The Vision Is Blurry

Directed By: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce & Ben Kingsley

Story: When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

Thoughts: After watching this movie, I can truly see why Robert Downey Jr. was secured for this role. Third time suiting up as Tony Stark (Well four if you count The Avengers) and I can’t imagine anyone else in the role. The on screen chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow is also a match made in Hollywood heaven. Also the casting of Ty Simpkins as Harley, a young child who helps Stark later in the film, was a great addition. Harley is the typical child, full of questions and eager to assist. Guy Pierce as Aldrich Killian was a man with strong intent on fixing his own disabilities and is willing to also take over the world doing so. Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin was great as they strayed away from the stereotype of what the comic introduced as the character to be.

I enjoyed the movie but I feel as thought watching this adaptation from the comic, I’m missing out on some of the back story as in regards to the relationships of the characters. But anyway, round up your family/friends or roll solo and check out this great movie.

Erica Mena, who was a star in Season Three of Love and Hip Hop: New York penned her own book, “Underneath It All”. She tells readers upfront that the book isn’t going to be the typical tell all. Although as you read the chapters, you will read about those in the hip-hop industry that she has dated. The difference between Erica Mena’s book and Winter Ramos’ book is that Erica goes deep into the dark side of her life. When you read the early chapters, the abuse that she suffered at young age is heartbreaking to read. Erica also discusses losing her first love and how she got in the business of modeling and being in videos. In regards to other relationships in her short life, Erica doesn’t cut corners when she talks about her son’s father as well as crossing paths with Draya (Basketball Wives: L.A. fame), a young lady named Maria, DJ Envy and Rich Dollaz.

While Erica’s story is one that needs to be told, the format of the book made it difficult to finish reading. In ways, it reminded me of those ‘hood novels’ that are so popular with some readers today. It’s fifteen chapters of Erica talking about her life and what she had to go through in order to get to where she’s at now. If you withstand the book’s physical format, then you should be good. Other than that, it should be available on your digital reader.

Last night at the Ottobar over in West Baltimore, Turquoise Jeep Records stopped through for a performance. Now if you’ve been on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or any other social media outlet, then you should have an idea of who these guys are. Everyone in attendance was excited as a great performance was expected.

Opening the show was local artist, Symbol. This was my first time hearing music from him and he had some cool dance moves on stage. Kinda fucked up that someone stole his shades and he pointed that out later. Haha. group, LAZERBITCH, which is made up of LAZERlibby and Mad Max. They opened their set with ‘High School Shootout‘. What I enjoy mostly about LAZERBITCH is that their music is catchy and fun to listen to. LAZERlibby has fun when she’s performing and it showed with her live performance.

After a warning from a Doctor that the women in the crowd would be impregnated with baby batter from hip hop beats, the crowd was ready in anticipation for Turquoise Jeep to hit the stage. The DJ got everyone warmed up by spinning Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Backseat Freestyle’. Whatchyamacallit and Pretty Raheem hit the stage first to a roaring crowd. After Flynt Flossy and Yung Humma hit the stage to roaring cheers, they performed hit songs such as “Stretchy Pants”, “Cavities”, “Why I Gotta Wait“, “Did I Mention I Like To Dance” and “Gimme That Booty“.

What makes Turquoise Jeep Records popular is that they entertain fans with their music. Fans are glad that they don’t have to hear ‘molly talk’ or other foolishness that occurs in current rap music. If the jeep is rolling through your town, cop a ticket and enjoy the show. It’s worth it.

Big K.R.I.T. keeps the movement going with his latest free album King Remembered In Time. After releasing his Def Jam debut album, Live from the Underground in June of last year (which really didn’t meet up to mainstream standards), K.R.I.T. shows where he shine best and that’s putting out music that is enjoyable. I’m sure that there are some that still enjoy LFTU, but when he’s able to have free range on his project, K.R.I.T. is untouchable.

