Music Minute - Kanye West "Runaway" Short Film Premiere

The much-anticipated short film for 'Runaway' by Kanye West premiered last night exclusively on MTV and BET.  There has been a lot of buzz around it and I HAD to tune in to see the spectacle for myself. 

To try to describe it, would be an injustice to art.  I would fail miserably!  There was a lot going on!! It was however, visually stunning though it left me confused in some parts.  I feel like whoever was responsible for the concept, creativity etc etc, went overboard with it.  Michael Jackson is still the king of very well executed music videos/short films in my humble opinion.  I wont ramble anymore.  Judge for yourself.

BET or EBT Hip Hop awards?

If you missed the BET Hip Hop awards last night, fret not!  You didn't miss much! Hopefully you spent those 2hrs the show aired doing something meaningful.  Since I put myself through that mess of a show, it's only fair that I share!!  I went in with very low expectations so I don't know why I was surprised at how it turned out. I witnessed too much fuckery going on but here's what stood out for me:

The ugly:

• Soldier Boy - Yes I get it.  You have a knack of making craptastic music that is hella catchy!  Yes, your music is popular - but real hip hop it is NOT!! The show was an ode to hip hop. To showcase/award the best in hip hop but seriously, the future of that genre seems doomed if you're defining today's era of hip hop! Oh, and what's with the sagging pants?! Hideous!! Somebody get this boy a stylist!
• Wocka Flocka Flame - Riddle me this.  How did he get a record deal?  Seems like record deals are thrown to anyone with a dream and a mic these days! Does talent not count? There are far more deserving artists who need to get their shine on while he exits stage left!!  Word of advice to you Wocka: when you're allowed on stage to perform, do just that... this was not a meet and greet at the corner store!  

The bad:

•  P. Diddy - Must you be on stage for every perfomance? Including songs you're not featured on?  Sit down somewhere or go kill someone's music career as you've done with all artists affiliated with Bad Boy! 
• Presenters - quit it with the lame jokes.  Just announce the winners and exit the stage please.  Speaking of presenters, why does DJ Khaled always have to scream his announcements?
• Antoine Dodson - Ok, you were a viral hit with the famous rant heard around the world!  With the funds raised from your rant-turned-song, you moved your fam from the hood.  All good but you're 15 minutes of fame are up. Time to quit trying to stretch them! But then again, BET is to blame for that.  You had to be invited to the event right?   I just wish you could share your hair tips with me because that hair is fierce!!   Now run and tell dat homeboy!!! lol!
• MC Hammer - I am sucka for comebacks but that performance was lackluster!  His performances used to be very high energy during his prime but it just fizzled this time.  He seemed like he picked those dancers from the audience and threw on matching costumes on them. Better luck next time.

 Finally, the good:

•  Salt & Pepper receiving the lifetime Hip Hop Award - it's about damn time!! These ladies are truly pioneers in hip hop.  They were trendsetters and their songs remain relevant to date! They still look great and gave good speeches while receiving their awards.  Good look!
• B.O.B's performance -  We can't deny the boy is talented. He can sing, rap, plays his own instruments and is already a cross-over sensation.  It also doesn't hurt that he looks good:)  In this day and age when most rappers use auto-tune as a crutch, he's doing it as it should be done!  Good job Bobby Ray.
• Digital Underground's performance:  Was good to see them back on stage and do that tribute to Tupac. Nicely done! 
• Mike Epps as a host - he did have lots of funny moments. 

The best:

Undoubtedly, The Cyphers were the BEST parts of the show!  I was looking forward to each and every one but the two below were just dope!!!  Now this is real hip hop!!

Ice cube & sons. Reverend Run and sons.  How cool is that? The legends with their spawn! Amazing! Lil Diggy is definitely going places!!

This right here was just hot!! Good to see men in hip-hop looking dapper! I hope that catches on. Very good look!

Quotable Quotes

Hard work is painful when life is devoid of purpose. But when you live for something greater than yourself and the gratification of your own ego, then hard work becomes a labor of love.
-Steve Pavlina

Prayer vs Hard Work

Music Minute - Liquor Store Blues

I am in love with Bruno Mars's voice! Ever since I first caught a listen of B.OB's "Nothing On You" featuring him.   He has such a melodious tone to his voice that I wouldn't tire of listening to.  If only he would keep churning the great songs and stay away from that bad coke habit that got him in trouble recently!  Is cocaine the new black?  Seems like everyone is doing it.  Smh!!  Here's his newly released song "Liquor Store Blues" featuring Damien Marley.  Nicely done!

"A Toast To the Douchebags"

Let's talk about last night's MTV Video Music Awards!! There is plenty to say!!

