DID YOU HEAR THAT???

If you haven't gotten Steph Jones' new "Lifetape" Gravity, you're missing out. Tons and tons of artist are asking us to pay for albums that aren't worth a second listen. But, here he his giving us GREAT music for FREE. Again, it's another free release, like Hollyweerd's Candy For Kleptos, that is better than most people's album. A couple of my favorites from Gravity: Up Up and Away, Gravity (a remake of John Mayer's song featuring PJ Morton) and my #1 pick A Girl Named Holly Wood.

So go get Steph Jones GRAVITY...NOW!

Now onto some releases that are totally worth your hard earned dollars!!!

Nicolay's new album City Lights Vol 2: Shibuya is a fantastic piece of work. Already Nicolay is one of my favorite producers because of his diversity and musicality. He's also a great executive producer. There is a difference. Some people make great tracks, others make great work. His is great work. It's a total package from beginning to end that has been thoughtfully put together with not a hair out of place. I'm partial to this song because of the voice of Carlitta Durand, who is just amazing! Honestly, she has my dream job on this album...ENJOY!


If you have been following the career of Me'Shell Ndegeocello, you know that each time she releases an album, you will get certain things. You will get a song that speaks to something in your life (it's a guarantee), you will get a complete picture of the wherever Me"shell is in her life (not details, just the vibe) and you'll get at least 2-3 songs you can't hear enough. Go back in the catalog and see if you catch what I'm saying...Plantation Lullabies (Outside Your Door, If That's Your Boyfriend, Dredlocks)...skip ahead to Bitter (Beautiful, Fool of Me, Sincerity)...stop at Comfort Woman for all three Love Songs...and visit her last recording The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams (Lovely Lovely, Elliptical, Relief: A Stripper Classic). This album, Devil's Halo is no different.

I skipped a WHOLE bunch of amazing music in there, but I was trying to make a point. Well, 2 points. #1, STOP BUYING BULLSHIT when there are (#2) consistently great artist making great music. I saw her last night (for the 2nd time this year) and was amazed once again. It was one of the best live music shows I've seen and that band (huuunnnniiiiii!) was amazing!

So, let me wet your whistle with something safe on this album. Ready for the World's Let Me Love You Down. Why safe? Well, the song is the song and automatically, Me"shell's voice adds tons of dimension to it, but it's really about the music. The music makes a good (classic)song GREAT, sexy, yearning and real in a way that the original could never be. Enjoy!

What do you mean "Can I cook?"

Recently a man asked me, "So, can you cook?" Which he then followed up with, "I'm gonna need you to cook!" He was laughing and obviously joking, but I got a tiny bit annoyed for two reasons.

For one...the dude was sitting across from me. You see me man, do I look like cooking is a problem for me? LOL The second reason is that we were about 5 minutes into a conversation and I was already getting a taste of what HE wanted. I really wanted to shoot back, "Do YOU cook? Can you buy a bag of groceries? Make a reservation? Drive thru? Something?" I don't know when this happened, but when did we start giving out the laundry list before we got to know someone?

I've noticed this with a lot of people, men and women. The mystery is gone completely. We're basically negotiating the deal. But, I hate that. How about we just get to know our potential suitors and potential friends naturally? Find out the information as you go and see what happens. We don't know how to do that anymore. We show up with a list of all the things that the previous people did that we didn't like. Then we play 20 question to see if the person we're talking to should be ruled out over the first cup of coffee.

Honestly, I don't think he meant anything by it, but I also don't think he even heard himself say it. OK, it doesn't actually hurt to know what annoys people up front. How many times have you sat around with your friends playing "I can't stand..."? We should be just as honest with everyone. But are we trying to get to know each other or are we just eliminating people?

How do we get anywhere with that really? Don't you have to bring something to the table as well? If you're trying so hard to see if I'm worth your effort, don't you think I'm doing the same thing? Then why try to beat each other to the punch? I really think it's bad form to tell people everything I need from them right of the bat. Doesn't that make me selfish?

Would you do that to your new friends? Just walk up and tell them, "I need you to support me when shit's going wrong or we can't kick it!" No, you get to know them and find out if they can be a supportive friend. What about a job interview? Could you even imagine walking in and telling the boss, "So what benefits do you offer, what's in this job for me?", before you've given them a reason to hire you? The first thing they'd think is, "And WHY exactly should you get the job?"

I give people a pass a lot and on this I did. It wasn't worth going back and forth. What it really shows me is that whatever experiences this man had left him wary of women. Understandable, but not my issue. It wasn't me who did or didn't do whatever it is, so start fresh with me. I'm going to try to do the same. I may never even see you again, but I'd rather not see your open wounds out the gate.

