off tha dome

random thoughts...

you really don't need for the calendar to change to make changes in your life

top to bottom...GUY's first cd is one of the best R&B albums of it's generation

i'm excited about the NBA being back. as for my Hawks, not so much

during this holiday season, don't forget those who've lost family members or friends this year. sometimes the holidays are a huge reminder of their absence

there are wayyyyyyy too many bowl games

can't believe that people stood in long lines for hours for these...



Kobe Bryant is getting a divorce but he doesn't have a prenup. how much sense does that make?

good to see gas prices under $3. they should STAY there

did you know that Newt Gingrich's middle name is LEROY? i didn't know that. don't believe me...look it up

i can't say that i've ever heard of any white dudes named Leroy.

Kobe's parents told him not to marry his wife. sometimes you gotta listen to your momma. she knows

lemme get this straight...on Black Friday you can buy stuff for significantly less than what it's worth. then a month later, you can buy what's in stock for less than that. makes sense?

i hope that Craig Mack is getting a "cut" for his "Flava in Ya Ear" song on the new McDonalds commercial

70 degree days in December can only mean this summer will be unbearable

man, these video "gamers" are getting younger and younger

i've noticed on twitter that a lotta people use these "check in" applications like foursquare. i wonder if they realice when they "check in" at the mall or the store, they let the world know that they aren't at home

i am growing a beard. i just turned 39 and never had one. hopefully it grows

i think you should take at least ONE day off per month

hard to believe we lost Nate Dogg and Heavy D this year

ok...so i broke down and watched the EBT hip hop awards. i found myself repeating the same question..."hey, who is that?"

speaking of hip hop, thank you Common, The Roots, and Phonte for 3 dope albums this year. we needed it

if you're coughing and sneezing at work, do your co-workers a favor...STAY AT HOME

i like Magic Johnson but he has NO business on tv. he murders subject verb agreements and predicates on the regular

glad to see the troops coming home

fellas...nothing wrong with telling another man that you love him. that doesn't make you gay

ladies...never depend on a man to assist you with your SELF esteem

my 5 year old son Brandon told me the other day..."Daddy, did you know that Frankie Beverly and Justin Bieber are my friends?" guess he knows people. LoL

12 Radio

Tune in tonight at 9PM EST to 12 Radio! 12 Radio is the most interactive and creative show on BlogTalk Radio

Join me and my co-host MzInspiredMind as we talk about

Dating/Relationships 110

Tune in! Call in! Don't miss it!

(347)215-7162

show link...www.blogtalkradio.com/12kyle

let's get physical

Kool Moe Dee once wrote a song about it going to see the doctor.


I'm a firm believer in it.


I also believe that as men...we are the LAST ones to go to the doctor.


Last month, I had my annual physical check up. I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't looking forward to it. Not sure why. I guess it was the fear of the unknown. I knew I was in good health. I work out regularly (not as much as I should)...I eat good (still addicted to McDonalds fries)...and I don't drink much (I visit Margaritaville every now and then). Yet, I was still concerned. Nevertheless, the visit came out fine. I'm in good health. The doctor and I discussed among other things...testing for prostate cancer beginning next year, my desire to live to the age of 125 (no lie), and my successful vasectomy last May (4 kids is enough, yo)


One thing that I took from the conversation is that we don't go see the doctor enough. Most women go all the time. And while they may not jump for joy to get that pap smear, they have doctor visits. We have to go. And go often. We're getting older. I've always been serious about my health. But it hits home when you see people your age leave this earth. I lost a teammate (http://the12planet.blogspot.com/2011/09/gentle-giant.html) a few months ago and that really opened my eyes.


I'm committed to my health. That's not a New Years Resolution. That's a fact. You may not find me on the track like my homegirl Latrice (@Rungirl_) or my boy Tee Reese (http://offtrackthinking.blogspot.com/ )but I am committed. More importantly, I'm all for getting my checkups. I need more men to join me. Ladies, send your men to the doctor. He can't be in your life if he's no longer here on earth.

the broken bike

Somebody broke the bike.

Somebody broke the bike and things ain't right. I know it. And you know it.

For the past 13 yrs of my life, I've worked on the bike (the mortgage industry). The bike once rode smoothly. And when it rode well...things were fine. During my years of working on the bike, I saw a lot. While I can honestly say that I never did anything illegal or unethical (nor was I asked to), I've seen some things. Actually, I saw quite a few things. More importantly, I saw an industry crumble. In the process of the bike being broken, I also watched the hood (the nation/economy) change. Things used to be good in the hood. Not anymore. In 2011, the hood is in shambles. The bike was broken...then fixed. But in the process of fixing the bike, the hood went down.

Could it be that that the process of the bike being broken that it single handily destroyed the hood? The lies. The greed. Could it be? Probably! I remember the words of one of my financial management professor when I was in college. Dr Cole said..."Even in a recession, somebody makes money." He never lied. No matter how bad things are in the hood, people are making money. Companies are getting rich. As I go to work each day, I wonder if some of these "new programs" are gonna help people in the long term. As an sr underwriter, I have to make the best financial decision for the company when it comes to approving or denying mortgage loans. But are we assisting people or are we putting a Band Aid on open heart surgery wound? For example, if you're able to lower your mortgage payment from $2200 to $800...would you do it knowing that the value of your home has decreased to the point where you owe more than what it's worth. In a nutshell...you're basically stuck there because you can't sell it and profit from it. These are the kinds of decisions that people have to face. Some face the reality of foreclosure. The hood is messed up. When the bike was broken, it made the hood so bad that the job market ain't what it used to be. If you're not working, you can't pay for your home. It's that simple.

