The Quick Rise and Long Fall of Yung Berg.....A Timeline

The Quick Rise and Fall of Yung Berg...A Timeline

Above is a link to story I worked on featuring the ups, and downs, and well beat downs of Yung Berg. I knew he stayed in controversy in '08 while doing the research I just kept shaking my head at the amount of beef he stayed in. Literally, almost every month he had a problem brewing with another artist or had offended someone. In general, I admire anyone who starts off motivated at a young age and shows that persistence and determination to succeed. But as stated in the intro, is it really smart that early in your career to gather that much negativity? I'm not saying you can't stand up for yourself, but clearly some of these issues were based off recklessness.

I don't think his career is necessarily over, but he has to build himself back up for the right reasons. He shouldn't worry about being the tough guy and focus on music if that's what he really wants to be known for, in the future. All rappers don't have to be tough. For example, Biggie may have rapped about violence and guns (quite often), but was he really running around threatening people? Not so much.

Lock the Door and Throw Away the Key

I have no sympathy and very little interest in celebrities who repeatedly get in trouble with the law for incidents that could have been avoided. Do they think they're above the law or simply don't care? Mixture of both probably. Yes, at the end of the day they're humans just like everyone else and make mistakes, but why damage your reputation consistently?

O.J Simpson
Following his last botched attempt of retrieving what he said was "his" property, The Juice was sentenced to nine years in prison. For real this time. Whether we want to go back 14 years ago as to whether he "did it" or "not", after being acquitted he had the chance to try to repair a severely damaged reputation. Instead of fading into the background O.J managed to get attention for all the wrong reasons - drugs, domestic abuse, tax problems, you name it. He even managed to get a lawsuit slapped against him by DirecTV for stealing television signals. People have been bootlegging cable for years, how dumb can you be that you get caught and you're a celebrity??

And he seriously must have gotten every brain cell knocked out of him when he played football because in 2006 he wanted to release a book called, If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer detailing how he would have executed the murders if he had done it. He should of been locked up then for sheer stupidity.
Lock away the key. No one cares anymore, not even those who supported him through the trial. Bye.

DMX
A rapper fallen from hip-hop grace. In the late 90s/early 00s DMX was on top of the world with multi-platinum albums, collaborations with hip-hop heavyweights, and what appeared like a solid career in music. Well, crack is wack, and apparently so is DMX. Numerous drug arrests, carjacking, driving with a suspended license, babies mothers coming out the wood works suing him prove DMX had slipped and fell and couldn't get up. The icing on the cake for me was last fall during an interview with XXL when he said he didn't know who Barack Obama was and didn't even know a black man was running for president. Wow.
He's currently on lockdown now and apparently part of his punishment is he has to wear pink at all times.

Mike Tyson
I haven't heard anything recently but Mike loves to take a retreat from his criminal activities and come back every few years with a new drug or assault charge. In 2005, USA Today ran an article where he reportedly said, ""My whole life has been a waste, I've been a failure. I just want to escape. I'm really embarrassed with myself and my life." Again, someone who served time for a convicted rape you think would of dedicated his life to shedding a negative image, but he just kept racking up charges...and ridiculous tattoos. Well, as of now he's acknowledged his drug problem and trying to seek help. Better late than never. I guess.

Suge Knight
Does Suge have nine lives? Suge has been shaking the industry down since the early 90s through what most would say by fear, extortion and violence. He served a little time, but still never seemed to learn his lesson. But someone's not afraid of Suge as recently he got beat up during the NBA All Star weekend by a guy they claimed was Akon's manager, but reportedly isn't? I just get tired of hearing about Suge Knight; for someone who hasn't really been relevant in the music game for awhile he sure can't seem to stay out of the news.

Amy Winehouse
She should be jailed not because of the illegal drug use but for being a waste of talent (you think I cared when Britney Spears fell off the wagon. Not so much)
I'd say throw away the key, but perhaps lock her away and don't let her out until she promises to deliver a new dope album, get off drugs and gain some weight. Fair exchange is no robbery.

Sidenote: Bobby Brown could of made this last about four or five years ago, but he's been on good behavior lately. Speaking of Bobby, I never hide my shameless love for late 80s/early 90s R&B, so here's Bobby live.

