The 21 Steps To A "Good" Life

This was sent to me by one of the most incredible human being that I know.

ONE: Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the it's only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

Let me know what you think. It seems pretty powerful to me. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

A Breath Of Fresh Air

For those of you joining Nasir Jones and myself in the mourning of Hip- Hop; REJOICE!!!! I just watched the May 25th, 2007 episode of Rap City and they did a bunch of freestyles in the booth. It was a glimpse into the future of the game; and trust me, the future looks bright. Joell Ortiz, The Game, Juelz Santana, Tru Life, and Serius Jones were all showcasing their skills. It was a good day for a fan of Rap music. If you get a chance, watch it on line. Joell and Serius especially. The Game could've been better, but he went COMPLETELY from the head. Tru Life dropped some depth with his, and Juelz was just flossy and focused. I'm impressed. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

My Cousin Reub

I have a cousin named Jule Reuben Walker Stradwick Rouse. We call him Reub or Lil Reub. As you can tell from the picture, he is really something else. I love him. Sometimes it is tough, but I do. He is hard for some people to take. He is covered in tattoos and has the look of a man who has lead a hard life.

He has.

He has overcame more adversity at age 29, than most people have in their entire lives. It hasn't made him overly mean, or abusive. He does drink too much for my tastes, but I don't judge my family. I just help them get up when they fall. I don't actually know why I am writing this, but he was on my mind. He very rarely gets a fair shake. Don't get me wrong, my cousin makes more than his share of mistakes; but he always seems to get the short end of the stick. Especially when he is trying to do something for someone else. He has such a big heart; and one of the most infectious laughs that you will ever hear. He is the little brother that I never had. He gets mad when I don't return his phone calls, but I'm always there when he needs me. He is so smart and so funny. Most of the time people only talk like this after a person is passed away, but I wanted to seize the moment. We should all practice telling a loved one that we love them before it is too late. I love my cousin Jule Reuben Walker Stradwick Rouse. Regardless of what you think of him. Do you have a cousin Reub in your life? If so, give him a call or shout him out in a BLOG. But don't tell them. It ruins the feeling. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

BUY THIS CD!!!

If you have every loved Rap music, BUY THIS CD! If you are tired of flimsy lyrics with catchy hooks, BUY THIS CD! If you are confused with the direction of Hip-Hop, BUY THIS CD! If you would like to take a peek at the future of Rap music, BUY THIS CD! If your favorite rappers have never achieved platinum status, BUY THIS CD! If you are an up and coming MC and you want to see how it is done, BUY THIS CD! I AM IN NO WAY, AFFILIATED WITH THE ARTIST OR RECORD LABEL so, BUY THIS CD! If you support good music and amazing talent, BUY THIS CD!!! That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Uuuuuuuuuuhhhh. Nah Nah Nah Naaaah

Master P. wrote this opened letter in response to comments made by Curtis Jackson (AKA: 50 Cent) at a recent BET news conference. Let me know what you think.

