New leak from DMV's own Charlie Too Much. It's some sexy smoke music. Check it out below. The No Filter EP is coming soon.
New leak from DMV's own Charlie Too Much. It's some sexy smoke music. Check it out below. The No Filter EP is coming soon.
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New Music: @TooMuchCharlie - "No Filter" featuring @JettBailey301
New leak from DMV's own Charlie Too Much. It's some sexy smoke music. Check it out below. The No Filter EP is coming soon.
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@Drake Surprises the Mad Decent Block Party Crowd
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| Drake. The man who can rock a Cosby sweater in 2015/2016 and have women fawning over it. |
Per
Drake showed up at the Brooklyn edition of Mad Decent Block Party tonight, performing a short set that included “Jumpman,” “Back to Back,” and his DJ Khaled collaboration “For Free.” He came out during Boi-1da’s DJ set. Watch below. Today marks the final show of Drake’s four-night run of shows at Madison Square Garden for the Summer Sixteen tour, which he’s been co-headlining with Future. At the first show, he took shots at New York radio station Hot 97 and DJ Funkmaster Flex.
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A Goofy Movie is an Underrated Disney Classic
Rant time on in three, two, one...
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Perhaps my millennial views are showing a bit too much with this title, but I feel that 1995's A Goofy Movie is an underrated Disney classic. Stick with me here, Frozen and The Lion King diehards. I know what you're thinking. "How dare Speed talk about A Goofy Movie as being among the 'greats' when it didn't even do that well at the box office?"
To that, I offer this retort. People expected A Goofy Movie to be, well, nothing but goofy hijinks. And while we got those, there was so much more to this film.
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Most of these people forgot that, for every hijink the film's source material, the '90s series Goof Troop, contained, there were heartfelt moments out the wazoo. The series was before its time as it talked about death, splintered families, "modern families," and things you didn't really expect to see in an afterschool Disney cartoon (just rewatch the first couple of episodes to see what I mean). I guess people saw "Goofy" and were disappointed when they didn't get much "Goof." What we got was Disney's attempt to talk to teenagers--and families--about some pretty heavy stuff.
Let's say this before we get to ahead of ourselves. No one in this film is free of deceit or is really that "good" of a character.
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The closest we get is Goofy, but even he has his breaking point, much like the Everyman series of the 1950s-1960s. Sure, you can argue "oh, he just wanted to spend time with Max." But, in doing so, he forced his only son to go on a road trip. And the road trip itself is pretty crappy, because Goofy doesn't want to accept that Max isn't really his little buddy anymore--until the ending scenes. It's a dark film, full of characters, specifically Max, coming to terms with their damages--and maturity issues/issues with upcoming maturity. I mean, hell, Max risks life and limb for a concert because he lied about knowing Powerline in the first place. And for what? A girl.
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Sure, Roxanne was awesome and was, I'll admit, a cartoon crush of mine in my younger years (screw you, at least I can admit it). But, ultimately, Max risked the safety, sanctity, and sanity of his family to impress a girl. What teenager, myself included, hasn't done some stupid stuff to make someone like them, romantically or otherwise? It's mostly what being a teen is about. Being a teenager means figuring out what works--and what doesn't--in life. That's one of the overarching themes of the film: figuring out what works in a dynamic that is everchanging, bringing back the issues of maturity.
On top of that, Tevin Campbell did a damn good Bobby Brown impersonation as Powerline.
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I'll admit that the darker tone isn't what you'd expect from this film. But, for me, that's what makes it classic. Underrated even. It takes some solid risks and, for the most part, it succeeds. Sure, the film's songs, other than "Eye to Eye" and, maybe, "Stand Out," they aren't all that memorable. I'll give that to the detractors. But, it was a Disney film that wasn't built just for its songs, just as a vehicle to have songs tell the story. It was a Disney film that tried to speak its message without being preachy or--in many Disney films' case--too "song-y."
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Additionally, the film captures the '90s so beautifully. Oh, my word, does it capture the '90s so beautifully. It's a topical film that, twenty-plus years later, still is relevant (especially since people are loving '90s retro stuff these days). Sure, kids today probably won't understand that Powerline was some mix between Prince, MJ, and Disney magic. But that's okay. He can be representative of, like, Justin friggin' Bieber today and the message still works. But, because it's so '90s, it becomes timeless, in the way a time capsule does. It's cheesy at points, but that nostalgia you get from watching the film back? It's beautiful.
So, there you have it. My thoughts on A Goofy Movie. If you haven't seen it, go watch it. Now. They even sometimes show it on Disney Junior for the kids today (my kid loves it). Just avoid its sequel. An Extremely Goofy Movie never happened, guys. Like, seriously.
Perhaps my millennial views are showing a bit too much with this title, but I feel that 1995's A Goofy Movie is an underrated Disney classic. Stick with me here, Frozen and The Lion King diehards. I know what you're thinking. "How dare Speed talk about A Goofy Movie as being among the 'greats' when it didn't even do that well at the box office?"
To that, I offer this retort. People expected A Goofy Movie to be, well, nothing but goofy hijinks. And while we got those, there was so much more to this film.
Most of these people forgot that, for every hijink the film's source material, the '90s series Goof Troop, contained, there were heartfelt moments out the wazoo. The series was before its time as it talked about death, splintered families, "modern families," and things you didn't really expect to see in an afterschool Disney cartoon (just rewatch the first couple of episodes to see what I mean). I guess people saw "Goofy" and were disappointed when they didn't get much "Goof." What we got was Disney's attempt to talk to teenagers--and families--about some pretty heavy stuff.
Let's say this before we get to ahead of ourselves. No one in this film is free of deceit or is really that "good" of a character.
The closest we get is Goofy, but even he has his breaking point, much like the Everyman series of the 1950s-1960s. Sure, you can argue "oh, he just wanted to spend time with Max." But, in doing so, he forced his only son to go on a road trip. And the road trip itself is pretty crappy, because Goofy doesn't want to accept that Max isn't really his little buddy anymore--until the ending scenes. It's a dark film, full of characters, specifically Max, coming to terms with their damages--and maturity issues/issues with upcoming maturity. I mean, hell, Max risks life and limb for a concert because he lied about knowing Powerline in the first place. And for what? A girl.
Sure, Roxanne was awesome and was, I'll admit, a cartoon crush of mine in my younger years (screw you, at least I can admit it). But, ultimately, Max risked the safety, sanctity, and sanity of his family to impress a girl. What teenager, myself included, hasn't done some stupid stuff to make someone like them, romantically or otherwise? It's mostly what being a teen is about. Being a teenager means figuring out what works--and what doesn't--in life. That's one of the overarching themes of the film: figuring out what works in a dynamic that is everchanging, bringing back the issues of maturity.
On top of that, Tevin Campbell did a damn good Bobby Brown impersonation as Powerline.
I'll admit that the darker tone isn't what you'd expect from this film. But, for me, that's what makes it classic. Underrated even. It takes some solid risks and, for the most part, it succeeds. Sure, the film's songs, other than "Eye to Eye" and, maybe, "Stand Out," they aren't all that memorable. I'll give that to the detractors. But, it was a Disney film that wasn't built just for its songs, just as a vehicle to have songs tell the story. It was a Disney film that tried to speak its message without being preachy or--in many Disney films' case--too "song-y."
Additionally, the film captures the '90s so beautifully. Oh, my word, does it capture the '90s so beautifully. It's a topical film that, twenty-plus years later, still is relevant (especially since people are loving '90s retro stuff these days). Sure, kids today probably won't understand that Powerline was some mix between Prince, MJ, and Disney magic. But that's okay. He can be representative of, like, Justin friggin' Bieber today and the message still works. But, because it's so '90s, it becomes timeless, in the way a time capsule does. It's cheesy at points, but that nostalgia you get from watching the film back? It's beautiful.
So, there you have it. My thoughts on A Goofy Movie. If you haven't seen it, go watch it. Now. They even sometimes show it on Disney Junior for the kids today (my kid loves it). Just avoid its sequel. An Extremely Goofy Movie never happened, guys. Like, seriously.
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Tim Tebow: MLB Player?
Mini rant time.
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So, aside from the U.S. sweeping medals in Rio, a sports tidbit has come out insinuating that Tim Tebow wants to play baseball.
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And I want to hit a home run at Camden Yards during Game Seven of the 2016 World Series to win the championship for Baltimore. And I want to do it in real life, not just in MLB The Show 16.
I also, while we're on dreams, want to go platinum for my albums. Speaking of which, The Sorest Loser.
Now, I'm not here to dump on Tebow. If he feels he's got the skills to get a MLB job, screw it. Who am I to stomp on his dreams?
