From Identity Crises, to Justice League of America:Cry for Justice, the DC Universe has been turned upon its head. Super boy has died, (and came back,) Night wing, due to Batman’s untimely departure has taken up the cowl and Wonder Women is really peeved off, so it forces one to ask, what can shake the DC world to the core any more than this. Answer...

Blackest Night!

Led by the all-star writing team of Geoff Johns, Peter J Tomasi, Greg Rucka, along with artist Nichola Scott (Blackest Night: Wonder Women)(Jerry Ordway: Blackest Night, Adventure Comics)(Ivan Reis: Blackest Night Series)(Francis Manapal: Blackest Night: Flash)(and Eddy Barrows and Ruy Jose: Blackest Night: JSL) among a host of others.

For those who haven't been following, here's the inside track.

The black hand has called on the black rings which, to the horror of the DC Universe, is rising the dead from their graves with the sole purpose to built a dark Lantern Corpse of their own, and their sights are set on anyone who they have a major axe to grind with; but here's the kicker, it feeds off of emotions, just as the other rings do and uses those emotions to take hold of whatever unsuspecting victim might fall in it’s wake. Anyone and everyone are targeted, and the body count is rising like an approaching comet! With the infusion of virtually every DC Character, old and new, dead and alive (that’s right), this comic reads and looks as a virtual visual throwback to all the greatest horror stories of old with a storyline that moves with the expert precision of a marksmen. There’s a slew of universe shaking mayhem going on in this story line.

Truth is told (although I may be basis) the Blackest Night might very well be one of the greatest stories runs in DC history. Heck, even the tie-ins will keep your jaw dropped and head reeling, so for all comic fans, but especially DC fans, this is the story to follow. Happy reading!

What is the fascination with Lil Wayne?

That’s right! I asked it! But please, before you get out the stake and wood planks, I think I might understand.
Now, there have been many great hip-hop giants among the ranks. Rakim, KRS-1, Kool G Rap (check out his songs on you tube: "I'll Street Blues". You might just add him to your list) to Nas and Biggie, up to more current artist such as Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Common and the immortal 2-pac, so why does Lil Wayne fall into the ranks. To answer that question, let's step back a second and take a look at his career.

Certainly, Lil Wayne is not a new comer to the hip-hop game. He joined cash money records, headed by Baby just in his teens. “Get is how you live” was his first albums in 1997 with The Hot Boys, consiting of Juvenile, Turk, B.G. and Lil Wayne, along with other solo appearences along the way. His debute albulm came out in 1999, "Tha Block Is Hot".
After gaining higher popularity and fame with two other albums in the early 2000s, Lil Wayne released his next solo albulm, "Tha Carter".

Upon the release of his debt solo album in 2004, "Tha Carter", he has shaken the rap world up with his razor sharp wit and unique delivery. "Tha Carter II", soon followed, but it was his third album, naturally entitled "Tha Carter III" that stapled him as a undeniable nitch in the hip-hop world, selling and astounding 400, 000 units in it’s first day, placing him in an inevitable arms reach of 1,0000,000 copies by it’s first week, this from a man who recorded over 1,000 lyrics and hooks, giving him the self proclaimed title of “greatest rapper alive!.”.

I think one word spearhead this augment upon the masses favor…
“Style!”

Lil Wayne, during his interview on 106 and park probably said it best. “We in the studio every day, so where’ thinking of our carer every second!”

But for those who are still uncertain, here are some of his lyrics for added measure.

"Even if the sky is falling down like she supposed to be,
She gets down low for me,
Down like her temperature, ‘cause to me she too raw degree,
She crawl all over things,
I got that girl from overseas,
Now she my miss America,
I can’t help be her souljah pleaser,
I’m fighting for this girl,
I’m in battlefield love,
Don’t it look like baby cupid sent his arrows from above,
Don’t you ever leave the side of me,
Indefinitely, now probably, and honestly get down like that, be proud of me,
Yeahhhhhh"
(Song from Down: Jay Sean ft Lil Wayne)

In truth, I must admit that there is something about Wayne’s igmatic character, which simply forces one to take notice! It’s as if each time he makes an appearance the spotlight shines just for him. Now, lyrically, you might be hard pressed to get a deep philosophical lesson and/or message from his lyrics.

