“…dead rappers get better promotion…” ~ Jadakiss, “We Gonna Make It”
It’s been a little over a month since Michael Jackson died.
R.I.P.
Since he died there have been beaucoup stories about the life he lived and where he went wrong. And despite my uber-bias towards MJdom, I can admit that his career essentially peaked almost 30 years ago. And still, MJ’s going to go down as the greatest entertainer ever – but with detractors. But imagine if he had died say…after the Bad album.
Or hell, even Dangerous.
MJ would have gone down as the most philanthropic, perhaps slightly-weird-but-really-just-a-rockstar, greatest pop star ever. Just think, no child molestation charges; no Martin Bashir interview where MJ decides he wants to tell the world he wants to be Peter Pan; no Neverland Ranch fiasco, etc. Basically, he’d have gone out on top of the world, reminiscent of the other MJ’s final shot of the ’98 finals against Utah.
Poetry in motion. A long time ago, me and my boy, Johnny Kwest, were having a discussion about Jay-Z. This was before The Blueprint hit in 2001. My boy kept saying that perhaps Jay should have kicked off right after Volume 2: Hard Knock Life, and then he would have gone down as the greatest rapper of all time. Little did we know that The Blueprint or The Black Album were on the way and a million other verses that would cement Jay into hip-hop’s top spot.
So, long introduction, aside, this conversation with my boy and the various conversations I’ve had about what MJ’s legacy would have been had he died in say 1989 (by the way, MJ’s run thru the 80′s – as my homeboy in Harlem would say, the equivalent of Wilt’s 100 point game. I think it’s safe to say that MJ had the best decade ever), got me to thinking about other people who’s careers, though stellar, would have benefited from perhaps…an early demise.
Take a gander, a goose if you must.
Master P – hear me out, though he’s largely regarded as an idiot who hit it big, in the late 90′s, somehow, Master P convinced milions of people to buy horribly pen-and-pixeled albums of people who other wise shouldn’t have any career. Master P took the independent hustle big-time, opening the door for Cash Money and even Roc-a-fella (only the success of No Limit could show people that going indy really could make you large dough). Plus, this fool convinced people to put him on a remix with Canibus, Method Man, and DMX. Yes…people thought he could rap. He’s the original Jim Jones. Had he gone out in 98, he’d be the greatest hustler ever.
Eddie Murphy – I saw this mentioned somewhere (can’t remember where), but imagine had Eddie Murphy kicked the bucket before he lost his fotting and started making terrible family comedies. Say his legacy ONLY included Raw, Delirious, Beverly Hills Cop, and Coming To America. He’d have been considered to have had one of the greatest comedic runs ever. Instead, every so often I’m treated to The Golden Child and Pluto Nash. F*ck our lives.
Mariah Carey - Just imagine she fell off of a building right before Glitter. Greatest contemporary music artist ever. Now she’s married to Nick Cannon and we all know she has no a**. Of course, then we’d never have gotten the Emancipation of Mimi, which just might count as the greatest.comeback.ever.
And speaking of Mariah…
Whitney Houston – Had she kicked off before she met Bobby and crack (whichever came first), she’d have gone down as the voice of the last millenium instead of owner of the greatest interview quote ever, “crack is wack”. That ladies and gentlemen, is her ENTIRE legacy.
Tupac – oh…right. He figured it out.
Notorious B.I.G. - yeah…him too.
Aha!
Marvin Gaye - The originator of the career death move in his prime for the African-American community.
Nas - If he had OD’d on that white stuff after Illmatic, he would have gone down as the guy who created hip-hop’s lyrical bible. Since then, its been uneven album after uneven album with folks hoping for another Illmatic. He ALSO wouldn’t be dishing out 55K a month to a woman’s and wishing he could just kill himself.
Barney – that damn purple dinosaur was the hottest sh*t in the streets for a solid4 years, then Dora the Explorer hit and kids just stopped being so corny in general. Barney was last seen on Hollywood Blvd trying to score crack by selling some tail to a transvestitie prostitute pterodactyl impersonator.
Those are just a few of the folks I could pull out of my a**. But there have to be a solid million possiblities for this. So whose career do you think would have benefitted most from death?
Inquiring minds would like to know!
-VSB P aka THE ARSONIST aka TANGLE JIG P aka GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRL, HE A 3
Also we’d like to say thank you all to voting us into the final rounds for the 2009 Black Weblog Awards. We’re finalists for all four categories (Best Group Blog, Best S*x and Relationship Blog, Best Writing in a Blog, and Blog to Watch). Thanks for your support. We really apreciate the love and happiness. Culo!
Related posts:
- Blackness 101: 10 Things All Black People Should (At Least) Be Aware Of…
- On Dem Thangs: 4 Crackheads That Don’t Get Enough Credit.
