2008 was by far one of our most troublesome 365 days experienced in a long time. The economy was side swiped, houses we’re being snatched left and right and employment…well you already know the verdict in that lane.

Since we’re about 48 hours and one second left until 2009 relieves us of this treacherous year and I thought it would be dope to compile a list of the Ten Worst Music Moments in 2008.

I might have missed one or two, but this is a list I THOUGHT of so if you disagree, hit that comments section and spill the beans on a moment that should’ve made the list. ENJOY!

10. Angel Lola
Winning Eye Candy of the Year in 2007 does NOT grant you the right to rap. Act, start a business, go back to school……DO NOT RAP. Its bad enough we don’t believe your ASSets are real but what makes you think we’re going to believe you have the ability to write a decent verse? Sorry sweetie….NEXT!
http://candykoatedsuga.blogspot.com/2008/12/angel-lola-luv-serious-about-rapping.html

9. Anything DMX Related
I don’t know what’s worse; DMX releasing a hip hop/gospel album, being arrested 556653653 times in 6 months or being detained at Scott Storch’s residence? Well, at least he didn’t shoot a sequel for Cradle to the Grave.
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/gee-what-a-coincidence/

8. Brawling @ The 2008 Ozone Awards
Seriously, did we really need to see Trae and Mike Jones duke it out backstage? That’s like watching two trophy girls duke it out to see who presents Shawty Lo the Ringtone of the Year Award; NO ONE CARES!
http://www.bet.com/Music/News/musicnews_jonestalksozone_08.13.08.htm

7. Soulja Boy Vs. Ice T
How in the hell can someone making so much GUAP on a show that airs on NBC give a rat’s ass about a kid who once had a chain made STRICTLY out of rubber bands? Not only that, but the OG prompted SBeezy and his goons-in-training to make a 10 minute vlog (video blog) about how old Ice-T is….*DEAD*.
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/soulja-boy-vs-ice-t/

6. Brawling @ The Dirty Awards
T.I.+ Shawty Lo + Alfamega + Disgruntled Shawty Lo employees + absurd award show title= Foolery to the 15^th degree. Lesson learned: Wait until T.I.’s incarcerated to invite Shawty Lo to an awards ceremony.
http://www.bet.com/Music/News/musicnews_tiandshawtylofight_11.25.08.htm

5. Usher’s, Here I Stand
Dear Usher, We’re extremely elated you found marital bliss. We’re even happier you now have a tribe of lil Ursher’s running around the palace, but PLEASE, spare us your happiness. Remember that thing called Confessions; I think it sold about 10 MILLION EFFIN COPIES? Well, we want that. So, cheat on Tameka, reveal your love child with Chilli and tell Chris Brown he’ll never be as good as you. Patiently Waiting, LowKey
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/usher-making-a-return-but-is-it-tooooo-late/

4. Auto Tune
I can’t fault T-Pain for sensationalizing the device; it made him enormously famous. But Ron Browz, Baby, Yung Berg, Baby, Lil Wayne, Shawty Lo, The Dream, R.Kelly, Usher, Swizz Beatz, Ludacris, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and whoever thought it would be a good idea, WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR YOU???? (Is it bad I’m writing this entry in Auto-Tune?).
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/t-pain-retiring-auto-tune/

3. Kanye and Don C Pouncing On The Paparazzi
I’m assuming Mr. West was just having a bad day. I mean why else would he be wearing a hoody in a PUBLIC airport with his head down signaling the photographer NOT to snap his picture? What’s even more hilarious is the media pegged Don C as Kanye’s security, when clearly, the photographer was bigger than him.
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/kanye-hates-flashing-lights/

2. Yung Berg’s Physical Altercations
Aside from selling a petite 19,000 albums in seven days, the Chicago native caught the hand of god, TWICE, for aiming disrespectful banter towards Maino and Detroit rappers AND got relieved of some pricey merchandise…that’s DEFINITLEY not sexy (pause).
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/oh-young-berg/

1. Young Buck Crying To 50 Cent
Really, crying though, homey? He went from being the toughest solider in the click to needing a blanky after a shot of Hennessey. Every man should be granted an occasional occurrence of letting the tears run, but homey should’ve known better to do it over the phone. Dah well, it only cost him his career, dignity and any tough talking in the near future.
http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/you-brought-it-on-yourself/

Honorable Mention
1. Busta Ryhmes’, “Arab Money”

2. T.I. going to jail again.

3. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon getting married.

