Better Days: "The Brian Nichols Story"

The influx of people packing U-Hauls and pointing them to the ATL may have subsided—at least for one weekend. The only winners in this weekend’s free-for-all at the Fulton County shoot-in are the people that are in the process of securing this soon-to-be-released made-for-TV movie deal.

First, and foremost my heart goes out to the slain victim’s family, friends and colleagues. No one, this side of a Shakespearian tragedy should have to end a work day in this manner. Not even Enron exces.

Now that being said, there is plenty of blame to dish out, so let's get started. Can we start with the brain surgeon that let a 50-year-old, over weight female deputy walk a linebacker through the now-fatal halls of justice. I use the word justice very loosely. Allegedly, (well, it is all alleged) the deputy fought with Brian Nichols for five minutes and managed to call for back-up during the melee, to which no one showed up. No one! Clearly, that sounds like a tag team of people that would have the whole southeast region searching for a vehicle that is neatly parked one level below it's original stolen space. Trust me; there are no Nobel Prize recipients on this staff. More on the Keystone Cops in a minute.

This brother (and I use that term loosely too) was on trial for raping a woman that he dated for seven years. Do you smell something fishy? Please excuse the pun. Now, I am no Taye Diggs (although I did own a white dog once); I am no Morris Chestnut, either. I have very little game and I am 20 pounds over my football playing days. That not withstanding, if I dated a woman for seven years, I think I can talk my way into the bloomers without taking ‘em. Let’s face it, I’m no Diggs or Chestnut, but I am no Kobe Bryant either.



For the sake of argument, let’s assume that Mr. Nichols did not rape the woman that he was accused of…., and he subsequently thought that he was getting a “raw deal.” A brother in court getting a raw deal. Hmm, that is not so far fetched. However, I find it really hard to imagine that shooting a judge to death; shooting two deputies (one to death), killing a court reporter, and then carjacking and pistol-whipping an AJC reporter (although he should be slapped just for writing for that toiletry); and killing a U.S. Customs Agent would somehow make his situation better. As it stands now, he may not have raped his former girlfriend, but the only sex that he’ll RECEIVE now—should he live long enough to get it—will be from another linebacker.



A few last thoughts, why would a man accused of rape, go on a four-person killing spree, abduct a non-ugly white women, yet be kind and gentle enough to her to put a towel over her head while he took (what will amount to be his last) unassisted shower? Do you smell that? His well-to-do parents—who I’m sure received CNN in Africa—thought so much of full-fledge manhunt for their son that they would not cut short or cancel their retreat from the Mother Land. At least they called Larry King. Why has no one shot him?

In end a brother searching for justice, instead unleashed death and destruction. I'm not sure how God will feel about this--sadly Nichols may never get a chance to explain this to Him.



1 Love,

Ray Lewis

Jay-Z Or NAS

Typically, this is a discussion designated for those hot air personalities that gauge music authenticity, credibility and overall success of an artist by record sales. This very sad fact further illustrates why most radio booths have no sharp objects (other than the sound scan barcodes.

Further punctuating this painful proof is that fact that Jay-Z’ Reasonable Doubt [released Jan ‘99] and NAS’ Illmatic [released Apr ‘94] are the best pieces of work by either artists’ admittance even though neither was their top-seller.


Now, it doesn’t matter whether you are riding with Marcy’s Man child or Queens Bridge’s Qur’an quotable — both are boiling at the top of their game. Jay says he’s done, but he said that before NAS dropped his last one — which may be his best yet, and the inspiration behind this post.
Should Jigga hold onto his vow and hang up the mic for good, there will be little “doubt” that these feuding foes fight ended in a NAS victory. Of course I thought the battle track “Ether” [released from the highly underrated Stillmatic] sealed that debate. However, some die-hard JZ fans were just unconvinced. NAS’ "double disc Street Disciples" should put another nail in that coffin reasonable doubt.

It is so ironic that both Jay-Z and NAS spent a great deal of time and energy defending ‘Pac and Big — and in some many ways are just like the slain rap icons.



Big had a (well) big street presence that transformed into the business of show (just like Jay-Z).

While 2Pac was destined for showbiz but his music lit up the streets -- just like Esco.

In general, emcee battles are what most Hip Hop fans prefer. It’s a simple choice between poetic genius vs. commercial corniness — and, in my opinion, Jay-Z spent too much of his career trying to justify both.

For the record, I think "The Black Album," along with "Reasonable Doubt" are classics--everything in-between underscores my point. Conversely, NAS spits reverberating lyrics which challenge the spirit, regardless of the target. He attacks the soul and expects the knowledgeable to understand. For the unawake, weak and wack…, well they can simply call their local morning shows.

Advantage NAS

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

The Artest formely Known As

These are some very perplexing times in the USA. For example, when was the last time CNN, NBC, ESPN and the local barbershop had the same lead story? (OJ, perhaps?) Well, this weekend the Indiana Pacer’s puzzling forward, Ron Artest was the headliner on all of the 24-hour news sources. The outcome.. in a word, troubling! Artest, like most professional athletes are simply a microcosm of society—a society whose moral beliefs are obviously spiraling out of control.



On Friday, a Detroit Piston fan threw a beverage in a cup (filled with ice) and hits Artest in the face. Artest was literally lounging, (or as Fat Joe would flow) “leaning back” on the scorer’s table, waiting for the referees to restore order from an on-court melee that happened minutes earlier. That fight was ignited earlier by a technical foul that was called on (you guessed it) Ron Artest. Ron Artest jumped over the scorer’s table and into the stands [followed closely by the low IQ-ed Stephen Jackson] and they both started swinging at the first guilty looking person. That retaliation started a riot and was extremely costly. And, like OJ, has a nation divided among the usual social barriers: race, money, and politics. What perplexing times to live in this US of A.



