Final Post

If you haven't realized, The Young & the Blackness seems to have reached the end of its run. But, no need to fear, the end actually served as the beginning for several other blogging endeavors for some of us. You can find us at:

http://knowdaysoff.tumblr.com - (Me & Mr. Jackson's Joint blog)
http://lubeen.tumblr.com (My Blog)
http://articulatelyconfused.tumblr.com (Mr. Jackson's Blog)

I hope you all have enjoyed all that we had to offer over the past year, and I really hope you check out and closely follow our new blogs as faithfully as you have this one.

Thanks, and finally,

Pax, Amor et Musica

A Brief Respite

As my first freshman year has finally drawn to a close, I have to thank God profusely for allowing me not to lose my sanity. Yes, thats right...if it wasn't for divine intervention..i believe I would be handwritting these blogposts from a padded room on one ply toilet paper and paying a CO to smuggle them out for me. So much transpired this school year, that preceded to snap any belief I had in the idyllic college experience that I had held onto and expected to have. In short, for me at least, it is not all it is cracked up to be.

More on this subject later...

- Mr. Jackson

" My man he can speak patois, and I can speak rap star" - Nasir Jones

Ebony Eyes: The Return

Apologies for the hiatus. I had to get myself right. The regular posting will return..please believe that.

"I lost my religion and I don't apologize" - Mouthpiece

- Mr. Jackson

It's About Time

Whats going on everyone?

If you're in NYC, or presumably in any nearby states, please, PLEASE tell me you've been outside today. The weather was F@#$%^G GREAT! haha. This is what I've been waiting on. No more coats, scarves, boots, or hats. (knock on wood). Now it's time to break out the shorts, tees, dresses, skirts, shades & hats. Lay out on the grass & get ABAP (see one of our earlier posts for an explanation). Sun's out, Guns out. If you're on a campus, get your Prof/teach to hold class outside. If he/she refuses, revolt/boycott. (Just a joke. I dont want anyone blaming me for their dismissal from higher education.)

Haha, I'm having too much fun with this, but honestly, do yourself a favor and enjoy this weather. I hear its supposed to hit 80 this week. I swear my birthday is coming much earlier than usual this year. I know I'm gonna make the best of it, I hope you do to.

Song of the Day:

Common - Make My Day (Feat. Cee-Lo)

As Always,

Pax. Amor, et Musica

Slaughterhouse Is a Machine (Get Acquainted)

I really hope this isn't the first time you all are seeing these guys. If it is, I'm sure it won't be the last. If you couldn't tell by the post title, I'm talking about Slaughterhouse, a super-group (there's no more accurate title) composed of Jersey's Joe Budden, Brooklyn's Joell Ortiz, Long Beach's Crooked I and Detroit's Royce Da 5'9". Individually, each of these guys>>>>> everyone else, but together..... wow. I'll just let the music speak for itself. I'll post standout (aka my favorite) tracks by each member, then a classic group track so you guys can get properly acquainted.


Crooked I - Power 106 Freestyle Session

Royce Da 5'9" - Boom

Royce Da 5'9" - Shake This


Joell Ortiz - Call Me


Joe Budden - All of Me

Joe Budden - Dumb Out

Slaughterhouse - Cut You Loose

Slaughterhouse - Onslaught 2

Slaughterhouse - Microphone

I hope/ know you'll enjoy.

As Always,

Pax, Amor et SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!!! Musica

Hometown Love

This is generally Lubeen's department..but when something comes from my hometown of Nashua, NH..I must show love. I was in the barbershop awhile back waiting...and this dude next to me told me I looked like a friend of his. We got to talking and i learned we had more in common than I originally thought. A few months passed..and he hit me up on Facebook asking me to peep some music. I did. And...the boy goes hard. I'm not going to give you his bio...or his motivations..he is fully capable of doing so in his music, which he does well. But I will say this...He went to boarding school. His name is Aziz. And he makes music. Differently. I expect big things from this dude. He is still growing and perfecting his art form. Here at nineto5ive we appreciate progression. Show love.

"I just wanna be..." - Common

- Mr. Jackson

Emancipation of Free Thought (Get Acquainted)

I know its been a Helluva Long time since I've done one of these, but I'm back and ready to introduce you guys to some more good music. I promise that I'll try to stop being so inconsistent and return to my regular blogging activity. Forgive me? Great.

The subject of toady's Get Acquainted section is a talented artist and friend of mine, Maxxx Flair.


He's definitely talented and someone you should look out for. Click his name or the pic, and check out his blog for more music and such. Here's one of my fav. tracks of his, and not only because it's produced by my good friend Master Chef, who I will def introduce you all to later. This Track & Beat are too serious. Just click the link below, and enjoy.

Maxxx Flair - Time to Go (Prod. by Master Chef)

As Always,

Pax, Amor et Musica

Ichiban Show

Hey yall,

Now, I'm not gonna say much to introduce this other than this is a gameshow Me, Yasmin, and another group member made for our Japanese Class. It goes hard. haha Enjoy



As Always,

Pax, Amor, et Musica

The Whine Tasting.

I recently had a conversation with my father regarding some difficulties at school. Microeconomics has been handling me like an E pill on Lil' Wayne's tour bus..and it has caused undue amounts of tension in my life. Likewise, certain individuals have been pushing me into positions since my arrival on campus, and due to my late start 2 months ago, now is not an opportune time. In light of these things my father, as he often does, imparted some timely wisdom.

"Your education is your foremost priority, period. Never let anything detract or distract you from your goal."

