Song of the Day #9

I already know what's going to be playing all morning for me. It's a great upbeat track, a bonus one no less that's getting radio play, from J. Cole's Cole World: The Sideline Story called "Work Out." He samples Kanye West's "New Workout Plan" beat, which I love, his rapping is on point, and I love the chorus and ending of this song. Not to mention it's upbeat and catchy.

"Hey, we got a good thing

Don't know if I'm a see you again, see you again

But is that a good thing?

Cause girl I can't be your man, no ma'am

I know what's on your brain

You're probably hoping it never would end

Like is it the real thing or is just a one night stand

Well then

Straight up now tell me do you really wanna love me forever?

Oh, oh, oh

Or is it just a hit and run

Well, Straight up I tell ya I just really wanna cut when were together

Oh, oh, oh

Come here girl let's get it on"

Song of the Day #8

"I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold

I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good."

I'm getting into these song of the day posts, but I'm still not sure it'll be an everyday thing. But for now since I'm not in the mood for really listening to too many new albums/music over a weeks period of time I like these. After yet another awful day where I found out my grandma isn't doing well and inadvertently (maybe at this point it's some flaw in me though) being a major dick to people only trying to help I turned to what may be Kid Cudi's best track. "Pursuit of Happiness" is a hopeful song. No matter what happens in life you need to chase happiness and even if you stumble keep trying to get there. Aside from the meanings and stuff, this is just a good song. The chill beat, Cudi's nice rapping, a feature from Ratatat, and MGMT  providing chords. Just amazing.

"Tell me what you know about dreamin’ dreamin’

you don't really know about nothin’ nothin’

tell me what you know about them night terrors every night

5 am, cold sweats wakin’ up to the skies

tell me what you know about dreams, dreams

tell me what you know about night terrors, nothin’

you don't really care about the trials of tomorrow

rather lay awake in a bed full of sorrow"

Song of the Day #7

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a Bruno Mars fan. His music is pretty simple pop/RnB (even with all the layers going on), his lines are (at times) far too lovey dovey, but man can he sing. Had this been a day where I wasn't working on stuff "The Lazy Song" would've been on repeat, but for some reason this song, "Talking to the Moon", took over. There's so much hope and yet so much sadness in the lyrics. Almost a contradiction of emotion if you will. Also I've always liked the serene and peaceful tones in this song. Just one of those days where in the back of your mind you're missing so many people and hope they can somehow sense you're hurting. Happy 11/11/11 everyone.

"Talking to the moon

Trying to get to you

In hopes you're on the other side

Talking to me too

Or am I a fool

Who sits alone

Talking to the moon"

Song(s) of the Day #6

Aside from the verses in yet another Kid Cudi song I've been running these two song all day. No real emotional connection or anything. These are just damn good songs. It's no lie that I'm a Kid Cudi fan, and if you don't know I'm also a big Nicki Minaj fan. With the exception of Jean Grae, I believe she's the best female rapper going right now (and that has happened in the last half a decade to be honest). Also (big surprise) Kanye West is featured on both of these songs. He always complements Cudi well when they hook-up on a song (and they do it often) and Nicki let's him go FUCKING OFF when she featured him on Pink Friday. 

Nicki Minaj feat Kanye West- "Blazin'" from Pink Friday

Kid Cudi fest. Kanye West- "Erase Me" from Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Ranger

"It's like I'm her new nightmare

She ain't escaping

It makes me feel a bit complete

yeah

Knowing someone you love

Don't feel the same way about ya

Memories, they soon delete

hmmmmmmm"

