Peter Rosenberg + Kanye West Discuss DJ Premier

On 12/11/08 at 7pm @ 92Y Tribeca (200 Hudson St., NYC, NY, 10013) we will be launching our monthly live interview series - "NoiseMakers w/ Peter Rosenberg." The first installment (12/11/08) will feature Peter Rosenberg and DJ Premier discussing Primo's career, life and most importantly his incredible catalogue followed by a special musical tribute.

We're only selling a limited number of tix so get em here while they last. This is what Hip-Hop's been missing.

Bargain Bentleys

Trump on McCain, Obama & 50 Cent

"50 Cent is a 'sort of' friend of mine. He likes me. He just did a copy of 'The Apprentice.' It'll fail because he's not Trump."

Kanye West - Heartless

Crazy.

Fashawn f/ Evidence - Our Way

I'm really fucking with this dude Fashawn for some reason.

Rocafella circa 2001

Rocafella circa 2001. I remember burning and bumpin this in my dorm room.

Bubba f/ Ray J -She Got Me Like

What? Just press mute and I guarantee you'll like it.

Night of the Living Dead Mixtape

An ill Cookin Soul x Whoo Kid x Biggie mixtape, download it here.

Barack Obama's 30 Minute Infomercial [ALL 30 MINUTES]

I've been searching for this on youtube but kept finding it broken up into parts, this is the infomercial in its entirety. Enjoy and vote on Tuesday!

Pharaoh Monch - Welcome To The Terrordome

One of my fave rappers does an ill song...ima post it.

Chenzira - Be My Baby

Download Here

Nikki Jean discussing her song on "A ROSENBERG ODDISEE"

So we did the Nikki Jean record - "Tell The Truth" the day before she recorded this video blog. She's good people and blessed the joint crazy. Below is a pic I took of her in the booth recording. If you want to hear the record download "A ROSENBERG ODDISEE" here.

Gratitude x Youtube - Torae w/ Tiara Wiles and Oddisee

The Worst Boxer Alive

Chicken Outlet

I'm not a photographer, just a dude with a camera. Took this a couple weeks ago in Philly, a couple blocks from Temple. If anyone needs chicken in bulk...I got you!!

Gratitude Artwork

Artwork by Rah Soul. I'll be posting the record by itself soon. For now download the entire Ep "A ROSENBERG ODDISEE" here.

A ROSENBERG ODDISEE...download that bitch!

Ok, so it's been crazy the last couple days. Between the release of the goodness above (featuring my artist Tiara Wiles amongst others), Jay-Z x Weezy x Neyo x D-Block in Jersey and Hova's private afterparty at 40/40 let's just say I'm still recuperating. But nothing gets the blood flowing like some great music...so download A ROSENBERG ODDISEE here.

I'll be posting the "Gratitude" record featuring Torae, Tiara Wiles and Oddisee in the days to come...pause.

An Honest R&B Song...Hilarious

Torae X Vimby

VIMBY - Torae

Oddisee X Vimby

So that Ep we got coming next week called A ROSENBERG ODDISEE was produced entirely by, yup, Oddisee. This is him...

VIMBY - Oddisee

N.E.R.D. X Rock The Vote

FYI...this is a partisan blog, so be sure to vote...FOR BARACK OBAMA.

Charles Hamilton

So last night I was in the studio with the usual suspects and a couple of good dudes came through like Royce Da 5' 9", Daytona and Charles Hamilton...I'll be honest, I've been hearing about Charles for a couple of months but never checked out any of his mixtapes, but he's a real dude, cool as shit, very talented and def on his own shit - oh yeah and he brought the Patron. So I figured I'd find out a bit more about him. Here's a video from November 2007, before his buzz got crazy...

Peter Rosenberg, Oddisee and Daytona listening to Skyzoo

For those who don't know, we got an Ep coming next week Tuesday, October 28, 2008 called A ROSENBERG ODDISEE. Ever since the summer of 2007 I've been pressing Peter to do a music project. At first I wanted to do a mixtape with a known mixtape DJ or crew as a means of promoting Peter and further developing and expanding the "Peter Rosenberg" brand. Then I had the idea of doing a mixtape series of classic remakes, taking instrumentals from classic Hip-Hop albums and re doing each track with emerging artists - the first was to be 'Only Built For Jewish Links' - which we actually have one track done of. But that was last summer, then things started heating up with Hot 97 and that got put on the back burner as the focus turned to getting the morning show, then perfecting the morning show...

