Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Anything is Possible...YAY BOSTON 131-92.

Watching the NBA Finals is like counting down to 12 on New Years Eve. Only more climactic in my opinion. You don't want to blink and risk the chance of missing a good play, you want to see the task to completion regardless of the current state or what else is going on around you.
I just witnessed a serious ass whooping, Boston just stripped Kobe and the Lakers of ALL bragging rights, well I mean they haven't won a championship since 2002, BUT KOBE just won't be getting another ring this year. History repeats itself so maybe they'll lay in the cut 22 years and get another championship in 2022!! You feel me??

When someone says Boston, what comes to mind first is Larry Bird, tighty whities, 8 titles and Rob Parrish, now I'll be saying Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Larry Bird, Rob Parrish and annoying Pierce (can't hate though, he stacked up some good points off free throws, HE IS THE MVP).
I can't say I'm a huge basketball fanatic these days that knows every player's average and can sit and watch every game...I left that back in 1997, coincidentally that was when I decided I didn't want to play on the school basketball team any longer so I can gallavant after school. 1997 Bulls won the Championship against Mr. Malone and Utah Jazz, I have to say it was probably one of the best moments I recall ever in my history of following ball...Let me refresh your memories. Series was at 2-2, Game 5 begins, Utah's in the lead, Bulls down by 3, Jordan who was apparently ill the last 2 games of the finals...with like 25 seconds left in the final quarter, Jordan hits a 3 pointer AND PICKS UP A FOUL-TO SHOOT 2!!! 90-88 Bulls win Damn! End result: 5, 5, 5...5 NBA Championship, Jordan's 23 makes 2+3=5, Jordan wins the game for the Bulls with a 5 point play. Damn. Those were the days when I loved basketball when I had no job, no responsibilities but to follow basketball, I still love basketball, but unfortunately I have also discovered other loves during my increase in age. Sheer determination...regardless of how sick he was, it was evident that he had one intention and that was to persevere and win the game to take home the title when leaving Utah. Now, tonight's game was not as nail biting, however Celtics played solid defense and I just knew they were gonna take it home by the end of the 1st quarter! I'm glad that Boston won. KG said it best anything is possible. A team that hasn't won a campionship since 1986,n and back then they were known as THE TEAM due to their 8 straight titles in the 60's and just racking up a total of 16 championships NOW 17 (brap brap!).

What I am getting at is this...Anything can happen if you put your mind to it, stay hungry don't rest, until your satisfied and everyone can see your gains. When I watch basketball, especially in the finals, I get liberated, I'm elated when I see the team that I'm cheering on win. Determination is re-defined and PASSION becomes so lucid, the most uninspired individual can see the result of hard work. I saw Kevin Garnett shed tears of joy to the point he could not even say anything coherent, Doc Rivers held his back and Paul Pierce smiled ear to ear and did his happy dance. I was overwhelmed with happiness, their joy was now contagious and I was beginning to feel as if, I can do anything as long as I have determination and committment by my side (or maybe just the thought of Army brat Ray Allen LOL.) It's not that I didn't know this before, but there's something about a man exuberating such joy and love for one's passion to the point of tears, that becomes a positive reinforcement for a female like myself. Yes, money can always be an incentive (I wouldn't mind making 20 mill Garnett), but they're getting paid to do what they love and I for myself would not want it any other way either. I guess I'll see how long this dose of positivity will hold up for me to keep pressing on. When I reach my goal in life, I will let you all know and I expect to have a keg full of Gatorade waiting for me.

Trying to stay hungry...
-StAR

Shout outs:
-Paul Piece congratulations to him on obtaining MVP.
-Ray Allen for lacing the court with all those 3 pointers...you tied a record tonight.
-Garnett the spotlight was on you for rebounds and 26 Points with your boy Ray Allen.
-Rondo 6 steals...ooh wee...What? You stole from Kobe?...1 steal short of tying a record.
-DoC Rivers...your first Championship.

A.L.S.O- Kobe I saw you turning up your lip...DOn't hate, congratulate...No Gatorade for you...it's all on the floor.

