808s and Heartbreaks

Ok, here is an unbiased review of 808s and Heartbreaks by Kanye West.

1. Say You Will - Very minimalist beat, kinda EKG-like with a haunting choir in the background. Clearly a song about his ex Alexis. I think it sets an appropriate tone for the rest of the album. 7/10.
2. Welcome to Heartbreak ft. Kid Cudi - Kanye reflects on the family life vs. his solitary life as a hip-hop artist. Heavy on the Vocoder on this one. It can be hard to hear what he's saying sometimes. I like the message, but not the execution. 5/10.
   
3. Heartless - My second favorite song on this album. Not as heavy on the voice effects as some of the other songs. I like the synth flute as well the piano chords. In this song he takes a minute to be critical of his relationship vs. being sad about it. A nice change of pace topic wise. I loved the live version as well because of the added effects. It would've been nice to have this version on the album as well. 10/10.
4. Amazing ft. Young Jeezy - Best song on the album. A haunting beat with a powerful chorus and Jeezy's raspy vocals. I could see this being shot at a funeral or a bittersweet return for a soldier/warrior. Very smoky and dramatic. 10/10.
5. Love Lockdown - Sounds a lot better in the final mastered version. His performance of this at the VMAs sold me on this song instantly. It's a very honest song about his past relationship. The instrumental after Kanye stops singing is amazing. 9/10.
   
6. Paranoid ft. Mr. Hudson - Is it 1987 again? Yes. Yes it is. The most upbeat song on the album. Heavy synth, 80s drums. This song takes me bad to when I was...3. But anyway, I worried about the wrong thing...Anyway, great party song 8/10.
   
7. Robocop - A LOT better that the leaked version I heard. Unfortunately, that's not saying a whole lot. That very sad since I actually like the lyrics. They are kinda funny and witty. 6/10. Would been higher with a better beat.
   
8. Streetlights - Kanye got his Mike Jones on - if one line is good, just say it again. Only this time, it's an entire verse. Heavy Vocoder, eerie beat, decent lyrics. 6/10.
   
9. Bad News - Surprisingly upbeat. I really like this one. 8/10
   
10. See You in my Knightmares ft. Lil Wayne - Wasted potential. Apparently, Wayne has been sharing the sizzurp. 4/10.
    
11. Coldest Winter - Man Alexis broke this man's heart...A very honest and open song.6/10.
    
12. Pinocchio Story (Freestyle) - um...wow. I appreciate the honesty, the soul-bearing, but damn Ye. It's gone too far! Hopefully this album got everything out of his system and he can get back to doing what he does best. 3/10.

Final tally - 82/120= 68.3

I wanted to like this album, I really did. It has some good tracks on it, and had the potential to be a great album but falls short. His live performances of the songs have been great though. He reportedly has a hip-hop album coming out in June. Let's hope so.

Do you.

Self-Conscious

Well I know I'm EXTRA late, but I finally hit up Self-Conscious yesterday, and Encore last week. Encore was nice, but Self was slightly overwhelming. I literally walked around in circles around the store looking at shoes, but not really processing what I was seeing. My homie Dane reassured me that this is common among first timers. After I got my bearings, I systematically worked my way through the vast selection of kicks there. After a long while, I peeped these joints to the left two rows deep by the register. I think they're a good addition to an already dope and ever-growing shoe collection. Also had to show love for my hometown with the shirt below.

What are your favorite kicks, and where's your favorite place to get them?
Lemme know cuz I'm always on the lookout for a new place to cop.

Do you.

Quantum of Solace

In the 22nd Bond movie, Daniel Craig shows us that he is clearly the best Bond since the early Connery days. Quantum of Solace shows us a 007 that isn't concerned with drinks, women, suaveness, or seducing every woman in screen. This 007 is solely focused on vengeance. From beginning to end, this installment is packed with energy and action. I won't reveal to much, but I will point out my favorite things about the movie.

1. Globetrotting. England, Italy, Bolivia, Haiti, Austria, and Russia. All the locations were lush and exotic. Very nice backdrops for 007 to beat people senseless
2. The first person Bond murks. Man, I ain't never seen someone go through so much effort to kill! If it was me, I woulda emptied a clip at him, then went on my way. I guess that's why I'm not a secret agent.
3. Felix Leiter. I think he was the only black dude in the movie. By default, that also makes him the coolest. You'll remember him as the CIA agent that loaned Bond money in Casino Royale. He helps Bond out of another tight situation in Quantum.
4. Tom Ford. Keeps Bond's suit game top-notch. Can't be a 00 agent with a Men's Warehouse suit on.
5. Plot. No underwater, inner volcano or outer space secret hideouts. No borderline racist or homophobic undertones. This plot line is sequential to Casino Royale, and is very believable.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It ranks among the best Bond movies, and with 2 more slated to be done by Daniels, I'm sure they'll only get better.

I give it an A-

Do You.

The "Yes We Did" Mixtape

If I were to make a mixtape in celebration of Barack's win, it would be titled:

DJ Hood Griot Presents: The "Yes We Did" Mixtape.

1. Put on - Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West
2. Black President - Nas
   
3. Swagger Like Us - T.I. ft. Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Lil Wayne
4. Wipe Me Down Remix - Lil Boosie ft. Foxx & Webbie
5. If I Ruled the World - Nas ft. Lauryn Hill
6. Southside - Common ft. Kanye West
7. Real - Lupe Fiasco ft. Sarah Green
8. I Can - Nas
9. Forever Begins - Common
10. We Major - Kanye West ft. Nas & Really Doe
11. My President is Black - Young Jeezy ft. Nas
12. Party Up - DMX
13. Good Times - Styles P
14. I Gotcha - Lupe Fiasco
    

I think that has a lil something for everyone. I must point out that some of the songs were chosen purely becuase of their title. Lemme know what you think, and what songs are missing.

Do you.

My President is Black!

Wow. So where I begin? how can I even attempt to put into words the thoughts and emotions inside my head and my heart?

As I stood in the largest and most diverse crowd I have ever seen, I was in a state of shock and disbelief as CNN's projection of Barack Obama's victory flashed across the screen. It took a second or two for my brain to process what my eyes were seeing. Even as thousands celebrated around me, I was oddly calm and quiet.
Everywhere I looked, I saw flags, t-shits, banners, and everything else imaginable being waved frantically as Grant Park exploded in celebration. The one thing that caught my eye though, was an older black couple about 5 feet from me. They were dressed very nicely, almost like black aristocrats. They both had tears steaming down their faces, and they held each other very tightly. As he held his wife, the man had the most proudly defiant look on his face I have ever seen.

I think that couple represents the most important group of people affected by Barack Obama's historic win. They were the ones who were beaten, hosed, shot, lynched, oppressed and otherwise mistreated in order to gain the rights that were given to every one else. November 4th, 2008 made it all worth it. I am so happy that my grandparents lived to see this day. As a part the first generation of my family to be born with rights, it is my duty to take advantage os the sacrifices that my parents and grandparents made. That is why I went to college, that is why I voted, and that is why I was at Grant Park on the 4th.

There is so much to be said about the significance of Barack Obama's Presidency. I could wirte for days about what this means to me and to African Americans, but I'll just sum it up:
This is the first time in my life I can say I'm proud to be an American. This has restored my faith in the people around me. I know there is still a long way to go, but this is a huge first step.

Do you.