4. The Game.

5. WorldStarHipHop.

6. K-Ci and Jo Jo’s infamous concert incident.

7. DJ Khaled terminology

8. Damn it Beyonce, I was trying to keep you off this list, but you HAD to go and say THIS!

Sincerely

Low “2009, YOU BETTER NOT LET ME DOWN!” Key

According to Billboard.Com, X and his legal beagles’ court date, in which X was answering to one of MANY charges, was shifted to the 29th of September. As for what caused this new found delay, I’ll let Cohen tell it, “It was serious enough for him to be brought and taken into a treatment facility. He spent the night there last night and he will probably spend tonight there as well,” Cohen told Billboard.com. “I don’t think it’s going to be an ongoing thing or a life-threatening situation. He’s going to be alright.”

Look X, we all know your the rebel without a cause, but I’ll be DAMNED if I write up another entry of you missing a court date or being admitted to a facility because you THOUGHT you were having an asthma attack. It also doesn’t help you  dropped the “F” bomb in front of a Miami judge, “I ain’t going back to no fucking jail”…..remember that, sir????

X, please take sometime to get ya ish right. I mean seriously, this nonsense has to stop. In fact, I’m putting your ass on 30 days probation. If I see another headline with your name PLASTERED all over it, I’m taking a meeting with Stephen Hill and will aggressively request your removal from BET (Kidding, but PLEASE get ya ish right, homey). Anyone else feel the same way or am I overreacting on this one?

Sincerely

Low “GET IT TOGETHER, X” Key

For the fourth time in two months, NYC rapper, DMX has once again been arrested. X, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was detained in a Phoenix mall yesterday (July 19).

While being treated for an illness at the Scottsdale Mayo clinic in April, Simmons, who used the monkier, “Troy Jones” while being treated,  failed to fork over the funds for the treatment which totaled to a $7,500 bill.

X was taken into custody and is currently being held without a bond being set for the case. Cameron Morgan, DMX’s EXTREMELY busy lawyer, has yet to release a statement regarding his client’s current legal entanglement.

Looks like trouble won’t leave DMX alone…..click here to see what other TROUBLES Dark Man X has gotten himself into lately.

Sincerely

Low “I’m praying for you, X” Key 

Hopeless Hip Hopper, that’s the category this individual falls under. Known for speaking directly from the soul Joe Budden blankets the whole industry with a track that poesses the question of who gutted hip hip and when. Pointing out every vital and relevant occurrence that’s had a lasting affect on the culture, Budden speaks passionately on all his observations within the last 5 years. From artist signings and droppings to questioning the selection process on 106 and Park, it’s obvious this subject’s been tugging at Joey’s conscience for quite some time.

Some may view this as a plight to sell albums or even a segue to start some type of lyrical confrontation with one of the afromentioned artists, but judging by the tone and commentary he’s basically opening the dialogue on where hip hop went and what it’s going to take to revive it.

Packed with a bunch of great rhetorical questions and statements, “Who” only makes you ask yourself, “When did all this sh*t go wrong?” Below are a couple punchlines with links (not all of them) to that specific topic…

Joe Budden- Who Part 1

“Was it T-Pain with that funny voice sh*t, was it Lil Wayne wit that funny voice sh*t/the whole game di@k rode that funny voice sh*t”

“Pac, Big, Pun went to sleep and never woke up”

“The more dudes said they didn’t write down lyrics/the more it started to sound like they didn’t”

“Maybe it all started when Roc-A-Fella parted“

“F*ck blaming the south, we ain’t segregated”

“I seen all this coming I knew what we was in fo, back when Eric Sermon had jumped out the window“

“Or did one hit wonders change it all along/they made labels only wanna sign a dude’s song”

“Was it when Mase retired and couldn’t hack it/Tip could, he just needed some more ratchets“

“A million Busta albums and he’s still not mentioned with G.O.A.T.”

