Ford Motor Company is not an organization that immediately

springs to mind when you envision cutting edge or innovative products. But with

their new “crossover” the Ford Flex, the multinational corporation seeks to

gain ground it has lost in the past year to competitors General Motors and Toyota.

 

First introduced at the North American International Auto

Show in 2005, the Flex made its debut in June. So far, the response has been

mixed. While some people love the design, others are turned off by the compact

frame despite the ample space.         

 

According to Flex Marketing and Communications Manager Usha

Raghavachari, that’s exactly what her company hoped for.

 

“When you look at the Flex it has an unexpected design,

definitely coming from Ford,” Raghavachari explained to AllHipHop.com. “We

wanted our marketing to be just as unexpected as the vehicle. The advertising

really celebrates the vehicle itself. We did originally have a target audience, but we went to California and saw young college guys saying ‘wow that’s really cool,’ and then got the same response from soccer moms in Chicago. So we focused on not having people in the advertising to prevent any

preconceived notions.”

 

With a national launch scheduled for September, Raghavachari

is not worried that there have been some negative feedback from the market

research done so far.

 

“When they (consumers) experience it in the flesh they have

an amazing, emotional reaction,” she reasons. “People either loved it or hated

it and that’s great, our designers loved that. It means you’re not vanilla. If

everyone goes ‘eh, that’s nice,’ it’s like a death knell and you don’t want

that.”

 

With a height of just over 5’8”, the Flex exterior carries

distinctive “grooves” on its side panels which serve as a signature identifier

for the vehicle. Each side is equipped with four parallel grooves to give an

elongated but horizontal image.

 

The fortified shoulders and salient wheel arches help

maintain the car’s compact look over the standard 18-inch tires. Also available

are 19 and 20-inch chrome-effect, painted aluminum wheels.

 

The contemporary, seven seat interior features an adjustable

footrest for second seat passengers to enjoy a business-class comfort rarely seen

in todayss SUVs and crossovers. The second and third row seats also fall flat

to create storage space as needed.

 The interior program has “mood lighting” available in seven colors. Other entertainment amenities include SIRIUS Satellite Radio, CD/DVD, hard drive storage (music/pictures). But even more important is the “quiet ride” the vehicle supplies. On a test drive, one will find the car remarkably quiet due to a technology called Multi Activation Regression Simulation (MARS), which balances the different sounds coming into the Flex from the powertrain, wind, and road.

 

Chief engineer Gary Boes worked on Flex from its inception three years ago until completion, and feels strongly that Ford has presented a great product for consumers.

 

“We used something called the Global Product Development

System, it’s the first time we’ve used it,” Boes explains. “It really helped us

with the discipline of delivering the car. We’ve really taken the idea that we

wanted an emotive exterior design, which we didn’t have before. We wanted to

have all the features but still be comfortable and quiet to ride. Those simple

pillars are kinda new to us. Flex demonstrates all those capabilities.”

 

Popular DJ Funkmaster Flex endorses the vehicle and even brought out a sleek, red, customized version of the car for media. Asked why he’s endorsing a product that may be seen as a gamble, Funk Flex explains it was the complete package and presentation of the vehicle.

 

“I guarantee you won’t go more than four blocks without

someone asking you about it,” Flex assured. “Of course safety is important,

features etc and the Flex has all that. But first can you look cool in it? With

the Flex you definitely can. It’s a very smooth ride.”

 

The Manufacturer’s Starting Retail Price (MSRP) is $28, 295.

