Monthly Archive for February, 2009

Station Identification (Or Why The Slow Down In Posts)

Published on February 27, 2009 in Internal Dialog/Site News. Comments

What’s up, y’all?

First off, allow me to apologize for my close to inactive month in February. Including this post, I only did a total of 6. I was busy trying to take care of personal matters as well as professional. I didn’t planned out my thoughts probably, which caused me to post lack of quality posts.

My first misfire was treating a Obama/Bush Family Link as current news. SOHH, which inspired the post, isn’t a place where you want to get the latest political news, which is something I do cover from time-to-time… just not all the time. Usually when I do cover things, it’s after a lot of thought.

The second misfire was the Chris Brown/Rihanna post. Usually, I don’t write gossip-generating posts (at least not to my present knowledge). I talk cold, hard facts. However, the idea of “Thought Remixer” is basically to take a stand and attempt to argue a point, even if it means playing “the bad guy”. I had a nice concept in my head (playing PR for Chris Brown) which was poorly executed with sloppy research. My post rubbed some people the wrong way and they countered it to the point that I lost interested in the Chris Brown/Rihanna situation. While I’m sure I can’t promise I won’t do that again, I apologize if I sounded like I’m covering for Chris Brown, which I’m clearly not. As of today, I refused to comment further on this story until after all the smoke is cleared. I have a lot more the say about this issue, but feared that it will get lost if I say something at the present moment.

Anyway, with that being said, I want to announce a few things.

  1. I’ve been approached to bring exclusive interviews to Thought Remixer. I’m still crossing some t’s and dotting some i’s, but I promise you this: Things will get interesting. Keep in mind that the interviews will be done my way. So, expect dramatics.
  2. There will actually be NEW music coming to the blog. Since I cover black music and music in general, I’m not pigeon-holed to hip-hop. I got hookups. :)
  3. I’m redesigning this site with my own two hands. I’m not as inspired to post with this layout (even thought I finally fixed it), but more importantly, I’m a designer. I should have this site to reflect my own style, not just the header. This redesign should be finish any day now.
  4. Finally, because some people asked for it, I’m launching a business/getting money advice blog. I will be launching a new blog in the next few days. I already have a bit of content from rejected (but really good) articles I’ve done for other sites that will premiere on the new freelancer site. Expect a lot of “cross posts”.

Lastly, I promise to learn from the lessons of past. Yes, this is still a personal blog, but it’s really a personal “brand”. Y’all expect better from Nukirk and you will get better. Well, I will get better and you will enjoy it. Well, I’ll get… no… that don’t sound right. Dammit, you know what I mean!

Thanks for your time!

Management
(Yeah, yeah, it’s just me.)\

P.S. – So why not Black History Posts? If you don’t know me, I covered my reasons on this last year. I’m sorry in advanced for the grammar errors you’ll see there.

ALBe Back – Super Negro (Are We Post-Racial?)

Published on February 26, 2009 in Entertainment and Social Commentary. Closed Tags: , , , , , .

I’m so mature that my face can rearrange in days
change in ways that cops everyday need to stop me and see my ID

I’m currently living in Westchester. Somewhere in Peekskill, Montrose, around one of those places. It’s still “the real boondocks”. As a black man (temporary) living here, I think the neighborhoods are pretty much part of the American Dream. One time, coming back from NYC one late night, I walked down to where I was staying at. In order to get to there, I have to walk a mile & a half, which would take me about 30 minutes. While I was walking, the Highway Patrol spotted me. and they were going in one direction. I thought nothing of it, until 3 minutes later when they turned back to stop me. They asked me where I was going. I told them I was heading to where I “rest my head at”. They asked me if I got a home here, and I told them “no, because I’m only staying here for a while. It’s not ‘home’ to me.” Then they ask for Identification, which I gave to them. Afterward the unwarranted interrogation (questioning me about things on my own ID), I asked them for a ride, which they brush me off by saying “have a good night and get to your destination and stay put”. I almost wanted to say “why sir? Mr. Lincoln says I was free,” but kept my mouth shut.

While getting stop for an ID isn’t really something to complain about, it’s all part of the “black experience” here in the United States. It’s almost as if they want to prevent me from some imaginary crime they thought I was going to commit simply because I don’t belong there.

