September 2005 Archives

It’s Throwback Thursday again, and we’re slipping in one of “The New Classics.”

In 1994, fresh off of the short-lived sitcom “Thea,” a young lady we like to refer to as "Ray J’s sister" made her splash on the R&B charts. Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” [watch it now] effectively ushered in a new era for TLC impersonators and Negro Channel teen idols that could make quality hit records without being able to sing too well.

Mwore fiyah! Brooklyn! Mwore fiyah! Lightah! Lightah! *gunshots*

I’m gonna go ahead and say that this video [watch it now] does NOT receive the Capleton seal of approval, but Empire ISIS may have received the nod (and the skeet shower) from the Marleys. Her new video “What Ya Say ‘Bout Dat,” filmed almost exclusively on Fulton and Nostrand in Brooklyn is a prime example of how inner-city gentrification can go terribly wrong.

For all interested, Slum Village is coming out again. They got a new video and it looks eerily like the last one.

Unfortunately, these cats now only eerily look like Little Brother. Their newest attempt at making people like them fails miserably, yet again. “EZ Up” [watch it now] features ANOTHER video-ho search gone awry. Damn... these niggas REALLY shouldn't have come back out.

By overwhelming popular demand, we’re gonna kick the new week off with a request.

Of all the videos you wanna talk about… You people wanna discuss Brandy’s little brother. You didn't even wanna discuss Little Brother. Amazing. Today’s offering is Ray J’s “One Wish” [watch it now]. I’m surprised he got his nose out of BET’s ass long enough to get back into the studio. I thought this man had relegated to hosting that bullshit countdown and asking people loaded questions in the crowd on 106 and Park. This nigga's one wish should be a REAL R&B career.

Oh, I see you Lil' Daddy!

Straight out of Puffy prison and off the streets of the N.O. comes your favorite "Da Band" member to clown on, Young City AKA C-H-O-PEEEEEEEE... P-E-ARRRRRRRA! His album is cut. The video single is out. "I See You Lil Daddy" is about to rip up The Negro Channel like Katrina. Let's get to the eye of this storm.

This Throwback Thursday I realized a crime had been committed.

We’ve had this segment weekly since May, yet we’ve never used one of the most pertinent videos of our time. This video came up in the Little Brother discussion earlier this week. Without further ado, I present to you The Roots’ 1996 parody “What They Do.” [watch it now]

Eminem's flunkie Proof has a record deal of his own!

After years of washing Eminem's drawers and playing 3rd fiddle even when there were only 2 people on stage, D12's Proof finally has a solo record. Based on his new video single "Gurlz Wit Da Boom" [watch it now] it's quite likely that even his own fans would rather see him back in Shady's shadow and/or huddled up with the rest of the D-Tweezy cattle.

Giddy up, bitches!

I honestly didn't expect to see these cats as a collective again on TV.

The Boyz N Da Hood's newest half-hearted attempt to channel the spirit of NWA includes some shit that may surprise you. The video for "Felonies" [watch it now] contains allusions to robbery, strippers, police and trickin off dollars to said strippers. Surprise of the day: We find that one lucky Boy N Da Hood may very well be spitting his next lines in a Rogaine commercial. It's all gravy though. These niggas are Felonious!

AYYYYYYYYY!

Do I smell... why yes... those ARE chitterlings on the stove! SWEET!

Phonte, Big Pooh and 9th Wonder are back... and they brought some swine with them. Actually the first video single off of their new album "The Minstrel Show" is more about playing to an underground crowd than it is to boiling out your pig intestines like grandma did. "Lovin' It" [watch it now] feat. Joe Scudda, for some strange reason, is The Negro Channel's public enemy #1. Watch along with me and see if you can help me figure out why, because I'm baffled. This is one of the least threatening (cough cough... and entertaining) videos I've seen in a while.

I dunno about "Lovin' It." This shit is just aaaaight to me. But what's all the fuss aboot?

Frankie, you did this to yourself!

This has been quite the eventful week on Talkin’ Videos, so Frankie J and I are gonna leave you with some mellow shit to get your minds right to. His newest sweet and sappy song/video combination comes straight out of the Michael Bolton handbook. I couldn’t even describe it to you. You’d need “More Than Words” [watch it now] to grasp this level of High Fructose Mango Syrup.

"Dead in the middle of Little Italy, little did we know that we riddled some middle men who didn't do diddly."

