Could you imagine an iPod-watch combo?

How cool would that be

More on this...

Rest In Peace Red!

I just read the news. I'm sure for those who'd want to know more about this great man, will find a lot on him just by googling him up. My sympathies go out to his family.

The NBA is Finally Back!!!!!!!!!! (Bball ads are coming en masse now)

From left to right: Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan and Chauncey Billups.

This one came from Adidas

I'll try to post some more if I don't forget

The NBA is Finally Back!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a while...
I'm looking forward to this one.

How Africa gets Phucked!!!

Globalization brings wealth and opportunity to many people around the world. But to poor slum dwellers in the failing state of Ivory Coast, it has brought horrible sickness and death after hazardous waste, shipped nearly halfway around the world, was stealthily dumped in backyards around Abidjan. This need not and should not have happened.

As reported in Tuesday's IHT by Lydia Polgreen and Marlise Simons, the waste - a fuming mix of petrochemicals and caustic soda - that started out in the Mediterranean and ended up in Africa could have been safely disposed of earlier in its journey. But Trafigura, the Swiss trading company that leased the tanker, balked at paying European prices. Instead, 85,000 people ended up seeking medical treatment, and at least eight have died.

This is an excerpt from a New York Times article I found in the International Herald Tribune. Do read it and draw your own conclusions.

This is the type of shit that leads to sarcastic illustrations such as these below.

Elections Must Be Looming...

Whenever election dates approach in the US, you can be sure to be entertained. I’ve spent six years, and I have never seen any people with more flair for the dramatic than the Americans. Well, mid-term elections are in November, and before hitting the campaign trail, the legislative arm had to be rocked by a “scandal”, a damning book had to surface, and some ex had to make a little noise of its own. You needn’t wonder why this hadn’t come up earlier. Just grab your popcorn and enjoy the news bulletin for once.

• Washington sex e-mail row deepens
• US mid-terms: Crazy like a fox?
• Bush ‘concealing Iraq violence’

My Fave Gunner (pun intended)

This guy was certainly the luckiest chap on the field last weekend. His brace pushed his team to the top of the table, for now. I’m confident the guys at the Emirates Stadium are waking up.

Some useful gadgets

“This device, which looks like an Xbox controller with gills, contains a small fan that blows cool air onto your palms while you play. A button turns the fan on full blast or sets it to an interval mode that gives you puffs of air every few minutes.” (New York Times.)

If you sweating too much, then it just means you need to lay off the game and go do something else. Nonetheless, the new control should definitely improve your gaming comfort. What’s next? A control with cleansing solution to take care of your greasy hands and germs?





“The S2 Sports Walkman has a stopwatch as well as a counter for steps, distance and calories burned, and an FM tuner for live radio listening; the player can also tune into the gym’s television sets. In addition to the pace-sensing feature, the player lets you shuffle your songs without pushing buttons — just give it three shakes within two seconds to break out of your set list and into random play.” (New York Times)

I still got a problem with wires whenever I use these things. The headphones looks really cool though.

Ride On Deeez

You’d look so hot in it! Don’t you agree!?

When I started making mix tapes for my friends, they were made for their Walkman, their chill-in-the room time and, sometimes, they’d be used during parties and stuff. (That was back in ‘95, ‘96.) I eventually noticed that they’d be used more and more for their time in the car. The Shiznit thing on my site started out as makin’ CDs for my friends’ rides. (When you got just a handful of people to take care of and you know their personalities, it’s pretty easy to do.)

Anyways, I find that music (or a radio program) is essential to having a good trip in your car. And with the car subculture becoming more and more prevalent in modern times, it’s no longer odd to find joints centered on cars. I could go on and on about tricked out cars, speed demons, car preferences by region, etc.

All these joints reflect the car subculture somehow. (I’ve focused on hip-hop and left out quite a few tunes such as the classic William DeVaughn’s “Diamond In The Back”.) I’d encourage you to find them. Burn ‘em onto a disc, or make a playlist and enjoy ridin’ in the whip. (By the way, I’ll start posting my playlists once I get Serato and become good enough at it.)