Fast forward to Summer 2008...and we're back on the music...I'll explain what we're doing in more detail on Tuesday, 10/28/08 when we release A ROSENBERG ODDISEE...but here's a video of Peter Rosenberg, Oddisee and Daytona listening to Skyzoo's record off our upcoming Ep with me shooting video and Peter shooting video of me shooting video...

Guess Who's Back // Amanda Diva in Philly

I'm back in the building. For real this time, lol. No explanations for my absence, cause there are none. But enuff small talk, let's go...

A couple of weeks ago I went out to Philly with Amanda Diva (MTV, VH1, Floetry, etc.) for a show by Temple University, shit was ill. She rocked with a full band - who basically tried to learn the music on the spot. Before each song, a band member would listen to an ipod while Amanda talked to the crowd and would learn enough of the melody to be able to start the song. Most songs sound nothing like the originals, but were fly anyway. And yeah I shot (unimpressive) video...



Windows Over Harlem



For The Love

Peter Rosenberg X Asher Roth

fyi...it's been a minute since my last blog, i know. just when i was picking up steam i disappeared...but i'm back...for now...more Tiara Wiles, Rosenberg goodness and random ish I like or want to rant about on the way...uno..

In Studio w/ Rosenberg, Statik Selektah, Saigon, Oddissee

kanYe - Champion

Is any Hip-Hop artist more creative than Kanye? Seriously.

We Lost One...R.I.P. Bernie Mac (1957-2008)

I must be doing something right...

BLUEPRINT 3 from kwest on Vimeo.

Then we hit the Garden...

Yesterday...I was here...

Where were you?

Diddy on Ciph/Rosenberg

Diddy on Cipha and Rosenberg right here.

Fox News v. Luda

Why is it important to know what they're saying about Hip-Hop and Obama on Fox News? Because it's one of the main sources of information for Republicans. There are currently 55 million people (about 1/3 of the electorate) claiming to be Republicans and if you follow their theory about Hip-Hop (which is that the consumers of Hip-Hop are so brainless that we copy and emulate every image we see on BET) it's highly probable that Republicans are highly influenced by the O'Reillies and Hannities. So don't think for a second that there aren't a bunch of folks thinking the same shit. Maybe not every Republican but I'd bet a couple million are buying into this crap.

Ludacris - Politics (Obama Is Here)

You know you like it.

"O'Reilly, Oh Really" Responds To Nas

On a sidenote, how funny would it be if a picture popped up of O'Reilly and Nas smoking cigars together while laughing.

Peter Rosenberg @ One Step Beyond

Produced by the fixer.

Surveillance Video of Burglary at Rakontur (Cocaine Cowboys 1 & 2) Offices

So next week Cocaine Cowboys 2 drops (below you can find the first 10 minutes of the doc), but for those who watched Cocaine Cowboys 1 you know CC2 was supposed to have dropped last year only to be delayed until now. And now we know why...it seems last year a couple of dumb asses stole over $20,000 of video and computer equipment from the Rakontur offices where they were editing CC2 costing them thousands obviously and irreplaceable footage. You gotta wonder why Rakontur was targeted. Well here's the footage of the burglary, maybe that'll help figure it out...

Tiara Wiles x PaidandPopular.com

Click here for Tiara Wiles' Q+A at PaidandPopular.com.

Powell For The People Mixtape

Click here for the new mixtape "Powell for the People" hosted by DJ Drama. Gotta wonder why Lil Wayne is on this though, lol. And before anyone assumes otherwise, I'm sure this is not Kevin Powell sanctioned but it's a good look regardless. Kev Powell in '08.

First 10 Minutes of Cocaine Cowboys 2

Anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with Cocaine Cowboys and have been eagerly awaiting the sequel dropping next week!! But if you're like me and can't wait...here's the first 10 minutes of the sequel...it's a problem...

