Take a good look at these young men because they’re part of a generation that’s going to change the world. Or, at the very least, your opinion of what a “black sport” is.

They are members of the Work to Ride program, a non-profit that provides disadvantaged urban youth from Philly with constructive activities centered around horsemanship, equine sports and education. In 1999, the Work to Ride polo team became the first black polo team in the nation. In 2005, the team won the Eastern Regional Interscholastic Polo tournament.

If you’re able, I implore you to make a donation to Work to Ride, which promotes discipline, self-esteem, motivation, social development, life skills, academic achievement and physical fitness—highly valuable characteristics in today’s society. If you can’t, please tell others about this great organization and these young individuals who are doing something productive in their pursuit for happiness and success.

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Mya – “Ridin’” from Liberation

It’s been over two months since I’ve published my one and only creative writing piece, so I figured it was time for another.

The following, though, is one of very few compositions of mine intended for a mature audience.

Her heels resonate over the tile of the floor and I found myself in absolute anticipation.

I was sprawled on the sofa that faced the city’s gleaming lights. Unlike most outdoor seating arrangements, this one faced inward allowing for views of what was inside as well as what was outside.

A soft “hello” could be heard from the door where she stood in her see-through gown that beckoned for attention. I replied in my best Joey tone of voice, “How you doing?” A smile crossed her face and she walked out and stood before me, graciously sitting on my lap and kissing me ever so gently on the forehead. We then shared the moment, partaking of the beautiful view that was there for our taking.

“Whenever you’re ready,” she said and kissed me again before walking inside; the breeze suddenly caught her dress and managed to offer a glimpse of what was to come.

I sat there for a few moments, trying to get myself together after imagining how great it would be to partake of her. I stepped inside and phoned the guys to let them know I wouldn’t be hanging out this evening. It had become routine almost, so they were knew they probably wouldn’t be seeing me since she was in town.

I found her sitting on the side of the bed, massaging her legs with the hot oil we had purchased together when we ventured into a nice little shop downtown. I couldn’t help but stare, my eyes following her hands as they move up and down and all around. I regained my composure and slipped out of my black boxer-briefs. She tried to act as if she didn’t see me standing there, but I noticed a smile come over her face. Instead of joining her on the bed, I stood there in amazement and admired the beautiful scenery.

Rather than dab a little bit of the white cream onto her hand, she held the bottle to her leg and left a streak of it up to her thigh. She beckoned me to come close and I assumed that she wanted me to rub it in. I began to, doing so ever so gently, wrapping my hands around her ankles and forming tiny circular motions as I moved higher. I glanced up and noticed the smirk on her face because she knew she had me.

She squatted alongside the bed and rested her head on my knee for a moment. She didn’t move at first, perhaps beholding what would soon find its way inside her in just a matter of seconds. She snapped out of her trance and quickly filled her mouth with me.

It took absolutely everything I had not to grab the back of her head. I began to tremble. Compared to the chill of the room, a mild 70 degrees, her mouth was hot and wet. I leaned back in ecstasy and could hear nothing but the sounds she loved to make and the sounds I loved to hear. I lay back and enjoy every moment of this experience; my toes began to curl.

After a while she lifts her head and I can’t do anything but look down at her panting. She appeared to be proud of herself; she definitely should be. She pushed me so that my back was flat on the bed and somehow managed to plant herself right at my lips. As my tongue went to work, she lay there on top of me, planting kisses on the very top of my head, mostly concentrating, though, on what was going on between her legs. I began to caress her, wrapping my arms around her waist so that when she starts writhing and squirming, my tongue doesn’t miss a stroke. Although her thighs cover my ears, I heard her every moan especially when I hit her spot and she screamed out in sheer bliss. I started all over again, even though she beckoned me with a soft “wait”. I disregarded her request and before long she’s shaking again tasting utterly sweet.

She climbed off me and onto the bed, giving me a sly grin. I turned off the few lights on before I climbed in next to her. The light from the patio still flowed through and provided us with a few shadows to use. We snuggled close and soon thereafter I slid into her, our legs intertwined. I thrusted ever so gently, eliciting a sharp gasp every now and then. I toyed with her hair and even traced her face with my fingers. Somehow one of my fingers managed to find itself inside her mouth, and she began to lick my finger, twirling her tongue all around.

At that moment, all I could think was, “I hope this never ends…”

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Joe – “The Love Scene” (M4A) from All That I Am

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that “If the rest of the album sounds like the songs I’ve heard, I think Chris Martin & Co. will have another masterpiece on their hands.”

