"The Conflict"

"Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart's in it and live the phrase 'Sky's the limit'......"-The Notorious B.I.G.

I've been in a battle ya'll. A conflict that's been fuckin' with me for a minute now. It got real to me the other day. Almost like a mental panic attack. I'll just vent here.

I'm at a point where I feel like the talent is separating itself from the pack and that people arent' recognizing that. One of the first things I ever learned in the business came from my man/former boss Mitch Dudley @ Sony Red. I didn't like a certain artist's music but had to do an online marketing/consumer awareness campaign. I kept it funky with Mitch and was like "Yo...this kid is WACK man...no one's gonna fuck with this." You know what Mitch told me? (in few words) "You're not gonna like all these artists, but we still gotta push them. It's a job". That shit always stood out to me. Always. Here I am, outta college,working/grinding out for my own company, and that convo comes to mind.

I've always been the type to do things MY way. I guess that's why I'm so calculating and deliberate. I'm the type to do things after heavy thinking about the actions/reactions. This is a character flaw, but I tend to only listen to people who are doing better than me or who know more than me (and admittedly, I'm actively trying to get a lesson from ANYBODY, whether they're doing better than me or not...but it's an uphill battle lol). This also touches on a specific Taurus trait: stubbornness. I put all that aside because a.) ego is always deceptive and 2.) I dont know everything.

I love working with legit talent. When you believe in an artist's talent, the ideas just come in the blink of an eye. I had a meeting a while back and I'm sitting there like "This shit is WACK! It aint gonna sell!". Ideas pitched back and forth and I'm like "Do you all not see the climate for this type of artist? Not only is he not original, but look at his competition as well!". It's like no market research was done prior to this meeting, nothing stood out to me as to why me as a consumer would want to buy a record from this cat (never mind that it's just my personal opinion)...Not only that,but I'm thinking about my name here as well. Not to be on some shit, but I know too many people and in this business, all it takes is one blunder (or lame artist for you to be associated with) for you to have your name smeared. Even little shit like rarely drinking when I go out or eye contact. It's a state of perpetual motion. You have to be mentally prepared.

This is probably "subconscious-post college-nervousness" talking. I'm a firm believer that options can and will make or break you in any aspect of life. Professionally, I've learned nothing lasts forever and that you should have a plan C to back up A&B. I crave stability, BUT as an entrepreneur, there's always that constant bumrush. I like the adrenaline and it's sharpened my thinking/rational skills. I'm used to having a "side hustle" (poor choice of words as it's bigger than anything else I've got going on right now). I did this shit in my sleep through college. school,work and internship. I aint sweating that. It's not always about money as much as it is personal values. I'm 23. Lord willing, the money will come. You know your values when you don't have money more than you do. Someone's (i think it was Jigga) said that money doesn't change you, it just brings the real you out even more.

This will play itself out.

"Nightmare on Elm Street" (2nd Trailer)

Here's the 2nd trailer for the revamped "Nightmare on Elm Street". Given how horror flicks are more humorous than macabre, here's hoping they dont pussify Mr. Krueger.

T-Mac and What This Will Mean For The Knicks

Last night marked the beginning of Tracy Mcgrady's (and Eddie House and Sergio Rodriguez's) tenure in New York. We Knicks fans have been abused by Tracy and Eddie when they both played for the Rockets and Celtics respectively, so seeing them in our uniforms was somewhat comforting. They give us two offensive weapons and in Mac's case, a legit shooting guard who can play to the dynamic standards of what a 2 is supposed to play like. (Yes, shots fired at Larry Hughes........)

Shooting it out with a team like the Thunder is no small feat as they have one of the top 2 pure scorers in the game in Kevin Durant. They also have Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green who are extremely solid players in their own right, as well as James Harden, Thabo Sefalosha and Nick Collison. It's not a game anymore as this young group has risen to become one of the better teams in the West.