However, he's been out of baseball for over a decade. Heck, he's been out of football for about a year (even though he looked decent enough last preseason). On top of this, he'll be 29 at the next couple days (in other words, he's about a year older than me). Baseballers--and sports guys in general--tend to decline the older they get. So, while it may be fun to imagine Tebow pulling a Jim Morris or something and doing the damn thing, it's also just as likely he'll "fail" at baseball. Now, I put fail in quotes because even if he gets a minor league deal, he's accomplished more than a lot of folks can. But, if he doesn't get past the minors. he'll probably feel like he failed.
So, what do I think? Do I think he's got a shot? Again, who am I to stomp on his dreams? If he's got the skills needed, and some team is willing to take a shot? Why not? He's already proven he can do some pretty superhuman things, probably through his conditioning and devoutness (not even saying that as a joke; God is powerful, man). Why not baseball? I mean, Rick Ankiel reinvented himself as an outfielder after failing as a pitcher. And he homered in his first MLB at-bat as an outfielder.
Sure, at least Ankiel was in MLB-level baseball before he made the switch. But, if he can do it, why not Tebow, even if it's just for a couple of games? I think it may work for him...I've got faith.
So, aside from the U.S. sweeping medals in Rio, a sports tidbit has come out insinuating that Tim Tebow wants to play baseball.
And I want to hit a home run at Camden Yards during Game Seven of the 2016 World Series to win the championship for Baltimore. And I want to do it in real life, not just in MLB The Show 16.
I also, while we're on dreams, want to go platinum for my albums. Speaking of which, The Sorest Loser.
However, he's been out of baseball for over a decade. Heck, he's been out of football for about a year (even though he looked decent enough last preseason). On top of this, he'll be 29 at the next couple days (in other words, he's about a year older than me). Baseballers--and sports guys in general--tend to decline the older they get. So, while it may be fun to imagine Tebow pulling a Jim Morris or something and doing the damn thing, it's also just as likely he'll "fail" at baseball. Now, I put fail in quotes because even if he gets a minor league deal, he's accomplished more than a lot of folks can. But, if he doesn't get past the minors. he'll probably feel like he failed.
So, what do I think? Do I think he's got a shot? Again, who am I to stomp on his dreams? If he's got the skills needed, and some team is willing to take a shot? Why not? He's already proven he can do some pretty superhuman things, probably through his conditioning and devoutness (not even saying that as a joke; God is powerful, man). Why not baseball? I mean, Rick Ankiel reinvented himself as an outfielder after failing as a pitcher. And he homered in his first MLB at-bat as an outfielder.
Sure, at least Ankiel was in MLB-level baseball before he made the switch. But, if he can do it, why not Tebow, even if it's just for a couple of games? I think it may work for him...I've got faith.
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Let's Talk #DARBiz: Grow and Achieve
Being your own boss, running your own business, and being responsible for your own success, is one of the most amazing things you can do. The satisfaction of knowing that you, and you alone, are responsible for the achievements of the day; that the money in the bank has come from your hard work, and your happy clients are happy as a result of your applied skills and knowledge, is immeasurable.
So how do you get from an idea to a fully-fledged business? How do you take those skills, that knowledge and experience and turn it all into cold, hard cash? How do you take that first step into the unknown and come out the other side with a top class product, compelling brand and clients who love you?
As a seven-business veteran, an experienced start-up coach specialising in business development, and best-selling author of How To Be Your Own Boss As A Single Mum, as well as regularly consulted on business matters by a wide range of companies and founders, I’m going to show you. I’ve worked with start-ups run by teenagers right through to those in their 70’s and in every industry you can imagine, from artists and musicians, to bookkeepers and writers, via hairdressers and carpenters. There’s no challenge I haven’t encountered either myself, or through my coaching, and I’ve been round the block more than a few times.
I've experienced heady highs, and I've experienced the lowest of lows. From owning fancy houses and fast cars, to facing bankruptcy due to failed ventures – I've been there and done it. But do you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. Ridiculously wealthy or totally broke, I love being my own boss; making my own decisions and designing my own future. The heartbreak has been worth it and, as we go through this series, you’ll see why my passion for start-ups is unrivaled. After all, knowing that the business you've created, whatever it may be, has helped and supported others, is humbling. And feels pretty good too.
Today, in the last of my four-part series, I’m going to talk about business development: how to build your business in an holistic way to achieve your revenue goals.
The first thing to say is that business development isn’t sales. It has strong elements of it, of course, as we’re looking at how to bring in money and clients but it’s also based on marketing, strategy, and operations. It’s the holistic view of your business, the view of your business in-the-round; what you want from it, and how you’re going to achieve your goals.
What is your USP?
In order to market your business effectively, you need to be entirely clear on your Unique Selling Point. What is it about your product or service that is different to everyone else? What is it about the way you deliver your offer, or work with clients, that’s different? What is that one, single thing that marks you out? Once you have identified it, and can write it down in less than 10 words (for clarity), you can market on it.
Who is your client?
Before you start thinking about making money, you need to think clients. What do they look like, think, feel? Where do they buy things? What publications do they read/buy? What sites do they browse? What social media do they use?
Once you know the answer to that question, you need to think about how clients relate to your product or service. If you already have some, consider whether they are really the clients that you want. Often when we start up we will work with anyone; doesn’t matter who they are, what they want and (sometimes) what they pay – we just want the work. That’s all very well but to move forwards and grow, we need to work with clients who will pay what we ask, give us work we like (in the main) or buy everything we sell, and not prove to be too tricky. This means that we need to identify our current client, ideal client, and dream client profiles. This will make it much easier to plan your business development activity.
What are the differences between your ideal client and your dream client? Often not much actually but it is the difference between a great business and a business that blows your mind, and brings in lots of cash. The more we love what we do, the more we work at it and the more we earn.
My Five High-Impact Tasks
Now you are clear on your USP, and know your client profile which means you can target them with precision, you can start planning your business development activity.
I always work in 5’s when it comes to bizdev; in fact, I love doing most things in 5’s. It’s a really powerful number. I do 5 things per day that will impact on my life (business, home, personal, social) and I recommend that businesses undertake 5 tasks per day to develop their revenue too. Here’s my 5 for success:
- Revisit your contacts and get back in touch. Whether that’s old clients, people you know from work, friends/family that might be able to help, intro’s from friends/family to new contacts, social media contacts, it’s all helpful.
- Identify some appropriate networking events, and get them diarised. Ideally, you should attend at least one physical network per week, more if online.
- Get socialising on social media. If you’re not active on all the relevant platforms for your business, then get cracking and make sure that interacting with other businesses and potential clients is a daily thing.
- If you don’t have a website, then you should. It’s a 24/7 shop window for clients, and a great revenue generator. Blogging on your site is critical; not only does it get your name out there and improve your visibility on search engines but it shows potential clients that your business is active, live, and lets them see more about you. I’ve lost count of the number of businesses I’ve seen whose last blog was a year ago. Doesn’t instill confidence in me as a consumer…
- Build your sales pipeline. Get finding people that you want to work with, and contact them. Add in anyone you meet on a business level; networking, social media, recommendations and intros; and then start contacting them. Ideally you should spend at least 1.5-2 hours per day building your pipeline, particularly when you start up.
Something else I suggest is to develop a newsletter. You can put a signup form on your website or social media pages really easily, and people can sign up through that. I always give a freebie away to entice them, so think about what you could offer in order to boost your lead generating activities. More leads, more clients!
Business development must become a part of your daily routine, no excuses. In fact, as much a part of your routine as checking your email or invoicing clients. If you want a healthy business, with lots of revenue from lots of clients, then you have to be out there finding them. They don’t just find you. My recommendation, always, is at least 1 hour per day. If you have a quiet day ahead, then try 4 or 5 hours. It’s the activity that, providing you’re clear on your USP, ideal clients and service offer, will always give you payback.
So we’ve reached the end of my whistle-stop tour of how to start a business. There’s lots to learn, lots to love and lots to experience about the process. It can be up and down, certainly full of challenges, but likely to be one of the most fulfilling things you ever do.
And I’d love to help!
I have developed the StartUP programme for women who want to work for themselves. It’s free, and you can enroll here. If you just want to know more about business, you can sign up here for my newsletter, and read my blogs on the site, which are full of helpful hints and tips. And if you’ve enjoyed this series, and want to know more about how to develop your business, then you must check out the Make More Money programme. It’s a 12 week programme, consisting of workbooks, videos, live Q&A sessions and a support group, as well as lifetime access to the programme, designed to help you get your business revenue up and running if you’re a start-up or firing on all cylinders again if your business is more established. The testimonials speak for themselves – it’s incredibly simple to follow, and really works!