For more information, visit www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/flex

Recently, AllHipHop reviewed David Banner’s The Greatest Story Ever Told.  While we stand by both our review ratings and out reviews, we also recognize that people and the artists in particular may have a different opinion.  While the resulting comments supported both sides of the coin.  User j.johnson said:

i tend to agree with the review…i was expecting so much more. The

gentleman speaks on the hip v america and to congress in washington and

i was just expecting a different level of music. The name of the album

is the greatest story ever told, but i didnt get that vibe. It started

out like that talking bout jesse and all, and then he went straight to

the club, talking bout his candy paint, knocking a n#### out in a

club…this is the same music people (masses) have a problem with, you

speak about it publicy very well, then make the same music. Now…its

not whack, he raps about those things on beat and it sound good for

what it is but i was kinda let down personally, i was just expecting

more. I still am a fan though.

While user gargameljermel said:

Let’s be realistic for a second: Banner said on Hip-Hop vs. America that his only responsibilty as an artist is to sell records so of course you’re

going to hear the contradictory tracks on this album because he still

has to sell records. If that’s the case Nas is just as inconsistent

with his tracks on Untitled. Both albums are deserving of 9 out of 10

and they are far more better than Wayne’s album of no substance just

metaphors on top of metaphors.

Below, and unedited is David Banner’s Opinion/defense of his album.

The Greatest Story Ever Told tells… a story.  It gives a lyrical account of a series of events. Have you ever read a story that was free from variation or contradiction? As people, we are not one dimensional. Our lives are made of different experiences that invite,and often forces, us to react in different ways.One song, or experience, may appear to contradict another…but that’s how real life is. A Spiritual Man might behave as a killer, or even a pimp, under the wrong set of circumstances.  Everything we are…every experience we have… good or bad…ties together. The harmony is created when we keep breathing…when we keep growing. That’s what I did with this album.Everything is not for everybody. I speak to and for the streets with my music. Every song, interlude, and break was strategically placed t move the listener from one chapter to the next.And there are very few stories that only have one character.  The Artists featured on my album helped keep the pages turning.  That in no way distracts nor takes away from my performance or what I created.A friend of mine always says that “words have meaning…”  Some of ya’ll might want to look up the words “story”, “contradict”, and “consistent” before trying to use them in a sentence. I’m not the same David Banner who did Mississippi: The Album I’ve grown. Don’t hate so much that you can’t keep up.

 

It was inevitable that two of the most popular types

of interactive media would eventually become bed-mates and birth a love child.

Video game-based movies have been gaining more and more steam over the years,

due in part to the huge popularity of our favorite games and the expensive

licenses they hold.

 

While this may seem like the perfect union for

game enthusiasts, just like any relationship, their electronic synthesis is

riddled with problems. We’re taking a look at some of the notable highs and

lows of the brainchild that game developers and movie directors created. Do

great games equal great movies?

 

Super Mario Brothers (1993)

 

It shouldn’t really be surprising that one of the

first video game movies that the world got to experience was Super Mario Brothers in 1993. With such a huge global following from the game series, Nintendo would have been ignorant not to capitalize on it. Such a classic game would easily be translated into a great movie, right? The SMB movie was easily one of the worst movies in existence.

 

The world’s most famous video game character was

butchered by horrible acting and a virtually non-existent plot that didn’t remotely follow the canon of the series. John Leguizamo as Luigi? Aren’t the Mario Bros. Italian? Why was Bowser “President Koopa” instead of “King Koopa”? There were too many things wrong with this film to list. While the movie did nothing to

enhance the series, it was the first major motion picture in the U.S. about

video games. While innovation may be one of Nintendo’s strong suits, there was

nothing new or appealing about this movie.

Street Fighter (1994)

 

Street Fighter is perhaps the most notable entrant in the world of fighting games. The series has grown a huge following over the years, which is why it was such a shame when this movie fell horrendously below mover-goers expectations. With Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile, the story revolves around our favorite flat-top sporting hero as he goes on his journey to foil the evil M. Bison’s plans (insert cliché storyline here).

 

While this movie was generally regarded as terrible by critics and fans of the series, it became a cult hit and did huge numbers in the box office. Predictably, a barely-playable game followed the film. Die-hard gamers still seem to give this movie a pass despite all of the things that was wrong with it; this is Street Fighter we’re talking about after

all.

