RIP Nate Dogg

I thought it was only appropriate to attribute a blog post to Nate Dogg aka one of the most well known artists from the G-funk era in hip-hop. Nate Dogg was known for his successful collaborations with artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Warren G., Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Game, and 2Pac.  Nate Dogg (Nathaniel Dwayne Hale) passed away on March 15, 2011.  Nate had dealt with previous health issues leading up to his death; according to TMZ he had survived two strokes in 2007 and 2008.  Yahoo News explained that his death was due to the complications from these past strokes.

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Snoop Dogg posted on Twitter "We lost a true legend in hip-hop and R&B. One of my best friends and a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at Poly High where we met. You will always be with me forever and a day. You put the 'G' in 'G funk', you put the '1' in '213' and you put your stamp on everybody you ever did it with. I miss you because I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up with you, and I will see you again in heaven, because you know the slogan about 'all doggs go to heaven."  

50 Cent's: twitter read “I just landed nate dog is dead damn. GOD BLESS HIM R.I.P he meant a lot to west coast hiphop. Iv always been a fan of it. I wrote the chorus to 21 questions I needed nate to sing it for me. He had a way of making everything feel hard.”

According to OK News Warren G said: “It means a lot, you know, because this is something that's being done for a person that we really love. It's deeper than music, that's a brother to us, to me and Kurupt and Snoop and Daz ... it's really deeper than that," he said. "I mean, like, I'm not a psychic or a genie or a gypsy or anything, but I know deep down in my heart he's around us, he's with us ... he's with us in spirit. Everything we do, he's a part of it."

Game released a tribute song to Nate Dogg less than 48 hours after he died called "All Doggs Go to Heaven (R.I.P. Nate Dogg)"

Music Therapy

The great thing about music other than being entertaining, is it speaks to you and certain songs may have deeper impacts than others. Have you ever heard a song and been going through a certain situation and be like, "damn, I feel that."  That's the thing I love about music the most. Music is my therapy and my go-to therapist are R. Kelly and Kanye West. I don't know about yall' but when I have something on my mind or am going through a tough situation I don't really like putting my feelings out there so often times instead of talking about it, I put the purple beats on and let them talk to me. Maybe I am just weird and am the only person who prefers this but nonetheless, I know I can always count on Kanye and Kellz.

Kanye and Kellz are so versatile. Whether its losing a loved one, being pissed off for whatever reason, fighting with your girl, or just needing God in your life, they have covered it. I really admire both of their abilities to have substance in their music and talk about issues that aren't necessarily "money makers." We know through history that music about guns, money, sex, and drugs sell. But what about God, love, and real life issues. Kellz makes music that you can make love to, dance to, music that makes you feel good, and even gospel. I respect that Kanye and Kellz talk about these issues and proved that they could still be successful. Kanye brings up a valid point in his single "Jesus walks,"  when he said:

"radio needs this, they said you can rap about anything except for Jesus, that means guns, sex, lies, video tape, but if I talk about God my record won't get played, huh? Well if this take away from my spins (popularity), which will prolly take away from my ends (money), then I hope that it take away from my sins, and bring the day that I dream about, next time I'm in the club, everybody screamin out, JESUS WALKS!"

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They say you can learn a lot from other peoples mistakes, and Kanye and Kellz are both great story tellers. When I have had problems with my girl in the past, Kanye and Kellz have been there for comfort and advice. Whether its knowing I I messed up in a relationship, to feeling like I was done wrong by a female, to breaking up, to working issues out and appreciating the love of a female, Kanye and Kellz have got it covered. I feel like I have the best of both words because Kanye often tells his story through hip-hop, while Kellz usually sings his story through R&B. One thing they both have in common is their passion. You can't fake passion and you could hear the passion in their voice every time they rap or sing. In Kellz's latest album "Love Letter" you can tell how much fun he wad with it. I fell in love with it from the first time I heard the album. When I listen to  his song "When a woman loves" it really puts thing in perspective for me. I haven't been the easiest person to be in a relationship with and I often take for granted the things that a certain special girl that I hold very close to my heart has done for me. When I hear this song it really makes me realize how lucky I am to have her in my life. Thanks Kanye and Kellz.

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Player Introductions

With sports and music being so synonymous, there is music at almost every sporting event. For basketball, its usually during warm-ups and player introductions. In baseball it's right before the batter goes up to the plate. Well what if life had player introductions. Seriously, picture yourself waking up, getting out of bed and "your" song playing in the background as you yawn and wipe the eye boogers out your eye. What would that song be?

My "life introduction song" would change from day to day depending on my mood and circumstances at that particular time.

But after a fresh cut, with some clean kicks and a new fit only one song comes to mind. So Fly By slim. I could see it now. Just getting out the shower putting lotion on, ready for a night out. Me standing in the mirror with my towel still on after I just shaved. Slap some aftershave on and feel it burn a little bit. Then brush my teeth, brush my hair, put my gear on, spray some smell good on me, put the blings in real quick and I'm ready to go. That's when the announcer comes in and says : and now from Modesto California at 22 years of age... ERICCCCCC WATTERFORRDDD (while so fly is blasting through the speakers)!! Then I hear the crowd roar, fog and strobe lights everywhere, and me feeling like I'm the flyest dude alive!

I just love to have fun with music. I asked other people what their life introduction song would be and received some different responses, some more serious than others.

Korey Thieleke said his song would be "Tryin to beat da odds" by Plies. " From being a foster kid and having nothing in life then being doubted, to finding a way to overcome obstacles and make it to college, I feel like this song explains my struggle," said Thieleke.

John Bailey feels like "The lazy song" by Bruno Mars explains his life, at least lately. "I just like to be lazy," said Bailey.

