19 posts tagged “music”

A Flashing Lights Kinda Night

Nov 9, 2009
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Friday Night.

Georgetown...

Opening Night for Foto Week DC. Drinks pouring. Beautiful people around. Me and Kel conversing and bumping to the ecclectic mellow mix of house music. Tasty spread of hor'dorves. Floating from one gallery to the next. Photography on display at five different galleries. New York, Cuba, Uganda, AIDS, 9/11, DC school children, the normal, the interesting. Topics are soft to intense. Chocolate doorman on gaurd. Looking to be Secret Service. Our eyes lock. Smiles exchanged. Ahhhh. I'm taken. Night fall air. I'm without much care. Celebrating Kel's job offer from earlier in the day. Me? Celebrating life and perhaps the realization graduation is closely becoming a reality.

Unknown hours pass. We have to keep it moving.

Adams Morgan...

Posted up at Soussi. Mediterranean feel. Added company. An Andre 3000 twin. Glasses, Suit, criss cross red and white strip shirt. Tie. Socialite, business man, fellow Bison. Good friend of Kel. Old School Hip Hop. Whatcha know about Lords of the Underground? Camp Lo? Tribe Called Quest? Martinis flowing. Paella tasting great. Black, White, Mediterranean, etc. taking hits from choosen hookah. Conversing about politics, current personal biz, straight up business. Pass the business cards to him, him and her. Another epic center or nerve where the bohemians of all backgrounds collab.

Again, unknown hours pass. We have to close tab and keep it moving.

The Triangle...

Andre 3000 Twin leads us to a mini after party. His connects is with Ozios. Club shuts down at 2 am, but a core group of Ethiopians still partying, including the connect. Someone got engaged. Champange flowing. Dancing in full effect. White guy comes over. Introduces himself. Said that he noticed Kel and I come in and thought we were the sexiest ones in the place. A line? Yes. Still, all he wanted was a dance. How could I refuse?

Unknown time passes. We shut it down.

Benning Ridge...

Home. Lured to sleep by the sounds of Papi's voice who called to make sure I got home ok.

Hustle Hustle Hustle

Jul 28, 2008
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M.I.A.

Love her or hate her. Either way the Sri Lanka native has a lot to say. I've really been into her music lately. This time it's not so much her (so-called) controversial song Paper Planes, that mocks stereotypes of immigrants - which by the way I find rather interesting that the song is featured in the upcoming film Pineapple Express. There have been certain songs from her Kala album that I've really been paying attention too, especially the song "Hussel" with African rap artist Afrikan Boy.

I'm always amazed at musicians who write their own music/lyrics and are very secretly ingenuous with it. Their song is basically intellectual if you see the meaning. However, if you miss it, the point and how it is delivered with great depths, then it's just another tune to shake your booty to or do a head nod with meaningless lyrics. There are a lot of real artists out here who I greatly admire their intellectual art form.

Side Note: I'm soooooooooooooooooo missing Lauryn Hill right now.

I love their music and give them much respect. M.I.A is no exception. She's different; her music, her art form. She's colorful and she's blunt.

Getting back to the song "Hussel"

I really got to thinking about a conversation I had long ago with former coworkers. It was during the time when I had just started working with Mr. Yellow. My first week there. Someone was leaving and another new comer (other than myself) was entering into the fold. Mind you, the kind of company Mr. Yellow owns is a small creative communications firm. The other new comer, Mr. Green, was coming from a large corporate company. This is where the conversation started one day when the whole staff (sans Mr. Yellow) went out to lunch.

Old staff members were interested in knowing some background info on Mr. Green, mainly where he worked and what type of work he did. Also, why did he leave? Everything he said about his former place of employment seemed like gold. He had it all; the big salary, a job he loved, him and the boss got along great, benefits and a little bit more. However, he grew tired of the job when he found himself working overtime more often than spending time with his friends and family.

"I work to live, not the other way. I don't live to work," he said.

With that philosophy he resigned and landed a job with Mr. Yellow. Unfortunately his stint at the company was very short over a misunderstanding. Nevertheless I couldn't get his life philosophy out of my head. It often comes back to haunt me when I find myself asking what do I want from a company that is interested in hiring me.

I think a lot of us, including myself, get up every morning with the intention of working to live. Work is just a side dish to life. Granted working and living sorta go hand in hand. You do need that paper to participate in much of life's amusement and even obtaining the necessities. However ones work life should not be the end all and be all to their existence. Still a lot of us get caught up in living to work, probably even more so now as the economy is dragging all of us by our fine hairs.