KRIT begins with the Southern funk of ‘Purpose’ where K.R.I.T. talks about his upbringing and the road he was preparing to travel in life:

I was born in ’86, despite the wolves and rats
Survived the wild and returned with these bear furs on my back
To feed the family, drink the wine, give thanks to God and watch for signs
The winter’s cold, but we was chose to rise above the darkened skies
And fight against what lied beneath, my feet are firmly on the ground
Prepare my soul and grit my teeth, fight or flight is going down
What man amongst me says, that I ain’t fit to wear my Father’s crown

Bun B joins in on the excellent sounding ‘Shine On’ where he and K.R.I.T. both shine on this track. ‘King Without A Crown’ shows K.R.I.T. letting listeners know that he has these skills that many (and it’s plenty of them) doubt that he has:

K-R
I-T
One more time for them folk that didn’t Know
Two more time for them folk that didn’t listen
Three more time for them folk that said growth
Was impossible, for a country boy
Like they could spit, like they could flow
Shawty everybody wanna be a rapper
But everybody out can’t do a show

‘R.E.M.’ is K.R.I.T. rapping about the reception that was met on his first album and how he doesn’t want to sellout:

One album I’m still kicking
Def Jam, tell ‘em I’m still with it
Tell ‘em I’m still winning, tell ‘em I’m still in it
Next time I drop a bomb, I swear I’mma kill niggas
No pause is needed, I swear I don’t feel niggas
Snakes is in my front yard, I swear I’mma deal with ‘em
All that still hear me, pray that they still get it
I feel like I failed y’all, it’s hard to live with it
My dreams

One of the strongest tracks off of KRIT is Serve This Royalty. K.R.I.T. talks about the love that he has for his woman and the steps he’ll take in order to do right by her:

Go to war with giants of all kinds so when you sleep without your King beside you you sleep fine
I be you knight in shining armor, swing down with a hammer like Thor for those that want drama
Travel high and low for those expensive garments that I
Peel off your frame after I fight in your honor

It continues on the Ashton Jones featured ‘Good 2getha’ as K.R.I.T. talks about what that potential woman can get from riding with him:

Let me be your one stop shop,
Fill you up when you on E
Pick you up when you want feet
Be your guide, I be your eyes
When you can’t see, I be your air
When you can’t breathe
I give you game but it ain’t free…

Big Sant links up with K.R.I.T. on How You Luv That as the two underground heavyweights lets listeners know that they are legendary among other Southern Hip-Hop duos. Other features include Trinidad James (‘My Trunk’), Smoke DZA and Wiz Khalifa (‘Only One’). K.R.I.T. handles the majority of the production duties on KRIT save for the 9th Wonder produced ‘Life Is a Gamble’ which also features BJ The Chicago Kid.

KRIT is another banger from Big K.R.I.T. who shows that he’s not afraid to shy away from the formula that made him popular in the South. Now if only those industry execs would allow him to do the same on his label release…

If you’ve watch the third season of Love & Hip Hop: New York, then you are quite familiar with Winter Ramos. She actually made her first appearance on Season 2 of LAHH:NY when she gave Emily advice on her relationship with rapper Fabolous. Well Winter has gone the route of others (Karrine ‘Superhead’ Steffans, Carmen Bryan, etc) and wrote her book about her dealings with the hip hop music industry.

As you read GO:MLFHH, she talks about her beginnings as she used to date Junior Mafia’s Nino to the latest Ronald ‘Slim’ Williams, the co-founder of Cash Money Records. It’s some names that she drops in the book and if you watched LAHH:NY, there are some that didn’t want to be near that book at all. From reading, you would think that her sex was the fountain of youth the way rappers wanted to be with her.

Winter discusses her personal life and relationships with her mother, dropping out from Delaware State University. It seems as if she got frequent flyer miles because a good majority of the book, Winter talks about her dealings with Dame Dash, Jadakiss, Young J Big Money (What?) and working for an overprotective Fabolous. If you think that being in the hip hop culture is full of glamor and the good life, read about how life for her was working for Fabolous (She claims ‘You Make Me Better‘ about her) and just dating certain people within that industry. It should change your perception right away.

GO:MLFHH is your run of the mill tell all book. If you want to read about the bedroom antics of certain rappers and other messy stories about the hip hip industry, then run out and grab the book that made the New York Times Best Sellers List.

Director: Brian Helgeland

Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie

Story: The life story of Jackie Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey.

The movie opens with Branch Rickey (Ford) discussing with two other executives that he wants to have a Negro play baseball in the major leagues. After throwing out such names as Roy Campanella (Rickey called him too sweet), Satchel Paige (Rickey said he wants a player with a future, not a past), Jackie Robinson’s profile opened up. After inquiring about his character (During his time in the service, Robinson wouldn’t sit at the back of the bus and had to be removed by MP’s), Rickey met Robinson in Brooklyn. As the movie continued on, we would see Robinson faced with highs (the birth of his son among those) and lows (being spiked in a game against the Cardinals), he continued on.

