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By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

4

MIXTAPE REVIEW: DJ Khaled and DJ Frosty present: Freddie Gz "This Thing of Ours"




Freddie Gz. South Carolina’s rapidly emerging flagship artist is providing his fans a look into a life, rarely exposed, by way of “This Thing of Ours”.  A life grounded on principles, loyalty, and a work hard/party harder ethic system that fuels an unstoppable organization.  Hosted by DJ Khaled and DJ Frosty, this is the fourth project from Freddie Gz to be made widely available through the viral market, and the biggest debut, alongside recent major radio play, a short movie soon to premiere, and a show schedule that’s losing room every day.  Freddie Gz is no doubt a polished artist, and the attention is not without warrant. He sounds very confident on a track, with no direct resemblance to any other artist in particular. The compact flows constantly switch, but the clear annunciations keep the listener grounded, alongside innovative adlibs that seem to carry a melody of their own behind the lyrics, a melody that always complements the flow of the bars, as an easy on the ears delivery wrestles with commanding presence on the track. At this point, the only questions that remain are “Can he beat the traffic in his lane? Can he remain different? And is his style too easy on the ears?”

As the journey begins, DJ Frosty begins with a toast to Freddie Gz, the mission statement, and the allied organizations.  Very simply setting up the stomp-on-the-beat approach Gz takes in “What Up”, an up-tempo record, introducing Gz, what he’s about, and giving you a look into where it goes down.  Showcasing his composure skills, Gz gives you all the miscellaneous ad-libs you can handle while shouting out relevant cities and associates, by way of a cool flow over heavy drums and eerie whistles.  Simple by nature, he opens by showing that he doesn’t need to jump through hoops to make a great record. “36 Oz” showcases more lyricism, without straying from his easy on the ears flow. The tempo of the instrumental is slower than the last, but Gz responds with a faster flow that still rides. These signs of a veteran are only sidetracked by ad-libs that walk the line of being overpowering, says DJ PM. Still, as he delivers “Interstates & 4-Ways/Chrip Phones & Throwaways”, you can’t help but run with it, if this content grabs your ear, and the ad-libs aren’t going to knock anybody out of their cloud, especially with what Gz follows up with.

            In a day that mix tapes are being flooded with features, it’s notable that Gz only went for a couple, and that they were good choices, obviously incorporated into tracks that suited the styles depicted in their previous works.  On “Gangsta”, Gz brings out OJ the Juiceman for a classic street anthem that sounds like it could have the craziest crowd rockin’ together.  Quick flow switches, great drops and an infectious hook match the intense energy, as Gz and Juiceman jump on the track like they’ve been feeding off of each other’s energy in the studio for years.



One single after another, Frosty decides to jump right into the popular record, “Quagmire”. Based on everyone’s favorite animated sex addict, Freddie Gz can thank “Shadow” of Quiet Room Studios for a drum-heavy, but smooth slow-tempo party record, as they can be rare, in good quality. The track is finessed by a easy going flow, but battered by technicality and punches, as Freddie Gz states he didn’t want lyricism to be lost to a funny concept. “Long pine/ Beat it up/ I Dog mine/ I quagmire dat ho, and them I’m gone slime!” Gz raps, appreciating the mass appeal of the record. Rapidly gaining momentum, “Quagmire” is a record to anticipate impressive growth from.  SDM’s Charlemagne the God makes an appearance for the skit that provides the album’s one intermission, by way of a satire of the typical hater, dodging his opportunity to act on the jealousy that eats him alive every day. Hilarity ensues, as the second half of the project doesn't disappoint. 

Gz jumps out of the intermission with “Work”. This record didn’t do too much for me, but it didn’t down my mood either, a safe record to come out of the intermission, but I did expect a little more. Frosty responds to this with “City Goin Ham”, arguably the best record on the mix tape, and currently the lead single of the project. This is what you call “A” game. Gz brings the perfect mix of lyricism, delivery and ad-libs, while still being easy on the ears. This sounds like the “car, party, or crib” record that every artist talks about making one day. Gz showcases all of his skills, along with his charisma, as he stunts on all outsiders. “I know you don’t like it/ but your bitch love it/ so tell me why ya wifey is callin me her husband.” What’s not to like? “Trap Talk” follows the lead single like the Pippen to a Jordan, with content carrying NY trap appeal and memorable chants, meant to motivate soldiers in the streets. “Body Language” steps out of the trap to speak to the ladies, and it sounds like it. The content switch might have been a little too rapid, as the approach to the track is technically sound, but the actual presence of Gz on the track doesn’t hold the same weight I’m accustomed to, at this point in the LP. Further out of the shoes of the trap’s ambassador, Gz gives us a vivid look into a date with Mary Jane with “Who Got It”, the beat doesn’t ask for much, but the expectations are met and exceeded. “Lose my cool/ Lose my mind/ Listen up here don’t blow my high/ we’ll flip-out das F-Y-I/ Cuz I’m far from a Hippie no kum-ba-ya”, he raps, as the presence of a gangster never leaves the project. It’s not the first time I’ve heard the beat, but its absolutely a lesson on what to do with it.

The project is concluded with a slew of solid records. The legendary Bun B makes an appearance on “Money Don’t Lie” with some semi-memorable bars, and Gz laces this and “We gettin’ it” with heavy bars, and high energy, before closing it out with “Drippin Wet”, just in case “Body Language” wasn’t enough to convince you not to question his versatility. “Drippin Wet” provides a completely different experience from the previous female focused record, with no current references and a top-notch hook, sure to produce some baby trapsters. In all, “This Thing of Ours” is more than a solid record, offering consistent good vibes, and playing easily from start to finish. In an era that provides so much accessibility to independent artists, its nice to see another that’s still doing it like a major, in terms of quality. Freddie Gz is definitely here to stay, just in case DJ Khaled’s screaming wasn’t enough to get it through your head.

You KNOW you gotta PASS THAT to the LEFT! WAhh!

Vibe Reading: 8.25 out of 10 (Not only one to twist up to, but a great soundtrack to any cipher, any ride to one, or any party before or after one!)
   




DOWNLOAD "This Thing of Ours" Here: 
http://tinyurl.com/23th253

Follow Freddie Gz on twitter @FreddieGz
 

All "Flyest Vibe Mixtape Review" inquiries, contact Cly.
Cly.LIT@gmail.com
Legends In Traning Music Group



 We LIT! 

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

2

The Opressive Defense

Gotta make this a good one since I've been a little busy.

We live in a society that sees the success of marriages in an unflattering light. A society that commonly disputes the less than favorable chances of maintaining an honest long-term relationship with someone, before getting acquainted, nevermind an attempt at getting through the more strenuous struggles.

You may assume I'm referring to the urban Hip-Hop culture that typically propels a machine whose function is to constantly bash women, as if it was a (those who allow the culture to define their identity) defense mechanism against the dangers of trusting them. Furthermore, a positive independent woman movement, typically prominent in female hip hop and r&b subject matter, is also accompanied by an anti-committment sentiment, to match. Or, one may want to say this is more of the impact of the inner city culture that is plagued by broken homes for various reasons, some justifiable others unacceptable. The fact remains, there is an issue. One that can't be ignored.

Rather than outline all the issues in relationships and the statistics that back them, I think this blog is built around the comments and driven by feedback...What do you think are the top recent phenomena that hinder relationship success, because when cuffin became regulated by the seasons, I don't think i was the first to figure that it was hinting a cultural issue! We live in a 'grind time' era but where does 'family time' go, in a society that can't bother to build with each other.

Once a commodity.
Now, a danger with benefits...
Some say it's Twitter and Facebook causing the issues. I say the Social Networking Boom only gave a clear view to a situation that already existed, while inventing a distraction from it, which will untimately prolong it, hopefully not to the point that none of us trust each other ever again.

Please speak your piece, as I've probably already caught you in my news feed venting on the topic, and remember to Pass that to the left! Waahh!


Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

3

As the People catch on, the Junior Mafia 2 Wave continues...


Hopefully you can take a few minutes from imitating the latest imitation Biggie “Unh” that Ricky Rozay has been sporting while he continues to think he’s Big Meech, Larry Hoover, MC Hammer, Albert Anastasia, Biggie Smalls to give your opinion on what’s going on here in the Hip-Hop scene…

Ross’ momentum is already impressive and increasing at an outlandish pace, respect is due. Nicki Minaj has solidified herself as the first and biggest heavyweight female representative on the Hip-Hop scene, since Lil Kim had everybody reciting her verse from All About the Benjamins. Furthermore, Diddy’s Dirty Money is quietly becoming a big contender in the market of dynamic artists to feature on a track. All this while a beef with 50 Cent slowly grows in popularity, after that “…hatin-ass crab” remark from Diddy on the post-show for the BET awards. All that’s left is for Ross to have a romance with Nicki to complete the “New Junior Mafia” picture I mentioned in May.

However, there are roadblocks to be considered. While 50 may not be the juggernaut he was in 2006, he’s still making moves quietly, and Diddy especially can’t ignore that, as he is a fellow NY mogul.

Ross has apparently stirred up Jeezy with the BMF record, but I’d even venture to say the success of the record is what has Jeezy feeling salty, while I’m still a fan. I could see Jeezy being the source of a potential downfall for Rick Ross, as the subject matter is similar, but Jeezy is ‘the snowman’ and having the official street stamp behind him is going to play a role that could put him over the top in battle, as long as he delivers when he gets in the booth to let these records go, and takes advantage of the residual damage 50 Cent left behind. Nobody forgot about the lie Ricky! Trying to hide the correctional job is bound to come back in the worst way, as this battle with Jeezy runs its course.

Nicki has The Game taking stabs at her, along with every female that aspires to be in her position, along with claims that she hasn’t graciously accepted her position. Personally, with verses like the one she put down on Kanye West’s “Monster”, I don’t think it matters what people say, she has her lane on lock and her fan base is growing in multiples. She just needs to deliver a classic on that first album, since Drake’s collaboration fest still left many skeptics with a voice against the Young Money camp. Other than that, I don’t see many ways to derail Nicki on her path to the throne, as the next queen of Hip Hop.

Diddy has the machine clicking on all cylinders for the moment. However, If I saw this Junior Mafia repeat coming, back in May, I would assume those who compete on that level saw it coming too. Jay-Z signing Lil Kim is going to be an impact move sooner or later. Ross’ battle with Jeezy is going to pose a threat to his progress. Finally, I wouldn’t see it as a surprise if 50 cent makes his first relatively successful moves in a while, off of this ensuing battle with Diddy.


All in love, but we gotta speak on what goes on, you know you gotta pass that one on! Wahh!

