Food For Thought 1:18:00 AM

Amazing picture I found on Flickr of the NYC skyline.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

Public Service Announcement 11:44:00 PM

I know I haven't posted for days I and I will amke that up but, I have two major things going on in my family including a death in my family so go easy. I'm back though fam... I really am. But for the next 2 weeks I can't promise you a post a day anymore cause homework issues but I can promise you more than 7 posts a week. That's a promise. No fear, no stress.

Enjoy the Light 2:01:00 AM

This track is hot. Period. Apparently, there is a video somewhere on the wide web that I missed so I'll post that on Saturday cause I don't want to waste the beautiful artwork above these words. Thank me later.

Theophilus London's Enjoy the Sun (Produced by Machine Drum)

UPDATE: Click the jump for the video.

Don't Play With Fire 6:38:00 PM

I thought I heard this song like 4 months ago... oh well, apparently this is a response The Hottest MC's in the Game list from from the horrible judges at MTV. I'm sorry but you have Gucci Mane on the list and not KiD CuDi!? MTV basically killed the game right there and then. Anyway, hop on the link and download before the link gets expired. Thank me later.

Lupe Fiasco's Fire

Flashin' Lights Lights Lights... 10:04:00 PM

When I started this blog about 7 months ago I was expecting it to be a blog I rarely updated like almost one post a month but now it's evolved into a place that people can look at for the latest in hip-hop news, old jams from back in the day, even discover artists that might become their new favorites. This is great and all but this time I want to make a blog/site that was more personal and how I can communicate with my followers better than just text. And what a better way than a "video diary." Ryan Leslie has one... Joe Budden has one, what about the creator of "that downtown kiid?" Anyway the link is HERE, and soon I'll be purchasing the domain so it won't be such a long thing to type. I will be posting every week on a certain day, since I post everyday on "that downtown kiid." Follow the new site & comment. My Lust for Life.

The KiD CuDi Section 7:01:00 PM

So when I do these dedication post thingy's theres a difference. People have been asking me what's the difference between a Section & Spotlight's. Spotlight posts are when I focus the post on a NEW artist that I like or find interesting. A Section is when I start posting about a artist that is signed to a major label and is on their way to stardom... or faildom (hopefully, stardom).

Well anyway, to the point KiD CuDi is my HERO. I truly honestly hated KiD CuDi when I heard "Day 'N' Nite" cause it was a cool song and all but it got old and I didn't feel he showed any originality. So when the album came out and I looked at the iTunes review (expecting to see 2 1/2 for like every review) but, surprisingly I saw 5 Stars all across the board. This was REALLY surprising to me. So I listened in to some of the song's and I loved it. It was great. It was original, new, classy, and he actually HAD a story to tell. I though this album was so good that I had to get it right away. So I got it have been listening to it since. Non-stop. Repeat. Seriously.

Therefore, I think that KiD CuDi needs and deserves the Section of the Month. Congratulations KiD CuDi. The "that downtown kiid" team has your back.

As you can see below I have uploaded some songs (don't ask how long it took), and has the songs that I love to I think are OK (from top to bottom). For example, CuDi Zone would be my favorite of the favorites, and Hyyerr would be the least favorites of my favorites. Anyway Enjoy and listen.

THE BLACKOUT│MOVEMENT 7:10:00 PM

Our new sister site, for the concept check below. Run by our fellow blogger B L A C K O U T. For link link go to the banner at the top and look under for "THE BLACKOUT MOVEMENT." Thoughts anyone? Cause that downtown kiid is taking over.

HERE YOU CAN WRITE ANYTHING YOU WANT ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WISH YOU HAD A SECOND CHANCE WITH OR BETTER YET WHO IS ON YOUR LIST, MEANING IF YOU WHERE IN A COMPETITION WITH SOMEONE AND WANTED TO BE BETTER THAN THEM, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO BE BETTER THAN THEM? HOW WOULD YOU BEAT THEM? HOW WOULD YOU MAKE THEM FADE TO BLACK?

New Idea (and Artwork) 11:42:00 PM

How about this... since me and iiAtlas like making artwork for the posts and the blog and everything... what if we made a new blog banner (at the top currently) every month that shows a different place in NYC (our favorite place in the world)? What would you think? Comment your opinions below.

Hip-Hop, What Do You Want From Jay-Z? Editoral from AllHipHop 12:46:00 AM

Hip-Hop's memory is a bit like that dude out in The Bay - too short - so its time for a refresher course. You know, what scratch the refresher course, because you already know what it is, right? We know the music, the business, the awards, the accomplishments and the other frivolous stuff that we likely have tucked in the recesses of the mind.

Right?

So, what is up with all the hate directed towards Jay-Z? I don't mean hate as in jealously, because that’s something different. I don't mean hate as in skepticism of a rapper that is moving into the next phase of his career. I mean, straight up loathing like calling him an "Old A** N***a" or "Gray-Z" with malice. Now, if you hate, call it that, but if you do, its probably time to check yourself as a member of Hip-Hop.

