The Dukes of Hazard

The highly-touted Duke University Lacrosse Team season is now officially over. But for 40-plus of their players a new season is just beginning. A season where they’ll be no winners. By now, we are all aware that a black exotic dancer was “hired” to perform for the Duke White Devils Lacrosse Team. The dancer has alleged that she was raped--or at the very least--sexually assaulted and the recipient of a caravan of racial slurs during the ordeal. If those facts didn’t strike a chord.... chew on this..

The Duke University team is comprised of 46 white males, and one brotha. The team ranked in the top ten in the country and were highly favored to win the NCAA Championship before the season was cancelled by the school’s president and some time before a single player was (officially) charged with a crime.

Put Up Your Dukes

Unleash the mini cars, clowns and bearded ladies, as the circus officially began once media model, Jesse Jackson volunteered his services. Once Jackson climbed on board, the-not-so simmering racial component boiled to an ugly head (no pun intended). (Side note) I wondered why Jackson chose not to challenge the NCAA committee about the fact that there is only one black person on the Men’s Lacrosse Team? Maybe he feels that nigga is crazy. I imagine that brotha echoes similar sentiments about Jackson. As I digress.

If this were your “normal” stripper versus student sexual assault case, the customary “smoking gun” (in this case) negative DNA tests results would’ve all but “acquitted” all of the accused. But, this is not a typical case. This is Duke University. This is a black stripper. And, I told you Jesse Jackson was on the scene. Jackson is so committed that he didn’t even answer Cynthia McKinney on line 2.

Because I’m liberal on sex and ultra conservative on crime, I’m on the fence on this one. Is this dancer an opportunist seeking vengeance? Or were the Duke boys exercising their embedded, sexually explicit violence acted out of their inherited master’s mentality? In the truth lies the hazard.

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

McKinney Madness

So Cynthia McKinney thinks the congressional police are racist, huh? I know the brothers and sisters on the streets in Cincinnati, Ohio and the corners of Jasper, Texas are saying "no shit?" For the record, I like Ms. McKinney. But, I probably like her more because she’s black and less because she so politically astute. Sometimes I get the feeling that Cynthia thinks being black is more important than being effective. I can just picture Tiger Woods on The Masters' Green this weekend whispering.., see that's what I'm talking about?

In truth, McKinney stood a better chance of winning an Angie Stone look-a-like contest than entering the congressional floor without proper identification. The part that confuses me about Sin Cynthia is how do you go from suing the cop for an in proper search/ sexual haharassment mishap, to apologizing for slapping him? When keeping it real goes wrong.

You see the one thing I know about my people is, we rarely apologize when we are wronged. I cannot imagine Desire Washington apologizing to Mike Tyson for slapping the rap charge on him, and her case was EXTREMELY questionable.

In the end, I hope Cynthia finds peace, hopefully in a reality series... after all, she already has the hair style.

1 love,
Ray Lewis

The Good Book

I have finally stumbled across a top-rated list that didn’t include rump-shaking, pole sliding music, Air Jordan sneakers, or black spending power. [Side note] I am still waiting for someone to show me a list of black saving power.

This week, Covenant With Black America, a book aimed directly at politicians soliciting the black vote, ranked #1 on Amazon’s and Border’s top-selling book list. That’s right burglars & home invaders a book! You know, that thing you walked passed that was stuffed with $100 dollar bills while you were unplugging the DVD player. That’s right parents a book. You know, that thing that is keeping your coffee table level during your kids’ X-Box-athon. That’s right, Bobby & Whitney, a book. You know that thing that rested under your pastor’s arms when you promised to love, honor and obey each other. I pray that you are not using that SAME BOOK as a table for your candy-laced expeditions.

Covenant With Black America is a Tavis Smiley initiative used to outline a blueprinted agenda that will make presidential hopefuls take Black America more serious. You may argue the merits or the contents, but the one thing you cannot argue is... this week it is the #1 book in the country and he didn’t have to shake his ass (whew) to do it. To read more about The Covenant check out: www.covenantwithblackamerica.com

Naturally, this top-ranking propelled me to name my top ten books of all time: And, in no particular order....


1. Dakota Grand - Kenji Jasper
By far, my favorite book of all time. He does great commentaries on NPR. If you go to www.npr.org and do a search on his name, I think you’ll see why.

