Pittsburgh Steeler Win Superbowl: But Cardinals Don’t Leave Empty Handed

February 2nd, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

Pittsburgh Steelers your team has just won the Super Bowl. Call now to get your team shirt. O.K. I’m just kidding. Congratulations to all the Pittsburgh players and Fans.

I Love This Game. During the middle of the season and the internal destruction of my beloved Dallas Cowboys, I began losing interest. Cardinals looked like the worst NFL Playoff team ever, the Ravens were teetering on the brink, and with the exception of Plaxico shooting himself in the leg, there wasn’t much to remember.

Until last night. Until the underdog Cardinals walked on the field and showed the world they belonged in the Super Bowl. At the beginning of last year, I told everyone to watch out for the Cardinals. They laughed, just as they did when I said Chad Pennigton was a good quarterback. The Cardinals let me down.

I was waiting for that season when Fitzgerald could no longer be denied his place amongst the best wide receivers in the game. All they needed was a defense. Well, the defense showed up against the Carolina Panthers and carried it’s momentum to the Super Bowl.

In everything, I look for the lesson. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Here come the Pittsburgh Steelers seeking their 6th Superbowl victory, against a team that has yet to get, One. Classic Underdog Situation.

Here’s the kicker. They lost.

But I submit to you this; losing was more character building than it was heart breaking. First, they will always be able to reflect back to week 16 when every broadcaster and analyst said they were the worst team ever to make it to the playoffs. The Cardinal defense will know they can stand up to the best of them and hold their own. The Arizona fans are excited to see their team in action next year and the player’s have resigned themselves to work hard to make it back, this time with different results.

A culture of success has been born in Arizona. Every time you talk about this game with someone, think about the Cardinals. It’s easy to remember the success of the Steelers, but don’t forget about what the Cardinals left out on that field.

They left their heart, soul, and every bit of physical prowess. So to the Cardinals, I send a thank you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for showing the heart of an underdog. Thank you for the re-inforcement of such a powerful lesson.

Bring every bit of fight you have and leave it. Win or Lose, you will get your respect.

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I know this is more about Cardinals than Steelers. First, much respect to the whole Steeler organization, and their very sexy coach. Congratulations Mike Tomlin on Coach of the Year.

I focused on the Cardinals because of one defensive series. You know which one. Two first and goals at the 1 yard line and the Cardinals defense held. Yes, the Steeler’s were great, who expected less. But a great defense was born in Arizona. And that’s better than any one single victory, even the Superbowl.

Kanye West On SNL

December 23rd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I don’t care if you like him or not. Hot!

Not about what he has. More about what he’s lost and the impact of that lost. I hate his cockiness and I hope he really isn’t lip-syncing his songs. But I LOVE this performance.

Damn Beyonce: Do It! I’m A Diva!

December 19th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Diva is Female Version of A Hustler

DMX Losing His Fight With Damien

December 15th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I don’t do celebrity gossip. I hate celebrity gossip. If you pay more attention to what’s going on in the life of Beyonce than in what’s happening in your own existence, maybe you should do some re-examining.

Having said that, I’m praying hard for DMX. This is a real lesson for those who think if you get the right amount of money, your life will be fine. This man has talent, fame, and money, yet he still is losing a major battle in his life.

Everyone has heard, “Mo Money, Mo Problems”. And most of us would be like, “hell I’d take those problems” but is it really worth it?

Recently DMX was found in a foreclosed home of Scott Storch in Miami, Florida. He was turned in by a woman from Georgia who wanted to collect the $5,000 reward for X’s arrest. In all of this, the only comments I hear are about the snitiching woman.

What about DMX? Are we all going to ignore the fact that one of our best rappers, especially in this time of Soulja Boy and the rest, is losing a fight with the devil?

I’m quick to call someone out on stupidity. T.I. was one of my favorite current rappers and I stopped listening to his music for a while after his arrest. I was like, he is such a dumb ass for having guns knowing he’s a felon.

Now, I know I’ve got into it before with some of my readers who don’t think felons should be restricted from bearing firearms just because they made one mistake. In some cases, I can agree with those readers but my approval doesn’t change the law. Just because I say you should be able to protect your family doesn’t mean a judge will think the same thing. And he’s the one with the power.

