My Final Verdict on the Insanity Workout Challenge

So, I have taken the Insanity challenge and made it through in one piece! I made it to day 63 on 21 May, 2010 and I truly feel that Insanity has changed my life forever. I have come a long way from day 1 until now and I’m astonished on what I have accomplished. Over the past 2 months I have quit smoking and traded one addiction for another. I am now addicted to working out and bettering myself physically and mentally. I feel that I have the physical thing down; but the mental thing may take some time, which is for me to talk about in a different blog… LOL! I have also loss 23 lbs and 7 inches off my waist! I have changed the way I eat, the way I look, the way I think, the way I live; I have changed my life! This is all because I took a chance on an infomercial workout DVD.

Here are my final results:

Weight:

Day 1: 198 lbs/ Day 63: 175 lbs

Waist:

Day 1: 38 inches/ Day 63: 31 inches

Every two weeks or so, during Insanity, you have to take this brutal fit test. You take the test at the beginning of the program and it’s basically a baseline to track your progress. I chose to only take this test twice; once at the beginning and once at the end. People who know me know that I’m an “all or nothing” kind of guy. That being said, I looked at the fit test as something that I was training for and it would be sink or swim time at the end. I felt that doing the fit test throughout the program would make it seem inconsequential in many ways for me. I didn’t want to “dumb down” the importance of that last test. The last test would end up being my Super Bowl and if I didn’t make extreme improvements at the end; then I would have to take the “L” and come back harder. But, I was happy with my results and it worked out great for me! I did see areas during the test I could improve on during my next rounds; but overall I was proud of my performance. The fit tests consist of:

• Switch Kicks – Standing up straight and alternately kicking each leg out in front as high as you can. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Squat Jacks – Jumping jacks, only in Squat Jacks you go down into a full squat at the end of every repetition. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Power Knees – Standing up straight with your hands interlaced overhead, and then bringing 1 knee up at an angle across your body as many times as you can. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Power Jumps – Down into a full squat and then leaping up into the air as far as you can. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Globe Jumps (I hate these!) – One hop back, one hop to the right, one hop forward, and one hop to the left equals 1 repetition. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Suicide Jumps – From a standing position down into a plank position, then back to standing and then leap straight into the air. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Push Up Jacks – Regular pushups, only you spread your feet wide apart and then bring them back together on every single repetition. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.
• Low Plank Obliques – From a plank position, keep your upper body totally still while alternatively bringing each knee up as close to your shoulders as possible. As many as you can do in 60 seconds.

Here are my results:

Fit Test:
Day 1: S.K. = 55/ Day 63: S.K. = 150
Day 1: P.J. = 27/ Day 63: P.J. = 61
Day 1: P.K. = 59/ Day 63: P.K. = 103
Day 1: P.JP. = 20/ Day 63: P.JP. = 61
Day 1: G.J. = 7/ Day 63: G.J. = 11
Day 1: S.J. = 12/ Day 63: S.J. = 18
Day 1: P.U.J. = 20/ Day 63: P.U.J. = 41
Day 1: L.P.O. = 43/ Day 63: L.P.O. = 63

Insanity claims to be the hardest workout put on DVD. They also claim that they can get you where you want to be physically in only 60 days. That is 30 days shorter then P90X! When you hear these claims, you think that there is no way that it is that hard and there is no way it is going to get me in shape in 60 days. Only the latter of these statements could be true for some people. This program is really built for people that are already in some kind of shape. It is also made for those who have the discipline to stay committed to a physical regiment of this magnitude. Now, not everybody will see the same results that I have; but I am convinced that if you stay committed to the program, you will see results.

