CHANNEL ZERO

Even after all my logic and my theories, I add a mutha f@!&#, so you ignorant niggas hear me. -- Lauryn Hill The Score 1996

It’s an overcast warm April day in the “A.” Most of the half black/half “other” in the poor man’s version of Chocolate City are probably out spending their direct-deposited earnings on items that underscore why we wake during the weekdays to... fight traffic, engage in water-cooler conversations about the weekend, file paperwork, attend meetings answer phones, send emails, then break for lunch. After lunch we attend more meetings, answer more phones, and send more emails only to conclude by fighting traffic to get back to our foreclosed-riddled neighborhoods. We do this only to wake on Mondays (if you are lucky) to do it all again. We do this for the better part of our weekday lives and on our ironically touted "off days" one has to wonder is this ritual going to be the symbolic meaning for the dash on the stoned headboard, once we are laid to rest? I wonder.

The clouds will probably hide the sun for most of this spring Saturday, so I plan to buy some music, thus drowning my modern day slave wages in beats and rhymes until the gridlock forms on Monday morning. I can’t really fault my southern MASTER for this one because, unlike 200 years ago when that boat docked, I agreed to these terms, for better and for worse.

When I heard Tavis Smiley was leaving the Tom Joyner Morning Show my conflicted emotions concluded with…, hmm, didn’t Tavis agree to Uncle Tom’s terms? Besides, how bad can the traffic going to and from his Los Angeles studios to conduct a 10-minute soliloquy twice a week? It can't be much worse than being strapped to a tracking device of a 9-to-5? I sometimes wonder why corporate America spends so much time and money monitoring and recording what I do at work, when I am seated in an open cube. As usual I digress.


You can record Tavis’ commentary in an open forum around 8:24am EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays (until the ink on his resignation dries in mid June). Word on the wire is, Smiley got tired of Joyner’s empty-headed audience throwing darts at his Obama theories. Smiley’s tireless efforts to get his people (my people) to start using their heads for something other than a hat rack drove him to resign from his twice weekly moral monolog, according to Joyner. Smiley's open criticism of Barack Obama’s illusive attendance at the Tavis' black agenda revivals and townhall meetings drove a wedge between Tavis and the black audience from Joyner’s jovial congregation. I imagine nothing hurts a parent more than a life-long commitment of protection only to find out your child touched the stove once your back was turned. That pain accelerates when the child grows up and questions the parents’ intent from the start. That must hurt more than slavery itself.

Brotha Tavis, I think it is important to note that your agenda goes against the very grain of the media platform on which you stand. The reason your broadcasting check has so many zeros is the financial advertising rewards from the black radio format that is sweeping the country like toxins in meat. For a minute, forget the Ringling Brothers Circus you resigned from (at least J. Anthony Brown is funny). Take for example, “The People Station” in Atlanta. This V-103 morning show staff consists of 2 chimps and an unfunny cross-dresser — the latter being slightly redundant. You can fill Phillips Arena 20 times and New Birth twice with the sub zero IQ levels in that Peachtree booth. V-103's illiterate news, the retarded rhetoric, and the poisonous music rotation makes Tom, Sybil, J, and Ms. Dupree seem like Cornell West students. I cannot tell you how many people have kicked me out of their black community forums for expressing my disdain for V-103. And, I will never resign from my commentary until black radio begins to address: real musicians, the housing crises / predatory lending, the origin behind the AIDS virus, world banks (not just the one’s that financed 911), immigration, cloned cows, chicken shacks, check cashing booths, bar coded currency, V-Chips, recording contracts, healthcare, reparations, and Hollywood---and this is just my Black History Month agenda. It'll be hard to listen to a Chingy song after that conversation, huh?

The black radio apathy doesn't stop here, my brother. Travel to any city in Black Town USA and you’ll find the same black radio ritual with a Hot so-and-so, a Quiet this-and-that, Kiss what-not, or a Smooth jazz joint that rotates Kenny G residuals.


The one commonality with all of these stations is, some rich, fat white guy named Bob reclined in a long-back, leather swivel seat setting the black agendas and ignoring my black history demands. This man reaches WAY more black people than you or I combined. Furthermore, he pays some of these hot air personalities 10 times what Uncle Tom pays you. How else can you get a conscious black person to play a song like "The Hoe Is Mine" 30 times and never play a joint by Pharoahe Monch or Mos Def or Donnie or..