Perhaps, at this point in the American economy, the American Dream is a big ass joke.

Ha Ha... Joke Is On Us.

So.. a lot of us, even before the decline of the economy, are prone to hustle in order to see some kind of light at the end of our dream tunnel. Some of us go about it illegally and some the legit way. Either way, more often than not, you can find someone on a daily grind (several times over) in order to simply live.... survive.

Hmmm

So maybe in some cases there are folks that are doing both....working to LIVE day by day, only to get up each day to live again just to work.

A big fat circle of survival.

Well I'll be damn.

M.I.A. - Hussel

M.I.A. with Afrikan Boy
Song: Hussel
Album: Kala

We do it cheap hide our money in a heap
Send it home and make em study
Fixing teeth, I got family, a friend in need
A hand to throw the gasoline
A mobile phone hooked up to the scene
Hello my frind yes it's me
Dont be scared there's somethin going on
Im gettin money since I grown
Could be dash go out and hussel em
But I hate money coz it makes me numb

Hussel hussel hussel
Grind grind grind
Why has everyone got hussel on their mind?

[AFRIKAN BOY]
You think its tough now,
Come to africa,
Out there we are grinding like pepper,
You can catch me on the motorway,
Selling sugar water and pepper,
I rep Africa not Miami,
Hustle hustle with m.i.a,
I'm broke I've got indefinite stay,
You can't touch me like leprosy,
I hustle tough from here to sri lanka,
My mum told me to be an accountant,
Bun that I wanna work in a corner shop,
Contact sugu he's got the contacts mayne,
I'm illegal I don't pay tax tax,
EMA yes I'm claiming that that,
Police I try to avoid them,
They catch me hustling they say deport them,

Hussel hussel hussel [2x]
Grind grind grind
Why has everyone got hussel on their mind?

Hello my friend, hello my friend
Yes it's me
4 by 3 ,3 buy 3 , buy 1 song get 1 free
Maybe me, a bootleg cd colour tv or dvd
We got barrels in the sea
Its big enough to take a whole family
We drum on it
Jun cha cha gegujun cha
Jun cha cha gegujun cha

Come sit by me, let me tell u we
Don't do bling but we do white tee
Up some jungle up some tree
One second , my phones ringing
Its my friend habibi
He then went drop called me
Cheap moroccan got no credit than me
Ya'll got less credit than me
I keep that tab at a shop like a gee
Coz without me there'll be no chocolate hershey

Hussel hussel hussel [6x]
Grind grind grind
Why has everyone got hussel on their mind?

Claim and Support

Jun 18, 2008
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Tadoodles for the Snickerdoodle

Of writers they (whomever they are) say, once you find and claim a spot of your own you can successfully sit down and let your thoughts flow. Most of the time I find this to be true, but lately it seems that every corner or spot I claim it's cluttered with boxes of stuff or furniture that has been covered with heavy duty construction plastic. No sooner then I claim it, the whole family claims it as well as we are pushed to one corner to the next in the midst of the renovation. Normally I'm able to push pass such disturbances, especially when I can't contain my thoughts. I just let it spill. However, lately I've been letting the noise win. Perhaps it's the procrastinator in me or that small inner insecure voice whispering doubtful lines.

I gotta get rid of him...it...that doubtful voice.

The drilling, banging, sawing, Spanish conversations flying loud and fast, the Snickerdoodle discovering things, the parents needing me to do something, the electricity tripping on and off - overload, the telephone ringing, the thunder storms.....the need for quiet.

It's no wonder I end up with dull headaches by the end of the day.

Yeah I could pack up the laptop and take a breather at a coffee shop, but there is still the very active Snickerdoodle and the fact that both my folks are tied up some kind of the way during the day. So the little one would have to roll with me. She's a busy 1 year old. How come no one REALLY warned me about this stage?

Maybe I'm making up excuses. After all I haven't even asked if my parents could watch her for a few hours nor tried such. I still managed to complete a few things I needed done via writing, including a pitch to a magazine. I've been attempting to take another "gander" at my manuscript. This time I'm more determine to have it completed by the end of August. After some searching, I believe I have found a literary agent, but of course I have to complete the manuscript before any soliciting.

Not much else has been on my mind lately.

