Oh Well, It's Still a Good Day

GOAT?

2010-05-04T08:23:00.003-04:00

Yes, you read the title right.

Floyd Mayweather Jr has been widely criticized and very rarely looked at as a possible GOAT contender. I too have been critical of Floyd and his claims to be the greatest. Floyd has been looked at as a fighter that is not willing to take risks and doesn't fight the top competition in his weight class. He cleaned out the 130, 135 pound weight classes beating Jose Luis Castillo twice (first one somewhat close, second one a blowout) and absolutely dismantled the late Diego Corrales in the most lopsided fight I have ever seen. Diego was a king in the weight class at the time and many people picked him to win the fight based on his height and reach. Floyd knocked him down 6 times and I can't remember Floyd being touched more than a few times.

Where Floyd began to receive criticism was when he moved up to the 140 weight class, here he claimed supremacy after only 3 fights Chop Chop Corley, Henry Bruseles and the late Arturo Gatti. Out side of Gatti most people have no clue who he fought at 140lbs. At the time Arturo Gatti was insanely popular due to his wars with Micky Ward (if these come on ESPN classic they are a must watch). Floyd beat Gatti like he stole something. This would have been as bad a beating as Floyd gave Corrales except Gatti wouldn't go down. After the Gatti fight Floyd moved up to 147lbs when guys like Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton were still dominating the rest of the competition. It truly looked like Floyd was ducking one or both of these fighters.

At 147, Floyd again only fought 3 times. Sharmba Mitchell, Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir. The king pin at 147 was Zab Judah because he held the 3 major belts. Zab was upset (i still don't know how this happened) by Carlos Baldomir in a tune up fight to his fight with Floyd. Floyd and Zab still fought because on the intense fan interest in the fight. Zab showed in the first 4 rounds that he was just as fast as Floyd and even put Floyd on the canvas (wasn't ruled a knockdown). Then Floyd did something that made me truly see his skill, he settled down and began to pick apart Zab, by the end of the fight it looked lopsided as Floyd began to touch Zab whenever he wanted. After that Floyd beat Carlos Baldomir in a ridiculously boring fight. Then Floyd moved to 154 and stopped fighting for belts. But, outside of Zab Judah, he didn't beat the top fighters in the division once again. Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams were never fought. Again, it seemed as if Floyd was ducking competition.

Floyd moved to 154 to fight De La Hoya in the "the fight to save boxing". Although the fight wasn't the best fight it was more competitive than some people thought. Many people came out saying that the fight was weak and boxing 'was dead' but to this day many of those people are still tuning in to see what Floyd does. Next, Floyd came back down to 147 to fight Ricky Hatton whom many people said he was ducking but people who were not kidding themselves knew that Floyd would destroy Ricky, which he did. Then retirement. Without fighting, Cotto, Mosley, Margarito or Williams. Who would have been his toughest opponents for the last 4 years.

Anyways, I say this all because the main argument against Floyd is the fact that he seemingly ducked the top competition at 140 and 147 which for whatever reason , is true. If he fought and beat all of those fighters there wouldn't be much of an argument against him.

Now on to the Mayweather vs Mosley fight. I too wanted to see Mosley beat Floyd and end the talk of him being a possible GOAT. Just like everyone else, I was screaming at Shane to end it in the second round when Mayweather was badly hurt. But after that point in time, Floyd showed the same thing that he showed against Zab Judah. When his speed and boxing skills can be matched, Floyd goes Tiger Woods on'em, Air Jordan on'em, Kobe Bryant on'em. Floyd went into the zone, he became laser focused on what he needed to do to, not win, but dominate the fight. He had Shane Mosley sooooo shook, that Shane wouldn't let his hands go. Floyd is by far, the most skilled fighter I have ever seen (sorry Roy Jones Jr, it's true).

Manny Pacquiao. I can't wait to see this fight, I am a huge Pacquiao fan. I think his speed is as fast as Floyd and his power is greater than Floyds. I don't see Pacquiao being shook like Shane, he is relentless and won't back down. The question is, can Floyd keep that laser focus in the face of Pacquiao's relentless pressure. If Floyds wins, better yet, if Floyd dominates Manny, then you must put his name right alongside Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali.

Money May on'em.

WOW...Lions and Liars review and more

2010-03-31T20:56:00.004-04:00

So for the past few weeks I have been pumping up the sophomore album by Sho Baraka Lions and Liars it almost looks as if I sweat Sho more than I do Jesus. Nothing could be further (farther?) from the truth. I love Jesus Christ and I love my friends and family. The main reason I have been sweating this release is because of a strong bond I have with my friends and family especially through a mutual love for Hip Hop music. Since I have become a stronger Christian, I have yet to really talk to my friends and family about my faith, not because I am ashamed (Romans 1:16) but because I don't feel that my Bible knowledge is on par with some of the questions I may get. Don't get me wrong my faith is not blind, it's rooted in the Word. I just can't quote it perfectly or point somebody to en exact scripture to help them understand all that I know to be the truth. That's where Sho Baraka comes in for me.

