The Obama I Used to Know

This man is who I thought he was. 

Over the past three years of Barak Obama’s Presidential tenure, I’ve often shook my head at some of the criticism he’s received, from the right and the left. To the surprise of many, my disdain for some of the critiques/gripes espoused by “liberals” has been far virulent due to its rational and omnipresence.   

Haphazard criticism of POTUS Obama from the right is to be expected. It’s normal practice for those aligned with the opposition party to volley seemingly limitless complaints and accusations towards the indivigual “leading the free world”. It is also extremely common for a (what should be) alarming percentage of Republicans to believe in the dumbest reason defying shit ever. So year, their views are par for the course to me.

Some of these Democrats tho?

Man.

It only took about 6 months after ascension to office for some of the left to engage in whining that would earn them a gold medal at the kindergarten Olympics.

“He’s not the person I voted for”

“I feel like I’ve been duped, lied to even”

“Where is the change?   He hasn’t done anything he said would do”

Statements like those have been grating to my person since their inception, (I elaborate on why soon) but surprisingly I stumbled upon an amalgamation of them today that I truly enjoyed.

Now if I’m being honest, I could probably listen to a remake Goyte’s “Somebody That I used to Know”  that posited Black people should go back to Africa, and Dan Rooney was the anti Christ (remember the heyday of that saying?) and think it was gift sent from upon high to bless the auditory components of my being. Given that, it’s no surprise that I find the Obama needling  “The Obama I Used to Know” entertaining.

Throughout the good remake which is accompanied by a nicely crafted video, two Obama Supporters elucidate (bitch about) the ideals President Obama allegedly has betrayed, after fooling them into believing he would act upon them via his spectacular oratory 

There are lines that particularly stand out like:

“The Change I got was that I moved in with my mother”

“Because you won and you cut me off, now your speeches never run as high as unemployment”

“Just sent in a predator drone, cuz now your not Obama that I used to know”

 “Sometimes I think the peace prize winner shouldn’t have a kill list”

“Said you rouse your economy, your big package didn’t stimulate me”

“But you’ve won now so you cut me off”

As you can see there are many gripes that this remake transformed into amusing digs.

Contrary to the belief of some, I have a very robust sense of humor and found this song to be great.  Do the creators seem to be devoid of any pragmatic context in regard to the world of politics like the millions who echo their view?

Yes

Do the complaints voiced in the song make those performing it sound slightly off base with reality like the polar opposite political counterparts?

Si again señor (señora) 

Those bothersome realities don’t take away from the greatness of this vignette, but they do bear some political consequences. 

While there are legitimate gripes against Obama (like there are against all Presidents), the personal failure of millions to truly assess what type politician he was during the previous election and logically assess how he would  if he attained office, spawns the ignorance that creates those wayward sentiments 

Quite simply, people flat out didn’t read the label correctly or consciously deluded themselves into a false sense of belief about the man they voted for four years ago.

While I can laugh at this video, the thoughts that greet me upon my return from the 4 min plus distraction are disconcerting.  The 2012 Presidential Race is far closer than it should be from this liberal’s perspective. It doesn’t take a genius to assess that without the young White vote (like the two individuals in the video) and a robust Black voter turnout, President Obama will have a very difficult winning reelection.

Mostly unfounded or not, many, Obama voters who were entranced in 2008 by a brilliant advertising campaign feel they were fooled by false promises. Unless President Obama can reinstill belief in his stated vision and garner the trust of those scorned by his first term, those residing on the left will receive change we won’t want to believe but will be forced to accept.   

RIGHTEOUS THEFT

Steal from this man.

Criminal court proceedings involving rappers have become depressingly common in recent times rendering pronouncements that an MC likely will be spending significant time as a government slave, mundane to audiences likely to be alerted of them.

Luckily for (those not being sued) us, there was recent ruling in civil court that should be very intriguing to Hip Hop fans, rather they be of the ardent or fleeting variety.

No I’m not referencing the odd but interesting lawsuit Lord Finesse brought against Mac Miller a few weeks back. The civil matter in question deals with a Hip Hop entity with an even larger identity than the youthful Burgh star.

