For the culture.
Happy Friday.
Whatever Your Vice
Addicted to the culture. Cut pure, not stepped on.
Category Archives: Whatever Your Vice
Back Like I Never Wanted to Leave
OMG. As I’m writing in this white box, I feel so much better. I have been saying repeatedly that I’d revive this baby! It has been three years, bro. Three fawking years and the amount of shit that has transpired, the people removed, the goals accomplished and the fucks provided have varied. I believe my journey of self-improvement and expression pulled me from the keyboard and into life. Kind of like if you are always working in the office and it’s time to go into the field and use what you know… Except, that’s why my ass was in the office. Too much to say, minimal fucks considered; none given and not enough people working on themselves in the same fashion. Fast forwarding to today where the last couple of days have reassured that I will not and do not have to censor myself for people anymore. When I use “censor”, it’s in the terms of mincing words, overly considering people/situation, muting your true feelings, guilting yourself and all of that jazz. It’s just quiet for taking people into consideration because as the times go on this world, people seem to move with their own agenda in team settings. This is in work, relationships, roommates, business partners or whatever else. Being a very defensive responder, I peeped how that was ruining my communication with others so I got on it. Mainly because when I could be in the right, others would defending themselves instead of owning up to bullshit.
That easily makes me go to 100 real quick. Not aspiring to be the hothead my entire life so I work on it. Daily. Self-evaluations, crystals, chiropractors, exercise, contacts cleaning, Prayer, preach practicing, integrity, truth…. I can go on and on but what’s more important is that we all continue to better ourselves and be true to ourselves. LEARN YOURSELF! Learn why you have triggers, what triggers it and how you can help it. Learn ways to better cop with situations in your life. Do things that make your overall being happy; not what your lower self is convincing you to do. This world wide web is full of bullshit but also MUCH resourceful information given to you from so many different perspectives at that!
I say all of that to say this: I’m back. It’s needed. October begins tomorrow & that’s another 31 days for us to better ourselves, fine tune the details that we see in our Ultimate Self view. This country alone is off the shits and as individuals we really need to always be in our better person bag. People are dying and killing for less. So stay woke and out of your feelings negatively. Push all positive vibes and no that NOTHING happens for NO reason. That’s why the statement breaks English language rules. Observe yourself, know yourself, nourish your soul. Thank you all for reading and allowing me to cleanse a bit. It’s whatever your vice is remember? And mine, is speaking. When you find your voice, your reason, your purpose, getting high off life is the only desire. What are some of your goals for next month? Share and help enlighten others. Sometimes (actually all the time) we need enlightenment from each other. =)
The Roots Picnic 2013
Saturday, June 1st I took my talents to the city of brotherly love (Philadelphia) for the 6th annual The Roots Picnic. It was a beautiful afternoon at Penn’s Landing’s Festival Pier to enjoy a plethora of music. The entire event was hosted by TV personality, Amanda the Diva who kept the audience lively despite the scorching 90 degree weather and not one cloud in sight. The festival had two different stages, the main stage and the tent, which would hold different performances throughout the day.
The artists range from Electric, Neo-soul, Hip-hop, to any and everything you can think of. There were certain artists I’ve never heard of that blew me away such as How to Dress Well, Grimes, Gaslamp Killer and A-Trak. Common names such as Trinidad James had the whole tent rocking and literally sweating like we popped some Mollies. (WOO!) This was my second time seeing Mr. James perform within the past month and he does not disappoint. Although his other songs don’t match the hype of “All Gold Everything”, he still gave the crowd a solid performance.
The main artist I wanted to see was my Afro-inspiration, soul sista Ms. Solange Knowles. Listen. Solange DID that. This was my first time seeing Solo perform live and it was completely worth it. Although she’s more of an Indie Neo-Soul Queen while her big sister is the Queen of Pop, that stardom stage presence must RUN in the Knowles’ sisters bloodstream. Vibing on stage in a printed short set and swinging her Marley twists, Solange bared her soul on the stage. Here’s a clip of her performing one of my favorite songs by her.
Solange- T.O.N.Y.
Young Rappers on the come up such as Hitboy and Joey BADA$$ held their own in the tent, bringing that old soul hip-hop sound with a mix of new school swag. DJ Premier also stayed true to original Hip-Hop as he hit the 1’s and 2’s and played tunes straight from a 1993 house party. The most energetic performance by far was Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The Seattle native performed his three hit singles, “Thrift Store” (which he borrowed a fan’s fur vest) “Can’t Hold Us” and “One Love.” He joked with us, he danced, he even WALKED across the crowd. No, not crowd surf. Fans were literally holding up his feet like he was Jesus. Macklemore for me has been one of those artists that you wouldn’t consider yourself a fan of but after seeing him live, I may have to reconsider. See the clip below:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton- Can’t Hold Us
And of course the night’s highlight was The Roots. It’s a Roots Picnic tradition to have the headliner perform last while backed by the Roots and this year it was Naughty by Nature. Despite having a short lived twitter beef between Treach and Vinnie, the two but their difference aside and rocked out with 6,000+ music lovers to records that still retained its power 20 years later. The Roots performed some of their hits with a live band and even had special guest Meek Mill come out. No worries, Meek Mill did not come on stage yelling any of his MMG lyrics. He was just there showing love for his city.