The fact of the matter is Mr. Charlie autographs the bottom of the checks and is controlling the strings on the top of this Universal Soul Circus called black radio. Mr. Charlie is kind enough to beep-out the “N” word from most of the Hoe songs.., ‘cause, he wouldn’t want to offend you. Naturally, Tavis, if you come to the black radio meetings on Tuesday and Thursday questioning or upsetting the white man’s agenda (which includes Barack), well you are going to face some hurdles. Not from the white man, but from the black man.. like the one who pulled the trigger on Malcolm. (see why I am not invited to cookouts anymore?).

Tavis, if you are listening black people love Barack and there is nothing you can say to change that fact. Those minds are made up. Period. The only time you will see any progress is when the burn from the hot stove fries their flesh. Just imagine the pain when our people find out that a parent's hug or kiss and a handful of coco butter won’t make that four-year ailment disappear.

And, now a word from our sponsors.

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1 love,

Ray Lewis

W.W.O.D.?

“The most essential ingredient in politics is sincerity and the sooner you learn to fake it, the more successful you’ll be.”

DEAR BARACK:
What’s going on man, this is Ray Lewis. Nah, not that one, but that’s funny though. I am far from the Ravens’ Ray, in fact, the last time I was in a limo (of any kind) was to bury my Aunt Vicky who raised me like one of her own sons. You see, Barack that’s how black folks are doing it in these parts. You may want to mention that to the bias media jockin’ you and Tiger, while clutching their purse when I get in the elevator. Oddly, this floral love fest with you is not just the media.

If my Aunt Vic was still here I am sure she would love you too. She would be no different than the slave ships of black folks that “pledge their allegiance” to you as well. Barack can you believe that one brotha told me that you were The Chosen One. Yep, just like Gandhi, Martin or well, you know Who. For the life of me Barack, I cannot figure out why my people feel so strongly about a man they hardly know, yet half of these same people don’t even speak to their neighbors. I am really puzzled by that, hence this letter to you. Barack, I simply want to know What Will Obama Do? I hope you don’t mind me calling you Barack.., after all, I hear your name mentioned so much in my circles I should probably call you dad.

When I am done I hope that you have the "audacity" to answer some burning questions that I have and (questions) your rock star-like fan base have a difficult time articulating (at least to my satisfaction). Sometimes, Barack these community forum debates— that border on civil disturbances—get so ugly that I have to walk away.

For example, one day I was in the barbershop and asked this hypothetical question:


What if Obama is a sly product of Karl Rove’s twisted, yet extremely effective, political strategy to keep “their man” (who just happens to look like one of us) in the Oval Office? I thought it was a fair question—one that I’d be curious to hear about your retort. Nevertheless, the barber I posed the question to called me Willie Lynch!! Can you believe that? Between you and me I knew he read about Willie Lynch from a car flyer the week before, but I was still almost offended. I was happy that he used his prior week’s street knowledge to mount his weak defense. After all, Barack, for some of us flyers are the only true form of education we have. I hope you address that on your road to the riches.

BACK AT THE SHOP

At this point it didn’t even matter that the barber didn’t know who Karl Rove was. But that’s what I am trying to tell you, Barack; I haven’t seen this much defense since the O.J. trial. In this barbershop it is now harder to find an O.J. supporter than it is to find a monogamous governor. Did you ever think that the annual Freaknik Fest would’ve moved from the Atlanta city streets to mayor and governor’s offices in New York? This CHANGE you speak about has many subplots, huh? As I digress.

Barack, how’s the wife doing? I ask because (at times) it seems like this campaigning is really getting to her.

I know she is strong and no matter what happens she's already elevated the First Lady's dress code. But take a minute and find out for me how she’s doing. Never mind us, Barack take care of her. Michelle seems cool to me.

Anyway, man I know you are are busy so I am going to wrap it up soon, but I have a few more really important questions to ask. Is that okay with you?


After you announced that you were officially running for office… how did you get the security detail from the alphabet bureau – headed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff? Are you telling me the same Michael Chertoff (who was then Head of FEMA) and stood idle as black folks were washed ashore during hurricane Katrina is now in the business of protecting black folk’s lives? Come Barack, talk to me. If you don't want to answer that one, please tell me how Chertoff got a promotion after the genocide in Katrina? This change is really confusing me, man.

