Martin Lawrence - Jokes About Boxing - Audio

At Odds Til We Even Rd 1 (Eddie Murphy on singers)

My friend Dre and I have been friends for 25 years and over the course of that friendship we have agreed to disagree on many subjects. We may often agree that someone is the greatest in their field but the point of contention is usually who is number 2. For example we both agree that Richard Pryor is the greatest comedian ever but we split on who is a greater contender Eddie or Martin. My stance is that Eddie has it in all three categories, stand up, tv, and film. My brother Dre feels Martin is the greater stand up, Eddie the greater film star and I'm unsure of his opinion of tv Eddie. Here is a series of clips. I could not find video of Martin's HBO video which is finest stand up. But what I have is pretty good. I havd the same issue with Eddie's SNL footage . So I excluded the TV portion. Also when you see the clips, I feel those who know us will see the influence and reflection of each of them in us. You get a glimpse of why I gravitated to Eddie and he Martin.

Breeze - L.A. Posse

I dont care what nobody says this was my joint back in the day. My had it all charisma, energy, lyrics, flow and dance moves.

4th Deadly Verse Wu Tang-Triumph

This joint had me and Dre at CD Connect at midnight to scoop it. Check INS, Rae, Ghost, and U. Especially Ghost after GZA spit.

3rd Deadly verse KOOL G RAP & DJ POLO - MEN AT WORK (lyrics)

This is the original Big Pun I pride myself on being able to memorize records but I could never get this down.

Second Deadly Verse (Chino XL - It's All Bad (1996) [HQ]

One of the cats that got lost in sauce (the original Eminem).

1st Deadly Verse

A few months back my friends and had an extended debate about the greatness of various mc's. Jay-Z or Kanye, Eminem or Lil' Wayne and by the end everyone stuck to their guns and continued to embrace the lyricist of their choice. We decided we should make a list of that wordsmiths choicest cuts to display what we saw in them. Then we were to give examples of those who make up our musical blueprints and set the standards by which we measure all others. This was the preeminent lyrical influence of my youth. LL was my fave for the longest but Rakim was the spittter I admired most. He was clever, dense, and an amazing writer. The layers of rhymes that he used to occupy a verse were unrivaled. Beyond that he was an MC with a name that closely resembled my own. Growing up there were no Rashid's that were prominent and I definitely could not find my name in a novelty shop. So when Ra came I felt an instant connection. His verses were rehearsed his cadence was imitated. Here is the verse that blew my my mind.

Stevie Wonder - UNTITLED SONG SNIPPET (Unreleased)

This is the legendary snippet mentioned in the previous post. I know this has been posted and re-posted a million times. But enjoy it just the same.

Money, Power, Respect.....

I have for years wished I had the money/influence to make dream projects happen. I long to produce a viable vehicle to showcase the Eddie Murphy that I love to watch. I wish I could produce/write the perfect Marvin Gaye project whether it be film or theatre. Lastly I wish I could give my musical heroes a shot in the arm to turn their careers around. My first order of business would be to let Questlove head up the project. So many talented artists release projects that lack vision,direction or that umph that came with their early/prime work.

For those who are unsure of his qualifications to spear head a legendary project. Check his resume. Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971), known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove (also known as BROther ?uestion, Questo or Brother Question), is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. He is best known as the drummer for the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, which is now the in-house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He has produced for artists such as Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa and more recently, Al Green and John Legend. He is a member of the production teams the Soulquarians, the Randy Watson Experience, and The Grand Wizzards. Add to that Common, Maroon 5, and Pharell just to give you a glimpse of his diversity.

My friend Dre and I discussed this over Christmas break, that certain artists ought to seek him out and humbly place their musical trust in him. Prince immediately comes to mind, as one who could benefit from the Questo touch. Quest is a die hard Prince follower as evidenced by his Rollingstone Prince playlist. He could provide Prince with that funk that has all but disappeared over the last four releases. He along with Prince could find the sonic fountain of youth and really produce some fantastic music. Prince is still a phenomenal musician, his guitar work, writing and showmanship remain intact. The heartbeat of a band is the drummer and whether he's drumming or is using John Blackwell something is missing from the songs.

