Slumdog Millionaire

The tagline is lame: an Indian boy from the slums appears on ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ but it’s more like an Indian version of City of God with a love story that spans a decade. Yes, shit gets gritty and grimey. And the theme takes its cue from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. That’s all I’ll say cuz it’s mos def something to experience with a large group of folks. Normally i’d be hesitant to co-sign what seems like a product of culture vultures; those in positions of power (typically white) profiting from other people’s cultures. But I got a soft spot for decent love stories plus the film is very well made. One of the best movies of the year, easily.

Here’s the trailer: don’t watch it if u don’t wanna be spoiled

Anthony Hamilton “Cool” feat. David Banner

one of the most consistent artist, period. the song and video is on-point. David Banner is a foo for this line though

“We can call our white friends up and drink a Miller Genuine Draft
Then kick ‘em all out of the house, take us a bath”

haha

Scarface on McCain

rise

“So I will continue to write: about two lovers embracing in the moonlight, near an abandoned mine where they have found the bodies of fifteen peasants, murdered by the military. Or about raped women and tortured men and families who sell themselves as slaves because they are starving. And also- why not?- about golden sunsets and loving mothers and poets who die of love. I want to tell stories and say, for example, that I CARE MORE FOR THE FREE MAN THAN THE FREE ENTERPRISE, MORE FOR SOLIDARITY THAN CHARITY. I want to say that its more important for me to SHARE than to COMPETE. And I want to write about the necessary changes…that will enable us to rise from our knees after five centuries of humiliations.” -Writing As an Act of Hope, Isabel Allende

like sunlight on wax

for the free download

this track feat. Muhsinah is damn near perfect!  The Foreign Exchange consists of rapper/singer Phonte of Little Brother and one the most underrated producers today, Nicolay.  I loved their first album, connected, and their new one sounds even better.  One of my fav tracks from them “Be Alright (Nicolay’s Easybreezy Sunday Afternoon Remix)”

Raphael Saadiq – Love That Girl

i’m lovin this song!  i have a thing for oldies, motown sound, and doo wop.  old soul, i guess   Raphael Saadiq is the truth.  plus “pillow” and “anniversary” was my jams back then.

As longtime R&B historian and expert David Nathan of Soul Music.com says, “Raphael Saadiq’s latest album is the closest I’ve heard to a genuine, feel good R&B record since the ‘70s! Unlike others who copy or attempt to recreate the sound of soul from those days, Raphael Saadiq delivers the real thing.”

heh, you know who they are.  can’t wait!  i hope he comes back to LA soon.

RARE: Jackson Five in Africa Documentary 1974

apparently it hasn’t been released until now. peep it before it’s taken down!

love,
michael jackson stan for life

part 1/part 2/ part 3/part 4/ part 5/ part 6

Open your eyes

and the original

swagger vs honor

one of my fav. poets.  this poem is on-point, except for a homophobic line

Amir Sulaiman breaks it down,

It amazes me how much people talk about swagger. Its as if they confuse swagger and honor. Swagger and honor are not the same thing. Swagger is something to be seen. It is pretense- it is a show. Honor is something that is rooted and its real. Swagger is often rooted in fantasy. Now honor, can lead to swagger. But swagger cannot lead to honor.

co-sign mos def.

The Prayer

jam of the week: Kid Cudi – The Prayer

feelin it except for one line “unless you stab me…”