"If I don't like it, I don't like it/that don't mean that I'm hating" - Common
My Jay Z piece started a lotta off line conversations with all of my Jay people getting at me like "why you hate Jay so much?" But before I answer that question, let's first define this word that has been plaguing hip hop for about the past 10 years..."hate." Since I've been married for 12 years, I understand better then anyone that two people, usually have two different definitions for the same word. My definition for hate is...not liking someone for no apparent reason whatsoever. Here's an examples, I had this tutor who worked for me who was a senior in high school but probably looked like she was 24. One day she stepped to me at work like "Mr. Kil, those female teachers over there are hating on me." And I'm like "what are you talking about?" And she's like "they're hating cause they wished they had a body like mine cause they're both fat and corny." Now I'm cracking up like "two grown women aren't hating on you cause they wish they had your body." And she's like "Mr. Kil...TRUST ME, they are. Why else are they always messing with me?" Since shorty was my best tutor by far, she had a point. She was always on point, never missed a day of work, was never late, helped the kids BEYOND belief, etc. So I started watching these two chicks anytime my tutor was around, and when she would walk away you could LITERALLY see the hate in their eyes. She never did anything wrong but these two chicks would nitpick at ANYTHING she did. "You didn't spend enough time helping that kid." But she did. "You got here late." No she didn't. "The clothes you're wearing to work are inappropriate." No they weren't...she's wearing her school uniform! So it turns out my tutor WAS right, these grown women were hating on her for no apparent reason! See, THAT'S hate.
But if I say I don't like something why is that looked at as hate? It just means I don't like something. Is that allowed anymore? During the mid 90's when Puff and his Shiny Suit Crew hit the masses, if anybody who was into underground hip hop didn't like them, it was categorized as "hate" under the assumption we (the underground) were upset and "mad" that we weren't getting money, women or cars like THEY were. (and how many of those dude were REALLY getting money like that? Not many) When truth be told, we just didn't like the music they were dropping. So the Shiny Suit Crew tricked the world into thinking that if you didn't like they're music, that you were a hater and NO ONE wanted to be a hater. Being a hater was damn near worse then being a snitch, so a lot of dumb people got tricked into thinking, "I better like this music or at least say I do cause I don't wanna be a hater."
So with that being explained, I can now answer the question of "why I hate Jay SO much." And the answer is simple, I don't hate Jay at all. I just don't like the music he drops. In fact, in the middle of Jay's career when I wasn't feeling money AT ALL, he dropped an INCREDIBLE album (and my 3rd favorite Jay album) "American Gangster." See, if I "hated" Jay, I wouldn't be able to admit that because a TRUE hater (don't get it twisted their are TRUE haters in the game) hates even when people do do dope stuff. And it's the same with Kobe. I got a RACK of people on my team who always ask me, "yo, why you hate on Kobe so much?" And again, I don't hate Kobe...I just don't like him. I think he's corny. Hating would be saying something stupid like "Kobe can't play"...and really meaning it! Me saying I don't like Kobe, he's corny but he's a hell of a basketball player and top 5 EVER isn't hate, that's just me stating the facts. Cause I don't like Kobe...that's a FACT. And as much as ya'll Kobe heads LOVE ya'll some Kobe, none of ya'll can even murmur that he's not corny as sh-t. And him being a hell of a player and top 5 of all time is also a fact.
It's the EXACT same thing with the LeBron stans out there. (more on those stans on my next "Tell 'Em Why You Made post) "Why you always hating on LeBron Kil?" Again, I'm not hating on LeBron, I just don't like LeBron. Which would be a fact. LeBron is corny as sh-t. Another fact. (ya'll see how this dude dresses right?) But he's probably one of the top 3 players in the league but he's not a closer, can't hit free throws when it counts, disappeared against the Celtics when he was with Cleveland (when Delonte was auditioning for the role of his step pop) AND disappeared in the NBA Finals last year against Dallas. (when Rashard Lewis was auditioning for the role of his child's father) And ALL of those statements are FACTS! So from now on I would like all Kobe, Jay Z and LeBron stans (these 3 seem to have the biggest stans) to PLEASE stop calling what I do "hate" because I've just deaded the whole "why you always hating" questions...