2. Faces At The Bottom Of The Well -Derrick Bell
One of the more thought-provoking fiction tales I have ever read.

3. Loose Balls - Jayson Williams
Probably the funniest encounters in any NBA life. Sadly, and unbeknown to Williams, this book was a non intended preface that led to the limousine shooting. The irony is tragic.

4. The Autobiography of Miles Davis - Quincy Troupe
A music lover’s dream, while candidly looking at how all black American males weren’t all from improvised beginnings. One of the most memorable Miles Davis quotes is: “If I had two minutes to live, I’d spend it choking a white man.”


5. The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Alex Haley
The single most influential book in most black males lives (Makes Me Wanna Holla is a close second.) No black teenage home should be without this book.

6. Days of Grace - The Arthur Ashe Story by Ashe and Aronld Rampersad
The last chapter is his eulogy to his (then) 6-year-old daughter. Probably the most gut-wrenching chapter that I ever read. The rest of the book will teach most of us the true meaning of integrity. Next o loosing my virginity, this is the most memorable gift I’ve ever received.

7. Disappearing Acts - Terry McMillian
She is not one of my favorite authors, but this book is a relationship masterpiece. It’s really funny and it gives you a referee’s view of a black-on-black relationships. A must read for those contemplating marriage.

8. Pryor Convictions -The Richard Pryor Story
A classic in every sense of the word. Like the Jayson Williams story, you just knew a tragedy was inevitable. The only time you’ll stop laughing will be to wipe the tears.

9. Outrageous - The Charles Barkley Story by Roy S. Johnson
Another knee-slapper from Sir Charles. [I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It is funny too]. The quotes in this one are hilarious and surprisingly interesting. Not too surprising is how well written this book is. The insight on the 1984 Olympic Dream Team is worth the price alone.

10. The Souls of Black Folks - W.E.B. Du Bois You will probably understand The Covenant with Black America better once you finish this one.

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

A Tribute Fit For A King

I think the world has finally got a glimpse of modern day, American royalty. I also think for six hours at least, the world will be better for it. We can now fittingly, literarily and figuratively put to rest who the real backbone of God’s community is. It is hard to get four presidents to agree on lunch, never mind attending a Negro funeral, in a Baptist church in a southern region, during Black History Month. Only the backbone of the world community could bring that many differences under one roof in honor of one seemingly endless goal of World Peace. I am not sure I’ll ever see anything like that in my life again.



THE SPOKEN
The speakers (nearly 3 dozen) were plentiful, and for me, the most memorable were Ms. Shabaaz (Malcolm’s daughter), Charles Rachael (formerly of the Crips) and Joseph Lowery, who predictably and poetically reminded us of the really big picture. Bernice did what most children dread, eulogizing a parent. She was good. Kudos too to Bishop Eddie Long. He was exceptional, which simply means my low-expectations were far exceeded. Bush Jr. spoke well, which is something you won’t read every day, while his daddy’s new-found humility is living proof of Mrs. King’s greatness. Not enough for Harry Belafonte's comfort, and subsequent absence, which speaks volumes.

THE UNSPOKEN
For those of you that don’t know Dekalb County, Georgia has a black CEO. The (stone’s throw) neighboring Lithonia community has a black mayor. The majority of the South Dekalb residents are black. And, according to Bill Clintion’s speech and (the more credible) the U.S. Census, Dekalb County is the second richest black county in the nation (Prince George’s D.C. County is first). Despite those futile figures, I’ve always kept this historically, racial divisive, racially segregated Klan headquartered town in which I reside in the forefront of my mind. Well, for the first time since I lived here, I see the leafless winter tree branches as a sign of season’s change and not just the equipment used to hang black men.

Thanks Coretta, I'll miss you.

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

Waking The Souls of Black Folk

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
-----Douglas Adams

I have to admit there was a time when seeing a black lady hugged up with a white man really unnerved me. Now, while I don’t celebrate their union with an “O.J. got off dance,” I am starting to understand that type of union more and more. No-so-subtlety, life in black America is changing at an alarming rate. Sadly, most black people are either unsure, unaware, or unconcerned. I wish someone in black America yanked the string on Spike Lee’s WAKE UP! Bell.