I also want to know, why you keep telling people that you are going to pull the troops out of Iraq and America still occupies every single war region that was fought by our military. Every one. If you win the nomination, please don’t play that card with McCain. He only looks stupid. I know he is a republican, but you may want to two-way Colin should that debate arise.

Can you please tell me what is going to happen to the people (like me) that simply refuse to put the V-Chip in their arm?



I am curious why do we need new borders in Mexico and not Canada? I know it has to be way more complicated than Mexicans look like you and Canadians look more like the Kennedy’s? Talk to me man, becuase secretly, Barack I am rooting for you. Just don't tell my people in the shop, becuase debating with them about you means more CNN and less BET and I can't thank you enough for that. FYI: Bob Johnson is an ass isn't he? You know, if you look real close at Chelsea Clinton's kinky hair...

Seriously though, I hear that banks are gearing up for the market collapse. Did you hear that? Once the currency fails, the government will institute the long-awaited Point System, so they can LITERARILY track every financial move made in the country. So, if you are not in the system you are done. And, if you are in the “system” you are really finished. Talk to me, man cause the people in the shop are voting because you are black and articulate. Personally, that offends me more than the Willie Lynch comment.

Finally, man, if Karl’s Klan is not behind you and you win the nomination, I will be the second to congratulate you after Michelle. However, if the market collapses, the troops stay in Iraq, and gas hits $6 dollars a gallon – all on your watch in the Oval Office, do you think many black or white people will remember your DNC speech?
I know the staff at the Cash N’ Carry barbershops won’t remember, because with this pending Points System implementation cash-only businesses will be the first to go.
On your trip to the White House., you may want to holla at them...

They'll need a change.

'Assalamu Alaikum

please click on (WWOD) blog title to view video

1 love,

Ray Lewis

Disclaim HER

Who wants to be well-adjusted to injustice? -- Cornell West



The eagerly awaited, long anticipated new joint from the Princess of peace, Erykah Badu officially dropped in an unrehearsed 37th birthday gift to herself. This CD,... in a word is BANGIN’. But, before you cash in your Bush swindled refund check to add the new Erykah to your collection... We must do a little housekeeping first.

We are going to blow-up all the conflicting CDs in your collection. Now then, you will need some lighter fluid, a ski mask, gloves, goggles and roughly 1/16 of an acre... which is significantly less than Spike’s 40. Ready? Walk outside and start your large bonfire – be extra careful if you have a perm. Once the fire hits 2-story proportions, empty any (and all) of the following casually-termed music from your collection. Let’s start with: Destiny’s Children (even the ones with Michele), next up, P-Don’t He, Jermaine Dupri(hold on to the flicks of Janet), Ashanti, Clingy, the Ding Dong Twins, Keisha Cole, Akon, J. "I wish his birth were a" Holiday, Mario, Rhianna, Trey Songz, Robin Thicke (put his wife's pictures in that pile with Janet's). Okay, we are almost there. Toss in Chris Brown, Chrisette Michele, and Chris Cringle..., wait… we need something really flammable!! Ah, toss-in Tyler Perry….. ah, the soundtrack. Now that's a fire!! Now that the flame is really hot, go back inside and insert Erykah. Common & Andre use your discretion.

The new millennium musical mix of Nina Simone/ Billie Holiday/ and the early Ms. Hill is back with her fourth show-stopper entitled,
New Amerykah (Pt. 1: 4th World War).



If you haven’t bought a book in a while, skip this purchase (why break the cycle), just rent some rims. For me the true mark of a great artist is their continued growth, the artist’s non-conforming fear of radio asylum and the ability to preach and teach and deliver a head-nodding outreach. Badu may be underrated by those standards. Badu says her motivation for this one is quite simple: “It’s hard to enjoy the fruits of my labor when so many people are suffering.” So this CD is an attempt to address both issues. You can spend an hour on the artwork and the rest of the day digesting the lyrics. The sublets are numerous…, for example, the "radio friendly" single, “Honey” isn’t even listed on the CD cover. And, I thought I hated commercial radio.