Mortal

Kombat (1995)

 

The MK series has always been a successful one, especially in the ‘90s. Through its memorable fighters, bloody fighting moves and unforgettable fatalities, the series solidified its position in pop culture long ago. When Midway sold the rights for the movie, it was destined to be a hit. Mortal Kombat managed to do what several video game movies before it

could not do: be watchable. While it may have received below-average reviews,

it did get a “thumbs up” from Gene Siskel of Siskel and Ebert fame. It ended up grossing nearly $120 million worldwide.

 

Video game heads loved the movie because it stayed relatively close to the plot of the games and included the characters we all know and love. It was the second-largest opening of its time right after The Fugitive. Mortal Kombat was followed by Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, but it wasn’t nearly as successful.

Pokémon: The First Movie (1999)

 

Pokémon is one of the most famous anime franchises to hit U.S. shores. Poké-mania ravaged any and every child that it got its hands on. TV shows, video games, books, clothing, food, numerous editions of the card game; it was everywhere. Fans knew a movie was coming eventually. Pokémon: The First Movie chronicles the adventures of Pokémon trainer Ash and the sickeningly cute Pikachu as they battle the forces of evil and realize true friendship. The film grossed over $163 million worldwide and was followed by several theatrical and straight-to-DVD releases.  

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

(2001)

 

It was only a matter of time before our favorite gun-toting, rope-swinging digital vixen got her own live action movie. Angelina Jolie had some huge knee-high boots to fill in the role of Lara Croft. Tomb Raider follows the archeological adventures of the title character through numerous locales all over the world as she looks for relics that directly control the flow of time.

 

While the movie was often criticized by critics for being “too serious”, the movie had no problems with racking up at the box office: it made over $300 million worldwide, making it the largest debut and highest grossing video game movie ever. Since its opening, it has continued to hold down that spot. It was followed by a sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, in 2003.

Resident Evil (2002)

 

Capcom

has experienced massive success with Resident

Evil. The critically acclaimed series is known for its storyline, memorable

characters and nail-biting game play; the theoretical inception of the movie

was both hit and miss in this regard. The movie introduces a new character,

Alice (played by Milla Jovovich), as she battles various monsters that have

become a staple of the series.

 

Elements

from various games in the series appeared in the movie, so while it wasn’t a

direct mirror of the games plot, it at least attempted to stay true to the

series’ roots. While it wasn’t well-received by critics, the movie did well in

the box office, garnering over $102 million worldwide. It was followed by two

sequels – Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007).

Doom (2005)

 

If you

asked any fan of shooting games what title truly defined the genre, you would

most likely hear “Doom”. The effect Doom has had on numerous shooting titles is undeniable. The video game spawned numerous successful sequels, garnered tons of video game fans worldwide and eventually slapped them all in the face with a half-baked movie.

 

The film starred Dwayne Johnson, formerly known as “The Rock” of WWE fame. Plagued with the use of an unneeded first-person view, bad acting and numerous plot holes that deviated from the game, the movie bombed in the box office. Needless to say, the prospect of a sequel has not been visited.

Even with the rather extensive list of video games

movies that have been released since the early ‘90s, there are still quite a

few over the horizon. Max Payne, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and Tekken are all in the process of being produced to the delight

of many die-hard fans. A Halo movie is also in the making for a tentative release in 2009, though no substantial details have surfaced about it just yet.

 

Rockstar, the company that produces the insanely-popular Grand Theft Auto series, recently attempted to secure a movie for their notable video game; they were unable to do so because of an older movie that had already been made by the same name. Only time and ticket sales will tell if these titles suffer the same fate as many titles before them or if they will be box office smashes.

The vast world of body art has grown in popularity and

acceptance in Hip-Hop throughout the years. If you try to think of rappers who

don’t have at least one tattoo, more than likely you’ll come up with very few.

