Exhibit A: Eminem/Jay Z

Ive probably been in at least 500 in depth conversations in my life about who is the best rapper ever.. It almost always ends as some debate about BIG vs Pac.. Problem with this convo is theres so much to consider. I personally am a Biggie guy but I also get the Pac argument.. Sure theres 10 others that are up there and worthy but if your talking about straight lyricism there is no one who touches Eminem. Period. The closest to me is Jay and its hard to argue his spot at the top with 11 #1 albums.. Point is these talks can go on for days or you can simply hit play on the above and listen to what to me is one of the top 3 lyrical displays in hip hop history by Em and Jay.. Follow the lyrics.. Has any of the top rappers on your list done anything close to that? Probably not and both of these artists have done it consistently on every track on every album (ok a few have missed but you get the point..)

Dear Vegas

Look I know theres a TON of people that look forward to their yearly balls to the wall Vegas trips and I get it. A chance to blow off some steam is good for people. That said you remind me of cocaine. A lot of wasted money to get stressed out. Ive never been a sensory overload kind of guy.. Im also definitely not an Affliction clothing overload kinda guy. I understand why DJ Pauly D loves Vegas.. He is Vegas.. I also get those who enjoy to gamble and keep it classy although those people are few and far between. Your more apt to see people with those massive bong looking cups filled with alcohol reliving some sort of frat boy past. Most seem to thrive on the "What happens in Vegas" vibe and allow the worst of them to simply take over. Im not hating Im just saying once a year you get me for 24 hours at the most and that is enough... till next time...

69 Year Old DJ Rippin Paris

from RAPRADAR.COM

Wale on ESPN debates Jay Z

Absolut/Jay-Z

Wayne/Em video preview

You and I

Our anniversary is a few days away and since we aren't celebrating until later this month and I was having a flash of gratitude for all that you are to me and my life I figured an early post is ok.. This song rings as true today as it did on our wedding day. Thank you so much for the wife and mother you are. It is my single greatest inspiration. Thank you for making me strive to be everything I can be. You are my definition of love in its purest form. These lyrics sum up so well.

Serious Drag (from Shanepowers.com)

Guru, from my absolute favorite hip-hop band of all time, Gangstarr is in a coma.
THIS fuckin blows.
I always measure a dj with one question. Do you have the "militia"? If they don't....
JOKER. And you'd be AMAZED at how many D.J.'s don't.
Of the THREE BILLION hip-hop artists that have made a killing doing nothing of any artistic value, there's only a real handful of amazing hip-hop artists.

Get well.

SHANEPOWERS.COM

Couldnt agree more, this song has been one of those songs in my life that just made me feel like superman.. Sure only for a few minutes but Im those few minutes I was a bad ass motherf*cker. One of my 5 favorite hip hop songs of all time. "One of us, equals many of us, disrespect one of us, and see plenty of us. Conflict is what I predict."

Dear AT&T

Please stop bombarding me with horrible advertising about how great and complete your coverage is when I cant get service on my couch in LOS ANGELES! Seriously, in the next 6 months people will be able to buy jet packs and theres about 758 dead zones in Los Angeles.

Perfection in 2:22

There's 20 examples of perfection with Hendrix but this one always gets me. A good friend of mine used this song in his wedding when his wife came down the aisle and it was amazing. I dont think you have to be a Hendrix fan to appreciate the beauty of this song. If you dont theres prob a decent chance you also dont like puppies or the sun.

Sanitarium

The whole Sea World thing got me thinking about how outta hand we've gotten with our expectations from animals.. many of which have been on earth longer than us. I think the Sea World incident speaks for itself.. Killer Whales captured and put in swimming pools will become agitated and eventually be true to their name. Zoos on the other hand have the energy of insane asylums. You can see it in the animals eyes. The soul and beauty is gone. All so we can point and entertain ourselves. These animals cant even run. Imagine how much pent up energy is sitting inside a wild animal that cant run. Taking away EVERYTHING that comes natural to them and putting them in a cage the size of my spare bedroom. Im not a member of PETA but I dont think u need to be to understand something is just plain wrong with this. I have a 2 year old daughter that I hope to instill the appreciation of animals, which is why I would never take her to a zoo. Imagine the imprint on her brain. Whats the lesson? Some of these animals may be more intelligent than us in ways we've yet to understand. Elephants communicate over hundreds of miles with sounds the human ear cant pick up. They feel emotion.
I'll stick to the Discovery Channel and an African Safari one day..