The roof rattling, rebel-rousing street anthem “Soldier” is my absolute favorite joint on this 11 track dynamo (12 if you count Honey). Badu says she doesn’t write solutions because she is not qualified. But, she continued, let’s at least get organized and say… “How many people want to change?” That was the philosophical approach and premise of Soldier. Mission accomplished.

In a year where pacifist are torn between the hand-plucked choices of Barack and Hilary, Badu unleashes a gem that underscores that it not enough to have choices – but more important to create them.

please click on blog title for bonus track


1 love,
Ray Lewis

BLACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

“When elephants and donkeys fight, it’s the grass that suffers.”


It's official this year, Iowans have officially elected more Black presidential candidates than they have lynched — but it is only January. Nevertheless, the Barack bandwagon is getting fairly crowded and unlike most, I have some reservations. It’s nothing personal; in fact, I like the brother with the big- bootied wife. My concerns have varied layers.

A) I am always leery of Black folks that white people tote: O.J., Tiger, BET’s Bob “The Hoe is Mine” Johnson, and Al “This Neck of the Woods” Roker... just to name a few.

B) I would love to know who is in charge of the PR machine that is pulling the strings on B-Diddy’s puppet show. I won’t even mention where his money is being laundered. Now I could be just suffering from political paranoia—but that doesn’t mean someone is trying to get US to drink the Kool-Aid. For the sake of argument, let’s assume Barack is in fact who he claims to be — I’d be the first to help him pick his White House team. You may want to close your door for this one.


Press Secretary, Tavis Smiley

What Tavis lacks in cool points he more than makes up for with his credible insight. He is the only chit-chat host on TV that has interviewed T.I., (former) Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Mos Def and Babyface with the greatest of ease.


Vice President, Colin Powell.

This move can only be surmised as addition by subtraction. Aside from his (still) very credible military experience — imagine the faces at the Bush dinner table when this news hits the Vodka cabinet?



U.S. Secretary of Education, Cornell West.

The baggy pants fad will take a back seat (so to speak) to this educational wonder's low maintenance hair style. West’s approach to religion, humanitarian studies and sociological and economic empowerment will be refreshing no matter who is in the Oval chair — Barack just underscores this Black movement that has been idle long enough. A portion of West’s responsibility is to overhaul the arts & sciences taught from pre-school 'til the tassells sway in high school. I have added Bradford Marsalis and Spike Lee to round-out this all-star trio. And now, for once in our lifetime our school daze will be on pace to do the right thing.


Federal Communication Commission, Londell McMillan.

Entertainment extraordinaire is the Brooklyn-bred brother that gave Prince his creative freedom (back) just in time to sell his music via the internet long before the birth of an ipod or MAC-10. McMillan’s Spook Who Sat By the Door approach to the music industry could make author William C. Cooper (Behold a Pale Horse) shiver. His checkmate foresight includes an artist coalition campaign to start a 401k and health and benefit plans for artists who typically live rich and die broke. His humble industry moves speak louder than the voices that he represents. When it’s all said and done Londell will be the Nelson Mandela of this crack game neatly disguised as commercial radio.

Add AOL/Time Warner/Turner CEO Richard Parsons to Londell’s camp. Parsons can finally end his Turner reign with a quote from Ice Cube: “How can you be a Nigga for life crew/ with a white Jew/ telling you what to do?”

Secretary of Commerce, Earl Graves.

After the assassination of former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, I am not so sure the Black Enterprise founder will welcome this challenge without a vest. But, like most great leaders sometimes you are not asked to lead — but your exemplary skills make the choice that much easier.

Fifty years ago one would think that the above-mentioned team is just a fictional tale from the crypt. Well, today this very black author is writing this piece from the heart of Stone Mountain.

Thanks Dr. King - I know you are listening. Have a happy birthday.

[click on the Black By Popular Demand] title for bonus track.
1 love,
Ray Lewis

PASTIME PARADISE

There are two kinds of man; the ones who make history and the ones who endure it. Camilo Jose Cela

Brace yourself, this is the time of the year where most news outlets reflect on the year that was. How original. After all, who couldn’t stand to fumble through another ESPN 24-hour B-scroll of Mick Vick pawing his way to infamy? Mike may not have his falcon family to "kick" around anymore, but he’ll have enough prison pals to play with in 2008, should infamous icons like O.J. and R.K. defenses ever rest. For R. Kelly, it is important to note: “Double Up” takes on a whole new meaning in prison.