Mystery people, that's all I'm asking. I know we say we'd rather know things up front, but do we really? We all have a tendency to judge people harshly based on a few little tid bits of information. And when we do that, we could be passing up the love of our lives, or great friend. Hell, in this town, even a good connect. I think it requires a bit of openness, which most of us lack. We could also work on tossing out our lists of deal breakers. Some of the things we pass people up for are the very things we ask people to accept in us. We also have to be willing to give the things we expect from people. If you aren't, even the people that love you to death will get tired and walk away.

I'm just saying, stop looking for what you can get out of people. Stop worrying that they won't make time for you or that they won't cook. Stop expecting people to cater to you and fix whatever problem you have. And stop asking people as soon as you meet them what they have to offer you. The truth is that you really won't know someone until you get to know them. And even then, they might surprise you...

What you really really want...

Hey folks,

I've been having the same conversation with most of my friends. They're all frustrated with the opposite sex. Seriously, everyone is FRUSTRATED! So, it got me thinking. We can all tell you what we don't want. For me it's self centered guys (not men, guys), men that run hot and cold and immaturity. I want someone who's confident and comfortable in his skin, someone who knows who they are and doesn't make everything about him. Simple right? It should be, but it isn't.

Here's the issue. Can most people honestly tell you what they really REALLY want? Do they even know? Even my attached and married friends are finding out that they have lots of things in their relationship they don't necessarily want. They've grown and they've changed. But their relationship, and the person they are in the relationship with, has not.

It's even apparent in people's friendships, careers and lifestyles. We've got long lists of what we don't want, purely based on our negative experiences. But what do we want? I think shifting the focus from what we're running from to what we should be chasing will help us get to a better place. We'll no longer feel like our energy is wasted because it's getting us closer to being happy. How many of us put more energy into making other people happy than we do into being happy ourselves? Don't we put tons of energy into blocking the things and people we think will hurt us? I know did! Now I don't. Now, I have something to show for my energy, work and emotion. I'm no longer throwing it away on people who couldn't care less or on situations that are beyond my control. Come on, it's a much more peaceful life when you're concentrating on finding happiness rather than on avoiding misery.

So, I pose this question to the few people that stop by my blog...WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?

Folk Art, HOPE, The Rebirth and "Cool Asian Dudes"...

Friday night; Chinatown; Soul Sessions 5 year anniversary party. Half DJ night, with four DJs in four separate areas; Half street fair, with vendors selling everything from clothing to folk art to a Don Chow Taco Truck parked at the entrance. So here's a little bit of my night in pictures...




One of my favorite booths last night was DeLaLuna Designs. Check the out here>>>www.delalunadesigns.com. One thing not on their website is the super cool flasks and one of my favorite pieces, the guitar case>>>

We saw two great live sets by The Rebirth. Check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/therebirth
There's DJ Rashida spinning something...


I really wanted to get this Basquiat bag, but it had to wait...


Then there were the "Cool Asian Dudes", aptly chosen theme for the night. One thing about the music scene in LA, especially the scene off the commercially beaten path, is that it's color blind and ageless. There were Asians, Latinos, African Americans, Caucasians and grooving to the beat and having a great time. Some were too fly for words, some looked like soccer moms on a night off from the kids. Whatever your style, you can get in where you fit it when the music is playing in LA!

These guys were so much fun! We bumped into them, literally, when we were dancing to DJ Trouble Maker's 80's/90's set (He played IESHA! Come on!). We were also trying to fix Ena's necklace that popped apart during the night. One of the guys came over and offered to help saying "I'm Asian, I can fix anything!". He fixed it, actually he redesigned the front of the necklace. LOL His friends were cool as hell too. And their dance circle? WHAAAAAAAT? They were gettin it!



I also met Chris from H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) who were at the street fair raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur. They got involved after 2 of their directors witnessed the crisis first hadn and were inspired by the two kids who would eventually become the face of the organization. They've teamed with Shepard Fairey (best known for the Obama HOPE poster) and a host of other artist to create a great movement that we all can get involved with in our own way. Check out their website at>>>http://hopecampaign.org. Donate, buy some of the cool stuff they're got, get educated and then get involved!


We ended the night at Sy Smith's afterhours "The Breakfast Club" where DJ Kim Hill was spinning the almost old school jams. We chilled and people watched. Boy was there A LOT to watch! The 12am-5am crowd is a little bit of everything and a whole lot of different. But here's the view from our perch on the couch at 155 Loft...

FIGHT CLUB

I posted the following statement on Twitter this week:

"Are we that conditioned for conflict that we don't know how to function in its absence?"

Well that, I'm finding out, is really he question. We don't know how to function in peace, we are comfortable in conflict. Humans gravitate toward the thing they are most comfortable with and the truth of the matter is, if you only know one thing, everything will scare you. Even the positive stuff.

But, look around you. I mean really look. How many people do you see get visibly agitated when nothing is poppin off? No drama, no conflict, no one to talk about, no one to fight with. Everything around them is peaceful. But they can't rest. So, they act out, pick fights and basically stay in defense mode with everyone they encounter.

