer Lorenzo Ferguson. 2. An exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalist who claims the piano/keyboard as his primary instrument, but is self-taught on the bass guitar, the drums, and most recently the guitar. 3. A Musical Architect who utilizes all sound elements to form original compositions that fall under no single genre of music.

Learn more about Zo here... (musicalarchitect)

Rihanna Speaks...

I post this, because I was speaking with a young lady friend of mine the other day and I asked her if she thought Rihanna would ever come out and speak about "The Incident." She said, "No."

Well...



I say, "Yes." lol

Jay-Z in Gotham Magazine

"I don't dislike anything about myself," he says. "I know this sounds a little arrogant but I really accept what God has given me. I've got a short temper but I work on controlling it. I can say inappropriate things because I believe them to be true and sometimes that can be hurtful to others. But I think in the long run it is more helpful." ~ Gotham Magazine

The rest of the article lies right here...

Good lookin': RealtalkNY

Sam Sparro "Too Many Questions"

I've been riding around with this on repeat for the last 24 hrs... literally, lol.



His self titled album is quite the musical masterpiece.

Learn more about Mr. Sparro

Trey Songz "Invented Sex" Video

Here we have it; every lady's fantasy man... lol. Enjoy!



"Pimpin' ain't dead, it just moved to the website..."

Nelson George: Black Atlas - London Anyone?

I need to go back asap. I was too young to truly indulge in the city the last time I was there...

THE FASHIONABLY ABSTRACT #2: "Reparations Now" ~ Represent the Renaissance ~ by MOHN...

This is one of the first images I ever took on a digital camera. I took this picture about 2 1/2 years ago, when I was merely a sophomore at Howard University. As a growing young man hailing from a small, affluent, and predominantly white Massachusetts suburb I was still wet behind the ears and naïve to city life and the depth, reality, and essentially the infinite beauty of the “Black Experience.” As I strolled down the city streets learning with every step, I used to see these stickers scattered throughout the black neighborhoods mostly placed on light posts. Every time I saw a sticker like this, I would stop and reflect quickly, my body overwhelmed with a constellation of mixed emotions; confusion being the ruler. At that point in my life, I simply did not know how to feel… I would look at the sticker and I would think. I would think about the drug addicts, the drug dealers, the dilapidated buildings, the night I nearly witnessed a murder, the police sirens, and the gunshots I would hear from time to time. But mainly, I thought about the children, whom I was mentoring, whose innocent faces were, at the age of six, already scarred by the torment of poverty. I would think about the children who called me “Daddy,” because they didn’t know their own father. These were the children who would look at me with innocent desperation who did not know why, but just knew their lives were a little bit harder than everybody else’s. I would then walk back to my dorm with my head either to the ground or the sky, still pondering the meaning of these two words, “Reparations Now…”

Today, in the midst of gentrification, neighborhood reconstruction, and the influx of Caucasian individuals into these neighborhoods, I do not see these stickers anymore. However, when I look at this picture now, it holds more meaning than ever before. To me, these words “Reparations Now,” symbolize the ideals expressed in the campaign and embodied by the man, Barack Obama. These words come to life every time a black girl or boy fills out a college application and every time a young black man or woman crosses the stage in a cap and gown. These words sing every time we decide to talk instead of fight, and they come even more real when we choose to tear down the stereotypical barriers society has built around us. These words represent the collective struggle to become; not to become like white people, but to simply find our own individual truths within our minds, hearts, and souls, and become the dream we wish to live. These words are you, they are me, they are the road to freedom; they are the legacy.

Drake "Go" (Snippet)

Cheers!

Drake "Go" (Snippet)

Lupe Speaks...

The fellow civilian, Lupe, speaks on a couple of topics i.e. MTV's Hottest MC List, Derrion Albert, and Kanye...

Lupe Speaks...

Good lookin': 2dopeboyz

Are You Driven? LEXUS LFA

That's a well oiled machine right there. I'll take two please. Thanks. They'll look nice next to the lambo, lol.

Oh, by the way, this bad mamajamma is $375,000. Just throw it in the bag... lol

Good lookin': PlanetLynx

Marisa Miller: Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra

Ummm... you've got to be kiddin' me...

Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg

I was feeling pretty extreme today, thus...

