Album Review: "2014 Forest Hills Drive" By @NateSaid

If You Like real and you like Hip Hop, you fuck with J. Cole. J. Cole wasn't aiming to prove he can rap. We already knew he could do that. He was trying to let us know he can make a top-shelf album and still be true to himself. With that being said, Forest Hills Drive is a concept album. The concept is a walk through J. Cole's life...beginning from Forest Hills Drive.

The album starts with Cole singing over some groovy piano keys and repeating the question: "Do you wanna be happy?" and repeating the word "free". So right off rip I knew the next 12 tracks were going to be that real, artistic, personal shit.

Guest Blog: "Drake: The Mastermind" by @NateSaid

I brushed upon the topic briefly in my "Watching 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' Is Motivation" blog but I felt it needed elaboration.

Nobody. I mean nobody is more opportunistic than Drake when it comes to the music industry. Okay. Maybe Diddy. But then again nah not really. Drake really sees it all and hears it all. He's shown this time after time after time.

His cosign of the Chiraq wave was at the most perfect time. Right before it really took off. Sent a tweet about having a Chief Keef's "Love Sosa" play 130 times in a day and he dropped a verse on a Lil Reese track.

Remember when he was on the "Versace" remix? Remember how he kidnapped that flow a couple times for his own singles? But think about it. You could make the argument that Migos were the hottest thing in Atlanta during that time. But only in Atlanta. Drake on that remix gave them that national exposure. Drake on that remix added fuel to their fire. Can you see the Migos in the rap game 5 years down the road? Nah. I didn't think so. But temporarily, they're hot and they had Drake on one of their biggest songs. Then he turned around and snatched that rap-style for a bit and turn it into his own movement. Now look at what he did with that Meek Mill tweet. Back in April, he fired up his Twitter app and out of nowhere let a tweet fly that read "Dreams & Nightmares Intro really one of the best rap moments of our generation..." Why? Maybe Drake was just driving through the streets of Toronto with Meek Mill's debut album flourishing through his speakers and decided to tweet it. Or maybe Drake had something up his sleeve.

What did the "Dreams & Nightmares" and a couple of Drake singles from this year all have in common? The crazy, dope beat change making it seem like you got two songs in one. Now these weren't the first instances that he used the "double song" but it definitely was his signature move amidst the time of Meek Mill tweet. Drake also has a thing for doing whatever the "trend" is for the moment then gets right back to his own sound. Whether it's in sports. Music. Whatever. Over the past year or so Drizzy was made fun off because he kept appearing to be a bandwagon fan all over the sports world. But then again it led to him hosting the Espy's. On the music side of things, he's also known for hopping on the trend from time-to-time. This was proven when Drake did the "We Made It" track with Soulja Boy and more recently when he threw a verse on Makonnen's song. Starting OVO (what appears to be the future sound of hip hop) and entering the sports world as the Toronto Raptors' Global Ambassador with a clothing line in conjunction to that position just adds to his mastermind resume.

Aubrey Graham. Drizzy Drake. Wheelchair Jimmy. Whatever you call him, just make sure you're aware he's probably plotting a new way to remain in the headlines. That's what masterminds are capable of.

Yours Truly,
The Boy (@NateSaid)

Guest Blog: "Bitches and Music" by @WhoButAR

It’s a fairly simple concept. Bitches and music go together like peanut butter and jelly. Like Henny and Coke. Like Gin and Juice.

My nigga, didn’t John Smith even serenade Pocahontas once or twice before he had her all the way in the bag? So it’s safe to say, this country was FOUNDED upon G’n bitches up with music.

Guest Blog: "Crazy Isn't Cute" by @NateSaid

Lil Kim continues harassing the innocent citizens of the world over the internet with her music. I don't know why but she continues to do so. Remy Ma came back home from prison and immediately hops right back into the studio with zero hesitation. Rumor has it she hasn't taken any days off since being out. I don't know why but she continues to do so. In a weird way, Lil Kim and Remy Ma tie into today's topic. That topic is crazy bitches.

