Jasmine Mans Poet & Critic

Hip hop wouldn't be hip hop if there weren't side bar "beefs" and critics gunning for whoever's hot at the time. So Jasmine Mans is no different, I just like her spoken word joint ("turned your g-spot into a landmine" yikes)

Is This The List We Live In??

I swear there's a list for EVERYthing. There's a poll for sports most hated, there's a list for sexiest woman, there's tons of lists for the best rapper alive. Like where does this subjective ranking system end?

Apparently, AskMen.com did a list of the top 49 Most Influential Men of 2010...49 though?

My issue with this list is male readers/subscribers to the site VOTED. Which means the ranking system wasn't done in any type of empirical fashion. Just looking at the top 10, it was basically ran as a popularity contest. Who would you wanna hang out with? Who could you have deep conversations about nothing with? Who's the richest? But is this list a reflective of how men view other men, when it comes to power and respect?


Jose Murinho (#9) -- Portugal's "The Special One". No surprise there, soccer is the world's sport

James Franco (#7) -- *crickets*

Kanye (#5) -- Kanye Omari definitely deserves to be in the top 10 and I'm glad to see enough men respect Ye as an artist, trendsetter, and media personality enough to put in good company



Steve Jobs/Bill Gates -- (#4 and 2 respectively) -- Justifiable! I mean they're the leaders in the computer technology field. And the battle rolls on between Macs and PCs, thanks to Steve and Bill; 2 seemingly regular, generic geniuses

I'm really trying to figure out how/why Jon Stewart was ranked #1, yet POTUS didn't crack the top 10. Even Jay Z and Lebron rank higher than Barry! Barack is ranked at #21, among the company of Eminem, chic designer Tom Ford, and Ben Affleck. Ummmmm, yeahhhhh

Si I Shot It: Matthew Jordan Smith

1 of the reasons why I watch America's Top Model is to check out the editorial ideas that the photographers bring to the shoot. As an evolving photographer, I always try to research the photographers that are on there, just to see if their style can help me go to the next level

I think 1 of the dopest concepts that they did was the celebrity couples shoot, which MJS shot.

Here's a couple of super dope shots from his website

This Is Why She Stalks You

So yesterday, I was listening to Live From Plutopia over on BeehiveFM. 1 of the guest hosts was Isaac Hayes III, producer and son of the legendary I. Hayes. They were talking about how we put so much pressure and focus on sex, dudes using penis pumps and viagra, the show was just all over the place (fast forward to the 1 hr mark to check out this topic) But when he whipped out this diagram, I had to stop for a minute and think about it

The explanation he made actually makes sense! For some people, sex is a deal breaker. In the sense of if you don't know how to use your equipment or your head game is weak, your longevity in that relationship is questionable. On the flip, sex makes people do some crazy sh!t, especially women. We all have witnessed a homegirl who stays chasing after a dude and dealing with a dude that we KNOW is not a good look for her. But she stays because...evidently dude is taking multiple rides to P2.

So Isaac's premise was if you have no intention on really being with a chick, stay in the lobby or take sporadic visits to P1. STAY AWAY FROM P2!!! because you won't be able to get rid of shawty

Mic'd Up: Quincy Jones ft Luda + Joe Budden

We always say honor our legends while they're still here. Respectful bow and toast to Quincy Jones! Not only did he produce "Thriller and "We Are The World" (RIP to the King), but he produced some fine ass offspring in Kidada and Rashida Jones. I digress though!

I came across this dope update called "Soul Bossa Nostra" which features Luda and his artist, Rudy Currence. In case you didn't know, Bossa Nostra is the official name of the Austin Powers theme, which Q produced. His new album entitled Q: Soul Bossa Nova is supposed to be released later this quarter (FYI: the album will also feature the remake to "Secret Garden", which was originally recorded by James Ingram, El Debarge, Al B. Sure and Barry White. The remake was rumored to include Robin Thicke, Trey Songz, Tyrese, Usher, and Tevin Campbell and is produced by Jermaine Dupri. I smell an epicfail coming)

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD "SOUL BOSSA NOSTRA"

I have a love/hate vibe with Joe Budden. A good majority of his stuff is ridiculously ill, but then he'll put out a few records that are just like "really Joey?" But this "Inception" record knocks. From the bunch of tracks that are being put out to lead up the release of Mood Muzik 4. If you saw the movie, then this track will make a bunch of sense to you. MM4 is hitting the innuhnets next Tuesday 10/26

