Now that the whole Brett Favre Saga is over, it’s now time to get back into the swing of things with the NFL Training Camps. Since the saga has finally ended, or so we think; the past week has been slow. Fear not my fellow followers of the NFL, for I have come with news and tidbits from across the land.  So let’s look at some of the headlines from this week in the NFL.   S.F. 49ers cut Moore, sign Spikes The San Francisco 49ers cut 6-year LB Brandon Moore this past Sunday to make room for 10-year veteran LB Takeo Spikes.  Moore, who had been with the 49ers since 2002, had one of his worst statistical season’s last year.  He averaged 22 tackles with 2.5 sacks last season for the NFL’s 25th ranked Defense.   Spikes will join a young 49ers defense that consists of Manny Lawson, Nate Clements, and the league leader in the tackles, Patrick Willis.  Spikes, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, had 1 sack with 8 tackles last season in 14 games.  64 of those tackles were solo.   Two days after his release, Moore signed a 1-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.   At least the 49ers’ Defense looks solid.  That’s more than I can say about their offense since the 49ers are riding the QB carousel.      Poor Alex Smith, the 49ers invested all that money in him and he may end up as the 3rd string QB on the team. Hey, at least he’s getting paid.   Safeties need work too… Also, two unemployed Safeties found work last week as well.   One time Safety for “The Fastest Team on Turf”; Adam Archuleta signed with the Oakland Raiders last week.  Archuleta played Safety for the St. Louis Rams for five years.  He then signed with the Washington Redskins in 2006 and the Chicago Bears in 2007.   Archuleta will assume a new role with the Raiders. He’s going for the Safety position to Linebacker.  A position he once played during his time at Arizona State.    Archuleta joins a solid Raiders’ defense with the addition of CB DeAngelo Hall.   16-year veteran, John Lynch, signed a 1 year contract with the New England Patriots last week as well.  Lynch, who played for the Denver Broncos last season, was a member of the 2003 Super Bowl Champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   Expect big things from Lynch in the Pats’ Defense.  This team never “rebuilds”.  They just “reload”.  Know we can see why they are the favorites to go to the Super Bowl again this year.   Pennington, Leftwich practiced with new teams The former QBs from Marshall practiced with their new teams last week.    Chad Pennington, who was cut from the NY Jets after the Brett Favre trade, signed with the Miami Dolphins. Byron Leftwich, who was let go by the Atlanta Falcons at the end of last season, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.    Pennington should be a lock at the starter position for the Phins, as long as he stays healthy. Leftwich is fighting for the #2 QB spot on the Steelers’ roster with Charlie Batch.   Profootballtalk.com has a picture of the two QBs meeting up before they head out to their respective training camps.  You gotta love those kooky guys at Pro Football Talk.   Brett Favre starts his 1st game as a member of the NY Jets What would a football article be without word about Favre? He started his 1st game last night for the NY Jets against the Washington Redskins. Favre was 5-of-6 for 48 yards and the touchdown to rookie TE Dustin Keller in the 1st quarter.   Favre threw the ball with the same “gun slinger” zip we’ve seen him throw for years and   the Jets moved the ball well down the field. If his performance in the 1st quarter is a glimpse of the season to come, it looks as though the Jets may have won in the end in the Brett Favre saga. On a side note: Poll Answers You can always check out new and past posts on the Out of Bounds blog at: http://outofbounds-therowdyone.blogspot.com/ Or email me with breaking NFL news or topics you want to discuss at: therowdyone.outofbounds@gmail.com

Another week bites the dust my dudes.  Brett Farve steps back on the football field, Michael Phelps did his favorite impression of Prince Namor the Submariner, and Team USA beat the living dog s***t out of Spain. In addition to the two profound losses last week, the music industry lost Jerry Wexler.  Shout to Usain Bolt who blew the entire field of the track in the 100 meter dash.   Gearing up for AllHipHop Week (stay tuned for announcements) Harlem Week (Which is really like Harlem Month), the Democratic National Convention (Hillary still hustlin’) and Vlad’s Lawsuit (I saw pics, not a 4 million dollar  beating, but people should tell they entourage to chill out) and dealing with the fallout, both positive and negative from the ozone awards.  Been a fast month, but a long opening so without further ado let’s get it!     T.I. “What Up” The drama continues as T. I. gives a not so subtle jab at Shawty Lo.  We’ve been watching this thing unfold and in the grand scheme of things musically it just really isn’t a contest. Even further apart in talent than the Jay-z /Jim Jones farce. Lackluster as far as these types of songs go rhyme scheme and hater talk is pedestrian.  You can see people getting hype and it’s listenable, but if you don’t know that there’s beef attached, it’s just another stop jocking me hater song.  T.I. is bigger than that.   Shawty Lo “Knew It” Man.  This is just close to the worst.  First it sounds like the president of the Young Jeezy Fan club dropped a song.  After you get past that, it’s pretty much the same talky flow as “What up” and a bunch of other songs.  More crotch grabbing anti snitch  accusatory rhetoric.  I’m sure some one somewhere is eating this up, but I can’t imagine the world going crazy over this.  The beat is trap song X as well.  These two songs are an example of how beef can side track you from your mission and your musical identity. Fellas, break bread, ignore each other or whatever but both of you are better than these songs.  Just stop.   Youre Everything – Bun B feat. Rick Ross, David Banner, 8Ball & MJG Bun B feat. Rick Ross, David Banner, 8Ball & MJG-“You’re Everything” And now, for some good stuff from the Durty. This sounds like a love song to Southern Hip-Hop from the good folks south of the Mason Dixon.  If you don’t feel that way it’s all good, but key in on MJG’s verse and see if you get what I’m saying.   Officer Ross, David Banner and 8Ball all ut in stellar performances, but it is Bun B and MJG who really bring out the essence of this joint. Dig it.   Big BoiFeat. Raekwon, Andre 3000-“Royal Flush” It’s good to hear Dre and Big Boi together rhyming on the same track, and with Rae riding shot gun like it was 10 years ago, you’d think it was magic.  Not quite.  I think the culprit here is the music, the production on this feels disjointed.  Perhaps it’s a piece of a larger ensemble, but it just isn’t as smooth as I’m used to hearing them. It’s not as seamless. Solid track lyrically and Dre bats cleanup like few rappers in history can, but this doesn’t sound like they were in the studio together.   Cassidy Feat. Corey Gunz- “Body Bagz” Heat. Corey Gunz opens up with illness (you broke nose for trying to Mike Jones my o zone…bwahahahah) and Cassidy the Hustler (Shout to Smothe) hops on afterward on a mission not to get murdered on his own track.. While his flow isn’t as ill, the lyrics and delivery more than make up for it and his a capella ending puts the proverbial boot on the throat.  Body bags indeed   Busta Rhymes Feat. Ludacris, Lil Wayne;”Throw It Up” Man how much heat does Busta have to drop to make the market give a f**k?  I haven’t heard anything weak from him in recent memory and the world just doesn’t seem to care.  The song itself is formulaic, but it bumps.  You would hope that with outrageous flowers like Busta, Wayne and Luda that the format would more more than linear punchline layups.   Billy Danze “Im’a Kill ‘Ya” If you owe Billy Danze, you hould probably pay him. I know some of you got your Styles P’s and your Hell Rells and all that, but no body is more hardcore than Billy on the mic. You can bet a Brownsville ass whipping on that. DV Alias Krist  signing on the hook. Singing too long on the hook. It still ain’t the same without Fizzy Wo’, but this is solid mixtape fodder. Respect the jux.    Ice Cube “Why Me” Raw Footage Ice Cube delivers once again.  Decades into the game he still manages to deliver originality and flavor.  In this song, Cube raps first person in the frame of a murder victim speaking to his murderer.  It’s ill without being sappy or morbid. Worth listening to. *************************************************************************** Overtime   There’s been a lot of talk out there about how old rapper should retire and step off the stage but really none of the young dudes have proven themselves talented enough to get it done (Don’t get it twisted Wayne is almost 30) Well I nominate Corey Gunz. He’s got the lienage, the youth, the skills, the talent and most importantly the hunger. Here’s something to get you familiar if you don’t know. Peace out, football season coming soon my dudes.   corey gunz ************************************************** Happy Birthday Marcus Garvey!! Jamaica Stand up!!