The Michael Jackson estate should hire Questlove in an executive producer capacity. Here he could be used to edit/finish those projects that Michael was unable to complete with his untimely passing. He could select producers that fit the vibe and vision of the demo's and help to round out the sound. Jackson recent releases lacked that glossy warmth that comes with a Quincy Jones production. Rodney Jerkins is talented as are the hodge podge of producers that contributed to the posthumously released "Michael". With Quest at the helm he could help to recreate that magic that MJ fans are longing for. He hinted at this with remix of Pharell's In My Mind entitled out of my mind. According to his Myspace blog while creating the rarely heard redux, Pharell would offer short musical quips to guide the drummer. This song should sound like Debarge meets DJ Premier or something to that effect. The end result was a project that surpassed the original.

Finally legend has it that Stevie Wonder has some 5000 songs in a vault, turn them over to Questlove. Wonder set the bar so high in the 70's that no artist has been able to surpass it, including himself. I believe that he takes so long between projects because he is trying to create that masterpiece to rival his early work. While his fans are waiting on a release of new work he could release previously unreleased material to satisfy them.( By them I mean me. ) Every other year allow Quest to cull 10-12 songs for a compilation. This will give a window into the mind of a genius that we rarely get to peer through. Also it allows him to have a part in the process instead of all these things coming out after he dies without any say so. The snippets released last year gave glimpses of the brilliance that could possibly lie on the shelves. The below link is to wet your appetite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmoIz9k0eCE&feature=player_detailpage

The Shidscars.

My brother from another already did his list so please check it out. The Shidscars are an award not recognized by any governing film bodies or reputable agencies. The opinions offered and awards given reflect the notions of Rashid Sartorial Taylor

• Action Film of the Year(Traditional) :Knight & Day
• Action Film of the Year (Alternative) : Scott Pilgrim V. the World
• Apocalyptic Film of the Year: The Book Of Eli
• Comedy of the Year : Dinner for Schmucks/Date Night
• Best Remake: True Grit
• Best Performance by an Actor: Christian Bale in the Fighter
• Best Animated Film : Toy Story 3
• Most Thrilling : Unstoppable
• Best Biopic: Social Network
• Best Heist Film :The Town
• Best Film Not Named Inception: Shutter Island
• Chick Flick of the Year: Eat Pray Love
• Best Picture: Inception
• Most Disappointing: Faster
• Most Surprising: Kick Ass

For The Record

I was re-reading The 50 Greatest MC's by Kool Moe Dee and he made a point that a great song is not always a great record. So that made me think for a second, because we often use the terms interchangeably but they are completely different. For my own understanding and definition a great song is a lyrical/ musical gem that can be interpreted and reinterpreted time and time again. It does not have to be wonderfully producedThe example that immediately comes to mind is Yesterday by the Beatles. This song has remade by everyone from Marvin Gaye to En Vogue and always sounds good.

On the flip side a great record in my estimation is a great product, where the sonics, lyrics and vocals serve each other. Before you know it you are caught up and singing along whether you like the record or not. Ice Ice Baby anyone. Not that I didn't like it but it was the first time I realized that I sang along even when I did not want to. In my next post I will list those that I find to great songs and great records. What is your definition? What are your examples? Or is Kool Moe Dee wrong? Notice I said Moe Dee not Rashid. ;) Uno

Catch Up

Catch Up: Okay I know every year that certain flicks are going to get by me around September/October, Wall Street, Legends of Guardian , and The Social Network all missed for various reasons. Today thanks to a snow day I got a chance to catch up on the latter two. Legends of the Guardian was a wonderfully majestic film. The creatures looked so life like that I was checking my mantle for feathers. It moved slowly and I dozed off a few times but once it hit its stride it worked. They found a way to have owl battles that were convincing, which is not easy.

