Chris Brown Speaking to His Fans on 106 & Park

[i think there might be more but anyway... u get the gest]

“Definitely” and “at the end of the day” are definitely his word crutches.If he said either one again it was going to be problematic for me. Its bad enough he is not the most articulate of all the people ever, but he’s from Virginia… so I have to claim him. [I kid, I kid… I actually like CB]

Rosci is annoying me. Even the way she looked at him at the end of the first half was giving me waaaaayyy too much. She was a very condescending interviewer, feeling it necessary to “explain” exactly what her questions meant. I didn’t think his answers were non-responsive- not eloquent by a long shot, but responsive.

I think CB is being sincere. He has come out and apologized to his fans, on Larry King and videos. He cannot mope around for the rest of his life. Its been 9 months. He has to smile to make it through…. HOW DARE ROSCI question the fact that he is smiling.

CB is giving credit to his team but his team is the damn problem. I really wish they would sit him down. He needs about a year or two hiatus to work in the community and stay OUT of the limelight. Date a normal girl, don’t beat her up. Now is not the time to be releasing a new album, going out on tour etc. It’s the time to prove himself a changed man.

Final thoughts: After watching both interviews, I think both CB and RiRi are sincere. They both care for each other still and they dealing with the situation the best they know how. I think RiRi has more to gain from revealing details than CB. I also think they should have taken a little more time from the limelight to fully recover emotionally. They are people, and must make peace within in order to progress.

Good Hair Reflection (Because I'm too late for a review...)

Again, I'm well aware that I am far too late for a review of the "Good Hair" movie, as it has been in theaters for some time. However, I never think it is too late to talk about self loathing within the African American community and one of my favorite things about myself... natural hair.

What struck me about the movie, and what has stuck with me, was not what was on the screen, rather the reaction in the theater. I thought it was so interesting that everyone in the theater was laughing the whole movie until the man said he would rather have a white woman so that he could run his hands through her hair. Only THEN was there an uproar. Personally, that was the least disturbing part of the movie for several reasons. I thought it was ignorant for starters because I love my natural hair, men have enjoyed running their hands through it, and I enjoy having their hands in my hair. LOL. So his comment was just stupid to me, I guess because I dont apply.

I found the children getting their hair relaxed troubling, even though I was one of those children. I believe I was about 5 when I got my first relaxer. I know often parents opt for relaxers is because it’s just easier than having to deal with coarse hair daily. But what most parents don’t realize is the choice they are making for their child has long-term ramifications. Most notably the psychology of long straight hair being better than what is natural to us, evidenced in the movie when high school girls said they would not hire someone with an afro, regardless of her intelligence. That is self hatred... and it is being instilled in OUR children.

For me being natural has allowed me to express my true self, but it has been a process. I got a bad relaxer, cut most of my hair off, dealt with the rest breaking off as the relaxer grew out, get used to not having a long, flowing wrap which I had become so accustomed, finding styles that suit my texture, and dealing with constant scrutiny today. All this because I wanted to be who I really am. I love the variety my hair gives me, before I wore 1 style- a wrap. LOL. Being natural fits the many dimensions personality, and I can change my hair to reflect accordingly.

I usually get a compliment on my hair at least once a week, and sometimes everyday. (Recently, people have been asking if it’s real, which I find hilarious) But I've also had my fair share of negative feedback from both white and black people about my hair. Honestly, white people are pretty receptive. Most often they think it's cool. And as long as I make it look like curls rather than "naps" they really don't care (and I don’t want to see naps either so I don’t think that is sacrificing anything). As for black people, I remember being at work and having an older BLACK woman tell me that my twists were "weekend hair." I've had a BLACK man tell me that I'm pretty but the reason I don't get male attention is BECAUSE of my hair. and the truth is, HE'S RIGHT. I don't get male attention. I don't even get a second look most times. I never had that problem in college, when I was still getting my hair relaxed and I look exactly the same. The truth is many black people don't even appreciate what grows out of their own scalp. I don't think everyone should be natural, I advocate choice. But I wish that we as black people would learn to embrace our differences and not just tolerate them (and we don't even do tolerance very well sometimes).

Takeover Much?

I was up this morning, before going to class unprepared, getting tickets to the Blueprint 3 Tour. So, I’m sitting here thinking about the effect this guy has had since Sept 8. I mean not a day goes by that I don’t say or hear somebody say “On to the Next One” or “We off that.” But that is only the tip of the iceberg… This guy performed on the World Series and the WHOLE Yankees team was rocking- I mean heads bobbing, recording the moment. This song was their anthem. And lest we not forget Oprah. OPRAH. To me it symbolized the merging of worlds. Acceptance. Forward movement. It was a beautiful thing. I was inspired. I am inspired. February 27th can’t get here soon enough.

