DOPE.

Canibus teamed up with Eminem’s former rap group, D12, to take shots at the Detroit rapper, Marshall “Eminem” Mathers. The Jamaican born rapper, Canibus, seems to be carrying on the beef that started in 1998 when he though Marshall had ghost-wrote a diss record by LL Cool J. Since then there have been shots back and forth from both rappers. On this track he spits a few harsh line like “You pushed D12 to the side to sign Volton 5, if Proof was alive he’d b dyin inside , you aint no hiphop messiah, you a bitch cause you dissed Mariah..”. The D12 members seem to be bitter about being ditched by Eminem and got a bit personal, mentioning his step-dad and his previous drug problem. They also claim that Marshall had fallen off and wasn’t a good enough rapper. We’ll have to wait for a response and see if Slim Shady still got tricks up his sleeves. I bet Mariah & Nick Cannon have this track on repeat!!

Canibus or Canibitch ?

Canibus, un “MC pécore”, diss Eminem une nouvelle fois (la 1ère étant en 2000/2001 et s’étant soldé par une victoire de Shady)  dans un nouveau son dans lequel il s’en prend à Shady,DJ Whoo-Kid, D12, Proof et surtout la fille d’Em, Hailie Jade Mathers !

Voici le lien de la chanson :

http://thisis50.com/forum/topics/d12-and-canibus-diss-eminem

Et en voici les paroles :

Canibus Lyrics

Verse 1
You pushed D-12 to the side to sign Voltron 5
If Proof was alive he’d be dying inside
You ain’t no Hip-Hop messiah
You a bitch cuz you dissed Mariah
Shit like that is supposed to be private
I’mma fry you on behalf of Mariah & Michael
Put you back on them drugs, make you suicidal
You can’t shut the record down
Nigga its viral, when you use the word ‘nigga’
Just remember your idols

Verse 2
You the devil in a red dress on MTV
You sign more black people than a basketball team
What you trying to say subconsciously?
You can’t rock the beat like me
Consciously you know I rock you to sleep
Slim Shady you a coward cuz you scared to rap with me
The only black man you respect is 50
And the greatest rapper of all time was dead right
You ‘dead wrong’ you shouldn’t have even been on that song

Verse 3
I remember the first time we met, I ain’t even liked you
Walking around my video set like you was in high school
It must excite you seeing black people being tribal
That’s why Dr. Dre signed you
I bet you right now you got a big rotten Rosenberg beside you
Trying to be just like your father, Inside you!
The Stan android fanboys need to kill that noise
I know what you thinking…Kill that boy

Verse 4
Renegade Schmenegade you pink like lemonade
I’ve been better than you before Genesis was made
You ain’t better than Black Thought
You ain’t better than Mos’Def
You ain’t better than Canibus, Professor Griff Hotep
So renegade schmenegade you pink like lemonade
I penetrate through Hailey’s Comet with metal blades
Yeah! You and I both know why i’m saying this
I hope Whoo-Kid get fired for playing this !

On ne doute bien évidemment pas que la réponse de Marshall sera cinglante et qu’il enverra au tapis en moins de deux cet “hasbeen de MC”.

Sinon, vous avez la réponse de Marshall à Canibus lors de leur premier beef qui s’appelle “Can I Bitch” (= Canibitch) !

Voila, c’est tout pour le moment.

Bye, Stan.

Me.

“If Proof was alive, he’s be dying inside.  You ain’t no Hip-Hop messiah, you a b*tch cause you dissed Mariah.  Sh*t like that, supposed to be private.”

“Pop Killer”

It looks like old wounds heal slow as Canibus has set his sights back on Eminem to release another diss track at the Detroit native.

Rumored to be titled “Pop Killer,” the rapper, alongside another rapper known as DZK, digs up the past beef as he goes in on Mr. Mathers.

“I’ma fry you on behalf of Mariah and Michael, put you back on dem drugs, make you suicidal.  You can’t shut the record down, n*gga it’s viral.”

For those that don’t know the history, beef between the two reportedly started back in 1998 before Shady was even signed.  Em states that he was approached by Canibus and Wyclef Jean and was asked if he wrote the lyrics to LL Cool J’s diss track “The Ripper Strikes Back” which he denied, but added that Bus was rude with him.