- c*ckblocking 101 and four other friendship red flags.
- When They Reminisce Over You: A Tribute To Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
- the king and me: what michael jackson's death says about us
{ 131 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a tough one…
Does it have to be a rapper…I don’t think so and I’m not scrolling up…
I’m going to say George Bush…directly before the 2000 election.
Mischa Barton right after the OC
@Jac, naw it doesnt have to be a rapper, i just threw them cats under the bus b/c it seemed so simple and b/c of any genre, rappers are clearly the most likely to have their career explode due to early death.
that might actually be an interesting research topic, which entertainment genre has the highest risk of death. it seems hiphop would be it, but hell, folks get snuffed out and “accidentally killed” in nearly every segment of entertainment…
Oh ok and I wanna throw in someone who had perfect timing:
HEATH LEDGER
His representation of the Joker was an amazing come up after that whole Brokeback thing (I just like DK more)….
Let’s see what else…Lincoln was pretty on time too…before it fully came out that he wanted to keep us reggins in bondage…
What the hell is wrong with me tonight?
@Jac, i do say that i’d agree with you, heath ledger definitely was ahead of the curve…
though, i’d wager that people will forget about him soon. somehow, the dark knight doesn’t seem to have the stickability many thought it would have. and let’s be real, brokeback mountain has the wrong kind of stickability.
Britney would have done well to have a tragic death. Maybe the jury is still out on that one for some, but not me.
@SaneN85,
Just before Crossroads!
@SaneN85,
Agreed. Was gonna say the same thing.
@SaneN85, wait…she didn’t already have one???
death by publicity and personal self-served hell in the entertainment world seems just the same as real death.
seems that britney attempted to make a comeback…and she’s heading in the righ tdirection…but i dont knwo if she’ll ever get back to where she was. for one, she’s getting older and her fans are fickle and 12. 2) she can’t sing for sh*t. the way to actually maintain older fans is to have some discernible talent. nobody over the age of 21 is paying to see Britney Spears live…
@SaneN85,
It was the Cheetos that ruined her. Chester Cheeto, you are an EVIL mofo. *raises fist*
Everytime I read y’all, I think the same thing. You’re some sick n twisted b@sta@rds. Me likey…
Rocsi. When? Hmm shortly after she first opened her mouth. Okay, okay, she can stay if she gets a voice transplant AND 1/2 a brain.
Plies. When? Right after he laid the first track. They all sound the same, anyway. Hey, better to miss him than to want him to go missin’…
David Caruso bka Horatio – CSI Miami. When? Right after NYPD Blue. The stellar writing and strong ensemble cast somehow caused the industry to overlook the fact that he’s absolutely The.Worst.Actor.EVER.
@bittersweet’s baby,
none of these people have talent, tho! lol…or maybe that’s not true…but they’re all very wack
@charli skipper, “Rocsi. When? Hmm shortly after she first opened her mouth. Okay, okay, she can stay if she gets a voice transplant AND 1/2 a brain. ”
LMAO. I have non homo e luv for you for this statement!
@charli skipper, whoanow, plies is absolutely the most talented rapper to come out of the 10 block radius from whence he came.
i mean, he’s the realest, and the definition of real…and the realest…
aww, skip (gates) it.
@bittersweet’s baby, Everytime I read y’all, I think the same thing. You’re some sick n twisted b@sta@rds. Me likey…
hey, our swagger is mick jagger, every time we breathe on a track we asthma attack it.
what did that have to do with the price of toenail clippers in borneo? not a damn thing.
Hmm, gonna go with Vince Carter, sometime before he announced that he didn’t want to dunk anymore (2002? 03?)
In the same vein, if Penny Hardaway had passed when his puppet was still doing commercials with Tyra Banks and before he started coming off the bench for the Knicks I might have been able to postpone growing into adulthood for a few more years. I think his knees are directly accountable for me starting to contribute to my 401(k). Smh.
Ditto Ken Griffey, Jr.
@Sheffield Swats, hadn’t even thought about Penny Hardaway, but you’re right. there was a point where he was the freakin’ annointed in the nba. and hands down…
…he’s had the bestathlete commercials. ever.
You had me until you went with BARNEY.
then i died.
@Liz, it’s true though. barney totally had the kiddie circuit on lock but he just held on too long.
Ja Rule
Tom Cruise
Gary Coleman
Britney Spears
@Leila,
yes. i can hardly remember the world in a time where tom cruise wasn’t crazy.
@Leila, wait…but didn’t 50 cent kill ja rule?
and um, when exactly was gary coleman at the top of anybody’s game?
Surprised this wasn’t #1 on the list….
Lauryn “crazramblinpopehating” Hill. Had she died after “The Miseducation” or even the wtf-inspiring Unplugged, she’d have gone down as the GOAT, not the orange-haired baby machine who let D drive her bat$hit.