So now that the bike is fixed, running, and back to profitability...how do we fix the hood? We could blame the Bush for creating this mess. We could blame Obama for not having the right people in place to fix it. We could point fingers.

Or we could start giving a damn about EVERYBODY in the hood, mobilize an effort, and try to fix the problems.

facebook vs twitter

Social media

Almost everyone participates in it.

And almost everybody that I know...old and young...rich and poor...has a Facebook page. So do my parents.

Everybody isn't into Twitter. I've been on it since 2008. Long before most had even HEARD of Twitter. I used it to communicate with my fellow blogger friends. This was before twitter BLEW UP. There are some similarites between Twitter & Facebook...buy mostly differences. Here are some observations that I've made...

Facebook - largely made up of people you know

Twitter - largely made up of people you don't know

Facebook - consists of people who you went to school with

Twitter - consists of people who you wish that you went to school with

Facebook - status update

Twitter - tweets

Facebook - long paragraphs for updates

Twitter - 140 characters

Facebook - friends

Twitter - followers

Facebook - you can 'LIKE' or 'POKE'

Twitter - trending topics

Facebook - place where people use hashtags (#) for no reason & they don't realize that's a "twitter thing"

Twitter - place where you can use a hashtag in every tweet

Facebook - friend request

Twitter - follow/unfollow

Facebook - place where people "don't understand Twitter"

Twitter - place where people "retweet" every word of their favorite celebrity

Facebook - place where people will allow co-workers to become their friends

Twitter - place where co-workers can't follow

Facebook - Mark Zuckerburg

Twitter - Jack Dorsey

Facebook - advertisements

Twitter - Thong Thursday

Facebook - if you have more than 10 status updates within an hour...you need Twitter

Twitter - if you have a desire to rant about your cause...you need Facebook



You understand now?

thank you!!!

After celebrating my 39th birthday yesterday, words can't express the outpouring of gratitude that I have for you right now. Thanks for all of the text messages, emails, tweets, facebook wall posts, and phone calls. Thank you for taking a second to think of me.

I also have to give thanks...to God...for allowing me to see 39. In a time when people don't value life, I am extremely grateful to YOU. I hope that YOU grant me 86 more years.

Thank YOU for life

Thank YOU for love

Thank YOU for a family that loves me dearly

Thank YOU for the best parents in the world

Thank YOU for the best friends that a man could ask for

Thank YOU for AIR

Thank YOU for all the blessings. I am eternally grateful!



Special shoutout to the coolest little dude that I know. My lil man, Brandon, turns 5 today!

still love h.e.r.

"The music you listen to is a reflection of how you see the world, and how you see yourself," - Phonte



I heard Phonte utter those words last month when I attended the Foreign Exchange concert last month. I thought about it for a second and it made a lot of sense to me.

If you know me personally...if you've read this blog before...if you follow me on twitter...if you're a friend of mine on Facebook...you know about my love for music. In particular...hip hop. It's not just a love for old school hip hop and the culture. I am hip hop. I can tell you WHEN I fell in love with hip hop! It's a part of my life and it'll always be. Nothing will ever change that. For me it's more than just beats and rhymes. It's that feeling that you get inside. You know...that feeling. The feeling of a connection with you and the music. That's why hip hop will never die. It'll always be here for me.

Some may say that you will "outgrow" the music. How do you outgrow something that is a part of you? It doesn't happen. I'll be 80 yrs old and always feel this way about the music. You never get too old for it. Watch me. Listen to me. Vibe with me. And you'll learn more about my world and how I see myself when you hear me talk about hip hop.

So yeah...you may not understand.

I do. And that's all that matters

I still love h.e.r.

12 Radio

Tune in to 12 RADIO every Wednesday night at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC - HIP HOP 108. Co-hosted by CRecks and Eclectik

(347)215-7162

show link...www.blogtalkradio.com/12kyle

12 RADIO

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC - Off tha Dome (open thread random topics)

World Events

Sports

Relationships/Dating

Hip Hop

Sex

(347)215-7162

show link...www.blogtalkradio.com/12kyle

what's on the box?

I'm a big NBA fan.


And as many of you know, the NBA season is in jeopardy.


So...with no NBA to keep me occupied when there's no football on, I have to find other things on TV when there's no football on. I've realized that despite the fact that DirecTV provides me 800 channels, I only watch 10 channels. I have a few options with my TV programming...


I could...


1. Watch reality TV - I could catch up with those lovely "women" from the Atlanta Housewives. You know...see who NeNe is cussin' out or see who's sleeping with who. Maybe I could watch the Basketball Wives? If I did, maybe I'd figure out why Doug Christie married that psycho 17 times? Who gets married 17 times? Or maybe I could check out the hip hop wives show...where they are called wives but are really baby mommas. Seriously...I've never spent a minute watching any of this stuff. I only know of it through conversations at work and Twitter. I will...shamefully admit to watching Flavor of Love (season 1) & the Salt N Pepa Show (loved that joint)...but that's it


2. Watch movies I've never seen before - hmmm...where should I start...Casino, any of the Mission Impossible movies, Ironman, the Matrix Trilogy. Or maybe The Color Purple, Pulp Fiction, The Godfather, (Soul Plane <---definitely won't be watching that). As you can see, there's quite a few that I haven't seen so I've got some catching up to do.


