When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong: Allen Iverson

            This past weekend, my team lost for the first time during the 2012 Wake County Bar Association basketball league.  We began the season 5-0 and I had hopes that we could maintain our momentum.  Our momentum was halted a bit with the loss but in our defense, we were missing two of our top scorers.  I do not believe in excuses and I have to credit the opposing team for executing their game plan.  I played well and scored 25 points, but there is no “I” in team, right?  That brings me to the point of this article-IVERSON.  I grew up watching Allen Iverson play basketball at Georgetown University and then later in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers.  His impact on the game of basketball during the late 1990’s through 2007 is undeniable. His rise to stardom coincided with hip hop’s rise in mainstream America.  He made it cool to wear cornrows, have tattoos, and play the game with relentless aggression and passion.  Iverson’s talent has never been questioned, but his work ethic and decision making, now that is a different story.  He did not take practice seriously and he never adapted his game for a day when he physically could not dominate as he once was able to do so.  That day has come and it is disheartening to see such a warrior down and seemingly out for the proverbial count.  When keeping it real goes wrong describes what his life has become.

Allen Iverson was raised in a rough part of Virginia, where loyalty and “looking out” for family is important, if not sacred.  Iverson often discussed how his circle of friends protected him and kept him out of trouble as he grew up.  He credits that same group of people for supporting him while he was incarcerated during his senior year of high school.  When he was interviewed, he always seemed to feel like he owed those people everything.  It is sad that when people from rough, checkered backgrounds finally “make it,” they feel they have to repay the debt to loved ones by giving financially.  They fail to realize that if they do not take care of themselves, the entire group will collapse.  When high profile celebrities do not “hold down” their friends by giving handouts, they are considered “sell outs.”  Jay-Z has been called a sell out for his public disassociation with long term friend, Damon Dash.  He has also been blamed for not “holding down” Beanie Siegel.  I hate to hear that because my dad always told me to be my own man.  He told me never to depend on the next man or woman to provide for me.  As an adult, providing for yourself and your family is what you are expected to do.  Members of Iverson’s circle of friends have to be held accountable for their own actions and ultimately for their own lives.

Reports have been swirling with respect to Allen Iverson’s finances.  I recently read an article which stated he had an outstanding jewelry debt of over $800,000.00.  The article also discussed how a court garnished his bank account in an attempt to pay the debt.  The first thing I thought was “why is he buying jewelry at this level of his life?”  It was cool to wear jewelry and over sized white T-shirts when he was in his 20’s.  However, due in large part to David Stern’s mandate regarding the NBA players’ dress code, and the emergence of well dressed superstars, Iverson’s image is no longer popular.  Lebron James, Chris Paul, D. Wade, and Carmelo Anthony are all super stars and all of them wear tailored suits and dress like grown, professionals.  It seems the NBA matured and Iverson never got on board.  In another article I read, it discussed that Iverson grossed over 150 million dollars during his career.  That is a staggering amount of money to have made and squandered.  It is disheartening because Iverson represents so many young, urban athletes who were raised poor and became rich almost overnight.  Their sense of loyalty, which should be revered, is also the same sword that inevitably chops off their heads.  I have no doubt that if you asked Iverson if he did the right thing, he would answer affirmatively.  He would tell you how he “kept it real” he would tell you how he did not “sell out.”  What he probably will not tell you is how his friends did not keep it real with him.  Instead, they drained the well until it went dry.  Iverson was paying a debt to his friends that he could never repay with any amount of money.  His debt he felt he owed to his friends is just like the hamster running on the wheel.  No matter how hard the hamster runs, it will never escape the box which it lives in.  That box for Iverson is in his mind and is a prime example of what happens when keeping it real goes wrong.