Bus later tried to apologize for the incident by showing up at the Warped Tour in 1999 and asked him to rap along with him on the track “Phuck U,” but Shady turned it down, allegedly because he felt the track was a diss to Cool J.

Shots were allegedly fired initially on The Slim Shady LP and escalated once Canibus did his own version of “Stan” from The Marshall Mathers LP where he saved the life of the title character.  The two continued to spar with each other up to 2002.

“He’s a devil in a red dress on MTV.  He signed more Black people than a basketball team.  What you tryna say subconsciously, you can’t ride the beat like me.  Consciously, you know I’ll rock you to sleep.  Slim Shady, you a coward cause you scared to rap with me.  The only Black man you respect is 50.  And the greatest rapper of all time was dead right and dead wrong, you shouldn’t even have been on that song.”

Artists such as Royce Da 5’9” have started to weigh in on the attempt by the rapper to wage war once again.

RT@dopeboySHAKE: ‘I’ll be brief and let me just keep sh*t simple, can-a-b*tch don’t want no beef with slim?  Noooo’

Wherever the random diss came from, only Bis knows, but Em is one with quite the track record with battle rap.  “Warning” shows that he isn’t afraid to throw a woman under the bus and his relentless references to his former wife Kim shows that he knows no bounds and can see no boundaries.

Engaging countless battles in his career ranging from Everlast to Cage to Ja Rule to Jermaine Dupri, the white rapper has earned his stripes in the battlefield.  Good luck.

“I remember the first time we met, I ain’t even like you.  Walking around my video set like you was in high school.  It must excite you seeing Black people being tribal.  That’s why Dr. Dre signed you.”

Spotted at nahright.com

Download – Swifty McVay of D12 – Stay Off Freestyle

Varias veces en mi fuero interno y también alguna que otra con mi gente cercana, he especulado acerca de cómo sería la trayectoria de ciertos raperos si estos hubiesen seguido vivos. ¿Se habrían vendido? ¿Lo habrían dejado? ¿Permanecerían auténticos? Desgraciadamente nunca sabremos eso, aquí debajo están por orden cronológico según la fecha de fallecimiento varios de los artistas que nos han dejado muy a nuestro pesar…¿Quién es quién en los muertos del rap?

Eazy E de N.W.A. Eric Lynn Wright, nacido el 7/9/1963 en Compton, Los Angeles, California y muerto el 26/3/1995 de sida en Los Angeles.

Buff Love a.k.a. The human beatbox, de los Fat Boys. Darren Robinson, nacido el 10/6/1967 en Brooklyn, New York y muerto por paro cardíaco el 10/12/1995 en Brooklyn New York.

Tupac a.k.a. Makiaveli. Nacido como Lesane Parish Crooks, rebautizado al poco de nacer como Tupac Amaru Shakur por su madre, miembro de las panteras negras. Nacido el 16/6/1971 en Brooklyn, New York. Tiroteado el 7/9/1996 en Las Vegas (Nevada) y fallecido la madrugada del día 13 del mismo mes.

Notorious B.I.G a.k.a. Biggie Smalls. Christopher Wallace, nacido el 21/5/1972 en Brooklyn, New York. Asesinado el 9/3/1997 en Los Angeles, California.

Big L. Lamont Coleman, nacido el 30/5/1974 en Harlem, New York. Asesinado el 15/2/1999 en Harlem, New York.

Freaky Tah de Lost Boyz. Raymond Rogers, nacido el 17/5/1971 en Queens, New York, asesinado el 28/3/1999 en Queens, New York.

Bugz de D12. Karnail Paul Pitts, nacido el 5/1/1978 en Detroit y asesinado a raíz de un altercado que comenzó con pistolas de agua en Detroit el 21/5/1999.

Big Pun. Christopher Lee Rios nacido el 10/11/1971 en Bronx, New York. Muerte por ataque cardíaco el 7/2/2000 en Atlanta, Georgia.

Too Poetic de Gravediggaz. Anthony Ian Berkeley, nacido el 15/11/1964 en Trinidad y Tobago. Muerte por cáncer de colon el 15/7/2001 en Beverly Hills, California.

