My Blogging Efforts for Troy Davis on Frank151

All posts associated with Troy Davis bear thoughts that build tears. The fact that a Black man was executed for something that he might've done should let everyone know that this justice system is flawed. This isn't the blog to speak directly on those matters, unless musically-related.

This has been my connection to the case professionally, and please believe I worked it to the bone! On Frank151, I helped spread the word about the real-time eblast and mixtape campaign for Troy Davis' clemency. Though clemency wasn't granted, the effort - and definitely Troy Davis - will not go unnoticed.

Listen below to the countless number of political and hiphop icons who tried to help Troy Davis. You can check out my scoop on the matter, which covers up until Wednesday evening, by clicking on the link below the bandcamp player.

http://www.frank151.com/blog/2011/09/19/they_reminisce_over_you_mr_davis_the_viral_fight_for_troy_davis_clemency

Album Review: Goines - Something to Lose Mixtape

Though he may come off as eccentric in appearance to most of the hiphop community, it's not hard to tell Goines is far more hiphop than half the chart-topping rappers out now. Take his latest mixtape Something to Lose. The Arkansas-rep dives deep into what is now considered an underbelly to the world - defacing lies, handling poverty, running the streets, and the urban household. Does he manage to keep the audience's attention? Is he as lyrical as his heavy messages? Does the production complement? Let's find out. *in my Mr. Owl voice*

Fortunately, this should not be treated as the latest flavor-of-the-week mixtapes that have come from the forefront of today's hiphop community. However, this does come off as a rant album initially. The opening lines to "Introvention" - which are "You ain't gotta listen / I ain't come for that / It's been a long walk, and I ain't running back / I'm simply taking back the innocence you stole from us / Too many broken dreams, I just don't give a fuck" - are indeed echoed throughout the entire mixtape, but this was the least tasteful, though it was an attention-getter.

His delivery and content keeps the project from getting the "x" box clicked because both are emotional and provocative. It's organic, raw - not a line goes by after the intro that seems like a cliche' socially conscious rap record - with Goines' Southern flare and intelligent lyricism. For the content, imagine the intelligent ghetto tales from Nas mixed with early Outkast and their Dirty South delivery sprinkled with Kanye's emo ways toward love (so mash a little 808s and Heartbreaks, Aquemini and The N-word album together). Though this may seem like it leaves little room for something unheard of, Goines still adds his own twist to this project that is seen on Leaders Are Real People Too. The most noted feature was the poem laid down in "Wake Up" (and as much as I'd love to say who it is, there's no direct credit for it...).

The majority of the production, noting "Wasted Truth," "Fed Up," "Running," and "This Is It," carries out the theme Goines delivers to his audience. The production gets equally emotional, and maybe not as grand as it tried to be (imagine the underlying theme of White Men Can't Jump), but considering his indie route the overall project was executed well. The songs have their catchy moments, like the drip-drops in "We Made You," but overall it's full of militaristic beats tied with a wide variety of looped samples.

All-in-all, Goines has somehow successfully tied himself to the name people could closely associate him with - yep, Donald Goines, penman of Whoreson, Black Girl Lost, Daddy Cool, and so on - which in comparison to the other Goines (Donny Goines), I'd say the man behind Something To Lose has the upper hand for his honesty, intelligent yet street content and this project that carries a fistful of substance. Although this project seems a little rant-ish, there's no reason why Something To Lose deserves to be in the running for best mixtape of 2011.

Star's Grade: A-

Obama's Walk: His Exit Music

If you have been asleep since around 10 p.m. last night, good morning, and boy, did you miss out! Our President Barack Obama announced last night that his secret operation from months ago to kill Osama bin Laden has reached success and Osama is now dead (and buried apparently??). This playlist has little to do with us killing Osama bin Laden, sorry Americans!

