Brad rediscovers OutKast...

We just can't be amazed

Listen to the first verse of this. I am well aware I am a few weeks late (I've been busy with grown-up stuff), but this is such a relief. Before I begin, I would just like to remind you all to only listen to the first verse, as I don't think anyone cares to hear from Murphy Lee or Nelly (where did he go, anyway)? Rap is bad right now, been bad for about three or four years in my opinion. Even the last OutKast album sucked. But these little snippets give us hope for creativity, something sorely lacking from the pop music world in general, but the problem is especially heinous in rap. This reminds me of a little movie from 1996...


OK, they may not be the same thing (I sure as hell hope not), but the point remains. When T.I., Young Jeezy and Young Buck are the best rappers out, I think it's safe to say there is a problem. That's no knock on their home region, this is a post celebrating Andre 3000, but the fact of the matter is, rap sucks. A lot. No one is exciting in the least bit to me, and I'm only 20. If they can't reach me, they're assed out as I'm one of the people who buys albums, tour tickets, shirts, etc. And judging by album sales, it seems the good-old "mass marketing" technique of record companies and ClearChannel's brainwashing aren't working anymore.

There is no new/interesting rap news. Oh well, Disney may finally release "Song of the South" on DVD. I looked up some clips on Youtube last night, it's not as offensive as I thought. Except for the whole Uncle Remus thing. I can't really be mad at the actor who plays him, it's a job, but man did I feel sorry for him. To have to say things like "Br'er Rabbit was pow'ful hongry" for a couple months straight must wear on you. Enjoy a clip:

Welcome to the Disney family, Halle

In other Disney news, they revealed their first black princess, Maddy, a couple weeks ago. She's set to star in "The Frog Princess" two years from now. And it takes place in the N.O. She's a black, American princess? What the hell kind of sense does that make? Can't she live in Africa, and the Imagineers can use some old African proverb and tell the story using that culture, like "Mulan" and "Aladdin"? I am also worried that this will water down N.O.'s jazz scene, as they won't be able to help but use jazz to the point that I kill myself in this movie. And if there are no strong black men in this one, I won't say I'm not surprised. Thankfully, they're basing it on an actual story, not just making up some shit to appease black people, so it may turn out all right. And the co-directors did "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin." But that was 15 years ago. We'll see. Go find a picture of Maddy for yourself. Here's one, not very good, though.

This is amazing (potentially)

Listen to this. Davidson and Princeton are leading the pack. Swarthmore would do good to follow their lead, seeing as we have 1.2 billion dollars we're just sitting on. No student loans would get us straight to the top of U.S. News and World Report. Take note, Al Bloom, I could have just saved the school's rep. I never considered going there and I'm proud.

And I swear, if this does not end in three convictions I will burn down a building. Call me crazy, but there's rarely a need to shoot at anyone 31 times. And that's one cop's gun. I hate the NYPD.

Breihan gets something right (again)

Not a particularly interesting article, but I'm glad I'm not the only person who sees a problem with the following silly-ass ideas:

One of the interchangeable girls on the show last night said that the Pussycat Dolls stand for female empowerment, which is a bit of a reach. At least the Spice Girls occasionally trumpeted vague and toothless feminism; the message of pretty much every PCD song seems to boil down to either I-don't-need-a-man or I-need-a-man.

And people say I'm crazy. Of course, people have said the same thing about Destiny's Child, or just Beyonce in general. Please ignore the crass materialism and excessive need for sex in her verses, and those of the Pussycat Dolls. Deep down, there are young women crying out for someone to love them. And buy a Buggatti.

Of course, it would be sexist of me to only complain about women's behavior in pop music, seeing as how every woman who read my first Phoenix column asked me about the guy's role. So, I shall oblige. Kanye West is an incredible misogynist, and people love this song. The video speaks for itself. And he still hasn't gotten any better at rapping: "Said she love Beyonce/ let me 'Upgrade U'." WTF is that silly-goose shit? Why would he spend money on a song like this? For someone who's supposed to be the Bob Dylan of our generation (I see you, Ben Bradlow), he sure is fuckin' up. And people eat it up. One comment, written by someone known as "Sampson1te " wrote:

this is awesome, ye's creative, yall jus mad cause hes got it on lock, and he dont talk about rims

I hate the world of rap, and all its fans.



That would have been the last of it, but I just saw the worst of both men and women. Have a nice day, Bradley's on leave. I'm going to go have a heart attack.

Things Brad hopes to see in SF...

and of course...

I love Kenneth Eng...

What can you do? He is God, after all.

America, Fuck Yeah!

Sweet, sweet justice. DC for life, baby.

This is cute

Isn't it a lovely, progressive country we live in? Click to read the NYT article on this "extraordinary sight." In Mr. Obama's defense, at least he recognizes the plight of young black scientists (search for "math and science"). Of course, what the article above pointed out is that Barack was born in '61, and this march occurred in '64, meaning there's no way his parents got together over what was happening in Selma and had a child three years in the past. So I will say he does not have a claim on Selma, Alabama. Can he be thankful? Sure, go right ahead, but get those facts right.

And this is just sad. 19 months? He obviously was not liking all that "let my people go" talk. Go back to Verizon and fix their customer service.

I almost forgot, I have the funniest thing to post. Here:
Read it and love it. Then, go here and learn more about this literary genius. I spent all of yesterday reading backstories on him I was so intrigued. I'd like to point out that Kenneth C. Eng is an equal-opportunity racist, with columns decrying white and other Asian people. This country rocks. Did I forget he is the author of two books? It might be three, but I'm too lazy to find the last one, and I'm guessing (out on a limb here) that it's not worth it. Young people of America should be proud, we still have someone to fight.