Rosenberg and Ciph in the Morning...Episode Juan

Jay-Z's $27,000 Steak Dinner

According the The Sun, Jay-Z recently took Kanye and both of their entourages to this trendy Manchester restaurant called Ithaca. The group totaled 40 and the bill came out to 12,000 pounds which is roughly $24,000. Jigga then left a $3,000 tip. WTF did they eat? "Wagyu beef fillet and Chilean sea bass, Sauza Tres Tequila, £600 ($1200) -a-bottle Ace of Spades champers plus £100 ($200) -a-shot Louis XIII cognac." Sounds like a party.

Stop Being Salty!

For those who don't know about this turn coat prick, here's a primer...

"Lieberman was re-elected from Connecticut as an independent in 2006 after losing the Democratic nomination because of his support for the Iraq war.

After his 2006 election, the Senate Democratic leadership agreed to give Lieberman the Homeland Security Committee chairmanship if he provided the decisive vote to make the Democrats a 51 to 49 Senate majority. However, with additional Democratic senators likely to be elected this year, that agreement is expected to be null and void in the new Congress." (Courtesy of these guys)

So here we have this dude that for lack of a better word is salty that the Dems didn't annoint him in '04 over Kerry (although Kerry earned the right to get the nomination). 2 years later he ran independent and won and now he's backing McCain, opposing Barack's plan to withdraw from Iraq as a concession to defeat and is considering speaking at the GOP Convention later this year.

Funny thing is, dog you didn't get nominated cause you didn't have the votes. But you're still in Congress, so fall back. I'm now realizing that from now until November (thank God it's only 4 months) we're going to see a parade of people who are better off with their mouths closed stepping on the soap box.

As if the freestyle wasn't enough...

Cop it here for $22. Shit, if you cop it and take a pic and send me that shit I'll go half on it with you and send you $11 asap! Lol!

McKinney/Clemente = The Hip-Hop Presidential Ticket?

I spent a few weeks working in Ms. McKinney's office on Capitol Hill in January of 2006. I never had the opportunity to meet her or work with her personally but her legislative assistants who do a lot of the behind the scenes leg work on the Hill were a great group. My time with them was well spent and her bill to declassify the confidential records of counter intelligence used against Tupac Shakur and other black leaders was of special interest to me. That said, this ticket - if you want to call it that - could not have come at a worst time. Although, Ms. McKinney is a motivated and spirited leader, right now we currently have the first true chance of having an African American candidate. The last thing we need right now is a renegade Democrat eager for publicity shaving even the smallest amount of votes away from Barry O. Furthermore, she hails from a state (Georgia) already considered to be safely behind McCain making each incremental vote that much more valuable as the Dems look to encroach upon traditionally republican territory.

Listen, we all know the lady who once scuffled with the Capitol Police has a small chance to none of even slightly affecting this race but she does have the opportunity of making this race a circus if included in debates. We already have articles like this popping up and who knows what other dumb articles will surface as November approaches.

Don't get me wrong, she like anyone else deserves the right to run for President if she so chooses. But like Jesse Jackson, she needs to fall back and let Barry rock. You don't see a bunch of Republicans throwing their hat in the ring, talking shit in the press about McCain or switching parties to oppose. Matter of fact they didn't even need all the primaries to pick McCain, they had a couple and moved on. Dems need to do the same cause we're only hurting ourselves. And touting this ticket as the Hip-Hop Ticket because of the inclusion of respected Hip-Hop activist Clemente is a reach and ultimately just a divisive tactic to take votes from Obama. Attack McCain! Didn't these folks get the memo?!

YET ANOTHER American Gangster Remix Album

For all mi yardies dem...I know remixing American Gangster is old but it's the summer and there's nothing better than reggae riddims in this weather and this joint has about 30 other reggae records mixed in so it's more than just a remix album. Download here.

Donaghy's Accomplice?

RealGM.com is reporting that shamed former NBA ref Matt Donaghy placed 134 phone calls to current NBA ref Scott Foster during the period during which he allegedly bet on and altered games. During this period he called his bookie 126 times. Seems like the other shoe is dropping! Wonder what David Stern is gonna say now. He damn near broke his back to insist that Donaghy was simply a renegade referee gone bad. Now it seems like there's a bigger problem. Can you say Congressional Hearings? Lol.

Terrence and Rocsi fighting...ON AIR!

