Marion Barry: The B*tch Set Me Up II

Marion Barry needs to make some serious decisions about his political career. That is a very funny sentence simply because any other politician who had done the things he has done would have been a distant memory. I think he either needs to: 1. Give up politics all together or 2. Just say no to the booty. Judging once again the simple fact he is beloved in Washington DC, and all of the controversy he has survived as well as all of the controversy he is embroiled in, I think option 1 is out of the picture. It is amazing, albeit hilarious how much booty can and has gotten him and a host of other politicians in a whole heap of trouble! Between Barry, Bill Clinton, Eliot Spitzer and Mark Sanford these guys have enough experience to open a strip club.

WTOP-FM in Washington reported today that the voicemail tapes had been handed over to the Washington City Paper along with written transcripts of the messages that Barry left on the voicemail of his 40-year old girlfriend Donna Watts. Hell, just for good measure there is a "bonus" track of a fight that occured between the two. They say bonus track like Diddy produced this hot mess! Listen if you have some time, just hit the bathroom beforehand. I dont want you mad at me if you wet yourself laughing at this shit!

Why do we put up with such buffoonery? Better yet, how do you say stuff like "I'm addicted to you" on a voicemail and then have to face up to it when it hits the media? When I visit DC these days, I am kind of astonished at the partial gentrification that is ongoing in the city. Some areas are building town centers, expensive condos in the shadows of urban decay and now the man who once led the city, who was once seen as an icon (and to some still is) is back to his old tricks. DC is in trouble, more so than one could EVER imagine.

This one's for Mike

I think I am kind of in silent shock about Michael Jackson. In a way, I had forgotten about him. Within the last few years with all of the accusations and court cases, he had become a bit of an outcast of sorts and I started to wonder what had happened. How I asked myself as I look at his album covers on my iPod did all of what he had and was as an artist (meaning his look, style etc)change so dramatically. As I pulled into my apartment complex listening to Human Nature almost 24 hours before he died I said...I miss black Mike. Weird statement I know, but i said it jokingly. But then last week, sitting in a bar having been really busy at work I hadn't heard he was hospitalized. I don't think anyone but God knew what was to happen next but we now all know that he is gone.

The very next day I went to a cookout and all of the music that was played for a majority of the evening was Michael Jackson and just like everyone else, it took me back! I knew where I was when I fell in love with hip-hop, but Michael Jackson is timeless in so many ways. His style and music did change dramatically but one thing was certain, when MJ was involved you were going to get a show. The question was "how would he amaze me this time?" The most memorable MJ moment for me was his performance of Billie Jean on the Motown 25 special in 1983. Everyone you knew was watching and they were all watching to catch his performance. And if you remember it like I do, it was one for the ages. My biggest question is this: After all of this news coverage slows down and we do learn what was the final determination of his death, will we REALLY know the whole story? I would bet no simply to preserve his memory, legacy as well as to minimize additional pain that can be caused.

As my partner in crime Uniqpoet said: "God must be having a concert, he has James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Barry White and now Michael Jackson...he's jammin!!!!" Thanks Michael Jackson, RIP.