 

There are even rap odes to tattoos in songs from artists

like The Alliance and Twista. Tattoo artists are becoming celebrities themselves,

displaying their work and name to endorse apparel and novelties. Tats are very

big in the Hip-Hop community, and it’s very likely that you’ve thought about

getting a tattoo at one time or another – preferably not on one of those wild

nights that you’ll regret for the rest of your life!

 

Before getting a tattoo at the spur of the moment, there are

some things that you should strongly consider such as cleanliness, safety and

certification.

Even choosing the right tattoo artist is an important factor when getting a tat. Is the tattoo artist open to answering your questions? Does the artist have a portfolio? Being educated means being prepared, and making the right decisions will put you at less risk of disease and in better control.

 

Rapper and jeweler Paul Wall has even raised awareness of

high toxicity in tattoo ink with hundreds of formulas that include lead, arsenic, beryllium, cobalt, nickel and other heavy

metal toxins. Paul and his father have developed a heavy metal detoxifier from

an ancient volcanic called Clinoptilolite.

 

The product is called Tattoo Detox and should be released in the U.S. soon. Paul’s goal is to educate tattoo enthusiasts of the risks of tattoo inks and provide them with a product which allows them to continue their lifestyles without giving up their health. 

 

We spoke with “H,” a professional tattoo artist from Harlem

who has done tattoos for celebrity rappers like Juelz Santana. He also does

house calls, meeting artists at their studios and homes. We got his opinion on

the tattoo game, his advice on aftercare, and what to look for when entering a

tattoo shop.

 

AllHipHop.com: Who are some of the artists that you have

done tattoos for?

 

H: Artist-wise would be Juelz Santana, Un Kasa, Freekey Zekey,

T-Money, Tito Green, J.R. Writer, Dinero and Stevie Q.

 

AllHipHop.com: So you also do “house calls” for artists. How

do you prepare to do tattoos outside of your shop?

 

H: Whatever area that I work on, that immediate area has to

be clean. That’s including the floor, the seating, the tabletops… and I work on

a stainless steel tray that I provide. The majority of the work is being done

off a tray. The arm rests are wrapped with the same cloth that you’ll see at

your dentist; one side is plastic, the other side is cloth.

 

AllHipHop.com: So do you use an Autoclave?  

 

H: Yes. I use a standard Autoclave and that’s brought to the

place sterile-ready.

 

AllHipHop.com: Do you have any advice on what people should

look for when they enter any tattoo shop?

 

H: Overall it’s like entering a restaurant or anything.

You’re looking at pretty much what’s around you, you ask questions about how

they sterilize. Especially in New York City – in most places you’re required to

have a license. So you ask for their license because you’re not licensed on

tattooing, you’re licensed on sterilization.

 

Ask to see the stuff coming out of packaging, because there

are indicators on the packaging to tell if it’s been sterilized or not. Check

for all of that. Check the indicators – they’re brown once they’re sterile.

Pretty much a person’s overall hygiene you should be looking at too. If a

person is not taking care of themselves, they’re not going to take care of

their stuff well.

 

AllHipHop.com: Do you hear stories often about scratchers,

hackers and scammers who try to get a quick buck?

 

H: Wow! Yeah. That’s the thing, tattooing use to not have so

many artists and a lot of artists are coming in the game and they’re reckless

for the dollar. They figure like, “Oh! It’s a way that I can make a quick

buck.” And they don’t pretty much care what they’re doing. They don’t know how

to sterilize. They don’t know how to deal with cross-contamination.

 

That’s the biggest part of tattooing is cross-contaminating

something, because people are thinking to themselves like they’re doing the

best they can do but easily germs are transmitted from surface-to-surface,

person-to-person very easily. I’m a germophobe, and a lot of people will ask

why I’m so a### about everything that’s being done. I’ve seen artists kick

their feet up on their workstations. I’ve seen artists spray out tubes with

Lysol.

