Do Better: Ray J's Salty Ex Anthem

Brandy's little brother was never a favorite of mine to begin with. I don't know why this munchkin motherfucker is even  famous. He never struck me as an above average artist and God knows he can't act. Yet and still he ended up on TV shows and always proceeded to stink those shits up royalty. I hate his guts and didn't have solid reason why outside of being another relatively talentless famous person who finds a way to make paychecks. But his recent antics, they are more than just cause. He is now in the position so many bitter men have been in where your ex or old fling is now a 'somebody' and has moved on to bigger and better things than you. Kim Khardashian, a relatively talentless beneficiary of the reality TV age herself, was just a pretty face in the Hollywood social crowd until her sex tape with Ray J when viral. Since then, she's become a model, actress (I didn't say a good one), businesswoman, mult-millionaire. She's since dated an NFL player women fight over, was briefly (very) married to an NBA player, and is now with Kanye West, a transcendent music superstar. Who's Ray J dating? Who knows? Better yet, who cares? So what does Ray J's salty ass do? He tries to grab headlines and undermine her current relationship by making a song called "I Hit It First" playing the only card he has in this issue. That's some real weak shit. That's really the only thing that can get you into headlines in 2013? Stop It. News flash: Somebody took Beyonce's virginity...whoever he is, she wouldn't look twice at him now. Security would probably get called on this nigga trying to get within 10 feet of her. Jay's got her as a worldwide icon and entrepreneur  they're among the most powerful couples in the world. Which guy is winning? Same could be said with someone like Gabrielle Union. U think the guy who took her virginity comforts himself by thinking he's better than D-Wade because he got to Gabby first? I hope not; otherwise he's weak as shit too. Would he stand a chance trying to get her back today? Absolutely not. Ray J, let it go. I'm not even a Kim K fan but she's outgrown you and moved onto bigger and better things. Live with it. I'm sure there are still amateur models willing to sleep with you hoping you'll springboard them into the environment to meet some real celebrities (like them women from "For the Love of Ray J" who came on the show pursuing their own celebrity). Keep your mouth shut and move forward, Kanye can squash what little career you have. Do Better...

99 Problems

This is dope. Let me first admit, I was on the Nas side of the beef with Jay-Z. Although, I like Jay-Z, I think Nas is killing him on the basis of lyrical and substanceful music. I wish I could see how Jay would've turned out had he not decided to go commercial like he admitted on "Moment of Clarity". But the man's exponential explosion of wealth, power, and influence while avoiding hurtful stereotypes is remarkable. This guy has catapulted through every glass ceiling that a drug dealer turned rapper turned businessman would ever face. He got the Nets moved to Brooklyn, he's a half billionaire (plus another quarter bil from his lady), and he's got Obama brushing his shoulders off in pictures and this t-shirt is an amazing capstone to the election that just ended. I respect his hustle and business saavy. He's set the sky as the limit for musicians turned businessmen. Can't lie, he's living the American dream. I salute you sir.

The State of Hip Hop: Part 3, The Northeast

Everyone in the Northeast is insisting that hip hop must be dead. I think some of it is spite because Southern and Midwestern rappers are getting more shine, but it is undeniable that too many whack rappers are getting way too much shine. Why is it easier to find Gucci Mane than Talib Kweli? You shouldn't have to look so hard to find the true MCs that are still around. Thank God we seem to have passed that T-Pain phase, but rap still needs some new lyrical blood; including the region where rap started. The living legends are holding it down but they do it forever. There are rappers on every corner up there but are any of them ready for primetime. Hell, Jay-Z got his own label now and didn't bother with anybody from above the Mason Dixon line. Someone has to step up big reppin' Gotham City and Philly to keep them interested. The game ain't dead, but it definitely needs a vital transplant of innovation; losing the attention and influence of the epicenter of the culture will close the casket quicker.

1. Jay-Z is still Jay-Z; or maybe he’s back to being Shawn Carter. When he can take time from his life as a businessman and mogul to be in the studio, he’s still as smooth as ever with a effortless delivery. However, he’s understandably not hungry as he was in his prime (Understandable, when you’re a half billionaire and your legacy is set). You’ve read earlier what I thought of Watch the Throne when I discussed Kanye. For Shawn, Beyonce’s pregnant, he got a stable of MCs in Roc Nation to manage, and his dream of moving the Nets is becoming a reality; he has more on his mind than making his own music.

