Archive for November, 2008

Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak

{ November 26, 2008 @ 4:22 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Wha-? What? What IS this album? 

I’ll tell you what it ISN’T: 18 tracks of tight rhymes, outrageous beats and sheer MC charisma. 

I wasn’t exactly expecting this album, as it is. Kanye’s fourth album is by far the most experimental, sort of like Marvin Gaye’s Here, My Dear effort. The beats are mellow and groovy, but Kanye’s usual rap-with-a-swagger is replaced with a gaspy kind of singing. The lyrics are introspective, which, OF COURSE, seeing as how West lost his mother and split from his longtime girlfriend earlier this year. 

If you’ve ever had a blue period yourself, you’ll identify with this album. If not, you’ll wonder what happened to Kanye West. Did he run out of steam? No, life just fucking checked him.

Prediction: Kanye will bounce back, and the next album will be AMAZING.

Bittersweet

{ November 15, 2008 @ 5:44 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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As my plane touched down in Chicago on Thursday night, I reviewed the long trip I’d just taken.

For four days, I watched as my grandmother tried to walk around without her oxygen, swallow pill after pill, eat as much as her frail body could handle and manage a smile or two for my brother and me.

You’d think a trip to Florida in November would have been wonderful, but this was one trip I wish I didn’t have to make. I almost lost it when she asked her doctor about the experimental chemotherapy pill: “Will it give me more than five months?”

Her strength is immeasurable. Every day, she would get up and sit with us, talking frankly about her wishes and takin’ care of business. I was in awe of her.

I only hope I can find a little bit of that strength myself over the next few months, so I can help her be as comfortable as possible – and make sure she knows she’s loved.

Oh. My. God.

{ November 5, 2008 @ 6:02 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Yesterday was amazing here in Chicago. I’ll post pics and a fully-detailed blog soon. Just know that there’s a giddy electricity in the air, and a hopeful vibe on the trains, in the streets and on every floor in the suites today.

24 Hours Left

{ November 3, 2008 @ 4:41 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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And here’s the latest, as of a few minutes ago – Obama’s lookin’ good, folks. I am keeping up the hope that by this time Wednesday, we’ll be able to say President Obama and have a Democrat in the White House again. 

I can’t say this enough: GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW!