Tyson's Take

Let The Story Begin - FREE Mixtape!

2010-07-27T19:21:00.008-04:00

Mr. Tyson - Let The Story Begin
http://www.mediafire.com/?34q68dw2ey39kmq
(click link to download it FREE!)

1. Let The Story Begin
2. Numero Uno
3. Here He Goes
4. Everywhere I Go
5. Kill The Coonery
6. The Map
7. I'm Goin Off
8. See You Sometime (Ode 2 Hip-Hop)
9. Through The Storm
10. Mother Earth

Tracks 5 & 8 produced by Cee Jae Tha King
Track 10 produced by DJ ear.2.ear

Mr. Tyson - Mother Earth

2010-05-18T15:34:00.001-04:00

Mr. Tyson - Mother Earth
produced by DJ ear.2.ear
Let The Story Begin: Mixtape
© JusListen Entertainment 2010

Jean-Michel Basquiat Retrospective Exhibition

2010-05-12T22:19:00.001-04:00

From Hypebeast... 2010 marks what would have been the 50th birthday of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. A large retrospective exhibition held at the Fondation Beyeler features over 100 different pieces of work from the pioneering artist. Vernissage TV reveal the full scope of the show in addition to an interview with Fondation Beyeler’s director and co-curator, Sam Keller. The Jean-Michel Basquiat Retrospective Exhibition will take place until September 5th, 2010.

Rise/The Movement Rehearsal

2010-05-11T00:08:00.001-04:00

Steve Tyson (vocals), Egemen Sanli (guitar), Kivo Sanli (bass), & Rob Pilkington (drums)

Filmed by Rick Passero at AM Studios, NYC
© JusListen Entertainment. 2010

www.reverbnation.com/JusListenEntertainment
www.reverbnation.com/EgemenSanli

See You Sometime Rehearsal

2010-05-11T00:03:00.003-04:00

DJ Premier's Tribute to Keith "Guru" Elam

2010-05-11T00:00:00.002-04:00

Keith "Guru" Elam Tribute Mix by Dj Premier Blog Radio on Mixcloud

Erykah Badu - Window Seat

2010-03-29T15:28:00.004-04:00

This woman is pure genius with her ability to say so much, while saying so little.

'nuff said.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

State Of The Planet 2010: Poverty

2010-03-26T14:42:00.004-04:00

On March 25, I attended the State of the Planet conference held by The Earth Institute at Columbia University. The forum was a global event, using an HD webcast to connect panel speakers from New York, New Delhi, Beijing, Nairobi, Monaco, London, and Mexico City. I had never been to such a diverse and interesting conference that wasn’t an ethnic event. The speakers included plenty of current and former UN officials, royalty from Monaco and the Netherlands, CEO’s of several major corporations, and a slew of professors and experts from regional universities. Although many issues and topics were discussed, in my opinion the two most pressing and important debates were on reducing climate change and alleviating poverty in Africa using “green” technologies.

The poverty discussion focused primarily on how to achieve the millennium development goals, with a special focus on whether or not “green” technology is the answer for fixing the poverty crisis in Africa. The panel of speakers in NYC consisted of HRH Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Prof. Glenn Denning & Prof. Upmanu Lall of Columbia University, and Hans Vestberg the President & CEO of Ericsson. They had quite a few points to make, stating:

- Child mortality has gone down by 25% in recent years, but all goals envisioned by the Millennium Project are still far away
- More people are starving now than in 1990, and maternity care is also suffering
- There have been no implementations of the policies put into action in the last 10 years, only rare cases like in Malawi where progress is evident
- Broadband and mobile communication will help to alleviate the problem because it allows communication to areas with resources
- Water shortage is the next big challenge in policy making (ex. India & China are both facing water crises, but no global action is underway)
- There is no place for poor people in poor countries to safely have a savings for their money

Next, our host Riz Khan of Al Jazeera English connected us to the panel of experts in Nairobi, Kenya to gain an African perspective on the problems. We were introduced to Jonathan Ledgard of The Economist. He was moderating the panel which included, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka of the Republic of Kenya, Achim Steiner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sylvia Mwichuli of the UN Millennium Campaign, Michael Joseph the CEO of Safaricom, and Mike Bushell of Syngenta International Research Centre. They noted that:

- Africa is accelerating faster than any other continent, but 30-50% of it’s biology has died in the last 10 years
- Africa’s population is doubling, while industrialization needs to quadruple to meet demand
- Government structures need to include grassroots organizations so the common people will also have a voice in the decision-making
- Equal opportunity needs to be provided, so not just the rich countries will develop new, “green” technologies
- Mobile phones and proper banking are MAJOR needs
- 50% of all hospital beds are filled with people who are sick due to impure water consumption
- In 10 years, Kenya can have a 0% carbon emissions output due to development of “green” technology including solar, wind, & hydro
- All countries and continents should pay for any damage they have done to Africa because of poor environmental standards
- There can be no progress when finances are not getting to the people and there are no policies to include the people either
- The protection of Africa’s natural resources needs to be taken into account when developing “green” technology
- Bank loans will have to have new regulations and adjustments in collateral, that assess the people as a group rather than as individuals

We were then brought back to the panel in NYC, where the debate was concluded with some practical approaches to how African nations can effectively improve their socio-economic conditions, while also setting a new standard for “green” technology.

- Sustainability and telecommunications will thrive, but more international governments and companies need to be invested
- When you boost agricultural productivity, then economy also rises
- The more countries can develop and produce food on their own (instead of waiting for aid), the better their chances are for progress
- Investing in resources with immediate payoff is necessary, instead of constantly focusing on future technology that is not yet feasible
- The people are ready, but where are the resources?

The conversation, in my opinion, was one that could have been better served if members from the climate change panel had also been involved in the discussion. In my opinion, there needed to be more representation from science experts, rather than the majority being from the technological, political, and corporate fields. I feel that although there were many people on this panel who offered insight for all the right reasons, there were some statements made that clearly had corporate interest as a top priority. It’s not that I did not expect this, because obviously corporations will be jockeying for contracts to invest and produce new technology wherever they want. I just hope that the companies who end up doing so are less worried about corporate greed and are more worried about doing something good for the planet and the creatures who inhabit it.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

State Of The Planet 2010: Climate Change

2010-03-26T14:32:00.004-04:00

State of the Planet 2010: Climate Change

On March 25, I attended the State of the Planet conference held by The Earth Institute at Columbia University. The forum was a global event, using an HD webcast to connect panel speakers from New York, New Delhi, Beijing, Nairobi, Monaco, London, and Mexico City. I had never been to such a diverse and interesting conference that wasn’t an ethnic event. The speakers included plenty of current and former UN officials, royalty from Monaco and the Netherlands, CEO’s of several major corporations, and a slew of professors and experts from regional universities. Although many issues and topics were discussed, in my opinion the two most pressing and important debates were on reducing climate change and alleviating poverty in Africa using “green” technologies.

The climate change discussion focused primarily on what it would take to complete the deal known as the Copenhagen Accord, which was agreed upon at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The NYC panel of speakers included Prof. Wallace S. Broecker & Prof. Mark Cane of Columbia University and Johan Rockstrom of the Stockholm Environment Institute. Some of the strongest points made during their discussion were how:

- Nations failed at coming together in a collective effort to curve climate change
- For the first time, climate change has become a more political debate than a scientific one
- Part of our solution needs to be capturing and storing CO2, but governments and commercial industry won’t support it. (Even though it costs mere 10’s of millions)
- A restructuring of the national power grid is necessary
• Stated by Prof. Mark Cane
- There can be no clear agreement without the endorsement of China

Immediately following those statements, the host (Riz Khan of Al-Jazeera English) connected us live to Beijing, China where James Miles of The Economist was moderating the Chinese panel. Jiang Kejun of the Energy Research Institute, Prof. Qi Ye of Tsinghua University, Xiao Geng of the Brookings Institution, and Prof. Xu Jintao of Peking University were in attendance. They had quite a lot to say about China’s influence on the rest of the world when it comes to climate change, including how:

- China had no carbon emissions problems until 200 years ago
- China will NOT peak before the United States in carbon emissions
- There is a 5-year target for making concrete policies that will help reduce the amount of carbon emissions in China by 40% in 2025
- The G-20 summit may be a better forum for international climate change discussion, rather than the UN
- There is a major need for civil action by the Chinese public for policy change to happen quicker
- NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) are doing the best in educating the public
- Current form of democracy is not effective, there needs to be a new global structure instead
- Global communication is a must, and they are glad to see President Barack Obama doing a lot to encourage this

Heading back to NYC, the experts were able to offer some quick assessments and rebuttals to the points made by the Chinese. They added:

- The rest of the world will not take action, unless the United States does first
o But Prof. Wallace S. Broecker rebutted and said since “China is going to lead the world in the future anyway, they should go first”
- The population growth of the United States is also a major problem in increasing our carbon emissions
- European Union should also show leadership and strive more more than a 30% reduction in emissions
• Stated by Johan Rockstrom

Riz Khan then turned back to the screen and introduced the panel from New Delhi, India. Simon Cox of The Economist was moderating a panel which included Nitin Desai the former UN Secretary-General of Economic & Social Affairs, Devin Narang of the Freeplay Group, Jyoti Parikh of Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), Jagbir Singh who is CTO of Bhari Airtel Mobility Networks, and Leena Srivastava of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). These panelists seemed to have a more practical view of what the problems are that prevent the eradication of negative climate change. Some of their points were:

- There is a crisis of trust in both the scientific field and within the UN
- Technology needs to be developed locally and cost effectively for these solutions to work (ex. India & Africa can’t afford United States’ technology) • Stated by Devin Narang
- National governments need to impose mandates in their own countries, instead of focusing on international reguation • Stated by Nitin Desai
- We need a mandatory base year to set an international standard, because many countries have gotten a free ride in not paying any regulation standards fees (ex. United States has added more than 1 billion lbs. of carbon into the atmosphere since 1990) • Stated by Jyoti Parikh
- Developing countries like India, collectively, will be responsible for 20% of all carbon emissions in the near future
- India and China are working closely together, since there are many of the same environmental problems effecting both countries
- Solar and wind technologies are viable options, now that new regulations have recently been put into effect. There is a HUGE market since there is significant amounts of sunlight in India