Too many times I hear black folks singing where are our black leaders? If in 2006, you are still asking that archaic question apparently that Wake Up bell has fallen and cracked your skull. Should you come out of the comma this century, understand this mystical Black leader’s theory:

a) Malcolm, Martin and Marcus are dead.
b) They left you with a blueprint, so the only other leader you would need is in the mirror.

While you are pondering that reality check, please ask yourself this.., who is the Mexican leader? Who is the Spanish leader? Who is the Asian leader? My people, please Wake Up!! Do you realize that by 2018, there will be shuttles taking ordinary Americans to the moon, while some dumb niggers are still putting 30” spinning wheels on an Impala, blasting nursery rhymes like Laffy Taffy.

Just think, Bush and Condi (that's what her pimps call her) were golfing and shopping (respectively), while hundreds of black people were drowning in an American city…. a city with a median household income is $12,752. Wake up!

Rosa Parks died late last year, yet every time a bus driver opens his doors 10 niggas fight to get a seat in the back of the bus. Wake Up.

Conservative politician and Trinity Broadcasting owner and Pastor, Pat Robertson called for the assassination of the president of Venezuela and the White House says nothing. Entertainer / Activist Harry Belafonte says Bush is responsible for more deaths than any living person on earth and the White House wants to revoke his passport.

Terrell Owens does sit-ups in his driveway, while my neighbor parks his car on the lawn. A twenty-six year-old, Barney-sounding vocalist named Ashanti received lifetime achievement award. For singing! Songs! In public! There is an all-gay high school in New York City. Bush is trying to spread democracy in a Muslim State and he sacrificing Christians to do it.

I had a nightmare that Dr. King's Family was fighting... In Atlanta!! I woke to find that at least their mom won't have to witness the outcome. R.I.P. CSK. If you are the benchmark, we're all losers.

At any give time, eight out of the top 10 songs on Urban Contemporary Radio are performed by an artist with a GED or a police record.

For those banking on the white conspiracies to aid in the never-to-be-seen reparations, chew on this… Two different, lily-white professional team owners paid two very black ball players (Terrell Owens and Ron Artest) to stay the hell away from the rest of the team. That is about as close as we’ll ever get to white people, paying black people to go away.

Maybe if some black “would-be” leader took the time to build a mega-school instead of (yet) another mega-church, we’d learn Monday-Friday, just what we missed on Sunday. That’s assuming we ever Wake Up!

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

Last Laugh

I was recently speaking with a friend one day and I said, it is important to tape some of the things that come on television. Not necessarily because anything on television is worth archiving (in fact, quite the contrary is true). But, I believe you should tape some things because one day it’ll be gone and you may never witness it again. For example, one day I set my VCR to tape a late night NY Knick battle with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was a regular season game, nothing special. Then without warning, Magic Johnson holds a press conference that would forever change his life--some even thought it would end it. Needless to say, that was his last game at Madison Square Garden. Hmm.
There was this late night show in New York called Hot Tracks. It was a video show co-hosted by Debbie Morgan (All My Children). Nothing special, but a few months later BET launched a cable network channel that only showed black music videos. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Nevertheless, I still have VCR tapes of Hot Tracks' interviews with Al B. Sure, Cornel Abrams, Sylvester, The Tramps, Heavy D., Gloria Gayner, Elelyn “Champaign” King Hall & Oats and Marvin Gaye.

On Saturday, I heard Richard Pryor died. After a brief, but very emotional pause, I reached into my VCR archive and I found an old Saturday Night Live episode starring Richard Pryor. Pryor was the show’s host and he and Chevy Chase had a skit that YOU WILL NEVER SEE ON TELEVISION AGAIN. Any further description would not do it any justice. I normally don’t throw the word genius around, but that is the only way to describe Mr. Pryor. His book Pryor Convictions is a MUST read. There is not a black comedian alive that don’t have some Richard Pryor influence in him or her. Oddly, Pryor’s most famous writer, Paul Mooney, may be just as talented and equally discredited.

I grew up in a close-knit family, I owe my life to them. I remember sitting in a Bronx basement circled by Mike, Dwayne, and Al listening to Richard Pryor albums (That Nigger’s Crazy, Live on Sunset Strip, Here and Now), all the things that my mom would TOTALLY disapprove of me digesting. Ironically, it was his over-the-top, no holds barred, thirst for reality, unyielding and unapologetic community truths that shaped my contentious presence in this industry today. And, believe me, I AM NO Richard Pryor. I wish I had a tape for all the times people told me that I’m funny. I would send it to the Pryor family, with a note that said. Thanks for being a part of my circle.


