So Ordinary Joe, get this, I'm on a college campus like 4 months back and I got into a conversation on the ignorance of some of modern day’s Hip Hop. In five seconds I know you can guess the name of the artist to pop up. If your IQ level is at least above 95, the first names that would have popped into your head are Souljah Boy, Lil John... well lets just say the artist from the southern region save Lil Wayne because, God forbid, before Carter 3 released, everyone and their pet Zebra loved Lil Wayne. Well by my surprise Plies' stance was that any female who says that she ‘loves' Plies has some self-esteem issues. Most agreed because with lyrics like "I got her trained and now she suck me with ice/ I called her my lil bust it baby cause she keep it tight/ when I tell her to bust ain't gatta tell her twice/ When ever I wanna get off she know how to get me right", by just stripping away the beat, all I can imagine is R. Kelly saying this to a 13 year old fan...but that’s another blog. However, in Plies' defense a college student said that Plies keeps it “real”. That paints a picture of her childhood right?

Now let’s discuss what we came here to discuss. Guessing that Plies heard what my college friend said, he named his June 10, 2008 album “Definition of Real”. Being a fan of intelligence I'm not a fan of this album. I'll stay very open minded however and say that he does have the style and essence of southern rap. He embodies old school Trick Daddy... well that’s who you tend to think about when listening to Plies. Also on this album, each song can have you nodding your head to the beat; and, that's all southern hip hop is about right? But rap is considered music. This must be measured on the yard stick of all musicians or, at the least, all hip hop.

Plies' lyricism is crap. The time it took him to write that album probably was as quick as the time it would take him to rewrite that album. Lines like " If I wasn't married to the streets it would be you/ Your lips is what make you so cute" reminds me of 6 grade trying to write a poem for the girl who gave me some of her juice without wiping it off. Those lyrics are the opener of his hit song with Ne-yo called “Bust it Baby”. Aside from simplicity, Plies talks like a stupid man. I know and have heard people from the south. That's not a southern accent, that’s an ignorant southern accent. Saying it's a southern accent is just insulting the south. The best line off the album is "Prefer mine I'm out the hood but respects class". Nice to know that he separates himself from being classy. I can't continue to talk about Plies, because that’s giving him too much attention. When Ice-T told Souljah boy to “eat a d*ck” I think he left out Plies because Plies needs to "eat an *ss" and that’s not a nice thing to say

Yea Ordinary Joe, I’ll skip the well deserved “lol’s” and get down to business too.

Although its lyrics lacked nearly any meaningful content, I somehow found comfort in the reverberations of sound waves hitting my eardrum, while listening to "Worth Goin Fed Fo" and simultaneously watching its video clip, when I read the song was quote “A dedication to all the Goons around the country we lost to the dope game”. Well Mr. Plies I’m sure they will be eternally grateful, not that it will do them any good, because like the song suggest there’s usually one place such a lifestyle leads to.

Ordinary Joe, I’m a fan of some things myself you know, like the person who said “Profanity is the sign of an ignorant mind trying to express itself”. Don’t get me wrong, Hip Hop wasn’t made for Nuns, but Plies represents one of the chosen few who feel they must use an expletive in every bar to sell records.

Oh, and Ordinary Joe I must agree the sole blaming of Souljaboy for the death of Rap is not fair, truly it’s apparent he shouldn’t bare that cross alone.

The Ordinary Joe Blog gives Plies’ album a “D” for destroying the English language amongst other things, and not an “F” because the album was #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to the pall bearers of Hip Hop's black parade

“I use to rule the world, Seas would rise when I gave the word”, the first line in “Viva La Vida” the latest single on the Billboard 200 topping and one of the most epic albums of 2008, it is entitled “Viva la Vida or Death and All his Friends”, the long awaited return of Coldplay.

Ordinary Joe, one of my favorite bands has finally come back! Check it out…

Coldplay has reinvented their sound, while keeping the quintessential ‘flava’ of their music that’s makes them so special. We truly see a new side of the band through this album. It is definitely one of the best if not THE best albums Coldplay has dropped to date.

