I'm Not Meant....

To live alone...
Turn this house into a home...

Today has been quite a day today. We lost 2 great people, from different cultures albeit, but great in their own right nonetheless. Today, we lost Dr. Dorothy I. Height, president Emeritus of the National Council for Negro Women and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and also we lost Keith Elam known as G.U.R.U., 1/2 of the hip hop duo GangStarr. Both of these people inspired many people, and will be known for the work they did, as well as the lives they touched.

What people don't realize in the midst of this tragedy, is that another great legend was born. Luther Ronzoni Vandross was born on this day in 1951, and while he is no longer in the land of the living, I am dedicating today's post to a life that was great, instead of mourning the dead. And because of such, I want to post 2 of my other favorite songs by Luther (because I already did one...click here to see which one.)



This is the epitome of an I'm missing you song. I mean, if you sift through the words that he's using, you'll see that he's telling her that he misses her in the worst way. The items in the house are just items...but they come alive whenever she's there. That's real love right there...cause the house is cold and empty until she brings her love in and warms it up.

Next up is a song completely the opposite of the first one I just posted. Instead of them being together in real life, this relationship is "in his head".



This one is a classic "Fatal Attraction" song. He's fallen in love with a voice from the radio, and he's now imagined that she's equally in love with him as well. *smh* I'm not sure who/what did that too him, but can't you just see him standing outside her window, or in her bedroom while she sleeps?! LOL. I guess when she sings that "one song" so sweetly, that it's hard not to run up on it. I can't say I would, but hey...it is what it is.

These two songs right here (plus the one I already blogged about) are always in my rotation, and will stay in there. Mr. Vandross, you are added to the list of singers who influenced the game, and touched many people's hearts and ears through your gift of song. So on this day, I wish you a happy birthday, and hope that you're celebrating it with those gone on before you in Heaven.

I'll Be Obliged

If you step outside
Because my ride is awaitin

Now everyone knows that I'm from Tennessee BORN AND RAISED, and while we're not known for much on the rap/hip-hop tip, we did have a few to make it out the hood and onto the vinyl/plastic. Memphis, known as 1-town, produced great legends 8Ball & MJG, and because of them, we have the everlasting pimptacular song:



When this dropped in '95, this was all that bumped in the great state of Tennessee. Not to mention that it was being featured on all of the top rap/hip-hop video shows (not like 106th and Park, but real ones like Rap City). Another one is



I'd drop this one onto the "songs I want my girl to give me a show to" list. (See here for that). I'm sure she'd get mad tips from me...and yeah I'd break her off some money for it too. lol

And of course, you know I can't forget about Grammy award winning Three 6 Mafia. See they were a sleeper group, and a lot of folks didn't know about them before they blew up. They were hawt in the TN streets since the early 90s when they had the not so nice image...but they still had a sick flow. To me, it actually kinda rivaled Bone Thugs' flow, such as in this song.



And of course, I can't forget the TN collaboration...one that still gets me hype whenever I hear it (which is whenever I want because it's on the iPod):



Here we have a super bangin collabo with Three 6 (Memphis), 8Ball and MJG (Memphis), and Young Buck (Nashville). All 3 verses are one that just keep the game lit up, not to mention that this beat is off the chains. Even though this dropped back in 2005, I bet you can still bump this in the South and it'll get folks madd hype. Matter fact, I still got this song on a "Get Krunk" playlist because of this verse right here:

MJ finna sprinkle in some of that,
super incredible, have a nigga runnin back
Where that nigga with the hood sticky number at?
Cuttin up a cigarillo like a lumber jack
In the mornin, when I need this and breath again a whole lotta weed but uh
I'm needin somebody to give me what I need
when I want nothin less then the best of the trees
DJ Paul and Juicy J, Eightball and MJG
And Young Buck we don't give a fuck we must represent this Tennessee
We drink a whole lot of Hennessy
Nigga got a lil hair on his chest
Do me like Bill Clinton girl, take it out ya mouth
we'll shoot it right down on your dress


And that my friends ends the tour into the musical styles of Tennessee...I hope you've enjoyed your tour and please...come again!

