Within the last week alone, there have been enough injury casualties during World Cup prep to construct a winning eleven of crocked footballers.

Rio Ferdinand, Didier Drogba, Holland’s Arjen Robben, Italy’s Andrea Pirlo, Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel, and Portugal’s Nani all look to miss out on the tournament one day away. Fresh injury doubts now surround Spain’s Andres Iniesta, Australia’s Tim Cahill, Brazil’s Julio Cesar, and Switzerland’s Alex Frei. Not to mention, we found out months ago that otherwise certain participants David Beckham, Michael Ballack, and Michael Essien wouldn’t be making the trip.

Blame it on the long, fatiguing domestic seasons for running the players ragged and robbing us & them of some memorable World Cup moments. The most disappointing absence is Drogba as a freak tackle claimed his elbow, of all body parts. The best player on the best African team, there leaves little chance of Ivory Coast progressing out of the “Group of Death” including Brazil and Portugal, now having to rely on raw, markedly inferior replacements Gervinho and Salomon Kalou for bagging goals. Even if Drogba does make it back on the team sheet, it’ll probably be all too late.

Africa’s next best hope will also struggle to cope with their notable absentees. For Nigeria, Mikel was their midfield anchor, as was the case with Ghana and Essien. An unproven Anthony Annan or an in-form Kevin-Prince Boateng may fill the latter’s boots, but with teammates Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah also not in top shape, Ghana’s one true strength is now a glaring weakness.

Robben and Nani present similar conundrums for their respective teams. The former, one of the five best players in the world this past year, and the latter, making strides towards reaching his potential with United, provide their national squads with needed width in 4-3-3 formations. Holland will now push Rafael Van der Vaart wide or hope Eljero Elia can be one of the tournament’s breakout stars, while Portugal may have to keep Cristiano Ronaldo on the wings as opposed to the tempting proposition of him leading the line in the center.

And out of the remaining absentees, the potential loss of Tim Cahill stands apart. The unequivocal, inspirational leader behind Australia, he’s a big-game player as his Everton history proves and perhaps the only one for the Socceroos. As for England, Spain and Brazil, they have the strength in numbers to compensate. Spoiled for choice in those injury-hit departments, the absences might even ease their selection choices.

Yet, in a tournament like this, the little differences down the depth chart could ultimate alter the bigger picture.

Eden Black

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Had you been diligent and actually watched the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics like LC did, you may have already heard this track since they performed it during the opening ceremonies. Yep, you read that right, The Roots were part of the Winter Olympics & brought John Legend along for the ride. Hence the inspirational, yet pensive feel to the track.

From the harsh streets of Philly to the frigid prime time of the Winter Olympics, our If that isn’t the epitome of getting over I don’t know what is.

The Roots Feat. John Legend – “Fire” | Download

The Roots’ ninth studio album How I Got Over hits stores of all mediums 6.22.10

The Black Mamba is moving it like a snake on his way to hole for easy baskets and Old Man Fisher’s tears are making the court quite the slippery slope for the Celtics to get any sort of offensive transactions going. Will the Lakers take the commanding 3-1 lead? Can Boston’s big 3 actually score more than 20 points as an unit? Will anyone ever ball in Converse Weapons again? All this and more in due time… Read the rest of this entry »

With the influx of music that’s come across our paths over the past few weeks it’s been hard to keep my head above water. Pill’s latest 1140: The Overdose kinda got lost in the shuffle, actually there’s no kinda about it – after two or three listens it was on the next one. Unfilling to let this project be swept to the wayside, he hooked up with Motion Family to provide visuals for one of his tape’s standout tracks “On Da Korner.”

Eloquently chronicling the life of a foot soldier over Needlz’ pulsating synths & haunting vocal insert, Pill’s on top of his game with this one. I’ve been trying to remember the name of this track for the past few days (because looking in my Touch is so much work) to throw a few words on it, but the Motion Family did a much better job as they brought Pill’s already vivid tale to life. They take you so far in the trap you may very well have white fingertips when your done watching.

Download — Pill & DJ Drama – 1140: The Overdose

DJ Self had the presence of mind to tap two of NYC’s most viable new artists for his “Up Top” remix of Jeezy’s club banger. No offense to Maino, since he did his thing, but Vado put his foot in this one. Employing a pause and go flow to coincide with the rolling synth loop, it gave his words just enough added umph to warrant him attacking this beat dolo.

DJ Self Feat. Maino & Vado – “Lose My Mind” (Remix) | Download

After 16 years in the music industry, one would be hard pressed to find something Bone Thugs-N-Harmony haven’t accomplished. They helped usher in a new sound when they first appeared on the scene. Having won several awards and toured the globe numerous times over, they’ve enjoyed both critical and commercial success as well. However, with the return of incarcerated member Flesh-N-Bone, the group was finally able to achieve the one thing that has been out of their grasp for so long: record a studio album with the original members intact. With the release of Uni-5: The World’s Enemy, the Cleveland quintet’s reunion falls short to a glorious occasion as they fail recapture the creative spark they had earlier in their career. Read the rest of this entry »

When I first took a listen to Brooklyn’s Finest by The Stuyvesants, I was reminded by Pete Rock’s Petestrumentals album. Not to say they sounded similar, but with both albums you could get lost into just listening to the beats. I was surprised to find out that behind this project was Darien Victor Birks of Flwrpt. I’ve posted a bunch of his mixes and now he decided to use his beat digging expertise to make music. Collaborating with Algorythm (Skyzoo, Substantial), they formed The Stuyvesants, named after the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood both call home.

The project combines their knowledge of music and graphic design to complete a creative project they’ve been keeping under wraps until now. Although generic by title, Brooklyn’s Finest fulfills Flwrpt’s ongoing theme of Soul for the Hip-Hop ear while paying respect to the BK neighborhood that inspired it.

Download — The Stuyvesants – Brooklyn’s Finest

Contemplate this. Every summer deserves its theme music. It also takes precise calculation combined with unplanned execution to create such a song. The Kid Daytona and 6th Sense have created such a track; taking a breezy Tribe sample and capturing the feel of air conditioning in audio form. Read the rest of this entry »

John Wall may not know where he’ll be suiting up once the NBA tips off in October, but he knows what he’ll be lacing up in for the foreseeable future. By signing a $25 million endorsement deal with Reebok, he can go ahead and get used to swimming in the millions now. As for his shoes, who knows what Reebok has up their sleeves. It’s probably been a good 10 years since they made a splash in the sneaker world and have to be eager to attempt to make their presence felt once again. Read the rest of this entry »

In terms of squandering money, rappers make it rain, the military keeps wars in play and BP buys their reputation. Read the rest of this entry »

Slim Thug may not be the most politically correct muthaf##ka in the world but…um…actually I have no rebuttal to come to his defense. The man said what he said. You Black sisters, b*tches and hoes better get some ackrite when the Thugga is in your presence. Read the rest of this entry »

Jossie

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In Las Vegas, a man washes car windows. The same profession he has been doing for years. It seems ironic that a man who graduated with a degree in psychology ultimately let outside forces overpower his own mind. Those outside forces are drugs and false friends. Drugs ease the pain of fabricated friendships bound only by addiction. His mother — who has been dealing with cancer for the past 10 years of her life and is some 2,000 miles away — still holds hope her son will return home. Read the rest of this entry »

Even though the word “swagger” has lost all effective meaning for most, Cam still embodies it with his words and flow. More barbershop conversational than lyrical exercise, his brand of music is brash trash talk — bragging about diamonds, bagging your chick and cashing checks — that maybe seems like he’s laughing at us, but we’re laughing right along with him. Read the rest of this entry »