I also coach business owners, so if that’s of interest drop me an email and we can get a free exploratory Skype session in the diary to chat more about what you need.
Wishing you the very best of luck with your business; I hope our paths cross again soon!
www.creativebizdev.co.uk
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Prince Fielder Likely Done in MLB
"No."
That's the only word I could muster when I heard this news.
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Per MLBTradeRumors, Texas Ranger 1B/DH Prince Fielder has announced he will not continue his playing career after undergoing neck surgery a few weeks back. He didn't say the "R-word," but it's pretty much accepted at this point. The 32-year-old leaves the game with over three hundred home runs and an .282 career average. Now, I say "no" because, as a fan, Fielder was one of my favorite players. It's selfish, I'll admit. But, you sometimes don't want to see your favorites leave the game, even if it's best that they do (see my Daniel Bryan tribute for another example). He was this hulking Black dude who was cranking out home runs and won me over with his ethic.
So, will he be a HOFer? Eh, perhaps. He's got some damn good numbers, but I don't know if they're going to be full-on HOF worthy. But, just off the strength of his best years, he should be in there. No doubt about that. But, truth be told, he's got similar numbers to his dad (who isn't in the HOF, even though he should have at least got a couple sniffs at the HOF, but I'm biased).
Screw all the formalities, though. Fielder was a great player and will be remembered as a leader in the game in several ways. He should be remembered as a great of his era. He will be remembered as a legend in a lot of ways, such as his stance, the fear opposing pitchers felt when he stepped to the plate, his two Home Run Derby wins, the fact that he and his father had respective 50 HR seasons, the fact that he and his father hit the same amount of homers over their career (eerie), and so on. The man was and is legit.
I don't think this is the end of Fielder outright, though. I don't know if he'll play again, but I feel he'll be brought on as a hitting coach by someone (possibly Texas at the minor league level). Who knows? But, I don't feel this is the last we'll see of Prince Semien Fielder.
That's the only word I could muster when I heard this news.
Per MLBTradeRumors, Texas Ranger 1B/DH Prince Fielder has announced he will not continue his playing career after undergoing neck surgery a few weeks back. He didn't say the "R-word," but it's pretty much accepted at this point. The 32-year-old leaves the game with over three hundred home runs and an .282 career average. Now, I say "no" because, as a fan, Fielder was one of my favorite players. It's selfish, I'll admit. But, you sometimes don't want to see your favorites leave the game, even if it's best that they do (see my Daniel Bryan tribute for another example). He was this hulking Black dude who was cranking out home runs and won me over with his ethic.
So, will he be a HOFer? Eh, perhaps. He's got some damn good numbers, but I don't know if they're going to be full-on HOF worthy. But, just off the strength of his best years, he should be in there. No doubt about that. But, truth be told, he's got similar numbers to his dad (who isn't in the HOF, even though he should have at least got a couple sniffs at the HOF, but I'm biased).
Screw all the formalities, though. Fielder was a great player and will be remembered as a leader in the game in several ways. He should be remembered as a great of his era. He will be remembered as a legend in a lot of ways, such as his stance, the fear opposing pitchers felt when he stepped to the plate, his two Home Run Derby wins, the fact that he and his father had respective 50 HR seasons, the fact that he and his father hit the same amount of homers over their career (eerie), and so on. The man was and is legit.
I don't think this is the end of Fielder outright, though. I don't know if he'll play again, but I feel he'll be brought on as a hitting coach by someone (possibly Texas at the minor league level). Who knows? But, I don't feel this is the last we'll see of Prince Semien Fielder.
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New Music: @GreenDay - "Bang Bang"
Any time I'm told there's new Green Day, I check it out (even if it's just a stream). The group was part of my childhood and adolescence. And this new track? It's fucking awesome. It's a mix of that "old" Green Day sound and a newer edge. I want to hold off on saying that they're "back," because the group never really left to me. But, hey. Welcome back, guys! Their new album, Revolution Radio, drops in early October. If this is any indication, it's going to be a damn good project. So, you know what I'm going to do? Shut up and let you listen to the track below.
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New Music: @Currensy_Spitta - "I Got The Keys" Freestyle
New Curren$y is always good Curren$y. That's my thought process. And this doesn't disappoint.
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Retro Review: Prince's Around the World in a Day
On this day in 1986, Prince started a run of five nights at Wembley Arena in London (H/T ThisDayInMusic.com). In honor of this, I'm going to look at one of the Prince albums from the 1980s that I didn't with True a couple months back.
I'm, of course, talking Around the World in a Day. I've made mention of this album being an "inferior" (by Prince standards) follow-up to 1983's Purple Rain. But, is it as "bad" as some have made it out to be? Well, no, because it's Prince. But, is it really as faulty of a follow-up to Purple Rain as some (including myself) have made it out to be? That's what we're going to answer today.
This is, technically, a WIRTB. but since Prince never really made "bad" music, it's more of an evaluation of the album versus Prince's discography and its place chronologically.
For starters, I feel the album gets some of the miscredit it does because it's not really a straight-up follow-up to Purple Rain. It's more of a setup for 1986's Parade, the underrated soundtrack album to Under the Cherry Moon than anything. I mean, the title track has vibes of "Christopher Tracy's Parade" versus the vibes of, say, "Darling Nikki" or something. It's trippy, a bit cryptic, has that overarching-but-still-subtle-by-Prince-standards religious overtone. Overall, though? The title track is legit. It's just as post-funk as Purple Rain, but, again, it serves as a bridge to the end of Prince's work with The Revolution. There's a lot of Middle Eastern influence mixed in as well. Perhaps that's what turned people off to begin with, the fact that it's not a "straightforward" album. It pulls influence from many, many places.
"Paisley Park," again, keeps up that Parade vibe. Its carnival-esque backing mixed with matter-of-fact stories about adultery, for instance, give us a yearning for the old days, but accepting that life goes on. The place seems to be meant to be some mix of MJ's Neverland and Prince's energy at that time as a whole. You don't want to grow up in Paisley Park, but life has that sort of effect on you. So, enjoy the simple things, even if they're kind of screwed up by "reality." The video is just as trippy and layered.
"Condition of the Heart," it's a Prince track that takes almost three minutes before we hear his voice. But, in the meantime, piano chords and the escalation of the instrumental backing, they keep you interested. It feels a bit rock opera-esque, especially with how long it takes to "get going." It's a lovely, slightly trippy track about the complexities of love, romance, and the like. The choir-like breakdown towards the end of the song, that's what you're here for. That and the build-up, which doesn't disappoint.
Now, "Raspberry Beret."
There's not much you can say about this song that hasn't already been said. I prefer the extended mix on the Ultimate compilation, only because it gives you more of that Prince flavor. But, either way, it's a dope track. I mean, who can't relate to teenage love and/or sex? Musically, it, like the rest of this album, is layered as heck. It's classic Prince.
"Tambourine" is, well, it's Prince in the mid-to-late '80s. Sexy and a bit raunchy without being too blunt about it all. But, at the same time, you know, he's blunt as hell about it (masturbation, a desire to avoid pump and dumps and the like). It's the perfect, to me, follow-up to "Raspberry," since both have similar subject matter, similar energies, and so on.
"America." Now, "America" is an interesting track.
For starters, it kind of feels like a James Brown track in a lot of ways. It's political and in your face, but still funky. It's a standout track for this album, since it takes Prince into some places he hadn't fully explored up to this point. It also feels like Prince tackling "Save the Children" from Marvin's What's Going On mixed with the aforementioned Brown's "Living in America." Its use of "America the Beautiful" is amazing to me. It's so snarky and beautifully executed.
"Pop Life," like "Raspberry Beret," is one of those tracks you can't really say much on that hasn't been said already.
I will say that I'm glad that Prince disapproved Ja Rule from using it for "Thug Life," and I'm not sorry in the slightest about saying that. The song was...not all that good. "Pop Life," however, feels like an early version of "Sign O' The Times" but still its own smooth ditty. It's infectious, like really infectious. On top of that, the whole "throw the bum out" part kind of just adds to the message of the song: people want greatness, but there are those elements--people and otherwise--that want you to fail/not be your greatest. It's up to you to make it "pop."
These elements pop up (pun intended) again in the follow-up track, "The Ladder." This is one of those borderline Prince gospel tracks you just have to shut up and listen to it. Just find this track and let it ride for its time length. Don't say anything. Just let it wash over you and purify your mindset.