Left Eye de TLC. Lisa Lopes. Nacida el 27/5/1971 en Philadelphia, Pennsylvania y muerta en un accidente de tráfico en La Ceiba, Honduras, el 25/4/2002.

Jam Master Jay de Run DMC. Jason Mizzel, nacido el 21/11/1965 en Brooklyn, New York. Asesinado el 30/10/2002 en Queens, New York

Ol’ Dirty Bastard de Wu Tang Clan. Russell Tyrone Jones, nacido el 15/11/1968 en Brooklyn, New York y muerto el 13/11/2004 a causa del consumo de una mezcla de coca y Tramadol también en New York.

Proof de D12. Deshaun Holton, nacido el 2/10/1973 en Detroit, asesinado en la misma ciudad el 11/4/2006.

Pimp C de UGK. Chad Butler, nacido el 29/12/1973 en Porth Arthur, Texas, muerto por una sobredosis accidental de medicina para la tos (codeína) el 4/12/2007 en Los Angeles, California.

[Intro]
(Uhh, yo,yo,yo,yo,yo,yo)

[Chorus Eminem]
I take a couple uppers
I down a couple downers
But nothing compares
To these blue and yellow purple pills
I been to mushroom mountain
Once or twice but who’s countin’
But nothing compares
To these blue and yellow purple pills

[Eminem]
Cool, calm, just like my mom
With a couple of valium inside her palm
It’s Mr. Mischief with a trick up his sleeve
To roll up on you like Christopher Reeves
I can’t describe the vibe I get
When I drive by 6 people
And 5 I hit
Ah shit
I started a mosh pit
Squashed a bitch
And stomped the foster kids
These shrooms make me hallucinate
Then I sweat till I start losing weight
Till I see dumb shit start happenin’
Dumber than Vanilla Ice tryin to rap again
So bounce, bounce, c’mon bounce(shooting)
I said c’mon bounce
Everybody in the house with a half an ounce
Not weed I meant coke dumb ass sit down
We don’t bullshit, better ask around
D12 throws the bombest bash in town
Bizarre, your mom is passing out
Get her ass on the couch ‘fore she crashes out

[(Kon Artist) & Kuniva]
Fuck that, someone help Denaun
He’s upstairs naked with a weapon drawn
(Hey Von You see me stepping on these leprechauns?)
It gotta be acid cuz the X is gone
(Ya I took them all dog with some parmesian And I think my arm is gone)
It’s probably numb
Young, dumb, and full of cumm
*choke* And I think he ’bout to swallow his tongue
(Scary ass it was a false alarm
You think I’m ’bout to die when I just got on)
Well stop acting stupid
You so high
That you might wake up with a guy
On some new shit
[Eminem] Ewwwwww!
I think I did too much
This substance equals cuffs
Red pills, blue pills, (and green)
Big pills (That’s ill)
Mescaline

[Chorus]

[Hook Eminem]
Dirty Dozen
80 of us
Shady brothers
Ladies love us
That’s why our baby mothers
Love us but they hate each other
They probably wanna take each other out
And date each other
Some-, something, something, something
Something, something, something, something
Uhh I dunno

[Proof]
Pop pills
Pills I pop
Pop two pills
On stilts I walk
Snort two lines that were filled with chalk
Thought it was Incredible I killed the Hulk
I wanna roll away
Like a rollerblade
Until my eyes roll back in my skull for days
And when I’m old and gray
Look for dope to smoke
and op in dope
packin my nose with coc
*cough cough cough*
am i supposed to choke
Had an accident when the Trojan broke
Ahh, poor baby
Born by whore lady
Now I gotta Strangle it
(You’re crazy!)