The relationship between Robinson (Boseman) and Rickey was portrayed to be respectable one onscreen. I actually like the performances that Boseman and Ford delivered in this movie. Also Nicole Beharie’s portrayal of Rachel Robinson was an excellent casting move as well. I was unaware of the casting of Ford, Christopher Meloni (Léo Durocher) and John C. McGinley as Dodgers play by play announcer Red Barber who said that Robinson was ‘very brunette’. Everyone played their roles in they way they were supposed to be portrayed. The emotional scene where Robinson breaks down in the clubhouse was a great moment in the movie.

The time during post WWII showed that blacks were still dealing with segregation and the 42 didn’t shy away from it. But it did show Robinson in a hero light among those that supported him along the way. This is a great movie that you should see with the family. Although, racism is still alive and well these days, a lot has changed since April 15th, 1947.

Some that have seen my comments in the past might think that I’m going to trash this album based on the artist. I wasn’t going to listen to this album because I know that Tyler’s music isn’t in my lane. But after reading glowing reviews from folks on Twitter and other media outlets, I figured what the hell. So I took a listen and this is what I thought of it.

After being introduced to Wolf and Sam on the album’s intro, Hodgy Beats joins Tyler as they romp over girls and drugs on “Jamba”. The beat sounds as if it was lifted from an 80′s Pop song but it fits for what these two set out to do. Tyler also addresses his sky rocketing fame, touring and dark thoughts on “Cowboy”.

“Awkward” was one song that I could relate to as Tyler talks about a girl that he liked and how things fell apart in the end:

I’m insecure and start to think that I do not stand a chance
But, moments, wish that I can own it or lease it, or clone it
Cause holding your fingertips is golden.
I fucking love you, now treat my palm like a bowling ball and
Grip and keep holding on girl

On “Answer”, Tyler addresses his relationship that he doesn’t have with his father, his grandmother’s death and apparently the last verse is about a young lady. He addresses more fame issues on “Slater” as he takes aim at the media all while talking to his bike:

I wild out at shows, break shit it should be fun
Venues are like pussy with me, “Should he cum?”
I’mma wax that like the chapstick in my backpack, for my black lips
Then dip to Europe and come back with a stack of cheese
A stack of cheese for these rats, Mac and Cheese
New Preme shit got me feeling flyer than a bag of bees
Fuck critics, (How’s your dick?), “Shit, How’s your knees?”
Y’all on my dick more than my index when I take a pee

Now you know that you’re really a big deal if you can land Nas on your album. It’s not a rhyming feature but Nas is speaking at the beginning and ending of “48″ where Tyler speaks from the mind of a crack dealer on the good and bad of said profession. Another standout track to me is “Colossus” where Tyler is bum rushed by an overzealous fan. It reminds me of Eminem’s “Stan” only this time you don’t have some driving over a cliff with a screaming woman inside.

The Pharrell featured “IFHY” is a huge favorite among listeners. Tyler is afraid of losing his girl so this makes him goes off into that insecure rage:

Girl you fucking with my emotions
The fuck is all this noise about?
I even considered picking up smoking
You turned to a bitch, who let the dogs out?
But in my dog house
My bitch is the raddest
Crazy who makes me the happiest
Can make me the saddest

Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt rides along with Tyler on “Rusty”. Those three got real loose on this track. I had to run it back a few times. Tyler displays an improved sense of lyricism on Wolf. He also steps back and allows the beats and his crew to shine often on this album. Critics will frown at the use of certain vulgar slang but overall, this album wasn’t bad to listen to. I’m sure Odd Future fans are proud of that

Chances are that you’ve came across music produced by Lee Treble. Hip-hop or R&B, he’s done it all. Now he’s ready to venture into the genre of jazz. And if you’re a music head, you are aware that jazz is genre full of rich music history. What made him want to take a step into the arena for this one? Lee states that this happened by accident while playing around with a chord progression while working on some stuff for Atlantic. He states that after he finished arranging the track, it was posted to his sound cloud with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Combine that with some complaining from the wife, he put this project together.

Lee cites Herbie Hancock as his biggest jazz influence. He goes on to say that Hancock was innovative, and a revolutionary figure in the evolution of jazz. Lee goes on to talk about how playing in church, my mentor was a jazz musician, so I’ve always had a jazzy approach to music. He named his youngest son after Miles Davis. Other musicians that served as his influences in jazz are Chick Corea, Joe Sample, George Duke, John Coltrane, Brian Culbertson, Bob Evans, Oscar Peterson, Robert Glasper, Zo, and many more.

