Pro-Confusion..

Talk about anti climatic! With all the controversy surrounding this TV spot I dont even know what the point of it was. The irony is that its basically a pro-choice ad.. If they had a message they were trying to convey they should fire the ad agency responsible for it. My understanding (although not apparent in ad whatsoever) is that Tim's mother had a medical condition that had her doctors advise her to terminate her pregnancy in order to possibly save her life. She then made the "choice" to keep him and take the chance which in and of itself is a decision i respect because "she" made it. What isnt mentioned is the fact that if every woman made that same choice in her condition many of them would die. So one could argue that either decision is pro-life and pro-choice simultaneously. Context is a beautiful thing.
If Focus on the Family was making a case for the pro-life movement they must of been speaking in code. And although I don't think the Superbowl is the place to do it I respect their "choice" to speak however they choose to.

The Who

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the Who's Superbowl performance. Sure they looked not a day under 90 years old but hey held their own.... although Roger Daultry seemed to have left his neck in his hotel room. Sure we all could of thought of about 7542 better options that have been relevant since the invention of the internet but its obvious where the NFL stands on their choices. "Boobgate" changed everything years ago when America was apparently traumatized at the split second site of an actual breast... I must say however with his opened shirt Pete Townsend was dancing at the edge of exposing his 78 year old male t*ts which would of sent us all into a dark place. They would of had to resort to crazy pet tricks or clowns in the future.

Hand Job.

Sarah Palin's hand notes for the "Teabaggin" Convention. Classic. I cant tell you how many times I did this in high school.. I guess thats the point. High School.. Im actually starting to feel compassion for her. She is who she is and was thrust into this whole thing without even being close to prepared.

Showtime

I'm in NY for Nikki & Rich's show at the Highline Ballroom Tuesday night. This is a homecoming of sorts for Rich as its the first time the group has played here. Overall its their 4th show and the fact that they are playing the Highline says a lot about how the past year has developed. I've posted numerous times about them (duh im their manager) but never out of straight promotion. I post because I'm truly excited to be involved in the development of one of the most talented groups I've been around in my career. Rich lives outside the box production wise and has an incredible ability to tap into multiple genres simply by following his gut instinct. I firmly believe that he will be become one of the most important producers in music. Write that down and I'll sign it. So many producers are stuck in the lane of "hit making" that is so formula driven. Nikki is from another planet vocally and lyrically with an incredible rare ability to emotionally connect to an audience thats reminiscent of another era. I cant tell you how many times my eyes have watered up listening to her sing. Onstage her confidence is mind boggling. About 10 months ago I heard the music for the first time (thanks to Marc Rose) and was completely and utterly floored. What they didn't have was a foundation to build upon to start the process of presenting it to everyone. The music was too good to do anything half way. They had done their job. They had holed themselves up in the studio and wrote... and wrote.. They had reignited a passion in me that the business had burnt out. We all as a team, including my wife Kelly, became committed to getting it done and all fed off each other. Since then because of their belief in themselves and the goals we laid out, they have put themselves in a position to make a difference in the business at a time when differences are hard to come by. Musically they are brilliant.. Yep I said it. The production and songwriting scream authenticity and remind us all of why music can be a powerful force in our lives. Music that "feels" good as well as "sounds" good. The music that is on-line is only a small microcosm of what is on their album. What they've added over the past months is a full range of songs that touch on everything from R&B, soul, hip-hop and pop.. All in a way that is truly their own. I still get goosebumps when I hear a new song they've done. Image wise we've stayed true to who they are, this isn't a science project. They are a representation of what pop music could be. After getting 3 offers from our first show at the Viper Room we signed with Warner/Reprise because they seemed to understand it the best. For me coming off a long run at a label, being skeptical has become second nature and while we don't always agree they seem to have what is lacking nowadays.. soul.. And the team we work with there have been amazing. Tuesday will be their biggest show to date at a venue that has had some legendary shows. To work with a group that ALWAYS delivers is a pleasure and confidence is so much better than anxiety and fear. This is their moment. Its happening fast and its happening right. I'm full of pride and cant wait for the world to hear what they have to offer. If your in NY this Tuesday and want to see for yourself rsvp to: nikkiandrichshow@gmail.com

Super torn.

Im torn on the game today.. so utterly down the middle that hopefully by simply writing about it I will lean one way or the other.. First off it goes without saying the city of New Orleans deserves this big time. Thats a no brainer. Seeing some light shine on a population that has suffered so much would be wonderful to watch. Issue for me is that I don't really like the Saints.

