Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WCFTKI5lu4

Athlete is a band I’ve been following for a while now. They’ve had some amazing songs in th last few years. Among them: Wires (the first song I heard by them on One Tree Hill), Tourist, Twenty-four Hours, Westside, Tokyo and my favourite Hurricaine. This English band has an amazing sound and they consistently deliver. Check out all the songs. You will not be disappointed.

Lyrics here, more below:
I waded through the darkest fields you’d imagine
Your pretty face sketched on the barrel of my gun
And I know you’ll be the first to welcome me
When I climb into eternity
Oh, oh

The forest kept us warm
Bur it doesnt feel like home anymore
And I know there’s bigger mountains where you are
And a better climate for my heart
Oh,oh

I’ve been racing the clock
And I’ve run out of steem
I am ready for my final symphony
Oh my body is weak
But my soul is still strong
I am ready to rest in your arms

Though many battles I have won
I lost too many friends I could count on
And I know they’ll be the first to welcome me
When I parachute into eternity
Oh, oh

I’ve been racing the clock
And I’ve run out of steam
I am ready for my final symphony
Oh my body is weak
But my soul is still strong
I am ready to rest in your arms

And the rain beat down on the rooftops
But there was no sound,
There was no sound
And all my friends and familly carried me
They carried me home
Carried me home

I’ve been racing the clock
And I’ve run out of steam
I am ready for my final symphony
Oh my body is weak
But my soul is still strong
I am ready to rest in your arms
I’ve been racing the clock
And I’ve run out of steam
I am ready for my final symphony
Oh my body is weak
But my soul is still strong
I am ready to rest in your arms
Oh, oh

This is a beautifully dark song. Almost feels like a song about AIDS but could be any disease or even conflict depending on your view. The ‘lost too many friends’ is a touching bit of pain. The gun symbolizes the end of his own suffering. And I love that he knows they’ll all be there to greet him. And it is easy to imagine he wants to rest in God’s arms. Everything about the words and music are brilliant.

In anticipation of my New Mixtape Westside Til I Die,

presented by this very site, as well as 2dopeboyz.com & Harlem Vault,

I figured I’d feature this Picture of me holding this Ghetto-Ass Napkin (Yes, a Napkin) with the Logos of your favorite West Coast Classics,

Friday, Set It Off, & Menace 2 Society.

It really doesn’t get much better than that!

Thanks Warner Home Video.

Who the Hell’s idea was this? And how did I get it?

And to further the Hilarity and start your day off JUST RIGHT,

I thought you’d appreciate this Oldie but goodie by The Homie TQ.

I guess he shares the same sentiment as me.

This song is featured on my upcoming Big mixtape project,

Westside Til I Die,

presented by this site right here, as well as 2Dopeboyz.com and Vaultharlem.com It’s called “Run Brena Run“, and in a way, it’s my homage to 2Pac and his classic, “Brenda’s Got A Baby“. It picks up where that song left off, not so much story-wise, but topic – wise. It needed to be touched on again. Oh yeah, and I play off the whole ‘Run’ analogy, even down to the beats I use. Be on the look out for the video for this track, directed, produced and shot by none other than resident Renaissance woman, TDJ herself.

Here goes;

“She Run Run like Re-Runs’ run,

So What’s Happening?

A sad song she done sung – cause she’s Battlin’,

a thing that can’t be un-done,

-well at least to some…

especially if you Catholic.

And she is,

so she wonder why Jesus ain’t,

intervene like ‘wait!’

You don’t need this weight.

Certainly she can’t…

wear that white dress,

got a new life in her stomach but feel life-less.

A few weeks ago she was a track star,

-fast girl – kind of fast girl who attract large, amounts of dudes by her school pushing fast cars,

they buy her food – take her shopping at the Gap but,

she 15, they 22 – that gap’s large…

and when she found out she was late – all them cats’ Gone!

She cut class more to throw up in a bucket,

they cut her from the track squad, but she keep runnin’ (awaaaay)

-she been,

pregnant for a month, baby coming in 8,

but she can’t keep Runnin Away (Can’t keep runnin awaaaay).