3. Break out the XBox 360 - Who wanna see me in Madden??? It's been a minute since I've played my 360. It's been about 3 yrs. But I know...I mean I think...I'm still nice on the sticks


4. Watch CSPAN - you can NEVER get enough of CSPN


5. Watch Animal Planet - it's always fun to see a tiger bring down a zebra in the jungle


Who am I kidding? Pass me the remote so that I can find Martin, Good Times, and Sanford & Son

hey coach

It came and went.

*snaps fingers* Just like that.

The football season for my team came and went just like that.

As many of you know, I coach my son, Kameron's 8 and under youth football team. I've coached them for the past 4 yrs. We finished this season with a 7-3 record. We lost in the semi-final round of the playoffs. As I reflect on the season that we had, I can only smile. We've been working with the kids since mid MAY. I am extremely proud of the kids. They worked hard and did EVERYTHING that we asked them to do.

Coaching these kids have been very rewarding to me on a personal level. As I told the parents after the last game, it's all about watching the kids get better and developing as young men ON and OFF the field. I've watched the kids get better each week. I've watched their personalities come to life. While it's not always easy to keep the attention of 7 & 8 yr old, I coached a great bunch of kids. Our season started in the sweltering heat of May as we did conditioning and agility drills. Then our practices started in July. Unfortunately, the season ended on a brisk November afternoon. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of it. Not only do I get a chance to coach the game that I love, but I also get a chance to help mold young men. I also enjoyed watching Kameron develop as a player. He started on offense at tight end and on defense at cornerback. It's been interesting to see him develop his confidence on the field.

As a coaching staff, we made sure that the kids perform well at school as well. If a kid gets out of line at school or at home, they were disciplined at practice. They hated it but they know that we don't play. Each kid had to regularly bring their report cards to practice. We wanted to monitor their progress in school. Sometimes we would randomly show up at their schools just to make sure they were "in line". We were hard on them...but they all delivered. Now we are faced with an off season. It feels strange not to go to practice after work. It feels even stranger to wake up on a Saturday and not have a game or practice. We've been doing this since July so I'm definitely missing the game and the kids.

There's always next year


*team chant before/after practices and games*

All we got
All the time
All out
All game
All season
Blood, Sweat, Tears
Yours not ours
In God we Trust
Defeat all others
SHUT EM DOWN!!!

12 Radio

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC - Sex 105 (Behind Closed Doors)

co-hosted by ShellyShell

show link...www.blogtalkradio.com/12kyle

Be prepared for a hot, steamy, mature discussion about SEX.

*** WARNING ***
If you are easily bothered...sexually deprived...craving some spine tingling, eyes rolling in the back of your head sex...you may not wanna listen to this show. LOL

12 Radio

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC - Back N the Day (80s/90s pop culture) co-hosted by Eclectik


(347) 215-7162

http://tobtr.com/s/2455691


SIMPLY PUT...

if you ever drove a Big Wheel

if you ever made food with an Easy Bake Oven

if you ever spent your Saturday mornings watching cartoons

if you ever remember when there were only 3 channels on tv...you don't wanna miss this show!!!!

off tha dome

random thoughts...

i was dreamin' when i wrote this, forgive me if i go to fast...

the next time you're in a crowded elevator...just start beat boxing and watch what happens.

ever notice how people will damn near run you off the road on their way to work...as they hurry to a job that they hate?

cheap hand sanitizers will make your hands ashy

who shot Gaddafi...the Bloods or the Crips?

the older that I get...I've become less and less a fan of Halloween

kim kardashian and kris humphries are getting a divorce after being married less than 90 days. guess he found out that the video tape doesn't lie

have we ever seen the rapper Jay Electronica

and the NBA player Mickel Pietrus in the same place???

gonna be a long offseason for Ron Washington and the Texas Rangers

Prez O has managed to drop Bin Laden, Sadam Hussein, and Gaddafi and people said he was "weak" on foreign affairs

speaking of polytricks, that dude Herman Cain is a joke. he's the real Uncle Ruckus

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

you feel that chill in the air? gotta love it

have you ever heard about a celebrity dying and the first thing that you say is..."damn, i thought they were already dead."

had a ball at my high school homecoming 2 wks ago. it gets bigger and better each year. shoutout to my class...the Class of '91

follow me on twitter @12kyle...you won't be disappointed TRUST me!

i think Rick Ross needs to get healthy before he gets back into the studio

please get your cuzzin

in no particular...some of my fav beat makers...JDilla, Preemo, 9th Wonder, Pete Rock, The Bomb Squad, Swizz Beats & Mannie Fresh

sometimes the best dinner is a bowl of cereal

ladies...men appreciate you in a nice skirt and pumps. keep it classy

fellas...women don't like dudes with ashy hands. make sure that you lotion your hands...especially the area between your index finger and thumb

"Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart." - C. Petersen

ladies...if you're over 30 and can't cook...take lessons, yo.

fellas...children don't ask to come into this world. they don't come with instructions either. take care of your responsibilities

ladies...never be afraid to love

fellas...never be afraid to love

"Insecurity is the cancer of a relationship that can only be cured by the radiation of trust."- Kevin Arrington

i've been craving thai food lately

i'm da champ! who want some of me????