After an up-and-down ride through Prince's thoughts on humanity, himself, and so on, we're given the final track, "Temptation." Its opening reminds me a bit of the extended version of "Computer Blue," but then it breaks down into this disassembled blues-type track. It's beautiful in how it does that. It follows well after "Ladder," since it kind of discusses that, for example, while Prince is climbing the ladder, some things (mainly the carnality of our species) keep him...grounded in some ways. It's sexy and sexual, but not in the "traditional" way.
It's smoky and reminds me of what I envision a modern speakeasy to contain: lots of sex, lots of smoke, and people wondering if this is the best decision they should make...before making it anyway. And then? The track goes left, like many of the Parade tracks and "Computer Blue" did. Prince starts testifying and experiences some auditory orgasms while the instrumentation gets frantic then calm before repeating the cycle, mimicking the ups and downs of sex itself. Then, the track goes even further left, with Prince almost at the hands of God because of his sexual lust. You want rock opera? This track's closing minutes are some of the best rock opera I've heard (and, no, that's not meant as an insult to the track).
All in all, I've got to say that this album isn't bad, not in the slightest. And that's even within the confines of Prince's discography It's a hidden gem. It's a good album, great even. Plus the covers for the album and the singles are dope AF. But, it feels more like a demo in some ways for Parade. It feels like Prince and The Revolution were figuring out the sound they wanted for that project and released some (albeit mostly classic) loosies to tide folks over until their denouement was ready. It's an album that, if you're a Prince fan or a purveyor of solid music, you need in your life. It's sexual, raw, real and pretty personal.
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New Music: @StvnLmnt - "Sincerely..."
New EP from Steven Lamont. I love the instrumentals on the project. On top of that, Lamont's lyricism and comfortability in flow are showing a lot of growth from his earlier project. Check it out below and tell him how you're feeling about the track by linking with him on social media.
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Speed on the Beat Interviews @ClassyCaraM of ClassyCara.net
I haven't done one of these in a while, so I figured we'd just jump right back into it. Today's interviewee is a DMV native who's been slowly, but surely making her mark in the cam world. The avid Pokemon Go player and self-professed DIY lover recently agreed to sit down with me to discuss her views on "Camming While Black/Brown," G/G scenes, sex toys and more. So, if you've got this one up at work or around the kiddies...take it to the mobile devices. SpeedontheBeat.com accepts no responsibility for if you fuck around and get fired and/or accused of sexting or something crazy. All images are courtesy of Cara's Twitter feed and her site, ClassyCara.net
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Speed on the Beat: For those unaware, can you introduce yourself to the SpeedontheBeat.com readership? Just a bit of basic information about yourself.
Cara: The name’s Cara, I’m a 26-year-old cam model. Basically, I make amateur smut and host a live video chat room where things tend to freaky!
Speed: Haven't heard "smut" in a minute (laughs). How’d you get into camming? Was it just something to do when there was nothing to do, or was it a bit more thought out than that?
Cara: A friend suggested Streamate as I complained about my 9-5. Knowing absolutely nothing about cam sites, I didn’t get the joke. I looked it up, hung out in a couple of models room and decided to give it a try. Quit my job 2 months later, and never looked back!
Speed: How long have you been camming and the like?
Cara: A little over three years now, although I still feel like a newbie most days.
Speed: What are some of your favorite scenes to do for your audiences and for videos? Do you, for instance, prefer outside scenes to bedroom squirting scenes or are all your scenes your favorites for various reasons.
Cara: My favorites change with my moods, but most days I really enjoy filming sensual videos where I get to take my time and really feel it. Like teasing myself and edging a bit before I cum. The real fun comes with how to make that happen. I could be tied up with a vibrator strapped to me, massaging oil all over after a hot bath, or sitting on the patio with adrenaline rushing hoping not to be seen.
Speed: This is a question I’ve probably never asked any other cammers or models. What’s your favorite toy? I mean, you said for me it was cool to ask the NSFW questions. Besides, you may be able to give some pointers on how to...properly use it.
Cara: Hands down, my Trojan Twister vibrator!
Speed: Interesting choice. How come?
Cara: It gives just the right amount of vibration without being too much. There’s a few different speeds and pulses so I can change it up randomly. Edging is so fun with it, right when that speed/pulse starts to feel REALLY good, I switch and hold off my orgasm a bit longer. Stronger vibrators like the Hitachi are too much to tease with, it’s just a straight-to-it kind of orgasm.
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Speed: Gotta agree with you on edging. Sometimes, you want to have a bit more fun with it than just the, as you said, straight-to-it orgasms. So, do you prefer BG or solo scenes? I know you've recently completed your first BG sex scene, so I figured I'd ask.
Cara: I prefer filming solo, only because I don’t have to worry about what the guy is doing. It takes a lot of coordination and understanding of the video concept, lighting, angles, timing, camera/editing abilities, etc. Most guys just think you turn the camera on and go, but that’s not how it works.
Speed: Sounds a lot like most guys with sex in general. Now, perhaps I haven't perused your site or your work enough to know, but have you ever done/will you ever do GG?
Cara: I haven’t done anything G/G on camera other than a kiss yet, but I’ve dated women in the past. I am however planning on a trip next month to film and cam with Amber Lily! It’ll be my 1st time in Cali and working with another model (and hopefully not my last) so I’m SUPER excited and also nervous about it!
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Speed: Do you have anyone in particular you just need to work with? Director, fellow model, whomever.
Cara: Not really, there are tons of gorgeous models out there and I’m happy to work with any that I “click” with.
Speed: What are some of the sites your work's appeared on?
Cara: I cam on Streamate, have videos on ManyVids and Clips4Sale, as well as my personal site ClassyCara.net. I’ve cammed on MyFreeCams and KinkLive in the past, though.
Speed: I've asked this question a couple times with some of my interviewees. Do you feel that, as a non-White model, things are different for you? And, if so, how? Feel free, if you need, to elaborate as much as you want.
Cara: Unfortunately, yes. Society has stereotypes across the board, in the adult industry, outside of the the adult industry, for women, men, nationalities, races, etc. It’s human nature, but for those who don’t fit those stereotypes it creates challenges. I'm not your typical model, I’m not your typical African American model. I’m me, and always will be. I enjoy role-play, but I won’t fake being something I’m not. Even growing up was tough, didn’t fit in with the black kids, didn’t fit in with the white kids. I just kinda kept to myself. Overcoming stereotypes and being comfortable with who you are is something a lot of people have to go through, no matter what industry they’re in.
Even more so, there’s an ever-changing tug of war with what a beautiful or sexy woman looks like. Most top models on cam/content sites have the same general look. But I don’t fault them or the site, it’s what society has been “taught” is sexy. It’s what we see on TV, in magazines, on the movie screens, everywhere. It changes over the decades, and I think we’re starting to become more accepting of differences, but there’s still that ideal look.
It took me a while to realize I’m going to have to put in ten times more work to get where I want to be. Being different from that ideal look means I won’t be the one to get lucky, blow up overnight, or be super successful right off the bat.
Is it fair? Eh, probably not, but it’s my reality and I think I prefer it that way. Keeps me from taking my fans for granted, and I appreciate success so much more because I worked my butt off for it. I’m not one to whine, beg to be taken care of, or spoiled. When things aren’t going well, I look in the mirror and get to work!
Speed: Totally agree Outside of modeling, what are some other things you find yourself getting into? This can be either professionally, personally, or otherwise.
Cara: Don’t laugh--
Speed: Okay. I’ve seen/heard of some pretty unique answers. Hell, one of my favorite things to do is replay Wild Arms 2 every so often.
Cara: I like organizing things. I love to re-arranging rooms in my house, planning events, organizing family members’ homes and offices, etc. It’s weird, but I have a knack for it. I also like D.I.Y. projects, cooking, and all forms of art. I’m a home body, but anytime I can enjoy those things (either personally of professionally) I’m happy!
Speed: Do you ever worry about people recognizing you outside of the confines of your site(s)?
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Cara: Not really. It’s something you have to be prepared for when you enter this industry. It worried me in the beginning, mostly when I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing this full time, but I don’t really care now. I know for a fact some of my fans are in the same area as me.
Speed: Speaking of which, if someone were to run into you in person, what would be the proper etiquette to approach you to say hello?
Cara: I’d say to keep your distance at first. I may be with friends, family, or something where a meet and greet wouldn't be appropriate. Send me a message to let me know you’re in the area, and if it’s cool I’ll give you the ok to approach and say hey. I don’t mind saying hey to fans, as long as they’re respectful of my personal space.
Speed: As a DMV native, do you have any opinion on the recent signing of Kevin Durant by the Golden State Warriors? Figured I'd ask since we don’t talk enough sportsball on SpeedontheBeat.com at times.