This Week In Song #7

This week in song is going to be an album review. Cause I've fallen back into listening to one particular thing for days upon days. The last time I wrote a real album review was last year for Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (My top album of 2010, 5/5, highly innovative, epic new sounding beats, amazing guests, rapping on point. Just everything perfect.). People say that mainstream modern rap and hip-hop is bad, unworthy, and will never live up to the 90s and early 2000s rap. To an extent they could be right. Rap in the 90s was new, fresh, and the in thing. Now it seems that everyone and their mothers are doing raps, rhymes, and the like in all genres of music. And when an artist does release a hip-hop album it's cliche, generic sounding, and just all around bad. People also have different tastes in their listening of rap music. The lyrics and delivery in a song could be sub-par or even just terrible, but a great beat can make the song great. It's also true for the flip-side, the most lyrically minded technical rapper can have the shittiest beat and it ruin the song. It all depends on musical tastes in the end when you listen to this genre. Sure people say that Eminem, Rick Ross, Lil Wanye and the like are the top tier of mainstream rap. Sure album sales and popularity-wise. But when it comes to lyrics, guests, and beats, it doesn't get better than production and rapping by Kanye West and Jay-Z. Kanye has always had the knack for sliding the "sex, cars, hoes" aspect of rap into his songs so that it doesn't make it seem like it's the focal point. All while keeping the almost "conscious" and controversial side of his lyrics intact. Not to mention his production, always amazing. IMO the innovator of sampling songs to put over beats, he can always find a way to make a beat sound smooth and awesome. Jay-Z has been a juggernaut in this genre since the mid-90s. He worked during Notorious BIG/Tupac era, and he is one of the rappers, that kept the genre "alive" in the early 2000s when it was hard to find ANYTHING worthwhile. Jay has the "east coast swag" as you could call it. His production is always good, and his rapping is so fine tuned it's amazing to listen to him on tracks. One of those people who has truly perfected their craft. 

Now after this long winded intro, that possibly sounded like I was dick-riding Kanye and Jay haha, we can get to why I love this album. Simple answer, this is like MBDTF Part 2. Well that's the review. Just kidding. Right out of the gate with "No Church In The Wild", it's a one, two, three punch of a slowed down beat and solid Kanye/Jay verses with a powerful chorus sung by Frank Ocean. I'll say this now so I son't have to repeat it throughout all this, but I love all the beats on this album. So if you don't see mention it for a particular song, don't fret, I still enjoyed it. Right into what I call the "All of the Lights" of Watch the Throne. A grandiose song, filled with big sounds and a big voice in Beyonce. It took me like 10 listens to get into this song, but it finally came around to me. Now is where, for me, the meat of the album starts. Great rapping, great lyrics, great beats and just a great 15 minutes of listening when we hit "Niggas in Paris", "Otis", "Gotta Have It", "New Day", and "That's My Bitch". The beat for "Gotta Have It" may still be my favorite beat on this album. We also get a glimpse of real soulful beats and lyrics (which we'll still encounter later) with "New Day." This area of the album is what you'll listen A LOT to when you first get it. At least that's what I did. Now we onto the end section of the album. The lyrics in all these songs are real. You can hear and feel the pain and emotion in the lyrics. Whether it's with a souped up "Welcome to the Jungle" beat with Swizz Beatz in the background or it's amazingly sung chorus in "Murder to Excellence", you're going to find an emotional edge. The lyrics are real too, it's not fake, it's from the heart, real experiences, and things they went through in life. I love it when rappers keep quality and technique with realness. "Welcome to the Jungle", "Who Gon Stop Me", "Murder to Excellence", "Made in America", and "Why I Love You" is this third level of this album and the prefect way to end it. Now I could go on and keep praising this album with it's bonus tracks, but i'll stop it here, with the main album. I will say though that "Illest Motherfucker Alive" and "Primetime" are amazing tracks and I'm glad they made it to even the bonus tracks of the deluxe edition. All in all this is a damn good album. As if you couldn't tell from the constant praise throughout. If I have to say one more thing though I'll say this. When I'm listening to album, whether it's the 1st or 50th time, when it doesn't feel like I'm wasting time, or checking track times, and just enjoying the music, then it's going to be an album I adore. First listen through, I was pissed when it ended, I wanted more. I love this album and it'll probably end up album of the year for me. Get this, you can hate (or whatever) modern rap and hip-hop all you want. But this is another one of the albums done right.

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I've also included the album art for this by Riccardo Tisci. Loved all the album art and styles Kanye put out with MBDTF and I'm glad he has this artistic sight. I like all these pictures and have even contemplated getting a tattoo of the angel in the last picture (My personal favorite). If you enjoy art, you may enjoy these that were included with the album.

The Smackdown Lowdown 11/4/11

Do we really need an intro from a random show in limbo before Survivor Series? The Rock is "back" on Raw, CM Punk is No.1 Contender for Alberto Del Rio's WWE Championship and we're going to see what becomes of Mark Henry and the World Heavyweight Championship here on Smackdown. I hear there's a Street Fight between the Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. So let's give ya the lowdown on Smackdown!