What is your life introduction song?

BYU...Applaud or Boo Them?

Have you ever heard of a basketball player getting kicked off their team for having…sex? 

BYU standout basketball player gets kick off nationally ranked team for having pre-marital sex with his girlfriend.

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According to the Salt Lake Tribune, sophomore Brandon Davies told school officials last week about having sex with his girlfriend. He was then suspended from the team for the remainder of the season. The School Honor Code is still reviewing his situation on his academic and athletic career at BYU. This is a huge loss for the team, they are currently ranked number 3 in the nation and Davies has played a crucial role to the team’s success this season. Davies has started every game this season at forward while averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds per contest.

Many have said that the school deserves lot of credit for standing up for their beliefs and going through with the necessary punishment. However, others feel that this punishment was a bit extreme and could have been resolved in a different manner. NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has reached out to Davies and feels as though BYU mishandled the situation. Tebow has always been upfront with the media about his strong Christian faith.

According  to the Bleacher Report Tebow told reporters:

“Everyone has their beliefs, and that is fine, but one of the tenets of Christian faith is forgiveness. BYU, a Mormon Church-affiliated school, showed none toward Davies. Everyone deserves a second chance, and you look no further than Michael Vick to see how second chances can benefit a person's life in the NFL.

BYU may have stood their moral ground, but that is not something to be applauding them for. Their views are too old fashioned and while it is their university and their right to have a morality clause like this, they do not do themselves, or Davies, any good by it in the 21st Century.

A university has no business involving itself in the personal relationships of its students. Whether it is affiliated with a church or not, its prime directive is to give their students an education.”

I give a lot of credit to the university for actually going through with their decision and not bending the rules despite the fact that this may have cost BYU a national championship. It sends a message that no matter what your status is, everyone must follow the same rules.  However, I believe these rules are stupid. I agree 100% with Tebow think everyone deserves a second chance and the school should review their code of conduct; at least their punishments. This was Davies first offense and to be kicked off the team, and possibly out of school, for admittingly having sex with his girlfriend is way too extreme. I don’t blame the school for their views on pre marital sex at all, but their punishment and the unwillingness of a second change for Davies is just crazy to me. Maybe if this was his second offense I could comprehend this decision. What are your views towards this issue?

Grandma's First Experience

It’s hard to recall our first experiences with music because music is everywhere and is something that we often don’t even think about. However, for my Grandma, this was a very memorable moment in her life and is something I must share! I had not talked to my grandma in a few months (shame on me) and I randomly received an email from her, with the subject title: “THE MUSIC IN ME.” Ironically I was starting this blog about music at the same time ( I had not told her I was starting this blog)...This is the email she sent me.

Photo taken by Betty Waterford

I had my first musical experience when I was four year sold, in the year 1942. Nobody knew I couldn’t hear, I think everyone thought I was dumb.  I also had slurred speech and stopped talking because I did not want to get made fun of.  School was in a few months and if I could not hear by then, I was going to have to attend a school for the deaf. My mother took me to see several doctors and one doctor said they could perform surgery in my ear canal. After the surgery, I still could not hear. I could still see the sad look on my mother’s face.  After she took me home I remember sleeping a lot and one morning, or maybe it was an afternoon I woke up with static in my ears. Then I felt water dripping and more static. I then remember being sleep in the bedroom by myself and there was a radio on the table (where it had always been). I was sleep but I could hear a voice. I loved the voice I was hearing. In my sleep, I saw a man, He was the size of a puppet and there were strings in his hands. I was on the end of the strings controlling him. For some reason I could not see his face but when I heard his voice I felt so much love in my heart. The voice was……….. Frank Sinatra, I’ve got the world on a string!


SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS YOUR WAY.
- GRANDMA

Music can be a beautiful thing. As you can see for my Grandma, this changed her life and also helped shape her views towards music for the rest of her life.  We all have our own story and some are more impactful than others. However, one thing we generally all share is OUR LOVE FOR MUSIC!

There's No Wrong Way To Listen To Music

It is interesting to see how many people are walking around with their headphones in or bumpin music in their cars as they drive by.  Just in the last couple days I made an effort to pay attention to how many people listen to music in my house.  I caught plenty of people going throughout their day not only listening to music but creating their own music as well.  It is heart warming to see the joy they have for it and the happiness it brings them Music can unite people from all places in the world, it is diverse, it is love.

Beats...

Music has evolved over the years and so have the devices used to listen to it.  We have gone through records, tape players, CD players, mp3s, and now ipods. Headphones have evolved over the years as well.  We’ve gone through the old school plastic airplane lookin’ headphones to the little nubs that fall out of your ears, and now…beats. That’s right; they aren’t referred to as headphones, but just beats.  Dr. Dre is more than a record producer, rapper, and record executive; he has changed the way people listen to music.

"People aren't hearing all the music.

Artists and producers work hard in the studio perfecting their sound. But people can't really hear it with normal headphones. Most headphones can't handle the bass, the detail, the dynamics. Bottom line, the music doesn't move you.

With Beats, people are going to hear what the artists hear, and listen to the music the way they should: the way I do."

Nobody can put it better than Dr. Dre himself.  But what he says is true, if you see someone walking around wearing beats you know they’re serious about music.  By wearing beats you’re making a statement.  Music is something to you.  

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I personally own a pair of beats and they are the color purple for the obvious reason; our school is purple.  It’s funny because whenever we travel for basketball I wear them and people are always asking me if they were given to me by our school.  But I got purple because they represent me and my school.  I think that by Dre making beats all different colors it gives people the opportunity to express themselves even more.  Like me, everybody has their own story.