Dear Blogger, I Know You Gon' Miss Me...

Though we go together like IV and crisp tees
S. Mack and colored pencils,
M. Solomon and government issues
Back in '05, you understood me, didn't you?
In '08, started changing your face

We ain't reuniting, ma, we done for good
And I know you prob'ly thinkin' you misunderstood
But you isn't in my future, Blogger
I ain't one of these '08 new bloggers,
You know how I do, Blogger!
I drop text at first, copped a Xanga
Wife'd you after her, you was dangerous
Larger demographic so I had to get some practice
Bigger fan base, showed 'em speech was my hammer

What you did for HipHopDX, and lil old me?
the same thing Aniston did for Pitt-Jolie
Cuz love is love - you learn from love,
But DX had to get a turn for love/
We were the perfect couple, but DX kept me interested
Better hits, better comments from listeners
Better rep, better content for resume
But the limelight life got ahead of me

So we hooked back up
DX in the background, but Blogger was my one true love
So I wined you and dined you, sober and bar-thrown
b-logs, v-logs, posts from the smartphone/
Baby I love hard! So imagine my disappointment: when I saw that you wasn't worth it
Your new additions are cute - look what you lost, though?
Girl I need templates, and working blogrolls

But WordPress pressed me: shorty does the grown thing better-er,
from the user interface with the editor,
to blogrolls that work, and trackin' the traffic
it's the little things, baby, you lackin'!
She's not as good embed
but we learnin' each other, and using different codes instead
And she is high-maitenance, but that comes with quality
A domain's 10 bones from my salary
You were free, and we see where that's gotten me
No offense, but there ain't no apologies

So, the cache remains - we had our days!
URL's forever, we had fun together
But like all good things, we must come to an end
Please show the same love to my friends.

Dear Blogger.

--
Ketchums.WordPress.com

GlobalGrind x NBA Live 09? x Skype x MiHH Wkd

The new hustle, GlobalGrind.com, has been redesigned and revamped. Founded by Russell Simmons and featured on "Run's House," GG is a news/multimedia/social networking site on which content is fueled by user submissions and feedback - think digg for the "urban"/hip-hop community. We're still working out a few bugs, but the new layout is easy to navigate through, and the clean, streamlined feel is official. | GlobalGrind



I don't have a newer video game system yet, but I'm looking into getting one before the end of the year; and after playing my boy's PS3 all semester, I've got to admit that I'm a NBA 2K8 addict. But this NBA Live '09 video above has actually got me thinking about reverting back to EA Sports hoop games. The idea of constantly updating things like that is ridiculous (even though it irks me that I can't play with both Bynum and Gasol on 2K8 yet). Either way, it boils down to gameplay - and so far, 2K8's still holding the cup. | NBA Live 09


Best computer program ever. I pay $2.95/month for unlimited outgoing calls to U.S. and Canada (Mina, whattup!); journalists, I recommend this for your interviews - makes the transcribing process much easier. I've been video chatting (and unlike AIM, this video chat actually works) with my lil sis, and the homie AHLOT while she's out in Honduras saving the world. This along with free music and porn, is what the internet is all about. | Skype


Smack! x Mo Beatz. First cover art for Big Sean, and now this. Glad the homie's finally starting to make the moves he's capable of. | xXYour Friendly Neighborhood SmackXx


Rub it in my face, why don't ya. This is my last time mentioning these, seriously. | Burn Rubber


It's whatever, though; the Turtles/Pro Model II combo is still killin' em!

Anyway, busy week/weekend for me and Michigan Hip Hop.
-Friday: Interviewed the immensely talented Mae Day - who Monie Love (study ya lessons) has hailed as the best femcee since MC Lyte - for MiHH. Shoutout to Ced Louie and Sicknotes.
-Today: Interviewing Elzhi for MiHH. Attending a listening party for his album, The Preface, at Burn Rubber from 5-7 (Flyer). Finally copping the BR Mixtape. Hoping to win a giveaway there. Getting my limited edition MichiganHipHop.com tee. Wilding out Politicking at the Buff1 listening party at Blind Pig that we're co-sponsoring from 9:30 till it ends (Flyer). Hope One Be Lo can make it out to play me some new music in his car. Pissing Smack off cuz he has to drive me everywhere.

-Ketch

New MI Hip Hop: Quest M.C.O.D.Y. x Elzhi x Royce x Nae Smiles & Buff1

Got a long night ahead of me: gotta knock out this Big Sean feature for a Detroit newspaper (don't ask who - you'll see it once it's out there). But first, gotta have some grade A, trademark Ketchums procrastination by way of Michigan Hip Hop.


What: Buff1 x ASide Worldwide x MichiganHipHop.com Present: There's Only One Release Party
Who: Buff1, Athletic Mic League, NowOn, Invincible, Tree City, DJ Haircut, DJ Graffiti
Where: Blind Pig - 208 S. First St. - Ann Arbor, MI 48104
When: Sat. Aug. 9, 2008 - 9:30 PM
First 50 people get free gift bags
Oh yeah - and the MichiganHipHop.com tees are back.



Quest M.C.O.D.Y.'s "Fade Back (Remix)" featuring Royce Da 5'9", Guilty Simpson and MarvWon. One of the better down-the-line joints I've heard in a while. From his newly-released album, The Light Project. Detroit stand up. [via MiHH]



Elzhi's "Colors," one of my favorite tracks from his album, The Preface, that hits stores this Tuesday, Aug. 12. Produced, like most of the rest of the album, by Black Milk. Can't wait for the listening party at Burn Rubber this weekend. [via MiHH]



Nae Smiles feat. Buff1, "Favor For A Favor" - Shout out to the homie T-Shells of L.I.F.E. Music Entertainment for getting me this. If Buff's got heaters like this and the Ski joint elsewhere, just imagine how crazy his album is! There's Only One, Aug. 12. [via MiHH] Also, click here for my interview with Buff1; he said it's the best he's ever had.



