Top Winter Activities

The cold is here and the snow is coming! But that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. Here are some of the tops ways to keep yourself occupied throughout the winter. Whether you like to get out to enjoy the wonderland that will be in every backyard or stay in the warmth to enjoy the view from afar, there's something here for all of us.
▪Go See A Light Show
Hop on Google to see if any city near you is hosting a spectacular showing of Christmas lights throughout the Christmas season {Metro Detroit area the Detroit Zoo hosts a Light show}
▪Sledding
Find some local hills open to the public, buy some sleds & suit up!
▪Movie Marathon
Grab a list of favorites & you can even throw some holiday movies into the mix. Light up a nice fire in the fireplace, make some hot chocolate or cocoa & stay in for a warm night
▪Ice Skating
Find an indoor or outdoor ice rink & grab a friend or two
▪Snowball Fight
Find a group of friends willing to risk it in the cold. Game on.
▪Christmas Tree Lighting
Check out the major areas in your town that may be lighting a big Christmas tree for the holiday season
▪Ski Resort
No need to kill that adventurous spirit just because its winter. Take a mini vacation to learn how to ski or snowboard at a relaxing resort
▪Decorate
Take some time out with the ones closest to you to decorate a tree, the house or outside. Get festive!
▪Build A Snowman
Wait for that good snow to have a snowman building contest
▪Bonfire
A little unconventional but for those of you who can bear it, go outside for a warm bonfire, roast some marshmallows, make some Smores
▪Watch Christmas Movies
Whether it be with kids, a spouse or group of friends there are tons of holiday-themed movies to start a marathon
▪Donate
Tis the season to give. Go through some clothes, toys or buy some canned goods to offer to the less fortunate

Prob - Loves War

If you go into 25 Below's archives, you will get a good reminder of who Prob is. As he was not named our first "potential prospect" for nothing, this multi-talented young man has just dropped his first self-produced track, titled Loves War, proving his potential.

Loves War Produced by Angel Parrilla by AngelParrilla

Setting the Mood for the Ladies, (A list of Rules on Date Night with the Special Lady)

If it's one thing I have learned about dating women since I've been a grown young man, it's: you have to set the mood. If the mood isn't set or if the setting isn't comfortable you will not be getting smiles and cake at the end of the night. This is an exert about how to maintain a comfortable setting for the ladies and keeping the mood steady and steamy.

1. When inviting the special lady over insure that your bathroom is clean. Some females ask to use your bathroom just to see how clean you are. I cannot stress this enough fellas, she may come from the bathroom and grab her keys all in one motion and you will be there looking clueless.

2. Fellas make sure you have a candle burning or some kind of Air Freshener scenting up your home. She does not want to smell old socks, Black n' Mild's , funky odor from the fellas or any of that stinky, smelly stuff that girls don't like.

3. Be in the driver's seat for the date. Women are indecisive by nature, so asking them what she wants to do or eat may become repetitive after while. She will give you the typical "it doesn't matter" or she will just answer your question with a question.  So catch on to her likes and dislikes so in the future you won't have to ask questions. You can just open her door and put the evening on cruise control.

4. An important thing to remember is if she is on a date with you, SHE LIKES YOU!! So don't do anything to mess the mood of the date up. Women sniff out confidence in a MAN, and as soon as you show a bit of insecurity or doubt, she will chew you up and spit you out. Always compliment her hair, the colors in her outfit, or anything you know she took time to work on making her self look nice.

5. By now you should have some knowledge of the basics in keeping the mood steamy and steady. What I say next is more important than anything that I have said above. MEN, make sure you are groomed well, women pay attention to detail like the FBI. You must keep your grooming versatile and consistent, A well groomed man who is dressed nice and looking good are key entities when setting the mood. And fellas, do not show your hand in the beginning of a little adversity. If you think she is giving up the goods that night, don't let her know what you're thinking, or don't act out or assume. Wait and see if she is bluffing, most of the time women don't bluff. And when they throw their hand out its normally for a reason. So be ready because she may call your bluff .

