MAXWELL + New Ablum= Blacksummer's night--->Drops July 7th!!!

I'm hyped!!!! Believe it or not, there's still good music out there. I've been a fan of Maxwell since he first came out, and I've been anticipating this, his fourth studio album for a while. My main "groovy man" is realeasing Blacksummer's night on July 7th, and I'm definitely picking this up in person. The cool thing about this release is that they have a Deluxe edition, CD/DVD combo, which amazon.com has for $11.99; not bad. Although he has a new look to him, since he cut his hair, he's still the same soulful dude from back-in-the-day. There's no Samson curse here. If you're a fan of cool, smooth, sexy, and real baby-making music, you won't go wrong with Mr. Woooooh-whoo! lol.

Here's a little excerpt from his upcoming album. Two songs, "Bad Habits" & "Pretty Wings".

"Bad Habits"



"Pretty Wings"

Maxwell - New Music - More Music Videos

And here's a little somethin', somethin' from back in the day, a couple of selections that are the reason I call him Mr. Wooooh-whooo! lol.

"This Woman's Work", personally the greatest love song Maxwell has ever done. It's been on so many movie soundtracks, that i've lost count. And let's not even talk about the video...Too soulful... Too Deep...

Maxwell - New Music - More Music Videos

"Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder): MTV Unplugged". Although I like the studio version better, I love how he jazzed it up a bit for this live performance. Music for the soul man... Music for the soul.



As they say in the business world, "the best salesmen is a satisfied customer".

Blacksummer's Night by Maxwell. In stores July 7th. Go get it!

RIP Mr. Thriller. Can't Believe You're Gone.

I heard it once again yesterday morning and I still couldn't believe it..."The king of pop Michael Jackson dead at the age of 50 years." Cause? An apparent heart attack. On my way to work, I saw his blown up picture in the front page of every newspaper, in every language and I still didn't want to accept it. If I'm being honest I still can't believe it. Why is it always the good ones that have to go? Not that I'm wishing for Souljah-Boy-Tell-Em, and Gucci Mane, to be six feet under, but damn, why Mike? Only God knows.

I was at work when I received the first text message with the news. Of course, at first I thought it was a stupid prank, as recent reports mentioned that MJ had undergone several physicals in preparation for his upcoming concert in England, and was found in great health. So I immediately had one of my co-workers investigate. Minutes later, she confirmed the shocking news that Mike, the "KING OF POP", had passed away in a hospital in L.A. due to cardiac complications.
I was awestruck.

According to NPR Music News, www.npr.org, as of yesterday, no final ruling had been reached regarding the autopsy. USmagazine, www.usmagazine.com, mentioned that the autopsy reports revealed "No indication of foul play or trauma". NPR reports that police are currently trying to locate MJ's private physican, who was reportedly living in the rented mansion, and was present at the home during the 911 phone call. According to the 911 phone call recording, the MD was attempting to resuscitate MJ, who was found by an unidentified caller, unresponsive and not breathing. As of Friday, the MD which is not a suspect in this case, had not been located, and his car was impounded and hauled away from MJ's home.

As the true cause of MJ's death remains unclear, there are rumors that his aggressive addiction to pain killers, could be a related cause. One of MJ's longtime friends, and attorney Brian Oxman, said he was worried about the large amount of drugs at Mike's disposal. NPR reports that Oxman said that in 2007 alone, a local pharmacist had sued MJ for prescription bills totaling more than $100,000. Oxman added, "It's pretty hard to spend $100,000 in a pharmacy in 13 months,"... "This was one of his experiences and was a matter of public record and most people were aware of that fact."

At the end, whatever the results show, they still won't be able to replace the icon, and the legend. Everyone loved this man; he was an internationally cherished personality. Yet how will he be remembered? As a legend? An amazing and incomparable artist? The King of Pop? Or as a troubled and lonely individual? To me, he will always be Michael Jackson, The legend, The King of Pop. Want to know something really ironic? As I'm writing this piece, I have my music play-list on shuffle, and one of MJ's songs just came on. Damn...

It's clear that MJ has passed on, but his music will keep him alive in our hearts and minds forever.

Farewell to a legend. RIP MJ. We'll miss you.