So next on the menu for me while I'm praying for Avengers vs. X Men to get better is another new DC title. (still can't believe I'm enjoying DC comics more then Marvel) This go round I chose to rock with Batgirl for a couple of reasons. Mainly cause she's cut from the same cloth as Batman and also cause I always wanted to get with Batgirl when I was kid. (don't act like I was the only one checking for Batgirl) The new Batgirl picks up with Batgirl aka Barbara Gordon being able to walk again (The Joker paralyzed her during "The Killing Joke" series but through an experimental surgery she's back to basics) and back to fighting crime in Gotham City. The first dude causing havoc in Gotham is this cat named Mirror. This dude's family died in a car accident but people pulled him out and he feels it was unfair that he lived but his fam died. So this dude goes around killing people who should've died but survived and he's killing them the exact way they should've died. Kinda on some "Final Destination" type vibe. What I like about this story is when she first rumbles Mirror and he points a gun at her, she freezes cause she still shook over when The Joker paralyzed her. This is a prime example of what I was talking about earlier about my beef with the Hawkman series. The writers have made sure to not only make Batgirl's storyline is ill but the villan's too. Which of course, helps to keep me interested in wanting to keep reading. The dude Mirror has an ill past and so does Batgirl so the story lines are mad interesting. But at the end of the day, this chick has to get over being back in the game but being shook the whole time if she wants to stop taking L's. (cause in these first couple of issues she's takes a couple) I'm only 4 books into the series but so far I'm feeling Batgirl...I guess a lot hasn't changed since I was a kid!
These shorties were the TRUTH back in the 90's. I haven't heard their entire new album cause I can't get past THIS song. This has been on repeat for the past 4 days...
The BADDEST chick in the game sits down with Centric to chop it up about her life, her writing process and how she freestyled 90% of one of my fave songs on "The MF Factor"...
With my #2 pick on my top 20 MC’s EVER list is Mr. Sean Carter. To be honest, I don’t like Jay Z. Let me explain that last comment a little better. When Jay first came on the scene I thought he was wack. And now in 2012, I think Jay is wack. It’s just some of those years in between is where he earned this #2 spot. I first peeped Jay Z is Jaz’s video for “Hawaain Sophie” and I was like “who’s this wack n-gga?” Now, the Jay Z stans (and PLEASE don’t get it twisted cause at least 80% of cats who rock with Jay are “stans”…but more on that later) I know come at me with the “yo….it was a fun video. They were supposed to be in Hawaii.” And I’m always like “don’t insult my intelligence, n-gga I know they’re suppose to be in Hawaii. Money just looked wack.” It was Jay’s sunglasses and his lips and that’s all I saw. Money just looked corny. Then years later I see money again in Original Flavor’s video “Can I Get Open” and this time money opens his mouth and again…he’s wack. All that fast rapping and all of the diggedy stuff and I’m like “why is money allowed on video sets?” Then I peep his dolo video “I Can’t Get With That” and I’m like “Is this dude really trying to make the sound of a money machine? Wack ass n-gga.” I felt like Jay was those undercover cops who kept running up on Ace in “Paid In Full” trying to be down with him all acting like Joe Familiar and Ace was always on some “you AGAIN?” Now, fast forward a couple of years and my man Roots comes into the production studio at WEAA with this look on his face and a record in hand and plays it for me and my man Ray.
“While n-ggaz are shootin stupid,/I’m carefully plottin ways to make it rotten/well planned hitsuntil you’re long forgotten/Ya’ll n-ggaz that utilize my style don’t hurt me/cause on the low, halof of these rappin –ss n-ggaz wanna work for me.”
What the hell just happened? This dude ain’t rappin’ like a broke Das EFX no more? Wait, now this n-gga moves weight? Word? Aiight…I can’t front, money sounded dope. I don’t think there’s ever been another MC who went from my sh-t list to me checking for him like this. And then when I heard the remix to “In My Lifetime?” Maaaaan…and I thought the original was ill.
