Metta Muzik.

Mr. World Peace has gotten soft over the last couple years - and yet, in a move I could not possibly have seen coming, I love him more with each passing day. (This never happens, since I prefer 'em during the dirty n' inappropriate years. Upstanding adults who've outgrown teenage-boy behavior are boring. Sorry, MCA, Ice-T, and Mike Tyson).

Driving around during my government-job shift earlier this week, I heard a podcast on my local pretentious public radio station featuring Ronald talking about Lenny Williams, the O'Jays, and Mobb Deep like it ain't no spectacular thing, NO BIG DEAL, DUN (I managed to retain control of the vehicle, though just barely). Listening to Ron Artest talk about records is intense daydreamy material - that accent! that voice! - and erases the pain I felt when I missed his autograph sesh at Living Spaces a couple months back. Thank you for the make-up gift, universe!


mp3.



Surprising Things Learned from the Podcast:

- Ron can't listen to rap before a game (gets him too emotional. ME TOO, Ron! Me too).

- He likes to listen to Alberta Hunter before a game. But if I may be so bold: based on his performance in the Mavs series, I would suggest that this ritual be re-tooled a little bit. Maybe bring some UGK in?, I don't know. Also, keep practicing less, because that seemed to agree with you.

- The host (Jason Bentley. Don't get me started.) is shocked at Ron's taste. "Ron shares his surprising pre-game soundtrack – soulful songs about love - and more in his Guest DJ set." Because, you see, men who handle their disputes in an effective manner, which may or may not be with angry faces and fists thrown in rage, cannot possibly like songs about romantic triumphs and tribulations. Mr. Bentley believes that just because Ronald's mentality is what, kid, that he doesn't have a muscle the size of his fist thumping away in his chest. Ugh. The stereotypes.



Unsurprising Things:

- Ronald and his mom listened to good music before church. Just like every other professional athlete during the last hundred years.

- Ron has an auntie, and the children of that auntie are, guess what, his cousins (he explains this in a charming and innocent fashion during the "Killa B shot in the head" portion of the interview).

- Mary J. got Ron through some tough times. This is developmentally appropriate; Ron was a teenager in the '90s and in college in the late '90s, and those were some prime Mary years.

- Ron's a Dude Who I Wish Would Read Me the Phone Book out loud, he's also a dude who can tell me stories any goddamn time he wants about Killa B's self-inflicted gunshot wound. (This actually happens in the interview. This is a thing that he actually talks about. Because that's just Ron for you). And Ron likes good old soulful music, dudes pouring their hearts out (Lenny Williams, the O'Jays). ME TOO, RON! Me too.

The Lenny Williams song is a Laboe classic, as well as an Original Kings of Comedy defining moment.



(Don't tell Ty, but I cannot possibly hate Steve Harvey when he pulls the ol' "I'm not too cool to freak the fuck out when some quality soul music comes on." Let's just say I can relate. Kicking the stools over; the whole thing. Yep. I will always loathe Tyler Perry though, so I still keep some credibility, yes?

You take Steve's reaction to the Lenny song, along with that of all those ladies in the first 10 rows, and you have successfully created a composite of me and my bodily responses in the Civic when "Cross My Heart" comes on. Throw in some Minaj,




and you got me in the Civic when anything Toomp- or Mannie- or Spector-produced comes on.)




And The Best Thing:

Well obviously it's the Mobb Deep Mention, of course.


Once more, with feeling: nothin like home.

(Logan laughs).




(Lenny Williams again! FULL CIRCLE, BABY.)







.