[Interview] Rapper Big Pooh – The Thomas Jones Affair

Originally published at The Well Versed

Remember the shy kid who used to scribble on paper in the back of your class? He may not have said much, but when you finally got a hold of his paper, you thought to yourself, “damn, this kid has talent.” The kid in the back of the class is now a grown man. And that man is Rapper Big Pooh. If you’ve followed Pooh’s career, you’ve seem him grow up on the mic. From the lesser known member of Little Brother to the artist and label head we see today, Mr. Jones has come into his own. Days before the release of his next solo effort, Dirty Pretty Things, Rapper sat down with TWV to discuss the new album, why he’s still got a chip on his shoulder and developing confidence in the rap game.

[Interview] Ginuwine – Not A One Trick Pony

Originally published at The Well Versed

You know you have a smash hit on your hands when your song is performed by karaoke enthusiasts across the map and country music cover bands. Most artists wait their entire careers for a smash hit that never comes—Ginuwine checked that off his list at the beginning. As infectious as it was suggestive, “Pony” launched the former bachelor into the R&B stratosphere 15 years ago and he hasn’t looked back. With a TV One Life After special documenting his ride through fame, Ginuwine sat down with The Well Versed to discuss overcoming depression, cleaning up his music because of the kids and  what’s missing from today’s R&B.

The Well Versed: It’s been 15 years, is there a love hate relationship with you having to talk about “Pony” and perform it so much?

[Interview] Christopher Martin – Never Played Out

Originally published at The Well Versed

The name Christopher Martin may not ring an immediate bell, but if you came of age during the 80s or 90s, you know his moniker and his work. As the latter half of hip hop duo Kid and Play, Martin was one of the first artists to help spearhead the crossover movement. A string of successful movies, a TV show and a comic book series brought the pair into the homes of millions. These days, Martin is a college professor. But as he prepares to relive his past on TV One‘s Life After series, Martin sits down with The Well Versed to discuss why Run-DMC’s box office flop made him uneasy about House Party, why he only wanted one hit single and why he gave it all up.

UFC 136 Recap

Report by Anthony Springer, Jr. Photos by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Edgar roars back, topples Maynard It was like déjà vu all over again. After nearly being beaten and bloodied in the opening round of his second match with Gray Maynard, UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar found himself in similar territory all over again. And it truly was déjà vu—until it wasn’t.

[Interview] Phonte – Do For Self

Originally published at The Well Versed

Phonte Coleman is probably your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. And if your favorite rapper is Drake, the opening sentence is literally true. For the better part of a decade, the Phonte Coleman brand was built with the nuts and bolts of artistry: hard work, wit and dope rhymes. Whether part of Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange or guesting on another project, Tigallo consistently stole the show. On the heels of his first—and what many consider a long overdue—solo effort, Phonte chopped it up with The Well Versed about the need for a public reconciliation with 9^th Wonder, the moment he knew a major label wasn’t for him and why pretty women are liabilities.

[Opinion] American Kickboxing Academy Is New Team To Watch

Originally published at The Well Versed

Mixed martial arts has seen its share of dynasties since the sport was (sort of) introduced to the masses courtesy of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at UFC 1 in ’93. Chute Box and the Miletich camp quickly come to mind of dominant camps of yesteryear. Today, Jackson’s MMA can (rightly) boast of dominance with Georges St-Pierre and Jon “Bones” Jones among its ranks.

After last week’s Strikeforce event, there’s a new camp in town—in case you missed the memo.

[Review] Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV

Lil Wayne
Tha Carter IV (Cash Money/Universal)

Originally published at Las Vegas City Life

A prison stint, an awful rock album and a lackluster mixtape couldn’t quell the anticipation for Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, given the reception for the third Carter album. And for the most part, Mr. Carter’s sixth official solo release doesn’t disappoint.

[Review] Median – The Sender

Median
The Sender (FE Music/Jamla)

Originally published in Las Vegas City Life

Hailing from North Carolina, Median has always been one of the more underrated members of the Justice League. But with a crew consisting of Little Brother and producers 9th Wonder and Khrysis, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. His sophomore effort, The Sender, may nudge him closer to the head of the pack.

[MMA] Monster Fight Set For Fox

Cain Velasquez (pictured), Junior dos Santos tapped to lead UFC’s charge into mainstream

Originally published at Fight News
by Anthony Springer Jr.

UFC president Dana White always said the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion would be on network TV when the “right deal” came along.

Fox came along with the right deal and now, the UFC is going with a monster fight to introduce MMA to millions. On Nov. 12, shortly before Manny Pacquiao takes on Juan Manuel Marquez in a highly anticipated rematch, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will put his title on the line against Junior dos Santos–on free TV.

[Feature] “I’m Misunderstood”

A snippet of the article I wrote on UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans. Available in the Sept. ’11 issue of Ultimate MMA Magazine 

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“I’m Misunderstood”

Monday, 08 August 2011 00:32 Anthony Springer Jr.

Rashad Evans Sets the Record Straight On Who He Really Is … and What He Thinks About Jon Jones

“Every time I sit back and reflect, it’s always like a moment. I can’t believe I’m here right now.”Here for Rashad Evans happens to be the Red Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for the Zuffa fighter summit. After a day of workshops on all things revolving around the business of fighting, Evans ends his day meeting with the press.

In a room of other notable fighters like Melvin Guillard, Anthony Johnson and Jorge Santiago, Evans is the most sought after man of the evening. He knocks out his interviews like the professional he is, never tiring of the questions—many he’s undoubtedly answered hundreds of times.

Here also happens to be his place in the current mixed martial arts landscape.