‘Different artists are supposed to hook up and make something beautiful,’ the underground MC tells MTV News. By Rob Markman Tech N9ne Photo: MTV News Among his underground following, Tech N9ne can do no wrong. But his fans, appropriately dubbed the Technicians, did get a little uppity when news broke that the Kansas City, Missouri, rap veteran would be collaborating with the likes of Lil Wayne on Tech’s recently released All 6’s and 7’s. “No, I was not afraid of the backlash because I was getting it when Wayne said he wanted to work with me to [Hot 97 DJ] Funkmaster Flex when he was in Rikers,” Tech N9ne told MTV News during an intimate sit-down at his Strange Music headquarters in Lee Summit, Missouri. “All of my fans, a lot of my fans were like, ‘Oh no, don’t f— with Wayne. No, no, no, he’s mainstream and you’re underground — it don’t mix.’ ” In October 2010, while still serving his eight-month prison bid for gun possession, Weezy revealed to Flex that he would like to work with Tech. For Tecca Nina, Wayne’s name-drop was an introduction point for new and curious fans, but for his long time die-hards, there was some skepticism. “Different artists are supposed to hook up and make something beautiful, that’s what makes music wonderful, I think,” Tech said, defending against criticism that he was selling out. “I already knew what I was gonna do. When I get with these [well-known collaborators], the beats gotta say their names.” The resulting collabo is “F— Food,” a raunchy track that not only features Weezy, but T-Pain on the hook as well. The song’s lyrical depiction of explicit sex acts will make it a hard sell for radio, but then again according to Tech, airplay was never the point of the union. “Everybody else is just going to try to put it on radio and big hit, boom and get their money off these cats. Nah, I just want to do beautiful music,” he said. The Young Money CEO isn’t the only popular rapper to appear on All 6’s and 7’s, Atlanta’s B.o.B also lends his production and lyrics to the project on “Am I a Psycho?.” The dreary track is a far cry from Bob’s 2010 radio hits “Nuthin’ On You” and “Airplanes.” Tech remembers the feeling he got when he first heard the beat and often reminds fans of B.o.B’s oft-overlooked lyrical prowess. “I chose it like, ‘Whoa,’ he did the beat and he did the chorus and I said, ‘That’s my world right there,’ and he wrote a verse for it. He’s a lyricist,” he said before citing Bob’s very first single, 2007’s “Haterz Everywhere,” as further proof. “That was thugged-out; that was gutter. I ain’t forgot B.o.B; he supposed to expand. But I know he can go, so we did ‘Am I a Pyscho?’ with Hopsin.” Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Twista, Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar and Stephen Carpenter of the Deftones also appearances on All 6’s and 7’s, but Tech N9ne puts any notions that he’s going mainstream to rest. “I brought people into my world,” he said. What do you think of Tech N9ne joining forces with Lil Wayne? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Tech N9ne Lil Wayne B.o.B
Alec Baldwin has an interesting, even somewhat sympathetic, take on the Anthony Weiner scandal, which reached new, disgusting heights this week upon the release of the Congressman’s bare penis pic . In a piece for The Huffington Post , Baldwin delved into the way technology has shaped human behavior and wrote : “For high functioning men like Weiner and other officials who have lived through such scandals, who are constantly on the go, that leaves one tried and true source of a reliable high. The affirmation that comes when someone lets you know they want to sleep with you. Or even cyber-sleep with you.” Smart phones and social networks have opened the door for busy individuals to receive the kind of gratification they aren’t receiving at home, Baldwin argues: “Appointment sex with your spouse doesn’t always arrive when you need it most. A modern cell phone, loaded with contacts of willing fellow players, has a table with a red checkered table cloth ready for you at virtually any time.” Baldwin doesn’t go so far as to absolve Weiner of his wrongdoing, but he does paint the politician as a “modern human being” who gave in to the temptation right at his fingertips. Literally. “We tell ourselves that these devices help us communicate more effectively,” the actor wrote. “What they actually do is allow us to bypass the person lying right next to us, across the room from us or at an airport heading home to us, in order to meet our immediate, even inconvenient, needs. To bypass their moods, their current view of us and their own desires, or lack thereof.” In this case, that would be Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin. She’s pregnant with the couple’s first child . “I’m sad for him, his family, his district and his colleagues,” Baldwin concluded. What do you think of the 30 Rock star’s take? It’s a nuanced point of view, one that appears to let Weiner off the hook, but is actually meant to touch upon larger societal issues and how technology can play a negative role in our lives. Friends say Baldwin is considering a run for New York City Mayor in 2013. [Photos: WENN.com]
