The Art of the Musical Comeback: Timberlake Edition

JT has the formula for being back like he never left.  Alls you gotta do is follow these 7 steps. Sheesh.

1.  Put out music.

2.  Have Jay-Z feature on your first single.


3.  Then, have him perform his verse EVERY TIME you perform the song...EVERY TIME.




4.  Then, announce you're going on a stadium tour with him this summer.













5.  Host Saturday Night Live.


6.  Then, have all the legendary hosts from years past appear in your opening skit.


7.  Be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for an entire week straight.

I Think I Love Her.

Her too.

Gilles' Lyric: Day 15

"Respect the game, that should be it...What you eat don't make me sh*t."
-Jay-Z via "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
Album: The Blueprint


My take:::
Hatred is weak.  We don't condone that sh*t at all.

I love this sh*t.

Hip hop.

I watched this WHOLE movie tonight b/c DMX's last 2 lines arbitrarily popped into my head.

Footage from Backstage feat. a doo-ragged Jay-Z, DMX and somebody's obviously Muslim security personnel.

UPDATE:  You can't tell me I'm not truly a fan of this rap sh*t. I've already watched this cypher 7 times, today.

99 Problems, Congress Ain't One.

"If you support Jay-Z, support this amendment."

Watch.The.Throne.

"Gold bottles, scold models, spillin' ace on my sick J's..." -N***** In Paris

Jay-Z x Kanye: Watch The Throne

Rolex Submariner

Stuart Hughes iPad 2 Gold History Edition, £5,000,000

Puma Biker 5000 Metal Sneakers

Moët & Chandon Midnight Gold

Ruthie Davis Spikette Platform Pump

Watching The Throne.

10/28/11::: First Night. Phillips Arena. Atlanta. Bow.
Two of the best to ever do it. Point blank perrud.
Here's some video I stole from www.youtube.com and photos from the ol' iPhone.








And, YEEZY kilt that sh*t too...see what I did there?

This is dope.

Young 'Dris discusses the making of Jay-z's American Gangster Intro.


To refresh your memory, peepeth the actual jawn here.

Oat is.

Not to be confused with "itis"

"Otis" Kanye ft. Jay-Z

Get ready world. Watch. The. Throne.

Ya Mama.

In honor of Mother's Day being this past weekend, I've put together a list of some of my favorite songs about...er...ya mama. Yeah, I said it.
Aloe Blacc - Mama Hold My Hand

Tupac - Dear Mama (duh)

I decided to keep a positive outlook on motherhood and NOT go w/ "Brenda's Got a Baby"
Jay-Z - December 4

Kanye West - Hey Mama

Teedra Moses - I Think of You (Shirley's Song)

Boyz II Men - A Song For Mama

Three Six Mafia - Baby Mama

LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out

Martin - My Mama Bird


Little known fact about me: I was a big a** baby.

Jay-Z's 10 Business Commandments

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a BUSINESS, man." - Jay-Z

Jay-Z has proven himself a paramount figure in not only the music industry, but also in the business world. In addition to every Jay-Z album having gone platinum, Mr. Shawn Carter also has endorsement deals, stakes in sports teams, night clubs, and a record company just to name a few. You don't amass a net worth of over $450 million without having a plan. Below is a list of Jay-Z's 10 Business Commandments.

1. Focus on the most realistic chance to make the most money at all times

Jay-Z has amassed a fortune of $450 million by living this philosophy, from dealing drugs as an adolescent to selling records, clothes, liquor and more as an adult.

2. Attach yourself to other successful brands

One of Jay-Z's best-known boasts is that he "made the Yankee cap more famous than a Yankee can." Whether or not you agree with that statement, Jay-Z has certainly added to his victorious aura by associating himself with the Yankees, Michael Jordan, Warren Buffett and others.

3. Keep business and pleasure separate

Jay-Z rarely speaks about his wife Beyonce, and it seems to have done wonders--many years into their relationship, they're far from being tabloid regulars like other celebrity couples. But that doesn't mean there's not a lot to say.4. Don’t give free advertising to other bands unless there’s a good reason

In the late 1990s Jay-Z mentioned Iceberg clothing in a few of his songs and sales spiked. When he tried to parlay that into an endorsement deal, the company declined--so Jay-Z started his own, and called it Rocawear. Since then, he's been paid to endorse GM, Hewlett-Packard, Budweiser and others, and the only free advertising via references in his songs is for brands like Maybach.5. Never publicize anything less than a victory

Jay-Z doesn't talk much about his deals that fell apart or his products that flopped--his Armadale vodka and the Las Vegas location of his 40/40 Club. As a result, he's able to maintain a victorious image.6. Don’t split profits with others if you can avoid it