In the year 2009, Jay-Z is one of a few that still represents a "its bigger than Hip-Hop" stance that we have to hold dear. The notion is we can do things bigger and better than is expected of us. I have to admit, I was one of the people that wanted to see Jay-Z go toe-to-toe with The Game. Why? For the sport of Hip-Hop, even though the root of the "beef" was as base and petty as it gets. For me, it was a bit selfish as I am sure it was for a number of people.

But, then I saw Jay-Z on Bill Maher's HBO show representing the culture (and promoting his new album) with intelligence and wit. Then, I saw him pushing the September 11 concert at Madison Square Garden, where he would be giving back to the still-grieving families. Strategically from a Hip-Hop standpoint, it’s challenging to properly engage with a battle cat like Game and have a relationship with the president of the United States. And then there is this new album - Blueprint 3.

I've heard it.

I like it a lot. There are certain songs that are perfect and others that are not-so-perfect. But, what got me was that the album was a departure from the norm and it exuded growth from an individual that has actually grown as a person so many years. He once sold drugs. Jay's made his money. He found his wife. He's got his team, his friends, his associates. Hey, I admit, I'd love to hear a Blueprint 4 with only Just Blaze, Kanye and Preemo, but that's not likely to happen. BP3 does not mean recreate BP1.

Jay-Z's doing what artists - key word artists - are supposed to do. Evolve. Isn't that what we are supposed to do as human beings, move onward and upward? The album's got gems on it too even though upon first listen, you may miss them or mistake them for something else like raw arrogance. I'll admit, after the first listen, I got up from my computer and took a 30-minute drive. I came back and listened again and I've been listening ever since.

Lets continue on with the notion of growth and the idea of that Jay-Z’s success being bigger than Hip-Hop. It is interesting that a number of newer artists are represented on Jay's album and I would venture to say that Kanye West and Alicia Keys are the youngest people on Blueprint 3. None of these guys, save Drake, has seen any meteoric success yet and the verdict is still out on Drake from a commercial/mainstream viability level. Jay's success is J. Cole's success is Kid Cudi's success is Drake's success is Hip-Hop's success.

Jay-Z's an older artist for sure, but don't thing one second that his success doesn't represent the viability of Hip-Hop has a whole. Sorry to say, but Slaughterhouse sold a paltry 18,000 records and that was a damn good album from four of the best emcees in the game. “We” didn't run out and support it even though we pretended we did on the Internet. I did and I will support BP3 too.

It is high time Hip-Hop decide what it wants to do. Do you want to live or do you want to die? Do you want to hoist up your stars or do you want to drag them down like literal crabs in a barrel. It’s bad enough that the mainstream has continually doubted Hip-Hop since its inception and we have defined the odds every step of the way. Why are we doing it to ourselves now? I never heard of a young rockers like Blink 182 attempt to tear U2 a new one just because they came out in the 80's. I don't see Britney Spears messing with Madonna’s life and Madonna's over 50...still doing it. Jay-Z, at his worst, is still a better artist that 99.99% of all rappers in existence. Come on, son.

Jay-Z had a song from the Blueprint 2 that said, "I'll show you how to do this, son." I believe he's doing it now, but I question strongly whether a Hip-Hop Nation that could benefit from this example is actually watching what he's showing. I advise the young and the old to pay closer attention and make the distinction between hate and criticism.

Before I finish, ask yourself: What do you want from Jay-Z? You want something, that is clear. I just can’t determine what it is.

I have to Agree with this guy... like Jay is basically one of the greatest rappers ever, and as this "New Era of rappers comes up you got to be smart and respect your elders. Like he said, we all think that "Slaughterhouse" is dope, but when the album actually came out in stores... it sold 18,000 about 1/6 of what Jay sells when he releases a new album, and now everyone wants to call Jay an "Old A** N***a"? Really people? Anyway, that's just my opinion... thank me later.

Fort Greene Memories 8:35:00 PM

So in my Field Day post I told I would be chillin' with old friends, and of course I keep my promises. Well today I was talking to Surraya at Yogurtland and she said that she was seeing Ayanna today. Who's Ayanna? Ayanna was one of my good friend in 3rd grade. We got into so much trouble together, in fact, I got some of my attitude from her... anyway I went to meet up Surraya and her and guess were Ayanna lives... Right on the same block were I used to live, right across the street from Fort Greene park. The picture below is my spaceship (my bike).



And below this is another view of Fort Greene



So after I took pictures and waited for Surraya to text me saying were they were I walked back to my old street (which is the one Ayanna lives on).



So I walked to the house and met up with them, and baically we went to get some Fried Chicken for Ayanna cause she said she was staving and we just sat for like a hour full of "Do you remember?"'s or just talking about school, and who does what.




So after that we went back to the stoop of Ayanna's House, and then the conversation somehow gets to what cute boys I know, so I gave them some names, and they were so happy. For some reason, they think every guy is cute. Anyway it was a fun day.