The Grio

If you have always wondered where one can go for just intelligent black news, when it comes to social, political, economic, sports, entertainment, or learning about black culture that does not get covered by CNN, MSNBC, or even your local news, check out thegrio.com. Very informative story on the Vice President of Resources for BP Darryl Willis. You know this guy, the BP Claims Manager who you see in the commercials. thegrio interviewed him, check it out link down below.
http://www.thegrio.com/politics/meet-the-new-face-of-bps-damage-control-campaign.php

Air Jordan Retro IX GS White, Turquoise, Le-Mon "Kick of the Night"

With all the hype over the Air Jordan Retro IX "Citrus" that drop at midnight. Jumpman and Co. dropped a hot summer shoe for all the kiddies out there. Color scheme makes a nice compliment to the "Citrus".
Props to Extra Butter.

Vid and Artist of the Night!!!! Its the Cons fool and Styles P "Dont Stand So Close"

Very dope concept from Consequence with Styles P. The two New York natives grace freshgresh's vid and artists of the night. Directed by NYU Tisch School of the Arts Grad Derek Pike. Holla at Me

Kanye West "Power" Official Artwork

Haha, so simply d0P3. Goes well with his "Horus" Chain and the Pyramid Ring he sported at the BET Awards. Here is Mr. West description:

"Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshiped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times.Horus served many functions in the Egyptian pantheon, most notably being the god of the Sky, god of War and god of Protection". 
Pics down below of chain and ring along with his performance. PEACE

performance at BET Awards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlVirGNBy4Q
props to complex

Just Another Tuesday of Making Complex's Twit-Kick

Target: Complex.com
Weapon: Air Jordan Retro II "Silver Anniversary"
Result: I'm ON! haha, link down below
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/06/29/todays-twit-kick-round-up-june-29-2010/

Quote of the Night! Blago selling seats...Movie Theaters(haha my punchline)

Quote of the Night from Rod Blagojevich


"I’ve got this thing and it’s (curse word) golden,“I’m not just giving it up for (curse word) nothing.”

Jurors finally got to hear the recorded conversation between Rod Blagojevich and former Deputy Governor Doug Scofield. Scofield testified and said "The thing he’s referring to is his ability to appoint a senator, 
And that it’s valuable to him and he’s not giving that thing of value up for nothing or in exchange for nothing.”

props to the Chicago Tribune

"Death Row 10"

This is what Aaron Patterson wrote on the wall in 1986 while being interrogated by Chicago Police. He is one man in the "Death Row 10". Patterson was facing execution for 1986 homicide of Rafaela and Vincent Sanchez, buy his conviction was framed off of a unsigned confession obtained through torture from Police in Chicago's Area 2 Violent Crimes Unit. He is just one of ten, who were victims of Jon Burge's and his "Midnight Crew". Each of the "Death Row 10" were sent to death row after confessions were obtained by Police playing Russian Roulette with suspects, burning them with cigarettes, electrical shocks, suffocation, burned on radiators, hit with telephone books, sticks, and electric cattle prods. In the wake of Jon Burge's conviction freshgresh.com will spend 10 days covering and explaining the stories of the "Death Row 10".

Former Illinois Governor George Ryan "They were found innocent. Innocent of the charges for which they were sentenced to die. Can you imagine? We nearly killed innocent people". 

Jon Burge Leader of the "Midnight Crew"

For all those who do not know that guy up top name is Jon Burge, here is more recent photo, he is a former Chicago Police Commander, and leader of the "Midnight Crew" which I'll explain in minute. Well, that guy up top was convicted on Monday by a federal jury of three counts of obstruction of justice and lying about torturing suspects.

He is facing up to 45 years in prison, but nobody really thinks he will serve that long of a time. Since 1972 Burge has tortured more than 200 suspects, sent innocent men to jail, made the Chicago Police Department and Cook County State Attorneys office a disgrace, Burge's Methods lead to George Ryan Clearing out Death Row in 2003.

Listen to this, Burge was acquitted of torture in 1989, suspended in 1991, then fired in 1993 after he was found of using torture to get confessions out of suspects. It's just so much to Burge and his torture ranging from Andrew Wilson who was arrested in Feb. 1982 and by night time ended up in the hospital due to chest bruises, forehead lacerations, and thigh burns, to 13 year old Marcus Wiggins electrical shocking. Burge has put innocent man on death row, and just about all of the victims of his barbaric methods were black. One compared Burge's actions to "A Southern Sheriff leading a posse that turned to a lynch mob", Jesse Jackson stated that the black community was under Martial Law. Victims state that the former Police Commander would smother them with plastic bags, shock them in the balls, or play Russian Roulette with a .44 aimed at their head.

