Happy Birthday Michael...R.I.P.

The lyrics to MJ's Gone Too Soon ring true today as the world both remembers and celebrates his birthday. The tragedy of his life was, that his talent could never truly speak loud enough for people to just sit back and listen instead of talking and gossiping, ridiculing, and accusing. Mike entertained the world in more ways that any performer I've ever seen. When he sang, I sang along, when he danced, I watched closely, and when he spoke, I listened attentively. He commanded your attention with everything that he did.

There is now a void in the world, in the entertainment field. It wasn't often that you heard any new Michael, but his every effort was so timeless that it carried you through until that new release finally surfaced. Even then, you could still go back and play the old classics along with the new ones. Everything he touched was platinum status and beyond. I've heard people ask, who will be the next Mike Jackson? My answer to that is, there will never be. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his friends, his children, and his true fans. You will forever be alive, simply because you left so much of yourself with us, embedded in your music, your videos, your films. Your legacy will continue forever through song and dance, through imitation and innovation but rest assured, you're just another part of us, that can never be duplicated.

Happy Birthday and R.I.P. Mr. Moonwalker.

I Needed This...How About You?

My Favorite Song of the Moment

Something To Think About...

What happened to our leaders?

Will we ever see another Malcolm X or MLK, jr? What about another Rosa Parks? We still have Jesse and Al but, have they lost their touch? Have they forgotten the true essence of the civil rights movement? I believe they still do great things but, couldn't, no, shouldn't we all do more? We should all do more to make sure that the dreams of our formers(and current) leaders don't fall to the wayside. The things that we see in the world, on the news, in the papers everyday should be thoughts and action of the past. It's crazy to me that we still have the color and creed barrier. Why can't we just love and respect each other simply for the sake of doing so? Something's gotta give.

Be Blessed.

Tax Free Weekend...Yay!!!

Hopefully, the sarcasm in my title was evident. I can't begin to tell you how much I despise tax free weekend in SC. Don't get me wrong, I'm for anything that helps anyone save money but...if you're not buying huge amounts or big ticket items, where's the savings? I believe that the best thing to do for any back to school shopping, especially to avoid the huge crowds is to keep an eye on sales weeks prior to tax free weekend. Especially on things like, pens and pencils, notebooks, highlighters, etc. You never know, that 75 cent notebook thats you're saving 6% sales tax on could have been on sale for 55 cents a week or two prior, which ends up being less than 75 cents even with sales tax. The only thing I would even consider wasting my energy on would be a computer. For all else, give me a less busy store with a parking lot that I can find a space in, shorter lines, and decent prices. For all those scrambling out to save those pennies, good luck and God speed to you. While you're shopping, be nice to those at the stores that are there to assist you. As a consumer, you can't imagine how stressful this weekend can be.

Y'all be blessed.

The State of Hip Hop

Almost on a daily basis for what seems like an eternity we've heard the phrase "Hip Hop is Dead" in many ways and forms. While listening to some of today's new releases, I almost jumped on that bandwagon myself. I have a newsflash though. Hip hop is not now, nor will it ever be dead. I just think that it's stuck on stupid, in a loop that no one is willing to put an end to.

I've never been against anyone making money and creating a better life for themselves but, even I have to admit that some of the music from these little one hit wonder pop up out of nowhere groups is just plain dumb and promotes ignorance and illiteracy. I'm from the old school and, we had our moments with dance rap. I mean, we had the humpty dance, the butterfly, the tootsie roll, and others that were not only a dance sequence in themselves, but also had songs to go along with them. The only difference though between that and today is that almost every song that comes out now is that. Back then, there was a variety, so, if you didn't want to hear the upbeat dance related stuff, you have a plethora of other artists still dropping music constantly that fit whatever you need was at any particular time. Right now, all you have to choose between is something with a dance or trap music. There is no balance in hip hop.

Hip hop began with up tempo tracks, pop-lockers, and break dancers but, even with that in mind, the lyrics were still about their pains, and struggles, it's was still conscious music, it had a message. Let's compare some lyrics....Planet Rock vs. The Stanky Leg.

Just start to chase your dreams
Up out your seats, make your body sway
Socialize, get down, let your soul lead the way
Shake it now, go ladies, it's a livin' dream
Love Life Live
Come play the game , our world is free
Do what you want but scream

We know a place where the nights are hot
It is a house of funk
Females and males
Both headed all for the disco

The D.J. plays your favorite blasts
Takes you back to the past, music's magic (poof)
Bump bump bump get bump with some flash, people

The above is from Planet Rock, and yes they are talking about partying and dancing but look at the message, telling people to socialize and to chase their dreams, so there definitely was a message in the midst of everything else, at least in my opinion. Next song.

When I hit da dance floor,
You know I'm doin' da stanky leg!
Sauce on my ring and then ya rub it across ya head!
You a ace boon coon chick, you can do it too
Snap ya fingers in the air and shake yo micros too!
Now you can lean wit it, and you can drop wit it!
You can switch the other leg and you can stop wit it!
Now get it, get it(x4)
Now hit da booty doo, hit da booty do(x2)
Now you can get wit it, gon get wit it(x2)


Now, let's be honest, do I even have to comment?

Club songs are a necessary part of the hip hop culture, hence the popularity of Luke and the 2 Live Crew, the 69 Boyz, SoSoDef Bass All Stars, etc from back in the day but to me, when every single song that comes on the radio is a club/dance track, then there's definitely a problem in the world of hip hop.

The bottom line is, hip hop is far from dead, but it's in definite need of balance.

-Don Savant

Something To Think About

If life required you to have a user name and password with only 3 attempts to retrieve the information if lost, how many of you would lose yourselves?

Dear Blog

I know it's been a while, but I haven't forgotten you. As a matter of fact, I've been thinking of coming to you to seek refuge, just as I did when you were just another page in my notebook. At this moment in my life, I feel I need you and I'm glad that you're still here for me. Life has been overwhelming but not in a completely negative sense. With everything that I'm trying to accomplish, my plate stays full. I'm grateful for everything that I'm going through and I know that one day soon I'll be looking down from a mountain top just to appreciate what I've been through to be where I am.



Sincerely,
Don Savant