Hip Hop History: Grammy Museum Unveils First Ever Hip-Hop Exhibit (January 30th-February 5th)

As the Grammys are approaching, The Grammy Museum will open up the first ever interactive exhibit all for Hip-Hop this weekend. 
The Grammy Museum’s “Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey” will debut this Saturday (February 5th) on the Museum’s second floor, where it will be on display until May 4th. The exhibit, which is based on ARIA Multimedia Entertainment’s book of the same name, takes users on a interactive, visual and audio journey through four-decades of Hip-Hop music. On display are LL Cool J’s Troop jacket and Kangol hat, Grandmaster Flash’s turntables, Run-DMC’s leather pants and jackets from the “Walk This Way” performance with Aerosmith and many other artifacts from various Hip-Hop legends. The Grammy Museum is located at L.A. Live at 800 W. Olympic Blvd, on block form the Staples Center, where the 53rd Annual Grammys will be held on Sunday (February 13th).

-@ashleybankz, inflexwetrust.com

Hip Hop History: National Museum of Hip-Hop Launches Campaign To Build 1st NYC Hip-Hop Museum! (January 30th-February 5th)

The National Museum of Hip-Hop has launched a campaign to raise money to build the first NMoH facility in NYC. It is being built with two purposes in mind: to establish a world-renowned cultural institution that preserves the four original elements of Hip-Hop (Rap, DJing, B-Boying and Graffiti), and to spearhead positive change within the hip-hop community.
- @iBLONDEgenius, inflexwetrust.com

The National Museum of Hip-Hop (NMoH) announced this week the launch of their “Donate-A-Dollah” (DAD) campaign, designed to raise awareness and raise funds to build the first NMoH facility within New York City, among other things. The precise location/borough of the Museum will be determined based on the results of the DAD Campaign. So, the borough with the largest population of official hip-hop citizens will be where the museum is built, which will be — according to the NMoH — the first museum for Hip-Hop, built for the people and literally by the people. The NMoH was conceived with a dual purpose: the first being to establish a world-renowned cultural institution that preserves the four original elements of hip-hop — Rap, DJing, B-Boying and Graffiti. Each element will have its own department within the museum to honor its contribution to the expansion of the hip-hop culture from a Bronx-originated art form to the global phenomenon it is today. The second purpose is to spearhead positive change within the hip-hop community by “galvanizing its human and financial resources to address issues such as drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, degradation of women, and school dropout rates, to name a few,” according to a press release. The organization’s overall goal is to “globally educate, celebrate, commemorate, and perpetuate the diverse positive social achievements of the hip-hop culture”. “If we are ever going to create positive change within our inner-city communities, we must stop depending on out-of-area government officials and corrupt politicians; true changes begins and ends with the PEOPLE,” said Craig Wilson, creator of DAD & President of NMoH. “But before the people (Hip-Hop culture) can exact change, they must first be unified; this, unification, is the underlying focus of the DAD Campaign.” The “Donate-A-Dollah” campaign asks that all fans of the genre donate a dollar to its movement. The donation is a one-time only contribute, it says, capping at one dollar by each individual. “By limiting each donor’s contribution, the National Museum of Hip-Hop is able to utilize the campaign as the first official ‘Hip-Hop Census’, which will demonstrate the global size and power of the ‘Hip-Hop Planet.’ There are millions, if not billions, of Hip-Hop fans worldwide. Just imagine what can be accomplished within our communities when ALL Hip-Hop fans unite,” said the NMoH.

-Ronnie Gamble, ballerstatus.com

For more info and/or to donate, visit NMOH.org.

Hip Hop: Ring Bellz-Cyhi Da Prynce (Video) (January 30th-February 5th)

In the days of these days of the instant internet uploads and easily accessible superior video equipment, music videos have become so monotonous. Every one has all of a sudden become a video director and music videos have been dumbed down to rappers standing in front of cameras and rapping. You might have 3 or 4 different shots in the video but the imagery, storytelling and creativity of music videos online are almost non-existent. This is why I posted this video as Cyhi matches his lyrical wizardry with the visuals in this video. I’m not going to say anything about it, watch it for yourself and let me know what you think. Just know that these are the type of videos I co-sign and plan on producing very, very soon!

