Friday
Jul162010

These UK Cats Are Nasteeeeeeeee

Contributed by Nasa.

How the fuck have I never seen these videos or heard of any of these guys?  Grimey ass UK shit right here.  Some real shit from across the pond, check it out.

 

Friday
Jul092010

Lebron's Lobotomy

Contributed by Short Fuze & Nasa.

Short Fuze:

Ok, let me just start off by saying that I won't lie to you and say that I wasn't amped about this free agency period, because I was. I thought the Bulls had a legit shot at "the big three". When we first signed Carlos Boozer I was kind of let down, after sitting on it a couple days, I feel like we are a better team. Not championship ready like some people are talking (yes that's actually happening), but I am convinced that those people are just seeing a name and the large number of dollars in the equation.

I also won't tell you that I didn't have my tv tuned into ESPN, because I did. Mostly, to make of fun them for dick riding LeBron enough that they where willing to give him an hour and a half to announce something he already knew. I don't buy it for a minute that those three didn't have this planned out. With that said, I can't say that I am mad at them for doing what they are doing, but let's be real here, a lot of shit hit the fan last night.

1) I feel terrible for the people of Cleveland. Not necessarily because LeBron left, because at the end of the day he can do what he wants. But, by the way he did it. Was it necessary to go on national tv and rip a cities heart out? No. I am sure they knew it was coming, but the way it was done compounded the situation. I am sure that if he announced his decision on a quieter level people would have forgave him over time. He is the new Art Modell. And keep in mind that this is coming from a huge Bulls fan that that hated the Cavs almost as much as I hated the Knicks or Pistons.

2) What happened to loyalty? The way LeBron went about letting the other teams know his decision by not letting them know, is ridiculous and immature. For him not to let the Cavs know until the last minute is damn bogus. What makes it worse is, he is from Ohio. You would think he had more class than that. Seven years have been erased in 30 seconds of speech. I don't blame them for burning his jersey. I don't blame Dan Gilbert for writing the letter, although I don't agree with some of the things he said. Miami will win a title before Cleveland, let's be realistic. With that said, will I respect that ring? No. The Heat are the Yankees to me now, they bought their ring.

3) What happened to wanting to beat the best? I don't blame anyone for wanting to win, but what happened to earning it? I am not going to say that MJ didn't have Pippen or that Magic didn't Kareem or Worthy or Larry didn't have Parrish or McHale, but the difference is those duos and trios became great together not separately. And they made their teams better. I rooted for LeBron and the Cavs this year, I wanted to see them win. The Cavs put pieces around him. He choked.
This Heat team is already being handed the title and they will win at some point, but I hope they fail this year. This team is bad for the NBA and I am sure David Stern is beating off to the thought of all the marketing opportunities at hand.

4) Where does this take the NBA? It's pretty obvious that the power shifted last night. A team like this can't be good. It takes away the excitement of the best players beating each other and having those epic series that everyone talks about for years. If The Lakers and Heat wind up playing for the title at some point and the Heat beat the Lakers, can the NBA be that thrilled? The beauty of this league has been the torch passing. Larry and Magic beating up on each other, Isiah beating Magic, MJ beating Isiah, then it was supposed to be LeBron beating Kobe. While that still may happen, it won't be the same. I just can't and won't take that ring seriously.

5)  As a fan, I lost a little respect for the "big three". It goes back to the competition aspect. I enjoy good teams to beat other good teams. While it remains to be seen how many titles the Heat will win, I am sure it will be more than one. Sometimes the term "if you can't be them join them" isn't always a good thing. So now all we are going to hear about for the next few months is speculation, odds and breakdowns on how great this team is going to be. I am not looking forward to that. I also not looking forward to all the assholes that are going to run the Heat in 2k11. It was bad enough that you had to play the Lakers half the time. Call me a hater, but I rooting against the Heat and if they wind up playing the Lakers...Go Kobe!! (never thought I would say that)

Nasa:

I'll try to keep this brief, since Short Fuze basically said it all.  There was only one thing I disagree with.  David Stern can't be happy about this, and if he is, he's a fucking moron.

Lebron James has basically ruined the NBA's product.  The league is built on the back of player personalities going head to head.  Reggie vs. the Knicks, Kobe vs. the Celtics, MJ vs. everybody.  Even teams like the Rockets and Spurs that were more subdued had Hakeem and Tim Duncan.  You had the greats facing the greats.  Now you do not.  Now you have a league of "have nots".

I'm a Pacers fan, why do I need to watch NBA basketball anymore?  Lakers and Heat, maybe the Celtics compete.  Put it in the books, game over, thanks a lot 2010-11 season.  Lebron has made "have nots" in New York, New Jersey, Toronto, Cleveland, Chicago and other locations with this choice.  Those teams will all suffer (with the rest of) to varying degrees, but if you think any of them have a PRAYER of winning a championship, please call me ASAP because I want to place a bet with you.