Its the details..

I would imagine most people don't give too much thought to their sock game. That said its all about the details and theres not a better sock on the planet than the ones Undefeated make. Its time to ace the Foot Locker 6 pack and step it up. My feet wont even allow another sock on them anymore.

www.undftd.com

I wanna meet the dude at Reebok that approved these.

USLU Airlines x Reebok Courtee Mid

and you thought I was bullsh*ttin about jetpacks!!!

Im so in..

Dichotomy

I would venture to guess there's a part of all of us that relates deeply to this song. I know there is for me. In a world consumed by the chase and accumulation there's always the other side of us that craves simplicity and peace. This song articulates it very well. That dichotomy is part of being authentic.
Eddie Vedder: "Society" from "Into the Wild" Soundtrack (great book and movie)- Lyrics are included and amazing

Fear

Your most vivid fears are almost certainly not the most important ones.
We pay attention to the loud and the urgent. This can lead us to ignore the important and achievable paths open to us--because we're so busy defending against the overwhelmingly dangerous (but unlikely) outcomes instead. - Seth Godin

Seth Godin blog HERE

Respect: Brian Westbrook

Westbrook is no longer an Eagle. Got a lot of mixed feelings about this one. He had a few years where he was one of the most dangerous running backs in the NFL. He was a game changer. Consistently. Unfortunately that consistentsy translated to injuries as well.. time and then 2 back to back concussions made him a lose a step. Understandably. One thing you never second guessed was his heart. I f@cking loved Westbrook and Im gonna miss him. If he chooses to continue to play football or retire I will always be a fan.

Attn: Fox News (from Shanepowers.com)

Sometimes Shane just says it better than me....

It's official. You have nothing to do with news.
I know, I know... Fair and balanced.
I'm a marketer. It's an amazing tagline.
The problem is that you aren't a news channel. You are a "pulpit" for Conservative and Christian progression in this country.
I can only surmise this when you allow a news anchor to have a PERSONAL opinion on the air about a way a man seeks God.
And then you allow that moron to reaffirm his position.
I'm not interested in HOW BRIT HUME feels about Tiger Woods' religious choice. And the idea that you think Brit Hume should have an opinion about another American's personal religious choice, well, makes you not a news channel.
It make your channel a VEHICLE to promote a value system on a country.
Entertainment? Sure.
But not news.
You have proven to be part of a "machine" that's tryin to promote a religious ideal, that is suffocating, seperatist, and damning.
I want no part of it anymore.
It's INSANE to me that you would allow your MAIN NEWS ANCHOR to push HIS religious beliefs on ANYONE else.
I can't wait until Brit is caught with three whores in a hotel room with a crack pipe.
Please, MY GOD, make this happen.
I wanna hear the shim-shammery that comes out of his mouth.

SHANEPOWERS.COM

The Church of Fox News

Brit Hume needs an explanation the the word boundaries. He's a newscaster. Report the news and stay out of peoples search for their own light.
p.s. Hey dipshit, the "tenet of forgiveness" is a major part of Buddhist philosophy.

Respect

What more can you say about a guy who started Def Jam out of his college dorm room with Russell Simmons that started a revolution. Just look at a portion of the albums he's produced. Its almost reads like a bio of my life. There are a few great producers today, most of them stay in their lane. What separates Rick from them is the ability to look and live in all lanes equally, whether its LL Cool J, Slayer, Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Jay Z or the Dixie Chicks. Who does that?

