Quick thoughts on football and the media

1) I don't know how to create a blog with indentations at the begining of each paragraph.
2) People expect a drop off because Keller is the Nebraska quarterback. Umm...did everyone forget that ASU is no good and he still put up killer numbers. And, he is a 5th year senior. And, we have been recruiting really well. And, Missouri is still Missouri. Get real, we are getting better.
3) Either the end of the world is coming or media coverage is just crazy. Minnesota alone has had a bridge collapse, a natural disaster, and a political scandal in the last month or so. Media is out of control. But then again, if I'm thinking about, I guess rule by fear is working.
4) Preseason football polls are the greatest. I mean why wouldn't Ohio State be number two after they lost their quarterback, halfback, and two leading receivers. Actually, the only thing that makes sense about this year's rankings is not ranking Notre-stinkin'-Dame. They are going to lose. The further back they fall, the less likely they are to get a free bid to the BCS.
5) I know that American culture started in the east and spread westward. I am just wondering when east coast bias in culture is going to find it's balance. It bothers me that networks like ESPN know USC so well but that is the end of the Pac 10. I mean, even though the polls don't rank the Fighting Irish, they are covered every day. Even though Rutgers has been good for all of one year, they still get more coverage than TCU or Boise State. Just a thought...

Hip-hop Lives

Lizzie and I celebrated our 8th anniversary on the 28th of August. Odd enough, we both bought tickets to hot tickets in the Twin Cities and called them gifts. Her tickets were to the "Blues Festival" @ the Minnesota State Fair featuring B.B., Etta James, and Al Green. My tickets were more my speed (maybe a bit selfish in that regard). The Rock the Bells Summer Concert Tour rolled through the Cities. I had to go.
Let me just say, I was disappointed when the first three acts were cancelled due to time restraints. For anyone who has ever been to a rap concert, it is glaringly obvious that set-up and quick turnover from set to set is not the most important thing. So, from the start, we didn't have the chance to see David Banner, Slum Village, and MF Doom. Actually, I was really looking forward to seeing MF. I don't know that his dense rhymes would translate to a live show, but they can't be worse than the density of Immortal Technique or the Rza's spit.
Okay, so we show up @ 2pm for a 1pm to 10pm festival. The first act had just started (even though the doors opened at noon, RIDICULOUS). They were Jedi Mind Tricks (see photo above). First off, I have never heard them before. Doesn't everyone remember when car stereos became popular in the early 90s and there were groups who made bass tracks? That is what this sounded like to me. Also, these clowns talked to all these young, mainly white kids about what it's like to be 'gangster'. Surreal moment of the night: Jedi Mind Tricks making all these kid repeat, "I want that gangster,gangster shit, That real murda, murda shit." Anyway, they were kinda weak.
Then we saw, between sets, the freestyle world record holder (9 and 1/2 hours) MC Supernatural. This guy was amazing. He, despite Kweli, Nas, etc..., was the best part of the night. I am impressed by the ability to rhyme off the top of one's head, especially when it's on point. At one point, Supernat walked across the front row of the crowd and rapped about things the audience members handed him. He brought the house down when a girl handed him her panties. As one of the Wu members put it, " Supernat is bad, girl's don't even give up their panties for the Wu. "
Next to the stage was Immortal Technique. Again, I have never seen this fella or heard any of his stuff. When Lizzie returned from an emergency trip to the car for her inhaler, I summed up pretty much what Immortal's set was going to be. He's shocking. He's uber-political. He says jaw-dropping rhymes that are on point for the most part. Occasionally, he gets to deep for a concert or talks about social issues that yuppies in St. Paul might not feel. But, it was good.
Then my man and personal favorite of the night took the stage. I often forget that Pharoah Monche comes from a singing background and that straight hip-hop isn't his style. He took the stage with a band and two extremely talented backup singers. Truthfully, the mixing of the sound system was whack the entire night. When two or more mics were on at the same time, the loudest mic took the lead on the speakers. So, when Pharoah had a verse to spit, sometimes you couldn't hear him until the 2nd or 3rd bar. It was quite odd. And his new album, which grows on me the more I hear it, is a lot more singing and soulful than Infernal Affairs. He, of course, shook everyone with Simon Says but for the most part it was only okay (Lizzie loved it).
Taleb Kweli took the stage next. Honestly, his set was forgettable. It is probably because I was still in awe of what Supernatural performed between sets. Kweli was exactly how hip-hop should be though. One man and a dj. Two turntables. Just keep dropping beats. None of this, I need another cat on stage helping my rap to create an echo or fill in the bass cuz my voice is like a teenage when I'm live. And by the by, how come rumors of Fugees and Black Star are persistent, but Rage Against the Machine is on tour and Mos Def and Kwali are on this tour and don't get on stage at the same time? Mos wasn't in the Twin Cities (neither was Rage), but that's beside the point.
I guess I was most excited about the Nas set when I thought about it. He is so awesome in portions. So, he took the stage (oddly enough with about 10 people on the side of the stage doing nothing). He had no dj. He started with the title track from Hip-hop is Dead. Then he went though his hits in a chronological order. It was awesome. Nas' set contained many moments that made me realize the irony of his latest album titles. He had a few audience response rifts about loving hip-hop. I guess what he's been saying is that weak rap is killing groups like the ones in this tour and making it hard to keep hip-hop what it should be. That is to say, his set reminded me of L.L. Cool J. Unplugged. And that, for those who know, is what hip-hop was, is and should be. Minus the deodorant.
Finally, after a hour or so of nothing (I think Supernat did some things but there is only so much one man can do) Wu Tang finally took the stage. I told Lizzie, whether it's that they are all high as fuck, there are so many of them (there are more now than ever, who is Streetlife?why do they call him a member?), or there is someone parked in the bus loading zone, they are going to be late. My brother, Christian, and I witnessed this in Omaha. He also witnessed this in the late 90s in Kansas City. The Wu are notorious........for being fuckin' late.
I also told Eizzil (pronounced Izzl, aka Lizzie) Method Man went crazy @ the Sokol when we saw the Wu in Omaha. He climbed a speaker to the balcony. Well, yet again, in St. Paul, it seemed liked the set was going no where and Meth took over. He crowd surfed, twice. He worked the crowd. He got everyone hype. That is until ODB's son led the crowd in a rendition of Shimmy Shimmy Ya in remembrance of his dad. That was mind boggling. The set, as always, was worth the wait. Every member got his shine, and for those who like the solo project and the group project, there was plenty to rap along to.
For Lizzie's first rap concert, it might have been a bit much. For me, it was the most rewarding concert I've been to in years. It reminded me, hip-hop really isn't dead. The industry can't kill it no matter how hard they try.