Wednesday, August 23, 2006

My Heroes

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Been A Long Time

I shouldn't have left you

But I am still going hard, progress is slow and steady.



That is the Logo baby, get use to it, the brand is officially launched

Saturday, June 17, 2006

The Science of a Great Ass

When a guy sees a woman with a nice (bottom, shots to Nelly) there is dopamine
released in the brain. The same thing goes for tits and a gorgeous face, not
to mention a sexy woman.

The problem is that guys are not subtle with it. We see a nice ass or anything
close to sexiness and we can't help it. We really can't and for the most we
shouldn't have to help it. I do admit that men have this power of that could be
real dangerous in the case of sexual predators.

Guys see s great looking lady and because of their weakness they go at the
woman and assault her without provacation from her. When a woman gets dress she is
really looking nice for her own spirits. But guys don't see that. A tight pair
of jeans, a low cut shirt, low riders and tight t's are all great outfits that
drive men crazy. Some go nuts and some are nuts, me I dig the shoes myself.

I wrote a song about the subjects, Foot Fetish and Wonderland. I am writing a
book about Foot Fetish to be released before the record and also a book will be
released of the lyrics of my songs as well. But remember this is about
Songwriting.

Now what the hell is all this about. Oh yeah ass, listen men look we like to
see it, feel it and be with it. Some like em big, round, tight, juicy, or bubble.
From the popularity of Buffie (she my friend) to the way jean are made.
Girlfriends (especially mine) get over it, we look, we get online and look. When were
not with you we look. Some turn around and get crazy with it. Some stop and
gaze at it, some do the slick mirror look. But we all look, so ladies let us stare
and look it aint nothing just looking.

Originally posted on myspace.com/miclowrey

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Top Ten

1. Rakim, the reason everyone thinks he is the best cause they could never imagine themselves saying what he say
2. Kool G Rap, he invited Gangsta Rap for the NY Streets and that is basically it
3. LL Cool J, he showed everyone how to love and still is he may be the greatest of all time
4. Big Daddy Kane, just cause no one can spit like him. PERIOD
5. Biz Markie, he mad funny the thing now you have careers based on what he did, Ludacris, Redman anyone

When these guys rapped in the Golden Era everyone did not think they could rap, but when the guys down below started doing it, everybody in they momma tought they could spit a hot 16, bt the truth is what? Can the top really be these guys I forgot Moe D, Caz, Mel what about Kris.

6. Biggie, Hands down, maybe the best to ever spit that "everyone included" shit
7. Jay Z, 8 summers and counting, what is a party without a Jay Z record believe me, Italy, Spain, Wherever he is the party starter
8. Nas, no one except Rakim can make a song and have you believe you cant do that
9. 2pac, his passion put him here, he could of easily been left off, but the passion is what made him, Common, Snoop, Scareface (actually this is his spot now)
10. Cam'Ron or Jadakiss, who those more people rap like now, Cam' circa SDE or Jadakiss circa Kiss of Death I dont know but it is very close, check out the mixtape DVD's and you tell me

Thursday, May 25, 2006

XXL presents Hip Hop Soul

The cover has a picture of Ne-yo and Keyshia Cole on the cover: leaders of the new school. There is only one ad in the mag and it is provided by Remy Martin with an online campaign from 1738.com the ads are not overbearing and actually let the magazine stand on its own. The cover says that MJB, Al B Sure, John Legend with New Edition, Kelis, and the Top 25 rap & r&b callabos of all time (number one is the most gangsta song sung and spit but to the ladies from the NY renaissance on the mic circa 94/95) there is also a photo tribute with legends of soul (the picture of MJ is incredible we will see that on shirts soon, especially
mine)

It starts with a bang on page 9 with a letter to D'Angelo (where ya at bro)
next page catches up with The Boys from "Dial my Heart" fame they all grown and was in Africa and made music over there under the name (read the mag) next they speak on artist and their philanthropy next page is getting at the dude that said he was in love with a stripper and a nice short on Chris Brown and his former career, and than there is rumors of the glove one recording with the incredible ‘thawk’ (dunn language) page 12 is telling r&b starlets business along with the aforementioned Al B Sure, next page is a funny cartoon of Def Jam and Atlantic switching artist like baseball next few pages have John Legend, Cheri Dennis, Avant, Lil Wayne and than some new cats, Governor, J Valentine (any relation to Bobby) Deemi, Megan Rochell (Def Jam is really looking like LaFace right now), Jermaine Paul

Than we get a nice sexy posing from Mrs the Monster (read the mag) and
interview (where the hell is her album) next pages is Lela James, Akon (JC)

Than there is that Top 25 some people will be mad others will say we deserve a better spot but Jagged Edge 'Where the Party At? Is not included that's beyond me page 44 got the cover girl Keyshia Cole with a little first lady breakdown on page 49 Ne•Yo gets going on 54 with the first bros yearly breakdown on page 60

Next is the ever so unbashful Mrs Jones (kelis-sidebar there is this photo book with pictures of Kelis like she was born, amazing, the tats are incredible when you see it full that girl is serious)

Page 68 has the boy band that made the blueprint for all others, that's right
ya favorite group ever (if you over 26) nice spread they talk about things that happened and what te future is like, I think everybody waiting for that book, no more Bad Boy (Puff wanted B2'Ole)

Speaking of B2K (where the hell are they-sidear never bite the hand that feeds you, especially when he ya cousin) Omarion turns up on page 74 than there is pictorial (buy the mag)

Page 90 has the Top 10 R&B albums of the year. In between there is stories on Bryan-Michael Cox, DJ S&S of uptown with his club joints and bedroom joints, yeah Jagged Edge Good Luck Charm is sick than there is the Vintage article with 112 album 112 Bad Boy 1996 (they on itunes now) there is an introduction of Mela Machinko out of BK she new probably on myspace and the exit photo belong to Nina Simone (I have yet to hear any of her music, I think I'm gonna loOk for some it might change my life you do the same) and far a great album of the year Top 10 Keyshia Cole album is sick (I can say that cause my lady don't play it cause she aint been through it) Holla till next time, XXL with Busta on the cover is next www.xxlmag.com

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Magazine Reading

My new hobby will help you guys decide what mags to read on the urba front, I am going to be reviewing entire mags on myspace as well as blogger, myspace will be more visual and blogger will concentrate on the writting aspect and also get ready for my new venture Mogul whic is coming soon.

Urban Mag Reader

Mic Lowrey "intro" Eye Style Music

Monday, April 17, 2006

Fashion Cents

Hay there people in Blog World

I have nothing mch to say but I wanted to say something. I was at the Chanel store with my lady and the store looks incredible and woman were spending months of rent for a lot of us on some of the ugliest bag you will ever see. But the store looks incredible. Just like the store I am in now the Apple Store in Soho it looks increible, so todays lesson is if it look good people will come, so what those that say aout my music.

Mic Lowrey "intro" coming soon eye STYLE music

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Sir Hova of Brooklyn

Hove's Home

"Yes Sir I'm cut from a different cloth", in the words of the Big Homie Hova, BK stand up.

Well I got the chance to see Mr. Young Mediterranean himself last week. It was great seeing him and it was something straight out of one of his video’s first he pulls up while I am walking down the street. The call time for the event said to be there at 11:30 am and here I go walking down the block at 12:15 pm, all ways good though. This dude pulls up in a Black Phantom (Rolls Royce) I mean that damn thing was clean as hell. It has the suicide doors (reverse opening) and he puts the leg out while sporting the nice trench coat (tan color, like timbs) with a fresh pair of S. Carter sneakers www.reebok.com/rbk, he was looking fresh and he was on the phone being so cool (a theme throughout the interview) I walked right in front of dude and it took everything not to stream "Hova! Hova! Hova!" but I was cool and calm.

I finally go inside and it is standing room only. Jay Z was being taped for a show on the Yes Network called Center Stage hosted by Yankee announcer Michael K. The show is coming on if I am not mistaking real soon but check your local listings. Jay came out nice to the encore beat playing in the background and thunderous applause, but they didn’t have something right so he did it again, this time even more ruckus.

