Where is the dwelling place of light, and where is the place of darkness?
Do you know it's boarders, and the paths to it's house?
Do you remember when you were born,
and do you know if you will live many days? – Job 38:

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

I think the Biblical story of Job is funny. Not funny 'ha ha', but funny 'interesting'. You have God and the Devil making a wager to test the faith of the most righteous man on the planet? First of all, I didn't know those two were on speaking terms. It makes them sound less like two warring deities, and more like CEO's of competitive corporations.

Secondly, I get this image in my head of Lucifer (everyone calls him Lou) showing up at God's condo for brunch, and they start arguing over this cool guy Job, chillin' on his farm below (cause they can see him through the clouds, right?).

God looks up smiling and says 'Job's cool as hell!"

Satan replies. "No he's not! I could turn him out, if you gave me the opportunity."

From there, 'Mr. Pitchfork' puts Job through waves of pure evil to make him rebuke God (which never happens, cause then the story would suck). Lou kills his family and his animals, and inflicts pain on his body, yet Job stays cool with God.

God wins the bet, so per their agreement, Satan has to give him back the Catholic church. (just kidding) [Due to divine intervention, Todd retracts that last sentence]

Back to the subject. So what's my point?

The story of Job is one of the infinite number of classic stories dealing with possibly the greatest discussion piece in human existence: Good vs. Evil. The concept of two complete polar opposites (Black and white, yin and yang, God and Satan) endlessly waging a war for dominance.

It’s the foundation for ‘freewill’. There can be no freewill without equal capacities to do good and evil, because without equal portions from both sides, we’d be Angels or Demons.

It’s also built into the basic foundation for humanity. There’s the concept of Heaven as the ultimate good, Hell as the ultimate evil, and us as their tortured offspring. It’s almost as if it’s some type of celestial experiment that God and Satan are playing. One day they decide to finally answer the question: “Who is more powerful?”. To do so, they jointly create a planet in a controlled environment and a race of beings called humans, who possess 50% from each of them.

The truth is, we'll never know the truth of God and The Devil. We'll never really know what religion is the 'true' righteous path. So the only thing we can do is look inward and try to figure out what is good and what is evil within the hearts of man.

Interview With A Vampire

Possibly the greatest 'internal dialogue' ever penned by an artist would have to go to Ras Kass. Vastly under-rated as an hip hop artist, Ras is possibly one of the greatest 'wordsmiths' in the business today. On his last album, 'Soul On Ice' he had an incredible song called 'The Nature Of The Threat', which chronicles the origins of Racism in the world. Although the facts are given throughout the song, Ras' bias comes out in the way he worded his stanzas.

The same can be said for another song on his CD 'Rasassination'. In a song called 'Interview With A Vampire', Ras Kass chronicles his 'roundtable' discussion with himself, God and Devil. The content and verbal imagery is incredible. He manages to take what we know from mainstream religion, and create an open discussion with both sides. You can almost visualize God and the Devil sitting on each of his shoulders.

What becomes clear in the dialogue is that it's not God and Satan he's talking to. It's more of an internal dialogue with himself playing all three parts. But regardless, the conversation is so explicit and straightforward. Everything from science, to race, to nature, Ras covers the entire spectrum of what the Deity is suppose to be.

"Interview With A Vampire" - Ras Kass

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(ej on Jan 18, 2005 7:38 PM) She needs to trackback some of that food over to EJ's house. I'm just sayin'.....

(lis on Jan 19, 2005 10:46 AM) sign me up please! my gumbo was whack on new years :-(

(honey on Jan 19, 2005 10:57 AM) Good for moms! Sign me up too, my gumbo is ok but doesn't have that kick that my husband's does (and he won't let me forget it, lol). I need all the help I can get.

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(lis on Jan 18, 2005 7:00 AM) i'm taking the train today too... but i will not be posting from it! LOL

(KB on Jan 18, 2005 1:07 PM) How you do that there?

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(lis on Jan 17, 2005 11:49 AM) lol... madness!

(Fresh! on Jan 17, 2005 5:48 PM) (...in my best Fat Joe impersonation...) "Big Pun.....and MLK...foreva!" Ha!

(honey on Jan 17, 2005 7:04 PM) Hehehe..that's so wrong but it is funny.

UPDATE: Peace to Fresh! for the info!!! I gotta pick this up now!!!

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(honey on Jan 17, 2005 7:03 PM) *Raising Hand* ft Don Baron? Grand Puba?...I remember. If you are talking about "sexy", hit me up ;-)

Funkdigital's got it for your viewing pleasure CHECK IT OUT

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EJ: you callin King the pimpmeister?
Me: man, be honest.
Me: he was a big old pimp
EJ: Coretta knew she was a pimp mistress.
Me: who else could get all dem people to walk all that way for a speech
Me: ?
Me: GAME, baby!
Me: SPITTIN' GAME!
EJ: can you hear him comin down the street playin 50 Cent?
Me: ha ha ha
EJ: marchin down the avenue?
Me: "I'm just a P-I-M-P!!!"
EJ: p. i. m . p.
Me: "I got the magic stick!"
Me: ha ha ha ha ha
Me: ahhh, we goin' to hell!!!
EJ: imma fall outta my chair!
Me: aw, i gotta post this. we goin to hell!!!

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(Carla on Jan 17, 2005 11:05 AM) ROFLMAO!

(lis on Jan 17, 2005 11:50 AM) you two ... (shakes head)... sick!