01. Ray Cash – Bumpin’ My Music (feat. Scarface)
02. T.I. – 24's
03. NTM – Ma Benz (feat. Lord Kossity)
04. UGK – Front, Back And Side To Side
05. T.I. – Top Back
06. Dre – Chevy Ridin’ High (feat. Rick Ross)
07. Mike Jones – What You Know... (feat. Killa Kyleon & Paul Wall)
08. Timbaland – Lobster & Schrimp (feat. Jay-Z)
09. Kurupt – Who Ride Wit Us (feat. Daz)
10. Ray Cash – Bumpin’ My Music (Remix feat. Project Pat, Pimp C & T.I.)
11. OutKast – Southernplayalisticadillacmusik
12. Aqualeo – Cadillac
13. UGK – Diamonds And Wood
14. Ludacris – Two Miles An Hour
15. Paul Wall – Ridin’ Dirty (feat. Trey Songz)
16. Chamillionaire – Ridin (feat. Krayzie Bone)
17. Jay-Z – Parking Lot Pimpin’ (feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek)
18. Snoop Dogg – Dippin’ (feat. Dr. Dre & Jewell)

Microsoft's Zune

If you ask me, that joint looks too big and ugly for it’s size. They’ve advertized the nicer features – big screen, wireless music sharing capability, FM radio – but some important questions are left unanswered. (If you have a media player, you should be able to see thru it.) Microsoft are bound to make mistakes, but I also expect them to make huge improvements in later generations of the Zune – and they’d better if they wanna compete with the iPod. Check out Microsoft’s site for more info on the Zune.

Before this Zidane mess gets old...

Well you might say it's gotten old...
I was watching "TeleFoot" last night...
Hollywood is thinking about making a movie on Zidane...
Dayumn!...

Sophism (Re: About Men & Women)

I don't need to say much more...
The pictures speek for themselves.

You. Must. Learn....

Disclaimer: I was listening to KRS-One when I was writing this up. I thought it was a catchy title. I don’t think so highly of myself that whatever comes out of here should be taken in as gospel. These are just a bunch of articles I found interested and wanted to share.


Ordinary people have been clamoring against the tyrannic music labels slapping lawsuits left and right and blaming the online piracy for the decline in music sales. Maybe they’ll listen to analysts...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/5281272.stm

...So far, Universal plans to take the most proactive approach.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/5294842.stm

There’s a big misconception about IT (Information Technology) folks. We’re thought of more often than not as repairmen. I’m new into the field but I would tell you that it’s more involved than you’d think/imagine. It is with pleasure that I recently read a myth-busting blog entry, and I invite you to the same.
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=118

An abduction with a good ending is not that rare. But this one is unbelievable. Talk about beating the odds! I hope that Natascha will go on to have a normal life and her family can put this ordeal behind them and catch up on those eight lost years. And, most of all, I hope the media will get their cue when it’s time to leave them alone. No need to make a circus there.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/5284048.stm

It’s Hard Being a Giant...

It wouldn't make cents/sense for him to holla, "I'm rich beeeyotch!!!!"

Microsoft is getting cake, there’s no doubt about that. But being the top dog is certainly not a pleasant position to be in - especially when it comes to technology. While it has come under fire for its monopolistic ways, it still has to assert its dominance. (Competing is not enough.) And there’s a couple of markets where there’s a lot of money to be had year after year, and... Microsoft is not getting the bigger chunk. Who’s getting the bigger piece of the pie, you ask? Look no further than Apple and Google.

In the music media market, Bill Gates and ‘em are trying to stem the ever-growing popularity of the iPod and its companion music store, iTunes. With a little help from Toshiba, they’ll be introducing a portable media player, the Zune, by the end of the year. I don’t think it’ll happen but the wireless connection feature it will possess would give it some points over the iPod. And you can bet Steve Jobs is brewing something.

As for Google, it plays the thorn to Microsoft’s foot on the online search and advertising battlefield. Google’s supremacy in the online search domain is unquestioned. MSN Search might make indents, but not in the foreseeable future. As far as advertising goes, Google scored big with the News Corporation deal to provide advertising (and search features) to MySpace. Microsoft, in an attempt to save face, inked a deal with Facebook.

Finally, as if they didn’t have enough to worry about, Microsoft have to contend with the new boys trying to set tents in its yard. It’s lonely at the top. And it’s no rest either. I wanna be rich. (Duh!) But Bill Gates rich? No thanks!

DJ 5Fold's Hits The Courts

Basketball is my thing. I haven’t found that much motivation to get nasty on ‘em (or stay fit for that matter), but I’m gettin’ back into it. I can’t do what these NBA peeps can do, but I can get as vicious - just you get me mad in a game and see what happens. Anyways, I ain’t seen or been in many pick up games with music blastin’ throughout. But it seems like the best thing, especially in summer. If you’ll be sweatin’ it out for two hours one of these days, why not entertain yourself as well. That’s where this playlist comes from. You can use it for your workout too...

