#20 - Kicking things off at number 20 its Sway with his tune "Silver and Gold" featuring Akon... "Konvict Muuuusiicc!"
#19 - Back when Wiley and Skepta were best friends they hooked up with the rest of the BBK camp and brought this tune "Too Many Man". There was definately too many man in the video but it was a tune none the less. Boy Better Know at number 19.
#18 - This one definately had the perfect example of an odd couple, but their differences still ended up working well together as the tune was a hit. Giggs brought the streets to the pub as he collabed with Mike Skinner for "Slow Songs" at number 18.
#17 - I know certain guys are gonna relate to this one. I was feeling this tune for a few reasons. The beat was a lot. The lyrics were on point and the video was jokes lol. Its called "Couldn't Be The Wifey", its by Messy and Spokeman and its number 17!
#16 - This next one is "Ransom" by Bashy. They layout of the tune and its verses were great. All put on one nice beat with a cool mini movie. Can't go wrong with that. Futhur more its Bashy, Scorcher and Wretch 32 so say no more init. Anyone ever wonder well the girl went though? Hmm. Here's number 16.
#15 - The ladies will probably feel this one the most. But whether you're a man or a woman or in between, you can't help but admit the tune is catchy. Go ahead and play this when you wanna 'beat' again lol. JLS at 15!
#14 - The ravers will know about this one. Still being played. Can you skank to it though? lol Its "Stick Up" by Dotstar at number 14
#13 - Maybe we're about to get into number 13. Maybe its by Ozzie B. Maybe you should watch out for the remix. And Maybe its a "Maybe Ting" at 13!
#12 - Everyone was on this tune when it came out. The ladies were singing it like it was a cure to problems and the guys were watching the video to learn how to not get caught slipping. Boy, I wouldn't wanna get caught cheating on a girl like this lol. Meleka with "Go". Its 12.
#11 Mr Munk, Chip Diddy Chip, whatever you wanna call him, he's doing it right now. With two consecutive MOBOs you can't really hate on him as an artist and "Oopsy Daisy" is another reason why. Featuring Dayo Olatunji here's 11.
#10 - Now we in the top 10. And Devlin starts that list off with "London City". Recognise any of the places in the vid?
#9 - POW! Yeah its Lethal the B. But this time its "Go Hard" and its featuring big man Donea'O at 9.
#8 - Big time positive collab here. Personally one of my fave funky tunes. Donae'O, Meleka, Rollin' G, MC Neat, DJ Luck, Fr3e and KIG all jump on one track for the 'It Doesn't Have To Happen' campaign with this new track called "Don't Shank Just Skank". I'm liking it! And its number 8!
#7 - This tune here is a bloody anthem. You know them people who just phone you for no reason. Just play this tune to them. I might have to put this as my new voicemail message you know. Like literally, don't phone me just cuz you got my number lol. Featuring Griminal, its Ghetts with "Don't Phone Me". Number 7.
#6 - Definately one of the artists of the year! Tinchy Stryder. He came hard with this tune. Everything was on point here. Its "You're Not Alone" at number 7.
#5 - And its Bish Bash Bosh at number 5 with "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". Psst I know I do. Video was kinda unique still. And the beat was banging still. And he's on the grind stiiillll lol. Shullup!
#4 - G-FrSH is exploding all over the scene right now and this tune is one of the reason's why. Dude has so much swagger he can just say "urgh" for the whole track and get away with it lol. Call him Flash Gordon cuz he's flash, its G-FrSH WITH "URGH!". Number 4.
#3 - And its down to three! This next one is beautiful R&B here (no homo) Young Nate layed down some slick vocals on a wonderful beat. I know plenty guys out there wanna sing this to a girl lol and girls don't front, if a guy sand this to you properly you would go weak lol. Look at for the remix too. Clock the Richard Blackwood cameo. Its Young Nate at number 3 with "I Wonder".
#2 - At number 2, its probably the hottest group out right now. The Marvell boys are in the building. Shocka, Vertex and Double S come through with "Make Noise". Personally one of my fave tunes of 09. The verses were hard and there was no slacking what so ever. Eddie Kadi was a joka in the vid too. Here's number 2.
