Some Unholy War

Yo, Amy was a straight ride-or-die chick.

Like, have you heard the lyrics to this song??

No, HEARD them?

Staggering.

If my man was fighting

some unholy war

I would be behind him

Straight shook up beside him

with strength he didn't know

it's you I'm fighting for

he can't lose with me in tow

i refuse to let him go

at his side and drunk on pride

we wait for the blow.

Do you have that kind of love for anything? To literally or figuratively take the blow? (even though it's very plausible with Amy, I don't think she's talking about drugs here.)

put it in writing

but who you writing for?

it's just us on the kitchen floor

justice done, reciting

my stomach standing still

like you're reading my will

he still stands in spite of what his scars say

and i'll battle till this bitter finale

just me, my dignity

and this guitar case

She signed her life away to this love. no witnesses, no support. but she doesn't care. would you do the same? Let's say she's talking about Blake (very likely). No-one liked him. Despite what his scars say, she battled till the finale. How would you react to a love no-one else cared for?

yes, yes my man is fighting

some unholy war

and i will stand beside you

but who you dying for?

b, i would've died too

i'd like to

wow.

wow.

it doesn't matter what he was fighting and or dying for. if he's dying for it, she's dying too. that level of unconditional love is mind-blowing to me.

To love something THAT much must hurt. Like, for real. Doesn't your heart ache with all that you would do for something? For a child, when that day comes, I'm sure. But for someone (or something) else? I don't know.

if my man was fighting

some unholy war

if my man was fighting...

Day 5- Your Definition of Love

This one is easy for me.

My def of love is Andrew.

From the time I became cognizant of wanting to find and marry the love of my life, Andrew has been there. I used to treat every guy I dated like he was "The One" (t.o.). I used to think being T.O. meant me being supportive and seeing past B.S. I thought since I liked him and he liked me, we were working thru rough patches and I was just supposed to be patient. All the while, Drew was being my dream guy.

To me, love is respecting one another. There can't be one-way love situations. You love what the person does, stands for, and says. Conversation or thoughts aren't dominated by one side cause there is a level of respect for what the other says.

Love is admiring one another. You wake up in the morning to a smooched face slobberer and it makes you smile. You get ready for a night out and you are still amazed at how good your love looks. But don't forget a donation of 10,000 pencils to an impoverished school in Africa has been made in your name calls for admiration, too. Or together, you buy enough nets for a village to ward off malaria. Admiration of looks, no matter how scary or gorgeous and admiration of actions.

Love is also sacrifice. It can be something as small as skipping a paid rehearsal to spend time with your love. Or big like doing something you just don't want to do, like move back home. Love is also letting your love follow their dreams, even if it means being apart.

Love makes you do some things. But one thing I've learned from all my dealings and then being with Drew, love isn't supposed to hurt. Love feels good. Love feels like what you've been waiting your whole life for. Yeah, there are ups and downs but like that corny behind Luther song, "I rather have bad times with you, than good times with someone else"

And you know I have a couple songs to go with LOVE.

How I Know- R Hargrove

I Got You- T Lockhart (just listen to the song, it's the only I could find)

Something About Us- D. Punk

Lady in My Life- M.J.Jackson

Life is Better- Tip feat N. Jones

Where Would I Be- Kin

Groovy Kind of Love- P.Collins (remake)

Music and Me

"We've been... together... for such a long time. Music. Music. and me" -MJJ 'Music & Me'

I don't even remember when I got my first record. I feel like it was a Cabbage Patch Christmas back in '86. And I vividly remember ordering The Best of the Monkees from a 1-800 number sometime around kindergarten... how could those phone representatives take an order from a 5 or 6 year old!?!? Well, I can see how a couple girls in my class could get on the phone and order something. Yeah, our voices are little but we are very matter-of-fact. I knew I wanted that double record and I had StanKK's support (lol, he was 4, what'd he know??). It was COD and Mommy paid for it; one of my fondest memories of her *ahhh*.

I remember playing my dad's Bob Marley records on my FP and wondering, "What is Zion? Is that a bad version of a lion? I don't think I should be listening to a bad lion." and quickly switching to my cindy lopper 'true colors' joint. My favorite track was "Iko. Iko". StanKK and I would sing and have a blast. Let's see if I remember what we thought the words were...

"My grandma and your grandma, sitting by the fire. My grandma told your grandma she's gonna set your flag on fire"

Now what are the real words...

Iko*Iko Lyrics

Not bad!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention MJ. I had 'Bad' on vinyl. Fave song was "Just Go.od Friends" feat Stevie W0nder. *aahhh*

So those were the good music days. Then I got heavy into the radio; Hi-5, Immature, Jodeci, Tevin Campbell, Soul4Real, etc. Was music better or were we just younger and dumber? I'd venture to say music was better back then, even the pop. Jodeci of the 1990s couldn't get a deal now, they're too ugly!!

High school, who was I digging... Trick Daddy. No Limit. Ginuwine. I remember getting Mya, Chico DeBarge, and even The Firm (random as hell. from least fave ex. some chick probably gave it to him and he passed it on) for my Sweet 16. I feel like Tamia was big. So was Joe! He came out when we were in 8th grade... I remember singing "All the Things" in History. I had NO idea what he was talking about. LOLOL. Oh yeah, Outkast. Rosa Parks was big sophomore year! and on the low, I was subconsciously prepping for my pseudo militant-ness by listening to deadprez. 'I'm An African' was big in the car on the way to school. And this funky group called Jamiroquai that I heard YEARS ago in my travels to UK... Virtual Insanity was NOT their 1st hit in my book. But before Jamiroquai, I was bumping the absolute hell out of EWF. Oh yes, I got retro in highschool. OJays, Brother's Johnson, marvin gaye, etc.

Senior year, it was all about Donell Jones. and Carl Thomas!! They had the hits I was listening to on my way to Grad Nite!! *sigh* Good times.

Now we're getting to the meat of my post. College.College is when I became obsessed with artists.

I bought The Love Movement, dubbed ATCQ's worst (at the time) and I was IN.LOVE. Like, seriously. I couldn't get enough of Tribe. They were on heavy rotation in the dorm room, on my voice mail, and when I'd come home, it was bumping in the Volvo. There was a point in time when no-one wanted to ride anywhere with me cause all they'd get is Tribe. Love Movement, Beats Rhymes & Life, Midnight Mauraders, Low End Theory, People's Instinctive Travels... *sigh* I remember that love.

Now what would college be if you didn't get into Bob? Aww man, I remember getting musically high listening to him one night. I was supposed to go hang out with a fellow florida boy but I got sooooo into Bob I was in a daze and forgot. Martina actually passed by my room and asked, "Are you high?!" Looking back (now that I know what it feels like), I was. Thus sparked another obsession. Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob. Maybe I kept it "fresh" by throwing Tribe back in the mix but you know the deal.

I don't even know when Blackstar was released but it did and sparked a new obsession. I became obsessed with the album first of all and went so far as to get a BlackStar tatt. Yes. Then I needed more. I'll get Mos. Miss Fat Booty won me over. May December is the perfect Saturday song. Mathematics was so "deep". Mighty Mos Def, loved him!

Reflection Eternal was an album I also dug. I think it was Hi-Tek that did it for me. Remember how "The Blast" made you feel? Yeah. Maybe talib needs people. I ADORE BlackStar and I like Train of Thought but Quality and whatever else came out? notsomuch.

Now that I knew what I was listening to, I went and got all the Jamiroquai albums. Yessss!!! This is what my life has been missing!!!

Let's play catch up. Tribe, Bob, Mos + Talib, Mos, Jamiroquai. I had everything those artists came out with. I was in a happy place :-)

Now because of my new found NY appreciation, I tried to get into Mobb deep. Didn't work. Oh well.

When I got to FAM, I got into college radio and heard Maroon 5 on WANM. Oh yeah. Had to have it. Someone at WAMN also played Gorillaz. Got all those joints, too. Red Hot Chilli Peppers got an album in my libe. I think I was tired of the same ole same and ventured to the other side. WBs were making me happy with their rock.

While at FAM, I also got in the mixtape biz. Anyone who has seen my iToons knows I have EVERYTHING DJ Jamad has put out. Also, Andrew was making me mix CDs that I played and played over and over again. And other guys would do the same. I got heavy into world music (specifically from Brazil) from mix cds from a homie. Same homie also put me onto Esthero. Have both her albums.

*SIDENOTE: Mixtapes... a way to a girls's heart coming soon*

Now here's the problem. Who is out there that I can obsess over? There is no-one putting out ANYTHING that would make me want to buy ALL their albums. What happened to the days of hearing something and absolutely NEEDING more???? I got all TWO of Amy's joints; I'm getting Raheem's L & WM today and that would put me at all 4 (3 studio + mix tape)... it was actually on one of Drew's tapes that I first heard Rah...I digress.

But do we see my problem!?!!??! I NEED NEW/OLD MUSIC! I NEED A FIX!!

Random Ramblings

1. for real, what happened to blogging? i miss being so involved in your lives!

2. i don't like 'ego' that much. i especially dislike it in the club. i feel like ever since i saw the video, i was pissed abt it.

3. i want a wii. all the people living the fab life i should be living in/around D.C have one. i know "thou shalt nit covet" but dang!

4. i've been ring shopping with DFB. believe it or not, I don't want a ginormous ring/stone. he doesn't believe me.

5. i text my mom this weekend and she was talking abt pushing her trip back to the middle/end of oct. i'm not even going to say anything else on it.

6. i'm not talking to my sister for a long time.

7. my brother's diploma is here and i looked at it for a long time. doctor of pharmacy. soooooooooo proud of him! it makes me love FAMU over and over again :-)

8. when will our HBCUs get their lives together?

9. i am ready for my 'long hair, don't care' to make a comeback. at least the chin length bob or something.

10. living single party has been postponed. unless y'all just to come over w/o the fanfare i like to have going on...

11. i want 2 more tatts and both of them on the inside of my wrists. they will be constant reminders of why i'm here.

12. being at BB's wedding made me want a wedding but I got over that. the feeling for the "next step" comes and goes; waxes and wanes. maybe i just want a large party in a ballroom with a really pretty dress on

13. the district has printed out our lesson plans. i have never been more confused in my life.

14. boom b.oom pow can stop now. so can every girl. and anything by drayck. i am tired of him.

15. i really need to make more effort to go to the beach. it's really just right there and it always turns out to be awesome. even if your hair gets wet against your prayers, wishes, and pleas.

16. drew likes to hot curl my hair. i don't so it works out. now i need to teach him how to use rollers and end paper.

17. i still fux with the clipse. they.are.GREAT. and have been since fall 2000. LOVE.

18. I am neater and cleaner in solitude than i have EVER been sharing living quarters. i love it. now if only the car can get the same attention. the tima is straight up FILTHY (on the outside) and not too neat on the inside

19. i have to tell myself, "it's not abt finding the person you can live with, but the person you can't live without". PREACH.

20. you guys know I saw a clip of a cow trying to get away from dying a couple of years ago. and then a few weeks ago, I read a clip about horses being slaughtered for their meat. It was then I decided to be a vegetarian. Someone asked if I was and I said, "most of the time. 98% of the time." we'll go with 95% of the time. Its been explained to be that i cannot afford to cut ANYTHING out of my diet. so, when that time comes for me to eat red meat (see: large loss of iron), I will. If there was another way to get the mineral (besides a vitamin) I'll be all over it. Till then, bring on the Stamps quarter pounder every 30 days.

Love, Actually

Can I have these guys sing for me?

anytime, anywhere.

I freaking love this song.

Monday Mindspacing

But it's Tuesday!!!!

Live on the edge a little, guys.

1. As you may or may not know, I'm at my brother's place somewhere in the central part of southern florida. Like, right under Lake Okeecho.bee. If you imagined there are mosquitos galore, you are absolutely correct!!

2. His place is awesome. I really wish I could bring people here. It's like a country inn resort. Maybe I'll take pix and upload them via twits.

3. I've never been a fan of the Atlanta Classic but considering my affinity for that southern piece of HEAVEN grows with each visit, I think I will go this year!! And I know how to use the TARMA? Oh, it is ON!!

4. I really want to wear smocked dresses for a looooooooooong time. Stank actually made a comment abt them the other day, "How many of those do you have? I guess they are the perfect dress, huh?" They sure are!

5. I am kiiiiinda looking forward to the school year starting.

*cringe*

I feel like my remaining 2 weeks are going to go by a warp speed now that I've put that in the universe...

6. There are 4 celebs that I follow on Twitr. I had to remove E.Dabu cause something is going on in that brain of hers and I didn't want to and couldn't stand to be privy to it. I removed Talib cause I remembered I liked Mos more. Lastly, I removed Joel McHail cause he's so much funnier on TV. All that's left is Ghostface (my boo!) Estelle (my british boo!) Johnny Boy, and Steven Colbert (huh-larious!).

7. I have a sudden LOVE for soft tacos. I mean, I've always liked them but now I want them ALL THE TIME!! I think I will make them tonight. I blame Jameil. She made some the last night we were in ATL and they were AWESOME. Quite simply, awesome.

8. Everyone wants to know where I'm going before school starts. I've been away more than home this summer and the question I get from Pops, Stank, Mini Me, other relatives and even some teachers is,"So where's the next place you're going? You still have time!" Word?! Don't let me find a cheap ticket to the Queen City cause it'll be on like popcorn! If I planned properly, I'd be there now. Then again, it's more fun to be spontaneous in the summer! Who knows where I'll be before Aug 6

9. Would you be offended if someone asked you to be a hostess at their wedding?? That question as be PLAGUING me the past couple of days!! I guess I need to know what role the hostess plays... what does she do, guys?

10. There are TWO wedding invites I haven't recieved yet and I'm not too happy about it. One of them is for a wedding in August and the other is for September. I'll be VERY hurt abt the August one. The September one, not so much. I know I'm going to that with or without an invite.

11. One for the road: In J-Hud's latest song, who is that guy HOLLERING "Worldwide" (or whatever he says) in the beginning?! OMG, he IRKS me!! I HATE that part! What does it do for the song?! Absolutely NOTHING! And then the ATL "oh!" thruout the chorus?? Sooooooooooo not a fan. The song is wack and I kinda think she is too. yeah, I'm talking about a pregnant woman.

12. speaking of preg chicks, WHYYYYYY do celebs deny being pregnant??? Is it to build more intrigue? Have people wondering about you? To keep your name in peoples' mouths?? It took her Dreamgurls co-star (A. Rose)to put it out there! Maybe they are afraid of losing the baby? I know when J-Lope FINALLY announced she was expecting it was like, "in other news, Tupac Shakr has been shot". Whatever.

I need a break

I should've taken a break from my break. Can we talk about tired!? that's what I am! I literally did a tour of florida. Well, minus the west coast but honestly, not really the biggest fan of west-side "beaches". When you live on the east coast, why would you drive to swim in gulf water? No thanks, I like my ocean to be Atlantic sized.

So, I left here for the 'ville and hung out with Jam Rock. We ate WELL and made cool things for our siblings. We were supposed to go to Tally but Kitty got back to me too late and Jam already re-arranged her week. I got there a day later than planned, handed in my app and hung around longer than planned. I wanted to be back in SoFla by Thursday so I can defrost for a day before heading further south. Yeah no. I left Saturday, stopped by the crib for a change of clothes and kept it moving to Hollywood. We had fantabulous sushi and I crashed. Being on the road for 6+ hours will do that. At least I didn't get lost this time.

Sunday, 8am service that was much longer than planned cause of the Passion reading. Yeah, I don't really like yelling, "Crucify him!" cause that's not what I would've said if I was around back then, you know?

Got my church in, picked up my pictures and some dental floss cause my teeth/gums have been hurting. Have you ever flossed with braces? Do you know how time consuming that is?! OMG, I spent half car ride to Big Pine Key flossing my teeth!? They did feel much better though :-)

So if you tweet, you'd know I was at a reggae fest yesterday. It was so cool! Lots of hippies of course but they are a loving, peaceful people. I saw old men with sun bleached blond hair down their back vibing. Chicks with tiny locs and Loving Day babies all over. So cool! In my haste to get further south, I didn't pack a bathing suit. Oh well, I got in to my knees then splashed water all over myself and let it sun dry. I don't think I got the tan black I was yearning for... I think its so cool when you can tell someone had a serious vacation by their tans. A couple of my kids came back ruddy faced and bronze. So cute!

I decided I was going to be "mean teacher" while Drew and I were coming back to Hollywood. The kids didn't even let me be her, they were so good! I even gave them a star *tear*. 10 stars and they get a themed party. If the prin gives them a compliment, that's 3 stars. AP, 2. An adult, 1. Or, if everyone stays on green all day. Yeah, my class was so focused today, I was impressed and gave them a star myself!

So excited this is a 4-day work week! Thinking about doing Maundy Thursday vigil and I'm def doing Good Friday's Stations of the Cross even though it usually makes me cry... Holy Saturday and EASTER SUNDAY!! YAAAAY!


Wait. I don't have a dress.


T o be continued...

This is a fest, right?

on our way. can you see my hair cut?

Me and Drew after 10 hours of music!

Anthony had CHURCH up in there!

Thanks, Mr. Joyner!

E. Badu was great!

The legend, Roy A.

Notice there are no pix of Will Downing.  Will Downer bored the ultimate HELL out of me! and he was so corny!! UGH!! ANNNNNNNND, he was up there FOR-EV-ER!! FOR-EV-ERRRRR!

On a sad note, I got no pics of Common :-(  I was so into his show that the camera was an afterthought. That man is too awesome when he hits the stage... as an MC (gotta get that straight cause I wanted to pull my eyes out and throw them against the wall while watching Smo.king Aces).

Now, I'm in the 'ville so be on the lookout from some more pics!

You mean like...?

So yesterday, I guggled the group whose latest song has me singing all day. The song is 'Beggin' and its by Mad*con. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the song! Found out the original music is by Franky Valley and was already on my Good List for You're Just Too* Good to be True, brought to my attention by L. Boog herself.

Whatever the case, I find out this song came out in Dec 2007, this duo has been doing the damn thing in Europe and the whole world since 2000 (a great year if you ask me), and... they are a mix of "cold.play and the r.oots, narls barkly and blak eye pees". I tell Drew to check them out and the following convo ensued.

D: coldplae and roots, huh?

S: or gnarls and BEP

D: I'm thinking mozart and led zepp

S: what came to mind for me was backstreet boyz and ded prez

D: maybe a little NWA and Otown?

S: or ozzie and issac hayes

D: the beetles and electrik red [group that opened for jaz sull, et al]

S: jamiroquai and TI

D: elephant man and boy gorge

S: mike mcdonald and john mayer (a reference to j. timb on fallon)

D: john forte and jarobi

S: you won

genius

I love to hate Apul. I talk ish to Drew abt his mak obsession, but I don't laugh at that stock he has in it! Anyway, itoons has thing called genuis and it is just that: genius.

In a early 90s, elementary school mood, clicked on Color Me Badd's "All 4 Love"

*swoon*

Ayce of Bayse, M*JJ, Thike, Jilly Boel, UBe40, Jahmiroquai and even the Steve Miller Band's Abracadabra!

Love.

Taking note from Shani, I'm publishing my playlist from the latest greatest thing that I can't believe I lived without from Appul

Based on We Major my favorite 'Ye song

1. We Major
2. Hurt Me Soul (loopay)
3. The Blast (tahlib + teck)
4. Mathematics (mose)
5. She Lives in My Lap (3 Stax)
6. That Girl (Dymond Dee + farell & snupe)
7. Yolanda's House (GFK)
8. Get By remix (quali, hove, bussa bus)
9. What a Job (dehvin + snupe, 3 stax)
10. Two Words ('Ye, mose, freeweigh)
11. Guess Who's Back (the god)
12. So Sexy (twista + kellz)
13. Do You See (warren gee)
14. Diamonds & Wood (KGU)
15. K.O.S. (Blakstar)
16. Hurt (t.I.)
17. Whose Gonna Take the Weight (gang staar)
18. The People (commun)
19. Late ('ye)
20. You're the Man (nahz)
21. Hip Hop (mose)
22. Selfish (slum villa)
23. Phone Tap (the firm)
24. Git Up, Git Out (ONP)
25. Higher (do or die + 'ye)

How great is that list? Even with the Twista track thrown in the mix, this ish is hot!

I can't front, "So Sexy" was my joint for a hot little minute. It started when I called a dude and heard that was my ringtone. Head swole.

So we know I love 'ye. And mos. And dre. And you may know from an old post that I had a crush on warren for the longest.

Ghost is my fave wutanger and I may have more of his albums than most chicks do...
phone tap... i just love the concept and the filter over their voices, I wish I was from NY for 3 min and 46 seconds...

who doesn't love knowledge of self and the blast is a neo-classic.

What a Job? The other side of the rap game as only devin and dre can spit it. Not too geeked on snoop's verse

Aww man, I need a drop top and it to be Saturday. This is feel good, crunk without "bus a nigga head" feeling music! I need to burn it and blast it in the Bose out front. Makbook speakers aren't doing this justice!

gotta do this more often

just woke up from a 4 hour nap

I don't know if it was something I ate (agae tofu, miso soup, raw tuna)... no, it's cause I left the radio on louder than usual while I was asleep. I usually fall asleep to the radio; set the sleep for somewhere between 90-120 minutes depending on how tired I am. I think "sleep" is the coolest invention on a stereo/radio BTW.

You know what else it might be? I don't fall asleep to "hip-hop and rnb" stations. I find my quiet storm channel or even some 80s wonderbread; meatloaf, jefferson starship sappy stuff to fall asleep to.


let me tell you about my dream.

First, I was in my classroom, in my reading center, sitting on one of the seats I have for the kids, calling the radio station. It must have beena teacher work day cause the students weren't there. I was caller number 10 and I didn't know what I won. The DJ told me and I said, "what?!" He got a little attitude and we had to do the call over so he can record me being excited. I thought he was looking over my winning record and telling the program director I can't get the john legend estelle tix cause I just won something else. Turns out I won the DVD "The Xpress", the nidsey movie about the 1st black heisman trophy winner. I feigned excitement (rather well), "OMG, I LOVE that movie! and I am the biggest fan of this station!" and it turns out, they forgot I won tix to the concert last month.

Then I was running around Sleapy Brown's house. he has leopard print floor tile. But not real leopard print, more like paw prints you'd see on a bulletin board at a school whose mascot is the bulldog (like mine). Matter of fact, his floor was my 'Wow! Wall' background. I was running around trying to catch him and Issac hayes was there chilling on the couch with my friend Kitty. Sleapy didn't want to be caught so I just went and took a shower in another part of the house that was totally different. It was sterile white and bland as opposed to the paw print side that had wood carvings and masks and paintings like a mini Africa exhibit (like our house). Kitty explained that Sleapy lives two lives; one based on who he is and the other based on karma coming his way. I blame that little gem on "Chopped and Screwed" playing sometime during my nap. Thanks Looda.

Then I was on a swim team and we were on our way to a swim meet. Our transport wasn't a bus or van but a G Wagon with sand colored interior. our swimsuits were light turquoise and white, down to the caps and goggles. the driver was the grandfather of a boy I had a crush on when I was in kindergarten. I kept on asking him to turn up the radio and he'd hold his hand up like, "Uh-uh-uhhhh!" I think we were supposed to get in the zone or something. Turns out our g wagon was also a boat cause we were driving over the ocean. The bottom of the truck was a raft and someone had a pocketknife. it punctured the bottom but what it REALLY did was inflate a submarine under the car. We were driving over them as there were speed bumps placed really close together. I feel like 2Poc and Pookeisha Cole were on at time.

Next, I was at publix getting food for the team. They sold subs for $.89/pound, I had an 8lb sub and everyone was like, "whoa!" *eye roll in dream*. I thought about getting this pre-made ham wrap for $.59 but my sub was made to my specifications, with shredded carrots and something else. That part I blame on the waitress where I had lunch. she was giving someone the ingredient run-down and I overheard.

I guess the team won cause the last part of the dream I remember was being at the club, (Rok Bar) popping champagne with j. Jones. Its obvious what song was on.


Then I woke up.

How fab is that dream?! OMG!

how can i put this...

I'm a Bey love/hater. I think compared to what is out there right now -pop wise- she's the best. She has a good voice, nice image, yada yada yada. Lots of ladies love her and guys think she's "hot"; record companies DREAM. She's never in any foolishness, has been dressing impeccably since Mama stopped creating and bedazzling her wardrobe (Bey stays decked in Chanel) and on and on and on. Aside from the drama that came out of D. Child dissolving, Bey has been on the up and up.

What I don't like (cause I am a hater, too) is the formula. Every year, sometime around her B-Day (sept) give or take a month, she puts out something she's been working on for all of 4 weeks. Now granted, "it don't take the whole day to recognize sunshine" but can we get a little more dedication or effort? Oh wait, i guess when you STEAL songs, you don't need to be in the creative process for very long, just long enough to pick out a song you like, as if its an outfit.

The latest? Single Laydees has that same swizzy beat and uh-oh chant/anthem of 'Crazy in Love' and... ummmmm, damn. the one with a whole bunch of missions... pat yo weave, old school dance... drawing a serious blank cause they all run together and sound the same...

time elapsed- 5 minutes

ok, y'all know what song I'm talking about!

I WANT BEY TO SAAAAAAAANG! She's better than a cheesy anthem (how's ashanti's 'good good' doing? *eye roll* can't believe I bought that mess)! We want 'Dangerously in Love' and 'Me, Myself, and I'!! even an 'Irreplaceable' got under my skin!! I can't help but to love and hate (used loosely) her. She's so damn good at what she does. bey is what every pop artist should aspire to be.



Speaking of artists I "hate", that damn Ne-Yo is going to have me buy all his albums!! When he first came on the scene, I scoffed at his "sick of love songs". then I actually listened, got the message and thought he was BRILLIANT. Then every song he's put out has been bomb in my eyes (after riding on it first, of course).



Now someone I don't like for real? LL. Yo, you're an old man. Go sit down somewhere! I think the industry is treating him like an elderly citizen. You're not rude to them despite the fact they're crotchety. You respect them for their contribution to society and let them get away with telling you the saaaaaaaame story about what they used to do when they were our age. over and over again. Its like gospel on soul train, you just don't boo it. you know that his lyrics are wack as the fcuk but it's LL!! He Needs Love!


No, he needs to retire.



I may get some flack for this but I realized something at the Estelle, Gym Class, Roots show last week.







I don't like the Roots.




I tried reeeeeeeeeeally, reeeeeeeeeally hard for as long as I can remember. I think I fell into the whole, "I'm supposed to like them cause I like this kind of music" thing. Kinda like Stuff White People Like: Classical Music. I loved okayplayer back in the day and that's a much love the roots get from me. Oh yeah, their keys man (kamal can get it any day, any time. he actually remids me of drew). i mean, i like the singles that come out (if they do) and when I get the album... it's not the same. Things Fall Apart? Classic, I like. Illadelph? I like. Phrenology? Tipping Point, Game, Rising?? ehhhhh, I tried to like and realize: I don't. Plus, you get an AWESOME live show but obviously, a studio CD is not going to be the same. They just don't do it for me and we left early. we felt so out of touch and had NO EARTHLY IDEA what Thought was talking about. I might as well have been at a loud, cold, lecture given in Chinese.

yeah. like that.


Now your girl Estelle??? That's my chick! I was geeked hearing her sing cause she can!! Little bitty thing is funny too! Had me cracking up! Curses like a true brit, 'wind it up' while singing, and she can blow! Gym Class is bomb too! Must check them out!


Okay, that's my music rant for the day!

New Vid

please go to youtube and view! tell your friends! DONATE!! HELP!

T.I.

I'm feeling him right now.

1st of all, his new song featuring 'Ye, Jay, Wayne is OFF THE FUTHERMUCKING CHAIN! and it uses a line from M.I.A's Paper Planes

No-one on the block has swagger like us

but for real, that first released album, I'm Serious is so me right now.

I

AM

SERIOUS.

If things don't fall into place, I'm out.

on a lighter note, i was looking up cities that have an Ikea nearby!!

YES Estelle!

Love her.



and you know i love the george mike inspiration! loves him too!!

i did nothing

i lied.

friday night. drew had show in hollywood beach. a tedturner-like person of haiti wanted the band to play at his b-day bash on the beach. it was at a tapas restaurant and ask me if i made it there?

NO!!

I was dead tired in westpalmbeach!!! so pissed cause i ALWAYS miss the good, ritzy shows and make it to the hot raggedy shows!!! case in point, saturday's event.

h.o.w.. haitian org of women was having a banquet?? no, not a banq cause there WAS NO FOOD... *side eye, digression*

in homestead, florida. homestead is about 1.5 hours southwest of miami. if you're thinking mexicans, rednecks, and ten gallon hats, you're right on the money. not that anything is wrong with an agricultural town... it just seemed... anachronistic. yeah. we'll go with that.

do you know how hungry i was, in the middle of nowhere? i would've torn up some griol and rice, i was so hungry. and i had to watch Mani, the 3 y.o boy who belongs to the female singer. hard.headed aries.

oh. they only got a chance to play 4 songs. and they played them super fast b/c the drummer who is a gigger (as opposed to an actual member of the band), had another show and he had to leave by 830. the band was supposed to play at 645...
ended up being 815...
colored people will be late to their own funeral...

on a brighter note, sunday was spent at the park with lena and her son. drew thought he was going to the beach but forgot he lives in south florida on a perfect memorial day weekend. no parking for you, join us at the park. it was nice watching kids play and parents lounge. i did fall off the merry-go-round... twice. drew was pushing mani and he fell off. lena and i told him he was pushing too fast but drew didn't think so. i got on to see...

drew was pushing too fast.
he's like a labrador or great dane puppy playing with miniature pinchers. yeah, we're all 2 months old but you are waaaaaaaay too big and clumsy to play with us. go find a mastiff.

CAN YOU TELL THAT I'M HUNGRY RIGHT NOW? CRANKY AS I TYPE??

Monday was the best. i finish all of drew's dishes (3 day process. soak them bad boys... in chlorox if he had some) and we watch the last episode of dexter. that show is AWESOME!! and totally plausible!! then we're pretty much chillin, went to target, went to lena's went out to eat at this ital. rest nearby... we're watching jeop.rdy when his landlady texts him to come over.

drew is now a daddy!!!

he has a two month old kitten that jane found hanging around her store since friday!! she gave the kitten her lunch of white albacore tuna and snatched her up. seeing how she was 5 cats (emma, mogwai, dude, dipshit, lea) takes care of two strays (groucho and broke-ass kitty [her tail doesn't work]), it was only right for the ONLY person who doesn't have a cat at their place to adopt her! enter, drew.

he hasn't come p with a name yet. she is soooooooooooo little and cute! varying shades of gray in faint stripes all over, but her belly is spotted!!


drew is going to be an AWESOME daddy! you should've SEEN him cuddling and cooing!!! AWWWWWWWWWWWW, IT WAS SO CUTE!!!!!
just don't ask him about names. b/c she's gray, he said, "tungsten".

i don't like him sometimes.

at Merr/ick + Eola

here's the band playing at that high end mall I was talking about.

action shot of me and drew and I leaving his place for the park


Drew was hotter than a bi... he is too fine!


i put my aviators in front of the lens to see how it would come out... I LOVE IT!


aerial shot that cause me to trip and fall backwards and made my card fall out and made 4 shirts jump on me and look so good on me and made me spend too much money at ebeb. all that.


desy, see what you missed? y'all check out utoob for the rest of nowam (reverse the spelling) music and vids! also, check them out on itoons

The Weekend Wrap Up

let me break it down for you.

Friday. leave school and come back around 545 for Family Fun Night. Tons of indoor activities and food. I was the sole cashier for food where the most expensive item was $1.00. I don't want to count money anymore!!
leave there around 9pm. Go home to defrost from hotdogs, popcorn and limbo; call drew and tell him i'm tired. he says i don't have to drive down tonight but the tone in his voice said otherwise. that's when i changed my spacebook status to 'love = sacrifice'. i crawled out of bed, packed a bag and drove to hollywood. mind you, i've been up since 630am and its now 11pm. lane closures on I-95. gotta love that ish. i make it there and hit the bed. oh but wait, there are no sheets on the bed! DAMNIT DREW! Fcuk that shit, I used the comforter as a sleeping bag and fade to black. then here he comes... with sushi! ok, i'm not mad anymore! eat and go back to sleep.