12 Radio

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC - Sports Wrap Up...co-hosted by DivaDee & OJ from In The Clutch

(347)215-7162

show link...http://tobtr.com/s/2455689

Don't miss it!!!

12 RADIO

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC- The Black Family...Past & Present...

co-hosted by K Rock...don't miss it! Pass the word!

(347) 215-7162

http://tobtr.com/s/2338021

We'll discuss topics like...

1. Is the education system better now than it was when you were a kid? Why or why not?

2. In the 70s & 80s, what do you think were the major issues that black families faced?

3. Will you raise your children differently from the way that you were raised?

Charity Starts At Home

Charity Starts at Home

released 9-27-11


To say that that the solo debut album, Charity Starts at Home, was high anticipated...would be an understatement. One reason is because everyone wanted to see what Phonte Coleman would bring to the table. Many people knew Phonte from his rhyme spitting days as a member of the North Carolina bred hip hop trio, Little Brother. Others knew Phonte as a soulful singer from his musical wizardry as a member of The Foreign Exchange. Most people weren't really sure exactly what to expect from Phonte. But for those who are familiar with Phonte they knew one thing...expect the unexpected


1. Dance In The Reign (featuring Sy Smith) - produced by Swift D

Phonte begins the song by proclaiming sarcastically saying "Thank y'all so much, thank y'all for listening. It's Phontigga, and I do this all for HIP-HOP!" Then comically admits..."I'm lyin like shit, I do this shit for my goddamn mortgage, n*gga. My bills, fuck am I foolin?" Phonte proceeds to ride the Swift D produced track like the true rap veteran that he is. 'Tay then reminds us of who he is with...

This rap shit is not the life I live. It's a tool that I use, that's it
No great fortune to show for it but fortunate
that no one can say his life ain't his
Some might even say underachiever, 'cause they are not believers
That I don't want the world, but I done SEEN the world
And if you ever saw it, hell, you wouldn't want it either

2. The Good Fight - produced by 9th Wonder

Hip hop fans get a treat because this is one of four tracks that were produced by Phonte's former Little Brother group member, 9th Wonder. Although it has been years since we've heard the two together, we quickly learn that nothing has changed. Phonte still flows well over 9th Wonder's soulful sampled beats. Phonte addresses dealing with unemployment and struggling with today's issues...

Everybody prays for the day they see the light
but the light at the end of the tunnel is a train
$5 gas, and poverty rates
are rising much higher than your hourly rates
So if you thinkin 'bout quittin, you should probably wait
'cause err'ybody gotta do a fuckin job that they hate

And he also gets personal...

My single friends say "Tay, your family's beautiful"
I'm like, "If y'all n*ggas only knew what it cost me"
This shit don't come with no blueprints
and with every change it seems more like a game you could never win
I tell my peoples I ain't rich
but this harvest is the farthest from broke a n*gga ever been

3. Everything Is Falling Down featuring Jeanne Jolly - produced by Khrysis

Tigallo steps to the mic and rips this track to shreds. Great punchlines over a banging beat from Khrysis. Listening to this track reminds me of when he rhymed on Little Brother's first cd, The Listening...

He told me to peel, broke free of my deal
and left shackles, racin like Petty in the stock
Now he heavy on the block like guards and left tackles
See where I come from and, you and yours are up in arms
like gunrunners, and you are confronted
with, 99 problems and can't keep it 100
Then at the day's end you ain't really done nothin
I made a new lane for myself and said, "Fuck it"
Why Rage Against the Machine when you can just unplug it?

4. Not Here Anymore featuring Elzhi - produced by 9th Wonder

Another banger from 9th Wonder with a great sample from the song "Love Don't Live Here Anymore". This track features great verses by Phonte and Elzhi from Slum Village. While 'Tay & 'El aren't battling each other on the track, it is clear they bring out the best in each other.

Phonte

That's how I was gettin it, I don't need the limelight
That's young n*gga shit, I'm a O.G. and the G is for gentleman
Yes, Phontigga spit Amazon flame, watch 9th re-Kindle it
'cause I pad verses with the wisdom of my innocence lost
Two brothers, two peas in a pod
Two comeback seasons apart, take it back to when I be in the park
then rhyme 'til I couldn't see in the dark

Elzhi

I'm poetic while they po-thetic
I play they life like a movie and in the end, give 'em no credit
I was told to run it, so I grip the baton
and spit magic like it's pourin out the tip of a wand

5. Eternally featuring Median - produced by 9th Wonder

Another gem from Phonte. I slept on this track the first time that I heard it. Good to hear Phonte and Median go back and forth over another banger from 9th Wonder

New bread, new heat, n*gga toast up
No such thing as Tay without bars
That's like Pixar with no Cars
or seein a dark-skinned DeBarge, Helter Skelter
I'm suited for the game, y'all dressed for failure

6. Sending My Love - produced by Stro Eliot

This song begins with Phontigallo speaking wisdom to us...

