"Get Into The Party Life!" -I Wanna Rock (& Bowl) With You! A THANK YOU Party From the Block

It was the summer of 2012, Tom Cruise was on his 3rd divorce but marriage was at an all time low. You could find plenty superheroes on the big screen (the Avengers, Batman, Spiderman and such). But none in real life. Frank Ocean came out, about his sexuality however John Travolta keep his in. Neon colors were in, but the color black never faded out. It was strange times indeed. Which makes one wonder "WHAT will the Fall bring?" No clue? Well one thing I DO know for sure is that the Block Association will have TWO back-to-back Sunday events starting Sun. Sept. 30th, then we kick off "Blocktober" Sun. Oct. 7th! Here's the deets below...

The Block Association & Friends presents
"Rock & Bowl" The Customer Appreciation Event 
@300 New York at Chelsea Piers (23rd St and the Hudson river/west side highway)
Time Frame: 6pm-12am - 8:20pm kick-off for New York Giants Vs Philadelphia Eagles game

Date: Sunday September 30 , 2012
Music by: DJ Trauma & Danny Ocean 
Hosted: Silky Valente
Admission: FREE/NO COVER

Attire: Casually Fresh

Details on Event: Food served till 12am  & drinks till 1am
Table/lane reservations HIGHLY recommended!
Arrive EARLY to secure a lane for Team bowling and seating to watch the game & eat.
Discount food and bottle packages
Pool Table and games
*Free bowling for ones who RSVP to www.rock-n-bowl.eventbrite.com
*Happy hour drink specials from 6pm - 7pm

theBlockRSVP@gmail.com

the Block Association & Blacklight Entertainment present "Sunglasses & Advil" -Any Given Sunday Series Vol. ll ( Holiday Weekend ) 
@ Pranna - 79 Madison Ave on the Corner of 28th St. 
Date: Sunday October 7 , 2012 ( Columbus Day Weekend ) 
Event starts: 3pm-10pm ( Day Party ) 
 Music by: DJ Trauma & Danny Ocean 
MC: Silky Valente 
Sponsored By: MADE DRINKS 
Food: Full brunch Menu and Drink Specials 
Dress code: You at your absolute f**kin' BEST! Dress to impress the opposite sex ( NO HATS, NO T-shirts , NO Athletic Wear, NO Work Boots ) Collard shirt/Blazers/Polo Shirts/loafers/stylish Sweaters/jeans/trendy sneakers/fine attire is highly recommended for entry please arrive in proper upscale fashionable attire for a easy entry to this event.
GO HERE TO RSVP for "Sunglasses & Advil" http://sunglasses-n-advil.eventbrite.com 

"Some Assembly Required" -The Avengers Movie Review

Have you ever had a crush on someone and then years later out the blue not only do they start coming around you they finally have a night of passionate sex with you? No? Well that's happened for me and that's the best way I can describe finally seeing the Avengers become a reality on screen! For years Marvel films has been dick teasing us with solo released films from each hero featured in the ensemble starting with TWO Hulks, two Iron Man flicks, then lately Captain America & Thor last year. Iron Man (thanks to Robert Downey Jr.) being the better of this bunch, Hulk being the worst. Bad ex's but not wifey, like the idea the Avengers was hoping to be. Now I've been an avid comic book collector since the early 80's and the thought of the team ever becoming a movie was as far fetched as the story lines in the books themselves LOL! And if so, NOT a very good one! I actually was nervous FOR Marvel knowing how bad this coulda ended up. EVERYONE was wrong! This movie was everything it was suppose to be! It was like not only finally getting to bed your life long crush but she invites her freaky girlfriends to join in! And then they cook breakfast the morning after! YEAH THAT GOOD! To be honest I'm more of a Batman type of guy. Not the books, more so the Nolan films. It's a bit more "reality" based for my liking. But you couldn't go that route with this one, TOO many over the top powered super beings to play it that way. So the beat 'em up explosive popcorn movie it HAS to be. the Avengers biggest battle however was to not give EVERYTHING away via the leaked flicks & 20 plus trailers! I was secretly hoping that the alien threat was those damn blue dudes from Avatar! But it's looking like the Avengers will be beating them up at the box office instead! LOL! Oh but the way, not  to spoil things for you but not only does Hulk SMASH(!) in the film, the director Joss Whedon does too! 4 out of 5 M's for this one

