Mr. Matthew Estvanic

“The Seed (2.0)” by The Roots was released as a single 23 years ago today.

Tiger Woods was arrested by the Martin County Sheriff's Office after his crash. Charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. It was not alcohol related

O.C. - “My World”/“Far From Yours” feat. Yvette Michele Just as Nas had done with his sophomore effort, ‘It Was Written,’ O.C. sought to expand the reach of his audience with his follow-up album, ‘Jewelz.’ Debate continues as to which was the better album, ‘Word…Life’ or ‘Jewelz.’ But one thing’s for certain: With ‘Jewelz’ O.C. wanted to carve out a bigger lane for himself. Here, on “My World” and “Far From Yours,” we hear a matured O.C. If the sharply written “Time’s Up” — O.C.’s magnum opus — was the rally cry for “real” hip hop/rap, then it could only be said that “My World” and especially “Far From Yours” was O’s revelation that hip hop/rap music careers are built; and that means having a couple of songs that are less earnest and more *radio friendly*. This doesn’t mean *watered down* or that O.C. compromised his art. On the contrary, it’s difficult to stay true to your art and make something dope that the both the streets and the radio can get with it. “My World” and “Far From Yours” was also O.C.’s recognition that the success of his debut album, ‘Word…Life,’ had earned him a bigger budget for his second album. With newfound success, and a larger recording budget, came more responsibility. Hence, for O.C. it was important to showcase another side of himself. If fans had listened to “Times Up,” and had come away thinking that O.C. was only one-dimensional, a rapper somewhere on the spectrum of “conscious rap”, then they really hadn’t listened to ‘Word…Life.’ O was street! But like I always say, among street rapper you’ll often find the sharpest minds. With ‘Jewelz,’ O.C. moved away from the rap wake-up call of “Times Up.” He wanted to make it clear who he was in full. Call it the two sides of O.C. In this way, the title ‘Jewelz’ was meant to be a double entendre: “Jewelz” as in *knowledge*; and “Jewelz” as in gold chains. The message being: *I drop jewelz, but I rock jewelz too, don’t get it twisted.* A bigger budget and a more aggressive reach also meant an obligatory appearance by DJ Premier on ‘Jewelz’ and the release of the B-side single “My World.” By 1997, only the most ardent students of DJ Premier immediately knew that Premier was behind the beat for “My World.” The beat was a departure from much of what was heard by Premier up until that time. Certainly a far cry from the “jazz hip hop” label that Premier had been trying to shake since 1990. But like Nas’s “NY State of Mind” and “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in Da Park),” “My World” proved once again that Premier was a master of multiple styles; and his use of bass stabs for original bass-line programming was a tell for yet another style, sound, and aesthetic that Premier had added to his arsenal. But as good as “My World” was, it was really “Far From Yours” feat. Yvette Michele that put O.C. in the driver’s lane. When it came out, you could hear “Far From Yours” regularly on Hot 97, New York’s top hip hop and R&B radio station. “Far From Yours” (prod. by Buckwild) really was a rare feat. A female R&B vocalist singing the hook on a hip hop/rap song was nothing new in 1997; everybody knew the formula. But more often than not, the formula lead to something forced or awkward. This wasn’t the case with “Far From Yours.” Built around a sample from the Brothers Johnson’s “Tomorrow,” “Far From Yours” was both hardcore and smooth at once. When I interviewed Buckwild, he told me that was the intent behind the beat. “To let O keep it street, but also have a single that could be played on the radio.” “Far From Yours”, a song that re-introduced the MC that made everybody stand at attention with “Time’s Up,” had a replay value that few hip hop/rap songs had at that time, and even since…

BREAKING: United States president Donald Trump says it would not be appropriate for Iran's squad to be at this summer's World Cup "for their own life and safety".

I saw a trailer in a movie theater for a film called "I Love Boosters" and it appears to be the most socially corrosive film ever produced.

Dion Waiters is in the building to support Gerry McNamara’s Siena Saints in the MAAC Tournament.

Any of you guys ever read this. I’ve read over 100 books on football and this is absolutely my favourite