I’m getting off point here. When I was going through my conservative change, I read DMX’s book, E.A.R.L.: The autobiography of DMX. If you want to hear a true story of what it’s like to grow up alone as a black man, you should read it. It’s the main reason I pay attention to any story that involves DMX.

This man has struggled. From the streets of New York to the slums of Baltimore to stages all over the world, DMX has been alone.

I want to point out a couple things from his book that I found really interesting.

When DMX was a kid, he was hit by a car. He wasn’t hurt but the insurance people came and offered his mother $10,000. She refused the money, saying she didn’t need a handout. She was living in the projects of New York. That money could have been used for so many things. A savings account to make sure the lights stayed on. A college fund. Instead his mother chose pride.

The first girl he ever loved played him, hard. He traveled from New York to Connecticut to see this girl and she stood him up. This was the first person he allowed to see his true self and she broke his heart. I remember when I was reading the book I thought, “I bet that bitch wish she would’ve shown up that day,” In hinesight, I guess not.

If you don’t know the significance of dogs in DMX’s life, you don’t know X. As a teenager he used to rob people with his dogs. Not joking. While everyone else was using guns, X used dogs. He believes dogs can be man only true companion. No judgment. No disapproval. Forever faithful. (I’m not an animal lover. But I can question why you hold the dog in such high esteem and can still watch as they fight another dog to the death.)

All the New York rappers hung out together. Well, not really hung out together but visited a lot of the same spots. O.K. I’m going to try to remember this story the best I can.

There was this studio in Yonkers where all the “New York rappers” came to try to win the street. They would have battle raps to garner a reputation. There were two major rappers that didn’t really participate in the battle raps, Jay Z and DMX. They both thought it was beneath them to rap against the up and comers, i.e. Jada Kiss.

But one night, Jay and X got into it. They battle rapped for over 4 hours straight. That would be one of my I wish I was there moments in history. Not thinking about what each would become. Just listening to Hip Hop in it’s true nature. Two individuals, two different lives, two different set of circumstances, with one mission. Word Play.

The best part of the story was X’s re-emergence. Right after he had his child, he was walking down the street and a boy pointed at him. The father of that boy began to beat X with a bat and the people in the neighborhood joined in. I’m not going to go into detail, you should really read the book.

I’ll just say, the first concert DMX ever performed he had removed the wiring from his mouth himself.

I love that book. In the end, you start to think DMX is going to be O.K. He went through so much, it’s about time he gets some peace in his life. But in the end, does a childhood of misery followed by success really mean anything without actual self healing?

O.K. This is what I mean. If you never deal with the things that make you miserable in the first place, do you think money or success can bring you real peace? Or is Damien, the devil, distracting you from dealing with the real issues that plague a lost soul.

See, DMX told us about his struggles with Damien. You couldn’t listen to a single X CD where Damien didn’t make an appearance. He was always there tempting the artist to follow him. Actually, X willing gave him his soul and Damien was just waiting to collect.

Well, I guess it’s payback time.

To see the complete 360 of DMX crushes me. The man can flow. He has charisma and swag and he ends up back down in the slums he once escaped.

All this is just a plea for prayers. All things can be done through Jesus Christ. But sometimes we need extra help from those around us. So I’m sending prayers for X and I hope you do the same.

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I may have messed up a few points but I know I got the just of each story. I implore you all to read the book. You won’t be disappointed.

Basic Economics: Just Change Your Hustle

November 24th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

And Then They Forget: Cam’ron and Dame Dash On O’Reily

November 15th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I don’t know how old this video is. I was looking for a video of a Cam’ron song I love and ran across it. The sad part is Cam’ron shitted on the song. Watch the Video, then I’ll explain.

Assholes. O.K. I really didn’t mean that. I meant Cam’ron is an Asshole. Sorry for the language but you don’t mind when they say it, so why should you care if I do?

I took Dame Dash out of my asshole comment because I think he really does show it’s cool to be smart. If you remember the show he had on BET, “Ultimate Hustler”, you can understand why I give him a pass. I learned a lot from that show. Never leave the house without your name on your clothes. (Please, if you want to buy name brand clothes, invest in the company and make some money in the process). Make sure the people around you are also hustlers. I mean his show was packed with insight on how to make in any industry. I have no beef with Dame Dash on this matter.

