Eminem Recovery Review

I’ll admit when I first saw the track list for Eminem’s latest Studio Released Album, Recovery, released June 21, 2010, I thought he was on drugs again with some of the names of his songs i.e. ‘Cinderella Man’, ‘Seduction’ and ‘So Bad’. Thought he was going all Chris Brown, Usher and Michael Jackson on me. With that said, I still I went and bought the album from FYE because I support artist who put their stuff out instead of buying bootlegs. Plus I’m a loyal fan and Eminem has been my favorite artist for 10 years now. I listened to the album like I do all new albums, from start to finish. I’ll admit it’s different. Not close to vintage crazy Eminem, it was a shocker, like watching an NBA basketball game where Kobe Bryant plays 48 minutes and doesn’t shoot one time CRAZY! It’s a very casual record for the casual listener. My overall take of it, I loved the CD. And it points to one of the reasons I love Eminem as an artist, he’s very versatile, one of the few mainstream artist that can literally do any type of rap.

Let’s take a swan dive into Recovery for a second. The first thing that popped out in my eyes when I saw the record was who he had featuring. First one was with Lil Wayne, their song ‘No Love’ is one of the best songs on this album. Lil Wayne does what Lil Wayne does, and he collabs really well in this album. The theme of the song is what I liked the most, and the voice going ‘No more’ and “No love” just brought flavor into the rap. The other feature songs, kind of disappointed me, especially the one with Rihanna, she is such a wonderful talent, and she has a beautiful voice, and she was just a hook singer in their song “Love the way you lie” Granted Eminem went hard with the lyrics, I still would’ve loved to hear Rihanna do her thing. Pissed me off like when the movie Eragon came out, it ended like Lord of the Rings, except, they didn’t bring out the sequels, freaky producer should be punched in the face rapidly by an angry Gorilla. Eminem could’ve gotten anyone to sing that part. Pink is the same way, although hers had some flavor to it. And the one with Kobe, (Not KOBE BRYANT YOU MEATHEAD!), Talkin to Myself, was a good song as well.

So far, one of my favorite songs so far from this album is strangely Cinderella Man. Yes, Cinderella man, at first I didn’t like the song, but the more I listen to the lyrics, it’s a damn good song. And that’s one thing with people who listen to Hip Hop today. All they listen for is the hook and the beat, but the lyrics are watered down. I’m a poet myself, so good lyrics get you high on my list. Drake’s album is hot. That is why Eminem’s Relapse album wasn’t as bad as people are trying to claim it is, when you actually listen to the lyrics, granted they were demonic, drug supported, and just crazy honestly. It was also extremely creative, and shows how talented he is. And really only he could do something like that and go Platinum, he’s calling it a Trash Album; I don’t think it was his worst album. If I had to rank his Albums it would be

1. The Eminem Show (6 out of 5 Stars)


2. The Marshall Mathers LP (5 out of 5 Stars)


3. Recovery (4.5 out of 5 Stars)


4. The Slim Shay LP (4 out of 5 Stars)


5. Relapse (4 out of 5 Stars)


6. Infinite (3 out of 5 Stars)


7. Encore (2.5 out of 5 Stars)

I say that The Eminem Show is his best because it’s his first album he produced on his own without too much help from Dr. Dre. Encore he was on drugs when he did it, and Relapse he was getting off of drugs (His words not mine). Infinite was his first album, The Marshall Mathers LP is a classic, but The Eminem Show showed all his talents wrapped into one album, ranging from ‘Cleaning out my Closet’ to ‘Till’ I collapse’ to ‘My Dad’s Gone Crazy’ Eminem get’s mad respect from me. This Recovery Album is third best so far. If you haven’t heard it yet, listen to it, and remember it’s not the same crazy Eminem, it’s a very casual, matured Eminem, and I believe because he’s went so hard on other albums, and featured on songs (Drop the World, Renegade, Impatiently Waiting, We aint goin no where [Game]) and killed those songs, we give Eminem this impossible threshold to pass. But for a complete album, with no skits, no funny songs, it’s a great album. Now he needs to go back, do half of this CD and combine it with half of Relapse with some Skits, and we’ll get another classic like The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show that showed his diversity and versatility, rapping seriously and having fun at the same time. If Eminem can get back to that, watch out Hip-Hop!

R.I.P. Proof! (I didn’t know you, but I loved your talent and you were an obvious influence to Eminem and co-founder of D12.)