Chimpin Ain't Easy

Is it ever okay to joke when you know because of a certain implication it could be seen as offensive? Or do we do it anyway because we think the joke is so clever and hope nothing controversial comes of it? Good question for The New York Post.

Today they are under scrutiny for a cartoon depicting police officers with a chimp lying on the ground who they just shot with the caption, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill". This cartoon was inspired by a combination of current events as yesterday the stimulus bill was officially signed by Barack Obama and and a chimp was shot and killed by officers in Connecticut after it attacked and mauled a woman.

Insiders claim the cartoon has no racial connection to referring to African-Americans or more so the president as a chimp, but is poking fun and calling the writer of the stimulus bill a chimp, not the president. If that was the case, then yes people would be overacting.

Of course Reverend Al Sharpton's spider sense went off when he heard about this and he released a statement saying, "Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama ... and has become synonymous with him, it is not a reach to wonder: are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?... The Post should at best clarify what point they were trying to make, or in fact reprimand their cartoonist."


I doubt Obama will speak on it, but there's also a chance he's personally not offended by it and doesn't think it was in reference to him. But as intellectuals on staff, I'm surprised no one raised any flags about how this might be perceived or maybe they didn't care. The average person when they see that cartoon will not assume they're referring to the writer of the stimulus act, but of the president who has been the main person involved with pushing it. Even if someone was sitting back there giggling at the implication of the chimp representing Obama, we'll never really know the truth or they'll never admit it.

Update: They issued an apology to anyone who was offended, but then in a very backhanded way said that anyone who has it out for them they are not apologizing to. That's like being a schoolyard bully being forced to apologize to a kid you beat up and saying, "I'm sorry, but I'm really not apologizing because those kids over there beat me up too"....best analogy I can think of at the moment, but definitely not sincere.

But the original article is here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18/new-york-post-chimp-carto_n_167841.html


Article on Woman Attacked by Chimp:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/16/chimp.attack/

Re-Makin' it Happen

Plies. Oh Plies. How many of my favorite R&B songs from the 80s are you going to sample? First, he sampled Janet Jackson's "Come Back to Me" for "Bust it Baby Part 2" and now in his new song which features Ashanti he jacks The Deele's (80s group with Babyface, Antonio L.A Reid and four others), "Two Occasions".

Blasphemy! Now my music knowledge is pretty vast but not omniscient but maybe these songs contained elements of others as well, but I have a big problem with remakes if it doesn't do the original any justice. And I know some random bottom feeder songs that never made it big, so it's even more of a surprise when someone comes out with a new song and it has elements of a song that never made it big because now you know they're getting away with no flack for it.
Granted, sampling and having elements of other songs doesn't mean it's free which is why we hear of artists getting sued every once in awhile.

There's nothing wrong with modern versions of songs or remakes, but artists rely on them too heavily especially these newer ones. Think of this familiar formula: A new singer or rapper wants to come up in the game and they may not be extremely talented, but have a look that'll work in the music scene. All you have to do is get some producers behind a track, take a song from the past that worked or had a catchy beat or hook and you can cook yourself up a hit. Whether their career stands the test of the time is often up in the air, but back in the day old school singers had to claw their way in. And back then you didn't even have to be the best looking. Although it helped, it really was all about if you could carry a tune.

This is also rampant in the film industry. Remakes of old movies, relying on the popularity of a comic book storyline, and importing overseas plots into new movies permeate. It's more evident to me in the horror genre as it seems no one can come up with any scary themes or villains so they rely on the stale leftover hype of a 70s/80s movie to carry a new movie. The most recent remake in the works is a remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street minus Robert Englund which sounds like a cinematic disaster.

There's nothing wrong with being inspired by something, but where does it end and when can we begin again?




In honor of it being one of my favorite songs here's "Two Occasions", but honestly these guys sound much better than they look in this video (Babyface is the only one who looks somewhat normal in it).