Good Read: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

A boy lost in the woods; a Woodsman; a beautiful girl in a red cloak; a Crooked-Man; Trickster; Wolves; a ferocious monster; Dwarfs; a lady called Snow White; an enchanted Castle; an Old King; a Warrior; a Knight; a Sleeping Princess; a Ginger Bread House; The Beauty & The Beast; Troll under a bridge; and Werewolves. Do these things sound familiar? Well of course they do. They're the main subjects in most, if not all of our favorite fairy tales, folk stories, and myths that we've read since we were children. Believe it or not though, a reference to all of these can be found in The Book of Lost Things. However, the book is much more than that. In fact, its ongoing reference to our favorite stories is only a small piece of this incredible novel. The real essence of the story is found in the life of a 12 year old boy named David, who in mourning the loss of his dear mother, his first love, completely retreats into the world of his second love; his books.

I dare you, even double-dare you, to set your eyes on the pages of The Book of Lost Things by New York Times Bestselling author of The Unquiet, John Connolly, and accompany David, as he takes you far off into the realms of his incredible imagination. Follow David on a voyage to make sense of things that at a young age he still can't comprehend. See as he grows through the teachings he finds within the stories he's read throughout his early years. Be there as he realizes that life, "real-life", is not as sweet as the stories within the books on the shelves of his room, but rather that life brings loss, pain, suffering, and hate, but also gain, comfort, happiness, and love.

"For all that is lost, can be found again".

I can honestly say that this has been one of the coolest and most entertaining, books I've read in a long a while. It allowed me to see the world through the eyes of a young boy, who in many ways suffered through many of the things that worried me as a young child. You will laugh, worry, and at times get squeamish with some of the gory scenes, but in the end, you'll enjoy it all. And don't worry, this is an adult novel. Trust me.

For in every adult dwells the child that was, and in every child lies the adult that will be.


-John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things

Humor: "And that's how the fight started"

One year, a husband decided to buy his mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift.

The next year, he didn't buy her a gift.

When she asked him why, he replied, "Well, you still haven't used the
gift I bought you last year!"

And that's how the fight started.....

************ ********* ********* *********

My wife walked into the den & asked "Whats on the tv?"
I replied "Dust".

And that's how the fight started.....

************ ********* ********* *********

A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.
She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, 'I feel
horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'

The husband replies, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'

And that's how the fight started.....

************ ********* ********* *********

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming
anniversary. She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 200

in about 3 seconds.

I bought her a scale.

And that's how the fight started.....

************ ********* ********* *********

I asked my wife, 'Where do you want to go for our anniversary? '
It warmed my heart to see her face melt in sweet appreciation.

'Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!' she said.

So I suggested, 'How about the kitchen?'

And that's how the fight started....


************ ********* ********* *********

My wife and I are watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were
in bed. I turned to her and said, 'Do you want to have sex?'

'No,' she answered.

I then said, 'Is that your final answer?'

She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying 'Yes..'

So I said, 'Then I'd like to phone a friend.'

And that's how the fight started....

************ ********* ********* *********

I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95.
Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95. I told her the beer
would make her look better at night than the cold cream.

And that's how the fight started.....


************ ********* ********* *********
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my
order first. 'I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please.'

He said, 'Aren't you worried about the mad cow?'

'Nah, she can order for herself.'

And that's when the fight started

50 Cent's War Angel LP album - Free Download

Wassup family,

Just letting everyone know that as of last night at 11pm, 50 Cent's street album, War Angel LP, is available for FREE download. That's right, for FREE!

With his next major market album Before I Self Destruct to hit stores in September, Fif wanted to bless the streets with something they've been missing for a while; some Hard-core Rap. Get the FREE download at thisis50.com, while it's still available.

Check out this quick snippet courtesy of MTV.com.

MTV Shows

Go Get It!

In closure, and just cause I like all of the hip-hop gossip, here's an exclusive interview w/ Fif and Funk Master Flex, on the Hot 97 Funk Master Flex show. Hear Fif talk about Nas, Ricky Ross, Diddy, MA$E, Method Man vs. Joe Budden, Chris Brown vs. Rihanna, etc., etc. You can find this interview on Hot97.com, and thisis50.com. Check it!

Bruce Lee is one cool KAT!

I've been a Bruce Lee fan like FOREVER! As a child growing up, I recall shadow boxing in my room, after seeing one of his films on TV. Over the years I've spent hours online looking for his interviews, stories, anecdotes, etc., just to learn a bit more of this man.