You KNOW we all rewound that line about 750 times when we first heard that track. However, I've found that most DON'T know that the song had a video. I stumbled upon it on a late night public access show my damn self. This week's throwback comes to us courtesy of the late great Big Pun (who's seldom mentioned when you guys exhume MC carcasses on my blog daily). Covering the Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg classic, Fat Joe and The Punisher do a little Donnie Brasco damage in "Twinz (Deep Cover '98)." [watch it now]

This-is the-re-turn... of the SPAAAAACE COOOOWWWWWBOYYYYYY!

Apparently for Jamiroquai, “hell” looks a lot like Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The Adrien Brody/Marky Mark look-alike known the world over for amazing videos has abandoned the funny clothes and treadmills for a more of a conventional look in his Clark Kent/Superman/Jim Carrey Satan act. He damn sure hasn’t abandoned the trees, though! Come along on this magic carpet ride that is “Feels Just Like It Should” [watch it now] In case you didn’t know, this is business as usual for J.

What better way to follow up your ONE hot joint than with a single that is an interpolation of a line of that very song? There isn’t, especially if you’re a member of Dem Franchise Boyz. The video for their new single “I Think They Like Me” [watch it now] features guest spots from commissioner Jermaine Dupri, first lady Da Brat and first dawg Bow Wow. Damn, all this one’s missing is Kriss Kross and Jagged Edge, huh?

Oh, HELL to-the-NO!

Looks like our favorite person to spread hermaphrodite rumors about has taken a page or two out of Whitney Houston’s book. Ciara and Carmelo Anthony star in the 2005 edition of “The Bodyguard.” Ceecee’s new video “And I” [watch it now] is enough to make Kevin Costner turn over in his grave. He IS dead, right?

Don't Lie... You sellout ass niggas are high on that shit!

The rap-sploitation all-stars have done it again! What great feat have they repeated whereas Ron Mexico would use an exclamation point? They've made another video that is good for one thing and one thing alone... HATE! The Watermlon and Collard Greens Crew's new video "Don't Lie" [watch it now] is one for the ages!... Okay, not really, but fuck with me.

Fuck it. I figure it’s 2Pac time again for Throwback Thursday.

I like 2Pac. You like 2Pac? Okay, then. Without further ado, I present 2Pac and Snoop Doggy Dogg in “2 Of Amerika’z Most Wanted.” [watch it now]

I was hoping 2Pac would be like Beetlejuice. If I said his name enough times he would come back... but nope. You try it at home and see what happens, okay?

The teeny-bop has been killing the request line this past week or so.

If we're gonna do Chris Brown, Juelz Santana (who is now officially teeny-bop) and Pretty Ricky, in the span of one week, how could we disrespect the Negro-Teeny Bop kang?! Big Bow Wow is back with a video that's been out a bit, but fuck it you all asked for it. He employs the vocal talent (hahaha) of Ciara on "Like You" [watch it now] You know this is not gonna be good.

Y'all want this party started right?... Y'all want this party started quickly... right?

Who better to set it off than the Fresh Prince AKA Mr. Jada Pinkett? Will Smith takes us on a hi-tech labyrinth ride that is the party his shiny (take it how you wanna) presence ignites with his newest video "Party Starter." [watch it now] Welcome back to MY world, Will. You got off easy with the "Switch" review because I am devout fan. Slap on the wrist twice, shame on me!

Besides, errbody know I rock the party that rocks the body!

Pre-teens and gentlemen! Lend me your ears! The Bluestars are BACK, bitches!

We’re pretty used to the unexpected here on “Talkin’ Videos,” but even I wasn’t prepared for this shit. Once again the #1 requested video is a Pretty Ricky video. Strangely enough, unlike the steaming hot pile of bison shit that was “Grind With/On Me,” I actually ENJOYED their new video “Your Body.” [watch it now]

I know. I can’t fuckin’ believe it myself! We've come a long way from "I can't believe you motherfuckers made me watch this shit!"

Did somebody say “train?”

I could picture Cowboy Troy as the frontman for this group. He’s the only one who should be dancing like this anyway. This week’s edition of “Throwback Thursday” is brought to you by niggas who think neon orange is a good idea. 1996 brought us a ton of good shit. Excluded from that group would be the Quad City DJs and a song you all thought you forgot “Come On N Ride It (The Train)” [watch it now]. Sadly, their follow up “Space Jam” was a step up from this shit.