Rick Ross has been ubiquitous in the world of mainstream coke rap since he dropped the audacious “Hustling” in 2006. Via hard work, precise calculation, and most importantly, the creation of quality music, Ross has steadily ascended in fame over the past six years.

Ross will drop 2012’s most anticipated album outside of anything associated with Kanye West next week and has, at least symbolically reached placement in Hip Hop’s pantheon.

So life is good for Mr. Ross no? Well yes in a sense but for now where going to haft leave that type of phraseology to Mr. Jones. Nas might have ever contagious “Rapper Tax Disease” and will haft to pay for every ridiculous outfit Kelis wears for the rest of his life, but at least he never had/ doesn’t have somebody stating that he stole his entire image off of them.

Last week a judge ruled that a lawsuit by legendary former (destroyer of Black people) drug impresario Freeway Ricky Ross  against Warner Brothers records and Rick Ross the rapper, was valid, allowing it to proceed through the court system.

Actual convicted felon Ross is suing Hip Hop mega star Ross for unjust enrichment and false adverting, amongst other claims which can be basically summed up as the Florida rapper being accused of stealing and then profiting off Freeway Rick’s entire life.

Let’s take a second her and be completely honest with ourselves.

Rick Ross is guilty as F**k of the claims against him.

Your IQ would haft to be at a level that doesn’t prevent you from slobbering on yourself to think the man with the government moniker of William Roberts II didn’t derive his name from one the biggest cocaine traffickers known to the American populace.

It’s hard to imagine an MC who boasts about being about “The Biggest Boss you ever saw” who took it upon himself to adopt Rick Ross as a stage name, not doing so in homage and or reverence for the man, who when adjusted for inflation, made over a billion off the distribution of that white.

Now that’s “Rich Off Cocaine”.

As hurtful as it must be to see somebody else profiting off of YOUR life to the point that individual literally trademarked your likeness, the general empathy conjured for someone in that circumstance is lost upon Rick Ross.

While being told that you can’t profit off of your (criminal) past may be a difficult yet understandable blow, having to watch somebody else make millions off of it has to be soul crushing.

But

Rick Ross deserves to suffer.

Ross wasinstrumental in the destruction of incalculable amount of lives via his drug network; whose impact Black America in particular, is still reeling from. In an ironic but still ultimately detrimental twist, the likeness the real “reformed” Rick Ross is trying to get back from Rick Ross the rapper is now beingutilized to promote and ultimately influence others to engage a lifestyle he’s long disavowed.

Meaning

The negative impact of the “work” Rick Ross engaged in still reverberates strongly against the American landscape.

Based on the crimes he was convicted of an his own boastful admissions, the 14 years Ross served were a ridiculously paltry recompense to the public, whose well being he willfully help degrade.

Ones, moral and logical leanings might summarize the forever bearded Florida MC should be obligated to break some of that estimated 17-25 million dollar bread with the aforementioned street legend.

True fairness being meted out demands a harsh truth be told. Our finite caches of empathy are better spent elsewhere.

The ongoing nightmare Freeway Rick Ross continuously endures happens to be no more than an unknowingly indebted man, continuing to pay his debt to society.

Side Note: Come to think of it Cormega did try to Gusto Nas for scribing and living out other people’slives, but somehow 5 for 40 isn’t making 2 million in one day.

10 Years Ago.....

The was a time long ago, when like 20 million other people, I was a “rapper”, or at least tried my hand at it. By my pretty subjective objective opinion, I was pretty okay at it, but being the introvert that I am, amongst other things really didn’t help out my cause. (I think that only worked out for DOOM)

One of those “other” causes happened to be dissention/disagreement between members in the group I was apart of. While far from guilt free (I was the king of “I understand what you're saying but this is why you're wrong), some of the conflicts we engaged in really made this lover of democracy start to really question my negative view of the whole authoritarian rule thing.