B.U.T-Gasol now that the games over...GET A SHAVE, CUT YOUR HAIR OR PULL IT BACK...you look greasy.

N.O.T.E-Odom take it easy, don't get so mad..either you get fouled and miss the basket or get blocked and miss the basket...Boston's not having it...they're on a mission.

*Boston what was for dinner?...LAKERS "STRIPloin" with some bubbly on the side.

Here's the video pick, dedicated to Boston...(I pick some reaaal cheesy stuff I know.) We all know I was probably gonna pick this...



Monday, June 16, 2008

HAS Canada Gone mad...and Boston!

**DISCLAIMER...The following views are those of StAR and it is not intended to make anyone feel below par, especially MuchMusic, or looked upon as me bashing, but more of an incentive to step your game up...remember though...who's StAR her opinions might just not matter.**

MuchMusic...like my homegirl Sharheezy said is worst than, good ol' B.E.T when it comes to reruns...Didn't the MMVA'S finish at 10:59? Replayed by 11:02pm. There is nothing exciting about the MMVA's, everything you THINK will be interesting turns into a disappointment. I would like to address the current weather situation first...What the heck does the crowd smell like?...After waiting outside for a good spot, since 10AM this morning. Last time I checked it rained a few times today, not kosher AT ALL, nor does the thought of anyone standing beside me not smelling righteous sit with me. I like the outdoor concept of the MMVA's but it's getting a little played. The MMVA's are mediocre and they need to step their game up. Point form here were go...
-Why interview all the presenters? With the crowd going wild, you can't hear them anyway so don't bother?
-OMG?!?! BELLY THE GODFATHER OF CANADIAN HIP HOP?....GIVE ME A BREAK...Then I'm the next Quincy Jones! whack...Whack...WHACK!!! Forgot his name and it doesn't matter after his intro for Belly, but that VJ needed to get reprimanded for saying such a statement...that's a direct diss to all the other Canadian Hip Hop Movers and Shakers.
-Akon were you lipsynching?...your HOOK!?!? I love KARDI, but cut back on the hypeman movements, give it to Solitaire in the back. I couldn't enjoy the song.
-Based on the choreographed nonsense of the dancers and artists...How much notice was given to them on their MMVA performance?
-Hedley looks similar to Ben Stiller in "The Heartbreak Kid". The scene where he tried to get back in the U.S. after losing his stuff in Mexico. LMAO. Maybe he did look proper but got soaked from the rain trying to walk the red carpet. Hmmmm?
-Back to the choreography...Girlicious! I swore I saw these moves for a whole season on your show, why were you still not on point?!?
-CONGRATULATIONS...SIMPLE PLAN AGAIN!!
-Rihanna..."Ahhh here comes the Whack....Word up, don't sing no crap you bore me, wanna grab my pillow...you feelin' lazy? yeah hold it for me!" (Thanks for lending me your line Craig Mack.) Booooring...Just take a bow off the stage.
-Yeah we get it....CANADIAN GIRLS ARE THE BEST!!
-DID the videographers not get all access passes??...I SEE, there's a lot of people there, but I CAN'T SEE THE PERFORMERS!!!

-New Kids...or should I say...OLD KIDS ON THE (QUEEN & JOHN) BLOCK!! I got excited, then cried! I don't know what was worst...THE DISSIPATED dance moves or Joey's attempt at singing..."Please don't go girl" Your summertime single?? For an album dropping in September? I really, really hope Chris Brown does them all some justice, as I hear he is doing some song writing for them. Nostalgia saved me from writing those guys off completely....NKOTB did not have the RIGHT STUFF! Donnie...why you gotta say...she was looking for a dude from SCARBOROUGH?
ALSO...DO...HOLLA A TIMBALAND (Everyone else seems to!!) I love you Donnie, but I love MARK better. You don't see him trying to do a come back for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch......or will he???

Best thing about the MMVA's were the clear umbrellas...I want one...OH the jokes too.

