tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085388529383392582024-03-14T00:29:57.380-07:00NickTip Real TalkNickTip Real TalkNick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-8474978368852440552016-04-13T03:00:00.000-07:002016-04-13T18:41:39.450-07:00"King" Revisited: T.I.'s Soundtrack to my High School Parking Lot Ten Years Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPnbd5V_WRE/Vw37XukGW9I/AAAAAAAABjg/2pwM4smNuLM-EKgLRPZdnOBd48-NaaO6ACK4B/s1600/king-515ed8cda060e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPnbd5V_WRE/Vw37XukGW9I/AAAAAAAABjg/2pwM4smNuLM-EKgLRPZdnOBd48-NaaO6ACK4B/s400/king-515ed8cda060e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I fell in love with rap music when I was 11 years old. My fascination with the genre and its accompanying culture began over the course of several Sunday afternoons at the Georgia Dome in the fall of 2001. My father has been an Atlanta Falcons season ticket holder for almost 30 years, and at that time, all five of the Tippens, including myself, were attending every home game. When the Dirty Birds would gain a first down on the ground, the PA DJ would spin the hook of Ludacris' wildly popular <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC86yQAzaxg" target="_blank">"Move, B***h,"</a> and I found the brash, symphonic, crashing instrumentation on the chorus ridiculously exciting. It fit those moments in the game so perfectly. Fast forward to 2002 which was T.J. Duckett's rookie year, and when the bruising back would Madden-style truck stick through an opposing linebacker, Luda's banger was the perfect tone-setter following the play. It's worth noting that I was 12 years old and the obvious misogyny of the hook was lost on me (not to mention the fact that it was the radio edit coming through the PA system). All I knew was that a raucous voice was cranking throughout the dome, with that intoxicating production behind it, proclaiming "MOVE, GET OUT DA WAY, GET OUT DA WAY, GET OUT DA WAY, MOOOOOVE!" to our opponent. What kid wouldn't get fired up by that?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mn-pVr5qvNE/Vw39o_64D5I/AAAAAAAABjs/5RzP8Up1-2AvszcCps4M1QSl6yupSz8gQCK4B/s1600/t_j_duckett_2005_10_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mn-pVr5qvNE/Vw39o_64D5I/AAAAAAAABjs/5RzP8Up1-2AvszcCps4M1QSl6yupSz8gQCK4B/s320/t_j_duckett_2005_10_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T.J. Duckett</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It wasn't long before I had asked my parents to buy me my first rap album: Ludacris' "Word of Mouf," featuring of course, "Move, B***h." This led to a legendary phone conversation between my mom and a salesman from, I want to say, Media Play (A CD chain no longer in business) during which the representative on the other end of the line said, "Yes I have confirmed your purchase of Word of Moof." I'm just proud that it wasn't my mom incorrectly pronouncing the phonetically spelled album title. I was a hilariously conscientious kid, and when my parents initially mistakenly purchased me the explicit version of the album, I quickly pointed out their mistake and asked for the edited version. I wanted to be able to bump "Move, B***h" loud and proud wherever I went, plus as an 12 year old, I really didn't need to be hearing the words "MOVE, B***H!" over and over anyway. Besides, to me the song was about football, and I loved that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8nCKPKkbFzY/Vw3-YeyQcjI/AAAAAAAABj4/A6g42nBYgrMd944Yz6h-0wcEIirKEskfACK4B/s1600/61ZCu4GAyrL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8nCKPKkbFzY/Vw3-YeyQcjI/AAAAAAAABj4/A6g42nBYgrMd944Yz6h-0wcEIirKEskfACK4B/s320/61ZCu4GAyrL.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
At that time I didn't fully grasp the connection between my home city and that song, nor was I aware of the larger Atlanta music culture surrounding it. I knew that some of the images in the album booklet for Word of Mouf looked familiar, but didn't connect the dots beyond that. In fact, it really wasn't until high school that I began to develop an awareness of Atlanta's position at the center of rap music. (Remember, this is the early 2000's. Atlanta was THE center of rap music during that time). That hometown connection only fueled the fire of my obsession with the music, one that has continued to this day. In some ways, it has come full circle, with Atlanta again in many ways shaping the broader rap landscape through innovators like Future, Young Thug, Migos, and Gucci Mane (from prison nonetheless), among several others. In fact, <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20810-dirty-sprite-2/" target="_blank">Future's recent "DS2"</a> has been about as influential on my musical psyche as anything has been in the past decade. But back to the past.<br />
<br />
As the early 2000's shifted into the mid 2000's, my love affair with Atlanta's rap music reached a crescendo because of two artists. T.I. and Young Jeezy. If you are a millenial and lived in the Atlanta area between 2004 and 2008, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Over an 8 month span between July 2005 and March 2006, T.I. and Young Jeezy released two of the most iconic southern rap albums ever made: "King" and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFDWdUVCmo0" target="_blank">"Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101."</a> I don't know if I can properly express how influential those two albums were on my human musical experience. The only way I know how to even begin to capture their essence is to once again, ten years later, go through each of them song by song and record an oral history of my experience with them. So, in this post I'm going to go through "King" track-by-track, and shortly hereafter I will go through "Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101." Without further ado, let's get it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evrYc7f-bhQ/Vw4MAAm9GKI/AAAAAAAABkw/Uu3tuenr_qgC3tAxe_B6tpE6nKsRJGZRQCK4B/s1600/41FIgpTRKPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evrYc7f-bhQ/Vw4MAAm9GKI/AAAAAAAABkw/Uu3tuenr_qgC3tAxe_B6tpE6nKsRJGZRQCK4B/s400/41FIgpTRKPL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMs71jIEjUY&list=PLzM4WCcpOyDFrQ4KiI8QcuAzOZimJYd8T" target="_blank"><b>T.I. - King - (2006) Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records</b></a></span> </div>
<br />
<b>1. King Back</b><br />
<i><i>"And the prophecy read</i></i><br />
<i><i>that one day like the phoenix arose from the ashes<br />
That a boy would be born unto a family in the slums<br />
This boy would go on to use the knowledge he gained<br />
While fighting for survival in the streets<br />
To become a great leader<br />
And in time that boy would grow to become King!!!!!!"</i></i><br />
<br />
Just Blaze, who produced the track, sets the stage for the whole album with this monumental opening monologue<i>. </i>It is immediately followed by T.I's well-timed opening lyrical sequence:<i><i><br /></i></i><br />
<br />
<i><i> </i>"I welcome you to get acquainted with the youngest in charge</i><br />
<i>respected from east to west like he was running the Mob</i><br />
<i>Dictating ain't taking orders from no one but God"</i><br />
<br />
This track was never really bumped as frequently among my friends as the hits from the album, but it is such a great opener. Tip speaks casually after each chorus, referencing his previous albums, proclaiming his status as a legitimate presence in the rap game, and dismissing any possible misunderstanding that this is his first go-round.<br />
<br />
To this day, when I am playing four-square and make it to the king square, I start reciting the hook of this song: "The King baaaaack!"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtTHOgDqcSw/Vw4LJ0JCW1I/AAAAAAAABkU/t2tAxNGPhVIaRQ1JNAxOw-Yi2q7fqN5lACK4B/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtTHOgDqcSw/Vw4LJ0JCW1I/AAAAAAAABkU/t2tAxNGPhVIaRQ1JNAxOw-Yi2q7fqN5lACK4B/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UGK - Pimp C & Bun B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>2. Front Back (Feat. UGK)</b><br />
The primary purpose of this song was for T.I. to fulfill his lifelong dream of collaborating with his musical idols, Pimp C and Bun B. It's got smooth production and a laid back, very UGK-vibe. For me, this track was always just a tasty precursor to the absolute masterpiece that awaited in the form of the song immediately following it...<br />
<br />
<b>3. What You Know</b><br />
Where do I begin? I can only remember a handful of times in my life where I heard something sound as drastically different, inspiring, and exquisite as the first chords of this song sounded to me when I heard it for the first time at 16 years of age. DJ Toomp has always been my favorite producer of T.I.'s, and in my opinion this is his masterpiece. This song hit radio during the era of Crunk and Snap Music. Production had been so heavily directly towards creating upbeat, danceable club bangers for so long that when this song dropped it sounded like it had been delivered from another planet. It combined a slow tempo, buzzing synths, and ethereal strings with slappy snares, ticking hi-hats, and a steady, thumping kick and 808 drum to produce a warm, anthemic piece of southern music. At the time I didn't know rap could sound like this. I was absolutely mesmerized by this song.<br />
<br />
In <a href="https://youtu.be/ZddA-Y0Xeko" target="_blank">one of my favorite YouTube videos ever</a>, Toomp talks about producing What You Know for T.I. to be the first single off of "King." The best quote from Toomp during the video comes when he tells the story of approaching T.I. with the track for the first time:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_-5BFsT4FM/Vw4IxSJkSTI/AAAAAAAABkI/khNRQk-NP80Dl5i-Xjs0Hb1cS5eYw9k3QCK4B/s1600/l_6df330c2b8e6db10b276433b0bf7c9a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_-5BFsT4FM/Vw4IxSJkSTI/AAAAAAAABkI/khNRQk-NP80Dl5i-Xjs0Hb1cS5eYw9k3QCK4B/s320/l_6df330c2b8e6db10b276433b0bf7c9a7.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T.I. with DJ Toomp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>"I took the track to the studio...sat with Tip because you know, there were a few producers who thought they were going to have the first single. I had a little cockiness, a slight arrogance when I played that track. I'm like, '<span style="font-size: small;">Hey man, if you're ready to go to the next level, this track I'm about to play will take you there. If you do the right thing to it, it's going down.' </span>So I just looked at everybody and mashed play."</i><br />
<br />
Never have truer words been spoken. What You Know was released as the first single for "King," as well as a promotional track for T.I.'s debut film, "The ATL," (secretly one of my favorite movies even though it's objectively average) and became a massive hit.<br />
<br />
T.I. didn't have to do much to the track to make is a smash, but he pushed it to legendary status with his deep, slow, bellowing approach to the hook, and really the entire song:<br />
<br />
<i>"What you know I got a key by the three when I chirp shawty chirp back</i><br />
<i>Louis knapsack where I'm holding all the work at</i><br />
<i>What you know about that, What you know about that, What you know about that</i><br />
<i>I know all about that"</i><br />
<br />
<i>"I'm throwed off slightly bruh</i><br />
<i>Don't want to fight me bruh</i><br />
<i>I'm fast as lightning bruh</i><br />
<i>you better use your Nikes bruh."</i><br />
<br />
I remember the first time I heard it...I didn't even know who the artist was because Tip sounded so different. His voice was so much slower and deeper. All I knew was that it sounded incredible. I still absolutely bump this track to this day. It holds up and then some.<br />
<br />
<b>4. I'm Talkin' to You</b><br />
Probably the most technically impressive song on the album, this track features a third verse delivery that is absolutely ridiculous. It's a diss song aimed at no one in particular (Though maybe Lil' Flip?), however it certainly makes clear who it's NOT aimed at. Another Just Blaze production, this beat sounds like an urgent, breaking news update combined with a horror film combined with a jazz concert. I've spent years trying to recite the aforementioned final verse, and I simply cannot keep up with the King of the South on this one.<br />
<br />
<i>"You dealing with a little gorilla n***a<br />
10 million later I'm still the n***a<br />
Killer Mike, <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Youngbloodz, David Banner<br />
Bonecrusher they remember when y'all ain't feel a n***a</span></span></i><i> </i><br />
<i>Had it out with Chris but he still my n***a<br />
Sat down, civilized, talked about it like n***as</i><br />
<i><span style="color: black;">So I ain't never been served get your facts right n***a</span><br />
Fore this 40 cal make your ass act right n***a</i><i> </i><br />
<i>You coming against the king get your stats right n***a<br />
Wanna talk about a n***a, wanna be a hot n***a<br />
Gonna be a shot n***, yeah I said it, what n***a, buck n***a</i><i> </i><br />
<i>Like Lil Jon I don't give a f***!"</i><br />
<br />
You have to listen to the song to understand how technically impressive this section really is. T.I. has never really been considered a "lyrical" rapper (a stupid, misunderstood distinction often used by rap fans to classify rappers) but I have always felt that he was underrated as a lyricist at times.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Live in the Sky (Feat. Jamie Foxx)</b><br />
A smooth, introspective ode to Tip's dead friends and family members, as well as a coming of age story, this track fits well in the sequencing of the album, as it allows the listener to rest a bit after the blunt head trauma that they experienced throughout the duration of "I'm Talkin' to You." I always liked the piano on this song, and Jamie Foxx's hook is nicely melodic. Beyond that, this was never one of the more notable songs on the album in my opinion. It was good however, and helped make it a front-to-back success.<br />
<br />
<i>"F*** how many millions I got, n***a, so what if I'm hot<br />
When I got prices on my head, feds rushing my spot</i><i> </i><br />
<i>A million haters want me dead, forced to carry a gat<br />
'But you's a seven-time felon, what you doing with that?'<br />
It's a Catch-22, either you lose or you lose<br />
That's the way the game structured, for real, n***as to suffer."</i><br />
<br />
<b>6. Ride Wit Me</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BVIc7Bb48ys/Vw4NPgOIXjI/AAAAAAAABk8/Ahyi8FR_aBM1H9MM9NsO-X2hwRNBV35BACK4B/s1600/TI-Rolls-Royce-Bentley-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BVIc7Bb48ys/Vw4NPgOIXjI/AAAAAAAABk8/Ahyi8FR_aBM1H9MM9NsO-X2hwRNBV35BACK4B/s320/TI-Rolls-Royce-Bentley-600x600.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T.I. with his Rolls Royce Phantom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Add this one, along with What You Know, to the official 2006 Winder-Barrow High School Parking Lot playlist. The smooth organ on this track is perfectly accompanied by a booming 808 that sounded brilliant on the 2-10's under the back seat of my '98 F-150. I loved this song for two reasons. One, its concept was simple and easy to relate to: riding around your hometown in a vehicle (well, I couldn't relate to this aspect of the song, as in the song Tip is riding around in a Rolls Royce Phantom) and taking in its sights and sounds. Two, the hometown he describes in the song is Atlanta, the closest city to my small hometown of Winder:<br />
<br />
<i>"Ride wit me n***a, let me show you where we kick it at<br />
Where them killers living at and T.I.P. be chilling at<br />
Ride with a G, come and ride with a G<br />
All through the ATL, come and ride wit a G."</i><br />
<br />
This was the one I would put on in the truck for that five minute ride home from school on a sunny Friday afternoon. I remember hearing many others doing the same.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Why You Wanna</b><br />
This song got decent radio play but was never one of my favorites. It always felt to me like the obligatory "I'm popular among the females, you know?" song on that could be found on every rap album in 2006.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Get It</b><br />
This Swizz Beatz-produced track cranks the tempo of the album back up a notch with a beat that is hard to describe but even harder to ignore. It's combination of rapid-fire and semi-random drum patterns, whistles, honks, shouts, and horns make it sound different than any other track on the album. On this canvas, T.I. laces several surprising, intriguing sequences that are infectious. I always found myself reciting little one or two-liners from this track hours after listening to it. It gets stuck in your head in a good way. The highlight of the fairly short track is the bridge at the 2:15 mark:<br />
<br />
<i>"I was raised off Eazy, 'Cube, Ice T, 8Ball, MJG, 'Face, Pimp C<br />
I'm a G just believe me, try me when you see me<br />
And n***as start busting like they start busting pushups</i><br />
<i>pushing buttons, shot calling, n***as not balling<br />
Just doing a lot of loud mouthing and hot dogging<br />
I got this s**t locked from Atlanta to New Orleans"</i><br />
<br />
<b>9. Top Back</b><br />
