Unemployed Royalty

     There's a certain percentage of the unemployed population that are trying to find ways to keep themselves busy while their union is on strike.  Celebrity charity basketball games having been popping up on the regular in the last couple months as the NBA owners and Players Union try to negotiate a new agreement.  The season looks destined to definitely be postponed indefinitely but the jobless ballers are keeping busy by playing games in various cities in the name of charity.  Kudos to them for doing something productive while showcasing some of their world class skills.  Here's a video highlight reel of some of the games best at Chris Paul's charity game in Winston-Salem, NC.  King James, DWade, CP3, Durantula, John Wall and others get busy and show there unbelievable athleticism.

I'm About My Bills Like Stevie Johnson

     The Buffalo Bills are officially on the map.  After a tremendous comeback victory against the New England Patriots, down 21-0 in the first quarter, they are now 3-0 and the talk of the league.  With the proclaimed Amish Rifle, Ryan Fitzpatrick, doing the quarterbacking and the dynamic duo of running back Fred Jackson and receiver Stevie Johnson proving tons of offense, they are as enjoyable to watch as any team.  Especially since they've been a consistently poor team for quite a while, basically since they lost those 4 straight Super Bowls in the 90's.  Yeah, Ouch.

     The Bills do have a special place in my sports loving soul since Ralph P. Wilson Stadium was the first place I ever got to see a live NFL game.  It also happened to be Hall of Famer Jim Kelly's last game ever as the Bills lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC WildCard playoff game, 1996.  If you get a chance to catch a game there, it's a must.  It's a stadium that's literally in the middle of your everyday neighborhood.  The locals rent their backyards for parking and use the snow as coolers for their local Honey Brown.  Completely Awesome or I should say the Bills fans are on their Stevie Johnson.

     In tribute of the Bills early success, I'm posting this video of "Stevie Johnson" by Ya Boy featuring Cik.Money.  It's dedicated to the work ethic of SJ13 making it from JuCo to Kentucky to the league. It's Stevie approved as he appears throughout the entire video, doing his off field maneuvers.  One thing to look for in the video is Ya Boy eating a "money sandwich".  Yes, I said a money sandwich.  They get a loaf of bread, put stacks in between and take a bite, absolutely classic.
I'm always entertained when athletes try their talents on the mic, even though he doesn't rap in this video.  Although, he just put a mixtape out last week, called "Why So Serious" with G5Gi, download here if you're feeling adventurous.  I also posted a video below of him freestylin.
Enjoy and I'll be making sure to stay on my Stevie Johnson.

Backyard Art

     Beautiful design is timeless as well is anything that makes itself a part of American history and considered the epitome.  Those are some of the thoughts when it comes to Frank Lloyd Wright and the legacy of the United States' foremost architect.  I'm a long time fan of the genius that is him and the magical structures that he created over the better part of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
    He designed everything from homes to churches, schools to museums the Guggenheim), hotels to skyscrapers, and always imprinted his view and created forms that are timeless.  One of the more intriguing things that Wright did, regardless of fame, was that he still accepted commissions to do smaller projects, such as these smaller one family homes.  They called these homes Usonian.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he actually designed four homes in New Jersey, one being in Cherry Hill.  After driving back and forth a few times, I found the J. A. Sweenton residence behind an office building and I was quite impressed.  Most of the time, you know that when you see a Wright piece, it's different than most buildings  you've ever seen.
     I asked the home owner politely if I could take some pictures and he graciously suggested I go along the tree line to get better pictures. You can see the wonderful angles and shapes he used, for example the dramatic shape of the roof on the one side, it's only 3 feet from the ground.   The 3 bedroom, 1 bath home was built in 1950 and is about 1,500 square feet.   The back of the house has 6 glass doors and uses natural light and the surroundings to be part of the dwelling.  His buildings are known for being organic and trying to be a part of the land rather than something completely foreign.  A lot of times, furniture is actually built into the home as part of it, which is a very unique look.  If you're not familiar, I definitely suggest reading up on it.  The man is pure genius.

6 Glass doors in the back

Philly's Boss

     In tribute of the Fightin Phils winning their 91st game tonight and sweeping the Braves, along with the Union soccer team coming back down 4-1 in the first half, to tie the game.  "I'm A Boss" seems appropriate.  Still burning up the clubs and speakers as one of summer's anthems, Meek Mills and MMG released a (second) video for this hit, directed by Benny Boom.  Reppin Philly to the fullest, Milly has local legends Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and Young Chris all make cameo's in the video.   Of course, the rest of Maybach Music's star-studded roster is front and center as well.  Wale still doing his thing with the Mitchell & Ness throwbacks, which I'll always be a fan of.  He's even got the live shot in front of Geno's Cheese steaks which is dope, even though I'm Pats all day.
     I'm a Boss is both on the MMG Self Made Album and Meek's mixtape which you can find on my Mixtape Mayhem 3 review here.

