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MVP feat Dwane Sweaze Holla to the World review by John M. Ellison IV
“MVP? You mean the dude from WWE raps?” Yep and he’s good at it too. In fact, music was one of his first loves. Oh yeah, he’s in New Japan Pro Wrestling now.
MVP grew up in Miami and grew up in a household where he was exposed to all types of music. He was born in 1973 and watched the evolution of rap and hip-hop. He grew up in a time where there was no rap music to be found on the radio and even though black radio stations played the occasional rap song remember there weren’t any stations dedicated to rap and r&b. A lot of the rap music he got was from friends from New York when they would come down and bring mixtapes of DJ Red Alert, Hot 97, KISS FM. In 6th grade, he heard Run DMC for the first time.
During a lull in his 6th Grade class he had some free time I was bored and I wrote my very first rap and later at recess he was standing behind the P.E. shed with a few friends and read it to a few friends and one of the teachers Mr. Strong caught him and I was scared because there were a couple of bad words and he thought I was going to get into trouble. Strong read it. But instead of getting into trouble he actually gave the young MVP props for being a 6th grader and writing that well.
The song “Holla to the World” is a song that came about on a plane ride to a pay per view. Dwane Sweaze is an artist that MVP‘s work he enjoyed a lot and asked him if he wanted to drop a verse on it. Lyric wise, it’s pretty much giving a glimpse into the life of MVP. MVP has a flow that’s kind of melodic and combined with a raspy tone that’s that complements the composition. Composition wise, the synth pads give it a chill atmosphere that reminds me of Pharrell produced “Excuse Me Miss” by Jay-Z.
In closing, it’s a decent effort at be on the lookout for the video to “Holla to the World.”
Holla To The World ft. Dwane Sweazie by MVP305
photo courtesy of Black Voices
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C.M. Punk’s epic promo! by John Ellison IV
I’ve been a wrestling fan since I was about 6. If you know me, then you know this about me. I’ve also been watching Monday Night RAW for years. I admit, the more I delve into wrestling…the more disenfranchised I get with Monday Night RAW though.
Don’t get me wrong, in the last few months there have been some great moments…But moments like this just leave me speechless. Let me explain. According to the storyline and also reality, in 3 weeks C.M. Punk’s contract with the WWE is supposed to expire and he’s not looking to come back. Did I also mention that in three weeks he’s proclaiming that at “Money at the Bank” he’s leaving with the belt? Hmm, I can think of another wrestler who tried to leave with the belt in his “stomping grounds” too.
Anyway, C.M. Punk lived up to his name and cut one of the greatest promos of the year…and it’s only JUNE! C.M. Punk broke the 4th wall by mentioning NJPW, Ring of Honor and shouts out Colt Cabana gains even more of my admiration. I’m not going to spoil the rest. Watch for yourself.
There’s huge debate online with the “internet wrestling community” on if this was a “shoot”, “work”, “worked shoot.”
Well, how about this…we all agree that this was an awesome ending to RAW.
photo courtesy of David Seto
http://www.flickr.com/people/26710212@N02
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Bad Brains-I Against I video
Here’s the “colonel’s secret recipe” to Bad Brains…punk rock+jazz fusion+reggae-giving a damn what anybody thinks=Bad Brains. Know your history, kids.
20
Rest in Peace to the “Big Man” Clarence Clemons…
I’m not going to wax poetic about how great Clarence Clemons was. “Born to Run” and “Jungleland” encapsulates all the reasons why.
“Born to Run”
“Jungleland”
photo courtesy of
http://www.nndb.com/people/732/000031639/clarence-clemens.jpg
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The Nillaz-”It is What it Is” review by John M. Ellison IV
On 6/15/2011, I got this single by this band called The Nillaz. For those who aren’t familiar with the Nillaz, they’re a “hip hop” band from Brooklyn, New York. The members are Java and Ill-on on Vocals, Ethos on Guitar, Kevvy Kev on Drums, Chris Strange on Key Boards, and Bass Mon on Bass.
To describe their sound in a nutshell, they kind of sound like how I imagine if the Beastie Boys were fronted by a white Lil’ Jon doing an impression of voice actor Jim Cummings.
Anyway, onto their song “It is what it is.” Lyrically, I’m going to be blunt…I have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s kind of like a bunch of random thoughts that go on about him being broke to being dead and then numbing himself through drug use. I guess the concept is the struggles that one goes through I guess? I’m not really sure. Composition wise, it’s reminiscent of “Suicide Hotline” by Insane Clown Posse and “Just a Thought” by Gnarls Barkley. It’s kind of hard to describe…maybe that’s why it’s called “It is what it is.”
