"Bitch, you without me is like Harold Melvin without the Blue Notes, you'll never go platinum" Snoop Dogg, Doggy Dogg World Intro

Rick Ross (baws) can boast all he wants, clearly, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes are the Boss of all Bosses, er, Bosses of all Bossessess. Also, the hardest looking law firm of all time. Also, Teddy Pendergrass is still clearly glaring at the Mza. Also, the babyfaced dude with the bow tie is the odd man out. Also, Harold Melvin aka Eddie Murray.

ill crispy vintage pictures of Jim Jones and Tupac hanging with Shock G.

Jones channeling R. Kelly's plaintive cry "braid my hair...."

pre-tattoos 

15 Years Since Tupac's Supposed "Death;" L.A. Weekly Answers the Important Questions like What Would Tupac Eat? (W.W.T.E.)

L.A. Weekly (Village Voice's superior west coast cuzin) gets first-hand accounts from Shock G and Steele on what Tupac liked to eat.

And no reminisce on the One True Fallen G is complete without Ego Trip's classic 12 Pieces of Proof:


1. Photographs were never released of 2Pac in the hospital in Las Vegas after the reported “shooting.”
2. Despite a plethora of lyrics in which he rhymes about being “buried” upon his demise, 2Pac’s body was allegedly “cremated” the day after his “death.” Funeral services were canceled in both Los Angeles and Atlanta, and there was no viewing of his body.
3. In the video for the song, “I ­Ain’t Mad At Cha” (Death Row, 1996), released shortly after his “death,” 2Pac is presciently portrayed as an angel in heaven, thus suggesting that when he created the video he had already planned to stage his own “demise.”
4. For Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (Death Row, 1996), released two months after his “death,” 2Pac adopted the alias Makaveli in homage to Niccolo Machiavelli, the late-15th ­century/early-16th century Italian political philosopher. Machiavelli’s treatise, The Prince, advocates the faking of one’s own death as a means of combating one’s enemies.
5. The title, The 7 Day Theory, reflects the chronology of ’Pac’s staged “death.” 2Pac was “shot” on September 7, and survived on the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and “died” on the 13th.
6. At the conclusion of The 7 Day Theory, 2Pac is shot dead, also foreshadowing his own real-­life “assassination.”
7. In the video for “To Live & Die In L.A.” (Death Row, 1996), 2Pac is wearing the newest edition of the Nike Air Jordans. However, the shoes were not released by Nike until November—two months after his “death” in September. Also, in the video for “Toss It Up” (Death Row, 1996), 2Pac sports a pair of Penny Hardaway sneakers which were also not available until after the time of his “death.”
8. In the photograph for the ad promoting Fatal’s In The Line Of Fire (Relativity, 1998), Fatal and 2Pac are seen hugging in an unspecified location that resembles an exotic locale (perhaps Cuba), thus supporting the theory that 2Pac is in exile.
9. On 2Pac’s Greatest Hits (Death Row, 1998), ’Pac states, “Rest in peace to my nigga, Biggie Smalls,” at the opening of “God Bless The Dead.” 2Pac, however, was supposedly “murdered” six months before The Notorious B.I.G.’s death.
10. Bay Area rapper Richie Rich’s Seasoned Veteran (Def Jam, 1996), was released on the same day as The 7 Day Theory. On the 2Pac duet, “Niggas Done Changed,” 2Pac rhymes, “I’ve been shot and murdered/ ­Can’t tell you how it happened word for word/ But best believe that niggas gonna get what they deserve.” These lyrics suggest that 2Pac had planned his “death” to occur by the time of Seasoned Veteran’s release.
11. Bone Thugs-­N-­Harmony’s The Art Of War (Relativity, 1997) features a 2Pac duet entitled “Thug Luv.” At the conclusion of Bizzy Bone’s verse (1:15 into the song), his voice can be heard in the background chanting, “He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s alive.”
12. Real niggas ­don’t die.

Capers Funnye: African-American Rabbi out the Chi. The Revolution Will be Circumcised

Know-the-ledge. Peeped this in Beverly Hills on an ill-fated bike ride across L.A.

