Eva Marcille made sure to inform the world about her thoughts on her ex, Lance Gross, as well as her her idea of “upgrading”.

She isn’t the first person that I’ve heard speak of this “upgrade” that’s supposed to take place after a relationship has ended. What exactly does it mean, though?
When I think of the word upgrade, I think of cars, computers, jobs or the annoying and unfair process of upgrading a T.Mobile cell phone. I usually think of anything else but people, relationships, love, and feelings! How can you apply something so mechanical to such things?

I guess I’m just out of the loop.

How do you really know that you’ve upgraded from your last relationship? Who’s to be the judge of such? Is it you, or people that know you? Is it your ex, your ex’s friends, the next significant other, or the friends of the next significant?
What does an upgrade consist of? Is it based on looks, money, success, fame, status, potential, or how the new person treats you? Is there a point system of sorts? Do certain attributes get canceled out?
For instance- if the sex is better than ever before, but the person is hideous…do looks hold more weight? Or is it the sex?

To most men, it’s probably the sex.

I wouldn’t know, because I tend to think like a lady in these situations. Judge me.
A while ago, my ex made it a priority to inform me that the lady I moved on to was a downgrade from her. I never understood her mentality though, because the lady I started dating after her treated me way better than any woman ever treated me before. Yeah, she didn’t strut around in Giuseppes and possess an unlimited amount of money…but she was perfect for me at the time. She made me feel great about myself as well as the relationship- something that my ex failed at.

Is that not considered an upgrade?

According to many, no. An upgrade must be determined by your last significant other as well as others outside of the new relationship.
I could have sworn that relationships were about the two…or three…or four people who were actually in the situation- rather than the people viewing from the outside.
What do I know though? I’m not in a relationship. I don’t know the rules.
How about you, though? If you feel like you know a tad bit more than I do, comment below and share your thoughts. I’d love to be enlightened.

If you happened to be interested in what Lance may have said in response, here you go:

I know if I were Lance, I’d be fuming right now…and I wouldn’t have been so nice.
On another note…do you think it’s healthy to follow your ex on Twitter?

~ L. McCall
Follow me @DearLucius & keep an eye open for #PointOfLu coming sooner than soon!

“I don’t have road rage, but I’m known to drive them crazy.” After three years of perfecting his craft, Chicago rapper Rockie Fresh has a 36 minute, 14 track mixtape to deliver to hip-hop heads worldwide. He goes beyond the range of your typical rapper to include techno production, an old school hip-hop vibe, and segments of inspirational words within the project while staying true to his midwest swagger. Track 5, Do The Dance, is a freestyle over Justice‘s ’07 hit D.A.N.C.E., grabbing attentive ears from various hip-hop blogs. My personal favorite is track 6, Gone (Interlude): where Rockie gives his opinion on the state of hip-hop, despite critics’ belief that the artists are not able to be eclectic by using other genres in their music. “Hip-Hop isn’t dead. Hip-Hop is evolving. That’s life. That’s my life,”  is his infamous response to the skeptical minds. He also credits heavy names such as Wale, KiD CuDi, Asher Roth, and J. Cole for keeping the genre as upbeat as it is right now. Other noteable tracks on this mixtape include: Yo, Chill, I’m Fly, and Long Time.  He has gained critical acclaim from fellow hip-hop artist Naledge [of Kidz in the Hall] and Chicago website Gowhere Hip-Hop to name a few. To add the cherry on top of Fresh‘s cake of hype, he has been added as a Midwest representer, alongside familiar names such as Big Sean and Fly Union, in the 2nd Annual A3C Hip-Hop Festival. There’s alot more in store for this MC and this mixtape is just the beginning. So awake yourselves right now!!! That’s a dope mixtape cover don’t you agree? To peep the back cover, tracklist, and download link: (more…)

Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album?? Leave it up to Lupe to release a snippet in the late hours of the morning via his twitter; with no explanation, only a good night tweet afterward. Well, lets hope that this is a turn to the right path in his career. I believe it is though. Listen and download link below. Enjoy!!

Go To Sleep (Snippet) 

Download Go to Sleep [snippet]

After every extended cheer is a silent boo. This phrase fits well after today’s biggest tweeps discovered Kanye West‘s fresh twitter account. His third tweet announced the possible name change of his upcoming album, set to be released to stores on G.O.O.D. Music Day September 14th. Click here for the tracklist. In other news, fellow G.O.O.D. Music mate, KiD CuDi, is now slated to release his sophomore album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, on October 26th, a far cry from the original September 14th date. The ironic part is: Taylor Swift‘s album is set to release on the same day. hhmm. It seems as though more and more news about these albums occur everyday, so stay alert on Greedmont Park for the newest updates!!

