There are really no words. As a fan of Hip Hop, I am loving this. If you've been living under a rock for the last few days, Meek Mill went on a Twitter rant about Drake. Drake released a diss track called "Charged Up" a few days later. IT was nice. Meek did not respond other than two wack tweets. Four days later, Drake reupped on that Meek diss and took it up a notch with "Back 2 Back Freestyle." Drake killed Meek. It's just that simple. He came with facts and dope bars and silent but deadly jabs over a ridiculous beat. And, he posted it to soundcloud in the wee hours of the morning right after Meek performed in Drake's hometown of Toronto.
"You getting bodied by a singin m***a"
"Shout out to my bitches wifin niggas"
"Is this a world tour or ya girl tour?"
"I see what you do for fame, wonder what you would do for freedom."
This is the part of Hip Hop that makes me excited. This was unexpected but needed. I like both dudes. Been rocking Meek's new cd since it came out. But, I am a Drake fan & I have been since his second mixtape. He holds a special place in my lyrical heart. Drake is doing this the right way. Even if Meek claps back, he's already lost in the eyes of the masses because he started this and hasn't responded. Anyway, get into both of Drake's diss tracks.
I've fallen in love again. With myself that is. Oh and sundresses and maxi dresses. I've purchased no less than 10 in the last month. I have an obsession & I'm gonna indulge in it. Because why not? I deserve any and everything that will keep a smile on my face. It's been a long time coming. I finally feel like myself again. I feel like it's taken me far too long to get back here. But, that's probably because I am super hard on myself. Anyway, I am happy and I can say that and mean it. So, this post is just an ode to me and sun or maxi dresses and brick wall. This is it, my summer aesthetic. IT's who I've always wanted to be. This version of me, dope ass brown girl who exudes Black girl magic at every single turn. It's me. Imn all my glory! Get Into Me!!
I love getting packages in the mail. Which is why being an Influenster is such a great fit for me. I received my first Vox Box of the year this week. It's the #RefreshVoxBox. It was filled with so many goodies for me to try out. It included L'Occitane Shea Butter Comforting Cream, Benitos Chips, Covergirl Ultra Smoothing Foundation, a coupon for Orgain Certified Organic Nutritional Shakes, Montagne Jeunesse Face Masques, Listerine Pocket Paks, DenTek Comfort Clean Floss Picks, and Skinnygirl Nutritional Bars. All great products for me to try. I loved them all but the L'Occitane Cream is my favorite, hands down. It's such a great moisturizing cream. I love it.
Benitos Chips, 2 bags. These are incredibly good chips made from beans. I enjoyed them. #allthatinabagofchips
Covergirl Ultra Smoothing Foundation in 860 Classic Tan. Great foundation an I like the applicator. #UltraSmooth
L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream is amazing. I loved this product the most. #ineedshea because it works wonders for my skin. This product kept my hands & face moisturized all day during a really harsh cold wintery day. I cannot wait to purchase this product for myself.
Orgain Certified Organic Nutritional Shakes are so good. The coupon for a free one was a win. #OrgainWellness
Montagne Jeunesse Face Masques. I received the Black Seaweed one. I loved it. #MJPeelOffs
Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bars. The Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bar is so good. They are currently on sale @ Target & I had to go get me some. #skinnygirlXinfluenster
#ListerinePocketPaks. I didn't even know they still made these. I loved them before and I love them still.
DenTek Comfort Clean Floss Picks are amazing. I love this product. #GoFlossYourself
(Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.")
When I was a little girl, I fell in love with "Annie." Every single time it came on, I had to watch it. I tortured my parents with it. I knew every word and every song. My love for it has never gone away. Even now, I will still watch it any time I can catch. I own two dvd copies of the original "Annie." Suffice it to say, I am a FAN. Have been since the first time I saw it in 1982 as a 3 year old. It is my absolute favorite musical. As much as I loved the original, I did not care for the 1999 made-for-tv movie. It was just ok. When I first heard that Jay Z & Will & Jada Smith were redoing "Annie," I was over the moon excited. They had chosen Willow Smith to play "Annie" and I thought that was perfect. But, then a few years passed and I lost hope. Until Oscar nominated Quvenzhane' Wallis replaced Willow and the movie was a go. I knew that I would have to see this version. I was excited for months.
"Annie" was released on Friday, December 19, 2014. The movie stars the aforementioned Wallis, as well as Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz and Rose Bryne. Jamie Foxx takes on the Daddy Warbucks role as tech savvy billionaire Will Stacks who is running for Mayor of New York City. Cameron Diaz is Ms. Hannigan and Bryne takes on the role of Stacks' assistant, Grace. This "Annie" keeps a lot of the original moments. But, this is an updated, 2014 version of it. The songs are all a little remixed. I did miss one of my favorite musical numbers though. It would be "We Got Annie." I really enjoyed this movie. Wallis was adorable as a street tough but sweet Annie. She lights up every scene she is in. I loved that the directors/producers/writers were able to still add a few twists to a story I hold so dear. Diaz as Ms. Hannigan is comedic gold to me. I loved Foxx as Stacks. This movie really made me anxious for another Foxx cd. The movie was really cute and very family friendly. I want to see it again and will be purchasing it when it is released on dvd. Must see for me. I cried more than once while watching it. Representation really matters. There is something very significant and important about Wallis, a Black girl playing "Annie" in 2014. Little Black girls need to see themselves on a screen in a positive light. And, Black women need to see their younger selves represented as well. It is necessary. At the end of the movie, the entire theater clapped. Everyone loved it. Get into "Annie."
I learned of Nicki Minaj by word of mouth a few years back. I instantly became a fan once I heard "Itty Bitty Piggy," "Go Hard," & "Still I Rise." Actually, "Still I Rise" is STILL one of my fave Nicki tracks. I knew she had it and she would be a big deal. Fast forward to the release of her third project aptly named "The Pinkprint," and I was more than right. I loved her debut "Pink Friday." I thought it was dope. I liked her second project "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" a lot less. Her features on everybody's songs made up for it though. But, "The Pinkprint" resonates with me. This album shows growth and maturity. It's the album of a 30+ woman who's been through some things. The album has an air of heartbreak to it, which is why I think I dig it so much. My favorite tracks are "Favorite," "I Lied," "Feeling Myself," "Want Som More," & "Get On Your Knees." I do not think that "Anaconda" fits the album nor did I like it. But, it's a solid project to me.
What I am loving about this promo run are her interviews. Nicki has been so relatable in every one. Her best interviews have been with Angie Martinez on Power 105, Ebro on Hot 97, and Elliott Wilson's "CRWN" series. I had to include them here. Great material. I do not think I could be going through my first real heartbreak with the world watching. Nicki is handling it well. She said something that has stuck with me. "This breakup feels like a death" is something that I can identify with on so many levels. I do feel sorry for her because breakups suck and they are even worse when you're in love. I loved seeing this real side of her. Seeing her vulnerable makes her more relatable. I feel like this is the real Nicki on this project. I am glad to finally meet her. She has made me a renewed fan. Gone are the days of the crazy outfits, colorful wigs and "safe" pop records. "The Pinkprint" feels familiar in so many ways. Get into it and these dope Nicki Minaj interviews.
It's been almost 15 years since D'Angelo (And The Vanguard) blessed us with a new project "Black Messiah." It's been almost 15 years too long since we heard his melodic tone. I've decided that this was a birthday gift for me. I have been a lifelong fan. His music has always been an experience for me. I couldn't wait to dig into this "Black Messiah" project. I listened to it early this morning. I was pleasantly surprised with every single track. It's an effortless flow of songs that speak to me. It is the perfect follow up to "Voodoo." It has that same funk era feel that made "Voodoo" so classic to me. There isn't one song that I dislike. My standout early favorites are "Another Life," "Really Love," "Betray My Heart," and "1000 Deaths." Those are the four that I've played the most today. D'Angelo sounds amazing on these tracks.
