Some random hair thoughts...

So one of the things that I like about my hair is the fact that it is versatile... Back when I had a perm I honestly had two styles...wear it down or in a ponytail. That got boring quick!! And I think having my hair like this had led me to be a much more creative person. I just kind of make up things as I go along..or how I feel in the morning/night before. I saw this quote on  BGLH (Black Girl with Long Hair)  by Eboni and I loved it...

"It’s… sad that we as a population are being bamboozled into thinking the only way we’ll be not just beautiful, but successful and respected, is by altering our hair to look like someone else’s… Our hair is good enough. WE are good enough just the way we are."

I liked this quote because I completely agree...I think BAMBOOZLED is the word that I have been searching for. Like Eboni says, I don't think being natural is the ONLY way, but often it seems like that is what black females have been indoctrinated to believe since their first perm. Often people ask me if I plan on being natural forever...umm honestly I can't answer that question..or the other question I get is if I have something against females with straight hair. By no mean do I, and i hate that it seems like it has to be one or the other..I think they are both options, but it is good to have options. Whew that was a tangent..

So this is random, but I saw a new video of Janelle Monae's...and although I like a good amount of her music, I am honestly getting really tired of her SAME OL' hairstyle...like its ridiculous. The first few times, ok first 30 times I saw it..I thought it was cute. And on many hairblogs, people try and imitate the her style... I'm not hating, I just think J. Monae is beautiful and she should just try something different...lol.

But then again everyone is different and I can't impose my personal views on others...but still. I just wanna see a different hairstyle. But do you think it is actually possible to wear the same hairstyle for 3 years straight? I would go crazy!!!

But on another note, I do love love love love Shingai Shoniwa from Noisettes. Her voice AND her hair AND her style! Last year I did a post on Noisettes, check it out here... Anyways, I just wanted to close this post with some cute pics of her. Yay for REAL Black female artists...

 

1. Toms Shoes follow up
2. 1 year blogaversary (Recap)
3. First Year of Opt school (Looking Back)
4. Diversity/ Janelle Monae
5. St. Louis/Midwest

Until Next Time...

What I'm Listening to...

Ok one last post before I go back to studying... So I created some new stations on Pandora and 3 of my fav people this week are as follows... (thanks to STL for playing the same 5 songs on the radio, forcing me to venture out musically)

1. Lina (Alternative/RnB/Soul)- My fav song is "I'm Not the Enemy." Here is a quick synopsis for Lina:

Singer /songwriter LINA boldly discards all artistic blueprints, with a musical fusion thriving on rich, jazz-era orchestration complemented by R&B. With a writing and singing background that spans the genres of soul, jazz, opera, hip hop, pop, and country, LINA is an original, bringing a fresh, arresting sound that is passionate, organic and timeless. In effect, a one woman Harlem Renaissance, reclaiming decades worth of musical heritage for a new generation.



2. Kate Earl (Soul/Pop/Lyrical)- My fav song from her are "Nobody" and "Melody." Here are the lyrics to "Melody":

No mat­ter what has ever come to me, I got my own brand of company, I got da da da inside my head
And I play songs back to back until I got to bed, Wake up by myself inside an empty room, Theres no body next to mine to oooh, But my skin is warm and my heart is full, Its the do do do do do do, Walk­ing wak­ing on a crowded street, With my head­phones loud, So my hips can swing, so my head can nod, To the rock and roll to the boom boom beat, and I find that I’m never alone, and I find that my heart is my home, and the music within makes me whole, A world that I built on my own, and I know that I’m never alone, and I know that my heart is my home, Every miss­ing piece of me, I can find in a melody, Theres a river in my mind thats never still, Swirling , sooth­ing all the time gives me a thrill, Swim­ming in the notes that go Oh oh oh oh, Wan­der­ing, wak­ing in an empty wood, It is quiet here, I am powerful


3. Estelle(HipHop/Soul/RnB) - ok I know I'm a little late on the Estelle bandwagon, but glad I finally started listening to her. I especially like "Come Over." Here are some accolades of Estelle:

She won a grammy for American Boy featuring Kanye West in the category best rap/sung collaboration. She also has received the MOBO for 'Best Newcomer'and received three consecutive 'Best Female Artist' trophies from the UK Hip-Hop Awards. Estelle's song "Star" was used for Crystal Light commercials. She also, in 2010, modeled at Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief runway show for The White Ribbon Alliance to raise funds for mothers in Haiti.


Oh and I just came across this on Fly's website .. So Adult Swim has featured several "African" hiphop artists from various countries on African Swim...check it out!

Until Next Time...