Guest Blog: "Watching 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' is Motivational" by @NateSaid

If you don't find the Kardashian family entertaining then you should at least find them motivating. Don't worry I'll explain. But first let me shine light on how Drake might be the most opportunistic rapper ever. Aubrey Graham has a way of knowing what sounds are going to "pop" in the industry. Just look his recent history. He cosigned the Chiraq bandwagon at the perfect time. Then kidnapped Migos flow and everyone started running with it. Called Meek Mill's intro "one of the best rap moments of our generation" before going on a tear with "double songs" with beat switches. Similar to how Meek Mill switches flows/sounds in the "Dreams & Nightmares" intro. And more recently, he hopped on the Makonnen wave. Just know Drizzy sees everything and hears everything and knows how to capitalize of it.

Guest Blog: "Death" by @NateSaid

"If you admire somebody you should go head, tell em/People never get the flowers while they could still smell em"

Life is very short. Very very short. Too short to hold grudges, too short for you sit around and be sad, and too short for you not to enjoy every second of it.

But it seems like we only realize how short it really is when one of our loved ones passes away. Taking things for granted and taking people for granted is a daily mistake a lot of us make, but then in moments of tragedy we’re reminded of how much we care about our loved ones and reminded how we shouldn’t take things (or people) for granted. But...that’s life.

They say god does everything for a reason which is fine, but what could be the reason be for taking all the good people so early in their lives?

Guest Blog: "The Yes Man" by @NateSaid

Shits been very weird lately. Solange doing Mortal Kombat moves on Jay Z in elevators. LeBron going back to the Cavs. The T.I/Tiny/Floyd Mayweather love triangle unfolding before our eyes. Niggas getting nose rings. Very very spooky happenings. But I'm here to touch on another topic. The "Yes Man".

The "Yes Man" is Top 5 Worst People ever because they're the equivalent to a hype-man that is hyping someone (or something) that deserves little to no hype. (Unfortunately) We all know a "Yes Man".

Apparently, the new trendy thing to do is be a rapper, or be a fashion designer...yo Instagram even has a double-tabs on pictures allowing girls to believe that they're aspiring models. With that being said even females have entered the "Yes Man" vortex.

Guest Blog: "50/50/100 Relationships" by @NateSaid

Relationships have to be 50/50 in order to have any chance at long-term happiness. And by 50/50 I mean half and half everything. Even truths and lies. Especially truth and lies.

We're going to take a look at this from three different sides. The good guy liar, the bad guy liar and the guy who just tells the truth.

Motivation

Nothing wrong with listening to others and receiving some motivation right? Well Asha Lee is here to talk to you guys a little.

Sister Tag: VDay Edition

VDay on the way, love is in the air, thirst is in these streets & loneliness is around the corner. Him ain't yours but her hers so while you munching on that candy a day early just know she out having a nice candle lit dinner with yours.. well hers truly. watch as the homies answer more questions this time surrounding the greatest worst holiday for a bitter bird. Valentines day... enjoy.

Sister Tag! Starring @Ahhhshaa @Tyranichell

Check out the homies as they answer various questions on their personal lifes. By no way shape or form am i sayin this is a gateway to slide thirst in... nope but please watch enjoy Pt. 2 coming soon.

Guest Blog: Changing "Him" by @MsLeeTaughtYou

Pick your battles…

“You can’t change people.” “You can’t change a cheater.” “You can’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to.” These creeds are preached to us on the daily, so why do we still make a conscious effort to defy them? Satisfaction? Badge of glory? Women try to challenge these laws of the land all the time and where do we end up?

We will take ourselves through the pits of hell and high water to achieve happiness or at least appear that way. We much rather force something than accept a situation. We will pick up the most ratchet thug and want him to give up his thuggish ways, so we will devise plans a, b, c and jump through rings of fire to make him conform to our wants. We want so bad to make him worth the trouble that we forget…. You can’t change people. 9 times out of 10 the stress we go through behind a man is because we are so focused on trying to change him. We fail to realize that it’ll NEVER work, he’s a grown man. Solution? Try growing with him, or let it go.

