"I Know You Want To, Reach To a HIGHer Level"..

Didn't I say that Erykah Badu was about to come at yall a**es again with the realest talk?

Well she is back, like I promised with the first single off of her soon to come LP, entitled, New Amerykah Part II, Return of the Ankh. "Jump Up In The Air" has an undeniable beat that I love, and the rigid male voice that you hear on the chorus is that of the sexy soul singer, Bilal.....But what has shocked Badu's fans and even me is that she chose to put the world's most controversial rapper on the track....Mr. Weezy F. Baby. Now, I have never really been a fan of Lil' Wayne since his Cashmoney Millionaire days, so I really cut up the whole idea of him being on the track. I feel like the song is a hit with our without him......I will let you all be the judges on that.

But as for Ms. Badu, I am so happy that she has come out with some new music. I have really been craving the music of some of the artists that really molded my taste of music like Erykah. I love her music and her hustle and this video is a true piece of art, which I really appreciate because she always comes out of the left field with her videos and their concepts. According to her, this album will really move her fans because she feels that she went back to her days of Baduizm on this new LP and if so....Then it must be a classic.

I wish Ms. Badu love and prosperity with this new album, I know that it will have a distinct message and create musical frequencies that we have never heard before. What do you all think of the song and video?

Peace

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Although I do not have someone special in my life, I am celebrating this day keeping all of the people that I love and that love me in mind. There is no reason to go around on this day pissed off and hatin' on others because they have someone.....Make this day into your own special day!

With that being said, spread some love! Show some love and affection towards those around you, whether it is family, friends or maybe even someone that you have your eyes on. Just make today your own personal LOVE day.

And I leave you with one of my favorite love songs from one of my favorite groups. Special shoutout to my sister, creator of BlankBareClean, for being not only my sister but someone who has guided me in the right direction my whole life. If it was not for her, I really don't know where I would be so this post is dedicated to her because she is my valentine's. Love ya sis!
Peace and ♥

And the birthday's continue during Black History Month...

To one of the most moving and prolific African American writers of the 20th century,

Happy Birthday, Alice Walker! A true African American Queen is what this woman is. She has made her place in Black History by using her words and creating stories that capture the hearts and souls of Americans, because she is indeed telling stories that relate to who we are. Much respect and honor is due to this woman.

Her work means a lot to me because she wrote the bestseller and award winning book, The Color Purple, which was later turned into a movie that is one of my favorite movies of all times. I used to watch the movie almost everyday in 7th grade (I know it was extreme, but I loved it). The movie touched my heart and soul because it told a story about my ancestors that I would have never been able to know about without the movie. The fact that I have an old soul and that most of my family is from the south also made me fall in love with this movie. It reminds me of the great stories about Fort Valley, Georgia that my Great Grandmother and Great Aunt used to tell me about "back in day". The characters and the story line were brilliant; a true tale of the African American lifestyle and culture of the early 20th century is what this movie represented and is still held to high esteem within Hollywood cinema today.

So thank you, Ms. Walker for your contribution to our culture and Black history through your work. I now leave you with the climax scene of the movie, which is one of my favorite parts...
ENJOY!

"I'm poor, black, I may even be ugly
But dear, God...I'm here, I'M HERE"!

More info on Alice Walker: HERE

And another one....Birthday, that is...

Happy Birthday, J Dilla!

Today, James Dewitt Yancey would've turned 36. He definitely left us way too young. He is another artist that I have just recently began research on within the past 3 months. His music to me is the epitome of mid-western Hip Hop and Soul. It takes you to another level of music, that not many artists can take you. And don't get me wrong, I love his work with Slum Village....They are one of my favorite groups but his production abilities were by far my favorite. His beats put me into a trance and his love for sampling old school songs makes it even better. His beats were so smooth, so calming....So REAL. He worked with some of the greatest artists of the past two decades, Common, T. Kweli, The Pharcyde, Busta Rhymes and was the creator of one of the greatest Hip Hop groups of all time, Slum Village.


Slum Village as a group was so underrated while they were out and still are. And its so sad that there is only one living original member, R.L. "T3" Altman. Titus "Baatin" Glover passed last year, but the real Hip Hop lovers of the world are carrying on their spirits in many ways. Since Jay Dee's death, his music and life has been celebrated largely. Many tribute concerts have been done in dedication of him, CD's of his unreleased work have been released and many artists all over the world are still crediting Dilla by sampling and using his beats. His impact on music has been tremendous and has been called the favorite producers of Pharrell Williams, DJ Premiere and others. He has produced so many songs that we know of as hits, but never knew who the mastermind was behind the beats.

