Many of you who know me know that I'm a HUGE fan of Cee-Lo (Goodie Mob, Gnarls Barkley). I'm the one who goes dumb hard for him when people put him head to head with Andre 3000. I think Cee-Lo is better than Dre. His raps are just as potent as 3 Stacks and he's clearly the better singer. I can't say enough about dude. He's in my Top 10 for sure!!!
Anyway, I ran across an article on Gnarls Barkley regarding their second album (which I seemed to have misplaced). One of the standout joints on that CD was "Who's Gonna Save My Soul". The dark guitar chords, the dry snare, and Cee-Lo's gospel-tinged voice made instantly grabbed me the first time I heard it. However, the article I was reading gave me some insight into the meaning of the song.
Apparently, it's a tribute/eulogy to James Brown. He's talking about how he idolized JB and how he made him feel proud to be a black man with records like "I'm Black & I'm Proud", "Papa's Got Soul", and "The Big Payback". However, as James got older, he became disappointed that James wasn't living up to those ideals that he once idolized (I'm sure we're all aware of Mr. Brown's run ins with the law regarding drugs, women, etc). The song comes full circle though once he realizes that James is hurting just as badly as he is, looking for someone/something to save HIS soul.
After I read this, I had to find the video for this song and share it with ya'll. PLEASE check this out!!!
Jamie is hands down one of my favorite artists!!! I came across his performance at music mogul Clive Davis' annual Pre-Grammy event (2006). The boy went CRAZY!!! Besides killing it with his natural talent, he brought out everyone from Ludacris, Fantasia, Mario, Jodeci, Snoop Dogg, Doug E. Fresh, and Kanye West. BANOODLES!!! Check it out
Nick Love - The Conqueror
Proving Grounds LLC est. 2005
Just read this a second ago and thought it was cool. Check it out (#2, #3, and #5 kinda got me messed up right now).
ACTION PLAN
1. DECIDE exactly what you want in life in each area, and write it down. Make your goals clear, specific, and measurable.
2. SPECIFY the most important skill you could develop to move you into the top 10 percent in your field. Then do something immediately to begin developing that skill.
3. IDENTIFY the major constraint or limiting factor inside yourself or in your world that is setting the speed at which you achieve your most important goal, and begin working on removing that constraint today.
4. DETERMINE your single biggest problem or obstacle in your business or personal life. Then focus all of your time and attention on the possible solutions.
5. MAKE a list of what you would want to be, do, and have if you had no limitations and you were absolutely guaranteed success.
6. ACCEPT complete responsibility for your life. From this day forward, refuse to make excuses or blame anyone for anything. Instead, take action to make your goals a reality.
7. REAFFIRM and visualize your goals of financial success, excellent health, and personal happiness as a reality. Remember, the person you see is the person you will be.
- ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE
Nick Love - Action Plan Shawty
Proving Grounds LLC Est. 2005
PROPAGANDA [prop-uh-gan-duh] – noun
əˈ
1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
2.the dissemination of information aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people
3. the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.
Nas said hip-hop was dead, Billboard says record sales are down, and the bloggers say the new crop of rappers lack talent, creativity, and originality. Gloom and doom, gloom and doom. If you read the magazines or visit the "hip hop" sites, you'd think that rap music was murdered gangland style by Master P and D4L and buried in a cemetery in Brooklyn next to Biggie (R.I.P.). The outlook for the future is bleak at best and there's no chance for any of XXL's Top 10 Freshman to resuscitate this mess.
My solution: PROPAGANDA. I was browsing thru Wikipedia a few days ago and I came across the entry for this word. After skimming thru it briefly, I was convinced that this was the answer to right this ship. The United States has used propaganda for centuries to get its citizens to believe in the central patriotic doctrines and ideals that shape the core of this country. From the economy to the election, from immigration to war, the US has often utilized some form of propaganda to restore/maintain faith in the government. That very same propaganda has also been used to instill fear or inspire negative feelings about other countries or political figures - think Russia (Cold War), Cuba (Fidel Castro), Iraq (Saddam Hussein), China, etc
Now, my theory is this - if we can get the SOHH's of the world to start pumping the general public's heads with information about how rap music is thriving, how Lil Wayne's The Carter 3 album is a sign of good things to come, and how B.O.B. is the second coming of (insert your favorite rapper circa 1988 - 1998), I think we may see an increase in sales and a rejuvenated interest in the artform. I mean, if someone told you that Young Jeezy's new album was on track to be better than Jay-Z's Blueprint, wouldn't you check it out?? I'm just thinking that if we started spreading some GOOD news about the state of hip-hop, maybe we could get the fans excited again.
What do you think??
Well, I made my picks and I was 50% right. I was hoping that 2 days before the history-making inauguration of Barack Obama, I could get a Super Bowl with a black coach and a black QB.
Well, Donovan couldn't quite pull it off but my boy Tomlin coached his team to the W. Cheers to the Steelers!!! Also, my prayers go out Willis McGahee. He took a crazy hit!!!