I'm excited about next Saturday as Papi and I are going to see Rahsaan Patterson and Kindred - The Family Soul at the Carter Barron. One thing I love about summers in DC since I was kid, concerts at the Carter Barron and at Fort Dupont Park. Sitting under the stars and listening to good music still feels like I'm part of a hidden gem or secret in the city. Though people come to these shows, still a LOT don't know about such. I sorta like it that way.

One thing that has been ruffling my feathers lately is the growing trend of people claiming to be Washingtonians and are implants from another city. Even worse (to me) they make such a claim and have lived here less than ten years OR they really been living on the outskirts in the neighboring suburbs still claiming to be Washingtonians. I noticed that a lot as I've read through this month's issue of Washingtonian Magazine, DCist, Living Penn Quarters blog site and other so-called DC sites that happened to be founded and started by implants to the city.

It makes me wonder about people like me, true DC natives who were born, raised and are still here. We take pride in our city no matter what quadrant we're from, but where are we? How come we weren't bold or creative enough to have these sites about DC that the implants have?

Maybe I should seek to start one. Maybe I should raid DCist and other sites like it to let folks know.. you aren't writing about the REAL Washington.

I'm not sure when, why or how I ended up with so much love for my city. As ass backwards as the leaders in charge can be, there's still a lot of good and beauty to this city mixed with the distasteful and bad. Sometimes, I'm afraid that the implants may not get the whole picture. No, I'm not a hater towards non-DC natives. I just hate how some act as if they have been here their whole lives and don't have a clue about the old DC vs. the new and ever changing DC.

Surely, this city isn't "Chocolate City" anymore.

I wonder if this is how a true New Yorker feels about the millions of implants in their city?

How many years should constitute you as a "native" of a place?

In other news, I've been contemplating about joining a social networking group for mothers of color. It's a national organization with a few chapters in DC. Though the organization as a whole focuses on the principle of sisterhood and community activism, each chapter is sort of tailored with its own added concepts to the circle of sisterhood. The particular chapter I've been mulling over intertwines an alternative motherhood lifestyle with the main principles of the organization. By alternative, I mean; breastfeeding over formula, home schooling over mainstream schooling, holistic healing over medication (drugs), organic and vegan diets over the carnivorous and/or unhealthy diet.

As Brandon often teases me about - the "SELAH" kind of life (Think Erykah Badu or afro-centricity)

I've been communicating with the president of the chapter via email. After reading through the introduction letter and some other materials it is made clear that while they do promote and advocate the alternative, it's not mandatory. I even had a chance to read over the blog the president has kept on the birth of her pre-mature son. It was very insightful to say the least.

I never knew such things as a milk bank or donating your breastmilk even existed.

Nevertheless, based on what I've read from her blog, I can see that the members of this chapter are very thoughtful and supportive. I feel like I need that in my life right now. Not that there is anything wrong with my personal circle. I just feel I need a little more support from people who are more like me at this stage in my life. However, I'm just not sure how open (if at all) to the idea of an alternative motherhood lifestyle I can be. I'll admit, I was a bit selfish with the decision about breastfeeding vs formula. At the time I was more concerned about me returning to a full time job. I couldn't see that with leaking boobs; pump or no pump.

As for home school, I would rather have my child socialize and experience everything there is to in a classroom and a school setting. While I do deem education as highly important, I want her to participate in school activities and socialize with children her age as she develops and is able to problem solve life situations. I'm not knocking anyone who does homeschool their child(-ren). My sister is currently doing this and my nieces are beautiful and intelligent little women. I just don't think it's the right fit for what I want for my child.

Granted, the introduction letter did mention that the lifestyle isn't mandatory, I just worry about sticking out like a sore thumb at a meeting or potluck gathering. I'm the mom in heels that loves a good martini. I occassionally sport a curly 'fro, but lately a more straight look so I may not always come off as afro-centric as some of the other members. I'm not that much of a meat eater, but I will tear up some salmon, chicken and a good steak if you slide it my way. I do cook fresh foods, especially FRESH GREENS - I HATE the frozen or can stuff. I just can't do organic or sugar free chocolate. That's outright inhumane to me.

I'm still considering giving the group a go. I do think it would be a refreshing change. I'm in need of one.

Still... we'll see.

Panty-Free Addict In Need of Feedback on Immigration

Mar 20, 2008
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There hasn't been much to speak on from my end lately. What has been on my mind lately is music. For the past week or so, I've been doing my usual, immersing myself in a musical abyss. However, I think I've dove a little deeper than the usual.