A debate, nah.. a argument from those times that still resonates with me was one members refusal to “Rap over anybody else's beat.” Prior to taking such an ardent stance we had done fairly well building a catalog of songs either spawned from samples or flat out remakes (Damn redoing “Icewater” was fun) but out of the blue one guy viewed such a practice as sacrilege.

“I want to use my own beats, and stand out that way” was the view that was shot at me. Which REALLY pissed me off at the time, because all I could think about was how dope we would sound over the recently released “Made You Look”. To me It was like dude copped a version of Fruity Loops and lost his f*****g mind.

What? You want to know the point of me bringing you along on this trip in the wayback
machine? Okay.

I share that glimpse of my  past because it recently came to mind again after I saw this
XXL article commemorating the 10 year anniversary of 50 Cents game changing “50 Cent is the Future”

While the title of said mixtape foreshadowed who the preeminent force in Hip Hop would be, it also acted as a stock tip derived from insider trading.

Rocking over beats already made familiar by other artist was the move.

While he definitely wasn’t the first MC appropriate the beats of others for his own gain, (Cube “Jacking for Beats” Tony Touch's “50 MC’s” among many others come to mind) he definitely was the first to radically alter the mixtape format from one that enlisted a litany of MC occupying a tape hosted by a particular DJ, to one of a particular artist or group taking the main stage on a mixtape often giving you a album worth (of often album worthy) material in the process

While DatPiff’s servers are full of Wack MC’s who have desecrated some to the best instrumentals in the  known Hip Hop world, Mr. Jackson’s opus gave legitimacy and normalized a practice that would spawn some the best music created over the past decade

There arguably wouldn't have a “Trap or Die” or any other Gangsta Grill  blessings from Mr.Thanksgiving (a.k.a Barack Odrama b.k.a DJ Drama) without 50’s landmark mixtape.  We also probably wouldn’t have been privy to Crooked I’s amazing (and far too imitated) Hip Hop Weekly series, amongst a litany of other great tracks.

I highly suggest checking out the XXL article on the making of it. Its a fun trip down memory lane to a time where Lloyd Banks didn’t sound like he had his larnax crushed by an olympic weightlifter, it was cool to get shot(???) and Curtis Jackson was the best distraction to keep you from dwelling on how horrible Bush II was.

Artists Speak On Their Songs Remade for 50 Cent Is The Future

SOPHIA NELSON'S IMPENETRABLE CHRISTIAN DEFENSE DEBATE SCHOOL

I follow Ms. Nelson on twitter and happened to see her retweet someone praising her for basically eviscerating Michael Eric Dyson during a debate.

So being the debate fan I am, I went and sought out the debate in question.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Three word response after watching?

"I'm not impressed"

While I'm not the biggest Michael Eric Dyson fan, I would say he pretty much got this, and deserves credit for  keeping his cool once Nelson brung out the grimy debate tactics and verbal headbutts at the 5 minute mark until the debates conclusion.

It's my nature to elaborate on things like this, but I utilizing this debate for a post I'm working on for "The Sunday Dame", which I've self imposed a 3pm deadline on. (Must type faster!)

 Hope to see you over there later, where I'll get into this subject in a more in depth manner.

COMPLEX’S NOT SO COMPLEX LIST OF RACISM

I’ve said it many many times before, (okay maybe not here) Complex is the best magazine in the world.  Generally I abstain from such hyperbole, especially when realities such as my monolingual state and procrastination on utilizing Google Translate erode the empirical basis of such statements.

In this case however, I’ll say it anyway

While I haven't actually picked up a complex in a tangible manner in years, going to their site is a daily routine of mines that I hope to repay one day by purchasing goods from their sponsors.

No matter the topic, the writing on Complex’s site is always good.  Where Complex really shines is on their  “Top List”

If you're anywhere near a countdown fan (fanatic) like I am, trust me, Complex is the site for you.
The point of this blog post isn’t to act like I’m employed by Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce tho, its purpose is to point out one of those glorious time killing list I came across this week.

Complex’s  “15 Most Shockingly Racist Celebrity Tweets”, is well worth the view.