Hip Hop: Wale Signs To Maybach Music Group (January 30th-February 5th)

Formerly signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation management label, Wale is one of the best upcoming MCs in the game. This summer he dropped what I believe was the #1 mixtape album of 2010 titled “More About Nothing”. After the release of the mixtape and the major buzz that it created, Wale really began to get recognized by some of the biggest names in the game, one of those being Rick Ross. Wale was a part of the Roc Nation label before the lyrical heavyweights and thrown inheritors, J.Cole and Jay Electronica came along. During the 3^rd quarter of the year, Electronica was welcomed onto the Roc Nation roster and almost less than a month later was on a Mountain Dew commercial. During that time Wale began to be seen with Meek Millz, Rozay and his Maybach Music Group. This past week Wale officially signed and is a part of MMG. As a fan of both Wale and Ross I think that it is a perfect fit for Wale as he balances out the gangster roster with a super-lyrical and intelligent MC. With Ross currently on fire, Masspike Miles doing his thing and Wale officially signed, MMG is starting to build a roster to compete with Shady (Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf), G.O.O.D Music (Big Sean, Cyhi) and Roc Nation when it comes to Real Hip Hop.

NBA: Lebron Scores Season-High 51 Points V. Orlando Magic (January 30th-February 5th)

Every week the bar gets pushed higher and higher! First it was the unanimous rookie of the year selection Blake Griffin setting the NBA season-high in January with 47 points and he added 18 rebounds too! The next week another young superstar Kevin Durant comes along and matches Griffin’s 47 points and also added 18 rebounds to match the season-high. You might know this young superstar’s name. Um, Lebron James? All the other young superstars are very very good players but this guy is clearly the best player in the NBA. He proves it again as he drops in 51 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals against a possible championship contender and in-state rivals Orlando Magic. I actually had the pleasure of watching this game and it was nothing less than pure domination from Lebron. There is no question that he is the best player on the Miami Heat and even though it may be D.Wade’s team because he was there first, it is clearly Lebron’s when he is on the floor. 

NBA: Top 10 Dunks of January 2011

NBA: Dirk Nowitzki Scores 22,000 Points; 24th Player In NBA History (January 30th-February 5th)

NBA: Celtics Beat Lakers In Regular Season Rematch (January 30th-February 5th)

To all my fellow Celtics fans, this was a great win and a prime example to what would have happened in game 7 of last years finals if Kendrick Perkins was healthy. Lets not take this game too seriously, even though it is a good sign for what may come in this years finals, both teams still have to make it there. It is no secret that the L.A. Lakers haven’t been playing championship basketball all season as they’ve lost to losing teams like Kings, Clippers and been blown out by the Heat on Christmas Day. When Kobe today has to play like the Kobe of the old days, that is not a good thing for the repeat champion Lakers. With Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum having sub-par seasons and Matt Barnes out with injury the Lakers are currently 3^rd in the Western Conference and 5^th in the NBA. Even with an “average” season for the world champions they have managed to be in the running for home court advantage throughout the playoffs but it doesn’t look too promising as the Spurs, Heat and Celtics are playing great basketball. The Celtics are looking as strong as the 2007-2008 season when they were able to sustain injuries and utilize their bench to win key games throughout the season. KG, Rondo, Marquis Daniels, Semi, Delonte West, Kendrick Perkins and Shaq have all had injury troubles and have missed games this season. When the Lakers have to face a bigger, tougher interior they do not do well as they rely on Kobe’s jumpers. That is when the Celtic’s defense is at their best and they capitalize off of the best defense in the league. This years playoffs are going to be crazy! I’m taking the Celtics, who do you have winning it all? 

Legendary Coach Hank Smith Is Fired Mid-Season With No Explanation To Players or Alumni

After 2010 Championship Loss and My Last College Basketball Game Ever

Before Coach Smith's arrival EC Basketball was 21-131 but won over 200 games during his tenure. The wins don't even match the success of the people that have emerged from the Men's Basketball program because of its leader Hank Smith. At any other institution, a coach and man like Hank Smith would be celebrated by the administration instead of deciding to go a different way after 16 years of success, hard work and commitment. It has taken me over a week to gather my thoughts and emotions to be able to comment on this situation. Today I attended the EC v. JWU game and the atmosphere of Emerson Sports pride and enjoyment is no longer in the basement of the Piano Row building and sadly it may be gone forever. Many students, staff, parents and even opposing coaches who have never had the pleasure of playing for coach also commented on the emptiness in the building. Those who are a part of the program already know the immense affect that Coach Smith has had and will continue to have on our lives. I will say that Coach Smith is the most influential man in my life after my father but I have chosen to keep my comments about how much I love Coach Smith exclusive to the personal documentary I am releasing in June 2011. I rather take this time to comment on the constant mistreatment of all athletes in Emerson Athletics since the current administration has been in office. Is there no consideration for the current players to get an explanation as to why there coach has been fired mid-season? I had my former teammates call me hysterical because their everyday role model and mentor taken from them with no explanation. I know EC isn't a "sports school" but during my time at EC I felt more like an outsider who was renting time to play basketball and use the facilities than someone who was celebrated for proudly representing my team, athletics and college. As an athlete who turned down Division 1 and 2 opportunities to attend EC I was very offended that I did not receive the proper treatment that every athlete representing a college should receive. Communication from the athletic administration was minimal (and still is as an alumni) as well as the support, basic necessities like socks being cleaned or trainers/team assistants being present on road trips were suddenly non-existent. As a student who paid to go to the college, why was it that I had to pay extra money for the only 3 pairs of socks that were allowed to be washed and not be able to keep them at the end of the season? I'm not sure if I will ever get answers as to why during one of the most successful runs in Emerson athletics history, my teammates and I were suddenly not  treated fairly. Similar to not being able to get answers then, we have no answers from the administration as to why someone who was an inspiration and leader for so many and credit him for their success is suddenly gone. It doesn't matter if we never receive answers for any of our questions it will never affect the success and pride that has come from the Emerson Men's Basketball program and the legendary Hank Smith. B Phi B!

Hip Hop History: Lil Wayne Announces “I Am Music 2" Tour With Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Travis Barker! (January 23rd-29th)

Wayne has officially decided to hit the road, taking on a part 2 of his highly successful “I Am Music” tour that went down from late 08 into 2009. This one should be so crazy! A great rap/rock infusion! The tour starts March 18, 2011 in Buffalo, NY and ends May 1, 2011 in East Rutherford, NJ. Fresh off a bid Weezy is ready to get back on stage and has the #1 female in the game, the hottest Hip Hop artist from 2010 and a Rock legend hitting the stage at one concert! 

Hip Hop History: Wiz Khalifa Performs “Black & Yellow” at AFC Championship (January 23rd-29th)

Although I don’t consider Wiz a true Hip Hop artist, he is part of the evolution of what Hip Hop has grown into. When I say Wiz is not a true Hip Hop artist, I don’t mean it in a negative way I just don’t think that he and many other rappers of this new generation fit the traditional model of Hip Hop artists. Many rappers today are also singers, some pull it off and some don’t but I think Wiz has definitely been able to make it work for him. The Rap game is so crazy these days as artists with no albums out are doing better than most seasoned veteran. For example, Jay Electronica (Mountain Dew Commercial), J.Cole (Europe Tour) and now Wiz Khalifa (AFC Championship). Although, Wiz isn’t your traditional fire spitter but he definitely has bars and makes great music. Most notably, his biggest mixtape “Kush and Orange Juice” and his biggest single “Black and Yellow” have blown up on the internet! But that leads me to the question could Wiz and other rap artists of this new internet crazed generation survive without the internet? Either way Wiz is a very strategic artists as he created the song “Black and Yellow” to represent his hometown of Pittsburgh which is most notably recognized by the color of the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. Its good to see new artist gain so much success almost instantly off of mixtape campaigns but are there negatives to gaining so much success so quickly? Even though the Steelers reached out to Wiz and he is signed to a major label I think the performance would have been better promoted to the fans if there was an album out already. Watch the video, big up to Wiz for making some history! #MYOL

Hip Hop: Everybody Late-Diggy Simmons ft DOE (January 23rd-29th)

Produced by Jahlil Beats

"Jetsetter General eating these niggas, cannibal/

eat em' like they got ham on them/literally go H.A.M. on em'"

"See me coming, everybody wait/I'll be on it early, everybody late"