Look... You know that so many people be askin me like,
"Man, how do you do it? How do you stay happy in love?"
Ehehe, I think it's really just a state of mind
I mean, I know single men that would kill for a home-cooked meal
I know, married men that'll kill for a quiet house
Haha shit it's just, it's just all depend on your perspective
Youknahmean? Ain't nothin' perfect

Tigallo uses this track to drop jewels on what men go through in relationships and that point we get to when we begin to look outside of the relationship...

Yo, my mind in another zone, and voice in another tone
Arguin about some shit rooted in some other shit
Long story short, it was a night that I ain't feel like comin home
So I hit the streets, to a couple places I ain't hit for weeks
Saw a pretty girl, kissed her cheek - mwah, say magnifique
She favored my ex, some harmless flirtin
A total diversion, but sometimes that's all
a nigga need to get from one day to the next
She's placin her bets, and payin respect
Next thing, we walkin out and I'm payin the check

Verse 2 gets a little deeper...

Here she goes again, I can feel her eyes closin in
It's like a rigged game, but how the fuck am I supposed to win?
The O.G. say, "Cheer up"
But wifey wants a scholar and a traveler
Hunter and a gatherer, and after I capture her
Now I gotta put MY spear up?
Man, I don't fear much
But the thought of losing her hits me in the tear ducts
Too much honesty ahead, get earplugs
Something in the way society rears us
Commitment wears us, out it tears us, apart
and makes us feel we don't need to
and that turns into "I don't need you"
People want what grandma and granddaddy had
But they ain't have options, n*gga, we do

Tigallo ends the song by having that subconscious moment that EVERY man has had when he's trying to decide if he should head home or stay in the streets...

Lemme just take it on, take it on to the house
C'mon, c'mon Tigallo, be strong
Be strong, Tigallo! Be strong, just take it home
I know she get on your nerves sometimes
But man, you got a good woman at home, man
Just go home, it-it-it's 'bout 4:30
Ain't nothin open this time of night but legs and hospitals

7. Ball And Chain - produced by Swift D

This is the track where Phonte answers the question..."Will he sing on this album?" Not only does he sing on this track...but the next 2 tracks after this. He shows his versatility on this cd. Not only can Phonte sing...but he SINGS. I don't think people truly understand how much effort it takes to rap on tracks and then to sing on others. Phonte has no problems balancing the two. He sings about the trials and tribulations of relationships...

She holds me down
She holds me up
She licks my wounds
then cuts me deep
She tells me stay
then plans to leave
She is my cure
and my disease

And it's all complicated
'cause I hate myself for feeling this way
These walls is to protect me, now they're closing in, yeah

[Chorus]
She keeps me so secure
Until I can't escape
So unpredictable
but it's all the same
So many nights I wish
I knew the moment when
your anchor turned into a ball and chain, baby

8. To Be Yours - produced by Zo & Phonte

Another soulful track that gives you a vision of Phonte sitting behind a piano...singing his heart away. This short interlude sounds like it could be on this album or a Foreign Exchange album. Good track, nonetheless.

9. Gonna Be A Beautiful Night featuring Carlita Durand - produced by S1 and Caleb

Brillant track. Very refreshing to hear songs that speak about love that show how people can communicate their true feelings.

10. We Go Off featuring Pharoah Monch - produced by Fatin

On this one, rappin 'Tay reappears. The first thing that jumps out is the beat. The pulsating beat had me thinking that it was done by 9th Wonder but it was done by Fatin. Great beat. Phonte and Pharoah Monch trade some hot verses on this track...

Yo, we go off
Say who go off? N*gga we go off
Flow fitted to a tee, dog I might go golf
On stage in all black, dog I might go goth
Say I might go floss, 'cause we go hard
I mean macro-hard, not Microsoft
Party time excellent, n*gga I might go Garth

11. The Life of Kings featuring Evidence & Big K.R.I.T - produced by 9th Wonder

Another gem. Phonte spits first and reminds folks..."It's a bad time to be a emcee if you ain't rhymin right". The song features a good verse from Evidence. Then Big K.R.I.T closes it with his verse...

Got a vision to be veteran
with a future brighter than a writer decifering light, by Thomas Edison
Plus you remind me of a derelict, relishin on relishments
Too busy throwin rocks at my thrown to find a chair to sit
I'm the type of King you'll probably see Coretta with
Country-bred, country-raised, and intelligent
Rose bud lifestyle and yours is petalless

12. Who Loves You More featuring Eric Roberson - produced by E Jones

Classic and insightful track. The first verse finds 'Tay rhyming about a man who's woman goes through his phone and finds text messages from his ex(s). 'Tay reminds the fellas...

The allure of new pussy is cool but when it's over what the fuck you got to talk about?

Verse 2 finds Tigallo getting deep and personal...

My cousin hit me up and said he had to post bail again
‘Cuz my brother back in jail again
Back in that slave ship ‘cuz he tried to sell again
And all that’s going through my mind is ‘how the fuck am I failing him?’
These young’ns want all of the spoils but none of the toils
Got me climbing the walls
Too good to press olives but’ll be the first squeaky wheel asking for oil
I’ve been at it for 10 years, ‘what the fuck is you on?’
Had me frustrated like, ‘what the fuck do you want?’
He come to me for answers but I don’t know what to tell ‘em
Part bad parenting, part youthful rebellion
He wanna buy a dream but I don’t know what to sell him, shit
They say the streets turn n*ggas into sinners
But them jail cells be turning n*ggas into dinner
So they sing in the summer, be home by the winter
Interrogation room be turning n*ggas into tenors
And he’s no singer, but put him on the block, he got that perfect pitch
I just want him to understand that you work for this
You can win or you lose
But it’s either me or the streets and brother you gotta choose
Love

Verse 3...Tay finishes the masterpiece

Gotta room with a microphone and all this time
I just sat by the window and looked inside
Didn't like what I found. But you win or you lose
Make a living or have a life...guess that I gotta choose
One...