Well, Coldplay’s widely anticipated fourth album, Viva la Vida, hits stores today and I was wrong about it.

Very wrong.

Coldplay’s latest is by far their greatest, transcending everything they’ve ever done. With this one, Coldplay leaves behind the lethargic feel of X&Y and builds upon the lush melodies and balladry from A Rush of Blood to the Head.

It’s been over three years since their last studio album, but the time certainly wasn’t “Lost!” This album is much more relaxed and much less stifled than the last. It’s also the group’s shortest one to date at just under 46 minutes.

Album opener “Life in Technicolor” is a brilliant instrumental that builds into something wonderful.

The haunting flamenco-folk “Cemeteries of London” follows and is reminiscent of another English group, The Animals’ “The House of the Rising Sun”. The juxtaposition between this track and the previous one is perfect.

“Lost” has this sort of tribal beat thing going on that I’d rather do without. Fortunately, the iTunes version of the album includes a bonus acoustic version of the song with nothing more than a piano and it sounds amazing.

“42” is next with its insistence that “Those who are dead are not dead, they’re just living in my head”. It features a soft melodic beginning and transforms into a driving rock beat not even halfway into the song. Before the end, though, it returns to the dreamlike beginning uniting the two and stating once again that “Those who are dead are not dead, they’re just living in my head”.

With “Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love“, there’s a two for one deal. The first, a U2-inspired upbeat track which I like, is joined by a soft, lulling one which I don’t.

“Yes” is another twofer, but it includes a hidden track, “Chinese Sleep Chant”. This time, inspiration is taken from Radiohead, which I like, and includes a more upbeat, lulling one which I don’t. Fortunately, I can set iTunes to stop the track at 4:04 right before it begins.

I’m sure everyone has heard the title track, “Viva la Vida“, from the iTunes commercial. I’m sure you love it too, right?

The album’s first single, “Violet Hill” is a dynamic piece of art that showcases a little more rock than anything I’ve ever heard from the group.

“Strawberry Swing” has a hint of Middle Eastern flair as a background to Chris’s description of the perfect day.

The final double track (as well as the album’s) is “Death and All His Friends” which includes the hidden “The Escapist”. The first begins with soothing vocals and a soft piano, while the second is more excited and has a pulsing guitar riff. Out of the three double tracks, this is the only one that I didn’t like at least one part.

Rife with allusions to God, ghosts and death, Viva la Vida is a sound departure from their previous work, which I’m sure will attract even more fans and satiate those who’ve been anxiously awaiting new material.

Visit Coldplay.com and check the band out on MySpace at MySpace.

J.’s Joints: “Life in Technicolor”, “Cemeteries of London”, “42″, “Lovers in Japan”, “Yes”, “Viva la Vida”, “Violet Hill”, “Strawberry Swing”, “Lost!” [Acoustic Bonus Track]

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Coldplay – “Viva la Vida” from Viva la Vida

I’ll admit it: I was a bit apprehensive about even listening to (let alone reviewing) No Introduction, the debut album from Tyga, because I didn’t know what to expect.

He’s the cousin of Travis McCoy, lead vocalist of Gym Class Heroes, and hails from Compton, California. I have nothing against either of those. It’s just that, again, I didn’t know what to expect.

Released last week (on the same day as labelmate Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III), No Introduction is a fun, pop-rap album. In Tyga’s own words, though, “It’s fun, but at the same time, I got my life stories and I got problems that people go through that could help people get through.”

Tyga should thank executive producer Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy) for helping create this niche of music. At such a young age, Tyga manages to fuse emo-pop and pop-rap. Then again, it’s probably only someone at such a young age who could manage to (or even attempt to) do such a thing.

The album opens with “Diamond Life” (featuring Patty Cash) with a rock-infused beat and Tyga talking about his addiction to tattoos at 17 and a father in prison. Perhaps my least favorite track because of the hook: “Diamond life, sugar baby we dynamite, playboys and socialites, young and fly fly fly”.

The first single, “Coconut Juice” is next and does a good job of borrowing from Harry Nilsson’s other hit, “Coconut”. It was MTV’s Jam of the Week and features cousin Travis spitting a few bars at the end.

