younggohan

[younggohan]

🗣 IS THIS Y’ALL 30?!🗣 because if that’s the case, I’m here for it. #MikeyRant: They say, “show me who your friends and I’ll show you who you are”. Well check out my squad then. I thank God for the people he placed in my life, intentionality or directly, because without them I’d be a guy a with no beard...unrecognizable. First I’d like to thank my barber @bernz4, because w/out him, I’d be looking lost and undesirable. Appreciate you opening a chair for me at a whim’s notice, pics had to be taken. Thank you to my mom who has been there for me since day 0, you shaped me to who I am today and I wouldn’t change a segment of how you raised me (outside of that time you made me eat eggplant, I was a good kid, I didn’t deserve that). To my cuzzo/Sis @rachkelechi, who thought it was her birthday tonight, you had your night, but I love you regardless. My ace @Court who couldn’t be here tonight but her presence was definitely felt. To my friend who curated a playlist for my 30th, your greatness knows no bounds. To my friends who drove 30 million miles to celebrate my 30th: I know y’all have busy lives, people work everyday B, but for you to clear your evening schedule on a Monday night to celebrate with the kid speaks decibels, you have me in your corner forever. To go a step further, to oblige my request and go 45 minutes without using your TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE-MANTS and be able to connect and network with the people in front of you, I appreciate y’all for that because you allowed yourself to disconnect and be vulnerable to strangers. That goes a long way, and even tho we exchanged memories for IG pics, I’m pretty sure it was worth it. I’m in your corner forever. Y’all challenge me to be better and I will. And lastly for those who took the time out of their hustle to wish lil ol’ me a Happy Birthday (even the ones who just texted HBD with little to no energy), thank you because you didn’t have to do that. I’ll make sure I’ll take the time to thank you. So yea, you can say I’m a little grateful. I have to be, without y’all there is no me. #ThisIs30 #CurryYear #MO30 #Your30sBeLike #WakingUpAt6amAndAlreadyThinkingAbtYourNextNap #TellYourFriendsYoullBeThereIn5ButDontShowUp (at FINKA Table and Tap)

[younggohan]

“Americaaa, God bless you if it’s good to you...

*blows the dust off my profile like it’s a Sega Genesis cartridge*

Welcome back y’all. Sports will always be my first love. I grew up watching MJ hit game winners over the Jazz and T.O. catching improbable passes from Steve Young to win a wild card matchup against the Packers (I cried after that game). But lately? I don’t know man, music has been knocking on the door the past few years and I’m about to cook some dinner for them. As a matter of fact, I took the whole month off of social media last month and what triggered my return was the consistent fiasco that took place at the Grammys. I’ll get to that in a moment because I’m sure you’re wondering how my experience without social media went. Let’s get into it.

I was tired of being a millennial

You ever felt like you wanted to get away from something because you had too much of it? You were too involved and couldn’t find a way out? Always felt the need to like a pic as routine rather than interest? You ever had a mayo & jelly sandwich? Alright, that was irrelevant but don’t knock it until you try it. But yes, I became over consumed with Social Media, to the point where I was running late to work because the morning scrollies on the toilet was hittin’. We’ve all been there. So I felt like it was proper timing with the New Year to take a sabbatical from everyone else’s life and focus on my own. It was refreshing, spent the month reading (currently reading David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell), connecting with people in real life (what a concept) and watching LHH Miami/NY (gotta pick and choose our battles). All in all, it was worth the time off, and I plan to limit my time on SM going forward.

 They Took Me Out My Element

Anyway, back to the topic (word to J.Cole). I’m done with the Grammys fam. Y’all know me, I’m usually an optimistic person, I give everyone and everything a chance (I gave White Famous a chance, even watched all 10 episodes, it wasn’t good, but I appreciated the message). Going into Grammy night, I shook off the wrongdoings of last year (Adele beating Beyoncé) and the year before that (TPAB losing against 1989) and the years before that (Macklemore beating K Dot for best rap album, Twisted Fantasy losing to that Esmeralda Spaulding girl, still enraged by that). 

Tonight was going to be a new night! 2017 was the first year that Hip Hop was the most consumed genre in the U.S. That lines up Jay & K Dot nicely for album of the year. Prior to that, Speakerboxx/The Love Below was the last hip hop album to win that prestigious award. Back in 2004. 14 years ago. I know the person reading this now isn’t the biggest hip-hop fan, and that’s fine, you don’t have to be. All we are asking is for respect, recognition on a national stage. I mean, you’ve seen Kendrick’s performance in 2016, that had to make you feel something right? Well that at least warranted him to open this year’s Grammys with another masterful performance. It gave me chills, it motivated me to become a better me, and that was after watching it the 7th time. The meticulous creative direction he takes in his performances is something to marvel (and should be a case study at your nearest institution if it were up to me, but I digress.  

“The only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America, is being an honest black man in America” (Chappelle, 2018).

  Let’s marinate on that for a second. A black man opened the 2018 Grammys through the vehicle of Hip-Hop. Look how far we’ve come right? Ha, you would think. K Dot had a good start of the night. He won best rap song, best rap album (in which he endorsed Jay for president, I guess Yeezy ain’t running no mo?) best rap performance, best music video and best rap/sung collaboration. But when it came to the main event? The best album of the year goes to…Bruno Mars. Hol up. YOU mean to tell me that Bruno Mars had a better album than DAMN.? Damn, where’s the love? Where’s the justice? I lost it in real time. I screamed, I got into arguments with my friends and even told my mom about it. I couldn’t believe my ears. It happened again.

