Nope, this ain’t Sade, it’s Big Daddy Kane. My buddy Brad sent this one to me the other day and I told him that it’d be perfect for the Friday Throwback.

• Check out that sweet fade.
• Transformer heads love the, “Transformin’ the stage like a decepticon,” line.
• That poor Asian lady didn’t look to happy to be in this video.
• Is that Chris Rock?
• That’s the Kwame “Ownlee Ewe” dance.
• I bet that after the shoot was over, Kane got a piece.
• And he got the money.

Kane needs to do a comeback record. Case closed.

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At least year’s inaugural Nakamoto Walk Or Run For Fun, Eddy Zucko won the race. This year, on Memorial Day 2008, all I want is a shot at his championship at the 2nd Annual Nakamoto Walk Or Run For Fun event. Will he say yes?

It’s not like I ever thought I wouldn’t buy a pair of Jordans ever again. But when I stopped buying after the XVIIIs (I bought the XIXs on a big time discount some 5 months after the release so I don’t count those), I wasn’t so sure that I’d be into the whole shoe buying phenomenon again. When I say phenomenon, I truly mean it. It’s not just buying the shoes. It’s the preparation as well. It’s figuring out what color way you want (unless you’re Eddy Zucko and you just decided to buy both so you don’t have to make that decision). It’s also figuring how you’re going to buy them on release day, because if you don’t buy them on release day, you’re just like En Vogue - never gonna get it.

I picked them up online at about 8:15 PM last night as it looks like Finish Line released them a bit early. But I think this is it, as far as the whole phenomenon goes. I may get some more Jordans down the line, but probably not like I used to. I just gave Carol about 10-15 pair to sell and use the money for private school for the kids. I’ve kept about 10 myself, and I’ll probably never get rid of them. But I don’t see myself adding much to the collection. I’ve also started to like how the Lebrons look, and have two pairs of those as well. I’m out of the shoe biz, but I still follow the game. I’m interested as well to see what happens after this year with the Jordan Brand.

Check out this video that ESPN ran last night that talks about why, when I was just 9 years old, I had to have the OG Jordans. Yep, thanks to mom and dad, I was like Mike, at least on the feet. At the end, he shows that wrong color way that was limited to 23 stores, but he didn’t know any better. He isn’t a part of the phenomenon.

I think I need to find that Cocktail Soundtrack again.

• Here’s a little song Bobby wrote, you might want to sing it note for note.
• Don’t worry ……… be happy ……..
• That Bobby is a great whistler.
• Robin Williams and Bill Irwin (thanks Wikipedia) are hamming it up. I’ve seen Bill Irwin’s act on The Cosby Show and it’s pretty funny.
• McFerrin is doing a great job himself of being a ham.
• Was this Robin Williams from the Cadillac Man days?
• Shirtless Bobby needs to get on the HGH.
• “Don’t worry, it will soon pass whatever it is.” That’s some great advice there.

Someone needs to bring Bobby back to the mainstream. Maybe Kanye can remix this one.

In the year after the Golden State Warriors shocked the basketball world and beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, one would think that they would finally get their due, especially after winning 32 games in the first half of this year. But no. Not only do they have the third best record in all of basketball since getting Stephen Jackson back in the lineup, but they also have possibly the most exciting team in the league. They definitely have the most exciting back court duo. So when it’s Baron Davis’ turn to be on the All-Star team, he’s passed by. Maybe Baron will use the frustration to help him when the Warriors beat someone in the first round of the playoffs again. You know it’s happening.

Also, no Young Randall, no Eddy Zucko, no HJ, and no Luchadors. They were with me last year, but this year, it’s just little old me.

Predictions:

I think the West will win, Carmelo Anthony will win MVP, and Antawn Jamison will win the Tyrone Hill award for least minutes played in the game. Kobe could possibly win it, but I think he’ll play at least 10 minutes.

I’m not sure that the Western team’s b-boy pose after the introductions can be topped. The smile on Yao’s face was priceless. The NBA, where “what do I do with my arms?” happens.

And before we actually get to the game, we might as well show the best part of last night’s All-Star Saturday Night. Superman was in the house.