Cant put my finger on it.. Tons of talent, great coach, good bunch of guys.. Go figure.. On the other side Peyton is the Michael Jordan of football without all the rings. No one in my opinion is a better student of the game. That alone would be impressive but his ability to apply that knowledge in an instant is mind blowing. Being that football at this level is hugely mental its incredibly rare for someone to not allow immediate past mistakes effect his state of mind. Without blinking his mental database is going a million miles a minute to adapt and fix whatever needs fixing. Many times you can predict the outcome of a game after the first few drives, not with Peyton. I dont care if its 28-0 Saints at halftime, he has the ability to score 4 TD's at 13 seconds a pop. I like Peyton the way I liked Michael. Im simply grateful to be alive to watch him play and I root for him to go down as the greatest QB of all time.... So all that said I guess im still stuck.. If i go with my old school Aristotle "whats best for the most people" I gotta go with the Saints and the city of New Orleans.. They better play the game of their lives... Im already starting to change my mind...

Dear You Tube and its advertisers

OK look I know times are tough and we are all looking to fill up every possible revenue stream available but the whole advertising over content is not only annoying but utterly ineffective. The goal of advertising is to tap into an emotion, lay an image and message on top of that and allow it to resonate enough so the consumer will reach for their wallet.. The emotion your associating with your product is ANNOYANCE and ANXIETY. You've become the c@ckblocker. Post Tivo its bad enough we now have to sit through a commercial that we cant fast forward. If that was all it was I'm sure we could begrudgingly live with it since its usually when we grab a drink, shuffle some paper or do anything not to be marketed to in that moment. The bigger issue is when you advertise OVER the actual content we are watching. While I was looking for a Beyonce performance I had to look to find one that was clean. Some had 3 ads with "click here" buttons that blocked over 40% of the screen. Who's idea was this? Imagine listening to the radio and every 10 seconds an ad for the latest erectile dysfunction miracle pill played directly over the track? The lesson that seems to be taking a long time for advertisers to learn is that not all impressions are good impressions and spreading your message over the top of an annoyed public probably ain't the move..

"Beyond"ce

i know Im late on this post but that fact that it still comes up in conversations a couple times a day means I gotta put something up.. So here it is: Beyonce KILLED the Grammy's. She is one of those rare artists that embodies every single attribute of a superstar has at the highest level. Off stage she seems humble, mild mannered, respectful and most importantly grateful for all of the opportunities shes been given. Onstage shes the baddest bitch on the planet. Most importantly she has endless amounts of talent and confidence... and confidence is like a powerful magnet. From what i know and have heard her work ethic is off the charts and I have a TON of respect for that.. The trick is a true superstar makes it all seem effortless... What can i say, I've seen a million award shows (we all have) with run of the mill performances (we all have) but this one simply blew me away..

New All Star Premiums

Let the teabagging commence!! (from shanepowers.com)

The scariest section of our America, the Teabaggers", are gathering for their convention to listen to keynot speaker Sarah Palin, and toss "ideas" around.

We could schedule that meeting of the minds on Friday morning from 8-815 am. And then get on with the real festivities. Ignorant racist whites screaming "Socialist" and marchin around for three days.

I would give ANYTHING to ask the woman above her definition of a Socialist and see what she says.

This party is nothin more than a mob masking their racism in a myriad of chants that they don't even understand.

The accumulative IQ of this entire gathering is just around 88.

SHANEPOWERS.COM

Nikki & Rich at the Roxy...

This was their 3rd show.. 3rd show! and it was sold out. So proud.. off to NY next week for show at Highline Ballroom on Tuesday.. Europe in March.. We're coming.. I promise.

Kyouei Design Liquid Lamp

Just cool looking.. no more, no less

Quicksand

"All of us are prone to repeat ourselves. There is a marked lethargy in the human psyche, and resistance to change is deep seated in us. We all seem to fear change, and with some people this fear is so overwhelming that it paralyzes them. Others conceal their fear by behaving "as if" they were free of it; they challenge themselves even at the risk of their own life. Yet, they may be daredevils only in certain areas, while in others they are dominated by the kind of arrested development that springs from fear. For instance, a person can be utterly heroic and self transcending while scaling the most treacherous mountain on earth, but down below in the valley, their fear bound conservatism is locking them into self defeating patterns of emotional dependence, moral rigidity or neurotic avoidance of anything that challenges their subjective picture of the world. On top of the mountain they sense a freedom that escapes them in the valley. But that freedom can only be illusory so long as the mental habit patterns impelling the mountaineer to seek the adventure of the climb are still intact.. True freedom dawns when the tendencies that create the ego in the first place are transcended. This spiritual self-transcendence is true heroism." Georg Feuerstein

Drake, Wayne Em on Grammys

Em, Wayne, Drake, Barker Grammy Rehearsal Pic

RAP RADAR

NASA debuts plans for personal flying suit

For anyone who has ever dreamed of a speeding around the skies in a jet pack, NASA has proposed a solution. As reported by the NY Times, the space agency recently announced conceptual design plans for the Puffin, a personal flying suit that could take the world of aviation by storm.