If Barry Bonds didn’t know what that clear gel he was rubbing was, Kelly may have some insight at least until the Feds readies Bonds' bunk too.

Some folks say the Feds are just picking on our black elite and their profiling knows no boundaries. I'll buy that. In fact, the alphabet boys have now crossed the clergy lines, picking on hometown homies: Eddie L. Long, and Creflo A. Dollar. My first thought is; names like Long & Dollar sure make IRS profiling slightly easier—almost like spotting a furry chinchilla hat at a prize fight. Realistically, profiling is just getting its second wind—-just wait until the government starts the housing market bail out, news of Creflo and Long will be out like Queen Latifah.

I tend to worry about the rich and famous as much as they worry about me. My focus is this presidential election. I thought it was mighty white of Barack to add Oprah to his meal ticket (no pun intended, of course). You will be hard-pressed to find a more essential election than the upcoming 2008 race to destroy what’s left of this so-called superpower. The term superpower is considerably humorous when you stop and think... the only essential commodity the rest of the world relies on the USA for is wheat and Tyler Perry—and one has WAY too much sugar.



If you listen to the loud whispers from China, they feel rice is a more than an adequate substitute to wheat. So, while the American media is distracted by “tainted” toys—China is preparing a global takeover that will change the world’s landscape forever. It is almost knee-slapping funny to think of America as a superpower, yet something as simply as the classic American car is a Bug made in Germany. Or, one of the nation’s leading cuisines is Italian pizza. Even sports attendance is becoming more and more irrelevant. As a matter for fact, there are more NBA fans in China than there are people in the entire U.S.!!! On the homeland front, the United States military, the U.S. currency and the once-touted American commercialism are all fading faster than a Bush Twin’s high. While China is shifting its mighty gears and waging a not-so-stubble war with the U.S., our ballrooms, boarding schools and barbershops are still wagering bets on who has the best butt, J-Lo or Beyonce?


I am not sure who wins that battle, but I am willing to bet, both of their assets are wrapped in jeans that were made in China.

Until ’08, Bottoms Up!!!

(click on blog title for bonus track)

1 love,
Ray Lewis

NOW WHAT?

“Art imitates life, unless you live long enough to understand that the converse is true.”


What Now?

If you look real close you can almost see the (not so imaginary) first down marker being drawn right down the middle of America. On one side, you have the 8% of America’s wealth. They are the ones that wake up every morning, get Chad and Little Johnny off to school. Kiss the wife, send flowers to the mistress and page the male page. They arrive in the office between 8 and 9, sipping on a cup of over-priced coffee then open their tax-deducted laptop to make sure that their off-shore accounts are available when the America dollar collapses. The other 90% of Americans attend their churches, vote for the senate seats and use their discretionary income to support their movies, attend ballgames, and TVO their talk shows. The latter 2% of the population are in prison — some without bars. So what now?

Well, I heard some Radio One broadcasters tried to organize a blackout day. A day where a group of conscious black people take a “well earned” day off from their typical misguided spending binges. I liked the idea, in fact I participated — unlike most of the targeted audience. It’s hard to measure the success of such a day, but watching black people come together to do anything positive is never a negative. Personally, I would have used the Friday after Thanksgiving as my blackout day — and still will. I found it somewhat ironic that the Radio One air personalities, who rely heavily on their advertisers to support the 40 song play list and Steve Harvey suits, would call for an African-American economic boycott. At best, this blackout was a conflict of interest. Luckily for Radio One their advertisers don’t listen to their stations. They were probably up counting the money in their off-shore accounts. The blackout irony continued as I watched some black participants passing by Wal-Mart in an SUV. Clearly that blackout will only last for 200 more miles.


What Now? Well, I understand that we have a black candidate in the presidential race and his wife looks like she would’ve participated in the blackout — after she got her nails done. I like Michelle Obama, but if her husband wins the nomination she may experience a blackout of a totally different kind. The Obamas might want to add Frank Lucas to their payroll.