After thanking the panel and moderator in New Delhi, Riz Khan brought the discussion back to NYC in order to get some final statements from our panel. They concluded:

- Africa could be the most sustainable continent on the planet in the future, but costs and development need to be better managed in order for this to happen
- New technology will bring new problems, but as long as they are better than the old problems then we’ve made progress • Stated by Prof. Mark Cane
- Alternate energy is key. Costs need to be brought down in producing solar energy, since it’s the easiest to harness
- Nuclear energy will see a resurgence in the United States, but we need hundreds of new power plants and we haven’t built one new one yet
- Scientific experts should no longer pitch the problems to the public, because no one cares to listen. Instead, more marketing experts need to be involved since it only takes tragedies for people to notice any problems.
- Social media (internet) will be more powerful than current media (TV, radio) in it’s effectiveness to spread the message
- It is surprising that many faith communities are not voicing an opinion loud enough. Seeing as people are destroying “God’s creation”

Wrapping up the discussion on climate change was HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. He was broadcast live to speak on the viability of the development and production of electric vehicles in Monaco. Prince Albert II assured the global community that a major shift is underway in his country and if Monaco could do it then major countries should also follow suit.
The entire discussion was a fascinating back and forth between so many influential people in the political, scientific, and technological fields. I feel that after hearing such a lively and comprehensive discussion, many of the people in the audience felt quite reassured that although there are severe problems facing our environment, we are on the right track to save the state of our planet. Things just need to happen faster and the people at the forefront of the debate are all for encouraging this.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

iTunes Exclusive: Mr. Tyson - The Virtuous Lyricist

2010-03-17T12:49:00.005-04:00

Purchase your copy of Mr. Tyson's debut album "The Virtuous Lyricist" TODAY! Exclusive and only on iTunes, Amazon, Amazon mp3, and SongCast!

Tracklist:
1. Very Interesting Reality Through Unique Experiences
2. Rise: That 9 Ether
3. The Movement
4. Mind Elevation (feat. T.R.E.)
5. Makin' Moves (feat. T.R.E.)
6. Where Do We Go?
7. To The Left...
8. Illumination In 4D
9. The Reflection
10. Mind Made Up

Parental Advisory Exquisite and Explicit Lyrics

Executive Producer: Steve Tyson
All Tracks (except #10 and Bonus) produced by: DJ ear.2.ear
Track #10 produced by: Brian "Doc" Robinson

Don't hesitate! Get your copy TODAY!

Ivory Wars In 2010?!

2010-03-12T11:55:00.005-05:00

The African elephant population faces a serious threat to their numbers, as Tanzania and Zambia are petitioning to lift bans that prevent the poaching and sale of ivory. Since 1989, countries at the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted to ban all sale of ivory, due to the massive slaughter of African elephants. In the 1980's, there were between 700,000 and 1,000,000 elephants killed for their tusks.

In 1997, pro-ivory trade groups forced countries to approve a decision in CITES that allowed a one-time exception to the ban on sales of stockpiled ivory. They claimed that the one-time sale would reduce the amount of demand for ivory, predominantly the demand coming from Asia. However, the sales experiment didn't work. From 1997 to 2007, due to the stockpile sales of ivory, poaching and seizures of illegal ivory began to rise. In Tanzania alone, the percentage of elephant mortality attributed to poaching rose from 22% in 2003 to 62% in 2009.

The fact that CITES can entertain lifting the ban of ivory poaching an absolute outrage! Over the past 30 years African elephants have declined to about 35% of their original numbers, and the population today is less than 500,000. To think that there would be a benefit to slaughtering innocent animals for immoral profit is an absolute joke. I can only pray that this ban doesn't get lifted, and we as a people will continue to do what we can to spread awareness and justice.

But that's just Tyson's Take.... what do you think?

- Steve Tyson Jr.

[for the entire article from "TIME Magazine" click here]

Fonzworth Outdoes Obama With "Fireside Chat"

2010-02-24T11:52:00.003-05:00

Now I bet you were like me and thought that President Obama was the only one who could deliver one of those ol' fireside chats. Well, believe it or not Fonzworth Bentley has written his own "Fireside Chat" and let me tell you he really goes in on this one. I was surprised that this was Diddy's former "man-servant" delivering such poignant lyrics in this creative of a manner, but that definitely shows the lack of promotion that a lot of lyrical MC's are getting right now... I wonder if this song will make his album, I mean the brotha IS signed with Kanye on G.O.O.D. Music.

Check it out...

As always, let the world know what you think by dropping a comment!

- Steve Tyson

KRS-One Sets The Record Straight!

2010-02-24T11:29:00.008-05:00

KRS-One was in San Antonio, TX performing and towards the end of his set he started touching on a broad variety of topics that were on his mind. The biggest point he made was in reference to the Illuminati and how people continually perpetuate the thought that either him or Jay-Z is involved with them. Not only do people make these accusations, but then they say they have "Facts" to back it up... now check out what KRS had to say on the subject.

"YOU-MUST-LEARN!" lol

But for real though... he made some good points, and we all need to take a step back and assess what is really plausible, logical, and even capable of happening before we rush to judgement on others.

- Steve Tyson

Spike Lee On Hollywood's "Coonery & Buffoonery"

2009-12-29T10:41:00.003-05:00

At the 2009 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference & Expo, one of the featured speakers was Spike Lee. During his segment, he was asked about the representation of black culture in TV and film. His example of our need for an improved representation was Tyler Perry's "House of Pain" and "Meet The Browns". He claims that even though it is generating a lot of revenue, it is taking us back to the minstrel days of Mantan Moreland and Sleep 'N Eat. Watch a segment of the interview and comment with your opinion.

If you want Tyson's Take on the matter, I feel that Spike makes a very valid point. We have to create more accurate representations of our entire culture or much of our history may be washed away by shuckin' & jivin'. With that being said, I also feel that Tyler Perry should not change his format or characters. Madea, Mr. Brown, and the rest of his lively characters always have a moral or positive religious undertone in each movie and story. I feel it should be less about getting someone to stop doing what he's doing, and it should be more about cultivating NEW black filmmakers to offer other representations of who we are.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

2010 Nobel Peace Prize Afterparty

2009-12-15T11:59:00.005-05:00

You knew when we finally got a black president things would be different around here. But at the Nobel Peace Prize after party, "change" was the name of the game. Will Smith and Wyclef Jean rocked the mic during the party and jam session that followed the formal ceremony and they were accompanied by Natasha Bedingfield and Toby Keith. I'm glad to see the core elements of Hip-Hop thriving in an environment where typically you'd have waltzes and bowties.

PS: Check out the whole video and you'll even get to see Toby Keith spittin' "Rapper's Delight" with the Fresh Prince, plus Wyclef & Natasha Bedingfield performing The Fugees' hit song "Ready or Not"!

- Steve Tyson

Stevie Wonder & John Legend Pay Tribute To MJ

2009-12-04T13:12:00.005-05:00

At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary ceremony, inductee Stevie Wonder was accompanied by John Legend for a lively rendition of Michael Jackson's hit single "The Way You Make Me Feel". Halfway through the performance, Stevie got emotional and shed tears for the fallen King of Pop. A truly touching performance, I'm sure Mr. Wonder gave it as much as he could in order to finish. Check it out below.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

KRS-One Urges For A Jay-Z vs. 50 Cent Battle!

2009-11-20T12:33:00.004-05:00

Yo... now THIS is an ill idea. Get the two biggest MC's in the game to battle it out for supremacy of New York! KRS has the idea that if they engage in a Hip-Hop battle it would benefit the entire culture of Hip-Hop. Plus, he feels that money could be raised to help combat many of the ills in the world (including breast cancer, poverty, etc.)

I think Hip-Hop culture NEEDS this battle to happen. For so many years MC's have talked a lot of shit about PPV battles and tournaments, but nothing has ever materialized. I know that if this happens and independent MC's are allowed to try out for the undercard battles, I'm definitely signing up!

- Steve Tyson

BET Freestyle Cypher '09

2009-10-29T12:01:00.004-04:00

I've always been a fan of the Hip-Hop cypher, and when BET compiles some of the illest MC's in the game to get together and represent for the culture you KNOW it's gotta be good. Check out this year's freestyles below!

Mos Def, Black Thought, & Eminem demolish the classic beat spun by DJ Premier!

Nikki Minaj, Buckshot, Joe Budden & Crown Royyal go off in this cypher too!

Ridiculous: The Tea Party Protest in D.C. 9/12

2009-09-24T09:12:00.010-04:00

In all my life I've never seen such a large group of uninformed, unintelligent, and completely ignorant people all together in one place. Now obviously everybody there wasn't as extreme as everyone shown in the video, but there is a HUGE difference between voicing an informed opinion and spouting some bullshit rhetoric that you saw on TV. I am glad to say though, beyond all of this propaganda-driven lunacy, there are millions of people who are actively making progressive changes in this country. It's just messed up that there are many more millions of Americans who disagree with what these people are saying but remain stuck on the couch screaming at the TV or just "beat a dead horse" while debating with peers, instead of actually going out and making a difference too.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Lyrical God - Ammunition (With 2 Pens & A Table!)

2009-09-20T17:58:00.004-04:00

Dude is a beast on this track "Ammunition"! His name Lyrical God is for certain, but what trumps the flow is his ability to bang out a heavy beat with just two pens on a wood table. It's pretty coincidental how the heavy snare pen is reminiscent of the clap of a gun too. Gotta give him his props... and it's good to see the pulse of Hip-Hop still beating strong.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Loon Discusses His Conversion To Islam!

2009-09-20T17:44:00.003-04:00

Loon (now Amir Junaid Muhadith), formerly of Bad Boy Entertainment, sits down with The Deen Show in Dubai, UAE to discuss his conversion to the Islamic faith and how it has given his life peace & inspired a new musical creativity. Check out the full 28 minute interview and drop a comment! Do you think there will be more MC's who are unafraid to throw away stereotypical imagery of a "rapper" and follow their own journey to create the true music that they want to make?