Cara: I lost a lot of interest in the NBA over the years.
Speed: Same. I’m kind of more of a college fan myself (Go Terps).
Cara: I think it’s becoming less about the game and more about the money and politics. Never really had a favorite team, just players I liked (and STRONGLY disliked!). So I’d just watch the Finals for the most part. But now? I feel like I finally have a team! Call me a bandwagon fan if you want, but I like the passion, strength, and humbleness of the GSW line up. An all-around team I can get behind!
Speed: Well, at least you're honest (laughs). I'm still partial to the Wizards, but the Warriors are getting things done. So, last couple questions. Where can people reach you to either view your work, chat it up, or any of those sorts of things?
Cara: I have a Twitter, Instagram, Periscope (all @ClassyCaraM), and Snapchat (Classy_Cara).
I cam on Streamate (bit.ly/CaraSM), have videos on ManyVids (bit.ly/CarasVids) and Clips4Sale (bit.ly/CarasC4S). And members of my site (ClassyCara.net), they can chat with me all day, every day.
Speed: Do you have any parting words for our readers?
Cara: Enjoy life and all the (sexual) experiences that come with it!
Speed on the Beat: For those unaware, can you introduce yourself to the SpeedontheBeat.com readership? Just a bit of basic information about yourself.
Cara: The name’s Cara, I’m a 26-year-old cam model. Basically, I make amateur smut and host a live video chat room where things tend to freaky!
Speed: Haven't heard "smut" in a minute (laughs). How’d you get into camming? Was it just something to do when there was nothing to do, or was it a bit more thought out than that?
Cara: A friend suggested Streamate as I complained about my 9-5. Knowing absolutely nothing about cam sites, I didn’t get the joke. I looked it up, hung out in a couple of models room and decided to give it a try. Quit my job 2 months later, and never looked back!
Speed: How long have you been camming and the like?
Cara: A little over three years now, although I still feel like a newbie most days.
Speed: What are some of your favorite scenes to do for your audiences and for videos? Do you, for instance, prefer outside scenes to bedroom squirting scenes or are all your scenes your favorites for various reasons.
Cara: My favorites change with my moods, but most days I really enjoy filming sensual videos where I get to take my time and really feel it. Like teasing myself and edging a bit before I cum. The real fun comes with how to make that happen. I could be tied up with a vibrator strapped to me, massaging oil all over after a hot bath, or sitting on the patio with adrenaline rushing hoping not to be seen.
Speed: This is a question I’ve probably never asked any other cammers or models. What’s your favorite toy? I mean, you said for me it was cool to ask the NSFW questions. Besides, you may be able to give some pointers on how to...properly use it.
Cara: Hands down, my Trojan Twister vibrator!
Speed: Interesting choice. How come?
Cara: It gives just the right amount of vibration without being too much. There’s a few different speeds and pulses so I can change it up randomly. Edging is so fun with it, right when that speed/pulse starts to feel REALLY good, I switch and hold off my orgasm a bit longer. Stronger vibrators like the Hitachi are too much to tease with, it’s just a straight-to-it kind of orgasm.
Speed: Gotta agree with you on edging. Sometimes, you want to have a bit more fun with it than just the, as you said, straight-to-it orgasms. So, do you prefer BG or solo scenes? I know you've recently completed your first BG sex scene, so I figured I'd ask.
Cara: I prefer filming solo, only because I don’t have to worry about what the guy is doing. It takes a lot of coordination and understanding of the video concept, lighting, angles, timing, camera/editing abilities, etc. Most guys just think you turn the camera on and go, but that’s not how it works.
Speed: Sounds a lot like most guys with sex in general. Now, perhaps I haven't perused your site or your work enough to know, but have you ever done/will you ever do GG?
Cara: I haven’t done anything G/G on camera other than a kiss yet, but I’ve dated women in the past. I am however planning on a trip next month to film and cam with Amber Lily! It’ll be my 1st time in Cali and working with another model (and hopefully not my last) so I’m SUPER excited and also nervous about it!
Speed: Do you have anyone in particular you just need to work with? Director, fellow model, whomever.
Cara: Not really, there are tons of gorgeous models out there and I’m happy to work with any that I “click” with.
Speed: What are some of the sites your work's appeared on?
Cara: I cam on Streamate, have videos on ManyVids and Clips4Sale, as well as my personal site ClassyCara.net. I’ve cammed on MyFreeCams and KinkLive in the past, though.
Speed: I've asked this question a couple times with some of my interviewees. Do you feel that, as a non-White model, things are different for you? And, if so, how? Feel free, if you need, to elaborate as much as you want.
Cara: Unfortunately, yes. Society has stereotypes across the board, in the adult industry, outside of the the adult industry, for women, men, nationalities, races, etc. It’s human nature, but for those who don’t fit those stereotypes it creates challenges. I'm not your typical model, I’m not your typical African American model. I’m me, and always will be. I enjoy role-play, but I won’t fake being something I’m not. Even growing up was tough, didn’t fit in with the black kids, didn’t fit in with the white kids. I just kinda kept to myself. Overcoming stereotypes and being comfortable with who you are is something a lot of people have to go through, no matter what industry they’re in.
Even more so, there’s an ever-changing tug of war with what a beautiful or sexy woman looks like. Most top models on cam/content sites have the same general look. But I don’t fault them or the site, it’s what society has been “taught” is sexy. It’s what we see on TV, in magazines, on the movie screens, everywhere. It changes over the decades, and I think we’re starting to become more accepting of differences, but there’s still that ideal look.
It took me a while to realize I’m going to have to put in ten times more work to get where I want to be. Being different from that ideal look means I won’t be the one to get lucky, blow up overnight, or be super successful right off the bat.
Is it fair? Eh, probably not, but it’s my reality and I think I prefer it that way. Keeps me from taking my fans for granted, and I appreciate success so much more because I worked my butt off for it. I’m not one to whine, beg to be taken care of, or spoiled. When things aren’t going well, I look in the mirror and get to work!
Speed: Totally agree Outside of modeling, what are some other things you find yourself getting into? This can be either professionally, personally, or otherwise.
Cara: Don’t laugh--
Speed: Okay. I’ve seen/heard of some pretty unique answers. Hell, one of my favorite things to do is replay Wild Arms 2 every so often.
Cara: I like organizing things. I love to re-arranging rooms in my house, planning events, organizing family members’ homes and offices, etc. It’s weird, but I have a knack for it. I also like D.I.Y. projects, cooking, and all forms of art. I’m a home body, but anytime I can enjoy those things (either personally of professionally) I’m happy!
Speed: Do you ever worry about people recognizing you outside of the confines of your site(s)?
Cara: Not really. It’s something you have to be prepared for when you enter this industry. It worried me in the beginning, mostly when I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing this full time, but I don’t really care now. I know for a fact some of my fans are in the same area as me.
Speed: Speaking of which, if someone were to run into you in person, what would be the proper etiquette to approach you to say hello?
Cara: I’d say to keep your distance at first. I may be with friends, family, or something where a meet and greet wouldn't be appropriate. Send me a message to let me know you’re in the area, and if it’s cool I’ll give you the ok to approach and say hey. I don’t mind saying hey to fans, as long as they’re respectful of my personal space.
Speed: As a DMV native, do you have any opinion on the recent signing of Kevin Durant by the Golden State Warriors? Figured I'd ask since we don’t talk enough sportsball on SpeedontheBeat.com at times.
Cara: I lost a lot of interest in the NBA over the years.
Speed: Same. I’m kind of more of a college fan myself (Go Terps).
Cara: I think it’s becoming less about the game and more about the money and politics. Never really had a favorite team, just players I liked (and STRONGLY disliked!). So I’d just watch the Finals for the most part. But now? I feel like I finally have a team! Call me a bandwagon fan if you want, but I like the passion, strength, and humbleness of the GSW line up. An all-around team I can get behind!
Speed: Well, at least you're honest (laughs). I'm still partial to the Wizards, but the Warriors are getting things done. So, last couple questions. Where can people reach you to either view your work, chat it up, or any of those sorts of things?
Cara: I have a Twitter, Instagram, Periscope (all @ClassyCaraM), and Snapchat (Classy_Cara).
I cam on Streamate (bit.ly/CaraSM), have videos on ManyVids (bit.ly/CarasVids) and Clips4Sale (bit.ly/CarasC4S). And members of my site (ClassyCara.net), they can chat with me all day, every day.
Speed: Do you have any parting words for our readers?
Cara: Enjoy life and all the (sexual) experiences that come with it!
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A Mini-Rant about Pokemon Uranium
Perhaps you've heard about this one.
