Musik+ology 101: The Time Has Come!

It's here, guys! My blogtalkradio show has officially manifested and I am so excited! I am inviting you all to listen to my first show tomorrow, October 1, 2011. I will be playing Thundercat's new album, "The Golden Age of Apocalypse", and will also be discussing different things about him and the album.

Follow the link at the end of this post to get to the show, and there will also be a live callback number if you would like to call in and ask questions or comment.

Yeah, this is going to be epic...So tell all of your music lover friends that this is a show that you BOTH will not want to miss.

Spread the word, and be there!

Musik+ology 101 Blogtalkradio show

Alexyss K. Tylor Documentary

Hello, everyone!

I hope you all are enjoying your week. I personally took a lil' break from the internet and had a technology purge for about two days just to clear my mind as the new season has arrived and as I am beginning to start new business and life projects within the next couple months (there is never a dull moment in this girl's life).

As I returned back to Youtube, to my surprise, Ms. Alexyss K. Tylor, life and spiritual coach and motivational speaker, uploaded a new video. She has not been uploading videos recently and her viewers have been quite thirsty for her presence on the internet.

This new video that she has uploaded is actually a excerpt from a documentary that is in the works that is about her life. Alexyys has been through the fire and back as far as things that she has had to dealt with in life. From living in a broken home, to witnessing the death of a sibling at such a young age and more; she has been through it all. But Alexyss has not let this keep her down. She has managed to overcome all of these obstacles and be who she is today, a beautiful Black woman that aims to continually inspire and help people all over the world with her story and spirit.

I wanted to share this with you all because I quite frankly felt that I needed to. And I will warn you, she gets quite ill when it comes to her language at times but, she is who she is. Watch the video, be inspired, and let me know what you think.

Peace and blessings, fam! ♥

Happy Birthday, John Coltrane!

An intellectual, musical saint and one of the illest to ever touch a Tenor Sax! We will continue to celebrate Trane's legacy! A true Jazz legend!

Magical Tuesdays @ Toko Baru

Today I went to Ludlow Ave. here in Cincinnati, which is a legendary street for its many one-of-a-kind jewelry stores, clothing stores and restaurants. Toko Baru happens to be one of the many unique shops on this strip, and it is one that I absolutely adore.

My sister needed to go to Toko to get a decorative notebook for writing, and I went with her not really expecting to buy anything. Needless to say, I haven't been there in a while and my little feet would not stop running from this and that thing that I liked and wanted to buy.

I initially ran across this mood ring that was obviously a must buy for me. Say what you want, but I love them and they are a childhood favorite of mine. As soon as I put it on it turned Blue then to Violet, two of my favorite colors... I WAS SOLD, or should I say it was sold. Then my eyes feasted onto a basket of what I like to call "magic wands"; these pens were gorgeous. They had Black ones, hot pink ones...I was sold again. This pen makes me want to write and really inspires me to get back into my notebook and I definitely will.

When I tell you guys I felt like a kid in a candy store; I could not stop touching all of the things that I liked. I really should've taken pictures of the store to show you everything that they had. From their jewelry, to home decorations to natural body products...It is a beautiful store. I will definitely be going back VERY SOON to buy some of the things that I wanted, I may even see if I can do a little video on them.

Today really proved to me why I love Tuesdays so much; they are truly magical.

New York Fashion Week: Raye 6

As one of the most exciting weeks in NYC is coming to an end, it is only right that I post about it. I have seen so many photos of the many fashion designers, models, celebrities and other people that have been strutting their stuff throughout New York City this week on the internet. And when I came across Ms. 6's photos on her facebook page, I fell in love with her whole look.

