Urban Music Festival

Here's a clip of my performance at the Urban Music Festival. Other acts were Latoya Luckett, the Sugar Hill Gang, Boyz II Men, and Cameo.

So Sweet

I love it when I see an East Coast chick rockin shoes or any kind of gear the right way. Check these new shoes from Pastry called the Sugar Rush Plum Hitops. You can match them with just about anything, and will defintely get everyone's attention.

BET Awards

Okay, okay. Yes I confess, I was one of the many thousands of people on twitter giving a play-by-play on what was going on at the BET awards. (shouts out to @djmerkmusic and @dorroughmusic for actually being there) The night started off right with Jamie Foxx acting up every time he got on stage, but after Beyonce's outfit, the jokes just poured in. Let me name off some of my concerns and opinions for last night.



1.)Why in the hell did they have a teleprompter 20 feet away from Don Cornelius in size 12 font?


2.) Did Jamie Foxx REALLY have to wear his little cousin's pants all night? I mean, I understand a tribute, but don't sacrafice your balls in the process.

3.) WHO IN THE HELL LET THESE BABIES ON STAGE WITH WAYNE!?

4.) Why did all the washed up R&B artists (except Trey Songz) have to speak between intermission? (Were they subliminally throwing punches)

5.) Doesn't Trey Songz look like Michael Andrews little brother?

6.) Does T-Pain feel threaten after Jay-Z performed DOA?

7.) Shouldn't there have been more Michael Jackson tributes?

8.) Aren't we all waiting on the Skank Robbers film?

9.) So pretty much, every R&B artists should hang it up after Maxwell did a spilt in his performance?

10.) Have you seen this man?

Do Your Own

I've looked at all the old music videos of Michael Jackson and realized that this man has set many many trends. From the jackets that Lupe Fiasco wears, the belts that Jim Jones rock, and the hats that you see Mos Def wearing. Even the moves that Lloyd, Justin Timberlake, Omarion, Mario and even Marques Houston perform every night. He has inspired artists such as Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Missy Elliott and countless others. What this man's legacy has brought is something that no one will ever be able to immulate. Its crazy how now I see where the sneaks with the fat tongues, the velcro and studded belts, the vest with the white tees and the suites with the sleeves rolled up came from. The only thing that Michael didn't invent was the fitted hat. But then again, how could you with your hair constantly being wet from giving once-in-a-lifetime performances all the time. I just wanted to take the time out to thank Michael Jackson for not only his constribution to style, innovation, and music, but also to man kind. Michael has done a LOT of philanthropy work in his time and has really been one of the few to really make a difference. I tip my hat to him, and I'm glad to have lived to see what amazing truly is.

Fan's Appreciation

Some fan art from one of my people's, Rachel B., from Colorado.

Kobe IV

Since we're talking about walking in the footsteps of giants. Decided to give a shout out to one of my favorites

Walk in the Footsteps of Giants.

When I went to SXSW (south by southwest), I read up on Quincy Jones. I've always admired his work and wanted to find a little bit of literature on him. The more I read up on him and his quotes, the more and more I felt as though I was ahead of the curve. I went to see him speak at the festival and he was giving some great advice, he said that every musician and artist should take ten of their favorite artists, put them on a cd then listen and immulate them until you have their style down pact. Now I know as emcees we are taught to never bite another man's style (or woman's), but what Quincy was saying was that it would help us develop our own unique style. I agree that this works a lot because I have been listening to a lot more Jeezy, Lupe, Chamillionaire, Kanye, Lloyd Banks, and Royce da 5'9" since then. My style has completely changed, and my flow has gotten better. What Quincy was stating was that we should "walk in the footsteps of giants." I guess that's how Kanye felt when he was chasing his Big Brother. Now its time for us to do the same. So fellas, its okay to sing your favorite rapper's chorus out loud or flow like them for a little bit, besides

......its just practice

Clipse ft. Kanye West. Kind of Like a Big Deal

Good to see the Clipse are back on it.