A fan-made Pokemon PC game, dubbed Pokemon Uranium, recently dropped and was downloaded 1.5 million times. It was met with fanfare from the fan circles because of its dedication (it took over nine years to realize this dream), and the fact that it was a pretty solid game (I had a brief interaction with it before the game was shut down; gotta say that it was solid AF). Of course, because Nintendo, the game got shut down.
Am I upset that Pokemon Uranium was killed off? No. The creators knew what they were doing and removed it before the game got them sued out the ass. It's solid AF and will, don't hate me for saying it, probably live on in Torrent heaven. However, I am a bit saddened for the creators because of the work they put into making an accurate-to-the-gills version of Pokemon on PC.
I'm not a PC gamer. And I know that Nintendo doesn't really like to put its games out on non-Nintendo systems. But, seriously, guys! There's a market for Pokemon on other consoles that don't feature Mario. Am I calling for a Final Fantasy-level Pokemon on PS4? Nah, not really. It'd be cool, however, baby steps, guys. With that said, I'd love to see some Pokemon games on other consoles. Pokemon Go, with all its glitches, is a step in the right direction. There's a market and, because Nintendo is smart, it'll probably be realized.
Pokemon on more non-Nintendo systems. The thought of it alone makes me giddy. So, as a nerd, I've only one thing to say. Make it happen, for real. Either that or give the Pokemon Uranium folks a job so they can do it for you. Cool? Cool. I mean, if Ash/Satoshi may eventually win a Pokemon League tourney, anything's possible, right?
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New Music: @Jay_Wyse - "What You Mean"
Jay Wyse is continuing his campaign to add his flair to industry beats. This time, he adds some thoughts to Dae Dae's "Wat U Mean (Aye, Aye, Aye)." Keeping Dae Dae's cadence, but adding his own approach to the track, Jay speaks on the realities of his situation. While we're products of our environment (shameless plug), Jay's striving to be more than a statistic. I rock with that. So, check the track out below and let Jay know if you chose wysely or not.
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New Music: @iamAMmusic - Without You EP
Today's new new music of the day comes from the Emerald City. Seattle, Washington native AM hit my DM yesterday with his new project. I instantly started rocking with his emotional rawness. While some of the instrumental choices, like the beat on "Sextoy," leave a little bit to desired, he makes up for it with his voice. Speaking of "Sextoy," it's sexy as hell, even more so (in some ways) than another vibrator-themed track, Raheem DeVaughn's "B.O.B." All I've gotta say is "kudos, man. Keep up the good work." But, no, it's not just about sex. The EP is about a wide variety of love, sensuality and more. Check it out below and let AM know you're rocking with him.
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New Music: @Jay_IDK - "I Picture"
Jay IDK...back with new music. Six words that make my ears happy. The Empty Bank drops in a couple weeks, but if this is where the album is going? It's definitely going to be a solid follow-up to Subtrap and will have people saying #HXLY again this summer/fall. One thing that I'm noticing on this track is that he's even more confident in his flow this time around. So, that's a dangerous combination. Check it out below and let Jay know that you're rocking with it.
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New Music: @TrueGodImmortal - "Ways of the World"
My plugs for DAR are never shameful. Dope music is dope music, regardless of if it's from my boys or if it's from someone else. Now that we got that out the way, my DAR brother True God gives us a story about his rise to where he is. Clocking in a bit over three minutes, True just speaks his mind about music, movies, and television have shaped us all to aspire for things that we sometimes don't really understand until they're right in our faces. Definitely relevant in these crazy-ass times we're living in. Check it out below and be on the lookout for both the After the Revival album and my DARRadio interview with True over the album.
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New (To Me) Music: @kenikickit - Nomad
The intro beat brought me in and the laidback, but poignant flow of Ken(ny) Atlas kept me. I love those "laidback flow" rappers. They make things feel/seem so effortless at times. This is definitely some "vibe music." It's something you just hush up, take in the words and the energies, and process while it's happening. As the self-professed "nomad," Atlas just wants to see the world and see where he fits in among the other 6-7 billion people here. That's something you've got to respect. Standout tracks include the intro, "Crain Hwy," and "The Scenic Route."
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New Music: @MikeMelinoe - Caveman
Where do I begin with this one? The harsh lyricism, the dreamy production that goes from dream to nightmare without a second's notice, or the ability Mike has to put words together to create a dark, yet optimistic, atmosphere (in that, while things are shitty, Mike's still rapping and not doing anything crazy yet, so there's still hope). Hmmm...decisions, decisions.
I'll just start with it all.
The EP is what happens when you take "GOAT"-caliber Eminem, mix him with some Danny Brown decisions, and make it digestible for the Lil Uzi Vert fans of the world. That's no insult to anyone mentioned. The atmosphere of the tracks lets Mike explore freely his flow and lyrics in a way that you're starting to see every artist come out do. But, there's still something decisively "old-schooly" about his approach to it all. The concept, which sees Mike contemplate whether he wants or even needs to exit his "cave," is excellently executed through the production and Mike's lyrics.
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PA Vol. 42: Did We Eff It Up?
For many volumes, Drizzle Sez and I (with the occasional Gingawd, Jimbo Slice, Zay and/or True God appearance) have given you the real so raw, some of you may've gotten pregnant from it. So, for "season" three of PA, we're hitting harder and better than before. PA, short of Profound Assholes, is a series on SpeedontheBeat.com where (usually) Drizzle Sez and I talk some hot-button issues and give our two cents. Reader discretion is advised, as these raw discussions can veer into the NSFW category...but you already knew that. If we get you to think about things, even if we pissed you off, we did our jobs.
Today, we're talking marriage, maturation and...Kodak Black? Read to find out where we're going.
Drizzle: So, I'm heading to Dominica soon. Honeymooning and shit. Because that's what Profound Assholes do after weddings. We honeymoon.
Speed: Like normal peoples. I saw your "how we met" thing online. It's all cute and fuzzy and shit.
Drizzle: Fuck you.
Speed: Fine, I'll never say anything nice again. Would that make you happy?
Drizzle: Yes. But, yo. It's tiring as fuck.
Speed: Then you need a vacay from the vacay. But, hey. At least Missus Drizzle is there. So, sunrays and tons of happy family pictures with you two. Positives outweigh the negatives.
Drizzle: Well, no shit. But, here's the rub. I'm going to be on a plane for six hours. And there's no new music to listen to.
Speed: Brutal, bruhman. Brew-tahl.
Drizzle: So, I figured. Why not? Let's PA this bitch. Welcome one and all to PA. We're back.
Speed: The wedding edition. I mean, congrats and shit. But, yeah. So, do we have some new music that is trash or do we have some gripes with people who aren't putting out music that's worth more than one or two listens.
Drizzle: So...hip-hop is dead.
Speed: Why is it dead today?
Drizzle: I watched a cypher recently and this nigga...
Speed: Go on. How bad did he fail?
Drizzle: This nigga, I couldn't take him seriously. All raps aside, I just couldn't. He looked like an old-timey stereotype.
Speed: Are we talking Daylyt? I mean, crazy-ass gimmicks are his thing. Considering he once damn near took a shit onstage, I wouldn't be surprised if he came out in black face and tape holding up his eye lids to rap against an Asian rapper. Why? Because he's crazy. Lyrical as fuck, but crazy when it comes to gimmicks.
Drizzle: I'm talking that this nigga looks fresh like a picaninny.
Speed: Yeesh. We're getting racial as fuck here.
Drizzle: You know who I'm talking about.
Speed: Are we talking Little Small Boat and/or Little Vertical Automatic Weapon?
Drizzle: I mean a nigga who sells.
Speed: It's 2016. No one who isn't named Aubrey Drake Graham is selling like that these days.
Drizzle: I mean, like, street sales and sells.
Speed: Uzi and Yachty sell in that regard and kind of fit the "jig" stereotype in terms of appearance. So, just tell me who. I'm exhausting my possibilities.
Drizzle: I can't remember his dumbass name. Why? It's probably because when I see him, all I see is like Sambos and, like, Coal Black and shit.
Speed: So, which one of the "sebben dwarfs" is he?
Drizzle: Damn, das raciss. But, Kodak Black! That's who that nigga is.
Speed: Ah, the "SKRT SKRT" kid.
Drizzle: Don't know, don't care.
Speed: Kodak reminds me of Buckwheat and...I don't even know. People have called him the new-age DMX and I'm just like huh? Do you mean before or after the repeated crack abuse? I'm sorry, kid. But, yeah. You're no new DMX.
Drizzle: I'm just saying. Is this where we're headed?
Speed: Maybe. They say hip-hop is a young man's sport and shit. Or did we really fail the young young people in some ways? I mean, goddamn...