The very thing that made Iverson a great basketball player is also the thing that doomed him for failure.  Iverson is a victim of his talent.  Iverson had natural, God-given ability to play the game of basketball.  He did not have to practice nearly as much as an average player in order to be successful.  During his career, I heard rumblings of Iverson partying until 4am in the morning and then scoring 40 points the next night.   Basketball was easy for him.  I still remember his interview when he was asked why he missed practice.  To paraphrase, he said something like: practice, practice, I mean we are talking about practice, not a game, but practice.  It was that attitude that held him back during his later years.  The opposite attitude and approach to the game enabled harder working players to maintain their healthy diets, and strict work out programs while Iverson was still partying and avoiding offseason conditioning.  Guys like Steve Nash, Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant all entered the NBA in that famed 1996 draft class along with Iverson.  They are all still playing at a very high level.  Also, each of the aforementioned players adapted their respective games because they knew that one day they would not be as athletically gifted as they once were.  If you watched Iverson throughout his career, his game was predicated on speed, athleticism, and pure aggression.  He was never a great shooter, or a great pick and roll player.  He was a scorer at heart and as soon as his skills diminished, and he was no longer the “go-to-guy,” his ego would not allow him to play a different role.  I do not blame him necessarily, because his whole life he was “the man” and his circle of “friends” were undoubtedly “yes men” who told him he was still “the man” even when they knew better.  Somebody should have been telling Iverson the truth that he was still a good player but that he was no longer the number one option.  Someone should have been pleading with him to stick to a strict diet and avoid alcohol and fast food.  Somebody should have kept it real with him.  Unfortunately, because nobody did, he epitomizes the latest example of when keeping it real goes wrong.

Peace    

CIAA 2012: Old School Songs I Hope to Hear

The CIAA tournament is celebrating its 100^th year of existence during the last week of February 2012.  As the tournament approaches, I have been thinking about certain “old school” hip hop and r & b songs I would like to hear that weekend.  I began attending the tournament when I was in elementary school.  At that time, the tournament was held in my hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  My mother volunteered to work games at the tournament and she was able to secure me a job as a ball boy during the tournament games.  One thing I remember about the tournament, even at my young age, was that it was a fashion show of sorts.    I vaguely remember a guy everyone called “Mr. CIAA,” who wore suits adorned with matching hats, pocket squares and even a cane to the games.  That experience was great.

I also remember attending the cheerleading competition that was held at Hanes Mall.  I was not interested in who won the competition—I was interested in looking at the beautiful cheerleaders.  I appreciated beauty even at a young age.  In all seriousness, the tournament has always represented a time I look forward to and as the years pass, I began appreciating the tournament on a much higher level.  Now, I appreciate the history of the tournament and the sacrifices many people endured to make sure the tournament has lasted for 100 years.  Although I appreciate the rich traditions and history of the tournament, I enjoy the nightlife the event creates.  For instance, I have not attended a basketball game for at least 15 years.  The tournament also marks one of the few times each year when I am able to hang with my college friends, who I rarely get a chance to see.

Last year, I arrived in Charlotte on Friday night around 10:30 p.m.  This was ironic because I planned to be in Charlotte by no later than 6pm.  One thing I have learned about plans is that they are made to be broken in many instances.  The funny thing about my arrival time was that I left Raleigh around 6:00 p.m.  The traffic was terrible as I left Durham and we rode through a torrential downpour as we passed through Greensboro, North Carolina.  When we finally arrived, we had to hurry into our room and change clothes before heading to the party.  We went to a party that was held at a restaurant in uptown Charlotte.  The D.J. did a great job spinning that night, and I had a great time.  This year my friends and I have not determined which party we are planning to attend, but wherever we go, I would like to hear the following songs.

     

Peace

Text Messaging: How it Ruined our Ability to Communicate Effectively

As I get older, I often reminisce about past times and how our society has changed.  It is funny and ironic because I also remember my dad telling me how things used to be back in his day.  Now, when I have children, I will be saying the same things to them. I remember a time, not too long ago, when we did not have cellular phones.  If we did, we had the bag phone, or the phone Nino Brown made popular in the movie, New Jack City.  Do you remember pagers or beepers?  I remember going to Exxon, or BP in Winston-Salem and returning a page on a pay phone.  When I left my parents house, I kept a quarter in my pocket for that very reason.  During my freshmen year of college, I had a cell phone, but I had limited minutes.  By my junior year, my phone was able to send and receive text messages.  Before that time, we had to dial a number, press send and actually “talk” to the person at the other end of the phone.  The ability to communicate effectively is very important and I feel that text messages, emails, bbm’s and other non-personal communicative methods have seriously set our society back.