Dave Chappelle's Stand In at Pol Rally

So I caught word earlier this week about a rally for Kevin Powell at NY club, Eugene. After giving it some thought I decided to go only to find the line down the block when i got there, so being a true New Yorker...I left. And thank God I did, cause the real reason I wanted to go was to see Dave Chappelle perform but guess what, unsurprisingly the only black man on earth to walk away from $40,000,000 couldn't make it cause he missed two planes, lol. he should of just said 'my dog ate my plane ticket.' That would have been more believable....anyway. Those who did stick around and deal with that line were blessed with the comedic styles of NY native and journalis-cum-comedian Stephen Whitt...and there's a video (i'm not joking!)..



Note to self...skip the next Kevin Powell fundraiser too.

Kareem Black...is cool.

I never thought of photography as cool per se, but i stand corrected. Or maybe I was waiting to stumble on a photographer that made me think it was cool. Either way, I just watched these videos about/by Kareem Black and not only did it make me respect the craft of photography more but made me want to actually sit down and have a convo with this dude. Respect due.


Part 1



Part 2

Visit Kareem Black here.

2008: The Year of The Black Cool

In celebration of the first ever Black Super Hero (Hancock) and the real possibility of there being a black president it's only right that Ebony celebrate Black Cool. Barack Obama , Jay-Z , Denzel, Prince , Billie Dee, Samuel L Jackson , Muhammad Ali & Marvin Gaye all grace the cover of Ebony Magazine's "Black Cool" Collector's Edition. I can think of a couple people that could have gotten covers (Michael Jordan, Kanye West, Tiger Woods, Diddy and of course Oprah if women were included) but who's splitting hairs.

Jay-Z's FULL Performance @ Glastonbury...Baby, you like.

Part 1 of 2



Part 2 of 2

Peter Rosenberg Interviews Kenny Smith

Peter Rosenberg interviews Kenny Smith at the Blue Star Jets/Uptown Magazine Pre Draft Party at Manhattan Motorcars. Produced by the fixer.

My favorite KRS-One Video/Song Ever

KRS-One - Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight)

D Nice TV: Dana Dane

If you don't who Dana Dane is you should be ashamed of yourself. Watch the video and get familiar.



Dana Dane - Nightmares

Little Girl Makes It Rain...Till Daddy stops that shit!

Fly Shit::UGK feat Outkast - Int'l Players Anthem (SIMS VIDEO)

New Mixtape from Amanda Diva

Cop that disc...here.

Was Mos Def in love with a stripper?!?

Former stripper dishes on her 3 day courtship and subsequent marriage to Mos Def back in 2005 . According to her, they separated 6 weeks later but remain married till this day. She also states Mos refuses to sign the divorce papers and said if he can't have her noone will. WTF? These kiss and tell books have reached a new low. Here's the article, I'm not going to discuss this further.

Russell Explains His Custody/Support Ruling

Russell Simmons explains the recent custody and support decision handed down in his custody suit with Kimora here. I'm happy I read it, cause after I heard he was required to have a nanny and security with him whenever he had his kids (Ming Lee - 8, Aoki Lee - 5), I was starting to think some "funny stuff" might have happened in the past. Thankfully, it seems that isn't the case.

In the case you weren't convinced that O'Reilly was racist...

You know what I despise? People who try to twist Slavery or the Civil War into this pragmatic occurrence necessary for the economic development of the USA. Nah homey, slavery was fucked up. And no the Civil War was not about the economy, it was about how the people in the south didn't want to be forced to do without slave labor which yes affected the economy but that was the result of the Civil War not the cause - had there not been slavery, there would have been no Civil War.

Image courtesy of Semra Makes The World Go Round

Alicia Keys' BET Awards Performance feat. SWV, En Vogue and TLC

Stop Biting Dilla!!

A couple months ago on my show we discussed the full page ad J Dilla's estate ran in Rolling Stones Magazine demanding that all interested in using J Dilla's likeness and/or intellectual property go through the proper channels and get the appropriate license and permission to do so. Unfortunately, this article makes it pretty clear that little has changed since then. STOP JACKING DILLA!

"Kobe. Tell me how my ass taste."

Imus Strikes Again!

Top 10 Things About Total Recall

I-mockery.com did a Top 10 list about one of my favorite movies from the 80's and the first R rated movie I ever saw. Of course the well endowed female Martian made the list (lol) in addition to all the other ill shit in the movie.

For the newbies, here's Total Recall in 7 minutes...yes, 7 minutes...