"I'm a Beast, I'm a Dog"

I woke up this morning with something on my mind. Now before I go into it, I don't wanna hear any rumors of Ha-Style hating on Lil Wayne or that I'm dogging him, this ain't even really about him. This is about the women out there that know about a guy that sleeps around, dogs women (not saying Wayne does), and still sleep with the guy. Honestly, you can quote me on this. This whole situation with Nivea and Lauren London is beyond stupid. (TMZ can holla at me now) Nivea has already had bad history with Lil Wayne cheating on her, and Lauren London basically grew up with Wayne. So why did these two beautiful women lay down with the same duke that's walking around with a song with a chorus that goes, "I'm a Beast, I'm a dog?" What makes it worse is that they got pregnant. Don't care if you guys are getting mad about this, cause I'm way past that, i got sisters homey. I grew up with women doing that same thing since I was 10, real talk. So ladies, I wanna know, like I REALLY wanna know. What makes a guy that puts it out there that he's slept with multiple women and will do it again so attractive?

LET ME KNOW!!!!

Summer Line for Dior

Dior isn't really known for men's clothes, but this line. You might see me rock a couple pieces.....maybe.

Updates

Where has thou been?

Thug Motivation 102.5

All I can say is....STRAIGHT SICK!!!

Click here to download the track 'Trappin Ain't Dead'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/616048778ae11280/

HARD to make Fans.

Watch me attempt to make just two girls fans of Ha-Style Music TV.

I Smack Bees.

Check out my myspace and tell me what changes you would like to see. I'm open to just about ANYTHING. Also me and 2nd City Management are getting together to develop a street team. I'm looking for graphic artists, promoters, and anyone else that's down for the movement.

http://www.myspace.com/hastyle24

Always on Time

Pretty much the most sophisticated watch you can find in the G-Shock Series. Case design takes into consideration the best balance stainless steel and urethane for strength, shock resistance and sophistication. Utilizing 6 screws to join its stainless steel case, bezel and band, the GIEZ lug design is reinforced at the connection points. Lightweight aluminum hands are reinforced by a brass joining ring, that hold the hand precisely even under extreme impacts and vibrati

Back in the Day

TYSON GOES DOWN!!!

I'm a BIG fan of this series. I've been playing fight night since 2004 and I've remained a loyal fan ever since. I still have the last 'Fight Night' and play it religously. (Which has made me a legitimate boxing fan) What makes this season's version even better is all the new features that they have. Now remember those days when your boy would annoy you by constantly throwing hay-makers and ended the fight quick? Not anymore. Round 4 makes it more difficult to land a hay-maker and automatically walk away the winner. You can be down in the trenches, and throw one punch and make a come back and get the knock out all in the same round. Who said you have to rely on judges to win a fight? Now you can create matches that you've always dreamed of. What would happen if Tyson had to fight against George Foreman, or better yet, Muhammed Ali? Of course, no game is complete without a 'Create A Player' mode. Now you can take training to whole another level. Instead of hitting the weights and losing speed. Now you choose specifically what kind of training you want and what stats you want to boost giving the user even more control. Season mode, however, looks a bit too much like its WWE Smackdown, but we'll let you be the judge of that. Other than that, it looks like it'll be a pretty solid game.

Release date is June 23rd.

Tour Pants

If you're rocking some of these just for style, and you rap, then you're just being plain dumb. Introducing the EVISU HERITAGE HIMATSU KAMOME JEANS. These are the perfect jeans to tour in, especially if you're up-and-coming like me. The denim has been sewed very tight which makes them very durable. It also allows the wearer to rock these for about three to four days while sweating before the denim starts to stinch. After a couple of washes they become harder and shiner. I would reccommend these for guys that don't believe in washing your jeans everyday and are looking for a nice casual look that can be rocked with just about anything.

Where it All Started.

Good in Black

LG has announced a new business-oriented smartphone at CommunicAsia 2009. Dubbed as the GW550, the phone comes in a candybar form-factor and features front-facing QWERTY keyboard, that reminds me of the Nokia E71x. The LG GW550 also has a non-touch-sensitive 2.4-inch display with QVGA resolution, a 3MP camera, stereo speakers, HSDPA 7.2Mbps (HSUPA 2.0Mbps) connectivity and 1300mAh battery. Sadly, there is no word on pricing or availability at this time.