The most important part of this plan would have to be the diet. I’m no nutritionist, but I realized the importance of eating right from day 1. Did I follow the diet plan to the letter? Hell no! LOL… But honestly, for the first two weeks I counted my calories and followed the diet plan. See, I had already done P90X and basically knew how to eat. The thing I noticed about the Insanity diet plan verses the P90X plan was the carbohydrates. You can eat way more carbs on the Insanity plan, which is a good thing because you use every single carb during the workouts. After a few weeks, I slowly started to stray from the plan and incorporated my own eating habits. I looked at this as a lifestyle change and I wasn’t going to just eat from this book for the rest of my life… Now, that would be insane… LOL! So, I used the Insanity meal plan and the P90X meal plan as the framework for what I wanted to eat. I Google'd and researched a lot of different things on eating right and just started eating healthy stuff I wanted to eat. Furthermore, after counting calories for awhile, you can really gauge your intake in a day without literally counting. Using the formula in the Insanity plan, I was supposed to intake like 2000 calories a day to get to my goal of 165 lbs. That rarely happened… LOL… Do you know how hard it is to eat that much healthy shit in one day? Without coming off the diet to just get calories; getting to 2000 calories a day was a very difficult thing for me. Thus, I tweaked my diet a lot during Insanity. I noticed that I would stop losing weight… Tweak the diet… I would feel fatigued during the workouts… Tweak the diet… I would feel sore and wouldn’t recover fast enough… Tweak the diet… I would feel or look bloated… Tweak the diet… I wasn’t sleeping well… Tweak the diet… Diet, diet, diet!!!! I can’t stress the importance of a healthy diet while doing Insanity or any other workout plan. It is the key to your results and success! I plan on experimenting with the Zig-Zag calorie intake method next; to help me lose another 10 lbs. I will talk about that in another post.

During Insanity I experimented with a lot of supplements. I can't stress the importance of good supplements and vitamins while doing Insanity. I used GNC AMP Muscle Igniter 4X at the beginning and didn’t like the way it made me feel. First off, it gave me the “bubble guts” if I took it on a empty stomach and the second problem was the ignite heat shock proteins (HSPs). This HSP Activator is involved in releasing heat shock proteins during exercise. HSPs are proteins included by heat or other stresses that play a role in muscle physiology and are multi-functional. Well, that HSP stuff just made me extremely hot and sweaty all day. Even hours after my workout, I was still sweating profusely. It really sucked! Then I used USP Labs Jack3D once and almost died. That shit made me feel like my heart was going to explode and dribble down my leg, half way through the Plyometric Cardio Circuit workout. Not good! Finally, I just started using Hydroxycut Hardcore for the majority of the final month. Hydroxycut really isn’t a workout supplement and did nothing but give me a really nice caffeine rush during my workouts. It gave me energy without killing my heart-rate or giving me a stomach ache. I only lost 5 lbs during the month I was using it, so I really didn’t see the massive weight loss effects that they claim it has. Finally, I have recently started using MRI Black Powder and I love it so far. Black Powder is a NOS up-regulated pre-training formula with instant release formula spiked with ACTINOS2 IR (MRI's new technology). It's loaded with B vitamins and raw muscle fuel like MCTs and malic acid so your energy metabolism remains efficient and steady throughout even the toughest parts of a workout. Supposedly, the ACTINOS2 IR creates an "instant blast" of nitric oxide, creating levels 950% greater than previously possible. It’s also a blood doper that causes blood channels to "hyper-dilate" - driving Black Powder's nutrient matrix to muscle. At the same time, the spike of 950% more nitric oxide amplifies the "cell-signaling" and magnifies the signals that control both muscle performance and muscle size. Now, is all that just bull-shit? Maybe, but it is the best supplementation I have used so far and it makes me feel like a beast with no side-effects... So, I likes it! As far as vitamins go, I just used Mega Man Sport, which seemed like a good multi-vitamin that turned my piss florescent yellow. So, it must be good, aye? Lastly, you have to have an awesome recovery drink. This is a must for Insanity and I used Vanilla or Dutch Chocolate Zero Carb Isopure, GNC Pure Glutamine Powder, and Chocolate Soy Milk. I swear by chocolate milk as a recovery drink! There are so many studies that have shown that it is the best thing out there and it taste like awesomeness! I use soy because I’m lactose, but I’m sure 2% low fat would work just fine. Couple it with the Isopure protein and the Glutamine for joint recovery; you can’t go wrong with it. Not only is this drink an awesome recovery; it can also be a meal replacement if you want. You can add Banana, peanut butter, berries, oats, and all kinds of stuff to it. It is great!

Finally, you have to have a good pair of shoes. I used a pair of Nike basketball shoes at first and they worked out pretty good. Because of all the jumping involved in these workouts, basketball shoes or cross-trainers work pretty well. DO NOT USE RUNNING SHOES! Well, you can if you want, I just didn’t like them. I experimented with a pair of straight running shoes and almost rolled my ankle a few times. Afterwards, my feet went into cardiac arrest and cramped up like never before. I never wore them again while working out (wasted $90). Then I went back to the basketball shoes, but I was still having a lot of pain in my legs during and after the workouts. So, I dropped $100 on a pair of Reebok Zig-Zags. Awesomeness! Very, very, very, good shoe! I love them! Their design took away almost all the pain in my legs. They are so light; it is like working out on airbags. Reebok’s Zig Tech footwear is designed to conserve and return energy to the athlete for a soft and springy ride. The one-of-a-kind Zig Tech bottom unit features innovative, lightweight foam that is engineered into a dramatic, geometric, zig-zag shape. This unique zig-shaped sole absorbs the impact of heel strike and sends a wave of energy along the length of the shoe to help propel the athlete forward with each step. That is exactly what it feels like when you jump or run in these shoes… You just want to jump out the room! Now, these are running shoe, but they kind of aren’t because of the way the absorb shock. Another shoe that I hear works nicely are the Nike Shox. But the Reebok Zags are just what they claim to be… They are an “energy drink for your feet!”

My final verdict on Insanity is that it is an awesome program for those who are committed to it. In order to get the full worth of a workout program like this you have to look at it as more than just a 60, 90, or 120 day thing. It has to be a lifestyle change in order to see results. You will only get out, what you put in and Insanity demands a lot. But, all the hard work will pay off if you stick with it and buy into its philosophy. If you are extremely out of shape and overweight… Insanity is not for you! If you are unwilling to work harder than you have ever worked in your life and then dig deeper and work harder than that… Insanity is not for you! If you are not willing to change your mind, attitude, and life… Insanity is not for you! But, if you are one of the many of us, like me, who are willing to work harder than you ever have to obtain your fitness goals… Then Insanity might be that perfect stepping-stone for you. Next up for me is recovery for a few weeks. My recovery will consist of working out 5 days a week instead of 6 days, doing some of the lighter Insanity recovery workouts, P90X’s YogaX and StretchX, jogging, bike riding, and just staying active. I will also be experimenting with the Zig-Zag diet and dropping my carbohydrate intake. Then when my body feels like it is ready, I will be starting a P90X-Insanity hybrid program… My journey continues! Stay tuned!

Good luck and keep digging deep my fellow Insaniacs!

S

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Review: Little Brother "Getback"

Little Brother Getback At It

By Kas

No major label deal! Well wave bye, bye, to the little bit of major radio and MTV2 run they had!

The Listening… Classic!

The Minstrel Show… Arguably, classic!

They can’t follow up two solid albums with another solid album????? Not in this Hip Hop day and age… They have to stumble, right?

Man, no 9^th Wonder! Them niggas album gonna be garbage!

All the cards seemed to be stacked against them and now we are blessed with Getback. Phonte and Big Pooh, the middle-east’s (N.C.) finest, are back again with another soulful addition to their already impressive discography. The album is a journey into the last two years since The Minstrel Show dropped. It is a very “grown folks” type album lyrically. Phonte and Pooh lace every record with their classic personal, gem dropping, everyday grind, let me learn you something little nigga, flow. That is why L.B. albums are always critically acclaimed and they are one of the few groups left whose material can get copped on name recognition alone. Why? Because you know what the fuck you are getting with a L.B. album and that is good Hip Hop music!

No punch pulling lyrics, over soulful boom-bap beats, is a genetic trait of this crew and that didn’t change with the disappearance of 9^th. They just threw on some new “good clothes” and enlisted the help of some intelligent Hip Hop beat-crafters. Yet, they didn’t go outside their lane and stuck with producers who could concoct that classic L.B. elixir in a new shinny shot glass. The producers seemed to try and keep 9^th’s soulful sound that he crafted for Tay and Pooh and just throw their own little spin on it (except Zo! LOL…). Which really worked out to Tay and Pooh’s advantage on Getback, as it is another solid album.

If you are expecting the social commentary of The Minstrel Show once again on this one then…. Ummmm…. Well, you are out of luck sunny. The album starts off with an intro instrumental, which is a jazzy acoustic version of We Got Now, the last record off The Minstrel Show. That intro leads right into Sirens, which is an Illmind produced banger… That is about as much of that political shit as you gonna get on this one… With Pooh spitting shit like:

“They talk about us not using the word nigga

I want to speak about a couple issues much bigger

Like mos black folk live below the poverty line

And they wonder why the fuck we attracted to crime”

And Tay:

“They trying to blame this rap shit for all of our ills

Like I can stick you up with a mic

Like I can rape you with a verse or use a verb as a knife

Like before Kool Herc everything was alright

Like I wasn’t calling black women hoes before Rappers Delight”

And that is it…

This flows right out of The Minstrel Show and into the Getback… There are a few skits, but the concept album feel is gone. It is more just banger after banger and head nod after head nod.