Randy Orton beat Cody Rhodes (Interconteninal Champion) via pinfall in Street Fight: 8/10 or 4/5 Stars

I like this little feud. Both men have been working well with each other and it has produced a couple good matches and great promos out of Rhodes. By this point this is a 30 minutes awesome-fest. It's not technical, but it's taken 3 commercial breaks to fit this very good street fight into the show. End match, Orton hits Rhodes with the mask and rolls into the snap powerslam. Orton sets up for the RKO, Rhodes pushes off and hits the Beautiful Disaster for a long two. Rhodes goes for the Cross Rhodes, Orton spins out and tries  to hit the second rope DDT. Rhodes slips out to the floor and they brawl at ringside until Orton hits a DDT off the barricade  Orton throws Rhodes back in the ring and blasts him with a RKO for the pinfall in this near 30 minutes match. Afterward, Randy is leaving ringside and notices a paper bag on the floor. He picks it up, goes back into the ring and proceeded to place the paper bag on Cody Rhodes' head.

We get the Raw Rebound as we go to commercial break, showing more Triple H and Kevin Nash stuff. I really didn't pay attention to this on Raw or in the Rebound just now.

We get welcomed back by Matt Striker saying that he'll have an interview with the World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry later.

Ted DiBiase beat Tyson Kidd via pinfall in a singles match: 2/10 or 1/5 Stars

DiBiase has always had potentinal and I've always said WWE needs to do more with him. Tyson Kidd, I think, is a stud in the making someday. This is a little more than a squash, but one none the less. DiBiase ends the match with Dream Street after a couple minutes.

Matt Striker is in the back with Mark Henry. Henry starts talking about giving the Big Show plenty of chances, for something, he trails off when he sees Daniel Bryan standing at the Kraft Food service in the back. He tell Bryan he better not be thinking about cashing in on him. Bryans says he's still cashing in a Wrestlemania. Henry then says he can wait till the second coming, but he won't beat him. Henry then says he's going to Teddy to make a match between the two.

Alicia Fox beat Natayla via pinfall in a singles match: 2/10 or 1/5 Stars

End match Nattie puts on a Boston crab. Alicia gets out and hits a wobbly insiguri, and the a somersault leg drop for the one, two, three. Nothing really to say....

Big Show comes out to the ring. As he does they show Mark Henry and Big Show breaking the ring at Vengeance and he says they have unfinished business. Shows says that every week Henry doesn't respond that mama said to knock you out. Christian's music hits and he comes out to the ring. Christian said that the "mama said knock you out" line was as big as it was gonna get. Big Show agrees and starts to leave, But Christian ponders why Show thinks he should get one more match. After a huge spiel by Christian, the Big Show starts to scratch his chin. Christian calls him out on trying to knock him the fuck out, but instead of punching him in the face he gives him a chokeslam as we go to commercial.

Christian vs Sheamus in a single match: Never Started

As Sheamus is coming down to the ring Christian is still reeling form the chokeslam and says that he can't compete. Wade Barrett's music hits. As he walks down to the ring he says Christian is in no condition to compete that he has a suitable replacement, him.

Wade Barrett beat Sheamus via pinfall in a singles match: 6/10 or 3/5 Stars

Barrett steps in the ring and the match immediately begins. I like all these guy out here at ringside too.  Barrett throws a bunch of knee lifts as Sheamus is in the ropes and big boots Sheamus out of the ring as we go to commercial break. End match Sheamus hits a flurry of offense. Sheamus is going for the Celtic Cross and Christian hops on the apron, distracting Sheamus.  Barrett then rolls up Sheamus into a schoolboy for the 1-2-3. After the match Christian spears Sheamus before leaving with Barrett to the back. 

As we come back Sheamus is giving a beat down to Christian in the back. Sheamus is then hit form behind by Barrett and they brawl until being broken up by security.

Daniel Bryan is getting ready in the back and Big Show walks up. Bryan says he's got it, but Big Show insists on being in his corner with his match against Mark Henry.

We get another Raw Rebound, this time we go over The Muppets taking over Raw on Monday. I liked it. I love The Muppets comedy and style, and they had some great moments in my humble opinion.

