JLowe

I wrote this on the facespace this morning: RIP Phife, aka Phife Dawg, aka the 5 Foot Assassin.When I went to college in 1989, one thing I knew I wanted to do was be a DJ at the college radio station (thanks to Night Flight and Pump Up the Volume). On my first trip down, they gave me some records to listen to and review. I had mentioned that I liked hip-hop, so they tossed in a couple of 12" records. One was "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" by A Tribe Called Quest. I was hooked, and went the next day to the Juniata bookstore and bought the tape (which I still have, and *maybe* a copy of the 12" too). I bought The Low End Theory, unheard, the day it was released and listened to it non-stop for weeks. One of the things I loved was that Phife was on just about every track, a nearly equal contributor, and even had his own solo joint. His higher pitched voice, bouncy flow, clever similes, and pop culture references were a perfect balance to Q-Tip's ultra-smooth voice and flow, his abstract poetics. My junior year, I finally started my own hip-hop radio show. When I had to come up with a name, I immediately thought of "Excursions", the opening cut of The Low End Theory. The last song I ever played on the show, 2 years later? "Vibes and Stuff". A tribute to all the fallen. Seems appropriate now.

I've listened to the whole discography today, and I'm gonna make a controversial statement and say that Phife is better than Tip on most, if not all, of Midnight Marauders.

It's probably not too much to expect that a weenie is going into some buns somewhere along this story, eh? considering the ever-so-subtle design characteristics of the bun, I'd say it would be a huge shock for it not to happen.

That movie terrified me before all the really weird things started happening, what with the constant jump between claustrophobia and fear of heights.

I vaguely knew that Deadpool was a comic book character, and I'm someone who read comics (including a bit of mainstream super hero stuff) in the 90s.

I'll give it to the Texans, they're certainly trying to make a run and not waste the remaining few years of JJ Watt's productivity. Now, whether they made the right decisions or not...

My best friend is from Philly. Good stuff. Sam Bradford is going to make over $100 million over his career. Can anyone name one Sam Bradford NFL highlight? Just name one play that made you think, Sam Bradford has a future in this league. I can be a terrible quarterback, why won't someone give me that much money? Donte Stallworth's tweet after the Bradford and Cousins news.

He was tolerable in Disturbia, Holes, and Even Stevens.

My GF and I watched this movie with my Mom a couple weeks back. I thought I had seen it, but I think I may have only ever caught a couple of the dream sequences. Neither my mom or my GF had seen it. We all laughed our asses off, and realized that while some things have changed (and not always for the better, like the idea of having a paid lunch break) so much was still applicable today. Mom is also a huge fan of Grace and Frankie.

Harrison Ford as Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

Samuel L. Jackson as Gator Purify in Jungle Fever. Not a truly bad movie, but not very good.

I'm more amazed that it's actually 2-3 people at the station, rather than 1 or 2 accountants at the broadcasting conglomerate that owns it.

Thanks, that (the former) makes some sense and sounds pretty interesting, although still more suited for hardcore comics readers over casual comic-book/action movie fans like myself.

I guess now I understand why so many dudes are super excited about this character and movie. eta: I thought about this and this sounds insulting. I don't intend it that way, I just am not a comic book reader and haven't really understood the excitement. To me, honestly, it looks dumb and trying way too hard to be edgy.

Well, there's nothing wrong with feeling sad sometimes. And Grave of the Fireflies is important subject matter and a really valuable perspective on a major world event.