Pumping out my speakers

1. Kanye West featuring Mos Def - Good Night

A bonus track from Graduation. Mos Def's singing is the best part.

2. Ne-Yo Featuring Kanye West - Because of You (remix)

Not new at all, but I remembered how much i liked it. Ye's verse is crazy.

3. Lupe Fiasco - I'm Beaming

Favorite Albums of the Decade...

Honorable mentions:

Reflection Eternal -Talib Kweli (2000): Talib Kweli is one of Hip-hops most poetic rappers. His influences can be seen today with mainstream stars Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West. The song Africa Dreams takes listeners on a musical journey beginning with tribal drums and ending with DJ scratches on a turntable.

The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (2000): This is Em’s opus. It is a disturbing and grotesque album. But the way Eminem delivers line after line makes it one of the best lyrical albums of the decade. Very few artists can write the way he does and tell a story.

Hybrid Theory -Linkin Park (2000): I had never listened to any CD more when Linkin Park came out with their debut album. The group successfully combined rap and metal into an album that allowed them to have cred with both genres of music.

In Search of… - N.E.R.D. (2001): The album is like a free flowing river, becoming calm at times and then rough and treacherous. N.E.R.D, which stands for No One Ever Really Dies, keeps listeners on their toes the entire album, switching tempos and musical construction mid song, producing a sound that is truly unique.

The Beautiful Struggle - Talib Kweli (2004): His beats are more mainstream this time around, but the messages he raps about are as powerful as ever. In “Going Hard” he spits,‘Parents never there, they're busy building homes they can't afford to buy, Cars they can't afford to drive, Working jobs that don't support their life, You busy screaming gangsta, gangsta all that talk is trife.’

The College Dropout - Kanye West (2004): His first album is a classic, bringing the soul sample to the forefront of hip-hop. The song “Family Business” is my favorite on the album. West changes keys on his final verse rapping, “I woke up early this mornin' with a new state of mind, A creative way to rhyme without usin' knives and guns, Keep your nose out the sky, keep your heart to God, And keep your face to the risin' sun’.

The Cool - Lupe Fiasco (2007): To fully appreciate everything in a Lupe Fiasco album it must be listened to many, many times, because the Chicago MC slips in so many metaphors that you need to go back again and again to fully grasp his abilities. For example on the song “The Coolest” he raps ‘please forgive Michael Young History’, but just listening to the song it sounds like ‘please forgive my cool young history’.

3. The Blueprint – Jay-Z (2001): In my mind this is his best album, even better than Reasonable Doubt. “H-to the Izzo” was my anthem during sophomore year of high school. I remember listening to it before soccer games. Kanye West produces the majority of the album lending the soul sample to Jay-Z’s rhymes. “Heart of the City” and “All I Need” are standouts. And his storytelling ability is on full display on the track ‘Song Cry” – ‘I can’t see them coming down my eye, so I got to make this song cry’.

2. Late Registration – Kanye West (2005): West didn’t suffer a sophomore slump with his second album. Late Registration is a more polished album with better lyrics and production. He sticks with the soul-sampling technique of The College Dropout but adds more string instruments, horns and pianos to give the album a more epic feel. The song “Roses” has a simple beat, but may be the albums most powerful song. On “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” Mr. West samples Shirley Bassey “Diamonds are Forever” as he discusses the issue of blood diamonds, ‘Good Morning, this ain't Vietnam still, People lose hands, legs, arms for real, Little was known of Sierra Leone, And how it connect to the diamonds we own’.

