TopDawg14

Chuck D. had a lot of good points in his piece. I'm 30 and I agree that a lot of heads who bumped JJFP during the "He's The DJ..." era jumped shipped when the style shifted to gangsta. A lot of us grew up in a time where you had to only worry about you. I'm a part of Generation X and when we were kids the crack epidemic was dominating the U.S. A lot of us got caught up in it. Also the U.S. government(the Reagan Administration) was cutting or outright canning a lot of social programs that would have kept a lot of young kids out of trouble. These young kids grew up to be immature. Some of it was due to the system and some of it was due to the fact that parents weren't interacting with their kids because they had to fight and scrap to make ends meet. This led to the rise in "gangsta" rap. It started as a startling look into ghetto life but it soon became a cash cow. Peep this verse from Jay-Z's 99 Problems: "Rap critics say he's money, cash and hoes/ I'm from the hood stupid, what type of facts are those/ If you grew up with hoes and was having those/ you'd celebrate the minute you was having dough." This pretty much summarizes the mindset of cats my age. Because we grew up in a "me-first" time, it became the mindset that we have passed to our kids. Morality and integrity be damned. This is why the 50 Cents of the world are in the mainstream. They grew up in this "me-first" mentality and that's what their music represents. Cats who grew up in the "me-first" era but stuck to their guns on integrity aren't getting the shine(i.e. FP, Common, Mos Def, etc.). So Chuck D. is right in a sense. Yeah, there are a lot of young teeny boppers bumping 50 but there are just as many cats my age bumping him as well. For the mindset to change there has to be a change in the Generation X crowd to affect change in hip-hop. I'm not too sure that's going to happen though.

Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone

I was gonna stay out of this thread but I couldn't so here I go. (Gets up and stands on soap box. LOL) I'm very disappointed with Mase. He is supposed to be a minister and he's going to G-Unit? Now I have no right to judge him but at the same time he's supposed to be setting an example of how a Christian is supposed to conduct him/herself. I'm really not seeing how he's supposed to be a minister on one hand but going back to his "Murda Mase" persona on the other. He's gotta choose - Christ or money. (Gets off soap box and prays that Mase will make the right choice)

Jamie's been on a bit of a roll since Any Given Sunday. I think he got the role because he could do a little more than throw a football. He actually gave a real good acting performance. He really surprised me in Ali. His road to A-list movie status is really no different than Will's. The only difference is that Will has had more blockbusters. I'm not surprised that Vibe wouldn't have Will on their list. Like all other magazines and industries, they're only interested in what's hot right now. It's all about bottom line for them.

It's on right now on the Bravo Channel!

In the latest issue of Vibe Magazine, Jamie Foxx is ranked #1 on Vibe's 100 Hottest People, Places and Things(no, Will did not make the list). Here is the excerpt where Jamie discusses Will: And that became his new credo: giving it all. Foxx said Michael Mann was unfamiliar with his previous level of stardom, even after Any Given Sunday, but he was cast as "Bundini" Brown in Ali because Will Smith knew his old friend was gonna give it everything he had... Now he's in a position where he can play the definitive leading man, but more often than not, he chooses to be part of an ensemble... But surprisingly, Foxx prefers to be the second in charge. "I always consider myself like Ed McMahon. I think of Will Smith as Johnny Carson. You know how hard it is to be Johnny Carson? All I gotta do is play my role. Laugh when it's funny. And when it ain't funny, I'm giving you my advice. That's perfect for me."

I have two playlists on my iPod(JJFP & Will Smith). I didn't put any of the songs from Lost & Found on the Will Smith playlist because L&F is too hot and I listen to it from start to finish. It's like it's a playlist in and of itself. JJFP - The Hits: Something Like Dis I'm All That I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson A Nightmare On My Street Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble Twinkle, Twinkle(I'm Not A Star) Who Stole The DJ? I'm Lookin' For The One Jeff Was On The Beat Box I Wanna Rock Rhythm Trax - House Party Style A Dog Is A Dog Code Red Trapped On The Dance Floor Ring My Bell Parents Just Don't Understand Shadow Dreams You Saw My Blinker Brand New Funk Summertime Will Smith - The Hits: Born To Reign I'm Comin' Y'all Know I Can't Stop It's All Good So Fresh Pump Me Up Don't Say Nothing No More I Gotta Go Home Afro Angel Momma Knows The Rain Uuhhh Yes Yes Y'all Act Like You Know Holla Back Nothing On My Mind Block Party Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

While I understand a player's desire to be paid market value, I detest the way T.O. is going about it. It makes him look like a complete tool. What's worse is that he's hired this complete slimeball for an agent - Drew Rosenhaus. This agent is a complete jerk and a bum. I personally like T.O. when he's on the field playing. He's probably the best WR in the NFL today. I can't condone his dumb behavior concerning his contract. He should have signed a one-year deal. Honor your contract, T.O.!!!! Don't be a tool!

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that Turntable really likes Janet. I could be wrong. :lolsign: My list is too long to write but here are a couple of ladies I'm smitten with: Ms. Angelina Jolie Ms. Sanaa Lathan Ms. Serena Williams Ms. Sophia Vergara Ms. Elise Neal

This movie looks like it would be tight except for one thing... Tyrese. I just don't think this dude can act worth a lick. His acting is horrible and it has not enhanced any movie he's been in. In fact, he's made the movies worse. Hopefully Mark Walhberg and Andre 3000 speak most of the time in this movie.