What now? The Hollywood writers are on a blackout [Who knew it was contagious?]. The writers are fighting for DVD, video / iPod streams, and Youtube points to be added to their 4% residuals. It’ll be interesting to see who is going to write those brilliant Flava Flav lines.

What now?
Sorry, Obamas... prayer gets my vote!

(click on the blog title for bonus track)

1 love,
Ray Lewis

INTEREST ONLY

"Just because a person is paranoid, doesn't mean that someone isn't watching them."
--Season 3: The Wire, HBO

I must say it was rejoicing to see my people come together for such a relevant cause like the Jena 6. My joy jolted when I swallowed the fact that for one day (at least), we put aside the community’s typical engulfment with the Jackson Five, the Fantastic Four, the Treacherous Three, 2 Pac or KRS-1. Although who could be mad at the latter?

In any event, as great a day as it was in Jena, Louisiana, I had an interesting passing thought about this (and other) large, predominantly black gatherings. I would love to see a crowd of that capacity pick a particular time of the protest, line the news media lenses up and all AT ONCE, pull out a major credit card and cut it in half. We can dump the depleted cards in a barrel marked INTEREST ONLY! By the way, that noise you just heard was some black republican who just shitted on himself. No worries his white wife will clean it up.... bet she can’t do the electric slide though.


You see the only thing that divides this country more than race, religion, or region is revenue. And, the foundation of revenue—or the lack there-of is credit. Credit card companies are making a KILLING, killing what is left of the middle class. And, whoever is left over, predatory lenders, public schools, and Pubic Hair Thomas will spend the rest of their life time appointments destroying.

Do you have any idea what Visa, MasterCard and Macy's call their cardholders that pay their bills on time? Dead Beats! Yep Dead Beats! Major credit card companies make the majority of your money (excuse me, their money) off the interest and to them Dead Beats (in their world) don't pay any interest. But, you probably already knew that, right?

So, humor me for a minute. Let’s say you get a (loosely-termed) "offer" in the mail to transfer your credit card balance from Card A to Card B. Card B has a 0% interest rate for 9 months. Hell, let’s make it an even year. So you take your $3,000.00 balance (with 15% interest, if you are lucky) from Card A and transfer it to Card B... as the gangsta mail offer suggested. Side note: black republicans think rap artists are the real gangstas! Yeah, watch your back, people!!! I think that’s Nelly and T.I. in the Bushes!

Now back to your 3-grand loss. If this balance is older than a year, it is safe to assume another year won't make much of a difference, right? Which is probably why you got the hostile offer in the mail to begin with.

[I wonder if Colin Powell is delivering mail these days?]

For the record, if you were going to pay this balance off within the 12-month, drug free zone (yet another excerpt from The Wire) that’s cool. Congratulations. But, for the other 99% of the Jena 6 Movement this applies to you... and you may want to get out the Vaseline for this one.

Once that 0% interest rate expires, your new rate(which could be anything) will INCLUDE all the interest that accrued during the 12-month “drug-free offer” plus 10-12% of the national average—which is what "variable rate" really means. So your original 15% interest rate (from Card A with the $3,000.00 balance) is now 25-30% or an additional $900.00 Well, at least your neighbor still has the house-warming toaster that you purchased on the card.

I remember after the second plane hit the towers on 9-11, one of the first things George Bush said (after the Floridian kindergarten class stop reading to him) was: “America will be fine. Americans should act natural and don’t change a thing, in fact.... go shopping.” I wonder if that was Bush's idea of a white sale?

click on INTEREST ONLY title for bonus track.

1 love,
Ray Lewis

FRUIT OF THE LOONS

Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit.
George Santayana


There is an Atlanta city councilman named C.T. Martin that is spearheading a law to ban baggy pants that showcase the undergarments worn by a large segment of our youth culture. The banned ordinance falls under the indecent exposure law that is already on the Georgia law books. Wow! Just think we are experiencing record highs in unemployment; violent hand-to-hand crime making a comeback (in Martin’s community no less), home envisions taking place at noon and black kids (with their saggy pants)are still getting shot in the back by the police. Yet with this level of chaos in full bloom, in Martin’s backyard, you just have to wonder how he finds the free time to double as the Fashion Police? Why not just pass a law on being a better father?