In closing, The Nillaz is something that you’re either going to dig or disavow any knowledge of but enjoy in private…well until they breakthrough that is.
14
Tech N9ne-”He’s a Mental Giant” review by John M. Ellison IV
Hey folks, I’m going to share my thoughts on the “He’s a Mental Giant” track off of Tech N9ne’s new album “All 6’s and 7’s.”
Lyrically, Tech N9ne revisits the theme of intellectual bravado with lyrics referring to him as being like “Shaq on stilts” and also a Robert Klein reference. It’s kind of like an updated version of “Einstein” off of the “Anghellic” album. Production wise, you have a solid track from Michael “Seven” Summers. Interesting fact is that the hook for “He’s a Mental Giant” is sampled from the 1939 cartoon “Boy Meets Dog” by Walter Lantz. For anybody that has really paid attention to tracks by “Seven”, this shouldn’t be a surprise that he would sample something like “Boy Meets Dog.” For example, on “Welcome to the Midwest” off of the 2006 release “Everready: The Religion”, Seven used a sample of “Sway” by Dean Martin to give the song a kind of Mafioso kind of vibe and on “Bout Ta Bubble” he sampled “Beatbox” by Art of Noise.
Another interesting point about this song is that there has been a video made for this and it premiered on MTV2 on May 28th, 2011.
In the video, Tech finds himself walking on a brick road through a forest with talking trees. While on this road, he comes across a more disheveled drunken version of the “Clown”, after passing a whorehouse he’s accompanied by “King” and the “G” is just standing there looking cool. While running through the fields, he’s stalked by the flying logos. Unlike his alter egos, Tech is granted access to “Scarlet City” which is a desolate cave that he runs through. At the end of the tunnel, Tech sees the curtain and pulls it back and sees nothing behind the curtain but a brick wall and backs into a hot air balloon resembling Tech N9ne’s “spiky” hair. Tech realizes that he was in control this whole time and leaves Scarlet City and his egos behind. Or in other words, it’s pretty much a Strange Music reinterpretation of the “Wizard of Oz.”
In closing as a long time Tech N9ne fan, I see the video as a sign of personal growth. Tech N9ne’s “All 6’s and 7’s” is available now at Best Buy, iTunes and Wal Mart.
13
Ignite ad
Hey folks, a friend of mine has a business opportunity that sounds quite captivating and by coincidence is available in four of my biggest markets. So, any of my readers in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Texas who are tired of paying high energy bills. Check out this link here
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Black Sunday “Mask of the Demon” feature by John M. Ellison IV
Check out the promo for “Black Sunday”
Black Sunday “Mask Of The Demon” Promo PT.1 (Darko Edition) from DJ Bless on Vimeo.
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The Price of Fame documentary by John M. Ellison IV
Check out the Ted DiBiase documentary “the Price of Fame.”
The Price Of Fame from Peter Ferriero on Vimeo.
2
Backdoor to Chyna…the Title’s Funny Enough by John M. Ellison IV
On Thursday May 26, 2011 there was mussitating about former wrestler Chyna going back into adult film after an article on entertainment website TMZ. Later on, in an official statement from “Chyna” (real name Joanie Laurer) these “allegations” were quickly denied. Then on June 1st 2011, Vivid video released a trailer featuring the former WWF (now WWE) wrestler tentatively titled “Backdoor into Chyna” in some to put it mildly…hardcore action. Judging from the trailer, the video includes Chyna partaking in sexual acts with adult starlets Diana Prince, Dylan Ryder and Dayna Vendetta in the midst of a collage of various sex acts with other adult stars.
Chyna doing an anal theme adult film isn’t that surprising to me. If anybody remembers (or whoever has seen it and haven’t blacked out that part of their memory) the video “1 Night in China” that she did with former boyfriend and wrestler X-Pac (real name Sean Waltman) and the second DVD w/ additional footage, there was a scene where she was partaking in anal sex with X-Pac amongst other acts throughout the video.
One of the biggest selling points of “Backdoor into Chyna” is that she’s working with Evan and Lee Stone. Aside from Evan Stone appearing in the adult Simpsons parody, I’m not necessarily familiar with either Lee or Evan Stone. The only thing I know about either of them is that they’re currently being promoted as some of the biggest guys in porn right now…I just realized that had a double meaning.
In closing, as an admitted fan of Chyna I have to say that I’m kind of confused about why she would lie about a video that apparently does exist and perplexed why she thought Vivid video wouldn’t release a video that she was contracted to do.
Link to Backdoor to Chyna…NSFW (Not Safe for Work)
photo courtesy of
http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/06/01/vivid-entertainment-releases-clips-from-chynas-new-adult-movie/
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