Let's take it back to 1998...

In September 1998 I was starting my second year at Brock University. I'm really not to sure where you were, but I know there were 2 guys in East Point Georgia getting ready for there third album to drop.  One of many albums that would have to go on my list of top albums ever recorded.

I'm talking about the great Outkast album known as Aquemini.  

I don't know where or when it was that I first heard the track Skew It On the Bar-B, but I know it changed the way I listened to hip-hop. It was incredible to hear Dre and Big Boi drop smooth flowing lyrics over a beat that you would normally hear on a much rougher sounding track.  It blew my mind!

Of course there's Rosa Parks, the first and probably biggest single from the album which scored Outkast their first Grammy nomination.  They lost to the Beastie Boys' Intergalactic, but then again who ever said that the Grammy's represented the voice of music lovers. 

Yes, Rosa Parks was a great demonstration of how these guys could manipulate words to drive their distinctive lyrical flow, but if you really want evidence of this, check the middle of the album. Da Art of Storytellin' (Parts 1 and 2) are 7 minutes I suggest you spend listening with headphones on and the volume cranked.  "She was fine as fuck, I wanted to sex the ho up. She said, Lets hit the parking lot so I can sick your duck."...it's so simple, but works so well...genius!

Aquemini was the first chance that Outkast had to do a lot of the album production themselves, without being dictated to by their label (Le Face Records).  Going back and listening to Aquemini after listening to Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/Love Below (4th and 5th albums) you really hear the start of the evolution of Outkast's sound which developed into the sound that launched them into mainstream popularity. Check the tracks Slump and SpottieOttieDopalicious...trust me.

Since Speakerboxxx/Love Below Outkast gave us the Idlewild soundtrack, but that's been it, and who knows how long it will be before we hear from them again.  Yeah sure Big Boi is apparently set to release the album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty this summer, but let's face it, this album has been pushed out almost as much as GNR's Chinese Democracy.  Okay, so it's only been a couple of years, but I still won't believe it until I hear it.

Bottom line...if you find yourself missing Outkast as I have been lately, then throw Aquemini on your iPod, and give it another listen...or 17...in a row...just for old times sake.  If you've never hear the album, then get it...anyone you know who's "into hip-hop" owns this album...and if they don't, then you should tell them to stop telling people that they're "into hip-hop".

Race Review - Sporting Life 10K

This morning I had the pleasure of running the Toronto Sporting Life 10K race with 13,000 other runners.

It was a great run, and for those of you thinking of running it in the future, or just wondering how it went, I'll break it down for you.

Let's split this into three section...the good...the bad...and the really good!

The Good:
Today quite possibly could have been the most perfect morning to run...ever. Temperature steady around 9 degrees C at the start, with absolutely no wind...incredible. I've ran a few different races...in all types of weather, and this was the best by far. Besides the optimal weather, the course was incredible. I live on Yonge St. and it's not too often (or ever for that matter) that you get to run down the middle of the street and blow through red lights. It was an incredible feeling.
The coral system at the starting line worked flawlessly, as this may have been the best race start I've ever experienced. I'll finish the good, by commenting on the on course entertainment...there were no shortage of bands along the course...it felt like one every 2km or so. They were good too (especially the reggae band). Thank you to the entertainers!

The Bad:
I understand that sometimes, it's necessary to spit while running, especially when the weather is a little cool...I may have even been know to hock a loog from time to time myself, but I would never in the middle of the race course. Honestly people...move to the side of the road, look around to make sure you're not going to hit anyone and do your thing. Also, for you running moms out there...leave the baby at home on race day. Don't get me wrong...babies are cute and all, but there are rules against strollers in this race for a reason. The biggest reason being the safety of your kid...13,000 runners...think about it.
Also, the end of the race was a little confusing at Fort York...but it wasn't that bad, and it was the first year for this finish, so things are bound to improve.

The Really Good:
The simple fact that the proceeds of this race go to Camp Oochigeas, which is a camp for children with cancer makes this race amazing. It's great that so many people ran this race, because more money went to the camp...fantastic.

The other really good was personal for me...I finished this race in just over 47 minutes (47:29:00), which although a little slower than I was hoping, was still a personal best for me. I'll take it.

The finisher medal was a nice touch, but I'd rather see the money spent on them go back to Camp Oochigeas. The shirts on the other hand were great technical shirts which you can wear running anytime. The odd thing was that the head hole was a little tight (on the mens small size)...kind of weird...lucky for me I have a small head.

All in all a great race, which I will definitely be running again.

Heads up 45 minutes...I'm gunning for you next year!

Here's my race playlist from today...
Bloc Party - Banquet
Broken Social Scene - 7/4 Shoreline
Bullet for My Valentine - Tears Don't Fall
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
Ludacris - Move Bitch
k-os - Valhalla
k-os - 4 3 2 1
Matt and Kim - Daylight
Mother Mother - Hayloft
Queens of the Stone Age - You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire
Tokyo Police Club - Your English Is Good
U2 - Beautiful Day (Oakenfold remix)