Dishing the Tea with Big Meach Podcast - I Got LOVE for my Shawty, the BONE INTELL exclusive

XXXTENTACION - changes

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Jocelyn Flores (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Depression & Obsession (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Revenge (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

Turn't Up ABCs feat. Couper (Official Music Video) - Repost

XXXTENTACION - Everybody Dies In Their Nightmares (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Save Me (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Dead Inside (Interlude) (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Carry On (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Orlando (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Revenge (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - King (Audio)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - Slipknot (Audio) (feat. Kin$oul & Killstation)

This series of posts are in tribute to XXXTentacion - Credit to the Photographers -

I only did edits as a part of the tribute for these posts.

For fans, friends and family of, XXXTentacion, let’s keep his legacy alive

by sharing his music and art.

Long live Jah!

XXXTENTACION - YuNg BrAtZ (Audio)

xxxtentacion - skin

XXXTENTACION'S HAUNTING NEWLY RELEASED VIDEO FOR SAD LEAVES ITS MARK - Music Video Review

Hindsight is 20/20 and it appears this brilliant artist had been reflecting over his

young life long before his untimely, tragic death earlier this month.  The posthumously, newly released video for the chart-topping, record-breaking achingly melancholy track SAD! displays his artistry and talent peaked, if not fine-tuned. It unapologetically shows a tormented soul trying to feverishly auto-correct past transgressions.

When he was murdered in an ambush-style, broad daylight “apparent” robbery while

leaving a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida on Monday, June 18,
2018, I had already heard of him and his music through the weekly Billboard charts.  For several weeks, I had wanted to look his music up and research him further. 
I was curious about this super-indie artist’s impressive rise.  Unfortunately, I admit I waited too late and made the time to learn more about him after his passing.

Not only did his death force my hand to research him and his music, but it was the

pure hatred I saw thrown his way immediately following on social media.  I was shocked and somewhat offended that this supposed ‘nobody’ could have been THAT bad in his short life.  So, I finally sought him out.

For the next few days, it was all about XXXTentacion.  It was a crash course, I read everything I could find about him, watched numerous videos, posts to a variety of social

media feeds, listened to all of his songs that I could find – all displaying the good, bad, ugly and otherwise of his essence. 

First of all, not everybody is all bad, or all good for that matter.  Secondly, just because YOU don’t know who someone is or not that much about them doesn’t make their life, death or legacy that much less.  While I cringed at some of the instances from his past, I realized how young he was in each of those set of circumstances and considered his turbulent background. I also could clearly see that he definitely saw the err of his ways and was, in many ways, trying to turn himself around to do better.

Even though he still faced upcoming legal battles, he was remarkably doing numerous

charitable works, community outreach and encouraging others to better themselves especially his young, growing FAM base to do the same.  I say FAM base because on several occasions he stated that his fans were not just like family, but were family.  It sure seemed that way given the access they had to him at his shows, online and through his various music and video platforms.

Tirelessly creating avenues to showcase his creative, artistic expression and share

thought provoking, even life-changing messages of empowerment and hope for his
growing public.  So, this guy no longer came across to me as the demon spawned child many haters online were passing off with their negative comments and posts.
Obviously, they were basing their “feelings” off of his past domestic violence and criminal activities.  Forget about someone maturing and trying to better; not only themselves, but
countless others through their art.  It was like so many closed the door to him, counted him out and cast him to hell before the body was even cold.

I don’t get it – how we, as a society can boldly, “bravely” spew such hatred

whilst sitting on their judgmental high horses behind a computer screen.  I can’t remember when we became so high and mighty as a collective.  It forced me to look at him with an open mind and I was glad I researched him, before jumping toconclusions.

I feel, and now, his legacy will show others the light and see the positivity among the torment.  When you see a young fam of his saying that his music saved their life; that he showed them it was okay to be depressed.  He showed them (and especially after his death) it is good to use artistic expression as an outlet, a creative gateway out of one’s personal darkness and to do good for others.  He used his platform for the lonely and forgotten youth in these rough times.  He took time out for them and now I feel, even more will be touched by his unique style since I am sure a lot of people are now (like me) discovering his music.

Now, as for the video clip for SAD!  After seeing the video, which premiered on his YouTube channel on June 28, 2018, just ten days after his murder and received almost 30 million video views overnight, it was like all of my recent research all culminated and came together.  Both eerie (knowing what we all know now) and compelling, the video is an excellent showcase of this brilliant young man’s wide-scope of sheer talent in it’s rawest, rarest form.  I see the passion, his artistry exactly for what it is – bold, in your face and, again, unapologetic.

You really witness his personal turnaround and maturity, as he fights with his old

self.  Now, transformed with a sense of remorse and energized from seeing the proverbial light (as it were) he tackles those demons from within.  Creatively, I feel it is one of the best concept videos I have seen in quite a while.  I hope music industry peers recognize XXXTentacion for not only this song and video, but his entire “?” album and not use his past
transgressions against his flourishing, full on artistry. 

I am not saying it is okay to reward ‘bad behavior’ because the art here stands

on its own.  Musically, he was definitely a ‘one-of-a-kind’ artist with his unique sound and wordy, slick phrasing over stylized beats, sounds and sometimes distortions all setting mood fitting for both the intended message and effect.  To be at that skill set at such a young age and in such a short time is nothing short than brilliant.  To be that stylized, that giving to both his art AND his audience. There was/is nobody who sounds like him, in my opinion, in modern pop music.

Finally, it gives me (and I now finally can see, others) something REAL we can all feel.


Antonio Cassone, 2018

GRAMMY WATCH - Rap Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

I remember when the rap category emerged in the late 1980s and everybody in the industry was thinking it may not last, but a few years. Well, guess what? It is it's own field now with five categories and a lot of the nominees in this field have crossed over into many other fields, including the top four general categories. Eminem is definitely one to watch this year, as he leads all artists with the most nominations (with 10). He has already won a career 11 Grammy Awards in the past and could make a bit of history by getting into the over 20 club. Even if he wins five awards Grammy night, he will be in the elite top ten all-time artists with the most Grammy Award wins. For more on this, check out the article on it at Wikipedia.

Best Rap Solo Performance

My Pick: OVER - Drake (Track from: Thank Me Later) [Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]

My Prediction: NOT AFRAID - Eminem (Track from: Recovery) [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

My Pick & Prediction: ON TO THE NEXT ONE - Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz (Track from: The Blueprint 3) [Roc Nation]

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

THREE of the nominees in this category are also nominated for Record of the Year. That has to be historical somehow. This one is so hard to call. I know which one I would vote for, but as to who will actually win - it is a toss up. I based my prediction on how a 'General' voting body of the recording academy may vote. See, voting members of the recording academy vote in the four general categories and can vote in up to no more than eight (8) of the 29 fields of music. So, let's say I were a voting member of the Academy. My field of expertise is Spoken Word, but I have also dabbled in a bit of music theory and know a thing or two about other fields of music. So I would vote for the top four general categories and my field of Spoken Word, but I would also be able to vote in Pop, Rap, R&B, Classical, Production, etc. up to seven more fields. So, honey, someone from Streisand to Swizz Beatz could vote from Pop to Rap to Country to Gospel in two seconds flat - so, I had to really think that process through when predicting this category (and some other ones too) . So, keep that in mind before complaining, if one of your favorite artists doesn't win come Awards night.

My Pick: EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys (Track from: The Blueprint 3

[Roc Nation]

My Prediction: LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - Eminem & Rihanna (Track from: Recovery)

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

BUT, part of me thinks Nothin' On You, too...ugh... lol - see what I mean? Ha!

Best Rap Song

My Pick: EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters

(Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys) (Track from: The Blueprint 3)

[Roc Nation; Publishers: Carter Boys Music/Al Shuckburgh/Global Talent Publishing/Foray Music/Masani Elshabazz Music/EMI April Music/J Sewell Publishing/Lellow

Productions/Twenty Nine Black Music/Gambi Music]

My Prediction: LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna) (Track from: Recovery) [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Shroom Shady Music/Universal Music

Publishing/Universal Music-Z Songs/Hotel Bravo Music/M. Shop Publishing]

Love the Way You Lie is the only song in this category nominated for Song of the Year, so it seems logical to think it will win here. However, two songs by Eminem from his Recover album are nominated in this category. He may cancel himself out. It is too bad because Not Afraid seems like such an anthem to me. Nothin' On You could also rain on his parade here too. Something about the pop feel to that tune makes me think it will resonate with more Academy voters. These rap cats will be close though, throughout - and I love it. It says a lot about a music genre that so many were so against early on.

Best Rap Album

My Pick: HOW I GOT OVER - The Roots [Def Jam Recordings]

Hey, what can I say? Jimmy Fallon's late night gab fest is one of my favorite shows and The Roots do so well as his band. I gotta show them some love. Just plain, good BAND music. Love them for their style. They truly have their own sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries, but let;s face it... We know there is a shoo-in in this category hands down...

My Prediction: RECOVERY - Eminem [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

Only Jay-Z could pull an upset here, and it would be deservedly so.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and a full list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.