“Yes”, one of the more peculiar songs on the album exemplifies the fact that Chris Martin was going for a new sound with this album. Less of the falsetto we’re used to, from other albums like “X&Y”, and a nearly full usage of his lower register. He sang using the lower register quite specifically in this song, and it really coincided with the lyrics, the common story of a man in love who becomes restless with the thoughts of a woman whom he wants to just say “Yes!” and put an end to his loneliness.

“Those who are dead, are not dead they’re just living in my head” from the song “42”, reveals the eerie sense the songs on this album sometimes evokes in the mind and soul of the listener. A song I found particularly soothing was “Reign of Love” the second part of “Lovers in Japan/ Reign of Love”, like a serenade you would hear echoing through the liquid streets of Venice…the only difference being it’s in English.

Well Ordinary Joe, this isn’t really the type of music I listen to; however, I did check out a few songs. I’m a fan of poetry so I can relate to Coldplay’s lyrics with ease. The songs on “Viva La Vida or Death and All his Friends” have a lot of symbolism and other Literary Techniques that will amaze anyone with a level of intelligence. First time listening to them, and I really love their style.

“I took my love down to Violet Hill, there we sat in snow”, from the album’s first single “Violet Hill”. Yes, the imagery and imagination of Coldplay is back and here to stay! We the Ordinary Joes give “Viva La Vida or Death and All his Friends” an “A”, for artistry and musicianship at its best, and for searching the corners of their mind to find this sound to inspire others to invoke their imagination and compose creative works that will impact generations to come for the better.

Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter 3” – Album of the Year? Yo, Ordinary Joe, What do you think about this?

"I call the April babies cuz they fools..."

An example of the many rhymes on the most anticipated album of 2008, “Tha Carter 3”. Is Lil Wayne the 'best rapper alive'? Lil Wayne's fans hold the words of this addict of many drugs as a gospel of the hood (whether they live there or not). Why? I don't know... really I don't know; but that’s the way it is. Lil Wayne made a big transition from "Project Chick" to "Duffle Bag Boy" but so has rap. The significance of his June 10 album, “Tha Carter 3”, is not to make music for the love of it, but it is the definitive manifestation of Lil Wayne's position as the best rapper alive because so far Kanye West's fans have the album card and Jay-Z fans have the classic card... I'll get to lyricism in a bit.
On the Carter 3 album, Lil Wayne's idea of the best rapper alive is rhyming and making it sound rhythmic. If you don't believe me then take a listen to his song called: “Mr. Carter”. In this song, he teams up with his biggest competition to being the best rapper alive (remember that being the best rapper alive and the hottest rapper in the game is different). “Mr. Carter” was, seemingly, Dwayne Michael Carter (Lil Wayne) and Shawn Corey Carter (Jay-Z) showing the world how legendary the two Carters are as it pertains to hip hop. Besides Lil Wayne's 3 verses falling short to Jay-Z's one verse, if Shawn Carter's verse was omitted from the song, Dwayne's verses would be unsatisfactory for any type of album: classic or mediocre.

Ordinary Joe, do you think hanging out with New York Rappers got Wayne thinking he was as good as a New York rapper? In his song called "Nothing On Me" that features artists Fabolous and Juelz Santana, both of the featured artists out shine him like Wayne was a candle between two suns. The best rapper alive must be the best rapper on his songs. Maybe featuring in songs with artists like Young Jezzy has Lil Wayne looking hotter than he really is. Merely rapping about what ever comes to his head. In one verse Lil Wayne covers as many topics as a perfect teacher. However, if a teacher delivers so many topics at one time, the lessons tend to make no sense.

Well Ordinary Joe, what do I think about “Tha Carter 3”, do you even have to ask? Lil Wayne did a good job, of asking questions in his lyrics, and I must say most of the answers were not hard to find. “If it’s so explicit then why you listening?” At that point I wondered why I was listening…oh yea to write this review. I know Hip Hop has “grown” to the point where over usage of expletives has become the norm. But we always knew that the “Best rapper alive” would break down walls of normality and set a new record in dirty words.