“It’s the thought of a ride that makes my eyes wide, I’m caught up/I’m trying to make all of my dreams materialize, so I sorta/ Say my goodbyes to the straight and narrow/I found a new route, you about to see my life change/I make the means justify the ends/I make the cream materialize keys to a benz, and so I’m rollin, for now, holdin down the fort, who’s controlling/The ground’s gotta blow ‘em, yep/yea’ll should’ve told ‘em/My first felony’s approachin/copped my first key, took a freeze, now I’m frozen.”
Yo…this CANNOT be the same dude right? How the hell did he get so nice? Hey, it didn’t matter to me cause now money was much more my speed. Then while I was working for Rap Sheets (remember the hip hop newspaper? Maybe not…) helping to put together their hip hop conference in D.C. in ’95, Prioirty Records had a showcase and I can’t remember everybody who performed but I do remember Heltah Skeltah and Jay Z were on the bill. And when I tell you that Jay RIPPED that stage to pieces that’s EXACTLY what happened. He ended his set with an acapella version of “Twenty Two Two’s” and I could now say I was a fan of dude. (again, a fan…FAR from a stan…but more on those cats later) And when his debut album “Reasonable Doubt” dropped it was 5 mics! No need to go into how ILL “Reasonable Doubt” was (and if you don’t know how ill it was…kill yourself) so let’s jump straight to the beginning of the ending for Jay Z in my eyes. Jay’s second album “In The Lifetime Vol. 1” dropped while I was living in Atlanta and I wish I could explain to ya’ll how hype I was to get this home to listen to it. And when I did listen to it I was left with a confused look on my face. The album was basically a half n half jawn. Half of the album was REAL dope (“Streets Is Watching”, “Friend or Foe 2”, “A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More” , “Imaginary Players” and “Where I’m From”) half of the album was REAL wack (“The City is Mine”, “Sunshine”, “I Know What Girls Like”) with some aiight jawns in between (“Rap Game, Crack Game”, “Face Off” and “You Must Love Me”) but this was NO WHERE near what I thought the follow up to “Reasonable Doubt” would be.
Then came that infamous Summer of 1998. I was hanging out with my dude Cool DJ Frank and some Polygram Record (they used to distribute Def Jam) reps I was cool with at Dave & Busters in Philly and my dude Mike slipped me a CD Single of Jay Z’s new single with Ja Rule (I had NO idea who that was) called “Can I Get A…” So even though Jay’s last album was just “good” in my eyes I KNEW this dude could still come with it. So again, I’m hype to get home to hear this jawn and when I did…I was dumbfounded. I didn’t know what the hell I was listening to. I didn’t know who made this wack techno beat, I didn’t get the wack lyrics, I didn’t know who this broke DMX wanna be was…I just didn’t get it. But what I did get was Jay (along with the rest of the rap game) was biting BIG’s blueprint of making music. Make a song for the radio but also drop a song for the streets. The problem was (and still is) is that ONLY BIG could REALLY do it the way it’s suppose to be done. So, by this time I’m like “I’m done with Jay.” Then one day a minute later I’m chillin’ at my dude Shadi Luqman’s studio and he plays me this new Jay Z song called “Hard Knock Life.” And this was waaaaaay before it actually dropped and I remember after hearing it I was going around pollying with people and if it fit the mood I’d say “it’s a hard knock life fam” and people would look at me sideways like “what?” Then it dropped and of course EVERYBODY was playing it NON STOP! EVERY car that passed was blasting it, it was ALWAYS on the radio…it basically was the anthem for that summer.
