The Bulls Give Me the Sads [Tanking Time Is Here]

So, Bulls. What's going on here? We've lost 5 of 7 since losing Derrick Rose for the year and last night we lost to the lowly New York Knicks. Not only that, but we let Melo drop 30 and 10 and we had literally no answer. Not even against this offense: But hey, it could be worse. We could be the Brooklyn Nets. And with all that said, I'm actually glad we lost last night. Without Rose, we're definitely not a championship caliber team. We might as well bomb this year and hope to enter Tankapalooza aka The Andrew Wiggins Sweepstakes aka Operation: Sorry for Jabari aka Tanking Time.
Yes. If we're not gonna win it all, might as well get set for the future. Call it Shanahanning.

Pusha T feat. Rick Ross - Hold On [VIDEO]

I'll be honest, I was all over My Name Is My Name hard for a few weeks after it dropped. I'm not sure why--possibly the forgettable tracks with Chris Brown and Young Jeezy or maybe because I've been suffering through MMLP2--but I've been focused on other music for most of November.

One of the main songs from MNIMN that's been a constant is Hold On featuring Rick Ross and some very, very Kanyeish background vocals. The entire situation is pretty much a Kanye song. I mean, this is essentially Pusha T and Rick Ross over an 808's & Heartbreaks bonus track. And that's perfectly fine with me. Check out the video for Hold On.

I also have Derwin to thank for this.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't add it to my iTunes and iPhone immediately.

27.

I'm getting old. Like really old. Not to mention that both my Tigers and Bears took losses this weekend. So far, getting old kinda sucks.

But I'm happy to be here. 

Thanks for all the birthday love, enjoy Sampfest '13 and Beer Me if You're Near Me.  Cheers. 

LSU vs. Alabama 2013. I'm Ready.

Game of the Century Part....5?

Now that my Bears handled business against the lowly Green Bay Packers Monday Night (Don't taser me, bro!), I can now focus all of my energy on the other game I circle every year: the showdown against Alabama. It seems this game always has some kind of national championship implications, and this year is no different. I also just really hate the team, school and brand of Alabama. Come to think of it, there's really only a few teams that I really and truly hate: the Green Bay Packers, the EA Spartans, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers. But none of them come even close to my hatred for Alabama. I mean, what's not to hate? And with all of this "Saban to Texas" talk, I'm actually hoping he sticks around. Nah, let me stop lying. Geaux Tigers.



Official prediction: LSU 38 - Alabama 27. We'll use this win to propel us to the Top 10 in the BCS and paired with our upcoming win against A&M, we'll represent the West in the SEC Championship. Stamp it.


Also, Les Miles is a mad man. Gotta love it.

(6) LSU at (9) UGA. Man, Oh Man.

LSU. Georgia. Biggest game of the year....to this point. (I'll probably say that at least four more times this year.) We're a little over an hour until kickoff but it's never too late to get hype. I'm expecting big games out of Jarvis Landry (8 catches, 85 yards), Jeremy Hill (115 yards, 2 TDs) and Zach Mettenberger (225 yards, 2 TDs) in Zach's first return to Athens since 2010. Georgia's offense will be able to move the ball but their defense will have no match for the most improved quarterback and offense in the SEC. Official prediction: 31 - 24 LSU. WRITE THAT DOWN, Georgia fans. Here we go!

Nothing Was the Same - Track-By-Track Review

Whether you like it or not, Drake’s good. He’s been good since he dropped like five years ago. But still, he remains one of the more polarizing rappers out. It could be that he’s from Toronto. Maybe it’s the Degrassi (oh, and Charlie Bartlett!) acting past. It could just be the R&B half of his discography. Whatever your reason to slight him, one thing is constant: He makes good music.

Case in point, Nothing Was the Same, Drake’s third studio album that dropped yesterday. After binge listening for the past few hours (and with a week’s head start—Go internet!) here’s my track-by-track review of NWTS.

1. Tuscan Leather
Ok, I’ll be the first to admit, this is the most aggressive opening track in Drake’s catalogue. But honestly, I only have Fireworks and Over My Dead Body—not two of his most fiery openings—to compare it to. But other than that, I’m not a huge fan track of this other than the Heatmakerz-esque high-pitched sample and the pretty smooth beat switch and (better) verse that accompanies it. Don’t worry, the album picks up from here.