• Every All-Star game I’ve blogged, the West has won. So you can pretty much bet the house tonight on the West.
• I wonder if Jason Kidd will accidentally pass it to Dirk Nowitski, thinking that he’s supposed to be on the Mavs?
• The East scores the first six points and all on dunks. Let’s just say defense isn’t on the mind of the Western squad.
• Kobe only played the first three minutes and I’m not sure if he touched the ball.
• So far, the story of this game is that the West likes to settle for jumpers and the East likes to dunk. Guess who’s winning?
• Thanks to Melo and AI, the West is back in this thing.
• Rip Hamilton is so old school, he caught an alley-oop and instead of dunking it, he laid it in.
• TO is in the house, but I don’t see any tears. I guess no one made fun of Tony Romo.
• David West is in this game? Oh yah, he took B-Diddy’s spot.
• The youngsters Brandon Roy and Chris Paul are working it together. By the way, Roy and West are the two guys in this game I couldn’t pick out in a police lineup.
• There’s been a Chest Hair Boozer sighting. He just grabbed a rebound.
• The East just threw three alley-oops on one play. I think it was Joe Johnson to Jason Kidd to Lebron James to Dwight Howard.
• David Aldridge mentioned earlier that it looks like the Jason Kidd trade is on. All they have to do is convince Keith Van Horn to play again after not playing for over a year as he’s a part of the deal. While they’re at it, why don’t they get Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn to come out of retirement and trade them as well?

Bring This Guy Back So You Can Trade Him

• Rasheed just nailed a three pointer from the top of the key. No biggie right? But he shot it left handed.
• At the half, Lebron has the Magic Johnson All-Star game stat line with triple double definitely in sight.
• Looks like Kobe and his pinkie finger are done for the rest of the game.
• AI is trying his hardest to keep the West in this, but Lebron and company have other ideas.
• If Chest Hair Boozer would make his layups, this game might be closer.
• Has Byron Scott always had the porn stashe going? Dude needs to buy some little scissors to trim that dirty thing.

The Dirty Stashe

• Paul is bringing these guys back. Amare Stoudamire looks like the East Dwight Howard and Dirk is finally playing well. The West just took their first lead.
• Big Play Ray Allen is killing it and wearing the new Jordan’s at the same time.
• Brandon Roy is getting some definite crunch time play over AI, Melo, and Stevie Nash.
• Thanks to a Lebron dunk in traffic and a D-Wade layup where he hit the floor and got the foul (what’s new?), the East is back up by four with 30 seconds to go.
• Big Play Ray and LBJ put the game away, though the West made it fun in the end. Lebron is the MVP and he just missed a triple double. And my predictions were terrible.

Heavy D might be a forgotten soldier in today’s rap music scene, and really, kids now probably remember him for roles in Boston Public and movies like Step Up and Life. But back in the day, he was a jovial overweight lover nicknamed Water Bed Hev. And he had nuttin’ but love for ya.

• I had no clue Chris Tucker was in this video.
• That’s like the United Nations of hoochie mamas right there.
• Middle name price tag, first name gotcha!
• Don’t ask him for nathins
• Standin’ by the gutter with your bootie cutters - I need to meet these women that Hev meets.
• Where has this video been all time all my life? My Noxema girl from 90210 is in this?
• Antonia Marchette McKay if you nasty.
• That Heavy D is a great, great man.

Now where’s fun music like that these days?

The first single of Mariah Carey’s new album is out there and it’s called Touch My Body.

A radio station has it available to stream. Click here to listen. Then click on the link that says AUDIO when you get to the page. A second browser will open up.

Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Perez Hilton seems to think it’s terrible. I think it’s a decent pop single and catchy enough to catch on with radio. But it’s not going to catch on like the first two singles of her last album did.

And get this, her new album is named E=MC².

This review was posted originally on Epinions.com.