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

0

Technorati Writer

Posted in
Progress is always appreciated...I've made it to technorati. The Ground Zero Mosque blog ended up hitting there first. Its a good look. 4EV27DTTGRC8

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

0

Mosque at Ground Zero: A War in Itself

As the 9th Anniversary of 9/11 quickly approaches amongst civil unrest in NY...


This is a hot-topic to talk about in many ciphers. Why not talk about it in the best one of all!

The term “Ground Zero” has taken an entirely new meaning since 2001, when the horrifying events of 9/11 occurred. That being said, the idea of a Mosque being built 100 feet away from the site of the attack on the United States has raised some eyebrows, along with some allegations, as the hate for Islam is manifesting in demonstrations and violent acts throughout the city.

Mayor Bloomberg has made it clear that he feels the opposition of a mosque near ground zero would go against the grain that makes up the dynamic fabric of the United States. Especially, in the diverse demographic that makes up the city of New York’s population.  That being said, it looks like the mosque will be built to represent the good people of the city that live under the Muslim faith, and follow the same ideals, and not to represent the extremist fiends that were willing to sacrifice so many lives for their own agenda, under a religious umbrella.

I feel like I understand the concerns of those who are angry at the idea of a structure that represents the faith of those we are at war with, as a result of those events. I’ve even heard some express ideas that the mosque would subliminally represent a ‘victory’, for the extremists, but the likelihood of that idea not being rooted to some kind of propaganda against the construction of the mosque is barely existent.

All things considered, we are still a nation at war with the insurgents that chose to attack us.  If we allow their actions to change our ways of life, take freedoms away from others, and hate our own citizens that they have commonality with, then they win. They’ll have succeeded in separating a large body of people from the rest of America, as they’ll feel like their rights have been trampled, if suddenly a mosque can’t be constructed on public grounds in the Land of the Free. The general consensus will be “what’s next to be taken from us?” This will result in more racism, terrorism, and confusion among the American people. That’s the last thing we need, everything but the unity it will take to get past what’s been going on for the last 10 years.

Bottom line, this wouldn’t be a problem in the city if the events preceding it didn’t take place, so we can’t allow it to be a problem now.  The terrorists don’t run things, we do (to the extent that we even are made aware of them)! So, we can’t let what they do change how we live and treat each other. These are the same freedoms I’m sure everybody reading has at least one friend or family member fighting for. Shouts to everyone in the Armed Forces, hold your heads high while we keep things in order, so you have something to come back to that you can say was truly worth fighting for.

Whether you’re in a 420 kinda mood or not, this would definitely be something to “pass to the left”…Wahh!

Article first published as Mosque at Ground Zero: A War in Itself on Technorati.

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

7

The New Black Panthers? Not quite...




Black Power, A beautiful statement and a symbol of the ultimate result of the Black community operating under a unified front.  This is the propaganda used to fuel the voices that make up one of the more recent powerful factions, that is The New Black Panther Party.

The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation has already denounced the New Black Panther Party, as a “small band of African Americans” that’s found no legitimacy of their own, even in the black community, many blacks see it as a hate group. No better than the Ku Klux Klan.  The foundation also condemns the association of The New Black Panther Party to the original Black Panthers. The foundation goes as far as to imply that The New Black Panther Party actually incites hate, rather than resolve it.

This combined with the assault from the media, as a result of their own public miscues result in the world overlooking the actual mission statement of this movement, protecting and strengthening the black community. I feel the intentions should shine in as much light as the faults.

With that being said, I think it The New Black Panthers needs to undergo serious reform and organization if the organization expects to gain legitimacy among any community.  The media has a seemingly endless supply of representatives of the NBPP harboring constant displays of bigotry. Whether it was at the polling station back in 2008 at the time Barack Obama was elected, rap songs talking about all types of racism -why the political faction rap to be a good outlet is beyond me-, or inarticulate outbursts demonizing other races and groups, the NBPP has yet to find a way to balance the scales with regard to their blunders and successes. This serves as an obstacle to any group hoping to gain a following, as they can so easily be demonized.

I’m sure there’s a lot more to this situation than what the media has allowed to gain attention, but in the society we live in, unity holds precedence in power. A ten-point program that basically asks for segregation to be reestablished won’t really do the trick of putting the black community where it needs to be. While there’s obvious need for reform in the black community, these kinds of uncoordinated, hateful, aggressive methods of expression will only give those in control the necessary leverage to keep the imbalances that plague our people in tact.

In short, If you’re going to fight the injustices of America, don’t’ say anything that can’t be proven or backed up, and If you’re going to go with the ill-advised approach, make sure the world can’t see and negatively judge you for it. A hate group has yet to win in this country, and I don’t see it happening now. No room to get caught slippin...Waaahh!!

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

11

KING James? Not in WADE County!


Classic NY SOUR -no pun intended- Upper Clouds.

From a shunned Knick fan perspective:

What can I say? You promise the man the support, in Stoudemire and Lee, a chance to bring a championship to the biggest city you can play for, and the opportunity to make up to $1,000,000,000 by taking advantage of the NY market, as the face of basketball on the biggest stage. He didn’t want it, and who can say he’s wrong for that, nobody. At the end of the day, this argument isn’t about whether or not he made the best decision to get a championship, as he obviously did, theoretically. Wanting to see Lebron James on the Knicks brings a lot of bias to the criticism of the decision to play in Miami with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. However, you can’t lie, the Knicks had a championship contender situation built for Lebron James. The chance to play with Amare Stoudemire, David Lee, and another presence to come, would have been a better SUPPORTING cast than Cleveland was ever able to provide. While I would have loved to see D-Wade and Lebron on the Knicks, I wouldn’t be able to argue against the idea that it was a kind of surrender for them to team up, nonetheless.