1. Food & Liquor – Lupe Fiasco (2006): I have never listened to an album more than Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. Whether it was playing in my ears as I fell asleep or coming back from the bar at State College, this album was always playing through my iPod. The intro on the album sums up exactly what you can expect to hear. You will hear the good, that’s the food. And the bad, that’s the liquor, from the mind of Mr. Fiasco. “Kick Push” is the story of a skater just looking to find a place to ride. The “Intrumental” is about a person who believes everything the TV tells him. “Daydreamin’” sarcastically mocks every other hip-hop artists rap videos, poking fun at how easily it is to predict what will be in the video to get it played on MTV. ‘And where's the champagne? We need champagne, Now look as hard as you can with this blunt in your hand, And now hold up your chain slow motion through the flames, Now cue the smoke machines and the simulated rain’. On Sunshine he drops my favorite verse of the entire album,‘Never met her before, But I think I like her like a metaphor’. On “The Cool” he tells a story of Michael Young History digging himself out of his grave after the gangster lifestyle ended his life early. Every track is well crafted and honest; “Hurt me Soul” opens with Fiasco stating he used to hate hip-hop. The production, done almost entirely by Soundtrakk, who is able to match Lupe’s rapping style perfectly with the beats. It is the most honest, compelling and intelligent album of the decade. Each song is layered with lyrics that will make you think and laugh, and deserves multiple listens. Listening to a Lupe Fiasco song is like watching an episode of Arrested Development. You constantly hear new metaphors with each additional listen.

Around the sports world...

1. Ron Artest admitting he drank during the game as a Chicago Bull

"I used to drink Hennessy ... at halftime. I [kept it] in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store and get it."

No wonder the Bulls sucked so bad. Their best defender was liquored. How doesn't then head coach Tim Floyd not know about this. It wasn't like he was busy game-planing.

2. Notre Dame Athletic director Jack Swarbrick

"The unique circumstances surrounding our program at the current time prevent us from making the commitment required to compete in a bowl game."

What situation? That your embarrassed to be invited to a lesser bowl. That is the situation. It has nothing to do with firing your coach. Plenty of coaches have been let go after the season and still coached the team. The sad thing is that the players had a vote and the decision was still made that they will not accept an invite. As a player on the team how do you let that happen? As a senior how do you not want to play one more game. Most of you will never play football again. Have your egos been inflated that much simply because you attend Notre Dame? Do you feel entitled to something better? Oh wait, of course, this is Notre Dame I forgot... Do you know how many other schools would kill to go to any bowl game. It is a privilege to get to play in a bowl and it shouldn't be disrespected just because your not happy about what day of the year you will be playing it. I look at the Duke football team and they would do anything for the chance to play in any bowl. You probably won't find a team with a better attitude and better character than the Blue Devils. Too bad Duke can't take Notre Dame's place in a bowl. They certainly deserve it more simply because of their attitudes to the sport of football. They wouldn't turn down a chance to play one more game. Notre Dame shouldn't either.

3. Coach K responding to Doug Gottlieb calling Duke "alarming non-athletic"

"He should be an expert on alarming non-athletic. So I'll have to take a look at that a little bit closer because it comes from an expert who actually knows what it is like to be alarmingly non-athletic."

Great, great answer Coach. What does it say for the rest of college basketball if a top 10 team is alarming non-athletic.

My Favorite Month...

I'm back. The start of December, my favorite month has invigorated me. So I return with my top five favorite Christmas movies. Tis the season... Starting in reverse order #5....

5. Gremlins

I know what your saying, "this isn't a Christmas movie". But oh it is. The Mogwai, named Gizmo, is an early Christmas present for his son. Chaos ensues when the Mogwai touch water or eat after midnight, but the essential principles of the flick are the bonds of friendship and family. (Also Phoebe Cates delivers one of the greatest speeches in movie history when she describes why she hates Christmas. On the unintentional comedy scale it is a 10.

Fav. Line: "And that's how I found out there was no Santa Clause."

4. Die Hard

Once again not your usual Christmas movie, but still damn good. I proposed a theory years ago that if you give Bruce Willis a gun the movie will be good. Well, this movie he has a gun during a Christmas party... So it is freaking amazing.

Fav. Line: "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho."

3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (the classic animated TV special, not the crappy Jim Carrey movie)

You can argue this is not a movie, but it is essential viewing for me during December. It maybe the perfect story to show the true meaning of Christmas. Great rhyming from the late Doctor and how can you not love the dog/reindeer. Good old fashioned holiday cheer

Fav. Line: "Maybe Christmas he thought doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

2. It's A Wonderful Life

This was tough. I was close to making this movie #1, but while I do love it and i do need to watch it before Christmas it still couldn't top my number 1. Maybe in a few more years it will, but right now it is #2. I first saw It's A Wonderful Life in high school during Mrs. Cheffo's English class. Immediately I could not believe I had not watched it before. It touches my heart every time I watch it and Jimmy Stewart gives an amazing performance as George Bailey.