For those that don't know, Bruce was not just a gifted martial artist, or a killing machine. He also studied philosophy at Washington University, was a martial arts teacher, had a really good sense of humor, and was a really cool laid back dude. He was a humble and quiet man of few words, but when he spoke, each word was direct, and sharp like a dagger. Bruce was a really deep and philosophical dude. Below you'll find one of my favorite Bruce Lee interviews taped in 1971 with Pierre Berton, for The Pierre Berton Show. See Bruce Lee like you've probably never seen him before. This was one smooth KAT!

To Note: Check out how fast Bruce's fist moves towards the end of this first clip.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3



"Be Water"
Empty your mind.
Be formless, shapeless, like water.
Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.
You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle.
You put it in a tea cup, it becomes the tea cup.
Now water can flow or it can crash.
Be Water my friend...

-Bruce Lee

That's deep stuff man.

NAS, Deep Lyrics, and Fried Chicken

I've previously mentioned that NAS, by far is the deepest lyricist of my time. When I say deep, I don't mean an individual that just captures you with a few punch lines from time-to-time, and is great with his word play, synonyms and painting a picture. When I say deep I mean a lyricist that at times forces you stop, slow down, and listen. Throughout the years, many artists have had this affect on me. Artists like Rakem, Biggie, Big Pun, Jay-Z and of course Eminem. However, I feel they all fall short in comparison to NAS, when it comes to how poetic he is. Personally, he's incomparable with regards to his use of methophors, similes, and personifications, to relay a message.

I've shared this opinion with one of my best friends, and I've said that unlike other artists, NAS is the only artist out there, that I can't listen to on the train when I'm going to work, especially if it's new material that needs to be dissected. I mean, when I first heard tracks like, "It Ain't Hard To Tell", "The Message", "Nas Is Like", "One Mic", "Ether (the Jay-Z diss)", and "Rewind (the so clever backwards song)", just to name a few, I almost caught a stroke. Of course after a while, I would be able to listen to them at anytime, and any place, but when it's stuff fresh off the "frying pan", I have to be at home, in my room, prepared to pay attention.


Speaking of "frying pan", as I revisited NAS's most recent release, and 9th studio album, UNTITLED, given this title because of the controversy surrounding his initial intentions to title it NIGGER, I got smacked by a track that I had somehow missed the first time around. I was probably on the train when this happened lol. The song "Fried Chicken" feat. Busta Rhymes, brings NAS's gift to light once again. In this track, NAS & Busta, go on to show how much Fried Chicken and Women, are so alike, since "to the last breath, there gonna be a niggas death." I know, I know, I couldn't believe it myself. Here's a taste of some "fried chicken":

"Fried Chicken" by Nas feat Busta Rhymes, album: UNTITLED (2008)

Verse 1 (NAS)

Mmm, Fried chicken
Fly vixen
Give me Heart Disease
But need You in my kitchen
You a bird, but you ain't a ki
Got wings but you can't fly away from me
Driving in your bucket seats all the way from Kentucky To fuck with me
Look what you've done to me?
Was number one to me!
After you shower
You and your gold medal flour
Then you rub your hot oil for about a half an hour
You in your hot tub, I'm looking at you salivating
Dry you off, I got your paper towel waiting
Lay you down cause you're red hot
Louisiana style you make my head rot
Then I flock
To the bed then, "Plop"
When we done, I need rest
Don't know a part of you that I love best
Your legs or your breast
Misses Fried Chicken, you gon be a nigga's death
Created by southern black women
To serve massa, guest
You gon be a nigga's death...

Wooooooo! Stop it. Stop it.

Props once again to NAS. Wikipedia reports that UNTITLED is NAS's fourth album to debut at #1 on Billboard 200 album charts, and has been certified Gold. Sweet!

Disturbed Rocks!

Yup! I love rock. And I love Disturbed. I actually have all of their albums, and purchased their 1st three albums in stores. They've become my favorite Rock Band. Their band kicks ass, especially the band's energetic & talented lead singer David Dramian, from Chi-Town. Their songs are often controversial, offensive to some, and sometimes political, but none lack POWER! This is the only group I listen to when things are just a bit to hectic in life, work; relationships; responsibilities etc. As soon as I feel drowned, I turn off the lights in my room, jump on my bed, grab my ipod, scroll to Disturbed, and press play. The result? STRESS RELIEF!

Check out some of my favorite videos from this group. Let me know what you think.

Release your stress!