Right before I clicked "Publish Post," my man Shake at 2DopeBoyz sent me "Goin Nutz," another leak from Royce's upcoming Bar Exam II (Aug. 26). I'm geeked that he used the instrumental from Jay-Z's Dynasty: Roc La Familia intro.

Bonus:
+Are Hip Hop organizations Really Effective? - Davey D posted a blog that recounted a discussion at this year's National Hip Hop Political Convention in Las Vegas about the effectiveness of Hip Hop organizations. I'm glad they're actually looking into how well they work, as opposed to others just praising any Hip Hop that isn't blatantly misogynistic or violent as "conscious." It's time that we either make it a point to get actual results, or just accept that Hip Hop is meant to talk about on topics but not actually make changes.

Big Sean, "Supa Dupa" x Big Sean [Mack]

I am a supa, dupa, trooper
Used to the bottom, scuba
So I’m on the grind, skateboard or scooter
Till I am the king of my castle, koopa
Dog I took a shot in the dark, in an industry of sharks
That’s surrounded by water—Cuba
I can make an Einstein’s mind feel stupor
And I can make an insecure bitch feel super
Realest nigga ever—Kunta, Kinte
Ultra, master. Super, sensei
Dog, in the 9th inning we jus tryna hit a homer
Marge, comprende? Hard, al dente
MJ. Jordan* or Jackson? Only difference is, I ain’t fuckin wit these kids
Sean, Big, a problem too big, trig
Y’all niggas ain’t shit, pissed. Tsk, tsk

Big Sean
"Supa Dupa"
The Burn Rubber Mixtape



^MPFree from Big Sean's MySpace Page [MySpace.com/UKnowBigSean]
P.S.: Download Big Sean's mixtape, Finally Famous, here. The original Big Sean, Smack!, drew and designed the back cover of the tape. The first of many covers to come.


*Coming soon to DSE @ Grand

Flinttown: Big O's 23-Peat In 100 Words Or Less

Leave. McDonald's. Sigh. Meijer. Liquor. Pinnacle. "Smooth?" Liar. SMH. Drunk. Eggs. Car. Juice. Car #2. Nignorance. Gunfire. Cops. Light-skin. Thick. Chill. Holla. Taken. Not really. Haters. B.o.B. (Ha) Dipset. McDonald's #2. Sigh #2. Migrate. Burbs. Guitar Hero. Wack. Cause? Drunk. Soul Caliber #2. Spawn. Truth. Sleep. (Pass out.) Awake. Superbad. Laughs. Sleep. Awake. IV Tee. Pictured above. Home.

"Hope you, payin' ya tithes, being good Catholics"

Yesterday
+Cleaned the crib
+Wrote a letter
+Further absorbed my advance copy of Elzhi's The Preface
+Went to the mall. Bad chicks w/babies: it's the Saginaw way.
+Had some sushi that made me wish I was in East Lansing, so I could go to Omi. I swear, I'ma start goin' there weekly just to smash.
+Bought my own domain name: SpeechIsMyHammer.com coming soon.
+Saw the new Mummy movie. Corniest dialogue ever, but the special effects were crazy, Jet Li was a monster (literally) when he was actually in the movie, and the women were all bangable.

Today
+Church (on the way there now)
+Go to flint-town w/the crew to celebrate Big O's birthday and scoop up my Identical Variant tee
+If I get back in time, get some work done on this Big Sean article

Misc.
+Kanye's "We Don't Care" from College Dropout = nostalgic ... I don't get how people say this album isn't a classic
+I might start getting into video games again. I'm normally just a NBA 2K8 kid, but this new Soul Calibur looks fun as fuck

-Ketch
Sent via BOSSberry

33! Plus three! I'm on my masonic grind!*

GotDone 7/30/08 - Now

• RideOut's bio
• Elzhi album review (Yes, I have the album. No, you can't have it.)
• Buff1 album review (Wash/Rinse/Repeat disclaimer above.)
• A new blog (ya know, one that actually requires writing!)
  
• Snatched a new assignment from XXL

ToDo Now - 8/4/08

• Finish this Big Sean article early. Freshen up my prose skills; blogging and Q&A's aren't exactly soup for the journalist soul (ha)
• Get the ball rolling on this XXL assignment
  
• Follow up on job leads
  
• Get paid
• See if I can absorb half of this new Elzhi album before its Aug. 12 release date

Misc.
+The search for a constellation prize to replace the Air Questo's continues, and I just caught wind of DJ Shadow's collaboration with LRG. The series has three pieces, but the one I'm feeling is this fitted. What do y'all think? I'm diggin' the versatility of it, and even though no one will see it, the inside artwork is crazy.


+So Cam has finally let Juelz go. I'm happy about this: Juelz is too talented to let sit for too long, and like Miss Info said, hopefully the end of the label drama can help them repair their friendship.
+It really sucks to see Big Boi and Killer Mike going back and forth like this, because it should be a good day when two of Atlanta's premier lyricists are dropping albums within months of each other. But as much as I'd hate to admit it, a beef on wax between these two would be crazy.
+Apparently, the Blackberry Bold is going to hit T-Mobile in September, just in time for the company's 3G rollout the month after. Saving up money + a better Blackberry + not having to switch contracts = worth the wait.
+Congrats to Rizoh for landing his Top 50 MCs of Our Time piece on digg's front page.

*By the way, can anyone accurately pinpoint that Killer Mike like from "10 G's"? I'm not sure if he says "masonic" or what...

-Ketch