Macon

Some of my favorite Hip-Hop songs are love ballads. The primary reason why is because songs about love and relationships are often the most revealing and recording artists/songwriters are at their most vulnerable and passionate state of being when they create songs driven on the emotional highs and lows of love.

The MC in Hip-Hop music has a large platform of ideals and issues in which to express upon in the studio, on the stage or just on a street corner. MCs are well known (often in controversial ways) for proudly and loudly expressing themselves on issues dealing with race, violence, war, poverty, politics, etc.

If you were to have a word association exercise in terms of describing Hip-Hop music, the word love probably wouldnt be the first thing to come to the minds of most. But in Hip-Hop music theres an abundance of love; love for family, love for friends, love for the community, love of God and genuine and eternal love for women.

Unfortunately the love expressed for women in Hip-Hop is always overshadowed by the negative attitudes and images of women perpetrated by some MCs. Why is this? Well, for a variety of reasons but mostly because the media chooses to expose the negative images and attitudes while ignoring the positive and uplifting performances dedicated to women that are expressed in Hip-Hop. In my opinion, this is done by design, theres a concerted effort to discredit and demonize Hip-Hop. This is done easily and effectively by painting the entire movement with one broad stroke instead of acknowledging, examining and celebrating the complexities of Hip-Hop music and culture.

Itll be easy (way too easy I have to admit) to expose countless numbers of Hip-Hop songs that are basically offensive and demeaning to women. But theres much more depth and complexity within the relationship between women and Hip-Hop.

Rapper Fabolous has built a nice career in Hip-Hop music by basically dominating the love niche for the last 5-6 years. Hes not the best or the most popular when it comes to Hip-Hop love songs. Older Hip-Hop fans 30 and older would say that L.L. Cool J holds that distinction. Younger fans 21 and younger might attached the King of Hip-Hop love songs title to Bow-Wow. But since the earlier part of the new millennium, when it comes to the issues of love and relationships, Fabolous has been the most consistent MC and has the most street-credible voice.

Fabolous is not a lovey-dovey rapper. Hes a MC and his genius is the ability to show a great amount of lyrical skill when rhyming about love, a topic that too many MCs ignore while singers either oversimplify the subject and are often guilty of expressing love in ridiculous, almost cartoon-ish ways (Baby, baby, baby, ba, ba, baby!)

Fabolouss new single, Make Me Better shows the Brooklyn, New York MC doing what he does best; making love songs for the streets that have mass appeal. Fabolous faithfully relies on a formula that has worked well his entire career: Witty, punch-line lyrics about love, sex and relationships set to a Hip-Hop soulful track that features a talented R&B artist singing a catchy chorus or hook.

Produced by Timbaland, arguably the most innovative and diversified (check out the work hes doing in Pop music right now) producer in Hip-Hop and featuring Ne-Yo, arguably the most talented (with the greatest potential) singer/songwriter in R&B, Make Me Better embodies Fabolouss solid formula perfectly and the song is the street-love anthem of the summer.

The Hook
Im a movement by myself (Oh!) But Im a force when were together
Mami Im good all by myself (Oh!)
But baby you, you make me better
(You make me better) You make me better (You make me better) You make me better
(You make me better) You make me better (You make me better) You make me better

Ne-Yo starts the track out right with the chorus, passionately telling his lady through song that although hes good by himself, her presence in his life makes his life better and him a better person. Fabolous, known for his laidback flow, rhymes with his own brand of passion about a special lady that makes his life better. Fabolous rhymes about being good; having self-esteem and being confident in whom he is and that his woman completes him, making the vision for his life clearer and fulfilling. He doesnt simply rely on sex-talk, in Make Me Better; Fabolous is conscious of the fact that the relationship he speaks about is deeper than just wild and exciting late night bedroom activities.

On Make Me Better Fabolous reveals that his woman not only loves him but is also determined to keep him on the right track to becoming a better person

Youre keepin me on my A game
She treats me like a don, watches for the hit
Checks where I go, even watches who Im with
The right when Im wrong, so I never slip
Show me how to move, thats why I never trip

The lyrics of this song and the vibe of the track are celebratory of a special kind of woman; the type that can actually make an impact and be the monumental difference in a mans life. Make Me Better is a love song not about sex. Neither Fabolous nor Ne-Yo makes any reference to sex at all on this record. Its an important point because Make Me Better is the kind of song that completely contrasts the portrayal and attitude toward women that are often presented through Hip-Hop music and exploited by the mainstream media (Controversy + sensationalism + public outrage=off-the-chart ratings!

The fact that Make Me Better focuses on genuine love, respect and appreciation in a relationship puts forth a lesson that can be learned by those who live Hip-Hop culture and seek true love and especially those apart of the culture who dont give a damn about love. Fabolous rhymes about principles and values key to a thriving and long-lasting relationship. We all should seek someone special that will make us better, and in return, we should make them better. Make Me Better supports the popular premise that behind every great man is a great woman and the song speaks in a language that youth and young adults understand. With so much of Pop culture and society as a whole being so aggressively sex-driven, its always inspiring to hear Hip-Hop that celebrates the fundamentals of a strong romantic relationship.