"THE NIGHT", album: Indestructible (2008)

Disturbed - New Music - More Music Videos

"STRICKEN", album: Ten Thousand Fists (2005)

Disturbed - New Music - More Music Videos

"REMEMBER", album: Believe (2002)

Disturbed - New Music - More Music Videos

"STUPIFY", album: The Sickness (2000)

Disturbed - New Music - More Music Videos

Rock on!

The System at work SUCKS ASS!

OK, so, I titled this wonderful Blog Forum: Mental Ventilation. Why? Because, literally, that's what I come here to do...I VENT! So, that being said, I'm about to "VENT RIGHT NOW", or, as my mom would say it, "BEN RAI NAU", which has the same meaning, but is pronounced slightly differently, and with difficulty. OK. So Ready? Here we go!

If you're a friend of mine, and you've known me for more than a few years, you know what I do for a living. That's right, I'm a contract killer for the Merengue Mafia INC. No, just kidding. I'm a spanish-film pornstar (OMG sike!). No, not that either. Actually, I work for an agency, who i'm not going to mention, because i'm just about to say some things about them right about now. I have no idea If I mentioned who I work for in my profile, but oh well. I NEED TO VENT! So listen, or, Read, cause technically if you're reading this, than you can't be listening to me, unless i'm speaking to you, and then that...Oh forget it.

Our freaking system at work freaking "suck's ass". And I mean, it really sucks major ass. The shit goes down every freaking day, for a minimum of at least 2 minutes at times, but in other times as much as hours, and even days! Now, i've worked for several companies during my years of employment, e.g., my old Highschool, Shea Stadium, Christian Book Store, The City of New York, etc., etc. But never, and I mean never-ever-ever-ever, have I worked with a system that is so retarded like this one. THIS-SYSTEM-IS-FREAKING-RETARDED! HELP!

Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job. Even more now that I've gotten the hang of things. I love the perks too. You know, the no dress code; no punch-in time clock; two 15 minute breaks during the day in addition to your lunch; the awesome health benefits (Shout out to Manhattan Physician's Group. Yo, Dr. Sheehan, Waddup? I'll see you next week boo. Or you'll see me. Get it? Ha!); a cool ID that has a sensor that opens doors (shut up! I think that's cool); two monitors to work with, making me feel like Neo in the MATRIX (i don't care, I like imagining that i'm in the MATRIX from time-to-time, it makes the day go faster); unlimited bathroom breaks (hey, some people, like Hospital Telephone Operators, don't have that blessing); the awesome area I work in (Financial District, Battery Park, City Hall, South Street Seaport etc.); and I can go on. But the system is horrible. As we speak it's still down. As a matter of fact, I wrote this blog, during the "down-time" Aaaah! It Erks me.

OK. I vented. Thanks for listening... I mean reading.

Do You Wanna Get Frosty?

One of the funniest commercials out right now. Boy Band meets Wendy's Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty. Haaa! Too Funny. Check it!



OMG Hilarious!

Justice, like you’ve never seen it Before

Want to get a glimpse at how stuff probably goes down in our NYC judicial system? A more realistic look on how the legal system toys with people’s lives? The clean; the dirty; the right; the wrong? Public Defenders vs. District Attorneys? Lawyers vs. Judges? The Innocent vs. The Guilty? Then you really need to check out TNT’s Raising The Bar. Raising The Bar, a show by 10-time Emmy Winner Steven Bochco, creator of Hill Street Blues, LA Law & NYPD Blue, is a fresh new LAW series like no other. Starring Mark-Paul Gosselar (aka Zack from Saved By The Bell), who’s truly stepped his acting game up, bringing a powerful performance every single week. If you missed the 1st season, you’re in time to check out the 2nd. I’m sure that this season of Raising The Bar will be just as good or even better; Keeping you on your toes throughout; Trust me.

Woohoo! Can’t wait, Can’t wait, Can’t wait!

Raising The Bar-Season 2 premier-, sneak peak.

Monday June 8th, 10/9c. Only on TNT.

New Moon Official Trailer

What do you get when you add a Girl+Vampire Boyfriend+Departure+Depression+ A Werewolf Crush+A Wolf Pack Secret+A Life on the Edge+A rescue Mission? How about New Moon. New Moon, a motion picture based on the Twilight Saga's second book of the same title, by Stephenie Meyer.

I freaking Love you Steph! I can't freaking wait!

Check it out! New Moon 11.20.09