So a few entries back I wrote about how Jay-Z knows my addiction with his song "I know." The song and video has captivated me in such a way I can't explain. Okay, yes Jay is talking as if he were a drug enticing the addict. Okay, maybe it does help that Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz) is the amazingly beautiful young lady featured in the video helping to convey a message that she tried to live her life, but was addicted to heroin. No, I'm not a drug addict, never have and never will be. Yet, I took a different spin on the song; more like Jay talking as addiction (yes) but in a lust/love human, spiritual connection form. Knowing what I know about me and my past ( in regards to sex and relationships) I can say.. I can relate to this song on some level.

So yes, Jay has been on repeat for a while.

Since I've been in a repeat-and-listen-to-the-lyrics-closely-mood, I've been hypnotized by Janet Jackson again.

Discipline

Janet Jackson

I've been excited about the release of Janet's Discipline album. Though I don't have the album in my collection just yet, I'm itching to get it. I understand that this go around she didn't write any of the songs. Yet, as one critic put it, these songs seemed to be written and tailored just for her. It's the old Janet with the funky make you get outta your seat dance beats.

So far, the only single that has caught on with me (until I get a hold of others) has been "Feedback," which was written by music producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and three other writers (Dernst Emilie, Tasleema Yasin and LaShawn).

The song is hot! Anytime I hear it I crank up the volumn. However, yanno how Janet can do with her singing sometimes... a slight mumble (I'm thinking about If I Was Your Girl from the JANET album - thank God the CD came with Lyrics.) So yeah.. there were parts of Feedback I couldn't fully make out and maybe I was just in a bit shock and awe about what was said. Such was the couple of lines fom her bridge(?) verse.

"..my swag is something serious. something like first day period"

Hilariously bold right?

And then the actual chorus.

"Strum me like a guitar. Blow out my amplifier. When you hear some feedback keep going take it higher."

I couldn't do nothing but laugh and be a little jealous that I didn't write such lines. Nevertheless, no matter who wrote it, Janet delivers it in hardcore Janet style and I appreciate that.

Moving on from Janet to Erykah Badu. I've been giddy ever since the release of her latest album New Amerykah. I've been down with Badu since she's been on the scene. I'm still savoring my Badu concert experience from a few years back. I'm even more giddy that Papi is working on getting tickets for us to see her live with The Roots (another awesome group) soon.

Until I see her, I've been biding my time listening to her "Annie," which is the break out song from the Honey video.

"Annie. Don't wear no panties."

I caught her live performance of the song for VH1's sound stage today. I must say it's pure Erkyah and I love it!

You can view the full performance here -----------> Erykah performing Annie.

Now the biggie of all biggies.

I'll admit, I'm a little late in hearing and catching onto an artist by the name of M.I.A and her controversial song "Paper Planes."

I just recently heard the song as it is currently the featured song on Natalie Dee's My Space page. I'm not sure why, but immediately I really liked the song. I wasn't paying much attention to the lyrics at first, but for some reason I just associated it with one of my "imaginary" crazy moods - the mood where I just wanna smack some "ignant" fool for disrespecting and disrupting me. Admit it, we all have a mood that isn't really real.. more like a fake persona. However, after doing some investigation on the song I realized what M.I.A. was talking about it and I liked even more.

Her message in the song deals with immirgrants and how a society (probably American) may view them. The controversy comes in because of the whole gunshot sound effect in her chorus, which in essence does present some kind of blunt hardcore statement.

Here's a snippet of a write up on Wikipedia (oye!)

M.I.A. explains the gun sounds as a joke, an answer to having problems entering the U.S. She thought that the worst thing for someone to say would be, "What I wanna do is come and take your money", and hence said it in the song with sound effects. She went on to state that "people don’t really feel like immigrants or refugees contribute to culture in any way. That they’re just leeches that suck from whatever".

My personal view on immigrantion; well I'm all for anyone who wants to come here (to the US) LEGALLY and contribute. If you happen to come as a "refugee" or illegally and you want to stay.. what's wrong with going to an advocacy group to help you with the process of becoming a citizen? I wonder what would happen if I were to go and claim permanent residence in Germany, Bangladesh, London, Brazil, China, Denmark, South Africa, Vancouver....

They would "naturalize" my ass in a heartbeat!

That's just my two cents.

Yet, I still like this crazy whacked out song! Because for real.... I can't help but picture the vendor stands I see downtown with my Africans and Asians brothers/sisters selling knockoff purses, sunglasses and dead batteries and my Latinos and Latinas selling (half dead) roses and carnations in the middle of rush hour traffic - mainly along the ramp from 395 to the Sousa Bridge into Southeast, DC.

M.I.A. PAPER PLANES official video

I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make them all day
I get one down in a second if you wait

Sometimes I feel sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner now we're making that fame
Bona fide hustler, making my name

All I want to do is BANG BANG BANG BANG!
And KA-CHING!
And take your money

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs
Running when we hit them
Lethal poison through their system

No one on the corner has swagger like us
Hit me on my banner, prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going to hell just pumping that gas

All I want to do is BANG BANG BANG BANG!
And KA-CHING!
And take your money

M.I.A.
Third world democracy
Yeah, I got more records than the K.G.B.
So, uh, no funny business

Some, some, some, I some I murder
Some, I some I let go
Some, some, some, I some I murder
Some, I some I let go

All I want to do is BANG BANG BANG BANG!
And KA-CHING!
And take your money

Jay-Z Knows My Addiction

Mar 18, 2008
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I have a new addiction.

I did have this well thought out and perhaps long entry I wanted to spew about it, but lately my attention span is that of a child hopped up on a sugar rush.

I gotta keep moving.

Only thing I can say at this point is... I totally feel Jay-Z's lyrics to his "I Know"

What's been going on..what I've been pondering on writing about are some realizations that has been brought to my attention.

It's nothing bad, but more so of me facing some fears of mine about being in a (possible) relationship.

From hanging out with my girls over the weekend, to having dinner with Papi last night, to speaking with Brandon earlier today about his relationship and even some of my fears - it's been interesting to all these perspectives come together making me ask myself;

Self, where do we go from here?

Needless to say.. with my new "addiction" I can't help wonder if it's all just a pure lust, a hidden relapse into the old me of finding solace in the wrong place or is this something materializing into something more genuine? Is this something working on both ends in which a divine master plan is involved?

As I sit and marinate on these thoughts... I'll just keep Jay-Z on repeat for a while.

*Note about the song: While I see two possible meanings to the song- 1.) Jay talking from the point of view of a drug to a drug addict 2) Jay taking a spin and speaking about love and making himself a drug to the so-called "addict." I'm taking the second meaning in regards to my situation.

Jay-Z I know official Music Video

I Know
By: Jay-Z
Album: American Gangsta

And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like
Everything you love
I know what you like
Everything you love
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you like ....HOV

Uh-
She wants that old thing back
Uh- uh- uh-
She want those Heroin tracks
She likes me
She fiends for me nightly
She leans for me
Morning she rush for my touch
This is about LUST
Cold sweats occur when I'm not with her
My presence is a must- must- must-
Bonita Applebum, i gotta put you on
If i didn't when we cuttin' the feeling would be too strong
In any form, I'm giving you sweet dreams
That Sugar Hill, she call me her sweet thing
That Black Rain that take away your pain
Just for one night, baby, take me in vein
Now that feelin' got you trippin'
You no wanna feel no differently
Said lust has got you itchin'
Nose wide open and its' drippin' -eh -eh -eh -eh
I know what you like, i am your prescription
I'm your physician, I'm your addiction

And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like
Everything you love
I know what you like
Everything you love
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you like ....HOV

I am so DOPE
Like Louboutins with the red bottoms
You gotta have 'em, you glad you got 'em
Like every color Giuseppe's, your guilty pleasure is me
Its so much fun, you shun therapy
Although it never be, the feeling is fleeting
Shopping's like coppin', you constantly need it
I'm never around, you constantly seek it
You'll never be down, i know where your peak is
9 1/2 weeks is better than 12-steps
I keep tryin' to remind you to keep tellin' yourself
Now your conscience is interfering, like "Better yourself!"
Like you better get help
But when that medicine's felt?
We're back together
Don't ever leave me
Don't ever let 'em tell you that you'll never need me
My China White, 'til we D.O.A.
Its Montego forever, baby, lets get away....

And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like
Everything you love
I know what you like
Everything you love
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you like ....HOV

How could you leave me?
I thought that you needed me!
When the world got too much and you pleaded with me--
Who helped you immediately?
How speedy of me!
How could you deny me so vehemently?
Now your body is shakin' trying to free it of me
And your soul is in control, trying to lead it from me
And your heart no longer pledge allegiance to me
Damn, I'm missing the days when you needed the D

And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like
Everything you love
I know what you like
Everything you love
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
And I Know And I Know
I know what you like ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you love ....HOV
Baby you like ....HOV

Just a Blip: Maybe I'll Be a DJ?