From an NBA fan perspective:

I grew up watching basketball. Like many, dreamed to one day play in the league, and came to the realization that it wasn’t my calling, and settled for being a fan of the Pros that dedicate their lives to doing something that provides so many nights of entertainment and memories. Lebron James and Dwayne Wade shouldn’t be playing on the same team. If anything, they should be battling it out for supremacy of the east coast. This move to Miami says “if you can’t beat em’ join em”, with regards to these super-teams that are being built, like the Lakers and Celtics. All this will become in the NBA is total imbalance. The juggernaut teams will be few, but dominant, and it will bring about the end of other franchises, as there are only so many Hall of Fame worthy superstars to go around, save this shit for the Olympics. I couldn’t even put this team together in a Fantasy Draft in NBA2k10! The gripes can only concern the presence of the heart of a champion. If Lebron went to the Bulls, Knicks, Nets, or even stayed in Cleveland, there would still be the consistency of him being the LEADER Instead you go play for Wade County…as a member of the SUPPORTING cast, regardless of how much they pay you to keep you quiet.


Finally, from a Lebron “fan” perspective:

Maybe I’m just upset because I didn’t expect to see Lebron James playin’ “Pippen” after all these Jordan comparisons. When the man-child was dunking on his peers in the 9th grade, I didn’t view him as a role-player. When he gave me reason to actually take the Cleveland Cavaliers seriously, as a championship contender franchise, it didn’t remind me of Robin, it reminded me of Batman. Needless to say, D-Wade’s “Batman Status” is only being solidified, as the BEST Robin he could have ever found, is now his right-hand-man, as long as he STAYS IN HIS PLACE. As a “Lebron Fan” when I see the GM of the Orlando Magic saying “I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor”, and I couldn’t possibly have a sensible argument to rebuttal that comment, I find it to be annoying. Yet, I can’t argue with Mr. Otis Smith, after proving time and time again that you can’t handle the pressure it takes to make it to the top, you’ve shown that you aren’t the leader you were hyped up to be, and shown a lot of character by having the courage to put your pride to the side and step down. It wouldn’t be me speaking, if I didn’t take the time to respect this factor of the situation, but when I’m reading “Lebron James, more Prince than King” in the headlines, I just don’t think it makes up for these consequences. Point blank, anybody trying to be the next Jordan can't do so like this...As a fan, it looks like he gave up on the iconic path I'd planned to see him run through. 

In conclusion:

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a fan of Lebron James anymore, as I’m still impressed by his ability, but not enough to watch that stupid-ass ESPN special on his decision to be a sidekick. Knick fan first, but he’s a great player, one I thought fit to be a King, among the best in the world. However, he’s no Jordan, and never will be, after this, as much as I hate to say it. D-wade may have the chance to claim those kinds of similarities down the road, as I expect them to get it together and win it all, at least once. I also commend D-wade’s expert executive skills, for the “pay-cut strategy” put in play to bring this together. I’m sure that move will pay off on his business resume after his retirement from actually playing in the NBA, might even land him a GM position. Lebron’s made his position clear, win a ring at all costs, even if you have to put the game on “easy”…Pass that to a Miami Heat fan…Wahh!
<--Suddenly this picture doesn't mean as much...Maybe when you step back in the boss seat. We know this isn't how u wanted to make it happen, and no amount of fakes in the bandwagon talking that "its all about the ring" nonsense can change that. Period - Cly

Ps. I say this ends in a trade, within 3 years. Hopefully this soft ass move doesn't resonate through the NBA for any longer than that. O iight

Click here --> for Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith comments: "Kobe's proven he can do it alone."



By DJ PM! Host/DJ of "The 4/20 Lounge"

2

Is Fate Predetermined?

So....I'm in this "TYPE" of mood right now.....

Fate. Is it something that you believe in? Whether outwardly or subconsciously, most of us will answer yes to this question. Have you ever looked up in the sky and just wondered "what do you have in store for me"? I'm not talking about religion, I am talking strictly about the stars and the power that they seem to possess.
People believe that you make your own destiny in many cases. The argument to that would be how can you make your own destiny? By making decisions, and these decisions can in fact be swayed by both the constellations alignment and lunar activity. So, with that being said, does making your own destiny still count for as much? Obviously you are going to sway towards giving yourself credit and that is deserved, but to what degree? For instance, why do you think that it is a proven fact that the stars and moon can change our frame of mind and put us in a trance or psychosis? It seems strange that we can be swayed by something so far away.
That makes me believe that there HAS to be a reason. I have literally sat and pondered this dozens of times, weighing both ends, and now I know that there has to be a reason. It makes no sense why we can be coaxed into doing things during eclipses and what not. In conclusion, sit down, do what you with your "vibe", and ponder this one!

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

5

Drake, groundbreaking HIP-HOP artist, or Big Impact Pop Star, the difference may effect your EXPERIENCE…

Yow! Classic NY Sour for this one…perfect vibe. Happy Fathers Day!