Not that I forgot this, but a quick refresher from family Patriarch never hurts. At a new university, especially one that is bigger than I was ready for, losing sight of the goal is quite easy. It takes one class going awry; a misunderstood lecture before an exam; anything and everything can cause a slip-up in focus. How do I plan on avoiding these in the future.

1st. I pray.

2.Then, I reassess how I am going to body the next situation.

3. Approach next situation, and get busy.

4. Repeat.

" This is food for thought..you do the dishes" - Jay-Z

- Mr. Jackson

The 14th. Abridged.

It is over. Valentine's day, for those of us who call the continental United States, and specifically the Midwest and East Coast home,we have seen the better part of the day come and go,. I hope it went well for you. Mine was garbage. Not because I did not have a Valentine. Not because I was lonely. No, not even because I am 9 months removed from a relationship and this whole "being single" phenomenon is starting to wear on me. (too much?). In a word, my pride was crushed. Obliterated...I attempted to step out of my comfort zone, and received "The Bizness" similar to Yung Berg when he made those flagrant comments about African women who have dark complexions. The details are unimportant, but suffice to say a large slice of humble pie with a large heaping of awkward sauce was given.

"I think I done hit the lottery..." - Chris Brown

- Mr. Jackson

This Is Me, Now

Whats going on everybody?

It's becoming a trend for us to have to apologize for the lack of posting every time we post. I'm realizing, however, that that shouldn't be necessary at all. Anyone who reads our blog should be able to sympathize/empathize with us, and I'm sure they/you can forgive us for our infrequency with the hope that all will be explained/made up for in each post. Hopefully I can do a little bit of that.

As my first real post of the New year, I think it's necessary for me to give you guys a little status report of my life thus far. My first semester of college was the definition of a learning experience. Though I'm used to living in high pressure academic environments, I was naive for thinking that my freshman year wouldn't/couldn't throw anything at me that I couldn't overcome with some amount of ease. One of my most difficult challenges was one that I did not expect: learning to swim as the small fish in the big pond. It's a tough thing when you've become accustomed to knowing everyone and everything around you. While I won't say I feel invisible or even unnoticed here, I will say that I definitely do feel like its all too easy to blend into the crowd.

Now, before you jump to conclusions and think I'm miserable, let me say that not only do I love my life at this point in time, but that same sense of invisibility is also really comforting. Joe Budden once said "My anonymity is my protection," and I'm really starting to see the truth/merit in that mindset. There's something really comforting about knowing my every move/word/action/decision is not being closely monitored and judged. I can go to a CUSH (Columbia University Society of Hip-Hop) meeting, freestyle my ass off, and then slip out the door with my headphones on and melt into the busy New York City environment with complete ease. It's kinda nice when people come up to me and say, "Damn! You killed it last night" and then walk off with out even knowing my name. A genuine and unforced compliment from a complete stranger is worlds apart from a halfhearted and almost facetious "Dude, that freestyle was sick!" from the person who sits across from you in Humanities, chapel or math. It's easier to keep it real when you don't feel obligated to be a "great guy".

I can't talk about my college life thus far without mentioning my relationship. "Mami" and I have been together for almost a year now, and I can honestly say that it has been the greatest, most stressful, peaceful, turbulent, important and blessed year of my life. I learned that its one thing to have a girlfriend, but living with her is a completely different story. While distance, if even it is from one dorm to another, can put varying amounts of stress on a relationship, it also acts a sort of buffer between both parties. When (essentially) living together, that buffer is completely removed and the only things standing between you two are air and your schedules. In such an environment, nothing can be hidden, nothing can go unnoticed. Whether you like it or not, you gain a pure and unadulterated view of the person who you call your significant other. And, after 11 months and 12 days, I've learned that if the love's not there, then nothing is, and nothing will be. Thankfully, I can say that we are going as strong as ever, despite how things may seem to our unlucky neighbors who hear the highlights of our occasional disputes and resolutions, and I know that as long as we stay invested in us, that won't change.

One of the most interesting aspects of living in such proximity to the one you love is that they become a sort of unbiased mirror. After all this time, I can honestly say that I've learned almost as much about my self from this relationship as I have about her. I've learned that it's not what I say, but what I do. One of the greatest lessons that I've been taught is that my internal self doesn't always express itself externally. What I think is a peaceful, welcoming look may actually be a cold, unapproachable stare. These are all new discoveries for me, and being that I'm not perfect, far from it actually, the best I can do is pledge to make an honest effort to step in the right direction. As much as it may upset her, I cannot guarantee change, only ever increasing effort. I've learned that a relationship is a process, a team effort, and in order to get the best out of it, I must be willing to put everything I can, and then some into it. As long she's down for the ride, I am.

That's it for now. I know there's a lot I didn't cover, many areas i didn't explore/explain. It's all good though. All in time. All in time.

-Lubeen

As always,

Pax, Amor et Musica

Ebony Eyes: 2010 Edition Vol.2

Apologies on the wait...I've been getting right.




" Black.....Maybe..." - Common feat. Bilal

- Mr. Jackson

The so called Nigerian terrorist

hello world,

I am now back in the States. As many of you may know, I am a Nigerian.

Yes, the bomber is a a Nigerian, but contrary to what you may have heard, this 23 year old man was radicalized in Britain (at University College London), armed in Yemen, reported to the American embassy by a Nigerian (his own father), recently refused a British visa and the report was ignored by the Americans...

so my question is this, Mr Obama what part of this story makes Nigeria culpable? Why are Nigerians going through unnecessary screening, questioning, searching at airports, having their privacy invaded. I would like to know what we did wrong...

Ebony Eyes: 2010 vol. 1

We didn't go nowhere.





"If you're insecure poor, you'll be insecure rich..." - Flame