The above video has the whole project on it. It is also available on itunes and you can stream it for free on Spotify. I cannot stop playing it. It has been the soundtrack to my Monday and second full day of being 35. This is grown folks music at its best. I just know that this project will sound amazing with a live band in concert. Whenever he goes on tour, I will be there. I love the very earthly feels of "Black Messiah." It feels like home. It's odd how something so new can still feel old and very familiar. I love that he took the Beyonce' approach a full year after her with this surprise release. We all knew D'Angelo was working on new music but none of us had any idea when or if we would get it. This project is a gift that I am fully prepared to enjoy for weeks to come. If you are an old fan, you will deeply enjoy this. If you are new to D'Angelo, this is a great introduction. Get into everything that is D'Angelo and the Vanguard's "Black Messiah." It's worth it.
You guys know I LOVE music. And, there has been a lot of it released in the last few weeks. So, I decided to share some of my faves. All of these songs are off of projects that I am really enjoying. Get into this new music!
This is just a dump of things I've read recently that I cannot shake. I guess they were things I needed to read to accept the reality of my current situation. I decided to share because you never know who's going through a similar situation. Get into it.
Chrisette Michele's voice is e-very-thing to me. Here she is singing "Better." This song has always been one of my favorites by her. I just haven't been able to listen to it without feeling awful and crying. So, I've avoided it for a long time. But, this made it's way to my Tumblr dash and I had to listen. Upon hearing this acoustic version inspired another emotion. I felt hopeful. I can honestly say I haven't felt hopeful in a really long time. It's been about 20 months since my heart was broken. The fact that I know the exact amount of time that has passed also let's me know that I'm not 100% better yet. I have been staunchly anti-love since then. I like that the song is about the possibility of a new love. Granted, I am not there. I don't know if I'll ever be to be honest. But, I digress. Chrisette has one of those heavily jazz influenced R&B soul voices. Her voice is truly an instrument and this video proves it. Get into the effortless way she dismantles this song. I think I love this version more than the original. Also, she is absolutely amazing in concert. Get into the video above and the lyrics below!!
"When I fall for love the next time. And an arrow’s in my back. I won’t let the pain get me down, oh no. I won’t fight back.
Let the cupid take me wherever he wants to go. Fly me to the moon like an old jazz love song. Cupid, do what you want to do. The choice is yours. When I get where you’re taking me, Love’s gonna make me...feel better, better, better!
Love’s gonna make me feel better, better, better! Cause getting to love’s got me losing my mind!
I’ve been wrecking my brain love’s so insane. Cupid, help me please. cause Mr. Wrong keeps meeting me! and I got a funny feeling love is just around the bend so
Jazmine Sullivan is back. And, as a fan, I couldn't be happier. Her latest single is "Forever Doesn't Last." It is my current new favorite song. It's a song that touches me deeply and personally. The concept of "forever" has a very short shelf life in the world today. People say "Forever" when they really mean "right now" or "for the foreseeable future." Anyway, the lyrics of this song are so true. I really love it and the fact that it's Jazmine is singing them. Get into them.
"I had high hopes for us, baby. Like I was on dope for us, baby. Chasing after a high that I'd never get back again. So we turn into 3 long years. And it became painfully clear that we would never see those days again.
But, I guess forever doesn't last too long, forever doesn't last too long, forever doesn't last too long these days. Hey.
And, I tried to believe that we would make it. But, trying don't work so I just have to face that
forever doesn't last too long these days.
Still think about the good times we had and how you used to make me laugh. But baby, I know most times we were miserable. So every time I wanna call baby what always help is when I think of the pain and I realize I'm better off by myself.
Cause forever doesn't last too long, forever doesn't last too long, forever doesn't last too long these days. And, I tried to believe that we could make it. But, trying don't work and I just have to face that
forever doesn't last too long these days.
Lord knows I gave it my all and I couldn't save us from falling. Cause some people ain't meant to be together forever, forever..."
I do love good music. Eric Roberson released his new project "The Box" this month. I haven't stopped playing it. I love it. Especially two tracks "I'm Not Trying To Keep Score" & "Mark On Me." They are the two tracks that I listen to first. And, I always come back to them. Get into the lyrics of "Mark On Me" because they are so dope. I remember that feeling so this song is sorta nostalgic.