Artest was suspended without pay for the rest of the 73-game season—a penalty that will cost him several million dollars; (most likely) his team’s chances of winning an NBA title, and a bookmark in NBA infamy. Jackson's "contribution" is not worth mentioning. I hope for Artest it was worth it. That is a hell of a price to pay for a freedom that still does not exist.



For the record, I agreed with the NBA’s commissioner, David Stern’s decision. I don’t agree with much else that Stern does—but this one was clear. NBA Players cannot jump in the stands. That’s in the player's handbook (which Artest will have plenty of time to review) and there are no exceptions. During his "down time," he'll also find out that playing ball is more lucrative that his soon-to-be released CD and if that lesson is not clear this one will be: the name on the front of his jerseys is more important than the name on the back. Was Artest's wrong? Yep. Was the fan wrong? Yep. Was Artest defending himself? Perhaps. The real question you have to ask is: who’s the professional?



David Stern’s not so clear message is: You Niggers make millions off the sweaty earned paychecks of the working-class backs—most of which are white male attendees. You dumb jocks cannot and will not jump in the stands and whip their asses—no matter what they say or do to you. We pay you enough money to refrain from that. So if you rim-spinning, cornrow wearing, jewelry & gun tooting, tattoo having, VIBE Award acting fools don't refrain from attacking our cooperate sponsors we’ll take all the money back and you can go back to your 'hood and keep it real there. I’ll let George Bush take care of the rest of you. Drive home safely.


1 love,
Ray Lewis

I'll Take Popes for 1,000

Contrary to the views shared by some atheists or agnostics , the cloud of white smoke surrounding the Vatican City today did not come out of a peace pipe at a reggae street festival. The white smoke signaled the new reign of Pope Joseph Ratzinger or, as his robe-mate hommies like to call him, Pope Benedict XVI.

If you never thought organized religion was (at the very least) divisive--just think about this bizarre ritual. The Popes-to-be are hidden behind closed doors, sequestered like a Michael Jackson jury, and stripped of all cellphones, beepers, and two-ways. All votes are to be written and placed in a Golden Bowl (of sorts), and the Popes have to disguise their handwriting too. The cellphone strip tease is to make sure that they are relieved of all outside communications. Hmm... One would assume that if you simply asked the Popes not to make any outside communication, that they would honor that request. This is religion, right? Instead, we of the free world chose to Pat down the Pats like they were entering a 50 Cent concert. Secondly, don't Popes have the "ultimate" communication? If they don't have that Heavenly communication, all those people missing days and days of work to analyze smoke signals are not only having smoke blown up in the air.....

Pope Benedict XVI, who looks like a cross between Billy Graham and Chevy Chase, is 78 years-old, so if you could not attend this mornings "inauguration" festivities, you may want to fax your Hail Mary's to him, because Lord only knows when he'll make it to Harlem. Those of you dreaming of a Black Pope must have seen White smoke too... wrapped around a green leaf.

1 love,
Ray Lewis

A Mad Dash

The word on the streets (okay, the NY Post) is that president and CEO of Roc-a-fella Records, Damon Dash, is planning on running for president.... of the United States. Yep, the United States of America. Wow, where do you begin to respond? My first response was, Damon Dash was really not that great of a record label president. Yeah, I know Roc-a-fella grossed a 8 trillion dollars, or some VERY exaggerated figure like that. But, the truth is, Roc-a-fella Records is Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and a bunch of Fat Albert band members. [Although, Beanie Sigel's latest joint is hot].

The street cred, urban-bred Dash, does get the occasional Wall Street blip, as he's dabbled in some movie scores, clothing lines (imagine that?), and energy drinks. However, to most political pundits, he's simply Shawn's boy,with good timing. As usual, the truth probably resides somewhere in the middle. Nevertheless, it is not too uncommon for an admitted drug-dealer or street hustler to become president. Take John F. Kennedy for example. Bootlegging was illegal when the Kennedy's ran their cartel. And, the golden boy, turned First Man was just (get this!) in the right place at the right time. When Kennedy tried to put the Susan B. Anthony silver behind the treasured U.S. (papered) dollar bill, things got hairy and Kennedy's fate was met with the same brutal ending to that of a rap star who pisses on the wrong man. Isn't life funny?

Ironically, I think the president's office only serves one purpose... and that is to instill HOPE; the rest is just politics at it's worst. Remember Jesse Jackson ran with that "Keep Hope Alive" platform, because that is the only thing you can sell to the youth of America... HOPE. It didn't work for the same reason Dash's dash to the front office won't work, but they had the right idea. When you really think about it, the oxymoronic truth is, the White House is not even in the United States, so the laws created and overturned are not applicable to the man who signs the bill. Nevertheless, I admire Dash's Outhouse aspirations because some young kid in the projects, who sees the riches of hustling on the streets, will also look at Damon's run and it'll give him hope that some day he too can become president.... Of what is what makes life in America worth living.
Unfortunately, I have never lived to witness a good president. Sure most of my peeps thought Bill Clinton was a good one. I view Bill as the strongest man in an all-girls prison. He passed the three strikes rule. He sold the .com dream that imploded. He did meet with some counterproductive black caucuses, I'm not sure what ever came out of that, but it instilled hope at the time. Jimmy Carter wasn't bad, at least if he was invited to pay his last respects to the Pope, John Paul II would not have been passed around like a Jamaican joint for 12 days. I actually like Nixon. He was clever for a Republican and honest (as much as that chair will allow one to be).

Should Dash actually run, I hope that he lives long enough to lose.

1 love,

Ray Lewis