This mix has EVERYTHING to do with Obama's gangsterific exit away from his podium and out of the hallway. Here's a clip if you need it:

Now, with that said and shown, here is a playlist of his exit music because I feel he totally needed that to match his composure as he walked down that hallway, his calmness in his stroll, and, hell, his SWAG! There are tunes from nearly all genres that accentuate Obama's badassedness, from being the first Black President to being the President to take down Osama, as well as his ability to be so smooth! Sit tight, this is a surefire doozie...

Cheers, Obama. This mix is for you!

Poem: Those Wal-Mart Ears

Why deal with a market mind when I have a Wal-Mart ear?

My musical taste is like a Great Value box - because getting to the point is all I wanna hear

No need for added pizzazz, or unnecessary do-daas, I could add that on my own

And the artistic abstraction can be left at home

That adds to the price, and my ass is broke

So to think paying a low price for descent quality is to believe I will take it and mope

About the lack of talent and the crap they wrote

When there's plenty of innovation that surrounds you

But no, you'd rather take what you can get at a price on the low

It's amazing how our individuality clouds the sun that broadens our horizons

We won't embrace ALL the stars, but wanna see what makes Orion

So with our Wal-Mart ears we don't peruse through the aisles

We take them to the nearest floor person and say

"something for my workouts is what I wanna find"

So we follow the clerk through aisle #5, and select the one that's most convenient

Convenient to our ears, and not to mention the thighs

Because what we want NOW has nothing to do with our minds

We don't wanna make our own playlist, we let playlists make us

iTunes FTW and to shake us

Break us for 15 songs about a break-up

Caking up on my misery and hang us

With our Wal-Mart ears

When iTunes started making generated playlists is when iLeft

iRather tend to my needs on a For Me By Me basis

That way I can find the root of my problems

Because if I depend on a systematic list I have to let a computer solve them

And quite frankly, numbers may not lie but there's no way to evolve them

Or evolve from them

Think, the square root of 9 will ALWAYS be 3, so when a monkey wrench is thrown in, where will my solution be?

So from now on I'll use my market mind for my musical needs

And from now on, I seek guidance from an organic source, me

Even if it starts from the ground and expands like the sea

My musical taste stands pure, on the shores that I see

Last Week on Tumblr...

For those that may not know, this blog has a sidekick!

When I'm not posting reviews, commentaries, and such, I am posting small music tidbits on Tumblr, titled Bubble Gum Pop Rap Lite. Almost anything has been posted on this site, from neat music articles to singles from great artists. Every week I'll give you a taste of what I've come across on the radio, in the news, and online. Enjoy!

Starting with July 10th: I found one of the coolest posters floating around the Internet! Also on that day, I finally changed my ringtone to Drake's "Thank Me Now" (who did NOT show up at the Car and Bike Show I went to in Atlanta, I was so hurt!)

Posted July 9th: This was the day officer Johannes Mehserle caught a involuntary manslaughter verdict for MURDERING an arrested young Black man by shooting him in the back of the head! So in anger, I found this song by Rebel Diaz and BRWN BFLO called "Who You Shootin At?" Also posted was a funny JPEG on Chart-Topping Musicians (dissed the hell out of Nickelback in the process!)

Posted July 8th: The visuals to Nikki Lynette's "Civil War", as well as Roxanne Shante on why she left the rap game.

Posted July 7th: A tune from Jean Grae's last mixtape before retirement where she gives XXL a piece of her mind. Plus, for all you "Nasty Boys," the video from Janet Jackson's steamy performance at the Essence Music Festival!

Posted July 6th: Prince's opinion on the current state (and the future) of the Internet, and an oh-too-familiar yet revolutionary album cover of Bilal's latest works.

Posted July 5th: A link that'll get you ALL SIX of Charles Hamilton's new mixtapes!!! That is all.

Posted July 3rd: A booming system unlike any other, news on a possible ?uestlove, Raphael Saadiq, and Amy Winehouse band, and classic video footage on how to do the Bird from the ever-so lovely Purple Rain!