Jordan Lost Too

No, Kobe isn't Jordan, but all this talk about Kobe's legacy being tarnished because of this year's loss in the finals is bullshit. Why? Cause Jordan lost games and leads too. He's the best basketball player of the last 25 years but he did lose. And once again, I'm not saying Kobe is or is like Jordan but peep this article for a more detailed look at some of Jordan's struggles before judging Kobe.

Note: Peep how Danny Ainge had a hand in both a Kobe and Jordan meltdown. Interesting.

Bush

I hate Bush...but I was curious what the hell he said in 2000 that sold people on his ass. Oh yeah, that if we don't stop nation building efforts abroad that we're gonna have a problem. Oh and that he's gonna prevent that. Lol, his pants are on fire right now.

The $200 Whopper

This is not a joke, this is the actual $200 Whopper which is available at only one Burger king in the entire world - the Burger King in West London, UK - once a week. It's actually called "The Burger" and the ingredients are:

Wagyu beef
White truffles
Pata Negra ham slices
Cristal onion straws
Modena balsamic vinegar
Lambs lettuce
Pink Himalayan rock salt
Organic white wine
Shallot infused mayonnaise
An Iranian saffron and white truffle dusted bun.

Why the hell did they make this? All proceeds go to the Help A London Child charity, which assists young people experiencing abuse, homelessness, disability, poverty and illness. Great cause but damn, "The Burger" better fill me up for at least a week for $200!

Vick Dog to Therapy Dog

Dog saved from the Vick dog fighting case is rehabbed into a therapy dog. A little heart warming in the morning does a body good.

Rare B.I.G. Interview (1996)

Young Chris - Never Die

Illest shit I've heard from the ROC in a while, illest shit I've heard from Chris ever...not a dis, that's a compliment.

Hip-Hop Father's Day Songs

It's no secret that black culture is matriarchal. Without going into a history lesson, this goes back to slavery when households were stripped of their men and men were forced to live in separate quarters as a means of control, etc. As Hip-Hop is a reflection of the black experience (at times), it's not amazing that there are a great number of "Mama" records but few "Papa" records. I figured since it's Happy Dad Day and all it would be good to share this list of "Papa" songs that Henry Adaso compiled over at About.com (plus a couple I added).

Eminem - "Mockingbird"
2Pac - "Letter 2 My Unborn"
Ja Rule - "Daddy's Little Baby"
Nas - "Me and You"
The Game - "Like Father Like Son"
Xzibit - "Carry the Weight"
Nas & Olu Dara - "Bridging the Gap"
Atmosphere - "Yesterday"
Edo G - "Be A Father To Your Child"
Will Smith - "Just The Two Of Us"
Jay-Z - "Where Have You Been"

Hip-Hop Chess Set!

Courtesy of SandraRose.com

R. Kelly Gets Off

I'm not amazed.

Amy Winehouse A Racist?

She did apologize. But I don't know...

Checkmate!!

Hey Pierce...STOP FAKING!

I know I'm not the only one who realized Paul Pierce wasn't hurt the second he hit the ground. Similarly to Rip Hamilton's phantom injury from the Celtics - Pistons series, Pierce came up lame without much contact. At first it seemed like Kobe may have bumped his knee, then it seemed like maybe Pierce's own teammate Perkins may have tripped him up - either of which did not cause that much contact. Yet Pierce was on the floor writhing in pain and all I could say is - "if he's hurt that's a huge blow to the Celtics, but if he comes back before the 4th quarter this is some bullshit." And some bullshit it was! As LA Times writer Plaschke wrote call it the "fake n' shake."

I'm all for entertainment but come on, just play the game. Scripted theatrics? That's just too far. Phil Jackson even said when asked if Pierce's injury and subsequent return brought to mind memories of Willis Reed that "the difference is that Willis was out for three quarters and took 3 horse shots in his thigh before coming out, Pierce was only gone for a minute and a half of the game and didn't even limp when he returned." When asked about the "Pierce Drama" and its affect on the Lakers' play, Kobe Bryant laughed. Pierce himself, when asked what treatment he received or planned to get he said "some standing, some lateral movement." When asked if he planned to have a MRI he said, "what's that going to tell us? If I can play or not?" Uhh, yeah! Unless you were never really injured and you know it...which you do.

Summer Jam Cam!!!

