An Ill Leo's Notepad

Heavy D and the Boyz, “You Can’t See What I Can...

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:30:00 -0600

Heavy D and the Boyz, “You Can’t See What I Can See”

Rest in peace, Heav…

Bumpy Knuckles and DJ Premier, “BAP” From their...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:01:07 -0500

Bumpy Knuckles and DJ Premier, “BAP”

From their upcoming album The Kolexion.

Vinyl Thoughts: Gang Starr, Daily Operation

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:52:00 -0500

Every so often, an album comes around that changes the way you listen to Hip-Hop; for me, that...

Evidence, “You” (Produced by #LordPremier)

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:52:05 -0500

Evidence, “You” (Produced by #LordPremier)

Finally, a Not-So-Crazy Reason to Hate Anne Hathaway I have a...

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:48:00 -0500

Finally, a Not-So-Crazy Reason to Hate Anne Hathaway

I have a bit of a confession to make: I never really liked Anne Hathaway. But it’s not her fault. Based on the trailers I’ve seen for her movies, she’s an at-least-decent actress (although I’ve avoided actually seeing her movies like Sarah Palin avoids facts). And she doesn’t seem like a bad person - not in the least. But she happens to bear a striking resemblance to an ex-girlfriend. The hair, the smile, the stature, the figure (oh, did I need to mention that the ex-girlfriend in question is white?) - basically everything except the voice and certain mannerisms. And since I don’t want to see anything or anyone that reminds me of my ex, I avoid seeing any movie with Anne Hathaway in it (but I do plan on seeing the new Batman movie). I’ll be the first to admit that that’s a crazy reason to dislike a celebrity.

Well, thanks to the above video, I now have a half-sane reason to hate her.

Seriously, people, rappin’ ain’t for everybody. And if you’re going to bite another rapper’s style (or “jack somebody’s swag”, as the knuckleheads are calling it these days), you should at least bite the style of a rapper who isn’t criminally over-rated, somebody who’s capable of spitting - what are they called? Oh, yeah - lyrics. Eh, but that’s just me.

Hopefully, Owen Wilson won’t go on anybody’s show to spit a wack-ass sixteen in the style of Nikki Minaj.

When you run out of substantive arguments, you have to resort to...

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:46:23 -0500

When you run out of substantive arguments, you have to resort to conspiracy theories. I’m sorry, but only an impossibly stupid or batshit crazy person would actually believe that a liberal/progressive would need to take money from a Republican - or that a Republican would actually pay them - to defend Obama. To defend Obama!

Maybe Joan thinks that common sense is overrated. She probably holds a similar view on sanity.

Elzhi, “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” From the...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:48:03 -0500

Elzhi, “It Ain’t Hard To Tell”

From the Elmatic mixtape. If you haven’t downloaded it already, you owe it to yourself to do so.

(Via Nahright)

Uh, no Mr. Moore: The terrorists win when we let them get away...

Fri, 06 May 2011 15:39:23 -0500

Uh, no Mr. Moore: The terrorists win when we let them get away with killing almost 3,000 Americans.

Seriously, some progressives are getting as bad as conservatives.

Damn. I hope Dr. Cosby doesn’t hold back next...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:33:02 -0500

Damn. I hope Dr. Cosby doesn’t hold back next time…

(h/t @theuppitynegro)

Rachel Maddow Should Know Better It absolutely pains me to have...

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:38:34 -0500

Rachel Maddow Should Know Better

It absolutely pains me to have to respond to this video, considering the amount of respect and admiration I have for Rachel Maddow - arguably the last sane person at MSNBC. But when I take into account that she once bragged about her “devotion to facts that borders on obsessive”, it astonishes me to know that she chose to ignore the legislative realities that led to Obama and Holder’s decision on Gitmo and the Military Tribunals. I mean, why no mention of the fact that it was the House and Senate who blocked the funding that would allow the closing of Guantanamo? Why didn’t she say anything about local opposition to the transfer of those prisoners to American soil?

Look, I know Maddow and other liberals and progressives - myself included - don’t like this turn of events. But you can’t accuse the President of “kicking his base in the teeth” when he was clearly being held back by Congress. And since it’s “President Obama”, and not “Emperor Obama”, he can’t bypass them on everything.

I’m just so disappointed with Rachel Maddow right now.

Marvin Gaye, “The Star Spangled Banner” (from the...

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:18:38 -0500

Marvin Gaye, “The Star Spangled Banner” (from the 1983 NBA All-Star Game)

Happy Birthday, Marvin…

Sigh. You know, I haven’t heard Tavis Smiley say a word...

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 18:52:00 -0500

Sigh. You know, I haven’t heard Tavis Smiley say a word about Obama in I-don’t-know-how-long (at least not on Twitter - or maybe I just haven’t been paying attention). Lately I’ve been getting my daily dose of unreasonable criticisms of the Commander-in-Chief from “progressive” pundits like Jane Hamsher and Cenk Uygar (who, incidentally, used to be a Republican). But Smiley’s been giving Obama shit even during the campaign, so I’m not really surprised. What surprises me is how he doesn’t seem to get the fact that this President, unlike our previous one, actually waited for the go-ahead from the United Nations before authorizing military action. And, unlike Bush, Obama has the International community on his side.

Oh, and to refresh your memory, Mr. Smiley, here’s why Obama was awarded the Peace Prize, according to Thorbjorn Jagland, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee (Emphasis added):

“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future,” Jagland said. “We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future, but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do.”

So Mr. Smiley, I say to you, respectfully, shut the hell up.

Pharoahe Monch, “Clap (One Day)” Extended Music...

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:41:09 -0600

Pharoahe Monch, “Clap (One Day)” Extended Music Video

My early pick for video of the year. Can’t wait for the album to drop.

A Tribe Called Quest, “Award Tour” I absolutely love...

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:11:19 -0600

A Tribe Called Quest, “Award Tour”

I absolutely love this song, and I dig the video. In fact, Midnight Maraduers would have been my all-time favorite album if Daily Operation had never been released. But I have to admit it: Every time I see this video, I ask myself, “What is up with Trugoy’s eye?!”

REKS, “25th Hour” (Produced by #LordPremier) (via...

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:44:57 -0600

REKS, “25th Hour” (Produced by #LordPremier)

(via Nah Right)

The Second City Network, “Black Republican”

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:57:51 -0600

The Second City Network, “Black Republican”

People Under the Stairs, “BEER” As a former beer...

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:24:00 -0600

People Under the Stairs, “BEER”

As a former beer connoisseur (and by “beer connoiseur” I mean “reckless drunkard”), I have to admit that seeing this video brings back memories - well, at least it brings back the memories I actually remember.

(Via Nah Right)

“Van Jones Isn’t Havin’ It!” I think...

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:37:00 -0600

“Van Jones Isn’t Havin’ It!”

I think everyone (who bothers to read any of my blogs) knows how I feel about Cenk Uygar and other members of the Professional Left, so it was quite refreshing to see Van Jones take down just about every “Obama’s not doing enough” talking point Cenk threw at him. There was no way Mr. Jones, who probably is more progressive than the President, was going to criticize his former employer - even after Cenk desperately attempted to get him to do so by accusing the President of throwing him under the bus. I won’t lie, this video made my morning.

Bad "News"

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:59:57 -0600

OK, I just heard that “Breaking News” song by “Michael Jackson” today, and...

I HATE THIS FUCKING SONG!: Wyclef Jean feat. Mary J. Blige,...

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:08:00 -0500

I HATE THIS FUCKING SONG!: Wyclef Jean feat. Mary J. Blige, “911”

Certain songs are just plain irritating: “Do the Stanky Leg”, “BMF” (yeah, I said it!), and anything recorded by (or featuring) Soulja Boy, Gucci Mane, or Nikki Minaj. But the above tune has left a horrible skid mark on my brain from the moment it was released. I mean, it’s bad enough that it’s not exactly the smartest song I’ve ever heard, but why would someone whose high “notes” sound like those of a constipated walrus boldly put themselves in the same studio with the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul? I’m not one of those “He’s makin’ his money!” types, but man, I hope Ms. Blige got paid millions for this shit.