Sidenote:
-KOBE!!! AHHHH, I could slap you for that steal from Pierce! I was hoping you'd trip and the ball roll out of bounds. Good hustle tho--on your part Kobe.
-16 Points...JUST off fouls...no comment Pierce...hmmm good game...*yawning....* sleep time.
-HOUSE...WE COULDA USED YOUR 3 POINTER MAYBE 45 SECONDS EARLIER BUDDY, we coulda had a chance at overtime or maybe a 1 point win!
-GAME 6 BACK TO BOSTON!!! GO GREEN AND GOOD LUCK!!!! I SEE A WIN IN THE STARS, NO GAME 7.

-StAR

Anyway....based on the MMVAs, my quote...MEDIOCRE PLANNING AND EXECUTION BRING MEDIOCRE RESULTS!! Maybe next year MMVAs **shaking head**

A video...some Nostalgia fo yo ass...This is how Please Don't GO girl should have sounded




Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Stay HUNGRY but make BUSINESS ur daily vitamin.

Another nice motivating statement from Jom Rohn's Ezines...this one came at like 12pm though. LOL. It said....Stay hungry, and make no your daily vitamin...I switched it up to fit the topic.

If I wasn't so tired, I would've wrote this last night.

I was listening to the real freqs like I do weekly, def-E-NITE-Ly Monday Nightly with my girl Tiff, and all I have to say is this...The show was straight heatery like Arcee would say...peep the blog...http://therealfrequency.podbus.com/blog/ Watch out for the podcast later on this week, normally around Thursday. Famous (It's the KIIIIIIID!) was in the building last night, amongst the jokes and the freestyling he put down, definitely one of my favourite Episodes last night. Peep this...WWW.THEKIDFAMOUS.COM...Here's an example of passion tied with an effective business strategy. The way I see it, the minute you decide to make a profit off your passion, whether it be rapping, djing, it becomes a business and after tonight's show and the Stylus DJ events that took place last weekend-the conference in particular...Toronto aritst, yall need to step your game up and keep stepping it up. Learn the business side of this industry and TAKE constructive criticism, don't take it as anyone trying to knock you, shit...this is your city and my city, no need to put that whack stuff out and make us ALL look bad. Ya feel me? A little late but....damn...better late than never. I was helping out at the Stylus Spinfest that happened back on May 30th to June 2nd. During the conference..."It's starts with the dj" there were a few things that were mentioned, the most important thing that I want to mention that was the most effective part of the conference was this. You spend time in the studio, you pop out mixtapes, you expect deejays to play it because it's "homegrown" BUT just because it's "homegrown" are we to overlook the mediocrity of the material I think not! A lot of artists trying to take this music thing to the next level need to understand that there's more to it than just sitting in your basement studio or just a studio, trynna make shit that you think people will bump to...you forget about the whoooolle professionalism involved, the business of aspect of marketing and branding yourself and your music. Be consistent and current....I'm waiting on certain things to drop...kinda like the west coast BEEN waiting on Dr. Dre's Detox. I do understand that it's hard, especially in Toronto. The below scenario is an example of why some people trying to get into this music industry think it's hard or even fail.

So I'm trying to setup for the next set of panelists coming out at the Stylus Dj conference the Saturday a guy taps me on the shoulder and says this..."Yo, I see your part of this...(duh my shirt says event staff...) hold on to this and let me know what's good...I want you to check this out..." He proceeds to handing me a mixtape...how about I holla back at that wooden table and leave it there...I was taken aback by his approach so I didn't even look at what was given to me, sorry to say I left it on the table backstage, reason: lack of professionalism, if you don't take pride in how you present yourself, what makes me think your music is gonna be any good/better? I didn't know if he was the producer or the mc, or just maybe a guy doing some promoting for his homeboy. This is a topic that can go on and on, but I rather not, it gets too complex, everyone has their own opinion...blah, blah, smah smah....but that's my 2 cents to let you know, I'm not an industry cat trying to sell my records, I'm a girl on the outside looking in. Like the title says..Stay HUNGRY but take some BUSINESS vitamins increase your knowledge in order to stay focus. Business and marketing plans should still exist for those who "rap". Do your research, network...in A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, SO PEOPLE CAN TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. This doesn't only go for artists though, this goes for anyone on a serious grind to make something of themselves. Peace!