Recovery (Track List)

1. “Cold Wind Blows”


2. “Talkin’ 2 Myself” Featuring Kobe (Not Bryant)


3. “On Fire”


4. “Won’t Back Down” Featuring Pink


5. “W.T.P.” aka White Trash Party


6. “Going Through Changes”


7. “Not Afraid”


8. “Seduction”


9. “No Love” Featuring Lil Wayne


10. “Space Bound”


11. “Cinderella Man”


12. “25 to Life”


13. “So Bad”


14. “Almost Famous”


15. “Love the Way You Lie” Featuring Rihanna


16. “You’re Never Over”


17. “Untitled” Hidden Track

Go buy the CD support Eminem who is a charitable artist. Stay tuned I’ll be ranking his top 25 songs in a future Blog! My next Blog coming soon! “Kobe Bryant” G.L.O.A.T.!

Whistleblowers... Lost outside of LA

Whistleblowers… Lost outside of LA!

By Vensin Gray

I’m not a Stats man. Matter of fact, I hate John Hollinger. Just incase you don’t know who John Hollinger is, he’s the genius ESPN Stat Analysis who developed PER (Player Efficiency Rating) for the NBA amongst other statistical guidelines when evaluating players. If had a chance I would hack into Hollinger’s computer and corrupt all of his formulas, I hope his coffee is too hot and it burns his taste buds, and his toast is so hard it breaks his molar. But today I’m taking a Hollinger Approach. Sometimes when you are looking at games similarities, some numbers, outliers just jump out at you. Today I’m going to evaluating the Lakers three losses in this post-season.

I understand that I’m a Lakers fan, but I’m not a homer, home is Cleveland, Ohio for me. So technically I’m supposed to be ‘The King’s’ fan right? Wrong. I’ve been a Laker fan since 2000 and I’m not one to blame officials for the reason the Lakers lose. Be it lack of effort, the other team just played with more fire, wasn’t making their shots, the bench looked like a Junior Varsity team. All of these can be said about the Lakers three losses this post season, all away games, two to the Thunder, and one to the Suns, and yes, here’s a stat for you, all three games the Lakers have been on the short hand of the stick in Free Throw Attempts. And not by a little, they have lost by an astounding 21 less free throw attempts per game this post-season. (I say astounding because I’m sure statistical geeks say it and it sounds cool.)

Let’s dive into the metrics of these games. This post-season, the Lakers are 10-3. During these 13 games the Lakers average 24 Personal Fouls (PF) a game, 28 PF per lost game, and 25 PF per away game, and 23 PFs per home game. With those fouls produced 31 Free Throw Attempts (FTA) by opponents per game, 27 FTA per opponent in Los Angeles, and 36 FTA at home, a +9 difference. Just so you know, the Lakers don’t get that huge of an advantage at home, of their 13 playoffs games, the Lakers have only attempted more free throws than their opponent five times. And the largest difference was +9 in a close out game in Utah.

Basically all that mumbo jumbo is saying is that the Lakers really don’t change between home and away games. The Lakers only average 2 more PF a game when they leave Los Angeles. But they average 5 more PF in each game they have lost. 5 more fouls a game is good for at most 15 more foul shots (If they happened to foul on 5 failed three point attempts) and at least 5 points (5 And-ones).

Let’s take a look at their first loss. To the Thunder, game 3 of round 1 in the Western Conference. The Thunder averaged 32 FTA a game, The Lakers averaged 23 FTA a game, a +9 difference. In this particular game, the Lakers shot 12 Free Throws (FT) and the Thunder shot 34, a +22 difference, and they won by 5, no surprise there. It’s hard to win Away Games in the playoffs. It’s equally hard when you shoot almost 50% less free throw attempts than your average, and the other team gets a few more attempts, when the Lakers only had 26 PF, 2 more than their Playoff average. But to only lose by 5 points when the other team was practically spotted 22 more chances for points isn’t bad.

The second game The Lakers lost was Game 4 of the same round in the West Conference against the Thunder. You already know the averages (from above paragraph). The refs were a bit nicer to the Lakers, thy had 28 FTA. I was satisfied with that, but the Thunder had an amazing 48 trips to the line. Don’t adjust your screen, that’s a lot of free throws and a very long game. The Lakers were whistled for 30 PF that game, 6 more than their Playoff average. The Lakers lost this game by 21 points. Now this game could go to lack of effort, bad starters, bad bench, bad coach, bad city, something, but I call it bad officiating. I know that place was loud, but come on, 48 free throws? Unexplainable.

Their most recent game upset me so much that I’m trying my best to sound as smart as John Hollinger. My picture isn’t up because he’s way better looking (To be an old guy) I’m only 23 years old, and for Hollinger, I’m 23 years, three months and 24 days old today. But that’s enough of that. When the Lakers played Phoenix, yes The Suns were a bit more aggressive, but the foul calls were very one sided. I’m not one to complain about officiating (hypocritical statement there folks), but all The Suns had to do was walk to the basket and throw something up and a whistle blew. I’m watching the game with my Step-father, and he commented “All they have to do is run to the basket and the whistle is going to blow.” And he’s old school, he doesn’t complain about refs often.

