Inside A Thug's Heart- Angela Ardis

"Rikers Island is the centerpiece of the New York City Department of Corrections, a sprawling prison city of concrete and steel with housing for more than 16,000 inmates. Early in 1995, it was also the temporary home of legendary rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, incarcerated for a crime he swore he did not commit. And it was there that Angela Ardis, acting on a late-night wager among her friends and coworkers, sent a letter, along with a photo and her phone number. To her utter delight and amazement, Angela's phone rang a short while later. Tupac Shakur was on the line. 

Over the next several months, Angela and Tupac shared a near-daily exchange of letters, poems and phone calls, and their the relationship quickly grew into something neither of them could quite define, a kinship of souls that touched each in unexpected ways. Those original poems and letters, many of them written after Tupac’s transfer from Rikers to Dannemora State Prison, are presented here, along with the increasingly passionate and personal phone calls that touched on every subject imaginable. Far from the media spotlight, Tupac was by turns playful, sensual and serious, offering sharp observations on prison, music and the uncertainties of life. His letters to Angela reflect how he felt about being shot five times and left for dead one terrible night in New York in 1994, and his heartfelt verse encapsulates his dreams for the future—a future that would be so tragically cut short just over eighteen months after their correspondence began. 

Tupac Shakur was shot on September 7th, 1996 and died a week later from his injuries. His murder remains unsolved, an ending as enigmatic as his life. But while Tupac may be gone, his words live on here, giving every fan a rare glimpse inside the mind and unbroken spirit of a passionate and unpredictable musical icon.

241 pages"

listen here people.... this book is RIDICULOUS.

i sat in barnes and noble for QUITE SOME TIME and read it from cover to cover yesterday.

where do i begin? the PASSION in this book is intense. at first i felt kind of uncomfortable, like "how could this lady release SUCH PRIVATE LETTERS?!?!" but she wanted to show the world another side to tupac that we rarely saw... and this book just does that.

the book also leaves you with too many questions, which in a way is good because it ain't necessarily over when you're done reading- you know?

it's just too much to type, i had a headache when i left barnes and noble and i was just drained and... i don't know. i wish i was reading it with someone else so we could talk about the complexity of the book.

*deep sigh*

here's angela, beautiful lady:


i recommend this book to you A L L.

=)

-franso

MY PET PEEVE

*courtesy of www.baltimoresun.com

Here's another Magazine Writing assignment, just finished it.

I think it's cute:

It happens every single day. I approach the left- turn only lane and there’s always at least one car with a blinking left signal. Blinking quick and bright, as annoying as a never-ending tap on the shoulder. The signal consistently reminds me of where this car is headed, as if I didn’t already know. I try, every single day, to comprehend why a driver feels the need to signal a turn on a lane where the only option is to turn!
I fantasize about creeping up to the driver’s side of the vehicle, lowering my window and calmly saying, “You signal as if you have the option of driving in another direction.” The giant white curved arrow on the street leaves no choice but to turn, why the signal?
I remember complaining about this to a friend at the longest red light ever, and the best excuse he could come up with was that drivers do it as a “friendly reminder” to other drivers. “You know, just in case you didn’t realize you were on the left-turn only lane, the car’s signal ahead of you is a reminder.”
So now there are such things as friendly drivers? There is no way people turn on their left signals on a left- turn only lane because of their concern for others, that would be way too altruistic. I don’t know which is more ridiculous, the redundant signal or believing that the other drivers on the road are looking out for you.
Actually, I do know what’s worse: drivers who don’t signal on the turning lane- and go straight. I guess I’ll never win.

yay.

=)

-franso

N.E.R.D. Seeing Sounds Review

Here's what I wrote for class:

"Third time’s the charm for hip-hop trio N.E.R.D. The boys are back with Seeing Sounds, an explosive album consisting of their usual mind-boggling beats, catchy melodies, and not- so- impressive vocals from lead man, Pharrell Williams. Synesthesia is both a neurological disorder that causes people to see sounds as colors or objects in their mind and the inspiration for the title. Perfectly named, this album feels and sounds like a colorful and layered arrangement. From beginning to end, this album demands attention. Sounds forces the listener to become completely enchanted with an array of strong drums, grooving horns, and several other refreshingly unrecognizable sounds.
The first single, Everyone Nose, is a mind-tripping jazzy track about the uses of cocaine by rebellious girls. On Windows, a song reminiscent of the Beach Boys, Pharrell sings about watching a girl through her window every night. Never big on lyrical content, -
Sounds is all about the actual music. Anti Matter, the standout track of the album, is peculiar with its electric guitar, thumping bass, and chorus line of an angry woman yelling, “You punk bitch!”
Released four years after their Fly or Die album, Sounds takes another stab at delivering music with the capability of being as popular as the music The Neptunes (the group’s production name) creates for other artists. The album is not lyrically impressive, but Seeing Sounds is a producer’s dream. N.E.R.D. has officially arrived."

i think it's pretty cool

=)

-franso

STRONGER Hands:

Had to steal this from the N.E.R.D. blog, where it was stolen from the Kanye West blog.