The Valentine's Day Anti-Virus

It's really not my fault Cupid's arrow misses me until some point before or after Valentine's Day (Thanks Cu, you're the man). Ironically, around February I'm usually never even "talking" to anyone to fully enjoy it. Sure, I could have a makeshift Valentine, but not my style. I don't hate Valentine's Day for one reason. I love to raid the Valentine-themed section at stores afterward when it's discounted. Even if I was bitter on V-Day I'll eat a chocolate heart in a minute. Plus, you can make Valentine's Day whatever you want sure it's geared to the couples but plenty show excess love and appreciation to friends and family members too.

Jen who kind of gave me the idea for this blog believe that V-Day was cute when you were a kid when it was all cards and candy but now all it does is remind you of sex and candy. She didn't mention love, so I'm assuming she doesn't see it that way at the moment, but I guess the only thing that stays constant is the candy which sounds like a sweet deal to me.

So, I rounded up responses from a few friends and acquaintances on their favorite anti-love/ relationship/ anti-opposite sex or or breakup song and I added my personal suggested song by that artist to remedy the anti-love song. Oh, and for those who didn't respond, I forgive you, I hate being put on the spot too ;)


Arien/Knowledge says "I Get Around" by 2Pac
Reason: "Hell if I know, cuz it's funny? Cuz he says, "well if I couldn't have it silly rabbit why ya sweatin' me"
Remedy for that anti-love song: "Me & My Girlfriend". Ohh..no wait he's talking about his gun. Nevermind. Ok , "Do For Love" from R U Still Down(Remember Me)? But then again in the song he had a girl when he met her, she knew and eventually she cheats on him...damn.
Well, he shows some much respected love for his mom on "Dear Mama".
Where to Find Knowledge:
http://www.knowledgethinks.blogspot.com/

Allie says "Bust Your Windows" by Jasmine Sullivan
Reason: "It actually was the first song that popped in my mind it's such a real song".
The Remedy: Jazmine Sullivan's "Need U Bad". Great song, good lyrics, but definitely I'm never letting you go again crazy kind of love.

Nafiys IModel Blakewood says "See You in My Nightmare" by Kanye West
Reason: " I never had love on valentines, no one to give my heart too"
The remedy:"Gold Digger" because sometimes giving your heart means giving your wallet too, but seriously funny song which has undertones of truth in it.
"Good Life" is a good carefree song to listen to.
Where to Find Nafiys: http://www.mrblakewood.com/

Megan (she's special and gets two picks) says "See You in My Nightmare" by Kanye West
Reason: Because it's such a f**k your couch I don't even love you a little song
Remedy: Try "Slow Jamz" because the song was a lot better than the wack video and I'm sure you remember those guys singing it to us in '03 while we were in Target

and
My Friends Over You" by New Found Glory
Reason: "It's the other extreme where it didn't work out but it's cool 'cause I have my friends".
Remedy: Of the few NFG songs I knew and liked at one point, none of them are saying any positive about love. lol.

Bob says "I Hate You So Much Right Now" by Kelis
Reason: "Cuz it's a song you can yell and not seem crazy"
Remedy: "Marathon" off Tasty which I'm sure you have.

CeCe "Paparazzi" says "Lions, Tigers, and Bears" by Jazmine Sullivan
Reason: "Favorite line. Why do we love love when love seems to hate us".
Remedy: "And I". She's busted windows and is ready to move on.
http://tinyurl.com/aqvsfu
to get to Cyncere Photography and Publishing



Al B. Young says "I don't have one, I'm all about the love." but then
on his own comes up with Keyshia Cole's, "I Changed My Mind"
Remedy: Keyshia's entire new album, I promise this time she's not on the love-lost/gone wrong type of tracks this time around. "You Complete Me" is a good one.
Where to Find Him: http://www.crackhouserock.blogspot.com/


Jen says "Separation of Church and State" by NOFX
Reason: "It's about the loss of freedom which sometimes can happen sometimes when you and are in a relationship".
Remedy: I don't know any NOFX songs to give you a remedy, sorry. Watch the end of Sex and the City movie where everyone ends up happy.


Uch says "Doin' Just Fine" by Boyz II Men
"It says a lot in that song, let's the girl know she made a mistake".
Remedy: Can't go wrong with "I'll Make Love To You". I'm sure many babies are still made off this song nearly 15 yrs later.