I have always claimed to be a Christian, but it was a few years ago that God really pulled me back to him through a series of events (another blog). I had to stop listening to Hip Hop that I had always loved because of the messages they were sending. A few years prior I had been watching BET and a song called "Jesus Music" came on and the beat was hot and the MC's flow was serious. This was a cat named Lecrae. Fast forward a few years and that video was on my mind, it was stuck to me. I looked Crae up and purchased his CD After the Music Stops. I was blown away. At a time when God was tugging on my heart, I was blessed to hear hot beats, hot flow but the content was like a sermon on every song. Christian Hip Hop calls it lyrical theology but it was mixed into language and situations that young people go through. I was hooked. But to be honest, there were a few songs where I thought...the production was little weak. Again when I heard this it was around the time Jay-Z's American Gangster was released so the production I was comparing it to was phenomenal. Lecrae's album introduced me to the 116 Clique he is a part of which also includes; Trip Lee, Tedashii and Sho Baraka. As these cats dropped more and more albums the lyrics were always hot, but the beats and the production got better and better to the point where it was darn near on par with secular rap. Then Sho dropped Barakaology and changed the game. I'll go in on that one later. Long story short(er)...Lions and Liars dropped yesterday. I woke up at 2am to catch a flight and immediately downloaded L&L straight to my iPod Touch (may God bless Steve Jobs). I rocked it all the way from SW Fl to Cali. Below are my thoughts.

The album starts out with a definition of extinction, throughout the album Sho speaks about being a Lion and the King of your respective Jungle, wherever God puts you. It looks at Christians who are Lions for the faith as on the path to extinction or at least heading there.

From there Sho jumps right in with Lion's Anthem with his usual witty metaphors and one liners Sho talks about how Lawyers, Salesmen, Bakers and others are Lions for their faith in whatever field God has placed them. On the next song Famous Sho brings in Erica Cumbo to open annihilate the hook. This songs signify the difference between Christian Hip Hip and secular hip hip. Sho goes in on how his goal is not to lift himself up but instead ad the chorus goes "I just want to make You famous!" speaking to Jesus. Vastly different from regular hip hop where it is always about glorifying ones self.

The next track is a rock infused song featuring After Edmund and Lecrae called Shut Us Down. This song goes superhard! Focused on how haters are trying to hold back Christian Hip Hop back. To me this goes to all the secular DJs who say they love Hip Hop...if you love Hip Hop and the musicianship you can't continue to sleep on this music. As well as Christians who hate on CHH (Christian Hip Hop) and try to keep it out of the church just because it's different from what they know.

Up next, We Can Be More...check out the vid below, speaks for itself.

If I keep ranting this blog will be crazy long. So I am going to focus the rest of the blog on a few more extremely powerful songs. Don't get me wrong...if you skip the songs I am not getting into here you are shorting yourself something serious. I was reading other review and was like "why aren't they going in on every song" as I write this I realize that I don't want to give EVERYTHING away.

The next one I will speak on is Liar's Anthem the opposite of Lion's Anthem speaks on secular rap with the hook of "pimpin, pimpin, murda, murda, sell drugs". This goes in HARD on secular rap and the messages it pumps into its listeners. When I used to listen to a lot of secular rap I always was thinking...It aint bad music, it just tells it like it is...As the blinders have come off I realized that it truly did affect the way I acted and thought. I beg you to listen to the truth on this track.

The last one I will comment on is Revolutionary Died. This beat is CRAZY...the piano in it reminded me of a classic hip hop song by, of all names, Smif-n-Wessun...(lyrical giants but the beats never really matched up). But the content is about being REAL MEN, men who are role models to other men, who appreciate girl friends and wives, gringding in real jobs not drugs and crime, takin care of their kids instead of walking out. This song really sums up the entire album to me. The beginning of a revolution...living lives that God intended and still desires. This doesn't mean everyone needs to be preachers and going around beating the Bible into each other. But live Godly lives that allow God's light to shine through us and make our lives a living testimony to the love he shares. Of course we will ALWAYS make mistakes but the allow us to show how God's never ending Grace is present in our lives as well.

The rest of the album is just as good with a few bonus tracks that Sho has as well. Give it a listen, I am buying a few extra copies to give out to people I love that I know love hip hop as well. Sho's album will help me bless others buy listening to great hip hop that focuses on God.

Throw back Sho Baraka...but not way back

2010-03-25T13:24:00.002-04:00

In buildup to the new Lions and Liars album dropping 3/30...next Tuesday, I am posting a Sho Baraka video from his last album. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album, Turn My Life Up. Check it out called Higher Love.

We Can Be More, Baby We Can Be More!!!!

2010-03-18T09:31:00.002-04:00

Hot hot hot video to the song We Can Be More by Sho Baraka f/J.R. This song talks about love between a man and a woman cleanly! The Bible talks about healthy, loving, exciting relationships between couples. You don't have to be "holier than thou" people who don't show affection and express love! Stop being crazy people, love your wife or husband. Love them out loud! Peep the video, great quality, good stuff.