The radio-friendly song obviously has more appeal to the ladies and I can just hear it being played in clubs all over the country and the world, weekend after weekend. When you hear Make Me Better you cant help but dance or at least bop your head and sing along with the lyrics while holding up the wall. But I hope that young ears also hear the message in the song.

The next time you hear Make Me Better on the radio, reflect on your own relationship. Are you involved in a satisfying, productive, healthy, mutual-beneficial and equal relationship? Or are you in a reckless, unhealthy, non-productive, unequal and destructive relationship that revolves around lies, freaky but passion-less sex and endless drama?

It doesnt matter who you are or where you come from, everyone deserves the chance at real love. Real love is powerful and can make a life-changing impact on even the most hardened guys or the most deceptive ladies man. I dont mind saying that among many within the Hip-Hop generation there seems to be a resistance to love, trust and commitment. Marriage is often rejected and too many of us embrace family (fam) as the friends that we grew up with oppose to the conventional definition; being married with children.

Even In Make Me Better Fabolous rhymes about the woman in his life not having his last name. But the song celebrates an implied monogamous relationship and the love, respect and appreciation expressed in Make Me Better suggests a courtship thats likely to be consummated through holy matrimony.

Then again, maybe Im going a little too far!

You know what? Make Me Better should have a remix or part II about the wedding and the joys of marriage and family life!

But thats not Hip-Hop, right?

Duane L. Lawton is a writer and avid Hip-Hop fan (especially Hip-Hop from the Golden Era). He lives in the Washington D.C. metro area. Visit http://DuaneLawton.com

In restaurant point of sale, a product passes through certain distinct stages during its life. This cycle is called product life cycle or PLC. The PLC is normally presented as a sales curve spanning the products course from introduction to exit. Concept lies in the fact that each stage in the restaurant point of sale is characterized by a typical market behavior. Consequently each stage lends itself to the application of a certain specific marketing strategy. Understanding the PLC concept and managing it effectively can help prolong the profitable phases of the life span of a product.

A typical product at a restaurant point of sale passes through distinct stages during the course of its life. During the market pioneering stage, the product is in its introductory stage, and there may not be a ready market for the product. Sales are low, and the product undergoes teething troubles. Profits seen like they could be a remote possibility but a demand has to be created and developed, and customers have to be prompted to try the product. One of the crucial decisions that needs to be make at this stage is the pricing strategy adopted for the product.

The ease and speed that allows competitors to introduce similar products is perhaps the most important factor in deciding the pricing strategy. Another crucial area demanding attention is market development and promotion. Thats where demand has to be created and developed. The firm has to invest heavily in promotion and wait for the reward.

During the market growth stage, the demand for the product increases and the size of the market grows. Thats when one has to stay ahead of competitors and persuade customers of the products quality.

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I will start off by saying that you should be using a Pilates exercise ball if you are really looking to get the maximum out of your workouts. If you are not using a Pilates exercise ball then you are missing out on getting a more efficient and effective workout, that could help reduce your work out time, improve your overall health and eliminate your back pain.

Develop Core Muscles

The Pilates exercise ball really develops your core muscles as well as helps you tone and strengthen the rest of the muscles in your body. The challenge that is presented by the addition of the Pilates ball is that it forces you to learn to control core muscles while maintaining balance and stabilization. This is what makes your work out more effective.

Weight Lifting

Do not think for one minute that the use of this ball is strictly for Pilates exercises. The truth of the matter is that you can incorporate the use of the Pilates ball into any exercise routine. Try lifting weights using the Pilates ball. Instead of lying on the floor, lay on the ball with your back facing the floor.

Lift your weights as usual, keeping in mind the weight limits that can be on the ball, as that the point here is to improve your work out, not to cause you to have a coronary from the load popping sound that may happen from popping the ball and then crashing to the floor with your weights. That is just a little counterproductive.

With that being said, the ball is created of very durable plastic and rubber. The durability offers you maximum support throughout your workout. It makes efficient use of resistance, interval and flexibility training. It is safe for the entire family to use, regardless of fitness level. And there is not an age restriction on the ball either. As a matter of fact, the Pilates exercise ball has been shown to improve flexibility in the elderly when they use it on a regular basis in their stretching.

Elongate Your Body

By working out with the Pilates exercise ball, you will be elongating your body while you sculpt and tone not only the core muscles, which are the abdominal and back muscles, but you will improve your arms, chest and butt also. With consistent use, you will notice an improvement in the way you walk, jump, run and even sleep.

De-stress Your Body

Instead of coming home after a stressful day at work and flopping on the couch, get out your Pilates exercise ball and lay on it with your back facing the floor and just rock back and forth, stretching all the way until your head almost touches the floor rolling back slowly until your butt just barely touches the floor. I imagine that the first or second time you roll off the ball you will be laughing. However, you will also have stretched out your tense muscles and you will feel much better.

To get the most out of your workout incorporate the Pilates exercise ball. It will help improve your overall health and make your work out more effective. The Pilates ball is not just for Pilates.

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