Somebody as wack as Benzino should get his a$$ kicked on principle. Stop worrying about other people and concentrate on yo-self, fool. I can't pick up a Source magazine anymore because I KNOW i'll see a ad for his wack a$$ CD's and some type of wack a$$ interview about him.

Somebody made me read the latest Source with a Benzino interview and it made him sound like he was some hip-hop superstar. The dude is garbage. What he's doin' is wrong.

You can't be making up articles with yourself in YOUR magazine. It's shady (no pun intended). Because when it comes down to it, no matter what the politics are, Eminem can back his status up with 'skill'. (and i'm not a big enimem fan). Benzino? GARBAGE!

This is why i say f*ck hip-hop now.
Listen to this bullsh*t

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(lis on Jan 13, 2005 11:04 PM) i'm not even gonna listen. this really burns my hide... why do we do this to each other? TO OURSELVES! Putting on a media circus for everyone to see. I'm disgusted to say the least...

(peace to my boy, Chris D, for the pic)

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(fritz-x on Jan 13, 2005 5:33 PM) I just wonder if the music is as good as the cover photo... :)

(ian on Jan 16, 2005 12:29 PM) There's been some breaks used from that album as annotated here

The blog.verse is CRAZY with music this week! Err-body is puttin' it down to represent. So I can't hold it back! Monday I dropped the long-awaited Old School Hip-Hop Eastcoast blog. Today and 'squeeze' in some oldies (inspired by KB'sOSW: "The Oh Sh*t Factor", which slapped me in the face more than once! Whew...). So enjoy my first edition of: Throwback Thursdays!!!

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(KB on Jan 13, 2005 9:17 AM) Nice blend of pop, funk, and old school rap. Sometimes I wish I could just throw an arby on the blackPod and roll with it. Dreams...

(Fresh! on Jan 13, 2005 9:25 AM) I gotta drop thoughts here...man...the bomb idea, Todd. pop life - One of Prince's funkiest, I still rock this, 'Pod or not (that bass and snare -whew!) don't disturb this groove - classic! I have everything The System put out, plus crazy remixes. For those who slept on their last release, ESP, released in 2000, please believe. if you love someone (Set them free) - Been down with Sting since The Police. To me, his songwriting (lyrically and melodically) is nothing short of phemomenal...he inspires me to go into my studio at times. hey dJ The World Famous Supreme Team - oh...my...goodness, brings back seriously good memories from college, we used to rock to this, and it was a favorite on WBLS-FM, NYC head over heals tears for fears - I LOVE THIS SONG!!! Again mo' good memories from school. I have the Best of... "Shout" was the party anthem of all my drunk, melanin-challenged college buddies all over campus - man, memories like yettaday night & day (12" dusk mix) al b. sure - I was diggin' this and Off On Your Own since day 1. Night and Day is nice...mo 'good memories.. T, thanks, this is dope. F!

(honey on Jan 13, 2005 9:53 AM) I love, love, love the rb's you do and this one is no exception. My fav's Sting, TWFST, Aaliyah and Al B. And Prince's "Pop Life"...I'm in heaven, LOL. Thanks Todd da Music God ;-) :)

(lis on Jan 13, 2005 10:53 AM) EXCELLENT SELCTION MR. TODD!

(ej on Jan 13, 2005 3:45 PM) hey dj let's sing that song keep me dancin' (dancin') all night (all night).... and the extended version of Head Over Heals i used to have...i have to go find that thing.... i wore that thing OUT! most excellent.

(ej on Jan 13, 2005 3:46 PM) hey dj let's sing that song keep me dancin' (dancin') all night (all night).... and the extended version of Head Over Heals i used to have...i have to go find that thing.... i wore that thing OUT! most excellent.

For those of you who love Jay Dee!

(AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!!! GET 'EM WHILE THEY'RE HOT!!!)

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"Yo Mudfoot. You know why we're here. Lay some treats on us!!" - Fat Albert
Whew! So much love from the blogverse! (big shouts to Honey, EJ, C Brown, and Metaphyzxx for da 'treats') But there's still alot of work to be done! And there's still alot of music out there! With your help, we can end this plight of Phonetic Hunger! We can wipe it from the face of this planet. Please... won't you give to end this horrible disease?

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(honey on Jan 12, 2005 9:37 AM) I'm sure someone will hook you up with some of those *wink wink*

(lis on Jan 12, 2005 5:20 PM) *jaw drops*

(ej on Jan 12, 2005 8:44 PM) Hmm. Somebody I know might be able to hook you up with three of em.... *wink wink*

(lis on Jan 12, 2005 9:51 PM) I can't hook you up wit none o' those... *wink wink* (i just had to say sumpthin' though) Do your thing, girl! I ain't mad at ya!

KEY MOMENTS IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO TODD:
July 1970: Todd steals his sister's stash of marijuana and feeds the fishes with it. Sister swears a blood oath of revenge against her sibling. Weeks later, Todd's favorite toy, (a stuffed alligator named Todd-John) is found brutally ripped to pieces. The case is still open, due to 'lack of evidence'.

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(lis on Jan 11, 2005 5:01 PM) LOL!!!! I'm thinking some of that mary jo did not make it into the fish tank, but rather into your digestive system! YOU ARE CRAZY!

(ej on Jan 11, 2005 8:53 PM) *singing* doo dooo doooooo.... Mary Jaaaaaane! *sigh* Where's Rick James when you need him?

(Fresh! on Jan 12, 2005 6:48 AM) ROTFL!!!! Check the expression!!! Drop it likes it, hot...yo!! LOL. That is classic!