Here's an example: I answered a phone call at work and was trying to help a woman. I let her vent and then told her we would respond. She was stuck, she was so ready to fight with me to get what she wanted. Here I was giving her exactly what she was asking for and she didn't know how to respond. So she made the same statements and asked the same questions with a different approach over and over. My answer remained the same. She was trying to pick a fight and I didn't respond.

Now that was a woman I didn't even know. But, look a the people we do know. How many people you know don't know how to accept positive things into their lives? We bend over backward trying to make them happy, but it really won't matter. When people aren't happy, you can't fix that for them. All you can do is be there for them, tell them the truth and let them figure it out. If not, you'll end up sinking into their unhappiness trying to pull them out.

The reason I'm bringing this up is because I've come across too many unhappy people this year. Totally unhappy people. Internally unhappy people. I don't even think people realize that they're unhappy, but this year has been so trying that everyone's true colors have come out. And in that process, those none too pretty roots have been uncovered. So, what do we do to lift our collective spirits?

They can do NO wrong...

Everyone that knows me knows that I am a Foreign Exchange fanatic! Their latest video really showed me how amazing a team they have. The honest truth is that they have produced the a series of videos that no one cant really touch without the budget and exposure that the rest of these idiots get. What grown up, thinking, creative people can accomplish so much more than effects and high end "lifestyle" shots. So, I give you a body of REAL creative accomplishment...

The Foreign Exchange feat. Muhsinah - "Daykeeper" from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

The Foreign Exchange feat. Darien Brockington - "Take Off The Blues" from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

The Foreign Exchange feat. Muhsinah - "House Of Cards" from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

*Small note on House of Cards...this is one of my favorite songs ever. These lyrics have proven true over and over. Listen well...

The Foreign Exchange - ''I Wanna Know'' from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

*I related more to Phonte than the woman in this vid. Simmer down ladies, let me explain! I know tons of artist and this is the life. I also know tons of women who want the life, but don't know what comes with it. There are just something you have to let go of in order to make this work. But real relationships take work, no matter what the circumstances. But in these particular circumstances, it's even more work on the part of both parties. So, if you've got ideal, stop now. Turn around. Find some normal square. It's just a friendly warning...

I'm IN LOVE with GLEE! Below are a few of the reasons why. That is all...

Now onto SHERRI! I'm liking it so far. I met Sherri Shepherd when I was in high school and she was a new "christian" comedian attending the church I grew up in. We had a monthly performing arts event where I used to work with the concession folks. she performed there a few times and everyone really loved her. When she got The Jaime Foxx show it was one of those "look what God has done moments".

Fast forward to 2009 and I'm really happy to see her getting all of these opportunities. She's great on The View, she looks amazing and this show is a great platform for her. Now, what stuck me the most about her show is the amount of people who have respect for Sherri. You can tell by the guests on the first 2 episodes. Tammy Townsend (whose running man on episode 1 was classic!), Tichina Arnold (A+ comic timing on epi 1), Kim Whitley, Regis, you see where I'm going. What that says to me is that Sherri has gained the respect and friendship of lots of her peer in the years she's been working her way up and they all showed up for her.

If she's anything like the person I remember from the mid-90s (no, she won't remember me), she's probably taken a step back more than once and wondered how this all happened. I think she's going to be really good on this show. She, like Mo'Nique, will have to settle into the TV groove and stop pulling her face so much. But, she's got tons of experience and it will serve her well. I think she'd going to do really well.

Ok, so I've only seen one episode of "The Mo'nique Show" on BET. Partly because I've been busy and taping them. But also because I had a hard time watching the one I saw. She was a bit of a mess. BUT, I have a feeling that she need time to settle into a groove.

This is woman who was given her own late night show based on her star power and her talent. Which is a HUGE accomplishment in and of itself. However, she has never had to simultaneously entertain and interview people. She did a fantastic job of interviewing the women at the Ohio prison where she filmed the special "I Coulda Been Your Cell Mate". But their stories were so much weightier and bigger than her jokes, so she fell back and gave hem room to express. If she can get more of that along the way, I think she'll find a way to calm it down. Because if not...she won't be on long!

I started this blog because we've been having lots of conversations about, well, EVERYTHING lately. It's time to create a little forum for all of us chatter boxes to get it out and learn from each other. Of course we'll dish, but there are RULES: No names; no putting people on blast; no attacking each other. No with that said...we're up and running. I say "we" because WE inspire, entertain and push each other. So...LET'S GO!

The BEST moment of the week!

Well, here we go! I'm finally starting my blog. I'm starting off with one of my favorite images of the last couple of weeks. It's all things beautiful, strange, dirty, pristine, crazy and sane...everything this blog will probably be. HANG ON LOVLIES!