This was merely an appetizer for the entree that was Social Network. This film was another masterpiece by cinematically deft director David Fincher. Fincher built the tension from the opening scene, showing Zuckerberg's drive and fragile ego that made him a true success. The viewer is taken on a voyage of deceit, debauchery and the money making potential of a revolutionary idea. For those who haven't seen this film pick it up and settle in.

A Change Is Gonna Come

I don't make New Years resolutions, but at the the beginning of this century I resolved to be. Be better, be vigilant, be loving and so on. With each passing year I have also decided to focus on personally developing the various aspects of Shid. 2009-2010 was to embrace my sartortial side and the above picture is a sample. This year is going to be spent cultivating relationships of healing and renewal. This blog was initially intended to connect with those that I separated from by distance. Through my spiritual connection I hope to be a tool. Use me.

Something New

It has been three + years since I have published anything on this site . Dre revitalizing his has inspired me to do the same. Here I will post the burning questions I have. Hopefully they will be answered.

Enemy of The State

Last year Nas pronounced Hip Hop Dead, I didn't bat an eye because essentially I agreed. The hip hop that I loved, embraced and supported everyday of my life, died years ago. That was replaced with a more aggressive and flashier version. At this point there was still an environment of originality that thrived within the art form. Gone were the blatant positive and political messages replaced by testimonies of struggle, chaos and contempt. Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, and LL Cool J were replaced by Biggie, Jay-z and Nas. NWA and Public Enemy were replaced by the Boot Camp Click and Wu-Tang Clan. These young men came of age in the times that their lyrical predecessors rallied against. Dope Man by NWA was more than a hot track off of a classic album it was their theme song. When it was there time to shine they repped it to the fullest, flaws and all. (Only way for me to G off, was drug loot.) At first as a listener I was annoyed if not bothered initially by the hostility and constant gun references but the lyricism was there and I continue to listen. Those MC's gave birth to what I call the lowest common denominator MC. The MC's that now rep the hardest or receive the most attention saw these mc's in their magnificent blingness and thought that's the main ingredient to success. Swagger now supersedes skill, originality, diversity and flat out talent. Jim Jones and Young Jeezy are succeeding on charisma and style more than any great lyrical ability. My friends and peers sit on both sides of this. One group says these niggas wouldn't have cut it back in the day. Then there's the others that say you got to change with the times and this stuff is hot. I myself look at it as an ignoring of the fundamentals and embracing of the easy skills set. It's the same with the And 1 and the NBA they both have their place. It merely depends on the public taste. The record industry has decided to magnify the And 1 MC's instead of the fundamentally sound MC's because the product is cheaper and easily accessible. I myself live for lyrics and originality and tend to support those who bring them. Talib, Common, Pharaoh have all made good if not great albums this year so Hip Hop may be resuscitated.

Crew Love Vol. 1

This is a tribute to those of you I have known the majority of my life. A group of men who have traversed life's treacherous highway at my side. I love you man.....(I will attempt to chronicle them chronologically).


Anthony Owen Taylor Jr. - Sonny Corleone-My feet-This is my big brother, I say this laughingly because he hasn't been bigger than me since first grade. My brother and I disagree on nearly everything, we even disagree on how much we disagree. However for as long as I can remember he has been right there having my back and showing me things even when I don't want him to. "Righty tighty, lefty loosey." If people make up your life, and you view your life as a body, then he would be the feet. His relationship has carried me through my life, and taught me how to interact with everybody else. He is hilarious in his own right, but he has allowed me to be Eddie Murphy while he played Charlie. One love ......Darkness.

Edward Jones- Johnny Fontane- My hands-This is my cousin/brother he has been there for me longer than anyone else excluding my brother. He has been my competitor, cohort and counselor for most of my life. We have broken, busted and burned so many things I think we need professional help. Any relationship I was in, my girl had to get along with him because sooner or later we were going to all be together. In the body that represents my life he is the hands, because everything I touch has his imprint. For our time together had a huge impact on my sense of humor and perspective. We don't hang out as much as we would like but any time we hook up it's like '86. Love ya boy.