<i> </i>This is by all accounts a classic. It is probably the first song on the official 2006 Winder-Barrow High School Parking Lot playlist, and probably beat out What You Know for total spins when it was all said and done. It was released as the third official promotional single off of "King," was wildly popular on the radio, and only gained popularity when the <a href="https://youtu.be/pHmYeiescfc" target="_blank">remix came out featuring Young Jeezy, Big Kuntry King, Young Dro, and B.G.</a> Catchy doesn't even begin to describe the hook:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mOa1gEK7hLI/Vw4O0880PYI/AAAAAAAABlI/NV5UY9byLkIQ_ezcY8waeUhj2canHmxkACK4B/s1600/T.I.%2BCars%2B-%2B07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mOa1gEK7hLI/Vw4O0880PYI/AAAAAAAABlI/NV5UY9byLkIQ_ezcY8waeUhj2canHmxkACK4B/s320/T.I.%2BCars%2B-%2B07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T.I. clearly likes his top let back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>"I like my beat down low, down low, down low, down low, down low, down low,</i><br />
<i>I like my top let back, let back, let back, let back, let back, let back...</i><br />
<i>I like my beat down low, and my top let back</i><br />
<i>See me riding 24's, with a chopper in the back</i><br />
<i>Holler if you like your Kenwood high, and you top let back,</i><br />
<i>If you rims sit high, and your windows pitch black..."</i><br />
<br />
This banger had the benefit of Mannie Fresh's signature bounce, with thumping 808's at several different frequencies that really put on a show with a good set of subs. It also helped that the entire concept of the song was a celebration of the joy that accompanies having your beat down low (and your top let back). I sent this one banging out the windows of the old F-150 many, many times. Besides the hook, my favorite sequence has always been the opening of verse three.<br />
<br />
<i>"I wear the crown down under man somebody better tell 'em<br />
'Fore I spit a hundred rounds and have everybody bailing<br />
I got some b****es in a Benz and my partners in the Chevy<br />
And now we riding Giovanni's and Asani's on Pirellis"</i><br />
<br />
When I listen to this song, I always end up with <i>"and now we riding Giovanni's and Asani's on Pirellis"</i> stuck in my head.<i></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-QuapHQyqI/Vw4QVI72b6I/AAAAAAAABlU/HdbMQWSeNnIX-YZ03y51jogotOcOyWnIgCK4B/s1600/t.i.-jeezy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-QuapHQyqI/Vw4QVI72b6I/AAAAAAAABlU/HdbMQWSeNnIX-YZ03y51jogotOcOyWnIgCK4B/s320/t.i.-jeezy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T.I. & Young Jeezy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>10. I'm Straight (Feat. B.G. and Young Jeezy)</b><br />
This was always in the "good enough" category for me, and I would let it play through, but it's not one of my favorites on the album. T.I. was always a little too focused on featuring his Grand Hustle labelmates, as evidenced here by yet another B.G. feature. Honestly Jeezy's verse, along with his iconic ad-libs, save this song from being a dud:<br />
<br />
<i>"Snowman b***h! (b***h), I ride two-seaters (yeeearnnn!!)</i>
<i>It's a cold world, so I keep two heaters (Cheeaah!)<br />
I'm straight, you better ask somebody (body)<br />
Matter fact n***a you can just ask me (me)"</i><br />
<br />
Laying down great ad-libs really is an art form of its own, and listening back to this song reminds me that nobody ever did it better than the Snowman.<i> </i>But back to Clifford "T.I." Harris and his classic album.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>11. Undertaker (Feat. Young Dro, Young Buck, and DJ Drama)</b><br />
The dark keys and organ chords on this track complement the pretty bouncy kick drum well, and make it a well balanced production that comes across as simultaneously smooth and intimidating. This song is sneakily cool for a few reasons. One, I've always loved the way Tip slides into his opening verse:<br />
<br />
<i>"I'm a pimp tight, n***a riding clean after midnight</i><br />
<i>Ready for the gun play, prepared for a fist fight."</i><br />
<br />
Two, Young Dro a.k.a. the Best Thang Smokin' was ALWAYS a great feature. It's unclear to this day why exactly zero of his studio albums ever dropped, but he had a unique ability to manipulate multi syllable words and make the phonetic sounds within them connect to and rhyme with the words around them. This verse is yet another example of that skill. Pay attention to how he rides the soft e and a vowel sounds in Hey/trap followed by the long "e" sound in me/blasphemy, through this entire sequence:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7RckFpY-s6Q/Vw4RK1ve_5I/AAAAAAAABlg/q-Ei9dOvcAIbKyh0HqtH-PvBG9FzRDSkQCK4B/s1600/young-dro-2012-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7RckFpY-s6Q/Vw4RK1ve_5I/AAAAAAAABlg/q-Ei9dOvcAIbKyh0HqtH-PvBG9FzRDSkQCK4B/s320/young-dro-2012-1.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Dro - Polo Ralph Lauren Connoisseur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>"Hey, stand in on the trap with me<br />
Matching me is blasphemy, thousand round magazine <br />
My partners say no attacking me</i>
<i>I'm aged to the average beef, respiratory crushing beats<br />
Fruit Chevy H.I.C, my lyrics hit like H.I.V.<br />
Spray by me, Sniper Dro, murder come today by me<br />
Bullet chip your L-I-P and dirty all your H-I-Ps"</i><br />
<br />
Let's take this moment to #NeverForget Dro's influence on the rap community's appropriation of Polo Ralph Lauren clothing. P.O.L.O. Players only live once.<br />
<br />
Young Buck's presence on this track is cool enough, but let's move on.<br />
<br />
<b>12. Stand Up Guy</b><br />
I never liked T.I. as much when he got sing-songey, which he does on the chorus of this mostly forgettable track. One of the few semi-filler tracks on "King."<br />
<br />
<b>13. You Know Who</b><br />
This track is a boxing match in the form of music. I have always loved its brash, crashing drums and soaring organ and horn riffs. It actually features some live drums from Travis Barker, a cool addition to its sound. T.I. goes deep voice again on this one, flowing with a similar sound and style to "What You Know." It fits the mood of the bombastic, analog beat perfectly. The track is appropriately short, coming in at just under 3 minutes. It's just two verses, but Tip does work in each one. I love the first line. It's robust and straightforward and opens the track perfectly:<br />
<br />
<i>"You said they looking for the realest? Well I'm as real as it gets" </i><br />
<br />
The whole second verse is actually really dope. He catches onto the <i>ou</i> sound in "you" and rides it smoothly through the entire sequence. It get slightly syncopated as the verse goes on and becomes more and more mesmerizing as it rolls to the song's finish. It seems like he doesn't even take a breath until the end of the verse:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJzEiAOV0tQ/Vw71HZYwDDI/AAAAAAAABmU/RTYZ9Cz1lGUCd_eGIo3s6H8fNqMIaQURACK4B/s1600/T.I.-2011-VH1-Piotr-Sikora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJzEiAOV0tQ/Vw71HZYwDDI/AAAAAAAABmU/RTYZ9Cz1lGUCd_eGIo3s6H8fNqMIaQURACK4B/s320/T.I.-2011-VH1-Piotr-Sikora.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>"But now I'm settling in, getting used to the view<br />
On top, won't stop til I'm huger than you<br />
Don't flop? Who, Me? Pimp you loose in your screws<br />
What kinda dope have you been letting n***as shoot into you<br />
No, you ain't ready for the s**t I'm introducing to you<br />
The roof in the back of the Bach ain't as translucent as you<br />
So now your n***a dressing up, man do what you do<br />
I got style pimp, it's more than just the suit and the shoe<br />
This been proven, I'm the truth, stamped government sealed<br />
I'm what it is. These other n***as just suckers with deals, for real."</i><br />
<br />
<b>14. Goodlife (Feat. Pharrell and Common)</b><br />
Overly Earnest T.I. has never been my favorite T.I., and his opening verse on this song is a bit overly earnest. I never really felt like Common fit well into the vibe of this album, and there's nothing particularly special about his verse on this song. Pharrell on the hook is decent enough, but allow me to commit blasphemy real quickly, and just honestly say that I have never liked The Neptunes' production. At least for artists like T.I. When I'm listening to Tip, I want DJ Toomp or someone similar on the boards. I never felt like this song was as good as it looked on paper.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>15. Hello (Feat. Governor)</b><br />
When selecting your artist name, you probably shouldn't choose a common noun like "Governor," because you will never, ever, be the first result in a Google search. Considering this MIGHT be the only song this artist known as Governor has ever been featured on, it probably doesn't matter. Another joint about the ladies, I was always essentially neutral about this track. Mostly I remember it as setting up the excellent concluding sequence of the album.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>16. Told You So</b><br />
Perhaps the best opening second of any song on the album is the muffled "Grand Hustle Pimp" at the beginning of this track. NOW we're back to vintage "King" era T.I. I love the snappy snares and high hats and the way they bounce back and forth between the semi-reggae horn honks that make up the foundation of this beat. However this song really shines because of the storytelling that is woven throughout its three verses. I have always thought T.I. was a great storyteller, and he stays locked in throughout this track, recounting his rise through the southern rap ranks, honoring his influences, and sharing elements of his rags-to-riches personal story. I would share my favorite lines below, but in this particular song each verse is equally engaging, and shines in its own right from a sonic and semantic standpoint. Also, if you listen closely, he is kind of yelling ad-lib phrases in the background throughout this entire song. It's a cool little detail that adds an interesting layer to any listen. The track is mastered well to allow that to blend so well into the background. One particular line sums up the concept of the song, and the album overall, very well:<br />
<br />
<i>"This southern rap s**t of today is something I helped design."</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R_pysu7PWxI/Vw4SkgwxDYI/AAAAAAAABls/w2UgZilDwlYak3qfeDfLFbUbz8XoEWEvwCK4B/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-13%2Bat%2B5.33.20%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R_pysu7PWxI/Vw4SkgwxDYI/AAAAAAAABls/w2UgZilDwlYak3qfeDfLFbUbz8XoEWEvwCK4B/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-13%2Bat%2B5.33.20%2BAM.png" width="400" /></a><b>17. Bankhead (Feat. P$C and Young Dro)</b><i> </i><br />
Just a fantastic conclusion to this album. With its minor chord progression, eerie combination of keys and strings, and steady 808 kick, the beat is quintessentially DJ Toomp. His production lays the foundation on which T.I. and his friends from P$C give a dark and paranoid ode to their west Atlanta neighborhood. This is one of the rare songs where I enjoy T.I. getting melodic on the hook. The way he croons "Now where am I supposed to goooooooo?" on the hook has a chillingly authentic edge of hopelessness to it. Several other lyrical moments stand out to me on this posse cut:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
T.I.<br />
<i>"See me riding in a Chevy, .44 on the seat<br />
With a quarter or a blow, get low, then we see</i>
<i>No tag, no license, trunk loaded with D<br />
Riding Fulton indy, where we know it to be."</i><br />
<br />
Tip delivers this verse quietly, almost like he's sneaking around at night while he records it. The resulting effect is eerily cool.<i> </i><br />
<br />
C-Rod of P$C<i></i><br />
<i>"That's right, monster ride, sitting on the twenty-eights</i><i> </i><br />
<i>It sound like a stadium, you would've thought the Braves played<br />
The engine running like Vick, with the Falcons on the hood<br />
Mr. Mr. Westside, yeah you know they in my hood."</i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mtDVNb6hM8/Vw4TnxXUxPI/AAAAAAAABl4/HIFE1eDQWh0YxLpViSd2DHYznGF86gV3wCK4B/s1600/screen-shot-2012-07-03-at-1-06-11-pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mtDVNb6hM8/Vw4TnxXUxPI/AAAAAAAABl4/HIFE1eDQWh0YxLpViSd2DHYznGF86gV3wCK4B/s320/screen-shot-2012-07-03-at-1-06-11-pm.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vick makes a cameo with Usher in the Rubberband Man video.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I always loved the Atlanta sports references in this sequence, particularly because I had just spent several years enjoying the Michael Vick era on Sunday afternoons in the Dome. That era would soon come to a disastrous end<i>, </i>but in the mid 2000's Vick was That Dude in Atlanta. I still remember him having a cameo in the video for "Rubberband Man."<br />
<br />
Young Dro<br />
<i>"Ten screens falling, my Chevy watching Lean On Me<br />
Riding down Simpson, 'bout to waste my purple lean on me<br />
Purple linen clean on me, the whole zone three on me<br />
Waffle House Charger yellow-black, I got a bee on me"</i><br />
<br />
Like I said earlier, Dro always comes through on his features.<br />
<br />
"King" was the perfect storm of an album and was immediately destined to nostalgically become one of my favorites of all time. It was released when I was 16 years old, came ready-made to demonstrate the capabilities of my fully aftermarket truck audio system, featured infectious production that was unlike anything I'd ever heard before, shared stories from a culture within my home city that I found fascinating because I couldn't really relate to it, and was lyrically entertaining from start to finish. I even thought the album cover art was perfect: Bold, black and white, and minimalist during an era of maximalist culture in rap. I found it brilliantly understated and infinitely cool. It's an album that will always have a special place in my heart and ears.<br />
<br />
<i> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAOJH6L_Ifw/Vw4UcUe_X_I/AAAAAAAABmE/G-1B_GeMofEnpDnuSqw0XVvOBKe3dZGvQCK4B/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAOJH6L_Ifw/Vw4UcUe_X_I/AAAAAAAABmE/G-1B_GeMofEnpDnuSqw0XVvOBKe3dZGvQCK4B/s640/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></i>Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-80703589277372537662015-03-17T21:35:00.000-07:002015-03-17T21:49:42.172-07:00A Saturday Afternoon in Merrymont<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DTMP0DjOI_Q/VQj3WEsvYDI/AAAAAAAAA90/9Mdi_u8UYyQ/s1600/DSC_0586_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DTMP0DjOI_Q/VQj3WEsvYDI/AAAAAAAAA90/9Mdi_u8UYyQ/s1600/DSC_0586_2.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Merrymont is an eclectic collection of small homes nestled within a sprawling residential section of Martinez, GA, just northwest of Augusta. Around here it is pronounced "Martin-ez," (like it's a non-hispanic guy's first name) and I gave up about a year ago on trying to make a cultural statement by correctly pronouncing it Martinez (like a hispanic guy's last name). For the last two years this neighborhood has been my home.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Bordered by the slightly more upscale Spring Lakes to the south and east (but with no physical barrier between the two), Merrymont is full of American working-class diversity and charm. The longer I have lived here, the more I have come to appreciate its quirks and eccentricities. Its idiosyncratic qualities make it unique and interesting amongst the convergence of highly maintained and manicured subdivisions that make up much of neighboring Evans, GA.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have come to love my neighborhood. It is not hip. It is not artsy. It is not trendy. It is not known. It has no carefully constructed identity. It is purely, simply, American. And it is full of life. Real life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On a recent Saturday afternoon, I attempted to capture some of its character with my camera. These photos are just a peek into its strange and wonderful vibrance.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDe7g0B5AZ4/VQj0h4yvYgI/AAAAAAAAA4M/F5pBFEaCBCY/s1600/DSC_0349_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDe7g0B5AZ4/VQj0h4yvYgI/AAAAAAAAA4M/F5pBFEaCBCY/s1600/DSC_0349_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dj04F4CO3qI/VQj05ZuvS_I/AAAAAAAAA4s/Hz1u4yCIfh8/s1600/DSC_0422_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dj04F4CO3qI/VQj05ZuvS_I/AAAAAAAAA4s/Hz1u4yCIfh8/s1600/DSC_0422_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GqyGffO-gg/VQj0tdTVs0I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/Lcp0O0Q_y58/s1600/DSC_0392_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GqyGffO-gg/VQj0tdTVs0I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/Lcp0O0Q_y58/s1600/DSC_0392_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xb_mNrperII/VQj05-tddHI/AAAAAAAAA40/yLWrcCb-Tig/s1600/DSC_0412_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xb_mNrperII/VQj05-tddHI/AAAAAAAAA40/yLWrcCb-Tig/s1600/DSC_0412_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uKmkaOJK_2M/VQj07KGgdjI/AAAAAAAAA48/KzRhB35sKfU/s1600/DSC_0424_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uKmkaOJK_2M/VQj07KGgdjI/AAAAAAAAA48/KzRhB35sKfU/s1600/DSC_0424_2.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qdqEwNxRyw/VQj1E5_Br1I/AAAAAAAAA5M/tZzxLR-Nays/s1600/DSC_0428_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qdqEwNxRyw/VQj1E5_Br1I/AAAAAAAAA5M/tZzxLR-Nays/s1600/DSC_0428_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X48Xbx4ngBA/VQj1Cm2QZuI/AAAAAAAAA5E/7wbGMmN5TjY/s1600/DSC_0439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X48Xbx4ngBA/VQj1Cm2QZuI/AAAAAAAAA5E/7wbGMmN5TjY/s1600/DSC_0439.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-twSf6-sR-ds/VQj1ON3OCrI/AAAAAAAAA5c/riQ3NIqK4Go/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-twSf6-sR-ds/VQj1ON3OCrI/AAAAAAAAA5c/riQ3NIqK4Go/s1600/DSC_0443.