I got a room and a microphone
And a family I ain't seen in months
And I played this record a million times
Just hoping you'd play it once
Break bread with your fellow man
Show love but look out for your heart
And always take care of home, because home is where charity starts



For 43 minutes, this album captures you and takes you on a journey. Phonte shows that he could rap and sing...or sing and rap...for as long as he wants. He has created some great music. Charity Starts At Home is a album that doesn't give you stories of mafia drug tales, shootouts, nor shoutouts to every clothing and liquor companies. It gives you a man...and emcee...who bears his soul. He offers words, thoughts, and opinions that most can relate to. I heard Phonte say in an interview that this album "wasn't for everybody". His words really didn't make sense until I heard this album. It's not for the average rap listeners who are watching thrones and are consumed with who is dissing who. Instead of telling you this is "grown folks rap", I'll tell you that this IS hip hop. This album won't sell a million records. And it probably won't win any "pseudo awards". This album reminds us all that every has a place at hip hop's table. Fortunately, Phonte is one of the few emcees who have a solidified spot at the table

4.5 mics (out of 5)

the father/daughter bond

Never underestimate a strong bond.

I am fully aware of the strong bond between parents and their children.

More specifically, the bond between a mother and her son. I don't have to look far to take note of it because I can see it in the bond that I have with my mother. The bond between a man and his mother is a special one. I've seen it develop in my own house as my wife has a strong bond with each of our 3 sons.

Now there is a new bond in my life. Three weeks ago today, my daughter was born. I had been told by my friends about how I should prepare myself to have my world turned upside down. And it has. As I look at her, I daydream. I understand that this bond must grow and our relationship must be cultivated. I am the first man that will ever love her. I am the man who has to show her what a REAL MAN is. I will always be Superman in Skyler's eyes. I am the measuring stick by which ALL men will be measured. If she saw me sloppy drunk, high, or smacking around her mother...what kind of impact would that have on her life? I have to give her...LOVE, DISCIPLINE, & an EXAMPLE to follow.

I can't help but look at her little face and wonder about what she'll be talking about 5 yrs from now. I wonder about how she'll handle her first day of kindergarten. I think about her painting a picture of me as a "stick figure". I can also see her becoming a young woman. I envision that moment when she has her first menstrual cycle. I see the awkward moment when she'd rather hang out at the mall with her friends instead of watching the football game with her dad. Then, there will be the moment when some lil snot nosed punk calls my house and wants to talk to her. I see it all. Clothing trends. Hairdos. Nails getting done. I see the day that I drop her off at college. Then I see day that I walk her down the aisle.I have envisioned it all

It's a new journey for me. The girls who I dated and the ones with whom I was friends with didn't really have fathers around. I mean, there was a few...but not many. I never remember going to a girl's house and being grilled by her father. Growing up, I remember having a female friend who has the perfect daughter/father relationship. Her father would take her on dates! In a sense, he laid the blueprint for her as to how she's supposed to be treated by a man. I had another friend who worshipped the ground that her DADDY walked on. She told me that she would often say to herself "I can't do that...my DADDY would kill me". I used to tease her about her DADDY but deep down I loved their relationship. I want Skyler to feel the same way about me one day. I want her to grow to be self sufficient and independent. She will not want for anything...me and her brothers will see to that. I want her to be a strong black woman. I call her the princess because one day she will be a queen...not a baby momma.

Children are a gift from God that are loaned to us. I pray that I have Skyler for 100 yrs. She hasn't been here long and I've already been planning her life! LOL.

More importantly, I can never lose sight of how strong our bond is and I must do whatever I can to keep it that way.

12 RADIO

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC- Dating 107...The Good & The Bad...

co-hosted by ShellyShell & Diggame...don't miss it! Pass the word!

(347) 215-7162


show link...http://tobtr.com/s/2312401

We'll cover topics such as...

1. What are some postives about today's dating scene?

2. Should the person that you're dating ever meet your ex? Why or why not?

3. Do you think your past dating experiences hinder or help you as you date now?

off tha dome

random thoughts...

guess who has jury duty this month but doesn't want to go??? *sigh*

i was almost selected once for jury duty but i wasn't selected. wonder what i can do to get out of it? maybe i'll yell..."he's guilty, son!"