Casey Anthony abruptly left the courtroom during her murder trial with an undisclosed sickness after seeing graphic photos of her slain daughter’s remains. Whatever the reason, that was the end of the trial for the day. ” Miss Anthony is ill . We’re recessing for the day,” Judge Belvin Perry said. “Neither the state nor the defense has any comment regarding her illness.” The early end to the court session in the Orlando murder trial came after a day of graphic testimony and grisly photographs of Caylee’s remains. Discovered in December 2008, two-year-old Caylee had disappeared five months earlier. Casey Anthony is accused of murdering the toddler. When testimony with the Orange County Chief Deputy Medical Examiner, Dr. Gary Utz, began after s lunch break, Anthony looked weak and pale. Then, after the break, she looked like she was going to be sick. She couldn’t even stand up as the jury left the courtroom. She was escorted out. Utz testified that duct tape was wrapped around Caylee’s skull so tightly that it held her lower jaw in place even amid severe decomposition. He called this highly unusual. “Pieces of silver or gray-colored duct tape [were] over the jaw,” he said. “I’ve never seen a case where the mandible was found with the skull.” Photos of Caylee’s body were shown to the jury.. Earlier in the week, prosecutors say Anthony searched for chloroform and neck breaking online. The defense claims Caylee died of an accidental drowning , a shocking claim they made in opening arguments. How would that exonerate Casey? Casey was in denial due to psychological scars from being sexually abused by her own father when she was a child, her attorneys claim. [Photo: Fox News]
While walking to work yesterday, I was caught off guard when a woman walking in the opposite direction randomly smiled and waved at me. I spent the following ten minutes trying to figure out why a stranger had acknowledged me in this way, taking into account every aspect of my appearance, especially my recently dyed hair and even the smile I had also been wearing. However, despite by best deductions, I could not figure out why that woman had decided to be so openly warm and friendly in such a big city. After a prolonged time of thinking, what occurred to me is that this situation was a test of my daily expectations. Since the smile was most likely a moment of spontaneity, my expectations were shaken and I was not sure how to react, despite the nice surprise a stolen second of kindness caused. The big question I had to ask myself, though, was: Why is kindness and warmth so unexpected in public places? Have we been so desensitized to human contact beyond our own associations that strangers have become just beyond our reach? Does unsolicited optimism scare us? There are many questions that can be raised from a small wave and smile, but the strongest question you can ask would be: is there a way we can see beyond these expectations and embrace the small instances of the unexplained? 1. Don’t see yourself as in a bubble, but within a web of human contact. If you don’t just view yourself as your own contained sphere, you’re more likely to exert an air of friendliness and see the world in a different way. Walking through a big city or a crowded area can feel intimidating and it’s tempting to want to tune everything out as you maneuver through the madness, but keeping your sights open and approachable can make the experience much more rewarding. Just smiling at a stranger and not being so within yourself can make someone else’s day better, even possibly your own! I was talking to a friend in the office about this topic yesterday and she informed me of a story from the 1970′s that correlates with my thoughts. I found the story referenced in this article , as well as many other scenarios with similar commentary. There was a man intent on committing suicide by jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and he wrote in his suicide note that if on his way to the bridge, one person smiled at him, he wouldn’t go through with it. Unfortunately, no one payed him any attention and he ended up jumping to his death. This is seriously one of the saddest scenarios that I’ve ever heard, which confirms that small gestures like smiles and acknowledging others can mean more than you realize. You never really know what is going on in people’s heads and kindness can be the catalyst to their inner pain, especially if they think that no one cares about them. 2. Keep your manners in check, even in a crowded area. Saying “thank you” when someone opens the door for you is always a common courtesy. If you don’t like people cutting in front of you, try to be conscious of others as you run to your destination. It may be hard to realize what you are doing when you are running late somewhere or trying to catch a train, but it can be important sometimes to think of the image you project outward to the world. The calm, collected person you see yourself as might not be the image you present to others on your way out the door! Try leaving room for someone to sit next to you on the bus or give up your