For Freedom Not For Beauty

I am in the library about to jet off to a review session, but I just wanted to make a quick post. So breaking news on the natural hair blog circuit, Chrisette Michele has decided to BC.. and a few noted bloggers have had the chance to interview her. I am not that big into interviews of celebrities and what not, but her interview (the parts I read) was insightful. I'll post a few excerpts below, also the poem that she wrote, "For Freedom Not for Beauty" is beautiful. (And yes that is Chrisette in the picture) Enjoy!

For Freedom Not For Beauty

There’s a beauty that lives so deep inside each of us.

There’s a fickle eye that doesn’t believe anything it sees.

There’s a benefit in love that erases all doubt and believes good intentions.

There’s an ear that isn’t free enough to give the honest man the benefit of the doubt cluttered by lies not-mentioned.

Since when is creativity subject to criticism?

When is honesty subject to a jury of fears who wouldn’t believe rain if it fell, or sun if it shined?

Sometimes a flower grows when no ones watching.

Sometimes a bird sings and no one hears.

There’s a meadow no one runs on and a cloud no one names

And what would the sky be with out the sun?

What would the earth be with out its rose?

They’d still be the sky and the Earth.

So perhaps there is a peace in becoming.

Perhaps the meaning is in the experience and not the sight.

Maybe a flower grows because it suffocates under ground.

Whether or not she is always noticed, beauty must become.

She doesn’t look for an eye.

She doesn’t listen for a voice.

She just becomes,

For Freedom Not For Beauty

-Chrisette Michele

Thanks to CurlyNikki...the interview was great, here are two ques/answers that I particularly liked!

CN: What would you tell someone toying with the idea of transitioning or Big Chopping?
Chrisette: Do what’s best for you. What is your heart saying? Follow it. We are incredibly beautiful, us curly girls. Let’s be proud and supportive of each other. To be quite honest I’d have to say...are you ready for what I’m about to say? Ok... Don’t be one of those girls out there who have our beautiful curls but wear no smile, head is down, ain’t got no presence! Give it! Cat walk down the street! Rock that hair with the fiercest of outfits. This is not just a spiritual journey, it’s an incredible fashion statement that not everyone can wear! Treat it like a manicure or a new Prada bag and be the most amazing diva on your block. This beauty is fierce and it’s ours naturally! Let’s make each other proud! Amen?!

CN: Anything else you'd like to add?
Chrisette: I am so grateful for the bold acceptance I’ve received from my sisters. I think together we are breaking down barriers in the main stream and I’m excited about our journey ahead. There is a new integrity and honesty that we are experiencing that says “Take us as we are, or don’t take us at all”. There is a new pride rising from our community reminiscent of the times when we knew each others poetry, and held our fists in the air. We are going to support each others new business ventures, we are going to see each other in graduate schools, we will see each other in government and we will lift each other out of this depression. It starts in the heart and I pray I’ve inspired many of my sisters to follow theirs.

Until Next Time...

Nneka=Real Music

So I have already posted 4 other updates and it is only March 3rd... I think you can tell I really missed my blog and all of my creative outlets. The past two weeks were filled with exams, tests, quizzes, and more exams. I have had a little more time to breathe, before the madness resumes.

I meant to write a blogpost on Nneka. Basically she is an amazing emerging artist, I hope I can do her justice.She is classified as a Hip-Hop/Soul/Afrobeat artist. 

Quick side note: So if you have been keeping up with my blog at all, you know that I was mildly miserable in MO last semester, but I have been trying to do more things. So I was recently introduced to a new friend in STL, she is an Emory alumnus as well, and she invited me to the Nneka concert a couple weeks ago. The ironic part is my line sister posted on my wall (on FB) a link to Nneka's video the very same day that my new friend invited me to the concert, because she thought I would really like her music...

So I went to her concert and completely fell in love with her music and everything she is about. Nneka is a Nigerian-German singer, songwriter and a lot of her songs are about political and conscious issues and what not, mostly having to do with the exploitation of Nigeria. Her concert was at the Gramophone, which was a cute little diverse spot. Her newest album, "Concrete Jungle" was recently released, but hearing her CD is nothing compared to hearing her live.Her single, "The Uncomfortable Truth" was iTunes single of the week a couple of weeks ago. I have so many songs that I like...my fav is probably "Come with Me"...I love the lyrics, beat, gosh everything. However while making this blogpost I just discovered she has a lot of videos for a lot of her songs...

Well back to my narrative, we ended up getting her autograph and a picture with her... which is unusual for me, because I am not usually a groupie, but I think she is a refreshing sound in music. Very uplifting, and it creates a wonderful awareness that I feel has been missing from music lately. Below are some videos of her songs, check them out. I wish I could post all of her videos/songs, but definitely check her out on youtube, myspace, R.I.P. imeem, playlist, etc...





