Open Mic w/ Bear Frazer : Volume II

Once again, it’s time for the latest and greatest in pop culture with your host, Bear Frazer. I just got word that people on the West Side are talking about how incredible my column is. I would like to say it’s nice that I have some fans all the way in Cali. Anyways, here I go.

One thing that has made me mad in the past is that some artists can easily top the Billboard Charts not by their skill, but by who they are. Take our latest example: Hillary Duff, the star of the Disney movie and television series, Lizzie Maguire. She doesn’t have the best voice or the best music around, but who she is guarantees her a platinum record and a #1 album on the Billboard 200. Her song, “Why Not,” wasn’t impressive whatsoever. There are so many pop stars out in the music scene who could easily make a better tune. This brings up the typical question, what’s the point, better yet, what are you trying to say? I’m not trying to say anything … I’m flat out saying that the only reason why Hillary Duff has a #1 album is because there are so many little kids who look up to a childhood Disney role model and second, but more importantly, there are so many sick men who can’t help but imagine getting the 15 year-old girl in bed, so of course they’re gonna buy the album, bottom line. I bet half the followers of my writing are probably thinking those sick thoughts right now … hey, whatever floats your boats.

Speaking of albums, a lot of albums have been dropping in stores recently. A Perfect Circles, “Thirteenth Step” came out September 9th, limpbizkit’s (not Limp Bizkit anymore) “Results May Vary” appeared in stores on September 23rd, and Ill Nino’s “Confession” out on September 30th. Also out on the 30th was Lo-Pro’s self-titled debut album. Lo-Pro is a band that could get really big soon. They are the first band signed under Staind’s record label, 413 Records and the group’s drummer is the former Godsmack drummer, Tommy Stewart. Just some side information for the metalheads.

Hey, does anyone remember Billy Corgan? He was the frontman for the Smashing Pumpkins who produced such songs like, “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.” After the band split in 2000, Corgan immediately started up a new band called Zwan. After a few years of hype, Zwan finally released their album, Mary Star of the Sea. The album started well on the Billboard 200, where it debuted at #3 on the charts, but it slid all the way down the charts, selling fewer than 270,000 copies. So what does an unsuccessful band do? They breakup. That’s right ladies and gentlemen … Zwan is Gone! Corgan told the Chicago Tribune on Monday that, “The band wasn’t going to reach its full capacity spiritually and musically. I didn’t see the commitment necessary. I was reliving ‘Behind the Music,’ and I’m not getting on that train to hell again.” Corgan plans to be releasing a book of poetry and an album, which covers six new acoustic songs. As far as the rest of the members of Zwan, who knows, but maybe the question is, who cares. There is only one thing for certain folks … ZWAN is GONE!

Eminem and Dr.Dre is currently in another lawsuit, but this time, a 70 year-old woman is the one filing the suit. Harlene Stein is suing Eminem because his 1999 hit, “Guilty Conscience” contains snippets of a 24-second piece from a song written by her late husband, “Pig Go Home.” Her husband was never credited as the song’s composer and his wife has never paid royalties for use of the song. Sure, this may be just another lawsuit on the Shady/Aftermath camp, but I think that the old lady should have filed for fees once the song was first heard. If I was betting man … which I may indeed be, but can’t repeat for legal purposes … I would bet that this story won’t grow much in the future.

And lastly, this is something I need to comment on, since everybody is doing it. Yea … I’m down with peer pressure! The talk of the month has been between J’Lo and Ben Affleck. Originally, their wedding was supposed to be postponed due to severe media all over the place. Now, the wedding is off and the two are no longer together. This is supposedly due to two reasons. The first of which is because Ben had a talk with his mother and she persuaded him not to marry her. Now what the heck is up with this? Are you saying that Ben’s mom didn’t know he was dating J’Lo or something? Damn … anyone who has some brain cells know that if you pick up a magazine or watch TV, all you ever see is Ben all over J’Lo. What Mrs. Affleck? Did you think they were good friends? Do you think they had teatime just for kicks? Come on! The second, which could be believable, is Ben was caught in Chicago gambling and partying. According to an interview back in 1999, Ben Affleck told Playboy 1999 that he’s prone to creating some incident in order to get out of a bad relationship. Seems like Ben is taking it well while J’Lo is not. Three words about this drama: Oh ____ well. And seriously, it’s not like the two weren’t going to break-up sooner or later. J’Lo likes a different guy every single year. Just wait, in 2004, she’ll probably be in love with someone like Trent Lott, Al Sharpton, or Ron Jeremy. Who knows, maybe even Carson Daly or Bill Clinton …

With all bases covered in entertainment for now, I must retreat like Saddam out of Iraq. This is for my peeps … lataz!