Ok, so I hit this “FREE CONCERT” last week sponsored by Ray-Ban and Paper Magazine. The concert was said to feature Drake and Hansen, in an attempt to mix the crowd and express the aims of the magazine towards diversity.

What apparently wasn’t on the agenda was actually having the featured acts PERFORM! Another aspect of the show it may have been nice to plan for is the 20,000 New Yorkers that decided to make their presence felt! For whatever reason, on this particular day, one of the hottest acts in the game wasn’t supposed to attract a crowd in the busiest city in the world, during a FREE show. PM and I didn’t want to get there too late, not knowing what to expect from a free “Drake Concert”, and we couldn’t have gotten there early enough to be prepared for the situation that was about to unfold.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not a “Niggaz don’t know how to act” themed piece. This is more of a “What the fuck is going on” kind of vibe I’m working to establish. The crowd at the concert has been recently portrayed, as “the reason for the concert being cancelled” was the type of crowd that HIP HOP artists live and die to entertain. Ciphs among strangers, beach balls flying, crowd surfing, and general rare UNITY were among the features of this “angry mob”. They were actually so angry, that I was able to interview various people about current issues in hip hop. So, for the sake of not lying my ass off and going with the flow of bullshit that is the media, I deem this to be a “don’t blame us because you don’t have your shit together” themed piece. However, if we don’t hold promoters and artists accountable for things like this, how is it ever going to change?

What starts a “riot” is getting a big group of people together, and pissing them off. That’s precisely what happened. People came out to see Drake, some to see Hansen, and nobody saw anyone, except NinjaSonic, who left the scene unscathed, along with the DJ who got a few minutes to rock the crowd. Everything was fine until it came down to show and prove that you had the hottest act in the game here to perform for everybody, free of charge.

Nobody came out, hours pass as we wait for the DJ to get back to spinning. The moment never arrived, just the announcement that the concert was cancelled, and a fiery  reaction from the crowd upon seeing a TWEET from Drake, blaming his non-appearance on the NYPD, who blamed in on the unruly crowd, as the crowd blamed its unruliness on the lack of fulfillment of a promise. Up to that point, the only issue was people getting on roofs to get the best view! 

The crowd goes from unsettled, to unruly, to uncontrollable! Please take a moment to check the footage of the fights breaking out, a woman running with an infant -what the fuck she was thinking, remains a mystery-, various foods and bottles flying and landing with no direction, clear safety violations, nobody explaining anything, overly-aggressive police, and unified anger.  The worst part of all this, it wouldn’t have happened IF DRAKE CAME out. I just wanted to set the tone for this. Real MCs Move Crowds, they don’t move away from them. People got hurt, children were at risk, and more of the negative vibes that already saturate this city were incubated here. Somebody has to take responsibility, and I don’t think it’s your supporters Drake. It might actually be the photographer that was ON STAGE, TAKING PICTURES OF THE ANGRY CROWD...

Real Hip-Hop superstars would have made that scene into a moment. All the ingredients were present. What if it were Jay-Z, DMX, Jeezy, or Busta Rhymes? That scene would have been replayed for years to come. Thousands were screaming “We want Drake!”, but the question at the end is, what do you want Drake? I feel like I shouldn’t be upset, because of the repetitive claims of being in this industry for the money, but how about what your support is in it for? Does that shit matter AT ALL ANYMORE?! 

This “in it for the money” trend that’s taken over Hip Hop is translating to more than a loss of substance in the genre, but a loss of integrity and responsibility, as people don’t take the initiative to not buy your shit when you fuck them over. Congrats on the gigantic album sales Drake, I guess “Thank Me Later” was an appropriate title, because according to these interviews, one of the aspects that he's still developing is his stage presence, and I don’t see shit to be thankful for right now on these vids and pics. Except, a chance to see a lot of angry ass people that felt like he wasn't built for the NY scene. Keep that weak shit outta here...

Hold dat, WAhhh!

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

0
Posted in
FREE Drake CONCERT today, u trying to come? its in Manhattan. i'm gonna be there getting footage for the blog! http://The420lounge.blogspot.com

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

21

Clean Controversy, why not CELEBRATE!

Shouts to the Purple Kush,

I was on twitter, early evening 2 days ago and noticed a trend regarding Slim Thug and some statements he'd made to Starrene Rhett, regarding Black Women, Slim Thug's Blog via Vibe.com! Read this before you continue! 

Ok, so we have to talk about this for at least a minute. Houston's Boss Hog Thugga is sayin' that we all need to step it up in general with respect to our ways of thinking, especially regarding the standards we put against each other as black men and women. He even goes as far as to refer to white women as being generally more submissive, less materialistic and typically more willing to cook and clean, glorifying these qualities that make up the "best" relationship partners, at least for him.

The high maintenance "housewife"shit needs to stop, especially seeing as many of these standards are kept in low income relationships. Why the fuck are you trying to get a shopping spree out of somebody with one pair of sneakers? I agree with Slim Thug to a degree, black women need to step off the part of our recent culture that expects every man to have certain assets to be qualified to date them. Its only right to have HIGH STANDARDS, however, the main base of these standards can't always be MONETARY. Furthermore, I have to agree that my general conclusion of the argument of black contemporary woman vs. the old-fashioned black woman is; that the contemporary woman asks for more and expects to have less obligations than they used to, less of that ride or die kinda girl. Everybody can't live rich!