For the record, I think the baggy pants fashion is one step below retardation, which by the way is not illegal. If I had a son [and… Lauryn Hill if you are listening that offer is still on the table] who attempted to wear his clothes below his ass, I would kick him in his buttocks so hard that the swelling in his trousers would fit snug on his now inflated rectum. See no laws, just size 13 Timberlands, a field goal attempt and a Father-of-the-Year speech.

My California coastal brother recently passed through Atlanta and got wind of the proposed law and agreed with the Councilman. See, this is what I come to expect from 6-7 break-dancer that used to wear Dashikis to family functions. Dwayne, Ike Turner called, he wants his mushroom belt back. There a lot of things wrong with today’s youth culture, but attire is not even in the top 10. After all, we all went through a stupid dress phase.


Recently I saw one half of the Atlanta-based rap group Kris Kross at a car wash. (I’m not sure if it was Kris or Kross) but who ever it was, he had his clothes turned the right way and he once got paid to wear it backwards. Like most kids, they will grow out of the silly closet statements…. It’s the actual closet I am worried about.

Man, I remember paying a lady on my block $2.00 to sew my name on a Puma suit. LL used to roll up one pant leg whenever he did Rock The Bells. Kool Moe Dee’s name was Kool Moe Dee. My high school teacher drove a Pinto. I saw a Muslim at KFC. Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones and Sidney Poitier hand their black revolutionary checks to white women. Snoop has a perm.





Oprah had a show about Hip Hop. I heard the Pope drove a bullet-proof car, where the hell was his faith? Certainly not with the youth. Sorry for the digression.
Do you think clothes really make the man? Well, Bill Clinton got head in the Oval Office and his pants had to be below his ass… and C.T. Martin probably voted for him. Now he wants to vote to fine or lock kids up for wearing baggy pants? I know this fashion came out of the prison culture, but so did the furniture that you are sitting on reading this article.

as always, click on title for bonus clip

1 love,
Ray Lewis

No Rhythm, Just Blues

You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.
John Quincy Adams

Since the beginning of mankind black music has been the harmonious link that joins the beat of two or more hearts. I am quite sure the beginning of black life can be traced to a drum or bass. Since slavery,(possibly before) Africans have used music to connect the souls of each other, while skillfully steering clear of the white man's interference. Now today’s black music is mostly played on American radio frequencies owned by white males. Talk about your Shakespearean tragedies.

The Beginning of the End
If you ever wondered what killed the 12-bar rhythm and blues.., well the conspirators are plentiful.
You could start with inception of the disco era and end with misguidance of Teddy Riley and more recently, P. Silly. Oddly, you can also credit Puff The Magic Sampler with keeping some of R&B music alive, since the majority of his gimmicky re-takes started on the wax of an R&B record. However, history remembers black music the end of R&B will be a significant benchmark. Personally, I miss that era.

One of the things that I simply really hate about America is it's crafty intent to put a label on everything. But, like slavery, if it’s to be packaged and sold, it would first need a label… don’t forget the bar code! Rhythm and Blues is really a marketing term birthed in the late 40’s to package black music that was scattered between jazz (remember that?), soul and gospel. Donnie is living proof of black music’s historically blended success—yet no major record company would dare label his music gospel. Hence his contractual independence.

In the 60’s, America got a whiff of the rebellious West Indian vibes from Jamaica, called Reggae.


Who knew it would become the unintended foundation to hip hop music—which is why major radio stations in this country play neither real Reggae nor real Hip Hop. Because (together), like the brave slaves before us, we would probably rebel.

Nile Rogers [the bass player from the R&B group Chic] and the unapologetic soul of James Brown punctuated the stamp of Hip Hop music. And, I think if someone sat down and told the story of black music to 50 Cent and the GED Unit, they would never have polluted this beautiful genre. With any luck they would have just shot each other instead of poising our kids. Although I miss R&B, I know it’s still out there… all you have to do is check the label.




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1 love,
Ray Lewis

DON'T HATE THE PLAYA

One of the few differences between the corner drug dealer and a corporate CEO is the way they filed their taxes.

If you ever had any doubt that professional sports is a simple microcosm of the society at large, this week’s sports pages will remove all your doubts.. In my lifetime, there has never been a more tempered sports climate—or (ironically) a better time to sit your child down and explain a few of life's lessons that far exceed any parental handbook.

