I hate watching Music Award Shows. I don't give a rat's ass about who won what. Half the people on stage are folks I am totally unaware of and whom I really don't care to know more about. But even I heard the awful buzz surrounding Britney Spear's 2007 MTV Video Music Awards performance.Poor girl.Whatever may be said about her music, she always provided ambitious performances. Yes, a lot of it may have been lip-synched...but she always tried to look sexy around elaborate sets and even managed to pull off some nifty dance routines.Her VMA performances were usually the buzz of the show: Remember when she stripped!? Man, Britney is officially legal! Wow, is that a big fat snake around her neck!? She's a jungle queen!Yes they were hokey...but it had people talking...she looked hot...(and the part I can appreciate) her performances hearkened back to the pop "glamour" of 1980s performances by Michael Jackson and Madonna. She was never as good, but she tried.Years later, after a couple kids, a divorce, and a shaved head she made her return to the VMAs.Poor girl.

The day has arrived: 50 Cent Vs. Kanye West! The Gangsta Vs. The College Dropout. The guy who got shot 9 times Vs. the guy who survived a near fatal car crash. The guy who brags about all the money he's got Vs. the guy who brags about all the money he's got. Who will win?! Who will lose?!No matter what happens I'm sure both of these guys will be alright financially. It would have been awesome if 50 Cent stayed true to his original promise (50 claimed that he'd retire from doing albums if K.West's "Graduation" album outsold his "Curtis" album)...but 50 Cent has long since backed off from his threat/promise.Through the advancements of modern technology, I had the benefit of listening to both albums before purchase. The verdict?I was initially disappointed with "Graduation". It was far mellower than I expected. After hearing "Stronger" I thought that Kanye was going to do some crazy Timbaland/El-P futurist beats on this album. And despite plenty of references to "Back To The Future", sonically this album was closer to "Back To The Future" Part 1 instead of Part 2 (bummer...). Fortunately, now that I've had some time to let my preconceptions go, I'm starting to really get into it.50 Cent's "Curtis" is, sadly, what I expected: mediocre on all levels. 50 Cent's delivery has become monotone and repetitive. Production is awkward and forgettable (Justin Timberlake DOES NOT go well with 50 Cent). The only track I enjoy is "Get Money" (seen below).So during lunch today, I placed my vote by purchasing some Kanye (it helps that the beautiful package design was done by Takashi Murakami!). Kanye, if you want to make a Murakami Bear Vinyl, give us a holler!:Kanye West "Can't Tell Me Nothing":50 Cent "Get Money":

I just started rereading Ellis' Stormwatch comics. For a guy that hates Superheroes, Warren Ellis writes one helluva superhero story! It seems like everyone talks about the brilliance of the original "The Authority" comic book series...but people forget about the comic that evolved into "The Authority", Warren Ellis' brilliant run on "Stormwatch".Before Ellis took over the writing reigns on "Stormwatch" it was the penultimate example of everything wrong with comics from the 1990s. There were tons of indecipherable characters in ridiculously designed costumes and constipated faces. Warren Ellis and artist Tom Raney changed all of that when they took over the book with issue #37.The result was a fascinating mix of the best elements from the sci-fi, spy thriller, and superhero genres. It's a great read and essential precursor to "The Authority".

"Shoot 'Em Up" just got released in theatres this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing it. I am a little hesitant because it looks like the kind of film that can be really good or really bad. The cast is amazing. Clive Owens is the ultimate bad ass. Paul Giamatti has been great in everything he's in. Monica Bellucci is still gorgeous in her mid-40s. But it's obvious from the trailer that they're playing up the "cheese" factor in the film.I hope it ends up being more "Desperado" than "Replacement Killers" (there's no way in hell it could be as good as "Hard Boiled"). If any of you guys end up checking it out feel free to share your thoughts.

Here are 2 more interviews for you.The first is an interview Publisher's Weekly did with Jerry Frissen about the Lucha Libre Comic. CHECK IT OUT HERE.The second are a few questions VinylAbuse asked me and Jerry about the Luchadores5 Film . CHECK IT OUT HERE.I think we all deserve an interview break! ;-)

Amidst all this Hip Hop hoopla about Kanye West and 50 Cent albums, I thought it was due time light was shed on the Pharoahe. Pharoahe Monch's "Desire" debuted at the end of June 2007 and has been criminally overlooked critically and financially.Pharoahe is the MC's MC. His deliveries are rhythmically complex, audibly unique, and lyrically rich. Skill wise he's leagues above mainstream successes like Kanye West and 50 Cent. "Desire" shows that even though he's been rapping for over ten years, he continues to grow as an artist both technically and artistically.Below you'll find the first single from "Desire": "When The Gun Draws"...a clever track that has Pharoahe Monch taking the perspective of a bullet. The beginning's a little slow but once the song begins it really takes it to a whole new level. I also included the Hip-Hop classic from 2000 called "Oh No!" that featured the Mighty Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, and Nate Dogg.Pharoahe's that rare breed of MC that can be politically poignant and still rock the crowd with a party anthem. Check it out:When The Gun DrawsOh No!