Beyonce - Upgrade You Video

You’ll have to watch…because if I critique it, I may spoil the suspense.

Can Beyonce Upgrade Me? (If the rumors are true, that is…well, on second thought, the rumors don’t have to be true…she can do whatever she want at her convenience).

Just so you know - Beyonce is re-releasing B-Day, so you can now own two copies…or maybe one copy (that is…if you just bootlegged the 1st release).

What do y’all think of the video?

Posted by thehonorable

Related: Beyonce is a World Wide Woman, Big Night at the Oscars!, Beyonce & Shakira- Beautiful Liar, Aussies Beef wit B!, Grammy Winners, Beyonce Voted “Top Fantasy Girlfriend”, Beyonce is Overrated (Part deux) , New R&B Music Update: Bey, Lloyd, Tweet, Bobby V

Swizz Beatz Video- It’s Me Snitches

Do all of Swizz Beatz songs sound the same? Yes

Am I complaining? Not really

Swizz Beatz has a new video out for a song called, It’s Me Snitches. Swizz has never been a terribly compelling rapper to me, but he’s been smart about producing hot beats and having great guest rappers on his track. Bigger Business is one of my favorite Swizz (produced) songs (how can you not love Ronald Isley aka Mr. Biggs jumping on a rap track?). Anyways, aside from the annoying fact that the song “freezes” and repeats “it’s me snitches” every 15 seconds…the song is cool. There’s nothing remarkable about the video, but I wouldn’t exactly expect it from him. Check out the video below.

Are you a fan of Swizz Beatz the rapper? producer? What do you think of the fan? Everytime they froze the track, did you wonder if you were hearing the same lyrics over and over again like I did?

Posted by Reecie

Romeo feat. Marques Houston- Special Girl

Romeo aka Master P’s son is semi-grown up…so apparently that calls for a corny video with a bunch of half naked 17 year olds for his new song, Special Girl. Umm…this song is wack. I don’t want to be hard on the kid, but I’m just not digging it. Marques Houston doesn’t really help either…but I’d probably hate to hear what the song would’ve sounded like without him. Check out the video…the sound quality is a little bootleg, but it’s Youtube so you can’t expect much!

What do you think of the older, six pack armed Romeo? Why isn’t Marques Houston a better collaborator after being in the game for over a decade?

Posted by Reecie

Beyonce & Shakira- Beautiful Liar

Beyonce…once again…has a new video out for her song Beautiful Liar featuring Shakira. I must say, this song is surprisingly hot to death! The song will appeal to fans of R&B, Pop, and Latin music. I’m surprised at how great of a pair these two are. The choreography in the video is sultry, sexy, and just off the hook overall. I know people are gonna be mad at me for saying this, but their moves sh!t all over Ciara’s Promise video trying to be sexy dancing. I’m not hating on Ciara though…plus this video makes me want to step my belly dancing game up! lol. Anyways…the fellas are going to love this video and expect to see these moves showing up in a club near you.

What do you think of Shakira and Beyonce teaming up for a song? Can you forgive Beyonce for being EVERYWHERE long enough to enjoy the song? Whether you’re sick of her or not…don’t you have to admit that this woman is on her grind harder than any other entertainer has been in the past decade or so?

Posted by Reecie

New Video from Unk- 2 Step

Unk, the brains behind the surprisingly infectious Walk It Out, has a new video for his song 2 Step. I know everyone wants to be all high and mighty, but I dare you to listen to this song and not want to at least snap a little, walk it out a little, or two step a little. Every song doesn’t have to be ground-breakin…as long as it’s fun. So check out Unk…

What do you think about Unk’s whole dancing craze? Can you walk it out or two step?

Posted by Reecie

Hov & B Splitsville?

I will preface by saying this is true gossip indeed and HM will not take the fault in creating this story however, from various sources including this article, Hov and the “World Wide Woman” are a wrap. The article basically claims that sources informed them that Hov wanted to settle down. Apparently for Jay, 38’s the new 38. Unfortunately, B, nor her family,  wanted her to be locked down yet.  We will see how this story unfolds but it was interesting that Hov was no where to be found on Oscar night…hmmm.