- Steve Tyson Jr.

JusListen Ent. Is Now On FACEBOOK!

2009-07-18T23:39:00.000-04:00

JusListen Entertainment. on Facebook

Even The Greatest Learned From The Greatest

2009-07-10T11:38:00.007-04:00

Ever since the beautiful memorial service was held for Michael Jackson, I’ve found myself consistently looking for videos and interviews to gain a broader understanding of who MJ was as a person and how he crafted himself to become the greatest entertainer ever. Now I already knew like many of you that Gene Kelly, James Brown, and Fred Astaire were MAJOR influences on Michael. Check out a classic Fred Astaire movie “The Band Wagon” and you'll see how MJ borrowed Astaire’s “The Girl Hunt” sequence to create the videos for “Billie Jean”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Bad”, “You Rock My Word” and the narrative portion of the song “Dangerous”.

What I didn’t know, was how much of an influence legendary choreographer Bob Fosse was on Michael Jackson. A friend of mine told me about the striking similarities between what Fosse did and Michael’s stage performance, so I had to see for myself. After doing a little research what I noticed was amazing. There are many Fosse clips that show MJ similarities but the coolest one had to have been “The Snake In The Grass” slip from the movie “The Little Prince” (which MJ was a HUGE fan of!). Notice his highwater black pants, white spats accentuating the shoes, angular leg movements, and fluidity of motion that Michael incorporated into his own dancing. It’s sensational!

These are just some of many videos that you can look up and see the influence they’ve had on the performances of Michael Jackson. I hope this is was just as enjoyable for you as it was for me, and I know all of these performers will continue to be inspirations for generations of entertainers to come!

- Steve Tyson Jr.

PS: Here's a little something to enjoy!

Michael Jackson Is Now Immortal

2009-07-02T01:33:00.020-04:00

The King of Pop is doing the Moonwalk with the King of Kings.
It’s taken me a week to really put things into enough perspective to write my first thoughts on the death of Michael Joseph Jackson.

“Only know, wherever I go/
we’re as close as two friends can be
There have been others/
but never two lovers
Like music, music and me”
- Music and Me

For myself, listening to Michael started in the womb. My father would put headphones over my mother’s stomach bumping a variety of music including two of his favorite albums, “Off The Wall” and “Thriller”. He told me I used to kick back in response to Michael and Quincy Jones’ rhythms. As a kid, the “Thriller” dance was also the first time I remember trying to really memorize an entire dance, but that was only after the werewolf part of the movie scared the living piss out of me.

“You can shout out all you want to/
cause there ain’t no sin in folks all getting loud
If you take a chance and do it/
There ain’t no one who’s gonna put you down”
- Off The Wall

I remember holding the vinyl of “Bad” on the living room floor and studying every buckle on the cover while blaring the masterpiece that MJ, Quincy, and synthesizer guru Greg Phillinganes crafted through the same speakers I currently bump my own music through (yes the same speakers, crystal sound, 20+ years later). When CD players were invented and my family finally got one, the first CD I ever owned was “Dangerous”. I traded my father a Bruce Springsteen CD I won at school, for the fresh copy of “Dangerous” he had brought home that same day. Out of all the music I’d listened to during those elementary-middle school years, this is easily the album that got the most rotation.

“We’re sendin’ out a major love/
and this is our message to you
The planets are linin’ up/
we’re bringin’ brighter days
They’re all in line waitin’ for you/
Can’t you see?”
- Another Part Of Me

Fast forward past the devilish people who tried to ruin his life through false allegations and lies, to “HIStory: Past, Present, and Future – Book 1”. When listening to this album it was clear that a man who grew up as an idol to America, ended up feeling disgraced and betrayed by a media who tried to ruin him and a culture who bought into a ton of false gossip. But in the midst of the many pain-scarred songs on the album were gems of beauty like “You Are Not Alone” that you can clearly envision the young, Afro’d out Michael singing his heart out on.

“It’s slander! You say it’s not a sword/
but with your pen you torture men
You’d crucify the Lord
…So why do we keep fooling ourselves?”
- Tabloid Junkie

I’d say his personal bottom is evident in the symbolic title of his remix album “Blood On The Dancefloor” and in it’s song “Morphine”. In the track, MJ is clearly venting his deepest, darkest thoughts in an almost free-associative coded manner, while clutching onto the pain convincing Lisa Marie that he’s kicked the drug habit (read her blog post here). Hell, he even drops a line about it being “always to please Daddy”… whew… this brother was really going through it during the mid-90’s. And after kicking the habit, then shaking off the negative aura surrounding the first round of allegations and going toe-to-toe with Sony Music, he came back proving to the world that he’s “Invincible”.

“Now I’m just wondering why you think/
that you can get to me with anything
Seems like you’d know by now/
when and how I get down
And will all that I’ve been through, I’m still around”
- Unbreakable

Even after the wave of Roc-A-Fella and Ruff Ryders establishing themselves as the new major movements in music, it was "Invincible" that was the album I was most excited for. The day it came out I got the silver covered version and my Dad got the orange one. I was so psyched for this album if you had told me it would be his last solo LP I may have fallen off the deep end. Rodney Jerkins and Michael’s production was and still is ahead of it’s time, although you can finally hear today’s music catching up to that sound with releases like the newest Black Eyed Peas joint (Will.I.Am was also working with MJ on new material, so you know ideas were definitely exchanged). And now there will have to be new generations of musicians and artists to take their craft to new heights just as Michael did.

“You can change the world/
I can’t do it by myself
You can touch the sky /
gonna take somebody’s help
You’re the chosen one/
I’m gonna need some kind of sign
If we all cry at the same time tonight”
- Cry

It’s as though his presence here was a test for himself and for the rest of us. Here’s a child who was born into the spotlight. He had our entire country focused on his every footstep with people hounding him around every corner, not understanding why every single person he ever met obsessed over him in an almost deranged yet loving manner. I mean wouldn’t that make you afraid at times as a child? Then he grew into a man trying to shake those childish fears but instead of being scared, he was going to scare YOU. (Hence, the underlying concept of "Thriller")

“Well they say the sky’s the limit/
and to me that’s really true
But my friend you have seen nothin’/
just wait ‘til I get through”
- Bad

Unfortunately, due to his vitiligo and increasingly private lifestyle he really did begin to scare a lot of us. Newspapers and tabloids began reporting a mass of lies just to sell copies. People began concocting elaborate plans to ruin his career by saying he corrupted the only kinds of people he unconditionally loved on this planet... children. He even got us taking a harder look at the pointlessness of race, once his skin disease fully consumed his body we had white-looking Black American telling us it doesn’t matter what our color is in order for us to love one another. No one knew better, that’s for sure.

“There’s a place in your heart/
and I know that it is Love
And this place could be/
Much brighter than tomorrow”
- Heal The World

And now he’s gone. Leaving us his messages through song. The crazy part about it is that this is only going to make more people listen to his music, and if we actually start to heed his message and truths this world could really be a better place for you and for me.

Your presence here gave a spark within us all, and because of that you are now immortal. Thank you for 50 years of magic and I will continue to love you Michael, just as we all will.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

FREE JusListen Ent. Jukebox!

2009-06-12T02:29:00.002-04:00

JusListen Ent. presents: The Awakening (FREE Mixtape)

2009-06-08T22:14:00.014-04:00

Cover image: "Step Into Tomorrow" © Stephen J. Tyson, Sr.

The BRAND NEW mixtape from Mr. Tyson & TRE dMC can be yours FREE just by clicking the link below!

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mdyteztg2om

Step 1: Copy the link above & paste in your browser
Step 2: Click "Click here to start download" on page
Step 3: Enjoy some FRESH new Hip-Hop for '09!

1. Mr. Tyson - Reppin' 4 A Dream
2. Mr. Tyson - I Said Sit Down
3. TRE dMC - All I Know
4. Mr. Tyson - Better Than I've Ever Been
5. Mr. Tyson - Tricks (remix)
6. TRE dMC - Bring It Back
7. Mr. Tyson - Self-Instruction
8. Mr. Tyson - A Kid's Story
9. TRE dMC - Neva Care
10. Mr. Tyson - Jack In The Box
11. Mr. Tyson - Money Don't Make Me
12. TRE dMC - Need Time
13. Mr. Tyson - Shimmy Shimmy Ya
14. Mr. Tyson - Ain't No Half Steppin'
15. TRE dMC - Tell 'Em What
16. Mr. Tyson - Can It Be?!
17. Mr. Tyson - Like A Star
18. TRE dMC - This Is Where It's At! (340 Anthem)

PS: If you enjoy "The Awakening" be sure to purchase "The Virtuous Lyricist" for just $9 at TysonsTake.blogspot.com!

Eminem - Relapse: Album Review

2009-05-15T12:50:00.015-04:00

On Tuesday, May 19th Eminem will release his sixth studio album “Relapse”. Now I'm not reviewing this album because I want to be a "critic" or any kind of shit like that. I'm just a fan of music and like to express my opinion on new albums I come across. With that being said, let's get into the latest effort from Marshall Mathers...