space in line at the grocery store to a mother struggling with her child. You never know how much of an impact you can make until you open yourself up to the possibilities! How To Make Fear Your Friend 3. Try to do one act of kindness a day. Even if you are just calling a family member on a whim or giving one of your friends a small gift that reminds you of them, the effort you make to connect with people won’t go unnoticed. There is a common quote that says, “Don’t frown because someone might be falling in love with your smile.” As I said before, a simple gesture like a smile in someone’s direction or surrounding your presence with a bit of optimistic energy can work wonders, as others can feel what you project! If you present yourself as a friendly person with an air of self confidence, running into unexpected situations doesn’t seem so scary or daunting! 4. Keep an open mind about people. Just as you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, it isn’t a smart idea to judge a person based on your first impression of them. There is common phrase that says, “In order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” If you go into a new situation thinking that you don’t want to meet anyone new, then you are not being open to the possibilities of friendship. In my experience, the times I didn’t expect to meet someone fantastic, it just happened. For example, one of my newest and now closest friends came up to me and introduced herself on a whim. Once we started talking, we realized that we had an insane connection and a ton in common. After only a few months, it became second nature to confide in her and now we basically talk every day, even though we don’t live near each other. You just never know what opportunities for human connection are out there unless you put yourself out there and are open to meeting new people! 5. Embrace your true self. If you don’t have confidence in who you are as a person, then it can be very hard to break out of your shell and take advantage of all of the opportunities that life presents you. Once you have your own sense of self and can radiate that to others, the possibilities of the world seem much more attainable! The most important lesson to learn in life is to focus on others, yet also make sure that you are doing the right things for you. By learning to embrace the presence of others and people in different walks of life, you are opening yourself up to what the world is about: communication and human connection. Once you have yourself figured out, projecting that to others makes you all the more interesting. Plus, you never know: your smile could be changing someone else’s view of the world! Embracing the unknown can seem like an impossible task, especially if you are not used to it. However, by taking it upon yourself to throw caution to the wind and take risks, within reason, there is so much to be explored in this world. Just like the man who was looking for a smile within a sea of people on the Golden Gate Bridge, all any of us are searching for is recognition and acknowledgment from the rest of the world. By learning to compromise uncertainty and being open to all situations, you have the ability to gain confidence in yourself as well as inspire the same in others. Put your best foot forward and keep the optimism alive – you never know who you could affect! Isn’t It Time You Revealed The Real You? Did You Know Nicki Minaj Plays The Clarinet? See The Video Here! BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #62: Ludacris Debuts As Radio Personality “Chris Lova Lova” NEW MUSIC: Beyonce Ft. Andre 3000 “Party”
Sneak peeks from ‘Breaking Dawn’ and ‘Deathly Hallows’ make a splash at the big show. By Gil Kaufman The cast of “Twilight” at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage Hollywood may have just found the ultimate killer mega-sequel on Sunday night (June 5) when “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” ran the table at the MTV Movie Awards , taking home five big ones, including Best Movie and Best Female and Male performance wins for stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Not too shabby for a bunch of undead vampires, buff werewolves and the lady who loves them. In the process, the kids from rainy Forks, Washington, nearly blanked the also multiply-nominated cast of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” surely giving someone in Hollywood a great idea to stage the ultimate fan-freakout-fantasy-world showdown once the two series wrap up. In the meantime, fans made do with lots of Pattinson and Stewart on Sunday night, along with generous helpings of Taylor Lautner and more Arnold Schwarzenegger illegitimate-kid jokes than anyone imagined from host Jason Sudeikis. With a set that looked like a backlot fantasia , with a ring of fake grass, crystal towers, caves, butterflies, LED lights and glittery, hanging jewels, the stage at the Gibson Amphitheatre was a nod to the “Lord of the Rings” and the fantasy world of movies. And with their hands all over each other, “Friends with Benefits” co-stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake proudly handed out the