#1 - Finally we've reached the end of the list. I ran through all the tunes that I thought were big this year. All the UK urban tunes including Grime, R&B and Funky. I showed some established names and some up and comers but at the end of the day it was all good music. And now without futhur ado, lets check out number 1. I personally thought this tune was the biggest of the year. Catchy, simple and great beat. It features Taio Cruz who is already a great artist in his own right. Then you add East London's own Tinchy Stryder to the mix and you got a certified hit. The remix was also good but right now its about the original. Pretty cool video too. Its Tinchy Stryder featuring Taio Cruz with "Take Me Back" at number 1!
When I first started this blogging thing, I was thinking, I'ma write stuff about my day-to-day activities. Kinda like 'a day in the life of Yusuf'. I mean, I did that once, the whole bus journey saga, yeah it was funny and it was something that actually happend. I even took pics. Intention was to keep doing things like that. I also wanted to make blogs that not only promote my music and not only entertain and show jokes but also talk about real issues. Stuff that would make you think. Deep things. Serious things. Like, my Facebook statuses in 3D. I definately weren't gonna use it as a place for me to rant and moan about problems and be all depressed, na never that. Either way, I got lazy with it. Since that blog there hasn't been anymore. Spent more time reading other people's blogs than making my own, infact I even stopped reading other blogs. I don't know whether that was down to being lazy, losing interest or just procrasinating. I reckon its the latter mixed with the first one. And when I think about it, that's always been my problem.
Aiight cool, blogs ain't the most important things in the world, but when a person decides to do something, he/she should stick with it if its in their power to do so. And I'm talking about more serious things now. Things like education and the assignments that come with it, or revision, or attending class, being on time. Working hard at your job. Things that have meaning in your life and your future. And let's face it. Half the things that will come under that catogory will either be boring or just overly long. And we being who we are we're gonna find it hard to get into the mode where we're definately gonna bang out what we need to do. Its not easy starting coursework assignments four weeks in advance so you're sure you ace it, even though that's the smart thing to do. Its not easy picking up a book every night to just casually revise for no reason other than being well informed on your subject of study, even though that's the smart thing to do. But then, is anything in life worth doing easy? No. I don't think so. I think if its worth it, its gonna be hard. That in itself is what makes it worth it, added to whatever positive outcome goes along with it.
So its a case of being determained. And yeah, we're all determained, we all wanna be successful, we all wanna make money. But the question is, are you actually doing something to make your dreams your future? Or is it just something you want? That's why its also a case of being hard working. Easier said than done, but not impossible.
For example me, I know I'm slacking right now in uni. I'm doing a lot better that some heads out there but at the same time I could be doing a lot better for myself. Infact I always could have done better for myself. Sometimes, (in terms of my educational routes) I feel like I've just been getting by. I know deep down I have the ability to be a top student I ain't gonna front. But I'm a lazy bum when it comes to revision and half the time I'm on that 'leave it to the last minute' flex. Hear the joke, even right now as I type, I should be typing an essay but instead I'm doing this (but don't watch that I got it on lock) What I'm tryna say is, I know my faults. But just knowing them is not enough. Action needs to be taking. And it will be taken. I'm too old to be a kid. And chances are you are too. So think about that. But sticking with the subject, remember how I just acknowledged my faults and said knowing them is not enough. Some people don't even know their faults. They genuinely don't. They believe they have none. They are 'OK' with how they are doing even though its bait bad, OR they know its bad, refuse to believe its down to their own faults and find a way to blame others or blame it on 'problems'. Newsflash. We all have problems.
Some a lot worse than others. Some people have familiy issues, some people have the dreaded 'love' issues. Some people have problems so bad that they can't even leave their own houses. What is your problem? And don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking anyone's problems, at all. Like I said everyone has different problems. And at times these problems can affect our day to day lives and responsibilities. Maybe you couldn't go to work that day because of that 'problem'. Maybe you couldn't call your friend back last night because of that 'problem'. Maybe you didn't give in your assignment on time and therefore have retakes next summer because of that 'problem'. But what I'm saying is, to every problem their is a solution. Most times you should never let a problem affect your life to the extent of where you're suffering constantly but again sometimes it is out of our hands. But if there is anything that you can make sure doesn't happen, its you not letting the effects of that problem be a repetitive thing.