YouTube Rabbit Hole: Vintage Beer Ads mit Lionel Ritchie, Ted Danson, Redd Foxx, Tupac, Snoop and Biggie

Too much insanity to choose from, but some choice recent finds:

-Lionel Ritchie and the Commodores getting smooooooooth on the vocals, yearstin' for a Schlitz. 
"When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer." Should we take Lionel literally?

-Redd Foxx being Redd Foxx with some Colt 45.

-Ted Danson, also for Colt 45. "There isn't any! hahahahahhaha" so good.

-a genuine ill jam from Tupac and Snoop for Special Brew (for a chosen few) dig bizness Snoop mirrored by thugged-out Snoop. The fine line that a true G walks.

-and because no mention of Tupac can be made without one of Biggie, here he is, extending the beast coast/best coast beef by rapping over the "N.Y., N.Y." Dogg Pound beat for the Crooked Letter.

We are Old Volume 1,034: God Shammgod's son is a rising high school basketball star. Also, England Celebrate Becoming the #1 Test Cricket Team in the World with Mase.

NY Post with the story on God Shammgod's son, Shammgod Wells, a senior (!) at LaSalle. What's next, Felipe Lopez, Jr. going as the top pick in next year's draft? When's Majestic Mapp dropping babies?

A highlight from a Wall Street Journal profile of the original G.O.D.D. back in 2007:
"Food is another constant concern. Mr. Shammgod tries to eat all of his meals at Pizza Hut or McDonald's, Taiyuan's only two Western establishments. We ate at McDonald's three times during my 24-hour visit, my first visits to a Chinese Mickey D's. When he can't make it to one of those places, he sticks with rice and fresh fruit. Even Mr. Dixon, who speaks some Chinese and is fairly well assimilated, tries to avoid local cuisine. "They eat too much weird stuff," he says, noting that he follows the lead of a Muslim teammate at team meals because he won't eat dog.
---
Of interest only to the MZA, and he may not be all that interested. England whitewashed (brownwashed?) India in cricket, 4-0, to become the #1 ranked side in the world. While it's not all that impressive considering that only 10 countries play test cricket and only 4 or 5 of those play it well, the trophy is even worse. The #1 test team receives a ceremonial Mace. 

A Ma$e trophy would have been much hotter, as I present to you below. Lest you jest, both Frownie and Kanye rank Ma$e as one of the dopest rappers ever.

Deion Luwynn Sanders: Must be the money (Must be the money) That's turnin' them on

#1. When your middle name is "Luwynn" do you really need nicknames like "Prime Time" and "Neon?"
#2. Remember when Deion was a str8 G and not dressing like a fucking (literal) fairy to push DirectTV on us?
#3. "You're a real man, Deion." Fuck off, McCarver.
#4. The lyrics to "Must Be The Money"
Well all right
Yeah
You know ever since I turned pro in 1989
When I signed the dotted line
People's strange!
'Cause things change
For the better and for the worse
So I called my momma and she said "Baby,"
(Must be the money)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Must be the money)
It's got to be good
(Must be the money)
I got people wantin' to be my friends
(Must be the money)
People I never knew
People I never thought about associatin with
I don't what it is
Talk to me
Check it out

Diamond Rolex, with 'gators on my feet
I got two pair for every day of the week
My hair is done, my fingernails too
Six buttons down and I don't know what to do

Must be the money (Must be the money)
That's turnin' them on
Must be the money (Must be the money)
You know I can't go wrong
Must be the money (Must be the money)
That keeps me lookin' calm
Must be the money (Must be the money)
That's got me rollin' on the strong

Limousines, in first class I fly
I'm livin' large and you know I can't deny (and my ride's)
A drop-top Benz when I'm with my lady friends
My truck's a six-four with my homie's makin' ends

Must be the money (Must be the money)
That's got me so tough
Must be the money (Must be the money)
I can't get enough
Of all the money (Must be the money)
These women fall in love
Must be the money (Must be the money)
When I'm kickin' it at the club

Flashing lights on the dance floor
The DJ says my name as I make my intro (and you know)
The place is packed, nowhere to find a seat
But Prime don't worry 'cause I'm sensin' VIP