night’s first award, Best Male Performance, to “Twilight” star Pattinson, who beat out love-triangle rival Lautner for the honor. “I really didn’t think I was going to win,” said the perpetually self-effacing undead star, who got a smile but no congratulatory, well, anything, from co-star Stewart. “This is kind of embarrassing now. Zac Efron was crying and stuff in that clip. … Thanks for showing all your support to the movies. See you next year!” Was there any doubt whether Tom Felton would take home the Best Villain award for his truly terrifying performance of blond baddie Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”? Flashing an uncharacteristic smile, the nice English lad said, “This will look very nice in my downstairs toilet,” thanking fans for a decade of support and promising that the final installment will be worth the wait. Poo Cocktail Supreme , a sawed-off arm, the world literally exploding all around you and the cuticle from hell: All worthy nominees, but it was Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” 3-D concert film that took the Best Jaw Dropping Moment prize. Though it looked like the Biebs wouldn’t be on hand to take home the honor, he made a surprise appearance and thanked his director, manager and family. “But most of all I want to thank my fans. I love you,” said Bieber, sporting white jeans and a blue blazer over a black T-shirt. It wasn’t all just movie magic, though. Funnyman Jim Carrey promised to bring some high-tech shenanigans to the proceedings, and he didn’t disappoint. The “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” star showed up in a green-screen suit that featured a number of high-tech images, but mostly just dogs humping. He was on hand to introduce the Foo Fighters, who lit the stage up with a blistering performance of their new single “Walk,” with a set that included six strobing movie-set klieg lights. Alas, Potter’s Death Eaters had nothing on Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel’s showdown with Pattinson in “Eclipse,” which also won for Best Fight. Pattinson bragged about winning the filmed fight, even as Howard apologized for trying to hurt him. “It’s fine. I ripped your head off … and now you’re pregnant!” he said awkwardly, as Stewart cradled her face in her hands in embarrassment at his crack about their co-star’s bulging baby belly. You kind of couldn’t go wrong with the Best Kiss category , especially if you’re on Team Edward. But really? Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman didn’t snag the traditionally Sapphic-friendly smooch trophy? Nope, not when RPattz and KStew are in the mix. Taking the stage for the third time, Pattinson sheepishly said he felt bad because he, well, didn’t really feel like re-creating his smooch with Stewart from “Eclipse.” “You don’t want to kiss me, do you?” he said to Stewart. “Well, I mean, it’s been a long time, and … I think we should finally go for it,” she replied nervously, as the camera cut to a totally psyched Selena Gomez. “There’s someone else in the audience I think will appreciate it a little more,” Pattinson answered, before sprinting out to the crowd and laying a big, wet one on Lautner’s mouth , forehead and hand. When he tried to snag the award from Stewart’s hands, she grabbed it away and he grunted, “I wanna take you backstage!” in what amounts to PDA for these two. Luckily for the nominees in the Best Line from a Movie category , there were no quotable muggles or vampires in the mix, so you can be sure 7-year-old “Grown Ups” star Alexys Nycole Sanchez was going to celebrate her win later that night by getting totally “chocolate wasted.” This is so cool!” squeaked the adorable moppet before reprising her money line. The ladies in the Best Female Performance race were not so lucky, as Stewart beat out the Emmas (Stone and Watson), Jennifer Aniston and “Black Swan” star Portman. The publicity-shy actress, wearing a red leather minidress festooned with safety pins, said, “Oh, man, this is silly. It feels very incredible to be so completely supported by everybody that voted for me, it actually really, truly does. Thank you. We have obviously the greatest fans ever.” The luminous Reese Witherspoon was presented with this year’s MTV Generation Award , preceded by her “Water for Elephants” co-star Pattinson, giving a touching, and quite salty, tribute to the actress, who’s been his movie mother and lover. “I’m just so lucky in my career and my life,” said Witherspoon, who kindly corrected the punch line to one of Pattinson’s most off-color jokes, while praising her chemistry with “Sweet Home Alabama” co-star Patrick Dempsey. “I just want to say to all the girls out there: I know it’s cool to be bad, I get it … but it’s also possible to make it in Hollywood without a reality show … so for all the girls out there, it’s possible to be a good girl.” Related Videos Backstage At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Amazing Exclusives From The MTV Movie Awards ‘Twilight’ Stars Take Over 2011 MTV Movie Awards Related Photos ‘Twilight’ At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Exclusive Movie Props From The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Related Artists Justin Bieber