2004, I was lucky enough to share an amazing, brief, life changing moment with one of my idols, Isaac Hayes.   In 1986, when I first started taking rapping and producing seriously by purchasing a pair of Synsonic Drums from my boy Harun’s uncle Rick, the first thing we did was synch our little drum patterns with Isaac’s “Do Your Thing,” from the Shaft album. He broke ground by recording single songs on albums that were well over the industry standard of 3 minutes and some odd seconds.   For instance, “Do Your Thing” is over 19-minutes in length and these types of dramatic arrangements and recordings changed the way artists approached recording albums and dispelled age old notions that albums wouldn’t sell.   According to my friend Rob Bowman who wrote the excellent book Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records, “no single album had a greater impact on the direction of black music in the first half of the 1970’s” than Hayes’ Hot Buttered Soul album. It’s also significant because these extended grooves Hayes produced allowed hundreds of thousands of kids like me, to sample and create new forms of music using technology and making it something we called our own.   So there I was, standing in a press area at the BMI Awards in sunny, Miami Florida. The day had started off great, because I had caught the same flight with unheralded soul icon Bunny Sigler, who like Hayes, was receiving a life time achievement award. Fate placed me right next to Sigler on the same flight, so I was already happy that I was able to speak to him.   So once I arrived at the venue, for some reason, I was not properly credentialed (nor properly dressed) to attend the formal dinner. This was a headache, but a cute little friend of mine who did publicity pulled some strings and I ended up at a table with a bunch of older folks. After I loosened up a bit, I struck up conversation with a woman sitting next to me, who told me she was from Memphis and did booking for Isaac Hayes, The Temprees, The Mad Lads and other great groups from the Stax family of labels. After I named-dropped a bunch of the aforementioned groups’ songs and professed my love for each, she seemed to be genuinely delighted at my enthusiasm. If my memory serves me correct, she said she was Isaac Hayes’ sister, but it could have been another closer relative. Either way, I was in.   “Can I meet Isaac and just give him a few words, I love his music,” I asked her.   She agreed and after everyone cleared out, here came Isaac. He was dressed in all black, with his traditional black shades. I walked next to him as he came up and out of the lobby and I tried explained how much of a fan of his that I really was. He didn’t pay me any attention at all, because I’m sure a million people tell him this, every day.   This is where it got crazy. By the time we reached the press area, people were everywhere. I saw R. Kelly chillin and I saw Baby and The Cash Money millionaires getting it poppin’.Even though I wanted to go join that fun, I figured I better take this chance and just tell him the truth about my favorite song and he didn’t even sing it.   “My favorite song you ever did is the last song on Carla Thomas’ Carla album [1966], called ‘Fate.’ I got hooked on the album at first because of Carla’s gold dress on the cover, but that’s the stand out song on the album.”   He stopped what he was doing and pulled his sunglasses off his face and he started humming the song. As he hummed the words to “Fate,” I began to sing the words to the song and so did he. But then I noticed, Isaac Hayes was touching both my hands and we were actually swinging around in circles in the moment singing this song, that he claimed in excitement, he hadn’t heard in 20 years.   After he released my hands, I don’t know what got into me.I literally stopped what I was doing and ran out of the BMI Awards in excitement, completely amazed at what had just transpired. I really might have run halfway to my hotel, before I even realized what I was actually doing.   Well, now that Isaac Hayes has gone and I reflect back over the past five years, the words to the song Fate have sudden relevance again. Isaac, it was by Fate that I met you, for that one brief moment.   I’m glad that I had an opportunity to thank you and touch your magic hands that have created the songs that I have cherished, sang in anguish or joy and always amazement, on so many nights. If not for you, many of us on the business side wouldn’t exist as well (learn about his fight with Stax and publishing). I’d like to believe that it was fate that allowed you and I to cross paths, but I know it was destiny for you and Hip-Hop music to do so.                                             Fate: I’ve searched every corner Of this bitter earth Trying to find someone To take your place Fate must have it planned for us Cause your love I can’t erase Fate must have it planned for us To love, until we die It took a long time To find out it was only you And now I know how my heart feels There’s something I’d like to do For each lonely night I was away I’ll give a thousand kisses to you I know fate has plans for us To love eternally true I know fate has planned for us To love each other until we die  

When it comes to the history of b-boying, the Rock Steady Crew is synonymous with pioneering the culture that has grown from its humble beginnings in the Bronx to worldwide acclaim. Originally started by Bronx b-boys Jimmy D and Joe Joe, the Rock Steady Crew has grown into a worldwide icon in the world of Hip-Hop. The Rock Steady Crew has been a driving force in much of the choreography seen today in television and dance films. Boasting over 40 members, Rock Steady is truly a Hip-Hop force to be reckoned with.Crazy Legs, President of RSC, has been keeping the name strong in all facets of entertainment along with the many talented members of the Crew. Crazy Legs has been featured in numerous movies and documentaries over the years, including Flashdance, Beat Street, Wild Style, Style Wars, and the Peabody award-winning documentary Dance in America: Everybody Dance Now. Most recently, RSC has made impact on television with appearances on dance shows like Dancing With the Stars and MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. We got in some time with Crazy Legs to see what both he and the crew had in store for Hip-Hop fans in the future.AllHipHop.com: You have been involved in some major movies and stage productions over the course of your career. What have been the biggest highlights thus far in performing for you personally and for the crew as a whole? Crazy Legs: The “stuff-I-did” part of me would say on a Hip-Hop culture level, the first time I met Afrika Bambaataa on stage at the Ritz Club in New York in 1981 was a huge thing. We opened up for him and a punk rock group called Bow Wow Wow. When we met Bambaataa on stage for the final bows, he brought me and Frosty Freeze (may he rest in peace) and the Rock Steady Crew on stage to become a part of the Zulu Kings. The Zulu Kings was the new generation of B-boys that were on the front line for the Zulu Nation at that time. I’m not a member of the Zulu Nation anymore, but that was definitely a big time for me. Another time would be when I danced with Jimmy Casta and the Casta Bunch at SOB’s in New York in 1991. SOB’s actually reached out to me and asked me to come out while he performed “It Has Just Begun” at SOB’s. We weren’t actually performing the song, but we really appreciated coming on stage to the song we used in the movie Flashdance. So we were like, “Hell yeah we’ll come perform!” Getting down to one of the DJ anthems while the artist is actually performing is pretty high on the list of experiences. The third thing for me would be meeting James Brown.  On a commercial level, doing Wild Style was the only movie that was a true representative of the culture of Hip-Hop. Even though it set out to become a documentary, but ended up becoming a cheesy movie in terms of the acting, the people that were in Wild Style were chosen because they were at the top of their game. It was based on their skill level and their ability to perform. There were no record labels behind the movie saying, “Well, use my artist and we’ll support you.” And you know that’s how you actually got in the movies. These people were rocking the crowds during b-boy jams. These were real ghetto celebrities holding it down. That was a really high point. AllHipHop.com: Do you have any personal achievements that you are particularly proud of?Crazy Legs: All of the things that I have accomplished are all achievements to me. A personal achievement to me is being a good father to my child, which shouldn’t even be an achievement; it should be a natural ability. In this day and age, with so many absent fathers around, you should pat yourself on the back without getting gassed up over something you should be doing anyway. AllHipHop.com: I know you and the crew has been putting it down for a while, especially with you just recently celebrating Rock Steady’s 31st Anniversary. When did it all start for you? When did you start b-boying?Crazy Legs: It started for me in 1977. That’s basically it. [laughs] I was whack at the beginning. But that’s anyone who’s going into any art form whether it’s turntables or breaking. Hopefully you have the ability to move past your wackness, you know? Find that glow inside you to be better at the turntables or whatever it is you want to do. AllHipHop.com: Was there anything in particular that really made you want to get into the art form? Did you just see it one day and decide that’s what you wanted to do?Crazy Legs: The first time I saw it was in 1976. I saw Africa Islam and my brother doing it in the front of my building in the Bronx on Garfield Street. When I saw them doing it, there was no music, no jam or whatever; it was just two people throwing themselves on the floor. I was really embarrassed for my brother, and that did nothing for me. A year later, my cousin Lenny brought me to a jam that was going on in the Bronx. He was telling me that people were b-boying and doing graffiti, so I checked it out. I didn’t even know what b-boying was and the term “break dancing” didn’t even exist. But when he brought me to the jam and I saw everything going on in full blast with B-boys battling and b-girls battling, graffiti artists comparing tags on the walls in the park, MCs comparing their black books and DJs rocking the mic, I became engulfed in that world. The rest is history.     AllHipHop.com: Since b-boying is really the foundation of Hip-Hop dance, do you feel that people need that foundation in their repertoire to truly call themselves “Hip-Hop” dancers?Crazy Legs: The term “Hip-Hop” is […]

The new kings of comedy have made their impact felt and for the old dogs in the game, namely Ben Stiller, his smart-alecky comedic attempt to reclaim the crown, Tropic Thunder, undeniably provokes a few laughs, but mainly one that comes after a nervous cough. The star-studded farce makes every effort to be outrageous and controversial (see the blackfaced Robert Downey, Jr. below), as it pokes fun at Hollywood and its stereotype of self-indulged, spoiled drug-abusing thespians. But in Tropic Thunder, Stiller and Jack Black find themselves outshined by Iron Man in a pretty startling and out-there role as Australian Academy Award winner Kirk Lazarus.The plot is simple as it is a parody of shining stars and their faults. The gags are exaggerated to prove such a point. Black’s comedic timing does little to save him as Jeff “Fats” Portnoy, a funnyman-turned-druggie. Black’s usually spastic antics are co-signed by the fact that he’s such a physical character. In Tropic Thunder, though, Black lacks that same punch that he’s known for in solo turns in films like School of Rock and Nacho Libre.Think of Tropic Thunder as a Rambo-ized version of Zoolander, but without the gut-busting laughs and cathchphrases. Stiller’s co-writers, Justin Theroux and Ethan Cohen, pen a nutty tone with each character a stereotype of some sort. If Jack Black is the king of flactulence, Robert Downey, Jr. is the Oscar darling, Brandon T. Jackson plays the seriously-delusional-aspiring hip-hop guy du jour, Alpa Chino. Stiller saves himself best for last as the action-adventure superstar Tugg Speedman…To read the rest of the review, click here