"It didn’t go like I have plannedI thought after we shared an eveningThat I would have the upper handBut the thought of this girl ain't leavingShe’s constantly on my mindAnd I thought it would be the love the way aroundAnd I found, the games I play are played on me right nowBecause I smell her hair, and I smell her perfumeEven though my love she’s not thereAnd I can resume Oh, she left a mark on meShe left a mark on me…”
This is why I love J. Cole. The raw emotion in this track echoes my own. There isn't much to say about it. Praying for justice for Mike Brown and his family and his community. Thank you Cole for this track. Get into it.
The James Brown biopic "Get On Up" premiered last Friday. I went to see it on Sunday morning. Going into it, I did not know a whole lot about Brown's history. I knew his music well though. So, for me, the movie was a history lesson. And, I thoroughly enjoy history. The movie is a good look into the beginnings of James Brown and all the things he eventually became. I did not know that he was he first Black person to own his own private plane. I also did not know that Mick Jagger, who is a producer of this movie, was a fan of turned friend to Mr. Brown. I loved that it showed how differently Brown saw and felt music. This goes to show how his mind created the best music. He has been sampled by almost every artist in every genre of music. He was simply amazing. That's what this movie showed me.
Can we just talk about Jill Scott in this black lace dress above?!? She was awesome in the movie. I now need a black lace dress in my closet because it was everything. The movie is good. I really enjoyed it. My only gripe with the movie is "James Brown" talking to the camera. I hate that. Actors, do not break the 4th wall. I despised it during the first season of "Sex and the City" when Carrie did it as well as the first season of "Girlfriends" when Joan did it. Hate it. Also, the fact that James referred to himself in 3rd person all the time. In my mind, only unstable, narcissistic people do that. It freaks me out. Other than that, the movie was a win. The casting and acting were both A1. I recommend this film to anyone who has any interest in the story of James Brown. Get Into It: "Get On Up."
I have been spending a lot of time discovering new things via Netflix. Blame the fact that it's the summer and there is little to no new original programming. Either way, it's a win for me. I am watching things I never would have before. First up is the original show from Netflix entitled "Hemlock's Grove." This show is about the supernatural. There are werewolves and vampires. It's a very interesting show. I watched the first season recently. I finished it just in time for season 2, which premieres Friday. The characters are weird and dark and not necessarily good but I like them all. I must warn you that the show is very gory and there is a lot of blood. But, if you can get passed that, you will enjoy it. It's different than other vampire/werewolf movies/shows that I've seen before. I really enjoy the different spin on it. Get into it.
The second show I discovered is the BBC's "Luther" which stars Idris Elba. I am a total fan of Idris. I've heard about this show for years. But, I never had the BBC to watch it. Along comes Netflix to solve this issue. "Luther" is a cop thriller show centered on the main character John Luther. Luther is a British cop with more than one issue. But, he's a great cop. This show is darker and grimier than other cop shows I watch. I like that about it. The bad thing is that there are only 3 seasons and 14 episodes. The good news is that every episode is full of twists and turns and drama. I loved seeing Idris in this role. He is not playing the lovable bad guy or the heartthrob. He is playing a character that you can easily love or hate, possibly multiple times in one episode. I read that there is a "Luther" movie in the works as well. I would love to see what John Luther does next. This is just a great show that should've been around longer. If you do not have a Netflix account, I don't know what to tell you. Get into it asaptually!!
The-Dream can do no wrong when it comes to music in my book. He's a dope producer and writer. He's a pretty good singer as well. So, when I read that he was dropping a new project today, I was stoked. He posted this pic on Instagram and simply captioned it "777." He was putting us all on notice that "Royalty" was dropping on July 7th @ 7pm. I could not wait to hear it. I loved his last two projects: "1977" & "IV Play." Both still get much play over here. Good music will never be denied.
The-Dream did not disappoint me at all. There are only 7 songs but that's all he needed to get it right. Every track makes me feel some kinda way. I've listened to it twice all the way through. I keep returning to two songs. They are "Outkast" and "Wedding Bells." You guys know that I love lyrics and these two tracks speak to me. I love every song though. Great EP from an artist I have always dug. Go ahead and get into it. You can download it here. LEt me know what song(s) speak to you. Leave it in the comments, people.