More Brodus Clay promos and he's finally re-debuting on Raw this Monday. Let's hope he eats Hornswoggle on-air.

Sin Cara beat Epico via DQ in a singles match: 2/10 or 1/5 Stars

Epico, new guy, I guess. And he can throw suplexes! Dear Lord, back suplexes, Germans, etc. Epico then slaps on the Gory Special wow! End match, Sin Cara is going to the top rope for the swanton bomb. Huncio pushes him off the top rope for the DQ. Afterward Huncio and Epico give SinCara a beatdown. (This was very badly written, but I don't wanna rewrite, so live with it.)

Mark Henry (World Heavyweight Champion) beat Daniel Bryan (Mr. Money in the Bank) w/Big Show via DQ in a singles match: 3/10 or 1.5/5 Stars

 This was basically a main event squash match. But Bryan did get offense in, sleepers, a guillotine or two, and the that awesome flurry of kicks. End match Bryan was getting pummeled by Henry in the corner. After a running clothesline on Bryan, Big Show comes into the ring and KNOCKS Henry THE FUCK OUT. About as much as I expected from this to be honest.

After the match Big Show urges Daniel Bryan to cash in his Money in the Bank cause Henry was KO'd. Bryan climbs back in the ring and goes to hit Henry with the briefcase before cashing in. Instead he takes The Worlds Strongest Slam. Big Show the jumps in the ring and Henry blats him with the briefcase and hits another Worlds Strongest Slam on Big Show. At this point Teddy Long comes out and announces that at Survivor Series it will be the rematch of Big Show vs Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Smackdown Rating: 7/10 or 3.5/5 Stars

Last Week: 7/10 or 3.5/5 Stars

Yet ANOTHER another solid week for Smackdown. The promos  that were done were good. There was a ton of in-ring action. Sheamus and Barrett put on a good match and the 30 minute Street Fight between Rhodes and Orton to start the show was amazing. Watch that match if you watch any wrestling this week. I think we're moving nicely to Survivor Series as well. When there's not only two week between PPVs, there's time to build good story-lines and not seem like a bunch of morons without any wrestling sense.

That's it for The Smackdown Lowdown. As always suggest to me stuff you'd like me to write on. Also if you wanna add me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, please do so. Really I don't mind.

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Song of the Day #5

Not much to say. Song's been on my mind a ton the past month and the lyrics resonate with me. So here's the lyrics and the song.

Jay-Z and Kanye West feat. Swizz Beatz- "Welcome to the Jungle" from Watch the Throne

"(Swizz)
Welcome to the jungle
Welcome to the jungle well (x2)

(Kanye West)

I asked her where she wanna be when she 25.
She turned around and looked at me and said “alive”

(Swizz)

Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well

(Jay-Z)

Black Axl Rose, Move halfs and wholes
Come down to the jungle, Just ask for Hov
Move blocks and squares, Move apples and pears
Work pots and pans, Just to cop me some Airs
My uncle died, My Daddy did too
Paralyzed by the pain, I can barely move
My nephew gone, My heart is torn
Sometimes I look to the sky, Ask why I was born
My faith in God, Every day is hard
Every night is worse, That’s why I pray so hard

(Kanye West)

Why I pray so hard, This is crazy God
Just when I thought I had everything, I lost it all
So que sera, Get a case of Syrah
Let it chase the pain, Before it goes too far

(Jay-Z)

My dreams is big, Reality set in
Let off a clip from a automatic weapon,
Through shots in the door, it died in Vegas
Though it fought so hard, I knew it wouldn’t make it
I’m a tortured soul, I live in disguise
Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5
I died in my sleep, I’m still Big Pimpin
I ball at the mall, Beginning of the ending
Where the fuck is the sun?
It’s been a while, Momma, look at ya son
What happened to my smile?
My tears is tatted My rag in my pocket
I’m just looking for love, I know somebody got it
Champagne for the pain, Weed for the low
God damn I’m so high, Where the fuck did I go?
I’m losing myself, I’m stuck in the moment
I look in the mirror, My only opponent
Where the f*ck is the press? Where the fuck is the Pres?
Either they know or don’t care I’m fucking depressed
No crying in public, Just lying to judges
Risking my life, I’m already dying, so fuck it well

(Swizz)

Welcome to the jungle, welcome to the jungle well
Goddammit!"