[Swifty]
I pop four E’s at one time
And I don’t need water when I’m swallowing mine
(Ey you got any shroom?)
Does Bizarre smoke crack?
I can’t get job
Because my arms show tracks
Why the hell you niggas think I rap?
I do it just to get your company hijacked
If you like smack
Then I might too
(Swift, chill)
I just wanna get high like you
And I don’t give a damn if they white or blue
Speed, shrooms, down the valiums
Even smoke weed outta vacuums
I just copped some and I’m going back soon

[Chorus]

[Bizarre]
I’m at rave
Looking like a slave
High off chronic
Gin and tonic demonic
Body smelt like vomit
Pussy poppin’, acid droppin’, dope heavy guy
Heroine mescaline pencil leads
wanna try?
Blue pills, golden seals
Got Bizarre actin’ ill
Drugs kill (Yeah, right)
Bitch I’m for real
Shut your mouth you dirty slut
You know you want it in your butt
I’ll put it in your cunt
That Bizarre nut

[Chorus]

[Hook]
Dirty Dozen
80 of us
Shady brothers
Ladies love us
That’s why our baby mothers
Love us but they hate each other
They probably wanna take each other out
And date each other
Some-, something, something, something
Something, something, something, something
Uhh I dunno

Dropping on November 20th

1. Intro f. Dolo
2. Return Of The Dozen
3. Fugh University
4. Ugly Bitch f. Swizz Beatz
5. Da Name f. King Gordy
6. Pushin Peeps f. King Gordy & Rod Dae
7. Big Bombs
8. Skit
9. Flint Eastwood f. Rare, Fame & Black Milk
10. Return Of The Dozen 2 f. Trick-Trick
11. Big Proof
12. Tasty Juice f. Three 6 Mafia & Black Milk
13. Kun f. Trick-Trick
14. Prision f. King Gordy, Marv Won & Rare
15. Wake Up
16. Get U Fucked Up
17. Call The Cops
18. Skit
19. 3 Of Us f. Quest McCody & Lloyd Banks
20. Eminem
21. Its The Dirty f. Vanessa Marquez
22. Rondell, Outro
23. Forever (. Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem

D12 – Return of the Dozen Vol. 2

Hosted By: DJ Young Mase

Dropping: November 20, 2009

Tracklist:

01. Intro [Feat. Dolo]
02. Return Of The Dozen
03. Fugh University
04. Ugly Bitch [Feat. Swizz Beatz]
05. Da Name [Feat. King Gordy]
06. Pushin Peeps [Feat. King Gordy & Rod Dae]
07. Big Bombs
08. Skit
09. Flint Eastwood [Feat. Rare, Fame & Black Milk]
10. Return Of The Dozen 2 [Feat. Trick-Trick]
11. Big Proof
12. Tasty Juice [Feat. Three 6 Mafia & Black Milk]
13. Kun [Feat. Trick-Trick]
14. Prision [Feat. King Gordy, Marv Won & Rare]
15. Wake Up
16. Get U Fucked Up
17. Call The Cops
18. Skit
19. 3 Of Us [Feat. Quest McCody & Lloyd Banks]
20. Eminem
21. Its The Dirty [Feat. Vanessa Marquez]
22. Rondell, Outro
23. Forever [Feat. Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem]

Dammmn, D12 aint shit without Em.  Oh well, heres there new mixtape, dropping November 20th.  Prepare your recycling bin.  Shouts to HHNM.

Dropping On November 20th…

November 20th is the set date for the album to drop and the features are quite nice as Black Milk, Three 6 Mafia & even some of Detroit’s homegrown talent like Marv Won & Quest M.C.O.D.Y. will be appearing.

Spotted at 2DopeBoyz

James McKee performs at The Treehouse. Photo Ben French

The Treehouse

formerly Andyman’s Treehouse, has become a staple music venue in Columbus, OH.  The small hole-hole-in-the-wall bar’s slogan is “Hard to Find, Harder to leave.” Which is true in both regards. Located at 887 Chambers Road, the establishment was also rated by Esquire Magazine as one of the Best Bars in America. Many national names have also made their way to the bar including Times New Viking, Kyle Gass of Tenacious D and Evan Dando of Lemonheads. Under new management of Phil Palma, the place has become even more welcoming in recent years.  It’s the perfect place to go and see your friend’s band or to just check out the local talent. It’s a place where people don’t mind if you have a few buckets of loud mouth soup and I can’t forget to mention their endless supply of Jameson either.

Brian Brown of The Plague. Photo Ben French

Fresh Jam Productions threw together a great time at The Treehouse on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Top Heavies had to back out due to the untimely death of one of their biggest fans and family members, Chris Butler. But, the show had to go on. A few calls later Fresh Jam lined up local musician Brian Brown’s new band, The Plague. Brown, formerly of Columbus’ hip hoppers The Lab Rats, was eager to fill in at last minutes notice.