Now let’s talk about Treble In Paradise. The project starts off with “Half Past Dark” that features @thetillshow. Lee mentions that it was mad cool to work with Till, who he also notes as a very humble and talented individual. Hearing these two combine their talents provided a great sound that music and poetry lovers will enjoy. “Park Place” instantly became a favorite of mine. I enjoyed the change in music tones that it provided. Now if you were on Twitter during the taco controversy, then you will appreciate the uptempo sound of “Ballad of Sao Luis (Tacogate)”.

“You” and “Emotionalish” are two very standout tracks on this project. The young lady featured on these tracks is Sacha Malone. But if you follow her on Twitter then you know her as @PurestInNoSense. Lee states that this was her first time ever singing on wax and their music had instant chemistry. Lee plans on taking her under his wing to see what else they can come up with together. Lee says that the remake of “You” by Goapele is my favorite track from Treble In Paradise. ‘@PurestInNoSense and I had an idea to remake a song with a jazzy approach, and she sang the melody for me. We literally did that in 2 days, vocals and music. It was also the hardest track we did.’ In working with both Till and Sacha, Lee says that it was a real pleasure and honor to work with both and that he will be using them in the future as well.

Listening to Treble In Paradise, I really enjoyed the approach that Lee took with this project. There are other great instrumental tracks on this project but you should check them out for yourself to get the experience. Lee says that with the incredible response to this project that he will have a follow up. He wants the next album to be done with live instruments and collaborate a little bit more. Get into it folks.

Directed By: Tyler Perry

Starring: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross, Kim Kardashian, Vanessa L. Williams, Robbie Jones and Brandy Norwood

Story: An explosive romance about the seductive dangers of the forbidden, this film tells the provocative and sensual story of Judith, an ambitious married woman whose obsessive passion for a handsome billionaire leads to betrayal, danger and a choice that will forever alter the course of her life.

My Thoughts: I think Tyler Perry trolls the audience that he caters his movies to. The formula that he uses for his movies isn’t difficult to figure out and you would think that he would take a different approach as to how he present every project that he’s involved in. This film adaption of the play with the same name is no different. You have the woman who is the focus of the story (Smollett-Bell), the husband who’s devoted to her, working from the bottom (Gross), the mother that’s very religious (Ella Joyce, what Cicely Tyson wasn’t available?), the man that’s whose trying to get that woman to turn astray (Jones) and the woman that ties them all together (Norwood). Also throw in back stories about how the mother was before being religious as well as you HIV portion of the story amd there you have your Tyler Perry film ladies and gentleman.

The movie beings with Judith counseling a marriage couple and after a brief argument between the two parties, the husband leaves and then she talks to the wife alone. Once she gets to the root of their issue, the story beings. You have the brief story on how Judith and Brice met and despite her mother’s objections, they got married at a young age and moved to Washington, D.C. Judith had dreams of starting her own practice but she ends up working at a matchmaking service where her boss Janice (Vanessa L. Williams dressed with very bad French accent) is very demanding and her co-worker Ava (Kim Kardashian obviously playing herself) tends to take aim at her wardrobe and hair.

The marriage between Judith and Brice is a traditional Christian one. Brice during the movie makes reference to the sex that he receives three times a week and the special tricks that’s done on birthdays and holidays. Once Judith is introduced to Harley, the third largest social media something (we’ll say ambassador for right now) and he plots on her vulnerability, she beings to unravel and fall to his prey. That temptation was very real and Judith bit the apple because that feeling that Harley gave her, she wasn’t getting that in her own marriage. It’s still some things that makes the story unreal. For instance (spoiler alert), when Judith birthday rolls around and Brice forgot it (2 years in a row), I’m like how do you do that? If this is someone close to, then their birthday should be easy to remember. It’s not that much work in the world to say ‘Oh, I forgot my spouse’s birthday.’ Get that crap out of here. But he does make it up to her by doing his own rendition of Otis Redding’s ‘Try A Little Tenderness’. Once that illicit affair between Judith and Harley starts to get deeper, is when that fire starts to burn.

Sidenote: How Harley was treating Judith fits into that whole ‘Charles’ or ‘dirty macking’ term that you folks use on the daily basis. Only the results aren’t as positive.

