He’s certainly not “the greatest of all time”, but Lil Wayne is a good rapper. Somebody apparently told him he’s also a good singer; he actually covers Weezer’s Island In The Sun; but they lied. The Bono feature; how many rappers have the clout to start a sentence with those words; is decent, but the best song is Cotton Candy with 2 Chainz.
my rating : 3 of 5
2025
This is Michael Jackson at his most grandiose, appropriately enough considering it’s the title song to the most grandiose album in History. The concept, which pays homage to innovators and icons like Thomas Edison and Muhammad Ali, is both an anthem “for mankind” and a time capsule of sorts. Among all the samples and bits, of course, there’s a song and it’s another good one, which only adds to the legacy of Jackson himself.
my rating : 4 of 5
1995
When the zombies from 28 Days Later invade your hideout, you do whatever you have to do to survive, so when Don leaves his wife to die, he has the right idea. I’d abandon the kids too; they restarted this mess; but he never gets the chance. Instead they’re coddled and ultimately sacrificed for by total strangers.
Movie clichés are favored over realism; what Don later does to make up to his aforementioned wife is profoundly stupid; but that’s par for the course. It’s what keeps the plot moving forward. This sequel is definitely worse than the original, but it’s interesting enough to hold your anticipation for the next 28 months.
my rating : 3 of 5
2007
A bicycle courier named Jim awakes in an empty hospital to discover he’s in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. That’s the gist of the plot as he goes on to meet other survivors. The infected creatures they encounter are particularly scary because they’re fast and aggressive. The uninfected ones are even worse. Their dreadful predicament is resolved too conveniently in the end, even for a horror flick, but it’s a riveting journey all the way.
my rating : 4 of 5
2002
This episode doesn’t get interesting until about a third in when a white CPR class attendant drops a verbal bombshell in response to being asked to practice on the dummy Louise just put her (“nigger”) lips on. The KKK is a contentious subject for a sitcom and the dialogue gets preachy on both sides, but George Jefferson’s eventual involvement creates not only an element of suspense but the main source of entertainment.
my rating : 3 of 5
1981
These Brownies; Freshness Guaranteed is a Walmart brand meaning you can only get them from the store; are better than the plain version. The Cream Cheese topping makes for a sweet touch; almost like a layer of white chocolate. They’re best served cold from the fridge.
my rating : 4 of 5
This drink, based on the YouTube “streamer collective” Any Means Possible, is promoted as “jaw-droppingly delicious”. That’s an exaggeration, but it is good, which is more (better) than I can say for most Bangs. It’s the carbonation that holds them back, so the flavor has to be impressive enough to outweigh it. That is the case here. It tastes like a Creamsicle.
my rating : 4 of 5
This is supposed to be a new MC Shan album; the long-awaited follow-up to Play It Again; but it’s more like the crude demo version. Even as a mixtape, its artistic blunders and technical flaws would be inexcusable. Songs just cut off. Some are so old, you can hear the scratches from the CDs they were ripped from. Shan still has Bars, so the title rings true, but it sounds like this project was recorded, mixed and mastered by a crackhead.
my rating : 2 of 5
2017
The title, as a response from Kanye West to the countless naysayers he’s accumulated as of late; mainly sensitive Jews; is quite brilliant. The song itself, which comes across more like a demo without a second verse, isn’t far behind. That’s thanks not to the crude lyrics; the “nigga” bits are redundant; but the catchy vocal melodies. This is a sociopolitical anthem of sorts.
my rating : 4 of 5
“Hype train derailed”, Billy Goff posts on X, but it’s not a total surprise. The wheels were getting wobbly in Bo Nickal’s last two fights. Cody Brundage and Paul Craig raised questions about a potential undefeated streak. Reinier De Ridder, his toughest opponent yet, answers them here by not only stifling his prestigious wrestling but defeating him “by knockout” via knees to the midsection.
my rating : 3 of 5
2025
I probably would’ve called it Burning Up to emphasize the concept of summer and sweaty girls dancing, but Out, which does imply getting tired from physical activity, gets it close enough. The most appropriate setting is inside the club though with a DJ like Trippy on the ones and twos. The song is a definite party banger.
my rating : 4 of 5
1997
Anthony Smith is past his prime and this was promoted as his retirement fight, so it’s no surprise nor shame that he’d lose to a knockout specialist like Zhang Mingyang. It’s the way he loses; giving up in the first round but having the gumption to go after a prodder in the crowd as his family watches on; that’s embarrassing, especially considering he loss in a similar way in his previous bout.
my rating : 3 of 5
2025