Rakim Mayers (born October 3, 1988), better known by his stage name ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$AP Rocky), is anAmerican rapper and music video director. Born and raised in the New York City neighborhood Harlem, he is a member of the hip hop crew A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker. Rocky released the mixtape LiveLoveA$AP in 2011. On December 5, 2011, the BBC announced that he had been nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.[1] He is working on the A$AP Mob album, as well as his debut album, LongLiveA$AP, scheduled to be released in July 2012.

Born in 1988, Mayers was named after the hip hop star Rakim, one half of the Eric B. & Rakim duo.[2][3] When he was 12 years old, his father went to jail in connection with selling drugs. A year later an older brother was killed near his apartment, which inspired him to take rapping seriously.[4] Mayers had started rapping at age 8,[5] grew up admiring Harlem-based rap group The Diplomats, and also lists among his influences Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, UGK, Run DMC and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[6][7] After living in a shelter with his mother, and elsewhere around Manhattan, Mayers moved to Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

2007–2011: Beginnings and mixtape

In 2007, Rocky assembled the hip hop crew A$AP Mob, a collective of rappers, producers, and music video directors.[8] He adopted its A$AP moniker, which has multiple meanings, including "Always Strive and Prosper", "Assassinating Snitches and Police", and Rocky's favorite, "Acronym Symbolizing Any Purpose".[8]

His first single "Peso" was leaked onto the internet in August 2011 and within weeks received airplay on the high-profile Hot 97 New York radio station. Music videos for "Peso" and "Purple Swag" generated further buzz and resulted in ASAP Rocky signing a reported two $3 million record deal with Sony, RCA Records and Polo Grounds Music. ASAP Rocky released the mixtape LiveLoveA$AP in October to generally positive reviews from critics.[9][10][11][12]

[edit]2012–present: Debut album

ASAP Rocky was one of the artists, along with rapper Kendrick Lamar featured on Drake's 'Club Paradise Tour' in 2012. In an interview with Fuse TV in Austin at the SXSW music festival, ASAP Rocky revealed the title of his debut studio album to be LongLiveA$AP, with hopes to release it on July 4, 2012. He also announced the ASAP Mob album is due in May.

Go to the link to vote on who the Rangers should take with the 83rd pick!

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/5/23/3039721/mod-5-rangers

This is the current draft board for the community mock draft based on votes.

(Current Draft Board)

Courtney Hawkins, OF, HS (300 points - 5 votes)

Jose Orlando Berrios, RHP, PR (240 points - 4 votes)

Victor Roache, OF, NCAA (180 points - 3 votes)

Matthew Smoral, LHP, HS (120 points - 2 votes)

Hunter Virant, LHP, HS (120 points - 2 votes)

CJ Hinojosa, SS/2B, HS (120 points - 2 votes)

Clint Coulter, C, 6’3 215, R/R, WA, HS (105 points - 6 votes)

Joey Gallo, 3B, HS (100 points - 3 votes)

Tyler Naquin, OF, 6'0 185, L/R, Texas A & M, NCAA (75 points - 5 vote)

DJ Davis, OF, HS (60 points - 1 vote)

Nick Travieso, RHP, 6’3 210, FL, HS (40 points - 2 votes)

Peter O`Brien, C, 6’5 225, R/R, Miami, NCAA (30 points - 2 votes)

Shane Watson RHP, 6’4 195, CA, HS (30 points - 2 votes)

Austin Aune, SS/OF, 6’2 190, L/R, TX, HS (30 points - 2 votes)

Corey Seager, 3B/SS, 6’3 190, L/R, NC, HS (20 points - 1 vote)

Wyatt Mathisen, C/MIF, 6’2 215, R/R, TX, HS (15 points - 1 vote)

Barrett Barnes, OF, 5’11 195, R/R, Texas Tech, NCAA (15 points - 1 vote)

Tyler Gonzales, RHP, 6’2 180, TX, HS (10 points - 1 vote)

Words.

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Hello! Willkommen! Привітайте! PRZYWITANIE!