They jumped right into the interview covering everything from his childhood to his taking over the reigns at Def Jam; as well as everything in between. First off was how Jay got into music and a little bit about how he starting writing. He said things that were well documented like he starting writing in books and once he went outside he started using paper bags and finally moving on to the coop that makes him Hova, the mental exercise and how he uses memory to write the rhymes and than delivers them. It is an art within itself to hear about a guy doing that and than to have Biggie be the same way you just know greatness is not made but born. Everybody that is trying that now, it sounds like it, thoughts all over the place but this guy is consistent with his.

Speaking on his childhood he spoke about his pops leaving and how he got the name Jay Z, they use to call him Jazzy from the way he dressed (My cousin LoLo use to call me that, just remembered that) and he just took the Jay and Z part and it stuck. He spoke on the projects and the dynamics of the hustling game and how the end is death or jail. He spoke on the true story behind 99 problems that he was pulled over and had some things in the car but would not let the cops check the trunk and a sniff dog was nowhere around and how a few minutes was difference between jail and his life now. He said as he was riding down the street the K9 (that if were closer would of been disastrous for him) Unit was riding the other way going towards where he came from.

He talked about the beginnings of the ROC and how he, Dame and Biggs could not get a deal anywhere and the places that did offer things were basically going to rob and destroy his future. So he went the only route he knew how, he did it himself. They first started selling out the trunk and giving some away on consignment to the stores one of the first being Beat Street downtown Brooklyn on Fulton Street in the Fulton Mall.

From there he put out his first single "In My Lifetime" he basically White Labeled it (that is when a artist puts out music with no cover art and independently). The Host said that he put this out first but some in the crowd said that no his first release was Reasonable Doubt, and the host said no it was "In My Lifetime" and Jay said "See He know what he talking about" Micheal K said I said the first single not the first album, Reasonable Doubt was later and he was correct.

The show was great, Jay is an incredible interview, funny witty and charming as he has pointed out numerous times throughout the interview without sounding cocky. This dude is a man's man, no wonder men want to be him and woman want to be with him. Listening to him its not hard to see why the hottest chic in the game (acording to Sir Hov on Public Service Announcement from his 'swan song'the Black Album) Jay spoke on Beyounce and stated that people seem to doubt her singing ability and writing ability because of her beauty and said that people tend to overlook her because the music she comes out with are huge and she does not get the props she deserve.

When Micheal K asked him what is some of the things that he wished he could do over in his music career he said nothig really and than dropped that his second album would of been a classic if not for his ambition to get that plaque (Platinum) he said that there are three songs on there that he wish he could have not put on there, one being the "Sunshine" joint with Babyface and Foxy Brown he said it wasn't a good look, I think the song was great, but after his explaning why it could of been on something else, he was right. The album had joints on it like "Face Off, Friend or Foe 2, Streets is Watching, Imaginary Players, You Must Love Me" that album was sick and those not get the proper respect it is due, even from Hov himself.

He found out he was big after seeing the line of people that came out for signing of his third album "Hard Knock Life" he said that there was helicopters and police and he couldn't get out the door of the store and the crowd was crazy, that stop was Virginia and than it happened in every state that he went to after that. And he saw the change from when he could go shopping and people would be like "hay I like your music" to not being able to be out much without being mobbed.

He spoke about the start of Rocawaear and how he went to iceburg, with his partners and ask for the (private) plane and a bunch of other incedentals they said no. He said he was at a show and saw how everybody in the audience had on Iceberg cause he was shouting them out in his music. he looked at it and him and his partners went to Iceberg owners and asked to be the spokesmen and get lots of money and the plan and cars and they said, get out, and they decided to start rocawear. (Maybe they should have gave him the plane). Rocawear became one of the most profitable urban clothing lines and grossed upward of 500 Million to date. They started witht- shirts and hats and than took it everywhere, while Iceberg has seen its better days past them by and you would be hard pressed to see them in many stores today.

Jay went on to talk about many things but the one thing he stayed clear of was the mess with Cam'Ron and the break up of the Roc. Always reffering to the company as 'we'. Talked about his business ventures like the watch and his music taste being all over the spectrum and his watch deal and he showed off the S.Carter sneakers he had on and went on to mention that he was the only non sports athlete to have his own shoe; that it was the biggest shoe opening in Reebok history. They thought it would sale a few 100 pair and sole 10K in the first week alone. Spoke little about the signing of Rick Ross and his take over of the Roc. He said he was ready to leave and than the Def Jam thing came and said how could he pass it up.

