If you can’t tell by now, I fux with Diddy.

I’m kind of out the loop right now. I’m in my hometown, Charleston “Chucktown, SC with family. My uncle died and the funeral was yesterday, but I decided to stay here for awhile and kick it with my friends and family. Anyways, my parents still have dial-up at the crib and it fuxing sucks. So I haven’t really been able to keep up with the happenings of the internet world. But to be frank I really don’t care, it’s all about the NBA right now. So I don’t care if Jay-Z is bustin’ freestyles on Hot 97, nor do I care that Game’s whole album hit the net, and I don’t care that it’s Halloween and kids are dressing up like Flavor Flav (that’s scary).

Like I said, it’s all about the NBA. I have to dig up some more shoulda, woulda, couldas. The point guard of all point guards, former Duke guard, Bobby Hurley. No one could run a break like Bob Hurley. He led the Duke Blue Devils to back-t0-back national championships and ended his career at Duke as the NCAA all-time leader in assist (take that Steve Nash), but Hurley and the Blue Devils were done in by Jason Kidd and the Cal Golden Bears in the 1993 NCAA Tournament.

In 1993, Hurley was selected 7th in the draft by the Sacremento Kings but his career was cut short after being involved in a serious car accident with a drunk driver. I’m starting to believe Duke has a NBA curse that effects 1 out of  every 2 players (Grant Hill and Jay Williams both fall all under this curse). Nowadays, I think Hurley is racing horses or some ish, damn, what a waste.

It’s all about the NBA with me this week and continuing the “has beens” theme here at Writers Block, today I’m shouting out former Wake Forest guard, Randolph Chlidress. Childress was my favorite college player as a kid (not because he has the same first name as me), and I’m sad cause he didn’t do ish in the NBA after being drafted 1st Round (19th overall) by the Detroit Pistons in the 1995 NBA Draft (with KG, Rasheed, and Joe Smith’s bust ass). But I’ll always remember Randolph Childress, he did work in the 1995 ACC Tournament, averaging 35.7 points and 7 assists per game on his way to Tournament MVP honors. And to me, my man Randolph will always be remembered by this shot…

My favorite sport, basketball, starts up tomorrow night. This week is NBA opening week, so today I want to take a trip down memory lane and look back at my favorite NBA player as a kid, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Penny had all the moves, a Nike shoe, and Lil’ Penny. Back when Penny was throwing alley oops to Shaq, the Orlando Magic was my favorite team and I thought Penny was destined for greatness. But something happened and Penny disappeared from the face of the NBA (I think it was those bum knees), and ended up buried at the end of the NY Knicks’ bench last season. Everyone turned their backs on the guy, including Lil’ Penny, but I didn’t forget about you Penny. I’m not even sure if the guy is still in the league but on the eve of the 2006-2007 NBA season, Penny Hardaway, I reminiscene over you.

Tracks from Game’s Doctor’s Advocate have been leaking all over the internet the past couple of days, and honestly they don’t sound bad. He might be able to hold it down without the good doctor. One thing is for sure, Dr. Dre might not be producing any tracks but that won’t stop Game from saying Dre’s name 100 times on the album.

The Game ft. Busta Rhymes “Doctor’s Advocate” (I think that’s the title. Good look Lank)

eskay and Nah Right have the other tracks

This entire BAAALLLLLLIIINNN’ Week is based on Jim Jones’ “We Fly High (Ballin’)” so it’s only right to end this week with the man himself. But what makes this ballin’ tribute even better is Jim Jones and Dame Dash responded to Jay-Z’s “Kingdom Come” (that leaked yesterday), with “Kingdom Done”

Jim Jones ft. Dame Dash “Kingdom Done”

Jim Jones, for that you are officially…you already know. Jim Jones can’t rap worth a damn (kinda like Diddy) but he’s still everywhere. He has football teams doing “We Fly High,” he dropped a Gangsta Grillz, and he’s poppin’ up on remixes. BAAALLLLLLIIINNN’. Maybe Capo should have shown Cam’ron how to promote before Cam dropped that last album no one bought.

Capo’s new album might be worth a listen. We’ll have to wait and see. For now we’ll just rock to the “We Fly High” (Remix)

Jim Jones ft. T.I., Baby, Diddy & Young Dro “We Fly High” Remix

BAAALLLLLLIIINNN’

Jay-Z “Lost Ones”

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The Game “Sound Scan” (G-Unit Diss)

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The Clipse “Where You Been”

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Talib Kweli ft. UGK “Country Cousins”

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Young Burna “Like Beyonce”

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Nor is this gangsta. I don’t care how much money you’re being paid, no grown ass man should be kissing another grown ass man. Wayne, stop kissin’ on your daddy.

Lil’ Boosie Bad Azz is an ugly rapper with bad a haircut but he’s BAAALLLLLLIIINNN’. I’m not sure if people really know who Lil’ Boosie is but people in my hometown (Chucktown) do. Boosie and Webbie have been grinding hard, but Boosie finally dropped his first album Bad Azz on a major label this week. BAAALLLLLLIIINNN’. I like Boosie, but I’ve never really been a big fan of his compared to the rest of Charleston. After about 3 or 4 songs, his voice starts to get on my nerves, and that medium fade haircut is the worst. But I do realize the kid is talented. I wish they would have waited and dropped his album next year, and given the dude a chance to build his buzz some more but record labels are retarded like that.

Here’s the video for his single “Zoom” featuring Young Joc

There’s another ugly rapper with a bad haircut that’s BAAALLLLLLIIINNN’, Rich Boy. He dropped the video for his single “Throw Some Dees” this week. I’ve been rockin’ to “Throw Some Dees” since the Ozone Awards. The beat and the hook are catchy. I’m not sure what Rich Boy is rapping about but I’m sure it’s nothing important. Anyways, for this song, Rich Boy you are BAAALLlllLIIINNN’.

“Throw Some Dees” video (work with me on the video quality and crying baby, I couldn’t find a better vid)

As Baaallliiinnn’ week continues here at Writers Block, today South Carolina rapper/producer Danny! is BAAALLLIIINNN’. Danny!’s not ballin’ because he’s a Nupe (although that would elevate anyone to ballin’ status), nor is it because he did an interview with me. It’s not because Danny! has a show on Sirius satellite radio. He’s not ballin’ because he dropped the hottest album in South Carolina history. He’s not ballin’ because he’s been featured on Billboard, AOL Music, okayplayer, and VH1.

No…

The reason D. Swain is ballin’ this week is because his album Charm made the cut for the initial 49th annual Grammy Awards Nominations Ballot. Now, he’s not nominated for a Grammy, but he’s eligible for the first phase in the two phase process that leads to a Grammy nomination. BAAALLLIIINNN’.

Charm is in the running for seven categories including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Best Urban/Alternative Performance. For that Danny Swain, you are officially BAAALLLIIINNN’.