Mark D. Moore is an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Moore recently introduced the contraption at the Jan. 20 meeting of the American Helicopter Society in San Francisco. The design, which looks rather like a personalized glider, would be 12 feet in length, with a total wingspan of 14 and a half feet. It would be a single-passenger carbon-fiber construction weighing 300 pounds empty, and it would travel at a speed of 150 miles per hour.

(everything about this is awesome.. everything)

More HERE

Poli "Ticks"

Its fascinating to watch Republicans scramble to be perceived as the the voice of the angst in this country as if its "them" people are rallying around. Seems to me people are rallying against the entire broken system and since Democrats are in charge they take the hit. I imagine this plays out and people will put the power back into Republicans hands because its the only choice they have.. The cycle continues but nothing changes. The genius of the Republicans is they consistently convince the general public that they are the party of the people. They drive trucks and hunt and drink beer. They love their country more than anyone else and think the government can't be trusted to do anything.. (love the self deprecating vibe) So as opposed to trying to change that sentiment they attack with statements that hold zero bearing with reality. They promote slogans without a single expert to back it. They market to emotions not intellect.. Watching them get schooled by Obama the other day was everything in a nutshell. Seeing them speak as if they are standing in front of the angry mob was fascinating. From a birds eye view it seems that frantically trying to attach themselves to the "Tea Party" is akin to a car crash in slow motion but for some reason, at least to them, its the way to go. At least its fun to watch..

Point/Counterpoint: shanepowers.com/phuckery.com

I thought I'd show another side to a post Shane wrote recently regarding the "Focus on the Family" ad that has been purchased to run during the Superbowl. I only do it out of respect and to show the thin line between opinions based on small tweeks in perception..

Heres Shane's Post:

An ad will run during the Superbowl in two weeks, that centers on the CHOICE that Tim Tebow's mother made to keep him, when she was having problems during her pregnancy with him.
And of course liberal groups are gathering their signs, and scrawling out messages with sharpies ready to protest.
I have always been "Pro-Baby".
Abortion is an unbelievably huge decision. I believe women should have the right to choose this for their own bodies.
That bein said, I ALSO BELIEVE that women have the CHOICE to have a baby under difficult circumstances, and that they should be applauded.
Stay off her back you whiny chimps.
We can always ask Tim how he felt about her decision.

Heres my take:

Its probably not surprising that I disagree on multiple levels and Im gonna keep my annoyance with Tim Tebow out of it.. (not easy..) First off lets start with the outer shell. The Superbowl isnt the place to confront this issue. Period. The last thing we need in the middle of whats likely to be a Peyton Manning clinic is to be confronted with someones views on abortion. I dont mind being "pitched" products, that comes with the territory but I dont want to be preached to. The irony that "Focus on the Family" misses is this is as much a pro-choice ad as its a pro-life. Tims mother made a choice. On a side note, since over 50% of pregnancies are terminated naturally should we presume that whoever is in charge "up there" also makes choices?
The thing that is most misleading pitch from the right is the propaganda that pro-choice equates to pro-abortion. Commentators on right leaning media always say pro-abortion when referring to pro-choice. A calculated twist that speaks volumes. Truth is nothing could be further from the truth. In fact a broad majority of those who are "pro choice" would choose to not have an abortion. Are countries at war "pro-death?"

"Focus on the Family" has the right to carry out their mission based on the literal interpretation of the bible even though its not my definition of spirituality. Thats the beauty of America. But those on either side of the debate should not have the right to invade the privacy of families just trying to watch a little football.

(p.s. visit shanepowers.com here)

Erykah Badu

1 word: Authentic.. 2 words. Ridiculously underrated. Most people remember "On and On" from way back but since then shes put out great albums that fell well below most peoples radar. Why? Im sure theres a million reasons that fall into the politics category. None of which has to do with her obnoxious amount of soul and the ability to express exactly who she is through her music. Radio isnt exactly on the lookout for authenticity.. Do yourself a favor and hit up Itunes..