In this post racial world we live in, it's good to be kept grounded in reality by the most famous among us. It's no “Look at all the bad White people” list either

No matter what that Godbody told you way back when, this list shows that Black people can be racist to

My premenient thoughts from this list:

I kinda of shocked Ricky Rubio’s tweet didn’t make that much noise, but such words coming from the same guy that was a part of this, doesn't surprise me.

Rhianna’s  tweet was beyond racist....

And

The people who wonder why I hate Chelsea  Handler, will witness one of the reasons why.

So check out the list and the rest of Complex’s marvelous site below

Complex’s  “15 Most Shockingly Racist Celebrity Tweets” 

UPDATE

Due to the utter shoddiness of Go Daddy's "Quick Blogcast" I've decided to leave that wretched blog platform alone and return to Bloger and bring the "RandomILL".com with me.

There isn't a integration tool that works with Quick Blogcast so my posts from over there aren't making the trip over.

But

I plan on filling this blog with post daily.

For ones most recent post being from 2008 and referencing Myspace isn't a good look.

Wack MySpace Rapper of the Week #1

You Prolly Have a Myspace

And You Prolly Get inundated with far to many request from bands, singers, and the worst, rappers that you don't even know.

I know it sucks

I'm here to make fun of them and to make you not feel guilty about automatically deleting there shit.

And in the Case That the Artist is actually Good...

I will Call Em

"The Actually Good Myspace Rappper of the Week"

On to this weeks contestant..

MC Fuck Ya Life


A couple things..

I'm Not a hater

and

I appreciate new talent, and honestly wish there was more of it.

That being said, I hate wack artists..

And I really hate pushy wack artits...

Pushy Wack Artist that think thier good.......

Man they are the worst

I got a Friend Request from this dude...A week ago for his page....

http://www.myspace.com/fuckyalifedaoneinonly

Now I'm known to let a friend request lounge around in my mail box for a while

Unless

Your a really sexy female

or

You seem to be very politically inclined...

Wrong? well fuck it sue me...

Anyway, I leave em around because when I do want to go and actually check out their page, I want to pay it the proper attention it deserves...you know....read what they about ...and listen to there music...and give it a fair chance..

Well fast forward back today and I get a message from homie
titled

"Whats gd"

basicly stating...

"add my page nigga"

huh?

I'm thinking do I know this dude?

Is this my Nigga Greg and did he just move to New Jerz....?

Without getting heated...I decided now would be as good as anytime to go listen his music..and maybe just maybe I would add his page if he was good..

Besides arguing back in forth on myspace seems hella gay if I may say so

Never done it...and dont ever plan to

I'm to Danny Glover for that shit...

So I go to listen..

Okay First mistake...

This dude has like 3,000 playlist and they all auto start by themselves..

not a good look...or sound.... and very annoying...

After fucking with the virtual mixing board for like min or so.. I decide to listen to the some of the songs...

"My Time"

Jesus Christ....somebody teach this guy about sound quality ..and mixing a song...
To Be honest..the song wasn't that bad..the beat sounded like some late 90's early millennium West Coast shit..very very average

"Sweeter than candy canes."../ "Shitting on the track leaving do do stains"

are the star lyrics provided..smh


"Hey Girl"

I Listened to a Minute of This Shit and I don't Know How

You Remember them cheap ass extremely small keyboards you used to get for Christmas...with that one programed song? That's what this shit sounds like...

Production Quality Horrible.....Beat Embarrassing.... I cant believe somebody was proud of that beat... I woulda drowned that beat like Susan Smith

"Fuck Your Life Beats"

lol....Listen to the last beat on the last playlist...and I dare you not to laugh

Dare You

I would describe some more of his tracks but...trust me there wack also.

Dude has very average lyrics...painfully average....like don't even try to make a metaphor if that's the best you got lyrics. Which happen to sadly be the icing on a wack ass beat cake..


Verdict... Wack Rapper / Not Added to My Friends List

I'm going to go look in the mirror and apoligize to my ears now..


Once again

http://www.myspace.com/fuckyalifedaoneinonly

If you want to find the truth out for yourself


And Rappers Remember

Don't get mad..


I just gave you publicity...