Besides the fact that my boy is from the East side of Atlanta like myself, he's also one of the most talented, most charismatic, and most creative cats I've seen do it in a while. Please check out the video for my boy, B.O.B. - I'll Be In The Sky.
Shouts out to my boys TJ and B Rich. Ya'll are really putting in some work. I wish you guys all the best and much success!!!
Nicholas Love - The Leader
Proving Grounds LLC Est. 2005
www.youtube.com/youngcaponetv
(Click here to watch Episodes 1 - 12 plus the Giant Extras)
(Click here to watch Episodes 1 - 12 plus the Giant Extras)
It feels good to set a goal and accomplish it. A few months back, I sat down with my client, Young Capone, and we mapped out a plan on what we wanted to do between September and December of 2008. We wanted to get his Myspace page redone, get his music out, get some videos shot, revamp his online campaign, etc. It was a really long list.
Well, we've still got a long way to go but one of things I'm most proud of is the Youtube videos that we did with Grim for UNN. Not only did Grim do a good job, he got across most of what we were trying to get out. We never wanted to do GITV (Get Indicted TV) where we was all on Youtube shooting pistols in the air, busting down dope on the table, talking about how hard our hood is, etc. We wanted to show the evolution and growth of an artist not a whole lot of flexing or putting on like we the shit.
We got a lot more drama and real situations coming in Season 2 but I gotta say that I'm very proud of Season 1. Click on the link above and check out what you may have missed.
P.S. - "Shawty" finally got added to rotation at Hot 107.9 in Atlanta (as of January 13, 2009)
Well, we've still got a long way to go but one of things I'm most proud of is the Youtube videos that we did with Grim for UNN. Not only did Grim do a good job, he got across most of what we were trying to get out. We never wanted to do GITV (Get Indicted TV) where we was all on Youtube shooting pistols in the air, busting down dope on the table, talking about how hard our hood is, etc. We wanted to show the evolution and growth of an artist not a whole lot of flexing or putting on like we the shit.
We got a lot more drama and real situations coming in Season 2 but I gotta say that I'm very proud of Season 1. Click on the link above and check out what you may have missed.
P.S. - "Shawty" finally got added to rotation at Hot 107.9 in Atlanta (as of January 13, 2009)
Please welcome the newest addition to the Proving Grounds Mgmt roster - The Casey Boys aka The Twins from Jagged Edge. Hit records coming soon!!!
This was a strange movie!!! I kinda liked it though. I think I'm gonna have to watch it again to really have a strong opinion one way or another about it.
This movie is HILARIOUS!!!! Robert Downey Jr was funny as hell!!! But, Tom Cruise. . . . .Tom Cruise had me holding my sides!!! How the hell did they get him to play that part?? Ever since that brain lapse he had on Oprah, Tom's been taking on some questionable roles. There's no way you can convince me that he would've done that part when he was still poppin.
If you haven't seen this movie, you gotta check it out.
Nicholas Love - The Leader
Proving Grounds LLC Est. 2005
This movie is HILARIOUS!!!! Robert Downey Jr was funny as hell!!! But, Tom Cruise. . . . .Tom Cruise had me holding my sides!!! How the hell did they get him to play that part?? Ever since that brain lapse he had on Oprah, Tom's been taking on some questionable roles. There's no way you can convince me that he would've done that part when he was still poppin.
If you haven't seen this movie, you gotta check it out.
Nicholas Love - The Leader
Proving Grounds LLC Est. 2005
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
1. No work on Sundays
2. Try to dress up more.
3. Spend more time with family
4. Join Twitter
5. Try to make 7 figures by December
6. Work out everyday
7. Pray everyday
8. Try to post a new blog on BBS or Myspace everyday
Nick Love - The Brand
Proving Grounds LLC Est. 2005
So, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to sign up for Twitter. . . What did I get myself into?? As of right now, I'm not crazy about it. First of all, it's one more username and password that I have to remember. Second, I already have a Blackberry, Blackberry IM, SMS text messaging, and several email addresses. Why on earth do I need another message sending application for my phone?? My friend Jeanise seems to be really excited about this Twitter thing. She's even happier that I'm on it now. She sent me my first message on Twitter today. Thanks, J.
I'm gonna try to stick with it for a couple of days. Maybe I'll grow to love it like everyone else.
I'm gonna try to stick with it for a couple of days. Maybe I'll grow to love it like everyone else.
This is where I'm gonna be this Sunday, December 21st. You should join me. B.O.B. has always been one of my favorite performers. Dude does a great show!!!
Nick Love - The Brand
Proving Grounds LLC Est. 2005
AUTHOR
- NICK LOVE
- DECATUR, GA (USA)
- I'm just your regular, run of the mill, blue collar family man doing extraordinary things on a quest to find balance between family and home. Can I become the most powerful man in music AND be the ideal father/husband?? We'll see...
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