Developer: Silicon Knights Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Release Date: August 19, 2008 Canadian developer Silicon Knights is known for its small but rapidly growing number of behemoth titles, which include Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. The company will be diving into its latest digital saga, Too Human, with Microsoft in August. Too Human chronicles the journey of the cybernetic god Baldur as players battle against forces that threaten all mankind. When an ancient machine puts the galaxy in danger, Baldur is charged with utilizing his powers to protect the world from monstrous beings that are hell-bent on destroying any and everything that stands in their way. Too Human is an action-adventure RPG, similar to Mass Effect and Champions of Norrath. Players will be able to customize their character by leveling up and obtaining different types of equipment through Baldur’s travels. While the game starts out with five classes, Silicon Knights has announced that they will be adding more via downloadable contentment. They also hinted at additional quests that will eventually be available for download, lengthening the game’s replay value. Skill classes, customizable characters, cybernetics, and item hunting all await players in the fictional world of Too Human.  Silicon Knights knows that players love connecting and joining forces over the internet, so they made sure to include an online 2 player co-op mode via X Box Live that will allow players to meet and adventure together to search for rare items and complete quests. Here are some things gamers can expect from Silicon Knights’ upcoming release: Thrilling action-RPG gameplay. Unlike some games that may force players to choose between two genres, “Too Human” combines all the creative economy features and social experiences of a typical RPG, such as collecting loot and leveling up, while maintaining the excitement of an action game. With a wide array of weapons, armors, cybernetic implants and skills, players have an unprecedented level of customization with their characters. Explosive melee and firearms combat. It will take more than brawn and raw strength to supplant the machine hordes. Using a sophisticated blend of seamless melee and high-tech weapons combat, players have the power to vanquish foes near and far. Witness the fluid grace of heroes and enemies in battle as enacted by the acclaimed motion-capture group Full Action Stunt Team (FAST). Feel each punishing blow through advanced visual effects made possible through the power of Xbox 360. The birth of an icon. Fight as Baldur, a powerful cybernetic god battling his way through enemy armies to become one of gaming’s renowned iconic heroes. From weaponry and armor to combat techniques and combos, players can fully customize Baldur to become the best possible hero. Advanced cinematic presentation. Characters and environments come to life with amazing visual fidelity. Experience the full excitement of combat through a dynamically driven presentation system that portrays the combat with cinematic quality. Survive pulse-pounding battles against hordes of on-screen enemies set against the vast landscape of the “Too Human” world. A sweeping orchestral score sets the mood for heartbreak, anger and blood lust as each tune encapsulates the gamer within the immersive gaming environment. New level of accessibility through intuitive combat. Perform Baldur’s elaborate and complex combat maneuvers, and chain together rapid-fire attacks and combos with ease. Through the use of an intuitive combat system, “Too Human” delivers gameplay that is easy to learn and rewarding to master. Shared experience. Conquer the world of “Too Human” alone or with friends in advanced, online two-player co-op gameplay through the Xbox LIVE service. Online co-op play requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership. Modern take on classical Norse mythology. In a world ruined by centuries of war, “Too Human” chronicles the epic story of Baldur, favored son of Odin and one of a group of humanity’s protector, the Aesir. As Baldur, you must destroy the ancient war machines that threaten the world, but to do so you must balance your sense of duty and honor against your lust for revenge — perhaps even sacrificing your humanity in the process.

Play this before or while you read this. Trust me.   Isaac Hayes was deep. Musically  deep. Rich in both composition, arrangement, and social relevance. Many times in these situations we are forced to find some way to connect a loss of this magnitude to our lifestyle and our constituents. With Isaac Hayes there is no reach; there is no winding road to connection.  His music supplied the fuel for some of Hip-Hop’s many classic beats.  That Stax-supplied, Memphis-bred soul.  The soul that survived the crash that killed Otis Redding.  The soul that took Burt Bacharach to the mud.  Black Soul.   We try to separate race from many things in this era of political correctness.  We strive in the interest of objectivity to eliminate race from classification.  But there is no other way to describe the music of Isaac Hayes. Black Soul.  Mirroring the struggle of Black people, Hayes’ compositions were rarely quick hitting pop records.  Isaac Hayes, who interestingly replaced the chains of the slave with the gold rope chains, was certainly no slave to convention.  His compositions went as long as twenty minutes, grabbing the listener and forcing them down into musical melancholy.  Towering organs, melodic strings, and orchestral arrangements, long before Barry White altered mood and took you on an emotional journey.  He told a story without words, but by mastering mood and emotion and pitch, drawing you into the Black experience.   Isaac Hayes’ most notable moment came as a result of his narrative ability.  In an era of buffoonery, and at a time when Hollywood decided to bank its fortune on the black dollar, Isaac Hayes was given the responsibility of crafting the musical landscape of the movie Shaft.  Shaft differed from the other “blaxploitation” movies of the era in that it had a real budget, and the lead character a non charlatan.  John Shaft was strong, masculine, uncompromising.  A private eye with an edge and one of the few non-emasculated examples of that era. Directed by the immortal Gordon Parks (also a first for a major motion picture), Shaft needed a backdrop amenable to conveying that Black masculinity to audiences unfamiliar with that on film. Isaac Hayes brought that original Black superhero music. Subsequently, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song , the first non-acting Black Academy Award given out.   Hayes’ role as musical tour guide through the realm of Black Soul gave the world a front row seat into our collective expression.  Bold and ambitious, he took innocuous songs and “darkened” them. A prime example of this process involved Dionne Warwick’s classic rendition of “Walk on By”. A musical pop landmark in its own right, Hayes totally obliterated the original mood and made it hauntingly compelling by opening with booming organs and airing it out with string instruments before  settling into the groove that would go on to power Biggie’s warning. Two songs that are entirely the same word for word, yet the power of Hayes makes his version an emotional experience.   It is this talent of Isaac Hayes among all of his prodigious ability that makes this loss such a tragedy. The ability to talk without words.  The power to control emotion and to draw in people of all backgrounds to an understanding of pain.  We will miss Isaac Hayes.  Because before Stevie and Marvin, Isaac was socially conscious. Before Barry White brought love unlimited, Hayes was orchestrating.  Before Hip-Hop was sampling and repurposing ideas from all over, Isaac Hayes was colorizing Burt Bacharach.    Sometimes when you are first, you don’t reap the rewards.  I imagine the great, great, great grandkids of the Wright brothers are down in the Carolinas angry with the price of plane tickets like the rest of us. Other times you are revered.  Other times your legacy is cemented and the world is a different place because you chose to go left.  Isaac Hayes went left; to the Black Hand side.  And his indelible mark on Black Soul and the landscape of music itself will live on. You Daaaamn Right. Below are just two examples of the difference between Isaac Hayes and pop standards.  Same songs word for word. But listen to the stark contrast.  R.I.P. Please learn our music. We are losing soul faster than we can replace it. Peace      

Going from stand up comedy to movies is not every funny man’s forte, but budding actor Brandon T. Jackson is making a new page for himself in the book of Hollywood success stories. Jackson got it in as an extra in movies like Ali and 8 Mile before landing his breakout role in 2005’s teen favorite Roll Bounce. In 2008, he’s co-starring alongside Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black and Ben Stiller in the highly-touted comedy Tropic Thunder, and with Wilmer Valderrama in the gang-themed drama Days of Wrath.It’s not easy being popular, but Brandon is more than ready for the spotlight. We grabbed a few moments of his time to discuss what it was like working with Robert Downey Jr.’s character (who plays in the movie in blackface), his career growth and new ventures. AllHipHop.com: Tropic Thunder is a very anticipated movie. When you first started your career did you ever envision getting to this point where you’d be working with these types of people? Brandon T. Jackson: Yeah, but at the same time you always pray for it and then when it happens it’s definitely breathtaking. I can’t say yeah with that much confidence, but I can say yes to the belief that anything is possible. It’s definitely a great experience. AllHipHop.com: You went from doing stand-up and bit parts in movies to having your own show and working with Wayne Brady and other comedic actors. What have you learned throughout your career, and what have been some of the highlights as far as learning experiences? Brandon T. Jackson: When I did Roll Bounce with Bow Wow, that was my first big movie. I learned so much in that movie about how movies were made and different things. That was the first movie I had ever done, and to go from that to [Tropic Thunder] is just definitely one of those experiences that you could learn from and breathtaking, I just learned so much on the set from Robert Downey and just being there. Each step was a learning experience. AllHipHop.com: In terms of going on the road on a comedy tour versus being on a movie set, which do you like better and what do you enjoy about each experience? Brandon T. Jackson: It’s like two legs, I like both of my legs. If a rapper does an album he’s gonna go on the road, and if he does movies he’ll do movies. I really love the feeling when I’m doing movies, but then when I’m doing movies I’m missing stand up, so it’s kind of like I enjoy both situations. AllHipHop.com: With the previews and movie posters for Tropic Thunder, a lot of people saw Robert Downey Jr. was going to be playing a character who was playing a character who is essentially in blackface. Going into the movie did you have any qualms or worries that were put to rest once you got in the situation? Brandon T. Jackson: Yeah, because he did it so good. Now if he was doing like C. Thomas Howell in Soul Man then we all would have all went to hell. He did it so good to the point where my mom got to the set and she thought [Downey] was Don Cheadle. AllHipHop.com: I saw you on The Jimmy Kimmel Show and you were saying that Robert Downey Jr. never got out of character. Were there any funny moments with that where you weren’t acting and he did something crazy?Brandon T. Jackson: We drunk Kool-Aid together, had Kanye West marathons and I took him to my family’s barbecue and we went to vote for Barack Obama together in the polls. I’m just playing, but it would be cool if we did. [laughs]AllHipHop.com: In Tropic Thunder there are a lot of action scenes. Did you do any of your own stunts?Brandon T. Jackson: I did most of them, my stuntman Kofi did a lot of them too, but I really did most of them. There was so much more in there that got cut out with the action because the movie would have been way too long.AllHipHop.com: The special effects look very impressive. Were you amazed with how it actually turned out with the finished product?Brandon T. Jackson: I was very impressed with a comedy that had this much action. Ben Stiller pulled off some Steven Spielberg type of stuff – he’s like the comedy Spielberg.AllHipHop.com: Going from a gangster type movie [Days of Wrath] to a comedy role to a serious type of role, how do you prepare and how do you feel it rounds you out as an actor?Brandon T. Jackson: Look at Will Smith’s career, he doesn’t do one thing. He can do drama and comedy and I want to do both sides. The way I prepare is to just psych my mind out the old fashioned way, where if I was to do something like become a race car driver that’s all I would be and I’d become one. I just brainwash myself into becoming one, so you just stay focused and learn what they do like you’re doing a report. You learn everything, get all your references and learn how to do it.AllHipHop.com: What’s coming up next for you?Brandon T. Jackson: I have some scripts that I’m chasing right now, I just got off a Coca-Cola tour with Lupe Fiasco. I did a movie called Rogue’s Gallery that I just finished, and I’m pretty much just being smart about my next decision as far as movies. But I’m definitely always doing stand up.

  Cotto Speaks About Loss   You would think after Miguel Cotto’s phenomenal performance in a losing effort last month to Antonio Margarito that fans would be celebrating the Puerto Rican star and looking forward to his next fight. But in a sport where fighters are regularly dismissed after their first loss, that’s not always the case.   While the majority of fight fans have no bad words to say about Cotto taking two knees after sustaining brutal punishment from Margarito, there has a been a small but vocal majority that’s has labeled Cotto a “quitter” who can dish out the brutality but can’t take it.   Even some fans in his native Puerto Rico are upset, arguing that previous island fighters like Felix Trinidad and Wilfredo Gomez would never have submitted like that, especially at the feet of a Mexican, their fierce boxing rivals.   Tired of the accusations, Cotto conducted an interview on the andra pa’l cará show and clarified his position. Here is the translation (courtesy of maxboxing.com member beastineden) regarding the criticisms of him “quitting.”   Host: Ok, in your case as a boxer and champion I imagine that decision was very hard to make because you’re thinking “I’m the champion with no losses,” was it you that made the decision or your corner? Cotto: I was the one that made it, my family was there, my children were present and I was thinking more about them rather than the beating I was getting. Host: Did you get to see them? Cotto: Yes I did, a few times. Host: Really? Cotto: Yes, there were right next to my corner. Host: Does it affect … Cotto: Well, in this case it did a little but they’ve always known what my job is and what the risks are. Host: They are used to it? Cotto: They’re not used to seeing dad in the situation that they saw me a week ago but they know the risks of my job. Host: You gotta be brave to get up there? Cotto: Very much, gotta be brave to get up there but it’s part of the job, had a bad day but I know many good ones are still ahead. Host: Miguel being honest, and you always tell it like it is, is it harder to get on the ring or making the decision of putting the knees down? Cotto: I think in my case it was harder to put a knee down, like you said I didn’t have a loss in my record and to lose this way it was difficult for me, but I want health and I want to see my children grow up and that’s what matters. Host: Now that you tell me that it was you that made the decision not your corner, which is very important, did it ever cross your mind all the reactions that would come after your decision? Did you think about that? Cotto: No it was all for the benefit of me and my family, I could care less about the comments people make. Host: For example I heard a comment like … ‘he didn’t train hard enough to get on the ring’ Cotto: I always train hard before getting on the ring, Margarito was better than me that night. Host: For this one you even said you trained more than any other fight. Cotto: Yes, that’s how I felt. Host: Also comments that you were drinking and partying in Las Vegas Cotto: I party and have fun but on my time off, I’m very responsible with my job, there’s two things I’m very responsible with, my job and my family and I don’t play around with them.   Fighters know more than anyone else when their body has reached its limit. There’s nothing heroic or honorable about getting killed in a boxing ring in front of your family just so armchair commentators can put you a little higher on their pound for pound lists. As boxing fans we’re the first ones asking why wasn’t it stopped sooner when guys are seriously hurt (Nigel Benn-Gerald McClellan) or killed. Leavander Johnson-Jesus Chavez Ray Mancini-Duk Koo Kim It’s time to put the unwarranted criticism to rest when fighters have gotten their heads beat in round after round and feel they’ve had enough.   Mosley Looks Past Mayorga to Margarito  Shane Mosley knows that he’s not getting any younger. Turning 37-years-old next month, he knows the time to secure lucrative and legacy defining matchups is now. Derailed earlier this year by the cancellation of his fight with Zab Judah, Mosley has begun calling out new champion Antonio Margarito even as a September 27 date looms with former champ Ricardo Mayorga.   “When Mayweather was on top before he retired I wanted Mayweather,” Mosley explained to media at the August 7 press conference. “Margarito is the best welterweight out there now, so I want Margarito.” The declaration is a bold but welcomed change of opinion for Shane.  Previously the former pound for pound king turned down a Mayweather fight in his post fight interview after the second Vargas fight (Mayweather went on to fight champion Carlos Baldomir on November 2006), and also stated he wasn’t ready for Margarito after initially returning to welterweight in 2005.   Mosley is expected to easily defeat the limited Mayorga which would open doors for the Margarito showdown, a solid alternative for Antonio if he cannot secure a bout with cash cow Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley is on record as stating he would be ready for the Tijuana Tornado by December.   At the press conference Mayorga was his usual jovial self, bringing pink gloves for Shane to wear at the fight, and proclaiming he was going to make Shane his “woman” and also “retire him so he can enjoy the fruits of his labor.” Using Vernon Forrest’s domination of Mosley in early 2002, Mayorga went on to say he’ll beat Shane worse and take him out within three […]

  Madden. If there is a franchise that can grab casual and hardcore, the sports enthusiast and the guy on the street, this franchise can. As one of the best selling franchises worldwide, it has dominated living room after living room and is now known as the summer classic that has its own day contributed to it.   This week we are taking a look at some of the news that’s flowing around on the franchise, the cover controversy, and a glimpse at some of the new items that may have slipped under your nose. In the Played section, we go back in time to Madden ‘96, and we’ve got some good reasons why NFL Head Coach 09 should be on your radar for September.   Big News   Cover Change Up?   In light of the recent acquisition of longtime Packers quarterback Brett Favre to the NY Jets, many wondered what would become of the title cover. The current cover has the former Packer QB in a Green Bay uniform. EA Sports has stated that there will be no cover change before release as the incident happened too close to the street date of the title. However, those who wish to change the cover will have an opportunity via Online Download according to Game Pro.   Speaking of Favre   EA Sports has announced that there will be a roster update to reflect the major moves made in the NFL in the last few weeks, including names like Brett Favre, Jason Taylor, and Byron Leftwich. This download will be available on launch day, so fans worry not about waiting to see the new NFL.   Madden Curse?   It’s no secret that there is bad luck that accompanies cover athletes for the Madden Franchise. For example, Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick – both of their careers took a downward spiral. Brett Favre was currently retired when he was given the cover, perhaps showing a new direction with the cover athletes. Now it’s simply a watch and see, since he is now a starting quarterback once again. Will the curse return?   PSP Package   Many people love Madden, but only on home consoles. EA looks to change that this year, by releasing the title on both PSP and Nintendo DS as well as giving the PSP a special bundle that has the game, a memory stick, In One Play, a UMD, and a coupon for Beats. The total price is $199. Gameplay features OffSpring Trailer   Star Trek Online   Set your phasers to play. Lame I know, but I had to do it because the long delayed title Star Trek Online finally will see the light of day according to CNET. It will feature a create-a-character mode that will let you be any race you like, from Klingon to Human, create your own races,  and will let you lead your own ship to “boldly go where no man has gone before.”   Extended Life Battery Kit Axed   Sony has decided to give the axe to the Extended Battery Life kit only after nine months. This unit had the ability to add 80% to the original battery’s life. No reason has been given, but some suspect that the kit has the ability to let hacker’s retro mod. They will find their own way.   NCAA Football 09 Patch Released   NCAA Football 09 would be the best college game of all time, if the glitches weren’t so apparent. EA has finally done something about it by releasing an update almost a month after release. Hopefully it will make the best game it could be.   Played   Madden ‘96 Publisher: EA Sports Release Date: January 1996   Whenever a game takes a series, and launches it into the next level several years after its first game, it deserves to be recognized. Madden NFL Football 96 is just that game. The inclusion of such game modes as the Create a Player mode (we all remember that 40-yard dash and the sore thumbs it could produce) as well as secret teams (Jacksonville being the now always available EA team) it just felt like the complete package.   It also marked the time where EA and Visual Concepts (the creators of the 2K franchise) had a falling out. It was definitely a turning point in the creation of the Football game, because not but a few years later, the 2K series was released, and was the biggest competition to the Madden franchise since Tecmo Bowl’s popularity back in the early ‘90s.   Even with the split, this game is memorable as it was the last premiere Madden release on the SNES and Sega Genesis systems, before the franchise made the step into 3d. You can play this one and remember the good times that the lack of depth perception could create. Besides, how can you go wrong with Pat Summerall. Pre Order   NFL Head Coach ‘09 Publisher: EA Sports Platforms: Playstation 3 | Xbox 360 Release Date: September 2009   There are some things that are novel ideas that just need complete follow through. One such idea is Head Coach 09. Its predecessor Head Coach was interesting, and tried to cram the whole experience of being a head coach into a single disc. The result was a game that featured some highlights but more boredom and some obvious glitches.   EA decided to try it again with Head Coach 09, and has said that they have streamlined the process. Gone are the forced off-seasons and team meetings. In are its own intricacies, such as Free Agency and Coach and Player relationships. Seeing that is packaged with Madden and available as a stand-alone title, this one may be something worth checking out, especially for those wondering just how much work it is getting to gameday. Programmers discuss the game: Draft Day gameplay: Poll Answers