“Supersize Me” follows and mentions, “Jetlagged Louis Vuitton bags, under eyes see they don’t recognize me, so are you following man? ‘Cause I stay puffed like the marshmallow man.” This Patrick Stump-produced track features a generic beat and the topic of materialism. Of course I am feeling this one. Not! The marshmallow man?! Wow…just wow.

“Don’t Regret It Now” (featuring Patrick Stump) picks things up a bit with Tyga offering a personal and introspective look at life’s regrets.

On “Pillow Talkin’“, Tyga opens up about heartache over a laid-back beat that almost induces sleep.

“AIM” has a nice mid-tempo beat that I like, but it comes with a hook (“She don’t know me by my name, she just know me by my AIM”) that I hope to hear never again.

In an interview with Buzznet, Tyga revealed that the second single will likely be “First Timers“, and will be released in the fall “when everybody goes back to school, when everybody doesn’t want a girlfriend or boyfriend anymore, ‘cause it’s not summer.” This is definitely a track for the ladies…the young ladies…like, little girls. Really. I could see any of the dudes from Disney recording this.

“Cartoonz” is full of cartoon references over a decent beat, but not much else.

The next track, “Summertime” is one of the album’s best with a cool, summer vibe that will definitely get a lot of play from the MTV crowd.

“Press 7“, about breaking up with an ungrateful girl, is not good and not bad. It’s…okay.

It’s followed by another okay one: “Woww“. On this one, Tyga declares that “I don’t think nobody sound like this” because of his new sound. If you say so, man.

Time for another deeply personal, introspective track with a good beat: “2 AM“. I can appreciate him baring his soul, but I don’t quite understand him wishing he was in a coma.

The best beat is definitely saved for last on “EST. [80's Baby]“. The hook (“Almost EST in the 90s, but I’m still a 80’s baby, don’t even try it’s the way God made me, it’s the way God made me”) doesn’t do much, but, again, the MTV crowd will love this.

Overall, No Introduction is a solid effort. Unfortunately, it’s just that and nothing more. There’s nothing that truly stands out to represent the new sound of which Tyga speaks. Give him time, though. He just needs to hone his skills and I’m sure he’ll soon need “No Introduction” with his label marketing him as having crossover appeal. Let’s not forget his affiliation with the “Best Rapper Alive”. That definitely won’t hurt.

Check Tyga out on MySpace at MySpace.com/Tyga.

J.’s Joints: “Don’t Regret It Now”, “Summertime”, “2 AM”, “EST. [80's Baby]”

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Tyga – “First Timers” from No Introduction (M4A)

I noticed this recent pingback:

I was browsing around some poetry blogs this morning when I happened to see a poem that was quite well written and I felt needed a moment to be looked at. The subject isn’t the most interesting to me but the imagery is very well done. Some of the rhymes are a bit of a stretch and sound a bit awkward but it is very well written none the less.
Go take a look here.

I wrote that poem when I was 18 years old. I’d like to think I’ve grown since then, both as a man and as a writer.

I hope so anyway.

I recently came across my old notebooks filled with my earliest work. I even had a poetry collection online, titled When a Man Loves. Funny that back then 1) I was not a man and 2) I was not in love. Check out the introduction:

Welcome to my place on the net
In order to be here we must’ve met
Please be sure to sign the guestbook
So I can contact you if I find out there’s something you took
But, seriously, enjoy yourself and come back again
But you better not send any of your trifling friends
‘Cause I don’t want them stealing any of this
Or I’m gonna have ‘em kissing my fists
But on the real and very QT
Here’s where you ought to be
So here you go ladies and gents
The poetry of the one they call PlatinumPrince

You like that, don’t you? Haha. Honestly, I don’t know who called me PlatinumPrince, but I do remember having a BlackPlanet page with that name.

I won a couple of poetry contests back in the day and was even published in a Poetry.com collection. It’s funny, though, because when I read any of those poems, I can’t help but think, “How did this win anything?”

I admit that I am my worst critic and I expect nothing less than my best. Back then, I suppose that was my best. The man and writer that I am today, though, thinks there is always room for improvement.

This quest for perfection is probably what delayed that book I started working on some time ago. It’s cool, though, because I now realize that it wasn’t meant to be. The way I see it, everything happens for a reason and it just wasn’t meant to be for me to finish that book. It also didn’t help that I deleted everything pertaining to it, but that’s beside the point.

Now I have the opportunity to give it another go, and I think I’m ready for it. More importantly, are you?

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Remy Shand – “Looking Back on Vanity” from The Way I Feel