Your Demo

Why are you wasting your time trying to make 100 Cds with the word DEMO written on it? You should know by now, if you haven't already, that no labels right now are trying to hire anymore one-hit wonders, guys that can't pub, know nothing about the business (unless you're trying to get raped), or anyone that is trying to make it after being in the game for only a month. Stop the b.s. and start working. Even at the level that I'm at, I ACTUALLY get demos handed to me. Flattering at first, and yes I do listen to each and every last one of them, but to be honest 2nd City doesn't want anyone that doesn't want to put in the work for themselves. We got enough things we have to get done first anyway. So to all my up and coming, get off that couch, log off defsounds.com, put away Acid Pro, and instead of handing those demos to record execs who work 12 hour days and have a family to take care of. Why don't you hand them to your friends, associates, and the people in your hood and start making a name for yourself. As Luda once put it

"Get it mixed and mastered pressed up and plastered/Sell it to your whole hood out the trunk you bastered/Show all the non belivers what your destined to be/And in just a couple years you could be rich like me"

Best I Ever Had

Okay, I gotta give props to another hustler. Shout outs to the new up-and-coming.

Album Review: B.O.M.B.-Busta Rhymes

I was given this album by one of my supervisors who pretty much doesn't fit the description of a hip hop fan. He told me that it was good, and I was a bit skeptical since Busta hasn't released a good album since 'Genisis' which pretty much established him as a legend back in 2001. So I played the CD in my car, and was instantly disappointed by the sound quality. I guess his switch to Universal Motown from Aftermath meant getting bad engineers. But once I got passed that I listened, and was brought back to the days of when Busta had the dreads. I actually got some lyrical food from this one, and also a sense that Busta is showing us who he truly is. Which is nothing more than a classic legend from Brooklyn that's a responsible father and has been around the block a couple times. Certain tracks such as 'Hustler's Anthem '09' featuring T-Pain almost sounds like both of them are talking to their sons and it makes you feel like one giving advice on how to stay consitent and keep your head up at all times. Another one of my favorites is 'We Want In' which brings you back to the days when Busta was a small tyke running behind A.T.C.Q. (A Tribe Called Quest) and the Beastie Boys declaring his hunger to break into the industry and how he wants to take over. Unfortunately tracks such as, 'Don't Believe Em' and 'World Go Round' makes the underground think that Busta is going pop. Overall, I give this album a 7 out of 10, only because the full body of work doesn't have that replay value. But still, you gotta expect consistency from a legend like Busta Rhymes.

Swagger, Not Us!

"Swag is not a must, its a liability. Cut the bullshit." (Jay-Z) Even the most boastful Roc boi attest that strutting all the time isn't what its cracked up to be. I've noticed over the past year or so that the word 'Swag' has been used more than the word grinding, hustling, school, family, and even our most favorite term in the hip hop world, "GET MONEY." People all over the facebook planet have even changed their names to implement the word swag in it. (Shout out to @swaggberry) Don't you think its time for a change. I've heard many artist focus more on their demeanor than the actual content of the music. Seems like a lot of us lost focus on how we dress, walk, and talk more than getting to a destination on time or even being cordial to one another. Drop the act and get back to basics ladies and gentlemen, because pretty soon no one's gonna say your swag is worth more than your work.

One Luv
&
DEUCE

Ha-Stwitter

Want exclusive updates on what I'm doing through out the day, and whom I'm running into. Make sure to follow me on twitter at @hastyle24

http://www.twitter.com/hastyle24

I've ran into Quincy Jones and updated my twitter with some good quotes, I was at Spike Lee's fish fry and kept people up to date. You can even hit me up and ask for advice or for a drop. Possiblilites are endless.

DEUCE

p.s. we got a fan page coming soon.

Thinking...Thank You

Aight seriously, how many independent artists really think about their fans on a daily basis. I'm in a position that wasn't in before, and I got here because of you. Don't think I take you downloading a track or coming out to my performance lightly, it means the world to me. On here, I'll post my thoughts and creations. I can't post everything, then I won't have something to put in my music. And we know how music sounds when you have nothing to talk about. I'll keep it one huint with yall the whole way. So I just want to say...

THANK YOU!!!!!