Now Brice works in a small pharmacy with an older white lady named, Chapman (Renee Taylor). Now maybe that was her last name or nah but anyway, she had some lines in this film. They hire Melinda (Norwood) to help out in the store. Chapman notices right away that Melinda has some weird things about her and says that she should be watched. Also, thinks that she’s a lesbian. Melinda’s story is that she’s trying to escape an ex and she came to D.C. to start over. She also comforts Brice when he confides in her about the problems with his wife.

As with other Perry movies of the past, he has the tendency to rush the story along. Or things occur in the coincidental state. One scene in a Tyler Perry movie will sum any questions that you may have about the movie. He has simple bait for his fans and they take always. As I left the theater, I wasn’t the only one shaking my head at the outcome of the movie. It’s a real basic movie in my opinion, that will leave you feeling as if this same song and dance was done previously.

Seven years after release his last album and so many requests for his return to music, Justin Timberlake released his brand new album, The 20/20 Experience. JT’s long time contributor, Timbaland is back to handle the production as well as J-Roc Harmon and Rob Knox. So let talk about The 20/20 Experience, shall we?

1. Pusher Love Girl: T2020E kicks off with this eight minute track about how he’s a junkie for her love. I’ve had that feeling before and it’s a great high. I guess I’ve been detoxed because that high is gone. Great referencing all the drugs, Justin. So MDMA is ecstasy, gotcha. I want a lapdance to this song.

2. Suit & Tie feat. Jay-Z: I’m still wondering as to why so many people still hate this song? People were saying that Justin stole Robin Thicke’s swag off this track. But me (you know, the one writing this) dug this song the minute it came through my ears. You see the play that the ladies give you once you slip into a suit and tie? Come on now, Justin knew what he was doing. Then Jay-Z slides in with his bars about his cash shit. You know, Tom Ford tuxedos for no reason.

3. Don’t Hold the Wall: Imagine that you’re in a nice spot or lounge and there’s a nice young lady that’s been giving you the eye all evening. You’re both sipping drinks and this song comes on. She dances closer and closer to you. Then grinds her ass up against you with crazy rhythm. Yeah… that’s what this track shall do if you hear it out and about. I fucks with this heavy.

4. Strawberry Bubblegum: Heh, so is this about mouf? If so, then I know a few ladies that this could apply to. Subtract those clothes and show her a really good time. I like this track as well. So subtle.

5. Tunnel Vision: I was talking to Ashy about to this track and she said this is truly some Aquarius shit. But this is exactly that feeling when you meet that one person that makes you forgot that all others exist. The world doesn’t exist. Well expect for that Aquarius shit because we all know Pisces is the best. IDC, IDC, IDC.

6. Spaceship Coupe: Let’s talk about how fucking dope this song is here! This may be the latest in baby making song jams. Makes you want to get extra wrapped up in that love. They’re worth it. Whoever they are.

7. That Girl: Now where ‘Tunnel Vision’ starts, this song takes it to the next level. Fuck what anyone else has to say when you’re in love with that particular person, that’s all that matters. This is probably my favorite song off the album. Makes you think of that special lady. Hold her close if she’s in your life.

8. Let the Groove Get In: I think Justin was channeling Michael Jackson on this track. Ashy says that this reminds her of ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’. If you don’t dance when this song comes on, then you just hate life in general and hate being happy. I will cut a rug when this comes on. Laugh if you want but shit, this song is worth sweating it out on the dance floor.

9. Mirrors: Sheeish come on now!!!! Have you seen the video? Maaaaaaaaaan this is a very powerful love record. Sometimes, we travel looking for our mirror and they are right in front of us. Then when it switches up to the part where it says ‘You are, you are the love of my life.’ I’m done. Finished.

10. Blue Ocean Floor: After picking the pieces of my so called life up when ‘Mirrors’ goes off, I rarely pay this song any attention. Not to say that it’s a bad song, just that so many emotions are flowing through that I can’t pay attention. But this song is so mellow and relaxing, all I know is that Justin is signing about seashells and ocean floors. I’m not mad at all.

BONUS COVERAGE

11. Dress On: You know that one dress that she wears that sends all sorts of inappropriate thoughts through your brain. Yeah, exactly zero chill at all when this comes on. It even includes a Timbaland rap.

12. Body Count: Justin’s pretty much saying he’s tapping that at the end of the night. So get ready for it.

Overall, this is a great album. I like it and I went and bought it from Target. And judging from other reactions, the majority of the people like it as well. By the way, Justin is releasing the second part of this album, later on this year.