If that problem is so bad where you find yourself always slacking in Uni for example, then you gotta ask yourself is their any point in you going uni? But me personally I would ask a better question, that being, how do I solve this problem? I guess it depends on what the problem is, and only you are gonna know that (unless you tell me about it at a letter date) but if this problem is for example linked to another person, a friend, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a family member. Then maybe to eliminate the problem you gotta eliminate them. I don't mean kill 'em, no don't do that please. What I mean is, maybe you gotta distance yourself from that person to get away from the problem, keeping in mind you've done everything in your power before hand to try and solve this problem. Sometimes you can't solve the problem. I know I said every problem has a solution, and they do. That doesn't mean you have to be the one to solve it. Maybe walking away is the solution. But again it totally depends on the situation.
If one of you're parents is ill and looking after them is being a hassle on your life and because of that you're struggling with your assignments, that doesn't mean you should walk away from them. You do the right thing and stick by that parent's side for however long you need to. You try your hardest to balance looking after them and working in education, and if you can only do one (which I don't think will ever fully be the case personally) Then you be real and understand the fact that 'OK uni (or whatever other example) is not working for me right now, I got responsibilities at home, let me take time to focus on this as I see it as more important then I will get back to what I was doing) - if you're sure you're gonna go back to 'what you was doing' then their is absolutley nothing wrong with that, considering the example of an ill parent.
But if its something like, "My boyfriend/girlfriend keeps arguing with me, he/she doesn't trust me, he/she's cheating. I love him/her blah blah blah" then you need to bounce. Obviously you try make it work but if its at the expense of something important to you e.g. Uni/Work/Your future, then na man, leave that now. And I'm not just talking about relationships. I'm talking about people in your life who are giving you problems resulting in you being unhappy and therefore not concentrating on your priorities. I know some of you are reading this thinking "What's my man talking about, I'll never let no one make me lose focus" but whether you wanna admit it or not, we all do. Sometimes self consciously, sometimes out of care for that person. But sometimes, just sometimes, its not worth it.
The whole fake friends thing, if they're being fake. F*** 'em. The whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing, if you don't trust them, then you cannot be with them end of story. For the mandem if its beef in the endz or "money issues" you need to let that go or find a way out. You can't balance the two. Its one or the other. If there's a way in, there's a way out. The way out most likely will be dangerous but considering the way in is just as dangerous, that the consequences you gotta deal with. Point being, people need to stop blaming others or their surroundings for their problems. We all do it. I do it. But its not a ting I intend to continue doing. And you shouldn't either. Instead of bitching about it, do something about it. Lock off anyone pulling you down cuz if they pulling you down then what's the point in them being in your life really? That's what I'm doing. I'm not letting people get to me no more. They either real to me or they ain't simple. And if they are, in my heart they shall stay, if they ain't, see you when I see you if I even wanna see you. I always say 'Never stress over anyone who ain't stressing over you'. Fix up. Get your priorities right and start working on them.
So through all the above I've listed two main common problems: -People not acknowledging their faults, being lazy, using excuses etc -People acknowledging the problem but believing nothing can be done about it.
That's kinda the jist of it roughly, feel free to re word it. But anyway, there is one more problem. And this problem is a huge one, the most common, and the saddest. Not sad like 'age 44 still living at mum's yard not paying rent' sad but, sad as in, upsetting. Its deep. You know what the problem is? People not believing in themselves.... Now, I ain't no motivational speaker. Any opinions or advice that I've ever given to anyone has just been me keeping it real. Me telling you what I would do, me acknowledging the situation and giving you my honest to God response. Sometimes its hard to be blunt if I know its gonna hurt the person but I eventually will especially if its essential. It don't matter how close we are or how much love their is, if you taking crack I'm tell you you're slipping and you're being waste. But at the same time I'ma try help you.
Some people need that help.
Because they don't believe in themselves. Earlier I said how people find circumstances or other people to put the blame on. But these people I'm talking about now, they don't have nuttin to blame, they blame themselves. They send out CV's for a job and get no holla back and truly believe they are rubbish because they didn't get the job. They don't bother sticking to the deadlines for coursework cuz they've already given up and believe they ain't smart enough to do the assignment. Sometimes its just stuff like that, but sometimes its big stuff. Some people run away from home, never talk to their family again. Some people are just constantly depressed and think the world is against them. Some people take their own lives......