NY Post names Nikki & Rich #3 on Top 10 Artists to Watch for in 2010

From NY POST:

Nikki & Rich -

If you had a DeLorean and could travel back to 1964, you would find Nikki & Rich sipping lattes in Paris, waiting for their set to start at some small coffee house. I just know it.

Looking like a couple of Gap models, Nikki Leonti's power vocals and the production talents of Rich Skillz mix together to form a Supremes vibe that will blow your knee-highs off.

Their first single, "Next Best Thing," laced with "oooh-wees" and "shooboopooos," graced iTunes Free Download section earlier this year and will join other gorgeous piano-driven tracks on their upcoming freshman release (TBD). One of which, a Soloman Burke sampling track made famous in the seduction scene in "Dirty Dancing," is called "December," and is filled with more emotion than a junior high sleepover.

full article HERE

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps trailer

Man its gonna be tough to match expectations on this one...

Sade

I dont care how much you like to get your "tough guy" on, if you don't appreciate Sade you got issues. This track leaked from her upcoming album that comes out in a few weeks. If you wanna score some points, light some candles, cook a little dinner (my wife is laughing right now for sure) and have this or any Sade album on in the background. Some grown man shit. Dont sleep.

Ipad: what you need to know

Its popular now to hate on this bad boy but Im not budging, Im 100% in on everything but the damn name. Below is for those who arent "too cool" to get the all the info you need to know including pricing and plans..

Respect

Sites been a bit sneaker heavy lately for a guy who isn't really in the game anymore but these go well beyond that. These are the DJ AM dunks (courtesy of LV) and I must say he did an incredible job. About 10 years ago AM was the one who got me into collecting sneakers in a hardcore way. I remember going to his apartment and every single one of his walls in every single room was lined with shelves of sneakers. At the time it was quite possibly the coolest thing I ever saw and I was locked in.. I then proceeded to do my best to recreate that environment by spending every last bit of my expendable income on Nikes.. every last bit, trust me.. Ive since mellowed in my old age but can still appreciate the smell of a new pair and a clean design like these.. He'd of been so proud of these... well done..

Corporation Running for Maryland Congressional Seat

No Joke

Apparently there's a market for Slim Jim leather cuffs... (available online) Ill let the awkward silence play out on this one

Brilliant.. and dead on.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Blues Clueless
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Move the middle to the right, confuse the hell out of people and win. Its always works when the other side literally has no balls.. Not small or oddly shaped balls.. NO BALLS.

Freddie Gibbs

MTV Shows

Freddie Gibbs is one of the few rappers in street leaning hiphop that has an actual "buzz" around him.. The irony is that he had to get off a major label in order to create it. I was there when Freddie was signed, it was during the 50 Cent explosion which was the gift and the curse. The gift was to see the possibilities of extreme success and curse was seeing the politics behind extreme success. The difference was 50 had so much brand equity before he signed, not to mention 2 of the baddest security guards (Em, Dre) standing over each shoulder. Freddie was just a struggling rapper with a boatload of talent. Unfortunately that isnt enough in todays world. You gotta make the water boil before you sign the dotted line. There just isnt enough time and money for the long term development anymore in that genre. So after a bunch of ups and downs he left Interscope and hooked up with Dj Skee who has since made the water boil. Now he has the power. Question is what does that mean in todays business? Is staying independent the answer for someone like Freddie? Can he change the game in his own way? I hope so.

Rep Alan Grayson. Balls in pocket..

Sure he shoots from the hip and says things that pushes buttons but I like it.. Democrats misplaced their balls years ago and its nice to see somebody match the loonies on the right. His delivery may be suspect but at his core he makes some sense.. At the very least he widens the conversation and moves the middle a little more to reality.. Im in.. Yea for Balls!!

Nike Sportswear 2010 Spring Blazer Hi

Some would argue Nike is playing out the Blazer ala the AF1.. I say not just yet. Hot is hot. Yes Please!

Connect the dots..