Prez O has a whoooole lotta gray hair in his head. but his hair is kinda wavy. you think he rocks a stocking cap at night before he goes to bed?

i hear people talking about how much they hate the "new" facebook but i haven't heard ONE person say that they are gonna delete their facecbook acct.

remember the first time you were in church and saw someone "catch the Holy Ghost"? i didn't know if i should run or smack that lady

george lopez ain't funny

went to church the other day & a dude was BLASTING 2Pac in the parking lot. *blank stare*

Ask B Nice who he came to see at the Eagles/Falcons game???

first tv crushes...Tootie & Penny Gordon/Charlene Jackson

Troy Davis death will not go in vain. let's make sure that this never happens again

remember when we used to "pencil fight" in school?

raise ya hand if you had to come in the house when the street lights came on! *raises hand*

please stop calling him Matty Ice. until he wins a big game and a playoff game...his name is Matthew T. Ryan

funny to see ESPN work a Lebron clip into the highlights. let it go

i hate when people hit "reply all" to an email that was forwarded to you

there was always that one kid in your class in school who never got into trouble. not because he was good. it was because he didn't want his momma to come up to school and show out & embarrass him!

fellas...always wear an undershirt...especially with a dress shirt

ladies...never tell your friends what your man does behind closed doors...one day they will want to see for themselves.

The Eagles "dream" season is now a nightmare

follow me on twitter @12kyle

Sarah Pale-Lynn is smarter than i thought she was...she decided not to run for president. i wouldn't let her lead the Girls Scouts

Steve Jobs...thank you for your innovations!

tell the truth...you thought all HBCUs were like Hillman College (A Different World)

that new Phonte cd is coooooooold

ladies...can you go back to being "just friends" after sleeping with a guy?

fellas...why do you call a chick a "b*tch or h*e" AFTER she doesn't give you her number? was she a "b*tch or h*e" when you asked her for the digits

twitter gets news faster to you than cnn does

i don't wobble. don't electric slide. don't cha cha slide. but i've got a meaaaaaan 2step!

shout out to one of the 1st cats to bling on tv...Sweet Daddy Williams

how sweet it is to be single

Religion

It's something that I've RARELY mention in the 4 yrs that I've had this blog. I don't talk about religion for my own personal reasons. I am a spiritual person and I see no need to impose my beliefs on you. These are mine. And you have yours.

Today will be different. Kinda...

I want to share with you some exerpts from a FUNNY sermon that I heard this past Sunday at my church. The title of the sermon was...HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE SINGLE

One thing that the pastor made clear that is universal...everybody has been or is single. Some have been single...married...then single. Others have been single...married...single...then married again. He tied the sermon to the bible verses, I Corinthians 7:27,28 ,32-35. One thing that I learned from the sermon is that it's ok to be single. Enjoy being single and you'll have no regrets.

HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE SINGLE

1. The ability to serve the Lord without marital FRUSTRATION makes being single sweet. (verses 27 & 28)

"Art thou bound unto a wide? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin (meaning someone who has not been married) marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you."

TRANSLATION

Are you married? Stay married. Are you unmarried? Don't get married. But there's certainly no sin in getting married, whether you're a virgin or not. All I am saying is that when you marry, you take on additional stress in an already stressful time, and I want to spare you if possible

2. The ablilty to serve the Lord without marital OBLIGATIONS makes being single sweet (verses 32-24)

"But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how many he please the Lord. But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in both body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband"

TRANSLATION

I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. Marriage involves you in all of the nuts and bolts of domestic life and wanting to please your spouse, leading to so many more demands of your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God.

3. The ability to serve the Lord without marital DISTRACTIONS makes being single sweet (verse 35)

"And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."

TRANSLATION

I'm trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions.

So you could avoid FRUSTRATION, OBLIGATION, and DISTRACTIONS by staying single?!!?

Hmm...

Now who wants to get married????

12 RADIO

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC- Hip Hop 104...cohosted by CRecks & Eclectik...

Don't miss it!

show link...http://tobtr.com/s/2286573

thegamedonechanged

it's been a minute since I've been single and on the dating scene.

my single friends always tell me that "the game done changed" since I was dating.

maybe it has but the game is the game, right???


the following transcript was an email that I got from my boy Gee...who is single.




Yo!

I met this 29 year old chick. Smart. Average looks. We chat on and off...but more off.

I hit her up to come over and watch a movie with me and some neighbors.

And she tripped!

She said "a real gentleman takes a woman out when he is courting her!"

WTF????

We text off and on!! Court what??? When was it against the rules to watch a movie among friends? Did I miss something?

I don't even know her last name!!! And she is actually mad about it. Whutchu think man?


glad i ain't single, Gee. If I was single...I wouldn't be single.

Gentle Giant

GIANT

To say that Orlando "Zeus" Brown was a giant is an understatement. The man stood tall at 6 foot and 8 inches. He weighed about 325 pounds when I met him in the fall of 1991. We were on the campus of South Carolina State University. He was my teammate. He was the biggest human being that I had ever seen. My first thoughts when I saw him..."Damn, I hope this guy plays offense like me." Fortunately, he did.

His mother nicknamed him Zeus because of her love for Greek Mythology.

On September 23, 2011...Zeus left this earth. He was only 40 years young. The news of his death shocked me. I'm still in shock. And while the cause of his death has not been determined, we mourn. Many of you reading this know what the media has reported about him...he played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns & the Baltimore Ravens...he was once hit in the eye by an errant flag thrown by a referee that left his eye swollen, bloody and it caused him to push the referee and be suspended by the NFL...he sued the NFL for 200 million dollars (settled for 25 million)...he was one of the best to play his position when he played in the NFL...

I won't bore you with stuff that the media will tell you about the man. I'll tell you what I KNOW about the man.