Myke says ""What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake"
Reason: "Because I felt like that in my first relationship".
Remedy: "Until the End of Time", the version with Beyoncé even better



Some anti-love/relationship/breakup songs off the top of my head:
'Goody Goody" - Frankie Lymon (in a blog from '06 I explained this as .a.k.a good riddance you got what you deserved covered up by euphemistic lyrics and high pitch overtones before it was acceptable in music society to just say f- you b**h for breaking my heart)

"Break up to Make Up" - The Stylistics (classic)
"Heartbreaker" - Mariah Carey
"Son of a Gun" - Janet Jackson (jacking Carly Simon..I bet you think this song is about you....and it is! But even if it wasn't about you, you'd think it was...)
"Baby That's Backacha" - Smokey Robinson
"You and I" - Jason Mraz
"I Wish" - Heather Headley
"The One I Gave My Heart To" - Aaliyah
"Ms. Phat Booty" - Mos Def (damn, Mos Def was really feeling you and you played him)
"I Don't Ever Wanna See You Again" -Uncle Sam (I guess he was so heart broken he couldn't even make another song - well he did make that one, "Baby U Are" which was bad)
"Ice King" - Res
"Ex-Factor" - Lauryn Hill
"In My Bed" - Dru Hill (At age 11 the video's girl on girl creeping element did surprise me, lol)
"Me, Myself and I" -Beyoncé (Alicia reminded me of this song yesterday)
"Get Money" - Junior Mafia (I like the chorus, 'nuff said)

Chris Brown, Rihanna.....

Everyone has either exclusive reports, an opinion or fresh news about the Chris Brown/Rihanna assault incident from major web sites, bloggers and your favorite blogger's blogger. It is interesting to follow. Mostly because no one expected something like this from these two and it seemed completely random. I first saw it as someone's status on facebook Sunday night and quickly thought it was a contrived rumor. Anyway, I'll save my thoughts on it for the most part, but except to talk about how this will affect the energetic singer/dancer we've affectionately come to know and love as one of the princes of r&b.

Already the 19 year-old has been dropped (suspended) from Wrigley's Doublemint commercials (that song was super catchy) and a Clevland radio stations refuses to play any of his music. Now, what is known is that he was arrested and he did assault her, but still no one knows the full story. Rihanna has made some statements, but until I see an official statement or an exclusive interview from either one it's still up in the air. Oftentimes, the hype seems to swallow a story as we assume who is the victim and who is the aggressor only later to have the truth come out.

Will his career suffer? A bit, but honestly I think he's young enough that in a few years it won't even be relevant. Not to say that hitting your girlfriend is to be taken lightly, but if we had a list for the major celebrities/athletes/ etc. who had been involved in domestic violence incidents I'd be listing all day.

Some people still bumped R.Kelly songs, supported him, and cried they were trying to bring him down and he was accused of statutory rape. If R.Kelly put out a hot single right now, he'd have no problem climbing up the charts. Not to say his image isn't tarnished, but we easily forget sometimes. My opinion on R.Kelly was that he seemed to have a history of lusting after young girls, I never saw the tape myself, but definitely thought and still think he was guilty.

But as hard as the hardcore fan of anyone may have to admit we don't know these artists. So, we can't really be surprised at anything they do unless it goes against something they previously condemned or against their entire image. Should we just keep it to the music? As much as I wish we could, people's behaviors and statements do impact how we view them. When last July rapper Yung Berg referred to dark skinned women as "dark butts" and added his two cents about why he didn't date them he offended many. Now, think of all the teen girls out there, light and dark who probably though this guy was cute and liked his music who now no longer support him. That was like shooting your career in the foot to alienate a group of people who are your fans. That's like a popular NFLer who plays for a west coast team saying he hates the entire east coast when we know sports spans the entire nation and there are fans all over no matter what city you play for. That'd be a dumb and insensitive move.

It's a fine line sometimes whether to write an artist or a celebrity off for personal things or just listen to the music. In this case, it all depends how Chris Brown plays it. He obviously did what he was accused of, despite any rumors as if it was started by Rihanna or whatever is floating around out there. But as I always say it's all about ownership; you must own what you do including your successes and your mistakes. If he really wants to show the world he's not a bad guy and people should still give a damn about him he should after it's all said and done explain to his fans and the public what went down or at least issue an apology.

