Television plays such a huge part in the majority of people’s lives. If we’re not in front of the TV during “primetime,” I would bet my life that we will catch our shows at a later date, whether online or on TV, courtesy of DVR. So, what has us so addicted to the “tube”? Some may argue that it’s reality TV that has taken over, but I still contend that sitcoms, dramas, and shows of the sort still reign supreme, primarily because they keep us guessing and asking the age old question: does art imitate life or does life imitate art?

Gone are the days when you sit by your home phone just waiting for a guy to call, either to set up a date or to follow-up after what you deemed the “perfect” evening shared between two people. Forget that your “house phone” didn’t have caller ID and maybe not even call waiting. So, not only would you not be able to identify when he was calling, there was also the possibility that you could actually miss the call because someone else in your home was on the line. Perhaps your sister was on the phone while “Mr. Right Now” was getting the sound of a busy signal on the other end.

Very few things touch my heart more than hearing real Hip Hop from someone who grew up on the same exact streets as I did. Somehow, when you have that connection, the lyrics, the metaphors, and the beats seem to touch a deeper part of the soul than it would if it was just some one-hit wonder from any city other than Chicago. I know, it may be a tad bit biased, but all of the above happens whenever I listen to Common’s ninth album, The Dreamer, The Believer.

It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when hits like “You Bring Me Joy,” “Be Happy,” and “I’m Goin’ Down” were “new joints” courtesy of the first “My Life.” It probably feels that way because even today that classic album is still relevant.

Just when you thought Hip Hop was dead, the end of 2011 knocks you over the head with some dope music from a variety of different artists. It’s refreshing to hear the “greats” drop something new, but what’s even more interesting is what we’ve been blessed with from “new” artists, especially in the world of Hip Hop. Very seldom do you find an artist that can inspire you with one track let alone an entire album, which is exactly what D.C.-native Wale has done with Ambition.

At a time when the economy is not in the best shape, you find many people unemployed. However, those who have jobs are seldom in their “ideal” role and struggle to make ends meet. You may know someone who works in sales, but always wanted to be the owner of her own boutique. You may have a chef with a business degree who always wanted to open her own restaurant. In either case, for any particular reason, whether it’s finances, lack of open positions in a desired field, or just a change in career paths, your “dream” job is only a dream.

Last week, Boyz II Men, one of the most remembered and respected R&B groups of all time, released their latest album.

Last Tuesday, the most “hyped up” album since Drake’s debut was released. J. Cole’s Cole World: The Sideline Story hit iTunes and music stores worldwide, and from the looks of it, there were a lot of people curious to hear what the North Carolina native had to offer the world of music.

While some people are highly educated about breast cancer, others might not know as much and are only familiar with the term because they hear so much about it in the media or from a physician. Oftentimes, the people who know the most about the disease are so well-versed because it’s close to their hearts for one reason or another. Maybe they lost a family member or maybe they are suffering from it themselves.

When you enter any competition, the goal is to win. You know, take the number one spot, win the trophy or whatever item that symbolizes your victory. Well, Florida native Syesha Mercado had a way of thinking that differs from the masses when it came to her involvement in the seventh season of American Idol. The goal was never to win it all, it was to be second, runner-up and if you look at that particular experience through her eyes, she definitely won.