"Knock 'Em Out The Box Rick" -Teflon Don Review

So the Summer of 2010 is here and we're in one of the WORST droughts we've seen in a minute! And no, I'm NOT talking about the water reserve folks it's the music scene that's been dry lately. How is that it's the last few weeks in July and we have not ONE Summer Jam (not the Hot 97 concert dummy). You know that dance floor banger that even the bathroom attendant in the club start singing along with! Well that may all change today, cause Rick Ross's "magnum opus" Teflon Don is finally hitting the streets (not meaning bootleg). Right at the moment of writing this post, "B.M.F. (Blowing Money Fast)" seems to be our ONLY savior from musical boredom. and it's not even a quote unquote DANCE record! Crazy right? But it tis what it tis...which is DOPE! But let me slow down a bit and get back on course. Ro$$ is "Rick the Ruler" right now. Why? He gets what it means to be an ARTIST these days not just a RAPPER! Hip-Hop...sorry, Hip-POP is the TOP selling form of music right at this moment. In a time when album DON'T sell so with that being said, you as an artist NEEDS to be BIGGER than the genre. And this may be his "come up pence" with his latest release. Allow me explain further track for track...

"I'm Not A Star" -Hype track however, the hook is pretty lazy. But I'll give him a pass on this one.

"Free Mason" feat. Jay-Z -the return of "gangster message rap" ala 2Pac style! I actually like Ricky's verse on here BETTER than Jay's! But the killer line of the whole song is "I said I was AMAZING, not A MASON..." Simple and and to the point.

"Tears Of Joy" feat. Cee-Lo Green -YO! This is my favorite track on the whole album (do we even say album any more?)! A great blend of message and music. Cee-lo was the perfect match-up from this soulful No ID track. The intro's kinda long winded, but most good movies are 2hrs plus right? Think B.I.G. on a Blueprint (the first one) track and THIS is it!

"Maybach Music III" feat. T.I., Erykah Badu, and Jadakiss -Now I don't smoke but the vibe on this one makes you wanna roll SOMETHING up! Each featured artist (key word) does the track justice. Ross plays the background like a true fan, then raps like he BELONGS among them. NICE!

"Live Fast Die Young" feat. Kanye West -Eh?! This is basically a 'Ye track with more Ross verses than his to me. The track grew on me but so does warts. LOL! I was a bit disappointed in Mr. West's verse as well! Here you have one of the few lyrical rapper still around (meaning not dead or in jail) and you come w/this "Mickey Mouse" style of rap AFTER Rick spits fire? "Wake up Mr. West" indeed!

"Super High" feat. Ne-Yo -When I first heard this single the beat reminded me of a Jay-Z first album track. And no wonder, none other than DJ Clark Kent produced the song, but that's not to say it's a BAD thing. I not a "single" man but I'm not mad at this one...at all!

"No. 1" feat. Diddy & Trey Songz -This is another (annoying) hook I'll pass on! The song is listenable till freakin' Diddy decides to get on the track for NO good apparent reason! This must have been in Rick Ross's contract to have him on at LEAST one track! Diddy...Oh no he didn't!

"M.C. Hammer" feat. Gucci Mane -Ear wax melter! Piping hot fresh out the brick oven heat! Another club riot starter right here! My ONLY beef with this song? What in the is Moms MableyGucci Mane (!) rapping on this? Or why is he even rapping PERIOD! He ruins a perfect good song, a good day, a good night...whatever's GOOD! Except a good BYE! Gucci's the new Master P w/ worse flow, if that's even possible! "Hammer" that nail in the coffin dawg!

"B.M.F." feat. Styles P - GREATNESS! Straight up. But Styles P? Really? Jada put you up to this? PLEASE send me the link w/ the same track w/out him on it! I'm DEAD SERIOUS too.

"Aston Martin Music" feat. Drake and Chrisette Michelle -Another classy laid back joint which sounds like a recycled Drake track but I still dig it none the lesser. Watch some one release a song called "Honda Civic Music" with some bump bass s#@t on it! LOL! Which by the way doesn't sound too too bad (hmmm, as I rub chin).

"All The Money In The World" feat. Raphael Saadiq -Now WHO would of thought this one? I guess they did huh? Unexpectedly great finishing touch to a mostly well rounded (ummm) album. Kudos to Ro$$, he lets Saadiq do the shining on this one, and shine he does!

Overall Rick Ro$$ has a CLASSIC on his hands! It may not be a all-time classic, but I think classic Hip-Hop is fine enough for him. Who know it would be "Fat Man" not Batman to be a Summer block buster hit? Knock 'em out Rick!

ALBUM IN STORES NOW!

"C.U. At The Top!"-Secrets Of Columbia University FINALLY Reveled!

You know how you work somewhere for a while but never take in your surrounding simply because you've become numb to the daily routine of traveling to and from work. Well, for it was that way for a while till on my usual lunch break on Columbia University's sprawling campus, a random vagabond shouted in my direction "Look at things deeper than just their shallow surface!" Gave the "evil eye", then hurried off with his ragtag shopping cart of aluminum cans. Usually I woulda shrugged the old coot's rambling off as just that...rambling! But I decided to take him up on that "jewel" he dropped and get my "Dan Brown" on researching some of the University's more iconic landmarks. Not it's not quite the "Davinci Code" of information that I was hoping to uncover, but what I DID find out was still pretty interesting, if I may say so myself.

Okay let's start of with the Alma Mata that adorns the center stairs of the campus. Come to find out that the statue place there was the original design engineer Gustave Eiffel (yeah of Eiffel Tower fame) had for the Statue of Liberty! The staff was to be the torch, the hand positioned upwards was to motion "What, MORE immigrants?" and the book on her lap was actual suppose to be a record log book to record all the names of the "newcomers." When NY state officials rejected the first design in fear of offending other nations, Columbia scooped up the "gift shop" sized, cheaper priced version, and saved a bundle. Wild huh? Who knew? Final note; the sculptor who's named Chester French is whom the group of the same name got it from.

Heard of "the Manhattan Project" , the code name for atomic bomb development during WWII? Well word is that it was first called the "Harlem Project" but it was renamed "Manhattan" to avoid it being confused with the low income housing projects being built in Harlem at the time. The Low Library was to double as a missile silo in fear of a possible German invasion starting with the Ivy League schools rumored to happen. Columbia not wanting to take any chances, quickly decided to move all of their existing library facilities across campus to what is now known as Butler Library. Today still emptied out of books, it on the short list of locations considered for the "Legion of Doom" in a live action film version of the "Justice League."

Back when Columbia was founded they were so eager to recruit players for their lagging basketball team they went as far as erecting a statue at the front gates as a sign of acceptance to the sport. Symbolizing what pride they took in their "hardwood" players. Coming out of the locker room shower with a basketball still in hand, draped with only towels and wearing sandals, was common practice (and not gay) back then. So this statue depicts just that.

However for women, cooking ruled the day. So then a statue had to be made in support of their "domestic prowess" with an equally grand front gate statue. One showing a young student woman holding up a cook book recipe proudly to the incoming student body and visitors alike.




Now this odd fact fans of the old Batman TV series will appreciate. Remember the statue / bust of Shakespeare Bruce Wanye used to lift in order to active the poles to the Batcave? Well the University has the SAME device...well not quite, but something very similar. Hidden inside this marble bust of "Athena" (I think) is two turn key locks to activite the missile silo and the dome to retract on top of Low Library if the fore mentioned German invasion ever had taken place. Only two people have possession of these keys, The (University) President has one and the head of security the other.

Forget a Recession, the Great Depression was what was on young students minds during the time when this sculpture was donated to the campus. Inspired by a student making ends meet by posing nude for fellow art students, this statue became the symbol for thousands of graduates wondering about student loan payments, and lack of job prospects. When the art teacher at the time asked the model what was he thinking about to invoke the now famous pose he replied, "Having to move back in with my God d@#n parents!" Understood.

Did you know "the Lion King" is the number one rented Netflix movie in campus dorms? So popular among the student body that a statue was erected with raised funds from bake sales to have a full scale statue made in honor of the animated film! In all honesty I swore it was the lion from those "Narnia" flicks! Guess that shows how much I watch movies huh?

Speaking of movies, 20th Century Fox has paid good money to the University to let them construct a full function life size version of the Fantastic Four's
famously known headquarters "the Baxter Building" as a set for their latest installment of the Fan Four's adventures. No word yet on what C.U. is going to do with the set / building once film production has ended. But I'm sure selling tours is one of their options. LOL.

That's about all I've uncovered for now but I'll be sure to get back to you with some more tidbit info before the book comes out, and I'm doing a book signing world tour

"The Trill(er) Is Gone!" -The King (Of Pop) Is Dead, Long Live The King (Of Pop)!

I'm pretty sure but now you've received the despairing text, e-mail, phone call, or been stopped on the street, informing you about passing of Michael Jackson. He was many things to many people besides the musical legend he had been destined to become. "The Gloved One", "The Moon Walker, "Mr. He He He" himself lived up to and way beyond everything people knew since the was a kid he'd become. I think that the reason he'll be so missed by his fans, is he gave them so much to miss. First the fearless kid prodigy lead singer of the Jackson 5. Then as the sequined jacket high watered, glimmering sock wearing dancing phenom that dominated the look & the sound of the 80's. To the tormented exiled "King", longing to revive his career and return to his former glory. Each carnation he went through, it seemed he became even larger then life each time! Kids born WAY after the time of his reign, STILL view him as a mystical like hero figure. Akin to Batman, Spiderman, Superman, then add Michael to that list, a real human being! He had become just that big. Ironically, I had a conversation with someone just reflecting on how the out pour of love for James Brown was like none I've EVER seen in my lifetime, "Can you just imagine what the turn out will be for Mike?" was what I questioned my friend aloud. Who know I'd be finding out sooner then I (or ANYONE for that matter) thought. Why do folks take the death of a public figure so hard? My theory is that once you do become so iconic around the world and in peoples mind, even death is beyond them. Death can be beyond them, if you keep that person in your heart and thoughts. R.I.P. MJ, I will always "Remember the Time" that I fell in love with your music.

"All Good In The (Child) Hood" -Two Promising Trailers From My Memory's Past

Okay Hollywood, I see where you're going with this. Dig through an old toy chest, and see what you can pull out to make folks shell out $12.50 a pop, plus popcorn to see. Last Summer you gave us the first decent Batman movie in years...Cool. But what have you done for us lately? Because these are "blockbuster/popcorn" movies don't expect a Ledger like performance from the cast. However non-stop action? I want EVER cent worth of that $12.50!

"One Long Knight"-Dark Knight Review...Sorta.

"Everbody on the line outside..." -Flipmode Squad

If you've been following the blog for sometime, you should not be shocked that I've gone to see the movie on the first day out. No trickery or advance tickets involved, I just simply brought my tickets at an earlier time & day before it came out (duh?). So don't walk in there even thinking you're gonna see the 9:10 movie and it's 8:59 on your tick tock. Hell nah! It ain't happening captain. Anyways, I show up to the theater w/ my ticket in hand and simply walked inside, not even noticing there was a line formed (from 7:00 for a 9:40 showing) outside. Ash points this out, but we're inside already, so am I to head back out to join that said line? As the French would say "F^#% No!" Excuse my French. Once upstairs, we see there's NO listing for our movie time. Huh? What the deuce? Never fear though, the acne-challenged usher just tell us it's slightly later and to start the line, we're first. Cool. Soon after, the poor saps that we're there from 7pm get the green light to come up and join the line we're on. Cool. Amid the mass showing movie conflictions, lines were being formed ALL over the damn lobby, so we get moved to ANOTHER wall to wait by. Cool. So we resume our position in first place on THAT line now. However some random "batty" chick decides that wants to "see the manager" to remind them "She was first in line outside at 7:00." NOT f^%kin' cool. EVERYONE within earshot from the ushers, to the concession stand folks, to the clean up crew, she was making it known to (in a round about way) that we were skipping the line (which technically we were but eh). I laughed thinking, "It's a freaking empty theater, you have seats on reserve that we're taking up from you? Please let me know." I wanted to go to the concession stand to buy her a large cold soda, cause man, she was THIRSTY! The doors open and she off scrambling like it was a free iPhone in every seat boy! Damn, it be some grown ass silly folks, not the kids you gotta watch. Now finally, on to the movie review.
Long story short, the Dark Knight is a hodge podge of some of the best movies that have come along in the last ten years done better. A bit of "Heat" mixed in with a dash of "Seven" added with a little "Mission Impossible"/"James Bond" then topped off with some elements of "Fight Club." It's just Batman & the Joker as the main character focused on. Reason one why this film worked for me was that, it was staged at real locations, and not on some imagined set to look "cartoonish." Remember, Bruce Wayne HAS no real super powers, nor does any on his villains so placing him in the "real" world makes logical sense. Dude is a straight up regular (extremely rich) guy, that works out and is trained in many forms of combat. But hey, even the biggest dudes get f#@k up sometimes too (which Batman does in the movie). I don't wanna spoil anything for you guys but kudos to the whole production team on pulling this together. Every action in the storyline plot has a reaction and purpose that pushes the narrative forward. Matter o' fact I dug it so much I saw it TWICE already. Man, I'm not sure how they're gonna top this one (the hype, the acting, the box-office intake) but I'm curious to find out. Fingers crossed for Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" to make it to the big screen. I'll purchase my tickets NOW! Thank you very much. BELIEVE THE HYPE! Good Knight Gothemites!

"Put Ya (Bat) Lighters Up!"-NYC Goes Batty

In an effort to deter the growing surge of crime that seems to be currently gripping the NYC Tri-State area, the City has desperately turned to installing a "Bat-Signal" hoping to decrease criminal activity at night. When questioning a spokesperson about the decision behind the move he simply stated "Hey, we were figuring if it worked for Gotham then why wouldn't it work for us here?" When I informed him that there was no existing city named Gotham, still in disbelief he asked "Then you tell me where Batman's been catching all these bad guys smart ass huh?" I just shook my head and replied "Hey, whatever makes you feel safe at night pal." Shame, just more taxpayers dollars gone to waste.

"Gotham City for the Ghetto"-Dark Knight Genius Marketing

Okay I'm Batman jocking , but you GOTTA admit this is a dope concept to market the movie. It's a straight to DVD anime movie (Gotham Knight) to bridge the two movies together. Not that that hasn't been done before. It's just feels good when it's done RIGHT!