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l_ewMBdRclc/VQj1nG3NEQI/AAAAAAAAA6U/RlXcoX8FAGI/s1600/DSC_0492_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l_ewMBdRclc/VQj1nG3NEQI/AAAAAAAAA6U/RlXcoX8FAGI/s1600/DSC_0492_2.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zr9ikhObrM/VQj0tGWFjLI/AAAAAAAAA4U/u48lYT7oZa8/s1600/DSC_0408_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zr9ikhObrM/VQj0tGWFjLI/AAAAAAAAA4U/u48lYT7oZa8/s1600/DSC_0408_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6BXoveiMW2s/VQj1Qv3yJmI/AAAAAAAAA5k/3Ld-DYmjjr0/s1600/DSC_0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6BXoveiMW2s/VQj1Qv3yJmI/AAAAAAAAA5k/3Ld-DYmjjr0/s1600/DSC_0444.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-87YYmVfy7KM/VQj1X77datI/AAAAAAAAA50/KGHDBnnbCRI/s1600/DSC_0450_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-87YYmVfy7KM/VQj1X77datI/AAAAAAAAA50/KGHDBnnbCRI/s1600/DSC_0450_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w0zqrYPXUh0/VQj1FJIEbjI/AAAAAAAAA5U/I2KfIRSiI4A/s1600/DSC_0431_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w0zqrYPXUh0/VQj1FJIEbjI/AAAAAAAAA5U/I2KfIRSiI4A/s1600/DSC_0431_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsNoRwn_jBY/VQj1RLsKGoI/AAAAAAAAA5o/I97_v9kfUpI/s1600/DSC_0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsNoRwn_jBY/VQj1RLsKGoI/AAAAAAAAA5o/I97_v9kfUpI/s1600/DSC_0446.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMe9PnT3n1o/VQj1bogb6OI/AAAAAAAAA58/ai3BDP6Z6ao/s1600/DSC_0452_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMe9PnT3n1o/VQj1bogb6OI/AAAAAAAAA58/ai3BDP6Z6ao/s1600/DSC_0452_2.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03Dwkny-6ms/VQj1cSOI7dI/AAAAAAAAA6E/P55raR7r2-k/s1600/DSC_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03Dwkny-6ms/VQj1cSOI7dI/AAAAAAAAA6E/P55raR7r2-k/s1600/DSC_0459.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfgrQGjhtVc/VQj0hxL8-HI/AAAAAAAAA4A/WwlGjNDwa2g/s1600/DSC_0378_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfgrQGjhtVc/VQj0hxL8-HI/AAAAAAAAA4A/WwlGjNDwa2g/s1600/DSC_0378_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVOhYj6c8os/VQj1vRfGUvI/AAAAAAAAA6k/NWFqTn534r4/s1600/DSC_0501_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVOhYj6c8os/VQj1vRfGUvI/AAAAAAAAA6k/NWFqTn534r4/s1600/DSC_0501_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfgrQGjhtVc/VQj0hxL8-HI/AAAAAAAAA4A/WwlGjNDwa2g/s1600/DSC_0378_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dHriK4SA3s/VQj1nZWuHPI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/8CHVmJ9jgqY/s1600/DSC_0498_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dHriK4SA3s/VQj1nZWuHPI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/8CHVmJ9jgqY/s1600/DSC_0498_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTAkYoVx5bc/VQj10tyrOCI/AAAAAAAAA6s/vihfp1XgXYs/s1600/DSC_0506_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTAkYoVx5bc/VQj10tyrOCI/AAAAAAAAA6s/vihfp1XgXYs/s1600/DSC_0506_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTJgh3PKlSI/VQj11-xns7I/AAAAAAAAA60/EqCYXAlL964/s1600/DSC_0507_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTJgh3PKlSI/VQj11-xns7I/AAAAAAAAA60/EqCYXAlL964/s1600/DSC_0507_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWS93MNTbGc/VQj2Af3F6GI/AAAAAAAAA7E/OJahmYQiylo/s1600/DSC_0512_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWS93MNTbGc/VQj2Af3F6GI/AAAAAAAAA7E/OJahmYQiylo/s1600/DSC_0512_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLY62QE5Ktw/VQj170kRvfI/AAAAAAAAA68/8XP9-sfwCZk/s1600/DSC_0509_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLY62QE5Ktw/VQj170kRvfI/AAAAAAAAA68/8XP9-sfwCZk/s1600/DSC_0509_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9DM1ivZEZI/VQj1kbTPXwI/AAAAAAAAA6M/JWoXI4puSlg/s1600/DSC_0469_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9DM1ivZEZI/VQj1kbTPXwI/AAAAAAAAA6M/JWoXI4puSlg/s1600/DSC_0469_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s4pa-QdmLAo/VQj2BQt9UVI/AAAAAAAAA7M/Odw3V97IT_k/s1600/DSC_0514_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s4pa-QdmLAo/VQj2BQt9UVI/AAAAAAAAA7M/Odw3V97IT_k/s1600/DSC_0514_2.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFFfNT-gKEo/VQj2GXym1BI/AAAAAAAAA7U/TPLWoCIDW9I/s1600/DSC_0516_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFFfNT-gKEo/VQj2GXym1BI/AAAAAAAAA7U/TPLWoCIDW9I/s1600/DSC_0516_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSOAqsVn7gM/VQj2h_uRj8I/AAAAAAAAA8U/oI_vNVceNzw/s1600/DSC_0540_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSOAqsVn7gM/VQj2h_uRj8I/AAAAAAAAA8U/oI_vNVceNzw/s1600/DSC_0540_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlJ5nvQIsPM/VQj2LyfMYWI/AAAAAAAAA7k/z9XQCr2iT2Y/s1600/DSC_0525_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlJ5nvQIsPM/VQj2LyfMYWI/AAAAAAAAA7k/z9XQCr2iT2Y/s1600/DSC_0525_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sxwmpIGO86I/VQj2OSDniuI/AAAAAAAAA7s/J0dnQCK4pZA/s1600/DSC_0529_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sxwmpIGO86I/VQj2OSDniuI/AAAAAAAAA7s/J0dnQCK4pZA/s1600/DSC_0529_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ponQ7j0Cj14/VQj2LZQAJcI/AAAAAAAAA7c/mvh8SJppiRk/s1600/DSC_0521_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ponQ7j0Cj14/VQj2LZQAJcI/AAAAAAAAA7c/mvh8SJppiRk/s1600/DSC_0521_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQGalLhSBK8/VQj0vCVLOXI/AAAAAAAAA4k/8ZtbM0jBM5g/s1600/DSC_0409_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQGalLhSBK8/VQj0vCVLOXI/AAAAAAAAA4k/8ZtbM0jBM5g/s1600/DSC_0409_2.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MTSe-zQT0Js/VQj2U0vsHMI/AAAAAAAAA78/zwvgAqvts2g/s1600/DSC_0531_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MTSe-zQT0Js/VQj2U0vsHMI/AAAAAAAAA78/zwvgAqvts2g/s1600/DSC_0531_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2Qis0_XZyQ/VQj2R0I6K-I/AAAAAAAAA70/8zaXwLmv6kk/s1600/DSC_0534_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2Qis0_XZyQ/VQj2R0I6K-I/AAAAAAAAA70/8zaXwLmv6kk/s1600/DSC_0534_2.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LYMF7n60-Gw/VQj0hjKTIII/AAAAAAAAA38/TvyCLzkOXac/s1600/DSC_0368_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LYMF7n60-Gw/VQj0hjKTIII/AAAAAAAAA38/TvyCLzkOXac/s1600/DSC_0368_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUWpabkGNUo/VQj2YKpTQOI/AAAAAAAAA8E/VtO26RR_vew/s1600/DSC_0538_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUWpabkGNUo/VQj2YKpTQOI/AAAAAAAAA8E/VtO26RR_vew/s1600/DSC_0538_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rwsE4JOKthk/VQj2c5ZeJMI/AAAAAAAAA8M/bf9URad-3I0/s1600/DSC_0539_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rwsE4JOKthk/VQj2c5ZeJMI/AAAAAAAAA8M/bf9URad-3I0/s1600/DSC_0539_2.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHv27w2DzxA/VQj2qo9OtBI/AAAAAAAAA8c/1QLV3uHsUdc/s1600/DSC_0543_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHv27w2DzxA/VQj2qo9OtBI/AAAAAAAAA8c/1QLV3uHsUdc/s1600/DSC_0543_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DJc9LOiYhVg/VQj21nvSQGI/AAAAAAAAA8s/wjJCPDnb_vA/s1600/DSC_0550_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DJc9LOiYhVg/VQj21nvSQGI/AAAAAAAAA8s/wjJCPDnb_vA/s1600/DSC_0550_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkUOSXiHZE0/VQj2x4nuiMI/AAAAAAAAA8k/hhTWSPdMPy0/s1600/DSC_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkUOSXiHZE0/VQj2x4nuiMI/AAAAAAAAA8k/hhTWSPdMPy0/s1600/DSC_0544.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrA5LLhtYU/VQj2-AtkRYI/AAAAAAAAA80/sz88z5c0NRQ/s1600/DSC_0551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrA5LLhtYU/VQj2-AtkRYI/AAAAAAAAA80/sz88z5c0NRQ/s1600/DSC_0551.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bjc--LO3uE/VQj2_0NIwXI/AAAAAAAAA88/w_r_n9PBPOQ/s1600/DSC_0554_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bjc--LO3uE/VQj2_0NIwXI/AAAAAAAAA88/w_r_n9PBPOQ/s1600/DSC_0554_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKrtThN17oY/VQj3EYt0jkI/AAAAAAAAA9E/nhZAytst0KU/s1600/DSC_0561_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKrtThN17oY/VQj3EYt0jkI/AAAAAAAAA9E/nhZAytst0KU/s1600/DSC_0561_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MVFRYuGSItQ/VQj3J59njJI/AAAAAAAAA9M/Ed8tI-D6l7g/s1600/DSC_0565_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MVFRYuGSItQ/VQj3J59njJI/AAAAAAAAA9M/Ed8tI-D6l7g/s1600/DSC_0565_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nMMypB7ABQc/VQj3J6b7VNI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/QnsRC-hHuuA/s1600/DSC_0567_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nMMypB7ABQc/VQj3J6b7VNI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/QnsRC-hHuuA/s1600/DSC_0567_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1vtWGkfYs4/VQj3Nl-CgRI/AAAAAAAAA9c/9mLcoim50TU/s1600/DSC_0569_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1vtWGkfYs4/VQj3Nl-CgRI/AAAAAAAAA9c/9mLcoim50TU/s1600/DSC_0569_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XJIXIILFO0s/VQj3Tt-6rJI/AAAAAAAAA9k/jkgknvPs6js/s1600/DSC_0574_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XJIXIILFO0s/VQj3Tt-6rJI/AAAAAAAAA9k/jkgknvPs6js/s1600/DSC_0574_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLyRXZ2jcU0/VQj3TiKtP6I/AAAAAAAAA9o/N0gFZnv4X1g/s1600/DSC_0579_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLyRXZ2jcU0/VQj3TiKtP6I/AAAAAAAAA9o/N0gFZnv4X1g/s1600/DSC_0579_2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73WjEOV5WBU/VQj3YFedR3I/AAAAAAAAA98/R9vcB2STcwg/s1600/DSC_0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73WjEOV5WBU/VQj3YFedR3I/AAAAAAAAA98/R9vcB2STcwg/s1600/DSC_0601.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-tfgrQGjhtVc%2FVQj0hxL8-HI%2FAAAAAAAAA4A%2FWwlGjNDwa2g%2Fs1600%2FDSC_0378_2.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfgrQGjhtVc/VQj0hxL8-HI/AAAAAAAAA4A/WwlGjNDwa2g/s1600/DSC_0378_2.JPG" -->Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0Martinez, GA, USA33.503184535604134 -82.13172912597656233.489944035604132 -82.151899125976556 33.516425035604136 -82.111559125976569tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-43568723187084479012015-02-10T23:12:00.000-08:002015-02-10T23:25:08.563-08:00The Blacker the Berry the Bigger I Shoot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpklb_LX_A8/VNsAHNXOabI/AAAAAAAAA2A/ZVTtA2yN4J4/s1600/kendrick-lamar-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpklb_LX_A8/VNsAHNXOabI/AAAAAAAAA2A/ZVTtA2yN4J4/s1600/kendrick-lamar-2.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>"See a lot of y'all don't understand Kendrick Lamar because you wonder how I could talk about money, hoes, clothes, God and history all in the same sentence. You know what all them things have in common? Only half of the truth...if you tell it. See I spent twenty-three years on this earth searching for answers, till one day I realized I had to come up with my own. I'm not on the outside looking in, I'm not on the inside looking out. I'm in the dead f*****g center, looking around."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Kendrick Lamar, "Ab-Soul's Outro," <i>Section.80</i></div>
<br />
Rarely if ever do songs that carry a "message," especially a "racially charged message," truly capture the subtle complexities of reality. Instead most music, and really most influential public voices in general, typically contain polarizing hyperbole or at the very least take a clear "side" on the issue at hand.<br />
<br />
In "The Blacker the Berry," a grimy, brilliant masterpiece, Kendrick Lamar forces the careful listener to question on what side of the post-Ferguson cultural divide he ultimately stands.<br />
<br />
If you listen just carefully enough through syllable after syllable of mesmerizing, virtuosic vitriol, you will realize he stands on both sides simultaneously. Indeed his above words from <i>Section.80</i> ring prophetically truer than ever. And his consciousness of this aspect of his role as an artist - to grey the black and white lines of distinct truths - is what makes him truly phenomenal.<br />
<br />
It is shocking and inspiring and confusing all at the same time to have this type of work end with the simple dichotomy of a "hypocrite."<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/6AhXSoKa8xw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6AhXSoKa8xw?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe>And yet, isn't that reality? Truth is nuanced. "You" in this song is nuanced. You is white, You is black, You is many things. <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/07/27/cnns_don_lemon_bill_oreillys_criticism_of_black_community_doesnt_go_far_enough.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Don Lemon isn't right</span></b></a>, but <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/6436424/azealia-banks-blasts-kendrick-lamar-billboard-cover-interview" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #073763;">neither is Azealia Banks</span></b></a>...at least neither of them are exactly.<br />
<br />
Either way we are left with this harsh reality: Regardless of who <i>I</i> am, "the blacker the berry, the bigger <i>I</i> shoot."<br />
<br />
It seems ultimately that this is the dilemma Kendrick Lamar would have us spend our time examining.<br />
<br />
When art opens our minds to the complexities, nuances, and horrors of reality, it is in my opinion, at its most powerful.<br />
<br />
This is powerful art.<br />
<br />
This song is FIRE. In how it is delivered, in how it incites, and in how it burns away our polarizing, boxed ideas about post-Furguson America.<br />
<br />
<br />Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-84315486118243210252014-05-04T20:56:00.002-07:002015-02-10T22:25:09.878-08:00Rap Has Been Moved to DEFCON 1: Highest Alert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ed9YoHZgFp0/U2cKWbKYHvI/AAAAAAAAAvc/BVByAu_v8Pw/s1600/140429-big-krit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ed9YoHZgFp0/U2cKWbKYHvI/AAAAAAAAAvc/BVByAu_v8Pw/s1600/140429-big-krit.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
EVERYONE, JUSTIN SCOTT HAS SNAPPED. RAPPERS LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Everything about this track is sublime. When the beat drops at the :58 mark try not to get goosebumps.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/3s-w-zSbTu8/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3s-w-zSbTu8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What's good for Hip-Hop may not be good for my soul."</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiAh5c613YI/U2cKASFaX5I/AAAAAAAAAvU/2X_r_58cvJ8/s1600/10312357_10152707021766729_5213829893485171589_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiAh5c613YI/U2cKASFaX5I/AAAAAAAAAvU/2X_r_58cvJ8/s1600/10312357_10152707021766729_5213829893485171589_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And yes, he did make the beat. Kings are indeed Remembered In Time. Perhaps his time has come.</div>
Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-4119691461683441672014-05-03T04:54:00.001-07:002014-05-03T05:00:19.005-07:00Donald Sterling, White People, & America's Deep-Seated Black Inferiority Complex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OSeAEg0VEGw/U2SqRXapyWI/AAAAAAAAAtA/T2tKb5lniTc/s1600/la-fi-mh-no-donald-sterling-20140428-001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OSeAEg0VEGw/U2SqRXapyWI/AAAAAAAAAtA/T2tKb5lniTc/s1600/la-fi-mh-no-donald-sterling-20140428-001.jpeg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The public outcry in response to Clippers owner Donald Sterling's now infamous, racist diatribe has been fierce. Initially, I reacted similarly to how I imagine most decently-educated middle class white folks did: I shook my head and became self-righteously indignant that someone, particularly someone associated with basketball, would say such things. This was yet another reminder, I thought, that racism is still alive and well in America, particularly among old, rich, white dudes.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then I actually listened to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhT6d5fMhzI" target="_blank"><b>recording of the conversation in its entirety</b></a>. I realized that it was worse than I thought.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I realized this because it was much, much more mundane than I expected. It was more subtle than I had imagined. I kept waiting for Sterling to shout "I just can't stand black people!" or to use the dreaded -ER variety of the N-word. Those overt expressions of exceptionally racist ideology never appeared as I listened to the conversation in question. Instead, Sterling remained mostly calm. He sounded...tired...as he tediously explained to V. Stiviano, his mixed black and latino mistress, why he just REALLY wished she wouldn't advertise publicly that she associated with black people. The conversation ended, and I looked to my girlfriend Sarah who was listening along with me. We both felt the same thing: that wasn't as...bad...as I expected. Again, we were right. It was worse.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRq5LCT3_oo/U2TCY3yZe_I/AAAAAAAAAt8/Phf10vEtap4/s1600/Magic-Johnson-V.-Stiviano1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRq5LCT3_oo/U2TCY3yZe_I/AAAAAAAAAt8/Phf10vEtap4/s1600/Magic-Johnson-V.-Stiviano1.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V. Stiviano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