1 love,
Ray Lewis

WHEN REALITY HITS THE ROAD

There are so many things going on in the world today that I just wanted to touch base with the masses that are out of touch.

In The White House
Republican and Democrats are in a heated (media) feud about whether the War In Iraq was a good or bad idea. The GOP wants to “stay the course” at all cost, and those Republicans that don’t necessarily feel that way will never openly admit it because the president may cut them out of Bush’s living Will. Democrats want the U.S. troops in Iraq to come back home and that is a simple, can’t miss campaign strategy. After all, losing another election to a Bush family member would be like losing a Spelling Bee to Magic Johnson, Mike Tyson, and Bobby Brown.

Here is the reality: oil is the most precious, treasured and valued commodity in the world. For those keeping score at home coffee (grains) is #2. So, whether you are a Republican or Democrat, if you live in the Super Powered, United States and you don’t control the oil… how long do you think it would take the rest of world to draw the conclusion that you are not really a Super Power? Maybe the rest of the world will start to feel that the USA just has the loudest bark. Hmm. Like it or not, taking over Iraq was necessary to keep the world’s perception of the U.S.

The New South
I recently visited the renovated Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta. It is a welcomed alternative to the trendy, overcrowded Buckhead section of the ATL. Atlantic Station is a gumbo mix of all of Atlanta Urban lifestyle (Little Five Points, Lenox, Midtown, with a slight hint of NY’s So-Ho). There is a Fox TV Sports Bar & Grill (ala the ESPN Zone), there is a 16-screen movie theatre with premium seating. There is a host of trendy shopping options, with a neatly planted Washington Mutual Bank seated adjacent to the walking distance plaza. There is a Publix supermarket in the center of the quadrangle everything a young, hip, mover or shaker could ever want.

Here’s the reality: The Lofts in Atlanta Station start at $450k and they are 80% filled and the first model won’t be ready until April 2006. The income range on the application starts at $125,000 and up. If you make less than that, you need to take your broke ass back to Decatur, with the rest of your Honda Civic driving residents.
You need a check for $17,000 to reserve more than a five minute consultation and the funds have to be available or that will be the most expensive conversation you ever have. Unless you are R. Kelly’s attorney. But I digress.

Music
The heartbeat of the soul. The few times I’m trapped in a car and forced to listen to radio (black radio in particular), I want to slit my wrist. I was listening to D4’s Laffy Taffy, which had to be birthed by a child predator. This might be the most ignorant, incompetent, insidious and insane song wax has ever produced. The seemingly innocent (albeit stupid) lyrics is laced with subtle contradictions that most parents will overlook or are too tired to figure out. Yet, your 12-18 is probably sliding on some pole, dancing in clear heels to this beat.

Here’s the reality: If something isn’t done about urban contemporary music, white people won’t have to waste their time, energy or ink thinking of a conspiracy to control the black youth’s mind. What am I saying this is already a reality.

1 Love,
Ray Lewis

Hip Hop History

The New York City streets and entertainment wires are a blaze, with the (all but official) word that Queens Bridge’s NAS is inking a deal that will team him with the Brooklyn’s beast, Jay-Z. Wow!!

From all the not-so published reports, it seems that New York’s lyrical foes have put an end to the stage wars and have teamed-up for a greater purpose. The industry and consumers will truly benefit from this one. This might sound odd, but I enjoyed the lyrical beef between Hov and Esco; just as long as it stayed in the studio -- which thankfully they were able to do.

However, when these two legends of the game battled on the mic it tended to ignite low-level, studio thugs, like: .50, The Game, DMX, Young Geezy and some of today’s GED rap artists to take their matters (whatever those are) to the streets. When that approach is taken, the beef usually escalates into an all-out blood bath or real life wars. Sometimes I wish .50 Cent would just learn to rap or simply shoot himself. Fifty can certainly bank on the fact that they’ll never be an educational statue bearing his resemblance.

