Fear...

This is probably my most polarizing emotion. I'm not talking everyday, run-of-the-mill fear such as hoping you don't get hit by a bus or watching the Knicks. I'm talking true blue fear of everything I know coming down around my feet. The fear of total loss of control. I've been dealing with this fear for quite some time. Years, in fact. No, it's not related to the now 'official' recession. No, I'm not talking about family. You can't control family. If you think you can, then you're fooling yourself. I'm talking about the one thing you can control. Yourself.

There are times when my mind gets so wrapped up in one thing, I feel - and it has happned on occasion - that I'm losing control over other parts of my mind. No, not I'm not going crazy. I'm talking concentration. There are times when I feel that life, in general, just may be too much. Too much bad news (heck, too much news period). Too many empty bank accounts. Too many bill collectors. Too many home owner issues. Too many extended family problems. Too many plans that I feel NEED to get done. Too many movies to catch up on. Too many whatever!!

I've been living in the past recently. Just out of control. Listening to 80's music. Catching up on old friends and acquaintences. Wondering what it would've been like had I done this or that. Or had I not done this or that. So forth and so on... This isn't a bad thing, per se...as it's been quite fun. The problem is I'm finding it hard to re-join the now as the now just isn't fun. Well, that is...no where near as fun as then. Hindsight being 20/20 and all that...

I am realizing though that I AM in control of myself and will be able to re-join the now eventually. Getting it out in this blog is probably a step. Ya know...like quiting cigarettes. Regardless, Bigg Russ IS here and Bigg Russ will continue until he's called home. Until that day, I hope to have regained full control. Before that though, I will need to get over this fear and deal with the deeper issues. I wish I had a hand book though. This stuff is tiring!

Thanks for reading...

Bigg Russ

I'm only going to say this ONCE (this week)!!

I'll keep this short and simple: HIP HOP, as I know it, is NOT dead.  Here's proof.

Q-Tip, EPMD, Naughty By Nature, Public Enemy, Charles Hamilton, Big Daddy Kane, The Roots, Kanye West, Common, Nas, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Blu, Nicolay & Kay, Ludacris, Outkast, Busta Rhymes, Talib, Evidence, Mos Def, Sean Price, EMC, KRS-One, Rakim, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Premier, MCLyte, Black Milk, Little Brother, 9th Wonder, Illa J., De La Soul, Dead Prez, Tonedeff, Jadakiss, Wu-Tang, The Harlem James Gang, Eminem, Redman, K'Naan, 88-Keys, Bishop Lamont, Mike Phillips, The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, Cypress Hill, The Cool Kids, Gym Class Heroes, Kidz in the Hall, Wyclef, Royce Da 5'9, Large Professor, PETE ROCK, Heavy D., C.L. Smooth, Black Violin, D-Nice, Willy Northpole, DJ Honda, Jean Grae, Black Spade, Erykah Badu, LL Cool J., DJ Mick Boogie, Buckshot, MF Doom, etc...

This is a list of artists who have performed recently or have shows scheduled and/or released full length albums or mixtapes.  Some of them are also involved in Hip Hop in other artisticcapacities (film, photography, art, books).

Seriously, if Hip Hop is dead...then I must be heaven.

As always, thanks for taking the time...

Bigg Russ

hiphopsince71@gmail.com

PRESIDENT OBAMA

CONGRATULATIONS!!

The follow-through...

Regardless of the outcome, after we've all voted and reminded our friends and enemies to vote, and worn buttons, and placed bumper stickers, and flooded Pennsylvanians and Floridians with phone calls, and planted yard signs, and e-mailed to death, and debated over debates, and laughed with SNL, and blogged, and have become mesmerized by Zoe Kravitz, and have used the words maverick and change more than we ever thought we would...we still have to DO THINGS as a country. One man can make a difference. But it takes a nation of millions to facilitate real change.

I thank everyone who's voted. It's an important act. But I'm also asking that you don't stop at the polls and expect good things to fall into your laps. We, all of us, must participate together for change and a better tomorrow. Let's follow-through so that the next president, eight years from now, has a hard act to follow...

One love.

Bigg Russ

Thanks, Mr. Walsh....

First you tease me and get my hopes up by signing Ewing Jr., then you drop him just like the organization did his father not even a decade ago. Awesome. No, Ewing Jr. may not be a savior by any means but he surely would've worked out better than Mr. Bench Warmer, Jerome James. I'm sure he would've added heart to the team as well, something the Knicks need more of. How much heart can Nate Robinson and David Lee give to the team?!

And who knows? Maybe this would've led Ewing Sr. back here. Lord knows SOMEONE needs to teach our centers how to be centers. I don't know if you've been paying attention, Ewing Sr. did wonders with Yao and Dwight in their perspective markets. On top of all that, what a major marketing opportunity you've missed. Incredible.

Thanks for nothing.

Another senseless shooting...

So, I forget to buy dog food for the pets tonight and decided to walk back to Pathmark after just coming back from there a couple of hours ago. Lo and behold, what do I see when I arrive? Police tape, a Maxima full of bullet holes and a young girl crying out...asking if her daddy is going to be okay.

In all honesty, I don't believe Mt. Vernon, NY is totally lost to violence and senselessness. I do believe it's getting mighty close though. I'll spare you the cliched rhetoric about how we all need to come together and sing spiritual hymnals and pray for the best. Is that needed? Of course. It wouldn't hurt. What I feel is needed more than that is Mt. Vernon's citizens LITERALLY getting up, getting out and DOING SOMETHING about the violence that plagues this city. It's that simple. If you know something. SAY something. If you know something, DO something. Don't wait for YOUR loved one to get gunned down and then want to speak out about injustices and whatnot. Pitch in now and you never know whose life may be saved.

After leaving the scene, I continued on my quest for dog food. What struck me with the most irony is that "O-o-h Child" by The Five Stairsteps was playing through the speakers as I walked in the store. All I could do was roll my eyes in complete disgust...

This is becoming utterly ridiculous. Mt. Vernon used to be fun. What really is the point any more...?

UPDATE: Here's a link to the shooting's extensive news coverage. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic.)

Chocolate News

David Alan Grier has been funny for YEARS so I'll always give anything he's a part of a shot. He's got a new show on Comedy Central called Chocolate News. The title of the show says it all. I love humor based on race so this is right up my alley. Will you be watching with me...?

As always, One Love!

Bigg Russ