Another issue with Lebron in Miami, and why it kills the NBA, is now you will have a situation where every time Wade hits a game winner it damages Lebron and vice versa.  Their statistical achievements will both suffer and lesser players on lesser teams will take away shine from where it belongs.  You will never see a great Wade vs. Lebron moment now.  Your 2nd and 3rd player are in the same city, even when you get into jersey sales it hurts, why would you need both of their jerseys from the same team?  Even if you are a legit Heat fan?  And Miami, oh by the way, is a soulless city with no history of sports tradition.  Miami is STILL mostly retirees with no interest in basketball.  In addition, it is a nationally isolated city.  Not in a major market and not in the middle of the country.  Double FAIL.  Picture if the Yankees played in Phoenix or if the Cowboys played in Portland.  Would the MLB or NFL be happy with that?  I don't think so.

Of course they will sell out reagardless, that's not my point.  The level of passion in your fan base is what sells your product, not a bunch of coat hangers in the crowd.  Even the sports bars ESPN filmed last night, that were supposedly in Miami, looked half empty with like 2 guys cheering and everyone else shrugging.  Please.

Finally, to Lebron.  You are a sham.  You will NEVER be considered great.  Wade has his ring with a semi-washed up Shaq and a bunch of role players.  What do you have?  You have 7 years of bullshit.  You showed your lack of passion this year, and your willingness to NOT beat anybody, as I talked about during the playoffs, is on full display by you joining a team where the pressure isn't solely on you.  Dan Gilbert nailed it on the head when he said you "want to get into Heaven without dying first".  Wow, that is a tombstone worthy quote right there.  My respect for Dan Gilbert has SKYROCKETED.

I am now a fan that I hate most.  I'm waiting for Big East basketball to start because I'd rather watch the college product (as corrupt as it is).  Fuck the NBA!

Thursday
Jul012010

Words from a Humbled Man

Contributed by Short Fuze.

Let me start off by thanking anyone that has purchased or listened to Lobotomy Music, because of all the support I have received, it has already been a success.  Even though the record just dropped a few days ago, Nasa and myself have gotten nothing but positive feedback. I have been putting out music for 10 years and rapping for 15 years, but I have never had a feeling or response like this. I think its because when you are in a group with 2 other people, you can deflect and divert attention to different avenues. When you go solo, its kind of nerve racking because when you're in a group, your time under the magnifying glass is minimal. The beauty of the social networking age is, you are privy to instant feedback. I appreciate the kind words that I have gotten from supporters of Uncommon Records. But, I think I am most appreciative of the recognition that I have gotten from my musical peers because some of you I look up to more than you know and for you guys to say what you have said means so much.

Me and Nasa started this record 3 years ago, and I know that neither of us expected the record to be what it is. To be honest, when I first started the project, I just wanted to do some straight up MC, punchline, B-Boy shit. But, then as I started I knew I was going to be on something different. I was going through some things at the time, so the natural route was to just go with what I was feeling. When I first approached Nasa to do the record, I know that neither of us planned to invest our personalities as much as we did. Shit, at first my game plan was to just get beats, write and record to them and send the songs back, because that's what I was used to. But, then me and Nasa stumbled onto this amazing artistic chemistry. We tossed ideas and feedback back and forth and just ran with it. I'll let you guys in on a little secret, the guest appearances I originally planned out is nothing close to what the appearances are on the record today.

With that said, the guests I wanted originally can't hold anything compared to, Nasa, The Presence, Karniege, Eleven, Passive 65ive,W.A.S.T.E.L.A.N.D.S. and Shortrock. Those cats brought more than I asked from each of them to the table and brought that much more out of the concepts that I presented each one of them with. The three things that mean the most through this whole process are that my crew let me step outside the box and focus on myself and supported me every step of the way. Second, the fact that I was able to gain Nasa's confidence with each and every song that was turned in (12 songs were recorded and 11 made the cut) and for him to feel each song was album worthy meant a lot because when you worked on classic albums and run a label that houses so many talented and legendary MC's you have some huge shoes to fill. Lastly, the fact that Nasa became someone that I can call one of my best friends, because when all this music shit is done, you still have to have great people around you.

There are so many things that went right with this project but, a lot setbacks happened too: missing zip disks, re recorded vocals, missing graphic designers (we pulled the cover out of our ass a week before pressing), Nasa remastering the album because neither of us were happy with the original, MC's flaking out on their commitment to do a verse, me going through a damn near 2 month writers block because of personal issues, Nasa getting a month long beat makers block and numerous failed release dates. But, in the end I think all those things that happened were the best things that could have happened because it allowed us to get everything right and made us believe that much more in the album. I got the first crop of beats in Feb. 2007 and from the jump I knew it would something special. So, I say to Nasa, Cirrus Minor, Augury, Denku, Karinege, Passive 65ive, Eleven and Shortrock (who murdered the cuts on all the joints he did), this album is yours as much as it is mine. No matter what it does sales wise, I know it's a classic. Thank you, I stand before you a humbled man.