Digitally Detached: "Oh, let me Tweet that"

Cell phones, computers and all kinds of networking sites are taking over the world; Pinky & the Brain style. In a world where communication is key, technology has changed the way we conver se. The traditional phone call and message has forever been replaced by text, instant messaging, Tweeting, Facebooking, videomessages, g-chat, Blackberry Messaging, etc. etc. It is actually becoming a necessary part of life. And if you don’t have it then you are not in the loop.

Nowadays it is very common for people to have all kinds of conversations via text, messaging network or networking site. People do it naturally but when you think about it, it’s all really weird. People say funny things like “Why do you sound like that?” “Why do you have an attitude?” (while reading a text.) How can I sound a certain way if you are just reading words? Preliminary interviews for jobs are being conducted via email. I find that weird because what kind of first impression can you draw from that? Well let’s not forget the fact that people are judged by their email/profile names. And I must tell you, I have heard some pretty stupid ones… I guess it’s true; the screename/email address gives you a good idea as to what type of person you are dealing with. Would you hire BiGB00tYMama8419diva@aol.com? DOUBT IT!!! People are declaring their love and proposing via text and Facebook. A friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend on Facebook, it was his status question. And let’s not ignore the fact that with the whole Iran issue going on, Twitter and texting is becoming the number one news source for telling the world what’s going on.

I don’t know about you but I find it mega annoying when I text someone and they don’t text me back. Because then it becomes a question of many things… “Is that person ignoring me?” “Did they even get my text?””What is he/she doing?” Not answering a text, sends a million mixed messages and guaranteed it is going to spark an argument. Not just any argument but an argument… via text. I am not even going to lie, I am guilty of arguing via text…LOL I have blackberry in hand, face scowled, rolling my eyes and feverishly texting the person (usually my other half). That has to be the stupidest thing because all you have to do to end the argument is simply…. Not answer.

So you just go on a date… And you text the person and say “I had a great time…” and the person doesn’t answer. There could be a number of reasons why he/she doesn’t answer. But none of that matters because what are you going to think?? You are going to think that the person is not interested. And even though you might want to call, because the person didn’t initially answer the text, you will already feel rejected and you won’t call… Hence possibly ruining the next best thing.

How many of us are guilty of “lying” via text?? You can tell anybody anything via a text message. I have seen friends lie to their spouses or significant others because they are someplace where they are not supposed to be. Cheaters love text messaging because while they are sitting in front of their side piece, they are telling their significant other some BS story. Or one better, what about the missed call? Five minutes later, they will text you to validate why they missed the call. And people buy it… But my response to that is, well if you could text me then you could have answered the phone idiot. DUH!! Have I ever done that? I won’t lie, I have. I’m someplace chillin’… First the missed phone call, then the explanatory lie text.

And those networking sites are just as annoying. I mean I love Facebook for the fact that I have crossed paths with people I probably never would have otherwise. But you have no control over what people say on those things and everything you say is pretty much documented. People have gotten fired over MySpace profiles and Facebook statuses. Pedophiles have taken to these sites to find victims. People have broken up over Tweets (Jenn Aniston and Jon Mayer), and celebrities have been impostered on AIM and Twitter. We have tons of problems and complaints with these mechanisms but clearly, what would we do without them?? Use of these communication and networking sites seem to be completely out of control people. Control yourselves!!!

Now I’m sorry, I gotta go. I have Tweets to check and return.

Craigslist: Lil Wayne Wanted

I came across the following ad on Craigslist via Twitter. After a few hours it was flagged for removal. I fortunately had a screen shot, because just posting the text by itself I knew no one would be believe me. Read below, it's HILARIOUS! Anyone out there looking for a career in acting, this could be for you. . Enjoy. Haha.

Lil Wayne wanted (DC-MD-VA)

My son is turning 16 and really wanted Lil Wayne to perform for his birthday gala. Unfortunately his schedule will not permit him to make it. I need a Lil Wayne impersonator desperately.

Here is the kicker my son is blind so you do not need to look like the rapper just sound like him. I understand he grunts and mumbles a lot. I don’t care if you are 67 and Jewish if you can sing the songs you’re hired. Money is not an issue. Name your price. Interested individuals please let me know your rap experience, video of you performing as Lil Wayne would be better. If that is not feasible we can arrange for a live audition.

Serious inquiries only, this is very important to my family. Young Money Baby!

Tuesday Music Release: SoulStice & SBe "Beyond Borders"

Caught the advance copy of Beyond Borders from SoulStice & SBe yesterday from their people and I can tell you that you want to get this joint ASAP! The beats knock. The lyrics are on point. And there are a lot of features, including G.L.C., Oddisee, Kev Brown, Supastition, Eternia and more -- who all compliment the project well!