Playing along with Plague were Cincinnati’s (Worthington) James McKee and Columbus’ rapper C-Hop.

“We used to share everything in our backyard”                            -J. McKee

People started to migrate to the performance room as McKee was sound checking The White Stripes song Effect and Cause, eager to hear some live music. McKee started the evening out with a solo set ripping out songs from his catalog including Bear v. Wolves and til Curfew.  Also Playing a N.E.R.D. cover during the set, but I’m unfamiliar with the title. The fan support for McKee was tremendous for his first gig in Columbus, with fans from Medina, Worthington and Cincinnati to show their support. McKee is proving to be the new up-and-comer in the Fresh Jam Lineup. Expect to see him making moves in the near future.

C-Hop is the Name!

Back in the billin. C-hop at The Treehouse. Photo Ben French

Chris Hopkins, AKA C-Hop, took the stage next with laptop in hand.  The West Columbus Rapper ran through his West Coast style rhymes including Church and State, Back in the ‘Billin and The Name is. C-Hop was excited to get his feet wet in a dirty rock bar as opposed to the Hip Hop clubs he is used to. A big fan of all types of music, C-Hop is looking to break boundaries and get people to listen to all types of music.  C-Hop recently performed at Skully’s Music Diner in Columbus with D12 of Detroit. Expect to see more of C-Hop in the near future as we are looking to assemble a band to back him.

Introducing The Plague!!!

The Plague debuts at The Treehouse. Photo Ben French

The Plague ended their set by swapping instruments and performing Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine, which proved to be definite crowd pleaser. The band has been putting a set together over the past few months, regularly performing at Gordy’s on the East Side. The band was excited to get back in the city to rock. Sometimes you need that spur of the moment gig to get you going. Brian Brown teamed up with bothers Yinger, Eric and Brian, to form The Plague.  The band from Powell impressed the crowd with their upbeat tunes which included some old Lab Rats material like Someday You’ll Fade Away and Devil’s Train. The band kept the crowd moving with Eric Yinger on drums and Brian Yinger on bass. Brown took care of the vocals and highlighted guitar play. People were heard talking about Brown’s skill with the six string. Look forward to seeing more gigs from the trio in the near future.

Thanks to everyone who came out to The Treehouse and look forward to more acts coming to the Fresh Jam  linup. Talks are in progress with talented blues musician Brian Larcey as well. It was also great to see both Chris “Fresh C” Karnes and Tony “The Jam” Canovi make an appearance at the event to scope out the new talent. We look forward to learning about and playing with new acts. As Eric Yinger of The Plague said “Looking forward to building a kick ass rockin music family.”

Vezi: D12 .

Old Cheeky Dean hails from Sandton in South Africa and makes some very wonky, wobbly house.
Here’s a couple of his bootys:

The A Team Theme (Cheeky D’s A 4 Away Bootleg)

D12 – My Band (Cheeky D’s Wobbly Bobbly Bootleg)

A D12 közel másfél év után új mixtape-el jelentkezik még ebben a hónapban. Úgy néz ki pár olyan szám is helyet kap a cuccon, amit még anno a soha meg nem jelenő 3. albumukra készítettek. A napokban netre felkerült Ugly Bitch-et Swizz Beatz közreműködésével inkább nem mellékelném mert gyalázatos. De azért reménykedjünk, mert az előző mixtape elég jó lett és talán most is kapunk pár verse-t Proof-tól. Tracklista a tovább után.

01. Intro (feat. Dolo)
02. Return Of The Dozen
03. Fugh University
04. Ugly Bitch (feat. Swizz Beatz)
05. Da Name (feat. King Gordy)
06. Pushin Peeps (feat. King Gordy & Rod Dae)
07. Big Bombs
08. (Skit)
09. Flint Eastwood (feat. Rare, Fame & Black Milk)
10. Return Of The Dozen 2 (feat. Trick Trick)
11. Big Proof
12. Tasty Juice (feat. Three 6 Mafia & Black Milk)
13. Kun (feat. Trick Trick)
14. Prision (feat. King Gordy, Marv Won & Rare)
15. Wake Up
16. Get U Fucked Up
17. Call The Cops
18. (Skit)
19. 3 Of Us (feat. Quest McCody & Lloyd Banks)
20. Eminem
21. Its The Dirty (feat. Vanessa Marquez)
22. Rondell, Outro
23. Forever (feat. Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem)

I can tie my shoelaces without bending over. True story.