Then came the infamous “Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life” album that split the hip hop universe down the middle. What I mean by that is before that album dropped 90% of the hip hop universe agreed on damn near everything that was hip hop. But with THIS album right here, the universe was split. Me, Sha and Beezo were like this album was wack while our dude Roots was saying how crazy the album was. And this is what started the crack in the fault line in hip hop. I remember riding with my dude Osei in his brother Cha's whip with these shorties and they were blasting the album and everybody but me was enjoying it! I was stuck like “how can ya’ll like this? Can ya’ll throw on some hip hop?” And THAT was an ill statement to me…we’re listening to Jay Z, and I say “can ya’ll throw on some hip hop?” And guess what they threw on? Ghostface’s “Ironman” album so my peoples knew EXACTLY what I meant. Needless to say I HATE that album. Outside of the intro Primo did with Bleek rhyming on it and “Hard Knock Life” I don’t listen to ish on that album. Now after this album, I’ve officially written Jay off. (Was this the 2nd or 3rd time I was done with Jay? I can’t keep up) Jay’s next album “The Life and Times of Shawn Carter” was wack. The Primo banger “So Ghetto” was ill and “Throw Your Hands Up” was aiight…”Big Pimpin” did what it did. But I’ll ask ANY Jay “stan” name me 6 songs on that album outside the 3 I just named and I bet money they can’t which should tell you how wack that album was. I’ve never even heard the entire “Roc La Familiar” album…didn’t even feel like wasting my time.
Then came the infamous phone call that came in 2001 from my dude Jas. He hit me to tell me Jay Z was back. And I’m like “yeah right” and he’s like “naw, you gotta hear his new album.” Now I had been very adamant about Jay not getting another dollar outta me but me and Jas agree on about 90% of music so I’ll bite. It was crazy cause as soon as we got off the phone, I turn on the radio and they’re playing “Girls Girls Girls” and I’m like “damn, Jas might be right.” I was so hype that I brought the album from Borders! (and ya’ll know Borders got those 1990 CD prices like $17.99) and “The Blueprint” probably didn't leave the whip for at least two months and I FINALLY got Jay’s 2nd 5 mic album. Do I really need to go into how dope “The Blueprint” was? Didn’t think so. But just like with Nas and every other MC who wants their names mentioned amongst the greats, here comes the dreaded double CD “The Blueprint 2” which was just like damn near every other double CD. Which basically means if you took all the good songs and put them on 1 CD it would’ve been another dope album in his chamber (not a classic cause none of the dope songs were THAT great) But as soon as soon as I’m about to put Jay back on my sh-t list this dude redeems himself with “The Black Album” (not quite 5 mics in my book but it’s a STRONG 4) but then he flips back to my sh-t list Jay with the HORRIBLE “Kingdom Come” album. So around this time I decide to write Jay off AGAIN. Then I think Jay retired for like the 12th time and then eventually I start hearing rumblings about him making another album and I get a flashback to when I first heard Jay 10+ years ago like ”why?!?!?!? Can’t you just stop rapping?!?!?!” But then I hear that it was gonna be a concept album based off of Denzel’s new movie “American Gangster.” So you’re telling me that Jay Z is gonna be rhyming about selling drugs again? Oh, then I’m all in with that! And with “American Gangster” I got my 3rd favorite Jay Z album. But this time I don’t get too excited cause I see there’s a “LL Cool J Pattern” going on right now, with only every other album being dope. So if my philosophy is correct then this “Blueprint 3” album should be trash and damn it I’m good…cause the album was trash.
Now let me break down some of my philosophies on Jay Z cause I got a TON of ‘em. #1, I feel like Jay has always been the type of MC who plays to the level of his competition. When Jay first dropped (I’m talking about “Reasonable Doubt” not that “I Can’t Get With That” hoopla) he KNEW he had to come correct. Biggie was king, Nas was in the mix, west coast dudes was loving Pac and that’s exactly what he did…he came with his A game. But once Biggie and Pac died and Nas kinda fell back, it’s like money started getting lazy. That is 'til Nas lit that fire up under him and we get “The Blueprint.” And he must’ve still had that Nas fire under him when he did “The Black Album.” But once that died down here comes Jay with that wack ass “Kingdom Come” and “Blueprint 3.” See, once the Nas stuff blew over this dude had no real comp. Cam and ‘em were firing shots but Jay ain’t even reply. In fact a lot of dudes were firing shots but to me none of ‘em were on Jay’s level. So Jay turns out to be the dude who’s like the 72 win Bulls squad who ends up losing a couple of games they should’ve won but guess what? They saw the Clippers were on the schedule, stayed out a little late, gambled a lil too much, spent a lil too much time making in rain in the strip club and what happens? You lose to a sub par team that you should’ve beat. And the ONLY reason why “American Gangster” was dope was for two key reasons. Number one, Jay got with some HUNGRY producers who brought that heat and number two, Jay was given the green light to rhyme about drugs again which is Jay at his best. Yeah, he can make club bangers, summer anthems, etc but to me Jay’s TRULY in his zone talking about the street life. But because he’s rich and married to B, we all know he an’t in the streets no more so it would be wack if he rapped about that but that’s when we’ll always get Jay at his best. Which leads me to the other chink in the armor because at this point in the game, Jay has absolutely NOTHING of any interest to rhyme about anymore. So in my opinion we won’t EVER get another focused Jay.