I just wanted to drop that gem for those of us that want to argue this, because I'm more than open to doing so. The uproar this shit caused is healthy and I think anybody offended or excited by what Slim Thug was saying should become a FAN of his, just to promote HEALTHY CONTROVERSY! I'd rather have somebody say something that's offensive, but somewhat thought out, to stir up some buzz. It'd be a lot better than this "so and so got punched" bullshit that I try to draw some kind of entertainment from, as i try to get the time back that i wasted reading about it...

Pass That...Wahh!

By DJ PM! Host/DJ of "The 4/20 Lounge"

1

Fans or Talent?

Posted in
Soooooo.....I'm sitting in a very heavy upper cloud mode with this kush and the thought comes to mind. What is more important as an up and coming performer in the entertainment industry, fans or talent? Firstly let's specify what "fans" means. A fan is anyone who supports your work and art enough to either come to your shows on a regular basis or someone who pays you for your services; i.e Club Promoters, to me, are just fans with a venue. So with that being said now we have to give the benefits of both:

Fans
- able to support you at a show and show other people that you have a following or "buzz".
- high class fans or "promoters" are people who can book you and help spread your name.
- able to purchase your music and make you money.

.......... leaving the rest open to comments and speculation...........

Talent
- gives you the ability to be booked more than once with the same group of "promoters".
- gives people that have actual pull in your career the ammunition they need to take you to the next level.
- allows the performer to expand his clientele in a more rapid manner by having mass appeal in his art.

.........................speculation............................

*****When commenting please remember to take into account that this is for a person who is UP and COMING not an ESTABLISHED artist!!!******

On a personal level, I need to stick with talent on this one. Fans are all well and good, but local bands and stand up comics have fans, but most lack what I NEED....Millions. Why?! You ask? The answer is simple yet again....Talent perks ears. It gives the people that are always listening to the same stuff over and over the chance to actually DO their job. At the end of the day, fans don't have the say that the almighty label reps do so I guess they are deemed as less crucial to your overall success. The public follows whatever the media deems as "trendy", therefore, fans can be attained after a signing as opposed to talent, which is the end all and be all to the actual signing. You get the point....NOW EXPAND ;0)

From the Upper Cloud.............DJ PM

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

5

Performers! All-Star or Benchwarmer?

I don’t even know what this shit is called…but me n PM in a good zone,

Fresh off a nice example of “Upper Cloud” life (see previous blog), hyped off of a couple successful meetings, we get to talking about what it’d be like when the label kicks off.

We hit the “Chance to Shine” showcase at the All Star Nightclub in Elizabeth, NJ, hosted by Rix Magazine’s D. Prados. PM and I have a rundown coming, judging the performers in detail, along with VIDEO within the next few days!

The grand finale of the night was a performance by Brooklyn’s own Joell Ortiz. I’m going to keep this to the point and say he might as well have got on stage with a briefcase and syllabus, as his intention was clearly to teach how to put on a show, for those who don’t know better.

From the entrance, to the interaction with the crowd that made this a cohesive show, rather than an artist performing song after song, the 10-15 minute set didn’t leave much to be desired, other than to hear more of Joell’s music, which I’m sure is the desired outcome, at this stage in his career. Performers lately have an urgency to get that “special record” that’s gonna knock in the clubs and get them the praise and admiration that they really are seeking, rather than trying to be great, and perfect a skill.

To each his own, but know that it shows when somebody sees you on a stage. Joell Ortiz gets a B, he’s dope, but there’s always room to improve. I’d like to see him use the stage more, and something more to separate him from the rest on the come up. Artists like Busta Rhymes and Ludacris are experts at using the stage til there’s nothing left untouched. P doesn’t think Joell is gonna be able to adapt to every crowd, versatility question. I'm sure Ortiz uses these ideas to become better every day.

When one claims to live this life, leaving it all on the floor has to be the only intention. Check out the Joell Ortiz Performance for yourself. It was poppin, shouts to Jersey!


By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

0

Is the RECESSION what we NEEDED??




Ok, so I opened the bag...and it smelled disgusting. Sometimes that's just the aroma of life!

Lets talk kick some real knowledge tonight, on a "GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER" vibe...Capitalism (free-market system) has been hailed as a driving force behind the advances of the United States for many years. However, the current dilemma has caused many to question the good that comes from Capitalism because of the fact that it depends on constant consumption, and that consumption has been resulting in more bad than good as of late *for example, you may be one of millions who have recently been laid off, on some bullshit*, with regard to this recession the country has fallen into. While the system can’t be seen as the only reason for the country to be in a less than favorable situation, this lecture gives the necessary justification to place the blame on Capitalism for the eventual destruction of the foundation of the country, along with clarification of this country’s separation of classes not being what it seems. In other words, the way we set shit up, this was SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.


In feudal times the separation of classes was the bourgeoisies vs. the proletariat. Respectively, this was generally the separation of rich vs. the poor, and after a more in-depth analysis, the separation of “owners” and “workers”.

OWNER refers to the group in control of the resources of the land that the people live off of. WORKER refers to the men and women that work for what it is they need, that the owner can provide, to sustain their livelihoods.

In our Capitalist society, the bourgeoisies and proletariat have been further divided into the Upper, Middle, and Lower Classes. The Upper class still consists of the owners of resources; the Lower class consists of those who work day by day just to get by, often with the most degrading & monotonous occupations. The Middle Class is portrayed as privileged workers, more comfortable than the average member of the Lower Class, but far from the income level of the Upper Class.

