highly anticipated albums of the year, and what i think.

the most anticipated albums of 2009 in my opinion have actually impressed me to say the least, which surprising because i haven't really been much of a mainstream hip hop listener until recently, since music in that genre is showing a little bit more promise these days. there is good stuff out there, you just have to look past the trends and material hype of the media and all th

at. we will never have another hip hop era like the 80s and early 90s, but instead we have a whole plethora of other things. i think that's what we've been failing to see. some music of our time, yes, is complete garbage. but it depends on who you ask. these artists wouldn't make it anywhere if everyone thought their music sucked, right? but obviously people like me will never be a part of the vast majority all the time.

So I've downloaded some albums, simply because I don't buy albums...I have other things to spend my money on, and I'd much rather have everything on my hard drive so i can bluetooth them to other computers and my phone without having to rip anything.

So I'm going to write these reviews. Hear what I have to say, and maybe at the end if I'm not sick of writing, I'll say a little bit more.

First up: Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3

This album when it came out didn't really excite

me because I thought it was another one of those albums that everyone wants just because of the artist and his associations. I was helping one of my friends out with his math stuff one day, and he was asking if he could come over and download it, since he lives in a dorm, and torrents and file sharing will cost you a hefty fine. So he asked me if I've heard it yet, and i said no, I haven't. I had intentions on listening to some 30 second clips, but never downloading the entire thing. So he said, it's good stuff, and I should give it a shot. This person has an interesting taste in hip hop, so I was like, well it can't be that bad. So I downloaded it, and listened to it. It's not like any

thing that Jay-Z has put out before, the beats are more captivating, and I've always kind of liked his rapping style. Actually, I like a lot of northern rappers because of the way they rap. and he had collaborations with a lot of other artists like Kid Cudi, Alicia Keys, and Kanye West...and there was a new guy named J. Cole I liked a lot. So overall, I think it was a good album considering the state that music is in. I give it a B+.

Next Album: Kid Cudi: Man on the Moon: The End of the Day (i hope i remembered it correctly)

Great Album, I don't think anyone was expecting any of the stuff on it. Kid Cudi gave everyone a rap impression with "Make Her Say" featuring Common and Kanye West, which is one of my favorites on the album. Most of this album, though, is a rap-sung style. a lot of his verses are sung which is some different stuff in the game these days. Which is pretty cool. I like his whole surreal, out-

of-this-world theme that he has going on. His music videos also reflect that. I think his music is good for listening, and just that. Some of them are foot-tappers, but not really a get-up-and-move album. I still really like it though. "Man on the Moon" and "Enter Galactic" are also some good ones to hear. I also liked his mixtape that was released earlier (A Kid Named Cudi), two songs called "Embrace the Martian" and "50 Ways to Make a Record". 50 Ways is a sample of a song called "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon, recorded in 1975.

Overall, GREAT ALBUM.

And...Wale, Attention:Deficit

I love this album. I heard better lyricists as far as the cadences and syncopation in their raps, but Wale has a way with words. There are some artists that you can tell whether or not they know how to use the English languages and the words in it, or if they're just trying to make their bars rhyme. He has a nice flow though, and it's good stuff for a debut album. Wale has been around for a while, but this is his first real thing, and I think it's pretty good. The only song on there I change when it comes on is called "Pretty Girls" featuring Gucci Mane. And you probably know why. I really like"Diary" and "TV in the Radio" featuring K'Naan. The first time I've heard K'Naan rap was when he had a freestyle at the Hip Hop Awards or something last year. I liked his freestyle, and his verse on "TV in the Radio" is also a real nice one. Wale's album in my opinion was pretty impressive, and i know a lot of people who like "Chillin" featuring Lady Gaga. She kinda reminds me of M.I.A. in that song, but whatever, it's cool, I like it. I also think it's cool that DC and PG county are kinda on the map now, and Wale is also a Nigerian who happens to be from the same tribe as I am, which really didn't influence my opinion before. Just interesting to know.