So after an 11 hour music festival, pregnancy ankles, sunburn and seeing people pass out left and right from a day filled beer diet and no food– The Roots Picnic was amazing! Of course there were a few things that could be different but if music is your vice like me, it was simply bliss.
[Visual] Memories Back Then x T.I. + B.o.B. + Kendrick Lamar + Kris Stephens
I had to post this video because this is my ish. T.I.P., B.o.B. & Kendrick Lamar link up to share memories of past females in their lives while the beautiful songwriter, Kris Stephens, lays smooth vocals over beat produced by Maurice ‘Kenoe’ Jordan. T.I. has always had a great delivery so him opening this record was perfect. He explained the story of the hood jump I’m sure we all are familiar with. B.o.B. did his thing explaining how the one that got a way dipped because of groupie love and Kendrick came in for the finale with the bust down gold-digger Shouts to that guy rippin’ everything. Every day I thank Compton for the sacrifice.
Blue Ivy Watches the Throne
This picture speaks for itself.
Tons of rumors have been going around that Beyoncé is possibly pregnant with her second child. Blue Ivy reminds us that there is only room for 1 in her parents’ lives… at least for now. This little personalized chair was made for the Princess of Hip-Hop while she’s on tour for her mom’s Mrs. Carter World Tour.
(I’m just happy that someone finally did my little cousin’s hair and put her in some pink! She was starting to look very tomboyish. Always cute nonetheless.)
[Visual] A$AP Ferg + A$AP Rocky + Schoolboy Q + Trinidad James + French Montana x |Behind the Scenes| Work Remix
I cannot wait until tomorrow to see the complete video of Work Remix. A$AP Ferg is ah’chea. NY is ah’chea. Shouts to homie in the Coogi and hair bobos. Oh, Rocky was looking like Celie during his interview in the shade with the white collared shirt & one braid out. I love him though. Schoolboy Q, Bucket hat Puffy. They all look like they had a ball shooting this video. I’m tight I wasn’t there? oh.
Premieres on VEVO tomorrow.
[Visual] Kendrick Lamar – Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe |Director’s Cut|
Kendrick Luh-Mahr drops a visual to the crowd’s favorite. Loving the all white everything for the funeral, turn up scene (always celebrate life), open field shots & of course Mike Epps. Oh dear, he would be the one to actually attempt to baptize someone in alcohol. At the end of the video, “Death to Molly” appears in white. Could this be the b*tch that kills vibes? Who knows considering the MDMA’s popularity has been skipping hand-in-hand with Mary through this hip-hop lane. I hope it dies soon. People get influenced much more easy now and I’m tired of the alleged Molly sweats. (woo!) And since shorty can lead you into other things that won’t just kill your vibe, I’d be careful.
But hey, whatever your vice.
However, peep Schoolboy Q‘s snippet of Man of the Year at the end.
Ouuuh.
[Let’s Rap] Robin Thicke on The Breakfast Club
The incredible Robin Thicke graced the Power 105.1 studio this morning. I must mention that waking up to him speaking with my favorite breakfast crew turnt up my morning.
Peacefully commenting on the much talked about Justin Timberlake comparisons (both white, with similar soul music influences and married to actresses), his comical relationship with Kevin Hart (gun on my waist! straight face!), the gorgeous Paula Patton (“that’s my girl! my girl fights harder than I do. You’ont wanna mess with her”) and an upcoming short film, Mr. Thicke shared some great things with The Breakfast Club.
Most importantly was his take on R&B music right now:
“R&B has lost a lot of it because it’s not soulful anymore. everybody’s popping bottles and getting girls… no one has any invulnerability and soul music and what R&B was always about was being vulnerable for love, being vulnerable in society and talking about those problems and trying to find hope within it.”
PREACH! Shouting out Miguel for being great at delivering soulful music as well as mentioning Drake, Kanye West& Kendrick Lamar (“I think is the new god of lyricism right now.”) as his inspirations.
Love the fact that after dibbling into the pop side more, Robin Thicke appreciates and wants to create more of his original sound. I think it works extremely well. Excited for Blurred Lines.
[R.I.P.] Chris ‘Mac Daddy’ Kelly
Chris Kelly (right), 1/2 of So So Def’s rap duo, Kris Kross, passed Wednesday May 1.
We thank you for the energy, the backwards clothes swag and making the 90’s jump!
God bless you and yours. Rest in peace, King.
08/11/78 – 05/01/13