May 20, 2007 Curtis Jackson's comment motivated me. There are a lot of immature people in the world. Oprah Winfrey is absolutely right, we need to grow up and be responsible for our own actions.
I paid for Curtis's first rap tour through the south. He was such a humble guy at the time. Most artists' mission is to sell records. My mission is to help save and change lives.
There's a lack of knowledge and false information out there. I could actually say Little Jay and Rap-A-Lot Records inspired my successful career and I will always respect them no matter what.
I wrote the blueprint for this generation. The only difference is there's no more honor and respect in the game.
Think about it: people in jail are not writing letters proclaiming to come out and do the same thing that landed them there in the first place. People in the hood don't want to stay poor for the rest of their lives. They want to change. Parents that really love their kids would rather sacrifice their own lives so that their kids could make a change to have a better life and a better education.
I'm glad that there are people like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and organizations like the NAACP that are out there fighting for our rights and dignity. I have finally realized that EVERY person is either a part of the problem or part of the solution and that is why I have decided to take a stand! I'm reaching out to corporate America to form an alliance for the sake of putting the value back into our communities by rebuilding and developing schools and businesses.
First of all, it's simply disappointing to see people that are in a position to help make a change just sit back and entertain the negativity. It's sad to see Steven Hill set all of these programming standards at BET, just to contradict himself for the sake of marketing dollars or artist performances in order to create the appearance of a successful award show. The record company with the biggest marketing check controls the music video stations so we need to go after the people who actually control these programming networks if we want real CHANGE.
I guess by taking a stand, my son and I will probably not be invited back to the BET awards. But it's O.K. I got love for BET; there are a lot of good people there. Hopefully, this will help people to see the real changes that need to be made. My son and I will sacrifice our airtime because this is bigger than us, this issue desperately needed to be addressed a long time ago.
There are four things that differentiate me from artists like Curtis Jackson. One, I can honestly admit that I was once part of the problem. Two, I don't want my son to grow up and be like me. I want him to be better and do better - and that is why he is taking the time to pursue a college degree. Three, money don't make me, I make money. My goal is to educate our people in building generational wealth and knowing how important it is to own real estate. Four, I'm a TRUE entrepreneur; my boss is God not Jimmy Iovine. From one brother to another, if you misunderstand my purpose you could always pick up the phone or talk to me in person. I'm trying to be part of the solution not the problem. The media thrives on entertaining, especially the negativity no matter what the cost. I'm praying for the brothers that are lost out there.
Throughout the years, I have lost so many relatives and friends. This year, I'd like to focus on the comedy movies because we need to laugh more. The first movie that I'm producing is "Black Supaman" and thereafter will be "The Mail Man" starring Tony Cox and myself. I'm setting up a book tour for "Guaranteed Success" and a Hip Hop Business class with financial expert Curtis Oakes for those seeking knowledge. I understand that I can't change the whole Hip Hop industry; I'm only trying to do my part. If you're real, be a part of the positive movement with Take A Stand Records.com Look for the first single "I Wanna Be Like You" from the album "Hip Hop History." I'm in negotiations with Wal-Mart and Target for direct distribution. Those are all examples of the positive difference I am trying to make in this industry.
I'm reaching out to my friends Shaquille O'Neal, Will Smith, Russell Simmons, Queen Latifah, Derek Anderson, Charles Barkley, Emmitt Smith, Beyonce, and Reverend Run to help contribute to this positive movement. I will also be holding a press conference with the president NAACP and will be able to answer any questions at that time.
I am not asking any other hip-hop or gangsta rap artist change what they do; that's how they make their money. Furthermore, I am not a preacher; I'm just telling the world what I'm doing and the changes that I am making because it's something I want to do. If that's sending mixed signals to people then they need to deal with their own conscience first.
P. Miller

I Came In The Door, Said It Before....

Sorry for the long delay since my last post. I had a brief controversy about my pictures of Free & Deelishis. I believe that they are tasteful tributes, others think they are perverted Lust-Fests. I straightened it all out though. Sorry if anyone out there was offended. Sorry if the title of this post made you think that it had something to do with Rakim. I think an apology is supposed to somehow makes the parties involved feel better. I wonder if this is true if the incident was thought of as intentional and/or deliberate. Let's see. I'd like to offer you all some apologies: Sorry for the War In Iraq.(It's a real mess & it doesn't seem to be ending soon) Sorry about that song, "Party Like A Rock Star". (Anybody can get a deal these days) Sorry that Jadakiss, Mos Def, or Killer Mike hasn't had the kinda of retail success that Nelly, Chingy, or 50 Cent has. Sorry about black people who let Keeping It Real rule their lives. Sorry about the white people who don't know any black people.(By "know", I mean invited them to their house more than once) Sorry for the fumbled snap in the playoffs against Seattle. Sorry for the people that will treat other people as bad as they are allowed to. Sorry for people with annoying laughs. Sorry for man-boobs. Sorry for women with no booty. Sorry for all of my own fashion mistakes while I was growing up. Sorry for image being a part of the equation when evaluating talent. Sorry for organized religion. Sorry for the belief that the women who dance in Rap videos don't have a choice. Sorry for the abundance of Cancer in the Ohio Valley. Sorry for the criticism that Rap music has taken nowadays. Sorry for any white person that thinks it is OK to use the word, "nigger" or "nigga". Sorry for what happened to Whitney Houston. I'm sorry about the loss of faith in your fellow man. Well..... did that make you feel any better. It was sincere. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I

The Best Things In Life Are......

Does anyone have any idea what happened to Free? I miss her. I don't think BET has been the same since she and AJ left(or got fired or whatever). I don't know if women across America miss AJ, the same way that men across America miss Free. If anyone knows what she is doing now, or her where abouts, please let me know. I would like to send her a Thank You card. Rocsi is cool, but she's no Free. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Corporate Ghetto

Apparently if you can answer yes to 4 or more questions - then you're officially "corporate ghetto."

