"Sin all depends on what you believing in,
Faith is what you make it ..." - Andre 3000

[Stills from a recent video shoot.]

Got her toes dun up and her finga nails matchin'
Kid Sister kills em on the cover of URB.


LOOPY FIASCO! Jay Leno is stupid.


Ever look at a couple and think:
I bet they have great sex!


Will Ferrell is just not my kind of funny.
He keeps putting out the same movie,
only changing the sets and wardrobe.
This movie looks utterly unfunny.


ORISUE: I like their shit.
LOOK!

Badu, Badu, Badu... Arguably one of the most influential contemporary hip-hop/r&b artist. Though I don't know anyone who would argue that. Erykah is progressive and organic. She's irreverent and inventive. Her albums span endless eras with her sound, influence, and lyrical content. New Amerkah flooded my psyche, crumbling the massive walls of my inner conscious. The Healer - resonates with me. Listening to it repeatedly may cause one to float amidst the clouds in trance like state of euphoria. I only own two Badu cuts (the first album, and the live album). I heard World Wide Underground & Mama's Gun were some' serus'! I gotta get those. Erykah's rhetoric is provocative and is needed. The music scene is getting pretty lame: "shake dat booty meat"? Evoking the strength and diligence of our ancestors, Ms. Badu is a visionary. If you don't know the signature Badu sound, New Amerykah doesn't disappoint. Get it.

Remember back when thefacebook.com (yes, thefacebook) was only for the college kids pretty much in the loop? Then every Tom, Dick, and Harry got on...Well you knew it was coming...JUICYCAMPUS is relatively new site that allows totally anonymous gossip to be posted online for all the world to see.
Is the site really anonymous?

"Yes. There is no way for someone using the site to find out who you are. And we at JuicyCampus are not keeping track of who you are or what you post. In fact, we prefer not to know who you are. We like to think that famous people like Justin Timberlake and Beyonce are using our site. We love them…"

Basically it's the Honest Box mixed with four cups of drama, 6 rounded tablespoons of lies, and a dash of pettiness for measure.

let us pray.

Gossip is one of the oldest forms of human communication...It's an art form, when you start writing shit down, it gets messy, and especially when you start sharing what you wrote for others, then it gets all fucked up. (i.e. Mean Girls)

Don't believe me, JUICY CAMPUS is already in deep shit, damn site ain't even a year old yet.
click here for the article

I wrote it last night and left the pad on my desk.

I'm on my way out from home this morning (10 minutes late as usual)...The TV is on VH1 and I'm knock down by the cheesiest video ever. Mariah's new cut "Touch My Body" in my opinion is lame. The video just may make me like it. When I say cheesy, I mean gloppy imitation cheddar! But it works. Cheesier that "Heartbreaker" and "Glitter"! One other thing, MC is showing these b*tches how it's done, the body is bangin'.

p.s. this video reminds me of Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom

Gotdamit! This shit is something serus'!

Janet Jackson is an icon. Period. She's had some major hits and some major misses and this album is a definite HIT. I'm a fan, since way back when. I fell off the bandwagon after All For U/Damito Jo (DJ was a major disappointment). I try to banish that 20 Y.O. fiasco from my mind. I reached my apex of appreciation with The Velvet Rope. This album has my feet firmly planted on my J.J. loving soap box.

So why is this a good album. Well for one, it's a cohesive piece of work, and flows well. Also, it's not a 3 singles and 12 filler track album. She put some work into this one and it shows. I appreciate when artist get into their creative groove, take their time, and deliver a quality product. If you notice, Janet isn't the super skinny, six pack ab Janet from other assorted records. She's thick Janet [not to be mistaken with mega Janet often spotted on beaches layered up looking Klumpish]. She's got a fit, but feminine figure, full of curves and tone. I think she looks the best when she is just a nice average size. She looks so beautiful and soft. The vocals are classic Janet, she always sounds great.

The best tracks in my opinion: Curtains, Greatest X, Rock With U, So Much Betta, The 1.
I'm not sure what the next single will be, but if the video looks like "Feedback" I will retract this entry and pretend as though she doesn't exist (and I won't give in like MTV did). It behooves her to enlist a quality director with a GOOD concept that TRANSLATES well.

Making The Band seems so fucking scripted!
Scripted or not, I like this song, and I support the efforts of Day 26.

Zero 7 is the best.
This is one of my favorite songs.
The video is dope.
This song is a reflection of my life right now.



Wait in line
'Till your time
Ticking clock
Everyone stop

Everyone's saying different things to me
Different things to me
Everyone's saying different things to me
Different things to me

Woooohh
Do you believe
In what you see
There doesn't seem to be anybody else who agrees with me

Do you believe
In what you see
Motionless wheel
Nothing is real
Wasting my time
In the waiting line
Do you believe in
What you see

Nine to five
Living lies
Everyday
Stealing time
Everyone's taking everything they can
Everything they can
Everyone's taking everything they can
Everything they can

Woooohh
Do you believe
In what you feel
It doesn't seem to be anybody else who agrees with me

Do you believe
In what you see
Motionless wheel
Nothing is real
Wasting my time
In the waiting line
Do you believe
In what you see

Ah and I'll shout and I'll scream
But I'd rather not have seen
And I'll hide away for another day

Do you believe
In what you see
Motionless wheel
Nothing is real
Wasting my time
In the waiting line
Do you believe
In what you see

Everyone's saying different things to me
Different things to me
Different things to me
Different things to me
Different things to me
Everyone's taking everything they can
Everything they can

Ms. Jackson has these hilarious little MTV shorts based
on MTV's most memorable reality tv show stars...
and I use the term star loosely.

Remember the angelic beauty from the trio, City High?
I stumbled upon her myspace and was enamored by the heartfelt melody and poignant lyrics of the song, "Message to You". I'm not sure what's


I didnt mean to hurt you
I didnt know I could be so insensitive
Sometimes I dont understand myself
But I didnt know I could be so sensitive
But if I could make it up to my baby
maybe sing a song
write a poem
read a psalm or send it to him
do you think he'd rip it up or would he take it
cuz I
I think of you in the morning and
I hear your voice afternoon
I see your face in the evening
so tell me what should I do
I hope you get this message
I hope you call me back real soon
but if you dont wanna talk right now baby
I guess I'll see you at 12 noon
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting to call me back baby
because i love you
and baby i need you
I wanna know why you dont call me
I'll make it up to you
I'll do the thing you like me to do
You know what I mean baby
ooooohhhhh baby
I love you and always will

Thursday night I spent a long over due evenning with some old friends. We went to 7 Stages @ Little Five Points here in Altanta to see Angela's Mixtape. This performance solidified my love of the theater.

Angela's Mixtape: (taken from the website)
When the revolutions of the 70s devolve into the materialism of the 80s, a girl born into an activist family has some unanswered questions. In this musical memoir, Eisa Davis, Pulitzer Prize finalist and niece of the legendary Angela Y. Davis, reveals her struggle to shine in the shadow of an icon. A quest for personal politics told through the powerful voices of five women and a hip hop beat.

In The Red and Brown Water:
Modern beats play against mythic rhythms in this radiant story of one girl’s passage into womanhood. Celebrating the legacy of African and Caribbean folklore, Tarell Alvin McCraney’s poetic new play crafts a sexy, intoxicating portrait of a dynamic young woman named Oya. As mythic and epic as it is immediate and passionate, In the Red and Brown Water is an unforgettable evening of theatre that will introduce Atlanta audiences to one of the great new American playwrights of the 21st century.
[official website]
I went to see this one a few weeks ago with a friend. I freaking loved it! Oya, Shango, Mama Moja, Lil Elegba, Ogun, and Shun (played by Carra Patterson a Georgia State University Alum). I was immersed in a fantasy reality. The songs, the performances, the CLUB SCENE! Whew! LOL! Check this one out!

[random picture that has nothing to do with this post]
Lately I'm really really introspective.
I don't have shit to say. The songs on repeat between
my ears keep my dendrites occupied. I like to think
of it as a mental mixtape.

[1]Lupe Fiasco - Fighters
[2]Day 26 - Got Me Going
[3]Janet Jackson - Let Me Know
[4]Lenny Kravitz - I'll Be Waiting
[5]Sara Bareilles - Bottle It Up
[6]N.E.R.D. - Everyone Nose
[7]Klaxons - Golden Skans
[8]Janelle Monae - Metropolis
[9]Alicia Keys - Prelude to a Kiss
[10]Janet Jackson - Rollercoaster
[11]M.I.A. - Bird Flu
[12]Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Let Them Knock
[13]Adele - Chasing Pavements
[14]Britney Spears - Why Should I Be Sad
[15]Mikey&Inglish - Lost Without Chuck
[16]Estelle - American Boy

Kevin Michael: Ain't Got You!

Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown: No Air

I love Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson, and now I know why: Sharon Jones. Last year I caught about 3 minutes of an MTV news story on Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I wanted to write about it then, but I couldn't remember her name! Only recently I had a conversation with Andrea who was listening to her on MySpace and it all came flooding back to me. Sharon Jones sort of created this new wave/soul/funk sound that Winehouse and Ronson gained notoriety from. Some try to juxtapose her to Amy Winehouse, but Amy ain't got shit on Sharon. Bludgeoned by the "industry standards" she was basically shunned, told she wouldn't sell because of her chocolate complexion, womanly curves, natural hair and strength. Her sound is funk up! I'm currently listening to her album "100 Days 100 Nights".


100 days, 100 Nights Video:

I keep watching this over and over. I like it. I don't love it (yet). Its totally not what I expected.

Daft Punks performance with Kanye West at the Grammy Awards this year was phenomenal. I was enamored by the nifty gadgets they tinkered with...Did some digging and discovered their origin:
JazzMutant Lemur Pad

The Grammy Award show is sort of a gift and a curse. Sometimes you're proud and elated when hard-working artist receive the accolades they deserve, then sometimes they just fuck up. This year was no different. Alicia Key, Prince, Rihanna, and several other notable artist all sported this cockatoo chic hairstyle...I think it works...*avoids eye contact*...Tina Turner looked like the poster child for Botox and Boobs...Beyonce did ok, I wasn't really impressed...Kanye's performance was visually stunning, and is a great preview for his tour I'm assuming, plus Daft Punk is the shit...Alicia Keys was spellbounding...Aretha Franklin was ummm, let's just say she had a lot of stage presence. I hated how the producers of the show cut Kanye off during his speech...but then again, he doesn't really have much respect for people during their speeches, remember that fiasco with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. at the MTV Europe Awards...All the same, it was kinda messed up.BUT Amy Winehouse's acceptance speech was the BEST! The BEST! Click here to see it.
[thanks Michelle, for the link]

I just love the awkwardness of this photo below:

So the official word from Kanye's blog is the video is done, wrapped, finito, complete, ready to go. BUT, he promised BET they could give the world premeire. *looks at watch*...Roxy, Terrance, get it done.

WHERE ARE U?
MUSIC NEEDS U?

I'm listening to his first album "Beautiful World". If you haven't heard it, pick it up. It is very random and experimental. It's not straight R&B like "The Evolution of Robin Thicke"...both CDs are classic.
Tracks From "Beautiful World":





Tracks from "The Evolution of Robin Thicke":

Okay so, if you haven't heard the news, Janelle Monae has signed with Bad Boy. The news hit my circle of friends (and avid JM fans) like a ton of chik-fil-a biscuts (aka bricks)...Diddy is a notorious slayer of careers.NOTORIOUS, NO, NO,NO, NOtorious!!!

I pray/hope/dare to dream that Janelle Monae doesn't fall victim to his folly.
She inspires me on the daily to be myself, I love her. From what I pieced together from this video, Wondaland is still a huge part Janelle's Metropolis. I'm glad, those guys are far too snazzy and cool to fall by the wayside.

I'm a little upset with the general public. Why are yall sleeping on Kevin Michael. This kid is quite possibly the second coming, and people are just idly sitting here oggling over Chris Brown. I mean Chris Brown is great, but there is room for Kev too!
I highly recommend his album, don't let me down people.