Beyonce- Sweet Love

*sigh* MINUS THE OBNOXIOUS GROWLING... this is the first Beyonce thing, situation, performance, whatever, that I've liked in a long time.

Love Anita Baker.

=)

-franso

Alicia Keys Newbies

Doesn't Mean Anything (snippet):

Sleeping With A Broken Heart:


.... We all know I've loved Alicia Keys since the beginning. I remember the very first time I saw the "Fallin'" video and I happily went to her last 2 concerts.

Diary of Alicia Keys is my favorite, but As I Am most certainly kept me interested in what was to come.

BAM, fast forward to today and I'm ridiculously disappointed.

I just can't wrap my mind around "Doesn't Mean Anything" =/
From the first time I heard it, I was confused. She already did "No One" ... so exactly what was the point of this new track?
Then I hear this new one... and again! I'm not satisfied.
It's not only the music I don't like, but I'm afraid to say that I don't even like the vocals.
The vocals don't sit well with me.

*sigh* There's more.
I'm ashamed to say that all of this gossip surrounding this love triangle that is Alicia Keys- Swizz Beatz- Mashonda may have had an impact on my feelings... Pathetic lol I know.
It's just weird! I'm hearing her talking about how "it doesn't mean anythiiiiiiiiiiiiiing" and Swizzy! clouds my mind.
I don't wanna call A Keys a homewrecker... but come on, dude was truly still married.

This is EXACTLY why the media & paparazzi shouldn't pry into people's lives- it takes away!!!!

I can't believe this nonsense.

focus on the music, just focus on the music...

And with that said, I'll let "How Come You Don't Call Me" rock and hope that I like the rest of the new album, Element of Freedom.

=/

-franso

The Jacksons- Dreamer

if music is another form of communication- then let me say this:

*thanks YouTube.

"I guess I'll always be a dreamer...
Dreaming my life away, dreaming my life away..."

=)

-franso

Eminem's WARNING

Courtesy of YouTube

"Only reason I dissed you in the first place is because you denied seeing me,
Now Im pissed off.

Sit back homey relax, in fact grab a six pack, kick back while I kick facts,
Yeah Dre sick track, perfect way to get back
Wanna hear something wick wack?
I got the same exact tat thats on Nicks back
Im obsessed now,
Oh gee, is that supposed to be me in the video with the goatee?
Wow Mariah, didnt expect her to go balls out,
Bitch, shut the fuck up before I put all them phone calls out, you made to my house when you was wild n out before Nick,
When you was on my dick and give you somethin to smile about,
How many times you fly to my house? Still trying to count,
Better shut your lying mouth if you dont want Nick finding out,
You probably think cuz its been so long if i had something on you I woulda did it by now,
Oh on the contrary, Mary Poppins, Im mixing our studio session down and sending it to mastering to make it loud,
Enough dirt on you to murder you,
This is what the fuck I do,
Mariah, it ever occur to you that I still have pictures?
However you prefer to do and goes for Nick too, faggot
You think Im scared of you?
You gonna ruin my career you better get one,
Like Ima sit and fight with you over some slut bitch cunt that made me put up with her psycho ass over 6 months and only spread her legs to let me hit once,
Yeah, what you gonna say? Im lucky? Tell the public that I was so ugly that you fucking had to be drunk to fuck me?
Second base? What the fuck you tell Nick, pumpkin?
In the second week we was dry humping. Its gotta count for something,
Listen, girly. Surely you dont want me to talk about how I nutted early 'cos ejaculated prematurely and bust all over your belly, and you almost started hurling and said I was gross, go get a towel youre stomachs curling.
Or maybe you do.
But if Im embarrassing me, Im embarrassing you and dont you dare say it isnt true.
As long as the songs getting airplay Im dissing you.
Im a hair away from getting carried away and getting sued.
I was gonna stop at 16. That was 32. This is 34 bars. We aint even third of the way through.
Damn, Slim. Mariah played you. Mariah who?
Oh did I say whore, Nick? I meant a liar too.
Like Ive been goin off on you all this time for no reason,
Girl you out ya alcholic mind. Check ya wine cellar. Look at all the amounts of all the wine,
Like I fuckin sit around and think about you all the time,
I just think this shit is funny when I pounce you on a rhyme.
But fuck it now im about to draw the line.
And for you to cross it thats a mountain that I doubt you wanna climb.
I can describe areas of your house you wouldnt find on an episode of Cribs,
A blow below the ribs if I hear another word so dont go opening your jibs cos every time you do its just another load of fibs,
I aint saying this shit again, ho, you know what it is.
Its a warning shot for I blow up ya whole spot,
Call my bluff and Ill release every fucking thing I got,
Including the voicemails right before you flipped your top,
When me and Luis were tryin to stick two CDs in the same spot..."

