Better Than Ever...

"But when you love someone,
You just don't treat them bad,
Oh, how I feel so sad,
Now that I wanna leave...
She's crying her heart to me,
How could you let this be?
I just need time to see,
Where I wanna be...
Where I wanna be..."

- Donell Jones "Where I Wanna Be"

We are ready to get loose, and hopefully everyone who is reading this is ready for the ride as well!  This was a wild last few months.  There has not been any blogs or posts of any sorts, just been preparing for all this that is about to take place.  First off, some shout outs to some folk before we get started...Big Ken Rutland thanks bro...and to my KP brothers Big Mike Sewell (dude we see ya!) and to the infamous Kieno aka Jeremy Kientiz much dap for the MC love... Carlos Ros, appreciate ya bro and we are "More than just a number...hey...hey...hey"!

So what has been going on?  I have to smile, because its more of what hasn't been goin' on?!!  Is this what Jim Jones and Trey Songz went through with their "Summer Wit Miami"?   Before you read on, just gonna let you know we aren't Sugarfoot-ing anything anymore for two main reasons:  1. Why front about your life?  I mean like Nancy Kerrigan "why?" and 2. There is somebody out there who has similar experiences or thoughts whether pertaining to jobs, money, dating or whatever, and this here blog thang is have fun, show that we all have stories and to inspire.  So, as an heads up if you don't want to hear anymore...you may want to stop right here!

Austino's Vault: Velvet Rope

Artist:  Janet Jackson
Album:  Velvet Rope
Year:  1997
Record Label:  Virgin Records

What a special album!  It's an all-time classic, and arguably Miss Damita Jo's best.  The cd covers just about every aspect of life from love to sexuality to death to simply being yourself.  The hit producers of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis accounted for much of the production on this album.  Officially, Janet released four songs off this album:  Got 'Til It's Gone (feat. Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell), Go Deep (Oh, the real parties!), Together Again, and I Get Lonely. That last song I Get Lonely is so personal to me, eye can't stand still just listening to it, feel like doing my shimmy of '98 dance!...hopefully you clicked on the song to get the link to the video. Just to see real dance moves with sexy female swag, just what life used to be u know!! Plus, how can you not noticed the fashion with the girl tux look with open coats, ties and with the late 90s red hair color...somebody should be taking notes.

But Janet hits on every level, and she had jams that she didn't release as well.  Free Xone describes how we all should be who we are.  "One rule...no rules!"..  I really dig this one because there is a lot of plasticity going around (it must be on sale at Wal-Mart or something...) and just be who you are...free.  I rather be with a real original than a fake duplicate anytime...What About describes the wrath of a young lady who questions her man's escapades (that's a Janet history joke if you a music person) to a jamming beat.  Anything is for the romantic who like to be with the special freak in their life. "Good things don't come easy", is what she croons... It sounds great to play at night time, but it ain't nothing like playing it during the day...plus night time is for amateurs, vets show love during the day as well...that's a side tip for us guys. The song Special is unique as well and gives anyone confidence about who they are.  The album ends with a treat of a bonus track at the end, too.  What more can you ask for...pure classic.

Just a brief trip back to 1997 to when Janet was on top still doing her "thizzle"...truly hope you enjoyed the choice.
Austino.

Austino's Vault is a special blog post to reflect on albums which have made an impact on our life and experiences.  The goal of Austino's Vault is to show music in which if you own, bring it out for a day to listen....If you don't own, go and get it, you won't regret it!

Coming Soon....

We'll be back soon with a new format and new topics based on very recent experiences which God has allowed us to go through.  Its been a movie and a half, but that's ok!!  We better and even more ready to show this world how we do things... Have a LOT to discuss and we are not holding back any more!  It'll be fun, promise!

The video below sums up our feelings right now, what's been going on in the last few weeks, and who we are...enjoy!

God Bless. And Let's Rock and Roll!

Please click here:  El Debarge and Babyface

Thanks for your patience,
Austino.

(You can check out archived posts at the tab at the bottom of the page)

My Baby.

Music.  She's been a true doll that has been wit us through all of life over the many  years on this earth.  She's been true, hasn't left us, has remixed herself, yet has kept her classic beats.  She loves to party, loves to chill, and loves to shout "Thank you Jesus!!" every once in awhile! (You'll get that later!)  Now many of you who read this are music fanatics, some of you may not be.  Our focus for today is the genres of  R&B, Hip-Hop and a little Pop...no Jazz or Gospel on today.  Our blog is a little long so if you are at the crib and tired of watching reruns of Basketball Wives, or on a lunch break at the j-o-b. this is a good read!  Don't read while driving!  Please...

For the sake of the audience , we just gonna stick to cuts from the years 2000-2004, and will keep it clean.  Now I know someone out there is like "I'm breaking the rules at work and you mean I'm not gonna see Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek" video, or David Banner 's "Like a Pimp" or even the Ying Yang Twins' "Whisper Song" videos?"  Man, we ain't even gonna mention them! (wink!!)

 (As always click words which are different color for more of a "Galaxia" experience!)

This was truly one of the golden eras of music.  Mariah Carey was wearing throwback jersey dresses...Me and my guy JB were breaking our necks to watch the TV shows Cheaters and Dark Angel (We knew Jessica Alba was a starlet back then).  You could go through the airport freely...Ipods were classics not touch...Louis V bags began coming in colors, just good and wild times really.

Mya's "Case of The Ex". G-Dep's "Special Delivery". and Sisqo's "Thong Song" ruled the airways ... "Incomplete" was really tha song off Sisqo's Album though (and yes, I did say album dat gone-it!!).  Jagged Edge was breaking down and saying "Let's Get Married" and "He Can't Love You", while I was TOTALLY digging Common when he simply asked Mary J. Blige to "Come Close".  Jon B. hit us with the party song "Don't Talk" and my vintage favorite cut of his "Boy Is Not A Man"...This was an era y'all.   My boy Gin-u-wine aka GG was explaining "Differences" while showing his fashion sense with the banger "In Those Jeans"!  Be warned, if you have time, please read on , if not, u might want to stop cuz we gonna be here for a long while!

Those Were Tha Days...

Today its all about "the good ol' days!" Been hearing that phrase a whole lot as of late,  maybe its because literally things ain't the same.  Folks just don't know how it used to be. People just sitting underneath trees at night just talking til moonlight! My father used to have my brother and myself clean off them lawn chairs with a bottle of Fantastik seemingly every rip.  Then them mosquitoes used to eat u up! That Avon repellent did not work trust us! It was wild.  Playing outside on bikes or shooting basketball at the parks.  Once knew a guy who brought his own net to the court to put on the basketball rims.  And then would take it home when he left!  That's like bringing ur own salt shaker in ur pocket to Morton's steakhouse.  Vintage stuff.  Ok, a few things before we get to rolling...today's blog is seriously interactive, meaning many words are highlighted or in a different color. That means they are linked to video or picture, click on the word because it'll make this more fun!  Also this is through our eyes, the 80s, 90s, and yes the 00s are game for discussion.  Hope u like.

Why don't they make Carefree gum anymore?  I remember back n tha day, tha fam would go to Kmart, and when I wasn't shooting balls into the huge plastic ball bin in the toy section, or thinking about that popcorn popping in the cafe near the registers, that gum was a highlight for the kiddo! Pixie Stix (the giant ones!), Now and Later's, Smarties, M&M mini's, Gummy Worms, Pez ( I got the Daffy Duck one!) , and Mentos (why does that make me think of this show?), these were a staple of all kids diets it seems! And Kool-Aid, and tell me u didn't know all the flavors.  Orange, Grape, Tropical Punch...then they got slick with pina colada type flavors.  A 10 for $10 deal at the store would put us in heaven with them packets.!  We all ate all this and  yet most of us were still active and in shape.  Amazing when u think bout it.