Kobe, The Truth, T-Mac and King James show you how it’s done. First things first in a pick up game: demoralize your opponent.

1. Jay-Z - Brooklyn’s Finest (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)
2. Method Man - Dangerous Grounds (feat. Streetlife)
3. Smoothe Da Hustler - Broken Language (feat. Trigger Tha Gambler)
4. Joe Budden - Stuntin’ (feat. Coke)
5. Busta Rhymes - I’m Loco (feat. 50 Cent)
6. Dre - Chevy Ridin’ High (feat. Rick Ross)
7. Ol Kainry & Dany Dan - Crie Mon Nom 2005
8. M.O.P. - When Death Becomes U (feat. 50 Cent)
9. Ice Cube - Why We Thugs
10. 2Pac - Got My Mind Made Up (feat. Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt, Redman & Method Man)
11. Clipse - Wamp Wamp (What It Do) (feat. Slim Thug)
12. Ol Kainry & Dany Dan - Putneg
13. The Notorious B.I.G. - Just Playing (Dreams)
14. GZA - Fame
15. Snoop Doggy Dogg - Gz and Hustlas

Only reason Vinsanity ain’t pictured is because I misplaced his pics and I am too lazy to find one. By now, you should have established that you’re the shit. What’s left is just showin’ off for the attendance. (It’s a must.)

16. Lunatic - HLM3
17. G-Dep - Child Of The Ghetto
18. Disiz La Peste - L’original
19. Lloyd Banks - Hands Up
20. Gang Starr - ½ & ½ (feat. M.O.P.)
21. Bubba Sparxxx - Heat It Up
22. DJ Khaled - Holla At Me (feat. Lil’ Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross & Pitbull)
23. Eightball & MJG - Ridin’ High
24. LL Cool J - Shut ‘Em Down
25. BHI - Do It, Do It (Poole Palace) (feat. K-Rab & Lil’ Jon)
26. Gang Starr - Battle
27. M.O.P. - Welcome To Brownsville (feat. Tephlon)
28. Young Jeezy - Ya Dig
29. M.O.P. - Downtown Swinga
30. 2Pac - One Day At A Time (feat. Eminem & The Outlawz)
    

Strange selections...

Whenever you put your iPod on shuffle, you’re bound to come up with a playlist combination that you’d never think would work. Case in point:

- Mobb Deep - Pearly Gates (feat. 50 Cent)

- Young Jeezy - Trap Star

- Dolly Parton - Travelin’ Thru

- Manecas Costa - Fundo Di Matu

- Rage Against The Machine - Guerrilla Radio

- 2Pac - Lil’ Ghetto Boy

- Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me

- Zama Jobe - Wondering

- The Cranberries - Zombie

- RJD2 - June (feat. Copywrite)

Around the World I

I like to stay informed... Not so much about hip-hop music as I should (visit my site: ThaHipHop.Com), but really about the goings-on around the planet. I don’t devour newspapers and news sites as I would like to, but I’m getting there.

I thought I’d share excerpts of the worthier stories, especially those you might not have heard of. I had saved some articles for this, I never got around to it until today. I’ll start you off with a couple...

Nigeria
“Africa’s New Kind of Money Laundering”
Simon Robinson April 27, 2006 TIME

African money is among the dirtiest in the world — literally. Many African
central banks simply don't replace notes until they fall apart. In countries
torn by war, like the Democratic Republic of Congo or Sierra Leone, years can
pass before new notes are printed. In Somalia a few years back, bank notes
became so scarce that warlords started printing their own money, causing
inflation, predictably, to skyrocket.

Now the continent's most populous country is trying to clean up its
currency's act. In recent weeks, the Central Bank of Nigeria has launched a
campaign urging citizens to take better care of their money. Advertisements in
newspapers, magazines and on television ask Nigerians to "Stop the Abuse of the
Naira" and "Handle the Naira With Pride," referring to the Nigerian currency
that was introduced in 1973 and originally worth just over $1.50.

The public service campaign may seem unusual, but in many ways it simply
reflects the country's desperate economic situation. During the oil crisis
of the early 1980s — when Nigeria was awash with petro dollars and its president
boasted to his neighbors that his country's problem was not poverty but how to
spend all its money — the Naira was almost worth $2. Since then, though,
military rule, corruption and mismanagement have crippled the country's economy
and its currency. One U.S dollar is now worth around 140 Naira.

(Read the whole story)

Iraq
“Compassionate Colonialism”
Michael Hirsh April 19, 2006 Newsweek

How does compassionate colonialism work? First, you create an
Iraqi army that will never be able to stand on its own (the postwar Japan and
Germany model)—an army as addicted to U.S. logistical support and know how as
any junkie on heroin. Washington just recently awarded humvees to the Iraqi Army
as its "heavy armor." But forget about tanks ("[The Iraqis] shoot at everything
and anything," says a frustrated Sgt. Diaz). American helicopters and planes
rule the skies here, and that's not going to change for many years. Then, you
insist on a friendly government, while letting the Iraqis think it is they who
are deciding to be friendly (though this "good will" is driven by the always
hovering threat of a withdrawal of support). And finally, you give your
companies an inside track on long term oil contracts—again by noting that their
presence in Iraq guarantees U.S. support—without actually expropriating the
oil.

It is an interesting, but too little noted, fact that Iraq's
borders were always defined by oil—today more than ever. (Some geologists now
say the biggest potential fields may not lie in the oil producing south and
north but in the Sunni middle). After World War I, the British, French and
Russians were all scrambling to grab the land where the stuff was thought to
exist. Kurdistan, especially, was on the verge of being granted independence by
the British after World War I. But as historian William R. Polk writes in his
fine 2005 primer, "Understanding Iraq," "What would ultimately decide the fate
of Kurdistan had little to do with Kurds; it would be decided by the fact that a
huge deposit of oil was known to exist in what might have become a separate
Kurdish state." As a result, the British at the last minute simply lumped
Kurdistan into British controlled Iraq. "Oil made Kurdistan Iraqi," Polk writes.
And oil, while it was not the reason for this latest war (or perhaps only a
small part of the reason), may end up being the reason we too decide to stay and
force Iraq to remain Iraq. That's OK with me, I guess, as long as it's OK with
Spc. Lucero and Staff Sgt. Diaz and the others who are putting their lives on
the line for this cause.

(Read the whole story)

DJ 5Fold's Tape 4 Da Ride II

These are "Goin' 2 Da Club Jump‑Offs." I tried to keep this at around an hour. That's about the time it used to take me & the boys to get to the club - the guy who had the whip specifically. I built it around the 8th joint... Find them and make u a tape, it should last you about a month ‑ two tops!

1. Ray Cash ‑ Bumpin' My Music (feat. Scarface)
2. Yung Joc ‑ It's Goin' Down
3. Lil' Wayne ‑ Money On My Mind
4. Rick Ross ‑ Hustlin' (Remix feat. Jay‑Z & Young Jeezy)
5. T.I. ‑ Top Back
6. Eightball & MJG ‑ Ridin' High
7. Missy Elliott ‑ Lose Control (feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop)
8. Jay‑Z ‑ Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99) (feat. Jaz‑O)
9. Memphis Bleek ‑ Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses) (feat. Jay‑Z, Twista & Missy Elliott)
10. The Notorious B.I.G. ‑ Spit Your Game (feat. Twista & Krayzie Bone)
11. Clipse ‑ Mr. Me Too (feat. Pharrell)
12. Cassie ‑ Me & You
13. 2Pac ‑ Ambitionz Az A Ridah
14. Busta Rhymes ‑ New York Shit (feat. Swizz Beats)

Sum Shit I Wrote...

I wrote this reflection on Africa a couple of years ago. The site it was on, doesn't exist anymore. Sure, it's a simplistic take on a vast and complex problem, and I invite anyone to correct/improve my assesment. Still, this is one of the very few articles I've written that I can read over without cringing. I feel like I zoned out and zoned in pretty well. So here goes:

Our history has been mired with acts of stupidity and villainy. There are
several reasons for this, the main ones being cupidity, fear, vengeance
(retaliation) or despair. Whether it’s in Europe, Africa or elsewhere, examples
abound. I don’t even need to look further down these past days’ headlines to
validate my point. The hostage situations in Iraq: how can you explain killing
twelve defenseless Nepalese and broadcasting the execution over the internet.
The suicide bombings in Israel: I’d gladly give my opinion on the situation over
there but it’d take a lot of pages. The Beslan nightmare...

But if most of the villainous acts that occur nowadays can be grouped under the umbrella of terrorism, most of the villainous acts in Africa are of another
nature.

Towards the end of the 15th century (1492 to be exact), some dude by
the name of Christopher Colombus stumbled upon the Bahamas. He’s been credited
to have discovered America, the New World - a stupid version of history that is
still being thought today. While he didn’t reach his goals of wealth and power,
others (the settlers) succeeded and then some. The settlers clashed with the
natives who were not as well equipped as their enemy - you don’t bring a knife
to a gunfight. You pick the bad guy, I just wanted to note that there was
ethnocentrism on both sides.

Ethnocentrism has plagued and is still plaguing Africa. The situations in the Great Lakes, Austral Africa, Darfur and Ivory Coast are just a few examples - there are many more cases throughout Africa. Sure, it would be blameworthy to reduce the problems in those regions to ethnocentrism. But it is a starting point.

On the other hand, stupidity is inherent to us humans as red is the intrinsic color of our blood. So it comes as no surprise that Africans (in the governing bodies) may take as many dumb decisions as their European or North American counterparts. But the African populations will hurt more from those "mistakes".

There's a popular story that says an African president once went to visit a European homologue. He observed that his peer was living in opulence and sought counsel. "How did you go about owning a mansion like this?" asked the African. The European brought the African to one a balcony and then addressed him. "You see that highway?", he asked. "For every kilometer I collected a nominal fee." The African, highly inspired by the European’s savvy looked forward to following that example. He invited the European about a year later. The latter was received in palace that was splendid beyond imagination. Infinitely impressed, the European quickly inquired: "How did you go about owning a palace like this?" The African led the European to a balcony and pointed at the horizon. "You see that highway?", he asked to his dumbfounded guest. I’ll let you imagine what the African excellency said
afterwards.

There are many jokes like this that will make me laugh and leave a sour taste in my mouth. Stories of African leaders indulging in conspicuous consumption - corruption if you prefer - at the expense of the ones who "brought them to power" - that is another issue in itself - are not fictitious. On the other hand, African presidents will get much of the blame for their countries’ downward spiral even if they’re not at the root of the problem. Because politics is a funny business. So funny in fact that the Health and Education Minister could have barely made it thru elementary school.

Running a country is a teamwork effort and teams should be put together with regards to competence. Off course, the ethnic diversity should be represented in a proportionate manner (if possible). African intellectuals are not scarce but the governing positions are not really that enviable. And every African had so many problems it gives you a headache just thinking about it.

But now is not time for despondency. Albeit things look very bad, they are starting to change. Progress is minimal. The pace is slow - so slow that it’s mistaken for stagnation. At least we’re not going backwards. Hopefully I’ll live long enough to see a time where stupidity won’t cost us a great deal.

DJ 5Fold's Tape 4 Da Ride I

I'm a DJ at heart. I'm good - I mean really good - at making compilation tapes or CDs. I usually make 'em for my friends so they can have sumthin' to bump in the ride, or sumthin' we can bump when we're playin' ball. Since, I ain't got too many people to send 'em too these days, I'll post them around here. This one was meant for one of my bols in Beantown, but I had left before I could burn it. I've been bumpin this since mid-January. Sorry Isaac! Here's the tracklist.

1. Eric B. & Rakim - Microphone Fiend
2. Jae Millz - Bring It Back (feat. Jadakiss)
3. David Banner - Bloody War (feat. BG)
4. M.O.P. - Big Boy Game (feat. 50 Cent)
5. Paul Wall - They Don't Know (feat. Bun B)
6. The Notorious B.I.G. - Friend of Mine
7. Timbaland - Lobster & Schrimp (feat. Jay-Z)
8. Busta Rhymes - Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (The Worldwide Remix feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)
9. De La Soul - The Grind Date
10. T.I. - What You Know
11. Young Jeezy - Trap Star
12. Bubba Sparxxx - The Other Side (feat. Petey Pablo & Sleepy Brown)
13. Chamillionaire - Ridin (feat. Krayzie Bone)
14. Aqualeo - Cadillac
15. Camp-Lo - Coolie High (Paradise Remix)
16. Do Or Die - Still Po Pimpin' (feat. Johnny P & Twista)
17. T.I. - Live In The Sky [sans Jamie Foxx]
18. Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable (feat. Ludacris)
19. Common - It's Your World

Thisisme!

DJ 5Fold don't got no turnatables...yet!
But that never stopped anybody who've wanted to rock a crowd!
I'd like to entertain and put you on to something - hopefully I can.
Music aside, I'll be laying some randomn thoughts around here. I'll also use this space as a brainstorm tool, and cook up some good stuff for my main site: ThaHipHop.Com
That's about it!