First and foremost, her dress designed by Farai Simoyi is to die for. I love how it starts off as a pinkish-nude, modest dress and turns into a tropical array of colors. And her accessories, made by Devora of Dig Deep Inc. (y'all know I love accessories), are what I love the most. The beautiful crystal-stone necklace is so beautiful and her bracelets add a tangy twist to the whole outfit.

see more photos @ Essence.com

And last, but not least. Her hair gives complete LIFE to everything. This has been her signature hairstyle ever since I have come across her and I dare anyone to say that they have ever seen anyone with this exact hairstyle, that could even attempt to rock it the way she does. And believe it or not, but I think that her bun is naturally all of her hair. STYLE.

Raye 6, as a musical artist and performer, definitely knows the art of showstopping and she manages to do it with her sense of style and fashion, as well. Much love to you sista, keep doing ya thing!

Raye 6: website
Farai Simoyi: website
Dig Deep Inc.: facebook page

I don't speak French...

But I love this song & video. Just sending positive vibes your way as we enter into the weekend! Do your thing and listen closely to the end of the song, and you will then understand the meaning behind the song. Peace ♥

Lorna Simpson: Momentum

I came across this incredibly intriguing photo by the way of twitter some weeks back, and it really grabbed my attention. I immediately tried to understand what was exactly going on in this photo; why are these people all gold? It seems as if they are in motion, why the ballet shoes?

After further research, I learned that the figures in this photo are indeed suppose to be in motion and that this is a photo from an exhibit entitled, Momentum. Momentum is a collection of artwork by the New York based artist, Lorna Simpson, and this exhibit is centered around a particular occurrence in her life that has stayed in her mind and conscious into her adulthood. At the age of eleven, Lorna performed a ballet routine at New York's Lincoln Center.

"I was very surprised by a powerful sense of reversal while performing," she recalls. "I had this intense urge to occupy the role of observer, as opposed to being immersed in my well-rehearsed effort. I [wanted] to satisfy my need to be the spectator of this performance." -quote from nowness.com

And this explains the continuous spins performed by the dancers and silent pauses that are shown within the video that is also a part of this exhibit. It shows that as she performed, there were moments of her putting herself into the audience, mentally, to see herself performing as she is indeed performing the actual act. Truly mind-blowing and very interesting to say the least. Within this exhibit there are also photos of Avery Fisher Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House printed in gold ink, as they compliment her memory of a performance that initially lasted for only a couple minutes that have left an impression on her memory for a lifetime. I truly enjoy this exhibit and its abstractness, yet relatively to the human memory and intellect... LOVELY!

Lorna Simpson, Momentum (2011) from Salon 94 on Vimeo.

Momentuen: more on the exhibit
Lorna Simpson: her website

Afro Sheen: What happened to this?

Aren't these ads just beautiful? I look at these pictures and really become very confused on how we have changed from this. Now don't get me wrong, I completely understand that things change with time; beliefs, styles, trends etc... But when did it ever go out of style to be your natural self in all aspects?

To me, this goes deeper than wearing natural hair or even the ads. What happened to Black owned hair stores, what happened to commercials with Black people in them that actually put us in a positive light...What about self-acceptance? It would make a hell of a difference if we saw ads like these in our neighborhoods and duct-taped on modern day hair stores. Think of how children of today would respond to this compared to seeing people of other ethnic groups always representing a product that a business wants us to buy. What happened to our OWN?

I could go on and on, but I'd just like to post those questions and concerns to say that this was a truly beautiful time for our people. I wasn't even born during the 70s, but from a cultural standpoint, it ain't hard to tell that there was much more love and respect for thyself and the community during this decade and it showed in everything we did. The way we wore our hair, the kind of music we listened to and the major moves that we were making as a people when it came to education and business. A true sign of heightening the intellect and pushing forward through turbulent times.

And I highly suggest that you all watch the commercials posted below, which is what I came across initially. They are entertaining, message-driven and even funny at times to say the least. This is deeper than the shine of the sheen yall, this is about our community...What happened?







Ad photos courtesy of: afroglitz.com
Videos courtesy of: Randymay21

What was on your Summer playlist?

As the Summer has basically been swept away by the cold front and the intense winds of Autumn, I am recounting and reminiscing over all of the "summer jams" that got me through this amazing summer. From graduating from college, to living in Costa Rica for a month to traveling within the U.S., I would NOT have been able to do it without music. As a lover of music, I really must have it around me almost at all times. And many songs remind me of certain places, things or particular moments of the past and that's what my Summer playlist means to me. From always starting off my day in Costa Rica by playing Foxy's "I Can't" and walking to the bus stop to hearing the song "Loca" by Shakira and being immediately reminded of my Spanish teacher playing the video for us in class...Music tells stories, gets you through the day and just makes you happy and that's what Summer playlists are to me; storytellers.

So what key songs were on your Summer playlist that will automatically put you in the mind of Summer 2011? Dueces :-)

Happy Birthday, Foxy Brown!

Happy Birthday to one of the illest rappers to ever do it, Inga Marchand, better known as, Foxy Brown. I have always been a fan of Foxy, but it was not until last year that I really started to dig into her music and realize how amazing of a rapper she is. And it is not only Foxy's music that attracts me to her, but it is also her personality. She has been often seen as one of the most controversial rappers, but I find her to be a very interesting and strong woman. From her outspoken and sassy ways, to her Trinidadian roots, to her one of a kind style; so mysterious and different, yet her own...And that is what I love about her. She has always been in a league of her own, never apologizing for who she is. Something that is also interesting about Foxy is that although she may rap about having diamonds, to rolling in Benzes and totting guns, she always has songs on her albums that are true to the soul. Songs where she talks about her insecurities, how stardom has been a blessing and a curse, how she has dealt with being a dark-skinned Black woman to the troubles that young woman in our society have to face. Foxy has a very hardcore persona, but maintains her femininity with the honesty that she portrays in her music and who she is a woman. And although she is over-looked and very underrated as a rapper, once you really get to know Foxy through her music, you learn to love Inga.

And with that being said, I am going to post some of Foxy's more deeper and meaningful songs that I KNOW the masses have not heard just so you can get a feel for this girl...Because she goes IN in so many ways. Enjoy the music guys! Peace ♥




Foxy Brown- My Life

Poem: Wind

Welcome to a new week, guys! I hope you all are enjoying your Labor Day and taking time off to just chill and relax. I just wanted to take the time out to post a poem that I just wrote entitled, Wind. As I woke up today, no less than 30 minutes ago...The wind was running rampant outside of the window. And I just felt inspired to write this piece.
Enjoy! ;-)

Wind...

As you blow, you tell so many stories
You catch our attention
As you move so rapidly, you cause us to slow down
You make us think
You make us take in the all of the breeze that you are exhaling
As we inhale the after effects in all of its motion
For a change is on the rise
You can look at the sky, the ever so colorful leaves and the different tone in the atmosphere
Oh, wind...
Your story of Autumn is so beautiful
And as you continue to tell your story I will continue to listen, watch and take heed....
Wind...

September

Although Fall will not officially commence until September 23, 2011.....I am celebrating in advance.

Being a Fall baby, I naturally have a love for this season. Witnessing the change in the weather, seeing the leaves drop sporadically from the trees, and just a sense of newness and true change coming...There is nothing like it.

And with the season changing comes the end and the beginning of certain things. It also means that we are closer to closing out another year, and my, did 2011 go by fast? I'm just ready for all of the new and great experiences that are coming my way in September and all throughout Fall. And with this new season starting I plan or should I say, pledged, to do somethings:

• Blog more
• Create my BlogTalkRadio show
• Meditate more
• And focus on ME
  

Now these things may alter a little bit more as time goes on, but this is what my current focus is on in the short run for right now. And hopefully, with dedication and faith in myself I can do all of this. Sometimes, I really feel like I'm doing the most LOL

So what are some of the things that you guys are trying to focus on more as we are entering a new season? Work less, have more fun? Take a class or start up a new hobby? Holla back at cha girl!
Also, did I mention that I love Fall fashion, by far the best clothes are made for cooler/colder weather. Peace ♥