Welcome, LSB'ers, to the official thread of the UEFA Euro 2012 Futbol Tournament. The EPL, Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Premiere, and other leagues are done for the year, but now the international game kicks it up a notch. Not to take anything away from our Yankees, who take on Brazil in a friendly that won't be so friendly in a week, but the Euro2012 is the go to tourney of the summer in international soccer. Below the jump, you'll be presented with the groupings, first round matches, a few thoughts, and some questions to ponder.

In order to keep this baby up top in the fanposts, I will ask you to rec it, and if the post gets full, I will create another GDT type thread and we will do the same. Have fun with this and let it be known who you're rooting for.

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Bryan Williams (born February 15, 1969), better known by his stage name Birdman or Baby, is an American rapper, businessman, and record producer. He is the co-founder of Cash Money Records and one half of the duo Big Timers. Along with his releases with Big Tymers and for his solo career, Birdman recorded a collaboration album and numerous tracks with his adopted son Weezy. According to Forbes, he grossed an estimated $15 million from May 2010 to May 2011 with a net worth estimated at $110 million in 2011.

Big Tymers

In 1997, he joined producer and DJ Mannie Fresh to form the duo Big Tymers. Big Tymers debuted in 1998 with the album How Ya Luv That? and went on to release I Got That Work in 2000 and Hood Rich in 2002. I Got That Work had the hit singles "Get Your Roll On" and "#1 Stunna"; Hood Rich had "Still Fly", which was nominated for a Grammy, and "Oh Yeah!" Big Money Heavyweight followed in 2003; the group disbanded in 2004. His son Bryan Williams Jr., was born in February 26, 1997; his daughter Bria Williams in March 4, 1998.

In early 2010, Birdman formed an oil and gas exploration company, Bronald Oil and Gas, LLC. The company was a joint venture founded by Birdman and his brother Slim, and the name was a combination of the brothers' first names, Bryan and Ronald. Evidence of the company's actual business operations was scant, limited mostly to a website and the appearance of a "pumpjack" tattoo on the side of Birdman's head. The website indicated that the company's strategy would be to first develop existing land holdings and seek out new oil and gas leases. In February 2010, Birdman told Ozone magazine that he had been in the oil business for "4 or 5 years" and was "making good money off that". However, by March 2010, Birdman had almost completely covered the pumpjack tattoo, which sparked speculation that the Bronald Oil project had stalled. As of January 22, 2012, the Bronald Oil website is no longer operational.

Ranger Rowdy Time is now here on Lone Star Ball!

The craziest Rangers fan, Chris Lee "Rowdy Ranger" Moore has always been willing to speak his mind, especially about the Texas Rangers. Now he's created his own weekly video series to do just that. Catch a new video and commentary about the Rangers and baseball twice a week and get the personal take from the Bleacher Bum of the Ballpark!

You can catch all episodes of Rowdy Time and much more at Rowdy's Website:

http://rangerrowdytime.mlblogs.com/

NOTE: I will edit and update this very blog post each day I post a new video, which will be sometime the day after all the weekday games are finished (likely Thursday or Friday) and the Monday after the weekend games. Sadly, there seem to be issues with posting Blip TV videos to this bog, and that's where I upload the episodes first. So until I figure out how to make the Blip embeds work, you'll get links to the new entry's page on my site.

I want to thank everyone who has commented on this page here. I appreciate all your opinions, whatever they may be and your support. I want this show to be entertaining to you all, and hopefully we can catch each other at a game some time. It's the only way I can hopefully get out of this shell I've been in for years and can start communicating with fellow fans beyond a vlog.

http://rangerrowdytime.mlblogs.com/2012/05/28/rowdy-time-may-28-memorial-day/

Continue plodding along here, drones. This is what you want. This is what will make you happy.

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TIL:

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Birthdays!!!!

Lisa Edlestein - 46

Sen. Al Franken - 61

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The last thread has gotten too unwieldy and is quickly approaching the time where it will get purged from the front page regardless of the rec number. To promote some discussion, what are some prospects (Rangers or otherwise, I'm not picky) that you have found disappointing this year OTHER THAN Martin Perez, Neil Ramirez, and Jordan Akins. And some prospects you are impressed with OTHER THAN Jurickson Profar, Mike Olt, and Cody Buckel.