I hope the women and men who read this can both learn and relate and put these mood-setters to use. Thank You, God Bless, Good Night!

Do Reality Shows Portray Black Women and Men in a Wrong Way?

When I was growing up TV shows were TV shows, not reality shows . I remember watching things on TV like Living Single, and Different World.  They portrayed black women and men in great ways. On Living Single you had Maxine Shaw who was a Lawyer, Kadijah James who owned a Magazine , Overton was a Handy man, Kyle Barker was a Stock Broker. and Different World was no different. Now a Days, Love and Hip HOP , Basketball Wives  etc. has just shown our color of people (BLACK) the total opposite of how some of us really live. I'm glad TI the Family Hustle is airing on VH1 because he does a great job of showing black males how being a father is cool and important at the same time. I really think perception mean a lot and the way black men and women get demonized on Reality TV shows have really influenced the way some people think. You can log on any social website when these show are airing on TV, and see the feedback that is talked about regarding the show. There has been so many gaps of teaching and educating the black community for so long we have become numb or use to the fact that we are lacking what it is important to maintain success and build happy families. I just wish some of the Rich Suits that run TV would do a better job of show casing how people live, and act when targeting certain races or genres of life on  reality shows. Because the reality is Love and Hip Hop  and Basketball Wives are truly fictional.

Most Anticipated Games of 2013

-Madden NFL 25 (14) 08/27/2013
Celebrating 25 years of innovation, Madden 25 gives you 30 new moves, plus the ability to string together combo moves, through the precision modifier. This unlocks more power, precision and the creativity of a real NFL ball-carrier. As we found out back in April, former Detroit Lion (for the second year in a row, might I add) Barry Sanders will be gracing the cover. But in a twist, Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson will be on the cover for the next-gen consoles. Fair enough.

 

-Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag 10/29/13
Chase booty as a pirate captain in the 1715 seas of the Caribbean. Be stealthy like a ninja as you sneak onto other ships to take out the crew. Or get a party of pirates to attack and go aboard another ship to fight to the death. Explore more than 50 locations in this interactive world.

-Battlefield 4 10/29/2013

Access vehicles, explore huge, destructible environments, command your squad, more survival capabilities and improved weapons will make the new Battlefield quite the experience.

-Call of Duty Ghosts 11/05/2013 

Set in modern day U.S., you will be able to defend your country starting with your specially-trained military attack dog. Lean and slide to better help you confront your enemies. This Call of Duty is sure to have better graphics and more dynamic maps; that can change the terrain for you mid-game, such as an unexpected flood. You will be able to set up traps to further surprise the enemy. And if that's not enough, you will now be able to customize and avatar in multiplayer.

-Grand Theft Auto V 09/17/2013

With the ability to control 3 different main characters, you can experience the game in just more than one way. Playing in Rockstar's biggest open world, you will be able to do the normal stuff like drive, bike and walk, as well as dive, jet ski and fly. How will your GTA experience go?

-NBA 2K14 10/01/2013

2K has made it a point to let you know that they care about how you celebrate. How, do you ask? They brought in Kent Bazemore, of the Golden State Warriors, to bring fans a special celebratory move. LeBron holds this cover, and if that's not enough, he is also asking the fans to help complete the game's soundtrack. If you have your own music, some favorite tracks or know someone who deserves a shot, let LeBrow know. After research, I found that the best way to do this is through any form of social media and by directly contacting LeBron James. (Twitter & Instagram: @KingJames)

Other popular releases you may be interested in:

• NHL 14 09/10/2013
• Batman: Arkham Origins 10/25/2013
• Just Dance 2014 10/08/2013
• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix 09/10/2013 (contains: Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. All remastered in HD) 

Baseball in the Inner Cities of America...

