Back to Back Rhymin -- Next up, yo I believe that's me

1. The Takeover/Ether - Who won?

Jay won with The Takeover, hands down. It wasn't even close. Takeover has better lyrics, and by far the superior beat. Ether is a decent track, and Nas got in some good jabs (plus the whole song is dedicated to ripping Jay, compared to The Takeover, which only contains one verse directed at Nas -- but for me it's really a case of "less is more" also working in Jay's favor), but the beat is just so-so. And, as I mentioned in my last post, Takeover was ingeniously masterminded. Jay put out the bait, and Nas gobbled it up, hook, line and sinker. It's perhaps the only song which I can think of that is positively machiavellian in terms of how it came together.

Ironically, Takeover almost singlehandedly rejuvinated Nas's career. It's a shame, though, that Nas didn't do the most with the opportunity Jay presented him. Stillmatic was dope, but far from classic; God's Son was worse than Stillmatic; and Street's Disciple was just garbage. Nas's career trajectory repeated itself all over again.

Now, with things patched up between the two former rivals, it'll be interesting to see what's in store for Nas. Does he have another classic in him? I say no, because his lyrics these days, while still impressive, are nowhere near as dope, as poetic, as the verses he dropped on Illmatic more than 10 years ago. Aren't artists supposed to progress talent-wise? Nas has done nothing but devolve. Maybe he has it in him (I've been wrong before), but I really doubt it. If he did, I think we would have seen a true return to form on Stillmatic, which didn't happen, regardless of how much of a step up that album was in comparison to the dreck he was churning out prior.

The more important question though, I think, is how does Nas signing to Def Jam affect the rumored album with Primo? My magic 8-ball says outlook not so good, if you recall what Jay-Z -- who has to be calling most of the important shots on the direction of Nas's Def Jam debut -- did with his "final" album. Sheet, he didn't even put one Premier track on that shit. Type strange.

We'll have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to purchasing it when it's released sometime in 2012.

2. Who is the Greenspan of J-babe-onomics in 2006?

This is a toughie for 2 reasons: one, because tastes in women range perhaps wider and further than those of musical genres and styles, and, two, because there are only a handful of Japanese ladies for whom I keep my eye (and penis) out for. That said, here's the short-list of J-babes who keep the flames of my unhealthy perversion stoked:

Matsugane Yoko

She's got a huge rack. The rest is pretty much average. In that respect, she's a one-trick pony. A one-trick pony with a huge rack, mind you.

Harumi Nemoto

Like Matsugane Yoko, she has a huge rack; but she's far prettier. The only downside with her is that her photos make her look way sexier than she actually is, in person. But it's the same with any gal. Just last week I saw a glamour shot of Liza Minelli that gave me wood.

Natsuko Tohno

Possibly the best pair of breasts I have ever seen in my life. Definitely the best pair I've ever seen on a computer monitor.

And the winner is...

Reon Kadena

Yes she has a snaggle tooth, but if anything it makes her even sexier. By the way, in the coming weeks I plan to further alienate my female readership by following up the 10 Most Annoying Korean Celebrities post with a list of the 10 Sexiest Korean Celebrities. Coincidentally, Kim Su-Mi made both lists.

3. Sir Charles.

Without a doubt, KRS ONE. Both are outspoken and controversial, and while they often appear to be talking out of their asses (KRS moreso than Chuck), they are brutally honest and unafraid to call things how they see them.

By the way, have you heard this (part 2 here)? Dude is crazy. But he's still number one.

(Come to think of it, there's an interesting correlation to be made between South Koreans, with their general, unconditional love for their Northern brethren, and my unwavering support for Kris.)

Wilt.

Madonna. Both had sex with a lot of people and authored books about it (though Madonna, unlike Wilt, isn't a bald-faced liar who invented a ridiculously inflated number). And much in the same way Wilt's 100-point game will probably never be topped, it's hard to imagine anyone reinventing himself/herself more times than Mrs. Ritchie.

Kobe.

Ian Curtis. Both are/were talented and brooding, seemingly haunted by unknown (and perhaps paranoia-based) personal demons, with the only differences being that people actually liked Curtis, and as far as I know he wasn't a rapist.

Mahmoud Adul-Rauf.

Sinead O'Connor. Sinead's career would have lasted longer had she not ripped up that picture of the Pope on SNL (she should have done it in the privacy of her home, which is what I do -- except I use a voodoo doll; and it's likeness is not that of the Pope, but rather Antoine Walker). Likewise, the former Chris Jackson would have stuck around the L longer had he not refused to stand during The Star Spangled Banner.

(BTW, I really miss watching closeups of Abdul-Rauf's grill as he shot free throws. How he managed to shoot such a high percentage while twitching like he did is a complete mystery to me.)

Dominique.

Johnny Marr. I was outraged when 'Nique was left off the list of the Top 50 at 50. Similarly, a few years ago Rolling Stone magazine compiled a list of the top rock guitarists of all time, and Marr was snubbed. Neither were the greatest of all time, for sure, but both men's contributions to their respective fields easily place them in the top 50, once again proving that lists are stupid.

Magic.

Joe Strummer. Both were two of the most gifted and most talented in their respective fields, and just as Strummer helped bring punk into the mainstream in the early 80's, Magic (along with Larry Legend) did the same for basketball.

PS - I debated likening Magic to Keith Richards -- because both remarkably keep on living -- but couldn't in good conscience.

Craig Hodges.

Craig G. Craig G was one of the best freestylers of all time, but that was pretty much it for his skill set. Same goes for Hodges and the 3-ball. Also, neither of their contributions to team success (Hodges with the Bulls, Craig G with the Juice Crew) should be overlooked. But once Hodges' 3 stopped falling, that was it for his career. Of course, it could be argued that he was blacklisted and pushed out of the league for his outspoken beliefs, in which case he too deserves comparison to Sinead O' Connor.