Kendrick Lamar Makes A Statement At The Super Bowl...Game Over.

Kendrick Lamar stand in the middle of a make shift American Flag

Kendrick Lamar is a G.O.A.T. contender that has made Hip-Hop culture stand at attention for the last year with a Hip-Hop battle versus another G.O.A.T. of the culture Drake. No matter how one may feel about the battle, Kendrick Lamar has taken the Super Bowl 59 stage to create a story that will change the battle rap landscape forever.

Battle Rap is a part of the Hip-Hop game where clever rhymes and theatrics have been used to 1 up a competitor with showmanship and the Super Bowl is one of the grandest stages to showcase a competitive show to dominate another rapper. After Kendrick Lamar collected 5 Grammy awards Super Bowl 59 was the next grand stage of his great career to conquer. This is an honor not many artists get to achieve and Kendrick used this opportunity to further cement his name in Hip-Hop conversation for years to come. A conversation that not only will talk about who is the greatest ever but how to use showmanship to always be remembered in the conversation.

During the show of course Kendrick did songs from his recently released album GNX. Of course Kendrick brought out his musical muse SZA to connect on the chemistry they have shown since the Marvel's Black Panther soundtrack hit "All The Stars". Those are the given, hearing good music. But the show is the key to being remembered and Kendrick did that with the many references that created a battle statement with his performance.

Samuel L. Jackson being "Uncle Sam", an American character used to give commentary to the performance, represented the sentiments of the mainstream of the music industry and America. He reminded Kendrick to "play the game", by doing his hits and giving the people what they want. Kendrick's performance was littered with references that were game changing like using the Squid Games set as a stage for his performance. The X in Squid games is a reference to end competition and it was highlighted on the stage during the performance. Kendrick Lamar had dancers dressed in the colors of the American Flag red, white and blue. The dancers not only represented the different colors of gangs in California Street culture they created the flag in symbols of joined unity and also as a separate collective to symbolize the country as well. The Game of unity and politics shown here reflects the state of the country in the new Donald Trump era of America.

With people debating if "Not Like Us" would be performed Kendrick hinted at it during the show and when it finally was played the crowd made it known that is what it came to see, the competition of Hip-Hop shown aka the hit. The Drake hate has been shown for his ability to stay at the top of the charts and this song stopped a lot of Drake's momentum. The hate for Drake has not only come from his success but the conversation has changed to his treatment of women and during the performance, an ex girlfriend of Drake, Serena Williams, made her appearance dancing in the "Not Like Us", set to make the statement of respecting the women in the culture and not using them for clout or as degraded notches under his belt. The game of optics and morality on display here.

With DJ Mustard on stage and the crowd chanting "A-Minor", Kendrick Lamar brought the battle to the mainstream and though "white mainstream America", may not understand or get it. For the Hip-Hop Kulture though, we see the play on words, the play on theatrics and we give Kendrick his just due. When you play the game there is a winner and a loser. Drake lost this battle and when the performance was over, Kendrick hit the button to signify that when the words "Game Over" appeared in the crowd. The battle in Hip-Hop went to the next level with this performance because now the evolution of the battle has taken shape. From Kool Moe Dee stepping on Kangol hats to signify his issue with LL Cool J, to the Summer Jam screen where Jay-Z went at Prodigy of Mobb Deep to claim dominance in the game. Kendrick used the biggest sporting event in North America to end a battle with a credible competitor. Even with DJ Akademiks' failed attempt to sabotage the performance by releasing the track list of the show, Kendrick made his mark and ended the battle with a smile and the words game over in the crowd.

Whether you like Kendrick or think Drake did not lose the battle, this was Hip-Hop on display and even with Lil Wayne not being chosen to perform in his home state, Hip-Hop was on full display and the world took notice. Will this performance be remembered? I believe so because it one upped showmanship and gave Hip-Hop artists another level to meet and beat when it comes to showing the world they are the best in their craft. There is only one way to secure a victory in a battle and it is to put a close on that chapter. Kendrick did that and now we wait to see what Drake will do and what is next for Kendrick Lamar and his label Pg Lang. Good job K. Dot the game is over and the conversation is finished...for now.

The Biggie Experience Is A King's Legacy Continued

The value of a man's life is not measured in his deeds when he was alive only. It is measured by how the man is remembered as the years pass on when he is no longer walking among his people. On March 9th, 1997 The Notorious B.I.G. was assassinated in Los Angeles and the Hip-Hop community has been at a great loss since his untimely death. His death left a hole in the East Coast and bigger Hip-Hop community because blood was spilled and a life was taken unjustly by the hands of people that to this day have yet to be brought to justice to the dismay of the Hip-Hop community. Since Big has been gone Hip-Hop has gone through many changes. The biggest is that through its growth in technology more people have access to his music and the history of the work he has done to take Hip-Hop music and fashion to a higher level. The loss of this man has been put people in a state of creativity though as he lives on in many works in the world. I for one have Funko Pops of Big and people have seen statues and murals of Big around New York and overseas to cement his place in the culture but what about in the community he once walked in?