@Sheffield Swats, YES. i signed into the comments JUST to add lauryn hill’s name to this list.
@Sheffield Swats, LMAO. I think I coulda done without Unplugged though, I felt like that was the beginning of the end. My vote on her is before Unplugged.
@Liz, Only pegged her demise post-Unplugged b/c without that album, there’d have been no “All Falls Down” by Kanye. Otherwise, that CD is a coaster.
@Sheffield Swats, way to look at all the benefits of that coaster.
@Sheffield Swats,
“All falls down” that was lauryn on the hook?
@BLUNTBLAZER, it was a riff from Lauryn’s song. She wouldn’t agree to let Yeezy sample it so he had Syleena Johnson record her part.
@Sheffield Swats, you know what, you’re absolutely right. and i’m the dude who wrote a whole post about her and i forgot about her.
she’s definitely up there with michael jackson, jfk, and jr ewing.
Allen Iverson –Right before the trade from Philly
Michael Vick–Right before the dog fights
Eminem–Right after “Marshall Mathers”
We’ve all pretty much co-signed on Brittney Spears, but she’s slowly making a comeback…
@AshleyNeicole,
co-sign Eminem
@AshleyNeicole, you know, you’re right about eminem. if he’d quit after that album…we’d be like, ‘he’s the greatest rapper ever’
you know what, if he could put together a solid effort thru and thru (even on the marshall mathers lp, it largely sucked after track 11…those first few joints just were that good…it’s the straight outta compton effect), he might have a case. but he puts albums together only slightly better than Nas.
@AshleyNeicole,
Eminem is a really good one. I kept debating with myself if it’s me getting older but I wasn’t impressed at all with his funny schtick with “We Made You” as I was with “The Real Slim Shady” and beyond back then.
Nah, I’m still goofy… he was just more brilliant with it back then. Seems like he phones it in today.
@AshleyNeicole, I cant agree with Eminem. What he just did to Mariah is worth all of the garbage he’s put out since Marshall
@Peysonic Temple,
*head nod*
@Peysonic Temple, though it just adds more fuel to the fire that em really only goes at soft targets.
game has said some f*cked up stuff about Em yet we hear nothing. instead he goes at nick cannon and mariah carey…ON ACTUAL ALBUM TRACKS. and then leaks this “warning” joint??
i like em, but really…
not that i don’t love her, because i do, but if tyra banks had left the game before now, we’d still think she was this mysterious, exotic beauty….i still think she’s beautiful, but before my mind goes to that, i think “CRAZY!!”
aaliyah is one of those people that died in their prime…she’s remembered in such esteem that it’s almost impossible to imagine, but what if she was alive today? would her stock have dropped? on second thought, nah…
um…mike tyson. he shoulda got out the game some time in 1993
@charli skipper, mike tyson is a good one.
as far as aaliyah goes, i think her dying kind of pushed into the limelight more than she had when she was alive. i mean, folks loved her, and “one in a million” was a GREAT album…but nobody was claiming aaliyah was the top shotta.
@charli skipper,
“aaliyah is one of those people that died in their prime…she’s remembered in such esteem that it’s almost impossible to imagine, but what if she was alive today? would her stock have dropped? on second thought, nah…”
A lot of people say that the grandiose love spoken for her was just because she died, but to that I say, “PSHAW!” (um, who even says this in real life? lol). I used to STAN for Aaliyah when I was a shorty. I wanted to be BE her. Rocking my baggy Tommy Hilfiger pants and belly top (um, not to school though…lol) and putting my hear in a wrap so I can drap the side bang over my eye. And I remember coming home after school learning the choreography for “Are You That Somebody” which was my JAM.
Would she have been as famous today. I don’t doubt she would. She doesn’t have a fantastic voice by any stretch of the imagination, but how is that different from the girls who got chart-toppers today? All she would’ve needed was the perfect hook and producer and she woulda been in. I would’ve loved to see her pit against Ciara though. I remember I said Ciara was trying to be like her, but Ciara has grown to her own style so I would’ve liked to see that dynamic.
And for some reason, I am very intrigued by the thought of Aaliyah singing an auto-tune song. lmao
@Cheekie, you don’t think she was already using auto-tune?
you know, i guess i downplayed her cultural impact which was a bit bigger than her musical one. musically the only thing she REALLY brought to the table was a platform for timbaland’s production which went into hyperdrive with Aaliyah. and of course her videos.
i actually think that if aaliyah was alive, quite a few folks wouldn’t even have careers, like Ciara…or any of the other not-really-singing dancing ass chicks.
just like tupac’s death opened the door for dmx and hence ja rule.