Now she regret what she done, feel like Runnin’ away, but she can’t keep…

Stuck in a frame – a moment frozen in time;

a baby warm in her stomach -a summer cold in her mind

-feel like it snowed in June,

she holds her womb,

cause in March,

she knows its due – it’s a Pisces.

And how them 2 fishes swim in 2 directions,

mirror the positions that she’s stretched in.

Sorta like the marks on her skin after the 2nd trimester,

How did it begin? Let her remember…

When she said ‘he’s all about his grip, always dipped, ice and leather’,

so that’s when she told her friends, that he was a go-getter.

But he got- her from the go,

and now she’s on her own,

in the fast lane joggin real slow…

(But Whoa!)

Lady, lady,

take things easy baby,

Believe me,

These things change – they scream things lately,

-Call her “Heathen!”,

‘Demon and schemin’ – playin with fire’

But you just wanna sleep on a queen mattress…

and stay dreamin’, like a queen that is, ready for her throne,

ready to go home.

Ran away from it, cause she cannot take coming home to mama like,

‘mama uhhhhh…I gotta break somethin….

to you’.

But she don’t understand – it’s a new school,

Mama been young once – been in Love with a few dudes.

Ya’ll know the tune – duke,

Brenda had a baby,

threw him in the garbage – her apartment’s too crazy!

Stay there with aunts and uncles and cousins daily,

now she with a couple friends’ friends – and they rarely speak…

She barely eats, she cries to sleep,

she breaks the plates and tears the sheets

- her nerves ain’t there – she’s weak,

can’t stand it but she stay on her feet, like a race or a meet.

Keep her cross trainers on cause she know if more trouble come along…

all she gotta do is lace up her sneaks

(Keep Runnin Brenda!)

Cause every month I get another call,

someone telling someone, telling me, that there’s gon’ be another mother awww!…

but not when all them mothers are,

under 21 – they more,

like under 15, that’s just Fucking WRONG.

Blame it on the generation – they just fuckin’ more.

Yeah,

I accepted that,

But shit,

Where the protection at? They fuckin Raw??!

When Contraceptives is more,

available than they ever been,

-tell me where was Brenda when,

Sex-Ed class was demonstrating and lecturing,

showing them The Miracle of Life on television an’,

Now it’s just a miracle that life is even left in them,

Grandma gotta go an raise another infant and damn…

Might as well had a little brother or sister if you knew your mom was gon’ put like 87 percent into this,

child,

that you brought here, into this wild,

Frontier full of guns, blunts, tears and smiles.

Another single mother with no degree,

how’s she supposed to teach, a ma’fucka what he’s sposed to be??

When it’s much more exciting on the porch to see,

the newest whips niggas’ ridin’ – got the chrome on the V.

And forget about relations with the father,

child grow up waitin’ on a father,

cause he was just a booty call – or is it…

that you just, hating on the father? cause ya’ll dont get along?

and he wanna be a dad but,

you just shakin’ him off

-niggas need to understand that,

they are making more than a kid to put in cribs,

-No,

You are making more little hers and little hims,

so it’s really up to you to go and determine if,

your kids gon’ play like The Spurs, or gon’ play like The Knicks!

So who the Fuck are you?! are you gonna be that bridge?

or are you gonna burn it and go an’ create a riff??

Keep pushin’ them further and go and….make ‘em drift?

When they ain’t ask to be here homey, Facin’ this…

pit of trouble duke,

mix of puzzle clues,

but if I was a New-Born coming to this New World,

best believe that,

I’d be runnin’ too…

(I’m Runnin’)”

Hope you learned something.

Be on the lookout for that Westside Til I die mixtape, coming December 16th.

Here’s the exclusive link to this song for now.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/692684980b583140/

Riding over the dam at the Addicks Resevoir

Here we are after Thanksgiving.  Forget the turkey, I was stuffed.

PARTIAL INTEREST   A shared ownership in a piece of property. May be divided among two or more parties.

PARTIAL PAYMENT   A payment of less than the regular monthly amount. Usually, a lender will not accept partial payments.

PERIODIC PAYMENT CAP   The limit on how much regular monthly payments on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage can change during one adjustment period.

PERIODIC RATE CAP   The limit on how much the interest rate on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage can change during any one adjustment period.

PERSONAL PROPERTY Owned items which are not permanently affixed to the land.

PERSONAL RESIDENCE   The primary domicile of a person or family.

PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD)   A coordinated, real estate development where common areas are shared and maintained by an owner’s association or other entity.

PLAT   A plan or chart of a piece of land which lays out existing or planned streets, lots or other improvements.

POINT   A percentage of a mortgage amount (one point = 1 percent).

PRE-APPROVAL   The process of applying for a mortgage loan and becoming approved for a certain amount at a certain interest rate before a property has been chosen. Pre-approval allows the borrower greater freedom in negotiations with sellers.

PREFABRICATED  Any building or portion thereof which is manufactured and assembled off site, then erected on a property.

PREPAYMENT  Payment made that reduces the principal balance of a loan before the due date and before the loan has become fully amortized.

PREPAYMENT PENALTY   A fee that may be charged to a borrower who pays off a loan before it is due.

PRE-QUALIFICATION   Less formal that pre-approval, pre-qualification usually means a written statement from a loan officer indicating his or her opinion that the borrower will be able to become approved for a mortgage loan.

PRIME RATE   The interest rate that banks and other lending institutions charge other banks or preferred customers.

PRINCIPAL   The amount owed on a mortgage which does not include interest or other fees.

PRINCIPAL BALANCE   The outstanding balance of principal on a mortgage. Does not included interest due.

PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, TAXES, AND INSURANCE (PITI)   The most common constituents of a monthly mortgage payment.

PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI)  A form of mortgage insurance provided by private, non-government entities. Normally required when the LOAN TO VALUE RATIO is less that 20%.

PROPERTY  Any item which is owned or possessed.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT   A written contract signed by the buyer and seller stating the terms and conditions under which a property will be sold.

QUADRAPLEX  Any building designed to accommodate four families.

QUALIFYING RATIOS   Two ratios used in determining credit worthiness for a mortgage loan. One is the ratio of a borrower’s monthly housing costs to monthly income. The other is a ratio of all monthly debt to monthly income.

QUITCLAIM DEED   A legal document which transfers any ownership an individual has in a piece of property. Often used when the amount of ownership is not known or is unclear.

RAFTER  A structural element of the roof, sloping from the peak to the outer walls.

RANCH HOUSE   An architectural style typified by a single-story, low-roof construction. Popular in the western U.S.

RATE LOCK   A guarantee from a lender of a specific interest rate for a period of time.

RAW LAND   Any land which has not been developed.

REAL ESTATE   A piece of land and any improvements or fixtures located on that land.

REAL ESTATE AGENT   A licensed professional who facilitates the buying and selling of real estate.

REAL ESTATE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES ACT (RESPA)  A federal law requiring lenders to give full disclosure of closing costs to borrowers.

REAL PROPERTY   Land, improvements and appurtenances, and the interest and benefits thereof.

REALTOR®  A real estate agent or broker who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS®.

RECEPTACLE   An electrical outlet to plug into.

RECORDER   A local government employee whose role it is to keep records of all real estate transactions within the jurisdiction.

RECORDING   The filing of a real estate transaction with the appropriate government agent (normally the RECORDER). A real estate transaction is considered final when it is recorded.

REFINANCE TRANSACTION   A new loan to pay off an existing loan. Typically to gain a lower interest rate or convert equity into cash.

REGISTER   Where air from a furnace or air conditioning system enters the room.

RELOCATION SERVICE   Any company or agency that assists corporate employees in relocating from one place to another. Services may include hiring and coordinating real estate agents, moving companies, utilizes and the like.

REMAINING BALANCE   Back to top
The amount of principal, interest and other costs that has not yet been repaid.

REMAINING TERM   The amount of time remaining on the original amortization schedule.

REMODEL   An activity designed to improve the value or desirability of a property through rebuilding, refurbishing, redecorating or adding on to it.

REPAYMENT PLAN   A plan to repay delinquent payments, agreed upon between a lender and borrower, in an effort to avoid foreclosure.

REPLACEMENT RESERVE FUND  An account, or fund, setup for the replacement of short life items, such as carpeting, in the common areas of a cooperative property.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY  A piece of property whose highest and best use is the maintenance of a residence.

REVOLVING DEBT   A type of credit that allows the borrower/customer to make charges against a predetermined line of credit. The customer then pays monthly installments on the amount borrowed, plus interest.

RIDGE BOARD   The structural member of a roof where the rafters join at the top.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL   An agreement giving a person the first opportunity to buy or lease a property before the owner offers it for sale to others.

ROOF PITCH   The degree of slope in a roof.

RURAL  An area outside of an established urban area or metropolitan district.

–

Until 1929, trains crisscrossed with street traffic on Manhattan’s west side. Right around the 10th and the 11th Avenues along the Meatpacking district, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. Then, the High Line railway route was laid down…right above these streets, to help prevent frequently occurring accidents and unclog traffic jams.

More than 70 years later, and many years past the last train ran through it, the City took over this abandoned railroad and transformed it into a commendable walkway park: landscaped, spruced up and open to public access.

(Currently operating only up to 20th street, it is scheduled to snake its way into Hell’s Kitchen next year)

Lovers of urban decay were certainly not happy. This was a like a shiny new car, reproduced and regurgitated in place of the sputtering vintage they adored. On the other hand, it offers some undeniable perks to the practical local or the tourist round the block.

The High Line park not only provides you a viewing of a very interesting piece of landscape work (marrying the remains of railway tracks with tended plantation, wooden benches, chairs and more), it also opens its doors to safe public access and great views of the city’s breathtaking west side ( hard to come by down in the cobblestone streets).

Peek into the choking streets down there, people watch from a vantage point, gaze right into the setting sun on the other side. Sprawl on a lawn chair, read a book. Watch locals and tourists gazing at cityscape alike. No where else do they co-exist so blatantly.

Here we go now…some interesting moods to share with you. Shot while walking the High Line and exiting it.  This is what sums up my POV that lovely Fall afternoon:

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And a few whimsical ones, that caught my wandering eye…

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And if you are curious, check out more at the official High Line website.

- The Juicer at work

"It's Gangsta because I'm on it!"

Music. It’s always been a part of me. Ever since I can remember I’ve loved it. Yeah I had my favorite artists growing up, but the best part was making my own. Thaz what made me love it. I’d carry notebooks with me wherever I went. Notebooks full of lyrics… I’d get in trouble cuz I’d be writing in school when I was supposed to be studying and in church when I was supposed to be listening… I remember arguing with my mom and sister who at the time gave that shit absolutely ZERO credit, “These notebooks are gonna make me famous and y’all rich one day!” They’d laugh at me and I’d storm off to my room and close the door. I’m about to write some more. They’ll see soon enough.

My room was all about music. My wall was filled with pix and posters of artists. It looked like the Hard Rock Cafe or something. A bunch of memorabilia from concerts and autograph signings that I had gone to over the years covered the walls. The center of everything was my dad’s 1976 Sansui Stereo system. It was old and outdated with the big ass silver knobs, but man that joint sounded GREAT! It had 4 floor speakers and if I turned it up, they could hear that shit all the way in Carver Park! At the bottom it had a slot for records… I mean real records. Vinyl. My dad and mom had some real good music and I had been trying to get this thing in my room for years. I had 45’s of all the old Motown stuff. Temps, Marvin, Supremes, you name it. Moms was big on Motown and had all the singles. Pops was serious about raggae and jazz. I had every Bob Marley and the Wailers album and a bunch of jazz greats like Coltrane, Bird Parker and Miles Davis… Miles Davis. Now this guy had an effect on me… It was this one particular album that I played particularly more than the others. Something about it I loved but I couldn’t really put my finger on it u know?  I’m a lyricists and there were no lyrics. I listened to his horn and understood it tho… So much so that I could hum the parts note for note. This album was a classic called “Kind of Blue”

Since those days as we all know I’ve been blessed to do this music thing for a living and everything has come full circle. When I went solo I set on a mission to make a different brand of R&B. I knew it’d prolly keep me outta mainstream radio and TV, but if I can’t watch/hear myself and feel good about what I’m doing then whats the use anyway? I went into my first album with just that mindset. I got a lotta fans today because of that decision. Against advice and all odds I did me and continued to do me until this day.

But now it’s just Electronic…

Out with the old and in with the new right? Fuck talent man! It’s 2009! Go buy a laptop and Frooty Loops and u are a certified producer! Buy the right sound program and u are now a singer! Even if u cant carry a note in a backpack YOU CAN STILL BE A STAR!!! LOL! I remember producing a joint on a certain artist that asked me “Are u sure that’s me?” after hearing all the pitch correction and editing that I had done. This thing has changed… What is my “Old School” ass gonna do about it? I learned this game from OG’s. Cameo, The Commodores, Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Kashif… Google these cats and you’ll see what I mean. These were the first people I worked with in this game. I remember Kashif showing me the first Pro Tools prototype when I was a kid. He said “TQ, this is gonna change music. Get it all while u can kid…” Boy was he right…

Cuz now it’s just Electronic…

Yes it is. Dance music, Techno, and Trance have invaded black music. There is a serious mesh going on around the world that I don’t think anyone saw coming. The club in LA sounds more and more like the club in London or Paris these days. It’s fresh and new and people are back to actually having fun in the club. Either everybody is coked completely out of their minds or DJ’s got their fingers on it… Either way I’m having a fuckin ball at the club right now. Check my Facebook page if u don’t believe me… LOL!

I’ve never been the man for club music… prolly cuz I never really tripped off being in there. Been hittin’ the club since I was 16 in LA so I’d pretty much seen and done it all. I’d rather focus on life in Music. U gotta have listeners for Life Music tho… Not just fans, but listeners. People ain’t really into listening these days for the most part. Maybe they don’t have the time. Maybe they have so much other shit going on that music is now used for straight up entertainment. No more therapy. People don’t wanna think. They just wanna move! Ok… I get it…

But…

Even if it’s Electronic… It’s gangsta because I’m on it.

Thaz right. I don’t change. I shoot from the hip. I only deal with the real… I will forever be a street poet. I will always tell u the truth about life as I see it. I’m not doing G funk but I’m not wearing skinny jeans and pink shirts either. I make music for the World and not for everybody. Put me in the rap section all u want… I’m a singer. Period. I represent Compton, California cuz thaz where I was raised. Sound familiar? I does cuz it is… It’s still me. Forever the oxymoron.

LOL!

There will be some things on my new album that u have never heard from me. From the production to the lyrical content, I’m definitely stretching further than I ever have on this one. From real life events to hustler anthems. Love songs and Hate songs too… Club joints and straight up nasty sex music. This album “Kind of Blue” has it all… And I’m putting as many as I can fit on a CD. You will get more songs on this album than u ever have and that’s a promise.

But for now it’s just Electronic… Literally. LOL!

My new single “Electronic” is about to smash the net TODAY.  All my DJ friends will have this record real soon so REQUEST IT AT THE CLUB! We got a hot remix by P-Rida featuring my man Tha Vill who rocked it, and another from Glasgow’s own Tigerstyle. A Funky House mix from DJ Mappa and a Sonny Ji version as only he can do it. Are u ready? Yeah? Well let’s make it official…

Check out the World Premiere of the video for the 1st Single from my forthcoming Album “Kind of Blue”…

This is Electronic. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keecMz3V6Jg

WESTSIDE4LIFE!

This was so popular, I am posting again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM7oWKgCVo4&feature=player_embedded

Let’s take a bite out of the N’s and the O’s.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MASTER APPRAISERS (NAMA)  A non profit professional association organized in 1982, dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate appraisal.

National Association of Realtors (NAR) A non-profit professional association for real estate agents.  Not all agents are Realtors. Realtors follow a code of ethics. and promotes professionalism within the association

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS  An organization founded in 1956 which promotes standards of professionalism in its members.

NATURAL VACANCY RATE  The percentage of vacant properties in a given area that is the result of natural turnover and market forces

. NEGATIVE AMORTIZATION  When the balance of a loan increases instead of decreases. Usually due to a borrower making a minimum payment on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage during a period when the rate fluctuates to a high enough point that the minimum payment does not cover all of the interest.

NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE-CYCLE The evolution of neighborhood use and demographics over time. Economic fluctuations, municipal zoning changes and population shifts can effect the life cycle.

NEIGHBORHOOD  A subsection of a municipality that has been designated by a developer, economic forces or physical formations.

NET LEASABLE AREA  The space in a development, outside of the common areas, that can be rented to tenants.

NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL  An architectural style dating from early American history typified by a two-story building with clapboard siding.

NO-COST LOAN  Many lenders offer loans that you can obtain at “no cost.” You should inquire whether this means there are no “lender” costs associated with the loan, or if it also covers the other costs you would normally have in a purchase or refinance transactions, such as title insurance, escrow fees, settlement fees, appraisal, recording fees, notary fees, and others. These are fees and costs which may be associated with buying a home or obtaining a loan, but not charged directly by the lender. Keep in mind that, like a “no-point” loan, the interest rate will be higher than if you obtain a loan that has costs associated with it.

 NO-POINT LOAN  A loan with no “points”. The interest rate on such a loan will be higher than a loan with points paid. Also sometimes refers to a refinance loan where closing costs are included in the loan.

NON-CONFORMING USE  The use of land for purposes contrary to the applicable municipal zoning specifications. Often occurs when zoning changes after a property is in use.

NONLIQUID ASSET  Any asset which can not be quickly converted into cash at little or no cost.

 NOTE  A legal document that obligates a borrower to repay a mortgage loan at a stated interest rate during a specified period of time.

NOTE RATE  The interest rate stated on a mortgage note.

 NOTICE OF DEFAULT  Formal written notice from a lender to a borrower that default has occurred.

 OBSOLESCENCE  The process of an assets value diminishing due to the development of more desirable alternatives or because of the degradation of its capabilities.

OCCUPANCY A physical presence within and control of a property.

OCCUPANCY RATE  The percentage of properties in a given area that are occupied.

OCTOPUS RECEPTACLE  An outlet with too many devices plugged into it, using a power strip or other device to multiply the outlets.

 OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS  Buildings, structures or other amenities which are not located on a piece of property, but are necessary to maximize the use of the property or in some way contribute to the value of the property.

OFF-STREET PARKING  Designated parking spaces associated with a particular building or other structure which are not located on public streets.

OLD TERMITE ACTIVITY  Where no termites are currently active, but indications of past activity can be seen.

ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS  Buildings, structures or other amenities that are erected on a piece of property and contribute to its value.

OPEN SPACE  Any land which has not had any significant buildings or structures erected on it. Most often used to describe desirable neighborhood features like parks.

OPEN SPLICE An uncovered electrical connection.

ORIGINAL EQUITY  The amount of cash a home buyer initially invests in the home.

 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL BALANCE  The total amount of principal owed on a mortgage loan at the time of closing.

ORIGINATION FEE  Refers to the total number of points paid by a borrower at closing.

 OWNER FINANCING  A transaction where the property owner provides all or part of the financing.

 OWNER OCCUPIED  The state of property wherein the owner occupies at least some portion of the property.

Someone sent this one in via email yesterday. It’s funny, because I posted a sighting of a plane at the fountain right outside Bento a few days ago. Looks like the culprit really enjoys Royal Park.

Book by December 3rd and save 45% on either a 3 night or 4 night stay in 2010!