 

AllHipHop.com: What?!

 

H: You name it, I’ve seen it done. So I tell people who say

that will run over here and say that they’re getting a good deal, that you’re

playing with your life. You’re playing with your overall health to save a few

dollars. And the artists are playing with people’s health to gain a few

dollars. So overall it’s a dirty game. Again, it’s like eating in a restaurant.

You don’t know what goes on behind the scenes, you’re just sitting down and

eating without knowing what’s happening.

 

I always try to tell people don’t think it’s a hot deal when

you don’t know what’s happening. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask as many

as you want. It’s like seeing a doctor, you ask him as many questions as you

want or don’t deal.

 

AllHipHop.com: I didn’t think that it would be that brazen.

 

H: It is, and your mind would be blown away. You have to

think about it, if I were tattooing you and suddenly go into my pocket and

touch your skin. It’s just like surgery, that’s why they scrub up and it’s like

that. I have money in my pocket, keys, overall dirt and lint in my pocket and

touch the surface of your skin I just cross-contaminated you. So people don’t

look at the slightest thing, they just do it and go on with their lives. It’s

incredible.

 

AllHipHop.com: What are some of the mistakes that people

make with tattoos as far as aftercare?

 

H: One; I get a lot of people who have the overall mindset

that if something doesn’t hurt it’s okay. A person will say, “Oh, my tattoo is

not bothering me,” and they’ll stop the aftercare right away. And because it’s

not hurting you shouldn’t give up. It will hurt you later on down the line. It’s

so much deeper than just little words, like people just feel like, “Ok, we’re

going to talk and I’m going to just tell you something and that’s that.” No,

because it’s bigger than that.

 

Say I tattoo you and you happen to go on a dirty surface.

That could be someone’s couch, someone’s bed, a train or something. They don’t

take into consideration that it’s pretty much an inflicted wound. You’ve been

engraved. The process of engraving and you’re not covering up the wound, that

you have to give it care in order for it to heal.

 

It’s an open wound and they just lay anywhere and come back

to me and say, “Hey, what is this?” and it’s like where have you been? “Oh, I

was just home.” Do you have any pets? “Yes.” Well, you’re lying on the same

thing your dog was just laying on, your dog walks close to the ground. Laying

on the ground, laying in your bed and you’re laying where your dog just layed.

 

AllHipHop.com: Ah, man!

 

H: It’s about 7,000 things you can do wrong in a day. So

there’s no quick answer. Overall, you must keep yourself away from all germs.

 

Here are some

important tips to consider when it comes to getting a tattoo:

 

· Never be

impulsive when getting a tattoo. Remember that tattoos are permanent and making

quick decisions may lead to a lifetime of regret.

 

· When it comes

to selecting a design, make sure that it is your choice and not one that your

friend, spouse or artist picks.

 

· Make an

appointment and make sure that you’re well rested and nourished. You will be

more relaxed and still. Tensing up and complaining does not help your

tattooist. Never get a tattoo under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

 

· Fall and Winter

are the best time of year to get tattoos, because you don’t sweat as much and

it’s less exposure for your skin by wearing more clothes. However, take

vitamins to boost your immune system such as C and Zinc to prevent you from

getting a cold.

 

· Always remember

that you must wait one year before you can donate any blood or plasma. A lot of

people are being turned away because finding suitable donors are increasingly

difficult.

 

· Do not shave

your tattoo until 5-10 days after receiving it. Shaving your tattoo during the

healing process can damage your artwork. Wait until after your skin peels and a

protective layer of skin is over your tattoo.

 

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned tattoo enthusiast,

getting a tattoo takes a lot of thought and preparation. Being unprepared may

end up scarring you for life. If you have any additional tips for getting a

tattoo or aftercare, please feel free to share them with us.You can find out more about H’s tattoo work at  myspace.com/bestkeptformula  – also look for H in issue #88 of Urban Ink Magazine this September!

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