  Let’s take a sec and think back. We’re gonna hop into my DeLorean, crank up the old Flux Capacitor, and go back to a time when a certain someone retired from professional football. I’ll do my best to give you all the abridged version, but I would be remised if I left out any key points.   Thanks to NFL.com, ESPN.com, and Gene Wojokowski for their up-to-date timelines of the Brett Favre/Green Bay Packer saga:   1/20/08, Packers lose NFC Championship Game   Thanks to an interception from Favre and a 47-yarad field goal by Lawrence Tynes, the Green Bay Packers’ season was over – and so was their dream of another trip to the Super Bowl.   3/06/08, Favre retires Finally!! No more guessing games. We can all move on peacefully with our lives and sleep easier knowing that we won’t have wonder if he’s retiring. He’s done. He’ll never come back unless it’s for “Old-Timer’s” Day or when the Packers retire his number.  At least that’s what we thought at the time. Then again, we were wrong.   On the other side of town, The Madden Cruiser had a dark, rainy cloud hovering over it as John Madden sat in a corner with tears in his eyes. He opened a bottle of red wine, lit some candles, listened to some Sade on his iPod and stared at a picture that reminded him of happier times. Madden fell asleep with tears on his pillow and realized that his “bro-mance” was no more.   The Month of April   Rumors begin to circulate of a comeback and Favre denies these rumors. Of course he would deny the rumors. What evil mastermind do you know would reveal their plans to the enemy? That’s like Cobra Commander sending a member of the Crimson Guard to G.I. Joe Headquarters with their plans to steal the B.E.T. Go get G.I. Joe the Movie for reference   So Favre’s Agent, Bus Cook, decides to play the role of Destro to Favre’s Cobra Commander, and got the ball rolling by contacting other teams to inquire about trading for Favre. You always send the “little man” to do the dirty work for the Kingpin.     There was the possibility that Favre knew that the Packers were ready to move on without him and to make things easy for everybody, he gets traded to another team. That way, he continues to play and the Packers can go ahead with the Aaron Rogers era.   Then, during an interview, Favre says he might consider a comeback if the opportunity was presented to him. I guess he was just keeping his options open. By now, its evident Favre wants to come back.   6/20/08: Coach Mike McCarthy is told by Farve that he may want to play again   According to McCarthy, NFL.com reported that Favre told him (McCarthy), “You and Ted (Thompson) need to have a plan if I do come back. Either give me my helmet or give me my release.”   Hold up; you (Favre) just retired, the Packers have moved on with you in preparation for the season, they’re one month away from training camp, and you want to return to the team? Plus, you want to throw ultimatums around about your return. You, as we say on the block, are buggin’.    The Months of July and August:   So much went down in the month of July; I really don’t have the time and patience to go through it all.  That’s why you have the links to the timelines from ESPN.com and NFL.com. Between the text messaging, the 10-year, $25 million contract offer and the reinstatement; everything went from bad to worse.   In all honesty, do we really need to see the timeline; this story has been following us throughout the entire off season. It’s now gotten to the point that we can recite the entire saga like it’s a bedtime story.   To make a long story short, once Favre was reinstated, he met with Coach McCarthy and it was decided that it was in the best interest for both sides to divorce. A day later, Favre was traded to the NY J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, and Green Bay gets a conditional Draft Pick that gets higher in rounds depending on Favre’s performance. For now, New York is celebrating.   This saga had more chapters than the Star Wars series – and finally, it’s done. We can all move on peacefully with our lives and sleep easier knowing that Favre has a team and the Packers will move on. Wait a minute; I said the same thing about his retirement earlier, and look at how that turned out. Damn it!   Bottom line is this: both sides were right and wrong in their stances. Favre should have never retired if he felt he was going to have the urge to play again. He could do whatever he wants, but just because he has that right; it doesn’t mean its right. I commend him for not taking the 10-year, $25 million contract offer. Had he taken that contract, he would have looked like a sellout.  Remember, throughout this entire ordeal, Favre keep saying that all he wanted to do was “just play football.”   The Packers made their bed with Aaron Rogers and were ready to lie in it. They know this kid is no Favre, but they’re ready to move on and start fresh. They stood by their guy and that should give Rogers the confidence he needs to do well this season. Only time will tell if he’s ready for the big show.   At the same time, the Packers should have been upfront with Favre from start and told him that there was no room for return once he signed his papers for retirement. Considering the fact that he has “straddled the fence” for the past few years about his retirement, they could have added a clause that stated […]

It’s that time again my dudes (and dudettes) for another edition of Sick Sundays.  After a wild week of high’s and lows, sit back, relax watch Creflo Dollar or Joel Osteen or blast music to wake up your old ass neighbors.    Paris Hilton blacked out on McCain this week in retaliation for that commercial.  Not a fan of her royal “That’s hotness” but a thorough spazzing is a thorough spazzing out.   Milie Cyrus gets it in on Myspace with racy photos. Just goes to show you no matter how much dough you hold, kids will be kids.  Hopefully they don’t get any steamier or Billy Rae may have an achy breaky heart.   This week we have Uncle L beasting out over “Dead Presidents”.  Couple years old but still recent enough to be relevant. A message to the market place:  If you want these old rappers off the stage then you have to be good enough to chase them off.  That goes for Nas, Jay, LL, Snoop and whoever. Show discipline.  Personally you can rap forever as long as you don’t suck.  But as far as the spotlight?  Young dudes need to s####### a pair and go in (Pause). And now, on with the show.     Freestyle (Dead Presidents beat) – LL Cool J LL Cool L “Dead Presidents Freestyle” This joint is from 2004 I believe from a K Slay mixtape, but it was so flames I had to bring it back.  LL gives a history lesson about the 80s without romanticizing it and maybe hips you to a few things if you weren’t around that era to see it.  Dope flow, then he freaks it with a few bars in Italian. “Never retire or put my mic on the shelf” Muy Muy Duro     Bert and Ernie Ante Up – stianhafstad M.O.P “Ante Up” –Warriorz Off the very slept on, high-quality action-packed album, the Mash Out Posse bring the drama to all soft cats.  If you owe Billy Danze, then you should prolly pay him.  A bit less flash than the Busta/Remi helmed remix, this is pure Brownsville Bodega Ham & Cheese Sandwhich and Olde English powered.  Bert and Ernie approve this message.  Shout to Hot Rod for this one.     20. Freeway – Its Over.mp3 – Freeway “It’s Over” Freeway has been tearing through the underground like he got coke in the trunk and cops in the rearview.  This particular joint is from his tragically slept on last release.  Hardcore narrative in the relentless Freeway style that tells the story of where he’s been since that near classic first album.  Do yourselves a favor and get some freeway in your lives.     Ludacris Ft. T.I. – Ludacris Feat. T.I. “I Wish You Would” You ever spent the whole year at school trying to chase down the baddest girl in school?  You finally get her and it wasn’t as good as you dreamt it woud be?  That’s the problem with some of these recent pairings of Emcees.  While dope, “Black Republican” was probably 5-10 years too late to REALLY be what it could have been.    In the same vein, this song while dope is kinda underwhelming. Ludacris drops a very weak punchline flow that’s a typical a/b punchline setup thats beneath his skill level as an artist.  He also lifts a direct line from Redman.  I’ll let you see if you can find that particular joint.  T.I. doesn’t have anything memorable here either.  It’s not wack, not mailed in, but for the caliber of these two, it’s meh.     Touch & Go (Radio) – Joe Budden Joe Budden “Touch & Go” Budden returns to the game with another driving kinda party joint which sounds stylistically like the Jigga Man.  The cadence is all Joey’s but listen to that second verse and tell me it’s not “Excuse Me Miss” part 3.  The Roger Federer line was bananas though.  This is a solid song, but if you’re trying to start a fire back with your career, this aint gonna be the one to do it with. Another Jumpoff club song.  We need more heat.     Everything is Heltah Skeltah – Heltah Skeltah Helter Skelter ” Everything is Helter Skelter” Piano-driven darkness powers the return of the Ruck and the Rock.  Sean P sounds alive on this one with ill lines and high energy, while the enigmatic Rockness Monster brings that electricity with punchlines a dope flow and that BK hardcore.  They sound as fresh as ever and this song can certainly compete in the current marketplace, unlike many recent forays by 90’s artists trying to still get it in.  Fire.      Large – Young Chris f. WaleYoung Chris feat. Wale “Large” Young Chris has a problem.  The style he originated has been taken and blown up by Jay-z to such a level that now being himself he sounds like Jay lite. It’s a shame because he’s young hungry and inventive and can’t even get credit for his own flavor.  This is a solid song but if you didn’t see the title and the info you’d swear it was Jay  Wale comes through for a good change of pace.  Dope flow and pace.  I prefer to hear him over Hip-Hop drums than the go-go stuff, but what do I know, I’m an old guy. Cool mixtape fodder and all in all, a good song. Thumbs up.     Pitbull – The American War Pitbull “American War” Paris, Immortal Tech, and Banner ain’t the only political rappers.  In this video Pitbull takes on GWB and the Iraq War alluding to The Gulf War and other parallels.  See for yourself, no mistaking what this is about.     Alternative Break     F*@k The Industry (signed Sincerly) – Solange Solange “F**k The Industry” Solange has a hard road to follow. You’re good-looking but you ain’t Beyonce.  You’re talented but you ain’t Beyonce’.  To her credit she doesn’t try to be Beyonce and this track gives you […]

