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Let’s get something out of the way before we move on to the meat of today’s post. I’m just gon’ call a spade a spade and agree with everyone else that Cassie’s 106 performance was, as Clay Cane would say, a hot cat scratch MESS. I mean, JAY-SUS!!! Now, I haven’t changed my position on her at all, because the performance only pretty much confirmed the obvious. But anyone that wondered for a moment if this girl had something other than what we see (a passing resemblance to Apollonia) can now eat a big ol’ bag of crow-flavored crow. That performance was hilarious and sad all at once.
UPDATE: Cassie Speaks on ALL OF IT.
I’ve already posted about my conflicts with hip-hop and soul music, but I’m not at all at odds with pop. Pop music exists for a reason, and to even bother debating it’s validity or integrity is a complete waste of time. It’s like dignifying a stupid question with a response. Take the following for example:
1. London Bridge

“Oh shit” indeed! Will.I.Am. has already distanced the Black Eyed Peas from hip-hop, not only by his proclamation that they ain’t, but for “My Humps”. That song, and this song both fall into the catagory of pop because they have a broad appeal (for mysterious reasons) and don’t care to be taken seriously. “London Bridge” (still haven’t discovered the reasoning behind the title) is definitely not hip-hop, even though Fergie Ferg is channeling Shawwna on the track. But guess what? I like this shit too. It has swagger. But it’s definitely dirty-ass pop music. And the shit’s #1. (It might be nothin’ to you, but it’s the shit to me.)

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Just getting in from New York and tired as hell. Gimme some time to get it together, people. Yesterday was mix day. I’ll try to have it up before the day is done.
In the meantime, check out this Vibe.com article.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me about my people is our unfailing ability to rally behind black celebrities when they’re in trouble. It doesn’t matter how much we dogged them in the past.
I look at the Cheerleaders for Star Jones and I cannot help but be a little mystified. I would never say she was reviled in the black community, but a fair share of us had some nasty things to say about her. Now she has been permanently removed from The View and suddenly she’s a martyr.
Sound familiar?
Back in the day, OJ Simpson didn’t rate very high as a figure black folks loved. We pretty much wrote him off as a Tom that was living a white life with his white wife and playing some white-ass golf. We thought he was a sell-out. Suddenly he got his “N***a Wake Up Call” when he became a prime suspect in wife’s murder. Black folk were back on his side once again, because he was only being investigated because he’s black right?
Same goes for one Michael Jackson. No one was more highly criticized within the black community than ol’ MJ. Then he got his “N***a Wake Up Call” when charges of molestation were levied against him. And we were down for Mike once again.
It’s an interesting pattern.
I’m not here posing a question or looking for answers. It’s just an observation. Feel free to discuss.

Actually it’s tomorrow, July 1, but I thought I’d give you ample time.
I’ll be in NY for my birtholiday. Drop some love.
I’ll holla.

While looking over my Most Played Albums chart generated by last.fm, I realized I might be something I didn’t necessarily intend on being: a SoulHead. I know I pointed out the presence of a number of soul artists, but upon further inspection, I noticed that there were way more on there than I initially realized. The chart basically looks like guidelines for the interns over at VH1 Soul.
This is unsettling for a number of reasons.

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