bigted

So "The Return Of The Magnificent" won't be coming out within the next year? :tantrum:

I don't really think Will's doing that bad selling albums either though, he's a bad example to use to make your point here, maybe if you said KRS-ONE then that'd be a legit argument of a positive artist not selling much, "Lost and Found" was one of the 10 highest selling albums in the rap industry last year that sold more than a lot of explicit rappers like Tony Yayo and Lil' Kim so it shows you that if there's still a market for positive rap, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes got videos in major rotation right now so they'll probably go platinum again when their albums drops plus we got Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas, and Common having more success than a lot of explicit rappers so rap is starting to be a lil' bit more balanced than it was a few years ago and is still the highest selling music genre, but it's still not close to being another golden era....

I don't think Three Six Mafia gets as much airplay as 50 Cent or Mike Jones but with this win they probably will now, they'll probably sign with G Unit next week and go triple platinum then bring their pimp homies along with them tippin' on fo' fo's throughout the airwaves some mo', lol, this seems to be the industry's intent to blow more trash to the public for the kids to love and for everyone else to diss, mainstream hip-hop has turned into teenybopper pop since it's so generic, there's no credability for the public eye to see anymore, it's depressing to see blacks potrayed as pimps and hoes on the highest stage, people who don't know much about hip-hop and watch think that every rapper is like that so they won't ever wanna give hip-hop a try, this is another black eye for the image of hip-hop, but most of Hollywood is gimmicks anyway, I'll be surprised if Will ever wins an Oscar, I just don't get how such a powerful performance in Ali where Will poured his blood, sweat, and tears gets snubbed into while another rap group does another general song about pimpin' wins, tell me why? The Oscars are supposed to be the highest award just like the Grammy awards, the highest honors of the entertainment industry, it's like I'd care less if they won a BET or Source award, that's the problem with the Oscars and Grammies now, they're trying to draw in the TRL audience rather than award the most credible artists that poured their soul into their work, Terrence Howard deserves some of the dissin' here too 'cause he was the one who performed that trash song in a generic movie that shouldn't have gotten nominated in the first place 'cause it's another stereotypical black film about violence and pimpin', why couldn't a powerful, inspiring film like "Glory Road" get nominated instead? That was a wonderful movie that displays the courage of black men, not to mention we would've had Alicia Keys performing the powerful song "Glory Road" she made for that movie, well then again nobody ever question the credability of white people when they do stereotypical things so it makes me mad that they come after blacks when they do that, there's always positives and negatives that everybody does so who gives a **** especially since stereotypes get rewarded, people just can't look for entertainment for an image....

Yeah AJ like Turntable said Nick Cannon is far from the best, to put him in the same sentence as JJFP, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy is a joke, I'd replace him with Nas

I think if hip-hop was less explicit and had more of a positive message it'd draw a more broader audience than it does now, with the way it is right now basically only teenagers and young kids are the ones listening to what's on the charts, like I can't picture that many over 30 years old listening to Ludacris, rock music and other genres don't have that problem 'cause it seems there's artists out there that reach to the TRL fans and artists that reach to older audiences but it ain't like that with rap though even though hip-hop/rap is considered the highest selling genre but most of that genre's fanbase who buys a lot of albums 15-30 years old, it seems like the rap game is just catering to the youth unlike when it started and it appealed to all audiences, people older than that might of grew up on it but they probably can't stand what's it's turned into so they don't listen anymore or just listen to the old music although there's always a few trying to fit in with their kids and listen to Jay-Z, lol, but I think that the majority of older folks can't stand it 'cause they look at it as trash, like I could picture a 50 year old watching the Oscars and seeeing Three Six Mafia on there and they'll be like "damn that hip-hop music is the devil", lol, there won't be so many older folks against hip-hop if it were more positive... It wouldn't be the thing for kids to call Will bubblegum if there were a lot more hip-hop artists out there like him dominating the game even if they did have a "parental advisory" sticker like for instance a Public Enemy or a Common, it's up to the new generation of artists coming along but I see that the ones who're inspired off of 50 Cent'll and Mike Jones'll probably make it in the game before someone like me who's inspired from JJFP and Chuck D will and the cycle'll continue

Kirby Puckett, 44, dies day after suffering stroke Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS -- Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, the buoyant, barrel-shaped outfielder with the perpetual smile who led the Minnesota Twins to two World Series titles in a five-year span, died Monday at an Arizona hospital. Otto Greule/ALLSPORT In his 12-year career, Puckett won six Gold Gloves, the 1989 batting title and two championship rings. Puckett, whose weight gain in recent years had concerned friends and former teammates, died after suffering a stroke early Sunday at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 44. He's survived by his children, Catherine and Kirby Jr., and his ex-wife, Tonya. "This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins, Major League Baseball and baseball fans everywhere," team owner Carl Pohlad said. Puckett died at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Scottsdale. The youngest of nine children born into poverty in a Chicago housing project, Puckett was drafted by the Twins in 1982 and became a regular just two years later. He got four hits in his first major-league start and finished with 2,304 in only 12 seasons before an eye problem cut short his career in 1996. Though his power numbers weren't exceptional -- 207 home runs and 1,085 RBI -- Puckett was voted into Cooperstown on the first ballot in 2001. His respect and enthusiasm for the game factored in as much as his .318 average, 1989 batting title, six Gold Gloves, 10 All-Star Game appearances and two championship rings. He made his mark on baseball's biggest stage, leading heavy underdog Minnesota to an unlikely seven-game victory over St. Louis in 1987 and then doing the same against Atlanta in one of the most thrilling Series in history in 1991. The Twins returned to the Metrodome that year after losing 14-5 in Game 5, needing to win two straight to get the trophy. Puckett famously walked into the clubhouse hours before Game 6, cajoling his teammates to jump on his back and let him carry them to victory. Sure enough, after robbing Ron Gant of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch against the wall in the third inning, Puckett homered off Charlie Leibrandt in the bottom of the 11th to force Game 7. "There are a lot of great players in this game, but only one Kirby," pitcher Rick Aguilera said when Puckett announced his retirement. "It was his character that meant more to his teammates. He brought a great feeling to the clubhouse, the plane, everywhere." His best year was 1988, when he batted .356 with 24 home runs, 42 doubles and 121 RBI. A contact hitter and stolen-base threat in the minors who hit only four homers in his first two major-league seasons, Puckett developed a power stroke in 1986 and went deep a career-best 31 times. He became a fixture in the third spot in Minnesota's lineup, a free-swinging center fielder with a strong arm and a flair for nifty catches despite a 5-foot-9, 220-pound frame that made him look more like a fullback. The man known simply as "Puck" was immensely popular. Fans loved his style, especially the high leg kick that preceded his swing. Public address announcer Bob Casey, who became a close friend, introduced him with vigor before every at-bat, "KIR-beeeeeeeeee PUCK-it." As free agency and expansion turned over rosters more frequently in the 1990s, Puckett was one of the rare stars who never switched teams. "I wore one uniform in my career and I'm proud to say that," Puckett once said. "As a kid growing up in Chicago, people thought I'd never do anything. I've always tried to play the game the right way. I thought I did pretty good with the talent that I have." Hit by a pitch that broke his jaw on his last at-bat of the 1995 season, Puckett woke up one morning the following spring and couldn't see out of his right eye. It was eventually diagnosed as glaucoma, forcing him to call it quits that July. He received baseball's Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award for community service that year, and the Twins -- trying to boost sagging attendance during some lean seasons in the late 1990s -- frequently turned to Puckett-related promotions. He had a spot in the front office and sometimes made stops at the state capitol to help stump for a new stadium. Though he refused to talk pessimistically about the premature end of his career, Puckett's personal life began to deteriorate after that. Shortly after his induction to Cooperstown, his then-wife, Tonya, accused him of threatening to kill her during an argument -- he denied it -- and described to police a history of violence and infidelity. In 2003, he was cleared of all charges from an alleged sexual assault of a woman at a Twin Cities restaurant. He kept a low profile after the trial and eventually moved to Arizona. His relationship with the organization ended in 2002, but the Twins kept trying to re-establish a connection and get him to come to spring training again as a guest instructor. Puckett put on considerable weight, as well. "We were all concerned. We would tell him. But he enjoyed life. He enjoyed the size he was. That's who he was," said former Twins and current Chicago Cubs outfielder Jacque Jones, who never played with Puckett but was one of the many who considered him a mentor. Another Minnesota great, Tony Oliva, was concerned about Puckett's condition, too. "The last few times I saw him, he kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Oliva said Sunday after learning about the stroke. "And we worried about him." Funeral services were pending.

Well the thing is in the early days of hip-hop from the early 80s til the late 90s there wasn't really any "Parental Advisory" albums until NWA came along but there was still quite a bit of rappers like MC Hammer, Heavy D, JJFP, LL Cool J, KRS-ONE, Salt-N-Pepa, Tribe Called Quest, etc. who would have albums without "Parental Advisory" labels sell millions and then once Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" blew up really there weren't that many popular hip-hop albums without parental advisory stickers anymore 'cause labels made a lot of money off the negative images so they dropped all the positive artists, really this has a lot to do with the way record labels sign artists, they're looking for the next 2Pac imitator, like I said quite a few times before if Kel Spencer was a gangsta rapper that cursed a lot like 50 Cent he'd be selling millions right now but instead he's still trying to get on, there's a lot of positive mcs like Kel out there but they ain't gonna get signed 'cause of their image, and now with Three Six Mafia winning an Oscar I'd say it'll take years before we see more positive hip-hop get high on the charts, the industry is getting rich off of the pimp image and they don't want nothing clean to do well :paperbag: It seems that more rock fans are more open minded to listen to rock with "parental advisory" and rock without "parental advisory", they won't call clean/positive rock songs bubblegum, backpacker, or corny like rap fans seem to call clean/positive rap songs bubblegum, backpacker, or corny like we see them say about Will Smith and MC Hammer but it seems that rap fans are programmed to just like "parental advisory" rap, it all starts with the fans, if they keep on buying what labels give them, then there won't be a change anytime soon....

Yeah Three Six Mafia is basically an underground group that's a carbon copy of what we hear on the radio all the time so it wasn't any different than if they gave the award to 50 Cent or Mike Jones, if the Academy wants credability by having independent artists on there, that's not the way to go...

That's what makes it so bad that they won, a lot of people who ain't familar with hip-hop probably'll think that all hip-hop is trash after they hear that song, lol, btw Three 6 Mafia only wrote the song, Terrance Howard was the one who performed it in the movie so they're getting too much credit to Three 6 Mafia, well after seeing them win this I wouldn't be surprised if Bow Wow wins one next year, **** the Oscars....

:word: It's a sad day to be a hip-hop fan :shakehead:

Three 6 Mafia Win First Oscar; Make Hip-Hop History By Nolan Strong and Houston Williams Date: 3/6/2006 2:36 am An uncharacteristically exuberant Three 6 Mafia won an Oscar Award at The 78th Academy Awards last night (Mar. 5) in Los Angeles, California. The awards took place at the Kodak Theatre and were televised with a 5-second delay on the ABC network. Three 6 Mafia, made history as the first rap group to ever perform at the Academy Awards. The group also won an Oscar for Best Song, for "Its Hard Out Here For A Pimp," a tune they wrote and produced for the movie Hustle & Flow. Hustle & Flow star Terrence Howard originally recorded the song under the rap name D-Jay, but declined to perform it at the Academy Awards. Three 6 Mafia performed in their normal Hip-Hop garb, but the stage scene was set in the Memphis streets with actors and dancers sashaying as pimps and prostitutes across the stage. The performance also featured a cameo by actress Taraji P. Henson, who sang the hook on the original song and during the live performance. The group bested stiff competition in their field, beating out "In The Deep" from the movie Crash, which won Best film of the Year. Group members Jordan "Juicy J" Houston thanked Jesus, while Paul "DJ Paul" Bauregard "thanked everybody," including their mothers, distributor Select-O-Hits, the Academy, Ludacris, actor George Clooney and others. Darnell "Crunchy Black" Carlton and others were on stage as well. The crowd gave the Hip-Hop group a rousing round of applause and a few quips came from in the aftermath of the show. "You know what? I think it just got a little easier out here for a pimp," Stewart joked after the group accepted their award. "How come they are the most excited people here? They are thrilled. That's how you accept an Oscar.” "Martin Scorsese [the legendary filmmaker] zero Oscars - Three 6 Mafia, one!" Stewart joked. Later in the evening, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel cracked his own jokes on a special edition of his ABC late show. “I guess those guys are gonna melt the [Oscar] statues down and make [gold] teeth," he said. Hustle & Flow revolves around the life of a small-time Memphis, Tennessee pimp, who aspires to be a rapper amidst a mid-life crisis. Submit News!

I can't believe that trash song by 3-6 Mafia won, this is not a good look for hip-hop!! :ohdear:

Thanks for sharing that, nice to hear the Source show love to Will there, hopefully Will'll be getting some collabs on soundtracks as well...

JJFP/Big Will Boyz II Men LL Cool J Nas KRS-ONE Wyclef Jean Keith Sweat Mariah Carey Queen Latifah Naughty By Nature Many Many More...

Damn Kel's dropping new tracks at a constant pace, I'm gonna check these out later, btw did Kel get a record deal yet? I can't wait till he blows up in the music industry :pony:

Have a good birthday! :2thumbs:

Well if you say Hammer's a sellout then Kanye West is a sellout too 'cause he's supposed to have this gospel rap image but then he publicly says that he watches pornos and then turn around to say that he should be in the bible, back in the days he'd get dissed hard for acting like that, people actually used to care about image but not anymore, I might as well listen to Nelly instead of Kanye 'cause at least he don't front... That's more contradictory in my opinion than Hammer performing with Snoop, Kanye also collabs with a lot of hardcore rappers too so why doesn't he get flack for that? I see Kanye putting himself on this pedestal like he's the most righteous artist but I don't see it that way at all, he dumbs down and sounds ignorant a lot of times, he needs to stop acting like he's perfect, Hammer's not like that, his music has always had a message no matter who he's down with, "Funky Headhunter..." was a lil' less happier than his previous work 'cause he was simply responding back to all the haters and critics who were callin' him out, he put his feelings into the music but it was still positive like "Lost and Found" and that's what should mattered most and it's not like he's running to work with G Unit now like Mase who went from Paster Mase to Murder Mase, now that's the definition of selling out, Will said that he liked "The Chronic" album around the time he said "nine-trey everyone wants to be a gangsta buck-buck-buck but no more thanks to me" so I'm sure he'd do a track with Snoop and Dre around that time if they had time to do so, he had a track with Warren G that was supposed to be on the comeback "Big Willie Style" album that never came out, Will don't got beef with any artist either so that shouldn't make him a sellout, he could work with whoever he wants to as long as he keeps it positive.... I'm also sick of people saying that Will sells out by cursing in his movies when he's supposed to be this clean cut rapper, people need to leave Will and Hammer alone and start dissin' these egotisical rappers that're out now, I think a lot of the fans have sold out on Hammer and Will who have basically stayed true to themselves the fans were the ones who rode the gangsta rap bandwagon, and if Will's acting career didn't take off he'd be in the same situation as MC Hammer is at this point...

:word: That's insult for great actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis to do movies with 50 Cent and Mike Jones before doing a movie with Will Smith, well when those films flop they'll be begging Will to help them get boxoffice hits :stickpoke: btw, that remix for "Jump Around" by House Of Pain with Pete Rock was dope, I'd rather hear that on the radio than "Laffy Taffy" or "The Whistle Song", those songs make "Ice Ice Baby" sound classic, at least Vanilla Ice could flow even though his lyrics sucked then...

Woah, what Samuel L. Jackson movie... Sam and 50 made up? That's wack. Sam was keeping him in check. It's about the Iraq war: http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/8429

I find it ironic that people would yell "sellout!" when MC Hammer did Pepsi commercials but yet you see rappers like Kanye do Pepsi advertisements and they don't get called sellouts, shows you how much the rap game changed just like they said that JJFP sold out by doing "FPOBA" after they went bankrupt: "Thought it was wack 'cause I wanted to act, now every brother and mother in rap be trying to do that" ...

:word: I hope that Mike Jones doesn't blow up even more now that him and 50 Cent are gonna be in the next Samuel L. Jackson movie, those wack rappers are even trying to take over Hollywood now, maybe now that might be the motivation for Will to keep filming or else those wack rappers'll take over the film industry too, I'll be pissed if Three 6 Mafia get an Oscar tomorrow, if Will decides to put either Mike Jones or 50 Cent in any of his movies I'll boycott it... :kekeke:

Well people look at "Pumps In A Bump" basically the same way that they look at "Boom! Shake The Room" as an attempt to keep up with the hardcore trend that was out in rap at the time and that's the biggest misconception that people have, I thought that "Funky Headhunter" was a dope hip-hop album, he was able to get back at those who were dissin' him then, it was wack how basically the whole rap industry was coming after Hammer when he was on top, he wasn't dissin' nobody then, he was in fact helping bring other brothers up at the time, basically he kept it 'real' more than basically anybody did at that time, he might not be on top now but all those who dissed him except LL ain't on top anymore either.... btw, if Hammer sold out for performing with Snoop but didn't Will do a song with Snoop on "Lost and Found"? Hammer's a team player like Will is, basically he's down with everyone, and like Will he don't deserve any of the criticism he receives 'cause he's been such a positive influence for hip-hop, but like Will people won't give him his due, they stay in the dark and think that 50 Cent is real but when it comes down to it you see 50 Cent leave his family starving in the 'hood while Hammer went bankrupt to help his homies out and tell me who's more real? It's like some people are so brainwashed by gimmicks that they think that the person having the most money is the most real, all these chart rappers now might be rollin' with more paper than Hammer, but they don't have as much heart as he does and that's what real, I hope that he comes back in a big way as well... btw, damn if I knew Hammer was gonna be in New York this week ahead of time, I'd tried to get tickets to go and see him, that'd been a sweet b-day present, lol...

Thanks everyone I'm gonna make the most of it! :1-cool:

Well where's the link at man? btw, I was listening to Hot 97 a few days ago and they were interviewing MC Hammer and he was mentioning that his new album is gonna be produced by Scott Storch and that he was in New York this week to perform at Apollo Theatre as a fundraiser for Hurricane Katina victims which he seemed to have posted pics on his site already from that performance

That song came out more than a year ago, way before "Mr. Nice Guy" came out, I think he made that as a response to Eminem mockin' him in the "Just Lose It" video, he also mentions Eminem in that song "History" that he posted on his site: "Sign of the times evident from Elvis to Eminem don't be cruel" btw I dig this other blog there where he talks about how he's seen hip-hop evolve over the years from being in the industry: Maturation of Hip Hop, Chapter 1 My professional Hip Hop journey began in 1986. This was the height of the crack era when every inner city (hood) in America was on fire with the game and death and prosperity were close first cousins. Hip Hop was the soundtrack that played as the game rolled along. In the town (Oakland) it was if the hood had struck oil. New cars, fancy clothes, fresh drippin' jeri curls and all the sex you wanted was a twenty four hour reality. Money came in stacks and any problems were dealt with quickly and with finality. We took our cues from Tony Montana (Scarface) and the mob, if you crossed the homies you paid with your life. Rap music spoke to all facets of this life. The fast tempo party music (MC Hammer), the player pimp style of Too Short and the political awareness and pride and consciousness of Chuck D and Public Enemy. There were very few magazines that could cover, report or depict the world that was emerging and unfolding right before the world's bloodshot eyes. The square journalist would build up any artist who brought his homies and a gun to an interview as a certified gangsta. No kills and no moving weight necessary. They (journalists) were just glad to not get beat down and smashed on. The unhealthy fear of these square journalists would later lead to the deaths of two of rap's greatest artists as they would be the victims of a war of two coasts that only existed in the stories of these cowardly exploitive scribes. There was only a beef among a small group of men. Last time I checked the East Coast was made up of at least thirteen colonies and the West Coast stretched along the beaches of the Pacific Ocean from Washington to Mexico. Until this day these cowardly scribes have never come clean and accepted their collective responsibilities. They still glorify any artist who says, "I was shot" or, "I just got out." Keep in mind that in the streets the one who did the shooting was the gansta. Only in the world of the diconnected and fearful could the victims become the heroes. They write from the standpoint of survival in their minds. They are not alone as their stories are repeated, hyped and sensationalized by radio squares who couldn't point their way to the hood but sound on the air like some of the downest cats ever. Now this acting and attitude has spilled over to Hip Hop chat rooms and forums. These "instant message killers" and "text bangers" all sound and talk so tough in these forums. Stop it man and be yourself. Grow up. Render your opinions without the drama. But I digress. Back to the Eighties. The energy was electric. The last time there was a movement like this was the Studio 54 parties in the mid-Seventies disco era. Just like that era, in this new era of Hip Hop music, drugs, sex and hustling played a vital part in the rise and influence of the genre. Music lives in clubs and on the radio. Radio programmers and DJs love all the vices that come with the music game. Drugs, power, influence and sex. Back then the exception to the rule was a record that was so hot that it worked for everybody. The DJs played it in the club because the dancefloors would be packed. The radio station programmers played it because the phone lines would light up. It was a win win across the board. Today is strictly pay to play. Music and the underworld have always co-existed. Frank Sinatra and the mob. Bugsy Siegel and Las Vegas. Why is there a sudden infatuation and interest by the powers that be to tie Rap artists to the drug game? Guilt by association? Rap artists and drug dealers come from the same community, live in the same neighborhood and stay on the same block. If we are to allow the maturation of Hip Hop we must face the reality of the musicians who produce the music. Ninety-nine percent of rappers come from drug infested communities. Is this news? Instead of trying to lock up Hip Hop, allow us to continue to create hope and legal economic opportunities in these same crime and drug infested communities. Yes, we know drug dealers and killers. We grew up together. There is only one hood. Yes we take calls, put money on books and go out and eat with felons and convicts. It would be impossible for us not to. Three out of five African American men have been arrested or served time. You know that. They are our people. We will not disown them. Let my Hip Hop business model encourage them to do the right thing. Let my Hip Hop business model, success and wealth allow me to invest in the community and bring hope to the next generation. I want to provide resources that help develop the next Kevin Lyle (President Warner Music), the next, Steve Stoute (dealmaker and broker), the next Sean Combs (artist, business man) and the next John Singleton and MC Hammer. Allow the maturation of Hip Hop so we can see and witness more acts of wisdom like the union of Nas and Jay Z. Not all Hip Hop journalists and radio DJs write and talk out of fear. Some are real and they speak and write from truth and from their hearts. It's this group that can help with the maturation of Hip Hop. Present Hip Hop as a complete and whole community. We are fathers, uncles, teachers, ministers, engineers, directors, and yes squares and geeks. Everybody who consumes this music ain't killers. It is a fact that the majority of this music is bought by mainstream America. Anyone can funk and go to war, we all got soldiers but it takes real men to make peace. Peace may not sell these squares' magazines but it can save a community and bring prosperity to our people. --Hammer from my sidekick He also makes a blog about shooting his new music video for "Look, Look, Look" which also posted on the site there: Art Of The Dance What a good feeling to see that everywhere I look, no matter what name they put on it, everybody's dancing! In the Bay Area we "goin' dumb", "thizz'n", and gettin' "hyphy". In LA they "krump'n" and gettin' "buck". The dirty South they doin the "snap dance". The west coast dances have evolved from the emotions and culture of the environment. One "goes dumb" because he can escape the reality of feeling abandoned and left out from a society that isn't addressing his pain and frustration. The lack of hope, opportunity and employment eats at a man's conscience and psyche like maggots on the dead. My value and contribution to family and community is found in my ability to provide for my family and support the community with resources. I escape the pressures of this reality momentarily in my dance. In the dance I let go and I'm free. I express myself. My dreads, my bald head, and my grill are a part of me. They are not "me" because I am not what I wear. They are to me as war paint is to a warrior. My dance is my cry. Feel my power and yet witness my grace. I speak through the dance. I am not being heard but hopefully I will be seen. My movement is a call to action. The quiet before the storm. I "go dumb" to echo the voices that are saying we will not be denied. I lead the charge like an Elder should. I understand. There is no age requirement or limit and no respect of persons to this dance. If you relate to the conditions and recognize the symptoms join in. I'm hyphy. Hyper. I can't stop moving. That's why here in the Bay we say, "do it movin". There is no time to sit still and allow the world to move and walk on me. When you see me, "goin' dumb" with my brothers and sisters I am saying I relate and I am here to support and bridge the gap. All gaps. Race, religion, purpose and missions. The art of the dance is in the imperfections. It is in these moments of correction that we are made whole. We practice and communicate to iron out the problems and challenges. I MC Hammer am back dancing because the world needs to dance and Hip Hop needs leadership. No leadership is like no father. Wisdom comes from living life. Life in this time has grown more complex and the world has become more violent. Through the dance of life we can communicate, embrace and understand one another. The dance brings us closer together. I purposely released the first video from my upcoming album, "Look, Look, Look"(Look3x) as organized pandemonium rather than a choreographed music video. It reflects the times and mind frame. In the freedom that is free style dance is where I see the real you. I love to let the art of the dance be spontaneous. There is no wrong move. Do you. We "goin' dumb". Just express yourself. Get it out. This is the first leg in an eighteen song journey that will take you places you have not gone before. This is the warm up and the stretch. The depth and heart of the album comes later. Prepare your mind and your heart and I promise you there is no way you can leave this project without being affected and changed for the better. I will bridge the gaps through music, video, blogs, melody and dance. We will communicate one with another. There will be communities to support the four chapters that make up the album. The video "Look" (see both "Look" videos: Look 3x, Look 3x/Dance Solo) is taken from the Club Look chapter of the album and is the sound of the crashing symbols and the blowing of the trumpets saying, "Here We Come and Here Comes The Hammer." I am physically as well as mentally and spiritually prepared for this mission. It was a long time in preparation and now is the time to release my algorithm that is ,"Look, Look, Look" (Look3x). The engine and power of the movement is the blog. The blog will allow us to link hand in hand, one to another. Even those who are not Hammer Fans but appreciate blogging's empowerment are welcomed supporters. The blog is our commonality. My goal is to connect with Hammer Fans. Make new Hammer friends and meet with like minds. Those who believe in God, family and community. Through the blog I will eliminate sensationalism. You will have access to my many thoughts and truly get to know me without an intermediate. Video on demand will allow you to see my art, my life and work on demand and without the infection of those who have hidden agendas. This is the revolution and it is on demand. There is no stopping this movement and you can't contain it. The music was built from the vibrations and the call of the people. We will dance. There will be many steps in this dance. Learn the movements. Respect my get down. Notice the strength of the women in these videos. See the joy of the kids. The young man at the end of the first "Look" video is my ten year old son Stanley Burrell Jr. I turn them loose and lift them up. They are strong and beautiful. I applaud their strengths and I create an environment that focuses on their gifts. When I launch The Look Tour you will witness what the power of music, dance, technology, God and community truly is on another level. Witness the maturation of Hip Hop. I won't be just performing but we together will be celebrating the Art Of The Dance.