Drizzle: Failure sucks, dug.
Speed: Bruh. This must be how Cam felt when he said that racism doesn't exist anymore.
Drizzle: Ass.
Speed: Him or me? I know I'm an asshole.
Drizzle: Yes.
Speed: I'll counterpoint you, though. Is it really up to us to teach the next generation? I mean, is it up to us to teach them verbatim? Or is it our duty to give them our knowledge and say "hey little soldier, if you're not ready for war, learn from us?" That is, to do it without being hovering smothering fucks the whole time throughout the evolution process?
I'm not saying that, for instance, Kodak Black is the savior or hip-hop. Why? Well, in some ways, if he were, hip-hop would be in some pretty crap shape. However, for every Kodak, there's another extreme. For every Kodak, there's a lyrical miracle rapper fuck boy who feels that rap is nothing but rhyming a bunch of multis together.
Fuck y'all.
But, for every one of either of those extremes, there are dope artists who are learning from our generation's successes and failures. They're trying to evolve the game in their own way. That wouldn't be possible if we just lead everyone by the hand. There's some real trial and error shit to hip-hop and developing the next leaders.
Drizzle: Oh, I'm sorry. Are you done? All I heard was "toss 'em all in Lake Michigan and hope they can Phelps." The Jay Z era is over. I know that. I get that. But, these kids are all trying to be Jay Z by poorly mimicking the "bling bling" flow. It doesn't work. Not one of these new classers has the potential to be another Jigga.
Speed: Is that a bad thing?
Drizzle: Lemme finish. We grew up listening to what would become classics and watched the creators of said classics become bigger-than-life. They became conglomerations in their own right. What other genre in our time period can really boast that like rap/hip-hop? I'm sad because not one of these new classers, to me, has the capability to captivate people to become conglomerates, to become legendary. It's a lot of disposable music.
Speed: But, man...that goes back years. Even Kendrick doesn't completely have that boast in his repertoire. Not yet, anyways. He's close. But, I'm, again, not really defending a lot of the "newhead" actions. But, I'm not out here opening defecating on their microphones either for the shit of it. Sidenote, come back, Lauryn. We miss you.
Drizzle: Will she keep standing up her fans? If so, fuck it.
Speed: Blasphemer. But, I agree with you. But, back to the topic. Kendrick and Cole. Outside of Drake, those are two of the only artists from the past few years that you can say that they'll definitely, if they really want to, build conglomerates.
That's kind of the thing for me. No one really wants to build their empire. They just wanna rap. Or "rap," even. No one wants to be the next Jay Z or Nas or Dre like that. They wanna be the next Future, even though Future doesn't even live the "I'm a straight-up drugged-out asshole" life he raps about sometimes. He said it. He said he does it because that's what niggas wanna hear. But, at least he's honest about it. Some of these kids hear that shit, and they want to emulate it fully and life and die by it. Again, there's no real motivation to me.
Drizzle: No. No, they want money and notoriety. But, I do hear you. There's no real drive or hunger with most of them.
Speed: That's my main gripe. Like, my main gripe. These niggas just don't care like they should. They don't care like they should, like they need to. There's no drive anymore.
Drizzle: Even if the drive is "I need money," that's cool. Now? Now, it's pretty much turned into "I need fast money."
Speed: So, we get what? A ton of recycled trends and thematic devices out the ass. Everyone ends up sounding the same. There's no true diversity among a good portion of the musicians and rappers out there these days. Shoutout to those who are actually trying to be different without being "different" in the "mainstream" way. God, that's a weird-ass thing to say.
Drizzle: Then? Then we get niggas who realize that this shit won't last. What happens with them? They go like Yung Berg and we get these niggas on Love and Hip-Hop and shit.
Speed: Case in point? Soulja Boy
Drizzle: Fuck him.
Speed: But, Love and Hip-Hop pretty much started as Basketball Wives with a mic. How it turned into rappers trying hard as fuck to revive their careers (and Joe Budden being Joe Budden) is evolution, right?
Drizzle: It's devolution. Devolution right back into Bojangles and shit.
Speed: They at least have decent chicken.
Drizzle: Meh. But no one from LHH has a career outside of being paid for being coonerific.
Speed: Disagree. At least the Mimi chick got plowed on a shower rod in a porn...oh, I see what you're getting at. I still applaud her for bouncing back from that wildness. Well, at least Remy Ma is still rapping. A couple other women rappers from the LHH franchise as well. It's like the women rappers/artists, they're actually trying to be artists. Meanwhile, male rappers on there, they're trying to pose for the the camera and look pretty. And then you've got Joe Budden. He's Joe Budden. That's all I can really say without having him chase me down and throw rocks at my car. Then again, I'm not stupid enough to trespass on his property. But hey.
Drizzle: But still, even after all that? Fuck Soulja Boy.
Speed: Not even gonna ask why--
Drizzle: Why do you think?!
Speed: Well, speaking of Soulja Boy, we might as well cover a couple more topics here. Bow Wow retired from rap a couple weeks ago. Any thoughts?
Drizzle: When's the last time that Little Bow Wow made a song?
Speed: Uh...puberty?
Drizzle: No, I mean a song that kind of made a splash.
Speed: How about when he beefed with Romeo? "Fresh Azimiz" and whatnot. Dope beat wasted on washed lyrics.
Drizzle: No.
Speed: Then when?
Drizzle: When he decided to don lipstick--whoops, I mean lip gloss--and a wig and crossdress as Lil' Mama.
Speed: See now? That's evil. Why? Well, on top of being factually wrong, it's pretty offensive to actual crossdressers. I mean, they actually give effort in their work and life. Bow Wow hasn't given a shit about his work, musically or otherwise, in years. It's like he woke up like "hey world. I got cosigned by Snoop years ago. Let me still try to be relevant."
Drizzle: Lil' Mama was years ago. Remember? She interrupted Jay Z at the VMAs.
Speed: The point is this. Bow Wow stopped caring as much as he probably should've/could've about music years ago, when he started to "act" in Roll Bounce and shit. That movie was trash. "Oh, Jurnee Smollett is the 'ugly' friend. Quick, let's take her, let her hair down and lose the glasses. Now she's hawt. Genius."
On another note, we're getting old as hell. This PA made me remember that. I'm turning 28 tomorrow and you're getting married soon to the soon-to-be Missus Drizzle. I've got two kids. One starts kindergarten in about two weeks. Not even pre-K. Actually fucking kindergarten. In two weeks!
Drizzle: Yeah, you're an old head.
Speed: You're a couple months older than me, Early Bird Special. But nah. These young whippersnappers. I tell you. They don't know how good they've got it. And you know what? They better--
Drizzle: Stay the fuck off your lawn?
Speed: Damn right. Got my shotgun in tow. Just pray I don't become overly bigoted and/or Clint Eastwood in real life.
Drizzle: If you do, I'll drag your screaming soul back up from Hell.
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PA Vol. 43: Did We Eff It Up (Part Two)
Speed: So, Drizzle's out for a bit. You feel like doing some PA with me in his absence?
Gingawd: Yeah. I'm down.
Speed: Sweet. So, Drizzle and I were talking about the current generation of hippity-hop and shit. The new rappers. He thinks we're fucked as rap fans and fans of good music, potentially because of our own fuck-ups in preventing this new age from happening. I'm kinda in the middle. So, do you think these new rappers are going to doom the genre or just, as Twitter fuckboys love to say, do well "for the culture?" By new, we're mostly talking artists who came out between Drake's rise to relevance and now since, you know, "Nothing Was The Same" and shit.
Gingawd: I think it's become painfully obvious who controls the media.
Speed: Old crusty white dudes who have no real fucking clue as to what's really, in actuality, good music?
Gingawd: Correct. For instance, Childish Gambino should've been in Drake's position and it makes me sad.
But, at least you've got Cole and Kendrick proving that the real still has power. The ways we consume media, it makes it harder for good artists to thrive.
Speed: Gambino, for me, is still kind of hit or miss. He's underrated, sure. But, still hit or miss. Now, I loved Because the Internet. He's still missing a spot or two as a rapper. Drake, in some ways, was a wunderkind, in that he could cross over easier, to me, because of his Degrassi fan base. And it's true about the media. I feel most of these sites are getting better about highlighting the mainstream and the "underground."
Some of them, however, are obviously still operating under new payola. And, for real? I can't really be that mad at that. Get your money. But, at the same time, I feel that kind of dilutes the messages the sites are putting out there. Especially if they know it's just for views and shit.
Gingawd: Agreed. But, Gambino is a stronger actor, artist and writer.