Whether gadgets are your tools, your toys or the bane of your existence, it’s always good to stay up on what’s out there. I found a couple gizmos I hope at least spark a little convo. Check’em out!   I couldn’t pass this up, and neither should all you aspiring, up and coming producers and beat makers.  Legendary rap group Public Enemy has teamed up with M-Audio® and Obey (the same company that recently put out PE’s clothing) to sponsor a remix contest.   How it works:  –Create an original audio track to accompany an a cappella version of Public Enemy’s “Harder Than You Think,” which appears on their current album How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul—Upload it to M-Audio’s website  It’s that simple, but I know what you’re thinking: ‘Then what?” All entries will be judged by Chuck D and Johnny Juice. Now you’re like, “Ok cool, but what do I get if I win?” Winner gets:   A complete home studio from M-Audio® The winning track will also be released on 12” vinyl by Obey Records, the b-side of which will be an exclusive unreleased Public Enemy trackYour new 12” will feature artwork from Shepard Fairey All the proceeds will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (where else can you help the kids while getting yourself a studio?)   Toyota has tossed its hat into the personal transport arena. Their Winglet is a Segway-like scooter that comes in three sizes. It’s actually being compared to inline skates in the way it operates, but it definitely has bigger wheels.There’s no word on the cost, and no word on if it’ll be sidewalk legal, but it looks like it could be fun. Check out the video: Finally, I try to always hit you guys with one of those products that makes you say, “Word, really?” and I think the Freewheeler does just that.  It’s a 22.8” x 9.8” “wheel” that houses a pair of coaxial speakers for true stereo.    The notable feature is that its wireless.  It can be placed up to 656 feet away from its included base station and run for about eight hours on a single charge.  Now I understand this is a high end product, but with a $21,000 price tag “Freewheeler” and “splurge” quickly become antonyms in my dictionary.   Audio characteristics:   52 –  21,000 Hz frequency response112 dB max SPL output   Til next time, let us know how you feel about this stuff! Poll Answers

Been a rough week guys.  First the club drama at Spotlight Live, and now the tremendous loss of Bernie Mac at the young age of 50. For those of you who are into comics we also lost Michael I. Silberkleit, the chairman of Archie Comic Publications to cancer.    Here’s a little something we hope will both take your mind off tragedy and whatever hardship you had this week, as well as hip you to something that can turn fun to pain real quick.  In the spirit of the Notorious,  without further ado, we have the 10 Club Commandments.  See you tomorrow for Sick Sundays.   Number one, you know you going out for fun/ keep a limit on your liquor and you won’t have to run.   Number two, you know before the night is through/ there will prolly be a hater trying to ice grill you.Keep your Rollie’s out the Sky, them thugs got eyes and what comes in the club yours might could end up mine.   Number three, ladies if you have to pee/ take your ass to the bathroom with somebody. Take your best friend Pam, the chick with no man/ She can be your force-field and get you out of a jam   Number four when you out on the dance floor/ keep your drink above your head and your balance for sure. Cause if your drink spills that ain’t so trill/ you can slip and bust your ass and that’s totally ill.   Number five, don’t take your ugly friend/ cause the night will be over almost ‘fore it begin, You’ll be macking and free drinks will be flowing/ and all she can talk about is “When is we going?”   Number six, bring a wing man fo’ sho’/ the club got a fine honeys mixed with ugly hoes. For you to have a dream he takes one for the team/ whether fat drunk or busted you know what I  mean?   Seven, don’t mix the booze my dog/ if its dark stick to it if, it’s light go on. If you switch up the wine for the beer or the booze /you could end up with vomit all over your shoes   Number eight, don’t make love in this club/ no matter what Usher says that ain’t what’s up. It’s 2008 check the AIDS rate/ If you taggin’ it then bag it up before it’s too late   Number nine is for the dames use a fake name/ Cause every club is packed with a room full of lames. Your name is Sensation, without hesitation, and give that fool the phone number to the police station   Number ten always stay in touch with your friend/ via text or phone call before drama begins If five came out then five should come home /make sure you got vibrate on your cellular phone   These rules are fun but they for your own good, whether it’s ladies night or it’s boys in the hood. keep it trill keep it smart and keep your friends on you, you get caught slipping don’t say I didn’t warn you it’s all fun and games but some one could get hurt an you don’t want your family putting you in the dirt.   R.I.P Ingrid Rivera, Proof, and all of those who got caught up in a good night gone horribly wrong.  One wrong move can mean the difference between going home and not goin home.

  The U.S. Basketball team went a perfect 5-0 through the exhibition schedule. While the Beijing-bound squad is the best looking team the USA has put together since the Sydney Olympics, I am not fully convinced they will come home with the Gold.   Yes, they went undefeated, and yes, they looked dominating in their first four exhibition games, but they showed their vulnerability against Australia. The Aussie squad, who were without their best player Andrew Bogut, hung tough with the U.S. At one point in the third quarter, Australia came within four points.   In my opinion, the U.S. are the most talented team. In a five game series, I’d go with them every time. But in a medal round where one game can cost you the Gold or Silver, anything can happen. If they have an off night, they could very easily fall to a Greece, Spain or Argentina. That has nothing to do with the USA’s lack of preparation or desire to win; it just has to do with the level of competition they are facing.   There is no question the U.S. Olympic basketball team is coming into Beijing with a huge chip on their shoulder. After failing to win gold in the 2004 Greece Olympics and the ’02 and ’06 FIBA World Championships, America has seen its dominance in hoops virtually disappear.   Gone are the days when the U.S. could round up any 12 NBA guys, label them the Dream Team, then alley-oop and showtime their way to an effortless Gold medal. Obviously the rest of the world has caught up, so the U.S. was forced to take this more seriously. After losing in Athens, USA Basketball started their road to redemption by assembling a group of players and coaches that would give a three-year commitment every summer in order to create a team with an identity.   Jerry Colangelo did a great job assembling a deep and versatile team. Instead of just stacking talent, he went out and filled needs. When teams go zone, the team has sharp-shooters Michael Redd and Tayshaun Prince to knock down shots. Prince brings a Pippen-esque versatility to the squad and plays incredible defense.   Jerry also made a good call adding two leaders in Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant. Both players are ultimate competitors as well as leaders for a team that has relatively young players in LeBron, Carmelo, Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Coach K has done an excellent job motivating them and getting them to buy into team basketball and play D.   The U.S. has a tough road to gold. In their first game they face the home country China with Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. Not only do they have to deal with those twin towers, but their fans as well. Before they go to the medal round, they also have to see the Pao and Calderon combo, the great team play of Greece and Dirk Nowitzki’s Germany squad. If America is going to survive, they are going to have to do these three things.  –First, they have to check the egos at the door. There is only 40 minutes in a game, and everybody wants to play. But the reality is, some players will sit, and they have to maintain the team concept and make sure not to be a distraction.–Second of all, they must not take anybody lightly. Four years ago, Puerto Rico crept up on them in an exhibition game. No matter how much better they may be on paper than their opposition, they must play hard all game. This means playing defense, diving on the floor, sharing the basketball and not letting up on leads.–Third, they must adjust styles according to who they play. Whether they face a good zone or are forced to deal with a team like China that’s got Yao clogging the middle, they must be able to adapt and adjust their games.   They focus on these things, and I think they have an excellent chance to leave China with Gold. What do you think?   Poll Answers