-StAR

These are the homegrown tracks that stick out to me randomly within the last year or 2. This is my list, so critics keep your comments to yourself. I personally think they all have a different sound that works for them.

1.) Loudmouths-I'm the boss (You all know about this on my ringtone and in the ride.)
2.) Sox-Hope (No comment, it hits me hard.)
3.) Tona-Dial Tone, Don't Holla
4.) Rochester-Pull Up, Priceless, I'm ready
5.) Brassmunk Album-Repo! Music & Magic
6.) BBL Album--Now that summers around the corner....I'm creeping slow again.
7.) Kardinal Offishall-E.G.G.
8.) Point Blank-Born and Raised in the Ghetto, God Only knows
9.) Mathematik-Righteous
10.) Mayhem Morearty-Smoke Clears

Of Recent....in addition to above...
Sox- 29-9-9
Famous-Big Mon ting, 4th Biggest city, *Kid trynna make it...(heard it for the first time on freq's last night....damn...shouts out to Mayhem and Blake, I'm loving this track.)
Grimace-Destiny?
Jd Era-Paper Chase
Luu Breeze-Break em off


**Disclaimer....Don't hate me if a song didn't make the cut!! It's late night, I just wrote what came to mind, I'll probably be cussing tomorrow when I realize I left something off. Oh well...don't sue me....please?..lol


A.L.S.O-For u Boots Johnson...Disclaimer (2) Please forgive me for any spelling or grammatical errors, that might have caused you to stutter and re-read a line more than once!!!**

Quote of the day...It should be nothing to you if you love it....live it and do it with passion. -Famous said something to affect last night.


If you didn't already know....

Enjoy the Videos....


Big Mon Ting!


Ayah ft. Tona-Pusha Man

Monday, June 9, 2008

Where you at...Mr. Chivalry?

Can I just say....YAH! I'm loving this weather...Life is good, right now. SO I've started this new shift at work I'm now working 9-5pm like most normal people that work in fancy buildings and I must say, I'm loving it. Can you believe I Stacey-StAR make it to work at 8:40....Not 8:50 or 9:40 but yes, 20 minutes before my shift!!! I'm not really a late kinda person, if I really wanna do something I can be on time, but lets just say the change of shift also caused a little paradigm shift and I'm looking at things from a whole new perspective. Anyway, my homegirl H.G. just came back from Florida and as she was telling me about her trip-she....sidebarred...and had this to say...."Toronto MEN are F*in Asses (I say that due to the larger amount asshole movements than nice ones)" and I thought about Ians Andre Espinet's blog a few months back, then I thought about my incidents on the weekend. I had this to say to her..."I KNOW RIGHT?" Anyway, she went to Florida that is comparable to T.O. to a CERTAIN extent, beaches and weather is mostly what it has going for it. On many occasions I've experienced the benevolence of other men when I've travelled, most recently the Foot Locker worker in B-Lo that hooked me and my bestfriend up with a WHOLE HEEP of Jolly Rancher jelly beans, by asking us..."You guys dig jelly beans?" It was small but it was thoughtful. Chivalry exists!! Just lacking in Toronto. Could it be that the men here are just used to us?? While when we go to other places, they just know that we're tourists?? or...or? or?? screwface capital just has some real dudes that are just straight selfish. Here's my examples of the asshole movements...