The union between NAS and Jay has inspired me to start a war (of sorts). I am going to attempt to do the impossible and list the top ten Hip Hop artists of all time. My criterion is substance; staying power (or shelve life), originality, wit, content, relevance, charm, flow, music, versatility, and of course, execution.

I have excluded groups... and I want to give an honorable mention to Lauryn Hill for a variety of reasons [most of which I could never admit aloud).
Here it goes:

10. Eminem
If he were black from the Brooklyn, you probably would only be scratching your head because his not higher on this list – and he should be. Additionally, just ask anyone on the list below would they dare step in the booth with him – we now know Jay shouldn’t have.

9. Lupe Fiasco
He is the only glimmer of hope if the youth has any incentive to carry the Hip Hop torch. Unfortunately (for him) the clock started ticking while he was in elementary school – now he’s tasked to school the elementary.

8. Chuck D
The Hip Hop version of CNN before it ever was. I’m not sure where I’d be without his vital vinyl lessons.

7. Common
I’m willing to overlook his last frisbee and pray his career is not taking him towards his stage name – and he starts representing what made his name on the stage.

6. Talib Kweli
While he heralds for Cincinnati his inner city blues and incredible IQ swag reminds one of a mix of Miles Davis and Cornel West – and that’s a real treat no matter where you reside.

5. Black Thought
The wordplay King and the official voice of the legendary Hip Hop band The Roots – his name probably says it all.

4. Mos Def
The epitome of culture and his debut LP Black on Both Sides is a lesson in Black History, which is the birthplace of all others.

3. KRS-One
The prince of the projects and probably the most politically astute emcee they'll ever be. The teacher the school system hates to love.


2. NAS
The ultimate compliment is the fact that he reminds you of #1. Nas is the only rap artist to spit a flow backwards and still have you press rewind. His only downfall is there is no competition for him to slay.


1. Rakim
The undisputed King of the mic. If you made a similar list and didn't start here there is a good chance that you have a Kenny G CD in your collection.



1 love,
Ray Lewis

Bennett"s Crashed Course

So, the former U.S. Education Secretary, turned conservative talk radio host, has inconsiderately linked crime with black babies, huh? Hmm. There are so many ironic twists to those sentiments that it is hard to grasp a retort. The first form of irony comes with the fact that Bill Cosby, a black man [for those still wondering] shares those same Bennett sentiments. And, while many black folks were vexed with Cosby‘s comments, the comedic entertainer, turned part-time activist still commands a nice five-figure speaking tab--most of which are done in front of predominantly black audiences. Only in America. The second form of irony is this..., One would think that an Education Secretary would have enough “discipline” to use their platform more discretely. For example, one day I was dancing with a white female co-worker at a CNN Retreat, when I kept my composure long enough to NOT tell her that she smelled like a wet alley cat, rolled in damp loose-leaf paper on a urine-filled New York City backyard street. I, instead, used my platform more wisely. When we finished dancing, I used her to hail a cab going to Harlem. He would never stopped for my Freddie Jackson looking ass, I don’t care how good I looked in my K&G suit. As I digress.

I really did not find Bennett’s comments offensive at all; probably because he really felt that way--and this is America. You know, the home of the free.., which includes speech. What I did find offensive is the fact that no one was willing to openly ask William Bennett why he, and his alley cat smelling colleagues, feel the way the do about black babies or black people in general. Are you ready for more irony? If someone intellectually, challenged Bennett’s thought process, they would probably find that some black people [not just Cosby] feel the same way as Bennett. Then, once all the hated emotions are set off and exchanged; some real conversations could take place. We would be able to actually move the country forward--racially speaking, of course. After all, capitalism would still come with a price tag--usually poverty. We nstead, brushed this issue aside or chalked it up to a drunken stupor with a slow radio delay and everyone goes back to their not-so-neutral, but very prejudice corners of the globe.

Ready for more irony? If I had a national platform and stated that if we killed all of the white babies, we would wipe out corporate crime (Enron, World Com, etc..) would I be wrong? Would you be mad at me? What about if stated that if we killed all the white babies, world peace would no longer be an impossible dream. If we killed all the white babies, women would never have to settle for small penises anymore. Hmm. Just think, no one would ever twist their ankle doing the electric slide. There would be no more 3-point lines in the NBA. Vanilla Ice would only be an option at Baskin & Robbins. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would still be alive and John F. Kennedy would still be dead--remember we are killing all the white babies (even the so-called friends of the black babies). Just think, they’d actually be a Black person on Meet the Press every Sunday morning. Jazz would still be Jazz and Kenny G would be dead. Now come on, even some white people would celebrate that one.