It was worse because that 9 minute conversation, now responsible for the first ever lifetime ban of an NBA owner, is not unlike so many conversations that take place behind closed doors across America each and every day. In his own words, Donald Sterling "has NO problem with black people." He just doesn't want anyone to know that his mistress (his black mistress) makes a habit of spending her free time around them. That's not THAT bad...right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No. It's bad. It's completely unacceptable. And for once, it was handled appropriately. That's really the best that can be said for the punishment Sterling was dealt. It was appropriate. Anything more than that and the actual significance of this whole ordeal in the "fight against racism" becomes grossly overstated. Why?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because we live in a society that has black inferiority deeply ingrained in the fabric of its culture, and the outing of one old-school racist curmudgeon doesn't do much to change that. Sterling's words do present us, however, with a glimpse of what lies at the foundation of modern racism: a double standard. In my mind, the most troubling aspect of our society's double standard when it comes to black people, is that our subtle declarations of their inferiority go unnoticed a shocking majority of the time. It's not so much that we are in great denial of our racism. Instead, we have become so accustomed to it being woven into our ways of thinking, speaking, and decision-making, that we no longer even detect it. But it is there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dYUkcquBOpQ/U2TA2T862wI/AAAAAAAAAto/Fg75q1VGirU/s1600/6214764720_08df72ea17_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dYUkcquBOpQ/U2TA2T862wI/AAAAAAAAAto/Fg75q1VGirU/s1600/6214764720_08df72ea17_z.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
White parents are often fine with their son or daughter hanging out with black friends, but when they find out that daddy's sweet little girl is dating a black boy, all hell breaks loose. Donald Sterling is fine with black people, but he doesn't want his mistress seen attending Clippers games with them. Suburban soccer moms chatter back and forth complaining about how loud and annoying the <i>African-American (this part is whispered)</i> woman at the nail parlor was.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>As an aside...let me just take this opportunity to clear something up for white people: You are not going to offend a black person by calling them black. Nothing screams timid caucasian ignorance more than always carefully referring to black people as "African-Americans." For one, black people aren't ALL African-American. They might be Cuban-American or Jamaican-American etc. So just be cool, and say you saw a black guy. He's cool with that. Everybody's cool with that.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
In so many white conversations about neighborhoods or apartment complexes, the unspoken (or sometimes spoken) understanding is that, those "not-so-nice apartments" or those "rough" neighborhoods are basically <i>places-where-a-bunch-of-black-people-live-so-don't-go-there</i>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfcejVHyiIc/U2TSidxTC5I/AAAAAAAAAvE/qykbVa6kdIk/s1600/public-enemy-big-picture-design-canvas-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfcejVHyiIc/U2TSidxTC5I/AAAAAAAAAvE/qykbVa6kdIk/s1600/public-enemy-big-picture-design-canvas-1.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<div>
Sarah is taking a class at UCLA this summer about the cultural history of rap music. When some white people ask me what classes she is taking, I simply respond with, "a cultural history class." Why? Because I don't want to deal with that uncomfortable look of misunderstanding and disapproval that will undoubtedly spread across their face. I know to expect this because I took multiple black culture classes myself at Duke, and learned the hard way that it is just not worth explaining them to some white people. I think this might be the closest I will ever come to feeling black shame. The fact that I would have to explain the value of those courses at all proves my point: Many of these sentiments regularly thought and expressed by white people are not overtly racist. However, they ultimately establish black people, their generalized tendencies, and their culture as inferior.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even when the words of white people are supportive of their black counterparts: "I love black people!" or "I'm not racist, I have black friends!" (A statement that essentially means "Hey look, I'm racist!"), they often belie an underlying lack of respect.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately, the true expression of our modern devaluation of blacks lies not in our words, but in our actions. Many of us truly do not have any conscious prejudice towards blacks, and as such we never express any. We may even be a voice against racism, and we MIGHT even post a Facebook status about how great it is that Donald Sterling got a lifetime ban for what he said! How cunning! What <i>activism</i>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Truly though, what we cannot ignore is the reality that for decades since the Civil Rights Movement as well as long before, black Americans have been suffering injustices created by those in power (rich people, white people, rich white people, me, <a href="http://www.thedailyrash.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/gang_sign1.jpg" target="_blank"><b>you if you're white and/or middle class or above</b></a>, Donald Sterling, Michael Jackson once he became white, etc). When injustices go unnoticed for long periods of time, they become systematic, and when they become systematic, they become very, very difficult to correct.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is why we all turned into NAACP members when we heard about Sterling's racist comments, but did nothing in 2003 and 2006 when he faced lawsuits for housing discrimination, an offense far worse than any comment in a private conversation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtB2C5wNK4I/U2TBpnVqjpI/AAAAAAAAAt0/taSHJmTYT5M/s1600/bomanijones.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtB2C5wNK4I/U2TBpnVqjpI/AAAAAAAAAt0/taSHJmTYT5M/s1600/bomanijones.png" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bomani Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<i>ESPN analyst Bomani Jones <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6bLKe9-Mto" target="_blank">exquisitely expressed his frustration</a> </b>with this disparity in a radio interview shortly after the story broke. If you can spare the ten minutes, it is certainly worth the listen.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We did nothing because, for the most part, we weren't aware that it was happening. <b><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/donald-sterling-housing-discrimination_n_5241217.html" target="_blank">This Huffington Post article</a> </b>explains it well:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<i>"The charges made against Sterling were stomach-turning. In response to the 2003 suit, one of his property supervisors testified that Sterling said all blacks "smell" and are "not clean," that he wanted to "get them out" of his properties to preserve his image, and that he harassed tenants and refused to make repairs until they were forced to leave, according to depositions obtained by ESPN The Magazine.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>But as alarming as the claims against Sterling are, housing discrimination as a practice is alive and well in America, and can't be solved with something as simple as a lifetime ban.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>'For individuals and families, it limits their housing choices, it dictates where you can and cannot live, and that means limited access to other opportunities: educational opportunities, employment opportunities, health care services, other amenities," Fred Freiberg, director of the nonprofit Fair Housing Justice Center, told HuffPost. "It sustains and enforces patterns of racial segregation and poverty concentration, and it creates a whole host of inequalities that we could, frankly, do without.'"</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Though housing discrimination just one example, it captures the concept of systematic oppression in a nutshell. I don't even think I completely understood the concept until I lived in Durham, NC for 5 years. Shortly after graduating from college I became friends with Damien Lee, who grew up in oft-feared-by-Duke-students East Durham. I soaked up as much of his knowledge of Durham history as I could, and appreciated his perspective on it as a black man from one of "those bad" neighborhoods. I had lived in Durham for over 4 years when I met Damien, and he was the first person to ever mention "Black Wall Street" to me. I believe that speaks volumes to the common disconnect between white wealth and black culture and history.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wkZudk8utc/U2S4FWUQxYI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/r34Va4pyV44/s1600/Black-Wall-Street-Marker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wkZudk8utc/U2S4FWUQxYI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/r34Va4pyV44/s1600/Black-Wall-Street-Marker.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
As it turns out, in the early 1900's, Parrish Street in downtown Durham became the home of several prominent black-owned companies. While Jim Crow-era struggles raged on in other areas of the country, Durham developed one of the most thriving black communities in the nation. Many of these black residents lived in the Hayti community that bordered Parrish Street. For a decent portion of the early 20th century, this "Black Wall Street" served as a bustling hub of black business activity. Then, in the 1960's, Durham went through a period of "urban renewal." Already past its hey-day, the Hayti community/Parrish Street area was dealt a devastating blow when the Durham Freeway was built directly through it. In many ways, this was a death sentence for the once-thriving "Black Wall Street," in the name of "progress." Since that time, Durham has seen continued renewal of its downtown areas, vacated in the wake of the era of tobacco prosperity.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newcentury/6001" target="_blank"><b>Read more about Black Wall Street here.</b></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have myself enjoyed this updated, hipster-attracting Durham with its many independent restaurants, micro-breweries, and artistic elements. I have visited several of these newer establishments with Damien, where together we pondered the juxtaposition of modern hipster-Durham against the old thriving hub of black activity from the past. The answer to which is better, I presume, lies in the eye of the beholder.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Durham's story is not vastly different from that of many other American cities. With LA's large minority populations, episodes of housing discrimination like Sterling's are not uncommon. In Chicago, white-flight, gentrification, and housing discrimination have combined over decades to produce deadly results. Basically, as blacks moved into to the city, whites moved out, because A. They could afford to establish themselves in suburban areas and commute into the city for business, and B. They didn't want to live near black people. Freeways were built, intentionally bypassing black neighborhoods and leaving extremely poor black communities isolated and with few opportunities for growth and development. Over the last decade, the results have only worsened, and south side Chicago has become much-maligned "Chiraq." The nickname is an ode to the middle-eastern country where fewer Americans were killed in 2012 than in Chicago (532).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9-q03q9Ntc/U2TAGydimoI/AAAAAAAAAtg/0txwl1O-ARw/s1600/Chief+Keef.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9-q03q9Ntc/U2TAGydimoI/AAAAAAAAAtg/0txwl1O-ARw/s1600/Chief+Keef.png" height="400" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith Cozart - Better Known as Chief Keef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Chiraq's most famous resident, Chief Keef, has become the public face of the violent lifestyle of the south side. To get some sense of what life is like as a 17 year-old in this part of town, look no further than the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g5ZF6DUrHI" target="_blank"><b>music video for "I Don't Like."</b></a> Normally music videos are caricatures of reality. In this case, my gut tells me that this is not far from a typical Friday night in Englewood, where children grow up fatherless and trapped by a system that has failed them. In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TybFtK6VTVo" target="_blank"><b>brilliant documentary</b></a> about Chief Keef's rise to stardom produced by Noisey.com, you get a sense of the wild-west type environment communities like these have become.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Countless news reports have berated Keith Cozart as a glorifier and promoter of everything that is wrong with violent inner-city Chicago. I don't completely disagree with that ideology, but I believe that his reality is more nuanced than that. Since signing his major label record deal with Interscope, Keef has moved to a northern suburb of Chicago.</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>(As chronicled in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE0wi06lvD8&list=PLdoAu1uCjE-il9fohlkEu2d4-H2SzkgJp" target="_blank"><b>last episode of the Noisey documentary</b></a>...his current situation actually makes for wonderful comedy, as extremely wealthy white people power walk their strollers past his house on the sidewalk, where he rides four wheelers around his front yard with his homies...they are literally the only black people for miles).</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He, like everyone else on the south side, does not like living there, and certainly would not choose to if given other options. The reality is few of them are given other options. It seems easy to argue that with hard work, ambition, and focus, any of them could make it out. I believe this is idealistic, and that if any of us had grown up there, we would find that point significantly more difficult to argue. Try surrounding yourself with bad living conditions, bad schools, and bad people, and see if you make it out. The American Dream looks different in different places.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So all of this begs the question: Can the entire plight of blacks in America be blamed on the "white man?" Not exactly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I recently watched "12 Years a Slave" with Sarah, and found it to be one of the most disturbing, informing, moving, convincing films I have ever seen. As we discussed it, we agreed that the one thing the film did most excellently was subtly capture the prevalence of the slave mentality among blacks in the south. These people were oppressed so severely for so long that they started to understand their own existence through the lens of enslavement. For those born as slaves, that world was all they knew. Their goal became submission. Put simply, they began to accept their position as inferior to their white owners and drivers. This is why educated slaves were so feared by owners, because education, or an understanding of the potential for life beyond the oppression of the fields, was among the ingredients of rebellion. A slave mentality kept slaves from even developing the desire to rebel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qE8VCp9WHik/U2TGmfLj2dI/AAAAAAAAAuI/WpU5ftfKA7M/s1600/12_years_a_slave_featured1-618x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qE8VCp9WHik/U2TGmfLj2dI/AAAAAAAAAuI/WpU5ftfKA7M/s1600/12_years_a_slave_featured1-618x400.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Many Memorable Scenes in "12 Years a Slave"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Much has been written about whether or not there are remnants of a slave mentality among some blacks in America today. I do not believe anything such as this exists to the degree that it would deserve to have the word "slave" attached to it...simply out of fearful respect for how horrendous that institution was. But, I do believe that some blacks today unintentionally help propagate the underlying modern idea of black inferiority. It is not fair, but it is reality, and it is the type of thing that visionaries like Spike Lee have dedicated their lives to fighting. At present, one of the greatest battles that black people fight is a against stereotypical perception. For example the idea that black people, particularly black males, are dangerous certainly exists today. The ideas that black people are simpler, less intelligent, hypersexual, less reliable, wasteful, and less driven than white people still exist as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately black people, often those in the public eye, do not always act in ways that work against those horrible stereotypes. Some rappers do glorify violence, extravagance, and misogyny. Some black comedians, like Kevin Hart and Tyler Perry, make millions off of making fun of the most stereotypical aspects of their own people. I recently read a <a href="http://gawker.com/black-people-are-cowards-1568673014" target="_blank"><b>Gawker article</b></a> that pointed to Kevin Hart's line in "Ride Along" when two white kids are fighting in a high school lunchroom: "You're WHITE!, You're WHITE......You don't FIGHT!" The writer pointed out how subtly yet clearly this simple (admittedly funny) line once again reinforces age-old stereotypes of blacks as ultimately savages and whites as sophisticated elites.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HhFLLJcFVg0/U2TLsuN2tsI/AAAAAAAAAuY/KjvYKcNe520/s1600/87_1r2011_lb_medvedich_spike_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HhFLLJcFVg0/U2TLsuN2tsI/AAAAAAAAAuY/KjvYKcNe520/s1600/87_1r2011_lb_medvedich_spike_01.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spike Lee - Film Legend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Advocates for realistic black representation like Spike Lee and Bill Cosby feel that in order to come back from decades of negative stereotyping, blacks must eliminate any and all forms of "tomfoolery" from their culture, including but not limited to Soulja Boy songs, Tyler Perry sitcoms, and <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI" target="_blank">Allen Iverson press conferences</a>.</b> Culturally conscious blacks often lament the existence of BET, at least in its current format, because it really only presents a media-influenced and incomplete version of black entertainment. I once heard a black comedian reference Maya Angelou's famous poem, saying "BET is why the caged bird is still in the cage!" I thought it was hilarious and sadly a bit true.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have met Spike Lee, and conversation with him only made me more confident in his genius. I understand the desperation of people like him. Still, I have a dream that one day white people can listen to Rick Ross without thinking all black people want to be 400 pound BAWSES that drive Maybachs. Personally, I love Ricky Rozay because he is an incredibly consistent artistic character, his music makes me feel like I'm in some epic gangster film, his ad-lib grunt is legendary, he owns Wing Stop franchises and routinely works rhymes about "Lemon-Pepper" seasoning into songs, and he is just a downright good rapper from a technical standpoint. He IS something like 400 pounds, owns it, never wears a shirt, is fully tatted, and resides in the image at the top of this blog for all the reasons above.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MdxIIkeMakk/U2TM6jLIhBI/AAAAAAAAAuk/QTLAdVPdyHw/s1600/Rockie-Fresh-Rick-Ross-MMG-585x433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MdxIIkeMakk/U2TM6jLIhBI/AAAAAAAAAuk/QTLAdVPdyHw/s1600/Rockie-Fresh-Rick-Ross-MMG-585x433.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rick Ross *Image NOT Representative of the Lives of All Black People.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