The relationships between woman and man are a big topic on this one… Records like Breakin’ My Heart, After the Party, and Step It Up, all have a lady drama feel to them. Which is cool, because grown folks can relate to lady drama (say word) and the other records are more introspective. There aren’t any real braggadocios, nonsense records on this album. The closest to braggadocios is the Denaun Porter, aka Mr. Porter, produced heat rock ExtraHard. But even then, they manage to slide in a message of self improvement, do for self, and keep it movin’ness. Each song has a clear message and hits with soulful quality production. Can’t Win for Losing, Two Step Blues, That Ain’t Love, Dreams, When Everything is New, and even Good Clothes, are all those relatable records that you can affirm with a head nod like: “Yeah, nigga… Church… I can relate to all that shit you just said!”

If I had to pick a weak record on the album (which is hard), it would have to be the only 9^th Wonder produced record, Breakin’ My Heart feat. Lil Wayne (as much as I love Tay’s verse on it). Yes, that is right, Lil Wayne… This nigga is everywhere! I can’t even cop a L.B. album without hearing him now… Yo, dude is camping outside of every studio in America, waiting to get on dudes albums… LOL… I’m sayin’… The beat is just lack luster to me and the claps get annoying after a minute into the record. Also, Wayne’s verse is not that great… With lines like “…and my game is skin deep like a first tattoo/ I get all in your head just like shampoo…” C’mon Mr. Weezy… What was that??? **shakes head** But, the song is still listenable on the strength of Tay and Pooh’s verses.

Quick play by play:

1. Sirens Feat. Carlitta Durand – produced by Illmind:

Crazy! Illmind is a beast on this one! Nasty keys and eerie Carlitta Durand sang hook, give this record a dark feel. Awesome pro-Hip Hop, lets get right, message from Tay & Pooh, reminiscent of that Minstrel Show shit.

2. Can't Win For Losing – produced by Illmind:

Claps + Ye styled soul sample + solid drum work and synths = Another Illmind banger! Tay and Pooh lace it with the personal real talk that L.B. fans expect from them. Speakin’ on the trials and tribulations of being Hip Hop artist and how shady the biz can be...

3. Breakin' My Heart Feat. Lil Wayne – produced by 9^th Wonder:

Starts off with a hilarious skit, with dudes girl breaking into his email and finding messages from some other woman… Then a lazy, monotonous, clap filled 9^th beat comes in (well, it isn’t as bad as I’m making it sound… LOL). Tay’s verse is church and Weezy’s verse is not.

4. Good Clothes – produced by Illmind:

The single off the album… Simple looped joint with Illmind solid drum work. The lyrics carry this one! Y’all know you can relate to this record… Don’t front!

5. After the Party Feat. Carlitta Durand – produced by Khrysis:

If you haven’t heard of Khrysis (Away Team), you will sunny… Dude is a beast! He will be a household name in the near future. The beat captures the essence of that late night after the club is closed and the lyrics follow that theme. Smooth and laid back… Subtle synths and another Carlitta Durand murked hook…

This one is connected to Good Clothes through a skit… Yo, the intro to the song is hilarious too… It starts with Tay in the parking lot after the club closes, trying to spit at a woman and his conscious telling him what to say… LOL… One of my favorite records on the album.

6. Extra Hard – produced by Mr. Porter:

Tay says it best at the beginning of the song… This beat is provocative… That is the only way to put it. Honesty, this record sounds more like something 9^th would have crafted. Nice, looped sample with Pooh and Tay spitting that meth.

7. Step It Up Feat. Dion – produced by Hi-Tek:

Y’all know Tek’s pedigree… This shit is meth! Tek’s crooner, hook maestro Dion, assists Tay and Pooh with an ode to the ladies.

8. Two-Step Blues Feat. Darien Brockington – produced by Nottz:

Again L.B.’s enlist another solid pedigree producer in Nottz. Who kills on this jazzy, smoke filled, soulful, banger! Darien Brockington laces the hook with a neo-soul vibe. Highlight is Pooh’s Phife’ish, TCQ inspired, sounding verse… Very nice!

9. That Ain't Love Feat. Jozeemo – produced by Illmind:

Man, another Illmind gem! Mos def a standout track on the album… Along with Two Step, Step It Up, After the Party, and When Everything Is New. “If this is love, I don’t want to see hate… If this is real, I don’t want to see fake!” If you can’t feel that, then you ain’t living.