Going around saying “we’re post-racial” is a lame catch-all for saying “okay, we elected one of your people to the highest office of our (as in, we own this ish, you’re just visiting) great nation. So, we’re even, right?” They say this as if people that once thought that being black anything was evil now think that being black is cool. Like we have a certain swagger that makes us magical. Yet, we still have stereotypes attached to us. We are naturally talented in sports & entertainment. We are too laid back & ducked normal responsibilities (Like paying the bills). We’re the last one that people want in their family, but the first ones they will look at when someone’s wallet was stolen. Did these stereotypes disappeared and did racial profiling ended? I must have been the last one to get that memo. So, when someone asked that question, I pulled up this video that sums up the “black experience” in the USA.

Back in 2000-something, I saw ALBe Back (formerly spelled Al B. Back) performed this piece on Def Poetry. He explains how his observers look at him as though he has “superhuman powers”. He made a lot of interesting points poetically. Even thought he’s one of the few poets who read his poem, he makes up for the reading by talking in a “Superman” narrator voice.   At the end of the poem, he wishes that everyone looks at him the same way most of us wishes others outside our race can look at us.

Update (10:04 AM): I forgot to add this poet’s myspace page.

Myspace.com/albemusic

Also, I made a mistake in the spelling of his name. His name is spelled “ALBe Back” not “Al B. Back”. FYI, he’s just released his first album called “Hi.” Check it out.

Update #2 (11:57 PM): Caught a few grammar  mistakes. I usually read backwards before posting. I need to read backwards twice.

Ryan Leslie – How to download a FREE* Copy! (Updated)

Published on February 13, 2009 in Entertainment and New Media & Software. Closed Tags: , , , , .

RyanLeslie

Updated (April 13th 2009): As of March 19, 2009, Spiral Frog stopped operations. Because of DRM restrictions, any downloads from the site will ceased to stop working within the next couple of weeks. I only noticed this over the weekend when I tried to download the new Mims album for review purposes.

*Not totally free. But you’ll see what I mean as the post rolls on…

So, you can’t find the newest Ryan Leslie album. You want to hear the album before you buy it. Maybe you are saving money for something more important. (Or maybe you are… cheap. Don’t worry, I’m not here to pass judgment.) I’m going to tell you how to get Ryan Leslie (or any other album) for free… with a few catches.

SpiralFrog is a music download shop that allows you to download music in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format for free. They allow you up to 30 days to listen to the music you download and if you want to listen to it more, just go back to the site and renew your subscription.

Now, because it uses DRM, you can only listen to it on a Windows computer and on “any portable player or music-enabled phone that supports WMA files.”. This means no iPod/iPhone. And not even Zune (since Zune have it’s own protection scheme that even Microsoft themselves don’t want to touch.

While you do have to renew the license every 30 days, it will give you a chance to review to review music and keep them for as long as the service is around. So, if you want Ryan Leslie for free*, then sign up and download at SpiralFrog (Ryan Leslie Link).

However, for true ownership of the music (and to play it on whatever you want), you’ll have to go to Ryan Leslie on Amazon.com. They are affordable MP3 files that you can play on any player (yes, even the Zune and the iPods).

Hope this helps you out!

Celebrities That Are Worse Than Chris Brown (Updated)

Published on February 11, 2009 in Entertainment and Social Commentary. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

chris-brown_rihanna-kiss Chances are, Chris Brown made a bad decision to physically abuse fellow rising star, Rihanna. It’s a mistake that may cost him in the short-term…

… however, I hate it when I hear that this is a “career ending” move. Some people still forget that he’s 19 and if he does any type of jail time, his jail time will be minor compare to other celebrities. There’s no need to throw a tantrum, especially when both parties are resolving it behind close doors. I believe that a resolution is possible, because this is a “domestic abuse case” after all. It’s not like they are sworn enemies. But once again, this is not a “career ending” move, even if they started pulling his songs off and his ads out.

To illustrate my point, let’s take a look at some celebrities who had done worse than Chris Brown and either rebounded, their career is currently in limbo, or now questionable:

  • Amy Winehouse
    She’s a known crack fiend. Was banned from getting a work visa at one point. Currently, she’s a wild card.
  • Mystikal
    Currently serving a six year sentence and must register as a sex offender.
  • Michael Vick (Former NFL Quarterback)
    Currently serving time for illegal dog fightings. Even thought he will be capable of playing when he is release later this year, no NFL team may take him back.
  • Remy Ma
    Currently serving 8 years for an attempted murder. By the time she is release, she will not be as hot as going in and her child will be almost an adult.
  • Robert Downey, Jr.
    Arrested multiple times for substance abuse. Recovered is now commanding major roles (Iron Man, Tropic Thunder)
  • Shyne
    10 years for 1st degree assult and reckless endangerment. Schedule for release in 2011. Fanbase in tact? We’ll see.
  • Lil’ Kim
    Served in July 2005 under a “a year and a day” sentences for lying to a grand jury about a 2001 shooting. Rebounded simply because she’s linked to Notorious B.I.G.
  • R. Kelly
    Was involved in a lot of legal cases, and yet, he’s doing alright for himself. Only thing he lost from it was a few fans, a stigma grew around him about underage women, and his now ex-wife.
  • Da Brat
    Three years behind bars, seven years of probation and 200 hours of community service Friday morning (August 22) for striking a woman in the face with a rum bottle.