Getting to Know Someone of the Opposite Sex

Back in the day, when you mustered up enough courage to approach a beautiful young woman, you knew that getting her telephone number was only half the battle.  You knew that you would have to call her.  You knew you would need to be able to hold an intelligent conversation if you wanted things to go further.  You had to decide when the best time to call was.  Should you call the next day?  Should you play it cool and wait a few days?  Should you call her the same day?  (You might seem pressed)  Should I call in the afternoon, or should I wait until the night to call.  If I call at night, what message would that send to her with respect to the type of woman I think she is?    Most people had all or at least some of these questions swirling around in their minds. Once you finally called the young lady, it was time to talk to her.  This lead to another set of questions.  Should you lead the conversation?  Should you allow her to lead the conversation and show her your keen ability to listen?  No matter how you answered the questions in your head, you knew that you had to talk to the young lady.  You did not have the ability to send a text message.  You could not send her a message on Facebook or Twitter.  In my opinion, those people who text and never call really (1) don’t have good communication skills or (2) are not that interested in hearing what you have to say.

The Effect of Lack of Communication Skills

If you have ever been to a networking event, you have certainly seen the person who looks like a deer in head lights.  They are inevitably stationed at the food or drink bar, and look uncomfortable.  I am so happy I came of age at a time when communication skills were important in society.  Networking leads to jobs, contacts, and opportunities.  I fear the younger generation is ill equipped to network and hold conversations that may lead to opportunities.  I cannot blame this problem solely on text messages, however.  Email has also contributed to the younger generations’ inability to effectively communicate.  It is so bad in some professional offices that employees send emails to people only a few feet from them.  Email is a fantastic invention and undoubtedly has improved communication and made it a lot faster and efficient.  However, emailing instead of picking of the telephone to make a phone call can have an adverse effect as well.  For instance, when following up on a job lead, I believe people should call the possible employer.  Calling a person sends the message that you are confident; you are not hiding behind an email; and you are seriously pursuing the position.  The potential employer can hear and appreciate how much you want the job.  Emotion cannot always be understood through emails or text messages.

Miscommunication is Rampant

How many times have you sent a text message and the receiver misunderstood your intended message?  You may intend the message to be sarcastic, but not crass or mean.  When the message is misunderstood by the receiver, it causes serious problems.  This is equally applicable to emails.  I received emails in the past that I had no idea what the sender intended.  I interpreted it in one way and the receiver intended to convey a completely different message.  Also, despite the best networks in the world, sometimes people DO NOT receive text messages and emails.  People become enraged and are ready to fire a retaliatory response when they send a message and feel they are being ignored.  I must admit, this is certainly not a good feeling.  However, had you picked up the phone to call the person, you would be able to speak to the person, or leave a voice mail which is more reliable than a text message or email.  I have been accused of not answering a text message before and it is frustrating especially when you did not receive a message.  In the Turner Law Building at NCCU School of Law, if Verizon Wireless was your service provider, you did not have service on the first floor, or basement level of the school.  If someone sent you a text message while you were in either place, you did not receive it.  How many relationships suffered and will continue to suffer because of failed communication?  The moral of this story is twofold: 1) take communication seriously, and (2) do not rely on an email or text message when a phone call is more reliable.

Peace 

Tupac and Biggie: Would They Survive in Today's Rap Game?