The white carpet was different but nice... I liked the look of it but pity whoever had to clean it up after the fact!

I was really looking forward to watching Chelsea Handler host the show! Apparently, she was the first female host of the VMAs! Huge feat! The problem I had with her last night is that she did not bring the funny that's she's famous for! Her jokes were dry and borderline racist! I love her but I didn't let that cloud my judgment. She bombed as a host! She should be pleased that the Nielsen ratings favored the show! It was the most watched VMAs in 8 years! I still love her show 'Chelsea Lately' and will continue to watch.

Moving onto to the fashion. There were lots of hits and misses but Lady Gaga knows how to steal the damn show! Like she always does! She's always dressed in something outrageous that will have people talking for days! Who else would have the guts to piss off PETA by wearing a get-up made from raw meat including the head accessory of a slab of meat? NOBODY but Gaga. Did you see the hooves she had on at some point in the night?! This woman is an alien with superpowers to be able to walk in those Alexander McQueen bad boys!  She also pretty much swept the awards! She won in every she was nominated she was nominated in! It is clearly her year! And what about Cher? Isn't she like 90? Damn! How does she manage to outshine the younger bitches with that bod? We all need to drink from the fountain of youth that is Cher!

Click here  to see the rest of the fashion.

Onto performances.  Most of them were just so so... Nicki Minaj and Will I Am (in black face, wtf?) fizzled on the pre-show performance. I was left with a blank stare after they were done! Eminem and Rihanna (who should fire whoever styled her) were underwhelming! Lip synching was the order of the night! Justin Beiber did his thing and I must admit that I too have the Beiber fever! He can't do any wrong in my eyes! Mine is a healthy adoration unlike some of the people out there! Usher was amazing in his dance moves but no one could escape the fact that he was lip synching as well. Taylor Swift's much publicized diss/forgiveness song for Kanye was boring and kinda ridiculous! So you were wronged a year ago.. time to get over it!! Urggg....hug it out with Kanye next time and please don't subject our ears to that mess! B.O.B and Hailey from Paramore were ok.

The performance that took the cake for me was Kanye's closing song/rap! OMG! Kanye is many things (pompous, whiny, arrogant, talented, creative etc etc) but that performance left me wondering, was this his way of saying I don't apologize because I am who I am - a douchebag, an asshole, a jerk off! Let's just toast to me and all those like me out there! Hilarious! Some people called it genius. Judge it for yourself...

Documentary Film - A Small Act

As I have mentioned before, I watch a lot of television.  Good and bad!  It's been a while since I have seen anything that made an impression on me until I accidentally stumbled upon a documentary on HBO "A Small Act".  I love HBO's programming but I almost passed on this one.  However, something piqued my attention - it was featuring a Kenyan *go figure!*. Once I started watching, I was completely captivated and couldn't look away!

To say I was moved, would be a huge understatement!  Tears aside {and I cried plenty}, this documentary actually inspired me to make a difference in someone's life! While there were familiar undertones to the story line, the thought that a small gesture can make a difference that is beyond measure made an impact on me!

Gladly, I found out through Facebook, that the documentary has quite a following.   This documentary is a MUST watch!  I hope that it will move you to make a difference like it did me. Spread the word!  You owe to that to the world:) The story is below.

Via HBO

 A Small Act on Facebook 

Synopsis: A SMALL ACT is a documentary film which tells an incredible story of hope and redemption. It inspires us to reach beyond the limits of possibility and awakens us to the effect one person can have upon the world. Filmed in the sleepy town of Västerås, Sweden, the bustling city of Geneva, Switzerland and the lush landscape of Kenya's central highlands, A SMALL ACT takes you on the journey of a lifetime.

THE STORY
When Hilde Back sponsored a young, impoverished Kenyan student, she thought nothing of it. She paid roughly $15 dollars per term to keep him in primary school.

She certainly never expected to hear from him, but many years later, she does.

Chris Mburu has been thinking of his “angel” Hilde since he was a boy. The small contribution she made paid off – Chris went all the way to Harvard. Now, he’s a respected UN human rights lawyer, dedicating his life to battling genocide and crimes against humanity.

Chris decides to replicate Hilde’s generosity by starting his own scholarship fund, and he names it after her. This scholarship will educate bright kids in his village so they can also succeed and give back.

But Chris is stunned when Kenya’s public schools start failing, and only two new students qualify for sponsorship. Simultaneously, Kenya falls into ethnic-based election violence. After working on conflicts in neighboring countries, Chris knows that ignorance fuels ethnic hatred. Education has never been more important. Chris must decide what to do.

Quotable Quotes

"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."

Henry Ford