Mark Clements who was tortured in 1981 which led to a false confession when he was 16, spent 27 years in prison for arson and murder, stated "I sat in a prison cell, and I prayed for this day".

Larry King steps away after 25 Years

Larry King who has spent 25 years interviewing all sorts of stars at CNN, but he is not done with CNN stating  on his Twitter:

"Announcing tonight:I'm ending my nightly show this fall but continuing this fall". He said in a statement that "I’ll still be a part of the CNN family, hosting several Larry King specials on major national and international subjects".

Hear this, Mr. Larry King is in the Guinness World Record Book  for the longest running show, on the same network with the same time slot. Larry is 76 years old and has lead around 50,000 interviews. He is also coming off his 25th Anniversary Week were he interviewed Lebron, Lady Gaga, the Prez Barack Obama, and Bill Gates.

Talks of Ryan Seacrest? as replacement. 

Check out CNN's Top 25 "Larry King Live Moments" http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/sweeps/interactive/index.html?hpt=T1

Juvey feat B.o.B "Hangover"

I'm late, but dude is super versatile, track with Hayley Williams one day, next bumpin with Juvenile. link down below. props to 2dopeboyz.com
http://usershare.net/2DopeBoyz/d9o2l5tyjzew
link for his performance with Keyshia Cole and Eminem down below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpH4iFd-lcs&feature=related

"Don't Forget Em"

HAHA, Good Music Family! Good, Good, September 14th.

Kick of the Day! Day! Day! Day!

First fresh look for these pretty little thangs. Metallic Platinum "not silver" but Platinum and Black, Nike Air Griffey Max 1 Quickstrike. I must say this colorway is got to be the d0P3st out of the line. Trying to order visit www.sneakerpolitics.com/, because this might be the last new colorway of the 1's with the focus being on Griffey Max II's.

BET AWARDS #1 AWARDS SHOW ON TV!!!

The BET Awards Shows generated 7.4 million views this past Sunday, which makes it the number one awards shows on cable tv! I knew WE was doin' it big, but DANG! This years' award show also stands as BET's #2 most watched telecast behind BET Awards '09...

It just goes to show that people will tune in to watch the Awards without Beyonce, Jay-Z or Rhianna!

The Awards dominated Twitter residing as all 10 trending topics of the night, which happened last year as well!

GON' HEAD BET!!

Artist of The Day

Chris Brow's career is on the road to redemption! Most of us had lost faith in his career but he proved us wrong. His amazing performance at the BET Awards has been the topic of conversation. The dancing was remarkable and the tears added to the intensity of his performance.

We're making Chris Brown thr Artist of The Day because he acknowledged his actions and OWNED IT! As I said when we chose Eminem as Artist of The Day, that isn't easy to do, especially in front of millions of people.

PLUS he is just an amazing artist. From singing, dancing to rapping, Chris does it all. His mixtape with Young Money astist, Tyga has the streets buzzin. People are loving it!

Some say the tearful ending in Chris Brown's performance was staged, some say it was a result of events in his life, and others say it was because he's mourning over MJ's death, but either way I LOVED IT!

Everyone deserves second chances and I think Chris has earned it....

Artist of The Day

Who else could it be? Alicia Keys is definitely doing her thing! Her cd The Element of Freedom is doing great! She won 2 BET Awards last nite and her performances were flawless (as usual). And HER BABY BUMB IS SOOO CUTE!!!

We are proud to select Alicia Keys as our Artist of The Day because she has an "Empire State of Mind", which she defines as "unstoppable" and her career will not stop! Although she has to take a break to be a mommy, I know her carrer will not perish!

GOOD LUCK ALICIA!!!

Abused Punchlines: "I fill her up...ballons"/"it's going down... basement"

Interesting interview with all hip hop, where Drake was asked about overuse of punchline flow.
Here is the question:

AHH:"How much do Young Money artists bounce off each other? I noticed you have similar inflections and cadences or rhyme patterns. I noticed this one thing that Nicki said, “It’s going down. Basement.”