Today’s topic of discussion was raised during a conversation I had last weekend.  As I sat at a wing spot in Greensboro having wings and watching the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots NFL playoff game, we discussed various topics including the current state of hip hop music and who we believe are the best emcees in hip hop currently and all time.  Jay-Z is  my favorite current emcee.  An individual, who shall remain nameless, mentioned that Drake was his favorite hip hop artist.  That choice was shocking to me, but then again, I believe Drake appeals to a younger demographic.  I believe his biggest supporters are women and individuals born in the early 1990’s.  No quicker than I heard the Drake response, he asked: “would Biggie and Tupac be relevant if they were around today?”  I had to catch myself because I had the Ed Lover “C’mon Son” facial expression.  Then I thought to myself that everyone is entitled to an opinion.  In response, I said “the more important question is: “would Drake be relevant if Tupac and Biggie were still around?”  I believe Drake and other contemporary emcees were indoctrinated into the hip hop game at a time when there was a serious lack of creativity.  In short, it created an opening for new artists.  Drake stepped in and helped fill the gaping hole in the hip hop community.

Tupac Shakur

 

Biggie and Tupac were larger than life characters when they were alive, and have maintained, if not elevated, their respective statuses posthumously.  Both Biggie and Tupac experienced unrivaled success with respect to records sold.  Tupac’s estate released many posthumous albums promoting Tupac’s lyrical skills.  He was more than an artist; in many respects, he was a movement.  Tupac allowed life’s contradictions to run rampant throughout his music.  One day he made a song uplifting his people and the next day he might make a song expressing the anger, and frustration of being a black man in America.  I believe the duality of thought displayed by Tupac epitomizes what most people feel from day-to-day.  The biggest difference is most people will not verbalize their feelings.  Think about it.  Some days you may wake up and have positive feelings about life.  The next day, you may receive the worst news and feel downtrodden.  I believe the duality of thought is natural; yet, musicians consistently fail to expose the good and bad through the lyrics of their songs.  Nobody is perfect.  I also believe Tupac was one of the artists respected by all sectors of the hip hop population i.e., “the backpackers,” “the hard core contingent,” and “casual listeners.”  Tupac surpassed generic labels such as “hip hop artist,” or “emcee.”  His talent and passion elevated him to a status with all time great musicians.  He was not confined to a specific genre of music.  Would he have survived in today’s rap world?  Absolutely.

Notorious B.I.G.

Biggie Smalls flourished during an era when lyrics, storytelling and the art of “emceeing” were all that mattered.  He emerged from talent rich New York when a catchy hook or good beat were not enough to garner respect of peers and fans alike.  During the early 1990’s, being a good emcee and making quality music were keys to success.  Let me be abundantly clear—success does not necessarily equate to respect.  Drake is successful, but is he well respected in most or all circles of hip hop?  No.  Certain people love their crafts and would do it for free if they had to.  Love for the craft has been corroded, and in some places, lost forever because of the lure of making millions of dollars.  Do not get me wrong, I am not mad at anyone for using their talents to make money.  However, I am more impressed and respect artists who make music with passion; basketball players who play the game for the love of the game; and attorneys who are passionate about helping their clients.  I apologize for the brief tangent; let me get back on topic.  During the 1990’s the list of talented emcees seems to be endless.  Biggie, Nas, Tupac, Jay-Z, Outcast, Big L, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Lil Kim, Mos Def, Common, Wu Tang Clan, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Ras Kass, Capone & Noreaga, Camp Lo, Rakim, KRS One, Kool G. Rap etc etc.  The list of artists is impressive but yet B.I.G. rose to the top of the game.  Why?  He carved out a niche that was similar but yet different than his peers.  He was passionate about making a better living for himself and his family.  He produced quality music and he, with the help of Diddy, infused hip hop and R & B.  That marriage spawned a style that has produced some of the greatest songs of all time.  You ask me if he would have survived during today’s hip hop game?  Without a doubt. 