Under The Bridge

     This is one of the best songs of all time from one of the best bands of all time.  The video might not be the most capturing but the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been one of the most consistent and invigorating bands of our generation, providing songs like this for the past couple decades.  This is the song that catapulted them into the mainstream and officially made them superstars.  Lead singer, Anthony Keidis, wrote this song in response to his own emotions about drug addiction and loneliness, and you can hear the emotion in the song with every listen.  This song was released in early 1992 from their fifth album, but arguably their best, Blood Sugar Sex Magik.    Legendary hip-hop producer, Rick Rubin, produced this album and pushed Keidis to write the song after finding a poem in his notebook.  The Chili Peppers have had hip-hop influences in their music, especially with lead singer Keidis's very quick, rhyming style that would probably sound just at home over drum and bass kicks than he does over his fantastic band which includes the infamous bassist, Flea.
     I'll always be a fan of the Peppers since it seems that we basically grew up with them and they produced some of the best music around.  I also had the luck to see them perform at Woodstock 1999 in Rome, NY where their rendition of Jimi Hendrix's Fire basically was the kickoff to the audience literally burning the venue to the ground.  I'll never forget the image of small fires being started throughout the crowd to full fledge giant bonfires and large trucks being set ablaze.  A visual that can never be scripted nor duplicated.
     This video was directed by Gus Van Sant in California, enjoy.

Mixtape Mayhem III

     Summer is always a great time of year filled with barbecues, pool parties, and days off at the beach.  Windows down, not really, windows up, AC blowing, but still a great time to turn up the volume in your whip and bump your favorite cuts.  As we get close to the end of this season, we reflect on the songs that made up the soundtrack to the summer and what music will get us through to the fall and football season.
As always, there's a bevy of free mixtapes out there from some of the most popular artists to up and comers that give a preview of what's to come.  Some of these have been out for a while, but good music is good music whenever you stumble upon it.
     Although it's been out for a minute, Young Chris released his second mixtape with L.I.FE. Ladies In Free Everywhere where you can download here.   As the title says, Chris goes in over R&B beats and his ode to the females everywhere.  He's definitely working hard to be a consistent artist, especially now under mega-producer Rico Love's Turn The Lights Out record label.
Fabo did something similar with his last S.O.U.L. tape (click here) where it's definitely a slowed down tempo that caters to the women, which of course, is all good as long as it's quality.  It wouldn't be Fabo if he didn't have his gansta cuts like "You'll Don't Really Here Me Though" and "That's Not Love" with Weezy.
     Next up is G.O.O.D Music's Cyhi Da Prince who came out with Royal Flush 2, download here.  He hasn't disappointed at all since signing with Kanye's label and seems to be a professor of metaphor as he continues to deliver original rap music.  He has great production on this mixtape and you can listen  from the beginning to the end. Quality, seriously, it sounds like a legit full release, you will have your favorites.  Check out "Woopty Doo" with Big Sean, "Dance", "1000 Pounds" for some official bangers.  28 tracks.  Yes, enjoy.
     As we keep it moving, the top names in the game have been on their self-promotion as they have major releases coming late summer, fall.  We had Lil Weezy release Sorry 4 The Wait, as he appeased his fans until Carter IV comes out.    He basically kicks it over the hottest beats of the summer and as it's nothing to go crazy over, its good enough to keep the uber fans at bay until the release in the fall.  Download here.  Right behind Weezy, comes Young Jeezy…..who released his usual mixtape with DJ Drama, The Real is Back, and his what you come to expect from Jizzle.  Hard knocking, bass kicking, drug flow.  I listened to Ballin with Wayne more than enough this summer.  As he's been in a bit of lull, he still has start power and until he fails, who can doubt. Download here.
     Right behind them dudes is The Game, who has been releasing tapes, since his label has had his major label release, RED, on hold forever.  The album will come out in a couple weeks, but he did release another mixtape a couple weeks ago, Hoodmorning Candy Coronas, download here.  Honestly, haven't gotten to listen to it with everything else out, cough cough, Watch The Throne.  I know he's got an "Otis remix" dissin Hov and his other mixtapes have been pretty good.  Facts are Game is talented and has skills.  Also has been blessed with thee best production as well, but he carries his own weight.  The RED album should be top notch.  Click below for the Maybach boys new mixtapes.

Heineken x UBIQ x Wale

       What was that heat wave that passed through South St in Philadelphia last Thursday?…Oh, that was only the Heineken Red Star Access concert series at the TLA with Wale as the headlining act.  With lines in front of the theatre all night, there was a buzz about the surprise concert that was only announced a few days before the show.  Tickets were distributed for FREE on a very limited basis with local streetwear boutique UBIQ co-sponsoring the event with Heineken and giving tickets away through Twitter and Facebook.  (Make sure to follow them.)  Heineken has been providing free concerts all summer all over the country with the hottest names in hip-hop, rap, and R& B.

     Upon entering, they had the Heineken "green" carpet for those wanting to get their paparazzi on, along with everything else in that familiar color.  The green continued as the sponsor provided free Heineken's all night long.  Doors opened at 9 pm and DJ Nice provided a great set of old school jams with current hits for a couple hours as the crowd anxiously waited for Wale to hit the stage.  Eventually, he erupted on the stage a little after 11 and the party then officially started.  Click below for more.