GOOD album, I give it two thumbs up.

---------------

as far as the whole industry is concerned, I really want to hear more of J. Cole, K'Naan and there are some others I can't think of.

Oldies? LAURYN HILL. hands down. she is one of best female vocalists ever. I still listen to eminem's Slim Shady EP and the Marshall Mathers LP. Curtain Call is good too, eminem is VERY talented, i don't understand that garbage he put out this year. but it's different, so I respect it. Bizzare and some other D-12 artists are also pretty good, listen to a song called "No One's Iller", it's on Slim Shady EP, and there's a song called "What's the Difference" on Dr. Dre's 2001 album.

Hope you liked my review! you know, despite all the typos i probably had in there... hahahahaasjdhajshdas=]

let's switch things up a bit.

So, I kind of want to get into my blogging more, people say they like my blogs and I should write more of them, but I think I'm thinking too hard about it lol. So I'm just going to start doing random shit, and my goal is to write something at least once a week.

Ok, so lately, I've been thinking that I don't want to lose the little bit of talent I have in music..lol so I want to improve my piano skills back up again. I want to get at least as good as I used to be. It won't be easy, but I think it's worth it. I can still read music, thank God, but I can't do it as fast as I used to. Like I see the notes and know what they are, but I've been away from the keys so long, I actually have to look down at my hands. So then I have to label my music to save myself the time lol.

Ughhh but it's annoying and I will overcome it. I decided that on Tuesdays, after my World Politics class, which is over at 12:15, I'll go to the Performing Arts Center and practice some stuff. I think that should build up my skill a little bit. And any other time that I might happen to be on campus with nothing to do, I'm going to go there.

I miss my fucking keys man...I used to just play for the sake of playing, like playing instruments used to calm me down when I was upset about things. But it's almost lost to me now...

So I'm learning this song called, "One Time" by Justin Bieber, you've probably heard it before, and you probably are asking "What the hell" when I said that. Yeah, Justin Bieber may seem a little cheesy, but when the song is played on the piano, it's amazing. The sheet music that I took a picture of is the simplified version...I'll do the more advanced one when I get better again. The piano arrangements that I've heard people transcribe on youtube sound so beautiful so I decided that I wanted to try that song. A lot of people who do this song sing along with it, but I'll decide whether or not to do that once I learn the chords...and ALL the words to the song.

I'm pretty sure that I'll never record it though. lol

But I will record myself playing something, once I get up and running again.

Otherwise, I think I'm doing pretty well...uh huh.

I think I'm going to start making greater use of my youtube. I don't know what I'll be doing, maybe I'll do some video blogs sometime. like when I go places. But yessir, that is my blog. =]

Hope you likedd....

-trip.

to nobody.

Things are easier said than done

such an overused phrase...

but it's so true. i never realized how true that was

and as a result, my mind has started to travel

all my train cars have separated

taking different roots at these divergent tracks

and it's confusing because they all travel at different speeds

some don't even stop to wait

talkless of looking back...

they don't wait. they don't take the time to listen

they just zoom on past like they weren't just part of one train

this train that has been whole for ages

they just, you know, kept going,

leaving their exhaust smoke behind choking the green car

the green car is the car of reason

the middle car that kept everyone together

but soon as we reached these divergent tracks..

it's like we never existed

but things that you did before start catching up to you

like that person who was only a few minutes late for the train

and you left them anyway...so now they're stranded in a

wasteland town

or the inoperable train car you just left behind

without so much as a glance

or that illegal 'detour' you took

that now obviously leads to nowhere that we know

or the secrets kept among the train staff

"what happens here, stays here" right?

but then everything comes into fruition

and we later realize that

everything that we did...or they did

stays with you forever

no matter how much you try to forget this

integral part of life

it's okay. it's fine.

i promise.

i don't lie now

believe me, i won't...

but those things you said

bring me to different conclusions

you know...it's funny how someone's actions

impact, influence, completely alter and sometime denature your previous notions

or forced thoughts

but you can't deceive yourself forever.

