I bought the new release from 7L and Esoteric, A New Dope, as birthday gift to myself. Though I still have listening to do, I will say it switches backdrops on earlier efforts from the hip-hop duo. Esoteric’s beats invade lands ruled by the likes of Dangermouse or DJ Shadow. 7L lives up to the relentlessness of the album I first listened to, DC:2 Bars of Death.

As far as the birthday, it was Saturday and it’s 33 - one of those “so?” birthdays for me. Still, I had fun teaching myself again the danger of liquor Slurpies. Friends from work were kind enough to take me to Wet Willie’s at Baywalk. (I think I first thought it was a Fat Tuesday, but the concept’s the same.) I drank an icey thing named “Call a Cab.”

I’m still intent on another instant karma self-satifying birthday purchase, but haven’t found it. It’ll speak to me when I do. Maybe it’ll be a ticket to An Afternoon with Kevin Smith. Hmmm…tempting. Thanks for the heads up, Tampa Film Fan.