Change. We make an attempt to remold men like they aren’t grown and their foundation isn’t already laid. Then the tears and headache follow when the mission is failed. Let’s look at the cheater. We “take” him from his misses, yet expect him to make us his one and only THEN have the nerve to be mad when there’s another ‘other’ and want to act out scenes from Waiting to Exhale. Cut it out. You can’t change a cheater. YOU chose to deal with that, so why are you mad at HIM for being him?! Why do you want to change him now when it was okay before? You knew what you were getting yourself into. Women want everyone else to “accept me for me”, but we are steady fighting, crying, acting out and carrying on to change someone else? If he’s content, he’s content and there isn’t a thing we can do about it. Try to change him and you will end up mad every time the outcome doesn’t go your way.

Developing. As you bond, of course you’ll notice some things you don’t like about him and vice versa. Relationships consist of a lot of give and take, compromising, and improvement. When there is a disruption, discussing whatever the issue is and both parties partaking in a way to right the wrong is growth. People have to WANT to improve themselves first. You can’t make anybody do anything they don’t want to. So the key is HE has to want it and it doesn’t matter how bad you want it for him. Not you, him. Once he’s ready, he’ll allow it. This is NOT straight up changing someone. It’s bettering them, building together upon what has already been established. I better you, you better me. When things are done cohesively, good things haphazardly occur anyhow.

If you can’t change a situation, you change the way you view/handle it. So when we hit the crossroads in relationships, we have to make one of two choices because changing someone is just NOT an option. A. Deal with it. Or B. Exit stage left. If you take route A, you have to ask yourself can you handle it? If you choose to deal, that means you are adjusting YOU as well, not just them. And if/when it crashes you CANNOT be upset with HIM. This is your doing… Route B. Well, no explanation is necessary but don’t dub him “his ain’t shit ass” when it’s all said and done. Again, that was your doing.

Guest Blog: Snooping by @MsLeeTaughtYou

Phone on silent, face down, but the lucent light is aglow when some activity occurs. Is it a text? Is someone calling? Who? Do they know he’s with me? Is it some bitch? Does he not see his phone? Why hasn’t he picked it up? Does he know who/what it is? Or is that he just doesn’t want me to see? What’s the secret? Who/What is he hiding? You forcibly peel your focus off this ever so amazing yet detrimental gadget and now set it on him. He’s all calm, cool, collected, not fazed, completely oblivious and tentatively watching the movie you picked for the night. He slowly lifts your head off his shoulder and tells you he’s stepping to the bathroom. He leaves the room and what do you notice? His phone hasn’t moved…
THIS is your opportunity to answer all your questions. But then there’s the ultimate one, if it IS some hoe WHAT DO I DO? So many other inquiries jolt. If I do find something I don’t like, how do I bring it up? I can’t just say I was snooping, he wouldn’t trust me. It’s not that I don’t trust him, I was just… curious but I can’t say that….. What kind of girlfriend/boo would I be? He creeps in and startles all your thoughts. He gets back in his spot on the couch and pulls you to him without a single care in the world. It feels good and just as you try to concentrate on the movie that you haven’t watched since the opening credits, your mind brings you back to that damned iPhone. I should have picked it up and put my mind at ease! Thoughts as such are so damaging to relationships..
If you go looking for something, TRUST me you WILL FIND IT. It could be the most innocent of conversations but just because you’re intent on finding something, anything will gratify your suspicions. THIS LEADS TO TROUBLE. To solve all, don’t snoop! Don’t make a text to Amber about homework code words for “I’m coming through later.” Don’t make a convo with his dudes a plot to cheat. The concept is simple:  If you want to know, ASK. If you feel like the answer isn’t truth, evaluate why you feel as such (perfect bonding situation) but DON’T SNOOP! Snooping is a catch 22. You snoop and find something, now you have to bring it up (snitch on yourself) and risk losing all trust or whatever it is between you two. You snoop and don’t find anything, so you dig deeper to find every bit of nothing then you’re left beating yourself up with guilt knowing that you could’ve trusted him the whole time. Conclusion: DON’T SNOOP! If you can’t find the trust, remove yourself. And if he hasn’t done anything to induce this suspicion, it’s not him. Food for thought.