I guess this is what happens when you cheat on a bitch, you make her go all psycho and she sets out on a mission to prove just how hot she is in an “I’ll show you what you walked away from asshole” kinda way…..without realizing that there’s a million, maybe more, probably more, definitely more amazing than her pussy with a lot less headaches than her diva ass….you know one of those “I can fuck this girl who thinks I am a god cuz she’s poor and I have money”…or “I can fuck this girl who is thinks she is god”….kinda thing… To See The Rest of the Pictures FOLLOW THIS LINK
Plus, Haley Reinhart redeems herself with bluesy ‘House of the Rising Sun’ on Then and Now-themed night. By Gil Kaufman James Durbin performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX The theme for Wednesday night’s (May 4) top-five “American Idol” performance show was Then and Now, and the remaining contestants went out of their way to let viewers know exactly what musical pocket they’ve settled into with their song choices. Helping to guide them along was Grammy-winning superstar Sheryl Crow. And while some, like front-runners Scotty McCreery and James Durbin, hit a pair of home runs — including a Durbin performance that was one of the most emotional in “Idol” history — frequent bottom-three dweller Haley Reinhart stumbled in the judges’ eyes with an unreleased Lady Gaga song, only to storm back into their hearts with a show-closing, vocal-fireworks display. After a detour into sensitive singer/songwriter land last week, rocker Durbin was back in his bombastic lane with 30 Second to Mars’ “Closer to the Edge.” Crow did a duet with Durbin to get him in the groove and lead mentor Jimmy Iovine dubbed it the perfect song choice. James started out a bit shaky, his vocals flat and a tad tinny, but after pumping up the room and rising up into his head voice, he walked out into the crowd and doled out the high-fives, working the stage like an arena-rock veteran. With pyro shooting off behind him, he made a clear attempt to reach the folks all the way in the back of the room. “I think you kicked that song’s ass,” said Steven Tyler, deeming JD ready to rock stadiums. Jennifer Lopez agreed, saying “it’s yours to take,” and Randy Jackson liked how it made Durbin feel contemporary and took him out of his 1980s hard rock zone. Jacob Lusk was feeling confident about his chances of winning and proved it by taking on Jordin Sparks’ “No Air.” Crow deemed the tune difficult, but felt good about Lusk’s chances of nailing it, even though he was attempting to sing both the Sparks and Chris Brown parts. Lusk was in fine voice, using his breathy falsetto to its full power and adding a funky body wave to his repertoire, but the solo duet was a bit awkward. J.Lo’s always liked his showmanship and called his voice one of the best ever on the show, but said she wondered what his career might look like. If the Sparks song was it, she counseled him to stick with that sound. “I don’t think that’s the direction for you,” countered Randy, saying it was mostly sharp and was a mistake to sing both parts. “I don’t see you as Chris Brown or Jordin Sparks,” he added, saying Lusk should focus on being a more Luther Vandross-style crooner. Teen Lauren Alaina chose Carrie Underwood’s “Flat on the Floor,” and Crow suggested she stand still and just belt it! Wearing a sassy outfit with silver tassels hanging around her waist, Alaina took their advice and shimmied in place while putting all her sass and country swagger into the fiddle-rocking tune for one of her strongest performances to date. “That is the direction for you!” Jackson said, psyched about the fun, energetic side Lauren showed. Tyler agreed and Lopez said, simply, “You ate that up!” It was back in the down-home groove for McCreery with Montgomery-Gentry’s gritty rocker “Gone.” The first few lines were delivered in his signature baritone — with a bit of stilted over-enunciation — but once he broke into the chorus, Scotty looked and sounded like a future Grand Ole Opry veteran as he owned the song and put some kicky emotion into it. “Up to now you’ve been like a puritan, but I swear to God I saw you dance with the devil tonight, and that’s a good thing … that showed a whole other side of you,” offered Tyler to Jackson’s utter confusion. Lopez said Scotty just owned the stage and whooped about his growling, by which she meant the good kind, not the Casey Abrams kind. Talk about a coup. Iovine gave Haley Reinhart the as-yet-unreleased Born This Way Lady Gaga tune “You & I,” and with Gaga’s blessing, she played it as a jazzy torch song. With a seductive purr and her trademark guttural growl, Reinhart bumped and grinded her way across the stage and sang the tune like a show-stopping, hands-in-the-air bluesy encore at a 5,000-seat theater. Though she loved some moments in the song, Lopez wasn’t sure about the choice of the unreleased tune and felt it didn’t showcase Reinhart’s gifts. Jackson agreed that picking a song no one knows was risky, but Tyler said it did spotlight her strengths. “I think you’re just one perfect song away from being an ‘American Idol,’ ” the Aerosmith singer offered. Durbin couldn’t stop crying listening to the sensitive piano ballad “Without You” by late Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Choked up thinking about his son and fianc