More Flashing Lights...

"McCain Will Lose" - Rupert Murdoch

Media mogul and staunch Republican party supporter Rupert Murdoch has thrown his 2 cents into the fray, saying he predicts McCain will lose. He further stated, "You have got the Obama phenomenon. You have got, undoubtedly, a recession … The average American is really getting hurt financially and that all bodes well for [Obama]. You have probably the making of a complete phenomenon in this country."

Rupert went on to not only say McCain would lose, but that it would be by a landslide. He labeled McCain "unpredictable" and also said that over the years as a Senator, John McCain has had to make so many compromises that it's not clear where he stands on the major issues.

Why is this important? Murdoch is a businessman of course but he's also one of the most powerful supporters of the Republican party who has a station dedicated to news that is as right wing tilted as it can be. If he really believes McCain will lose and that an overwhelming majority of Americans agree - for whatever reason -will he allow FoxNews to stay the course with their conservative platform or will he even the playing field in an attempt to attract all viewers so he can meet that profit margin.

Bottomline, when you're dealing with big money supporters like Murdoch, there decisions aren't made based on preference but rather on business sense. Is it possible that others will decide supporting McCain is bad for business and move to the Obama bandwagon?

Black Music and American Politics

I'm not going to write some long essay for you to ignore. Instead, go here and peep the short yet informative piece on Black Music and American Politics written by Oliver Elliot from York University in the UK.

...how about BET playing one of these videos for a change...



Billy Holiday - Strange Fruit



Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Radio Listeners Listen to FM 39% of the time...

This is good but bad news, it's a known fact that as more listening alternatives are intorduced into the market place that less people choose to stick to FM radio. Between ipods and satellite radios, the numbers have continually dwindled over the years. But the silver lining is that, although terrestrial radio's market share has continually decreased it is still ahead of the alternatives.

According to this report, radio listeners spend 39% of their time listening to FM radio, 23% of their time listening to mp3 players and 18% listening to cd players. All together, about 57% of radio listener time is spent with some sort of radio - terrestrial (am or fm) or internet. Also, 33 million people listen to internet radio, up from 29 million in '06.

Granted this is a survey of "radio listeners" so the numbers may be skewed without the inclusion of people who would call themselves satellite listeners. Also, the reason behind the numbers is simple...radio is free and easily accessible...radio's main competitive advantage.

Hmmm....this is only right...



LL Cool J - I Can't Live Without My Radio (LIVE on Soul Train)

New Day...New Hip-Hop Magazine!!

Publisher Vincent Carroll is launching two new Hip-Hop mags...The Hip Hop Business Journal and Video Star Magazine. One's a good idea...the other isn't. THHBJ will focus on Hip-Hop entrepreneurs. A segment Carroll referred to as a “largely untapped demographic - one with $500 to $600 billion in spending power.” Good idea. VS will focus on...music video hos...lol, I'll pass.

Yes!!! Cocaine Cowboys 2 Drops July 29, 2008!!!!

Probably one of my favorite movies of all time and definitely my favorite documentary of all time is Cocaine Cowboys. A gritty, fact based doc on the Miami drug trade and the ensuing violence. What makes this film ill is how it's made. The 80's style score was created by the same guys behind the Miami Vice theme, the film features actual players in the story who's tales are corroborated by wrap sheets and criminal convictions, lastly the plot is further supported by actual news snippets and interviews from the early 80's. But now...the sequel is here. Most likely it'll be based on "The Godmother"...and will be just as ill...peep the trailer...

Colin Munroe - I Want Those Flashing Lights (Kanye West Remix)

This shit is ill, not as ill as Kanye's original but ill anyway...



Alt Yeezy Versions




GRADUATION ALBUM LISTENING EXPERIENCE PT. 6 - FLASHING LIGHTS from kwest on Vimeo.

This dude right here...

To be fair...before he lost his marbles, he used to be nice...

...and with the 6th Pick, the New York Knicks choose...

...Danilo Gallinari! Lol, yeah i said it. And I said it cause I meant it. There is no doubt in my mind that brand new New York Knick coach Mike D'Antoni is pining for this kid. Having coached in the Italian League is the first obvious hint. The second hint being Head Scout (isn't this title much more fitting) Isiah Thomas' recent scouting trip to Europe and Gallinari being the only European player expected to go in the first 15 picks.