(just of portion of discography)
LL Cool J: Radio
Slayer: Reign in Blood
Run D.M.C.: Raising Hell
The Cult: Electric
Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill
Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Ex. Prod)
Danzig: Danzig
The Black Crowes- Shake Your Money Maker
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Californication
NIN: Further Down the Spiral
Johnny Cash: Unchained
System of a Down: Self titled, Toxicity
Rage Against the Machine: Renegades
Jay Z: 99 Problems
Neil Diamond: 12 Songs
Dixie Chicks: Taking the Long Way
Metallica: Death Magnetic

I mean c'mon are you f@cking kidding me..

Authentic and missed.

To me Fiona Apple is one of the best songwriters Ive heard in my lifetime. Sure a lot of people remember the spazzed out little girl fresh to fame at her first MTV Awards, but underneath that is someone who articulates life and its emotions as well as anyone Ive ever heard. I always go back to her albums at some point. The problem is she puts out albums about as frequently as Dr Dre. She needs a comeback.. She needs to get into a studio with Rick Rubin.

"I Know"- to me one of the best love songs ever (tough guys, go ahead and skip this one unless your looking for something cool to write in a card to a girl your trying to sleep with)-- some of the lyrics are below..


So be it I'm your crowbar
If that's what I am so far
Until u get out of this mess
I will pretend
That I don't know of your sins
Until u are ready to confess..

You can use my skin
To bury secrets in
And I will settle u down

When the crowd becomes your burden
And you've closed your curtain
I'll wait by the backstage door

While you try to find
The lines to speak your mind
In pride, open, hopin for an encore
But if it gets too late
For me to wait
For you to find you love me and tell me so
Its ok. Don't need to say..

"Never is a Promise" - speaks for itself.


You'll never see the courage I know
Its colors richness wont appear within your view
I'll never glow the way that you glow
Your presence dominates the judgements made on you
But as the scenery grows I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch, I see from greater heights
I understand what I am still too proud to mention to you..

You say dont fear your dreams, its easier than it seems
You'll say you'll never let me fall from hopes so high
But never is a promise and you cant afford to lie.

Quicksand (from Shanepowers.com)

Poppa.

It's time.
Time to forget about bi-partisanship.
Everyone on Earth but YOU seems to get this.
No President in the last 50 years had a 61-39 majority SUPER mandate, and you squandered it because you were too worried about bein liked.
There's is no leadership.
If you told the Republican minority the sky was blue, the would say you were a liar.
I know you ran as they guy that would "change Washington", but it aint gonna happen.
They are gridlocking you into doin nothin, so they can vote you out in 2012.
WAKE THE FUCK UP.
Your election will always be historic because you were the first Black man elected President. The history books will always remember you for that no matter what.
But you ALWAYS ran as a man. Regardless of color. And now you're stalled.
It's time to cut bait, and do what you have to do.
It's time to do what you asked us to believe in.
It's time to lead.
And that means knowing your base, and gettin shit done.
Quit bein a pussy.

Love,
Shane

SHANEPOWERS.COM

Nike 2010 Spring All-Court Canvas

Kinda on the fence with these.. I appreciate the effort tho.. need about 48 hours--

Im back and off the fence. Im in.

Edwin shoes

Mad I am not. Although you gotta be 30 or older to rock these right.

White House State of Mind.

Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 album has received its biggest endorsement via President Barack Obama. In a recent interview with BBC One, disclosed that the President loved the LP and was playing it during their recent phone conversation.

“Barack loves Hip-Hop, when I called him he was playing Blueprint in the gym,” he explained. “I've been invited to the White House a couple of times. Hopefully we'll keep him in for 8 years so I'll have time to get there."

I just happen to think its cool as shit that we have a President that "gets" Jay.

Tea and Taxes.

watch this first.. its impt and only 14 seconds long..

"In a recent poll almost 90% of teabaggers said that they thought their taxes had either gone up or stayed the same under Obama. Only 2% thought they went down..... the actuality is taxes HAVE GONE DOWN for 95% of working families. Think about that. Only 2% of the people in a movement about TAXES named after an actual TAX revolt have the slightest idea of whats going on with (pause) TAXES! It would be easy to just mock, except those who fall under the control of cults are actually victims." - Bill Maher

Peace.