Mar 9, 2008
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Honey Dew Days Are Near

Feb 15, 2008
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Erykah Badu - Honey

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Something about this song makes me smile.

Makes me bop my head

Makes me feel butterflies

Something about this song seems to usher out the cold.

Some how I see days of my 'round da way attair... jeans, my brown leather Aldo peep toe heels, silver hoops and a throwback monogramed T - like my Strawberry Shortcake T - "Life is Simply Delicious."

Something about this tune...

Reminds me that spring is on the horizon.

My season of strawberries and pineapples

Honey Dew Melon...

Bring it on....

Vibrations of Yesterday

Jan 18, 2008
2 comments

Mahoganie Partying in Myrtle Beach 2007

Ever been to a good party or had a real genuine good time at a club? I'm not talking about because you got wasted all night and did freaky sneaky things that you had a smashing time. I'm talking about when you went, mix and mingled and EVERYONE was about the music. It wasn't about profiling, spitting lame pick up lines or finding a conquest for the night. It was all about the POSTIVE energy, the dancing, making new friends/connections because of a common love.

I have.

I actually miss it. I long for it. Just once more.

Take me back a few years.

Home - Washington, DC

My friend Mona and I hit up a local reggae spot - The Kaffa House.

Outside of Mona, none of my friends share the same interest in reggae (roots rock) and dancehall.

We had arrived kind of early, but it was fine. It gave us time to "chill" and watch the sights entering the building. Midnight the place started jumping. Two o'clock the place was packed. Three o'clock we were rocking with some guys that traveled from New York City.

I was 20 and staying out until five in the morning was a new found thing.

A couple of years later.

Baltimore.

My friend Kel hosted her thirtyish-something birthday party at Downtown Southern Blues. It was small jazz restaurant/lounge located in the city's art district. Unfortunately, as new and nice at the place was, it didn't last long. The party, however, last well into the night and probably would have kept going until dawn if management would have allowed. I was somewhat a fish out of water, only knowing Kel. However by the end of the night I would have been introduced to her life long friend, internationally know DJ Karizma - yeah... the one of former Basement Boys production fame. I had also met a local author on the rise and other faces that have been a constant in Kel's life.

It was her Anthology party.

Again - it was looking like a 5 A.M drive up the DC/Baltimore Parkway back home.

Fast forward a few more years later.

New York City.

It was St. Patrick's Day weekend. Part of my stay in New York was to visit my cousin "T" in Brooklyn.

We spent much the day in Manhattan with a quick run to her place in Brooklyn. Later we met up in Times Square at the Fashion 40 Lounge. You would think with a name like that and it's location it would be stuffy and posh. True, there were people standing around, but after a while (and perhaps a few drinks) everyone was dancing. It was about the music.

Today... I want whoever finds and reads this to think back. Think back to the time of your life where you had genuine fun…where the atmosphere was positive and you felt this vibrant energy. You released all of your frustrations on the dance floor. It's almost as if you "went to church."

Today I'm thinking of the people who made those pilgrimages to The Shelter in NYC, Who came here to DC to party at Club Red (RIP), Five, DC Sanctuary, who went to Baltimore to catch Oji, Karizma, D-Low and others. For the followers of DC's Sam "The Man" Burns. For those that traveled to Chicago, Miami and London.

For my brother Chuck who knows were I'm coming from with this.

For the guy with dreads I met in Seattle, whose house party my family and I were invited to

For Kel who inspired me and re-introduced me to REAL house music.

For Karizma who spoke candidly to me, but I never got to publish his article.

For DJ Barry in the UK, we will meet up

For Ben Watt, whose music and mixes I'm addicted to

For those that don't understand my thoughts right now.

For wherever you found your good time and for some reason those days seem to be a faded memory.....