1. Dr. West – The best intro since the PSA’s on his first two albums. The audio engineering is really masterful, and the deranged therapist in Dr. West (played by "The Wire" star Dominic West) clearly shows why Marshall relapsed in the first place. (5/5)

2. 3 A.M. – Back on his psycho Hannibal Lecter/Jeffrey Dahmer rampage, the visuals he paints with his lyrics stand out like blood on a white wall. Some people get put off by his crazyness, but this track is really creative (esp. with the “Lotion in the bucket” part). If you get the chance to see the uncensored music video, you’re really in for it. (4/5)

3. My Mom – Another ode to Debbie Mathers. Legit beat by Dr. Dre, reminds me of elephants stomping through the jungle or something. Eminem breaks down how she’s been hooking him on prescription drugs since he was a child and the deranged parenting that made him the way he is. Oh, and the Auto-Tune cameo at the end of the bridge is hilarious! (5/5)

4. Insane – Um… he’s insane. I don’t know if the subject matter of this song really happened in some way but the gay-Stepfather-incest-rape scenario is pretty disturbing. On a positive note, it’s got a killer beat by Dr. Dre. (3.5/5)

5. Bagpipes From Baghdad – At first I really didn’t get where he was going with this track, but after listening to it several times it’s pretty much a “F*ck-You-Nick-Cannon-Mariah-Is-Mine” kind of track. Decent beat but too frivolous for me. (3/5)

6. Hello – Now THIS beat knocks! And Eminem’s re-introduction to the masses after a 4-year hiatus serves its purpose well. Not only is he saying “hello” to us by the way, he’s also waving happily at all of the bottle of pills that taunt him mercilessly. (4/5)

7. Tonya (skit) – Clearly an intro to the next track… poor Tonya, depending on that OnStar was not a good look. The sound effects make it really seem like an audio movie in a way. (3/5)

8. Same Song & Dance – Creative, creative, creative. For example, in the hook you think he’s telling the ladies to “shake that ass” but really he’s talking to the bound & gagged victim he’s got in the passengers seat. Looks like he’s getting back into his story-mode, which is never a bad thing. (4/5)

9. We Made You – The beat is pretty good, his flow is on point, but for some reason I’m not really feeling this track like I did with songs like “Without Me” & “Real Slim Shady”. At least it’s better than “Just Lose It”. (3/5)

10. Medicine Ball – And just when I thought the album would get disappointing, from here on out it holds its own. This track is absolutely hilarious, especially when he starts spitting as Christopher Reeves, challenging himself to a breakdance battle of all things. Oh, and Dre’s beat is phenomenal. (5/5)

11. Paul (skit) – Of course Eminem had to do the typical Paul Rosenberg skit, and as usual he can’t handle the kind of subject matter that’s on the album. (3/5)

12. Stay Wide Awake – “Soon as my flow starts, I compose art like the ghost of Mozart”… yes, 80% of the time he does. And this track falls into that category, no question. The rap game has clearly missed a lyricist of Eminem’s caliber. It’s good to have someone back that pushes the envelope. (5/5)

13. Old Times Sake (feat. Dr. Dre) – The dynamic duo does not disappoint. This should be the next single off the album. It’s great to hear Dre spittin like back in “The Chronic” days and offers a green inspirational message to those out there who stand up in the face of defeat. Eminem’s got some hilarious lines in here too, with quips like “I believe I can fly, while I pee on a girl, you won’t catch me C.S.I.” (5/5)

14. Must Be The Ganja – At first, the beat made my expectations of this song drop significantly. For some reason I didn’t really like it, but after listening to it over & over again I've grown to think it fits well with the track. Overall it’s a decent song, praises serial killers & herb, but nothing too spectacular. And at the end he admits he didn't even burn or drink during the recording of the song. (2.5/5)

15. Mr. Mathers (skit) – What it must’ve been like for him during the last 4 years. Great sound engineering once again. (4/5)

16. Déjà Vu – Marshall fighting his demons. Pretty much the internal struggle he went through with the drugs, alcohol, and Proof’s murder. Glad he was able to clean up his act and express his pain and experiences to us through music. Very good song (5/5)

17. Beautiful – Classic. Classic. Classic. Shooting for empathy and scores. The only track on the album that Eminem produced himself. All he needed was one. (5/5)

18. Crack A Bottle (feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent) – The first full-length track I heard off of Relapse. Eminem’s verse is solid, Dre’s verse is par, but 50’s is lazy and uninteresting. I would've taken a second Eminem verse instead of adding 50's... real talk. (4/5)

19. Steve Berman (skit) – The usual Steve Berman skit, this time Berman’s so pissed he pulls a gun on Eminem, lol. But the skit does elude to the fact that this is the first of TWO albums from Slim Shady this year… (4/5)

20. Underground/Ken Kaniff – So where’s he been? Underground. And it’s clear while he was away he was sharpening his lyrical swords, because this track is furious. The beat is a monster and Eminem slaughters the rhyming dictionary with hilarious lines and detailed storytelling. The Ken Kaniff skit at the end is a funny end to a dark, internal, and masterful album. (5/5)

Overall: (4/5) This is probably one of the better comebacks in Hip-Hop and music history. A 4-year stint of drug abuse and depression would do the average person in, but in Marshall’s case he used his detriment to his advantage. It’s clear this album might have done more for him than a therapist, and if he’s really going to release that second album of material I cannot imagine the quality of music it would contain. But since I’m only reviewing this one, I’ll have to go ahead and say this album will be considered a classic by most… including me.

DJ ear.2.ear - Illumination In 4D [MUSIC VIDEO]

2009-05-07T12:23:00.001-04:00

Filmed on Sunset Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i. Home of the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, the Duke Kahanamoku Classic, and the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational.

DJ ear.2.ear - Better Than I've Ever Been [MUSIC VIDEO]

2009-05-01T23:58:00.003-04:00

The Power Of CHI

2009-04-15T00:43:00.005-04:00

Now imagine if it was ingrained within our Western culture to promote daily meditation. How many people would be able to help others without doping folks up on prescription pills and stuff. Not saying all Western medicine is bad or anything, but the things this guy is able to do is really on some next-level-of-humanity-type stuff... too bad they pissed off his ancient master at the end.

Mos Def Challenges Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Kanye, Andre 3K, and ALL To A PPV Rap Battle!

2009-04-07T10:58:00.003-04:00

If this ever goes down I'd easily pay the $50 bucks to watch it! Between him, Hov, Weezy, Kanye, 3K, Freeway, Beans, and if Talib (and Black Thought) showed up?!?! Who knows who'd end up with the crown after that... I say it'd be a finals between Andre 3K and Talib to be honest. What do you think?

NYOIL Interviews Rev. Al Sharpton

2009-03-26T10:06:00.001-04:00

Public Enemy w/ The Roots on "The Late Show"!

2009-03-18T14:08:00.001-04:00

DJ ear.2.ear - Rise: That 9 Ether [MUSIC VIDEO]

2009-03-01T19:13:00.006-05:00

Since I've been asked, I figured I'd explain how I came up with the song's concept.

I was searching through YouTube one day lookin' for Jay-Z videos and came across different related videos of Nuwaubian teachings and philosophies, and one of the topics revolved around the symbolism of the number 9. Here is just a snippet of what they had to say:

"9-Ether represents the combination of all existing gases of nature, also known as the "all in all". Nothing anywhere can be as powerful as all existing gases. Therefore, 9-Ether is the most potent power in the universes, 9 to the 9th power of 9. Nine is symbolic of heaven, hell, creation and birth. 9-Ether is even represented in human form, within the hair follicles of African descendants which grows in the number 9 (the "curl").

So I figured, if 9 is the number which represents all... is that just another way of saying "God" but in numeric fashion? And if God is at the top then we've obviously gotta try to get as close to that level as possible, don't we?

Which means we've got to stop the financial corruption, stop the hatred, the global scandals, the wars (no matter WHAT the reason for them were, even if the reason was "God"), and work to develop a more positive society so that our children & our children's children don't have to grow up with the same social retardations that we currently hold ourselves back with... and work towards creating the brand new, and the better.

I don't even know if that's what they were trying to say, but this is what I got out of it. Yes, it's ambitious. But hey it's just music, and with all that said I hope y'all feel it and let me know what you think.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

DJ ear.2.ear - Can It Be?! [MUSIC VIDEO]

2009-02-24T13:04:00.003-05:00

M.K. Asante's "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop"

2009-02-23T10:21:00.003-05:00

So I received a copy of M.K. Asante Jr.’s book “It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop” from my father for my birthday, and it’s very much an eye-opener that snaps your attention to the future of our culture.

Now, like many of you I first heard the phrase “It’s bigger than hip-hop” from Dead Prez. The concept was always intriguing, but I never really thought of it as describing the progression of our culture. When reading Prof. Asante’s book, I began to understand how even though I’M part of the next-generation of Hip-Hop there are youth behind me that will shape the culture even further than I could have imagined.

Kind of how like in the 80’s we were making movies like “Krush Groove” and today you can see films like “8 Mile” and “Hustle & Flow”. Not saying they were as classic or pioneering as the original, but it re-invented what was already there to fit with the present.

And that’s pretty much the way Hip-Hop culture will continue to be… there will always be the pioneers of the past to influence the current generation, and while the current generation is doing their thing there is a whole new wave of youth that will take elements of what you’re doing and create something brand new. We can continue to say that “Hip-Hop is this” or “Hip-Hop is that”, but what will ultimately drive us forward is the realization that we can take what Hip-Hop gives us and make it bigger, better, and more applicable than anyone could have realized. And THAT’S bigger than Hip-Hop.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Nate Robinson Is Superman's Kryptonite!

2009-02-15T10:50:00.001-05:00

7 Questions

2009-02-10T14:22:00.001-05:00

It’s February 10th, now where do I begin?
Where I last left off, let’s pick up from the end.

Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers at the Grammys?!
I feel bad for the legend, and the whole Morris family

A-Rod juiced up while he was playing for the Rangers
Do you think his Hall-of-Fame enshrinement is in danger?

Chris Brown turned Rihanna into Robin Givens
Will they break up? Or do you think he’ll be forgiven?

The stimulus check is still stuck in the Senate
Do you think it’ll get passed before the Cubs win the pennant?

And congrats to the Steelers and their 6th Super Bowl
Will Mike Tomlin be around for as long as they kept Chuck Noll?

All of these stories you can find on globalGrind.
Find out about the world, so you can expand your mind

These are just a couple topics that I really had to vent,
I want to hear your opinion, so be sure to comment!

originally posted at:
http://globalgrind.com/content/399208/7-Questions/

Exile - Funky Worm (Chopped on MPC)

2009-02-05T15:50:00.000-05:00

Exile - Funky Worm Chop from FWMJ on Vimeo

The Image CNN Didn't Want White America To See!

2009-02-05T12:56:00.002-05:00

This photograph of The Body of Christ praying over President Barack Obama was not aired on CNN in fears that rural, white America would make an uproar about it...

Troy Polamalu: STEELER STAGE DIVE

2009-02-05T11:12:00.003-05:00

After winning Super Bowl XLIII, Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers does a stage dive into a crowd of 300,000 people during the Super Bowl Parade!