It only takes a little bit of education, exposure to black people, and/or conscious thought to realize that no Rick Ross song or Kevin Hart standup routine is truly representative of even a minority of the black population. Unfortunately, many white people lack enough of one of these three pieces of the equation that they either consciously or subconsciously form their understanding of what black people are really like based on these stereotypes. A culture of misunderstanding develops. The results are purses grasped a bit tighter when black teens approach at the mall, low representations of blacks among students enrolled at universities, and worst of all, situations like the one in which Trayvon Martin found himself shortly before he was killed. The reality is we live in a world where black people rarely get the benefit of the doubt. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I do not <i>completely</i> blame "white people" as a general population for this lack of understanding. In some ways it seems like, more than anything, it is just an unfortunate byproduct of overall human depravity. But, we as a majority people could be doing a LOT more to build bridges instead of walls. </div>
<div>
So the question arises...are there solutions? Can the deep-seated white superiority complex and resulting black inferiority complex be destroyed, or at least mollified? I believe the problem itself leads us to an answer that at least gives us hope. The problem is that over decades and centuries those in power have carried out a systematic devaluation of certain human beings in comparison to other human beings. For the solution I turn to the one man who taught throughout his life that every human being has unimaginable values in the eyes of God: Jesus Christ.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I don't mean this in the cheesy, Jesus Christ will save the day, let's just all pray about this a lot way. After all, I have been pretty frustrated with many Christians lately because of the way we have handled several "hot topic" issues. I see instead Christians as a solution through our potential to live our lives based on the radical example that Jesus set, particularly with respect to his ministry to those on the margins of society. As a white person, it is uncomfortable to admit this, but in many ways black people still live on the margins of modern American society.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The good news is, over time, progress HAS been made, and we have reason to be optimistic. I recently read an outstanding <b><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/bill-gates-the-rolling-stone-interview-20140313" target="_blank">Rolling Stone interview with Bill Gates</a> </b>that included the following excerpt:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSLEVPa47pA/U2TQl5R_M2I/AAAAAAAAAuw/mM3grrsfo7U/s1600/bill-gates-jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSLEVPa47pA/U2TQl5R_M2I/AAAAAAAAAuw/mM3grrsfo7U/s1600/bill-gates-jpg.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill Gates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<i><b>RS: What do you say to people who argue that America's best days are behind us?</b></i></div>
<div>
<i>BG: That's almost laughable. The only definition by which America's best days are behind it is on a purely relative basis. That is, in 1946, when we made up about six percent of humanity, but we dominated everything. But America's way better today than it's ever been. Say you're a woman in America, would you go back 50 years? Say you're gay in America, would you go back 50 years? Say you're sick in America, do you want to go back 50 years? I mean, who are we kidding?</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNaN0L_RGig/U2TRQkOrwzI/AAAAAAAAAu4/NNIWqX80ifA/s1600/Martin_Luther_King_Jr_NYWTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNaN0L_RGig/U2TRQkOrwzI/AAAAAAAAAu4/NNIWqX80ifA/s1600/Martin_Luther_King_Jr_NYWTS.jpg" height="320" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. - Leader, Visionary, Martyr</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I could not agree more with Gates here, and am admittedly a bit of an eternal optimist myself. Why? Because I believe that, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." He actually borrowed that quote from 1850's abolitionist Theodore Parker. If an abolitionist can share those words of wisdom in 1850, I think I can get behind them now.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still, for all the reasons mentioned earlier in this post, work needs to be done. Though it is a bit abstract, I truly believe the first step towards reconciling the problems at hand is reversing the systematic devaluation of black people in America. Notice I specifically said reversing the <i>systematic </i>devaluation. The problem is not people feeling hatred towards black people, so the solution is not removing hatred from people's hearts. The solution is establishing a new value system when it comes to human beings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is where I turn to my faith, because I think true disciples of Jesus Christ might be the only people radical enough to completely value all people equally. <i>Here's why this is radical:</i> valuing all people equally means recognizing that their well-being is equally important regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, criminal history, religious beliefs, financial situation, racist tendencies, skills, work-ethic, generosity, health, sense of entitlement, accomplishments, and on and on and on. Really think about that. If you're like me, even a few of those I just mentioned make it difficult to value some human beings as much as others. The reality is we are not perfect, and we will be judgmental. But we can remind ourselves that God values all people, ALL people, the same. Jesus ministered to the least of these. Many of our society's decisions have reflected the reality that we think that black people are the least of us all. They are not. In fact in some ways <i>we all</i> are because of how we have failed to treat all people equally. That, to me, is incredibly humbling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I believe the second step towards reconciliation might be the removal of fear. Much of our decision making that has led to decades of oppression has been based on fear: "That neighborhood scares me. I might get robbed there. I might get killed there. My family might get killed there. Let's just build the freeway through there so we never have to stop there." Or worse, and more embarrassing: "The idea of not living comfortably scares me. I want to live in a neighborhood where everyone looks like me. Black people make me uncomfortable, so I am afraid to hang out with them. I am afraid of what people will think if my child dates a black person. I am afraid of what people will think if there are pictures on Instagram of my mistress with black people."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am not saying that all of these are irrational or unjustified fears (well, the Sterling one certainly is). I am as guilty as anyone of facing several of those fears listed above. I don't think it is wrong to keep yourself and your family safe. This is an imperfect, dangerous world, and I believe that God wants us to live safely and happily. But, I also think that radically trusting in the hope of Jesus Christ and the truth that he has conquered everything this World can throw at us can help reduce our fears. And when our fears are reduced, we are freed to do more reconciliation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a Facebook message with Damien a while back, I asked what he thought some solutions might be to some of the systematic injustices agains blacks in our society:</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFYEIXQV-sM/U2ShXS3g05I/AAAAAAAAAss/tAixebo0C8A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-03+at+3.56.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFYEIXQV-sM/U2ShXS3g05I/AAAAAAAAAss/tAixebo0C8A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-03+at+3.56.49+AM.png" height="640" width="568" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMd-Xnt6yN0/U2ShXcvmuMI/AAAAAAAAAso/1mkppy2lwCY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-03+at+3.57.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMd-Xnt6yN0/U2ShXcvmuMI/AAAAAAAAAso/1mkppy2lwCY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-03+at+3.57.20+AM.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Problem solved! Not really, but it would be a start if we began using our votes in local elections to support candidates whose policies leaned towards improving the balance of resource distribution to favor lower-income areas. I know that politics are incredibly complex, and I am not naive enough to believe that this is an overarching solution. But I also know that, particularly in affluent areas, white populations tend to geographically and financially isolate themselves from poorer, often blacker communities nearby. Combining these types of selfless policy changes with activism at the individual, church, and community level might actually make a difference.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This type of activism takes courage. MLK and Malcolm X died for their cause. I am, admittedly, not sure I personally feel called to take a vow of intentional poverty, move into inner-city Atlanta, and begin a grassroots campaign to reconcile racial discrimination. The idea of doing something like that terrifies me, and it does not sound like a comfortable life. Coincidentally, those are two of the exact obstacles to progress that I mentioned earlier. So I am stuck like the rest of us. Or am I?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think God intends to use us all differently. Perhaps someone else will feel called to be the type of activist I mentioned above. If I meet someone who is, they will have my full support. For now, I feel called to love and minister to the youth of my church which is in admittedly a very white, very upper middle class Georgia town. But people with a reconciliation vision in mind need to be in communities like mine as much as they need to be anywhere else. I love my church, its congregation, its staff, and my youth. I hope I can teach them to love and respect and appreciate the value of all people, the way Jesus Christ did.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I pray that in the end, this Donald Sterling fiasco will serve as another moment of progress towards a future defined by equality rather than inferiority.</div>
</div>
Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-6585196575482801292014-03-19T20:54:00.001-07:002014-03-19T21:00:21.273-07:00Mascot MadnessI'm filling out a bunch of brackets this year so that I'm happy no matter what happens. As I was going through and filling out my "Best Mascot/Logo" based bracket, I ran into a few schools with just outstanding athletic namesakes. On top of that, the physical representations of these mascots put them in an elite category.<br />
<br />
In the West region, I came upon an incredibly difficult 12 vs 13 matchup between the <a href="http://www.gobison.com/" target="_blank"><b>North Dakota State Bison</b></a> and the <a href="http://www.nmstatesports.com/" target="_blank"><b>New Mexico State Aggies</b></a>. First, I discovered that the New Mexico State Aggie is THIS GUY.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EiOHHBeMbo/Uypd2bRwSII/AAAAAAAAAkA/tTStyKXpJCQ/s1600/f009bf49f2b0cf5575a3742fd407569b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EiOHHBeMbo/Uypd2bRwSII/AAAAAAAAAkA/tTStyKXpJCQ/s1600/f009bf49f2b0cf5575a3742fd407569b.jpg" height="400" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pistol Pete and his Mascotache</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Before I had a chance to fully investigate this mascot's moustache authenticity, I was pleased to discover that a friendly cartoon Bison with a bowl cut shows up at NDSU games.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z0rvHGGY6w/Uypd-8bDYlI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JCt51NTnxps/s1600/North-Dakota-State-University-Bison-Thundar-Mascot-Monday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z0rvHGGY6w/Uypd-8bDYlI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JCt51NTnxps/s1600/North-Dakota-State-University-Bison-Thundar-Mascot-Monday.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently North Dakota is where the wild things are.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjgIuGmNZIM/Uyph58f0SPI/AAAAAAAAAk0/wQaai4Yo4QQ/s1600/New_Mexico_State_Aggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjgIuGmNZIM/Uyph58f0SPI/AAAAAAAAAk0/wQaai4Yo4QQ/s1600/New_Mexico_State_Aggies.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Logos with guns are always fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What a tight matchup! Both schools have great nicknames and logos, equally charming and obscure in their own special ways. I was pretty much stuck until research done by my friend Nick Schwartz, who writes for <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/author/nick-schwartz/" target="_blank"><b>For The Win at USA Today Sports</b></a>, revealed that the NDSU Bison mascot's name is Thundar. Before I jumped to make the pick on a purely emotional reaction to the greatness of that name, I looked up the NMSU mascot's name: Pistol Pete. Great, but no Thundar.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALnC9Svxqgg/Uyph2-sVuqI/AAAAAAAAAkk/57abSTHRUcw/s1600/7007517636_877b306278_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALnC9Svxqgg/Uyph2-sVuqI/AAAAAAAAAkk/57abSTHRUcw/s1600/7007517636_877b306278_o.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thundar is mythical and majestic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mPsYYJVDxS4/Uyph57pv95I/AAAAAAAAAkw/fSYmHc6S7j0/s1600/North-Dakota-State.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mPsYYJVDxS4/Uyph57pv95I/AAAAAAAAAkw/fSYmHc6S7j0/s1600/North-Dakota-State.jpg" height="97" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like how the words flow with the mane.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, in my "Best Mascot/Logo" bracket, North Dakota State will be moving on to the second weekend. We can only hope for a dream matchup in the final four with the <a href="http://sfajacks.cstv.com/" target="_blank"><b>Stephen F. Austin University Lumberjacks</b></a>, whose real-life mascot is confusedly played by these two different but equally studly guys.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PWvsM5Y2buA/Uypd7FnH_yI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/yd2P1LgBs70/s1600/Lumberjack_rdax_333x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PWvsM5Y2buA/Uypd7FnH_yI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/yd2P1LgBs70/s1600/Lumberjack_rdax_333x500.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear this guy was on "Lost."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rCXY0f6Nbno/Uypd5M07j3I/AAAAAAAAAkI/gK_WHYdjD2o/s1600/31-staines_l_rdax_250x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rCXY0f6Nbno/Uypd5M07j3I/AAAAAAAAAkI/gK_WHYdjD2o/s1600/31-staines_l_rdax_250x350.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jersey Shore needs lumberjacks too...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The blonde looks like more of a friendly, "I chop down trees but I also hug them" sort of fellow, while the other Jack looks like he fist pumps to Avicci songs while chopping down trees and courting numerous women.<br />
<br />