Growing up baseball was my first love . I enjoyed playing the game and also enjoyed my teammates. I grew up in a small town so sports was a main entity in the community. My older brothers played as well as my close friends. But as we got older me and my friends chose different routes as far as sports goes.

I chose Football and my friends chose basketball and football.  When we played baseball as young fellas, coaches and Little League officials in my community played the Coaches son card and somewhat the race card. Playing time , respect on the field, and off, were key microcosms that played into the role of kids in the black community playing baseball. As me and my friends got older, playing baseball in  middle school and high school were after thoughts. See from little league on up coaches on the High school and Middle school level already have favorites and picks . Unless you are a standout that cant be denied. Even when you are talented these coaches would change your natural position and stick you somewhere, where you aren't necessarily comfortable at. Many black baseball players growing up in America probably can relate to this same sort of thing. Until we give everyone equal opportunity to be who they truly are in whatever it may be, Baseball players, CEO's,  Judges, we will all continue to go separate ways instead of joining and unifying. 7% of African American males represent Major League Baseball rosters at the beginning of the 2013 baseball season. YOU DO THE MATH!! But baseball is Americas great Past Time supposedly. But the rich suits that runs baseball don't care about those percentages. Just the percentages that equal $$$!

King Remembered In Time (KRIT)

Music has gotten off to a slow start in 2013 as far as good music and quality sound goes. But what I do know is that Justin Scott aka Big KRIT dropped King Remembered in Time. The 17 track mix tape/album dropped back in March. Once again he blessed the microphone and the control boards with his charismatic style and his Down Home Country SOul. The Meridan, Mississippi native resides in Atlanta, where he booms out his Melodic Soulful, HIGHS and lows Country Rap Tunes. To me Krit is picking up were Pimp C, OUtkast , 8 Ball n MJG , and any other Southern Rap Legend that you grew up on. I hope KRIT remains underground and stays Mute to the mainstream. Until Curren$y drops another Tape in 2013 I'm not sure who follows up KRIT's Tape!!

Potential Prospects: Prob

25below's first potential prospect is a young cat by the name of Angel Parrilla, who hails from Miami, Florida. Picking up the stage name "Prob" along the way, he's had his hands immersed in music since the young age of 9. To give you a better perspective, "That was 12 years ago...I wouldn't say I was consistently working on music since then but I've never stopped writing. Sometimes I'd go into a music making period for years a a time, stop, and repeat it again."
Prob, the multi-talented man, not only writes his own raps, he records and mixes his own songs as well as record and edit his own videos. Although at the time of our first interview he was only hoping to get into producing, he has since then acquired a professional music production tool and has already taken to sampling quite nicely. Now if I need to give you anymore reason to respect this emerging artist, besides the love for what he does, he tries to do what he can on his own as to decrease distractions and being slowed down by the less ambitious.
It's hard to respect a lot of artists these days because, as we all know, it's about the money, fame and groupies. Where's the true passion at these days? Who's doing this because it's simply what they love to do? Even though there are many, they are few and far between. When asking Prob why he makes music, I couldn't have found a better answer: "Actually...I ask myself this question all the time. Sometimes I can't even come up with a logical answer. I believe I make music and will continue to make music for the love of it. It's my way of expressing myself. Some people express themselves through drawing, painting, fashion design, tattooing, just endless ways of expressing yourself through art. My art form just happened to be music. I can't front, it's difficult to dedicate yourself to music these days because hip-hop is sooo "over-saturated", for lack of a better word. When it comes to things like planning on making it "big", I try not to focus on those type of things. It will drive you crazy."
When it comes down to what influences he has when it comes to writing his music, it is a simple yet complex answer: "everything in life". From personal situations to the situations of close ones around him, good or bad, Prob stays aware enough to properly re-tell it. Here's what he had to say, "While I'm out in the world I'm never on autopilot, I try to stay as conscious as I can and take in everything around me. I think there's stories and events going on around us all day, everyday, so I try to soak everything up. That way I could tell those stories & the feelings that I witnessed with them." Like any true artist, especially one who takes his influences from the world, Prob has a wide variety of musical influences too. Ranging from Q-Tip and 3 Stacks to Curtis Mayfield and Otis Redding to John Lennon and Led Zepplin, his list of influences goes on and on.
Although he is a solo artist, Prob has a bigger vision in mind..a Hippie vision to be exact. With plans to work with certain artists in the future, Prob has already dubbed his music and video editing group Hippie Vision. Why the hippie theme? Prob is about what hippies were about: free-spirited, loving and peaceful. "I feel like it sums up everything I do. I share the same vision, therefore, it's Hippie Vision."
After hearing his interesting lyrics and flow, one has to know where these lyrics come from. Prob says, "My lyrics come from my thoughts..sometimes I like to throw a couple fun flows and lyrics just to show creativity. Other times my verses are just a long play on words. For the most part my lyrics are just my everyday thoughts expressed poetically." With that being said, he tries to send a message of all-around positivity, good vibes and faith. "I prefer to make refreshing music that gives the feeling of hope. I want people to hear my music and for that moment feel some type of happiness no matter what they're going through at that time."