Its a bit mind boggling but I suppose not surprising to read all the conservative backlash over Avatars environmental message.. They have a way of belittling those who see the connectedness of life as nothing more than San Francisco love-in stoner speak. More than anything its sad that anyone would take issue with those who see life that way. Unless I'm mistaken its even mentioned in their favorite book more than their other favorite targets. Something about being stewards of the earth? Ring a bell? Wouldn't it just make more sense that everything is connected.. Or does that get in the way of taking without regard until nothing is left... (except for 2 or 3 corporations with profits that rival the GNP.) I'm not a hippie or an "extreme liberal," I just someone who sees the beauty in life itself and believes that we all could use the humility and understanding that we don't know it all.. I believe that time will show that in fact IT IS all connected in a perfect natural way. Hopefully, one day that will simply be called being human.

Still Hilarious.. Ozzy Shreds

UNDFTD x Converse Poorman Weapon Navy

My least favorite of the colorways but hot nonetheless and the best shoe collab Undefeated has ever done in my humble opinion.. Sleepeth Noteth

Dear Brett

Dear Brett.. first off I gotta be honest. You annoyed the shit out of me prior to this season with the whole back and forth thing. You managed to simultaneously f*ck with 2 teams chemistry and came off really selfish. Since then I've come full circle, its borderline impossible not to root for you when you are doing the whole "warrior" thing. The fact that you've never sat out a game is mind boggling considering that there have been literally thousands of 300 lb men who would like nothing more than to knock your lights out. Yesterdays game was NOT your fault. The interception at the end was a horrible decision but prior to that the Vikes did just about everything they could to lose. It was tough to watch because I wanted you to win.. The everyman ending his story at the very top would of been sweet but it aint happening.. Im happy for the city of New Orleans, not so much the team tho.. just not feelin em.. Anyway heres the deal.. Your a bad ass who had your best year at 40 years old. You took your team to overtime in the NFC Championship game against the 1 seed. You took a beating and completely earned the respect of the majority of the country. Im not sure whether doing 1 more year is the right move.. sure we all like the Disney movie where you do and win it all but the odds of you having this kind of year again are SLIM. Do us a favor, make a decision and stick to it... Heres to coming full circle.. dont blow it..

Apple Tablet : from Huffington Post

What does Apple CEO Steve Jobs think about Apple's rumored Apple Tablet device?

According to TechCrunch's sources, Steve Jobs has said, in reference to the forthcoming Tablet, "This will be the most important thing I've ever done. But just how credible is Jobs' alleged statement?

TechCrunch notes,

We haven't heard this first hand, but we've heard it multiple times second and third hand from completely independent sources. Senior Apple execs and friends of Jobs are telling people that he's about as excited about the upcoming Apple Tablet as he's ever been. Coming from the man who has created so much, that's saying something.

(I'm so in for this shit.... above pic is just someone's guess of what it will look like:: yes please)

"The Will of Wal Mart"

Im not overly political but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand the implications of what happened this week in the Supreme Court.. In one fail swoop the "will of the people" was turned into nothing more than an idea. Corporations can now actively get involved in political campaigns by promoting their own agenda and attacking anything that gets in the way of profits. Its like some sort of bad futuristic movie where people literally are sheep, being manipulated and played.. (Brings to mind "A Brave New World.") Of course these corporations will sit in back rooms and hire "experts" on how to trick the people by wrapping an American flag around their message. For a large part of society stuck in emotional baggage this works every single time. What Obama spent on his campaign set a record in politics and was because of an uprising of that same emotion on the other side. Problem is what he spent is lunch money for oil and pharmaceutical companies. For them to persuade the public by manipulation quite frankly isn't that difficult. Playing to peoples emotions is an art form and is being played out as we speak with the "tea party" movement. Why this scares me is that I have a 2 year old daughter and if this holds our country will look much different in her lifetime. The environment and its natural resources will be trumped by the all important profit. The "grass roots" movements that have driven this country since its inception will most likely live only in history books. And greed just might become our new national pastime. Dramatic? Maybe.. but with whats happening now in our country it wouldn't surprise me at all.. (Im sure Fox News is salivating)

Remember when there was NOTHING hotter?!

Lebron can spit...

Steve Stoute speaks the truth for Target

EXCLUSIVE: Steve Stoute's "Dare.Dream.Do" Target Commercial! from the.LIFE Files on Vimeo.

No matter what you think about Steve Stoute you cant deny his talent. He didnt get where he is now by mistake. And his above take on "gut instinct" vs. "risk" is spot on..

Dear Abercrombie and Fitch

this was taken from shanepowers.com and is absolutely hilariously true..