UPDATE: look what I surfed across..listen/download below!!

Mojo So Dope (Full Song) 

Download Mojo So Dope [tagged] Download Mojo So Dope [CDQ]

I’ve been listening to these Cali natives for a few months now. I’m digging their music and most def cannot wait for the debut!! FYI: it comes out two weeks before J.Cole‘s Cole World.

Chicago rappers > your favorite rapper! Upcoming rapper, Martin Beamon, caught my ear a few minutes ago [literally]. Don’t know much about him yet, but this track is from his January’s First mixtape, which has yet to be released. Jaw dropping bars over a very well done production by The Misfit, I will DEF be keeping you guys up-to-date with new music from this artist!!! Give it a listen and download below! Shouts to Gowhere Hip-Hop for this discovery. Enjoy!!!

Martin_Beamon_-_One_Day_[Tags] 

Download One Day

My very first post was about this multi-talented artist. Here’s a new track he premiered via his twitter earlier today. Produced by Alchemist, this track focuses on the rapper’s sensitive side; as he faces the reality of love, becoming a father, and overcoming the struggles that are involved within it. “Imma run this family like Diggy’s Dad…Just us, just me and you.” Download the track below and give it a few spins!! Enjoy!!!

Just Me & You

Download Just Me and You 

UPDATE: here’s a new track to enjoy!!

The Revival 

Download The Revival

Searching For Bobby Fischer

It’s funny because I had heard of Stanza back in  late 08 or early 09, can’t quite remember.. when I was fucking around with my homie Nells who helped and motivated a brotha to get in this blog game heavy. We were hitting the Apache Cafe to catch a Bobby Creekwater show( had ran into Re too, that was a crazy night). Anyway, lets fast forward Stanza a Georgia  native has been doing this rap game for a minute from my understanding. And Searching For Bobby Fischer is very much so my formal introduction into Stanza the artist. A great one at that because I have fell in love with this tape! Seriously like no bullspit lol.

Let me be honest before I decided to download this FREE mixtape (which means once you’re done reading this review you should do the same!!!) , I wasn’t up on Stanza like I should have been, or will be from now on.It would have been nice to have more of a background for this guy which I will work on.(interview maybe?) But good things come in time and this tape came at the right time! Ok I’m getting a little too excited ha ha. I get excited about great music.

This tape doesn’t really remind of anything I’ve heard before right off the back which is good because that means its new, fresh and best of all creative. Which is what I’m all for. I can’t really say who Stanza reminds me of right off  because no comparison came to mind which is funny cause I’m always down for good discourse and comparisons, but I went blank. Which is honestly GREAT. Stanza is Stanza. I find it refreshing when you can listen to an artist and say they are themselves. One thing you have to do to catch the viewers and listeners eye is to be unique, different and best of all be yourself and Stanza does these things.

As I listen to this tape I think of putting this in the same regards as some of my favorites of the summer right now. It goes right up their with my own summer project over at cultureobsessed,  Kush x Orange Juice (and for me to put it up there with them is saying alot), I can name more tapes I’ve ran across and loved over this summer and this is up there with them. All in all I suggest you the reader to become the listener and go get this mixtape..did I say its FREE?

DOWNLOAD HERE: Stanza – Searching For Bobby Fischer

Follow him on twitter too! Stanza On Twitter

Remember this guy? Let me REFRESH your MEMORY! Sammie Bush has sporadically released 2 albums, a mixtape, and an EP since he stepped in the game in ’99. Between the label disputes and rather interesting tweets, this r&b artist found a way to continue to improve his craft in music. Towards the end of June, he released the latest prelude to his third studio album, Coming of Age, which is scheduled to be in stores before the end of this year. It’s Just A Mixtape is a 14 track compilation of club bangers [Pretty Girl Anthem; Naughty Girl], break up tunes [Phone; 40 Days 40 Nights], and love songs [B Word; Like A Candle] that will fit anyone’s trials and tribulations during the scorching heat that is summer. He even spits a few bars in the intro, addressing his place in the music industry, his “gym flow”, and the girlies of course. I recommend this mixtape for every blank cd and speaker system: this is why it is a CERTIFIED SMOKER! Click pic below for download link!

Exclusive track via his twitter!

Need For Speed feat. Curtis Santiago (Prod. By Ibe)

Download Need for Speed