 DRAKE: Well, that flow has been killed by so many rappers. And, I never want to use that flow again in life. [Laughs] I wanted to take if off my album, because I was like, “I shut ‘em down. Onyx.” I hate the fact that that rhyme is still in there. To be honest, that flow, you can trace it back to like…I trace it back to Big Sean (artist on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music). That’s the first guy I heard utilize that flow throughout the duration of a verse. I’ll give him that credit. I think Kanye got it from him. Me and Wayne found a dope way to do it. I don’t want to sound cocky, but the best way its been used was on “Forever.” Those lines just all individually make so much sense. They’re all punchlines. Then a bunch of rappers started doing it and using the most terrible references in the world. I don’t want to offend somebody…I hate that rappers picked that flow up. I wish they had left that for people that know how to use it. [They go like] “It’s a parade! MACY’S!”

Kanye didn't get it from Big Sean; Remember Good Morning "You got D'S mufucka D'S, Rosie Perez"
Good Life "Haters give me them salty looks...lawry's  and "Yall pop the trunk, I pop the hood...Ferrari

Big Sean is prolly the best I've heard, on "Supa Dupa" where the whole song except for the hook were punchlines that were pretty d0P3.

Read these comments from 2dopeboyz.com on this issue, listen to the fan made ones.
"i spit flames....fireplace", i beat it down……..Chris Brown, Wont Catch Me Slippin & Rob Me.. Yung Berg, I’ll throw a rock at a fella…Hov, I got the whole shit covered....Derelle Revis, ill turn u blue…..AVATAR. My Pockets On Swole.. Rasputia, DAMN! I LOST MY SOURCE….Benzino

Best from a rapper: "I got her ni**a....grocery bag" (get the fu*k out of here) 

Do you remember ALL of the BET Awards hosts??

As I was watching the Bet Awards (which was AMAZING), I kept thinking: Who was the first host? Who was the second? And I just couldn't remeber. I created a list of all 10 hosts dating back to 2001. So test your knowledge of the BET Awards host history by checking out the list below.

2001 - 02 Steve Harvey and Cedric The Entertainer:

2003-04, 2007 Mo'Nique

2005 Will Smith and Jada Pinkett

2006 Damon Wayans

2008 DL Hughley

2009 Jamie Foxx

2010 Queen Latifa

U.C.B. feat. Wale "Diana"

With all the Drake "Thank Me Later" and J. Cole "Who Dat" love, please do not forget about Wale, he still here. He features on a track with U.C.B labeled "Diana".  link down below.
http://www.karencivil.com/2010/06/28/u-c-b-ft-wale-diana/

Kanye West "Power" BET Awards Live

Mr. West Opens up the 2010 BET Awards and does not disappoint.
Yeezy Live Performance Checklist:
Lights-YUP
Effects-YES SIR (the snow effect killed it)
Quality-SO-SO BET's FU*K UP (He is still one of my generations best performers, remissness on Glow in the Dark)
Sound- COOL 
Yeezy Being Yeezy NO DOUBT (lone ranger on top of a volcano who never came down)

Good Music and September 14th

If this happens best buy will make around $43 off of me with tax.
If this happens I make the bold prediction that Big Sean and Kid Cudi will outsell Kanye West. (Yea Right)
That comment up above was a joke.

Eminem Despicable "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley and Over"

Goodness Gracious just listen, just listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRCnPHA8UA

Eminem and Jay-Z "Renegade" Live on David Letterman

Nuff Said.
Tour Dates for the Detroit/New York Shows are:
September 2nd and 3rd Comerica Park in Detroit
September 13th and 14th Yankee Stadium in New York

Eminem "Won't Back Down" on Jimmy Fallon

Em shows some love to the Jimmy Fallon Show performing his track featuring Pink "Won't Back Down".

Didn't know how to feel about the track when I first heard it but I likeesssss.

Catch World Cup Fever

If you are not enjoying the World Cup or sulking in the US lost, this should help. Check the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDrPIdNOJ-E

WE ARE THE AQUA TEAM!

LOVE THIS SHOW, HAD TO POST THE VISUAL OF THE VOICES BEHIND THE CHARACTERS. I knew Frylock was black.

Quote of the Night!

A little knowledge before bed-time or whatever it is peeps do at this time.

J. Cole Quote of the Night "Who Dat" -

"The man make the chain chain dont make the man
how many ni**as do we know with hella ice but yet they lame".

CONTINUOUS ACTION!

