Another Version Of Myself

Rihanna gives us dancehall!!!!

2010-02-10T17:37:00.000-08:00

I don't have anything to say about this video except....I Love It!!!! Get into it!!

The Dream

2010-01-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

Today is MLK Day, so in honor of the amazing Dr. King I wanted to post a few of his quotes that I feel we should all try to continue to live up to and learn from.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?

Haiti Needs You

2010-01-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday the country of Haiti was rocked with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake which as you can imagined as has completely devestated the country. Wyclef Jean and his Yele Haiti foundation are asking for donations to help in the relief efforts and I am asking anyone who visits this blog and other blogs with the above banner to help in any way they can. Another way to donate is to text 'Yele' to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti foundation. Your donation will be posted to your phone bill. For people trying to located family in Haiti, you can ontact the State Department at 888-407-4747. Please help and keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.

5 Fails of 2009

2009-12-31T08:42:00.000-08:00

1. Chris Brown- His attack on Rihanna has got to be the biggest fail of the year. I get that people want to give him a second chance, but until he actually shows some remorse instead of going through the motions in order to get his damaged career back on track, he will get a capital FAIL from me. I don't think I will ever be a fan of his again, but I'm all for people being given the opportunity to redeem themselves. Good Luck with that Ike...I mean Chris.

2. Rush Limbaugh- He'll make the list anytime I make one. I don't think I need to state why.

3. Eminem- This guy to many is a great rapper, for me he's just a decent rapper. I was entertained by his sarcastic lyrics when he first came out but now he just sounds like an angry man with mommy issues. His "battle" with Mariah Carey this year was just the dumbest thing ever. I mean, seriously, this guy battled an R&B singer like she was another rapper....really? He really proved he was Obsessed.

4. The Republican Party- Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney, John McCain, and Michael Steele. Need I say more?

5. The Jackson Family (father and sons)- Not all of the family is a part of this list only the men of the family for trying to use the death of MJ to springboard their dead careers.

Best Albums of 2009

2009-12-31T08:06:00.000-08:00

Although I have purchased and listened to dozens of albums this year, I could only think of four that in my opinion were the best of 2009. Here they are:

1.

The one thing I love about music is that there are artists out there who take risks, who don't conform to what is expected of them from their fans or the record label execs. After all that she went through this year, Rihanna took a risk and made an album that in my opinion is the best of her young career. It's introspective, it's edgy, and yes...it's a little dark which works for her. For me, the album falls in to the my last of favorite introspective albums which includes Janet Jackson's "The Velvet Rope" and Lauryn Hills "The Mis-education of Lauryn Hill" (I'm sure many would disagree). There are those who feel that the album was not her best work but I think that's only because they are used to her previous sound. Rihanna changed her game up and that was the smartest move she could have made.

2.

I don't know if I need to say anything about this album..we all know it's great. After being away for several years, Maxwell came back with a marvelous album and a great first single with Pretty Wings. This album is going into my favorite albums of all time list. I am definitely looking forward to the second installment of his Black Summer's Night series.

3.

Brandy has been an artist that I have listened to and been a fan of since the beginning of her career (her first album was my very first CD). Brandy gave us a really great album this year, but like many others I think she didn't get the credit she deserved. Human was a great album in its entirety and is still very much a part of my daily playlist. Let's hope that in 2010 Brandy finally gets the credit that she deserves.

4.

This album is so damn good!! These young women came out of no where and completely gave me what I need musically when it comes to female groups. This album was so different from everything else that was released this year and I loved it. They remind me so much of groups like Klymaxx, the Mary Jane Girls and Vanity 6. I was pleasantly surprised by the content of their album and very disappointed in it's performance in sales but sometimes even good albums go unnoticed. Electrik Red definitely showed us How To Be Lady this year.

Straight No Chaser Music

2009-12-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

There has been something missing in music for quite some time now. Yeah, we have artists like Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, and Brandy, but we haven't had someone like K. Michelle in a long time. I ran across K. Michelle's music on YouTube earlier this year and I have been hooked ever since. I hope that everyone catches on to how great an artist this is and what a breath of fresh air she is to the music game. Her album is called Pain Medicine and it's set for a 2010 release and it's definitely on my purchase list.

Another One Bites the Dust

2009-12-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

Day 26 member Qwanell Mosley better known to us as Que was officially kicked out of the group. Immediately after the news broke, group member Willie decided to hit up his hometown radio station WGCI to give his take on what happened. In short, he mentions Que not showing up to meetings and shows and also mentions the scenes from the MTB4 which depict Que as unhinged.I have to be honest, I never saw Day 26 lasting after Diddy's move to Interscope, so I honestly think that they did Que a favor. The reason I say this is because I watched the last season of Making the Band when Que was being shown as the "out-of-control" group member who was damaging the "brand" that was Day 26. What I saw was someone who was trying to be heard and was getting completely ignored by his group members. I also saw some of the antagonizing that was going on from other group members towards Que. In the end, according to Que he simply asked for new management and an account of the money that was being made because he felt they were not getting their fair share and he ended up receiving his pink slip via a letter from the group's manager Screwface (Why would you let someone with that name manage you in the first place?) which relieved him of his boy band duties. It's interesting to me that the more vocal members of groups are always characterized as out of control and a danger to the brand when most times the truth is they are a lot more serious about the business than the rest and instead of just accepting anything because they want to be out there in the industry, they demand that the business is done right so they are not screwed over in the end.
I won't pretend to know the inside story because I am just like any other fan of the show and group (until now), but I can say that we can't trust the edited MTV series or one group member making a beeline for the radio station to get the whole story. Where are the other group members and what do they have to say about this? I will say at the end of this, I think Que will be the triumphant one out of the situation. He is definitely talented guy,so this is only a bump in the road of his career as far as I am concerned. As far as Day 26 goes, I don't know if I'm interested in hearing anything else from them without Que in the group and I'm sure there are many others who feel the same way. Good luck to them all.