2. Furthest Thing
So remember that R&B Drake that I mentioned earlier, boom. This shit goooooes though. Introspective, melancholy Drake is still good Drake. I’d be surprised if this wasn’t one of Aubrey’s favorite tracks from the album. This even has a very So Far Goneish feel to it. Not to mention a second beat switch toward the end. Frequent Drake collaborator 40 is actually on his Just Blaze on the second half of this one. And it works.

3. Started From the Bottom
It didn’t take long for the internet (and our annoying Facebook friends and their statuses) to make us tired of this song but in all honesty, after a few weeks of not hearing it at all, I like this one again. Give it a few more weeks even and I might even forget about the snow scene. Yeah, that snow scene. I don’t want to forget about her, however. Anybody got her name, by the way? (For a friend.)

4. Wu-Tang Forever
I refuse to feel bad for liking this song so much. The worst part about it is that if it were up to the internet, we should be outraged that such a mellow song has references to Wu-Tang in the title. But honestly, that’s dumb. And the subtle yet repeated “It’s Yourz” sample justifies the title just fine for me. (HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT….?!)

5. Own It
See, Drake even used the “It’s Yourz” sample on this song, too. With that being said, I have mixed feelings about this song. First off, this song is so So Far Gone that it’s insane, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Second, this so is so Drakeish that it’s insane. I’m not 100% sure what that means, but I think you’ll agree. I think that this song is so familiar because we’ve heard it from Drake so many times. Not bad overall, though.

6. Worst Behaviour
Ok, the album is seriously picking up some steam at this point. Perfect placement for this song, especially following the last two slower songs. This song essentially embodies why we listen to Drake: Creative and funny verses, simple yet effective hook and a couple good punch lines. Mainly: “Bar mitzvah money like my last name Mordecaiiiiii…fuck you, bitch. I’m more than high.” AND LET’S NOT FORGET the Mase-inspired third verse. As an avid Mase fan, the song could’ve started and finished with that verse and all would’ve been well in the world.

7. From Time feat. Jhené Aiko
You didn’t’ think we’d make it all the way through a Drake album without a real deal relationship song, did you? Good luck with that. Drake even goes as far as name-dropping and telling stories of past relationships in this song. I should make one of these. (Actually, maybe not.) Also noted, we’re halfway through the album and just getting to the first featured artist (with the exception of background vocals.) I can appreciate that. Not only that, but Jhené Aiko is dope and I should probably be listening to her much more than I do now.

8. Hold On, We’re Going Home
I don’t know. Just watch.


9. Connect
Another slow one that just works. I’m actually pleasantly surprised at how well this album flows from song to song. You can definitely hear Drake’s Texas influence in the background of this one with Trae the Truth dropping background vocals. Will allow.

10. The Language
BIRDMAN 5 STAR OUTRO. GAME OVER.

11. 305 To My City
First off, Detail sounds frighteningly similar to Lil Wayne. (Am I the only one that didn’t know this?)  This song is pretty dope and I’m almost positive this is what Drake was writing in his infamous strip club pen session:

Peep Drake ass in the background writing lyrics at a strip club lmfao 😂😭😩 pic.twitter.com/jxD3aS0dkG

— Curtis Jayy (@KingCurtisJayy) August 6, 2013

12. Too Much feat. Sampha
This guy’s name is Sampha so clearly I like this song already. Following a very Drake-like performance on Jimmy Fallon, I’d be surprised if this isn’t the next single from the album. This is a pretty smooth song and Sampha’s background vocals throughout the song really brings the beat together.

Drake and Sampha also worked together flawlessly on The Motion.

13. Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music II feat. Jay-Z
Ah, finally. What better way to close out an album than by featuring the greatest rapper of all time…..and potentially his worst verse of all time. Hate to finish this post out focusing on Jay-Z but come on. Cake, cake cccake c-c-c-c-cake…what was he thinking with the second half of his feature? And the verse started with so much promise. Once I saw Jay listed I was positive this would be my favorite song on the album. But nah. It’s not quite as bad as Off That but those cake lines definitely made me think twice.

All in all, I really like this album. It’s very easy to listen all the way through without even glancing at the skip button, cake verse included. It’s clear that Drake’s really found his lane(s) and is content with his current place in hip-hop. And thank goodness for no Lil Wayne features.


Also, if you’re not using this or this as your album art, you’re doing it very wrong.