In the press release, SoulStice explains “the project is a collaboration between myself and Belgian beatmaker, SBe, who provides all of the instrumental music for the album. As far as the vocals, the songs are collaborations between myself and many of my favorite artists from around the world. We've got artists from the US, UK, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Africa, and Canada."

This is dope music! Get it and support it! Album available on iTunes

www.myspace.com/soulstice

No Place Like it feat Eternia, Richie Filth and Stef

Unfold Feat. Oddisee

Melissa Czarnik Live on 91.7 WMSE-FM

We've said it before but Melissa Czarnik is one of our favorite underground female artist. Recently we included an audio link of her on-air performance on 91.7 WMSE-FM out of Milwaukee. Now she has video of the same event. You know we had to post up at least one and send you to the site for more. We really appreciate her style and we think she is a very talented emcee. Check it!

Check more video from performance on 91.7 WMSE-FM

www.myspace.com/melissaczarnik

CD available at iTunes and CD Baby
www.cdbaby.com/cd/melissaczarnik

Check The Mad Bloggers Interview w/Melissa Czarnik

What I'm Listening to Right Now ... Nneka

Words really can't describe how I felt as a I went through Nneka's music! Incredible voice, talented and DOPE!! Listen to the passion in her voice. She kills it! Crazy to stumble across an artist well after she's come out. I'm happy though I did find her. The videos below are a little old but you know I had to share. If I'm just coming across Nneka, I'm sure some of you may also be hearing her for the first time and so I'm just trying to pay an amazing find forward! Enjoy it!






www.myspace.com/nnekaworld

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Road to Release Day: Eternia & MoSS: "AT LAST" Episode 2

Over the next 6 months, eternia will release steady video & audio leaks leading up to the highly anticipated release of Eternia & MoSS's debut album, "AT LAST". This is the second video. TURN UP THE SPEAKERS AND LISTEN TO HER KILL IT!!!

Shout to DJ SAV*ONE and www.theundergroundcomeup.com for the link and email!

Check out
Road to Release Episode 1



WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ETERNIA
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MOSSAPPEAL

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TELL 'EM WHY YOU MAD: Tha Lady Blogga on Monogamous Relationships ...

Can Rappers/Entertainers have monogamous relationships?

In the wake of relationships crumbling (Usher and Tameka) and multiple baby mama’s surfacing (Weezy, Nivea, Lauren, etc. etc.), E! True Hollywood Story was right on time showing their special on being a “RAPPER’S Wife”.

The show chronicled the wives of five rappers… Mos Def, Paul Wall, Uncle Luke, DMX and Big Pun. Now, I am no Genius but I would think that if you are seriously involved with or married to a “Rapper”, you would have to expect to deal with certain types of situations. Most of the men married women that were with them before they became famous. To them, those women seem to be the most genuine. They are the ones who love them for who they are, before the money and the fame. The most interesting thing is that these women deal with the everyday struggles that most women deal with. Infidelity of their husbands, domestic violence and financial trouble are just a few. One of them though, did not follow suit. Mos Def married a stripper (Hmmm…). Although he loved his wife, he was not comfortable with his position and her lifestyle. We can almost guess how that turned out.

The most successful couples in the game are the ones who embrace their family life and make it a part of their careers. They know who they are and are comfortable with their image. Most rappers get caught up with the image they are trying to sell versus the person they really are. And I think that is where the problem begins. Big Punisher (Big Pun) had a history of domestic violence. It was sad to hear his wife Liza Rios say that he was the “Punisher” for real. And that even though she lost a husband and a friend when he died, that was the best day of her life because the pain stopped. I was a PUN follower from day one. Lyrically, he brought it. Knowing now that was how he got down is disheartening.

Take Weezy for example. His latest song talks about him wanting to, “f@#k every girl in the world”. Apparently that is exactly what he is doing because he has a myriad of baby mama’s surfacing. You can’t be a family man but out in the clubs every night cavorting with chicks, models & bottles and carrying on. It is one thing to network but another to take it to the next level. Most entertainers try to keep their wives/girlfriends out of that flow of their life just for that reason. They want the female attention and that “groupie love”. If that is the way you want to live then cool, stay single. But don’t marry someone or put yourself in a serious relationship with someone and try to still do it. That is a definite FAILED behavior.