Regardless, that would be a matchup for the ages. Let the games begin.Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-46692865906696047242014-03-01T22:53:00.001-08:002014-03-01T22:57:14.558-08:00Atlanta Has a New Sound, and it Needs a Name. I'm Calling it "Post-Future."<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wetn6WnriM/UxLG15FCysI/AAAAAAAAAPk/2emBxSFm67w/s1600/20-people-to-watch-Future-Atlanta-rap-Epic-L.A.-Reid-Rico-Wade-Dirty-Sprite-Astronaut-Kid-Pluto-Streetz-Calling-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wetn6WnriM/UxLG15FCysI/AAAAAAAAAPk/2emBxSFm67w/s1600/20-people-to-watch-Future-Atlanta-rap-Epic-L.A.-Reid-Rico-Wade-Dirty-Sprite-Astronaut-Kid-Pluto-Streetz-Calling-.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future - Rapper, Trend-Setter, Askernaut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There's this sound coming out of Atlanta right now that has been developing over the last year or two. It's a bit hard to describe unless you've heard it, but I think the simplest way to categorize it is to call it "Post-Future."</div>
<br />
Nayvadius Cash, better known as Future, is the Kirkwood, Atlanta native well known for his unique, mesmerizing, nearly impossible to understand vocoder/tonal/futuristic vocal style. He first implanted the sound permanently in all of our brains in September of 2011 with the never-ending refrain of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNdySYdVe0E" target="_blank"><b>"Tony Montana,"</b></a> the song that also helped put producer Lex Luger and his highly progammed, rapid fire fruity loop brand of trap music on the map. After Tony Muntaaaaaaana, there was "Magic" with T.I. (Fish tailin' out da parkin lot leavin' Maaaaagic) and "Same Damn Time," among other smooth, sort of autotuned, sort of vocoded, sort of punchy bangers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/vY7mHqFi_Kk/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vY7mHqFi_Kk&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vY7mHqFi_Kk&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
Future's name and vision of his music have remained aligned, and looking back, even seem a bit prophetic. His name speaks for itself, and his mixtapes all carried a sort of space-exploration/sci-fi, "futuristic" theme (titles include <i>Astronaut Status</i>, pronounced "Askernaut" by Future, and <i>Pluto</i>.) I say that this all seemed a bit prophetic in hindsight because in many ways Future has become the center of the rap/pop universe at the present moment. Heard the phrase "Turn Up!" anywhere lately? Yeah, Future popularized that. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djE-BLrdDDc" target="_blank"><b>See :38 seconds into "New Bugatti."</b></a> (Travis Porter probably started it all, however, with "Aaaaall the Waaaaay Turrrnnnt Uuuuup.") Anyways, when his career was taking off, Future sort of <i>was</i> the future.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jU5muwMY0rs/UxLMYVtlUgI/AAAAAAAAAP8/OK9_qAJzkOM/s1600/IMG_0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jU5muwMY0rs/UxLMYVtlUgI/AAAAAAAAAP8/OK9_qAJzkOM/s1600/IMG_0556.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Ace Hood, Rick Ross, Future, DJ Khaled</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's currently fresh off a <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJBHdKBOdcw" target="_blank">single with Miley Cyrus,</a></b> seemingly today's ticket for mainstream rap success (thanks for that <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbEoRnaOIbs" target="_blank">Mike Will and Juicy J</a></b>), and he continues to be featured on the hooks of seemingly dozens of singles with big names like Rick Ross and B.O.B. His sound is obscenely catchy, just varied enough to remain interesting listen after listen, and easily adaptable to various types of production. He palpitates effortlessly between sing-songy melodic cuts and more street-ready bangers. One of my favorite moments of discussing Future came my senior year of college when I was talking to my friend Johnny Williams, a Duke Football player and routine Future "bumper." A Lex Luger produced beat came on and Future's distinct mumble began crooning out a hook. "What is he saying on this chorus?" I asked. Johnny's reply? "Bruh I have no idea. I never know what Future's saying but it sounds dope." That is Future in a nutshell. He just sounds cool. The lyrical content is secondary.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aEYHlWwltg/UxLK5dJum_I/AAAAAAAAAPw/RDsbw6LgyJI/s1600/131118-Migos-emmitt-smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aEYHlWwltg/UxLK5dJum_I/AAAAAAAAAPw/RDsbw6LgyJI/s1600/131118-Migos-emmitt-smith.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Migos...Post-Future in Musical AND Sartorial Style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that brings me to this "Post-Future" sound that I see coming out of Atlanta more and more now. It became apparent to me first through Migos, the eclectic duo responsible for the absolutely ceaseless and yet infuriatingly endearing smash "Versace." You've probably heard this song, but if you haven't, it features a total of about 9 words and 8 of them are "Versace." The hook:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 26.399999618530273px;">[Hook: Quavo]</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace<br />Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Versace, Versace Versace, Versace Versace </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: right;">Versace, Versace Versace, Versace Versace</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Quavo clearly stretches his lyrical abilities to the limit here. Honestly though, the song is listenable to a degree because of the rhythmic and stylistic variations he puts on each repetition of the luxury clothing line's famous name. If you haven't seen the video, a viewing is a must. Migos' Versace extravagance is fully on display, complete with a live Tiger on a leash and a mansion that they certainly rented solely for the purpose of the video shoot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/rF-hq_CHNH0/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/rF-hq_CHNH0&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/rF-hq_CHNH0&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
Why do I consider this clothing anthem "Post-Future?" There is just something about the inflection of Migos' words, the texture of their voices, that almost-but-not-really vocoded hint on every syllable they deliver, that seems to be derivative of the sound Future created. It's not always overt, and is at times more about the lyrical rhythm than the sound quality of their delivery, but the feel is there. Particularly in his earlier works, Future often used a sort of punchy, rapid fire type delivery where he would steadily emphasize all the words in a bar and then de-emphasize the last word on the downbeat at the end of the measure. This is a bit unusual. Take for example, the opening lines of "Tony Montana," with emphasized words underlined, and de-emphasized words in italics:<br />
<br />
<u>I'll take over the</u> <i>streets</i> / <u>fresh off the Banana</u> <i>Boat</i><br />
<u>I come straight from the</u> <i>East</i> / <u>where N***** split your </u><i>can</i><i>taloupe</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Migos do this same thing, albeit a more accelerated version, throughout "Versace," when they do diverge into the song's "verses.":<br />
<br />
<u>Versace, Versace, Medusa head on me like I'm</u> <i>'Luminati</i><br />
<u>I know that you like it, Versace, my neck and my wrist is so</u> <i>sloppy</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The only noticeable difference here is that "'Luminati" is de-emphasized with a rising, inquisitive tone, while "sloppy" is de-emphasized with a dropping tone of finality the same way "boat" and "cantaloupe" are in "Tony Montana." Still, the overall feel that this delivery creates, combined with the similar sound textures and verbal inflections, make the ties to Future clearly detectable.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AeM1QnXuBw/UxLP2Tr24XI/AAAAAAAAAQI/9C6rwWoFu3I/s1600/Screen-shot-2011-04-25-at-5.23.24-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AeM1QnXuBw/UxLP2Tr24XI/AAAAAAAAAQI/9C6rwWoFu3I/s1600/Screen-shot-2011-04-25-at-5.23.24-PM.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Thug. Atlanta's Chief Keef.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, one imitator does not mean a city has developed a new "sound," and I didn't really connect all the dots until recently when I had the privilege of being introduced to the work Jeffrey Williams, better known as Young Thug. This young man and his music can only be described as obscurely, purely, weirdly hood. He is sort of a southern, amped up version of Chief Keef, if amping up Mr. Keef any more than he already is is possible. In fact, YT was <b><a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/atlanta-rapper-young-thug-arrested-on-drug-driving/ndj4z/" target="_blank">arrested 3 days ago on charges of drug possession and reckless driving.</a></b> Clearly not a low-key guy. I'll have you watch the video below without comment before I continue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xTT0nlnXlqI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Young Thug has clearly taken Future's lack of concern for clearly understandable lyrics to a new level. In fact, I believe Thug is actually pushing this quality with an avant-garde intentionality and making the element of imperceptible lyrics part of his style. Whether he is being intentional about this intentionality is a question I cannot answer, and I suspect he cannot either. Regardless, the Future/Migos sound quality is again present. The rapid fire delivery, the semi-vocoded/autotuned sound textures, and even the rhythmic pattern are all there...though more blurred as every aspect of "Loaded" is generally unclear:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><u>I peel it, I feel it </u><span style="color: black;"><u>I take all they stuff and I head to the 'hill with</u> <i>it</i><br /><u>Let PeeWee deal with it / Back in the day I was actin'</u> <i>illiterate</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>*Mr. Thug, I believe, may be continuing to act in the aforementioned manner from back in the day.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Young Thug is clearly a unique individual, and I could write an entire blog post about that music video for "Loaded" alone. (I could do the same for the <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g5ZF6DUrHI" target="_blank">original video for Chief Keef's "Don't Like,"</a></b>) However, t</span><span style="background-color: white;">here is something shockingly similar about Migos' and Young Thug's lyrical rhythms when they hit that double-time portion of their verses. Both seem to be derivatives in substance and style of the sound that Future created a few years ago.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDRJLHtj0Zg/UxLRTIjRMaI/AAAAAAAAAQU/SZqHBxj8XBU/s1600/roscoedash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDRJLHtj0Zg/UxLRTIjRMaI/AAAAAAAAAQU/SZqHBxj8XBU/s1600/roscoedash.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dat cut doe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;">There may be other Atlanta rappers who I am not familiar with making music in this style, and one or two more artists in this vein would certainly certify it as a sound unique to the city. I have read that Rich Homie Quan is a Future-influenced artist as well, but haven't listened to him. In addition to Future, I would include Roscoe Dash, Travis Porter, Yung L.A., and even some earlier B.O.B. on the list of Post-Future sound's Atlanta-based founding fathers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I don't know if Ratchet would be a reasonably close label for the sound or not. There are some but not all elements of this <b><a href="http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-rise-of-dj-mustard-the-new-king-of-pops-growing-sound-for-now/" target="_blank">DJ Mustard-popularized style </a></b>in Future, Migos, and Young Thug. When used to describe the sound Mustard has popularized, the term "Ratchet" is usually directed mostly at the production style anyways. The trend that Future appears to have started is more lyrically driven, both from a textural and rhythmic standpoint. He has spread it across various styles of production.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nGlIbOvhmE/UxLSuoc12bI/AAAAAAAAAQg/kXKdJCRQuJs/s1600/3247_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nGlIbOvhmE/UxLSuoc12bI/AAAAAAAAAQg/kXKdJCRQuJs/s1600/3247_front.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just what does the Future hold for rap in the ATL?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">So Atlanta's burgeoning new sound needs a name...and for now I'm calling it "Post-Future." It's electronic, choppy, semi-autotuned/vocoded, punchy, melodic, whiny, catchy, and hook-ready. It's Post-Future, and endlessly fun to listen to. Turn Up!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">P.S. I recommend <b><a href="http://grantland.com/features/rap-and-the-influence-of-other-genres/" target="_blank">this article from Grantland.</a></b> It </span><span style="background-color: white;">discusses the current state of rap and where Future fits into rap's future.</span>Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-13427880232223781172014-01-13T22:10:00.000-08:002015-02-12T16:55:56.597-08:00K.R.I.T. Never Kills My Vibe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hynEmsfNg4Y/UtTJ7KOaHHI/AAAAAAAAALg/gU1DSmqKCkw/s1600/20120201-4EVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hynEmsfNg4Y/UtTJ7KOaHHI/AAAAAAAAALg/gU1DSmqKCkw/s320/20120201-4EVA.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
"Down and Out" off <i>4EvaNaDay</i> came on shuffle in my truck today and I was reminded once again why Big K.R.I.T. remains my favorite southern rapper since Outkast, Ludacris, <a href="http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/stylus/1226529-t.i.-ti-akoo-617-409.jpg" target="_blank"><b>Clifford Harris</b></a>, and No-Longer-Young Jeezy were in their prime. After listening to the track for a minute or so I switched to my favorite track off that mixtape, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=424ZkA3C3fg" target="_blank"><b>"4EvaNaDay (Theme)."</b></a> It's my favorite because it doesn't even need lyrics and it might still be my favorite track. The crooning female sample that opens accompanied by a vibrant intermingling of hi hats and snares is intoxicating. "They said it couldn't be forevaaa, wouldn't be forevaaa, the grain ain't enough you gotta mix it with the leathaaa..." is simply the vocal cherry on top. I ended up taking the iPod off shuffle and keeping it on the mixtape. The summer soundtrack of 2 summers ago that brought me joy and helped me mentally escape at times from a difficult period of my life after a long relationship ended, <i>4EvaNaDay</i> is brilliant as a whole. Other gems include <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_oK-c5XhA4" target="_blank">"Country Rap Tunes"</a> </b>(a simple yet sensational ode to the south) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c_nOD5Vh4s" target="_blank"><b>"Red Eye"</b></a> (a beautiful illustration of the tenuous nature of a romance that has potential but just can't get off the ground) The entire thing is, as always, produced by K.R.I.T. himself and is as musically rich as mixtapes (or albums for that matter) come. The tracks stir emotions ranging from utter euphoria to sorrow and everything in between.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiV8-QPkdXU/UtTY7pKYbGI/AAAAAAAAAMM/gLxcA05Dxcw/s1600/050312-BigKrit_0.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiV8-QPkdXU/UtTY7pKYbGI/AAAAAAAAAMM/gLxcA05Dxcw/s320/050312-BigKrit_0.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is how much of K.R.I.T.'s production makes me feel. Excited and relaxed at the same time; happy, and like I'm somewhere deep in Mississippi next to a Lake in a box chevy pulling up to a cook out. He has perfected his craft. His beats squeak like the wheels of a rusty bike and churn like Grandma's butter. I don't think you can truly appreciate his music if you didn't grow up somewhere in the south. Listening to K.R.I.T. brings to mind a lot of the usual imagery that rap music does, yet at the same time it reminds me of walking down to fish at my great grandmother's pond in the woods of Marietta. The fact that this combination of imagery is possible is astounding.<br />
<br />
I was first introduced to K.R.I.T. by my friend Will right after <i>Krit Wuz Here</i> came out, and I found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbG7tMyhjJQ" target="_blank"><b>"Children of the World"</b></a> to be mesmerizing thematically and sonically. After that, it was <i>"</i>Voices" that ultimately sold me on the idea that this Meridian, Mississippi native was the future of southern rap: (lines below at the 2:36 mark)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/TA-D5z9rHg0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TA-D5z9rHg0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
<i>Lately I been feelin like f*** it / heaven's in my face but Lord knows I can't touch it</i><br />
<i>Plus I heard the angel wings was kinda heavy / scared to put em on my back so I threw em on the Chevy</i><br />
<i>Death knocking on my door I can get it / looking through the peephole in case I ain't ready</i><br />
<i>F*** this rap s*** yeah I said it / on a road to the riches ain't no telling where I'm headed</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