@Panama Jackson,
“@Cheekie, you don’t think she was already using auto-tune? ”
Actually, ya know, I was thinking about this once I typed that, but I guess what I really meant was the T-Pain edition auto-tune. Shoulda pre-faced that. Like, it woulda been funny to see T-Pain
cooningpop-n-lockin’ it up behind her on a music video.“actually think that if aaliyah was alive, quite a few folks wouldn’t even have careers, like Ciara…or any of the other not-really-singing dancing ass chicks. ”
Yeah, thought about this, too. But then again, aren’t there several chicks out there today who are really just mirrors of each other, they just have the right hook to gain the right amount of fame?
@Panama Jackson, “actually think that if aaliyah was alive, quite a few folks wouldn’t even have careers, like Ciara…or any of the other not-really-singing dancing ass chicks”
speaking of those ladies…Janet Jackson’s career coulda wrapped after the Velvet Rope album. Britney and the Pussycat Dolls, et al stole 85% of her dance moves, but really, I would like to have been spared her Tyler Perry career and the JD dating.
@Cheekie, CO-SIGN on all of that, Aaliyah was my hero and half of my fashion sense as a shawty lol. I had the side swoop on lock, wide legs and baby tees..RIP babygurl
@charli skipper,
major co-sign on tyra.
but then again where would we be without her astronomical advice…..oh yeah, the same exact spot we were before it.
oh, and dmx. chile……………
@charli skipper, poor dark man x.
killing himself softly.
Uh uh. Nah, man. I can’t entertain this morbid *ss topic.
I think all the above entertainers should be/have been allowed to live and fall off. I don’t need people dying just so a bunch of revisionists can suddenly decide they’re the greatest of all time JUST because they’re dead (rap being the arena of worst offense in this regard). That sh*t is disingenuous and I don’t like it one bit. I don’t revise my feelings about persons due to death. They are what they brought to me and I play it straight based on that, with no disrespect added.
I loved Jay Dee (Dilla to most) when he was here and it didn’t change into some weird worship when he died. Same policy for Pac and Biggie, I foxed with the records I liked from them, hated the living hell of their wacker material…there was no going back and wishing The Source gave every album of theirs 5. One should learn how to appreciate one when they’re here, pump up their best work and simply write off their worst/stuff they didn’t like as not being the way they want to remember them.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
“I loved Jay Dee (Dilla to most) when he was here and it didn’t change into some weird worship when he died. ”
I was always a fan and not because i’m from Detroit. Most people in Detroit didn’t know him when he was alive and don’t know about him now. I was surprised at all the people saying how great he was when he died.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
“Uh uh. Nah, man. I can’t entertain this morbid *ss topic.”
Good to know I’m not the only one…lol
@miss t-lee,
yall got room in the refuge boat talmbout death ona monday?
@BLUNTBLAZER,
C’mon down…there’s always room for one more…lol
@miss t-lee,
“there’s always room for one more’”
This is exactly why those boats sink. lol.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like, so you just don’t believe in revisionist history?
i’m with you actually. i think the Source was wack as hell for going back and giving certain albums 5 mics retroactively. for one, if you’re going to deem an album a classic upfront (and given the sources initial place in hiphop, certifying as a mainstay, though folks very easily forget about breaking atoms), then you should stick with your guns. so i agree.
also, hiphop confession: i think dilla was overrated as hell. i’ll admit he had some great stuff, but the godworship he received upon death as the best producer ever and “dilla saved my life” style stuff…yeah. no.
@Panama Jackson,
“also, hiphop confession: i think dilla was overrated as hell. i’ll admit he had some great stuff, but the godworship he received upon death as the best producer ever and “dilla saved my life” style stuff…yeah. no.”
finally someone speaks the truth
@Peysonic Temple, it hurt to say it, but i feel better. lol.
um, rip baatin.
you know, i was going to say something here about slum village but…
TOO SOON! TOO SOON!
@Panama Jackson,
At least give it a week.
1. Tickle Me Elmo: Since you said Barney, I felt it was only right to mention him.
2. Lauren London; This chick was hot, on her way up, and then she find herself being baby mama number 12 for Lil Wayne.
@Nicki Sunshine,
“1. Tickle Me Elmo: Since you said Barney, I felt it was only right to mention him.”
LOL, this tickled me. (pun intended, sorta)
I think Elmo isn’t too relevant these days because I think he landed way too high on the moutain. I mean, folks were straight injuring ninjas to grab these toy for the holidays. It is in the same vein as beanie babies. I thinkt he hype was TOO huge surrounding it…so it was bound to fall.
Thing is, I can’t remember a toy that got as much attention after Tickle-Me-Elmo. Maybe it’s Monday, but I can’t remember morning news covering a toy every single day since Elmo faded into obscurity…
@Cheekie,
All I know is that dayum thing was annoying as hell. Especially since it had no volume switch.
