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Read MoreHappy 40th Birthday Title IX
It’s been 40 years since Congress signed the legislation, Title IX (nine, for those of you that are Roman Numeral challenged), which broke the gender barrier in sports. In fact, according to www.titlenine.com, in 1972 there were 30,000 girls participating in high school sports, and today there are over 3,000,000.
Those numbers were nowhere more evident in this year’s recent Olympic games. The U.S. Women athletes won over half of the total medals, and 66% of gold medals. Without the contribution of these fierce young ladies, our country might not have garnered the most medals at the games.
However, while there are significantly more girls and women participating in sports, all things are not equal. Besides the WNBA, there are no other professional sports leagues for women. And even with the WNBA, there have been challenges filling seats at the games. Additionally, women are not paid equally in other sport’s jobs.
Which is all very interesting when you consider how high ratings were for the Olympics, especially for women’s events. Women’s gymnastics, volleyball, basketball and soccer were must see events during. Not to mention women’s tennis and swimming. There’s an interest in watching talented female athlete’s excel, therefore hope does exist for spectators of women’s sporting events.
At one point, women athletes were happy just to have their own uniforms, but those days are long gone. Women will continue to fight for equality in sports as they do in other areas. But, as we ladies continue on this journey of equality in life and sports, let’s bask in the glow of the U.S. women’s athletes’ performance at the 2012 games!
UPDATE: Missy and Timbaland discuss Drake/Aaliyah! Is Drake Obsessed With Aaliyah?
Drake is a fan of Aaliyah, but who can fault him for that. She was a great artist and gave us so many R&B hits throughout the 90s and early 2000s. I still consider her to be one of my favorite artists and thoroughly enjoy listening to her music all these years later. But, it appears that Drake is taking his fandom to legitimate “Stan” levels.
And let’s be fair, Drake is a good artist in his own right. He creates music that appeals to the masses, at times showing a side to a man that is often kept private. He raps and sings, which has proven to be a great formula for him. However, I don’t think that means he’s a suitable choice to produce a new posthumous Aaliyah album.
Beyond being a fan of her himself and having his own successful career, I don’t know what exactly qualifies him to produce an Aaliyah album. I for sure don’t think it’s this beyond creepy tattoo of her face on his back. Or his recent area code tattoo that doubles as her birthday. If anything, his collection of Aaliyah tribute tattoos prove that is more of an obsessed fan.
According to Drizzy, he and 40 are “commanding” the project, which will feature Aaliyah and other artists that have worked with her. I found the first single, “Enough Said” which features Drake, to be good. But for Drake to self-appoint himself as commander of her upcoming posthumous album, it’s well, almost disrespectful. Missy and Timbaland were close friends of hers and helped to cultivate her distinctive sound. It is also unclear at this point as to whether her family is in support of his involvement in the project.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. As a fan, I don’t want the Drake sound all over an Aaliyah album. I for one, hope to see Missy and Timbaland at the helm while Drake falls back. More importantly, as a fan, I want Drake to appreciate how great the album with the two of them in control as well.
Just in case you aren’t convinced that Drake is obsessed with Aaliyah, check out this Complex article…an Aaliyah earpiece?!!???!?!!!
**UPDATE** Watch Missy and Timbaland discuss the whole Drake/Aaliyah controversy.
Life Is Good - For Nas & Us Too
Life is good, and not just for Nas, who’s tenth studio album, Life Is Good, is number one on the Billboard charts. With his album reaching number one, it’s a sign that good music can top the charts again. Fans of hip-hop, celeb and non-celeb, are enjoying this album, with the word “classic” being thrown around.
It’s simple really, Nas had something to say, and thankfully we were ready to listen. He poured his heart out on this album, detailing personal events in his life that were very public. He worked with great producers; performed over some great beats and an album that can easily play from start to finish has been created.
I take this as a sign, a sign that good, quality music is making a comeback. For too long, hip-hop has been flooded with songs lacking substance. And while fun, party songs are always needed, it’s as though party songs were all we were getting. Nas is oft referred to as a poet, a storyteller, and on this album he paints vivid images of life, whether its his own or life in general.
Hip-Hop has been thirsty for an album like this and Nas quenched its thirst (yeah I said it!). Seriously though, this album is a great look for an industry that at times seems like it’s being taken over by the youth who have no idea of how great music can actually be. I salute Nas for this great album and hope this inspires more substantial albums from our favorites as well as the burgeoning new hip-hoppers.