Yes there are mural of him there too as in Hip-Hop culture when a great or man of respect dies people will use graphic art, and graffiti to tag a building to show their undying love for their own. The Biggie Experience opened and the legacy of the notorious one raised the bar on how a man can be remembered by honoring his past. In Brooklyn today we have a museum dedicated to the life and legacy of an Icon that will forever live on in the heart of his hometown.

On March 9th 2024 T'yanna Wallace the daughter of The Notorious B.I.G opened The Biggie Experience a couple of steps down from The Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, NY at 503 Atlantic Ave. When I went to the venue and got in I was amazed to see the recreation of the legends bedroom. The television was playing the episode of Martin he was on, with a Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo in the room. If you are a fan the Juicy song comes to mind when you see this and you are taken to the place where Big was birthed into his love of music. Peter Tosh records and the West Indies are shown love as well as the Hip-Hop he displayed in his lyrics from Juicy. Posters of rappers and Rapping Duke was on the wall as well as pictures of the notorious king when he was an up and coming prince in his youth. The closet that holds his jersey's and boots are on display as well as the stereo system he listened to his music on. The next room was a journey from the block to the Billboard charts.

The next room had the bodega set up Big rapped in front of with a ready to die boom box playing the infamous freestyle from the video that showed the store and the freestyle. It had a park sign dedicated to Big with Party and Bullshit under a basketball hoop. A hologram of Big standing in the room. An exhibit was displayed with Big's music on the charts, and dedications to Life After Death, his last album, Junior Mafia and the video One More Chance. The crown and throne he sat in on the video sat are there for pictures as well. In the middle of the floor was a display case of his awards, music and special promos and collectibles of the great for all his fans to see and share in as well. The back wall is a mural or the Ready to Die album cover and on it's side is a mural of Big with the crown on. The very back room had more pictures and his jersey from the Juicy video and the young ladies that showed me around walked around to make sure all was good and merch was available if I wanted it.

When Jay-Z was honored at the Brooklyn Library it was for a limited time. The Biggie Experience will be around for the foreseeable future and I pray more is added to the space as there is so much more he has done that is not touched on in the venue. His daughter and all that are involved in creating this space has made Big's Legacy that much more appreciated from me as I got to see, live and feel apart of the life of one of the few artists that touched my desire to be greater and not to just exist.

Existing is fine but it is a slow journey into being forgotten. Your legacy is carried on by those that remember you and keep your words, lessons and contributions alive after you cease to travel on this side of life any longer. The Biggie Experience is the legacy of a man kept alive by his own legacy. T'yanna Wallace his oldest child and entrepreneur of this project keeps her father's legacy alive by her own work and this can live on after she passes as well. The Notorious B.I.G. will live on for others to see, know and understand his impact on the world the same as we have The Museum Of Natural History and The Museum Of Modern Art. The Notorious B.I.G has more to be remembered for than an East Coast - West Coast rivalry in Hip-Hop history. With The Biggie Experience we can peacefully enjoy the impact of one of musics greats and share his legacy with the generations to come. Every man's dream is to pass on his legacy and Christopher Wallace's legacy is not only one of a father, or music artist any longer. He is now just as his music, art to be forever appreciated.

Notes82 brings Life Beyond The Lights Album Preview

When one finds good music it stays within our memories for years and life times of memories are created by the sounds and rhythm of life matched to the joy we feel. We will remember songs about our first kiss, our first heartbreak, or even the day our loved ones came into our lives or left us in our own life's journey. There are times though when we get to hear music that relates to the eyes of a person, the beat of the street and the soul of the wind as time passes us by. Notes82 has done this on his new project Life Beyond the Lights.

Take a sec to think back...to sitting on a park bench and looking back into your mind at how the city, the park, the life being experienced can be witnessed in one setting. The park bench is where when one is in youth is a resting spot. In teen age and young adult years it is a spot to post to see and crave opportunity arise and in elder years a place to remember the good old days as life continues to move pass. Notes82 rhymes from the wise perspective of life is a message and by catching the vibe of the city many lessons can be given and learned from the sounds of the cars, the chatter of people on the block or in your area or the consistent stories the streets/life tells as the sun falls and the moon rises on the days of our lives.

This album shows growth as Notes82 moves beyond his award nominated project Watch the View, into a new era of word play and experience at the podium of Hip-Hop class. Life Beyond the Lights hits home with a sign of the times like music like, New York Times. With influence from Jay-Z, his family and life itself, Notes82 is taking the listener not only on a journey through his own growth but into the truth of what music is and that is evolution from the eyes, pen and vocals of the prophets that bring the news of joy, pain, dance, and thought to the listener. Notes82 not only comes out of his bag with beats by Tone Jonez Young Swisher and Dreamlife. He also brings an elevated production of beats and his song Detox will change the way you hear Notes deliver and flow.

This album shows you that bringing New York back is stupid to say because there are quality artists that are coming from the Big Apple and the game just has to pay attention. Notes82 is the elevation of 90s Hip-Hop music. Will he be mentioned with the best? That depends on you because the quality is there, are you strong enough to life up the sound that represents the culture and not just one pocket of it. Write Tonight on this project is an anthem that can life up the game and shine a light on not only Notes82 but the home of the Hip-Hop culture itself. Life Beyond the Lights drops June 9th. Preorder your copy and receive great Hip-Hop music. Your ears and your soul will thank you in the process.

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