Major property, and outside “ownership” of certain high-price possessions mark members of the middle class. Yet, the middle class is exposed as only a distraction from the exact same situation of Owner vs. Worker. The middle class isn’t much better off than the lower class because of the fact that the middle class still consists of those who work for members of the upper class, one termination away from poverty. The distraction serves as the tranquilizer that keeps the members of the failing system in a state of peace, in order to ‘delay’ the inevitable revolution that is expected to take place in response to it.

Capitalism’s flaw lies in its basic formula. The bigger business sustains itself, and grows only by consumption of smaller businesses. From 1820-1970, the average worker in the United States produced more each year, as the years passed. Wages were increasing every decade, along with profits, a time that corporations took full advantage of as expected. As this production spike leveled out, money lost value, businesses left the country, and outsourcing had an effect on the work force.

The working class experienced the end of these rising wages, needing second and third jobs, and working more hours to compensate for money’s loss of value. In spite of this, in the 20th century CEO’s were earning 46 times the normal wage, and now they earn an astonishing 450 times the normal wage.

However, these deep pockets won’t be much help when the various media translations and propaganda fail to obscure the true classes of our country enough to keep society under control and content. The recession is difficult to endure, but with these observations taken under consideration, it’s only the beginning of the worst to come.


The idea i'm trying to push forward is that we get tricked into believing shit all the time. The same people who get the flashy car with nowhere to rest their heads, are doing so much more than that. In order for the big suit to stay in power, the little guys need to stay in their places. SADLY, a lot of us actually do that.

Content with a bitch, bottle, and blunt, while not making any progress toward anything but a re-up. Not a go. There's a lot to be done, but it won't get started if nobody says shit. Hopefully, this cycle Hip-Hop is going through will give the community a little more insight, with respect to wanting to become an OWNER rather than live life as the most PRIVILEGED WORKER you can be.

Don't even pass that to the left yet...Steam it for a lil, permission granted...Wahh!

By DJ PM! Host/DJ of "The 4/20 Lounge"

2

LIGHT UP!!! New Drake-Jay-Z HEATROCK!!

Posted in
Light Up.....
This is the new single off of Drake's new mixtape "Thank Me Later", and possibly one of the best written and well spit verses that I've heard in a long time. We are all used to the new club anthems that have been getting released every OTHER day, but this record went the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Hard, dark beat, soft sung hook; compliments of Drake, and a real pessimistic and cocky approach by both hip hop icons. It is the perfect recipe to form not only a hot single, but a classic by all measures. If you haven't heard it.......take your ass to the bottom of the page and do so....quick ;0) . Seriously, let me know what you think! Classic or Crap?!!


By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

4

UPPER CLOUD!

What is the Upper Cloud?

This Jack Carrera in the air has me very much in the mood to sit down and do nothing other than explain this ☺,

We’ve all been to Cloud Nine. This would represent the giddy with laughter, stressed looking, overly tired, munchies-inflicted persona that one is typically expected to take on, after smoking some fire/piff/”LOUD” I see you DMV/real/ exotics. On the way to Cloud Nine, you’ve probably seen many blunts, a bong/bowl, maybe even a vaporizer if you’re privileged, I still have yet to experience one of those ;) I’ll record it if I do.

The idea of the Upper Cloud is one that relates to the euphoria some claim to find when smoking. It’s the idea of feeling that joy, but accomplishing productivity nonetheless. This doesn’t mean I’m about to go clean some shit or work on something every time I twist up, and it doesn’t mean get faded every time you’re about to drive to work either! Rest is very important, but to this day, our counterculture is stereotyped as being lazy, and feeling like one deserves more than he/she works for, because "rest" is all they do.

That needs to change. That’s the difference between hippie culture and what we’re looking to accomplish, we get up off the couch with that feeling that makes u wanna stay there, and encourage you to do the same. In a perfect world by the standards of the 4/20 lounge, the way that a cigar is associated with big business in the corporate perspective, a blunt/joint/spliff/j/L could represent the more independent forms of business. Instead of it representing the carelessness of many people’s role-models. Shout’s to Michael Phelps by the way, because if he’s out swimming everybody in the world every which way, the trees ain’t doin shit, unless you olympians need to just step your swim game up.

I don’t want to detail whether we go to meetings, social events, dj, host, prepare business plans, and execute them from the Upper Cloud. However, I would say that to do this, is precisely what the Upper Cloud represents productive leisure. The upper class runs around keeping the middle and lower class in order. Might as well coordinate your own distractions. Just stay productive. Thas what we on, don’t keep dead weight.

Do you think the idea of working from The Upper Cloud can become a widely agreed upon concept? Do you think it already is ;)? Have you already been living an Upper Cloud lifestyle??? Gotta be open if you’re gonna participate though, (anonymous comments welcome, but hiding is never encouraged).

Shouts to J. Dot!.

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

8

Is Diddy Trying to RECREATE Junior Mafia!





Hip Hop Cycle?

Yow from the Upper Cloud!

Grandaddy in the air, got me wantin to talk about old times! If you speak to older people, they’ll tell you that the music industry has a way of recycling itself, and over time I think we’re approaching the chance to see a perfect example of this. Being of a relatively young age 22, I had the opportunity to live through one of the more productive points of Hip Hop, especially on the East Coast. If you’re unfamiliar with who “Puff Daddy” is in relation to our present day “Diddy”/ “Ciroc Obama”, you should stop reading now.