KRS-One On The Government

2009-02-04T21:54:00.003-05:00

It's in your best interests to watch in its entirety and then comment with your own opinion below.

globalGrind Blog: 2.3.09

2009-02-03T12:48:00.003-05:00

It’s February 3rd, and I’ve got a couple questions
For the people of the world, let’s begin my blogging section.

Kwame Kilpatrick was released from the pen
After serving 99-days will he do it again?

Rick Ross is pissed off over baby mama drama, cuz 50 found his info
Faster than we’ve found Osama.

Obama’s got the FDA fighting salmonella, it’s a thriller that our
Peanut butter has become a killer.

Michael Phelps was in a photograph ripping a bong, now ask yourselves
“Was the Olympic swimmer really wrong?”

Jennifer Hudson’s national anthem had me thinking,
Did she really just kill it? or was she lip-synching?

Rakim blames NY for Hip-Hop’s demise
Do you think it’s still alive? or do you think it’s in disguise?

All of these stories you can find on globalGrind,
Find out about the world, so you can expand your mind

These are just a couple topics that I really had to vent,
I want to hear your opinion so be sure to comment.

- Steve Tyson

originally posted at:
http://globalgrind.com/content/378089/6-Questions/

RZA Interview & Performance On "Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson"

2009-01-30T14:13:00.001-05:00

Pretty Good Street Drummer!

2009-01-30T13:55:00.001-05:00

Jay-Z & Young Jeezy: My President Is Black (Live @ Love in D.C.)

2009-01-20T21:29:00.004-05:00

The 44th Inauguration

2009-01-20T15:41:00.002-05:00

Today officially marks the induction of Barack Obama into the office of President of the United States. I'm sure a lot of us, especially those who are Black or of African descent, can see this day as the culmination of “The Dream” Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of so eloquently on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

In my opinion, the dream of our society living in an era where we can “judge each other not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character” is still on the horizon. Just because there have been a lot of people who’s racist tendencies have been put aside in order to make the logical vote in choosing Barack Obama, does not mean that we have made such a great stride as set forth by Dr. King.

Like when CNN took a poll of people they considered "black" and people they considered "white" to see if they thought King's "dream" was fulfilled. 69% of "blacks" said yes, and around 50% of "whites" said yes. So then they run crawl at the bottom of the screen that says "Fact: Most blacks think MLK's dream is fulfilled".

No one asked me. Have they asked you?

The moment Dr. King's "dream" is fulfilled, is the moment when The United States of America will be accepting of not just a Black President, but of an Asian President, a Hispanic President, a female president, an Indian President, an African President, or any other variation of human that our President could be. When we can pass through inductions and inaugurations of those types of Presidents without flinching, will be the day that we can proudy hold our heads high in understanding of “the dream” Dr. King had envisioned.

Congradualtions to President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, the first family Malia, Sasha, & Marian Robinson, and to Vice-President Biden and his family.

This is the beginning of a new era in American history, and I am just proud to have been able to witness it and will pass the emotions I retain inside on to my children and their children in hopes of a brighter future for us all.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

The Virtuous Freestyle

2009-01-16T14:17:00.000-05:00

Talib Kweli's Words of Wisdom

2009-01-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

“It was the night of November 11, 2006 at the ASFC of Franklin & Marshall College. There was not a cloud in the sky and the stars were in full effect as JusListen Entertainment prepared to take the stage and open up the concert for Talib Kweli…”

After a one hour set, leaving many people in the crowd stunned at the fact that two of their classmates & peers had just set the stage on fire, we congratulated each other and proceeded backstage to wind down. For the show, JusListen Ent. consisted of myself, T.R.E. (Dave Dennis), Ashton Williams, Dubb (Paul Fields), and P-Gunna (Patrick Delisser). We sat in amazement and watched Talib mount the stage with DJ Chaps of the 12” Assassins to a roar from the crowd.

Now that’s how to rock the house.

Seeing a sea of people who were of all races, genders, and generations spit his lyrics as though they had written them was priceless. Those were the same faces that we saw from the stage, and it took us almost the first half of the show until we won them over. So it was at that moment we knew that there was still a long way to go in this Hip-Hop game.
After his set, we met up with him and his peoples in the press area upstairs and he gave JusListen Ent. some words of advice that will remain with me forever. He said:

“When we got the set list, it didn’t have your names on it as performers. It only referred to you guys as ‘Local Support’. Now that’s OK though, because I started out as ‘local support’ and without any you’ll never be successful. Look at where you are now and what you have done to get here. You know you’re on the right path, all you have to do is keep walking.”

And that’s exactly what I’ve done since. I’ve kept walking. I walked right across that Graduation stage, walked the streets of NYC petitioning for Barack Obama & Save The Children, walked from music label to music label looking for a job, until I walked right into the front doors of globalGrind, and will continue to walk my path until I’m carried away.

If you’re reading this, thank you Talib Kweli for the words of wisdom, and know that they did not fall upon deaf ears.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Dr. Dre Is An MC's Best Friend

2009-01-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Everyone respects Dr. Dre for the way he keeps heads boppin’ and speakers thumpin’ but sometimes they’ll criticize the repetitiveness of the way his beats loop every 4- or 8-bars and how simple & elemental they can be. And that’s precisely the genius of his craft.

The way he spaces out his music allows any MC the ability to utilize his or her flow to the best of their abilities. From the poetic rappers like Tupac Shakur & Nas, to lyrical assassins like Eminem & Busta Rhymes, to masters of “flow” like Jay-Z & 50 Cent, to even singers like Mary J. Blige & Michel’le he allows people to express themselves as best as they can.

For example, take his latest production “Crack A Bottle”. A few of us here at Global Grind were listening to it, and you can easily hear how intricate Eminem is able to weave his lyrics in and out of the beat with ease. When it’s Dr. Dre’s turn to get on the mic he’s a little more somber and plodding with his flow, which might not work over most beats but is seamless when laced on top of his own production. 50 Cent is a disappointment on the song, but nevertheless he gets the final verse. Even though he’s as lazy as he’s ever been when rapping, his verse still locks into the beat better than a Lego.

I just can’t wait to hear what MC’s he enlists for “Detox”. Those beats he’s kept in the can just for this album have to be some of the best production he’s ever done if the music he’s been releasing became hits like “In The Club”, “The Set Up”, “Outta Control”, “How We Do” and “Lost One”. And apparently even if what he creates is simplistic in nature, word is he’s getting some production assistance from Hi-Tek, DJ Khalil, Mike Elizondo, Mark Ronson, & The RZA so you know there will be some crafty organization.

Hopefully the good Doctor will continue to produce and arrange music long enough for me to reach the spotlight and get down on a track or two, haha.

I’ll show him how the new generation gets down…

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Let The Beef Build

2009-01-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

First it was Jim Jones vs. Max B. Then it was T.I. vs. Shawty Lo. Then it became Lil’ Wayne vs. 50 Cent. Now it’s Katt Williams vs. Steve Harvey? I know people are always gunnin’ for the top spot, but these beefs are getting a little out of hand.

When the aftermath of 2Pac vs. Biggie played out, everyone was afraid to beef until Can-I-Bus started busting shots at LL Cool J. Then 50 Cent went on a tirade against everyone in the industry on “How To Rob”. Once he became a mega-success after his beef with Ja Rule, it seemed like the most popular thing to do in Hip-Hop was beef with any random nigga who’s willing to respond. Now we’re starting to come full circle, where the crews of rappers like T.I. and Shawty Lo are firing gunshots at one another. This is only going to lead to the same situation we found ourselves in when Biggie & ‘Pac were killed.

Which leads me to Katt Williams and Steve Harvey… now, I would not have guessed Steve Harvey was a beefin’ kinda guy but I’ve found myself mistaken. It seems like when he took off the toupee, he also took the gloves off and is willing to square off against any young comedian in the game. Katt Williams was the first to step up to the comedy legend, and his presence is really turning this into one of the best things to happen to stand-up comedy since Def Comedy Jam. I cannot recall a time when comedians would come at one another so openly, I mean could you imagine Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor dissing each other?

Maybe beefs and challenges are what the game needs sometimes. When things become too repetitive and stale or when the same people are in the spotlight for too long, there needs to be a changeover. It’s just when the insults get taken too far and the retaliation becomes more physical than verbal is when people need to watch out.

I doubt it will get like that with Katt & Steve, and I doubt it will even get like that between most of the rappers, but when it comes to some of the folk who surround the people that are beefing… you never know.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

2009: Year Of The Grind

2009-01-05T12:14:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about the rest of y’all but I’m glad that 2008 is in the past and we’ve crossed into a brand new year. We’ve got a new President, a new homepage for Hip-Hop (globalGrind.com), and some new resolutions to fulfill.

Looking back on the last year I have come to understand that in order for a person to be where they want to be, they will have to pay some dues and earn the respect of their peers in combination with the determination to never settle for less. I’ve learned that things do not always come as immediately as you would like, and that’s part of the beauty of it all. Because patience is clearly a virtue, it pays off when you’ve worked extremely hard at something over a long period of time and it finally starts to come to fruition.

That is the mindset I’m utilizing when looking ahead at 2009. For me, it’s really “The Year Of The Grind”. I released my debut album at the end of last year, so now I must focus on promoting it and gaining more exposure for myself. I must also remain focused on helping Global Grind become one of the most popular and premier websites to ever grace the Internet. Between juggling those two ambitions, I will also be creating a video blog later on this year that will feature exclusive freestyles from myself and other affiliates of JusListen Entertainment.

Those are just some of the things I’m looking forward to this year. If I let y’all know everything I had planned, well it just wouldn’t be the same now would it? Haha.

I hope everyone enjoys this new year. If 2008 was horrible, you’ve got something to look forward to. If 2008 was the greatest, you’ve got something to build upon for the future. Either way, we’re almost a decade into the new millennium and things are finally starting to look up.

Peace, Love, Unity, & Have Fun!

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Back In 2009!!!

2008-12-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

What's going on y'all? I know it's been a while since I've written or posted any blogs, so I'd first like to apologize. I've been CRAZY busy working with the team at globalGrind.com, in order to give you the best web experience possible. We've been pulling longer hours and working even harder to make the site better for y'all.

