MTV doesn’t love you like it used to.

You know I’m telling you the truth. MTV hasn’t cared about you since Carson Daly left for a real job at NBC. Want proof? The Hills. Need more? Bromance. Nail in the Coffin? Jersey GODDAMN Shore. How many times have you been with a group on friends, filled to MTV, and hit the old man preface, “I remember when..” and finished with “MTV used to show videos…” What the hell happened? Did I wake up and become an old hater one day, or did they decide we were getting enough free music on the internet? Whatever the case may be, the shift in programming, and aside from the family Simmons the general lack of originality and quality seemed to spit in the face on the people that made MTV huge. What’s worse, I cant log onto Facebook without someone referencing the bad programming as if it had any type on redeeming value. “You won’t believe what the situation did tonight..” WHAT? Get outta here. The reason MTV continues to produce bad television is that we (aka ya’ll) continue to support it. Take a stand! Turn off the reality whoring that is Viacom programming and, shit I dunno, but switch that shit up… you are doing us all a disservice.

It's like getting to Heaven and finding out God smokes crack...

Come on. Really? By now, you've heard of, or seen, or know somebody who's seen "Precious". In a nutshell, it's the story of the most unfortunate Black Girl ever. For starters, she's been raped by her former inmate Dad since she was three. Her invalid mother let it happen. A buncha times. She has two kids by her father, the oldest of which has down syndrome. As a result of inbreeding. Because her Dad raped her. When she was three. She can't read. She lives off of the state. She tries time and time again to crawl out of the hole that is her life, but things just can't seem to shake out for her. And the movie ends with her finding out she's HIV positive. From her father. Who raped her. Repeatedly. Over the course of her entire life. Did I mention she's terrible unattractive (not a slight on the actress, but this is what she was projected to be)and obese?

So, even with all of the terrible things I've just explained, you may still be asking, what's the problem? The problem is that these are the movies that are touted as "examples on Black achievement" and "groundbreaking work". I have the same issue with this piece of garbage i had with "Crash" reading the academy award for best picture: We know Black people struggle, and we know racism is rampant. Why is it every time these things are brought to the forefront, is some type of cinematic achievement? What a load of crap. The day after Thanksgiving, my parents took my sister and their God-children to see this flick. Clearly, this wasn't a movie for kids. But let God-awful Tyler Perry and my favorite tyrant Oprah's stamp of approval on it, and Bam! black people come out in droves to see it.

Newsflash: Kayne was wrong. It's Tyler Perry that doesn't care about Black people. His movies explore the worst parts of our culture, and use religion as the protagonist, rarely the people involved. And if there is a protagonist, it's either a Woman, or Shemarr Moore. SMH.

Which brings us to another HUGE problem with the film: All the bad characters were Dark Skinned, and the noble, selfless characters were light skinned! Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz and her dream boyfriend were all on the lighter side of the spectrum and they all valued Precious and wanted what was best for her, and every Dark Skinned person of note wanted to use her up. Come on! Why hasn't there been more outrage over this crap?

This guy Perry's got a stranglehold on Black Entertainment, and gives us either Minstrel Shows or Ethnic Snuff films. I for one, will only bootleg his stuff... and won't let any of my non-black friends, or anyone younger than me watch it with me.

Oh yeah, and Fuck Oprah. Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

So yeah...

Well, these lapses have to be getting tiresome. I drift in and out of this space like I do most things, and I don’t deny that. Lately I’ve been dealing with some very adult issues, probably things you all have gone through or have seen someone go through. Like most things, the real issues that came from this were it impact on a few different relationships. I’ve never really stressed too much over anything, but well, these have been trying times. I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but the stress caused me to put an unnecessary energy towards my social life, more specifically, P.W.A. (word to Lil’ Flip.) These things are all good in moderation, but too much of em’ will kill you. I don’t think I’m quite ready to leave just yet, so expect me to mellow out a bit over the next few weeks. Always good talking to you.

CeeHawk - "Neva Die"

A lil' somethin' I put together with My Muvee for vista. Comic's are the perfect background to this song, because the characters, at least the good ones, are presented as timeless figures, and my train of thought for this song was living life like you had forever to get it right. Enjoy.

A new direction...

Well hello Kongressman (and Women). It's been a long time,and really, I shouldn't have left you. Things have been moving at a much different pace personally, and well, I think I'm starting to find my groove professionally. Artistically is another story. About a month ago, I sat down and wrote a few songs in hopes of recording them one weekend in San Antonio. Things being what they tend to be, it really didn't happen. I started to place blame, but I really thought it through. Just like I'm not always ready to hit the studio, those around me have lives as well, so they cant just be ready when i expect them to. So, i went to the the 'Nets to try and locate what i think may be the missing piece to my puzzle: real management. I think one of my strengths in my openness, so to be open, musically I'm an artist, and not the greatest businessman (that what niggas like Kerry Ray are bred for). I'd much rather write, record and perform and happily cut someone else a check to handle the rest. Just the way I'm built. In a climate where everyone is an artist (or can make that claim) it becoming increasingly hard to stand out. So hopefully this deal goes well, and I can just make music without the fear of hunting down studios, or having to book my own gigs, because writing consists of what you know and what you can convey, but getting the music out is a different beast entirely.