Now back to Cam’ron. He is the epitome of what’s wrong with Hip Hop. On his first album, Cam’ron had a song called D. Rugs. It is by far my favorite song by Cam’ron. If you haven’t heard it, you need to.

It’s about Cam’ron’s mother’s addiction to drugs and how he got pulled into the game. It’s a real story of what’s going on in the hood told in a positive manner. It didn’t glorify the drug game, it told you the real consequences behind the drug game. His mother ending up in the hospital and him ending up in handcuffs. I loved Cam’ron for that song.

Then comes the PINK era. I don’t know what happened to make him forget the truth. All of a sudden, it’s cool to sell drugs again. You are a man if you know how to run a block. And real men can wear PINK from head to toe and still be cool.

That’s bullshit. How could you write a song that shows so much raw emotion, then turn back into drug selling pimp. Am I being judgemental? Hell yeah. I’m mad. I’m losing artist to believe in.

Now let’s take a little look back at the interview. O.K. So you write what’s really going on in the hood. This is what gets left out. You are no longer in the hood. You get robbed when you go to the hood, but you don’t sing about that. Why? Because then you would be the punk in your own song.

Why don’t you rap about the struggles of opening your own record label. I mean that’s what you did, right. Why not put all your struggles on record and let people know the problems they face are faced by everyone. That would give them some push to keep going. Instead you continue to rap about the things you used to do, not the things you are currently doing.

And when you get called on it, you bring up movies. With that, I’ll bring back Dame Dash. You two make movies. Are they tales about how to make it out the hood? No. It’s back to showing only the negative. Then you turn around and ask someone else to point out the positive. Are you serious?

You don’t point out the positive. You still make the kid going to school seem like a square and the dudes hustling on the corner seem like the cool guys. I understand that’s really how the hood is but is that the way to change it. To see those that made it out continuously using the bad to promote themselves. Does it matter if you talk to 150 students when your albums and movies reach Millions?

Then when you mix the two, the old Cam’ron with the new, you get nothing but a mixed message. It’s cool to be smart but you still have to sell drugs to fit in. It’s cool to start your own business but you have to buy a big car the moment you do. And don’t even get me started on the subject of Women.

For this Dame Dash gets a Fuck You. I’m sure you have all heard the stories of how Dash treated the girls at the video shoots. Throwing champagne on them, calling them out their names, and basically treating them like they are nothing. I don’t blame him because if I was one of those girls, a real news story would come to pass. “Female beats the shit out of Dame Dash with his own bottle.”

But the message is still there. Men with power can treat women anyway they choose. There are women, god bless their souls, that actually accept this treatment. And as long as they accept it, there will be men that are willing to throw it out. That’s something us females have to fix.

Back to Cam’ron. He has another great song on his first CD. I think it’s called “It’s all good”. It’s about a man loving a woman. Yet again, one of my favorite Hip Hop songs and then comes PINK Cam’ron calling us all hoes and tricks. This is where I get pissed off.

I don’t care if you point out a few women and call them names. I know some of these women and they don’t mind. But you can’t point to us all with a single stroke. So when you say ALL WOMEN are this or that, you are degrading us. Yet again, I won’t blame Cam’ron. I will criticize but I won’t blame.

There are more women in this country than there are men. If we refused to buy any album where blanket statements are made about whole groups, we would change Hip Hop. We don’t have to complain or protest, all we have to do is stop spending. This is what I do. If the first song you put on the radio is filled with blanket statements, then I won’t buy the album. The C.D. could be filled with great songs but you choose to put the commercial ones first, then you won’t get me to buy your music. It’s that simple.

Probably explains why I haven’t bought a Cam’ron record since the first one.

Oh, I forgot the main reason I was writing this. The issue of whether they care or not. Cam’ron said there should be more parent teacher conferences. This is my question. Cam’ron go back to the time when you were living your D. Rugs song. Would your addict mother go to the school for a parent teacher conference? I’m not trying to be mean when I say that. I know what addiction does to a family. I know what it’s like for a child watching their parents ruin any chance of a decent upbringing. How can you honestly say it has to be the parents, only.

I’m one of those parents that listens to Disney songs when my daughter is in the car. I plan on going to every teacher’s conference my daughter has. But the truth is, D. Rugs is present in to many of our households. D. Rugs has more sway with some parents than any teacher ever could. And just imagine being the child that has to bring their drug addicted parent to school for everyone to see.

Cam’ron has really moved up in the world. In doing so, he has forgotten where he came from. He has forgotten what it felt like to be that child. And that’s a shame because there are kids out there that would love to hear that version of a C.E.O.’s life. Why are you not responsible for making sure everyone knows that version of the story?

Placing blame else where will not change our situation. I’m sure you didn’t blame one record label and that’s what got your foot in at another. Or did you forget that too.

Gears of War 2 Launches

November 6th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

With the election over, I really need a break. So I’ll be spending all my free time in the next few days killing noobs in Gears of War 2.

Alot of people are surprised that I am a video gamer. Oh yes, with no apologies. Gears of War gave me this passion. I got online and met my clan and it was on. For all you that don’t understand, Gears of War is the best game ever. Cliffy B is a geneous.

Who knew attaching a chainsaw to machine gun could be so fun? Or what about sticking somebody with a frag then running away killing the whole team. Or maybe sniping somebody while they are trying to pick up a boomshot? Oh the fun you can have.

So tonight with the release of Gears of War 2 I will allow my inner nerd to come out. I will stand against the Locust and save Sera. Then I will get on the multiplayer and build my stats. I’m so glad the election is over.

What is Positive Hip Hop?

November 2nd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Ice Cube On My Swagger List: Why Me?

November 2nd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

When Ice Cube came out with ‘Are We There Yet’, my brother was furious. He had listened to Ice Cube since N.W.A. and now he can’t stand Ice Cube. He said and I quote, “That nigga went soft.”

I told him, That man went rich. He didn’t agree to say the least. This is what I don’t understand. We complain about not having opportunities but when we see someone take advantage of opportunities, we hate on them. When we see someone grow beyond our growth level, we criticize.
And when all else fails, we act like crabs in the barrel and pull anyone who tries to make it back down.

I’m going out to buy “Raw Footage”, the new Ice Cube CD. Let me explain why. I don’t go and buy a CD until I hear the first song the artist releases. If they choose to put out a “commercial” song, they won’t get my money. It takes guts to put out a song criticizing what’s cool. Any artist that does, will get a CD sell out of me. This is how we change Hip Hop. Only spend money on those that deserve it.

Sumthin Gotta Give: Big Boi and Mary J. Blige

August 25th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I Love OutKast. Mary J. Blige is my favorite Female Artist. Just watch the video, while I build my thoughts.

Oh! Hip Hop isn’t dead. It lives and there are “Mainstream” Artists that will put it all out there. Not like Jack Ass Ludacris, but with swag and eloquence. I really hate to do what I’m about to.

What the Hell is Wrong with You Two?

In the beginning, you should have stated this was an endorsement for Barack Obama. I don’t mind that you have an opinion and you want to share it. Go Ahead. But make it known ahead of time. Question why they wait until the end of the video to show Obama. Is it maybe; then you don’t have to explain How He Is Going To Help You.

Why not start with the local Government? Why not point out the Mayors’ that have held office during the declining years? Let’s just throw one out there.

This is Shirley Franklin. She has been the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia since 2002. If the schools continue to decline. Go and talk to her. If the crime rate gets worse, go knock on her door. If you can’t find a job, ask her for one. I guarantee If Barack Obama becomes President, the government of your city will not change. Especially if you already have a Democrat in office.

So What’s the Point?

I don’t think they are encouraging anyone new to vote for Obama. The ones’ who would fall for it, already are voting for him because he is black.

My beef comes with the deception. I believe the words in the song, until Mary begins to sing. I just don’t see how any policy Barack Obama supports will get us to the World they Want. Okay we can bring the troops home. I got that, Not going to argue, but what else?

See, Democrats will fight for the right to have guns in Video’s but will try to deny you the right to have one in your home legally. They will fight for Health Care but will split your benefits with Illegal Immigrants. They will fight for College Tuition but fight against sending your child to a school that will actually prepare them for College. They will fight for your right to choose but will deny you the right to help your child with the decision. They will fight for Gay’s right to marry but be careful, with a combined income you might become “Rich” and see your Taxes double.

Where is any of that in the Message?