Throwback Thursdays: Timbaland & Magoo - All Y'all (2001)

Featuring Tweet and Sebastian, whoever the hell that is.

I really like the whole video idea where the camera keeps moving from spot to spot. Even though there are no particular camera tricks involved to hide that they're on a video set, I think the fluidity of it all makes it entertaining. I kinda wish more videos did this, instead of just having some rapper throw money and pose in front of 50 random people in his neighborhood (most of which he probably doesn't even know). I also enjoyed the random Bubba Sparxxx cameo at the 2:10 mark. He might need his own T-Thursday soon.

This song is reminiscent of the era when I really liked Timbaland. I thought this beat was nice. Not one of his best, but definitely similar to the sound he was making in the earlier parts of this decade. Nowadays, he seems to be focusing more on being some sort of pop-techno producer, which I personally am not a fan of. As far as Magoo is concerned, I know nothing about him other than that his voice sounded funny.

Tweet was pretty popular for like 14 months off the strength of that song she had where she was bragging about pleasuring herself. (DJ Diddles, anyone?) She had one more semi-hit before falling off the face of the earth. I'm not sure what happened to her, but I really liked the last song I heard from her, despite it not ever really becoming popular.

I'm really feeling that era of hip-hop from like 1999-2002, so you'll probably be getting a bunch of those in the next few weeks...

Money, Dates, & Valentines

Today, I raise an interesting question about dating: How much does money play a part in relationships?

Also, I talk about the difference between men's and women's approach to Valentine's Day, and wonder how prevalent actual dates are in today's "dating" scene.

Oh yeah, and shout out to Aaron.

Throwback Thursdays: Cam'Ron feat. Ma$e - Horse & Carriage (1998)

KILLA!

Hard to believe this song is over ten years old, and, of course, it makes me feel like an old head. But forget about how much it reminds me that I'm growing up too fast. How about the fact that Cam sounds nothing like this anymore??

This record comes off his debut album Confessions of Fire, which is heat rock to the third degree. As is the case with most debut albums, he went hard, presumably because he had something to prove as a rap rookie. For further proof, listen to this. Of course, as the success and the money started to come in, Killa Cam went from that to this. No surprise, really; this happens all the time in hip-hop.

Another interesting note is that Cam'Ron was still making records with Rev. Betha at the time, which would probably never happen today. After Ma$e hung up his shiny suit and decided to become a pastor, Cam and his boy Jim Jones claimed that he got ran out of Harlem by some thugs that he had problems with. ("Is dat you, Beffa?!?") Long story short, I doubt these former Children of the Corn have each other's number on speed dial.

Unfortunately, Ma$e is not featured in this video, but it does have a whole bunch of cameos, including Tyson Beckford, Noreaga, Styles P and Fatman Scoop. My favorite, though, is when Jimmy shows up on stage next to Cam at the 1:45 mark. I mean, I know he always looks super scruffy, but that look he was rockin' back in '98 was something else. He looks like a bootleg Snoop with that ridiculous perm.

Cam'Ron had a falling out with his Diplomats crew, and even disappeared for a while, causing people to question where he was. He recently reappeared, claiming that he was in Miami taking care of his mother, who had suffered from a stroke. He's also rapping again, and has this provocative new video that I thought was a really cool concept. Look out for Crime Pays, which is scheduled to drop in April. But we all know how reliable hip-hop album release dates are.

Of course, no matter what Cam does for the rest of his career, nothing will compare to his classic appearance on The Sly Fox channel. YOU MAD?!?

Muslims, Drag Queens & Energy Shots

Shout out to all the brothers who got caught up spending dough last Saturday. Hope you got something out of it...

Today's blogcast discusses the drama surrounding A-Rod's energy shots confession. I also express my disdain for Tyler Perry and his coonish ways, and touch on the outrageous actions of a (surprise!) Muslim man in New York.

Throwback Thursdays: G. Dep feat. P. Diddy & Black Rob - Let's Get It (2001)

HAPPY 50TH POST!

Ok, now that that's out the way...
I'm not sure what the response was around the rest of the country, but this video and song were absolutely HUGE in New York. I guess I was in about 10th grade at the time, and everyone was doing the Harlem shake constantly. It was the hottest dance out, I guess similar to how everyone in the South was "walking it out" a few years ago.

Something that I saw before I posted this was Wikipedia's hilarious explanation of where the dance originated. How funny is it that some bum-ass alcoholic started this whole phenomenon? Only in Harlem.

Probably the only thing funnier than watching the little kids dance is watching Diddy Puffy P. Diddy dance around and be a camera whore, despite it not being his song. In fact, he's even more obnoxious in G. Dep's other video, "Special Delivery". But, of course, he has a history of being "all in the videos, all on the records, dancing", as Suge Knight so eloquently pointed out.

So whatever happened to Mr. Dep? Well, since he was signed to Rape'N U Records, I'm sure you can assume what his fate would ultimately become. (Remember Dream??) He was released from his contract after his album failed to live up to expectations, whatever that means. Ironically enough, he put out a 2007 album with another Bad Boy outcast named Loon. The album title? Bad Boy, of course.

Last I saw from Dep, he was releasing low-budget music videos on the internet. But look on the bright side; at least he's not this guy.

Beatdowns, Babies & Best Life

As we rapidly approach post numero cincuenta, I thought it appropriate to make RLGL history. Yep, you've guessed it...

A guest feature.

My homey Nick joins me as we discuss Chris Brown and Rihanna's tussle, and the "baby lady" from California.

In addition, we brainstorm on which celebrity's life we'd most want to have.

Throwback Thursdays: Junior M.A.F.I.A. feat. Notorious B.I.G. - Player's Anthem (1995)

Junior M.A.F.I.A. - New Music - More Music Videos

Another request from an RLGL listener. 'Preciate the feedback, keep it comin'.

Ironically, I'm supposed to be going to see "Notorious" tonight, three weeks late. I was supposed to have seen it for the past two weeks now, but plans kept falling through. I hope it's good.

It's funny how most people consider both the above song and this record to be Biggie's songs, despite them not being his songs at all. Both songs were on Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s debut album Conspiracy, which was released after Biggie's debut Ready to Die. Obviously, they were really just a bunch of Big's cronies who were trying to ride their homeboy's coattails to success.

I'm not sure how much that actually worked out for them, considering that there were seven members of the group and I only know Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease. Kim went on to have a pretty successful career after Biggie died. That was, of course, until she committed perjury and changed her face multiple times.

The group broke up, like every rap supergroup inevitably does. Last I heard from Cease, he was releasing hood workout DVDs like he was fresh outta jail or something. Last I heard from Kim, she was on stage with her breasts popping out of her shirt.

Oh yeah, and there was the whole brouhaha with Kim being unhappy about the way she was portrayed in the "Notorious" movie. Of course, if you were a married man's jumpoff, and you're portrayed as such, can you still be mad?? I guess I'll have to see the movie for myself to determine if she has reason...

Feedback, Auctions & Porn

How much would you pay to sleep with this chick??

Natalie Dylan is back, and I discuss the ridiculousness of her virginity auction.

Also, I share the feedback I received from black women in regards to my previous post, and talk about the surprise Super Bowl special that was given in Arizona.