And yes, it was entertaining as hell. We lost, but I noticed a few things that I'll get into:

• Just based off this one game, I'd say we can afford to have Chris Duhon come off the bench to back up Sergio Rodriguez (if not have him not play the rest of the season....). Mike D's offense is heavily perimeter based and for some reason, it looked like Sergio got "it" in his first game. We finally have a guard who is willing to repeatedly penetrate the D and dish off. Duhon's been with the Knicks for quite some time now and it doesn't look like he's getting any better. With Sergio, we have a guard who can make our pick and roll way more effective by passing to a cutting David Lee, a trailing T-Mac, or Danilo G or Al Harrington (who I'll address later) on the perimeter. There's no reason for Duhon to have played 20+ minutes and end up with 0 points and 2 assists. Sergio played 25 minutes with 5 points, 6 assists and 2 turnovers.
• Eddie House is one of those players who you LOATHE when he's on the other team but root for when he's on your squad. Dude has a cannon and hit some go-ahead shots in the 4th. Season high 24 points. He can benefit greatly from playing with a drive/dish guard like Sergio. His ball handling is less than advertised but I can live with that. If he plays the 2 on D, he is obviously a defensive liability, but he makes up for that with his intangibles and shot making.
  
• David Lee is a guy who doesnt need plays ran to get buckets, so he'll definitely thrive with Sergio and co on the floor with him. He'll need a backup center for sure as our next big man is Jonathan Bender who at 6'11 plays like a 2 anyway....He had 30/10
  
• Al Harrington is being exposed. I never was a fan of his game....a 6'9 tweener who doesnt make up for that in good shot selection and defense. Dude is streaky as hell. It's crazy that he was our leading scorer at one period. I honestly dont think he will get along with T-Mac. If he's off the bench, he can be a potent 6th man. I can easily see an Alpha Male battle for this team for some reason...
• Wilson needs to learn how not to force the game. He's improved and is good at getting to the line. With his slashing skills, him and Mac can produce from the line as well as play off each other.
• Gallo? T-Mac can play point-forward and handle the rock. Don't wanna restrict Gallo to just being a 3 point shooter...but if it aint broke dont fix it. He's extremely crafty but sometimes I cringe watching him handle the rock.
• We need a big. Preferably one with shot-blocking skills.
  
• Like I said, we need a big. Preferably one with shot-blocking skills.

You can see highlights from the game below

Rest in Power to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz

"It is time for martyrs now, and If I am to be one, it will be for the cause of brotherhood. That is the only thing that can save this country."

Rest in Power Brother Malcolm. Arrived on May 19, 1925 and went back to the essence on February 21, 1965. Murdered by his own people, martyred for speaking the truth. Revolutionized American race relations by attempting to increase political and social awareness amongst Black Americans. Became a Sunni Muslim after a Hajj to Mecca that opened his mind to believe that Islam is the key that could solve racial problems. From Malcolm Little to Detroit Red to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

My first time reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X was in college for my freshman year English Class. The assignment was for a few chapters out of the book, but my interest was so piqued that I ended up buying the whole book. Having read it numerous times over and over, I will definitely say that Malcolm stood out to me as a man of principle who did not believe in cutting corners or shy away from doing what he believe was his purpose, even to the point of being demonized in the media and death

He paid the ultimate price for his beliefs. One thing that stood out to me was that Malcolm repeatedly expressed that he KNEW he was going to die young. It always sort of bothered me every time I read the book. Even when I watch X, I can't watch the movie past the part where Malcolm is about to enter the Audobon and he briefly chats with an old woman who wishes him well. Shot 16 times by assassins as he spoke during a meeting for the Organization of Afro-American Unity. His own people.

Rest in power El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Your efforts have not been in in vain. We still have a long way to go, but you provided a brilliant example to follow. You talked the talk and walked the walk. You eloquently expressed your beliefs and stood by what you believed in. Thank you for being a role model for young brothers such as myself. Even though I don't subscribe to any particular religion, I see the way you lived your life with principle and conviction. Thank you for everything you have done for us.

"Wu Massacre"

DOPE Artwork.....hearing it's by the good folks at Marvel Comics and that there'll be a comic book promotion done in conjunction with this release.

Check out the Viral Ads once again by the good folks @ 3/21 Media. Inspired by the movie "Se7en"

A Jewel from "The Art of War"

"Reliance on intelligence alone results in rebelliousness. Exercise of humaneness alone results in weakness. Fixation on trust results in folly. Dependence on the strength of courage results in violence. Excessive sternness of command results in cruelty"-Jia Lin

Eric Sosa 2009 Performance Montage.

Peep game. And Follow my man on Twitter.