Rumor has it that the true center is disappearing from the pro game.  The new breed of NBA 5’s under the age of 25 would beg to differ, however.  Strong enough to endure the battles that occur in the post with the quickness and agility to keep up with the fast-paced offenses that are becoming more prevalent in today’s game, this generation of centers is building on the legacy of those that have come before them.  If your team has one of these guys on your roster consider yourself lucky, because the old adage still remains true – you can’t teach size.  When you have a big man that can command double teams and patrol the paint, your future is in good hands.

5. Greg Oden

Age: 21

‘08-’09 Stats: 8.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.4 spg, 1.1 bpg, 56.4 fg%, 63.7 ft%

The Good: Greg Oden was able to play 61 games a year after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee

The Bad:  Greg Oden could barely stay on the court, playing 21.5 minutes per game due to constant foul trouble

The Ugly: Kevin Durant  made The Leap, arriving as a bonafide All-Star talent while Oden is still finding his way in The L

There is no need for Greg Oden backers to panic due to his slow start.  Given the circumstances – recuperating from microfracture surgery, rookies needing time to get used to the NBA game and officiating, the loaded front courts of the Western Conference – Oden acquitted himself quite well.  Big men usually take a little bit of time to get acclimated to NBA play, unless your name is Tim Duncan or Shaquille O’Neal, and Greg Oden is no different.  The pressure of being the #1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft is mitigated by the fact that the Blazers can afford to bring Oden along slowly, given the talent level of their roster.  If he can overcome his foul troubles this year he should be able to play more than 30 minutes a game, and his numbers should start to live up to the expectations.

4. Andrew Bynum

Age: 21

‘08-’09 Stats: 14.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.4 spg, 1.8 bpg, 56.0 pg%, 70.7 ft%

Who is Andrew Bynum?  Is he the promising youngster who has had inspired stretches of play cut short by injury for two years in a row?  Or is he the lost, foul-prone, confidence-lacking Drew that we saw through the Lakers’ title run?  Hopefully an answer comes soon for his, because if he doesn’t show up to play this season there is a chance that he will get lost in the shuffle as the Laker frontcourt is as deep and talented as it has been in recent history.  As they showed during the playoffs the Lakers do not need Bynum to win a championship, but if they are to become a dynasty they are going to need sustained production and effort from their young center.

When he is on his game Bynum has an extensive array of post moves – thanks to the tutelage of NBA legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, defends the paint, and is a very good rebounder.  He has set a goal of making his first NBA All Star team which is good because it shows that he wants to improve, but also bad because as deep as their roster is, all the Lakers need Bynum to do is rebound, set good screens, and shut down the paint on defense.  If he can do that, the team is set for the next couple of years and he will get his due recognition as a key player on a dynastic team.

3. Al Horford

Age: 23

‘08-’09 Stats: 11.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.4 bpg, 52.5 fg%, 72.7 ft%

No entran en mi casa, hijo de puta

At the University of Florida the amount of publicity Al Horford received was disproportionate to the true value of his contributions to his team’s successes.  And in the NBA, the most important Gator on the back to back NCAA championship teams continues to fly under the radar.   His game is not flashy, but he does the dirty work for the up and coming Hawks – blocking shots that Josh Smith doesn’t get to and crashing the boards.  The Hawks prefer to initiate their offense from the perimeter, leaving few post opportunities for Horford, but he converts the shots he gets at a 51.1% clip for his career.  His numbers improved during his sophomore year and if he continues that pattern of growth his offensive responsibilities should increase accordingly.

In all honesty though, if Oden and Bynum had better track records when it came to injuries, they would be ahead of Horford due to their combination of size and ability.  As it stands Al Horford is a key piece on a Hawks team that is looking to establish itself among the upper echelon of Eastern Conference contenders, and that’s not a bad gig to have.