It made my eyes hurt a little... but I kind of thought it was genius.

=)

-franso

Bless Youtube: Alicia Keys

I missed the BET Awards, but:


chills EN VOGUE?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!??!!?!?!!?

And here is one of the moments from the concert when a part of my soul died (around 1 minute):


*dreamy sigh*

no thing, no money, no sin, no temptation, I'm talkin' 'bout nothin'..."

=)

-franso

gnitr

Trey Songz Says Bye to the Braids

THIS MAN.

=) =) =) =) =)

-franso

A Millie... NE-YO?!

*courtesy of youtube.com

wait... WHAT?

"my middle name is more bread and my last name is than your bread... get it?" lmao... right!

and do you hear this man shoutin' out hov n b?! oh no.

this beat is really doing something to people huh?

-franso

A Millie... LIL MAMA?!

*courtesy of youtube.com

well damn.

i have mixed feelings about homegirl, always.

i hate when she opens her mouth on ABDC, but i feel like she could really do something' with myself if she F O C U S E D on her MUSIC CAREER.

she's the only girl doing the rap thing- she should take advantage of that.

(what she know about a millie though? lol jk jk)

=)

-franso

A Millie... MIGHTY FRANSO!?!?!?!

.......

............

....................

..........................


IMAGINE?!

on some "what's a millionaire? what's a young money millionaire?..."

lol go away

=)

-franso

Mario Lopez

What is it about Mario Lopez...

Homeboy is perfect looking...

Yet I am not attracted to him AT ALL.

Um... THIS is how it's done:



Oh, Mark...

2 different situations friends, 2 DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

=)

-franso

Kanye's Opinion

*Courtesy of www.collegecandy.com

"Soulja boy is fresh ass hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is sposed to be. He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't Hip Hop then what is? A bunch of wannabe keep it real rappers that ain't even relevant, recycling samples trying to act like it's 96 again and all they do is hate on new shit? Niggas always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year old kid, this is the golden age!!! That song was so dope cause everything he said had a hidden meaning… that's Nas level shit… he just put it over some steel drums which is also some Nas shit if you had the 2nd album cassette with the bonus track "Silent Murder" on it. In closing… new niggas get ya money$$$$$$$$$$ Keep this shit fresh and original…. ain't no fuckin' rules to this shit and that's what real hip hop is to me."
-Kanye West on the Souljah Boi and Ice-T beef

So that's "NAS LEVEL SHIT"?!!?!?!?!

fuck this.

-franso

Megan FOX

*Courtesy of ljfind.com

OK.

I dislike "there once was a little girl who never knew love until a boy broke her HEART"....

but WOW.

i need to go over my favorite quotes and lyrics and build the courage to get something like this.... ASAP.

shit is WILD.

=)

-franso

Alicia Keys Concert 6.17.08

Geezy and I felt like we were never going to get there... but we got there just in time to ignore the first half of Jordin Spark's set, use the bathroom, buy the concert booklet (geezy, $20, amazing pics) and creepy Alicia Keys tee (me, $45, shoot me, it's all her face), and catch "No air, air..."

Jordin Sparks makes it look so easy. Effortless that girl, she's so cute. =)

We were excited for Ne-Yo, but WOW!


First of all, he had a live band. *IMPRESSIVE*

3 Broadway, razzle dazzle-ish dancers, and one main dancer for himself (corny)... Jumped right into it! CLOSER!!!!

It was lovely. I don't remember the exact order anymore (after concerts, it's all just a blissful blur for me) but he did that, can we chill (OD jolly), do you (depressing as usual lol), sexy love (great), so sick (aw ne-yo!), that song about making love in front of the mirror (cool), say it (unnecessary, hate this song!), go on girl (always makes me wanna slit my wrist), angel (why ne-yo, WHY?!), and BECAUSE OF YOU!!!! i think that was it. it was actually better than I thought it was going to be. he sounded WAY better than I thought he would, he looked great (dapper wardrobe), and even though he didn't do stay with me (ugh, i didn't wanna believe that he wouldn't lol) he definitely exceeded our expectations. work it then, ne-yo... with your cute choreography. usher leaves stage, ne-yo enters. (i said it.)

Then we waited... and waited... and waited... and after a pretty funny church skit on the big screen featuring Cedric the Entertainer of a young and inspiring Alicia Keys absorbing wise words before going into the real world to follow her dreams (the concert).... she came out and, well, it was over.