So, with very little details, maybe y’all should chill the eff out with Chris Brown.

I would talk about Rihanna and this argument about letting her be a spokesperson for “domestic abuse”, but here’s my very brief answer; if Rihanna was hit 200 times during the last year by Chris Brown in a non-sexual way that she didn’t approve of, then by all means, let her at it. For an argument that got too emotional & went out of control one time? It doesn’t count. Whitney Huston, on the other hand…

Updated (2.13.09 @ 1:44 AM): I can admit when I’m wrong. I should have compare Chris Brown to people who rebounded from domestic violence not random crimes like this report did.

This was more of a “rebound” PR type post that was written before later items were reveal. So, let me clear a few things:

  • Unless Rihanna was abused multiple times, I still think it’s a PR spin to make her spokesperson. There’s women who suffer from this abuse for years. There’s men who suffered from this for years, mentally as well as physically.  I rather see Whitney Huston represent this because her case is documented well. Rihanna, not so much. It’s a time factor with me. Sure, she can speak on about being a victim. It’s no laughing matter.
  • Note the time I published it. It was on the 11th. I wrote my post on the 10th. This was in sync to publish. Not a good idea for a time sensitive post. My bad. Also, if you might have notice, I don’t follow this story as much as the average fan would. Sure I read up about it, but I was dealing with the facts that was given at the time.
  • So, why did I take this from a PR perspective? Because basically, this is what his PR is doing. I usually take a different angle on things. This is not really a media blog, but a personal blog that covers media issues.
  • Keep in mind that there’s people who’s pretty much want to remain factual. They will be covering this more deeply than I will. I support listening to both sides of the story.
  • There’s a photo of Rihanna surfacing on the web of her abused. But this photo was doctored. No matter what, this is a police matter and will be treated as such. Taking a quote from Fly Life Style “Per LA County rules – Brown’s mugshot will NOT be released. And per the CA Victims Protection Act, neither will pictures of Rihanna.”
  • Google this story. You’ll notice that it gets weirder and weirder and weirder. Sure these are all gossip, but you gotta admit… it makes for good fiction.

This is basically my unusual way of saying “let’s keep this in perspective”. When you break it down, it’s simple… Man hurt woman. Until further information is out there, that’s what it sounds like. The blogs I referenced are maintained by women, who are just as pissed about the media coverage as I am.

I will be covering the social media aspect and how people are taking advantage of milking this story. There’s blogs that getting their shine. I’m at least trying to get you to see another point, not just mindlessly feeding you overblown crap. So, please, keep in mind… I love you people, I thank you for visiting, but these are my personal opinions and I’m not a professional blogger, nor will ever pretend to be.

In my comments, I made a statements saying Chris Brown needs to stand up and take responsibility for his actions. I stand by those comments…

… but I’m also noticing that there’s something weird about this WHOLE thing. It just don’t sit right with me. Remember, we are in the United States and what can be simple can become very, very complex.

I’m just offering my view point. And while it maybe a poorly constructed viewpoint, it’s one nevertheless. I will be revisiting the topic, but from an case study view. I DO study trends after all.

If I offend you with my viewpoint, I apologize for offending you. I won’t apologize for my viewpoint, however. But like I say, this is “thought remixer” and I can change my views at anytime. Just show me what I need to see… proof from creditable sources… the people involved.

Celebrity Who’s Who on Twitter [LinkUp]

Published on February 4, 2009 in Entertainment and New Media & Software. Comments Tags: , , , , , .

So, Kanye West maybe lying about his twitter account, but it does bring up a legitimate question: Who’s real and who’s fake?

Well, I got a list that separates the real from the fake. This is not by any means a complete list nor a “up-to-the-minute” list. But it is a starting point. So, if you ever want to network with celebrities, music labels, radio stations and so on, here’s a starting point:

Artists, Bands and Musicians on Twitter – by GCN1

Disclaimer: This list is maintained by a third party, not me. While I shouldn’t have to put this warning up, it’s amazing what questions I get.

P.S. – In the future, I may put up my own list of black artists. But that’s a big maybe.