"Cheers, no worries mate!"

ALBUM OF THE MONTH

DEVIN THE DUDE: WAITING TO INHALE

I rarely post a recent album in this column, I usually dedicate this space to an underappreciated ol school classic. Let alone will I post an album from somebody I know or have worked with. Fuck it. Devin deserves this. It goes without saying that this album is classic Devin. He's a pillar for consistency and has again proven that he can stick to his script without becoming boring (a nearly impossible feat). "She Use Ta", "She Wants That Money", "Somebody Elses Wife"...Devin at his finest. Let's not sleep on the cameos from Snoop and Andre 3000 on "What A Job" (Andre's take on filesharing is pretty funny here) and in the vein of most great albums, he keeps the production in house and consistent, avoiding the "buffet producer" trend runing so many albums. I sound like a broken record in saying support this brother, but its worth all $16. If not, y'all don't know a good thing when it comes up and blows a snot rocket on your new fitted.

OL SCHOOL CHICK OF THE MONTH: SALLI RICHARDSON

Well, she ain't really old school. Not hardly. I haven't seen her in any movies as of late, but I'm sure she hasn't lost a step. Probably best known as "the other girl, opposite Jada Pinkett" in Low Down Dirty Shame. She was in How U Like Me Now and Posse as well, along with a lot of camoes. Jada couldn't touch Salli, man that's a blowout. Another underrated dime from the 90's that got lost in the Halle/Jada/Nia Long onslaught (not taking nothing away from those 3). Salli beat em all in terms of class though. She always seemed more mature and after Low Down Dirty Shame, I was ready to propose. I woulda copped a nice $35 ring off Jamaica Ave. and given her the best Le Chateau Blanc (White Castle) romantic dinner money could buy. But to no avail, we never met. Salli, wherever you are, you're still untouchable and you run the pack for 90's leading ladies! These 2007 video hoes ain't worthy enough to cook your oatmeal. This Buds 4 u!


NBA PLAYOFF ANALYSIS (PART 1)

Aight, my bad for bein late with the Playoff Analysis. The Stephen A. Smith ofrap with the better hairline is here after a week in Australia where my b-ballinfo was limited to e-mails, so I was in no place to comment. Speakin of which, Melbournians would make great Knick fans. They're rowdy as hell! I'd love to hear them booing at MSG. I went fishing on Rockaway Beach yesterday and coulda swore I saw Isiah Thomas out there with a hook n reel in an old Pacers warmup jersey. Well I'm back in the house with the monster jet lag ready to put it down how I see fit...I'm still mad Ray Allen and my Sonics are out of the playoff run. Next year, I swear!

BULLS vs. HEAT

Fuck what I said in November. I admit the Heat pulled it together mid season (especially without D. Wade), but the Bulls are gonna have Shaq spending May doing more Icy Hot Sleeve commercials. The Bulls are too loaded, too quick, too athletic, too everything. The Heat have experience, but when Ben "Money Earnin Mt. Vernon" Gordon, Luol "The Only Duke player not on the Clippers in the NBA that I don't hate" Deng and Kirk "5th Beatle" Hinrich are in conrtol...that's too much firepower. Plus Big Ben, Tyrus, Nocioni...Fuhgetaboutit. I say Bulls in 5. I think D Wade will put it down for a win one time. Plus it would be nice to see Antoine do the shimmy a few times.

PISTONS vs. MAGIC

Dwight Howard is the 2007 Ivan Drago (Rocky IV), Jameer Nelson is the truth and Keyon Dooling went O-Dog on Ray Allen. 3 reasons the Magic are one of my favorte teams. Chauncey Billups is no joke, Sheed is an NBA player that somehow ended up in beef with my man E-40, Rip Hamilton is Reggie Miler in a mask with a mid range touch and Tayshaun Prince went to high school in Compton. Damn. I gotta say Pistons in 5.

RAPTORS vs. NETS

These games are gonna be fun. It's always fun when Vince goes back to Toronto and gets in beef with the crowd. The Raptors are clearly the better team, but the Nets have more experience. And Jason Kidd. He's mad that hoe (Joumana), and that means doom for the Rap show. You just don't fuck with Oakland. Did you hear "What The Kidd Did" back in the day? What a song. This is a hard one. Jason Kidd decides this series. Either way it comes down to 7 games. Fuck it, roll the dice, I'll say Raptors in 7. There's no answer for Chris Bosh. And TJ Ford is no joke...I just gotta represent for the 6 foot and under guard club. Unless that's for Sebastian Telfair. C'mon Bassy, you know better than that, what dope are you on? The NYC PG tandem is on life support, but that's another subject. Through the Fire is lookin like Hoop Dreams dawg! I honsetly believe Isiah will pick up his contract in the summer and maket the Knicks on the Lincoln High alumnus/cousins tip.

CAVS vs. WIZARDS

No Gilbert? No Caron Butler? No dice...Cavs hold the broom.

ROCKETS vs. JAZZ

Hmmm. Another close series. Two real different but well matched teams. Derron Williams may be the most underrated PG in the NBA. One of my favorites. But I just REFUSE to vote for the Jazz in anything. An old bias I got from the Greg Ostertag days. They're like a slower version of the Spurs, and that's not very entertaining. AK-47 has a model wife though, and he's definitely the Max Julien of European NBA ballers. I say Rockets in 6 because there's no answer for Yao and T-Mac (if they stay healthy). Derron Williams, however, will eat the Rocket backcourt alive. Mark my words. That dude is just mean.

WARRIORS vs. MAVERICKS

Yay area! I didn't see that first game, but it sounded reminiscent of when I saw Baron Davis light up the Kings in November. If they can run the pace like they want, fuck what you say, they will crush the Mavericks. This is an upset in the Making. I like Jet Terry but he can't hold Baron. Monta Ellis is a blur, Stephen Jackson is more hype now than when he took on Auburn Hills, Jason Richardson is a killer...The lost Game 2, but I just have a weird feeling. The 8 will beat the 1 seed here. I'll put up an ass bet say Warriors in 7. But even if the Mavs win, they won't survive the Suns or Spurs.

SUNS vs LAKERS

Did yall see the Suns just thrash the Lakers in Game 2? It was Carver High vs. The Globetrotters out there (those that know, know). And Kwame Brown is Goldstein. If the Suns get control of a game, you can forget it. They have the best PG in the league and are loaded all throughout. I say the Suns win the whole fuckin thing, but let me not OD so soon. Kobe will have a few magical nights as usual, but only one will result in a win. Suns in 5.

SPURS vs NUGGETS

I dunno, I'm just not a believer in the Nuggets. Yeah, they got firepower, they took game one and I'm an AI fan to the death. But all the Spurs have to do is control the tempo and put the clamps on Linis Kleiza, Eduardo Najera and JR Smith. "Moonwalker" Anthony will get his 30. AI will damn sure get his 30. But the key to beating the Nuggets is controlling the other 2 dudes. I say Spurs in 6.

I'm ouuuuuuuuut, like the Heat in a sweep (I posted this late).