R.I.P. Nate Dogg

I’m sure the video for “Regulate” is gonna be tweeted, blogged and linked to a million times today and I was trying to find another song to honor Nate Dogg with but really there is no other choice. BUT, me being the contrarian that I am…

Was Blind But Now I See(Repost)

I posted this back in 2009 and since I don’t think I can write anything more that can express how much in awe I am of J Dilla, I thought I’d just repost that old entry which is just as relevant as it was when I first posted it. I’ve re-read Questlove’s story numerous times and every single time it never fails to amaze me. Going through and listening to the sound clips just make miss him more and more. The man, the myth, the legend. Happy Birthday James “Dilla” Yancey.

I realize now that J Dilla was a god. Maybe it was the frame of mind I was at during the time I first heard his beats. Or maybe it was the type of artists he was producing for that didn’t click with me but I just never really understood the praise he got. I was a little peeved that I couldn’t grasp the brilliance in him that others saw. Now, I don’t want to toot my own horn but I feel I have a pretty darn good understanding and overall appreciation of Hip Hop. So what was it exactly that those in the same elitist, snobby, pretentious league I considered myself to be in, saw that I didn’t?

Well whatever the case may be, I can safely say now that I get it. Label me a complete convert. I went from being the trouble maker sinner kid who was friends with the kids that went to Sunday school to full blown Born Again Child Evangelist. I can see clearly now the genius of the man. I just hope I’m not too late and maybe if I start repenting now, the day I make it to wherever it is you go to when you die, the Hip Hop gods will allow me entrance.

Awhile back ?uestlove wrote an amazing post on Okayplayer about J-Dilla doing what he does best. I suggest going here to read and take in the audio samples.(I’ve been listening to them for the last hour or so) Hopefully after reading it, you’ll agree to have witnessed a miracle and Dilla will have changed your life as well. RIP James Dewitt Yancey.

The “Little Brother” Beat Story

December 9th 2010

John Lennon was assassinated 30 years ago today. Pay your respects to the most important musician of the 20th century. And try not to laugh at the band pretending to play the instruments live in this performance. Especially the bass player.

R.I.P. Manute Bol

Well, today’s off to a shitty start. Only player in NBA history to have more blocks than points. Rest in peace.

The King Is Dead

Growing up, Michael Jackson was my world. I loved him. Every song I memorized, every album I purchased, every video I dissected. I was a fanatic at age 7. He was for me, my introduction to MUSIC and my love for it ever since I owe solely to him. Shortly after I heard of his passing, my mom(not yet knowing of the bad news) called me for something completely unrelated. When I told her that Michael Jackson had died, she surprisingly responded, “Huh? Michael?!”. I replied “Yeah.” My mom in shock took a second to collect her thoughts and said, “He was your favorite. Do you remember?” I said, “I know Mom. I remember.” And even though I stopped caring about anything he’s done past Dangerous, to some part of me, he’ll always be my favorite.

Pay your respects, the King is dead.

R.I.P. EGM/1UP

It’s been tough for me to see the recent demise of EGM and 1UP. I’ve been a huge fan of 1UP for a couple years now and I would spend literally 5 to 6 hours of my week listening to the various podcasts and watching the latest episode of the 1Up Show. After all that time you really got to know these people like they were your friends who you talked and played games with. To see so many of them lose their job is a very grim thing. Not only for many of us who are fans but most especially for them no longer having a job.

Electronic Gaming Monthly was the other major casualty of the UGO buyout. I haven’t subscribed to it since I was in high school but ever since I’ve been playing video games, it’s been Gamepro, EGM and which ever Dave Halverson magazine was out at the time. To have one of them not on the magazine rack is pretty damn depressing. It’s a small part of my childhood gone for good.

The earliest, most memorable EGM moment was back when I was in 5th or 6th grade. I was riding the bus home from school and someone had the EGM issue where they had that infamous “Sheng Long” screen cap. I freaked out and thought to myself, “Who the fuck is the old guy with fire on the end of his Dragon Punch?!”

My friends were saying how it was some secret boss even more harder to beat than Bison! My mind exploded. I don’t remember when I found out that that was all just a April Fools Day prank but I, along with EVERY other kid who was obsessed with Street Fighter, felt like a complete idiot.

*sigh* Remembering this makes me a little teary eyed. Goodbye Quarterman. Goodbye Sushi X. May you two live forever in the annals of game journalism. Farewell EGM, thanks for the memories.

It’s March 9th

As you can tell, it’s not March 9th. I was gonna do this post on Sunday but due to a myriad of reasons, it completely slipped my mind. But I can’t go forward without acknowledging the anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s death. I use to be a frequent poster at the Giantrobot forums and for the past 3 or 4 years, every year on the anniversary of his passing I would post on a thread I created called “It’s March 9th” and I would post one of Biggies legendary verses. That thread has recently been deleted so I made it a point to carry on the tradition here. Good start huh?

In all honesty, I didn’t really start to recognize and appreciate Big’s greatness until long after his passing but have followed him from the beginning. One of my favorite emcees ever. I remember buying the cassette single of “Juicy” when I was 14 and reciting the line “time to get paid blow up like the world trade…” over and over and over to the point where my friends on the school bus ride home would scream at me in anger begging me to stop. I didn’t.

On my list of top 10 favorite songs of all time, “Juicy” is the only Hip Hop song on my list. It’s my absolute favorite rap song of all time.

R.I.P. Christopher Wallace

(5/21/72 – 3/9/97)

“Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G.:

Expect a “Sample Clearance” post on this in the future.