2. Brook Lopez

Age: 21

‘08-’09 Stats: 13.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.8 bpg, 53.1 fg%, 79.3 ft%

For no good reason, 7 of 9 GMs decided to pass on Brook Lopez in the 2008 NBA draft, despite the fact that proven (unlike many of the highly touted Euros of years past), skilled, legit 7 footers don’t grow on trees.  As NBA teams move away from traditional lineups in order to maximize the talent of their respective rosters, a big man with the ability to dominate on both ends is an increasingly rare, and thus more valuable, commodity.  Lopez fits the bill.  His offensive game is far ahead of established All-NBA fixture Dwight Howard, and he has room to grow on the defensive end as he gets more seasoning in the pro game.  In many years his stats would have been considered Rookie of the Year caliber, but the fact that Derrick Rose’s Bulls made it to the playoffs while the Nets did not may have played a part in that.

The value of a Stanford education

The Nets are in the midst of a youth movement, clearing out cap space for the 2010 season in order to find a marquee free agent or two to join their solid collection of young talent.  Lopez can already be considered to be a cornerstone of the roster in conjunction with Devin Harris, their All Star point guard.  Lopez should be looking forward to a significant increase in playing time which should set him on the path to perennial All Star status in the Eastern Conference.

1. Dwight Howard

Age: 23

‘08-’09 Stats: 20.6 ppg, 13.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.9 bpg, 57.2 fg%, 59.4 ft%

2008-09 Defensive Player of the Year. Led the league in rebounding 4 straight years. Three time All-Star. 2004-05 Rookie of the Year. Dunk contest champion. Three All-NBA selections. Two All-Defensive team selections. At 23, Dwight Howard is clearly the best center in the league and despite his phenomenal defensive and rebounding numbers, his offensive game can be best described as rudimentary, a fact which can be attributed to the lack of adequate big man coaching at the high school level.  That, my friends, is the definition of Tremendous Upside Potential or TUP (Copyright Hubie Brown, 2003 NBA Draft). And if Howard’s offensive skill level and consistency ever match his defensive and rebounding prowess, rest assured the Orlando Magic will rack up championships.

The Magic, fresh of their first finals appearance in 14 years, are primed to make a return visit during the 2009-10 season. Despite the addition of Vince Carter, the team will only go as far as their young center can carry them. He sets the tone by discouraging opposing teams from attacking the basket and inhaling any rebounds in his vicinity, which enables his teammates to get out and run and also provides second chance opportunities on offense. His post game is raw but he doesn’t need to master a ton of post moves a la Hakeem Olajuwon. On the contrary, he just needs to keep it simple – develop a primary move such as jump hooks with either hand, as well as a few counters. If he can improve on his one glaring weakness  - free throw shooting – and his post game, he is guaranteed to get more plays run for him.  Dwight has never averaged more than 12.4 shots per game, a pathetic number for a big man of his ability.  Unlike Young Shaq, another horrendous free throw shooter, throwing the ball in to Dwight in the post is not an automatic two points, yet.  If he ever approaches 20 shots a game, rest assured that his scoring average will approach the 30’s.  The sky truly is the limit for Dwight Howard and he has full control over how much of his potential he will be able to realize.

Just another day in the life of an athletic freak of nature

Off Return of the Dozen vol. 2, this is a new track produced by and featuring Swizzy. Eminem isn’t on it, which is kind of a disappointment. I didn’t really like it to be honest.

D12 Ft. Swizz Beatz – Ugly Chick

Colaborarea dintre D12 si Swizz Beatz pentru piesa Ugly Bitch o consider una reusita , piesa spune totu` , nu va ganditi la inceputu` piesei ca e It`s Me Bitches ca nu e , Return Of The Dozen Vol. II va fi valabil in curand .

I try not to post much rap anymore consider how stale the music has been of late, but this D-12 joint is definitely Money, Hoes, and Clothes.  With a hook like “I got me an ugly bitch / but she pay dem bills,” there was no way in hell I was gonna pass up posting this shit.  Hopefully this mixtape sees the once infamous group return to their former glory.

DOWNLOAD: D12 – Ugly Bitch f. Swizz Beatz | Mediafire