Thankful Thoughts

One thing that most people, myself included, are thankful for, is the fact that you have someone that loves you. Whether it be family or friends, it's always a great feeling to know that someone will have your back unconditionally. And when you have both, there's nothing better.

But there is one thing that can enhance that feeling sevenfold (and yes, I said seven..don't judge me..lol). That's the love of a significant other. One who can bring out feelings in you that you would otherwise have bottled up in a deep dark corner of your soul, never to be released...and to know that they have those same feelings for you, only puts you higher in the realm of happy.

This is what Lalah Hathaway was singin about in her remake of Luther Vandross's hit "Forever, For Always, For Love". She's reminiscing about a past love, and this man made her feel like the top of the world was her stomping grounds. Unfortunately, they broke up, and she wishes that she could do it all again...but this time, righting what illed their first time. I know that we've all had those moments where we longed for the days of exes gone past. She definitely put all of her father's intensity into her version, making me believe that she was feelin what her father felt when he performed it.

The question of the moment is this: would it work this time around? I think that it could...especially if you take what went wrong in the first go around, and work on that, while keeping the good things intact. Once you get that equation up and running safely, there's no way why you and the S.O. shouldn't be in love

"Forever
For Always
For Love"

The Hidden Gem

Understand I can never be your man
Though I can understand that you ready for a family
On the other hand, I love to see your ass
But you contaminated so you need to find a plan B

OK...so many people know, I wasn't the biggest fan of Wale's last CD: Attention Deficit (which will be another post in itself), but I will admit, that it had some bangers on it. Unfortunately, my favorite song on the cd, was the one that never made it TO the CD. That's right, this cut that's being featured today is Beast, the track that was in the running toward becoming a track on Attention Deficit, but for whatever reason, Wale decided to cut it from the CD.

Beast was produced by 9th Wonder, and I'm not sure what it was that caused him not to include this one, but I swear, this was one of the best tracks produced for that album. The beat had you flowin before you realized it, and Wale was droppin that real truth with the lyrics. Not to say that he didn't do that with other tracks that actually made the cut, but I'm jus sayin...there was always somethin that kept me from feelin those like I'm feelin this one (with the exception of maybe 2-3).

All in all, I feel like this cut woulda brought the grade of A.D. up. This is one of those cuts that you can put in the ride, let the windows down, and just let it bump while you roll down the street. Being where I am right now, I'm sure everyone would be bumpin it right along with it. Wale brought it with this cut. I honestly believe that he redeemed himself...although he shot himself back in the foot for not including this on the CD.

I say check this out, and Wale, if you readin this, don't be leavin off the dope tracks from the next CD!

Spiritual Uplift

For the many times I've fallen,
yet YOU forgave me...
thank you...Lord I thank you
For unmerited favor,
and your brand new mercies
thank you...how I thank you



In the spirit of Thanksgiving, you always have to have a reason to be thankful for. Whether it be because you're alive; it could be for you having a family to go to; or just not succumbing to whatever was ailing you at that point in your life. I believe that the song above will cover all of that. Right now, no matter what you're going through in your life, there is always a spiritual song, that will help to uplift you.

Now those of you reading this blog, know that I'm a man of religion. And with that being said, I realized that I haven't made a religious post yet, and I wanted to fix that error. Especially since these songs that I'm about to list really get me through some hard times.

Now here is where I'm about to get personal for a second. This hasn't been a good year for me or my family, and some of you know this, but thanks to these songs, my faith hasn't fallen completely by the wayside. I know that nobody's life will be perfect, and that's including mine, but even with knowing that, I felt like Satan was really tryin to beat me down. But hey, with music like this, it's hard NOT to believe that one day, you will see the rainbow past the rain.


Marvin Sapp: Perfect Peace - When it all just seems to come at you...

Kirk Franklin: Brokenhearted - For when you're feeling down.

Donald Lawrence: Encourage Yourself - A reason why you shouldn't give up...and the best encouragement should come from yourself.

Kurt Carr: God Blocked It - If it seems like nobody cares, there's always ONE.