With Martin Lawrence’s latest movie, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, he gets a lot of help from an all-star cast and really, in this day and age, he needs it. His name is on the marquee and he has the biggest part, but if not for his cast, this movie bricks, and bricks badly. Maybe I’m giving the cast too much credit. They aren’t all all-stars. Cedric The Entertainer hasn’t been all that funny since Barbershop, but to folks who are going to see this movie, he’s an attraction. As is Mike Epps, who in fact, might be one of the funnier goofy guys in movies today. And let’s just put Joy Bryant on the cover of King Magazine right now. As pretty as she is, she also plays one of the better characters in the movie. Michael Clarke Duncan isn’t making too many waves these days, but his hulking presence doesn’t take anything away from the movie. And who doesn’t like James Earl Jones even if you’re just waiting for him to say “Skyyyyyywallllllkerrrrrr” in his deep voice? On the other hand, Mo’Nique isn’t necessarily charming. She’s foul mouthed and disgusting for most of the movie. How this thing was only rated PG-13 leads me to believe that the MPAA didn’t get some of the jokes.

Martin Lawrence is completely stuck in a rut. After playing some great characters in movies like Bad Boys and Life, he’s now subjected to playing his Martin Payne character in nearly every role now. Even parts of his old sitcom are smack dab in this movie. While you can go to the well a few times, it can get old and with his latest role as RJ Stevens, a Dr. Phil/Jerry Springer like talk show host, yesterday’s edgy is now today’s stale. Lawrence used to be cutting and eye opening. But now, he seems tired and walking on the same treadmill he’s been on for the last ten years.

Ms. Joy

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is, on a basic level, about how a lacking relationship between a father and son can affect both men later in life, and leave them both with huge chips on their shoulders. The father doesn’t know why his son acts a certain way, and vice versa. So when the son (Martin Lawrence) comes home to a life he left, at the urging of his parents (Margaret Avery and James Earl Jones), he brings a new lifestyle with him to his old stomping grounds. Duncan plays RJ’s bigger brother who is happy in his simple life of kids and family while RJ looks down on him because he sees himself as above it. Cedric plays a cousin who was adopted by the Jenkins family (RJ is actually the stage name for Roscoe Jenkins), but always competed against and beat RJ at everything. He also stole the love of RJ’s life. Nicole Ari Parker plays Lucinda, the woman who RJ has never gotten over, even though his fiance Bianca (Bryant) is a hotty with a body. But along with that body, she’s also superficial, sassy, and snobby. RJ’s own young son seems to fit in better with his southern family than he ever did and it bites at him throughout because maybe, he’s not above it all like he thinks he is.

Epps is the real star of the film and I can’t imagine that all of his dialogue was written for him. His style is very off the cuff and seems like one long stand-up routine and while he throws a lot of stuff at the dart board, much of it hits. Cedric is also funny in the film and they both play off Lawrence perfectly, but also overshadow him at the same time. Lawrence plays it straight (but for him, straight is still a little jagged) but seems out of his league these days with funny men who he probably inspired. Parker and Bryant are the direct opposites and play their roles well. Bryant is there to be hated and Parker, there to be liked. I loved Bryant in Antwone Fisher and think that she has a great future ahead of her. It doesn’t look like she’s getting the best roles out there as she’s also been in Honey, but at least that movie helped jump start Jessica Alba’s career. Parker is better known for her role on the show Soul Food. Her role is set up early on to steal RJ from Bryant, but in a nice way. I’m not sure that I was that sold on her in that role, but she was easy to like.

This movie will probably do decent business based on the power of Martin Lawrence’s name (that’s why I went) and a good mix of supporting cast of comedians. It’s a story that’s been done before and better. This Malcolm D. Lee directed film is a little racy and silly, but there are true laughs that result out of it.

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I’ve blogged this show for the past two years and made fun of it’s usual lengthiness, but am going to change my tune. No, I won’t wonder how man cups of coffee I’ll need. And I won’t try to outdo myself with more coffee. I’m only drinking Diet Pepsi Max (and bobbing my head like LL and Busta) and Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry Vanilla style.

Let’s just get this out of the way. Kanye is going to be the sentimental favorite tonight. With his mom’s recent surprise passing, I can’t imagine him not performing Hey Mama tonight and just making the tears run down everyone’s faces.

