My all time favorite sports team that I have grown up watching since I was a little child was the Detroit Red Wings.  I would personally like to congratulate them on their Stanley Cup victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.  This has been their third cup in the past 11 Years, and their 11th cup since their the NHL was formed (They Are One Of The Original Six Teams).

MVP of the Playoffs: Henrik Zetteberg

Outstanding Player of the Series: Marc Andre-Fluery

So congrats, to the Detroit Red Wings, for winning Lord Stanley's Cup back home to Detroit! 2007-2008 Cup Champs!  GO WINGS!!!

I am a man of many different tastes.  Whether we are talking about music, food, or anything else, I always like a variety.  You all pretty much know me as the R&B/Hip-Hop & Rap type of guy, but that truly is not the case.  In fact, I have never been to a concert for any of those genres before.  What you may not know me so much for is that I truly love Rock and Pop, and so many other different genres of music.  So when a friend of mine offered me the opportunity to go see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers live, I did what any sane teenager who loved music would do.  I gladly accepted the tickets, and the next thing I knew, I was on my way to the concert!

Little do you all know, but this was not my first Rock concert.  This past year, I had seen Neil Young live, with his wife (who is not such a great opening act and definitely not worth going to see...).  The concert was pretty good, but nothing compared to Mr. Petty's.  My first concert ever was about two years ago, and it was one that I will truly remember for the rest of my life.  I went to see Clapton live.  When I found out I was going, I couldn't control myself, and the whole week was pretty much a waste because all I could think of was seeing Clapton.  While both Clapton and Young were great, neither of them had as great of stage presence and performance as the great Tom Petty.  His tour just started, so if you like Rock music, and get a chance to see Tom Petty live, be sure to do that!  Oh, and the opening act was really awesome, he had Steve Winwood open the show, and I hope to see him when he goes on tour.

Well, incase you all have not heard, Nas is now naming his upcoming ninth album something other than the N-Word.  He has said that while he does not want to change the album title, it doesn't really matter.  He knows that all his fans will know the true album title, and that the name does not really matter.  Above is what the album art could be for the upcoming album.  Regardless from what the album art makes you think, from what I have heard, the album is going to be killer.  Supposedly better then any of his past ones.  If that is the case, then I don't think fans should be too upset about the name change.  

My simple view on the name change is that it is totally ridiculous.  This is America, and if Nas wants to name his ninth studio album using the N-Word, then that is his choice.  I personally think that people need to pick and choose there battles.  Does it really matter what the title of the album is?  I mean have you seen the titles of the confirmed tracks yet!?  Those out there who complain about things such as an album title change are people who are against Rap and Hip-Hop.  Nas should be allowed to do what he wants, and if using the N-Word really was such a bad thing, then why aren't those same people that are forcing the name change of the album, also trying to change the name of the tracks, and the amount of times the N-Word is used in Rap and Hip-Hop today.  No offense to them (those who are trying to get it to change), but who are they to say what is allowed and not allowed.  This is America, and you have to respect everyones rights.  If I want to do something, I can do it, so long as I am not breaking the law.  I can name a book that I write whatever I choose to.  If that is the case, then I am pretty sure Nas can make an album, and name it whatever he wants.  All in all, I personally think the name change is dumb, and that Nas really should have held his ground on the title, but that is just me.  The album that is due out July 1st, 2008 will for sure be killer, and as Nas said, we all really do know the real name of the album anyways.

Alright, so the past couple of weeks have sure been rough on both my friend and I, but we finally have gotten to read all of our e-mails, and we will now be ready to put out some new names and faces.  Expect to start seeing some more new artists pop up on here, and be sure to give them a listen, and let us know what you think of them.  We have had Nyasha Shani, J. Dollaz, June the Dutch, and Rebbeca.  We are ready to introduce a new lineup to the blog.  A lineup filled with talent, and tons of new music.  So, if you are ready for some major promotional posts, they are going to be going up in the near future!  Be sure to check them out, and let us know what's up!  We would also like to continue getting e-mails from people.  If you want the blog to start producing you, drop us a line on our new Up and Coming Artist E-Mail Account.  We will check it daily, and will be sure to post up what you send us!

"As life goes on I'm starting to learn more and more about responsibility, I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me, So I want to take this time out and apologize for things I have done, And things that have not occurred yet..." I'm sorry for not updating the blog, I was busy doing work alone. I'm sorry for the times that I did not report, I'm sorry for the lack of reviews I did... So you can put the blame on me.  So yeah, I am sorry for not updating the blog in the past week and a half.

