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Archive for November, 2008

Heavy Rotation XIV: The ‘Soundview Avenue’ Edition

11.29.08 brran1 3 comments

Welcome2BX

Let’s take it back to a time when the hottest rapper out wasn’t rapping about Lollipops. Lets go back to a time when it was commonplace to see people walking around wearing Denim from head to toe. Let’s go back to a time when Biggie was on the top of the charts and was still touring. Let’s go back to a time when Breakdancing and wearing Adidas Track Suits was the thing. Lets go back to a time when music got spins based on having a message.

Let’s go back to the South Bronx… Read more…

Music Makes Me High

11.22.08 brran1 6 comments

SInce I haven’t done a meme in close to three months, I figured I’d change the mood of this spot by doing one. I got this one from Organized Noise by way of Eb the Celeb (What up Mike! What up Eb!)

If you do it, drop a comment so I know to come past your spot to check it out. Thanks.

1. Song that makes you dance, no matter what:
“I Luv Your Girl’ by The Dream. I become the King of the Two-Step when this comes on, so much to the point where I busted out with the Two-Step while I was walking to catch the train at the College Park MARTA Station when someone drove by blaring this track. LOL

2. Song you’d use to tell someone you love them:
“Prototype” by Raheem DeVaughn. I like this version of Outkast’s track much better than the original. Check it out on Youtube when you get the chance.

3. Song that has made you sit down and analyze the lyrics:
“Gills & Tails” by Amel Larrieux. This is one of my favorite tracks from 2007. It talk’s about going after what you think you don’t have, then when you get it, you realize that you never needed it in the first place.

4. Song you like that a two-year old would like:
“A.B.C.” by The Jackson 5. Is it just me or did this song belong on School House Rock? It’s melodic plus it teaches you about numbers, letters and scales. Seems like a win-win to me.

5. Song that gives you an energy boost:
“What U Gon” Do” by Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH! This song is definitely on the ‘On My Way to Stomp Mudholes In Yo Azz’ soundtrack on my iPod.

6. A song you and your grandparents would like:
“Love TKO” by Teddy Pendergrass. There’s no reason why I should’ve known every word to this song at the age of 4. Thanks Teddy Pendergrass Stan Grandma. :)

7. Song you really liked when you were in high school that you still like now:
“Bennie & The Jets” by Elton John. A classic track right here. I used to listen to this on my iPod while riding the bus home from school.

8. A sad song that would be in the soundtrack of the movie about your life:
“Please Forgive Me” by David Gray. Another classic from Gray’s White Ladder Album.

9. Peppy song that would start the opening credits in the movie of your life:
“Who Am I” by Beenie Man. Wah Gwan? Me no know what ye speak on. Sim Simma…

10. A good song from a genre of music that no one would guess you liked:
“Barely Breathing” by Duncan Sheik. I actually got into Rock Music in a funny way. Back in the mid 90’s there were two “Urban” format stations in Baltimore (92Q and V103). After Frank Ski left V103 for the V103 down in Atlanta, the station’s ratings plummeted and they changed its format. Since I couldn’t get 92Q on the radio in my room, I was stuck listening to music I had never heard before. Now, you can’t tell me anything about my late 90’s Contemporary Post-Grunge Rock.

11. Song you think should have been playing when you were born:
“I Got It Made” by Special Ed.

12. Favorite duet artists:
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Hands down. Who can compare with them?

13. A favorite song you completely disagree with:
“I Got 5 On It” by Luniz. I don’t smoke (never have) but this is still one of my favorite tracks.

14. Song that you like despite the fact that your IQ level drops several points every time you listen to it:
“Marco Polo” by Bow Wow featuring Soulja Boy. It’s so bad, yet so damn catchy…

15. Smoothe song for relaxing:
“Slide” by Jeff Bradshaw featuring Jill Scott. A smooth track right here.

16. A song you would send to someone you can’t stand:
“Peace Sign/Index Down” by Gym Class Heroes. To all of the haters out there…’F you, this is for my people!’

17. Favorite political track (Or song with a message):’5 O’ Clock’ by Nonchalant. This a banger from ‘95. ‘Five O Clock in da Mornin, Where ya gonna be? Outside on da corner!’

18. Favorite track from a band considered a “super group”:
“Papa Was A Rolling Stone” by The Temptations. Despite the fact that this track has a 32 minute intro before anyone starts singing, it’s still a banger and it’s still relevant in this day and age. ‘Ain’t nobody come to see you Otis!’