Las Vegas Cobras Blooper of the Day

Ummm, sir, you're not supposed to tackle your own player... please take a seat on the bench and think about what you just did. Thanks... lmao!

Lloyd ft. J. Holiday & Nicki Minaj "Take it Off"

Here's something ya'll can bump on the way to the club, in the club, and, well, after the club... lol

Lloyd ft. J. Holiday & Nicki Minaj "Take it Off"

Rihanna ft. Young Jeezy "Hard"

How do we like this one my fellow civilians?

Rihanna ft. Young Jeezy "Hard"

Alicia Keys: A World Series Sister

Ms. Keys enlightens us on her World Series performance with Mr. Carter...



Check out the full performance...

Chrisette Michele ft. Wale "Fragile" (Remix)

Wale's album has the civilians goin' crazy! I listen to his album and it feels like i'm hearing rap for the first time again, it's beautiful bliss... And, of course, the wonderful Ms. Michele is always on point. Enjoy the video!

The Kickdrums "There Might Be Blood" EP

Here we have it...

The Trailer...


The Kickdrums "There Might Be Blood" Album Trailer from The Kickdrums on Vimeo.


and The Album (EP)... Cheers!

The Kickdrums "There Might Be Blood" EP

Ryan Leslie Interview

Never seen this before...

Bill Clinton Unveils Statue of Himself in Kosovo

I wouldn't mind a "Mohn" statue... lol. I'd probably put mine in Switzerland, here in DC, or my hometown of Harvard, MA. But, honestly, it must be a true blessing to have another nation construct a statue in your honor, especially while you're alive. Congrats Bill!

Click here for article

The Graffiti Of Montreal

I love graffiti... To me it represents the root of all free artistic expression.

Switchfoot: The Making of "Hello Hurriance"

People with passion provide the perfect perspective...



"If you're not crying why are you singing it? If you don't believe it with every ounce of you, then there's no point in singing it."  ~ Switchfoot

TAKE NOTES!

TWO FOR ONE: Mateo "Underneath The Sky Ch. 1 & 2"

So, I've been doing my research on the man, Mateo... Here are some videos so ya'll can get to know him a little bit better, followed by two of his mixtapes... Cheers!


Mateo + Shawn Chrystopher- Live at the UCLA Jazzfest from theQside.com on Vimeo.



Real Talk from theQside.com on Vimeo.



the Making of a Mateo Mixtape from theQside.com on Vimeo.

Mateo "Underneath the Sky" Chapter 1

Mateo "Underneath the Sky" Chapter 2

Thanks to: Theqside, Vimeo, and Mateoonline

Beanie Sigel: THE EXPLANATION Cont'd...

I'm not big on the back and forth BS associated with Hip Hop, however, these are two major figures in the culture, and we have to follow the story to the end...



And Fifty, he always has an interesting and insightful opinion on matters...

Jay-Z Interview

His interviews are always interesting...

Mateo "Get to Know Me" Video

Simply put, I LOVE REAL MUSIC! I love music that stems from an insatiable desire and infinite passion to express oneself creatively, instead of music fueled by the desire for money or superficial commodities. I love the music that stems from struggle, from pain, from love, from the quest for freedom, from the energy embedded in the simplicities of life, and from the innocent and naive courage and belief that your dreams are the only reality. Yes, this is the music I love.

Now, that you know a little bit more about me, get to know a little more about Mateo. Mateo is an up and coming artist from L.A. California. He graduated from Morehouse College and was on the track to enter into the world of finance and consulting when he found his voice... Take a look and a listen...


Mateo - Get To Know Me [Official Video] from Mateo on Vimeo.


We will definitely keep you "posted" (no pun intended) on the mission, music, and man that is, Mateo.

Thanks: Blindiforthekids

Wale: ALBUM LEAKED!!

These are the type of artists we need more of in the industry. Put the Civilians first, and recognize reality. I truly believe that you can only speak to people's success if you speak to their struggle first...

Check out some of the songs he mentioned in the interview below...

Wale: Family Affair


Wale: Ice & Rain


Wale ft. John Mayer: Letter


Wale: My Sweetie


I think we should tip our hats to Wale for being a genuine artist. He writes from his heart and speaks from his soul. I believe with him, what you see is what you get, and I have nothing but 100% respect for him...

Jay-Z & Drake Live in Toronto

Two of my current favorite artists on one stage...  I would've loved to have been there.