Mack: My mom put me on to a track by Ludacris … it's called Politics As Usual
Mello: ur mom? lol
Mack: right!! she said its controversial
Mello: wow
Mack: that's what I said
Mello: we definately need 2 check it out then
Mack: u know what? I don't see anything wrong... I support Luda in this joint... he's using his platform as an artist to speak for the people
Mello: yea, I read the lyrics in an article
Mack: he's just saying what everyone else feels but doesn't have the voice to say
Mello: he's speaking truth…FREE SPEECH!
Mack: He responds to how two-faced Hilary was... I know she was trying to win the nomination, but she did some mud-slinging that was really just dirty
Mello: Free speech has been censored these days
Mack: yeah, it has, but we're not a generation that takes kindly to censorship. We say what's on our mind.
Mello: and folks like Luda shouldn't be bashed based on their personal opinion…the issue that arose with Obama was the fact that he's a parent first and he doesn't want to raise his children on lyrics such as those
Mack: I totally agree with what he said about Jesse Jackson... Jesse said what he said. He knew what he was saying when he said it. Grow a pair and own up to it
Mello: I mean, it is what it is
Mack: now I will say he went a little far with his comment about McCain... but still it's his opinion and the thing is, NOBODY is asking Obama to use this song as his campaign theme
Mello: exactly!
Mack: I think the reason people have such a problem is because Obama publicly endorsed Luda as a "great talent and great businessman" which is still true, but that doesn't mean that Luda is the voice of Barack Obama or his campaign.
Mello: its a case of guilty by association. there's a thin line between love & hate, in this case
Mack: right, and I'm sure Luda is unfazed by this heat. He knew he was getting into a dirty game when he decided to rap about politics but he has a responsibility to speak for the people and to the people
Mello: people love both Luda & Obama but hate what they stand for
Mack: And deep down, I'm sure Obama is like "This shit is dope as hell!" but in the public eye, he's gotta renounce it. But on inauguration day, I wouldn't be surprised if he gives Luda some dap
Mello: lol… right
Mack: like "That track was hot, man." I can't believe he's catching controversy over this... it's ludicrous!! LOL

Check www.iknowtank.com to download Luda's new mixtape called The Preview.

Mello: Neyo has a new track… Miss independent
Mack: yeah I just got it… that joint is soundin real official
Mello: every dude wants a Miss Independent… or SHOULD want
Mack: hell yeah... she wants u but dont need u. got her own thing
Mello: a Miss Independent
Mack: thats sexy
Mello: tell me about it
Mack: yeah but u know some dudes thrive on feeling needed
Mello: Let me toot my own horn on that one… TOOT TOOT
Mack: i hear ya... independence is fly. R&B bruthas are on the come-up...

Mello: Hey..MH has a new one…sounds horrible
Mack: oh, Sunset?
Mello: Yea
Mack: i saw it at HHU but didn't listen, cause I don’t normally check for Marques Houston… lemme find it
Mello: im a fan and im not feelin that
Mack: im listening now… u know what kills this track? The same thing that kills every MH album
Mello: his falsetto, his ass cant sing in that shit
Mack: that and his WACK ASS LYRICS. The instrumental is fine, I could hear Robin Thicke rockin this joint
Mello: yea, his voice is perfect for that type of song
Mack: but his vocals and his lyrics suck
Mello: plus the guitar overshadows him
Mack: thats actually a good thing, cause at about the 2 minute mark his voice got ultra annoying… and he sounds like a wounded dog at the end with all that moaning or purring whatever it is… same sound he makes in the beginning… trash that
Mello: yea
Mack: i know thas ur boy, but damn. someone put him out of his misery... and out of mine
Mello: I said, I’m a fan and even I DONT LIKE IT… sounds horrible
Mack: maybe he was imitating the way Raz-B sounded when Chris Stokes got done with him...LMAO

I believe that love is synonymous with heaven, such a sensual bliss...

I’m convinced Anthony David isn’t a soul singer… he’s a singer with soul. Last night, the NoDa arts district of Charlotte, NC was rocked by the sounds of Mr. Acey Ducey and company, and there wasn’t an ear in the building that left unsatisfied. Anthony David’s been on the performing circuit for quite some time, making noise in the underground soul world. As I watched the crowd fill the venue, I noticed a few twenty-somethings, but mostly a 30 and up crowd – those with an ear for the real. There was an air of anticipation, and a feeling that this show would be one to remember...

Chris Breezy, hailed by some as the young MJ, has a new track floating around the net and it's kinda hot! This joint is called Fatal Attraction. Homie's got a nice one here, vocals are hot, and his style keeps getting better and better. Check it out...

The people need someone to believe in, so in God's Son we trust

Mack: People will have a hard time admitting it but Nas is the best active rapper in the game right now
Mello: oh yea
Mack: and people won't like some of his music because it's the truth...
Mello: I saw the comment that someone left and I agree
Mack: yeah, Sane
Mello: he's the only one that aint out here wanting to make it rain
Mack: he's better than Weezy, and he's always been 10 levels above 50 cent
Mello: he's a real lyricist and I love this album
Mack: and he has something to say... this whole album is a history lesson and a wake up call all rolled into one. Hero was the perfect lead single; lyrically it just gives way to everything else on the album... it's a story of his own rise and maturity. He put in a nice catchy hook to grab the attentions of the masses and say "Hey look over here!" then when you get the album, he inundates you with the truth
Mello: exactly
Mack: Sly Fox is definitely gonna turn some heads... he's takin on the major media outlets
Mello: which is why I love it
Mack: and Fried Chicken is some real talk!! Busta’s like "I'mma eat some shit until what I’m eatin kills me. And I choose to do that. Why? Because that's just what niggas do..."
Mello: exactly... I love it!
Mack: I'm pretty sure he won't do as well as Weezy in sales, but as far as the quality of music, Nas has got it by a long shot. So let Weezy have the Billboard awards... Nas deserves the Grammy!
Mello: yea, wit this album, its a public service announcement: “Niggas exist in all nationalities!” That's a classic line. We Make the World Go Round wit Chris Brown is a nice piece
Mack: yeah, another lil somethin to attract the younger listeners... make them sit down and listen
Mello: "in america you'll never be free, middle fingers up, fuck the police"
Mack: I really believe this dude is hip hop's hero… he's a teacher… and hip-hop is his classroom
Mello:the fundamentals of hip-hop have been resurrected with this album. As I stated in my is hip hop dead post it didn't die, its been put in a time capsule 2 be resurrected
Mack: and the good thing is, it speaks to EVERYONE... a lot of people would listen on the surface and think he's pro-black but he's pro-American, pro-earth, pro-Obama, pro-equality.
Mello: “Wake up America...its not what you think it is”
Mack: He uses his music wisely too. There's a lot of emotion in some of the tracks that Nas can't convey in his voice so he lets the music do it for him. Like the anger you can tell he feels in Sly Fox… the guitar on the track does justice to convey how he feels
Mack: or the sadness he feels for the ignorance of our whole country on America; the strings, the background singer... everything around him conveys his emotion while he delivers the message
Mello: we welcome the rebirth of hip-hop
Mack: it's a REAL album... Nas has a lot to say
Mello: and sad 2 say..becuz of folks' ignorance they won't listen. He will capture @ least ONE persons attention… he definately caught mine
Mack: "No matter what the CD called I'm unbeatable y'all" Let’s GO ESCO!!!

This song has been gettin crazy airplay, and for good reason. Jazmine Sullivan is a hot new artist with a smokin voice. She's being hailed by many as the next Lauryn Hill. I don't agree with that comparison, but I do agree she's a force to be reckoned with. Let's just hope Missy's annoying voice isn't on every song she releases...

Mack: have u heard Lloyd's single with Weezy? Girls All Around The World?
Mello: yea
Mack: im watching the video now... Hype Williams directed it… nice video, song's aight
Mello: I didn't kno they had a video
Mack: yeah it's a futuristic type vibe... women everywhere...
Mello: imma have 2 check it out
Mack: his album drops August 5. It’s called Lessons In Love
Mello: I hope its good
Mack: his first 2 were good
Mello: yea, they were… I'm a fan of the pelican brief
Mack: LMAO @ Pelican brief
Mello: his big ass nose
Mack: on his first one (Southside), I liked Trance with Lil Wayne, Sweet Dreams, Take It Low, Cadillac Love
Mello: take it low was my shit!
Mack: yeah he did a clip of that in his Hey Young Girl video and had Ciara dancin
Mack: off his Streetlove album, I was really feelin Valentine, Player's Prayer, Streetlove (the title track) and Certified.
Mello: but both of those joints were good R&B cuts.
Mack: i think he gets slept on because he's with The Inc
Mello: that too
Mack: a lot of beef has been thrown their way... and they're not necessarily known for putting out talent in the R&B arena... i mean just look at Ashanti
Mello: yea, I was bout to say that
Mack: But I've heard some stuff from the new album, and it sounds good... like he's constantly improving
Mack: Heart Attack would be a nice next single, it's a B. Cox joint, he’s always got some good slow jams.

Artist: Pol-B
Album: Unsilenced
Release Date: 5.13.08 (available on )
Preview some tracks on the Pol-B Myspace Page

Pol-B steps into the game with his independent debut, Unsilenced backed by his own independent label, Majeestyle. At first listen, you wouldn’t know this was the debut album from an independent artist. The production team brings the heat throughout while Pol-B delivers a New York flow with a touch of southern swagger. He’s an artist and musician that has created a project that reaches from the clubs to the hood, to the closeted corporate hip-hop fan. This album gives voice to them all, thereby establishing a movement in hip-hop. So for everyone that’s looking for a break from the downward spiral of hip-hop, here’s your first dose…

Its hump day, and though its the middle of the week, in my mind, it
feels like a dreadful Monday. So to help me deal, I'm listening to Ms.
Badu, "if I can get over that hump, then maybe I will feel better"...
Whether you're dealing with the typical stressors of life, know that
you're not alone. We all need to make it over that hump. Relieve
yourself of that stress. Treat yourself to something nice, call up a
girlfriend, do something outside of the norm. Trust me, you'll feel
better. I'm telling you, music SAVED my life, & it could do the same for
you, if you let it.

-Mello-

About a week ago, Ne-yo released a freestyle (amongst about 1000 others in the industry) to Weezy's A Milli. He has repeatedly denied that his lyrical spewings are aimed at anyone in particular...yeah, okay... So now, he's shot an official video for it... I think he's serious ya'll... someone has pissed off "the Gentleman"... It's good entertainment people...