At Last....Someone Doesn't Like Beyoncé.

Brief timeline: Beyoncé sings "At Last" at the inaugural ball for Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's first dance. Everyone loves it and buzzes about how great Beyoncé was (much to the rumored dismay of fellow songstresses Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey who also performed but didn't seem to get as much attention). Approximately two weeks later comes Etta James' rather spontaneous and bitter comments regarding President Obama, Beyoncé and the inauguration neighborhood ball during her recent concert.

Here's what Etta James said:

"You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?". "Wait a minute, he ain't my president. He might be yours; he ain't my president. But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she's going to get her a** whipped.

The great Beyoncé. Like I said, she ain't mine. ... I can't stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever."

Apparently though, she made positive statements months prior about Miss Knowles for her portrayl of her in Cadillac Records, but now is in a tizzy over "her" song being sung at the inaugural celebration. I also read that when interviewed about Beyoncé playing her in the movie she was all for it but said, "well I don't think she looks like me". No, Etta she doesn't, she actually looks a lot better than you did back in the day, sorry.

I'm not a ride or die Beyoncé fan in the least bit, yet I'm no hater. (The title was purely out of play on words) I do think she's talented, but a bit overpublicized and overrated at times, but that's the celebrity/appearance obssessed society we live in. I'm not drawn to her music initially, but always end getting engaged in her songs and then getting on the bandwagon to like more.


I think Etta's comments were funny, but very ill-stated, especially saying Beyoncé was going to get her a** whipped. She was performing at concert, so I can't even give her some slack as if it was a slip of the tongue during an interview; she wanted to say what she said. Some people are saying if he wanted the song sung President Obama should have gotten Etta James, but I'm not even sure that he knew what song Beyonce was singing or perhaps he did requested it; as I'm sure a memo went out to her that "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)", or "Ring the Alarm" was not appropriate for the occasion. At the same time, Obama is not a record executive, he's the president, he doesn't need to worry about appeasing the sensitivities of 71 year-old who obviously has no respect for him since he's not her president. He can have who he wants there. I don't know if is she really just anti-Obama, or is she more mad he didn't invite her to sing?

I can understand Etta feeling slighted that Beyoncé received admiration very nationally and publically for a song she's known for, but apparently that song isn't even hers and had been recorded twice before Etta James made it popular. I know it's difficult for older singers who put their time in and probably had to work harder at success than the instant success that seems to be granted to artists these days to feel that something they made successful is being linked to someone else but for all intents, purposes, and reputations please keep it classy.
As always, at the end of the day, it's not always what you say but how you say it.

Pop Lockdown

Traditionally, pop stars have rarely made themselves. If you go back in the time, record labels, anxious parents who wanted their children to be stars, or the demand of the fans made the pop star. But today, people have the Internet, MySpace, independent labels, and every outlet imaginable to define their own image and make it on their own.

Infrequently, do artists design their road to becoming a pop star as methodically as Kanye West has. In the past hip-hop artists have crossed over that threshold into the mainstream mostly by a classic radio hit that wasn't expected to cross over and sometimes by a conscious effort by the record label to make a big hit.

Kanye doesn't care. To him, he's bigger than hip-hop. 808s & Heartbreak (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) isn't Kanye the MC, but more like Kanye the "superstar". He's not testing limits, he's breaking limits. Hate it, or love it, it's pretty darn creative. It may seem random, but it's not, he has a plan. He's driven himself into a lane where he can be more than a rapper and people are falling for it. New sound, new look, new book, and new ambitions. Some still scream for the old Kanye though. I do too.

I'm still a bigger fan of the rapper in Kanye, still was utterly confused by "Love Lockdown", then grew to love it as a good song when I realized had anyone else did it I would of automatically liked it so there was no point in resisting, still think it's hard to top College Dropout (in my mind), and don't agree with Kanye's statement that his latest is the best he's every done, but I respect the craft. He's the pop on lockdown.


Kanye West's and Louis Vuitton sci-fi inspired kicks:
The verdict's still out on this one but I may need Damon Wayons and David Alan Grier's soundcue of "hated it" from Men on Film"