My cousin’s little boy had one and I hid that mofo.
@Cheekie, you’re right…tickle me elmo straight draked the game from teh beginning and fell once he didn’t exceed expecations and folks realized…all he did was laugh and shake.
i can do that all by myself on a saturday night with the internet and some fritos.
@Cheekie, ” mean, folks were straight injuring ninjas to grab these toy for the holidays. It is in the same vein as beanie babies. I thinkt he hype was TOO huge surrounding it…so it was bound to fall.”
That is true… I remember working at McDonald’s as a kiddo, and people lining up for MILES to get those dang on Beanie Babies when we had them in the Happy meals. lol
Off the top of my head I can think of a few people or things that could have held their status if they ended early.
1) Bad Boy records would still have some respect if they folded in 2002.
2) Shawn Kemp if he would have retired instead of going to Cleveland.
3) Martin Lawrence if he stopped before 1997 or 1999.
4) Southern hip-hop before the suits discovered they could make money off of it.
@Humble One,
“4) Southern hip-hop before the suits discovered they could make money off of it.”
True dat.
@Humble One,
“4) Southern hip-hop before the suits discovered they could make money off of it.”
Oh I see we’re going HERE today…
@miss t-lee,
Aren’t you the same person that cosigned Dorrough?
@Humble One,
And?
@miss t-lee,
Your credibility as far as taste in music needs more people.
@ Humble One,
You do know opinions are like arseholes right?
Have a fantastic day.
@Humble One, ya know…i wonder if anybody will ever do a book or movie or documentary on the tremendous hold htat bad boy records had on the game in the mid to late 90s.
Monk, where you at? that has you all over it.
Hold up, the Golden Child was a gotdamn classic.
“IIII want the kniiiife…..pleeease.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBereoyktJY
@Srgt. Vernon Waters,
CO-sign! I was fitna say the same thing! LOL
@Srgt. Vernon Waters, it had classic lines.
in fact, it had ONE classic line. that one.
come up with another one from that movie off the top of your head…
classic movie? no.
@Panama Jackson,
What about My Sweet Brother, Numpsie?!
Michael Jordan
Brett Farve
Boys 2 Men
@Double J, i think MJ transcends all of this…he’ll forever go down as possibly the greatest basketball player ever.
worst baseball playing basketball player ever…but definitely greatest basketball player ever.
@Panama Jackson,
He a fool for playing baseball. Why did it him in the head?
@Panama
“Plus, this fool convinced people to put him on a remix with Canibus, Method Man, and DMX.”
Its been over 10 years and I still don’t understand how he got on that song. It was like putting someone from the Washington Generals in the Lakers starting line-up.
@Humble One, greatest.debacle.ever.
and yet at the time, it made sense. it made complete sense to me.
only in retrospect was i like…wow, three actual rappers and a grunter.
@Panama Jackson,
When I first heard the song I didn’t get it. Especially since he wasn’t on it originally. They made that version of the song and video just because of his popularity at the time. I don’t know what is worse. This song or his song with Nas.
http://www.ustream.tv/recor...
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1769554
Nah I don’t know about this live and let die post. I mean it’s like the first matrix that was more often than not rejected by the people’s nervous system. Putting people in a perfect pickled pedistal. That ain’t right.
N.E. Way
M&M coulda used this as well as Ludacris LL Cool J oh and 50 cent.
Oh I gots to share this. I’m indiferent about liking Jay-Z. I have figgured out why. I was pontificating on why he is so popular. Here’s what I came up w/;
-he has the voice of a pre-teen, (any minute I expect his voice to crack squeek and squeel)
-he looks like he is the vic of HGH or is in Jr. High. (I mean he could sit in a 6th grade class and fit right in) His look is something of the calling all freaks vid.
-That being said he says mad grown up stuff. Can you imagine someone so phenominal, golden childish that from such an early age they could achieve such great success.
In conclusion Jay-Z the figmental fantasy rapper.
And Robin Harris is the only person I think pulled off the death on top move.
@WuDaMan, “And Robin Harris is the only person I think pulled off the death on top move.”
True, I also think Bernie Mac pulled it off too.
Honestly the best step away from the game I’ve seen is Dave Chappelle, before Chappelle show he was kind of funny but not on anyone’s radar then Chappelle Show blows up becoming arguably the funniest show EVER and in a fit of black righteous indignation he drops the mic and steps off cementing his legacy as a comedy great and still popular to militant black folks for basically telling comedy central eff the money, kiss my ass, I’m Out.
@Omar,
*slow clap* hecks yeah O. Way too true about Dave. I know we be focusing on the colo read community but could he have taken a page from seinfeld’s book?
