See what I just did there…

Aiight, so I’ma try (keyword try) to start doing this new thing on the blog, called Why I Hate. In all honesty, I dislike a lotta sh*t, and though some of it may seem like just me hatin’ most of it comes from real places.

So first up Nicki Lewinski Minaj.

1. She calls herself Nicki Lewinski.

There are many things one should be proud of, but being the unattractive intern who tops off the president and saves the remnants, aint it.

2. It’s hard for me to take her seriously.

This reason should be number one, because most of the other reasons can somehow point back to this. She ganked Lil Kim’s swag steez, calls herself a Barbie, and just seems a lil….off.

3. She sets the women’s movement back a couple hundred years.

Whatever Pocahontas, Susan B. Anthony, and Beyonce’ did for women’s rights, Nicki Minaj will surely undo by the end of the 2010.

4a. She actually has dope punchlines and even good songs sometimes, i.e. “I aint sleepin when I say I’m in my dream car.”

This bothers me, because most of the time I can’t listen long enough to hear them. Do you know how long it took me to hear that dream car line? Years! A long time! And “I Get Crazy” is my joint up until the beat changes and Wayne comes in. It’s like you can never get a full verse, and/or song from her that’s good.

4b. These good lines are followed subsequently by equally odd and/or whack lines. “I’m hot…I think it’s time to put the rice in.”

*See last sentence from 4a.*

5. She makes funny noises while simultaneously making funny faces.

*See reason number 2*

All these reasons aside, I think there’s still hope for Nicki Minaj. Supposedly she’s toned down her image a little bit, but the fact remains young girls and young women look up to this chick. I’m not a fan by any means, but I can see that she has a place in the game right now. Hopefully at the very least re-open the doors and inspire the new Missys, MC Lytes, and Jean Graes of the world.

In any event, I figured I’d let you be the judge. Check out this new mixtape called Barbie’s World and let me know how you feel in the comments. Listen to it streaming after the jump. Foxxfiles on the heads up.

Download: Nicki Minaj – Barbie’s World [Mixtape]

It feels good to be right, but it feels better watching someone’s dream really begin to come into fruition.

This is what you would call a “co-sign“.

Usher is walking a very thin line. Despite what he wants to think, he is no longer a young man. He is a 31 year old divorcee and a father of two.

Let that marinate for a second.

Ladies, if you met a 31 year old (soon-to-be divorcee) and father of two, you would get a certain impression about them. The very least being, that he should be somewhat mature and on the negative side of things that he probably comes with a lot of baggage. And we haven’t even started talkin bout his filandering ways, even though we’ll assume those are of the past…for now.

Usher’s first album was released in 1994. If my math skills serve me right, that means he’s been doing this for at least 15 years. If R. Kelly patented modern knockin boots music R&B, and he did, which in turn would make him like the Grandpa of the genre, we can say Usher would at least be somebody’s old nasty great- uncle.

Perhaps that was a poor analogy, but whatever.

Now by no means am I trying to say Usher is old. By their early 30’s, most guys are looking to get married, settle down and what not, which is exactly what Usher attempted to do. I just hope that Usher’s music is reflective of the point where he is in life, which is why I love “Daddy’s Home” and hate almost all of the rest of the songs that have leaked (prior to like last week).

“Daddy’s Home” is sexy but not raunchy, and shows Usher as a more mature partner than other (hopefully scrapped) songs from this Raymond vs. Raymond album. It also will do amazingly well as a first single, since it’s very radio friendly and it can be a club smash as well. Going back a little bit, I definitely liked “Love In This Club”, but we all know Usher was a little too grown to be trying to get it poppin in a club. I also want to just go on record saying Here I Stand was trash, and that has nothing to do with content. Musically, it hurted my ears. Yes, hurt-ed. And now though “Papers” and “Little Freak” are both catchy as hell, one was definitely only made to be a buzz single and the other feels like my dad trying to be “cool” and “hip” by participating in the latest trend (not my dad of course, cuz he actually is cool!).

I say all this to say, I’m glad Usher is finally getting it right and I hope Raymond vs. Raymond has more of this kind of music on it and is proof that Daddy finally is home.

Now if they could take Plies and his “I wanna pour Kool-Aid on you” self off the song, I’d be completely happy.

Download: Usher – Daddy’s Home (Hey Daddy) ft. Plies

change is a’comin.

Ok technically I’m a couple days late, but whatever. I was busy enjoying this time off work, seeing friends, and spending time with family. 2009 was a monumental year for me, and I’m working hard to make 2010 even better.

I also recently started my personal blog which is HERE. I don’t have a real name for it yet so if you have any suggestions feel free to let me know. Just know it’s there, and any semi-interesting, kinda inspiring things I come across will be over there.

On a more musical note, rapper Skillz always does a pretty good rap up of the year’s events and he doesn’t disappoint with the 2009 Rap-Up below.  More music coming soon.

Download: Skillz – 09 Rap Up [via]

Olympic star. Howard Grad. David Oliver.

I feel like I should put a “Where are you CP?!?” bubble like Kanye does to the females on his blog.

More pics after the jump.

A member of China’s ruling Politburo asked for the last-minute change to match one girl’s face with another’s voice, the ceremony’s chief music director, Chen Qigang, said in an interview with Beijing Radio.

“The audience will understand that it’s in the national interest,” Chen said in a video of the interview posted online Sunday night.

The country’s quest for perfection apparently includes its children.

Source

I knew that lil girl didn’t look like she was singing. Way to go China…

From MTV.com….

The Roots have been tapped to share the bill with Gym Class on their Quilt Tour, which kicks off October 3 in Baltimore and will hit cities throughout North America before coming to a close November 1 in Albany, New York. The groups will alternate headlining duties on a city-by-city basis. Up-and-coming British R&B star Estelle will serve as support on all dates.

November 1st, I’m there.

Silly Bow Wow….freestyles are for real rappers.