Dear world, this shit just got crazy.

-franso

Happy Birthday Pac

I actually made myself sad watching this little clip.
Yeah, I disagreed with a whole stack of shit that came out of dude's mouth, but the world was really blessed to have spent the little time it did with Tupac.
Sometimes I sit back & wonder what music would be like him today.
What would dude be saying if he was making new shit today?
It's cool that he made so much music before his "death" because his spirit lives on but... you know what I mean?

Pac turns/would've been (I seriously don't know what to believe!) 38 years young today.

I couldn't find the video to this song, my favorite... but I love that he went to a high school & spit that first verse with so much feeling.

One of my favorite songs- ever.

Rest in Peace.

-franso

Kings of Leon- Use Somebody

Not sure if you all caught the MTV Movie Awards but Kings of Leon performed their latest single "Use Somebody" & I'm just entranced...!

Check out the video here =)

Here are the lyrics too, which are cool:
I've been roaming around always lookin down at all I see.
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach.
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
And all you know and how you speak
Countless lovers undercover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
Off in the night while you live it up I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shake the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
Someone like me
Someone like me
Somebody
(Go and let it out)
Someone like you
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody
I've been roaming around always lookin down at all I see

Um... I feel like I need to do a close reading of these lyrics lol
A lot of the lyrics catch my attention but I'm not exactly sure why, crazy.

=)

-franso

PS- & can we discuss dude's voice? love.

Beyonce's EGO Cont'd

*Courtesy of YouTube

... I just feel like she does shit to annoy me.

Just ME.

-franso

PS- it's too BEEG, it's too WAAAD, it's too STRAWNG, it won't FIEET...

-franso

And Another One... New Mos Def

CASA BEY

*Courtesy of WorldStarHipHop

*sigh* We have another one folks.

I can't understand half of the shit he's saying, but it's gets sooooo good at the end!

"BRIGHT LIGHT FROM A DISTANT STAR....!"

=)

-franso

PS- June 9th ya'll, it's over!

Joe Budden's Thoughts

*Courtesy of YouTube

... Dude is so real.

I feel him though.

=)

-franso

Mos Def- Flowers

*Courtesy of YouTube

First "Life in Marvelous Times"
Then "Quiet Dog"

Now.... "Flowers"

Apparently the new album, The Ecstatic drops June 9 2009.

Basically, it's a done deal.

=)

-franso

I Poke Her Face- Kid Cudi, Kanye, & Common

*Courtesy of YouTube

I've been listening to this for the past 2-3 days and I'm still trying to figure out what's worse: Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" so smoothly becoming a song about oral sex (You poke her face, huh.... how ridiculously clever- as hard as that is to admit!) or Common's verse:

She said she want whatever she like
But she gotta bring your friend
We could have a hell of a night, through the day
She blamed it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol
She had her hair did, it was bound to fall
Down, down for a damn, Cudi already said it
A poker face book I already read it
But man, her head was gooder than the music
electro body known to blow fuses
A stripper from the south lookin for a payday
Said bitch you should do it for the love like Ray Jay
But they say you be on that conscious tip
Get your hair right and get up on this conscious dick
I embody everything from the Gali to the party
Its the way I was raised on the south side safari, so...

:( why Common? Why do you do it to me? We've discussed this before. You aren't to go any further than "Come Close" "I Want You" and "Go"... That's YOUR area of sexy (Which, might I add, is pretty damn sexy. You went crazy on your latest album Universal Mind Control talking about "touching me where the sun don't shine" and I didn't like it one bit... NOW YOU'RE ADDRESSING HOMEGIRL IN YOUR VERSE AS "BITCH"?! The world is ending, has to be.
"Get up on this conscious dick".... You just went all out, huh?

*deep, analytical sigh*

My love affair with all things Common became a challenge RIGHT AFTER Finding Forever.

But wait.

I found what's the worst thing about this "I Poke Her Face" situation: how ridiculously catchy the damn song is.

I'm done.

-franso
PS- I know you were trying to be cool Common, but her head wasn't gooder- IT WAS BETTER.
Sorry, but as a journalism major, that shit made me twitch...