Now in the wake of J. Cole's "Who Dat" visual artwork, Complex.com told the unique style of shooting music videos in One-Take. Wikipedia has a long list of videos that were shot in one take and vid's peeps believed were in one take, like the Ok Go getting some exercise vid. Well, we all know that I love anything thing to do with shooting and editing, and one take shooting seems simple, one camera, one shot, no editing. But, if you suck with cameras and you shoot off the shoulder without a steady hand, you will be saying. Check out what Complex put together, link down below. PEACE
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/06/24/one-shot-dea-a-history-of-one-take-rap-videos/
Also, some University of Quebec students did there on thing with a one-take vid. link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVyvATafORM&feature=related

Artist of The Day

"WHO YOU CALLIN A B****" Respect The Queen! Queen Latifa has always managed to keep it real and classy. She paved the way for female hip-hop artists with her hit U.N.I.T.Y along with many other top hits. "You put yo hands on me, I'll put yo a** in handcuffs". Female emcees can learn a lot from her lyrical style and strong presence.

Rappers tend to rap about fantasies, things that don't happen and won't happen. But the Queen always kept it real.

We chose the Queen as Artist of The Day because of just that: She is a queen! Queen Latifa, born Dana Owens, has had a career that to most people is unimaginable. She's a rapper, actor, model and phnomenal women. She's starred in top movies such as, Set It Off, Chicago and her most recent film, Just Wright.

Now she will be hosting the 2010 BET Awards! And I know she will be looking great! You can't hate on that.

Kick of The Day!

Nike Air Max Penny 1- Black and Varsity Purple, Check out these shoes and more at sneakernews.com. These kicks are CERTIFIED D0P3!

Artist of The Day!

Eminem's latest album Recovery has been the hot topic of conversation lately. Before his album released he was projected to sell 600k in the first week!

Album sales like that are hard to come by now-a-days (with an exception of a few artists). Is past albums he talks about his drama with his mother, baby mother and every other person in Hollywood, and just when you think you have heard it all from him he opens up about sobriety and what it means to him.

This is why we chose Eminem as Artist of The Day. Not many people can confront a drug addiction and own it!

On an interview on Showbiz Tonight he reveals that he was a couple hours away from DEATH because of his addiction to drugs! I respect that he has overcame his battle with drugs and can live to teach others. Everybody has a journey but not everyone will see the finish line and Eminem has reached the finish line!

Kick of the Day! Day! Day! Day!

The Air Jordan IX "Citrus" grace today's "Kick of the Day". These beauties drop July 3rd. These boys is straight-eight d0P3.

TI$A VI$ION

Kanye West's entourage member Mr. Taz Arnold has a clothing line called TI$A. He has Chris Brown and Big Sean sporting his stuff in "G Sh*t" and "High Rise".The stuff is d0P3, very vintage old sports hats, with the fresh jackets.

Stuff is hot, but those prices are nuts. $70.00 for a hat, or $400.00 for a Bulls jacket is something I can't do. You can prolly get two hats at lids for that, but you won't find that vintage style at lids. But I like the line, just not the prices.

Very interesting article on Taz Arnold and who he is, this dude use to shop lift, wouldn't see this guy as a young shoplifter. Anyway check out the article, his clothing website is down below, along with him spiitin? Which was yuck.
clothing line website: http://shop.tisavision.tv/
him spittin: http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2010/05/taz-arnold-feat-major-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9Csouthside-blood-cuz%E2%80%99n%E2%80%9D-video

Vuvuzela Everybody!

If you have been watching the World Cup, I'm sure you have been asking yourself what the hell is that buzzing noise. It is called the Vuvuzela - a long plastic, blowing horn, makes a loud buzzing noise when you blow in it. Some hate the noise, I don't mind it because its apart of the South African Culture when it comes to futbol. But I'm sure when you are in the stands, you prolly do not want to hear that for 90+ minutes.

It has even surfaced in America, at a Florida Marlins Baseball game, where the Marlins promotions peeps were the ones who past out 15,000 of these things.

Interesting article about the Vuvuzela, link down below
http://mashable.com/2010/06/18/vuvuzela-infographic/

Germany, Ghana in the Knockstage

Germany beats Ghana 1-0, the Aussies beat Serbia 2-1.

Group D finishes like this:
Germans 6 Pts
Ghana 4 Pts
Serbia 4 Pts
Aussies 3 Pts

But Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 when they went head to head. So, the Yanks get Ghana on Saturday, Germans and England square up Sunday. At least one African country made it to the Round of 16.

CP3 is Open to being Traded.

In a report on ESPN.com Winston Salem Native CP3 or Chris Paul, whatever floats your boat, is open to being traded. Stating

"If we're not committed to winning and trying to get better so we can contend with the Lakers, the Celtics and all these other top teams, then I'm open to being traded.''

Remember back in 2007, when Kobe wanted to leave LA, the Bulls were the talks of getting him, and then nothing happened but LA reaching the finals in that upcoming season. Get my drift, Hornets in 2011 Finals.

Article about CP3 down below.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5317801