1. You have at least one drawer/cabinet that contains more food than office supplies.

2. Not only do you know all the security guards, janitors and cafeteria workers, one of them has asked you out on a date.

3. Your version of a conference call is when you call your friends and plan what you are doing for the weekend.

4. The only time your man/woman picks you up from work is on payday.

5. Friends and family members call you at work to cuss you out because you didn't answer your phone quickly enough.

6. You paint your nails at your desk.

7. When you are on a personal call you, laugh so loud your co-workers on the other side of the office come and ask you what's so funny.

8. You have pictures on your wall with you and your friends at the club.

9. To beat the system, you have codes for personal calls that let's someone know to call you right back. (For example, let the phone ring two times and call me right back)

10. You give your out-of-town friends your company's 1-800 number.

11. Before calling in sick, you rehearse your sick voice and sick story several times out loud.

12. Coworkers ask about your father's surgery that required you to miss work for days - and you don't even know who your daddy is.

13. You use the company's postage machine to stamp your personal mail.

14. Your kid's school supplies all have your company's insignia on them.

15. You call in sick on payday Friday and send your cousin to pick up your paycheck.

16. You contribute $1 to the office Christmas party, eat the most food and take a platter of lunch meat and potato salad home to your family for dinner.

17. Before someone uses your telephone at your desk, they have to wipe the chicken grease off the handset.

18. You call in sick on Friday because you went out on Thursday.

19. You tell off your supervisor and a couple of other coworkers on a regular basis - and wonder why you haven't been promoted.

20. You get your haircut/hair done on lunch and come back two hours later. Then you ask "Was anybody looking for me?".

21. You cuss your creditors out for calling you at work.

22. You come to work on Fridays dressed for the club.

23. Your kids call your job and say to the operator, "Let me speak to my Mama"

24. You are sitting there reading this instead of getting your work done.

25. You, the big black guy, are the worst basketball player in your office

26. Instead of dressing up to go to work on Monday in order to start the week of right, you dress up on Friday in order to start the WEEKEND off right.

27. You admire your CEO, not because of his vision and skill at succeeding in the corporate world, but because he is a "playa"

29. You don't start working in the morning until you read
…But Who The Hell Am I

Superheroes

I know that I am a grown-ass man, but I love superheroes. I have since I was a kid. Batman has always been my personal favorite. I am amazed by the idea of someone having super human strength like Superman or Super speed like The Flash. Some of the superheroes and their powers confused me, like Aquaman. (wouldn't it suck to have the ability to communicate with fish. I wouldn't even consider that a power) I love alter egos, and I love villains. I guess some people have soap operas, some people have The History Channel, but me; I have comic books and superhero movies. I've broken my love down into these categories: The Best Superhero Male- Batman Female- She-Hulk. The Best Villain- Three way tie= The Joker, Magneto, & Apocalypse. The Best Superpower- The Word from the comic book Preacher. (this power allowed the person using it to speak with the word of God, so that whoever heard it was compelled to do whatever was said) The Worst Superhero- Robin (I'm glad he's dead) My Dream Superhero Fight would be Batman vs Wolverine. The Best Superhero Movies- Batman, X-men 3, Spiderman 2, and Superman 2. If you love superheroes like I do, Let me know what you think. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Woodboard Test

A buddy of mine told me that more people will respond to shorter posts. Is this true? Let's see. That's just his opinion though, and who the hell is he?

The Enemy We Seek

This may sound weird, but I have been thinking about the danger of comfort. I don't think it is always a good thing. I'm not ready to designate it a Schedule 1 word, but it is a little scary sometimes. The instances where comfort scares me are, the times where a human being is put in life threatening or traumatic circumstances for a prolonged period of time. Human beings adapt. It may be hard for you and I to realize, but people who live in war torn countries or neighborhoods immersed in constant violence, sleep at night. It may not be the best sleep, but they feel comfortable enough to fall asleep. They also cook breakfast, good to work, have sex, raise families, and go to church. Once a person has achieved a level of comfort in a situation like that, I feel that the rest is downhill. You begin to equate comfort with familiarity and familiarity with home. So what happens when you get home sick? My theory is, "What you get comfortable with, you eventually seek for comfort." If you grew up in chaos and dysfunction, you then seek chaos and dysfunction for familiarity and comfort. It is a subtle thing at times but if you look really hard, you can see it more often than not. Be careful what you let into your comfort zone, because it may be difficult to move it out. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?