I promise you that this is my last Essence Music Festival recap for 2012. It was SUCH a big experience, I had to break it into three blog posts! Like I told you, I had Nothing But FUN! There were SO many epic moments at EMF, photographer Chuck Olu-Alabi took more than 1500 photos. I…
music
Top Five Favorite Moments of the BET Awards
I can’t hardly keep up with myself. The past four out of five weeks, I’ve been somewhere on a trip. I have SO much to write about for you! Expect a whole lotta catching up in the next few posts! First things first, last Sunday I was amongst the stars at The Shrine Auditorium in…
Working Out Like The FLOTUS — What’s On Your Playlist?
Michelle Obama inspires me on so many levels, bellas. She inspires me in terms of her poise, her grace, her accomplishments, her style, and in the way that she makes health and fitness a priority. I’m trying to do the same in my life, and the First Lady’s workout regimen inspires me. Check out this…
The Genius of Marley, The Man and The Movie
When I think back on the earliest songs I knew and my earliest childhood memories, Bob Marley is there as the soundtrack. In my mind’s eye, I can remember seeing news footage of his funeral on Panorama, Trinidad’s national news program when I was a kid. Of course, I was only three. This may be…
Esperanza Spalding On Fashion, The Oscars, and Radio Music Society
She’s got beautiful hair and a stunning face, and she’s talented like nobody’s business. Esperanza Spalding has the whole package going for her. I’ve been a fan for a while now – remember this 2008 interview? Even then I knew she was going to be HUGE. So much has changed for Esperanza since then. She’s…
Who’s Going to see Fela! in Chicago?
The first time I heard the music of Fela Kuti, I was a college student visiting Chicago. My then-fiance-now-husband, our dear friend Carol (check out her hilariously named food blog!) and I were driving around downtown with a hilarious, gregarious cab driver. He was blasting Fela Kuti — together we heard Teacher Don’t Teach Me…
Love, Peace, and SOUL. RIP, Don Cornelius
I woke up yesterday morning looking forward to writing a celebratory piece on Black History Month. And then, via Twitter, I read the news about Don Cornelius. I know I’m not the only one with a heavy heart today. For so many artists, Don Cornelius represented a certain benchmark. A sign that you had MADE…
RIP, Etta James
Last week, Etta James was heavy on my mind. I was visiting my homeland of Trinidad, soaking up the sun and sand and having a blast with my family and old friends. Even in the midst of that, there was Etta. “Hey, have you heard this Flo Rida song?” my brother asked. Good Feeling is…
What I Love About Lianne La Havas
It takes me a minute to discover new music. I don’t mean to be a late adopter, it just takes me a while to find new artists I’m intrigued enough to attach myself to. Whenever I hear new music I LOVE, I’m gonna make an effort to share it with you! And right now my…
Amy Winehouse’s New Video Makes Me Happy/Sad
The sudden death of Amy Winehouse still remains such a study of conflict in my mind. It simultaneously seems like a long time ago, and like just yesterday. Although the news wasn’t altogether shocking, it was still so tragic and heartbreaking. A posthumous album of previously unreleased Amy Winehouse tracks is about to be released…