Grateful.

Very grateful today... thats all. And enough.

Texas Tea

A new University of Texas/Texas Tribune survey shows just how destructive a politicized right-wing curriculum can be. A large number of Texans polled said they still don’t believe in evolution and are convinced that humans and dinosaurs co-existed. (from thinkprogress.org)

This is the same type of mentality that denies Global Warming because its snowing on the East Coast. Some of these people have college degrees and are in Congress.. Mind boggling shit.. and scary for our future. And the similar thread through it all is religion that promotes the literal interpretation of that book.

Wisdom: (from shanepowers.com)

I was havin my coffeepapers, where I have them every day, and an older man came out of the store and sat down.
He opened up a sandwich and started eatin. And his old, wrinkly hands were softly shaking.
It has ALWAYS freaked me out to watch older people eat. I don't know why. It just does.
He musta felt me get uneasy.
He asked me how I was doin. And i looked at him, and for whatever reason, didn't lie.
He listened to me for about 7 minutes while he ate. Just noddin.
I was starting to get more passionate, and I finally asked him what he thought.
He said, to just slow down.
"When you get to be my age, you only really remember the good. The bad goes away."
I sat there in a stupor. I could imagine him watching his children or grand children go through things, and him just havin a smile on his face.

Slow down.
Perfect.

see SHANEPOWERS

Addicted

I fully admit that I am "addicted" to Celebrity Rehab. I know at least half of you go right to "Dr Drew is exploiting people for his own fulfillment" and I get that. While I believe there may be some of that I don't actually think its the driving force. Call me crazy or naive but I think he actually cares. He doesn't have any involvement in the casting. Plus the irony is that for many of THESE cast members having cameras on them may of been the only way they would actually go to rehab and if while they are there the message gets through then whats the harm. This seasons casting is pure brilliance. Its the USA Olympic team that had Jordan, Barkley and Akeem.. Heidi Fleiss who lives alone with 100's of birds in the desert, Dennis Rodman, who clearly needs Ed Hardy Rehab, Tom Sizemore who has wasted so much incredible talent, Makenzie Phillips, the old bass player from Alice in Chains who can't let go, and a few other throw ins to round it all out. All of them spending their entire lives avoiding feeling anything. Watching them stop the drugs and slowly peel back the layers reminds me of a similar time of my life a long time ago. I can relate. I root for them.. its the ultimate underdog story and the show I most look forward to watching every week. There I admit it. Im "addicted." Its on tonight.

Yes Pls

Im a sucker for clean basic sneakers.. Make em in black pls tho

Metal Monday on a Wednesday... couldnt wait..

I mean c'mon.. these guys f@cking rocked! I cant tell you how many times I pounded Southern Comfort to this shit. I never missed them live when they came through town. Never even crossed my mind that Rob Halford was as gay as the day is long and dressed exactly like that dude from The Village People. To me he just was bad ass. Dude rode out on a Harley to start every show. I could of picked the obvious songs like "Breaking The Law" or "You Got Another Thing Coming" but "Victim of Changes" is pure balls. The track deep in the cut. This makes me miss my mullet. My mullet was the shit.

(at least give it 2 min so u get the vibe)

Freddie Gibbs freestyle

I took this from RapRadar. The sound quality is horrible but the rawness without all the flashy bullshit is what I like about it. Just an old school freestyle from someone with actual talent. He might be the only one out there to reinvigorate street hip hop. Why? he's authentic, trust me.

(and he rolls with Archie and DJ Skee)

Probably gonna pass on this one

"Yo, what's up, any idea on where you wanna eat?" - "Yes I just saw this new spot that looks great. It's called Yumnuts. You in?"

