Posts Tagged kuuku’s whatever blog
Kanye “Controversy” West
Posted by Kuuku De-Graft-Duncan in Anything Goes on September 17th, 2009
If you got Kanye West and MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in the same sentence, be aware it’s a recipe for disaster. If Kanye West had a middle name it would be controversy.
One of hip-hop’s attention-grabbing and biggest icons is at it again and has the media in a frenzy. It seems as if Mr. West has dug a grave for himself and his music but he’s definitely up to something. This is another one of those moments West could add to his collection of overly sensational outbursts.
On September 13, Taylor Swift had won her very first award at the 2009 MTV VMAs. It was an incredibly special moment for the talented country pop singer but it was short-lived. Swift’s graceful acceptance speech was disrupted as West stormed the stage and snatched the mic from the debutant winner. Then all hell broke loose.
“I’m sorry, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time, one of the best videos of all time!” as the rapper obnoxiously projected out onto the stage. There’s no doubt that West’s crazy stunt on stage was disrespectful, disgusting and inexcusable.
However, West couldn’t care less if Beyoncé won or not because there is a hidden agenda in all of this. To tell the truth, I’m not surprised at all. In one single moment, West stole Swift’s deserved spotlight and diverged all the attention away from MTV’s award show which was also a tribute to the late Michael Jackson (Gosh, how many more tributes could there possibly be?)
As a result, West catapulted himself to the top of the latest events. As of now, he’s become one of the leading trend topics on Twitter and there are countless status updates bashing and praising West on Facebook. He’s the one making headlines, not Taylor Swift and that is exactly what he wants.
West already issued an apology to Swift but the damage has been already done. This is not the first time that West has done something like this. Anything this shocking is usually an attempt to promote his work and flaunt his over-sized ego.
On November 14, 2004, the hip-hop artist hijacked the stage in similar fashion at the American Music Awards (AMAs) claiming he should have won the Best New Artist,
“Upon hearing he has lost the Best New Artist award to ‘redneck woman’ Gretchen Wilson, West storms out of the AMAs in a show of protest. He later tells reporters, ‘I felt like I was definitely robbed, and I refused to give any politically correct bullsh–ass comment … I was the best new artist this year,’” according to an article from MTV.com.
It’s a clear sign that West has a sore-loser complex. He will parade on any other artist’s accomplishment any chance he gets, forcing all the focus onto himself and his music.
After hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the Red Cross organized a fundraiser for Hurricane Relief. It was going well until West opened his mouth that caused more chaos on an already critical event.
“Back in 2005, the rapper felt entitled to the best album award at the Grammys, so he issued a very brazen warning during a pre-show interview. Then in 2006, Kanye had an onstage outburst when he didn’t win at the MTV Europe Music Awards. But, the incident that may top them all is Kanye’s outburst during a 2005 Hurricane Katrina fundraiser concert, when he stated that ‘George Bush doesn’t care about black people,’” Mashable.com reported.
No doubt the rapper was entitled to his opinion but I feel as if that controversial statement somehow overshadowed the good intentions the Red Cross had. Once again all eyes were on Kanye West and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
In September 2007, Kanye West staged a rivalry with friend and fellow rapper 50 Cent prior to the simultaneous release of their respective albums in a desperate attempt to boost marketing sales. They aggressively used the media to their advantage. They taunted each other on late-night shows and acted out their ”beef” on award shows National Public Radio reporter Christopher Johnson reported.
I think I’ve figured it out. An already established artist like Kanye West is so obsessed with the attention from the media. He has an insatiable urge to constantly be on top and doesn’t care who he offends or hurts to get there.
He may be an obnoxious and an inconsiderate rapper but know that is typical Kanye West. Either love him or hate him. After all, he’s got a big “uh uh huh egoooooooo.”
Arsenal Silence the Critics!
Posted by Kuuku De-Graft-Duncan in Sports on August 16th, 2009
On August 15, 2009 was the beginning of the 2009/10 season in the English Premier League (EPL). Arsenal’s season opener was against Everton and they were playing away. But before the season even started, The media and sports critics completely wrote Arsenal off. They were certain of their comments that Arsenal would struggle and they would lose their place in the ”Big Four” especially after they lost world-class players like Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure. Worst of all, Arsenal fans were divided amongst each other. Some were calling for Arsene Wenger’s head because he refused to hastily sign new players, some were fearful that Arsenal would suffer another trophy-less season and some people decided they were not even Arsenal fans anymore. There was no doubt that a dark cloud had come over Emirates Stadium.