So what's the new "hip" thing to do on your free time...?  Ok, so maybe it is not so "hip" but there are tons of people on the web taking album artwork, and, "zooming out."  By the term "zooming out," I am saying that they are taking the initial album art that was made by someone, and then adding more on to it.  For instance, check out the Simon and Garfunkel one below.  Now that actually looks like it could have happened!  Many people have done much more than just the one shown below, so if you keep scrolling down, you can see the many more that people have made!

This one was made by knockear and if you want to check out his profile, simply Click Here!

This one was by maninthespoon, and you can check out his works by Clicking Here!

This one was by xandmi, and you can see his profile by Clicking Here!

You can check out more of these types of things by going to http://b3ta.com and if you make your own, please be sure to not only add it there, but also send it to us, and we will be sure to host it on the blog!  Some of the ones on there are really funny and good, the three above are the top three that I enjoyed the most!

So not much has happened with T.I.'s album, but here is a low down on what we know so far.  As of right now, the album (Paper Trail) has six confirmed tracks.  On May 6th, 2008, the first single for the album dropped entitled, "No Matter What." The second and up and coming single off the album is entitled, "What's Up, What's Happening."  As right now, that is the only single information we have.  From what I have heard, T.I. has set up recordings for over fifty songs, and so far, only a few of the tracks have been confirmed to be on the album.  If that is the case, then you can expect there to be tons of leaks and unconfirmed tracks off his upcoming album.  In my opinion, and from what I have heard from the first single, this album is going to be hot, and every track will posses the ability to be hit.

The first single off Paper Trail was entitled, "No Matter What."  The single was pretty awesome, and definitely sounds like your good ole' T.I.  He really did an excellent job on the track, and while some say it is a diss track towards Shawty Lo, T.I. has commented to the press that this has nothing to do with Shawty Lo, rather the track is a response to all of those people out there who had taken shots at him when he was down.  He did a great job with the track, and if this is any sign as to what the album will be sounding like, then we are all in for a very entertaining album.  While the single is only peaking at #43 on the charts as of right now, it will pick up much more when radios play it more, and the track gets passed around.  The song truly shows T.I.'s opinions on what happened to him, and it is a true and honest song.  I am not saying that his past songs are not "true," but you can really feel how serious T.I. truly is.  The music and beat for the track is pretty good, and the lyrics are the real thing.  Be sure to check out the song by either Clicking Here or buying it off of iTunes or Amazon!

Confirmed Tracks (Thus Far):

• "What's Up, What's Happening"
• "No Matter What"
• "Let My Beat Pound"
• "Collect Call"
• "You Ain't Missing Nothing"
• "Top of the World (Feat. B.O.B. & Kanye West)"

When we hear more about the album, we will be sure to let you all know about it, so far this is all that we, or anybody else knows, so be sure to check out that single, and let us know what you think of it!

Well as I had told you earlier, Death Cab for Cutie released their newest album entitled, Narrow Stairs on May 13th, 2008.  The album was an ultimate success, and in my humble opinion, the best one made by the band.  While their release before Narrow Stairs was amazing, the new album is just as good if not better.  The album does have some similar comparisons to the release before (Plans).  

The first, and lone single off the most recent album by Death Cab for Cutie was alright.  Not the best song on the album, I can tell you guys that much.  The song is featured at number two on the track listing, but while that may be the case, the single itself is very long.  The radio edit is much shorter, and pleasing to the senses, but if you are listening to the album edition of this song, then you can get lost.  I personally did not like the extended album version due to the length, and how long it took to get to the actual song.  While the instruments playing until the singing begins is pretty good, you tend to lose focus on what you are listening to, and sort of get lost in the song (and I don't mean lost in a good way).  All in all, the single was pretty good, and it really does reflect the way the album sounds in a whole.  In fact, now that I think of it, I ended up buying the album in hopes of it sounding similar to the first and only single thus far to be released.  If you have not hear of DCFC, or have not given their new stuff a listen, go out and listen to the single, and if you like it, then pick up the album ASAP!

Track Listing:

"Bixby Canyon Bridge"
"I Will Possess Your Heart"
"No Sunlight"
"Cath..."
"Talking Bird"
"You Can Do Better Than Me"
"Grapevine Fires"
"Your New Twin Sized Bed"
"Long Division"
"Pity and Fear"
"The Ice Is Getting Thinner"