I dig some of your cargo pants. I'm a casual guy. I enjoy tshirts and sneaks and the like. And I would buy more of your stuff.The problem is goin into your store is the worst imaginable thing ever. If it isn't the weird flirty shirtless dudes at the door, it's the OVERPOWERING house music that is blaring on volume 99. I have actually tried to fight through all that a year ago, grabbed some pants, while a shirtless 16 yr old danced around me.
The FORTY MINUTE wait in line with the music, and the shirtless dude put me over the top. I actually thought he was gonna try and slip a hit of X under my tongue for Christ sake. I'm tryin to buy clothes man. I don't wanna be attending a foam party in Ibeza with a ripped kid who isn't sure if he's straight or gay.

Corporate Hand Job... Not Good

Supreme Court eases restrictions on corporate campaign spending..
Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court has given big business, unions and nonprofits more power to spend freely in federal elections, a major turnaround that threatens a century of government efforts to regulate the power of corporations to bankroll American politics.
A 5-4 conservative majority crafted a narrow overhaul of federal campaign spending Thursday that could have an immediate effect on this year's congressional midterm elections. The justices eased long-standing restrictions on "independent spending" by corporations and unions in political campaigns.

This means that oil, health, pharmaceutical, etc companies will bombard media with their agenda during elections.. it will all be wrapped in a "disney movie" style package with the truth so far hidden that no one will know the difference..they will all too willingly jump in to steer the public away from anything that gets in the way of profit. Im sure drug companies are salivating. To put in perspective, Obama broke all records by raising 750 million dollars in 2007 and 2008. Exxon Mobil generated profits of $45 billion in 2008 alone. 2% of these profits could of been used to outspend the Obama campaign and fundamentally change the dynamic of the 08 election (LA Times.) Drill, Baby, Drill!!

Outta left field

Cindy McCain shoots an ad promoting Gay Marraige rights... must make for awkward dinner conversation with her hubby.. Ballsy (no pun intended)

Record Labels and remixes... spot on..

Nikki & Rich @ The Roxy

Last night was a big night for Nikki & Rich and they knocked it out of the park. It was only their 3rd show and you couldnt fit another body inside the Roxy. They absolutely killed it and I couldn't be prouder.... New York Highline Ballroom next on Feb 9.. Europe in March.. Don't Sleep.

Pot Luck.

Eight in 10 Americans -- 81% overall -- support allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll.

The fact that this is still even a debate falls into the ridiculous category in my book although its obvious the tides are changing and common sense is taking hold. Its baffling to me that its completely accepted for doctors to prescribe boatloads of addictive painkillers but not pot. Then theres the "experts" who claim it doesnt in fact help pain. For better or worse, let me speak as someone who has smoked a lot in my lifetime. (In fact, according to Malcolm Gladwell, Im an Outlier): It does. Period. End of story. Now Im not advocating marijuana use, in fact I've had my own issues but lets even take it a step further. The fact the alcohol is celebrated and marijuana demonized also falls into the ridiculous category. Obviously ignorance is required to demonize pot. To compare the complications with alcohol to the complications of marijuana would be one of the most lopsided comparisons in history. One comes with mountains of emotional outbursts, domestic violence, DUI's, liver damage, frat boy bear hugs and black eyes.. The other comes with potato chips and a remote control.

Sure theres more to the argument but can we at least wrap the conversation with common sense and actual reality. Its time.

p.s. I dont even smoke anymore.. (well most of the time)

Yoga...

Im 2 months into my commitment of 2 hours of Yoga/Meditation Monday through Friday to start the day. It hasn't been easy to peel out of bed every day and its definitely not for those who only lean towards instant gratification. Its a process, and one that I'm in the middle of.. Spending that amount of time focusing on being aware as opposed to listening to the madman in the brain is a constant struggle. The difference between what we "think" is important and what actually "is" important couldn't be greater and its much easier to fall into the "chase." I realized awhile back that it wasnt about being "happy" it was about being at peace. Happiness has become an exercise in marketing, always elusive and just out of reach. The irony is its ultimately all a choice. We dont "become" happy, we always only can "be" happy. Most of the lessons in Yoga are extremely simple and quite frankly our brains tend to dismiss them because "it must be more complicated than that." Im slowly learning it isn't at all, and for that Im extremely grateful.

Anderson Cooper is the REAL DEAL

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper stepped out of his role as reporter Monday and rescued a Haitian boy caught in the middle of a looting that turned violent.

Why Haiti Matters: Barack Obama: Newsweek

READ ARTICLE HERE

My 50th Law: You Get What You Give..

