Thanksgiving Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

If you feel you haven't reached your goal or feel you are not where you need to be in your professional life, be thankful that you were blessed with another day to make things happen, be thankful for family and loved ones, and be thankful for your appetite so you can eat all the good Thanksgiving food.


Random Thoughts:

Kanye West needs professional help in dealing with the death of his mom, if his recent performance on Good Morning America is any indication. On the morning show he sounded off-beat, appeared unkept, and told Robin Roberts it was too early for him to put on his best show. The holidays is when you really feel the loss of a loved one: shout to Jennifer Hudson. I will still eventually pick up 808's and Heartbreak on the strength of his past work as well as my appreciation for artists that push the envelope.

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Eli Manning and the New York football Giants are locked in. Last year's playoff run and Superbowl victory really boosted Eli's confidence to where they can lose All-Pro Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyora to injury for the season and not miss a beat. I don't see anyone... I'll stop there. I am too superstitious. Go Giants!

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Doesn't 50 Cent sound like Craig Mack in "Flava In Ya Ear" on his new single "Get Up" when he says the line "I got the savoir faire..."

Maybe it's just me...

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The New York Jets are looking good. Wonder what the brass in Green Bay are thinking right now, especially after the 51 spot the New Orleans Saints hung on them on national TV?

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Where is Lauryn Hill? Would it be too harsh of me if I wanted her to stop making babies and start making music again?

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A little weird to hear that President Bush pardoned John Forte. Does he know that Forte was down with the Refugee camp? And what does that mean now in 2008?

The Roots

I love The Roots, the legendary Hip Hop band out of Philadelphia. in fact, they are my favorite Hip Hop group, next to A Tribe Called Quest (support the new Q-Tip album The Renaissance)who technically aren't together at the moment so that would make The Roots my favorite group, but I digress.

I watch a lot of Noggin because of my 20-month old son (notice how I blame my son for this guilty pleasure of mine). I saw a recent episode of "Yo Gabba Gabba" and who should I see during a musical interlude, but "The Legendary" ones themselves. Black Thought wasn't spitting fire this time, oh no. Guitarist "Captain Kirk", rarely used vocally, displayed his superior singing talent in a song about family. It was great to see the entire band on the colorful set (Kamal grooving on keys, Questlove on the drums and Black Thought with the hilarious vocal accompaniment) having fun and sending a message to kids.

Seeing The Roots gave "Yo Gabba Gabba" a little more credibility in my eyes (even though I was already converted, a far cry from when I first saw the title and angrily changed the channel in disgust at what I thought was another exploitation of Hip Hop culture by way of suspect Hip Hop vernacular). I thought the title and the buffonish looking lead "DJ Lance" was a disgraceful stereotype of young Black males and Hip Hop culture not fit for kids to study. However, I changed my tune when forced to watch the program over time (I can't monitor my son's cartoons from work) and saw that the themes ranging from being polite to others, family, to what to do with a loose tooth, were valuable lessons that were more important than the physical appearance of the host. With guest spots from R&B recording artist Mya, rapper Biz Markie, and Pheonix Suns star Amare Stoudamire teaching kids dance steps, dribbling moves, beatboxing and more, the show isn't half bad.

Shout out to The Roots for diversifying their musical portfolio. They need to give "Kirk" more shine on future recordings (sidebar: doesn't Scott Storch -the predecessor of Kamal on the keys- wish he stayed with the group now?).

Just my thoughts...

Yo Gabba.... lol.

Hip Hop forever...

That's all

Dame Dash

According to the Friday (nov. 14th) edition of the New York Daily News, Dame Dash has fallen on hard times (to put it kindly).

All I have to say is I can see who was the bread winner in the Roc-A-Fella triumvirate of Jay, Dame, and Biggs (a.k.a Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke).

It was not like Jay-Z just closed up shop and left Dame with nothing. Dame received a reported $20 million for his share of Roc-a-Wear, he refused to give up the masters for Jay's debut album "Reasonable Doubt" a certified classic with songs still playing on major radio stations, and he was constantly in the news boasting of his fortune through various ventures with Pro-Keds (since sold), the internet (a social networking site) and his own Dame Dash Music Group (home to reggae artist Sizzla, although the only single released was a song already two years old at that point in "Just One Of Those Days").

In reality, he was living beyond his means. Dash was still stuck in 1998 I guess.

I always believed the people with the money never broadcasted their wealth, with the exception of rappers. Humility is a great quality to have. You never know when the gravy train could disappear.

Sad.

Did You Vote?

Somewhere Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is smiling as confirmation of his fight for equal rights for all races, ethnicities, and creeds, immortalized in his "I Have A Dream Speech" 40 years ago, materializes in the election of the first African-American President of the United States of America: Barack Obama. Obama is proof that a Black Man can be anything he wants to be, not just a rapper or athlete. His wife Michelle Obama, a decorated law professional with multiple degrees is proof that Black women are just as essential to the success of Black men, and that there are no limits to what they can achieve, something Condoleeza Rice has proven over the last eight years.

As I stood in line to cast my vote this past Tuesday, I, like many others, was impressed by the outpouring of minorities young and old, able and disabled, who wanted to be a part of history. I was especially touched by the young children who consistently demanded that they get a chance to vote to their parents.

I want to thank all the White people who voted for Obama. Your actions have shown that we as a country can look past race in favor of a candidate who represents a change for all people.

None need look any further than Obama's acceptance speech. Where a candidate would be smiling from ear to ear basking in the historical moment, Obama exuded calm in the midst of the euphoria. He was a man not satisfied with becoming President-elect, but with letting his constituents know the task ahead is a formidable one.

It was a speech that recalled the genesis of his journey from Presidential candidate, carefully recognizing the people from all walks of life that made his campaign run possible with selfless donations, to the monumental night on November 4th 2008. He thanked John McCain (whose concession speech was just as poignant and powerful) and Sarah Palin, his campaign managers and his family. He even reached out to the people who did not vote for him (who does that in an acceptance speech, I ask you?). World leaders and civilians rejoiced at the choice made by the United States, thrusting our nation again to the forefront of innovators and foward thinkers in the eyes of the World, hopefully going a long way to heal any global animosity festering from the last eight years.

Even in victory Obama never wavered from his message, realistically stating that he could not cure all the nation's ills in one year or one term, but he would be honest with the American people. After an unpopular war started on suspect intelligence and alleged government corruption, all we ask for is honesty from our President.

Congratulations Barack Obama, the real work begins now. The same rules apply for an African-American in the workforce: you have to work twice as hard as the next, watch your back, and be safe.

That's all...

Incidentally, were you able to get a newspaper on the morning of November 5th?
Please let me know in the poll.

Thanks,