"I'm the real deal, you a makeshift...holiday/you only get busy on occasion/I'ma problem, you not in the equation/a lil nigga hungry, got muchies but I ain't blazin/from stages to stages, 20 thou for an hour thats a basic"

NBA: Spurs 1st Team To 40 wins, 18 Straight Home Wins (January 23rd-29th)

Team is EVERYTHING and they say age is just a number! If you ask the San Antonio Spurs they’ll tell you that health is really the issue. For the first time in over 4 years San Antonio’s Big 3 is healthy and the results are showing. Manu Ginobili scored 22 points and the Spurs hit 40 victories by winning their 18th in a row at home, beating the Houston Rockets 108-95 on Saturday night. With the number one spot in the NBA, the West and championship experience, San Antonio is looking like a major threat to the two-time defending champion Lakers. Although the regular season is a big factor in home court advantage throughout the playoffs but the Spurs are one injury away from not being a contender. I also think that the after the All-Star break Coach Popovich is going to have to really preserve playing time for Tim Duncan in order for him to be ready to really produce as he is the only low post threat for the Spurs. The 2011 NBA Playoffs will be amazing, who do you have winning it all?

NBA: Kobe Bryant Passes Hakeem Olajuwon, No. 8 on All-Time Scoring List! (January 23rd-29th)

NBA: Kevin Durant Matches Season Highest Scoring Total With 47pts (January 23rd-29th)

KEVIN IS NICE! Durant and Love! Just so you know Kevin Durant ios opnly suppose to be a rookie this year and has already become the youngest scoring champion ever. Oh and Kevin Love is suppose to be a senior in college and is in the conversation for his first ever All-Star nomination. The young talent in the NBA is literally unbelievable, I think the league has truly benefited from demanding that players spend one year in college and these great players are the result. KD matched rookie Blake Griffin for this years game high amongst all players in the league with 47 points and also matched Griffin’s 18 rebounds. The other Kevin racked up 31 points and 21 rebounds in the loss! Love’s other teammate who should also be a senior in college this year, Michael Beasley, had 30 pts, 9 rebs and 7 asts! Even though Love and Beasley put up great numbers Durant and the Thunder came out with win.

NBA: 2011 NBA All-Star East & West Starting 5 (January 23rd-29th)

              

                      

                     2011 NBA ALL-STARS 

WEST                                                       EAST

Chris Paul                                                 Derrick Rose

Kobe Bryant                                             Dwayne Wade

Kevin Durant
                   VS.                  Lebron James

Carmelo Anthony                                  Amare Stoudemire

Yao Ming                                                  Dwight Howard

Let the game begin! February is officially here and the most exciting all-star game of all professional sports is coming! This year’s starting teams are stacked with a guaranteed 6 Hall of Fame players (I’ll let you figure out who those players are yourself).  Although I feel like the East has the better starting 5 as a team as everyone is in their natural position, the all-star game is about buckets! Lets not even front, nobody really plays defense in the All-Star game and with CP3 at #pointgod and Kobe, KD and Carmelo assigned to get buckets its going to be tough for the East to win this year. I can’t necessarily pick a winner though because both of these teams are stacked and I don’t know who will replace Yao Ming because obviously he can’t play. In the past, majority of the NBA All-Star games have been blowouts and just about highlights but this year I feel like there is a lot of pride involved and top players like Kobe, Lebron, KD and D.Wade want to show who is the MVP and best player in the league this year. With Kobe coming off of 2 straight championships potentially en route to his 3^rd and being teamed up with KD (youngest scoring champ ever) v. Lebron and his new teammate D.Wade, this amount of talent reminds me of the Magic lead West v. Jordan lead East! I think this is going to be one of the best NBA All-Star games of all-time! All-time! (Kanye Voice)

#MYOL News: Jay-Z Surprises Students In Australia (January 16th-22nd)

This video is literally unbelievable! A disadvantaged boys school with a multicultural crowd (90% from non-english speaking background) and Australian school teacher are in a frenzy when Jay-Z walks into the building as a surprise. About a year and half ago XXL Magazine had Jay on the cover with the copy “Is Jay-Z bigger than Hip Hop?” In a way he is, he has become the poster boy for making something from nothing. When you can cause a reaction worldwide like the one from the people in the video are having. This is definitely #MYOL News and nomination for the #MYOL Blogumentary Hall of Fame! Real talk!