@WuDaMan, jay-z looks like a teenager???
what is he the superduperist senior?
i aint saying he looks 80, but jay definitely dont look young to me. then again, maybe it was the (lack of) haircut that made him look old and scruffy to me.
jay’s voice does sometiems seem a wee-bit pubertyish.
@Panama Jackson,
Yo take a trip down to the local Jr high when school starts. no wait first get fly cuz the school parking lot looks a lot like the club let out these days. Then step in to mrs. Carver’s 6th grade class. you’ll see what ever they feed mcdanials cows n chickens it’s gettin into the kids. I remember going to school w/ kids who were about 6′ in jr high. Then agian I’m from Indiana where we eats corn. I’m saying Jay-Z took off where that one tall kid in your class left off. He is a little big person. It’s what I think about it. Oh yeah in jr high them kids look funny. I can’t help it. I giggle a little when I see a youngin inbetwixed a growth spurt. big ears little eyes or big nose n lips little hands. It’s like a live fun mirror. I actually think this is where they got that nintendo game from.
@Panama Jackson,
I think people listen to Jay-Z and say that their inner awkward preteen self is Jay-Z. I think that’s what I’m saying. Jay-Z is a metaphysical symbol of the achieved adult/awkward inner child.
“Mariah Carey – Just imagine she fell off of a building right before Glitter. Greatest contemporary music artist ever.”
I KNOW, right? Her vintage ish used to be my JAM. Now, all she does is the breathy “tryin to be a sexpot” bullish that doesn’t showcase her vocal skills AT ALL.
“Whitney Houston – Had she kicked off before she met Bobby and crack (whichever came first), she’d have gone down as the voice of the last millenium instead of owner of the greatest interview quote ever, “crack is wack”. That ladies and gentlemen, is her ENTIRE legacy.”
I remember pre-Bobby, she was thought of as the wholesome good girl type. Now she can neck-roll and smackdown with the best of them. You don’t wanna be treated by Whitney.
Um, since it’s Monday and my brain is on hiatus, I can’t think of anything or anyone to add at the moment, but…
To the VSB crew: Congrats on becoming finalists! Much deserved.
@Cheekie,
Had Whitney walked outside the Super Bowl in Tampa and got smashed by a bus after she performed the National Anthem, she would have been anointed a saint by the Catholic Church by now.
Left Eye and /.\/.\|!`/@# (Some fool kid spelled Aaliyah’s name like that on some message board that I was reading after she died and it always cracks me up whenever I see it. Hey, it doesn’t take much to make me laugh, sue me.) passed away before they could really tank (they were kinda on their way, Left Eye had that wack album with Death Row and Aaliyah had started acting…you know your shat needed fine tuning when DMX and Jet Li were out-acting you and you couldn’t scare anybody as a vampire)
@T. Troy Stewart,
“/.\/.\|!`/@# (Some fool kid spelled Aaliyah’s name like that ”
You don’t know how hard I just laughed at this ish.
@miss t-lee, you should have seen me the first time I ever saw that. The kids were taking her passing hard and talking about how much of a “soldier” Dame Dash was for beating up somebody or something and that already had me tickled (hey talk about somebody who would be remembered as a superstar had he somehow fell off the boat and never was seen again after the BIG PIMPIN’ video, Dame Dash)
and then that kid put up that /.\/.\|!`/@# ish and I had to come in and say something like “excuse me, but what the f*ck is that?”
I got banned from that message board for not knowing or being a doosh or both. People are so sensitive about their heroes.
@T. Troy Stewart,
Dame Dash? For realz? LOL
@T. Troy Stewart,
“/.\/.\|!`/@# ”
Ok, we VSP (very smart peoples) be talmbout how we “DEAD” and ish like that? But, the above? Had me gasping for air for real. WHY, Troy, WHY must you kill me so e-softly?
What language is that? It reads like it would sound like how those aliens speak in the movie, Signs.
I’ll never understand why folks type like that as it takes thrice the time to type.
@Cheekie, LOL @ “It reads like it would sound like how those aliens speak in the movie, Signs.”
you know? My mind didn’t know what to think of that mess initially and it took me a few to figure that out LOL.
@T. Troy Stewart,
/.\/.\|!`/@#
LOL!!! Add this and typing like numb3r5 sh0u1d b3 1nclud3d 1n 53nt3nc35 to the list of internet lingo that I hate!!!
also congrats on being nominated VSB! you definitely deserved the nods…unlike some of those other suckas who got props. Don’t get me started…
@T. Troy Stewart, thanks hombre.
(first time panama jackson will ever be politcally correct)
everybody in those lists deserved their shine!
@Panama Jackson, that was very ghey upstanding of you to say that…
had B.E.T. faded into the sunset when Donnie Simpson and Sherry Carter were still hosting VIDEO SOUL back in the day, they would have been remembered as much more than Viacom’s house nig, today.