Naamon Johnson-Luca Brazi-My heart-This is my friend/brother who has rolled with me for as long as I can remember. I don't even remember meeting him. It seems like he has always been there. Naamon and I were kicked out of Sabbath School together for playing too much. It may seem impossible to get thrown out of a church function but we found a way. The most spectacular thing about Naamon was that he was cool playing the background. He never fought attention, or sought the spotlight he was just happy to be down. Naamon is my heart not because that's what you call someone special who passed away. No Naamon is my heart because our relationship existed on minimal communication. We could sit for hours and not feel forced to have contrived conversations just to entertain each other. There was also no need to hide or conceal what was really going on with the other. We both experienced breakups that were tough in there own ways and we shared that without concern for embarrassing ourselves. RIP Big Dawg, Love ya.

Andrew Jennings-Fredo Corleone-Inner Voice-This is my cousin/brother who is a few years younger than me. We have grown closer, and I remember vividly the moment it happen. He was starting college the following morning and we sat in my room and discuss my college career up to that point and what was in store for him. I saw him as an individual I could learn from and teach at the same time. That has been the nature of our coexistence an ebb and flow of information going both ways. Whether debating Kobe's superiority to Vince Carter or Jay-Z's lyrical dominance over Eminem he's stood his ground. He's earned my respect, keep ya head up baby brother. He is my inner voice because oftentimes when I write or debate certain thing in my head he is the sparring partner.

Conan Andre Patmon-Tom Hagen-Spine-This is my friend/brother who I have known for 20 years this summer. (Dang we old). Over the last ten years I have probably more time with him than anyone aside from my wife. He is the one who challenges my BS, and the reason I always have my arguments together. There is an unstated rule between us that if I don't know it he is supposed to. For the most part that has remained true, to the chagrin of our other friends. We may both agree that Kobe is the best player but for completely different reasons and argue them to the death. It has gotten so bad on occasion that people start to preface their statements with "I ain't trying to argue this but..." I call him the spine because by our association I have less passive and more assertive. It's like sparring with Mike Tyson you start to realize your hitting a little harder and you can take a lot more. Two fingers. One.

I have written this because ya'll don't read anything else I write. Will you read about you. Kanichiwa B****es. PS check out Dre's art show October 15th at Holiday Inn Dayton Mall.

Genius Wrap Up

It has been a while since my last post apologies to the one's who have been eagerly anticipating this. Let me stop exaggerating, the one who has been anticipating this. Last time I pose the question, "can a director be considered a genius?" My personal belief is that even with the smallest budget,there are several individuals that contribute to the making of a film. There are individuals who have an extraordinary track record, and have brilliant films but the editor plays a part. The actor and writer are also hugely responsible for the outcome of the picture. So unfortunately I can't consider any directors quantifiable geniuses.

7. Bruce Lee- The manifestation of physical genius. For those over twenty five he is quite possibly the catalyst for many kung fu fantasies. His brilliance supercedes the fantastic images immortalized in the films of the mid 1970's. A student of martial arts since elementary school, Lee devoted his entire existence to becoming the best martial artist possible. Taking fighting beyond the instinctual to the intellectual. Incorporating boxing, wrestling, and numerous styles of martial arts to his own distinctive style now known as Jeet Kun Do. Your style was not a predetermine set of moves but an attack contingent on your opponents style. This was best represented in his renowned match against Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon. Adapting to Norrises power, he relied on his speed to subdue his opponent instead of trying to combat his strength. The Lee legacy was cemented in a four to five year period. Every film we have seen was filmed between 1970 and 1973 the year of his demise.


8. Marilyn Vos Savant- The Smartest Person In the World. This college dropout, was reported to have an IQ of 167 at the age of 10 years , 8 months. The astronomical score of 228, reported in the Guinness Book of World Records, was recorded just 8 months prior. Worst case scenario her IQ is considered somewhere between 186 and 230. That alone is enough to land on this list. Vos Savant has a part time job with Parade magazine, where she administers advice on a litany of subjects from seemingly impossible equations to philosophical issues. She also serves as the CFO of Jarvik Heart and does cardiovascular research with her husband Robert Jarvik.