19. A song that makes you reminisce about good times with a family member:
“Theme from Shaft” by Issac Hayes. Reminds me of the time my friends and I were sitting in traffic on the Capital Beltway. As soon as this track came on, the Air Instruments came out and we were jamming like nobody’s business. We even got a couple laughs and ‘WTF?’ looks from people in the cars around us. RIP Issac Hayes.

20. Favorite song from a soundtrack:
“Theme from Shaft” by Issac Hayes. SHAFT! Damn right….

21. Your favorite song(s) RIGHT now:
I’m still bumping Dwele’s ‘Sketches of A Man’. So I’d say almost every track on that album.

Categories: Damn Memes. Tags:

Delving into Differentials.

11.15.08 brran1 7 comments

When I woke up yesterday morning, I was on top of the world. The training for my job which I had been summoned to on Thursday was cancelled via Voice mail. I headed to the Barber Shop and got a cut and line up. As I was rushing to get to Morgan from all the way down in Fell’s Point, I received a text message from one of my classmates informing me that class was cancelled due to the fact that the professor was in a conference.

After chilling out for about 30 minutes, I headed to my D.E. class where I had the conversation which I published in the post prior to this one. I’ve been beating myself up about the fact that this’ll be the first ‘F’ I’ve received for a final grade, but more so, due to the fact that I know I could have done better than what I did.

When school started back in August, the class had about 15-18 students. After Midterm exams and the Add/Drop period, only 6 students were left in the class. 2 students are barely passing with C’s and the other 4 of us are well below the threshold of any hope of passing.

At this point, I felt as if I should just hang it up and just concentrate on the two other classes I still have a shot of passing, but then I realized that all hope was not lost. I could ace the final, and still end up getting a D in the class. The last time I checked, D’s were much more friendlier to GPA’s than F’s, so the battle isn’t over yet.

I’ve just chalked up this class as a learning experience. Next semester I’ll be taking the same professor over again, and I know that I’ll have to study smarter. Hopefully my GPA won’t be impacted too bad by this class.

brran1 (Channelling Jose Vilson), who’s looking forward to not touching a book for the first two weeks of Winter Break…

Random Thought of the Moment: “Education has for its object the formation of character.”

-Herbert Spencer

The Song of the Moment: ‘Miles Away’ by Eric Roberson

A Conversation With My Differential Equations Professor

11.15.08 brran1 3 comments

brran1: ‘So how did I do on the last test?”

Dr. B. (In a heavy Polish Accent): ‘Eh, um….uh… You did very well on the second equation. However, you forgot to divide the functions by p…(yadda yadda yadda, more D.E. lingo). The first one was not done correctly. I can tell you had much difficulty with the problem.’

brran1: ‘Factoring in this test, how is my overall grade looking?’

Dr. B.: ‘Did not help you much. See you next semester.’

*sigh*

This Song…

11.12.08 brran1 3 comments

Has been on repeat in my iPod for the past 3 days.

A Few Words to Designer Qui’s E-Stalker.

11.10.08 brran1 Comments off

I see you.

Now you’re being watched, the same way you’ve been watching her spot and now mines.

Categories: Blogging Tags: ,

Various Random Musings

11.08.08 brran1 5 comments

After reading Eb the Celeb’s blog and the drama with Designer Qui’s E-Stalker, is it safe to say that certain people’s mental states are questionable?

The semester is winding down, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m looking forward to just relaxing for five weeks.

Although that is the case, I’m still working my behind off to make up for those disappointments called Midterm Grades.

I wanted to go see my older brother this week but it looks as if I’ll have to push it back, yet again, due to the fact that I’ll be busier than R. Kelly’s Lawyer.

Speaking of being busy, I have an interview this week for a Summer Internship. Wish me luck!

Obama will be our 44th President. YES WE CAN! I was on the phone with Chickie when the results came through and instead of crying tears of joy, I burst out into a spat of expletives. Hey, I guess that’s the way I show excitement and joy. LOL

Although I am happy for Obama’s victory, I’m anxious to see how he and his adminstration are going to go about solving this country’s problems.

Outback Steakhouse’s food isn’t really all that great. I had the Bloomin Onion and was disappointed.

If I didn’t have to work on weekends, I would’ve hit up Super Dave’s Halloween Blogger Meet Up. Designer Qui and I were talking about going to that.

37 more credits left ’til graduation!!!

My Twenty-Second birthday is a little more than a month from now, and I can honestly say that I think it’s just gonna come and go like any other day.