Let’s analyze this game. For The Suns, this post season, their opponents average 26 PF a game at The Suns house. The Suns average 30 FTA per game at home. This game in particular, the Suns shot 42 FT to the Lakers 20, the Lakers were called for 28 PF. Look at that one last time, this entire post season, the Suns opponents at home, have had an average of 26 PF called against them, giving the Suns 30 FTA a game. This particular game, only 2 more PF called against their opponent, giving them 12 more FTA. Disparity? Explain that Referees. I would LOVE to hear this explanation.

In all three games The Lakers have lost this season, their opponent has a 124-60 free throw attempt advantage over them. They shoot 48% less free throws and lost each game by a combined 35 points. You would think someone who shot that many more free throws than another team would lose by a lot more. Are the Los Angeles Lakers just a super bad team on the road? Are officials swayed by the home crowd so much that they have to blow the whistle like that? The Stats are here, and stats do not lie, people do. I’m not saying the Lakers would be an undefeated team had there been a marginal difference in FTA instead the colossal difference in the three lost games. I’m just saying the officiating does come into question when you see games like that. As Andrew Bynum said earlier this season, which he was fined for, but I can’t be fined, “It’s hard to play 8 on 5.”

My 21 Days... Getting into shape.

Getting into shape… What does that mean exactly?

My 21 Days… Getting into shape

Exactly three weeks ago today I made a commitment to run a mile every day for three straight weeks. Why twenty-one days? According to John Socratous, a researcher, he strongly believes that the difference in ‘success’ and ‘failure’ depends on our habits. He believes, as other researchers believe, that a habit can be formed or broken in twenty-one days. Click here for details. So on March 2, 2010 I was talking with a co-worker of mine, and she told me to continue doing my work out for three straight weeks to ‘train’ my body. Well I took that as, what do I hate doing the most? I could lift all day, but I absolutely despise cardio work outs. So I decided to do twenty-one straight days of running a mile.

Now I know some of you are thinking, a mile? That’s nothing. Well a mile is something when you’re 5’10 270 pounds; with a bad knee, two bad ankles, wearing ankle and wrist weights. Add to that, you haven’t done a significant amount of cardio workouts since your freshman year in high school, add that all together and that’s a long hard mile. I remember day one of my mile, I was at three quarters of a mile, going into that last quarter and I thought I was going to die, I thought about this quote that I had updated on my Facebook wall it went “Work hard, and when working hard becomes tough, work harder.” So thought about that, smiled and increased the speed in which I was running, and no I didn’t die, but I wanted too. But I felt so much better having done that. So I started off really well. And everyday since then I have run a mile. Today is the twenty-first day, so I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to feel tomorrow, I’m not sure if I’m going to feel like “Hey, I need to run a mile or my day isn’t complete.”

I invite my readers… if I have any. To take this journey with me to trying to find out what “Getting into shape” really means. Although I may not look any different, I feel so much better then I felt twenty-one days ago. And isn’t that the purpose? To feel better? I mean hell, if you don’t do anything else in life, if you can just really feel good about what you’re doing and where you are at then yes, it’s worth it!

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be adding tips to working out, eating right, things to eat, things to invest in. We take the time to purchase cars, houses, expensive clothes, phones, computers, shoes, sunglasses, and other things that aren’t going to increase our health and keep us living longer and healthier. If we can purchase that stuff, we can invest in some stuff for our personal health! Add this Blog to you’re e-mail list and stayed tuned to www.vensingray.com because we are all about to get healthy. You start you’re twenty days today, right now, get up, run, lift, shake, do whatever it is that you hate and like it. Stay tuned for future updates. And remember “It’s not about how you look to other people; it’s about how you feel about yourself!”

OxyMoronic

OxyMoronic

Silent, but loud. Hungry yet full. Betrayal and anger enters my heart like a raging bull. Single and alone, but sinfully married. Our relationship is dead, but my feelings aren’t buried.

Smart, but ignorant. Wise and immature. Given everything he wants, but he still craves more. Avaricious but generous, his heart is coldly hot. Designed to live at the bottom, but destined to die on top.

Disappointingly satisfied. Quenched but still thirsty. Happiest in your life, but your heart is still hurting. Unhappily cheerful, yet sullenly smiling. As excited as a grounded pilot suddenly flying.

Convicted and set free. Hated but still desired. Fired before the interview, and afterwards, hired. Beautifully ugly, with an undesirable attraction. Like eating your favorite meal deriving no satisfaction.

African Caucasian, white but acts black. More confusing then opinionated facts. Verbally mute. Lying yet true. So many willing to kill, but willing to die? Few.

Illuminating darkness, courageously scared. With twenty-twenty eye-sight, your vision is still impaired. Extraordinarily normal, like a fireless flame. To cheat on your wife, and feel no shame.

