So there was an article on 6 for his album release party in WVU's school paper The Daily Anthenaum. Good article. But...there was something wrong with the picture.

6’6 240 to host CD release party at 123

By Marc Basham

One of the more recognizable names in the Morgantown music scene is hosting a party to celebrate the release of his new album, and everybody is invited to join the festivities.

Rapper 6’6 240, the man behind the unofficial anthem of West Virginia University football, "Gold and the Blue," has a new album titled "Hard Work and Dedication," scheduled for release Sept. 23.

To celebrate the new release, 6’6 240 and 123 Pleasant Street are hosting a release party Thursday night to debut songs from the album and hear some new music from the rapper and other acts.

According to 6’6 240, the new album was a tireless effort but well worth it for his loyal fans in the area.

"There was a lot of hard work and dedication put into this new album, hence the name," 6’6 240 said. "I made a conscientious effort on this album to make music for my family and the many people who have supported me throughout the years."

The performer also believes that staying close to home on this new album brought out the best in his music.

"It seems like I’ve been trying to take over the world since 2000, but my main support has always remained local," 6’6 240 said. "This album, and all of the dedication I put into it, is for my fans and supporters in West Virginia."

6’6 240 has become most recognizable from his WVU football anthem "Gold and the Blue," a song that he says has evolved over the years.

"Every year, I try to make ‘Gold and the Blue’ better, and this year, I think is one of the best," 6’6 240 said. "Up until last year, we had Pat (White), Steve (Slaton) and Coach (Rich) Rod, but now WVU football is moving into a new era with Coach Stew and Jarrett (Brown) at the helm. I wanted this year’s version to also reflect that evolution into a new era."

With the release party, 6’6 240 is also trying something new – performing with a live band.

"I have been working with my band for about a month and a half," 6’6 240 said. "This event is going to be a great way to give back to my fans and showcase some of my new music. We have several other acts performing, too, so it’s going to be a good time."

6’6 240’s release party featuring A Breezy is set for Thursday night at 123 Pleasant Street. There is a $5 cover at the door.

To hear samples of 6’6 240’s new album and the 2010 version of "Gold and the Blue," visit his Web site www.myspace.com/mrdubvee.

I have not been mistaken for 6'6...yet. lol.

So every few years WVU picks a new person to be the Mountaineer mascot. And normally it's a guy.

This year it's a girl. And a bunch of douches at WVU are giving her a hard time about it.

Personally I don't care. I'm sure she's able to do the job as well as any man that's been the mascot before her. And she's not the first girl mascot anyway.

But reading articles like this makes me forget we live in 2009. Let her be the Mountaineer people. She's obviously better than you at it.

Rebecca Durst officially started as West Virginia University’s new Mountaineer when she fired the rifle at the Gold-Blue Spring Football Game at Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday.

But some students and fans are still taking shots at her role in a traditionally male position.

( Read more... )

Last Thursday, I went with my friend Derek to see James McBride speak.

I wish I had a tape recorder.

Or more time to ask him questions.

As a writer, screenwriter, and musician, he appealed to me in many ways.

And he made a lot of sense.

Here's the D.A.'s article on him.

So I get into the radio station and read this god-awful Roots album review in the D.A. First thing, I say to my friend Kodi, "This is going in the blog." No sooner do I get on the net, I get a call from Matt saying he already wrote a rant about the article on our music blog. THIS is why we work so well together. lol.
http://hiphopmanifesto.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/hip-hop-critics/

Things have changed in the past decade. Technologically, economically and sociologically, the country has progressed and regressed in various ways. Comic books, a media once claimed for the more socially inept, have changed in ways that call upon all three of these worldly aspects.

Hollywood films and television shows have milked the form and its content for a multitude of media. The graphic novel, a paperback collection of comics in book format, has garnered much interest from new fans, adorning coffee shop shelves and most book stores. In general, more people are just plain interested in comics.

Even in Morgantown, the interest is growing by the day. Gary Loring, owner of Gary’s Comics & More, located at 314 High St., has noticed the change himself. According to Loring, the market is “definitely growing.”

The store, a staple for four years (and in recent years has become the only exclusive comic store in town), is host to hundreds of dedicated readers and occasional shoppers alike. Reservists, people who have specific series that the store holds for them, are well past the triple digits in number.

“I used to know every collector in town,” Loring said. “Now that’s just not the case.”

Marvel Comics and DC Comics, the two largest publishers in the industry, have both had large events in their universes that have garnered and sparked interest from outside and regular fans.

“Civil War,” Marvel’s massive 2006-2007 event, intrigued varying demographics of readers with a story that was in part a reflection on our own feelings towards our government.

Forcing super heroes to register with the government, the Marvel Comics United States was host to a war between those willing to register and their strong opposition. Captain America, in direct defiance of the Super Hero Registration Act, led his own band of heroes against the goverment’s side, represented by another staple character, Iron Man. The story included almost every character alive in the Marvel Universe, spanning nearly all of the publisher’s titles. Faithful readers who wanted to know what was happening in the lives of their favorite character could not help becoming immersed in Marvel’s “Civil War.”

The event suffered in part due to delays, which according to Loring haven’t been a problem for “52.” A vast DC Comics event, “52” consisted of a weekly comic that began in May 2006 and ended 52 weeks later. The series, which is the longest weekly comic book series ever published in North America, revolved around the aftermath of Infinite Crisis (another huge event proceeding “52”) and the search for Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman (arguably the most prominent characters of the DC Universe) after all three characters don’t make an appearance at Superboy’s funeral.

Both publishers have had a huge year, and will continue to grow as “World War Hulk,” Marvel’s newest cross-over and follow-up to “Civil War,” and “Countdown,” DC’s answer to fan cravings, take hold. But there’s still room for other publishers. A consistent publisher,, Dark Horse Comics, still claim s interest. Newer imprints, like Avatar Press (born of the late ’90s), still continue to attract new interest and readers from other forms of media.

Loring believes that perhaps there is still more potential for media crossover that hasn’t been tapped yet.

“Both companies are doing the big movie push,” Loring said. “DC is famed for it.”

Indeed, Hollywood has taken a huge interest in comic books, with more summer blockbusters than ever being birthed from the form. With advancements in special effects, the movies now seem near realistic, or at least as realistic as you can get when dealing with super powered people running around. DC Comics is even owned by Warner Bros., with future projects being planned, including one that has caused a lot of buzz in fan forums: a Justice League of America film. Television has also taken its own grasp and creative share, with “Smallville” being one of the most successful television adaptations to date.

Along with both technology allowing the ability to produce more quality movies and the gained market interest, comic books have taken a sociological turn for the best. With readers coming in from every direction, from every demographic in age or social type, Loring himself has noticed the shift in his own store.

“We get doctors, lawyers, people of every type,” Loring said. “All different kinds come into the store.

Loring is particularly excited about the amount of people from a much younger generation coming into the store.

“It’s good to see children come into the store,” Loring said. “We try to provide a safe place for them to come.”

So gone are the days of the “dork” demographic. Lost are the views of comic books being only for the outsider, or the insider, depending on your perspective. Comic books are indeed here to stay, and they’ll only continue to grow, as the form reaches for every type of person the world has to offer.