So in 2009, I will be hittin' the web HEAVY with some brand new thoughts and brand new topics for you to ruminate on. (I STILL haven't written on the election of Barack Obama, so you KNOW I have a lot to say on that).

But stay tuned, and don't worry. "Tyson's Take" will be back & in full effect starting January '09 and for now you can appease yourselves by listening to my debut album "The Virtuous Lyricist" which you can order by clicking the link on the right-hand side of this page.

See you in the new year!

- Steve Tyson Jr.

"Music is life, Life is music... JusListen."

Order "The Virtuous Lyricist" Available Now!

2008-11-11T11:03:00.000-05:00

The debut album from Steve Tyson (aka DJ ear.2.ear), titled "The Virtuous Lyricist", has officially been released on 11.11.08.
You can order a digital copy of the album at: TysonsTake.blogspot.com
-or-
by emailing: JusListenEnt@gmail.com

Price: $9

Tracklist:
1. Very Interesting Reality Through Unique Experiences
2. Rise: That 9 Ether
3. The Movement
4. Mind Elevation (feat. T.R.E.)
5. Makin' Moves (feat. T.R.E.)
6. Where Do We Go?
7. To The Left...
8. Illumination In 4D
9. The Reflection
10. Mind Made Up
Bonus:
Lost Generation
100 Million

You can preview the album at:
www.myspace.com/JusListenEntertainment

Parental Advisory Exquisite and Explicit Lyrics

Executive Producer: Steve Tyson
All Tracks (except #10 and Bonus) produced by: DJ ear.2.ear
Track #10 produced by: Brian "Doc" Robinson

2008, JusListen Entertainment.

Stephen Tyson, Jr.
President
JusListen Entertainment.

BET presents: The Cypher

2008-10-23T12:10:00.000-04:00

DJ Premier, Ace Hood, Juelz Santana, Fabolous, & Jadakiss
Lay it down for a freestyle cypher, and really keep it classic.
Check it out!

Yes There's Joe Six-Pack... But What About Jamal Forty?

2008-10-21T16:17:00.000-04:00

First off, props to Brother Gerard for the “Jamal Forty” line, but for real… why are both campaigns still ignoring the overwhelming struggles of middle-class Black folk?
Whenever I turn on CNN or MSNBC, I always hear about how the candidates need to appeal to middle-class, blue collar white voters. No one talks about the Black first-year college graduate, the Latino auto mechanic, or the Indian pizza guy. Why does American media always make it look like the biggest burdens only affect White America?

Now I know they’ve had specials like “Black In America” and they’re good & all, but it just makes it seem like those problems deserve coverage every once in a while as opposed to every single day. I think I’ve heard more about what life will be like for minorities in the future through Sen. Barack Obama’s debate points than from the newscasters that are supposed to be reporting these things. The focus of American media is completely on the wrong topics a lot of the time.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m not watching the right channels at the right time. Maybe I’m so ready for the Cultural Revolution that I see problems where there aren’t. Or maybe I’m right, and we should start standing up to various forms of media and demand proper attention and coverage of subjects that effect ALL of America.

Either way, I just hope this election goes in Obama’s favor and with America’s new image we can also change around the imagery that is broadcast around the globe through our media outlets. Whether or not that change is made by program directors, or the anchors themselves, it will be a much needed breath of fresh air for the average viewer.
What do y’all think?

- Steve Tyson Jr.

The Audacity of Dope

2008-10-01T16:18:00.000-04:00

Doesn’t it seem nowadays that you can’t be a successful Hip-Hop artist unless you’re rapping about being deep in the drug game? Now, for those musicians who have been in the drug game and clawed their way out… this blog is not about you. (Just diversify your topics every now and again.) This blog is about those aspiring MC’s that think they’ll only get a reputation in the game if they can say they made more money trappin’ then rapping.

Since the dawn of Hip-Hop, there have been lyricists who wrote about the harsh realities of their lives and the lives of the people they grew up with. Sometimes those rhymes would include graphic, detailed imagery about life in the ‘hood and circumstances they found themselves in. Other times it would reflect the positive side of our communities and give an inspiration to the millions of other people in those neighborhoods that have no other beacon of hope. Then there are those times when young, talented MC’s pick up a pen to write what they live, and instead concoct a fantasy world that resembles a sh*tty imitation of “Scarface”.

Maybe it’s the appeal of sex & violence that captures the imagination of so many young people in Hip-Hop, but there has to be a balance. For example, if you go to the movie theater there are 12 screens that usually show 12 different kinds of movies. Now imagine instead, they played 1 original movie and 11 cheap imitations…

Now, I’m not trying to imply that every new rapper is all about gun play & drug references cuz that’s clearly not the case. All I’m saying is between the artists, their A&R’s, the labels, and radio stations; there could be some sort of collective consciousness that breaks through the typical mindset of what “Hip-Hop” is about and we can reconnect to expressing peace, love, unity, and having fun. But again… that’s just Tyson’s Take. What do you think?

- Steve Tyson Jr.

T.I. - Paper Trail: Album Review

2008-09-26T15:40:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday Sept. 30, T.I. will release his sixth studio album “Paper Trail”. Now before I get into critiquing the brotha’s album, I want to make it clear that I listened to a bootleg version for this review but will be purchasing the actual CD to support a fellow artist. Plus, the album is good enough to get bought anyway.

1. 56 Barz – The intro to the album, this song is clearly a lyrical warm-up jog for the versatile MC. The anti-climactic beat puts listeners in position to expect more from the next 17 cuts, and he makes sure we know what other rappers are in his league. (3/5)

2. I’m Illy – No, not “A Millie”. DJ Toomp gives you something to make trunks thump from ATL to NYC, while T.I. lets us know how fresh he is in every aspect of his career. He even challenges us to re-evaluate his position as a Hip-hop heavyweight by declaring he’s “the hottest n*gga rappin’ since Tupac”. (4/5)

3. Ready For Whatever – Since he has a 1 year bid to serve for purchasing machine guns as an ex-felon, it’s of no surprise that he’d dedicate a track to getting his thoughts off his mind about the situation. He explains his situation with a sense of understanding and humility, which is refreshing to see out of a rapper these days. (5/5)

4. On Top Of The World (feat. Ludacris & B.o.B.) – Hotlanta definitely gets some good representation in this song. DJ Toomp is a maestro on the beats once again, recent Grand Hustle signee B.o.B. handles the hook like a seasoned pro, and Ludacris takes some shots back at Samuel L. Jackson for saying rappers couldn’t act. There’s so much goin on T.I. almost gets overshadowed on this song… almost. (4/5)

5. Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna) – When I first heard this song at the MTV Awards, I thought it was a good commercial move by sampling the “Numa Numa Song” and getting Rihanna to switch up the lyrics, but now it’s getting just as annoying as the original. Fun while it lasted tho. (3.5/5)

6. Whatever You Like – T.I. always has one or two songs for the folks who are tryna get their grown & sexy on. Jim Jonsin keeps listeners mesmerized by the synthesizer soundscape and T.I.’s hook tugs on ladies’ heartstrings, while giving the fellas something to whisper in her ear. (4.5/5)

7. No Matter What – On this song, he really shows the world Cliff Harris. Coming at the haters & naysayers, putting Shawty Lo in his place, and letting us know the strength of his faith. If anything happens to him in prison, this album will really be his paper trail. Props to Danja on the beat. (5/5)

8. My Life, Your Entertainment – ATL reppin’ once again, this time bringing in R&B sensation Usher. For a minute I thought getting Usher on a track might be a played out move, but the minute I listened I regretted thinking that. Drumma Boy is really establishing himself as a producer-to-be-reckoned-with and T.I. & Usher get the chance to come back at all the gossip outlets and rumor mill stories about them. (4/5)

9. Porn Star – Another song for those folks getting their grown & sexy on… or just getting their sex on for that matter. “Porn Star” delves deep into the sexual escapades that T.I. wants to take a lucky lady on. Decent production, generic topic, but good wordplay. (3/5)

10. Swing Ya Rag (feat. Swizz Beatz) – I swear, Swizz Beatz is one of the best producers in the game at making you want to stand on your desk at the office and tear your shirt off on some ol’ wild out sh*t. It kinda reminds me of that Petey Pablo song, but definitely revamped for 2K8. (3.5/5)

11. What Up, What’s Haapnin’ – This song is the “Ether” to Shawty Lo’s flimsy career. Classic. (5/5)

12. Every Chance I Get – Back to ballin’. T.I. takes up the generic “I’m gonna ball” theme for this track. He still manages to do it better than a lot of other rappers, but at this point I want to hear some other topics. Decent effort. (3/5)

13. Swagger Like Us (feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Lil’ Wayne) – Probably the song of the season. The four biggest heavyweights in Hip-hop collab for this effort. Kanye is a genius for finding that M.I.A. sample for the hook, and every single MC murders their verse. I swear they all co-ghostwrote Diddy’s version of this track too. (5/5)

14. Slide Show (feat. John Legend) – T.I. gets reminiscent again, this time running through memories of his past and how he visualizes them as pictures in a slideshow. His impending prison sentence is really bringing a side out of him that I don’t think has been revealed much on any of his other albums. Kanye helmed the boards for this song too. (4/5)

15. You Ain’t Missin’ Nothin’ – This song is soaked full of emotion, letting his fallen comrades know that even though they are gone they’re in a better place. He’s really been through a lot, and once again isn’t afraid to show it. DJ Toomp gets more soulful with the beat and it matches the verses perfectly. (5/5)

16. Dead and Gone (feat. Justin Timberlake) – It seems JT is really learning from Timbaland, cuz at first I thought it was Timbo on the beat and sure enough it was Justin. If that wasn’t impressive enough, T.I. brings back his classic flow and rounds out the album with a very solid single. (5/5)

Overall Rating: (4/5)
If T.I. can keep his head on his shoulders while in prison, and comes out a more focused and determined agent of positivity, I think his next album will be even more impressive and personal than this one. At first listen, the album didn’t live up to his best in my opinion (“King”), but the more I hear its songs over & over the more I have grown to appreciate it. It’s definitely worth picking up when it drops next Tuesday, so enjoy.

