2015
wsj.com
Tag: money
audio review : Blame Game ( song ) … Kanye West ( featuring John Legend )
The most endearing part of this song comes near the end where a semi-funny Chris Rock engages in a dialogue with what is supposed to be Kanye West’s girlfriend. She sounds awkwardly copy-and-pasted, retarded or drugged out of her fucking mind, but it’s cute how she says what she says. Though neither voice should be panned to the left or the right because its supposed to be “Yeezy” listening from his mono phone speaker, the background piano music is as beautiful as the Dark Twisted album title suggests.
Lo-fi drums come and go, but that music, which is at times highlighted by what sounds like a violin, is looped from start to end. That’s a winning move, along with the chorus. The “for sure” part sounds out of place, but it’s a nice chorus, especially when Kanye West replaces John Legend and adds his own melodic touch. If nothing else, that part supports my point that it’s nice vocal melodies, not nice voices, that matter most when it comes to the quality of a song. As far as intimacy goes, John Legend distracts.
There should be an unknown voice as the “local dude” West’s chick cheats on him with instead of Chris Rock. It’s certainly conceivable that a pretty “bitch” who’s leeched onto the dick (heart) of one wealthy celebrity would leech onto the heart (dick) of another, but it’s not supposed to be that way. He’s supposed to be a “neighborhood nigga” who couldn’t afford to buy the watch he wanted. That artistic blunder throws the concept off a bit. Then again, Chris Rock is a professional actor, so I guess it’s okay.
my rating : 4 of 5
2010
audio review : Real Talk ( song ) … R Kelly
It’s a heated Talk between R Kelly and his girl, but eavesdroppers only get to hear his side of the story. “Wait a minute; calm down,” he starts. By the end, he’s calling his driver to take him home, so he can stop that “bitch” from burning his clothes.
What was once a nice relationship has, over five years, descended into a dramatic mess. One of her friends; the “no-man-having hoes” he so despises; told her she saw him at a dance club over the weekend with another girl and she believes her.
Some of what he says is funny and the background music is sweet, but the song lacks if it is indeed supposed to be a song. Perhaps it would’ve been better as a skit in which he actually talked instead of singing a random array of tactless melodies.
my rating : 3 of 5
2007
audio review : Money ( song ) … Michael Jackson
This song deserves better verses. What we get is Michael Jackson, arguably the best singer in the pop world, trying to rap. It’s actually more like spoken-word poetry set to rhythm, which would be fine over a bridge but takes up too much valuable time and space as is.
It’s a morality lesson boring enough to put you to sleep until the chorus comes and the magic begins. The song isn’t a classic, but by the end, when precious counter melodies and signature (“hoo/hee”) ad-libs come into play, I bet you won’t be able to tell the difference.
my rating : 4 of 5
1995
Get Money ( song ) … Young Jeezy + E-40 + B-Legit
2009
audio review : 2 Bitches ( song ) … Too Short
A wild sex orgy isn’t out of the ordinary in the life of a pimp “nigga”; a fact Too Short throws in your face over a nasty Jazze Pha beat. This freaky tale centers around a threesome he initiates by taking a bisexual “bitch” to a strip club and asking which dancer she wants to fuck. She picks a chocolate one with a big booty and big tits. Long story Short, the girls end-up licking each other’s tits, navels, toes and assholes.
my rating : 3 of 5
2000
audio review : 13 And Good ( song ) … KRS-One
I’m surprised to hear a song like this from KRS-One. It’s a story about him having sex with a 13-year-old girl, which, as far as the law is concerned, makes him a rapist. That’s despite the fact that she didn’t bother to tell him her age until he asked. By then it was too late. They’d already fucked and she’d already fallen in love. “I want to be with you forever,” she tells him.
It’s a tricky predicament and a serious issue for men who go to parties looking for sex, but KRS-One handles it with misplaced satire by getting the girl’s Pops involved and ending the story with an outrageous twist. What her father does is possible but extremely unlikely under the circumstances. It’s a major turn-off on a song that was relatively believable until that point.
my rating : 3 of 5
1992
the theme song from The Secret Millionaires Club
video review : The Bling Ring
A few years ago, a ring of teenagers were arrested for burglarizing several Hollywood Hills homes. Many of their victims were famous celebrities. Paris Hilton was one of them. It was a story that warranted media attention and got it, but a movie? The answer is no, but here it is; a somewhat fictionalized take on the scandal, one that comes across as more of a box office cash-in than a work of art.
Sofia Coppola directs by summarizing and glamorizing. The protagonists, all or most of whom are already out of jail in real life, are stupid but trendy; annoying but cool; in a typical Californian pop-culture sort of way. When they’re not burglarizing, they’re sniffing coke and partying. That’s especially the case for ring leader Rebecca. The plot revolves mostly around her and her friend Marc.
my rating : 3 of 5
2013
Brian Tracy giving business travel tips
2015
Belly-Dancin Dina ( song ) … Jungle Brothers
1989
video review : Casino
This story takes place in Las Vegas back when most of the dirt wasn’t confined to its surrounding deserts. The Tangiers (Casino) is run by The Mafia, a secret organization of criminals working together for one common goal; to make money, illegally and abundantly. The figurehead boss is a guy named Ace Rothstein. It’s his “love” life, with a woman named Ginger, that stretches thin your suspension of disbelief. As wise as he is when it comes to making money, you’re supposed to believe he’d be stupid enough to fall for (trust/marry) such a leech.
The most interesting character though is his best friend Nicky Santoro, or Joe Pesci playing (basically) the same mobster he played in Goodfellas. With Robert De Niro by his side and Martin Scorsese at the helm, this feels like a sequel; a great one that does an even better job of watching relationships deteriorate over time. Non-diegetic monologues set the tone right from the beginning. Ace Rothstein is, at one point, on top of the world. By the end, it’s the two closest people in his life, and their selfish traits, that set the inevitable downfall into motion.
my rating : 5 of 5
1995