You mean to tell me that a 9-track album that is 34 minutes long beat out K Dot’s latest masterpiece? Explain to me how it is better. Because 24K made you dance? Because ‘That’s What I Like’ made you feel good about your surroundings? TELL ME. Music is supposed to make you FEEL. more than just “happy”. It is supposed to make you think differently, make you gain a perspective that you did not understand previously. Music is supposed to HUMBLE. you, give you insight to things you hadn’t thought about. Music should invoke FEAR., letting your thoughts wonder to places you wouldn’t have imagined before you pressed play. Bruno Mars did all that for you? Because DAMN. did for me. And I know what you’re going to say, “Mike, music is subjective, you can’t say 24K is supposed to only make you feel one way and only that way.” Granted, and I appreciate your opinion hypothetical person, but more importantly, music is best served forward. So ask yourself, forget about the numbers and the artist, which album brought music more forward: throwback R&B ballads or thought-striking lyrics that encapsulate the ultimate level of storytelling?

I know it’s easy to say that at least they got nominated, that’s progress. I’m here to tell you that’s not enough. Even Jay said it at the pre-Grammy party, “We can pretend we don’t care, but we do. We really care because we are seeing the most incredible artists stand on that stage, and we aspire to be that.“ Who wouldn’t want to win the most prestigious award? Who doesn’t want to feel validated?

Am I going to boycott the Grammys next year? I don’t know yet, I’m an optimistic person. But at what point does history tear down optimism? I’d hate to have to wait my whole life to find out that answer. I guess Frank Ocean was on to something:

http://frankocean.tumblr.com/post/157125310721/ok-ken-and-david-as-much-as-i-hate-to-make-you

[younggohan]

Ok Ken (and David). As much as I hate to make you guys famous or even respond to you directly. We all die one day and you're old so fuck it. Yea yea my 2013 performance at the Grammys was absolute shit. Technical difficulties, blah blah. Thanks for the reminder. Very much appreciated. Fuck that performance though. You think that's why I kept my work out of the Grammy process this year? Don't you think I would've wanted to play the show to 'redeem' myself if I felt that way? In reality, I actually wanted to participate in honoring Prince on the show but then I figured my best tribute to that man's legacy would be to continue to be myself out here and to be successful. Winning a TV award doesn't christen me successful. It took me some time to learn that. I bought all my masters back last year in the prime of my career, that's successful. Blonde sold a million plus without a label, that's successful. I am young, black, gifted and independent.. that's my tribute. I've actually been tuning into CBS around this time of year for a while to see who gets the top honor and you know what's really not 'great TV' guys? 1989 getting album of the year over To Pimp A Butterfly. Hands down one of the most 'faulty' TV moments I've seen. Believe the people. Believe the ones who'd rather watch select performances from your program on YouTube the day after because your show puts them to sleep. Use the old gramophone to actually listen bro, I'm one of the best alive. And if you're up for a discussion about the cultural bias and general nerve damage the show you produce suffers from then I'm all for it. Have a good night.

[younggohan]

Dear Mr. President & The First Lady, I've been dreading this day but the time has finally come. Boyz II Men is probably dapping you up as I type, helping you pack up. At any rate, I just wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank you for the past 8 years. You were the first president that I ever had the privilege of voting for. From the first day you stepped into office, you preached hope, unity and optimism you never wavered in leading this country. But as a black man living in today's America, what I took most from your presidency was how to be resilient in the face of diversity--I mean adversity. You and your family exemplified class, respect, honor and you looked so cool doing it (quick shoutout to your photographer @petesouza for allowing us to see how chill you are behind the scenes, and for taking pics of *our dog, Bo). I don't find it a coincidence that the same week we honor the great MLK Jr., we also pay our respects to you. You made dreams become reality, all rooted in the belief that it WE were apart of it all. And as you ride into the sunset, I will make it my civic duty to keep your hope alive, one day at a time. Thank you @barackobama & @michelleobama May God bless you, may God bless your family and may God continue to bless the United States of America. #ThanksBarackThursday #BlackExcellence #YesWeDid #TheEpitomeOfBeingForTheCulture

[younggohan]

I'm getting real tired, man.

[younggohan]

[younggohan]

“Raising Dion”

I'ma need for this to be an actual movie. ASAP!!! This shyt looks so dope man.

[younggohan]

New merch at Kanye’s PABLO pop-up shop in Los Angeles. May 22.

[younggohan]

Looking back at this past weekend (see what I did there?) I can't help but to Thank God for the amazing people he's placed in my life. While I was ultralight beaming with my friends and family yesterday, I realized that I have to cherish the moments I have with them, because as we all get older, it is more abt the quality of time we have with them more than anything else. So I humbly want to thank everyone for taking the time out of their busy lives to remember lil ol' me on my born day, I sincerely appreciate it. Looking forward to the next memory I can create with you. 📷: @mademoiselle_milla #YoungMO or #YoungMOld #MO28 #30JustTextedMe #ButIAintReplyBackYet #ShoutoutToJesusRisingToday

[younggohan]

Riley Curry sings a happy 28th birthday to her father Stephen for the greatest present a dad can get.

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Forever powerful.

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[younggohan]

When u beat that friend who won't stop talking in 2K.

After a nail-biting finish that saw the Heat outlast the Mavericks, Miami big man Chris Bosh bid a fond farewell to some loving Dallas denizens at American Airlines Center.

[younggohan]

How to Escape a Hair Grab or a Neck Grab ? Look at them, carefully.

tai chi pants on http://www.icnbuys.com/tai-chi-pants give you surprise at the new year.

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[younggohan]

Michael Jackson once told Oprah he didn’t want a white actor to play him

In the middle of a controversy over white actor Joseph Fiennes’ new role as Michael Jackson in an upcoming British TV movie, who better to hear from than the King of Pop himself? In 1993, Jackson explained his pride in being black. That didn’t stop Fiennes from coming up with an excuse for his casting.