[1] Rapper DeStorm’s latest music video recreates 10 famous movies in one-take. Watch it now embedded after the jump. The music video: Films included: The Gold Rush The Godfather Casablanca Pulp Fiction The Graduate Rocky 2 Home Alone Psycho Terminator 2 Making Of featurette: Original Raw footage (with movie comparisons): [1] http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/ZZ41ABF739.jpg Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : /Film Discovery Date : 23/04/2011 00:00 Number of articles : 2
Depression. It seems like every Monday morning I get a new bout of it, with recurring symptoms. Every morning my alarm goes off until Friday afternoon at about 6pm when suddenly, I’m good as new, until Monday morning comes round again that is, and I’m back feeling the blues for another week. Everyone gets down occasionally, sometimes you have a good reason, other times you’re down for reasons unbeknownst even to yourself, but you’re still down. And then we all moan and bitch about being depressed until we snap out of our mood and carry on life as normal. Because everyone, at some time, feels like this, people brush off when someone is actually suffering from depression like it’s no big deal. People tell them to snap out of it, toughen up, get up out of bed and move on. The fact that depression is a real psychological illness which needs actual care seems to elude a lot of people, because “depression” is just something that everyone feels on occasion. If you let it get the better of you, then it’s a sign of emotional weakness, not a disease. But the facts are that depression is a serious disease. In fact, “ depression is one of the most common health conditions in the world ,” which, if left untreated, can seriously alter the sufferer’s quality of life. Depression has even been found to be more damaging to your long-term health and well-being than chronic illnesses such as arthritis and diabetes. Therefore, our preconceived stereotypes of what is a “depression sufferer” need to be reassessed – and pronto. Lasonda Wilkins-Hines, a licensed social worker specializing in depression, rationalizes that this stereotypical attitude of depression is seen with African-American’s especially because; “We come from a culture where we need to be strong as African-American women and it’s been passed down for generations that you suck it up or you talk to the pastor .” Psychologist Dr. Yolanda Brooks agrees, stating; “Black women tend to present themselves to society as strong, resilient human beings… you can trace this dynamic back to slavery , when a woman had to pretend she was okay when she was actually suffering inside.” This social stigma is particularly relevant to African-Americans – of the nearly 20 million Americans who suffer from depression each year, African-American women are affected more than any other group! In 2009, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that only 12% of African-American women receive treatment for their depression, which, sadly, but perhaps tellingly, is the number one cause of suicides in this country. Reading the case this week of the mother, LaShanda Armstrong, who drove off a pier, killing herself along with three of her four children, it struck me how isolating depression can be. The psychologist’s and police officers who spoke of the tragedy claimed that none of the woman’s family or friends noticed any depressive symptoms, and she hadn’t said anything to them, but clearly there was something going on, as she could think of no other avenue out, but suicide. Relatives and friends of the woman have said she was a “ good mom…. she just needed a helping hand ,” but (at least from what has so far been reported), no one thought to seek professional help for her. Maybe because, they didn’t know what symptoms to look for. Dr. James Bolton , a Consultant Psychiatrist lists some common symptoms of depression to look out for in your loved ones, and urges people to seek help, for, “it can be helpful for people to talk about their problems and offload. It isn’t always easy to do but there’s a lot to be said for the ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ proverb.” 1. Physical changes Dr. Bolton believes that sudden shifts in sleep patterns are a strong physical symptom of depression. “Finding it difficult to get off to sleep or waking up during the night, or too early in the morning are all potential physical signs,” he says. Also take notice of other physical changes; most notably, when someone starts losing their appetite and losing weight, libido and an interest in sex. 2. Mood Swings In terms of personality change some people might be angrier than others and some might be more risk taking. However, as even a bad day at work, or a lot of traffic on the drive home can alter your mood, Dr. Bolton notes that mood changes may be only depressive symptoms when these changes are new. He says, “in terms of our personality we will all have a fuse of a certain length. So we will all get irritable under certain circumstances. But when someone is suffering from depression they find that their fuse is much shorter. They’ll fly off the handle at people quite close to them that they normally wouldn’t get angry with. Also things that they can normally tolerate and cope with will make them lose control.” 