September 2nd, 2008

If hip hop were baseball, The Game would be batting 1000. The scorecard now reads: 3 stellar albums in 3 tries over a span of just 3 years. “LAX,” his latest effort, earns the title of 3 peat, a boast made by Lil’ Wayne, but only befitting The Game.

In a span of three short years, he has managed to resurrect a floundering West Coast hip hop scene while in the process, alienating himself from nearly everyone responsible for the success of his debut rap classic, “The Documentary.”

What’s so endearing about The Game is that he reps the West Coast like a badge of honor. A self- proclaimed Piru blood from the rugged streets of Compton, CA, The Game rhymes with a bravado unequaled in hip hop while maintaining a reverence for the legends that came before him.

He wears the pride of his hood in the form of his several tattoos and in the gangsta ethos displayed in his rhymes. He’s the most talented West Coast rapper to come along in years and everyone, it seems, wants to collaborate with him. Fourteen artists make guest appearances on “LAX” alone. Fourteen!

Highlights on “LAX” are his collaboration with Ice Cube (his favorite rapper of all time), State of Emergency, which happens to be one of the best songs on the album. Other strong tracks include Bulletproof Diaries, My Life, and Game’s Pain. He may never deliver another album as raw and consistent as “The Documentary,” but if “LAX” is any indication, The Game will be ruling the hip hop game (no pun intended) for years to come.

One of the many things that makes Lost great is the little tidbits of information released about an upcoming (or current) season to keep fans hooked.  

Although not airing new episodes until January 2009, new information about this Emmy Award winning series on ABC is rapidly populating forums. 

Below are some of the tidbits (and no MAJOR spoilers) already circulating as a preview to what audiences can expect for the fifth season of Lost (queue the flying logo):

Filming in Hawaii began August 18.

Michelle Rodriguez will be making a guest appearance this season.

Executive producers are tight-lipped (as always), but revealed that season five would be about the Oceanic Six getting back to the island.

Rousseau’s story will be a part of the new season.

There will be a new take on the flashforward/flashback narrative style.

There are at least three new characters (Caesar, Ilanna and Martha).

The title of the January 2009 season five premiere is “Because You Left.”

17 episodes will comprise the fifth season of Lost.

Catch Lost from the beginning on the Sci-Fi channel starting September 15.

Season four will be available on DVD on December 9.

Jerry Lewis’ Annual Labor Day Telethon raised a whopping $65 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

A twist was added to this year’s program: a special plea for the nearly 5,000 MDA-affected families who were forced from their homes in Louisiana and other southern states due to Hurricane Gustav and to donate to the Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services.

The 82-year-old comedian has hosted the telethon for more than 40 years. Some of this year’s entertainers included Celine Dion, Kid Rock, Reba McEntire and 3 Doors Down – to name just a few.

Helen Mirren’s publicist must have had the day off when she gave an interview for the September British GQ. The Oscar star’s candid remarks on date rape and drug use has prompted scores of negative media attention.

Mirren took a somewhat non-chalant stance on the subject of date rape saying it was a “tricky subject”, having been a victim herself as a student. Her definition of rape occurred in a situation “of a couple engaged in sexual activity but the woman said ‘no’ at the last second.”

To further aggravate anti-rape campaigners Mirren commented, “I don’t think she can have that man into court under those circumstances. I guess it is one of the subtle parts of the men/women relationship that has to be negotiated and worked out between them.”

If that wasn’t enough raise eyebrows, Mirren talked about her former love of cocaine.

In a positive light, Mirren is a well-respected and Academy Award winning actress who is speaking out on touchy-subjects, unlike many celebrities. I applaud her honesty. At least she doesn’t sugarcoat or avoid private issues during an interview. Perhaps this media attention can summon further conversations on date rape and awareness.