Homegirl came out to the DAMN reggae song (don't laugh that I don't know the words) that goes "I remember those days... Rah! Rah! Rah!" (this is me embarrassed.) And then- you know that song "Youuu can change the worrrrrld, you're a superstarrrr"?- yeah, she did a song over that beat. I was a little lost, it was fun nonetheless.

After that, she spoke about starting out in a girl group and jumped right into this 1950s/1970s ordeal where she was lead her 3 backup singers were right behind her to the left looking like a modern day Supremes.

Like this:


The stage setup was beautiful, the colors, the band sounded great, even the images on the projector were H O T.

It was during this time that she did a quick medley of where do we go from here? teenage love affair, and you don't know my name and it was just so overwhelming.

How could she just jump into these songs without a fair warning? AND THEN OD QUICK BACK TO BACK.

She was out to get me. i know it.

I don't really remember the order like I said before but I think she did sure looks good to me next. i died. it was so raw, so pure.

From As I Am, she did:
Go Ahead (never was a fan...)
Wreckless Love (it was CRAZY, I think this next picture is of her singing it!)

Superwoman (i almost cried... but let's not talk about lady sitting next to Geezy who was crying A L L N I G H T)
I Need You (ok, this is my favorite song on this album... so it was over. Yes, i was the only person dancing around me for a little while there... oh well. Drums were sick too.)
Prelude to a Kiss (heartfelt, with photos of AIDS-stricken kids in Africa all the while plugging her amazing Keep A Child Alive project)
Like You'll Never See Me Again (so relaxing, "howwww many really know what love iii-IS?!")
The Thing About Love (loved it live, unlike before)
No One (you already know how THIS went, the crowd was pretty overwhelmed. i was chillin, of course i enjoyed it because she was right there in my face singing it. she tried to make it seem like this was her last song, but something just wasn't sitting right with me because an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SONG was missing...)

From Diary of Alicia Keys, she did:
Heartburn (BURNIN' IN MAH SOUL!!!! had me amped.)
Feelin' You, Feelin' Me (sexy, as usual)
Diary {ok..... her backup singer (i forget his name, how unprofessional of me, right?) BEASTED. that man is NO JOKE (i see you geezy), such a great singer. From here they went into another song, I think it was a Tony! Toni! Tone! song, perfect.}

From Songs in A Minor (yes! SHE TOOK IT THERE!!!!), she did:
How Come You Don't Call Me (this song never gets old, and the ad-libbing in between about texting her and sending her an email was TOO cute.)
Butterflyz (do i have to say anything?)
Goodbye (a surprise! i had forgotten about this song, it was refreshing.)
A Woman's Worth (ANOTHER song I had forgotten about, always a pleasure.)

From Unplugged, she did:
UNBREAKABLE.
People... I almost didn't make it home. This is seriously, like top 5 songs of my LIFE. I was so concerned with THAT CERTAIN SONG THAT WAS MISSING that I had completely forgotten about THIS ONE! And like every song, starting before I was ready... when I suddenly heard "we can fight like ike and tina" my body almost collapsed. Unfortunately, she didn't do the ENTIRE song- left me wanting more OD.

OK, I'm sure you've realized by now what song I was talking about. After No One, I turned to Geezy for like the 10000000th time and said "IS SHE REALLY NOT GONNA DO IF I AIN'T GOT YOU?! THIS MAKES NO SENSE YO!!!" *sigh* so we started to walk out of our aisle and BAM- a white light appears, shining down on a sexy-ass white piano. I KNEW IT. Trying to express how beautiful that song was would be foolish. Seriously.

The song was never-ending, she switched up some of the hooks, the melodies... It was perfection.




I'm so happy I saw her in 05, and again just now.

I always say Christina Aguilera is my #1 but- oh my goodness.- Alicia Keys made me love her even MORE than I already had- and that was A L O T.

She knows what she's doing and I can't wait until the next one. WHOOP DE WOOT!!!!



Bless Geezy's soul for coming with me, having more fun than I thought she would, and NOT yanking me down the few times I felt the need to stand up and dance alone. I love you. =)

And here's another pic, from I don't know when, that I love:


i left a piece of my heart at that concert, people.

=)

gnite

-franso

Bow Wow the Gamer

... but you're such a child!

he could come see me for mario party 1-3 on N64.

yeahhh... i took it there!

=)

-franso

New Music: Common & Musiq

*deep sigh*

you know, trying new things is great...

unless it SUCKS.

i'm devastated.

check out common's new song "UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL".

i guess he wasn't kidding when he said he was gonna do a dance-ish album:



pharrell did some will.i.am shit and common... well i don't know.

hopefully this is that one song i skip on the album. (eh, i'll probably just get used to it.)

here's musiq's new one "RADIO".

is this real?:



.....i'm convinced it's a joke. how do you make a song like "halfcrazy"... and then THIS?

shoot me.

have a great day.