Must be the money (Must be the money)
I got so much jewels
Must be the money (Must be the money)
Twenty-six with all this loot
Must be the money (Must be the money)
To afford the way I live
Must be the money (Must be the money)
When player's ball is at my crib

And if I make a better mansion on my land
Pools, jacuzzis, and my neighbor's can't stand
The way I live is oh so phat
I got two ladies and Prime Time is all that

Must be the money (Must be the money)
That's got me so strong
Must be the money (Must be the money)
That's turnin' them on
Must be the money (Must be the money)
You know I can't go wrong
Must be the money (Must be the money)
Come on ladies sing my song

The first thing people say is
Prime, don't let money change you
Don't let money change you
I say hey, don't let money change you
Because personally, It's gonna change my wardrobe,
My phone number, my address
Hey, my snakeskin shoes gonna change into gators
Hey, my library cards gonna change into credit cards
You know what I'm sayin'?
So don't let money change you

pic via uniwatch

Armon Gilliam, Rest in P 2 1 smooth G

Peep all the Gs just in this one pic. It's like a 5% meeting.

This Shit'll Fuck You up aka Rocket Fuel---DAMN! Colt 45 strikes with fruit-flavored Blast

New Colt 45 drank. But their ad campaign has miles to go to match St. Ides' gold from the 90s; like this nate and Snoop jamm, or Tupac with his classic line "Special brew for a chosen few," and of course Wu-Tang.

Out beyond the stars, I'm the satellite. Transmittin, fit in situations that'll rattle tykes - scare 'em, dare 'em to go farther. So then I go father,

"The Pineapple Express" apparently an actual weather thing and not just 1/2 of a great movie.

it's cold outside think it's past  time for me to grab the clapper and take mine.

Brilznikshire, U.K.

Beijing and Tianjin, China.

off the coast of Sydney, Aus. Note the dumb-dumb tiny boat in the lower right.

Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America? Who Will Survive in America?

Comment #1 by Gil Scott-Heron:

The time is in the street you know. Us living as we do upside down. And the new word to have is revolution. People don't even want to hear the preacher spill or spiel because God's whole card has been thoroughly picked. And America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey. The youngsters who were programmed to continue fucking up woke up one night digging Paul Revere and Nat Turner as the good guys. America stripped for bed and we had not all yet closed our eyes. The signs of Truth were tattooed across our open ended vagina. We learned to our amazement untold tale of scandal. Two long centuries buried in the musty vault, hosed down daily with a gagging perfume. America was a bastard the illegitimate daughter of the mother country whose legs were then spread around the world and a rapist known as freedom, free doom. Democracy, liberty, and justice were revolutionary code names that preceded the bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling bubbling in the mother country's crotch and behold a baby girl was born, nurtured by slave holders and whitey racists it grew and grew and grew screwing indiscriminately like mother like daughter everything unplagued by her madame mother. The present mocks us, good Black people with keen memories set fire to the bastards who ask us in a whisper to melt and integrate. Young, very young, teeny bopping revolt on weekend young dig by proxy what a mental ass kicking they receive through institutionalized everything and vomit up slogans to stay out of Vietnam. They seek to hide their relationship with the world's prostitute alienating themselves from everything except dirt and money with long hair, grime, and dope to camo-hide the things that cannot be hidden. They become runaway children to walk the streets downtown with everyday Black people sitting on the curb crying because we know that they will go back home with a clear conscience and a college degree. The irony of it all, of course, is when a pale face SDS motherfucker dares look hurt when I tell him to go find his own revolution. He wonders why I tell him that America's revolution will not be the melting pot but the toilet bowl. He is fighting for legalized smoke, or lower voting age, less lip from his generation gap and fucking in the street. Where is my parallel to that? All I want is a good home and a wife and a children and some food to feed them every night. Back goes pale face to basics. Does Little Orphan Annie have a natural? Do Sluggos kings make him a refugee from Mandingo? What does Webster say about soul? I say you silly trite motherfucker, your great grandfather tied a ball and chain to my balls and bounced me through a cotton field while I lived in an unflushable toilet bowl and now you want me to help you overthrow what? The only Truth that can be delivered to a four year revolutionary with a whole card i.e. skin is this: fuck up what you can in the name of Piggy Wallace, Dickless Nixon, and Spiro Agnew. Leave brother Cleaver and Brother Malcolm alone please. After all is said and done build a new route to China if they'll have you.

Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?
Who will survive in America?

what you think i sold them all?

with all the people up in arms and reacting about gun control in the aftermath of this horrible AZ news, I thought I'd post Chris Rock's bit from many years ago.



He's right, like always. In an economic sense tho, I wonder what would happen if the gov'mint taxed the hell out of guns, like alcohol and cigarettes? NRA would never let that happen.

I'm A Poet, Like Langston Hughes: Word is Bond Book Club

Plowing through a Langston Hughes collection, here are two choice gems:
Request:
Gimme 425.00
and the change.
I'm going
where the morning
and the evening
won't bother me.

Motto:
I play it cool
And dig all jive. That's the reason
I stay alive.

My motto,
As I live and learn,
is:
Dig and Be Dug
In Return.

Beautiful Vintage Vinyl Album Covers: Dr. Hook and Smokey Robinson and Brigitte Nielsen and Barry White

Got a record player for Christmas, going to enjoy the hunt for 99-cent vinyl where mucho gems can be had, because even when the tuneskies are so-so the art always makes it worthwhile. Here are two I came across in the amazing Amoeba record store in the Haight in 'Frisco last month. Kicking myself for not copping them.

Imagine having this, vinyl-sized, and being able to resist kissing it. Impossible, no?

Peep those hands/bear paws. And peep his name in awesome 80's font over even more awesome 80's Jersey/Scarface McMansion faux-marble flooring.

 Here are two albums I came across recently while google-image searching for other schtee.

'twould make a most excellent stickball tropy no?

The album title is a sly allusion to the fact that this photo was taken moments after the band finished fucking the same chick followed by them laughing in her face. Do yourself a favor and peep one of their vids, mad dumb awesome beards all over the place.

Happy New Year's 2011 Deryls, Keep Grinding Keep Husting and most of all Stay on Your Fucking Grizzly Bear

 

And still we grind from the bottom just to get to the bottom. 

Hustle hard, Where it Started At.

Hustle Hard in 2011

Always Be Closing y'all.

Metrodome Collapse Cocaine Photoshops; and Newcastle Mike Ashley Photoshop in the Guardian.

What dreams may come; or Fill my dreams with flakes of snow:

-------
Also, I had this photoshop run in the Guardian today in a gallery about Mike Ashley and the mess at Newcastle United.

This is Los Angeles

Some photos from when S-Booms was in town.

Those aren't little rocks, those are surfers. Bananas. Off the coast of Palos Verdes.

Fuck your dream.

When nothing less will do.

Coincidentally, 2 minutes is how fast you will feel like shit after eating a combo Wingworks/KFC meal.

At Cole's French Dip downtown.

Ride or Die. You love it. We live it.

A man on the make. A man on the move.

You Wanna Front, What? Jump Up and Get Bucked.........Your Nine Spray, My Mind Spray

I saw Jeru in, like, 1999, at the GameStop on Broadway and Astor peeping the new NHL game, weird until you consider that his origin is unknown like the Jubas.
-------
While searching for the perfect 9mm Glock pic of 9mm, I came across what appears to be Russell Brand laying deep in the cut waiting for Katy Perry to come home. 

---------
Also came across Gucci Mane's cuzz who gives us Evil Pimp, who's all up on his renaissance religious imagery.

Jozin z Bazin; Jesus is a Friend of Mine; Sonseed; Urvasi Urvasi, getting Rick Roll'd.

Traveling the globe for entertaining clips:
First up, from South India (possibly Sri Lankan); featuring some of the illest dancing this side of prime Michael Jackson, prime Usher and parkour:

Next up, some Czech (but possibly Slovakian) schtee reminiscent of Andy Kaufman, musty suits and mustier beards.

and finally, America's Funniest Home Video-style ska combined with some serious love for the Man Above: