Saturday, February 28, 2009

CHRIS AND RHIANNA TOGETHER AGAIN!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
For all those that said his career was over, she'd be a fool to take him back, he's a monster etc... etc... etc... What do you have to say now that the tabloids are reporting a Chris Brown/Rihanna reunion in Miami?

Just shy of three weeks after 19-year-old Chris Brown allegedly violently assaulted Rihanna a source tells PEOPLE the two have reconciled.

"They're together again. They care for each other," says the source. "While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves."

The couple are reportedly currently spending time together at one of Sean "Diddy" Combs's homes, on Miami Beach's Star Island.

This should come as little to no surprise considering Rihanna's responses (or lack thereof) so far, as well as the tabloids pretty much saying for the last few weeks that "she loves him and still wants to be with him." While part of me is ready to ask that classic Amy Winehouse question "What kind of f***ery is this?" the other part is reminded that "All is fair in love and war." At this point I'm really hoping that there is some explanation for Rihanna's bruises than Chris Brown's fists because there are probably a lot of young confused fans out there who just aren't gonna get it.

Rihanna's father, Ronald Fenty, as saying, "I love my daughter with whatever road she takes. I'm behind her win or lose. I will be supportive. If that's the road she wants to choose, I'm behind her. I hope to see her soon. I talked to her after her birthday, and she told me she's OK."

***STATIC THOUGHT***
JUST LET THEM DO THEM LEAVE THEM BE...THIS TYPE OF STUFF HAPPENS ON A REGULAR NOT THAT IT'S RIGHT BUT IF THEY FEEL COMPELLED TO BE WITH EACHOTHER THAN BY ALL MEANS DO SO...

SOULJA BOY: "I'M NOT REAL HIP-HOP"!!...AH DUH!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Here's some news that you probably already knew, Soulja Boy doesn't do "real" hip-hop. Gasp! A week after saying he planned to dumb down his next album following his failed attempt at highbrow rap, the teenybopper rapper came clean on why he doesn't consider his music "real" hip-hop. During an interview at Los Angeles radio station 102.7 KIISFM, Soulja was asked why he's attacked by others for not doing real hip-hop.

"Cause what I do to them is not true hip-hop. One day we was in New York listening to the radio, I don't know what station it was, but they was rapping, and dude came in like 'this is real hip-hop'. I was like you know what I'm like the total opposite of that. I don't do nothing like that. That's why when they be like 'Soulja Boy I don't like you, you not hip-hop', I be like cool. I done heard what they call real hip-hop and my music don't sound nothing like that."

Duh! The fact that it took him this long to figure this out is scary. I guess he wasn't listening when Ice-T said he wasn't real hip-hop. Lost in between the multiple suggestions that Soulja Boy "eat a d*ck", Ice pointed out several reasons why Soulja wasn't making real hip-hop.

Friday, February 27, 2009

T.I. Responds To Recent 50 Cent Jab, “We All Know His Intentions”



One rapper who refuses to play along in 50 Cent’s war games is fellow superstar T.I. In an interview with XXLmag.com, the Atlanta MC addressed an apparent diss from 50’s ongoing “Officer Ricky” cartoon series that poked fun at his October 2007 arrest for weapons possession. [Watch Below]

Sidestepping the beef, Tip denied seeing the video that depicted an animated Rick Ross cuffing and then interrogating him. “I haven’t seen it but, we all know dude,” he said of Fif. “We all know his intentions, we all know his motives. We’ve seen this too many times before. You know, I play chess, not checkers, you dig? I ain’t even trippin’ off of that. At the end of the day, I’m more worried or concerned about what a man says to me or what a man does to me, not what he says or does in the eyes of the public.”

50 has taken shots at T.I. in the past, notably on the song “You So Tough” off of G-Unit’s last album, Terminate On Sight. Insinuating that the “King of the South” had snitched in order to retain a lighter jail sentence, Fif spit, “How do you explain how homey breeeze /They said keep ya mouth shut or you eatin’ the cheese.”

As he did then, T.I. continues to shrug off any attempts to undermine his rep. “I’m a real dude,” he said, “a stand up guy with integrity, respect, morals, standards, [and] principles, and anything outside of that I ain’t got nothing to do with.”

Tip is scheduled to serve one year behind bars next month as part of his sentence for felony weapons charges. - Devin Chanda with reporting by Anthony Roberts

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Asher Roth (I Love College)

I KNOW IM LATE...

Bow Wow Still A Lame...

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
What does this lil dude know about "New Jack City"?

Back in '87-- the same year Bow Wow was born-- a journalist by the name of Barry Michael Cooper wrote an article in The Village Voice entitled "Kids Killing Kids: New Jack City Eats Its Young," which was about the youth drug trade. After that article dropped, the phrase "New Jack City" caught like wildfire and spread all over each and every city that fit the description.

Description of what? That's the same question that comes to mind when I think of Bow Wow's upcoming album New Jack City Part II.

Bow Wow's image, and presumably the contents inside of this jewel case soon to be available in stores, does NOT FIT the definition of what "New Jack City" is. At all. Nor does Bow Wow and his "rapping" relate to anything in "New Jack City" Part ONE-- a motion picture that was released back in 1991. Which leaves me utterly confused.

And then we have Bow Wow's current lead single "You Can Get It All," which samples TLC's "Baby Baby Baby"-- a song that was #1 during the time when the New Jack Swing subgenre was at its height.

With all of the above stated, am I missing something here? What is J.D trying to accomplish? Shock value? Suggesting that anything that was "New York's" can now be taken and used by anyone? If this was the intention, then it failed. Because A) I'm the only one that took note. Aka, nobody cares. And B), Bow Wow's fans are too young to even know what the hell New Jack City means. They probably think it's a new phrase.

And I actually took the time to watch Bow Wow's new video. The mixing is horrible. Especially when the singer comes in with the bridge. The lyrics sounds like Bow Wow actually wrote his own rhymes this time around. And that's not a good thing.

I'm glad the phrase "New Jack City" has been basically long forgotten. Because Bow Wow here has turned it into something cheesy. I can't even say "corny," which is an understatement. Even the album cover-- which freeze frames Bow Wow doing a jumping jack with Hammer pants on-- is a more ghastly image than Harlem streets back in '87.

Looking at what "The Source" did with putting Bow Wow and J.D on the cover just makes sh*t worse. And just when I thought "The Source" was making a turn-around.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Where Lew Been??

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Chris Brown's Downward Spiral Begins!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Wrigley’s has suspended Chris Brown’s Doublemint ads until his legal problems are settled.
The statement just released says, “Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown. We believe Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen. However, we have made the decision to suspend the current advertising featuring Brown and any related marketing communications until the matter is resolved.”

Chris, 19, surrendered himself to LAPD Sunday night for an alleged assault on 20-year-old girlfriend Rihanna.

STATIC THOUGHT***
More than likely found guilty or not, I can guarantee he won't get this endorsement back...just the rules of the game...You messed it up for us lightskin brothers real talk bro...I still rock w/you though Chris just hold ya head and watch ya hind parts!!..LMAO!!!...STATIC!!!

T.I.'s Show Airing Tonight...

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
After performing at this year's Grammy's, T.I. is ready for more television appearances. The rapper/actor is readying a reality program premier on MTV for his new show, "Road to Redemption." Recently, he spoke on his show and more regarding his impact on youth.
The show will take on young people with turmoil in their lives. Some have had trouble in their past. Others may have had limited resources and others have tough decisions to make. T.I. will surprise the kids and take a "scared straight" approach to creating change in their lives.
"They know I'm not speaking just from hearsay; I speak from experience," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I've been through what they're going through, I've done all the things they're doing. And if they see I can make it to where I am, there surely is a possibility for them to make it to where they want to be."
The idea of helping "at risk" youth was not exactly the idea MTV came to T.I. with at first. Instead, producers approached the emcee about a different concept for a show, but he was not in favor of it.
The original idea, according to Tip, was "putting cameras in [T.I.'s] house and watching him while he can't leave. I wasn't with that. I didn't think that was significant enough."

With his name in bright lights and with his musical influence on young people everywhere, he hopes he can impact these kids' lives in a positive manner.
"If I can't get through to them, nobody can."
As he hopes to create a positive change in others' lives, he may still face change in his own. The official sentencing for a variety of charges he faces is next month.
The new program premiers Tuesday night on MTV.

Monday, February 9, 2009

THE RAP PACK??...

MY FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE GRAMMY'S!!!...SO INSPIRATIONAL...

WEEZY WINS BIG AT GRAMMY'S!!!


Photobucket



LIL WAYNE DEF. THE BIG WINNER AMONGST THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY LAST NIGHT AT THE GRAMMY'S WTH THREE. THE BIGGEST WINNERS LAST NIGHT WERE COLDPLAY, AND ADELE. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WINNERS FROM LAST NIGHT:
Best Rap Solo Performance
(For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
A Milli
Lil Wayne
Track from: Tha Carter III
[Cash Money/Universal Motown]

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
(For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.)
Swagga Like Us
Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne
[Roc-A-Fella/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
(For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)
American Boy
Estelle Featuring Kanye West
Track from: Shine
[Homeschool/Atlantic]

Best Rap Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)
Lollipop
D. Carter, S. Garrett, D. Harrison, J. Scheffer & R. Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major)
Track from: Tha Carter III
[Cash Money/Universal Motown; Publishers: Young Money Publishing/Warner-Chappell Music, Herbalicious Music/Blackfountain Music/EMI-April Music, JimiPub Music/EMI Blackwood, Three Nails And A Crown Publishing, Roynet Music]

Best Rap Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
Tha Carter III
Lil Wayne
[Cash Money/Universal Motown]

Friday, February 6, 2009

DJ TRELLSHELLS NEW MIXTAPE!!!!


Photobucket



DJ TRELLSHELLS IS BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH YET ANOTHER MIXTAPE!!!
CYBER SPACE FLYNESS!!!
MY HOMIE GRINDS THE HARDEST!!!
FEATURES NEW MUSIC FROM T.I.,JAY-Z,RICK ROSS,CAM'RON,CHARLES HAMILTON,RIDALEN, LIL WAYNE,STAT QUO,WIZ KHALIFA,YOUNG CHRIS,WALE,BUN B,JOHN LEGEND, FABOLOUS,AND FAT JOE

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Game On 50's Side???!!!

This is getting interesting!!!

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS 2009!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
With Lil' Wayne's awesome year he is predicted to be a big winner amongst the Hip Hop community. Also right on Wayn's heels with four nominations is Lupe Fiasco. Not to mention Nas getting the credit he deserves with the controversial album titiled "Nas(Nigger)" The grammy's will be hosted this year by big names Taylor Swift and LL Cool J.
Partial List: 2009 Grammy Awards Nominees / Nominations

Record of the Year
Chasing Pavements, Adele
Viva La Vida, Coldplay
Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis
Paper Planes, M.I.A.
Please Read the Letter, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Album of the Year
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo
Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows, Radiohead

Song of the Year
American Boy, Estelle feat. Kanye West
Chasing Pavements, Adele
I'm Yours, Jason Mraz
Love Song, Sarah Bareilles
Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Kid Rock, All Summer Long,
John Mayer, Say
Paul McCartney, That Was Me
Jason Mraz, I'm Yours
Ne-Yo, Closer
James Taylor, Wichita Lineman

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele, Chasing Pavements
Sara Bareilles, Love Song
Duffy, Mercy
Leona Lewis, Bleeding Love
Katy Perry, I Kissed a Girl
Pink, So What

Best New Artist
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Coldplay, Viva La Vida
Eagles, Waiting in the Weeds
Gnarls Barkley, Going On
Maroon 5, Won't Go Home Without You
One Republic, Apologize

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Alicia Keys & John Mayer, Lesson Learned
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland, Four Minutes
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Rich Woman
Rihanna & Maroon 5, If I Never See Your Face Again
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, No Air

Best Pop Instrumental Album
Sax For Stax, Gerald Albright
Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One, Larry Carlton
Jingle All The Way, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
The Spice Of Life, Earl Klugh
A Night Before Christmas, Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere, Love Appetite
Eagles, I Dreamed There Was No War
Fourplay, Fortune Teller
Stanley Jordan, Steppin' Out
Marcus Miller, Blast!

Best Pop Vocal Album
Detours, Sheryl Crow
Rockferry, Duffy
Long Road Out Of Eden, Eagles
Spirit, Leona Lewis
Covers, James Taylor

Best Dance Recording
Harder Better Faster Stronger, Daft Punk
Ready for the Flow, Hot Chip
Just Dance, Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis
Give It 2 Me, Madonna
Disturbia, Rihanna
Black & Gold, Sam Sparro

Best Electronic or Dance Album
New York City, Brazilian Girls
Alive 2007, Daft Punk
Bring Ya to the Brink, Cyndi Lauper
X, Kylie Minogue
Last Night, Moby
Robyn, Robyn

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Still Unforgettable, Natalie Cole
The Sinatra Project, Michael Feinstein
Noël, Josh Groban
In The Swing Of Christmas, Barry Manilow
Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall, Rufus Wainwright

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
John Mayer, Gravity
Paul McCartney, I Saw Her Standing There
Bruce Springsteen, Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Eddie Vedder, Rise
Neil Young, No Hidden Path

Best Metal Performance
DragonForce, Heroes Of Our Time
Judas Priest, Nostradamus
Metallica, My Apocalypse
Ministry, Under My Thumb
Slipknot, Psychosocial

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
AC/DC, Rock N Roll Train
Coldplay, Violet Hill
Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden
Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire
Radiohead, House of Cards

Best Hard Rock Performance
Disturbed, Inside The Fire
Judas Priest, Visions
The Mars Volta, Wax Simulacra
Mötley Crüe, Saints of Los Angeles
Rob Zombie, Lords of Salem

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
David Gilmour, Castellorizon
Metallica, Suicide & Redemption
Nine Inch Nails, 34 Ghosts I-IV
Rush, Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)
Zappa Plays Zappa, Peaches En Regalia

Best Rock Song
Girls in Their Summer Clothes, Bruce Springsteen
House Of Cards, Radiohead
I Will Possess Your Heart, Death Cab For Cutie
Sex On Fire, Kings of Leon
Violet Hill, Coldplay

Best Rock Album
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay
Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock
Only By The Night, Kings of Leon
Death Magnetic, Metallica
Consolers Of The Lonely, The Raconteurs

Best Alternative Music Album
Modern Guilt, Beck
Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie
The Odd Couple, Gnarls Barkley
Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket
In Rainbows, Radiohead

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Kenna, Say Goodbye to Love
Maiysha, Wanna Be
Chrisette Michele feat. will.i.am, Be OK
Janelle Monae, Many Moons
Wayna feat. Kokayi, Lovin You (Music)

Best R&B Song
Bust Your Windows, Jazmine Sullivan
Customer, Raheem DeVaughn
Heaven Sent, Keyshia Cole
Miss Independent, Ne-Yo
Spotlight, Jennifer Hudson

Best R&B Album
Love & Life, Eric Benet
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA, Boyz II Men
Lay It Down, Al Green
Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson
The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige
Back Of My Lac', J. Holiday
First Love, Karina
Year Of The Gentleman, Ne-Yo
Fearless, Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Eric Benét, You're The Only One
Chris Brown, Take You Down
Ne-Yo, Miss Independent
Trey Songz, Can't Help But Wait
Usher, Here I Stand

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé, Me, Myself And I
Keyshia Cole, Heaven Sent
Jennifer Hudson, Spotlight
Alicia Keys, Superwoman
Jazmine Sullivan, Need U Bad

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Boyz II Men, Ribbon In The Sky
Anthony David feat. India.Arie, Wordsl
Al Green feat. John Legend, Stay With Me (By The Sea)
Jennifer Hudson feat. Fantasia, I'm His Only Woman
Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton, Never Give You Up

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Wayne Brady, A Change Is Gonna Come
Al Green feat. Anthony Hamilton, You've Got The Love I Need
(Linda Jones) With Helen Bruner & Terry Jones, Baby I Know
Raphael Saadiq, Love That Girl
Jazmine Sullivan, In Love With Another Man

Best Rap Solo Performance
Jay-Z, Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)...
Lil Wayne, A Milli
Lupe Fiasco, Paris, Tokyo
Nas, N.i.-.-.e.r. (The Slave And The Master)
Snoop Dogg, Sexual Eruption

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Big Boi feat. Raekwon And Andre 3000, Royal Flush
Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne, Swagga Like Us
Lil Wayne feat. Jay-Z, Mr. Carter
Ludacris feat. T.I., Wish You Would
Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West, Put On

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Estelle feat. Kanye West, American Boy
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, Low
John Legend & Andre 3000, Green Light
Lil Wayne feat. T-Pain, Got Money
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos, Superstar

Best Rap Song
Lollipop, Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
Low, Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Sexual Eruption, Snoop Dogg
Superstar, Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos
Swagga Like Us, Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne

Best Rap Album
American Gangster, Jay-Z
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
The Cool, Lupe Fiasco
Nas, Nas
Paper Trail, T.I.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Martina McBride, For These Times
LeAnn Rimes, What I Cannot Change
Carrie Underwood, Last Name
Lee Ann Womack, Last Call
Trisha Yearwood, This Is Me You're Talking To

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Trace Adkins, You're Gonna Miss This
Jamey Johnson, In Color
James Otto, Just Got Started Lovin' You
Brad Paisley, Letter To Me
George Strait, Troubadour

Best Country Song
Dig Two Graves, Randy Travis
I Saw God Today, George Strait
In Color, Jamey Johnson
Stay, Sugarland
You're Gonna Miss This, Trace Adkins

Best Country Album
That Lonesome Song, Jamey Johnson
Sleepless Nights, Patty Loveless
Troubadour, George Strait
Around The Bend, Randy Travis
Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, Trisha Yearwood

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

LUPE FIASCO NOT DROPPING ALBUM!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Lupe Fiasco's album "LUPE.N.D." which is claimed to be Lupe's last album indefinitely has now been pushed back to possibly never!!!

But an album is still coming in June titled "THE GREAT AMERICAN RAP ALBUM", and here is the tracklist...

1. Song #1
2. Song #2
3. Song #3
4. Song #4
5. Song #5
6. Song #6
7. Song #7
8. Song #8
9. Song #9
10. Song #10
11. The Greatest Rap Song Ever Made

REAL TALK...UGHHH..ARTISTS THESE DAYS...
BUT ON A GOOD NOTE HIS ALBUM "THE COOL" IS NOMINATED FOR FOUR GRAMMY'S!!!...CONGRATS BRO!!!

-LEW STATIC

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

2009 Jordan Exclusives

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High - Blue Sapphire which we saw previewed two months ago appears to have gotten some changes made to it. Back in December ‘08 when we first caught a look at the Blue Sapphire Air Jordan 1 Retro the upper consisted of 100% nylon. A recent shot of the Air Jordans posted on Kenlu shows up a newer updated look at the shoes. Jordan Brand has dumped the nylon design and replaced it with nothing but Blue Sapphire patent leather.

Watch for the now patent leather Air Jordan 1 Retro High - Blue Sapphire to hit JB retailers on March 14th. Hit the jump to take a look at the originally posted preview incase you missed it.

Soulja Boy dissin' Bow Wow


I HOPE THEY RUIN BOTH THEIR CAREER'S W/THIS!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

50CENT WITH RICK ROSS BABY MOM??...


50 CENT IS ABOUT TO JA RULE RICK ROSS' CAREER!!!

50 BACK AT IT YET AGAIN!!!...THIS TIME RICK ROSS???

YOUNG JEEZY SHOOTING BACK AT BILL O'REILLY

President Obama's stimulus plan...In detail...


Photobucket


The House passed its $819 billion version of the economic stimulus package last week. Now it's the Senate's turn.

The near-$900 billion package the Senate will debate and likely vote on this week is largely the same as the House bill. There are a few key differences: The Senate bill adds $71 billion in Alternative Minimum Tax relief for working families and a $300 payment to seniors, disabled people and others who can't work. It also would suspend taxes on unemployment benefits.

And those are probably not the only differences between the Senate and House bills. The Senate is likely to take up numerous amendments, including a Democratic proposal to expand infrastructure spending and a Republican proposal to lock in low mortgage rates and expand a homebuyers' tax credit.

What are some of the headline proposals, and what is the debate all about? The legislation is a work in progress, but here is an overview.

Infrastructure
The case for it: By investing in renewable energy, health care, education and construction projects, the Obama administration expects to create between 3 million and 4 million jobs and address key sustainability issues.

The case against it: Opponents argue the spending will lead to a rapidly increasing and unsustainable deficit. They also say that a majority of infrastructure projects will take too long to implement.

Construction projects: $90 billion. Fund the rebuilding of crumbling roads and bridges, build clean water and flood-control mechanisms and provide funding for mass-transit systems.

Education: $142 billion. Rebuild thousands of schools by modernizing classrooms, labs and libraries.

Renewable energy: $54 billion. Double production of alternative energy in the next three years. Weatherize low-income homes, modernize 75% of federal buildings and update the nation's electrical grid with a new, cost-efficient "smart" grid.

Health-care records: $20 billion. Modernize the health care system by computerizing all of the nations' medical records in the next five years.

Science, research and technology: $16 billion. Invest in science facilities, research and instrumentation to create new industries, new jobs and medical breakthroughs. Expand broadband Internet access in rural and underserved areas.

State relief
The case for it: As states face budget shortfalls, the stimulus plan seeks to help states pay for Medicaid and unemployment benefits. State fiscal relief will be allocated to prevent increases in state and local taxes, or cuts in government services.

The case against it: Opponents say the bill should focus on job creation that will make an immediate impact the economy.

Medicaid: $87 billion. Increase Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage so states do not have to cut eligibility for Medicaid due to budget shortfalls.

Law enforcement: $4 billion for states and municipalities for law enforcement.

Safety net
The case for it: Obama proposed temporary programs to protect those most vulnerable to the effects of the recession.

The case against it: As with state budget relief, opponents say the bill is too big and should simply aim to create new jobs. Some lawmakers have said some of the "safety net" spending provisions are wasteful, and many have called the bill unfocused.

Unemployment benefits: $43 billion. Extend through December 2009 emergency unemployment insurance assistance to states. Increase weekly unemployment benefits by $25, and provide incentives for states to expand unemployment coverage. The Senate Finance proposal also includes a $4.7 billion measure that would temporarily suspend the taxation of unemployment benefits.

Cobra: $39 billion. Tax credit for recently laid-off employees to help pay for discounted health care. Obama estimates the plan will help 8.5 million people who recently lost their jobs.

Feeding the hungry: $20 billion. Increase food stamp benefits by 13%, and provide support for food banks, school lunch programs and WIC.

Tax cuts for individuals
The case for it: Throughout his campaign, the president pushed for tax cuts for low- and middle-income families. As a form of stimulus, tax breaks have the added advantage of being paid out faster than other provisions in the bill, and economists say those income groups are most likely to spend rather than save the money.

The case against it: Opponents say the size of tax cuts for both individuals and businesses do not go far enough and don't make up a big enough portion of the entire package. Furthermore, they oppose giving tax breaks to people who get back more money from the government than they pay in income and payroll taxes.

Middle-class tax cut: $145 billion. Tax cut amounting to $500 a year for individuals and $1,000 for couples. The full credit would be limited to those making $75,000 or less ($150,000 or less for workers filing joint returns).

Tax cut for Social Security and disability recipients: $17 billion. The Senate version includes a $300 one-time payment to people who cannot work or are too old to work, including disabled or retired people receiving Social Security payments. The provision is not in the House legislation.

Low-income tax cut: $5 billion. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a refundable credit for low-income workers. Furthermore, the Make Work Pay Credit would be refundable, meaning that even tax filers without any tax liability -- typically very low-income workers - would receive one.

Child tax credit: Up to $18 billion. Temporarily increase the amount of the child tax-credit that would be refundable. The Senate's increase is smaller, costing $8 billion less than the House version.

Alternative Minimum Tax: $70 billion. The Senate bill would protect middle- and upper middle-income taxpayers from the AMT, which was intended primarily for high-income taxpayers. But in recent years it has threatened to engulf those lower down the income scale. That provision was not in the House bill.

Tax cuts for businesses
The case for it: Obama's plan seeks to help ease the tax burden for small businesses, as well as allow companies suffering losses to get some tax relief by applying losses to more years in which they booked a profit.

The case against it: Opponents say too small of a percentage of the total package goes to business tax breaks.

Small business write-offs: Obama would increase the amount of expenses small businesses can write off to $250,000 in 2009 and 2010 from the current $125,000 level.

Tax cuts for companies suffering losses: Up to $17 billion over 10 years. Obama would temporarily broaden the "net-operating loss carryback" to five years, up from two years currently. The provision would let companies apply their 2008 and 2009 losses to past and future tax bills so they can get money back on taxes they've already paid or would otherwise have to pay. The Senate allows 100% of those losses to be carried back, and the House allows for 90%.

Energy tax break: The Senate proposal includes an $11 billion measure to make it easier for businesses to claim valuable tax credits for investing in energy. The House bill does not include this proposal.