OH! Alicia Keys critique toniiiight.

=)

-franso

Alicia Keys Concert

*deep sigh*

it was 5 days ago and i'm STILL recovering.

aw, it was the definition of beauty.

i'm so happy i went.

full review when i get a hold of some pics.

gabby.

=)

gnite

-franso

2 SNL Clips (Hey Becca)

BRONX BEAT


BODY FUZION

(Highlight @ 48 seconds)

Apparently hulu.com is the shit!

Enjoy!

=)

-franso

Alicia Keys Ticket

$85
$85
$85

Tomorrow night, June 17th, Newark's Prudential Center.

JOIN ME?

=)

-franso

UPDATE: franso and young geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezy....!

PCD- When I Grow Up/ Chrisette Michele- Love is You

*dreamy sigh*

these lovelies are my #1 GUILTY PLEASURE.

i don't care because you know what? (some of) the girls can sing, they can dance, the songs are ridiculously catchy and they ooze sex appeal.

they do it WELL.

=)

enjoy!

-franso

PS-

Here you go! Chrisette Michele's latest video for one of the most beautifullest songs ever. I don't know how I feel about her love interest.... they seriously lack the chemistry needed for THIS SONG.

"when the chips are downnnnnn, love will stick aroooound- OH!"

Happy Father's Day...

(please say tha baby)

to the few REAL MEN out there that do their job and didn't leave their baby mamas stranded...

this is for you.

lol

=)

-franso

A Millie- Chris Brown

*Courtesy of youtube.com

THIS BEAT GOT THE WORLD GASSED, HUH?

lol he said "a million chairs"

=)

-franso

Tyra Banks

... is this a joke? the smiling thing... IS IT A JOKE?!

-franso

Arts & Crafts

*sigh*

MY SUMMER BIBLE.


my mind is currently experiencing a giant clusterfuck (lol what?) of paper, scissors, fabric, colors, and everything else you can buy @ Michael's... AH!

it's gonna be a great summer.

stop spending money at Urban Outfitters for simple things you can make YOURSELF.

let that creativity loose, yes?

oh hell yes

=)

-franso

ps- hey michelle

Hooters

"I am a hooters girl. I am angry because many people don't know how hard it is to be a hooters girl. A lot of people stare at us like we are a peice of meat. We are not, not anything near a peice of meat. They whistle they howl and they make advances at us like we are an easy target. We are not an easy target, because we were born with a nice body"
-Hooters Employee (Courtesy of aol.com)








..........................................Shutup trick.

ok, that was mean.

but still!

=)

-franso

Nas- Still Dreamin'

"When you go to sleep, what do you think 'bout?"
-Kanye West

Seeings Sounds

New N.E.R.D. album... JUNE 10th

...GASSED LIKE ME?!

=)

-franso

Usher- Here I Stand (Mini Critique)

Let's get right to it.

I'm feeling Something Special (joint got Robin Thicke written ALL OVER IT!), What's a Man to Do, and Lifetime the MOST.

Trading Places, Love You Gently, Best Thing (featuring JiggaMan), His Mistakes, Here I Stand are exceptional.

What does that leave?

Revolver, Moving Mountains, Appetite, Before I Met You, What's Your Name, and This Ain't Sex.

Maybe if I force myself to listen to them over and over and over and over and over again... then I'll like them. For now, however... I find them rather unnecessary.

Oh, there's also the Prayer For You interlude with his newborn. A for adorable.

This album should've been called "I'M A GROWN ASS MAN NOW"

It's so interesting to see an artist grow and evolve, with this marriage and baby we are listening to a new Usher. It doesn't matter if we think his wife is a lame-o, she's a major influence on his music. Even though it's disturbing that SHE'S the face to the person he now sings about... I think we gotta respect that!

Another thing.... who writes these songs? I've never noticed this before, but Usher's lyrics are FAR from impressive.
"Order chinese before you do me"? "Light as a feather, but hard as a rock"?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!
Has it always been this way? If so, why am I just noticing it now? Maybe the song qualities aren't good enough to distract me...
If this ain't some R. Kelly nonsense.... *sigh*

Well, goodnight!

Back to my magazine writing assignment... as I listen to "Something Special" for the 100,001th time.

=)

-franso

MEGABUS?!

http://www.megabus.com/us/

.... are you serious right now?

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE CATCH?!!?!?!?!?!?!

... oh well, i'm out.

with someone big and muscular to protect me just in case.

=)

-franso

PS- $12 roundtrip to philly!?!!?!? shutup.

Nas' New Album Cover....

.......Exactly.

=)

-franso