In my book, Mary J. Blige can do no wrong. When Mary sings it, you believe it. I have been a fan since the beginning. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I learned that the soundtrack to "Think Like A Man Too" was essentially a Mary album. From beginning to end, Mary was perfection to my ears. The song I instantly clicked repeat on was "Wonderful." I love the beat and the lyrics and the message. Mary sounds like her old self on it. This soundtrack gets my money simply for Will Packer having the balls to pull a move like this. It seems that he is as much of a Mary fan as I am. Every track is my favorite honestly. Every track evokes a different emotion from me. I listen to it daily. It has an old school R&B/Hip-Hop feel to it. And, that is right up my alley. I love it. This soundtrack, just like the movie, is worth the $$$. Get into it!
The Sundance Channel had a series called "Iconoclasts." It pairs two different artists together and they are filmed for a day. This particular interview was filmed in 2006. I just discovered it this week after the passing of Dr. Maya Angelou. It features Maya Angelou and Dave Chappelle in an in-depth conversation. I loved how amazing it was. Maya's voice is one of the most unique ones ever. She speaks with such knowledge and wisdom. This interview also gave me a better insight into Dave Chappelle as well. If you have never seen it, please take the time to do so now. You will enjoy it. Get into it.
I LOVE a good deal. I couldn't buy this one quick enough. Target is offering their Beauty Box for $5 and free shipping if you use their RED card. The Beauty Box is filled with 5 beauty products. A mascara, a lip gloss, a BB body cream, a dry shampoo, and a hair spray. 5 products for only $5?!? How great is that! I was most excited about the mascara. I do like makeup but I love to do my eyes the most. I am all about eye shadow, mascara and eye liners. I am always on the hunt for great mascara. The beauty box is a great investment.
Beauty Box Includes:
1) TONI&GUY Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray (2.5 fl oz): Want beachy hair without hitting the surf? Spray from root to tip for salty, sultry texture and subtle, windswept waves.
2) L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara (.22 fl oz): Stretch and lengthen lashes for a fluttery, winged-out look with this unique mascara formula and revolutionary asymmetrical Butterfly Brush.
3) Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo (1.7 oz): Give hair a rejuvenating boost with this paraben and colorant-free formula made with natural tapioca to instantly absorb excess oil with less residue.
4) COVERGIRL Smoochies Sizzle Gloss (.44 fl oz): Pucker up. Sheer color meets sizzling shimmer in a moisturizing formula that’s always stunning, never sticky.
5) Jergens BB Cream Light (2 fl oz): Finally, a multi-tasking beauty cream in a quick-drying formula that goes on sheer and delivers visible results in just 5 days.
Of the five, I am in love with three of them the most. The L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara is my hands down favorite. I love the coverage of it. It does not clump and it separates my lashes. And, it lasts all day long. I have ditched my normal Revlon mascara for this one. It is a win. The Jergens BB Cream is great. I love the way it makes my skin look and feel. I love it so much that I am looking into a BB cream for my face. I am also planning on purchasing a full size of the Jergens BB cream. The Covergirl gloss is cute. It smells great and has great coverage. I am not that big of a fan of the glitter in it but I still like it. I used the Herbal Essences Naked dry shampoo last night. I am on the fence about it. I don't know if I truly feel like my hair is clean. I will give it another try soon. I have not used texturizing spray yet. But, I will. All in all, this is a great deal for $5. Get yours before they are all gone! Get into the Target Beauty Box.
Marsha Ambrosius dropped some new music last week in the form of an EP. It is called "FVCK&LOVE." It's 6 songs deep and I love it. When I first saw the name of it, I read it as "FVCKLOVE" I knew I would be a fan instantly. Lol. Although I was a little wrong about the title, my opinion of the music was right on. Marsha is one of my faves. These songs are actually album worthy to me. If this is the direction that her second cd is going in, I am sure none of her fans will be disappointed. This EP is just to hold her fans over until her second solo cd "Friends & Lovers" is released later this year. My favorite song is "Friends & Lovers" for so many reasons but mainly because #LadiesLoveLyrics!! I really love this project. "FVCK&LOVE" can be downloaded here. You can check out the songs below. Get into Marsha's "FVCK&LOVE."
