Tyga. "Analyze and Change."

After putting out a huge flop with his first album "No Introduction," hip-hop artist Tyga has been looking to redeem himself ever since.  With hits such as "Diamond Life" and "Coconut Juice" on his premeire cd, the rest of it seemed to just be pushed to the young hip hop audience in the wrong way to be honest.  These two hits showed some promise and potential, but his talent had to be modeled and put in the right direction.  The overhype that surrounded this release combined with living up to his cousin, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes past success combined to be too much at first for this young rapper.  

Since then, Tyga has been signed by probably the biggest name in the hip-hop world right now, Lil' Wayne and Young Money Records.  Wayne has sort of taken this prodigy under his wing and looks to be working out pretty well so far.  In November, Lil' Wayne released the mixtape "Dedication 3" and showed his thought process by placing Tyga on several songs on this very popular and well distributed tape.  Most recently, Tyga has released three solid tracks that have leaked out to the public one by one.  "Live Forever" features an older Queen sample known as "Who wants to live forever"; as well he shows his more edgy side with the songs "Sayin' This" and "La la Boom," could be instant hits through the mainstream and radio.

The main way that it seems that Tyga should build on his success is by making videos for much more of his songs as well as leaking his newest songs out one by one to listeners.  This seems to be from the advice of Wayne and if this keeps up his first flop will quickly be forgotten.  In an overall sense, this young prodigy looks to be growing up pretty quickly in the public eye and looks to make the most of his opportunity.

Scary Movies?... I'd Rather Laugh.

After finding out that we had to watch two horror movies this week, I wasn't that excited about it.  Over and over I have found myself tuning into the movies on the movie channels in the dorms instead of sitting down and watching the Ring as well as its original version.  Also, I realized I was watching the same two comedies over and over, but I always seem to catch them half way into the movie aha.  These two movies that did pretty well in the box office were Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder.  I think I am just a sucker for stupid funny movies ever since watching my favorite movie of all time, Dumb and Dumber.  Even though these two movies are on totally different sides of the comedy spectrum, I was cracking up throughout both of them, especially in Pineapple Express.  

Even though, I enjoy some horror movies like the Saw series for their creative plots, I would much rather relax and laugh any day.  On the other hand, I feel that the way these movies are made are similar.  These two genres probably would be the toughest to make in order to be a success by this media's viewers.  With all of the remakes that have been already done in both, going off on another tanget and making it work well shows production skill and in many times is seen as greatness.  I've heard its true, but it could be a myth that laughing adds years to your life, that sounds pretty good to me.

A-Roid.

I think all of us have heard enough from the entire steroid and performance-enhancing debacle in the world of professional baseball.  Well, another huge twist came out this week which was covered in all aspects of sports media in a forceful manner.  Alex Rodriguez, considered one the top players in today's MLB and probably one of the most hated players by Boston Red Sox fans, was caught and thus admitted to using steroids from 2001 to 2003.  Even though I am sick and tired of hearing about steroids and negativity the media as so many more that are true baseball fans, the truth must be heard.  The interesting part of it all is who out of the so called 144 that tested positive in the Mitchell Report that come clean and address the media to clear up their overall image to their fanbase.  It has to be sickening for these journalists and sports writers that have to address these faulty actions again and again.  

After watching some of Alex Rodriguez's interview with ESPN's baseball writer Peter Gammons, it is evident that it is truly impossible to trust the integrity of the MLB and the media surrounding it.  It is sad to see that he had to prove his worth after signing a huge contract with the Texas Rangers by taking these substanes to improve his game.  The integrity of the game has been thrashed totally as many of us already knew years ago, but this is just another link in the chain of great players that have turned for the worst.  The numbers that these players have put up and the players that have been hurt by not taking these enhancers has turned a huge group of viewers away from this country's pastime.  I'm just looking forward to the reception that Boston and its media gives at the first Yankees, Red Sox game at the Friendly Fenway Park. 

 

Media Genius.