Say what you will about this guy but the thing I will always remember is his work ethic. No one Ive ever worked with has even come close to him at the beginning of his career. People nowadays throw around the word "grind" as more of a marketing cliche than reality. If your interperatation of grinding simply means that you twitter about it then your not getting it. 50 had the world in his hand before "Get Rich" came out and he probably could of pulled back and simply allowed the momentum to take over. Instead he worked harder than anyone Ive ever seen, taking every interview, radio visit, handshake and show like his entire career depended on it. Always on time with a smile on his face. It didnt matter whether it was Jimmy Iovine or the guy in the mailroom, he was present for everyone. I remember a few times when he had radio interviews at 7 am and no one being able to find him in his room. Turns out he had already hit the gym for an hour and was sitting outside station waiting for everyone else. They were late, not him. It was inspiring for me knowing the hunger he had to make his shot happen. Everyone around him fed off of that. Passion and drive begets passion and drive. It infected everyone and we all know how it turned out. Sure since then theres been ups and downs.. The mix of ego and money typically get in the way. Less heart more brain and shit starts to break down. Ive seen both sides of this. Artists I wont name, who had everything lined up simply got lazy and let entitlement smother the fire. To win you gotta be hungry no matter what is front of you. The journey is the best part and every one around you will match what you give.. The lesson I learned from 50 is that passion is contagious and Ive used it every since..

NIke Air Pegasus

Clean athletic steez.. yes please

Interesting twist to doing your taxes

uhhh...

Multiple Minds: Seth Godin

Multiple minds

Most people grow up with one and only one voice in our heads. It's the one that talks when we talk to ourselves. (If you have more than one voice, time to check in with a doctor). It's easy, then, to assume that this is the mind, that we have just one, one brain, one voice, one thing going on at a time.

We can demonstrate that this isn't actually true. There's the mind that gets nostalgic or excited at a photo or a smell or a sound. There's the mind that keeps us breathing. There's the mind that suddenly announces, "I'm hungry" after seeing a TV commercial. And most important to marketers and those that would change the status quo, there's the lizard brain, the mind that worries, particularly about survival, reproduction and rage.

When the plane lurches in turbulence, it's not your constantly running verbal mind that freaks out. It's the amygdala, the prehistoric brain stem (and the surrounding parts of the brain) that kick in. That kick leads the verbal mind to start a frightening monologue, but it was your brain stem that started it.

Marketing to just the rational mind makes no sense, because the rational mind almost never decides anything by itself. And managing your career or your day based on your irrational fears makes even less sense. Which part of your mind makes decisions about credit cards, personal security, relationships, job prospects and creativity?

As our jobs (and lives) get more cerebral and less physical, our misunderstandings about the mind (and the self-defeating miscalculations each of us make every day) become ever more important. Watch yourself for a day and start keeping store of 'who' is doing the talking and whether that part of the brain is working in your best interests or not.

(thanks Bwash)

Nikki & Rich: New music on Itunes and Roxy show this week

Cat and Mouse, Next Best Thing now available on Itunes.. Roxy show this coming Tues at 8pm sharp.. Gonna be incredible.