  The Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have been lacking in terms of peripherals for die-hard fighting game fans to emulate the arcade experience. To commemorate the release of Soul Calibur IV for both PS3 and 360, Namco Bandai and Hori, a well-known and respected Japanese video game accessory company, teamed up to bring fighting enthusiasts the Fighting Stick EX 2 – Soul Calibur IV Limited Edition.   Licensed by Namco Bandai and both Microsoft and Sony for their respective releases, the Fighting Stick EX 2 sports two separate looks for each console’s port;  the Xbox 360 model featuring a more angelic tone with Siegfried, Hilde and Ivy gracing the cover; and the PS3 rocking a darker tone with Hilde, Mitsurugi and Nightmare.   The only true difference between the two console incarnations besides artwork is the PS3 version having three turbo buttons while the 360 version does not.   With Hori being a Japanese company, the stick has a more contemporary arcade look with the rounded lollipop-styled control stick and the buttons lined in a downward arc. While this may be a turn-off to some gamers because of the more American-styled arcade cabinets, the stick still does fighting games justice.  The FS EX2 is very durable. Accuracy and response time for the stick is spot on; no delays were experienced during testing. One interesting perk with this arcade stick is the fact that it clicks with every input; while it may sound like an annoyance, this isn’t as much of a nuisance as it is a plus.   Any fighter striving for perfection when trying to pull of complicated combos or chain moves will love the fact that they can audibly track their directional movements as they go along. The sound isn’t loud enough to actually interfere with the gameplay, but it is loud enough to let the gamers know what they are doing.       The controller is wired, and this may be a downside to those of us who have been spoiled with the recent wireless innovations of the current generation systems. The stick comes with an ample amount of cord, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. At least purchasing batteries won’t be a worry.   For those fighting game fans that long for the day of the arcade, this is probably the closest you’ll get for a reasonable price. In this case you get quite a bit more bang for your buck. With the natural advantage of utilizing multiple inputs and a price tag of $60, no fighting game fan should pass this up. This stick is exactly like what you would find in an arcade.   The only two possible cons noted with this release from Hori is the fact that it’s a wired controller and you can’t use it for much else past fighting games. It’s a stick made specifically for Soul Calibur IV and other fighting game releases, so this really shouldn’t be much of an issue.   With so many new fighting games on the way in upcoming months  – Tekken 5, Street Fighter IV, King of Fighters XII, and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, just to name a few – this stick is a must have, especially if you enjoy high-end products at a low-end price.Here is a user “unboxing” video we found – check it out for yourself:

  On June 2008 at the FedEx Forum Arena in Memphis Tennessee, two warriors faced off to become WBC Welterweight Champion of the World. Miguel Rodriguez was forced to sing the Memphis City Blues while Andre Berto orchestrated an ending to the bout in the seventh round by technical knockout.   Andre Berto is the newly crowned WBC Welterweight Champion of the world and today’s most sought out fighter to watch as he shines his flawless record: 22 wins, 19 KOs, 0 losses. Andre has been setting his claim to his position in boxing history by punishing his opponents with the tools of fast feet, a good chin, a whip snapping right, vicious left hook and a deadly uppercut becoming a dominating force within the ring.   Throughout his amateur career he won a bronze medal in the 2003 World Amateur Championships. He is a two-time National Golden Gloves champion, two-time National PAL Champion, three-time U.S. amateur championship medalist, and won 22 state titles in Florida. Due to his parents’ Haitian decent, Andre was able to represent Team Haiti in the 2004 Olympics after being disqualified and given a flagrant foul in the U.S. Olympic Trials for throwing Juan McPherson to the canvas.   Andre Berto has fought his way through the ranks of fighters. His first 13 of 15 bouts were knockouts. He was deemed ESPN.com’s “Prospect of the Year,” he has fought Norberto Bravo of The Contender, David Estrada NABF Welterweight Title and defended his title this year against Michael Trabant.   AllHipHop.com: Congratulations on winning the WBC Welterweight Championship. How does it feel to be the Champ?   Andre Berto: Thanks! I appreciate it man. It feels good to be the Champion! It was a lot of hard work. I’m just reaping the harvest right now. I planted the seeds…and I had a good harvest, I can’t complain.   AllHipHop.com: Your father and brother are fighters. You come from a fight family. How has that shaped you as man?   Andre Berto: It matured me. At early age I was blessed with a vision early in life. I’ve always just wanted to prove myself as a young kid so I set goals early on in life. I wanted to prove to my father, my family and myself that I’m one of the best to come out of Florida. I stayed focused and I wanted to be the perfect example of hard-work in the end. Be perfect!   AllHipHop.com: In your last fight you punched with an accuracy rating over 50%. Your athletic ability is superb! What is a day training Andre Breto like?   Andre Berto: I workout like a beast! I take training and staying healthy to the extreme. I put myself through hell with explosive exercises, roadwork. I had got some 30 once (two pounds) gloves specially made for me. I throw thousands of punches with them. Spare rounds with the 30 ounces (two pounds) while other fighters are using 16 ounces. I do this until the workouts become regular and everything becomes easier for the fight but I stayed and remain healthy.   AllHipHop.com: There is a legacy of a series of Florida fighters  professionally in the ring. Have you worked with any of them? If so please explain?   Andre Berto: Oh yeah, Winky Wright and Jeff Lacey, they both basically took me under their wing when I was in the amateurs. I was a young boy about 14 or 15 years old. Those were the superstars to me. They would bring me into there training camps so I can see how they got down. They saw the potential in me, but I saw Winky, Jeff Lacey and Roy Jones they’re the big guys in Florida when I was coming up.    AllHipHop.com: Tell me about your team. What was the partnership with Damon Dash like?   Andre Berto: Damon reached out to me when I was coming out of the 2004 Olympics and I wanted to do something that has never been done. I wanted to do something different so I basically built the first Hip-Hop and Boxing promotions team in history made of Lou Diabella and Damon Dash as co-promoters. They created Dash/Diabella promotions. I had one of boxings top promoters and one of the Hip-Hop promoting superstars involved with my fights    AllHipHop.com: Who are your mentors in life?   Andre Berto: I live by example. Growing up I’ve seen fighters that are superstars and they’re given everything handed to them basically but they end up f###### it up doing other things. So I try to surround myself around certain people. I’m big on the business end of it. When it comes to mentors my father has been my inspiration on who I am and what I do. My manager Al Heyman has really, really mentored me. Al Heyman has conquered the music promotion game and has conquered the boxing game.   Guys like Puffy, Russell Simmons and Damon Dash. These guys are really hands on with everything that they do. They understand the business. That’s basically what I’m trying to do. I am a fighter but at the end of the day I want to understand the business in and out so that I don’t end up broke like other talented fighters once their careers are over. Guys like this is who I look up too. They push everything to the side. They work hard and love everything that they’re doing.   AllHipHop.com: Do you have any final thought for youngsters?   Andre Berto: There’s a whole world out there past those streets, past your city, past your state if you really want to get it. I’ll let you know all about it. I’m from a small city and I stayed focused and grinded it out and I was able to do big things. I was able to accomplish things that I never thought I would be able to do. Just be that example. Be that example that all your homeboys […]

    Welcome to Hood Prep! This is the story of two brothers Troy and Alfonzo Bolden from New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up on a plantation, the only dreams that seemed attainable to them was in the welding industry – that’s’ all they saw and they were the jobs making the best money. Eventually, their uncle got them out and influenced them to start dreaming, he told them to “dream big and dream beyond this place.”   Now as the CEO’s and owners of Hood Prep clothing, they’re stepping into the fashion world, with the hopes of creating themselves a permanent spot. First the Bolden brothers made sure they took care of the business side of Hood Prep, a name which people laughed at in the beginning. The nay-sayers defined their terminology of “hood” as in “the ghetto,” but Hood Prep is about where you’re from – every hood, everywhere.   We got the chance to speak with, Troy Bolden and we had a frank discussion about their journey from the destruction from Hurricane Katrina, the clothing and the future of this new Hood Prep movement – which includes some play at the US Olympic games!   AllHipHop.com: Can you start off by telling us how Hood Prep clothing came about?   Troy Bolden: Well Hood Prep was pretty much a style that was worn in New Orleans, we always crossed styles. My brother Alfonzo, we call him the Black Einstein, called me one night and said, “I got something and he said “Hood Prep.” Then he broke the terminology down to me and I pretty much took it from there. I’m kind of like the guy in the back that makes everything move.   AllHipHop.com: Now every clothing line has a slogan or motto that defines them, what is Hood Prep’s?   Troy Bolden: Our slogan is “Don’t let the gear fool you.”  I remember one night watching something on TV where Andre 3000 was talking about MC Hammer and the clothes that he used to wear. He said, “Don’t let it fool you how Hammer dresses because Hammer will put it on you.” So that’s how we came up with the slogan for Hood Prep. You know, when we were coming up we made the clothing, as apposed to today it looks like the youngin’s are letting the clothing make them. I walk the clothes – the clothes don’t walk me!   AllHipHop.com: So would you say that Hood Prep a fusion of different styles?   Troy Bolden: Yes, it’s the Hood Prep fusion, that’s what we call it and we catch everything in between. We were not trying to create a line just to make money; we are trying to build a brand. Basically with Hood Prep, it’s what we call the Hood Prep spectrum and we have a lot of things that are in development right now, we’re not just t-shirts. We’re oxfords and polos, but we test market for years before we bring it to the forefront.   With Hood Prep we can go as far hood as we want, and as far prep as we want. We’re about individual style that you can put together, it’s a collaboration of different style and blending it to match your individual style.   AllHipHop.com: Being that this is your first project, what would you say surprises you about the fashion industry? Is it as shady as the music industry?   Troy Bolden: Oh yes, just like the music industry [laughs], and we’re preparing Hood Prep like the music industry. When we came out we looked at it like this – we’re a hot artist with a single, so we better have something to back it up. That first hit, believe me if its not hittin’ people are going to say get them out of here. When we stepped on the scene we had to show our creativity, that we’re different than the market and find us a niche.   AllHipHop.com: Can you talk about some of the different t-shirts you have? How about the Dream collection, I love that one!   Troy Bolden: With the Dream collection we wanted to come out with something that would show our creativity but yet be fashionable and give the consumer something for their money. Everyone has a dream, so with the dreamer t-shirt, you see the little boy is torn between adversity and aspirations. The child is crying because he’s stuck between the two – a lot of our Black children get stuck in that situation.   Look at the father with his hands over his face, he’s frustrated and at the same time there are images of South Florida where everyone wants to be. So for the dreamer shirt we said the dreamer must be educated, motivated, supported and taught the value of positive self worth. We say Hood Prep is the clothing line that inspires a dreamer to make their dreams into a reality.   AllHipHop.com: Now the Big Easy t-shirt is deep in itself with images relating to Hurricane Katrina. Can you talk about the effects that Katrina had on you, as well as the creation of this shirt?   Troy Bolden: After Katrina we had to relocate and start all over again. It was kind of a blessing in itself because it put my brother and I in the same spot. We started working together; we revitalized Hood Prep and had more focus.   If you look at the Big Easy t-shirt we took the image of the people when they were in front of the Super Dome and the sign “We need water and food”. We took the funeral man, we put tragedy at the bottom and at the top is the Mardi Gras Indian, which is the cornerstone of the Black community in New Orleans. That is a powerful symbol and that’s why we highlighted the Indian. All of the images in the shirt are all coming towards the people.  AllHipHop.com: As of right […]