#2, Jay inherited BIG’s entire fan base when BIG died. I get into this debate ALL of the time and Jay stans LOVE to tell me that it was the song “Hard Knock Life” that pushed Jay from selling 500,000 record and going gold to selling 5 million records and that’s the BIGGEST load of B.S. I’ve ever heard. Let’s get this straight ya’ll…there’s 1 top spot and that’s it. When Iverson and Marbury were getting drafted in the ’96 NBA draft there was only 1 spot and Iverson got it. They were too similar. Two cats both from the hood, both had the hip hop swag, both played point but again, there’s ONLY one spot…and Iverson got it. My wife asked me the other day, “what happened to Ciara?” I told her “Keri Hilson took her spot.” Somebody once asked me a couple of years ago, “what happened to Usher?” And I told ‘em “Chris Brown took his spot.” (that is til he beat Rihanna and then Usher took the spot back…but then Chris took it back…and then I think they made a scout’s owner pledge for Usher to do pop music and Chirs could have R&B) So, while BIG was alive, the public CLEARLY made their choice on who they were rolling with and it was a landslide win for BIG. Which is why BIG was multiplatinum and Jay was struggling to sell 500,000. Then the Jay stans like to come with the “well, you think rolling with Puff ain’t help BIG?” And to be honest, I’m sure it did. But the 5 mil who supported BIG could’ve turned right back around and supported Jay…but they didn’t. Why you ask? Because there’s ONLY one freaking spot and BIG owned it. Then once BIG died everyone said “I guess we gotta roll with Jay and that’s what they did. But trust and believe that if Mr. Christopher Wallace was still alive, Jay wouldn’t be the Jay ya’ll all know and love. But this really ain’t the time or place for me to point out Jay's faults cause this is suppose to be about biggin’ him up. So just like with most MC’s Jay’s had his fair share of bricks but again those bricks won’t ever be able to change how nice Jay was (when he’s focused) and what he’s done for the game. Salute.
My Favorite Jay Z Verse:
"I want money like Cosby who wouldn't
It's this kind of talk that make me think
You probably ain't got no pudding
N-ggas got them kinda dreams from jail
You in the streets n-gga
Make your move get your get your mail
N-ggas are coastin' the S.L. but can't post bail
N-ggas are roast the L
But scared to throw your toast well
I am here to tell n-ggas it ain't all swell
There's heaven then there's hell n-ggas
One day your cruisin' in ya seven
Next day your sweatin' forgetin' your lies
Alibis ain't matchin' up, bullsh-t catchin' up
Hit with the rico, they repo your vehicle
Everything was all good just a week ago
Bout to start b-tchin' ain't you
Ready to start snitchin' ain't you
I forgive your weak ass hustlin' just ain't you
Aside from the fast cars
Hunnies that shake they ass at bars
You know you wouldn't be involved
With the underworld dealers, carriers and mac-miller's
East-coast bodiers, west-coast cap peelers
Little monkey niggas turn gorilla's
Stopped in the station filled up on noctane
And now they not sane, and not playin'
That goes without sayin'
Slangin' day in and day out
With money playin' then they play you out
Tryin' to escape my own mind
Lurkin' the enemy representin' infinite
With presidencies you know"
"Dead Presidents" - Jay Z
Tracklisting Disc 1
In My Lifetime
Hard Knock Life
Streets Is Watching
Roc Boys
Politics As Usual
Lucifer
Hovi Baby
Who You With?