Eminem's We Made You

Eminem - New Music - More Music Videos

.............*crickets*

Well hello there, Dr.Dre.

-franso

Something's... OFF About These Videos...

There's been a lot of chemistry out there these days that just makes me feel weird. Sometimes in a good way, can Kanye be sexy?! and sometimes in a disturbing way, is Justin giving me the perverted vibe?!

#1 Keri Hilson's "Make Love" Teaser

Keri Hilson doesn't do it for me... but I'm mad I kept watching just for Kanye.

#2 Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down" with Kanye West (what's going on here...?) and Ne-Yo

No seriously... Keri Hilson is not my friend lol
And are Ne-Yo and Kanye FIGHTING over homegirl? That's funny, not because of her.... I just can't picture them doing that.
And explain to me, how is it that Ne-Yo can be dressed so fresh... and STILL not do it for me. I don't understand.

#3 Ciara's Love Sex Magic with Justin Timberlake

... Ok, that felt like softcore porn to me.
So what if they kept their clothes on, Ciara's body movements are ridiculous.
And are they licking each other? Oh no.
Ciara is another one that doesn't do it for me.
She certainly used to... but I feel like it's the same thing every time.
She just gets stronger and more flexible with time and it's beyond creepy.
What a complete 360 from Justin and Rihanna's vibe lol
(PS- I'm gonna need Ciara to put those afros away. That's just stupid.)

All this "Who would've thought?" lovey dovey chemistry... Who do we want to do a music video next?

I'm thinking we need a Britney and Snoop video, since they never finished theirs before.

=)

-franso

Buggin' Out 09

Courtesy of YouTube.

.... why those eyes though? Looking like black Homer Simpsons =/

-franso

PS- hot remake!

Rockin' That Shit (Remix)- The Dream (Fabolous, Juelz Santana, Rick Ross, and Luda)

*Courtesy of Youtube

Couple of observations/questions...

#1 Fabolous, were my ears playing tricks on me or did you say, "Can I call you Nana? 'Cause you got that rockin' chair."
... what are you asking me right now?! WHAT ROCKIN' CHAIR?! WHAT AM I NOT UNDERSTANDING?!
And look at your headband. Right.

#2 Let me find out Juelz made me smile, oh no... "She rockin' to the beat, she rockin' it for me- and all I can think about is rockin' it to sleep"
Yes it's raunchy, but the dimples showed when he said it.
....Gullible? ME?!

#3 I don't even know what Rick Ross was saying. His facial hair and ridiculous chain (and images of 50 with a jerri curl wig on in my head) are such a distraction.

#4 How handsome is Ludacris these days?! I'm mad everyone on the track was just trying to bag... but no, not Luda. Homeboy was deadass trying to WIFE up whoever it is he's rappin' about.
"Travel in your mind, explore your sexuality, melt your imagination, and mold it into reality"?!!? WORD?!
But wait, my favorite? "So let me dive in your heart and swim around in your soul"
OK Luda, you can pick me up at 8 and have me home by 2 if you want. It's perfectly fine.

#5 Who signed The Dream?

=)

-franso

PS- is it Spring yet? Fuck!

Jamie Foxx's "Blame It" Video

Blame It (Feat. T-Pain) - Jamie Foxx
*Courtesy of Imeem

NOW WAIT A GOD DAMN MINUTE.
HOW YOU ROLL UP TO THE CLUB WITH RON HOWARD TO YOUR LEFT, FOREST WHITAKER RIDING SHOTTY, AND JAKE GYLLENHAL DRIVING?!?!?!?!

IS RON HOWARD TRYING TO BE DOWN!?!?!?!?!

... i love this.

No, I really love this video.

Quincy Jones? Are you sitting next to Joe? What?
AND SAMUEL L JACKSON- WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?! Is it that you Dolicia Bryant? All up in Sir Samuel's personal space? Oh no... lol
Tatiana Ali just doesn't age, huh?
Neither does Morris Chestnut... looking like he tastes and smells like a Hershey's chocolate bar- I'm just sayin'.
Cedric The Entertainer?!
Did I miss anyone?
Oh wait... my boo Bill Bellamy.
I need it to be understood that Bill Bellamy can STILL bag.
So what if he could be my pops, it ain't nothing.

*sigh* Kudos to Jamie Foxx to putting out the most amusing video ever. He was really trying to get down with the big dogs, I love him for that. And I really love Ron Howard for being in a Hip Hop video.