Genius continued....

As i promised geniueses 4-6 are up next, these are not listed in the order of their greatness or brilliance for those that are wondering.

4. Prince- an astonishing array of talents and capabilities. Prince can channel Hendrix like guitar, Art Blakey drum stylings, Beatleish songwriting and a kinky Eddie Kendricks falsetto effortlessly. Over a seven year span, ( creative peaks), he gave you Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day, and Sign of the Times. These titles testify to the brilliance and breadth of this man's genius.

Has hip hop produced any geniuses the art form while the most challenging music style is not for it's acceptance and patience. Thereby making it difficult to establish one's genius. The nature of this beast called hip hop is what's fresh, what's hot right now, which makes it hard for an artist to find his lane or create one. With that being said it has produced two geniuses......

5. Jay-Z- Hip Hop's most consistently stunning artist. The fact that he gave you an every 9 months on average in his career is enough to applaud. However what magnifies his majestic talent is that he never wrote one lyric down. 12 albums in seven years, no for a peaks and valley debate his entire career was a creative peak, touching on love, jealousy, fear, loyalty and his mistakes. Rappers rarely let their guard down and he did it and never lost his cool.

6. Notorius B.I.G.- Hip Hop's Haley comet. Biggie Small's is the illest, he said it himself and never has a self proclamation been truer. Biggie had an ability to craft lyrical visuals like no one else. The rhymes transported to some awful Brooklyn alley and allowed to bare witness to the horrors and leave unscathed. His type of talent comes around so rarely that people are still picking over his lyrics, and regurgitating them 9 years after his demise. The most amazing thing about Big is that he started writing rhymes the traditional way, pad, pen and whatever studio stimuli necessary. After his first album, he grew tired of Puffy's insistence on proofreading his material, so he began storing his rhymes in his head. For an individual to do that between projects and get better, phenomenal.

There you have it 7-10, coming soon, until then can a filmmaker be a genius considering the fact that so many work on a movie. Discuss.

Genius?

"Stevie Wonder is a musical genius I have all his albums. Music on my Mind, Talking Book, Fullfina, Fullfinna , aw f&*% it, you know the good one. " This a portion of a joke told by Eddie Murphy, yet in it lies a truth about the perception of genius and how guarded we as individuals are concerning our geniuses.

Genius is defined as attendant spirit; an extraordinary aptitude or level of infulence. This definition is vague and not very definite. Leaving me to believe that genius like love is neary impossible to define. In other words there aren't a group of words that give a definite understanding of this one word. So I am here offering my own "definition" and a few individuals who fall into that category. (The real reason for this blog).


I believe a genius is one possesses a protuberant amount of talent, understanding, skill and potential. There is a thin line separating the genius and the gifted, but there is a line.

The genius is prolific in his or her field of brilliance. Whether it be music, painting, or stand up comedy, the individual has abundance of mind blowing material. There is a consistent level of excellence that is indisputable and usually comes during a season of magnificence.

How many people actually fit the category of genius? Very few. How many fit the category as I've defined it. Even fewer, ten to be exact.

These are from my lifetime, there will be no Einsteins, Beethovens or Mozarts.

1. Richard Pryor- the benchmark for comedic excellence and the greatest recording artists of all time. One of the few artists to mine his own existence and give life to so many classic routines. His anger, fear, joy, pain and love all became fodder for his performances.

2. Marvin Gaye- the musical equivalent to Pryor . Gaye could not salvage the wreckage he called relationships, yet he sang about it most beautifully. His life was the muse for the fantastic canvasses he created in the vocal booth.

3. Stevie Wonder- Wonder has created remarkable recordings for nearly forty years. That in and of itself is commendable but when you review the influence he has on those that came after him it is even more amazing. Over a five year stretch he gave you Music of my Mind, Talking Book, Innervision, Fullfingness, First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. Hitting a creative a streak arguably unrivaled by anyone. Stay tuned for 4-6. Until then has hip hop produced any geniuses discuss.