You Should Be Here

Two of r&b's good talented singers (at that time anyways), join together and make a bangin song. Raphael Saadiq and D'Angelo collaborate and this is what you get:



The song is hawt. Ain't no ifs, ands, or buts about it. And honestly, they put out the words that a lot of men want to tell their ladies (or side pieces, or jump offs....lol)

I just wanna drive you crazy
You should be here in the mornin' time
When I'm makin' my breakfast
You should be here beneath me
To feel me, to heal me
You should be here to ride me
To trap me and climb me

This was back when D'Angelo still had a career and before Raphael fell off the ends of the earth. D was still riding high offa "How Does It Feel" and Raphael had just ended a great run with the 3Ts (if you don't know who I'm talkin about then click here)

This was just on my mind and I thought I'd share it with the world...or at least those that read this blog. LOL Enjoy!

What's On My Mind

So the long awaited cd has finally dropped. People heard the first single, and then was amazed at the video that came along with it. I don't think that people were ready to see you strip down in real life in the middle of a major street in Dallas, TX. Well guess what, she's here, and she's letting the world know that she ain't playing the game anymore, because the game is hers for the taking.



This is definitely a change-up in the game from her first cd "New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War". It reminds me of her old style, which drew me to love her in the first place. I'm not going to go into that, mainly because I've done that already here, so you can read my thoughts on the first two cds. Only thing I didn't like about this is that it's super short...by the time you get into it, it's about to go off.

But she ended it on a great note with this song:



This song right here is the perfect song to end it on. It's almost like she's having flashbacks to when she and ole dude were together, but on the brink of being separated for good. Not sure if anyone else thought about this (although I know one person already has..lol), but this is giving me Green Eyes precedence. Think about it...she's talking bout all the things that she'd do for him, and all the while, realizing that she's been the fool for him. Green Eyes is just picking up where she left off. I also like the way she sampled different songs (such as Junior Mafia's Get Money and Sweet Sable's Old Time Sake).

All in all, I'll give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I think that if she would have made it a bit longer then I would have given it a higher rating. But I must say, this was a good comeback, cause in my opinion, she hadn't had a banger since Mama's Gun. This is a good rideout cd. It's somewhat a bitter in a love lost sort of way, but I don't see it making women want to go out and start stabbin up people's tires or bustin out windows. I endorse it.

Good job Erykah! You ain't lost it after all.

Are We Living in a Dream World?

Are your eyes still green girl?
I know your sick and tired of arguing
But you can't keep it bottled in


Yeah I know I haven't blogged in some time, but it's been a busy month of March...you know with me celebrating my 30th birthday, and all the odds and ends in between. I haven't had time to properly have some alone time with my blog. Well that's all ended, and I got ideas flowing out the ears that I want to put down on paper (well electronic paper..lol).

Today's post is about the beginning and end of a relationship. I've already done in betweens and what it's like when we want to express our feelings to our ladies. But today's artist is one who gave me a song about falling in love with someone, and in the next breath, it's all goin to shambles in a fiery death. Honestly, I'm sure all my readers can feel me on this one. What's even more funny is that these are my two favorite songs by Mr. Common (Sense). The first one:



This song always gives me hope that there can (and will be) someone for everyone. Even though you've had to go up the rough side of the mountain in order to get to that person, once you've gotten to him/her, then it's all gravy. You can tell that person that they can leave the past behind on this present day, because it's me + you = the future. These words just let you know right here:

Put down your bags love
I know in the past love
Has been sort of hard in you
But I see the God in you
I just want to nurture it
Though this love may hurt a bit
We dealing wit this water love
You even give my daughter love
I want to build a tribe wit you
Protect and provide for you
Truth is I can't hide from you
The pimp in me
May have to die with you


Now once you and said significant other have established that relationship, then all is well for the rest of eternity right? Not quite. We all know that this ain't the old days, when relationships stood the test of time. These days, you're lucky to see 5 years in the game. This song talks about that other end of the relationship game:



I dig this song because he describes the afterthoughts of a breakup....you know that you should be done with this person, but I mean hey, sometimes it's not that easy to let go. I mean, if you were that involved with that person, you may never let go of that person, even though you know that in order to progress forward....I recommend this to those who have been there with that significant other, that you just can't seem to let go of.

Even though Common got turned out by Erykah Badu, he still can produce a good cd. I just hope he gets his act together and gets back into CDs like Finding Forever.