@T. Troy Stewart, so true…though i think BET at one point was like AIG…to big too fail. for a while, BET actually was doing quite a bit for the Black community via their programming.
they just went hollywood, bob johnson lost his mind, and they wanted money…
lucky for us we have tvone and tyler perry to fill the void.
@Panama Jackson, tvone is cool but they need to do some more research on their UNSUNG episodes. I swear, they google most of that ish. and bring back the bid whist tournaments…Watching Kiki Shepard and Issac The Bartender getting gully was fascinating TV.
I can’t hate on Tyler Perry too much, he put more black folks to work than the last three administrations combined…the only somebody who tops him is the dudes responsible for THE MATRIX movies and McDonalds.
@T. Troy Stewart,
“I can’t hate on Tyler Perry too much, he put more black folks to work than the last three administrations combined…”
So true. As bad as his ish, a good majority of the brothas and sistas in Hollywood would not work if it weren’t for him. Folks can feed their families cuz of him.
@T. Troy Stewart, Good one!
I can’t go with the morbid tip, so I’ll revise. If they had stepped aside, retired, etc.
Nicholas Cage after Gone in 60 Seconds…Now we are treated to the Nic Cage face in every movie and he doesn’t put in the work anymore.
I’m goin there, but Denzel after….Hurricane or John Q. He had the Oscar worthy performances and universal acclaim. Now…it seems like he’s always some type of agent or police officer.
Morgan Freeman after Shawskank…He did the grandfatherly role to absolute perfection and had a strong supporting cast. Game time!
Soulja Boy after his song morphed into the Macarena of the new millenium…the only direction from there is down. Walk away!
@Stank-0, good list…
i’m with you on nic cage though i love the national treasure movies.
and unlike samuel jackson who does so much wrong, i actually think that denzel can almost do no wrong. he hasn’t been in that many bad movies, if you think about it. he actually reads scripts apparently.
sam jackson just feels the pages and decides on his roles which leads to sh*t like caveman’s valentine.
@Panama Jackson, I saw some pictures of Sam Jackson at somebody’s wedding, I think it was that lady from Young & The Restless, and I swear I think he must have thought it was a movie shoot because that fool was in so many shots the groom just went somewhere and sat down after a while and let Sam bogart the camera time…that dude is always working even when he’s not working.
@Panama Jackson,
Sam don’t care..Sam’s makin’ the money, lol
@Stank-0,
“Soulja Boy after his song morphed into the Macarena of the new millenium…the only direction from there is down. Walk away!”
HAHA, perfect comparison. Soulja Boy IS the hood Macarena. He won’t walk away, though. He’ll “yuuuulllll” away. Watch him.
@Stank-0,
Totally agree on the Soulja Boy part… If only he coulda been offed before buying remote control chains… did you see that ish?!?
Oh well, here’s the link. http://thisweekinblackness.com/2009/08/03/this-week-in-im-not-seeing-this-seriously-im-not-seeing-this/
Deion Sanders.
Why did he keep coming back?
Why did he keep trying to play baseball?
Why did he think he was a good wide receiver?
@Peysonic Temple,
“Why did he think he was a good wide receiver?”
I’m not sure if I should laugh. I have the same dilemma whenever I speak with someone who has a terrible lisp.
He had all the money in the world. Maybe he worked for little pay.
@Peysonic Temple,
ayeeeeee Dieon is tha nigg
and our b-day is this sunday
@Peysonic Temple,
Why did he think it “must be the money?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJWSm13LBh8
tragic awesomeness
Slick Willy, if he had only been a one term President…
if Hammer had stayed a MC…
Lauren Hill had…man, where do you begin with her? Had her tubes tied and went into exile after THE MISEDUCATION…album
1. Star Jones.
2. LL Cool J. I think I saw a video of his last year with a school girl fantasy vibe. He should just stop.
3. Bone Thugs N Harmony. I used to love them.
4. Lindsay Lohan. Who knows, she could make a comeback.
Nia Long and Larenz Tate after Love Jones
Terry McMillan after How Stella Got her Groove Back
Jerry Rice BEFORE he went to Oakland (and the dancing thing)
and dare I say – Spike Lee after Malcolm X? (Although his documentary on Katrina was brilliant, he major motion pictures have not come up)
@OneChele,
can’t agree on Spike. Inside Man, and Bamboozled were good.
LEFT TO SOON
-Bo Jackson- I was the biggest Bo Jax fan i mean i had all the gear “bo knows ” tha shoes erythang and i was the biggest Raider fan he is the best RB i eva saw dude could run over anybody and ran a 4.3 crazy.
-Pac, Aliyah, Mac Dre,
Left on time
-Barry Sanders- didnt want paytons record i respect that
-Strahan- got his ring and kicked rocks
LOL @ Tiki Barber leavin before tha ring
-
@BLUNTBLAZER, wow a Mac Dre reference, what about Ant Banks? He still producing?