“Papoose and The Clipse both survived/ inking with Jive and then getting Jived”

“The feds was on Irv, so the ink dropped murda”

“A&R’s won’t take risks, they won’t sign nigg*z”

“Did it start when Fox stayed in the news, more than she stayed in the booth”

“Did it start with the iPod”

“The f*ck is up with DMX, I hope dude straight”

“The second week show that the boy’s number aint high/ I hate to break it to you, numbers always lie”

“I can’t tell when it happened, was it when Lil Jon show dudes you could sell without rapping”
“I gotta talk candid, did we start having issues around the sametime Jimmy and Cam did”

“DJ’s, Producers, ones to get us the farthest/said f*ck rappers and they became the artist”

Alright, I need your honest opinion on this one…..

Like it, Love it, or Leave It?????

Sincerely

Low “It’s gon take a whole lot to get hip hop back where it was” Key

Sometimes we wonder how SMART our  beloved entertainers are, I mean SERIOUSLY. DMX going to jail is like a pastor preaching the good word on Sunday; it happens every week! Ok, I’ll stop, but still…..why the absurdness?

Word around town in the County of Dade (a city in Miami), Earl Simmons aka DMX, was apprehended for purchasing the good good and that white white. Translation:  This fool was caught buying weed and cocaine off an undercover narcotics agent. As the transaction was in progress, Mr. Dark Man X requested, “30 Powder & 15 Weed”, street slang for, yep you guessed it, Marijuana and Cocaine. What type of street slang is that????

Anyway, in the last month and a half, X has been arrested on three different occasions, one of which just occurred last week (authorities nabbed him for driving without valid license). I think we can give up all hope on Mr. Simmons. I pray he gets better, but when you’re buying $45 narcotics, it doesn’t look to good at the end of that tunnel.

Sincerely

Low “Speechless?  Nah, not really…I just don’t have the energy to elaborate on his stupidity” Key 

I believe Earl “DMX” Simmons needs a hug. A big one! Last night, authoritiesnabbed the Ruff Ryder on two counts of endangerment, three counts of criminal speeding, racing on a highway, reckless driving and a operating a vehicle with a suspended license. Translation: Mr. X was riding extremely dirty!

 It was also noted that on the night of Jan. 21, one speed camera caught Earl driving his 1966 Chevy Nova at 100 mph. 60 seconds later another camera clocked his speed at 114 mph, and several minutes later a third camera snapped him speeding at 101 mph. In a rush, Earl???? Oh and did I mention the speed limit was 65 mph!

Last August, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office raided Simmons’ property at 2708 E. Carlise Road, north of Carefree Highway east of Seventh Street, and found 12 malnourished pitbulls and the remains of three dogs.

Investigators also discovered numerous weapons and drugs.

No charges have been filed against DMX. Coincidentally, the day Simmons was arrested by DPS officers, a Valley radio station quoted Sheriff Joe Arpaio as declaring that the case is still active.

Why in the hell can’t our entertainment figures stay out of trouble?

Is it too late for X to clean up his act or should we count him out? SPEAK ON IT PEOPLE!

Sincerely,

Low “I guess I now know where NOT to drive” Key

P.S. I could have SWORN this man was working on a double album!

So I was at the company office party TRYING to enjoy myself, when I received this email from one of my homey’s stating DMX’s has officially gone CRAZY! Now we all know DMX isn’t the most stable character, but we still can’t detach ourselves from his every day doings; case in point!

XXL (their online team) caught up with Dark Man X for an extensive and shocking interview about a bevy of topics ranging from his awareness about Barack Obama (there was none), his new single “All Ready” and the lack of substance in the game.

Of course, controversy sells and draws the most amount of attention, so the quote I’m bout to show you will enrage and bestow a sense of disbelief in your brain…Check it out!

Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.

You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!

Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!

Barack.
What the f*ck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?

Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?

Yeah.
What the fu#k?! That ain’t no f*ckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the f$ck outta here.

You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.

I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fu@k, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his fu%kin’ name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bulls#it. Stop that bullsh@t” [laughs] “That ain’t your fuc$in’ name.” Your momma ain’t name you no damn Barack.

Read the article in it’s entirety right here…….

I’m not even going to comment, I’m DYING to hear what ya’ll have to say…..SOUND OFF!!

-LowKey