At This Time

I went to see Algebra a little while ago (thanks Evita ☺) and I had to blog about it (late of course) because it was an unreal experience. I was there and at some points I totally forgot where I was, who I was with and frankly didn't care. She sings with just that much emotion and conviction. She performed 2 songs she had just recorded and it was as if she was reading into my soul. Then, I let a friend of mine listen to "At This Time" and at the end of the song, she said "wow... I don’t know where I was just now, but I was not here." Now THAT'S music

I so wish that more artists would appreciate their gift to inspire and control emotions, even if its only a 3:30 song.

My VERY Belated BP3 Review

Just go right in then Hov. I mean no intro, beat just drops and it’s a wrap!

What We Talking About is just a song about current events and there is no better way to start the album.

Thank you is flawless… it has been my feel good song for the last few months. Something about when the champagne flutes click *click* that puts a smile on my face.

My original review didn’t include anything about this song but As Real As it Gets is my ANTHEM! I listen to it on my way to class [too bad I have to calm myself down once I get in there], in the house, on the way to work. That song gets me HYPE!

DOA works in context, flows right in with Thank You. Likewise for Run This Town (But im sorry… Kanye still killed Hov on his track. So troublesome.)

On to the Next One kinda messed w/ my vibe at first. It was a Swizz Beatz track and his sound is so distinctive… it changed the direction and vibe. But it was so clear within the story [Another anthem track}

I’m a little disturbed by use of “Shawty” in Venus vs. Mars. Just sounds weird. Lyrics were clever but it was the first song I really coulda done without…. Glad that was a short track. [haven’t listened to that one again. 1 play STRONG on the iPod]

Already Home got my attention back- Haters kinda lost me. But as with Next one, it was a sharp change of direction but made sense

Tells a very clear story… I like that.
Get the haters out of the way up front
We Run This
Reminiscing
Progress
Star is born- ushering the new generation
But wait… Still Hov’s world!!!

It was well thought out and well done.

Laura Izibor: Let The Truth Be Told [REVIEW]

Laura Izibor’s voice is a mix of Leela James and Joss Stone, beautiful but can be a bit much. Vibe is Corrine Bailey Rae, meets Alicia keys (As I Am AND Songs In A Minor) a little surprising b/c I thought it was going to be all Corrine

Some of the songs are a little alternative-ish. Of course I love genre blending, so I was pleasantly surprised. If Tonight Is My Last was pretty and gave some variety, as did What Would You Do

LOVE from my heart to yours… it’s the reason I bought the album. Just makes me feel good

The Worst is Over spoke to me…. God knows it did. That’s inspiration… think I found a new theme song. It was soft and lovely with a powerful message. You know a song is good when all you can say afterwards is . OR maybe I Don’t Want You Back should be my theme song… [can ya’ll tell I’m coming through something?!?! LOL]

Wasn’t crazy about Yes (I’ll Be Your Baby)… coulda done without that one… it was just a little lame lyrically.

Mmmmm…. Was like a negro spiritual. All she said was mmmm on the hook. And the choir and organ did not help the situation out. SN: I don’t know if this is going to send me to hell, but I’m so sick to death of people putting choirs on tracks that are not gospel. It’s annoying AND random. STOP IT PEOPLE!!!

It wasn’t as cohesive as I would have liked but it followed the “Let the Truth Be Told” theme. overall it was a strong freshman showing…. I liked it… support good music!!!

Sweet Dreams, Single Ladies pt. 4

OK… so I already know im gon get it for this one but I have to break my silence. First let me say, I respect Beyonce as a performer and an artist… but the Sweet Dreams video is where I draw the line. Hands down, Sweet Dreams was my FAVORITE song on the album, I mean without question. I just thought it was so dope. When I heard she made a video I thought it was going to be some crazy juxtaposition of demented darkness and beautiful light that the song calls into my consciousness. THEN, I watched it. And what did I see? The SAME video I have seen 3 times before off this album! THREE TIMES… single ladies, diva, and ego… 2 girls on either side, dance, skimpy costumes. Now I will admit, the choreography was different and some moments, like the last dance sequence, were great. But overall, I was bored. And I was pissed off more than anything b/c she can do SOOOOOO much more!!

Think back on her first album, to which I still listen to this day. Even though she danced in just about all the videos, they all told a story. I think my favorite was Me, Myself and I, which I have recently rediscovered and is my theme song. But crazy in love was colorful and dope dancing in the street… Naughty Girl, with Usher was throwback club dancing… Baby Boy was dancehall and the dope scene on the beach with her in the sand… and of course Me, Myself and I, which was in reverse

B-day’s videos started off pretty good but got lazy toward the end but I gave her a pass b/c she did make a video for every song and did them all in the span of a week or so. My favorite off that album, Flaws and All, without question. But this laziness on this album’s videos is just inexcusable. Beyonce fans are loyal… love her no matter what. And it seems that at bare minimum she would want to give them more than the same thing over and over. I know she’s on tour but if she can’t do it right, I’d rather she not make the videos at all…

Judge for yourself… let me know what you think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGV2_8Yqg4&feature=channel_page