Here are two videos off of Prob's first mixtape, Indigo. With the exception of some help recording, "Dont Stop Believin" and "Bubblegum" were recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by Prob himself. If you like what you hear, check out the latest from Prob on Soundcloud, subscribe to him on YouTube or download his first mixtape, Indigo. Enjoy these visuals to some of his work.

Dont Stop Believin (sample from John Lennon's Don't Stop Believing)

Bubblegum

FKi

If you go back into the 25below archives you will see exactly who FKi is. Although the "FKi" meaning may have changed since then. Now meaning F*$@in Kickin It, Raye Rich and 1st Down are the duo from Atlanta that makes up this group. Like I've always thought, they are bringing a different aspect to Rap and I think it's something that needs to be heard. Although they've been coming up really strong as producers for your favorite rappers lately, they've dropped TNTH II (Transformers N The Hood 2) this year and it has been quite a surprising yet definitely great project. All about drugs, partying and having a good time, add their tapes to your summer playlist. Now follow me to AMDAM...

If you like what you've seen I most definitely recommend downloading the rest of their mixtapes, watching their other music videos and catching them on tour! If you're in Michigan like myself, FKi will be performing at the Crofoot in Pontiac on July 18th via the Keep Calm & Twerk Tour. Or go to their website (click on FKi above for the link) to see if they're coming to a city near you.

Remote Kontrol

At work one day, my coworker showed me some videos of the dance group Remote Kontrol. Three guys who are very talented, which made me wonder why I'd heard nothing about them before then. So I bring to you their talents. Enjoy.

La Dolce Vita

If you're in Michigan in the Metro Detroit area, La Dolce Vita may be a great Tuesday spot for you. I went for the first time yesterday and I must admit, it was a lot better than expected.
Located at 6 Mile and Woodward, you pull up to valet on the side of the building. I was greeted by very nice workers and was taken care of quickly for only a $5 charge. La Dolce Vita is an outdoor lounge and indoor Italian restaurant decorated with interesting art. As you walk in the doors, well gates (no cover), to the outer area, the only lighting you'll have will be strategically placed lights around trees, the bar and the occasional security light on the neighboring grass-covered building. Oh, and I can't forget the bright ass green light post in the middle of the floor. I saw a band there and they had a mix of House, Pop and Salsa music throughout the night. I ordered one drink, which was a little pricey at $9, but definitely worth it alcohol content-wise. Our waitress was really nice and chatty and I saw an ample amount of staff working.
There was an extremely mixed crowd. From old to young..er, casual to classy, groups to date to the occasional perv...I mean what bar doesn't? It seems as if no one could go there and feel like they don't belong.
From a frequent attendee, I heard, "Italian food is all the same, you know, chicken parmesan. And how many ways can you make pasta?? But the food here is really good." I don't know about you but I'd take his drunken word for it. Not sure how this place is any other day of the week, but if you've got nothing better to do on a Tuesday I'd make plans to grab a few friends and head down there.