But the art of his work, much like his commercial appeal, is not found in the message but the delivery.

Lil Wayne has shaken up the rap world with a set of hits and lyrical word play that has made one statement loud and clear, that he is coming strong and here to stay

Whether that charm carries him through the years, only time will tell, but I think it’s safe to say that Lil Wayne is probably the most commercially marketable artist of this era, and for many more to come, so if you see me bobbing my head by the bus stop, murmuring

“Ok, hello its da martian, space jam Jordan’s,
I want this sh-t forever wake up and smell the Garden,
fresher than the harvest, step up to the target,
if i had one guess than I guess im just New Orleans,”...

then no, I haven’t lost my marbles, I just got caught up, neck deep in the phenomenon suitably named Lil Wayne.

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NBA and It's Stars: Past, Present and Future

So I sat down to watch the 2010 NBA All Star game Sunday night and I was left a bit disappointed. Though it was a pretty exciting game with the final score being 141 to 139 East, there was something missing. Now call me a hater if you will, but I can't stand Kobe Bryant! I think he's an arrogant SOB! With that being said, I missed that arrogant SOB on Sunday! The game just wasn't the same if I couldn't root against him and enjoy the fact that he was on a team that would lose! But what I also missed, was the drama that he brings to the game. That final three pointer that Carmelo Anthony took on Sunday and missed... there's a chance "the black mamba" might've made it, and I'd be typing a whole different blog and using the words "SOB" and "hate" a lot more! But he wasn't there... in the basketball game with the highest attendance on record (some 108,000 plus people) at Cowboy stadium.

That got me thinking. It got me thinking about the history of the NBA and the stars that have graced its courts throughout time! I thought about the Dr. J's and the Isiah Thomases and the Larry Birds and the Magic Johnsons and of course Michael Jordan (the greatest of all time). And I thought how much the game had changed. When the above mentioned names played in an all star game, you knew it was going to be something special. I don't know if I get that same sense when "King James" or Dwayne "Flash" Wade or Melo hit the court! But as much as I hate him, I gotta admit that I still get that "uh oh, look who has the ball" sense when Kobe hits the court! I root against him with the same fear that I'm sure many Lakers fans or Boston fans or Knicks fans had when Larry or Magic or Michael had the ball in their hands with the game on the line. Kobe might hit that shot! I mean I can't stand the guy, but he's the best closer in the league today.

Don't get me wrong, the future of the NBA however looks bright with names like Lebron James, Derreck Rose and Kevin Durant. And some day, to some dude, these guys will be his Magics, Birds or Jordans, but I will always miss the aura of invincibility that Magic, Michael and Larry brought when they stepped on the court. You never know if Lebron is going to be able to pull it off, I mean his team did get bumped out of the playoffs by Howard and the Magic last year and we were robbed of a Kobe vs Lebron finals (the Present vs the Future). D. Wayde is struggling to keep his team in the playoff hunt and although the Thunder are doing their thing thanks to Durant, he has a long way to go before we can start making predictions about how they have a chance at bumping the Lakers out of the playoffs.

So in conclusion my friends, The NBA All Star game on Sunday was a fun game to watch, but I'd much rather watch an All Star game of the 80's and 90's where Dominique was flying out of the building and Shawn Kemp was raining tomahawks down on opponents. Maybe it's nostalgia since there were some pretty amazing dunks by Lebron and company. Maybe it's that the NBA has lost some of it's luster. Nah, I think it's just me. And although I miss the old days, I'll be tuning in tonight when Lebron takes on Melo and Kobe takes on the Celtics! I love this game! I'm out ya'll!

Medinamus