• The show opens with Alicia Keys singing a duet with Frank Sinatra. And dude is in black and white.
• Alicia’s dress is way too tight and reminds me of the dress that Donna Martin wore to the Spring dance that made her look like a mermaid. Her breasts must be suffocating.
• Carrie Underwood is a really pretty girl, but isn’t the kind of girl who should ever wear hot pants of any kind. She has a bad case of noassatall.
• Alicia Keys just won the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and accepted the award from Prince. Her heels must’ve been higher because dude would’ve had to jump to kiss her.
• Morris Day and The Time just came out, but only to act as the intro act to Rihanna. Prince was not in sight, but Rihanna still gave him props by wearing her hair the same way as him.
• Fantasia was in the crowd and she’s rockin’ a blond bald spot.
• Amy Winehouse won for Best New Artist so they aren’t screwing her just yet for being a nut job.
• Say what you want about Kanye, but the dude is an entertainer. And he did Hey Mama justice and his mother proud tonight.

• There are some people who actually look great in HD, but poor Fergie Ferg isn’t one of them. She should have it in her contract that they can’t do close-ups on her.
• First the Oscars did it to Dreamgirls and now the Grammy’s. They gave the Compilation Soundtrack award to Beatles Live. I think I would’ve been ok with Hugh Grant winning for Pop! Goes My Heart, but not to some guys in tight trousers dancing to Beatles songs.
• Beyonce came out in nothing more than a dress with bikini bottoms and she let the thighs loose. Let’s just say that if Jay-Z ever fell asleep on her lap, he may never wake up.
• Tina Turner came out and sang with Beyonce and save for one moment where she kicked out her knee and I thought she dislocated her knee cap, that old woman can still get it done.

  
  

  They Were Rollin’

  • Even though Amy Winehouse won the song writer’s award for Best Song, what is more interesting is that I learned that Jay-Z gets a writing credit for Umbrella, all because he was in a verse at the beginning of the song that no one remembers. Dude didn’t even write, “Ella ella aye aye”.
  • Just as I aimed my buddy Mike that if Nas or Kanye West didn’t win, we riot, Kanye West won for Best Rap Album.
  • The Grammy’s tried to play the wrap-up music on Kanye, but he made it stop. That was classic.
  • I thought the only people who knew who Feist was, were the folks who watched VH-1 early in the morning.
  • Alicia Keys and Johnny Mayer work well together. And thankfully, Mayer cut off the Edward Scissorhands hairdo.
  • In introducing Amy Winehouse (who is live via satellite as she couldn’t get her visa in time), Cuba Gooding said, “Ya know what I’m sayin?” I didn’t know the dude had it in him.
  • Either Winehouse is trying to make us think she’s messed up, or she’s really messed up. Which also begs the question, “How can someone sing so well while messed up?”
  • After winning Record Of The Year for Rehab she shouted out her “Blake incarcerated”. Yep, she said it.
  • Why is will.i.am on my TV singing and rapping a collection of past Grammy’s hits? The crowd didn’t know what to do when he was done.
  • Usher and Kanye West would’ve tied if there was an award for Best Sunglasses.
  • In the biggest upset in the last week, Herbie Hancock beat out both Kanye West and Amy Winehouse for Album Of The Year. It was an Eli Manning-esque comeback. Then, when reaching for his thank you cards, they slipped out and fell, only he didn’t know and kept reaching into his pocket. At least Eli didn’t drop the trophy.

   

  
  

  Rock It

  The rumored Michael Jackson tie-in for the re-release of Thriller never happened. That made me sad. But at least I didn’t have to drink coffee.

I didn’t really get into Guy when their first album dropped. It wasn’t until I Wanna Get With You did I really notice them. It just happened to be that I was listening to a lot more stuff the year their second album came out. And then, there was this song.

• What’s up with the glasses and flat top look?
• I don’t remember there being a ballerina in this video.
• Teddy Riley playing the piano in a bathrobe is just unintentionally funny.
• Is there any reason why the color of the video changes?
• Is it a dream or reality? Cause if it’s a fantasy, please don’t wake me.
• Holy cow. That was a gutter ball from the word go.
• I don’t get the singing on stools deal, but oh well, this was the early 90s.

Paging Aaron Hall. Paging Aaron Hall. Come back to R&B music man. We need you.