Xbox One Vs PS4

All my gamers out there, which do you prefer, Playstation or Xbox? Because the newest consoles have been announced and are right around the corner for gamers to indulge in. Although Xbox One was unveiled back in May, the PS4 had its first launch today and the public will be learning more over the next few days.
With a surprising turn in the launch, Sony did not actually reveal the new look of the PlayStation 4, only the new and improved Dualshock 4 controller. With all new features like a highly sensitive 6-axis sensor, touch pad, share button and 4-colored LED light bar this new controller is designed to offer gamers new ways to ineract with each other and the game. It has a built-in speaker and headphone jack to make chatting easier. The new ergonomic shape improves comfort and improved analog sticks create a more precise control, as well as enhanced vibration. With the cosign of multiple developers, Sony explained that the new PS4 was created to ensure that game creators can develop the best games for the system to the best of their imaginations. As with the PS3, it will not be backwards compatible. It will now have Cloud features that allow you to play as you download and easy uploading to YouTube. The last piece of information on the new system is good news for you PS Vita owners because it will be upgraded too. The Vita will soon be a second screen experience for PS4 owners.

The all-in-one entertainment system where the experience is custom tailored to you, the new Xbox has a surprisingly big focus on your entertainment needs, rather than strictly gaming. Although Xbox One developers seemed to have trouble sending a consistent message about the system and its gaming abilities, there is no confusion in what else it is capable of. You can quickly switch from TV to movies to music or to a game just with the sound of your voice by using the included Kinect. Which seems to be a slight problem for some future Xbox One users as the Kinect will always be on on this system. Xbox One also includes DVR features and a home screen that will personalize itself as it gets to know you. Although the unveiling had less of a focus on gaming as Sony, we know that Xbox One will also not be backwards compatible. It was given a new gamepad with a new sleek look along with 40-plus improvements. Some of which includes the battery case no longer protruding from the back and a design driven from precision, comfort and making gaming more realistic than ever. This new controller is programmed with four separate motors to better differentiate the experience of revving a car engine to gunning down enemies and so on.
I'm a much bigger fan of PlayStation than I am of Xbox so I know who I'll be siding with, but who do you think will have the better console? Who will sell more, create better games, have better pricing? There's so much more to learn as the unveiling continues over the next few days.

5 Things You HATE At Work

5 things everyone hates hearing while at work. Don't worry, 25 Below feels your pain.

1. Any customer who has ever tried to tell you how to do your job. How would you feel if I came into your place of employment that I've never worked at trying to tell you what to do for me and how? Doesn't make sense, huh?

2. Customer walks up to you and says he just can't find what he's looking for although he's looked everywhere. You tell him which aisle to go to, and he tells you you're wrong  because he didn't see it down there. You walk him down there and what do you know, his product is there. God gave me eyes just like you, go figure.

3. "How are you today?" Customer: I don't know.....well, my mother-in-law's best friend's brother's hamster died so now I have to go shopping for her but I'm tired because of my long work day and blah, blah, blah I didn't ask all that.

4.  Managers who try to watch over you like a hawk and ask what you're doing about every little thing you do. They are often the ones who bother you SO much about what you're doing they actually hinder you from doing your job. And they frenzy about productivity? Hah.

5. Ever work fast food? Don't you just love when its freezing outside and EVERY customer who comes to the window wants to talk about how cold it is, how cold you must be and how hard it must be for you? Stop talking to me, jack ass and 2 problems will be solved.

Rittz - Like I Am/Walking On Air

No explanation needed, my boy Rittz' flow tells it all; a mix of smooth, laidback, soulful, southern-type flow. Titled, "Like I Am" off of his debut album, The Life and Times of Johnny Valiant (his alias), Rittz did nothing less than shock and awe. Tech N9ne is a smart man for signing him to Strange Music, which has proved to be a great fit for Rittz. If you need to know why I praise this man's talent so highly, I suggest you go through 25 Below's archives and check out my post on his earlier days. White Jesus. Enjoy.