Jay-Z famously parted ways with former business partners Damon Dash in 2004--partially because of different management styles, partially because his name sold products, not Dash's.7. Cross promote your products at all times

Jay-Z never misses a chance to use one item's buzz to promote another. He's used his songs to advertise his Rocawear clothing line, S. Carter sneakers and 40/40 night club--and some products you might not even know he owns.8. Attack any threat to your business, but don’t take it too far

Jay-Z has always been aggressive in protecting his business interests, and sometimes to a fault. In 1999 he was arrested for allegedly stabbing record producer Lance Rivera for bootlegging his album.9. Ask a lot of questions, never stop learning

One of the things reiterated by most people who've worked with Jay-Z--be they lawyers, record label executives or other musicians--is that they can't help but notice his thirst for knowledge. He constantly absorbs information from people, books and situations, adding to his base like a hermit crab.10. Don’t get stuck in conventional ways of thinking

Rather than extend his record deal with Def Jam and parent company Universal (CEO Doug Morris pictured below), in 2008 Jay-Z inked a 10-year, $150 million deal with Live Nation that encompassed touring, recording, and a bevy of other businesses. The agreement was as ambitious as it was unorthodox.

[via Forbes]

Al Sharpton vs. Cornel West (Clash of the Black Agenda)

Al Sharpton vs. Cornel West (Clash of the Black Agenda)

In the course of Black Life there have been epic beefs:

Jay-Z

Vs Nas

Biggie

vs Tupac

El- Hajj Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X)

vs Martin Luther King Jr.

)

Nicki Minaj

vs Lil’ Kim

NYC Breakerz vs Rock Steady Crew

and

West vs Sharpton?

No not the Kanye West, although it would be interesting to have Sharpton’s and Yeezy’s egos go at it blow for blow. The feud I’m referring to is none other than Cornel West vs Al Sharpton. The two got into it the other day on a show, moderated ironically by a white man, called the “Black Agenda.” Brother Al and Prof. West were on the show to talk about the economic situation of black folk and inevitably the conversation turned to the President and his role or lack thereof in the uplift of people that share his skin color. The arguments on both sides are pretty solid with Sharpton playing Obama’s defense attorney and West playing lead prosecutor in the court of “WTF have you been doing to take care of your own” court. Lets go to the tale of the tape: (pardon my formatting but, it's well worth whatever style-points are deducted...)

	Rev. Al “Be sure to protect my Pres.” Sharpton	Prof. Cornel “Imma let you finish Sharpton, but Obama ain't nothin but a B-ish” West
Hairstyles	Fried, dyed with grey on the side	I let my soul blow from my Afro...
Style icon	James Brown	Albert Einstein/Huey Newton/ Karl Lagerfield
Public Speaking	Old school tried and true Reverential speechifying	Mix between performance poetry and Academic lecture
Published Works	2 and a possible	19 books and 2 albums
Political Aspirations	NY State Senate, US Senate, NYC Mayor, US Presidential campaign	I'd rather critique them than be 'em .
Education	Da Street! Ordained minster by age 9. Went to college for a hot minute. Managed James Brown. Worked with Jesse Jackson in Dr. King's Operation Breadbasket.	BA Harvard, MA & PhD Princeton
Good Point in Debate	Obama can’t do this shit by himself	Obama should be held accountable by black folks especially given the shit his opponents are throwing his way. Gotta keep ‘em honest!
Memorable Quotes	“George Bush giving tax cuts is like Jim Jones giving Kool-Aid. It tastes good but it’ll kill you.”	What does it really mean to be human? What does it really mean to be featherless two-legged linguistically conscious creatures Born between urine and feces Whose bodies will soon be the culinary delight of terrestrial worms, my brother?a>
Claim to fame	Can put together a race rally faster than Busy Bone can spit a verse	Can speak on almost any damn topic
Stance on Obama	Obama is my homeboy	I’m weary of any politician

Personally, I don't think Sharpton wants it with West in a straight out academic debate, but on cable TV? Anything goes, even your foes.

Is BROOKLYN in the house??? Without a doubt.

Some of the GREATEST Americans of the 20th century were born in Brooklyn. LONG LIVE the MOST awesome borough in the world. RESPECT it or check it.

LARRY KING.

SPIKE LEE. (exception::: SPIKE was born in Atlanta but hey, it's SPIKE. If I include me, I damn sho' gotta include Spike.)

THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

JAY-Z.

MICHAEL JORDAN.

EDDIE MURPHY.

JOE PATERNO.

CHRIS ROCK.

ME.

I may be a shawty now, but, I was def born in BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKLYN.