Strange things have been occuring in the last few weeks, stuff that I've ben taking careful notice of. At first I thought it was the normal influx of activity and restlessness that accompanies the arrival of spring. After a very long and tiring winter everyone has plenty of pent up energy that's just bubbling to the surface right? But I was wrong people. so very wrong.

For me it started with friends of mine trying desperately to listen to the new Rick Ross album "Deeper Than Rap". Not only did said friends purchase the album, but spent the better part of an hour telling me how well produced it was. Good production is a must when it comes to an album, but that's only a part of the equation. Presentation and content are the other pieces I need to consider purchasing a record. Rick Ross is not an emcee, lyricist, or even interesting. At least not in my definition. Convincing me that Rick Ross deserves my hard earned cash is like saying George W. Bush spent the last eight years making the United States an amazing place to live and work. I watched Ross perform his single "Magnificient" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Even with the world famous Roots crew backing him up, Ross didn't convince me. Black Thought? Amazing lyricist and performer. Rick Ross? NO. I'm not having it, and I'm not buying it with or without a Def Jam logo on the cd. Period.

Swine flu dropped out of the sky onto an unsuspecting world. First it was a few confirmed infections in Mexico. Next thing you know, people are running scared and there's talk of pandemics, swine flu "protocols", and people burning mass amounts of actual swine in the Middle East for fear of catching said "flu". The fear machine is greased up and in full effect people. Break our your gas masks and dive into your airtight doom shelters. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for making sure everyone is as healthy and safe as possible, but the idea that swine flu will wipe out as many people as the bubonic plague? Journalistic cynicism aside, NO WAY people. I'm not buying it. Combine the possiblity of swine flu annihilating the world with the effects of the ever present recession and we've got ourselves a fully functional fear bomb ready to explode and blow us all away.

I think we all need a little break from swine flu (Alert Level Five!), obsessing over the economy, and really bad albums (because alot of people are buying it anyway). Take a breather. Make sure you wash your hands really well after the bathroom, show up to your job on time and do your job, and turn off the radio for a while. Let the paranoia rest for a bit. The summer is almost here, and with it we can expect music festivals, blockbuster films, and cookouts. Let's look foward to that. And if you happen to feel sick, stay home!! Stock up on medicine, hand sanitizer, tissue and the NOTORIOUS dvd while you're at it. We miss you B.I.G. Stay up and Be Easy out there.