What’s Ciroc Obama up to?! Bad Boy Rewind with Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj?!

Puffy was the people person of the streets. He brought us one of our greatest of all time with Brooklyn’s own “Teflon Don” The Notorious BIG, along with countless other classic acts like Lil Kim, Shyne, Craig Mac, and the list goes on. Before 2000, he was entertaining us with street classics, and afterwards, with a much larger pop-culture fan base to appeal to as well. I’m only so brief in my description of his epic career because we expect you to know this shit already, simply put. So, sitting in Big Red catching up on news in Hip-Hop can bring one to wild assumptions, because from his latest moves I venture to guess that Diddy’s “Ciroc Obama” campaign is gonna’ start off with some kind of reincarnation of Junior Mafia, starring Rick Ross as Biggie Smalls and Nicki Minaj as Lil Kim, as he recently began MANAGING both of them. Needless to say, reinventing Lil Kim in another artist while she just signed a deal with Jay-Z under Roc-Nation is going to have its obstacles. I have to ask if you think Diddy expected Jay to sign Kim. I personally think Jay may have caught him off guard with that one. To add to the suspicion, “Teflon Don” Rick Ross has been picking up a lot of “familiar” ad-libs, along with what I’d call a pretty controversial album name to coincide with his new management. I especially would love to hear the NY opinions on this endeavor, because I’m already feelin’ the vibe won’t be too hot from home! Nicki already had the Lil Kim comparisons coming at her from all angles. So, I’m sure this is nothing she isn’t used to handling. However, from the Upper Cloud its lookin’ like Ciroc Obama is about 2 shiny suits and one slow flowin’ ass rapper away from the 1990s Bad Boy feel I think he’s going for, and to add to it, I think they’re well aware and down to give the shit a shot. I just don’t know how I feel about it. Pass that to da left. Wahh!

By DJ PM! Host/DJ of "The 4/20 Lounge"

8

A Question To Warm Up!

Posted in
So-
I got brain storming and I thought; WHO DOES DIDDY THINK HE IS?

- Yesterday was the birthday of one of the greatest artists to ever touch a microphone. A man who changed the entire face of hip hop and forever resurfaced the entire music industry. Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs made his entire career off this man's talent and most of all this man's life. Back then "Puffy" was all about The Notorious B.I.G. but nowadays it seems as though the newly found hundred millionaire "Diddy" has completely forsaken the memory of the man who made his life what it is. So the question at this point stands:

Does Diddy have the right to name Rick Ross "The Teflon Don"? In other words the next Biggie Smalls?

- Just wondering people, and BTW.....those in favor better come with some bullets for that gun!

By Cly! Host of "The 4/20 Lounge"!

2

First ciph...always an adventure!

The Flyest Vibe Intro.

This is where I’m guessing I provide the introduction to what this is all about.

As I sit on the train at 3:15am, fresh out of a studio overlooking Times Square *great for inspiration*, I find now to be a great time to explain this without interruption of my thought process. I’m Cly, host of “The 4/20 Lounge”, alongside DJ PM and Supaears Juan 2.3. Between the three of us, there’s gonna be a lot of clashing, experiences, and moments of enlightenment. The type of shit that makes one tell you that you’re “Interesting”, along with the type of debates that start arguments while showing you who you really are, in addition to the truth about who’s around you.

What is The Flyest Vibe?

The vibe makes the difference though. You ever been in a nice room with some of your closest most opinionated friends, passing blunts until you wonder if you’re the only one thinking about tappin’ out! Rubbing your face and head for no reason lookin all stressed, but feelin so good? The cloud got everybody laughing about different things but still laughing together, as you notice that you’ve spent the last 10 minutes asking for a lighter that was already in your pocket? You’re so into the convo, but still feel like you’d be able to tune out EVERYTHING if you wanted to. Cotton mouth got your tongue feeling sandpaper against your cheekmeat?! You can talk about the most taboo habits, make the deepest confessions, and come up with ways to say things you’ve felt forever with the right vibe in place. So, consider this the ciph just when it got dark and somebody remembered to bring the wine AND cups, get OPEN.

Expect no territory to be safe from the shadow cast by the cloud we’re on, we talk about ANYTHING thought provoking or inspiring on the show. Our opinions will tend to differ we color code our input so please feel free to interact, you might get somebody on your side, or you might get us all telling you how stupid you sound TO US. Not in the name of putting you down, but in the name of seeing how STRONG your position is on a given topic at any moment, how many other ways can you grow from a blogspot?! “Kill Groupthink” is the movement and we refuse to go against it.

Consistency is key! We’ll keep consistent news, show postings, mixes, music, interviews, and chances to interact with us and the show. All I ask is you be a consistent follower whose intent is to contribute to this movement of progression, even in “leisure” (that’s my favorite word for being ‘relaxed’). Meaning, disagree! Prove us wrong, argue with our opinions if you dare, we might give you some colorful feedback, or it could feel like you’re in the 307 waitin’ for that “pass to the left” to approach from your right!

Make The 4/20 Lounge your space to clear your mind, but that means you gotta be prepared to air it out! When you don’t feel like it matters how somebody is about to feel in response to what you think needs to be said that’s when you’re on The Flyest Vibe. We’ll always be there to meet you head up. Waahh!