These lines drift over a chilling combination of choral voices and chimes and leave a lasting impact on me every time I listen to the song. I could listen to that sequence on loop for hours. K.R.I.T. has a unique ability to paint a complete picture of life. The good, the bad, the spiritual, the painful, the wonderful, the shameful, the inspiring.<br />
<br />
I found the YouTube video below tonight as I was pondering the tracks I ran into earlier today, and though it is old and fairly nondescript, watching it made me smile. Though he just performs a couple tracks live on Sway's radio show, K.R.I.T.'s ever-present earnestness is on display as always. Being pretentious or disingenuous have simply never been part of Justin Scott's existence. He is smart and savvy, yet humble and appreciative of the moment. Sounds a bit like his music doesn't it. I appreciate how much he seems to truly enjoy having the opportunity to perform his beloved work. Watching him perform it live reminds me that he is not just a great producer, but also a deft lyricist. Though he's not the technician of a Kendrick Lamar, he has a snappiness to his words that blends well with his slow overly southern drawl. It's a unique and addictive voice. He forcefully punches certain words out while leaning into others. Take for example one of my all time favorite lines of his, from <i>Country Rap Tunes, </i>delivered at the 5:18 mark of the following video:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/DUo1VApvZcE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DUo1VApvZcE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<i>Spread the word I flip birds like birds get flipped by dope boys that park rims on the curb</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Smart sound repetition in creatively sequenced syllabic bursts are essentially what keep me coming back for more when it comes to rap music. This moment is a textbook example of the types of lyrical sequences that I can just listen to on loop and recite at random moments throughout the day without ever tiring of them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4Dvf7DKVKI/UtTUJ1eaRaI/AAAAAAAAALs/f3qCMaMeJWw/s1600/IMG_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4Dvf7DKVKI/UtTUJ1eaRaI/AAAAAAAAALs/f3qCMaMeJWw/s320/IMG_0754.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>I had the opportunity to see Big K.R.I.T. at Cat's Cradle in Carborro, NC in the fall of 2012. He closed out the show with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb-E3EuIfn8" target="_blank"><b>"I Got This,"</b></a> and for those three minutes I and about 400 others were freed from all reality just engulfed by probably the most rambunctious track off of <i>Live From The Underground, </i>K.R.I.T.'s major label debut. Those moments in life are simply great. I think many times what we ultimately want out of art is for it to allow us to forget about anything else in life for a moment and just enjoy an expression of indescribable humanity. K.R.I.T.'s art allows its listeners to do that. After the show ended, he stayed on stage for a good half an hour signing autographs and taking pictures with any fans who asked. Walking out of Cat's cradle with my friend Ben, I even asked one of K.R.I.T.'s homeboys who was walking out to the tour bus carrying some of K.R.I.T.'s belongings, if I could have the wooden Multi Alumni chain he had worn on stage. He simply said no. Still, I couldn't help but think that there are plenty of successful musicians who would not be as gracious or as approachable to their fans.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fwq99UVpFs8/UtTUKSwpNmI/AAAAAAAAALw/05IhJFLJ4-Q/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fwq99UVpFs8/UtTUKSwpNmI/AAAAAAAAALw/05IhJFLJ4-Q/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
The man put every ounce of energy he had into the show that went on for well over an hour and a half.<br />
<br />
If I ever got a chance to sit down with Justin Scott I would first thank him for all the ways his music has touched and inspired and excited me. I would then ask why he, like so many others in this genre, fails to exclude misogyny and an over-emphasis on a hyper-masculinized view of sexuality from his music. My guess is that he would say he recognizes it as an unfortunate aspect of life in some circles (particularly those originating in poverty) and therefore feels it necessary to include and embrace it in his music to keep it authentic to the culture. But I do feel that he over-endorses it, and goes beyond analyzing it artistically. Particularly in songs like "What U Mean," I feel he sells himself short creatively. Especially considering that in my opinion, K.R.I.T. essentially approaches all of the other stereotypical "sins" of the rap genre (money, drugs, crime) from a perspective of wise contemplation and criticism.<br />
<br />
But no music is perfect, and that's ultimately the beauty of music. The beauty of K.R.I.T.'s is that he nearly perfectly engages all of life's imperfections. The cover of <i>4EvaNaDay</i> is appropriate in its depiction of his music's juxtapositions. And he does it all through a deeply spiritual lens with Christian roots that I can appreciate as a theological thinker. I look forward to what his second major label project, <i>Cadillactica </i>has in store for all of us listeners. I was a little disappointed to discover it will be his first project featuring guest producers, but I imagine he at least worked alongside them as he has always been one to want his fingerprints all over his work.<br />
<br />
Until then, I'm gonna keep vibing to <i>Krit Wuz Here</i>, <i>4EvaNaDay</i>, and The Great Southern Hope's many other outstanding projects. Perhaps he will in fact end up a King Remembered In Time.<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-20272409711811627422013-11-28T00:38:00.000-08:002013-11-28T00:59:53.023-08:00My Miami Heat Uniform Design was Featured on Uni-Watch.com Two Years Ago and I Didn't Even Know It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Er1Hf1F1wTA/Upb6Um4lOAI/AAAAAAAAALE/Jbn9-ZNEAfc/s1600/101308_uniwatch01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Er1Hf1F1wTA/Upb6Um4lOAI/AAAAAAAAALE/Jbn9-ZNEAfc/s400/101308_uniwatch01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my favorite blogs is <a href="http://uni-watch.com/"><b>uni-watch.com</b></a>, a great site self-described as being devoted to the "obsessive study of athletics aesthetics." Its primary author, Paul Lukas, occasionally writes <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9975948/uni-watch-grading-new-christmas-day-uniforms" target="_blank"><b>columns for ESPN.com</b></a> focusing on all things related to the sartorial side of sports. Before I discovered the blog, I had always paid ridiculously close attention to the details of uniforms, field and court designs, and team logos, among other things related to the aesthetics of sports. After discovering the blog, I was overjoyed to know that I was not alone in my observational habits.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To give you a sense of just how aesthetically obsessed I am, here is a side story from while I was at Duke: In the middle of the college basketball season two years ago, Duke began playing in new unis that featured a triangular "D" crest on the neck rather than a circular one and shorts with small circular ventilation holes going down the side. The <a href="http://www.campuscolors.com/ItemImages/Large/DUKE%2027523X.jpg" target="_blank"><b>new shorts also displayed a "D" logo without the legendary ball and hoop in the middle of the letter.</b></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: This turned out to be part of a new "unifying" initiative of Duke Athletics that <b><a href="http://dailyaxe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Duke-Logo1.jpg" target="_blank">removed all of the sport-specific elements out of the center of the D logo</a>.</b> The idea, I guess, was to make the "D" the symbol of Duke Athletics as whole, not associated with any particular sport. I HATED this idea and still hate it to this day. It eliminated <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S3fCHW9-m_0/To-BsNCJHdI/AAAAAAAABPI/-fTwd5a7wTA/s1600/DukeBasketballLogo.gif" target="_blank"><b>a classic logo</b></a> from the <a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/121/883/72284102.jpg.14689.0_display_image.jpg?1259883884" target="_blank"><b>uniform</b></a> and court of one of college basketball's most storied programs.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hurdvpVS7Q/Upbti_vDhnI/AAAAAAAAAKU/gLaUYUbsU5I/s1600/9-9-07-Coach-K-Court-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hurdvpVS7Q/Upbti_vDhnI/AAAAAAAAAKU/gLaUYUbsU5I/s200/9-9-07-Coach-K-Court-7.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameron Indoor Stadium Center Court, 2008-2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZupWg_Uv7OQ/UpbtQsuPJQI/AAAAAAAAAKI/QXgjfpNiOBY/s1600/DSC_0351-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZupWg_Uv7OQ/UpbtQsuPJQI/AAAAAAAAAKI/QXgjfpNiOBY/s320/DSC_0351-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameron Indoor Stadium Center Court, 2013-2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
These days, the logo can still be found in some of the concourses at Cameron and in the <a href="http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics31/400/XH/XHITEHSTRJIKVOP.20101022161821.jpg" target="_blank"><b>Duke Basketball Museum</b></a>, but it has been largely eliminated from all current <b><a href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/150/duke-blue-devils" target="_blank">officially sponsored merchandise and media</a>.</b> What we are left with is simply not as classic nor as great. In my opinion, the <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Duke_Blue_Devils_logo.svg" target="_blank"><b>D with the devil head design in the middle</b></a> should be our primary logo, and the D with the ball and hoop should be used for all things specific to basketball, particularly the uniforms and court.</span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new unis (which remain the current model) were made of a newer, lighter Nike material with a matte texture. The material gave the new uniforms a slightly lighter shade of blue in comparison to the previous generation that featured a deeper blue and a more satin-like texture.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuimzqqIJYQ/UpbofIq3F3I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/qgjmy2A-Axg/s1600/107299952_crop_340x234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuimzqqIJYQ/UpbofIq3F3I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/qgjmy2A-Axg/s400/107299952_crop_340x234.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Previous Generation Home White Jersey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yziHL6IT7ew/UpbofP-6NdI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/MNBB2MFoZa4/s1600/duke-08-12-home-hor-675x380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yziHL6IT7ew/UpbofP-6NdI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/MNBB2MFoZa4/s400/duke-08-12-home-hor-675x380.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Current Generation Home White Jersey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because the overall design of the uniforms remained unchanged, no public announcements were made about the changes. But I could tell something was different from the very first game they wore them, and the slight change in the shade of blue was driving me crazy. At this point, as a student, I was still seeing these games in person and getting a great look at the unis. I became convinced we had begun wearing new uniforms, and kept commenting about it to my good friend Ben. He politely listened to my ramblings but was largely uninterested in any subtle changes that our team's garments had potentially undergone. It wasn't until I finally discovered a two-week-old dukeblueplanet.com tweet announcing to almost no fanfare that Duke would begin wearing new uniforms, that I finally had my suspicions confirmed. As I write this, I realize I should probably have just devoted an entire post to Duke Basketball uniforms rather than throw in this aside...and I probably will at some point. But for now it's a brief look into my obsessiveness. Enough of that though, back to the issue at hand.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">About 3 years ago I became a fairly regular visitor to uni-watch. I do not check the blog as much these days, but still enjoy perusing it occasionally. At that time I became very intrigued by the "uni tweaks" section that appeared primarily on weekend posts. Uni tweaks are essentially uniform design concepts submitted by readers.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3P9IuPTh0JU/UpbyB_BmfDI/AAAAAAAAAKg/mrTXS4RmJtk/s1600/5632332358_7d2c19fb31_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3P9IuPTh0JU/UpbyB_BmfDI/AAAAAAAAAKg/mrTXS4RmJtk/s320/5632332358_7d2c19fb31_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cartoon-Style San Francisco Giants Uni Tweak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They utilize templates that range from very simple, Microsoft Paint-like cartoons all the way up to photo-realistic Photoshop creations. Those falling into the latter category can be truly stunning (see the incredible Falcons Nike Pro Combat-style design below, that should be our real uniforms), and because I found them so cool, I decided to find out how to make them myself.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLeWjKeun68/UpbyJftGOpI/AAAAAAAAAKo/o_DUBIDTKqA/s1600/Falcons_2012_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLeWjKeun68/UpbyJftGOpI/AAAAAAAAAKo/o_DUBIDTKqA/s320/Falcons_2012_FINAL.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo-Realistic Atlanta Falcons Uni Tweak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I began emailing back and forth with Phil Hecken, the author of the weekend uni-watch blog posts that featured reader-submitted uni tweaks. He directed me to Tim O'Brien, a uni tweak contributor who had created <a href="http://www.timeobrien.com/uniform-concepts/" target="_blank"><b>some really cool uniform concepts for teams in the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB.</b></a> Both of these guys were extremely friendly and helpful in answering my questions about how to begin my own tweaking. After getting some invaluable tips from Tim, I decided to drop the approximately $70 necessary to buy Photoshop Elements (Don't believe in Pirating...couldn't and still can't afford Creative Suite). I downloaded one of the more <a href="http://th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2010/293/3/7/basketball_template_by_rezland-d314gpl.png" target="_blank"><b>photo-realistic NBA templates</b></a> that I had seen others work with, and started brainstorming my tweaks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided I wanted to start off with a Miami Heat alternate uniform. I have always liked the <a href="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/51b53b226bb3f7a14b00000a/this-block-by-lebron-james-is-one-of-the-best-you-will-ever-see.jpg" target="_blank"><b>golden yellow trim</b></a> on their standard unis, and thought it would be cool to see what it looked like to create a set that featured this color. With no Creative Suite, and no ability to separate out the template into layers, the whole project proved to be much more difficult than I expected. After tracing out the various aspects of the image to create my own layers, doing some color filling, and drawing out lots of details by hand, I had my finished product...with which I must say I was very pleased.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmpU8f8VJO0/Upb0qv8GVPI/AAAAAAAAAK0/AzMDhyuUSUs/s1600/HeatAlternateYellow_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmpU8f8VJO0/Upb0qv8GVPI/AAAAAAAAAK0/AzMDhyuUSUs/s640/HeatAlternateYellow_edited-1.jpg" width="299" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Miami Heat Golden Yellow Alternate Uniform</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I emailed the finished product to Tim O'Brien and he responded with the following:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i>Nick,</i></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">That is seriously amazing. You did a fantastic job and I see how you had to do so much of it by hand and Kudos to you for sticking with it. Wow. Just great work.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">You should definitely send this in to Phil Hecken at UniWatchBlog.com (</span><a href="mailto:phil.hecken@gmail.com" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">phil.hecken@gmail.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">) he would love to throw that up during a weekend piece.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Keep on working, 'cause this looks great and I'd love to see what else you come up with.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Thanks and talk to you soon,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Tim</span></span></i><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Deeply appreciative of such positive feedback from my uni-tweaking idol, I decided to do as he suggested, and I emailed Phil Hecken with my project attached. This was in May 2011, and sadly I never received an email response from him. I checked the blog a few times after submitting my project to see if my work had been posted, but I never found it. After this time, I mostly forgot about it. I guess I had gotten my itch to tweak out of my system, because I never completed another uniform design. But I remained proud of my golden yellow Heat alternate and even tweeted a link to the design to LeBron James himself. (clearly to no avail)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">That brings me to earlier today when my sister got my attention and mentioned that she had just randomly <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=nick+tippens&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS557US557&espv=210&es_sm=91&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=QPaWUqaMLMLAkQeCooFo&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1204&bih=639" target="_blank"><b>Googled my name and clicked on an image search.