Girls, Girl, Girls
A Million And One Questions
Brooklyn We Go Hard
Friend or Foe
What More Can I Say?
You Don't Know
American Dreamin'
Dear Summer
Can I Live?
Song Cry
Imaginary Player
99 Problems
Tracklisting Disc 2:
P.S.A.
Dead Presidents
That's How Long
Blue Magic
Takeover
D.O.A.
Where I'm From
Encore
Friend or For '98
D'Evils
Sweet
Feelin' It
H.O.V.A.
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Rhyme No More
So Ghetto
Heart of the City
Success
Can't Knock the Hustle
It's Alright
In My Lifetime (rmx)
For this week's Away Team post, you've got me and Tay$ chopping it up about what moves the Lakers need to make in the off season, who's coming outta the west and how the Hawks and the Sixers can FINALLY get better...
Tay$: So, it’s finally a WRAP! My main man ‘Bean’ & his boys have gone fishing – surfing, tanning, boating, or whatever. But, knowing Kobe, he’ll spend a few weeks with the family and then he’ll be right back in the gym getting ready for next season. This is the attitude and work ethic of a true CHAMPION. I hope his teammates start to want to jock that about their captain and put to the side the celebrity highlife hanging, banging, and buying b-tches.
With that said, a few other needs, issues, and players have to be addressed in this off season. Now, I’m going to skip all the little particulars at first and just shoot from the hip the main parts –Coach, Point Guard- a package deal that would strengthen our bench. In no way do I totally blame Mike (Brown) for our season; I never thought he was a good pick from the beginning however, I appreciated his focus on defense. However, I don’t think he’s a great X’s & O’s man, a poor motivator, and just not respected enough among players around the league head any NBA squad. If the grapevine is right about Phil wanting to come back to coach, we MUST make that happen. I do know Larry Brown wants to come back & coach. And, I would make him a first priority. I believe his old school style fits perfectly with Kobe and it will resonate throughout the team; management might be a little challenge for Larry but, I believe the Lakers organization has such a rich history, that he would give some with this aspect. The after this, I believe we need to create a package to address the PG & bench needs. I’m thinking a multiple team deal that would bring Deron Williams and possibly two big men (that complement each other in terms of offense & defense (like to get L.O. back as one of them) to replace Bynum. Yes, I said it, replace ByBumb!!! Even though technically he’s not a bum however, his lack of dedication to maturing his game, moody child attitude swings, and lack of focus is unacceptable for me. I think with these changes the Lakers are right back in it. And, with a full regular season back in the FINALS BABY!!!!!
Kil: What do the Lakers need to do to get better? You sure you wanna ask ME that question? How about for Kobe to retire and they make the Lakers a NBDL squad? But since my dream won’t come true, let me take my personal feelings for this squad outta the equation and get serious. Let’s start with the coach. To be honest, I don’t feel any kinda away about Mike Brown. I thought he was a good coach in Cleveland and since I hate the Lakers I haven’t paid any attention to him in L.A. but I’d assume he’s still a good coach. It seemed like the whole year it was about him going back and forth with Bynum and Kobe trying to show everybody who’s team this was which I respected but at the end of the day he might have alienated his soldiers. But since I know a rack of Laker fans want Mike Brown gone my question is, who’s L.A. gonna get who’s better? Stan Van Gundy? That’s a head on collision waiting to happen. Jerry Sloan? So they whole squad could fall asleep while he’s trying to draw up a play. Patrick Ewing? (I think ya’ll get the point that there aren’t a RACK of good coaches on the market) Plus I don’t know who Kobe's gonna let coach him. So they might as well stay with Mike on the sidelines. Plus Kobe's never won a chip without Phil on the bench so unless Phil comes back who cares who coaches the Lakers cause we ALL know who REALLY coaches the Lakers.