Situation #1-AS HOT AS club PERIDOT was on Saturday at 2000 TILL I swear this will be the last time I talk about the sweltering heat up in there. Check the scenario like I was Tribe...I was jamming to some Kanye that Dj P+ was puttin' down, trying to fan myself with my hand and prevent myself from passin' out. I had gotten real dizzy earlier staring at this dude in plaid shorts giving the crowd a run to Movado like it was 2003? what? He must've been locked up...Elephant man, Pon De River...soooooo 5 years ago!! I shimmy over to the bar and I spot a fan, but who would've known because this guy was standing directly in front of it. Anyway I passed him and went to the bar to grab a bottle of water, so on my way back to the other side, I PURPOSELY passed back his way and stood there for a minute dancing, all bumped the man on his shoulder...can you believe it?? Dude didn't even budge, so I continued to watch the dude bask in the cool breeze of the industrial fan. So I say out loud, DAMN IT'S HOT IN HERE U MIND SHARING THE FAN?!?!?! I know he heard me. What does he do? Steps back in the fan, almost hugging it to let me pass by! WHA DI ASS?? That's was straight mean. I watched him monopolize the fan for a good 10 minutes from across the room. I'm still upset thinking about it...a nice guy would've saw the sweat just shining on my arm and responded to my plea for cool air and give me some of the fan. I wasn't asking you to buy me a drink homie, I WAS ASKING FOR A LITTLE BREEZE!!

Situation #2- I went by my homeboys house, but I'm walking in with my suitcase of a purse, some Dominion bags (Don't get it twisted ain't shopping for him, I needed my own snacks, everyone knows MOST single men never have shit in their fridge and cupboards.) and a whole bunch a CDs that were in my car to give to him. I struggle through the entrance of the building. In the lobby there's a guy waiting for someone to answer the buzzer and let him in, but I have a key (once again, don't get it twisted, when we broke up I never gave it back, and we're just tight like that, he's my homie, not lover, but just a friend.) The gentleman continues to hold onto the door, turns around and acknowledges I have a key, so I STRUGGLE to get the Key into the door and he's watching me...alright cool, didn't think anything of it, maybe he didn't wanna overstep his boundaries by maybe holding a bag or taking the key, he probably thought that maybe I woulda thought that he was trying to rob me, who knows?! The point is I STRUGGLED to open the door with cds tucked under my arm, bags tearing off my wrist. I open the door and you would not believe what this guy does...instead of maybe holding the door so I can get through, or little ladies first typa thing...I pull the door open and he SQUEEZES PAST ME, STEPPING OVER MY FOOT that's on the frame of the door...biggest diss was the LACK OF THANKS. WTF?!?! UNBE...F*IN...LEIVABLE. I step into the elevator, with him...I sigh, HE SAYS.."Thanks for opening the door..." I just say Yeah nonchalantly. I swear I coulda took my bags and swung them at his head!

-StAR

B.U.T--Shout outs to all the nice guys I know, even the ones that have a little more selfishness than they should, I ain't hating, cause I don't ask for much....hmmm maybe that's the problem. Us woman have grown accustomed to the way certain men are in the city so we won't call them out...so they continue with this whack ass behaviour and don't feel the need to step their game up. Who cares if they call you miserable, I'm sure if you say what you gotta say they'll take it into consideration. I don't care call me miserable. My sarcasm does hold truth, I give u a chance through sarcasm to do the right thing, but if you still don't get the hint, either I call you out, or I don't mess with cha, cause ur not worth the time.

A.L.S.O--Nice guys....come out, come out, come out, wherever you are........

N.O.T.E--And you wonder why I'm still single, the dating game is a joke...CAUSE I SPEND MORE TIME CUSSING AND NIT PICKING...than trynna get to know a man, either my expectations are too high or kindness and consideration levels are too low on his part...hmmm, in my books the only way to go is up so....step ya game up...cause I'm not stepping into your land of mediocrity.


Disclaimer...I'm not bitter. Don't look into this too deep and think we wanna get wine and dined or have men kiss the ground we walk on...it's the little things that make us FEEL like women. The Hiyahs, hellos and how are yous, if we make eye contact in the clubs or on the streets...the drive safes after the clubs if you ask for my number and I DON'T give it to you, or damn when you see me sweating lookin' like imma bout to pass out the....ARE YOU OK?!?!? Damn. General convos without the mention of my butt so I feel like the conversation will have some substance, not me automatically copping attitude cause you're already mentioning my physical attributes.


Vid