See, I'm not gonna throw the Quran at you. I'm not gonna sing songs about the Bible and I'm not gonna show you pictures of Buddha. But I will say this. Whatever your belief, whatever your religion, if you have faith, then you should believe in yourself because with faith, that's like self motivation and that's gonna keep your insides warm so to speak. That's gonna keep you going.
That's the first thing.
The second....
Man up man. Like actually man up. It don't matter if you're male or female. Man the hell up. Meaning, stand up for yourself. Believe in yourself. If you don't think you're smart enough, get smart. I mean what you gonna do? Acknowledge the fact that you're not smart and do nothing about it for the resta your life? Na fam. You do what you gotta do until you're satisfied and believe that now you're good at what you feel you couldn't do before. You obviously think you're not great at whatever it is you feel you're not great at because you're comparing youself to someone who is great at it. So instead of being pissed about it, insteada hating on them. Use them as inspiration. They're human just like you. You all have the same abilities and if not you can learn those abilities. So be inspired that there are people out there doing well and probably better than you. Set yourself a target that you're gonna be on their level, better yet surpass their level. Make you're own level. But never lose respect for yourself and never give up.
Not everyone in this world is gonna like you. Some companies might not offer you jobs. But there's a million other people behind just as vex as you and still looking. Not everyone can be a genius. But that doesn't mean you're stupid. You can still get top grades. You might have to face the fact that you have to try a whole lot harder than what's his name or what's her face, but you can still do it.
At the end of the day. I can believe in you, your friends can believe in you, your family can believe in you. But what's the point if you don't believe in yourself.
No one can help you, better than you.
I wrote this blog because I'm turning 22 in about an hour. (Well I'm probably 22 now considering how long its gonna take you to read this ting) but yeah - 22 is not really a special age. But its just more of a reminder that I'm grown now. I'm grown physically but am I grown mentally? I believe I am, and if I'm not I intend to grow mentally. Some people ain't grown mentally. That's why you get 30 year old guys still acting a fool, or 25 year old women still acting like little school girls. You can have the big muscles, the assets, the mature dress code. Yeah, you're grown physically and visually. But you ain't changed if your mind ain't grown. Everything I've mentioned in this blog is about growing mentally. A lot of what I mentioned above, can be allowed at 16. maybe even 18. But once you pass that, once you hitting 20s, you need to be on point. For your own sake.
I look back on this past year. 21. Its been a very interesting one. Had a lot of fun, new experiences, new people. Had a real relationship, though shortlived, was and is something very special to me. I passed first year in uni and now in second. I hit 4 years of friendship with my bestie. I hooked up with a new media group of friends who I see as a family, and we plan on doing big things together in the near future. But the past year hasn't been all great. There's been mistakes, there's been downfalls. I ain't recorded no music since December, I feel I'm gettin lazy with religion, I ain't been getting the best grades, the money flow isn't great. And yeah, these are 'problems' - but bun bitching about them, I list them, and work on fixing them. And I've been doing that. And in result, whatever negativity happend in the year of 21 will not happen in the year of 22. Why? Cuz I learn from my mistakes. Cuz I take action. And why do I do that? Cuz I wanna succeed and go forward in life and, because I have to, because I want to.
"Life ain't a game" - simply because, with a game, no one knows the outcome, it can't be determained. You may lose, you may win. But with life, you might not be able to tell if its gonna rain next week or what shoes you're gonna be wearing six months from now, but you can determain your outcome. Cuz your out come is based on what you do now.....
So what are you doing now?
Yo, its your life, you control it.
Goodbye 21. Hello 22.
That's me done, if you're still with me, I aprreciate you reading. I hope this blog has made you look at things in a new light and helped you in some way. And hey, if reading this was a waste of time because you knew all this already then you truly deserve a big up same way. I'm out. I'ma leave you with this tune I just came across. I wouldn't say the lyricals fully relate to this blog, but just that sense of doing things on your own is what I liked about it. Its by Sway called 'On My Own' but this ain't the version on his first album. Its a version he did when he was younger, unsigned and unknown. I love it. Check it out.
