Tampa Calling

In the hip-hop community, no one really wants to be labeled a hater. While I don’t hate Lil Wayne, I am far from a fan. I respect the fact that he has put out more music than any other major hip-hop artist in the last five years and probably has the best work ethic of any rapper not named Tupac Shakur. But is doing your job really worth the iconic status he seems to have achieved? I’m going to have to say no. So at the risk of earning the not-so-superlative hater label, I present to you my Top 3 reasons why a dead Biggie Smalls is better than a living Lil Wayne.

Lil Wayne has been successful but is he really a worthy successor?

Coattails

Sean Combs might be the owner, but Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace, better known as the Notorious B.I.G., is responsible for the Bad Boy Entertainment empire. The considerable wealth Combs amassed thanks to Mr. Wallace’s efforts funded his Sean John clothing line and propelled Puff Daddy to stardom. Diddy got a Grammy for his No Way Out album that featured Biggie on five songs. He also gave Lil Kim, the most popular female rapper of her time, her start.

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Was there ever any question the trio’s collaboration would be anything but golden? The proof is in the 418,000 download sales for its opening week, which surpasses T.I. and Rihanna’s record of 335,000 for their single, “Live Your Life.” For details, numbers and more info, click here.

So, is “Crack a Bottle” fantastic or what? I’d post a video but there isn’t one yet. Just alot of YouTube amateurs pairing pictures with the song. But I’m curious to hear what other people think about it. To hear the song in its entirety, check out Eminem’s MySpace. I’ve listened to it a few times and I’m digging it a little, but I’m not sure the lyrics are up to Eminem’s usual clever standard. Here’s the chorus:

“So crack a bottle, let your body waddle / Don’t act like a snobby model, you just hit the lotto / O-oh o-oh, bitches hopping in my Tahoe / Got one riding shotgun, and no not one of them got gloves / Now wheres the rubbers? Whose got the rubbers? / I noticed theres so many of them, and theres really not that many of us / and ladies love us and my posses kicking up dust / Its on till the break of dawn/ and were starting this party from dus”

Brown got caught up in an domestic violence episode involving an unidentified woman (possibly Rihanna, his girlfriend). The two may or may not have gotten into an argument in their car, she got out, and things escalated from there. Here’s Billboard’s official story.

In answer to Stephen’s earlier question, no, I don’t really care about the Grammys. I probably haven’t watched that particular music awards show (or really, any of the current music awards shows) in who knows how long. But I figure this year, I’ll tune in just to see if I actually know or care about the nominees. I’m also kinda curious about this year’s performances, there being a huge amount of them. A few are possibly bailing out already according to E!’s live red carpet coverage — Chris Brown probably, Rihanna definitely; the rumors are that Al Green or Justin Timberlake will replace them. And Boys II Men are up for two Grammys. I didn’t even know they made a comeback! My bad.

8 p.m. U2, uninspired. Bono looks fat.

8:05 And here’s Whitney Houston looking good, looking real real good. Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson. She is in awe of Whitney, obviously.

8:09 Dwayne Johnson = The Rock. In case you had no idea who the fuck they were talking about. And how is he a credible music presenter?

8:13 Justin Timberlake introduces and joins Al Green with Keith Urban and Boys II Men (who lost Best R&B Album to Hudson) for “Let’s Stay Together.” Was this performance on the Grammys performance schedule? NO. Pretty nice for an impromtu.

NEWS FLASH: Chris Brown’s in trouble, sought in connection with a felony battery. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t available for tonight’s performance? And Rihanna isn’t there from embarassment? On a side note, Rihanna was supposed to sing “Live Your Life/Disturbia” as the second performance of the night, Brown was supposed to sing “Forever” later on. Brown and Rihanna were both nominated in the pop collaboration with vocals category, Brown for “No Air” with American Idol champion Jordin Sparks; and Rihanna for “If I Never See Your Face Again” with Maroon 5. Brown was also nominated for male R&B vocal performance for “Take You Down.” Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, Feb. 27 Malcolm Holcombe (Dave’s Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg)

Saturday, Feb. 28 The Farewell Tour featuring T.I. and Friends (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)

Saturday, March 07 Snoop Dogg *CANCELLED* (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)

Saturday, March 07 K’Naan (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)

Saturday, March 07 William Elliot Whitmore (pictured at right, State Theatre, St. Petersburg)

Sunday, March 15 The Terry Adams Crazy Trio w/The Vodkanauts (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

Sunday, March 29 Blues Blast feat. Damon Fowler Group/TC Carr/Jimmy Griswold/Greg Poulos’ Angels from Hazard (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

Sunday, April 05 Old School Tampa Reunion Party and Concert feat. Beanstalk/Joe Popp/John Wesley/My Little Trotsky/Maggie Council (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) Read the rest of this entry »