Crunk: Not Drunk, Not Rap

Crunk: Not Drunk, Not Rap

Alright, here we go. I'm about to put some thoughts to rest about what I mean when I say crunk. I'm also going to explain why I like some songs certain people call "rap," when it's actually a whole 'nother genre.

Crunk really has two meanings. One concerns music. Crunk is basically a mash up of hip hop and electronic dance music. Or hip-hop and some electronic rock. The greatest and best example of crunk is Family Force 5's debut album, "Business Up Front, Party in the Back." In it, you get a rock feel, complimented by synth beats and riffs out the ears. But that's not all. In such songs as Kountry Gentlemen and Numb, Solomon Olds (the lead singer) is heard to be rappin' all y'all's heads off. So, if you want a definition of crunk, look no further than this album.

Now, for the other meaning. I often use the phrase, "Get Crunk." I am in no way advocating the use of alcohol to get "crazy drunk." I am using the definition given to it by Lil John, the pioneer of the crunk genre (see above). When asked what it meant, he said crunk was a "state of heightened excitement." This means alcohol was absolutely no where near what he meant.

So, there you go. Crunk is the best. Go listen, and be.

The Tofu Blog

The Tofu Blog

Hey, one of the coolest dudes on the street decided to throw down some bloggage too! He's pretty awesome, goes by the name of Tyler. You should check out his blog. It's called The Tofu Blog. I'll even post a link!

The Tofu Blog

Basketball Reflection

Basketball Reflection

Well, this is it. This week holds the final basketball games of my Senior year. Wow. I really can't believe the season's almost over, let alone my school career. It's all been one big jumble of books, papers, and insanity for the past twelve years, and I have yet to realize it's all going away in, what, less than four months? Crazy.

As for the basketball season, it seems like yesterday that I was in the program, running the suicides with the big guys. Traveling to every game, rooting on Stott and Jenkinson, the memories are great. Now only three of my teammates are still there, and only for two more nights.

Two nights to relive the memories before it's over. Two nights to say goodbye.

The Game: You Lost It

The Game: You Lost It

Today's piece is of that concerning a very addicting game currently making it's way through geek culture and high schools everywhere. Rumor has it that it has even been banned from some schools...

The Rules are simple.
1. You are always playing The Game.
2. You cannot win The Game.
3. You lose by thinking about the Game.
4. When you lose, you must announce it publicly so everyone around you loses as well.
5. After initially losing, there is a 30 minute window in which you can think about The Game and not lose. After that, thinking about The Game = loss again.

There is no way to escape. Now you know you are playing, you lose. You will continue to lose. It is a pit with no bottom, a tunnel with no light.

(The only thing to do now is to pass it along and make your friends as miserable as you are now!)

Life: The Review (First of Few?)

Life: The Review (First of Few?)

I decided to post my reviews here, just because.

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iPod Touch - Thumbs Down
Wow, someone is actually standing up to Apple? That's right. I've had it up to here with this new fad, and I really want to say something about it. Now, I'm a fan of the original iPods, but this is just taking it too far.

Now, the iPod touch has a very unique thing going for it: it's basically a handheld laptop. The ability to download apps has allowed it to transcend it's original function, a music and video player. However, because it's software and small memory limit it, it is truly mediocre as a laptop.
The apps themselves are a lame excuse for software; they are basically gimmicks designed to make the iPod more appealing. There may be truly practical software out there, but I haven't seen it yet.

The music/video/pic function of the iPod is always improving. The interface used to scroll is fantastic, only needing a flick of the finger. However, it's much more annoying than the scroll wheel of the original because it plays music OFTEN while you are just trying to "flick-search." The video capabilities are also fantastic. The size of the screen allows for great viewing of video, much better than the old iPods or any other handheld device out there.
The m/v/p (heh) functions are what define the iPod and make it a good buy. HOWEVER, the fact that one can only buy a 32 gig touch infuriates me. To go from a 180 gig (the size of small computers) to 32 is a huge setback. Now, I'm sure this will be fixed in the future, but for now it's definitely a loss.

So, overall, iPod touch gets a THUMBS DOWN.

Note: Sorry if this is disconnected in thought. This is my first review, so I'll definitely strive to make them better.

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Ska - Thumbs Up

Here's a genre! Haha. Ska, ska, ska. Oh, how I love your stylings of the 90's. The skank (dance), the offbeats, the instruments... Ah.......

Now for those of you who are ignorant of this style of music, ska is basically "band geek punk rock." At least, that's how Reel Big Fish Describe themselves in a commentary of their live DVD. However, it's more than that. If I had to describe it: I'd describe it like this: take a punk singer, give him a reggae-like band, add jazz ensemble instruments w/ rock licks, and you've got yourself a ska band!

I think there's one thing that sets ska apart from the rest of the musical community, though. THEY HAVE FUN! They can take a song about hate and anger and make it feel just as happy as one of their songs about unicorns and daisies. That's ska. Fun music that's played just for the sake of playing music.

Well, I can't really describe ska, you have to discover it for yourself. So, I give you a list of my favorite ska bands!
Reel Big Fish
Less than Jake (Warped '09! I'm so pumped!)
Oreskaband
Five Iron Frenzy (RIP)
The O.C. Supertones (RIP)

Now, some songs!
Sell Out (Reel Big Fish)
Yeah! Ska Dance! (Oreskaband)
The Impression That I Get (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones)

Oh, yeah. Ska music = THUMBS UP. (Way up.)

Can I do this?

Can I do this?

Ok, so this is my third attempt at a blog. What I realized before is this: I have absolutely no continuity, so keeping a blog with restrictions is going to fail. Take my last venture: Life-The Review. It had a total of what, three posts? Yeah. So, this is going to be whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like. So, to begin with, I'll introduce myself.

If you've found this blog, you probably already know who I am.
If not, either:
A. You're in for a big surprise, OR
B. You heard about me through a friend, and are coming to see what the fuss is about.

I'm a fun-loving type of guy. Music is my total vice. Monster + Me + Family Force 5 = Warped. Warped = Love. Love = Everything. I think.

And now, the game portion of the blog! I'll do this randomly, as I see fit. Whoever can email me (see profile?) and tell me the ORIGINAL name of Family Force 5 gets 5 POWINTS! (POW points) Get crackin'!
Note: Question Answered.