T-Pain, Kanye, Lil’ Wayne & The Vocoder

2008-09-17T16:24:00.000-04:00

Everyone’s either hating or loving the fact that T-Pain and the folks at AutoTune have brought back that classic vocoder sound. At first I thought it was just to compensate for lack of singing skills. I felt it was annoying and took away from the musicians that have real talent yet don’t get exposure. Especially when the man using it was only talking about being “In Love With A Stripper”. Soon enough I heard it spreading around to other R&B artists like Chris Brown, and knew it wasn’t going to end from there.

Now we have Lil’ Wayne and Kanye West using AutoTune unapologetically in every one of their latest releases. Even when they perform live, somehow the technicians are able to put the AutoTune effect through their microphones. When Lil’ Wayne performed on SNL the other weekend I thought he did a great job but, personally, would have rather heard him do it without any vocal manipulation. Kanye’s newest song “Love Lockdown” also features him utilizing the AutoTune effects in order to express his deepest pains about love.

Now, even though I’m 23 I have a vivid memory of first hearing the vocoder used by Stevie Wonder on his “Music Of My Mind” album. I thought it was such a cool idea as a child and never saw it resurface until years later when the “California Love” video came out with Roger Troutman using the Talk Box to achieve the same sound. The more I hear it used by rappers and R&B singers the more I’m starting to think that if they’re going to use it, then they better be good. Sometimes Kanye is too over the top with it, same with Wayne, but other times it doesn’t sound that bad. I think that for now, it should remain with T-Pain and maybe Chris Brown and everyone else should probably just let it go. But who am I to say what any other artist should do with their music?

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Hip-Hop's 100 Albums Worth Honorable Mention

2008-09-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

Last week I compiled my Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums and I appreciate everyone who commented (or will comment) with their opinions. What y’all had to say really got me thinking about all of the music I’ve appreciated in the last 23 years, so I’ve decided to compile a list of 100 Hip-Hop albums that I think deserve “Honorable Mention” status. I threw in some new and old classics that paved (and are paving) the way for future Hip-Hop generations. As always, let me know what you think.

Hip-Hop’s 100 Albums Worth Honorable Mention:

N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton
Kanye West – The College Dropout
Busta Rhymes – E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event)
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
2Pac – Me Against The World
Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Run-DMC – King Of Rock
Method Man – Tical 2000: Judgement Day
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot – Supa Dupa Fly
DMX – Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood
Jadakiss – Kiss Tha Game Goodbye
Styles P. – A Gangsta & A Gentleman
Ludacris – Back 4 Tha First Time
Ludacris – Word Of Mouf
Jay-Z – The Black Album
Q-Tip – Amplified
Big Punisher – Yeeeah Baby
Beatie Boys – Licensed To Ill
Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
Hot Boyz – Guerilla Warfare
2Pac – Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory
Blackstar – Blackstar
Talib Kweli – Quality
Talb Kweli & Hi-Tek – Train Of Thought
Ice Cube – Amerikkka’s Most Wanted
Puff Daddy & The Family – No Way Out
Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Forever
Dead Prez – Let’s Get Free
Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
Eminem – The Eminem Show
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
The Fugees – The Score
50 Cent – Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
The Roots – Things Fall Apart
The Roots – Illadelph Halflife
A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
Afrika Bambaataa – Planet Rock
The Roots – Game Theory
N.E.R.D. – In Search Of…
Common – Be
Wyclef Jean – The Carnival
Common – Finding Forever
J Dilla – Donuts
Mobb Deep – The Infamous…
A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
Slick Rick – The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
EPMD – Strictly Business
LL Cool J – Bad
Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E.1999 Eternal
Big L – Lifestyles Of Da Poor & Dangerous
MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em
Juvenile – 400 Degreez
2Pac – 2Pacalypse Now
Nas – It Was Written
Scarface – The Fix
Geto Boyz – We Can’t Be Stopped
Jurassic 5 – Quality Control
Fat Joe – Jealous One’s Envy
Cam’Ron – Come Home With Me
Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
Busta Rhymes – The Coming
Kool G Rap – 4, 5, 6
Atmosphere – Godlovesugly
Kurtis Blow – Kurtis Blow
Ice-T – Power
The Game – L.A.X.
Jurassic 5 – Power In Numbers
Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now?
Outkast – Stankonia
Pharoah Monche – Internal Affairs
UGK – Ridin’ Dirty
AZ – Pieces Of A Man
Beanie Sigel – The Truth
Da Brat – Funkdafied
Beanie Sigel – The B.Coming
Memphis Bleek – The Understanding
Goodie Mob – Still Standing
Heiroglyphics – 3rd Eye Vision
Kanye West – Late Registration
The Coup – Steal This Album
The Coup – Pick A Bigger Weapon
T.I. – King
Twista – Adrenaline Rush
Trick Daddy – www.thug.com
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter II
Foxy Brown – Ill Na Na
MC Lyte – Lyte As A Rock
Salt ‘N’ Pepa – Very Necessary
Murs – Murray’s Revenge
Nas – It Was Written
Jay-Z – American Gangster
Guru – Jazzmatazz
Jedi Mind Tricks – Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell
Kid ‘N Play – 2 Hype

Took a few hours to really narrow it down, and I know the first thing everyone might be thinking is “How did someone like The Game’s album get there when it’s not even been out for a week?”. It’s because The Game spits some real talk on that album, just like a lot of other MC’s on this list. If you’ve never heard of some of these albums, don’t hesitate to give them a listen. They just might end up as one of your favorites too.

Peace, Love, Unity, & Have Fun y’all.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Tyson's Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums EVER!

2008-09-03T13:31:00.000-04:00

Recently, hip-hop website “theboombox.com” compiled a list of their 20 Greatest Hip-Hop albums of all-time. Now, I took a look at the albums they picked and I’d agree with several of their choices but not necessarily the order. So I took some time out of my day and compiled my Top 25 choices for Greatest Hip-Hop album of all time. By all means, let me know what you guys think.

Tyson’s Top 25

25. DMX – It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot
24. Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary
23. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
22. De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising
21. Dr. Dre – 2001
20. Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather
19. Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane
18. Gangstarr – Step In The Arena
17. Outkast – Aquemini
16. Public Enemy – Fear Of A Black Planet
15. Redman – Doc’s Da Name: 2000
14. Nas – Untitled
13. Boogie Down Productions – Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop
12. Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele
11. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
10. Jay-Z – The Blueprint
9. Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded
8. Big Punisher – Capitol Punishment
7. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
6. Dr. Dre – The Chronic
5. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
4. Nas – Illmatic
3. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers
2. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die
1. 2Pac – All Eyez On Me

Took a while, and I know I omitted some classic artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD, Scarface, Goodie Mob, and more… but hey, it’s just Tyson’s take. What do y’all think?

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Bridging The Gap: Old School vs. New School

2008-08-27T14:49:00.000-04:00

KRS-One was recently invited to BET’s Rap City to discuss the new generation of Hip-Hop and how to steer the culture’s future in the right direction. Soulja Boy was also invited and they laid the foundation for a dialogue between old-school and new-school rappers. Because of the beef that Soulja Boy was recently in with Ice T, KRS-One explained that generation gaps have been around since the mid-‘80s. When he was coming up they thought that old-school Hip-Hop was in 1977, in 1997 they thought old-school was ’87, and today we think that it’s anything from the mid-‘90s.

I’m proud that BET would even step up to have an interview like this. It reminds me of Fab 5 Freddy’s conversations with artists during the Yo! MTV Raps era, and it’s good to take it back every once in a while so the new generation doesn’t forget where our culture came from. I also appreciated Soulja Boy’s humble approach when talking about Ice T. He could have reignited the entire beef but instead he just told his side and let the topic die.

In some ways I feel that there is going to be a re-emergence of KRS-One. Not like he ever went anywhere, but Hip-Hop is in such a state of disarray you’re beginning to notice a lot more artists reach out to him on a personal level. 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Nelly, Redman, Talib Kweli, and many others have jumped on board with his Stop The Violence movement. Also, The Temple of Hip-Hop and its mission are becoming much more relevant when it comes to connecting the TRUE roots of Hip-Hop to those who are born with only a mainstream knowledge of the culture. Those roots are peace, love, unity, & having fun and they are expressed through the MC, DJ, B-Boy/B-Girl, and Graf artist.

Much respect to KRS-One, Soulja Boy, Q45 of Rap City, and BET for setting off a continuing dialoge, and remember that The Teacha is the one with the blueprint.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Lloyd Banks: Terminated On Sight

2008-08-20T14:02:00.000-04:00

It’s been on the charts for almost two months and G-Unit’s “Terminate On Sight” STILL hasn’t sold 200,000 copies. It’s no surprise that we haven’t heard any statements from 50 Cent on the matter, but I know Lloyd Banks is pissed. I think it should be a wake up call for him that he needs to get from behind 50’s (and now Tony Yayo’s) shadow. We all know about 50 Cent’s business ventures, but with Yayo stepping into the acting world that leaves Banks as the only real lyricist left in the group.

He was the only real MC in the group to begin with, but now he’s really going to have to put the pen to paper and firmly establish himself as a Hip-hop heavyweight. He showed promise on his debut album, but went way too formulaic on “Rotten Apple” and lost a lot of credibility. His calm demeanor took the backseat to Young Buck’s brash personality once he was down with G-Unit, and with The Game (aka G-Unit Killer)’s lyrical improvement he might challenge Banks as the best MC G-Unit ever had.

Hopefully on his next album, currently titled “Gang Green”, Lloyd Banks will be able to find that lyrical promise he still possesses. His witty punchlines, metaphors, similies, and interesting stories are what caught the public’s attention 4 years ago. If he can stray away from the redundant topics that mainstream rappers are known for (or at least do it in a real creative way) then he will be the one to bring G-Unit back to a relevant status again. His next challenge would be to wrestle the “King of NY” crown from Jay-Z… that is, if the Jiggaman doesn’t pass the torch to Nas first.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

NURC: Re-Generation Tour Auditions!!!