Racism

I know for some Keith Olbermann represents the extreme far left liberal nutcase; the other side of Rush Limbaugh. Even tho I disagree, I respect everyones right to their opinion. The difference to me is as opposed to Rush, or Glenn, or Sarah, Keith at least speaks from below the surface, the talking points and factless catchphrases and conspiracy theories. He also, whether you like him or not is authentic to what he happens to passionately believe. Sure sometimes he goes overboard.. Shit we all do.. But in this segment he articulates extremely well the undertones of racism left in our country. Politics and personal emotional issues aside its hard not to not see the truth in what he says. Unfortunately some on the right will simply dismiss and become defensive.. but give it a shot.. look behind the "Socialist Pig" signs amongst the sea of white people. See the fear in their eyes. Look and listen close enough for the actual context. A black friend of mine hit me last night telling me he had just watched this and it moved him.. and asked me to check it out. Take the 10 minutes.. If you disagree, thats ok.. (maybe take the time to notice whether its your heart or thought induced emotions reacting..) at least listen... its the only way we will get anywhere..

(thanks Bwash for the heads up)

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So much for Bridge and Shuffleboard

Snoop 2050?

Converse John Varvatos JV Pro Leather Hi

not mad at all..

My own shade of grey..

I frequently have long deep conversations with my friend Shane Powers, www.shanepowers.com , that revolve around politics, philosophy, religion, passion, relationships and anything else that a lot of people today tend to stay away from. (myself included 90% of the time.) The weather, "I'm good, how are you," or "can u spare an extra valium" is soooo much easier. Shane and I challenge eachother intellectually and while our brains are wired differently, its these talks I appreciate the most. I spend a lot of my life living on the waves at the top of the ocean and visiting the bottom once in awhile helps me feel connected with myself and who I actually am. We both, at least I believe, have spent a lot of our lives creating characters of ourselves.. he, the outspoken, extremely passionate, opinionated one that could in an instant change the vibe of a room from positive to negative or vice versa with his energy alone. He says whatever the f*ck he wants. There is no filter. A lot of people love it and a lot of people just cant handle it. Me asking him to be my best man at my wedding shows where I stand. Me? I was the record company guy with brand new sneakers, a crisp white-t and a Cadillac Escalade grill mounted to my office desk (I mean really?) to help create "the Clancy show" (which was exhausting and bullshit a lot of the time.) The point of this is a lot of our conversations revolve around him trying to understand who i am and where i stand on politics or religion or sometimes just plain life. Thats where our brains are wired differently because my simple philosophy of life is to find your own "shade of grey." Which ironically is exactly what he says but then proceeds to grill me on which box I lay in. Last night I told him I liked Bill Mahers new stand up HBO special and he simply replied "Your a communist." To be asked whether Im a democrat, republican, independent, socialist, communist, ideologue, Christian, Buddhist, vegetarian is complicated. On the political side I suppose I lean liberal which by definition means "showing or characterized by broad mindedness and favors the protection of civil liberties and progressive social views."- Sounds about right although there are republican (or at least the older republican) views I also agree with "small government, fiscal responsibility, etc." But I suppose by the last 2 statements I would be an independent while at the same time i agree with some of the socialistic aspects that we currently have in our government (teabaggers always seem to miss that hence the "keep the government off our Medicare" signs).. I also think our current form of capitalism without some type of moral oversight will eventually eat our country alive and create the greatest class gap in our countries history while destroying the environment or anything else in the way of profit.. Ok Religion...oh boy, touchy subject. Personally I am NOT a fan of organized religion. I understand its a light in alot of peoples lives and that I fully respect.. if it makes you feel alive and fulfilled, I back it 100%. Its what goes on behind the scenes that is the problem, whether its the penetration into politics and policy to the assault on homosexuals and anyone "different." All while the Pope recently told Africans to not use condoms when Aids is beyond epidemic status. Doesn't seem very "Pro Life" does it? The feeling of communion with a higher power is something I share with Christians I just eliminate the dogma. Its that dogma and the book it all comes from that has caused more death than all wars combined in our worlds history. So am I Buddhist? Well I do a bunch of yoga (which Shane has a good time with) and Meditation (see yoga) and I relate strongly to the connectedness and karma philosophy. It just seems to make the most sense. The sages that wrote these things thousands of years ago still seem to apply and contain actual context for todays world. On the other hand there are things that are a bit "out there" for me but I respect their right as I do Christians to make it a black and white decision for their own spirituality.