</b></a> I was curious to see the results, and became even more curious when I noticed that the 5th result (preceded by three pictures of me and one picture of Elijah, our church custodian) was my Miami Heat alternate golden yellow uniform. I knew I had never posted it online myself, and after a brief investigation I discovered that the image was linked to a uni-watch blog post! It turns out that all of my hard work had paid off after all, and my design was featured in the uni tweaks section of <a href="http://www.uni-watch.com/2011/06/12/tim-and-bill-and-robs-nfl-uniform-project-part-iii/" target="_blank"><b>Phil Hecken's post on June 12th, 2011</b></a>. Scroll down to the "Uni Tweaks" heading to find my design. I had never seen this post until today. How cool is that? It is not prominently featured on the post, but nevertheless, it is THERE. So I enjoyed seeing it on the blog and enjoyed reading some of the comments about it, such as this from Uni-Watch reader Paul Lee:</span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f1f1f1; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">@Nick Tippens: LOVE the Heat tweak. Did it myself back in July of last year (on MS Paint) but didn’t look anywhere as good as yours. I guess Tim’s 3D template made it extra awesome :) Thank you Tim E. O’Brien!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #f1f1f1; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My Heat tweak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9708/heato.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="color: #006d3e;"></a><a href="http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9708/heato.jpg" style="color: #006d3e;">http://img13.imagesh...</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(The reason why it looks orange instead of the gold-yellow is because I used the “color picker” tool in MS Paint and that’s the “gold” color that it picked up from the Creamer’s SportsLogo’s Miami Heat illustration.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether or not this will all inspire me to get back on photoshop and start designing again remains to be seen. But regardless, it made for a really cool and unexpected discovery. It also reminded me of how helpful and encouraging both Tim and Phil were when I had questions about getting involved in this hobby. When people are passionate about something, particularly something artistic, they interact and share ideas enthusiastically and generously. It is always exciting to be a part of this kind of innovative and creative interaction, even if it's all just for fun. After all, truly enjoying a hobby is what creating this uniform design and finding out over 2 years later that it had been shared and appreciated was really all about. To this day, I remain just as intrigued by the aesthetics of athletics, and look forward to continuing my amateur exploration into these details for years to come. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for High Definition television and blogs like uni-watch.com.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-54824520351663265202013-11-07T18:44:00.000-08:002013-11-07T19:23:56.058-08:00The Blog LIVES ON.Almost exactly two years ago I set up this blog thinking I was going to dispense my immense knowledge on various subjects to anyone who would listen. This inspiration lasted for only two posts early on in the 2011-2012 college basketball season...two posts that were likely completed only because I was at my Grandparents' house on Thanksgiving break, and didn't have anything more pressing to do. Now, I find myself two years older and wiser and with a LOT more free time to think and write post-graduation. I have no idea how regularly I will post on this blog, but it is indeed time to revive it.<br />
In the two years since I created it and quickly stopped posting to it, so many things have happened that I wish I would have collected my thoughts on and written about. I may get around to writing about these eventually, but for the sake of at least mentioning them, I will list a few below:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mb-q0TC9js/UnxNPu66bXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/DFnU-UDMbMQ/s1600/784782318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mb-q0TC9js/UnxNPu66bXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/DFnU-UDMbMQ/s320/784782318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
LeBron James' greatness has been validated by two NBA Championships. He continues to be the most consistently impressive athlete I have ever watched in any sport. He would never have faced the scrutiny he has in the pre-24 hour sports reporting/twitter era. I'm not interested in the "will he surpass Jordan" conversation. I was 4-ish years old in Jordan's prime so I will never appreciate him as much as LeBron, because he hasn't brought me the same level of joy nor the same number of rabid chest pounding moments while sitting alone on my couch that LeBron has. I am fine with Jordan being the GOAT. LeBron has made my life joyful. These new Samsung commercials are great, but nothing will ever be as great as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUxW1AylVCg" target="_blank"><b>The LeBrons</b></a><br />
<br />
A rapper by the name of Kendrick Lamar has given us a 21st century rap hero. No one in the industry can touch him with a 10 foot pole. If they try they will have so many circles rapped around them they won't know which way is left. Unsure about this, just go ahead and take a gander at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWSo-Yb-mZQ" target="_blank"><b>this video</b></a>. All rappers know this, and the effect has been largely Tiger Woods-like on the rap world. It's more exciting when there's one dude who just knows he's on another level.<br />
<br />
Duke Basketball has made it back to the top of the recruiting world, and as top-tier recruits have begun to roll in, the future looks brighter than ever. (See Kyrie Irving and Jabari Parker) Had Kyrie's infamous toe not been so tragically injured, I am nearly certain we would be the owners of back-to-back titles once again. Perhaps Jabari can lead us to the promised land this year. It should at the very least be the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viB6rGUhEIM" target="_blank"><b>most enjoyable Duke team to watch play in a while</b></a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fps13N7sUk/UnxN3176u_I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vP9fUjNNw5k/s1600/Men's+Basketball+Poster+2013+original+resolution-X3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fps13N7sUk/UnxN3176u_I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vP9fUjNNw5k/s320/Men's+Basketball+Poster+2013+original+resolution-X3.jpg" width="320" /></a>Side note...how goofy is the Duke Basketball Official Poster this year??? It looks like it was made on Microsoft Publisher 97 with all the default font settings. Not to mention "Fast And Furious" as the tag line. Original.<br />
<br />
The Atlanta Falcons made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl in 2012 and in true Falcons fashion have managed to screw it up the following year once again. (See 1998 followed by 1999) For my dear Father's sake, I hope this trend ends before he dies.<br />
<br />
Twitter has overtaken Facebook as the social media website of choice for the current "young" generation. I still use both so this is sort of irrelevant to me, but Facebook has become the site I go to if I want my parents and "adult" friends to see my posts. That was not the case two years ago. Twitter has changed the sports-watching experience forever, and I don't know how I once watched sports without it. Every hilarious bench celebration, fan folly, and amazing dunk is now discussed endlessly as soon as it happens and it's a beautiful thing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GA3KBvqBlc/UnxOfzpkxJI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Ps638NEIsuY/s1600/gucci-mane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GA3KBvqBlc/UnxOfzpkxJI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Ps638NEIsuY/s320/gucci-mane.jpg" width="320" /></a>Rap music in general is as fun to listen to/read about/discuss/critique/attempt to understand as it has ever been. Between walking sociology/cultural identity dissertation-topics like <a href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/81254227/Chief+Keef.png" target="_blank"><b>Chief Keef</b></a> and Drake and purely entertaining characters like Gucci Mane and Rick Ross, following the rap game is as fun, engaging, and stimulating as ever. Plus, thanks to the aforementioned Kendrick Lamar among others, truly good music continues to be made.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
That's enough for now....someday soon I may expand on some of these or come up with something new I want to write about. Regardless, I'm excited to be writing again. Hope you enjoy reading if you feel so inclined.Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-82786382397122312442011-11-26T23:32:00.000-08:002011-11-26T23:32:58.164-08:00Carolina Just Took A Big Ole Bite Of Humble Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbObPTn5SAw/TtHlbJ0kXJI/AAAAAAAAACE/izOOHBfKDuE/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbObPTn5SAw/TtHlbJ0kXJI/AAAAAAAAACE/izOOHBfKDuE/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a></div>What a great week of late November college basketball. Earlier in the week we had Thornton's Maui Miracle, and now, to wrap things up, we have the joy of Roy's bunch falling hard from their lofty perch. I'm the first to admit that North Carolina is loaded this year, but after <a href="http://espn.go.com/ncb/photos?gameId=313300153&photoId=1707692"><b>today's 90-80 loss to unranked UNLV</b></a> it's obvious they're not perfect. I know this game will be largely irrelevant come March. The 2005 UNC National Championship squad lost to an unknown Santa Clara team in late November in the same fashion. But how can you not enjoy seeing the looks on their faces, and that coveted little "1" drop from next to their name? There's not much better on nights that Duke is off than highly touted Tar Heel teams losing to inferior opponents. I'm going to enjoy this while it lasts. Re-bels! Re-bels! Re-bels!Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-67644330221147481882011-11-25T21:55:00.000-08:002011-11-25T22:07:57.879-08:00Tyler Thornton's Miracle In Maui: A Fan's Take.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IyDw0QfF5ug/TtB991Ugu5I/AAAAAAAAAB0/54FsWadv6vQ/s1600/ncb_a_duke_wins_b1_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IyDw0QfF5ug/TtB991Ugu5I/AAAAAAAAAB0/54FsWadv6vQ/s1600/ncb_a_duke_wins_b1_576.jpg" /></a></div>If you're a Duke Basketball fan worth your salt, you were watching the championship game of the 2011 Maui Invitational Wednesday night. If you're over the age of 65, live on the East Coast, and were in bed asleep when this all went down, (this includes my grandparents...I was at their house watching the game) then you're excused. But if you didn't see the game, you missed a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K37zyPBLmpA">genuinely joyous moment of Duke Basketball</a></b>.</span> We were down one with about 1:10 to go and looking to run some sort of set to get a good look at a bucket, when suddenly Tyler Thornton essentially lost consciousness.<br />
Bill Simmons, one of my favorite sports writers, has a classification of players he calls "irrational confidence" guys and plays he calls "irrational confidence" plays. Take for example Jason "The Jet" Terry's 2011 NBA Finals performance. It certainly goes down as one of the greatest irrational confidence performances in NBA playoff history. He hit 2-3 HUGE shots <i>a game.</i> This is the Jason Terry I remember "leading" those terrible Hawks teams from the late 90's/early 00's...our one notable player. All I remember were his ridiculously high socks, and now he's helping the Mavs to a title with<i> clutch </i>shooting. Anyway, in the last 1:10 of the game Wednesday night, Tyler Thornton knocked down two of the greatest irrational confidence shots in Duke history. And it was <i>absolutely blissful.</i> When he knocked down the first three at 1:10 to put us up by 2, I didn't even have time to get angry and think "why the HECK is <i>HE </i>taking that shot" the way I generally do whenever a Plumlee puts a shot up. It had gone down before I had time to process it. Honestly, for some reason, part of me knew he was gonna make it. He shot that three like he had done it countless times before. He had NEVER done it before.<br />
Next thing I knew Tyshawn Taylor was dribbling the ball off his foot and out of bounds for something like his eleventh turnover of the game, and we had the ball back looking to ice it. Who do we go to? Seth of course. But wait. Seth is double-teamed! He's trapped....oh CRAP! there are 3 seconds left on the shot clock...<br />
The next few moments brought to many Dukies, including my girlfriend, "the most joy I've experienced with regards to Duke BBall since the National Championship." Seth magically found Thornton with a pass (by the way, I've watched it many times, and Seth did <i>NOT </i>walk), and Tyler, pinned against the sideline, flailed his legs like Scheyer used to do on <u>every</u> shot and from the hip launched a three to the skies. I don't know about you, but I KNEW that thing was going down. Somehow, some way, it looked <i>perfect</i> once it had left his hand. Sure enough it hit only nylon, and the bench went HAM. I went HAM. I beat my chest several times like an ape, let out a series of strange gasping noises (didn't want to wake folks up) and swelled with happiness and joy. I would have done anything to have been sitting next to Josh Hairston on the bench. I think it may have been the greatest moment of his life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dQHt3drF3B0/TtB_CZQuHRI/AAAAAAAAAB8/au_m3-Zl7xM/s1600/Picture+19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dQHt3drF3B0/TtB_CZQuHRI/AAAAAAAAAB8/au_m3-Zl7xM/s400/Picture+19.png" width="400" /></a></div>I work for Men's Basketball in the video office. The program is run like some hybrid of a fortune 500 company and a military squadron. But in those 3 or 4 seconds after that shot went down, all professionalism among the coaching staff went out the window. Those guys looked <i>ecstatic</i>. And it was wonderful. I have never, ever, seen Coach K unable to contain his smile in a post game interview like that before.<br />
What I think all of this means is there couldn't have been a better guy to nail those shots than Thornton. He's a quiet, hard worker who earns his minutes with defensive swagger and determination. In Maui he finally had his shining moment, and it was well deserved.<br />
I'm enjoying watching this team immensely. The combination of their youthful energy and fearlessness makes each game interesting (read: too close for comfort) and yet sometimes trying to exceed expectations is more fun than trying to live up to them. Go Tyler Thornton, Go Blue Devils. You bring joy to my life. Let's get after Ohio State on Tuesday.Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608538852938339258.post-3751362715691531992011-11-25T19:42:00.000-08:002011-11-25T19:42:19.000-08:00This Is My BlogFrom time to time, believe it or not, I find myself wanting to express my opinions and ideas. A lot of these revolve around two of my favorite topics, sports and music. Now, let me be clear...I do have opinions and ideas about politics, spirituality, and other serious topics and endeavors. However, most of the time I feel it is appropriate only to engage in conversation on the internet about topics that exist in the realm of recreational and artistic endeavors, i.e. sports and music. People who get on facebook and fish for comments in their statuses by dropping controversial one liners etc. drive me crazy. I can't stand seeing "insert loaded status here" and then something like 47 comments following it. All this is to say, I try to stay out of "serious" conversations on facebook and the internet in general because I just don't see it as a legitimate place to engage in productive dialogue. Beyond that, I even practice at least some self restraint in my statuses when it comes to less "serious" conversations regarding sports, music, movies, and campus culture among other things. On this blog, I will not be practicing the same self restraint. I will likely not venture far from the topics of sports and music for the reasons stated above, and when it comes to these topics, I'm going to write exactly what I think. It's why I'm calling it Real Talk (plus that just sounds cool). You can already tell this from my commentary on the usage of facebook above. See how I'm rambling? That's going to be how this blog operates from time to time. Other times it will hopefully feature some well-written posts about good music and good athletes and teams. It will probably also feature decently written posts venting about bad music and bad athletes and teams. I hope you enjoy what I write. I'll try to make it entertaining, honest, and funny. It will be fun for me. Thank you for reading.Nick Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04801221725574439305noreply@blogger.com0