Virtual Insanity......Ya think?

When I was younger there was this station on regular TV (when we got our free statellite cut off ;-)) that played music videos. I want to say it was called Mega TV or something...ANYHOW...I remember seeing this video and falling in love with it. I had never seen anything like this video. The moving objects, a voice so peculiar yet soulful and that infamous roach that still makes my skin crawl until this very day. This video was art to me and still is....And the message behind the song is amazing. Sometimes we all HAVE to step back away from the world and realize what kind of life we are living....Whether it is a virtual reality, virtual insanity or just living in an illusion. It is alright to step back and question things in life because then again.....This is YOUR life. Live on!

Inna's Dictionary: The Definition of Music

Here is a lil' summary of what I think the definition of music is and how it relates to me. I used this in the Harajuku Lovers Fragrance contest last Winter that I did not win :-(. I just thought it was a nice lil' free-write that explains who I am.

Music is a universal language, but for me it is a way of life. Music makes you happy when you are sad, it's something that you can relate to when you feel misunderstood, and it can bring joy to sadness. That is me, all the way....Always positive, full of life and always wanting to help....Full of imagination and personality.....That is what music is to me....That's why I am music....

Life is a song worth singing

Tonight a musical angel that had the chance to grace this Earth and bless us with his melodic talent has been called home to the heavens. Teddy Pendergrass died today and it has hit me in such a way that I had to dedicate a post in honor of him immediately after I got the news. He was truly one of a kind and there will NEVER BE another TP. This really saddens me because he was just recently hospitalized for medical complications and I had also just begun my research on his life and music a couple months ago. So this post is in honor of him and his life.

Teddy Pendergrass was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 26, 1950. Ever since he was young, he had a desire for music and wanting to sing. He began to sing in church and was also chosen to be a part of the All-City Elementary School Boys Choir at the age of 6. As a he began to build up his reputation as a drummer, he got his first big break in 1969. Harold Melvin was looking for another member for his band, The Blue Notes, and Teddy fit right in.

Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes became one of greatest R&B/Soul groups of the early 1970s. With Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the creators of Philadelphia International Records and the Philadelphia Sound, backing them they had nothing to loose. With hits like, "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "I Miss You", "Wake Up Everybody" and "The Love I Lost", The Blue Notes made it known that they were a music group that was a force to be wreckoned with. And with Teddy leading most of the songs with his powerful and heart-wrenching voice, people started to take notice to this group especially the lead singer.

Teddy left The Blue Notes by 1975 to start his solo career. This is when he really got a chance to do what he wanted to artistically, which was something that he couldn't do with The Blue Notes. His first self titled album did very well and for the rest of the decade he would bless his audience with songs like "Love TKO", "Close The Door", "The More I Get, The More I Want" and "Turn Off The Lights". Teddy Pendergrass had officially made a name for himself in the music industry by the late 70s and early 80s and has been dubbed one of the greatest R&B/Soul artists of his time.



By 1982, Teddy was at the height of his career. Then tragedy struck. He got into death-threatening car accident that made him paralyzed from the neck down....But this did not stop Teddy. Since then he has released 7 albums, toured and been more active then ever. Although the car accident almost took his life, he would not allow it to take his soul and God-given purpose. He also created the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, which is a national organization that helps those who have damaged spinal cords rebuild their lives in any way possible.

Teddy Pendergrass was a true artist that will never be forgotten. It is so hard for me as a music lover to keep hearing about all of these great Black artists and performers that are dying. But one thing that we must remember is that their souls are still here through the music and great deeds that they have done for us. So, I leave you with one of the greatest performances that I have ever seen. I mean Teddy's voice roars in this song and it really touches my soul, and I know it will touch yours too. RIP, Teddy Bear! We miss you! ♥



More on TP: http://www.teddypendergrass.com/teddymain.html

So its the NEW YEAR! (Sarcasm intended)

I would like to start off by saying Happy New Year to all of my followers and to all that don't follow my blog but happen to come across this post....Happy New Year to you too! God bless you and live it up in 2010! (How weird it is to now say two thousand AND TEN)

Well, I am not big on "New Years Resolutions" because 9 times out of 10 those resolutions don't work to your liking, so you just beat up yourself throughout the year when you fall short. I just feel that everyday is a new day for people to change their lives and do something new to impact others. Now, I am not saying that I do not believe in change or trying to improve your life, I just feel that it shouldn't take every 365 days for the whole world to do it or recognize this.....Everyday should give you a NEW feeling of life and if not then that day should show you something to make you appreciate the next day.

So to everyone that I love and care for: thank you so much for being there for me throughout the year and holding me up. This year has been VERY interesting, but throughout it I have learned alot about myself and life and I am still learning. To the new opportunities and goals that I plan to accomplish this year: Look out because I have to COME OUT OF MY SHELL, OR ELSE! It's time to reach for the stars, AND I WILL BE REACHING HIGH!

So like I said, God bless you all......Live it up.....Change your lives for the better and help someone else along the way! Hotep!

"You can't stop my go
I've been born to be who I am
Bright light from a distant star
Miracles, answered prayers."- Casa Bey

Winter Sadness

A song that truly fits this morning's mood is "Winter Sadness" by Kool and The Gang. Today I opened up my blinds and saw snow pouring down onto the ground, but there was a sense of sadness that came along with every snowflake that hit the ground. A very eerie feeling, kind of like this song. The song is pure instrumental with a couple lyrics sang in the beginning of the song; it is such a soothing song. But what is so weird about this song is that people usually never associate winter with sadness and gloomy feelings......But looking outside this morning proved otherwise.

Have a great weekend, guys!
Peace ♥

Friday night revelation

So this week I have been gaining alot of knowledge during this journey called life and I have been realizing alot about my surroundings and who I am. I feel that the state of the world is in trouble and I also feel that the state of the Blacks in America is even worse. I've been learning alot about the true culture of the Blacks in America and I am realizing that what we are a depressed people. We don't even realize how great of a people we are and where we come from, and this un-acknowlodgenement is really hurting us....ESPECIALLY the future generation.

So I end this week off with a dedication to a brother, a REAL BLACK MAN who has a special place in my heart: Tupac Amaru Shakur.


I think it was meant for me to just see a documentary on him on TV that inspired me to end off my week's teachings right. This man was a true soldier of the system. He was born in a prison, his mother was a drug addict, he grew up on welfare, was introduced to the streets BUT then became one the GREATEST rappers to ever grace this Earth. Tupac could've been your average statistic but he had enough knowledge to know that he did not have to continue to let the system hold him back so he went out for his dreams and he indeed inspired others along the way. Rapper, activist, prophet, idol, thug, nigga, soldier, gangsta.....All of these words describe Tupac Shakur and I am thankful that we at least have a person of the past to look to who we feel stood up for us (Blacks) and what we believed in. Tupac was never scared and would not want us to be scared. In order to make a change in the world you have to change yourself first.



So this video is dedicated to ALL Black people in the struggle whether it is mentally, emotionally, financially...Whatever it is....We can make it, we just have to hold each other up and stay positive. This is my favorite song by Tupac, thank you Tupac for all that you did for us. Your life will not be forgotten. THUG LIFE


P.S. the beat to "Keep Ya Head Up" is sampled from Zapp & Roger's "Be Alright". Yall know I had to add that in. lol

Funk never dies...

I don't even know where to start with this one....
Zapp and Roger.....

Just the name of the group alone and that special someone that brings the best out of them puts butterflies in my stomach that I cannot describe. *Whew*
I watched a documentary on Zapp & Roger during Thanksgiving Break and ABSOLUTELY fell in LOVE with their music.....Especially the leader and creator of the band....Roger Troutman...*Lord, knows I love him*...

This band was based out of Dayton, Ohio by the way of Hamilton, Ohio (only 45 minutes away from my hometown!) and was started by one little boy that wanted to just play music....Roger Troutman. Roger wanted to master every instrument that was presented to him at an early age guitar, harmonica....You name it, he played it! His family took notice of his talent, so his father began to take him to clubs and different events and would bet money that no one could out play his son and indeed no one could!

By 1978, Roger and his brothers Terry, Lester and Larry and a few other musicians had created a group and would perform locally and earned a name for themselves in Southwestern Ohio as a great group with an amazing sound and tight stage show. Bootsy Collins, another great funk artist who played guitar for Parliment Funkadelic and also an Ohio native, heard about Roger and his band. He invited the band to Detroit to hear of their music at first hand and loved what he heard. At this time, the band was called Roger and The Human Body but the Godfather of Funk, George Clinton, convinced them to change their name to Zapp (Terry's childhood nickname)....And the rest was history.



What was so special about this group was the driving force behind the group's music: Roger. He could play damn near any instrument and master it. He loved to incorporate all kinds musical genres into his sound: blues, soul, r&b, jazz...He loved it all and wanted it to be heard in his music. But the most important instrument and driving force behind Roger's sound was the talkbox. It was the first time that a voice that sound so robotic yet melodic and soulful had been heard and recorded......Mentally and musically he was before his time. He wrote and produced most of Zapp's hits and would often tell his band members "Whatever you do, don't ever make my fans bored"...But there was no way that we could ever be bored with songs like "More Bounce to The Ounce", "So Ruff, So Tuff", "I Can Make You Dance", "Computer Love" and the many other songs that Zapp blessed us with.

I have a new found respect for this band and Roger in particular. I feel that he is not credited enough for how much of a genius he was. He was a great composer and musician and created a new sound that had never been heard of before. RIP Roger Troutman, thank you for inspiring the world with your creativity and dedication to making people feel good about themselves through the message in your music.



And in these videos you will see why he was so ahead of his time...Look at the performances....You got singing, dancing, playing of instruments...You have interaction with the audience....Every key is on point....Just simply amazing!

Peace

The 2nd time around is always the best....

If it is not obvious by the kind of music that I write about and post on my blog, it can be assumed that I am NOT a fan of modern day music.....Which I am not. I am not into all of this pop stuff that people are going cookoo over....It is just not REAL MUSIC to me and does not penetrate my ears and soul like music should....So i pass on what these record companies call themselves giving to the people called music, its HOGWASH!

On a lighter note (lol)

Since I have been home for Thanksgiving Break I have been doing more research on music and I just learned that one of the greatest producer's ever, Timbaland, is working on his second independent album called Shock Value II. Now Shock Value I came out a couple years ago and feature hits like "The Way I Are" and "Apologize". Many of the songs on the album featured other artists such as Keri Hilson, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado just to name a few while all of the beats were created by Mr. Mosley himself.

I saw his performance for "Morning After Dark" which is a single off of SVII on the American Music Awards on Sunday and loved it so much that I youtubed it and found a clearer version:



I just love Timbaland's intricate and outlandish beats, but I also love the wide range of artists that he puts on his albums. He does not allow people to box his music into any specific music genre, he brings all kinds of flavors to the table. This is something that I respect and can always appreciate from an artist.

Another song off of the album that I am loving is called "Say Something" which features Drake, whom is a modern day singjay which is a reggae music term used to describe a singer and rapper. I have never been a fan of Drake but this song has changed my mind. The beat lures me in along with his voice.



Shock Value 2 drops December 8, 2009 and I don't usually ever tell people to go and cop anything anymore but I guarantee that this will be an excellent album. And if you still aren't convinced, i'm sure the buzz will push you to do it.

P.S. Check out Lupe Fiasco's freestyle to Timbaland's "Say Something" beat...It is the illest rap I have heard in a while! Ya gotta save the best for last!
Peace and Love!