Weak Become Heroes
By The Streets

Turn left up the street
Nothing but grey concrete and dead beats
Grab something to eat
Maccy D's or KFC
Only one choice in the city
Done voice in my pity now lets get to the nitty gritty
Tune reminds me of my first e
Like unique still sixteen and feelin horny
Point to the sky feel free
A sea of people all equal smiles in front and behind me
Swim in the deep blue sea cornfields sway lazily
All smiles all easy where you from, what you on and what's your story
Mesmerizing tones risin pianos this is my zone so stop clonin
Pick paper scissors or stone
Coz me and you are same i known you all my life i don't know your name
The names European Bob sorted anyway
Gonna have dance now see you later please to meet you
Likewise a pleasure

We were just standin there mindin our own
And it went on and on
We all smile we all sing
The weak become heroes then the stars align
We all sing we all sing all sing

The night slowly fades and goes slow motion
All the commotion becomes floatin emotions
Same piano loops over
Arms wave eyes roll back and jaws fall open
I see in soft focus
Chattin to this bloke in the toilets
Dizzy new heights blinded by the lights
These people are for life its all back to his place at the end of the night
They could settle wars with this
If only they will imagine the worlds leaders on pills then imagine the mornin after
Wars causing disaster don't talk to me i don't know ya
But this aint tommorow and for now i still love ya
Hours fly over sail round diamonds and pearls never seen so many fit girls
Discover new worlds look at my watch can't focus
Last two hours i lost every move fills me with lust
All of life's problems i just shake off
Mad little events happen things map out and a few blue maddens alight the toilets
Big beefy bouncers out to reveal us geezers on e's and first timers kids on whizz darlins on
Charlie
All come together for this party
All races many faces from places you never heard of
Where you from what's your name and what you want
Sing to the words flex to the fat one
The tribal drums the sun's risin we all smile we all sing

We were just standin there mindin our own
And it went on and on
We all smile we all sing
The weak become heroes then the stars align
We all sing we all sing all sing

Then the girl in the cafe taps me on the shoulder
I realize five years went by I'm older
Memories smoulder winters colder
But that same piano loops over and over and over
The road shines and the rain washes away
The same Chinese takeaway selling shit in a tray
It's dark all round I walk down same sight same sounds new beats though
Solid concrete under my feet
No surprises no treats the world stands still as my mind sloshes round
The washing up bowl in my crown
My life's been up and down since i walked from that crowd

We were just standin there mindin our own
And it went on and on
We all smile we all sing
The weak become heroes then the stars align
We all sing we all sing all sing

Outta respect for Jonnie Walker, Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway, Danny Rampling, and all the peolple that gave us these times
And to the Government I stick my middle finger up with regards to the Criminal Justice Bill
For all the heroes I met along the way (The weak become heroes then the stars align)
We all sing we all sing all sing

The weak become heroes then the stars align
We all sing we all sing all sing

We were just standin there mindin our own
And it went on and on
We all smile we all sing
The weak become heroes then the stars align
We all sing we all sing all sing

An Evening of Music

Dec 15, 2007
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Okay, I'm starting this entry off with Blondie music because I wanted to. Also, I was inspired after seeing Goapele perform a reprise of the song. What is a bit scary to note - GOAPELE SOUNDED JUST LIKE BLONDIE; that is pre Blondie's "gracefully aged voice." (I have nothing but love for Blondie.. LOVE HER - Yes.. I LIKE BLONDIE) We're talking disco ball, voice, the works

Secret Pass To get In aka Ticket

Honestly, I don't know what to say about last night's show. I DID enjoy it, yet I feel like something was missing.. maybe it wasn't long enough for me. She performed a variety of abut 5 to 6 songs, but most of them were morphed together.. to it almost came out like 3 or 4. Aside from her own songs (can't remember their names at the moment) - and yes she did perform Closer - Goapele broke out with Sam Cooke's "A Change Gone Come," which sent a bit of chill down my spine... then again that may have been Papi tugging at my shirt to get my attention then. She also did a short stint with Roy Ayer's "We Live In Brooklyn" and "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" of course which the audience were blown away and felt the need to sing with her.. including me..

"Just bees and things and flowers..... my life, my life, my life, my life in the sunshine. Everybody loves the sunshine. Folks get down in the sunshine. Folks get brown in the sunshine."

Goapele Performing @ The 9:30 Club

What was a bit of a shock to me was her hair. I had no idea she had done away with her dreads (I'm sure I'm super late on that news) and is now rocking a braided short mohawk look. I tried to take a nice photo, but my poor digital camera (the Pentax, not the sickly Casio) couldn't adjust to the lighting, especially from where I was standing. I guess it serves me right as well. Seconds after snapping the picture, a friendly staffer politly told me..yall know...

NO FLASH PHOTO!

Wouldn't it be cool if I could make that blink right about now? I use to know that coding.