Zeus was a GREAT player...but an even greater teammate. Zeus was one of the guys. He was a star but he always wanted to be one of the guys and not be treated like a star. One of my first memories of Zeus was during my freshman year. I had only been at school for a few weeks. I was getting homesick and I was down about not playing. Zeus stopped me in the dorm. He said "Aye young'n...where are you from? I saw you at practice today. Keep workin hard man. You're gonna play here." Those words stuck with me. I was surprised that an upperclassman would take the time to even speak to a lonely freshman! Two days later, he stopped by my room and said..."I'm going to get something to eat. Roll with me." I did. During that ride, I learned alot about my mammoth teammate. He was from DC (HD Woodson High School)...loved go-go music (which he blasted all the way to Burger King but I wasn't gonna tell him to turn it down)...how he earned his nickname, etc. I remember when we walked in...his 6 foot 8 inch frame dwarfed me at 5 foot 7 (150 pounds with rocks in pocket). I remember the looks and stares that we got when we walked in. Even though he weighed more than 300 pounds, Zeus wasn't fat. He was mostly muscle. Unlike most big people, he seemed very comfortable in his skin. He stood tall. Zeus was always smiling, laughing, and joking.

One of the other things that I remember about Zeus is that he was extremely competitive! He hated to lose! I remember being in the dorm one night and beating Zeus 3 consecutive times in Madden on Sega Genesis. I was talking trash. He said "Let's play again." I said "Man, I'm not playing you any more tonight, Zeus. It's almost 2am and I have a class at 8am." But he insisted...and I wasn't gonna tell the Big Fella 'no'. So we played and I won. The next day after we had both finished our classes...can you guess who was waiting for me in my dorm room to play again??? Big Zeus! He was determined to beat me! The ultimate competitor.

It came as no surprise to me that Zeus would be a success in the NFL. When you have the talent and the competitive nature that he had, he was destined for it. It wasn't a surprise that Zeus would go on to open a successful Fatburger restaurant in the DC area. I wasn't surprised to hear about his charitable donations to HD Woodson, SC State, and to the DC community. Zeus had it in him.

The last time that I spoke with him was a few years ago. Same ole Zeus. Crackin jokes and being who he was. You could hear the excitement in his voice when he spoke of his 3 sons. He was a proud father. I could only laugh because I remember him from school and I could see the growth in him. He was the SAME dude that he was the day that he stopped me in the dorm. No matter how much money he had. He was still one of the guys. He never changed. I never got a chance to hear him tell this STORY ABOUT HIS SCARY 9/11 EXPERIENCE in NYC (please click link and read). But I can only imagine hearing him tell it.

Zeus was a giant. A gentle giant off the field. He was almost like a big bear but you always wanted to be around a dude like that. I remember when he was in the NFL and he'd be on tv, I'd tell people..."That's my dude right there!" Since his death, I've gotten a few phone calls from former teammates who I hadn't heard from in years. I've been able to re-connect with some people on Facebook as well. Everybody had a story or a great memory of Zeus.

Guess you could say that this is mine.

Father, Brother, Son, Friend, Businessman, Teammate

Big Zeus...we're gonna miss you man! Rest in peace

12 RADIO

Tune in to 12 RADIO tonight at 9PM EST.

12 RADIO is the BEST and most interactive show on BlogTalkRadio.

TOPIC-Marriage 102...

cohosted by Tiffany


show link...http://tobtr.com/s/2211451

off tha dome

random thoughts...

for as dope as Nadal and Federer are...I've never watched either of them play a full game.

sometimes i think about shutting this blog down. but then i think of something dope to write and i realize that i can't quit.

i watched about an hour of 9/11 anniversary coverage. that was enough for me. it's not that i want to forget what happened. sometimes it's hard to hear all of the stories and live it again.

ever notice how good some dog food smells?

the NFL is back and i could care less about the NBA lockout

Lil Wang sold like a million copies of his latest cd. ask me if i bought it...nope

really gonna miss Entourage. not only is it a great show but it reminds me so much of me and my friends...minus the money and fame



i have a friend who i really want to introduce one of my boys to but i won't b/c i know SHE'LL mess it up

12 Radio gets better and better every show. make sure that you tune in every wed @ 9pm est

Kirk Franklin needs to stop stealin' hip hop songs and making them gospel songs. that ain't sampling, dude

i really wish the saggy pants/show your drawz/look ignorant era would end tomorrow

President Obama looks like a dude who could play a game of spades

grandparents let their grand kids get away with EVERYTHING they used to spank their kids for

awkward moment...when you see that person with a huge booger hanging from their nose. you say nothing...but you rub your own nose to see if they will "mimic" you

i told my boy Eclectik that Wilma Flintsone was wayyyyyyyy finer than Betty Rubble but he disagrees. i think he's crazy



ladies...stop comparing yourself to when you were a size 3 at age 18. you're 35 now. it's ok that you ain't as small as you used to be

fellas...you should NEVER wear uggs or crocs

ladies...don't give him your number if you don't want him to call. because he WILL call

fellas...it's ok to be sensitive with a woman...but don't be a sucker

if you're 33 and rappin and you STILL haven't made it...let it go, bruh. get a real job

that chill is in the air...

i've been called a smart ass...and i don't mind it. it's a term of endearment

if you ever see me in jeans and penny loafers...please slap me

*cues The Foreign Exchange*