Although it was leaked, the album is still expected to debut at #1 on the charts. Thanks to the many Weezy fans who will buy anything he makes, I’m sure.
Can someone help me listen to “A Millie” and not go away repeating it…please? A Millie, A Millie, A Millie…yea like I was saying “A Millie” has the tightest beat on the album but there’s not much lyrical content to it.
Ordinary Joe, I definitely think he got a little to “at home” rapping with New Yorkers Fabolous and Juelz Santana. I’d like to clarify on a statement you made Ordinary Joe. You said there’s a difference between being the best rapper alive and the hottest rapper in the game, I don’t believe Weezy falls under neither of those titles.

Since Lil Wayne asked that we never forget him in the lyrics of “Mr. Carter”, I’ll never forget to mention him…as the one rapper who tried so hard to compare himself to Jay-Z, Pac and Biggie and didn’t succeed…by a long shot. “Let the Beat Build” is the epitome of what Weezy has come to been known for, taking a good beat and rapping about absolutely nothing on it. Doesn’t he call that “murdering” a track? True, well I call it butchering a track!

With such confusing lyrics like, "You say tomato I say tamata/ You say get em I say got em/ Yea I got em" either Lil Wayne is not living up to the hype or he's on such a higher level, he's on a different planet(sounding like a Lil Wayne rhyme not intended).
The only songs where he sticks to topic are "Tie my Hands" and "Mrs. Officer", where he raps about having sex with a female police officer. Fruitless rhymes are just one of the many mistakes made by this veteran rapper through out the album. Hence we Ordinary Joes, have no choice than to give “Tha Carter 3” a C grade, as far as living up to the much anticipated hype goes.

I smoke. Tried to give up but when I found myself rooting through the bin for a half finished pack I’d crumpled there 3 days before, I realised that it wasn’t happening. Not yet at least, although I’ll maybe have another go in a couple of years time. What I won’t do though is stop buying cigarettes because the manufacturers are forced to remove all the branding from them. How is this supposed to work anyway? Mind you, it will make the whole transaction a little weird.

‘Can I help you sir?’

Yes please, I‘d like to buy some cigarettes.’

‘Certainly sir, any particular kind?’

‘Erm, have you got any of those smoking is bad for your health one’s?’

‘’Fraid not sir, just sold the last packet to that very short man with the false beard and sunglasses. Have you tried the smoking whilst pregnant will damage your baby one’s sir? Very popular with the ladies.’

‘Not sure there’ll be to my taste, bit on the strong side. Just give us twenty smoking not only harms you but others around you. They sound a bit more sociable don’t you think?’


On a semi serious note, I’m a strong believer that your health and your mind are firmly linked. If there is even the slightest truth in this then surely plastering cigarette boxes with explicit descriptions of the illnesses you may contract is not very fair and I’d go as far as to say bordering on negligent.


On a very serious note, next time you’re in the shop kids, don’t buy fags, buy a book instead.

Recycling Jimmy

I see Tesco’s have been named and shamed (winners of the ‘Bad Egg Award’ apparently) for not removing battery hen eggs from their shelves. In accepting the award they reminded the Compassion In World Farming group that ‘Tesco’s always listen to customers and many of them tell us they are on a tight budget and rely on us to provide affordable good quality food.’ Excuse me but what the hell has that statement got to do with cramming chickens into ridiculously small cages and squeezing eggs out of them? Do Tesco’s honestly believe that anything is acceptable in the name of consumer choice? Anyway, thought I’d nip down to the local store and check out the price difference (needed some milk anyway) and bugger me, it’s big.

You get about 150% more bang for your buck. Still, not sure that even poor people agree that you can’t make an omelet without imprisoning chickens ‘til they die. Personally, I reckon that Tesco’s should take another look at this and do their bit to shut the battery farm industry down, not just because its bad but because if nothing else their failure to do so highlights an arrogant disregard for public opinion as well as (and perhaps more ridiculously) a strategic blunder. Has nobody told the CEO that UK battery farms are going to be shut down by 2012??


By Recycling Jimmy