I smiled, and tucked my camera away. For the rest of the show I just stayed right under Papi (it's not as perverted as it may sound)

(note: If you can actually see Papi's pic above.. that means you are in the priviledge circle. Otherwise... sorry)

Outside of Goapele's performance there was plenty to observe. From the barefoot blonde chic standing next to me, to a lesbian couple drying humping next to Papi. Gotta love it! Oh and the opening act.. Franklin Bridge, a band that was featured on the TV Show American's Next Band. Actually they weren't bad at all. They did have some original music, but when the lead dude broke out with his redention of Bobby Brown's "Every Little Step" Umm some of the notes weren't right...weren't right at all. Obbviously the band was pretty psych'd (spell check that) anyways because it was their first real gig.

Nothing much to say about the evening after the show. Of course Papi and I went to a late night diner for grub and chit chat...that I think lasted until about 4am. Perhaps, I'll reflect on that privately. When I got home my Snickerdoodle immediately woke up. I guess she wanted me to tell her all about my evening - a mother's work is never ending. I placed her in bed with me with a warm bottle of milk. I gabbed with her for a minute until we both fell asleep.

Posin

I guess I should also note that I spoke too soon about Lupe Fiasco in the last entry. He IS coming back to DC and soon I might add. The show is Jan 30th, and joining him are other artists like Eric Roberson, Martin Luther and some others. The line up seems like mad musical energy and I just about LOVE all the artists listed. If not Papi, perhaps I'll sucker my brother into going with me - *yes Chuck I'm looking in your direction* - We haven't done our bro/sis thing in a minute.

The Snickerdoodle is calling for me, and as you know... this concludes this entry.

In closing - in the words of Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra singing Silent Night on Saturday Night Live....

"Silent night, holy night.
It's okay, everything's bright..
'round that virgin chick, she had a kid.
Who grew up to be famous.. you all know what he did.
Sleep! It's quiet in heaven!
Sleep! Heavenly peace."

Good night virtual friends.

Can I Just Say....

Oct 31, 2007
2 comments

Card For Mr. S

Target has wonderful cards. I should have went there first when I was looking for one for Mr. S. I hope he likes it or it at least bring him some encouragement.

Message in a card for Mr. S

Inside (My Message): My words aren't coming easy. They aren't coming quick. No beautiful or overdone language. No abstractions or complexities. No repeated or overused meditations. Just my heart, a fidgity baby nearby (smile) and my penstrokes. A whispered prayer & a meaningful thought. My sincere hope for when you are feeling shifted and weightless. When staying strong is more than a notion. May you come upon an unfounded inner peace; Liberation.

- I've never been a New York Giants fan, but ever since Tiki Barber retired and is now a TV Personality for the Today Show, I think I have a slight crush. Something about him in a Suit

Not Yasmin

I think I have a Flickr fairy. I meant to bring this up some time ago, but one day I'm a standard (free) member of the site. Then another day I'm magically upgraded to being a Pro member. My Pro membership expires at midnight and I'm back to being standard. I don't know who is my Flickr fairy, but I thank them. It was actually needed for these past few months. I'm taking more digi pictures, but I'm really bad about uploading them onto an online album, hence why I wasn't a hard up Flickr addict. I love my Flickr account (standard or pro), but the Pro was much needed during my trip to Myrtle Beach. Over 300 photos were uploaded during my time away. As a standard member my space uploading limit would have been gone within 24 hours. So to my Flickr fairy... Thanks!

- Between the ending of last week and last night's episode of The Biggest Loser, I'm finding that I'm going WTF (as in What the Flip????!?!?!?!?!?!?!) lately. Dude gains weight on purpose.. I'm still not FULLY understanding his reasons for it. The Blue team is just full of drama... this show has never been so dramatic. Kae is trying to hold on but is on the verge of meltdown..I can't believe packed herself up at one point and was headed off the ranch. I miss the weigh in since I was back and forth between the Democratic Presidential debate, but I saw that David was voted off, with one vote for Kae. Hmmmmmmmmmmm

- Speaking of the Democratic Presidential debate... I'm pulling for my girl Hillary, but I think she needs to be a little more firm on her positions. There were too many "gottcha" instances for her on major issues... especially concerning the social security issue and the biggie.... the driver licenses for illegal immigrants.

- Obama confused me with his answers. I didn't understand him. I was trying to, but I couldn't.

- I never knew Senator Biden was funny.

- I need to get a permanent hook up with the Congressional Black Caucus. I didn't go to the convention this year and I feel as if I missed out. I loved it last year. I want to do it again...and again... and again...