Paul Wall’s wife, Crystal Slayton said it best, “If you know I’m his wife and you’re still pushing up on him… Then you’re takin’ a chance on gettin’ your ass whipped.” I definitely co-sign that. Basically Paul and his wife seem to have a good relationship. He has no gripes about admitting he has a good wife by his side and she seems to know and trust her husband to the fullest. He is a family man, goes out and makes the money while she takes care of the children. They have a family tour bus and she and the children travel with him. She devoted herself to supporting her husband and his career and they have been makin’ it work ever since. She is a mother and devoted wife. But don’t get it twisted, she will smack a bitch.

The rap game and the sport’s world birthed the phrases for multiple women’s status in a man’s life. You have the “main chick”, “bottom bitch”, “side chick”, “groupie”, and “jump-off”. The wife is a given, she’s there too. But some men (even ones that are not celebrities) deem it necessary to have a bevy of women to choose from, one for each purpose in their lives.
I have friends who are artists and professional football players. Some are married; others in serious relationships and some are not. I have watched these behaviors play out before my eyes and it is disgusting. The men, even married ones, have no control over themselves. If a fine piece of ass walks by, she will put it out there and they will chase it. And women will give it up all to say they had him. Women are just as trifling. You could be with your husband/boyfriend at an event or a club and the women will STILL do what they can to get at your man. They don’t care about an artist’s/athletes wife or kids. And don’t let him slip up and get her pregnant, $KA-CHING$ is all she thinks about.

It takes a certain woman to be the wife of a rapper/celebrity. A woman is expected to be loyal to her husband, under all circumstances. She has to be secure, balanced, and confident in her position. She is the mother and the father, has to take care of house and family, keep her marriage in order and stay true to herself.

At the end of the day, with all the drama and bullshit, one would have to ask oneself… Is it worth it?

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Music Monday - Rhymefest "Pulls Me Backs"

On Friday I traveled across most of NY into Connecticut to visit family for a few days. Over the 12 hour voyage I found myself listening to Rhymefest's Manual among other things (SIDEBAR: if radio played half of the music I listened to over the trip, it would be a much better world). I don't need to tell you much about the Manual because hopefully you already have it! I picked Pulls Me Back as the Music Monday track plus I added Tender Thug, because it's funny as hell! Happy Monday and enjoy!

www.myspace.com/rhymefest

Pulls Me Back


Tender Thug


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"I Said, I'm Going to Kick his Assk (ass) ..."

No doubt, the video is funny. But the mom who taped it should be smacked for leaking it to the world on YouTube. I'm still laughing however. Hey, if you're 3-years-old and a monster comes out, what are you going to do? Enjoy.

More Music from Doodlebug of Digable Planets

We featured Doodlebug aka Cee Knowledge a week ago, but now we have another joint from him, Outta Space Funkadelic and had to share it! Cee Know of Digable Planets is stepping into the future with his new project Furistic Sci-Fi. We'll keep featuring his joints here on the blog!

www.deviantmuzik.com
www.myspace.com/ceeknowledge



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The Comic Strip...

MOS DEF proposes "The Battle in New Orleans"

So I get a message from @OneAndOnlyKema on twitter hitting me up on the info about MOS DEF talking about doing a friendly competition styled battle in New Orleans. According to this YouTube video (shout out to @Knowledgium for posting the link), he was previously recorded candidly and unknowing the video would get out, speaking on a few artists that proclaim that they're the greatest rapper alive. He spoke on one artist in particular. That artist is Jay-Z. His point is that he doesn't see much sense in calling yourself the greatest without really ever having to defend that claim. Especially when a Slick Rick who, quoting Mos Def, is still very alive and well, and Rakim as well. He doesn't like the fact that someone in his circle leaked the video but at the same time, he's not backing out.

It seems that in all honesty, he's just defending some of the pioneers that are still able to put it down on the mic. No beef. And in a friendly competition to showcase these MCs talents, they can get a chance to prove their claim. Personally, I think it's a very, very great idea and would probably do so much good for hip hop. Maybe with the state of music this game is in, some of these artists should consider it. Tell me you wouldn't watch a battle featuring Morgan State vs Grambling for the Battle of the Bands, Kid Capri vs Biz Markie for DJs, Kanye vs Swizz for the Battle of the Beats, the Battle Royal is a 5 man team which he says he'd be a captain for that consist of Black Thought, Jay Electronica, MF Doom, Nas, and Jay-Z could put his team together for a $10 million dollar pot. Why would you turn that down? Unless.........you can't back it up.





Regardless, I should start campaigning to get this event started. Somehow. Someway. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and marking my calendar! You ready? The BOOGIE MAN is! Haha.


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