saturday. he's playing at merr.ick park again. i take pics of them during their 4 hr gig during the hottest part of the day (2-6pm) it seemed. then i made the mistake of getting an aerial shot of them and "falling" into be/be where I spend too much money on 4 shirts. the minute i signed the slip, my feet turned to lead. i trudged out with receipt in hand, str-8 dumbfounded. harry dred already knew the deal and said, "you spent too much money didn't you?" it was written all over my face! dreezy tried to be supportive and say, "you earned it! when do you ever go all out and buy whatever you want? that's your tutoring money right there!" sheeeeet, that's like 3x my tutoring money... i always buy what i want and that's the problem! i justify it with, "i ain't got no kids or major bills, so why not?" but that mini spree hurt my heart.

saturday, we pack up and leave merr.park. we're to meet at harry's house at 10pm so we can road trip to orlando for a show. 1248am, we finally leave! make it to o-town at 430am and hit the telly on i-drive. i have no idea what we're doing, i just came for the (come to find out, uncomfortable) ride. i'm lying. i'm "on staff" as the photo/videographer.

sunday. haitian flag fest!

we're at eola park and i was just hoping i'd bump into a haitian chick with box braids who lives in orlando named desy. maybe she was there, idk was busy taking pics and didn't have her # to set up a play date.

whatever the case, the event was nice! the most fun i've had at a haitian event cause for real, kompa.s fest was NOT getting it, nor were the lil gigs ma/wo.n has played at... no offense to any haitian reading this. y'all actually remind me of ghanians. way too aggressive over the little things.

anyhoo,
we leave there and try to find a place to eat. a place that devout vegetarians, lacto-ovo veggies, and 'only fish' veggies eat. lena, ralph and i were the meat eaters who could eat anywhere whereas the 'tarians were being mum abt where to eat! ralph said, "i will eat some griol (sp?) and not feel bad right now, speak up!" i picked an italian rest and told the vegans to eat some 3 cheese tortellini and holla back. i was hungry, hot and tired and they were perking. we order, eat on the road and make it back to s. florida at 1230. back to drew's where we hit the sheets only to be woken up by an alarm at 545am, seeing how i have to drive an hour to get back home and get ready for work. you already know today was a movie day. that was the plan. i saved it for the last 30 min of the day. even when i'm dead tired, i can't try my students' lives with a movie! we have addition and subtraction to master! books to read! kindergarten to conquer!! ha HA!

will post pics when i find my cord!

SCORE!

the musical love of my fantasy life. i don't care or believe anything anyone has to say about him!! I LOVE YOU MICHAEL JOE JACKSON!!!


B.ad, Be.n, Bloo.d on the Dancefloor, D.angerous/Special Editi.on (I have both), Forev.er, Michael; Got to .Be There, HISt.ory: Past, Present, Future; Invincib.le, Music & M.e, Thrill.er/Special Edition (both), Michael Ja.ckson Anthology; tapes, records, CDs, DVDs, mp3... whatever the next medium is, i'll be there!

Who gets Martin Scorcese to direct your MUSIC video??? MICHAEL JOE JACKSON!! (its not the extended version that's on DVDs)


I remember getting the 'Ba.d' record for Christmas and asking my mom why MJJ looked white. That was back in '88.

I remember standing in line and waiting to be one of the first to get Dan,gerous. I was in 3rd grade. I danced to 'Ja;m' at summer camp that year.

waiting in line with my dad for HIStory at Be.st Buy. I was going to 8th grade. I remember stalking MT,V for the video premiere of S.cream and trying to win the guitar he smashed.

Sophomore year in college, I hit up a friend of a friend to take me to the mall so I could get Invincibl.e the day it came out. There was no line :-(


Shout outs to The Smoking Section and the Aphillia.tes for this mixtape to add to my formerly complete MJJ collection!!! and I just copped that Outskirts: lost Ou.tkast Remixes!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!




P.S. peep that ring. that's the star i wanted!! ok, not as big...

the latest

so Drew's band (M.awon) has another video out. They're trying to get picked up by Haiti's Karn.aval officials and they have submitted their carnival track and video to the proper authorities. The song was written by ralph (of course); he and Drew sat in his kitchen with a make-shift studio and recorded it bit by bit with drew's keys (keyboard) and some conga drums Finally, they got in a studio and worked it out with actual female vocals, cuss, drums, bass, lead guitar, etc. The video? shot in, on, around Ralph's showroom. The guest guitar player is haiti's jimi hendr.ix (Dad.ou.Pasqu.et, one of the greatest to touch the axe). He wrote a carnival track, heard this one and refused to play his again. Then he asked if he could play on theirs :-)

I have NO IDEA what they are saying but the beat is catchy as hell!



and check out my Dreezy looking like a white Rick.Ro.ss.