Far Away by Lecrae

2010-03-16T17:14:00.002-04:00

I can't even explain how powerful these lyrics are. Read, watch, listen, comment. Video is below.

Far Away by Lecrae

Far, Far Away, Far Away, Far Away...

Hopeless, I can spell it, I can smell it in the air.
A lot of people wonder if you sill care and are you still there.
Cause I done lost it all, I keep callin your name, but do you hear my call?
And are you still involved, or am I left alone?
I wander the streets, cause I no longer have a home.
My brothers all gone, my sisters all gone.
My family and my friends ain't gon' be here in the mornin, you see me here mournin.
They say you feel my pain, they say you went through it, they say to die is to gain.
But I ain't gain nothin I lost everybody.
Now I'm losin my mind and my faith is all I got.
I'm still holdin on, thats why i still pray.
Feelin empty in side I can't make it through the day.
I don't know what else to do, don't know what else to say.
I'm talkin to you now but I promise that you feel so far...

(So) Far, Far Away, Far Away, Far Away...

Dear Hope, been waitin on you for a while now.
Been cut so deep that I aint sure if I can smile now.
Look at this devistation, look at the pain and sorrow.
Somebody fed me lies and promised me a bright tomorrow.
I know that God will follow, he's bigger than disaster, big enough to handle any evil that harras us.
But I feel like he passed us, pain overtook us, buildings tumbled over head as the ground shook us.
God have you forsook us? And are you still with me?
I know you save souls, I trust that you forgive me.
Relief, can you hear me?
Hey Rest, can you get me?
Hey Peace, can you see me?
Hey Love, can you heal me?
I don't know what to do, I aint lookin for answers.
I just need you to hold my hand through this cancer.
Tell me you never left, even in the mist of death.
Breath on me, I'll do any thing to feel your breath.

(So) Far, Far Away, Far Away, Far Away...

For God alone, oh my soul, wait in silence.
For my hope is from Him
He is my only Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress
I'll shall not me shaken.

On God rests my Salvation, my Glory, my Mighty Rock
My Refuge is God

Trust in Him at all times people
Pour your heart out before him.
God is a refuge for us.

(You know our God's not) Far, Far Away, Far Away, Far Away...

Lions & Liars video blog #1

2010-03-12T08:47:00.002-05:00

Sho Baraka dropped this video blog a few weeks ago. Here he is speaking on the title to the new album Lions and Liars.

Pimpin, Pimpin, Pimpin, Murder, Murder, Sell Drugs

2010-03-08T11:21:00.001-05:00

This commerial is from the Don't Waste You Life tour in 09'. This commercial is hilarious and sad at the same time.

Streets of N.Y. featuring J.A.Z & Magellan

2010-03-07T16:38:00.003-05:00

This video is off of DJ Official's album EnterMission. The album has many different artist and is easily a 4 mic cd. Check out the video below. The song is crazy but I am not so big on the video, visually it has great shots of NY, but the vibe of the song doesnt seem to transfer well to the video.

SONY featuring J.A.Z. and Magellan

Month of the Lion - Revolutionary Died

2010-03-06T09:12:00.004-05:00

I know, I know...as astrology goes, if anything is the month of the Lion it's July/August. This month, most of my blogs will be focused on Sho Baraka's coming album Lions and Liars which launches on 3.30.2010.

I am not monetarily tied to the promotion of the album. However, my heart is in this album. Of course I didnt write it, but the content will be focused on Jesus. Another reason I am getting firmly behind this album is because many of my friends and family are avid hip-hop listeners. I still think that the musicianship of hip-hop is absolutely incredible, it's the content of the hip-hop these days that turns me off. Maybe I'll get time to blog more on that in the future. But this album will have production/beats/style and most of all lyrics to match any top hip-hop artist today. I promise you, listen here and hopefully you will be intrigued enough to cop the album.

Revolutionary Died video

Inspired by...

2010-03-05T11:06:00.006-05:00

This is my attempt to start a new, more focused blog. The title was inspired by Sho Baraka's sneak peek video titled: Oh Well.

With some serious lyrics such as:
They save whales, save dogs, save dolphins/save tree's, but kids ain't really that important/see signs of genocide, yeah keep smilin/but for some land and oil we get violent/all I hear is less faith more science/if it feels good to you then try it/sex addiction makes kids porn victims/Bloods shed blood, Crips is set trippin/Young girls watch videos, they live reckless/give up their virginity, all for a necklace/My man wasn't trippin he was sittin on wisdom/he traded that in for some rims thats spinnin/he got 26's but his rent he can't pay/so he's like...Oh Well, it's Still a Good Day

That's fire and I dare anyone to say different!

Anyways, I want this blog to reflect my views on a day to day basis. But unlike the cat with 26's Sho is talking about, I know that no matter what happens, good or bad, at the end of the day I have the love of Christ Jesus and can always say: "Oh Well, It's Still a Good Day"!

Check the vid...