I think Fortune Magazine had his net worth at $188 million in 2004. Got to figure it's well above $200 million after Hitch.

1. Independence Day 2. Ali 3. I, Robot 4. Men In Black 5. Enemy Of The State(the movie "loosely based on my disregard for authority"... LOL... yeah right!)

Tim, If you want to get your laugh on then you should read the message boards on AOL.com about this list. One person posted had the worst 11 hip-hop artist list and had Will at #8... for being too old school! I'm not making this up. Other cats were putting Cassidy at #1. Here's the link: AOL.com message board

This is the list of the 11 best hip-hop artists ever according to AOL.com: 1. The Notorious B.I.G. 2. Tupac 3. Eric B. & Rakim 4. NWA 5. Run-D.M.C. 6. Jay-Z 7. Public Enemy 8. The Wu-Tang Clan 9. A Tribe Called Quest 10. Nas 11. Eminem You can go to AOL.com to see the list and features on each artist.

I didn't want to give some of the young ones a brain cramp. LOL. Yeah, Al Green and Anita Baker are two classic voices. Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" would still crush any R&B song out today. Since Tim got started on the old-school tip, I'll keep it going: The Temptations Smokey Robinson Curtis Mayfield Isaac Hayes Earth, Wind & Fire Donna Summer

I'ma be here when all your friends won't/ But I was busy hollering "Parent's Just Don't Understand/ Now here I am with a family/ Running the lines she ran on me/ We ain't always see eye to eye/ But Ma on your principles now I rely - from "Momma Knows" No, Will is not being a hypocrite. He was just expressing his feelings when he 17. Now he's 36 and like most kids after they grow up understand that their parents were right in a lot of situations. BTW, this is post #500!!!!!!!!! :yeah: :rockon: :dope:

Brian McKnight Yolanda Adams - Gospel Artist Fred Hammond - Gospel Artist Marvin Gaye Sade Stevie Wonder Alicia Keys (?)Adam Levine(?) - lead singer of Maroon 5 Jay Kay - Jamiroquai Boyz II Men Tony! Toni! Tone! * Some of you may not know who Marvin Gaye, Sade and Stevie Wonder are. Go and do some research. LOL.

If someone came to you asking what hip-hop albums they had to have, what albums would you suggest? Here's what I'd suggest: Run-DMC - Tougher Than Leather Run-DMC - Raising Hell JJFP - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper PE - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising LL Cool J - Bigger & Deffer Kool Moe Dee - How Ya Like Me Now De La Soul - Stakes Is High The Fugees - The Score PE - Fear Of A Black Planet Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill JJFP - Homebase Queen Latifah - All Hail The Queen LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out Busta Rhymes - When Disaster Strikes The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better Slick Rick - The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick Tupac - 2Pacalyspe Now The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die Will Smith - Lost & Found Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full EPMD - Strictly Business BDP - Criminal Minded BDP - By Any Means Necessary A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory Common - Resurrection Common - Like Water For Chocolate The Roots - Things Fall Apart NWA - Straight Outta Compton Digable Planets - Reachin... A New Refutation Of Time and Space Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader Gangstarr - Hard To Earn

Thanks.. not really feelin' it though.

You forgot one: Who is hotter: Will or Usher?

I think anyone can come up with a good list. If someone came to you asking what hip-hop albums they have to have, what albums would you suggest? Here's what I'd suggest: Run-DMC - Tougher Than Leather Run-DMC - Raising Hell JJFP - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper PE - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising LL Cool J - Bigger & Deffer Kool Moe Dee - How Ya Like Me Now De La Soul - Stakes Is High The Fugees - The Score PE - Fear Of A Black Planet Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill JJFP - Homebase Queen Latifah - All Hail The Queen LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out Busta Rhymes - When Disaster Strikes The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better Slick Rick - The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick Tupac - 2Pacalyspe Now The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die Will Smith - Lost & Found Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full EPMD - Strictly Business BDP - Criminal Minded BDP - By Any Means Necessary A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory Common - Resurrection Common - Like Water For Chocolate The Roots - Things Fall Apart NWA - Straight Outta Compton Digable Planets - Reachin... A New Refutation Of Time and Space Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader Gangstarr - Hard To Earn

Top Five: I'm All That Summertime Brand New Funk Ring My Bell(Remix) You Saw My Blinker Honorable Mention: I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson Jeff Waz On The Beat Box A Nightmare On My Street Code Red Shadow Dreams

I believe it was 1983 when Run-DMC was just blowing up.

I just have to say that the iPod is the greatest invention known to man!!!! I have the 40GB iPod Photo. So far I have almost 1500 songs on there. I have a playlist for the following artists/groups: A Tribe Called Quest Boyz II Men Brandy Busta Rhymes Cross Movement(Christian rap group) Fred Hammond(Gospel Artist) Hezekiah Walker(Gospel Artist) Jamiroquai Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince Kirk Franklin(Gospel Artist) KJ-52(Christian rapper) Natalie Imbruglia No Doubt The Fugees/Lauryn Hill/Wyclef Tony! Toni! Tone! Will Smith I also have other playlists with various songs on them. The iPod has immensly simplified my life in terms of music. I don't have to carry around CDs anymore. It's like I'm my own personal DJ.

Another Chicago-head?! Great! And she's right, KISS-FM is the only station in Chicago that plays Will. WGCI(black radio), Power 92(black radio) and B-96(pop station) act like Will doesn't exist.