10. Dreams – produced by Rashid Hadee:

Nice looped sample with a killer bassline and subtle keys… Another 9^th inspired sounding track. They message on this one is meth. Just sit back and listen to what they are saying… This song is real talk and Tay drops a gem with his verse:

“I still go to the crib and see my niggas on the corner

Chillin’ with the pounds on they waist

Gettin’ old, gettin’ round in the face

And when I hang with them

They ask me if The Minstrel Show means I’m ashamed of them

Well, I can’t say that I’m proud

But all the same, can’t say I’m allowed to judge

I’m just glad to see you”

11. When Everything Is New – produced by Zo!:

Yo, Zo! Murders the synths on this record… This is not one of your normal L.B. cut right here… But oddly, it fits them and this album… It is more in the vain of Foreign Exchange too me. Very up beat record and with all the negative shit they vent out on the album, this is one of the happier lyrical tracks… LOL…

All and all, any Little Brother fan will be happy with this album. The whole thing is cover to cover and only one possible skippable record. Some may say that the album is a bit angry, bitter, and dark. But, if you ask me, they just sound hungry… Classics are created off of this type of hunger… In this era of topicless, cookie cutter, dumb downed Hip Hop; it’s nice to hear some Emcees that actually have something to say.

On a scale of 1 – 5

Getback – 4.5

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Review: Kanye West "Graduation"

September 8, 2007 - Saturday












Graduation Day for Kanye West
By Kas


As I sit here contemplating the state of Hip Hop and listening to Kanye West's junior effort "Graduation"… Yo, I can't help but smile.

In the last few months, mainstream Hip Hop has witnessed solid albums dropped from Common, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch. Now we have an offering from the big dog of mainstream-conscious-neo-Hip Hop-backpackerism.

At first glance, I think: "Damn, what is the deal with these sissy ass album covers? First Common and now Kanye… WTF?" Makes you wonder what is really good over there at Good Music.

But that is neither here nor there…

Have you ever listened to a Hip Hop album and every song you think: "damn so-n-so would have sounded really dope on that song…"??????????????????

Well, this is mos def that album.

What is so frustrating about Graduation is that it is a really meth album. But, Kanye just can't rap!

Usually, you want to hear an album without a dozen guest spots. Graduation is not that kind of album. Lyrically, he just lacks the skill to drop a classic Hip Hop album without a little help from his friends.

That being said, his friends are absent on Graduation day and it's just him walking across the stage to get his diploma (where the fuck is Common??????). Between his new fascination with lesbians (more then one reference made to them… LOL), personal venting, and the normal money, clothes, and hoes all a nigga knows… He really thinks he is a "top 5" Emcee. Well, Graduation just confirms the fact that he is not.

I can't front though, he does make a damn good effort and there are some lyrical bright spots. Records like "Everything I Am", "The Glory", "Bittersweet Poetry", and "Big Brother" have solid lyrical performances. What comes through in Kanye's lyrics is how honest he is. That is his appeal or "swagger" if you will, to the mainstream. His simplistic rhyme schemes and "…though I have a shit load of money… I'm still a normal nigga and going through the same shit as you…" candor, seems to captivate people… I guess…

As for the production…. SOLID! He has reinvented his sound on this one. His use of synthes on Graduation is something I haven't heard from him before like this. He really tried to be creative and that is respectable in this Hip Hop day and time. "Flashing Lights", "Stronger", and "I Wonder" are songs that he really seemed to go outside the box and reach for a new type of sound. He also has his commercial single type records "Stronger", "Good Life" (WOW!), "Champion" and maybe "Bittersweet Poetry" featuring John Mayer. But he does get back to his patented soul sample driven sound on records like "Everything I Am" and "The Glory."

Here is the play by play:


1. Good Morning

Kas says: Basically an intro to the album… The beat is laid back with a sonar echo snare and a Jay-Z sample at the end. Simple track… He says dumb shit like "You got D's muthaphucka D's Rosie Perez" ***shakes head***

2. Champion

Kas says: Nice record… Looped Steely Dan sample (damn he paid for that shit)… Points for good subject matter… "Lauryn Hill said her heart was in Zion… I wish her heart still was in rhyming"… Say word…

3. Stronger

Kas says: You already know… But this stupid ass song is starting to grow on me… 1000000000000 times a day on the radio… I know all the words…

4. I Wonder

Kas says: Nice song… Catchy Labi Siffre sample… Good subject matter… One of the only songs where he let's his production skills take over without him saying to much dumb shit… "Trade it all for a husband and some kids; you ever wonder what it all really means… You ever wonder if you'll find your dreams?"