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD "INCEPTION"

TI Saves The Day (Spoof)

5 Reasons Why I Pick Eminem Over Wayne

I personally didn't watch the BET Top 10 MC of the 21st century BS because I refuse to entertain anything Tigger hosts. So I took a Google and Twitter search to see that what the final list was and what people had to day. I was a little surprised at the order in which they ranked the said artists. From the list, it's clear that Def Jam has BET deeeeeeep in their pockets. Because out of the 10 spots, 5 were given to Def Jam artists (Ross, Jeezy, Luda, Kanye, and Jadakiss). I like all of the artists that are on the list, but from what commenters had to say, there was some passionate disagreements about who should have the #1 spot: Eminem or Lil Wayne

Now personally, I wouldn't put Wayne above Kanye (who they group voted to put at #3). I could see the battle between Em and 'Ye being very heated. But Em and Wayne, I was really confused as to how anyone could be torn. I have my own 5 reasons why Em is better than Wayne

5) Em brings an unorthodox, comical approach to hip hop: For the past 15 years, hip hop has been about clothes, jewelry (whatever happened to Jacob the Jeweler btw?), nice cars, and sex with groupies. With hip hop being the youngest genre in music, it's undergone several face lifts. When Em came on the scene, hip hop was still at war and seething over the deaths of our beloved Pac and Big. Jay Z had Dame Dash all up in his videos. And the South was really making moves on the chart a la Master P and UGK. Then out pops with this bleach-blonde white boy whose cleverly poking fun at the boy band groups, and co-signed by a hip hop legend (Dr. Dre). He got everybody's attention in a major way.

His wise-ass antics and parodied videos have continued with every release he's put out. While his videos for singles garner the most attention, they're funny and often poke fun at everybody, including himself. Whoever writes his treatments is a genius!

4) He's not racial/social/economically specific: Hip hop is all about struggle; going through it and coming out of it. Some artists glorify the struggle from where they came while pouring $1200 bottles of Ace on women. Either way you look at it, Em's audience is far-reaching. Whether you're black or white, American or Malaysian, rich or poor, something in Em's albums will resonate with you. In my opinion, he's never tried to hide where he's from or peddle you a rags-to-riches dream. He came from nothing and he's ok with that. Whereas some artists have this story of "this is where I came from, so please like me and accept me"

3) Countless awards: I don't care what any rapper says, you get into the music business for 2 things: money and awards! No rapper does this because they "love to rap". Em has won countless MTV Awards (both movie and video), many grammys, and even an Oscar! Jay Z hasn't done that. Despite the fact that Em has poked fun at the homosexual community, he bridged the gap by performing with music's favorite gay, Elton John. Em is the only rapper (aside from 2pac) who's put out a widely successful movie about himself. Can't argue with that

2) His lyricism: After watching him create a wordplay with orange on this past Sunday's 60 minutes, I have kinda newfound respect for Em's lyricism. People who say he's wack obviously have never really LISTENED to a full Eminem CD. Why else do you think no rapper has tried to come for Em's neck in terms of beef? Because Em will rap circle's around your fav rapper...even Lil Wayne! Matter fact, aside from the dope beat, Em made "Drop the World" a better song! And if you doubt or question Em's lyrical ability, just take a listen to the following songs (which were NOT US released singles)

* Rock Bottom

* No Apologies

* Cinderella Man

1) He doesn't give a F: Too many hip hop artists these days are switching it up once they get that label check. They talk about trappin and how they beat cases and move weight on their underground stuff, but then they sign on the dotted line and it's all about liquor, Maybachs, and chicks that look like a fake Gloria Velez. Em is the same Em that he was 10 years, only with brown hair and a little less crazy. On an Em album, I always know what to expect. Greatness mixed with comedy and anger. I respect him for never selling out

Some people don't like Em because he's the token white guy in hip hop. But I think Em has stuck around BECAUSE the token white guy in hip hop. He has to work just as hard and be just as competitive as the kats who are black and not even 25% as talented as he is. He doesn't beef to help him post high 1st week numbers. Anybody can relate to him. Not everybody can relate to Wayne. At the end of the day, I'd buy a Em CD before I buy a Wayne joint