Listen, I'm a Knick fan and want more than anyone for the Knicks to get better, but picking Gallinari over likely to be available talent like OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Deandre Jordan, et al is shaky at best. It's agreed that Gallinari is one of the top 5 sf's coming out in the draft this year - the best being Beasley (if you want to call him a SF) - but what about Joe Alexander of WV or Anthony Randolph of LSU (my preference)? Alexander and Randolph aren't as good as Beasley, but are better than Gallinari, are expected to be available at the 6th pick and are better than Gallinari. And if you're looking for upside, look at the freshman phenom Randolph...

Maybe I just have little faith in the Knicks, but you see for yourself...

D. Gallinari



Joe Alexander



Anthony Randolph

Black Billionaires

Everyone knows about Bobby J (Bob Johnson) and Opie (Oprah) and their billions...but few know of the other handful of black billionaires gracing the earth. Actually, I was in the barber shop the other day and heard a funny remark. There were two kids, both around 17 or 18 talking about their upcoming prom. one was in the barber's chair getting his weekly shape up and the other was brushing his hair so viciously he seemed like he was trying to get waves or die trying. Soon the convo turned to what they were rocking to the prom. And the vicious hair brusher says..."I got these patent leather joints! I'ma be fresh to death, niggas gonna call me 'Oprah's Son' when I step in the building!" Lol, of course we all laughed. Shit, it was funny. But it also made clear to me that if people don't see someone on tv or hear them on the radio people will never know them. Well here they are...black billionaires...now you know them!

Aliko Dangote

Company: The Dangote Group

Position: Chairman, President

Industry: Manufacturing

Country: Nigeria

Michael Lee-Chin

Born: Port Antonio, Jamaica, 1951

Company: AIC Limited

Position: Founder, Executive Chairman

Industry: Financial Services

Country: Canada

Mohammed Al Amoudi

Born: 1946, Dessie, Ethiopia

Company: Corral Petroleum Holdings, MIDROC Ethiopia

Position: Chairman

Industry: Petroleum,

Country: Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia

Oprah Winfrey

Born: January 29, 1954

Company: Harpo Inc.,

Position: Chairman

Industry: Media

Country: United States

Patrice Motsepe

Born: January, 28, 1962, Johannesburg

Company: African Rainbow Minerals Limited

Position: Chairman

Industry: Mining

Country: South Africa

Robert L. Johnson

Date of Birth: April 8, 1946, in Hickory, Mississippi.

Education: University of Illinois, BA, 1968; Princeton University, MPA, 1972.

Company: The RLJ Company

Position: Founder, CEO

Industry: Real Estate, Hospitality, Professional Sports, Media and Entertainment, Gaming

Country: United States

Stop with the social networking sites!!!

Ok so 50 has one, Luda has one, RZA has one, Dame has one...stop already. Social networking sites have become the new record label-cum-clothing line-cum-liquor brand-cum-nightclub-cum- whatever else every rapper is about to do simultaneously with their own twist on it.

What's sad is that hip-hop once was known for innovation and perpetual adaptation to the changing times. Hip-Hop used to uplift then it rebelled and gave us a voice then it made us celebrate and dance now it makes us...follow trends. Fuck that, I rather follow the leader...

First Gas Goes Up...Then Napkins!?

As if the government issuing checks to all tax paying citizens wasn't a big enough hint that some serious shit is going down with our country's economy...how about inflation...and I don't mean at the gas pump...I mean in the supermarket. Yes, gas is outrageous...but it only affects those with cars! But an increase on napkins? Soda? Shit's getting out of hand. Peep the recent changes in price from '07 - '08 on the following items (courtesy of cnn.com)

1 lb. of beef ... 1.1 percent
8-hot dog pack ...6.7 percent
8 burger buns...16.7 percent
8 hot dog buns...14.5 percent
1 lb. American cheese...4 percent
1 lb. Tomatoes... 8.6 percent
1 lb. Lettuce... 9.1 percent
16-ounce bag of chips...11.8
6-pack of beer... 1.2 percent
Soda, 2-liters... 10.8 percent
Ketchup..8 percent
Mustard...2.1 percent
Mayonaise...13.1 percent
Salad dressing...6 percent
Paper plates...13.8 percent
Napkins...3.8 percent