Speed: I can't argue with that. Even as a Drake fan and someone who writes for Boi-1da.com (shameless plug). Gambino does have the leg-up on Drake in those categories for the most part. But, Drake is hella easier to digest if you're just going to the club to turn up. You can't really full on 2016 turn up to Gambino--
Gingawd: "Backpackers,""Freaks and Geeks,""Heartbeat." Those are all club bangers. Hell, you could play "Heartbeat" in an EDM club and it'd fit right in.
Speed: Accurate, again. I guess it's a different kind of "turn up" than most would be able to appreciate. It's like classic/good Kid Cudi mixed with Drake with a morsel of Em/Tech sensibilities when it comes to what/how he's saying things. But, if you're fucked up in the club, you're probably not going to be able to process that. Drake, as much as I like the guy, he's a primer for "sad turn up rap." Some folks, as we see, don't go past the primer.
But, at least both Drake and Gambino are doing better than these other new age rappers.
You know which ones I'm talking about. These young boys who are mushmouthing the fuck out of the game.
Gingawd: I hate most of the new rappers. They're trying way too hard and barely even rap. It's like Hopsin said. They wanna act like some stereotypical gay folks and wear a bunch of feminine shit.
Speed: Now, I really don't have that much of a problem with the androgyny of some of these new rappers. Like, Young Thug/whatever he's calling himself today, I don't mind it.
Do you, be different and shit. I've a problem with, like you said, the new rappers trying too hard and all sounding/looking/acting the same. There's no diversity. Like I said with Drizzle, there's like a fuckboy rap factory these days. I'm all for diversity and inclusion in hip-hop...when it actually gives us something new.
Gingawd: We've new artists like that. But the mainstream don't pay 'em, at all. Frank Ocean isn't helping either. A lot of these artists just feel phony, bland, and one-dimensional.
Speed: Oh lawrd. Don't get me started on the Troll Named Frank. Even with the new album, Blonde, I'm still kind of just like "meh." It's cool for what it is. And it delivers. But, something about it keeps me from jumping for joy about it.
Maybe it's because it's no NostalgicULTRA or ChannelORANGE, but I'm biased to those for emotional reasons. However, we didn't need all the fail and flair behind it. I feel like this: if it was ready, drop the shit. If it wasn't, stop fucking around, shut the fuck up with the "art," and work until you deliver what you really want/need to.
Don't keep faking people out. And, like when Kanye--
Gingawd: That crazy bastard--
Speed: Like when he did it, Frank got a similar "ehhhhh" response from some folks. There are only a few artists who can do that and still deliver classic albums. Two of them, Prince and MJ, they're dead now. So...yeah.
Gingawd: Kanye is an "act" now, not really an artist.
Speed: He's been that way since, like, MBDTF. People responded amazingly to that and it's like he just said "fuck it. They like drama. Well, I'm gonna do the same thing thrice over and just make it crazier and even more WTF every time I drop an album." It's a goddamn spectacle, not an album, at that point.
Gingawd: It's insane, since he was putting good rappers on the map years ago.
Speed: True. Losing your mom will do that to you, though. It'll make you go crazy as fuck. That's especially if you and your mom were close.
Gingawd: I agree. It hasn't happened to me yet. But, you better believe that, when it does, I'm going full Archer rampage.
Speed: Oh hell yeah. The only reason why I didn't burn things down more than I did was because of the team, man. And the fact that the Missus was pregnant. If those things didn't happen, the world would've burned for me.
So, to a degree? I can't fault Kanye. But, at the same time, as traumatic as it is to lose your mom, his music hasn't been that great since. Aside from MBDTF, that is. And that album is more related to his relationship with Amber Rose and his VMA stuff than anything. Now, some folks, they'll turn tragedy to a spark to live and create greatness like there's no tomorrow. Other folks, they'll go full Kanye. And you never wanna go full Kanye.
Gingawd: But that's what I mean. He's an act now. Now, look at someone like Lupe and what he did on The Cool. That's a spark. When he's on, he's something else.
Speed: True. Look at LASERS. It's a bad album, even with all the backstories and bullshit behind it. It's a forced effort from Lupe to comply with his labels' requests. But, even with that to the side, it wasn't that great of an album. And I say that with all respect to Lupe and his camp. However, even without that pressure, you got FNL 2. Similar sort of thing for me. He was forcing a sequel to a classic album and it came out as such. You can't force greatness.
That's why he dipped out for a bit, recharged, and we got Tetsuo and Youth, an album that ranks as one of my favorites of all-time. Kanye, to me, he never took/never got that chance to leave it all behind really. He never really recharged after MBDTF and losing his mom and Amber Rose and shit. Sure, he's fine now with his two Kardashian children. But, artistically, he's spent in some ways because he never got to run the fuck away. He kept robotting along and killing that spark, that spirit.
Gingawd: Yeah, and these mushmouth kids? They try to recreate NEW Kanye because they see it makes money.
Speed: Just like how Drizzle and I were talking about how they try to recreate OLD Jay with a Bling Bling flow. It's sad. Like, these are the folks they look up to and they are, in turn, gonna be some of the folks that the next next generation will look up to. What will that create? To me, it's gonna create a cycle of worsening artists who are more concerned with a dollar and a fucking "moment" than actually just making dope-ass music and letting it speak for itself.
Gingawd: These new kids? They've no identity and nothing feels fresh.
Speed: So, I'll ask you this. Like I asked Drizzle, have we failed this new generation?
Gingawd: Nope. They're grown-ass kids. They could've rearranged, adapted, and evolved the genre, the game. Instead they chose to sit there, stagnate even. They grew up with some of the best and brightest artists, radio and otherwise. But, instead of evolving a sound, they copied--
Speed: Pretty poorly, I'll add--
Gingawd: It's bland, it's photocopied, and it's no love involved anymore. They don't love the art anymore. It's just a formula to them. Now, in a magical world--and I'm biased because I'm a Technician--Aesop Rock, Tech N9ne, and MF Doom would be the top three. Bar none.
Speed: Well, I know my biases and admit them openly. If there was magic, K.R.I.T., Kendrick, etc., they'd be right up there at all times. In a magical world, with fireflies and shit, we'd have less people mimicking Future and the "Migos flow" and more cohesive bars, songs, etc. Now, I'm not saying that everything has to be boombap lyrical miracle craziness. Fuck that. But, I just want more diverse music. That too much to ask, guys?
Gingawd: Hell, Timbo spits better bars than most of these kids--
Speed: Hey! He spat classic heat on "Are You That Somebody." Classic. But, seriously, he was always better as a producer versus a straight-up rapper.
Gingawd: Pharrell, now, then, whenever, would literally send heads back home on these kids. But, honestly, this generation isn't completely doomed. You've got folks like Childish, Kendrick, and Cole still doing hot tracks. That's even though Cole drops the N-Word too much for me.
Speed: Well, you're white--
Gingawd: Let's be real. I'm a mixblooded guy. My personality reflects as such.
Speed: So, you think he's overcompensating? I think he's still figuring out how to "connect to the streets" at times. It still feels authentic, though.
Gingawd: Look, he's mixed. I'm mixed. Not with black, but still, another "minority." So, I'll say he's probably overcompensating.
Speed: Look, I'm a mutt, based on my family history. So, I'll agree. But, I don't think that's all it is. Besides, you still look white. Cole looks like he's Black. And, I don't know. Logic's mixed and he's not dropping the N-Word all the time. But, as we know, not all mixed folks have the same story.
Gingawd: But, it's hard, it seems, to be taken seriously as a lightskinned rapper because of how Drake's "changed the game."
Speed: Can't put it all on Aubrey.
Gingawd: That motherfucker should've stayed in his wheelchair.
Speed: LOL Degrassi Flow.
Gingawd: I want Canada to apologize for the fake cripple and the other white boy they imported--
Speed: Two things. One, Drake, even as Wheelchair Jimmy was stealing the spotlight with his bars. Remember that one Degrassi episode--
Gingawd: No.
Speed: Anyways, at least Degrassi gave us Cassie Steele showing her cheekies all over IG. And which "white boy?" It's Canada, so it's probably crawling with y'all.
Gingawd: Justin--
Speed: I know where you're going. I'll edit that one out. We've gotta be accepting of all folks, even those who started out looking like the lost, potentially LGBT son of Ellen Degeneres. Stereotypes are wrong, yes. But, they're based in some twisted truths. As a side note, I doubt she's racist. She's too "Ellen" to be flat-out racist. I have no fucking clue what that means, but...yeah. Doubt she's racist.
Gingawd: So, when are you gonna post the rest of Drizzle's conversation on this topic?
Speed: In due time.
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