if you think you can...you're a fool.

fool - foolish - foolishness can't decide

what to think

it's probably unclear what context i'm speaking in

is it third person

or first person

third omniscient?

i love playing tricks with you

you're so vulnerable my dear.

you...?

doesn't exist. just a understood word for whoever is reading this

i think i'm starting to sound like a mentally unsound person

because i'm probably not making any sense

but that's great. really it is...

please. just...

just...

understand me.

music, when we meet again...

i think most people who appreciate music can agree with me when i say music has deteriorated as a whole. like everybody who was somebody back in the day has either taken a huge hiatus, retired, or died :( but its crazy the direction that music has headed. it's depressing. I can't even religiously listen to mainstream music or music that comes out nowadays for the most part. most of it is GARBAGE. like I'm waiting for Lauryn hill to get it together and come out with something. even if its just an album with like 5 songs on it, that's fine lol. Lauryn hill has disappointed me with her antics, but I'll never forget that she is a freaking musical genius. how many artists do you know that can do everything that she did; excelling in singing and rapping? and don' tell me that you didn't love sister act II.

And hip hop has been falling apart for a long time. but to clear things up, I don't think "Soulja Boy single-handedly killed hip-hop" as Ice-T said. I actually respect Soulja Boy to some extent because hip hop started out as a music of originality. Not saying he's the most original artist out there, but I'd listen to him over Hurricane Chris any day. talking about, "let's get ratchettttt". what the hell?

But if I had to choose the best rappers of today in my opinion, it would be Eminem (even though Relapse kinda sucks), Kanye West (even though he's really, really cocky), Common, Kid Cudi, and there are a few others but I can't remember them right now.

But I stick to old school as far as music is concerned. Ever since Michael Jackson died, I've been listening to him, The Jacksons, the Jackson 5, and some of the Jacksons' solo projects. There really is no other family like the Jacksons'.

And everything else, like i said, OLD SCHOOL.

But maybe music will rescue itself for everyone's sake. Music is a huge part of my life, and I'm not just saying that because everyone else does. Every part of it, the instrumentals, the arrangement, I notice it. Knowing music and its history is important to me, so I listen to everything from Tchaikovsky to the Al Jolson and Cab Calloway.

you know what's funny...I'm listening to DMX right now. Isn't he in jail? lol.

but you know, that's really just the gist of it. Bottom line is, I am disgusted by music right now.

I have something funny for you guys to listen to. On Eminem's Relapse album, there is a skit called "Steve Berman"

"you took vacations while the music industry melts the fuck down?"

hahahaa

but thanks for readingggg. later.

i guess. ♥

update*

Been in school for like a week now, and things are going pretty well so far. I'm looking forward to the challenges that may be presented before me. It was a good first week, So far I like my classes, and I love my housemates; even when they're being assholes. heheh. The apartment is really nice, and I'm liking the way that everything is set up so far.

Biology is probably going to be the most annoying class that I have because the teacher has a really really strong accent and no one understands a word he's saying, yet I still have to take notes in his class. But I'll be okay.

Chemistry is okay so far, I've refreshed my appreciation for math now that I have Calculus. I kind of like Chem so far. Let's see how long that lasts.

World Politics is kind of annoying too because the teacher expects everyone to just talk to each other randomly. I didn't come to the class to talk to other students. I came to learn. Shit.

Then my math class is pretty cool, the professor has a great way of teaching it.

What else...

We went out last night and it was...interesting. Just interesting and I'll leave it at that. :) The people I hang out with are really funny.

Just an update while I still have time to write. I've done all my homework like a week early despite the fact that we have Labor Day. Hope I can keep it up.

Laters.

update?

With school appraching, i'm not sure how often i will be blogging, as scarce as my blogs already are lol.

Just some updates and opinions.