Page 1: San Francisco slugger, Barry Bonds
Barry is the superstar son of baseball Hall of Fame outfielder, Bobby Bonds. The senior Bonds hated the media more than junior. And, six years ago the prodigal son was a shoe-in to join his (now deceased) dad in the game's exclusive shrine. However, in light of a so-called “mountain” of suspicious steroid evidence, Barry’s once red carpet ride into The Hall is now very questionable (not to mention, personal). His fate rests in the hands of a mostly white press, who have a mutual disdain for him and his dad. If you were an NBA referee, how would you like Bonds' odds? For the record, Barry has never tested positive for the drug. Nor has he ever admitted to such use (unlike some of his former peers). Most significantly, at the height of the alleged steroids era, baseball NEVER tested its players for the cheating substance. Yet, baseball commissioner, Bud Selig who conflictingly doubles as a team owner, has all but convicted Bonds in the court of public opinion. These suited drug dealers ain't bull-shitting! Historically, baseball has never been kind to black ball players; so consequently some black ballas have never forgiven or forgotten that racist fact. And, in this case, those embedded memories are shared by two men who happen to have more than a family bond.

Page 2: Suspended Falcon Phenom Michael Vick.
The sad truth here is if Vick decided to kill his wife, have involuntarily sex with an under age stranger or shoot an ordinary citizen—all with the same eyewitness that are accusing him of this federal crime, his chances of freedom would be a lot less compromised. So murder, rape and domestic violence all take a back seat to fighting dogs. Only in America. In essence you have people like Kobe Bryant and OJ Simpson whispering, damn, I'm sure glad I am not that Nigga. Vick says he is innocent, his “friends” say he is guilty, the Monday after Thanksgiving only one of them will be truly grateful. The other will be sleeping with his back to the wall.

Page 3: Rouge NBA referee, Tim Donaghy
Iron fist hoop Commissioner, David Stern is simply sick at the possible fall-out behind this indictment. All of Stern's foolish, league-mandated attempts to make his sport more yuppie friendly and less new jack swing may be flushed down a crap table by a league official. Stern says he felt betrayed by one of his hand-picked, $260,000-per employees. You'd think with all of Dave's alphabet boys on this case, they would've noticed the diamond in the back of Tim's white Cadillac. Now the only thing white collar about this crime is the perpetrator. And the worst is rumored to be on the horizon, especially if Donaghy gets on the stand and sings like Neno Brown. Stern can take some comfort in knowing that while Donaghy was shaving points, at least he adhered to the NBA's dress code.

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Ray Lewis

VICKstory

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike & destroy its victim -Sun Tzu

For a variety of reasons I really try to refrain from mainstream stories — mostly due to the saturation of it all, and partly due to a lack of a unique perspectives. In the Michael Vick case, I decided to make an exception - although I am really not sure why. In this country being indicted of a crime (still) means innocent until proven guilty, unless of course the Federal Government is doing the indicting. Then it means, pack lots of Vaseline and always sleep with your back to the wall.

I have never been a huge fan of football and I am probably less of a Falcon fan. However, like most Georgia residents, I could not help but watch and marvel at the once-in-a-lifetime skills of the Falcon Wonder. I remember one Sunday while I was sitting in church I could have sworn that I heard the pastor speed up the ceremony as the kick-off clock crept closer to 1pm—and that pastor was a female! The following Sunday, I witnessed a traditional white family (mother, father, sister, brother)—all with their faces painted black and sporting Michael Vick's home jersey. I wonder what color dad’s face would've been if Michael Vick actually came by to pick up his J-Lo hipped daughter?

I read most of the dog fighting indictment, which incidentally, is extremely suspect of any CREDIBLE evidence as far as placing Vick at the actual scene of the horrific—and I mean—horrific crimes. I am not sure a jury of his peers will be as objective; especially since this will not be a jury of his peers. His peers will be fighting for a Super Bowl, while Vick will be battling for a bowl, but there will be nothing super about it.

Innocent or guilty, I truly believe Vick has thrown his last pass as a Falcon. If Vick is guilty, he has thrown his last pass as an NFL player... if the latter is true it will truly be difficult to find this man’s best friend.

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1 love,
Ray Lewis