When asked about who he would like to see perform he said Marvin Gaye would be the person he would like to see most, when asked what was his greatest acheivement as far as professional he said the gig at Madison Square Garden, he was also asked about how it feels to perform with Paul McCartney (at this years grammy; where he won with Lincoln Park) he said cool, he siad dude is a Knight but I am too, Sir Hova of Brooklyn and the crowd went wild.

All in all it was a great show and Young Mediteranean, Young Hov, S (DOT), El Presidenti, Jay Z, Jigga, Hova, Shawn, Hov'ee, whatever you call him, just remember the dude is a legend so lets not forget that, PEACE TO SIR HOVA OF BROOKLYN

Hipper to Hopper

Hay there on March something or nother I had to pleasure of seeing something that I thought I may never get a chance to see. That was my main man Just Ice of the old Boogie Down Productions Crew straight out of the South Bronx perform in Manhattan.

The lucky occasion that gave me the chance to see history was the unveiling of the Connex List published by the Wonder Twinz out of Strong Island. These brothers are keeping the faternity of hip hop alive with their vision and helpful hand that they have given to the people to keep them intune with hip hop and the people who create it.

The show was great, it was actually a performance by that 90s Native Tongue collective known as Black Sheep "Who's the Black Sheep, What's the Black Sheep" yeah they perfromed "Choise is Yours" their megahit from the early 90s along with some new stuff that they are trying out. They have a new album that is dropping and you can check for them on MYSPACE, I don't remember the page but I am sure you can get up with them.

The night was a great success, and the new Connex List book with The Kool DJ Red Alert on the cover was a great read, it featured, Mobb Deep, Busta Rhymes and some new cats and unknowns as well. check out www.wondertone.com and ask them to send you a pdf copy of the Connex List you won't regret it.

At the party also was Dana Dane, remember Nightmares and the Kango crew with Slick Rick, yeah he was in the building. Shots to the Movie Brown Sugar for that piece of history.

All in All it was a very good night.. Thanks WONDER TWINZ check them out on their website and pick up a t-shirt www.wondertwinz.com

Mic Lowrey "intro" coming soon and eyestylemusic.com is under construction, along with the Offices in London, Seattle and New York, holla at me, Wisconsin what up

Saturday, March 04, 2006

The Launch

Hay people

Well Spring is almosty here (can't wait-a little too cold this pass week) and that means that the hip hop scene is about to heat up. Make believe beefs and all is about to pop off.

When the tempature breaks so does tempers so be prepared people

I am currently working on the Eye Style Music site so look out for that. I am also opening the eye STYLE music office's in NY, West Coast and London {Maybe} but this will take some time but I am preparing a full blitz for April the first single should be poppin by than. {Foot Fetish by Mic Lowrey) and than I am also working on my producer thing and trying to finalize the B.A. e.p. it will be call (Be A) it is going to be nuts as well. This is a spitter who will be one to watch in the near future.

I am also trying to get my Direct on and I am going to have a part in a movie {I don't have any lines} but it is a start. Shots to Elements of Hip Hop they got the dance competition coming this May and it is going to be nuts the tryout is this month March 17 I believe so if you close to NYC get at me dog.

Last but not least my thoughts on the current hip hop environment, not good, to much B.S. not enough music. These days they want to know if you have a story survived the Katrina Disaster and you may just get yourself a record deal, it helps if someone died, it is getting nuts.

I am Rap, I was born for this, Neo in the flesh, I was not created to stop the machine but to make sure things were more even with the machine and the people so that is what I intend to do. Mic Lowrey "intro" eye STYLE music, Man of Letter's coming soon...

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Every Good Superhero, Should Teach Something

Every Good Superhero should have some SWAG

And since I am in the creation process of making myself a superhero, I have developed some Swag, check it out at the button to the right or left depending on whcih country you happen to be in.

I have the eye STYLE shirt for my people who speak Italian for the big guys and little guys, and I also have a stamp, you should collect it. It is all available from the buton to the right.

Mic Lowrey "intro" coming soon

Oh yeah, i learned something about hacking your cell phone, to make calls from your house phone but using your cell phone night minutes 9most likely free) so this is my tip of the day.

Take your cell phone and dial *21* (NNN) NNN-NNNN# replace the N with the number and area code that you plan to dial, after doing this press send on your cell phone, than dial your cell phone number from your house phone and remember to press #21# so that other people who call your cell phone dont get connected to the number you dialed.

Now this could be good for drunk dialing for long distance relationships and instead of your cell phone it could be a pay phone, best part the called ID picks up the number you dialed from not the cell phone, there goes the end of long distance charges on your phone, I hope.....

All hail Kanye, Hova, John Legend and Mariah, next year Keyshia Cole gets like 5 nominations but she in the categories with Mary and Alicia and you know Alicia is going to win like two for Unbreakable and Mary is going to win for Be Without You, so maybe best new artist for you Keyshia but she have to get her profile up and not be so hood with it, Jeezy may take hip hop record next year though, either way, I'll Holla

Mic Lowrey "eye STYLE music"

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

The human brain has multiple mirror neuron systems that specialize in carrying out and understanding not just the actions of others but their intentions, the social meaning of their behavior and their emotions.
"We are exquisitely social creatures," Dr. Rizzolatti said. "Our survival depends on understanding the actions, intentions and emotions of others."
He continued, "Mirror neurons allow us to grasp the minds of others not through conceptual reasoning but through direct simulation. By feeling, not by thinking."
The discovery is shaking up numerous scientific disciplines, shifting the understanding of culture, empathy, philosophy, language, imitation, autism and psychotherapy.
Everyday experiences are also being viewed in a new light. Mirror neurons reveal how children learn, why people respond to certain types of sports, dance, music and art, why watching media violence may be harmful and why many men like pornography. Sandara Blakeslee NY Times, Science Time, January 10, 2006

What does this mean for Hip Hop you ask?
Well, some say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. Well with this study by the doctor's led by Giacomo Rizzolatti, a neuroscientist at the University of Parma, it is not just that some people feel the need to bite. It is that we all feel the need to bite. Other wise how could you explain the "it" bag for woman or Air Forces for men. We have to have them and it is not because a rapper says so or some celebutaunt is rocking it. The main reason could be found in -our mental load. The brain cavity; we do it cause we see it.

Video's are the main point here, the music that we listen and why it sounds the same. It's not that the creativity of others is bad, it is because mentally we are pre disposed to do so. Back when Rakim and Kane rules the airwaves the reason why we did not see a bevy of bitters was because the technology at the time did not allow one to do so. But now with Pro Tools (I really need a tutor) and the Internet it is very easy to mimic what 50 cent is doing the night or day that you hear it. That is the reason so many NY rappers were sounding like Hov at one point, it is a testament of his abilities that many were sounding this way.

If you listen to Mix Tapes in the New York area in 99-2003 everyone was sounding like D Block and the reason was that from listening to these freestyles and writing afterwards, the voice that is saying the rhymes back to you is not your own; because you have yet to hear your own, but you did hear D Block so it sounds okay coming from Kiss even though you wrote it.

Think About People

Mic Lowrey "intro" coming soon eye STYLE music

Thursday, January 05, 2006

The Sport of Business (Mark Cuban)

Motivation can come from anything, as an artist one has to understand that the motivation thta will take you to the level that you complain about is right in front of you. Today I read this blog that was linked to www.prohiphop.com everyone must remember Dame Dash Ultimate Hustler Rules (Know Your Trade) so that means studying every mag/website/book/newspaper article about it, my trade happens to be Hip Hop. I like this blog entry so much I am posting it on my blog-

The Sport of Business.

I can’t go more than a week without shooting baskets. There is something about the feel of the ball coming off my hand, and the sound of the ball going through the net. It just feels good.

If I’m just standing in the gym, I can shoot pretty well. Playing in a game. Well it’s not quite what it used to be. I used to have a spin move that would work for me no matter who I was playing against or what level they were at. If I could get a pick and the defender went under, I didn’t have to think about it, I could hit the shot. These days, my mind knows what to do, but my body just laughs at me. Put me up against 20 year olds, and I won’t embarass myself but it’s only because I know how to set a pick and hit an open, a very wide open jumper, and spend the rest of the game getting out of the way.

I love to compete. I always have. Playing basketball was just something I had to do no matter how good I was and its something I will always do, no matter how old I get. It gives me a chance to blow off steam. It gives me a way to refocus.

But no matter how much I love to play the game or how involved and competitive I get during a Mavs game, it’s only a minor release. Real competition comes from the sport of business.

In sports, you know who your opponents are. You know when you are going to play a game. You know pretty much how long the game will last. It’s mentally and physically exhausting if you are at the top of the game, but it still pails at the effort required to be successful in business.

The sport of business isnt divided into games. It’s not defined by practices. It doesn’t have set rules that everyone plays by.

The sport of business is the ultimate competition. It’s 7x24x365xforever.

I love the sport of business. I love the competition. I love the fire of it. It’s the feeling of the clock winding down, the ball is in your hands, and if you hit the shot you win…all day, every day.

Relaxing is for the other guy. I may be sitting in front of the TV, but I’m not watching it unless I think there is something I can learn from it. I’m thinking about things I can use in my business and the TV is just there.

I could take the time to read a fiction book, but I don’t. I would rather read websites, newspapers, magazines, looking for ideas and concepts that I can use. I spend time in bookstores because 1 idea from a book or magazine can make me money.

I’m not going to go to dinner with you just to chat. I’m not going to give you a call to see how you are. Unless you want to talk business. Other guys play fantasy sports. I fire the synapses to get an edge.

That’s what success is all about. I’ts about the edge.

It’s not who you know. It’s not how much money you have. It’s very simple. It’s whether or not you have the edge and have the guts to use it.

The edge is getting so jazzed about what you do, you just spent 24 hours straight working on a project and you thought it was a couple hours.

The edge is knowing that you have to be the smartest guy in the room when you have your meeting and you are going to put in the effort to learn whatever you need to learn to get there.

The edge is knowing is knowing that when the 4 girlfriends you have had in the last couple years asked you which was more important, them or your business, you gave the right answer.

The edge is knowing that you can fail and learn from it, and just get back up and in the game.

The edge is knowing that people think your crazy, and they are right, but you don’t care what they think.

The edge is knowing how to blow off steam a couple times a week, just so you can refocus on business

The edge is knowing that you are getting to your goals and treating people right along the way because as good as you can be, you are so focused that you need regular people around you to balance you and help you.

The edge is being able to call out someone on a business issue because you know you have done your homework.

The edge is recognizing when you are wrong, and working harder to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

The edge is being able to drill down and identify issues and problems and solve them before anyone knows they are there.

The edge is knowing that while everyone else is talking about nonsense like the will to win, and how they know they can be successful, you are preparing yourself to compete so that you will be successful.

That’s what makes business such an amazing sport. Everyone plays it. Everyone talks about how good they are or will be at it. Just a small percentage are.

Every single day someone has an idea. Every day someone talks about some business they want to start. Every day someone is out there starting a business whose entire goal is to beat the hell out of yours. How cool is that.

Every day some stranger from any where in the world that you have never met is trying to come up with a way to put you out of business. To take everything you have worked your ass off for, and take it all away. If you are in a growing industry, there could be hundreds or thousands of strangers trying to figure out ways to put you out of business. How cool is that.

The ultimate competition. Would you like to play a game called Eat Your Lunch. We are going to face off. My ability to execute on an idea vs yours. My ability to subvert your business vs your ability to keep it going. My ability to create ways to remove any reason for your business to exist vs your ability to do the same to me. My ability to know what you are going to do, before you do it. Who gets there first? Best of all, this game doesn’t have a time limit. It’s forever. It never ends. It’s the ultimate competition.

It’s the sport of business. It’s not for everyone, but I love it.

I’m fortunate. I have done well enough financially that I don’t have to play 24x7x365. I can and have cut back to 18x7x365. Family first now.

But in those 18 hours, you can bet I’m competing, and loving it.

But that’s me. You have to figure out what works for you. Mark Cuban www.blogmaverick.com