2008-08-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

The Neo-Underground Railroad Conductors (NURC) will be hosting the 1st Annual “Re-Generation Tour” heading out across the country. The Re-Generation Tour was devised to use music as a tool to inspire youth to realize the value of true expression, the importance of making conscious decisions, and the power behind their individual voices.

NURC was founded on the same principles of the original Underground Railroad, led by Harriet Tubman. They use a network system to break the shackles of post-modern slavery, which threatens to be more dangerous than the slavery of our ancestors because we are no longer in physical bondage, but are mentally controlled by a mainstream society that puts money before morals and corruption before compassion.

The NURC will gather artists from all genres of music and the arts to perform at venues around the country. This year the focus will be on bringing positive acts to the east coast of the US, and sending satellite acts to states like Texas, California, Illinois, and other major cities.

All artists, speakers, filmmakers, dancers, etc., will be provided coaching from the NURC’s Conductor of Talent Relations and other trained professionals.

Tour Auditions will be held from August 15th – September 21st 2008 in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Submit artist & contact information to: nurc.regeneration@gmail.com
Or contact Amirah Cummings at: 646-457-6988

Jockin' Jay-Z

2008-08-13T15:11:00.000-04:00

“Whose house? Hov’s no doubt Bout the only rapper still getting money in the drought”
- Jay-Z

With firmly established business ventures like Roc Nation, 40/40 Clubs worldwide, NJ Nets, Rocawear, and potentially the NY Yankees, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has really come a long way. I’m not talking about the rags-to-riches story that everyone knows about. I mean the riches-to-wealth story that he’s still in the process of writing. No one else in the Hip-Hop game has turned their financial successes as a rapper into investment capital as an entrepreneur quite like Jay-Z has. Yes you can say 50, Diddy, & Russell should be mentioned as well, but Diddy & Russell weren’t rappers, and 50 Cent has always been more business minded than artistically gifted.

The fact is Jay-Z is creating a new trail for young Hip-Hop brothers who want to be more than just a record deal or a fashion icon. He’s laying down a true blueprint of success showing individuals how to focus on your vision, brand your ideas, and market yourself to a worldwide audience. He is becoming so well established in the financial fabric of our country that he can now create music simply for the love of art, rather than relying on it to pay the bills.

Because of the path he has chosen, young people can now look at the Hip-Hop industry and realize that being an artist can also be a platform for you to pursue bigger & better dreams. Essentially, if you’re good enough with the right mentality and can establish, brand, & market yourself, if you stay relevant the sky can be the limit. It also doesn’t hurt if you’re name’s Shawn Carter too, haha.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Dream Team I vs. Dream Team III

2008-08-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

Now that the Olympic preliminary games are over for Men’s Basketball, the comparisons between the 1992 Dream Team and the 2008 Dream Team are starting rev up. Now I don’t think there will EVER be a team better than one that consisted of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Isaiah Thomas, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Chris Mullin, & Christian Laettner. Besides the last two (Mullin & Laettner), the entire team was comprised of 11 of the original 50 greatest players in NBA history. I mean, I don’t even think there’s another sports team that can even boast that fact.

So now its 16 years later and a young, talented group of NBA stars are donning the red, white, and blue for their country. Granted, in those years there was a lot of turmoil within both the NBA and in USA Basketball. International competition flourished, Hip-hop fashion was banned, 18 year olds were barred from entering the league without playing for a collegiate institution first, and Ron Artest started punching fans in the face.

There was no way David Stern or any of the NBA brass was going to send their elite players to the Olympics to not return with the gold medal, only to have the league’s reputation tarnished again. I mean this summer alone more NBA players have signed contracts with foreign teams than in any other year. The quality of international play is much better than any of the teams that the 1992 Dream Team had to face. So instead of reminiscing on the “good ‘ol days” of USA Basketball when we would devour other countries teams for lunch, we should root for and respect Dream Team III because they have the hardest quest to the gold medal than any other team before them.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Apologies for Slavery & Jim Crow

2008-07-30T17:28:00.000-04:00

Recently our United States House of Representatives formally apologized for the violent enslavement and imposing of discriminating (“Jim Crow”) laws on African-Americans in this country. Now, I can understand the emotions of users like “darnelic” who asked: “What does that mean for me today”. It might seem like the apology doesn’t matter in this day & age, but in reality it means a whole lot more for us tomorrow than it does today.

Because our government has now undertaken the official position that something it enforced in the past was immoral and wrong, we can better understand how we got to where we are today, in order to better shape the future. People make claims that slavery ended hundreds of years ago and therefore today’s apologies don’t matter, but really the systematic enslavement and social oppression of Blacks didn’t start to die down until the mid-1960s. Which, at that point, made it over 450 (I say again, over 450!!!) years since the beginnings of the Atlantic Slave Trade. To compare, it was just a mere 40 years ago that Black people were finally recognized with the full freedoms that an American citizenship provides. Ya dig?

Whether it was being granted the right to vote or if it was something as simple as dining at a restaurant counter, the 1960s gave African-Americans our first glimpse of what Dr. King saw when he was “at the mountain top”. The end of Jim Crow marked the rise of the “American Phoenix”. The time in our country where those who had been subject to centuries of unjust discrimination and systematic oppression by our own Government, were able to better comprehend the grief their ancestors had fought through in order to lead this country to a new social destiny.

And to think, tomorrow’s future was all set off with one formal apology. (As well as a Black President.)

Maybe reparations are next… (*fingers crossed*)

- Steve Tyson Jr.

Nas vs. Fox News

2008-07-24T00:06:00.000-04:00

I just got back from the MoveOn.org and ColorofChange.org protest of the Fox News Corporation and News Corporation. Legendary Hip-hop lyricist Nas hosted the entire protest after being just over an hour late. As usual the NYPD and Hip-hop police squads were in attendance, but the true crowd was formed by members of MoveOn.org, ColorofChange.org, fans of Nas, and your average American citizen who is just fed up with the bullsh*t that Fox feeds us.

“Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try to call it news.”
- Nas

He kept it 100% real in his speech. Not only did he come at them for their consistently negative portrayal of the Obamas, he also put them on blast for demonizing black leaders, black institutions, and other black people. Nas even used the example of when Fox covered Coretta Scott King’s funeral and used it as an excuse to label other positive Black leaders as “racist”.

In the end, Fox News declined the 620,127 signed petitions showing their cowardice towards it all. Regardless of whether or not they will ever accept those petitions, it is only the beginning of the end for Fox News and other racially biased media outlets like them. More Hip-hop heavyweights like Nas need to step up to the plate and become a powerful voice for the voiceless. Since he was willing to stand alone while standing united with the people, I guess that makes him a hero. They say we’re looking for one…

- Stephen Tyson Jr.

Thinking Outside Since 1947

2008-07-22T15:46:00.001-04:00

So, I wear a lot of clothing made by LRG Co. and one of their phrases I’ve seen them use time & time again on their clothing was “Thinking Outside Since 1947”. Now I know that they weren’t founded in 1947 and it began to interest me as to why they picked that year and what did “thinking outside” have to do with it. So I looked it up in order to see what went on. Come to find out, it was a very busy year. Here are (what I think are) the Top 10 events of 1947:

10. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the MLB.
9. Bell X-1 breaks the sound barrier
8. Harold Dahl reports meeting the “Men In Black” after seeing 6 UFOs.
7. The Truman Doctrine is imposed.
6. The basis of the World Trade Organization is founded.
5. The Dead Sea Scrolls are unearthed.
4. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is formed.
3. A UFO allegedly lands in Roswell, NM on 7/7/47
2. Palestine is partitioned between Arabs & Jews, creating the state of Israel.
1. The CIA is formed.

Hmm… maybe LRG is on to something when it says “Thinking Outside Since 1947”. I mean it was the first time that there was a mass speculation toward the idea that life could exist outside of this planet. It also applies directly to us when new branches of our Federal Government like the WTO and IMF are created, making an increasing number of people around the world dependant upon the value of an inflated American dollar. We also confronted our country’s rough racial history when an African-American was allowed to professionally participate in our “National Pastime”.

All in all, I’d personally like to thank the people at LRG for waking me up to see what’s gone on in our past in order to better steer the future. The Jackie Robinson thing most people know, but there was a lot of other stuff going on that still affects us in a major way today. That’s all I’ve got for this week but stay tuned yo.

- Stephen Tyson Jr.

Fear of A Black Planet

2008-07-16T13:18:00.000-04:00

Ok, so Barack Obama is the Presidential front-runner in a country that has the worst race relations in modern history, Tiger Woods is on pace to become the first billionaire athlete in the world’s most historically racist sport, yet Nas can’t title his album “Nigger”. Richard Pryor threw that word around in his album titles freer than a slave with papers, but when someone uses it to make a social statement it's shut down. Chuck D said it the best when he said there was a “Fear of a Black Planet”. Not a fear of us coming together for a coup d'état of the government but a fear of us collectively achieving a new social status through more influential professions. That means less brothers and sisters striving to be professional athletes or shakin’ for the cameras and more of us entering fields like the sciences, academia, or politics.

“Too many rappers, athletes, and actors
But not enough niggas in NASA” – Nas

The expansion of blacks into broader professions would send shivers down the spines of a lot of closed-minded people when they realize that blacks all over the world would be able to help pave the way for a new history in humanity. Come on, there's room for everybody!

We’ve already broken the chains on our feet, now it’s time to break the mental ones. When that happens, the sky would no longer be the limit for our young people’s potential.

Americans get fueled by today's mainstream media when they ruminate over meaningless topics like lapel pins, out-of-context soundbites, lack of patriotism, “terrorist fist jabs”, etc. It’s precisely this issue that the artist who drew the recent cover of The New Yorker was attempting to address. Granted, it might have been tasteless, but the flavor of the picture resonated through all who saw it. Mission accomplished.

More and more young African-Americans in this country and blacks around the world are moving up the social ladder. Whether assisted by the helping hands of those who reach down, or pushed up by the ones behind, we shall soon make it to the top. The days ahead don't seem as dark anymore.

“We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama

- Stephen Tyson Jr.