Be back sooner than later.

Bourne Without Identity

In 1983, Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda summoned a secret meeting of company executives, to whom he posed the question, “Can we create a luxury vehicle to challenge the world's best?" The original Lexus LS 400 was nothing short of revolutionary. It was quieter, it has outstanding fit and finish, it was madly reliable. It did what it was designed to do. Challenge the world's best. Fast forward 20 years(Happy Belated Birthday Lexus) and I believe the Toyota Motor Corp executives need to ask a new question. What is our brand identity? For a brand whose mission was to compete with the worlds best it was mission complete. But how do you take Lexus to that next level...copy 70s-80s General Motors? Uninspired design? See photo, CHECK! Shameless rebadging? See ES350, LX570, CHECK! No identity for brand? DING DING We have a winner!

What hallmark does Lexus have to fall back in a crowded luxury market? Performance? I think BMW or Infiniti! Design? I think Audi or Cadillac! Innovation? I think Mercedes. Lexus you are the new Buick. Or would that be a slap in the face to the new Buick because the new Buick LaCrosse recently beat the Lexus ES350 in a comparo. A BUICK!!! The median age of Lexus buyers is 56 and no identity Lexus will no longer be the brand that middle to upper America aspires to own anymore.

But the since its conception it was not designed for its own niche. It was designed to challenge the world's best. That it will do but I believe Lexus will have to have an identity and not remain tarted up Toyotas! The LS600 was a start with the 8speed transmission and automated parralel parking and maybe the high tech theme can work. But if i wanted a Prius i would buy a Pruis not a HS 250h, if I wanted a Highlander I would buy a Highland not a RX350, if I wanted a Camry I would buy a Camry not a Lexus ES350. Give me a reason to want a Lexus other than wanting to look like I have money. And no Hiphop cant save you because you can only rhyme Texas and Lexus so many times.

Brightest Light, Blackest Night

So, between work and my job (if you only knew) I’ve had time to really get back on my comic book steez. Shout out to Dragon’s Lair on Burnet and 2222, those fine folks have been taking care of my imagination for the past few months. There have been four entities that have really stood out to me since I’ve gotten back in the zone. The first is Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series, a collection of books that came started in the late 80’s and just finished their run a few years back. The follow a man named Roland Deschain, a member of a famed community of defenders known as Gunslingers, as he follows an evil entity across different dimensions trying to take control of the universe. I’ve always been a big fan of King’s work, and a while back Marvel got the bright idea to make the series into a graphic novel. The series actually starts before the novels, as a kind of prequel explaining how Roland came to wander across the desert alone. The entire series has a strong gothic style and tone, and the drawings are all top notch. Can’t wait for the next issue!

The next has been Marvel’s “Dark Reign” Saga, which chronicles the rise of famed crazy man and Spider-Man foe Norman Osborne as he comes to be responsible for the security of the United States. “Dark Reign” takes place across 10+ comics, and let’s be real, I’m not gonna follow em all, so I stick to the basics: Norman’s own comic, in which he recruits a few super villains and repackages em as all your favorite heroes, appropriately entitled “Dark Avengers.” My faves in this book are definitely Norman and Daken, Wolverine’s son, who are both a bit nuts and absolutely brilliant at once. One of it’s companion piece’s is “Dark X-Men”, which takes the same format of “Dark Avengers”, enlisting some oft forgotten Mutant castaways and makes them America’s new mutant fighting force. The stars here are certainly Mimic and Cyclops, who is more so involved in the tie-in, called “Utopia”

The old school comic fan in me is loving the “Green Lantern: Blackest Night.” I caught the new Green Lantern DVD on bootleg a week ago (I know, I’ll cop it when it drops) and remembered the greatness that is the Green Lantern Corps. The whole Black Lantern idea is creepy and visually unsettling, but both are a welcome change to maybe my own personal bias against DC comics. It’s only one issue in, but something tell me I’ll have to go back and check out the “Sinestro Corps War” and the rest of the tie in books.

The last book I’ve gotten into seemingly came out of nowhere. I was reading IGN’s list of the best 100 comic villains, and one of the characters included was Lucifer. Effin’ Lucifer. I consulted the superheads (word to K. Steffans) at Wikipedia, and found the book was under the Vertigo comics imprint, meaning that is had to be at least passable. I picked up the first volume, and the very first story blew me away. IGN said it best when they explained the guy doesn’t lie, he always tells you exactly whets going to happen, and it makes for great stories. I’m already on the second volume, and the world they create with biblical references and fantastic creatures makes for a great read. I recommend all of these books, and promise you that you won’t be disappointed. And if you are, oh well.