5. Good Life (Feat. T-Pain)

Kas says: Heat rock… More then likely the next single off the album… Nice use of the M.J. P.Y.T. sample…. I don't care what y'all say about T-Pain… Everything he sings on is a hit… He is like this Hip Hop generations Nate Dogg… LOL… Now throw yo hands up in the sky!!!!!!!!!

6. Can't Tell Me Nothing

Kas says: Toomp was a beast on the beat… Lyrics are garbage and the remix is worst with Jeezy sayin' "Yeeeeaaaaahhhh" 200 times…

7. Barry Bonds (Feat. Lil Wayne)

Kas says: Wack… Wackest shit on the album… Again, the beat is meth… But how can you get on record and say….

Kanye says: "…how you gonna say I aint no lo-head, cuz my dior got me more my dough head? Im insulted...you should go'head...and bow so hard till yo knees hit yo forhead…" ***WHAT?***

Wayne says: "…and me i'm Mr. Weezy baby...yea i'm so bright not shady, my teeth and my ice so white like shady…" ***Shakes head***

8. Drunk & Hot Girls (Feat. Mos Def)

Kas says: Aight… I'm torn on this one… When I first listened to it, I was like "WTF?"… But after listening to it a few times… I feel what Mos and him are sayin' on this record… I dig the whole concept of the record and it is real talk… LOL… But the beat is like some Eminem shit… Garbage… Mos tries to save it with his singing… You'll be singing the hook after listening to it a few times though… Stupid ass song… Skippable….

9. Flashing Lights (Feat. Dwele)

Kas says: Beat is crazy… Wish Dwele would have just sung on the whole song… Kanye again saying dumb shit about some girl: "…Feeling like Katrina with no fema…. Like Martin with no Gina…" LMAO

10. Everything I Am (Feat. Dj Premier)

Kas says: Nothing but methamphetamine on this one… Simple beat and well placed cuts from Premo, make for the highlight of the album… Dope lyrics and beat… He really addresses all his "haters" on this record… You can tell he has his ear to the street **cough** I mean the net… Yo!!! Also, he says that Common passed on the beat at the beginning of the song… Wow! I would have loved to hear him over it… Let's hope for a remix…

11. The Glory

Kas says: Classic Kanye… Sped up "Save the Country" Laura Nyro sample, killer drums, strings, soulful singing chorus, arrogant ass lyrics, and his second reference to lesbians…

12. Homecoming (Feat. Chris Martin)

Kas says: **Scratches head** I don't know… Just sounds like something was missing on this one… Nice keys and Martin's hook is cool… I just don't know… Kanye is again on some female reminisce type shit at first… Then he switches it up midway through the second verse… I think… ??? Really, who knows what the fuck he was talking about… It had something to do with Chi Town though…

13. Big Brother

Kas says: Again Dj Toomp is a beast on the beat… Kanye's ode to Jay-Z… A little corny, but he pulls it off nicely… Telling about how Jay put him on…

14. Bittersweet Poetry (Feat. John Mayer) (Bonus Track)

Kas says: Nice record… Just because people can relate to it… This real talk and honesty on this record… Can't front on personal drama records…

15. Can't Tell Me Nothing Remix (Feat. Young Jeezy)(Bonus Track)

Kas says: Def Jam remix… Jeezy with all his "Yeeeaaahhh"…


16. Good Night (Feat. Mos Def & Al Be) (UK & Japan Bonus Track)

Kas says: Nice little tune… Dub reggae type beat… Mos comes with the sing song hook that is catchy as hell and Ye's verses are simple and smooth… Nothing to write home about…

If you ain't heard "Good Night" … Cop it here:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/34784673872579/


(Good look to Gotty and dem over @ http://smokingsection.rawkus.com for the link)


I refuse to get into all the 50 vs. Ye bullshit that is going on… It is all marketing… Ye even quoted 50 on "Good Life" sayin':

"50 told me go head switch the style up
And if they hate then let 'em hate
And watch the money pile up, the good life"

So, they are mos def working together to pile up some money…. I ain't mad at them all… Because at the end of the day, It's good to see two African American brothers doing good…

So I will just say this…

For all you Kanye fans out there, it will be worth the $12 - $15 or $20+ for the import. I know some "Ye" fans were turned off by "Stronger"… Give the album a chance, it will grow on you. For heads like myself… I don't know… It will get some run in the ipod and I'll be waiting on the instrumental version to drop…

On a scale of 1-5


Kas's Verdict: 3.5 **On the strength of the production**

Peace

Kas


Send all hate mail to:
kill.that.negro.now@gmail.com

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