holiday indeed. [photogenic.]

genius. [photogenic.]

common. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

doom. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

Ok, so it is actually becoming Hip Hop Week-and-a-Half, just roll with it.

Today, it’s Hip Hop’s favorite crazy super-villain.

kanye. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

jay-z. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

As an emcee, he is actually remarkably unremarkable. His flow is usually stunted and unimaginative, rarely is there a clever turn of phrase to be found, and often words don’t even rhyme (and not in a intentional, poetic way, just in your average, lack of skill way). However, in spite of it all it cannot be denied that Jay-Z is one bad-ass motherfucker. He is the king of the Hip Hop world, both in finances and in influence. He is as powerful a force as there is in musical entertainment. In his own words (and this is one of the few clever turns of phrase he’s offered), /i’m not a businessman/ i’m a business, man/

Also, let’s not forget his ability to wear a t-shirt and sunglasses with such casual sexiness and swagger that he makes it look like a finely tailored suit.

And, since it is entirely possible I will never blog about Jay-Z again, here is another.

wale. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

Pronounced, ‘wah-lay,’ not ‘whale.’

q-tip. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

kid cudi. [photogenic, hip hop week.]

We should probably not even attempt to hide it and simply call him Kanye Jr.

Also, it is pronounced: ‘kuh-dee’ not ‘koo-dee.’

black thought. [photogenic, hip hop week.]