Next is vegetarianism.. I decided to stop eating meat 4 months ago for moral reasons relating to factory farming etc.. I do however eat fish who sometimes die horrible deaths and wear plenty of leather.. In fact my wife got me a leather jacket for my bday that I would wear to bed if i could.. So am i a true vegetarian?

The point of all of this, for me, is about finding your own shade of grey.. Living with a black and white view of everything seems inauthentic to the beauty of all of our own individuality based on our life experiences and our own reactions and emotions that come from them. We all process it differently. For me I have found the most peace by being myself.. I don't need a label or set of rules I need to abide by in order to fit into a certain category, in fact it only makes me feel less alive. I've spent 39 years trying to fit in to various things and have finally found my own perfect beautiful shade of grey... and Shane has played a big part in helping me find it.

If your not already you should check Shane's site every day.. it will make you happy, sad, angry, and grateful. Most important it will make you think. Click HERE

Respect

Just because they've gotten to where they are with class while everyone else was running their mouths and fakin it. Nowadays that deserves a nod. On a side note if you focus and are no more than 2 feet away from this picture you can actually smell money.

I will say tho, Jay, who always has ridiculous steez is throwing me off with the paisley jacket and XXXXXL bowtie..

Great Qoute

"A true friend is one who can see the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face" - unknown

Happy Birthday "Malibu" Rich

Rich Skillz's (of Nikki & Rich) birthday is today and for all we've been through over the past year your damn right Im gonna write about him. I've known Rich for years, we were part of a "crew" back when life was simply about the party and getting laid. He had and still has one of the most magnetic personalities I've ever seen.. He was that guy, always on, always tan, always crisp. A earlier version of Pauly D without all the cheese.He was fresh from NY but looked as California as a drop top Impala.. until he opened his mouth and Queens spewed out. He came from a self made family who had come to America and worked their way to financial freedom. Our crew had a good run playing the whole Hollywood game. As years passed some of us got married, divorced, began and lost careers, while some turned the Hollywood game into a profitable businesse. Rich, coming from a DJ background in NY, dove in with the help of his brother, into producing and at least to my knowledge learned as quickly as anyone Ive ever heard of. If Im not mistaken I believe the 3rd track he produced won a Grammy with Ludacris in the rap album of the year category. Spending as much time as he did in the studio it was only a matter of time until the technical caught up to his innate talent and incredible instinct when it came to music. He then since worked with Robin Thicke and a host of others while simultaneously teaching himself to play the keyboards and other instruments. When I was working at Interscope he would come in trying to sell beats he had made in the hip hop vein. Some were good, some were great but they were in a genre that had lost its luster and with all the side hustles going on it was hard to sneak tracks in as a new producer . S0metime after that he hooked up with Nikki and within a few months made some of the best music Ive heard in years. A modern mix of various genres done in a contemporary way that felt fresh.. and fresh wasnt happening at that time.. The amazing part is that he had produced and played everything on the album and Nikki fit like a glove with a voice and lyrical talent from Mars. The rest is history and since Ive been involved Ive watched him grow into one of the most talented producers Ive been around and Im convinced that even with the success hes had so far, he has only started his climb to becoming one of the most respected producers in the game. The reason? Very few have the ability to adapt and thrive creatively in any genre. He could make music for Jay Z as easily as for Andrea Bocelli. All of the above is impressive but what impresses me the most about Rich is his heart. Beneath the shiny exterior is a guy who cares and genuinely wants the best for people. Alot of people in his position get lost in their own self delusion and selfishness. For that Im honored to be both his friend and business partner. Thank you for the passion you've put back into my life. This is your year, its already happening. Happy Birthday.

Happy Valentines Day..