Successful v. Respected

What is success?  The dictionary defines it as: “the favorable outcome of something attempted.”  How is success measured with respect to the hip hop industry?  Record sales?  Platinum chains? Other factors?  What is respect?  The dictionary defines it as: “an attitude of deference, admiration or esteem.  How is respect measured?  Street credibility?  Subject matter?  Lyricism?  Being successful and being respected are not necessary the same thing.  In fact, in many instances, they are polar opposites.  For instance, I believe Nelly is successful because he has sold millions of records.  However, I also believe he is not respected by true hip hop heads impressed by lyrics, production, subject matter, presentation, flow, etc.  On the other end of the spectrum is Mos Def, or Black Thought, who are both widely respected as lyrical emcees.  Neither artist has sold albums at the rate Nelly has, but I would be willing to bet that they are more widely respected for their skills.  If artists are measured strictly by record sales, maybe these very talented artists are not successful.  In a perfect world, artists would prefer to be respected and successful.  Unfortunately for them, and for fans of true music, it is difficult to accomplish both.  It almost seems that artists must sacrifice one to accomplish the other. 

Opening in Hip Hop

During the past 5-7 years, there has been a huge opening in the hip hop game with respect to creativity and quality music.  Hip Hop staples such as Nas and Outcast were not recording nearly as much music.  Also, the crowd who grew up listening to those iconic artists matured.  The young kids and young adults who were diehard fans in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s had become professionals and had families.  In short, the hip hop generation matured and there was an untapped market—14-22 year olds who were not as connected to the aforementioned hip hop legends.  That generation yearned for new super stars.  In came Drake, and a few other artists.  So, if Tupac and Biggie were still alive, much like Jay-Z, they would still control the market of people 25 and older.  Because of their talent and influence, they would also impact the younger generation.  In short, it would be business as usual for Tupac and Biggie.

What do you think?

Peace

Kobe Bryant: Last of a Dying Breed

Whether you love him, loathe him or do not have an opinion of Kobe Bryant, he is a first ballot Hall of Famer.  Even at his age, 33, he is still arguably the best player in the game.  He is the oldest player in NBA history to record four consecutive 40 point games.  He also happens to be the last of a dying breed of NBA players who play through injuries in an effort to entertain fans.  Obviously, no reasonable fan wants a player to seriously injure themselves in the name of entertainment.  However, we do expect players to forge through minor discomforts as we do every day at our jobs.  Might I add that we do so for a fraction of the salaries NBA players command.  Not too long ago, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Reggie Miller played in the NBA.  I do not recall a sprained ankle, or a headache keeping them from playing.  In fact, Influenza could not thwart Jordan’s ability to play the game he loves.  Nowadays, NBA players miss game for almost any reason.  The bevy of excuses NBA players use nowadays is frustrating to me as a fan of the game.  Kobe Bryant is a player who is determined to play the game he loves no matter what the cost may be.  He is truly the last of a dying breed.      

Kobe Bryant was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets.  He was drafted number thirteen overall.  Wait, you mean to tell me there were 12 better players drafted ahead of Kobe Bryant?  YES.  However, at the time, Kobe was a high school player and many of the players drafted ahead of him were college basketball stars and were thought to be safer picks.  I find it rather funny that Kobe had the foresight and maturity as an 18 year old to broker his way out of Charlotte but failed to sign a prenuptial agreement with his wife a few years later. I digress.  If Kobe was drafted thirteenth overall, who were the players drafted before him?  The class of 1996 was special indeed with Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Stephon Marbury being a part of the class.  Of these great players, only two remain in the NBA (Ray Allen and Steve Nash), and Kobe is clearly better than them both.

Kobe has been called selfish many times during his career.  There may be a hint of truth to the accusation.  However, not even the most unreasonable critic can say Kobe does not want to win.  His competitive nature has been compared to that of Michael Jordan.  Obviously, Michael Jordan is the greatest to ever play the game, but Kobe has a similar competitive nature.  To that end, if you watch him carefully, he wants to guard the other team’s best player.  He does not want to wait until the fourth quarter or crunch time to do so either.  He wants to guard Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade and other great shooting guards from the tip off until the final buzzer sounds.  How many bonafide superstars or even marginal players compete at that level on both ends of the court the entire game?  I’ll wait.  Basketball is a team sport but in the NBA, superstars win championships.  If Kobe Bryant outplays Kevin Durant, the Lakers will likely be successful. With that said, I believe there is some validity in superstars winning individual matchups during games. 