Occasionally a boxing contest won’t be determined by the skill level or heart of the combatants, but by durability. Simply, who can take the punches better? That was the scenario this past Saturday August 2, as Joshua Clottey (35-2, 20 Kos) secured a technical decision over Zab Judah (36-6, 25 Kos) to pick up the vacant IBF welterweight title. As usual, the talented but underachieving Judah started fast. Zab broke open a slow first round with a sweeping left uppercut that briefly stunned Clottey. Landing the only clean punch of the round allowed Zab to secure an early lead. Clottey immediately came back in the second by strafing Judah with short, quick straight right hands. The Brooklyn native could not find an answer for this punch going into the third and fourth rounds, as Clottey round a rhythm and began varying his attacks to the body with digging left hooks. By the start of round five, Judah’s bloody face reflected the effects of Clotey’s 9 minute blitz. Showing the toughness that made his bout with Miguel Cotto entertaining, Judah came back in the fifth with an eye-catching flurry but was unable to seriously penetrate Clottey’s tight defense. Round six looked like it may have been the end as Clottey continued to walk down the fading Judah with thudding straight rights. However, the former champion hit an intentional low blow that halted the action and gave Judah the time he needed to recover. After a slight second wind, Judah finished the round with a strong flurry that finally broke through a rattled Clottey’s guard. Still, the tough Ghana native stilted Judah’s momentum by coming back strong in the seventh by again establishing the straight right hand. Judah retaliated with a cracking left uppercut to let Clottey know he still had some fight left in him. However, Judah’s familiar late sluggish punch output was ample evidence he was being broke down from Clottey’s consistent pressure. Round eight saw Clottey dominate until Zab exploded on his challenger with hooks, pushing Joshua back against the ropes. With the Ghana native not firing back, Judah took the opportunity to unload all his power and speed in a desperate attempt to break through Clottey’s tight defensive shell as the round concluded. Judah looked close to being able to erase the image of a fighter who couldn’t close out the championship rounds, but Clottey remained cool and went back to punishing Judah with more straight right hands in the ninth. Just a minute into the round, Judah was already a bloody mess. A slashing left uppercut sliced open Judahs’s right eye, and referee Robert Byrd stopped the contest to allow the ringside doctor to examine the damage. While the doctor would later state he felt Zab could continue, Judah stated clearly he could no longer see out of his right eye, and also responded by saying “three” when the doctor was only holding up t##########. Despite the damage being caused by a punch, the referee ruled the cut as being caused by an accidental headbutt. Going to the scorecards, Clottey secured a close unanimous decision of 87-84 and 86-85 (twice).If Judah had won the ninth, the fight would have been a majority draw. In the post-fight interview, Clottey of course pushed for a rematch with new welterweight king Antonio Margarito, and even mentioned taking on WBC champ Andre Berto or rematching Judah. Unfortunately, Clottey may have torn his left bicep, which would put him on the shelf for at least six months and likely eliminate his chances against Margarito, who plans to fight again in November. While Judah was game, as many predicted Clottey as a natural welterweight proved too strong and imposed his will on the smaller Judah. Once again Zab fans are disappointed by a spirited yet losing effort from their man. But as many times as Judah has fallen short, his fan friendly style and willingness to face anyone ensures he will be back. In just the last two years, the Brooklynite has faced Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, canceled a fight with Shane Mosley, and now Joshua Clottey.   Now if he can just start winning some of these fights…   Margarito Ducking Williams?   In boxing, you rarely get to savor a hard fought victory. Even after a career defining win, there’ll immediately be whispers from fans and media alike claiming there’s a guy out there that has your number. For new welterweight champ Antonio Margarito on the heels of his decisive victory over Miguel Cotto, the rumblings have been about current WBO champ Paul Williams. For most of 2007, Williams dogged and goaded Margarito to fight him, much the same way Margarito’s camp went after then champion Floyd Mayweather. Due to pride and not wanting to look hypocritical, Margarito canceled a proposed Cotto showdown last year to face Williams.   Williams badly outclassed Margarito in the early rounds, only to see the Tijuana Tornado come back strong to hurt Williams several times in the middle rounds. However, Williams showed his heart by clearly taking the twelfth to capture a close unanimous decision win. Margarito’s camp turned down an immediate rematch, and here we are today with both men back atop the welterweight rankings.   There’s bad blood between the promotional camps for both fighters and Bob Arum nor Antonio Margarito have spoken Williams’ name since the Cotto victory. Ironically, the Williams fight was Margarito’s highest payday at 1.6 million, slightly edging out his purse against Cotto (1.5 million). There are rumors circulating that the Williams camp is offering Margarito a career high 4 million for a rematch.   No doubt Margarito is not scared of Williams, but will Arum risk his new champ against a man that’s beat him before? Especially when Margarito has easier, name building matchups on the table?   As amazing as it sounds, Arum has expressed interest in having recently defeated Zab Judah face Margarito in November. Since Clottey has been injured, Judah might receive the call. Shane […]

  Ford Motor Company is not an organization that immediately springs to mind when you envision cutting edge or innovative products. But with their new “crossover” the Ford Flex, the multinational corporation seeks to gain ground it has lost in the past year to competitors General Motors and Toyota.   First introduced at the North American International Auto Show in 2005, the Flex made its debut in June. So far, the response has been mixed. While some people love the design, others are turned off by the compact frame despite the ample space.            According to Flex Marketing and Communications Manager Usha Raghavachari, that’s exactly what her company hoped for.   “When you look at the Flex it has an unexpected design, definitely coming from Ford,” Raghavachari explained to AllHipHop.com. “We wanted our marketing to be just as unexpected as the vehicle. The advertising really celebrates the vehicle itself. We did originally have a target audience, but we went to California and saw young college guys saying ‘wow that’s really cool,’ and then got the same response from soccer moms in Chicago. So we focused on not having people in the advertising to prevent any preconceived notions.”   With a national launch scheduled for September, Raghavachari is not worried that there have been some negative feedback from the market research done so far.   “When they (consumers) experience it in the flesh they have an amazing, emotional reaction,” she reasons. “People either loved it or hated it and that’s great, our designers loved that. It means you’re not vanilla. If everyone goes ‘eh, that’s nice,’ it’s like a death knell and you don’t want that.”   With a height of just over 5’8”, the Flex exterior carries distinctive “grooves” on its side panels which serve as a signature identifier for the vehicle. Each side is equipped with four parallel grooves to give an elongated but horizontal image.   The fortified shoulders and salient wheel arches help maintain the car’s compact look over the standard 18-inch tires. Also available are 19 and 20-inch chrome-effect, painted aluminum wheels.   The contemporary, seven seat interior features an adjustable footrest for second seat passengers to enjoy a business-class comfort rarely seen in todayss SUVs and crossovers. The second and third row seats also fall flat to create storage space as needed.  The interior program has “mood lighting” available in seven colors. Other entertainment amenities include SIRIUS Satellite Radio, CD/DVD, hard drive storage (music/pictures). But even more important is the “quiet ride” the vehicle supplies. On a test drive, one will find the car remarkably quiet due to a technology called Multi Activation Regression Simulation (MARS), which balances the different sounds coming into the Flex from the powertrain, wind, and road.   Chief engineer Gary Boes worked on Flex from its inception three years ago until completion, and feels strongly that Ford has presented a great product for consumers.   “We used something called the Global Product Development System, it’s the first time we’ve used it,” Boes explains. “It really helped us with the discipline of delivering the car. We’ve really taken the idea that we wanted an emotive exterior design, which we didn’t have before. We wanted to have all the features but still be comfortable and quiet to ride. Those simple pillars are kinda new to us. Flex demonstrates all those capabilities.”   Popular DJ Funkmaster Flex endorses the vehicle and even brought out a sleek, red, customized version of the car for media. Asked why he’s endorsing a product that may be seen as a gamble, Funk Flex explains it was the complete package and presentation of the vehicle.   “I guarantee you won’t go more than four blocks without someone asking you about it,” Flex assured. “Of course safety is important, features etc and the Flex has all that. But first can you look cool in it? With the Flex you definitely can. It’s a very smooth ride.”   The Manufacturer’s Starting Retail Price (MSRP) is $28, 295. For more information, visit www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/flex