Divine Really is Divine.

India has a lot of rappers. And rap music is becoming fairly common in Bollywood soundtracks but that doesn't mean any of it is good. Like most rappers in America, Indian rappers are also stuck rapping about the same old things. Which is basically women, fast cars, and since there's no racial subtext to rapping India, it's just women again.

That's where Divine makes a difference. This guy drops verses about the streets of Mumbai, the simple-minded rigorous work ethic of its people and the hustle and flow of the city. And boy does he sound good and deserves to be heard. Go, give it a listen. NOW.

Simpsons Once Made a Beautiful Oscar-Nominated Film While Thrashing Ayn Rand.

I've been watching The Simpsons for over two decades now. Can I say the same about any other TV show? Are there even any TV shows that run for decades anyway? But I'm not writing today to talk about The Simpsons' legacy with respect to pop culture. Or their impact on my life. Or how they help me write blog posts with really, really strange headlines. I'm writing today to share this beautiful film the Simpsons team created. It's really sweet, and yet like a classic Simpsons episode it has some sinister undertones. Plus it gets browny points for poking fun at Ayn Rand.














PS: You get a hug if you notice the ethereal beauty of the background score. No, it's not John Williams. It's Hans Zimmer. 

My Kanye West Conundrum.

I listen to Kanye West. Now, hold that thought. Before you jump to conclusion that I'm just another 20-year-old who likes hip hop, agrees with misogynistic lyrics and is completely on board with Yeezus' power trip, consider this.

You can always enjoy an artist's work without agreeing with the artist. Although I aspire to have the kind of unhealthy self esteem Kanye has today, I don't really agree with his choice lyrics in songs like Bound 2. I do on the other hand love his over the top lyrics like 'They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation' and he does sample in some good stuff and great beats in his songs. But does that mean I'm crazy about Kim K? Definitely not.

It's happened a bunch of time when someone I know finds out that I like Kanye and then they ask me, 'So you like Kim, right?' Now that's same as saying just because I read Lolita, I condone pedophilia.

The point is people will use the books you read, the movies you watch and the music you listen to for judging you. And usually they won't be far off the mark. Pop culture is a way of finding common ground and making small talk. But is it really a foolproof method? Sometimes you need to have a second look. People are more than the sum of the parts. And their hip hop preferences.

You Are Not The Pop Culture You Consume.

I listen to Kanye West. Now, hold that thought. Before you jump to conclusion that I'm just another 20-year-old who likes hip hop, agrees with misogynistic lyrics and is completely on board with Yeezus' power trip, consider this.

You can always enjoy an artist's work without agreeing with the artist. Although I aspire to have the kind of unhealthy self esteem Kanye has today, I don't really agree with his choice lyrics in songs like Bound 2. I do on the other hand love his over the top lyrics like 'They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation' and he does sample in some good stuff and great beats in his songs. But does that mean I'm crazy about Kim K? Definitely not.

It's happened a bunch of time when someone I know finds out that I like Kanye and then they ask me, 'So you like Kim, right?' Now that's same as saying just because I read Lolita, I condone pedophilia.

The point is people will use the books you read, the movies you watch and the music you listen to for judging you. And usually they won't be far off the mark. Pop culture is a way of finding common ground and making small talk. But is it really a foolproof method? Sometimes you need to have a second look. People are more than the sum of the parts. And their hip hop preferences.