REPOST FROM 10/08: Hip Hop on the brink. The Wayne effect. IT STILL APPLIES

(reposting after numerous convos years after Waynes huge success with artists that simply arent Wayne..)
From 10/08.. it still applies today
as the record industry scrambles to understand, and in return copy the success of lil wayne, I got to thinking.. will anyone study it with depth as opposed to skimming the surface.. I can see executives rearranging their marketing plans to flood the market with mixtapes, guest features and internet webisodes all the while missing the entire point.. their artist isn't lil wayne. I also imagine that most of these executives wont even listen to waynes album to gain any insight beyond the surface.. what is it about wayne as an artist that connects. They will all point to the success of "lollipop" which without question was an integral part of breaking the glass ceiling of a million albums sold. But if theres one thing we have learned over the past year is that singles alone don't guarantee soundscan bliss.. will flo rida even get a second album? We also learned that superstars with massive singles don't always translate.. Snoop who had one of the biggest songs of the year and a highly rated tv show .. listening to waynes album is the simplest way to peek into what makes him stick. Outside of the monster hits, theres depth, theres pain in his voice, better yet theres an actual voice.. hip hop has lost that undeniable voice.. the hunger on 50 cents get rich or die trying, the open book genius of Em's Marshall Mathers LP, the sound of NY in Rakim/Jay/BIG and of LA in Dres Chronic.. emotion, pain, struggle, and artistic freedom to express themselves in a way that defines who they are and where they've come from. Authentic.. we have lost the understanding of the power of authenticity. This will come as a shock to some but I attribute soulja boys success to authenticity.. sure it might not be everyones cup of tea or idea of what is "real" but soulja boy is exactly who he is and he connected with a younger audience that believed him because he wasn't faking it, he was simply being a teenager and made music his way.. sure enough there were 25 artists who tried to copy what he did and failed..
Hip hop has become a product. Like everything else that makes people money the market was flooded with knock offs and the shift to artists and music that "sounds" like hits as opposed to "feel" like hits. Hair metal all over again. Pointing fingers is futile because everyone has played a part- from the labels to the artists to the management to the public..
It's the emotional connection that matters.. otherwise the music just lives in the mind. Yes songs that sound like hits can work.. but what does work mean? Most often the publishing companies are who win. Radio plays the thin songs over and over and kids buy the single and ringtone, with no interest of finding out anything more about the artist because there was no emotional or authentic connection. Its candy. The public simply understands that these songs are solely a quick fix, a way for record labels to high five each other over being most added or in the top 10 on various charts.. yippeeeee!!! Now there is a business here and I dont wanna diminish that in any way. Its called pop music and it has thrived for as long as ive been paying attention. From The Pussycat Dolls to Hanna Montana there is millions upon millions of dollars to be made, but I’m referring to music outside of the mainstream.. the music that reminds us we are alive, music with a voice.. Bob Dylan, Rage Against the Machine, Eminem and now lil wayne remind us that there is also a lane for music outside the pop world. Yes some of these artists can walk in both lanes but they wouldn't sell what they do if they didn't keep a foot in both. They are smart enough to know that and have too much to say to simply become a "product." We are a country of stuffed emotions and music has always been an outlet for that energy... I remember being a very angry teenager and listening to Metallica was like listening to a friend who related to the pain that I was experiencing but had no idea how to deal with.. it never added to it, in fact, it let a little air out of the ball inside of me each time I listened.
Back to lil wayne.. lil wayne hasn't lost his voice.. his pain and ability to express himself in his OWN unique way resonates behind the passing landscape of radio play. He is a rock star, he is a drug addict, he is conflicted and you can sense his struggle, his voice carries that energy with it as it pumps out you speaker.. and he taps into peoples emotions in a way that feels real.. feels authentic.. feels like freedom for a short while until life on lifes terms returns to smack us all in the face.. So I would suggest to those who have already pressed up 25000 mixtapes to flood the streets with an artist that is as thin as paper.. stop.. save your money and maybe even go the pop route… if you want to tap into the true reason why wayne sold a million units find an authentic talented artist which something to say.. with persistence people WILL listen.. they might even sell a million albums one day

Puffys headphones with Beats by Dre..

Wow.. taken from www.shanepowers.com

Hiroshi Fujiwara Nike Sportswear Air Tennis Classic

Dear McNabb

I've spent the last 10 or so years defending you again and again and for the first time Im questioning whether its officially time to move on. Andy says your back and at this point he has to... but of course during the off season this will be tossed around like it is every single year. Sure theres an argument that you deserve one more chance with this crew on offense but on the other side your a major cause of the yearly outbreak of blue balls in the Philadelphia vicinity and Kolb is waiting in the wings.. without all the goofy ass dance moves and sub par big game performances.
Torn..

Yes its THAT good..

I have officially been sleeping on this show and my wife and I are currently playing catch up on Apple TV.. Thanks to Paul Rosenberg for the final push. This show is f@cking exceptional.

Nikki & Rich

When I left Interscope jaded about the business side of music I was blindsided by this band. Rich is an old friend of mine from back in the day who has turned into an incredible producer/writer who along with Nikki singlehandedly reminded me of why I got into the business in the first place. Nikki has more soul than the entire current Billboard chart. I've been managing them for 9 months now and we are set to release an album on Warner Bros/Reprise early this year. The first single Cat and Mouse is available on Itunes now and will be at radio very soon.. Dont say I didnt warn ya..

Speechless

Its no secret how I feel about organized religion and its safe to say this sums it all up.. That said I realize Im generalizing and that there is a lot of good hearted people who head to church every Sunday that probably think this guys a wack job. Whats scary is that more than ever theres an equal amount of people who buy into this and that bunch seems to be growing and penetrating our political and social environment. Its stifling our intellectual evolution (i know bad word to some) and is taking us back to some sort of stone age mentality with ghosts and goblins and talking snakes. Again Im all about everyone doing whatever feels right in their heart but things like this need to be addressed for what it is.. horseshit.