 ~Thesis

Musiq Soulchild- Buddy

Musiq Soulchild is back on the music scene with a video for his new single, Buddy. The video kind of has a “Just Friends” feel to it, except obviously he’s trying to be friends with benefits. The lyrics to this song are really not a good look to me, but maybe that’s just because I have zero tolerance for fools like that these days. The song is catchy, the beat is hot, and this one looks like it can be a hit for Musiq. It will at least give him the chance to have a second single. I like the fact that at least the lead chick in the video gives him a hard time at first, because anyone approaching a woman like that deserves a few eye rolls lol.

Check out the video and post your thoughts. What do you think of the Buddy concept? Fellas, would you be bold enough to come at a woman like this? Ladies, would you give a dude the time of day who basically just wanted to sex you and leave you? Is this the right song for Musiq to return to the music scene with?

Posted by Reecie

Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls

So yes, did anyone else watch the special last night at 10pm EST? even though i knocked out from the itis a good hour into the show, I was glad that I watched it and witnessed something special and beautiful about the human spirit. So what do we have here? We have a human being who cares so much about the lives of others that she did what she could, with her own money, to build an educational facility and a new life for socially and academically disadvantaged young girls.  This topic isn’t necessarily about what Oprah has done as it is how you felt about the depictions and the stories told on the show.

It was crazy to see how one person could truly be a light in the lives of others. I was chuckling a lil when Oprah was tryna carry that bucket of water and almost injured her neck. I was like, “let’s go Harpo!” lol. Anyway, those young ladies were very talented, enthusiastic, and were visionaries. I can truly see how Oprah could be inspired by such a group.  It was an enlightening special and I hope others caught it as well.

Thoughts?

~Thesis

P.S: This is what I call newsworthy….not Bald Brit!

Rep Yo Slang!!!

Okay okay..so by now maybe some of ya’ll will know that i reps, as Bleek would put it, New Yiddy. You may also be aware that it is New York that influences all the slang and styles out there (ooooooh, i know ima catch one for that!…where we at Reecie & Honorable?…East side ride or die. lmao….capo status)

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, regardless of where you’re from or what set/area/region/apartment complex/suburb/gentrified community, you represent, you have some form of vernacular that is special.  So Friends of HM, rep yo slang and let the world know what to expect from your area.  I think much of the NY slang is already known so I won’t drop it 1st. Anyone Nebreskans wanna go 1st? *chuckle*

~Thesis

A Quick Look @ Our Educational System

According to this article on CNN.com, a Philadelphia teacher was beaten and brutalized by students after he took one of their iPods away during class-time. iPods were not allowed in the classrooms within that school and when the teacher seized it from the student,  he was assaulted.  The students involved in the assault were charged with, “aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment.”

What’s really good in schools these days? Kids fightin the teachers over iPods? You shouldn’t have had it in the class to begin with. This is so crazy…Teachers get paid to educate, not take beatens….whoa!

What’re your thoughts on said topic? Should the students be charged tougher than they were? What does this say about our educational system today?

Our second article, again from Cnn.com, revisits the claims that a longer school day will be better for students and teachers.  The articles highlights various school systems in the Boston, MA area that have adopted a program entitled, Knowledge is Power Program. This program sees to it that the school day is extended to 5pm and that students are in school for a few hours  on Saturdays per month. What this means for students, obviously, is more learning time and a chance to improve those lackluster scores.  For many teachers who opt to participate in extended hours, it means more $$$ and a chance to affect change in student’s lives.  Many school districts in states such as New York and D.C are still in talks about the efficacy and necessity of lengthening the school day.

This is a very real topic to me. I was born and raised in New York City (partially in Nigeria as well.) I am a product of a public school system. I did the after school achievement programs, the in-school extracurricular thangs, the clubs, et. al. Because of all those experiences and a strong family rearing, I am proud of who I have become today socially and academic-wise. Having also been educated in another country has given me other perspectives that don’t necessarily fall in this jurisdiction (segue topic perhaps). Nevertheless, I think that getting out of school at 2pm-2:30 and goin home and playin Madden is killin so many kids…i never really did the school on saturday thing, but i kept myself busy during school and after school.  What do you guys think about the articles/subject matter? Should the length of school day be increased? Will this be a stepping stone towards realizing the vague promises of the No Child Left Behind Act?

 ~Thesis