Happy Valentines Day to the woman that completely and utterly changed my life. I had no idea what true love was until I met Kelly. She knows me better than anyone on the planet and I trust her with my life. Until her I thought "soulmates" only existed in sappy movies with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I will do whatever it takes to protect her and Chloe until the end and I can only hope that I can always be for her what she is for me. True love is real. Happy Valentines Day...

Hey Dick, Its Joe. Your delusional.

Ive pretty much backed off of politics to avoid getting an ulcer... however when "balls" show up Im still all ears. Joe Biden, who isnt exactly Cornell West in the articulation category goes all in on the king of making up his own facts at random (in addition to being a massive asshole): Dick Cheney.. and I kinda like it...

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Rap Sheet

With all the press about professional athletes and their rising criminal records its interesting to read below and guess whether the rap sheet belongs to current members of the NFL or NBA.

36 have been accused of spousal abuse

84 have been arrested for drunk driving within the last year

17 arrested for fraud

3 have done jail time for assault

14 have been arrested for drug related charges

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

19 have written bad checks

71 cant get a credit card due to bad credit

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

So which is it? NFL or NBA?

Well its neither... its current members of our United States Congress. Well done fellas!

(thx Wolf)

GENTRY

Im not writing this because I know the people behind this, Im writing it because Im a sucker for packaging and quality. Products nowadays seems thrown together as cheaply as possible and when someone takes the time to actually infuse craftmanship and personal passion behind what they believe in it sticks out like a sore thumb. This company is Gentry and they have without question put together the best packaging Ive seen in years,, Its some shit I would put on my damn mantle as art. Whats in the box is equally as impressive. Its a tie and accesories set that takes us back to when class came first.. before double hoop earrings* and Ed Hardy. In fact if you wear Ed Hardy, Affliction, Tapout, or any of the remaining hip hop lines go ahead and skip this one. This is more for the guy who has his shoes shined, opens the door for his lady, and thinks "Jersey Shore" is, well, just a beach in Jersey. Class is somewhat of a lost art and when something comes along that captures it in a box, Im in..

P.S. try NOT to get laid with the set up in pic 2 in your crib.. i dare you

INFO AND STORE HERE

*full disclosure, I used to rock double hoop earrings

LOVE

My wife is most likely gonna give me a hard time about this but Ill take the risk. Until I met Kelly marraige sounded about fun as CSPAN. Every guy goes through the "one woman the rest of my life!!" anxiety.. Its funny because a lot of them in reality get laid once every 6 months. Thats the copout argument because the truth is, at least for most and definitely me the fear is allowing someone to get so inside of you that your emotions are exposed. Your fears, insecurities, the years of unresolved feelings stuck somewhere deep inside of you. Drugs, alcohol, isolation, whatever, we all have our way of keeping those feelings away. I've tried every single one of those. The biggest fear for me was intimacy, and in marriage theres a lot of that if you expect to stay together. I was used to always being able to bolt when things got too close or the fake cape I wore suddenly got exposed. A few bongloads and a vicodon on the couch and the problem was solved and was long enough to dry clean the cape and put it back on. I met Kelly years ago at work and without gettting into too many details after a few years of being friends some feelings came up for both of us and we decided to try to get past the awkwardness and go on a date. It happened because I wrote her a 3 page letter that explained how I felt and ended with asking her to dinner just once to see what it felt like. The strangeness came from working together and being close friends for years, it was a big and incredibly awkward step. Well the rest is history, 2 years later we were married and a year or so after that we had Chloe. Coming from LA and spending alot of my youth in clubs I had never really met a woman like her: incredibly selfless, caring and always there for me and since i can be a handful that meant the most. I strive to be for her what she is for me. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to get past the stuffed emotions and fear of intimacy. The thing that I was most afraid of which was having someone who truly knows me inside and out has been the greatest gift of my life. Its like letting air out of a ball thats been dead weight in my stomach for most of my life. For that I am eternally grateful. I cant imagine life without her standing right by my side. In a time when marriage gets a bad wrap I want people to know there is another side. It was as simple as finding the love of my life and holding on and not letting fear push her away no matter how uncomfortable it got because until you deal with that head on life can be a lonely place.