Statistically, Will Lamb has disappointed me. The Rangers' 2nd round pick has given up around a hit per inning pitched in Hickory, walked more than he's struckout, and he doesn't strikeout very many. His BB/PA is 11.5% and his K/PA is 10.7%. Now he's very tall and lanky, and I've heard that those are the kinda guys that have trouble repeating their mechanics, but it's still kind of a poor showing from the Clemson lefty. I will now await my painful homicide like a man.

I've been very impressed with Kyle Hendricks, the Rangers 8th round pick from the 2011 draft. Now, I don't know how much of this is his gem from last night, but meh. He's got a 41:5 K:BB ratio in 51.1 Inning. That is phenomenal. I am eager to hear what Parks and Cole have to say about him and his stuff, as they were at his start in MB.

Speaking of Parks, he's posted his thoughts on Nick Tepesch's semi-No hitter over at TFR and you should check it out.

________________________________________________

As always, here's Shroom's Wizard Site: http://www.my.calendars.net/farmprobs/

MONDAY - MAY 21

HICKORY: LUKE JACKSON (6.2 IP|1 H|1 R|3 BB|9 K|1 HR) / NICK MARTINEZ (3 IP | 4 H | 3 ER | 3 BB | 4 K)

MYRTLE BEACH: OFF

FRISCO: JAKE BRIGHAM (6.2 IP | 4 H | 3 ER | 3 BB | 5 K)

ROUND ROCK: GREG REYNOLDS - 7:05 (I don't care)

TUESDAY - MAY 22

HICKORY: ANDREW FAULKNER(3 IP | 7 H | 4 ER | 0 BB | 2 K)/NICK MCBRIDE(4 IP | 3 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 3 K)

MYRTLE BEACH: WILMER FONT (5.1 IP | 2 H | 1 ER | 2 BB | 7 K)

FRISCO: OFF

ROUND ROCK: MICHAEL KIRKMAN (Meh)

WEDNESDAY - MAY 23

HICKORY: OFF

MYRTLE BEACH: CODY BUCKEL (7 IP | 7 H | 2 ER | 2 BB | 5 K | 1 HR)

FRISCO: TIM MURPHY (Meh)

ROUND ROCK: ZACK JACKSON (Meh)

THURSDAY - MAY 24

HICKORY: VICTOR PAYANO (5 IP | 7 H | 2 ER | 4 BB | 3 K)

MYRTLE BEACH: ROMAN MENDEZ (5.2 IP | 6 H | 1 ER | 2 BB | 9 K)

FRISCO: JUSTIN GRIMM (7 IP | 6 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 6 K)

ROUND ROCK: NEIL RAMIREZ (6 IP | 4 H | 3 ER | 4 BB | 6 K)

FRIDAY - MAY 25

HICKORY: JARED EICKHOFF (6 IP | 7 H | 4 ER | 1 BB | 2 K | 2 HR)

MYRTLE BEACH: NICK TEPESCH (6.2 IP | 5 H | 2 ER | 1 BB | 4 K)

FRISCO: CHAD BELL (5 IP | 5 H | 0 ER | 1 BB | 2 K)

ROUND ROCK: MARTIN PEREZ (4 IP | 4 H | 3 ER | 4 BB | 1 K)

SATURDAY - MAY 26

HICKORY: NICK MARTINEZ (4 IP | 3 H | 1 ER | 2 BB | 5 K)

MYRTLE BEACH: KYLE HENDRICKS (7 IP | 5 H | 2 ER | 0 BB | 7 K)

FRISCO: BARRET "9-0" LOUX (6 IP | 9 H | 6 ER | 2 BB | 7 K)

ROUND ROCK: GREG REYNOLDS - 6:35

SUNDAY - MAY 27

HICKORY: SANTO PEREZ (6.1 IP | 6 H | 4 ER | 1 BB | 8 K)

MYRTLE BEACH: WILMER FONT (4 IP | 2 H | 0 ER | 6 BB | 5 K)

FRISCO: JAKE BRIGHAM (5.1 IP | 7 H | 6 ER | 1 BB | 3 K)

ROUND ROCK: MICHAEL KIRKMAN (Meh)

MONDAY - MAY 28

HICKORY: LUKE JACKSON - 4:00

MYRTLE BEACH: CODY BUCKEL - 5:00

FRISCO: TIM MURPHY - 1:00

ROUND ROCK: ZACK JACKSON - 2:00