Just a few short years ago, people questioned Kobe’s place amongst the all time great players because he had not won a championship as the focal point of the team.  I disagree with the school of thought that makes winning championships the most important factor in determining the worth of a great player.  If fans adopted that logic, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, and Reggie Miller were not great players.  The entire idea is ridiculous in my opinion.  During his first three championships, he was the second best player on his team.  He was the second best player to Shaquille O’Neal when he was in his prime.  Kobe never liked being the number two guy and that separates him from some of his contemporary competitors.  He was determined to win a ring as the clear number one guy.  He accomplished that feat not once, but twice, and solidified his place as the second best shooting guard in the history of the game.

Kobe Bryant was so athletic and explosive when he entered the league.  He regularly appeared on Sportscenter highlight reels because of his athletic dunks, blocks, steals and open court, one-on-one moves.  At that point of his career he was not a consistent jump shooter.  He was so talented that it did not matter and he could get all the way to the rim at will.  That last line sounds eerily like the current version of Lebron James.  Now, Kobe is 33 years old and a relative elder statesman in the NBA.  His game is not predicated on athletic ability nearly as much as it once was.  Instead, he relies on superior balance, experience, skill, and intellect.  His footwork in the post is impeccable.  He also has the best up-and-under move in the game.  His fade-a-way jumpshot is indefensible (sound like another player later in his career?).

The Sports world is infatuated and determined to crown somebody as the next Michael Jordan.  Players such as Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Lebron James, and Kobe have been compared to MJ.  This type of comparison can certainly bring great pressure upon a player to measure up to the athletic accomplishments of Michael Jordan.  Kobe is clearly the closest player to MJ even though he is still nowhere near as dominant as MJ was.  Michael Jordan won six championships in his career and won the NBA Finals MVP each time.  That means that when the season was on the line, he rose to the top to ensure victory for his team.  He did not play with a dominant post player at any point of his career.  Kobe had Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol.  Michael Jordan was the best offensive and defensive player on the court each time he entered an arena.  I do not want this to turn into an article about MJ, but I believe the point needs to be cemented that there is only one Michael Jordan and all others pale in comparison.

Kobe Bryant is a great player and he deserves respect from people for his on-court talents.  I could care less about what he does off the court because he is human just like anyone else.  Kobe will play through injury and pain because he loves the game that much.  He gives maximum effort when he is on the court; he is truly the last of a dying breed.

Peace    

Mixtapes 2012: Fab and Ross

Recently I have been listening to a bevy of good music.  From the looks of things, 2012 is going to be a good year for hip hop and we may even have a good, old fashioned hip hop battle on our hands as well.  Fabolous released “There is No Competition 3 (Death Comes in 3’s)” right after Christmas 2011.  Rick Ross released “Rich Forever” a few days ago.  Rick Ross’ mixtape is my favorite and that includes T.I.’s mixtape. 

Fab’s mixtape is the third installment in his “there is no competition” series.  The mixtape is good and he definitely provides witty punch lines, as usual.  Although “There is No Competition Two” is probably my favorite of the trio, the third installment is good.  This mixtape definitely sounds and feels like a mixape and not like an actual album like  J. Cole’s critically acclaimed “Friday Night Lights,” or Elzhi’s “Elmatic” mixtape.  Unf*ckwitable is one of my favorite tracks because he seems to exclaim how he feels about his lyrics and his crew.  He boasts “24/7 365 how the game dead when I’m still alive.”  In another line he rhymes “You’ll would never measure up using my ruler, you more soft than a second year high schooler, my n*gga Hov told me finish my breakfast and now I’m looking at you n*ggas like breakfast.”  I am not sure if the line is directed at anyone in particular, but it is one of my favorite lines.  Then on Lord Knows he went in on Plaxico Burress and called him Cheddar Bob for shooting himself.  He also addressed the Ray J situation in comical fashion.  He rhymed “you don’t want them n*ggas in your house though, trying to see if you got indoor/outdoor.”  This was in response to Ray J calling into a New York Radio station ranting and sounding like his name should be Ray J Shakur.  Fab was at his best on BET trading verses with Jadakiss and the Ghost, Styles P.  Listening to this track makes me want to hear another Lox album.  The Lox is one of my favorite hip hop groups and they have not released an album in a very long time.  She Did It goes hard as well though and he rhymes “You a G but that letter don’t fit you the best, girl you got all them curves so girl you an S.”  I can respect that he has the hard tracks for the street but also shows love to the ladies.  Overall, the mixtape is dope and I think he definitely created a buzz for whenever he drops another studio album. 