I am currently doing more research on Dilla's music and life, be looking for more posts about him in the future. And I will now end my post with a few of his many classic songs and a great documentary on his life. RIP, Dilla! We miss you brother, and we will continue to life you up! PEACE!







P.S. just found out that "Didn't Cha Know" by Erykah Badu, which I posted about 2 weeks ago was produced by Dilla....Now what do ya know?

"One thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain".- Bob Marley

There's a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet
Might as well be last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don't ask me why
Things are not the way they used to be
I won't tell no lie
One and all got to face reality now

Though I try to find the answer
To all the questions they ask
Though I know it's impossible
To go living through the past
Don't tell no lie
There's a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
Can't keep them down
If you listen carefully now you will hear
Such a natural mystic
Blowing through the air

Bob Marley is hands down one of the most influential people of my life- that I never met. This is because I knew him and he touched me through his music. I know that I did a post on him last week, but my spirit just will not rest unless I give credit to where it is due.

There was a time during my teenage years when I was very lost, like your average adolescent. I mean I was really trying to search for something to hold onto.....Something that would satisfy me...Something that reflected me....And when I came across his Legend album at home, my life and spirit changed for the better.

I stepped into a spiritual realm that I had never EVER knew anything about and I experienced something that I never ever felt before. When his music penetrated my ears, it gave me something that I could not receive in religion class at school, it gave me something that the reverend could not preach to me every Sunday at 11:00 am. He gave me something that you don't happen to stumble across....He gave me something that I was BLESSED to be given by God.

He gave me freedom, knowledge of self, spirituality and love. I'm telling you, if it was not for Robert Nesta Marley I would not know a damn thing about REAL music and REAL lyrics. If it was not for Robert Nesta Marley, the world would know nothing about the powers of Reggae music. If it was not for Robert Nesta Marley, I would not be the young woman that I am today.>>>>And that's 4TRILL!

I am really getting emotional talking about this. It runs that deep. Thank God for his life, ultimately. If you have never listened to Bob's music, please do. Just google the man, research his life and see what he did for people. The prophet was born in the country, raised in the tenement yards of Trenchtown, Jamaica, became the world's greatest Reggae star and traveled the world, but felt happiest when he was in the slums of Jamaica where he could connect with the PEOPLE....whom were his biggest inspiration.

Thank you so much, Mr. Marley for what you did. Continue to watch over us and thank you so much for your time and dedication to educating the PEOPLE on who they are and what the truth is. Have a great weekend, family! ONE LOVE, Pass it on!

"Say It Loud"!

Happy Black History Month, everyone!
I hope that everyone is celebrating this month and our history to the fullest this February. But let's not only celebrate our history for 28 days, we MUST celebrate it everyday because our history matters and tells a story that must be heard. Here at my university, I am a part of the Black History Month committee and never realized until I joined this committee how much people have really lost interest in learning about their own history. It is a must in my eyes, and I know that sometimes we feel that saying "Black this" and "Black that" can be overbearing at times, but what is wrong with proclaiming your history and all of its glory? I think that it is time for a change, and I am starting with myself.


So today, I would like to give you a lil' Black History lesson on one of the most profound African American artists of our time......Mr. James Brown.....AKA...The Godfather of Soul......AKA....The Hardest Working Man in Show Business. Did you know that because of Mr. Brown's presence at a concert in Boston on April 6, 1968, he prevented a riot from arising because of Dr. Martin Luther King's death? Did you know that he has had more singles to top the Billboard Hot 100 without one taking the number 1 spot? Did you know that because of him, the idea of "rapping" on a record was created? Did you know that he has been one of the most sampled artists of all times? Did you know that his music had a major influence during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s? Did you also know that at one time, he had owned many radio studios and radio stations and was recording his own songs on his own say so? Needless to say, James was a bad man. He is a big inspiration to me and many other African Americans who have been touched by the many things that he has done as a performer, activist but most importantly as a Black man.

I leave you with a couple of Mr. Brown's hit performances and songs. Long live Mr. James Brown, his spot is well deserved during the celebration of Black History Month. Keep it alive, yall! Peace!