Imagine being at THAT club, lol.

=)

-franso

PS-Is Jake Gyllenhal trying to be sexy?... Because it's working and I don't know how i feel about that.

Bow Wow's "You Can Get It All" Video

*Courtesy of YouTube
*sigh*
The minute the video started I was amused.
"Got me like whooooo-hoooo!"?! ... What are you saying Bow Wow?

First that awkward homage to and from JD... and now this?
(*Watching the "Roc The Mic" video with my uncle*
Tio: who the FUCK is gonna listen to this shit?
Me: They say we talk just like? Walk just alike? He can get it?... OH NO.)

Why did Bow Wow just redo Fabolous' "So Into You" video?
And why does he sound like a mix of T.I and Nelly with a splash of Weezy?

Something's very... OFF about this whole situation.

I have a solution though- I'm SURE Sean John needs models and I MUST say that Bow Wow fits the description... His pretty self.

=)

-franso

PS- Omarion, you out there?

Happy VAGINA Day?... Yes.

(Tokyo, Japan 2006)

Everyone's all sad today like there's really a blind baby boy with wings and a bow and arrow who really forgot to shoot them.

IT'S GONNA BE OK...

I, too am guilty of hating Valentine's Day, but let's clarify. I hated this holiday because of all the cheesy gifts I'd see. Everywhere. All around me. All those annoying ass balloons and cheap-looking stuffed animals. People walking around like they'd never been shown love before! Ugh... this isn't even a real holiday! I consider it a Hallmark Holiday, created just for companies to make money!

On the flip side though, why does it just have to be about your significant other? Why can't we show love to our mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, fathers (i mean, if that's how you roll...), cousins, co-workers, friends (with benefits, i don't judge), children, godchildren, stepchildren, etc etc?!?!? THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WE LOVE! Wait... WHAT ABOUT OURSELVES? Why can't we pamper ourselves today? Flaunt what the good Lord gave us and laugh at those who've either had their chance OR are sleeping on it. I'm just sayin'.... GET OVER YOURSELF and realize that V-DAY stands for MANY things...

Ever heard of the play, Vagina Monologues?

I took Politics of Sexuality last semester and we had to watch it... what a play- showing the beauty, pain, joy, struggle, and fun of being a WOMAN. From stories about sexual abuse, to finding true love, to embracing the hideous word that is VAGINA... good times. Fortunately, I learned the alternate meaning of V-DAY. It's not just about Cupid and chocolates, ya'll. Today is about women empowerment and the awareness of violence on women. Eve Ensler, the creator of the play has taken it upon herself to try and wake the world up about what is really being done to women these days. This lady has events going on in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa dedicated to anti-violence! A modern day Wonder Woman.

Why are we sitting home all sad that we're alone when we are beautiful regardless of what others say? When women are suffering from greater pains all around us and we should help them however we can?

We need to love ourselves and each other, mi'ja.

The V in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine, and Vagina.

Please, please, please, check out her lovely website here. Seems like hella events are going down.

So, when you see me looking happy and totally not bothered by Valentine's Day (unless I'm in Times Square and there are just TOO many corny couples in my fucking way) know that I have bigger and better things on my mind- like self-love and the less fortunate women all around me.

And yeah, I'm chillin with a guy today.
But it wouldn't mean shit if I wasn't.
My MOM is my first love.

Have an amazing day.

=)

Happy V-Day,
franso

PS- those are the sweet sounds from my V-Day playlist:

Roy Hargrove- Strasbourg/St. Denis

WELL!

Been meaning to get up on my jazz, and I think the time is now.

I already have a favorite jazz tune, by Miles Davis... but having a jazz trumpet playing uncle, I feel it's only right that I broaden my horizons and educate myself. (Myself meaning me and anyone who will let me school THEM as well, ha.)

Last night, he put me on to Roy Hargrove's tune Strasbourg/ St. Denis, off his 2008 release, Earfood.

DO check out these two versions below... of course, I'm obsessed.

And live:


*dreamy sigh*

=)

-franso

Happy Birthday, Abuelo!

January 31st, 2009

Abuelo would've been 76 years old today.

*Courtesy of YouTube

There he is, in the 70's singing Catalina La O.

Tonight at Hostos (in the Bronx), Mami is singing to celebrate his birthday. Yay!

Time flies and the world keeps moving.

Miss him, too.


=)

-franso