Brain Freeze

Meditation
I get asked a lot about meditation so I figured I'd give my take on it. First, I don't believe there is a "right" way nor consider myself an expert.. That said it has been one of the greatest life changing exercises of my life and I truly wish I was capable of grasping it earlier in life...(difficult with pot.) The biggest misconception is that meditation implies "not thinking." While as you practice your thoughts slow down, to me its more about not attaching to them. Allowing thoughts to "be" without letting your gut or mental treadmill get involved.. For instance "Fuck I forgot to call Shane" - on its own its a simple thought- but it can become anxiety if u allow it.. Reality is Shane is probably fine and you can just call him after. Another impt thing to keep in mind when u first try to meditate is that your brain will absolutely LOATHE it. It is the brains worst nightmare because it assumes you aren't taking it seriously enough to attach to what its thinking. That makes it nuts. HOW DARE YOU!!! Most people, myself included initially, kick in after about 50 seconds with "Screw this" or "Man I'm hungry" or "Am I allowed to scratch that itch?," and, after what feels like 4 1/2 hours (90 seconds) you figure it might be better to start this whole meditation thing later in life. Much later.. When your happy and peaceful... Ha.Your best bet is to ease into it.. Start with doing 2 minutes a day for 2 weeks.. The funny thing is I guarantee your brain will say it doesn't have the time at some point. Its amazing how little time you have when your quieting your mind but we find time for all kinds of other shit.. After 2 weeks go to 5 min for another 2 weeks and so on until you get to 20 min a day.. (30 if u can) The 2 simplest effective ways to meditate revolve around the breath.. Sit comfortably and focus on it.. Thoughts will come and that's fine, just keep returning to your breath.. That's it. If you wanna add a layer add a silent sound to it.. Inhale with "uhhhhhhh" exhale with "ahhhhhhhh".. Nothing else.. If u catch your mind thinking about how cool the new Audi headlights are, that's ok, catch yourself and go back to the breath.Its amazing how something this simple has lasted thousands of years and has had such a profound effect on people.. The reason for that I believe, is that it teaches us what lies behind the brain. Its where all creativity, love, passion, joy and peace come from. Jordan didnt think when he drove to the basket.. Hendrix wasn't thinking during his solos.. Sure we use our brain for info and direction but its not the source outside of data. Its like an amazing computer. Meditation allows you to develop a relationship with that source.. It allows you to realize you are much more than your mental noise. It taps into your own creativity and passion. Its energy without the caffeine. Its peace with no brain filter. Bottom line is meditation has changed my entire perception and I'm truly grateful for it.. For those who are skeptical believe me I get it, I was for most of my life but now that I've dove in, I can't imagine life without it. For me living only in my brain is like doing the running man.. Jogging but getting nowhere. Stuck in the want, the chase and missing out on everything thats right in front of me.

Big Ben

I recently read a book on Benjamin Franklin who quite frankly (ha) had his hands in just about everything. He even came up with his own rules for life during a time when he was questioning the dogma of religion.. These were his "virtues" for a fulfilling life. Im not mad at him. I've always found the 10 commandments somewhat obvious and lacking context (dont get mad, just my opinion) and these seem to resonate more on a day to day vibe. By the way he wrote this when he was 20. I was in rehab and wore a fannypack when I was 20. He also apparently pulled a lot of women which is pretty remarkable considering pic above. No disrespect Ben, actually the opposite.. Well done.

From his autobiography:

Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of thirteen virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his thirteen virtues as:

"SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."

"TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

"ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."

"RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."

"FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."

"INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."

"SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."

"JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

"MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."

"CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."

"TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."

"CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."

"HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

Nikki & RIch NY Post interview before NY Show

They KILLED the show in front of a PACKED 1000 capacity crowd at Highline Ballroom.. for their 4th show overall and first in NY!
For NY Showtime post click HERE

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..