SO I went a little overboard with the videos...Oh here are two pics I took at the concert. Enjoy...

Until Next Time...

Soldier of Love

As everyone knows by now...Sade released her new single "Soldier of Love" early last December. I am really looking forward to her album, which comes out in February...I meant to post the video/song much earlier, but it slipped my mind. I think it accurately describes how I feel about "love/relationships" right now... Oh and I did I mention how much I really really like this song..the drums, beats, lyrics, her voice...everything!



Until Next Time...

Baby It's cold Outside...

So while I was studying for finals, I made a quick post about things that I wanted to discuss at a later date when I got the time...So since Christmas is tomorrow, I figured I'd get the first thing off the list...

The funniest Christmas song to me is Baby It's Cold Outside...here is a video:


And the lyrics:

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight
To break the spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

C'mon baby

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh darling, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

I've got to go home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - I thrill when you touch my hand
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

Baby it's cold outside

Brr its cold�.
It's cold out there
Cant you stay awhile longer baby
Well�..I really shouldn't...alright

I first heard it last year while shopping (or pretending to shop) in some uppity store...I couldn't help but laugh out loud! I know the sales people must have thought I was crazy. lol. And just like any Christmas song and Carol it has been recorded and rerecorded by everyone! I couldn't really decide which version to put, but I think you get the point.

The funniest/ eek-worthy lines are definitely her asking  "Say what's in this drink" while later on the male character replies "mind if I move closer" "what's the sense in hurting my pride" "baby don't hold out"... wow! This song debuted in the 40s...anyways. At least I can cross one thing off my list..

1. My favorite Christmas song (this year)
2. The fair trade movement
3. The current state of Natural Hair
4. How much is an education really worth?
5. Are the regions of the US really that different and are these particular stereotypes valid?
6. Knowledge as a Commodity
7. What is urban?
8. Consumerism


Until Next Time...

Life is a Journey...not a Destination

Life is a journey,
Not a destination,
There are no mistakes,
Just chances we’ve taken
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now

Wake up in the morning
And get out of bed
Start making a mental list in my head
Of all of the things that I am grateful for

Early in the morning
It’s the dawn of a new day
New hopes new dreams new ways
I open up my eyes and
I open up my mind and
I wonder how life will surprise me today

Early in the morning
It’s the dawn of a new day
New hopes new dreams new ways
I open up my heart and
I’m gon’ do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day
 
Life is a challenge not a competition
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart
Sometimes you feel like you’ve got something to prove
Remind yourself that there’s only one you
Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are

-India Arie

Until Next Time...

Noisettes

So one more random post before I get back to studying..Thanks to Chasdizz at Cookin wit Grease for introducing me to them. They are sensational, truly a breath of fresh air. I have been listening to their newest album and loving it. My two favorite songs are "Never Forget You" and "Wild Young Things." Also, I love the lead singer's hair and I think she is gorgeous!!





Oh and one last random thought..I saw Saw VI is coming out...lol. That is so hilarious to me, I stopped watching at Saw II...I wonder if it will be any good, but I have a lot of catching up to do...Until Next Time...

A Tiger Can't Change It's Stripes

So...hmm..some randomness happened this weekend, but you know what I'm back. I had to consult with some folks and I realized I am not going to change my life and what I enjoy for others. I had two exams yesterday and another one coming up on Thursday. Something that I randomly thought of which my mom says all the time, (my mom has a lot of sayings) "A Tiger Can't change it's stripes." I don't think I fully understand the meaning of that saying when I was younger, but as I have gotten older I truly have come to understand and recognize that in people and more importantly myself.

Even though sometimes I would like to be different, I know who I am and I comfortable in that. :-)

On another note, I have been in a "lovely dovey" kind of mood. So I wanted to leave you with 3 of my fav "romantical" (as Flava Flav would say) songs at this moment.








Until Next Time...

le sigh...

So in a weird sort of way, the more things that I have to do, the more time I seem to have to create out of thin air..Anyways.. basically I'm saying I have waaaaaaayyy to much to do to be writing this blog post, but I have to keep doing something that I "enjoy" so I don't officially go crazy. This weekend I went home, which was absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It was the break I needed and I feel as though it rejuvenated me, and gave me gusto to continue my journey. Anyways, I'm back now. :( I was sooo sad when my plane landed yesterday.

So my first round of exams went pretty well. I know that I could have done better, but I'm not completely mad. Next week will be crazy again! Neuroanatomy exam, Anatomy and Phys exam, Optics Quiz, Epi Exam, and A & P lab quiz...yup...ca-razy.

I'm trying to figure out when I am going to go grocery shopping. I finally caved in and I'm going to buy a coffee machine. I almost poked my eyes out this morning. I was sooo tired. I couldn't even put my contacts in, I rushed to class. And there was my Optics quiz sitting on the table...ready for me to take. I think I did alright though, made a couple of stupid mistakes..

Anyways...I'm just trying to hang in there. The original reason I started this post was to discuss me being stubborn. I am extremely stubborn, although I have gotten much better. Anyways...I'm being vague. Oh and this is also random, but I listen to Ashlee Simpson when I'm frustrated.lol. This song is soo me...

I walked a thousand miles while everyone was asleep
Nobody's really seen my million subtleties

Got stains on my t-shirt and I'm the biggest flirt
Right now I'm solo, but that will be changing eventually, oh
Got bruises on my heart and sometimes I get dark
If you want my auto, want my autobiography
Baby, just ask me

I walked a thousand miles to find one river of peace
I walked a million more to find what this shit means

Until Next Time...

Beautiful Dreamer...

Live for the dream follow the dream beautiful dreamin
Live for the dream follow the dream beautiful dreamin

Oh I know sometimes that it gets hard
Running up that road surviving beating the odds
But you don't have to worry no fear no doubt
Hold on to the dream, believe, believe believe believe

- J Scott

Too much the Same...

I think as a people we have soo much in common, but we spend too much time trying to figure out and highlight our differences...Often I feel as though the same people that say I am so different from them or in fact so much like me that it's kind of weird. I know in this specific case that we actually were Too Much the Same...Thanks Goapele for describing the situation perfectly.



Too Much the Same
Seeking a summertime love
Just kick it on the low
You know with a vibe and flow
But we didn't know
What the light of day would show
Or if it was meant to grow
How we'd feel within
What we

And why you kept that distance
Were your emotions
I was afraid of what i was feelin'
Afraid that you'd take my heart
And go steal it
My pride my soul
Now i know
Now i know

[chorus]
Cuz we were too much the same
I didn't know
Who to blame
Cuz i didn't wanna change

We were too much the same
I didn't know
Who to blame
Cuz you weren't gonna change

[verse 2]
Unfamiliar ways
They came down like rain
Things in myself i couldn't change
But if we coulda chilled
And waited a while
Then may now (?)
The shooting stars won't send us running
From each other
From ourselves

[chorus]

[verse 3]
But you can't get something for nothing
So what was mine
Sifted through like lost time
And unclaimed sand in a desert wind
With half my heart i took you in
So i can let you go


Until Next Time...

My Soundtrack: Primary Colors

So a couple of weeks ago, someone suggested that I come up with a soundtrack that describes my life. I thought it was a good idea, but I just didn't have the motivation...all of that changed so here goes..




1. Just a Girl- No Doubt
2. Cleva- Erykah Badu
3. Let It Be - Jill Scott
4. Closer- Goapele
5. River Rise- India.Arie
6. Seasons of Love- from Rent
7. Anything But Ordinary- Avril Lavigne
8. I Trust You- James Fortune
9. Mama Knew Love- Anthony Hamilton
10. Tsunami- Res
11. That's the Way Love Goes- Janet Jackson
12. Singing my Song- Christina Aguilera
13. Lesson Learned- Alicia Keys
14. Drama- Erykah Badu
15. Looking Out for Me- Kirk Franklin
16. Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson
17.The Best Is Yet to Come - Donald Lawrence
[hidden track] Headed in the Right Direction- India.Arie

Ok I think that was a pretty exhaustive list...I think I would name my album, Primary Colors for several reasons. The first because I think I am quite a "colorful" person being that I have many facets to my personality..also I really like and appreciate true color...(I'm not a fan of pastels). Ok those were the shallow reasons..lol. I don't feel like being that deep right now, but that's all for now. Until Next Time...

Another One Bites the Dust...

Ok. So..one of my friends from high school has an awesome music blog (shout out: chasdizz), and today she wrote a blog post about Drake's "Best I Ever Had Video", which was good timing because I just saw the video this morning. So here are some of my thoughts...

Personally, I feel like I must have been “out to lunch” when the whole hiphop/rnb world decided to crown Drake as the next biggest thing. Anyways…so I decided to listen to some of his songs, and of course “Best I Ever Had” is getting a lot of airplay, so I was slowly but surely starting to like Drake a little more everyday BUTTTTTT….all of that came to a screeching halt when I saw that video this morning.

Like seriously? It was ridiculous and just gross. To be such a HYPED UP rapper/singer and to release that as your first official video. The small ounce of respect I had for him is now GONE…for some reason I thought that he would be different. Maybe I just hoped that he would be different, since he was talked about (HYPED UP) sooo much.

The extra sad part about this guy...He didnt graduate from High school , maybe that isn't important in Canada..but he needs to at least get his GED...like seriously! And it doesn't help that whenever I look at him, I think of Jimmy...(oh Degrassi...). I also think it is extra ironic that he acted on a high school show, but managed to never finish. Sigh...another one bites the dust. Until Next Time...

An Appreciation of the Arts

So I don't know why I missed this...or didn't hear about it until today, but while I was browsing through "cyber land," I came across the "White House Poetry Jam," which took place on May 12th (I was probably still on my graduation high). It was an evening of "Poetry, Music, and Spoken Word at the White House. Gosh I love the Obamas... I am glad they have brought some type of culture to the White House. In the introduction that Pres. Barack gives, he details the importance of the arts, which I think is eloquently stated, and sums up how I feel about the arts. Also it is so wonderful how Pres. Barack introduces the First Lady, by saying she is someone that brings a lot of poetry to his life. awww...Also First Lady, Michelle looks simply amazing, beautiful shirt and earrings. I have dictated that below and also posted the video. Until Next Time...



We are here to highlight the importance of the arts in our life and in our nation and our nation's history. We are here to celebrate the power of words and music to help us appreciate beauty but also to understand pain, to inspire us to action and spir us on when we start to lose hope, to lift us up out of our daily existence, even if it is just for a few moments and to return us with hearts that are a little bit bigger and fuller than they were before, the great jazz musician Louis Armstrong once said simply, "What we play is Life." That is what these artists do, they express the joys and hardships of life and remind us how much all of us have in common. It is a great gift, a great responsibility.

The Importance of Lyrics

Before I really discovered/fell in love with the Neosoul genre, I simply had a fond appreciation of lyrics. This past weekend I went to the No Doubt concert, which was simply amazing. I began to listen to No Doubt in that complicated teen angst period Middle School/High School. But it is when I got to college that I truly realized how phenomenal No Doubt really is. There is no artist/band that has been able to achieve the fusion between sound/beats and vocals with the most meaningful lyrics that I have ever encountered.

So as I was there on Friday night singing along to every single song, I remembered the things/people that I associated with those songs. And how those songs helped me through difficult times in my life; as recent as last year. It was simply wonderful, because I never thought I would have the chance to ever go to their concert. It seemed almost symbolic that I was able to see them this summer; a sort of culmination/right-of-passage of the last number of years of so many emotions, either good or bad.

Although popular music is in a trendy sort of state, where people just seem to come and go and the hit sensations have become so commercialized. In no way will it ever compare, and there is still a sense of importance in lyrics. As I left the concert experiencing a surreal high, all I could do is smile and remember how truly fortunate I am. Until Next Time...

One of my Passions...

This year Judith Jamison, my Soror and long time role model, received the 2009 BET Honors Award for Education. This is monumental in so many ways. First off Soror Jamison is an amazing dancer and choreographer and she is currently the Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.

I have included below a link to when Soror Jamison accepts this award. On the stage there are two dancers of the company performing an excerpt from Love Stories which was choreographed by Soror Jamison, Robert Battle, and Rennie Harris. In addition, Anthony Hamilton is serenading her...his voice is amazing. The first song is a rendition If It's Magic by Stevie Wonder and the second song is A Song for You, which has been performed by many artists, but the one I am most aware of is by Donny Hathaway. I am so glad that they chose Anthony Hamilton, he is soo amazing and his voice is a joy to listen to. I listened to his album "Coming From Where I'm From" for like two years straight.


The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. This is paramount and pivotal in so many ways, (it even gives me a chill). 50 years ago, Ailey had the idea to create a dance company, during a time when African Americans were not necessarily even welcome in the US, let alone in the dance community. Wow! And so many years later its presence is still felt within the dance community and African American community.

If you have not had the opportunity to see an Ailey show you are definitely missing out. Of course their most noted piece is Revelations which is sooo moving and beautiful (I think most of the pieces are). One of the reasons that people may see that in Revelations is because of the spirituality of the piece and just the sheer gracefulness. This is an excerpt from many of the scenes in Revelations.



I am an avid believer in the creation and support of arts, both performing and visual. Although I danced before college (in high school), taking modern technique classes at Emory really gave me a different view of the much treasured art form and how it gives an individual the ability to express themselves through their body. I can go on and on about dance ,how it helped mold me into the person I am, but another day. Until Next Time...