#MYOL News: Lebron Launching Web Based Cartoon (January 16th-22nd)

Many people hate Lebron James for “The Decision” he made. As I’ve stated in previous blogs I did not like the way the he went about making his decision but I am extremely proud of Lebron for making the decision he wanted to make. He did no let anyone else influence what would be the most important decision is his career. What many people fail to realize is that Lebron James is more than just the best basketball player in the game today but he is also the owner of his own marketing company and brand. I think this is a double edge sword because on one hand Lebron has taken being a young black professional athlete and redefined the monotonous “commodity” stereotype. But my question has that hurt Lebron’s basketball career? If he spent more time in the gym working on his jumper would he have a ring by now? Who knows but for an NBA player to be the best player in the league and be starting his own cartoon, that’s definitely #MYOL news!

Hip Hop History: Happy Birthday Jam Master Jay, RIP (January 16th-22nd)

  

January 21, 1965 - October 30, 2002

Funk Flex, DJ Drama, DJ Kay Slay, etc. These are some of the most popular names of DJs these days but all of these DJs looked up to and honor Jam Master Jay and if you’re a DJ and you don’t or don’t even know who he is you should be ashamed! JMJ was the DJ for the most powerful Hip Hip group ever, Run-DMC. Many people don’t know that JMJ was the first person to really discover and help develop the talent and now major entrepreneur we know as 50 Cent. JMJ’s accomplishments are to long to list and unfortunately he was gunned on October 30, 2002! RIP JMJ and Happy Birthday!

Hip Hop: I'm On One-Talib Kweli (January 16th-22nd)

Buy Talib Kweli's New Album "Gutter Rainbows" (Link)

"Battle me you confuse illusion with reality/Back up off me you had your glory/Man I never seen a sadder story/Blame yourself you mad at me you mad at Cory/I left the maze you still the white mice in the laboratory/Don't test the brain son I'm quite nice at Scattergories/Metaphors and allegories speaking at your colleges"

"Aint no patience for the wack MC/this ain't Worldstar homie this ain't VladTV/stop posing for the cameras/I'm showing all you amateurs life is b**** this how you handle her"

"I got the recipe for Rest In Peace...Rebellion is my specialty/

while these mad cows convince you to invest in beef"

Hip Hop: Fly Like The WInd - Lloyd Banks ft Jim Jones (January 16th-22nd)

"
Purchase Lloyd Banks "Hunger For More" 2 Here!

Lloyd Banks

"What's flying in the wind has to come by the tools/I got to win damn if I lose/All my ex got cold hearts I'm probably that cool"

"We are spending cash over here you swipe it/Your beef... I ain't a big typer"

Jim Jones

"This is vampire life, we the daybreakers/if you wanna bet your luck you spend a day in Vegas/but if you wanna fuck with us you might make the papers/trying to watch the roof crumble like a piece of paper and they better watch they like they Anita Baker"

REKS-25th Hour

Purchase Reks "25th Hour" Single Here...

"I'ma write this here verse like Guru's in the passenger/standing on the East Coast staring out to Africa"

"We in the 25th hour/its now or never, we got to get it before its gone forever/remember in the end time waits for no man what's your plan?"

"Regardless of others offers/I architect dialect/I'ma bet, y'all are just waking up/say goodnight, slap a rapper/take his mic, greater hype/spit a rhyme, save a life/in a mind pay a price/ABC a light" WOAH!

Hip Hop: Greatest Story Never Told - Saigon (January 16th-22nd)

NBA: Kevin Durant Hits Buzzer Beater To Beat Knicks (January 16th-22nd)

NBA: Kobe Bryant 81pt Game 5th Anniversary (January 16th-22nd)

It was 5 years ago that Kobe Bryant scored the second most points by any player in NBA history. 5 years and 2 straight championships and working on his potential 2^nd 3-peat in a row, Kobe Bryant is the only scoring guard that can be mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Jordan. Many people don’t like Kobe because of his cockiness and arrogance but when you can drop 81 on a team, I think that gives you the right to be whatever you want on the floor! Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 in a game but there is no video or audio documentation of that game. This is why you have to love these days and times because you can actually watch this legendary performance.