Sundance 2008

Ol' MJ has been going through major depression after the end of the music festival season, but he is back. That's right, your festival czar has returned to his favorite non-music festival in the world -- Sundance. I've already lost my photographer (damn you, Collin Ferrel's entourage), though I will upload my photos just as soon as possible. We are into Day 3 and I will have reviews from Akon's party at Tao (Night 1) and the infamous Seattle Party at the Star Bar (last night). I just ran into Method Man at Albertson's, I was picking up a freezer pizza (like you care) and The Wackness star was maneuvering a grocery cart JUST LIKE A NORMAL PERRSON. Keep checking in and MJ will keep you abreast of all pertinent music information... Tonight is Adrian Grenier's performance with his band, the Honey Brothers, and E! is reporting that Lindsay Lohan is on her way to meet him for the show. The concert is a benefit for a wonderful organization called imawake.com, their mission is to plant 100 Million trees by 2020...Oh ya, and Paris will be there...I'll have photos and info for you ASAP! . And here is the rest of it. Gander On!

50 cent - Curtis - Album Review

3.5 out of 5

"Pound for pound I'm the best around", 50 cent claims on Curtis his third LP and second made specifically for the adolescent children who buy his records and still believe that rappers kill each other (oh and the toothfairy).

But why does he actually believe this? It might be because he sells the most records. But this doesn't make him the best just as it doesn't make "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" the best rap CD of all time. And just as Hammer couldn't do hard (and failed trying) 50 can't do smart or well-rounded for that matter as all the songs on Curtis are about killing, sex, and how much money he has as you would expect from a 50 cent CD.

Maybe then its how much he can switch his style up (and watch the money pile up?). On Curtis 50 tries various different flow patterns other than his normal and ridiculously pathetic fake southern flow but the problem is that none of them work well.

So why the rating after all the hating? Well the production on Curtis is very good and saves Curtis Jackson from comming out like Michael Jackson. The Shady Aftermath team once again does an incredible job in salvaging this album by varying the style of beats to keep the listener interested and by keeping the songs short and blending them together like a mix-tape (why we liked 50 in the first place) so if you don't like one song you won't have to wait long.

Also as with other top-selling artists 50 cent pulls out an A-list mix of guests who all outshine 50 but in doing so make the album better such as Akon on "I'll Still Kill" and the JT/timbo callabo "AYO Technology" (Oh and 50, you lose all credibility when you let a former boy band member write some of your verses).

Though 50 cent on Curtis is a shell of his former self we still have to give him credit for ending Ja Rule's career (thank god) and for "Get Rich or Die Trying" one of the better LP's of this decade and on Curtis it takes a Tony Yayo cameo on "Hands Up High" to remind us of when 50 was good and why we liked him. Shit-talking and punchlines.

See 50 you were never a great rapper (so let's just forget about the best talk) but on your early shit you were funny as hell as you made it impossible for anyone with any self respect to listen to Ja's music, and we loved you for that. And while your handelers may keep telling you how much "They luv da kid" unless you become hungry like that again, or (gasp) show some artistic growth, it won't be for long. Gander On!

New Video Akon "Sorry, Blame It On Me"

A little over a month ago Akon released this song on his Myspace page and it gained popularity and radio play. It's mixed messaage of I'm sorry and It's really your fault but the video is decent and is complete with cameo from Ashley Judd. Enjoy

Gander On!