I move in to the new apartment/house/dwelling/thing on August 29th. I'm kind of looking forward to it, but there are things that I'm not looking forward to. It will be an amusing life to live, and definitely a lot of laughter and whatnot, but I also have to remember that I am moving in with two very dynamic personalities. I think I'm a character myself. So imagine two more characters. But i'll live. lol

I'm taking a Chemistry class, a 300 level Biology class, and a Math class (even though i'm finished my math requirements). Then I have a class for my minor, Introduction to World Politics. I've decided I'll take the Gen. Ed courses at my own pace and discretion, because they're much easier, so I can take those one by one, and also online or over the summer. So needless to say, I'll have a lot of work to do this semester, and it only gets worse from here. But I'm okay with that. I need to try my hardest to not get any C's this semester, because last semester i screwed up and got one in Statistics :-/ . i'm just glad I passed at least.

Sooo yes. Hmm. I think I'm done for now.

You know, this is a f**ked up place.

You know, I just realized some things. Well, I didn't just realize them, but they kinda slapped me in the face...Why the heck is college so expensive? I understand that it's not mandatory, and they need funds to keep the school up and running...materials, scholarships and all that, but it's just really sad. It's unbelievable now many people can't go to college, or had to drop out, or had to leave a 4 year university to go to a community college because of money. It's not fair. I'm grateful that I don't have to go through that, but I just think that it's really fucked up how people can't pay for school. Everyone should be entitled to higher education if they really want it.

Then you have the critics who say things like "Well, if you have good grades, you can just get a scholarship, anybody can go if they really want to." I think that is a load of BS. So if you didn't have at least a 3.0 GPA in high school, and you aren't rich, it means you don't want to go to school? And then, even the kids who have excellent grades and SAT scores can't even get the money that they need.

But another thing that really pisses me off are the scholarships and grants you get when you apply via FAFSA. They do a lot based on your parents income. So there are kids whose parents don't make enough to pay full college tuition, or so the government thinks. That's very humble, and i appreciate the financial aid for those who really need it. But what about students like me? Students that the government thinks that their parents make too much money, so they don't get a dime? Offered a measly loan? A loan? Really? I'm blessed to have a grant that pays for some of my schooling, but I don't get a dime from Maryland's Federal aid or State aid. But guess what? High income parents have expenses, too. With large income comes large expenses. 9 times out of 10, kids whose parents make good money live in more expensive houses. That means higher mortgage, probably a higher electric bill, and definitely higher maintenance living.

It really sucks how the system is, but there's not much that can be done about it, especially in this crappy economy. The economy is affecting parts of everyone's lives, in regards to healthcare, defense, college tuition, employment, and commercial industries. There are people who can't get affordable health care. There are people who can't find jobs, or have been laid off. People are not selling like they used to. It's because nobody has money. We're at a severe deficit right now. It's probably worse than what they want to tell us. And there are different reasons for these things.

Many people dislike Former President G.W. Bush because of their perceptions of him and his decisions made on this country. I don't think the man should be blamed. This is not an authoritarian government, it is not an anarchy, and it is not a dictatorship. There is no King, Czar, Prime Minister, Emperor or Lord. This is a democracy, meaning that any Act, ordinance, or law passed between January 2001 and January 2009 was discussed with various commitees, Congress, the House, and the Senate. Yes, I believe he had some flawed views. But I disagree with they way people slander him.

Then other people seem to think that President Obama is Jesus or something. Talking about this guy, saying he's making everything worse, and he hasn't done anything to fix the economy. He has barely been president for 8 months. The mess took 8 years to create, it just might take that long to fix...or longer.

Maybe we'll have a miracle.

Or a Herbert Hoover ► Franklin D. Roosevelt transition.

We don't know.

we won't know until people shut up and go with the flow. I was watching CNN yesterday and they showed all these angry protesters and their congressmen. Heated arguments. It's terrible, but that's how it is.

Well that's my outlook today.

Thanks a bunch for reading. I'll be tweeting a lot about things like these, so follow me on twitter.

www.twitter.com/tripscore