So back to the game against Everton; the referee had blown the whistle and the kick-off was a reminder that Arsenal’s make-or-break season was well on its way. Both clubs looked strong in the opening minutes of the game. Suddenly, Arsenal was in the lead with a stunning 25-yard curler from Brazilian midfielder Denilson 26 minutes into the game. Then new signing Thomas Vermaelen scored his debutant goal by sneaking in an uncontested header from a freekick in the 37th minute. Arsenal would then be up by three with a goal from defender William Gallas in the similar pattern four minutes later. I thought that was enough to silence the critics and naysayers about Arsenal, but the trashing did not stop there.
In the second half, Arsenal were just cruising through with the fourth goal. An attack by Everton was cut short and led to a counter attack by Arsenal with a string of passes that found captain Cesc Fabregas breaking through the middle of Everton’s defence to slot it through goalkeeper Tim Howard’s legs. A typical Arsenal goal but I was ecstatic as I did the robot and shouted my head off with joy. Fabregas would later score again in the 70th minute as he casually dribbled the ball just outside Everton’s 18-yard box to blaze it into the back of the net. Five goals to nil. Then it later became six goals by Arsenal as Eduardo tapped in Arshavin’s unlucky rebound off the goal post. Six goals! Six goals by the team that supposedly did not have a chance of contending for the championship.
The game ended with an emphatic 6-1 win by Arsenal. The scoreline is nothing short of poetic justice and a big “Fuck You!” to all the critics and all the two-faced Arsenal supporters. The scoreline is an emphatic “Shut up!” to the doubters who opened their mouths with rubbish spewing all over the place before they assesed the what a team like Arsenal is capable of.
Even though it’s only the first game of the season, it’s a massive confidence boost for the Arsenal squad. It shows that this young team has matured and the team chemistry is coming together. So to the media and the arrogant sports critics that seem to think senseless expenditure of money and big-name signings is the only way to become a championship team should think again. Arsenal is a team that’s being built from the ground up and it’s only a matter of time before we win a trophy or cup title. Which we will. Gunners for life!
Arsenal Demolish Everton
Video Games- Fighting the Addiction.
Posted by Kuuku De-Graft-Duncan in Anything Goes on August 6th, 2009
When I was a little kid, I remember my big brother had his friends come over to our house to hang out. My brother’s friends also brought some kind of decoder-looking device with them. I was looking at the machine with such awe wondering what it was while they hooked it up to the TV.
It was a video game console and when they turned the power on. I saw the screen flash white with a voice shouting, “SEGA!” in the background. That’s right, the Sega Genesis was the first console I played when I was five-years-old. We all took turns playing Sonic the Hedgehog and the rest was history.
Since then, I became a video game freak. Playing all kinds of video game titles from Contra to Super Mario. I constantly begged my mom to get me the latest game consoles and when she got me my own Sega Genesis, it was like Christmas every day. The excitement that rushed through my body as I played Super Street Fighter II with my older brother for the first time was unforgettable.
As the years went by, video games had evolved from cartoonish 16-bit graphics to amazing 3D graphics with more realistic gameplay. I owned various game consoles like the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Not to forget the more advanced consoles like the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 and the XBOX. But it didn’t stop there, from 2005, gamers like me witnessed the introduction of next-generation consoles like the Wii, PlayStation 3 and the XBOX 360. These next-generation consoles totally revamped the gaming experience becoming a $36 billion industry in the U.S. this year alone.
But from over the years of playing so many video games, I think I developed some kind of life-hindering addiction. I remember constantly thinking about playing FIFA or how I would beat the new Grand Theft Auto while my professor was babbling about some random topic in class. There were times my friends and I would talk about nothing but video games 24/7. There were times I would not even want hang out with my friends, go out to play or even talk to my girlfriend because I had to finish HALO or my world would come to an end. I would wake up at night and sneak to the living room and play from midnight until daybreak every chance I got.
Then my concerned mother had to seize all my video games from me. It was a horrible experience whenever she seized my video games; I could feel my nerves twitching anagonizingly, my brain smashing itself against my head and suffocating from this unbearable boredom because I had not played video games for a week. If there was rehab for addicted gamers, I think my family would have an intervention and send me there. Seriously.
But now that I’m 21, I have managed to outgrow video games just a little bit. I’m doing more productive things and made better use of my time by reading, exercising, hanging out with my friends and even blogging every now and then. I’m especially proud of myself now that I have more of a life and haven’t been on the couch playing video games all day like I did last summer. I still have my urges but it’s definitely under control. At least I hope so.
Yep, getting high off my 360.