3. Fracturing relationships Dr. Bolton notes that people with depression find it difficult to recognize what is happening to themselves and thus, become difficult to live with, especially if their partner is trying to help them, for they don’t recognize the problem. They begin to put in less time with their friends and family, and become increasingly moody. If anyone you know looks like they are suffering from depressive symptoms, help them out. Don’t wait for another tragedy like LaShanda Armstrong and her children to occur before we acknowledge that depression is a serious illness. Black Women And Mental Health: “I’m Not Crazy” Kandi Reveals Battle With Depression [VIDEO] “Facebook Depression” Becomes An Actual Risk For Teens [REPORT]
Producer talks to Mixtape Daily about the 4/20 release, plus his updates on Mobb Deep, Roc Marciano, more. By Alvin Blanco Alchemist Photo: MTV News Mixtape Daily: Behind the Beats The Alchemist has plenty of sonic concoctions on tap for 2011. One of the esteemed hip-hop producer’s latest projects is New Orleans rapper Curren$y’s Covert Coup mixtape . And while Alc is used to dropping projects that are strictly for sale, the Coup tape is a free release. Chalk it up as a small price to pay for working with an ambitious MC like Spitta. “He got his own zone,” Alchemist told Mixtape Daily of Curren$y. “I hadn’t worked with him before that but when he worked, he works quick. Same way I work, too, which is good because we were able to knock out a couple of joints the first day and decide where it could go. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t want to make anything that was like [what] he had done before or I didn’t want to go too far and make some different sh– either. Let’s just make some fly sh–. The two artists, who met a few years back when Alchemist was working on his Chemical Warfare album, have an in-studio rapport. “Obviously, I guess it would be redundant to say we were smoking weed, we made the music very high,” Alchemist admitted with a laugh. “It definitely is the audio equivalent of that; you’ll definitely feel high after you listen to it. I had a lot of fun doing it, man. He ain’t really restricted with his music as far as how he created, he’s real loose, that’s how I like to be too.” For now, Alc is nixing any rumors that he had a label deal through Shady Records, although he’s still Eminem’s tour DJ . And recent Shady Records signees Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse were sent some Alchemist beats for consideration. And that’s not all. The Hollywood-bred producer has a busy year of projects ahead of him. He’s contributing beats to Evidence’s new album and working on their joint project, Step Brothers. A new Gangrene album is also on the way via Decon Records. Dropping April 20 is Covert Coup, which Curren$y told us was created over a few studio sessions since both Alc and Spitta were adamant about not creating an album by emailing MP3s back and forth. The album is free but they’ll be selling T-shirts via Diamond Supply Co . “It’s an experiment for me, too, to put out an album like this, I usually put it out for sale,” Alchemist said. “We’re planting the seed for maybe a future one for real. I’m trying to get my weight up and see if I can move some shirts. That’ll be my SoundScan first.” On Roc Marciano’s upcoming album : “I’m working with Roc Marcy right now and that sh– is just, he is just, oh my … That’s like my favorite sh– in my iTunes, right now. He came out to L.A. a couple of times and we’re like six to eight joints deep. We’re going to work on a side project eventually but in the meantime anything I can do to help his new album. He got crazy sh–. Anyways, we came together and he just inspires me to make music. His rhymes are on another level, where his deliveries at he’s just so comfortable right now. I’m real hype about the stuff I’m doing with him. Roc is incredible, his rhyme flow, the words he chooses, he’s just on another level. The next album he’s coming out on Decon and I know Tip is helping out. I’m glad I’m helping with that too.” On a new Mobb Deep release : “We got some things in order; when the time is right I’m sure it will be out there. But definitely some plans for this new Mobb music. We’re so deep with music already. Basically, we’re focusing on making the Mobb Deep album first. There’s records already, like, ‘Yeah this is Mobb Deep,’ or, ‘This is P’s solo or whatever.’ Just planning it out and making sure that the first move is Mobb Deep’s best foot forward.” On a sequel to Return of the Mac with Prodigy : “Yeah! We gotta do that sh–. Oh man, it’s so many opportunities now, man! It’s definitely exciting man.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines .
