The Whole Delivery

With it being the last Friday and penultimate day of 2016, it's the 30 year anniversary of when this great special aired on TV, with one of the best New Year's songs ever.  It's of course from 'Musical Chairs" from "Happy New Year Charlie Brown," your last Flashback Friday choice for this year.  Enjoy, as The Flashback Fridays will comeback in 2017.

Years before "The Voice", "Happy" and "Despicable Me" fame, but in the middle of becoming his own standout from Chad Hugo, Pharrell was firmly in the center of the hip-hop game with his own quality. Take it back a decade ago with his forever kindred spirit friend Gwen Stefani providing the simple, appropriate torn in chorus. It's of course "Can I Have It Like That" from a decade ago at this time. More from The Whole Delivery. Stay tuned. 

In more celebration for the 10 year anniversary that was "Food & Liquor," it's Sir Lupe with the second single off one of the underrated semi-classic music albums of all time. It's  "Daydreamin'" with one Jill Scott, your second Flashback Friday choice this week that is also from a decade ago . This is The Whole Delivery. 

It may have had a million people on it, but for sure the remix to Busta's hit "Touch It" was even better than the original. Quality in rhyme and energy was felt all the way on this track.  So from a decade ago, it's all of these people with Earl Simmons included, with the always superb Swiss Beatz produced "Touch It (Remix)," as the flashback Fridays are back this week. More from The Flashback Fridays and TWD in a bit. 

As we continue to celebrate Space Jam's 20 Anniversary, here is the long forgotten but still energized group collaboration with B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes, with "Hit Em High," produced by the legendary group, "The Trackmasters." This is The Whole Delivery. 

It's the 20th anniversary week of Space Jam movie, and with that being said, its music album (soundtrack) is arguably more memorable than the movie. And this song is a firm reason why, especially before the days Robert lost his mind with doing, well, you already know by now.  So, the first of two Flashback Fridays today, it's R.Kelly with "I Believe I Can Fly". And unlike popular songs out now, it didn't need the internet for it to have many parodies like it does now. More to come from The Whole Delivery, stay tuned. 

As Ray Allen officially retired this week, we take it back to 1998, when his inner Jesus Shuttlesworth came on the screen. And when Chuck D and Flava Flav (at least on the regular, unedited version) produced one of the best movie soundtracks ever. It's of course Public Enemy's "He Got Game", from 1998. Your first Flashback Friday choice for today. More to come.

Welcome to the NBA Preview, to be used constantly on Twitter on the real opening night of the season, October 26.  Rookie of the Year : Prime favorites Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram have major questions marks to start the season, both with terrible teams and Simmons with his injury.  Dragon Bender and Kris Dunn will be major factors all season, as well as Bender’s explosive Suns teammate Marquisse Chriss. And mature sharp shooter Buddy Hield will not yield on his ability to not down the 3 at this level as he did prolifically at Oklahoma.  The likes of Sabonis, Prince, Malik Beasley, Bembry, Check Diallo, Tyer Ulis, Hernangomez, Diamond Stone, Niang, Gbinije, Kay Felder, Richardson, Jackson and undrafted Ader Nader will make headlines.  But my Rookie of the Year choice is the Nuggets Jamal Murray , who is ready to explode as a dynamic scoreline who has the ability to put the ball in the net at all 3 levels, catch and shoot, and create his own ...

In wake of a certain birther clown presidential candidate saying "Nasty Woman," here is this week's Flashback Friday choice. It's from 30 years ago, and it's of course from THEEE Janet Jackson. It had to only be "Nasty," and it is your first Flashback music video, for this Friday.

Take it back a decade ago with Lil Jon in the middle of his terrific rise. As a main part of the Atlanta snap movement of 2006, "Snap Yo Fingers" is still a party classic right now. And with E-40 and Sean P providing the good times, here is your first Flashback Friday choice of this week. It's "Snap Yo Fingers", with Hype Williams producing this video.

Before Solange got a list of random new fans this week, take it back eight years ago to when she had her last real notable music release. With Pharrell producing the track, "I Decided" was a smooth nice hit off her underrated second album "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dream" that shouldn't be forgotten in the wave that is "A Seat at The Table." So your second Flashback Friday choice this week, it's Solange with "I Decided" from back in 2008. More The Whole Delivery on the way, just stay tuned.   

The Flashback Fridays always tries to match the current times of now as best as possible, as this is a prime example of that. With him checking himself into rehab just a for days ago, Kid Cudi definitely is searching for some happiness after a series of Twitter rants the last few weeks and months. So as he gets that needed help, flashback to when he was seemingly happy with 1 of his 2 biggest hits to date. It's of course "Pursuit of Happiness" from 6 years ago, your first Flashback Friday choice for this week. And you, me and everyone else definitely hope he gets that help. More to come at The Whole Delivery.

Today is the 20th anniversary of this song dropping, on this day. And while it may annoyingly be used today in the background of commercials as another tired opportunity to make "white people look hilarious while awkwardly dancing to black music," the greatness of the Teddy Riley, William "Skylz" Stewart produced classic will never go away. With the Hype Williams video adding to its greatness, "No Diggity" served as Blackstreet's sole #1 Billboard 100 hit and was a major international success. Just on it alone, it sold 1.6 million copies and even had a random re-appearence on the UK Top 40 charts in March 2013.  Maybe an even more important fact for "No Diggity's" success is that it ended Macareña's long running domination at the top of the Billboard charts. Your second Flashback Friday choice today, it's Blackstreet and Dr. Dre with "No Diggity." More to come at The Whole Delivery today. 

Based on her weird singing video with Hillary this week as part of her latest push to let everyone know that "Apple Music panders harder to black people harder than certain politicians," it is perfect timing for this flashback in the midst of that hilarious tweet from MTV's Deaux . "what will you do to fix the national epidemic of hateration in this dancerie?" pic.twitter.com/jVDy3eJBCP — Deaux (@dstfelix) September 27, 2016 "Family Affair" served as the second starting point in Mary J. Blige's career, a wonderful rejuvenation after her early star momentum had waned a little bit. It served as Mary's first #1 Billboard 100 hit ever, a remarkable accomplishment considering that she was still just mainly associated for non-white suburban crowds. Making it even more special is that it ended the strangehold from mid summer to early fall 2001 that Ja Rule and J-Lo's "I'm Real (Remix)" placed on the charts. With the Dr. ...

The final Flashback Friday tribute of this week for the memory of Shawty Lo comes from, of course, the hit that established him right at the start of his solo career and made him a Bankhead, Atlanta legend for life. From his running jog to his "big ups to all my haters" line as the horns of the Bails Beats, Born Immaculate instrumental played in the background, Shawty Lo created a Mason-Dixon line classic that would be played at every big Southern black event. Whether it was football games with the marching bands or Greek life doing strut line dances, you couldn't have a good time without your DJ putting on "Dey Know" back when it came out nine years ago. And most would agree that is still the case nowadays before the tragic death of Shawty Lo this week. So without further adieu, here is the third and final Flashback Friday selection for this week, in dedication to Shawty Lo, "Dey Know." This is The Whole Delivery.  

Listener Discretion is Advised, especially if you aren't black and/or lived in the hood  In full memory of the life of Shawty Lo, this week's Flashback Fridays series is dedicated to him. In their major rivalry at the time with Dem Franchise Boyz, D4L dropped their second single after their massive first one blew them into music superstardom. Although "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me" never came close to hitting the heights of "Laffy Taffy," it still served as a solid second single representing truly what D4L was about. Unfortunately for any fans of the group,  "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me" served as the group's final single. The disbanding begin shortly afterwards with Fabo and Shawty Lo starting their own solo careers. So your second Flashback Friday tribute this week in dedication to the life of Shawty Lo, it's the Teriyake Smith produced fun track "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me." There's one more mai...

In full memory of the life of Shawty Lo, this week's Flashback Fridays series is dedicated to him. A decade ago at this time, Lo and his group D4L made their impact on the nation by taking their debut single "Laffy Taffy" all the way to the #1 spot not just on the Billboard Hip-Hop charts, but the overall Hot 100 list. No matter how you felt about this being a prime example of an Atlanta and South snap music wave emerging in the game at that time (just ask Ghostface), "Laffy Taffy" rose to the pinnacle thanks to K-Rab's "Candy Girl"-esque production and Fabo's charismatic tone on the hook and opening verse. Without further adieu, here's "Laffy Taffy" in this Flashback Friday tribute day to Shawty Lo. More Shawty Lo tributes to come on this week's Flashback Friday series. 

It was the silliest song title, with Prince and many others calling him out for it. It also provoked an angry reply from Timberlake to Prince before he tried to backtrack from it, but that is how thin skinned Justin always will be. Nevertheless, it set the tone for FutureSex/Love Songs massive success as the debut single, as Timbaland's producing once again saved Timberlake's solo career. Your second Flashback Friday choice this week after Izzo , it's "SexyBack" from Timberlake (& Timbaland). This is The Whole Delivery.

15 years ago at this time, Jay-Z was definitely thinking about how his album sales for the quickly released "The Blueprint" would be in wake of the 9/11 attacks. The first single from that iconic album dropping at the time was "Izzo," filmed out in Los Angeles and at the height of him, Dame and Biggs being all good with each other. From 2001, it's Jay-Z with "Izzo," your first Flashback Friday choice of this week. Jay-Z - Izzo by BLACKHAWKS4 Stay tuned, there is more from The Whole Delivery to come. 

Taking it back once again 10 years ago at this late summer's time, it's when Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole were at their peak. With the "Step Up" movie coming at the same time, "Give It Up To Me" definitely is a hit that you barely hear anymore nowadays. So, from 2006, it's Sean & Keyshia with dance successful track, your Flashback Friday choice for this week. This is The Whole Delivery.

With "All The Way Up" summer hit and "Love and Hip-Hop" awfulness bringing her back to relevance, we flashback to a decade ago at this time when Remy Martin was bursting onto the scene. From 10 summers ago, it's the Swizz Beatz produced high energy dance, thoro lady hit "Whateva." with a large part of the video filmed at Flushing Meadows outside the World's Flair Globe. It's your first Flashback Friday choice of this last Friday, yes, last Friday, of the summer months in 2016. And this video so classic that Shea Stadium is still well in the background. This is The Whole Delivery.

Here are from me, the eleven top figures of the hundreds of remarkable athletes that we had the pleasure to see in Rio, helping make a corrupt IOC and slimy process of the games going to Rio be pushed to the side for some.   11. Four years ago, Michael Phelps said that he would be done. He was already by far the most decorated Olympian ever and didn't need another games to further cement that mantle. But something in him made him want to comeback and exhibit why he is the greatest swimmer ever. And he did just that, with the fierce determination and drive to overcome a new rival in Chad Le Clos pretending that he could psyche him out and provide the latest iconic image of Phelps attitude in an extraordinary career filled with them. Four years later, he is this time, truly done. 10. Along with soccer and golf, the tennis competition at the Olympics isn't the biggest competition in its sport (for Rio 2016, no ranking points were given to ATP or WTA players). But it is ...

Note: This was originally suppose to be a piece for Jacobin, but strangely after they showed interest in it, they didn't want. It was originally a response to The New Republic's mostly dreadful mix of opinions from "notable" media center-liberals on the Democratic primary, specifically the expected asinine views on Bernie Sanders.  Now, it's also a response to good colleague & friend Terrell Starr's diligent piece in Fusion, where he feels again that Bernie Sanders didn't do enough for black people in this election. I firmly feel that even if Sanders had started campaigning back in 2014 and exclusively in black areas that it would not have made any significant difference. The media blackout on him along with this always being Hillary's time on the Democratic side, since the 2008 primary ended, was always going to make this a nearly impossible task for a 74-year-old not known in mainstream black circles. Just like every other race in Americ...

As always, Viewer Discretion is Advised, especially if you aren't black or haven't grown up in an American hood.  For the first of the Flashback Friday video choices this week, we take it back 10 yrs ago at this time with the start & peak of Yung Joc's career before the total irrelevance that it has fully become. It's of course time to get your Motorcycle Lean on, with "It's Goin' Down," your first of two Flashback Friday throwbacks. This is The Whole Delivery. 

And the second Flashback Friday on this 149th B-day for my Canadian connects, it's the original Toronto most famous rapper. From all the way back in 2001, it's Kardinal Offishall's T.Dot banger, "BaKardi Slang." This is The Whole Delivery.

For my Canadian connects on their Happy Canada Day, will have a few Flashbacks from standout Canadian artists not named Aubrey Graham. The first being from the one and only Nelly Furtado, at peak of popularity 10 years ago with this classic off her Timbaland backed album "Loose." She had many hits on that album, with this one being the biggest and her best song of her career after "Fly Like a Bird." It's "Say It Right", your first Flashback Friday choice this week, especially for my Canadian connects. ‪ This is The Whole Delivery.

With news of her possibly having her first child, only fitting that another Flashback Friday celebrates Janet Jackson and in particular, her "All For You" terrific release from 15 years ago. For many, her best album in the 2000s and arguably the top single that she has had in the 21st century. She, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis really produced a wonderful track and showed how her creative force was vastly underrated. It was the biggest hit of a big year in music in 2001, and although she hasn't produced a song as big since, it certified her career greatness. Today's Flashback Friday choice, it's Janet Jackson with "All For You." This is The Whole Delivery. 

Right in time for Mother's Day, and with Afeni Shakur gone up above with her son this week, a fitting Flashback Friday is in store for 2Pac's "Dear Mama" from 1995. Truly fitting and deserving of this honor. More to come at The Whole Delivery, stay tuned. 

With each passing day now in this unexpectedly engaging primary season on the Democratic side, someone on the “centrist left” will find a novel, silly thing to be angry at Bernie Sanders or his supporters with. And one that has now come fully to the surface has been the painting by a constant set of black journalist Sanders critics of the Vermont Senator being a regional elitist and, worse, a passive racist for saying why he felt Hillary Clinton dominated him in Southern states in the Democratic presidential primary. Although this latest over outrage has flamed up over the last week, this whole incongruous narrative of claiming Sanders is disrespecting the South actually started way back on the night he was trounced in the South Carolina primary in February. As he was giving a speech at his Minnesota rally ahead of that state’s causes there, Sanders complimented the crowd who uttered his now synonymous $27 average campaign donation phrase.   “There’s no way we are g...