During my Christmas break, I had a conversation with a child hood friend who works in the music industry.  We discussed Rick Ross, amongst other relevant hip hop artists, and he said, and I agree, that Rick Ross makes great music and it is all about entertainment.  It does not matter that he does or does not live the life he portrays in his music.  One thing I will say about Ross is that he makes quality music each time he puts out an album, mixtape, or verse.  I cannot say that about many artists nowadays.  You can tell that he loves music and is passionate about his craft.  This is refreshing to me in an era where some artists seem to care only about the next single or ringtone.  “Rich Forever” is a serious mixtape and it sounds like a studio album.  Triple Beam Dream might be my favorite track.  As much as I like Ross, I like Nas even more and he killed the track.  I think people will learn one day to not go after Nas when he is focused.  He rhymed first on Raekwon’s Verbal Intercourse and as good as Rae and Ghost performed, they were a distant second to Nas.  He came out strong and rhymed “a project minded individual criminal tactics, us black kids born with birth defects, we hyperactive, mentally sex-crazed dysfunctional they described us they liars, the end of the day, we f*cking survivors.”  DOPE.  I am also feeling the Rich Forever track featuring John Legend.  It is pretty dope that he enlisted John Legend to lay vocals for the track on a mixtape that he gave to his fans for free.  This track rivals the Triple Beam Dream track in my book.  He starts off talking over the track and telling a story of how he came into the game with Hustlin.  Then, the beat drops and he rhymes "Ciroc, no glass, smiling women in my presence, tall supermodels always fall in my possession, Atlanta Housewives taking pictures in my section, but I only have affection for young [women] with aggression."

Stay Schemin is a nice track featuring Drake.  Ross was focused on this track but I could have done without French Montana’s verse.  The real reason the track is so heavily discussed is because Drake responded to Common’s So Sweet diss track.  I have to give Drake some credit because his verse was dope.  He rhymes "That's why I see no need to compete with nigg-s like y'll, I just ask that when you see me you speak up nigg-s that's all, don't be ducking like you never wanted nothing, it's feeling like rap changed, there was a time when it was rugged, back when if a nigg- reached it was for the weapon, nowadays nigg-s reach just to sell they record"

Although his verse is hard, I think he must have neglected to research his opponent.  Common went at Ice Cube on The B*tch in You.  If you know anything about hip hop, you know that Cube is one of the best battle rappers of all time.  Common started his rhyme off using Drake’s song, Motto against him.  Then he drops the dopest line of the rap battle thus far when he rhymes “I’m taking too long with this amateur guy, you ain’t wet nobody n*gga, you Canada Dry.”  I think the game needs a nice battle that will stay on wax and is all about competition between two emcees. 

Peace

David Stern: Is He a Hater?

Yesterday, while working out, I heard that the Los Angeles Lakers had pulled off yet another blockbuster deal.  According to reports, they had agreed in principle to acquire the rights of Chris Paul in a three team trade.  Supposedly, they traded Pau Gasol to the Houston Rockets and Lamar Odom to the New Orleans Hornets.  The trade included other players as well, but those three were the biggest names involved.  The trade seemed to be really fair to each respective team.  Some people were upset because they hate the Lakers.  I, on the other hand, am not a Laker fan, nor a Laker naysayer.  I am a fan of basketball and I recognize that Kobe Bryant is a top ten all time basketball player.  During his career, he has never played with a true, dominant point guard.  This was true partially because the triangle offense does not require a “true” point guard. Now, Kobe is at a different stage of his career and his athletic ability is not as jaw dropping as it once was.  As such, it would be very interesting to see how a player like Chris Paul could make his life a lot easier and bring even more excitement to the NBA. Just as quickly as I called my dad, and talked to a few of my closest friends about the trade, I received word that the trade had been retracted.

At first, I called David Stern a “hater” and a few other choice words.  Then I thought about my quick conclusion and decided to take a closer look at the issues.  As much as I disagree with his decision, he was within his right to veto the trade.  Every NBA trade is subject to the approval of the NBA or David Stern.  I have watched the NBA for a number of years, and I have never heard of a trade being vetoed by the Commissioner.  So, that begs the question: what made this trade so different?  For starters, the New Orleans Hornets are owned by the NBA.  This is atypical, as I believe the other NBA franchises are owned by private individuals or groups of investors.  With the NBA owning the Hornets, it allowed Stern to have even more control over the deal.  As Commissioner, and owner of the Hornets, he has an obligation to make decisions in the best interest of the Hornets, and ultimately the NBA.  David Stern wants the New Orleans Hornets franchise to have as much value as possible so that when it is sold, the NBA will reap the financial benefits. With a franchise player like Chris Paul on the team, the franchise has a higher value and more individuals would likely purchase the team. However, without a franchise player, the value of the team plummets.  No matter what David Stern wants, it is unfair to have what he wants at the expense of another individual’s right to freely change teams.

Some owners such as, Dan Gilbert, have contested the idea of allowing players to control their own destinies.  This is pretty funny considering he never had an issue with player movement so long as Lebron James played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Now, his fortunes have changed and he is adamantly against player movement.  I cannot respect a man who loves the system when it benefits him, and then hates the very same system when it does not work in his favor.  Oscar Robertson fought hard during the 1970’s for players’ free agency rights and their general ability to switch teams.  Also, by way of contract law, citizens are allowed to freely contract so long as the contract does not violate public policy.  I seriously doubt the Lakers trade violated any public policy.  I understand the small market team owners are nervous that superstars will not come to their cities or that they will not sign long term contract extensions.  As they say, “that is part of the price of doing business.”  The United States prides itself on being a land ripe with opportunities and ability to participate in the free market.  To that end, small market owners must rely on the NBA draft, free agency and good luck to get superstar talent. 

There have been times when small market teams landed great players who stayed with their respective teams for long periods of time.  The San Antonio Spurs drafted Tim Duncan and the Minnesota Timberwolves landed Kevin Garnett. Both players signed at least one contract extension with their respective team. Most recently, people were upset about Lebron James and Chris Bosh signing contracts to join the Miami Heat as free agents.  Also, many people have likened that situation with the current Los Angeles Lakers failed trade attempt.  That situation is different than the move the Lakers attempted to make.  Chris Paul is not a free agent and he technically could not make his team trade him.  He still has contractual obligations, whereas Lebron James and Chris Bosh did not.  This situation is closer to the Carmelo Anthony trade that occurred last year.  Carmelo let it be known that he would not re sign with the Denver Nuggets once he became a free agent, so it was in their best interest to trade him and receive some value for his services.  During negotiations, I believe that is called leverage and it should be used to accomplish the goal at hand.  The small market owners need to get over the notion that they can stop players from going where they want to go.  That is not in the best interest of the NBA.  I guess they fear an NBA with four or five “super teams,’ such as the 1980s with the Lakers, Pistons and Celtics.  Sure, some of the parody may be missing, to a certain extent.  However, what is lost in terms of parody would be gained in showmanship and overall interest in the NBA.  Either way, players are free to make moves that are in their best interests, and owners should not be allowed to interfere.

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