Greg O'Quin: I Told the Storm - Claim it moved in the Name.

Smokie Norful: Still Say Thank You - In spite of it all, you still have a reason

Dewayne Woods: Let Go, Let God - You can't do it alone....trust me, I've tried that route.

Byron Cage: Broken but Healed - You may be down, but you're not out.

Shekinah Glory Ministry: Yes - The only answer when God asks you a question.

This is it WHAT?

This came up on my iPod while listening to my chill playlist, and I HAD to blog about this one. I know all of my old head hip hop lovers would appreciate this one. Especially if you listened to music during the early to mid 90s.

This is the epitomy of chill music. You can just pop this in the ride, let the windows down on a nice sunny day, and just bounce your head as you riding down the street. The youngens of today wouldn't know nothin about this one...cause this is CLASSIC hip hop right here. Very few groups of today's times could eff with this one...

Even today, this song can be played around the right group and folks still get hype like it came out last night. I know I will. Why: cause this gave us hopes of gettin rich and ballin out the club like this right here:

I play the deef (What?!)
Sensations at the Monte Barbie screamin (Cheeba!)
For fillin pleasures at my castles (Blow the smoke out!)
The boss of Vegas substitutes when the Dutch is gone


No matter what people say and what artists put out, it's music like this that will never grow old. I know this will always get special rotation no matter how old I get....why, cause this is REAL hip-hop.

This is it (What?!)
Luchini pourin' from the sky
Lets get rich (What?!)

I've Got a Real Thing...

Here by my side....someone who needs me..holdin me tight.



Very powerful words by the (then) unknown singer who would capture our hearts with her very first single from an album that wasn't even hers. To this day, not many can say truthfully that she didn't make her mark with this song. Not to mention, it didn't hurt that this track was done by the great Quincy Jones. I mean, seriously, there aren't many tracks that one can say that Q did that wasn't bangers.

"You Put a Move on My Heart" (from the Q's Jook Joint compilation) is one of those songs that you play when you're in the deepest of love with someone (or a strong like even..lol). If ya wanna tell someone how you feel, just drop this track on em. I bet you'll get ya point across.

"And these special feelings
won't ever fade
Cause I knew from the start....

YOU put a move on my.....heart"

Bad Habits

Have you ever had a jones for someone, someone that you knew you probably shouldn't or shouldn't have had no types of feelings for. Someone that you should leave the hell alone, but they are like your bad habit?

I think Maxwell spoke a for real truth in this song.


He speaks about someone that he knows is real wrong for him, especially because he's in a relationship at the time. From the beginning of the song, he recognizes that he's dead wrong for gettin the key from ole chick and then using it. But hey, we've all had those types of moments.

This is definitely one of those songs, that I'd recommend gettin play on a rainy night when you tryna get it in. Even if you just wanna play the entire CD (which by the way I do recommend for a good listen....the boy ain't lost his touch!), he sets off the mood right by startin the CD with this song. Very soulful, not too slutty (unless you watchin the video..then that's a Skinemax show lol), and with the right person, you gone get some draws dropped.

I know we done all been there before, hell, I been there recently, but you know what, sometimes, you just can't help yaself. I think Maxwell put it best when he said:

You're my bad habit baby you're my
You're taking my soul down to the letter O
Can't escape the way you got me locked out baby
I gotta break from you, break from you, break from you.

It was that serious....he had to get away 3 times. Don't tell me you ain't been there before.

Battle of the Vocals

Now this is gonna be something different. For many years now, the battle has been who did it better. The song is: "Knocks Me Off My Feet". The three contestants:

Stevie Wonder:



Donell Jones:



and last but not least

Luther Vandross:



Me personally...I always said that Donell did it better. True enough, there were VERY few songs from the Great Blind One himself that people could cover, and cover well, but I kid you not, Donell not only did this song justice, but dammit, he put all kinds of his own into it. I know people are gonna try to tar and feather me, and burn me in the town square for this one, but hey, it's my thoughts, and you can voice your own. LOL

So holla if ya hear me....who you think did it better?