Corrine Bailey Rae gets Closer

2009-12-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

After some time away from the music scene, Corrine Baily Rae is back and releasing her new album The Sea on January 26 of next year. I can't wait for the album (I've already pre-ordered my copies). For those fellow Corrine Bailey Rae fans, here's a preview of what's to come from her new album. It's a song called "Closer" she sang in NYC at the Hiro Ballroom. There's a Pre-order link at the bottom of this post. Enjoy.

She's Baaaaaack!!!!

2009-12-07T19:55:00.001-08:00

After being absent from the music scene for nine years, Sade is finally back with a new single and a new album coming out in February 2010. Her new single just hit the internet and I have it for you right here. I love it!!!! Decide how you feel about it...listen below.

zSHARE - 01 Soldier Of Love.mp3

Architectural Genius

2009-12-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

While searching one of my favorite sites ( http://fastcompany.com ), I came across something I think is extremely genius and right up my alley. Designed by a Dutch architecture firm, and Christian Müller Architects , this house in the hill is amazing. Don't take my word for it though....take a look at the pictures for yourself.

Guess Who's Back!!

2009-11-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

I am sooooooooo excited!!! One of my favorite artists of all time is coming back with a new album. Sade's new album is entitled Soldier of Love and it the release date is February 8, 2010....I can't wait. Sade is in a class all her own. I love the fact that she doesn't bombard us with album after album (unlike someone I won't name). Sade takes a break and comes out with something no one else can match....excellent music. There are few artists whose albums I can listen to all the way through. Sade is one of the few artists who doesn't seem to feel the pressure of the music industry to make albums with no substance... she always comes with something amazing. I hate waiting but Sade's music is definitely worth the anticipation.

Amazon.com Widgets

New Video: Rihanna "Russian Roulette"

2009-11-13T10:39:00.001-08:00

Here it is! The newest video from Rihanna for her single Russian Roulette which by the way is in the top ten on Billboard (#9 to be exact).

I love it!!! I love the song and I love the video! I know that some people probably think it's dark but it's a dark record with deep message and I hope people understand the song more now. I can't wait for my album to get here in the mail on November 23rd. I know that the album leaked today but I am going to wait until I get a physical copy of it to review. I have heard some of the tracks that are floating around the net, so I can say that I think it's going to be an amazing album....I'm hoping it sells a million in the first week. GO RIHANNA!!!

This Is What Singing Sounds Like

2009-11-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to post a video of one of the most talented young singers I have heard in a long time. Lisa Lavie, who hails from Canada is making waves in the music industry with her amazing voice. What is it about these Canadian singers (Lisa Lavie,Deborah Cox, Celine Dion, Melanie Fiona, Tamia, etc)? It's got to be something about the Canadian air....lol....they are singing circles around the American female singers in my opinion....effortlessly. Anyway, here's the vid...enjoy.

F Love....Especially If It's Beating Your Ass

2009-11-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

Okay...I know that I'm jumping on the Rihanna blog posting bandwagon but I have been following this story since it happened and I felt I had to say something. This morning I woke up a little early to catch a part of Rihanna's interview with Diane Sawyer on GMC, and I must say that it did not disappoint. I am so glad to hear Rihanna finally say something about the incident that I am sure has changed her life forever. I love that she was honest about the fact that she felt embarrassed about what happened to her and in the beginning she didn't want to speak about it. I've been reading responses to the interview clip that we saw this morning on GMC and there are those who feel that her interview was rehearsed....I can't say that I saw the same thing. What I saw was a young lady who still seemed a little reluctant to speak about something so traumatic, but felt that she needed to because of the impact her actions can have on other young girls.The fact that she walked away from the relationship despite what her heart wanted is a sign of true maturity and strength. I know that people felt that she should have spoken up sooner, but I find it such a ridiculous thing that many people feel that way. She was/is dealing with a very violent incident that take times to get over (if one can ever get over something like that) she had every right to keep her thoughts to herself for as long as she needed to. I hope that after the full interview airs tomorrow on 20/20, the minds of many Rihanna haters will change. I also hope that the young girls who get a chance to see the interview get the message that domestic violence is never okay under any circumstances. I commend Rihanna for speaking out...whether it is for publicity for the new album is irrelevant to me. Do I think that she is the face of domestic violence....no...absolutely not. Rihanna is who she is.... a young woman who has gone through something that many young women go through on a daily basis (some don't survive), she is a young woman who is still trying to wrap her head around what happened to her and move on as best she can.

This Is For The Girls

2009-11-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

Currently I'm reading Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper. This is the second time I have bought this book because I decided to give the first one away as a graduation present to my little sister. I haven't read the book yet, but I had to post about it because I love what this book can be for young girls who have questions about certain things that they can't talk to their parents about. The beauty of this book is that Hill Harper included so many other celebrities that can also provide insight into a lot of the everyday challenges that young girls have to deal with. I will definitely be posting a review on this book after I am done reading it.

What's It All About?

2009-11-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

Although I have a couple of other blogs, I decided to create one that was more specific to my interests than just my personal every day thoughts. Beats, Books, and Politics is something that I had considered creating some months ago, but felt I just didn't have the time to deal with, but now that things have changed for me, I know that I can keep up with this blog on a regular basis. The purpose of this blog is to share my thoughts on everything from books to politics. From time to time I am sure that I will stray from the purpose of this blog to voice my opinion on something else, so just bear with me. I hope you enjoy my blog. HAPPY READING!!