Losing victoriously, but remorsefully proud. You gave it your all, so quietly scream it loud. Like a childish adult. Or a savage punk. A dumb nerd sleeps with more women then a smart Hollywood hunk.

Commonly outlandish. Regular, but ceases to amaze. To gaze backwards into a maze, stuck in a daze. Fearfully brave, and pleasantly mad. To look forward into the mirror disregarding your back being stabbed.

Curiously uninterested. As my heart was closed open. Hurting worst from the words that were never spoken. See you again? Eventually never. How clever is a drought that brings raining weather.

Selfishly giving. Directly dishonest. To stare me right in the face, and on my life, lie on it. I spoiled you fresh. You rotted me ripe. You made me feel so inadequate, like I wasn’t worth my life.

Losing you was my unwilling sacrifice. A religious man without faith. A soul without energy. To give everything you have, be laughed at… left with nothing but your dignity. You did me right wrong, no matter how you try to flaunt it. I still love you, and you hate me, pretty oxymoronic.

Heart's Broken...Stay Strong... Smile

How do you tell the heart to stop feeling?
How do you separate the lie from the truth?
How do you stare at the sun but don’t feel warmth.
Why is your sky dark, but everyone else’s is blue?
Or why do I continue to hold on to someone,
Who has obviously moved on from me?
They aren’t my destiny, we aren’t meant to be.
I’m nothing to them but a distant faint memory.
Two of the women I gave all of my heart to,
Both are separately living my dream.
One had a baby, and the other one is married…
Those were my goals, my life, and my family.
Once I found out the news, my stomach cringed.
My eyes watered up quickly, but I dared not cry.
I was famished, but then, my appetite faded.
My life suddenly ended, except I didn’t die.
How can a heart, that’s already broken, break?
Now, I’m more alone then ever.
Waiting, seeking, searching, hoping…
But it seems my heart will be broken forever.
But I’m stronger then just another sad poem.
I wrote this one, and I didn’t know where to start.
I’m strong but so many burdens,
I don’t think anyone could live with what’s on my heart.
With visions of a past of a dream that didn’t last.
Poems of heart break, poems of anger.
Poems of pain, poems of selfless heart,
Being held back by a selfish anchor.
But when most would just lie down, give up.
I got up, and will continue to work hard.
Because I was made different right?
I was made in the Heavens, amongst the stars.
That’s exactly why I can deal with so much pain.
The stuff that would drive a normal man wild.
Stare adversity right in the face,
and even though on the inside I’m defeated… I smile.

The 1st and Last Blog of 2010

It’s New Years Eve. A night where people get with there families and friends, go to parties, drink, and bring in the New Years with noting but smiles on their face. What am I doing? I’m sitting in my room, writing a blog, lonelier then ever, depressed in my own sorrow. Thinking about this past year of my life, how I lost the one woman I loved more then life its self. Drove another one crazy, ruined another potential relationship with one of God’s beautiful princesses. Then gave up on one who put up with all of my stuff because I wasn’t man enough. All of those just burn in my heart. But in 2009 I also published a novel, was a wonderful big brother to my sisters, was there more for my friends and family, but yet I’m here, alone. I could be at church, praying for forgiveness, and thanking Jesus for another year. I could be at a party, or at a club. But instead I choose to be alone. For 2010, I’m not making any resolutions other then to be a better man, become more financially independent, and just really try to enjoy life and be happy instead of thinking of these past sad memories. I have no poem for them, so to those trial and errors in 2009 I apologize if I ever hurt you. I apologize for everything. And to the one, you know who you are, and if you know me, you know who she is, if you ever see her, tell her that I’m sorry, tell her that I miss her, tell her that she is, was my hearts greatest desire. Tell her that now that she’s moved on, my life just isn’t as happy as it could be. Tell her that she is still my soul, and although we aren’t meant to be, she’ll always be my BeautifulSoul, and that I love her more then I love myself, and I hope that life is everything for her. And it saddens me that I have to move on from someone I feel so strongly about… but that’s life… I love you. Everyone who is reading this, have a happy new year, and remember, if you look into the mirror and don’t like the person you see, just change… and everything that’s meant to happen will, as long as you start by loving yourself.

~Vensin Gray

Welcome To My Blog!

First off, let me introduce myself, my name is Vensin Leonardo Gray, the author of The ProChrist and the founder of the website www.vensingray.com a website that features the poetic talents of other poets accross the world. My journey and dream is share my work, and other work with the world.

There is SO MUCH TALENT OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if you are undiscovered, let Vensin discover you, join me on my website, www.vensingray.com

In this Blog, I'm going to be blogging about many different subjects and topics that directly and indirectly affect me. So thank you for reading my blog, please subscribe to it, make your comments, e-mail me your thoughts and suggestions at VensinGray@yahoo.com or VensinGray@gmail.com and we can make it happen!

~Vensin