2. 2. Nas is still spitting that heat that his faithful loves and the average person just isn’t in an intellectual enough mood to listen to. I still get excited whenever see a new Nas song online. He recently put out a great album with Damian Marley that I don’t believe got nearly as much love as it deserved. I feel like soon enough, he’s going to go on the attack again and produce something else that’s going to tighten as many assholes as his Untitled “Nigger” album did. Let’s hope so.

3. 3.Mos Def and Talib Kweli still eloquently deliver street news. I wish I just heard more of them on a regular basis. “Just Begun” with both of them, J. Cole and Jay Electronica was fire.

4. 4There are older legends still recording such as MF Doom and KRS-One. However, honestly I only take a listen if it’s recommended to me by someone.

5. 5Over in Shaolin, Raekwon put out “Shaolin VS. WuTang” recently which was a very well laid out story-telling album full of features and concepts. Call me old school, but I still love when he and the rest of the Clan, especially Ghostface, hop on a track together. I went crazy when Wu-Tang came and did a concert at Tech while I was in school.

6. 6 Jadakiss is still my dude; unique combination of raspy delivery and street wisdom is rare in the game. The “Last Kiss” was thorough and he’s put a lot of hard-hitting verses on other people’s songs lately. Busta Rhymes is on a mission to display his still remarkable skills to all his doubters on anybody’s song he gets to put 16 bars on lately.

7. 7.15 years or so into making sure Philly’s flame doesn’t go out, The Roots put out another great but underrated album in “How I Get Over.” Black Thought is still potent and Questlove is still a force to be reckoned with.

8. 8.I know DC is borderline geographically, but since my grandparents in PG County are considered Northern in my mind, Wale who lives right around the corner from them also falls in the Northeast. He’s been consistently delivered impressive mixtapes (latest being “Eleven One Eleven Theory”). His album “Attention Deficit” had some jewels on it that didn’t get their due love either. He brought conscious realist rap laced with go-go to the national spotlight and is the mascot for the rap game in the District. Represent.

9. 9.M.I.A.: Somebody put out an APB for Beans. Beanie Sigel was my dude when I wasn’t feeling a lot of other dudes coming out of Philly (Freeway, SMH). But every since deciding to attack Jay-Z for what he sees as disrespect while he was on Roc-A-Fella and locked up, I haven’t heard much of anything from here besides a few features. I hope he gets his focus back. And where the hell is Slaughterhouse's album? Either it hasn't come out or I missed it. When u got 3 legit MCs...and Crooked I, you got serious potential.

10. Laughingstock: I’m gonna ignore ‘close but no cigar’ cats (ex. Papoose, etc), the wack niggas with buzz (ex. Tony Yayo, SMH) and the ‘has beens’ (ex. Ja Rule, Ma$e, etc) and point out the fallen former rap bully. FUCK 50 Cent. This cat went from the most vicious in the game (“Get Rich or Die Trying” album) to crooning with chicks (you gonna ridicule Ja Rule for this and then make “Candy Shop”, “Just A Little Bit”, “Best Friend” and more?) to gimmick tracks saying nothing beyond how rich he is (“I Get Money”, “Baby By Me”). What the fuck happened to you man? How do you look yourself in the mirror Curtis? For someone who guaranteed the death blow to anyone he goes after, do u truly think u're more relevant in the industry right now than The Game or Rick Ross? Stay away, drink your Vitamin Water and count the money it made you. I respect your business saavy, but your services are no longer needed here.

10.Dark Horse: It would be easy to name Meek Millz, Jae Millz, Peedi Peedi (how do you get taken seriously with a name like that?), but I've been hearing about these dudes for years waiting for an album, so I'm going a different direction: East. Dave East was literally just introduced to me a few days ago but his mixtape "American Greed" impressed me; he had concepts and smooth flow. I'd need to hear more before I'd call myself an actual fan, but I'm rooting for him.