Many in the music media see as him as awkward, dresses funny, and as altogether pretty nerdy, but the select few that have listened to this musical genius have been in shock to see him as one of the most influential young hip hop artists in the business today.  His pink clothes and a fascination with the video game Sonic has turned many hardcore hip-hop fans away without a listen.  With his latest mixtape, “Well Isn’t that Awkward” dropping on most sites today, Charles Hamilton aka Sonic the Hedgehog has embraced what is known as weird in the hip-hop world and made it his own.  The creative Hamilton describes himself as this class video game character in terms of being surrounded by sound and in an underground music sense of it all. 

http://www.datpiff.com/Charles_Hamilton_Well_Isnt_This_Awkward.m34089.html

            The reason that Charles Hamilton is so important to the media studies part of it all is the way his is able to manipulate the samples he uses on his very different songs.  I came across this hip hop youngster when one of my closest friends sent me one of his songs through a YouTube video and I was just amazed at the overall talent, both lyrically and in terms of his inventive side within his sample.  This song known as “Windows Media Player” shows a new side of the music business, as he was able to make the beat for this song by just blending together the noises this media program makes.  By doing so, Charles Hamilton has been able to go full circle by using the system that would play this individual track and using it to actually create the song’s instrumental.   This idea is shocking and had me confused as well as extremely impressed the first time I listened.  His lyrics carry on the same way throughout this track, talking about other computer media reference in his rhymes and it smoothly carries this theme of media studies and manipulation.

            Many in the hip hop business, who have been able to get past his awkward outside image, see that this young emcee could truly be the future for the hip hop game.  Being true to his image he has twisted the path in this genre of music and become popular and relevant in an evolving time for both rap and hip hop.  It seems to be a nice breath of fresh air for this type of media and away from all the crime and degrading talk that is seen by other artists in this and other hardcore genres.

What a week for ESPN.

ESPN must have been anticipating this week in sports for some time now.  The weekly lineup of games from across the board of sports had sports fans drooling by their television sets. The lineup for this sports mogul included International Soccer Friendlies, World Cup Qualifiying Mathes,College Basketball and NBA rivalries revisted, as well as Buzzer Beaters and wild finishes across the sports world.  ESPN definitley proved why they are on top of the sports media world this week and continue to outwork the other competitors. 

This past sunday ESPN kicked off with two possible NBA final matchups with the defending champion Celtics facing the veteran squad of the Spurs as well as the head to head battle of Lebron and Kobe in the following game.  The first game left many in Boston in shock as the Spurs handed the Celtics their second straight loss on their home floor.  The unlikely hero, Matt Bonner from San Antonio came out of no where to score 23 points, leaving the Boston faithful in a state of frustrated awe.  The later game did not dissapoint as well as even though the superstar matchup did not live up to expectations, the game was well worth it.  The Western Conference Champion Lakers proved to much for Lebron's Cavaliers with a 101-91 victory.  ESPN very intelligently chose these two games to televise, especially following Super Bowl Sunday. 

The week carried on forward with a variety of solid college basketball matchups that would lead of to the sports biggest rivalry.  The build-up for the men's North Carolina Duke rivalry in the middle of the week, featured several solid games.  The former #1 ranked, Pittsburg Panthers took a late comeback to overtake the underrated Big East contending West Virginia squad.  Led by small forward Sam Young, this veteran Pittsburg team will most likely playing deep into March Madness and in several more ESPN televised games.  Following that Big East matchup, ESPN switched it up and covered another solid game, but looked to capture the Midwestern audience, with the powerhouse Kansas taking on unranked Missouri at the time.  Missouri pulled the upset on their home court led by the effort of forward, DeMarre Carroll and gave some momentum into one of the greatest rivalries in sport.  

ESPN set the stage for this "Wild Wednesday" and the performance on both North Carolina and Duke's sides lived up to expectations.  In a packed Duke University, the Tar Heels of North Carolina were able to comeback from eight point half-time deficeit and beat an overall solid Duke team that is led some of the best shooters in America.  Dick Vitale, the great voice of college basketball, led the ESPN telecast and gave a classic animated performance.

In the mean while of all of this hectic college basketball action, ESPN key in on as many know as the most popular world sport, soccer; which is highly unappreciated here in the states.  The mix of exhibition as well as extremely important World Cup qualifying games looked to up the exposure of soccer to the USA and create a group of new fans and followers.  ESPN2 took coverage upon two of the most pressing matches as international power Argentina took care of an aging French team.  As well, the Mexico v. United States rivalry game later that night was full of bad blood between the two sides as well as being highly competitive.  The USA took a 2-0 World Cup Qualifiying victory as a spring board for further success in the states for this mainly international sports.

ESPN, as the head honcho in the sports media industry, has been able to find an amazingly solid variety of sporting events to cover.  On the other hand, the are so knowledgeable of their audience that they are able to prioritize the games at hand.  By analyzing this action-packed week in sports, it is evident that sports media coverage is open to new opportunities as well as "sticking to their guns" in a way to stay on top and represent the best games.

GRAMMYS.

I was definitley impressed from the segments that I saw by supposedly the biggest night in the music media.  The Grammy's featured a cast of the familiar and popular mainstreams such as Coldplay, Lil' Wayne, and Kanye West as well as the well underpreciated that included Adele, Lupe Fiasco, and Nas as well as many others.  Even though I do not really see myself as a Coldplay fan, with seeing their iTunes commerial over and over of their hit song "Viva la Vida" it became immensely catchy through media circuits.  I also, commend them for the performing live their "Lost" remix with hip-hop great, Jay-Z.  The two sides collaborated together earlier this year with the mixtape known as "Viva la Hova," which was really an eye-opener for many, but definitley was worth it if you take a listen.   

I feel with this type of work, that the media shows that opposite sides of the business can come together to make solid and pure music and that is something to respect for sure.  The only thing that I have wrong with Coldplay in the whole Grammy process is their outfit choice.  Come on guys, the Beatles already beat you to that and did it way better too; You guys are good, but that's too far, the Beatles were great.

Alright, ...and back to the Award Show.   I felt that Lil' Wayne's "Tie My Hands" performance and the speech by the Grammy Chief aimed to President Obama stood out as the focul points.  Though I disagreed with the fact that rapper Lil' Wayne winning Best Rap Album of the Year with the competition; I feel that his Grammy performance ended his year in music of ups and down in a solid positive.  When taking a first listen to his album "The Carter III," the song he performed "Tie My Hands" with R&B artist Robin Thicke, stood out in my mind and was an instant collaboration classic.  The smooth voice of Thicke and the heartfelt Wayne lyrics about the tragedy in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina offered for a stellar performance.  The performance made the millions of viewers look back at horrific event in the South and showed that we are all in this together for change.  Also, it feel this opened our eyes to the music that goes under the radar is not all over video stations and in the mainstream, but it sends a real message. 

 On the other hand, I feel the Grammy Chief addressed a rather pressing issue in the world of media as well as used a "Yes We Can" way of getting across his point.  Music and arts in an overall sense have been overlooked and education and I felt he presented his ideas at the right time. During the speech the Grammy Chief says "And to our new President, we have a request: our finest national treasure is our culture and the arts. It's also one of our most embraced and economically significant exports all around the world. So, it's time that we acknowledge that fact with the creation of a cabinet position of Secretary of the Arts."  Even though I do not think it should be the most pressing issue on President Obama's agenda, I think it should be considered through his revamping of the education system.  

Also, it was really nice to see Blink 182 reunited again as well as drummer Travis Barker to be safe and sound in his cast after surviving an almost fatal plane crash.  I feel this Grammy's was full of lessons and appreciated the way the production staff went about the whole show.  They showed us the media can bring us together (Blink 182, Coldplay & Jay-Z), it can let our voice be heard (Lil' Wayne & Grammy Chief), as well as open our views to new media, pressing ideas, and thoughts.