Now as far as the cats on the court. We all know Gasol is butter leather soft so can Kobe stop trying to tell him to get some heart cause he’s not. You can't teach heart so if they keep Gasol just know he’s NEVER gonna be Anthony Mason or Charles Oakley point blank period. And Kobe calling the man out every chance he gets don’t help either. Obviously he doesn’t respond to the “Pau needs to (fill in the blank) better” criticism so ya’ll gotta find a new way to motivate him cause they're not getting back anything close to equal value for this dude cause after this season who REALLY wants Gasol? Hell, at this time and point I'd take Mark Gasol over Pau Gasol! With Bynum, money just seems to be a TAD slow (no disrespect to my slow people out there) so stop expecting him play hard EVERY game, it’s just not gonna happen. Ron Artest is still crazy but crazy can be good and Steve Blake hasn’t had a GREAT game of basketball since he left College Park. Ramon Session’s name sounds like he should be opening for Ricky Martin is some small Puerto Rican village and with Matt Barnes still looking for Game’s homeboy who was smashing Gloria there's not too much to say about the Laker's bench. So all of that to say…the Lakers are screwed. And damnit, I’m happy about it. When David Stern vetod that Chris Paul trade, I was probably the happiest person in the world. Cause I can’t front, I would’ve been a ‘lil shook of Chris Paul, Kobe and Bynum. But thanks to the basketball gods that trade didn’t happen so there’s not really much the Lakers can do to get better. Cause Dwight Howard nor Deron Williams is coming to La La Land and guess what? If Blake Griffin stops shooting wack commercials and actually learns how to play basketball and Billups makes a full recovery, the Clippers may FINALLY be putting a better product on the floor then the Lakers. My advice would be for Kobe and Mike Brown to figure out how to get more outta the personnel you have....cause they're ALL ya'll got...
Tay$: Well, I have to stick with my playoff prediction from the start which is… The SPURS to win it ALL! Even though I think either of these teams will beat whoever comes out the East, I have confidence and a gut feeling about San Antonio. For me, they’re the most diverse, experienced, and bench deep team left. They are healthy and have been there, done that before minded. Let’s not forget, they do have one of the GREATEST coaches of all time & more than likely, the GREATEST coach left in the playoffs. And, NEVER, EVER, EVER, underestimate team #LightSkin; THEY DO WORK!!!
Kil: First, let me get this straight, Tay$ predicted the Spurs to come out the West...over the Lakers?!?!?! Let me find out. But as much as I want OKC to come out the West…if I had to put money on it, I’d have to go with the Spurs. They seem to be hitting on ALL cylinders right now. When you can be down 24 poitns…and then go on 24-0 run…AND win the game…then yeah, you’re playing your best basketball. Now don’t get it twisted I think OKC COULD win the series but they’re gonna have to play some picture perfect basketball and they gotta stop shooting so many jumpers and start taking the ball to the rack like Harden does. (btw, does ANYONE in the league get to the hole as good as this dude does?) So even though my money may be on the Spurs you can best believe I’m running with the Thunder.
And since Tay$ wants to talk about team #LightSkin, don't get mad when Durant & Harding team #DarkSkin put in work out there! Lol!
Tay$: This was a difficult write up for me. Why? See, I’ve been going to SIXERS games ever since I was a toddler. Mo [Maurice Cheeks] used live next to a woman (who he treated like his mother) who worked with my aunt Grace at Bell Co. and we had tickets to every game all season long. We even were able to attend this pre-season have brunch with the SIXERS event every year. And, even more, I grew up and became family with Doc’s own sons [JErv (my way back EX) & Cheo] and the rest of the Erving crew. So, that’s how I’m embedded with SIXER tradition and history; not to mention hookying to attend the championship parade with my older cousins – man, those were the days. Frankly, I don’t know WHAT either of these teams can, need, or will do! However, I do believe ENERGY IS EVERYTHING and it seems that PHILLY has been coming out of a very dark place – slowly working itself to a more positive & productive place. As for ATL, I have NO CLUE! What I can say for these cities, and for the NBA as a whole, STOP MAKING LEGENDS BEFORE THEY’VE PROVEN TO BE LEGENDS!!! I’ve never read or learned in school (specifically business class) of paying for work not done; maybe a deposit and then balance upon completion but, potential satisfaction…Umm? NEVER!!!! And, then to not produce and the blame goes to everyone but, the individual performer which in returns up’s their stock is SIMPLY LUDACRIS!!!! So, maybe, if the NBA just gets back to basics we will have more even competition out on the court and amongst the league, the SIXERS and HAWKS (and others) just nay have a chance at coming up and being better!
Kil: I was watching the last Celtics/Hawks game and I thought to myself, “who in their right mind would pay to see the Hawks play?” But then it hit me, that if I wasn’t from Philly, I’d probably be saying the EXACT same thing about the Sixers. I mean, both teams are beyond BORING, they win the same amount of games every year (or at least close to it) to always make the playoffs but never seem to make any noise. And since they make the playoffs they’re never in a position to get a high draft pick. (for the exception of the Sixers who had the #2 pick 2 years ago to scoop Evan Turner…who mostly plays like a late 1st round/early 2nd round pick) Both teams signed their “superstar” players (Joe Johnson and Andre Igudola) to max money but neither one of ‘em wanna play like superstars. In my opinion, both cities are GREAT to live in (I used to live in Atlanta for 2 years) but no big name free agent wanna play in either city. I would think most cats would wanna play in Philly cause of the haircuts and cheesesteaks plus you’re only a hour and a half away from NYC. I also would thinks cats would wanna play in ATL for the strip clubs ALONE but no haps on either. So how do these teams get better? The answer is simple…they don’t. I truly believe that the Hawks and the Sixers will be this way for at least another 5 years. And if we’re honest, NO ONE including Mayor Nutter himself thought the Sixers would get out the 1st round against the Bulls before D. Rose got hurt. And we almost lost game 6 without D. Rose AND Jokim Noah and we would’ve 9 times outta 10 lost game 7 in Chicago. Now how pathetic of a team would we have been to lose to the Bulls without Rose and Noah? REALLY pathetic.
Now I do have to say that Philly is at least in a better postion then the Hawks based on two key reasons, #1 being that I truly belive we have a great coach in Doug Collins (can anyone name Atl’s coach? Didn’t think so.) and #2 being that Philadelphia has a rich basketball tradition. Whether it’s the Sonny Hill league, playgrounds summer league runs at Simons, Kingsessing Rec and 15th and Susquehanna or college games whether it’s Temple, Villanova, St. Joes and Penn or the rich basketball history of Dr. J, Moses Malone and Allen Iverson’s Sixers. That’s one thing Atl doesn’t have. The further south you go basketball means less and football means more. And that’s in no way to imply that you can’t get some DOPE runs in Atl but let’s face it, the city just doesn’t have the basketball tradition that Philly has. So with all of that said, the only way that both the Sixers and the Hawks will get better before Christ comes back for his church is simple…trade for a superstar player who is not in the last year of his contract (cause if they are, they’ll so eloquently tell both teams that they won’t resign like Dwight told the Sixers) and what are the chances of that happening? Aren’t all the “superstar players” accounted for in long term deals? And the ones that aren’t won’t likely wanna play in Atl or Philly. Cause if I’m Deron Williams or D. Howard I’d pick playing for the Brooklyn Nets over Atl AND Philly…and I’m from Philly! So for both of these teams to ever come close to REALLY competeing for a chip they either better start losing games like there’s no tomorrow like the Bobcats to get a high draft pick or trade for that superstar player and try their best to get him enough lap dances and chicken cheesesteaks so when it’s time to resign they’ll remember “Juicy” and “Brown Suga” or Pagonos and Tony Lukes.
Flick of the Week:
Video of the Week:
And just to give cats a taste of how me and Tay get down in the studio together check out "Prudence" which will be on her debut album dropping Fall/Winter 2012...
"Prudence" - Viral Audio featuring The Unidentified Objects (Produced by Kil)
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