Know what, since I like you guys AND Rittz so much, one video just won't do. Here's another 

from his last mixtape, White Jesus Revival. "Walking On Air", great verses, trippy video. Enjoy.

Johnny Rain, ft. LaShaun Ellis - Superstition

A little while back a friend told me to check out Johnny Rain. I just recently did so and I am liking what I'm hearing. With a comparison to the likes of The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, which I don't totally agree with (beside the point), he does have a different sound than the less than average R&B you hear nowadays. Rain has 1 album that you can stream and download on DJBooth.net, with quite a few good tracks. This interesting track with a surprisingly good feature from unknown Lashaun Ellis, titled "Superstition", is featured on L.O.M. (Lullaby of Machine).

Retro Su$h! - Stayin True

Just a random song from a group called Retro Su$h!, consisting of Retro and Jace Ceej. This song, "Stayin True", features Key!. This is a track off of their debut mixtape Kung Fu In Japan, which you can listen to and download here if you like what you hear. Enjoy.

Summer Fun Ideas

With summer approaching, and approaching fast, there's going to be a much bigger need of things to do. And if you're anything like me, doing the same old just won't cut it like it once did. So here's a list of simple, general ideas you can try out that should be available in most places:

• Museums
• Dance lessons
• Find new parks to explore
• Try those little "Mom & Pop" restaurants you've always wondered about
• Research a new hobby and grab some friends to try it out with you
• Plan a trip to somewhere dark and go star gazing
• Go for a walk somewhere new and take in the scenery
• Wake up early to find the best spot to watch the sun rise
• Go to a carnival
• Research different festivals in the area and go enjoy with some friends

Keep an open mind, grab some friends who do the same and start your summer off right with some new fun!

Potential Prospects

I guess it's safe to say that I gravitate towards "underground" music. I don't know if people just don't want to do the work it takes to really do their homework on an artist they've come across or if they really just don't hear the talent that one possesses just because they're not popular or "mainstream". Well for me it used to be about staying up on the newest and latest, like an addiction. Until I realized why I actually wanted to do my homework for once...I saw just how many "hidden gems" I had been stumbling upon.
So from then on I realized as much as I love music, I love to show support of the greatness I hear just as much. It's one thing to hear great music, and it is another to hear the potential for reaching that level of greatness. With that being said I'm going to start a series of posts on "potential prospects" that I have personally heard, done research on and gained an understanding of their music. Stay tuned.

Grasshopper Mondays

Even though I've only had the ability to indulge in the experience for a short while, I'm not too much into bars anymore. There's usully weird people, pricey drinks and an even weirder selection of music. But there are a couple I like because it's a fun atmosphere...good music, mixed group of chill people, good drink specials, and it should go without saying but adults actually acting their age. That's a good time out to the bar for me.
Well the latest bar I've been to that has drawn me back 3 Mondays in a row is The Grasshopper in Ferndale, MI. Each time that I've been it's been very relaxed. Everyone dresses pretty nicely, but not "nightclub fresh". Dressy casual with a bit more casual (You will find this helpful if you're like me..who dressed totally wrong my first time). It's not a huge crowd, so far at least. And each time there's been great music to vibe to, which is a huge factor into if I can stand a bar or not.
On my first night there I was told there would be Hip-Hop music and Top 40s alternating Mondays. But the past 2 times I've went its been this crazy DJ, who I hope to see every week I go from now on. With enough dancing room, the DJ gets people in the mood to hustle to some classic oldies (usually how he ends the night) to those fast-paced beats that has allowed me to witness some jittin' battles.
All under black lights, a decent amount of sitting room and well-priced drinks (that actually have alcohol in them =D), I say this is the place to be on Monday nights if chilling hard to great music in your room is just not enough.