What's good people?! My first official blog here and its starting off with a... well its not a bang, more like frustration. Its has been a long day, no scrap that, a long weekend, matter fact, the last two months have been long. Specifically this week as I have a truck load of assignments to be doin, its maaaaaddnesssss! So check this right, this past weekend was my friend's birthday (well actually it was thursday but you know how black people always late for everything lol) anywayz, so the ting is on saturday yeah, I know exactly what gift I'm gettin, everythin is bless, just gotta check if they got it in stock online now. How can the only Argos that has what I wanna buy be in Edmonton (keepin in mind I live in Camden) and not bait Edmonton either, this is like some hidden area I never been to next to some place "Angel road station" - NO not Angel, "Angel Road". Now due to time restrictions and what not, me going to Edmonton on that saturday aint happenin, so I reserve the item and decide to hit it up on the only other day I can, sunday. U get to reserve tings for two days max. Now, I got work on sunday right, but I dont start til 11:45am so I get up early, 8:30 am, (shudda been 8 but sleep matters) and start to make this treck to that Argos. Complicated things. I'm basically makin moves via Northern line til I reach Kings Cross at which point I mus change and hit up the Victoria line and go alll day way to Tottenham Hale.
As if that was not long enough, mans still has to take a bus to the spot. Bus driver is a lil fresh, doesn't quite no where I wanna go but "has an idea" - eventually takes me to one area where he presumes is near to where I need to go. From when I asked some nxt girl on road and she tells me different directions I knew only then that was either his first day on the job or his last. Anyway, so the nice girl who I should have taken a number off of told me where I need to go, still along walk, and now its raining and I'm walkin on flyovers and ish...
This is the typa roads I'm walkin. Distance at its best. (in the rain)
Walkin, walkin, walkin, get to the place but its like a mega shoppin centre with a fat off car-park so I still gotta walk more. I finally see Argos is gettin nearer and nearer. I'm now gettin slightly worried havin seen what looks like to be a deadout shop and I'm sayin to myslf if the place is closed some one is gettin punched. I will switch. But that feelin went away once I saw more passerbyers and lights on in the store. So I walk up to the entry door and see this....
Words cannot describe how I felt at this point.
First it was like, "Whaduff- I'm about to whoop someone's......"
Then slowly changed into controled rage and "count to ten and walk away" mode
So after tryna talk through the bloody door to the janitor or whatever brainless employee was jammin there doin nuttin with his life! I decided to leave, make my way to work. Somehow its already cuttin close to 11, if not 11 already, member work is at 11:45.
Again, more rain, with this
These roads were the most conufsin I've ever come across, I swear i ended up goin in bare big circles, I finally jump on the bus to take me back to Tottenham Hale. From there I take it all the way to Kings Cross, please believe I'm catch many Zs. Change. Metropolitan line to Wembley. Ah Wembley, let me fill you in. I work for DNC. Retail staff. They are based at Emirates stadium and Wembley stadium. They're a bit dumb at times. You can be an hour late and nuttin will happen but be five minutes late and have to go back home. NO EXAGERRATION. Fellow workers will know. Ask! So I end up gettin at the Wembley station at 12:15pm, meanin I reach the actual stadium at 12:25pm. Buts it cool right? I see bare people queing up, I'm booked in. I'm gonna work today right? Na bredrin. They made ALL OF US QUE TO GET BOYED. AGAIN! I wish I had a picture of the lines and the guy that was brave enough to say "sorry you all have to go home" for what reason, he couldn't even properly say, talkin bout we filled up quicker than we thought KMT. Now fair enough, I was late, but I saw couple man I know that was there at 11:45 and got sent home! Futhurmore, a second batch of headz was booked in for 12:45, so as we leavin now we see those people come thru, time is like 12:40, they'll make it. 10 mins later one of the mans I was with calls one of the 12:45 lots to see if everythin is cool. Uh uh, they got sent home too, which means them lots wasnt even reserved. Why though? Seriously. Life mockery resulting in no pay and no sleep.
Conclusion - Wembley stadium, another F'd up place to get a job
I guess it was a blessin in disguise as I got the whole day free to do my coursework assignments which was the main worry to begin with..... but its 6:45pm now and I aint started, how did that happen? oh well, wish me luck. :-D (that smile is fake)
Hope my first blog entertained ya, lookin back at that sign from the Argos door is just depressing for me though -_- lol. Anywayz, nuttin much else to say except, I hope Wembley stadium and Emirates for that matter get "Woolworthed" or turn into Sunday markets before 09 is up. Spoken like a true male who does not watch football LOL. Oh yeah, come November 17th, my friends better be climbin mountains for my gifts, psssh!