@T. Troy Stewart,
yup i think he did a cd with dj quick earlier this year
@BLUNTBLAZER, You my main ninja, but we in the KC area thought that Bo Jax was a superhero. He broke bats on his thigh and shoulders, ran up walls like Spiderman and was as big as MJ in the early 90s. He was the main reason we played baseball.
I would say Denzel, but he’s a no nonsense black actor. Maybe Will Smith after ‘Pursuit of Happyness”
i don’t trust a guy who didnt like master p and ‘em
ummm….
Usher, post Confessions.
Arnold Scharzenegger, pre-Gov’nah.
The Olsen Twins, pre-Actually Growing Up
Ok, this is controversial, but
President Barack Obama
How can he top actually becoming the first black president? It’s impossible to satisfy everybody when you’re actually doing the job, but when you’re just running for president everybody thinks that anything is possible.
Think about it, if Obama dropped dead right after he got inaugurated, or some crazy 2520 killed him, he would have easily become the most famous and important black person of ALL TIME!
Y’all think MJ”s funeral had people going crazy? Imagine what they would have done for Barry. He would have gone out on top for real.
I hope Secret Service don’t come holla at me for this.
@Big Man,
I would agree with you, but I don’t want six guys in dark suits and ear pieces knocking on my door. Watch ya back, bro.
Don’t shoot!!
But uhm, I have to say that this is the perfect time for Beyonce to go. No, I am not a Bey hater or STAN, I just feel like she is at the top of her game now and she can only go down (acting will the death of her).
I won’t get on my soapbox and preach about how crappy her last two albums were compared to the first and she doesn’t even try anymore. Nor while I proclaim that she releases crap because she can, because she knows we will pat our weaves, tell our boos to put a ring on it (while hoping they don’t move to the left to the left, because most will—lets face it Beys catchy lyrics and hooks can do some damage to us regular chicks and our relationships) and check up on it while selling blood and kidneys to see her on tour.
I do think she is a phenomenal performer with a super smart business team to back her. But if she was to kick the bucket today, hands down she will be considered the GOAT. Hell, she might even have a cult following. Think about it.
::preparing for Bey’s fan to draw weapons::
♡ Always,
Buxxy™
most african liberation leaders (nelson mandela, seretse khama, julius nyerere are amongst the few exceptions) – generally, these guys were much loved liberators, rose to prominence as freedom fighters, became presidents….. then swiftly became grasping, thieving dictators….’presidents for life’.
sad, so sad…
Don’t shoot!
Uhm, I have to say that right now would be the perfect time for Beyonce to go. No, I am not a Beyonce hater or Stan. I respect her. However, Bey is at the top her game and everyone elses. The only direction she can go is down (acting may be the pebble the causes her fall).
I will not get on my soapbox and talk about how Beys last two albums were trash compared to the first. Nor will I proclaim that she releases such trash because she can. She knows that we will pat our weave and tell our boos to put a ring on it, even though we just told him to move to the left because its all about me myself and I ::smh:: (let’s face it, leave it Bey we will all be single ladies that are broken hearted singing about his ego that we knew could be upgraded by us, while we posed for the camera ::click click click:: Bey can cause damage to our regular folk relationships). She is also one of the few artist that can make you buy her album three times for a total of 18 songs. ::blank stare::
Sorry, I couldn’t help it, the soap box was calling me.
Don’t get me wrong, Bey is a phenomenal performer with a great business team behind her and in her ear. She is beautiful, talented, smart(still has yet to prove that one) and overall someone you have to respect. She is up there with the greats that will have us selling blood, kidneys and our mothers to purchase a tour ticket. How many other artist can do and have done that?
So, in conclusion, if Bey kicked the bucket today, she would be considered the GOAT. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a cult following! But we all know she won’t stop. I just hope we get some better music from her.
::waiting for team Bey to draw weapons::
Buxxy™
It’s funny that you mention Barney in the article. Here’s an anecdote for you: I am a massage therapist at a five- star spa on the Strip in Las Vegas. A few years ago, I massaged the dude who played Barney (can’t remember his name and definitely forgot that he is black) but he apparently thought that he was still important because he was milling around the lobby with several jump-offs/personal assistants. Long story short, he wanted me to focus on his azz/inner thighs because “that’s where all his tension was” and kept telling me that I am pretty and what he wanted to do to me chex-wise. He ended up getting all angry because I wouldn’t polish him off at the end. I barred him from the spa after that. And btw, he is doing a show called “Hip-Hop Harry” now.
@Ra-Ra,
This is an OUTSTANDING anecdote. That is all.
“you’re nobody until somebody kills you” – Biggie