Fav. Line: "What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That is a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary."

1. Christmas Vacation

Could anything else be #1. Cousin Eddie, Clark Griswald, family members yelling, angry neighbors, crazy squirrels, disgruntled employees, it has everything you want out a good Christmas and more and then it also has the heart to tie everything up in a perfect package. I don't know what any of what I just said means, but damn, its a great movie. It is the one that me and my family watched more than any other movie each holiday. We know all the lines and all the great moments, but yet we still watch and we still laugh. Maybe because it is so relatable to our holidays. Maybe that is why it is so good. Every time I would head out into the cold to hang Christmas lights with my dad I am reminded of the scene when Rusty has to unknot the giant ball of lights for his dad. I was Rusty. I had to untangle the lights.

Fav. Line: "Hey. If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, fore-fleshing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is. Hallelujah. Holy shit. Where's the Tylenol?"

Six Things...

Definition of Bitesies - To take a bite of someone's food. These are the six rules of bitesies in grand detail.

Six things you should know about… bitesies
Team 732

1. Bitesies shall be limited to one mouthful or fork/spoonful unless second bite permission is granted from the eating party.

2. Bitesies must be called before more than 2/3 of the food item in question has been consumed by the owner of said food item.

3. Steve doesn't participate in bitesies...ever
3(a). EVER!
3(b). Unless Pat just calls bitesies and takes a bite, in which case Steve unplugs the Xbox.

4. Unless approval is granted only one person may act on the right of bitesies per item of food.

5. If you call bitesies, you must be fully prepared to reciprocate the bitesies on your own food item.

6. Patrick Galindo has exclusive rights to Prima Bitesies (i.e. Mr. Galindo has first 'dibs' of bitesies on any food item being eaten by any of the roommates, in fact any one ever who is eating food). Also under this rule, the right of Prima Bitesies supersedes rules 1-4, ergo Patrick has the right to act on bitesies even after someone else has on any item of food, can bitesies the last bite of food, and there is no limit to the size of said bitesies.

The Very Best

I have never been to the place that serves the world’s greatest cup of coffee or the best apple pie. I don’t know where these places are. My travels in life have not led me to sample these items, but I have found the location of one such beverage that is better at in Durham, N.C. then any other place I have ever consumed the drink. It is so good that I will make the claim that it is the world’s greatest. Yes people you should travel from wherever you live to Durham, N.C. to try the best root beer in the world. The Chipotle on Erwin Road has the world’s greatest root beer. The best Barq’s root beer pours of the soda fountain at this location. I was as shocked to taste this liquid delight as you are to read that the best root beer resides in North Carolina. But it’s true. I wouldn’t lead you astray.

It's about time...

… for a new Kanye West album, not another 808s & Heartbreak but a rap album. Ye hasn’t put one out since 2007s Graduation and with no new album scheduled for this year I must look to 2010 for a new West album. I can only hope he has something planned. Why the sudden need, well, Jay-Z’s BP3 leaked early and I wasn’t blown away. It made me think that I have not been blown away by a new album in a long time, THAT SUCKS. The only other album I’m excited for this year is Lupe Fiasco’s L.A.S.E.R.S., but that’s not coming until December and his stuff has a history of getting pushed back. So I’m left with the hope that Kanye is in the studio right now (we know for a fact Steve is, even though he wants us to shut it down). Four albums. Four classics.

And yes, I am listening to Kanye as I am writing this.

Album Rankings
1. Late Registration (Heard ‘Em Say, Gone, Roses, Diamonds are Forever)
2. The College Dropout (Family Business, Two Words, Jesus Walks)
3. Graduation (Flashing Lights, Stronger, Good Morning, Can’t Tell Me Nothing)
4. 808s & Heartbreak (Welcome to Heartbreak, Heartless, Robocop)

For your listening pleasure my favorite all-time Kanye song - Family Business from The College Dropout.