In the end, we are all here, for better or worse. So we should put all of our differences on the table and move the country forward. If not, rent Crash and go back to your neutral corners.

1 love,
Ray Lewis

Katrina The Aftermath

For the first time in quite some time I have been totally lost for words. I have been simply searching for the right terminology to express my very deep feelings about this natural disaster. There is so much hurt, pain and anger to go around that most days I simply sit and listen to Kayne's latest just to escape the madness. For the record, it's bananas!!!

One can spend a great deal of time pointing the proverbial fingers at the local officials, the State Government, or The Federal Government for not being adequately prepared. But, in the end, it is always the people that suffer. Some political pundits are pointing the finger at race, when economics is probably closer to the real truth. After all, many black people hopped in their Escalades, Hummers, and Jeeps headed north and have not returned since--some never will.

Nevertheless, as one's heart tries to find the strength to aid the victims, their families and the overall lives that have been lost in this disaster; you then have the misfortune of reading that a lady, born and raised (and who still resides) in Stone Mountain Ga., who tried to scam the Red Cross out of $1,200--falsely claiming that she too was a victim of the hurricane. I believe Satin has her reservations ready.

You read stories of Bush babbling that: "We never thought the Levees would fail in our lifetime." Honestly, that sounds like something I would've said. But, in my defense, I think I deserve a pass for two reasons:

A) Three weeks ago I had no idea what a Levee was... And,
B) I am not the president.

I did, however, know that New Orleans is a city surrounded by water from Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River, and the nearby Gulf of Mexico. So, at the very least, I would have concluded that a city surrounded by water, built below sea level, with a Category 4 storm (looming); which happens to be named after a woman, reeks of an emergency evacuation. Hell, every 28 days most married men I know evacuate their homes until "that" storm clears.

Man, sometimes I really wish Bush had applied himself and became a devoted UPS Driver. Usually, the UPS Driver delivers good news, like the time they dropped off my Kanye West CD.

1 love,
Ray Lewis

Not Too Common

If you believe (like I do) that music is the heartbeat of the soul, then do yourself a favor---PLEASE get Common’s latest joint, “BE!” Most people didn’t like his last joint Electric Circus—further proving my point that most people are mediocre, at best. But I digress.


I think Common internalized the reviews of his last one and took it rather personally. Well that may underscore why he came out in such a Brian Nichols blaze. Hip Hop fans, this is an instant classic. Stack it near Ready To Die, The Chronic, Black on Both Sides, and prayerfully, any Omar in your collection. Non-hip hop fans, this will make you understand why the rest of us are fans. Kanye West is slowly becoming the Quincy Jones of hip hop; and he put his foot (and elbow) in this one. Timberland, Pete Rock, The Neptunes, Dallas Austin, Dre, Organized Noise, Premiere, Rick Ruben, are second-tier and the gap just became a river. Producers, grab your oars! The title track, Be! is the epitome of an intro. Simple guitar riffs, uncomplicated keyboards, and spit-fire lyrics. This track sets a very realistic tone for what history will prove to be the foundation of a hip hop masterpiece. I don’t know who pissed Common off, but I imagine they are awake now and drafting an apology. Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Kayne West, who slays club dwellers with "Go!" As the weather gets warm outside, the clubs, cars and cribs will sweat to this one throughout the summer. The music is so original and Common’s tone punctuates a solid “radio-friendly” (not necessarily a compliment), hit.
FAITHFUL is A tearful anthem that every rap classic should have [Tupac's "Dear Mama" first comes to mind.] The squeaky background sample detracts from very serious, straight-forward lyrics. John Legend’s chorus at the end more than makes up for that hook factoid and will convert the most unhappy hip hop fan.

Speaking of John (Legend), along with The Last Poets, and Bilal all make a welcomed guest appearances that are truly frosting on a carefully layered cake. Eleven solid tracks of hip hop, soul and deep inspiration that words will never fully describe. Do yourself a favor, start your holiday weekend right, pick this up, as nothing in your changer will have anything in Common.


1 Love,

Ray Lewis